Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

died in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, January
3, 1700-01. Cornelius Waldo claimed
descent from John, brother of Peter Waldo,
founder of the Waldenses in France,
1 170. Cornelius Waldo is first of record
at Salem, Massachusetts, July 6, 1647.
The line of descent from Cornelius Waldo,
the founder, is through his son, John
Waldo, a soldier of King Philip's War, a
deputy to the General Court from Dun-
stable, Massachusetts, in 1689; later a
settler in Windham, Connecticut. He
married Rebecca Adams, daughter of
Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Graves)
Adams, who survived him. The line con-
tinues through Edw^ard Waldo, third son
of John Waldo, a teacher, farmer, lieu-
tenant of militia and Assemblyman of
Windham, and his first wife. Thankful
(Dimmock) Waldo; their son, Shubael
Waldo, and his wife, Mary (Allen) Waldo
their son, Daniel Waldo, of Chester-
field, New Hampshire, a soldier of the
Revolution, and his wife, Hannah (Carlton)
Waldo; their son Shubael (2) Waldo,
of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and his
first wife, Rebekah (Crosby) Waldo;
their son, Josiah Crosby Waldo, and his
first wife, Elmira Ruth (Ballou) Waldo,
they the parents of George Curtis Waldo,
of Bridgeport.
Josiah Crosby Waldo was born December
5, 1803, at Chesterfield, New Hampshire,
died August 28, 1890, at New Lon-
don, Connecticut. He studied under the
Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston, became a
minister of the Universalist Church and
gave his life to the propagation of that
faith. His work was widespread in his
early years, covering the large cities and
towns of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and
part of Virginia and Tennessee. He was
a pastor of the First Universalist Church
of Lynn, Massachusetts, 1835 to 1839, and
pastor of the First Universalist Society in
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
108
West Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1841-47,
and from 1849 to 1854 labored in Troy,
New York, and afterward for several
years in New London. He published over
one hundred controversial sermons, took
part in many public debates, organized
several church societies and is credited
with first generally introducing ahe Uni-
versalist faith in the West. He estab-
lished and for many years published a
weekly paper in Cincinnati, Ohio, "The
Sentinel and Star in the West," which
subsequently, through successive consolidations
became the "Cincinnati Times-
Star," and until his death was active in
the work of his church. He married
(first), October 26, 1831, at Boston, Elmina
Ruth Ballou, daughter of the Rev.
Hosea and Ruth (Washburn) Ballou ; she
was a cousin of Eliza Ballou, mother of
President James A. Garfield. Mrs. Waldo,
born April 3, 1810, at Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, died at New London, Connecticut,
June 29, 1856; she was a woman
of fine intellectuality, a writer of verse,
the periodicals of her day welcoming her
poems. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Crosby
Waldo were the parents of Ella Fiducia
Oliver, who died at the age of thirteen
years ; George Curtis, of further mention
Clemintina Grace ; Frances Rebecca, and
Maturin Ballou Waldo.
George Curtis Waldo, the subject of
this sketch, son of the Rev. Josiah Crosby
Waldo and his first wife, Elmina Ruth
(Ballou) Waldo, was born in Lynn, Massachusetts,
March 20, 1837. He completed
public school courses at West
Cambridge, Massachusetts, prepared for
college at Troy Academy, then entered
Tuft's College, whence he was graduated
Bachelor of Arts, class of i860. Later he
was awarded Master of Arts in course
and in 1900 his alma mater conferred upon
him the honorary degree of Litt. D. After
;