USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 20
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I 37
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Those immigrants who settled in Con- necticut were: Thomas Hurlbut, at Say- brook in 1635; Robert Hempstead, at New London in 1645; Miles More, at Milford in 1646; Thomas Sluman, at Norwich in 1663, and Thomas Waterman there, five years later; Thomas Adkins, at East Hartford, in 1682. Among those who set- tled at Hartford were: John Crow, 1638; John Bidwell, 1639; Nicholas Desbor- ough, 1639; Thomas Burnham, 1639; Thomas Olcott, 1639; Balthasar De Wolf, 1656; John Meekins, 1669; and William Partridge, the same year.
(I) Thomas Hurlbut, the ancestor in direct line of descent, was one of the early settlers known for their courage and energy. He was born in 1610, and died after 1681. On August II, 1635, he left London, England, in the ship "Bachelor," and was among those who settled at Say- brook, Connecticut. While at Saybrook, he was a member of a party of eleven men sent out, February 22, 1637, to burn leaves, weeds, and reeds upon the neck of land half a mile from the fort, and who while engaged in this work were attacked by Indians. Thomas Hurlbut was shot almost through the thigh, but escaped. After the Pequot War, he settled in Wethersfield, where he was the first blacksmith, an occupation which he had followed since coming to New England. For his services in the Indian wars, the Assembly voted him a grant of 120 acres of land, October 12, 1671. In 1640, Thomas Hurlbut served as clerk of the train-band; was deputy to the General Court; juryman ; constable in 1644; col- lector of taxes in 1647. The Christian name of his wife was Sarah, and their son was Stephen Hurlbut.
(II) Stephen Hurlbut, son of Thomas and Sarah Hurlbut, was born about 1649, in Wethersfield. He was a mechanic by trade. He married, December 12, 1678.
(III) Thomas (2) Hurlbut, son of Ste- phen Hurlbut, was born January 23, 1680-81, and died April 10, 1761. He was a tanner. He married, January II, 1704- 1705, Rebecca Meekins, daughter of John and Mary (Bidwell) Meekins. John Mee- kins was early in Hartford, and was a freeman in 1669. His will was dated No- vember 22, 1702.
(IV) Amos Hurlbut, son of Thomas (2) and Rebecca (Meekins) Hurlbut, was born April 14, 1717, and died in 1777, pos- sibly February 28 of that year. He mar- ried (first), June 10, 1742, Hannah Wright, and she died in 1756. He mar- ried (second), March 3, 1757, Sarah Hills, and she died in 1764. His third wife whom he married, March 10, 1766, was Sarah Latimer.
(V) Stephen (2) Hurlbut, son of Amos and Sarah (Hills) Hurlbut, was born December 12, 1760, and was baptized the twenty-eight of the same year. He died May 1, 1807, at Winsted, Connecti- cut. Stephen Hurlbut was in the Revolu- tionary War. He enlisted in 1778, in the regiment of Colonel Samuel B. Webb. This regiment was present at the battle of Springfield, June, 1780, and during the following summer served with the main army on the Hudson. His service was continued in this regiment, reorganized in 1781 as the Third Regiment, Connecticut Line. Stephen Hurlbut married, about 1786, at Salisbury, Connecticut, Abigail Meeker, born August 14, 1768, died May 14, 1854, at West Hartford, Connecticut.
(VI) Amos (2) Hurlbut, son of Ste- phen (2) and Abigail (Meeker) Hurlbut, was born February 13, 1792, died March 26, 1873, at West Hartford. He married, September 15, 1827, at West Hartford, Eleanor Elmer, born June 7, 1797, died January 22, 1887, daughter of Joseph (3) and Ruth (Stoughton) Elmer. (See El- mer V).
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(VII) Amos W. Hurlbut, son of Amos (2) and Eleanor (Elmer) Hurlbut, was born September 1, 1838, at West Hartford, and died May 3, 1903. Amos W. Hurlbut was engaged in railroad work in his younger days, part of the time in New Haven, where he was trainman for a number of years. Later he returned to West Hartford, where he followed farm- ing as long as he lived. He enlisted in Company D, 22nd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months in the Civil War, and was a mem- ber of Robert O. Tyler Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
He married, October 1, 1861, Ellen Barbara De Wolf, born January 26, 1844, daughter of Judson Fox and Huldah (Carver) De Wolf, whose line is traced further.
(VIII) George Elmer Hurlbut, son of Amos W. and Ellen B. (De Wolf) Hurl- but, was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, February 15, 1867. He was educated in the grammar schools of West Hart- ford and Hartford, and the West Hart- ford High School. For a couple of years following, he worked at various things, as was the custom with boys of his age, and then attended the Cheshire Military Academy, graduating in 1886. For a short time following, Mr. Hurlbut was connected with the Holyoke Water Power Company. Before entering the employ of the Vulcan Iron Works, of which he is now general manager, Mr. Hurlbut spent six months with the American Pin Company, at Waterbury. His first position with the Iron Works was in the capacity of time keeper, and he consistently rose from one position to an- other, each new position carrying more responsibility until he was made general manager in 1909. Subsequently, when the Vulcan Iron Works became a part of the Eastern Malleable Iron Company, Mr.
Hurlbut was retained in his present posi- tion, sufficient warrant of his ability. On an average there are about 350 men under his management.
Mr. Hurlbut is a Republican in politics, and served a year as a member of the New Britain Council ; three years on the Board of Public Safety, the last year as chairman. Fraternally, he is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand, and in 1909 was grand master of the Grand Lodge. He is past priest of Comstock Encampment, of New Britain, and is a member of the Uniform Rank. He holds the rank of captain in the Put- nam Phalanx.
Mr. Hurlbut married Grace Caswell, a daughter of John N. Caswell, of Hart- ford, and they are the parents of a daugh- ter, Virginia Caswell.
(The Elmer Line).
(I) Edward Elmer, the ancestor, was born in England, and died in June, 1676. He came in the ship "Lion" to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1632, and was in Hart- ford, Connecticut, in 1636. He was also a first settler in Northampton in 1654, and returned again to Hartford, in 1660. He had a large tract of land east of the river at Podunk, now South Windsor, where he was killed by Indians in June, 1676, during King Philip's War. His marriage probably took place in Hartford, and the Christian name of his wife was Mary. Their son was John Elmer.
(II) John Elmer, son of Edward and Mary Elmer, was born in 1646, and died September 21, 1711. About October, 1669, he married Rosamond Ginnuarie, of Hartford, and they lived in Podunk. They had a son, Joseph Elmer.
(III) Joseph Elmer, son of John and Rosamond (Ginnuarie) Elmer, was born in 1678, and died at Windsor, Con-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
necticut, July 24, 1758. He married, April 4, 1700, Jane Adkins, born about 1678, died December 8, 1760, daughter of Thomas Adkins, of Hartford. The latter was born undoubtedly in England, and died in 1694. He was first in East Hart- ford in 1682, and the inventory of his es- tate amounted to £ 180.
(IV) Joseph (2) Elmer, son of Joseph (1) and Jane (Adkins) Elmer, was born September 16, 1718, and died at East Windsor, July 14, 1769. He married Sarah Burnham, born July 19, 1727, died August 15, 1812, daughter of John and Sarah (Spencer) Burnham. She was a direct descendant of Thomas Burnham, born in 1617, died June 28, 1688. He came from Gravesend, England, in 1635, and later settled in Hartford. In 1629, he married Anna -, born in England, died August 5, 1703.
(V) Joseph (3) Elmer, son of Joseph (2) and Sarah (Burnham) Elmer, was born May 16, 1759, and died December 18, 1837. He married, probably about 1780, Ruth Stoughton, born February, 1760, died at West Hartford, December 18, 1843, daughter of Oliver and Eleanor (Burbank) Stoughton. She descended from Thomas Stoughton, said to have come in the "Mary and John" in 1630, to Dorchester, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer were the parents of Eleanor Elmer, who became the wife of Amos (2) Hurlbut, as above mentioned.
(The DeWolf Line).
Balthasar De Wolf was known to be alive in 1695. He was of Hartford in 1656, and of Wethersfield in 1664. Four years later record is found of him in Lyme, Connecticut.
(II) Simon De Wolf, son of Balthasar De Wolf, was born in 1648. He married, November 12, 1682, Sarah Lay, born Feb- ruary 4, 1665, daughter of John and Sarah
Lay, and granddaughter of John Lay, who was of Saybrook in 1648. Their son was Josiah.
(III) Josiah De Wolf, son of Simon and Sarah (Lay) De Wolf, was born in Lyme, in 1689, and died in 1767. He married (first) Anna Waterman, born in 1689, died December 21, 1752, daughter of Thomas and Miriam (Tracy) Waterman. The latter were married in Norwich, in November, 1668, and Thomas Waterman was propounded for freeman in 1671. Josiah De Wolf married (second ) Abigail (Comstock) Lord, and she died in 1773.
(IV) Simon De Wolf, son of Josiah and Anna (Waterman) De Wolf, was born in Lyme, in 1718, died there in 1755. He married, January 31, 1745, Lucy Calkins, born August 6, 1723, died in 1798, daugh- ter of Stephen and Sarah (Calkins) Cal- kins. The immigrant ancestor of this family was Hugh Calkins, whose line is traced later.
(V) Elisha De Wolf, son of Simon and Lucy (Calkins) De Wolf, was born in Lyme, February 16, 1748, died in Deer- field, Massachusetts, March 7, 1838. Elisha De Wolf lived in Marlow, New Hampshire, and Deerfield, Massachusetts. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married Lydia More, born February 24, 1748, died September 21, 1827, daughter of Abel More, of Lyme, Connecticut.
(VI) Abel De Wolf, son of Elisha and Lydia (More) De Wolf, was born July 17, 1778, and died March 26, 1825. He married (first), October 22, 1800, Polly Whitney, born November 22, 1779, daughter of David and Rachel (Ransom) Whitney, and a descendant of John Whitney, who was early in Watertown.
(VII) Judson Fox De Wolf, son of Abel De Wolf, was born about 1805, and died August 17, 1871. He married, in March, 1827, Huldah Carver, born No-
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5
Walter Blau
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
vember 14, 1808, died April 15, 1899, daughter of John and Bathsheba (Edson) Carver, a descendant of Robert Carver, born in 1594. Ellen Barbara De Wolf, their daughter, became the wife of Amos W. Hurlbut, as above mentioned.
(The Calkins Line).
Hugh Calkins, born in 1600, died at Norwich, Connecticut in 1690. He was of Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1638, and of Marshfield, Massachusetts, in 1640. In 1642 he was a freeman of Gloucester, Massachusetts, held several public offices, among them being selectman, representa- tive, and other minor offices. The Chris- tian name of his wife was Ann, and they were the parents of a son, John Calkins, whose son, Hugh Calkins, married Sarah Sluman. Their son, Stephen Calkins, married Sarah Calkins, daughter of Jon- athan and Sarah (Turner) Calkins, also a descendant of the immigrant, Hugh Cal- kins. Lucy Calkins, daughter of Stephen and Sarah Calkins, became the wife of Simon De Wolf, as above mentioned.
BLAU, Walter Alfred, Electrical Contractor.
Among the young business men of Mid- dletown, Connecticut, Mr. Blau has gained remarkable success through his initiative, industry, intelligence and integrity. He is a native of Connecticut, born March 10, 1889, in New Haven, son of William Anton and Laura (Engel) Blau. His grandfather, Anton Blau, was born in June, 1822, in Baden, and died October 25, 1890, at New Haven, Connecticut. He came from Germany and settled in Nor- wich, Connecticut, where he lived for many years. He was a soldier in the Rev- olution of 1848-49, and in the American Civil War, and thus acquired, by the best of rights, the privilege of enjoying Amer- ican citizenship. He was a book-binder
by occupation and worked diligently at his trade until old age compelled its aban- donment. He married, about 1850, Kath- arine Koenig, born about 1831, in Hesse- Darmstadt, where her father was in the pottery business, died February 23, 1902.
William Anton Blau, son of Anton Blau, born October 15, 1851, in Norwich, Connecticut, lived in New Haven and was employed forty-two years as a book- binder and finisher by the O. A. Dorman Lithographing Company. On the dis- continuation of the business of this es- tablishment, Mr. Blau took charge of the binding and repairs in Yale Library, where he is still engaged. He married, Augusta Amelia Laura Engel, who was born May 2, 1853, in Berlin, Germany, daughter of Major Carl Gustave Engel, who was born March 11, 1824, in Cacp- nick, Germany. After coming to the United States, Mr. Engel enlisted in the New Haven City Guard, of which he was twice made captain. This office he resigned and became major of the 2nd Regiment. He also served as police commissioner, but was finally compelled to relinquish all activities on account of ill health. He participated in the attempted Revolu- tion of 1849 in Germany and was driven into Switzerland. In 1854 he came to America, and died April 2, 1892, in New Haven. His wife, Fredericka Wilhel- mina Augusta Volker, was born October 13, 1833, in Berlin, and died June 5, 1904, in New Haven.
Walter Alfred Blau grew up in New Haven, where he attended the grammar school on Ferry street, Fair Haven, and the Strong School. After something less than a half year in the high school, he resigned his studies to pursue his natural bent for mechanics. Long before he left school he fitted up a workshop on the paternal premises and made special stud- ies and experiments in the use of elec-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tricity. When about seventeen years old he was employed by the Harvey & Lewis Company in their New Haven store, where he was compelled to put in long hours for the princely salary of two and one-half dollars per week. By his in- dustry and capacity, young Blau soon gained an advance in salary and was em- ployed in the photographic department of another establishment. In the meantime, he pursued a course in electrical engineer- ing in the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and soon after secured a position with W. W. Gale & Company, electrical contractors of New Haven, where he was enabled to make practical application of the theories which he had imbibed by study. Here he was made stock clerk and was engaged in repair work and as salesman. In the meantime he built a very complete lab- oratory in his father's back yard from his own plans and there continued his exper- iments in all spare moments. After one and one-half years with Gale & Company he entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany as a journeyman in its electrical department and was employed in install- ing electrical equipment on bridges, pas- senger and pumping stations and similar work. He installed the electrical equip- ment of the Lyme and Niantic lift-bridge, unassisted, which consumed a period of about three months. This was done when he was at the age of eighteen. This was pronounced by the officers and engineers to be the best equipment on the system and young Blau was soon given entire charge of the inspection and maintenance of practically all electrically equipped bridges owned by the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. He was em- ployed on the re-equipment of the double lift-bridge at Bridgeport, and the new pas- senger station at East Hampton, Connec-
ticut, and on the installation of some ad- ditional 11,000 volt apparatus at the Con- necticut Company's sub-station at Middle- town, Connecticut, etc. He was energetic and made himself useful to his employers and was able to save up the sum of $500.00 with which to engage in business on his own account.
When twenty years of age Mr. Blau observed what appeared a good opening in Middletown, and in 1909 he started business as an electrical contractor, em- ploying one helper and a bookkeeper. He occupied a small store on his present site (Main street, above Washington), and has built up a business which has required several enlargements since that time. Every year new space was secured, such as taking over the store next door, and in time his landlord built an extension on the rear of the two stores for use as a stock room and repair shop. This is of brick and is a safe and convenient loca- tion for Mr. Blau. His staff now includes about twenty people, and he has equipped many prominent buildings, mills, and res- idences in Middletown and Middlesex county with electric lighting and power apparatus. For the past three years, in addition to the contracting department, he has carried a large stock of electrical appliances and his business in this depart- ment is continually growing. Within that short period he has disposed of an ex- ceedingly large number of electric wash- ers and more than three hundred vacuum cleaners, as well as many other labor- saving devices. When he began business in Middletown as a means of time-saving, he rode a motorcycle in the prosecution of his business, and now maintains two automobiles for the same purpose. His business extends down the Connecticut Valley to Saybrook and for a consider- able distance east and west of Middle- town.
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Mr. Blau has always found time in the midst of his growing activities to aid in promoting the public welfare, and for two years he was identified with the com- mittees on war work. He attends the North Congregational Church; and is a member of Central Lodge, No. 12, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; and Saint John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons. While sustaining well-estab- lished principles in political matters, he is independent of party control, although he usually sustains the Republican party. In 1918 he purchased what is known as the Morey residence on Lawn avenue, in Middletown, and in 1919 erected a cot- tage at Lake Pocotapogue, in East Hamp- ton, where his family resides during the summer months, and he finds recreation in canoeing, fishing, and the like.
Mr. Blau was married, August 6, 1912, to Florence Elizabeth Basserinann, who was born August 14, 1893, in New Haven, and they are the parents of two sons: Walter Alfred, Jr., born July 2, 1913; and William Frederick, born September 19, 1919.
MOORE, De Marquis de Casso y Rujo, Physician, Surgeon.
Dr. D. C. Y. Moore, successful physi- cian and esteemed resident of South Man- chester. Connecticut, graduate of a New York medical college, an interne of the leading homeopathic hospital in New York State, and for twenty years in good practice in South Manchester and that district of Connecticut, was born July 24, 1869, in New Boston, Massachusetts, the son of John Apollos and Irene Harriet (North) Moore, the former an educator most of his life, and the latter also in the teaching profession prior to her marriage.
Dr. Moore's genealogy connects him with many old Colonial New England
families, but, directly, he is a descendant of Andrew Moore, who was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Connecticut. Although it cannot be substantiated by existing records publicly filed, it is be- lieved to be more than probable that An- drew Moore was a son, or a near relative, of Deacon John Moore, who settled in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1630. How- ever, in the absence of authentic proof of that connection, Andrew Moore is placed as progenitor in America of the line to which Dr. D. C. Y. Moore, of the present generation, belongs. Andrew Moore is known to have been early of the Poquo- nock district of the town of Windsor, Connecticut, but the first town record re- garding him concerns his marriage, the entry being: "Andrew Moore & fara Phelpes yt was Dafter of famuell Phelpes ware married by capten Newberry, feb- ruary 15, 1671." In 1675, Andrew Moore was paid £ 1 17s. by Matthew Grant from town funds, on "warr account." This must have been for services against the Indians at about the time of the destruc- tion of Simsbury. On January 23, 1674, the town paid Andrew Moore, Nathaniel Pinney, and Joseph Griswold, by Matthew Grant, "for making a new ferry boat." They were paid £ 3 6s. 8d., in barter, and it seems that a tax levy was assigned before collection in the payment of debts at that time. It is, however, on record that Andrew Moore received all his share of payment for the boat in provisions. On August 24, 1678, he and thirty-four others were sued by James Cornish for a school bill of five shillings. His oldest child Sarah was then only six years of age. On December 20, 1680, he was paid by the town for labor on the church. He had a grant of land in Salmon Brook, now Granby, Connecticut, in 1680, in which he is called "Andrew Moore, the carpenter, of Windsor, Conn." At a later date An-
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
drew Moore bought land of John Gozard, on the "east side of the mountains, bounded easterly by Simsbury easterly bounds, southerly by John Pettybone, his lot (allias Jonathan Moore, his lot) the bredth of s'd lot westerly by the commons is fifty rods." On March 29, 1715, he deeded to his son, Benjamin Moore, "for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving, but especially in con- sideration of my fatherly love and affec- tion I have to my son Benjamin Moore," fifty acres of land in Turkey Hills, now East Granby. He lived in Windsor, where the births of all his children are recorded except William. He died No- vember 29, 1719. The inventory of his estate was made December 17, 1719, and amounted to £320. His widow Sarah was appointed administratrix. He had fifteen acres of land in Windsor, with house and barn, carpenter's tools, farm- ing implements, a cider mill, loom, spin- ning wheel, sword and belt, and a library "prised at 8 shillings," besides two pieces of land in Simsbury. The distribution of the estate took place April 5, 1720, and each. of his nine children took a share of property, after the widow's share had been set apart. The direct line from Andrew Moore to Dr. D. C. Y. Moore, who is of the seventh generation, is through: William, 1684; James, 1716; William (2), 1740; Apollos, 1771 ; D. C. Y., September 18, 1804 ; and John Apollos, December 18, 1842.
(I) In more detail, William Moore, son of Andrew and Sarah Moore, was born in 1684, and died May 9, 1780, in Granby, Connecticut. His headstone is marked "Mr. William Moore," and, customarily in Colonial days, that designation was accorded to men of proven gentle birth or superior education only. He married (first) Elizabeth Case, who died in Gran- by, then Simsbury, September 29, 1739,
when she was forty-nine years old. No record of this marriage can be traced, but he mentioned in his will a "piece of land he bought of his brother, William Case." If by brother he meant brother-in-law, then Elizabeth, daughter of William and Eliz- abeth (Holcomb) Case, born September, 1689, was his wife. The second wife of William Moore was Damaris, daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Winchell) Phelps. "The aged William Moore" made his will November 7, 1773, and the distribution of the estate occurred October 30, 1781. Its value was £750, and the bequests in- cluded that to his "beloved wife Damaris," who by its provisions had right to "one- half the dwelling-house, one-quarter the cellar and well, one-quarter of the barn," and one-quarter of all his lands and mov- able estate, as long as she remained his widow. At that time she was eighty-one years of age.
(II) James Moore, son of William and Elizabeth (Case) Moore, was born in Simsbury, June 6, 1716. He married Rachel, daughter of Matthew and Han- nah (Chapman) Grant, in Simsbury, May 25, 1737. She was born in Windsor, Con- necticut, and was of the family from which later sprang the illustrious Gen- eral U. S. Grant. James Moore died March 5, 1788, and was buried in East Granby. His will, dated December 19, 1782, disposed of land in Mooretown, now part of Southwick, Massachusetts, and further land in Turkey Hills, now Granby. The will provided: "To my beloved wife, Rachel, the use of one half my brick house and home-lot containing about 44 acres to use as long as she shall continue my widow, and to have ye liberty of ye use of my well, and to get Wood on my Mountain Lots during her Widowhood," and one-third of his movable estate.
(III) Of their eight children, their son, William (2) Moore, was their second
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born. He is of notable record, serving in the historic Bunker Hill engagement, un- der Captain Thomas Knowlton. He served three subsequent enlistments, and his final discharge was on May 5, 1780, from the Third Regiment, Connecticut line, Colonel Samuel Wyllis. He was born in Simsbury, it is believed about 1740, and there took to wife Sarah, whose patronymic is believed to have been Hos- kins. They lived most of their life in Westfield, Massachusetts, where six of their eight children were born.
(IV) Apollos Moore was their young- est child, and fourth son. He was born in 1771, and settled in Barkhamsted, and died at Riverton, in the town of Bark- hamsted, Connecticut, in 1861, aged about ninety-one years. He owned considerable land, in fact the larger part of the site of the present village of Riverton.
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