born June 28, i8io, resided through life at Leete's
Island, was a deacon in the church, and died May
3. T884. He married Sylvia Fowler, and had two
children. Edward Walter and Lucy Louisa. He
compiled the Leete genealogy. (2) Rufus Norton,
born Aug. 17, 1812, is mentioned below. (3) Theo-
dore Adgate. born Mav 18, 1814. married Mary C.
\yh\tQ, and died April 28, 1886, leaving three chil-
dren, Ella Louisa, Rev. William White, and Theo-
dore Woolsey. He graduated from Vale College in
1839, subsequently from Vale Theological Seminary,
and filled several pastorates. (4) Calvin Miner
torn Oct. 18. 1816, married Lucy Maria Leete. (5)
Louisa Maria, born Aug. 20, 1822, died unmarried,
July 29, 1855.
(\TI) Rufus Norton Leete passed his entire life
in the locality of his birth, revered by the associa-
tions of six generations of ancestors. He was reared
on his father's farm, and upon reaching manhood
adopted agricultural pursuits as his life vocation,
following same with merited and signal success al'
his days. In 1848 he erected a residence at Leete's
Island, which he occupied until his death, which
occurred Dec. 28, 1894, when he was aged eighty-
two years. His remains were interred in Leete's
Island cemetery. Mr. Leete was of a retiring dispo-
sition, and was known to be a man of unflinching
honor and unimpeachable integrity, steadfast in his
convictions and principles. In politics he was an
earnest and consistent Democrat, in religious faith
an active member and liberal supporter of the Bap-
tist Church in Guilford during its existence. He
was largely interested in the industrial development
of his native town, aside from his farm pursuits;
was a large stockholder in the Guilford Manufactur-
ing Co.. and for a number of years was an efficient-
member of the Guilford Savings Bank.
On Oct. 23, 1833, Rufus N. Leete married Sarah
Bishop, daughter of Ezra S. and Abigail (Norton")
Bishop, who survives him. Mrs. Leete is a de-
scendant of an old New England family. She is
of the seventh generation from (I) John Bishop,
the founder of the familv in Guih'nrd. ( TT) Jolm
Bishop, his son, married Susannah Goldenham, and
to them were born nine children. o\ whom (III)
Nathaniel Bishop, the tourth child, was bo-n in
1666. and died May 16, 1714. He married, Feb. o.
1693, Mercv Hughes, who was born Mav 20, 1676,
and\licd Dec. 7. 17^)0. Their chidren were as fol-
lows: Nathaniel, bom Nov. 17. 1693, married .\bi-
gail Stone, and died Sept. 24, 1769: Samuel, bom
July 20, 1695, married Hannah Hull, and died Feb.
24.'i77i; Marv. born Nov. 29. i6c;7. died young;
Ebenezer, sketch of whom follows; Exnerence,
born April 2, 1705; Temperance, bom April 27,
1709. married Nathaniel Lee. and died March 29,
1751.
(I\') Ebenezer Bishop, youngest son of Na-
thaniel, was bom Sept. 22, 1701, in North Guilford
where he engaged in farming. In 1729 he married
Mehitabel Cliittcnden, who was born Sept. 30. i/'^.
Their fourteen children were as follows : Aliah,
born March 26. 1730. married Ruth Snow, and |
died Nov. 30. 1765: Temperance, born March i.
1732. married Gile's Chittenden: :Mabel was born
Dec. 17, 1733; Amos, born May 5, 1735, died
voung; Ezra, born Nov. 27. 1736, died young;
Ebenezer, born March i, 1738, died young; Eber.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
895
born Sept. i, 1740, resided in New Milford; Beiilah,
born Dec. 10, 1742, married Thomas Fowler ; James,
born June 3, 1745, married Eliza Wetmore, and
died June 16, 1832; Nathaniel was born May 6,
1747; Olive, Ijorn June 6, 1749, married Noah Gris-
wold. and died Nov. 28, 1817: Ncriah, sketch of
whom follows; Jared was born Aug. 17, 1753;
Luther was born Aug. 20, 1755.
(V) Neriah Bishop, born Aug. 28, 1751, in
North Guilford, died April 22, 1796. He married.
May 10, 1781, Rachel Stone, who was born July
3O' 1757- Their three children were: Rachel, born
Feb. 13, 1782; Neriah. born May 16, 1783 (married
Harriet Handy) ; and Ezra Stone, sketch t)f whom
follows.
(VT) Ezra Stone Bishop, born June 13, 178(3,
in Guilford, died June 29, 1873. He married, April
23, 1809, Abigail Norton, born Feb. 11, 1791,
daughter of Jared and Sarah (Brockett) Norton.
She die«l Nov. 5, 1829. Their seven children were:
Eliza, born Sept. 9, 1810; Sarah, born Sept. 18,
1812, widow of Rufus N. Leete, our subject; Mar-
garet, born Sept. 11, 1815, who died Sept. 7, 1879;
William H., born March 23, 1819, who married
Sarah Griffing; Charles, born Dec. 12, 1823, who
married Emily Cochrane; George, born Sept. 12,
1825, married to Florilla C. Fowler; and Abigail,
born in October, 1829, who died Dec. 13, 1882.
To Rufus N. and Sarah (Bishop) Leete, were
born six children: (i) Nancy, born Oct. 23, 1834,
married, Feb. 12, 1862, Walter G. Bishop, of Aleri-
den, and died in Guilford, April 4, 1886. (2) Rich-
ard Miner, sketch of whom follows. (3) Roger
Calvin, sketch of whom follows. (4) Ellen Lu-
cretia, born Aug. 20, 1840, married, Feb. 22, 1887,
W. G. Bishop. (5) Rufus Burton, born June 22,
1843. (6) ALirgaret Elizabeth, born March 11,
1846.
Ricii.vRD Mixer Leete, eldes.t son of Rufus N.,
was born on the homestead Nov. 20, 1836, and re-
ceived his education at the district schools and the
Guilford academy. Until his marriage he remained
at home with his parents, working on the farm
during the summers and teaching school in the
winter seasons. After his marriage he commenced
farming on his own account on a farm owned by his
father in the Leete's Island District, and also kept
store for seven years, though agricultural pursuits
have practically been his life vocation. In religious
faith he is a member of the Third Congregational
Church, as are also his wife and the several mem-
bers of his family. In his political predilections he
was originally an ardent Democrat, but is now an
equally zealous Prohibitionist, and for a term of
years has faithfully served his town as justice of
the peace.
On Nov. 14, 1861, Richard M. Leete was mar-
ried to Mary E. Norton, a daughter of Anson and
Fanny Norton, the former of whom descended from
an old Guilford family, whose genealogy is given
below. A brief record of the seven children born
to Richard and Mary Leete is as follows : ( i )
Anson Miner, born Jan. 19, 1863, married Nellie
Snow. (2) Arthur Bishop, born Jan. 13, 1864,
married Eunice Stannard ; he is station agent at
East Haven for the New York, New Haven & Hart-
ford Railroad. (3) Ellsworth Norton, born June
26, 1866, married, Oct. 30, 1889, Annie B. Fowler,
who died June 3, 1896, leaving two sons, Richard
F. (born Feb. 14, 1891) and Edgar R. (born April
30, 1893). He married second, Oct. 17, 1900, Eliz-
abeth Dudley. He is a bookkeeper in New Haven.
(4) Jennie Elizabeth, born June 27, 186S, married
Nathan S. Rose, of North Branford. (5) P'anny
Helen was born Feb. 2, 1870. (6) Sarah Ellen
was born April 19, 1872. (7) Carrie May, born
March 20, 1875, died March 29, 1875.
Norton Family. John Norton, son of Thomas
and Grace Norton, the first of the name in Guilford,
was a native of England, born in 1628 in Ockley,
County of Surrey. He came with his parents to
America, locating in Guilford, where in 1664 he
married Hannah Stone, born in 1644. For his sec-
ond wife he wedded Elizabeth Hubbard, born in
1638. He died Marci; 5, 1704. His son John, who
was the second of that name born to him, first saw
the light in East Guilford, Conn., May 29, 1668.
On Nov. 14, 1694, he married Hannah Buck, born
April 12, 1671, in Wethersficld, Hartford county:
he died March 15, 1712, in Guilford and was buried
there; she died Oct. 22, 1739. For her second hus-
band she married John Fowler. To John and Han-
nah Norton were born ten children.
John Nortcfn, third in order of birth in the fam-
ily of John, was born Dec. 13, 1699. He married
Elizabeth Robinson, and died Jan. 9, 1797.
John Norton, son of John, was born in Decem-
ber, 1734, and died in Guilford Aug. 17, 1804. He
married, Dec. 27, 1758, Lucy Lee, born in 1740,
who died in March, 1802, the mother of eight chil-
dren : (i) Ambrose, born Feb. 15, 1760, married
Hannah Hall, and died in March, 1813. (2) Sarah,
born in May, 1761, married Caleb J. Hall, and died
Aug. 24, 1843. (3) William, born in 1762. served
in the Revolutionary war, and died in 1782. (4)
John, born in 1763, died Aug. 27, 1773. (5) Ruth,
born in 1765, married Jehiel Strong. (6) Silas,
sketch of whom follows. (7) James, born in July,
1774, married Huldah Chittenden, and died Sept.
I, 1850. (8) Andrew, bom Sept. 13. 1776, married
Ruth Chittenden, and died July 9, 1859.
Silas Norton, born Feb. 20, 1769, died Nov. 29,
1821. He married, Feb. i8, 1792, Lucy Chitten-
den, born Feb. 9. 1774, died July 22, 1859. Their
children: (i) Alatbca, born Jan. 12, 1795, died
July 22, 181 1. (2) Harriet, born March 16, 1797,
died Oct. 14, 1875. (3) Huldah was born June
18, 1798. (4) Polly, born Oct. 26, 1800, married
Martin Hoadley. (5) John Ward, born Feb. 26,
1802, married Jane Nichols. (6) Anson, sketch of
whom follows. (7) Silas, born Aug. 28, 1805,
married Eliza Everts, and died Aug. 17, 1848. (8)
896
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Lucyette, born Jan. 31, 1807, married George Stan-
nard. (9) Augustus Dennison, born Dec. i, 1810,
married Julia Perow. (10) James Austin, bom
Dec. 22, 1814, married Ann Gale.
Anson Norton, father of Mrs. Richard M.
Leete, was born Dec. 7, 1803, and died Sept. 3, 1859.
He married, Oct. 7, 1S38, Mrs. Fanny Bishop, ivho
was born Sept. 2, 1804, and died Nov. 10, 187 1.
Their children: Mary Emma, born Jan. 3, 1840,
wife of Richard M. Leete; and James Lewis, born
May 14, 1842, who married Minnie A. Hotchkiss.
Roger C.\lvin Lekti£, second son of Rufus X.,
was born at Leete's Island, Guilford, Aug. 30,
1838, and received a good education, in part at
the district schools, in part at the high school at
Guilford. L'util he was thirty-one years of age he
remained on the homestead, and then removed to
his present farm, which was part of the homestead,
and where he has since followed agricultural pur-
suits.
In October, 1869. Mr. Leete married ?kliss Helen
A. Park, who was born in Sheshequin, Pa., a
daughter of Amos and Arlette M. (Griffen) Park,
and two children came to them, viz. : Irving P.,
born Jan. 22, 1875, attended the district school of
his neighborhood, also the Guilford high school,
and entered the third year of a course at Yale Uni-
versity : he died Aug. 2, 1896. R. \\'ayne, the sec-
ond son, born Aug. 9, 1876, received a similar edu-
cation at the district schools, and had just entered
Yale when he, too, was called from earth, Dec. 8,
1896. The mother died May 3. 1898. She and her
sons were highly respected in the community, and
their taking away — tlie sons within a brief period
of a few months — the mother following =0 soon
afterward, was a terrible blow to the bereaved fa-
ther, who still finds in the genuine sympathy of the
community some little solace to his sorrow. He is
a quiet unostentatious citizen, and a useful member
of society, one who lives up to the "golden rule."
In politics he is a Democrat, and at the present time
is serving as selectman of Guilford.
WALTER A. .MAIN, one of the most in-
fluential and esteemed citizens of Orange, was born
in that town Aug. 6, 1854. His grandfather, Brad-
ley Main, was a farmer of Coventry, Tolland coun-
ty, Conn., where he passed his life, and where he
died at an advanced age.
Elias T. Main, father of A\'alter A., was one of
a family of six children, only one of whom is yet
living, Abbie. wife of Elijah F. West, of Hartford,
whose son Fred A. is a member of the board of
aldermen of that city. Elias T. Main was a man of
high personal character and great public spirit, and
was universally respected and beloved by his fellow
townsmen, who rejjeatedly evinced their admiration
for, and confidence in, him by electing him to of-
fices of grave responsibility and high trust. He
was born in New Haven in 1819. In early life he
was a carriage maker, and while yet a young man
took an active part in public affairs, being foreman
of a (hand) fire engine company and captain of
the military organization known as the Governor's
Foot Guards. In 1852 he disposed of his business
in New Haven and removed to Orange, where he
purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural ])ur-
suits. In 1858 he was elected town clerk, which
office he held, through successive re-elections, for
thirty years, or until his death, Sept. 20, 1888, at the
age of sixty-nine years. In 1873, the location of
the town offices being moved to the borough of
West Haven, he abandoned farming and devoted
himself wholly to his public duties. In addition
to the office of town clerk he held that of registrar
of vital statistics. His acquaintance was co-exten-
sive with the limits of the town, and his incor-
ruptible probity, joined to a keen business sagacity,
commanded universal respect. He was an ardent
Republican in politics, and was for many years
chairman of the town committee and a delegate to
numerous conventions. In 1872 he was elected a
member of the Lower House of the General Assem-
bly. He was of a genial disposition and fond of
social pleasure. A charter member of New Haven
City Lodge, I. O. O. F., he filled all the chairs m
that body, including that of past noble grand, and
was for forty years a member of the Grand En-
campment. He was an earnest and consistent mem-
ber of the Baptist Church of New Haven, as was
also his wife, who preceded him to the grave, dying
at the age of forty-three. Her maiden name was
Jane E. Smith, and she was the only child of Will-
iam A. Smith, a prosperous farmer of Orange, of
which town her family were early settlers, and
where she herself was born. Oi the seven children
born to Mr. and Airs. Elias T. Main, five are yet
living, Walter A. being the fourth. Martha is the
wife of William M. Russell, of Tyler City, in the
town of Orange ; William D. is a resident of Hart-
ford ; Mary E. resides in West Haven ; Arthur L.
is manager of the Spring Lake Co. of West Haven.
Clitiord L., who was in the cmjjloy of the Electric
railway, died during the sunnner of 1901, leaving a
wife and four children, who reside in West Haven.
Walter A. Main passed his boyhood upon his
father's farm in Orange, and his early education
was received at the common schools and academy of
that town. After graduating from the latter insti-
tution he entered his father's office, as assistant.
Here under the care of a wise and loving father,
he received his first business trainin.g, readily mas-
tering all details and proving himself a capable and
efficient clerk. In fact, he continued to render more 'â–
or less aid to his father in the discharge of the
duties of the office until the latter's demise, when
he became his successor. Meanwhile he was made
the incumbent of various other important offices.
From 1874 until 1883 he was deputy ])ostmaster at
West Haven, the actual supervision of the office de-
volving almost wholly upon him. In addition there-
to he was chosen tax collector for the town and
ljr^A.-aW-
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
S97
bon)Ui;Ii in 1877, and was annnally re-elected until
18S5.' in 1887 he was elected first selectman, but
rcsi<,MKHl that office to accept the ix)St of town
clerk, which, as has been said, was offered him upon
his father's death. In 1891, however, failing health
com])elled him to seek recuperation in the more
salulirious climate'of California, where he remained
until June, 1893. During his sojourn on the coast
he was connected with various local companies for
irrigation, besides being interested in orange cul-
ture. The following year, upon his return to
Orange, he was again elected first selectman, and
has been annually re-elected, holding the office at
the present 'time. Like his father, Mr. Main is an
earnest Republican, and a valued man in the coun-
cils of his ]iarty, having been for many years chair-
man of the town committee, and a frequent dele-
gate to county and state conventions. In 1900 he
was elected a member of the General Assembly to
represent the town of Orange, and has served as
clerk of the committee on Cities and Boroughs,
which was one of the important committees of the
session.
In 1883 Mr. Main embarked in the real estate
and insurance business, which he resumed on his
return from the West, and represents some of the
oldest and soundest companies in the country,
among them the German American, Aetna, London
and Commercial Union. He is treasurer of the
Spring Lake Ice Co., in which concern he is a large
stockliolder. Mr. Main's business career has been
e.xcept-onally successful, having been molded upon
the i)rinciples of sound judgment and unwavering
inte.grity.
]\lr. Main is a member of the Royal Arcanum
and a Mason of hi.gh rank, having passed through
all tiic degrees of the fraternity up to the 32d, and
affihates with Annawan Lodge, No. 115, A. F. &
A. M,. of West Haven; Franklin Chapter, R. A.
M., and Harmony Council, of New Haven; New-
Haven Connnandery, K. T. ; La Fayette Consistory ;
and Pyramid Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
He is also a member of the Second Company of
Governor's Foot Guards, of New^ Haven.
Ill November, 1879. Mr. Main was married to
Carrie E.. daughter of Sidney Smith, a shoe dealer
in West Haven, and his wife, Sarah (Goodell), of
Westville. Mrs. Main is one of a family of four
children, of whom only she and a brother, Edward
E., survive; her parents are also deceased. To
Mr. and Mrs. Main have been born three children,
Mildred L.. Florence S. and W. Raymond. In re-
ligious faith Mr Main is a Congre.galionalist, and
attends the services of that denomination,
GEORGE AUtiUSTUS WILCOX was born
ill Madison. Xew Haven county, Sept. 30, 1830,
and makes his summer home in his native town.
He comes of one of the oldest families of New-
England and is seventh in line of direct de-
scent from John Wilcox, the fir>t of the family
57
in America, who settled in Hartford prior to
''^*39. ^v3s one of the original proprietors and
held several responsible offices ; he had his home
on the present site of the Park, near the State
House, and had a good estate. He died in
1 65 1 and left one son, John, who came w^ith him
from England, and two daughters.
CJeorge Augustus Wilcox is a son of the late
Jonathan S. Wilcox and Chloe (Hand), a sister of
Daniel Hand. He was graduated from Yale College
in 1852, and after spending a year at the South, went
to Detroit, Mich., where he entered the law office of
his uncle. Judge George E. Hand, and was admitted
to the Michigan Bar in 1854. Mr. Wilcox began
the practice of his chosen profession, and continued
it until 1880, when he returned East, and has since
spent his summers in Madison, and his winters in
the city of New York. Mr. Wilcox is a gentleman
of genial character and much culture. He has trav-
eled quite extensively both in this country and
abroad, and has occasionally contributed literarv ar-
ticles for publication. Independent in politics and
religion, he holds his own views and does not hesi-
tate to express them on occasion clearly and posi-
tively.
Mr. Wilcox was married, in Brooklyn, N. \'..
to Mary H. Grenelle, a daughter of William II.
Grenelle, and has one child, Constance.
MARTIN KELLOGG N0RTIIA:M, a progress-
ive and prominent farmer of the town of Branford,
was born in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., Oct.
16, 1818, son of John Cone and Rachel (Kellogg)
Northam.
Jonathan Northam, the paternal grandfather of
Martin K., was a soldier in the war of the Revolu-
tion, and received a pension on account of his
service in the Continental army. He was a farmer,
and died at Marlboro at the advanced age of eighty-
seven years.
John Cone Northam was born in ^Marlboro,
Conn. He was reared to farming, but became a
quarryman, and was employed for many years in
the quarries at Haddam Neck. He died at the age
of sixty-four years. Mr. Northam first married
Rachel Kellogg, a native of Chatham, and daughter
of Martin and Rachel (Hosford) Kello.gg, the for-
mer of whom was a farmer in the town of Chatham.
To this union were born children as follow-s : John
M., iViartiii K., Lucy A. (wife of Hubbard Fuller),
Joel K. and William B., of whom Martin and Lucy
survive. By his second wife, Anna Brainercl.
daughter of Frederick Brainerd, Mr. Northam be-
came the father of two children : Laura B., who
married William Bishop; and Frederick B., a far-
mer, who married Ellen Lee.
^lartin Kellogg Northam was reared in his na-
tive town, w-here he received a common school
education, and at the age of sixteen years started out
in life for himself as a driver in the quarries, in
SqS
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which employment he acquitted himself creditably,
and won the good opinion of his employers. When
he had become somewhat older he worked at stone
cutting, beginning at this trade in 1836, and con-
tinuing in same until 1867. In 1859 Mr. Xortham
located in liraiiford, and there followed the stone
cutter's trade up to 1867, when he turned his atten-
tion to farming, which has been his occupation ever
since. He owns and cultivates a fine tract of eighty
acres. Our subject is active in local affairs, es-
pecially in the advancement of educational interests,
having been a mcniber of the school board for twelve
consecutive years, during which period he has given
his time and influence with such good effect that
three new school houses have been erected in Bran-
ford and Stony Creek. He has also acted as select-
man of the town, and in his public service, as in his
private life, his duties are ably and promptly per-
formed. His political allegiance is given to the Re-
publican party.
Mr. Northam was married July 2, 1863, to El-
len L. Palmer, w-ho was born May 24, 1843, o"ly
child of Hezekiah and Mary (Beach) Palmer, of
Branford. Both her parents died in 1892, within
two weeks. Mr. Palmer was a sailor, as was also
his father. James Palmer, who was drowned off the
coast of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Xortham have
had two children, John H. and Calvin K. John H.
Northam was born Feb. 15, 1865, married Cora
Bishop, who was born June 19, 1868, and has four
children — Robert H., born Nov. 22, 1889; Adeline
E., born May 12, 1891 ; Frederick R.. born July 25,
1892: and Martin P., born Sept. 22, 1896. John H.
Northam is an engineer in the Norcross Quarry,
Stony Creek. Calvin K. Northam was born June
17, 1866, married Jennie P.otsford, Nov. 16, 1897,
and has one child, Eva ]\Iay. He is a farmer by
occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Northam both belong
to the Stony Creek Congregational Church, and
their long career of honorable industry and fine
character are known and recognized in the com-
munity.
CHARLES THERON HOTCHKISS, a prom-
inent and influential citizen of Cheshire, was born
in the town of Bethany, July 9, 1834. and traces
his ancestry back to Samuel and Elizabeth (Clev-
erly) Hotchkiss, natives of Essex, England, who
came to New Haven, Conn., in 1641, and were mar-
ried there the following year. Sanmel Hotchkiss
was a tiller of the soil, and was the founder of the
settlement in Wallingford. where he died. His chil-
dren were John, who was born in 1643, and died in
1682: Samuel, born in 1645; James, born in 1647; ,
Joshua, born in 1651; Thomas, born in 1654: and j
David, born in 1657. Of this family. Joshua Hotch- !
kiss was born in Wallingford, and wedded Mary
Hotchkiss. of New Haven, by whom he bad twelve |
children, namely: Mary. Stephen, Martha, Pris- i
cilia, Abraham. Desire, Isaac. Jacob. John, Eliza- ,
beth, Mary (2). and Mary (3). Jabcz Hotchkiss,
a son of one of these, was born in Bethany, New
Haven county, and there spent his entire life. His
children were Stephen, the grandfather of Charles
T. ; Mary, bom June 3. 17(^)3: Timothy, born Jan.
22, 1766; Lydia, liorn -April i, 1768, died in 1773;
Eleazer, born June 4, 1770; Lydia (2), born June
7. >774-
Stephen Hotchkiss was also a life-long resident
of Bethany, where he was born Oct. 31, 1761, and
he died in 1847. at the ripe old age of eighty-seven
years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of
Hannah Brown, passed away at the age of eighty.
In their family were the following children: Har-
ley, father of Charles T. ; Rebecca, wife of Minott
Collins; Wealthy, who died young; Eber, who mar-
ried Thurza Driver: Stephen, who married Abi-
gail Hotchkiss ; Hannah, wife of John Russell ;
Jared, who married Amy French, still a resident of
Bethany ; Jesse, who married Caroline Lounsbury ;
and George, who married Laura Sperry, who died