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 5
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Dr. Strickland was appointed Pension Surgeon by the government in 1548, and has since i- tained the position. He has held important offices in the State Medical Association, and has often served as delegate in politica conventions He is an Independent Democrat in politics, of the David Davis school, and will be governed by his best convictions in the discharge of his Sarstor ial duties. He has warm friends inboth parties. and is highly honored and respected 05 has fel- low citizens. The present & his first term of service in the Commectiont kooskein
HON. ANDREW S. UPSON.
DISTRICT NO 4
HON. ANDREW S. UPSON of Unionville, Re- publican Senator from the Fourth district, has served one term in the Senate, occupying the position of chairman of the Committee on Banks during both years that he has been a member of that body. He was a member of the House from Farmington for the years of 1-72 and 1873. and has been assessor and member of the Board of Relief of that town. Senator tipson was born at Burlington, June 16, 1835. His father died before he was two years old, leaving a widow and six children, with a farm of 200 neres under mortgage. The farm was sold, and at the age of four years Mr. Upson began working for his board and clothes on a farm, where he remamed until he was sixteen. At the expiration of this period he commenced work in a manufactory at 58 per month. Gradually advancing he became a traveling salesman ; then one of the owners,
and finally President of the Umion Ant Company, of which he was one of the founders. Semiten Upson is one of the leading business men at I'mionville, and is connected with several mann facturing institutions there. He is President of the Standard Rule, the Meech & Hart, and the Union Not Companies ; Vice President of the Union Rolling Mdl Company at Cleveland (L. and a director in the .Hum Ant Company at Southington, and the Cowles Hardware Cangain at U'monville. He is also a director in the Bes tol National Bank at Bristol, He has Leg the General Manager of the Union Not Compan Los seventeen yens Undor bis angervươn thể Com pany has grown to more than five tlares its unep nal proportions, and now has a brand alasuite- tory at Cleveland, O. In abeceseful operation. also under My Ujson's general management Aliment two year ago be assumed the active when
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agement and treasurership of the Standard Rule Company, having at that time been its President for three years. Senator Upson's career has been one of remarkable financial success, and
shows the innate character of the man. He has been a valuable member of the Legislature, dis- charging his duties in both Houses with marked efficiency.
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HON. JAMES SAMUEL ELTON.
DISTRICT NO 5
HON. JAMES SAMUEL ELTON of Waterbury was born in that city November 7, 1838, and received an academic education, including a two years course at General Russell's Military School at New Haven. He is a prominent business man at Waterbury, and is a director of a number of the leading manufacturing concerns there, in- cluding the American Pia Company, the Coe Brass Manufacturing Company, the Waterbury Brass Company, of which he is at present the president, and also in the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company. He was formerly a
director in the Holmes, Booth & Hayden Com pany, and president of the American Pin Com- pany. He is also a director in the Waterbury National Bank, and was an active associate in the Elton Banking Compnay, while it was en- gaged in business Senator Eltoa has not before been a member of the legislature, but a conse- quence of his large and important business es- perience has been able to render most valuath service during the session, He was elected Is the Republicsas of the Fifth District.
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HON. EDWARD F. JONES.
DISTRICT NO 6
HON. EDWARD F. JONES of Branford, Republi- ean Senator from the Sixth District, was a meni- ber of the Senate last year, serving as Chairman of the School Fund and Contested Elections Com mittees. In 1878 he was a member of the House and served on the Committee on Insurance, and on the special Railroad Committee. In 1575. and also in 1880. he was a delegate to the Re- publican State Conventions, and has taken an active interest in politics. He is a member of the Republican State Central Committee from his district. Senator Jones was born in New Jersey in 1821, and resided in New York city Trom 1814 to 1868, where for fifteen years he was connected with one of the largest joblung or wholesale boot and shoe houses in the city,-re
moving thence to Branford, of which town he has since been continuously a resident. He has hold from time to time the positions of Auditor and member of the Board of Relief. Senator Jones is the only Repuldican ever elected to the House from Branford, and is one of the most popular citizens of that town. He has been one of the New Haven County Auditors, and was one of the incorporators of the Guilferd Sav nes Bank, of which he is at present one of the Way tees. He is the secretary and assistant breastfed of the Branford bank Works, and a manrel levan business training and experience career has been high creditalle, and has wah for him the hearts esteem and theallage of his associates and constituents
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HON. GEORGE MILES GUNN.
DISTRICT NO 7
HON. GEORGE MILES GUNN, Democratic Sen- ator from the Seventh District, was a member of the House from Milford for the years 1850 and 1881 and proved himself to be an able and clear-sighted legislator. his debate he presents the subject in hand with force and ability, mak- ing his points with precision, and in the majority of cases winning the assent of his associates. His career in the House has been highly credita-
ble, and for a man of his years has been one of marked success. Senator Gunn was born at Milford August 10, 1:51, and graduated from Yale College in the class of '74, and from the Yale Law School in '78. He is a member of the Board of Education at Milford, and is one of the most promising of the younger members of the New Haven County bar.
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HON. WILLIAM JOSEPH MILLS.
DISTRICT NO. 6
HON. WILLIAM JOSEPH MILLS of New Haven. who represents the Eighth Senatorial District, is widely known throughout the State, and it is sel- dom that New Haven, the largest constituency in the State, has been represented in the Senate by one of Mr. Mills' years. His election in 1850 by a majority larger than that which General Hancock received in the same district shows great popu- larity. The subject of this sketch was bora in Yazoo, Mississippi, on the 11th day of January. 1849, and consequently is now in his thirty-second year. He is descended from Virginia stock, his ancestors for generations having been prominent physicians and planters, ranking among the best fiunilies of the Old Dominion. William Mills, the father of the Senator, following the example of his predecessors, studied medicine, and was n man of extensive scientific and hterry at tainments. After his marriage he resided in
Mississippi and practiced his profession and plant- ed cotton until he fell a victim to the great yellow fever scourge in 1553, which attacked him while rendering aid to his stricken family and friends On his death Is family moved North, and a few years after his decease the mother of the Senator married William H. Law, of Norwich, n gentle man belonging to one of the historic families of our State, whose ancestors have illuminated the political and adorned the social history of om commonwealth since its earliest period Ml Mills graduated from the Norwich Academy, and then studied for several years under the best to tors and private masters that could be seented, In the latter part of 1567 Mr Mills went into the house of Crimell, Mintun & Co, of New York, one of the largest shipping and commission homes in the country, and stayed with theme until January, 1-71, during which the, Is atDet
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attention to business, he passed through every department in their house and reached onc of the highest positions in their service. The experi- ence which he then acquired has been of the utmost value to him. Not having a fondness for mercantile pursuits, Mr. Mills resigned from their employ, and, after recovering from a severe at- tack of typhoid fever, entered the Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1876, taking while there a high position for excellence in lit- erary composition. He is now in the active prac- tice of his profession. Mr. Mills took an active part in the campaign of 1876 and did much toward carrying the State for Tilden and Hen- dricks, and in appreciation of his work he was selected by the Democratic electors to carry the six votes of this State to Washington, being the only Democrat who has had that honor since the Pierce campaign of 1852. Mr. Mills represented New Haven in the Assembly during the session of 1878, and was nominated by his party in 1880,
as Senator, and elected by a plurality of 2,226 over his competitor. This, we believe, is the largest majority ever given to a Democratic Sen- ator in his district. During his service in the House and in the Senate Mr. Mills has made a host of friends, and his every vote has been guided only by what he thought was right. He is a strong Democrat in his feelings, but at the same time is not one of those who believe that his party can do no wrong. Mr. Mills is a director in the Southern Pacific Mining & Mineral Land Company, a corporation which is controlled by some of the wealthiest and most prominent citi- zens of New Haven, and which owns a large number of valuable gold, silver, and copper mines in Arizona and New Mexico. He is also a direc- tor of the Automatic Boiler & Engine Company, one of the most promising manufacturing enter- prises in New Haven. The Senator has lived in New Haven since 1868.
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HON. ROBERT COIT.
DISTRICT NO 9
HON. ROBERT COIT of New London was l'e- elected in November, carrying his district by a solid majority. He has served as Chairman of the Insurance Committee on Engrossed Bills, the latter being one of the most important of the legislative committeeships. In 1879 he was a member of the House, serving on the judiciary committee. Two years ago last fall he was elected mayor of New London, and has been one of the most popular and efficient chief executive officers that city has ever had. Senator Coit is a gentleman of great popularity in his section of his State. He was born at New London in 1-30, hud graduated from Yale College at the age of 20 years, in the class of 1850. Mr. Coit is a lawyer by profession, and has been in practice for twenty-five years or more. He is president of the New London Northern Railroad Company,
and a man of fine business capacity. He has held the office of Judge of Probate for several years; Register in Bankruptcy for ten years, and is vice-president of the National Union Bank of New London, and one of the directors of the New London Savings Bank. He has shown, since his entrance into legislative affairs, an cellent aptitude for the business require l. With- ont making any ornamental show, with an apparent desire to avoid publie attention, he is h vigilant legislator, watchful especially over the interests of his inmedlate constundhits, and that- oughly attentive to every matter of gold comiccon He possesses conservative tendencies big they det direction, and is rezarded by his associates as n man of unusually dear comprehension and spoil judgment. In politics he is Republican
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HON. CHARLES PERRY WHITE.
DISTRICT NO. 10.
HON. CHARLES PERRY WHITE of North Ston- ington was elected by the Republicans of the Eighth Senatorial District in November, 1880, by the largest majority ever given in that district, and holding over, now represents the Tenth Dis- triet, which comprises the towns of Ledyard, Norwich, and Preston, as readjusted by the Leg- islature of 1881. Senator White brought to luis aid in the Senate a long and valuable experience with habits of industry and strict integrity, sery ing as chairman of important committees and in other important capacities. He was an industri- ons legislator, always found at his post of duty; and no complaint was ever heard from any part of his constituency that their interests were not well and faithfully served. He was born in North Stonington, November 12, 1813, and en joyed the advantages of a common-school and
academie education us afforded by his native State and in Rhode Island. His mother was a descendant of Commodore Perry. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his grund- father served in the Revolutionary anny. Ile has held the office of Justice of the Peace for more than a quarter of a century, and has held other local offices of trust and responsibility. In Isol he resigned the position of Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, which position la had huld for twenty years His devolles to the enuse of temperance, and unselfish interest of all movements tending to refer, and his cumage in the capacity of Justice of the Peace when cases have been before him in the Interest of the stage pression of sice, have strengthens the calldenied of all the people in him as the years have malt plied. When Ins pre ut tern expres be wal
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have held the office of Judge of Probate for twenty-three years, and would be continued if his age permitted. He was elected to the House from his native town in 1853 as a Democrat, but
since 1855 he has acted with the opponents of that party, and has been an ardent member of the Republican party from the day of its birth.
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HON. CHARLES P. STURTEVANT.
DISTRICT NO. 11.
HON. CHARLES P. STURTEVANT of East Lyme, Republican Senator from the Eleventh District, was a member of the House during the session of 1878, and has held nearly all the offices in the gift of his townsmen during the past ten years. He is engaged in the woolen manufacturing busi- ness, and holds the position of agent and secre- tary of the Niantic Mills company. He is a man of fine excentive ability and is a valued member of the Senate. His experience in the House has
made him familiar with methods of legislation. and in the wider field to which he has been chosen has represented them with credit und honor. Senator Sturtevant was born in New York city, in 1844, and received an academic ed- ueation. He is the only son of Hon. A. P. Stmn- tevant of Norwich, one of the millionaire Manntad turers of this State. He has resided at Bist Lyme for a number of years, and is prom month associated with New London county interests,
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HON. OLIVER HOYT.
DISTRA T NO 1º2
HON. OLIVER HOYT of Stamford, Republican Senator from the Twelfth District, has been elected a member of the Senate for three con- seentive terms, during two of which he has held the position of president pro tempore. As Chair- man of the Committee on Humane Institutions he has exhibited the greatest fairness nud con- sideration, and has looked carefully after the in terests of the State and the expenditures of the public funds. In 1878 he was Chairman of the Joint Special Committee on Federal Relations, and also of the Committee on State Expenditures, serving with notable ability and discrimination on the latter. Senator Hoyt's business training fitted him for the work of the State Expenditure Committee, and throughout the session he labored with indefatigable zeal for the public interests. In 1879 he took un netive part in the temperance legislation of the term, working with great per-
severance for the modification of some of the temperance acts passed at previous sessions. He is an able and judicious leader, and his intluence in the Senate has been of decided value to the State. Senator Hoyt was born at Stamford, in 1824, and was eduented in the common nund se- leet schools of the town. Early in life he en- gaged in the hide and leather business in New York, in which he has been very successful. ITe was chosen a Presidential Elector in 1572. and cast his vote for General Grant He Is a director in the National Park Bank of New York, also in the Home Fire Insurance Company and the Phoenix Insurance Company of New York He has served three terms in the General Con ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Is a liberal patron of the institutions of that de nomination. During the year 1851 he was a member of the international assembly of Mother-
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ists at London, representing his church with characteristic earnestness and success. Senator Hoyt is a man of positive convictions, and is thoroughly equipped for public life. His course
has invariably been one of honor and integrity, and in Church and State and social life he has done noble service.
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HON. TALLMADGE BAKER.
DISTRICT NO. 18.
HON. TALLMADGE BAKER of South Norwalk, Republican Senator from the Thirteenth district, has been in public life for a number of years and is prominently known throughout the State. He was State Treasurer during the administration of Governor Andrews, and has been a member of the House from Norwalk for three terms, having served in that body during the years of 1870, 1877, and 1881. For twenty-three years he was engaged in the wholesale grocery and
provision trade at New York, but retired from that business in 1869. He has served his fellow townsmen at Norwalk in various capacities, hav- ing held the offices of Street Commissioner, member of the South Norwalk Common Council, member of the Board of Water Commissioners, and Vice-President of the Fairfield County In- strance Company. At the November election he was chosen Senator by a splendid majority
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HON. MORRIS WOODRUFF SEYMOUR.
DISTRICT NO. 14
HON. MORRIS WOODRUFF SEYMOUR, of Bridge- port, Democratic Senator from the Fourteenth district, holds over from 1881, serving last year with marked ability and efficiency on the State Prison Committee. He is a son of the late Ex- Chief Justice Origen S. Seymour of Litchfield, where he was born October 6, 1842. Senator Seymour graduated from Yale College in the class of 1866, being a classmate of the llon. John M. Hall, the present speaker of the House. He received n thorough legal education ut the Columbia Law School at New York, and began the practice of the legal profession at Bridgeport in the fall of 1868, and has since resided there. He is one of the most popular lawyers connected with the Fairfield County Bar, und commands an extensive practice. He is in partnership with
his brother, Edward W. Seymour, and is one of the leading practitioners in the United States courts, especially in patent and other causes. In 1870, Senator Seymour was elected assistant judge of the Bridgeport City Court, and was also appointed that year on the staff of Gor James E. English, with the rank of Colonel. In 1571 he was chosen City Clerk of Bridgeport, and m 1-72 and 1878 he held the offices of Caty Attor- ney and Corporation Counsel. He was appointed a United States Commissioner in 1571, and held the office until his election as Semtor, when he resigned the place. In every position which he has held he has discharged his duties with ability und fidelity, and enjoy the highest esteem and friendship of Ins associates
HON. WILLIAM N. NORTHROP.
DISTRICT NO. 15.
HON. WILLIAM N. NORTHROP of Newtown, Democratic Senator from the Fifteenth district, has held various local offices, including that of First Selectman since 1875, Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, and member of the Board of Assessors, member of the Board of Education, Director of the Newtown Savings Bank, and also
of the Board of Relief. He is a farmer by ocen- pation, giving special attention to the raising of cattle. He is a man of conservative principles. and in polities is a Democrat. Senator Northrop was born at Newtown, July 15, 1829, and received a common and select school education. The present is his first term in the legislature
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HON. HENRY HAMMOND.
DISTRICT NO 16
HON. HENRY HAMMOND of Killingly, Republi- can Senator from the Sixteenth district, was in the Senate last year, serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee. At the present session he is Chairman of the Committee on Banks, and also Chairman of the Committee on Temperance. He was born at Pomfret in 1814, and received his education at the public schools. He was en- gaged in mechanical business until 1851. Two years later he removed to the town of Killingly, where he has since resided. He culisted carly in the anti-slavery canse, and, while in his minor- ity, assisted in the organization of the first anti- slavery society in the state, but took no active part in political matters until the formation of the Liberty or " Free-Soil Party," when he gave his first vote for President to James G. Birney mu 1844. His ancestors were among the earliest
settlers in this country from England, and took an active part in the French and Indian wars He was a member of the House of Representa- tives in 1854, and was appointed by Speaker Foster, Chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations. He was again a member in 1-65 and served on the Railroad Committee. He has hed the office of County Commissioner, and was thice times elected General Railroad Commissioner for the State. He was appointed United States Marshal for the District of Connectant in Pres ident Fancoln, and afterwards Collector ot Inter nal Revenue for the third Congressional Destr t by President Johnson He was for several years active trustee in the Windham County Savings Bank, and is now President of the First National Bank of Killinghy, and a vector in the Daniel- somville Cotton Company During the war den
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ator Hammond was very active in his efforts to sustain and strengthen the loyal party, and at the most critical periods was several times in- trusted with the transaction of important busi-
ness with the departments at Washington in the interests of the State. He is a man of large public experience, and has made a strong and in- fluential member of the Senate.
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HON. EUGENE S. BOSS.
DISTRI T NO 17.
HON. EUGENE S. Boss of Windham, Republi- ean Senator from the Seventeenth District, was a member of the House in 1877. serving as Chairman on the part of the House on the Com- mittee on Frauds in Elections, and on the Com mittee on Insurance. He has also been a Presi- dential Elector from Connectient, a member of the Board of Burgesses, and Acting Warden of the Borough of Willimantic, and one of the
trustees of the Willimantic Savings Bank. For the past twenty-four years he has been engaged in business with the Willimantic Linen Company. and is an active and influential citizen. He was born at Willimantic, January 18. 1842, and re- ceived a common-school education. Senator Boss is a prominent Republiem, and is one of the leaders of his party in Windham county.
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HON. LORRIN A. COOKE.
DISTRICT NO 18
HON. LORRIN A. COOKE of Barkhamsted. Sen- ator from the Eighteenth District, is a native of New Marlboro, Mass. He is descended from the first settler of that town, Mr. Wheeler, who brought his wife on horseback from Springfield, Mass., to their new wilderness home. Lewis Cooke, grandfather of the Senator, was a Captain in the State Militia, and, having the Western fever, moved from New Marlboro to Chenango County, N. Y., in its early history, when his son Levi was but a lad. The latter was brought up to " endure hardness," being put to service with another pioneer in the rough work of clearing up forests in a new country.
After a few years of frontier experience he re- turned to New Marlboro, satisfied with " the West," and content ever after to remam m New England.
In 1829 he was married to Amelia Todd of
Sandisfield, Mass., and to this pair was born Lorrin Alanson, the subject of this sketch, on the 6th day of April, 1831-the only child they ever had. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke removed to Nor- folk, Com., in 1837, and to Colebrook in 1848. where he became an excellent farmer, a quiet, good citizen and neighbor until in May, 1571. he breathed his last, after a short and severe iness. while a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
borrin A. Cooke was educated at the common schools and ut Norfolk aendemy, and early tell into the somewhat usual enstom of many New Eng- land farmer boys of those days teaching in the winter, und working on his father's faim in the summer. He was a successful teacher and was employed repeatedly in the same schools, While spending a winter in one of those he made the nequantance of Miss Matilda E Webster, daugh-
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ter of Dea. Abner S. Webster of Sandisfield, Mass., who became his wife in 1858. After this event he taught school less frequently, and in company with his father settled down to a farm- er's life on the Colebrook farm, once owned by Jonathan Edwards, D.D., afterwards President of Union College. In intelligent, progressive farming he became one of the first in the vicinity. While younger than any of his predecessors lie was elected president of the local agricultural society. He was one of the early and influential promoters of a milk train on the Naugatuck rail- road from Winsted to New York. His neighbors carly observed his capacity, and in 1856, at tlie age of twenty-five, elected him to the Legislature from Colebrook. An enthusiastic, conscientious young Republican, in those forming days of the party when knownothingism controlled the State, lie held to his convictions and voted for Francis Gillette and against James Dixon for U. S. Sen- ator until the very last. He was always proud of that action, especially in the Johnsonized, brevet Democratic days of Mr. Dixon. He was early made Acting School Visitor, and in 1864 was elected First Selectman, at a time when the burden of recruiting, filling quotas, etc., demanded the best talent the town could furnish. He was re-elected until he left town. Of course such a record as he was making attracted the notice of others than his immediate neighbors, and in 1869 lie was urgently invited to become an officer and the chief manager of the Eagle Scythe Co. at Riverton. He accepted the position, and has re- mained there until the present time. His man- agement of this trust has been characterized by vigor, industry, and success. The works had just been rebuilt, and a debt had been contracted larger than the capital stock : prices had begun steadily to decline and competition was increas- ingly strong. The situation was grave enough to try severely the capacity of a man fresh from the farm, without previous experience in this or any line of manufacturing. Morcover Mr. Cooke saw that changes must be at once inaugurated. The three traveling salesmen were one by one re- lieved of their duties, which were assumed by
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