Putnam, Connecticut Biographies
Rhodes G. Allen was born in Providence, R. I., June 5th, 1819,
and is the fifth son of Rhodes G. and Rebecca C. (Bowen) Allen. He
received a common school education, learned the machinist's trade at
Harrisville, town of Woodstock, in 1836, and remained there till 1846,
when he went to Whitingville, Mass., but returned to Putnam in 1847. He
engaged in the repairing business at the different mills, and was for
twelve years employed by the Morse Mills Company. He then bought a farm,
which he has conducted since. His first wife was Lucretia A. Aldrich. by
whom he had one child, Lucretia M., who died at the age of 16 years. His
second wife was Almira L., daughter of Deacon Elliott Carpenter.
Andrew R. Arnold, born in Warwick, R. I., April 22d, 1810. the
eldest son of Philip and Catharine (Searls) Arnold, came with his father
to Woodstock, Conn., in 1819. He was a machinist by trade and invented a
number of valuable patents. He worked at Providence, R. I., Hartford,
Conn., and Newark, N. J., at the latter place being 24 years connected
with the Manhattan Fire Arms Company, He came to Putnam in 1883, where he
died October 11th, 1884. He married Mary A., daughter of Captain John
Steib, of Providence, R. I.
William H. Anderson, born in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 10th, 1845, is
the eldest son of Joseph and Sophia (Reynolds) Anderson. Owing to the
death of his father when William H. was 11 years old, his mother returned
to her native county, Windham, and located at Woodstock, but came to
Putnam in 1858. At the age of 14 he was employed in the cotton mills. At
the breaking ,out of the war he enlisted in the 18th Connecticut
volunteers for three years, and was eighteen months in rebel prisons.
After the war he engaged in farming, and in 1881 started a tallow
rendering establishment in Putnam, reducing the trimmings of beef and pork
to tallow and lard, the bones of the animals being ground for chicken feed
and fertilizer. He married Cora H. Green, and they have had six children:
Willi-am H., Cora Lillian, Musa E., Hattie S., Mamie E. and Henrietta D.
The Ballard family in this county is descended from William
Ballard, who came to Lynn, Mass., in 1630, and the first ones to locate in
Windham county were two brothers, William and Lynde, who were sons of
Zaccheus and Elizabeth (Valentine) Ballard. Lynde was born in Oxford,
Mass., May 15th, 1774, and died June 7th, 182.). December 4th, 1794, he
married Polly Bates, by whom he had seven children: John Bates, died in
Colchester, Conn.; Nancy (deceased), married John George, of Thompson;
Polly (deceased), married Jacob Tourtellotte: Winthrop Hilton, Valentine
and Hamilton, all living in Thompson; and Martha, (deceased), married
Frederick Miles, of Thompson. Lynde's second wife was Amy Green, by whom
he had four children: Sarah Rebecca, widow of Samuel Spaulding, of Putnam;
Salem Lynde, Zaccheus, lives in Thompson, and Elizabeth, wife of Albertus
Bruce, of Pomfret. Salem Lynde was born in Thompson May 8th, 1820. His
first wife was Freelove Youngs, and his second wife is Harriet Scranton, a
native of Woodstock, whom he married July 12th, 1846, and by whom he has
four children: John Lynde, born in Woodstock January 19th, 1849, married
Sallie Farquhar October 22d, 1873, and has two children, John Hudson and
Sumner Salem, and is engaged in the sewing machine business at Wheeling, W
Va.; Emma Luella: Louis S., resides in Worcester, Mass., and Arthur S. W.,
resides at Putnam.,
Marvin Barrett, son of Edward I. Barrett, was born in Woodstock,
Conn., May 18th, 1826. At the age of twenty he learned the machinist's
trade, which he followed for five years at Harrisville. In 1851 he went to
Worcester, Mass., where he remained till 1871. He then engaged in farming
in Scotland, and came to Putnam in 1876, where he has since resided. He
married first, Susan J. Wheeler; second, Lois L. Morgan, widow of Sanford
K. Palmer.
Willis Bowen was born in Rhode Island, January 8th, 1808, and came
to Thompson, Conn., in 1848. He married L. Maria Aldrich, and had nine
children: Francis, resides in Portchester, N. Y.; Lawson 0.; Henry B.,
lives at Taftville, Conn.; Almira, died at the age of 19 years; Eliza,
died aged 3 years; Amasa, died aged 2 years; an infant; Martha (deceased),
married Smith Hall; and Sarah Maria, lives at Middletown, Conn. Willis
Bowen died October 14th, 1876. Lawson O. was born in West Glocester, R.
I., .June 12th, 1834. He was brought up on a farm, and at the age of
twelve was put to work in the mills, which he followed eleven years. He
engaged in farming in Thompson in 1856, and removed to Putnam in 1859,
where he has since resided, excepting four years in Thompson. He was
selectman in 1888. He married Marcia A. Bump, and had three children: One
died -in infancy; Merritt Olin, resides in New Haven, Conn.; and Walter
Allen.
Benjamin Brayton, son of George and Nancy (Randall) Brayton, was
born in Johnston, R. I., April 18th, 1811. Owing to the death of his
father, his mother removed to what is now Putnam in 1815. He was a boot
maker by trade, but in his later years carried on farming. He died August
3d, 1886. He married Almira, daughter of Oliver Torrey, and had one child,
Caroline M., who married Joseph Waterman Fisher, son of Willard Danielson
and Olive (Brayton) Fisher, born in Killingly July 16th, 1848.
Elijah Carpenter, son of Elijah and Abby Carpenter, was born in
Smithfield, R. I., and came to Putnam in 1851, where he died March 30th,
1869. He married Mary Ann Green and had three children: Abby J., wife of
H. O. Preston, of Putnam; Adelbert, resides in Putnam; and Walter S., born
in Greenville, R. I., August 24th, 1848, married Mary S. Ballou, and has
no children. He was a member of the legislature of 1889-90.
Nelson Carpenter, born in Smithfied, R. I., May 1st, 1809, is the
eldest son of family of twelve children of Elijah and Abby Carpenter. He
is a mason by trade, and came to Putnam in 1859. He has been married four
times. His first wife was Mercy N. Brayton, by whom he had four children:
Mary Jane died aged 20 years; Emeline married William Phelps of Putnam;
Nancy Maria, married; and Nelson, died in infancy.
David Chandler was a resident of Pomfret, Conn., and had a son
Silas, who had a son, Charles C., who married Anna Cleveland, and had six
children: Hannah, married Jason W. Fairfield; Mary, died aged 20 years;
Lucius L., Louisa, widow, resides in Illinois; Palmer, died in Pomfret,
Conn., and Albert C., lives in Woodstock. Lucius L., born in Pomfret,
August 5th, 1809, married Louisa R. Clark. They have one child living,
Louise, wife of William Moulton of Boston, who -was born in Pomfret,
Conn., April 10th, 1834, and is the noted authoress. Lucius L. died
October 25th, 1879.
Danforth Chase, son of Cromwell, was born in Killingly, Conn.,
August 13th, 1831, married Ellen Payson, and had two children William D.
and Ellen, deceased, married George Dresser of Putnam. Danforth Chase died
August 13th, 1866. William D. was born in Killingly February 10th, 1861,
married Mary Buck, and has four children: Ellen S., Abbie L., Ida M. and
-Mary A. -Mr. Chase is a farmer and came to Putnam to reside in 1888.
Albert A. Clark was born in Lyme (now North Lyme), Conn., February
15th, 183.5. He is the eldest son in a family of eleven children of John
G. and Jane (Tucker) Clark. He is a carpenter. by trade. He worked nine
years in Salem, Conn., then became a member of the 18th Connecticut
volunteers. After the war he worked at his trade in Bosworth, Conn., and
came to Putnam in the spring of 1874, where he followed his trade four
years. Since then he has had charge of the poor houses of Thompson and
Putnam, eight years in the former place and the balance of the time the
latter. He married Alice P. Brown of -Montville, Conn., and has three
children: Annie L., wife of Delbert Fairfield, of New Haven, Conn.; Rachel
E., wife of M. 0. Bowen, of New Haven, Conn., and George A.
John D. Converse was born in Thompson, December 16th, 1845, and is
the third son of Alfred and Eliza (Hutchins) Converse. His grandfather was
John D. He was educated at Thompson Academy, and has always been a farmer.
He was county commissioner from 1580 to 1886, and member of legislature
from Thompson in 1878. He married Caroline Sumner of Thompson, and has no
children.
Artemas H. Corbin, eldest son of jedediah and Hannah Corbin, was
born in Charlton, Mass., January 24th, 1831. He worked at farming until he
came to Thompson, in the winter of 1849. He learned shoemaking, which he
has since followed. He came to Putnam in 1853, and worked at his trade
till 1865, and then engaged in manufacturing shoes himself, which he
followed till 1881, when he engaged in the manufacture of women and
misses' slippers and buskins, also woolen lined shoes for women. He served
as selectman in 1889.
Ebenezer Covell had the following family: Sampson, Ziba, Oliver,
Joseph, Benjamin and Abigail, who married Silas Tucker. Sampson had a son
Arba, who married for his first wife a Burgess, by whom he had two
children, viz., Sampson and Mary, who married Waldo Bartlett. Sampson (son
of Sampson) was born in Killingly, in February, 1809, and married Lillis
Bartlett for his first wife, by whom he had one child Arba, who resides in
Killingly. His second wife was Lois Elliott, by whom he had one child,
Albigence E. His third wife was Sarah Elliott, by whom he had four
children: Benjamin, resides in Webster, Mass.; Louisa, wife of David Clark
of Putnam; Esther, wife of George Locke of Putnam, and Elizabeth, wife of
Rufus Chase of Killingly. He became a resident of Putnam in 1859, where he
died in January, 1882. Albigence E. (son of Sampson), born February 26th,
1841, married Mahala J. Chase, and had four children: Elizabeth, died aged
five years; Marcus, lives in Thompson; Horace E. and Willis. Mr. Covell
has been a resident of Putnam since 1860.
Asa Cutler, the son of Isaac, married Mary Cady, and among his
children were: Lodema, Sarah, Hannah, Mary, Benjamin, Asa and David.
Benjamin (son of Asa) married Olive Buck, and his children were: Lodema,
married William Barstow of Killingly; Asa; Olive, married Davis Torrey of
Killingly; Dan; Mary, died young; George, died at Southbridge, Mass.;
Sarah, married George Bartlett of Webster, Mass.; and Mary, married Joseph
Robinson of Thompson. Dan, born October 26th, 1793, married Amy Bussey of
Rhode Island, and their children were: William Henry, lives in Killingly;
Caroline Maria (deceased), married Daniel Harris of Rhode Island; Lucretia
Dexter, wife of Francis X. Aldrich of Stanton, Iowa; Benjamin and Horace
Adams, both died in Killingly; Augustus, killed in the late war;
Frederick; Mary Olive, widow of Elisha Davison, resides in Putnam; and Amy
Ann, wife of William H. Sharpe of Putnam. Dan died July 10th, 1881.
Frederick (son of Dan) born in Killingly, August 25th, 1829, married
Georgiana Stead, and has eight children: Edward R., Dan, George M., Ira,
Lizzie, Arthur, Alice B. and Minnie F. Asa (son of Benjamin), born in
Killingly, June 8th, 1788, married Sarah Torrey, and had five children:
Lucy T., wife of Horace Read of Putnam; Hobart C., died in Putnam; Tama,
widow of Doctor Plimpton, resides in Putnam; Edward Adams, resides in
Providence, R. I.; and Susan Davison. widow of Day Harris, lives at
Putnam. Asa was engaged in cotton manufacturing at Oxford, Mass., but
returned to Putnam in 1847, where he died March 7th, 1859.
Joseph W. Cutler, eldest son of job H. and Mary E. (Willey) Cutler,
was born in Central Village, Conn., February 5th, 1541. At the age of 22
years he was appointed deputy sheriff, which office he filled for nine
years. He was engaged in farming for the next three years, came to Putnam
in 1875, and in 1879 engaged in the wholesale and retail wood and coal
business, which he now follows. He was selectman in the town of Plainfield
two years, also constable. He married Mary, daughter of Elisha Buck, and
has one daughter, Annie G.
The Dresser family was originally settled in Roxbury, Mass., in
January, 1639, by John Dresser, who had a family of six children, the
eldest of whom was John, who married Martha Thorld. He had a family of
eight children, and Jonathan, his second son, was born in January, 16 73
or 16 74. He had seven children, of whom Thomas, born November 7th, 1704,
and who married Mary Chandler, of Andover, Mass., was the first one of the
name to come to Windham county. He had a family of eight children, and his
son Nathan, born January 12th, 1738, married Orindia Sessions and had the
following family: Thomas, died at the age of 21 years; Nathan, died in
Pomfret; Mary, Abel, Elfreyda, Huldah, Serena, Esther, Jonathan, died in
Homer, N. Y.; Comfort, died in Vermont, and Orindia. Nathan died February
3d, 1805. Abel (son of Nathan) was born January 26th, 1775, and died
October 27th, 18,59. He married Sally Brown and their children were:
Horace, died in New York state; Emily, died unmarried; Joseph A., died in
Monson, Mass; Sally, deceased, married John W. Adams, of Pomfret; Nancy,
deceased, married Hiram Waldo, of Canterbury, Conn; Abel and Ezra, born
April 14th, 1817, married three times, to Marcia Carpenter, Ellen Payson
and Jennie Dodge. He has one child by his first wife, Frances, widow of
John Harrington, who resides with him and has one child, Myrtie.
Lucius Fitts, second son of Daniel and Abigail Fitts, wasborn in
Pomfret, Conn., June 28th, 1810. His father was a tanner, currier and
shoemaker. On coming of age he engaged in farming in his native town,
which he followed till 1875, when he removed to Putnam. He married Adaline
S., daughter of Ephraim Tucker.
Shrimpton Gallup, fourth son of Martin and Ruth Gallup, was born in
Brooklyn, Conn., February 14th, 1818. At the age of eight he commenced
working in the factory, which he followed until the breaking out of the
war, when he enlisted in the 18th Connecticut volunteers, and was mustered
out of the service May 4th, 1865, having lost his left leg at the battle
of Piedmont, Va. He has been a resident of Putnam since 1828. His first
wife was Amanda Brown, by whom he had one child, Andrew, a soldier in the
late war. His second wife was Hannah Aldrich.
John H. Gardner, second son of Horace and Eliza C. (Annis) Gardner,
was born in Manchester, Conn., November 25th, 1837. At the age of five his
parents removed to Stafford Springs, where he received a common school
education. At the age of sixteen he entered a general store, where he
remained two years, then went to Hartford and was engaged in the dry goods
business for fourteen years. In January, 1869, he came to Putnam and
opened a dry goods store on the east side of the railroad, being the only
store at that time in that side of the village. He sold out in January,
1579, and retired from active business. He was elected president of the
Putnam Savings Bank in July, 1880, and has been director of the First
National Bank since 1877. He married Mary Wadsworth.
Augustus Houghton, second son of Abel and Lucretia (Phelps)
Houghton, was born in Princeton, Worcester county, Mass., November 18th,
1,922. He received a common school education. His father was a farmer, and
he passed his life till the age of 12 years on the farm. At that age he
entered a cotton factory in West Boylston, \lass., and at the age of
eighteen he engaged in business for himself at Holden, Mass. He was at
this point three years, and for the next four years with the Smithville
Manufacturing Company. The next seventeen years he was superintendent of
an envelope factory at Worcester, 1-lass. He then came to East Putnam and
was till 1882 engaged in manufacturing yarn. His first wife was Eliza
Roper, of Princeton, who bore him one child, Cora, wife of Albert Whiting,
of Smithville, hass. He second wife was Elizabeth Hawkins, by whom he has
had two children-Alexander A. and Addie E., wife of Dewitt C. Parks, of
Putnam.
Richard Monroe Hoyle, son of Richard and Hannah (Standish) Hogle,
was born in Thompson, Conn., June 27th, 1844. At the age of 16 years he
enlisted in the 15th Massachusetts volunteers. He was wounded four times
while in the service. After the war he engaged in mercantile business till
1883. Since that time he has been engaged in farming. He built the Hoyle
Block in Putnam in 1877. His wife's maiden name was Inez Carpenter.
Andrew Leavens, son of Joseph, son of Joseph, was born in Killingly
February 11th, 1771, arid died June 28th. 1847. He married Elizabeth Davis
and had seven children. The only one of these living is Andrew K., born in
Killingly July 16th. 1819, married Lois Holmes, daughter of Samuel Holden
Torrey. They have no children.
William H. Letters, third son of John and Charlotte Letters, was
born in Warren, Mass., December 5th, 1842. He was engaged in the
manufacturing business from 1864 to 1871 in Stafford, Conn. In the latter
year he came to Putnam and opened a store for the sale of musical
instruments and sewing machines. His present brick store, which is 20 by
75 feet, was completed in 1881. In December, 1886, his son, Frank G.,
became a member of the firm, under the name of Wm. H. Letters & Son. He is
married to Emeline R. Skinner. His children are: Frank G., born in Monson,
Mass., March 13th, 1865, and Charles M., born in Putnam May 14th, 1872.
Edward Mullan was born in Belfast, county Antrim, Ireland, October
26th, 1854, and came to America with his parents in 1860, they settling in
Thompson, Conn. He attended the common school, also a private school in
Putnam. At the age of twenty he engaged in the general store business in
Putnam, which he has since conducted. He has held various town offices,
was member of the board of selectmen in 1S80-S1, justice of the peace and
registrar of voters. He was appointed postmaster July 18th, 1885. He
married Eliza, daughter of Michael Sherlock, and has two daughters-Anna
and Gertrude.
Danforth K. Olney, born in Ashford, December 17th, 1830, is the
eldest son in a family of eight children of Thomas T. and Mary (Marcy)
Olney. In his early life he engaged in shoe making, but at the age of
seventeen went into mercantile business at Fiskdale, Mass. He afterward
went to Brookdale, Mass., and finally located at Southbridge, Mass., in
the grocery business, being a member of the firm of Edwards & Olney. This
firm subsequently dissolved, and he engaged in a general store trade, the
firm being Comstock & Olney. Suffering loss by fire, he severed his
connection with mercantile business and was for three years assistant
United States assessor. After this he was general agent for three years
for a gas machine company in New York. He then for two years was in the
hotel business in Springfield, Mass. In 1879 he came to Putnam, and for
the next year and a half was landlord of the Commercial House, and from
that time until his death, November 1st, 1886, he was proprietor and
manager of the Bugbee House. He married March 7th, 1854, Lucy M., daughter
of Wright and Clarissa Woodward, and had one child, Clara Belle. He was a
member of the 45th Massachusetts volunteers during the war.
The Perrin Family.-The first settler of this family in this country
was from England, and spelled his name as follows: John Perryn. He was
born in 1614 and came to America in 1635, settling at Braintree, Mass. He
had five children: Mary, John, Hannah, Abraham and Mary. John, his son,
who died at Roxbury, had ten children, of whom Samuel, the second son, was
born March 10th, 1671, and died in Woodstock, Conn., March 10th, 1743. He
had seven children, his eldest son, Samuel, being born March 13th, 1697,
married Dorothy Morris, and died in Pomfret, Conn., December 6th, 1765. He
had ten children: Samuel, Lucy, died at 10 years of age; Hezekiah, died
aged 38 years; Jedidiah, died in the West Indies; Dorothy, married
Benjamin Leavens; Prudence, died aged 3 years; Chloe, Hannah and Abraham,
all died single, and Daniel, died in Thompson. Samuel, son of Samuel, born
August 20th, 1725, was a lieutenant in the revolutionary war, married
Margaret Hyde, and had eight children: Willard, killed in the
revolutionary war; Sarah, married L. Bartholomew; Hannah, died 2 years of
age; Hannah, died young; Silence; Noah, died in Putnam; Lucy, married
William Gary and emigrated to Illinois, where she died; and Jedidiah, born
February 28th, 1775, and died February 25th, 1856. Jedi-diah married Diana
Aldrich and had the following family: Huldah, married Lemuel Holmes;
Caroline, married Pitt Holmes; Abraham, died in infancy; Lora Ann, died
single; Diana, married Pitt Holmes; Abraham; died single; Lucia, the only
survivor, resides in Putnam; and Jedidiah, died without issue.
Sylvanus Perry was an officer in the revolutionary army and lived
in Killingly. He was twice married, and had the following family: George,
died West; Anson; Sylvanus, died in New York state; Abby, married an
Ormsby; Rebecca, married George Wadsworth, and died in Wisconsin; and
Desire, died in Killingly. Anson, son of Sylvanus, was born October 5th,
1770, married Abalena Buck, and had ten children: Otis, died in Killingly;
Charlotte (deceased), married John Truesdale, of Killingly; Ann
(deceased), married Jason Wakefield, of Thompson; Lucy (deceased),
married, 1st, Joseph Perry, 2d, George Chaffee; Rebecca (deceased),
married Penuel flay, of Woodstock; Keziah (deceased), married James Youngs,
of Putnam; George; David B., lives in Illinois; Sylvanus, lives in New
York state; and William, lives in Illinois. George, son of Anson, was born
in Killingly, September 30th, 1809, married Eliza W. Buck; and had eight
children: Elisha F., resides at Worcester, Mass.; Mary E., wife of John D.
Wells, of Providence, R. I.; Caroline D., wife of Francis B. Chaffee, of
Woodstock; Martha A., wife of Elisha Rogers, of Montville, Conn.; James
E., resides in Putnam; John H., lives in Killingly; Angie and Morrison.
James Perry came from Lebanon, Conn., married Lucy Perry, and had
four children: Anson, lives in Putnam; Joseph, lives in Thompson; William
S., and Lucy A. (deceased), married Elijah Ormsbee, of Providence, R. I.
William S. was born in Bridgewater, Mass., October 16th, 1826, married
Annie Ames, and had five children: William Francis, died aged 12 years;
Eugenie, resides in Canterbury, Conn.; Charles, resides in Dakota; Mary
Ann, died aged 25 years; and Ernest Leroy. William S. is a blacksmith by
trade, and was a member of Company A, 6th Connecticut volunteers, in
service three years and one month. He was wounded at the charge of Fort
Wagner.
George A. Pettis was born in Coventry, R. I., July 21st, 1835. His
father, Welcome, was born in Coventry, February 22d. 1815, married Celinda
Rouse, and had three children: Isaac A., died in Amherst, Mass.; George
A., and Mary L., wife of R. A. Turner, of Newark, N. J. He came to Putnam
in 1836, where he died October 3d, 1863. George A. married Harriet Hall,
and their children are: G. Albert, Jr., born in Putnam, December 22d,
1859, married Ida ALL Harris, has one child, Sybil, and resides in Putnam;
Elmer E., resides in Putnam; and Nellie E., -wife of Loren Stockwell, of
Douglass, \lass.
George E. Shaw, eldest son of George W. and Abbie (Carpenter) Shaw,
was born in Thompson, Conn., January 20th, 1851. He received a common and
high school education. At the age of fifteen he came to Putnam and engaged
in the jewelry business with his uncle Edward Shaw. At the death of his
uncle in 1876 he. became a member of the firm under the style of George E.
Shaw & Co. He married Nellie S., daughter of the late Dwight Sharpe, of
Pomfret, and has one daughter, Ruth E.
Dutee Smith, second son of Seneca and Nancy (Hunt) Smith, was born
in Burrillville, R. I., March 13th, 1825. At the age of twenty he went to
Douglass, Mass., where he was employed for fifteen years by the Douglass
Axe Co. He came to Putnam in 1864 and engaged in butchering, which he
followed a number of years; then owning the Elm Street House, he ran a
hotel till 1887. His first wife was Eliza J. Dudley, and his second wife,
Maggie Small. 'His children by his first wife are Luella and Clara, both
married and residents of Boston. By his second wife he has two sons,
Luther G. and D. Roy, both residents of Putnam.
Frank S. Streeter, only child of Hiram B. and Persis S. Streeter,
was born in Southbridge, Mass., March 5th, 1846. He has always been a
farmer. He came to Pomfret in 1871 and to Putnam in 1880. He has been
twice married, first to Mary A. Sherman, and second to Ruth R. Maynard. He
has one child, Ethel May, by his second wife.
James B. Tatem, second son of Henry and Abbie Ann (King) Tatem, was
born in Phenix, R. I., April 9th, 1836. When he was six years old his
parents moved to Charlton, Mass., from there to Brookfield, afterward to
Southbridge, Mass, and became residents of Woodstock in 1850. His father's
death occurring when the son was fourteen, he -was unable to complete his
education, and engaged in shoemaking, which, with farming, he carried on
till 1868, when he commenced wood turning, producing handles of every
description, carriage poles, whiffletrees, etc. In 1887 he admitted his
son John Nelson as partner under the firm name of J. B. Tatem & Son. The
latter manages the business at the factory, but the office, which is
connected by telephone with the works, has been located in Putnam since
1856, the senior partner having resided there since that date. Mr. Tatem
has held several town offices in Woodstock, was deputy sheriff for ten
years, member of the legislature of 1878, state senator from the 16th
District in 1885 and 1886. In May, 1886, he was appointed state dairy
commissioner for two years by Governor Henry B. Harrison, and was
reappointed by Governor Phineas Lounsbury. He married for his first wife,
Mary C., daughter of Silas P. Allen, of Woodstock. She had two sons-John
Melvin and Henry A. He was married again to Angie S., daughter of Eli
Kenyon, of Woodstock, and by her has two children-Mary Eaton and James
Garfield.
Thomas Jones Thurber is a son of Henry Thurber and Mary Hope Jones,
his wife, who came to Putnam in 1846 with seven children: Julia Hope,
married J. S. Jackson, of New York, and died there in 1888; Henry
Clarence, died in Putnam in 1851; Frances A., married E. S. Bugbee, of
Woodstock, and lives in Putnam; Thomas Jones; Joseph Harris, lives in New
York; Sarah Allen, died in Putnam in 1852, and Emma Louise, married J. E.
Taylor, of Woodstock, Conn., now of Worcester, Mass.
Doctor Samuel Holden Torrey was the son of Reverend Doctor Joseph
Torrey and was born in South Kingstown, R. I., and practiced medicine in
that town and Killingly, Conn., where he died December 1st, 1786, at the
age of 48 years. He married Anna Gould, of Branford, Conn., and had eight
sons: Samuel Holden, emigrated to Rushville, N. Y., where he died; Oliver,
died in infancy; William Gould, Joseph, died in infancy; Joseph, died aged
17 years; Oliver and Augustus, became physicians, and Erastus, went to
Windsor, Vt. William Gould, son of Samuel Holden, was a farmer and was
born in Killingly, Conn., June 1st, 1766. He was twice married-first to
Sarah Cutler, second to Lois Holmes. He had but one son, Samuel Holden.
William Gould died September 9th, 1849. Samuel Holden was born in
Killingly, April 6th, 1796. He was a farmer and was married March 5th,
1828, to Rhoda Smith. They had but one child, Lois Holmes, wife of Andrew
Knight Leavens, of Putnam. Oliver, son of Reverend Doctor Joseph Torrey,
was born in South Kingstown, R. I., March 24th, 1756, and died March 7th,
1S43. He married September 23d, 1784, Tama, daughter of Daniel Davis, one
of the pioneers of Ohio in 1788. They had twelve children: Elizabeth,
married Rufus Davison, of Killingly; Daniel D., Sarah, married Asa Cutler;
Lucy, died single; Susan D., married Jeremiah Dana, of Oxford, Mass.;
George, died single; Sophia, died single; Hannah B., died single; Mary,
married James Howe; Elvira, died unmarried; and Almira, married Benjamin
Brayton, of Putnam, and is the only one living at the present time. Daniel
Davis, son of Oliver, born February 20th, 1788, married Olive Cutler and
had five children: Erastus, Joseph W., died in Putnam; Mary C. and Rebecca
L., died young, and Walter D., died in Manchester, Conn. Daniel Davis
married for his second wife Susan Bishop, her mother being a Torrey. They
had one child, Daniel D., who died at the age of 17 years. His third wife
was Mrs. Eliza Davis, by whom he had one child, Abigail, who married Moses
B. H. Bishop. Daniel D. died October 20th, 1860. Erastus, son of Daniel
Davis, was born in Killingly, June 28th, 1814, married Sybil Alton and had
three children: Charles Davis, George Louis, died in infancy, and Olive
E., wife of Silas L. Babbitt, of Putnam. Erastus died December 23d, 1885.
Charles Davis, son of Erastus, born in Pomfret, March 8th, 1840, married
Martha W. Warren and had five children: Charles Louis, Martha Louise, wife
of Irving P. Spencer; Ernest Ellsworth, Olin W. and Corrina J., died in
infancy. Charles Davis was engaged in mercantile business in Killingly,
and is now a farmer in Putnam. He is located on a farm that has been in
the family since 1713. He was a member of the house of representatives in
1886-87.
Jerome Tourtelotte, eldest son of Joseph D. and Dinah (Mun yan)
Tourtelotte, was born in Thompson, Conn., June 10th, 1837W His father
being a farmer he spent his early life on a farm. At the age of sixteen he
learned the shoemaker's trade, but at the breaking out of the war he
enlisted in Company A, 2d Regiment of Connecticut Infantry for three
months as a private May 7th, 1861. At the expiration of his term of
enlistment he returned to Putnam and raised a company which became Company
K, 7th Regiment of Connecticut Infantry, was commissioned September 2d,
1861, first lieutenant, and was made captain February 21st, 1862. He was
severely wounded at Fort Wagner, July 11th, 1863, and taken prisoner. He
spent twenty months in rebel prisons, principally at Columbia, S. C., was
exchanged March 1st, 1865, and commissioned major March 21st, 1665, and
lieutenant-colonel July 24th, 1 86.5, and mustered out of service August
12th, 1865. After the war he returned to Putnam, butt from March, 1866, to
July, 1873, was employed by the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company at
Cranston, R. I., in the position of outside superintendent. He then
returned to Putnam and engaged in the manufacture of slippers, which he
followed till March, 1850, when he was elected treasurer of the Putnam
Savings Bank, which position he now fills. He was a member of the
Connecticut house of representatives in 1875 and 1880. He married in
November, 1874, Emily E., daughter of Edward Husband, of North Adams,
Mass., and has three boys: Leroy, Arthur and Harry.
Matthias W. Wagner was born in Germany, October 15th, 1827. At the
age of sixteen, with his elder brother John, he came to America, landing
at Quebec, Canada, where he remained for a short time, then went to
Albany, N. Y. He was apprenticed to the tailoring trade in the old
country, and worked as journeyman in various towns in New England, and
finally located at Southbridge, Mass., where he went into business for
himself. He was also in business at Hudson, Mass. He came to Putnam in
1868, and carried on the retail ready made and custom made clothing
business till 1875. Since that time he has been engaged in building and
buying and selling real estate. He married Louisa Collars, by whom he had
three children: Henry Edward, died aged 16 years; Emma E., wife of George
S. Bradley, of West Haven, Conn., and Charles Philip.
Edgar Mason Wheaton, eldest son of Angell and Mary Ann (Williams)
Wheaton, was born in Pomfret, Conn., April 28th, 1851. His father's two
eldest brothers went to Illinois in an early day, settling about
twenty-five miles from Chicago, the place where they located being named
Wheaton. A college was formed there, called Wheaton College, and our
subject graduated from that college. He returned to Putnam in 1872, and
engaged in building, and in 1880 erected his present shop and commenced to
manufacture sashes, doors and blinds. He has built many dwelling houses
and business blocks in Putnam. His residence is on the top of Oak hill,
and he has laid out an addition to the village of Putnam, located between
Grove, Chapman, South plain and Center streets, consisting of 54 building
lots, streets having been graded. The property was formerly known as
Davis' Grove, afterward as Bradley's Grove, and subsequently Mechanics'
Park. In his shop he employs thirty-five hands, uses a twenty horse power
engine, and does planing and sawing of every description. He married
Charity, daughter of Timothy Jayne, a native of Illinois, and has the
following children: Mary, Frank, Walter, Henry, Willie and Raymond.
Horatio Whipple, second son of Bela and Mehitable (Grant) Whipple,
was born in Cumberland, R. I., January 8th, 1821. He has always been
engaged in farming, and came to Putnam in 1841. His first wife was Mrs.
Henry Hopkins, by whom he had two children: Mary, wife of Horace E.
Hurlburt of Putnam, and Martha, died in infancy. By his second wife, Sarah
Ann Page, he has one child, Hattie E.
Edwin R. Wood, eldest son of Francis B. and Sophia (Hall) Wood, was
born in Ludlow, Mass., November 3d, 1833. At the age of six he went to
live with his uncle William R. Hall in the town of Chaplin. He came to
Putnam in 1849. He has always been a farmer. He enlisted in Company B,
18th Connecticut volunteers for three years, and was discharged in May,
1865. He lost his leg at the Battle of Lynchburg, Va., June 18th, 1864.
His first wife was Harriet White, whose children were Albert Edwin, died
aged 3 years; Joseph R., resides in Westfield, Mass., and Jerome, resides
in Southampton, Mass. By his second wife, Abby E. Cruff, he has had
children: Elma C., resides in Putnam, and Edwin L.
Alfred H. Wright, second son of Daniel C. and Agnes (Lyon) Wright,
was born in Waltham, Mass., June 13th, 1859. He graduated from the Waltham
High School in 1873. His father being engaged by the American Watch
Company, he was apprenticed at the age of sixteen to learn the
watchmaker's trade. He was employed by the American Watch Company till
1882, and from that time till 1885 was employed by the Hampden Watch
Company of Springfield, Mass.' In connection with his twin brother, Albert
C., in 1883, he established a retail jewelry business in Putnam, under the
firm name of Wright Brothers and in 1885 he came to Putnam to reside. His
brother's death occurred June 19th, 1888, and though the firm name remains
the same, it consists only of Alfred H. Wright.
Additional Offsite Biographies
Back to: Putnam, 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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