USA > Connecticut > Evening post annual, 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, 1885 > Part 10
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ANDREW J. CROFUT
Of Norwalk, a pioneer Hat Manufacturer of the house of Crofut & Knapp that introduced the Derby hat into this country, and now employ over 350 hands, was born in Danbury, May S, 1833, and is a staunch Republican. He attended the common schools, and then learned the hat- ter's trade. He is now Treasurer of the Water Fund, and Director of the City National Bank, and of the Fairfield Insurance Company. He has been in the Common Council, and a Director and Vice-President of the First National Bank, Norwalk. He was Delegate Hill's alternate to the National Republican Convention at Chicago last June.
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PLATT PRICE
Of Norwalk, a Democrat, has been a carpenter and builder for about thirty-nine years, and was born February 22, 1822. He was educated at the common schools. For three years he was a Selectman and a Burgess of the Borough of Norwalk.
JOHN N. NICKERSON
Of Redding, a Republican, who served as private in Company C, Fifty-sixth N. Y. V., and who has been an Assessor, Registrar of Voters (six years), on the Town Committee (eight years), and As- sistant Town Clerk (two years)-the three latter positions he still holds-was born in New Utrecht, L. I., April 16, 1844, and educated in the common schools and the academy. Owing to his work Redding gave a larger plurality for Blaine - fifty - than for any other Republican candidate except Fremont, who had sixty.
URIAH S. GRIFFIN
Of Redding, was born there March 8, 1840, and after finishing with the common schools engaged in farming. He has been Postmaster at West Redding for three years, and is a Republican.
WILLIAM E. PALMER
Of Ridgefield, is a Republican and a farmer. He was born in New York City, September 25, 1846, and educated in the common schools.
FRANCIS H. STALFORD
Of Ridgefield, was Principal of the East Green- wich Commercial College in Rhode Island from 1874 to 1876, and had a fifth interest in the man- agement of the academy. He is a Republican, and was born in Wyalusing, Bradford county, Penn., thirty-seven years ago. He was educated at the Wyalusing Academy, at Wyoming Semi- nary, and at the Wyoming Commercial College.
He is a Book-keeper and a Republican, who has been a Selectman for two years, and is now a member of the Republican Town Committee.
GEORGE A. BARNES
Of Sherman, was born there in 1841, and is a Republican and farmer. He studied in the Academy and Select Schools, and in 1879 repre- sented his town in the Legislature. He is now a Selectman, an office he has held since 1877, and has been a member of the Board of Education and Chairman of the Town Committee.
GEORGE H. HOYT
Of Stamford, was born in Stamford December 11, 1838, and educated in its common schools and academies. In 1876 and 1881 he served with efficiency in the House. He was a member of the Board of Burgesses from 1875 to 1882, and for six years on the Town School Commit- tee. For about twenty years, prior to 1874, he was engaged in the railroad business, having been during the greater portion of that time Passenger and Freight Agent of the N. Y. & N. H. Railroad Company at Stamford. In the latter part of 1873 he resigned that position, and has since devoted himself particularly to the banking business. He is now President of the Stamford Savings Bank, Vice-President of the Stamford National Bank, Director and Treasurer of the Stamford Water Company, and Director in two New York corporations.
JOHN HENRY SWARTWOUT
Of Stamford, is well known throughout the State in politics, business, and society. He was born in Stamford, November 19, 1849, and edu- cated in the select schools of Stamford and Burlington, N. J. He has served on the Board of Wardens and Burgesses, as Chairman of the Committee on Public Health and Sewerage, and of the Town Committee, a member of which he is now. His business is that of a Commissioner of railroad supplies, 69 Liberty street, New York, and his politics that of a Democrat.
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BRADLEY NICHOLS
Of Stratford, a Republican who is largely enter- ested in real estate in Bridgeport and vicinity, although his regular business for twenty years was that of a farmer, a development of his early life as a mechanic, is a native of Trumbull. He was born November 14, 1832, and educated in the common schools.
HOBART R. WHEELER
Of Trumbull, was born in that town November 20, 1840. His post-office address is Bridgeport. He is a Democrat.
GEORGE A. STURGES
Of Weston, was born in that town November 4, 1854, and educated at the Weston Military Insti- tute. He is a Democrat, a farmer, and a breeder of fancy stock, He has been Second Selectman, and is now the First.
CHARLES MILLS
Of Westport, is a stone mason and farmer, a Highway Surveyor, and a Democrat. He was born in Westport February 25, 1833, and edu- cated in the common schools and academy. He has held several local offices.
SHERMAN MOREHOUSE
Of Wilton, served in the Houses of 1870, '71, '73, and '74; his Committees being Banks, State Prison, and Schools. He is a Democrat, and was born at Wilton November 13, 1818. The district schools educated him, and he has been a farmer, as well as First Selectman for six years, Justice for eight years, and an incumbent of other public stations. He is now an Assessor and a Director in the Central National, and Fair- field County Savings Bank, both of Norwalk.
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CHARLES N. ALLEN
Of Putnam, a member of the House for the last two years ; was reëlected to the present Legisla- ture by an increased majority ; although an out- spoken Democrat, and his town, strongly Repub- lican, never before for twenty-seven years had a Democratic Representative, his elevation to this responsible. position by the popular vote of his townsmen is a well-deserved tribute to his up- rightness of character, geniality, and the ready tact which he has displayed while holding various local offices, and as head salesman in an extensive commercial house in the town which he repre- sents. His services in the Legislature last year not only gave satisfaction to his constituents, but received the commendations of the press of both political parties throughout the State. His devo- tion to the bill seeking to correct an unjust dis- crimination in railroad freights, has made him
known and respected throughout the State. Mr. Allen was born in Union, January 25, 1852, but has made his home chiefly in Woodstock and Putnam, having resided in the latter town for twelve years. He has been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee for the last two years, where his influence in partisan delib- erations is always recognized. He is an enthusi- astic worker in all enterprises that enlist his approbation and sympathy, which characteristic renders him a valuable ally in any cause which he espouses. His record in previous years' Legislatures furnishes an apt illustration of this fact, and of the appreciation which earnest public service is likely to receive from intelligent con- stituencies of both political parties. Mr. Allen is serving the present session as Clerk on the Committee on Incorporations.
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HASCHAL F. COX
Of Brooklyn, was born in North Gage, N. Y., forty-eight years ago, where he received a com- mon school and academic education. He came to Connecticut in 1861, and was an attendant at the Retreat for the Insane in Hartford, and after- wards was an officer at the State Prison. He went to Iowa in 1865, where, for seven years, he was engaged in farming, and at one time held the office of Township Trustee. He returned to Connecticut in May, 1872, and was an officer at the State Prison until August, 1873, when he resigned to take charge, as Jailor, of the Wind- ham County Jail, which position he held for seven years and a half, when he resigned. He has since been engaged in farming, and has held the office of Grand Juror, and has been a mem- ber of the Board of Relief. He has always been a Republican.
THOMAS K. FITTS
Of Ashford, was born in that town fifty-three years ago, and received his education at the Ashford High School. This is his second year in the House, having served there in 1883, when he was a member of the Committee on Incor- porations. By occupation he is a farmer, gar- dener, and florist. In politics he is a Democrat.
WILLIAM A. BUXTON
Of Ashford, was born in Westford, June 14, 1844. He was educated in a common school, and is at present engaged in farming and lum- bering, although at one time he was an attendant at the Hartford Retreat for the Insane, and at another period was connected with the Adams Express Company. He is a Democrat.
GEORGE L. CAREY
Of Canterbury, was a Sergeant in Company A, First Connecticut Cavalry, during the war. He
was born in Canterbury, October 12, 1843, edu- cated in the common schools, and is a farmer by occupation. He was a member of the House in 1884. He is a Republican.
CHARLES BENNETT
Of Canterbury, was born July 22, 1822, and enjoyed the advantages of a common school education. He is a mechanic, working at all the different branches. He has been First Select- man for the past five years, and was a member of the House in 1883. He is a Republican.
C. EDWIN GRIGGS
Of Chaplin, was born in Pomfret, Abington Society, July 21, 1827. He received an acade- mical education, and entered Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1856, and then took a course in Theology at the Union Theological Seminary, in New York, from which he gradu- ated in 1859, and was licensed to preach by the Third Presbytery of New York. On account of poor health he never entered fully into the work of the ministry, though he has supplied pulpits in his vicinity for terms varying from a few Sab- baths, to more than a year. At present he is engaged in teaching school, a profession he has followed for fifteen terms, and also deals in lum- ber. Mr. Griggs was State Senator from the Thirteenth District in 1868; assistant to the United States Marshal in taking the census in 1870; School Visitor from 1862 until the pres- ent time; has served on the Board of Relief, and many times as a Juror of the Superior Court for Windham County ; has been a Grand Juror of the United States Circuit Court; is Trustee of the Dime Savings Bank, Norwich ; Auditor of the Town of Chaplin ; and Vice-President of the Windham County Auxiliary of the Connecticut Temperance Union. He has always acted with the Republican party since its formation.
133
GEORGE T. MURDOCK
Of Thompson, was born in Uxbridge, Mass., March 18, 1829, and received an academical edu- cation. He removed from Uxbridge to Millbury in 1856, where he was associated with Mr. David Wood, a brother-in-law (now a leading manufac- turer of Northboro, Mass.), as a manufacturer. He changed his residence to Worcester in 1859, and became a partner of Albert Curtis, the busi- ness being the manufacture of satinets. Achiev-
ing success with Mr. Curtis, and having a son whose claims as a business partner were fast maturing, he dissolved partnership with Mr. Cur- tis, and came to New Boston, and bought the old mill property there. He has lived in Thomp- son for the past six years, although his business interests have been located there for the past twenty years. He is a Republican.
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CHARLES ORVILLE WARREN
Of Eastford, was born in Vernon, Conn., July 7, 1853. He received his education at the Eastford Common School, and at the Franklin Grammar School, Somerville, Mass. Since he became of age he has been Assistant Postmaster at East- ford, his father, Isaac Warren, being Postmaster. Aside from holding government positions, Mr. Warren and his father conduct a general mer- cantile business. He has been Chairman of the Republican Town Committee for the past three years.
EDGAR H. NEWTON
Of Hampton, was born in that town May 11, 1832, and received his education at public and private schools. For the two years and a half commencing 1855, he prosecuted gold mining in California. He returned to his native town in 1858, and was elected Town Clerk and Treas- urer, positions he has held for sixteen years. He has also held other town offices for sliorter terms, and was Postmaster of Hampton for eight years from 1872. For several years he was Chairman of the Republican Town Committee; at present he is School Visitor, and is engaged in farming, though he has been a school teacher, and has been engaged in mercantile life.
JOHN W. RANDALL
Of Killingly, was born in Montville, this State, February 9, 1843, and received his education in the common schools, and at the West Killingly Academy. He enlisted in Company B, Eigh- teenth Regiment, August 2, 1862, and remained with the command until July 7, 1865, filling the position of Color Guard. He served two terms -1872 to 1874-as Borough Officer, and was one of the Court of Burgesses of Danielsonville. He was a school teacher three years in Daniel- sonville and Sterling, before his enlistment. He is at present engaged in the shoe business, being the senior partner in the firm of J. W. Randall & Company. He is an earnest Republican.
JOHN WALDO
Of Killingly, was born in Canterbury, Conn., March 26, 1826, and received his education at the common schools. Until he was twenty-five years old he was engaged in farming and school teaching, and the remaining period he has been a member of the firm of Waldo Brothers, mer- chants. In company with a younger brother, he established the wholesale and retail grocery house known under that firm name, more than thirty years ago. From comparatively small begin- nings, the house long ago became the leading establishment in its line in Windham County. The firm is a synonym of business integrity, and its members have a reputation for honorable deal- ing which has always given them fame of the best sort wherever they are known. The subject of this sketch is a Deacon in the Congregational church in Danielsonville, a worthy Christian gen- tleman, and the trusted almoner of many an important charity. He has traveled quite exten- sively abroad, taking with him his pastor, by which contact with men and things he has be- come additionally qualified for the intelligent dis- charge of all the duties of life. Although with- out previous legislative experience, he is thor- oughly furnished with all the essential elements of a wise legislator, and the interests of his constituents and the State will always receive honorable and conservative consideration at his hands. He has held the office of Assessor, and has been a member of the Board of Relief. At present he is President of the Music Hall Com- pany, and is a Director of the Windham County National Bank. He is a Republican.
PHILIP MATHEWSON
Of Plainfield, was born in Lisbon, Conn., Decem- ber 26, 1828, and was educated at common and select schools. He is not at present in business, but was formerly a merchant. At one period he held numerous offices in Medfield, Mass., his former place of residence. He is a Republican, and was elected by the largest majority ever given to a candidate for Representative in the town of Plainfield.
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JOHN G. KEIGWIN
Of Windham, was born in Griswold, Conn., January 29, 1825. Two years later his father died, and a short while after that event he re- moved with his mother to Willimantic. At the age of ten he went with his mother to Buffalo, N. Y., to live, and resided there two years, return- ing to Willimantic with his uncle in 1837, his mother having died in the meantime. He re- ceived a common school education, became an operative and then an overseer of the Windham
Cotton Manufacturing Company's mills, where he remained until 1850, when he resigned and became actively engaged in the retail trade, retir- ing in August, 1884. He was a member of the Windham Board of Relief for four years; Regis- trar of Voters for the town of Windham eight years, and was reëlected in October for 1885; member of the Willimantic Board of Relief for four years ; and one of the Burgesses for eleven years. He is a Republican.
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JOSEPH HUTCHINS
Of Plainfield, was born there March 4, 1820, educated at a common school and at the Plain- field Academy, and became a farmer, which voca- tion he gave up fifteen years ago, and has since been occupied with other pursuits. He was a member of the House in 1858 and in 1875. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for four years, two years of which he was Chair- man of the Board; has also been a member of the Board of Relief, Registrar of Voters, and has held other local offices. At present he is agent of the Town Deposit Fund, Director of the Uncas National Bank of Norwich, and President of the R. & F. Foundry Co. of Plainfield. He was originally a member of the Whig party, but has been identified with the Republicans since their first organization.
CHARLES W. GROSVENOR
Of Pomfret, was a member of the House in 1881. He was born in Pomfret in 1839, and was educa- ted at a common and normal school. During the war he was Sergeant in the Eighteenth Regiment, C. V., since which time he has been engaged in farming. He was Constable for four years, and for the past six years has been Town Auditor. He is a Republican.
RANDOLPH LORENZO BULLARD
Of Pomfret, was born in Eastford, Conn., Novem- ber 25, 1843, and was educated at a common school. From the time he left school until he was twenty-one years old, he was engaged in farming, and during the ten years following was a violinist, teacher of dancing, and leader of an orchestra. Since that time he has carried on an extensive trade in dry goods, provisions, etc. He is at present Justice of the Peace and Postmas- ter. He is a Republican.
GEORGE A. HAMMOND
Of Putnam, was born in Hampton, Conn., May 26, 1841. He received a common and high
school education, and for a period studied at Williston Seminary. He taught five terms in Windham County schools, and then enlisted as Sergeant in the 26th Regiment, C. V. At the conclusion of the war he became interested in the manufacture of silk at Mansfield, Conn., where he remained until 1878, when, as senior member of the firm of Hammond & Knowlton, he assisted in the establishment of the Putnam Silk Mills, the main office being in New York. In 1876 he was a member of the House from Mansfield. At present he is Acting School Vis- itor of Putnam. He is a Republican.
CHAUNCEY M. SMITH
Of Scotland, was born there forty-seven years ago. He has generally pursued the business of merchant and manufacturer. He is a Republi- can.
DAVID S. KENYON
Of Sterling, was born there May 6, 1840, and was educated in a common school. He has gen- erally pursued the vocation of farmer. He is a Democrat.
FRANK H. CONVERSE
Of Thompson, was born in that town May 3, 1843. He received a common school education, and also spent several terms at Bryant & Strat- ton's Commercial School, Providence, R. I. During the war he was a private in the Eight- eenthì Regiment, C. V., and in 1869 represented Thompson in the House. He has been generally engaged in farming and book-keeping. While prosecuting the latter vocation he has been en- gaged with the Grosvenor Dale Company and several other corporations. He has been Justice of the Peace for a number of years, Assessor, Registrar of Voters, and a member of the Town Committee. He is a Republican.
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WALTER G. MORRISON
Of Windham, was born in Willington, Conn., May 12, 1846, and received a common school education. He also learned mechanical engineer- ing, and has generally pursued the business of manufacturing machinery for silk and cotton. He has been senior Burgess of Willimantic for two years, and is at present Corporate Vice-Presi- dent and general manager of the W. G. & A. R. Morrison Co. He is a Republican.
JOHN F. HIBBARD
Of Woodstock, was born in Canterbury, Conn., August 7, 1831, and received an academical edu- cation. He taught school eleven years ; was
overseer with the Hamilton Woolen Company four years previous to 1866; later was overseer in the Everett Mills, Lawrence, Mass .; and was with the American Optical Company for several years. For the past fourteen years he has been engaged in farming, making the breeding of Devon cattle a specialty. He has held the office of School Committeeman. He is a Republican. and favors temperance measures.
THOMAS A. LAKE
Of Woodstock, was born in that town June 3. 1848, and received his education at a common school. He was a private in the Eighteenth Regiment, C. V., during the war. He is engaged in the lumber trade. He is a Republican.
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MÜSSEN
NICHOLAS STAUB
Of New Milford, was a member of the House in 1876, serving on the Committee on Banks. He was not absent from his seat during the session. He assisted in reporting an important Savings Bank Bill. In 1884 he also sat for New Milford, having a place upon the important Committee on Insurance. He was a valuable and vigilant servant of the Commonwealth. He held the office of Selectman in the town of Bridgewater, and was Constable one year at New Milford.
He has been a Director in the New Milford Agri- cultural Association, and is at present its Presi- dent. He is engaged in farming, and is a dealer in seed leaf tobacco. Mr. Staub was born in the Province of Lorraine, France, but now Germany. February 1, 1841, and received a common school education. When he was sixteen years old he removed to America, and has since resided here. Mr. Staub is a Democrat in politics.
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ALVAH A. STONE
Of Litchfield, was born in August, 1818, and is therefore sixty-six years of age. His education was secured by a limited course in the common schools, and a study of papers and periodicals. Until 1859 he was a carriage maker; since then he has been a carpenter and builder. He enlisted in the Eighth C. V., and became Sergeant, but during his second year of service was discharged for disability. Frequently importuned to accept office, he has invariably declined. At the elec- tion last fall he received many Democratic votes, although a staunch Republican in matters State and National.
ASAHEL H. MORSE
Of Litchfield, is a Democrat, who was born in Litchfield, March 21, 1823. Educated in the common schools, he became a Director in the Shepaug Railroad Company, and a Vestryman of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, positions he still holds. He has been an Assessor and a member of the Board of Relief.
ALBERT PERRY
Of Barkhamsted, was born there August 28, 1836, and is forty-nine years old. He received a common school education ; went to California in 1856, and was there at the time of the raising of the Vigilance Committee. At the breaking out of the great Frazier River gold excitement, he was one of the first to go, and suffered many hardships on the expedition. In the winter of 1863 he enlisted in San Francisco and came east with others and joined the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, being one of the California Cavalry Bat- talion which went to make up the Second Massa- chusetts Cavalry, commanded by Col. Charles B. Lowell. After being in several engagements he was placed on detached service, and ordered to report to the regular brigade headquarters for duty, where he remained until the fall of 1864, when he was sent to First Cavalry Division head- quarters, commanded by Gen. Merrit, where he remained until the surrender of Lee, being pres- ent on that occasion. He has held office in his
district, being County Clerk, Treasurer, and Col- lector; has been and is Assessor of his town. He is an auctioneer, and a Republican.
JAMES TIFFANY
Of Barkhamsted, a Republican, and carpenter and joiner, is seventy years of age, having been born November 6, 1814. His only book educa- tion was derived from the common schools. He served in the House of 1853, and has been a Constable for three years, Town Clerk and Judge of Probate for two years, and also Grand Juror, Selectman, and member of the Board of Relief.
FRED. H. THOMPSON
Of Bethlehem, a Republican, whose twin brother, a Democrat, represented the town in the House last year, was born in Bethlehem, January 22, 1858, and is twenty-six years of age. He is a farmer, who studied in the common schools of his native town, and for four years in the Hill school of Hartford. He received two-thirds of the vote of his town for Representative.
JAMES SHANNON
Of Bridgewater, a Democrat, who is by trade a hatter, but by present occupation a farmer, was born in Ireland in 1833 and came to this coun- try in 1851. He was educated in the common schools, and has served upon the School Com- mittee.
SAMUEL W. BRADLEY
Of Canaan, is a Horace Greeley Democrat, wlio was born at Cornwall, July 26, 1847, served in the House of 1879, and in that of 1882, and is now, and has been for the past fourteen years, Secretary and Superintendent of the Hunts Lyman Iron Company. He studied in the com- mon and select schools, and received a thorough business training.
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ANDREW JACKSON SPURR
Of Salisbury (Chapinville), was born in Sheffield, Mass., on the 14th of June, 1828, therefore is fifty-six years old. He is the fifth son of Moses and Diadama Jones Spurr, and came from the old Puritanic stock. His father was a successful farmer, leaving an estate of four hundred and twenty-two acres on the Spurr grant, and died on the 3d of June, 1846, at the age of sixty-five. His grandfather came from Taghkanick, N. Y., when ten years old, one hundred and twenty years ago. Andrew J. lived at home till eight- een, receiving a common school education, when his father and mother in 1846, while returning from a visit, were injured by an accident, the father dying in two, and the mother in eight weeks. He then worked out as a common laborer for five years upon the farm, and in September, 1850, married Sarahett, only daughter of Amos M. and Sarah Johnson of Cornwall, Conn. In April, 1851, he bought his present farm in Chapinville, town of Salisbury, Conn. Farming has been his favorite avocation, and he has built up his farm and increased its productiveness five-fold, erecting all new buildings, except one barn, and prides
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