USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 71
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FRED ALFRED CARON-The C. and C. Paint Shop was established in New London, in 1919, by Fred A. Caron and Fred Cross, both expert painters and finishers of automobile bodies. Mr. Caron is a native son of New London, and learned his trade in Bridgeport, Connecticut; he was called for service and in the aviation department "did his bit" in the war with Germany, 1917-18. He is a son of Christopher and Matilda Caron, his father born in Baltic, a town of Sprague, New London county, Connecticut. Christopher Caron attended the public school and for several years worked as a farm hand in the town of Sprague. Later he moved with his family to Taftville, and there, for many years, was foreman of the large farm owned and cultivated by the Ponemah Mills Company. He also lived in New London before moving to Taft- ville, where he died in 1915, and there his widow, Matilda still resides (1921). Mr. and Mrs. Caron were the parents of eight children, the seventh a son, Fred Alfred, of further mention.
Fred Alfred Caron was born in New London, Connecticut, October 10, 1891. He was educated in the public schools of Taftville, Connecticut, and at Norwich Free Academy, whence he graduated, class of 1906. From 1906 to 1908 he was in the employ of the Pope-Hartford Automobile Company at Hartford, Connecticut, but returned to Norwich in 1908, and was engaged as chauffeur in various places until 1914, when he went to Bridgeport, Con- necticut, and served an apprenticeship with the Bridgeport Body Company, there learning high class painting and finishing of automobile bodies. He had
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spent three years there when called for service in the United States army. Entering the army in No- vember, 1917, he was assigned to the aviation serv- ice, becoming crew captain on the De Auerland Air- plane stationed at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. Later he was transferred to Dayton, Ohio, con- tinuing in the service until honorably discharged January 17, 1919. He then located in New London, where in partnership with Fred Cross, he estab- lished the C. & C. Paint Shop for auto painting. Mr. Caron is a member of John Coleman Prince Post of the American Legion; is independent in politics, and is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
He married in Norwich, in 1913, Yvonne Marcille, and they have two children: Jeanne A. and Eva, the last named dying in infancy.
NORMAN CHURCH LATHROP-Two genera- tions of the Lathrops have lived in New England, the family tracing their descent from Rev. John Lathrop, a minister of the Church of England, who for failure to conform to ecclesiastical authority was imprisoned, but was released on condition that he should leave England. He arrived in New England with his family in 1634, and was admitted a freeman of Plymouth Colony in 1636-37, and two years later with a greater part of the congregation of the church he had founded at Scituate, moved to Barnstable, Massachusetts. He is described as a man of "deep piety, great zeal and large ability." The line of descent from Rev. John Lathrop to his descendant of the tenth American generation, Norman Church Lathrop, of Uncasville, Connecticut, is thus out- lined: Rev. John Lathrop and his first wife, who died in England while her husband was in prison; their son, Samuel Lathrop, who came from England with his father, and in 1648 moved to now New London, Connecticut, moving to Norwich twenty years later, and there died in 1700, and his first wife, Elizabeth Scudder; their son, Israel Lathrop, of Norwich, Connecticut, and his wife Rebecca Bliss; their son, Samuel Lathrop, of Bozrah, Con- necticut, and his wife, Elizabeth Waterman; their son Captain Elisha Lathrop, of Borah, Connecticut, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, and his first wife, Margaret Sluman; their son, Lebbeus Lathrop, of Norwich, and Borah, Connecticut; their son, Leb- beus (2) Lathrop, of Bozrah and Lebanon, Connecti- cut, and his wife, Lucretia Maples; their son, Harvey Lathrop, of Lebanon and Norwich, Connecticut, and his wife, Octavia Woodworth; their son, John Baldwin Lathrop, and his first wife, Alice M. Church; their son, Norman Church Lathrop, to whom this review is inscribed.
John Baldwin Lathrop was born in the town of Lebanon, New London county, Connecticut, March 24, 1848, and died in 1909. He was educated in the public schools, then learned the carpenter trade in Norwich, but later . purchased the Norman E. Church interest in a general trucking business in Montville, and continued that business in partner-
ship with his brother, Arthur D. Lathrop, until October, 1873, when he bought full control and continued its successful operation of the business until his death. But this was only one of his acti- vities. He conducted an extensive coal business with the Montville Mills, and was president of the Uncas Dyewood and Extract Company, founded on the business of the Johnson Dye Works. Mr. Lathrop was a member of Oxoboxo Lodge, No. 116, Free and Accepted Masons, of Montville; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; a Republican, and a useful, influential citizen of Montville, very popular and highly esteemed.
Mr. Lathrop married (first), January 1, 1873, Alice M. Church, who died in Montville, December 22, 1885, daughter of Norman E. Church, of Montville. They were the parents of two children: Norman Church, of further mention; and one who died in infancy. Mr. Lathrop married (second), October 14, 1887, Mary B. Robertson, daughter of Carmichael Robertson,, who died in December, 1888. He mar- ried (third), April 29, 1891, Addie L. Church, a sister of his first wife, who yet survives her husband, a resident of Montville (1921).
Norman Church Lathrop, only son of John Baldwin Lathrop and his first wife, Alice M. (Church) Lath- rop, was born October 8, 1874, his birthplace just across the road from his present residence, four gen- erations of his ancestors having occupied the home- stead. He was educated in the public schools of the district (Norwich), and Mt. Hermon, finishing at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. He then returned home and after farming for a time was associated with his father in the truck- ing and coal business in Montville. He is now a farmer in the village of Uncasville, in the town of Montville.
Mr. Lathrop married, May 23, 1897, in Water- ford, Lulu Perry, born in Waterford, Connecticut, May 3, 1875, daughter of Alvin and Louisa (Hewitt) Perry, her mother of the old New London county Hewitt family founded by Thomas Hewitt, who is first of mention as the captain of a vessel which came down the Mystic river in 1656 to trade with the farmers. There he met and on April 26, 1659, married Hannah, daughter of Walter Palmer. He then bought land on the east side of the Mystic river, at what is now Elm Grove Cemetery, in Stonington, and there built a residence in primitive style. He continued his voyages to points along the coast and to the West Indies, and in 1662 sailed with a full cargo for the West Indies, and from the date of sailing was never again heard from. He left two children, Thomas and Benjamin, and from these sons sprang the two branches of the Hewitts in New London county, the Lebanon and Waterford branches. Eight years after Captain Hewitt's sail- ing, his wife, Hannah (Palmer) Hewitt, was given permission by the General Court to marry again, and on December 27, 1671, married Roger Sterry, who died in 1680. She married (third), August 25, 1681, Joh: Fish. Mrs. Louisa (Hewitt) Perry, mother
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of Lulu (Perry) Lathrop is of the Waterford branch of the descendants of Captain Thomas Hewitt. Norman C. and Lulu (Perry) Lathrop are the par- ents of a son, Frederick Baldwin Lathrop, born January 9, 1899.
JAMES SANTACROCE-A leader in his own field, that of custom tailor, James Santacroce, of New London, Connecticut, is broadly interested in every branch of public activity.
Mr. Santacroce is a son of Frank and Nicholette (De Matteo) Santacroce. The elder Mr. Santacroce was born in Lettomanoppello, Italy, and came to the United States in early manhood, locating in the city of New London. Throughout his lifetime he followed the tailor's trade, and died in 1913, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife also was a native of Italy. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five are now living: Mary, deceased; Mary (2), deceased; David; Camillo; Raphael; James, of whom further; and Anna.
James Santacroce was born in Lettomanoppello, Italy, May 30, 1891, and came to the United States in his childhood. He was reared and educated here, and early decided to enter the same business in which his father was engaged. Having learned much of his father's business he left home and went to New York City, where he was engaged for a year or more in that business. With this experience and his nat- ural ability for designing, Mr. Santacroce is espe- cially well fitted to meet the requirements of particu- lar and tasteful customers, and upon his return to New London he found an extensive clientele, ap- preciative of the service he was prepared to render. Establishing his own shop in this city, it was a success from the start, and he is now considered one of the leading tailors not only of the city of New London, but of the entire county as well.
Mr. Santacroce is a member of the New York Costume Cutters' Association; the Merchant Tailors' and Designers' Association; and of the New London Chamber of Commerce. He is a cordial supporter of every movement for the public welfare, and holds a medal for splendid co-operation in the build- ing of the Connecticut State pier at New London. His personal tastes include a fondness for litera- ture, and he is a member of St. John's Literary As- sociation, and a finished writer on many topics.
On December 27, 1917, Mr. Santacroce married Mary Piro, who was born in Italy, and is a daughter of Anthony and Teresa Piro. Mr. and Mrs. Santa- croce have one son, Frank, who was born November 8, 1918.
LEONARD FRANKLIN LOVETT-Now a far- mer of the town of Preston, Connecticut, Mr. Lovett reviews a business career of great activity which began when he left the home farm in Canterbury, Windham county, Connecticut, at the age of nine- teen. Twenty years have since elapsed, but they have been busy years and full of reward.
Leonard Franklin Lovett is a son of Donald Leon-
ard Lovett, a carpenter by trade, now living on a farm in Westminster, Connecticut, and his second wife, Mary Jane (Franklin) Lovett, who was born in 1848, and died November 6, 1918; she was of the Benjamin Franklin family. By his first wife Mr. Lovett has a son, Charles Edward Lovett, of Willi- mantic, Connecticut. By his second marriage he has two sons: Dwight and Leonard F., and a daughter, Annie Laura, who married Judge John Read, and died in September, 1918.
Leonard. Franklin Lovett was born in Canter- bury, Windham county, Connecticut, April 23, 1881. Ile was educated at Westminster School in Miller Hill, a local school of note, from which many men later famous have been graduated. After he left school he was his father's assistant at the farm until the year 1900, when he left home and secured em- ployment with the A. T. Gardiner Company in their sawmill. He continued in that line of work for about three years, being employed in different parts of the State in the manufacture of lumber. In 1903 he came to New London county as agent for the Adams Express Company at Groton, later becoming assistant station agent. He was for a time a travel- ing salesman, and during the World War period, 1917-18, he was on guard duty at the Martin & Rockwell Corporation plant. Later he came to his present farm in the town of Preston. Mr. Lovett is an Independent in politics; and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr. Lovett married Lucy Etta Yerrington, born January 12, 1892, daughter of Edwin and Alma (Slo- cum) Yerrington. Mr. and Mrs. Lovett are the parents of a daughter, Madelyn Lenore, born March 6, 1916. The family are members of the Baptist church.
LLOYD PENDLETON AYERS, a prominent farmer at Franklin, Connecticut, is a member of one of the oldest Colonial families in New England. John Ayers, immigrant ancestor and founder, was horn in Ipswich, England, and is first on record in the American Colonies at Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1663 he came to Franklin, where he was the first white man to settle in this region, the home which he built still being occupied by his descendants.
Edward Eugene Ayers, direct lineal descendant of John Ayers, and father of Lloyd Pendleton Ayers, was born on the old homestead at Franklin, Connec_ ticut, November 12, 1833. He obtained a common school education, and later became a teacher, which profession he followed for many years. He married Adelaide Pendleton, a native of Norwich, Connecti- cut, and to them were born two children: Jennie Osgood, who married Aaron Manning; and Lloyd Pendleton, of further mention. It is interesting to note here that John Hyde Pendleton, brother of Mrs. Ayers, ran the first train over the Norwich & Worcester railroad.
Lloyd Pendleton Ayers was born December 26, 1864, at Norwich, Connecticut. At the age of two weeks he was brought by his parents to the old
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homestead at Franklin, Connecticut, and here he has resided continuously up to the present time. After completing his education in the public schools of Franklin and Willimantic, he became well skilled in agricultural methods generally. The farm on which he resides is naturally a fertile one, and he has continued in the cultivating and developing of it until he has brought it to its present high pro- ductive state.
Mr. Ayers takes a keen interest in the welfare of the community where he resides, and has given no litle time and energy to the conduct of public af- fairs. He is a Republican in politics, yet he has been nominated and elected to office three times by both parties for second selectman of the town. He has also served on the Board of Assessors.
Lloyd Pendleton Ayers was united in marriage with Alberta Vallert, daughter of James Park Val- lert, of Voluntown, Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers are the parents of one child, Joseph Eugene, born June 11, 1898.
FREDERICK FULLER MANNING, one of the prominent men of the automobile world of Nor- wich, Connecticut, comes of the old Manning fam- ily of Lebanon, Connecticut, and is a son of Wil- liam E. Manning, of Yantic, Connecticut, postmas- ter and merchant in that town, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this work. William E. Manning married Grace H. Fuller, of East Green- wich, Rhode Island, and they had two children, Frederick F., being their only son.
Frederick Fuller Manning was born in Bozrah- ville, Connecticut, on November 27, 1893. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Yantic, and completed his studies at the Norwich Free Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1912. For two years, thereafter, Mr. Man- ning assisted his father in his store, then later, from 1914 to 1918, acted as mail carrier on one of the rural free delivery routes centering in the Yantic Post Office.
On May 5, 1919, Mr. Manning became associated with the Jordan Garage, of Norwich, one of the most efficient service stations in the city. Mr. Manning entered this business as manager, and still continues in that capacity. He has become well known in automobile circles, and is carrying the business forward to even greater success. Outside his business Mr. Manning is interested in all civic and national progress. He is a Republican by political affiliation, but is not an office seeker. He is a member of the Yantic Fire Department, re- siding at No. 39 Fanning avenue, in that town.
Mr. Manning married, on September 20, 1916, Vera H. Hoxie, daughter of Edward A. and Lena M. (Peck) Hoxie, of Lebanon. Connecticut, and they have two children: Edward H., and Har- old W. Mr. and Mrs. Manning are members of Grace Episcopal Church, of Yantic.
FREDERICK MATTERN-Born in Darmstadt, Germany, Daniel Mattern, father of Frederick
Mattern, there became a journalist of high repu- tation, and a well known writer on current topics. He died in 1857, when his son Frederick was two years old. His wife, Margaret, died in Poqueta- nuck, New London county, Connecticut, in 1907. She left two sons: Frederick, of whom further; and Henry.
Frederick Mattern was born in Darmstadt, Ger- many, November 10, 1855, where he was educated and there spent the first twenty-five years of his life. He came to the United States in July, 1880, with his wife and two children, and until 1882 was em- ployed in an upholstery establishment in New York City In that year Mr. Mattern left New York and settled on a rented farm in New London county, Connecticut, and there has since resided. He con- tinued a tenant farmer until 1898, then bought the Holdredge farm of ninety acres on the State road in the town of Preston, and there has spent the years which have since intervened. He has made farming a profitable business, and his farm shows the hand of a careful, thrifty and progressive owner.
Mr. Mattern married, in Darmstadt, Germany, in August, 1876, Katherine Kraft, daughter of Jacob and Katherine (Spesicr) Kraft. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mattern, two in Ger- many, and four in the United States. I. John, at home. 2. Freda, married Adolph Heinrich, and has five children ; her son, Edward, served in the. United States navy, 1917-18, during the World War. 3. James, died at the age of twenty-three. 4. Julius, residing at home. 5. August Martin, married. Mabel Spooner, and they are the parents of: Florence, Harold, Olive and Kenneth Mattern. 6. Elsie, mar- ried Richard Sneider. The family are German Lutherans in religious faith.
EDWARD WRIGHT JONES-Among the men active and prominent in the affairs of Lebanon, Connecticut, is Edward Wright Jones, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, his birth having occurred there August 19, 1877.
Theodore Jones, father of Edward Wright Jones, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and obtained his education in the local public schools. For many years previous to his death, which occurred in New Haven, he was a sea captain. He married Lillian Patterson, who was born in New Haven, and died there. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were the parents of four children: Frank, deceased; Edward Wright, of further mention; Edwin (twin of Edward W.), a resident of Buffalo, New York, married Ella Thomas, of Lebanon; Erwin M., a farmer, at Leb- anon, Connecticut.
Edward Wright Jones was educated in the public schools of New Haven and Lebanon, and then went to work on the farm of James W. Thomas, whose daughter he later married. Mr. Thomas has re- tired from active business and now lives retired upon the farm which is conducted by Mr. Jones. This estate has been in the Thomas family for two hundred years.
Always a good citizen, entering with public-
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spirited interest into any cause which promises bet- New London Chamber of Commerce, Namnaug Boat terment of business methods and municipal govern- Club, and of the First Congregational Church of New London. In politics he is a Republican. ment, Mr. Jones takes an active part in political affairs. In 1919 he was elected representative from Mr. Gager married, in 1915, Ruth Glassburner, of Waterford, Connecticut, daughter of John and Mary Glassburner. Mr. and Mrs. Gager are the parents of three children, all born in the town of Water- ford, the family home: John J., Mary Hough and Francis Fox. the town of Lebanon. He has also served on the Humane Institution Committee, and was tax col- lector of the town for one year. He is a member of Lebanon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and also holds membership in the Lebanon Grange, and the New London Farm Bureau. In religion he is a Congregationalist, and attends the church of that denomination at Lebanon.
Mr. Jones, married, on November 21, 1906, Eunice Thomas, daughter of James W. and Ella (Avery) Thomas, and they are the parents of three chil- dren : Bradford, Edith, and Donald. By long iden- ification with the life of Lebanon, which has been his home for so many years, and by his fair-minded- ness and goodwill as a representative citizen, Mr. Jones has won for himself a permanent place in the hearts of the people of the community.
ARTHUR HOUGH GAGER-The Gagers of New London county, trace descent from Dr. Wil- liam Gager, who came to New England in 1630 with Governor Winthrop, but died the same year. He left a son John Gager, who settled in New London county, receiving a grant of two hundred acres from the town of New London, east of the river, now in the town of Ledyard. There he settled about 1650, remaining until joining in the settle- ment of Norwich, his home and lot there being recorded under the date of the earliest survey, November, 1659. In 1674 and 1088, he was con- stable of Norwich. He died extremely old, De- cember 10, 1703.
Arthur Hough Gager, a descendant of Dr. Wil- liam and John Gager, is a son of John J. and Mary (Hough) Gager. His father was born in the town of Bozrah, New London county, Connecticut, and spent his life on the homestead farm which he bought from his father. He died in December, 1911. Mary (Hough) Gager was born in Bozrah, and died there April 1, 1917. John J. and Mary (Hough) Gager were the parents of three children : Arthur Hough, of further mention; Samuel A., twin with Arthur H., died in Bozrah, in 1917; Lillie E., now residing at the home farm in Bozrah.
Arthur Hough Gager was born at the homestead, in the town of Bozrah, New London county, Con- necticut, October 22, 1871, was there educated in the public schools, and until twenty years of age was his father's home assistant. In 1891 he left the farm and entered the silk mill of the Brainard, Armstrong Company, of New London, and there continued for twenty-one years. In 1912 he formed a partnership with Thomas M. Crawford, and es- tablished the Gager, Crawford Company, a cor- poration capitalized at $20,000, of which Mr. Gager is president. The company operates a fine modern market at the corner of State and Main streets. New London, and has met with most gratifying success from the public. He is a member of the
EDGAR JOHNSON TUCKER was born in Leb- anon, Connecticut, in September, 1859, the son of Ezekiel Johnson and Mary (Brown) Tucker, of Middletown. Ezekicl J. Tucker was a native of Kings- ton, Rhode Island, and when a young man came to Lebanon, where he engaged in farming, following this vocation throughout his entire lifetime.
The education of Edgar Johnson Tucker was ob- tained in the schools of his native place which he attended until he was seventeen years of age. He then chose to devote himself to agricultural pur- suits, and with this end in view followed in the footsteps of his father, now taking his place among the leading farmers of the county.
Mr. Tucker has ever manifested that lively inter- est in everything pertaining to the public welfare, which has always been a characteristic of his fam- ily. In politics, he is an Independent, not having identified himself with any political party, prefer- ring to remain free from all partisan influences in the exercise of his own judgment on public issues.
Mr. Tucker married (first) Louise Manning, a native of Lebanon. She died on the home farm at the age of fifty years. Two children were born of this union : Leroy, a resident of Bridgeport; and Edith, wife of Frank Burroughs, a plumber of New London, Connecticut. Mr. Tucker married (second) in December, 1915, Laura V. White, a native of Hartford, Connecticut. They have no children.
HERBERT ROWLAND GARDNER-One of the most progressive citizens in Norwich township, a section of Norwich, Connecticut, is Herbert Row- land Gardner, who has been instrumental in im- proving many otherwise neglected portions of the township. His hobby has been to buy up unpro- ductive farms and, developing them into prosper- ous, paying properties, has made the land yield him a good return in addition to making it a credit to the section in which he is located. The farm upon which Mr. Gardner makes his home has been in his possession for many years, and he also maintains and manages another one on the Canterbury road.
Herbert Rowland Gardner was born April 22, 1877, in Hampton, Connecticut, where his parents resided at that time. While still in his infancy they moved to Norwich township and he has lived here ever since. His father was Edward Lawton Gardner, a farmer, who died in Norwichtown, about 1890, at the age of eighty-six years. The mother of Herbert Rowland Gardner was before her mar- riage Mary Davis, of Norwich township, where she was born in 1857. She was the mother of five
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children, of whom Herbert Rowland Gardner is the eldest. She resides with him and looks after his home, as he has never married. Though interested in the welfare of his township and in the politics of the country-at-large, Mr. Gardner is not con- nected with any political party, preferring to vote as his conscience dictates.
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