USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 56
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EDWIN E. MARVIN, HARTFORD: Clerk United States Circuit and District Courts.
Edwin E. Marvin was born in Tolland, October 8, 1833, and was educated in the schools in Tolland and at Suffield. His profession is that of a lawyer. He enlisted in the Fifth regiment, Connecticut volunteers, and was cap- tain of Company F in that regiment, which was the first company from Tolland county in the war of the rebellion which repulsed a rebel charge and captured rebel pris- oners. He served during the campaigns of 1861 and 1862, and resigned for disability and came home early in 1863. He after- E. E. MARVIN. wards wrote the history of the regiment, which was highly appreciated by its members. He has at various times resided in Tolland, Colchester, Rockville, and Hartford, engaged in the practice of the law. He was for many years the secretary of the Tolland County Agricultural Society, has bcen grand juror, justice of the peace, and United States commissioner. He is now clerk of the United States Circuit and District courts for Con- necticut, United States commissioner, and Extradi- tion commissioner for the state, occupying those positions with a great deal of ability, hearing many of the criminal cases coming before the United States courts in this state upon the preliminary hearing, and acting as Examiner and Master in Chancery in the majority of civil cases. He is a dignified gentleman, of fine personal appearance, and has a host of friends. He has always been a democrat in politics. He says he is devoted to all churches, alike, which make it their business to teach virtue and rebuke wrong ; and is a regular attendant at Trinity church in Hartford. His wife was Cynthia Waldo, daughter of the late Judge Waldo. They have one son.
WILLIAM JESUP JENNINGS, REDDING: Pas- tor Congregational Church.
William J. Jennings was born at New Canaan, Conn., April 7, 1822. His father was a farmer of limited means, and soon after the birth of his son removed to his native place, Green's Farms, now a parish in the town of Westport. There the sub- ject of this sketch spent his early life, helping his father when old enough during summer on the farm. He prepared for college at the Green's Farms academy under the tuition of that emi- nent instructor, Mr. Eben- ezer B. Adams. He was W. J. JENNINGS. graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1843. The next two years were spent in teaching in the academy at Miller's Place, L. I. In 1848 he was graduated from Yale Divinity school. In August, 1849, he commenced preaching in the new Congregational church at Black Rock, Conn. The church was soon formed, and April 10, 1850, he was ordained its pastor. It being deemed expedient that he should remove from such close proximity to the sea, he was dismissed October 6, 1857, and immediately went to Seneca Falls, N. Y., and was installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in that village December 1, 1857. In May, 1862, having been released from his pastoral office he commenced ministerial labors with the Congrega- tional church in North Coventry, Conn., of which he was installed pastor September 3, 1862. Novem- ber 5. 1879, he was dismissed and at once removed to Redding, Conn., and was installed pastor of its Congregational church December 17, 1879, and still occupies that office.
March 26, 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Miranda Dimon Greene of Miller's Place, L. I .. who was graduated at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary in 1848. She is still the light and joy of his home. Of their eight children five are still liv- ing. Of these the three sons were graduated at Yale College, two of them in the academic depart- ment, and the other in the Sheffield Scientific school. The oldest, John J., is a lawyer in Bristol, Conn., one is the principal of the large Union school in Huntington, L. I., and the other is con- nected with the United States Geological Survey, and has his residence in Washington, D. C. One of the daughters is a graduate of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and one passed two years in that institution.
While he was at Seneca Falls, N. Y., he was one of the commissioners of Auburn Theological Semi-
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nary. For several years he was one of the trustees of the Hartford Theological Seminary. He was acting school visitor in the town of Coventry seven- teen years, and has occupied the same position in Redding ten years. He is now one of the directors of the Missionary Society of Connecticut and one of the trustees of the Fund for Ministers.
EDWARD F. JONES, BRANFORD: Secretary and Treasurer of the Branford Lock Works.
Edward F. Jones was born in New Jersey in 1821, and resided in New York city from 1844 to 1868, where for fifteen years he was connected with one of the largest jobbing or wholesale boot and shoe houses in the city, ---- removing thence to Bran- ford, of which town he has since been continuously a resident. He was chosen by the republicans to represent the town in the general assembly of the state in 1878, when he was appointed and served on the committee on in- E. F. JONES. surance and on special railroad committee, en- joying the distinction of being the first republican representative ever elected in Branford. In 1878 and also in 1880, he was a delegate to the republican state conventions, and he has been frequently on the republican state central committee from his district. He was on the electoral ticket at the last presiden- tial election. In 1880 he was chosen state senator from the sixth district, occupying the seat during the sessions of 1881 and 1882, and serving as chair- man of the school fund and contested elections com- mittees. He has held from time to time the local offices of auditor and member of the board of re- lief of Branford. He has been one of the New Haven County auditors, and was one of the incor- porators of the Guilford Savings Bank, as well as a trustee of that institution. Mr. Jones has been long and actively in politics, and a leader among the republicans of the state. He is a member of the Republican League Club of New Haven. His legislative career has been highly creditable, and has won for him the hearty esteem and approval of his associates and constituents.
Mr. Jones's business connections are with the Branford Lock Works, of which he is secretary and treasurer, having held the former position for more than twenty years. This company represents the most important industry of Branford, its works being quite extensive and giving employment to a large number of operatives.
CHARLES E. BRAYTON, STONINGTON: Physi- cian and Surgeon.
Charles Erskine Brayton was born in Stonington, February 11, 1851, and was educated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city. The most of his life has been spent at Stonington, where he has engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery since 1873. In 188I he founded the drug firm of Dr. C. E. Brayton & Co. He is connected with a number of socie- ties, including the Royal Arcanum, in which he holds the position of medi- cal examiner, the Knights of Columbus, and the Royal Society of Good C. E. BRAYTON. Fellows. He has been a member of the board of burgesses and the health committee of the borough since 1885. Dr. Brayton is a democrat in -politics, and a member of the Second Congregational church. He is unmarried.
JOHN B. LEWIS, M.D., HARTFORD : Surgeon and Adjuster Travelers Insurance Company.
John B. Lewis, M.D., whose personal record in the military service of the government throughout the late war of the rebellion is one of distinguished honor and efficiency, comes of patriotic and soldierly stock. His father (John) was a teacher at West Point, his grand- father (Benjamin) a soldier in the war of 1812-14, and his great-grandfather (Eleazur) a soldier in the war of the revolution. John B. Lewis was born in Suffolk County, N. Y., March 10, 1832. He was educated J. B. LEWIS. at Powellton Seminary, at Newburg, N. Y., and afterward pursued his professional studies in New York city at the University Medical College, where he was graduated March 10, 1853, on his twenty-first birthday. Shortly thereafter he located in Vernon, Conn., having formed a busi- ness partnership with Dr. Alden Skinner, and here for several years he had a full share of that labo- rious practice of medicine and surgery which falls to the lot of a country doctor.
At the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, and when the president's call for volunteers occasioned
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the organization of Connecticut troops, he was offered a surgeonry by Governor Buckingham, and later he accepted an appointment as surgeon of the Fifth Connecticut Infantry, with rank from date of commission, July 3, 1861. He at once reported for duty with his regiment, which was then in camp at Hartford, and with the regiment left for the seat of war. The next spring he was commissioned by the president, brigade surgeon U. S. V., and ordered to report to Major-General Banks, department of the Shenandoah, and was assigned to the second brig- ade, Shields' division. Soon afterward he was promoted to be medical director of the division, and remained in service in that capacity up to the time when the division was incorporated with General McClellan's army at Harrison's Landing, when he was assigned to temporary duty. The invasion of Maryland by General Lee occurred soon afterward, and, September 15, 1862, while in charge of a field hospital, he received orders to proceed without delay to the headquarters of General Mcclellan and report to Surgeon Letterman, where, during Sep- tember 17th and 18th, he was on duty at the battle of Antietam.
This terminated his field service. A few days later he was assigned as surgeon in charge of United States general hospital No. 6, at Frederick, Md., and was in charge of this hospital until its discon- tinuance in February following. By command of Major-General Schenck, middle department, Feb- ruary 18, 1863, he was assigned surgeon in charge of U. S. general hospital at Cumberland, Md., upon which duty he remained until after the close of the war. While in charge of this hospital he also served a while as medical director of the de- partment of West Virginia, and in such official position, in company with Major-General Crook commanding, visited and inspected the military posts and hospitals within the department.
In his field service Doctor Lewis was present in thirteen skirmishes and battles, and during the same period was many times in charge of field hospitals. He was subsequently commissioned brevet lieutenant-colonel United States volunteers. He was retained in service after the close of the war, in order that he might have charge of the sale of the large property belonging to the government which had been used for hospital purposes at Cum- berland; and when he had completed these duties he forwarded a written request to be mustered out " at the earliest date consistent with the interests of the service." By special orders from the War Department October 7, 1865, he was "honorably discharged out of the service of the United States."
In the latter part of 1865 he returned to Rock- ville, Conn., and resumed the general practice of his profession, remaining there about three years, when he removed to Hartford with his family, and
soon afterward went to Europe. On his return in 1869, he entered the service of The Travelers In- surance Company of Hartford, as medical director for that company and in charge of its claims de- partment. His time has ever since been occupied with the duties of that position to such an extent that he has wholly withdrawn from the general practice of his profession.
Doctor Lewis was married, in 1855, to Miss Mary K. Mann, daughter of Hon. J. N. E. Mann of Ded- ham, Mass. They have three children, a son and two daughters. The former, Dr. William J. Lewis, is also connected with the Travelers Insurance Company as its consulting surgeon.
LEWIS A. CORBIN, ROCKVILLE: Contractor and Builder.
Lewis A. Corbin was born in Dudley, Mass., September 18, 1822, where the first eighteen years of his life were spent as a poor boy, managing a part of the time to get a few months' training each year in the district school. At eighteen years of age he struck out into the world for work, "going west " as far as New York state, and meeting no suc- cess until he encountered a job in Warrensburgh at nine dollars per month for sixteen hours' work per day. He relinquished this munificent contract after a single winter, to L. A. CORBIN. undertake an apprenticeship at the stone cutter's trade in Cranston, R. I. In due time he became master of this trade, and returned to his native town to practice it in connection with building operations. In the fall of 1846 he went to Rock- ville, in this state, where he found employment on the Rock mill. Subsequently he became a master builder, and successively crected the American, the New England, the Leeds, and the Hockanum mills in Rockville, and the Windermere in Ellington. In IS51 he went to California, but after two years re- turned to Rockville, and soon afterwards associated himself with Cyrus White, first in the perfection of an envelope machine, and afterwards in the manufacture of envelopes, under the firm name of White & Corbin, afterwards incorporated as " The White, Corbin & Co.," of whose stock he is a one- third owner.
Mr. Corbin has held the offices of first selectman and assessor of the town of Vernon, is a member of the Methodist church in Rockville, and in poli- ties is classed as a " temperance republican." He
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married Miss Mary H. Upham, who, with their three children, is still living. He is a man of eco- nomical habits, in a lifelong practice of which he has risen from a penniless boy to a man of large and increasing fortune.
WATSON GIBBONS, HARTLAND : A Retired Farmer and Merchant.
Watson Gibbons of East Hartland was born in Granville, Mass., February 18, 1812, and received a common school education. He has held the offices of judge of pro- bate, selectman, town clerk and treasurer, and is a republican in politics. In 1881 he was a member of the general assembly. He is a member of the Congregational church, and of St. Mark's Lodge, F. and A. M. Mr. Gib- bons has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth C. Par- WATSON GIBBONS. sons, daughter of Oliver Parsons of Granville. The maiden name of his present wife was Almira H. Colton, of Granby. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Gibbons she was the widow of Darius Emmons of Hartland. There are no children in the family. The subject of this sketch has de- voted nearly fifty-five years of his life to mercan- tile pursuits.
REV. CHARLES NELSON NICHOLS, AN- DOVER: Baptist Clergyman.
Rev. C. N. Nichols was born in Trumbull, this state, August 15, 1832. He received his education in the common schools, and at a select school in Bridgeport. After engag- ing in mercantile and me- chanical pursuits, he en- tered upon the work of the gospel ministry in con- nection with the Baptist denomination, May, 1858. He was ordained in New Hartford, September, 1862. He has held pas- torates in New Hartford, Cromwell, Old Lyme, Colchester, Tariffville, C. N. NICHOLS. and other places in this state; and on Martha's Vineyard and at Chatham, Mass. His present field of labor is Andover, Conn. He has been suc- cessful in his calling; precious revivals have fol-
lowed his labors; and he is still preaching faith- fully the same old gospel. Nearly all of his life thus far has been spent in this state, which he ar- dently loves. He is also well known as an earnest and zealous temperance advocate, and a frequent contributor to the temperance and religious press. In politics Mr. Nichols is a strong prohibitionist. He served as postmaster for a time during the present administration of President Harrison. In January, 1868, he was married to Miss Sarah A. Dibble of Old Lyme. She is still living. They have had no children.
Mr. Nichols has a wide circle of acquaintances and friends throughout the state, and is highly re- spected and esteemed, and prizes very much the love and companionship of those among whom he has so long lived and labored. Mr. Nichols is one of the oldest Baptist pastors in this state, so far as it relates to ministerial service in Connecticut.
HON. ROBERT J. VANCE, NEW BRITAIN : Journalist; Editor " New Britain Herald."
Hon. Robert Johnston Vance of New Britain, who represented the first Connecticut district in the fiftieth congress, is a leading member of the democratic party in this state. He was a member of the Connecticut delega- tion in the national demo- cratic convention at St. Louis in 1888, and was president of the state democratic convention at New Haven during the same year. At the state convention, which was held in Hartford, Septem- ber 16, 1890, Mr. Vance R. J. VANCE. made one of the ablest speeches in that body, eliciting enthusiastic approval from the delegates. The ex-congressman began his political career as the city clerk of New Britain, occupying the position from 1878 until 1887. In 1886 he represented New Britain in the legislature with decided ability and success. For the past ten years he has been a member of the democratic state central committee and is at present chairman of its executive board. This fact alone indicates the sense of confidence and trust which is felt in his ability and leadership. Mr. Vance is the editor and associate proprietor of the New Britain Herald, and is one of the ablest newspaper men in the state. He was the staff cor- respondent of the New York Sun in Washington during the winter of 1889-90. Aside from his edi- torial work he is actively connected with business interests in New Britain, occupying the presidency
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of the New Britain Electric Light Company and directorship in other business concerns. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M., of New Britain, and is also a member of the order of Odd Fellows in that city. The family of Mr. Vance consists of a wife and one child. The former was Miss Matilda O'Conor prior to her marriage. The ex-congressman was born in New York city March 15, 1854, and is now in the very prime of manhood. He was educated in the New Britain High school and has traveled extensively, spending considerable time in Europe. He is a gentleman of the most delightful personality and is the posses- sor of hosts of friends in this state.
HON. W. H. H. COMSTOCK, NEW LONDON : Retired Merchant.
William H. H. Comstock was born in that por- tion of Lyme that is now known as East Lyme, March 20, 1819, and was educated in the public and select schools of that pe- riod. He engaged in mer- cantile business early in life and has spent much of his active career in New London. Prior to his removal to that city he was treasurer and postmaster in East Lyme. In 1848 he was elected a member of the house of representatives from East Lyme, and the year after he was appointed pay- W. H. H. COMSTOCK. master-general on the staff of Gov. Clark Bissell of Norwalk and was con- firmed by the senate. In 1854 he represented the old ninth district in the state senate, his associates in that body including the late United States Sen- ator James Dixon of this city, Hon. Henry B. Har- rison of New Haven and Hon. Wm. T. Minor of Stamford, both of whom became governors of the state, John Boyd of Winsted, Chauncey Rowe of Farmington, and Clark Greenman of Stonington. In 1859 Major Comstock was returned to the house from East Lyme, Augustus Brandegee of New London, Jeremiah Halsey and cx-Judge James A. Hovey of Norwich, and the late Daniel Chadwick of Lyme being associate members from New Lon- don county that year. The Major is a member of the New London board of trade, a director in the New London City Bank, and is connected with the Sons of the Revolution in that city. While he was a member of the state senate in 1854 lie was associated with the corporation of Vale College, being one of the six senators entitled to that dis- tinction. The wife of Major Comstock, whose
maiden name was Miss Eliza A. Smith, daughter of Doct. John L. and Fanny Smith, died December 4, 1876. One daughter, Mary C., wife of C. J. Viets, is living. Gen. Comstock is a member of the First Baptist church in New London. His po- litical affiliations are with the republican party.
LEWIS A. LIPSETTE, MERIDEN: Journalist.
Lewis Allen Lipsette, editor of The Meriden Journal, was born in New York city February 18, 1852, and was educated in the public schools of the metropolis. For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in journalism in this state and is one of the most successful news- paper representatives in the commonwealth. Mr. Lipsette, or " Lew Allen," as he is universally known in newspaper circles, was the city editor of The New Haven Union up to four years ago, when, with Francis Atwater, "LEW ALLEN." who had for years been in the newspaper and job printing business, T. L. Reilly, who had been the city editor of The Meri- den Republican, and Frank E. Sands, who had recently graduated from the Sheffield Scientific school, he organized "The Journal Publishing Company " of Meriden and started The MMeriden Daily Journal. It was a pronounced newspaper success from the start. The company now own their own building, a fine web-perfecting press, stereotyping equipment, job printing department, electrotype plant, and book bindery, all fully fitted to turn out the best class of work ; and The Jour- nal all the while is growing in popular favor as a well-conducted and profitable newspaper, second to none in any city of the size of Meriden. Of this newspaper Mr. Allen has acted as editor, Mr. Reilly has had charge of the city news, Mr. Sands has been treasurer, and Mr. Atwater general manager, especially of the several mechanical de- partments, for which his long experience so well fitted him. The company have not far from fifty employes at present.
Mr. Lipsette has been a member of the city coun- cil in Meriden, and is an independent in politics. He was in the Connecticut National Guard for five years, serving in Company I of the Second Regi- ment. He is connected with the Episcopal church in Meriden and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. During the time that he was connected with The Vewe Haven Union he was one of the best known state correspondents of New York and Boston
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papers. He has been one of the leading members of the Connecticut Press Association, and his news- paper success has been exceedingly gratifying to his friends in the profession throughout the state.
CHARLES E. HILL, STAMFORD: Retired Mer- chant.
Charles Edwin Hill was born in Great Falls, Strafford County, New Hampshire, Feb. 27, 1827, and was educated in the public schools. When a child he lived in York County, Maine, and his youth and early manhood were spent there in woolen manufacturing. He be- gun business on his own account in the city of Philadelphia in connec- tion with United States ex-Senator Chase of Rhode Island, as a dry- goods commission mer- chant. Subsequently he C. E. HILL. entered the China trade in New York city, and for twenty years, including the war period, was at the head of a large business in teas and other China products, during which time he was a stockholder and director in various banking, transportation, and manufacturing corporations. In 1880 at the in- stance of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, he was appointed chief special agent of the United States census bureau to gather the statistics of the manufacturing industries of that city and continued in that great work for over two years. In 1876 he came to this state and settled in Stamford. He has been a frequent contributor to the press on topics of political and social importance. In religion Mr. Hill is a Quaker, still adhering to the fundamental doctrines of that sect, though worshiping with other Christian denominations, chiefly with Metho- dists. In politics, from the inception of the repub- lican party till the present time, an unflinching de- votee of its principles and an earnest worker for its success. He was elected a member of the lower house of the Connecticut legislature for 1889, and served as chairman of the insurance committee on the part of the house, and also as a member of the committee on education. His term of service was notable for the active part he took in the stir- ring debates of that session. He made notable speeches on the petition of the Housatonic Railroad for authority to build a parallel railroad from New York to New Haven, upon the resolution granting commutation of death sentence to John H. Swift, upon the resolutions in honor of John Bright, and took an active part in the movement to secure the
act which made it possible for the policy-holders of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company to defeat the designs of McFarland of Philadelphia, which he regards as one of the most important leg- islative acts of the session, carried as it was, over the veto of the executive. Mr. Hill was mentioned in connection with the republican candidacy for lieutenant-governor in 1890, but would not allow the use of his name. His career has been one of activity and honor, and he retains the good will and esteem of a large number of citizens of the state.
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