Connecticut western news., 1876-05-12


 IS1aYoa--1. John Cotton Smith was born in Tivoli, Duchess county, N. Y., the res idence of his maternal grandfather, Gilbert A. Livingstone. He graduated at Yale Col lege in the class of 1880. He was elected to the lower House in 1888, and again in 1884. He was a delegate to and secretary of the Democratic National convention in 1885, the first that ever met for the nomi- nation of presidential candidate, and is the only surviving officer of that conven ton. In 1889 he received the democratic vote for Congress in what was the 9th Con- gressional district. In 1S42 he was mem- Der of the House of Representatives, and was one of the six delegates from Connect icut in the Baltimore convention of 1844, which resulted in the nomination and cleo tion to the presidency of James K. Polk over Henry Clay. In 1853 he was again member of the House of Representatives, and reelected in 1854. The last term of service by Mir. Smith in the General Assem- bly, was as member of the House in 1870, when he called the House 10 order, he be- ing the oldest member, and presided over it's organization. h his politics Mir. Smith has always been democrat of the old Vir- ginia State Rights school, opposed to pro- tective tariff, to internal improvements by the Federal government, and from first to last against the agitation of the subject of negro servitude. Quiet in temperament and steady in political principle, he can neither understand nor practice sudden changes in party associations, nor time his course to catch every breeze of popular excitement.
 ?. Isaac N. Bartram of Sharon is dem ocrat, and has served two terms in the House, the first in 1868 and the second in 1872. He was born at Bedding, March 26th, 1888. The only educational advanta- ges he enjoyed were those of the common schools, but by making the most of them he was able to lay the foundation for suc- cessful business life. He IS an architect and builder, and in addition knows how to turn an honest penny from 8 blasting furnace. Mir. Bartram has served his town as select man and town treasurer, in both of which positions he was an efficient and upright servant.
 Salis6ury-1. Orange Benjamin was born in Sheffield, Mass, March 9th, 1928; re- moved in 1S44 to the town he represents, and commenced there the manufacture of boots and shoes, He received common school education, and is 8 lifelong demo- crat, though not an active politician. He will become a valuable member of the House.
 ?. Robert H. Ball was born in Salisbury, May 18th, 1881, and is now 45 years old. l He was educated at the common schools and academy of his native town, and at the age of fourteen entered his fathers store as clerk, and was made partner when twenty one. Since 1870 he has given his attention to farming. He is liberal-democrat, and l a new member.
 l Winchester-1. Henry Gay, the Wes. Winsted banker, has evidently done nothing during the past year to forfeit the good re- pute in which he is held by his tellow-citi- zens, inasmuch as they again return him to the lower House for the current year. Dur ing the last session Mir. Gay served on the committees of centennial celebration and of finance, his large and varied experience in financial matters peculiarly fitting him for work upon the latter. He is AZ years old, and since the age of fourteen has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. At the age of twenty-one he was cashier of the Win sted bank, becoming it's president. eight years later. This position he held until 1869, when he went into the private bank ing firm of Gilbert & Gay. In January, 1874, he was appointed cashier of the Hurl- but national bank of West Winsted, and still serves in that capacity. For thirteen successive years he has been treasurer of Winchester, and prominent and active in all the enterprises of that town. This year, as last, he was elected on republican tick ct in strong democratic town, and now, as then, the associate member is of opposite political faith.
 2. Samuel Greer is democrat, with in. clinations toward the independent faction. He is new member and young man, his age being 36. His native place is Chateau quay county, Canada East, where he was fairly educated in the common schools. The rebellion found him ready for march ing orders, and he enlisted as private in the 10th Vermont volunteers, and was pro noted to the first lieutenancy. The l0tt was attached to the third army corps, anC on the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac was attached to the 3rd division 9th army corps, with which it served dur ing the remainder of the war, Lieutenan Greer receiving an honorable discharge a it's close. He is now employed as roadmas- ter of the Connecticut Western railroad, ,ant has m ast of his life been actively engaged in the construction of railways and the su pervision of their repairs and maintenance Though a novice in legislators duties, b,
 will he heard to effect before the session closes.