USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
While Mr. Gibbs carries heavy responsibilities he has not given himself slavishly to business but has developed the social side of his nature along with the business talent he possesses and is one of the most genial, companionable and approachable of men. The door to his private office stands open and no guardian of the portal demands a card or the nature of the caller's business. In the words of another successful business man he "wants to see everybody that wants to see him." His pleas- ing personality, his genial, friendly nature renders him personally very popular, and the friends these 'traits win him are retained by the force of his manly, upright character and his unswerving loyality to the interests committed to his carc.
During the war period 1917-18, Mr. Gibbs took an active part in the different campaigns and "drives," serving as secretary in two, and as chairman of the committee in charge of the Victory Loan Cam- paign. He was for a time a member of the Norwich Board of Education; a former vice-president of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a present director; an organizer and has been treas- urer and a director of the Young Men's Christian Association; is a Republican in politics; was for twenty-five years treasurer of the Second Congrega- tional Sunday School, and from 1892 until 1919 was treasurer of the Second Congregational Church and Society; now custodian of the United Congrega- tional Church, Incorporated, since the last two named organizations were merged with it; president of the United Congregational Church Brotherhood. His fraternal affiliations are with the different Nor- wich bodies of the York and Scottish Rites of Free- masonry, he being a past master of St. James Lodge, has held offices in chapter, council and comman- dery, is a thirty-second degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and is now serving the Ma- sonic Temple Corporation of Norwich as member and trustee. He was a regent of the Royal Ar- canum and has been president, vice-president and treasurer of the Arcanum Club. He was one of the organizers of the Chelsea Boat Club and has long
been officially connected with that organization. For ten years he has been active in Boy Scout work, and his appointment as a member of the Na- tional Council of the Boy Scouts of America was the first and, as yet, the only one made to that body from Norwich.
Nathan A. Gibbs married, at Norwich, June 1, 1881, Emily Reynolds King, who passed away Feb- ruary 18, 1922, daughter of Charles Jackson and Charlotte (Ransom) King, the former having been a manufacturer and a grain merchant of Norwich, Connecticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs were born three children: 1. Natalie King Gibbs, born May 18, 1882, resides with her father in Norwich. 2. Nathan Jackson Gibbs, born December 26, 1883, was accidently killed at Tompkins Cove, Rockland county, New York, on December 27, 1911. He was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was for four years connected with the building of the Pa- nama Canal, being one of the youngest superinten- dents in the canal zone. He married, in July, 1911, Emma Grace Wright, of Auburn, New York. 3. Mary Rudd Gibbs, born May 10, 1892, married, June 9, 1917, Carlton P. Browning, now general manager of the Howe Sound Copper Company, Brittania Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Browning are the parents of a daughter, Emily King Browning, born May 21, 1918.
CLARENCE GEORGE BROOKS, D. D. S .- Among the professional men of New London county, Dr. Brooks, of New London, is widely known. With a handsome suite of offices in the Plant building he is counted as a leader in the den- tal profession, and is making his way to large suc- cess. A native of Middlesex county, but reared in New London county, Dr. Brooks is descended from early Connecticut ancestors, on both paternal and maternal sides. He is a son of George O. and Mary Eleanor (Bcebe) Brooks. His father, who was born November 11, 1848, was for many years a carpenter and builder. For a time he worked as a stone- cutter, and was very successful, but with the organ- ization of the Stone-cutter's Union, he withdrew from this field, holding conscientious scruples against labor organizations. He is now (1922) liv- ing in Niantic, in this county. The mother was born November 13, 1860, and died August 15, 1914.
Dr. Brooks was born in Higganum, Connecticut, June 8, 1882. His early education was received in the public and high schools of Niantic, and having chosen his field of professional effort, he entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which insti- tution he was graduated in the class of 1907. Be- fore the close of the same year Dr. Brooks began his professional career in New London as an assis- tant to Dr. Crosby, then a leading dentist of this city, with whom he continued for about three years, at the old offices in the Lyric Hall building, and in 1911 bought out his veteran associate. He has been very successful since practicing independently,
20
NEW LONDON COUNTY
and in 1918 secured his present fine location in the Plant building. In fraternal and social circles Dr. Brooks is prominent. He was president of the Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity in the year of his gradua- tion from the Philadelphia Dental College. He is a well known Mason, being past master of Bay View Lodge, No. 120, Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Union Chapter, No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; past thrice illustrious master of Cushing Council, No. 4, Royal and Select Masters; junior warden of Palestine Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templar, and Connecticut Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite, having attained the thirty- second degree. He is a member of the Masonic Club of New London, and the Harbor Club, of which he is past president. Politically he supports the Republican party, although he has not, thus far, become interested in the political game. Bene- volent and welfare work holds a strong appeal for Dr. Brooks, and he has for years been active as a director of the Young Men's Christian Association, now serving as chairman of the physical department committee. He is a member of the Baptist church, with which denomination his parents also are af- filiated, in Niantic, and his wife is a member of the Congregational church. His chief recreative inter- ests are tennis and fishing, and he takes a fishing trip every fall.
Dr. Brooks married, in Niantic, November 28, IgII, Ethel L. Rogers, born December 28, 1887, daughter of Raymond Edward and Sarah (Collins) Rogers, both Mrs. Brooks' parents now being de- ceased.
CHARLES SHEPARD HOLBROOK-The pres- ent incumbent of the office of town clerk and treas- urer of Norwich, Connecticut, to which he was elected in 1900, and in which he is still serving in 1922, is Charles S. Holbrook, a man of enterprise and public spirit, exemplifying in his career the characteristics of his ancestors, traits that go to the making of good citizens, they having been among the pioneers to whom we are indebted for so much of the comforts and pleasures of the pres- ent day.
The name Holbrook is both ancient and distin- guished. As early as the reign of Richard II one of the name was advanced to the order of knighthood and a coat-of-arms granted him. In books of her- aldry there are many coats-of-arms under the name. The pioneer ancestor of the line here under consid- eration was Thomas Holbrook, supposedly a native of England, from whence it is supposed he came to New England with the colony of settlers from Wey- mouth, Dorsetshire, in 1624. He was a resident of Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1640, and his death occurred in 1674-76. His wife, Joanna Holbrook, bore him four children, the second of whom was Thomas, Jr., the next in line of succession. Thomas Holbrook, Jr., was a resident of Scituate, Wey- mouth and Braintree, Massachusetts, a man of stand- ing in those communities, who died in 1697. His
wife Joanna Holbrook, bore him seven children, the fourth, Peter Holbrook, born 6th of 7th month, 1655, was a man of wealth and importance, leaving to his sons land which subsequently was included in Bellingham, Massuchusetts. He was married twice and was the father of ten children, among whom was Joseph Holbrook, born May 8, 1683, died in Bellingham, April 25, 1750. He married Mary Cook and they were the parents of seven children. The oldest son, Joseph Holbrook, Jr., was born Nov- ember 24, 1714, died July 14, 1784. His wife, Grace Holbrook, bore him seven children, among whom was Seth Holbrook, born November 24, 1751, died November 13, 1839. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and later was a United States pensioner. He was a resident of Bellingham. He married Dinah Hol- brook, and they were the parents of ten children. The sixth was Sabin Holbrook, born October 19, 1786, resided in Dorchester and Bellingham, and died in 1833. His wife, Mary Holbrook, bore him five children, among whom was Supply Twyng Hol- brook, of whom further, father of Charles S. Hol- brook, of this review.
Supply Twyng Holbrook was born September 7, 1822, in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He received a practical education in the schools in the neighbor- hood of his home, and also took a course of study in music, for which he possessed an unusual talent. In early manhood he became a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, from whence he removed to New Lon- don, same State, and about the year 1844 located at Norwich, Connecticut, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. In the latter named city he accepted the position of organist of the Second Congregational Church, in which capacity he served satisfactorily for many years, having previously taught vocal music, one of his students having been the late Charles W. Carter, of Norwich. His taste and inclination being along the line of law, he be- came a student in the office of Hon. Jeremiah Hal- sey, of Norwich, and in due course of time, in 1856, was admitted to the bar of New London county, and in that same year was elected judge of probate, to which he was re-elected for twelve consecutive years. In 1879 he was again called to the same re- sponsible office, and held the same by re-election until 1892, when he reached the age limit, seventy years. While serving as probate judge he was sev- eral times elected president of the Connecticut Pro- bate Assembly. He was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1873 and again in 1876 and dur- ing both terms took an active and prominent part in the business of the House. He was a member of the Second Congregational Church of Norwich. Judge Holbrook married (first) Sarah Shepard, of Nor- wich, and (second) Carrie Stark. His children were: Charles Shepard, of whom further; Frank W., Mrs. E. G. Tewksbury, Mrs. Robert A. France, and Mrs. B. P. Sands.
Charles Shepard Holbrook was born in the city of Norwich, Connecticut, October 28, 1856. He was a student in the public schools of Norwich and the
-
-
-
.71 &
21
BIOGRAPHICAL
Norwich Free Academy, acquiring a practical edu- cation which prepared him for his subsequent ca- reer. Deciding upon a mercantile career as his chosen life work, he became an employee of the firm of Lee & Osgood, druggists, of Norwich, with whom he learned the business thoroughly and with whom he spent a quarter of a century as a druggist, a commendable record and well worthy of emula- tion by the youth of this country. He was the choice of his fellow-citizens for the office of town clerk and treasurer, elected in 1900, and is still serv- ing after a period of twenty years, this fact amply testifying to his fitness for the positions and to the interest and zeal he has displayed in the discharge of his duties. He is progressive in his ideas, adopt- ing new measures when necessary, and is considered the right man in the right place. He attends the Congregational church, gives his allegiance to the Republican candidates, and holds membership in the Arcanum Club of Norwich.
Mr. Holbrook married, in Norwich, June 15, 1892, Ella P. Plummer, daughter of Frank J. and Jo- sephine (Wyman) Plummer, of Norwich. They are the parents of one child, Josephine A., born May 9, 1902.
CHARLES FOSTER WELLS-The life of Charles Foster Wells, one of the foremost execu- tives in the manufacturing world of Norwich, Connecticut, is a history of upward progress from the rank and file, each step placed on the solid foundation of worthy effort and hard-won achieve- ment. Descended from men who have borne a constructive part in the establishment and preserva- tion of the nation, Mr. Wells is giving of his 'time and energy to the welfare of the city as a civic body.
Mr. Wells traces back to the Ashley family, of early Colonial times, when one, Samuel Ashley, married Sarah Kellogg. Daniel Ashley, their son, married Thankful Hawks. Samuel Ashley, the next in line, married Eunice Doolittle. Susan Ashley, their daughter, married Porter Lummis. Their daughter, Alma Lummis, married Seth Hart. Back two generations from this point is found the mar- riage of Thomas Putnam and Rachael Wetherbee, linking this family with these other famous Colonial names. Susanna Putnam, daughter of Thomas and Rachael (Wetherbee) )Putnam, married Josiah Hart. Their son, Seth Hart, married Alma Lummis, daughter of Porter and Susan (Ashley) Lummis. Sarah McCready, daughter of Seth and Alma (Lum- mis) Hart, married Foster P. Wells.
Charles Ashley Wells, father of Charles Foster Wells, was a son of Foster P. and Sarah McCready (Hart) Wells. He was born in Springville, Penn- sylvania, December 7, 1841. The outbreak of the Civil War found him a youth, not yet twenty years of age, but fired with the patriotic fevor which was his heritage from the generations of empire builders whose blood flowed in his veins. He enlisted in Company C, 27 Regiment, New York Volunteers,
was commissioned second lieutenant, and rose steadily in rank, being promoted to first lieutenant, then to captain, both before his twentieth birthday. He was thereafter promoted to brevet major, then to major, and finally, at the close of the war, held the rank of lieutenant colonel of the First New York Veteran Cavalry. He saw service in many en- gagements. He was in the First Battle of Bull Run, in the battles of West Point, Gaines Mill, Savage Station, Charles City Cross Road, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, the Second Battle of Freder- icksburg, and the battles of Newmarket, Piedmont, and Monocacy Junction. After the close of the Civil War, Charles Ashley Wells was for many years con- nected with the real estate business, being a mem- ber of the firm of Phillips & Wells, with offices in the Tribune building, New York City. He was made inspector of customs for the port of New York City, on recommendation of James G. Blaine. He was a member of the Loyal Legion, and was a mem- ber of Abraham Lincoln Post, No. 13, Grand Army of the Republic, of which post he was commander for many years. This was the leading Grand Army Post of New York City.
Charles Ashley Wells married Angeline Fuller- ton, daughter of Judge Daniel Fullerton, and niece of Judge William Fullerton and Judge Stephen W. Fullerton, of New York City, now deceascd, both the latter famous as the defenders of Henry Ward Beecher in his trial with Theodore Tilton.
Charles Foster Wells, son of Charles Ashley and Angeline (Fullerton) Wells, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, May 9, 1867. He received his education in the public schools of Middletown, New York, where the family resided in his boyhood. So far as formal education is concerned this was the extent of his opportunities, but while yet a boy he realized the value of knowledge and lost no opportunity to store his mind with useful information, from what- ever source, or in whatever form it was available. Leaving school at the early age of eleven years, he entered the business world in the employ of the First National Bank, of Middletown, New York. His duties in this connection included the sweeping and cleaning of the bank before the opening hour and the care of the stove. From nine o'clock until four he sorted bills and silver. For two years he fulfilled these responsibilities with the precision and thoroughness characteristic of all the business activities of the man in his later career. His next connection was with the North River Bank, of New York City, where he became clearing house clerk at the age of fifteen years. Leaving this institution at the age of sixteen years, he spent one year in as- sociation with his father in the firm of Phillips & Wells, in New York. But the real estate business did not appeal to the young man as a field of permanent effort, and he made other plans for the future. At seventeen years of age he went to Florida, remain- ing for four years. Upon his return North he be- came connected with the Brooklyn Union Elevated Railroad which was subsequently taken over by the
22
NEW LONDON COUNTY
Brooklyn Rapid Transit Railroad Company. When this consolidation was effected, Mr. Wells remained with the new company until October, 1906. He was successively clerk in both auditor's and comp- troller's departments, with both companies. With the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company he became chief clerk to the superintendent of elevated trans- portation, later chief of time-keeping department, and when severing his connection with the Brook- lyn Rapid Transit Company had for some years been auditor of receipts.
In October, 1906, Mr. Wells formed the associa- tion in which he is today prominent. He became a part of the office force of the United Metal Manu- facturing Company, Incorporated, first as cost clerk, and now as general manager of the concern. Mr. Wells is a stockholder in the company, and holds the office of treasurer. Since the removal of the factory to Norwich, in 1914, the output has been in- creased, and the factory is now one of the leading manufacturing interests of the day in Norwich, and a force for progress in New London county.
Mr. Wells has not been permitted to occupy his present prominent position, without being sought for the public service of the city of Norwich. Hc served as alderman from June, 1919, to June, 1920. He was elected president of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce in January, 1920, and was one of the active forces which brought about its increased effi- ciency through the reorganization which was ac- complished on October 1, 1920. At that time he was re-elected president, and also dircetor, of the Nor- wich Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated.
Politically Mr. Wells is a supporter of the Repub- lican party, and his religious convictions place his membership with the Episcopal church. He is prominent fraternally, being a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, of Nor- wich, raised, December 8, 1920; exalted in Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, March 10, 1921; greeted in Franklin Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters, March 30, 1921; knighted in Colum- bian Commandery, No. 4, Knight Templars, April 22, 1921; made a Noble of Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Hart- ford, Connecticut, June 4, 1921. He is also a mem- ber of Norwich Lodge, No. 430, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a member of Lafayette Camp, Sons of Veterans, of New York City, and a member of the Areanum Club, and the Rotary Club, both of Norwich.
FRANK H. PULLEN-In journalistic circles in Norwich, Frank H. Pullen is a prominent figure as editor and owner of the evening daily of this city, the "Norwich Evening Record." Mr. Pullen has been a resident of Norwich nearly thirty-four years, and during this entire period has been active in the printing and publishing business. A son of Weston and Mary E. (Barnes) Pullen, Frank H. Pullen was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, October 4, 1858. His education was received in the public and high
schools of his native city, and as a young man he entered the employe of the "Lowell Courier," with which paper he remained for about fifteen years, during a number of those years being active as man- ager of the business department. Coming to Nor- wich in 1888, Mr. Pullen, in association with a part- ner, bought out the old weekly newspaper known as "Cooley's Weekly," and the printing plant con- nected there with, which also handled a job printing business. Under the firm name of Cleworth & Pullen this concern progressed for over seventeen years, or until the death of Mr. Cleworth in 1906, since which time Mr. Pullen has controlled the busi- ness, operating under the name of the Pullen Pub- lishing Company. Meanwhile, in 1890, the firmn bought the "Evening Record," which Mr. Pullen still publishes. Mr. Pullen has long been actively identified with various phases of progress in Nor- wich. A member of the Chamber of Commerce, he is also a director of the Dime Savings Bank. He is a member of the Rotary Club, his religious affilia- . tion is with the Park Congregational Church.
Mr. Pullen married, in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1885, Annie L. Carpenter, of that city, daughter of Benedict O. Carpenter, and of their six children, five are living, as follows: Elizabeth F .; Weston C .; Benedict C .; Marion L., wife of Clifford M. Story, of Hackensack, New Jersey; and Esther, wife of C. Werter Van Deusen, of Hudson, New York. Both of Mr. Pullen's sons are residents of Norwich and in- terested in the business life of the city.
EVERETT PALMER BARNES-Among the very old families of New England, few, if any, have so many branches, as has the Barnes family, promi- nent in the beginnings of various sections of the country, but especially in New England, and repre- senting among its various members every profession and trade.
The branch of the family to which Everett Palmer Barnes belongs was already settled in Ledyard, Connecticut, in 1730, for in that year and in that place Ezra Barnes, great-grandfather of Everett Palmer Barnes, was born. He farmed at Ledyard all his life. He married Eunice Morgan, born at Ledyard, 1737, and died October, 1815. They be- came the parents of sixteen children, all born in Ledyard: Ezra, Asa, Eunice, Lucy, Nathan and Amos (twins), Prudence, Desire, Jedediah, Phoebe, Erastus, Hannah, Sally, Avery, and two who died in infancy.
(II) Avery Barnes, youngest son of Ezra and Eunice (Morgan) Barnes, was born March 17, 1782, in Ledyard. He married Abigail Cooke, December 27, 1804, and they had eleven children, all of whom lived to a very old age. Avery Barnes died Febru- ary 5, 1875, and Abigail Barnes, his wife, died De- cember 21, 1876. Avery Barnes was reared in Led- yard, but soon after his marriage, in 1804, he came to Preston, where he purchased from Nathan Cooke the next farm west of the present Everett P. Barnes place, in the northern part of Preston. Here he
23
BIOGRAPHICAL
farmed until his death, and here all his children were born. They were: Nabby, Eunice, Avery W., Sally, Amy, Lucy, Elmina, Prudence, Ruth Ann, Almeda, and Chester Morgan.
(III) Chester Morgan Barnes, son of Avery and Abigail (Cooke) Barnes, was born June 6, 1826. He was reared and educated in Preston, and assisted his father on the farm until his marriage, August 6, 1854, to Lucretia Lucinda Palmer, daughter of Tim- othy and Betsy (Herskell) Palmer, of Preston. He then bought the present E. P. Barnes farm, a tract of one hundred acres, adjoining his father's farm, then a part of the Nathan Cooke property. He de- molished the old buildings on the place and built the substantial modern farm housings which are a part of the necessary equipment of the scientific agricultural plant. He farmed here throughout his life, and here he died, April 24, 1918. His wife, Lu- cretia L. Barnes, died here September 6, 1918. They were the parents of one child, Everett Palmer.
(IV) Everett Palmer Barnes, son of Chester Morgan and Lucretia Lucinda (Palmer) Barnes, was born on the old homestead in Preston, Connec- ticut, March 2, 1852. He attended the local district schools of Preston and the Preston City Select School, after which he entered Woodstock Academy, completing his preparation in the Putnam High School, at Putnam, Connecticut. At the age of nine- teen, he began teaching, first at the Broad Brook School, in Preston, then at the Herskell School, in the same town, for two years, the former being the district school of the Long Society, or First School District, of Preston. He then taught school at Glas- gow in Griswold, after which he taught for three winters in the Evening School of Norwich, Connec- ticut. For twenty years he continued teaching, al- ways living on the home farm, working with his fa- ther during the summers, and assisting him between school hours. In 1897 he gave up the profession of teaching and devoted all his time to the home farm, relieving his father of the heavy work which was get- ting to be too much for his advancing years. Here he has remained and has become a most excellent farmer. In all the region round about there is not a farm kept in better condition than that of the ex- schoolman. In 1913 his father deeded the farm to him. He does general farming and dairying, and is an active, enthusiastic member of the Grange, hav- ing taken all the chairs in the local organization at Preston. By his pen as well as by personal partici- pation in its activities he has advanced the interest of both the local and the general organizations, and in him Preston City Grange, No. 110, has an effec- tive, forceful member. A prolific writer on many subjects, he has taken special interest in the activi- ties of the Grange and in its history, making his pen serve both the organization of which he writes and those interests which the Grange represents and pro- motes, regardless of membership. He has been prominent in the life of the town, serving as select- man, as a member of the Board of Relief, and at the present time (1921) is serving in the capacity of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.