USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 29
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Judge Marvin married Julia Niles Ely, daughter of Dr. J. Griffin and Elizabeth (Chadwick) Ely, of Lyme, Connecticut. No children have been born to the union.
JEROME BONAPARTE RATHBUN-Of an an- cient Rhode Island family, Mr. Rathbun remained in his native State many years, then located in Groton, Connecticut, coming thence to the village of Niantic, Connecticut, where the past thirty years of his life have been spent. Much of his early life was spent in the saw mills of Summit, Rhode Island, and Gro- ton, Connecticut, and from manufacturing lumber he became a dealer, and until his retirement in 1914 operated a lumber yard in Niantic.
Jerome B. Rathbun was born in Exeter Hill, Rhode Island, December 8, 1858. He was educated in the Exeter Hill public schools and after school years were over, became a saw mill employee, thoroughly learning the business of manufacturing lumber of any dimension from the log. He was employed in different mills, and continued in that line of activity until about 1890, when he located in Niantic, his present home. For ten years he conducted a steam saw mill in Niantic, but in 1914 retired, after a very successful business life. Mr. Rathbun is a member of Fairview Lodge, No. 101, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Rathbun married, in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, May 13, 1881, Harriet Estella Brown, born there October 18, 1866, daughter of Elisha and Louisa Parkis (Capwell) Brown. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, six of whom died young. Those who grew to mature years were: I. Maria Emmeline, born in Exeter, Rhode Island, mar- ried George Richmond, of Westerly, Rhode Island, and they are the parents of: George, Frank, Amy and Elizabeth Richmond. 2. Atmore Robinson, who married Nellie Capwell, and they are the parents of: Thomas, Flora and Rose Brown. 3. Henry Elisha, married Adaline Arnold, they the parents of: Lil- lian, William and Walter Brown. 4. Lois Anna, who married Clarke Greene, of West Greenwich, Rhode Island, and four children were born to them: Laura, Fred, Caliph, Mabel and Anna Greene. 5. Bowen, who married Mary Ann Carr, and they are the par- ents of: Fanny, Louisa, George, Bertha and Sadie Brown. 6. Harriet E., who married Jerome B. Rath- bun, and resides in Niantic. Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun are the parents of six children: Henry Albert, born February 14, 1884, married Agnes Beebe, and resides in Black Hall, Connecticut; Mary Evelyn, born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, January 23, 1886, married Timothy Maine, of Ledyard, Connecticut, and has two children, Elizabeth and Maurice; Everett Elmer, born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Sep- tember 13, 1888, married Gladys Daniels, and they are the parents of the following children: Lawrence, Carl and Lillian Rathbun; Susan Estelle, born in Groton, Connecticut, September 8, 1891, married Fred Sisson, of Clarks Falls, Connecticut, and has two daughters, Sophia and Evelyn Sisson; Arthur Earl, born at Groton, Connecticut, July 9, 1893, married Julia Beebe, and has a daughter, Pearl; Caribell, born in Center Groton, Connecticut, November 14, 1900, nrarried William Fellows, and has a son, George.
CAPTAIN DAVID CARROLL QUINLEY-The late Captain Quinley was born at North Lyme, Con- necticut, August 22, 1848. He was the son of David Tyron and Roxanna (Spencer) Quinley, both de- ceased. The boy, David C., left the home farm early in life and went to live with his uncle, who was an inland fisherman, plying his trade on the Niantic river. Early in life, David C. Quinley developed a keen interest in the sea, and a familiar sight to the people who lived about here was the lad rowing up
L
John dar. Watson
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and down the Niantic. The longing to explore what was beyond the blue horizon finally compelled him when but twelve years old to ship as a deck hand on board a schooner bound for Georges Banks. When he attained manhood he was given command of the schooner "Game Cock," which was used to carry stone from the quarries at Millstone Point to the site upon which was being built the Battery in New York. Later he purchased the schooner "Irving J. Lewis." One day the steps from the deck to the cabin on the "Game Cock" were removed by a mem- ber of the crew, who later neglected to replace them. That night Captain Quinley, not knowing of this, fell to the deck below, and in this fall struck his heart against a box. Although he lived for inany years after this accident, he never fully recovered from the blow. Selling the "Irving J. Lewis," he subsequently was given command of the yacht "Vio- let," owned by Mr. Haymes, whose summer estate is at Sandy Point, and it was while engaged in this last capacity that Captain Quinley met with the painful accident which hastened his death; this occurred February 8, 1915.
Captain Quinley was united in marriage with Au- gusta Anne Wheeler. Mrs. Quinley, who survives her husband, and resides at Niantic, was born at New London, Connecticut, July 27, 1850, the daughter of William and Nancy (Beebe) Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler had six children, three of whom are dead, the others: Augusta Anne, previously mentioned; Isabella, who married Charles Leonard, of Niantic; and Eliza Anna, who married Charles Beckwith, of Hartford.
JOHN WILLETTE WATSON-Perhaps more widely than any others do the records of an ocean- bordered section reach out into the interesting and significant places of the world. In New London county, Connecticut, there are few of the old families who do not count at least one member who has fol- lowed the sea, at least for a time. More than eighty years ago, John Willette Watson, as a child, became a resident of this county, and the story of his life closely follows the growth of this section in import- ance as a mercantile and industrial center, his activi- ties, through the greater part of his life, centering in the agricultural districts of the county, and in the productive pursuits which are the foundation of all prosperity.
Mr. Watson was born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, January 1, 1833, and died in Gales Ferry, New London county, Connecticut, November 7, 1917, hav- ing nearly reached the eighty-fifth anniversary of his birth. He was a son of John and Betsy (Corey) Watson, both of old New England families, and the death of his mother when he was seven years of age brought about changes in the circumstances of the family, and his removal to Westerly. With only the scant opportunities of the district schools of that day for the acquiring of an education, Mr. Watson at a very early age began working on the farm. While still a young lad of impressionable age he came to
Mystic, and here the lure of sea reached deep into his soul as he watched the coming and going of the outside fishermen. He soon secured the opportunity of joining them, and for eight years was identified with the fishing trade between here and Florida, tak- ing a man's part in the work of the fleet with which he was connected. At the age of twenty-four years he shipped for a whaling voyage, which eventually covered a period of three years in length and took him all around the world.
A short time after his return to his native land he heard, with the other high-souled young men of the day, the shot which, fired on Fort Sumter, re-echoed to the northernmost boundaries of the nation. He enlisted from the town of Groton, and going to the front, participated in the carly battles of the war, including Vicksburg and Port Hudson, serving under General Banks. He was wounded in the latter en- gagement, and in the year 1863 was honorably dis- charged from the service. Returning at once to his home in this county, he removed his little family to the community in the southwestern part of Ledyard, known as Gales Ferry. Here he took up the peace- ful activities of the little farming village, and through- out the remainder of his lifetime tilled the soil, and occasionally, as the building operations of the neigh- borhood made occasion, he bore a part as a stone mason. Active almost until the time of his death, Mr. Watson was one of the best known men of the section, and his high integrity and genial disposition gave him the friendship and goodwill of all with whom he came in contact. He was a man of rare good sense, and capable of calm, unbiased judgment, and his influence in his community gave impetus to all good movements and stood as an example in honorable citizenship for the younger men as they followed after him.
Not long after his return from the voyage around the world, Mr. Watson married, in Mystic, Marian Chapman, the ceremony taking place on June 27, 1859. They were the parents of six children: Wil- liam R .; J. Lewis; Charles H .; Jennie M., who be- came the wife of Joel H. Davis, a sketch of whom follows: George W., and Augusta E. The mother died at Gales Ferry, in the family home, on October 10, 1904.
As a devoted husband and father, as a citizen loyal not only to the written tenets of his native land but to the ideals which inspire all lofty codes of human conduct, John Willette Watson left a mark on the records of his day, both those records which are written for all men to read, and those records which live in the hearts of men, and which go down to posterity in noble impulses and worthy deeds.
JOEL HARRISON DAVIS, whose life from the age of fourteen had been one of activity on land and sea, closed his earthly career at the age of seventy- three, being at the time of his death a resident of Norwich, Connecticut, and owner of a general store there. At the age of fourteen he made his first voy- age at sea, and all through his life he was at times
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a sailor on country craft, government vessels and private yachts and clipper ships, always, however, on sailing vessels. His life was principally spent at sea, and but for poor health he would never have followed any other occupation. Ile was a son of Joel Davis, son of Elisha Davis, son of Silas Davis, son of Benjamin Davis (2), son of Benjamin Davis (1), who first settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, later going to Brookhaven, Suffolk county, Long Island. Benjamin (1) Davis was a land owner, and some of his land remained in the family until 1902, when Joel Harrison Davis sold it.
Elisha Davis, of the fourth generation, was a large landowner in that part of Brookhaven known as Mount Sinai, and there died, in April, 1843. He married Julianna Hulse, their third child a son, Joel, of whom further.
Joel Davis was born in Brookhaven, Long Island, October 13, 1805, spent his entire life at the home- stead in Mount Sinai, and there died, April 7, 1883. He was a man of means, owned a large amount of land, and was a prosperous farmer. He was a well- known musician, taught singing school in early life, and for twenty-seven years was chorister of the Congregational church at Mount Sinai, Brookhav- en, and later of the church at Port Jefferson, Long Island. He married (first) Sarah Maria Turner, who died December 14, 1846, aged thirty-four, daughter of William Turner, owner of Artist's Lake, Long Isl- and. Five children were born to joe: and Sarah M. (Turner) Davis: Susan M., married Captain Ells- worth Carter, a sea captain; Amelia M., married Erastus Brown, a farmer; Elisha, a sea captain; John, a sea captain and sound pilot; Joel Harrison, of whom further. Joel Davis married (second) Han- nah M. Davis, a distant relative, born August 19, 1817, died May 3, 1875. They were the parents of three children: Vincent R., a merchant; Roswell, of Yaphank, Long Island; and Ida Belle.
Joel Harrison Davis, youngest son of Joel Davis and his first wife, Sarah Maria (Turner) Davis, was born, at the homestead at Mount Sinai, Suffolk county, Long Island, November 4, 1845, died at his home in Norwich, Connecticut, December 9, 1918. He attended district school until the age of fourteen, then shipped on the coasting sloop "Guide." He was large for his age and very strong, and was able to perform any work required of him. He again went to sea the following season, and the next became a second mate. In 1862, at the age of seventeen, he was stew- ard of the schooner "Reuben H. Nelson," and on that vessel, commanded by his cousin, Henry G. Davis, he made his first voyage to foreign waters, going to Banacoa, Cuba, returning to New York with the largest cargo of fruit they ever delivered there, 69,000 cocoanuts and 4,600 bunches of bananas.
Shortly after that voyage the lad was taken sick and for three years was not able to do anything, but with the recovery of his health he took a book-sell- ing agency, covering Long Island with splendid success, selling Holland's "Life of Lincoln," and "Sherman's and Grant's Campaigns and Generals."
Ile than was clerk in a Patchogue, Long Island, grocery and restaurant for one year, then took up photography, and for one season owned and traveled with a studio on wheels.
In 1868 his health permitted him to return to his first love, the sea, and he shipped as seaman on the United States revenue cutter "Isaac Tousey," serv- ing on Long Island Sound five months. He then shipped on a coaster, and as steward, made a trip to Tabasco, Mexico. Later he was steward of the schooner "Franken Bell," then steward of the clipper ship "Susan Bergen," sailing to Palermo, Sicily, and in that vessel sailed to Messina and Cuban ports. He was steward on the private "Dreadnaught," then the schooner "Florence Shay," in coasting and for- eign trade, sailing as steward and navigator, making a year's voyage to South America. He then sailed as steward on the schooner "Benjamin Jones," the "Jennie Rosaline," the "Hattie B. Kelsey," the "Hat- tie M. Crowell," the "John Holland," the "Florence Randall," and the "Adalaide Randall." He followed the sea as steward on these different vessels until June, 1891, when he ended his career as a mariner, and thereafter resided in Norwich, a inerchant.
In Norwich he bought a general store of E. Walter Phillips and began the work of building up a busi- ness. He was very successful and continued active in the business for nearly a quarter of a century, then, in 1915, was compelled by failing health to re- tire. Mrs. Davis then assumed the management, and until the death of her husband, in 1918, continued the business.
Mr. Davis married, in New London, Connecticut, April 3, 1889, Jennie M. Watson, born at Gales Ferry, Connecticut, daughter of John W. and Marian (Chap- man) Watson (see preceding sketch).
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Jennie M. (Watson) Davis rented the store in Norwich, but continues her residence at No. 318 Laurel Hill ave- nue. She is a member of the Baptist church, and both she and her husband had many friends, all of whom she retains.
HERBERT MORTON SWINNEY, now a pros- perous lumber dealer of Niantic, Connecticut, has gone far along the road to success, although only in the prime of his manhood. He is a son of Ethan Edward and Elizabeth (Tillett) Swinney, his father born in Lebanon, Ohio, October 2, 1837. Ethan E. Swinney, a harness maker by trade, died in 1905, aged sixty-eight years, his wife, Elizabeth, in 1897, aged fifty-nine. They were the parents of five chil- dren, two of whom survived childhood: Herbert M., the principal character of this review; and Annie G., since deceased.
Herbert Morton Swinney was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, June 14, 1872, and there was educated in the public schools. At the age of seventeen years he began work with Maxson & Company, contractors and builders, of Westerly (and for nineteen years, 1889-1908, he continued in that company's employ. On March 1, 1908, he bought an interest in the firm
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of Babcock & Wilcox, of Westerly, contractors and builders, and for eight years continued in business as a partner in that firm. He then sold his interest and removed to Niantic, Connecticut, where he, in connection with Louis C. Dimock, bought the lum- ber yards of Asahei R. De Wolf, an established busi- ncss of twenty-one years' standing, and at that time was incorporated as the Niantic Lumber Company, Herbert M. Swinney, secretary, treasurer and gen- eral manager.
Mr. Swinney is a member of Niantic Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Hope Council, No. 6, of Westerly, Rhode Island; he is an Independent in politics, and a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church.
Mr. Swinney married, in Stonington, Connecticut, May 16, 1901 Belinda Robinson Southwick, born Au- gust 13, 1881, at Wakefield, Rhode Island, daughter of Wanton and Annie Laurie ( Holland) Southwick, who were the parents of three daughter: Sarah, Be- linda and Annie. To Mr. and Mrs. Swinney four children were born: Morton Remington, born May 5, 1902, in Stonington, Connecticut; Ruth Elizabeth, born March 8, 1918, in Niantic, Connecticut, and two children who died in infancy.
ERNEST CHAMPLIN RUSSELL, clerk of the town of East Lyme, New London county, Connecti- cut, was born in Niantic, Connecticut, May 6, 1876, and was educated in local schools. Most of his life has been spent in his native village, and since arriv- ing at man's estate he has been engaged in business as a real estate dealer, and to that business has added insurance. Soon after school years were ended he left the village of his birth for a short time, but re- turned, and for eighteen years, 1903-1921, has been town clerk, an office that he has held continuously, the voters of the town of East Lyme, in which town Niantic is situated, refusing to consider anyone else for the office.
Mr. Russell is a son of Benjamin Franklin Russell, born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1824, died in Nian- tic, at the age of seventy-three, and is there buried. He came to Niantic a youth, and became a mariner, following the sea for many years. He married Ellen Lock, of Leeds, England, born in 1834, daughter of Thomas Lock. They were the parents of four chil- dren: Marion Clarence; Frank William, of Niantic; Claude Charles, of New Haven, Connecticut; and Ernest C., of previous mention.
CLIFFORD ERWIN CHAPMAN, postmaster of Niantic, Connecticut, to which office he was ap- pointed in 1915, has served his community well in many public capacities, having filled each post with untiring faithfulness and devotion to duty, which are characteristic of the man.
Savalian Edwin Chapman, father of Clifford Erwin Chapman, was born in the Whistle town district of East Lyme, September 16, 1844, and for many years was a farmer and blacksmith. He now lives retired
at Niantic. He married Juliet S. Bishop, a native of Stony Creek, Connecticut, and to them have been born three children: John, who was drowned at the age of four years; Clifford Erwin, of further mention; and Perry G., of Hartford, Connecti- cut, department manager of the Fox & Company storc.
Clifford Erwin Chapman was born at Niantic, Con- necticut, May 13, 1880, and during his childhood at- tended the local schools, at the same time devoting his spare time to helping his father in his work about the farm and the blacksmith shop. He was associ- ated with the elder man in business until I911, when he received his appointment to the Legislature, sub- sequently returning the following year to his former employment and continuing thus until 1915, when he was made postmaster of Niantic, which office he still holds. He occupies a high place in the opinion of those who know him, a place which he has won by his energy and upright character. The public's interests are well served by servants of this type. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Baptist. Mr. Chapman is affiliated with the Ma- sons, and belongs to Bayview Lodge, No. 120, Free and Accepted Masons. It is hard to predict the future of an already sucessful man who is still com- paratively young in years, but the past gives promise of an even more brilliant future.
On February 25, 1910, at Niantic, Clifford Erwin Chapman was united in marriage with Minnic A. Becbe, daughter of John and Amanda (Andrea) Bee- be, who also have three other children: Arthur, a resident of New London; Chester A., a resident of Niantic; and Almeda Littlefield, who married Dwight Luce, of Niantic. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are the parents of one child, Andrea Juliette, born February 9, 1911.
ALBERT CLARK FREEMAN, M. D., came to Norwich, Connecticut, in 1913, with his newly-ac- quired honors bestowed by the University of Ver- mont. But he did not then begin private practice, for after a year as interne at the M. W. Buckus Hos- pital, he spent eighteen months in practice in Plain- field, Vermont, his Norwich residence dating from January, 1916. The five years that nave since inter- vened have brought him a fair share of professional success and he is becoming well established in public esteem.
Dr. Freeman, grandson of George and Mary (Fiske) Freeman, and son of George Freeman, who was born in Brookfield, Vermont, and educated in a Barre, Vermont, school. He was his father's farm assistant until reaching man's estate, when he went West, locating at Rolfe, Pocahontas county, Iowa, thirty miles from Fort Dodge, the center of a farm- ing and stock-raising region. This move was caused by poor health, but in Iowa he bought a farm near Rolfe, and in addition to working his farm, taught in the district school. In 1885 he sold his farm, and in June of that year passed away at Rolfe. He was a Republican in politics, and in religious faith a
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member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and superintendent of the Sunday school.
George Freeman married Mary Cooley, born in lowa, died at Rolfe, in 1885, daughter of Henry Cooley, an lowa pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman were the parents of three children, all born in lowa: Kate, inarried James Mitchell, of Barre, Vermont; Mabel, married George Turner, a contractor of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Albert Clark, of further mention. After the death of their mother in 1885, the children came East, to Barre, Vermont.
Albert Clark Freeman, son of George and Mary (Cooley) Freeman, was born November 8, 1883, at Rolfe, Iowa, and in 1885 came to Barre, Vermont, an orphan. He attended school in Barre, passing thence to the Montpelier (Vermont) Seminary, whence he was graduated in 1905. Being determined to make his own start in life, Mr. Freeman was employed for about four years at farming, and at the same time taught the district school and sold milk in Barre. His independent spirit and ambition carried him through these formative years. In 1909 he entered the medical department of the University of Ver- mont, where after a four years' course he was gradu- ated M. D., class of 1913. After one year in the M. W. Buckus Hospital, at Norwich, Connecticut, Dr. Frecinan went to Plainfield, Vermont, where he opened an office, remaining about a year and a half. In January, 1916, he returned to Norwich, where he has since been continuously engaged in the success- ful practice of his profession. He is pathologist of the M. W. Buckus Hospital, of Norwich, and during the World War was post surgeon of that town and also served in the Medical Advisory Board. In politics Dr. Freeman is a Republican, and in 1917 was appointed milk inspector for Norwich, serving until resigning in 1920. Dr. Freeman has been secre- tary and treasurer of the New London County Medi- cal Association since 1917; is a member of the Nor- wich Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He affiliates with Shetucket Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Norwich; is a member of the Norwich Arcanum Club, and of the United Congre- gational Church.
Dr. Freeman inarried, August 11, 1917, in Norwich, Eva Annie Bisbee, born in Waitsfield, Vermont, daughter of Burton and Lucia (Joslin) Bisbee, of that town, her father a prosperous farmer. Dr. and Mrs. Freeman are the parents of two children, both born in Norwich: Alberta, born April 12, 1919; and Emerson Osgood, born December 23, 1920. Pro- gressive in his profession and in his citizenship, genial and friendly in disposition, Dr. Freeman is building up a good practice and forming friendships on a basis which will endure.
PERCY ALPHONSUS WHEELER-One of the enterprising young men of East Lyme, Connecticut, is Percy A. Wheeler, who is achieving success at the attractive shore resort known as Crescent Beach.
Mr. Wheeler is a son of William Ubrick Wheeler,
who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, lived on a large ranch in the West for a few years, and is now living at Crescent Beach. He married Julia Griffin, of Scotch descent, and their four children are as follows: Harriet, who was born in New Rochelle, New York, and married Lewis Adriene, a New York City banker; Mary G., who was born in New Rochelle, married Vaughn H. Ray, of Hart- fort, Connecticut, who is connected with the Travel- ers' Insurance Company of that city, and has two children: William and Margaret; William A., also born in New Rochelle, who married Mary -, and has one daughter, Julia; and Percy A., of further mention.
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