USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 50
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On November 1, 1905, Mr. Hankey married Charlotte J. Bancroft, daughter of Major Eugene A. and Eleanor (Croes) Bancroft, the major being a retired United States army officer. Mr. and Mrs. Hankey have one daughter, Phyllis B. The family are members of St. James' Episcopal Church of New London.
FREDERICK A. STARR - For many years broadly active in construction work at different points in the East, Frederick A. Starr has for the past nine years been identified with the J. Warren Gay Electrical Company, of New London, for nine years in the office of president.
Mr. Starr is a son of Domenick and Anjanora C. (Dayton) Starr. Domenick Starr was born in Trieste, Italy, in 1808. He began his education in the schools of his native city, then coming to the United States in 1820, he located in Portland, Maine. He became a sea- faring man, and followed the sea for many years. At the outbreak of the Mexican War he was in the United States Revenue service, and served during that war as seaman on the revenue cutter "Campbell," taken over by the United States navy. The "Campbell" lett New London with scaled orders, being sent to Vera Cruz, Mexico, on police duty. After the close of the Mexican War he returned to New London and here became a rigger on whaling vessels in the shipyards. Contin- uing in this work until 1857, he then purchased a farm in the town of Waterford, Connecticut, which he operated until 1865. At that time he gave up farming, and returned to New London, and to his former occu- pation of rigger, which he followed industriously until his death.
He died in New London, in 1881. His wife, who was born in Waterford, died here in 1897. They were the parents of seven children.
Frederick A. Starr, sixth child of Domenick and Anjanora C. (Dayton) Starr, was born in Waterford, Connecticut, June 7, 1859. Receiving a practical education in the public schools of New London, he started life, in 1876, as clerk in a New London dry goods store. Here he remained for three years, then, in 1879, went to New York City, and there was engaged as salesman for a wholesale house for seven years. Returning to
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New London in 1886, he entered the dry goods business in the employ of his brother, Joseph Starr, but con- tinued for only a short period. His next work was in the capacity of clerk for the Adams Express Company, where he was employed until 1893. At that time he became inspector at the United States Custom House at New London, and later as deputy collector, continuing in that position until 1897. He then became clerk in the United States Engineering Department, at the New London office. When he resigned from this office he was superintendent of construction. This was in De- cember, 1905, and the following year Mr. Starr became superintendent of construction for the Miller-Collins Company, of New York City. In this capacity he was placed in charge of construction operations at different points, and handled much important work. He had charge of the highway bridge built at Haverhill, Massa- chusetts, in 1907, for the New Jersey & West Virginia Bridge Company, as superintendent of construction. He built a highway bridge over Fore river at Portland, Maine, in 1908, for the Coleman Brothers Company, of Boston.
Mr. Starr had charge of building the sea wall at Eastern Point, in the town of Groton, for the Morton F. Plant estate, and thereafter was transferred for a short period to Providence, Rhode Island, for work on a concrete arch bridge over the Blackstone Canal. In 1909-10 Mr. Starr was in St. Lawrence county, New York, as superintendent of construction for the Uni- formed Fibrous Talc Company, for the building of a dam on the Oswegatchie river, with a power house and factory foundations. In 1911 he had charge, in the same capacity, of construction work on the Thomas Howell estate at West Hartland, Connecticut, then for a short time was superintendent for the Eastern Dredg- ing Company of Boston.
Retiring from the construction field in 1910, Mr. Starr purchased an interest in the J. Warren Gay Electrical Company, of New London, electrical contractors and dealers in electrical supplies. In 1912 he became presi- dent of the company, and since that time has devoted his time entirely to the development of the business. This concern is one of the leaders in its line, both in the contracting end of the business and the finely stocked store where all kinds of electrical supplies are sold.
Mr. Starr is a member of the New London Chamber of Commerce, and interested in the public life of the city. Under the Cleveland administration he served as deputy collector of customs. He has always supported the best man in the field, irrespective of party. He is one of the veteran members of the Konomoc Hose Company, having joined in 1878.
Fraternally, Mr. Starr is very widely prominent. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 31, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; of Union Chapter, No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; of Cushing Council, Royal and Select Masters ; of Norwich Valley Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite, holding the thirty-second degree; and is a past commander of Palestine Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Pyramid Temple.
Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of Mohican Lodge, No. 55, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of New London, in which order he is past noble grand. He has for many years been a member of the Grand Lodge of this order. He is a member of the Masonic Club, of New London. He is well regarded in all these associations.
On December 23, 1910, Mr. Starr married Hattie Wood, of Gouverneur, New York. They reside at No. 36 Richard street, New London, and attend the Second Congregational Church of this city, of which they are both members.
RHODES KING LEWIS-For many years a prominent and now a venerable resident of the town of Preston, New London county, Connecticut, Rhodes King Lewis has been identified with the industrial life of the town for the past forty-five years.
Mr. Lewis is a son of Caleb and Patience Myra (Johnson) Lewis. Caleb Lewis was born in Rhode Island, in 1819, and conducted extensive farming opera- tions in Foster, in that State, then later, in Plainfield, Connecticut, following this line of endeavor during all his long and active life. He died in Jewett City, Con- necticut, in 1892, and his wife died in Norwich. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Rhodes King Lewis, of Preston, is the oldest now living.
Rhodes King Lewis was born in Foster, Rhode Island, on April 20, 1841. Educated in the public schools of Plainfield and Jewett City, Connecticut, he entered the world of industry as a young man, working in the cotton mills of the neighborhood and assisting his father on the farm. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was one of the first to offer his services in defense of the Union, and became a member of Company F, Eighth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. At the close of the war he returned to Connecticut, set- tling in Jewett City, where he worked for different people until 1877. In that year he purchased the mill property, which is still owned in the family. This is a grist mill, and was built in 1818 by a Mr. Safford, who owned a large tract of land in the neighborhood. The waters of Broad Brook form the motive power. The mill property passed through other hands, being owned in the Frink family for many years and up to the time Mr. Lewis secured it. It is one of the old land- marks of Preston, having served the public for more than a century. Mr. Lewis operated the mill until 1910, when he retired, turning the management of the busi- ness over to his son, Edwin E. Lewis, who continues its operation with noteworthy success.
During all these years in which Mr. Lewis has been a resident of Preston, he has taken a deep interest in the progress of the town, and in all public events. Politically, he has always been a supporter of the Democratic party, although for political preferment he has never cared, and has consistently declined public office.
Mr. Lewis married, on November 4, 1865, Mary Ellen Ingraham, of Colchester, Connecticut, daughter of Jo- hial and Abby Ingraham, of that town. Two children
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were born of this marriage: John R., who married Adah B. Richmond, of Norwich, on January 15, 1901, and Edwin E., a sketch of whom follows. Mrs. Rhodes K. Lewis died in Preston, on October 31, 1919. The family are members of the Baptist church of Preston.
EDWIN EVERETT LEWIS, of Preston, New London county, Connecticut, is a leader in that younger group of men who are significant factors in the prog- ress of the town. Coming of prominent Connecticut and Rhode Island families, and himself a prosperous business man of the day, he represents one of the important interests of the town. He is a grandson of Caleb and Patience Myra (Johnson) Lewis, and a son of Rhodes King and Mary Ellen (Ingraham) Lewis, all of whom are of extended mention in the previous sketch.
Edwin Everett Lewis, younger of the sons of Rhodes King and Mary Ellen (Ingraham) Lewis, was born at the Lewis homestead, in the town of Preston, New London county, Connecticut, March 12, 1882. He passed the first eighteen years of his life at the homestead, obtaining a good public school education, and assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm and in the operation of the Preston grist mill. In 1900 he entered business life as a manufacturer of lumber, purchasing tracts of standing timber in different locali- ties and converting them into lumber. For ten years he continued in that business, moving his saw mill from tract to tract as each was cleared of the merchantable timber, then, in 1910, returned to the home farm, his father's advancing years demanding his retirement from the management of the grist mill, and the turning over of that department to his son, Edwin E. Lewis, im- mediately followed.
Mr. Lewis is an energetic, modern business man, full of enthusiasm concerning the future of agriculture in New London county. He is an active member of the Pachang Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and in politics he reserves the right to individual decision in all mat- ters, and is not identified with either party.
On August 1, 1908, Mr. Lewis married Lulu May Johnson, who was born in Montville, Connecticut, daughter of Joseph and Melissa (Daniels) Johnson, her father also born in Montville, being a fireman in the mill there. Mrs. Melissa (Daniels) Johnson died in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have three children : Mary Ada, born in Montville on September 21, 1909; Clayton Edwin, also born in Montville, on March 3, 1911; and Reginald Archibald, born in Preston on July 13, 1915. The family are members of the Bethel Methodist Epis- copal Church, of Griswold.
ROSS ELLIOT BLACK, M.D .- For something over a decade Dr. Black has practiced the healing art in New London, coming to that city after full medical courses at Columbia University and three years' service in hospital work. The years have brought him suc- cess, and he has won an established position in the profession he follows.
Dr. Ross Elliot Black is of Pennsylvania birth
and parentage, his parents both born in that State. He is one of the four sons of his parents to embrace professions, two being engineers in China, two physi- cians in Connecticut. The father, Jacob Hoffman Black, was born in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, becoming one of Huntingdon's early educators, serving as principal of schools there, and at Sunbury, Pennsylvania, for many years, then opened a drug store in Huntingdon, which he conducted from 1894 until his death in 1914. He married Emma Freiling, born in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, who survives her husband and resides with two of her sons, civil engineers, located in China. Another son of Jacob H. and Emma (Freiling) Black is Dr. John T. Black, a member of the Connecticut Health Commis- sion ; another son, Dr. Ross Elliot Black, of New Lon- don, Connecticut, is the principal character of this review.
The daughters of Jacob H. and Emma (Frei- ling) Black are as follows: Elsie, who married O. H. Irwin, cashier of the Huntingdon National Bank, re- sides in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Rachel, wife of John Runk, instructor in chemistry in the Pennsylvania State College. Laura, married Ray Howe, an officer of the Bell Telephone Company, resides in old home- stead in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
Ross Elliot Black was born in Huntingdon, Pennsyl- vania, November 26, 1879. He there completed public school courses with graduation from high school. After a course of study at Juniata College, Huntingdon, Penn- sylvania, he entered the medical department of Colum- bia University, New York City, whence he was grad- uated M. D., class of 1905. For eighteen months fol- lowing graduation he was interne at St. Barnabas Hos- pital, Newark, New Jersey. That experience was fol- lowed by six months' service in Lying-In-Hosital, New York City, and twelve months in the employ of the New York City Health Department, his connection being with the Contagious Disease Hospital on North Brothers Island, and Willard Parker Hospital, Manhattan and Kingston avenues, Brooklyn, New York. At these hos- pitals he made a special study of the contagious dis- eases treated during his year of service with them. During the summer of 1908, Dr. Black resigned his position and located in New London, Connecticut, there engaging in the private practice of medicine and surgery, but making a specialty of contagious diseases, and laboratory work connected therewith. He has been continuously engaged in practice in New London since that time with the exception of time spent in the military service.
He was lieutenant, later captain, of the Medical Corps, Connecticut National Guard, on duty with the Coast Artillery Corps in 1910; examiner for the New London draft board until 1918, when he was commis- sioned captain of the Medical Corps of the United States army, instructing Yale Army Laboratory School, and was later assigned to duty at Base Hospital No. 142. He was in the service until honorably discharged, September 25, 1919, when he returned to New London and resumed medical practice. He is a member of the New London Medical Society, and for six years was
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its secretary; New London County Medical Society ; Connecticut State Medical Society; American Medical Association; and in his practice is thoroughly modern and progressive, keeping abreast of all medical dis- covery in diagnosis, treatment or operation.
Dr. Black has built up a large practice and is rated with the successful men of his profession. He has served his city as acting health officer, and is an ardent advocate of the doctrine of prevention of disease by sanitary precaution and sane living. He is an Inde- pendent in politics, a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and holds thirty-two degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry ; mem- ber of Knights Templar and Palestine Commandery; he is also a member of Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport, Con- necticut, and of Mohegan Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of New London. His club is the Harbour of New London.
Dr. Black married, in New London, April 5, 1914, Laura Ellen Page, born in New London, daughter of John and Ellen (George) Page. Dr. and Mrs. Black are the parents of a son, Ross Elliot (2nd).
MAJOR JOHN J. LAWLESS-One of the prom- inent figures in the life of New London is Major John J Lawless, whose career as an attorney and military leader has attained the success which is achieved by but few.
William Lawless, father of Major Lawless, was born at Connaught, Ireland, in 1845, and obtained his educa- tion in the National schools there. In 1865 he came to this country and located at New London, where he served an apprenticeship as a granite and marble cutter with John B. Palmer. He continued at this trade until he retired from active life in 1918, and now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Maud M. Mclaughlin, at Washing- ton, D. C.
Mr. Lawless married Mary S. Kearney, who bore him fourteen children. Mrs. Lawless also resides with her daughter. Children: John J., mentioned below; Edward A., deceased, who was an attorney in Indian- apolis, and during the Spanish-American War served in Company A, 3rd Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; Mary E., deceased, who married William J. Mahon, of New London ; Maud M., who married Ben- jamin F. McLaughlin, and resides in Washington, D. C .; Annie, who married Clark Laycock, and resides at San Diego; Evelyn K., who married Franklyn L. Kimball, a resident of New London; William A., who married and resides at Bethel, Vermont; Patrick H., deceased ; twins, deceased ; James F., deceased; Winifred F., who married John Carmen, and resides at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; Sebastian K., deceased, who served with the 69th Regiment in France, enlisting in the Connecticut National Guard, Coast Artillery Corps, and was killed by accident in Southern California; Roderick D., the fourteenth child, served with the 68th Regiment in France, and now resides in New London.
John J. Lawless was born at Vinal Haven, Maine, May 17, 1876. He received the preliminary portion of
his education in the public schools of New London having been brought to this city when very young by his parents. After graduating from the New London High School, during which time his attention had been turned forcibly to the legal profession, he decided to make it his career in life and, accordingly, prepared for college at Mystic Valley Institute, graduating from this institution in 1901 and subsequently matriculating at the Albany Law School, from which he won the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1903. Returning to New London, he entered the law office of Abel P. Tanner, where he remained until 1904, when, after passing his bar examinations, he established himself in the practice of his chosen profession which has proven extraordinarily successful, having grown extensively up to the present time.
Major Lawless has always been interested in military life, and during the Spanish-American War enlisted as a private in Company A, Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry, being later commissioned a second lieutenant. After the war he was commissioned captain of the Third Regiment, and held this post for many years. The World War offered him another opportunity and this he was quick and eager to grasp. Successfully passing the examinations for major at Fort H. G. Wright, New York, he was sent to Plattsburg, where he was assigned to the 9th Company of the New England Training Division, and was mustered out of service July 15, 1919. Major Lawless is now a member of the American Legion, and is also past commander of the George M. Cole Camp, United Spanish War Vet- erans.
In politics he is a Republican, and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the organiza- tion. For many years he was chairman of the Re- publican Town Committee of Waterford. Profession- ally he holds membership in the New London County Bar Association. Major Lawless has always been prom- inent in fraternal organizations and as such is affiliated with the following : Oxoboxo Lodge, No. 116, of Mont- ville, Connecticut, Free and Accepted Masons, and holds all the degrees up to and including the thirty-second; the Loyal Order of Moose, No. 344, of which he is
past dictator ; past sachem of Nonowantuc Tribe, No. 42, of the Improved Order of Red Men; and the Kono- nioc Grange, of Waterford. He also holds membership in the Jibboom Club, No. I, which is the only club of its kind in the world. We have not said that Major Lawless is a good citizen, for that fact is self-evident. Respected as he is both in New London and his home town, Waterford, his advance can have known no deviation from the strictest probity and the most up- right methods. Such a record is certainly worthy of emulation.
Major Lawless married, July 5, 1910, Alice Wilbur Talbot, daughter of George L. and Emma Wilbur Tal- bot, of Putnam, Connecticut.
DUDLEY ALDRICH BRAND-The Brand fam- ily of whom the late Dudley Aldrich Brand was a member was among the oldest in Westerly, Rliode
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Island, the old concern known as Brand's Iron Works being founded by a member of this family over a century ago.
Captain Dudley Brand, father of Dudley Aldrich Brand, was a native of Westerly, Rhode Island, and for many years followed the sea. Later in life he purchased a large farm in New London, where he spent the remainder of his lifetime. He married Catherine (Champlin) Burdick, who by a former marriage had one son, William Burdick. Mr. and Mrs. Brand were the parents of four children: Dudley Aldrich, of further mention; John H., who resides in Porto Rico; Harriett, deceased; Lyman, deceased.
Dudley Aldrich Brand was born at Pawcatuck, Connecticut, January 12, 1852. At the age of ten he moved with his parents to Fishers' Island, where for a time his father was engaged in farming. Later, however, the family removed to New Lon- don, Connecticut, where they lived on a large farm, on Ocean avenue, known as the Brand farm, and here the son remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he became tired of the routine of farm life.
The young man shipped as a deckhand on an old whaler and was gone for a year, then he returned to the home farm, where he remained until he became engaged in coasting trade, which he subse- quently discontinued in order to become a yachts- man. His first trip was as a captain on the yacht "Alice." Later he became captain of the yacht "Wander," which was privately owned by James A. Stillman, then president of the City National Bank, of New York City. His next command was of the "Marguerita," which belonged to A. J. Drexel, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This yacht was later sold to Henry Walter, of New York City, who renamed her the "Narada," he still retaining Cap- tain Brand in command. Captain Brand remained in charge of the yacht until May, 1914, when on account of a serious illness he was forced to retire. He dicd October 26, 1920. Captain Brand was affiliated with Brainard Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and was a Knight Templar. He was a charter member of the Harbour Club, a member of the Jibboom Club, and belonged to the Master Pilots' Association of New York City and Boston, Massachusetts. In politics he was a Republican.
Captain Dudley A. Brand married (first) in 1878, Charlotte Brown, of Waterford, Connecticut, daugh- ter of Lyman and Mary Ann (Jones) Brown. Chil- dren by first marriage: Mary Katherine, wife of C. Harrison Whittemore, of New London, Connec- ticut; and Harold E., of New London. Captain Brand married (second) in June, 1903, Jennie Fal- coner Dickerson, a native of Saybrook, Connec- ticut, where her birth occurred August 3, 1858. She was the daughter of the late Captain Richard and Harriett N. (Otis) Dickerson.
THEODORE BODENWEIN, one of the well known journalists in Connecticut, was born in
Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1864, and came to this country when five years of age, the child of Ger- man parents in humble circumstances. He received his education in country schools of Groton, Connec- ticut.
In 1885 he became one of the founders of "The Morning Telegraph," which succeeded the old "Evening Telegraph," which had failed. He dis- posed of his interests in that paper, and in Sep- tember, 1891, purchased "The New London Day" that had been founded by Major John A. Tibbetts, a well-known writer and politician. "The Day" had been leading a checkered career for ten years and was heavily encumbered with debt. The new pro- prietor quickly brought order out of chaos, showing excellent executive ability, and the paper was put almost at once on a paying basis. Its growth in circulation and influence was remarkable. When he succeeded to the business in 1891 the circulation of "The Day" was not over 1,000; to-day, in 1921, it has grown to nearly 11,000.
Mr. Bodenwein is a member of numerous clubs and societies. In politics he is a Republican. He served as alderman in the New London Court of Common Council, and as sewer commissioner of the city from 1903 to 1906. In 1904 he was nominated by the Republican State Convention for Secretary of State, and was elected. He was renominated and re-elected in 1906, and served another term of two years. Mr. Bodenwein has been constantly active in civic affairs, and while he has held several public positions his duties as editor and publisher of "The Day" have engrossed the most of his at- tention.
JOHN M. CALLAHAN, president of the C. W. Strickland Company, and one of the representative business men of New London, Connecticut, is descended from good Irish ancestry, his father, Patrick J. Callahan, having been born in Cork, Ireland. Patrick J. Callahan came to the United States as a young man, locating in New London in 1854, where he worked during all his active life, but is now retired. He married Nora Lawley, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and died in New London.
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