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.