USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Plymouth > History of the town of Plymouth, Connecticut : with an account of the centennial celebration May 14 and 15, 1895 : also a sketch of Plymouth, Ohio, settled by local families > Part 24
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Judge Fenn is justly proud of his military record, and per- haps no better sketch of his services during the rebellion could be written than the following which is copied from Vaill's His- tory of the Second Connecticut Artillery :
"The most unpromising officer that left Camp Dutton with the old Nineteenth was First Lieutenant Augustus H. Fenn.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Judge Augustus H. Fenn.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
He was but eighteen years old, of freckled face and awkward gait, and was regarded with surly contempt by windy and con- sequential brother officers. Every private soldier, too, had his fling at him, as it was considered very impudent for him to be an officer at all, but he had recruited his forty men, aud there he was, with a commission in his pocket from Governor Bucking- ham. There was no getting away from him, and he was assigned to Company K, which was a kind of regimental Botany Bay. But three years of fighting blew away a good deal of showy incompetency and revealed true merit wherever it existed. Lieutenant Fenn grew in the estimation of his fellow officers and of all who knew him, until there was no tongue that dared to wag against him. He proved himself one of the best drill masters and disciplinarians in the regiment, and one of the most competent officers in every position. Before going to the front he was made captain of Company C. On the 22d of June he led his company into the skirmish at Petersburg as far as it advanced, and was then and there detailed A. A. A. General on Upton's staff, vice Captain Sanborn of the Fifth Maine, and mounting a horse which had been brought to him commenced his duties at once. When the regiment left the Sixth Corps at Tenallytown in July he was relieved. In September he was appointed judge advocate of the division court martial which tried twenty-five cases. At Cedar Creek he lost his right arm. The surgeons at Annapolis proposed to muster him out for dis- ability, but he protested and wrote to General Mckenzie for his interference. The consequence was that he was retained and in less than seven weeks from the time he had an arm taken off at the shoulder he reported for full duty at the front, and was at once detailed as A. A. A. General of the brigade again, which detail was afterward changed to that of brigade inspector. He subsequently participated in several fights. He was detailed as judge advocate five different times, was brevetted major after Cedar Creek, promoted major in January, 1865, brevetted lieu- tenant-colonel for Little Sailor Creek, and colonel 'for services during the war.'"
Mr. Fenn, while he resided in Plymouth, held the offices of judge of probate, town clerk, registrar of births, marriages and deaths, and justice of the peace. Previously he had been city clerk of Waterbury, and had been a candidate for town clerk there and representative to the legislature, but was defeated.
Judge Fenn possesses the judicial faculty in a very high degree. He takes broad and comprehensive views of legal and constitutional questions, and his opinions and conclusions are stated with clearness and force. He is a scholar by taste and culture, an eloquent speaker, and a careful student of law, and has a well defined conception of the nature of the general gov- ernment. For some time he has lectured to the law department of Yale College. His extensive knowledge of the law, keen dis- crimination, and masterly opinions, have well fitted him for this work, and he is held in high regard by students and professors alike.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Homer E. Cook.
J. W. Pond.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HOMER E. COOK.
Homer E. Cook, who was born in Wallingford, Conn., June 20, 1825, came to Terryville when sixteen years of age, and worked in the Eagle Lock Company's factory until 1887. He was tax collector for twenty-one years but resigned in ISS4, owing to ill health. In 1884 he represented the town in the House of Representatives, receiving many votes from the Demo- cratic party besides a full Republican vote. He united with the Congregational Church in 1859.
He died September 6, 1889, aged sixty-four years. He left a widow, Hannah W. Cook, and six children: Mrs. L. C. Lord, of Moorhead, Minn. ; W. A. Cook, employed by Eagle Lock Company ; O. H. Cook, New Britain, Conn. ; Mrs. A. W. Thayer, Palmer, Mass .; F. T. Cook, druggist, Terryville, Conn. ; Julia F. Cook, Palmer, Mass. Mrs. "Lord and Mrs. Thayer were for a number of years teachers in the primary school here.
JONATHAN WALTER POND.
Jonathan Walter Pond was born in the eastern part of Plymouth, April 28, 1826, in the house subsequently occupied for many years by Alexander Pond. His father, Philip Pond, was born in the same house on April 7, 1778. He left Plymouth in 1831, and resided in western New York until 1839, when he returned to Connecticut and passed the remainder of his life in Torrington, where he died in January, 1855. Jonathan W. Pond, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm and received the ordinary country school education, supplemented by two winter terms of three months each in Torrington Academy. When about sixteen years old he went to live in Terryville with his brother-in-law, the elder Eli Terry, where he remained about three years. Later he went to Bristol and worked at clock making, and was for several years foreman of the clock move- ment department of Smith & Goodrich, in Forestville. In 1855 he removed to New Haven and was a traveling salesman for Chauncey Jerome, then in the clock business. In 1861, he was appointed by a non-partisan board of police commissioners, chief of the New Haven police department, and through his efforts the officers were first put in uniform. He has been engaged in the service of civil process in New Haven County as constable or deputy sheriff and some of the time in both capacities for upwards of thirty years. He was at the same time in the fire insurance agency business in New Haven twenty-four years, and was for seven years a member of the board of public works of New Haven, the two last years serving as president. He is a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven ; also of the Order of Free Masons; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was grand master of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows of Connecticut in 1881-2, and represented the grand lodge of Connecticut in the sovereign grand lodge (formerly grand lodge of the United States) at its annual session in 1882 and 1883, and
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTHI.
Marshall W. Leach.
Jason Clemence
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
is a member of the Connecticut Society of "The Sons of the American Revolution."
He has a wife and two sons, Walter Pond and Philip Pond, both graduates of Yale University, both lawyers and residing in New Haven.
MARSHALL W. LEACH.
Marshall Welles Leach was born in Torrington, Conn., February . 17, 1854, and has been a resident of Plymouth for about twenty-five years. He is a descendant of John Leche, who came from England in the fleet with the Rev. Francis Higginson in 1639, and Sarah Conant, daughter of Roger Conant. He married, December 13, 1877, Julia S., daughter of Strong A. Kelsey. He is an amateur musician of some taste, and has always been prominent in musical and literary matters. During his twenty-five years here, he has taken a lively interest in the affairs and well-being of the community. He is a member of the Congregational Church, in which he fills the offices of clerk and committeeman. He is also a grand juror, justice of the peace, and a prominent member of the board of school visitors. He is also an Odd Fellow.
JASON CLEMENCE.
Jason Clemence, who is now seventy-seven years old, was born in Torrington, this State. He came to Terryville in 1840, to work for H. Welton & Co., the clock makers, in the factory where the "Upper" lock shop now stands. This concern made wooden clocks but later commenced the manufacture of brass time pieces. In this they were restrained by Chauncey Jerome, of New Haven, who claimed they infringed on his patent. Eli Terry was then appealed to, to invent a movement that the Welton concern could make. This he did, and Mr. Clemence was set to work to make the model. Uncle Eli would watch the progress of his new clock and tell Mr. Clemence as he looked in that he came to "respect" his work. These clocks were made until the company failed, when as the last work was being done upon them in one end of the building, Lewis & Gaylord began the manufacture of locks in the other end. From clocks to locks (simply dropping the c) Mr. Clemence changed and he has followed the trade in Terryville ever since.
He was married to Mary Johnson, September 28, 1842, who died June 11, 1856, to whom was born one son, Edwin, in 1847. His present wife was Harriet C. Woodworth, to whom he was married June 6, 1877.
Mr. Clemence for over thirty years was usher in the Terry- ville Congregational Church and served as funeral director a like number of years. He has been called upon to watch with the sick time upon time, and during the terrible epidemic about 1842, watched constantly for six months. His services were always given freely both as watcher and funeral director, and on only few occasions did he accept any compensation.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Augustus Von Martensen.
Mrs. Rosina Martensen.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
TERRYVILLE'S FIRST GERMAN FAMILY.
The first German family to move into Terryville was that of Johann Peter Scheuing. This was brought about by Andrew Terry, who made periodical trips to New York to hire emigrants to work in his foundry, as but few if any of the local residents understood the art of iron moulding. This was in 1850. Mr. Scheuing took up his residence in the double house known as the Captain Bunnell place, where his wife kept a boarding house for other emigrant employes. Their son, Louis, was the first child born of German parents in the village.
Mr. Scheuing, born in Halle, Wurtemburg, Germany, 1822, came to America in 1847, enlisted private in United States Army from Governor's Island, N. Y., April 13, 1847, saw active ser- vice in Mexican War, and after terrible suffering and hardships his health was shattered, and on the 15th of October, IS48, at New Orleans, he received an honorable discharge. He returned to Germany to recover his health and the next year married Rosina Seitz, returned to America and after some months' resi- dence in New York City, came to Terryville. His health, how- ever, had been completely undermined, and after a short residence he was allowed to enter the hospital at Blackwell's Island, N. Y., where he died August 14, 1854, aged thirty-two years, leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter. By keeping boarders the widow had managed to keep the wolf from the door until March 29, 1855, when she became the wife of Augustus Von Martensen, who was born in Kiel, Denmark, May 5, 1822, of a distinguished family. When a boy he was sent to the best schools and became a fine linguist. His parents wished him to study medicine but he entered the German army, won several medals for proficiency, finally participated in the revolution of Schleswig Holstein and with many others of his co-patriots escaped to America. Having friends in Bristol he visited them and shortly after found employment at the lock factory at Terry- ville, where he was employed six years, incidentally giving German lessons and teaching fencing as opportunity offered. When the war of the rebellion commenced Mr. Von Martensen went to Waterbury to enlist and though the company had then a full quota of men, the captain, attracted by his soldierly bearing, gladly enrolled him in the ranks. This company was a part of the Ist Connecticut three months' Volunteers, enlisting April 22, 1861, and mustering out July 31, 1861. They participated in the disastrous first battle of Bull Run after the term of their enlistment had expired. Mr. Martensen was the first man in Plymouth to enlist, and A. M. Blakesley, cashier of the Water- bury bank, a native of Terryville, presented him with a handsome revolver in recognition of his patriotism. Upon his return, after a few days spent with his family, in August 1861, he re-enlisted for three years at Hartford as a corporal in the cavalry service, and with other Connecticut men (and among them was Dorence Atwater, of Terryville), they were attached to the 2d New York Cavalry, Colonel Judson Kilpatrick's regiment, afterward called
e
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Louis C. Scheuing.
Julius G. Beach.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the Harris Light Cavalry, and became a part of Mcclellan's Army of the Potomac. In this service he saw daily skirmishing and fighting, participated in several battles and was promoted to a 2d lieutenantcy. At Aldie, Va., the advancing army came upon some rebel sharpshooters lying behind haystacks. His company were ordered to dislodge them, and in the charge Ist Lieutenant Whitaker and 2d Lieutenant Martensen were both fatally shot from their horses, and lived but a few hours. The bodies were brought to Hartford by General Whitaker, and the body of Lieutenant Martensen was given honorable burial in Terryville ; funeral services were held at the church and attended by a large concourse of sympathetic townspeople, the late Rev. Dr. Griggs officiating.
Mrs. Rosina Martensen was a widow a second time with a family of six children, the youngest barely three years old, the oldest but thirteen years. She was left destitute, but with a courage born of despair, she labored early and late to support and educate them. They grew up to be a credit to their mother's devotion and fortitude. The eldest son, William Scheuing, removed from Terryville to Kansas in 1870, engaged in farming until 1888, his health failing he went to Florida and afterwards to Colorado. The second son, Louis C. Scheuing, left Terryville for Waterbury, Conn., in 1866, where he spent a few months in a store as clerk, then worked on a farm and went to school winters at Northfield, and after another year's exper- ience in a store in Waterbury, removed to Springfield, Mass., where after working at farming and in the freight office of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. for nine years, the opportunity was offered to enter a manufacturing enterprise. He is now secretary of the National Papeterie Company, a director in several other enterprises, extensively engaged in real estate, and is closely identified with religious work and in musical circles. In
the year 1875 he induced his mother, brother, and sisters to remove to Springfield, where with the exception of the eldest son William (who died in Colorado in 1891 and is buried in Springfield) the children are all living at present, pleasantly and happily located. Louis is unmarried and resides with his mother; Mary Scheuing is the wife of F. P. Cheever, of Springfield; Augusta Martensen is the wife of O. B. Brockett, messenger of the County Court House; Carl F. Martensen is married, and agent for the Boston Condensed Milk Company, for Springfield and vicinity ; Rosa Martensen is unmarried, and clerk in Register of Deeds office, and resides with her mother.
Mrs. Martensen is still in the enjoyment of good health, conscious that she did what she could for her country in its hour of need, and feels grateful to the people of Terryville for the many acts of kindness and assistance rendered her.
JULIUS G. BEACH.
One of the old carriage makers that the old residents will recall was Lyman Beach, who was born in Plymouth, April 3, 1807. Of his early life the writer has little knowledge. On
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
James Hunter.
J. B. Baldwin.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
September 4, 1832, he was united in marriage to Phebe Griggs, to whom were born four children, Hobart L., Calvin D., Celia A., and Julius G. His homestead was situated on the road going north by the Andrew Hawkins place and the first house above the Hawkins homestead. He was a carriage wood worker and was employed by Cooley & Bradley-Comstock & Bishop succeeded Cooley & Bradley-and he continued in their employ. September 8, 1848, his wife died. The family remained at the old home, a housekeeper being employed, and in the spring of 1850 Mr. Beach married for his second wife Lucinda Comstock. On May 15, 1851, after a long and painful illness, he died, and the old home was sold to Isaac Shelton.
The son, Julius G., was about eleven years old when this occurred and from that time until he arrived at the age of twenty drifted from one occupation to another, some of the time on a farm, one voyage to sea (China) and two years or more in the factory. In the spring of 1861, when he was twenty, the civil war broke out. He responded to the call, going to the front with the 2d Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, three months' troops. When this term of service expired he enlisted in Com- pany F, 7th Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, serving until the close of the war, was mustered out as Ist sergeant, and shortly afterwards received an honorary commission from the governor. In 1864, while home on a veteran furlough, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Mills, a New Haven lady, and after his discharge from the army, up to the present time, has resided in New Haven, and for the past twenty-eight years has been in the employ of Peck Bros. & Co., and for the past fifteen years holding the position of foreman of a department with prospects of remaining.
JAMES HUNTER.
James Hunter was born in Glenluce, Scotland, October 3, 1812, the eldest of nine children. He was brought up by his maternal grandfather, James Hanna, at Stranraer, in the south- west extremity of that country. This grandfather had acquired a competence as a planter in Jamaica. His paternal grandfather resided at Girvan, thirty miles distant from Stranraer The calling of this grandfather was that of a stone mason. He ful- filled in his home, at the close of each day, the description in Burns' exquisite poem, "The Cotter's Saturday Night,"-
"The site turns o'er wi' patriarchal grace,
The big ha' Bible (hall Bible) ance his father's pride ; * * *
He wales (selects) a portion with judicious care,
And, 'Let us worship God,' he says, with solemn air."
The home at Stranraer was a stone house of two stories, with a slate roof. The floor of the hall, which extended through the house, and that of the kitchen, were flagged with stone. The sea was only a few rods away. His parents having emi- grated to Canada some years before, in 1829 the son followed
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
them. Mr. Hunter accompanied them in a subsequent removal to the United States. They found a home in Saratoga, N. Y. From that place the son started out to seek labor and subsistence for himself. And so it was that, as he journeyed afoot into Massachusetts and Connecticut, he came at length, bundle in hand, to Terryville. This was in 1834. The first person he saw and spoke with was a little girl about four years of age, the daughter of Eli Terry, Jr., who was playing in the road in front of the house. She is now Mrs. Merrill Richardson. She directed him to her father's clock shop just below. Going into the shop he met Warren Goodwin. Mr. Terry was absent. While waiting for the return of Mr. Terry, in the lack of a tavern nearer than Plymouth, Mr. Goodwin took him home with himself, and he spent the first night in Terryville in the house which afterwards became his own home for many years, and in which at last he departed this life. Mr. Terry did not hire him, and he applied for employment at the lock shop just started, the proprietors of which were John C. Lewis and Wm. E. McKee. He found Mr. McKee in his garden, who asked him many questions, and then conducted him to the shop where he had an interview with Mr. Lewis also, which was continued at the village store belonging to the same concern. After the proprie- tors had consulted aside, Mr. Lewis said to him they wanted to hire men, but only such men as would be a help in the com- munity, good citizens to build up the community. Thereupon Mr. Hunter produced his church certificate issued to him by his pastor, Rev. Wm. Taylor, pastor of the First United Secession Church of Montreal. That was sufficient. They hired him for a year at $100 and board. The price of board was then about $1.50 a week. The firm settled with their help at the end of the year. Meanwhile it was difficult to get much money from them at a time. While they used no compulsion upon their hands to trade at their store, they wished them to do so, engaging to furnish goods as cheap and of as good quality as could be obtained anywhere. The first Sabbath Mr. Hunter began the practice always maintained, of attendance at church, walking in those days, as did many others, to Plymouth. At the same time he joined the Bible class taught (probably) by Dr. Potter.
Becoming thus a resident of Terryville, Mr. Hunter con- tinued such until the end of his long, useful and happy life, with the exception of the period from 1843 to 1856, during which his home was in Sharon, Conn.
He married, October 18, 1837, Miss Rhoda Swift, grand- daughter of General Heman Swift of Revolutionary fame, and of the seventh generation from William Swift, who settled at Watertown, Mass .. 1630. Their children were Swift McGregor, born in Sharon, Conn., December 1, 1838; Mary Elizabeth, born in Sharon, Conn., May 19, 1842 ; Elizabeth Swift, born in Sharon, Conn., March 28, 1844.
Swift McG. was married January 1, 1868, to Mary M. Swift, who died November 15, 1871. He was a volunteer soldier in the war for the Union, being a member of the 2d Connecticut
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Regiment of Heavy Artillery, in which service he received a wound, resulting at last in his death, after a lingering illness, in 1872. Two daughters of Swift McG. Hunter reside in Terry- ville. The elder daughter of James Hunter is the wife of Charles S. Smith, of East Plymouth. The younger daughter died April 5, 1866.
Mr. Hunter was one of the original members of the Congre- gational Church of Terryville, organized in 1838, joining by letter from the church of Plymouth. He was a member of the standing committee of the church for many years, and for five years was superintendent of the Sunday School. The high regard in which he was held by his fellow citizens, and the con- fidence they reposed in him is manifest in the fact that he was many times elected to the responsible offices of grand juror and justice of the peace. He died April 1, 1891, his wife surviving him. She died June 25, 1895.
True to his early training, James Hunter was always a man of integrity, a supporter and an advocate of good things, espec- ially of the cause of temperance. Of unquestionable piety, most impressive, sometimes sublime, in prayer, he was also of a remarkably merry disposition. Recollections of his droll humor, uttered in the brogue of Scotland, and breaking forth from his familiar countenance all aglow with merriment, will long recur with cheering effect to those who knew him.
JAMES BURGESS BALDWIN.
James Burgess Baldwin was born September 14, 1846, just outside the limits of Goshen, Conn., and ever regarded Goshen as his native town. He was the son of Junius and Julia ( Hallock) Baldwin. He was also, it may be truly said, a typical son of New England and of Connecticut. For he had an honorable pride in the region of his birth, her people and her traditions. And he was endowed by nature with that aptitude for mechanic art which, diffused among the people of Connecti- cut, has given the state leadership in the Union in inventive production, dotting her territory in generations gone with the little shops of local artisans, and through the growth and the massing of capital creating in later times the great manufactories existing in such numbers, and pouring out such a variety of articles of use and of beauty at the present day. The popular vehicle known as the spindle buggy, was first made by Mr. Baldwin. The idea originating with him was taken up by others, and has become a source of profit to many. Possessed also of the artistic sense and skill, he found pleasure in painting pictures which he produced with facility for his own gratifica- tion and that of his friends, and sometimes to meet the demands of his business.
Mr. Baldwin became a resident of Terryville in 1876, locating here to prosecute his calling of general blacksmithing. In addition to other qualifications for this employment, he was marked to an unusual degree by an intelligent interest in that
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
George H. Plumb.
Gaius Fenn Warner.
289
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
noble animal, the horse, and by judgment in the treatment of the same. Relinquishing after some years the heavier work of his trade, Mr. Baldwin was occupied subsequently with the manu- facture and repair of vehicles, and with the public duties devolv- ing upon him as a civil officer. He was appointed postmaster of Terryville by President Harrison in 1890, and held the appointment at the time when he was smitten with fatal sickness. His administration of this responsible office met with the general approval of the community.
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