History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 107

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > History of Windham County, Connecticut > Part 107

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Francis Clark was born in Leeds, England, and came to Brook- lyn in 1852. He learned the trade of currier, and bought a tan- nery in Brooklyn in 1853, which business he conducted till his death in 1875. He married Sarah M. Heath in 1841. They had five children: Sarah, Benjamin, Levi, Francis and John.

Henry M. Cleveland, son of Mason Cleveland, was born in Hampton, Conn., in 1827. He was a member of the general assembly in 1867, 1877, and 1882, a member of the state board of education four years, appointed in 1877 a member of special ·commission to examine insurance companies of Connecticut, and appointed member of commission to revise expenditures of state. He married Mary A., daughter of Jonathan A. Welch, in 1854. They have four children : Louis B., a graduate of Colum- bia Law School, class of 1876, lawyer at Putnam ; Lilly C., mar- ried Lieutenant Commander Louis Kingsley of the United States Navy ; Mary A., and Henry M. Jr.

Martin W. Crosby was born in Lisbon, Conn., and came to Brooklyn in 1855. The ancestor of the family in this country came from Lancashire to America in the ship "Susan & Ellen" in 1635. Mr. Crosby was appointed deacon of the Congregational church of Brooklyn in 1877, which position he has retained until the present time. He married Abby, daughter of Marvin Dexter, and a descendant in seventh generation from Reverend Gregory Dexter, who came to America and settled at Providence in 1644, and was pastor of the First Baptist church at Providence. They have two children : Henry D., and Mary A.

William H. Cutler, born in Killingly in 1817, is a son of Dan and Amy (Bussey) Cutler, the former a soldier of the war of 1812, and a son of Benjamin Cutler. In early life William H. worked in a cotton mill. He was in the jewelry business in Providence about twenty years, came to Brooklyn in 1865, and has since been a farmer. He has been selectman several years. He married Sarah F. Washburn of Killingly, and they have one son, Charles H., an engineer at Taunton, Mass.

Charles Dorrance was born in Brooklyn in 1824. He is a son of Samuel, and is descended from one of the early settlers of the county. He married, first, Janet Sharp, and second, in 1877, Frances Davis, daughter of Randall Davis. His children are : George, born 1850, lives at St. Paul: Janet C., married John Davenport ; Harriet E., married Albert Putnam ; Kate, and Fan- nie G., married John Payne.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Vine R. Franklin was born in Brooklyn January 2d, 1843. He is a son of John and Laura P. (Hammond) Franklin, whose chil- dren were Vine, William H. and Annie, and a grandson of Wil- liam B. Franklin, of Ashford. Mr. Franklin represented Brook- lyn in the legislature of 1887, and has held varicus town offices He married Josephine H. Main, of Brooklyn, and has one daugh- ter, Lucy H., born in 1867.

John Gallup, born in Sterling April 9th, 1807, was a son of David and Nancy ( Jacques) Gallup, and descended from John Gallup, who came from England in 1630 and married Christabel, sister of Governor Winthrop. Mr. Gallup was educated at the schools of Brooklyn and Plainfield; was deputy sheriff and sheriff for ten years in early life; was president of the Wind- ham County National Bank twenty years; representative to the legislature twice, once as senator, and was bank commissioner three years. He married Maria C. Tyler, great-granddaughter of General Putnan. Their children were: Henry, superintend- ent of the Boston & Albany railroad; Ellen M. and Edward, who was assistant general manager of the Lake Shore & Michi- gan Southern railroad, and died in October, 1888, at 46 years of age.

George G. Gilbert was born in Brooklyn October 20th, 1814. He is a son of John W. and Hannah A. Gilbert and great-grand- son of John Gilbert, the first of the name in Windham county, who was of the fourth generation from Sir John Gilbert, who came from Devonshire, England, to Massachusetts in 1636. In early life Mr. Gilbert learned the machinist's trade, which he followed eight years, and has since been a farmer. He has been twice married.

Hezekiah Hammond, son of Hezekiah, born December 18th, 1782, married October 1st, 1804, Polly Greenslit, and had three children. She died in 1814. He married Lora Burnett in 1816 and she died in 1817, leaving one child. He married third, Han- nah Warren, daughter of John and Hannah (Fuller) Warren, April 22d, 1819. She had four children: Charlotte, Helen, Frances and Lucy. Charlotte, the eldest, born November 16th, 1822, married September 28th, 1847, Gurdon A. Brown, son of Artemas Brown, of Brooklyn, who was educated at the schools of Brook- lyn, and engaged in real estate business at Philadelphia, where he died at 32 years of age. Hezekiah Hammond, 2d, brother of Colonel Asahel, was a descendant of Thomas Hammond, of

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Suffolk county, England, who married Rose Tripp May 14th, 1573, and whose sons William and Thomas came to America about the year 1630.

Colonel Asahel Hammond was born in Hampton May 10th, 1778, and married December 9th, 1801, Betsey Robinson. He removed to Brooklyn, Conn., in 1842, was a director of the Wind- ham County Bank and president of the Windham County Fire Insurance Company, and colonel of the state militia. He died in 1861, and his wife died in 1865. They had eleven children, of whom Catherine, born May 10th, 1810, married in 1834 C. W. Cain, of Petersburg, Va., who was ensign in the 2d Regiment, United States Dragoons, in the war of 1812, and afterward a merchant in New York city. They had three children: 1. James H., born 1836, received an academical education, enlisted at the commencement of the civil war, was wounded and confined in Libby Prison during the summer of 1864, was first lieutenant 1st Connecticut cavalry; 2. Elizabeth A., born 1838, married in 1866 John W. Hunt, who came from England, was engaged in mer- cantile business in New York, and died in 1885, leaving three children; 3. Mary C. Cain, born July 14th, 1840, resides at the old homestead at Brooklyn.

Harvey Harris, born in Brooklyn in 1859, is a son of George W. Harris, one of the largest land owners in Windham county, who was a son of Hosea Harris. Harvey Harris was married to Mary Cheney December 25th, 1882.

Erastus Harris was born in Brooklyn in 1815. About the year 1839 he commenced the business of blacksmithing and wagon making. His business increased until he employed fifteen or twenty men. He also carried on farming, and for many years engaged in staging, owning several different lines. In the time of the civil war he was active in the support of the government. He contributed largely to the growth and prosperity of the com- munity, and was kind and charitable to the poor. He married in 1840 Miss Amy Herrick, daughter of Timothy Herrick. They had one daughter, Fannie, who married Charles W. Snow. Mr. Harris died in 1871.

Elias H. Main, son of Gardner, and grandson of Nathaniel Main, was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1808. In early life he was a mason, and afterward engaged in mercantile and real estate business in New York city. He has held various town offices. He married Susannah, daughter of Reverend John G. Dorrance,

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

a graduate of Brown University, who was a grandson of Rever- end Samuel Dorrance, a graduate of the University of Glasgow, who settled in Sterling, Conn. Their children are: Sarah E., Caroline T., George W., Alice P. and John G., who was adjutant in the 6th New York cavalry, and was killed at Cedar Creek, Oc- tober 19th, 1864.

Enoch Pond was born in 1810, and came to Brooklyn in 1824. He is a son of Enoch, and grandson of Enoch Pond, who came from Wrentham, Mass., to Ashford, Conn., and was pastor of the church there. Mr. Pond learned the trade of cabinet maker, which has been the business of his life. He married Sarah A. Utley, and they have four sons: Theodore D., who enlisted in the 21st Connecticut volunteers and served till close of war, married Delia M. Brown; George E., enlisted in the 21st Regi- ment, was wounded at the battle of Dury's Bluff, graduated at West Point in 1872, and is a captain in the United States army ; Charles F., graduated at Annapolis in 1872, is lieutenant in navy, and John C., an officer at the Connecticut state prison.

Abram Shepard, born in 1806, in Plainfield, was a son of John Shepard, and a descendant in the fourth generation from Isaac Shepard, one of the first settlers of the town of Plainfield. Abram Shepard came to Brooklyn about 1837, and engaged in farming and mercantile business, which he continued till his death, in 1877. He was married in 1828 to Hannah Webb of Sterling. Their children were: Edward, living in California; Mary, married to James Pike; Maria, Duncan, Cameron and Es- ther A., a school teacher.

Simon Shepard, son of William, and grandson of Simon, was born in Plainfield in 1833, came to Brooklyn in 1866, and is a farmer. He is one of the selectmen of the town, and has held various town offices. He was married in 1857 to Louisa, daughter of John Gardner. Their children are: Martha, married John E. Allen; Nettie, married Benjamin Clark; John, Charles C., Jennie, Morgan and Simon E.

Preston B. Sibley was born in Eastford, Conn., and came to Brooklyn in 1880. He is a son of Samuel Sibley, who came to Windham county from Sutton, Mass., in 1827, and a de- scendant in the sixth generation from one Sibley, who came from Wales to Massachusetts in 1705. He is a director in the savings bank, and Windham County Insurance Company. He was married in 1862 to Katie Noble, and they have three children.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Joseph B. Stetson, born in Brooklyn, Conn., is a son of James, and a descendant in the eighth generation from Robert Stetson, who settled at Scituate, Mass., in 1634, and a great-grandson of Nathan Witter, who came to Brooklyn from Preston in 1753. Mr. Stetson represented Brooklyn in the legislature of 1880.

B. H. Weaver was born in Plymouth, Vt., in March, 1814. He is a son of Caleb Weaver, who married Betsey Clark, grandson of Benjamin Weaver, who served as a captain in the revolution- ary war, and a descendant of Clement Weaver, who lived at Newport, R. I., as early as 1655. Mr. Weaver was in mercantile business in Massachusetts from 1833 to 1855, then removed to New York city, where he continued business till 1861, then came to Brooklyn, Conn., where he has been engaged in farming till the present time. He was married October 19th, 1841, to Sarah J. Gates, and has one son, J. Frank Weaver.

Charles G. Williams was born in Sterling, Conn., is a son of Nathaniel and Hannah Williams, and grandson of Samuel Williams. In early life he taught school, and afterward was a farmer. He married in 1846 Lucy E. Gallup, of Sterling, daughter of John Gallup. His second wife was Ruby G. Burgess, daughter of David Gallup, of Plainfield. He has three children: Mary M., born in 1848; Nathaniel, born in 1850, and John C., born in 1856.

Henry N. Wood was born in South Scituate, R. I., and came to Plainfield, Conn., in 1865. He is a son of Nehemiah and Phila Wood. The family are of English origin. Mr. Wood learned the trade of blacksmith, and has for many years been foreman in that department at the mills of the Wauregan Com- pany. He married in 1848 Mary Saulsbury and has three sons: Nehemiah, Henry and Charles, who married Ida Westcott.

STERLING.

James Bailey came from Wales, settled in West Greenwich, R. I., and had four children. His son Titus, a captain in the revolutionary war, married Mary Fish and settled in Sterling. His son James married Eunice Bailey. They had five children, one of whom was James, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and married Sabra Swan. They had eight children. The only one in Sterling is Charles H., born in 1832, and married to Ida Gordon. He was a member of the 8th Regiment, Connecticut volunteers.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Jerome Cahoone, born in 1838, enlisted in the Eighteenth Reg- iment, Connecticut volunteers, in 1862, served in second battle of Bull Run and other engagements, and was killed at the battle of Piedmont June 5th, 1864. He married Ruth Gibson, daugh- ter of Harden Gibson, in 1856. The latter was a son of James Gibson. Mrs. Cahoone has one son, Frank E., born July 21st, 1861.

Benjamin Fenner came from Cranston, R. I., to Sterling about 1801. He married Mary Green, daughter of Colonel Christo- pher Green, and had nine children. Three of these children settled in Sterling. One of these, Jeremiah, married Elsie Bar- ber and had five children, of whom John married Lydia F. Win- sor. They have one son and two daughters. John Fenner has been selectman of Sterling several years and has held other town offices. David Winsor came from Glocester, R. I., to Sterling in 1797 and settled on the place now owned by John Fenner. He married Lydia Angel and had eleven children, one of whom, Ira, married Almira Main. Their children were: Ira C., who was an assistant surgeon in the civil war; Lydia F .; John, a member of the 26th Regiment, Connecticut volun- teers, now a physician at Quidnick, R. I., and Emma.

Nathaniel Gallup was born in Sterling and is a farmer. He is a son of Nathaniel Gallup, who was born in 1798, and who was selectman in Sterling twenty-eight years, representative to the general assembly twice, besides holding minor town offices, and who was a son of Benadam Gallup, a soldier of the revolutionary war, and descended from John Gallup, who came to America in 1630, and married Christabel Winthrop. Nathaniel Gallup mar- ried Mary E. Mathewson, daughter of Bowen Mathewson, of Voluntown. They have five children: Nettie, Mary, Julia, Avis and George S.

Allen Gibson, son of Campbell Gibson and grandson of James Gibson, was born in 1810 in Sterling, Conn. His mother was Abigail, daughter of Asa Montgomery, the first town clerk of Sterling. Allen Gibson learned the trade of stone cutter, and became widely known as a builder and contractor, building many stone dams and mills in eastern Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He represented Sterling in the legislature of 1855. His children were: Amanda, Mary M., Oscar F., Lucy J. and Robie. Mary M. married Oliver W. Champlin, who enlisted in the 18th Connecticut volunteers, served three years, and was wounded.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Silas Griffiths, born in Sterling in 1837, is a son of George and Dorcas (Holloway) Griffiths, and grandson of Southward Grif- fiths, who was a soldier in the revolutionary war and came to Sterling about 1785. He was a son of Amos Griffiths, who came from Wales to Newport about 1750. Silas Griffiths was ordained as pastor of the Baptist church in 1874, and is also engaged in farming and dealing in agricultural supplies and lumber. He married Julia A. Boswell, of Killingly, in 1859, and has two chil- dren, Winfield S. and John E. Jared Griffiths, brother of Silas, born in 1826, was prominent in town affairs, enlisted in the 26th Regiment Connecticut volunteers, and died of sickness at New Orleans June 27th, 1863.

David S. Kenyon, born in Sterling, Conn., is a son of John W. Kenyon, one of twelve children, and grandson of Moses Kenyon, the first of the name in Sterling. Mr. Kenyon represented the town in the legislature in 1885 and 1886, and has held many town offices.

John Kinnie, of Voluntown, married Lucy Gallup and had nine children, one of whom, Freelove, married Richard Davis of Griswold. He died in 1882, leaving five children : John R., Albert E., Allen E., Judson, and Mary F., who married Charles E. Young of Voluntown, who died in 1876.

John Knox, son of John Knox, was born in Sterling, Conn., in 1807, and is a successful farmer. He married Caroline, daughter of John Young, a soldier of the war of 1812 and son of Joel Young, of Killingly. They have one son, John Knox, who mar- ried Susan, daughter of Philip Winslow, and is a farmer in Ster- ling.

Asa Potter was of English ancestry and fifth in line of de- scent from Roger Williams. He was born in Cranston, R. I., May 24th, 1782, married Ruth Stafford in 1803, lived in Provi- dence and Warwick, R. I., until about 1812, when he settled at Thompson, Windham county, removing to Sterling in 1820 and living there till his death. He was one of the most prominent cotton manufacturers of his day, doing business and furnishing employment to many people at what was called the American Factory, which is still standing. His farm consisted of many acres on the Quanduck river, and he had many houses which furnished homes to his employes. His family consisted of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Edwin G. Potter, the youngest of the family, married and went to Hartford, re-

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

turning to the old homestead, when he came in possession of it in 1851. Here his two children were born and his life passed in peace and quiet until 1883, when he became involved in a lawsuit which became an historic case. Silas Wait and A. A. Stanton came upon a portion of the Potter farm which they claimed was disputed territory, and cut off and carried away an acre of his most valuable timber. Consequently he brought an action of trespass which was fought with a vigor and tenacity rarely equaled. This case, with James H. Potter and Charles E. Searls as counsel for plaintiff, was tried before Judge Stoddard at Brooklyn in May, 1885, before Judge Phelps in November of the same year, and before Judge Andrews in September, 1886, who rejected 'important evidence which the supreme court in March, 1887, at Hartford, decided was an error, and ordered a new trial before Chief Justice Park at Brooklyn in October, 1887, which resulted in judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendants were compelled to pay damages for cutting his valuable timber.

James L. Young, son of Jeremiah J. Young, was born at Smith- field, R. I., and came to Sterling in 1858. He enlisted in the 21st Regiment Connecticut volunteers, and served three years. He represented his town in the legislature in 1875 and 1876, and was town clerk eight years. He married Maria, daughter of Newman Chaffee.

VOLUNTOWN.

John Bitgood came to Voluntown from Warwick, R. I., about 1800, and lived on the place now occupied by William Bitgood. His son Elisha, born 1801, married Betsey Church, and had ten children, of whom Joel K. enlisted in the 12th Connecticut volun- teers, and served three years in the rebellion. He was wounded at Port Hudson. He is one of the selectmen of Voluntown. He married Maggie Tabor, and their children are: Nellie, Gracie, Roscoe and Joseph E.

Moses Fish came from Groton to Voluntown as early as 1745. He married Elizabeth Morgan, and had two sons, Moses and Daniel. Moses married Jerusha Phillips, and had eight chil- dren. The eldest, Levi, married Rebecca Fish, and had six children. The eldest son, Levi H. Fish, married Amy Saunders. He was selectman and justice of the peace many years, and died in 1878. His children are: Miss Julia A. Fish, who has been en- gaged in millinery and dressmaking in Voluntown village

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

since 1862, and Anna, who married Luther L. Dennison, who served two years in the 1st Connecticut heavy artillery.

Benjamin Gallup, son of Nathaniel, grandson of John, and great-grandson of John, was born in Stonington, and came to Voluntown and settled on the place occupied by the present Benjamin Gallup. He married Amy, daughter of Thomas Kin- nie, and had three sons and eleven daughters, of whom one son Benjamin, born in 1774, married Huldah, daughter of Abel Kin- nie, and had two children, Amy and Benjamin. He was select- man and justice of the peace many years, and died in 1854. His son Benjamin, born in 1811, married Caroline Kinnie. They have six children: Laura C., Benjamin S., Amy E., E. Byron, Origen S. and Albert. Mr. Gallup represented Voluntown in the legislature in 1849, 1858 and 1871, and has been selectman and justice of the peace many years. He married for his second wife Fidelia Chapman.

Isaac Gallup, of Voluntown, was a great-grandson of John Gallup, who was one of the founders of the church in Volun- town in 1723. Isaac married Olive Parks and had eleven chil- dren: John D., Martha, William W., James H., Clarissa H., Ralph P., Noyes B., Charles E., Olive D., Jared A. and Sarah B .; of whom Martha and Jared A. only remain in Voluntown. Jared was a member of the 21st Regiment, Connecticut volun- teers, and represented Voluntown in the legislature of 1875.

Henry C. Gardiner was born in South Kingstown, R. I., one of twenty children, three of whom served in the civil war-George, John and Henry. George died in service and Henry was wound- ed at Fredericksburg. In 1872 Henry came to Voluntown, where he has since resided. He has been selectman for the last four years, also justice of the peace. He married Texanna Green and has one daughter, Etta.

Amos Herrick was born in Griswold, Conn., in 1827, served as a soldier in the Mexican war, and came to Voluntown in 1857, where he engaged in mercantile business, which he continued till his death in 1880.

Nathaniel Tanner came from West Greenwich (where four generations of his ancestors had lived before him) to Voluntown about 1839. He married Hannah Pratt and had three sons: Jason, William W. and Nathaniel. William W. married Phebe Kenyon, and came to Voluntown in 1862. He is a farmer. He has three sons: Luther S., William J. and George A.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Adam and Jane (Hall) Kasson emigrated from Belfast, Ireland, to Boston, with seven sons and two daughters in 1722, and thence came to Voluntown. Adam was a member of the church at its formation in 1723, was chosen deacon in 1731, and died in 1767. Archibald, a grandson of Adam, was a colonel in the rev- olutionary war, and received a brigadier general's commission at its close. Jonn P. Kasson, grandson of Archibald, born in 1797, was deacon of the church 40 years and its clerk 48 years. He was also county commissioner two years. He married Betsey A. Wylie and had two children: Joseph, who died aged 16, and Elizabeth, who is now clerk and treasurer of the Congregational church.

William H. Kenyon, 2d, born in Plainfield, is a son of John Kenyon and a descendant of Moses Kenyon, the first of the name in Sterling. He learned the trade of weaver and designer. He is married to Mary E. Mague.

James M. Pratt is a descendant of Amasa Pratt, who came to this country in the last century. James married Charlotte Tanner, and is a farmer and skillful mechanic. He has three children: Edward A., who married Phebe Phillips; Hannah, who married Allen Palmer; and Charles W.

George W. Rouse was a member of Company G, 12th Con- necticut volunteers, in the rebellion. In 1888 he engaged in the grocery business in the village of Voluntown. He has frequently been elected to town offices.

Ezekiel Sherman was born in Exeter in 1819, and is a son of Robert Sherman, of English ancestry. He married Hannah Saunders. They have twelve children: Abby, Harriet, Hannah, Priscilla, Sarah, Lydia, Lucy, Idella, Robert, Ezekiel, Sanford and Frank.

THOMPSON.

Samuel Adams was born in 1832, in Dudley, Mass., and is a son of Oliver Adams. He came to Wilsonville in 1857 and bought the mercantile business of D. A. Upham, and has con- tinued the same since that time. In 1888 he enlarged the store, and increased the business. He has been postmaster since June, 1881. He was married in August, 1853, to Almira F. Darby. They have three children : Irene, Irving, and Carrie. He is a republican.

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY.

Thomas J. Aldrich was born in 1829, in Rhode Island, and came from Rhode Island to Grosvenor Dale in 1873, where he began the manufacture of soft soap, and in 1876 he began the manufac- ture of a washing powder, which is mostly used in the factories. Under the style of T. J. Aldrich & Co. they still manufacture the washing powder, and also run a grist and saw mill, which they bought in 1883, known as the Sheldon Mill. He was mar- ried in 1853 to Fannie E. Battey, and has seven children : Fan- nie, Ida, George A., Emma, Sarah M., Edith M., and Fred J. George A. is in business with his father. He was married in 1880 to Cora Emerson, and has one daughter.

James R. Alton was born in 1854. He is a son of Thomas Orlando, grandson of John, and great-grandson of Thomas Alton. His mother was A. Jane, daughter of Benjamin and and Silome Alton. Mr. Alton has a farm of 267 acres. He was married in 1880 to Flora Belle Cunningham, and has three daughters: Josephine V., Mary J., and Pearl M. He is a demo- crat.

Edward G. Arnold, born in 1814 in Woodstock, is a son of James, and grandson of " Major" Moses Arnold, who was drum- major in the revolutionary war. His mother was Hannah Cham- berlin. He was a shoemaker for about twenty-five years. Since 1863 he has been a farmer. He was married first in 1835 to Almariah Corbin. They had nine children. He married in 1859 Rachel H. Taft. They had five children. He married for his third wife Ann Eliza Gifford. He married in 1870 Emeline S. Fenn. He is a member of South Woodstock Baptist church, and a member of the Grange P. of H.

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History of Windham County, Connecticut, Part 107

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: New York, Preston Number of Pages: 1506

Author: Bayles, Richard M. (Richard Mather)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: New York, Preston
Number of Pages: 1506