USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 57
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Isaac Gallup Geer, only son of Jacob Allyn and Julia (Gallup) Geer, was born in Ledyard, New Lon- don county, Connecticut, July 24, 1848. He was educated in the public schools and has spent his life at the homestead, early succeeding to its man- agement, his father dying when his son was but nine years of age. Mrs. Geer rented out the farm until her son was able to lift the burden from her shoulders. In addition to the home farm, Mr. Geer owns a tract of one hundred and twenty-five acres, bought from the Thomas estate, and other parcels of land in Ledyard. He is a man of energy and character, having the confidence of his community and their respect.
A Republican in political faith, Mr. Geer repre- sented his town in the Connecticut Legislature in 1913-1915, serving on the committee on shell fish. For years he has served as selectman of Ledyard, also assessor, and member of the town Board of Visitors. He is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry, and of the County Farm Bureau. In re- ligious faith he is a Congregationalist.
Mr. Geer married, January 4, 1888, Amanda Chase Belden, of Ledyard, daughter of James H. and Aug- usta (Allyn) Belden. Mr. and Mrs. Geer are the parents of two children: 1. Earl Belden, who mar- ried Anna Blatherwick, and resides in Ledyard; they are parents of one child, Isaac Gallup (2). 2. Florence A., married Ernest E. Smith, and resides in Franklin, Connecticut; two children were born to them: Elizabeth Chase, and Isabelle Goodwin.
THOMAS JOSEPH HEALY, who conducts an up-to-date tire shop at No. 372 Main street, Nor- wich, is a native of New London county, Connec- ticut.
Mr. Healy's father, Thomas J. Healy, was born in Ireland, and educated in the National schools of that country. He came to the United States in 1868, locating in Colchester, Connecticut, where he
was engaged in the grocery business for many years. He is now retired, and lives in Naugatuck, Connec- ticut. He married Ellen Campbell, and they are the parents of seven children, five now living, of whom Thomas Joseph is the second.
Thomas Joseph Healy was born in Colchester, Connecticut, on January 16, 1874. He received his carly education in the public schools of that town, and then took a course at the Bacon Academy, of Colchester. In 1890 the young man entered the em- ploy of the Colchester Rubber Company, a large factory which has since been destroyed by fire. He remained in this connection until 1894, when he went to Bristol, Rhode Island, where he was also employed in the rubber industry. Following his stay there Mr. Healy worked in various places for short periods and then, in 1916, came to Norwich, where he opened a tire repair shop, at No. 372 Main street, doing business under his own name. He was very successful, making good from the start. He handles a full line of new tires and tubes, and also does all kinds of rubber repairing. Mr. Healy takes a keen interest in public and political affairs, but declines to support any party unreservedly, and votes inde- pendently.
He married, on November 20, 1917, Lena C., daughter of Julian and Margaret (Bray) Boudreau, and they have one daughter, Mary I. Mrs. Healy was organist of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, of Norwich, from 1899 to 1919. The family are members of this church.
ERASTUS CRANDALL BEEBE-For a cen- tury or more Beebes have resided in the town of Waterford, New London county, Connecticut, John C. Beebe, whose life covered a span of but fifty-two years, having been born there in 1821. He was a farmer of Waterford all his life, and there married Susan Boynton, also born in Waterford, who died in 1907, aged eighty-two. Five children were born to John C. and Susan (Boynton) Beebe: Marvin, deceased; Pickett L., deceased; Anne, deceased; Lydia, deceased; and Erastus C., of whom further.
Erastus C. Beebe was born at the home farm in Waterford, March 15, 1855. He attended the dis- trict school, but losing his father in boyhood, he early became a farm worker. After reaching an age when he could choose for himself, he quit the farm and went to New London, where he engaged in business as a meat dealer. He continued in that business until 1908, when he sold out, returned to the farm and there continues. He is a member of the Baptist church, a Democrat in politics, and has served his town as a member of the Board of Assess- ors and Board of Relief. He is a prosperous, pro- gressive farmer, a member of the Connecticut Farm Bureau, and modern in all his farming methods.
Mr. Beebe married Martha Tinker, born in Water- ford, Connecticut, April 7, 1860, died August 22, 1899, daughter of Richard and Martha Tinker. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe are the parents of four children, all born at the farm in Waterford: 1. Beulah, born in
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1876, married Fred Comstock, of Quaker Hill, Con- necticut, and has a daughter, Millicent, who mar- ried W. Victor Washabaugh, they the parents of a daughter Jane. 2. Richardetta, born in 1877, mar- ried Hugh Kenyon. 3. Hayward Earl, born in 1880, married Fannie Gallup, and they have three chil- dren: Carol, born in 1909; Allen, born in 1910; and Barbara, born in 1921. 4. Pearl, born in 1889, married Henry Schlink, and has a son, Norman, born in 1916.
HUBERT GEORGE DART-To have four gen- crations of a family living at the same time in the same town is rather an unusual occurrence, but to have cach one bear the same name is still more rare. This is the case of the Dart family of Montville, Connecticut. The great-grandfather is Ezra Fitz- land Dart, a native of Ledyard, Connecticut, who is now residing in Montville, where he celebrated his ninety-fourth birthday anniversary in 1920. His son, George William Dart, born in North Waterford, Connecticut, is now a merchant of Montville. He married Hattie Allen, also born in Montville, and their son, Hubert George Dart, is the third in this family line, the fourth generation being represented by his two sons, Lester Crandall and Dana Dart, both of whom were born in Montville.
Hubert George Dart was born in Montville, April 18, 1882. In his boyhood he attended the public school there, and after graduating became a clerk for his father in the grocery store of which George William Dart is the owner. After some time spent in this employ, the young man went to Westerly, Rhode Island, and obtained a position as a machin- ist there in the machine shop of The C. B. Cottrell Company. Two years later, Hubert George Dart returned to Montville and opened a commission business and bakery of his own. After carrying on this establishment for two years, Mr. Dart gave it up to go West, becoming a salesman for Armour & Company, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For two years Mr. Dart remained with the Armour people, and at the end of that time returned to Montville to take charge of his father's store, as manager. In this capacity he continued for eight years, when, having the opportunity of becoming superintendent of the Massasoit Mills, Mr. Dart gave up the grocery busi- ness and accepted the latter position in 1918. The Massasoit works are located at Oakdale, a suburb of Montville, and Mr. Dart still resides in Mont- ville.
Having taken an active interest in the politics of his home town, Mr. Dart has always voted the Republican ticket. He has held public office for some years, being on the Board of Selectmen, having been first, second, and third in rank, and at the present time serving as third selectman. Equally interested in the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Dart is a member of Franklin Council, Free and Accepted Masons.
Hubert George Dart married Pansy Crandall, born in East Haddam, Connecticut, daughter of
Lodowick Crandall. They have three children: Lester Crandall Dart, Elace Faye Dart, and Dana Hubert Dart.
JOHN POTTER-Tlic home of Jolin Potter since his sixth year, 1875, has been upon the farm to which Captain James, a whaling captain, retired after leaving the sea, which was bought by Elisha Potter in 1875. The old homestead was the boy- hood home of Henry B. Brown, of the United States Supreme Court, and the house was built by Samuel Tyler in 1798. The old chimney stone in the old mansion bore the inscription, "S. T., 1798," and when John Potter, the present owner, built a new mansion on the site of the old one in 1904, this old stone was laid in the foundation wall, along with a new one marked, J. P. 1904." The old farm upon which all but six of John Potter's fifty- one years have been passed, is one of the finest estates in the town of Griswold, the mansion, mod- ern and beautiful in its surroundings, handsomely fitted with all city conveniences. John Potter is a descendant in the ninth American generation of the family, founded in New England by Nathaniel Pot- ter, born in England, who was admitted an inhabi- tant of Rhode Island, in 1638. The line of descent from Nathaniel and Dorothy Potter to John Pot- ter is traced through the founder's son, Nathaniel (2) Potter, and his wife, Elizabeth Stokes; their son, Natlianiel (3) Potter, and his wife, Joan Wil- bur; their son, William Potter, and his wife, Mary Browning; their son, David Potter, and his wife, Susanna Barber; their son, Incom Potter, and his wife, Elizabeth Arnold; their son, Caleb Potter, and his wife, Sally Green; their son, Elisha Potter, and his third wife, Angeline (Whitford) Douglass; their son, John Potter, the principal figure in this review.
Elisha Potter, of the eighth generation, was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, February 23, 1801, died in the town of Griswold, New London county, Con- necticut, April 2, 1888. After securing his own edu- cation he began teaching, and for several years taught during winter terms in the district schools and farmed during the summer months. His farm was in Voluntown, and much of the timber on his place he converted into charcoal, which he sold in Nor- wich. He resided in Voluntown until 1871, then moved to the town of Griswold, and in 1875 to the Captain James farm, now the home of his son John. For thirty-seven years Elisha Potter was town clerk of Voluntown, and for seven terms represented that district in the Lower House of the Connecticut Legislature, 1834, '36, '41, '42, '44, '51, and '54. He was also elected State Senator and was one of the leading Democrats of his county. He died in Gris- wold April 2, 1888. Elisha Potter married Tacy Newton, November 28, 1822, and had a son, Caleb P. Potter, of Norwich, now deceased. He married (second) Mrs. Crary, a widow. He married (third) Mrs. Angeline (Whitford) Douglass. She was born in Coventry, Rhode Island, and died at the farm in Griswold, Connecticut, October 2, 1898, surviving
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her husband ten years, and leaving a son, John, of further mention.
John Potter was born in Voluntown, Connecticut, November 2, 1869, where the first two years of his life were spent. In 1871 his father moved to Gris- wold, and in 1875 the Captain James farm became the family home. John Potter, then six years of age, grew up on the old farm with its old Colonial man- sion, and but few of his after years have been spent elsewhere. They were years of educational training for a profession he was fated never to follow. He attended the district school in Griswold, then pur- sued a four years' course at New Hampton Literary Institute, at New Hampton, New Hampshire, then entered Yale Law School. There his health failed, and he was obliged to abandon his studies and re- turned to the farm to recuperate. But the death of his father in 1888 demanded that the son succeed him in the farm management. He was then nine- teen years of age, and from that time until the present, the old farm has been under his man- agement. In 1904 he built his present residence, and there he is enjoying all the comforts and pleasures that accrue to the successful American farmer.
Mr. Potter is a Democrat, and for fifteen years at various times served the town of Griswold as selectman and has taken great interest in the town schools, serving as official visitor. In 1895 and in 1916 he represented the district in the State Leg- islature. He is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons, of Jewett City.
He married, October 6, 1897, Bertha I. Barber, born in Killingly, Connecticut, daughter of William J. Barber. Mrs. Potter died July 18, 1910, leaving a son, Paul Barber Potter, born August 6, 1898. He enlisted in the student army during the War with Germany, and is now a student at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine.
CHARLES GEORGE JACOBSON was born in Taftville, Connecticut, June 5, 1887, the son of Fred F. and Sophia (Oleson) Jacobson, both natives of Sweden. Fred F. Jacobson was educated in his native town, Gutenburg, and in 1880 came to this country, settling in Taftville, where he has resided ever since, being engaged in the carpenter's trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson were born four children, Charles George, the subject of this review, being the young- est.
After graduating from the Norwich Grammar School in 1905, Charles George Jacobson entered upon his business career, his first employment being with Hopkins & Allen, where he worked as a machin- ist for two years, subsequently becoming machinist for S. J. Coit, with whom he worked for the follow- ing seven years. In 1914 he opened his repair serv- ice station on Bath street, Norwich, and has been successfully engaged in business here ever since. In politics Mr. Jacobson is a Republican, keenly alive to his responsibilities as a citizen, and taking an active interest in public affairs.
Mr. Jacobson married, April 28, 1916, Esther Rud-
burg, a native of Sweden, and they are the parents of one child, Richard, born March 28, 1917.
Such is the life of Charles George Jacobson, a self- made man, starting in business poor in finances but rich in shrewdness and foresight, traits which dis- tinguish a man among men. He has adapted him- self to circumstances and taken advantage of every opportunity and today stands as one of the respected and prominent citizens of Norwich. Such a man gives promise of still greater achievements.
RANDALL WOOD PALMER-For many gen- erations, Palmers were leading spirits in the town of Montville, a section of that town bearing the name of "Palmertown," and in that section William Henry (2) Palmer, of the eighth generation of the family founded in New England by Walter Palmer, was born, October 1, 1843. William Henry (2) Palmer was the son of William Henry (1) Palmer, son of Gideon, son of Elder Reuben, son of Ger- shom, son of George, son of Deacon Gershom, son of Walter Palmer, the American ancestor, who came to New England as early as 1629, but did not locate in Connecticut until 1653. These were the ances- tors of Randall Wood Palmer, of the ninth American generation, son of William Henry (2), and Adelaide R. (Wood) Palmer, of Fitchville, Connecticut.
William Henry (2) Palmer, son of William Henry (1) and Clarissa (Stanton) Palmer, was born in the town of Montville, New London county, Connecti- cut, October 1, 1843. He was educated in the pub- lic schools, and when seventeen years of age at- tempted to enlist in the Union army. He was re- jected, but later was allowed to enlist, and for three years he served his country as a soldier. After the war he returned home and later became super- intendent of the Arawanna Mills at Middletown, Connecticut. He continued with that and other Mid- dletown companies for a time, finally, in 1886, be- coming associated with Palmer Brothers, of Mont- ville, Connecticut, manufacturers of bed quilts and comfortables. William H. Palmer became superin- tendent of construction and machinery, and several valuable patents owned by the company were the product of his inventive genius.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Palmer gave a great deal of time to the public service, being for four years a member of the Middletown Common Coun- cil, and for three years a member of the School Board. After moving to Norwich, in 1882, he served as alderman; member of the Lower House of the Connecticut Assembly; and in 1895 was elected State Senator. He was also secretary of the Nor- wich Industrial Building Company, and a director of the Norwich Savings Society. He was formerly a commander of Sedgwick Post, Grand Army of the Republic; member of the Republican State Central Committee for eight years; member of the State Board of Education; and affiliated with lodge, chap- ter and council of the Masonic order. He served his community well in whatever position called to, and never sought an office nor declined a public duty.
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Mr. Palmer married (first) Adelaide R. Wood, born in Rhode Island, who died in Middletown, Con- necticut, leaving two sons: Frank E., and Randall W., both of mention in this work. Mr. Palmer married (second) June 15, 1898, Ellen Reynolds, of Washington, D. C.
Randall Wood Palmer, youngest of the two sons of William Henry (2) Palmer and his first wife, Adelaide R. (Wood) Palmer, was born in Middle- town, Connecticut, August 12, 1878. Four years later the family moved to Norwich, Connecticut, and there the lad was educated in the public schools. He was variously employed until September 1, 1902, when he entered the office employ of Palmer Brothers, at Fitchville, Connecticut, and still continues with that company. He began as a clerk in the mill office and advanced in position until 1915, when he was promoted to his present position, assistant superintendent of the mill. In politics, Mr. Palmer is a Republican, and in religious faith an Episco- palian.
HENRY J. SPENCER-Having a model market in every way, Henry J. Spencer, of Mystic, Con- necticut, takes great pride in keeping it up to the standard that he maintained when, in 1898, he be- came proprietor of it. Mr. Spencer deals in every- thing that is good to eat, including meat, fish, vege- tables, and other provisions.
Most of Mr. Spencer's life has been spent in Mystic, where he was born September 16, 1871. His parents were Henry and Emily F. (Denison) Spen- cer, the former being a native of New York State. Henry Spencer began his education in the district school in the section of the State in which he lived, but coming to Stonington, Connecticut, when a young boy, he attended the public school there for a time. His father was a farmer, and after leaving school, Henry Spencer worked upon the farm for a few years, after which he became a fisherman, a calling he followed for many years. In the latter part of his life he gave up deep-sea fishing and took up shipbuilding, working in various shipyards about Mystic. His death occurred in Mystic in 1898, his wife surviving him until 1917. They had a family of six children, the youngest of them being Henry J. Spencer, of whom further.
Spending his boyhood in Mystic, attending the public and high school there, Henry J. Spencer fin- ished his education at Snell's Business College in Norwich, Connecticut. Returning to his native town in 1889, he received the appointment of assistant postmaster of Mystic, holding the office for six years. Going in 1895 to Westerly, Rhode Island, Mr. Spencer obtained a position as clerk there, con- tinuing it until 1898, when he came back to Mystic and bought out the market of A. C. Hayes, a well established business of sixty years' standing. It was and always had been a high-grade food market, and Mr. Spencer has not only continued along the original lines, but has added to its first-class repu-
tation, having introduced new and up-to-date im- provements.
In politics, Mr. Spencer is a Republican; in reli- gion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Mystic. In organization work he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of Stonington Lodge, No. 26, of Mystic.
Henry J. Spencer married, in April, 1896, Lena C. Babcock, a daughter of Francis Babcock, of Mystic. To this union three children have been born: Edith L .; Clifford W .; and Henry R .; all are living at home. Mrs. Spencer is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Mystic, and is also a worker in the Methodist church. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Wes- terly, Rhode Island, which was her church home while a resident of that town.
JOHN ABBOT ACKLEY-One of the substan- tial citizens of the town of Groton, this county, is Mr. Ackley, who has for years conducted extensive farming operations in this vicinity, and for the past fourteen years has carried on what is known as the Miniere place, now being its owner. He also oper- ates and leases the Winthrop place.
Mr. Ackley is a son of Augustus and Sarah (Whip- ple) Ackley. The elder Mr. Ackley was born in Milton, Maine, and educated in the district schools of that neighborhood, after which he worked as a farmer in his native State until 1870, when he came to New London county, Connecticut, bringing his family, and located in Ledyard. Here he purchased a farm, where he still resides, at the age of eighty- three years. His first wife, Sarah (Whipple) Ack- ley, who was the mother of two children, died, and he later married her sister, Josephine M. Whipple, seven children being born to the second union. The sisters were both born in Groton.
John A. Ackley, now the only surviving child of the first marriage, was born in Ledyard, this county, June 2, 1880. He received a practical education in the district schools of that community. As a young man he took up the work which his father had always followed, and was employed on different farms until 1901, when he rented the Barnes place, in Ledyard, and engaged in general farming for him- self. He was very successful, and continued along this line, and in 1907 removed to Poquonnock, in the town of Groton, where he rented the Winthrop farm, conducting it for nine years on a rental basis, then in 1916 purchased the farm, and has since gone forward to even greater success. Politically, Mr. Ackley supports the Republican party, and with his family attends and supports the Congregational church. He is a busy man, taking little leisure from the multitudinous duties which large agricultural operations entail.
On December 15, 1903, Mr. Ackley married Mabel Gottschalk, of Groton, daughter of Henry and Nel- lie (Bingle) Gottschalk. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley are the parents of eight children: Henry and Augus-
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tus, both of whom died in infancy, and the youngest died in infancy, the others being as follows: Wini- fred J., John Edward, Theodore Roosevelt, Ralph William, Edith Mabel. The living children all reside at home.
JACOB MUNZ-In Amriswil, a town of Switzer- land, in the canton of Thurgau, ten miles from Constance, Jacob Munz, of Norwich, Connecticut, was born. He is a son of John Jacob and Caroline (Hungerbuehler) Munz, both natives of the moun- tain republic, the father a manufacturer of cotton yarn until his passing.
Jacob Munz, born August 23, 1866, remained in his native Switzerland until 1889, during that period of twenty-three years acquiring a good education and becoming skilled in the detail of cotton manii- facture, having had the privilege of association with his honored father. In 1889 the young man came to the United States, where he became a student at the Philadelphia Textile School, specializing in the detail of silk manufacture. He passed four years at the school, completing full regular and post- graduate courses, and then went out into the actual manufacturing world, beginning in the silk mills of Paterson, New Jersey. He remained in the "Silk City" six years, being employed in different mills, widening his knowledge of his business and adding greatly to his fund of experience. In 1899, ten years after coming to the United States, he came to Norwich, Connecticut, as superintendent of J. B. Martin & Company, Inc., manufacturers of high quality silk velvets. For nineteen years, 1899-1918, he continued as superintendent, then was advanced to his present position of manager. His qualifica- tions are high, and the position he holds is one that calls for the best that is in him, for Martin velvets are standard and must maintain the highest standard of excellence.
Mr. Munz married, at Paterson, New Jersey, Octo- ber 23, 1899, Charlotte Adelaide Symonds, born in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Munz are the par- ents of a daughter, Helen Jeanette, born in Pater- son, New Jersey. They are members of the Con- gregational church.
GEORGE LACROX-Of Canadian birth and par- entage, George Lacrox was born January 2, 1872, on a farm in West Farnam, Province of Quebec, where his father, Joseph Lacrox, was born in 1840. The elder Mr. Lacrox was a farmer, and in addition was employed in one of the local mills. He came to the United States about 1880, and settled in Bal- tic, Connecticut, where he lived until his death in 1892. He worked as a mill man. He was a member of St. Joseph Society. He married Esther Lam- oureux, also a native of West Farnam, Canada, the daughter of Joseph Lamoureux.
George Lacrox was a boy of eight years when his people came to live in Baltic, Connecticut. He at- tended the parochial school there until sixteen years
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