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 4
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Col .. WILLIAM N. WOODRUFF,
Aid de-camp, is a contractor at the Pratt & Whitney Company's work- in Hartford, where he possesses the cordial support and confidence of his associates. He received an elegant tosti monial from them on the occasion of his appoint- ment on the Governor's staff. Colonel Wood ruff was born at Orange, N. d., and was educated in the public schools at Newark and the Flash- ing Institute at Flushing, 1. 1. In Tal Ine com meneed the study of law in the office of a Gol- ernor l'ennington of New Jersey, located at Newark, but after one year's experience be alan doned the project as unsuited to his tempura mont and tastes. Soon afterwards he appren tired himself to the machinist trade, for which le
was especially adapted In nature. Hedeveloped "ceptional gift- in his department, and of at- taining hi- majority sought employment in the eastern states, with the object of gaining a know !- elge of the business not obtainable elsewhere. Entering the employ of the Pratt & Whitney Company of Hartford, his activity, energy, and fine ability a- a machinist were promptly rees- nized, and he was appointed one of the con- tractor- in the establishment. He has the largest number of workmen under him of any contractor there, and is universally honored for his upright and manly dealing with those connected with him. Colonel Woodruff was a delegate from Hartford to the Democratic convention which nominated Governor Waller, and worked reso Intely here for the success of his party. He las always been a staunch Democrat, and his future will be one of political success. While he has in no case songlit office, he has frequently bech compelled, on account of private business, to de- cline publie position- of trust and responsibility. His appointment on the staff of Governor Waller was highly complimentary to the Young Deinee- racy of Hartford.
COL. LUKE M. HEEREY.
Aid-de-camp, resides at Versailles, in New Lin don County. He was born in heard, and is thirty six years of age. His family settled Hinsdale, Mass, in the year 155. At the age of twohe he went to work in the would mills at Hinsdale, and rose through the datent which position be hold for si vous, met | 1.70 wlien he tried a putrerskip will Jauns Walton, who owned and operated the Methuen Mills. The partnership was Miss Ariat Sir 1575
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COL. GEORGE D. POST,
Aid-de-camp, of Putnam, was born in Hebron, January 25th, 1855.
In his infancy his parents removed to Andover, where they now reside. Col. Post was educated in the district schools of Andover and at the Natchang High School in Willimantic.
In the Spring of 1877 he commenced business in Putnam, as a member of the organization known as "the " New England Combination Clothiers," which has under its control twenty- eight large stores, scattered here and there through New England. The branch located at Putnam, under the personal supervision of Col. Post, has grown steadily in public favor from its beginning, and is now doing a large and rapidly increasing business.
Although always identified with the Demo- cratic party, Col. Post has been too much en- grossed with business matters to participate actively in public affairs, and has heretofore declined official position.
He is a genial, courteous gentleman, and per- forms the duties of his appointment with dignity, and to the satisfaction of his official superiors.
EDWARD M. GRAVES,
Assistant Adjutant-General, was born in Dublin, April 2, 1848, and came to this country in his infancy. He was educated in the public and private schools of Brooklyn, N. Y., and by special instruction in Montreal and New Haven. On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, though but thirteen years old, he enlisted as a drummer boy, but was taken home by his parents before the regiment departed from Brooklyn. After two subsequent attempts to enlist, and seeing that he was determined to carry out his purpose, his parents finally consented to allow him to enter the army, and in the latter part of 1863, he entered service in the famous first New York (Lincoln) cavalry. He served under Gen- erals Sigel, Hunter, Averill, Custer, and Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley until the close of the war, a good portion of the time as a scout. He was wounded in the leg at Winchester, and sub- sequently the same leg was severely injured by his horse falling upon it against an embankment,
when the animal was pierced by a shell from a confederate battery. At the battle of Five Forks his head was cut open by a saber in the hands of a confederate lieutenant-colonel, and he was rescued from certain death by General Custer. After being honorably discharged at the close of the war, Colonel Graves entered into mercantile pur- suits at Hartford, Conn., but always displayed a strong taste for literary pursuits. He wrote several war sketches for periodicals. In 1873, when the New Haven Union was started as a daily, he became the associate editor of that paper, and served in that capacity until his appointment as Assistant Adjutant-General, October 1, 1883. He has not left the field of journalism, however, as he is now associate editor of the Hartford Telegram.
LIEUT .- COL. JABEZ L. WOODBRIDGE,
Assistant Quartermaster-General, was born at Manchester, March 4, 1839, and received an academic education. He was fitted for college at Dr. J. C. Fitch's preparatory school at South Windham, but on account of necessary changes in his plans for life, he engaged in business in the West and South, spending considerable time in Texas, engaged in cattle raising. He returned North at the opening of the war, and was soon afterwards appointed superintendent and secre- tary of the Windemere Woolen Company at Rockville, retaining the position for five years. Subsequently he engaged in business for himself at Rockville, conducting a crockery and house- furnishing goods establishment. For a number of years back he has been the traveling agent for the Downer Kerosene Oil Company of Boston, and has traveled extensively for the firm. He has been actively connected with the Connecticut National Guard for several years, occupying the position of Inspector of rifle practice on the Staff of Colonel Barbour of the First regiment. Colo- nel Woodbridge is a prominent Mason, and has held all the principal offices in Fayette Lodge, and Adoniram Chapter at Rockville, and is an active member of Washington Commandery and Wolcott Council of Hartford. He possesses fine executive ability, and proves an able officer in his department.
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HON. ORVILLE H. PLATT.
UNITED STATES SINAIOR.
Hos. ORvn.s. H. PLATT, one of the United States Senators from Connectiont, was born in the town of Washington, Litchfield County. in this State, on July 19, 1527, and will there fore be fifty six years of age in July mest. He was a son of Daniel G. Platt, a farmer, and worked upon his father's farm until he was 20 years of age. His education was received in the common schools and in the academy of Ire erick W. Gunn, of wide reputation in Lder seus as the principal of " The Gunnery," so called, in the town of Washington, an institution of learning which became justly celebrated. Mr P'litt -the ied law in the office of Hon, Gideon I Hollister. Litchfield, the well known historian of Colbert ent, who died in fost, and was admitted to the bar in Litchfield in 1949. Subsequently De secured admission to the Pennsylvania har in Towanta, Bradford County, and spentery montlu
in the office of Hon. Ulysse Merci. Sin Che!
in Meriden gus a practitioner of low, and hassane
was posted to the House. the best var weyour
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Platt's name was first mentioned in connection with the high office of United States Senator in 1868, when a lively contest occurred in the Legis- lature between the supporters of Ex-Governor William A. Buekingham and General Joseph R. Hawley. He had worked np no eanvass, but a minority of the Republican voters voted for him steadily through many ballots, and finally de- cided the contest between the two principals by voting for Governor Bnekingham. In the con- test of 1879 the chief candidates to start with were General Hawley and Governor Jewell, Mr. Platt again eoming in with a strong balance of power, but this time with the prestige of a larger acquaintance in the State, and consequently with more powerful influenees. The canvass which determined the issue was well equipped with some of the best Republicans of the State, and its votes were so varying that at one time during the balloting General Hawley came within two votes of receiving a majority, while Mr. Platt on the same ballot had but three votes. For three ballots Mr. Platt had only five votes. That was his lowest-two cast by the members from his own town, and the other by the Senator from the Meriden Distriet. From that point, how- ever, his strength developed, and a few ballots more, which elosed at three o'clock in the morn- ing, gave him the nomination.
Mr. Platt in person is tall and commanding. His manners are genial and popular. He is a pleasant speaker and a good debater-always clear and concise, wasting very few words for the sake of oratorical effect. As a lawyer he has had for many years a high standing at the bar, and has made a specialty of patent cases, thongh doing a general law practice. All his life he has been a promoter of Christian and philanthropic enterprises, actively working for the best good of society through the organized channels of religion and temperanee, while by his own example assist- ing in every good cause.
In the Senate assignment of committees he is Chairman of the Committee on Patents, a men- ber of the Committee on Pensions, and for some time after Senator Teller's appointment as Secre- tary of the Interior, acting chairman on revision of laws, and on contingent expenses of the Senate. His speech on the arrears of the pensions, which has been favorably commented upon for its terse vigor and good sense by many leading papers, is a fair specimen of his methods in pub- lie debate, proving what has already been said- that he aims at the point under diseussion rather than to secure rhetorical embellishment, though his language is always as finished as it is clear and forcible.
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Hos. JJOSEPH R. HAWLEY,
UNITED STATES SENATOR.
Hox. Josten R. HAWLEY. U. S. Senator from Connecticut, is a native of North Caro- lina, born at Stewart-ville, in that State, onl the 31st of October, 1526. His father, why was a clergymaan, settled there, and it was dur- ing a temporary residence in the State that the son was born. During his boyhood the family moved to Cazenovia, N. Y. Later Joseph came to Hartford and entered the High School, and in course of time entered Hamilton College, from which he was graduated in 1917. Three years later he was admitted to the bar in Hartford, and subsequently entered into a law partner hip with Hon, John Honker, now the reporter for the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He practiced law for several years, but his taste were politi cal. He had, from the experiences of his youth
and his natural training, become strongly op posed to the institution of slavery, and when the question of extension into the territories of the United States was opened In the passage of the Kansas Nebraska bill in lost, mol the whole subject was aestate I In the struggle in kansas, he was noused to a point where las pretesto was of little Account it was the lis low cture. February 4, 1556, in response to las Insit tue, that John M. Nies, Golden Welles, And chief projment Harttoril gentlemen, Free andl tså liem party ib Coogee tiest The Hargjord Binmuy Pre . was et dnb the organ of this party In 1557 Ma Hawley gave up by law jeune and because its duct colitis, and so wefing in that capacity when the way of the Hadhies
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broke out, in 1861. He was the first man in Connectient to enroll his name in the volunteer service, and went to the field as Captain of Com- pany A, First Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. From that time until the close of the war he saw continuous service, and rose by promotion through the several grades of military advance- ment until he was a Brigadier-General of volun- teers and then a brevet Major-General, with which rank he was mustered out of service Janu- ary 15, 1866. After the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, General Terry, a Connecticut man, was placed in command at Richmond, and Gen- eral Hawley served with him as his Chief of Staff until the volunteer army was disbanded.
Very soon after he was mustered out of ser- vice the Republicans of Connecticut met in State convention and nominated him for Governor. His opponent was James E. English of New Haven. He was elected by a popular majority of 541, after a very closely-contested campaign, and a singular coincidence was furnished in the result-showing the even political balance in the State, notwithstanding war issues-by the fact that General Hawley's majority in the year fol- lowing the war was precisely that which Gov- ernor Buckingham, the Republican candidate, received in the year preceding the beginning of hostilities between the North and the South. In 1867 he was renominated for Governor, but was defeated. During all this period here referred to General Hawley had retained his interest in the Hartford Press. In 1867 General Hawley and his associates bought a controlling interest in the Hartford Courant, and the Evening Post took the place of the Press in the evening field. He has since been nominally editor-in-chief of the Courant, thoughi devoting very little personal attention to it, as his time has been devoted to more publie matters.
In 1868 General Hawley was a delegate-at- large to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago, and was elected President of that body, which placed in nomination General U. S. Grant for the Presidency. It was at a time when new and dangerous financial doctrines were being advocated, and the integrity of the government was threatened regarding its mon- eyed obligations, and to General Hawley was largely due the prevailing sentiments of the con- vention on the right side of this question. His
speech on taking the chair anticipated the plat- form and contained in one expression, that the bonds of the government " must be held as sacred as soldiers' graves," all that was needed to close the argument against repudiation or dishonor. He was also a member of the convention in 1872, which renominated Grant, and was Secretary of the Connnittee on Resolutions ; and again, in 1876, at Cincinnati, he represented Connecticut and was Chairman of the Resolutions Committee. From 1873 to the close of the Centennial Exhibi- tion at Philadelphia he was its President, and at the conclusion of the great exposition he was presented with a handsome testimonial in recog- nition of the valuable services he had given to the enterprise as the head of the national commission. In November, 1872, he was elected to Congress from the First Connecticut District to fill the nn- expired term of Jnlins L. Strong, deceased. He was elected for the full term succeeding, defeat- ing William W. Eaton, the Democratic candidate. Subsequently he was twice defeated by George M. Landers and again elected, and in 1880 he declined a renomination to become a candidate for United States Senator, to which position the Legislature of 1881 elected him for a term of six years. He was first a candidate for this position in 1868, and was defeated by Governor Bueking- ham. In 1872 he obtained a caneus nomination, but was defeated by a combination of Repub- licans and Democrats, who supported Senator Ferry.
In the Forty-Seventh Congress, General Haw- ley was Chairman of the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, and a member of the Committee on Military Affairs and Railroads, and of the Joint Committee on Public Printing. In the present congress he is on the same com- mittees, being Chairman of the Civil Service Committee and second on the Committee on Railroads. IIe has taken a prominent part in the debates in the Senate, especially on financial questions and matters relating to the tariff.
General Hawley is a vigorous campaign speak- er, and is always in demand when important elections are pending. He rarely prepares his speechies in detail, but relies upon the inspiration of the moment, and in purely extemporaneous effort has few superiors. He lias strong and earnest convictions, and possesses the courage to avow them on all proper occasions.
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HON. WILLIAM W. EATON,
CONGRESSMAN, FIRST DISTRICT.
HON. WILLIAM W. ENTON, of Hartford, was born at Tolland, October 11, 1816, and received a public school education there, preparing him for business life. Among his companions and school associates was Judge Storrs of Hartford, Treasurer of the Society for Savings. Hon. A. P. Hyde, of the old firm of Waldlo, Hub- bard and Hyde, was a student-at-law with him in Tolland, Mr. Eaton studying for the bar with Ilon. Calvin Willey, who had held the position of United States Senator from Connecti- cut, and Mr. Hyde being in the office of Judge Waldo. Congressman Eaton's father. Hon. Luther Eaton, was a man of notable honesty and integrity, possessing the fullest confidence and respect of the community in which he resided. De was also a man of politienl inthience and con- trol, at one time representing the oll Twentieth 5
District in the State Senate. Mr. Eaton in herited the strict probity and independence of conviction of his father, and from the earliest period of his life his course has been one of fear- less adherence to what he has believed to be right. On arriving at his majority he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Columbia, S. C., all spent three or four years there in business. The strong individual view - which characterizel hls subsequent course in public affairs were e-taib lished in part at least by his residence at the South. At the conclusion of his commental career, which lasted upwards of four vous, be returned North and commenced the study of law at his oldl home in Tolland, and was admitted to the bar in Tolland County, In 1947 he was elected a member of the Connectiont Have Representatives from Holland, and was returned
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the following year from that town. From that time until now, he has been a prominent figure in Connecticut politics. In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Twentieth Dis- trict ; at the end of the session of the General Assembly that year Mr. Eaton removed to Hart- ford, and has since been a resident here. He re- eeived the appointment of Clerk of the Hartford County Court, and proved himself a thoroughly competent offieial. In 1853 he was elected a member of the House from Hartford, and was chosen Speaker, a position for which he was amply qualified both by reason of ability and ex- perienee. Mr. Eaton was also a member of the House from Hartford during the sessions of 1863, '68, '70, '71, '73, and '74. In 1873 he was elected Speaker for the second time, and discharged the duties of the position with characteristie efficiency and success. Mr. Eaton possesses special adapta- tion for the legislative function, and his career in the General Assembly was marked by the highest personal integrity and uprightness. During the session of 1874 he was elected United States Sena- tor from Connecticut, suceeeding Hon. William A. Buckingham, whose term expired March 4, 1875. Upon the death of Senator Buckingham in Feb- ruary, 1875, Mr. Eaton was appointed United States Senator, filling the vacancy cansed by Mr. Buckingham's death, and assumed the duties of
the office February 13, 1875. Commencing his full term on the 4th of March following, he re- mained in Washington during the succeeding six years, establishing for himself a reeord in which the State might experience a just sense of pride. During the concluding years of his senatorial life he was Senate Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, one of the most important in Congress. He was opposed to the appointment of the Electoral Commission by which in 1876 the election of President Hayes was ratified, and was the only Democrat in the Senate who voted against the measure. Mr. Eaton was one of the strongest advocates of tariff reform during his term in Congress, and was the author of an im- portant measure providing for the appointment of a tariff commission. His term expired March 3, 1881, before his bill could be made a law, but the subsequent Congress enacted a measure eov- ering the main provisions of Mr. Eaton's act. He was a hard-money Democrat, and held posi- tive views with regard to the Greenback contro- versy which agitated the country a few years ago. In the fall of 1882 he received the Democratic nomination for Congress from the First Connec- tient District, and ran against Hon. John R. Buck, the Republican candidate. He was elected by a large majority.
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HON. CHARLES L. MITCHELL,
CONGRESSMAN, SLUOND DISTRIOF.
HON, CHARLES 1. MITCHELL, elected to Congress from the Second District, is the son of the late Edward A. Mitchell, who was for many year's Postmaster of New Haven. Mr. Edward A. Mitchell, with other members of the family, took an active part in establishing several of the great manufacturing industries which have built up the property of the district his son has been elected to represent. Through his mother, Charles I. Mitchell is a direct descendant of Thomas Fitch. who was Governor of Connecticut from 1751 to 1766. Fernhurst, the homestead of Charles 1. Mitchell, is one of the most attractive of the many beautiful residences in the environs of New Haven, and has been in the possession of the family for three generations. Charles I Mitchell was born August 4, 1544, and educated at the well known school of General Russell, New Haven, the Rectory School, Hunden, and the
Episcopal Academy. Cheshire. Later he spent two years in a journey around the world, visiting Asia, Africa, and Europe. He is actively engaged in business, being a director in the Winchester Arms Company, Meriden Britannia Company, Mitchell, Vance & Co., the Tralesmen's Bank. New Haven, etc. He is, moreover, Interested as a stockholder in manns of the pomfret will facturing enterprise throughout the State, among them the Cheshire Brass Compor, Blue diet & Burnham Co, the Watchers (. Com pats, Waterbury, E Walle & Sa Walter ford, the Menden Cutlery Company, Wie a White Organ Company , Moldes, sul De Brister port Bra Compar He was approval, and lo practical knowledge of commons connected with ilustra progress come to
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counsel to be sought and valued by inventors. Mr. Mitchell represented the town of East Haven in the Legislature of 1878, his personal popularity being attested by the fact that, though the town usually gives a Republican majority, he carried it for the Democrats. In the following year he was nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for the Senatorial District, and though failing of an election, received more than a party vote in a majority of the towns. In private life Mr. Mitchell is a general favorite, a staunch friend, and a good neighbor. He is a generous patron of art, a buyer and reader of good books, and a
skilled horticulturist. His collection of hot-house plants, and especially of ferns, is one of the finest in the State. He is a member of the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, New Haven, and takes an active part in the support and manage- ment of the religions and benevolent institutions of the city and State. By family training and inheritance, as well as by his own deliberate choice a Democrat, Mr. Mitchell is nevertheless entirely free from offensive partisanship. He not only accepts, but heartily believes in political progress, and has always the courage to stand by his convictions.
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HON. JOIN TURNER WAIT.
CONGRESSMAN, THIRD DISTRICI.
HON. JJOHN TERNER WAIT of Norwich, of the Third District, was born at New London, August 27, 1811. lle received a mercantile training in early life, but, giving up that pursuit, prepared for college at Bacon Academy, Colchester, and entered Trinity College in the fall of 1532, where he remained for two years, proseenting that course of studies which he deemed best adapted to qualify him for the profession of law. He studied law at first with Hon. L. F. S. Foster of Norwich, and subsequently with Hon. Jabez W. Huntington, and was admitted to the Bar in the fall of 1836. lle at once commenced practice in Norwich, and has since resided there.
Mr. Wait is connected by blood with many of the oldest and lending families in eastern Con- neetient. On his father's side he is associated . with the Griswolds and Marvins of Lyme, while on his mother's side he is a lineal descendant of
William Hyde and Thomas Tracy, two of the thirty five colonists who settled at Norwich in 1659. His family has given many prominent members to the legal profession. His father was long one of the leading lawyers at the bar of New London county, and for several years a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a pre-i dential elector in 1793, and cast his vote for Washington. He was also one of the contents sinners appointed by the General Assembly to dispose of the western lands and establish the present school find. Mr. Walt's father pre rented the town of News Letter for moeten sessions in the General Assembly, and was set oral times one of the cabledates for Couples it the old Republican en during the administra- tion of Mr. Jetrong Henry M Wait. the Gather of the present Chief Justice of the United States und cousin of the silent of this skete, w ales
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