Evening post annual 1884: 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 13

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Evening Post Association
Number of Pages: 190


USA > Connecticut > Evening post annual 1884: 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 13


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is a Republican, and has done efficient service in this State for his party.


AUGUSTUS HALL FENN


Of Winchester, was born at Plymouth, Jannary 18, 1844. He was educated in the Waterbury High School, and at the Harvard Law School, graduating from the latter institution in 1868. He was elected City Clerk at Waterbury in 1866, and was Judge of Probate in the Plymonth Dis- trict from 1869 until 1876. He is at present Judge of Probate in the Winchester District, Justice of the Peace, and one of the Town Audi- tors. In 1875 he was the Republican candidate for Secretary of State. He had a brilliant war record, advancing from the rank of First Lien- tenant in the Second Connectient Heavy Artil- lery to that of Brevet Colonel, winning the hon- or's that were awarded him by gallant and heroic services. Hle was on General Mckenzie's staff during a portion of his army career, and was Assistant Adjutant-General in the Army of the James. Colonel Fenn was one of the bravest of Connectient's representatives in the field, and his services will long be remembered by the Common- wealth. Ile was elected by the Democrats, but reserves to himself independence of action in the Legislature.


EDWARD N. BISHOP


Of Woodbury, was elected by the largest Repub- lican majority even given in his town. He is a farmer by occupation, but has also been engaged in teaching. Ile was born at Woodbury, June 24, 1838, and received an excellent education, including courses of study at Fort Edward Insti- tute in New York, and the State Normal School at New Britain. He has held the office of Select- man for three years.


HORACE D. CURTISS


Of Woodbury, was born at Woodbury, and is 42 years of age. He received a common-school education, and is an able and active business man- ager, being connected with the firm of Daniel Curtiss & Sons, woolen manufacturers, and also with the Tapestry Manufacturing Company. Mr. Curtiss was a member of the House in 1868, and has also held the office of First Selectman. In politics he is a Republican.


149


HORACE R. BUTLER


Of Middletown, was in the House in 1953. He was born in Cromwell, April 12, 1545, studied in the common schools and became a builder. Ile has been a member of the Common Council. Board of Water Commissioners (and is still con-


neeted with it), and Board of Relief; he has also served as Town Auditor. His politics is Pale cratic. He is on the Committee on Cities and Boroughs the present session.


150


MICHAEL W. LAWTON


Of Middletown, in 1868 and 1869, superintended, at the Providence Tool Company's Works, the shipment of rifles to Turkey; then he went to Middletown and engaged in the boot and shoe business. He is now a Justice of the Peace, and an agent to vote on the town's railroad stock. He has been a Selectman, Registrar of Voters, and a member of the Common Council for five consecutive years. As a total abstainer from in- toxicating liquors he assisted in organizing the Connecticut Total Abstinence Union. He was born in Portland, Conn., May 18, 1840, and was educated at the Portland High School, and under A. A. Cody, now an Attorney at Middletown. He is a Democrat.


HENRY S. GATES


Of Chatham, formerly Constable, Tax Collector, Board of Relief, and Selectman (for five years), and now an Assessor, and who is in the farming and lumber business, was born in Chatham, East Hampton Society, October 12, 1840. He studied in common and select schools, and for six months was at the Seminary in East Greenwich, R. I. He is a Republican.


IRVIN NEWTON TIBBALS


Of Chatham, was born at Cobalt, October 26, 1858, studied in the common schools, and gradu- ated in 1878 from the Yale Business College of New Haven. For three years he has been Chair- man of the Town Committee. He is a merchant and a Republican.


FRANKLIN YOUNG SILLIMAN


Of Chester, was born in that town in 1835, and derived his education from the public schools there. This is his first legislative experience. He has been engaged in mechanical pursuits, and during the last eleven years has been a railroad agent. He has resided in Chester all his life, save two years that he spent in Minnesota. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party.


ASA S. PELTON


Of Clinton, a physician and druggist, who also keeps a large country store, was born in Killing- worth, in 1816, and is 67 years old. For twenty- six years he practiced medicine after the eclectic standard, and then devoted himself exclusively to the sale of drugs and general goods, a business he has followed for the past twenty years. He is now Town Anditor and Law Agent of the town, and has been a Grand Juror and member of the Board of Relief. He is a Republican.


CHIARLES P. SAGE


Of Cromwell, who is 54 years of age, having been born in Cromwell, December 26, 1829, was educated at Springfield, Mass., and at the Acad- emy, Cromwell. In '78, '79, and '80, he was a Selectman, and he has been a corporator and director in the Dime Savings Bank at Cromwell. He is a farmer and a Republican.


ALVIN P. ROBERTS,


First Representative from Durham, was born in Middletown (Westfield Society), July 21, 1828. When he was only two months old his father died. At the age of six monthis he was taken by his mother to Durham, and has lived there ever since. His education was obtained at the com- inon school and the Durham Academy. He is a Republican, and has served on the Board of Relief and the School Board, of which he is still a member. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Committee on Fisheries.


JUDSON E. FRANCIS


Of Durham, was born in Killingworth, Septem- ber 11, 1837, was educated at the common schools and Durham Academy, and after three years spent in the employ of Edward Miller, mannfac- turer of brass goods in Meriden, and ten years' employment at the Merriam Manufacturing Com- pany's factory in Durham, turned his attention to farmi 5. He has been for several years a member of the Board of School Visitors, and is a Republican.


151


ALBERT E. OLMSTED


Of East Haddam, has a highly honorable record in that, when he lost his property by investments in the Air Line Railroad, instead of taking advan- tage of the bankruptcy law, he began to pay every dollar of his liabilities. Although the struggle was a hard one, he accomplished his end. Hle was born in Colchester, Conn., May 9, 1845, and for some time has been secretary and treasurer of the Moodns drum and fife corps. He began the farming and timber business on his own account when he was 21 years of age. At 24 he began the meat business, which he still follows. Ile is a Republican.


JOSEPH O. WARNER


Of East Haddam, born in Hadlyme, March 3. 1817, has been a Selectman, and has held other town offices. A farmer and a Republican, he seenred his education in the common and select schools.


JAMES MILNOR PRATT


Of Essex, was born in Center Brook. August 1, 1846. He graduated with honor from Williams College, in the class of 1570. Ile is a farmer. was a Grand Juror the past year, and is now one of the Acting School Visitors. For three years he taught in the Deaf and Dumb Institute in Minnesota, six years in the same kind of an insti- tute at Philadelphia, and one year at the Sutlield Literary Institute, where he was associated with John Coats, Representative eleet from Windsor Locks, When his father, the late Selden M. Pratt, who was Representative from Essex six times, died, the son took the old farm. lle is a straight Republican, " with no limitations except conscience."


HENRY HUBERT BRAINARD


Of Haddam, is fifty-three years of age, and a na- tive of Haddam. At the relect school of Res. James Noves at Haddam, he studied, and became a farmer. He has been an Assessor and Select man, and served in the House of 152. In nl town that is monally Democratic by seventy tive majority, he, a Republican, was chosen this year by ninety four majority.


CLINTON BURGESS DAVIS


Of Haddam, was first Representative in the Hon-e of ISS3, and was Clerk of the Committee on Incorporation -. He is a merchant and mann facturer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Nigga- um Manufacturing Company, and acts with the conservative Democrats. Hartford is his native place. He was born July 27. 1-43, and educated at the public school of Hartford, in the High School, and afterwards at Russell's Institute in New Haven.


DAVID K. STEVENS


Of Killingworth, was in the Hon-e in 1>>3, and is a Democrat, born in Killingworth. October 25. 1-35, and educated in common and select schools. lle is a farmer, Justice of the Peace, a Registrar of Electors, and a member of the Board of Relief. He has been a Constable, Grand Juror, and AFeSsor.


MYRON ST. CLARE BURR


Of Killingworth, was born in that town, October 2. 1-52, and is therefore thirty one years of age. He has been a Constable, Justice of the Peace. and member of the School Visiting Committee. He was in the House in 1553, and served on the Committee on Capitol, Furniture, and Grounds. lle is an agrienlturist, and a Democrat, and was educated in the common school.


PETER W. BENNETT


Of Middlefield, was born at Snow Hill, Wore- ter County, Maryland, in ISIS Is port- were slave owners, but liberated their shoes le fire his birth. He went to New York when a young man and learned the gamenede's tale Then he went to Middletown, and a few vous later to MiddletichL He has Been a manter turer for the best twenty the voor Hestedet in the commolt wheelset Marchand, as The hell muy món offices in Misiune1 10 15:11 was a member of the House, and served on the Comanticon Claims, pod op Lempeinee, 11e


152


RUFUS C. DENISON


Of Old Saybrook, is seventy-one years of age, having been born at Old Saybrook, October 12, 1812. The common schools gave him an educa- tion, and he then became a contractor and builder, but is now a farmer. For nine years he was a Deputy Sheriff, and for seven years first Select- man, elected by the votes of both political parties. He has also been a Justice of the Peace, Town Collector, Constable, and member of the Board of Relief. He is now a Selectman, and Trustee of the Essex Savings Bank. He has always been a Democrat.


ANDREW CORNWALL


Of Portland, was born there, January 25, 1822. He attended the common schools, and is now a Road Commissioner, and a member of the Board of Relief. He was formerly a Selectman. He is a farmer by occupation, and in politics a Repub- lican.


GEORGE FRANCIS SPENCER


Of Saybrook, was, from July, 1869, to March, 1873, Steward and Collector of the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. In 1865 he was Postmaster at South Windham. At Lebanon, in 1868, lie was Registrar of Electors. In Decem- ber, 1875, he became the senior member of the


firm of Spencer Brothers, dealers in general mer- chandise and coal, at Deep River, and since the death of his brother, Dwight S. Spencer, in March last, he has continued the business under the old firm name. Since 1881 he has been a Justice of the Peace, and Secretary of the Board of Educa- tion, and Acting School Visitor of Saybrook. He was born in Hampton, Conn., January 18, 1842, and is a Republican.


CHARLTON M. PRATT


Of Saybrook, a farmer and traveling agent for farming machinery, was born at Deep River, April 18, 1856. He graduated from the Morgan School at Clinton, and the Business College at Valparaiso, Ind. He is a Republican.


OLIVER H. NORRIS


Of Westbrook, was born at Westbrook, in 1835, received an academic education, and is a school- teacher by profession. He has been Town Agent and First Selectman for six years, Secretary of the Board of School Visitors for twelve years, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Board of Relief. Mr. Norris thinks the temperance reform ought to begin at the tables of the rich. He is a Republican, with independent habits of thought and action.


153


ELLIOT P. SKINNER


Of Andover, was a member of the House in 1551, serving on the Finance Committee. He was also Chairman that year of the Committee on the Re- vision of Joint Rules. He is at present Town Committee for the Republicans, one of the Town Anditors, and Justice of the Peace. He has served as Acting School Visitor, Chairman of the Board of Education, and of the Board of Relief and Registrar of Voters. In 1579 he was ap- pointed by Governor Andrews one of the Apprais- ers of State property at the Wethersfield pri-on. He received the Republican nomination for Sen- ator in the old 21st District in 1974, and was the Republican candidate for Judge of Probate in the Andover District in 1552. Mr. Skinner was born at Vernon, November 2, 1531. After re- ceiving a common-school education he attempted the Plainfield Academy, and then Williston Sen-


inary, Easthampton, Mass. He was principal of the Washington and of the Franklin public school- in the city of Rahway, New Jersey, when his health failed, compelling him to retire from all business for quite a period of time. His grand father was a Revolutionary soldier, enlisting and serving under Col. Israel Putnam. The death of his father when Mr. Skinner was only nine Veas of age, left him to his own resources, and he knew what it was, carly in lite, In struggle for Mr. Skinner is a leading Republicmijn his town, and was elected last fall by the biggest majority that has been given a candidate to the Legislature there in years. He's at present House Chairman of the Committee on bisherige. and Chairman of the Tolland County Represent atives.


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154


THOMAS G. ROOT


Of Tolland, was born at Canton, June 17, 1847, and received a common-school education. He is engaged in farming at Tolland, where he has been a resident and active citizen for a number of years. Mr. Root has been a member of the Board of Selectmeu for two terms, and also of the Board of Assessors for three years. IIe is a Dem- oerat in politics.


OSCAR A. LEONARD


Of Tolland, was born at Stafford, December 14, 1853, and received a common-school education. His business is farming, and in politics he is a Democrat. The present is Mr. Leonard's first appearance in the Legislature.


WILLIAM BADGER WILLIAMS


Of Bolton, is engaged in mercantile business, and is 28 years of age. He was born at Bolton, July 1, 1855, and received a common-school education in the sehrools of the town. fle is a member of the Democratie party. The present is his first term in the Legislature.


GEORGE B. FULLER


Of Columbia, was born there, October 11, 1836, and received a common-school education: He has been engaged in mercantile pursuits during most of his life, spending ten years in Hartford, seven of the number having been occupied in clerical duties at John Farris' old music-store on Central Row. He has been Postmaster at Column- bia since 1870, and has also held the office of Town Clerk. Mr. Fuller is a Republican in pol- itics.


THOMAS B. WALKER


Of Coventry, has held the offices of Constable and - Assessor, and belongs to the Democratic party. By occupation Mr. Walker is a farmer. He was born in Coventry, July 4, 1841, and received a -- common-school education.


F


ALEXANDER STEWART HAWKINS


Of Coventry, was a member of the House in 1878, and has been elected to a number of town offices, including that of Selectman and Acting School Visitor. At present he is Chairman of the Board of Education, and member of the Board of Assessors. He was engaged in teaching from the time he was 18 years old until he was 28, when he entered into the grocery and dry-goods business at Liberty Hall in Lebanon. He re- mained there for three years. For the past thir- teen years Mr. Hawkins has been occupied with farming, teaching, and town business. He was born at Griswold, December 25, 1838, and received a common-school and academic educa- tion. In politics Mr. Hawkins is a Democrat.


ALFRED U. CHARTER


Of Ellington, has held the offices of Constable, Assessor, and member of the Board of Selectmnen. Ile is engaged in farming and the lumbering business. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Charter was born at Ellington, November 28, 1849, and was educated in the common schools.


JUDSON STRONG


Of Hebron, has served on the Board of Select- men, Board of Assessors, and Board of Relief, and has held the office of Road Inspector. His business has been principally that of farming. lle lias also worked as a carpenter and joiner. At present he is engaged in the lumber trade. Mr. Strong is a Republican, and has always voted with that party. He was born at Hebron, Janu- ary 4, 1818, and received a common-school educa- tion.


EPHRAIM J. WILCOX


Of Hebron, is a member of the Democratic party, lis election being a gain in his town, which has usually gone Republican. He was born at HIe- bron, January 11, 1843, and received a common- school education. His business has been that of designer and general builder. He has also made ornamental building a specialty.


15


KIAH BAILEY GLIDDEN


Of Mansfield, was born at New Castle, Me., and is 63 years of age. He was educated at Lincol Academy and at Bangor Theological Seminary, graduating in the class of 1559, Rev. Dr. E. P. Parker of the South Congregational Church in Hartford being one of his classmates. He was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church at Westmoreland, N. Il., in June, 1560. He is at present pastor of the First Congregational Church at Mansfield. He has also ocenpied pastorates at Enfield and Redding, but the greater portion of his pastoral life has been spent at Mansfield. Mr. Glidden is Acting School Visitor. He is a mem- ber of the Republican party, and in favor of pro- hibition.


ELISHA TROWBRIDGE BOLLES


Of Mansfield, has been engaged in farming since 1869. For twenty-five years before that time he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Ile has acted with the Republican party since its organ- ization. Mr. Bolles has held the offices of Grand Juror, and member of the Board of Relief, >till retaining the latter position. He was born at Eastford. April 20, 1825, and was educated in the common schools.


LORENZO D. CONVERSE


Of Somers, enlisted when he was only sixteen years of age, serving one year and eight months in the First Concetient Cavalry, under General Sheri- dan in the Shenandoah. He was born at Somers, June 29, 1547, and received the best education that the common and select schools of his town afforded. He has generally followed agricultural pursuits, his health requiring him to be out of doors a good deal. But he is a competent book- keeper by profession. His father, Samuel Con- verse, was a pensioner of the war of 1512, and a staunch Republican. Mr. Converse himself' has also been a Republican from the outset of his political life.


ARNOLD CONVERSE


Of Somers, was born at West Stafford, July 13. 1521, and received a common-school education. lle has held the offices of Grand Juror, member of the Board of Relief for three years, and A ---- sor for five. At present he is a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Converse is a farmer by occupation, and belongs to the Republican party.


JOHN CLAYTON FULLER


Of Stafford, was born at Stafford Springs, in 1-50, and received a common-school and academic education. He is a member of the Democratic Town Committee, at Stafford, and has held the office of Tax Collector for the Borough of Stafford Springs. Ile is at present a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Fuller is engaged in the painting business.


HENRY MCKINNEY


Of Statlord, was born at Amherst. Mass .. April 12, 1885, and received a common-school educa- tion. He has been a member of the School Board, and also of the Democratic Town Com- mittee. During the war he served in the Twenty- fifth Connecticut, under Colonel George P. Bi- we'll of Hartford. By occupation he is a joiner.


ALBERT E. WELD


Of Union, was a member of the House in 1564, and has hold the offices of Assessor, Selectman. Collector of Taxes, Registrar of Voters, and School Visitor. He is at present School Vister. Justice of the Peace, and Registrar of Flector- He is a mechanic Is occupation, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. Wold was born at Sun bridge, Mass, Mary 99, 158,5and receive a common school education.


156


GEORGE L. BAKER


Of Union, holds the office of Postmaster, and is engaged in the manufacturing business. He is a member of the Democratic party. His birthplace was at Wales, Mass., where he was born April 3, 1836. Mr. Baker was educated in the common schools.


FRANK HENRY BROWN


Of Vernon, was born at Brimfield, Mass., August 5, 1850, and graduated from the Hitchcock Free High School in that place in 1869. He has resided at Rockville since 1870, where he has held the position of accountant with the Hocka- num Company. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics.


WILLIAM RANDALL


Of Vernon, is engaged in the grocery and dry- goods business, and belongs to the Republican party. He was born at North Bradley, Eng., and is 50 years of age. He removed to the United States in 1855, and has since resided here. Mr.


Randall is self-educated. IIe has been a meni- ber of the Republican Town Committee, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace.


JUDSON A. POTTER


Of Willington, is a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Republican Town Committee. He enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, when only 17 years of age. Subsequently he re- enlisted in the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He was born at Colchester, March 2, 1844, and received a common-school education.


ALBERT HALL


Of Willington, is a machinist by occupation, and has been engaged most of his active life in the varions departments of cotton-thread mannfacture. He is at present interested in mining operations. He belongs to the Republican party. Mr. Hall was born at Stafford, April 1, 1846, and was edu- cated in the common schools.


157


LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES, ETC.


JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES.


ON THE JUDICIARY.


Senator Scofield, 12th District.


Messrs. Case of Granby. Fenn of Winchester. Mc Lean of Simsbury, Law of New Haven, Kings- ley of Lebanon, Glover of Fairtiekdl, Coats of Windsor Locks, Tallmadge of Bridgeport.


ON SCHOOL FIND.


Senator Yale, 6th District.


Messrs. Bell of Norwalk, Neale of Southington. Hopson of Wallingford, Jewett of Lyme, Carey of Canterbury, Winegar of Kent, Pratt of Say- brook, Hall of Willington.


ON BANKS.


Senator Turner, 5th District.


Messrs. Gay of Farmington, Durand of Milford. Bentley of New London, Ruggles of Huntington, Chase of Thompson, Moore of Salisbury, Francis of Durham, Baker of Union.


ON STATE PRISON.


Senator Hyatt, 13th District.


Messrs. Stiles of North Haven, Griswold of Rocky Ilill, Tubbs of Old Lyme, Northrop of Sherman, Card of Sterling. Patterson of Torring- ton. Stevens of Killingworth, Williams of Bolton.


ON NEW TOWNS AND PROBATE DISTRICTS.


Senator Richardson, 19th District.


Messrs. Horne of Winchester, Avery of South Windsor, Grannissof Cheshire, Chapman of North Stonington, Andrews of Darien, Emerson of Plain- field, Pelton of Clinton, Barlow of Brookfield.


ON ROADS AND BRIDGES,


Senator DeForest, 14th District.


Messi's, Sherwood of Westport, Morrison of Enfield, Harrison of North Branford, Peckham of Ledyard, Hill of Plainfield, Porter of Norfolk, Warner of East Haddam, Arnold Converse of Somers.


ON INCORPORATIONS.


Senator Maltbie, 3d District.


Ments, Cowles of Norwalk, Bishop of Avon, Forbes of East Haven, Otis of Colchester, Allen of Putnam, Smith of New Hartford, Davis of Haddam, Wilcox of Hebron.


ON CLAIM -.


Senator Clark, 2d District.


Meses. Hull of Stonington, Middleton of En field, Beadle of Cheshire, Seeley of Easton, Has- kins of Scotland. North of Goshen, Denison of Old Saybrook, Holcombe of Burlington.


ON EDUCATION.


Senator Cooke, Isth District.


Messi's, Lathrop of Norwich, Russell of Bristol. Norton of Guilford, Insted of Greenwich, Wil- liams of Pomfret, Baldwin of Beacon Falls, Pratt of Essex, Alexander of Groton.


ON SALE OF LAND -.


Senator Plunkett. Sth District.


Messrs. Davis of Haddam. Miller of Hartland, Matthews of Branford, Palmer of Griswold, Coan of Trmubull. Kendall of Canterbury, Parrow of Thomaston, Strong of Hebron.


ON FINANCE.


Senator Glover, 15th District.


Messi's. Brooks of Torrington, Garvan of East Hartford, Lewis of Waterbury, Gardner of Water- ford. Mead of Greenwich, Bartlett of Putnam. Tibbal- of Chatham, Wilcox of Berlin.


ON RAILROADS


Senator Allen, 21st District.


Messrs. Brainard of Hartford, Wheeler of Southbury, Potter of Voluntown, Crofnt of Dan bury, Harrington of Windham, Curtis of War ren, Brainard of Haddam, Hawkins of Coventry.


ON MILITARY AFLATEES.


Senator Stanton, 9th District.


Mesto, Noble of Bridgepart, Goodidea de tonbury. Smith of Waterbury, Willkane of Je London, Wewer of Hampton, Helge of Buk hansted, Olmsted of Best Haslam, Danssa D Converse of Somer -.


Senator Crandall, 11th District


Messis. Brown ot Brooklyn, Choklad Machen ough, Wheeler of Oxford, Mark at I vam Oo of Routing. Prescott et Nedr Cambien Scout Cromwel. Back of Wethostel


158


ON HIUMANE INSTITUTIONS.


Senator Pember, 23d District. Messrs. Starr of Litchfield, Gray of Bloomfield, Higby of Meriden, Chapman of Preston, Water- bury of Stamford, Arnold of Woodstock, Burr of Killingworth, Glidden of Mansfield.




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