USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 2
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Besides meeting the many demands of the life of an active general practitioner, Dr. Graves las held several offices of importance. From 1896 to 1907 he served as coroner's physician for the town and city of New London. He was one of the orig- inal members of the medical and surgical staff of the New London Memorial Hospital, and secre- tary from its founding until 1908. He is at present a senior member of the staff of the Lawrence and Memorial Associated Hospitals.
Since entering upon medical practice in 1887 he has been a member of the New London County Medical Association and the Connecticut Medical Society, and was president of the latter in 1920. His address on that occasion was on "Epidemic Diseases in Early Connecticut Times." He is also one of the charter members of the New London (City) Medical Society.
He has held several other public trusts, having been long a member of the board of trustees of Bulkeley School, and having served for many years as trustee of the Manwaring Memorial Hospital and the Public Library of New London. He is also an active member of several botanical and historical societies. In connection with his interest in botan- ical matters, may be mentioned the fact that he was a member of the committee from the Connec- ticut Botanical Society which prepared the account of "The Flowering Plants of Connecticut" for the Connecticut Geological and Natural History So- ciety. He also wrote the very exhaustive chapter of Medical History in this work ("History of New London County").
Dr. Graves married, September 10, 1891, Frances M. Miner, of New London, Connecticut. Of their children one daughter, Elizabeth Waterman, born 1898, survives.
BENJAMIN STERRY GALLUP-The old asso- ciations which cluster around the homesteads of New London county hold a sacred charm for the student of history, both that history recorded in the printed volume and that spread forth upon the face of nature. For grouped among the wild woods and fields are to be found innumerable records of loving labors performed by hands now forever quiet. In Sprague, Connecticut, the home of the late Benjamin Sterry Gallup still shows the con- structive effort of the man now gone, and the care- ful preservation of the landmarks of a generation long passed out of human ken.
The Gallup family came to New England in the earliest days of its history, some of its members settling in Connecticut but a few years later. Wherever they have settled, members of each gen- eration have been prominent in public affairs, taking part in the Indian wars, in the Revolution and in the civic affairs of community, county, and State. The immigrant ancestor of the family was John Gallup, a native of the parish of Mosterne, Dorset- shire, England, who sailed from Plymouth in 1630, in the ship "Mary and John," arriving at Hull. His wife, Christobel, and children, followed three years later. Mr. Gallup was a son of John Gallup, and a grandson of Thomas and Agnes (Watkins) Gallup, of North Bowood and Strode, whose descendants still own and occupy the manors of Strode. John Gallup, the emigrant, went first to Dorchester, and soon afterward to Boston, where both he and his wife were admitted to the First Church in 1634. He owned Gallup's Island, and was a skillful mar- iner, achieving distinction by piloting the ship "Griffin," in September, 1633, through a newly found channel when Rev. John Cotton, Rev. Thomas Hooker, and Rev. Mr. Stone were among lier 200 passengers. He died in Boston, January 11, 1655, and his wife died there September 27, 1655. Their children were: John, Samuel, and Nathaniel.
Captain John Gallup, born in England, came to this country in 1633. He became a famous Indian fighter and is supposed to have assisted his father in the capture of John Lodham's vessel off Block Island. For distinguished service in the Pequot War, the General Court of Connecticut, in 1671, gave him a grant of 100 acres of land, and in 1650 or 1651 he came to New London. He was also given other tracts of land, and in 1654, he, with his family, removed to the east side of the Mystic river, now Stonington. In 1665 and in 1667 he represented the town in the General Court. Joining the New London county Company, at the head of the Mohegans, under Captain John Mason, of Norwich, he was engaged in the fearful Swamp fight at Narragansett, December 19, 1675, and there, at the head of his men, storming the fort, he, with six other captains, fell in the fight. He married, in 1643, Hannah, daughter of John and Margaret Lake. Their children were: Hannah, Jolin, Esther, Ba- nadam, William, Samuel, Christobel, Elizabeth, Mary, and Margaret.
NEW LONDON COUNTY
John Gallup, son of Captain John (2) Gallup, born about 1646, made his home in Stonington where he wedded Elizabeth Harris. Their children were: John, Thomas, Margaret, Samuel, Elizabeth, Nathaniel, William, and Benjamin. Nathaniel Gal- lup, son of John and Elizabeth (Harris) Gallup, was born July 4, 1682, married June 4, 1717, Mar- garet Gallup, born May II, 1698, daughter of Banadam and Hester (Prentiss) Gallup, and resided in Stonington, Connecticut, on the Greenman farm, near the residence of Warren Lewis. They united with the Congregational church, Stonington, July 20, 1718. Their children were: Nathaniel, John, Thomas, Mercy, Margaret, Martha, and Benjamin.
Benjamin (1) Gallup, son of Nathaniel and Mar- garet (Gallup) Gallup, was born in Stonington, July 26, 1736, and on January 20, 1763, in Voluntown, he was married to Amy Kinne, by the Rev. Levi Hart. Their thirteen children were: Nathaniel, Zeuriah, Thomas, Amy, Mercy, Benjamin, Lucy, Martha, Esther, Margaret, Cynthia, Eunice, and Keturah.
Benjamin (2) Gallup, son of Benjamin and Amy (Kinne) Gallup, was born in Voluntown, May 25, 1774, and was a prosperous farmer and large land- holder in his native town. He also engaged in the lumber business for ship building, shipping the tim- ber to Mystic. He died and was buried on the home farm. He was a member of the Baptist church and in politics was a Jacksonian Democrat. On January 30, 1806, by the Elder Peleg Randall, he was married to Huldah Gallup, who also died on the home farm in the faith of the Baptist church, and was buried in the family cemetery there. Their two children were: Amy, born June 13, 1808, married Benjamin Gallup, and resided in Voluntown; and Benjamin, born July IO, ISII.
Benjamin (3) Gallup. son of Benjamin (2) Gal- lup, and father of Benjamin Sterry Gallup, was born on the old Gallup homestead. He received a substantial education in the schools of his district, and for several terms taught school in Voluntown and vicinity. He early engaged in farming, how- ever, and to his farming interests added the busi- ness of shipping lumber for ship building to Mystic, Connecticut, and to Westerly, Rhode Island. He was active in public affairs, serving as selectman for a number of terms; as a member of the board of relief; as school visitor; as justice of the peace; and, for two terms as representative to the state legislature. He gained the high reputation of being one who, in public office, set aside personal inter- ests, devoting the powers of the office and his per- sonal abilities to the public good. He married, October 30, 1831, Caroline Kinne, a descendant of an old and honored family. She died November 15, 1874, aged sixty-one years, a noble, Christian woman, devoted to her home and family. Benjamin {3) Gallup died on the home farm September 2, 1891, at the age of four score, and was also buried in the family cemetery on the farm. The children of Benjamin (3) and Caroline (Kinne) Gallup were: Laura C., who married Avery A. Stanton, of Sterl-
ing, Connecticut; Benjamin Sterry, of whom further; Miss Amy, who lives on the homestead; Edwin Byron, who died in infancy; Edwin Byron, born on the homestead, August 13, 1846, married Mary Bur- dick, and resides in Voluntown; Origen S., born December 31, 1849, deceased, and buried in the family cemetery on the farm; his widow and children still live on the farm; and Albert, who died in Hart- ford in 1915, and is buried in Scotland, Connecticut. Benjamin (3) Gallup was again married, September 18, 1878, to Fidelia Chapman, who survives him and lives on the homestead.
Benjamin Sterry Gallup, son of Benjamin (3) and Caroline (Kinne) Gallup, was born in Voluntown, April 18, 1840. At an early age he attended school at Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield, Con- necticut, and also attended the Academy at East Greenwich, Rhode Island, after which he taught in several schools in Voluntown. He was a young man of high ideals, and with fine mental endow- ment, and was a very successful teacher. Later, for a time, he was a merchant in Voluntown. In April, 1871, Mr. Gallup came to the present family home, in the town of Sprague, near Baltic. This farm was at the time known as the Gordon Place, and after purchasing it, Mr. Gallup made the neces- sary repairs, carefully preserving the characteristics which clearly distinguished the period of the house, which was one of the first frame houses built in the State of Connecticut. The kitchen of the pres- ent home was used in the old days as slave quar- ters. The farm is a part of a grant of land amount- ing to one thousand acres, received from Chief Uncas by one Perkins, who built the house.
On this farm Mr. Gallup became a resident of the town of Sprague. During the remainder of his life he conducted the farm and filled a prominent and esteemed position in the daily life of the town. His ability as a man of affairs, and the breadth of his learning were soon recognized by the towns- people and he was called to the public service as second selectman, then as assessor, and was also given important responsibilities on the school com- mittee. His work in these various branches of the town government was always progressive, never self-seeking, and the man was a source of inspira- tion to his associates. Those who now recall his public life remember Mr. Gallup as a man of great force and decision, yet possessed of the breadth of view that considers every side of a question before committing himself to definite action. Such men are all too few in every branch of human endeavor.
The death of Mr. Gallup, on March 18, 1920, left a gap in the ranks of the public-spirited men of Sprague, and a sense of loss in the hearts of his many friends. His name will be spoken long after his contemporaries have all taken the "path" along which he preceded them, and the work which he laid down will still live, since no worthy effort can die.
Mr. Gallup married Helena Roxa, daughter of Kinney and Harriet (Robbins) Gallup, and they
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became the parents of eight children: Algernon Sterry, born in Griswold, Connecticut, married Lorena Bell Tyler, of Centerville, Rhode Is- land, and lives in Centerville; Josephine Kirncy, born in Griswold, now the wife of Hubert Allen, of North Agawam, Massachusetts; Caroline Au- gusta, born in Griswold, a very successful teacher; Oscar Byron, born in Griswold; Harriet Robbins, born in Griswold, died in Sprague, July 10, 1884; Jennie Chapman, born in Sprague, Connecticut, a music teacher of considerable success; Kinney Ben- jamin, born in Sprague, July 15, 1875, died August 28, 1876; Winfred Cleon, born in Sprague, married Ellen G. Johnson, and is a resident of Norwood, Rhode Island.
Mrs. Benjamin Sterry Gallup, a woman of un- bounded hospitality, died May 29, 1914, and the family home is now owned by Oscar B., Caroline A., and Jennie C. Gallup, all of whom live in the home- stead made dear to them by life-long association, and by loving memories of those who have passed on, leaving this home as a monument to their industry, their skill and their loving care for their family.
JAMES MITCHELL YOUNG -A successful business man, owner and manager of a large meat market at the corner of Main and Market streets, Norwich, Mr. Young has proved in his life the value of work as a means of developing property in business.
Alexander Young, father of James Mitchell Young, was born in Scotland, and died in Vermont in 1898. He obtained his education in the district school of his native place. When a young man he came with his father, George Young, to the United States, and they settled in Greensboro, Vermont, where they bought a farm which they conducted for a number of years. Alexander Young sold out his interests in the farm to his father, and bought a farm on his own account which he managed until his death. In politics he was a Republican, and was always active in promoting the welfare of the community. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and for many years, was deacon of the church there. He married Mary White, and to them were born four children: Jason, a resident of Nashua, New Hampshire; James M., mentioned below; Jennie, now deceased, was formerly the wife of David A. Johnson, of Montville, Connecticut; Hattie, wife of John Findlay, of Greensboro.
James Mitchell Young was born in Greensboro, Vermont, in 1856, the son of Alexander and Mary (White) Young. He received his elementary edu- cation in the district schools of his native place, and then entered North Cashbury Academy, from which he was graduated in 1876, after which he went immediately to Norwich, Connecticut, and entered upon his business career, securing a posi- · tion as clerk in the grocery store of his uncle, Joseph Prentiss, where he remained for three years. In 1880 he became clerk in the transportation office
of the New York, New Haven & Hartford rail- road and was so employed until 1886, when he returned to his uncle and entered into partnership with him. This partnership continued until his uncle's death in 1894, when James Mitchell Young bought the entire business and continued success- ively for twenty-two years, finally selling out his interests and travelling to South Dakota, where he bought a half section of land and cultivated it for two years. He then returned to Connecticut, sub- sequently going to Willimantic, where he bought a market which was owned by Frank Larabce, and managed this for about two years, and then re- moved to Norwich and bought the grocery business of W. H. Cardwell and also the market of Louis Fraser and moved the two concerns to his present location where he has since this consolidation met with unbounded success. Mr. Young, in connec- tion with this market, owns forty acres of culti- vated land, where he raises an enormous supply of vegetables for his trade, also owning a large poul- try farm from which he supplies his store with eggs. In politics Mr. Young is a Republican, and has always taken a keen interest in the activities of the party. For nine years he was town clerk and treas- urer of Preston county. In religion he is a Baptist.
Mr. Young married, in Norwich, Elizabeth C. Storm, daughter of John and Josephine (Prentiss) Storm, and they are the parents of three children: Marion L., an instructor in Middlebury College, Vermont; John B., served with the hospital unit in the Army of Occupation during the World War, and is now associated with his father in business; James Mitchell, Jr., associated with his father in business, married Ruth Hale, of Willimantic; he also served in the World War.
CHARLES ALLEN CHAPMAN-Held in the highest esteem by his contemporaries, and prom- inent in every good work of the town, the death, in 1913, of Charles Allen Chapman, of Montville, Con- necticut, was regarded as a great loss to the com- munity.
Politically Mr. Chapman had been very active, holding at different times every office connected with public affairs. In the business life of Mont- ville he had for many years been a merchant, for the last forty years of his life conducting a success- ful grocery establishment. His death occurred when seventy-four years of age, and he was buried in the local cemetery.
Charles Allen Chapman married (first) Mary Edwards, by whom he had one child, Nellie Evelyn,. who died in 1918, at the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Chapman married (second) Laura Comstock, of Montville, a daughter of Nathan and Caroline (Whipple) Comstock, the former-named one of the original settlers of Montville. The family of his wife, the Whipples, had been closely identified with the life of New London county since public records had been kept.
The Comstock family is one of the oldest in this
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part of the United States, their original ancestor coming to this country in 1620, when the "May- flower" brought the English refugees from Hol- land. A sister of Mrs. Laura (Comstock) Chapman is Carrie Comstock, a member of the exclusive organization, "The Daughters of the Mayflower." Their brother was the late Judge Comstock, who during his lifetime was a very able lawyer, promi- nently known throughout the State.
By his second marriage Charles Allen Chapman and his wife, Laura (Comstock) Chapman, had four children: 1. Charles Everett, born in Montville, February 17, 1878; he is engaged in the grocery business. 2. Mildred May, born May 29, 1886. 3. Florence Caroline, who during the World War was in the service of her country as an ambulance driver in France, in one of the units organized by Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan; the duty to which Miss Chapman was assigned was the work of following in the wake of battle, assisting in the rescue of the wounded soldiers, and in giving relief to refugees; Florence Caroline Chapman is now postmistress of Palmertown. 4. Laura Comstock, born June 13, 1900; married Mark Furber, and resides in Mont- ·ville.
The widow of Charles Allen Chapman, Mrs. Laura (Comstock) Chapman, is still residing at her home in Montville, aged sixty-four years. She is a member of the Baptist church of Montville, Con- necticut.
DR. ERNEST JAMES JONES has spent four- teen years in Norwich, Connecticut, and these have been years of arduous devotion to the advancement of the dental profession which have placed him in the front rank of the city's practicing dentists.
John S. Jones, father of Dr. Ernest J. Jones, was born in Wales, in 1834, and came to America when a young man, locating in Quebec, where he owns a large farm, and although eighty-six years of age he is still very active and devotes much of his time to agriculture. He married Sarah Davidson, a na- tive of Montreal, Canada, and they are the parents of five children: I. Charles, born in Quebec, now residing in Williamstown; married Emma Burgess, and they have one child, Sarah. 2. Lillian, wife of George Schuler, of Williamstown. 3. Fred W., a farmer in Quebec; married Elizabeth Cross, of New York City. 4. John, now residing on the farm in Quebec; married Annie Curley, and they have two children, Gordon and Margaret. 5. Ernest James, mentioned below.
Dr. Ernest James Jones was born in Bondville, Province of Quebec, Canada, July 9, 1877. The childhood of Dr. Jones was passed in his native place, and it was there that the preparatory portion of his education was received. After graduating from the high school, he worked on his father's farm for seven years, and then having decided to make the dental profession his career, matriculated in the dental department of the University of Mary- land, from which he was graduated in 1904. In 1906 he opened his office in the Shannon block,
Norwich, and since that time he has made his head- quarters at this place and developed a large and high-class practice, so that he is now regarded among the leaders of his profession here. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and quite unambitious for political preferment. Dr. Jones holds a prominent place in Masonic circles, being a member of Brone Lake Lodge, No. 35, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Columbia Commandery, Knights Templar; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and has attained to the thirty-second degree of the Masonic order.
Dr. Jones was united in marriage with Agnes V. McKee, June 27, 1908. Mrs. Iones is the daughter of James and Virginia C. (Humes) McKee; her father was a toolmaker and machinist for the Hop- kins & Allen Arms Company for many years. Dr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of three children: James, born June 9, 1909; Gwendolyn, born July 14, 1910; Pauline, born February 25, 1914.
REV. WILLIAM THOMAS O'BRIEN was born in Portland, Connecticut, September 4, 1882. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wall) O'Brien, both natives of County Cork, Ireland, the former having been born there in 1842, the latter, August II, 1847. His father came to Portland, Connecticut, when a young man, establishing himself in business as a merchant, in which he continued successfully until his death, which occurred July 16, 1897. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien were born six children: Michael, Katherine, Mary; William Thomas, of further mention; Delia, and Anna.
The early education of William Thomas O'Brien was obtained in the parochial schools of Portland, St. Johns and New Haven, after which he entered St. Thomas' Seminary at Hartford, Connecticut, where he remained five years. After graduating he went to Paris, France, and there continued his theological studies, where still later he was ordained to the priesthood, on June 29, 1907. Returning to his native land his first assignment was at St. Anne's Church at Waterbury, Connecticut, where he labored eleven years and ten months. Here his work won recognition from his superiors, and appre- ciation and love from his parishioners. On No- vember 13, 1918, Father O'Brien was appointed pas- tor of the Catholic church at Baltic where he has since continued with the hearty cooperation of his parishioners and is supported in his work.
Life holds no more beautiful relationship than that which a Catholic priest bears to his people and his people bear to him. From the cradle to the grave he is one whose patience never falters and whose helping hand is never withdrawn. Come what will within the range of human experience, in its midst, you will find the priest toiling, not for himself, but for those he loves. This is the type of priest, this is the manner of friend, this is the kind of pastor Father O'Brien is to all who know him; a noble man full of courage, zeal, and devotion, and abiding religious faith.
A
Glement LPerkins
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BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES HENRY LATHAM, one of the most influential citizens of Griswold, Connecticut, where he has held many positions of responsibility and trust and where he is engaged in the farming busi- ness on a large scale, is a member of a family which for many years has resided in New London county, Connecticut.
Henry Brown Latham, father of Charles Henry Latham, was born in Ledyard, Connecticut, and obtained his education in his native place. Later he moved with his parents to North Stonington, Connecticut, and here most of his time was given to aiding his father in the work about the farm, which the latter had purchased upon his arrival in this town. After the father's death Henry Brown Latham continued to cultivate and develop the property until 1914, when he retired from active business life and has since resided at Bean Hill, Norwich, Connecticut. He married Eunice Hewett, and to thiem were born two children: Emily H., who died at the age of six years; Charles Henry, of further mention. Mrs. Latham died March 19, 1917.
Charles Henry Latham was born July 20, 1870, in North Stonington, Connecticut. His childhood was spent on his father's farm, and his educational advantages were exceedingly meagre. Mr. Latham, however, is one of those characters which are keenly observant and he has learned much in the hard school of experience, especially about that all important subject, his fellow-men. He continued to reside with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented a farm in Preston and was there two years. In 1896 he went to West- erly, Rhode Island, where he secured employment in a stone quarry, continuing until 1903 as foreman. He then returned to the home farm in North Stonington, where he continued to remain until 1908, during which time he was continually gaining a wide and extensive knowledge of the subject of farming and becoming well skilled in agricultural methods generally. In the year 1908 he purchased his present farm in the town of Griswold and has here resided up to the present time, the place being formerly known as the Andrew Edmond farm. This property was naturally a fertile one and he has developed and cultivated it to a highly pro- ductive state, his place being regarded as one of the well conducted properties in this region.
Charles Henry Latham is one of those who are instinctively interested in the welfare of the com- munitics where they reside, and he has given no little time and energy to the conduct of public affairs. He is a Republican in politics, and has identificd himself closely with the local organiza- tion of his party which elected him in 1917-1918 to the office of selectman of Griswold. He is a mem- ber of Pachaug Grange and the New London County Farm Bureau. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Undaunted Lodge, and attends the local Congregational church.
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