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 9
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126
JOSHUA CHARLES LEFFINGWELL
Of Bozrah, is a native of the town he represents, and will become forty-six years of age next May. He has been justice of the peace for a number of years, and is now a grand juror. After receiving the usual course of instruction at the common schools he attended a select school in Norwich Town. He is a farmer, and a member of the Republican party.
URIAH W. CARRIER,
First representative of Colchester, is a self-made man who has come to the front through the exer- cise of persistent and well-directed energy. He is a native of that town, and has but just reached his fifty-seventh birthday. His boyhood was passed upon a farm, but at the age of twenty years he set forth to begin anew, and, finding his way to Rockville, obtained employment with Hunt, MeLean & Co., with whom he remained three years. He then became junior partner of the new firm of Hunt, Stiekney & Carrier, which subsequently did an extensive business in general merchandise. In the spring of 1858 Mr. Carrier opened a large dry-goods store in Hartford, but at the end of two years sold it and returned to Roekville. There he resumed business, and dur- ing the next fourteen years enjoyed a luerative trade. In 1874 he disposed of his store in Roek- ville and removed to Colchester, where he has sinee lived and has conducted the business of a country merchant with marked success. He had only ordinary educational advantages in his youth, and but few helps over the hard places that poor and struggling young men encounter. Mr. Carrier is a life-long Democrat. He has held various local offices.
JOHN WILLIAM ENGLISH
Of Colchester, the second representative, is also a Democrat. He is a native of Colchester, and was born on September 10, 1850. He received
a general common school edneation, and is aetive- ly engaged in the manufacture of rubber boots.
JOHN W. LUCE
Of East Lyme, is a member of the firm of Luee Brothers, who were pioneers in the development of the Menhaden fisheries, a business that has grown in the last fifteen years from insignificant proportions to be a vast industry, employing hun- dreds of men and more than a million dollars in capital. They were the first to introduce steam vessels into the fisheries, and their enterprise and intelligence are perceptible in every depart- ment of the business. They deal largely in men- haden oil and fertilizers, and occupy extensive mills at East Lyme in the prosecution of their business. John W. Luee is a native of Tisbury, Mass., and is a little more than forty-five years old. He is a Republican, and was a member of the House in 1873.
OLIVER L. JOHNSON
Of Franklin, was born in that town on March 28, 1828, and is in his fifty-third year. He enjoyed such educational advantages as were to be ob- tained from distriet and select schools in the country. He is one of the general agents of the Ætna Life Insurance Company of Hartford, and is also engaged with the New London Northern Railroad as purchasing agent. His father was in the war of 1812, and represented the town of Franklin during one term of the Legislature in New Haven.
HENRY ADAMS LATHROP
Was chosen in 1849 to represent Griswold, and he is now in the Legislature for the second time. He was born in Providence, R. I., on October 29, 1813, and is in his sixty-ninth year. He was eleeted as a Republican.
127
PARMENAS AVERY
Of Groton, who served in Company C, Twenty- first Councetient Volunteers, and is a successful dealer in stoves and hardware and a practical house and ship plumber and tinsmith, is first Representative of Groton. On October 1, 1841, he was born in Stonington, and was educated in the common schools of that place. He was for- merly a Republican, but followed the late Horace Greeley into the so-called " Liberal Republican" ranks, and has been identified with the Demo- cratie party since.
SUMNER H. GOVE
Of Groton, is a native of Nahant, Mass., and twenty-nine years old. He is the Republican Reg- istrar of Voters in Groton. He attended the high schools in his youth, and now conducts the business of a carpenter and builder.
NATHANIEL B. WILLIAMS
Of Lebanon, was born in 1822. Ile has been an active member of the Republican party since its organization, and will continue to act and vote with it. Mr. Williams was educated at the excel- leut high schools in Colchester, and Westfield, Mass. Hle has held the offices of selectman and assessor several years. His occupation is farm- ing. He is a native of Lebanon.
CHARLES C. LOOMIS
Of Lebanon, is one of the many farmers who are members of the House, and to this ocenpation he couples that of teaching school. He is a native of the town he represents, and was born on Jan- uary 30, 1845. Common and select schools fur- nished the basis of his education. He has held the offices of grand juror, assessor, and member of the Board of Relief. He is a Republican.
JAMES A: BILLINGS
Of Ledyard, was born in North Groton, now known as Ledyard, on February 24, 1821, and is nearly sixty-one years of age. He has been Judge of Probate, Town Clerk, and Town Treas- urer, his term of service in the latter two offices expiring very recently. He votes the Republican ticket, is a farmer, and was educated at the com- mon schools.
AUGUSTUS F. READ
Of Lisbon, was born in that town on the 16th day of October, 1841, and is in his forty-first year. He is another of the many farmers in the House, and also one of the many Democrats. He attended the common schools in his youth. lias held several local offices, and is one of the Registrars of Electors in Lisbon.
HENRY B. L. REYNOLDS.
First Representative of Lyme, was born in Nor- wich Town on May 24, 1826, and is 55 years of age. He has occupied the most important office at the disposal of the town, that of selectman, and enjoys the esteem of his fellow citizens. He was a pupil in the excellent schools of fame, and has been a carpenter for many years.
BENAJJAR P. BILL.
Of Lyme, was also a member of the House in 1872. He is a farmer, and a Democrat Lyme is his native town, and he was sixty seven years old on the 5th of last December He has been constable, collector of taxes, selectman, and is tice of the peace, and now hobbs the latter Where
129
RAYMOND N. PARISH
Of Montville, was a member of the House of 1866. Formerly he was a farmer, but during the last nine years, in connection with farming, he has been engaged in the hardware business in Norwich. Ile is a native of Montville, and was born on March 31, 1834. He had the educa-
tional advantages of the common school. At different times he has filled the offices of asses- sor, selectman, town clerk, and treasurer. He Is a Republican, but acts independent of party when occasion arises.
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130
ORRIN CHAPMAN
Of North Stonington, one of the Republican farmers of this town, represents it in this Legis- lature as he did in that of 1878. He is now the First Selectman of North Stonington, has been a Justice of the Peace for many years, and has also filled various other local offices. He is a native of North Stonington, and was born on July 6, 1834. He attended the common schools in boyhood, and has followed agricultural pursuits with encouraging success.
CHARLES HENRY BROWN,
A resident and native of North Stonington, is one of the younger members of the House, having reached the age of twenty-four years on the 28th day of last October. He is engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, and is a successful and respected member of the community in which he lives. He was educated at the common and high schools.
ERASTUS E. CLARK,
The genial and popular landlord of the hotel in Old Lyme, is a Democrat of the liberal sort. He is fifty-eight years old, and a native of Old Lyme. In 1878 he also represented that town in the Legislature.
CHESTER W. BARNES
Of Preston is a native of Norwich Town, adjacent to Preston, and attained the age of forty-one years on the 16th day of March, 1882. During the past eleven years he has successfully con- ducted the retail grocery business. He has been First Selectman of Preston and has held other
offices of trust. He was educated at the common schools, and is a Democrat.
CHARLES P. HEWITT
Of Preston is classed with the young members, his thirtieth birthday not arriving until March 8th, 1882. After leaving the common schools he entered the academy at East Greenwich, R. I., and after graduating engaged and continued in farming pursuits. He is a native of Preston, and a Democrat.
GURDON F. ALLYN
Of Salem is in the House this year for the third time, having also been a Representative in 1869 and 1879. He has had a wide experience in local offices, having served several terms as Selectman and member of the Board of Relief, and has supervised the work upon the town roads. He was born in Ledyard on October 1, 1826. On leaving the common schools he entered the Bacon Academy at Colchester, and remaincd there nearly two terms. He is a farmer, and during the last seven ycars has to some extent carried on the auctioneer's business. He acts with the Republican party.
DENNIS MCCARTHY
Of Sprague enjoys the distinction of being the only member of the Greenback party in the House. He has barely turned his twenty-seventh year, and is a native of Rhode Island. The com- mon schools afforded him a partial means of ac- quiring an education. His occupation is cotton- spinning. He holds the office of Registrar of Voters in Sprague.
131
STILES TRUMBULL STANTON
Of Stonington, the brilliant and versatile ex- journalist, whose reputation for graceful, humor- ous writings extends considerably beyond local circles, and whose career before and since his retirement from the newspaper field has been a series of successes, comes to the House this year with the gratifying endorsement of a majority largely increased over that which placed him in the Legislature of 1881. He is a native of Ston- ington, and a member of one of its old and re- spected families. He was prepared for (but did not enter) Yale at the Collegiate Institute of New Haven, and soon after graduation became a
journalist-a profession that, it appears to his friends, he should have continued in. From 1×75 to 1875 he was on the brigade staff, Con- nectient national guard. In the campaign of 1880 he acted as Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee, and an alternate dele- gate to the Chicago Convention in that year. He was also Executive Secretary to Governor Charles B. Andrews, and has held ummerous local and social offices. This course in connection with the Committee on Military Affairs in the last la gis lature was entirely satisfactory to the member's uf the national guard of this State
132
ALEXANDER SMITH PALMER, JR.,
Of Stonington, a native of Westerly, R. I., is as- sociated with Captain Stanton in the representa- tion of this town. He graduated as a eivil en- gineer from the seientific department of Yale College in 1865, and subsequently read law for two years in Chicago. He is now engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born on May 29, 1843, and is in his thirty-eighth year. He is a Demoerat.
TIMOTHY PARKER
Of Voluntown, is a native of Hopeville, and forty-six years of age on the 14th of February, 1882. During the last five years he has kept a " country store " in East Lymc, where he for- merly was Postmaster. For twenty years, end- ing with 1875, he was employed by the Mowry Axle and Machine Company as accountant and traveling salesman. He eommeneed his business career as clerk in a store in Greeneville. During the war he was Commissary-Sergeant of the Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteers. He was a pupil at the common schools, and has always been an active Republican.
NATHANIEL ADAMS CHAPMAN
Of Waterford, one of the Demoeratie " war- horses " of New London County, and a genial, companionable gentleman, has been chosen to represent his native town in this Legislature, as he was in those of 1868 and 1876. He is a law- . yer by profession, having an office in New Lon- don, though a resident of Waterford. He attended
the common schools and academy, and has filled the various offices in the town government.
AUGUSTUS H. ABERNETHY
Of Bridgeport, eomes of a stoek which has been in Connecticut since about 1635, when his direet aneestor, William Abernethy, eamc from Scot- land and settled at Branford. The family has been well represented in the professions of law and medieine, and it is worth notice that the great-grandfather on the mother's side of the present member was prominent during the war of the Revolution, and is recorded afterwards as having represented his town in the General As- sembly for forty consecutive sessions. In the sueeeeding generation the grandfather on the Abernethy side was repeatedly a member of the Legislature from the town of Torrington. The father of Dr. A. H. Abernethy was a graduate of Yale, in the class of 1825, and studied law, prac- tieing for a short time in Waterbury, and then removing to Litehfield, which town he represented repeatedly in the Legislature. He subsequently removed to Bridgeport, when the immediate subject of this sketeh was about ten years of age. Dr. Abernethy, who was chosen last autumn to represent this town, was born in Litehfield, May 21, 1838, and studied medicine in New Haven, being in the office of Drs. Jewett and Townsend. In 1864 he graduated from the Yale Medieal School and entered the navy, where he remained as Assistant Surgeon for about a year and a half, after which he began practice at Bridgeport. He has served on the Board of Education some eleven or twelve years, and the Board of Health, and holds both these positions now. In polities he is a Demoerat.
133
PETER W. WREN
Of Bridgeport, is a member of the wholesale wine and spirit house of MeMahon & Wren, in Bridge- port, the largest firm in that business in the State. He was born at New York, August 20, 1847, and is a graduate of the New Haven High School. Immediately after leaving school he learned the trade of a printer, and as to this he says : - 1 spent many a weary night sticking type in the office of The Journal and Courier, at New Haven; but that was in the days gone by, some sixteen years ago. I can still, however, go to the case
and fill a stickful of type in pretty good time. and without many errors either." After about three years he engaged in other business, in which he was very successful. He is recognized as one of Bridgeport's leading business men. an ] his house is one of the largest real-estate owners and taxpayers in the city. He is now a member of the Bridgeport Board of Education and of the Comunittee on Schools which is appointed by that body. He is a strong Democrat, and may gen erally be depended on to net with the party
134
HARRY SANFORD GLOVER
Of Betliel, learned the trade of a hatter in Beth- el, to which place he removed in 1843, and where he continues to follow the business. He was born at Newtown, June 30, 1827, and two years later removed to Brookfield, where he attended the common schools previous to the time of his apprenticeship. He has served one year on the Board of Relief, but has not held other public office previous to his election to the present Legislature. Mr. Glover is a Republican.
SAMUEL THORNHILL
Of Brookfield, was born at De Peyster, N. Y., March 3, 1834, and received a common-school education. He is a farmer by occupation, and has filled a number of local offices, including those of Selectman, member of the Board of Re- lief, Grand Juror, and Assessor, which last he now holds. Politically he is a Democrat.
HOWARD W. TAYLOR
Of Danbury, was born at Danbury, August 11, 1858, and is consequently one of the youngest members of the House. He was fitted for Yale, but instead of entering college took up the study of law at the age of seventeen, and after reading in the office of his father for some three years passed his examination in June, 1879, and was admitted to the bar in the September following. Mr. Taylor at present holds the office of Justice of the Peace. In politics he is a Democrat.
CHARLES J. DEMING
Of Danbury, served two years in the Union army, enlisting as a private in the Fourth Connecticut (First Heavy Artillery), August 10, 1861, and being promoted to Adjutant of the Nineteenth Connecticut in August, 1862. In 1863 he re- signed on account of ill health, and in the same year was elected Town Clerk of Litchfield. He was born at Litchfield, August 10, 1838, and re- ceived an academic education. He is a Demo- crat.
CHARLES BROWN
Of Darien, was a member of the House in three preceding terms, 1858, 1860, and 1878, but has not held the common minor offices. He is a ship joiner by occupation, and is one of the oldest members of the House, being now seventy-one years of age. He was born in Darien and re- ceived a common school education. Politically he is a Republican.
STEPHEN D. WHEELER
Of Easton, was born at Weston, and is now forty years of age. He received his early education at Easton Academy, and has been chiefly engaged in farming. He has not held office or been specially active in politics, and is one of the con- siderable number of men in this Legislature who were elected without such previous training, but in the belief that they will make straightforward members and be careful of the interests of their respective towns. Mr. Wheeler is a Republican.
135
HENRY F. SHERWOOD
Of Fairfield, spent most of the carly part of his life in Fairfield, then removed to Mississippi and remained there till about the beginning of the war, at which time he was in New Jersey. Ile served in the Quartermaster's department, and after the retreat of Pope's army in 1862, returned to New Jersey, where he enlisted in the Thirty- third Regiment, then being organized, and re- mained in it through the war, being present at Sherman's famous " march to the sea." He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant at the close of the war, and has since been engaged in business as a commercial agent. He was born at Weston, December 25. 1829, and received a common school education. He is a Democrat, but not a strong partisan.
FRANCIS M. PIKE
Of Fairfield, was born at Southport, February 10, 1855, and received a common school and aca- demie education. He is engaged in the grocery and provision business, and has been twice elected Registrar of Voters. £ lle is a Democrat in polities.
CHARLES EDGAR WILSON
Of Greenwich, was a member of the last House. and was reflected with his colleagues, Mr. Cor- nelius Mead. He was born at Greenwich, Fel- ruary 7, 1848, and received an academic educa- tion. Ile is a commercial agent by occupation. and in polities is a Democrat.
DANIEL SEYMOUR BRINSMADE
Of Huntington, is a civil and hydraulic engineer and a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School in the class of 170. Immediately after his graduation he became engineer for the Ousatonic Water Company on the dam and canals then in process of construction, and has since remained in the same position. He is now also Secretary and Treasurer of the company and Superintend- ent of the Birmingham Water Power Company. He has been for the past ten years Registrar and Acting School Visitor in the town. Mr. Brins- made was born at Trumbull, and is now thirty- six years of age. Politically he is a Republican.
CORNELIUS MEAD
Of Greenwich, is one of the veteran members of the House, having occupied a seat in 1873, 1874. 1877, 1880, and 1881, making this his sixth term. In his town he has served as Assessor, member of the Board of Relief and of the Board of Edu- cation, and has a large experience in local and State affairs. He was born in Greenwich, and is now fifty-two years of nge. His business is farm- ing, and in polities he is a Democrat.
ANDREW B. CURTISS
Of Monroe, has been engaged since his boyhood in the milling business, in which he carly became associntel with his father, who has followed it for fifty years. In connection with this, he has held an active interest in a general store. He has served as Selectman, and is well and favorably known in his vicinity. He was born in Monroe. July 25, 1844, and received a common school education. In pohties he is a Republican
137
1
SELLECK Y. ST. JOHN
Of New Canaan, was a member of the House in 1879 and 1881, serving in the former year on the Committee on Finance, and in the latter on that on Banks. He was Treasurer of the New Canaan Savings Bank for seventeen years from its or- ganization in 1859, and has been Cashier of the National Bank of that place since its organization in 1865. He has been a Director of the New Canaan Railroad for ten years, and President of the company since 1876. He is also President of the New Canaan Cemetery Association, und
has held a number of local offices at New Canaan. including that of Town Clerk for nine years, and Justice of the Peace for fifteen. Besides his banking pursuits, he has been engaged in mer- eantile business for many years, and is a promi- nent citizen of the town which he was chosen to represent. Mr. St. John was born at South Salem, N. Y., February 10, 1519, and received a common school and academle education In polities he is a Republican.
138
ALEXANDER TURNER
Of New Fairfield, received a common school edu- cation, and for the past ten years has taught during the winter, and followed farming during the summer. He has served as School Visitor and Tax Collector, and holds both offices 110w. He was born at Sherman, August 21, 1847, and is a Democrat.
WILLIAM H. GLOVER
Of Newtown, was a member of the House in 1871, and has held a number of local offices. He was Census Enumerator in 1880, and has served as Tax Collector, Justice of the Peace, Registrar of Voters, Deputy Sheriff for three years, and Con- stable. He now holds the latter office. By occupation he is a farmer. He was born at New- town, January 15, 1840, and was educated in the district schools and Newtown academy. In poli- tics he is a Democrat.
EDSON WHEELER WILSON
Of Newtown, was born at Easton, Connecticut, and received a common school and academic edu-
cation. He is now forty years of age, is known as a vigorous Republican, and was elected as such by a majority of thirty in a democratic town. He is an architect and also carries on a furniture business. He has served two years as Selectman in his town.
CHARLES W. BELL
Of Norwalk, has been conspicuously identified with the public discussion of the regulation of the oyster business. He has served on the oyster committee of his town, and in 1879 was one of the commission appointed by Governor Andrews to examine and report on the oyster interests of the State, and on a method for the regulation and encouragement of the business. He was born in Cornwall, N. Y., April 6, 1836, and received his education in the public schools. His chief busi- ness has been the planting of oysters. and, in ad- dition to his services on the committee and com- mission already mentioned, he has filled the place of Justice of the Peace and Grand Juror. In politics he is a Republican.
139
GEORGE R. COWLES
Of Norwalk, was a member of the last House, serving on the Insurance Committee, and this year was re-elected by the largest majority ever given a representative of Norwalk. He gradua- ted at Williams college in the class of 1845, and studied law in the office of Chief-Justice Butler. After a few years of practice his health failed and he retired for a time from active work. The information in legal science which he has ac- quired by study and observation is most thorough and profound, and his opinions in such matters are still extensively sought and highly valned.
Subsequently he engaged in the insurance busi- ness, and acted as agent for several Hartford com- panies, including the _Etna, Hartford, Phons, Home of New York, and the leading foreign com- panies. In 1×60, on the incorporation of the Nor- walk Insurance Company, he became its secre- tary, which position he has since held. He has also been for nine years Burgess of the Borough of Norwalk. He was born at New Hartford, and is now fifty-five years of age. Mr. Cowles is a Republican.
140
THOMAS SANFORD
Of Redding, has occupied a seat in the House during two previous sessions, those of 1856 and 1877. During the latter year he was House chairman of the Committee on the School Fund, and was appointed by Governor Hubbard a mem- ber of the commission to revise the pauper laws of the State. Mr. Sanford took an active part in the work of this commission, and the statutes which are now in force in this matter are largely the result of the labors of that commission. Dur- ing the same year he was appointed on the com- mittee to inquire into the need of increased facili- ties for the care of the insane poor of the State. His present business lies chiefly in the settle- ment of estates and the management of a farm. He is thoroughly familiar with practical valucs, and is frequently appointed a committee of the Superior court to assess damages in flowage cases, or when land has been condemned. He lias filled most of the local offices, serving as Selectman ten years, and then declining a re-nomination; as Deputy Sheriff six years, and as Sheriff three years. He was born at Redding, and is now fifty- eight years old. His early cducation was ob- tained in the schools of the town. He is a Demo- crat in politics.
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