USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 28
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The son William Edward Wheeler, Jr., went to sea with his father as a cabin boy; then attended the academy at Mystic; served as a shipping clerk; then went to sea again for a year, and upon his return went to work in a sash and blind factory. He then shipped aboard the "Abraham Lincoln," bound for France, and upon his return enlisted for three years in Company C., Connecticut Volunteers. He was wounded at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864, and honor- ably discharged July 1, of the same year. After the War he went to Illinois and to Wisconsin, but returned and went into partnership with his father in the grocery business, later, in 1885, building his own store and handling groceries, dry goods and hardware, until 1902, when he sold out to R. A. Stanton.
He married Sarah Stark, daughter of Albert and Hannah (Wolfe) Stark, of Groton, and to this mar- riage four children were born: 1. Albert Edward, born February 5, 1871, married Bessie Page, July 22, 1913, and they are the parents of one child, William Edward (3), born August 22, 1915. He was educated in Mystic; went into business with his father; in 1903 was a Democratic representative of his town in the State Legislature, serving on the Committee of Manufactures and Legislative Ex- penses. 2. Ada, born March 14, 1873; died Septem- ber 27, 1874. 3. Frank Rowland, born November 4, 1875, a graduate of Connecticut Literary Institute, and of Brown University, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1897, and the degree of Master of Arts in 1898. He later attended Galludet College, and then was a teacher of the deaf at Washington, D. C., and of the deaf and dumb at Jackson, Illinois; and at Fairbault, Minnesota, married Helen M. Rudd, of West Mystic; they have one child, Helen E., born May 25, 1902. 4. Ella Harris, born October 22, 1889; married Palmer Brown, April 8, 1911, and they are the parents of one daughter, Phyllis Wheeler, born July 16, 1911. For many years numbered among the most suc- cessful business men, his house ranking among the first of its kind, William Edward Wheeler, Jr., took pride in giving his customers the best articles on
the market, at prices as low as was consistent with good quality.
Charles Henry Wheeler, born in Mystic, Connec- ticut, July 19, 1845, also followed the sea, shipping on the "Penguin," the "B. F. Hoxie," and numerous other vessels. He was captured by the southern privateer, "Florida," and held ten days, then placed on the whaling vessel "Vernon H. Hill," where he remained ten days more, and from which he was landed at Bermuda and placed with the United States consul therc. He voyaged to most of the ports of the world, and engaged in almost every kind of seafaring life, finally buying a fish market in New London, which he managed for a while, until he embarked in the grocery business on Pearl street, in Mystic. He married Isabel F. Myers, of Noank, Connecticut, and one child was born to the union, Eliza A., who married George J. Green, and resides in Westport, Connecticut. They are the parents of one child, Estelle Wheeler.
Horace N. Wheeler, born in Mystic, October 8, 1848, did not become a seafaring man. He attended school in Mystic, on the Groton side of the river, and then attended the academy, later studying at Palmer Gallup's Private School, in Connecticut. When he was fourteen years old he began clerking for Francis M. Manning, of Mystic, becoming a druggist in 1873, and in July, 1882, succeeded Mr. Manning in control of the business. He also was interested in the Mystic Distilling Company, manu- facturers of witch hazel and witch hazel soap, and controlled the Aceton Medical Company, making a remedy for headache, neuralgia, and grippe. He married, November 30, 1871, at Mystic, Ella E. Gid- dings, who was born at Mystic, daughter of Gurdon and Louisa (Niles) Giddings, of Groton, and two children were born of the marriage: Margaret Pedee, born May 18, 1873, died February 14, 1874; and John G. Mrs. Ella E. Wheeler is still, 1921, living in Mystic, a very interesting and active woman. She is a charter member of the Fanny Ledyard Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of Mystic, of which she is past regent, and has been a registrar for many years. Horace N. Wheeler was a very prominent citizen of Mystic, and an active worker in St. Marks' Episcopal Church, where for many years he was junior warden, being succeeded in the office by his son, John G., who held that office until his death
Throughout his active years he held the unwaver- ing regard of his fellows, for strict adherence to principles of uprightness and rectitude, and he lived always in their regard and esteem. To business problems he brought the same high sense of honor that guided him in personal relations, and he was a substantial, dependable member of the business fra- ternity of the region. He was representative of a high type of manhood and citizen.
John G. Wheeler, only son of Horace N. and Ella E. (Giddings) Wheeler, was born in Mystic, March 19, 1875, and in his death, May 3, 1921, his community lost a capable, active, helpful member and a public-
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spirited citizen. He attended the public schools of Mystic, and then continued his studies at the Mystic Academy, after which he entered the Bryant and Stratton Business College at Boston. For two years after finishing his business course, he acted as book- keeper for the Regal Shoe Company, of Boston, after which he was for a short time associated with the Ivers & Pond Piano Company. Returning to Mystic in March of 1901, he entered the drug store of his father, and after the necessary study became a regis- tered druggist in 1905, continuing with his father until the death of the latter, October 16, 1916. The son then took over the business, which he success- fully conducted until his sudden death, May 3, 1921. Mr. Wheeler made a specialty of the Rexall prepara- tions, and conducted a modernly equipped drug store. The business was established by F. M. Man- ning in 1841, and in the eighty years of its existence has had but three owners, F. M. Manning, Horace Nelson Wheeler, and John G. Wheeler. John G. Wheeler also succeeded his father as proprietor of the Al-ce-ton Medical Company, of Mystic, formerly known as the "Aceton Medical Company," manu- facturing in addition to the well-known headache, neuralgia, and grippe remedy, other preparations bearing that name. Politically, Mr. Wheeler was for many years a Democrat, but became a Republi- can in 1920. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and was active in fraternal work, being affiliated with Stonington Lodge, No. 26, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, located in Mystic.
On October 9, 1901, he married Sadie Balmer, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and they became the parents of one son, Edwin Reynolds, born at Mystic, Connecticut, April 21, 1905. Death came suddenly to Mr. Wheeler, and his passing leaves a deep sense of loss in the hearts of his many friends and ac- quaintances. He was highly esteemed by his towns- men, and held a high reputation as a man of integ- rity and moral worth. Such citizens are the real wealth of their community, and their influence remains long after they have passed from our sight.
HENRY ALFRED RICHMOND-One of the first purchasers of land at Taunton, was John Rich- mond, born in England, in 1594, the American an- cestor of Henry Alfred Richmond, of Preston, Con- necticut, a prosperous farmer and business man, now an octogenarian, but well preserved and active, the head of a family of twelve sons and daughters. Teaching has become a favored profession of these children of the ninth American generation, and they are filling or have filled many positions of impor- tance in the educational life of their State.
(II) The line of descent from John Richmond is through his second son, Edward Richmond, born about 1632, probably in England, whose second wife was Amy Bull, daughter of Governor Henry Bull. Edward Richmond, a man of refined and scholarly tastes, was one of the founders of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and the owner of large tracts of virgin soil bought from the Indians.
(III) He was succeeded by his son, John (2) Rich- mond, born in Newport, Rhode Island, who was a resident of Westerly and Kingstown, Rhode Island, representing the latter town as deputy in 1740. His wife was Elizabeth, her surname unknown.
(IV) Stephen Richmond, son of John (2) and Elizabeth Richmond, was born in Kingstown, Rhode Island, October 3, 1704; died June 26, 1787. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and a minister of that sect. He was deputy, rate maker and mod- erator president of town council, Richmond, Rhode Island; owned two hundred and fifteen acres in Exeter, also about one-half of Fisher's Island, and the Watch Hill farm in Westerly, Rhode Island. He married Mary Lawton, and among their children was a son, Stephen.
(V) Stephen (2) Richmond, son of Stephen (1) and Mary (Lawton) Richmond, was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, and died at Exeter, December 12, 1797. He was a leather merchant and a member of the Society of Friends. He married Lucy Mowry, of Exeter, Rhode Island, who died February 17, 1825, surviving her husband twenty-eight years.
(VI) John (3) Richmond, son of Stephen (2) and Lucy (Mowry) Richmond, was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, December 25, 1777. He became a farmer and landowner of Exeter, his holdings total- ing 157 acres. He served the town for fourteen years as justice of the peace, and for several years was constable. He married, March 22, 1801, Polly Maxson, born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, February 21, 1783; died January 5, 1857. Their children were: Susannah, born March 22, 1802; Sarah, born Feb- ruary 10, 1804; Stephen H., born December 7, 1805; John M., of further mention; Mary, born January 30, 1811; George W., born April 8, 1813; Robert H., born March 9, 1815; Nancy, born June 15, 1817; Lucy, born November 20, 1819; Almira, born August 20, 1821.
(VII) John Maxson Richmond, head of the sev- enth generation, and second son of John (3) and Polly (Maxson) Richmond, was born at Exeter, Rhode Island, December 25, 1808, and died in Preston, Con- necticut, December 13, 1876. He spent the first quarter of a century of his life in Exeter, where he engaged in farming, after school years were over. In 1835, he located in the town of Preston, Con- necticut, leasing a farm in the northern part of the town. A year later he moved to a leased farm on Broad Brook, Preston, which he worked for several years before purchasing its 117 acres. As he pros- pered he was the owner of four farms, all situated in the town of Preston. He was a man of great energy, frugal and industrious by nature, conscien- tious and upright, rendering to every man his due. He became one of the substantial men of his town, his wealth all accumulated from his agricultural activities, which included cattle raising and dealing. He continued active and in good health until the closing of his years, at the age of sixty-eight. He was a Democrat in politics, but took no part in public affairs beyond exercising his rights and duties as a citizen.
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Mr. Richmond married, in 1832, Emily Frink, who died at the home of her son, George J. Richmond, August 6, 1899, daughter of Rufus and Polly (Smith) Frink. Mrs. Emily Richmond survived her husband twenty-three years and attained the extreme age of ninety-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond were the parents of five children: George John, a farmer of Preston, born January 14, 1833; married May Jan- ette West; Mary Ann, died unmarried at the age of sixty-one; Henry Alfred, of further mention; Albert Ephraim, born July 25, 1841; Harriet Janc, married George O. Malloy, of Preston.
(VIII) Henry Alfred Richmond, of the eighth generation of the family founded in New England by John Richmond, and second son of John Maxson and Emily (Frink) Richmond, was born in Preston, New London county, Connecticut, April 2, 1839, and in that town his eighty-two years have been spent. He attended the Brown district school near the homestead in Preston, and later was a scholar at a private school in Preston City. School years hav- ing ended at the age of eighteen, he then became his father's farm assistant. He remained at the home farm until his first marriage, when he bought one of his father's farms in the town of Preston, and from that time until the present has owned and cultivated its 210 acres. There was an interval, from the time of the death of his wife in 1868, to his second marriage in 1871, when he returned to his old home and managed the home farm for his father. Upon taking a second wife he returned to his own farm, and has since known no other home, a full half- century having since elapsed. He conducts a diary business in connection with general farming, and has been very successful in his business undertak- ings, having learned well the lessons of thrift, in- dustry and economy, taught him by his father through both precept and example.
Mr. Richmond has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his townsmen, who have elected him to many of the town offices, and in 1883 sent him to the State Legislature, and he has been assessor and a member of the board of relief, and a grand juror. All these offices he has most creditably filled, and while in the Legislature served with credit on the Agriculture Committee. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and in religious faith a member of Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, serving that congre- gation as steward and trustee for many years.
Mr. Richmond married (first) Juliette Kinney, of Voluntown, Connecticut, who died February 14, 1868, at the home farm in Preston. She was the daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Phillips) Kinney, and the mother of a daughter, Emma, who died in infancy. Mr. Richmond married (second) January 31, 1871, Lucy Ellen Richardson, daughter of Wil- liam and Lucy Ann (Dawley) Richardson, of North Stonington, Connecticut. To them twelve children were born at the home farm in Preston: (1) Lucy Emily, educated in district and select schools, later becoming a teacher in Griswold and Norwich schools. She married Byron P. Young, a farmer of
Sterling, Connecticut, and they are the parents of three sons, Byron Herbert, Raymond Alton, and Richard Milton Young. (2) Juliette, educated in the district school, Norwich Free Academy, and a select school; now a teacher in Jewett City schools, residing at home. (3) Ida Florence, a teacher at the time of her marriage to Albert Saunders, a mer- chant of Jewett City, Connecticut. Mrs. Saunders died in January, 1919. (4) John Henry, now a con- tractor and builder of Springfield, Massachusetts. He married Minnie Richardson, of North Stonington, Connecticut, and has three children: John Lloyd, Sylvia Minnie, and Mildred Richmond. (5) Grace Lydia, educated in the district school and Manches- ter High School, was a teacher in Ellington, Con- necticut, prior to her marriage to Merton H. Bart- lett, a farmer of the town of Griswold. (6) Bessie May, a teacher in the public schools, who married Albert W. C. Burdick of Jewett City, now in real cstate and insurance business, with offices in Nor- wich and Jewett City. Mr. and Mrs. Burdick have two daughters, Christine and Arline Burdick. (7) William Richardson, now a contractor and builder of Springfield, Massachusetts, married Mamie M. Luther, of Preston, and has five children, Elizabeth M., Luther H., Marguerite, Gertrude E., and Hen- rietta M. (8) Mary Dawley, educated in Preston schools and a graduate of Willimantic State Normal, and now a teacher in Willimantic schools. (9) Min- nie Belle, a teacher in Suffield, Connecticut, prior to her marriage to Raymond Matson, of Windsor, Connecticut. Mrs. Matson died in 1914. (10) Alice Hannah, a teacher in Jewett City, married Lyle C. Gray, a farmer of North Stonington, Connecticut, and they are the parents of four children, Marjorie Flostina, Jeannette, Anita, and Marilyn Gray. (II) Harold A., a graduate of Wesleyan University, A. M. He served nearly two years in the World War, and was captain in the Sanitary Corps. He is now at the head of the sales research division of the Equita- ble Life Assurance Society of the United States, New York City. He married Marian B. Ireland, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (12) Ernest Albert, a graduate of Norwich Free Academy, who cultivates the homestead farm, the only son to embrace the time-honored calling of his eight generations of great ancestors. All of the daughters of the family became educators, and two of them have made it their life work. Ten of these twelve children are living-a remarkable record.
JOSEPH MATTHEW GANEY, M.D .- A native son, Dr. Ganey has won high standing in the city of his birth, both as a physician of learning and skill and as a citizen of highest motives and loftiest patriotism. He has proved his worth as a physician, as shown by his clientele and his work in the hos- pitals of New London, and as a patriot, by his volunteer service at home and overseas during the period of war between the United States and Ger- many, 1917-1918. Dr. Ganey is a son of John Crocker and Mary (Ahearn) Ganey, both born in Ireland,
J. M. Janey 1.W.
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but later residents of Portland and New London, Connecticut. John C. Ganey was a skilled worker in metal, and for more than a quarter of a century his trade was that of a blacksmith at the Brown Cotton Mills in New London. Both he and his wife died in New London.
Joseph Matthew Ganey was born in New London, Connecticut, November 8, 1878, and there completed public school study with graduation from Bulkeley High School. Deciding upon the medical profession, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1904. He served as interne at the Mercy Hospital, Baltimore, then returned to New London, where in 1905 he began private practice, continuing with satisfactory results until 1909, when he spent a year abroad in special study in the med- ical department of the University of Vienna, Austria. He returned to New London in 1910, and resumed practice, continuing until June 16, 1917, when at the call of duty he laid aside personal consideration and enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to duty at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, with the rank of first lieutenant. He then was sent to the Coast Defense Artillery Corps, along Long Island Sound, with headquarters at Fort H. G. Wright on Fisher's Island. He was medical officer with the Third Bat- talion, Fifty-sixth Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps, United States Army, under the command of Major Morris B. Payne, of New London, and with that battalion he went overseas and was in all their bat- tles and experiences in France. His regiment, organized in December, 1917, at Fort Wright, sailed from the United States, March 28, 1918, and arrived in France April 4 following. The 146th Regiment served continuously on the line from August 15 to November 8, 1918. Dr. Ganey was wounded at Chevy-Chartreuse, August 23, 1918. They were engaged in Aisne-Marne, Oise Aisne, Meuse Ar- gonne, in the First Army Sector, and saw war in all its horrible forms until the struggle ended with the overthrow of German power and the flight of the craven Kaiser. Dr. Ganey was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his services and exploits, described as follows, in the recommenda- tion for his decoration:
Office of the Surgeon 56th Artillery (C. A. C.), A. E. F. A. P. O. No. 728, Nov. 21, 1918.
Lt. Ganey with Sgt. Roberts and Privates Gow and Handley of the Sanitary Detachment, 56th Artillery (C. A. C.) arrived at the road between Charpentry and Baulny, France, on the night of Oct. 3, 1918, with the Third Battalion of the 56th Artillery (C. A. C.) under heavy shell fire and con- centration of gas which continued all night. On the morning of Oct. 4, 1918, the Infantry attacked at daybreak and a great number of untagged soldiers were brought back to this road from the line just over the hill with their wounds not dressed. Lt.
Ganey and his men immediately established an aid station on the side of the road under constant shell and machine gun fire and continued dressing and evacuating wounded from daylight until 11:00 A. M., with utter disregard for their personal safety, the nature of the locality being such as to offer them no protection. During this time they dressed and evacuated several hundred soldiers of the First Division, largely from the 16th and 18th Infantry. The Battalion to which Lt. Ganey and his men were attached was not in action and the improvised aid station was established on his own initiative.
The 56th Artillery sailed from Brest, France, January 5, 1919, still under command of Major Payne, on the United States battleship "South Da- kota," and arrived in New York, January 17, 1919. Dr. Ganey was honorably discharged and mustered out, January 29, 1919, at Fort Schuyler, New York, and returned to his home in New London.
After his return from France, Dr. Ganey for the third time began the upbuilding of a practice in New London and as before has met with great encouragement from his acquaintances and friends of a lifetime. He is building up a practice along general lines, including surgery, and makes a spe- cialty of obstetrics, and ranks very high in that department of his profession. He is a member of the New London City, New London County, and Connecticut State Medical societies, and the Amer- ican Medical Association of Vienna. He served on the staff of the old Memorial Hospital, New London, and the consolidation of that and Lawrence Hos- pitals under the name of the Lawrence and Memo- rial Hospital, and from that time until the present, he served as chief obstetrician. He is also assistant surgeon to the United States Public Health at New London. He is a member of the Military Order of the Foreign Wars of Connecticut Commandery, and of John Coleman Prince Post of the American Legion. In politics he is a Democrat, in religion, a Roman Catholic.
On March 22, 1916, Dr. Ganey married, at New London, Anna Williams, born in New London, daughter of John and Mary (Enos) Williams. Dr. and Mrs. Ganey are the parents of three children, Joann, J'oseph Matthew (2nd), Jane. The family home is at 205 William street, New London.
WILLIAM MARVIN-When Reynold Marvin, one of the original proprietors of the town of Lyme, Connecticut, settled in that locality, he established a line, which through more than two and a half centuries has continued to furnish valuable citizens to that town, as well as to what is now called, Old I.yme. Elisha Marvin, great-great-grandfather of Judge William Marvin, was born in what is now Old Lyme, and moved from that town to Lyme, where he built the house which has ever since been the family homestead. He married Catherine Mather, and the fourth and last of their children was Joseph Marvin, who, born in the old homestead in Lyme, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died
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November 19, 1839. He married, October 16, 1783, Phebe Sterling, and becaine the father of six chil- dren, the third of whom was William Marvin, also born on the old homestead, who served in the War of 1812. He was a deacon in the Congregational church, and was a probate judge. He married, Oc- tober 21, 1819, Sophia Griffin, of East Haddam, and they became the parents of six children, the fourth of whom was William Joseph, father of Judge Wil- liam Marvin.
William Joseph Marvin, son of William and Sophia (Griffin) Marvin, was born in the old homestead at Lyme, April 6, 1830, and spent his life in his native place. He attended the Academy at Essex, and then went to work on a farm, in which occupation he continued throughout liis life. He was very promi- nent in the life of the town, and at the time of his death, which occurred April 7, 1878, was treas- urer. He married, January 28, 1869, Ann M. Parker, daughter of Marshfield S. Parker, who was born in Lyme, September 30, 1830, and died October 23, 1900. Their two children were: Wil- liam, mentioned below; and Harry S., born August 8, 1875, who, educated at East Greenwich Academy and at Dow Academy, Franconia, New Hampshire, was a member of the drug firm of Mitchell & Mar- vin, in Boston for a few years, and is now in the drug business for himself. He married Annie Powell, and is the father of two children, Grace Mary and William Joseph.
Hon. William Marvin, eldest son of William Jo- seph and Ann M. (Parker) Marvin, was born at the old home in Lyme, March 13, 1873. He attended the local schools, and then went to East Greenwich Academy, in Rhode Island, graduating in 1893. After his graduation, he returned to the home farm, where he has remained. In 1896 he was elected town clerk, although but twenty-three years of age, and has continued to fill that office which, 1921, he still holds. He is also judge of probate, and very active in the political and agricultural affairs of his locality. He is a member of the Lyme Chapter of the Grange, and of the Farm Bureau, in both of which organiza- tions he has given his services to the agricultural interests of the county. He is a Republican in his party affiliation, and was a member of the Connecti- cut Legislature in 1905 and also in 1907.
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