USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 132
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J. A. Sherwood, 5th Regt .; enl. July 21, 1861 ; must. out July 22, 1864. H. W. Simmons, 5th Regt .; enl. July 22, 1861 ; must. ont July 22, 1864. S. B. Squires, 5th Regt. ; enl. July 22, 1861 ; must. out July 22, 1864. E. Van Dergan, 5th Regt .; enl. July 22, 1861.
John Woodio, 5th Regt .; enl. July 22, 1861 : must. eut July 22, 1864. B. Woodhead, 5th Regt .; enl. July 22, 1861 ; died June 23, 1862.
I. H. Rossell, 6th Regt .; enl. March 15, 1864.
John Smith, eal. March 9, 1864.
A. E. Bahcock, 6th Regt .; eol. Sept. 12, 1861 ; died Sept. 26, 1861. Michael Dunn, 6th Regt .; enl. March 9, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865. Henry Morris, Gtlı Regt .; enl Dec. 6, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865. J. Pennet, 6th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 6, 1864 ; disch. Aug. 21, 1865. M. Maloy, 6th Regt .; enl. March 9, 1864 ; disch. Aug. 21, 1865. Peter Turner, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. A. E. Barnes, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 18G1 ; died Dec. 17, 1863. 1I. P. Bosworth, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; killed Fel. 20, 1864. George Bundy, 7th Regt,; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1865. J. H. Dexter, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 6, 1864. A. Landon, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. V. G. McNeil, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.
Ezra L. Moore, 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; pro. to adjutant ; must. ont Nov. 22, 1864.
P. L. Nerton, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept 12, 1864. George W. Olin, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. W. D. Reid, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 19, 1861. John 11. Sweet, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Jan. 3, 1862. George L. Wells, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 12, 1864. S. Judsou, 7th Regt .; ent. Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Sept. 17, 1804. Henry McLean, 7th Regt .; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. July 20, 1866. A. Dupont, 8th Regt .; enl. Aug. 15, 1864.
E. J. Frink, 8th Regt .; oul. July 30, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865. M. J. Kilmer, Sth Regt. ; enl. Ang. 12, 1864; must, out Dec. 12, 1865. A. Colombo, Sthi Regt .; cul. Ang. 8, 1864.
M. Ostraoder, 9th Regt .; enl. Jan. 13, 1864 ; dischi. Oct. 26, 1864. J. Silvernail, 9th Regt .; enl. Jnn. 13, 1864; disch. Oct. 26, 1864. A. T. Breed, 9th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 26, 1864. Peter Finkle, 9th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died July 14, 1862. F. Tyler, 9th Regt .; enl. Oct. 3, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 1, 1862. George E. French, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864. W. E. Jones, 10th ltegt .; enl. Oct. 0, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 7, 1864. 11. Brazic, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 25, 1865. W. Fish, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Nov. 23, 1863. Judson P. IInm, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 3, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 12, 1862.
E. S. 1lubbard, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 3, 1861 ; pro. to second Hloutenant; dlIsch. Aug. 22, 1863.
J. 11. Haldeted, 10th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 3, 1861.
G. W. Newell, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 25, 1865. D. Owen, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. June 6, 1865. O. D. Owen, 10th Itøgt .; enl. Oct 1, 1861 ; died Feb. 17, 1862.
I. G. P'almater, 10th Regt .; enl. Oct. 1, 1861 ; disch. July 12, 1862. Alex. l'almater, 10th legt .; enl. Oct. 9, 1861. E. Rowe, 10th Regt. ; on). Oct. 3, 1861 ; died June, 1863. It. R. Speed, 10th Itegt .; en1. Oct. 16, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 18, 1862.
J. W. Speed, 10th Itegt .; enl. Oct. 16, 1861 ; died March 17, 1863.
E. Dobson, 11th Regt .; enl. March 22, 1864; must. out Dec. 21, 1865. Thes. Jones, 11th Itogt.
Owen McNeil, 11th Regt. ; enl. March 21, 1864; killed May 16, 1864. C. Most, 11th legt .; enl. April 30, 1864 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. A. Brun, 11th Itegt .; ent. April 30, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. M. Doherty, lith legt .; anl. March 20, 1664.
Alfred Dubolse, 11th Regt .; ent. April 30, 1804 ; killed Jnns 18, 1861. Charles Allen, 11th Røgt .; enl. April 5, 186-1.
M. Green, 11th Regt .; enl. Fob. 27, 1864 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865,
· For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.
Henry Mann, 11th Regt .; enl. April 8, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. G. Brelleman, 11th Regt .; enl. March 9, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. Jas. Burns, 11th Regt .; enl. April 5, 1964; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.
A. Day, 11th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 13, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. A. Fowler, 11th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. Nev. 1, 1864.
J. McElroy, 11th Regt .; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. George Arnold, 11th Regt .; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; diech. Oct. 25, 1862. C. Arnold, 11th Regt .; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. May 30, 1862. H. Brazee, 11th Regt .; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. Nov. 16, 1864. C. W. Harvey, 11th Regt .; enl. Nev. 27, 1861.
A. N. White, 11th Regt .; eol. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. W. Morehouse, 11th Regt .; enl. Feb. 27, 1864 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865. John Murphy, 11th Regt .; enl. April 5, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1965. Jehn Masoer, 11th Regt .; enl. April 17, 1864; disch. July 12, 1865. W. Ostrander, 11th Regt .; enl. Feh. 27. 1864; diech. Dec. 21, 1865. George Riley, 11th Regt .; enl. April 5, 1864 ; missing.
W. 11. Woodeo, 11th Regt. ; enl. April 7, 1864 ; died Sept. 4, 1864. J. Cable, 11th Regt. ; eol. March 21, 1864. John Hughes, 11th Regt .; enl. April 22, 1864.
John King, 11th Regt .; enl. April 14, 1864.
E. Longley, 11th Regt .; enl. April 14, 1864.
J. Lopez, 11th Regt. ; enl. April 14, 1864.
C. Warrington, 11th Regt .; enl. April 8, 1864.
C. R. Wright, 13th Regt .; enl. . Jan. 11, 1862 ; diech. Jan. 6, 1865.
J. McLowan, 15th Regt .; enl. Jan. 24, 1865 ; disch. July 20, 1865.
A. W. Starr, 15th Regt .; enl. April 22, 1864 ; disch. July 21, 1865. N. Robinson, With Regt. ; eul. Dec. 29, 1863; disch. July 20, 1865. A. W. Driscoll, 20th Regt. ; enl. March 14, 1864; disch. July 14, 1865. J. S. Addison, 29th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 23, 1863 ; died April 23, 1864. Charles Brown, 29th Hegt .; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died June 18, 1864. S. M. De Witt, 20th Regt .; enl. Dec. 21, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 24, 1865. S. 11. Foote, 29th Regt .; enl. Dec. 23, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.
J. W. Davis, 20th Regt .; enl. Jan. 5, 1864 ; disch. Oct. 24, 1865. C. Brown, 29th Regt .; enl. Dec. 23, 1863; disch. Feb. 29, 1865.
S. Lyous, 29th Regt .; enl. Dec. 30, 1863; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.
A. Wethington, 29th Regt. ; enl. April 8, 1864; disch. Nov. 7, 1865.
M. J. Bradley, 28th Regt .; quartermaster ; eul. Sept. 1, 1862; resigned March 5, 1863.
Rich. Whentley, 28th Regt .; chaplain ; enl. Nov. 12, 1662 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
W. Il. Mntson, 28th Regt. ; quartermaster's sergeant ; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; pro. to quartermaster ; lisch. Aug. 28, 1863.
1 .. S. Clemus, 13th Regt. ; eul. Nov. 27, 1861; dIsch. Ang. 5, 1862. C. 11. Danchy, 13th Regt .; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 9, 1862. N. Mansfield, 13th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 17, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 12, 1862.
l'. E. Ilurter, 11th Regt .; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 25, 1865.
COMPANY E, TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Mustered Into United States service Nov. 13, 1862.
Charles B. Landon, captain; com. Ang. 16, 1862; disch. Ang. 28, 1863. Joseph: Bostwick, first lieutenant ; com. Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Warren C. Dailey, second Houtonaut; com. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Calvin N. Sage. sergeant ; enl. Aug. 25, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Filward l'Itkin, sergeant; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Ward W. Sweet, sorgennt; enl. Ang. 18, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. John Brant, sergeant ; oul. Sept. 2, 1862; diach. Aug. 28, 1863. Smith Scribner, sergeant ; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Ang. 28, 1863.
Egbert F. Knott, corporal; oul. Aug. 25, 1862; killed June 14, 1863, at Port liudson, LA.
Frederick Cleveland, corporal ; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Judson T. Ilam, corporal ; enl. Sept. 15, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Morgan Tyler, corporal ; enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Walter Niver, corporal; enl. Ang. 29, 1862 ; dHach. Ang. 25, 1863. C. Martin Turner, corporal; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Walter Turner, corporal ; onl. Ang. 30, 1862; tisch, Ang. 28, 1863. Henry llowland, corporal ; enl. Ang. 20, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Ovid l'. Shaw, musician ; enl. Sept. 3, 1862 ; killed June 14, 1864, naar l'etersburg, Va.
Whiting 1 .. Ayres, wagoner ; onl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Ball, Harvøy L., enl. Sopt. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1801. Ball, Andrew, onl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Blake, Orville 1)., ent. Sept. 6, 1862 ; diedl Aug. 2, 1863, at l'ort 1Indson, La. Blake, George 11., onl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 24, 1863. Benedict, John, onl. Sept. 11, 1862.
550
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
Bishop, J. Milton, enl. Sept. 13, 1262 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Bragg, Robert W., enl. Aug. 26, 1862; dischi. Aug. 28, 1863. Briggs, Nicholas O., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Broderick, Thomas, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Bushnell, George, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Burns, Peter, eul. Sept. 4, 1862; disch. for re-enlistment July 23, 1863. Braize, Jourdin, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; died June 28, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La.
Coon, Robert A., enl. Sept. 12, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Decker, George, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; disch, Ang. 28, 1863. Donahue, John, enl. Sept. 16, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Dunbar, Harlan, enl. Sept. 13, 1862 ; disch. Ang. 28, 1863. Dutton, Joseph, enl. Sept. 3, 1862.
Dnvall, Daniel W., enl. Sept. 11, 1862; died July 23, 1863, of wounds re- ceived at Port Iludson, La.
French, Sanford W., enl. Aug. 30, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. French, Calvin N., enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Fuller, William H., enl. Sept. 5, 1862 ; dischi. Aug. 28, 1863. Jewell, Augustus L., enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Jones, Nelson, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Jones, John D., enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Knickerbocker, M. II., enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Knickerbocker, G. A., enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Mason, Elijah F., enl. Aug. 29, 1862 ; disch. for disability March 17, 1863. Masuer, John, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
McArthur, Rensler A., enl. Aug. 20, 1862; died July 12, 1863, of wounds received at Port Hudson, La.
Morgan, William II., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Moore, Dwight, enl. Sept. 8, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Newberry, Stephen, enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Niver, Elias D., enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Orton, Thomas B., enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Ang. 28, 1863. Oviatt, David F., enl. Sept. 15, 1862; dischi. Aug. 28, 1863. Ostrander, Myron, eul. Sept. 3, 1862.
Ostrander, Walter, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Palmer, Smith, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; died Sept. 27, 1864, at New Orleans, La.
Rosseter, Reuben, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Smith, Dwight, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
SureDer, Henry E., enl. Aug. 21, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Smith, J. Harper, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Schlittenhart, Michnel, enl. Ang. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Stuppulbeen, Henry M., enl. Sept. 2, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Speed, Reuben R., enl. Sept. 2, 1862.
Speed, Andrew, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,
Speed, Bradford, enl. Sept. 15, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Storms, Peter C., en1. Sept. 3, 1862 ; dischi. Aug. 28, 1863.
Scutt, Jerry, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Sherman, Jeremiah P., eul. Sept. 6, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863. Silvernail, Silas, enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Silvernail, John, enl. Sept. 15, 1862.
Turner, Cornelius, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died July 30, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La.
Tyler, Gordon, eul. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Thornton, Henry, enl. Sept. 15, 1862.
Tallardy, Seneca, enl. Sept. 5, 1862.
Wright, Heury V., enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch, for re-enlistment July 23, 1863.
Woodworth, Charles, enl. Ang. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Wike, Leopold, en]. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Wolcott, Eben P., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Welch, John, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Williams, John, enl. Sep.t. 2, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN MILTON HOLLEY.
John Milton Holley, son of Luther Holley, was the oldest son of a brotherhood of six remarkable men ; remarkable for the manly beauty and perfection of their physical organization, for marked mental vigor
and vivacity, combined with most genial and attrac- tive social qualities, and unusual conversational gifts, which were aided by an extraordinary compass, har- mony, and flexibility of voice. Each of them was more than six feet in height and finely proportioned. All of them received the rudiments of their education at the then good common schools of their native town, in which their honored father had been in early life a successful and popular teacher.
John M. finished his studies at Boston and Wil- liamstown, Myron and Horace at Yale College, Orville at Cambridge, and Newman at a popular academy nearer home. John M. was born at Salis- bury, Conn., on the 7th of September, 1777, and died there Nov. 14, 1836. In 1798 he took charge of one of the corps of surveyors that ran ont the "Connecti- cut Fire Lands," as they were then called, now called the " Western Reserve," in Ohio, and before leaving the State he laid out the city of Cleveland. Soon after his return to Salisbury he embarked in the for- warding business at Poughkeepsie, with Livingstone & Bogardus, of New York. A few years later, his father having purchased the old furnace property at Salisbury, where so many of the cannon and shot were made that were used in the war of the Revolution, he returned to Salisbury and joined his father in the manufacture of pig iron.
In 1814, Luther Holley having purchased the beauti- ful farm on the shore of the Lake Wononscopomue, in Salisbury, on which he afterwards lived and died, was succeeded in the iron business by John C. Coffing, thus formning the long and well-known firm of Holley & Coffing,-a firm which, for extended bnsiness en- terprise, active public spirit, and high integrity of character, ranked among the foremost of the time. Their manufacturing operations in cast and wrought iron for government and private armories, and for general uses, were extended into Massachusetts and New York, and were uniformly and largely successful for that early period.
In Jannary, 1800, J. M. Holley married Sally Por- ter, the youngest daughter of Col. Joshua Porter, of Salisbury (whose life has been more particularly al- luded to in a sketch of his grandson, Alexander H. Holley). She became the mother of John M. Holley, Jr., who was a graduate of Yale in 1822, where he acquitted himself with honor, and subsequently mar- ried a daughter of Gen. Joseph Kirkland, of Utica, N. Y .; practiced law in Western New York, repre- sented his district twice in the General Assembly of the State, and died in Florida while a member of Congress. She was also the mother of Alexander H., a sketch of whose life appears in another part of this work, and of George W. Holley, of Niagara Falls, all of whom were born in Salisbury. George W. was educated chiefly at Capt. Patridge's military school in Vermont, and at West Point. He also represented his district in the General Assembly of the State, and is the author of works on the geology of the country about
John uttelling
· Hexanean del, Salley
551
SALISBURY.
Niagara. He was for several years the agent of Gen. Peter B. Porter, his uncle, and after the general's death was guardian of his children.
Luther Holley's grandfather was the first of the family to settle in Litchfield County, he having re- moved from Stamford, Conn., to Sharon, where Luther was born July 12, 1751. The following extracts from a letter of his to his son Horace will give some ac- count of his earlier life : " After I had advanced to- wards manhood, say at the age of sixteen or seven- teen, my father was ill for several years. My two older brothers were of age and had gone from home. It fell to my lot, therefore, to carry on the farm. I worked hard during the day, and at night had to go after doctors and medicine, sometimes riding eight or nine miles, and often becoming so weary that I have fallen asleep on my horse. My father continued ill for years after I was of age; but, by my own exertions and the persevering industry of my mother and sisters, we lived in good style for that day, and punctually paid every demand." A practice for which he was quite remarkable through his whole life. "When at work on a plow one day I cut my knee, and lay for ten or twelve weeks under the care of doctors, expect- ing to have my leg cut off. Meantime I studied hard to qualify myself to teach school, and succceded so well that I obtained a small school the next winter, and gave so much satisfaction that I was engaged for the next year. I agreed for six months for seven dol- lars and fifty cents per month, which was then a great price. I continued to keep school for three years, the salary being raised from time to time until it reached five pounds." Wearying of teaching, he em- barked in trade. "I then formed a partnership with William Davis, of Sharon. We made a large pur- chase of goods of Richard Smith, of New London, who, being in Holland, had assisted our government in its struggle for independence to procure a quantity of gunpowder. For this service the Legislature of Connecticut granted him the privilege of bringing into the country thirty thousand dollars' worth of goods. This purchase of Richard Smith was made just before the news of peace reached the country ; the price of goods fell; Mr. Davis became discouraged, sold out, and quit business ; 1 carried it through, paid Smith, and made some money." Subsequently he en- gaged in business in Redhook, on the Hudson, and in Dover, Dutchess Co. He represented one of the districts in the latter county in the General Assembly of the State. Soon after he removed to Salisbury, where he engaged in business as above stated. ITe also represented the town of Salisbury during three sessions of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut.
Myron Holley, the second son of Luther, engaged in business in Western New York in early life, repre- sented the district of his residence during several sessions of the Legislature, and with voice and pen was very efficient in advancing the Erie Canal project.
When its construction was decided upon he was made one of the commissioners to carry forward the work, and devoted his best energies to it until it was made available for use.
Horace Holley became a popular preacher in Bos- ton, where he remained about eight years, and from whence he removed to Lexington, Ky., to accept the presidency of Transylvania University.
At his decease, in 1827, Professor Caldwell, of Lex- ington, pronounced a funeral oration, from which the following extract is taken. Referring to his decease, he says,-
"It announces to you that Holley, who lately presided in this institu- tion with unrivaled lustre, to whose peerless eloquence this teniple has so often resounded, whose judgment and taste were standards by which to decide on excellency both in literature and arts, whose soul, as if obe- dient to on impulse of prophecy, often sprang forward ioto future times, and bodied forth the thick coming glories of his country, with a potency of reason, a richness of color, that gave to them ths charm of existing realities ; whose hospitality knew no limit but that of his meaos and op- portunities to extend it ; who was a finished model of elegance in man- Ders and refinement of breeding, and whose manly beauty and graceful deportment were as attractive to the eys as the mellifluent todes of his voice in conversation were delightful to the ear."
Orville L. Holley spent most of his life in the cities of New York and Albany, practiced law in both, be- came editor and author for many years, and for several years was surveyor-general of the State. He died in Albany, in March, 1861.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON HOLLEY.
Alexander Hamilton Holley was born in Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., on the 12th of August, 1804. His father, John Milton Holley, was also born in Sal- isbury, 7th of September, 1777. His father, Luther Holley, was born in Sharon, Conn., July 12, 1751. Luther's grandfather was the head of the family in this county, having moved into Sharon from Stamford, Conn., and was one of its earliest settlers. A more detailed sketch of Luther's life may be found in con- nection with that of his oldest son, John Milton. The grandfather of Alexander on his mother's side was Col. Joshua Porter, who was the first of his family in this county. He was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1730, was a graduate of Yale College, removed to Sal- isbury in 1754 or 1755, and made the town his place of residence for the remainder of his life, which was terminated in April, 1825, at the age of ninety-five years. He was a marked man, and spent many years of his long life in the public service. He was elected to the General Assembly of the State fifty-five times, was a judge of the County Court twenty-eight years, judge of probate over thirty years, and held minor offices in town from ten to forty years. Ile was also colonel in the army, and was with his regiment at the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was for six years agent of the State, superintending the making of cannon in the Salisbury furnace during the Revolutionary war. His sons, Augustus and Peter B., became very distinguished men. They were
552
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
both born in Salisbury, and soon after the graduation of Peter B. at Yale College the brothers both re- moved into Western New York as pioneers, and be- came extensive land-holders. Both represented their respective districts in the General Assembly of the State, and Peter B. was twice elected to Congress, in 1809 and 1812. He was also Secretary of War during a portion of John Q. Adams' administration. Augus- tus was agent for the Holland Land Company for sev- eral years, and was also a judge of Common Pleas. Sally Porter was the youngest daughter in this family, and was married to John M. Holley in January, 1800, at Salisbury. She became the mother not only of the subject of this sketch, but also of John M. Holley, who graduated at Yale College in 1822, prac- ticed law in Western New York, represented his dis- trict during two terms of the General Assembly, was elected to Congress in 1847, and died in Florida in 1848, and of George W. Holley, now a resident of Niagara Falls, who married a daughter of the late chief justice of our State, Samuel Church. Mr. George Holley has also represented his district in the General Assembly, and is the author of works on the geology of the country in the vicinity of the Falls.
It was the design of the father of these gentlemen that the subject of this sketch should also receive a classical education at Yale, but the plea of ill health, interposed by himself and his mother, and the desire of the former to enter upon an active business life, finally induced the father to excuse him from the further pursuit of academical studies at the age of sixteen; not, however, without the prediction that the rejection of the proffered education would be deeply regretted in future life,-a prediction that has since been fully verified. The educational advantages enjoyed previous to that date were under the tui- tion of Rev. Orville Demy, of Sheffield, Mass., and of Rev. Daniel Parker, of Ellsworth, in Sharon, whose son, Hon. A. J. Parker, was then a school-fellow. In 1820, Mr. Holley entered as clerk in the business of his father and his partners, who were then among the most extensive iron-masters in the State. They were makers of pig iron in Lakeville, at Mount Riga, Lime Rock, and Falls Village, all in Salisbury, and at Vandeusenville and Richmond, in Massachusetts. They were also extensive manufacturers of wrought iron for the government armories at Springfield aud Harper's Ferry, as well as for private armories, and also of cotton-screws, anchors, steamboat machinery, etc. In the business connected with these establishments, as clerk, agent, and partner, together with the estab- lishment of cutlery-works at Lakeville on his own account, he was actively engaged for more than forty years. The only relaxation of any consequence in- dulged in in early manhood, except six months spent in Western New York for the benefit of impaired health, was in occasional military service. Before the militia system of Connecticut became demoralized, when the regiments numbered from seven hundred to
a thousand men at annual muster, he filled the re- spective offices of adjutant, brigade inspector, and di- vision inspector, and found an annual tour of a week with pleasant companions a more agreeable relaxation from business cares than many subsequent visits to sea-shore or watering-places.
In October, 1831, Mr. Holley married Jane M. Ly- man, daughter of Hon. Erastus Lyman, of Goshen, Conn. She became the mother of Alexander Lyman Holley, who was born in Salisbury, July 20, 1832, graduated at Brown University, R. I., in 1854, subse- quently became a civil engineer, and was also honored with the title of LL.D., conferred by his Alma Mater. He introduced into this country the process of man- ufacturing Bessemer steel, and has also published a number of scientific works. His mother died in his infancy. In September, 1835, he married Marcia Cof- fing, daughter of his father's partner, John C. Coffing, Esq. With her he lived nearly twenty years. She became the motlier of John Coffing Holley, who grad- uated at Yale College in 1859 with an honorable rec- ord. He was a genial gentleman and cultivated scholar. He died in San Francisco in 1865. Mrs. Marcia Holley was also the mother of Mrs. William B. Rudd, now residing with her husband at Lake- ville. In November, 1856, he married Sarah Coit Day, daughter of Thomas Day, of Hartford, who was for twenty-five years Secretary of State, by annual election.
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