USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 39
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 39
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
CHILDREN. He had seven children, five of whom died in infancy. One son, Isaac P. Botsford of East Berlin, and one daughter survived him.
123. IRA E. SMITH, 1786-1849.
Ira Eliott, youngest son of Elnathan and Chloe (Lee) Smith, was born Dec. 21, 1786. He was never married, but lived at the homestead of his ancestors on East Street with his sisters most of his life. He had a large farm, which was cultivated under his direction, but having studied law and received the counsel and assistance of his brother, Joseph L. Smith, much of his time was devoted to public business. He was a lawyer of ability, and for many years the principal practicing attorney of New Britain, his practice extending from 1823-1849. His office was on Main Street, nearly opposite West Main, where he was much employed in draw- ing up legal papers. He was considered very accurate in legal forms, and at the same time was good in logic and was skillful in the management of court cases, being often opposed to Charles Chapman, Esq., of Hartford. He was a judge of probate, and also chief judge of the County Court. He was for many years the leader of the Democratic party in town. In 1825 he was a member of the committee of the First Ecclesiastical Society appointed to extend a call to Rev. Henry Jones to become pastor of the church and society. In 1824 he drafted the first subscription paper for building the Methodist church, and was one of the largest contribu- tors to the object; and in 1836 he was present at the organi- zation of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and was one of the first wardens of the parish. He was tall, being six feet four inches in height, slender in form, polite and courteous in manners. He died Sept. 5, 1849.
463
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
124. MRS. EMMA HART WILLARD, 1787-1870.
Mrs. Emma Hart Willard, the daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Hinsdale) Hart, was born Feb. 23, 1787. Her parents were industrious, frugal, and honest, striving to train a large family of children to similar virtues, Mrs. Willard's early life was passed in this simple farmer's home, where she had the influence of older brothers and sisters, and the example of her revered parents. She attended the district school in Worthington Center, but few of her teachers prop- erly understood her or gained much influence over her. Her inspirations were drawn more from her father's teach- ing, and from such books as Milton, Thomson, Young, Locke, and Berkeley, which were read aloud in the family during the winter evenings. She obtained from the village library such books as Plutarch's Lives, Rollin's History, Gibbon's Rome, and the most celebrated English poets and essayists, and read them with avidity.
When nearly sixteen years of age she attended the academy just opened, about three-quarters of a mile from her father's house, and for a part of two years was under the tuition of Dr. Thomas Miner, a graduate of Yale College. In the spring of 1804, when just past seventeen, she took charge of the village school, on Berlin Street. Soon after the close of this, her first school, she attended a young ladies' school in Hartford, and for the next few years passed the time in alternate teaching and attending school. In 1807 she accepted a call to Westfield Academy, Mass., where she won the esteem and confidence of her pupils and the inhab- itants. She soon after had an invitation to Middlebury, Vermont, and there took charge of a school for young ladies, and the next year was married to Dr. John Willard of that place.
Upon her marriage she gave up her work of teaching, but her husband having met with financial reverses, she opened a boarding school in Middlebury, in 1814. She was eminently successful, her school increasing rapidly in num- bers and influence. She soon conceived the idea of present-
464
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
ing to legislators and others a " Plan for Improving Female Education." She studied, she thought, and wrote, and in two years had her plan completed. It was presented to Governor De Witt Clinton of New York, and other gentle- men, by whom it was approved. Governor Clinton referred to this plan in his next message to the legislature, and the institution at Waterford was incorporated. Mrs. Willard removed her school to Waterford in the spring of 1819, and conducted the academy there for two years, when disap- pointed in financial aid she was induced to remove to Troy in 1821, and the Troy Female Seminary was founded.
She now devoted her time and energies to the develop- ment of her plan at this institution. She took up new courses of study for herself and trained up a corps of teach- ers educated under her eye, and in full sympathy with her work. She introduced new studies for young ladies, and new methods of presenting old studies. The death of her husband, in May, 1825, was a great affliction to her, but she went forward with her work, carrying additional burdens. She infused enthusiasm into her school, and it became so celebrated that applications for admission came from all parts of the country. For several years the number of students in attendance was about four hundred, of whom one-third were boarders.
Mrs. Willard went to Europe for the restoration of health and professional inquiry in October, 1830, where she remained eight months. On her return she interested her- self in a scheme for establishing a school in Greece for the improvement of the women of the East, and contributed largely in time and financial aid to its success. In the sum- mer of 1838 she resigned to others her position and work in the Troy Female Seminary, to find needed rest. In 1840 and 1841 she was again in Kensington, aiding in the improvement of common schools. She became superintend- ent of the schools of that parish, devoting her untiring energies to securing their highest excellence.
The principal literary works of Mrs. Willard were :
465
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
"Plan for Improving Female Education, The Woodbridge and Wil- lard Geographies and Atlas, History of the United States, Journal and Letters from Europe, Universal History in Perspective, Abridgment of American History, Temple of Time, or Chronographer of Universal His- tory, Chronographer of English History, Chronographer of Ancient His- tory, Historic Guide to accompany charts, A Treatise on the Circula- tion of the Blood, Respiration and its Effects, Last Leaves of American History, Astronomy, and Morals for the Young."
CHILD. John H. Willard, who succeeded Mrs. Willard in the Troy Seminary.
125. JOHN CLARK, 1787-1835.
John Clark, son of Abel and Abigail (Judd) Clark, was born March 20, 1787. He was grandson of the John Clark in the north part of Stanley Quarter, who was excepted with his farm when the New Britain society was organized. He lived at the old home of his grandfather and father, at the foot of Clark Hill, and worked the farm so long in the family of his ancestors. He also conducted the butchering business, sending his meat cart to the village, and estab- lished a meat market, the first in New Britain. It was located near the site of the Stanley Block. He married, Aug. 26, 1812, Prudence Woodruff. He died Jan. 25, 1835.
CHILDREN. 1. Jane, b. Nov. 14, 1813, d. young: 2. Matilda, b. Oct. 24, 1815, m. Dec. 11, 1836, Charles A. Warner; 3. George, b. June 20, 1817, m. Jan. 16, 1845, Sarah E. Castlon; 4. Abel Newel, b. June 12, 1819, m. April 27, 1840, Emily I. Braddock; 5. John Woodruff, b. July 3, 1822, m. April 7, 1858, Caroline Beckley; 6. Jane Louisa, b. Oct. 2, 1827. m. March 2, 1845, Deming W. Sexton; 7. Mary Prudence, b. Nov. 2, 1830, d. young; 8. Ellen, b. Dec. 2, 1833, m. April 16, 1856, Cornelius Everest.
126. ETHAN A. ANDREWS, 1787-1858.
Ethan A., son of Levi and Chloe (Wells) Andrews, was born April 7, 1787. He married, Dec. 19, 1810, Lucy Cowles. His early years were passed at home on the farm of his father. He attended the academy at Berlin, and continued his preparation for college with Dr. Porter and Samuel Cowles of Farmington and Dr. Whiton of Litchfield. He graduated from Yale College in the class with Governor Ellsworth and Professors Fitch and Goodrich in 1810; and
466
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
at once entered upon the study of law with his former pre- ceptor, Samuel Cowles. He commenced the practice of law in New Britain in 1812, was admitted to the Hartford bar in 1813, and his name is continued on the list of lawyers until 1824, although much of this time he was engaged in teaching or in other work. In 1813, during the war with England, he was appointed aid to Gen. Lusk, and passed some months at New London, connected with the army service, but after- wards returned to the practice of law at his home. Not being fully occupied in his profession, he opened a school in a room of his house where he fitted young men for college.
In 1822, he was appointed professor of ancient languages in the University of North Carolina. He filled this position with distinguished ability for six years and then accepted the professorship of ancient languages in the New Haven gymnasium.
The next year he established the New Haven Young Ladies' Institute, which he conducted so successfully that pupils were entered from nearly all parts of the Union. In 1833, he removed to Boston with his family, where he suc- ceeded Jacob Abbott in the care of a Young Ladies' School. He continued in charge of this school for about six years, when he resigned to give his time more exclusively to the preparation of a series of Latin books, which he had already commenced. He returned to New Britain and became estab- lished again at the old homestead, where he devoted his time largely to authorship. His largest and most elaborate work was his Latin-English Lexicon, but he had previously pub- lished his First Lessons in Latin, First Latin Book, Latin Grammar, and Latin Reader. Thirty-four editions of the First Lessons had been published in 1862, and many editions of most of his other works. In addition to these books, he edited and prepared several works by Latin authors, adapting them for use as school text-books.
Though devoting much time to classical studies, he was fond of the sciences, and investigations in some branches of natural science were to him a pleasant recreation. His taste
-
1
f
467
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was refined, and he had a keen relish for the beautiful in nature or art. He took an active interest in all matters per- taining to the parish and town. He was chosen representa- tive from Berlin to the General Assembly several times, and on the division of the town he was one of the first represent- atives from New Britain. He was judge of probate for two years. He was for many years a member of the board of school visitors and active in securing the establishment of the State Normal School and the town high school. He was president of the Educational Fund Company, organized to provide a building for the Normal School, and made the official presentation of the completed building to the State. He received the degree, LL.D., from Yale College in 1848. The latter years of his life were passed at his New Britain home in the circle of friends by whom he was esteemed and beloved. He died March 24, 1858.
CHILDREN. 1. Levi, b. Oct. 12, 1811; 2. Isaac Cowles, b. Oct. 27, 1813, m. Sept. 1, 1859, Jane L Thomas; 3. Ann Lucy, b. Apr. 27, 1815, m. Aug. 24, 1842, E. D. Sims; and (2), William Mckinley ; 4. Julia Hooker, b. Apr. 16, 1817, m. Oct. 9, 1848, Archelaus Wilson; 5 Horace, b. Apr. 27, 1819, m. June 1, 1847, Julia R. Johnson, and (2), Anna Maria Hoover; 6. Grace, b. Apr. 1, 1821, m. March 20, 1839, E. D. Sims; 7. Charles S., b. Aug. 5, 1823, m. Elizabeth Alden; 8. Mary, b. Nov. 25, 1825. m. 1869, Philip O'Riley; 9. Ellen Amelia, b. May 27, 1829; 10. Elizabeth Cowles, b. Dec. 9, 1832, m. Dec. 26, 1855, Pedro P. Ortez.
127. CYRUS STANLEY, 1787-1844.
Cyrus, the youngest child of Colonel Gad and Mary (Judd) Stanley, was born July 29, 1787. He married, Sept. 7, 1806, Abigail Lee, daughter of Isaac Lee. He inherited the home of his father in Stanley Quarter, and it was his residence for many years while he carried on the coopering business, making casks for shipping corn-meal to the West Indies. He then engaged in the brass business, first in Stanley Quarter, and later on Kensington Street near the bridge. He was a land surveyor and also worked upon a farm. He was an officer in the State troops in the war of 1812. The last years of his life were passed at the house of his father-in-law, where he died March 25, 1844.
468
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
CHILDREN. 1. Don Alonzo, b. June 24, 1807; 2. Emily Rowena, b. Sept. 11, 1810, m. Henry W. Clark; 3. Charles Norton, b. Aug. 18, 1812, m. Eliza S. Moore; 4. Harriet Aurora, b. March 25, 1815; 5. Isaac Lee, b. Dec. 29, 1817; 6. Gad, b. April 17, 1821, m. Fanny Moore; 7. Amzi, b. Nov. 27, 1824, m. Esther Hughes.
128. HORACE BUTLER, 1789-1870.
Horace, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Forbes) Butler, was born Feb. 4, 1789. He married, May 14, 1814, Betsey Howd, and (2), May 2, 1835, widow Orpha Hart. He was by trade a chair-maker, and had his home at first on East Main Street, near that of his brother, Solomon, also a chair-maker. He worked at his trade for some years after coming to New Britain, but in 1822, turned his attention to manufacturing. He was for a time in the employ of Alvin North, then a part- ner with him in the business of North & Butler. About 1846, he went into manufacturing business by himself on the west side of Stanley Street, and soon associated two of his sons with him, under the name of H. Butler & Sons. After engaging in manufacturing on Stanley Street, he built a new residence near his shops. He was one of the original mem- bers of the South Congregational Church, and for fourteen years a member of the standing committee. He died April 19, 1870.
CHILDREN. 1. Ruel Howd, b. May 16, 1816, m. 1838, Lucetta Finch; 2. Horace, b. Aug. 23, 1820, d. young; 3. Edwin Benjamin, b. Nov. ¿ 0, 1822. m. Fanny Stevens; 4. Hubert Mills, b. Aug. 31, 1825, m. Harriet Whaples; 5. Horace Brainard, b. Aug. 31, 1825, d. young; 6. Eliphalet Newel, b. Feb. 10, 1829, d. young ; 7. Mary Elizabeth, b. Aug. 21, 1831, m. Dec. 9, 1863, Edwin Westover.
129. HENRY NORTH, 1789-1853.
Henry, son of James and Rhoda (Judd) North, was born Sept. 24, 1789. He married, Dec. 26, 1810, Sarah Cosslett. She died Sept. 11, 1814, and he married (2), Jan. 24, 1821, Lauretta Smith. He learned the wagon-makers' trade, but the success of his older brothers in manufacturing turned his attention in the same direction and he relinquished his trade to prosecute with greater energy the business of manu-
,
469
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
facturing hardware, which was then in its infancy. He lived in the house with his father on the east side of Main Street, near the head of Myrtle Street. A short distance away was his shop in which he manufactured by hand small articles of hardware for domestic use. He was one of the first to en- gage in making hooks and eyes. After manufacturing them by hand for some time, he invented a machine which was built for him by Levi Lincoln of Hartford about 1830, and which operated so well that others similar were afterwards constructed. Mr. North was interested in education and established a private school near his home for the better education of his own children and others. He was one of the original members of the South Church, served on its standing committee, and was respected for his integrity and benevolence. He always lived at the homestead of his father, where he died Feb. 1, 1853.
CHILDREN. 1. Sarah, b. Dec. 24, 1811, m. Nov. 11, 1829, Selah Hart, Jr .; 2. Augusta, b. Feb. 1, 1814, d. in infancy ; - by second wife : 3. Henrietta, b. July 10, 1823, d. young; 4. Waldo S., b. Nov. 25, 1826, d. in infancy; 5. Julia Ann, b. Aug. 11, 1828, m. June 11, 1851, Thomas S. Hall; 6. Augusta Maria, b. Jan. 15, 1831, m. Oct. 26, 1852, Henry C. Bowers; 7. Mary Elizabeth, b. Oct. 9, 1833, m. Aug. 28, 1850, Frederic H. North; 8. Walter H., b. March 12, 1836, d. in infancy; 9. Ellen Louisa, b. Jan. 21, 1838, d. young; 10. Georgiana L., b. July 19, 1840, d. young; 11. Cordelia B., b. March 11, 1843.
130. SAMUEL BOOTH, 1790-1846.
Samuel, son of Robert and Abigail (Barton) Booth, was born Jan. 23, 1790. He married, May 5, 1812, Nancy Belden. He was but six years old when his father died, and he remained with his mother until old enough to learn the blacksmith's trade, when he went to work in the shop of James North. He inherited the homestead of his father and grandfather, situated on the site of the South Church, and after learning his trade had a blacksmith's shop near his house. He added to the usual work of the shop, the making of plows and some other tools, and also the manufacture of cow-bells. He was appointed one of the standing committee
470
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
of the church in 1843, and was active in church work. He died May 11, 1846.
CHILDREN. 1. William Belden, b. April 13, 1813, m. March 31, 1837, Betsey Blin, (2), Jan. 1, 1846, Maria A. Keach, and (3), May 29, 1855, widow Mary C. Reid; 2. Mary Ann, b. March 24, 1815, d. in infancy; 3. Walter Henry, b. Dec. 26, 1816, d. young; 4. Nancy, b. July 28, 1819, d. same day; 5. Nancy, b. Aug. 28, 1821, m. Sept. 4, 1851, Samuel S. Knox; 6. Hubert H., b. Dec. 12, 1823, m. July 18, 1846, Rebecca Pretlove; 7. Albert, b, July 13, 1828, d. in infancy; 8. Samuel Albert, b. June 29, 1830, d. in infancy; 9. Mary Allen, b. June 1, 1833, m. 1866, George Gladwin.
131. ROSWELL MOORE, 1793-1856.
Roswell Moore was born in Southington, June 28, 1793. He was educated at Yale College, graduating in 1818. He studied law, but on account of his feeble health was com- pelled to relinquish the practice. He devoted much of his time to literary pursuits, being well versed in astronomy and some of the other sciences. He married, Oct. 14, 1823, Lucy Diedema Allen. After removing to Berlin, he was occupied partially with his farm, but also engaged in manu- facturing. He became interested in the Winchell mill, half of which had been purchased by his father in 1801, and this mill afterwards known as " Moore's mill" was for fifty years owned in the family. He was also interested in other mill privileges, and improved the property while in his hands.
He was much in public life, presiding at public meetings, filling the offices of selectman, justice of the peace, and other local offices, and representing the town in the legislature for several years. He was deacon of the Congregational Church and active in church work. He died very suddenly on the night of Dec. 31, 1856.
His pastor, Rev. Royal Robbins, in a sermon preached the Sunday following his death, says :
" Deacon Moore was a man to be loved. God endowed him with true nobleness of heart. You could trust him entirely. He would enter into your feelings at once, and do for you anything to which he felt himself competent. He was a man of many cares, and had much business laid upon him. Hence he was seen almost always stirring, fulfilling engage-
471
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ments at home or away from it. He was a center of various interests and a subject of various trusts. Perhaps no man among us was better known in this county, with the reformatory, industrial, philanthropic, Christian portion of it than he."
CHILDREN. 1. Nelson Augustus, b. Aug. 2, 1824; 2. Ellen Elizabeth; 3. Roswell Allen, b. Sept. 3, 1832.
132. MRS. ALMIRA H. LINCOLN PHELPS, 1793-1884.
Mrs. Almira H. Lincoln Phelps, the seventeenth child of Capt. Samuel Hart of Berlin, was born July 13, 1793, and was a descendant of Stephen Hart of Farmington and Rev. Thomas Hooker of Hartford. She was educated in the schools of Berlin, and for three years was a pupil of her sister, Mrs. Emma Willard. She was also for a short time at the Pittsfield Female Academy. At the age of nineteen, she began teaching, having a small school in her father's house in Berlin, and afterward taught in the academy. In 1813, she was in New Britain, where she 'taught both in a private school and in public schools. For a short time after, she had charge of an academy for young women at Sandy Hill, N. Y.
She married, Oct. 15, 1817, Simeon Lincoln of New Britain, a printer and editor of a literary paper published in Hartford. Her husband, Mr. Lincoln, died in 1823, and she was left with two small children. She again commenced teaching in the West district, New Britain, where she studied Latin, making rapid progress, and the next year she became a teacher in the Troy Female Seminary, then under the charge of her sister, Mrs. Emma Willard.
In 1831, she married Judge John Phelps of Vermont, and resided in Guilford, and then in Brattleboro', in that State. In 1838, she took charge of a seminary at West Chester, Penn., and soon after of a similar school at Rahway, N. J. In 1841, she was invited by the Bishop of Maryland and others to found a " Church school for girls " in connection with the Patapsco Institute. She labored here with her husband until 1847, when he died, and she conducted the school alone for eight years longer. She then settled in
472
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
Baltimore, where she passed most of the remaining years of her life. She was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and read papers before it. She wrote articles for periodicals, and also several text-books, among which were the following :
" Familiar Lectures on Botany, Dictionary of Chemistry, Botany for Beginners, Geology for Beginners, Chemistry for Beginners, Lectures on Natural Philosophy, Lectures on Chemistry, Natural Philosophy for Beginners," and of other books, the " Female Student, or Fireside Friend," "Ida Norman," "Christian Households," and "Our Country in Relation to the Past, Present, and Future."
She ever remembered with interest her friends and resi- dence in New Britain. In a letter to the author of this volume, dated at Baltimore, Dec. 28, 1882, written when she was in her ninetieth year, she says :
"In regard to my educational labors in New Britain, and my relations with the society of the place, its business and its extent, I go back cheer- fully to that interesting period of my own life. It was in the summer of 1813, that Minerva Lee (Mrs. Norman Hart), was sent to Berlin Academy of which I was then principal. The improvement of their daughter was gratifying to the parents, and her father, Judge Thomas Lee, proposed to his neighbor, Maj. Seth North, that Miss Hart should be called to teach a select school in their neighborhood. This led to my going to New
Britain. . Later it was proposed that I should teach the district school. It was at this time (so far as the writer understands), that there was commenced the mode of normal education which now renders New Britain celebrated by the State Normal School. The school in which I was in 1815 was very large, some sixty pupils or more, and I was induced to call to my aid some of the older scholars, and found that by assisting they were benefited. . . . Years passed on, and in the autumn of 1823, I was again teaching in the Western District, New Britain, in a district school where I practiced the normal system more extensively than in the former school."
Mrs. Phelps died July 15, 1884, leaving one child, Charles. Edward, chief justice of Maryland.
133. ELIJAH H. BURRITT, 1794-1838.
Elijah H., son of Elihu and Elizabeth Hinsdale Burritt, was born in New Britain, April 20, 1794. He learned the blacksmith's trade of Samuel Booth, and after working at it
473
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
for a time, he studied for college, and entered Williams, at Williamstown, Mass. After his graduation he taught school for a while, having a private school in the stone store. He became a distinguished mathematician and astronomer, was author of Burritt's Geography of the Heavens, and several other works. He was a writer for periodicals, and for some years edited a weekly paper in Georgia. He went to Texas with a colony in 1837, and died there January 3, 1838. He was married, October 28, 1819, to Ann W. Watson of Milledgeville, Georgia.
131. NORMAN HART, 1794-1878.
Norman Hart, New Britain, sixth son of Deacon Elijah and Anna (Andrews) Hart, was born Aug. 5, 1794. He married, Sept. 8, 1818, Minerva, daughter of Thomas Lee. He was a cloth dresser by trade, carrying on the business of wool carding and cloth dressing on Kensington Street, below the bridge. He first lived on the west side of the street near the mill, but in 1851 sold his residence and mill, and built on the north part of Main Street, near the foot of Dublin Hill. He sold this place and removed to Walnut Street, where he died in 1878. He was deacon of the First Church from 1843 to 1851.
CHILDREN. 1. Rev. Burdett, b. Nov. 16, 1821, m. Aug. 21, 1849, Rebecca W. Fiske; 2. Norman Lee, b. Feb. 2, 1826, m. Dec. 6, 1854, Lavinia M. Kellogg; 3. Ellen, b. Feb. 23, 1828, m. June 15, 1853, Lemuel R. Wells.
135. NOAH W. STANLEY, 1794-1868.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.