Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV, Part 90

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Clement, E. H. (Edward Henry), 1843- joint ed. cn; Hart, Samuel, 1845-1917, joint ed; Talcott, Mary Kingsbury, 1847-1917, joint ed; Bostwick, Frederick, 1852- , joint ed; Stearns, Ezra Scollay, 1838-1915, joint ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1178

USA > Connecticut > Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV > Part 90

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Henry W. Wersebe was born WERSEBE in Germany in 1813. With his father and brother George he came to this country in 1846 when he was

Peter Gabriel

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but three years of age. His brother is living at Westwood. New Jersey. Henry W. Wersebe engaged in the retail grocery business in New York City for a number of years and afterward in the hotel business in Jersey City. He was also in the retail milk business in Jersey City. He was a member of United Brothers Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. of New York City, and of the Reformed Dutch church. He married Martha Wersebe, born 1857, died 1890, daughter of Paul and Dorris Wersebe, of New York. Children: 1. Fred- eric W., mentioned below. 2. Martha, born 1883: married Edgar D. Thorpe, telegraph operator, Paterson. New Jersey. 3. Walter, born 1886, hospital steward in the medical corps, United States army.

(II) Dr. Frederic W. Wersebe, son of Henry W. Wersebe, was born in New York City. October 24, IS77. He attended the public schools and graduated from the Jersey City high school. He received his medical education in the University of the City of New York, graduating from the Medical School in the class of 1898. He had three years of hospital experience and then located in Washington, Connecticut, where he has practiced since 1901. He opened a drug store at Washington in 1909, and was appointed postmaster there in May of the same year. He is a member of the Litchfield County Medi- cal Society. the Connecticut State Medical So- ciety and the American Medical Association : of the Rising Sun Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Washington; of the Independent Lodge of Foresters of America. He is a member of the Congregational church, and a Republican in politics. He married, April 23, 1903. Clara, born in Jersey City, daughter of Charles Wesley and Stella E. ( freland ) Laws. Children : Helen, born January 28, 1906; Irma Baylis, June 13, 1909.

John Goodman was born in GOODMAN Zurich, Switzerland, in 1827. He came to America about 1859 and the spelling of his name, which was originally Guttmann. was anglicized to its present form. He lived for a short time in New York City and then removed to Goshen, Connecticut, where he followed farming. Thence he went to Newfield in the town of Torrington, Connecticut, where he worked at the trade of blacksmith. Afterward he lived at Warren, Connecticut, where in March, 1864. he became a naturalized American eiti- zen. He removed, soon afterward, to Litch- field, Connecticut, where he lived the remain- der of his life and died there in 1892. In Litchfield he was first engaged in farming

and afterward in the teaming and coal busi- ness. He retired shortly before he died. He married Mary Housman, born in Germany. about 1830, died at Litchfield. 1902. Children : Frederick, farmer at Bantam, Connecticut ; Henry, died young ; Henrietta, married John Sterzel, of Torrington: children: Mary and Florence Sterzel: Louis Jolin, mentioned be- low.

(II) Louis John, son of John Goodman, was born in Litchfield, February 19, 1867. He received his education in the public schools of lis native town, and worked for his father in the teaming and coal business. At the age of twenty-one years he succeeded to his father's business and has continued it to the present time with flattering success. He deals in all kinds of farming implements and ma- chinery and is a general contractor. He has built under contract various state highways. He is alone in the coal business and has a partner in the contracting business. the firm name being Goodman & Trumbull. Mr. Good- man is a Republican and has served for some seven years on the board of selectmen and is a member of the present board. He is a meni- ber of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 11, Free and Accepted Masons: of Darius Chapter. Roval Arch Masons; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Independent Foresters of America. He married. November 16, ISS ;. Minnie, daughter of Addison K. and Laura (Thomas) Taylor. Children, born at Litch- field: Wesley L., born October 26, 18: Theresa R., June 26, 1894; Louis J., Jr., Feb- ruary 19, 1900.

RYAN Thomas Francis Ryan was born at Limerick, Ireland, March 6. 1872, a posthumous son of Thomas and Margaret (Dwyer ) Ryan, who had seven other children. His father was born in Ire- land in 1822, died there in September, 18;1. His mother was born in Ireland in 1830, and is living in Troy, New York.

Thomas F. Ryan was educated at St. Mary's Academy, New York, and was an actor and singer until 1892, when he settled in Torring- ton, Connecticut. He entered the Yale Law School in 1895, and after leaving Yale took a course in geology and mineralogy ( not for a degree), in the University of Arizona in 1900. He practised law for a year and a half after leaving Yale, at Torrington, and then opened an office in Tucson, Arizona. There he studied mining and made several trips through Mexico and lower California. pros- peeting. He organized and managed for one year the Arizona Oil and Pipe Line Company. and he tried to develop a promising gold pros-

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pect near Nogalles, Mexico, and lost every- thing in this venture. He then went back to the dramatic business at Fischer's Theatre, in San Francisco, California, in a stock com- pany, and travelled in a tour with Florence Roberts for a year. He prospected some in the Koutenias country in Montana and in .Al- berta, British Columbia, and then took up the theatre again, playing in Tolstoy's 'Res- urrection." In April, 1904, he returned to Torrington, and renewed his law practice in the office of S. A. Herman, at Winsted. In April, 1905. he opened an office in Litchfield where he is now in active practice. He is clerk of the borough of Litchfield and a mem- ber of the town's school committee. He is of the Roman Catholic faith, and a Democrat in politics. He is a member and one of the executive committee of the Litchfield Scientific Association.

He married, in Torrington, February 19. 1895, Mary, daughter of Edward Kelley, and a graduate of the Parochial Convent School at Winsted, Connecticut. Children, born at Tor- rington: Mary Gertrude, February 12, 1896; Catherine Edna, June 6, 1897 : Margaret Aga- tha, March 27, 1900; Frances Mary, October 10, 1906.

Joseph Karl, of ancient German

KARL ancestry, was born in Bavaria. Germany, and lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years. He was well educated. and during his active life was a school teacher in Germany. He fought with the Allies at the battle of Waterloo. His wife lived to the age of ninety-four. Chil- dren : Michael, John, Maria. Peter and Francina.

( Il) Peter, son of Joseph Karl, was born in Knopf. Bavaria. Germany, February 7, IS34. died at Litchfield. Connecticut, Novem- ber 25. 1895. He came to America about 1852, and learned the trade of tailor in New York City. He enlisted in the Union army in the civil war. He served nineteen months. and took part in nine battles, including Antie- tam. Fredericksburg and Sharpsburg, and was at Fortress Monroe when it was taken. He was in the Forty-sixth New York Regiment. He lived at Goshen, New York, one year, and came to Litchfield in 1880, establishing him- self in business there. He continued in active business as a merchant tailor until shortly before his death. He was active in church work in Litchfield. He established a mission at Litchfield1. In politics he was a Republican. He married. February 22. 1857. in New York. Wilhelmina Hudei. born May 22. 1838, daugh- ter of Christian and Christina Hudel, of

Schonbach, Nassau. Germany. Children : I. Peter, died in childhood. 2. Adolph Christian, born in New York City, October 2, 1860 ; lives in Litchfield; married Dora Ohm, a native of Germany: children : Wilhelmina, a trained nurse ; Frederick, a bookkeeper. 3. John Jay, mentioned below. 4. William Christian. born April 6. 1866, died 1903 : married Lucy Flow- er : children : Peter, Viola. Elsie, Rudolph and William. 5. Rudolph, born in New York City, May 15, 1868, has been from youth in the government postal service : now postmaster of Litchfield, appointed in July, 1910. 6. Ernest, born in New York City. June 21, 1872. a printer in Litchfield. ;. Benjamin Franklin, born in New York City, June 5, 1874, a pho- tographer in Litchfield. S. Otto Ludwig, born in New York City, June 17. 1876. a photog- rapher, in partnership with his brother, Ben- jamin F., in Litchfield. 9. Wilhelmina. twin. died young. 10. Louisa, twin, died aged six months.

( III) John Jay, son of Peter Karl. was born in Goshen, New York, March 1, 1864. The family returned to New York City when he was an infant, and he spent his boyhood there, attending the public schools and making a special study of music. He came with the family to Litchfield. For a number of years he taught music in Litchfield, both vocal and instrumental. He has been organist of St. Michael's Church for twenty-nine years. 1.1 politics he is a Republican. He was elected town clerk of Litchfield in 1993 and county commissioner in 1905, and still holds both offices. He is unmarried.

Daniel Shelton. immigrant SHELTON ancestor. was born at Dept- ford. Yorkshire. England. about 1686-90. He came to this country as a merchant. He settled in Stratford. Connect- icut, now Huntington. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Governor Samuel Welles. of Wethersfield. April 4. 1692, and resided in Stratford until about 1707-08, when he settled at Long Hill, Huntington. He died there in 1728. His widow Elizabeth died April 1. 1747. aged seventy-seven. The distribution of his estate, dated March 17, 1746-47. is as follows: "To the heirs of Elizabeth, who was widow of Daniel Shelton, £283 6s. Sd .: to Joseph Shelton, eldest son. £1574 25. 6dl. : to Daniel Shelton, £774 10s. 3d .: to Tha Meus Shelton. 1774 8s .; to Samuel Shelton. £774 8s .: to James Shelton. £774 8s .; to Josiah Shelton. £774 Ss .: to the heirs of John Shelton. de- ceased. £774 8s .: to Elizabeth. wife of Nich- olas Masters, of Woodbury, $774 8s. ; to Sa- rah, wife of James Wakelee, £774 8." Chil-

Gould a. Shelow.

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dien: Elizabeth, born January 2, 1692-93; Sarah, January 2, 1694-95; Joseph, June 24, 1698; Daniel. July 21, 1700; Thaddeus, 1702; Samuel, mentioned below ; James, about 1710; John, about 1712; Josiah, about 1714.

( II) Samuel, son of Daniel Shelton, was baptized February 10. 1705-06. Ile married Abigail, daughter of Captain Joseph Nichols, of Unity, October 2, 1735. Their residence was in Huntington, where he died November 12, 1772. She died February 21, 1794. Chil- dren : Mary, born February 13, 1736: Daniel. mentioned below : Samuel, August 24. 1738: Elizabeth, February 13. 1739-40; David, June 16, 1741 ; Abigail. December 29, 1742: Joseph. February 2. 1744; Andrew, November 26. 1746; Sarah, July 19. 1748; Ann, February 7, 1749-50; Josiah, December 30. 1751 ; Philo, May 4, 1754; Isaac Wells, March 11, 1756; Agur.

(III) Daniel (2), son of Samuel Shelton, was born April 26, 1737. He married Me- hitable, daughter of Daniel Shelton, 2nd. He was called "Little Daniel." He lived on Booth's Hill. and died May 12, 1813. She died September 22, 1812. Children: Janc. born March 19, 1761; Elizabeth. February 5, 1768; Susannah, October 22, 1769; Samuel Frederick, mentioned below; Elijah Daniel. January 5. 1773 ; Avis Newton and Isaac, June 13, 1770.

(IV) Sammuel Frederick, son of Daniel ( 2) Shelton, was born August 4. 1771. He mar- ried Eunice Hannah, born January 23, 1775. died June 13. 1866, daughter of Judson Cur- tiss, December 3. 1795. Children : 1. Samuel Daniel, December 28, 1796. 2. Judson Curtiss. mentioned below. 3. Juline, September 14. IS00. 4. Sally, October 21, 1803. 5. Hannah Maria, December 5. 1809: married Dr. James H. Shelton, son of Dr. William Shelton. who graduated at Yale College in 1788 and prac- ticed medicine at Huntington, Connecticut. 1789 to 1819. and was a famous doctor in his day ; Dr. James H. Shelton was succeeded by his nephew. Dr. Gould Abijah Shelton, mentioned below. 6. Abigail Avis, November 19, ISII.

(V) Judson Curtiss, son of Samuel Freder- ick Shelton. was born at Huntington, October 17, 1798, died August 4, 18So. He resided in Huntington, formerly part of Stratford. He was a farmer. He married Hannah Lewis. born March 20. 1802. died July 13. 1883. Chil- dren : Harriet N., Sasan H., Minor C., Alice M., Sarah Maria, Lewis J., Frederick S., Mary J., Sylvia A., Gould A .. Eliza A.

(VI) Dr. Gould Abijah Shelton, son of Jud- son Curtiss Shelton, was born at Huntington. August 19. 1841. In his youth he worked on

his father's farm and attended the district schools. He fitted for college at the Staples Academy at Easton, Connecticut, and entered Yale with the class of 1866. He left college itt his junior year and taught in private and public schools for several terms. In 1866 he began the study of medicine under Dr. George W. Hall, of New York City. He then en- tered Vale Medical School and was gradu- ated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1869. He immediately began to practice at Shelton, Connecticut, a borough named in honor of Edward N. Shelton, president of Out- satonic Water Company, succeeding to the practice of his uncle, Dr. James H. Shelton, who died in 1868 after practicing there for about fifty years. Ile has practiced medicine in Shelton and vicinitycontinuously ever since that date, and except for political and social interests, has given his time closely to his professional duties. He has enjoyed a very large and successful practice and has taken a high rank in his profession. In 18gi Yale University conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M. He is a member of the Fairfield County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1889: the Yale Medical Al- umni Association, of which he was president in 1894; of the Connecticut Medical Society, of which he was president in 1903; of the American Academy of Medicine and the American Medical Association. Since 1892 he has been on the consulting staff of the Bridgeport Hospital and he is also on the staff of the New Haven Hospital. Ile has been coroner and medical examiner of the town of Huntington since 1889 and health of- ficer of the borough of Shelton since 1886. He is president of the medical board of the New Griffin Hospital of Derby, Connecticut. At the present time he is president of the Lower Naugatuck Valley University Alumni Association.

He has been honored by many public offices of trust and responsibility. He was for eigh- teen years a member of the local board of cdu- cation. He was a member of the board of burgesses of Shelton from 1885 to 1889, and warden of the borough from 1890 to 1893. IIe represented Huntington in the general as- sembly in 1895 and was house chairman of the committee on health during that session. Ile has been president of the park com:nission of Shelton since 1893. In politics he has al- ways been a Republican. In 1909 he was again elected to the general assembly and served as house chairman of the committee of public health and safety. He has been presi- dent of the Sheiton Water Company since 1893 and director of the Shelton Savings Bank

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during the same period. He is secretary and treasurer of the board of directors of the Plumb Memorial Library. He is a director of the Silver Plate Cutlery Company. He be- longs to King Hiram Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Hamilton Commandery, of Bridgeport ; Pyramid Temple, Order of Mystic Shrine; and Ousatonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religion he is a Congregationalist. He married, June 16, 1874, Emily Plumb Capel, of Shelton. She died November 11, 1897. They had no chil- dren.

LIVINGSTONE Robert Livingstone, a member of one of the most distinguished fam- ilies of Scotland, was born in Glasgow, Scot- land, in 1837. Though his ancestry had not been traced, he undoubtedly descends from a younger son of the great family mentioned in the sketch of the Livingston family of Ameri- ca. He came to America in 1864. In early life he followed the trade of weaver; in this country he was a farmer, first at Redding, Connecticut, later at Bethel, in that state. He was killed by a falling tree at Bethel in 1891. He married, in Scotland, Margaret Rowan, who was born in the same section as her husband, and is now living at Bethel. She came to this country in 1865, and joined her husband. Children: Robert John, mentioned below ; Mary, married Albert Baker, of Brook- lyn, New York; Margaret, married Walter Davis; child, Julia A .; Elizabeth; Henrietta, married Thomas Livingston, of Hartford, has three children; William, lives at Bethel. a hatter by trade, married Ella Bristol and has one child, Margaret ; Minnie ; George ; Samuel.

(II) Robert John, son of Robert Living- stone, was born in Redding, Connecticut, in 1867, and educated there in the public schools. In early life he worked at farming and after- ward learned the trade of carpenter. He came to Sharon, Connecticut, in 1890, and has re- sided there since. In 1901 he formed a part- nership with Dwight N. Eggleston under the firm name of Eggleston & Livingstone, con- tractors and builders, also dealers in coal and wood. He is an Independent in politics and for a number of years has served as justice of the peace. He is a member of Hamilton Lodge, No. 54, Free and Accepted Masons, of Sharon. In religion he is a Protestant. He is unmarried.

Jeremiah Carey was born in CAREY county Kerry, Ireland, died in Winsted, Connecticut. He was a miller by trade and had a grist mill, making

a specialty of oat incal. He came to this coun- try about 18344 and located at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Thence he removed to Canaan, Connecticut, and finally located at Colebrook, Connecticut, where he became the owner of two farms, and had some sixty acres of wood- land also in Norfolk, Connecticut. In ISzo he went to Kansas and spent five years in the vicinity of Lawrence, in that state. It was the time of the grasshopper plague there and like many other settlers he was driven out and he returned to his former home in 1876. He spent the remainder of his life on a farm at Winchester, Connecticut. He was an active, enterprising and industrious man and fairly won the success he achieved in life. He mar- ried, in Ireland, Mary, daughter of Matthew Sullivan, who lived to the great age of ninety- nine years and eleven months. Children: I. Thomas, born in Ireland, died in California in March, 1910, a successful miner. 2. Ellen. born in Ireland, deceased. 3. John, born at Stockbridge, died in 1853. 5. Daniel, born in Stockbridge, lives in Dawson City, Alaska. 6. William, born in Stockbridge, died in Kan- sas. July 1909. 7. Charles J., born at Canaan, Connecticut, killed by an explosion of dyna- mite while constructing the boulevard around Highland Lake, Winsted, Connecticut. S. Jeremiah, died young. Q. Matthew, born at Colebrook, died aged seven years. 10. Mary, married M. E. Ryan, of Winsted, retired from business : children : Catherine and Charles J. If. Joseph Francis. mentioned below.

( II) Joseph Francis, son of Jeremiah Carey, was born in Colebrook. in 1833. He was educated in the public schools of Cole- brook, in the New Britain high school and in the school of the Christian Brothers in Brooklyn, New York. He went west with his parents in 1870 and herded cattle there for several years. In 18;6 he came to Win- chester and since then has followed farming in that town. He owns two farms on the cast side of Highland Lake, comprising some seven hundred and fifty acres, a part of which is excellent timber land. He has sixty acres of woodland in the town of Norfolk. Hc owns several cottages that he built on the shore of Highland Lake, and has valuable real estate also in the village. In 1888 he en- gaged in general contracting and he has fol- lowed this business successfully to the present time. Since 1895 his home and place of busi- ness has been in the village of Winsted. He had the contract for building the Lake Boule- vard, a stretch of seven miles in length on the shore of Highland Lake. He built the founda- tion and the cut stone work of the Gilbert School, the foundations of the Methodist

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Church, of the Litchfield County Hospital. the Gilbert Home and Annex, the New England Pin Company's factory, the Edge Tool Works factory, the Laundry building, the addition to the Town Hall. now occupied by the supe- rior court, the shoe factory now occupied by the firm of Goodwin & Kintz, the Carter & Hakes Machine Company factory, the Strong Manufacturing Company plant, part of the Gilbert Clock Company plant. He built the Crystal Lake Water Works, and the Winsted Water Works and hose house and rebuilt the plant of T. C. Richards Hardware Manufac- turing Company after the fire in March, 1910. He has also had the contracts for building many valuable private dwelling houses in Win- sted and vicinity.

He married. in November, 1895, Mary Barry, of Norfolk. Connecticut, daughter of John Barry. Children: Mary Louise, Charles Francis, Ruth Frances. Joseph Edward Jr., Catherine, William.

ENSIGN James Ensign, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England, and was among the first settlers of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The family was located in Kent county, England, as carly as 1395, and in Norfolk. Essex and other counties, very early. He was a proprietor of Cambridge in 1634, and was admitted a free- man of Massachusetts in March 4. 1634-5. The only other pioneer of the name in New England was Thomas Ensign, who was at Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1638, and was deacon of the church there. With Hooker came James Ensign to Hartford among the founders. He was an original member of the First Church, and also of the Second Church. February 12, 1670. His home was on what is now Elm street, Hartford. He was constable of Hartford in 1649 and 1662; chimney view- er in 1655 ; townsman in 1656. His will was dated November 23. 1670. His wife Sarah died at Hartford. May. 16;6, and the in- ventory of her estate was filed May 29. Chil- dren, born at Hartford : David, mentioned be- low; Mary married, 1662. Samuel Smith ; Hannah, married Joseph Eaton; Lydia, bap- tized August 19. 1649; Sarah, born May 6, 1651.

(II) David, son of James Ensign, was born in 1644-5, at Hartford. and dicd at West Hartford, December 13, 1727. aged eighty- three years. He was a miller as well as a farmer, and held various town offices. He was an original member of the First Church at West Hartford in 1713. He married, Oc- tober 22, 1663, Mehitable Gunn, daughter of Thomas Gonn. of Windsor. They were di-

vorced in October, 1682. He married (sec- ond) Sarah Wilcox, daughter of John and Sarah ( Wadsworth) Wilcox, of Hartford or Middleton. He was a chimney viewer in 1666 and surveyor of highways in 1669. His divorced wife married (second), as the sec- ond wife, Isaac Sheldon, of Northampton. Children of first wife : David, born November 16, 1664: James, May 8, 1666; Thomas, men- tioned below ; Saralı, January 22, 1672: Mary, January 26, 1675.

(III) Thomas, son of David Ensign, was born at West Hartford. December 7, 166S. He married, December 1, 1692, Hannah Shepard, daughter of John and Rebecca ( Greenhill) Shepard. His will was dated February 28, 1737-8, and he bequeatlied to his wife Hannah and these children : Thomas ; John: Moses, mentioned below; Daniel and Hannah (Benton). Thomas and Moses were executors. (Hartford Probate Records ili, p. 259).

(IV) Moses, son of Thomas Ensign, was born about 1700-5; married, January 3, 1750- I, Love Andrews, daughter of Thomas An- drews. Among their children was Isaac, inentioned below.

(\') Isaac, son of Moses Ensign, was born at Hartford, December 16, 1747, and died at Simsbury, Connecticut, May 12, 1816. He was a farmer, and by trade a blacksmith. The town of Simsbury gave him a parcel of land as inducement to follow his trade there. He held various town offices in Simsbury. He married Lurannah Pettibone, December 29. 1771. She died April 12, 1845, aged ninety- five years, daughter of Captain Jacob and Jemima (Cornish ) ( Barber ) Pettibone. Her first husband, Jonathan Barber, was killed at Louisburg in the old French war in 1745. aged twenty-eight years. Isaac Ensign was an active patriot during the revolution, but on account of lameness was not in the serv- ice. In religion he was a Congregationalist. Children, born at Simsbury : Isaac, September 12, 1772; Isaiah, March 15, 1774: Lurannah. April 3. 1776; Ariel (also called Sidney Ariel), July 19, 1778; Zebe (or Ziba ). March 29. 1,81 ; Love, June 26, 1783: Zophar; Bil- dad : Eri, and Moses, mentioned below.

(VI) Moses (2), son of Isaac Ensign. was born at Simsbury, March 2. 1794, and married, September 11, 1816, Martha Tuller Whiting. born January 12, 1797, daughter of Elijah Whiting ( see Whiting ). He was a farmer at Simsbury, and a manufacturer of tinware. In religion he was a Congregationalist. in poli- tics he was a Democrat, and he served the town as clerk and treasurer and represented it for two terms in the general assembly. He

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