USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 18
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at Lyons, New York, daughter of Jacob Kliner, born in Germany, who came to this country a boy of twelve, both his parents dying on the voyage. He was bound out to a miller and followed that trade most of his life. His wife was of French parentage.
Arthur Julius Birdseye, son of Julius Hiram and Elizabeth (Kliner) Birdseye, was born at Waterloo, New York, August 21, 1858. He obtained his education in the public schools and the academy of that place. He learned the jeweler's business at Waterloo, and later engaged in the dry goods business at Rochester, New York. In 1881 he again entered the jewelry busi- ness at Fairport, spending the years until 1887 there and at Peekskill, New York. He became a broker in New York City in 1891, but in 1893 made his entrance into the life insurance field by taking an agency with the Nederland Life Insur- ance Company of Holland, locating his office at Rochester, New York. In 1896 Mr. Birdseye transferred his allegiance to the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Com- pany of Newark, New Jersey. spending one year at the home office in close study of the methods, policies and operation of the company, particularly in relation to field work. In 1897 he was made super- intendent of Ohio agencies, remaining in the West for three years. In 1900 he was appointed State agent for Connecticut with headquarters at Hartford, and there has compiled a notable record as a busi- ness producer, efficient manager, and life insurance expert.
He has made Farmington his home residence, and there has taken active and prominent part in public affairs. In 1907 he was elected to the General Assembly, being the first Democrat chosen to that office in fourteen years from that district. He served on the committee on banks and banking, was a strong supporter of
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Governor Woodruff and his policies, secured some necessary legislation re- garding automobile operation, and suc- ceeded in passing the "Birdseye Money Shark Bill" to which reference has been made.
He is an ex-president of the Connecti- cut Life Underwriters Association; was a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Life Under- writers for six years, highly regarded and active in both ; is lieutenant on the staff of the major commanding the Putnam Phalanx; ex-treasurer general of the So- ciety Founders and Patriots of America ; ex-governor of the Connecticut Society ; member of the Hartford Municipal Art Society ; director of Connecticut Chil- diren's Aid Society ; treasurer and vestry- man of St. James Protestant Episcopal Church of Farmington, holds the degrees of lodge, chapter, council and comman- dery, York Rite, Ancient Craft Masonry ; is a noble of the Mystic Shrine, and a thirty-second degree Mason of the An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite. His clubs are the Hartford, City, Rotary, Farming- ton Country, and he was the first presi- dent of the Charter Oak Ad Club. While very aggressive in his methods, Mr. Birdseye is a man of magnetic personal- ity, holding men to him closely. He has unusual ability to make himself clearly and easily understood and is very popular. He has demonstrated fine executive qual- ity and his success as a manager of men has been most marked.
He married, at Rochester, New York, October 12, 1881, Clara Matilda, daughter of Thomas H. Turpin, of Rochester.
PORTER, Dr. William, Jr., Physician, Hospital Official.
Dr. William Porter, an earnest and dis- criminating student in the line of his pro-
fession, widely known as a prominent representative of the medical fraternity of Hartford, traces his ancestry back to an early period in England, the family being an ancient and honorable one, bearing a coat-of-arms, described as follows : Sable. three church bells, argent ; canton, ermine. Motto: Vigilantia et virtus.
William de la Port, the first ancestor of the family of whom there is definite in- formation, was a Roman knight and went to England with William the Conqueror. The line of descent is traced through his son, Ralph de la Port : his son, Robert de la Port ; his son, Hugh de la Port, who married a daughter of William Russell; their son, John Porter, a resident of Mark- ham, England, who married a daughter of a Mr. Gardiner, of Bishops Norton, Lin- colnshire, England; their son, John Por- ter ; his son. Augustine Porter, of Belton ; his son, John Porter; his son, William Porter, of Wryhall ; his son, John Porter, born in England, 1590, emigrated to this country in 1633, accompanied by his wife Rose, located in New England, and about 1635 was one of the founders of Windsor, Connecticut ; their son, Samuel Porter, was a native of England, born in 1626; his son. Samuel Porter, born in 1660; his son, Eleazer Porter; his son, Eleazer Porter, born in 1728; his son, William Porter, born in 1763, died in Hadley, Mas- sachusetts, about 1848, was a merchant, agriculturist and physician, meeting with well merited success in each line of work, the result of energy, perseverance and skill. He married (first) Lois Eastman, and (second) Charlotte Williams, and by his first marriage had two sons, John and William.
William Porter, grandfather of Dr. William Porter, of this review, was born in Hadley, Massachusetts, November 14, 1792, and died in Lee, Massachusetts, February II, 1853. He supplemented his
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common school education by a course in Williams College, from which institution he was graduated in 1813. Having chosen the profession of law for his active career, he followed the same throughout the ac- tive years of his life, and held high rank among the members of the legal frater- nity in Lee, Massachusetts, whither he removed in early manhood. He also took an active interest in public affairs, and was chosen by his fellow citizens to represent them in both houses of the State Legis- lature, his tenure of office being noted for efficiency and capability. He married Mary Ann Quincy, whose death occurred on December 2, 1835. Their children were as follows: William, of whom further ; Samuel Quincy, who was a resident of Unionville, Connecticut; Charlotte, who died aged thirteen years; Mary Weld, who married, September 3, 1845, Franklin Chamberlin, born April 14, 1821, in Dal- ton, Massachusetts, was one of the promi- nent lawyers of Hartford, and died there, September 10, 1896.
William Porter, father of Dr. William Porter, was born in Lee, Massachusetts, January 10, 1820. He acquired a practical education by attendance at the common schools of his native town, then matricu- lated in Williams College, from which in- stitution he was graduated in 1839. His health having been impaired by years of constant study, he took passage on a sail- ing vessel bound for Florida, his parents deeming that the best way in which to recuperate, and he remained in that State for seven years, that length of time being necessary to accomplish the purpose for which he was sent. Later he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where he pursued a course of study in theology, and thereafter made that profession his life work. In 1845 he accepted the position of Professor of Latin in Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin, in
which capacity he served continuously for many years, honored and beloved by all with whom he was brought in contact. He was a man of scholarly at- tainments, great wisdom and genial dis- position, and his influence for good was far-reaching and beneficial. He married, July 13, 1854, Ellen Gertrude, born in Hartford, Connecticut, March 15, 1831, youngest daughter of Laertes Chapin, of Hartford, Connecticut, and a sister of President Aaron L. Chapin, of Beloit Col- lege (see Chapin). Their children were as follows: William, of whom further ; Frank Chamberlin, a professor in Yale University, married Delia Lyman, and has two sons, Lyman and William Quincy : James, died in infancy; Mary Quincy, a resident of Beloit, Wisconsin.
Dr. William Porter was born at Beloit, Wisconsin, October 16, 1855. His early years were spent in his native city, and his education was gained by attendance at Beloit College. The three years fol- lowing the completion of his studies were spent in connection with the paper mill business in Dalton, Massachusetts, whither he removed. He then matricu- lated in the Chicago Medical College, which is now the medical department of the Northwestern University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine, in 1882. He then went abroad, and for one and a half years pur- sued post-graduate work in institutions in Paris and Vienna, thus adding materi- ally to his previous knowledge and in- creasing his efficiency many degrees. Upon his return to the United States, he chose the city of Hartford. Connecticut, as his place of residence, locating there in January, 1884, and remaining there ever since, the intervening years having brought to him large returns for labor expended, and a place of prominence in the ranks of his professional brethren,
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also in the esteem of his fellow citizens. He is a member of the staff of the Hart- ford Hospital, and keeps in touch with the leading thoughts and advanced ideas along the line of his profession by mem- bership in the City, County and State Medical societies, and the American Medi- cal Association.
Dr. Porter married, in Hartford, Con- necticut, June 27, 1885, Mrs. Frances (Pease) Hall, widow of Ezra Hall, and daughter of Edwin T. Pease, one of the founders of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company. By her former marriage she had two children, Robert and Elizabeth. Dr. and Mrs. Porter have one daughter, Margaret Chapin. Mrs. Porter is a mem- ber of Immanuel Congregational Church, of Hartford.
(The Chapin Line).
Deacon Samuel Chapin, the progeni- tor of the line of the Chapin family herein followed, of which Ellen Gertrude (Chapin) Porter was a representative, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, with his family in 1642, and became one of the highly esteemed citizens of that place. He took an active part in public affairs, and on October 10, 1652, was ap- pointed one of the magistrates of that town. His death occurred November II, 1675, and he was survived by his wife, Cecily, whose death occurred February 8, 1683.
Their son, Jepheth Chapin, was born in the year 1642, and died February 30, 1712. He was an active participant in the great fight at Turner's Falls, May 18, 1676. He married (first) July 22, 1664, Abilenah Cooley, who died November 17, 1710. He married (second) May 31, 1711, Dorothy Root, of Enfield, Connecticut.
Deacon David Chapin, son of Jepheth and Abilenah (Cooley) Chapin, was born November 16, 1682, and died July 8, 1772. He served in the capacity of first clerk of
Chicopee Parish, and was one of the first deacons in that parish. He married (first) November 12, 1705, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Stebbins. She died February 6, 1726. He married (second) Mindwell Holton, who died October 21, 1758.
Deacon Edward Chapin, son of Deacon David and Sarah (Stebbins) Chapin, was born February 16, 1724, and died January 6, 1800. He married, July 6, 1752, Eunice, daughter of William and Mary Colton, of Longmeadow.
Their son, Aaron Chapin, was born April 20, 1753, and died December 25, 1838. During his early manhood days he followed the occupation of a cabinet maker, in which line of work he was pro- ficient, but subsequently changed his line of work to that of watch repairer and cleaner, in which he was equally expert. He served as deacon of the First Congre- gational Church in Hartford. He mar- ried, September 11, 1777, Mary, daughter of Zebulon King, of East Windsor, Con- necticut. She died February 21, 1829.
Their son, Laertes Chapin, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, August 21, 1778, and died October 30, 1847. He learned the trade of cabinet maker under the pre- ceptorship of his father, and his entire active career was devoted to that line of work, first in Hartford and later in East Hartford, whither he removed two years prior to his death. He was honest and straightforward in all his transactions, ac- tive and enterprising, faithful in his at- tendance on divine service, and was hon- ored and esteemed by all in his commu- nity. He married (first) November 12, 1809. Susanna, daughter of Gad Merrick, of Franklin, New York. She died Sep- tember 9, 1811. He married (second) Laura Colton, of Hartford, Connecticut. She died September 18, 1854. Mr. Chapin was the father of ten children, and among the children of his second wife was Ellen
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Gertrude, who became the wife of Wil- liam Porter, and mother of Dr. William Porter, aforementioned.
WEBSTER, Hon. Morris Catlin, Public Official, Legislator.
Hon. Morris Catlin Webster, comp- troller of the State of Connecticut, is a representative in the eighth generation of one of Connecticut's oldest and most prominent families. The Webster family has furnished to the Nation very many men who have won fame as patriots, edu- cators, public officials, clergymen, and members of the other learned professions and in the world of business and finance. Probably the most noted member of the family was Noah Webster, presumably the best known lexicographer of the Eng- lish language.
Many of our English names had their origin in the occupation of the family, and among these we find Webster, meaning weaver. As surnames were not generally adopted in England until after the thir- teenth century, and as a family of Web- sters have been traced in Yorkshire as far back as the late thirteen hundreds, it will be seen that this is one of the oldest of English names. Eminent British author- ities state that the family is of Scotch origin. The English ancestry of the American family has not been definitely established, but it is supposed that John Webster, fifth governor of Connecticut, came from the Yorkshire family. Several branches of the family are entitled to wear coats of armor.
Savage says that John Webster "brought from England his wife Agnes and children, Matthew, Robert, Ann Elizabeth, and Mary." He came to Hart- ford from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1636, and was one of the founders of the town. From the beginning he was promi-
nent and influential. In April, 1637, he was a member of the committee that sat with the Court of Magistrates to declare war against the Pequot Indians. He was elected to the General Court the same year, and in 1638 was one of the deputy commissioners. In April, 1639, he was elected to the Court of Magistrates and was continued in that office until 1655, in which year he became deputy governor, and the following year was Governor of the State. During the years, 1657-58-59, he held the office of first magistrate. He served on many important committees and performed many useful public serv- ices. He served on the committee with William Phelps who drafted the criminal code that was approved by the General Court in 1642. In 1654, with Major-gen- eral Mason, he was appointed a member of the Congress of the United Colonies. Benjamin Trumbull says that Governor Webster was one of eleven men out of the one hundred and fifty-three original settlers of Hartford who were honored with the prefix, "Mr." He took an active part in the stormy controversy that arose in the First Church at Hartford after the death of the Rev. Thomas Hooker. He was one of the minority that withdrew and settled in Hadley. It is the opinion of the historian of the church that "the weight of right and justice was with the defeated and emigrating minority." John Webster's name appears first on the list of settlers from Hartford in the Hadley records. He was prominent in the new settlement as he had been at Hartford. Hle was appointed as one of the commis- sioners with "magistratical" power in 1660 who held court in Springfield and Northampton. He was made a freeman in Massachusetts, March 26, 1661. He died in Hadley, April 5, 1661, and Noah Webster, the great lexicographer, who was his direct descendant, placed a tomb-
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stone at his grave in 1818. Governor Webster's widow died in 1667.
Lieutenant Robert Webster, third child of Governor John Webster, was born in 1627, died May 31, 1676. He located in Middletown, where he became a promi- nent citizen. He was chosen recorder when the town was organized in Septem- ber, 1651. He served as deputy to the General Court from September, 1653, to May, 1655, again in 1656-57-58. In the latter year he returned to Hartford to live, and there served on many important committees. Savage says he was "on service in the War of 1675," and in 1712 he was paid for military service with others whose accounts had been held open owing to uncertainty as to the length of their service. In 1652 he married Hannah Treat, who was born in 1629, at Wethers- field, Connecticut, daughter of Richard and Alice (Gaylord) Treat. She died in 1705.
Ensign William Webster, son of Lieu- tenant Robert Webster, was born July 2, 1671, died June, 1722. On May 11, 1721, he was "established and confirmed" by the General Assembly as ensign of the South Side Trainband in Hartford. That he was thrifty and industrious is indicated by his estate, which was inventoried at £566 5s 5d. He married, November 28, 1700, Sarah, daughter of Cyprian Nichols, of Hartford.
Captain Moses Webster, son of Ensign William Webster, was born September 26, 1706, died December 29, 1797. He set- tled in Harwinton, where land was deeded to him in 1737. He was first recorded as a resident of the town in 1739, and in the following year he is mentioned as captain. He married, December 6, 1733, Mary, who was baptized at Center Church, Hartford, April 3, 1709, daughter of John and Mary (Webster) Brace. She died September 14, 1762 or 1764.
Amos Webster, son of Captain Moses
Webster, was born July 12, 1740, died October 12, 1827. In the Revolution he served in the Eighth Regiment under Colonel Jedediah Huntington in Captain Joel Clark's company from Farmington. His term of service was from July 10 to December 18, 1775. The regiment was stationed on the Sound until September 14. when it was ordered to the Boston camps and became a part of General Spencer's brigade at Roxbury. He mar- ried, November 19, 1767, Theodosia Bull, of Harwinton. She died February 14, 1817, at Hartford.
Abijah Webster, son of Amos Webster, was born at Harwinton, December 6, 1783, died March 26, 1855. He was select- man of the town for the years 1826, 1832- 33, and in the latter year and in 1834 he represented the town in the General As- sembly. He married, January 20, 1807, Olive Rossiter, who was born September 12, 1785, died April 19, 1863. Among their children were twins, Addison and Adaline.
Addison Webster, son of Abijah Web- ster, was born April 23, 1819, died De- cember 17, 1885. He was for a quarter of a century secretary and treasurer of the Harwinton Fire Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and served as selectman of Harwinton about fourteen or fifteen years. He was the chief organizer of the Harwinton Agricultural Society, of which he was sec- retary from its organization until his death, and treasurer for many years. He also served in the capacities of tax col- lector, assessor, grand juror for a number of years, and member of the Legislature for the year 1857, believing that it was the duty of a good citizen to take an active part in public affairs, thus advancing the cause of right and justice. He married Ann Maria, daughter of Lewis and Can- dice (Catlin) Catlin.
Hon. Morris Catlin Webster, son of
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Addison and Ann Maria (Catlin) Web- ster, was born at Harwinton, Connecticut, September 28, 1848. He was educated at Winchester Institute, the well known military academy, at that time in charge of Colonel Ira W. Pettibone. His first employment was with Hart, Merriam & Company, of Hartford. After six years in their employ he went to Milwaukee, and engaged in the same line of business, carpets and draperies, but shortly after- ward he accepted a position with W. & J. Sloane, of New York City, well known importers of carpets and rugs. In 1874 he engaged in a general merchandise busi- ness on his own account at Terryville, Connecticut, continuing the same success- fully for four years. He then accepted the positions of secretary and superin- tendent of the Malleable Iron Works at New Britain, positions which he held un- til 1902, a period of twenty-four years. He then became State Building and Loan Commissioner, serving from 1901 to 1907, and after relinquishing that position he devoted his time and attention for some time to his Harwinton farm, which was conducted for stock breeding purposes.
From early manhood Mr. Webster has taken a keen interest in public affairs and has been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party. His first political office was as a member of the Common Council of New Britain, which he held for three years, from 1883 to 1886. He was a member of the school board for fifteen years, from 1890; served the city as mayor during the years 1898-99; in 1897 he was representative from New Britain, and from 1911 to 1913 he repre- sented his district in the General Assem- bly from Harwinton, and served during the latter year as speaker of the House ; in 1914 he was elected to his present office of comptroller. Mr. Webster's career as a public official has been characterized by
the same careful attention to detail, and honest straightforward methods that have marked the conduct of his personal business affairs. From the time he first entered public life he has grown in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citi- zens.
Mr. Webster married, April 15, 1874, Ida Elizabeth Barber, born in Harwinton. Connecticut, August 7, 1851, daughter of Orville and Sarah Barber, and a direct descendant of Thomas Barber, who was born in England in 1614 and was the first of the name to come to New England. He settled in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1635. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Webster: Walter Barber, born November 12, 1876, died January 12, 1913; Sarah B., born May 28, 1879; Ellen Anna, born July 24, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Webster are mem- bers of the Congregational church, in which body Mr. Webster has held vari- ous offices. In the church in New Britain he served as superintendent of the Sun- day school for fifteen years, and as deacon of the church for about ten years.
HOWARD, Charles Patton,
Manufacturer, Inventor, Astronomer.
The man with a "hobby" usually rides it to the exclusion of all else and is a man unfitted for practical business life. But Mr. Howard is a practical. successful busi- ness man, an inventor of note, a mountain climber of two worlds, yet withal, astron- omy is an acknowledged "hobby" and to him a source of boundless interest. But he has his pursuits all under control and classified. Business is his serious interest, mountain climbing his recreation, astron- omy his hobby. He, however, takes his recreation and his hobby seriously and has achieved results that entitle him to rank with the specialists and profes- sionals. His mountain climbing activities
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are over, but his interest in astronomy grows with the years.
Paternally Mr. Howard descends from William Howard, who came from Eng- land in 1635, settling at Braintree, Massa- chusetts. Maternally he descends from Colonel Robert Patton, of Scotch-Irish family, who came from Westport, Ire- land, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1762, served in the Revolutionary army under Washington and Lafayette, was the first postmaster of Philadelphia, appointed by Washington in 1789, a position he held continuously for thirty years. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Charles Patton Howard, son of Charles F. and Catharine (Patton) Howard, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, March 21, 1853, his father a prominent business man of Hartford, one of the founders of the firm of James L. Howard & Com- pany, manufacturers of railway supplies. Charles P. Howard was educated in Hart- ford public schools and was graduated from high school with the class of 1869. He then spent one year in Colt's Armory under the instruction of the superintend- ent, after which he entered Massachu- setts Institute of Technology in Boston. There he pursued a course in civil engi- neering and was graduated, class of 1874. After completing his technical study Mr. Howard returned to Hartford, there be- coming assistant to the superintendent of the firm of James L. Howard & Company, then an important firm, now one of the largest concerns in the East, manufactur- ing railway supplies. In 1877 Mr. How- ard was elected secretary of the company, vice-president in 1905, and in 1907 was chosen to fill the president's chair left vacant by the death of James L. Howard. For the past eight years he has been the able executive head to the company with which he has been officially connected for
forty years. A trained engineer and brought into such intimate relation with railway needs, Mr. Howard has given a great deal of time to improving appli- ances in railway use and in the invention of devices to perform certain service. In all he has perfected and patented about twenty inventions that have found ready adoption, many of them now being manu- factured by James L. Howard & Com- pany.
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