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PAL
VIRTUTI
Elizabeth Palmer Lathrop
91
A MODERN HISTORY
OF
NEW LONDON COUNTY
CONNECTICUT
-
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
BENJAMIN TINKHAM MARSHALL, A.M., D.D. PRESIDENT OF CONNECTICUT COLLEGE, NEW LONDON
1781
VOLUME III
1922 LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY
COPYRIGHT LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1922
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY
2014930
179
BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES Q. ELDREDGE-Now seventy-six years of age, Mr. Eldredge resides at "Riverview Cottage," Old Mystic, Connecticut, the place of his birth, and on the ground where his parents, Chris- topher and Nancy Eldredge, passed their lives and left a record of love and helpfulness that will long endure. Mr. Eldredge has seen all sides of life, and had a great variety of experience during his three-quarters of a century. He early broke away from home environment, and in western lumber camps and on western rivers developed a strength of body, mind and character that well fitted him for the place in mercantile life that he was to fill. He started with limited education and without financial backing, but, endowed with common sense, clear vision, courage and willingness to work, he rose from lowly place to the head of large business interests and finally returned to the place of his birth, where he has built a new house, and in beauti- ful Riverview he has a home which is a model of convenience and comfort, with private workshop, garage, and a private "museum" where over three thousand souvenirs are on exhibition, and where, free of all charge, visitors are welcomed. Chris- tened Charles Eldredge, he at first in mischief but later legally added the middle initial "Q," which he has now used for half a century.
Mr. Eldredge is a descendant of Samuel Eldred, born in England in 1620, died in Kingston, Rhode Island, in 1697. The line of descent to Charles Q. Eldredge, of Old Mystic, is through the founder's son, Captain Daniel Eldredge, of Kingston, Rhode Island, and Stonington, Connecticut, captain of the militia and deputy to the General Court. He died at North Kingston, Rhode Island, August 18, 1726. He added a final "ge" to the name. From him the line continues through his son, James Eldredge, born December 5, 1696, died 1738; his son, Chris- topher Eldredge, born January 22, 1722, a soldier of the Revolution, wounded during Arnold's attack on New London, September 6, 1781, died in Stoning- ton, Connecticut, 1811; his son, Joshua Eldredge, born in Stonington, August 9, 1769, died there Au- gust 17, 1836; his son, Christopher Eldredge, born in Stonington, November 14, 1798, died in Old Mystic, Connecticut, July 26, 1884; his son, Charles Q. Eldredge, born in Old Mystic, New London county, Connecticut, July 15, 1845, and there now residing (May 1, 1921).
Charles Q. Eldredge, eighth and youngest of the children of Christopher and Nancy (Taylor) El- dredge, spent his early youth at the home of his parents in Old Mystic, and obtained his education in the district school. He was employed by various men of his village, at farm, tannery, and quarry, earning meagre wages in accordance with the cus- tom of his day. At the age of seventeen he had the unusual experience of taking a journey to Nor- folk, Virginia, where his brother was in the hospital from disabilities received in battles of the Civil War. With his sister-in-law and six months baby, the lad, Charles Q., who had never been more than seven miles from home, started South to visit the
sick husband and brother. He made the journey safely, and at Norfolk, after finding his brother much better, lie acted for a time as hospital steward at the United States Army Hospital, and later returned home. In December, 1862, he started for Wisconsin with Elisha D. Wightman under contract to work for the latter one year at a salary of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and on the way to Werner, Wisconsin, narrowly escaped serious in- jury in a railroad accident that killed or wounded every passenger in the car but Mr. Wightman and Mr. Eldredge.
There he went into a lumber camp; his first winter in the woods was most severe, but he came through, and although he had some trouble with frozen feet, lie never lost a day from duty. He was soon given responsibility, he was made time-keeper and had the handling of the payroll, and was a person of influence. He was employed in the woods, on the drive, and at the mills on Yellow river during the first year with E. D. Wightman & Company. Gurdon S. Allen and George F. Langworthy, of Mystic, were interested with Mr. Wightman. At the end of his first year January-December, 1863, he had half a year's wages of the one hundred and twenty-five dollars on hand, and returned to Mystic, where he visited for two weeks, then renewed his contract with E. D. Wightman & Company at a salary of five hundred dollars, and returned to the lumber camp in Wisconsin. During that year he was given still more responsibility and placed in charge of the saw mills after the log drive was over. The next winter he was placed in charge of one of the logging camps, and although under twenty he received a salary of one thousand dollars and capably performed the duty required of him. From logging, driving, sawing, and running a camp, he was advanced to higher position and sent down the river with the rafts, selling the lumber and re-
turning with the money. For eight years the Mississippi river was his home, his business being to find markets for the lumber, subsistence for the raftsmen, and to pay off the men. It was at that time that the old time raftsmen and Mississippi river steamboat men were the roughest, toughest and all around meanest combination that ever existed. In "The Story of a Connecticut Life," Mr. Eldredge says: "My experience would lead me to agree with the classification but I should insist on exceptions."
Each year in camp and mill and on the Wisconsin river was a repetition of its predecessor until finally, in 1869, Mr. Wightman, who had moved from Mystic to Werner, became involved through his bad habits and his partner, Gurdon S. Allen, sold out, and finally the business went into the hands of a receiver, and even under that management paid ninety-five per cent of all claims. Werner, then a place with a post-office, two large hotels, and the largest saw mill on the river, is now obliterated with nothing to mark the place.
With the collapse of E. D. Wightman & Com- pany, in 1869, Mr. Eldredge, with B. F. Miner,
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bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and began raising hops, succeeding however, in "going broke," but paid one hundred cents on the dollar. In the winter of 1870 Mr. Eldredge returned to Mystic to attend liis parent's Golden Wedding, and in the spring of 1871 he began running the sloop "Maria" as a freighter, continuing through the season. In 1872 he farmed in Mystic, and in July, 1873, sold out and with the eight thousand and five hundred dollars that he received, he entered into a partnership in M. F. White & Company, in Hoo- sick Falls, New York, and in September, 1873, was married, and until 1893 resided in Hoosick Falls. In November, 1876, his partner died, and some time later Mr. Eldredge bought his interest together with all real estate formerly owned by the com- pany.
In Hoosick Falls, Mr. Eldredge built and operated a large wood-working factory in connection with his lumber yard, built and conducted the only grist mill for miles around, ran a machine shop, fur- nished rooms and power to a shirt factory working several hundred girls, rooms and power to a toy factory, and employed a large force of building mechanics, contracting and erecting over two hun- dred buildings during the years he spent in Hoosick Falls. He was also instrumental in erecting and equipping a knit goods factory, employing two hundred hands, he being superintendent of the mill and treasurer of the corporation for two years. He was one of the two men who secured the incor- poration of the First National Bank, of Hoosick Falls, an institution strong and stable and an honor to its promoters.
In 1893 Mr. Eldredge sold his business in Hoosick Falls, he being at that time, next to Walter A. Wood, the largest individual taxpayer of the town. The business, which in 1873 totaled sales of thirteen hundred dollars monthly, had increased in 1893 to thirteen thousand dollars monthly, and the village had increased from twenty-five hundred inhabitants to seventy-five hundred, many of whom were at- tracted to the village by the opportunity for employ- ment in the many industries established and oper- ated by Mr. Eldredge, and in which he had an interest.
In 1893, he returned to Old Mystic, to the house, "Riverview," which he had built in 1890, and in 1893 he sold his Hoosick Falls real estate, realizing eleven thousand, three hundred dollars for what had cost him in cash one hundred and thirteen thousand dollars, the purchase later making the purchaser the richest man in Hoosick Falls. To make warrantee deeds, no mortgage had to be dis- charged, as Mr. Eldredge, during his business life, never signed one.
"Riverview," with its thirty-acre park, was its owner's hobby, and during the next decade he built a fine dam, a mile and a half of good roads, trimmed six thousand trees, large and small, that grew wild in the park, dug a well near a log summer house, set out over three thousand catalpa trees, built an
observation tower one hundred and twenty-five feet high, and made it an ideal home. In 1904 his youngest son met a tragic death, and as "River- view" had been planned for him to run, Mr. El- dredge at once advertised it for sale, but not until April, 1913, was a sale effected. In 1904, he made a personal trip to Jamaica, West Indian Islands, and in 1911, having acquired an interest in a citrus fruit plantation in Porto Rico, he visited that island and others of the West Indies, and returned to Connecticut in 1912.
The old homestead, built in 1850, at Old Mystic, in which his parents spent practically their entire sixty years of married life, had been burned down in 1890 and rebuilt by Mr. Eldredge as a tenant house. He moved into that house after the sale of "Riverview" and gradually enlarged it until "River- view Cottage" has been evolved, a beautiful home fronting on the Mystic river, a model of comfort. In 1917 he built a small building, twenty by twenty feet, the entire construction of that building, exca- vation, rock foundation, inside finish, tin work, decorating and lettering, all the personal work of Mr. Eldredge. This he fitted up as a private mu- seum, and placed there the many souvenirs he has collected in his many journeys. The museum has proved of interest to the public, and during its first year five hundred visitors registered. He has issued a complete catalogue of the museum's three thou- sand curios.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Eldredge would never accept office, but in Hoosick Falls, in response to a signed petition, he did consent to serve as village trustee for two years.
Mr. Eldredge married Jennie Waitstill Leavens, in September, 1873, at Lansingburg, New York, and in 1895 his wife, her sister, and mother, all died of typhoid fever at Hoosick Falls, within a period of thirty days. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Q. Eldredge, as follows: 1. Charles Leavens, born at Hoosick Falls, New York, now a Baptist minister at West Bridgewater, Massachu- setts; he married May Frink, of old Mystic, and they are the parents of three children: Reginald, deceased; Margarette, and Amethyst. 2. Jennie White, born at Hoosick Falls, New York; she mar- ried Frederick Munich, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and they have two children: Frederick Eldredge and Margaret. 3. Clarence Quincy, born at Hoosick Falls, died at Old Mystic, at eighteen years of age.
Mr. Eldredge married his present wife, Estelle Gilpatrick, at Groton, Massachusetts, January I, 1891, and in 1893 returned to Mystic and now re- sides at "Riverview Cottage." In 1919, Mr. El- dredge published "The Story of a Connecticut Life," a record of his long, useful career, which is most interesting. Of this book writes R. W. Shannon, of Albany:
"I have read your book and shall give myself the pleasure of reading it again; yes, several times. I know somewhat of your life, but the details impress me deeply, and your power to master difficult situ-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
ations and successfully shoulder and carry forward great responsibilities ought to be an incentive to those who will read your book."
The book has had its second printing, and so many kind letters have been received by Mr. El- dredge from its readers, that he has published a pamphlet of forty-nine pages in which he prints many of them under the title, "Kind Words."
ARTHUR GALLUP WHEELER-Since attain- ing man's estate, Arthur G. Wheeler has cultivated the Cherry Hill farm which his father had pre- viously bought. Later the son purchased the farm from his father, and there he has passed the years which have since intervened, its owner and active manager. Arthur Gallup Wheeler is a son of Nelson H. Wheeler, a "Forty-Niner," and long a New London county farmer, son of Samuel Wheeler, son of Joseph Wheeler, son of Richard (2) Wheeler, son of Richard (1) Wheeler, son of Isaac Wheeler, son of Thomas Wheeler, who came from Lynn, Massachusetts, to Stonington, Connec- ticut, in 1667, and was made a freeman in 1669, represented Stonington in the General Court in 1673, and in 1674 was one of the nine members forming the organization of the Road Church in Stonington. His wife Mary was one of the first partakers of the communion service in that church. From Thomas and Mary Wheeler, through their only son, Isaac, spring the large and honorable New London Wheeler family.
Samuel Wheeler, of the sixth generation, was born September 14, 1784, and died March 24, 1852. He was a lifelong Democrat, selectman, assessor, liberal supporter of the old Road Church, and all his life a farmer. He married, in 1809, Rebecca Prentice, who died December 9, 1842, the mother of eight children, one of whom was a son, Nelson H. Wheeler, father of Arthur Gallup Wheeler, of Cherry Hill Farm.
Nelson H. Wheeler was born at the homestead in Stonington, March 28, 1827, and there the first eighteen years of his life were passed. He at- tended district school, and was his father's farm assistant until 1845, when he started out for him- self, working as farmer, carpenter and peddler for three years, until he caught a bad case of "gold fever." He took the only way to effect a sure cure, and on January 26, 1849, sailed in the ship "Tres- cott" for California, rounding the "Horn" and arriving at the Golden Gate in six months and thirteen days. He worked for one year at mining, then engaged in farming and teaming near Sacra- mento, finally coming home via the Isthmus, in 1853, having been gone more than four years. He farmed the homestead until 1901, when he moved to Mystic, town of Groton, New London county, Con- necticut, where he died January 18, 1904.
Nelson H. Wheeler married, April 3, 1853, Me- linda Gallup, born in the town of Ledyard, New London county, Connecticut, November 2, 1831, and died August, 1911, daughter of Luke and Me-
linda (Williams) Gallup. They began their mar- ried life at the Wheeler homestead built prior to the Revolution by Nelson H. Wheeler's grand- father, Joseph Wheeler, born January 23, 1747, who occupied it with his wife, Prudence (Palmer) Wheeler, to whom he was married September 18, 1774. Nelson H. and Melinda (Gallup) Wheeler occupied the homestead forty-eight years, 1853 to 1901, then turned it over to their son, George A. Wheeler, who yet owns and cultivates its acres, and moved to Mystic. Three years later, in 1904, Nelson H. Wheeler died, and seven years later, in 1911, Mrs. Wheeler joined her husband in the Spiritland. They were both members of the Bap- tist church, and were highly esteemed. Nelson H. and Melinda (Gallup) Wheeler were the parents of eight children: 1. Samuel N., born May 20, 1854, a graduate of Boston University, and a school teacher until his death in 1896. 2. Lilla M., born January 4, 1857, died March 30, 1885. 3. Arthur Gallup, of further mention. 4. Mary S., born April 20, 1860, died January 22, 1895; married Rev. O. G. Budding- ton. 5. Herman E., born April 20, 1862, died April 6, 1885. 6. Agnes M., born May 2, 1864, married Frank L. Lathrop, of Norwich, Connecticut. 7. Fernando, born June 16, 1866 (q.v.). 8. George A., born May 15, 1874, now the owner of the home- stead upon which he was born; he married Lucille Billings Thompson.
Arthur Gallup Wheeler, of the eighth generation of his family in New London county, Connecticut, was born at the Wheeler homestead in the town of Stonington, now owned by his brother, October 3, 1858, and there spent the years of his minority. He was educated in the public schools and in Mystic Valley Institute. Upon arriving at legal age, his father purchased the Joseph Davis place, otherwise known as Cherry Hill Farm, in the town of Stoning- ton, and after teaching school for one year, Arthur G. Wheeler took the active management of the farm, which later he bought. He has, with his brother Fernando, handled a great deal of the fruit raised in the district, and has a well cultivated, fer- tile farm which he has greatly improved since be- coming its owner. Mr. Wheeler is a Democrat in his political faith, and has taken an active part in town affairs. For eight years he was collector of taxes, and represented his district in the Connec- ticut House of Representatives from 1892 to 1893. He is a member of Asylum Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of the Old Mystic Baptist Church.
Mr. Wheeler married, June 7, 1893, Mary Billings, born in North Stonington, May 15, 1877, daughter of Sanford and Emmeline Billings. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are the parents of seven children: I. Nel- son Farnsworth, born February 25, 1894. 2. Mary Starr, born September 14, 1895, a graduate of Wel- lesley College, now in bond department, Guaranty Trust Company, New York City. 3. Arthur Gallup (2), born April 13, 1897. 4. Donald Billings, born
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June 28, 1900. 5. Dorothy Billings, twin with Don- ald Billings. 6. A child who died in infancy. 7. Melinda Williams, born July 23, 1909.
These three sons of Nelson H. Wheeler, Arthur G., Fernando and George A. Wheeler, are all lo- cated in the town of Stonington, and near the homestead owned by five generations of their fam- ily. More than two and one-half centuries have elapsed since Thomas Wheeler, the American an- cestor, settled in Stonington, and the record shows no falling off in the quality of the Wheeler stock. It is one of the strong families of the town, and its twentieth century representatives are worthy.
ERNEST AVERY LATHROP-The Lathrop name is an honored one in New England, and nowhere more so than in New London county, Connecticut, where the family was founded by Samuel Lathrop, who was brought from England by his father, Rev. John Lathrop, in 1634. Rev. John Lathrop come into open conflict with the Archbishop of London, where he was pastor of an Independent church, and with forty-three members of his church was arrested, April 29, 1632, and thrown into prison. While he was in prison, his wife died and finally he was released on the condi- tion that he would leave England. Accordingly he sailed with his children, and in 1634 arrived in New England. He founded a church in Scituate, Massachusetts, and with many of his congregation moved to Barnstable.
Samuel Lathrop was a builder of Boston, and a farmer of Barnstable, finally settling in now New London, Connecticut, where he became one of the judges of the local court organized in 1649. In 1668 he moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he was chosen constable. He married (first), Novem- ber 28, 1644, in Barnstable, Elizabeth Scudder. They were the parents of nine children, their eldest, a son, John, baptized December 7, 1645, their young- est a daughter, Anne, born August 7, 1667. Samuel Lathrop married (second), in 1690, Abigail Doane, born January 29, 1632, daughter of Deacon John Doane, of the Plymouth Colony. She survived her husband thirty-four years, living to the great age of one hundred and two. On the centennial anni- versary of her birth, her friends assembled at her home and listened to a sermon preached by her pastor, a part of the celebration. She preserved to a remarkable degree her mental powers until her death in 1734, her husband having passed away in 1700. It is from Samuel and Elizabeth (Scudder) Lathrop that Ernest Avery Lathrop, of the town of Montville, descends.
Ernest A. Lathrop is a son of John Lathrop, who was born in Bozrah, New London county, Connec- ticut, in 1836, and now (1920), at the age of eighty- four years, still farms the old Lathrop homestead in Bozrah. He married (second) Sarah Elizabeth Thomas, born in Colchester, Connecticut, in July, 1840, died in April, 1914. She was a widow with two sons and a daughter when married to John
Lathrop, one of these sons, William Brown, now living at the farm of his half-brother, Ernest Avery Lathrop, and assisting in its cultivation.
Ernest A. Lathrop, son of Jolin and Sarah Eliza- beth (Thomas) Lathrop, was born in Norwich, Con- necticut, January 16, 1873, and there educated in the public schools. In early life he drove a stage between Norwich and Ledyard Center, but after two years in that position entered the employ of Edward Johnson, a farmer of Uncasville. He was engaged in farming and later in teaming until 1901, when he bought the Fred Parker farm in the town of Montville, where he has taken leading rank among the enterprising, successful farmers of his town. His farm is very productive, and his dairy herd contains some very fine Holsteins and all are graded cattle. He uses all modern aids to success- ful farming, and is very progressive.
Mr. Lathrop was married, October 17, 1894, by Rev. John Avery, at Norwich, to Julia Estell Avery, daughter of Belton Avery, one of the old whaling mariners, born in 1853, died 1901, and Mary Angusta (Reynolds) Avery, who yet survives her husband, and is a resident of Norwich.
CHARLES GILES TURNER-For thirty-four years Mr. Turner has been engaged in carriage and wagon building in Upper Montville and Montville, twenty-three of those years in partnership with his brother-in-law and eleven under his own name. He is one of the best-known men in his town, and hardiy a farmer in Montville but at some time has patronized the Turner wheelwright shops. Charles G. Turner is a son of Giles Turner, of Groton, Con- necticut, now deceased, and his wife, Hannah (Rath- burn) Turner, who with her husband is buried in Comstock Cemetery in the town of Montville, Con- necticut. They were the parents of four sons: Irving; Willis; Hazzard, deceased; Charles Turner, of further mention; and a daughter Elizabeth.
Charles Giles Turner was born in Waterford, New London county, Connecticut, November S, 1852. He was but an infant when his parents moved to the town of Montville in the same county, his home situated on Lake Konomoc. He was educated in the public schools, and until reaching legal age made his home with his parents and helped his father in his farming operations. He spent a few years in the employ of Captain Fitch, then for six years was engaged with Charles Johnson, of Uncas- ville, Connecticut, in the dye works, in charge of his horses. After a short experience in a general store as clerk, Mr. Turner became associated with his brother-in-law in the carriage building business, and for twenty-three years they operated a plant in Upper Montville. In 1909 Charles G. Turner started business in the same line, under his own name in Montville, and there has since been en- gaged very successfully. Mr. Turner is a Repub- lican in politics, has served as a member of the town Board of Selectmen, and as an official of the Probate Court. He is a member of Oxoboxo Blue
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and a man highly regarded by his townsmen.
Mr. Turner married Ianthe Browning, of Mont- ville, born May 8, 1856, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Howe) Browning. Mrs. Turner has a brother, Silas, of Montville, and a sister, Marthia Brainard. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are members of the Montville Center Congregational church.
CHARLES BURR GRAVES, M.D., was born in the city of Chicago, Illinois, June 10, 1860, a son of Addison and Helen M. (Eaton) Graves. Since early boyhood he has resided in New London, Connec- ticut, receiving his schooling in the public schools of that city. After preparing for college at Bulkeley High School he entered Yale College and graduated therefrom in 1882 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. His medical education was obtained at the Harvard Medical School, from which he obtained the degree of M. D. in 1886. His medical course was followed by an interneship in the Boston City Hospital from 1885 to 1887. Soon afterwards he settled in New London, Connecticut, where he has ever since continued to reside and practice medi- cine.
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