USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
shorter sketch of the town's history for the Memo- rial History of Hartford County, In politics, a democrat, he was, in 1874, appointed deputy-regis- trar for East Hartford, and was, in October of that year, chosen town clerk. He has since been annu- ally re-elected to that office, often by the cordial as- sent and nomination of both the leading political parties. Chosen a member of the board of school visitors in 1876, he was for a number of years its chairman, - has been acting visitor since 1877, and is secretary and auditor of the board. To his active interest in schools is mainly due the establishment of the high school in East Hartford. In 1878 he was chosen representative by an unusual majority.
Besides the settlement of numerous estates, many minor offices and trusts have been committed to Mr. Goodwin's care. Associated with the Raymond Library Company as one of the original trustees, he is at present one of its directors and its secretary. As town clerk and notary public, Mr. Good- win has been brought into close intimacy with the public and private business interests of East Hartford. He was married, October 26, 1876, to Hattie J., daughter of Ralph G. Spencer, whose ancestors were among the first settlers of the colony of Connecticut. They have three children. He attends the First Congregational church.
B. G. NORTHROP, LL.D., CLINTON : Clergy- man, Educator, Author, Lecturer.
Dr. Northrop, the apostle of " Village Improve- ment," whose name will ever be associated in this land with that important work, is a native of Litchfield county, a section of Connecticut which has been prolific in great men. He was born in the town of Kent, July 18, 1817. Born and bred on a farm, he has carried through his whole life a keen ap- preciation of the privi- leges and privations of the farmer's lot. Early in life he experienced dif- ficulties in acquiring a collegiate education, B. G. NORTHROP. which inspired him with the lofty resolve of mak- ing the public schools in Connecticut free to all. In his youth he manifested a fondness for trees and tree-planting, which has grown with his growth, till he has become their foremost advocate. His life, both in Yale College and the Yale Theological Seminary, was characterized by the same faithful energy which enabled him to surmount all difficul- ties in preparing for college. Before and after
-----
I33
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
graduating he taught, in all, two years. During his ten years' pastorate of a Congregational church in Framingham, Mass., his intelligent and efficient interest in the schools of his town soon attracted attention, and introduced him to a wider sphere of usefulness. For nearly eleven years he was agent of the Massachusetts board of education, when his services were required by his native state, and he was made secretary of the Connecticut board of education. This responsible position he held for sixteen years, during which, in the face of an op- position which would have daunted any less deter- mined advocate, he was the leading agent in mak- ing the schools of Connecticut by law free to all. This period of over twenty-six years' service in state supervision of schools is believed to be longer than the similar service of any other person in this coun- try. In 1867 the Massachusetts board of education expressed " much regret at his resignation of the office he has filled with great ability and accept- ance, and their high appreciation of his fidelity and devotion to his duties, and the good he has accom- plished for the schools of Massachusetts." Simi- larly, the report of the Connecticut board of edu- cation, issued in January, 1883, contains a very complimentary review of his labors during the six- teen years of his administration, " which produced lasting and important results of great benefit to the entire state."
The nation is especially indebted to Dr. North- rop for what is known as " Arbor Day in schools," an idea suggested by him eight years ago, and since then so efficiently urged and supported by him that thirty-eight states have adopted the day. The number of trees planted by school children under the stimulus of Arbor-day observance in these different states, within the period included, already reaches into the millions -a result whose present and prospective importance and value can hardly be estimated. He has given a great deal of voluntary, unpaid labor to the general cause of village improvement in the past sixteen years, and villages on both sides of the Connecticut river, and beyond the borders of New England, across the continent and in California, eloquently attest his success in interesting not only the boys and girls in the schools, but also the grown folks, in the good work of making the home and the town beautiful.
Dr. Northrop has twice visited Europe, and has found time, in his busy life, to write a number of valuable and timely books and pamphlets. He has lectured widely over the country, on the lyceum platform, in normal schools, academies, colleges, and educational conventions, including a course of twelve lectures before the Lowell Institute of Bos- ton, and two courses before the Peabody Institute of Baltimore. His tall, commanding figure, earnest,
nervous manner, readiness of apt illustration, suit- ing specific advice to special needs, forces home his views far more vividly than is possible to the printed page.
Dr. Northrop was married early in life to Miss Harriette E. Chichester, and they have two child- ren. His political affiliations are with the repub- lican party.
CAPTAIN LEVI FRISBE SCOTT, BETHLEHEM: Farmer.
Levi F. Scott was born in Bethlehem, Conn., Nov. 1I, ISI8. He had only a common school edu- cation; has always been a farmer, and always lived, and now lives, on the same farm on which his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather lived. He had, in his youth, only limited means; but by his energy and perseverance, he has worked himself up to the top of a farmer's calling. At the age of eighteen he was enrolled in an infantry company in his own town, was chosen corporal, and went up, step by step, to be L. F. SCOTT. captain of the company, which office he held for several years. He had the best drilled company in his regiment, and, at a meeting of the officers, he was chosen colonel, but declined the office. He was, however, strongly urged by his superior officers to accept, as he owed the honor to the regi- ment and the regiment owed the same to him, but he still declined.
At the age of twenty-one he joined the Congre- gational society, and has been a faithful worker in it over fifty years, and has held many of its offices of trust. Soon after joining the society he also united with the church, and has always maintained an exemplary Christian life. On Nov. 11, 1850, he married Miss Emiline Young, a near relative of the late Governor Young of New York. Mrs. Scott died Jan. 21, IS90, deeply mourned by all who knew her. She left one son and one daughter, both of whom are still living. In ISSo Mr. Scott was invited by Secretary T. S. Gold to deliver a lecture on " Farm Life " before the state board of agricul- ture, held at Newtown. He gave another lecture before the same board in ISS3, held at Waterbury. He has also delivered lectures upon different sub- jects in all the towns around him, and in some of them he has appeared several times; his knowledge, wit, and sound logic drawing a full house. He has also written for different agricultural papers all over the country. His treatment of his theme has
I34
AN ILLUSTRATED POPULAR
always been reasonable and persuasive, taken from experience and observation. He has spoken before farmers' clubs and granges many times, but never till 1891 did he unite with the grange, when one was formed in his own town. Previous to this he had been president of a farmers' club. He has held offices of honor and trust in the town of which he has always been a citizen, and has been a lead- ing temperance advocate in Bethlehem, and several places where liquor was sold were broken up through his influence and writings. He was direc- tor in a fire insurance company fifteen years.
BARNEY BARZILLAI GIBBS, BLOOMFIELD: Pastor Baptist Church.
The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 13, 1822. Early in the seventeenth century three brothers Gibbs, from Scotland on the English border, set- tled on Long Island, N. Y. The son of one of them, Samuel Gibbs, moved into New Jersey about 1750. Leaving there, he settled in Genoa, Cayuga County, now Lansing in Tompkins County, N. Y., on a farm four miles north of the present beautiful city of Ithaca. Mr.Gibbs'father lived on that farm sixty- B. B. GIBBS. six years. He dicd there March 5, 1857. The maternal grandparents, Oliver Bigelow and Esther Harding, born in Colchester, Conn., in 1759, be- longed to most worthy and patriotic families, well known in the early history of the commonwealth of Connecticut. Having finished a course of aca- demic study, Oliver Bigelow enlisted as a soldier in the army of the revolution. After the war he graduated from a medical course. For a short time he practiced medicine in Goshen, N. Y., to which place the Hardings and others went, in con- sequence of the desolation of the Wyoming Valley, where they had settled before the war. They afterward left Goshen and returned to the valley. At the time of the memorable " Wyoming Massa- cre " in 1778, when the fort was about to fall into the hands of Indians, two brothers of Esther Hard- ing were slain. The lead in the fort was buried. Esther, then eighteen years old, assisted by a colored girl, took the powder in a leather sack to the river and sunk it. Though seen by the savages, they reached the fort in safety. For six months Esther was a captive among the Indians. Dr. Oliver Bigelow and Esther Harding were married in 1786. To them were born five daughters and
one son. The eldest of these, Nancy, married Gerritt Goodwin Gibbs (son of Samuel above men- tioned). They had four sons and four daughters. Of these children, Barney Barzillai, the subject of this notice, was the fifth, and the third son. As to health, he was never strong. His grandmother Bigelow used to tell him that God had spared his life in answer to her prayer, and that he would have to preach. His eldest sister was the special instrument, through grace, in awakening him to a sense of his need of God's mercy. While in his academic course he professed faith in Christ. Dr. John S. Maginis, president of " The Hamilton Lit- erary and Theological Institution," baptized him into the fellowship of the Baptist church of Hamil- ton, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1839. His father designed him for the legal profession; but he chose the min- istry of the gospel. Graduating from " Madison," now "Colgate University," in 1846, and from the Theological Seminary in 1848, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at Ithaca, N. Y., a few weeks after. He went south that fall, into the Mississippi Valley. He spent a few months in Southwest Louisiana, in the " Attackapa Country," seeing slavery there on the sugar planta- tions, in, perhaps, its severest forms. The next year was spent in middle Mississippi, preaching to three churches, and to several congregations of slaves, in the four counties of Yazoo, Warren, Hinds, and Madison. He rode 3,000 miles on horseback and 2,000 by steam that year. In 1851 he took the pastorate of the Wall Street Baptist Church in Natchez, Miss. He was married that year to Miss Eliza E. Poyer of North Norwich, N. Y. His labors in Natchez were greatly prospered. Beginning with a new church of eighteen members, he left it, after three years and six months, with one hundred and seventy-seven communicants. The sickness of his wife called him north. In a few weeks she passed away. He did not return south, but supplied various pulpits and labored as evangelist. In 1855 he became pastor of the Bap- tist church in Geneva, N. Y. In 1857 he was married to the daughter of Colonel Samuel Hart- well of Chenago County, N. Y. He has three sons. Dr. Charles B., of New York, Herbert H., attorney and counsellor in the city of New York, and Clesson F. Gibbs, D.D.S., of Bridgeport, Conn.
Mr. Gibbs has said: "Had I given myself especially to evangelistic work I should have ac- complished more." Possibly, yet his pastorates have been successful. The condition at Geneva was low, house sadly out of repair, and congrega- tion small. But stimulus came; the attendance in- creased, and additions gave strength and courage. The work with the church in Jordan, N. Y., was one of correction and earnest labor to lead the membership to deeper spirituality. Returning to
I35
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
Geneva, in a second pastorate there he succeeded in inspiring the people with a better apprehension of Christian life and to higher motives in gospel work. Prosperity followed, and the impulse then given lingers there to this day.
In 1865 his mother (widowed and alone) urged him to come home. He thought change for a time would be advantageous. He went; but the cares of the farm and the wear and tear of much travel in supplying neighboring churches caused him to accept, after two years, the pastorate of the church at Union Springs, N. Y. Four years of ordinary prosperity were had there. He went to Spencer, N. Y., in 1871 - a country field, ten miles across it, with many outposts for service. Additions strengthened the church; expensive repairs greatly improved the house; but the pastor's health failed. He was called to New York city, where he worked with varying success nearly five years. He suffered much there from malaria. Going to Catskill on the Hudson, his health began immediately to improve. Five years there, beginning with conditions of dis- order and discouragement, were favored with much success. Two years were spent in Wales, Mass., with the Baptist church.
Mr. Gibbs considers that the gospel supplies the true grounds of culture and advancement for all people. His six years in the south were a most in- teresting and valuable experience. They supplied him with more intelligent thought on the great national issues of the day; assured him of the need of sounder ethical principles in our civil govern- ment; showed him that the people, north and south, should have more intimate acquaintance in social, political, and commercial matters; that such acquaintance would check the growing strife, and modify the bitterness of discussion. The late Jef- ferson Davis was then rising to the acme of south- ern popularity. In the senate chamber of Mis- sissippi, he heard Mr. Davis in his famous and eloqent eulogy of Calhoun, and felt that a crisis was near at hand. But his southern life supplied him neither with feeling nor argument for slavery. As a gospel minister he had to do with the highest interests of both master and slave. He has, there- fore, always held it both as privilege and duty to notice the fact that he was never hindered, but often encouraged, in his labors for the slave; and he felt himself respected and trusted by the south- ern people. Ten miles from Jackson, the state capitol, in the little town of Raymond, rumor said one morning that a slave had been killed. Mr. Gibbs was assisting the pastor there as evangelist. The excitement called a meeting of planters, at once, over which he presided as chairman. He, with a committee of planters, investigated the case, and reported the next day that the slave had been cruelly beaten with a hand-saw, but that he
would recover. The meeting censured the master, and required of him a promise of humane treat- ment for the future.
Mr. Gibbs has given forty-three years to his chosen work -the highest of earthly callings. Loyalty to truth has marked his course. He is now in Bloomfield, Conn. His work there will appear more fully in the future. Extreme conservatism is tenacious, and also persistent; not to be changed in a day. Connecticut was the home of some of his ancestors. The interests of the state and peo- ple he cherishes with special regard, confiding in the appointed instrumentalities of truth. Another says, " The garment of praise must be the out- growth of the inner life;" and it is wise to remember that --
"Across the fields of toil there fall
The notes of yonder sunset bell."
HON. WASHINGTON F. WILLCOX, CHESTER: Congressman, Second District.
Washington F. Willcox was born in Killingworth August 22, 1834. He remained at home with his father, who was a farmer, until sixteen years of age. He attended the common district schools, and subsequently a select school conducted by Rev. Mr. Bell, pastor of the Congregational church of Killingworth, from whom he also received private instruction for several years in the higher Eng- lish branches and in Latin. Subsequently he entered the Hopkins Grammar School at New Haven, where he prepared W. F. WILLCOX. for college, but entered the Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1861. The same year he" was admitted to the bar in Middlesex county, and opened a law office in Deep River, where he has since continued the practice of law. During the years 1862 and 1863 he represented his native town in the lower house of the legislature; was elected to the state senate in 1875-6, serving as chairman of the judiciary committee during two terms. In IS75 he was appointed state attorney for Middlesex county, which office he held for eight years. He was elected to the fifty-first congress as a democrat, receiving 24,959 votes, against 24, 161 for the repub- lican candidate and 1, 165 scattering.
Mr. Willcox was married January 1, 1868. to Salome C. Denison, who is now living, a daughter of the late Judge Socrates Denison of Chester. They have four children, the issue of their said marriage, two daughters and two sons.
I36
AN ILLUSTRATED POPULAR
FREEMAN M. BROWN, HARTFORD.
Mr. Brown comes of revolutionary stock, his maternal grandfather having enlisted from Rhode Island and served through the war as a private. He was born in the town of Union, February 26, 1817, but soon afterwards his father removed with his family to the neigh- boring town of Stafford, where his boyhood was chiefly spent upon the farm. He attended the district schools until he be- came fifteen years of age, when he entered a store at Southbridge, Mass., as F. M. BROWN. clerk and learned the business which he follow- ed through much of his later life. He commenced mercantile business for himself in Stafford in 1838, and while there held the office of deputy sheriff for Tolland county. In 1845 associated with Dwight Slate (now of Hartford) under the firm name of Slate & Brown, he removed to Windsor Locks and was engaged in mercantile pursuits and the manu- facture of general machinery, putting up a build- ing therefor, which was the first movement in the growth of that village. This firm made the first one thousand pistol barrels and cylinders for Colt's revolvers, which were ordered by the United States government before Colonel Colt had any facilities whatever for the manufacture of fire arms. During his residence at Windsor Locks, covering a period of nearly twenty-five years, he was largely engaged in building, completing more private residences and tenement-houses than any other single individual in the place. While at the Locks, he was also a part owner in and agent for a woolen manufactur- ing establishment known as the Sequassen Woolen Company, located at Windsor. He held the office of postmaster there for several years, was also selectman, town clerk, a member of the board of education, and represented the town of Windsor in the legislature during the sessions of 1847 and 1853, and Windsor Locks in 1864 and 1868. He afterwards removed to Hartford, and since his residence in this city has been deputy internal revenue collector for four years and selectman during one year. He also acted as census enum- erator in 1890. His business connections are now with the Beach Manufacturing Company of Hart- ford. Major Brown has been for twenty years a member of the Putnam Phalanx, and was for nearly eight years major of the command. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, and was grand master of the grand lodge of Connecticut in 1855-56. He is a member
of the First Universalist society of Hartford; in politics he is a democrat. The major is living with his second wife and has three surviving children, two by his first wife and one by the second. He has traveled very extensively in all parts of the country and for twenty-five years was among the farmers of the west and northwest, buying wool. His life has been one of great activity and usefulness, and he has performed his share of public service, always discharging with fidelity and a good con- science the trusts that have been committed to his charge.
ANDREW YALE BEACH, SEYMOUR: Merchant.
Andrew Y. Beach was born in Derby, Conn., in that part of the town which is now Seymour, Oc- tober 27, 1836. His father is Sharon Y. Beach of the same town, and his mother's maiden name was Adeline Sperry. Mr. Beach lived at Seymour until he was 20 years old, attending the public schools in his native town, and being for a while a student at the West Rock Seminary at New Haven, Previous to leaving home he was employed in his father's paper mill at Sey- A. Y. BEACH. mour. In 1856 he went to Springfield, Mass., and was clerk in the freight office of the Hartford & New Haven Railroad Company, which position he held for nearly two years, resigning to accept the agency of the Naugatuck Railroad at Naugatuck. Later Mr. Beach was appointed agent for the same road at Seymour, holding that position till 1867, when he was appointed general ticket agent of the road, with headquarters at Bridgeport. He held this position five years, making thirteen years in the employ of the Naugatuck Railroad Company. Mr. Beach resigned his position with the Nauga- tuck Railroad and removed to Springfield, Mass., in 1872, to become agent of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, having entire charge of the company's business in Springfield, excepting the ticket department. This position he held until June, 1887, when, owing to a much-needed rest, he resigned and removed to Seymour, where, after a few months of rest, he engaged in the coal and grocery business, in which occupation he is still engaged.
Mr. Beach's political record has always been that of a republican. He was a member of the Spring- field board of aldermen in 1884, 1885, and 1886, the latter year being honored with the presidency of the board. During the years in Springfield he made
137
BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
his church home with the State street Baptist people, by whom he was highly esteemed, and was frequently called on to assist in mission work in different parts of the city. He is a director of the S. Y. Beach Paper Company of Seymour, holding one-fifth of the stock.
Mr. Beach has been twice married. His first wife was Mary C. Woodford, daughter of B. B. Wood- ford, formerly of Winsted. This union was blessed with one daughter, who is now married and resides in Seymour. His present wife's maiden name was Alice M. Hilton, also born in Seymour, where they now reside.
BENEZET H. BILL, ROCKVILLE: Attorney-at- Law.
Benezet Hough Bill, who has held the office of state's attorney in Tolland County since 1869, was born at New Milford, Penn., Feb. 26, 1829, and was educated in the Suffield Literary Insti- tute, the academies at Worcester and Wilbra- ham, and in the Yale Law School at New Haven, graduating from the latter institution in 1854. Prior to engaging in his profes- sion at Rockville, Mr. Bill resided in Lebanon. He has held a number of town offices and is a use- ful and valued citizen. In politics he is a re- B. H. BIL.L. publican. He is connected with the Union Con- gregational society at Rockville. Mr. Bill eom- menced his professional practice in Rockville when quite a young man, and was for many years a partner with Judge Dwight Loomis of the Superior Court. He established, in a very brief period, not only a remunerative busi- ness, but a most excellent reputation as a citizen. He proved himself to be an honorable and public-spirited gentleman, as well as an able attorney, and his townsmen were not slow to recognize his abilities and signify the confidence which they have ever since continued to repose in him. He has for many years occupied a leading position among the lawyers of Rockville, and in- deed of all Tolland county; and no citizen of his section has won more honorable distinction in all the walks of public or private life. He is now, and has been for many years, president of the Rock- ville Savings Bank, one of the old and prosperous institutions of that city.
Mr. Bill has twice married, his first wife being Miss Kate Griggs, daughter of Rev. Dr. Griggs of Bristol. The second wife, who is living, was Miss
Lucinda R., daughter of Mr. Charles Bronson of Waterbury, before her marriage with Mr. Bill. One daughter, Lelia L., married Mr. Charles Phelps of Rockville, but is now deceased. The remaining daughter, Kate E., is the wife of Dr. Thomas F. Rockwell of Rockville.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.