History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 88

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532

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Upon his return to Goshen he entered the store of Hart Bros. & Co., at West Goshen, as under clerk, beginning at the bottom of the ladder, on small wages, and doing the work of a green hand, building the fires, sweeping, etc. Here he was successively promoted until he received a salary equivalent to twelve hundred dollars per year. In the spring of 1869 he was elected a representative to the General Assembly, where he served on the committee on roads and bridges, and on other minor appointments.

In September of 1869 he was solicited to become a partner in the wholesale grocery house of Giddings .& Co., of Bridgeport, Conn., which became Giddings & Lucas, but after six months an opportunity offered to purchase the business at West Goshen, and, pre- ferring a country life, he withdrew from the Bridge- port house, and associated with Frederick E. Hurlbut and Wilbert M. Allyn (both of Goshen), forming the firm of Lucas, Hurlbut & Allyn, succeeding Hart Brothers & Co.

He is still the senior partner of the firm, which is now Lucas & Allyn, his present associate being Eu- gene E. Allyn, a native of Goshen, who also served his apprenticeship and learned the business "from the bottom round" in the same store.

This place of business has, for many years been noted for its trade in English dairy cheese, which are made by the farmers in Goshen and towns adjoining, and have for many years found a ready market at this store. This trade was originally conducted by Augustus Miles, father of Frederick Miles, the present member of Congress from this district, and later by Mr. Miles and his son Frederick, who established the " trade-mark" " A. Miles & Son," as well known in its proper market as "Lorillard's tobacco." The high prices of the war eaused a temporary increase in cheese-making in this section, and Hart Bros. & Co.

shipped more than forty thousand boxes from this point in one year. The trade is still strong and flour- ishing, and is nominally in the hands of Lueas & Allyn, who sell direct to the West India traders.

In 1877, Mr. Lucas made extensive changes in the old Miles homestead in West Goshen, repairing and enlarging the house and outbuildings, and has now a very pleasant, spacious, healthy home, finely situated, and overlooking the village in which he lives.

By dint of pluck, energy, perseverance, close and careful application, with the aid of competent part- ners, he has made his business a success.

Having little taste and less time, he has meddled but little with politics, and never sought an office, al- though now and then called to serve his town. He was one of the committee appointed by the town to compile a record of what Goshen did in the Rebellion, and furnished much valuable information. He has been at various times a constable, grand juror, chair- man of the board of education, treasurer of the town deposit fund, loaning committee, ete. ; has been post- master at West Goshen for several years, and now holds that office ; was the census enumerator in 1880 for his home distriet, and received a flattering letter of commendation from the census department after his work was examined. He was one of the commit- tee appointed to arrange and conduct the eenten- nial celebration of his native town in 1876, and was active and useful in making that event famously successful, collecting and securing by his personal efforts alone a large proportion of the funds contrib- uted, and he was the orator of the day on that oeca- sion, and delivered an address of one and a half hour's length to an audience filling the Centre church to overflowing.

Ile also, at the request of his friends, delivered a memorial address, as part of the ceremonies of Decoration Day, May 30, 1874, which was an elo- quent and instructive production.

He is not over demonstrative on the question of "women's rights," but believes in giving woman the eredit due her in all eases and circumstances, and we take the liberty to print his closing remarks illus- trative of this on the public occasion last referred to:

" And now, old comrades, I have a sentiment to offer which all good soldiers will indorse: it is that tribute should be paid to-day to the patriotic women of Goshen,-no less a tribute than which we pay the other sex.

" It was not for woman to shoulder the musket, wear the sword, or carry the lance. Her sphere was at home, working, waiting, hoping, praying; to work for the absent soldier; to wait for the glad tidings of his success, or, it may be (and, oh, how often for Goshen women !), news of his suffering and death ; to hope for his return and the close of the contest; to pray for his safety and the success of his arms. Her sphere to encourage hy her love, strengthen by her faithfulness to duty, and cheer by her abiding faith

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in the future. As Goshen soldiers, we pay tribute to Goshen women, and each of us who had a loving mother, a trusting sister, a devoted wife, or cherished sweetheart either, are glad to-day in the memory of her patriotism, and proud of her love, her faith, her sympathy, and her prayers during the dark days of our absence.

" To the mother and daughter, to the wife and sweet- heart of the late war belong a large share of victories won and laurels gained by son, brother, husband, and lover, as, while we waited around our picket-fires and watched with anxious thoughts our time at the vidette-post, while we faced death in the noise and smoke of battle, or struggled with disease and loath- some wounds in the hospital ward, we ever knew and remembered that she thought of us, that she prayed for us; and whether we came home upright in stature, as when we left, or feet foremost, whether mangled and broken, with loss of limb and crippled for life, we never failed to believe that she kept a 'light in the window' burning brightly always for us; and while we give honor to the strong arms and stout hearts of our heroes, the dead and the living, we divide the praises due to loyalty and devotion, and render brave woman her share, who by her very weakness, through love, faith, prayer, and patriotism, made the strong stronger, the brave braver, the cause more righteous, the end more glorious, the triumph more honorable."

Frederick Allen Lucas married Jane, the eldest daughter of Hon. John M. Wadhams, of Goshen, Aug. 7, 1867, and he owes much to his wife's tact, skill, and sympathy for his success in life. Their children are Frederick Wadhams, born Nov. 11, 1868; John Marsh, born Dec. 14, 1870.

F. E. HURLBUT.

Frederick Edgar Hurlbut, son of Horace and Han- nah Hurlbut, was born in Roxbury, Conn., Feb. 6, 1830. His paternal great-grandfather was David Hurlbut, who died at Hinesburg, Vt., with his eldest son, Cornelius. His grandfather, Maj. Hurlbut, was born in 1768, and died Dec. 9, 1813, aged forty-five years. His wife, Phebe Jackson, was born in 1776, and died Aug. 30, 1856, aged eighty. They had four sons,-Horace, born July 25, 1800; William, born July 8, 1802, died in 1879; Ira, born July 4, 1806; George, born Oct. 14, 1809. Horace Hurlbut was both a farmer and a shoemaker. He married Hannah, daughter of Samuel Lee, of Dutchess Co., N. Y. They had nine children,-George L. (deceased), Erastus J., William E., Frederick E., Alfred H., Phoebe J., John (deceased), David, Roger (deceased). Mr. Hurlbut was a man of limited circumstances. In politics was an unswerving Democrat, and died Feb. 3, 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-one. Mrs. Hurlbut died April 18, 1861.

Frederick E. Hurlbut left home when eight years

of age, and commenced upon his own account the struggle of life's battle by laboring upon different farms in Roxbury and Washington most of the time till he was twenty years of age, when he entered a store in New Haven as a clerk for two years, after which he entered into trade upon his own account at New Haven, and continued it till 1854, when he re- moved to Goshen and followed the business of farming, and as a cattle-drover, till 1870, in which year he formed a partnership with Frederick A. Lucas and William M. Allyn, at West Goshen, under the name of Lucas, Hurlbut & Allyn, in the well-known store formerly occupied by Augustus Miles & Son, at which place the subject of this sketch remained in business till the year 1879, during which year he removed to the village of Goshen Centre and built a house, where he now resides.

Mr. Hurlbut, though not having the benefits of any- thing more than a common-school education, has by his business habits and self-culture, and a life of indus- try and integrity, exhibited in a marked degree an example worthy of being copied by the young men of the county. He has represented the town of Goshen in the General Assembly two sessions, and the Seven- teenth Senatorial District as its senator one term, serving one year as member of the judiciary com- mittee. He has also served in various positions of public trust in the town of Goshen with great accept- ance and faithfulness.

Mr. Hurlbut married Mary E., daughter of James E. and Esther D. (Bentley) Thompson, Jan. 10, 1853. Mrs. Hurlbut was born Sept. 10, 1832, in Goshen. Their children are as follows: (1) Adella F., wife of H. S. Scoville, of Goshen, Conn .; they have one daughter, Alice. (2) Lizzie H., wife of Samuel Riley, of Goshen; they have one son, Frederick C. (3) Clara E., (4) May G.

The great-grandfather of Mrs. Hurlbut was John Thompson, who came from Wallingford, Conn., and was among the earliest settlers in Goshen, Conn. He had one son, John, and three daughters. He was a farmer by occupation. John Thompson, the second son of John Thompson, was born in Goshen, Conn., married Pamelia Cowles, of Farmington, Conn., and had three sons and two daughters, of whom one was named James E., who was born April 7, 1792, married Esther D. Bentley, of Stonington, Conn., and had three children, viz., (1) Louisa D., resides in Goshen, on the old Thompson homestead; the second died young; and (3) Mary E., wife of Frederick E. Hurl- but.

HENRY G. WRIGHT.

Henry G. Wright is a lineal descendant of John Wright, who came from Wethersfield Aug. 13, 1740, and bought of one Joseph Bird a half-interest in his land right. He was first chosen to office here as surveyor of highways. Dec. 14, 1741, he settled at

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GOSHEN.

what is now West Goshen, and built a house some eighty rods west of the bridge. He raised a family, and among his sons was Jabez, born at Wethersfield, 1738. He was known as Capt. Wright; was a farmer about one mile southwest of the village of West Goshen, where he built the brick house where the family have since resided. He married Martha Bald- win, Feb. 11, 1767. Their children were Freelove, born Jan. 1, 1768; Martha, born March 24, 1770; Asaph, born Jan. 3, 1772; and Sybil, born March 4, 1776.

Asaph, the only son of Capt. Jabez Wright, mar- ried Prudence Moore, of Torringford. Their children were Canfield, Silas, John, Edward, Edmund, Wil- liam, and Albert.

Edward Wright was born April 7, 1804, and died Sept. 17, 1860. He married Phebe Way, May, 1824. She was born Jan. 22, 1802. Their children were Eliza, born Feb. 5, 1826, died Oct. 8, 1881; Celina V., born Oct. 22, 1827 ; Asaph S., born Dec. 16, 1829; and Henry G., born Sept. 28, 1831.

Henry G. Wright, the youngest of the family, was reared on the farm, and after his father's death paid off the other heirs and took the old home, as his father had done before him. He was married, Feb. 10, 1863, to Louisa L., daughter of Philo Howe, who was the sixth generation from Jeremiah Howe, who came from England and settled in Wallingford, Conn. Joseph Howe, the grandfather of Philo, was the first of the family who came to Goshen. Six ehil- dren have been born to Mr. Wright, four of whom are now living,-Edwin O., born Oct. 21, 1866; Flora E., born Aug. 8, 1868 ; Alfred H., born April 10, 1875 ; and Harry L., born Feb. 25, 1878. Henry G. Wright is a man well known in the community where he lives for his strict integrity and upright dealing; is frequently called as administrator, etc .; has held the office of selectman for several years, is at present first selectman ; has filled other offices in his town ; was a representative to the Legislature in 1878.

FESSENDEN IVES.

Fessenden Ives was born in Goshen, Aug. 17, 1826, son of Leverett and grandson of Asa Ives, who came to Goshen before the Revolution. He married Sally Marks; they had four children, three sons and one daughter, viz., Eben, Luther, Leverett, and Sarah. He died at ninety, and his wife at eighty years of age. Leverett Ives was born 1796, and died Dec. 5, 1877. He married Hulda Holbrook in 1822, oldest of eight chil- dren. The Holbrooks came from Mendon, Mass., set- tled in Torrington, where they remained some twenty years, then came to Goshen. The children of Leverett were Alderman, Fessenden, Sabin, Everardus and Bo- gardus were twins, the latter died at ten years of age ; Hubert L. (he died 1868, at thirty-five), Mary E., Ilenry II., Florence, and Asa A.

Fessenden Ives lived with his father until he had

attained his majority. At that important crisis his father gave him one thousand dollars, as was his custom with all his sons. Nov. 20, 1850, he was mar- ried to Mary, daughter of Thaddeus Cook, of Sheffield, Mass. She was the youngest, and is the only survivor, of ten children.

Soon after Mr. Ives was married he bought the farm where he has since resided, some two miles south of West Goshen. Here he has diligently worked for thirty years, and by his judicious management and industry, aided by the wise counsels and frugal habits of his wife, has secured an ample competency, and the reputation of having the best-cultivated farm in this part of the county. He has spent much labor and money in removing the stone from his fields, and placing them in substantial walls, which entirely in- close his large farm. He has paid especial attention to underdraining, and has more than five miles of tile-drain on his farm. His buildings are large and well built. He has a fine herd of Alderney cows, and his dairy has a reputation second to no other. Mr. Ives is a Republican ; has held several offices of trust and honor; has been selectman nine consecutive years, and after a vacation of a few years is now serving in the same capacity ; has frequently been called as trustee, conservator, etc. He represented the town in the Legislature, 1875. He has been the father of nine children, five of whom died in infancy ; four are now living,-Thaddeus, born 1852, married Mary H. Pratt ; is a farmer adjoining the old home. Mary J., born Feb. 14, 1854, wife of C. F. Ives, of Trumbull Co., Ohio; George C., born Sept. 27, 1855; and Fessenden L., born Feb. 12, 1868.

NORMAN NORTON.

Norman Norton, son of Andrew and Lorain Norton, was born in Goshen, Conn., Oct. 10, 1797.

Andrew Norton, son of David Norton, an early settler in Goshen, wns n gold and silversmith by trade, and a farmer by occupation; in politics a Democrat. He died Oct. 28, 1838, aged seventy-three years. Mrs. Norton died May 27, 1851, aged eighty- one years. Their children were (1) Myron, a farmer, died Nov. 26, 1853, nged sixty-five years ; (2) Andrew, a farmer, died July 4, 1865, aged seventy-three years ; (3) Clarissa (Mrs. Joseph I. Gaylord), she died April 22, 1843, nged forty-nine years ; (4) Norman; (5) Horace, was n merchant, and died in Chicago, Dec. 31, 1862, aged sixty-two; and (6) Lucretia, died young.

Norman Norton remained nt home on his father's farm, receiving sueli advantages for an education as the district schools afforded, till he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to South Carolina and Georgia, where he was engaged in general merchan- dising some seven years with his brother Horace. At the age of twenty-eight, in 1825, he returned to Goshen, and built n store, where he sold goods three

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years, when he sold to a brother. At the same time he was a farmer, which he continued to follow.

On the 3d of September, 1832, he married Luey, daughter of Lyman Tuttle, of Hamden, Conn. Mrs. Norman Norton was born Jan. 26, 1806. Her father was a substantial farmer, and a Democrat in politics. Mr. Tuttle died in the seventy-eighth year of his age.

As soon as Mr. Norton was married he settled on his father's farm, which he purchased. In politics, a Democrat of the Jefferson and Jackson school, he succeeded his brother Myron as postmaster in Goshen, and served through Pierce's and Buchan- an's administration. Mrs. Norton is a member of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Norton is an attendant on the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Norton is now an old man of eighty-four years, and, with the exception of deafness, retains much of the vigor of youth. He is esteemed wherever known, and justly takes rank with Goshen's best citizens.

WILLIAM NORTON.

William Norton, youngest son of Abram Norton, was born in Goshen, May 15, 1816. His father was a mechanic, and young William worked with his father till he married, March 14, 1839, Sarah, daugh- ter of Hiram Griswold, of Goshen, when he settled on a farm formerly owned by Hiram Griswold, one and a half miles northeast of Goshen Centre. Here he remained sixteen years, when he settled on the farm formerly owned by his father, near Goshen Centre, and there he continued to reside till his death, Feb. 19, 1880.

He was a large and successful farmer; in politics a Republican. His town honored him with many offices. Mr. and Mrs. Norton united with the Con- gregational Church at Goshen Centre. As a citizen he was regarded one of the most substantial in town. He was a kind husband and good neighbor, and his memory will long be cherished hy those who knew him .*

Eben, second son of Abram Norton, was born in Goshen, June 25, 1805. He spent his early life as a peddler till his marriage, April 29, 1834, to Clarissa, danghter of Thomas and Lovica Griswold. Soon after his marriage he settled on a farm on East Street, in Goshen, remained seven years, went to Bristol, Conn., remained seven years, and was then engaged in the manufacture of currycombs and candle- sticks; then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained some time, then across the Ohio River, and settled in Covington, Ky., where he died; July 9, 1855. In politics, a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Norton were members of the Congregational Church. In all be- nevolent enterprises Mr. Norton did his part. Re- spected at home and abroad, he enjoyed the confidence of the people wherever he went.

Thomas Griswold, born in Goshen, Conn., married Loviea Smith, and had five children, viz .: (1) Char- lotte, wife of Isaac Crandall; (2) Hiram, father of Mrs. William Norton ; (3) Harriet, wife of Hosea Crandall ; (4) Clarissa, wife of Eben Norton.

Mr. Griswold was a farmer by occupation, and a Republican in politics. He died February, 1839. Hiram Griswold was three times married, first to Harriet Whiting, of Torrington, and had three chil- dren, viz. : (1) Sarah, wife of William Norton (de- ceased) ; (2) Louisa, died at six years of age; and (3) Thomas W., a farmer in Goshen.

CHARLES L. NORTON.

Charles L. Norton, son of Stephen and Hannalı (Coy) Norton, was born in Norfolk, Conn., Nov. 15, 1804. His grandfather, Stephen, Sr., was the first of the name to settle in Norfolk, and was akin to the early settlers in Goshen by that name. Stephen, Sr., settled in Norfolk prior to the Revolutionary war, and . was a soldier in that struggle. He was a farmer. Stephen, Jr., son of Stephen, Sr., was born in Nor- folk in 1776, married Hannah Coy, and had thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Norton was a farmer, and in politics Whig and Democrat. He died in 1843, and Mrs. Norton died May 20, 1848, having been born Nov. 25, 1773. . .

Charles L. Norton attended a district school win- ters till he was fifteen years of age, working summers on his father's farm. He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age. On the 24th of November, 1825, he married Ann Maria, daughter of Philo Bailey and Samantha Root. Mrs. Norton was born Feb. 23, 1806. Their children are Maria E. (Mrs. Harvey Johnson, of Norfolk), Mary A. (Mrs. Nelson D. Ford, of Winsted), Philo B., Albert C., Charles L., Jr., and Remus A.

Mr. Norton purchased a farm in Norfolk soon after his marriage, and remained four years, when he sold and settled in the northern part of the town of Goshen, where he bought some four hundred and eighty-five aeres of land, which is well improved by his own efforts. In polities a Democrat. He served in many of the town offices, such as selectman, magistrate, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the Congrega- tional Church. In January, 1875, he settled in Win- chester, one and a half miles east of Winsted, on a place where he now (April, 1881) resides.

Philo Bailey, son of Andrew Bailey, a farmer, was born in Goshen, Nov. 29, 1781; married Samantha Root, of Canaan, and had nine children, who grew to maturity, the eldest being Mrs. Charles L. Norton.

Mr. Bailey was a Whig in polities. He represented his town in the State Legislature, besides holding other minor offices. He died Sept. 25, 1857, and Mrs. Bailey was born Ang. 7, 1784, and died April 14, 1880, aged ninety-six years.

* See history of Goshen for further notice of his ancestors.

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TRUMAN PRENTICE CLARK.

Truman Prentice Clark, son of Joel and Candace (Bowns) Clark, was born in Winchester, Conn., May 28, 1826. Joel Clark was a resident of Winchester, Conn., married Candace Bowns, and had thirteen children. Eleven grew to maturity, and cight of them are living ; names of children,-Emily (deceased), Mary A., Frederick J. (deceased), Lyman L., Marilla, Sidney H., Truman P., Henry J. (deceased), Sabra M., Edwin E., and Amelia, all born in Winchester. Mr. Clark was a farmer; in politics a Whig. He died July 1, 1850, and his wife died Aug. 10, 1854.

The maternal grandfather of Truman P. Clark was - - Bowns, an Englishman, who settled in America prior to the Revolutionary war. Truman P. Clark attended the district school winters, working on the farm summers, till he was seventeen years of age, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed seven years. March 5, 1849, he married Mary J., daughter of Nathan Tibbals and Rebecca Green. Their children are Mary L. and Abbie R: Mr. Clark settled on the farm where he now resides immediately after his marriage. His farm, which was originally one hundred and sixty acres when he settled in Goshen, contains now more than two hundred and forty acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. His buildings are good, showing thrift and enterprise. He is a Democrat in politics, and as such has been a leading and influential man in Goshen for many years. He is now (1881) serving on his eighth year as select- man, and has been a magistrate several years, besides holding other town offices. In 1873 he was elected to the General Assembly of Connecticut. Mr. Clark is about five feet nine inches in height, and weighs about two hundred pounds. Of a genial and social disposition, sterling integrity, of great energy and force of character, a good citizen, a kind husband and father.

Nathan Tibbals, son of Abel Tibbals and Jane Kelsey, was born in Winchester in 1787, and died Aug. 15, 1851, aged sixty-four years. His wife died April 27, 1864, aged seventy-six years. They had eleven children, viz., Abigail, Lorain (deceased), Frederick, George, Harriet N., Iluldalı R., Nathan II. (deceased), Harmon (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Lyman (de- ceased), and Mary Jane, wife of Truman P. Clark.

Mr. Tibbals was a successful farmer in Winchester; settled in Goshen in 1833 or 1834, on the farm where he lived till his death. In politics a Demoerat. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbals were members of the Congregational Church at Winchester, Conn.

Abel Tibbals was a farmer and drover by occupation.

WILLIAM L. GRISWOLD.

William L. Griswold, eldest son of Julius Gris- wold and Asenath Hall, was born in Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 5, 1816. His grandfather, John Gris- wold, was probably a native of Litchfield, or went

there when a young man; married Rhoda Wetmore, and had the following children : Julius, John, Jar- vis, Henry S., Rhoda (Mrs. Bradley Stewart), Almira (Mrs. John Wright), Minerva (Mrs. Amos Wright), Dotha (unmarried), Betsy (Mrs. John Wright), and Melinda (Mrs. Chas. Wiekwire).

Julius Griswold, son of John, born in Litchfield, Conn., was twiee married, first to Asenath, daughter of John Hall, of Litehfield, and had six children,- (1) Elvira, wife of Nelson Wadhams; (2) William L .; (3) Henrietta ; (4) Louisa, wife of Geo. Bradley ; (5) Horner W .; (6) Charlotte (deceased), wife of Philo Cummings.

Julius Griswold was a millwright by trade, in pol- ities a Whig, and as such was magistrate and select- man several years. He died at eighty-six years of age. His wife still survives him, and is now (1881) ninety-three years of age.

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History of Litchfield county, Connecticut, Part 88

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1532

Author: J.W. Lewis & Company (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1532