for the name an enviable distinction by their in-
telligence and worth. This high reputation is in
no ways diminished in this generation, and our
subject, who is counted among the leading agri-
culturists of East Haven, displays in a marked de-
gree the admirable characteristics which the name
suggests.
Mr. Culver was born on the farm where he now
resides, Jan. u, i8^)i, and is a descendant of Joshua
Culver, one of the first planters of Wallingfonl.
His son, Samuel Culver, the grandfather of our
subject, was a native of that town. The father,
Isaac Culver, was born in North Haven, Jan. 23.
1820, and continued his residence there until 1854,
when he moved to the farm in New Haven where
our subject now resides. Here he was engagtd in
the manufacture of bricks until \^C>C\ and then fol-
lowed farming and fruit growing, meeting with
excelleiit success in all his undertakings. He was
an active member of the Congregational Church,
and a very strong Democrat in politics. He died
March 26, 1889, honored and respected by all who
knew him. On Oct. 28, 1853, he was united in
marriage with Miss Sarah A. Forbes, who wa*
born in East Haven, in 1828. and they had two
children: Elmer !•"., our subject; and one who died
in infancy.
Elmer F. Culver acquired a good practical ed-
ucation in the Woolsey Graded School and Hill-
house High School of New Haven, and graduated
from Yale Business College in 1879, and also grad-
uated from Coggswell School of Phonography in
1882. He obtained a thorough knowledge of every
department of farm work, and has never left the
parental roof. Since reaching manhood he has suc-
cessfully engaged in the dairy, fruit growing and
nursery business on the old homestead. For the last
two years Mr. Culver has been erecting houses on
the old farm, and has sold one hou-e and two build-
ing lots therefrom. With the trolley cars, city water
and gas mains passing the place, this land has rap-
idly risen in value. At one time Mr. Culver was
connected with the firm known as the Deinme, Cul-
ver & Co., manufacturers of saddlery hardware,
but eleven years ago they sold out to the Suffolk
Co., of Boston, Mass. Socially he is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On Feb.
6, 1887, Mr. Culver was united in marriage with
Miss Alice J. Clark, a daughter of Capt. John
Clark, of Mil ford, Conn., and to them have been
born five children, namely: Harold ; Albert F. ; Roy
J., deceased ; Olive J . ; and Paul Elmer.
GEORGE A. BOUGHTON, retired factory su -
perintendent. and also a retired musician of the vol-
imteer and regular military service during the Civil
war, was horn Nov. 7, 1835, in Waterbury, New
Haven county, and is still a resident of the town.
Jonas lioughton. his grandfather, came from
Norvvalk. When a young man he was boimd out
to a blacksmith, and learned the trade, which he
followed for a time, later in life changing his voca-
tion to that of a farmer. He married Lydia Hine.
from the town of Orange, New Haven county, and .
the young coujile at once settled on a farm where
Derby now stands, but later removed to one in the
western part of the town of Waterbury. To their
marriage were born nine children, two of whom
died young, the survivors being Charles, who was
JL^.
LL jcjc^^fj^^
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1013
a farmer in IVriddlebiiry ; Jonas, who went to ( )liio
and there (Hed ; Isaac, of whom further mention
will be made; Georfje, who was also a fanner in
Uliio; John, who followed blacksmithing in W(X)d-
Lury, Conn. ; Lydia, who married Lewis Smith, of
Milford: and Louisa, who wedded William Ortoii,
of Wallinsfford, and later moved West.
Isaac I5ou
.and died in i8()i. He was reared to farniint; but for
years was employed in the Benedict & Ikirliam but-
ton factory, and also for others ; however, the failure
of his health induced him to resume farming to
some extent. He married Caroline L'pson, a daugh-
ter of Obed and Sibyl (Howe) Upson, of Water-
bury, and this union was blessed with five children,
of whom Ceorge .-N... the subject of this sketch, is
the eldest: Susan A. is the widow of Robert Pryor.
Henry I. is foreman on the road at Waterbury.
-inider the selectmen; Isabelle is the wife of H. S.
Feck, of Waterbury ; Caroline E. is unmarried.
George A. Boughton was educated in the local
schools of Waterbury. after which he worked in
various factories with his father, commanding good
^\■ages when seventeen years of age. He continued
tlius until the lireaking out of the Civil war, when
he enlisted, in the 1st Conn. \'. I., and went to the
front, taking part in the battle of Bull Run. He
was next detailed as musician, and at the expiration
of his first short term of service enlisted as musi-
was appointed sergeant of the band, and as such
served all through the war, and also after its termi-
nation., for about two and a half years on the Pa-
cific coast. Returning home, he served as chief of
])i)lice for six months, and next became superintend-
ent for Barnard. Son & Co.. a position his executive
ability retained for him twelve years, since when he
has been living in retirement, looking after his real
estate.
In politics Mr. Boughtbn is a Republican, and is
ni>w serving his sixth term as selectman, and he has
been a member of the board of public works. He
is a member of Wadhams Post, G. A. R., and the
Knights of Pythias. Religiously he was reared a
t nngregationalist. Socially, as a genial, charitable
gentleman, he is held in the highest esteem wherever
known. He is unmarried.
WILLIAM B. HALL was born May 13. 1854,
in the same house in which he is now living, in
Wallingford, son of Horace Hall, who was born
May 25. 1804, in ^^'a!lingford. and was a jeweler
by trade.
For a number of years Horace Hall conducted
.1 store in that city, and the latter part of his life
vas spent in farming. A Democrat, he never took
I particularly active interest in politics, though he
served as tax collector a number of year.-. He was
m Episcopalian in religion. A zealous Freemason,
md an energetic man, he was one of those who
>vere instrumental in reviving the Masonic fratern-
ity in Wallingford after it had been abandoned a
number of years. On Sept. 29, 1825, he married
Miss Euretta Johnson, and on July 2, 1848, he mar-
ried for his second wife Miss .^nn L. Buell. A
daughter of Luther Buell. she was born July 31,
1816, and died Jan. 20, 1898. Horace Hall died June
18, 1877. To the first union were born the follow-
ing children: Horatio G. died March 14. 1874,
having been shot by an insane man. Emily J. mar-
ried Henry M. Jones, of Meriden. Lana O. mar-
ried O. 15. Warner, of Meriden. Mary U. married
George H. Xewton, and died Aug. 17, 1877. Ab-
bey E. married W. W. Pinks, of New Britain. Two
children died in infancy. To the second marriage
was born one child, William B., whose career forms
the subject of this writing.
Horatio Gates Hall, the grandfather of William
B., was born Jan. 17, 1778, in Wallingford, and was
married to Miss Polly Byington, of Branford, in
1798. Mrs. Hall died April 12, 1852, Mr. Hall on
Oct. 30, 1819. Their children were: Augustus,
Lyman, Horace, Mary, Josiah H. and Abigail.
Caleb Hall, father of Horatio G., w^as born Aug.
29, 1731. and died Sept. 21, 1783. He married
Prudence Holt, and was the father of the following
children: Caleb, Jr., Augustus, Abigail, Eunice,
Benjamin H., Damaris, Horatio G. and George.
Caleb Hall, Sr., the father of Caleb Hall, Jr.,
was borii Sept. 14, 1697, and died July 27, 1749.
He married Damaris Atwater, and their children
were: Damaris, Stephen. Timothy, Ruth, Caleb,
Jeremiah and Lydia.
John Hall, father of Caleb, Sr., was born Dec.
23, 1670, and died April 29, 1730. He married
Mary Lyman, and their children were: John, Sam-
uel, Caleb, Eunice, Nancy, Benjamin, Sarah,
Eliakim and Elihu.
Samuel Hall, father of John, was born May
21, 1648, and died March 5, 1725. He married
Hannah Walker, and was the father of the follow-
ing children : John, Hannah, .Sarah. Samuel,
Theophilus and Elizabeth. John Hall, his father,
was the emigrant ancestor of the family.
William B. Hall w-as born in Wallingford, and
grew up in his native village, securing his education
from the public schools, and at the Yale Business
College, New Haven. Leaving school at the age of
seventeen, he clerked for I'hilip J. Talcott, in his
dry-goods store, for a year or more, and was then
a clerk in the postoffice for several years. As
assistant postmaster, under L. M. Hubbard, he had
an extensive experience in the administration of pos-
tal affairs, which was put to good account when he
was appointed postmaster under the first administra-
tion of Grover Cleveland. Mr. Hall was postmaster
five years, and then went to Northampton, Mass.,
where he was engaged for a time as a representa-
tive of the Quinnipiac Fertilizer Co. Coming back
to Wallingford, he secured a position with the R.
Wallace & Sons Alanufacturing Co., where he was
bookkeeper for five years, in 1895 becoming their
IOI4
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
purchasing^ agent, which position he is holding at
the present time.
William 1!. Hall is a Democrat, anil has served
on the Democratic town committee for several
years, and was chairman for one year. He has
served as borough and town treasurer some three
years. A member of the Masonic fraternity, he
has taken much interest in the workings of tiiat
society, and has been master of Compass Lodg^-.
No. 9, at Wallingford, for five years, holding that
office at present ; he is also one of the trustees of
the lodge. As a member of the board of managers
of the Masonic home since ifs establishment, in
1894, be has rendered that institution vast service.
In religion he is associated with St. Paul's Episcopal
Church.
Mr. Hall was married. Sept. 17. 1878. to Miss
Arabella Uates. who was born in New Haven, a
daughter of William Bates. On July 29, 1896,
Mr. Hall luarried for his second wife Miss Ella
M. Lacore. of Xorthampton, Mass., daughter of
Solomon Lacore. To the first marriage came three
children: Annie Bates, born June 25, 1879; Clara
Elizabeth, born Sept. 27, 1882: and Horace W..
born April 29, 1885. Mina Ella, born July 8, 1897,
is the only child of the second marriage.
WILLIAM L. W.\RD, prominent in the busi-
ness circles of Seymour, was l)orn in the town of
Naugatuck. Xew llaven county, ( )ct. 31. 1858, and
comes of good old English ancestr\-.
The Arms of the Wards, Gorleston, County of
Sufifolk, England, granted in 1593. were: Az.,
a cross between four eagles, displayed .\r. Crest:
On a mount vert a hind couchant. Ar. Andrew
Ward, fifth son of Richard Ward, of Gorleston.
County of Suffolk, England, came to .Vmerica about
1632. He was ap]X)inted bv the (jeneral Court of
Massachusetts, with Roger Ludlow and six others.
to govern the Colony of Connecticut for one year.
He was one of the first judges in the first legisla-
tive body in Connecticut, which met at Hartford
April 26, 1636, soon after removing to Xew Haven,
and for several years was a member of the (ieneral
Court. He afterward settled in I'airfield. and was
one of the most influential men of that place. He
died in 1663. Esther Ward, his widow, in 1665.
Their children were : Edmund lived in West-
chester. X. \.; William (Dr.). born 1645. was
killed in the Xarragansett war ; Mary married John
I'urr. of J'airfield ; Andrew, born in 1647. died in
Killingwortb in 1691 ; Samuel, born in 1649, died
before Kk)3 ; .Abigail : .\nna married Caleb Xichols;
John ; Sarah married Xathaniel Burr.
Andrew Ward (2), son of Andrew and Esther
Ward, settled in Killingwortb in 1668. He mar-
ried Trial Meigs, daughter of John Meigs, of Guil-
ford, and their children W'ere: Andrew (3), born
in iC/k) (died in August, 1756) ; John. March 16,
1671; .\bigail. Sept. 15, 1672; .Sarah. Nov. 15,
1674; Peter, Oct. 14, 1676; William, Oct. 18, 1678
(died Dec. 14, 1769) : Samuel Sept. 24. 1680 (died
in i68i ) ; I£sther. May 2. 1684 (died the next
month) ; and Mary Ann (the youngest in the fam-
ily), who was an ancestor of Henry Ward Beecher.
William Ward, son of Andrew (2) and Trial
Ward, luarried Lettis. daughter of John Beach, of
Wallingford. and resided in Wallingford. Their
children were: Mecock. born July 17. 1702; \\'ill-
iani, Jan. 7. 1705: Mary (date unknown); Amy,
1707 ; .\nibrose. ^Iarch 6. 1709 : Lettis. July 7. 171 1 :
John. 1714; Royal, June 20, 1716; Archibald. Jul\-
5. 1718: Zenas. Se])t. 17, 1720 (settled in Wood-
bury) : Titus, April 2/. 1723.
John Ward, son of W'illiam and Lettis Ward,
married Elizabeth .\bernathy May 11. 1736. He
was a druggist, and lived in ^\'allingford. Their
children were: Thilus, born April 24, 1737, en-
listed Xov. 14, 1781. in Capt. \'iars Company of
Guards, stationed at Guilford for the defense of the
sea coast: Abel, born July 1. 1740. lived in Wood-
bridge, and died Xov. 20. 1759; Titus was born
March 18, 1742: Martha was born July 17, 174''):
John, born May 24. 1748, died in infancy; and
John (2) was born Xov. 19. 1751.
Titus Ward, son of John and Elizabeth Ward,
married Amy Smith Jan. 7. 1763. He died near
Xew York City, and his property was on a vessel
which was ca])tured by the I'ritish in the Revolu-
tionary war. His children were: Silva. born Aug.
8. i~f>4. married Isaac Plumb, of Milford; Abel
was born May 24, 1766; Titus, Ixjrn March 30.
1768, married Sarah Smith, of Milford; Betsey,
born March 22, 1770, married Samuel Beach, of
Milford; Xancy w'as born June 10, 1773; John,
born May 13, 1774, died young; Sarah, born Mav
26, 1776. married Elijah Prindle ; William, born
Jan. 5. 1780, (lied young: and Statica, born July
16, 1782, married Billions Wright.
.\i)cl Ward, son of Titus and Amy \\'ard, mar-
ried Rachel Hotchkiss, of Woodbridge, in what is
now Bethany. She died in 1787, and for his second
w-ife he married .-\nna Wheeler. He had two chil-
dren : Richard, born Sept. 21. 1787, died in Xau-
gatuck. March 2. 1851 : Rachel, born Jan. 23. 1792.
married Jcrvis Sonnners. and two of their children.
Jervis and Mary, are now living in Southford.
Richard Ward, son of Abel and Rachel Ward,
married Dec. 15. 181 1. Roxanna. daughter of Cul-
pepper Hoadly (a soldier of the Revolution) and
his wife Molly Lewis, of Salem Bridge ( now Nau-
gatuck). Mrs. ^^'ard died Feb. 6, 18^)3. Their
children were; Lewis, born Sept. 27. 1812:
Lawren, born Dec. 27. 1814; Maria, born Feb. 11.
1819, who married Ralph Smith, of Bridgeport:
Mary, born Feb. 17, 1823, who married Ganan Pot-
ter, and died Aug. 2, 1842: and William, bom
March 7. 1825, who married Elizabeth A. Hine, and
resided in X'augatuck.
Lewis Ward, son of Richard and Roxanna
Ward, was married .April 9. 1835. to Mary .Ann
Curtis, of Huntington, who was born .\pril 15.
*
I
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1015
1812. and died Dec. 12, i8(;5, ajjed eighty-three
\ears and seven months. 'I'heir .son, James H., was
horn CX-t. 8, 1836. in Xaugatiick, and was the
father of the subject proper of this sketch.
James B. Ward was a carpenter by trade.' He
married Jane ¥-. Hotchkiss. a dauirhter of Eber and
Tluirza Hotchkiss. of P.ethany, and had two chil-
dren, both sons: WilHam 1... our suliject ; and
IChucr J., born Feb. 21, i8(')3, who is with the G.
1. R. (Ilove Co., at Xaugatuck. The father of these
(bed in December, 1862, wlien a young man. He
was a Rcpubbcan in poHtics. lie attended the
(.ongregational Church.
\ViIham L. Ward, wliose name introduces this
-ketch, received his education at the winter schools
of Xaugatuck, and early in life commenced earn-
ing a livelihood, as he was but four years old when
his father died. His first employment was with
the G. I. R. Glove Co., with which he remained
twelve years; then for nine years he was in the
en)]>lov of F. W. Tolles, furniture dealer and un-
dertaker, also in Xaugatuck. On Aug. i, i8y8, he
removed to Sexniour and bought out I"-. F. Piassetl.
who bad been in the furniture and undertaking busi-
ness there some forty-two years. Mr. Ward was
I lie prime mover in the establishment of the \'alley
National Bank, of Seymour, which was organized
June 14, 1900, and of which he has since been
president. Our subject is now serving as treasurer
of the town of Seymour.
On July 10. i8c)8, William L. Ward was united
in marriage with Fulu L. Tolles, daughter of Isaac
!!. and Maria W. Tolles, the former of whom was
1)orn in Bethany, the latter in Middlebury, Conn.
Mr. and Mrs. Ward attend the services of the Con-
gregational Church. Socially he is a member of the
!•". & .A.. ^L, belonging to Morning Star Lodge, Xo.
47, .\llerton Chapter, of Xaugatuck, and the Xcw
I laven Commandery. He is also affiliated with the
I. ( ). ( ). F., Mechanics Lodge. Seymour. Mr.
Ward's political support is given to the Reiniblican
parly.
JOHX J. MrL.VRXFV. .\mong the self-made
business men whose intelligence and enterprise have
helped to develop the thriving little city of An-
sonia, the subject of this sketch holds a prominent
l>lace. and the following brief account of his career
will be of interest. He was born in that city. May
17. 1S51. and is descended in l)oth paternal and
maternal lines from the Irish race which has
furnished so many valued citizens to America.
John McLarney, his grandfather, passed his life
in Ireland as a farmer, dying at the age of eighty-
seven years, and his wife, Catherine Cook, also a
native of Ireland, attained the age of ninety-six
\ears. In religion they were devout Catholics, and
their descendants adhere to the same faith. They
had a large family of children, of whom but few
are now living.
Patrick McLarney. our subject's father, was
born ard reared in .\cklemore Pari.sh. County
Cavan, Ireland, and learned the shoemaker's trade
in his vouth. ( )u cnniing to America he eiUered
the employ of .Mr. .McWilliams, a railroad con-
tractor for whom he made shoes andi harness, and
in 1848 he went to Ansonia to work for Harvey
Reamer, for whom he made the first pair of
"pegged" boots ever finished in the town. Later
he was employed by Wallace & Sons, and the .\. B.
C. Co.. but for a few years before his death, which
occurred ;it the age of seventy-six, he lived in re-
tirement. His wife, Mary Mclntyre. also lived to
the age of seventy-six, was a native of Scotland,
and one of the two daughters of Thomas Mclntyre.
a farmer, who died aged seventy-six. Her mother,
whose maiden name was .Alice Gillis. died aged
i seventy-one. Our subject was one of a family of
seven children and is the oldest of the three nnw
living; Hugh resides in Xew Haven, and James
in Ansonia.
The early years of John J. McLarney were spent
within sight of .Ansonia, and his education was se-
cured in the ])ublic schools of that city. Together
with his brothers he learned the trade of clock-
maker, which he followed for a number of years,
and he then learned the horseshoers' trade and
worked for a time as a journeyman in that l)usi-
ness. Later he joined in the firm of Terry & Mc-
Larney. and engaged in the manufacture of carts
and business wagons at the corner of Canal and
Bridge streets, making a specialty of heavy business
wagons. On retiring from this business in i8(/>.
our subject s])ent some time in repairing his houses,
of which he owns several, and then took a position
as a journeyman horseshoer. The death of his
brother, Thomas F., on Mav 22, 1898, led to his
taking charge of the undertaking establishment left
by the deceased, and in this venture he has met with
success, his knowledge of the business having been
first gained while working as a journeyman. He
graduated from the Massachusetts College of lun-
balming in September, 1899. He also conducts a
livery stable at No. 30 Green Street, keeping a num-
ber of horses and a fine line of hacks, coaches and
carriages ready for any call. In politics he is a
Democrat, and he served as constable and grand
juror when the town included Derby. He is an
active member of the Young Men's Temperance
Association, having served as its vice-president,
treasurer and secretary, and he is also connected
with the Catholic Legion, in which he is now trus-
tee, the Mutual Reserve of Xew York City, an in-
surance association, and the Hartford Life Insur-
ance Co., of Hartford, and the Royal .\rcamnn.
On \x>r\\ 25. 1888. he married .\[iss FUen K.
Coleman, and four children have blessed this union,
of whom two are living: John J. and .Alice E.
Mrs. McLarney is a native of .Ansonia, and a
daughter of James and Bridget ( Mulligan ) Cole-
man. Her father, now deceased, was a well known
agriculturist and ])rominent citizen, whose influence
ioi6
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
was recognized in church and township affairs. Mrs.
McLarncy was educated in the pubhc schools of
Derby, and is a grachiate of the Derby High School.
On leaving the high school .>lie began teaching, con-
tinuing fourteen year.';, and in this work she was
very successful ; for three years previous to her
marriage she was principal of the Factory street
school in Ansonia. Both Mr. and Mrs. McLarney
are highly esteemed socially, and are leading mem-
bers of the Catholic Church of Ansonia.
EDWARD WALTER LEETE. The Leete
family in Connecticut was established here more
than two hundred and fifty years ago bv Gov. Leete,
an old-time worthy and an important figure in early
•Colonial affairs, who came to America with the
Henry W'hitficUl expedition.
Gov. William Leete was born in 1612 in Dod-
■married Maria Slade, and their son John Leete mar-
ried Ann Shute ; William Leete. who afterward
played such a prominent part in the Colonies, was
their son. William Leete was bred a lawyer, and
was clerk of the Bishops' Court at Cambridge,
\vhcrc the oppre.-sion of the Puritans turned him
to' a study of their tenets and finallv led him to the
adoption of their faith. He arrived in Connecticut
Julv 10, 1639. and he was one of six selected to pur-
chase from the Indians the land wanted for a new
settlement. A tract of 250 acres, three miles from
■Guilford, now known as Leete's Island, came to him.
He took a leading part in the development of the
rising Colony and was one of its most trusted mem-
"bers. In 1658 he was made deputy governor of
New Haven Colony, and in iCifn was made gov-
ernor, holding this office until its union with the
•Colony of Connecticut. He was deputy governor
of Connecticut from 1669 to 1676, when he was
chosen governor, and served in that capacity until
his death, in 1683, in Hartford. Gov. Leete was
married in England, in 1638, to Anna Paine, who
died Sept. i, 1668. On April 7, 1670, he married
Mrs. Sarah Rutherford, who died Feb. 10. 1673.
His third wife, Mary, had also been married twice
before, to Gov. Francis Newman and Rev. Nicholas
Street, respectively. She died in 1683. Gov. Leete
wa5 the father of nine children.
John Leete. eldest son of the Governor, was born
in 1639, in Guilford, and is said to have been the
first white child born in that town. In 1670 he mar-
ried Mary, daughter of William and Joanna
(Sheafe) Chittenden. To this union were born
eight children. Mrs. Leete was born in 1647, and
1692.
Pelatiah Lects, fifth child of Jolm, was born
^larch 26, 1681, and on July t, 1705. married Abi-
gail, daughter of Aliraliam and Elizabeth (llartlett)
Fowler. They became the parents of five children.
Mrs. Leete died Oct. 22. 176c;. Soon after their
marriage thev moved to Leete's Island, wliich after-
ward became a flourishing settlement. Some of the
land allotted to Gov. Leete after the purchase of the
property from the Indians has never been held by
any but those of the family name. On these ances-
tral acres seven generations of Leetes have resided,
engaged as farmers. Deacnn Peliatiah Leete was a
successful farmer, and did "not consider a hundred
bushels of shelled corn to the acre more than an
average yield." Fie had a hundred cattle. In 1705
he erected a large house, on a commanding spot
overlooking the Sound, in which he lived until his
death, Oct. 13, 1768. This house sheltered several
generations of the family. Pelatiah Leete was a
deacon in the Fourth Church of Guilford. He
served as a representative of the town in the Gen-
eral Court.
Deacon Daniel Leete, eldest son of Deacon Pela-
tiah, was lx)rn Oct. 14. i7o<), was a farmer and
stock raiser, and died on his farm Oct. i, 1772. He