USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 58
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old, when he went to work in one of the Baltic mills in that section. Later, the mill burning down, the young man went to several different towns, ob- taining employment in the mills, and finally re- turned to Baltic, where he became interested in farming, and has been engaged in that line more than twenty years. In 1898 he bought the Beaver Brook farm of 178 acres.
Mr. Lacrox bought a large farm in Sprague town- ship and has become very successful, keeping an orderly, up-to-date farm, of which he is justly proud. He has become a good American citizen, taking an interest in the affairs of his neighborhood, and has joined the Republican party. He served for six years as a member of the Board of Selectmen.
George Lacrox married Eliza Trudeau, the daugh- ter of Quessine and Adelaide (Aubin) Trudeau. Mrs. Lacrox was born in Lacadie, Dominion of Can- ada, July 10, 1872. Seven children were born of this marriage: I. George Joseplı, born in Natick, Rhode Island, May 1, 1894. 2. Leodore Ouessine, born October 3, 1897, in Moosup, Connecticut. 3. Doloria Beatrice, born in Baltic, April 11, 1900. 4. Fluerdina Virginia, born February 7, 1902, in Baltic. 5. Gilbert Stanislaw, born September 2, 1904, in Baltic. 6. Romeo Hermenegile, born September 13, 1907. 7. Aime Blaise, born in August, 1909. The eldest son, George Joseph, is married, his wife being Leona Eva (Bourque) Lacrox, born in Moosup, Con- nectient, Ajril 1, 1896. She is the daughter of Neol and Eliza Bourque. The Lacrox family are all mem- bers of the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
ROY DUMAS GARDNER-The earilest authen- tic knowledge of the Gardner family is the fact that the original paternal progenitor left the Roger Wil- liams Colony, and coming to New London county, Connecticut, bought a section of land there from the Indians. It is the country of which Gardner's Lake is a part, and there Mr. Gardner now makes his home.
At the time of his birth, the parents of Mr. Gard- ner were residents of Uncasville, Connecticut, where his father, Ulysses Selden Gardner, was occupied in farming, a calling he followed during his entire life. He was born in Bozrah, Connecticut, and his death occurred in 1914. The mother of Roy Dumas Gard- ner was Cleta (Dumas) Gardner, the daughter of a seafaring man, Captain Pierre Dumas, whose ship was stationed in South American waters when his daughter was born on board the vessel.
Roy Dumas Gardner was born in Uncasville, October 17, 1884, and his early life was spent in Bozrah, he attending the local school there. When older the young man attended Norwich Academy for a time, then obtained employment in the Norwich Bleachery, where he remained until 1907, when he came to Montville and entered the mills of the C. M. Robinson Company as a general hand at the plant. At the end of six months he was made the estimator, and continued in this position for some
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years. In 1917 Mr. Gardner made another change in business, going to New Haven and becoming an employee of the Winchester Company in that city. Ilis health breaking down, Mr. Gardner was forced to resign from this occupation and to return to Norwich, six months later accepting a position with the Marlin, Rockwell Corporation, of Norwich. Giving this up and coming to Montville, he finally re-entered the C. M. Robinson Company mill, now known as the Robinson Paper Company, where lic fills the office of superintendent of the plant at the present time.
Mr. Gardner is interested in fraternal matters, be- ing a third degree Mason, a member of Oxoboxo Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Mont- ville. In politics, he is a Republican. He attends and supports the Baptist church.
FREDERICK MARVIN RODMAN-Since com- ing to Franklin in 1895, Frederick Marvin Rodman has devoted his entire time to farming, and his place Is regarded as one of the well conducted properties of the place. In the course of these years Mr. Rod- man has won for himself a place high in the esteem of his fellowmen.
Fred Alphonso Rodman, father of Frederick Mar- vin Rodman, was born at Chatham. He married Harriett Maria Lucas, who was also born in Chath- am. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodman were born two chil- dren: Frederick Marvin, of further mention; and Theresa, who married L. B. Armstrong, of Franklin.
Frederick Marvin Rodman was born at Haddam Neck, Connecticut, October 17, 1876. He attended the public schools of Chatham until he was fourteen years of age, when he came to Franklin, and here has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. That he chose wisely is amply proven by the success which has attended his efforts. His career from its beginning is characterized by much hard and persistent expenditure of labor, and the substantial position that he has come to occupy in the community is the obvious and appropriate re- ward of application of the unstinted order.
On October 17, 1901, Frederick Marvin Rodman was united in marriage with Mary Elizabeth Arm- strong, daughter of Durkee and Julia Ann (Porter) Armstrong. Mrs. Rodman is a native of Franklin, born June 2, 1881. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodman have been born two children: Julia Anna, born May 21, 1906; and William Frederick, born July 15, 1911.
ROBERT PATON, though a native of Scotland, came to the United States at such an early age that he has only a vague knowledge of any other home. His parents came from Scotland to this country in the autumn of 1893, George Paton, the father (of Scottish birth), having come to Montville for the benefit of his health, obtained employment at his trade. He died two years after his arrival here, and was buried in Montville in 1895. His wife, Jane (Smith) Paton, a native of Scotland, is still living
In Montiville. They had a family of seven children: George, Mary, Anne, Ellison, Robert, of further men- tion, and two who died in infancy.
Robert Paton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, November 19, 1884. His education was begun there in the local schools, and after his arrival in Amer- ica, in 1893, lie finished his school days in Mont- ville. After leaving school the youth engaged in mill work in one of the local mills, and has con- tinued along that line ever since, now being over- seer of the packing department in the Palmer Broth- ers' Company Montville mills. A man who is inter- ested in all things connected with his town's prog- ress, Mr. Paton has engaged somewhat in political matters, and for some time past has held the office of register of voters. He is also active in several fraternal socities, being a third degree Mason, a member of Oxoboxo Blue Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and Union Chapter, No. 7, New London, and also is affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In Montville, June 14, 1911, Robert Paton was married to Mary Bell Johnson, daughter of David and Jennie (Young) Johnson, residents of Mont- ville, where their daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Paton have two daughters: Edna May, born in 1914, and Doris Jennie, born in 1917. The family reside in the Palmertown section of Montville. They are members of the Montville Center Congregational Church of Montville.
HENRY JOHN KENDALL-One of the promi- nent farms of Lisbon, New London county, Con- necticut, is that of Henry John Kendall, whose resi- dence in this town has been marked by personal prosperity and a large degree of public usefulness.
Mr. Kendall is a son of John Martin and Julia (Oben) Kendall. John M. Kendall was a native of Keene, New Hampshire, but is now deceased. His wife was born in Toronton, Canada, and still sur- vives him.
Henry John Kendall was born in Ontario, Canada, on December 12, 1862. He received his education in Taftville, Connecticut, where he came in the fall of 1876. Here he worked in the cotton mill for many years, then came to Lisbon, where he bought a farm. This was seventeen years ago, and he still continues active in agricultural lines here. He has been very successful, and has not only established himself here in a financial way, but has become a vital part of the public life of the town of Lisbon.
Mr. Kendall was long since called to the public service, and has held the offices of assessor and first selectman, being the incumbent of the latter office at the present time. He has also served on the Board of Relief, and on the School Board. In 1920 he was elected town representative to the Leg- islature for the State of Connecticut, and is now (1922) serving.
Mr. Kendall married Fannie Maria Holmes, daughter of John and Lucretia Holmes, who was
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born in Columbia, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Ken- dall have eleven children: William, John, Theodore, George, Ralph, Etta, Laura, Rita, Vesta, Edna, and Eva. Mr. Kendall has one brother, William Charles, and a sister, Elsie.
JAMES RAYMOND BOLGER-In the Province of Ontario, Canada, August 10, 1854, James Raymond Bolger was born and there spent his youth. He is a son of Jolin Bolger, also born in Canada, who died in the year 1900, aged sixty-six years. He was a shoemaker by trade, and in early manhood came to the United States. Later in life he was employed at the Natural Bridge in Jefferson county, New York, by the New York Central railroad. He mar- ried Mary Anne MeDonald, who died in 1916, at the age of seventy-four years, and is buried at Natu- ral Bridge, New York.
James Raymond Bolger was brought to the United States by his parents in 1874, and later became a skilled worker in wood. For sixteen years he was superintendent of the Composite Board Company of Niagara Falls, New York, that firm making the fine material used in automobile tops, interior work on steamships, and for various purposes where a light lining or finishing material is necessary. In 1903 Mr. Bolger located in Montville, Connecticut, where he is superintendent of the Keyes Products Com- pany, also manufacturing composite board similar to that made at Niagara.
Mr. Bolger married Elizabeth Kelly, and they are the parents of one child, James, deceased.
OTIS AUSTIN JENCKS-In the farming com- munity of Preston the name of Otis A. Jeneks stands for the most up-to-date developments in dairying, in which branch of practical farming Mr. Jeneks is meeting with unusual success.
Mr. Jeneks is a son of George Albert Jencks, who was born in Norwich and spent the early years of his life there. In later life, after his marriage, he became a resident of the old family homestead of his wife's family, in Preston, for many years known as the Bentley place, a large and handsome farm, which has always been noted for its extensive and well handled dairy business. In the course of time the farm fell to his wife, and he carried it on until his death, in 1920, at the age of sixty-four years. During the latter part of his life, however, owing to a long period of ill health, he kept only a gen- eral oversight of the affairs of the farm. He mar- ried Ella Bentley, daughter of Oliver H. and Mary M. Bentley, and they were the parents of two sons: Harrison, who was born in Preston, June 12, 1882; and Otis Austin, whose name appears at the head of this review.
Otis A. Jencks was born at the Bentley home- stead in Preston, June 15, 1886. He received a practical education in the public schools of his na- tive place, and assisted his father about the farm
work until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he entered the employ of the Shore Line Elec- tric Company, in the capacity of motor-man, fol- lowing this work for a period of eight years. There- after, his father's ill health imperatively demanded his retirement from active work, so Mr. Jencks re- turned to the Preston home, and has since conducted the farm, assuming full responsibility upon his father's death. Mr. Jencks has kept pace with every development of modern science as applied to milk production, and has a model dairy, equipped with every facility for the work in hand. Politically, he supports the principles and policies of the Repub- lican party, and his religious affiliation is with the Baptist church.
On March 1, 1910, Mr. Jeneks married Inez Eliza- beth Brown, who was born in North Stonington, this county, January 15, 1888, daughter of John and Sarah Brown, farming people, now residents of North Stonington. Mr. and Mrs. Jeneks have three children: Howard Bentley, born in Preston, April 24, 1915; and Dorothy May and Donald Lester, twins, born in Preston, July 24, 1916. Donald Lester Jencks died March 6, 1922.
CLARENCE SEYMOUR BEEBE-Farming has always been the occupation of Clarence Seymour Beebe, beginning same when a boy on his father's farm and continuing in his manhod. He is indeed a "son of the soil" of Connecticut, for he is a native of that State and has lived in it all his life.
Born in East Haddam, June 6, 1864, Clarence Sey- mour Beebe was the son of Sherman Beebe, a resident of East Haddam, and Mary Jane (Hul- bert) Beebe, of Portland, Connecticut. The elder Mr. Beebe has always been a farmer also, father and son loving their occupation equally. Sherman Beebe and his wife were the parents of nine children.
The early education of Clarence Seymour Beebe was acquired at the select school of East Haddam, but he was still in his boyhood when he ceased at- tending this institution and devoted his time and energies to the tilling of the land at East Haddam. Seven years ago Mr. Beebe chose Colchester as his future home, and purchasing the farm known as the "Taintor Place," in that township, he and his family moved to this new location, where they continued to reside until April 21, 1921, when Mr. Beebe pur- chased a small place, situated on Main street, in Flanders village, town of East Lyme, to which he and his family removed. He continues farming, only on a much smaller scale.
Clarence Seymour Beebe married Ada Champlin, born in East Haddam, the daughter of John and Marion (Smith) Champlin, residents of that town. Of this union two children were born: 1. Florence, now living in Vermont, the wife of Dennis Bige- low. 2. Grace Seymour, who now resides at home with her parents in Flanders. Mr. Beebe has never become interested in town polities, and never having sought a public office, has not held any.
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SANDS WILLIAM THROOP, for more than fifty years has been a resident of Lebanon, Connec- ticut, following farming as an occupation and lead- ing a quiet life in a delightfully situated region.
To Mr. Throop the soil of Connecticut is his "native heath," for he was born in Mystic, June 14, 1860, spending the early years of his life there, and acquiring an elementary education in its primary school. When seven years old he, with his family, moved to Lebanon, where he has lived ever since.
Mr. Throop is the son of Henry H. Throop, a na- tive of Lebanon, born October 5, 1816, and Matilda A. (Williams) Throop, of Ledyard. She was born June 4, 1835. Henry H. Throop was twice married, his first wife being Eliza Ann (Bissell) Throop, by whom he had one child, Mary Bissell, who died in infancy. The second wife, Matilda A. (Williams) Throop, was the mother of four children: I. John James, born in Lebanon, July 5, 1856. 2. Sands William, of further mention. 3. Mary Welch, born in Lebanon, May 17, 1869, who died as a girl. 4. Sarah Elizabeth, married C. W. Allen, of Groton, born November 1, 1873, and they were the parents of five children: Wilson T., Matilda W., Richard, Robert, and Elizabeth. Henry H. Throop purchased, in 1867, the homestead which is located in the western part of the town and where his children grew to maturity. He also owned the old Troupf farm in the eastern part of town.
Though holding to the principles of the Repub- lican party, Sands W. Throop is not a politician and has neither sought nor held any public office. He is, however, actively interested in the work of the Grange.
Sands William Throop married Mary S. Williams, of Lebanon, who was born May 3, 1856, the daughter of Nathaniel B. and Jane Elizabeth (Parker) Wil- liams, the former a native of Lebanon, where he lived all his life, a farmer and landowner, and where he died, September 5, 1918, in his ninety-seventh year. Jane Elizabeth (Parker) Williams was a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; she died April 29, 1903, at the age of eighty years. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of two children: 1. Ellen C., who married Rev. Leander Elliott Livermore, a native of Independence, New York, who lives in Lebanon in the summer months and in Florida in winter. 2. Mary S. (Mrs. Sands William Throop). Mr. and Mrs. Throop have no children.
CHARLES HENRY PEABODY was born Sep- tember 3, 1840, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Baker) Peabody. His early childhood was spent on his father's farm, which lies at the corner where the towns of Salem, Montville and East Lyme unite. When he was eleven years of age he removed with his parents to Waterford and here he has resided continuously up to the present time. A young man at the outbreak of the Civil War, heartily in sympa- thy with the cause of the Union, and fired with the
patriotism which swept the North at the firing on Fort Sumter, he enlisted in November, 1861, as a private in the Volunteer Infantry of the 12th Con- necticut Regiment, going almost immediately to the fighting line. With his regiment he participated in the following stirring engagements of the war: Georgia Landing, October 27, 1862; Pattersonville, March 27, 1863; B-, April 18, 1863; the Siege of Port Hudson, May 25, July 9, 1863; Winchester, September 19, 1864; Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864; and Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. He was. twice promoted on the field, and was honorably dis- charged from the United States service as a commis- sary sergeant, August 22, 1865. On his return to the North he again took up his residence at the old homestead and here he has since been engaged in farming on a large scale.
Mr. Peabody is a Republican in politics, and has identified himself closely with the affairs of the local organization which has elected him to many important offices. He is a member of Perkins Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and in religion is a Baptist.
In 1870, at Waterford, Connecticut, Charles Henry Peabody was united in marriage with Josephine Douglas, and to them have been born six children: Charles Douglas, who died at the age of fourteen, and is buried at Waterford; Myra, who married the late J. Frank Rogers, of Stony Creek, and has one child, Douglas Francis; Joseph, an engineer; Ray- mond Avery, born June 29, 1889, and married Mil- dred Lord; Josephine; and Lucy D.
JOHN EDWIN BURGESS-Since becoming fifteen years of age, John Edwin Burgess has de- voted himself to farming and today his property, which he bought in 1899, is regarded as one of the well-conducted places in this region, due in no small part to the tireless energy with which he has de- voted himself towards its cultivation.
Philo Burgess, father of John Edwin Burgess, was born in Franklin, Connecticut, and has devoted his entire lifetime to farming. He married Emily Bliven, and to them was born a son, John Edwin, of further mention.
John Edwin Burgess was born at Lebanon, Con- necticut, November 4, 1880. He attended the local district school until he was fifteen years of age, when he terminated his studies and went to work upon his father's farm. Here he continued to aid the elder man, in the meantime gaing a wide and extensive knowledge on the subject of farming, and in the short space of four years he had become so well skilled in agricultural methods generally that he rented the George Hewitt farm at Kick Hill, upon which he resided for twenty years. He later purchased his present place, upon which he has con- tinued to reside ever since, and today is reckoned among the most successful farmers of the com- munity. Mr. Burgess has never taken any active
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part in public affairs, although he displays always a deep interest in the welfare of the town which lias been his home for so many years.
Mr. Burgess married (first) Charlotte Hewitt, a native of Lebanon; she died in 1909. To this union were born two children: Maurice, born February 20, 1903; and Edna, born Jannary II, 1904. Mr. Bur- gess married (second) Iva Bogne, a native of Mont- ville, and the daughter of Charles and Nellie (Brown) Bogue. Mr. and Mrs. Burgess are the par- ents of one child, Donald, born May 10, 1912.
JAMES BYRON BRIGHAM is a member of one of the oldest families of Vermont, his great-grand- father, Paul Brigham, having emigrated to that State in his early manhood, making the trip on foot from North Coventry, Connecticut, his wife making the trip on horseback, he driving a number of pigs and other cattle. They settled on what has since bech known as Brigham Hill. Paul Brigham served in the Revolutionary War, and for twenty years was governor of the State of Vermont.
James Monroe Brigham, son of Paul Worcester Brigham, and father of James Byron Brigham, was born at Norwich, Vermont, and for many years previous to his death, which occurred in February, 1920, carried on successful farming operations there. He married Harriett Partridge, and to them was born a son, James Byron, of further mention.
James Byron Brigham was born on the old home- stead at Norwich, Vermont, June 6, 1883. His child- hood was spent on his father's farm, and his spare time was given to aiding the elder man in his work about the place. He continued to reside with his parents until he was twenty years of age, then went to work for Swift & Company. Through these many years he has continued with this organization, and is now, 1921, manager of the New London Tallow Company, at Waterford, Connecticut. Mr. Brigham also owns a place called Whitehall Farm at Water- ford, and here he specializes in graded cattle on an extensive scale. Although he has never taken an active part in politics, Mr. Brigham has always taken a keen interest in the Republican party, in which members of his family have been prominent for many generations. He is a member of the Grange and the County Farm Bureau, and gives most generously of his substance to everything which he believes will further civic progress.
Mr. Brigham married (first) Mattie Hutchison, of Hanover, New Hampshire, and to them were born five children: Chester Hutchison, who, dur- ing the World War, was stationed at the experi- mental station at New London, and is now a resi- dent of Waterford; Holland Worcester; Eva Belle; Nina; and James Byron. Mr. Brigham married (second) Minnie Greenhagen, a native of New York City, and they are the parents of one child, Mildred Catherine, born February 15, 1916.
THOMAS ALVIN LYMAN-The entire life of Thomas Alvin Lyman has been spent in the follow- ing of agricultural pursuits, his entire interests having been interwoven with the interests of his na- tive place, and to the maintenance and advancement of those interests he has been steadfastly loyal.
Albert G. Lyman, father of Thomas A. Lyman, was born in Lebanon, in 1838, and died there, April 12, 1900. He was a farmer throughout his entire lifetime. He married Lucinda Segar, and to them were born two children: Thomas Alvin, of further mention; and Engene.
Thomas Alvin Lyman was horn in Lebanon, in the part known as "The Hollow," January 29, 1851. He attended the schools of his native place until he was eighteen years of age, when he secured work on a farm in the northern part of the township. At the age of twenty-one lie went to South Winsor, continuing his agricultural pursuits, Jater removing to Lebanon, where he still pursues the same voca- tion on what is known as "Mariners Corner." In politics he is a staunch Republican, entering with public-spirited interest into the advancement of any cause which promises betterment of municipal gov- ernment, but studiously refraining from taking any active part in political affairs. In religion he is a Baptist and attends the church of that denomina- tion in Lebanon.
On March 1, 1876, Mr. Lyman was united in mar- riage with Julia Ely Adams, the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Bailey) Adams, of Willimantic, Connec- ticut. Mrs. Lyman passed away April 10, 1917. To Mr. and Mrs. Lyman was born one child, Grace, who died at the age of twenty-one years, and is buried in Lebanon Cemetery.
EDWARD ALBERT HOXIE-Among the prom- nent residents of Lebanon, Connecticut, is Edward Albert Hoxie, who takes a public-spirited interest in every good cause and worthy enterprise, and whose entire life has been devoted to the advance- ment and maintenance of those interests to which he has always been steadfastly loyal.
Albert Thomas Hoxie, father of the subject of this review, was born in Kingston, Rhode Island, and obtained his education in the schools of his na- tive place, after which he went to work upon his father's farm. His parents came to Lebanon, when he was a boy in school, and bought a farm. Here he continued to follow his agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred October 13, 1916. He married Mary Elizabeth Tucker, a native of Leb- anon, and they were the parents of eight children: Edward Albert, of whom further; Samuel, de- ceased; Clarence, deceased; Myron, deceased; Fred- erick; Herbert; Minnie, deceased; and Clarence.
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