USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 19
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 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
(VI) Andrew Haskell Sears, second son of Freeman and Mehitabel (Haskell) Sears, born March 29, 1765, in Hardwick, died April 4, 1846, in Greenwich. He married there, March 14, 1787, Rachel Stetson, born 1767-68, died August 2, 1835.
(VII) Calvin Sears, eldest son of An- drew Haskell and Rachel (Stetson) Sears, born October 30, 1789, in Greenwich, died in October, 1869, in Hartford. He mar- ried Martha Chapin, of Springfield, who died in Wethersfield.
(VIII) Hezekiah Kilbourn Sears, sec- ond son of Calvin and Martha (Chapin)
130
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Sears, born November 15, 1818, lived in Windsor and Hartford, and died in the latter place, March 15, 1871. He mar- ried Julia Osborne, and their daughter, Agnes Maria, became the wife of Arthur B. Ryan, as previously noted.
TUTTLE FAMILY, Ancestral History.
The name of Tuttle is derived from "Tothill," a place name common in Eng- land. It literally means a conical hill.
(I) William Tuttle, the immigrant an- cestor of the family, came to New Eng- land in the ship "Planter," in April, 1635. On the records he is called a husbandman and merchant. His wife, Elizabeth, was admitted to the Boston church, July 14, 1636. In 1635, William Tuttle was granted permission to build a windmill, and the following year he became a pro- prietor of Boston. In 1641 he was a land owner in New Haven, Connecticut, and was one of the first owners in East Haven. He became a prominent man in his com- munity, and was given a front seat in the church, which at that time was a high honor. In New Haven, William Tuttle served as fence viewer, and in 1646 did garrison duty. He served on many com- mittees in settlement of boundary dis- putes, and also served on the jury. He died in June, 1673, and his wife on De- cember 30, 1684.
(II) John Tuttle, son of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, was born in 1631, and was brought to New England by his par- ents. From his father he received, in 1661, a house and lot in East Haven, and at his death, November 12, 1683, the in- ventory of his property showed the value of £79. He married, November 8, 1653, Kattareen Lane, probably a daughter of John Lane, of Milford.
(III) Samuel Tuttle, second son of John and Kattareen (Lane) Tuttle, was
born January 9, 1660, and was a stone- mason and a large land owner. He mar- ried, in June, 1684, Sarah Newman, daugh- ter of Samuel Newman, and they joined the New Haven Church in 1692.
(IV) Daniel Tuttle, the youngest child of Samuel and Sarah (Newman) Tuttle, was born August 23, 1702. He lived in North Haven. He married, April 26, 1726, Mary Mansfield, daughter of Sam- uel and Hannah Mansfield.
(V) Samuel (2) Tuttle, son of Daniel and Mary (Mansfield) Tuttle, was born February 12, 1727, and died November 23, 1784, in North Haven. He married, May 12, 1752, Sarah Humison, born Sep- tember 10, 1723, daughter of John and Hannah (Ray) Humison.
(VI) Samuel (3) Tuttle, son of Sam- uel (2) and Sarah Humison Tuttle, was born in 1759 and died July 9, 1802. He removed from North Haven to Middle- town, Connecticut. Samuel Tuttle was a soldier in the Revolution, and was cap- tured by the enemy and confined on the famous prison ship "Jersey." He mar- ried Chloe Todd, daughter of Titus Todd.
(VII) Lyman Tuttle, second son of Samuel (3) and Chloe (Todd) Tuttle, was born in North Haven, June 15, 1790, and died at the age of eighty-four years. He went to Middletown with his parents, but did not remain there long. As a young man he removed to Windsor, Con- necticut, and purchased a farm. This he conducted in connection with a brick manufacturing plant. Later he removed to Newfield, Connecticut, and there pur- chased from George Gaylord and John Cornwall, the brick yard formerly con- ducted by them. This was the beginning of the business which to-day bears the Tuttle name, and which has become fa- mous throughout the State for the excel- lence of the brick manufactured, and the uprightness of its manufacturers.
Mr. Tuttle married Martha Tuttle, born
131
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in Rowe, Massachusetts, March 7, 1794, daughter of Jude and Lovica (Smith) Tuttle, granddaughter of Captain Itha- mar and Rhoda (Barnes) Tuttle, great- granddaughter of Aaron and Mary (Mun- son) Tuttle. Aaron Tuttle was a son of William and Mary (Abernatha) Tuttle, grandson of Jonathan and Rebecca (Bell) Tuttle, of North Haven. Jonathan Tuttle was baptized July 8, 1637, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, a brother of John Tuttle, and son of William and Elizabeth, first above named.
(VIII) George Lyman Tuttle, son of Lyman and Martha (Tuttle) Tuttle, was born August 15, 1822, in Windsor, and died March 10, 1890, in Middletown. He lived in Windsor until 1842, in which year his father removed to Newfield, and the son naturally accompanied him. Af- ter the death of his father, Mr. Tuttle assumed the cares of the brick business, and established it on a firm business basis. He continued actively in the man- agement of this business until his sons became of age and were able to take some of the care from him. In April, 1896, the business was incorporated under the name of Tuttle Brick Company. The plant is the second largest in the State and the output is in comparison.
Many of the finest buildings in Middle- town were built from bricks manufac- tured at this plant, and there are large shipments made to other points through- out New England. Three large yards are operated within the limits of the town of Middletown, and monthly shipments of- ten double the annual output of thirty , street.
years ago, at the time of Mr. Tuttle's death. The plant is considered the best equipped in New England, and its output grades the highest. Mr. Tuttle was a Democrat in politics, and was a member of the General Assembly in 1868.
Mr. Tuttle married Lydia Nettleton,
born January 8, 1831, in Durham, daugh- ter of Joseph and Esther (Bailey) Nettle- ton. They were the parents of five chil- dren :
I. George Lyman Tuttle was born May 31, 1854, in Newfield, and there attended the public schools in summer only after the age of eleven years. From early boy- hood he was accustomed to make himself useful about the brick yard operated by his father, and is now superintendent of the Tuttle Brick Company. With his family he aids in the support of the North Congregational Church, of Middletown, and in politics, like all of his family, sup- ports the Democratic party. He is a member of Mattabessett Grange, of Mid- dletown. He married, April 12, 1882, Agnes A. Ross, who was born January 2, 1855, in Middlefield, daughter of Abra- ham and Elizabeth (Steed) Ross, who came from Belfast, Ireland, and engaged in farming in the town of Middlefield. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle are the parents of Belle Etta, Ernest Eugene, Lilla Edith, Arthur Richard, and George Howard Tuttle.
2. Willis Tuttle, born December 29, 1855, was actively associated in the oper- ation of the Tuttle brick yards until his death, March 28, 1910. He married. April 2, 1881, Catherine J. Stone, born June 10, 1859, daughter of John H. and Julia A. (Street) Stone, and they were the par- ents of children: Elmer L., Willis H., Harriett, Catherine, and Marion.
3. Lilla Tuttle, became the wife of Wil- liam S. Bacon, a farmer of Newfield
.
4. Wallace Monroe Tuttle, born July 30, 1862, was educated in the Middletown public schools, which he left at the age of sixteen years to pursue the brick-making business, with which he has been iden- tified to the present time, and is now treasurer and general manager of the
I32
George & Tutte
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Tuttle Brick Company. He has devoted himself assiduously to business with re- markable success, and has never attempted to partake of the management of public affairs, though a straightforward Demo- crat in political principle. He married, November 18, 1889, Jennie Bassett, who was born November 24, 1870, in North Haven, daughter of Manson A. and Ella M. (Terrell) Bassett, of that town. Their children are: Raymond M., deceased ; Edna L., Monroe W., Warren B., and Leroy.
5. Lewis Milton Tuttle was born Octo- ber 22, 1871, at Newfield, and there at- tended the public schools. During two winters he attended a business college in Hartford, and since sixteen years of age he has been actively connected with the business of the Tuttle brick yards. He was first employed in both yards and office, and thus became familiar with all branches of the business. At the present time he is president and secretary of the Tuttle Brick Company, in the success of which he has been partly instrumental. In his time the business has been im- mensely developed, as previously stated. He attends and supports the Baptist church, of Middletown, and is a member of Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. Polit- ically a Democrat, he served several years on the Middletown Board of Relief. Mr. Tuttle married, February 13, 1896, Bri- zalla Rumley Clew, who was born in Cork, Ireland, daughter of Michael and Catherine Clew. At the age of fifteen years she came to America to join her brothers and sisters who had preceded her. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle are the parents of the following children : George Byron ; Milton Lewis, died in infancy; Mary Louise, Laura Isabelle, Willis Lyman, Clarence Raymond, Lewis Stanley, Ellen Lydia, and Wallace Walton Tuttle.
WINCHESTER, Caleb Thomas,
Educator, Author.
Caleb Thomas Winchester's memory will long live in the hearts and minds of Wesleyan men. At his death he was mourned by all, as a teacher, as a scholar and as a friend. He was one of the two oldest and best known of Wesleyan's fac- ulty and also was one of those directly responsible for her primacy to-day.
Professor Winchester was born in Montville, Connecticut, January 18, 1847, and died at his home in Middletown, March 24, 1920. He was a son of Rev. George F. Winchester, a Methodist min- ister; his grandfather also was a min- ister. Soon after his eighth birthday the parents of Professor Winchester removed to Middleboro, Massachusetts, and the young man's college preparation was re- ceived at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbra- ham. In 1865 he graduated and the same year entered Wesleyan University, where his scholastic work was of the highest type. In 1869 he received his degree of B. A. with Phi Beta Kappa rank, and he received his degree of M. A. in 1872.
Professor Winchester first served Wes- leyan University in an official capacity in 1869 as college librarian. He was only twenty-seven years of age when he was elected to the professorship of rhetoric and literature. The years of 1880 and 1881 were spent abroad in study at the University of Leipsic, Germany. On his return to Wesleyan, in the year 1890, he was made Olin professor of English lit- erature, the chair which he held until his death. This professorship was named in honor of Stephen Olin, the second presi- dent of Wesleyan University.
From 1890 to 1900 Professor Winches- ter gave the Donavan lectures on English literature at Johns Hopkins University ; he lectured annually for twenty-five years
I33
1
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
at Wells College. In 1892 the degree of L. H. D. was conferred on Professor Win- chester by Dickinson College, and in 1919, commemorating his half century of devotion to his alma mater, he was hon- ored with the degree of LL. D. He con- tinued actively at work until he was stricken with illness some three months before his death. Several positions of distinction have been held by Professor Winchester ; he was long president of the board of trustees of Wilbraham Acad- emy, and in 1904 was a member of the committee for the revision of the Method- ist hymnal.
Much of Professor Winchester's best literary work has never been published. He has always wished to reserve the best that was in him for classroom and lec- tures. His few published works, how- ever, are of the highest merit. Among them are: "Five Short Courses of Read- ing in English Literature," published in 1892; "Some Principles of Literary Crit- icism," 1899; "A Life of John Wesley," 1906; "A Group of English Essayists," 1910; "Representative English Essays," 1914: "Addison's Roger de Coverly Pa- pers," 1914 ; "Wordsworth : How to Know Him," 1916.
Professor Winchester married (first) Julia Stackpole Smith, of Middletown, Connecticut, December 25, 1872, and she died June 25, 1877. He married (second) Alice Goodwin Smith, of Fairhaven, Mas- sachusetts, who survives him. He is also survived by his son, Julian Caleb Win- chester, and his brother, George F. Win- chester, of Paterson, New Jersey, and a sister, Frances Winchester.
Nothing could be more fitting to close this biography than the following from the pen of Professor William North Rice, for fifty years his colleague. "He was a useful and efficient member of the faculty in the general work of the college; his
usefulness has not been exclusively in the college ; he has been a faithful member of his church and a useful citizen in the community." Professor Winchester lived a long and useful life, and in the words of the poet whom he loved, his was
An old age, serene and bright, And lovely as a Lapland night.
FAIRBANK, William Goodnow, Noted Educator.
A man of much force of character, read- iness of mind and executive ability, Wil- liam G. Fairbank is widely known in educational endeavor throughout the United States. For over thirty years he was superintendent of the Connecticut Industrial School for Girls at Middle- town, and through his commendable work has brought honor to the name of Fair- bank, which is his by adoption, but one that he has upheld in a manner worthy of those who bore it before him or have lent it luster in other fields of activity.
Previous to the year 1600, Jonathan Fairbank, founder of the family in this country, was born in England. At the age of thirty-three years he came to Mas- sachusetts and located at Boston, with his family. One of the original proprietors of Dedham, he settled there soon after 1636, and was one of the signers of the famous covenant of the settlers. There he was admitted to full communion in the church, August 14, 1646, and served as a town officer. His wife, Grace, survived him four years, and died December 28, 1673. He died December 5, 1669.
Jonas Fairbank, son of Jonathan and Grace Fairbank, was born in England, and came to America with his parents. He was a "father" to the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts, in 1659, having settled there in 1657. A farmer and carpenter, he was killed by the warriors of King
I34
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Philip, February 10, 1675. He married, May 28, 1658, Lydia Prescott, who was born August 15, 1641, in Watertown, Massachusetts, daughter of John Preston, who came from Halifax, England.
Captain Jabez Fairbank, son of Jonas and Lydia (Prescott) Fairbank, was born January 8, 1670, in Lancaster, and died in that town, March 2, 1758. He gained dis- tinction by his exploits in the Indian wars. His wife, Mary Wilder, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Houghton) Wilder, died February 21, 1718.
Deacon Thomas Fairbank, son of Jabez and Mary (Wilder) Fairbank, baptized in Lancaster in 1707, like his father per- formed brave and efficient service in the Indian campaigns. He married, April 24, 1729, Dorothy Carter, born February 4, 1711, died September 13, 1784, daughter of Samuel and Dorothy (Wilder) Carter.
Oliver Fairbank, son of Deacon Thomas and Dorothy (Carter) Fairbank, was born April 25, 1731, in that part of Lancaster now Sterling, and performed valiant serv- ice in the War of the Revolution. As a private he marched with the company commanded by Captain Daniel Robbins, in Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment, April 19, 1775, from Lancaster to Cam- bridge. In the Lancaster company that marched on the Bennington Alarm, Au- gust 21, 1777, he was a corporal. He married, March 3, 1772, Susanna Gates, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Gates, of Littleton, Massachusetts.
Captain Paul Fairbank, son of Oliver and Susanna (Gates) Fairbank, was born in 1781, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, and died in Sterling, same State, July 12, 1859. He married, April 9, 1801, Catherine Phelps.
Ephraim Fairbank, son of Captain Paul and Catherine (Phelps) Fairbank, was born June 1, 1811, and died November 10, 1892. He married Susan Stearns, born October 12, 1812.
William Goodnow Fairbank, adopted son of Ephraim and Susan (Stearns) Fair- bank, was born February 24, 1840, in Sterling, Massachusetts, and received superior educational training. In 1860 he graduated from the State Normal School at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and im- mediately began the teaching career, which has brought him much honor and been of great service to humanity. He first taught in the Farm School of Bos- ton Harbor and was later associated with the faculty of the Lyman School for Boys, at Westboro, Massachusetts. At the end of six years in this position he resigned to become superintendent of the State Reform School of Vermont, where he gave valuable service for seventeen years. Its cessation brought gain to the Connec- ticut Industrial School for Girls, of which Mr. Fairbank was appointed superintend- ent in 1886. To this responsible position, so full of opportunities for good, he gave his entire thought and energy until his retirement, June 4, 1917, at the age of seventy-seven years, and the close of more than thirty years' continuous labors in this place, and fifty-four years in the same line of duty.
This institution was incorporated in 1868, and was formally opened June 30, 1870. Coming to its charge within a few years, Mr. Fairbank, with the aid of his talented wife, practically shaped its scope and methods. It is not a State institu- tion, but a private charity, incorporated and employed by the State for the cus- tody, guardianship, discipline, and in- struction of girls. The State, as the com- mon parent and guardian of the commu- nity, treats them as minors and wards. The school was founded by private char- ity, and is under the control of a self- perpetuating board of directors, originally chosen by the donors to its funds, together with three ex-officio State officers.
Its design is not that of a prison to
135
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
which criminals are sent for punishment, but that of a temporary place of custody and instruction. Its object is prevention and reformation, by giving to the chil- dren that special physical, mental, moral, social, and industrial training necessary to fit them for life. Just as soon as this is accomplished, and they can be placed in suitable circumstances elsewhere, their connection with the school ceases. Hun- dreds of girls have gone from the depart- ments equipped for good housekeeping and home making.
Fairbank Hall, of which Mr. Fairbank was the architect and builder, has always been a source of pleasure and profit. The piano in the hall was largely paid for by the graduate girls of the school.
Hundreds of girls in every part of the State and many other states look back on years spent there as the best training they ever had. They are now happily mar- ried, for the most part, and have homes and daughters of their own, whom they are training in the same loving way that Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Fairbank, for thirty years heads of the school, trained them many years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Fairbank have led splen- did lives of service. Both were adopted children themselves and were brought up by kindly people who instilled in them the doctrine of the Good Samaritan-the gospel of Love. While working out this gospel their separate ways, in educational work, they met. Each was drawn to the other by their mutual interest in con- structive school work. It was a religion with them-for they saw education in the broadest light, not only for the instruction of the mind, but for the refinement of the moral perceptions. They were well qual- ified for the work of the school, taking young girls from discordant homes where the little ones were acquiring or had al- ready acquired the coarsened viewpoint
that results in crime. By the wholesome influence of love and systematic instruc- tion in useful tasks the Fairbank's plan won the girls to better things. Under their supervision the school gained a fine reputation throughout the State and in neighboring states.
Practically all of the institutions at the school were started and nurtured by Mr. and Mrs. Fairbank. For years they had dreamed of an honor home for the girls, and through the influence of Mr. Smith, the president of the board of directors, it was decided to build one. The Smith, or Honor, Home of the school has aided much in preparing girls for outside life. They were required in the different homes of the school to attain by good conduct the grade of trust before they were eligi- ble to Smith Home. Here more individ- ual responsibility was expected to be as- sumed by each girl in meeting and con- trolling the every-day experiences of life. They were called upon at times to assist in the various departments of the school. If an officer was ill or called away unex- pectedly, they filled the position tempo- rarily. They were expected to so carry themselves in the varied departments of work, study, and recreation as to be worthy members of Smith Home. Thus it was a valued test of character.
If they continued to do well, they re- mained in the home until they left the school. If they were indifferent and de- served demerits, they were suspended for a time and sent to the home or cottage from which they came. The time of sus- pension might be one week, or longer, ac- cording to the offence. In this way the girls learned to conquer self and circum- stances, and they passed from one degree of responsibility to another so gradually and so naturally that they found but little difference between the school and an out- side home.
I36
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
The Middletown school was the first in the United States to have a cooking school, sewing school and an honor home. Now there are a number in different states. Mr. Fairbank is the oldest reform school superintendent in the United States. His one great aim was for all at the school to be as nearly as possible a well-regulated Christian family.
Mr. Fairbank was married, December 2, 1862, to Margaret Lefler, and to her a large amount of credit and praise is due for the success of his work since that time. A true and faithful coadjutor, she is equally beloved with him by all those with whom they have been brought in contact. Their son, William Ephraim Fairbank, born February 25, 1867, was also of great service in the conduct of the Middletown school. Gifted with rare musical talent, he was able to interest while leading in musical instruction, and was in charge of the four school rooms. He visited other schools and in- corporated new systems to keep his classes up to the standards of the time. He married Claribel Simonds, who died in March, 1914. They were the parents of two daughters: Jessie Margaret, born in 1895; and Dorothy Wilder, born in 1897. The elder of these daughters grad- uated from Wellesley College and studied a year at Columbia University. The younger daughter studied the piano two years at Demarest's Musical School in New York. An adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Fairbank, Mabel Lucy, is now the wife of Dr. Frank O. Garrison, of Brooklyn, New York.
HURLBUT, George Elmer, Manufacturing Executive.
It is a source of great satisfaction to trace the ancestry of a family back to those early pioneers who contributed so
much to the upbuilding of the beautiful country we enjoy today. But it falls to very few to number among their progen- itors as many of these men as does George E. Hurlbut, manager of the Vulcan Iron Works, of New Britain, Connecticut. Mr. Hurlbut traces his ancestry to no less than seventy-one immigrants who came to New England and settled in the Colonies there prior to 1690, among them as follows : William Brewster, and James Chilton, "Mayflower" passengers, 1620; William Ford, William Lathan, John Winslow, 1621 and 1623, settlers of Plymouth. Those who settled at Salem, Massachusetts, were: Samuel Edson, 1628; Robert Adams, 1638; Thomas Tracy, 1636. At Braintree, Massachu- setts, there were: Samuel Allen, 1632; Thomas Bliss, 1635; Henry Flint, 1635. At Weymouth, Massachusetts, there were: Nicholas Byram, 1638; William Orcutt, 1664; Joseph Pratt, 1690. At Marshfield, Massachusetts, there was: Robert Carver, 1680. At Hingham, Mas- sachusetts, there were: Hugh Caulkins and Thomas Jones, 1638. At Scituate, Massachusetts, there were: Humphrey Turner, 1628; Rhodulphus Elmes, 1635; John Williams, 1643; Anthony Dodson, 1650. At Watertown, Massachusetts, there were: John Whitney, 1634; John Dwight, 1635; Abraham Shaw, 1636. At Boston, Massachusetts, there were : Thomas Holcombe, 1630; Thomas Stough- ton, 1630; Robert Royce, 1631; Edward Elmer, 1632; William Douglas, 1640. At Newton, William Goodwin, 1632. At Ipswich, Launcelot Granger, 1648. At Gloucester, William Keeney, 1640. At Lynn, John Lay, 1638. At Newbury, Nathaniel Merrill, 1634. At Beverly, David Perkins, 1690. Thomas Spencer, at Cambridge, 1631. Also at Cambridge, William Wadsworth and John White in 1632. John Burbank, at Rowley, in 1640.
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.