JOHN BRIGHAM KINGSBURY
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. 431
JOHN BRIGHAM KINGSBURY was born Oct.
1, 1826, at the parental home on the Rockville road, Tolland, Conn., and
there makes his home. The land has been in the possession of the family
for 175 years. Nathaniel Kingsbury, Jr., great-grandfather of John B.,
was born in Coventry, a son of Nathaniel Kingsbury, Sr., who settled in
Tolland about the time of his marriage, on land deeded to him by his father-in-law,
and on this land his posterity still resides. Nathaniel Kingsbury, Jr.,
was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church at Tolland. His wife, Sarah, daughter
of Capt. Samuel Chapman, died July 14, 1794, the mother of the following
family: Hannah, born in 1738; Sarah, born in 1739; three who died in
infancy; Ruth, born in 1750; Nathaniel, born in 1753; Jabez; and Samuel,
born in 1763. Deacon Jabez Kingsbury, son of Nathaniel, Jr., was born March
10, 1756, and died March 25, 1844. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary
army, entering when twenty-one years of age, and he drew a pension for his
meritorious
services in that struggle. Born in Tolland, he lived here all his life,
and built the house where his grandson, John B., was born, and which is
still standing. He was an active and public spirited man, and held the
office of justice of the peace many years. A man of deep religious feeling,
he served as a deacon in the Congregational Church many years. Deacon Kingsbury
was married Aug. 15, 1776, to Anna Hatch, who was born Sept. 18, 1759, and
died June 12, 1842. They had three children, Sarah, Mary, and John. Col.
John Kingsbury, son of Deacon Jabez, and father of John B., was born Oct.
28, 1782, on the old farm. He was an officer in the State Militia, appointed
in 1821, and was a man of ability and character. In his adult life he was
a Whig, but became a Republican before he died. A prominent man in the
community, for many years he filled various local offices, and was selectman.
In the Presbyterian Church he was an active member and persistent worker.
His death occurred in Tolland, March 2, 1861, when he had reached the age
of seventy-eight years. In 1804, Col. Kingsbury was married to Sally Dimock,
who was born Oct. 12, 1782, in Tolland, and died Dec. 11, 1819, at the age
of thirty-seven years. To this union were born a son and a daughter, twins,
who died in infancy. On Nov. 1, 1821, Col. Kingsbury married Sally Edgerton,
who was born April 5, 1782, and died April 20, 1824. Her only child died
in infancy. Col. Kingsbury married for his third wife, Mary Brigham, born
Feb. 12, 1794, daughter of Don Carlos Brigham, and his wife whose maiden
name was Greenleaf. Mrs. Kingsbury died in November, 1871. To this marriage
were born the following family: (1) John Brigham was the eldest. (2) George
Henry, born Nov. 22, 1828, was a farmer and engineer, and died Dec. 26,
1893; he married Mary Ora Crane (born July 11, 1829, died Jan. 2, 1894),
by whom he had the following children: Adalaide E., Jennie Ann, Lizzie Howard,
George Lockwood (who died when ten and a half years old), and Mary Crane.
(3) and (4) Two children died in infancy. John Brigham Kingsbury was born
in Tolland, and received his education in District School, No. 5, and in
a private school in Tolland Center, under Prof. Benton and William Starr.
When he was eighteen years old, he left school and devoted himself to farming
on the home farm, which is still his residence. During his more active
years Mr. Kingsbury was an industrious farmer, and had under his management
at one time a farm of 164 acres. During the last few years he has practically
retired from labor, and, as is said, is living on borrowed time, being now
(1902) over seventy-five years old. He is in good health, and he and his
wife are genial companions. Mr. Kingsbury is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
where his kindly spirits and simple and unassuming manhood are very highly
appreciated. Mr. Kingsbury attends the Union Congregational Church at Rockville,
of which his wife is a member. In politics he is a staunch Republican,
and has been selectman, also filling various local offices. In 1889 and
in 1890 he served in the General Assembly, where he served on the Towns
and Probate Districts committees. In 1850 Mr. Kingsbury was married to Mary
Ann Kellogg, who was born April 9, 1825, daughter of Horace Kellogg, of
Tolland. To this union came a
daughter, Mary Brigham, born Oct. 5, 1855, who died June 2, 1856. Mrs.
Kingsbury died Feb. 23, 1858, and Mr. Kingsbury was married April 17, 1861,
to Caroline Ann Rogers, who was born April 15, 1829, daughter of Ariel and
Judith (Towne) Rogers, of Monson, Mass. Mr. Kingsbury is widely known for
his kindly charities and his humane spirit. His good deeds are numerous
and his heart is full of sympathy for the needy and the afflicted. With
a large fortune at his command, his sympathetic disposition has had full
play, and great good has been done by him in his own community.
Reproduced by:
Linda D. Pingel great-great granddaughter
of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.
Biographies of Tolland County
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