USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 37
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
JOSEPH GEORGE COMEAU-Anthony Com- eau, father of Joseph George Comean, was a lifelong resident of the city of Montreal, Canada, and died there in 1865, aged twenty-nine years. He married Virginia Frachette, and to them were born two sons: Edmond, married Mary L. Duncan, and resides in Montreal; and Joseph George, of further mention. Mrs. Virginia Comean married (second) John P. Richards, and they were the parents of four chil-
58
NEW LONDON COUNTY
dren: May, married Joseph Chenette, of Providence, Rhode Island; Joseph, deceased; Alfred, a dentist of Norwich, Connecticut, married May Buckley; Flora, married Adolph Delphins Limothe, a dentist of American Falls, Idaho. Mrs. Richards (formerly Mrs. Comeau) died in 1911, in Norwich, Connecticut.
Joseph George Comean, son of Anthony and Vir- ginia (Frachette) Comeau, was born in Montreal, Canada, September 12, 1865, died in Norwich, Con- necticut, September 29, 1920. He was a pupil in the parochial school of St. John's, in Montreal, and later entered Ottawa College, Ottawa, Canada. He then studied dentistry, and in 1894 became con- nected with the Albany Dental Association in Nor- wich. In 1896 he established private dental practice in Norwich, and so continued until his passing twenty-four years later. He was a Republican in politics; a member of Norwich Lodge, No. 430, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and Court Sachem, Foresters of America.
Dr. Comeau married, June 29, 1897, Landia Eva Barthel, of Gardner, Massachusetts, and to them two children were born: Georgette Lillian, born in Nor- wich, Connecticut, August 13, 1898, an employe of Connecticut Agricultural College, Starrs, Connecti- cut; and Berthold Roderick, born in Norwich, Con- necticut, August 28, 1901. Mrs. Comeau survives her husband, a resident of Norwich. The family arc members of the St. Patrick's Church.
HENRY A. TIRRELL, A.M .- Since the year 1903, Professor Henry Archelaus Tirrell has been prin- cipal of Norwich Free Academy, an institution to which he came as a teacher in 1896. He has won secure position among the educators of New Eng- land during this quarter of century of service, and under him the academy has greatly prospered. He is a son of Rev. Eben and Julia A. (Harding) Tir- rell, his father a clergyman, serving the Methodist Episcopal church long and faithfully. Rev. Eben Tirrell served his country with cqual zeal, and was enrolled among the volunteers in the Union service during the Civil War.
Henry A. Tirrell was born at South Chatham, Massachusetts, August 7, 1873, and obtained his early education in the schools of the different towns in which his father was pastor, the itinerant law then governing Methodist ministers making fre- quent changes necessary. Later he entered the in- stitution over which he now presides, finishing with the graduating class of 1890. He arranged with his father the financing of a college course and entered Wesleyan University, whence he was graduated A.B., 1894. The same year he secured appointment to the faculty of Pennington Seminary at Penning- ton, New Jersey, and there remained two years. In 1896 he came to the faculty of Norwich Free Acad- emy, Norwich, Connecticut, there teaching until 1899, when he spent a year in study at the University of Chicago. In 1903 he was elected principal of Nor- wich Free Academy, and has now been the honored head of that most excellent institution for twenty- two years.
There were other sons in the Tirrell family of which Professor Tirrell was the eldest, and when he began teaching, the money advanced for his college course was repaid and another son started through college. Professor Tirrell has received many evi- dences of appreciation, and the honors of his pro- fession have been awarded him, but nothing has given him as much satisfaction as the payment of the amount expended on his education by his fa- ther, who bore the burden as gladly as the son re- lieved him.
Professor Tirrell has entered heartily into the life of the city which so long has been his home, and is widely known throughout his State. He is a direc- tor of Norwich Savings Society, the oldest financial institution in Norwich; is a corporator and trustee of the Norwich Free Academy; was formerly a mem- ber of the Board of Park Commissioners; member of the State Public Library Commission for several years; present member of the State Board of Educa- tion; president of the board of managers of the Wil- liam W. Backus Hospital, Norwich, Connecticut; secretary of the Otis Library, Norwich; member of the Park Congregational Church; and in politics is a Republican. In 1910 he received from Trinity Col- lege the degree of Master of Arts.
In Chicago, Illinois, in 1899, Professor Tirrell married Agnes Helen Butler, daughter of Jeremiah P. and Mary L. (Twohey) Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Tirrell are the parents of four children: Mary Agnes, Charles Henry, Helen Butler and William Harding Tirrell.
JOHN JOSEPH MACREADY-Standing high among the executives of New London county manu- facturing interests is John Joseph Macready, presi- dent of the Shetucket Worsted Mills, of Baltic, Connecticut, and owner of the plant.
Mr. Macready comes of a long line of sturdy Scotch ancestry, and is a son of Morris and Mary (Montgomery) Macready, both natives of Dundec, Scotland. Morris Macready was educated in the public schools of his native land, and came to the United States in 1888. He located in Schaghticoke, New York, where he was an overseer of flax spinn- ing. This was the line of endeavor which he fol- lowed all of his active life. He now lives in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, but is retired from all parti- cipation in business affairs. Morris and Mary (Montgomery) Macready were the parents of five children, of whom John J. Macready, of Baltic, is the eldest.
John Joseph Macready was born in Dundee, Scot- land, November 26, 1886. Coming to this country when only two years of age, with his parents, his education was received in the public schools of Schaghticoke, New York, up through the grammar grades. He then took a commercial course at Tem- ple University. He entered upon his business ca- reer in the field of woolen manufacture, working for a time among the mills of Philadelphia. During this period he took advantage of the famous textile schools of that city, studying designing at the night
Er.
Inary (le ferrell)
59
BIOGRAPHICAL
courses. With this preparation for a higher class of work, the young man came to Yantic, Connecti- cut, in 1912, as assistant superintendent and designer for the Yantic Woolen Mills. Remaining there until 1914, he then accepted the superintendency of the Slictucket Worsted Mills, of Baltic, remaining for one year in that capacity. Returning thereafter to Germantown, Pennsylvania, as manager of the Shet- land Mills of that city, he continued there, rising to the office of president of the company.
On January 1, 1920, still holding the office of president of the Shetland Mills, Mr. Macready came to Baltic, Connecticut, and bought out the Shetucket Worsted Mills. The business was incorporated, with Mr. Macready as president, under the name of the Shetucket Worsted Mills, Incorporated. Still a young man, and at the head of great industrial interests, through his own energy and ambition, Mr. Macrcady is a power in the field of woolen manufac- ture, and his career gives promise of a brilliant fu- ture.
Mr. Macready is interested in every phase of pub- lic progress, poltically affiliated with the Republican party, and by religious faith a Roman Catholic. He is a member of St. Lawrence Council, No. 841, Knights of Columbus, of Philadelphia. He is a fourth degree knight, and is past grand knight of this lodge.
WILLIAM SHEFFIELD BREED-There is no time when the record of the lives of the prominent and useful citizens of a generation past ccases to be an important and interesting part of the history of a district, and although a quarter of a century has nearly spent its length since William Sheffield Brecd trod his accustomed paths, the present chron- icle has welcome place for a review of his life story.
The family of which he was a member traces to Allen Breed, who was of record in Lynn, Massachu- setts, as early as 1630, He was born in England in 1601, and his death occurred March 17, 1692. The name of his wife is unknown, but he became the fa- ther of five children.
Allen (2) Breed, son of Allen (1) Breed, was born in 1626, and by his wife Mary became the father of six children.
John Breed, son of Allen (2) Brecd, was born January 18, 1663. He married (first) April 28, 1686, Mary Kirtland, who bore him one child, Sarah, born July 15, 1687, died January 28, 1688. He married (second), June 8, 1690, Mercy Palmer, who died January 28, 1752. After the death of his first wife and daughter, John Breed moved from Lynn, Mass- achusetts, to Stonington, Connecticut, where he and his second wife were members of the First Con- gregational Church. Issue by second wife: Anna, born November 8, 1693; Mary, born January 8, 1697; John, of whom further; Elizabeth, born January 28, 1702; Sarah, born February I, 1704; Zerviah, born August 27, 1706; Joseph, born October 4, 1708; Bethia, born December 30, 1710; Allen, born August 29, 1714; Gershom, born November 15, 1715.
John (2) Breed, son of John (1) Breed, was born January 26, 1700, and married, October 14, 1725, Mary Prentice. Issue: Mercy, born August 3, 1727; John, of whom further; Nathan, born December 13, 1731; Mary, born December 25, 1733; Sarah, born December 28, 1736; Eunice, born February 23, 1738; Grace, born June 2, 1740; Ann, born June 2, 1742; Amos, born December 23, 1744; Lucy born Decem- ber 18, 1746.
John (3) Breed, son of John (2) Breed, was born September 5, 1729, and married, May 19, 1750, Si- lence Grant, born January 31, 1731. Issue: Mary, born February 9, 1751; John, born November 15, 1752; Sarah, born December 16, 1754; Oliver, born February 6, 1757; Reuben, born September 23, 1758; Prentice, born January 1, 1761; Eunice, born Feb- ruary 25, 1763; Samuel, of whom further; Marcy, born February 6, 1769.
Samuel Breed, son of John (3) Breed, was born March 23, 1765, and became a well-to-do farmer in Stonington. He married (first) Eunice Allyn, and (second) Polly Sheffield, daughter of Isaac Shef- field. Issue by second wife: Eunice, born Novem- ber 26, 1799; Mary Ann, born February 21, 1802, married Benjamin F. Breed; Freelove, born May 7, 1803, married Jesse B. Breed; Isaac Sheffield, of whom further; Harriet, born December 24, 1806; twins, who died at birth.
Isaac Sheffield Brecd, son of Samuel Breed, was born December 19, 1804, and died February 17, 1882. By occupation he was a farmer, and followed that calling all his life in Stonington, his latter ycars be- ing spent on a farm in the north part of the town. He married Phebe P. Hewitt, born August 24, 1806, died July 6, 1893, daughter of Benjamin and Desire (Babcock) Hewitt. Issue: Isaac B., who died July 7, 1829, at the age of eight months; William Sheffield, of whom further; Jane P., born November 15, 1831, married Erastus D. Miner, of Stonington; Henry E., married (first) Sarah Slocum, (second) Harriet Pendleton; Mary E .; Sarah, married Dr. Henry M. Rising, of South Glastonbury; Emily D., married James H. Cleveland, of Stonington; Annie M., born April 24, 1842, married Allison B. Ladd, and died June 18, 1901; Frances Louise, died August 22, 1846, aged nineteen months; Charlotte Ellen, died Septem- ber 6, 1850, aged thirteen months.
William Sheffield Breed, son of Isaac Sheffield Breed, was born in North Stonington, Connecticut, April 17, 1830, and obtained his general education in the public schools. During his youth his practical training was in farming, and upon reaching man's estate he went to Stonington Point, where he be- came a clerk in the store of an uncle, John Breed. Until 1861, he cultivated rented land in Ston- ington and North Stonington, in that year moving to Brooklyn, Connecticut, renting Allen Hill's farm for one year. In 1862 Mr. Breed purchased the property upon which the re- mainder of his life was spent, now known as Ash Lawn Farm, Baltic, Connecticut. From the time of its original transfer from the Indians this farm was
60
NEW LONDON COUNTY
successively in the ownership of the Perkins family, George Olin; and Mr. Breed, the fine old homestead having been erected in 1791 for the occupancy of a Perkins family. Its three hundred acres he de- voted to general farming and to the breeding of Holstein-Friesian thoroughbred cattle, subsequently disposing of about twenty-five acres. His opera- tions, both agricultural and in stockraising, were at- tended by success, and in all of his farm work he was progressive, receptive to new ideas, and constantly seeking for improvement. He considered his work in the nature of a life calling, worthy of intensive study, and capable of generous rewards if followcd with the systematic diligence given other lines of endeavor. He read widely, principally along techni- cal lines related to his work, and one of his ac- quaintances, speaking, after Mr. Breed's death, of that gentleman's acute and well-stored mind, said: "I always learned something when I talked to Mr. Breed."
Mr. Breed was a Democrat in earlier years, but later espoused Republican principals. For a number of years he filled the office of assessor, accepting the honor and responsibility this position carried as a part of his public duty rather than as an expression of personal appreciation. He was a man of splendid physique and temperate habits, never having used tobacco or liquor in any form. Through the dis- trict there was universal respect for his judgment and character, and when his friends called upon him for counsel and aid it was never in vain. All of his interests centered in his home, and here the best of a kind, generous and loving nature found expres- sion.
Mr. Breed married (first), while a resident of Stonington Point, Lucy Ann Safford, who died in Stonington, in 1859. They had one son, Charles William, born November 19, 1859, died in Windham, Connecticut, March 28, 1892, who married Lillian M. Porter. Mr. Breed married (second), June 12, 1860, Sarah A. Williams, born April 21, 1832, in North Franklin, Connecticut, daughter of Lathrop and Abby (Prentice) Williams. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Breed was a school teacher, and was a cap- able and devoted helpmate, staunchly supporting her husband in all of the emergencies of life. She was a member of the Hanover Congregational Church, which he also attended, although his church was the Baptist, and Mrs. Breed was a teacher in the Sunday school for a number of years. Their one daughter, Katherine Abby, born November 21, 1863, was graduated from the Norwich Free Academy in 1885, receiving the Newton Perkins prize in mathematics, and mar- ried, in 1899, Allison B. Ladd, Jr., son of Allison B. and Annie M. (Brecd) Ladd. Mrs. Ladd is a mem- ber of the Hanover Congregational Church, and for many years has been a teacher and officer of the Sun- day school, in which her father was deeply inter- ested. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd are the parents of: Ger- trude Huntsman, born November 10, 1899, and Louise Breed, born January 28, 1902.
William Sheffield Breed died June 27, 1899, and he is buried at Hanover. His name recalls to those of his family and acquaintance who survive him a man strong in virtue, upright in principle, whose every work was good.
JOHN FRANCIS CARROLL-Martin Carroll, father of John F. Carroll, was born in Limerick, Ire- land, and there reared and educated in the national schools. He came to the United States in 1866, lo- cating in Norwich, Connecticut, where he secured employment with the United States Finishing Com- pany. He continued with that company in the dye- ing department until the present date, 1921. He mar- ried Ellen Martin, also born in Limerick, who died in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1901. They were the parents of seven children, the third a son, John Francis, of further mention.
John Francis Carroll was born in Norwich, Con- necticut, February 7, 1878, and there was educated in St. Mary's Parochial School. In 1895, being then seventeen years of age, he began an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, in South Windsor, under H. L. Stark, and remained with him as a journey- man carpenter until 1907. In that year he returned to Norwich and entered the employ of C. M. Wil- liams, a contracting builder of Norwich, remaining in that employ until 1918. In the latter year Mr. Carroll, in partnership with James Fenton, of Nor- wich, began a general contracting and building busi- ness. Carroll & Fenton have been very successful during their three years of business, and at the present time, 1921, are building, under contract, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, a handsome and im- posing granite building, their most important con- tract to date. Mr. Carroll is a Democrat in politics, a member of White Cross Council, No. 13, Knights of Columbus, Court City of Norwich, Foresters of America, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Carroll married, at Taftville, Connecticut, Catherine Veronica West, daughter of William West, of Norwich. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are the par- ents of two children: Helen Margaret, born in March, 1914; John Francis (2), born July 27, 1919; both born in Norwich, Connecticut.
ROBERT JORDAN COLLINS, D. D. S .- Ad- vancement in any of the learned professions is not so much the result of fortuitous circumstances nor of influence, as it is the result of individual merit, application and skill. When these are combined with ambition, and a fixed determination to achieve success, success surely follows: Dr. Robert J. Collins, of Norwich, Connecticut, has achieved this enviable reputation in the practice of dentistry, and has just reason to rejoice in the fact that through his skill good results have been attained.
Captain John Collins, father of Dr. Collins, was born in Portland, Maine, and died in Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1898. He followed the sea from youth, was a master of ships at twenty-one, and during his long career commanded some of the largest ships
61
BIOGRAPHICAL
then afloat, making several voyages around the world. A man of steady nerve and sound judgment, a skilled navigator and a man of great endurance, he was much admired, and was held in high esteem by his many friends in Bristol. During the last years of his life he retired from the sea and was a government revenue collector until the time of his passing. Captain Collins married Abbie Gladding, of Bristol, and they were the parents of four chil- dren: Susan T., deceased; John J., a resident of Providence, Rhode Island; Robert J., of further mention; and Daisy, who died in infancy.
Robert J. Collins obtained his elementary educa- tion in the public schools of his native place, where he was born October 27, 1879. He then took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College and then entered upon his business career, his first employ- ment being with the Brown & Sharpe Machine Com- pany of Providence, Rhode Island, where he served his apprenticeship as a machinist and then traveled in the countries of South America and Europe for two years. After his return he matriculated at Baltimore Medical College, from which he was grad- uated in 1912, with the degree of D.D.S. He then went immediately to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he was associated with Dr. Griffin for one year, after
which he removed to Naugatuck, Connecticut, and a few months later, in 1913, came to Norwich, where he opened his present offices, at No. 148 Main street.
Dr. Collins is affiliated with Morning Star Lodge, No. 13, Free and Accepted Masons, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Woonsocket Lodge, No. 850. He also is a member of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Collins married, October 30, 1916, at Norwich, Connecticut, Margaret Loretta Flynn, a native of Norwich, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Lyons) Flynn.
WALTER FITCH LESTER-In a business ca- reer devoted entirely to fire insurance, Mr. Lester has become prominent in a special field covered by the mutual companies, and for more than a decade of years has been the efficient secretary of the New London County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, with headquarters in Norwich. Mr. Lester is a native son of Norwich, his parents, Charles Davison and Anna (Hubbard) Lester. Charles D. Lester, a bookkeeper, died September 23, 1893, his wife yet a resident of Norwich, (1922).
Walter Fitch Lester was born in Norwich, Con- necticut, July 7, 1872, and there was educated in the grammar schools and Norwich Free Academy. After graduation from the academy in 1891, he- entered the employ of B. P. Learned, fire insurance, as clerk, having served Mr. Learned as temporary clerk during the available hours of his last year in school. He continued a clerk with Mr. Learned for a number of years, then was admitted to a partner- ship under the firm name of B. P. Learned & Com- pany, so continuing until January, 1909, when he became secretary of the New London County Mu-
tual Fire Insurance Company, a position he yet most ably fills. He is also a director of the Thames National Bank, of Norwich, the Dime Savings Bank, of Norwich, State vice-president of the National Association Mutual Insurance Companies, director of Norwich Building and Loan Association, a di- rector and a former president of the Norwich Hous- ing Company. He is a man of energy and ability, an authority on fire insurance, and so recognized.
Mr. Lester has twice served his city as a member of the Council, and is a member of the town school board of the town of Norwich. He is a deacon of the United Congregational Church, of Norwich, vice-president of the Brotherhood of that church, and for twenty-eight years (1892-1920) was baritone of the church choir. He has always been deeply interested in music, particularly vocal, and was well known on the concert stage and in opera as a member of quartettes and choral singing so- cieties. He resigned from the church choir in 1920, but his interest has never lessened. A quarter of a century ago, when the bicycle was king, he was very much interested in that sport, particularly in the racing feature, and was president of the Rose of New England Wheel Club, of Norwich, one of the leading New England wheel clubs of its period. He was also for many years a member, and active in the interests of the Chelsea Boat Club and the Ar- canum Club, Incorporated, both of Norwich. He is a member of Norwich Chamber of Commerce; Nor- wich Young Men's Christian Association; associate member of the Connecticut State Association of Local Fire Insurance Agents; member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons; member of Insurance Library Association of Boston; Na- tional Fire Protection Association; was president of Norwich City Beautiful Association, an organ- ization of usefulness, now out of existence, and is a member of Norwich Grange, No. 172, Patrons of Husbandry.
On August 28, 1900, in Norwich, Mr. Lester married (first) Rose E. Kasche, who died Septent- ber 24, 1910, daughter of Edward Kasche, of Hart- ford, Connecticut. Mr. aand Mrs. Lester were the parents of a daughter, Dorothy, born November 17, 1903, and of a son, Everard Mason, born July 31, 1906. Mr. Lester married (second), in Hartford, Connecticut, February 10, 1911, Mary A. Coutts, daughter of Rev. James A. Coutts, of Los Angeles, California.
MEREDITH LEE-Although but a young man of twenty-five, Mr. Lee has passed through the ex- perience of a lifetime in many things. He early responded to the call for volunteers in 1917, and until the spring of 1919 was overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces in the air service, a branch in which both the sons of Rev. James Bev- eridge Lee, pastor of the Second Congregational Church of New London, served. Lieutenant Lee re- turned in safety, but his brother made the supreme sacrifice, being killed in action. A great sorrow came to Lieutenant Lee in the death of his young wife, and
62
NEW LONDON COUNTY
he tasted deeply of the cup of life for so young a man.
Rev. James Beveridge Lee, born in Bovina Center, Delaware county, New York, in the western Catskill region, chose the holy profession, and after gradua- tion from Hamilton College, A. B., class of 1884, entered Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and in 1890 was graduated B. D. He was or- dained a minister of the Presbyterian church, and for several years was settled over the Presbyterian church at Bloomfield, New Jersey, and while there his son Meredith was born. Later he transferred his allegiance from the Presbyterian church to the Congregational church, and has long been the regularly settled pastor of the Second Congrega- tional Church in New London, Connecticut. He married Minna Greenman, and they are the parents of three children: Helen, married Charles B. Gil- bert, and resides in New London; Meredith, of fur- ther mention; Schuyler, born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, July 29, 1898, was a student at Andover Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and with a Unit recruited from Andover entered the United States service as sergeant in the Ambulance Corps. Later, overseas, he secured a transfer to the French Army Flying Corps, becoming a member of the famous Lafayette Escadrille, ranking as ser- geant. After a glorious career he met his death in action, April 2, 1918, at Montdidier, in the Somme sector, about forty miles north of Paris, and twenty-one miles southeast of Amiens. He was in command of the machine, and in action in the air when shot down.
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.