USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 29
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health officer and fire warden. Politically he sup- ports the Republican party. He is an attendant of the Congregational church; is a member of Preston City Grange, No. 110, of which he is a past master; of Pomona Lodge, New London county, Patrons of Husbandry, also past master; of the Connecticut State Grange; and of the National Grange. His wife, his son, and his son's wife are also members of all the above organizations. Mr. Barnes is also president of The Barnes Family Association, having served in that capacity 1911-12, 1915-17, and 1919-22. A successful farmer, he not only has the love and respect of his community but has been of great service to the civic life of Preston.
Everett Palmer Barnes married (first), at Preston, September 1, 1880, Mary Barnes Zabriskie, daughter of Thomas and Mariah Louise (Cleveland) Za- briskic, who was born in New York City, December 15, 1860, and died November 19, 1887. Of this mar- riage was born one child, Erva Lyon, born May 12, 1883. Mr. Barnes married (second), at Preston, Au- gust 2, 1892, Susie Belle Hyde, daughter of George M. and Ella (Wright) Hyde, who was born in Pres- ton, Connecticut, March 24, 1870. To this marriage also one child was born, Zylpha Euretta, born at Preston, July 26, 1903. She is a graduate of the New London Vocational Technical High School, at New London, Connecticut.
(V) Erva Lyon Barnes, son of Everett P. and Mary Barnes (Zabriskie) Barnes, attended the Connecticut State Agricultural College for three years, and is now associated with his father in farm- ing the home place. He married, October 14, 1909, Evangeline Stedman, of North Stonington, Connecti- cut, and they have two children: Donald Lyon, born at White Rock, Rhode Island, December 8, 1911; and Douglas Stedman, born August 3, 1915.
FRANCIS JOSEPH HARPER, M. D .- Nearly twenty years of active and successful practice in his native city of Norwich have so firmly intrenched Dr. Harper in the confidence, respect and affection of his fellow-citizens as to render any further words of in- troduction more than superfluous. Dr. Harper has been active in the political life of his community, having filled with credit more than one local office of trust and responsibility.
Richard Harper, father of Francis Joseph Harper, was born in Ireland, and as a young man came to the United States, settling in Greenville, Coinnecticut, on Greenville road. He soon found employment in the bleachery there and learned the trade of dyer and bleacher, which he followed until he was about forty years old. He was a Democrat and a member of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Harper married Mary Anne Williams, who, like himself, was a na- tive of Ireland, and their children were: Francis Jo- seph, mentioned below; Katherine, deceased; Sophia, deceased; Isabelle also deceased; and Mary Anne, married James H. Hankins, of Lakewood, New Jer- sey, and now lives in Norwich, where she and her brothers and sisters were born. Mr. Harper, while
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at his work in the bleachery, me't with an accident, from the effects of which he died two days later. His wife passed away in Norwich about 1893.
Francis J. Harper, son of Richard and Mary Anne (Williams) Harper, was born in Norwich, and re- ceived his preparatory education in the public schools of his native city, afterward spending one year at the Vermont University, and two years in the Medi- cal Department of the University of Georgia. He graduated from the latter in 1899, and supplemented this with a six months' course in the New York Post Graduate Medical School, University of the State of New York. In 1899 Dr. Harper began practicing as a physician and surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, but at the end of a year returned to his native city of Norwich, where he opened an office and where he has ever since been continuously engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, building up, at the same time, a lucrative connection and an enviable reputation. The assured professional position now held by Dr. Harper is entirely of his own making and rests on the sure foundation of innate ability, thor- ough and comprehensive equipment, and unswerving fidelity to every duty.
The political allegiance of Dr. Harper is given to the principles upheld by the Democratic party, and for eight years he served as a member of the Norwich Water Board. For the last eighteen years he has held office as one of the three town physi- cians of the city. He affiliates with Norwich Lodge, No. 430, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Norwich; Norwich Lodge, No. 950, Loyal Order of Moose; and the Ancient Order of Hiberians, of Norwich, Division 2. He is a member of St. Pa- trick's Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Harper married, in New London, Connecticut, November 25, 1903, Matilda F. Gustafson, born in Sweden, daughter of Gustaf and Charlotte (Sols- berg) Gustafson, natives of that country. Mr. Gus- tafson died in Sweden, and his widow, who came to the United States, passed away in New London. Dr. and Mrs. Harper have been the parents of one child, Francis Gustaf, born in Norwich, October 25, 1905, died there December 17, 1914.
GEORGE GRANVILLE GRANT-Like most of New England's family trees, the roots of that of George Granville Grant run far back into the earliest history of the country. On the paternal side he is a descendant of Matthew Grant, one of the original company who came, in 1630, to Dorchester, Massa- chusetts, in the "Mary and John," with Maverick and Warhanı, and later was a prominent member of the company which settled Windsor, Connecticut. Matthew Grant married (first) Priscilla, whom he wedded November 16, 1621; and (second) Susanna (Chapin) Rockwell, May 29, 1645. The children, all born of the first marriage, were: Priscilla, Matthew, Tahan, and John, the first two being born in Eng- land, the next two at Dorchester, and the last at Windsor. Matthew Grant was the first town clerk of Windsor, which office he held for years. He was
also town surveyor, and took a prominent part in the organization and transplanting of the Congre gational church formed in Plymouth, England, and later removed to Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Charles Henry Grant, grandfather of George Granville Grant, was born about 1814, in Stonington, Connecticut. As a young man he clerked in a coun- try store in Preston, and later went to Brooklyn, Connecticut, where he purchased a general store and carried on the business until his death in 1849. He married Elizabeth A. Prentice, daughter of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Leonard) Prentice, and they became the parents of two children, J'ane H., and Charles William, of whom further.
Charles William Grant, father of George Gran- ville Grant, was one of the successful self-made men of his section. Born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, April 12, 1845, his father died when he was a child of four and he was placed in the family of his maternal grandfather, Hezekiah Prentice, in Griswold, where he remained until he was fourteen years of age. He worked on the farm and attended the district school until he was sixteen, when he went to Norwich and entered the employ of William H. Bushnell, farmer and teamster, working for $6.50 a month for the first year and for $7.50 a month during the second year. He then entered the employ of Edward Hun- ter, a farmer living near what is now Taftville, re- maining three and a half years, after which he be- gan teaming on shares. The next year he bought a team of his own and did the first teaming done in the construction of the Taftville mills. Until March, 1885, he continued at teaming and farming, then went into the livery business at Versailles until 1889, when he closed out the Versailles establishment and bought the livery business at Taftville, then owned by Andrew Holdredge. This he conducted until April, 1902, when he disposed of it to his son, George Granville Grant, and engaged in general farming and teaming, living on his farm near Taft- ville, purchased by him in 1897 from the heirs of his father-in-law. He married, November 4, 1869, Isadora M. Staples, daughter of Elias W. and Abby (Standish) Staples, of Norwich, Connecticut, a direct descendant of Miles Standish, and four children were born of the marriage: George G., of whom further; Abbey S., wife of John Sharples, a machinist of Taftville, they the parents of two children, War- ren and Clayton Douglas; Walter S., engaged in teaming in Taftville, married Ida May Wellerand, and has two children, Sarah Isadora and Charles Walter; and Bessie M. Charles William Grant died May 27, 1916.
George Granville Grant was born in Norwich, Connecticut, January 5, 1871. He attended the schools of the district and then went to Snell's Busi- ness College at Norwich. He worked with his father until April 1, 1902, gaining a thorough knowledge of the details of farming, teaming, and the livery business. The Taftville livery business and a por- tion of the teaming business he bought from his fa- ther, April 1, 1902, and successfully continued the
Leo Grant
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BIOGRAPHICAL
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business until 1919, when he disposed of it. Mr. Grant conducts an undertaking establishment, hav- ing prepared himself for this work by attending the Massachusetts Embalming School at Boston, Mass- achusetts, under the direction of Professors Sullivan and Dodge, and then serving for a number of years in the establishment of H. B. Knowles, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island. That his tact and courtesy enable him to meet the requirements of this last business is evidenced by the fact that his clientele includes the best families of Taftville and vicinity. In addition to all these activities, the versatile tal- ents and the energy of Mr. Grant find expression in still another direction. He is the owner of a large farm of one hundred and thirty acres, in Montville, Connecticut, where he carries on general farming and dairying. He has made the farm thoroughly modern in all respects and has one of the best herds of thoroughbred Ayrshire, registered cattle in the State. Mr. Grant votes independently. Fraternally, he is a member of Taft Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he was trustee for several years, and a charter member of Court Wequonoc, No. 88, Foresters of America.
Mr. Grant married, July 23, 1895, May C. Gilbran- son, daughter of Frederick and Frances M. (Corliss) Gilbranson. One child was born of the marriage, Ruth May, who married Thomas Perkins Sears, of Norwich, Connecticut. Mr. Sears is associated with his father-in-law in business, the two families making their homes together. Thomas Perkins Sears, Jr., was born May 22, 1921.
COURTLAND EVERETT COLVER - Among New England's old family names that of Colver ranks as one of the oldest. Amos Colver, the great- grandfather of Courtland Everett Colver, was born Angust 7, 1753. He was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War in 1779, enlisting from Groton, Connecticut. He married Esther Colver, and the two became the parents of six children, among whom was Moses Jones Colver, of whom further.
Moses Jones Colver, son of Amos and Esther Colver, was born December 25, 1783. He lived to be eighty years of age, residing in District No. 2, near the navy yard. He married Sarah Buddington, and reared a family of eleven children, among them Coddington and Jonathan Colver, of whom further. He and his wife were buried in the Starr burial place at Groton.
Coddington Colver, son of Moses Jones and Sarah (Buddington) Colver, was born in District No. 2, Groton, Connecticut, and died at the age of sixty- four years, at Center Groton, to which place he had gone in 1845. He worked at farming, also at the wood and timber business, and was actively inter- ested in the life of his community. He was promi- nent in business and church affairs, was road over- seer for some time, and, while living in Old Mystic, was a deacon in the Baptist church. He married Esther Buddington, daughter of Jonathan Budding- ton, and their children were eight, among them
Moses Jones (2) Colver, of whom further mention.
Moses Jones (2) Colver, son of Coddington and Esther (Bnddington) Colver, was born in New Lon- don, Connecticut, and came to Center Groton when he was five years old, there attending school until he was fifteen years of age. He then went to sea, ship- ping on the coast vessel "Sylph," of New London, and later on the "Noank," a halibut fishing vessel en- gaged in business off Georges Bank. During the Civil War, he was on the "Elizabeth D. Hart," en- gaged in carrying supplies, and was later quarter- master on the transport "Cassandra." He was en- gaged on several vessels at different times, and while on the "Liberty," met with an accident which nearly cos't him his life. On January 22, 1860, he married Ursula B. Chapman, daughter of Solomon and Eliza (Hazen) Chapman. Moses Jones (2) Colver is a cousin of Courtland Everett Colver.
Jonathan Colver, another son of Moses Jones (1) Colver and his wife, Sarah (Buddington) Colver, was born in Leyden, Massachusetts, in 1820. He at- tended school in Groton, and then tor twenty-eight years engaged in deep sea and whale fishing, sailing from New London, Mystic, and New Bedford, Connecticut, and whaling in the Southern Pacific Ocean, Okhotsk Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. For many years he had command of a coasting vessel on the Pacific, and in the course of his sea-faring life, made the difficult passage around Cape Horn five times. He married Sarah A. Chapman, daughter of Courtland Chapman, of Ledyard, Connecticut. During the latter years of his life, he worked at farming, near the navy yard, in Groton. He was an active Republican, and a member of the school board in Groton. He and his wife became the parents of three children: Carlton and Kate B., twins, born in 1863, both deceased, Carlton having died at the age of fourteen months, and Kate B. died Feb- ruary 28, 1921; and Courtland E., of whom further.
Courtland E. Colver, son of Jonathan and Sarah A. (Chapman) Colver, was born September 8, 1875. He attended the Groton schools and then went to the New London Business College, from which he graduated in 1893. He then studied electrical engi- neering, and on June 1, 1902, was appointed superin- tendent of the Groton Water and Electric Company. which position he filled with efficiency. But having once achieved success, Mr. Colver does not rest upon his laurels. He goes deeply and thoroughly into whatever enterprise he undertakes and is constantly adding to his efficiency. In 1903 he received the degree of Master of the Science of Ac- counts from the New London Business College. On April 1, 1906, he became superintendent and manager of the Perry Ice Company, of New London, and at the present writing is manager and treasurer of the company.
Politically, Mr. Colver is a Republican. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons, of New London. He also is an active and valued member of the Methodist church at Gales Ferry, Ledyard Connecticut, of which he is a trustee
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and in which he has served as Sunday school super- intendent for nearly twenty-two years. Groton Con- clave, No. 382, Improved Order of Heptasophs, num- bers Mr. Colver among its members.
Mr. Colver married (first), on November 12, 1902, Bertha E. Rodman, daughter of John B. Rodman. Mrs. Colver died March 22, 1903. On April 9, 1909, he married (second), Louisa Julia Egger, of New London, and the two became the parents of four children: Courtland E., Jr .; Helen Louise; Margaret Sarah; and Frederick Bowne, who died December 8, 1919. All were born at Groton, Connecticut, with the exception of Frederick B., who was born in New London.
ALEXANDER MARSHALL PURDY, M. D .- In that part of the township of Groton, New London county, Connecticut, comprised in Mystic, Dr. Purdy has practiced his profession since 1887, thirty- five years having elapsed. He is a native son of Connecticut, his parents, the Rev. Alva B. and Eliza (Marshall) Purdy, and his grandfather, John Purdy, of Round Hill, Connecticut.
Rev. Alva B. Purdy, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, married Eliza Marshall, daughter of Newcomb Marshall, of Stamford, Connecticut. They were the parents of two sons: Alexander Marshall, the principal character of this review; and CalvinTompkins, who married Clara Selleck.
Alexander M. Purdy was born in the town of Greenwich, Stamford, Connecticut, September 20, 1862. Under the law of the itinerancy governing Methodist ministers, changes of pastorate are fre- quen't, and thus the lad's schools were varied, but most of his early school years were passed at Tom- kins Cove, New York. Later he was a student at Literary and Commercial Institute, Bridgehampton, Long Island, and there graduated. He also attended Brooklyn public schools. He studied medicine under Dr. Davis, of Plainfield, Connecticut, and in 1882 entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, graduating in 1884. Dr. Purdy began prac- ticing in Voluntown, Connecticut, but later located in Old Mystic, in the town of Stonington. In 1887 he settled in that part of Mystic contained within the town of Groton, and there has since continued, his practice large, his reputation of the highest. He is a member of the New London County and Connecti- cut State Medical societies; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Masonic order, belonging to lodge and chapter. In 1901 he was appointed health officer of the town of Groton.
Dr. Purdy married at Canterbury, Connecticut, Carrie Kingsley, daughter of John P. Kingsley, of Plainfield. Dr. and Mrs. Purdy are the parents of four children: Clifford, Marshall, Dorothy and Con- stance.
WILLIAM BENNETT LAWTON CRANSTON, of the old and well known firm of Cranston & Company, is one of those stalwart business men, who have for many years maintained on solid foun-
dation and at the same time greatly extended the commercial interests of Norwich. It is not, however, with these interests alone that Mr. Cranston is ac- tively identified; to everything essential for the progress and well-being of the community he has ever given the aid not of money alone, but of what counts for even more, the aid of personal influence and well-directed effort.
Benjamin T. Cranston, Jr., father of the subject of this review, was born in Warren, Rhode Island, September 1, 1832, and died in Norwich, Connecticut, March 19, 1900. He was brought by his father to Norwich when but a boy, his father, Benjamin, Sr., having built the first brick building on the west side, and it is still standing today. It is the second building south from Main and Thames streets. Here Benjamin, Sr., opened a grocery store and there con- tinued successfully for about thirty-five years.
Benjamin T. Cranston, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Norwich, and entered upon his business career as clerk in the clothing store of Ebenezer Fuller, where he remained until 1853, when he moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and there accepted a position as cashier with the Adams Ex- press Company. Nine years later he removed to Norwich and entered into partnership with Morgan Safford, who had been in the stationery business since 1840. This partnership continued until 1887, when Mr. Cranston bought out the interests of Mr. Safford and took into the firm his two sons, William B. L. and Thomas, the firm name being the Cran- ston Company. Here Benjamin T. Cranston con- tinued until his death. He was always held in the highest esteem in the community, and when he passed away Norwich lost one of her finest types of citizens. He was a Republican in politics, and, in religion a devout member of the Central Baptist Church. He married Cornelia Anne (Safford), September 5, 1853, and to them were born three children: William B. L., of further mention; Thomas, born in Providence, Rhode Island, July 21, 1856, and died in Norwich, May 1, 1909; and Morgan Safford, born November 29, 1873, and died November 5, 1874.
William B. L. Cranston was born in Providence, Rhode Island, March 17, 1855, and was educated in the schools of Norwich, Connecticut, coming there at the age of ten years with his father. In 1873 he became clerk in his father's store, his brother Thomas entering the business at about the same time. After the father's death, William B. L. and Thomas carried on the business until the latter's death in May 1909, when William B. L. took C. Edward Smith into the business, which was incorpo- rated in 1914 under the name of the Cranston Com- pany. The business since 1916 has been located on Broadway, near the Wauregan Hotel, and the store is recognized as one of the oldest and best-equipped stationery stores in Connecticut. Mr. Cranston is a Republican in politics, but has never cared for of- fice. He affiliates with St. James Lodge, No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Council, No.
Elisha Waterman
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BIOGRAPHICAL
3, Royal and Select Masters; Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; and the Young Men's Chris- tian Association. He is one of the oldest members of the Arcanum Club of Norwich, and was a charter member of the Chelsea Boat Club. In religion he is a Baptist, and was librarian of the Sunday school there for twenty-five years.
Mr. Cranston married, August 25, 1917, Julia Ann (Morgan) Chapman, daughter of Stephen and Ma- tilda Jane (Lewis) Morgan. Mrs. Cranston has one child, a son by her first marriage, Percy Morgan Chapman.
ELISHA WATERMAN-Bearing a name that earlier generations of his family carried in honorable participation in the stirring events of Colonial times and in the arduous labors of pioneer life, Elisha Waterman, of Lebanon, Connecticut, former Repre- sentative and State Senator, traces a long and distin- guished ancestry in New England.
The first American ancestor was Robert Water- man, who married, December 9, 1638, Elizabeth Bourne, of Marshfield. Thomas Waterman, their second son, was born in 1644, and probably came to Norwich with his uncle, John Bradford. In Novem- ber, 1668, he married Miriam Tracy, only daughter of Thomas Tracy. Thomas Waterman died in 1708, leaving an estate inventoried at £855 IIS 4d. He had three sons and five daughters.
Thomas (2) Waterman, son of Thomas (1) and Miriam (Tracy) Waterman, was born in 1670, and died in 1755. He married, when not quite twenty-one years of age, June 29, 1691, Elizabeth Allyn, dangh- ter of Robert Allyn. Their union was prolonged to a term of sixty-four years, and their deaths oc- curred within a few months of each other, in 1755. They had seven sons and two daughters.
Lieutenant Elisha Waterman, fifth son of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth (Allyn) Waterman, is said to have died in Havana, a victim of the fatal expedition undertaken against the Spanish in 1762.
Captain Andrew Waterman, son of Lieutenant Elisha Waterman, was born May 18, 1737, and died February 16, 1822. He settled in Lebanon, about the time of his marriage, 1759, and was a Revolutionary soldier, known as Captain Andrew Waterman. He married, September II, 1759, Elizabeth Fitch, and they were the parents of Elizabeth, Ezra F., Lebbeus, Andrew (2), Betsy, Sarah, and Elisha (2), of whom further.
Elisha (2) Waterman, son of Captain Andrew and Elizabethı (Fitch) Waterman, was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, October 1, 1777. He attended the pub- lic schools and supplemented this training with a few terms in an academy at Lebanon, Connecticut, taught by Nathan Tisdale. In young manhood he became a school teacher and taught for several terms. He then became a farmer, cultivating more than three hundred acres. He was a Whig in poli- ties and then a Republican, and filled all of the town offices, several times representing his town in the State Legislature and his district in the Senate for
one term. For many years he was judge of probate. He was a regular attendant of the Congregational church, a man of positive character, upright and re- spected. He married, September 20, 1812, Betsy Mason, daughter of James Fitch Mason. She was born October 10, 1790, died May 4, 1862, and with her husband is buried on Goshen Hill, Lebanon, Connecticut. Children: Andrew, died young; Eliza- beth F., James F. M., Elisha (3), Nancy M., and Andrew (3), of whom further.
Andrew (3) Waterman, son of Eiisha (2) and Betsy (Mason) Waterman, was born on the Water- man homestead, in Goshen, town of Lebanon, Connecticut, June 13, 1833, and died there in March, 1910. He was educated in the district schools and Norwich Academy, and spent his life on the home farm, which he inherited from his father. During his active life the property was greatly improved and the main part of the present house was built. He pursued general farming and cattle raising opera- tions and upon his retirement in his later years the management of the farm fell upon his son. He mar- ried, at Lebanon, February 5, 1873, Julia Emma Stark, born January 13, 1847, died in Lebanon, March 2, 1898, daughter of Nelson and Sarah Ann (Geer) Stark, of Lebanon. Issue: 1. Elisha (4), of whom further. 2. Clarence Mason, born May 17, 1879, re- mained on the home farm until he attained his ma- jority, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he now resides. 3. Frank Edsall, born January 27, 1881, was reared on the home farm, and attended Mount Hermon School for Boys. At the time of his death, May 9, 1908, he was associated with the Waterbury Brass Company, of Waterbury, Connec- ticut. 4. Bessie Mason, born March 30, 1886, mar- ried Frank R. Bartlett. 5. Mary Emma, born April II, 1889, married Harry E. Prentice, of Norwich, Connecticut.
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