A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 71

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

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FRANK CARLOS LUMMIS.

Frank Carlos Lummis, of Chaplin, who for many years has figured prominently in local political circles and has continuously filled public office, was born at Montville, Connecticut, March 12, 1852, his parents being John and Rowena (Chapman) Lummis. The father was a native of Hampton, Connecticut, and after pursuing a district school education worked for his father on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Pomfret, Connecticut, and entered the employ of his uncle, Dr. Hiram Holt, a prominent physician of that place. He was afterward employed in various towns and ultimately returned to Pomfret, where he purchased a farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the army and went to the front. He was captured at the battle of New Market, Virginia, and died at Camp Sumter, Georgia, while being held as a prisoner of war. He served with Company D of the Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and was one of those brave "boys in blue" who laid down their lives on the altar of their country, his death occurring November 5, 1864. His widow long survived, passing away June 11, 1911. Their family numbered three children: Frank C .; George E., who married Maud R. Rhoad and is a farmer in Southington, Connecticut; and Delia A., who makes her home with her elder brother in Chaplin.

Frank C. Lummis pursued his education in the schools of Pomfret and in the high school at Oxford, Massachusetts, while later he took up his abode at Chaplin, where he engaged in teaching. Subsequently he devoted several years to farming and entered prominently into political activity in that community. He has held several town offices, serving as justice of the peace for thirty-two years, and for twenty-five years he was registrar of voters.

In Hampton, Connecticut, on the 26th of June, 1912, Mr. Lummis was married , to Cynthia Ann Hammond, daughter of Alfred and Cynthia (Storer) Hammond and a native of Windham county. Politically Mr. Lummis is a republican and at the present time is town clerk and treasurer, filling these positions from 1914 to the present. In 1889 he was a member of the state legislature from Chaplin and served on the commit- tee on finance. He has devoted much time to literary work and is well known in this connection. He belongs to Stedman Camp, No. 6, Sons of Veterans, at Hartford, Con- necticut, is also a member of Natchaug Grange, No. 68, and Quinebaug Pomona, No. 2.

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He has been a member of the Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution since 1891 and for thirty years he has been chairman of the prudential committee of the Chaplin Congregational church, to which he belongs. His life is the expression of high and honorable principles, manifest in all of his relations with his fellowmen.

JOHN OTIS FOX, SR.

Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Putnam is John Otis Fox, of the John O. Fox Lumber Company, dealers in lumber, lime, cement and fertilizers, in which connection an extensive business has been built up, constituting one of the important commercial interests of the city. In all that he has undertaken he has displayed unremitting energy and unfaltering determination and has thus been able to overcome difficulties and obstacles which feature in every business enterprise. Steadily he has worked his way upward and his place in commercial circles of his native city is an enviable one.

Putnam is proud to number Mr. Fox among her native sons. He was born on the 22d of December, 1862, the only son of John Otis and Eliza (Phillips) Fox. In analyzing the career of a successful man it is always interesting to note the stock from which he sprang, for "blood will tell" and any man has reason to be proud if he can claim to have come from a distinguished and honorable ancestry. One must go back to remote regions of history to learn of the early connection of the Fox family with New England. Thomas Fox had probably made his home on this side of the water for three or four years when in 1638 he was made a freeman at Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is said that he was a son of the distinguished Dr. Thomas Fox, of London, and a grandson of John Fox, the author. He probably left his native land because of religious intolerance, for he be- longed to the Puritan band that in the reign of Charles the First met with little justice on the "merrie isle." Accordingly he became one of the early proprietors of Cambridge, Massachusetts, then called Newtown. He has been spoken of as "a man of great intelli- gence, judgment and energy who dealt largely in real estate and was many times executor and administrator of estates." In 1658 he served on the board of selectmen and was repeatedly chosen to that position. His second marriage was to Mrs. Ellen Green, a widow, who arrived in Boston in 1635 and died May 27, 1682, at the age of eighty-two years. On the 24th of April, 1683, Thomas Fox was married a third time, Mrs. Elizabeth Chadwick, also a widow, becoming his wife. His last marriage was to Rebecca Wyeth and on the 25th of April, 1693, at the age of eighty-five years, he passed away.

His son, Rev. Jabez Fox, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, about 1646-7 and his life record covered the intervening years to February 28, 1702-3. The family removed to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and he was there educated, graduating from Harvard in 1665. In 1678 he was invited to serve one year as assistant to Rev. Carter, the first pastor of the Woburn church, and on the 5th of November, 1679, the parish voted him their minister for life. He died in Boston, February 28, 1702, but was laid to rest in Woburn, where there still stands a monument inscribed:

Memento

Mori

Fugit Hora

Here lyes ye body of ye Reverend Mr. Jabez Fox, Pastour of ye Church

of Christ in Woburn 23 years, and aged 56 years deceased Feb. ye 28th 1702-3.

His wife was Judith Rayner, daughter of the Rev. John Rayner, minister of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Dover, New Hampshire.

Their family included Jabez Fox, who was born December 2, 1684, and was married March 8, 1705, to Hannah Burroughs, daughter of Rev. George Burroughs. The line of descent comes down through Thomas Fox, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, De- cember 7, 1706, and with his wife, Mercy, removed to Woodstock, Connecticut, thus becoming the founder of the family in this state. He engaged in business as a manu- facturer and dresser of cloth and died in 1796. To him and his wife were born eight children, including John Fox, whose birth occurred March 10, 1737. He married Eleanor Lovett, who was born in 1740 and died November 12, 1822. John Fox, the elder of their two sons, was born August 7, 1758, in Newburgh, New York. He was but four years of age at the time of his father's death, after which the mother returned to Woodstock, Connecticut, walking the entire distance of one hundred miles accompanied by her two little sons, of whom John was the elder. He was one of the first to respond to the call for troops to serve in the Revolutionary war and after his military experience he returned to Woodstock, where he married Priscilla Lyon, who was born January 15, 1764, and whose death occurred on the 19th of September, 1829. His death occurred December 1, 1843.

JOHN O. FOX

Vol. II-30

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They were parents of Captain Abial Fox, the grandfather of John Otis Fox, whose name introduces this review. The birth of Captain Fox occurred in Woodstock, Decem- ber 1, 1784, and he passed away in Peoria, Illinois, April 25, 1834. After conducting a general store in Woodstock for a time he removed to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was proprietor of Fox's Tavern. In the early days of Chicago's development he left for Illinois for the purpose of investing a large sum of money there and later indications point to the fact that he was killed in Peoria. On the 27th of November, 1806, he had married Judith Perry, who was born in 1784 and died December 27, 1879.

Their only son was John Otis Fox, whose birth occurred July 5, 1817, in West Woodstock. He was a student in Nichols Academy at Dudley, Massachusetts, and fol- lowing his graduation he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, John P. Chamblin, in shoe manufacturing in Woodstock. In 1840 he removed to Putnam, where he was appointed to take charge of the depot, and for thirty years he continued in that position. He was also proprietor of the only livery stable in the town for many years and in 1858 he established the lumber business that is still in existence and has become one of the foremost commercial enterprises of the city. As the years advanced Mr. Fox continually extended the scope of his activities and gained a place as one of the repre- sentative business men of his section of the state. He was called upon to serve in various local offices, his fellow townsmen recognizing his ability and loyalty, and in 1862 he became one of the incorporators of the Putnam Savings Bank and was elected a member of its first directorate. In the latter '60s he also became a director of the First National Bank of Putnam and so served for several years. In politics he was always a stanch democrat but was never bitterly partisan nor aggressive. In connection with his lumber business he purchased a tract of land in Florida which he devoted to the raising of oranges, and after that purchase he usually spent the winter months on his Florida estate and there his death occurred February 11, 1889. He was a man of marked re- sourcefulness and he readily recognized opportunities that others passed heedlessly by. He was never afraid to venture where favoring opportunity led the way. Moreover, he was fortunate in that he possessed character and ability that inspired confidence in others, and the simple weight of his character and ability carried him into important relations. His life work was of great value to the community in which he lived, as his labors con- tributed in substantial measure to material upbuilding and progress. His religious faith was ever that of the Congregational church, in which he had been reared. He was married in 1848 to Miss Eliza Phillips, of West Woodstock, and at her death she left two children, John Otis and Hattie, who was born June 23, 1866.

The son, John Otis Fox, spending his youthful days in his father's home, pursued his education in the public schools and in the Woodstock Academy, which he attended for two terms. Later he matriculated in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, but within a month of the date of graduation, had he remained in the school, he returned to his home city, being greatly needed in his father's office. A lad of eighteen years, he concentrated his efforts and attention upon the development of the lumber trade in association with his father and succeeded to the position of president of the company upon his father's death. Today the business is an extensive one, a large trade being carried on in lumber, lime, cement, fertilizers and various building materials, and Mr. Fox is fully adequate to the demands made upon him for administrative direction and executive control. The progressiveness of his methods is evenly balanced by straightforward dealing and he enjoys the high respect and confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

On the 23d of January, 1882, Mr. Fox was united in marriage to Miss Addie Isabel White, a daughter of Ezekiel W. and Ellen (Olney) White, of Putnam, and they have become the parents of five children. Edith, the eldest, was born August 7, 1886. John Otis, who was born December 30, 1889, is now associated with his father in the lumber business. He married Margaret Elizabeth Lynch, of Putnam, in April, 1914, his wife being a daughter of Michael J. and Alice E. Lynch. Gladys Louise, born March 17, 1893, is the wife of Everett D. Packard, superintendent of the Connecticut State Trade School at New Britain, Connecticut. Hazel and Harold, twins, were born November 28, 1897, but the son died at the age of one year.

Mr. Fox has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party, and while not a politician in the sense of office seeking, he was in 1913 appointed high sheriff of Windham county by the governor to fill out an unexpired term and served in the years 1913 and 1914. In 1905 he served as member of the house of representatives, ably taking care of the interests of his constituents; and for two years he was a member of the state park commission. Fraternally he is connected with Putnam Lodge, No. 340, of the Royal Arcanum; with Quinebaugh Lodge, No. 106, A. F. & A. M .; and Putnam Lodge, No. 574, B. P. O. E. For two years he was president of the Putnam Fair Corporation and he is a director of the First National Bank of Putnam and a director of the Day-Kimball Hos- pital of Putnam, of which he is also a trustee.

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In a word, he is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of the city in connection with all those things which affect the general good, which work for the benefit of the individual or which tend to promote the advancement of the entire county. He is forceful and resourceful, ready to meet any emergency with the con- sciousness that comes from a right conception of things and a just regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.

WILLIAM ABRAHAM ROSE.

William, Abraham Rose, who for seventeen years has occupied the position of master mechanic with the Floyd Cranska Company of Moosup, was born at Olive Branch, New York, May 20, 1867. His parents, Peter A. and Mary E. Rose, were natives of Scotland and in the land of hills and heather the father was reared and educated, coming to the new world when a young man. He crossed the Atlantic to the United States, taking up his abode at Olive Branch, New York, where for several years he conducted a meat market. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the army as a member of a New York cavalry regiment. After the war was over he worked in various places in connection with the meat busi- ness, and his last days were passed in West Hurley, New York, his death occurring in 1880. His wife is also deceased. In their family were six,children, of whom three are yet living.

William A. Rose was a pupil in the public schools of Olive Branch during his early boyhood and afterward continued his education at Jersey City. When he started upon his business career he obtained employment with the firm of Schmidt & Brown, serving an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade for a period of three years. He afterward worked for four years as fireman on the Red Star Line of steamers to Europe and subse- quently spent nine years as marine engineer for the Bee Line Transportation Company. During his marine career he visited many points of the globe, gaining broad and intimate knowledge concerning various lands, their peoples and their customs. With his return to the United States he took up his abode at Moosup, Connecticut, and became a machinist in the employ of the Aldrich Manufacturing Company, now Aldrich Broth- ers. Later he entered the employ of the Floyd Cranska Company as a machinist and has since been connected with this corporation, acting as master mechanic for a period of seventeen years.

Mr. Rose was married to Ruth Elizabeth Wilcox, of Moosup, Connecticut, a daughter of John and Abbie (Greene) Wilcox. He has a stepdaughter, Annie. Mr. Rose is a republican in his political views. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Woodmen of the World, and he and his wife attend the Congregational church. He has become widely and favorably known in Moosup during the long years of his residence here. His course has ever been marked by fidelity to duty in connection with his business affairs and also in matters of citizenship, and the thoroughness of his work has established him as one of the most skilled me- chanics of his town.

JOHN ZEPHRIN LABELLE.

John Zephrin Labelle, a farmer of the town of Killingly, was born in Ormstown, in the province of Quebec, Canada, January 17, 1883, a son of George and Ellen (Bouges) Labelle. The father was also a native of the province of Quebec, where he acquired a common school education. He later removed to Ormstown, where he worked as a sailor on the Canadian canals, and in 1891 he became a resident of Brookfield, Massachusetts, where he was manager of a large farm. He lived there for three years and then removed to Quinebaug, Connecticut, where he was employed as coachman for some time. Subse- quently he removed to the town of Killingly, near Attawaugan, where he purchased land in 1900 and began farming, concentrating his efforts and attention upon the further development and improvement of his farm to the time of his death in 1907. His wife was born in the province of Quebec and now lives upon the farm, which is today owned by her son, John Z. In the family were nine children: Alixe, now a resident of Kill- ingly; Mary, who has passed away; Clara, the wife of Hubert Coran, of Danielson, Con- necticut; John Z .; Egsie; Joseph, who is a contractor of Danielson; Roderick, a mill worker of Putnam, Connecticut; George, a carpenter of Killingly; and Dolor.

John Z. Labelle was a little lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents to Brookfield, Massachusetts, where he became a pupil in the public schools, while later he

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

continued his education at Quinebaug, Connecticut. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the employ of the Quinebaug mills in the card room and subsequently was transferred to the finishing room, where he remained until 1901. He then removed to Killingly with his father following the purchase of the home farm, after which he divided his time between farm work and mill work, engaging in the latter during the periods when his services were not needed on the farm. Following his father's death he purchased the farm property, upon which he has since lived. He employs progressive methods in the further development and cultivation of his place and is especially widely known as a raiser of fine poultry, raising perhaps more chickens than any other farmer in the town of Killingly. He conducts this business in a most systematic and intelligent manner and has met with notable success as a poultry raiser. For twelve years he con- ducted a retail milk route from his farm to Ballouville.

On the 19th of April, 1909, at Ashton, Rhode Island, Mr. Labelle was married to Miss Emma Favreau, who was born in Putnam, Connecticut, her parents being Joseph and Hermine (Bruneau) Favreau, natives of the province of Quebec, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Labelle have become the parents of four children, all born in Killingly, namely: Zeph- rin, Lauretta, Rouel and Stephen. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Labelle is a member of The Union St. John the Baptist of Danielson. In politics he is a democrat but has never been an office seeker. He be- longs to the Windham County Farmers' Association and is keenly interested in every- thing that has to do with the agricultural development and progress of his section of the state.

LEO DELISLE.

Leo Delisle is the proprietor of a garage on Bridge street in Putnam, of which he has been the owner since his return from military service, for he is numbered among the veterans of the World war. He was born in Putnam, May 22, 1895, and is a son of Albany and Annie (Daigle) Delisle, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Putnam.

Leo Delisle attended a convent school in Putnam to the age of twelve years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Pomfret, Connecticut, and there continued his education in the grammar schools. After his textbooks were put aside he secured employment in the garage of G. L. Perkins of Pomfret, where he remained to the age of eighteen years and then accepted a position as chauffeur with a Mr. Swain of Pom- fret, by whom he was employed for about two years. His father then purchased a garage on South Main street in Putnam about 1916 and Leo Delisle was placed in charge, conducting the business for about a year. He next accepted a position in what is now Kent's garage on Bridge street and there remained for a year and a half. On the 15th of April, 1918, he enlisted with the Franklin Union training detachment in Boston, Massachusetts, and was soon made instructor in connection with gas engines and re- mained at that place for about five months. He was next sent to Camp Grant near Rockford, Illinois, to the infantry officers' training school, and continued there until the close of the war, being discharged on the 21st of November, 1918, ten days after the signing of the armistice.

Following his return to Putnam, Mr. Delisle in February, 1919, purchased a garage on Bridge street and has since conducted it, building up-a substantial business in this connection.

In Putnam, on the 18th of May, 1918, Mr. Delisle was married to Estelle Boudreault, who was born in Putnam, a daughter of Aime and Eva (Leclair) Boudreault. They now have one child, Leo, Jr., born in Putnam, August 26, 1919.

Mr. Delisle is a democrat in his political views but without ambition for office. He belongs to St. Mary's Catholic church of Putnam and is identified with Cargill Council of the Knights of Columbus, the Foresters of America and Putnam Lodge, No. 574, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

ELMER MASON YOUNG.

Elmer Mason Young, handling electrical supplies and doing an electrical contract business in Willimantic, was born at East Killingly, Connecticut, January 20, 1876, and is a son of Edgar M. and Abbie F. (Mason) Young. The father's birth occurred at Chepachet, Rhode Island, and he there spent the days of his boyhood and youth and acquired his education in the public schools. In young manhood he began working in

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

a cotton mill and later removed to East Killingly, where he has since been identified with the manufacture of cotton goods, working all of the time in the mills at that place. To him and his wife were born two children, the younger being Albert F., who is now in Boston, Massachusetts.

The elder, Elmer Mason Young, spent his youthful days in Willimantic and mas- tered the branches of learning taught in the public schools. He started upon his busi- ness career as an employe in the mechanical department of the Willimantic Chronicle, with which paper he was thus associated for five years. Later he spent a similar period in the employ of the Hall & Bill Printing Company and subsequently he worked for the Southern New England Telephone Company as an inspector for five years. At the end of that time he engaged in business on his own account as a dealer in electrical supplies and also takes contracts for electrical work of various kinds. He has developed high skill and efficiency along this line and his business has become one of substantial propor- tions, yielding him a gratifying profit.

Mr. Young was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Rudge, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, who passed away, after which he wedded Maud L. Stewart on November 9, 1907. Mr. Young is a republican in his political views and served as constable of the city of Willimantic for a number of years. In 1917 he was elected to the office of city sheriff for a two years' term and reelected in 1919 for another two years. On the 1st of February, 1920, he was appointed probation officer of the Willimantic police court. He belongs to the National Electrical Contractors Association and along fraternal lines is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge of Willimantic, being a member of Obwebetuck Lodge, No. 16, and also the Windham Encampment, No. 10. He is a past noble grand of the subordinate lodge and past chief patriarch of the encampment and has ever been a loyal follower of the craft. He attends and supports the Baptist church and is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Willimantic, taking a keen interest in all those forces which make for the moral uplift of the community and the betterment of the people at large.

CLARE NEAL TURNER.

Clare Neal Turner, assistant treasurer of the Goodyear Textile Mills Company, at Los Angeles, California, was born in Amherst, Ohio, June 6, 1894, a son of William H. and Bertha M. (Whitney) Turner. The father, a native of England, was brought to the new world when but two years of age, the family home being established at Lodi, Ohio, where he acquired a practical education in the public and high schools. Later he entered the Ontario Veterinary College at Toronto, Canada, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He then located at Elyria, Ohio, where he continued in the practice of his profession for several years, after which he removed to Amherst, Ohio, where he still remains, being recognized as one of the most capable and successful veterinary surgeons of the northern part of the state. His wife, who was a native of Ohio, passed away November 6, 1909. In their family were three children: Gladys, the wife of Ernest Eicheler, who is engaged in the general contracting business at Lodi, Ohio; Clare N., of this review; and Treva Mae, who died November 5, 1919, at the age of twelve years.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 71

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960