CAPT. RUFUS THOMPSON HASKINS
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. 656
CAPT. RUFUS THOMPSON HASKINS, one of
the prominent and influential citizens of Scotland, Windham county, is a
man who holds a unique place in the community in which he resides. Although
not a native of the town, he has won a place in the hearts of his neighbors
which might be envied by many an
older resident. He was born Dec. 29, 1839, in Rochester, Mass., a descendant
of one of New Englands time-honored and representative families.
(I) Thomas Haskins, the great-grandfather
of Capt. Haskins, was a prosperous and thrifty farmer of Rochester, and
reared a family of several children, among whom was a son, Daniel, who served
in the Colonial army during the war of the Revolution.
(II) Job Haskins, also son of Thomas,
was born in Rochester on the home farm, where he grew to manhood. He removed
to Plymouth, where he was engaged in the shipyards, but after a few years
he returned to Rochester and again engaged in farming, finally settling
in Middleborough, Mass., where
the remainder of his useful life was spent, and where his death occurred
at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. His remains rest in peace in
the old burying ground of that place. In politics he was a staunch old
line Democrat. He married Susan Hackett, daughter of George Hackett, of
Middleborough, where she died and is buried. They were devout Christians,
and were well known as charitable, self-sacrificing people. Their children,
all now deceased, with the exception of Charles H., were: Clarissa, who
married Willard Bump; Job; Phineas, who died in infancy; Susan, who married
Benjamin Johnson; Betsey, who married James Bacon; Polly, who died unmarried;
Phinea (2); George; Sebra; and Charles H., father of Rufus T.
(III) Charles H. Haskins was born Jan.
28, 1816, in Middleborough, Mass., where he grew to manhood; later he removed
to Rochester, Mass., and for eighteen years was engaged in the iron foundries
of that town, ten years of which were spent by him in puddling. He then
settled on a farm, which he
successfully conducted until 1878, when he disposed of it, and removed to
Scotland to spend the autumn of his well spent life with his son, Rufus
T. He is still (1903) living, at the advance age of eighty-seven years,
retaining to a marked degree all his faculties, together with a rugged constitution.
In early life he cast his lot with the principles of Democracy and cast
his first ballot for Andrew Jackson. He continued to
vote for the candidates of that party until 1896, when he became a Republican,
casting his vote for William McKinley. He has always possessed a quiet,
unassuming disposition, yet holds his own opinion on matters of importance.
In 1835 he married in Rochester, Mass., Almira Haskins, who was born April
16, 1818, daughter of Thomas Haskins, who was a soldier in the war of 1812.
She died in Scotland, Conn., at the home of her son, and is buried in the
Scotland cemetery. To this happy union nine children were born: Charles
F., of Middleborough, Mass.; Rufus T., our subject; a son that died in infancy;
Lucy, who is now the widow of William Benson, and resides in Brockton, Mass.;
Almira, who died at the age of five years; Job; Ellen, who married William
Snell, and resides in Rochester, Mass.; Andrew, now deceased; and Almira,
who married George Parish, and resides in Massachusetts.
(IV) Rufus T. Haskins was born Dec.
29, 1839, in Rochester, Mass., on the home farm, and received his schooling
in the district schools of his native town. At the age of fifteen years,
having a desire to follow the adventurous life of a seaman, he sailed from
New Bedford, Mass., on the bark Newton, Capt. George Sherman,
as a common seaman, and after a thirty-four month voyage of adventure and
hardship the vessel was stove in the ice in the Ochotsk Sea, and the crew
was compelled to leave her, reaching home on various vessels many months
later. Notwithstanding his hazardous experience, the young seaman again
set sail on a whaling voyage on the ship Onward as boat steerer,
under Capt. W.H. Allen, and after three seasons sailing in the same sea
wherein the Newton was lost, they reached port
with over 6,600 barrels of oil. Having still a desire to visit foreign
countries he shipped as mate on board a British merchant vessel, and visited
many European ports. Returning home he later shipped on board the Onward
under Capt. Allen as third mate. After making two voyages on that ship,
for the latter of which he sailed as mate, he accepted the same berth on
board the Contest. After succeeding in obtaining about 1,400
barrels of oil on this voyage, the ship, together with thirty-one other
vessels, was caught in the ice and the crew was compelled to abandon her,
taking to the small boats, and for days the men were forced to cut and break
their way through the ice for over twenty miles before reaching open water
and then cruised for forty miles farther, experiencing untold hardships
before they were
finally rescued and taken to the Sandwich Islands. From there Mr. Haskins
sailed to San Francisco, and came home overland.
After a few months he again set sail
on the ship Jerry Pery to the Arctic Ocean. While on this voyage,
they found the ship Helen Snow lodged in the ice and abandoned.
The crew of the Jerry Pery was divided and Captain Haskins,
taking command of the Helen Snow, after completing a successful
season, brought her to San Francisco. Having spent over twenty years of
his life on the sea he abandoned that career for a less perilous one, and
coming to Scotland in 1869 he purchased the old Tyler homestead and farm
of 130 acres, then owned by Egbert Bass, and now known as the Hillcrest
farm.Here Mr. Haskins has since been successfully engaged in agricultural
pursuits. On July 11, 1867, Capt. Haskins was united in marriage with Miss
Mary Ellen Anthony, daughter of Caleb and Acineth (Grammans) Anthony. The
children born of this marriage were five in number: (1) Rufus Caleb was
born July 24, 1871, in Scotland, Conn., where he attended the district schools.
He later learned the trade of blacksmith, and is now successfully engaged
in conducting a shop of his own near the homestead farm.
(2) Leander Owen born Feb. 29, 1876,
in Scotland, Conn., received his education in the district schools of his
native town, and in the Willimantic grammar school. After leaving the latter
he was engaged in teaching for a term in Scotland. His father, retiring
from the active management of the farm, has
turned the same over to him, and he is now conducting one of the best cultivated
farms in the town of Scotland. He has taken an active part in the agricultural
matters, being a member of Shetucket Grange of Scotland, of which he was
overseer and master as well as of Pomona and State Granges, in the latter
of which he is a lecturer. He is a staunch Republican, takes an active
part in the ranks of the party, and has served his town as tax-collector.
He is a member and liberal supporter of the Congregational
Church, and he is public-spirited and alive to the interests of his town.
(3) Jessie Almira, born July 13, 1877, in Scotland, married Elwin B. Inman,
of Scotland. (4) Flora May, born Nov. 26, 1880, in Scotland, married Daniel
Knickerbocker, of Stamford, Conn., where they now reside. (5) Edith Abby,
born Jan. 30, 1884, in Scotland, resides at home. She, as well as her sisters,
has taken a very active part in the Grange work, and is now serving her
second term as secretary of the local Grange. Mrs. Haskins is a noble
Christian woman, an ideal wife and a devoted mother, possessing those higher
qualities which endear her not only to her immediate family but to all who
know her. She is a member of the Christian Church of Hampton, Conn., in
which she is a faithful worker. She has also taken an active part in the
Grange work, being a member of Shetucket Grange of Scotland.
Capt. Haskins is a man possessing qualities
of integrity, sound judgement and business sagacity; a man of upright character,
who thinks and speaks for himself. He has always been a consistent and
staunch Republican, and his counsel has been sought by members of that party.
He has served his town
acceptably as a member of the board of selectmen for eight years, assessor
for a like number of years, and has held minor offices of the town. He
represented his town in the General Assembly in the session of 1884, serving
on the important committee on Claims. He was one of the original incorporators
and stockholders of the Scotland Creamery Association of which he was first
president, which position he held for ten years. He is socially affiliated
with the Masonic Lodge, having joined Social Harmony Lodge, No 7, A.F. &
A.M. of Wareham, Mass. He is also a member of Shetucket Grange, of Scotland,
in the organization of which he is active, and which he served as gate keeper,
steward, and overseer. He is also a member of the Pomona and State Granges.
He also served two years as president of the Windham County Agricultural
Society. His religion is of the character which finds good in all. Capt.
Haskins and his family represent one of Scotlands most honored families
and bear the respect and esteem of all who know them.
Reproduced by:
Linda D. Pingel great-great granddaughter
of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.
Biographies of Tolland County
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