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 7
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ORSON SUMNER WOOD
Of East Windsor, was born in Mansfield, Novem- ber 15, 1839. His education was acquired at the Norwich and Ellington high schools, and at Yale College, from which institution he graduated in the class of 1864. During his life he has en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. The present is his second term in the Legislature, he having been a member of the House in 1873, when he served upon the Committee on Railroad Affairs. He is also School Visitor in East Windsor. Politi- cally he is a Republican.
CHARLES EMMONS WOODWARD
Of East Windsor, was born in East Windsor, July 4, 1843, and is now thirty-eight years of age. He received the advantages of a good com- mon-school education, and was for a number of years engaged in the tobacco and cigar business. At the present time he is employed in the tissue- paper mill of Frank H. Whittlesey, at Windsor Locks, and has charge of the finishing and ship- ping department. During the war of the rebel- lion he served in the navy in the Gulf squadron, and was a paymaster's clerk on the United States steamer " Estrella," Commodore Winslow com- manding. During O. D. Seymour's two terms of office as Sheriff of Hartford County, Mr. Wood- ward was a Deputy Sheriff. He is a Democrat.
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LOREN H. PEASE
Of Enfield, was chosen a member of the General Assembly for the first time at the last election. Previous to that, however, he held the offices of Assistant United States Marshal, member of the school committee, acting school visitor, tax collector, and census enumerator. At present he is an assessor and registrar of voters. A ro- publican, he will act with that party. Mr. Pease was born in Somers in July, 1835, and is now forty-six years of age. In his early life he at- tended the public schools of his native town. the Ellington High School, and the Normal School in the State of New Hampshire. For several years he taught school in the New England, Mid- dle, and Southern States, and subsequently en- tered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- phia, Pa. Graduating in 1861 he practiced as a physician for several years, until compelled by ill health to relinquish the calling. During the war he served as Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth Regiment, C. V. After giving up the medical profession he engaged in mercantile and insurance business, and when the Thompsonville Trust Company was organized became and has since been a member of the board of directors. After- wards he was elected its cashier, in which posi- tion he brought it to a first-class condition and then found a substitute. He organized and is now President of the New England Glass Burial Case Company, of Thompsonville, a flourishing concern recently established for the manufacture of the Aikins patent glass burial casket. Since its organization Mr. Pease has been a director of the Vitrified Wheel Co. of Westfield, Mass., a corporation manufacturing emery and corundum wheels.
JOSEPH WARREN JOHNSON
Of Enfield, has previously represented the town in the sessions of 1866 and 1870. In the latter year he was Chairman of the Committee on Railroads. Born in Somers, December 2, 1888,
he attended the common schools in his native town, and later the academy at Monson. Mass. At the completion of his legal studies he was admitted to the bar in 1864, and has since fol- lowed his profession, having built up a successful practice. For the past twenty years he has been a Justice of the Peace in Enfield In politics he is a republican.
THOMAS COWLES
Of Farmington, is one of the oldest members of the General Assembly, and has had a great deal of legislative experience. He is a republican in polities and was elected a member of the House in the years 1849, 1-52, 1863. 1-69, 1870, and 1872. In the year 1844, he was chosen AAssistant Clerk of the Senate, and twenty years later, in 1864, he was chosen a State Senator from the third senatorial district. He has also held the position of Bank Connnissioner. Mr. Cowles was born in Farmington, June 12. 1809, and is now in his seventy-third year. He was educated in the public schools, and is a graduate of Yale college of the class of 1529. During his life he has practiced law. He now holds the office of notary public, commissioner of the superior court. and registrar.
LUCIUS C. HUMPHREY
Of Farmington, is a member of the republican town committee, and was elected as a laweng man by his party, receiving the largest majority a representative ever received in Farmingting He was born in Orwell, Bradford county, P. July 7, 1-49, and is thirty two years of age. Il. received a common school education, and is low a contractor of the Union Nut Company. of Unionville, in whose employ he has levi for the teen years
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CHARLES H. TALCOTT
Of Glastonbury, is a descendant of Deacon Ben- jamin Talcott, who was born in Wethersfield, March 1, 1675, and who married the daughter of John Hollister of Glastonbury, January 5, 1699, and settled in the latter town the same year. At this time Benjamin Taleott built a large house on the Main street in Glastonbury, which was fortified and used as a place of refuge by the in- habitants from the attacks of Indians. Until it was torn down in 1850, when the present resi- dence was erected on the spot, the house bore the marks made by the bullets of the savages. In 1643 the farm on which it stood was purchased by the father of Benjamin Talcott and has been in the Taleott name ever since. The present proprietor, Charles H. Taleott, is fifty-eight years of age, and was born in the old homestead, Jan- uary 31, 1823. He was edueated in the common and seleet schools of Glastonbury, and during his aetive life has been a farmer. During the war he served as captain of the Twenty-fifth regiment, C. V., under the command of Colonel George P. Bissell, of Hartford. He has always been a stauneh republican.
AARON W. KINNE
Of Glastonbury, is a republican and has held a number of publie offices, among them being those of Selectman, which he occupied for four years, member of the board of relief three years, agent of the town deposit fund, three years. The two last named Mr. Kinne still oceupies. This will not be his first term in the legislature, he having occupied a seat in the house in the sessions of 1855 and 1862. He was born in Glastonbury, March 10, 1814, and is grandson of the Rev. Aaron Kinne, who was Chaplain at Fort Trum- bull at the time of the Groton massacre. His education was derived from the common schools, and during his life he has followed farming as a pursuit.
ARTEMAS GOODRICH HARGER
Of Granby, is a native of Massachusetts, having been born in West Granville in that State, on
Jannary 25, 1834, and is now forty-eight years of age. At the age of twelve years he removed to Bloomfield, Conn., and remained there three years ; since then he has lived in Granby. He received his education from the common schools, and during his life has followed agricultural pursuits. He is a republican in politics and besides being a member of the General Assem- bly, is a Justice of the Peace in the town which he represents.
GEORGE R. CASE
Of Granby, is forty-four years of age and was born in Barkhamsted, December 17, 1837. He was edueated at the common sehools and is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. During the war he enlisted as a musician in the Tenth Regiment, C. V., and served under Colonel Russel. He is a republican.
HENRY J. GATES
Of Hartland, is prominently identified with the interests of the town he now represents in the Assembly. Besides the offices of constable, town clerk, assessor, and minor offiees held by him, he was a member of the House in 1855. He at present holds the position of assessor. Mr. Gates was born in Hartland April 13, 1820, and is now nearing his sixty-second birthday. He enjoyed the advantages of a good education at the common schools, and during life has followed the blacksmith's trade, at the same time engaging in farming. During the war of the rebellion he served as a corporal in the Sixteenth Regiment, C. V. Politically he is a Republican.
GEORGE CLARK
Of Hartland, was born in the town which he now represents in the General Assembly, May 4, 1838, and is now forty-three years of age. He was educated at the common schools, and is a farmer. During the war he served as a private in the Twenty-fifth Regiment, C. V., commanded by Colonel George P. Bissell of Hartford. He is a Republican.
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CHARLES HUNTER OWEN
Of Manchester, is a lawyer by profession, and was born in Hartford, March 15, 1838, his father being the late Elijah 11. Owen. In his youth he attended the connnon schools in Hartford, and graduated from the High School in the class of 1856. He then entered Yale College, and grad nated in the class of 1860, and has received the degree of A.M. from that institution of learning Subsequently he studied at the Harvard Law School and received the degree of LL.B in the class of 1863. He has since pursued his profes sion, his office being located in Hartford, and has
a large practice. During the war Mr. Owen en- listed in the first Regiment, Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and was commissioned captain by bre- vet. He served as aide-de-camp on General Rob- ert O. Tyler's staff, with the fourth division of the second army corps. He obtained an honor- able record and was pensioned for the loss of his left elbow at the battle of Cold Harbor. He is a Republican in politics, and has held the offices of Grand Juror and Justice of the Peace in Man chester .
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CLINTON W. COWLES
Of Manchester, is engaged in the hotel and livery business there, and possesses a wide circle of acquaintances. He is forty-one years of age, having been born in the town which he now rep- resents, July 9, 1841. His education was acquired at the common schools. He has held the offices of First Selectman and Judge of Probate, and is now a Notary Public and Clerk of the Probatc Court in the Manchester District. During the war of the rebellion he was an army sutler in General Cowdins' brigade. His popularity is at-
tested by his election in the Republican town of Manchester. He is a Democrat in politics.
JOHN A. HALING
Of Marlboro, was born in that town March 20, 1855, and is among the young men of the General Assembly, being but twenty-six years of age. He was cducated at the common schools, and is a farmer. He is a Democrat.
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AMBROSE BEATTY
Of New Britain, was born in Cleghill, County Langford, Ireland, June 10, 1831, and is now fifty years of age. He received a common school education, and at the early age of eighteen years entered the military service of Great Britain. In 1852 he left the army and emigrated to America, and for two years followed agricultural pursuits in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y. From there he went to Albany and engaged in the hard- ware business. In 1856 he removed to New Bri- tain, and served for a period of sixteen years in the famous factories of the Russell & Erwin Manu facturing Company, and of Landers, Frary & Clark. He is now engaged in business as a mer- chant, in the grocery, provision, and ment line, and his high standing in the mercantile commun nity is due to the integrity of his character and upright dealings with all persons. Upon a mm- ber of occasions Mr. Beatty has served his towns
men in a public capacity. In 1869, and again th 1870, when New Britain was a borough, he was elected one of the burgesses. When the old vol- unteer fire department was in existence he was elected chief, and held the position for a number of years. On the organization of the paid fire department he was appointed chief engineer by both political parties, and served in that capacity until elected senior alderman of the city in 1876. The year previous he was elected assessor. In the yours 1875 and 1879 be represented the city in the House, and in the latter year was elected a member of the school committee and Mayor of New Britain, and is now chosen for the that there to represent that beautiful and prosperous city the General Assembly. During the agitation of slavery Mr. Beatty was an unompromising Re publican, but for several years post he has been one of the most steadfast Peanuts in the State
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JAMES THOMSON
Of New Britain, was elected at the last election by the Democrats, and on all strictly party questions votes with them. He was born in Farmington, February 5, 1822, and is now in his sixtieth year. Educated at the common schools, he entered mercantile pursuits, but has now re- tired from active business. He is one of the cor- porators of the New Britain Savings Bank, and is also a member of the Board of Street Commis- sioners of the city of New Britain. Heretofore he has declined all nominations to politieal offices.
DAVID L. ROBBINS
Of Newington, was born in the town which he now represents in tlie Legislature, October 30, 1848, and is thirty-three years of age. His edu- cation was derived from the common schools and from the Golden Hill Institute of Bridgeport. His business is general farming and seed grow- ing. In addition to the office of Representative he is also at present Town Treasurer of Newing- ton. Politically he is a Democrat.
REV. EDWARD SOUTHWORTH TOWNE
Of Plainville, is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in South Hadley Falls, June 20, 1839. He enjoyed a complete course of preparatory study and graduated from Amlierst College in the class of 1864. During his life he has been engaged in the mercantile and life insurance business, but is now a clergyman. He is a Republican.
JAMES HENRY WARNER
Of Rocky Hill, was born July 18, 1851, and is consequently thirty years of age. He enjoyed the advantage of a good common-school educa- tion, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a Democrat.
EBENEZER GOODRICH CURTIS
Of Simsbury, passed his fifty-ninth year on the fifteenth day of last November. He was born in
Simsbury in 1822, and attended the common schools in that town and in 1840 the " old stone school " in Hartford. In polities he is a Demo- crat, unjust measures excepted, and has held in Simsbury the positions of Assessor, member of the Board of Relief, and Constable. He is at present a member of the Board of Relief and Town Registrar. He is a farmer.
DANIEL OLCOTT REED
Of Simsbury, occupies a publie office this year for the first time, although he has previously en- gaged in politics, having served as a member of tlie State Central Democratic Committee from the Third Senatorial District. He was born in Granby, October 1, 1846, and is now in liis thirty- sixth year. His education was acquired at the common schools, and during active life he has engaged in business as a merchant.
JAMES FRANKLIN PRATT
Of Southington, is forty years of age, and will reach his next birthday on the fourteenth day of the coming May. He was born in Southington, and acquired a good education at the distriet school and the Lewis academy in that town. He is now engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness. He is at present President of the Village Improvement Society of Southington, and a mem- ber of the Board of Relief. The last-named position he has held for three years. In politics he is a Republican.
GEORGE FRANCIS SMITH
Is a leading citizen of Southington, leaving for many years been prominently identified with the interests of this town. He is now in his fifty- first year, having been born in New Haven, October 24, 1831. His education was acquired at the common schools and the academy. At the age of seventeen years he entered into business pursuits, and until his twenty-sixth year was a dry-goods salesman. He then located in Hart- ford, in the retail business, and remained there four years ; at the expiration of this time he
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went to New York, where he engaged in the wholesale business. In 1851 he became con- nected as a partner with the firm of Il. D. Smith & Co., of Plantsville. the oldest manufacturers of carriage makers' hardware and forgings in the country. At present Mr. Smith is business man- ager of the firm. He is also President of the Southington Savings Bank, and holds several minor local offices. In the seven years' war of the people of Plantsville with the New Haven and Northampton Railroad Company, to estab- lish and maintain their rights to a depot in Plantsville, Mr. Smith has taken an active part, and has served as chairman of the citizens' com- mittee. During his life he has never given at- tention actively to politics, but at the last election was elected by the Republicans by a majority of one hundred and seventy-nine votes, the largest majority ever given any candidate in Southington.
JOIN P. JONES
Of South Windsor, was born in Hartford. May 15, 1832, his present age being forty-nine years. llis education was derived from the connnon schools. At an early age he removed to South Windsor, and has there pursued the avocation of farming. He has also been for several years prominently connected with the affairs of the town, having held the several offices of Assessor. member of the Board of Relief, Seleetman, and Agent of the Town Deposit and School Society Funds. The last-named position he now holds. He was elected by the Democratic party.
SILAS W. CLARK
Of Suffield, is a Republican in politics. He was born in Washington, Berkshire county, Muss , July 22, 1514, and is now sixty seven years old. During his life he has been engaged in business ns n stock dealer und farmer, For two terms he has held the office of Selectman in Enffield. For
several years he has been a director of the First National Bank of Suffield.
JAMES RISING
Of Suffield. was born in that town and is about fifty-five years of age. His education was de- rived from the common schools in his native town, and during his life he has resided there. engaging in the vocations of a farmer and general trader. A strong Republican. he was nominated by that party for Representative and received the highest vote of any candidate on the ticket. He has previously held the office of selectman and minor local offices in Suffield.
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E. BUEL ROOT
Of West Hartford, was elected to the Legisla- ture for the second time at the last election, he hav- ing been a member of the House during the last session. He was born in West Hartford, Novem- ber 20, 1837, and received his education at the common school and academy. During the years 1874, 1875, and 1876 he was on the School Com mittee, and was Secretary of the School Board. and a Justice of the Peace. In the Union army he was a private under General Joseph R. Haw- ley, in the first three months' regiment, and was afterwards Captain of Company D. Twenty second regiment, C. V. In polities he is a Repubhenn, and pursues farming as am avocation
EDWIN F. GRISWOLD
Of Wethersfield, was born in the town which he now represents, September 22 1-34 and is now in his forty eighth year. In his vonth bere esel a good common school and acidente election, and during lite has pursued tanning as he avies tion. This is he first publje other, to which he was elected by the Repubhegne of life Down November last
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EDWARD DENMORE ROBBINS
Of Wethersfield, is a Republican. Born in Wethersfield October 20, 1853, he received a good primary and high school education, and at the conclusion of this entered Yale College, and graduated in the class of 1874, of which class he was valedictorian. After receiving his diploma he continued his studies for two years at the college, and after one year passed in a German university, again returned to New Haven and entered the Yale Law School, where he remained one year and a half. He is a lawyer by profes- sion.
DANIEL W. PHELPS
Of Windsor, is a native of that town, and is now twenty-nine years old. He was educated at the common school, and at the eonelusion of his school days followed agricultural pursuits until he reached his majority. At that age he became a commercial traveler, and in 1877 went into the general merchandise business, at Windsor. He was formerly postmaster of that town, and is a Republican.
LEMUEL R. LORD
Of Windsor, was postmaster at Poquonnoe for five years, and is now treasurer of the Poquonnoc school district. He was born in East Windsor, January 25, 1835, and is now in his forty-seventh year. After receiving a good common-school education, he entered business as a miller,
and pursued this avocation for twenty years. Since then he has engaged in business as a mer- chant. During the war he enlisted in the Twen- ty-fifth regiment, (. V., and served in that command as sergeant. He is a Republican.
JOHN WILLIAM COOGAN
Of Windsor Loeks, is one of the youngest mem- bers of the House, his present age being but twenty-six years. He was born in Windsor Locks, June 3, 1855, and received a thorough schooling at the public schools in that town. Subsequently he entered St. John's College, in Fordham, N. Y., and graduated from that insti- tution in 1876. Choosing the legal profession as his avocation, Mr. Coogan entered the office of his brother, Hon. T. C. Coogan, at Thompson- ville, and remained with him until the fall of 1877, when he entered the Yale Law School, in New Haven, from whence he graduated in 1879. During his stay in New Haven and while in at- tendance at the law school, Mr. Coogan studied in the office of Hon. William C. Case, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, and had the benefit of his able care and instruction. Imme- diately after graduating he came to Hartford and took the office of his brother, Hon. T. C. Coogan. Although enjoying an extensive acquaintance in the surrounding towns, Mr. Coogan's practice is principally confined to Hartford. In 1881 he was admitted to practice in the United States courts. In politics he is a Democrat, and at the last election ran thirty-one votes ahead of the number cast for the Democratic candidate for Sen - ator in Windsor Locks.
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A. HEATON ROBERTSON
Of New Haven, will be remembered by those who sat in the House in 1880 as one of its ablest members. His ability was clearest demonstrated by lis minority report, as a member of the Com- mittee on Contested Elections, in the somewhat famous " Haddam election case," which was a logical and profound exposition of the merits of the claims of the contesting parties. He was also a member of the Committee on Railroads, and acted as its clerk. Colonel Robertson is a native of New Haven, and is but a little past his thirty-first birthday. He is a member of the law firm of Wright, Robertson & Hotchkiss, the senior member of which is also in the present House, is a son of Hon. John B. Robertson, mayor of New Haven, ex-Secretary of State, and
formerly postmaster of New Haven, and a grand- sou of the late Abram Heaton, of that city. He graduated from Yale in the class of 1872, and in 1874 from the Columbia Law School, and gained admission to the bar of New York State in the same year. In 1-75 he was admitted to the bar of New Haven county, and has since been in de- tive practice. Governor Ingersoll appointed him one of his aides-de-camp in 1973, and he was it- commissioned during each year of his administra- tion. He was elected Alderman of the Sixth Word of New Haven, m 1877, and served mit 1581. In 1550 he was a member and chat man of the Lamp department. He is now a director in the Oppenheim Manntactming Company of New Haven. In politics he is a Democrat
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TIMOTHY J. FOX.
A keen and shrewd young lawyer, is one of New Haven's Representatives this year. He graduated from the Yale Law Department in 1869, having previously studied at the New Haven High School, a private Classical School, and St. Fran- cis Xavier's College, N. Y. He has been City Clerk and City Attorney of New Haven, under- stands its politics thoroughly, and is a leader of the Young Democracy of that city. He is a na- tive of Ireland, and is thirty-five years of age. He has a lucrative law practice.
ANDREW WHEELER CULVER
Of Beacon Falls, a native of Oxford, is the representative of this town. He was born February 19, 1846, and is now in his thirty-fifth year. Though never before in the Legislature. he has held the offices of Selectman and Asses- sor, has been a member of the Board of Rellof. and occupied other positions of trust. He was educated at the connuon schools, and is a farmer and cattle dealer. He votes with the Republicans
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SAMUEL RUSSELL WOODWARD
Of Bethany, has never before been elected to the Legislature, but he has had a large experience in local offices, having been Selectman six years, Town Agent four years, Agent Town Deposit Fund three years, Acting School Visitor seven years, Highway Commissioner one year, and Jus- tice of the Peace five years, and now holds all
these positions of responsibility. Mr. Woodward was born in Morris on October 8, 1844, and is now in his thirty-eighth year. The common schools and academy afforded him a means of gaining an education. He follows the dual oc- empations of farming in summer time and teaching school in winter. He is a Democrat.
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WILLIAM ALVIN WRIGHT
Of Branford, senior member of the New Haven law firm of Wright, Robertson & Hotchkiss, rep- resents Branford at this session of the Legisla- ture. He is a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is thirty-four years old, and graduated from the Yale Law School in 1872. In June of that year he began the practice of his profession in New Haven, and has been a resident of Branford since the fall of 1876. Prior to his admission, Mr. Wright was for several years connected with newspaper enterprises in New Haven, having been one of the originators of the New Haven Lever in 1868, and in 1871 and '72 was the pub- lisher of the Daily News, an evening paper, which, under his management, was quite success- ful. His father, Robert W. Wright, was a well- known newspaper man in this State and in Richmond, Va., and during the administration of Governor English was his Executive Secretary. Mr. Wright is a Democrat.
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