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homestead is on the Pomfret road, just on the edge of Brooklyn village, a delightful spot where many a guest has tasted and enjoyed the abounding hospitality of Mr. Marlor and his accomplished wife.
may
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
JOHN C. COLLINS, NEW HAVEN : Secretary and Treasurer International Christian Workers' Association.
Mr. Collins was born in Albion, N. Y., Septem- ber 19, 1850. He prepared for college at the State Normal school at Brockport, N. Y., graduated at Yale in the class of 1875, and from Yale Theologi- cal Seminary in 1878. He spent two years with his brother in the Sixteenth New York Cavalry, as a sort of " Boy of the regi- ment," in the neighbor- hood of Washington, D. C. This regiment was the one that captured John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lin -. coln. Young Collins was JOHN C. COLLINS. present at the hanging of the four "Lincoln conspirators," as they were called - probably the only person under fifteen 'years of age who saw the conspirators hung - gaining access to the execution on account of his familiar acquaintance with the guard.
After graduating from college Mr. Collins consid- ered several lines of Christian work before reach- ing a decision as to the particular branch to which he ought to devote his energies. He finally decided to undertake mission work in the city of New Haven, in which he at once engaged in the capacity of general superintendent of the Gospel Union, a mission society in New Haven, the members of which were prominent Christian people of different denominations, the Christian work of which con- sisted in holding gospel services in the center of the city, carrying on a Sunday-school, working among prisoners in police courts, doing auxiliary work such as penny savings bank, temperance work, and the like. In 1886, in connection with Col. Geo. R. Clarke of Chicago, Ill., he was privileged to take the initia- tory steps which resulted in the holding for eight days (June, 1886), in Chicago, the first convention of Christian Workers in the United States and Canada. In this year also he was ordained by the Congregationalists to the work of the ministry as an evangelist,- an unusual proceeding, as Congre- gationalists do not as a rule ordain ministers unless they become settled pastors or are going abroad as foreign missionaries. It was to some extent pro- phetic of a new order of things in which the church would recognize the need of ordained ministers among the masses. During the work in New Haven, in one way and another, he gathered in over two thousand children to Sunday-school who had not been habitual attendants, and reduced the number of Protestant non-Sunday-school children
from nearly three thousand to about three hundred. The penny savings bank which the society organ- ized was a pioneer in juvenile savings, and the poor children of New Haven put into the bank about $2,000; and perhaps five thousand more in the larger savings banks, as a direct result of the in- fluence of saving in the small bank. Mr. Collins was appointed secretary of the committee which was formed after the first Christian Workers' con- vention, called the committee for Christian Workers in the United States and Canada. Out of the work of this committee has grown the International Christian Workers' Association, which now numbers nearly eight hundred of the most prominent Chris- tians-at-work from all the different evangelical de- nominations in the United States and Canada, and whose yearly conventions for the consideration of Christian work and methods are considered the most influential religious gatherings of the year. He was continued as secretary and executive of the association, which has been incorporated under the laws of the state of Connecticut. In 1887 the Christian Workers' Association authorized him to organize a work for street boys under their author- ity and subject to such rules as he might think advisable, and in three years the work has extended into four states, being chiefly confined, however, to Massachusetts and Connecticut. It consists, in a word, of opening rooms in the different cities dur- ing the evenings of the colder months of the year, supplied with instructive books and interesting games, to which free access is given to the boys who are accustomed to spend their evenings in the streets. A Christian young man is placed in charge of the room as superintendent. During the day and summer months when the club is not open the superintendent visits the homes of the boys, goes to police court, and watches over those who get into the hands of the police, having their cases continued and doing what he can to help them. He secures employment for them, and in every way acts as a helpful friend. Every superintendent is in constant communication with the secretary, sending him a report every week of the visits made, the boys found in police court, what action has been taken, etc. Mr. Collins's long experience and the "facility " which he has acquired in this kind of work enables him to give important advice to his subordinates, and to aid in the disposition of individual cases thus brought to his attention by the superintendent. The total number of boys brought under the supervision of the work has reached per- haps about thirteen thousand during the less than four years it has been in operation. The Boys' Brigade in Scotland, which has the same object in view, namely, that of saving street boys, has been in operation since 1882, and they have gotten in about eighteen thousand boys of this class. So it
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would seem that this society's plan of work is reaching an even larger number than that of the Scottish philanthropists. The boys have penny savings banks, manual training classes, bath- rooms, and light gymnastics in their club room, as a means of attracting and helping them. A work among the students in colleges has also grown out of the International Christian Workers' Associa- tion, which consists of the appointment of a secre- tary who obtains young men from the colleges and puts them into missions for two months during their summer vacations, in order that they may come into contact with the great needs of humanity and be better fitted to sympathize with the suffer- ings of men when they become ministers later on. Besides this, the association has resulted in the starting of a number of very flourishing missions, and imparting new life to many churches of dif- ferent denominations.
Mr. Collins was married in 1878 to Miss Fannie M. Smith of Brockport, N. Y. They have seven children, five boys and two girls. He is a member of the Church of the Redeemer, New Haven; in politics a prohibitionist. His chief ability is in the line of an executive, and he has thus been intrusted with most of the executive work connected with the International Christian Workers' Association, al- though having done a great deal of public speaking in mission work, and for a number of years made a thorough study of various forms and methods of aggressive Christian effort through Christian, evan- gelical, and mission agencies both in this country and abroad.
GEORGE P. FIELD, TOLLAND : Farmer.
George P. Field is the secretary of the Tolland Grange and a prominent farmer in his section of the county. He has resided in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hamp -. shire, New York and Cali- fornia. He was born at South Hadley, Mass., Dec. 3, 1826, and received a common school education. Most of his life has been spent in mercantile pur- suits and farming. He has held the office of jus- tice of the peace and is a republican. He is a member of the Baptist church and is connected G. P. FIELD. with the F. and A. M. fraternity. His wife was Miss Emily L. Phelps of Simsbury prior to marriage, and is still living. There are also three children living, and one is deceased. While in California Mr. Field was in the militia service of the state.
ALBERT MILLER CARD, SHARON : Attorney- at-Law.
Mr. Card has been engaged in active legal prac- tice since 1866, with offices at Sharon and on Nas- sau street, in New York city. He was born in Ancram, Columbia coun- ty, N. Y., July 21, 1845, and is related to the Hon. Theodore Miller of Co- lumbia county, a judge of the New York court of appeals. He removed to Sharon when quite young and was educated at Sharon high school, Ame- nia seminary, and at East- man's college at Pough- keepsie, N. Y., graduat- ing from the two latter. In 1861, he enlisted for A. M. CARD. the war, and soon thereafter was injured in a Harlem railroad accident while going from Sharon to Amenia, and was obliged to walk on crutches for nine years. In 1865, he married Miss Mary L. Morey, an intelligent and refined lady of English origin, a descendant of the Livingston, Lewis, Ry- der, and Northrop families, who assisted in set- tling Columbia and Dutchess counties, N. Y., and especially the Hudson River valley. They have one son, Clayton M. Card, now twenty-two years of age, and all are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Card was United States District revenue assessor under President Johnson, with head- quarters at Poughkeepsie, a school commissioner of Dutchess county, N. Y., ran for assembly from Dutchess county against Hon. A. A. Brush, now warden of Sing Sing prison. He was elected a dele- gate to the general M. E. Conference of 1888, and with ex-Governor Lounsbury constituted the only two lay delegates to that conference from the state of Connecticut. As a member of the general as- sembly of 1886 he championed the child's labor and other labor bills, and assisted materially in the legislation that resulted in their becoming laws. He is a justice of the peace, commissioner of the superior court of Connecticut, a director and trustee in the Sharon Water Company, president of the fire district of Sharon, is serving his second term as probate judge of the district of Sharon, and is now a member of the general assembly, Speaker Page having appointed him one of the three minor- ity democratic members of the house on the can- vass of votes for governor and other state officers. He is a member of Hamilton Lodge of F. and A. M., belongs to the Harlem Democratic club, the Sagamore club, the Tammany Society of Colum- bian Order of New York city, and is a member of the
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
N. Y. state Bar Association. He is a democrat, and has always taken an active part in politics, speaking for McClellan in the campaign of 1864, and in each successive campaign for the democratic nominees down to and including President Cleve- land in the last campaign of 1888 ; and his portrait and biographical sketch appear in the book en- titled " The Leading Orators of Twenty-five Pres- idential Campaigns," written by Wm. Roberts and published by Strouse & Co. of New York, in 1884.
Mr. Card possesses an intelligent comprehension of legislative duties, has filled all offices with fidel- ity, integrity, ability, and honor, and in a manner satisfactory to his constituents. He makes a valu- able member of the general assembly, is a thor- oughly useful citizen, and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
FRANCIS ALEXANDER MARDEN, STAM- FORD : Attorney-at-Law.
Francis A. Marden is a native of West Wind- ham, New Hampshire, where he was born January 19, 1840, and in which place he spent his early years at the public schools. He was fitted for college at Phillips, Exeter, and Andover Academies, after which he entered Harvard Univer- sity, and was graduated in 1863, taking the degree of M.A. in 1865. He taught school at Stam- ford, Conn., from 1863 to 1864, and studied law at Harvard Law School 1864 to 1865, and in Octo- F. A. MARDEN. ber, 1865, was admitted to the bar in New York city. In 1866 he was married in Stamford to Miss Lillie B. Skiddy, which union has been blessed with four children. Since his marriage he has been a resident of Stamford, practicing his profession in New York city, and latterly, with his family, spending his winters in New York, his resi- dence there being at No. 640 Madison Avenue. A democrat in politics, he has occupied various posi- tions of trust within the gift of his party, such as delegate to state and national conventions, judge of probate for the district of Stamford, burgess of the borough, nine years member of the school committee, and a representative from Stamford in the general assembly for two terms - 1876 and 1878 - when he served on the judiciary and insur- ance committecs. He was commissary-general on the staff of Governor Waller in 1883-84. At col- lege he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and President of the Harvard Society of Natural His-
tory. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, F. and A. M., Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 11, Royal Arch Masons, Washington Council, and Clinton Commandery. Mr. Marden has recently devoted himself almost exclusively to his legal practice, which is very large and of such a character as to demand the most intelligent and careful attention.
CHARLES NORTHEND, NEW BRITAIN : Au- thor and Educator.
Charles Northend was born in Newbury, Mass., April 2, 1814. His preparatory education was under the charge of that accomplished and efficient instructor, N. Cleaveland, Esq., who for about twenty years was princi- pal of Dummer Acad- emy, located in the im- mediate vicinity of Mr. Northend's paternal home. At the age of six- teen Mr. Northend cn- tered Amherst College, where he spent two years, and from which he re- ceived the honorary de- gree of A.M. On leaving college he engaged in CHAS. NORTHEND. teaching, first as assistant at Dummer Academy, and subsequently in Danvers and Salem, Mass. After nearly twenty years of experience in the work of the school-room in these two places, he was called to the superintendency of the schools of the former place, a position he held for three years, when he accepted a position as assistant to the state superintendent of schools of Connecticut. In this situation he spent about eleven years, during which time he had principal charge of the state teachers' institutes, and for nearly ten years the chief editorial charge of the Connecticut Common School Journal. For two successive years he was called to assist in conducting institutes in the state of Maine, working in nine different counties. He has also assisted at institutes in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsyl- vania, and Vermont.
In a historical address on Dummer Academy, printed in 1865, în speaking of Mr. Northend, the author says: "During these busy years he has found time, not only for the editing of an educa- tional journal and the preparing and publishing of several school books, but also to attend about a hundred and fifty teachers' institutes, lasting gen- erally four or five days, and fifty or more of thiem under his direction. For eight years he was super- intendent of schools of New Britain and for twenty years a member of its seliool committee, making in
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all nearly forty-five consecutive years in the work of education.
Mr. Northend was for many years an active member of the two oldest educational associations of our country - the American Institute of Instruc- tion and the Essex County Teachers' Association. Of both of these institutions he was elected presi- dent. His works on education, " The Teacher and Parent" and "The Teachers' Assistant," have passed through several editions, and have had an extensive sale. Of the former the North Ameri- can Review said: " There probably lives not the teacher or parent to whom this book might not furnish suggestions worthy his diligent heed and profound gratitude."
Mr. Northend is a member of the First Congre- gational church of New Britain. Politically he is a republican. Early in life he was married to Miss Lucy A. Moody, who died some years ago. He remains a widower. Two sons have survived the mother.
ABNER S. HART, UNIONVILLE (FARMINGTON): Merchant.
Abner S. Hart was a member of the general assembly in 1887, representing the town of Farm- ington in the house. Mr. Hart cast his first vote for Henry Clay for presi- dent in 1844 and has since been a member of the whig and republican parties. He was born in Barkhamsted, July 15, 1823, and received a thor- ough education, prepar- ing him for the avocation of teaching in the public schools. He pursued that calling for fourteen years, teaching winters and farming through the sum- A. S. HART. mer. In 1866 he estab- lished himself in the drug business at Riverton and became postmaster there in 1869. The latter posi- tion was retained for twelve years. He has held various local offices, including that of acting school visitor for fourteen years and chairman of the board of relief. Since 1881 he has resided at Unionville, where he is engaged in mercantile pursuits. Mr. Hart is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 101, F. and A. M., of Unionville. He is descended from revolutionary stock, both of his grandfathers hav- ing served in the war for independence. He has in his possession a sword that was carried in the ser- vice by one of them. Mr. Hart is a prominent citi- zen of Unionville, and is held in thorough esteem in that community as well as in his old home in Bark- hamsted.
HON. HENRY C. DWIGHT, HARTFORD: Mayor.
Henry C. Dwight was born at Northampton, Mass., January 19, 1841. His father, Henry A. Dwight, was for a number of years at the head of an educational institute at Norfolk, Va., and Hen- ry C. was there with him during 1853 and 1854. Returning north, he en- gaged early in life in the dry goods trade at North- ampton, and was living there at the outbreak of the war. He enlisted in the three-months service, but the Northampton quota being filled, he was not able to go to the front with the first troops from H. C. DWIGHT. the state. He again enlisted in September, 1861, and was instrumental in organizing Company A of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts regiment. Sep- tember 20, 1861, he was appointed Sergeant-Major of the command, and was with it through the Burn- side Expedition in North Carolina. In December, 1861, he was appointed Second Lieutenant of Com- pany H, and April 1, 1862, he was promoted to the First Lieutenancy of Company A. In August of that year he received his captain's commission. Mr. W. P. Derby, in his admirable history of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, speaks in the high- est terms of Captain Dwight. "Fortunately for Company A," he says, " there was one in the regi- ment, by birth and association allied with them, who was a natural leader, of courage and ability, and to him the command fell." Captain Dwight's advancement was won through earnest and valiant services at the front. He remained with his regi- ment in North Carolina until the fall of 1863, when he was assigned to provost duty at Norfolk, where he had passed a couple of years - 1853 and 1854 - as a student under his father's direction and tutorship. He remained there until the spring of 1864, when he accompanied his regiment in the James River campaign under General Butler. March I, 1864, he was appointed recruiting officer of the Twenty- seventh, and under his leadership 343 members re- enlisted. He served with the Twenty-seventh until May 16, 1864, when, under special order from headquarters, Eighteenth Army Corps, he was assigned to staff service as assistant-commissary of subsistence, and remained with the second division of the corps until the close of his term of service, September 28, 1864. Throughout his army career of three years, "Captain Dwight's intelligent, courageous, patriotic service," says Mr. Derby, " with his genial, self-forgetful spirit, inspired uni- versal confidence and regard." He is still one of
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
the regiment's most popular representatives, and is president of the regimental association.
General Dwight removed from Northampton to Hartford in January, 1865, and has since resided here. He engaged in business with E. N. Kellogg & Co., wool dealers, and afterwards with Austin Dunham & Sons. In 1879, with Drayton Hillyer of this city, he organized the firm of H. C. Dwight & Co., at present Dwight, Skinner & Co., conduct- ing an extensive wool trade throughout the West, Southwest, and New England. General Dwight has served in the court of common council from the fourth ward, both as alderman and councilman, several years, and was a member of the board of street commissioners about ten years. He is a director in the American National Bank and the Phoenix Insurance Company, vice-president and trustee of the Mechanics Savings Bank, a member of the south district school committee, and sustains other minor official relations with the institutions of the city. In April, 1890, he was elected mayor of Hartford, the duties of which office he discharges with ability and dignity.«
`Mayor Dwight was one of the charter members of Robert O. Tyler Post, G. A. R., of Hartford, and was commander of the Union Veteran Battalion on Battle-Flag Day, and also on Buckingham Day. As an old soldier and citizen, as well as in his offi- cial capacity, he enjoys the fullest confidence of the public, and is a man whom all delight in honoring.
ALONZO GRANNISS, WATERBURY : Sheet Brass and Steel Worker.
Alonzo Granniss was born in Waterbury, March 27, 1820, and received a public school education. He has followed the avocation of a sheet brass and silver roller at Benedict & Burnham's Manufac- turing Company. He en- tered the employ of the company when twelve years old, and at sixteen was entrusted with the charge of the department. This position he has held since his original appoint- ment, and is a man de- serving in every way of the trust that has been re- posed in him. Mr. Gran- ALONZO GRANNISS. niss is a member of the Episcopal church and a republican in politics. His wife, who was Miss Esther D. Payne before mar- riage, is still living. There is also one son. The only office that Mr. Granniss has held is that of member of the council board of Waterbury for six years.
REV. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, M.A., WES- TON : Rector of Emanuel Parish, Minister in charge of Christ Parish, Redding, and Mission- ary in Fairfield County.
The subject of this sketch is third in descent from Alexander Hamilton of Revolutionary days, and son of General Alexander Hamilton of Tarry- town, New York; and on the maternal side a de- scendant of. Richard Nicoll, the famous English governor of New York. He was born at Setau- ket, Long Island, where he spent his youth until eleven years of age, when, his father owning large estates in Northern New Jersey in the Ramapo Valley, he removed there in 1858-remaining till REV. ALEX. HAMILTON. the close of 1861, when his family became residents of New York city. He was educated at the public school and by tutors; took a special course in the General Theo- logical Seminary of New York; and in 1870 was ordained by Bishop Potter. Having a special apti- tude for missionary work, he became engaged in such effort successively at Armonck, Newcastle, and Pleasantville, and at Lewisboro, Westchester county, New York.
Resigning the work at Lewisboro, he purchased, in 1884, the historical Smith residence on Newtown avenue, Norwalk, Conn. While residing there, he prosecuted missionary work; and, taking a deep in- terest in the cause of education, was elected a member of the school board annually. In Iss9 the rectorship of Emanuel Parish became vacant, and a call therefrom being extended to Mr. Hamilton, he moved to the rectory, and is now rector of that parish and missionary of two of the oldest parishes in Connecticut,- that at Redding being organized in 1727, and at Weston in 1744. Belonging to these churches are many old and valuable books and an ancient communion set; at Redding a Bible and prayer book, bound in one cover, under date 1;26; while the communion set dates from 1735. Again elected as school visitor and committee in Weston, he renders valuable and appreciated service. He inherits the financial ability of Hamilton, and pos- sesses the kcenness and aptitude of one who has trained himself in the practical duties of life. He is fully alive to the responsibility that rests upon him, and earnestly desires and endeavors to ad- vance by personal effort every good cause. Blessed with robust health, he is enabled to perform labori- ous work without fatigue; on Sunday holding three services and two Sunday-schools, preaching three
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sermons, and driving seventeen miles. These, with calls upon the sick, fill up each of the fifty- two Sundays of every year. Taking an interest in local improvements, he aids all enterprises for pro- moting the welfare of the community in which he lives. In politics he is a republican, though recog- nizing the principle of equal rights among all men in the exercise of the elective franchise. Mr. Ham- ilton has traveled throughout the British Isles and on the Continent, where he was received with con- sideration, preaching in the American churches there, and attending many public receptions. In 1872 he married Miss Adele Walton, daughter of William W. Livermore, banker, of New York city, and a grand-niece of Charles Floyd, a signer of the declaration of independence. He has four children living, the youngest a son. He is a member of the Cincinnati Society, Sons of the Revolution, Sons of Veterans, and the Historical Society of West- chester County, New York. He is also a frequent contributor of articles to the press.
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