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 3
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Mr. Northrop's advancement to office since he graduated from college in 1868 has been rapid, and shows the esteem in which he is hield among all classes of citizens in the community where he resides. He has always been faithful to-all his duties, and honest and honorable in their dis- charge. Judge Northrop is married, has three children, is a Democrat in politics, and has many friends who rejoice in his success.
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HON. ALFRED R. GOODRICH,
TREASURER,
Is a direct descendant of Ensign William Good- rich, who, with his brother, John Goodrich, settled in Wethersfield about the year 1636. His grandfather, George Goodrich, served in the Revolutionary War, and after its close removed to the town of Gill, Mass., where he died at the advanced age of ninety-two years. A large family of children survived him, but his wife, Lucinda Wells, died in 1514. Alfred Goodrich, the father of Alfred R. Goodrich, was born in Gill in 1787, and occupied the old homestead, where he also reared a large family of children. He died in 1866, at the age of seventy nine. His wife was Abigail Howland, daughter of Solomon Howland, Esq., of Greenfield, Mass. She died in 1821, leaving three sons, of whom the subject of the present sketch was the youngest. He was born ut Gill, in 1815, and was educated at the Deerfield Academy. Subsequently he became an
associate teacher and principal in the institution. In 1543 he commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of the late Alden Skinner, M.D., and graduated in 1546 with distinction from the Berkshire Medical College. He prac- tired for some time in New York City, and re- mained there during the terrible epidemic of ship fever. Dr. Goodrich was himself prostrated by thedisorder, but finally recovered from the attack. After his restoration to health he went to Ver non, and has since been engaged in his profession there, entering also into mercantile and man facturing interests. In 1520 Dr. Goodride was elected as the first Democratle Representative from his town, receiving, as he has ievarodas done when a candidate for public office, a very flattering vete from le politied opponents lo 1521 he wæ the Denggrate Bonne ter C press in the First District, and care very felt
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securing his election. Dr. Goodrich was elected State Comptroller in 1873, and was re-elected for the three succeeding terms, discharging the duties of the office with fidelity and honor. He was successful in largely reducing the expenses of the State. Since 1874 he has been President of the Mutual Benefit Life Company of Hartford, which was chartered by the Legislature in 1869. Pre- vious to 1874 he was Vice-President of the com- pany. In 1879 Dr. Goodrich was elected Presi-
dent of the Connecticut State Medical Society, but he declined a re-election. He is also a mem- ber of the State Board of Agriculture. He is a director in the Rockville Savings Bank, and in the Hartford Spring and Axle Company. Dr. Goodrich married Charlotte Dobson, daughter of the late Hon. Peter Dobson, and founder of cotton manufacturing interests in Vernon. In politics Dr. Goodrich is a Democrat.
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GEN. FRANK D. SLOAT,
COMPTROLLER.
GEN. FRANK D. SLOAT, of New Haven, State Comptroller, was born at Fishkill, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1835. His father was by ocenpation a farmer. The family moved to Putnam County, N. Y., when General Sloat was quite young, and there his boy- hood life was spent, attending the district school winters and working for his father and others at farm work during the summer, until he was nearly seventeen years old, when he became a clerk in a country store. After a few years of clerkship, the latter portion of the time in New York City, he became identified with the New York Steam Heating Company as salesman. He continued in this position two years, and was then invited, in 1559, to become the manager of the company's mannfactory, located at New Haven, Conn. He necepted the offer and was occupying the position when the war of the rebellion com menced. On the return of the New Haven Grays, 3
who were among the first to offer their services under the call of President Lincoln, for three- months men. General Sloat joined that company and became at once an active member. As the war progressed, and its magnitude began to dawn upon thoughtful men, he became more and more uneasy under his sense of patriotic duty, and in the early autumn of 1562 he enlisted in a cono pany then recruiting for the 14th Regiment C.V. Being too late to enter that regiment, his com pany was assigned to the 27th Regiment ( \ At the election of company officers, General Slat was made Second Lieutenant, and befint leaving the post rendezvous for the cult of war, he was appointed First Lieutenant to till the vacances caused by the promotion of that aller The regiment left New Haven, October 22, 1st2; und was engaged in the hottest part of the battle at Fredericksburg. December 10th, at the same
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year. At the battle of Chancellorsville, eight companies of his regiment were captured, includ- ing his own Company A, of which he had been promoted to Captain. He and his comrades were sent to Libby Prison, and the earliest informa- tion his friends had of his fate was through the New Haven Palladium, of which he was a corres- pondent, in the following laconic dispatch which he sent to that paper : " We have met the enemy and we are theirs, and now are reveling in Libby's embrace." The term of service of the regiment having expired, it returned to New Haven, where General Sloat was offered the position of book- keeper and confidential secretary for Mr. C. S. Bushnell. His employer was a man possessed of large means, and engaged in numerous enter- prises, requiring the use of many hundreds of thousand dollars annnally. He gave General Sloat unlimited powers, so that in important ne- gotiations and in the general conduct of the busi- ness he was intrusted with privileges nearly, if not quite, equal to his principal, a trust which he never abused, and was faithful and honest in his position. He was also while thus employed Presi- dent of the Steam Heating Company, of whose works he was manager when he enlisted.
General Sloat, when absent from home in 1864, was nominated for the important office of town clerk of the town of New Haven by the Repub- licans. He returned just before the election and learned of his nomination. He declared his nn- willingness to be a candidate for this office, or for any other. He was finally prevailed npon by his political friends not to decline, on the assur- ance that he was in no danger of being elected. He gave the matter no further consideration, but mnuch to his surprise and regret, and the surprise of his friends, he was elected. He appointed a competent assistant, he exercising a supervisory charge in connection with his other business. At the close of his term of office, he positively declined a renomination.
In 1867 C. S. Bushnell and other capitalists of New Haven asked General Sloat to go to Wis- consin and take charge of a large iron interest there which they controlled. He accepted, and remained in charge until 1870, a period of three years. The property, which had materially de- veloped under his management, was then satis-
factorily disposed of, and he returned to New Haven. He was then offered and accepted the office of treasurer of the Victor Sewing Machine Company at Middletown, Conn. In 1873 he was elected president of the company as well as its treasurer, to which positions he has been annually re-elected ever since. With the exception of a year or two, General Sloat has resided in New Haven. The exception was a residence in Mid- dletown, where he was elected a member of the Connon Council of that city by a flattering majority, and in which city he has many warm- hearted friends.
General Sloat is a veteran Mason for one of his age, having been a member since his majority. He has occupied varions offices in Masonic lodges. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Honor, and has been three times elected Grand Dictator of the Grand Lodge, the last time posi- tively declining to serve. He has for two ternis -four years-represented the Grand Jurisdiction of Connecticut in the Supreme Lodge, which is now become a notably able legislative body, largely composed of professional men from nearly every State in the Union. At the last session General Sloat was elected to the third chair in that body over two popular candidates, after he had declined to be a candidate for a higher office.
He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and there is no society of which he is a member that has a warmer place in his heart. In January, 1881, he was elected com- mander of Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., of New Haven. Under his administration the Post has been brought from the sixthi rank in mem- bership to the first as compared with other Posts in this department, which shows his admirable executive abilities.
General Sloat has already had considerable ex- perience in State affairs, having served on Gov- ernor Andrews' staff as Paymaster-General, and under Governor Bigelow as Quartermaster Gen- eral, to which position he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of General Harbison. His election as Comptroller was some- thing uniqne in Connecticut politics, as he was the only Republican elected, all the other State Officers being Democrats. He had a majority of 782, and a plurality of 2,436.
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P. M. GEN. THOMAS M'!
ANUS.
P. M. GEN. JAMES B. COIT.
ADJ'T. GEN.
. COUCH
111
MANDEN.
COM. GEN. FRANCIS A
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GEN. DARIU'S N. COUCIL,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
Was born in Putnam County, New York, in 1522, and is now sixty-three years of age. In 1842 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated therefrom in the class of 1846. Among his classmates were Generals Grant, Mcclellan, Franklin, Reno. Hancock, Foster, Stoneman, Burnside, and others who served on the loyal side during the war of the rebellion, and, on the other side, Generals Stone- wall Jackson, Hill, Pickett, and other command- ers of note. Upon his graduation from West Point, General Couch was promoted to be brevet Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Regiment of Artillery. During the Mexican war he served in General Wool's army, and in February, 1547. was brevetted First Lieutenant for gallant con- duct at the battle of Buena Vista. In 184> he served in the central Mexican station, and during the next year he was engaged in the hostilities against the Seminole Indians. In 1550 he was on duty in New York harbor, and in the suc- ceeding years, until 1555, in Fort MitHin (Pa.), North Carolina, in the west, and in Mexico, whither he went on a scientific tour. In 1555. at Fort Leavenworth (Kansas), he resigned his commission, and came to New England, and en- gaged in manufacturing in Massachusetts.
When the war of the rebellion broke out, General Couch raised the Seventh Massachusetts regiment, was appointed its colonel, and took the command to Washington in July, 1561. Ile soon achieved distinction, and was appointed Brigadier-General May 17, 1861. As brigadier he served at the defences of Washington until May, 1862, and commanded the First Division of the Fourth Army Corps in Mcclellan's Peninsu- lar campaign. At the siege of Yorktown, which lasted from April 5 to May 4, 1862, he com- manded the left of the line. On May 5 he en gaged in the battle of Williamsburg, and made the successful reconnaissance which informed McClellan that the enemy had retired behind the Chickahominy. On May 31st he participated in the battle of Fair Oaks, and, on June 25th, in the battle of Oak Grove. At Malvern Hill, on July 1, he commanded the left of the army, on which the main attack of the enemy was made.
On July 4, 1862, General Couch Was pro moted to the rank of Major General of Volun
toers, and was in General Pope'- retreat from Manasses, in northern Virginia. Il engaged in the attack on Maryland Heights, at Harper's Ferry. September 17, 1-62, and followed the re- treat of Love's forces from Antietam, on the 15th and 19th. In October he was placed in com- mand of the Second Corps, at Harper's Ferry. and engaged in the march to Falmouth, Va., aml the Rappahannock campaign in October and November. At the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellor-ville, in December, 1562, aml in May, 1565, he commanded the Second Corps. Army of the Potomac. From June 11, 1563. until December 1, 1564, he was in command of the department of the Susquehanna, being er- graged in organizing the militia of Pennsylvania against the invasion of the enemy's forees under Lee. On December 15, 1994. be assanked and successfully carried Hood's extreme left in the battle of Nashville. He was also engaged in the operations toward the close of the war in North Carolina, and affected a junction with Scofield in his march upon Kingston. At Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, and Nashville, General Couch had horses shot under him, and he was wonfled several times. Finally, on June 7, 1565, he re- signed. On Forefathers' day, in the sante yer, he commanded the Massachusetts volunteer- when they returned their regimental this to the Governor of the State. In 1565 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Massachu- setts. President Johnson appointe I him Collector of the port of Boston in October, 1566, but he was not confirmed by the Senate. In 1-71 he removed to Norwalk, and has since resided there From 1876 to 1575 he served as Quartermunster General on Governor Hubbard's start, and in 1576 was a candidate for Presidential Electie ini the Democratic ticket.
GIN, THOMAS ML MANUS.
Of Hartford, is a prominent redest of thed city, mil has been in active political and analisar on the Board er Pobleo Concómicos at Han ford, being one of the great wrestlers, and lohy the office through three trim. Wleo da Toen ty fifth Connectient regiment we negodund be
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1862, he received the appointment of Adjutant of the command. On the 20th of January, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and held that position till the close of the regiment's ser- vice. He studied law with the old firm of Eaton & Collier, and was admitted to the bar January 20, 1864. In 1866 and 1867 he was Judge of the Hartford City Court, and in 1875 and 1876 he occupied the Judgeship of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for Hartford County. He was a member of the Court of Common Council of Hartford from 1865 to 1869 inclusive, serving for two years as Couneihnan, and one term as Al- derman. During these years he represented the Sixth Ward. His career was one of honor and credit in all the positions which he occupied. In 1878 he was elected. by the Democrats of Hart- ford as a member of the House of Representa- tives. Since that time he has held no politieal office in the city, but has devoted his attention entirely to his profession. He was appointed a member of the State Prison Board of Directors by Governor Andrews, and was reappointed by Governor Bigelow, and is now serving his second term on the Board. General MeManus was born in Hartford, January 20, 1834. His parents re- moved here from the County of Fermaugh in Ireland in 1830, and settled at Hartford, where they resided permanently thereafter. Judge MeManns commenced life as a joiner, and was employed in the car shops of the New York, New Haven & Hartford road before he com- menced the study of law. At Port Hudson he had command of the Twenty-fifth regiment, and was a favorite officer. For several years baek he has been a member of the Board of Ex- aminers of the National Guard, and is a compe- tent soldier and tactician. His appointment on Governor Waller's staff was not an nndeserved compliment, and his selection for the place has been received with satisfaction throughout the State.
GEN. JAMES B. COIT,
PAYMASTER-GENERAL,
Of Norwich, is one of the New England family of that name which settled in Massachusetts in 1635, and in New London in 1650.
His father, Capt. William W. Coit, who was
born in New London, settled in Norwich in 1816. was a compeer of Com. Vanderbilt, and a pioneer in steamboat navigation on Long Island Sound. He was, during a long life, prominent in public improvements and in church and educa- tional enterprises,
General Coit received his education in the public and private schools of Norwich, at the Canandaigua Academy, N. Y., and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. He read law in the offices of Judge Crowell and Hon. Henry B. Payne, at Cleveland, O., and was admitted to practice on attaining his majority, forming a partnership with the Hon. Frederick T. Wallace, the present City Solicitor of Cleveland. At the same time he was associated with the Hon. John R. French (since Member of Congress from North Carolina and Sergeant-at-arms U. S. Sen- ate), in the editorship of the Cleveland Morning Leader.
In 1858 lie removed to Nebraska Territory, and opened an office at Omaha. He took part in the first organization of the Republican party in that territory, and with Gen. Thayer, since a U. S. Senator from Nebraska, arranged for the first convention of the party at Platsmouth, which was followed by the election of its nomi- nee, Samuel Daly, Rep. delegate to Congress. It was during his residence at Omaha that gold was discovered at Pike's Peak, Colorado, and he was associated with William N. Byers in raising the funds to establish the pioneer paper of the Rocky Monntains, " The Rocky Mountain News," which is still published at Denver. Gen. Coit was one of the founders of the present prosperous town of North Bend, Neb.
While east in 1861, at the breaking out of the civil war, at a total sacrifice of all his western interests, he recruited the first company in Nor- wich, which was assigned to Col. Terry's Second Regiment. enlisting and serving in the same as a private soldier. At the battle of Bull Run, for gallantry on the field, he was promoted to be Sergeant-Major of the Regiment.
At the expiration of his term of service, he recruited and placed in camp the first company for the 14th Conn. Vols. He was commissioned First Lieutenant Ang. 18, '62, and went into service commanding "K" Company. He was promoted to be Captain Dec. 20, 1862, and Major Oct. 3, '63, and was often in command of
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the " fighting 14th," of the Army of the Poto- mac, during which service he was severely wounded at Antietam, Gettysburg. Morton's Ford, Wilderness, Deep Bottom, and Petersburg. receiving six bullet and two shell wounds. He was commissioned by the President, the Senate confirming, to date from March 13, 1465, Brevet- Lient .- Col., Col., and Brig .- General. for gallant and meritorions services at Antietam. Gettys- burg, and the Wilderness. .
In 1565, he opened an office at Washington. D. C., and built up a large and lucrative practice. making a specialty of cases before the govern- ment departments. The Hon. James W. Mc- Dill, since U. S. Senator from Iowa, was a mem- ber of the same firm. Subsequently he removed his office to his native city.
While in Washington he was tendered the postmastership of Norwich, by President John- son, which appointment he declined in favor of a wounded soldier.
Differing from the Republican party on the question of the reconstruction of the Southern States, Gen. Coit became a Democrat, and as such has often represented his party in State, and three times in National Conventions. He was president of the State Soldiers' Convention in New Haven in 1565, and chairman of it- delegation to the National Soldiers' Convention in New York City. He has been his party's nominee for both branches of the State Legisla- ture, and in the Fall of 's2, came within a few votes of receiving the nomination for Congress in the 3d district, being ouly defeated by the argument of locality.
He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of Coun., on the staff of Gros. English, Ang. S. 1968. In 1970, he was the first judge chosen bis the Legislature, of the Norwich Police Court. und in 1574 the first judge of the Norwich City Court, at that time a Court with original erim- inal jurisdiction, and n civil jurisdiction the same as the Court of Common Pleas.
General Coit was one of the founders of " The Society of the Army of the Potomac," and " The Society of the Second Army Corps," and IS an active member of the Grand Andy He is widely known as an eloquent Speaker mal a ready writer. He has a wife and four children, and is an Episcopalian.
GIN. FRANCIS A. MARDEN.
Was born at West Windham, N. H., .1. ary 19, 1 40. attended the commiton sefeed. and was fitted for college at Phillips - Exeter and Andover Academy : after which he entered Harvard University, and was graduated in 1se3. taking the degree of M.A. in 15. He taught School at Stamford, Com .. from 1963 to 1-04. and studied law at Harvard law school 15of to 1845, and in October. 1-65, was athintted to the bar in New York city. In logo he was married in Stamford, since which time he les been a resident of Stamford, practicing li- pre fession in New York city. He has been a dele gateat almost every Democratie State Convention, from 1567 to 1552. having presided on two ce- sions a- permanent chairman, and in 1- 2 was all earnest advocate of the nomination of Governor Waller. He was delegate to the National Devie cratic Convention at Baltimore in 1-72, and spoke throughout the State in the Presidential out- paign of 1876. He is a member of Usion Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., Ritterhouse Chapter No. 11. Royal Arch Mason-, Washington Connel, and Clinton Commandery. He has been Inder of Probate in the district of Stamford, is at present and has several times been a Burger- of the bor- ongh of Stamford, six years member of the school Committee, was a Representative in the Assembly in 1876, and was a member of the JnFicigry Com mittee and Honse Chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations, again a member hp 1-75, 50d was on the Committee m. Instruire At make_ he was a member of the Pln Beta Kappa para president of Harvard Safety of Nature 11stars
C920, 0746 4270
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1860. He accepted the position of surgeon on a Liverpool steamship. On the 8th of May, 1862, he was commissioned as Second Assistant Surgeon of the Fifth C. V., participating in the retreat of General Banks from the Shenandoah Valley. While in captivity at Winchester, he was one of the seven surgeons who signed the memorable eartel by which medical officers were recognized in both armies as non-combatants. Being re- leased in July, he participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain in August, and was for the see- ond time taken prisoner, while on duty with the wounded on the field. He was in solitary eon- finement for a time in Libby Prison, having obeyed an order of General Banks, alleged by his eaptors to have been in violation of his parole. He was released by a special commission appoint- ed for the purpose by Secretary-of-war Stanton, and was by General Dix assigned to hospital duty on the ship Enterpe, from Fortress Monroe to New York. Reporting to the Secretary of War, he was ordered to his regiment at Frederick City, Md., and took part in all the battles-Chancel- lorsville, Gettysburg, Falling Waters (where he was slightly wounded in his face), and Kelley's Ford. Joining the Army of the Cumberland Dr. Bissell was in charge of the field hospital, in which there were three thousand beds. After-
ward he participated in the fight at Wahatehie, followed by the fights at Resaea, Pumpkin-Vine Creek, Gallows, Cassville, and Kenesaw Mom- tain, attracting the attention of General Hooker while removing two hundred wounded from the field in the face of a concealed battery. After hospital service at Ackworth, he was assigned a position on the medical staff of General Hooker, and was on duty at Atlanta at the close of the war. In 1870 he left a remunerative private practice in New Haven to take charge, at the request of the Peruvian goverment, of men en- gaged in the public works of that country ; but, since 1876, has been a practicing physician and surgeon in New Haven. He was appointed sur- geon of the Second Regiment in 1867, and has sinee held that position imder Colonels Basserman, Bradley, and Smith, and for seven years has been examining surgeon for the pension department of the government.
Dr. Bissell has been a Registrar of Vital Statis- tics for the town of New Haven, a Police Com- missioner of the city, and member of the Board of Health. He is a member of the G. A. R., and of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He has a large private practice in surgery.
COL. NORRIS G. OSBORN.
COL. WILLIAM N. WOODRUFF.
COL. LUKE M. HEEREY.
COL. GEORGE D. POST.
C
+
COL. EDWARD M. GRAVES.
4
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COL. NORRIS G. OSBORN.
Senior Aid on the staff of Governor Waller, was born in New Haven, April 17. 1555. He is the third son of the late Minoft A. O-born, editor and publisher of the New Haven Register for many years. le is a graduate of the class of 1×50 in Yale College, and is a member of the " Scroll and Key " society, a fraternity constantly increasing in numerical strength and importance in college circles. Colonel Osborn has been for some time the editorial manager and is now chief editor of the Register, preferring the labors and rewards of the career of a journalist to those at- tainable in other pursuits. He is public-spirited and earnest in matters affecting the common wel- fare, and though young and a popular gentleman in social affairs, is always found during working hours at the editorial rooms. " His daily con- tributions to the paper have already tended to give it a character for thoughtfulness and dis- crimination, they being written with candor and not without consideration for the opinions of other men." His appointment gave pleasure to the large number of military men in his native city, and was a pleasant recognition of his com- panionable disposition and frank and soldier-like directness in all his associations. Colonel Osborn is on the best of terms with his superior officers, and is greatly liked by the gentlemen of the Gos - ernor's staff.
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