USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 63
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son and washing sheep, of which he had a flock of three or four hundred. At this time only were in- toxicating drinks thought necessary or desirable. He prepared for college at Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, at Amherst Academy, and the academy at Shelburne Falls. He entered Williams College in 1834, graduating in the class of 1838, delivering an oration at commencement. He was one of the prize speakers in his junior year, and had also a junior oration. He was president of the three prin- cipal college societies of which he was a member. He immediately after graduation entered the theo- logical seminary at East Windsor Hill, Conn., where he graduated in August, 1841. During his edu- cational course he taught in Coxsacksie, N. Y., and two terms in Hawley, Mass. During the winter of his senior year he was principal of Sanderson Academy in his native town of Ashfield, and while a member of the theological seminary was prin- cipal of the Windsor Academy at Windsor, Conn. He was licensed to preach by the Franklin Assoei- ation, was ordained and installed over the Congre- gational church in Eastford, September 20, 1841, Dr. Bennett Tyler of the seminary preaching the sermon ; Dr. Nettleton, also, was to take part, but was prevented by sickness. Gen. Lyon of East- ford graduated from West Point at about the same time, came to his old home, he and his mother's new pastor became warm personal friends ; he of- fered the prayer at the general's funeral. In I851 Mr. Williams received a call to settle in Bloomfield, Conn,, Rev. Milton Badger, D.D., uncle of Mrs. Williams, preaching the sermon. In 1858 he ac- cepted a call to settle in Chaplin, where he still la- bors. Prof. E. A. Lawrence of the seminary preached the installation sermon. For many years he has been a director of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society, and trustee of the ministers' fund, and for more than thirty years a trustee of the Hartford Theological Seminary. Since the death of Newton Case, Esq., he is the senior trustee. For more than forty years he has been a member of the school board and acting school visitor in the towns where he has resided. In 1876 he was a member of the legislature, and a member of the committee on temperance.
On the 22d of October, IS41, he married Miss Mahala R. Badger, daughter of Enoch and Betsey Nash Badger of Springfield, Mass. She was sister of Rev. Norman Badger, a classmate of Stanton, the great war secretary, a professor in Gambia Col- lege, Ohio, president of Shelby College, Kentucky, and died while chaplain in the army. They have had five children, four sons and one dangliter. Two sons died in infancy. Edward F. graduated at Williams College in the class of 1868, taught for a short time, when failing health compelled him to return to his home in Chaplin, where he died Oc-
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tober 6, 1869, aged twenty-four. Charles H. grad- uated at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., became a member of Haight's Engineer Corps, took a severe cold while at Rondout survey- ing the Hudson River railroad, had severe hemor- rhage of the throat, and died at his home in Chap- lin, December 19, 1874, at the age of twenty-six. Mary Elizabeth, their only daughter, graduated at Mt. Holyoke Seminary in the class of 1871, taught select school after graduation, married Rev. Wil- liam H. Phipps, October 10, 1872. He has been pastor of the Congregational churches at East Woodstock, Poquonock, and Prospect, Conn., where he has been pastor for about twelve years, and where he still continues his labors.
Seven sermons of Mr. Williams have been printed in pamphlet form, and several in part or in full in the newspapers. No ecclesiastical council has ever been called to adjust any difficulty with the church or minister where he has labored, and no vote in church or society was cast against his settlement in either of the three fields of his labors. In a few months, if life is spared and ministerial labor is continued, will occur the fiftieth anniversary of his graduation at the seminary, his ordination, and his marriage. His present pastorate of thirty-three years is exceeded by that of only four of the Congregational ministers in the state, and there has been no day during his ministry when he was not under his regular salary.
RAYMOND N. PARISH, MONTVILLE: Lumber Dealer.
Mr. Parish was born in Montville, March 31, 1834. After completing a substantial education in the common schools he followed the business of farming until 1872, when for ten years he was en- gaged as a hardware merchant, and since that time has been a manufac- turer and dealer in do- mestic lumber. With the exception of ten years as merchant in Norwich, his life has been spent in Montville, where he has held the offices of asses- sor, selectman, and treas- R. N. PARISH. urer. He represented Montville in the lower house of the legislature in 1866 and in 1882, and was elected senator from the eleventh district in 1889, serving on the state prison committee and as chairman of the temperance committee. He has also been honored with various minor offices con- nected with the community in which he has lived;
has been clerk of the probate court, president of the Raymond Library since its organization twelve years ago, treasurer and collector of the Congrega- tional Society, school district clerk, and the ex- ecutor and administrator of a great many wills and estates. The esteem in which Mr. Parish is held is shown by the fact that all these offices have been gratuitously bestowed, as he has never solicited a nomination or an election to any office in any case, In the varied walks of life he has won the confi- dence of the community in which he lives to a more marked degree than happens to the lot of the average man. He has always been a republican, but holds to independent action in political matters when necessary. His wife was Susan C. Hunting- ton, and they have one child.
BYRON TUTTLE, PLYMOUTH: Judge of Probate. Byron Tuttle is of Welsh descent and the eighth generation from William Tuttle, who came from Devonshire, England, in the ship Planter, and landed in Boston in 1635. He removed to New Haven in 1639, and lived on and owned the land where the Yale College buildings now stand. Mr. Tuttle was born in Ply- mouth, Conn., August 23, 1825, the son of a farmer, and his early years were spent at home with the best of life training, that of a New England farmer boy; having the advan- tages of the common dis- BYRON TUTTLE. trict school of those days. On the 26th of August, 1847, he entered the carriage establishment of Augustus C. Shelton of Plymouth, afterward en- tering into partnership with him under the firm name of Shelton & Tuttle. In 1854 Mr. Tuttle went to Chicago and established a carriage reposi- tory for the sale of their carriages in that city. Later, repositories were opened at New Orleans, La., and Burlington, Iowa, where he spent a por- tion of his time for a number of years. The ven- ture proved successful, and the firm made money. In 1864 they built a repository on Madison street, Chicago, which was burned in the great fire of 1872, without much loss to the company, when the property was sold and Mr. Tuttle retired from the business.
Mr. Tuttle was married to Candace D., daughter of Oliver Smith, Esq., of Plymouth, April 10, 1853; they have two children, Hattie A. and William B. Aside from private business Mr. Tuttle has occu- pied a prominent place in the affairs of the town,
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having been elected justice of the peace in 1864 and selectman in 1878, which offices he has filled con- tinuously to the present time. Also for a number of years he has been the agent of the town, having filled this position with ability before the legisla- ture and the courts in cases where the interests of the town were involved. He has been judge of probate for ten years in the district where he re- sides and is a prominent member of the community and among the leading men of the town. In poli- tics he is a republican. He is a member of the Congregational society and has served with credit as society's committee.
Mr. Tuttle's characteristics as a business man are energy, promptness, thoroughness, and integ- rity. It is perhaps the secret of his general suc- cess in life, that in whatever he' engages he ob- serves the same rules of conduct that govern him in the management of his business affairs.
JULIUS B. SMITH, WHIGVILLE (BURLINGTON) : Manufacturer.
Mr. Smith was born in Whigville, October 14, 1843, and was educated at the common schools. He has always resided in his native town. In 1866 he established the wood- turning business, the firm name being Bunnell & Smith. In 1879 Mr. Bun- nell sold his interest, and since that time the firm name has been Smith Brothers. Mr. Smith en- listed in Company G, Sixth regiment, Connec- ticut volunteers, Septem- ber 4, 1861, and served three years, being wound- ed in the charge on Fort J. B. SMITH. Wagner, July 18, 1863. At the formation of the Connecticut National Guard he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company K, First regiment, serving five years. Mr. Smith has been a member of the republican party ever since he became a citizen, and prominent in the or- ganization in his own town, and a member of the town committee. He is a constable. He is also connected with the Masonic lodge in his town, with the Grand Army, and is a member of the Grange. He was married November 21, 1865, to Miss Alvina E. Curtiss of Bristol, Conn., who died in 1877, leaving one son. He was again married to Miss Alice E. Beach, daughter of B. S. Beach of Terry- ville, in 1879, and has one son by his latest mar- riage. Mr. Smith is an example of that New England persistence which induces a man to remain in a place and make for himself an honored name and a fine business record.
JOHN HYDE PECK, NEW BRITAIN: Principal of High School.
John H. Peck was born at Norwich, Conn., Sept. 7, 1838. After teaching two winters in Franklin, he entered the Normal school, where he was grad- uated in 1856. Two years of teaching in Port- land followed, and, after a brief course at Wilbra- ham academy, he entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1863. He then had the charge of a very prosperous select school in Milford, which position he resigned in 1865, to become principal of the High school in New Britain. This position he J. H. PECK. still retains. Distin- guished educational critics speak of Mr. Peck as one of the most able and successful instructors in the state. At various times he has served as secretary and president of the Hartford County Teachers' As- sociation; treasurer, secretary, and president of the State Teachers' Association; and president of the State Council of Education. He held the office of alderman in New Britain in 1877, but declined a renomination. He is a member and deacon of the South Congregational church of New Britain.
He married his present wife, Mrs. Saralı F. Waterman of Toledo, Ohio, in 1874, and they have two sons.
ROBERT HEALEY, SEYMOUR: Farmer.
Mr. Healey was born in London, England, Feb- ruary 24, 1842. He came with his parents to the city of New York in 1847, and to Seymour in this state in 1851. The latter place has since been his home. He was living in the state of Louisiana at the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, but passed through the south- ern lines and joined the Twenty-second Regi- ment, Indiana Volun - teers at Jefferson City, Mo., on the 15th of Sep- tember, 1861. He served under Fremont until Cur- tiss took command, and ROBERT HEALEY. was in the three-days battle of Pea Ridge, Ark., in March, 1862. From this place his regiment was sent to Corinthi, Miss., and took an active part in the siege. After the retreat of Beauregard he was attached to Buell's command, and was in the battle
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of Perryville, Ky., October 8, 1862, where he re- ceived four wounds and was taken prisoner, but was left on the field, the rebels retreating the next morning. He has carried a rifle ball in his body since this battle, which at times is somewhat troublesome. After an absence of nine months he rejoined his regiment and served until the close of the war, re-enlisting at Knoxville, Tenn., Decem- ber 23, 1863. He was color guard, but acted as bearer from the time he rejoined his regiment until the final muster out. His regiment was actively engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, taking an active part in the bloody charge of Kennesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864; was on Sherman's march to the sea; also in the battle of Averysborough and Benton- ville, N. C., and remained in Sherman's command until the final muster out, serving four years in all. Returning to his home in Seymour, August 6, 1865, he entered the employ of the Douglass Manufactur- ing Company. September 13, 1866, he married Alice J. Bassett, eldest daughter of Amos Bassett, Esq .; their family consists of six sons. Mr. Healey has served his town as selectman many years, also as assessor and a member of the town board of education. He is representing his town in the house of representatives this year for a second time, having been a member of that body in 1889. He is a past post commander in the G. A. R. organiza- tion of Seymour.
THEODORE HALL MCKENZIE, SOUTHINGTON: Civil Engineer.
T. H. Mckenzie was born in Wallingford, Conn., in 1848, a son of Wm. Mckenzie (of Scotch origin, as the name indicates), who was a well-known con- tractor for railroad and other public works. His mother, Temperance Hall, was of Puritan stock and a native of Wallingford. Mr. Mckenzie was edu- cated in the common schools and in the Meri- den High school, the Con- necticut Literary Institute at Suffield, and a special course of one year at the Sheffield Scientific School. T. H. MCKENZIE. For two years, 1867-68, he assisted his father, who had charge of the construction of the Farm- ington River bridge on the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad at Windsor, the construction of the masonry for the factories and water power of R. Wallace & Sons, and the brownstone Episco- pal church at Wallingford. At the age of twenty-
one he engaged with the New Haven & Northamp- ton Railroad Company as rodman on the extension of the road to New Hartford. At the end of six months he was promoted to assistant engineer on construction of the same road. At the age of twenty-three he was appointed division engineer on the third division of the Connecticut Valley railroad from Middletown to Higganum, and remained with the company in that capacity for two years. He was first assistant engineer on the location of the Mas- sachusetts Central railroad from Clinton to Boston, fifty miles ; was first assistant engineer on the lo- cation and construction of the Providence & Spring- field railroad, twenty-six miles ; also located branches of the same road to Woonsocket and Chepachet, R. I. ; was one of a commission to ap- portion the water powers of the Woonasquetucket river in Rhode Island ; was for one year street commissioner and three years city engineer of the city of Meriden, during which time he made the surveys and plans for a sewerage system for the city, and was engineer of the increased water sup- ply for the city in 1876-7. He was also engaged on a very important water power damage lawsuit be- tween G. I. Mix and the Wallingford community. He removed to Southington in 1878, and was for nine years secretary of the Peck, Stow & Wilcox Manufacturing Company, and devoted about two- thirds of his time to the business of that company, and the remainder to engineering work. He was chief engineer of the Southington water works, constructed in 1883-4, and also secretary and treas- urer of the same company. Made the surveys and plans for the Plainville water works, and numerous plans for smaller public works ; and was engaged as an expert in several water power lawsuits and other court cases. He was chief engineer of the Naugatuck and Litchfield water works, and made surveys and plans for water works at Terryville, Norfolk, and New Hartford. Made surveys and plans for sewerage systems for Litchfield, Bristol, and Southington ; also in 1890 made surveys and reports on the various proposed plans for a new water supply for the city of Meriden ; and was em- ployed as consulting engineer on the South Man- chester water works. He was for several years school committee, fire commissioner, secretary of agricultural society, and secretary and treasurer of Electric Light & Tramway Company. He was the leader in organizing the Southington board of trade, and has since its organization been the secre- tary of the board. He is a member of the Ameri- can Society of Civil Engineers, of the New Eng- land Water Works Association, first vice-president and member of executive committee of the Connec- ticut Society of Civil Engineers. For the last four years has been a member of the State Board of Civil Engineers. He is a member of The Home
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Club of Meriden, is a Freemason, and a member of the Wallingford Baptist church. Was married at the age of twenty-four to Miss Mary E. Neal, daughter of the Hon. R. A. Neal of Southington ; four children, two boys and two girls, are the fruit of the union. He is a republican in politics, and his present business connection is as secretary, treasurer, and superintendent of the Southington Water Company. He is also chief engineer Nau- gatuck Storage Reservoir, South Manchester Sew- erage, Westport and Saugatuck Water Works, and for designing sewerage disposal works for the city of Meriden; and consulting engineer Wallingford Water Works, and Union City Bridge over the Naugatuck River.
HON. C. EDWIN GRIGGS, CHAPLIN: Preacher and Teacher.
C. Edwin Griggs was born in Pomfret, Abington Society, Conn., July 21, 1827, and removed to Chaplin in 1831, where he still resides. He re- ceived an academical education at Monson, Mass., and entered Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1856. He then took a course in theology at the Union Theological Semi- nary in New York, from which he graduated in 1859, and was licensed to preach by the Third Pres- bytery of New York. On account of impaired health he never entered C. E. GRIGGS. fully into the work of the ministry, though he has supplied pulpits in his vicinity for terms varying from a few Sabbaths to more than a year. He has taught school twenty terms, and fitted several young ladies and gentlemen for college. Mr. Griggs was state senator from the thirteenth district in 1868; assistant to the United States Marshal in taking the census in 1870; school visitor from 1862 until the present time; a member of the house of representatives in 1885; has served on the board of relief, and many times as juror of the superior court for Windham County; has been a grand juror of the United States Circuit Court; a registrar of voters; a judge of the probate court for the dis- trict of Chaplin, one term; first selectman two years; is now trustee of the Dime Savings Bank, Norwich; auditor of the town of Chaplin, and clerk of the court of probate. He has always acted with the republican party since its formation. Mr. Griggs has been a member of the Congregational church in Chaplin more than fifty years, having
united with the church in 1840. In 1859 he married Mary Jane Hall of Chaplin; and they have three daughters, all of whom are graduates of Mt. Holyoke College. Mr. Griggs is a lineal descendant of Thomas Griggs, who came from England with two sons and settled in Roxbury, Mass., about 1635, and whose grandsons were among the first settlers of what is now Woodstock, Conn.
E. G. SUMNER, M.D., MANSFIELD CENTRE: Phy- sician.
Edwin G. Sumner was born in Tolland, in this state, May 15, 1830. He was educated in the com- mon school until he was sixteen, at which time he went to the Ellington Academy and afterwards to the academy at Wil- braham, Massachusetts. After having served as clerk in the city of Hart- ford for a little more than one year, he commenced the study of medicine in the same place, and con- tinued his studies at the New York University, and at the end of three years graduated in the medical department at E. G. SUMNER. Yale College, and commenced practice in Mansfield. He afterwards practiced three years in the old town of Farmington. In 1860 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and was there at the breaking out of the war, after which he returned to Mansfield, in time to be drafted. He received a commission from Governor Buckingham as assistant surgeon in the 21st Con- necticut regiment, but owing to sickness was not able to go into the field at that time. He after- wards moved to Ohio, where he was engaged in business at Dayton for some ten years, returning in 1871 to Mansfield, which place has since been his permanent residence. In 1875 he was elected by the republicans to represent Mansfield in the state legislature, to which he was returned in 1883, at the latter date receiving the appointment of county commissioner in Tolland county for the term of three years.
Dr. Sumner is a member and deacon of the Bap- tist church at Willimantic. He is also president of the Mansfield school board, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Miss Ellen M. Hinckley of Mansfield, and they have two daugh- ters - one married and living in Dayton, Ohio, and the other in Oberlin College in the same state. His business connections are with a wholesale notion house in Dayton, as special partner, with the Dime Savings Bank and Natchaug Silk Company
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of Willimantic, the National Thread Company of Mansfield, and the Underwood Belting Company of Tolland; in all which corporations he is a director. He is still engaged to some extent in the practice of his profession. He has always manifested a lively interest in church affairs and the Sunday-school work, and has sustained active official connection with both church and Sunday-school for a great number of years.
JOHN P. KINGSLEY, PLAINFIELD: Merchant.
John P. Kingsley was born in 1823, in Canter- bury, Conn., the son of Captain John Kingsley, and grandson of Captain Hezekiah Kingsley, who did service in the war of the revolution. His mother, Mary, was daughter of Joseph Ray- mond. His educational opportunities were such as were offered at the common schools, sup- plemented by a course of instruction at the Manual Labor High school in Worcester, Mass. At the age of twenty-one he J. P. KINGSLEY. bought a farm in Nor- wich Town, two miles from the city, and was engaged in farming about twelve years. For the next twelve years was in the real estate business in Norwich. In 1869 he returned to his native town, Canterbury, and en- tered the mercantile business, and in 1871 opened a branch store at Plainfield Junction. In 1874 the firm of J. P. Kingsley & Sons was established, and their store has become one of the largest in Windham county. In 1844 he was married to Clarissa Mathewson of Woodstock, who died in 1849, leaving one son, Milton Kingsley. He was married again, to Elizabeth Scholfield, daughter of John Scholfield, whose grandfather, John Scholfield, manufactured the first yard of woolen cloth that was made by machinery in this country, and also manufactured and presented to President Madison the broadcloth from which his inaugural suit was made. He not only manufactured the cloth, but also the machinery with which the cloth was made. Mr. Kingsley by his last wife had one son and four daughters: Walter, Mary, Emma, Carrie, and Liz- zie. Mary died at the age of eight years. His son Milton was married to Hattie Ames, daughter of Deacon William Ames of Plainfield. His son Wal- ter married Belle Clark, daughter of Deacon Thomas Clark of Canterbury. £ His daughter Emma married William E. Tunison of New York, son of the Rev. William Tunison of Orange, N. J.
His daughter Carrie married Alex. M. Purdy, M.D., son of the Rev. Alvah Purdy of Canterbury. In Canterbury Mr. Kingsley was judge of probate and town treasurer for several years; also a mem- ber of the legislature two years, and postmaster for sixteen years. At fifteen years of age he united with the Baptist church in Worcester, Mass., and afterwards at Packersville (Plainfield), where he is now a member.
The immediate descendants of Captain Hezekiah Kingsley, who remained in Canterbury, in the vicinity of the ancestral estate, for many years, were among the best esteemed people of the town, distinguished for their inflexible integrity, and their consistent moral and religious life. The sub- ject of this sketch is now the sole male survivor of his generation in Windham county, and he wor- thily perpetuates the good name which he received as an inheritance and will transmit to future gen- erations.
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