USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 15
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THOMAS J. BURKE-Born in the city of Nor- wich, and identified always with the business life of New London county, Thomas J. Burke, of Baltic, Connecticut, may well be numbered among the representative men of the section. As a dealer in automobile accessories, he has come to be widely known, both to the people of this vicinity, and to the thousands of tourists who find this highway through Baltic a convenient and delightful motor thoroughfare.
Mr. Burke is a son of John Burke, who was born in Limerick, Ireland, and of Mary Donovan Burke. Mr. Burke was a man of great industry, and fol- lowed the occupation of gardening. He and his wife are now deceased.
Thomas J. Burke was born in Norwich, Connec- tieut, January 30, 1876. He received his education in this city, and in the schools of Baltic, where his family removed when he was ten years of age. He early started out in the world of industry, but, never satisfied to work for others permanently, bent every energy toward the ambition which he realized on March 14, 1911, when he started in business for himself. His early plans had not been decisive in regard to what line he should follow, but they comprehended independence, and this was what he achieved, in his final choice of business. He handles all kinds of automobile accessories, and meets the needs of the stream of motorists which daily sweeps through the little village of Baltic.
Mr. Burke is a man of considerable prominence
here, and politically is affiliated with the Demo- eratie party, although thus far he has declined poli- tical honors. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, of Baltic, Connecticut.
GEORGE ALBERT HYDE-A member of one of the old families of Stonington, Connecticut, George Albert Hyde is the son of Theodore Wales and Julia Addie (Lamb) Hyde, of Stonington, and the grandson of Albigence and Naney (Pulsiver) Hyde. Theodore Wales Hyde was born in Stonington and educated in the public schools there. When a young man he went to New Britain, Connecticut, where he was employed by Landers, Frary & Clark, manu- facturers of cutlery, remaining with them for seven- teen years as bookkeeper. Resigning from this office, he became a clerk for D. C. Judd, of New Britain, and after a time, in 1896, gave this up and moved his family to Stonington, where he was em- ployed in various occupations. Theodore W. Hyde is now living a retired life in Stonington. He and his wife had but one child, George Albert Hyde, of whom further.
Born in New Britain, January 12, 1882, George Albert Hyde obtained his education in the public school there and afterward became a pupil in the Lincoln Street High School of that town. After graduating from same, he accepted a position with the American Velvet Company of Stonington, hav- ing charge of their stock room. In 1904, Mr. Hyde started in business for himself, opening a general merchandise store at Trolley Station, Stonington, where he is still located. In politics, George Albert Hyde is a Republican, though not holding any pub- lie office. He is a member of the Second Congre- gational Church, of Stonington.
THOMAS MELVIN-In Mystic, New London county, Connecticut, Thomas Melvin is engaged in one of the most practical lines of endeavor. As a general blacksmith and wagon builder, he is bearing a very necessary part in the daily activities of the town, and his personal history is of interest to all.
Mr. Melvin is a son of William and Mary (Mac- Kenzie) Melvin. William Melvin was born in Eng- land, and educated in the National schools of the country. As a young man he came to the United States, locating in Colchester, Connecticut. Later he went to Nova Scotia, where he conducted a farm during the remainder of his life, and there he died. His wife, who was born in Nova Scotia, died in Mystic, Connecticut, in 1898. Thomas Melvin was their only child.
Thomas Melvin was born in Colchester, Connec- ticut, on February 24, 1859. Removing with his family to Nova Scotia when he was a little child, it was there that he received his education. How- ever, when he became twenty-three years of age, he returned to the United States, locating in New Lon- don, Connecticut. There he worked as wagon builder, and in 1886, four years later, having an opportunity to purchase a prosperous business in this line, he did so. This was the business of Stepben Lam-
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phere, in Mystic, and Mr. Melvin is still carrying on this business in the same location. He has greatly increased its scope, and its growth and development is still a feature of this branch of endeavor in Mystic.
Although always a busy man, Mr. Melvin takes a deep interest in all public matters. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party, although he has never been a candidate for public office. He is a member of Ston- ington Lodge, No. 26, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of Mystic. He attends the Baptist church, and gives of his means to support the benevolences of the church.
In July, 1888, Mr. Melvin married Blanche C. New- man, of Hartford, Connecticut, and they are the parents of four children : William R., who served in the World War with the American Expeditionary Forces, and is still in the United States army; Erving T., who mar- ried Clara Barman, and resides in Stonington, Connec- ticut; Clarence S., who served in the United States navy during the war, and is now in the Naval Reserves ; Stella F., who became the wife of Clifford T. Cornell, and is a resident of Stonington.
SAMUEL STANTON BROWN MacKENZIE- As the name would indicate, the Mackenzie family is of Scotch ancestry, though the father of Samuel Stan- ton Brown Mackenzie, William Mackenzie, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he was educated in the public schools of his native town. In the early sixties of the last century, William Mackenzie came to the United States, and locating in Mystic, Connecticut, be- came associated with a man named Haynes in the ship building industry, the firm being known as Mackenzie & Haynes. They built sailing vessels and for many years carried on a very successful business, but as the use of steamships increased, the demand for sailing vessels decreased, so eventually Mr. Mackenzie retired from this line of occupation and entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany as foreman in the bridge department. He con- tinued with this company until his death, which occurred in Mystic in 1905. William Mackenzie married Isa bella Augusta Strang, and of this union ten children were born, of whom eight are now living.
Samuel Stanton Brown Mackenzie was the seventh son of his parents, and was born in Mystic, Connec- ticut, July 9, 1879. He attended the public school in the village and later the Broadway High School of Mystic. After graduating from this, the young man was employed for several years as an assistant in the market gardening establishment of Ira C. Noyes, of Mystic. Later Mr. Mackenzie became an apprentice in the marble and granite stone cutting business of John Trevena, remaining with him until 1904. For the next seven years he worked at his trade in several dif- ferent places, and in 1911 formed a partnership with L. F. Barstow, and bought out the business of John Trevena. For six years they conducted a monument works in Mystic, and on July 1, 1917, Mr. Mackenzie bought up his partner's interest in the concern and is now running it in his own name. Active in all affairs of his native place, Mr. Mackenzie is interested in the
work of the Republican party, also in the fire depart- ment there, being a member of the hook and ladder company ; he is connected with the local lodge of Wood- men of the World, and witli Stonington Lodge, No. 28, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mystic.
In Mystic, April 19, 1919, Samuel Stanton Brown Mackenzie married Elizabeth Adamson, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Anderson) Adamson, residents of Mystic. Mr. Mackenzie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Mystic, and Mrs. Mackenzie is a member of the Congregational church.
JOHN HURLBURT BUELL, JR., was born in Middletown, Connecticut, January 18, 1886, son of Cap- tain John H. and Lucy M. (Edwards) Buell, his father a master mariner, who, after following the sea all his active years, retired to his birthplace, Clinton, Con- necticut, and is now residing there (1921). Captain John H. and Lucy M. (Edwards) Buell were the parents of three sons : 1. John H., Jr., of further men- tion. 2. Captain Oliver H. Buell, a trans-Atlantic steamship captain, Boston to Hamburg. He enlisted in the United States navy as seaman, and was retired as senior lieutenant in 1919, and is the youngest captain in the service of his present company. 3. George Buell, also a mariner.
John H. Buell, Jr., completed grammar and high school courses of study in Middletown, Connecticut, and finished his studies under the direction of Professor Thomas Emmett. After school years were over, he learned the machinist's trade with the Hubbard Motor Company, and was employed in different shops and places until 1907, when he located in New London. He was engaged at his trade until July 2, 1917, when he enlisted in the United States navy as a first-class ma- chinist for the period of the World War, and served until not longer required, but is still on the reserve list. In 1919 he became manager for C. K. Smith, and in October, 1920, he purchased the business which he is now conducting. He is agent for a number of the principal automobile concerns.
Mr. Buell is a member of Brainard Lodge, No. 102, Free and Accepted Masons, of New London ; Trumbull Lodge, Knights of Pythias; the Masonic Club; and the Northwest Fire Company. He attends the Baptist church. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Buell mar- ried, December 22, 1919, Christina H. Rae, of Barrie, Vermont, daughter of James H. and Helen Rae. Mr. and Mrs. Buell are the parents of a son, Charles R. Buell, born September 29, 1920, in New London.
FRANK PALMER WILCOX GEER-Five gen- erations of the Geer family have lived upon the old homestead farm in the town of Griswold, New London county, Connecticut; four generations were actively en- gaged as farmers, the children in the fifth generation being still too young to assist in its work. This fine old landmark was bought considerably more than one hund- red years ago, March 4, 1804, by John Geer, who was born in the town of Preston, New London county, Con- necticut. Here he made his home and reared his family, sowing and reaping year after year until his death,
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which occurred upon the farm, the place then going to the son, John Wheeler Geer, born upon the farm, and who died there. His wife was Mary (Cook) Geer.
Their son was Samuel Leonard Geer, also born on the homestead. He attended the district school in his youth, assisting his father in the care of the farm, and after his father's death he assumed the management of it and continued to live there until his failing health com- pelled him to give up farming, when he moved into Jewett City in the early part of 1917. He had only lived there a year, when he died February 6, 1918. He married Ella Jane Wilcox, a native of Griswold, where she was born on the Tyler farm, another old family homestead. Since the death of her husband she has continued to reside in Jewett City. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Leonard Geer were the parents of three chil- dren: 1. Samuel Leonard, living in Willimantic, Con- necticut, where he is a clerk in a grain establishment ; he married Grace Huntington, a resident of Preston, by whom he has one child, Mildred Ella. 2. Frank Palmer Wilcox, of whom further. 3. John Wheeler, who died at the age of fourteen years, having been drowned July 7, 1900.
The second son, Frank Palmer Wilcox Geer, was born on the homestead farm in Griswold, Connecticut, De- cember 5, 1884. He was educated in the district school of Griswold, and was brought up on the farm, assisting his father. Until he reached the age of twenty-one years, he worked for his board and clothing, but after reaching his majority the young man worked out on other farms for a year, then went into Jewett City and obtained employment in the Jewett City Bleachery, where he remained for two years more. It was about this time that his father's health became somewhat im- paired and he went back to the home farm, taking charge of it, and in 1910 took over the entire manage- ment of it.
On January 15, 1914, Frank Palmer Wilcox Geer mar- ried, in Griswold, Ursula Mildred Paten, who was born in Ardsley, New York, the daughter of William Edgar and Sarah Augusta (Ford) Paten, the former a native of Ossining, New York, the latter born in Greenpoint. Long Island, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Palmer Wilcox Geer have three children, all born in Griswold, the eldest on the Thomas Tyler farm, while the other two were born on the homestead farm; they are: Helen Julia, born November 16, 1914; Arthur Frank, born July 10, 1918; Ivy Mildred, born December 14, 1919.
After his marriage, Mr. Geer went to live at the home of his wife's mother, Mrs. Sarah A. (Ford) Paten, who was then living on the Thomas Tyler farm near his own home. Remaining there until 1917, he then returned to Jewett City, becoming an employee in the mill of the Ashland Cotton Company, continuing as such for a year and a half. In the meantime, his father hav- ing died, Mr. Geer bought the old place from the other heirs and returned to the home of his ancestors in 1918, where he is still living. The farm consists of one hundred and ninety-six acres, in a fine state of cultiva- tion, and he is engaged in general farming. In politics Mr. Geer is a staunch upholder of the principles of the Republican party, though he is not active in it. He and his family are members of the Congregational church.
ARTHUR ROY, of Baltic, Connecticut, has placed himself high in the business world in one of the con- structive lines of industry. As a general blacksmith, and a manufacturer of wagons, he is well and favorably known throughout this vicinity, and is making a profit- able and successful career.
Mr. Roy is a son of George and Virginia (Medrou) Roy, natives of the Province of Quebec, Canada. George Roy was educated in his native country, and grew to manhood there, married, and conducted the farm until the year 1879. Then he came to the United States, locating in Baltic, Connecticut, where he found employ- ment in the mills. He followed along this line until his death. His wife was born in White Rock, Rhode Island, and died in Baltic. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom Arthur is the eleventh.
Arthur Roy was born in Quebec City, Province of Quebec, Canada, on May 22, 1862. He received his education in the schools of that city, then coming to the States with his parents, started out in the world of industry. He first was employed in the plant of the Baltic Mills Company, in the carding department, but continued there for only a short time. He became interested in work of a more directly constructive nature, and served an apprenticeship with Louis St. Onge, of Baltic, one of the most skillful men of that day in the wagon-making and blacksmithing line.
In 1887, Mr. Roy took the step which has led to his permanent and substantial success. He established a blacksmith business of his own in which he has been most successful, and now holds a leading place in this line of work in this part of New London county.
As a public-spirited citizen Mír. Roy is among the first men of the town. Politically a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, he has long been a servant of the people. In 1910 he was elected second selectman, and has been re-elected to that office continually since, hav- ing handled the work entrusted to his care with the sound business judgment and common sense that have given him success in his personal endeavors. Socially, Mr. Roy is a member of Union St. Jean de Baptiste of Baltic.
On November 30, 1888, Mr. Roy married Mary Flarety, of Baltic, and they have five children: Mary, now the wife of Virtume P. A. Quinn, of Versailles, Connecticut ; George, who resides at home; John, who married Myrtle Morin, of Willimantic, Connecticut ; Arthur, who married Emily Gocier; and Irene, who resides at home. The family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, of Baltic, Connecticut.
THURSTON BROWNING LILLIBRIDGE --- one of the best-known farmers in the town of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, is also one of the best-loved. Educated and broad-minded, keen of in- tellect and alive to every opportunity, his life has been a success from whatever angle viewed, and as he now walks amid the greatly lengthened shadows he can review with satisfaction a life lived in one com- munity seventy-six years and not a voice raised but in praise. He is a descendant of ancient English family, herein briefly reviewed.
(I) Thomas Lillibridge, the founder of the fam-
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Thurston B & Chtardye
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ily of Lillibridge in the United States, was born in England, in 1662. His earliest record in New Eng- land is the signing of a petition dated September 26, 1699, to the Earl of Bellomont, there in New- port, Rhode Island, asking that he use his influence with his Majesty, William III., for the establish- ment of a Church of England at Newport. This church was established, and was the original Trin- ity Church of which Thomas Lillibridge was a warden, 1709 and 1713, and where he owned pew No. 8 until 1719. He was admitted a freeman at Newport, May 6, 1701, was vestryman in 1718-22- 24 in St. Paul's Narragansett Church, built in 1707, moved five miles north of its original site to Wick- ford; is still occasionally in use, and said to be the oldest Episcopal church north of the Potomac. He settled in old Westerly, in 1715, in that part later set off as Richmond, where he died, August 29, 1724. He married (first) Mary Hobson, (second) Sarah Lewis, who died in Richmond, Rhode Island, January 22, 1761, aged eighty-five. By his first wife, two children were born, by his second wife, nine children. Descent in this branch is traced through Benjamin, the sixth child of the second wife.
(II) Benjamin Lillibridge was born July 11, 1712, died August 11, 1800. He, married, December 15, 1743, Annie Sherman, daughter of Jonathan, son of Benjamin, son of Philip, son of Samuel, son of Henry (1) Sherman, of Dedham, England. Benja- min and Annie (Sherman) Lillibridge were the par- ents of eight children, the seventhi child, Gardiner, head of the third generation in this branch.
(III) Gardiner Lillibridge was born September 19, 1758, died in Exeter, Rhode Island, July 23, 1834, a soldier of the Revolution and a pensioner. He married Sarah Dawley, also born and died in Exeter. They were the parents of nine children. This branch of the family descends through Daniel, the third son.
(IV) Daniel Lillibridge, born July 7, 1778, died August 20, 1828, at the homestead in Exeter, Rhode Island, where he was born, lived and died, a farmer. He married, August 13, 1811, Hannah Barber, born in Exeter, August 23, 1793. died October 3, IS78, the daughter of Lillibridge Barber. They were the parents of four children, all sons, descent being traced in this branch through Daniel (2).
(V) Daniel (2) Lillibridge was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, July 27, 1814, died at the Lillibridge homestead on Scotland Road, Norwich, March 26, 1901. He was born in the old homestead and re- mained at home, his father's assistant, until the latter's death. He was then a lad of fourteen and he continued at home two years more, then in the spring of 1830, he came to the farm owned by his uncle, Captain Leonard Barber, on Plain Hill, Nor- wich, Connecticut. In 1831 he returned to the home farm in Exeter, where he married in 1834, and re- mained on the home farm in Exeter until 1845, when he removed to the present Lillibridge farm on Scotland Road, in the town of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, once owned by his N.I .- 2.16.
grandfather, Lillibridge Barber. This old farm was once a tavern kept by M. Tracy, the tavern, the present farinhouse, now remodeled and modernized. It is located on Scotland Road, the main road from Norwich North. The last proprietor of the tavern was Gideon Ray, the signboard reading, "G. Ray's Inn." Lillibridge Barber, who became its owner, was a wealthy landowner of Norwich and Exeter, and in his generosity he deeded this farm to his grandson, Daniel (2) Lillibridge, in 1840. Daniel (2) Lillibridge cultivated the farm of two hundred acres until some time prior to his death, when he retired from its active management. He married, May 18, 1834, Hannah Matteson, born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, April 25, 1815, daughter of Peleg and Mary (James) Matteson, her mother a descendant of Gen. Nathanael Greene, an officer of the Revolution, and a friend of Gen- eral Washington's. She died on the home farm, February 22, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel (2) Lilli- bridge were the parents of five children: Thurston Browning, of whom further; Rhoda B., born Feb- ruary 26, 1838, married, June 2, 1862, Edward Ladd, and died March 6, 1901; Amy, born August 19, 1840, died March 20, 1881, married, November 24, 1862, Henry L. M. Ladd; Alice, born September 13, 1842, died January 25, 1845; Hannah, born July 29, 1845, died April 19, 1879, married, March 5, 1873, Thomas Potter.
(VI) Thurston Browning Lillibridge, eldest child of Daniel (2) and Hannah (Matteson) Lillibridge, was born March 27, 1836, at the Lillibridge home- stead, Exeter, Rhode Island, the same in which his father was born, and there spent the first nine years of his life. His parents then moved to the farm on Scotland Road, in the town of Norwich, New Lon- don county, Connecticut, where the lad grew to manhood and yet resides. He attended the dis- trict public school and private school in Norwich, and later, for several years, taught school in Exeter, Rhode Island, then two terms in Bozrah, Connec- ticut, and a few terms in Norwich, but always living at home and assisting his father in his farming operations during vacation days. Later, he gave up teaching and remained at home in management of the farm which he inherited from his father, being the only son. The farm which he now owns has been his home for seventy-six years, 1845-1921, he coming to it a lad of nine years, and he is now a veteran of eighty-five, but in remarkably good health. He has now retired from all participation in farm management, that department now being in the hands of his son.
Mr. Lillibridge is a Democrat in politics, and represented the town of Norwich in the State Leg- islature in 1886-87-88, his first election for one year, his second for two years. For several years he was selectman of the town of Norwich, five of those years, 1888-1893, being first selectman. He was also for years a member of the School Board. He is a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, one of the oldest members of that lodge, he having been made a Mason therein
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in 1865. He is a member of the Masonic Veterans' Association, and is held in the highest esteem and veneration by his Masonic brethren and by every- body in his community, one of his neighbors ex- pressing his regard in the sentence which everyone echoes, "a beautiful old man."
Mr. Lillibridge married, November 5, 1865, at Norwich, Lydia Ann Lillibridge, born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, November 8, 1841, died at the home farm in the town of Norwich, April 10, 1907, daughter of Green and Lucy (Smith) Lilli- bridge, her father dying in Norwich, Connecticut, February 7, 1892, age eighty-three, son of Benjamin, son of Thomas Lillibridge, the American ancestor. Thurston B. and Lydia A. (Lillibridge) Lillibridge, were the parents of four children: Albert Warren, born January 30, 1867, now in the management of the home farm; Daniel Green, born September I, 1868, died September 27, 1869; Annie May, born May 20, 1870, married Dwight L. Underwood, of Norwich, Connecticut, and they have a daughter, Bernice; Erroll Courtney, born June 10, 1872, at the honic farm, where he now resides, a stone mason, married Mary Sullivan, of Norwich; Charles Frederick, born July 16, 1877, on the home farm, died in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1911, a far- mer; he married Susan Austin, who survives him with three children: Thurston Daniel, Charles Gardiner, and Clarence Austin. Mr. Lillibridge re- tains the ownership of the home farm, which is cultivated by his son, Albert W. He has acquired other farm property, but those farms he has deeded to his sons. He has many friends, and is tenderly cherished by his children.
CAPTAIN JOHN HENRY GURNEY -The great war took its grim toll in lives from every walk of life; every profession, every vocation gave of its best to the end that civilization might survive the menacing onslaught of the "Hun." Previous to our entrance into the war, we had suffered all sorts of humiliations, and even tragedies had occurred in mysterious fashion, the late Captain John Henry Gurney being one of the victims of the Germans.
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