History of Stafford, (Tolland County) Connecticut United States of America

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Local History Notes:

STAFFORD, a post-township of Tolland co., Connecticut, intersected by the New London, Willimantic, and Palmer railroad, 28 miles N. E. from Hartford. It contains three thriving manufacturing villages, viz. Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, and Stafford Springs. Stafford Springs, situated on the Willimantic river, and on the New London, Willimantic, and Palmer railroad, 50 miles N. by W. from New London, is celebrated for the medicinal properties of its waters, and is visited by persons from all parts of the Union. One of them contains a solution of iron, sustained by carbonic acid gas, some earthy substances, and an element called natron. This is regarded by chemists as one of the most efficacious chalybeate springs in the United States. The other, as analyzed by Professor Silliman, contains a large portion of hydrogen gas and sulphur, and a small proportion of iron. A splendid hotel has been erected here for the accommodation of visitors. The village of Stafford Springs has 2 churches, and 3 woollen manufactories. Population of the township, 2941.

Biographies:

Julius Converse, governor of Vermont, was born at Stafford, Conn., Dec. 17, 1798; son of Joseph and Mary (Johnson) Converse; grandson of Lieut. Josiah Converse; great-grandson of Major James Converse, and lineally descended from Deacon Edward Converse, who came from England with Winthrop's colony in 1630. Julius Converse was taken to Randolph, Vt., in 1801 and was educated at Randolph academy. He was admitted to the bar in 1826 and practised at Bethel until 1840, when he removed to Woodstock. He represented Bethel in the Vermont house of representatives several terms; was elected to the first state senate in 1836, and was three times re-elected. After his removal to Woodstock he was again a representative in the state legislature, and was state attorney from 1844 to 1847. He was lieutenant-governor of Vermont, 1850-51, and governor, 1872-74. He died at Dixville Notch, N. H., Aug. 16, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Calvin Willey, senator, was born in East Haddam, Conn., Sept. 15, 1776. He was admitted to the bar in 1798, and established himself in practice in Stafford, Conn. He was a representative in the state legislature for nine successive years; state senator for two years; postmaster at Stafford Springs, 1806-08, and at Tolland, 1808-16; probate judge for the Stafford district for seven years, and presidential elector on the John Quincy Adams ticket in 1824. On Dec. 29, 1825, he was elected U.S. senator in place of James Lanman, who had been appointed but who was refused his seat, took his seat and served till March 3, 1831, when he returned to his law practice. He died in Stafford, Conn., Aug. 23, 1838.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor