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 11
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himself on being one of the best backbone farm ers in town. His wife died on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Spurr were born five children. Two sons-Arthur Ives. aged twenty-one, and Ernest Clifton, sixteen- are the only living members, with himself, who remains a widower.
Mr. Spurr has held the offices of Assessor, Trial Justice, Constable, Commissioner of the Superior Court, Grand Juror, and Director in the Salisbury Savings Society at Lakeville, and was Selectman in 1869 and 1870 with his present colleague, E. D. Goodwin. He is now Justice of the Peace, Grand Juror, Commissioner of the Superior Court, and incorporator in a savings bank. This is his first year in the General Assembly, having received four hundred and fifty-seven votes, or one hundred and twenty- seven over his competitor. He was named after President Jackson, who was elected the year lie was born, and said to his cabinet. " Gentlemen, by the eternal God, I call you here to advise with me, and not to dictate." He was made a voter in the Congregational Church, Sheffield, Mass., and cast
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his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce, and has voted for every Democratic nominee from Pierce down. to and for Grover Cleveland. Hav- ing inherited these political principles, he will act in the future with the Democratic party. He has received a committeeship on Engrossed Bills.
JAMES B. STILLMAN
Of Colebrook, is a Democrat and farmer, born in Colebrook, September 15, 1812, and given a com- mon-school education. He is now a member of the School Committee, and has been Assessor and Grand Juror.
ROLLIN D. BALDWIN
Of Colebrook, who farmed it until he was twenty- seven years old, and then entered the mercan- tile business, was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass., July 19, 1848. He received his education in the common schools, and is now Postmaster, member of the School Board, having been such six years and Chairman for two, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, a position he has held five years. He is a Democrat, but is unpledged to measures.
VICTORY C. BEERS
Of Cornwall Bridge, was born at Cornwall, Sep- tember 25, 1832, and is a farmer and dealer in leaf tobacco. He is a Democrat, with independ- ent proclivities ; was educated in the common schools and academy, is Town Treasurer, has been such since 1881, and in the Senate of 1870, from the old Seventeenth District, was Chairman of the Military Committee. He was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee from 1866 to 1869, and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen from 1876 to 1879.
GEORGE HENRY OLDFIELD
Of West Cornwall, is a Democrat, and Agent of the Housatonic Railroad Company, who has been a Constable, and was educated in the common and high schools of Lee, Mass. He was born in Glendale, Mass., March 7, 1851.
EUGENE E. ALLYN
Of West Goshen, is Town Treasurer, and a Republican, who was born in Goshen twenty- eight years ago. He attended the common schools, and enjoyed a few terms at the Goshen Academy. Until nineteen years of age he worked on a farm; then he taught school for one year, was clerk for Lucas & Hurlbut two years, a partner of F. A. Lucas in the firm of Lucas & Allyn for five years, and is now of Porter & Allyn Brothers, merchants, West Goshen. He has been energetic and successful.
WILLIAM J. GREENE
Of Goshen, a Republican farmer, who for thir- teen years was Overseer of Roads in the State of New York, and for nine years a Constable, was born in Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., May 19, 1827, and was educated in the common schools.
WILLIAM BRYANT
Of Harwinton, a Republican, was born in Trin -. tan, N. Y., August 28, 1818, and educated in the common schools. He is now a farmer, and Post- master, but for forty years carried the United States mail on the old Albany route between Torrington and Hartford. For two years he was a Selectman.
SILAS ALFRED GRIDLEY
Of Harwinton (Terryville), was born in Harwin- ton, August 31, 1839, was educated in the public schools, and is a practical farmer and a Republi- can.
CHARLES S. SMITH
Of Kent, was a Representative in 1880, and is a Democrat. He was born in Stratford, November 5, 1848, educated in the common schools and academy, and for the last fifteen years has been a Station Agent for the Housatonic Railroad Company.
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FRANK H. TURKINGTON
Of Morris, was born in that town June 11, 1854, and educated in the common schools. He was in the House of 1879, is a Republican, and a butcher.
JAMES FORBES
Of New Hartford, was born in Forfarshire, Scot- land, on the 5th of October, 1831. He received a common school education, supplemented by an academic course in that country. He has been in this country thirty-two years, and a resident of New Hartford for the last twenty-six years. He has held many local offices, among others that of School Committee, member of the Board of Health, Grand Juror for a number of years, Jus- tice of the Peace for the last six years, to which position he was re-elected last October. He en- listed from New Hartford in Co. A, Twelfth C. V., Colonel Henry C. Deming of Hartford, and was mustered into the service at Camp Lyon, Hartford, in November, 1861. He was with his regiment through its campaign in Louisiana, both under Butler and Banks, and after the capture of Port Hudson was, with others, sent north on recruiting service and stationed at Conscript Camp, New Haven. When his regiment came home on veteran furlough he re-enlisted and went back with them to Louisiana, but shortly after was sent north to the Shenandoah Valley, and was present at most all of the skirmishes and battles under Sheridan. The regiment was dis- charged at Savannah, Ga., and he came back to Hartford with it. He is now a mechanic by occupation, and a Republican in politics.
JAMES B. SPENCER
of New Hartford (Nepaug), a Republican and a farmer, was born in New Hartford, April 14, 1836, and educated in the common schools. For five years he was an Assessor.
LEVI STONE
Of New Milford (Gaylordsville), was born in that place in 1840, and educated in the common schools. He is a Democrat, a farmer, and a butcher.
WILLIAM J. FERGUSON
Of North Canaan, was born in Sheffield, Ma-s .. May 25, 1826, educated in the common schools, and brought up to the business of a farmer, which he is now following. For ten years he was a Selectman, and is now a member of the Board of Relief. He is a Democrat.
JOSEPH SELDON
Of Norfolk, a Republican, widely known in con- nection with silk manufacturing, was born in West Hartford, October 17, 1823. He studied in the common schools, and took several terms in the academy, closing with a course at Westfield, Mass. He is now agent of the Ætna Silk Com- pany, and has been a Selectman, member of the Board of Relief, as well as incumbent of other town offices.
RUFUS P. SEYMOUR
Of Norfolk, is a Republican, born at Norfolk, April 13, 1827, and sent to the common schools. He is a farmer and an undertaker. For eight years he was a Collector, and for two years an Assessor, which office he still holds.
IRA NICHOLAS BEVANS
Of Plymouth, who for the past eighteen years has had charge of the spring department of the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston, is a Republican, and was born in Trumbull, July 5, 1825. He was educated in the common schools.
HENRY W. TROWBRIDGE
Of Roxbury, was born in New Fairfield forty- three years ago, and attended the common schools. He is a carriage manufacturer and a Democrat. He has frequently been elected Grand Juror, Justice of the Peace, and Petit Juror.
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ERASTUS D. GOODWIN
Of Salisbury (Falls Village), is an independent Democrat. He was the only farmer interviewed by the last Congressional Tariff Commission, and holds advanced views with regard to taxation, State and National, desiring capital taxed more and labor less. He was born in Sharon, January 7, 1823, and is therefore sixty-two years old. He attended common schools in winter and worked hard in summer. He has served in many town trusts, but has never solicited office. He served in the House of 1869.
ERASTUS A. DEMING
Of Sharon, was born in that town August 9, 1828, and is a farmer. He had the advantages of the common school, and in 1858 and 1879 was sent to the Legislature. He is a Democrat.
JAMES B. REED
Of Sharon, a Democrat and farmer, is a son of Baldwin Reed, 2d, a Representative in 1870 and 1875. He was born in Sharon, July 29, 1856, and educated in the common and select schools.
EDWIN P. PARKER
Of Thomaston, was born in Belchertown, Mass., December 6, 1819, and for forty-three years-the entire time of his residence in Thomaston-has been in the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company. He is a Republican, elected Repre- sentative by a majority of two hundred and seventy, and a Director in the Thomaston Sav- ings Bank, having been such since its incorpora- tion in 1874. He obtained his education in the common schools.
HENRY I. JACKSON
Of Torrington, has been for the past fifteen years engaged in a manufactory, and is a Republican who is an Assessor and Justice of the Peace of three years' standing. He has filled various
other minor offices. He was born in New Mil- ford, August 1, 1816, and attended the common schools.
CLARENCE H. BARBER .
Of Torrington (Torringford), was born in Canton Center, February 6, 1853, prepared for college at Suffield, graduated at Amherst in 1877, and at the Hartford Theological Seminary in 1880. On June 17, 1880, he was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Torringford, and is still pastor. He is a Republican.
TALLMADGE SWIFT
Of Warren, was born in that town thirty years ago, and is a merchant. He is also Postmaster, but has resigned that position as incompatible with his duty as a legislator. He is Clerk and Treasurer of the First Ecclesiastical Society, and Clerk and Treasurer of the School District. He is a Republican.
HENRY E. BRADLEY
Of Washington, is thirty-nine years of age, hav- ing been born in Roxbury, Conn., January 22, 1845. He has always been a farmer, and is a Republican. His, education was derived from the common school and academy.
HENRY S. HARTWELL
Of Washington, a farmer, who has been a very successful breeder of thoroughbred Cotswold sheep and fancy poultry, is a Democrat, educa- ted in the common schools and at the Gunnery Academy. He was born in Washington, Dec. 8, 1833.
CHARLES B. MATTOON
Of Watertown, is a Republican and a farmer, with an extensive milk business. He was born in Watertown, December 23, 1851, and received a common-school and academic education.
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ISAAC BENJAMIN WOODRUFF
Of Winchester, was born in Watertown, August 19, 1819. His ancestors were farmers. At the age of sixteen he left home and was apprenticed to the manufacture of musical instruments. From 1836 to 1840 he was foreman, and from 1840 to 1851 Superintendent, of the works. In 1851 he removed to Winsted and engaged, as a partner with William L. Gilbert, in the clock business. From that time to the present he has been one of the active managers of the Gilbert clock compa- nies under different firm names. He was Select- man in the early part of the war. His first vote was cast for Gen. Harrison in 1840, and he has acted with the Whig and Republican parties without exception to the present time. He was educated in the common schools. He is a Direc- tor of the First National Bank of Winsted, and a corporator and Director of the Mechanics Sav- ings Bank.
HENRY GAY
Of Winchester, was born in Salisbury, April 5, 1834. He removed to Winchester in 1854, where he has since resided. His business since the age of eighteen has been banking. He was a mem-
ber of the Legislature in the years 1875, 1876. 1877, 1879. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Congregationalist.
BENJAMIN S. RUSSELL
Of Woodbury, was born in Southbury sixty years ago, and is a Republican, whose business is that of buying and selling cattle. He had the advan- tages of the common school, and has been a Director in the Woodbury Savings Bank. first and second Selectman, Assessor, member of the Board of Relief, and has filled numerous other offices.
FRANKLIN R. FORD
Of Woodbury, was born in Southbury, March 10, 1845, worked hard on a farm for his blind father and mother until twenty-one, and then began the world for himself without a dollar. He was quite successful as a retailer and whole- saler of meats, with which he has combined an express business to New Haven for the past seven years. He studied in the common schools, and now holds several church offices. He is a Repub- lican, devoted to temperance.
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DANIEL CHAPMAN SPENCER
Of Old Saybrook, was born there December 3, 1823, and enjoyed the educational advantages fur- nished by a common school. He followed farming until 1846, when he entered mercantile life, and in 1852 located in New York. In 1854 he became connected with the house of Claflin, Mellen & Co., now H. B. Claflin & Co., where he remained fourteen years, returning to Old Saybrook in 1868. He was prominent in the matter of locat-
ing the Hartford & Connecticut Valley Railroad in that town. At present Mr. Spencer is the Auditor of Town Accounts, Director and Aud- itor of the Hartford & Connecticut Valley Rail- road, and a Director of the Deep River National Bank, and of the Stoddard Lock and Manufac- turing Company. He has voted with the Repub- lican party for the past thirty-five years.
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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 intoxicating 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. He was a member of the House in 1884, serving on the Temperance Com- mittee.
JOHN CARROLL
Of Middletown, was born there in 1837, and is consequently forty-seven years of age. His edu- cation he received in one of the common schools of that city. At the age of twenty-two he en- gaged in the coasting trade, and has remained in this branch of industry ever since. At present, Mr. Carroll is a member of the Board of Relief of his native city, a position he has held for six years. Though pressed to accept other offices, he refused until last fall, when he became a candidate for Representative on the Democratic ticket. In politics Mr. Carroll is a strong Demo- crat.
MAYO S. PURPLE
Of Chatham, the first Representative of this town, is the youngest member of the House. He was born in East Hampton in 1861, and is therefore but twenty-three years of age. On the records of the East Greenwich Academy at East Greenwich, R. I., Mr. Purple's name may be found. He has been in business for the past five years, and is at present senior member of the firm of Purple & Brainard of Cobalt, the place where he resides. That he is energetic, may be inferred from the fact that he is the School Visitor and Acting Postmaster at Cobalt. Mr. Purple is a Republican.
GEORGE A. STRONG
Second Representative of Chatham, is a resident of his native town,-East Hampton,-where he was born May 16, 1850. The public and select schools of East Hampton afforded Mr. Strong the means of education. Although he has been elected Constable, Justice of the Peace, and to other offices, he has never accepted any position except that of Registrar of Voters and Grand Juror. In business life Mr. Strong is actively engaged in carriage making. He says that as far as they shall work for the greatest good for the greatest number, he will always act with the Democratic party.
SYLVESTER W. CLARKE
Of Chester, has been a strict Republican since the formation of the party. He was born in Chester, August 3, 1814, and is therefore seventy years of age. The earlier years of his life he spent within the walls of a common school, from whence he went to receive greater instruction to a high school. He has been honored in his town by being chosen Constable, member of the Board of Relief, Highway Surveyor, and Selectman. Mr. Clarke has been engaged in agriculture most of his life. This is his first term in the House.
ASA S. PELTON
Of Clinton, is a physician and a druggist, and is also the proprietor of a large country store. He was born in Killingworth in 1816, and is sixty- eight years old. For twenty-six years he prac- ticed medicine after the eclectic standard, and then devoted himself exclusively to the sale of drugs and general goods, a business he has fol- lowed for the past twenty years. He has been Town Auditor, Grand Juror, and member of the Board of Relief, and is at present First Select- man, Chairman of the Oyster Staking Commit- tee, and Special Law Agent of the town. He is a Republican.
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CHARLES P. SAGE
Of Cromwell, was born in that town December 26, 1829; was educated at Springfield, Mass., and at the academy in Cromwell. In 1878, 1879, and 1880 he was a Selectman, and is at present Cor- porator and Director in the Dime Savings Bank at Cromwell. He was a member of the House in 1884, serving on the Agricultural Committee, and acting a portion of the time as Clerk of that body. He has frequently represented his town at State and other conventions. Was Delegate and one of the Vice-Presidents of the Conven- tion in Hartford to nominate Presidential Dele- gates to Chicago, also at the State Convention at New Haven which nominated Governor Harrison and the other State officers. Mr. Sage now re- sides on the old homestead, which has been in the family without a break since about 1650; he is a lineal descendant of one of the first settlers of his town. His present occupation is that of a farmer, and in politics he is a Republican.
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HENRY G, NEWTON
Of Durham, is forty-one years of age, having been born in Durham, June 5, 1843. This is his first experience in the Legislature. While a boy he attended the Durham Academy, graduated from Wesleyan University in 1870, and from the Yale Law School in 1872, since which time he has practiced law, having his office in New Haven. In his early life he was a farmer. He has been Acting School Visitor for ten years. In politics he is a Republican.
CURTISS C. ATWELL
Of Durham, was born there October 2, 1838. The common schools and academy of his native place gave him the opportunity to secure a good education. During the war he served as Corpo- ral of Co. F, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volun-
teers, and at its conclusion resumed his occupa- tion of farming. He has been a member of the Board of School Visitors and of the Board of Relief; lias also served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff, and is at present a Justice of the Peace and Registrar of Voters. Mr. Atwell is in poli- tics a strong Republican.
J. W. CHARTER
Of East Haddam, was born in Ellington, this State, February 14, 1844, and is therefore nearly forty-one years of age. His education he re- ceived in a common school. He was a pri- vate in Co. D, Fourteenth Connecticut Volun- teers, during the war, and at its conclusion re- sumed his occupation of farming, which he has since followed. He has always voted with the Republicans.
JOHN S. GRIFFIN,
The second Representative of East Haddam, was born in East Haddam, December 3, 1853, but resides in Hadlyme. The common schools and the Seabury Institute at Saybrook afforded Mr. Griffin the means of an education. He is en- gaged in farming and lumbering, and has held the office of Constable for several years. He is a Republican.
ALFRED ERNEST GODDARD
Of Essex, was born in Lowell, Mass., July 28. 1847, studied in the common and select schools, and followed the profession of mechanical draughtsman for a few years. He became a resi- dent of Essex in 1870, and for about seven years was a partner in a firm that manufactured emery wheels. For the past seven years he has been engaged as Superintendent of the Tap Manufac- turing Company. He is a Republican.
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GEORGE M. CLARK
Of Haddam. With the exception of two instan- ces since 1854, the Republican party in Haddam has not elected Representatives until the past fall. Mr. Clark, the first Representative, is fifty-one years of age, having been born in Haddam, June 11, 1833. In his youth he was sent to com- mon and select schools, and later spent consider- able time in a very close study of mechanical causes and effects. He pursued mechanical en- gineering for a time, then became a jobber and contractor, a vocation he filled for many years, and finally became engaged in manufacturing, in which he is still prominent. Mr. Clark is Presi- dent of the Higganum Savings Bank, and of the Higganum Manufacturing Company. He is also a Director in several companies. Mr. Clark is a strong Republican, and has been Chairman of the Republican Town Committee for eighteen years. He resides in Higganum.
JOHN A. WARNER
Of Haddam, the second Representative, is thirty- eight years of age. He was born in Hatfield, Mass., and enjoyed a common-school education. He has generally been engaged in farming, but is now a large dealer in wood and timber in Tylerville. Mr. Warner is a Republican.
WASHINGTON E. GRISWOLD
Of Killingworth, was born in that town Decem- ber 24, 1830, and is therefore fifty-four years of age. Lee's Academy at Madison, and a term at the State Normal School, educated him. For fourteen years he was a Selectman, and he has held all the minor offices of the town. He is now a Justice, and a member of the School Board; and at the last election he was chosen Judge of Probate, and he retains the Chairman- ship of the Democratic Town Committee. He has generally pursued the business of farming and school-teaching, and is a Democrat.
RANDOLPH S. BURR
Of Killingworth, was born there May 26, 1847, and received his education in common and select schools. He has been Constable five years, Col- lector four years, member of Town Committee two years, and Grand Juror one year. At pres- ent he is Constable, Collector, and member of the Town Committee. He is a farmer by occupa- tion. He is and always has been a Democrat.
CYRUS COE
Of Middlefield, was born there sixty years ago. His education he received in the common and select schools of Middletown and Meriden. His ancestors were Democrats. His grandfather was the Hon. Joshua Stow, who held important offices in the State Senate and House of Representatives for a number of years, and was the author of the article in the Constitution which secured complete religious toleration. Mr. Coe was clerk in the post-office in Middletown for nearly two years, and taught school in Middlefield, and in the graded schools at New London. He went to California in 1849, making a five months' voyage around Cape Horn, and stopping at the West Indies and Valparaiso. He followed the busi- ness of ship joiner most of the time while a resident of San Francisco, and visited Oregon, Puget's Sound, and the southern mines of Cali- fornia. In 1859 he returned home, and since that time has been engaged in farming. He voted for Fremont, and ever since has worked with the Republican party.
ANDREW CORNWALL
Of Portland, was a member from this town in last year's General Assembly. He was born in Portland, January 25, 1822. He attended the common schools, and is now a Road Commis- sioner, member of Board of Relief, and District Treasurer. He was formerly Selectman and Road Inspector. He is a farmer by occupation, and in politics is a Republican.
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MILON PRATT
Of Saybrook, first Representative of this town, resides in Deep River. He was born at Penfield, Monroe county, N. Y., June 12, 1831. His early life, from two to twenty-three, was spent in Geneva, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he re- ceived such an education as the district schools of that place could offer at that time. His early political impressions were of the Joshua R. Gid- dings type. From 1853 to 1876 Mr. Pratt was an owner and an operator in the ivory factory of Julius Pratt & Co., and Walter Webb & Co., of Meriden, and their successors, Pratt, Read & Co. of Deep River. In 1876 he retired, but still retains an interest in the business. In 1875 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and for the two years from 1879 was First Select- man of his town. At present he is a member of the Board of Selectmen, and is a Director of the Deep River National Bank, and Vice-President of Deep River Savings Bank. He is a Republi- can.
CHARLES R. MARVIN
Of Saybrook, was born in Deep River, January 26, 1856. After receiving a common school education he attended the Hartford Public High School, and the Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Mass. By occupation he is a manu- facturer, and at present is Registrar of Voters for the Town of Saybrook. He is a Republican.
ALBERT B. DIBBLE
Of Westbrook, was born in Sandusky, Ohio, April 3, 1841, and received a common school and academic education. He has been Constable, and is a member of the Board of Relief. He follows farming and fishing for an occupation. He is a Republican.
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