USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 38
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Edward Everett Woodford was born at the home farm in West Avon near the Farmington line in 1841, and died at his farm in that part of the town of Canton known as East Hill, August 6, 1879. The section in which he lived had long been the home of his forebears and there he was educated and grew to manhood. When war broke out between the states he promptly enlisted and saw nearly four
years of war in all its horror. While he escaped the perils of battle he met an even worse fate, his capture in battle re- sulting in incarceration in the Anderson- ville prison pen for nine months. There he endured every form of suffering the brutal Wertz could inflict, but came out with his life, although sadly broken in health. He returned to Avon and after regaining his strength resumed work at the home farm. Soon after his marriage he bought a farm at East Hill and there resided until his death, August 6, 1879. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. He married Ellen Maria Case, born November 1, 1845, youngest daughter of General Jarvis Case, born in 1801, died in 1865, and his wife, Lucia (Adams) Case, born in North Can- ton, daughter of Ezra Adams. General and Lucia (Adams) Case were married in 1828, and were the parents of four daugh- ters and a son, Jarvis W. Case. Mrs. Ellen M. Woodford survived her husband and married (second) Clifford S. Thomp- son. Edward E. and Ellen M. Woodford were the parents of two sons: Louis, de- ceased; and Alton Edward, of further mention.
Alton Edward Woodford was born at the East Hill farm in Canton, Hartford county, Connecticut, October 31, 1876. After the death of his father in 1879, Mrs. Woodford moved with her sons to Meadow Plain : four years later she mar- ried a second husband and removed to Unionville where Alton E. was educated in the grammar and high schools. After leaving school he spent two years with a lumberman in Granby, then returned to Unionville, and was employed with the Upson Nut Company. He had saved his earnings, and having sufficient funds for the purpose, he took a course at Hun- singer's Business College in Hartford. The following two years were spent in
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RbStewart
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the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge Thomas J. Watrous, of Hart- ford, but he did not complete a full course, deciding to enter business instead of en- tering the legal profession.
He formed a partnership with Herbert J. Ripley, and as Woodford & Ripley pur- chased an established brokerage business located at No. 7 Park Row, Hartford, and there conducted successful operations as insurance brokers until the financial dis- turbance of 1902 caused them to sell out. In 1903 Mr. Woodford resumed as an in- surance broker and at No. 803 Main street, Hartford, is yet so engaged, well established and successful. He is a mem- ber of St. John's Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Pythagoras Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wolcott Council, Royal and Select Masters; Crescent Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; is a Republican in politics ; and a member of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce. His clubs are the Hartford, Rotary and City.
Mr. Woodford married, October 12, 1898, Bertha May Brooks, daughter of Thomas B. Brooks, of Unionville, Con- necticut. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woodford are members of the Unionville Congre- gational Church.
STEWART, Raymond Grover, Manufacturer.
Raymond Grover Stewart, whose career has been identified with the City of Waterbury, Connecticut, and who has, even as a young man, made himself prom- inent in its affairs, is a native of Wood- bury and came to his adopted city in his youth. He is a type that we associate with the idea of New England and the wonderful progress that it made dur- ing the century subsequent to our birth as a nation, the type that has brought
about the marvelous progress by its un- daunted courage, its unfaltering patience and its intelligence, skill and enterprise.
Born on April 19, 1885, at Woodbury, Connecticut, Raymond Grover Stewart is a son of William and Mary E. (McMur- try) Stewart, both natives of Connecticut, Mr. Stewart having been born at Hotch- kissville in 1850 and Mrs. Stewart at West Cornwall ten years later. They were married at Woodbury in 1880 and were the parents of three children as fol- lows: Bertha, born in 1882, and married - - Atwood: Leila, born in 1884, and married Augustus MacBurney, of Wood- bury, Connecticut ; and Raymond Grover, of whom further.
The early life of Raymond Grover Stewart was spent in his native town of Woodbury, where he attended the local schools for a time. He came later to Waterbury, however, where he took a course in the Waterbury Business Col- lege, fitting himself admirably for his subsequent business career. He had worked for a time in the woolen mills of Woodbury, but after coming to Water- bury, which he did at the age of sixteen, he secured employment in several of the factories of the larger place, advancing in position until he found himself the assist- ant purchasing agent for the Waterbury Manufacturing Company. He remained in this position for a number of years, be- coming thoroughly familiar with indus- trial and mercantile situations throughout the State and learning the manufacturing business to the last detail. In 1910 he was offered the position of purchasing agent by the Baird Machine Company. Of too independent a spirit to meet with the whole of his success while in the employ of others, Mr. Stewart withdrew from, this association in 1912 and became a mem- ber of the Autoyre Company, with the offices of secretary and treasurer therein.
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When the Baird Machine Company aban- doned its old plant in Oakville, Connec- ticut, the Autoyre Company bought this place from them and now occupies it. The business which it does there is an extremely successful one and is princi- pally that of the manufacture of wire articles by automatic machinery. The product of their factory is of a very high grade and has a large market in all parts of New England and elsewhere. Not a little of the business success of the firm is due to the talent of Mr. Stewart, who still occupies his position as secretary and treasurer. Nor does Mr. Stewart confine his activities to those of his business, but mingles freely in the affairs of Waterbury and is regarded as a leader in many de- partments of its life. He is a Republican in politics, and although he does not take an active part therein he is regarded as a factor in the settlement of local issues. He is an Episcopalian in his religious be- lief and attends All Saints' Church in Oakville.
It was on July 12, 1910, in New York City, that Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Lily Loftus Monahan, a native of Waterbury, born April 13, 1888, a daughter of William and Mary (Loftus) Monahan, of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart one daughter has been born, Myrtle Elouise, March 4, 1912.
CRAWFORD, George Eugene, Head of Large Industry.
In 1888 Mr. Crawford located in Bridge- port, Connecticut, and in a small way launched the business which has grown to such proportions that it outranks all others of its kind in the State. Not only has Mr. Crawford attained local promi- nence, but for several years he was a member of the board of directors of the National Laundryman's : Association of
America, and at the annual convention in 1914 he was chosen its president. He is equally prominent in fraternal and club life. He is a son of Ossian Crawford, of Union, Connecticut, who died in 1908, aged seventy-six years. He was a mill- wright and builder, and for fifty years resided in or near the cities of Springfield and Worcester, Massachusetts. He mar- ried Lavinia Shepard, who died at the age of eighty-five years, leaving four children, all yet living: Emma, wife of Robert Lawson, of New Bedford, Massa- chusetts ; Charles F., of Wales, Massachu- setts ; Arthur J., of New Haven, Connec- ticut, and George Eugene.
George Eugene Crawford was born in Wales, Massachusetts, July 15, 1867, and was educated in public schools and Hitch- cock Free High School, of Brimfield. Massachusetts. At the age of seventeen he left school and home, going to New Haven, Connecticut, where for two years he worked for his brother, Arthur J. Craw- ford, a laundryman. At the age of nine- teen he went south, spending a year in Montgomery, Alabama, returning to Con- necticut in February, 1888, locating in Bridgeport. He opened a small laundry- ing establishment in Bridgeport and set- tled down to build up a business which should be a source of profit to himself and a credit to the city. Twenty-eight years have since elapsed and for several years the business transacted by the Crawford Laundry Company has been larger than that of any laundry in Connecticut. Mr. Crawford's first laundry was at No. 216 Middle street and was there located for five years before its growth compelled him to remove to No. 34 Court street, where he remained fifteen years. In 1907 he erected the present four-story brick building at the corner of Fairfield and Courtland streets, the first reinforced concrete building erected in Bridgeport.
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Chas, Stuart Canfield.
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He moved to his new building in the fall of 1907, and there has so increased his patronage that fifteen wagons are re- quired to collect and deliver and one hun- dred and twenty-five people are employed in the various departments. He is a director of the City National Bank, presi- dent of the Bridgeport Chamber of Com- merce, and in 1909-10 served his city as a member of the board of fire commission- ers. He is a member of the Masonic order, holding the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and be- longs to the Brooklawn, Algonquin, Sea- side Outing and Bridgeport clubs.
Mr. Crawford married in Bridgeport, December 21, 1894, Ida B. Hawes, daugh- ter of J. Henry and Laura B. Hawes, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have four children: William H., a fresh- man at Brown University, class of 1920; Louise ; Arthur J., and George Eugene, Jr.
CANFIELD, Charles Stuart, Lawyer.
The profession of law has claimed the time and talents of Charles Stuart Can- field, of Bridgeport, for many years, and as a legal exponent he has attained high rank and honorable mention. During a lifetime spent in the city of his birth he has won many expressions of confidence from his townsmen and has served his city well in various official capacities. He is of a time honored Connecticut family, a descendant of Thomas Canfield, who came from England to New Haven and in 1647 located in Milford, Connecticut. He is a son of Charles Edwin and Caroline Louise (Osborne) Canfield, his father for a long time a merchant of Bridgeport, later mov- ing to a farm in Nebraska.
cated in public and private schools, two of his instructors, Rev. Guy B. Day and Warren W. Selleck, being well known educators of their day. Choosing the law as his life work he entered the law offices of William K. Seeley, an eminent member of the Fairfield county bar, and under Mr. Seeley's able guidance was in due season admitted to the bar. He at once estab- lished an office in Bridgeport and until the present day has been continuously en- gaged in the general practice of his pro- fession. In 1890 he formed a partnership with Stiles Judson, an association which continued over seventeen years, the firm then reorganizing as Canfield. Judson & Pullman. The learning and natural abil- ity that formed Mr. Canfield's assets at the beginning gave him a quick start in professional life, and as the years have added experience and matured wisdom he has advanced to a leading position at the bar. He is a skillful practitioner and learned lawyer, honorable to the last de- gree and highly regarded by his brethren of the bench and bar. He has been asso- ciated with the trial of many notable causes, is a member of the County, State and National Bar associations and inter- ested in all. He is a director of the Peo- ple's Savings Bank and the legal adviser of many corporations and companies. He is a Democrat in politics, and has ever been active and influential in counsel and campaign. He has served the town as treasurer and the city as treasurer and park commissioner. He is a member and former president of the Seaside Club, member of the Brooklawn Country, Al- gonquin, and Contemporary clubs, and thoroughly enjoys the features that form the particular attraction in these organi- zations. Genial, friendly and social by nature, he has many friends.
Mr. Canfield married (first) Alice
Charles Stuart Canfield was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was edu- Wooster, of Seymour, Connecticut, who
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died in March, 1907, leaving a daughter, Julia Stuart, and a son, Wooster Can- field, the latter a graduate of Sheffield Scientific School Yale University. On October 6, 1908, Mr. Canfield married (second) Mrs. Margaret E. Mooney, widow of the late Frank J. Mooney, a woman of rare intellectual attainments. Their home is at No. 798 Park avenue, Bridgeport.
BEACH, Henry Ledlie, Manufacturer.
A worthy scion of a family that has been prominent in the business life of Hartford for more than a century, and that is one of the oldest in Connecticut, Mr. Beach preserves the traditions and characteristics of New England life. His ancestry has been traced to John Harri- man, Richard Miles, John Steele, William Bradley, William Chittenden, all of whom were prominent among the Connecticut colonists, and also to John Hopkins, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Governor Bradford of the Mayflower Colony.
Among the recorded settlers of the New Haven Colony were three brothers, Rich- ard, John and Thomas Beach. The last named was the ancestor of the Hartford family. He took the oath of fidelity, March 7, 1647, in New Haven, and re- moved from there to Milford. He is said to have lived for a time in Wallingford, but returned to Milford before his death in 1662. He married, March 1, 1654, Sarah, daughter of Richard and Mary Platt. She died in 1698.
Their son, John Beach, was born Octo- ber 19, 1655, in Milford, and died in 1709. He went to Wallingford in 1673-74 with the children of John Beach, of Stratford, and was known as John Beach, Jr., to distinguish him from his cousin of the same name. His wife's name was Mary, and they were married in December, 1677.
They were the parents of John Beach, born October 15, 1690, in Wallingford, died May 9, 1775. He left Wallingford in 1728-29, and became one of the founders of the town of Goshen, Connecticut. In 1739 he built in what is now East Goshen one of the largest houses in the town, and there, in 1740, Rev. Mr. Heaton, the first minister of Goshen, was ordained. John Beach married for his second wife, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Baldwin) Royce, born in 1695, died October 27, 1767.
Their son, Adnah Beach, was born Jan- uary II, 1718, died March 10, 1783, and was buried in East Goshen, where his parents were also buried. He was a tan- ner by trade, and represented his town in the General Assembly. He married, June 9, 1741, Hannah Miles, who died Decem- ber 6, 1775, aged fifty-five years. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Ball) Miles, granddaughter of John and Eliza- beth (Harriman) Miles, of New Haven, and great-granddaughter of Richard Miles, who took the oath of fidelity in New Haven in 1657.
Ebenezer Beach, youngest child of Ad- nah and Hannah (Miles) Beach, was born May 30, 1766, died May 3, 1793, and was buried at Sheffield, Massachusetts. He appears to have been in business in Hart- ford with his brother Miles as a gold- smith and clockmaker at the time of his marriage. Later he removed to Litch- field, where he engaged in the same busi- ness by himself. He married at Hartford, Lucy Steele, who died April 7, 1801, daughter of Timothy and Sarah (Sey- mour) Steele, granddaughter of Daniel and Mary (Hopkins) Steele, the latter born January 30, 1705, great-granddaugh- ter of Samuel and Mary (Bradford) Steele, great-great-granddaughter of John and Mercy (Warner) Steele, and great- great-great-granddaughter of John Steele, the immigrant. Mrs. Beach was also a
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great-granddaughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Butler) Hopkins, great-great- granddaughter of Stephen and Dorcas (Bronson) Hopkins, and great-great- great-granddaughter of John and Jane Hopkins, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was a great-great-granddaughter of Major William and Alice (Richards) Bradford, and great-great-great-grand- daughter of Governor William and Alice Bradford, who came to Plymouth in the "Mayflower."
George Beach, the eldest child of Eben- ezer and Lucy (Steele) Beach, was born November 29, 1788, in Litchfield, and died at his home on Farmington avenue, Hart- ford, May 3, 1860. Upon the death of his mother he probably went to live with his grandfather, Timothy Steele, and re- mained until 1806. He began his busi- ness life as a clerk for John Pierce, a West India merchant of Hartford, and lived for a time, as was generally the cus- tom of those days, with the family of his employer. A few years later Mr. Beach became a partner in the business, under the firm name of Pierce & Beach. The trade of the firm was ruined by the War of 1812; Mr. Pierce left the city, and Mr. Beach closed up the West India business. Upon the organization of the Phoenix Bank of Hartford, in 1814, Mr. Beach was elected cashier, and continued in that position until September 6, 1837, when he was elected president, and continued at the head of this institution until his last illness, resigning April 5, 1860. In 1836 Mr. Beach became a partner in the firm of Phelps, Beach & Company, formerly Hungerford, Phelps & Beach. When Mr. Phelps retired in 1839, the firm became Beach & Company, George Beach becom- ing head of the firm. When General Lafayette visited Hartford, about 1825, it was Mr. Beach's duty as captain of the Governor's Foot Guard, to meet the gen-
eral, and with his company to escort him to a raised platform in front of the Phoenix Bank, where the State reception was held. He was generous with his wealth, and always favored young men just starting in life. He contributed largely to charity, but without ostenta- tion. He donated the land for St. Paul's Church, and built and maintained the Widows' Home, consisting of a number of small apartments, let gratuitously to deserving widows who had no home. From early life he was an active and faith- ful member of Christ Church. He was married three times. The first marriage occurred April 15, 1808, the bride being Harriet, daughter of Aaron Bradley, born June 27, 1792, died July 16, 1826. Aaron Bradley was one of the eight men who organized Christ Church of Hartford. His ancestry has been traced to William Brad- ley, one of the early settlers of the New Haven Colony. Aaron Bradley married Sarah Chittenden, a direct descendant of Lieutenant William Chittenden, who set- tled in the New Haven Colony in 1639, a magistrate of the General Assembly for twenty-seven sessions, 1641-61.
Henry Bruce Beach, fourth son of George and Harriet (Bradley) Beach, was born November 3, 1817, in Hartford, and died there June 18, 1907. His education was supplied by the public schools of his native city, and at Granby. At the age of sixteen years he shipped on a sealing ves- sel for a two years' voyage, and on his re- turn was for two years clerk in a store in Cazenovia, New York. Returning to Hartford in 1839, he entered the employ of Beach & Company, importers of and dealers in dye stuffs, as bookkeeper, con- tinuing in that capacity some three years. In 1842 he became agent for the firm of Hanks & Woodruff, the head of the firm being his father-in-law. Thus began Mr. Beach's connection with the engine and
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boiler manufacturing industry, in which he was active for more than sixty years. During the Civil War the establishment did a great amount of work for the gov- ernment, completing engines and boilers for five sloops of war, two gunboats and three transports. There was only one other concern in the country equipped to compete in this business, that of the Cor- liss Engine Company. In 1844 Mr. Beach acquired the interest of Mr. Hanks, by purchase, and continued business under the name of Woodruff & Beach Iron Works. In 1871 his son, Henry L. Beach, became a partner, under the firm name of H. B. Beach & Son. Mr. Henry B. Beach was three times married, his first wife being Mary, daughter of Truman Hanks. His second wife was Mrs. Frances A. Tomlinson, and his third wife, Miss Georgianna Smith. Mr. Beach took an interest in all that pertained to civic life, and the progress and prosperity of his home city. He was at one time foreman of the Sack & Bucket Company, an organ- ization of volunteer firemen, located on Pearl street, in the days before Hartford had a paid fire department. He was also an officer of the old Hartford Life Guard before 1850. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Owing to ill health, Mr. Beach had not taken an active part in the man- agement of the business for some years before his death. In his day he was one of Hartford's most active business men, and by his sound judgment and high prin- ciples won a reputation for rugged hon- esty that inspired the unfaltering confi- dence of those who knew him. He was a man of strong convictions, open and frank in all his dealings, and had the courage and ability to make his principles known. A thoroughly self-made man, his substantial career furnished a splendid example of what may be accomplished by
one who is self-reliant, ambitious and in- dustrious. Though not a politician he was active in the direction of local affairs, and felt that he could serve the commu- nity best by devoting his ability and en- ergy to the development of its industrial life. He was a man of splendid presence, strong personality, and enjoyed the re- spect and esteem of all who were privi- leged to know him.
Henry Ledlie Beach, only son of Henry Bruce and Mary (Hanks) Beach, was born July 13, 1842, in Hartford, and en- joyed excellent educational advantages in his youth. He was a student at Russell's Collegiate and Commercial Institute at New Haven, which was also a military academy, and was widely and favorably known in its day as an educational insti- tution of high standard. In 1859 he com- pleted his formal education, and returned home, where he entered the drafting room of the Woodruff & Beach Iron Works. During 1860 and 1861, and a part of 1862 he superintended the erection of boilers and engines and machinery for the United States sloops of war "Mohican" and "Kearsarge," also two United States transports. In July, 1862, he returned to Hartford from the "Kearsarge," and en- listed as a member of Company G, Six- teenth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, of which he was elected first lieutenant. On September 17 of the same year he was promoted captain of Com- pany I, same regiment. At the battle of Antietam he received a wound in the side, the bullet passing out of his body, and after the wound was dressed he refused to remain in the hospital and rejoined his command. In June, 1863, he was per- suaded by Gideon Welles, secretary of the navy, to resign his commission and super- intend the erection of machinery for three large sloops of war, which occupied his attention until 1866. He continued with
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the Woodruff & Beach Iron Works until the business was closed out in 1870 to H. B. Beach & Son, the firm consisting of himself and father, who took over all of its business except the building of engines. Owing to the ill health of the father, the son was practically in control of the busi- ness and was its managing head. He has continued in the manufacture of boilers with success to the present time. Mr. Beach has been quite active in Grand Army circles, is a member of Robert O. Tyler Post, No. 50, Grand Army of the Republic, and was chief of staff for Henry E. Taintor, who was department com- mander in 1887. Since that time he has been a member of the Council of Admin- istration, which office he still holds, and in 1913 was national chief of staff for Com- mander-in-Chief A. B. Beers, and he is now a member of the national executive committee of the National Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Beach is a man of simple tastes, of straightforward and direct thought and expression, and has small interest in the frivolities of life. In upright principle and clean living he ful- fills the destiny and honors the example set him by his worthy forbears.
In 1864 Mr. Beach married (first ) Mary Beach Crane, daughter of Henry and Se- lina (Hanks) Crane. She died in Octo- ber, 1891, and in 1893 he married (sec- ond) Amelia Stewart Burch.
FROST, Charles W. S., Physician, Hospital Official.
Charles W. S. Frost, M. D., whose scientific acquirements, upright character and devotion to his profession have given him a leading place among the physicians of Waterbury, was born in that city De- cember 22, 1857, a son of Warren S. Frost, who traces his ancestry to Samuel Frost, of England.
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