USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 5 > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
His son, William Warner, was born October 1, 1715, and died May 1, 1790. He married, March 25, 1752, for his sec- ond wife, Prudence May, who died Octo- ber 14, 1807, aged eighty-one years.
His son, John Warner, was born Octo- ber 6, 1762, and died November 10, 1838. He married, December 22, 1784, Abigail Hale, born in 1759, and died November
331
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
II, 1840. He died in 1838. During his entire life he was engaged in the occupa- tion of farming on a large scale.
His son, John Warner, was born March 3, 1786, and died October 25, 1858. He married, September 18, 1809, Rebecca Coleman, who was born in 1785, and died January 17, 1835.
His son, Horace Warner, was born September 12, 1813, and died August 17, 1883. He married, in 1840, Abigail H. Hills, whose birth occurred in the year 1813, and who died November 5, 1878. Her father was a deacon in the Congre- gational church at Buckingham, Hart- ford county. Horace Warner grew up on the home farm, attending the public schools in his youth, and when not thus engaged he was occupied with such work as usually falls to the lot of the farmer boy. In this way he laid the foundation of his future success as a grower of pro- duce. In an early day he made a spe- cialty of onions and became a producer on a large scale. While he was liberal in his religious views, he believed in the application of the golden rule, and his relations with his fellow-men were of such a character as to win their confi- dence and esteem. He was broad in his views, and while pronounced and sincere in his own convictions, he respected the opinions of others. In politics he was a Democrat, but not a politician in any sense of the word. Of his seven children, five grew to maturity, as follows: Ellen Maria, whose birth occurred June 15, 1842, and who married Josiah G. Adams ; John Chester, born July 10, 1845, died August 9, 1917; Rosalie Rebecca, born June 14, 1849, and died in 1871 ; Frederick Walton, mentioned below; William H., whose birth occurred October 1, 1853.
Frederick Walton Warner was born April 4, 1851, at Wethersfield, Hartford county, Connecticut. He received his
education in the public schools of Weth- ersfield, the Hartford South District School, and at the Wilbraham Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He then entered the employ of A. Hollander & Company, which was engaged in the retail clothing business, remaining with this concern from September 1, 1868, until 1882. He then formed a partner- ship with his brother-in-law, William L. Willard, under the firm name of F. W. Warner & Company, and established a retail clothing business on his own account, and has remained at the same place until the present time. In the year 1894 the business was incorporated under the name of the Warner & Willard Com- pany, and still later, upon Mr. Willard's retirement and the taking over of part of his interest by William Bailey, Jr., the name of the corporation was changed to the Warner & Bailey Company. From the day on which it has been established the business has prospered greatly, due principally to the thorough knowledge of its details and the progressive, yet care- ful, business methods which are employed by Mr. Warner. It is now one of the leading clothing stores of Hartford. Mr. Warner is noted for his exceptional judg- ment in financial matters, is public- spirited and takes an active interest in community affairs. He is a worker in the Democratic party, the principles and policies of which he is a strong supporter of, but he is in no sense of the word a politician nor does he seek public office or political preferment. He is a member of the School Board in Wethersfield, where he makes his home at the present time, and is a member of the town's Fire District Committee and of the Hubbard Escort, a political organization. He was also affiliated with the Putnam Pha- lanx for many years. He is a very prom- inent Free Mason, and is a member of
332
William . S. Morris
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Hartford Lodge, No. 88, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Council, Royal and Select Masters; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar; Sphynx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Connecticut Con- sistory, Sovereign Princes of the Royal Secret. He is also a member of the Hart- ford Club and the Wethersfield Country Club.
Mr. Warner married (first) October 9, 1878, Emma J. Willard, a daughter of William Willard, who for years was war- den of the State Prison at Wethersfield, and who was murdered by an inmate. Mrs. Warner died January 26, 1888. Three children were born of this union, as follows: Alice Willard, born January 12, 1881, who became the wife of H. A. Hamilton, of West Hartford, and the mother of three children, Erskine Eras- mus, born September 14, 1908, Frederick Warner, October 26, 1911, and Grace Bernard, September 19, 1913; Frederick Willard, born August 29, 1887; John Chester, born January 24, 1888, who mar- ried, February 18, 1912, Marjorie Stev- ens, and they are the parents of a son, John Chester Warner, 3d, born Novem- ber 25, 1913. Mr. Warner married (sec- ond) Grace Bernard, a daughter of Charles Bernard, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Warner and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Wethersfield.
MORRIS, William Samuel, Market Gardener.
One of the most industrious and pros- perous citizens of Wethersfield, Mr. Mor- ris bears in his veins the blood of many early Connecticut families, and in his character and career has justified the promise of such antecedants.
The first of his family in this country
was Mr. Edward Morris, supposed to have been the Edward Morris who was born in 1630, baptized on the 8th of that month in the Abbey Church, of the Holy Cross Abbey of Essex, England, baptized by the Rev. Joseph Hall, rector, afterward Bishop of Norwich. The first record of Edward Morris in this country is at Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he was granted four acres of land, February 23, 1652, which he forfeited by failure to build upon it. At this time he was a sin- gle man and propably not prepared to build. Subsequently, he owned land in the southeastern part of Jamaica Plain, where he was living in 1663. On January 27, 1661, he was chosen chairman of the committee to survey the common lands of the town, and in 1664 was chosen con- stable, an office of dignity and responsi- bility in that day. In 1666 he purchased about forty acres of land on the road to Dedham. For twelve years he served as selectman of the town; in 1676 was trus- tee of the High School at Jamaica Plain; in 1678 deputy to the General Court, in which office he continued for nine years, and served as a member of a committee of three to audit the accounts of the treas- urer of the colony. It is thus apparent that he was a man of intelligence and in- fluence, and this is further testified by the title of "Mr.," which was given only to those of high blood or unusual attain- ments. In 1686 Edward Morris removed to Woodstock, Connecticut, then a part of Massachusetts, was one of the com- mittee to conduct the drawings of lands, and himself received fifty acres in the first division. In 1689, when he was a member of the Board of Selectmen, he was called lieutenant. He died Septem- ber 14, 1689-90. This record reads 1689, but in another place his election as select- man in March, 1690, is recorded. He mar- ried, in Roxbury, November 29, 1655,
333
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Grace Bett, who died there June 6, 1705. She probably returned there after his death to live with some of her children.
Their fourth son, Samuel Morris, was born March 19, 1670, baptized April 19 following, and received lands from his father in Woodstock. He purchased from the heirs the paternal homestead in Rox- bury in 1694, for f120, and added by pur- chase thirty-six acres and other lands. For a time he resided in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and was described as of that town, December 18, 1714, when he exchanged the Roxbury homestead for 1500 acres of land in what is now Thomp- son, Connecticut on the Quinnebaug river. The exchange was made with Gov- ernor Dudley, of Massachusetts, and the valuation of each property was placed at £500. Samuel Morris died January 9, 1745, in Thompson. Both he and his son were involved in disputes with the parish of Thompson about parish rates, and he attended church at Dudley, Massachu- setts, or at Woodstock, either of which were nearer to his home and more con- venient of access than Thompson parish church. By maintaining a bridge over the Quinnebaug river at large personal expense, Samuel Morris and his son pleaded for exemption from the Thomp- son parish rates, and were granted some concession. He married Mehitable Mayo, born January 6, 1669, in Roxbury, admit- ted to full communion in the church there, October 28, 1688, and died there Febru- ary 8, 1702.
.
Their eldest child was Samuel Morris, born August 13, 1695, in Roxbury, who succeeded his father on the farm in Thompson, and was an extensive trader, buying up produce of the farmers, which he transported to Boston and exchanged for merchandise. In the fall of 1755 he sold his property and removed to Smith- field, Rhode Island, where he died June
13, 1765. He married (intentions pub- lished September 7, 1728) Abigail Bragg, born January 23, 1701, in Bristol, Rhode Island, died July 29 1790, in Woodstock, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Bragg.
Their third son, John Morris, born Sep- tember 5, 1735, in Thompson, married, June 16, 1763, Rebecca Gore, born May 5, 1746, in Dudley, Massachusetts, daugh- ter of Elijah and Rebecca (Vinton) Gore, and lived in that town.
Their eldest son, Elijah Gore Morris, born April 7, 1767, in Dudley, spent much of his life in teaching, and removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in his sixty- ninth year. He married, November 26, 1790, Tamma Davis, born January 16, 1770, in Dudley, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Davis, died January 10, 1840, in Wethersfield, in her seventy-first year.
Their second son, Moses Morris, born August 21, 1796, in Dudley, was a joiner by trade, lived in Wethersfield, and was killed May 25, 1849, by a fall from a wagon. He married, October 26, 1826, Laura Wells, born March 8, 1800, in Wethers- field, died January 17, 1860, daughter of Samuel and Anna (Griswold) Wells. She was descended from Governor Thomas Wells, of Connecticut, who was born in 1598 in Essex county, England, and whose property there was confiscated for political reasons. He came to America as secretary to Lords Say and Brooke, located about 1636 at Saybrook, and in the following year was a magistrate at Hartford, where he continued twenty-two years to fill that office. In 1654 and in four other years he was Deputy to the General Court; from 1655 to 1658 was Governor of the Connecticut Colony; held other offices of trust and honor ; died January 14, 1660, and was buried in Hart- ford. He married Elizabeth Hart, who died in 1640. She was the mother of Samuel Wells, born 1630 in England,
334
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
who inherited one-third of the paternal estate lying in that part of Wethersfield which is now Glastonbury, and there died by drowning in attempting to cross the Connecticut river, July 15, 1665. He bore the military title of captain, and the inventory of his estate placed its value at £1,100 sterling. His second son, Thomas Wells, born July 29, 1662, died December 7, 1711. He married, May 17, 1705, Jerusha Treat, of Wethersfield, born about 1678, died January 15, 1754, daugh- ter of James and Rebecca (Latimer) Treat. Their eldest child, Waite Wells, born 1708, died July 3, 1789. He mar- ried, January 10, 1734, Jerusha Treat, born March 14, 1707, died September 7, 1782, daughter of James and Prudence (Chester) Treat. John Wells, second son of Waite Wells, was born August 25, 1736, and married, March 4, 1766, Hannah Curtis, born February 6, 1742, in Weth- ersfield, daughter of Samuel and Lois (Belding) Curtis. Their eldest child was Samuel Wells, born 1767, married, April 19, 1787, Anna Griswold, baptized Sep- tember 12, 1762, died September 15, 1828, daughter of Ozias and Anna (Stanley) Griswold. Their fifth daughter, Laura Wells, born March 8, 1800, baptized July 6 following, became the wife of Moses Morris, of Wethersfield. They were the parents of Samuel Wells Morris, who was born January 15, 1827, in Wethersfield, died September 8, 1880, in Newington, Connecticut.
Samuel Wells Morris was a man of am- bition and energy and inaugurated vari- ous enterprises. In 1862 he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was associated with his brother, Frank Mor- ris, in operating a foundry and machine shop. Desirous of returning to agricul- ture, he visited various points in Illinois and at length purchased a farm in the town of Ludlow, near the State Capital,
which he tilled for three years. From Illinois he removed to Lexington, South Carolina, about fourteen miles from Co- lumbia, where he engaged in farming for three years. On account of the fail- ing health of his wife's father, he returned to Connecticut to look after the estate, and after living for some time in Weth- ersfield, removed in 1878 to Newington, where he engaged in agriculture, and died as above noted. He was a member of the Congregational church, and a Re- publican in political principle, but sought no share in the management of public affairs.
He married, May 27, 1856, Jane Hast- ings Savage, of Wethersfield, born May 31, 1828, daughter of Captain Horace Savage, who was born in 1799 in Crom- well. In his sixteenth year he shipped as cabin boy on the merchantman, "Com- merce," of Hartford, commanded by Cap- tain James Riley. After making success- ful voyages, this vessel was wrecked on the northwest coast of Africa and all on board were held by the natives for ran- som. The experiences of the party in this adventure have been narrated in full in a book published by Captain Riley. Through the efforts of William Wilt- shire, the British Consul, the release of the party was obtained, and Captain Savage returned to his native land. For several years he resided in Matamoras, Mexico, where he was a prosperous mer- chant. His last twenty-five years were spent in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he died in 1881. Captain Savage was descended from John Savage, who was in Hartford as early as 1652, but very soon removed to that part of Middletown which is now Cromwell, then known as Middletown Upper Houses. He had built his house there before May 18, 1654, at which date he was made a freeman by the General Court. His lot was two miles
335
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
north of Middletown, the most southerly in the Cromwell settlement, on the cor- ner of the road near the bank of the river, and included three acres. By subsequent purchase he became a large landowner, and in 1674 owned 1,207 acres, of which 441 acres were on the east side of the river. He was a townsman (selectman) in 1667, and his name was seventh on the list of organizers of the church, Septem- ber 4, 1668. He was also sergeant of the "Train Band," and died March 6, 1685. He married, in Hartford, February 10, 1652, Elizabeth Dublin, and was described in the Hartford records as of that town. Their son, William Savage, born April 26, 1668, was a deacon of the church in 1716, captain of the North Company, 1719, deputy of the General Court from 1715 to 1726, died January 25, 1727, and was buried in the old cemetery. He married, May 6, 1696, Christian Mould, who was born in 1677, daughter of Hugh and Mar- tha (Coyt) Mould, of New London, died October 16, 1719. Their eldest son, Wil- liam Savage, born September 18, 1699, was deacon of the church, and died April 15, 1774. He married, June 26, 1726, his cousin, Sarah Savage, born in Septem- ber, 1700, third daughter of John and Mary (Ranney) Savage, granddaughter of John and Elizabeth (Dublin) Savage, died August 10, 1780. Their sixth son, Luther Savage, was baptized April 8, 1759, and was a soldier of the Revolution, serving first in the company of Captain Edward Wells, Colonel Comfort Sage's regiment, which was raised in June, 1776. This regiment participated in the opera- tions on Long Island, and in the battle of White Plains, time expired December 25, 1776. From April 10, to May 22, 1777, Luther Savage was a member of Cap- tain Wells' company, Colonel Thomas Belden's regiment of militia, stationed at Peekskill. He enlisted again April 8,
1778, in Captain Abijah Savage's com- pany in the regiment commanded by Gen- eral Henry Sherbourne, of Rhode Island, of which three companies came from Con- necticut, and served until 1780. In Sep- tember, 1781, he was a member of Col- onel Samuel Canfield's militia regiment at West Point and was credited to the town of Chatham. After the war he set- tled in Hartford. He married, December 13, 1781, in Cromwell, Jerusha Smith, daughter of Captain Abner Smith, of Haddam, and eldest child of his second wife, Rebecca (Gibbs) Smith. They were undoubtedly the parents of Captain Hor- ace Savage. No record of his birth appears in either Hartford or Cromwell. He married, February 24, 1823, in Hart- ford, Jane Hastings, and they were the parents of Jane Hastings Savage, wife of Samuel Wells Morris, as previously noted.
William Samuel Morris, second son of Samuel Wells and Jane Hastings (Sav- age) Morris, was born July 19, 1858, at the family home on South Main street, Wethersfield. His education was sup- plied by the district and high schools of various localities where he lived. Before his father's return from South Carolina, at the request of his maternal grand- father, he came to live with the latter in Wethersfield, being-then fifteen years of age. He was about twenty years old when his father settled in Newington and he accompanied him thither. After the death of his father, he returned to Wethersfield and settled on twenty acres of land on the east side of Broad street, which was inherited from Captain Hor- ace Savage. Here he engaged in market gardening and has developed a very large and prosperous business, extending to other lands in the neighborhood. He pur- chased other lands adjoining, making a tract of twenty-four acres. Mr. Morris
336
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
is wholly mindful of the truth of "Poor Richard's" adage :
He who by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.
He is found in the fields with his men early and late during the growing season, and has always kept himself busy. In- cluding himself, the business employs nine hands the year round, and in the growing season many others are also engaged. Besides cultivating his own homestead, Mr. Morris rents lands in the vicinity, and his wagons are well known in the markets of Hartford and other cities in the neighborhood. He also ships vegetables extensively to more remote markets. By his industry and shrewd management, Mr. Morris has achieved a remarkable success, and he is recognized and esteemed among his fellows as one of the leading citizens of the town. He is the owner of two cottages at Hawk's Nest Beach, Sound View. His sons are also trained to habits of thrift and indus- try, and are found accompanying their father in the labors of the establishment. Mr. Morris makes a specialty of celery, which he preserves and markets through- out the year, thus making steady work for his employees. He is a member of the Congregational church of Wethersfield of the local Grange, No. 145, and a charter member of Summit Lodge, No. 45, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Hart- ford. Politically, Mr. Morris supports the principles of the Republican party, and he is ever found ready to favor any move- ments calculated to advance the general welfare, regardless of partisan consider- tions.
Mr. Morris married, November 18, 1886, Emma Abigail Churchill, born Au- gust 24, 1862, in Wethersfield, daughter of Stephen Belden and Esther Amelia (Blinn) Churchill. Children: Frank Ste-
phen, born October 11, 1887; Mabel Churchill, February 20, 1889; Nellie Jane, March 27, 1891; William Sav- age, February 29, 1893; Emma Ame-
lia, December 12, 1894; Ethel May, February 9, 1897; Alice Ruth, Novem- ber 13, 1899; John Everett, June 9, 1904; also a son, who died in boyhood.
Mrs. Morris is descended from Josiah Churchill, who had lands in Wethersfield on the Connecticut river, April 28, 1641, including a house lot of six acres. His residence was on the east side of High street facing the south end of the com- mon. He later purchased the Gilder- sleeve homestead on the west side of High street, a little south of his original residence. He served as juryman, con- stable and town surveyor, made his will, November 17, 1683, and died before 1687. His estate, which included two hundred and ten acres of land, was valued at £618 I2s. 6d. He married, in 1638, Elizabeth Foote, daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza- beth (Deming) Foote, born about 1616 in England, died September 8, 1700, in Wethersfield. Nathaniel Foote settled near the south end of the present Broad street, where a monument to him now stands. The eldest son of Josiah Church- ill was Joseph Churchill, born December 7, 1649, who received by will of his father the house and lands, including fifty acres at "ye west end of Wethersfield bounds," which was in the present town of New- ington. He also received property by the will of his maternal grandmother, Eliza- beth (Deming) Foote, who became the second wife of Governor Thomas Wells. He served the town as surveyor, asses- sor, collector, constable and selectman, was sergeant of militia, and died April I, 1699, leaving an estate valued at £461. He married, May 13, 1674, Mary, whose surname does not appear in the records. She survived him, was living in 1728, and
Conn-5-22
337
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
probably died early in 1738. Her second son was Samuel Churchill, born 1688, set- tled in what is now Newington, where he purchased fifty-two acres of land in 1712. He was active in town and church affairs from 1746 to his death, July 21, 1769; was ensign of militia, and is de- scribed in the records as a smith. He married, June 26, 1717, Martha Board- man, born December 19, 1695, died De- cember 14, 1780, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Wright) Boardman, grand- daughter of Samuel Boardman, of Cley- don, England, one of the first settlers of Wethersfield. Jesse Churchill, fourth son of Samuel Churchill, was born August 31, 1726, and lived in Wethersfield, except a short time in Bristol, until 1775, when he removed to Hubbardton, Vermont. There he took up wild land, built a log house, began a clearing, but was driven out by the Indian activities during the Revolution, and returned to Wethersfield, now Newington, where he was many years deacon of the church, and died May 7, 1806. He married, in Farming- ton, November 8, 1750, Jerusha Gaylord, of that town, born July 1, 1731, in Wall- ingford, Connecticut, daughter of Benja- min and Jerusha (Frisbie) Gaylord. Her third son, Levi Churchill, born Decem- ber 15, 1759, in Newington, lived in Weth- ersfield, where he died February 12, 1836. He married, January 5, 1785, Hannah Bel- den, born May 30, 1769, in Wethersfield, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Rock- well) Belden. She was descended from Richard Belden, who had eight parcels of land in Wethersfield, April 7, 1641, and died in 1655, leaving a large landed estate. His home was on Broad street at the corner of "the waye leading into the Great Playne." This was held by de- scendants to 1742, and was occupied in 1885 by James Smith. His son, John Bel- den, born about 1631, was a merchant and
innholder, made freeman, 1657, and mar- ried Lydia, daughter of Thomas and Sus- anna (Francis) Standish. Her eldest child was John Belden, born June 12, 1658, died January 10, 1714; married, June 15, 1682, Dorothy Willard, born 1663-64, died February 28, 1754, daugh- ter of Josiah and Hannah (Hosmer) Wil- lard. Her eldest child was Josiah Bel- den, born February 14, 1683, in Wethers- field, died September 5, 1746, in Rocky Hill. He served as lister and tithingman ; married, May 1, 1707, Mabel Wright, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Butler) Wright, died October II, 1767. Their third son, Solomon Belden, born May 22, 1722, in Wethersfield, was buried there, January 6, 1776. He married, June 27, 1768, Elizabeth Rockwell, and their eld- est child was Hannah Belden, born May 30, 1769, who became the wife of Levi Churchill. Their third son was Levi Bel- den Churchill, born March 24, 1797, in Wethersfield, and lived in that portion of the town known as Griswoldville. He married, June 27, 1816, Abigail Griswold, born August 23, 1798, daughter of Justus and Prudence (Wells) Griswold. Their third son, Stephen Belden Churchill, born June 21, 1830, married, May 5, 1857, Esther Amelia Blinn. Their third daugh- ter, Emma Abigail Churchill, born Au- gust 24, 1862, became the wife of Wil- liam Samuel Morris and the mother of nine children.
STOCKWELL, William Myron, M. D., Physician.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.