WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER BACKUS
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. 1291
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER BACKUS, agent for the Central Vermont railroad
at South Windham, and a member of the firm of Backus Brothers, general merchants,
South Windham, was born there June 15, 1854. He was educated in the district
schools and at an early age worked at farming, so continuing until 1874,
when he learned telegraphy. He obtained employment as telegrapher and agent
with the Central Vermont railroad, which position he has filled with general
satisfaction for the past twenty-nine years. In 1880 he became a member
of the firm of Backus Brothers which is conducted by his brother George
H., at South Windham. Mr. Backus is a life long Democrat, and he was nominated
by his party as representative to the State Legislature in 1902, being elected
by a handsome majority in a Republican stronghold. He is popular with all
classes, and is liberal in church views. On Nov. 22, 1877, he married Harriet
A. Hatch, daughter of Samuel Orville and Eunice T. (Armstrong) Hatch of
South Windham. (A full history of the Hatch family will be found in the
sketch of Jonathan Hatch, of South Windham.) Samuel Orville Hatch, father
of Mrs. Backus, was born in Lebanon, Conn., June 22, 1809, a brother of
Jonathan Hatch, of South Windham. He lived in South Windham, where he died
June 13, 1877; he was buried in the cemetery there. He married Eunice T.
Armstrong, and they had the following children: E. Eliza; John O., who
died Sept. 23, 1885, married Edna L. Gavitt; Jonathan
A.; Mary A.; Henry Chester, married Lucretia Johnson; Harriet A. married
William C. Backus; Adella B. married Eugene Kinne; Charles P.; Carrie
L.; and Lillie L.
Reproduced by:
Linda D. Pingel great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of
Rockville, Ct.
Biographies of Tolland County
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