MARTIN CARD

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. 283

MARTIN CARD, a prosperous farmer and retired meat dealer of South Windham, Windham county, was born April 10, 1821, in Lebanon, Connecticut.

Joseph Card, his grandfather, was a native of Rhode Island, where he grew to manhood. He then located in Lebanon, Conn., and later in Branford, where he died at the age of ninety-two years; he is buried there. Farming was his life occupation, and he also conducted a sawmill while in Lebanon. He was twice married, and reared a family of three sons and three daughters: Clarissa, the eldest, never married; Maria married Erastus Newell, and lived in Lebanon, Conn.; Nancy married Cromwell Kingsley, of Lebanon; William married Sarah Babcock, and had a son, William Card; Thomas was the father of Martin; Charles married Mercy Perry, of New London, Connecticut.

Thomas Card was born in Lebanon, where he grew to manhood and passed most of his days, engaged in farming. During his declining years he lived in Windham, near the Lebanon line, where he was tenderly cared for by his son, Martin, our subject. For thirteen years prior to his death he was blind, but with that exception, although he reached the advanced age of ninety-two, he retained wonderful possession of his faculties. Thomas Card married Hannah Greenman, a native of Mansfield, daughter of John Greenman, and the following named children were born to them: Samuel, of Springfield, Mass.; Ann; Clarissa, who died young; Martin, our subject; Lucy, who died young; Catherine, who married Joseph Hendricks, lived in Bridgeport, and died aged sixty-seven; and Cecelia, who married (first) Darius Wood, (second) Warren Palmer and (third) John Rood, of Windham.

Martin Card attended the district schools of his neighborhood, and began his business career without any assistance from anyone. The first step he took toward making his way in the world was conducting a farm on shares, in Columbia, and by dint of hard work on the farm and making shingles in the winter he first saved $100, to which he added until he was able to purchase some farm property in Lebanon, which he tilled for six years. About this time he engaged in butchering, and for thirty-three years continued in that line, being very successful, as much on account of his great energy as business ability. In one day he killed, unaided, eight three-year old steers. As the years progressed he branched out in his business until he had five wagon routes, and kept two teams busy all the time. In one week, with his son’s help, he made nearly $400. Soon after engaging in the meat business he purchased his present farm in Windham, where he has since resided. In recent years he has invested quite extensively in business property, both in Willimantic and Niantic, has accumulated considerable wealth, and justly proud of his success, as it is the result of his own efforts. In politics Mr. Card has been a Democrat ever since attaining his
majority, but he voted for President McKinley at the last election.

On March 30, 1845, Mr. Card married, in Lebanon, Conn., Lydia Smith Fitch, daughter of William Fitch, and granddaughter of Joseph Fitch. The grandfather, Joseph Fitch, died in Lebanon, where he had followed farming, at the age of seventy-nine. He married Esther Murdock, who died comparatively young, and their only child who grew to maturity was William, father of Mrs. Card. He was born in Lebanon, and died when Mrs. Card was but two and one-half years old; he married Abbie Ford, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Smith) Ford. The latter lived to be ninety-one years old. William Fitch and his wife had two children: Esther, the first, married William Card, and had two children, Edward and Mary Ella, the latter now the wife of Franz Walker, of Lebanon. The second, Lydia S., wife of Martin Card, was born May 27, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Card had two children: William Clinton, born May 22, 1851, is a boss in Smith, Winchester & Co.’s foundry, South Windham, Conn.; he married Mary Ella Lewis. Miss Lydia Anna, born Feb. 25, 1849, attends to her father’s business.

Personally Mr. Card holds a position of high standing among the farmers of this section, is very popular with all classes, and is regarded by all as an influential man and useful citizen.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.