USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 47
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In politics Mr. Burton is a Republican. Frater- nally, he is a member of St. James' Lodge, No. 23, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Franklin Council, Royal and Select Masters; Columbian Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar; Connecticut Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, a thirty-second degree Mason; and Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford, Connecticut. He also affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Hartford Lodge, No. 19. He also served five years as a member of Company C, Con- necticut National Guard, and has been a member of the Greeneville Hook and Ladder Company, No. 2, for thirty-two years, and is an ex-foreman of the company.
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On March 8, 1910, Mr. Burton was united in mar- riage with Rosa E. Pierce, a native of Norwich, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Burton have no children; they
reside at "Bideawee," located at No. 744 North Main street, Norwich, Con- necticut.
LAWRENCE WESTPHALL PERRY-A native of New London, Connecticut, where his birth oc- curred August 15, 1891, Lawrence Westphall Perry, son of Charles Ellsworth and Augusta (Westphall) Perry, was brought by his parents to Uncasville when he was but an infant, and here he has since resided. After obtaining his education in the schools of Montville, Connecticut, he served an apprentice- ship to the carpenter's trade and subsequently be- came engaged in this particular line until the latter part of 1920, when he established himself in the automobile supply business in the town of Water- ford. Together with his brother, Allen, they con- duct an extensive garage, their enterprise already having attained great success, due in no small way to the untiring devotion and energy which Mr. Perry has given to it.
Mr. Perry married, October 19, 1913, Katherine Rogers, a native of Montville, Connecticut, and the daughter of A. Fitch and Mary (Jerome) Rogers. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are the parents of two children: Dorothy Helen, born December 18, 1914; and Cath- erine Augusta, born April 19, 1916.
Although never having taken any active part in the public life of the community, Lawrence West- phall Perry is ever ready to give his earnest support to all measures calculated to promote civic better- ment, and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
PERLIN WILLIAM CALKINS-This branch of the Calkins family came to Norwich from Willi- mantic, Connecticut, but prior to their coming here in 1890, Blanford, Massachusetts, was the family home. Perlin W. Calkins, of Norwich, came to the city as yard man with the Edward Chappell Com- pany, and has continued with that company until the present, 1922.
William Edgar Calkins was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and there spent his youth. Later he became a farmer of Blanford, Massachu- setts, but in 1891 sold his farm there and moved with his family to Willimantic, Connecticut, where he secured employment with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, in the bridge- building department. He is still with the company (1922) and resides in Norwich, Connecticut. He married Carrie Bell Nye, born in Blanford, Massa- chusetts, and they are the parents of eight children: 1. Perlin William, of further mention. 2. Abbey Elizabeth, married Percy M. Alden. 3. James Eu- gene, married Helena Wilbur; a sailor of the United States navy during the war period between the United States and Germany. 4-5. Bertha, and a
twin, now deceased. 6. Hazel Bell, married Ernest Taylor, whom she survives, a resident of Norwich. 7. Annie, married William Buckley, and resides in Norwich. 8. Theodore Getchel, residing at home.
Perlin William Calkins, eldest of the children of William E. and Carrie Bell (Nye) Calkins, was born in Blanford, Massachusetts, December 27, 1886, but was educated in Willimantic (Connecticut) pub- lic schools, the family moving there in 1890. After leaving school he was variously employed as a clerk until 1908, when he entered the employ of the Ed- ward Chappell Company, in Norwich, as a yard inan, continuing in that capacity until 1917, when he was advanced to his present position, yard foreman.
Mr. Calkins is a member of Norwich Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; Franklin Council, No. 3. Royal and Select Masters; Columbian Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Hart- ford); Nimrod Grotto, Tall Cedars of Lebanon; Uncas Lodge, No. 11, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Palmer Encampment, No. 3, of the same order; Chamber of Commerce; is a Republican in politics; and an attendant in the services of the Congregational church.
Mr. Calkins married (first) Catherine Levitsky, who died in Norwich, September 6, 1918, leaving three children: Perlin Frederick; Donald Eugene; and Catherine Alma Calkins, all born in Norwich. Mr. Calkins married (second) in Norwich, Novem- ber 23, 1921, Helen E. Gleason.
JOHN JORDAN, a long time groceryman of Nor- wich, Connecticut, was born in New London, Con- necticut, in 1864, son of James Jordan, a railroad and seafaring man. After school years were over, he entered business life, and in the year 1882 be- came a clerk in the store of O. C. Dimock, grocer, finally becoming one of the members of the firm, when he and his brother, Alexander Jordan, bought an interest in the business. This was conducted as O. C. Dimock & Company until 1885, when the Jordan brothers bought O. C. Dimock's interest in the business, and conducted it until 1888 under the same name, Alexander Jordan then selling his interest in the business back to O. C. Dimock, John Jordan still holding his interest in the business, run under the firm name of Dimock & Jordan. In 1889 Dimock & Jordan sold to Appley & Prentice, who did business until 1892, when John Jordan bought out the interest of C. Prentice in the business and formed a partnership with Chester Appley, which continued under the firm name of Appley & Jordan until 1907, when he bought Ches- ter Appley's interest and has continued the busi- ness since under the name of John Jordan, No. 88 West Main street.
John Jordan married Dora Henken, and they have a daughter, Irene, wife of Theodore Robinson. Mr. Jordan is a member of the Royal Arcanum Club, an able business man and a good citizen.
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JOHN MINOR GRAY-In the town of Groton, New London county, Connecticut, Austin Gray, father of John M. Gray, was born, February 12, 1805. He learned the wheelwright's trade, located in the town of Ledyard in the same county, and there died, February 21, 1875. He married Betsey Frances Smith, born in North Groton, Connecticut, November 5, 1810, and died November 7, 1875. They were the parents of five children: John Minor, of further mention; Austin, Elizabeth, Julia Frances, Sarah Jane.
John Minor Gray, son of Austin and Betsey Frances (Smith) Gray, was born in Ledyard, New London county, Connecticut, October 6, 1850. He attended the district school until seventeen years of age, then was employed by different farmers until taking a farm for himself. In 1876 he began keep- ing a store in connection with his farm labors, and for several years was postmaster. In 1901 he bought his present farm in Ledyard and continues its management until the present, and also operates a store.
Mr. Gray is a member of Ledyard Grange, No. 167, Patrons of Husbandry; is a Democrat in politics; a Congregationalist in religious faith, having been a deacon of the church for many years and superin- tendent of the Sunday school for thirty-five years; and has served his town as register of voters, post- master, and assessor of taxes; he also is a trustee of the library.
Mr. Gray married Flora Peckham, born in New London county, in 1856, daughter of Benjamin B. and Hannah Elizabeth (Reynolds) Peckham. They are the parents of the following children: Marion Ida, John Reynolds, and Leslie P. The home farm and store is in the town of Ledyard, Norwich, R. F. D. No. 6.
BRYAN FRANCIS MAHAN-While always a prominent business man, it is for his strong per- sonality and his record in public affairs that the name of Bryan Francis Mahan is most usually mentioned.
During the nearly nine years of his former service as Mayor, and under his vigorous leadership, New London, Connecticut, carried out the largest and most swiftly developed program of municipal im- provements in recent Connecticut history. Of these works, nearly all of them of a permanent char- acter for the community betterment, Mayor Mahan was not only in every instance a prime mover, but often the originator. Taken together, it is fair to say that they constitute a characteristic monument to his career.
The city's many miles of uniform granolithic side- walks, its well paved streets, its enlarged park sys- tem, its splendid, new municipal building, its great State pier, its growing woman's college, its many new industrial plants, beautiful residential districts, and the network of magnificent highways connecting it with the surrounding country, are physical objects with which the people are daily familiar.
But these advantages did not come of their own accord. They were plotted, labored for, and sacri- ficed for, in the beginning, by a few against the prejudice and reluctant conservatism of many. Mayor Mahan championed this fight. It could not have been won without him. His identification with it, in connection with a rare genius for organiza- tion and tireless devotion to detail, was the secret of Mayor Mahan's political success, crowned, so far as popular recognition is concerned, by election in 1912 to the Federal Congress as the first Demo- cratic Representative from his district in seventy- five years.
In partisan politics Mr. Mahan has been conspic- nous for decades, at the front of all local battles, and prominently known in Democratic circles throughout the State. From time to time he held office. In 1881, and the year following, he was elected Representative to the State Legislature. In 1884 he became a member of the New London Board of Education, and was also the candidate of his party for Secretary of State, but, although re- ceiving a plurality of 2,000 votes, he did not have a inajority of all ballots cast, and from a peculiarity of the Connecticut law was declared not elected. The choice was thrown into the House, where Re- publican control prevailed.
Later on, Mr. Mahan was city attorney, and a member of the Board of Water Commissioners. In 1904 he became Mayor, retaining this honor in re- peated contests until 1912. While so incumbent, he was also, in 1911, a State Senator, serving upon the important Committee on the Judiciary, and acting as minority leader. It was at this time, and while entertaining a legislative committee in connection with the State pier project, that Mr. Mahan took what was in those days justly considered an im- minent risk of his life and rode to the height of more than 1,500 feet over the Thames river in an aeroplane. He "got the appropriation."
Since 1904 Mr. Mahan was four times a delegate to Democratic National conventions, including that at Baltimore, Maryland, in which Woodrow Wilson was finally nominated. He was made Postmaster in 1915, and is at present upon his third term, hav- ing enjoyed an earlier appointment under President Cleveland.
The Mahan ancestry is Irish. Born in 1856, at New London, one of seven other children, Mary. Kate, Elizabeth, John, Ellen, Owen and James, Bryan Francis was the son of Andrew and Mary Dougherty Mahan. After completing the public school courses at Bartlett High School, he studied law and was graduated from the Albany Law School, LL.B., class of 1880. He at once opened a law office at home and established a good practice. He has built up a large private business in invest- ments, connected chiefly with real estate, and has financed many of the enterprises which have mate- rially added to New London's area and prestige.
Mr. Mahan married in October, 1884, at Baltic,
Meghan,
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Connecticut, Nora Shahan, who died in January, 1887, daughter of Dennis Shahan, of that town. He married the second time in January, 1907, Margaret Whittlesey, of New London, born in this city, and daughter of Ezra Chappell Whittlesey. Seven chil- dren have followed this marriage: Margaret W., formerly secretary to the Dean of Amherst, and now in Mt. Holyoke College; Alfred W., a graduate of Williams College, class of 1921; Norman W., Eliza- beth Chappell; Bryan Francis, Jr .; Gordon, and Charles.
These brief recitals furnish only a skeleton out- line of a life which has been as remarkable for its influence in innumerable private acquaintanceships and what are often mistakenly called small concerns, as for public significance.
A volume would not suffice to tell all that New London has received through the personal contribu- tions of this native son, for long the most aggres- sive and picturesque figure in the community. It is noticeable that he never failed to receive hearty endorsement at the polls whenever his reputation was put to test by the votes of his townsmen.
ANTHONY DIXON, since the inception of his business career, has been identified with the woolen industry, and as superintendent of the Jordan Wool- en Mills at Waterford, Connecticut, which position he accepted in December, 1919, Mr. Dixon entered upon his duties as one fully equipped with both a theoretical and practical knowledge of the business, and the success he has attained is conclusive evi- dence of the experience he had acquired and the use he had made of it.
It is interesting to note here that the progenitor of the Dixon family in this country, who came from the disputed lands of Great Britain lying between England and Scotland, was named Anthony, and this name has been carried on down through the many generations. Anthony Dixon, the father of the subject of this review, was born at Newport, Rhode Island, April 27, 1825, and here obtained his educa- tion. Going to South Kingston as a young man, he subsequently became superintendent of S. Rod- man & Sons Woolen Mills, and here continued until his death, which occurred July 31, 1893. He married Hannah C. Knowles, a native of South Kingston, where her birth occurred, March 19, 1832, and to them were born eight children: Patience Taylor; James; Anne; Anthony, mentioned below; Lewis Lincoln; Hannah C .; George Peckham; and Marion.
Anthony Dixon, son of Anthony and Hannali C. (Knowles) Dixon, was born at South Kingston, Rhode Island, May 8, 1863. He spent his boyhood in his native place, and graduated from the local high school in the class of 1880. The following year, having in the meantime decided to engage in the woolen industry, he went to East Lyme, Con- necticut, and here secured employment in the ex- tensive mills of A. P. Sturbesant, subsequently, until
1901, working for various woolen companies and gaining a thorough knowledge of the industry. At this time, 1901, Mr. Dixon went to Millbury, and was with the National Crash Manufacturing Com- pany for seventeen years, where he finally rose to the position of general manager of the company. On December 15, 1919, he came to Waterford, Con- neeticut, and accepted his present position as super- intendent of the Jordan Woolen Mills, and as such occupies a prominent position in industrial circles. In polities he is a Progressive Republican. He af- filiates with Millbury Lodge, Improved Order of Red Men.
On November 22, 1884, Anthony Dixon was united in marriage with Aimee Parkhurst, a native of Lis- bon, Connecticut, where her birth occurred, June 23, 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have been born eleven children: 1. Mande Ethel, born June 6, 1886, married George Somerscols; children, George and Harold. 2. James Anthony, who married Clare Dyke, and has one child, Vernon. 3. Anna Pearl, born at Middletown, Connecticut, May 20, 1893; she is the wife of Thomas Kidd, and has one child, June Elizabeth. 4. Carrie, born July 13, 1894, deceased. 5. Louis Elmer, born December 28, 1896; he is in the United States navy on the ship "Ramapo." 6. Amy Allen, who married Everett Draper, of Mill- bury, Massachusetts, and has one child, Evelyn Hunter. 7. Chauney Tracy, born December 16, 1900, who is at Cherry Valley, Massachusetts. 8. Harold R., born March 15, 1903, died May 1, 1915. 9. Ruth Marion, born June 26, 1905. 10. Theodore, born September 19, 1906. 11. Florence May, born May 12, 1909.
GEORGE DENISON PALMER-The Palmer name is an old one in New England, the "old Pal- mer homestead," now occupied by Charles Benja- min Palmer, having been built by William Palmer in 1720. Three times since that early date it has been rebuilt, but all through the years it has been the home of some branch of the Palmer family. George Denison Palmer, the grandfather of the pres- ent owner, inherited the homestead farm upon which he was born and where he spent his entire life. He married Harriet Benjamin, and their son, George Benjamin Palmer, grew up on the farm, assisting his father with the work, developing strength and endurance, and gaining a thorough knowledge of the farming of his day. He later left the farm and went to Jewett City, but upon the death of his father returned to the old farm, which he cultivated until his death, April 9, 1907. He married Mary Ada Bennett, of Plainfield, Connecticut, daughter of Durien and Mary (Hayes) Bennett, and they be- came the parents of Charles B. and George Denison.
George Denison Palmer, son of George Benjamin and Mary Ada (Bennett) Palmer, was born July 6, 1899, on the homestead farm. He attended the schools of Griswold, and worked on the farm outside of school hours. Both George Denison and his brother,
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Charles B., were from earliest years interested in scientific, up-to-date methods of farming, and when the father died in 1907, the two brothers took over the management of the farm. The old farm is a beautiful place of some three hundred acres, located in the southern end of the town, and the brothers have equipped it with modern machinery, making it in every way a thoroughly modern agricultural establishment. During the World War, Charles B. enlisted in the navy, leaving his young brother to manage the farm. Young George Denison abun- dantly demonstrated his ability as a manager, and fully justified the confidence reposed in him.
Politically, Mr. Palmer is a Democrat. He is a member of Pachaug Grange, of Griswold, and of the New London county Pomona Grange; and his re- ligious affiliation is with the Baptist church, also located in Griswold.
ERVIN JAMES LUCE-In the year 1839, Cath- cart Luce, his wife, Mary Ann (Butler) Luce, and their seven children settled in that part of the town of East Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, known as "Little Boston," and in partnership with his brother, Arvin Luce, bought a farm, Cathcart owning a two-thirds interest. The farm was oper- ated by the brothers jointly, and there Cathcart Luce died March 18, 1854. He was born on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, December I, 1792, and spent many years of his life a mariner, going "a whaling," and also a seaman on coastwise vessels. On October 21, 1819, he married Mary Ann Butler, born March 15, 1801, at Tisbury, Massa- chusetts, died at the home farm in East Lyme, Con- necticut, in 1858. In the spring of 1838, they moved to Holland county, Connecticut, from Martha's Vineyard, and in the spring of the next year to the town of East Lyme. Cathcart Luce was a man of high standing in his community, and reared a large family, all of whom fill honorable places in town life. They were the parents of nine children. These children were: I. Caroline M., married Charles D. Allen. 2. Charles C., a "forty-niner," who died on the south fork of the Yuba river, California, July 27, 1850, aged twenty-six years. 3. Eliza W., mar- ried (first) Edward Luce, (second) Ansel Reed. 4. Edward, a captain of fishing vessels, a member of the Connecticut Legislature, and a leading Metho- dist; married Julia E. Beckwith. 5. Francis C., a smack fisherman and fertilizer manufacturer; mar- ried Mary Ann Mainwaring. 6. John W., a smack fisherman, later, with his brother, manager of a fish mill at Rocky Point owned by the Luce Brothers, Edward, Francis C., John W., and James V .; they were manufacturers of fish oil and fertilizers; mar- ried Mary Elizabeth Beckwith. 7. James Valentine, of further mention. 8. Mary A., married Nelson Monroe Havens. 9. Tamson A., married Ansel Reed, whose first wife was her sister, Eliza W. Luce.
James Valentine Luce, seventh child of Cath- cart and Mary Ann (Butler) Luce, was born at
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, May 14, 1838, died at the "Cathcart Luce farm," in "Little Bos- ton," East Lyme, Connecticut, September 14, 1914. He was but one year old when his parents moved on the farm in East Lyme, and there his life was spent with the exception of five years during which he was engaged in quartz gold mining in Virginia. He was interested with his brothers in the fish mill at Rocky Point, a business they operated for twenty- eight years. The original mill was conducted at Rocky Point for three years, then was established at Napeogue, Long Island, and operated for six years. The firm then bought the ferry boat, "Union," erected a fish mill upon it and operated wherever most profitable and convenient. Later they built a fish mill at Giants Neck. At one time the brothers were operating four steamers in their business of manufacturing fish oil and fertilizers. The business was entirely wholesale and under the management of John W. Luce. The brothers owned a mill at Lewes, Delaware, but that was sold to the American Fishing Company in 1899.
Aside from his interest in the fish oil mill, James V. Luce owned and operated a quarry at Rocky Neck for many years, shipping rock to the New Jersey coast for building sea walls and for other purposes to different places. He became the owner of the home farm in East Lyme, and all his after life made its cultivation his personal business. He built the present house on the farm, and made his home there until his death at the age of seventy- seven. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and a man of fine character.
James V. Luce married (first) Sophia A. Havens, who died May 23, 1882, daughter of Silas Havens. He married (second) Terrie F. Havens, born in 1849, sister of his first wife. Mrs. Luce survives her husband, her home with her only son, Ervin J. Luce, who is of further mention. She also has a daughter, Laura Sophia, born at the old homestead in East Lyme, now the wife of Frank Gorton, and the mother of two sons, Wayne Luce and James Robert Gorton.
Ervin James Luce, only son of James Valentine and Terrie F. (Havens) Luce, was born at the home- stead in "Little Boston," town of East Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, July 3, 1886. He was educated in the public schools of Niantic, and has passed his life at the farm, as did his father, but like him he spent some time with his father at the stamp mill at the quartz gold mine in Virginia. He owns the old farm that has always been his home, and is one of the prosperous, substantial men of his town. He is independent in politics, and a member of Niantic Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Luce married Myrtle Bogue, of Lyme, Con- necticut, daughter of George and Alice Bogue. Mr. and Mrs. Luce are the parents of two children: Daphne Faye, born December 21, 1909; Rodney James, born January 19, 1918.
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EDWIN C. FORD-Of an old Connecticut family, Mr. Ford has spent his life within the borders of his native State, and since 1886 within the limits of New London county, being manager-in-charge of the New London office of the Southern New Eng- land Telephone Company. He is a son of Dwight and Caroline (Cooper) Ford.
Dwight Ford was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, and there lived and died, a paper-maker. He married Caroline Cooper, and they were the parents of two children: Caroline, deceased; and Edwin C., of whom further.
Edwin C. Ford, only son of Dwight and Caroline (Cooper) Ford, was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, July 3, 1861, and there was educated in the public schools. He was variously employed during the years of his minority, but in 1882 he entered the employ of the Southern New England Telephone Company as night operator in the Waterbury office of that company, where he remained for four years. In 1886 he was transferred to the New London office of the company, as manager, and there re- mains as head of the commercial department.
In politics, Mr. Ford is a Republican, and in re- ligious faith is connected with the Second Presby- terian Church of New London. He is affilated with Brainard Lodge, No. 102, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of New London; Townsend Lodge, No. 89, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Waterbury, Connecticut; and New London Lodge, No. 360, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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