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Archiver > CT-Waterbury > 2004-02 > 1078072420


From: Gary Warner <>
Subject: [Waterbury] Caroline Josephine Welton
Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 10:33:43 -0600
References: <BAY4-DAV105Ln5U9T3T000035d0@hotmail.com> <40420B47.6030000@askgar.com> <BAY4-DAV114WrhJJXHq00003693@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <BAY4-DAV114WrhJJXHq00003693@hotmail.com>


Maureen,

Can you give me another hint? I have no record of a "Carrie Welton".
There is a Caroline who married an Ard WELTON in 1826, but that is as
close as I can get. Do you have a date? a husband? a father? any
other clues?

Thanks!

_-_
gar

Moe Sprano wrote:

> Yes - Caroline Josephine Welton was born in 1842 and died in CO in
> 1884. She left $ in her will for the fountain to her beloved horse
> 'Knight' which is on the green in Waterbury to this date. Her father
> was Joseph Welton and mother Jane Porter - My queries - Did she ever
> marry? - What was her father's occupation? brothers &/or sisters? -
> Why & how did she go to CO?
> anyway .. for some reason I have developed a fascination with her life
> thanks for your reply
> Maureen

Oh, Maureen! Are you ever in luck with this one!

Caroline Josephine Welton has a biography listed in volume III of the
Town and City of Waterbury by Anderson, pp. 904-906:

CAROLINE JOSEPHINE WELTON

Caroline Josephine Welton, daughter of Joseph Chauncey and Jane E.
(Porter) Welton (page 337) was born in Waterbury, June 7, 1842. She was
educated at Miss Edwards's school in New Haven and at the
Mears-Burkhardt school in New York city, and studied drawing and oil
painting with James and William Hart and their sister Mrs. Beers. She
was very fond of riding, and on her spiritied black horse "Knight" was
for years a familiar figure in the streets of Waterbury, sometimes in
weather that would have kept most people within doors. After the death
of her father, in 1874, she decided on an extended course of travel, and
thinking that she ought first to see her own country, spent several
months in California and the vicinity, visiting the remarkable places on
the Pacific slope. For awhile her plans were interrupted by ill health,
but in 1883, she resumed her journeyings and visited the Rocky mountain
region, making a temporary home at Colorado Springs. She made several
ascents of the higher peaks of that region, and also wrote brilliant
descriptions of the scenery and of her experiences to her friends.

It was her fondness for mountain climbing that led to her death. On
Long's peak on September 23, 1884, she was overtaken by a violent snow
storm, and being enfeebled by exertion and by cold, her hearth, which
for some years had shown signs of failure, suddenly ceased to act, and
despite the best efforts of the guide to sustain her, she sank down and
perished before assistance could be procured.

For some years Miss Welton gave one-tenth of her income to charitable
objects, placing one-half in her rector's hands and giving the other
half to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which
her friend, Henry Bergh, was presidnet, and in whose work she took the
greatest interest. She was very fond of animals, especially of horses.
By her will (which was unsuccessfullly contested), she proivded for the
erection of the drinking fountain which is so conspicuous an ornament to
our public square*, and gave the greater part of the remainder of her
estate to her favorite society, making Mr. Bergh her executor. Miss
Welton had much personal beauty, was tall, erect, and of fine carriage
and striking personality.

----
* The fountain was completed and first used on November 10, 1888. The
base is of Quincy granite, eight and one-half feet high, and supports a
bronze horse weighing 2500 pounds, representing Miss Welton's favorite
"Knight". The designer was Karl Gerhardt of Hartford, and the horse was
cast by the Ames company of Chicopee, Mass.

------------
An illustration of "The Welton Drinking Fountain and the City Hall"
appears on page 905.

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