USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The town and city of Waterbury, Connecticut, from the aboriginal period to the year eighteen hundred and ninety-five. Volume III > Part 67
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THE WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS, No. I, auxiliary to Wadhams post, was formally instituted on November 16, 1882, by Mrs. E. Florence Barker of Malden, Mass., with the following officers: President, Elizabeth C. Kiefer; senior vice-president, Mary S. Gaylord; junior vice-president, Julietta Walker; secretary, Cecilia Peck; treasurer, Nellie Munson; chaplain, Waitie J. Brown; conductor, Mattie Moss; guard, Amelia Ensign. The membership of the corps at the close of 1895 numbered sixty-two, and the officers were: President, Jennie C. Corner; senior vice-president, Magdalene Schmidt; junior vice- president, Elizabeth Sanford; secretary, Dora E. Munson; treasurer, Mary Jackson; chaplain, Hattie Moulthrop; conductor, Maria White- man; guard, Hannah Korngiebel.
After an attempt made in 1879 to organize the Sons of Veterans, which failed because of feeling in the Grand Army of the Republic that the new organization was an encroachment on their territory, a more successful effort was made in 1881 by Maj. A. P. Davis of Pittsburg, who originated what was called the Sons of Veterans of Pennsylvania, and afterward became the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America.
CHATFIELD CAMP, No. 9, Connecticut division, was organized Sep- tember 23, 1884, with twenty-five charter members and the follow- ing officers: Captain, L. F. Burpee; first lieutenant, C. W. Burpee: second lieutenant, F. A. Perkins. It prospered for several years. but finally surrendered its charter and disbanded February 15, 1890.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAMP was instituted April 24, 1894, when the following officers were elected: Captain, Martin L. Wiegner; first lieutenant, H. A. Fitzsimons; second lieutenant C. V. J. Quigley: camp council, O. W. Cornish, E. T. Harding, and F. E. Ball.
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Ladies' Aid, No. I, of Abraham Lincoln camp, Sons of Veterans, vas mustered in, April 8, 1895, with fourteen members. The follow- ug officers were elected: President, Hattie Wiegner; chaplain, Iary Gallagher; treasurer, Helen Corner, with an advisory board rom the camp.
WATERBURY COLONELS IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
JOHN LYMAN CHATFIELD was born in Oxford in 1826, but with his rothers removed to Waterbury in 1851. He joined the City guard, rganized in 1854, and was made first lieutenant; on the resignation f Capt. Hunting, Lieut. Chatfield was chosen captain, and held the ffice until the attack on Fort Sumter. When the president issued his all for 75,000 men, Capt. Chatfield was among the first to offer his ser- ices. The proclamation was issued April 18, 1861, and on April 20 hatfield and his company left for New Haven. It was the first ompany accepted by the governor. While in camp he was ad- anced to the rank of major, and in June, in Washington, was pro- .oted to be colonel of the Third regiment. After three months of ard fighting he returned home, and was subsequently appointed lonel of the Sixth regiment, and late in October sailed for Port oyal. He was in several engagements, was severely wounded, and turned home for a few months on furlough. He had rejoined his giment but a few weeks when it was ordered to the attack on Fort agner, S. C., where on July 18, 1863, he fought for the last time. e had reluctantly allowed the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts to have e right of the line in the advance on the fort. Under the con- ntrated fire of Wagner and Sumter and the batteries of James land, the Massachusetts regiment, obliquing, left the Sixth un- vered. They advanced steadily and rapidly over the parapets d down to the bomb-proofs, when the fire slackened and the cry ent up that the fort had surrendered. But the remnant of the ave Sixth was standing alone. Col. Chatfield was lying on the rapet with his leg shattered below the knee. The rebels charged ree times upon the unsupported but undaunted Connecticut men, if to annihilate them. The color bearer, Sergt. Gustave de uge of Waterbury, fell shot through the head in the assault, and fore the colors could be taken from beneath his dead body eight (her men had fallen upon them, dead or wounded. Among those 1 to helped to keep the colors aloft was Col. Chatfield himself, who i remembered as the very incarnation of war in that terrible hour. ter he had fallen he still encouraged the men to stand their und in hope of support. And most nobly did they obey for ree long hours, retiring one by one only after all hope had van- ed and they were but a handful. Col. Chatfield, fearing that he
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would be captured, attempted to drag himself from the fort, when a shot struck his right hand, in which until that moment he had grimly held his sword. It was the sword which was presented to him by old Company H in 1859. He saved only the scabbard and belt, which are now in the possession of his family.
He died at his home, August 9. At his funeral business was suspended, flags were at half mast and military delegations from all parts of the state were present. Among those of the army who came to pay tribute to the memory of the hero was Gen. Robert Anderson, the defender of Fort Sumter, and among the civilians was Governor Buckingham.
A monument to the dead soldier was unveiled at Riverside cem- etery, with impressive ceremonies, on Sep- tember 13, 1887. The statue, which sur- mounts a granite pedestal seven feet high, is a life-size figure in bronze representing Col. Chatfield as a soldier on duty. It was de- signed by George E. Bissell, who was a per- sonal friend of Chatfield. The programme for the day was elaborate. It was the re- union of the Sixth regiment and the First Light battery. The Veteran association of Chatfield guard appeared for the first time. Gen. S. W. Kellogg, the orator of the day, CHATFIELD made a touching reference to Chatfield's courage and patriotism in his last battle:
As he was carried bleeding from the scene of car- nage in the strong arms of one of his men, his thoughts went back to his regiment and its colors, so dear to every true soldier. "Are the colors saved ? " he asked. When told that all that was left of them had been safely brought off the field, he replied: "Thank God for that; I am glad they are safe; keep them as long as there is a thread left." Four days afterward, with muffled drum and arms reversed, and music floating in sad and mournful strains upon the summer air, we bore him to his last resting place here; and I gave the order for the final volley fired over his grave. It was all we could do for him, who had done so much and had given his life for us -to lay him away with all the honors of a soldier's burial. . . Heroic, patri- otic soul! The autumn leaves may fall around thy grave for ages to come; the moss and rust of years may gather upon thy monument; this quiet and peaceful city of the dead may become more populous than yonder busy city across the river; but thy name and thy virtues shall remain imperishable in the history of this people.
CHARLES EDWARD LATIMER HOLMES, son of Israel Holmes (page 326), was born May 15, 1832, in the old Captain Judd house on West Main street. In the destruction of the house by fire (see page 111) Mrs. Holmes, with her child Latimer, then nine months old,
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scaped. His school life was brief, but from an early age he mani- sted scholarly tastes. A considerable part of his boyhood was ent in Wolcottville, and at the age of seventeen he began the anufacturing business, which he continued until 1857, when he moved to Nebraska. After three years he returned to Water- iry, not long before the breaking out of the rebellion. He was le of the organizers of the Twenty-third regiment of Connecticut lunteers and was mustered into the service in November, 1862. e was appointed colonel of the regiment and was sent to join the pedition under Gen. N. P. Banks in Louisiana. He was mustered t in August, 1863.
After the war Col. Holmes went into business again, and was at rious times in Plymouth, Middletown and New York; he was con- cted with the Holmes & Griggs Manufacturing company in aterbury, and the Holmes & Edwards Silver company in Bridge- rt. He spent many years in New York city, and was known cially as treasurer of the Lotus club. His literary work has been ferred to on page 935. Besides his published poems, he left a nsiderable quantity of unpublished verse, referring chiefly to e war for the Union.
In 1860 he married Mary E., daughter of Hiram Steele of East oomfield, N. Y. She died March 23, 1862, and on January 1, 1866, married Annie E., daughter of William R. Slade of Ansonia, by om he had one daughter, now Mrs. Charles F. Bliss. Col. olmes died April 28, 1884.
THOMAS HOLT was born in Burs Mear Berg, Manchester, Eng- id, on August 6, 1831. He came to America in 1833 and resided Stockbridge, Mass. He removed to New York in 1846 and rned the blacksmith's trade. In February, 1854, he went to Cali- nia, and remained a year in San Francisco, but returned to New rk in 1855 and settled in Port Jervis.
In April, 1861, he recruited a company of 115 men and joined the rentieth regiment of New York volunteers, the first regiment of Excelsior brigade, known also as the Sickles brigade. The istment was for three years or for the war. Capt. Holt served the following capacities: Captain, mustered in, June 20, 1861; jor, October 18, 1861; lieutenant-colonel, December 1, 1862; pro- ted to be colonel and transferred to the Seventy-fourth regiment, w York volunteers, May 16, 1863. In March, 1867, he received the k of brigadier-general by brevet. At the battle of Williamsburgh, y 5, 1862, the colonel and lieutenant-colonel were wounded and command of the regiment fell upon Major Holt, who was act- colonel throughout the Peninsula campaign and was in all the
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battles under McClellan. He was at Fredericksburg with Burnside, at Chancellorsville with Hooker, at Gettysburg with Mead, and with Grant in the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania Court House and to the front of Petersburg, where he was relieved and ordered to New York to be mustered out, July 27, 1864, on the expiration of his term of service.
Col. Holt returned to Port Jervis and resumed the practice of his trade. He removed to Waterbury in September, 1885, and since then has resided here. He has been president of the regimental asso- ciation of the Seventieth New York and was re-elected to that office at its annual reunion in March, 1894. During its three years ser- vice the regiment had ten officers and 172 men killed in battle, twen- ty-eight officers and 323 men wounded, 145 missing and sixty who died of disease-a total of 738. Col. Holt married, November 4, 1852, Mary Ann Garfield, who died in December, 1880, aged forty- nine years. By her he had six children. In December, 1881, he married Mrs. Marrietta Dewitt, who died July 5, 1886, aged forty- two years. On April 13, 1887, he married Mrs. Anna M. Holt.
FREDERICK LYMAN HITCHCOCK, son of Daniel and Mary (Peck) Hitchcock, was born in Waterbury on April 18, 1837. His father was born in 1808, and died July 31, 1846. In his boyhood he was a button chaser for Merritt Lane, on Brown street. He removed to Scranton, Penn., in 1854 and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He went into the service of the United States on August 20, 1862, as adjutant in the One Hundred and Thirty-second regiment of Penn- sylvania volunteers, and was promoted to be major for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Fredericksburg, January 24, 1863, where he was twice severely wounded. He was mustered out with his regiment in May, 1863, and again entered service as lieu- tenant-colonel of the Twenty-fifth regiment of United States col- ored troops, on January 16, 1864, which was organized at Camp Wil- liam Penn, Philadelphia. He was promoted to be colonel of this regiment on July 1, 1865, and was mustered out with it on Decem- ber 20, 1865. This regiment served its term in the Department of the Gulf, most of the time in the defences of Pensacola, Fla., namely, Forts Pickens and Barrancas, where it attained thorough proficiency in artillery tactics as well as infantry.
Col. Hitchcock's connection with the National Guard of Penn- sylvania began with his enlistment, on August 14, 1877, as a private in Company D, of the Scranton City guard, which was organized from the body of men who successfully met and dispersed the rioters of August I, of that year. On August 25 he accepted the appointment of adjutant, and on the organization of the Thirteenth
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egiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, in October, 1878, he 'as made lieutenant-colonel, and was promoted to be colonel, Octo- er 10, 1883. At the expiration of a term of five years he declined re-election.
He is engaged in the practice of law at Scranton, Penn., in con- ection with which he is carrying on a real estate and fire insur- nce business. He has been president of the Scranton Fire Under- riters' association for four years, and president of the State Under- riters' association since June, 1894. His political offices have been ssistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Senate, 1861-62 and 1866, and rothonotary of Lackawanna county, 1878. He is one of the com- issioners for Pennsylvania to ascertain and make the battle lines the battlefield of Antietam, for Pennsylvania regiments.
He has been a member of the Presbyterian church for thirty- ve years, a ruling elder therein for nearly twenty years, and a perintendent of Sunday schools for nearly the same period, hold- g all these relations at present
the Green Ridge Presbyte- an church in Scranton. He is twice been president of the oung. Men's Christian associa- on of that city.
Col. Hitchcock is a grandson Ward Peck, a gallant soldier the Revolution, who consti- ted one of the " forlorn hope" at scaled the walls of Stony int. He is a half brother of rs. W. O. Guilford.
HENRY W. KINGSBURY, son of ajor Julius J. B. Kingsbury age 1191), was born December 1836. He entered West Point 1856; was adjutant of the (ps; in 1861 was assigned to (ty and acted as aid to Gen. 1 Dowell in the battle of Bull n, and was complimented for i
HENRY W. KINGSBURY.
I 1 bravery and valuable services in McDowell's final report. He s subsequently assigned to command in Griffin's battery, and m thence was elected to the colonelcy of the Eleventh regiment
f C Connecticut volunteers, in which he closed his gallant career crered with honor. He was killed at the head of his column, in
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the battle of Antietam, while carrying the stone bridge at Harper's Ferry. He died in his twenty-sixth year. His career was brief but brilliant, and his death was spoken of at the time of its occur- ence as a "calamity to the city which he honored and to the nation which he served." His funeral was held in Washington, September 22, 1862, from the residence of his father-in-law, Gen. Joseph Taylor.
CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
ISAAC RICHARDSON BRONSON was the second son of Deacon Leon- ard and Nancy (Richardson) Bronson. He was born in Middlebury, May 22, 1826. The first fourteen years of his life were spent amid the scenes of his birth-place. He then went out into the world to make a place for himself, and became, as he matured, a man of noble aspirations, liberal mind, generous heart and public spirit. At the age of twenty-seven he married and settled in business in Water- bury. (For his connection with the book trade, see pages 312, 1019.) He subsequently removed to New Haven, and was living there when the civil war broke out. He was among the first to catch the patri- otic glow of the time, and desired to obey the first call of the presi- dent for troops; but circumstances prevented his going until August, 1862, when as captain of Company I of the Fourteenth regiment, Connecticut volunteers, he left Hartford to join the army of the Potomac, then under the command of Gen. Burnside. He was with them in several fierce engagements, and although wounded in the battle before Fredericksburg, remained steadfast at his post of dan- ger, faithfully discharging the duties of his position. His surgeon said of him, "When the responsibilities of the battlefield were upon him, Capt. Bronson was perfectly self-possessed and fearless." In April, 1863, on a ten days' leave, he visited his family in Connecticut, and returned to find his regiment under marching orders. Then came the hard fought battle of Chancellorsville under Gen. Hooker. Firing commenced at daybreak, and before six o'clock Capt. Bron- son and Stonewall Jackson were both carried from the field mor- tally wounded. Unable to be removed to Washington, he remained in a field hospital, suffering and enduring with the same courage he had shown on the battlefield. He failed gradually until June 2. when he passed from earth. His remains were received in Water- bury June 6, 1863, by a military guard of honor. The funeral took place the following Monday from the First church, of which he had been an active member. The Rev. George Bushnell conducted the services, and the Rev. S. W. Magill delivered the discourse. The burial was with military honors in the quiet cemetery of his fathers in Middlebury.
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On May 18, 1853, Capt. Bronson married Louise Maria Bronson Geneva, N. Y. Their children are: Katharine C., Frederick dward, born September 28 1858, and Louise Maria. Frederick arried Drusilla Gore in Portland, Or., and Louise was married to le Rev Samuel Mason Crothers of Brattleboro, Vt.
WILLIAM EUGENE RILEY, son of Samuel and Percy (Brewer) iley, was born in East Hartford, December 19, 1826. He was edu- ted in the East Hartford academy. Following the instincts of s family, he went to sea when fourteen years of age, and led a afaring life for seven years. In 1852 he removed to California here in 1854 he was elected justice of the peace in Sierra county, id, in 1860, associate judge of the court of sessions of the same unty. The latter office he held until the breaking out of the war 1861. In 1862 he left California to come east, for the purpose of ining the army, and enlisted from East Hartford, August 12, 1862, the First Connecticut cavalry, in Gen. Custer's command. He as promoted to corporal, sergeant, and first sergeant in regular der. He received his commission as second lieutenant in April, 63, was mustered in as first lieutenant June 1, 1864, and as captain Company K, First Connecticut cavalry, July 4, 1864. He resigned om the army June 25, 1865, on account of illness. He participated nearly all the battles of the army of the Potomac, including ottsylvania Court House, Stephensburg, Cedar Creek, Winchester, ve Forks and others.
After returning home, he was employed by the Naugatuck Rail- ad company as agent at Litchfield. Later he had charge of the eight department at Hartford, for the Hartford, Providence and shkill railroad. He was transferred to Waterbury as agent for 1e New York and New England railroad, and from thence went to the employ of the Naugatuck railroad company as supply ent. He is now a bookkeeper in the Manufacturers' National nk
On October 21, 1867, he married Harriet Bissell, daughter of Imon Allen of Vernon.
HIRAM UPSON, JR., son of Hiram and Sarah (Harrison) Upson, s born in Humphreysville (now Seymour), October 11, 1829. He ed in Waterbury for some years. He enlisted in Company H of : Second regiment of Connecticut volunteers, in the three
nths' campaign, was made corporal, and in the disastrous retreat the first battle of Bull Run displayed courage and coolness which vire especially commended by Col. A. H. Terry. After his dis- C S urge he enlisted again, September 9, 1861, in Company F, of the enth regiment, was made sergeant and color bearer, and soon
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after promoted to be lieutenant. He was mortally wounded in an assault upon the confederate earthworks at James Island, S. C., in June, 1862. Only a few days before his death there had been sent to him by friends in Waterbury a lieutenant's uniform as a testimo- nial of personal esteem and respect for his soldierly qualities.
FREDERICK ALBERT SPENCER, son of Willard Spencer (page 24). was born in Waterbury November 7, 1833. His education was obtained in the public school and the Waterbury academy, and at Williston seminary, Easthampton, Mass. He pursued his studies with reference to the profession of civil engineer. After the close of his school life, he was engaged with the Waterbury Brass com- pany and with Holmes, Booth & Haydens as shipping clerk, time- keeper, etc. He has always lived in Waterbury, except from 1858 until the close of the war. For a part of this time he resided in Kansas and Colorado, engaged in civil engineering and mining. The remainder of the time was spent in military service. After the war, he was with the Waterbury Brass company again for six years, in charge of the work of the company. He then gave up other occupations to assist his father, who was becoming old and infirm, in looking after his affairs.
He became a director and one of the vice-presidents of the Dime Savings bank soon after its organization, and has been a member of its appraising and loan committee for fifteen years. He has been a member of the Common Council, was twice assessor of the town, was a member of the first board of police commissioners, one of the engineers of the fire department, a member of the board of health, a member of the finance committee of the Centre school district, and clerk of the probate court. By appointment of Gov. Morris, he served from July 1, 1893, to July 1, 1895, as a member of the board of state prison directors, acting as chairman of the com- mittee on building and repairs. During the term of this board the important change was made by which Gen. S. E. Chamberlain was succeeded as warden by Col. J. L. Woodbridge. He was appointed a director of the Connecticut reformatory by Gov. Coffin, July o. 1895.
Mr. Spencer's militia service began in April, 1856, when he joined the Waterbury company of those days, Company H, of the Second regiment (page 1190). He was sergeant of this company when he left Waterbury in 1858. In Colorado, in the winter of 1861-'62, he was captain of a company of Home guards, organized in anticipation of invasion by Gen. Sibley, from Texas.
On May 15, 1862, he enlisted in the Second Colorado cavalry. and many of the members of the Home guard enlisted with him.
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Then the regiment was mustered into service, January 10, 1863, he as promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. The regiment was in ervice in 1862 in western Kansas and Colorado, in 1863 in north- estern Arkansas and on the Arkansas frontier, in 1864 on the ansas and Missouri border, engaged in guerilla warfare. He was ounded October 21, 1864, in the battle of the Little Blue in Mis- uri, and while recovering was off duty and absent from his com- and for the only time during his service. About January 1, 1865, e regiment went out on the plains and was in service among the idians until mustered out, September 23, 1865. His military record that of a gallant soldier.
On March, 1876, he was appointed by Col. Stephen R. Smith tymaster of the Second regiment of the Connecticut National uard. In March, 1877, he was elected captain of Company A. In ay, 1882, he was promoted to the rank of major and inspector of fle practice on the staff of Brig .- Gen. S. R. Smith. He resigned the spring of 1895. He is a member of the military order of the oyal Legion.
Mr. Spencer has been and is a conspicuous member of the asonic order. He was initiated into Harmony lodge, No. 42, and bsequently became a charter member of Continental lodge, No. , of which he is a trustee. He was exalted in Eureka chapter, 0. 22, April 23, 1856; was received into Waterbury council, No. 21, ne 18, 1856, and knighted in Clark commandery, No. 7, Knights emplar, January 23, 1866, he being the first one knighted in the mmandery. In 1870 he served as eminent commander of this mmandery, and again in 1892, 1893 and 1895. On January 29, 74, he became a member of Charter Oak lodge of Perfection, ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Hartford, also of the Hartford uncil, Princes of Jerusalem, and Cyrus Goodell chapter, Rose oix. He is also a member of Lafayette consistory, Ancient cepted Scottish Rite, of Bridgeport, and of Mecca temple of the ystic Shrine of New York. On March 21, 1882, he received the pointment of warder of the Grand commandery of Connecticut, d was regularly advanced until the annual conclave in 1889, en he was elected grand commander. In 1894 he was elected and inspector of the Grand commandery of Connecticut for five ars.
EDWIN SHERMAN HITCHCOCK, son of Daniel and Mary (Peck) itchcock, was born in Waterbury, April 17, 1834. He was iployed in New Haven as a bookkeeper when the civil war broke t, and volunteered in the three months' campaign. On his return om this service he raised a company for the Seventh regiment of
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