USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 61
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(IV) Thomas (2) Main was born in Stonington, February 12, 1721, and there spent his entire life. He married Mary Pendleton, February 3, 1742, and they were the parents of four children, including a son, Thomas (3).
(V) Thomas (3) Main was born in Stonington, August 8, 1747, and resided there, a prosperous farmer, until his death. He married Dolly Wood- ward, and they had eight children, among them a son, Thomas (4).
(VI) Thomas (4) Main was born at the old home in Stonington, but when a young man settled in the town of Ledyard in the same county, where he died, aged eighty-seven years. He was a man of powerful physique, a hard worker, and a prosperous farmer. He was a Democrat and held several town offices, his genial manners rendering him very popu- lar. He married Lois Brown, and they were the parents of sixteen children, all of whom grew to mature years and married, except Nathaniel, the eleventh child, who remained on the old homestead in Ledyard all his life, and died unmarried. All were the parents of children (one having a family of ten) except Thomas B., the eldest, who married Lydia Hall, and died without children. The fourth child and son was William Leeds Main, head of the seventh generation in the branch, father of John L. Main and grandfather of Calvin R. Main.
(VII) William Leeds Main was born in the town of Ledyard, New London county, Connecticut, July 4, 1812, and died there June 22, 1890. During
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his active years lie operated a general store in Led- yard, a grist mill, a saw mill and was a large land- owner. Energetic, conscientious, and upright, he prospered abundantly, but always in honorable un- dertakings, for he held his word sacred, and rendered and demanded strict justice. He was a loyal friend, and freely extended a helping hand to others less fortunate than himself. He held several town offices, and at one time represented the Led- yard district in the State Legislature. He married, February 26, 1837, Sarah A. Frink, born April 11, 1818, and died October 30, 1859, daughter of Zach- ariah and Phoebe E. (Holmes) Frink. William L. and Sarah A. (Frink) Main were the parents of eleven children: 1. Sarah Maria, married David Boss. 2. John L., of further mention. 3. Leeds, married Sarah Holdridge. 4. Phoebe E., married (first) John Finnegan, and (second) William Har- rington. 5. Laura H., who never left the homestead. married Sarah Holdridge. 4. Phoebe E., married William Richmond. 8. Alonzo, married Ethel Main. 9. Melissa, twin with Alonzo; married Joseph E. Holdridge. 10. Horace H., married Phoebe Partelo. II. Amos, married Lucy Madison.
(VIII) John L. Main, eldest son of William Leeds and Sarah A. (Frink) Main, was born in Led- yard, New London county, Connecticut, August 25, 1841. He spent his entire life as a farmer, and died in February, 1916, and is buried in the town of Pres- ton. He served with the Second Regiment, Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry, and was with the Army of the Potomac in its campaigns until injured by a falling tent pole. He married Phoebe Frink, born in North Stonington, in March, 1845, died in October, 1918, and is buried in Preston county. She was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hopkins) Frink, her father being a Union soldier, who died from his hardship and experience endured while in the serv- ice. John L. and Phoebe E. (Frink) Main were the parents of seven children: William O., deceased; John I .; Sadie E .; Calvin R., of further mention; Nellie M .; Melissa A .; and Grace E.
(IX) Calvin Rawson Main, of the ninth genera- tion of the family in New London county, Connecti- cut, was born in the town of Ledyard, June 15, 1872, his birthplace being about one mile from his present farm and residence. He was educated in the public schools and after completing his own study, taught the winter terms in the district school. He contin- ued this until 1899, when at the age of twenty-seven he entered the Plute Homeopathic Medical School at Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1902. He practiced for two years after graduation in Warren county, Ohio, but his own health breaking, he withdrew from practice and spent two months at Hot Springs, Arkansas, then, in 1905, returned to the old farm in Ledyard. Out- door work and exercise quickly built him up and he later purchased his present farm, not far from his birthplace.
Dr. Main has never returned to active practice, but is well known for his extensive orchards and his high-grade cattle. He is at present a member of the Board of Selectmen, and has served his town as assessor, member of the School Board and Board of Relief.
Dr. Main married Gertrude Kenneth, born in New York City, daughter of Rev. Albert and Elizabeth (Roycroft) Kenneth. Dr. and Mrs. Main are the parents of four children: I. Kenneth Walton, born October 3, 1900. 2. Calvin Rawson (2), born July 6, 1903. 3. Caroline Elizabethi, born April 19, 1905. 4. Robert Winston, born October 21, 1908.
OLIVER M. BELLEFLEUR-Among the young- er men of Norwich who are placing the city in the front line of business progress is Oliver M. Belle- fleur, whose up-to-date drug store at No. 40 Spauld- ing street, is one of the dependable establishments of this nature. Mr. Bellefleur's personal history is of interest to every one who knows him in a busi- ness way.
Of French descent, as is indicated by the name, Mr. Bellefleur's father, Oliver L. Bellefleur, was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, on August 3, 1857. He has for many years been a resident of Taftville, where he has carried on the drug business in which he is now assisted by his son. He mar- ried Telouise Goulet, who was born in 1856.
Oliver M. Bellefleur was born in Taftville, in the suburbs of Norwich, on November 13, 1892. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of the vicinity, following which he continued his studies at the Norwich Free Academy. For his technical study he went to the Massachusetts College of Phar- macy, and there prepared for the career in which he has made such a promising beginning.
The urgent call of humanity, to which so many thousands of our young men responded, reached Mr. Bellefleur at the outset of his career. He enlisted during the World War in the Medical Corps at Boston, Massachusetts, was assigned to General Hospital No. 14, Oglethorpe, Georgia, was later transferred to the Hook-Worm Survey Corps, and still later was detailed to the Officers' Training School of the United States Infantry. He was dis- charged on November 30, 1918, and returned to Nor- wich, where he again took up his interrupted work, and has since been associated with his father in the drug business. Mr. Bellefleur is interested in every phase of public progress, civic, State, and National. He has aligned himself with the Republican party, and bears a part in every movement for the public good.
HARRY JOSEPH MORSE, proprietor of the ex- tensive electrical engineering business of Olsen & Morse since the withdrawal of his partner, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on August 6, 1882, and is a son of George and Mary (Bowden) Morse.
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As one of the representative men of Norwich, Con- necticut, his life story is of interest to the people of New London county.
George Morse, father of Harry J. Morse, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of that city. He then served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and later became a prominent contractor and builder in Water- bury. It was in 1888 that he established himself in this business, and he continued along the same line until 1895, when his untimely death, in the very prime of life, cut short a most promising carecr. He died in the town of Prospect, one of the hill suburbs of Waterbury. His wife, who was born in Snow Hill, Maryland, still survives him, residing in Bristol, Connecticut. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Florence, who became the wife of Edward Drake, superinten- dent of the casting department of one of the large Bristol foundries; Sarah, who became the wife of Ernest Gilford, an architect and draftsman, of Water- bury, and who is now deceased, her death occurring in 1915; Harriet, twin sister of Harry Joseph, the Norwich engineer, now the wife of Ernest Hubbell, a caster in a brass foundry, formerly of Waterbury, but now a resident of Bristol; and Harry Joseph, whose name heads this review.
Harry Joseph Morse received a thoroughly prac- tical education in the public and high schools of Waterbury, Connecticut, being graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1900. Directly thereafter he entered the employ of the New Eng- land Engineering Company, of Waterbury, remain- ing with this company for five years. During that entire period Mr. Morse occupied every possible moment in the study of electrical engineering, be- coming thoroughly expert in this line of work. He then became associated with the New England En- gineering Company, of New York City, as traveling electrical engineer, installing all kinds of electrical equipment in various parts of the country. He re- mained with them for fifteen years, then, in 1918, in company with Louis Olsen, founded the business which is now a prominent interest in the electrical world of New London county. They established themselves as electrical contractors, covering from the first a very wide field, and achieving remarkable success. Mr. Morse bought out Mr. Olsen in 1900, and has since carried on the business alone, handling the extensive operations of his employees with the same efficiency which built up the reputation of the firm.
Mr. Morse is an influential member of the Nor- wich Chamber of Commerce, a man of broad views and sound judgment. Politically, he supports the principles of the Republican party, but has never been a candidate for political office.
Mr. Morse married, in June, 1902, May Maude Doolcy, of Waterbury, Connecticut. Mrs. Morse is a daughter of Hartley W. and Elizabeth (Bis- sell) Dooley, of that city. Their children are:
George B .; Hartley B .; Harry Joseph, Jr .; Leon L., deceased; and Lucille M. The family are members of the United Congregational Church of Norwich, and interested in all the social and benevolent acti- vities of the church.
ALBERT ELLSWORTH FIELDING is a direct descendant of Uncas, first chief of the Mohegans. The Indian Chief Uncas, born about 1588, was a Pequot, but for heading a revolt against Sassacus, chief of his tribe, he was cast out in 1635. He had many followers, whom he organized into an inde- pendent tribe, to whom he gave the ancient name of the Pequots-Mohegan, and became their chief. His territory lay to the East and North of Lyme. He signed a treaty of peace with the whites, and in 1637 was with Mason's Expedition against the Pe- quots, which completely destroyed their power. After the war he evinced such friendliness for his former tribe that the English grew suspicious of him. In 1643 a feud, long smoldering, broke out between the Narragansetts and the Mohegans, and in a battle between one thousand Narragansetts, led by their chief, Miantonomo, and six hundred Mohegans, led by Uncas, Miantonomo was taken prisoner. Uncas had proposed to Miantonomo be- fore the battle that to save the lives of many of their warriors the two met, saying: "Come like a man and we will fight it out." Miantonomo replied: "My men came to fight and they shall fight." They did fight, and although outnumbered, the Mohegans won.
Miantonomo was captured and confined in jail at Hartford, but the English condemned him to death, having decided at a meeting of the commis- sioners that "Uncas cannot be safe while Mianton- omo lives." He was accordingly put to death by the Mohegans, the English approving. Later, in 1656, when sore pressed and surrounded by their foes, the Narragansetts, Mohawks, and Pocomatocks, Uncas got word through to an English captain whom he knew, Thomas Leffingwell, who came to his relief with a canoe loaded with food. Thus heart- ened, Uncas drove off his foes and regained his power. His gratitude to Thomas Leffingwell knew no bounds, and he deeded him all the lands now in- cluded within the borders of the city of Norwich. Leffingwell failed to record the deed to this land, but not for other gifts made him by Uncas, and that land is yet in the Leffingwell name.
Uncas kept faith with the English and shielded the colonists from the attacks of other tribes. In one of his eloquent speeches, he said: "This heart is not mine, but yours. I have no men, they are all yours. Command, I will do it. I will not believe Indians against the English. If any kills an Eng- lishman, I will kill him." He was too old to fight in King Philip's War, but his son, Oneco, aided in the defeat of seven hundred of King Philip's men at Hadley. In 1825 a granite obelisk was erected to the memory of Uncas at Norwich, Connecticut,
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the corner stone being laid by General Andrew Jack- son. Uncas died at his capital in 1682.
There are now but forty full-blooded Indians of the Mohegan tribe living, but the tribal relation is continued, Lemuel Miller Occum Fielding being the present chief consul, he five generations removed from the first chief, the great Uncas. When the photoplay, "The Last of the Mohegans," was being filmed, this remnant of the once powerful tribe, led by their chief, aided in several of the scenes. Al- bert Ellsworth Fielding is a son of the present chief, and can claim the proud title of "American," for he is of pure Indian blood, six generations from Uncas.
Lemuel Miller Occum Fielding, chief consul of the Mohegan tribe of Indians, derived the name Occum from Sampson Occum, who married a daugh- ter of Uncas, the first Mohegan chief. For thirty- three years he has been engaged in the wholesale drug house of Lee & Osgood, of Norwich. He mar- ried Alice Betsey Casey, born in Plainfield, Connec- ticut, February 12, 1864, and they have a daughter, Mystice, wife of James Otis Germaine, and four sons: Albert Ellsworth, of further mention; Everett Miller, Elmer Morrison, and Lemuel Osgood Field- ing.
Albert Ellsworth Fielding was born in the town of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, Jan- uary 30, 1890, and was educated in the public schools. In 1909 he sailed on a whaling voyage to the Antarc- tic Ocean, a voyage which consumed many months. He sailed on the schooner "Margaret," the object being to capture seals as well as whales. Upon his return from his successful voyage to the frozen seas, he entered Washington College, in Tennessee. After his return to his home he accepted a position in the Connecticut State Hospital at Norwich, and there continues.
During the period of war between the United States and Germany, Mr. Fielding served in the United States navy, on the U. S. S. "Munplace," entering the service June 23, 1918, and receiving honorable discharge in June, 1919. During his serv- ice he made two voyages overseas to France.
Mr. Fielding married Isabella Mary McGee, born in Brooklyn, New York, October 6, 1894, daughter of Charles McGee. Mr. and Mrs. Fielding are the parents of a son, Albert Ellsworth (2), born in Nor- wich, January 20, 1920.
ALBERT HARRISON FOOTE-The town of Colchester, New London county, Connecticut, has long been the home of members of the Foote family found in Connecticut, Nathaniel Foote being first of New England record at Watertown, Massachu- setts, where he took the oath of allegiance in 1633. Later, he became of the first settlers of Wethers- field, Connecticut, where he died in 1644, "an intelli- gent, pious, and industrious farmer," and one of the imagistrates of the colony of Connecticut. He was succeeded by his son, Nathaniel (2) Foote, and he
by his son, Nathaniel (3) Foote, whose widow, Mar- garet Bliss Foote, died in Colchester, Connecticut, April 3, 1745, aged ninety-five years. Although there is no record that Nathaniel (3) Foote lived in Colchester (dying in Wethersfield), some of his children settled there, and the town has never since been without a goodly Foote representation.
This Nathaniel (3) Foote and his wife Margaret (Bliss) Foote, had born to them a son, Joseph Foote, December 28, 1690, who married (first) Ann Clothier, and lived in Colchester, where their son, Jeremiah Foote, was born, October 11, 1725. Jere- miah Foote married Ruhama Northam, of Colches- ter, and there he died May 15, 1784, his widow sur- viving him until February 8, 1809, passing away aged eighty-two years Their son, Stephen Foote, born in 1755, married April 29, 1779, Esther Clark, of Colchester, and there lived on the old homestead.
Erastus Foote, son of Stephen and Esther (Clark) Foote, was born at the homestead in Colchester, May 9, 1790, and there resided all his life. He mar- ried Betsey Crouch, and one of their children was a son, Albert, also born on the same farm in Col- chester, as his father.
Albert Foote, of the eighth American generation, a descendant of the original Nathaniel Foote and his wife, Elizabeth Deming, was born in the town of Colchester, New London county, Connecticut, July 22, 1821, and here spent his life, a farmer, being buried in a private burial plot on the farm on which he was born. He died September 30, 1869, aged forty-eight. He married Mary Ann Chase, born in Amherst, Massachusetts, who long survived him, dying at the age of seventy-five. Albert Foote was school committeeman and held other local offices.
Albert Harrison Foote, son of Albert and Mary Ann (Chase) Foote, was born at the old Foote farm in Colchester, New London county, Connecticut, Jan- uary 1, 1853, and has passed his entire life at the homestead which he now owns (1921). He was edu- cated in the public schools, and early became his father's farm assistant. He was sixteen years of age when his father died, and he continued at the homestead, managing the farm for his mother. Later, he purchased the interest of the heirs of Albert Foote, and became sole owner of the Foote homestead now embracing one hundred and thirty- nine acres, which he devotes to general farming and dairying. He is one of the prosperous, substantial farmers of his town, and he has fully maintained the honor of the Foote name, one that dates back so far into the past history of Colchester.
Mr. Foote is a Republican in politics, and had held several local offices: Assessor of taxes, school committeeman, and member of the Board of Relief, his service in public office covering a long period of years. In November, 1920, he was elected to repre- sent Colchester in the Connecticut House of Repre- sentatives, serving during the session of 1921 on the committees of labor, and sale of lands. He is a member of Colchester Methodist Episcopal church,
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and was formerly a member of the board of trus- tees. He is affiliated with the American Order United Workmen, and with the Patrons of Hus- bandry, the family all being members of Colchester Grange. He also belongs to the fraternal and bene- ficial order, Woodmen of the World, and is inter- ested in these various organizations for mutual benefit.
Mr. Foote married, April 6, 1881, at Colchester, Ella Louise Payson, born in Andover, Connecticut, daughter of E. Ferdinand and Emma (Wilbur) Pay- son, and they are the parents of three sons: Alli- son Albert Foote, born January 31, 1882, died De- cember 29, 1891; Frank Edward Foote, born May 20, 1891, now with the New Haven Dairy Company, at New Haven, Connecticut; and Elmer Harrison Foote, born November 11, 1893, now associated with his father in the management of the home farm, which has known no owner but a Foote for so many years. Elmer H. Foote is a member of Wooster Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Colchester Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and a chapter of the order of the Eastern Star.
GEORGE BYRON DIMON-The pleasant farm on Chestnut Hill in Lebanon township, New London county, Connecticut, is owned and occupied by George Byron Dimon, who in addition to his agricul- tural activities is extensively engaged in chicken- raising and breeding Cocker Spaniel dogs. He is also manager of the Columbia Co-Operative Asso- ciation, Incorporated, which does a business of from $60,000 to $70,000 a year.
John Dimon, father of George Byron Dimon, was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, July 18, 1828. In his early manhood he was bookkeeper and general man- ager for the Store Peacedale Manufacturing Com- pany in Rhode Island, and after severing his con- nection with that concern was for several years engaged in operating a large farm on Prudence Isl- and. In 1865 he purchased a farm in Pomfret, Con- necticut, a large tract containing 255 acres and gen- erally known as the Dimon Stock Farm. Here he bred fancy stock of various kinds, ineluding Ayr- shires, Devons, Guernseys, and Jersey cattle, trot- ting, running, and general purpose horses, fancy poultry of leading varieties, sheep, swine, etc., con- tinuing in this line for nineteen years, at the end of which time, in 1884, he sold out and went to De- troit, Michigan. There he purchased a livery and boarding stable business, which he conducted until 1888. He then purchased a large stock, grain, and dairy farm at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where, with his son, George B. Dimon, as assistant, he remained for a period of seven years. He then went back to New England, settling in Hartford, Connecticut, where his long years of study and practical experi- ence in the breeding and raising of horses were gathered together in a book which he published, en- titled, "American Horses and Horse Breeding." He
died in East Hartford, Connecticut, in 1898, at the age of seventy years. He married Hanna Barney, and they were the parents of George Byron Dimon, the subject of this sketch.
George Byron Dimon was born in Pomfret, Con- necticut, July 20, 1868, and received his earliest edu- cation in the village school at Pomfret, later at- tending the district school in Putnam. When four- teen years of age he became a pupil of the Brighton Academy in Boston, where he continued his studies for several years. When his education was com- pleted he realized a long cherished desire to visit the great Northwest, of which he had heard much since his father's westward migration in 1884. Young George B. Dimon visited many cities and towns, both in Canada and in the United States, working for two years in Detroit, Michigan, where his father was then located, and for seven years at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was associated with his father in the milk business, his share of the work being the retail delivery of milk over an ex- tensive route. When this business was sold both father and son returned to New England, settling in Hartford, Connecticut, where the son became asso- ciated with the creamery business of J. J. and Rev. Francis Goodwin, on Woodland street. There he remained for eight years, having charge of the pri- vate creamery of the above mentioned gentlemen and caring for a herd of Jersey stock. This connee- tion he maintained until 1903, when he returned to New London county and settled in Lebanon. He purchased a farm on Chestnut Hill, which is his present home. Here he does not confine himself to the raising of the usual farm erops. He has a flock of from 600 to Soo laying hens, is an extensive breeder of Cocker Spaniels, which he ships to all parts of the country, this breed being extensively used for hunting, and in addition to all these aetivi- ties and interests is the efficient manager of the Columbia Co-Operative Association, Incorporated, which handles from three to six cars of grain a month and does a yearly business of from $60,000 to $70,000. The association unloads at Chestnut Hill, Andover, and Bolton Notch, and handles the products of a large number of farms.
Mr. Dimon takes an active interest in the welfare of the district in which he lives, and serves the pub- lic interests in various ways. He is a member of the School Board, and in 1920 was elected a member of the High School Committee, appointed for the pur- pose of building a suitable plant for the high school. The committee has met its responsibilities with marked ability and success, and has completed the George Lyman High School at Lebanon, situated on South Green, opposite the Congregational church. Mr. Dimon is also a member and chairman of the board of trustees of the Liberty Hill Congrega- tional Church.
In 1893, at Decatur, Indiana, George Byron Dimon married Eva Wagner, who was born January 7,
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1868, daughter of James and Lydia (Martz) Wagner, residents of Indiana. One son was born of this marriage, George Richard, his birth occurring June 13, 1904.
ALBERT BOARDMAN-One of the well known names in the business and political circles of Nor- wich is that of Albert Boardman, the head of the Household Store on Franklin street, and one of the foremost leaders of the Socialist party in this part of the State.
The Boardman family originated in England, and Peter Boardman, Mr. Boardman's father, was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, bringing his family to the United States in 1870. Being by trade a weaver of cotton cloth, hie settled in Fall River, Massachusetts, later removing to New Bedford, where he died in 1901. He married Sarah Ann Pet- tinger, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and who died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1911. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are living, as follows: Albert, whose name heads this review; Horace Peter, a sketch of whom follows; and Alice Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Rhoades, of Philadelphia.
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