Ashford, Connecticut Biographies
John Baker came from Dudley, Mass., to Ashford about 18.25. He
bad four children, one of whom, Enoch, married Mary Webster, and had seven
children, six of whom are now living. Davis A., the second son, born in
Ashford in 1835, was educated at the schools of his native town and the
state Normal school. He taught school in early life, but for the last ten
years has been engaged in mercantile business. He represented Ashford in
the legislature in 1867, 1877, and 1887, has been town clerk and judge of
probate several years. He married Eliza Walbridge, and has two sons.
Reuben Barlow, a son of Reuben Barlow, was born in Woodstock, and
came to Ashford in 1845. He married Eunice Snow. They have three sons and
two daughters. Henry C. and Anson G. are doing business as Barlow
Brothers, lumber dealers, at Griggs' Mill.
Charles Chism, born in Ashford, is a son of David Chism. He was a
soldier in the 16th Connecticut volunteers. He married Annie L., daughter
of Chauncey Whiton, who married Lucinda Moore. He was clerk and treasurer
of the church society forty years, and was a descendant of Joseph Whiton,
one of the early settlers of Ashford. He had four children, of whom one,
Samuel, was a missionary to Africa and to the freedmen.
John A. Chism, born in Ashford, is a son of David and Hannah
(Snell) Chism. He enlisted in the 25th Connecticut volunteers. He is now a
farmer. He married Martha N. More, daughter of John More, a descendant of
Thomas Lawson, one -of the first settlers of Union.
John S. Dean was a native of Ashford and a son of Leonard Dean. He
married Hannah M., daughter of Stephen Knowlton. He was a farmer and also
engaged in glass manufacture. He held many official positions, represented
Ashford in the legislature, the 14th senatorial district in the senate in
1877, and was county commissioner two years. He died in 1879. His son,
Charles L. Dean, was associated with him in glass manufacture until 1873.
Since 1874 he has been a member of the firm of Dean, Foster & Co., of
Boston and Chicago, manufacturers of glassware. Charles Dean represented
Ashford in the legislature of 1881, was county commissioner from 1869 to
1875, and was a member of Governor Andrew's staff. He is president of the
First National Bank of Stafford.
Willard S. Fuller was born in Woodstock, and came to Ashford in
1842. He is a son of John and Hannah Fuller, and grandson of Elisha
Fuller, who was a soldier in the revolutionary war. He is married to
Almira Chaffee.
John T. Greene was born in Exeter, R. I., and came to Ashford in
1865. In early life he taught school. He represented Ashford in the
legislature of 1871 and is one of the selectmen of the town. He married
Lucy E. Davis and has three children: Frank W., Nellie A. and Annie B.
The Knowlton family were among the first settlers of Ashford.
Robert Knowlton was a manufacturer of salt. One of his descendants,
Daniel, married Hannah Knowlton, daughter of one Daniel Knowlton, a
soldier of the revolutionary war, and brother of Colonel Knowlton of
revolutionary fame. Daniel and Hannah Knowlton had three sons and three
daughters. One son, Miner, was a graduate of West Point, a captain in the
regular army, and served in the Mexican war. Another, Danford, was a
merchant in New York. Edwin, the third son, resided in Ashford, married
Mary, daughter of Otis Woodward, and had four children, one of whom,
Robert D. W. Knowlton, represented Ashford in the legislature of 1889.
Stephen Fitts, a native of Massachusetts, came to Ashford, married
Polly Knowlton, daughter of Colonel Thomas Knowlton, and had three
children, Christian, Stephen and Maria. Christian married William Loomis,
who was a farmer in Ashford, and had two. children, Chester and Mary A.
Chester was a farmer-in Ashford and died in 1874.
Charles Mathewson came to Ashford from Woodstock in 1850 and bought
a saw and grist mill at Warrenville, which he operated until 1865, when he
was succeeded by the firm of Lombard & Mathewson, manufacturers of
fertilizers and wholesale dealers in agricultural implements. Charles
Mathewson married Celia Hammond, and had five children, one of whom, John,
married Ellen Carpenter and resides in Ashford.
Ira G. Murphy, son of Archibald and Sabra (Gallup) Murphy, came to
Windham county, in 1832, and settled permanently in Ashford in 1840. He
engaged in trade which he continued till his death in 1856. His son John
A. succeeded to his father's business which he still continues. Mr. Murphy
was instrumental in establishing a post office in Warrenville in 18772 and
was the first postmaster. He represented Ashford in the legislature in
1863, and has been appointed deputy sheriff five times. He married Mary
Spaulding, of Pomfret, and they have one son and four daughters.
Michael Richmond, son of Abner Richmond, a soldier in the
revolutionary war, was born in Woodstock in November, 1786, and came to
Ashford about 1800. In early life he learned saddle making and afterward
engaged in the manufacture of cloth, also axes. He was also engaged in
staging and turnpike building, and in the mercantile business, until he
retired at 60 years of age. He died in 1881. He married Polly Barnes and
had seven children, of whom only Mrs. Juliette Child and Mr. Elizur
Richmond remain in Ashford.
Ebenezer Knowlton, a son of Stephen, married Eliza A. Lyon. He was
postmaster and a merchant at West Ashford for twenty-five years and died
in 1866. He had six children, of whom one, Adaline, married Dwight
Shurtliff. They have three children.
John C. Smith, a son of Asa and grandson of George Smith, who were
farmers in Ashford, commenced business in Westford as a wagon maker and
blacksmith about 1833. This business he has continued with his son until
the present time. He married Polly Thresher and has two children-Susan and
Andrew S., who married Mary Whitaker. They have one son, George D. Smith.
Joseph Smith came from Smithfield, R. I., to Willington, Conn.,
about 1785. He had seven children, of whom one son, John, a soldier of the
revolutionary war, married Mary Covell and had four children. One son,
Charles, married Hannah Thresher. He died in 1844, and his widow still
lives, in the one hundredth year of her age. They had nine children, of
whom Samuel, born in Willington, came to Ashford in 1866. He married,
first, Almira Morse; second, Mary Thresher. He has two children-Charles A.
and Hattie, who married Clarence Walcott.
Lieutenant Daniel Knowlton married, first, Elizabeth Farnham;
second, Rebecca Fenton. He had ten children, of whom Marvin married
Celestia Leonard and had two children- Marvin and Maria B., who married
Henry Upton. Marvin Knowlton was a man frequently consulted in
business-affairs and one who settled many estates.
Leander Wright was in the mercantile business in New York in early
life until 1847, when he came to Ashford to the family homestead, where
five generations of the family have resided. He married Sarah Fisk,
daughter of William A. Fisk. They have nine children. He died in 1887.
Additional Offsite Biographies
Back to: Ashford, Windham
County, Connecticut History
Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut,
Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889 Back to: Windham County, Connecticut
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