USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 61
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HERMAN ERASTUS MINER-During his years, sixty-seven, Herman E. Miner always resided in the same district in the town of Stonington, in which both he and his father were born. Both were men of thrift and integrity, and both served the Broad Street Christian Church of the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, as deacon. Both are now gathered to their fathers, but they left an example
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of righteous living, well worthy of emulation. They were of ancient Colonial ancestry, and the present Herman E. Miner, Jr., is of the ninth generation of his family in New England.
The Miner family of Stonington, Connecticut, trace descent from Thomas Miner, a Colonial sol- dier of the Indian wars, who married, April 23, 1634, Grace Palmer, daughter of Walter Palmer, of Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was a descendant of Henry Miner, who was granted a coat-of-arms by his sovereign, King Edward, and died in 1359. The descent from Henry Miner is through Henry (2) Miner, and his wife, Henrietta (Hick) Miner; their son, William Miner, and his wife, (Greeley) Miner; their son, Lodowick Miner, and his wife, Anna (Dyer) Miner; their son, Thomas Miner, and his wife, Bridget (Hewie) Miner; their son, William Miner, and his wife, Isabella (Haicope) Miner; their son, Clement Miner, and his wife, Sarah (Pope) Miner; their son, Thomas Miner, of the eighth generation of the family in England, and the first of his line in New England. The line of descent from Thomas Miner and his wife, Grace (Palmer) Miner, to Herman E. Miner, of Stoning- ton, Connecticut, is traced through their son, Ephriam Miner, a soldier of King Philip's War, and his wife, Hannah (Avery) Miner; their son, James Miner, and his wife, Abigail (Eldridge) Miner; their son, Charles Miner, and his wife, Mrs. Mary (Wheeler) Miner; their son, Christopher Miner, and his wife, Mary (Randall) Miner; their son, Elias Miner, and his wife, Betsey (Brown) Miner; their son, Erastus Denison Miner, and his wife, Jane P. (Breed) Miner; their son, Herman E. Miner, to whom this review is dedicated.
Erastus Denison Miner, of the fourteenth re- corded generation of his family, and of the seventh generation in New England, was born at the family farm in the Taugwank Valley, town of Stonington, New London county, Connecticut, December 16, 1829, and died April 23, 1907. He remained at the home farm until the age of twenty-four, then spent four years on a farm near Avondale, Rhode Island. In 1857 he bought a farm in Stonington, New Lon- don county, Connecticut, called the Ichabod Dick- erson farm, and later bought the Noyes farm. He was a deacon of Broad Street Christian Church in the town of Westerly, Rhode Island, and a man of deep, religious life. He married, August 15, 1852, Jane P. Breed, born November 15, 1831, died July I, 1910, at the home place in Stonington. Children: Herman E., of further mention; Sarah J., married Herman C. Brown; Mary E., married Frank Wilcox; Annie E., married John Seymour.
Herman Erastus Miner was born in the Anguilla district of the town of Stonington, Connecticut, August 9, 1853, his birthplace, the homestead farm
of his grandfather, Elias Miner. He died on his own farm in the Anguilla district, August 2, 1920. He was educated in the public schools of that dis- triet and at a private boarding school, and all his after life was spent in farming. He remained at the home farm in Stonington until 1880, then bought a large farm in the same district, which he suc- cessfully cultivated until his death, forty years later. He was a good farmer, used his land right, and it yielded him abundant returns. He was of a deeply religious nature, like his father, and from the age of eleven was a member of Broad Street Christian Church, of Westerly, Rhode Island. In 1902 he succeeded his father as deacon of that church, and held that office until his death. In politics he was a Democrat, but extremely inde- pendent.
Herman E. Miner married (first) March 12, 1884, Fanny M. Gavitt, of Stonington, Connecticut, born September 9, 1855, died January 12, 1891, daughter of Timothy P. and Freelove V. (Thompson) Gavitt. Mr. Miner married (second) Fanny F. Wilcox, in Mystic, Connecticut, December 8, 1897, born in Mystic, October 22, 1857, died in Stonington, Oc- tober 30, 1904, daughter of Lodowiek and Sarah A. (Davis) Wilcox. Mr. Miner married (third) June 6, 1907, Annie Ethel Thorp, born in Leicester, Eng- land, July 17, 1880, daughter of William Henry and Ann Ada (Sargent) Thorp. William Henry Thorp, a carpenter and cabinet-maker, was born in Lin- colnshire, and until the death of his wife he re- mained in England. After her death he came to the United States and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island, where he was employed at his trade until his death, April 19, 1914. One child was born to Herman E. and Annie E. (Thorp) Miner, Herman E. (2), born at the Miner farm in Stonington, Con- necticut, March 27, 1910. Mrs. Annie E. Miner survives her husband and resides in Westerly, Rhode Island, with her son, now a lad of ten years, a representative of the ninth generation of the Miners formerly founded in New England by Thomas Miner, the Englishman, and of the six- teenth recorded generation of Miners in England and the United States, 1300-1920.
EDWIN HOXEY KNOWLES, M.D .- A decade ago there was no physician in Eastern Connecticut more skillful, beloved or esteemed than Dr. Edwin Hoxey Knowles, of North Stonington, New London county. He came to the village of North Stoning- ton just out of medical college and there practiced the healing art for half a century, then answered the summons of the Great Physician. He was a country doctor, not only ministering to the bodily ills of his people but to their mental ills, their sor- rows and their troubles. He was the confidant of
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the young, the adviser of the middle aged, the hope and comfort of the aged. No trouble was too deep for them to carry to the good doctor who always stood their friend nor was there a great joy in their lives but they wanted him to share it. He practiced in some county families a full half cen- tury, danced at the weddings of children he aided in bringing into the world, performed the same service for their children and their grandchildren, and then went down to the very brink of the dark river with them ere he bid them good bye. Dr. Knowles came from a family of physicians, being a son of Dr. John Hoxey Knowles, a practicing physi- cian of Exeter, Rhode Island, who had four sons, three of whom were physicians. Dr. John H. Knowles and his two sons, Drs. Isaac Collins and William C. Knowles practiced in Rhode Island, Dr. Edwin H. Knowles, in Connecticut. Dr. John H. Knowles was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, where he practiced medicine all his life, there married Catherine Collins, and there both died. Their four sons were: Isaac Collins, William C., Edwin Hoxey, all physicians; and John, a farmer.
Edwin Hoxey Knowles was born in Chepacket, Rhode Island, February 18, 1842, died in North Stonington, New London county, Connecticut, May 30, 1910. When very young Excter became the family home and there Edwin H. Knowles lived until eighteen years of age. Hc obtained a good education in Exeter schools, but in 1861 when war hegan between the States, North and South, he enlisted and went to the front with a Rhode Island regiment of infantry. He saw hard service with the Army of the Potomac, and all his after life carried a bullet in his leg received in one of the many battles fought by that army. After the war ended, he attended college in New York for one year, then decided upon the profession graced by his eminent father and for which his two elder brothers were preparing. To that end he entered the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania and there was awarded his M. D. at gradu- ation.
Dr. Knowles chose the village of North Stoning- ton in which to begin practice and the wisdom of his choice was confirmed by his always remaining there. He grew in skill as experience taught him practical truth, not taught in medical schools, and as he grew in skill so he grew into the hearts of his people, and when a half century later he passed to his reward, a town mourned the loss of a faith- ful, skillful physician, a dear friend and a high- minded citizen. He served his town for two terms in the State Legislature, and for many years was a member of the school board of North Stonington. He was a member of the New London Medical and Connecticut State Medical societics and of the
American Medical Association, and highly esteemed by his professional brethren of these bodies of medical men. In the business world Dr. Knowles was known as the able president of the Pawcatuck Bank of Westerly, Rhode Island. He was a mem- ber and past commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Westerly, Rhode Island, and in the Masonic order had attained the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.
Dr. Knowles married, in Westerly, Rhode Island, March 28, 1865, Mary Elizabeth Champlin, born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, March 25, 1844, daughter of George Washington and Esther (Champlin) Champlin. Two sons were born to Dr. and Mrs. Edwin H. Knowles: William Hoxey and Charles Edwin.
William Hoxey Knowles was born in Stoning- ton, Connecticut, May 24, 1867. After completing his studies in Stonington and Westerly schools, hic was employed in a dental office in Providence, Rhode Island, going thence to a similar position in York, Pennsylvania. He then decided to make dentistry his life work and pursued a full course in Cleveland Dental College. After graduation he practiced his profession in Cleveland, Ohio, for a few years, then practiced in Baltimore, Maryland, a few years, finally locating permanently in Daniel- son, Connecticut, where he practiced dentistry until his death, December 6, 1920. He married Catherine Robertson, of Cleveland, Ohio, who survives him with one child, a fourth Dr. Knowles in direct line. He is Dr. James Robertson Knowles, a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Chi- cago, now surgeon for the Boston & Maine rail- road. During the period of war between the United States and Germany, he served in the United States Army.
Charles Edwin Knowles was born in Stonington, Connecticut, November 8, 1869. After completing public school course he entered the employ of the Nicholas & Harris Drug Company of New London, Connecticut, there remaining four years. He then entered New York College of Pharmacy, whence he was graduated Ph. G. He then entered the employ of the Wilson Drug Company of Willimantic, Con- necticut, where he died October 8, 1892. He mar- ried Mary Bennett, of Norwich, Connecticut. Mrs. Knowles, bereft of husband and sons, continues her residence in North Stonington where her married life of forty-five years was spent and her eleven years of widowhood. She is as dearly beloved as was her honored husband, and now at the age of seventy-seven her friends are many.
EDWARD AUSTIN GEER-Among the agricul- turists of the town of Griswold, New London county, Connecticut, Edward A. Geer was one of
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the most highly esteemed. Quiet and home-loving in disposition, he took but little part in political affairs, his deepest interest being his home and family, and Pachaug Congregational Church, of which he was long a deacon. His farm, near Jewett City, was his birthplace, there he died, and there his widow and son yet reside. The farm has been in the family from the time it was first granted to a white man by the Indians. Of ancient Colonial family, dating in New England from 1635, and in New London county, Connecticut, from 1651, Mr. Geer had an inheritance of good blood, sound body, and clear mind, which well fitted him for the battle of life which he so bravely fought and so honorably won.
He was a descendant of George Geer, who with a brother, Thomas Geer, came from England to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1635. George Geer set- tled in New London, Connecticut, in 1651, and on February 17, 1658, married Sarah Allyn, daughter of Robert Allyn, one of New London's earliest set- tlers. After their marriage they settled on a grant of fifty acres, made by the town of New London, now the town of Ledyard. Mr. Geer was selectman of his town, and lived to the age of one hundred and five years, dying in 1726. The line of descent is through his son, Robert Geer, and his wife Martha (Tyler) Geer; their son, Ebenezer Geer, and his wife Prudence (Wheeler) Geer; their son, John Wheeler Geer, a Revolutionary soldier, and his wife Sally (Dennison) Geer, their home a tract of two hundred acres in the town of Griswold, yet known as "Geer Hill"; their son, Elijah D. Geer, of Griswold, and his wife Dorothy (Geer) Geer, daughter of David Geer; their son, David Austin Geer, and his wife Sarah (Leonard) Geer; their son, Edward Anstin Geer, to whose memory this review is dedicated.
David Austin Geer, of the sixthi American genera- tion, was born at the Geer homestead, August 17, 1824, where he also died, March 29, 1907. He was educated in the public schools, and with the excep- tion of four winters, during which he taught school, farming was his lifelong and only work. His father died August 10, 1848, and he came into full manage- ment of the beautiful farm granted to his ancestor by the Mohegan Chief, Uncas Owaneco, and there became a prosperous man. For over half a cen- tury he was a member of the First Congregational (Pachaug) Church, his wife and four sons also be- coming members of that church. He married, Sep- tember 15, 1857, Sarah Leonard, daughter of Deacon Joseph and Laura (Johnson) Leonard. Mrs. Sarah (Leonard) Geer died November 23, 1906. They were the parents of four sons: Albert Stanton, of Three Rivers, Massachusetts; Edward Austin, of further mention; Henry Denison, of Three Rivers,
Massachusetts; Joseph Tyler, of Three Rivers, Massachusetts. Of these sons, Edward Austin alone remained on the old farm, the others engaging in different activities in Three Rivers, Massachusetts.
Edward Austin Geer, son of David Austin and Sarah (Leonard) Geer, was born on the homestead, January 5, 1861, and there died, April 2, 1918. He was educated in the public district school, and at Mystic Valley Institute, and after his own studies were completed he taught school for several terms in Danielson, Connecticut, in Windham county, ini the town of Ledyard, and in several other of the towns of New London county. He was very suc- cessful as a teacher, and is yet remembered among the excellent educators of the county, although his teaching experiences were all prior to 1887.
In that year his father, David Austin Geer, then a man of sixty-three, had a desire to retire from the active management of the farm, and induced his son, Edward A. Geer, to undertake the task of operating it. The young man, upon his return, he- came the home farm manager, and in his thorough way, in order to keep the promise made to his father that he would not only keep it up to its former Geer standard of productiveness, but that "he would make it one of the very best farms in the State," he raised the standard of fertility, im- proved the homestead and farm buildings, and in course of time added new and enlarged buildings, a silo was built, and new and separate buildings for the horses and cows. He carried on general farming operations, raised live stock, operated a dairy, and raised sheep. Dairying was an important department of the firm's activities, and in all his undertakings he prospered. He was president of the Jewett City Creamery Company, but the farm was the principal business interest.
For twenty years he was a deacon of the Pachaug Congregational Church, and he never lost his inter- est in the public schools, serving many years on the School Board for love of the work and a sin- cere desire to be of service to the cause of educa- tion. He also served on the Board of Relief, but a purely political office he would never accept.
Mr. Geer married, in Sterling, Connecticut, Octo- ber 26, 1887, the year of his return to the farm, Margaret Gallup Frink, born in Sterling, daughter of Albert and Mary Ann (Briggs) Frink, a member of one of the oldest agricultural families of the town of Sterling, Windham county. Mrs. Geer sur- vives her husband, and with her daughter and son continues her residence at the farm to which she came a bride, and where she spent thirty-one years of wedded life ere her husband left her to tread life's pathway alone. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Geer: I. Bertha Louise, born July 29, 1889; a graduate of Norwich Free
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Academy, and of the Connecticut State Normal School in Willimantic; after teaching for seven years in Griswold and East Hartford, she took a librarian's course in Springfield City Library, Springfield, Massachusetts, and is now assistant in the children s department of that library. 2. Har- old Frink, born May 28, 1892; a graduate of Jewett City Grammar School; after taking the live stock and dairying course in the Connecticut Agricultural College, he became manager of the home farm; he registered for the selective draft at the time war broke out between the United States and Germany, but as the only son was not called from the farm; he is an active member of Pachaug Grange, No. 96, Patrons of Husbandry, and of Undaunted Lodge, No. 34, Knights of Pythias, Jewett City. 3. Clarence Edward, born September 2, 1894, was a graduate of Norwich Free Academy; he met death by drown- ing, March 17, 1912.
HON. BENJAMIN H. HEWITT-In New Lon- don county, Connecticut, the name of Benjamin H. Hewitt is one in which the people take justifiable pride. Standing high in the legal fraternity of the county and of the State, and having filled with dis- tinction various offices of public honor, Mr. Hewitt, still a young man, is one of the leading attorneys of the State of Connecticut.
Mr. Hewitt is the fourth Benjamin Hewitt in line, and is a son of Benjamin P. and Jennie (Meade) Hewitt. Benjamin P. Hewitt was born in Stoning- ton, New London county, Connecticut, and educated in the district schools of that town, at East Green- wich Academy, and at Suffield. During all his life- time he has followed farming, and still resides in the town of his birth. The children of Benjamin P. and Jennie (Meade) Hewitt are: Cassie W., who resides at home; Jennie, also at honic; Sarah L., who became the wife of Colonel Attmore Tucker, Chief of Staff to Governor James Higgins, of Rhode Island; H. Lillian, who is now supervisor of writing in the schools of Norwalk, Connecticut; and Hon, Benjamin H., whose name heads this review.
Hon. Benjamin H. Hewitt, now the prominent Mystic attorney, was born in North Stonington, Connecticut, April 11, 1884. He was educated in the public schools of Mystic, Bulkeley High School in New London, and Yale Law School. In 1906 he was admitted to the Connecticut bar, and opened law offices in New London. For twelve years he con- ducted a constantly increasing practice, also having an office in Mystic. In 1918 Mr. Hewitt gave up his practice to become special assistant to the United States attorney for the District of Connec- ticut for the duration of the World War. He now devotes all his time to the wide practice which has reached him in Mystic, and occupies commodious
offices on West Main street.
In 1914, the Republican party in looking for a man who could be elected Senator in the Twentieth District, which two years before liad gone Demo- cratic, selected Mr. Hewitt for its nominee, and the selection proved to be a very wise one, as Mr. Hewitt was as energetic and efficient on the stump as in the court rooni and won many votes for the Republican party, carrying the district by a large majority. While in the Senate he served as chair- man of the Committee on Banks, and was a member of the Committee on Excise and also a member of the Committee on Rules. He has long been and still is prosecuting attorney of the town of Stoning- ton. In his profession Mr. Hewitt stands high, being an influential member of the Connecticut Bar Association and of the American Bar Associa- tion. Mr. Hewitt is a member of the Union Baptist Church, of Mystic.
On January 1, 1921, Mr. Hewitt was married to Ann M. Wangelin, of Westerly, Rhode Island. Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt reside in Mystic.
MASON MANNING-The generations of this branch of the Mannings have lived in New England, William Manning, of Cambridge, the American ancestor, and Mason Manning, of Mystic, Connec- tient, of this review, a member of the tenth genera- tion. The first five generations continued in Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, but Dr. Luther Manning, of of the sixth generation, practiced medicine in the town of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, and when the British burnt the town of New Lon- don during the Revolutionary War he was acting there as assistant surgeon. From Dr. Luther
Manning (son of Hezekiah, son of Samuel (2), son of Samuel (1), son of William (2), son of William (1) Manning) spring the New London county line, culminating in Mason Manning, of Mystic. Dr. Luther Manning, one of the leading physicians of Eastern Connecticut and an eminent citizen, mar- ried Sarah Smith, and they were the parents of two sons who became physicians, Dr. Luther (2) Manning, who practiced in Scotland, Connecticut, and Dr. Mason Manning, head of the seventh Man- ning generation in the line.
Dr. Mason Manning was born in the town of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, August 27, 1796, and died at his home at the head of Mystic river, town of Stonington, same county, February 10, 1883, and was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Connecticut. He was graduated M. D., Yale Medical School, class of 1818, and at once began practice in Scotland, Connecticut, with his elder brother, Dr. Luther Manning. Later Dr. Mason Manning practiced alone in Milltown, going thence to the town of Stonington, where he was
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in successful practice and attained the highest pro- fessional standing, continuing his healing mission among "his people" until old age disqualified him. He was very popular both as physician and neigh- bor, and like all old time country doctors the depository of all the troubles, secrets, hopes and fears of the young, middle aged and the old. He was a member of the New London County and Connecticut State Medical societies, a Republican, and in later life a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Old Mystic, having formerly been a Congregationalist. Dr. Mason Manning married (first) Fanny Hovey, born January 8, 1799, dauglı- ter of Dudley and Mary Hovey, of Scotland, Con- necticut. Mrs. Manning died September 23, 1822, and is buried with her husband in Elm Grove Ceme- tery. She was the mother of Francis Mason Man- ning, head of the eighth generation. Dr. Manning married (second) Harriet C. Leeds.
Francis Mason Manning, son of Dr. Mason Man- ning, was educated in Old Mystic schools and in the Connecticut Literary Institute, Suffield, Connec- ticut, and East Greenwich Academy, Rhode Island. After school years were over he spent two years in a Norwich drug store, then in 18.16 opened a drug store in Mystic, there continuing in successful business until 1880, when he sold his interests in the store to Mr. Wheeler. Later he became presi- dent of the Mystic River National Bank, Mystic, Connecticut, and had other important business in- terests. He was interested with his son, John L. Manning, in the grain business, was president of Elm Grove Cemetery Association, president of Mystic Oral School, trustee of Mystic and Noank Library, and in a public-spirited way helped in the advancement of community interests until his death.
Mr. Manning married, in Old Mystic, Connec- ticut, December 8, 1847, Ann E. Williams, daughter of Eleazer and Nancy (Avery) Williams. Their only child was John Leeds Manning, head of the ninth generation.
John Leeds Manning was born in Old Mystic, Connecticut, September 15, 1848, and resides in Mystic, aged seventy-three. He was educated in the public schools, and as a young man was engaged with his father in the grain business, the firm of Manning & Son becoming one of the strong, reli- able firms of the town. Manning & Son also owned the formula for manufacturing the one time pop- ular patent medicine, Atwood's Bitters, which they manufactured in Groton, Connecticut, until 1880, when they sold the medical remedy, and with John Leeds, in the village of Mystic, town of Stonington, established a grain business under his own name. He conducted that enterprise successfully until 1916, when he retired from active participation in
the business. He married Julia A. Wheeler, born in Mystic, Connecticut, daughter of Joseph Wheeler, and they are the parents of an only child, Mason Manning, head of the tenth generation.
Mason Manning, of the tenth generation, only son of John L. and Julia A. (Wheeler) Manning, was born in Mystic, Connecticut, January 29, 1883. He was educated in the public schools of Old Mys- tic, and when school years were completed he was variously employed until 1892, when he became associated with his father in the grain business. For twenty-four years they were in business to- gether, the father then retiring, and Mason Man- ning assuming the entire responsibility. He still continues the business very successfully, being of the third generation of his family to engage in grain dealing, his father succeeding his father, then he in turn being succeeded by his son. Mason Man- ning is chief of the Mystic Fire Department, a Republican in politics, and he attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a young man of force and energy, a good citizen, and 1 capable business man.
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