USA > Connecticut > Evening post annual 1882: biographical sketches (with portraits) of the state officers, representatives in Congress, governor's staff, and senators and members of the General Assembly of the state of Connecticut > Part 3
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New York were exemplified in the most gratify- ing manner during the Presidential campaign of 1880. He organized and was the president of the Bankers and Brokers New York Stock Ex- change Garfield and Arthur Club, one of the most powerful and influential organizations in the campaign, and labored most efficiently at its head. This club furnished the impetus for the organization of the Produce Exchange and Dry Goods Exchange Garfield and Arthur clubs, and developed largely the sentiment among business men throughout the country that national pros- perity and success depended upon the retention of the Republican party in power. Mr. Smith has always been an ardent Republican, and is a representative of the party's best impulses and purposes. He is a native of New Hampshire, having been born at Excter in that State, and is upwards of 44 years of age. He prepared for Yale College, but instead of entering that insti- tution, finally decided on a business life, and has achieved exceptional success in it.
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COL. WHEELOCK T. BATCHELLER,
COMPTROLLER
COLONEL WHEELOCK T. BATCHELLER, of Win- chester, State Comptroller, was born in that town in February, 1840. Four years later his father died, leaving him to the care and training of his mother. The latter was a daughter of Captain Wheelock Thayer, after whom Comptroller Batch- eller was named. Captain Thayer settled at Winsted in 1817, moving there from Massachu- setts, and became one of the most prominent citizens of the place. At first in the employ of the father of Hon. John Boyd in the manufue- ture of scythes, he soon went into business for himself, and erected the third seythe shop in the place, which he managed with skill and abil- ity, accumulating considerable property. Com pelled to retire from native business by the infirmities of advancing ago, he was succeeded in 1858 by the firm of Wilder & Batcheller, his son-in-law und grandsons, of whom W. T. Batch
eller was one. Previous to this Mr. Batcheller had attended the common schools of Winstel till the age of fourteen, after which he spent two terms at Hudson River Institute at Claverack, N. Y. In 1855 he took his place m the shop. and in the following six years passed through the various grades of seythe-mnakme, gummeg n practienl knowledge of the details of manufacture and the needs of workmen While at the wuvil the call reached him for volunteers to save the nation, and in three weeks after the fall of Fort Sumter he marched through the greatest things the village had ever held, First Bentenant of a company of men mised for the regiment of Col onel (now General) Alfred Il Teny, At the Bull Run engagement he was in command et his
Histerm of service exjared i three months, and the next year a large number of his old
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comrades joined him in forming a company for the nine months' service, and he went into camp a captain, but before his regiment (the Twenty-eighth Connecticut) left the State he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel, which rank he held until mustercd out. He was a great favorite with the soldiers in both commands. During a large portion of the seige of Port Hudson, in which the Twenty-eighth actively participated, and at the surrender, he was in command of the regiment-Colonel Ferris being in command of the brigade. After returning home at the end of twelve instead of nine months, he again be- came connected with the army, this time in the quartermaster's department of General Sherman's army. He was stationed at Savannah, Ga., Morehead City, Goldsborough, and Raleigh, N. C. At the latter place he had charge of all the railroads centering there, from the time of Gen- eral Johnson's surrender in April, 1865, to De- cember of the same year-the government oper- ating them during that timc.
Colonel Batcheller resumed the scythe business in 1867, this time as manager of the Thayer scythe company, successor of the previous firms, on the old premises, which position he still holds. As a business man he is methodical, thorough, able, entirely upright, and of course successful. He is not ambitious beyond his capacity to handle business easily and well. As might be inferred, his goods have an excellent reputation, and those
who deal with him find it a pleasure to remain his customers.
Colonel Batcheller has never been known as a politician. What public honors he has borne have invariably sought him. The republican nomination in 1879 for representative from Win- chester was a complete surprise when announced to him. The estimation in which he is held by his towns-people, who have known him from infancy, was shown by the figures at the close of the poll. He led his colleague thirty-one votes and the State ticket fifty-eight votes. In the House he was made chairman of the military committee, where his thorough comprehension of the business before the committee and able sup- port of its action on the floor won him many new friends. He has a pleasant, genial, and mag- netic way, which always commands the respect and very frequently the devoted attachment of those he mects. It should be said that he was a charter member of Palmer Post, G. A. R., of Winsted, and is at present onc of the department officers, standing high in the estimation of the old soldiers of the State. Although he had not been before the State as a public man, and no manner of preliminary effort had been made, his name was received with great satisfaction when pro- posed in the republican State convention for comptroller, and he received the nomination on the first ballot. For the duties of the office he is in every respect admirably qualified.
Q.M.GEN. ALEXANDER HARBISON.
PMGEN FREDERICK E CAMP
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ADJY GEN GEORGE M HARMON.
COM WIN GLUNUL NIUND
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GEN. GEORGE M. HARMON, ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
Was a member of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery during the war, serving in the Virginia and Maryland Campaigns. He was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant of Company F, Fourth Connectieut Infantry, afterwards organized as the First Artillery, in May, 1861, and was pro- moted to the rank of First Lieutenant October 26th. also in that year. March 24, 1862, he was appointed Captain, and proved an able and effi- cient officer. General Harmon is a resident of New Haven, and is a prominent business man in that eity, being a member of the firm of Foy d- Harmon, extensive corset manufacturers. He has also established a partnership with R. A. Tuttle & Co., of Boston, engaged in active bus- iness in that city. Until the opening of 1882 General Harmon was a member of the New York firm of Banning, Chadwick & Co., Con- mission house, but dissolved his connection with it in order to engage in the Boston enter- prise. He is a man of exceptional business tal- ent, and is one of the ablest managers in the State. General Harmon has served several terms in the Common Council Board at New Haven, and is at present a member of the Board of Police Commissioners. He is Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, having been elected to that position for the Presidential Campaign of 1880.
GEN. ALEXANDER HARBISON,
QUARTERMASTER GENERAL,
Has occupied a prominent place in Republi- ean polities in Hartford for a number of years. having held various positions of trust and respon sibility in his party. For four years he was n member of the Board of Aldermen, und was president of that body during the administration of Mayor Robinson. He was comected with the Board when the Trinity College grounds were purelised for the site of the State capitol, and exerted n decided influence in the transaction General Harbison has been a member of the Re publicnn State Central Committee, und was, also,
for several years chairman of the Republican Town Committee of Hartford. He was the Re- publican candidate for Mayor in 1876, and candi- date for the State Senatorship against Hon. Charles M. Pond. whose majority he succeeded in reducing by upwards of 1.200 votes. During the presidential campaign of 1880. he was Chief Marshal of the Hartford Republican organiza- tions, and devoted himself with great energy to the duties of the position. General Harbison is an active business man. and is at the head of the firm of Harbison Brothers, director in the Kel- logg & Bulkeley Company, and also in the Mansuy Carriage Company. For five years he was presi- dent of the Connecticut Stock Breeders' Associa- tion, and secretary for four, having thus been connected with the organization officially since it was incorporated. General Harbison was born at Armagh, Ireland, March 31. 1542. Since 1849 he has resided at Hartford. He was edu- cated at the High School, and has been in suc- cessful business here for nineteen years.
GEN. FREDERICK A. CAMP.
PAYMASTER GENERAL.
Of Middletown, was a member of the Twenty- fourth Connecticut, enlisting in 1562. He was promoted to the rank of First Liemenant, aud was mustered out with his command in lood. after thirteen months of service. Soon after- wards he received the appointment of Captain In the Twenty ninth Connecticut, and in November. 1864, was promoted to rank of Major January 1, 1-05, he was made laentenant-Colonel af the Twenty ninth U. S. C. T. and served in that capacity nutil the muster out of his countand 10 November, Is65. He was present with los it _ 0 ment at lave's surrender. In March, Isbe, be received a lieutenant's emmission in the regular army and remainedin the service undl 1575, when he restenedl. having attained the rask of Cadafin For several yours just he has been the Secretary and Treasurer of the Middleimeni Gas Collins General Conp & n werobot of the Republican saute
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C920. 0746 f076
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GEN. GEORGE H. FORD, COMMISSARY-GENERAL,
Is a prominent citizen of New Haven, where he is engaged in the jewelry business, his establishment being one of the largest and best appointed in New England. He is an active member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, and is one of the directors of the Grilley Company. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Institute at New Haven, Chairman of the donation committee of the Orphan Asylum, and takes an active interest in all public matters involving the welfare of his city. General Ford is a man of marked executive ability, and occupies a leading business position at New Haven. He is also associated with prominent social circles in the city, and is a gentleman of superior attainments.
GEN. JAMES G. GREGORY, SURGEON-GENERAL,
Of Norwalk, was a member of the General As- sembly from that town in 1879, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations. He was also a member of the Committee on Claims. He is at present a member of the Board of Burgesses at Norwalk and Trustee from Fair- field County of the Middletown Asylum for the Insane. Dr. Gregory was born at Norwalk, and is thirty-eight years of age. He graduated from Yale College in the class of 1865, and from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1868. He was connected with the medical staff at the Brooklyn City Hospital for two years. In 1870 he returned to Norwalk, where he has since resided. He has taken an active part in Educa- tional interests, and is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.
COL. WILLIAM E. BARROWS
COL. WILLIAM B. RUDD
COL. FRANK L. BIGELOW
COL. CHARLES A RUSSELL
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COL SIMEON J. FOX
COL HENGT C M. LAN
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COL. WILLIAM E. BARROWS
Of Willimantic, Aid-de-camp, was a member of the Nineteenth Massachusetts regiment during the war, and was on staff serviee in the Second Corps, winning the confidence and esteem of his superi- ors as a gallant and meritorious officer. He is viee-president and treasurer of the Willimantic Linen Company, one of the largest thread con- cerus in the world. He is a man of exceptional executive ability, possesses the highest business qualifications, and has made his way to a fore- most place among the active and successful men of the State.
COL. WILLIAM B. RUDD,
Aid-de-eamp, was born in Fredonia, N. Y., Au- gust 17. 1838. His paternal grandfather was Major Nathaniel Rudd of Vergennes, Vt .; his grandmother a sister of Judge Hopkins of Hop- kinton, N. Y , for many years prominent in the politics of the States of New York and Vermont. His father, Rev. George R. Rudd, was educated at Hamilton College, was graduated in the class of 1823, prepared for the ministry at the Auburn Theological Seminary, was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Cayuga over the Presby- terian church of Scipio in January, 1827; in October of same year married Miss Frances Beardslee of Auburn, a lady of far more than ordinary literary and social attractions. Rev. Mr. Rudd was a close student, a man of fine in- tellect, cultivation, and refinement. His son, William B., removed to Lyons, N. Y., with his parents, sister and brothers, in 1850. He received a common school education until sixteen, when he began his business life, first with his brother, Edward P. Rudd, of the firm of Rudd & Carleton, book publishers, New York city, later continuing in the same business in Lyons, N. Y., acting also for several years as agent for the American Ex- press Co. Entered the army in the fall of 1561 in the Ninety-eighth N. Y. Regiment, serving in the Peninsula emmpaign ; in the spring of 1565 was appointed Adjutant of the 107th Regnnent, National Guard, State of & Y ; was married in June, 1865, to Maria ( Holley, daughter of es Gov. A. H. Holley of Lakeville, Conn , and be emne connected with the " Holly Manufacturing
Co." of Lakeville on removing to that place in the spring of 1866; from the first has been its Secretary, still holding that position as well as Agent, and is one of the Direetors and largest stockholders. He has been a Republican since the formation of the party, his first Presidential vote being east for Abraham Lincoln. He has been more or less comected with and interested in polities for several years ; has been a member of the State Central Committee for the past ten years ; was District Delegate to the Cincinnati Convention in 1876.
COL. CHARLES A. RUSSELL.
Aid-de-camp, is a member of the firm of Sabin L. Sayles & Co., woolen manufacturers at Dayville. in the town of Killingly, and the son-in law of Mr. Sayles. He was born at Worcester, Mass .. March 2. 1852. and prepared for college under Rev. Harris R. Greene. He graduated from Yale in the class of '73, and was well known as a boating man during his collegiate career. Three days after graduation he became city editor of the Worcester Press, and remained with that journal until its publication was discontinued by the proprietors and managers Colonel Russell, who is a first-class newspaper man, was time- diately appointed to a position on the Wrester Spy, where he remained until the spring of 1879. when he married Miss Ella Frances Sayles. daughter of Hon. Sabin L. Sayles, and removed to Killingly. Colonel Russell's father, Mr Isarah D. S. Russell, is a resident of Worcester, where he is engaged in business
COL FRANK L. BIGELOW,
And-de cump, is the oldest sont of Gioventer Bige low, and was appointed a memberof the stuff last fall, succeeding Colonel Rutherford Trowbridge et New Haven He was born at New Haven September 21, 1202, and prepared for college at the Hopkins Grammar School in that city the graduated at the Sheffield Bemitie sohail to the elumof 1881, and traveled through Europe during
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the past summer and fall. His special department in science is dynamic engineering, a branch re- quiring exceptional qualifications and training. Colonel Bigelow is associated with the establish- ment of H. B. Bigelow & Co. at New Haven.
COL. SIMEON J. FOX,
Assistant Adjutant-General, was originally ap- pointed May 10, 1869, under the administration of Governor Jewell, and has since remained in the Adjutant-General's office. He is an efficient organizer, and no inconsiderable share of the progress attained by the National Guard in the State during the past twelve years has been due to his influence. Colonel Fox was a member of the New Haven Grays, and also held the position of Quartermaster in the Second Regiment pre- vious to his appointment. During the war he served in the Twenty-seventh Connecticut In- fantry.
COL. HENRY C. MORGAN,
Assistant Quartermaster-General, was born at Brooklyn, N. Y., December 30, 1842, and was educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic and Colle- legiate Institute. He resided at Brooklyn and at Irvington, N. Y., until 1861, when he entered the United States ·military service, receiving the ap- pointment of First Lieutenant in the Twelfth Infantry, May 14. He was assigned to recruiting and mustering duty at Albany, N. Y., Pottsville,
Pa., and at Wilmington, Del., until January, 1863, when he joined his regiment in the Army of the Potomac and was engaged in the battles of Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg. He was in New York city during the draft of 1863. In June of that year he was promoted to a Captaincy in the Twelfth Infantry, and was also on detached ser- vice at Fort Ward, New York harbor. At the battle of the Wilderness, May 4, 1864, he was wounded twice, and lost his left leg by amputa- tion in consequence of the wounds. He was assigned to duty at Philadelphia as assistant to the chief mustering officer for the Eastern Dis- trict of Pennsylvania, December, 1864, and re- mained there one year. Subsequently he was assigned to service at Fort Hamilton and at Washington, remaining at the latter post until May, 1866. He was afterwards on general re- cruiting service until December, 1867. At the reorganization of the army he was transferred to the Thirtieth United States Infantry. He was brevetted Major for gallant and meritorious ser- vices at Gettysburg, and received the brevet rank of Lieutenant-Colonel for gallantry at the battle of the Wilderness. In February, 1868, he was relieved from active service on account of in- capacity resulting from wounds, his retirement being in accordance with an act of Congress. Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan was appointed Assist- ant Quartermaster-General by General Harbison in January, 1881, and is one of the ablest officers in the service of the National Guard. He is a cousin of Lieutenant-Governor Bulkeley. His father, Nathan D. Morgan, was a native of Col- chester, and his mother was a daughter of Cap- tain Henry Churchill of Portland, Conn.
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HON. ORVILLE H. PLATT,
UNITED STATES SENATOR
HON. ORVILLE 11. PLATT, one of the United States Senators from Connecticut, was born in the town of Washington, Litchfield County, in this State, on July 19, 1827, and will therefore be fifty-five years of age in July next. He was a son of Daniel G. Pratt, a farmer, and worked upon his father's farm until he was 20 years of age. His education was received in the common schools and in the academy of Frederick W. Gunn, of wide reputation in later years as the principal of " The Gunnery," so called, in the town of Washington, an institution of learning which became justly celebrated. Mr. Plutt stud ied law in the office of Hon Gideon Il Hollister, Litchfield, the well known historian of Connec tient, who died last year, and was admitted to the bar in Litchfield in 1849. Subsequently he seenred admission to the Pennsylvania bag in Townmla, Bradford County, and spent six months
in the office of Hon. Ulysses Mercur, now Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He re- turned to Connecticut in 1861, and located m Meriden as a practitioner of law, and has since made that city his home In 1856 6 he was clerk of the Connecticut Senate and was elected Secretary of State in 1857. In 1-61-2 he was member of the Sonate, and in 1864 and 1sep was elected to the House -the last year serving as its Speaker. In all these pasttiens he this played exceptional qualifications and showed a special aptitude for legislative lanstress he was chosen State Attorney to New Haven County, and hell that place tol deted in 1570 to the United States Porate to speed 1bp W] lam 11 Barnum, His torm in the mais will exple March 8. 1 555.
This is a rough sketch of his varere. which Is hoe in all respecta wefail and homeralle Mln
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Platt's name was first mentioned in connection with the high office of United States Senator in 1868, when a lively contest occurred in the Legislature between the supporters of Ex-Governor William A. Buckingham and General Joseph R. Hawley. He had worked up no canvass, but a minority of the Republican voters voted for him steadily through many ballots, and finally divided the contest between the two principals by voting for Governor Buckingham. In the contest of 1879 the chief candidates to start with were General Hawley and Governor Jewell, Mr. Platt again coming in with a strong balance of power, but this time with the prestige of a larger acquaintance in the State, and consequently with more powerful influences. The canvass which determined the issue was well equipped with some of the best Republicans of the State, and its votes were so varying that at one time during the balloting General Hawley came within two votes of receiv- ing a majority, while Mr. Platt on the same bal- lot had but three votes-two cast by the members from his own town, and the other by the Senator from the Meriden District. From that point, however, his strength developed, and a few bal- lots more, which closed at three o'clock in the morning, gave him the nomination.
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Mr. Platt in person is tall and commanding. His manners are genial and popular. He is a pleasant speaker and a good debater-always clear and concise, wasting very few words for the sake of oratorical effect. As a lawyer he has had for many years a high standing at the bar, and has made a specialty of patent cases, though doing a general law practice. All his life he has been a promoter of Christian and philanthropic enterprises, actively working for the best good of society through the organized channels of religion and temperance, while by his own example assist- ing every good cause.
In the Senate assignment of committees he is Chairman of the Committee on Patents, a mem- ber of the Committee on Pensions, on revision of laws, and on contingent expenses of the Senate. His recent speech on the arrears of the pensions, which has been favorably commented upon for its terse vigor and good sense by many leading papers, is a fair specimen of liis methods in pub- lic debate, proving what has already been said- that he aims at the point under discussion rather than to secure rhetorical embellishment, though his language is always as finished as it is clear and forcible.
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HON. JOSEPH R. HAWLEY.
I NITED STATES SENATOR
HON. JOSEPH R. HAWLEY, U. S. Senator from Connecticut, is a native of North Carolina, born at Stewartsville in that State on the 31st of Octo- ber, 1826. His father, who was a clergyman, settled there, and it was during n temporary residence in the State that the son was born. While yet a boy the family moved to Cazen- ovia, N. Y. Later Joseph came to Hartford and entered the High school, and in course of the entered Hamilton college, from which he was graduated in 1847. Three years later he was admitted to the bar in Hartford, and subsequently entered into a law partnership with Hon. John Hooker, now the reporter for the Supreme Court of Connectiont. He practiced law for several years, but his tastes were politienl. He had from the experiences of his youth and Ins natural
training become strongly opposed to the institu tion of slavery, and when the question of its es- tension into the territories of the United States was opened by the passage of the Kansas Nebraska bill in 1-64. and the whole subject was apstate i by the struggles in Kansas, he was areused to a point where lus profession was of little a count The Hartford Remo Press had been estabiliale ! us in organ of the then experimental portal movement which took the name of the Repli cant party, and in 1-07 Mr. Hawley because its check editor, and was het n_ m that cymedly when the war of the Rebellion broke out in 1501, In the first company which was resulted or Copy toche in answer to the call for three months' vehinter he was u leaders anl was eniussimed as a Sen Und latentenmit on the Imer April, 1501 Free
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that time until the elose of the war he saw eon- tinuous service, and rose by promotion through the several grades of military advancement until he was a Brigadier-Gencral of volunteers and then a Brevet Major-General, with which rank he was mustered ont of service January 15, 1866. After the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, General Terry, a Connecticut man, was placed in command at Richmond, and General Hawley served with him as his chief of staff until the volunteer army was disbanded.
Very soon after he was mustered out of service the Republicans of Connecticut met in State con- vention and nominated him for Governor. His opponent was James E. English of New Haven. He was elected by a popular majority of 541, after a very closely contested campaign, and a singular coincidence was furnishicd in the result -showing the even politieal balance in the State notwithstanding war issues-by the fact that General Hawley's majority in the year following the war was precisely that which Governor Buck- ingham, the Republican candidate, received in the ycar preceding the beginning of hostilities between the North and the South. In 1867 he was re- nominated for Governor, but was defeated. Dur- ing all this period here referred to Gen. Hawley had retained his interest in the Hartford Press. In 1867 this paper was consolidated with the Hartford Post, and Gen. Hawley and his asso- ciates of the Press bought a controlling interest in the Hartford Courant, of which he has since been nominally editor-in-chief, though devoting very little personal attention to it, as his time has been devoted to more public matters.
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