USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 51
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James Marion Osten received his education in the public schools of Passaic, New Jersey. It was at about the time he completed the course that the automobile was reaching the height of popularity, and he started life as an automobile mechanic. He worked in several places in this capacity; then, on March 21, 1918, he laid down the work of enlist- ment in the United States navy. He was rated a second class mechanic's mate, and served for nearly a year, being discharged in February, 1919. He then came to Willimantic, where he entered the em- ploy of Learned Brothers, as automobile mechani- cian. In the same year he came to Norwich, where he became associated with Ernest White, a dealer in automobiles. Mr. Osten took charge of the serv- ice station which was operated in connection with the salesrooms. In 1920 he became equal partner with Mr. White, and this association still continues. They handle the Hudson and the Essex cars, be- sides doing a general line of repairing. Besides his business and home life, Mr. Osten is active in politi- cal and fraternal circles. He is a staunch Republi- can.
Mr. Osten married, June 17, 1918, Sarah Jackson, of Willimantic. They are members of the Episco- pal church.
ERASTUS W. YERRINGTON, superintendent of construction for the Ponemah Mills Company, settled in Taftville, Connecticut, when a young man of twenty, and during the thirty years (1891-1921) which have since intervened has been continuously in the employ of that company and a resident of Taftville. He is a son of Edwin Franklyn and Happy (Eggleston) Yerrington, his parents both de- ceased. Edwin F. Yerrington was born in North Stonington, Jannary 1, 1841, died July 20, 1916, a farmer and cattle dealer. Mrs. Yerrington died in 1889, the mother of seven children: I. Charles Ed- ward, married Carrie Summers, and resides in Nor- wich, Connecticut. 2. Elizabeth, deceased. 3. John Franklyn, married Alice Summers, and resides in Norwich. 4. Erastus William, of further mention. 5. Edgar Elmer, married Jennie Williams, and re- sides in Norwich. 6. George Ransom, married Alice Bogne, and resides in Columbia, Connecticut. 7. James Byron, married M. Washburn, and resides in Franklin, Connecticut.
Erastus William Yerrington was born in North Stonington, New London, Connecticut, June 5, 1871, and was educated in the public schools of that dis- trict and of New London, Connecticut. He began his wage earning career in Robinson Bros.' paper mills,
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his next position being with an ice making company in Norwich. In 1891 he located in Taftville, secur- ing employment as a teamster with the Ponemah Mills Company. He continued with that company in that capacity until 1905, when he was promoted to his present position, superintendent of all company construction, a position he has most satisfactorily filled for sixteen years. He has built up a high reputation for ability and integrity and has the per- fect confidence of his employers as well as the good will and respect of his fellow workers.
Mr. Yerrington married, April 26, 1898, Catherine Brown, born in Scotland, and they are the parents of four children, all born in Taftville: I. Estella Janct, born November 20, 1900. 2. Nyra Arline, born March 20, 1904. 3. Raymond Everett, born July 21, 1906. 4. Mildred Lucille, born July 8, 1911.
JAMES ALLYN STODDARD-The farm, culti- vated by Stephen Morgan Stoddard after his retire- ment from the sea, was the scene of his death and also the birthplace of his son, James Allyn Stod- dard, who was its owner until about 1919. The farm lies in the town of Ledyard, New London county, and when sold in 1919 had been in the Stoddard family for about a century and a quarter. James A. Stoddard is a son of Stephen Morgan Stoddard, also born at the homestead in Ledyard, New Lon- don county, who, as a young man, "went a whaling" after the fashion of the young men of the New Eng- land coast, and after tiring of the adventurous life of a whaler, became a farmer, tilling the old home- stead acres until his death in 1879, at the age of sixty-eight. He married Henrietta Allyn, who died in 1885, daughter of Roswell Allyn, and they were the parents of four sons and a daughter: Stephen Dennison, born April 17, 1841; Orrin Edward, born July 9, 1843; James Allyn, of further mention; Al- bert Morgan, born April 11, 1850; Henrietta Ade- laide, born October 20, 1857.
James Allyn Stoddard, son of Stephen Morgan and Henrietta (Allyn) Stoddard, was born in the town of Ledyard, New London county, Connecticut, October 18, 1848. He was educated in the public schools of the district and early became his father's farm assistant. He continued at the farm, its virtual manager, until the death of his father in 1879, when he became its owner. He continued the cultivation of the old homestead for forty years longer and then sold the farm and retired.
Since retiring from the farm, Mr. Stoddard has given much of his time to the public service. For eighteen years he has been health officer of the town and has also served as tax collector and as a member of the board of assessors. He is secretary- treasurer of the Ledyard Cemetery Association and interested in other town activities.
He married, September 10, 1873, Anna Davidson, born in West Goshen, Connecticut, who died March 10, 1892, leaving three children: Henrietta, born November 19, 1874; Stephen Davidson, born Decem- ber 31, 1878; Albert, born January 19, 1881. Mr.
Stoddard married (second), December 28, 1893, Amy Jane Hopkins, born July 1, 1865, died June 8, 1905, daughter of James Milton and Ruth (Harvey) Hop- kins. He married (third), March 18, 1908, Bessie Anna Williams, daughter of Olive Chamberlain Williams. No children.
HOMER FRASER, who has had thorough train- ing and wide experience in his line of activity, is becoming widely known in Norwich and vicinity, as one of the successful restauranteurs of the day in this section.
Mr. Fraser is a son of Moise and Pomelo (St. Pierre) Fraser. Moise Fraser was born in St. Moise, Province of Quebec, Canada, and was educated in the parochial schools of his native town. After finishing school, he took up farm work, and was engaged actively along this line for several years, eventually, in 1880, purchasing a farm in St. Moise, where he is still successfully engaged in general farming and dairying. Of the twelve children of this union, Mr. Fraser, of Norwich, is the ninth.
Homer Fraser was born in St. Moise, Province of Quebec, May 3, 1893, and was educated in the Jusenat d'Outremont College, in Montreal. After completing his education he served an apprentice- ship of three years as chef at the Sacret Heart College, Central Falls, Rhode Island. In 1913 he came to the United States and located in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where he worked at his profes- sion of chef in one of the leading restaurants of that city, remaining for two years. In 1915 he came to Norwich as chef for the City Lunch, which is con- nected with the Martin House. With the exception of the months during which he was in the service of the United States army, Mr. Fraser continued with this restaurant, as chef, until May 3, 1920. On that date, in association with Ex. Ravenell, Jr., of Norwich, he purchased the City Lunch from the former proprietor, C. A. Chamberlain, of Norwich. This restaurant is one of the most popular and attractive eating houses in the city of Norwich, has all modern equipment, and is conducted in a thor- oughly up-to-date manner. Under Mr. Fraser's management it has grown steadily, and he is doing, a very large business.
On April 30, 1917, Mr. Fraser enlisted in the 5th Company, Coast Artillery Corps, Connecticut Na- tional Guard, this company being stationed in Nor- wich. Called to Federal service, it became the 56:' Regiment, American Expeditionary Forces, at For. Ferry, New York, and Mr. Fraser was later trans- ferred to the 17th Anti-Aircraft Battery, of which he was made mess sergeant. Sailing for France with this battalion, he was stationed at Fort d Stein, France, and in February, 1919, was returned to the United States and at once mustered out of the service at Fort Wadsworth, New York.
Fraternally Mr. Fraser holds membership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Norwich, and is a member of Robert O. Fletcher Post, American Legion, of Norwich. He is a member of the Benev-
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vient and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 430; and of the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 950, both of Norwich; also of the St. John the Bap- tist Society of America. Politically he supports no party unqualifiedly, and votes an independent ticket.
In October, 1917, Mr. Fraser married Lillian Lan- dry, daughter of Joseph and Phebe (St. Amant) Landry, both natives of the Province of Quebec. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser have two sons: Homer Wood- row, born April 19, 1919; and Paul Joseplı, born March 19, 1922.
HERBERT CLINTON WATSON -- Among the representative citizens of Potopaug Hill, where he has resided continuously since 1888, is Herbert Clin- ton Watson, a prominent farmer of this district. Mr. Watson takes a keen interest in the history of this locality, and it is interesting to note here that on the summit of Potopaug Hill stands a little red school house, which was standing at the time of the reign of George V. of England, and here in this little house of learning many famous men have received the foundation of their educational train- ing.
Herbert Clinton Watson was born December 9, 1850, at Quidnick, Rhode Island, the son of Jeffery Watson, who was a native of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and died in Sprague, Connecticut, in De- cember, 1910. The education of the boy, Herbert C., was obtained at the "little red schoolhouse" on Potopaug Hill, to which place he removed with his parents when he was very young. At the age of ten years, however, he went with his parents to Scotland and attended school there until their return to the old homestead in 1863, then resumed his studies at Sprague until he was fifteen years of age, when the business of life began for the boy. His first employment was with the Sprague Manufac- turing Company, where he was bookkeeper for three years, subsequently being changed to their plant at Cranston, Rhode Island, and still later, in recogni- tion of his ability as an accountant, he was made auditor, and was also employed by the other branches of the concern at Natick, and Arctic. But he did not remain in this position for very long, resigning later to accept the office of assistant postmaster to his father, who was at that time post- master of the Baltic postoffice. All this was accom- plished before the young man had reached the age of twenty-one, which is ample proof of the excep- tional ability of Mr. Watson even at that time. The three years he spent as assistant postmaster were also years active in the affairs of the community, where he was leader of the local band, assistant foreman of the local fire company, town clerk and tax collector. At the end of this time he returned to the old homestead and remained on the farm four years, going thence to Andover, Massachusetts, and later to Centredale, Rhode Island, where he followed the occupation of farmer, finally return- ing to Potopaug Hill in 1888, which has since been his home. Since that time he has taken an active
interest in the affairs of the town, serving on the Board of Selectman, Board of Assessors, and the School Board, also as justice of the peace.
Mr. Watson married, July 26, 1872, Mary Esther Wilcox, a native of Griswold, Connecticut, and the daughter of Abram and Rebecca (Selden) Wilcox. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson were born four children: Maude, Walter, Herbert, and Niola.
ELIJAH STARK ABEL-Descended from early settlers of New London county, Connecticut, spend- ing his lifetime in agricultural activity, and also devoting a large share of his time and energy to the advancement of the public welfare along many avenues of progress, Elijah Stark Abel has won his way to a high position in his native town of Bozrah, New London county, Connecticut.
Mr. Abel is a son of Elijah Hosford Abel, who was born in Bozrah, July 19, 1815, and died there January 22, 1882. Elijah Hosford Abel was reared on the farm in his native town, and his educational opportunities were limited to the district schools of the day in this community. As a young man he assisted his father on the farm, but was ambi- tious to make his way in the world, and in addi- tion to the farm work, which he followed through- out his lifetime, he took up the nursery business, making a study of tree grafting, etc. He followed this for fourteen years and did quite an extensive business in nursery stock, many of the beautiful shade trees in Bozrah and Norwich being set out by him. From early life the responsibilities of the family fortunes lay upon his shoulders, as he was still only a young man when his father died. In connection with the homestead farm he rented two other farms, and later on, in 1869, he bought the present Abel farm on Bashan Hill, Bashan, in the town of Bozrah. This farm comprised one hundred and thirty-five acres of improved land, with ex- cellent buildings, but he made further improvements and built the present horse barn. Elijah Hosford Abel married, on November 15, 1865, Mary Stark, who was born in Bozrah, June 23, 1840, and is still (1922) living. They were the parents of three chil- dren: 1. Elijah Stark, whose name heads this re- view. 2. Edward Everett, who was born in the present Abel home, May 20, 1870, and died in January, 1918, having been a farmer all his life in the town of Norwich, this county, in the section known as East Great Plain; he married, on January 7, 1891, Carrie A. Gager, of Bozrah, who, with their daughter Frances, survives him. 3. Louis Hosford, born in the present Abel home on November 21, 1874, a graduate of the New York Dental College, and now practicing his profession in New York City, residing in White Plains, New York. Mrs. Abel married (second), March 25, 1891, in Nor- wich, Quincy M. Bosworth, a minister from Ohio. He died in January, 1900.
Elijah Stark Abel, eldest son of Elijah Hosford and Mary (Stark) Abel, was born in Bozrah, Decem- ber 2, 1868. Receiving his early education in the
Mary All Bosworth
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district schools near his home, he later gained a broadly practical preparation for his career through a course at the Connecticut Agricultural College, at Storrs. Only thirteen years of age at the time of his father's death, he took over the entire manage- ment of the farm as soon as he returned home from college. He has always carried on large opera- tions in general farming and stock raising, also has a large flock of poultry, making a specialty of turkeys. He has bought much additional property, and the home farm now is increased to three hun- dred acres, and a part of its equipment is an up-to- date blacksmith shop, where general blacksmith work is done for the public. Mr. Abel has resided in his present home for fifty-two years.
In public life Mr. Abel was long since placed in a leading position. Always a Republican, his party early recognized his ability and his fearlessness in matters involving a moral issue of the public wel- fare, and has placed him in public office repeatedly. He has served as registrar of voters, as selectman, still holding the former office, and is also now health officer and tax assessor of the town of Bozrah. He served as town constable of Bozrah for a period of twenty-one years. At the November election of 1920 Mr. Abel was elected town repre- sentative to the State Legislature, and during his stay at the State House, served on the Agricultural, New Towns, and Probate committees. Outside the realm of politics, and still in the nature of a public service, was the reform which he brought about in the matter of telephone tolls. The Norwich ex- change, in which Bozrah is located, serves a very wide territory, covering many little towns in the northern part of New London county, and formerly an extra charge was made for a call between Bozrah and other towns in the same exchange. Mr. Abel recognized the injustice of this custom, and secured a ruling from the Connecticut Public Utili- ties Commission permitting telephone connection without extra charge between all subscribers of any given exchange. This ruling benefited not only the subscribers of the Norwich exchange, Mr. Abel's immediate interest, but of every telephone exchange in the State of Connecticut. Mr. Abel is an active member of the New London County Farm Bureau, and of the Bozrahville Congregational Church.
On October 10, 1889, Mr. Abel married, at Leb- anon, Amorette Eliza Avery, who was born in Leb- anon, and is a daughter of Isaac Gallup and Eliza Maria (Williams) Avery, both members of old Leb- anon families, and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Abel are the parents of six children, all born at the Abel homestead: I. Ethel Louise, born Jan- uary 21, 1891, now the wife of Jabez G. Lathrop, a prominent farmer of Bozrah, and has one child, Louise. 2. Amorette Mildred, born May 4, 1893, who is now the wife of George W. Maples, a machin- ist of Fitchville, and has one child, Ruth Louisa. 3-4. Lawrence Isaac, and Lloyd Elijah, twins, born February 18, 1895, both farmers of Bozrah; Law- rence I. married Robye Boynton, of Montville, and
Lloyd E. married Alice Rodman, of Lebanon, and has two children: Lloyd, and Mary Alice. 5. Alfred Louis, born October 30, 1898. 6. Theodore Stark, born August 8, 1902. Both the younger sons still reside at home, being associated with their father in the conduct of the farm.
HENRY THOMAS GORMAN holds the respon- sihle position of supervisor of repairs for State Highway Department for New London county, Con- necticut. Mr. Gorman's father was born in Ire- land, and received his education in the National schools of that country. He came to America when still a young man and located in New London county, Connecticut, where he engaged in farming and gardening, and continued in that line of work as long as he lived. He married Catherine Mulli- gan, who was born in Sligo, Ireland, and both are now deceased. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom four are now living, Henry Thomas Gorman being the youngest.
Mr. Gorman was born in Norwichtown, Connecti- cut, on August 8, 1872. He received his education in the public schools of Norwichtown; then, for a short period, worked in a cotton inill. But the young man was not of the indoor sort; he liked free space, green fields, and the animal life that goes with the out-of-door world, so took up the livery business, which he followed for eighteen years. Until recently he owned a livery and coal and wood business in Versailles, a small town in this county. In the year 1913, Mr. Gorman became foreman for the State Highway Department, and his excellent management of the work placed in his charge brought him further advancement in this line. As before stated, he is now supervisor of repairs for New London county, in the State Highway Depart- ment. This position carries with it a full measure of responsibility, as well as the honor attached to any office in the gift of the State. He has sold out all other business in which he was interested, and devotes his full time to the highway work, giving his personal oversight to a very large amount of repair work in progress, and keeping in touch with the latest methods and materials.
For one term, Mr. Gorman was selectman for the town of Sprague, and was on the school board for nine years. He is independent in politics, giv- ing his support to the party having the best candi- dates in the field.
Mr. Gorman married Ellen V. Donahue, of Nan- ticook, Pennsylvania, in 1901. They are the par- ents of six children, of whom five are living, the eldest, Henry, being deceased; those living: Alice, Katherine, Mary, Helene and Marguerite. The fam- ily are members of the Roman Catholic church.
WILLIAM SPICER GRISWOLD-In the town of Griswold, Connecticut, the Town Farm, where the poor of the community are cared for, might well be termed a model farm. William Spicer Griswold, who has charge of this department of the town's
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affairs, is one of the most progressive men in this up-to-date farming community, and to his energy and excellent management is due the success of this branch of publie endeavor.
Mr. Griswold is a son of Samuel L. and Mary L. (Averill) Griswold, old family names in this section. Samuel L. Griswold was born on Plain Hill, in the town of Norwich, Connecticut. He received his education in the district schools of that vicinity, then followed farming all his life, the greater part of which he spent on the Dr. Gay place, in the town of Ledyard, in the same county. In his old age he retired to a small place at Pachaug, in the town of Griswold, where he died in 1892. His wife, who was born in the town of Lisbon, Connecticut, died in Griswold in 1908. They were the parents of ten children.
William Spicer Griswold, the seventh child of Samuel L. and Mary L. (Averill) Griswold, was born in Ledyard on August 1, 1866. In the district schools of the town he received a practical education, then, as a young man, worked on the farm for his father. Later on, he removed to the Smith farm, in Plain- field, Connecticut, which he conducted for a period of thirteen years. In April, 1919, Mr. Griswold took charge of the Town Farm, for the town of Griswold, where he is still located. From the first, Mr. Griswold's ability as a farm manager was clearly evident, and he made many improvements, bringing the buildings and their stock and equipment fully and completely up to latest approved standards of agricultural progress.
While Mr. Griswold's attention is centered upon this branch of the public welfare, he is interested in every phase of public progress, and politically is affiliated with the Democratic party.
Mr. Griswold married, on November 25, 1896, Rose Mohan, of Plainfield, Connecticut, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Vallely) Mohan, of that town, and they are the parents of one son, Joseph Ken- neth Griswold. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
EDWARD EVERETT CLARKE-There is a satisfaction which Mr. Clarke may enjoy as in retro- spect he reviews the years since he first entered the textile industry, at an early age, in the spinning room, for, since that day, he has been continuously with the same firm and has advanced through every grade of promotion up to his present position- superintendent of the four mills of the Briggs Man- ufacturing Company, of Voluntown, Connectient, a position he has most ably filled for twenty years, since 1902.
Edward Everett Clarke was born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, October 27, 1880, one of six children of Henry and Emily (Greene) Clarke. His father, also a native of Hopkinton, where he was for many years a farmer, is now (1921) living retired in the village of Rockville, Rhode Island. His mother, who was born in Voluntown, died in Hopkinton, November 10, 1882, when he was but two years old.
He attended the village school of Rockville, Wash- ington county, Rhode Island, and spent his youth at the home farm in that place.
It was at Rockville that Mr. Clarke first found connection with textile work at the Briggs Manu- facturing Company, then located there, but later located in Voluntown, Connecticut. He stayed at the Rockville mill until he had learned the details of the business in every department, and in July, 1900, when he was nineteen years of age, he was advanced to "second hand" in the carding room of the plant in Voluntown, and a short while later was made overseer in the same department. He proved himself worthy and competent, and promo- tions came along rapidly, for in 1902, after but two years' service in Voluntown, and at the age of twenty-one, he was promoted to the responsible position of superintendent of the four mills of the company. This is the only manufacturing plant in Voluntown, and employs about three hundred hands in the manufacture of cotton cloth, yarns, thread and tire fabric. Over the entire plant, Mr. Clarke is the general superintendent, and is considered by the company as thoroughly competent, having not only managed the business successfully, but as hav- ing built it up to larger proportions, giving his entire time and energy in the effort, to the great satisfaction of the company.
With the prime of life still ahead of him, Mr. Clarke has much to look forward to, and with past successful experience to aid him, he will go far in the textile world. He is thoroughly practical, far- seeing, understands the business to it's finest detail, and possesses the qualities that win for him the con- fidence and friendship of his employees, and the trust and appreciation of his associates in the com- pany, all of which proves that he has the ability to make any enterprise a success, and that he has the taet and keen judgment in help management, which is essential. He has won his way in the world en- tirely through his own ability and endeavor, having none of the aid of wealthy, influential friends to make his way easier. It has been his life ambition to be upright in character, above reproach, and to make the most of his opportunities, and having ac- complished this, he is a worthy example for others to follow. He is known as a man of excellent char- acter, exceptional ability and energy, and in Volun- town and vicinity he is regarded as one of the best of men from whom to obtain advice and help, which is always willingly given. He keeps in close touch with his employees, and their interests are given his consideration.
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