Harwinton
Men of Distinction
Early Years (continued)
George Smith
Catlin
George was born here on August 24, 1808. He received
an education at Amherst College, studied law at the
famous Litchfield Law School under Tapping Reeve. (this
was the first law school in America) Catlin entered
the office of the Hon. William S. Holabird of Winsted
and he was so proficient in his profession that, even
as a mere lad he was entrusted with cases in the town
court. He represented Harwinton in the General Assembly
and, at the age of 23, he became executive secretary
to Governor Peters. Later, he practiced law in Willimantic
and he handled many important cases. He was the State's
Attorney for Windham County New York in 1842 - 1843
and was elected to congress from the third district
of Connecticut. In 1848 he ran for Governor but lost
by a narrow margin. In 1850 he became a State Senator
and was judge of the Windham County Court when he died
in 1851 on the day after Christmas. He was known all
over the country as a great orator and one of the intellectual
giants of his time.
Lyman S. Catlin
Honorable Lyman S. Catlin, born here in 1841, made his
name in Bridgeport Connecticut. He ran for State Comptroller
in 1890 but lost the closely contested election. He
was the treasurer of the United Illuminating Company
of Bridgeport and also treasurer of the Mechanics and
Farmers Saving Bank. He was a civil war veteran. Lyman,
even in his later years, still owned the ancestral family
farm in Harwinton and spent most of his summers living
there.
Von Tobel's
Van Tobel is another old Harwinton name, Edward Von
Tobel was born here and went on to become the judge
of the City Court in Seattle Washington.
Edward had a brother who became a prominent physician
in Manchester New Hampshire and another who was a well-known
clergyman in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
Thomas Bristol
Born here in 1854 and raised on a Harwinton farm, Thomas
would become a professor at an Iowa college
Rev Dr, Samuel Barker
Samuel was born in Harwinton in 1849 and educated in
the Harwinton schools. He studied further at Carzensonia,
New York and was graduated from a western college. Later
he would become president of a college in Washington,
D.C.
Abijah Catlin
Born in Harwinton on April 1, 1805, this man was no
April Fools joke. He served this state very well and
was honored with many offices of trust, honor and position
by his fellow citizens. He was an early graduate of
the Yale Law School and was admitted to the bar in New
Haven County in 1827. He was Harwinton's representative
in the General Assembly ten times, was a State Senator,
Comptroller of the state for three years and the school
fund commissioner. He was judge of the county court
and was Chairman of the Bar Association. In 1880 he
was a presidential elector and cast his vote for James
Garfield. He practiced law in Georgia for a few years
but, in 1837, he returned to his home town of Harwinton
where he remained a prominent citizen until his death
in 1891.
