USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 41
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 41
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 41
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CHILDREN. 1. Helen Jane, m. April 25, 1855, Edward Doen; 2. Charles, d. in infancy; 3. Aaron Eno, b. May 4, 1835; 4. William, d. in infancy; 5. Mary Ann, d. young; 6. Frederic H., b. Nov. 4, 1839, m. 1866, Margaret Anderson; 7. Milton H., b. Dec. 15, 1840, m. Prudence Butler; 8. Mary Eno, b. May 9, 1841, m. May 9, 1866, Joseph P. Mum- ford; 9. Ozias B., b. July 5, 1844, m. Alice Brockett; 10. Julia Emeline, b. Nov. 24, 1846, m. Isaac S. Lee ; 11. Franklin M., b. Feb. 28, 1849, m. Celia Shearer; 12. Rosie Augusta, d. young.
149. HENRY STANLEY, 1807-1884.
Henry, son of Amon and Rhoda (Wadsworth) Stanley, was born Sept. 24, 1807. He married June 10, 1829, Eliza
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S. North, and (2) Catharine A. Stanley. He obtained his school education in New Britain and at Munson Academy, Mass., and then became a clerk in a dry goods store, Hart- ford. He returned to New Britain and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Hart, but was soon in- duced to engage in manufacturing. He was in company with Alvin North, then an active member of the firm of North, Smith & Stanley, and later of that of North & Stanley, and of H. Stanley & Co. He was active in 1847 in securing the introduction of the manufacture of knit goods into New Britain, and became secretary, treasurer, and superintendent of the New Britain Knitting Company. He was also con- nected with several other manufacturing companies, and at the time of his death was president of the American Hosiery Company, the Stanley Works, and the Stanley Rule & Level Company ; and director in other corporations. He was nat- urally conservative, and his careful judgment and intelligent counsel were often called in aid. He was clerk of the South Congregational Society. He died May 3, 1884.
CHILDREN. 1. Walter Henry, b. June 25, 1830, m. Sept. 7, 1854, Mary Jane Peck; ? Theodore Augustus, b. July 23, 1833, killed in civil war; - by second wife, 3. Mary Louisa, b. May 8, 1840, d. in infancy; 4. Louisa Catharine, b. April 7, 1843, d. young; 5. Frederic North, b. March 17, 1844, m. April 15, 1866, Mary Welch, and (2) Alice Moore; 6. Catharine Amelia, b. Oct. 10, 1849.
150. DR. THOMAS GOODRICH LEE, 1808-1836.
Thomas Goodrich, the third son of Thomas and Electa (Riley ) Lee, was born Sept. 1, 1808. After attending the academy in New Britain he continued his general education at the military academy, Middletown. He graduated from the Yale Medical School, New Haven, in 1830, and subse- quently continued the study of medicine with Dr. Todd of Farmington and Hartford. He became assistant physician in the Retreat for the Insane, Hartford, and afterwards superintendent and physician of the McLean Asylum, Charlestown, Mass. He married Susan Clark, Apr. 21, 1835. He was a close student of history and a successful collector
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of historical facts. He had made a special study of insanity, and was eminent in the successful treatment of the insane. He seemed to gain that power over disordered minds which enabled him to sway them as he chose. His great skill and deep sympathy with this class made even maniacs subject to him. He was not only a careful observer, but a close stu- dent, and his views respecting the cause and cure of insanity commanded the careful attention of physicians much older than himself. His supreme faith and unostentatious piety gave additional grace to his scientific acquirements. At the very height of his usefulness, while in charge of the McLean Asylum, he started upon a journey to his former home at New Britain, for needed rest. While stopping with his friend, Dr. Woodward, at Worcester, on the way, he was taken sick, and died Oct. 29, 1836.
151. ELIHU BURRITT. 1810-1879.
Elihu, the youngest son of Elihu and Elizabeth (Hins- dale) Burritt, was born- Dec. 8, 1810. He was early dependent upon his own resources. When fifteen years of age, by his father's death, he was deprived of the limited advantages which he had before enjoyed, and a few months after apprenticed himself to a blacksmith, but continued his studies at his room. He had acquired a great taste for read- ing, having read all the historical works in the society library, and when about half through his apprenticeship he suddenly conceived the idea of studying Latin. His progress is indicated in the following extract from a letter written by himself :
" Through the assistance of my elder brother, who had himself obtained a collegiate education by his own exertions, I completed my Virgil during the evenings of one winter. After some time devoted to Cicero and a few other Latin authors, 1 commenced the Greek. At this time it was necessary that I should devote every hour of daylight and a part of the evening to the duties of my apprenticeship. Still I carried my Greek grammar in my hat, and often found a moment for study. At evening, I sat unassisted and alone to the Iliad of Homer, twenty books of which measured my progress in that language during the evenings of another winter."
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When twenty-one years of age he attended his brother's private school in New Britain for one quarter. He then resumed work at his trade at home, but soon went to New Haven, where he studied French, German, Italian, and Hebrew, still working at the forge. He was for a short time traveler for a manufacturing company, and in 1836 had a store on Park Street. In the financial panic of 1837, he lost all he had invested and again returned to his trade and studies. He went to Worcester, where he had access to books in ancient, modern, and oriental languages. Dividing his time between the shop and the. library he pursued the study with so much zest as to be able to read " upward of fifty languages with facility."* He wrote in several lan- guages - a letter of his in the Celto-Breton language is sup- posed to be the first in that language written from America. He soon became known as " The Learned Blacksmith."
In May, 1846, upon invitation, he went to Europe, pro- posing to be absent three months, but remained three years, addressing large audiences in England and Ireland. In September, 1848, he was vice-president of the Peace Congress at Brussels. The next year he was secretary of the Peace Congress at Paris, and also present at the great meeting held in Exeter Hall, London, in June. In the early part of 1850, he was lecturing in different parts of the United States, but was in Europe in May, arranging for the Peace Congress at Frankfort ; and he was also a member of the Fourth Peace Congress, held at Exeter Hall in 1851.
In 1853 he addressed public meetings in America, in behalf of Ocean Penny Postage. He was in England in 1854-55, but returned to America the latter year, and lectured upon Compensated Emancipation. He visited Eu- rope in 1863, making journeys through England and Scot- land, gathering material for books which he wrote. In 1865, he was appointed Consular agent for the United States at Birmingham. After leaving this office, he passed several weeks at Oxford and other points in England, returning to
* Elihu Burritt's letter quoted by Governor Everett.
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America in 1870. He edited a paper called the "North and South," and also published leaflets in the interest of Com- pensated Emancipation, Peace, and Penny Postage. While in England or after his return, he wrote " A Walk from Lon- don to John O'Groat's," " A Walk from London to Land's End and Back," " Walks in the Black Country and its Green Border Lands," "The Mission of Great Sufferings," and some smaller works. A part of his books were first pub- lished in London.
After his return to America in 1870, he passed most of his time in New Britain, living in the family of his sister, Mrs. Stephen Strickland. He established a Mission in his own building on Burritt Hill, and another on Maple Street, in a chapel built at his expense and mostly by his own hands. He was interested in the cause of education, in the improve- ment of agriculture, and "in other objects relating to the public welfare. He died March 6, 1879.
152. CORNELIUS B. ERWIN, 1811-1885.
Cornelius Buckley, son of Peter and Lydia (Buckley) Erwin, was born at Booneville, N. Y., June 11, 1811. His advantages of education were limited, but he was fond of reading and made good use of such books as he could obtain. He worked for a few years in his father's shop and tannery, but at the age of twenty-one he sought more active employ- ment as assistant to a drover. With five dollars received from his father, and fifteen loaned by a neighbor, he pro- cured the necessary clothing and left Booneville in 1832 with a consignment of horses, in the employ of Franklin Hurlburt. He came to Hartford, and, after the horses were sold and a short visit was made to his mother's home at Rocky Hill, came to New Britain. He sought and found work, and, with the exception of a few weeks when in New York State for more horses, he made New Britain his home. He was in the employment of Philip Lee, North & Stanley, and others, then a partner in the firm of W. H: Belden & Co., and in 1836 of Erwin, Lewis & Co. In 1839, with
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Henry E. Russell and others, he helped to lay the founda- tion of the Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company, of which he was president from its organization in 1851 until his death.
He was a director and president of the New Britain Na- tional Bank from its organization in 1860, a director of the New Britain Savings Bank, of the American Hosiery Com- pany, The Stanley Works, Stanley Rule & Level Company, Landers, Frary & Clark, and Union Works, in New Britain ; and of the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, Travelers' In- surance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Com- pany, Hartford Trust Company, and Willimantic Linen Com- pany of Hartford.
Though seldom holding public office, by wise counsels and the judicious use of his wealth, he aided public improve- ments, especially such as contributed to the welfare of New Britain. He was active in securing the branch railroad to Berlin, the water works, and next to Seth J. North, was one of the largest original contributors to the building for the State Normal School. He was one of the incorporators of the New Britain Institute, and its warm friend and counsel- lor. He united with the South Congregational Church in 1857, and remained a consistent member until his death. He was married, May 18, 1836, to Maria, daughter of James North, New Britain, who died seven months before him. He had no children. He died March 22, 1885, in the seventy- fourth year of his age. His estate, accumulated chiefly in the last forty years of his life, was inventoried at $1,087,222.17.
He was beneficent while living, and by his last will and testament devised most of his large property to the cause of education, and to public and charitable uses.
153. WALTER GLADDEN, 1815-1883.
Walter Gladden, son of Reuben and Sally (Hotchkiss) Gladden, was born April 12, 1815. He learned the joiner's trade, and married, July 30, 1840, Charlotte Dayton of Glas- tonbury. He had a shop on Washington Street, and was for
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a few years in company with Gustavus West, building sev- eral houses in New Britain. He was captain of a military company and generally addressed by his title. He took an active interest in politics, and was for a time one of the leaders of the republican party. He was appointed post- master by President Lincoln, and he entered upon the duties of the office July 1, 1861. He hield the position through the administrations of Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, and a portion of that of Arthur. His honest service and courteous demeanor won for him the confidence of the de- partment and of the community. He took a special interest in whatever promoted the welfare and prosperity of New Britain. He died Aug. 18, 1883.
CHILDREN. 1. S. Louisa; 2. Frederic.
154. REV. LAVALETTE PERRIN, D.D., 1816-1889.
Rev. Lavalette Perrin, D.D., son of Aaron and Lois (Lee) Perrin, was born at Vernon, Conn., May 15, 1816. He worked a while in the mills and then sought an education. He graduated at Yale College in 1840, and at Yale Theolog- ical Seminary in 1843. On Dec. 13th, of the same year, he was ordained and installed pastor of the Church at Goshen, Conn. He remained there for fourteen years, when, on ac- count of ill health, he resigned. He was installed as pastor of the First Church, New Britain, Feb. 3, 1858, and in 1870 ill health again compelled him to resign. In 1869 he was made D.D. by Yale College. He was installed at Torrington, July 31, 1872. He continued in this pastorate until 1887, when he gave up the principal duties, but still continued pastor emeritus.
He was largely instrumental in securing Memorial Hall, Hartford, for the Congregational Churches of the State, and had the management of the property. He was annalist of the General Conference from 1876 until his death. He was treasurer of the National Council from 1876 to 1889, and for seven years was editor of the Religious Herald. He was a member of the corporation of Yale College, and in other
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positions had been actively engaged in the cause of educa- tion.
He was married, June 4, 1844, to Ann Eloise, daughter of William Comstock, of Ridgefield. He was residing in Hartford with his wife, boarding at the Park Central Hotel, and both lost their lives in the destruction of that building, Feb. 18, 1889. He left one child living, Prof. Bernadotte Perrin of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, who was born Sept. 15, 1848.
155. MARCELLUS CLARK, 1816-1868.
Marcellus, the youngest son of Abner and Polly (Belden) Clark, and grandson of Jonathan Belden, was born June 18, 1816. He was but nine months old when his father died, and, while a boy, he went to live with Horace Wells on East Street. He acquired a good common school education, was a great reader and had a retentive memory, and his mind was well stored with facts in history and practical science. He was apprenticed to the jewelry business with North & Churchill, and worked at his trade, but at the same time was connected with the literary society of the village, and became a ready speaker, strong in debate. He studied law with Ira E. Smith, and afterwards devoted his time mostly to public business. He was a justice of the peace, and was often called upon to draft legal documents. He represented the town in the legislature, and was appointed postmaster by President Tyler in 1841, and remained in office during the administrations of Tyler, Polk, and Taylor, and again under Pierce and Buchanan. He married, May 31, 1858, Mary Tolles. He had prominence as a leading Free Mason. He died March 26, 1868.
156. REV. WILLIAM CAREY WALKER, 1818-1886.
Rev. William C. Walker, son of Rev. Levi Walker, was born in Warwick, R. I., Dec. 24, 1818. His childhood and youth were passed principally in the eastern part of Con- necticut, to which his parents had removed. At the age of
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twenty-one he became clerk in the store of Carlos Glazier, his brother-in-law, at Hartford. In 1839 he was married to Almira L. Palmer, of North Stonington. He made prepara- tion for entering the ministry, was licensed in 1842, and in 1843 and 1844 preached in East Windsor. In 1845 he was ordained at the First Baptist Church at Mystic. In 1851 he removed to Groton Bank, and in the autumn of that year ac- cepted a call to Willington, where he was pastor until No- vember, 1857, when he accepted a call to the pastorate at Putnam. At the time of the civil war he resigned, enlisted in the army, and was commissioned by Gov. Buckingham chaplain of the Eighteenth Regiment C. V. He became pas- tor of the Baptist Church, New Britain, Oct. 18, 1865. During his pastorate here of five years and nine months, two hundred and six were added to the church and a new house of worship was erected. Soon after closing his labors in New Britain he entered upon Domestic Mission work, establishing missions at Fair Haven, Plantsville, and elsewhere. He was an earnest preacher, a faithful pastor, and a successful mis- sionary. He died Oct. 28, 1886.
CHILDREN. 1. Levi C. Walker; 2. L. Josephine, m. John Coats; 3. William F., m. Cornelia Sloper; 4. Almira L., m. N. B. Remington; 5. Edwin P.
157. REV. LUKE DALY, 1820-1878.
Rev. Luke Daly was born in Virginia, County of Craven, Ireland, in 1820. He studied in All Hallows' College, Dub- lin, before coming to this country. After being ordained he was engaged in service for six months in Hartford under Bishop O'Reilly. He came to New Britain in 1848, when there were but twenty-five Roman Catholic families in the place, and took charge of a parish which comprised at that time, Berlin, Kensington, Farmington, and some eight other places, extending as far north as Simsbury, and west as far as Forestville. During his pastorate of thirty years he se- cured the building of St. Mary's Church, the parochial school, and the convent in New Britain, and churches at Bristol, Collinsville, and Tariffville. The rapid increase of
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Roman Catholics led to the organization of several new par- ishes out of his original parish, but he remained with St. Mary's, New Britain, which was the largest. He was deeply interested in the welfare and growth of his church, and in the education of the children and youth of the parish. He died, after a short illness, June 30, 1878.
158. REV. ELIAS HUNTINGTON RICHARDSON, D.D., 1827-1883.
Rev. Elias H., son of Daniel and Mary (Huntington) Richardson, was born at Lebanon, N. H., Aug. 11, 1827. When about two years old he was baptized at the bedside of his dying mother, and this incident made a deep impression upon him. With the limited aid which his father could give he sought a liberal education, graduating at Kimball Union Academy in 1846, at Dartmouth College in 1850, and at Andover Seminary in 1853. He was married, May 15, 1854, to Jane Maria Stevens, and on May 18th was ordained pastor at Goffstown, New Hampshire. He was dismissed from this charge Oct. 30, 1856, and on Dec. 10th of that year was in- stalled pastor at Dover, N. H., where he remained seven years. He was afterwards pastor at Providence, R. I., from Dec. 30, 1863, to April 8, 1867, and at Westfield, Mass., from May 1, 1867, to April 5, 1872. He became pastor of the First Church, Hartford, April 24, 1872, and was dismissed Jan. 1, 1879, to go to the First Church, New Britain, where he was installed the 7th of the same month. He received the degree of D.D. from Dartmouth College in 1876. He was a delegate to the National Council in 1880, and by that body appointed a delegate to the Congregational Union of England and Wales. He was scrupulously conscientious, sincere, and earnest, and an effective preacher. He died in New Britain, June 27, 1883, leaving his widow and four sons with the church and community to mourn their loss.
159. REV. HUGH CARMODY, 1828-1883.
Rev. Hugh Carmody, D.D., was born in the County Clare, Ireland, Jan. 26, 1828. He was educated at All Hal-
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lows' College, Dublin, Ireland, but added to his knowledge by a broad course of reading and by extensive travel in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He had charge of a parish in New Haven for several years, coming to New Britain as the successor of Rev. Luke Daly in 1878. While in New Haven he largely increased the means of his parish and provided for the education of the children and youth ; and in New Britain he paid the debt which was upon the church prop- erty, purchased the residence of his predecessor on Lafayette Street, and secured the purchase of the lot on North Main Street for the new church. He died April 23, 1883.
161. REV. CONSTANS L. GOODELL, D.D., 1830-1886.
Rev. Constans L., son of Aaron and Elvira (Bancroft) Goodell, was born in Calais, Vt., March 16, 1830. His early years were passed at home, except when completing his prep- aration for college at Bakersville Academy. He graduated at the University of Vermont in 1855, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1858. He was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the South Church, New Britain, Feb. 2, 1859.
He remained with this church nearly fourteen years, and during the last nine years of this pastorate the membership of the church was doubled, a new church edifice was erected, and the work of the church was largely extended.
He commenced his work in the Pilgrim Church, St. Louis, in November, 1872. During his pastorate of fourteen years in that city the membership of the church was increased from 118 to nearly 900, and its beneficent work was corre- spondingly enlarged. At the same time Dr. Goodell had been instrumental in the organization of several other churches in St. Louis. He had also responded to the many demands to address large audiences at anniversaries and other public occasions. He visited Europe five times during his ministry, twice extending his trip to Egypt and the Holy Land. On his last visit he was very ill with the Assyrian fever, and de- tained abroad many months.
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He was married May 5, 1859, to Emily Fairbanks, daugh- ter of Gov. Erastus Fairbanks of St. Johnsbury, Vt. His winning manners drew around him a large circle of personal friends. His mind was enriched by reading, study, and travel, and in private conversation as well as public address he was ever entertaining and instructive. He was emi- nently successful as a pastor, his influence being felt far be- yond the boundaries of his own parishes. He was one of the most prominent of Congregational clergymen. He died sud- denly on the morning of Feb. 1, 1886.
CHILDREN. 1. Oliver Fairbanks, b. April 20, 1865; 2. Laura, b. April, 1869.
162. REV. JOHN C. MIDDLETON, 1833-1888.
Rev. John C. Middleton, D.D., was born in New London, Conn., February, 1833. He attended school in New London, completing his preparation for college at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass. He graduated at Yale College in 1859.
Soon after graduating, he became connected with the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, where he completed his theological studies. He was ordained deacon in the spring of 1860, and in 1861 was advanced to the priesthood.
He began his ministry as assistant of the rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity at Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1864 he was invited to the rectorship of the parish in Stonington, Conn., where he ministered with marked success and ap- proval. In April, 1871, he became rector of St. Mark's parish, New Britain, where he remained until Sept. 9, 1874, much esteemed. He soon after was chosen rector of the parish at Glen Cove, L. I., where he passed the remainder of his life.
While at Glen Cove he was chairman of the committee on . Christian education in the diocese of Long Island, was corpora- tor and trustee of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, and had the supervision of the Cathedral school. He wrote numerous hymns for the feasts of the Church, and while at Glen Cove prepared leaflets and the scheme of instruction for nearly 100,000 children. He was ever active in parish and benevo-
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lent work. He was married to Miss Anderson of New London. He died from a stroke of apoplexy, July 7, 1888.
163. REV. JOHN H. ROGERS, 1833-1886.
Rev. John H. Rogers was born in 1833 at Providence, R. I. He graduated at Brown University and at the Berke- ley Divinity School, Middletown. He was for a short time an assistant of Bishop Littlejohn, and then assistant rector of a parish in Philadelphia. He married Elizabeth Brown. He passed several years in travel in Europe and Palestine, and after his return he was for a time in Schenectady, N. Y., and from that place came to New Britain and became rector of St. Mark's parish Sept. 12, 1880. Here he endeared him- self to his parishioners by his devotion to their interests, his sympathy with those in trial, and his welcome visits at their homes. His sermons ever breathed a Christ-like spirit, and his discussion of profound questions in theology and morals was always in devout manner. In organization and general parish work he exhibited great tact, superintending the smallest details with great wisdom. The church building was enlarged under his supervision. The Sunday before his death he preached twice, attended the session of the Sunday- school, officiated at a funeral, and was also present at a special meeting. After a few days' illness he died of pneumonia, Jan. 23, 1886.
Catherine Goodrich, daughter of Oliver and Sylvia Smith Goodrich, and great-granddaughter of Col. Isaac Lee, was born in 1812. She was married in 1835 to James Phalan (O'Phelan) of Boston. They removed to New York in 1838, where Mr. Phalan was a prominent broker and patron of the fine arts. In 1848 the family removed to France, and have since made Paris their permanent residence, with occasional visits to this country. Mr. Phalan died in Paris Jan. 20, 1887. The family still keep up correspondence with friends here, and by the position which they occupy, deserve notice
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