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 29
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REV. LEVERETT STEARNS GRIGGS.
Rev. Leverett Stearns Griggs, who is now located at Ivory- ton, is the son of Rev. Leverett Griggs, D. D., and Mrs. Cath-
.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
arine Stearns Griggs, and was born in North Haven, Conn., February 16, 1838, his father being at the time pastor of the Con- gregational Church in that place. He is the third of ten children, the four youngest being the children of a second mother, Mrs. Charlotte Stearns Griggs. He prepared for college at the High School in Millbury, Mass., graduated at Amherst College in IS60 ; studied theology at Yale and Lane theological seminar- ies, 1860-1863 ; was ordained June 23, 1864; was married July 13, 1864, to Miss Cornelia Little, daughter of Rev. Henry and Mrs. Susan N. Little, of Madison, Ind. ; was Home Missionary pastor at Spring Valley, Minn., 1863-1866; at Owatonna, Minn., 1866-1869; pastor at Lowell, Mich., 1870-1872 ; at Collinsville, Conn., 1872-1874; at Terryville, 1874-1887; became pastor of the Congregational Church of Centerbrook and Ivoryton, Conn., 1887. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Griggs are seven, John Cornelius Griggs, Ph. D., George Day (died 1886), Jessie Leveretta, Alice Warner, Katharine Charlotte, Henry Little and Susan Little. The three last named were born in Terryville.
JOHN CORNELIUS GRIGGS.
John Cornelius Griggs, son of Rev. L. S. and Mrs. C. L. Griggs, was born in Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minn., September 29, 1865. The family having removed to the east he began to attend school in Collinsville, Conn., where his father was pastor in that village ; was afterward a pupil for years in the schools of Terryville; worked for one year in the factory of the Eagle Lock Co., and after a three years' course in the public high school of Hartford, graduated from that institution in 1885. Entering Yale University the same year, he graduated in due course of time, a member of the class of 1889. He was for the two years immediately following, an instructor in the Free Academy of Norwich. He married, July 23, 1890, Miss Anne Cooke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Cooke, of Yalesville, Conn. He went abroad in the summer of 1891 for purposes of study and training in the art of vocal music. The larger part of the two years passed in Europe by himself and family were spent in Leipsic, where a son, Leverett Griggs, was born March 25, 1892. Having completed a prescribed course of study in the university of Leipsic, Mr. Griggs received from that institution, in 1893, the degree of Ph. D., magna cum laude. He returned to the United States the same year, and having already accepted an appointment on the staff of instructors in the Metropolitan College of Music in New York City, soon entered upon duty there, in which position he still remains.
THOMAS BUNNELL.
The veteran teamster of Plymouth, Thomas Bunnell. was a familiar figure for fifty-two years in his line of business. He was born in Burlington, this State, November 9, 1806, and was the youngest son of Nathaniel Bunnell, who, at the age of twenty,
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
went to New London, enlisted in the Continental army and was present on the memorable "6th of September when Arnold burnt the town." He came to Terryville in 1827, and taught school in the old red school house, afterward taking up the busi- ness of carrying freight, the goods consigned to him coming through the old canal to Plainville, and from there distributed through the country between this place and Bristol Basin, as Plainville was then called.
His teaming business dates from the year 1843, when he drove to Hartford every other day for freight, and on the inter- vening days made a trip to Plainville. This he continued to do until 1855, when the railroad pushed its way out to this region. He then established the teaming industry between Terryville and Thomaston, and daily carried loads of merchandise over the hills of Litchfield county from 1855 to 1887, when he transferred his business to Arthur C. Bunnell, his son Besides the regular freight business mentioned, Mr. Bunnell did all the team work for manufacturers in this place for many years, and his life is thus closely allied to the business history of the community. He was first employed by H. Welton & Co., next for Lewis & Gay- lord, and then for James Terry & Co.
After the Eagle Lock Company was formed, he did all their teaming for nearly twenty years, and for a number of years all the teaming for Andrew Terry & Co. He was a citizen uni- versally esteemed by the entire community. He left several sons and grandsons who are natural born teamsters, and carry on a good business in this place and Bristol.
LYMAN TOLLES. -
Lyman Tolles, son of Lyman and Marcia Russell Tolles, was born in Plymouth, March 16, 1802, and died May 27, 1894. He was twice married. His first wife was Almira, daughter of Luther and Martha Thomas Andrews. In 1827 he settled on a farm in the southeast part of the town, where he lived until his death. His second wife was Jeannette Howe. Mr. Tolles was the father of ten children :
Robert married Mary R. Graham of Windham, N. Y., moved to Wisconsin in 1858, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Eau Claire, and with his brother-in-law founded a lumber and machine mill, which now is a large and flourishing business plant. He died in 1879, leaving a wife and two sons, Charles L. and De Witt G., who still reside there.
Martha A. married Ralph H. Guilford of Waterbury, who settled in Cheshire and engaged in the manufacture of buttons, and was secretary and treasurer of the brass mill for a number of years until his death in 1886. They had four children, Irving G., Annie A., Mary L., Thomas H.
Martin worked in Terryville in the lock shop for several years and went to Beloit, Wis., in 1856. In 1859 he went to Eureka, Kan .. where he married Margaret Turner. He died at Cedar Vale, Kan., in 1876.
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Thomas Bunnell.
Lyman Tolles.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mary J. married Oliver Baily, who settled in Terryville as contractor and builder, and who died in 1866, leaving a wife and one daughter, Julia A.
Harriet A. resides at the old homestead, and for many years has been an invalid.
Henry married Harriet E. Prince, who died in 1882. He died in ISS9, leaving four children, Frederick L., Nellie P., Nathan, Martin.
Samuel L. remained at home to care for his father and the farm, and still resides there, its present owner.
Sarah L. married William H. Basham of Naugatuck, who have four children, William L., Hattie A., Essie J., Sarah E. Esther M. married Milo Tomlinson of Plymouth.
Norie E. married Newton B. Eddy of Bristol, who moved to New Haven, worked for the New Haven Clock Company several years, but is now engaged in farming. They have two children, George L., Carrie B.
Mr. Tolles was a man of great activity, strong and vigorous in mind and body, and with the exception of failing eyesight, retained all his faculties until his last illness. In 1872 he accom- panied his son Robert to his home in Wisconsin, visiting friends on the way in New York, Pittsburg and Cleveland, O., where his only sister then resided. He was interested in all the events of the day of a social nature. He delighted in gathering his children and grandchildren around him, and the birthday and Thanksgiving feasts under the paternal roof will be among the pleasant memories of their lives.
MILO TOMLINSON.
Milo Tomlinson was born at Mt. Toby, Plymouth, in May, 1852. He was twice married, his first wife being Harriet A. White. They had one child, Mabel E., born in 1878. He married in 1883 for his second wife Esther M. Tolles, daughter of Lyman Tolles. They had four children, Amy J., Irving M .. Robert V., George L. Mr. Tomlinson died in 1892. He was a stirring and enterprising farmer, and owned a large farm, his residence being nearly in the center of a fifty acre meadow.
CORNELIUS R. WILLIAMS AND FAMILY.
Cornelius R. Williams was born in Rocky Hill, Conn., August 7, 1805. His mother was a Robbins. Both families have been in the Connecticut valley below Hartford for half a dozen generations. He left home at the age of seventeen and worked in New York City. For several years he was a clock manufacturer in Unionville, Conn., and Alton, Ill. He became a resident of Plymouth about 1847, residing first on Town Hill near the Elam Fenn place. In 1850 he removed to the house in the eastern part of Terryville, which was his home, with the exception of a few years spent in Rocky Hill, until his death, August 28, 1880, aged seventy-five years. He married Caroline Hooker, September 4, 1831. She was a daughter of Ira Hooker, long time a deacon in the Bristol Congregational Church, and
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Milo Tomlinson.
Rev Moseley H. Williams
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was a descendent in the sixth generation of Rev. Thomas Hooker, who became the first minister of the Center Church, Hartford, about 1632. Mrs. Williams was a sister of Mrs. Julia E. Stoughton, widow of Andrew Stoughton. Several children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, of whom only three sur- vive-Rev. Horace R. Williams of Michigan, Rev. Moseley H. Williams of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Fannie A. Mix, wife of Elisha Mix, Jr., of Stamford.
Rev. Horace R. Williams was born in Farmington, Conn., in 1835, and came with the family to Plymouth when thirteen years old. He attendend school in the Terryville Institute, when it was first opened, but completed his preparation for college at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden N. H. He graduated from Amherst College in 1860, and, after teaching one year, from Union Theological Seminary in 1864. In May of that same year he was ordained to the ministery in Terryville, by a council called by the Congregational Church there, of which church he was a member, and went immediately to the pastorate of the Congregational Church in Almont, Mich., where he remained sixteen years. After that he was pastor in Vermontville six years, in Clinton seven years, and is now pastor in Richmond, all these places being in the same state-Michigan. He married Amelia R. Bulkeley of Rocky Hill, Conn., in 1865. Her grandfather graduated at Yale College in 1796. They have two children, Walter B. Williams, now of Stamford, Conn., and Neil Hooker Williams, who recently graduated at the University of Michigan.
Rev. Moseley H. Williams was born in Farmington, Conn., December 23, 1839. He was a boy of seven when the family came to Plymoutlı. His first experience in a Terryville school was under Mrs. Allen, wife of R. D. H. Ailen, who was then principal. He attended school at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., and Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., and spent four years at Yale College, graduating in the class of 1864. After a theological course of three years at Union Theo- logical Seminary, New York, and Andover Seminary, Massa- chusetts, he was a pastor in Philadelphia, Penn., Brooklyn, N. Y., and Portland, Me. Since 1879 he has been in the editorial work of the American Sunday-School Union in Philadelphia, and assisted in the preparation of Dr. Schaff's Dictionary of the Bible, Dr. Rice's People's Commentaries on the Gospels and other works. He married Emma V. Bockius of Philadelphia, and has four children, of whom the oldest graduated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and took a theological course at Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary.
Fannie A. Williams married Elisha Mix. Jr., December 14, 1875. They have resided in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, New Britain and Stamford, and have five children.
THOMAS HIGGINS.
Thomas Higgins has been a resident of Terryville for about forty-three years. He was one of the three Catholics who met
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Thomas F Higgins.
William Robinson's Residence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
in the Philip C. Ryan residence after Father O'Neill of Water- bury was engaged to preach there. Mr. Higgins is now about seventy years of age. One of his sons, Thomas F. Higgins, was appointed postmaster of Terryville in 1894. When appointed, he bought out the confectionery and stationery business of W. E. Fogg, and moved it into the building opposite the hotel. He graduated from Eastman's College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Sarah A. devotes much of her time to assisting Mr. Higgins in the post office. James B. is employed by the Eagle Lock Com- pany. Michael C. is superintendent of a life insurance company in Norwich, Conn. Lizzie C. is engaged as school teacher in Thomaston. Joseph J. is a physician and surgeon in New York City, and graduated from the Physicians and Surgeons' College of New York.
CHAUNCEY BRADLEY.
Chauncey Bradley, who died May 10, 1886, was one of Plymouth's most respected residents. He lived a quiet life on his farm, situated about the center of the town, and was for many years assessor. He did his duty conscientiously and well. He lived to the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, his wife having died several years before. Mrs. David W. Eggleston, who, with her husband, resides in Bristol, was the only child of this union.
WILLIAM ROBINSON.
William Robinson came to Terryville about seven years ago, from Thomaston, and bought what is known as the Griffin place, situated about one mile northwest of Terryville Center, from Charles Dayton. He has since then carried on the milk busi- ness, increasing it by the purchase of the milk route of Charles Allen. He keeps from fourteen to sixteen head of stock. He also does a great deal of market gardening. Pleasant View Farm, as Mr. Robinson's place is called, furnishes an excellent view of the surrounding country. Mr, Robinson is a native of Canada, and married Miss Maggie Hull of Canada in 1890, by whom he has one daughter. The property now owned by Mr. Robinson has been obtained by hard work, prudence and economy.
AUGUSTUS C. SHELTON.
Augustus Canby Shelton, the founder and senior member of the firm of Shelton & Tuttle, carriage manufacturers, in the town of Plymouth, Conn., was born in Plymouth, February 7, 1816, and died in that town, August 27, 1880, at the age of sixty-four years. He was of the fifth generation in descent from Daniel Shelton, the founder of the New England branch of the family, who came to this country from England about 1687, and settled in Stratford (now Huntington), in this State.
Daniel, the original ancestor of the New England families bearing the Shelton name, came from the town of Rippon, Der- byshire County, England. He was one of the non-resident
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Philip C Ryan
The Ryan Homestead.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.
proprietors of Waterbury, as appears by the grant of Governor Saltonstall, bearing date of October 28, 1720. He had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. His fourth son, Sam- uel, was born in 1704. He had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters. His third son, Daniel, was born June 16, 1741. He had nine children, five sons and four daughters. His fourth son, Joseph, was born October 20, 1783. He had eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Of these sons Augustus Canby was the second, being the fourth child. His middle name he took from his mother, whose maiden name was Martha Canby.
The original proprietor of the Shelton estate, in what is now the town of Plymouth, was David Shelton, the grandson of the original Daniel, and the grandfather of Augustus C. His estate lay in what is now called Todd Hollow, and was an extensive one, comprising some three thousand acres. He also owned land in Stamford and Kent.
Joseph Shelton, the father of Augustus, was a merchant and farmer. Augustus' early years were passed on his father's farm, where he acquired those habits of industry which charac- terized him through life. At the usual age he went to Harwin- ton to learn the trade of wheelwright, serving his time there with Lewis Smith. From there he went to New Haven, where he worked three years in the carriage establishment of George Hoadley. He then returned to Plymouth, and in 1837 entered upon the business of carriage making on his own account. For the first three years he worked in a small building now occupied as a dwelling house. At that time the trade was mainly south- ern. In 1855 Mr. Shelton took in Bvron Tuttle. For several years the business was prosperous. For six years all the carri- ages made by the firm, went west.
The southern business was broken up by the war, while the western trade was improved. This continued until 1868, when the business began to wane, and in 1870 the company sold out the Chicago establishment, and the partnership, so far as the business of manufacturing was concerned, was dissolved, the partners still holding the property together. From that time until his death, Mr. Shelton carried on the business in a limited way.
Mr. Shelton was married November 19, 1858, to Ellen A. Crook. His children are: John Canby, born May 14, 1860, died September 13, 1860; Mary Jane, born September 29, 1862 ; Frances Pauline, born June 9, 1865 ; Ellen Augusta, born May 20, 1870 ; Milla Canby, born August 6, 1876.
The immediate occasion of Mr. Shelton's death was a slight wound in the finger, the inflammation of which proved fatal.
PHILIP C. RYAN.
Philip C. Ryan and family came to Terryville about 1845, and was the first Irish family that settled in the town. His brother, Denis Ryan, who came here some time before him, was the first single Irishman to make Plymouth his home. He
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
William B Ells.
Richard Baldwin's Residence, Terryville.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
was engaged on the farm at Town Hill, owned by Mr. Brainard, and was soon after married to Mr. Brainard's daughter, Miss Nora, by whom he had three children, one son and two daugh- ters. Many amusing stories are now told by the older inhab- tants of the town in connection with the first appearance of Mr. Ryan in the place. The name of Denis Ryan is the first name of a foreigner that appears on the town voting list, and both his and Philip C. Ryan's appear often on the old land records. Denis was also the first Irishman buried in the town, and upon his death, Philip C. bought and presented the land, which afterwards became known as the Catholic Cemetery. The old homestead, of which a picture appears here, is situated on the street nearly opposite the old Andrew Fenn place, and in it Father O'Neil of Waterbury held the first Catholic services that were held in the town. Before that Philip C. made many trips on foot to New Haven and back to attend the Catholic Church there, and at other times Philip, Denis and James, who came here soon after the arrival of Denis, all attended the Congrega- tional services here. Upon the death of Philip, which occurred in 1864, in the forty-ninth year of his age, his funeral was attended by the pastor and members of the Congregational Church. The children of Philip C. Ryan are: John D. of Middletown, Conn., Fallah of Brooklyn, N. Y., Mary Ann of Terryville, James F. of New York City, Catherine of Water- bury, Nora of New York City, Delia of New Britain, and Philip C. of Terryville.
MAJOR W. B. ELLS.
Major William B. Ells, who was one of Terryville's best known and respected residents, died May 11, 1893.
He was born in Milford, February 14, 1840, and was the son of Harvey and Julia Ells of that town. When a young man he came to Terryville to live. He entered the Eagle Lock Com- pany's works, and for over thirty-five years he had been a faith- ful worker for that conipany's best interest, as well as the welfare of Terryville. Early in the war he left his work bench in the old " upper" shop to fight for the preservation of the Union. Enlisting May 23, 1861, he became sergeant of Company I, First Connecticut Volunteer Artillery, then the Fourth Connect- icut Infantry. He was promoted to captaincy March 7, 1864, and served through the first Peninsular campaign with distinc- tion. He was transferred to the Nineteenth Connecticut Volun- teers (afterwards the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery), at Alexandria, Va., September 24, 1862.
He was present at the siege of Yorktown and battles of Hanover Court House, Chickahominy, Gaines's Mill, Malvern, Hill and Cold Harbor, where he was promoted to major. He was acknowledged to be the best drill officer and disciplinarian in the whole regiment and was a favorite with Colonel Kellogg, who commanded the regiment at the battle of Cold Harbor, where in June 1, 1864, Major Ells commanded the Third Bat- talion of the regiment and was wounded by a shot in one leg,
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Henry E. Hinman.
Andrew Gaylord's Residence.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
which made him a cripple for many years, and from the effects of which he never recovered.
As he was a brave and true soldier in war, so had he been a good citizen and neighbor in time of peace. He became a mem- ber of the Terryville Congregational Church in 1858, and was one of its most generous and steadfast supporters. For a number of years he was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School, and during the last year of his life, chairman of the Ecclesiastical Society. He was a member of Gilbert W. Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Bristol, and until his disabled leg compelled the cessation of active service, he took part in every public military function of the post. He was an enthusiastic member of the Army and Navy Club and had made plans to at- tend the club's annual dinner when his fatal illness intervened. He was connected with Union Lodge of Masons of Thomaston, Sedgwick Council of American Mechanics and Terry Lodge of United Workmen of this place. For several years Major Ells was superintendent of the Eagle Lock Company. In all matters relating to church, school or town, he felt a deep interest, and his death was a severe blow to all in the village and a loss which was felt by every surviving member of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, be he officer or private.
Major Ells' wife was formerly Miss Julia Goodwin of Terryville, whom he married shortly after the war, and to whom were born three daughters, Hattie, Gertrude and Julia. A brother and two sisters also survive him.
HENRY E. HINMAN.
Henry E. Hinman, the first selectman of Plymouth, was born in Harwinton, August 27, 1836. His place of residence has been divided between here and Harwinton during his life. He is a son of Isaac and Lorinda Hinman, and his mother, who is now eighty-five years of age, resides with him at his residence in East Plymouth. He was elected first selectman last Fall, and has been a member of the board of selectmen three terms. He married Carolina C. Roberts of Burlington, by whom he has three children, Minnie, Irene and Olive L. Hinman.
B. H. SUTLIFFE.
Bennett H. Sutliffe was born in Plymouth, September 16, 1835, and is a direct descendant of John Sutliffe, who came from England and who lived in Branford in 1695, and who came to Waterbury soon after and settled in Plymouth in 1730. By the possession of old deeds it is shown that all the land in the vicinity of Reynold's and Terry's Bridge at one time belonged to the Sutliffes, and known as Sutliffe Hollow. A cane is now in the possession of Mr. Sutliffe which belongs to his son John, and which bears the inscription, " Captain John Sutliffe, 1765." This cane has been handed down for seven generations and now belongs to the seventh John Sutliffe. Bennett Sutliffe spent his
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
Bennett H. Sutliffe
Bennett H. Sutliffe's Residence
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
early life on the farm, afterwards was engaged in the clock shop ; he then moved to New Haven, where he remained about six years. Returning to Plymouth, he again entered the clock shop and built a house on Marine street, which he still owns. His present residence is on a farm of 165 acres, which he bought in 1877, and on which he has lived since that time. The affairs of his farm are conducted on business principles; therefore he is one who makes farming pay. His herd of registered Jerseys is one of the best. He has all the latest machinery in his barn, including a hay-fork, power for cutting feed and devices for watering cattle. On the farm, he has all the latest machines for use in planting and cultivating his crops, also machines for use in haying, from the time the hay is cut till it is in the barn. For grinding grain and sawing, he has built a mill. In politics, he is a staunch Republican, having been with the party since its commencement.
Mr. Sutliffe has great regard for his ancestors, and when the old cemetery was removed in Thomaston, he superintended the removal of all their bodies, eighteen in number, and placed them in a lot in the new cemetery purchased for that purpose. He has, in his possession, land records and lay-outs of land belonging to the Sutliffe family, beginning in 1695, under Sovereign Lord William, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, and down through the kings till the present time.
Mr. Sutliffe is a member of the Congregational Church, and is proud of its history and of the fact that his ancestor, John Sutliffe, was one of its founders seven generations ago.
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