GEORGE TIFFANY

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 371

GEORGE TIFFANY (deceased). There were few if any better known business men in Willimantic at the time of his death than George Tiffany, and none who possessed the confidence of the people of Windham county to any greater extent, or whose integrity was less questioned. Mr. Tiffany came from an old New England family, and was born Jan. 11, 1829, at East Douglass, Mass., son of Lemuel and Betsy (Barnes) Tiffany. Lemuel Tiffany, Sr., his grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier from East Douglass, Mass. In that place this branch of the family had resided for several generations. Both father and grandfather were devoted to an agricultural life. The parents of George Tiffany lived and died in East Douglass, Massachusetts.

George Tiffany was the sixth child in a family of eight children, and was the youngest of three sons, as well as the only one of the family to settled in Connecticut. His mother died when he was five years old, and for some years he lived with relatives, but his father married again, and he was returned to his home. Reared as a farmer, he attended the district school in his native town, and at the age of seventeen became a cattle drover with an elder brother, and in this business he spent his entire active life. At that time the calling was a popular one, and men were engaged in it in almost every town. The brothers formerly bought their stock at Brighton, Mass., selling to the farmers, who fattened the cattle, or to the butchers for slaughtering. They also bought shoats on an extensive scale, which they sold to the farmers for preparing and making ready for the market. Mr. Tiffany acquired a very practical knowledge of the business, and bought car loads of stock in Albany, then a great cattle market, and sold to farmers and slaughterers in New England.

After his marriage in 1852 Mr. Tiffany made his home in Upton, Mass., where he began his business career in a most modest manner, his capital coming entirely from his savings while working for wages. When he cast out for himself he was poor in everything but a stout heart and a good mind. On Aug. 15, 1864, he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Company F, First Battalion, Mass. Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, being stationed at Fort Warren, near Boston, and chiefly engaged in guarding exchanged prisoners. After living some time in Upton, Mass., Mr. Tiffany removed to Millbury, Mass., and from there to Oxford, Conn. In 1874 with his family he located in Willimantic, where Silas Tiffany, an uncle of George, who was living in the city at that time, did much to make their coming pleasant. For a few years after his removal to Willimantic he followed the business of cattle droving, going to the West and shipping cattle into New England. For a short period he conducted a retail meat market, and also did a wholesale business, and as the pioneer handler of dressed beef, being the first local representative of the large packing houses of the West, he did an extensive business. He retired from this line about four years previous to his death, Feb. 16, 1900, having had a stroke of apoplexy about a year previous. His last illness was but of a very few days' duration, and his remains rest in Willimantic cemetery.

While in Oxford, Mass., Mr. Tiffany was secretary and treasurer of the Universalist Church, but in later years he became a member of the Unitarian Church, and was active and influential in that body. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and served as first selectman in 1899. When Willimantic was a borough he was senior burgess. Never an office seeker, he was a good citizen and interested in the welfare of the city, being often called to prominent places in the city and town government. In his political capacity he was painstaking and sincere, faithfully discharging his duties and making an honorable record wherever he was employed. In 1891 he completed his fine residence on Prospect street, where his widow is now living.

On Nov. 17, 1852, George Tiffany was married to Miss Sarah A. Cook, in West Boylston, Mass. Mrs. Tiffany was born Jan. 23, 1832, in Wrentham, Mass., a daughter of Leonard and Julia (Aldrich) Cook, the former a farmer and the latter a member of the old Aldrich family, long and favorably known in the annals of New England. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Cook, three are living, as follows: Willis A., of Clinton, Mass., a veteran of the Civil war, where he served in the 15^th Mass. V.I.; Julia Alma, now the widow of Charles Whipple, of Pawtucket, R.I.; and Sarah A., who is Mrs. Tiffany. Mrs. Julia Cook lived to her ninetieth year, and was buried in Willimantic. Mrs. Tiffany left Wrentham when young, and her home was at West Boylston until her marriage. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany are as follows: (1) Clara B., born Sept. 12, 1853, at Upton, Mass., was married, Jan. 28, 1879, to William H.B. Kibby, then of Webster, but now of Chelsea, Mass.; their children are: Sidney Vernon, George Tiffany and Leonard Cook. (2) Fannie J., born Oct. 3, 1855, in Upton, Mass., married Calvin Brown in 1886, and resides in Willimantic. (3) Cora J., born Nov. 10, 1857, in Millbury, Mass., married Jan. 3, 1881, in Willimantic, George Ashley, of Springfield, Mass., now agent for the Cudahy Packing Co., at Nashua, N.H., and they have a family of two children, Walter Tiffany and Ruth Emily. (4) Luman Henry, born April 30, 1864, in Oxford, Mass., married April 6, 1889, Hattie Moore, of Webster, Mass.; he is the local representative of the Swift Packing Co. at Webster, but for a number of years he was engaged in the dressed meat business in Willimantic with his father. (5) Ruth Elma died in infancy. (6) Daniel M., born May 25, 1870, at Oxford, Mass., lives in Willimantic. (7) Effie Alma, born Nov. 13, 1873, at Oxford, was married Sept. 21, 1901, to Franklin G. Taft, a native of Blackstone, Mass., and resides in Willimantic

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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