Episcopal Church and burying-grouiid in Derby,
and his death occurred in that village.
Capt. John Holbrook, great-grandfather of Mrs.
Downs, was born in Derby, and probably lived
at Great Hill, where a house built for him, in 1745,
is yet standing. He owned i.ooo acres of land
and devoted much attention to its cultivation, while
as a citizen he was active and influential, serving in
various town offices. For years he was an officer
in the local militia, and he had three sons, John,
Nathaniel and Abel, who fought in the Revolution-
ary army.
Richard Holbrook, grandfather of our subject.
was born in the house mentioned above, and there
lived and died. He became a farmer on a portion
of the homestead, and was prominent in local af-
fairs, holding various offices. He assisted in or-
ganizing the Episcopal Church at Seymour, of
which he was afterward a leading supporter. His
death occurred in 1823, at the age of forty-seven.
He was married three times, and had seven chil-
dren of whom none are now living. His first wife,
Sarah Lum, was born in Derby, the daughter of
Reuben Lum, a well known citizen. She died aged
twenty-two, leaving one son, Daniel L.
Col. Daniel L. Holbrook was born Nov. 7, T798,
in the old family residence, and passed his life at
tlic homestead. Politicallv he was a Democrat, and
he became a leader in local politics, serving as select-
man, and in other offices in the towns of Derby and
Seymour. His sound judgment and unusual execu-
tive abilitv were widelv recognized, and few men
of his day commanded the respect accorded him by
those who knew him best. His title of colonel was
gained by able service in the Connecticut National
Guard, in which he held the rank of captain for
some time previous to his promotion. He was also
active in the work of the Episcopal Church, serving
as warden for a number of years. His wife, Lucy
Nichols, was one of the three children of Russell
Nichols and his wife, Nancy Riggs, the latter a
descendant of Edward Riggs, who settled in Derby
in i''»45. Russell Nichols was a native of Quaker
Farms, and was for many years a leading citizen
of that locality, his death occurring at the age of
seventy-four. The Nichols family is of prominent
pioneer stock, tracing descent from Francis Nichols,
who purchased a large tract of land in Oxford in
1743, and made his permanent home there. A more
complete account of the family is given elsewhere
in this volume. Col. Daniel L. Holbrook died in
1858, and his wife in 1880, when she was aged
seventy-eight. They had three children, of whom
our subject was the yoimgest. (i) Sarah, do-
ceased, married Stephen Russell and had two chil-
dren : Lucy and Frank. Lucy Russell married
Gustavus Lewis, a farmer near Plainville. Conn.,
now deceased, and had two children. Josephine
(who married W. R. Sparks, of New Britain, and
had two children, Edith and William ) and Jere-
miah. Frank Russell married Lillian Northrop and
has two children, Luella and Beulah. (2) Mary
A., sister of Mrs. Downs, married William Church,
deceased, and resides in New Haven ; she has three
children: George L., who married Jeannette
Styles, of Seymour; Daniel L., who married Anna
Hall, of New York, the latter now deceased : and
.Addie L., wife of David Curry, of New Haven.
Mrs. Downs passed her early life in Seymour,
and on Oct. Q, 1870, was married there to the late
Thomas M. Downs, who was born in July, 1824, in
Southbury, the son of Henry and Sally (Botsford)
Downs. His father, who was a prominent agricul-
turist of Southbury, died in early manhood, and his
mother, a native of Newtown, died aged eighty.
Of their eight children, five are still living. Mr.
Downs located in Ansonia about 1864, engaging in
general mercantile business, and his death occurred
there in 1874, at the age of fifty. Mrs. Downs has
resided in Ansonia since i86g, and in 1889 she
built her present dwelling lious'e, at No. 119 South
Clifi' street. There were then but few houses on the
street, and during her residence in the place she has
seen it develop from a population of 5.000 to 13,000.
PATRICK JAMES BRENNAN, a highly-re-
spected and honored citizen of the town of Nauga-
tuck, was born in County Kildare, Ireland, Oct.
10, 1848, a son of William and Mary (Lahey)
Brennan. In the spring of 1864 he sailed for the
United States, and on landing in this country took
up his residence in Naugatuck, New Haven Co.,
Conn., where he soon found employment in the
io68
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
molding departiiKiu oi tlie Tuttle & Whittemore
iron foundry. Later he was transferred to the an-
nealing department, of which he lias been the effi-
cient and popular foreman for several years.
C)n May 31, 1869, Mr. Brcnnan was united in
marriage with Miss Mary E. Martin, of Xauga-
tuck, and they have six children, namely : Nellie
A., who is a school teacher; William F., a grocer
of Xaugatuck ; Edward P., a druggist of the same
place; Mary, at home; Charles M., also a drug-
gist ; and Irine R., who is attending school. The
family is one of considerable prominence in the
community, and the sons are now leading business
men of Naugaluck. They have a beautiful home
at Xo. 305 Church street.
In his political views Mr. Urennan is inde-
pendent. For several years he has been promi-
nently identified with public affairs ; has served as
selectman and justice of the peace; was a menjjjer
■of the board of education fourteen years ; and fire
commissioner four years. He is an intelligent,
well-informed man, keeps well posted on the lead-
ing questions and issues of the day, and faithfully
discharge any duty that devolves upon him. lie
is a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, and
■of the Young Men's Catholic Institute of Xauga-
tuck.
WASHIXGTOX E1)W.\RI)S GRISWOLD.
There are in every community men whose broad
characters touch all vital interests, and who by
their capable and disinterested devotion to affairs
acquire, without apparent effort, a position of in-
fluence and importance to the communal life about
them. Washington E. (iriswold has been a life-
long resident of Connecticut. In a business way his
career has been most fortunate and successful. The
capacity for business, which he has admirably dem-
onstrated, he has freely placed at the disposal of
his townsmen. Liberal and kind in disposition, with
the "Golden Rule'' as his motto in life, he has kept
■close to the people about him, and in every sense has
identified himself with causes for the common good.
Mr. Griswold is a descendant (in the seventh
generation) from (I) Edward Griswold, one of the
early settlers of New England. Edward Griswold
was bom in Warwickshire, England, in 1607, one
of a family of five brothers : Edward ; Thomas,
who remained in England ; ]*"rancis. who settled at
Cambridge, Mass. ; Michael, who settled at Wethers-
field. Conn.; and Matthew, who settled at Windsor
and later at Lyme, Conn. Of these, Edward lo-
cated first in ^Iassachusetts. and later at Windsor,
where he was one of the first settlers and a land
owner. Thence he removed to what is now Kil-
lingworth, Middlesex Co., Conn., where he spent the
remainder of his days. His first wife was named
Ann, and his second, Elizabeth. His ten children
were as follows: I'Vancis. born in 1629: Sarah, in
1630; George, in 1632; John, in 1635; Ann, Aug.
ig, 1642: ^lary, Oct. 5, 1C44; Deborah, June 28,
1646 (married Samuel Buel) ; Joseph, March 22,
1648; Samuel, Nov. 18, 1649; and John, Aug. i,
1652. The line of descent from the founder of the
Griswold family in America to our subject is as fol-
lows :
(II) John Griswold, youngest son of Edward,
lx)rn Aug. i, 1652, in Killingworth, Middlesex Co.,
Conn., was a lifelong resident of that town. He died
Aug. 7, 1717, and was buried at Killingworth. He
was twice married, on Nov. 18, 1672, to Mary
Bavis, who died Dec. 29, 1679. For his second wife
he wedded Barshua Xorth, daughter of Thomas
tiideon Walter Price. She died March 19, 1736.
The sixteen children of John Griswold were as fol-
lows: Mary, born Feb. 2, 1674: Margaret, Dec. 10,
1675; Hannah, Oct. 25, 1677; John, Sept. 22, 1679
(died Dec. 14, 1679) ; Dorothy, March 4, iC8i
(died March, 1690) ; Bethshula, Dec. 5, 1682 (mar-
ried Daniel Clark); John, Sept. 4, 1683; Samuel,
April 4, 1685 (married Sarah Wright, died Dec.
29, 1736); Lucy, July 21, 1686 (married Allen
Ball) ; Martha, June i, 1689 (died Xov. 17, 1690) ;
Joseph and lienjamin (twins), Sept. 20, 1690 (the
latter married Abigail Xorton) ; Dorothy, Sept. 3,
1692; Martha, June 16, 1694 (married Samuel
Pratt) : Daniel, Oct. 25. 1(596 (died Sept. 10, 1737,
married Jerusha Stevens) ; W'alter. March 7, 1700
(died Oct., 1745. married Sarah Wright").
(HI) Joseph Griswold, .son of John, born Sept.
20, 1690 (a twin of Benjamin), in Killingworth.
spent his life there. He was a land owner and far-
mer in KillingAvorth, and died there April 8. 1771.
On Dec. 29, 1714, he married Temperance Lay. who
died Sept. 18, 1773. Their children were as follows:'
John, was born Oct. 10. 1715: Joseph, born Oct. 22,
1716, married Rebecca Rutley. and died in June,
1771 : Xathan, born April 28, 1719, married Sarah
Hull; Ciiles, born June 3, 1723, married Mercy Chat-
field, and died -April 23. 1804: John, torn March 6,
1726, married Mary W'ard ; Daniel, bom Aug. 10,
1728, married Lydia Hull; Jedidiah, born Dec. 13,
1730, married Patience Bates.
(I\') Xathan (iriswold. the great-grandfather
of Washington E.. was Iwrn in Killingworth April
28. 1 719, son of Joseph. Like his father and grand-
father, he was a farmer and land owner and prom-
inent citizen of Killingworth. where he spent his
life, and where he died and is ihuried. He married
May 2. 1745. Sarah Hull, daughter of Peter Hull,
and their eight children were as follows: Xathan,
born Se])t. 27. 1746, married Jemima Pierson. Tem-
perance was born Dec. 14. 1748. George, born Xov.
5, 1752, married Artemisia Stevens, ami died Xov.
6, 1834. Joel was born May 21, 1757. Sarah, born
April 10, 1760. died Oct. 5, 176.S. Jared, born Aug.
ID, 1764, died Oct. 20, 1784. Sarah, born Feb. 20,
1766, died Oct. 26, 1784. Martha, born Feb. 14,
1770, died Oct. 5, 1784.
(V) Joel Griswold (grandfather of our sub-
iect), born on the old homestead in Killingworth
May 21, 1757, became a farmer and a large land
Ifcp-^i^J
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t:h
'* ' '^
^^^
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^iS^j^M
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1069
owner, and there spent his life, dying April 12, 1834;
he was buried in the Killingworth cemetery. He
was a member of the Congregational Church, and
in politics a Federalist. On Sept. I, 1796, he mar-
ried Sarah Kelsey, born Nov. 9, 1770, who died Feb.
25, 1842, and was-buried in Killingworth cemetery.
She was a member of the Congregational Church.
The si.\ children of Joel and Sarah Griswold were:
Martin lleman, born Oct. ly, 1797, died Jan. 31,
1810 (he was accidentally scalded) ; Xathan was
d)orn July 3, 1799; Polly Minerva, born ]\lay 3, 1801,
married John Farnham, and died Dec. 31, 1872; Dr.
George \\'as;hington, born July 26, 1804, graduated
from Vale College, went \\'est and died Sept. 22,
1834; Sarah Louise, born Aug. 30, 1807, married
iienry Scanton, and died in l'"ebruary. 1884; and
Joel Pinckney, born March 4, 1809, died in 1865,
out West. (Jf these,
(,\T) Nathan (Iriswold (father of our subject)
was born on the old homestead in Killingworth July
3, 1799. He attended the district schools of Killing-
worth, !)ut was mainly a self-educated man. He
was a school teacher for several years, later settling
down to farming and stock raising, becoming one
of the largest land owners in the town of Killing-
worth, and a prominent citizen. He represented the
town in the State Legislature at New Haven and
at Hartford ; was selectman of the town ; and held
other local ofifices, being (juite active in political life.
In political sentiment he was a stanch Jacksonian
Democrat : in religious faith a member of the Con-
gregational Church. He died on his farm in Kil-
lingworth April 21, 1872, and was buried in the
family cemetery in Killingworth. On Nov. 25, 1827,
he married Rachel Hull, daughter of John Hull, a
well-known citizen of Killingworth, and their chil-
dren were as follows : Alvira L., bom Oct. 27,
1828, married Isaac Kelsey, of Killingworth. who
died Aug. 10, 1901. Washington Edwards, our sub-
ject, sketch of whom follows. Sarah Mehitabel,
born Dec. 27, 1832, died May 26, 1893; ^^^^^ married
William H. Stevens, of Killingworth. Sherman E.,
born Aug. 7, 1835, married Adeline Parmelee, and
resides on the old homestead. Mabel R. married
Alfred Goodyear, of Hamden. Charles Nathan,
born in .April. 1840. died Oct. 22, 1844. Harriet
Lcmira, born Nov. 21, 1843, married Ralph Edward
Barnum, of Killingworth. The mother of these
died June 23, 1873, on the old homestead, aged sixty-
nine years, and was buried in the family cemetery.
She was a member of the Congregational Church,
and a woman of noble Christian character.
(VH) Washington E. Griswold, whose name in-
troduces this sketch, was born Dec. 24, 1830, and
was reared upon the old homestead. He attended
tlie district schools of his native town, later pursu-
ing his studies at the Madison high school, and at
the State Normal School, New Britain, Hartford
county, and for some years he taught school during
the winter months, working on the farm in summer.
In Killingworth, he married, Oct. 4, 1854, Miss Cor-
delia Barnum, who was born there July 13, 1833,
daughter of Nathaniel E. and Juliett (Evarts)
Barnum, granddaughter of Luther and Mabel
(Stephens) ISarnum, and great-granddaughter of
Capt. /\aron Stephens, who was an officer in the
Revolutionary war. Alter his marriage Mr. Gris-
wold obtained from his father a tract of land, and
there began his successful career as a farmer. From
time to time he made notable improvements, erected
a handsome dwelling and other buildings, the total
improvements costing more than $6,000. Through
his thrift and business ability he prospered, and fi-
nally acquired over 250 acres of fine farming land,
which he tlevoted to stock raising and general farm-
ing.^^
To our subject and wife two children were born ;
Charles Edwards died in infancy. Edith L, born
Sept. 5, i860, graduated from the Morgan high
school in the English Classics, and for a number
of years taught school in Killingworth. She mar-
ried Albert H. Phelps, of Guilford, and lived in the
beautiful home in that town (purchased for her bv
her father) until her death, Dec. 20, 1894, at the
birth of her daughter, Edith Griswold. She was a
member of the Congregational Church, a young lady,
of beauty and many accomi)lishments. well-educated,
cultured and refined, a loving wife and affectionate
daughter. Her death was a sad blow to her parents,
and a shock to her wide circle of friends. Between
parents and child the attachment was unusuallv
strong and close, and in their declining years her
sweet and wiiming personality is sadly missed.
In 1894, after the death of his daughter, Mr.
(iriswold removed to Guilford, and sold most of
his farming- lands, retaining only 100 acres. He still
manages his property, but since his residence at
Guilford he has practically lived a retired life. In
puljlic life Mr. Griswold has been notably prominent.
He represented the town of Killingworth in the
State Legislature in 1866-67 and in 1885, serving
in the old State Houses at Hartford and New
Haven, and in the new State House at Hartford. In
politics he is a stanch Democrat, and he has held
nearly all the offices within the gift of his fellow
town.smen. For eight years he was judge of pro-
bate for the district of Killingworth. For fourteen
years he filled the office of selectman, serving as
chairman of the board most of the time, and he held
that office during the Civil war, when the duties
were more exacting than they ever were before or
have been since. He has been assessor and tax col-
lector of Killingworth, served on the board of relief,
and for twenty years was a justice of the peace. Mr.
Clriswold has ever taken a deep interest in the pub-
lic schools, and has served as chairman of the school
board most of the time for twenty years. Since
his removal to Guilford he has declined many of-
fices, consenting, however, in 1897, to his nomina-
tion as first selectman, and serving the term. In
1809 he was elected a member of the school board,
and is still serving.
1070
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In religious belief Mr. Griswold is a member
of the Church Society at Guilford ami a lilieral sup-
porter of same. A living exponent of the Golden
Rule, his personal habits have always been above
reproach, and he is opposed to the use of strong
drink or tobacco in any form. Mrs. Griswold is a
member of the Congregational Church, a lady of
refinement, modesty and intelligence, devoted to her
husband and to her home. Both were members of
the Grange in Killingworth, and both are well in-
formed upon the leading events and subjects of the
day. They are most highly esteemed and respected
by all who know them, and now, in the afternoon of
their life, they are enjoying the fruits of their earlier
labor, and dispensing with generous and discrim-
inating care the material blessings which it is theirs
to commanil.
GEORGE BLAKESLEE FRAXCIS, a well-
to-do and much respected farmer and stock raiser
in the North Farms district of the town of Walling-
ford, was born on the farm of his father, Feb. 13,
1841, a son of Lyman Francis, who was born on the
old Francis homestead in North Farms, March 21,
.1806. Lyman Francis was a brother of the late
William Francis, and a son of Jacob and Content
(Hall) Francis. A student in the district school
of the North Farms, he grew up under the paternal
roof, and remained with his parents until his mar-
riage, when he settled on the Hall Farm, where
George Blakeslee now lives. Devoting much at-
tention to the advanced and progressive farming of
the day, he was one of the pioneers in that field that
has proved so profitable to Connecticut farmers, and
has made a record as a tobacco grower. His was
a busy but brief life, as he died when but forty-
three years old. In politics he was a Democrat,
but independent in his voting. Of domestic habits
he was a good and kind-hearted man, of whom
it is said that he lived very close to the Golden
Rule. On Oct. 10, 1832, Lyman Francis was mar-
ried to Mary Blakeslee, who was born in North
Farms, Sept. 6, 1803, a daughter of Joseph and
Mary (Andrews) Blakeslee, and died April 19,
1875. Both Mr. and Mrs. Francis were buried in
Center Street Cemetery in Wallingford. To them
were born four children : Olive E., born Oct. 10,
1833, married Edwin Crocker, and is now deceased ;
Lucretia E., born June 26, 1835, is now deceased ;
George B., born July 31, 1838, died Aug. 26, 1839;
and George B. (2) born Feb. 13, 1841. The
mother was a member of the Congregational
Church.
George Blakeslee Francis was only eight years
old when he lost his father. A district school edu-
cation was given him, and he remained with his
mother as long as she lived, and after her death,
continued in the operation of the farm, which had
passed into his possession. It contains one hun-
dred acres, twenty-five acres being in the town of
Meriden. Here he carries on dairy farming, stock
raising and fruit culture, and is known as one of
the most successful farmers in all this region.
On Nov. 19, 1885, Mr. Francis was married to
Miss Emily J. Andrews, born in Cheshire, Conn., a
daughter of Horace and Esther R. (Johnson) An-
drews, both of whom have entered into reit. Mrs.
Andrews was the daughter of the Rev. Ransom
Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. George B. Francis have
had four children, whose names and dates of birth
are as follows: Howard A., March 23, 1887; Will-
iam L., March 15, 1890, died May 20, 1890; Clay-
ton H., July 23, 1891 ; and Joseph B., July 11, 1893.
Mr. Francis is liberal in his church views, and
is a stanch advocate of temperance. In politics he
is a Democrat, but has never been a candidate for
official honors. In religion Mrs. Francis is a mem-
ber of the Advent Church. Both our subject and
his wife are intelligent and cultured people, widely
read, and thoroughly posted on all the great ques-
tions of the day. He is a hard-working and honest
man, of whom the community speaks well.
C. WATSON BALDWIN. This well known
citizen of Mil lord was born in that town April 9,
1840, and is a descendant of pioneer stock, his an-
cestors having been early settlers at Hadley, Mass.,
and later at Milford. Joseph Baldwin, of whom
further accoimt is given elsewhere in this volume,
was bom in Milford in 1640, and from his large
family of children numerous lines of descendants
are now traced.
Hezekiah Baldwin, our subject's grandfather,
was a native of Milford, and followed farming
there throughout his life.
Charles J. Baldwin, son of Hezekiah, was born
in Milford Sept. 30. 18 12, and engaged in agri-
culture there. In religious faith he was a Congre-
gationalist. He was a leading Democrat of the
locality and was elected to various offices of the
town. He married Eunice Baldwin, a native of
Milford, and a daughter of Elnathan Baldwin, her
descent being traced to Joseph, the pioneer. Her
death occurred Feb. 25. 1876, at the age of sixty-
one years ana nine months. Our subject was the
first in a family of four children, the others being:
William H., who died aged seven years; Henry
E., a farmer at the old homestead ; and George E.,
now in the employ of the N. V., N. H. & H. K.
R. Company.
During boyhood C. Watson Baldwin attended
public and private schools in his native town. As
a young man he engaged in farming, but in 1880
he entered the cmjiloy of the N. Y., N. H. & II.
R. R. Co., with whom he has continued. In politics
he is a Republican, but he was formerly prominent
as a Democrat, and was elected on that ticket to
different offices including those of assessor, mem-
ber of the board of relief, and member of the board
of education, in which he served twelve years.
On Jan. i, 1861, Mr. Baldwin married Miss
Mary A. Clute, of Bridgeport, who was born in
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1 07 1
Schenectady, N. Y., the daughter of Frederick and
Helen Clutc. Her parents were both natives ot
Schenectady, but in later years resided in Bridge-
port. She died Aug. 21, 1889, leaving one daugh-
ter, Helen \\'., born Feb. 22, 1863, who was mar-
ried to William II. Hubbard, of Greenwich, and
has one daughter, Hazel W'., born Sept. 28. 1885.
Socially tlie lialdwin family is j^rominent. and Mr.
r.aldwin is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
being identified with Ansantawac Lodge, No. 89.
Both lie and his wife were members of the Congre-
gational Church, in which he continues to take an
active interest.
ANTONIO L.-VZZARI. a prominent Italian
citizen of Branford, whose home is in Stony Creek,
was born in Milan, Italy, March i, 1852, son of
Francisco and Caroline (Mackej Lazzari. His pa-
ternal grandfather was Joseph Lazzari, and his ma-
ternal grandfather was George Macke.
Antonio Lazzari was reared to manhood in
Milan and vicinity, where he received a common-
school education. When he became a young man
lie began for himself by serving an apprenticeship
of three years at watchniakint;-, and this was his
occupation for seven years after he had learned
the trade. The first year he received twenty cents
a day ; the second and third years his income had
increased to sixty cents per day ; and during
the last four years, he worked at the trade in
his native land he earned a daily stipendi of
one (k)llar and twenty-five cents a day. In 1880
Mr. Lazzari came to America, landing at Castle
Garden Jan. 28th. and going at once to V>^\
\'iew, Mass., where he worked at his trade and in
a quarr)-, during the season, for two years. Mr.
Lazzari made his first important business venture
after this, opening a jewelry, candy and cigar store
in Boston. There he remained three years, and
then removed to Braggville, Mass., where he had
charge of a boarding house five years for the stone-
((uarry firm of Xorcross Brothers. In 1890 Mr.
Lazzari was employed by the same firm at Stony
Creek, where he has had a boarding house and
has served as watchman for their plant.
Mr. Lazzari was married, in 1877, to Caroline,
daughter of John and Antoinette (Colomba) Am-
brosoli, of Milan, Italy. This union has been
blessed with twelve children, five of whom are now