USA > Connecticut > New London County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut > Part 21
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Eli Hartshorn Hazen was married on April 2, 1837, at the age .of twenty-one years, to a daughter of Darius Ladd, she being then twenty. Both were born in February. Her mother belonged to a family named Frink. Mrs. Eli H. Hazen died February 22, 1894, when seventy-seven years of age, and was buried in the Portapaug Congregational Churchyard. Of her five children, Curtis L. is the youngest. Charles Eli, the eldest, re- sides in Hartford, Conn., and is an overseer in an envelope factory. The only daughter, * Ruth Jeanette, is the wife of Joseph Henry Giddings, of Mystic. The other sons are: ยท Dwight Bailey, who is a commercial traveller, "and resides in- "Batavia, Ill. ; and Marcus Morton, who is a farmer in the town of Leb- anon. All have been Democrats in politics. The father, who survived the mother three years, was buried beside her.
Curtis Ladd Hazen received a common- school education, and at an early age showed an aptitude for mathematics. At the age of sixteen years he had mastered Greenleaf's "National Arithmetic." Beginning at seven- teen, he taught school in the winter term for
three successive years. He has been active in the public life of the town, and takes a warm interest in all matters concerning the general welfare. In the capacities of Tax Collector, Constable, Justice of the Peace, and Select- man he has shown unswerving loyalty to the interests of the town, winning general esteem. He is now serving his fourth term as First Se- lectman. Besides carrying on general farm- ing, he keeps a dairy of eight cows. When the fine barn, now in course of erection, is finished, he will increase his stock. He has always been interested in music, and, like his father, has sung for many years in the church, having been the choirmaster and taken both tenor and bass parts.
On September 30, 1876, Mr. Hazen was united in marriage with Mary Catherine, daughter of James and Caroline (Shepard) Allen. Her grandfather, Aaron Allen, was born in Springfield, Mass. Her mother, whose people were English, is still living. The father died in 1892, aged seventy-two, in Mr. Hazen's house, where both parents had made their home for the three preceding years. Mrs. Hazen was born in Canada. Her daughter, Miss Lottie Alice Hazen, who, having inherited the musical taste of her father and grandfather, is a skilful performer on the piano, 'cornet, and organ, presides at the church organ, and sings both soprano and contralto parts.
ESSRS. H. F. AND A. J. DAWLEY, of Norwich, the well- known manufacturers and dealers in lumber, shingles, mouldings, etc., are sons of Joseph Frank Dawley, now a resident of Westford. Their paternal grandfather, Jo- seph Dawley, came from Rhode Island with his wife and family, and settled at Willing-
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ton, Tolland County, Conn., where he carried on farming. Both Grandfather and Grand- mother Dawley lived to about the age of four- score years. They had eight sons and one daughter. The two sons now living are: An- drew, who is superintendent of the Hadley Thread Company in Holyoke; and Joseph Frank, father of Messrs. Dawley.
Joseph Frank Dawley was born in Eastern Rhode Island in February, 1828, and was the seventh son of his parents. In his early ac- tive life he was engaged in trade, having a store and sending out a number of teams. For the last thirty-five years he has given his attention to farming on his estate of one hun- dred and twenty-five acres in Westford, Conn. His first wife, Elvira Robbins, whom he mar- ried March 24, 1850, was born in Thompson- ville on November 24, 1829, and died March 21, 1855, leaving only two sons; namely, Herbert F. and Arthur James, of Norwich. His second wife was sister of the first, and was named Sophronia. She was born Novem- ber 21, 1835, and was married in October, 1855. Her children numbered five. Three of them are living, as follows: Clara E., the wife of Elmer Walker, of Webster, Mass .; William H., who is in the employ of H. F. and A. J. Dawley ; and Edward R., who re- sides in Evanston, Ill., and is a commercial traveller for a Chicago firm.
Arthur James Dawley, the younger of the two elder brothers, was born March 9, 1855, in the town of Willington, and was reared to farm life. At the age of fourteen he began to work out during the summers, attending school in the winters. When he was seventeen years of age, his father hired him out until he should be twenty ; and when that time came he was given the rest of his time. At twenty- one years of age he went to Boston, and en- tered the office of E. A. Buck & Co., the firm
a year later becoming Dean, Foster & Co. Their business was the manufacture of glass bottles for druggists, with the name of the customers blown in the glass. Mr. Dawley began work the very day of his arrival, which was on September 4, 1876, his wages being eleven dollars per week. He was at first ship- ping clerk, and within a year became salesman and city collector. Some time after this he was sent on the road as salesman for the New England States at a salary of one hundred dollars per month and expenses. In the spring of 1879 he was sent out to the North- western States, including among others Ind- iana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, and Kansas. He travelled in the interests of his firm until 1883, doing business in various parts of the country, and each year visiting thirty States. In 1882 he was offered a salary of thirty-five hundred dollars and all of his expenses paid; and in 1883 he became a member of the firm of Dean, Foster & Daw- ley, occupying the whole of a five-story building at 120 Lake Street, Chicago, and the other two partners being in Boston. This firm was the second largest in the United States in its line, doing a business of half a million dollars a year. On April 1, 1889, Mr. Dawley severed his connection on account of poor health, and, coming to Norwich, en- gaged in the lumber business with his brother. Fifteen months later he went to New York City, and, becoming a partner in the firm of Webster, Dawley & Co., at 52 Park Place, wholesale dealers in druggists' glassware and sundries, travelled in the New England States and West as far as the Rockies. He built up a large trade, but in February, 1892, sokl his interest in the business to his partners, and returned to Norwich, where he has since been engaged in his present business in company with his brother.
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Mr. Arthur J. Dawley is an independent voter. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His home is at 40 Oak Street. There are but few keener and more successful business men in Norwich or in the New England States than he; and his success has been won entirely by his own energy, enterprise, and natural busi- ness aptness.
On September 12, 1877, Mr. Arthur J. Dawley was united in marriage with Eugenia M., daughter of Obed P. and Charlotte A. (Ladd) McLean, of Glastonbury, Conn. Mrs. McLean died in 1895, at the age of seventy- two years, leaving four children: Ellen and May E., who are both in Hartford; James O., a farmer and market gardener of Glaston- bury; and Mrs. Dawley. Mr. McLean is living on his farm, still in good health. Mrs. Eugenia M. Dawley was educated in the schools of her native town, and subsequently taught school for two years prior to her mar- riage. She is a member of the First Congre- gational Church on Broadway.
Mr. Herbert F. Dawley received a practical common-school education, and at the age of twenty struck out for himself in farming. When twenty-one years old he entered a. wood-turning establishment, and he was in the spoke department for four years at ordi- nary wages. About 1876 he became partner to E. A. Buck, the company being known as Buck & Dawley, and carried on a grocery business. They managed also a grist-mill and a saw-mill, which were run by water, and likewise a portable steam saw-mill, the two latter being used for manufacturing into lum- ber the timber cut from a number of lots of woodland that they bought. The firm em- ployed many workmen and many teams, and did a large and paying business. Since his brother Arthur returned to Norwich in 1892,
Mr. Dawley has been in company with him; and together they have built up one of the most thriving enterprises ever started in this city. Their planing-mill and plant, which covers fifteen acres, and is fitted with all modern machinery, is at Fort Point, three miles below Norwich, and their office and city yard off Laurel Hill Avenue. They employ fifty to sixty men. Their timber and lumber come from the South and West, and from Maine and other Northern sections. They have a large wholesale trade for Georgia pine timber and North Carolina pine and cypress, and ship it by rail throughout the New Eng- land States and Canada. They do a business of about a quarter of a million dollars annu- ally. Mr. Herbert F. Dawley was married on May 30, 1876, to Martha, daughter of Peter Platt, of Ashford.
EV. JAMES CAMERON GAVIN, recently of Lyme, New London County, Conn., now settled at Cole- brook, Litchfield County, as pastor of the North and the South Baptist Churches of this town, was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, Janu- ary 5, 1863, and is of Scotch parentage. His father, James Gavin, was a native of Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire, and followed the mercantile business. His mother was the eldest daughter of John Cameron. of Udny, Aberdeenshire. After receiving a common- school education, James C. Gavin, the subject of this sketch, adopted his father's calling, serving his apprenticeship in his native city. Ultimately finding that his interest was deepening in missionary work, in which for several years, as opportunity offered, he had en- gaged, he relinquished his business prospects, and at the suggestion of prominent friends entered Harley College, London, England, as
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a missionary student. Subsequently he stud- ied at Hulme Cliff College, Derbyshire, Eng- land; and in 1890 he came to America, and settled in New York, where he engaged in ministerial work as assistant missionary in the Baptist Mariners' Temple of that city. He continued in that work for about one year; and in December, 1891, he removed to Old Lyme, Conn., having accepted a call to the pastorate of the Baptist church in that town. There he was ordained to the gospel ministry in August, 1892.
In April, 1895, he married Ann Henderson Davidson, who also is a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, being the younger daughter of George Davidson, late merchant at Kenneth- mont, Aberdeenshire. In November, 1897, after a successful pastorate of nearly six years at Old Lyme, the Rev. Mr. Gavin accepted a call to Colebrook, in the north-western part of the State, and removed thither with his fam- ily. Earnestly devoted to the duties of his high calling, Mr. Gavin is a rising young clergyman, and is doing a most acceptable work in his new field of labor.
HARLES CLARK PERKINS, the principal of the New London clothing firm, C. C. Perkins & Co., was born in Noank, this county, November 5, 1864. An enthusiastic student of family history, he has traced his ancestry back for twelve genera- tions. One of his ancestors, John Perkins, was high steward to Hugo Dispencer, one of the richest and most powerful nobles of Eng- land in his time. It is believed that John's son, and his successor in the office of steward, who also became Lord of the Manor of Madras- field, was the first of the family to have the fesse dancette between six billets for his arms. This ancestor lived in the reign of Henry VI.,
and was the steward of the Dispencer estates when their heiress married the Earl of War- wick, the king maker.
John Perkins, the immigrant ancestor, was born in Newent, Gloucestershire, England, in 1590. Sailing from the port of Bristol on December 1, 1630, he was a fellow-passenger, on the ship "Lyon," William Pierce, master, of the celebrated Roger Williams. On the mother's side Mr. Perkins claims descent from Elder Brewster, who came to the coun- try in the "Mayflower." His paternal grand- father, Rufus, who was a farmer in Groton, served in the Revolutionary War, and took part in the battle of Groton Heights. The grandfather, Civilian, born in 1805, was cap- tain of a fishing-smack. In 1849 he went to California, and was there engaged in specula- tion for a few years. After his return home he bought a sloop, and was thereafter engaged in fishing for cod on the George's Banks. His wife's maiden name was Lucy B. Potter, of Noank. She belonged to one of the old families of this county. Grandfather and grandmother Perkins had seven sons and two. daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, married, and had families. Six of the number are now living, the most of whom are scat- tered in the West. Grandmother Perkins died at the age of forty-five, while her husband lived to be seventy-two.
Albert W. Perkins, the father of Charles Clark, was born in October, 1834. After spending twenty-eight years in seafaring, hav- ing had command of a vessel for several years, he opened a general merchandise store. On January 22, 1858, he was married to Julia Burrows, a daughter of Austin and Almira (Hill) Burrows. Her maternal great-grand- father, Samuel B. Hill, was slain at the battle of Groton Heights. His son, Moses Hill, was her grandfather. Her children are:
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CHARLES C. PERKINS.
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Lucy, Charles C., Almira, Warren C., Albert W., and Abbie. Lucy marricd Charles I. Fitch, Jr., the station agent at Noank; Al- mira is the wife of O. W. Monroe, of Provi- dence, R.I .; Warren C., who is the baggage- master at Noank, married Flora Stanton, of Stonington; Albert W., a young man of six- teen years, and Abbie, now aged fourteen, are still under the paternal roof.
Charles Clark Perkins was educated in the common schools. At the age of seventeen, after gaining some experience in mercantile pursuits in his father's store, he went to Prov- idence, R.I., where he was employed in a wholesale gentlemen's furnishing store in the several capacities of salesman, entry clerk, and commercial traveller. While in Provi- dence he supplemented his early education by taking a business college course. Later, on account of his father's failing health, he re- turned home, and took charge of the latter's business. In 1885, when Johnson & Shurts opened their New York store in New London, he came here, at the same time retaining his interest in his father's business. After serv- ing as second salesman in the new establish- ment for four years, he embarked in the hat and furnishing business. In April, 1889, he bought out George W. Meeker, hatter and furnisher. Owing to the smallness of the store, he gave it the name of "Hat Box." His stock comprised hats, caps, and furnishing goods. So successful did this enterprise prove that two years later, when the new Cronin Block was completed, he moved from the "Hat Box" to the " Hat Palace." Two years later he established a branch in Norwich, buying out John C. Clark. This place was conducted under the style of Perkins & Montgomery, until he withdrew from the connection in 1894. Next year the firm of C. C. Perkins & Co. was formed by the consolidation of the Hat
Palace and the old establishment of Shepard & Harris. S. E. Tyler was admitted to part- nership; and the firm opened their fine store at 130 State Street in November, 1895. Mr. Perkins has been remarkably successful in business.
Mr. Perkins is Past Grand of Mohegan Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Chief Patriarch of the encampment; a member of Sprague Lodge, A. O. U. W., of which he is Over- seer; Past Leader of the Home Circle; a member of the Jibboom Club and of the Sons of the American Revolution, and President of the New London Business Men's Association.
On November 27, 1887, he was married to Miss Hattie S. Fish, of Noank. They have one child, Alice Tyler Perkins, who was born March 23, 1891. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. In religion he is a member of the Second Congregational Church. His musical ability has led him to become a chorister in his own church, and also of the Third Baptist Church. For four years he was the treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Perkins is also a trombone soloist of unusual ability, having played that instrument for five years in the theatre with Wight's Orchestra. The family reside in their pleasant home, 88 Huntington Street.
TEPHEN CRANE, of Norwich, Conn., proprietor of the extensive and well - stocked Norwich Nur- series, situated near the fair grounds, was born March 24, 1828, in Barre, Orleans County, N. Y. He is a son of the late Jerry Crane, of that State, and bears the name of his grandfather Crane, an Onondaga County farmer, who was born in 1776, and died in 1851. For his first wife the elder Stephen Crane married a Miss Elsie Grinnell, by
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whom he had three sons and four daughters. Both of these grandparents were devout Meth- odists. They were buried in the town of Spafford, N. Y.
Their son, Jerry Crane, the father men- tioned above, long familiarly known as "Uncle Jerry," was born in Saratoga County, New York, November 16, 1797. On Decem- ber 25, 1821, he married Miss Orrissa Fisher, who was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1800. They shortly moved to Barre, Or- leans County, N. Y., and settled on a new and uncleared farm, where for the first few years they experienced the deprivations and hard- ships common with the pioneers of those days. By hard, honest, persistent labor the forests to the extent of over three hundred acres gave way to broad meadows and pastures. They celebrated their golden wedding on this farm ; and the ten children who, from a total of thir- teen, had grown to manhood and womanhood were present, with about twenty-five grand- children.
Jerry Crane died November 25, 1878, and his wife, Orrissa, in 1882. They were sin- cere Christians of the Methodist faith. Their graves are in the cemetery taken from their farm in Barre.
Stephen Crane, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood on the homestead farm ; and, with the exception of about three years when he was employed as clerk in a country . store, he followed agriculture. From the age of fourteen he performed the same hard, sturdy work as the men. In 1861 he engaged with Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., as travelling salesman for their nursery at Nor- wich, Conn., at a salary of one dollar per day and expenses. He was well adapted and thoroughly qualified for the position, and soon became one of their most trusted and best paid employees. After continuing with
them for six years, he embarked in the nursery business on his own account. In 1882 he purchased his present nursery property on West Main Street, near the fair grounds, which he devotes to the raising of fruit and ornamental trees and flowers in rich and choice variety, making a specialty of roses, rhododen- drons, and rare evergreen trees. He keeps from ten to fifteen salesmen on the road in the New England States, and by years of honest dealing lias built up a profitable business.
Mr. Crane was first married August 16, 1849, to Miss Mary E. Starr, of Barre, N. Y., a daughter of Deacon F. Starr. She died November 25, 1878, aged forty-eight years, leaving three of their five children; namely, Floyd H., Carrie P., and Sarah M. Floyd H. Crane is superintendent of the parlor, sleeping-car, and commissary departments of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail- road, and for several years previous to 1892 was superintendent with the Pullman Palace Car Company. He has a wife and one son, Lester S. Carrie P'. Crane is the wife of Mr. C. D. Noyes, of Norwich, Conn., and has three sons - Charles, Fred, and Harry. Mr. Noyes is the head of the firm of Noyes & Davis, proprietors of the largest bookstore in Norwich, and is one of the city Aldermen. Sarah M. Crane is the wife of Mr. G. W. Whaley, of Philadelphia. Mr. Whaley has an important position with the Swift Chicago Dressed Beef Company, and has handled over a million dollars of their money annually with- out bond.
Mr. Crane was married the second time, in 1879, to Sarah L. Brown, born Reynolds, a daughter of the late O. E. Reynolds. Mrs. Crane has one brother, O. H. Reynolds, of Norwich. She was educated in Norwich, and is a most estimable woman and model wife. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have resided at their
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present home, 106 William Street, ever since their marriage.
Mr. Crane is a Prohibitionist from the Re- publican ranks, and is one of the oldest here, having first voted with this party in 1870. Hle is a very zealous advocate of prohibition, standing loyally by his principles and colors at every Presidential election. His fine flag, inscribed with the names of Levering and Johnson, prohibitionist candidates for Presi- dent and Vice-President in 1896, is the only one of the kind in Norwich.
EACON ERASTUS C. KEGWIN, a retired railroad official living in Jewett City, was born in Volun- town, then in Windham County, March 17, 1814. A son of Daniel and Anna (Crandall) Keigwin, he is of English descent. The first representative of the family in America was John, whose surname was spelled Keigwin. Coming here a single man, he subsequently married a Miss Brown, of Groton. Their grandson was Lieutenant Nicholas Keigwin, a brave soldier and officer of the Revolution, who died on April 22, 1813, in his seventy- seventh year. He was twice married, the first time on November 15, 1759, to Huldah Stark- weather, and the second time to a Miss Gor- don. By the first marriage there were five children, namely: Sarah, born September 17, 1761; Joseph, born in November, 1763; Anne, born October 27, 1765; Olive, born March 16, 1769; and Daniel, born January 29, 1774.
Daniel Keigwin, who was born in Volun- town, was a man of much prominence and in- fluence. He was in the State legislature for a number of terms, was Probate Judge and Jus- tice of the Peace for many years, and con- stantly held a public office of some kind
during his active life. Although not a pro- fessional lawyer, he was a careful student of the statutes and a keen and unerring inter- preter thereof. He was the author of many legal documents, and but few of his decisions were reversed. One important decision in- volved the reputation of a worthy physician and a former school teacher, who sued the town in order to secure payment for professional services to a poor family. The case was appealed. but the decision rendered by Judge Keigwin was sustained. He died on May 16, 1852, and is buried in Kennedy Cem- etery. All the Keigwin ancestors before him were buried in the town of Sterling, in the Plains Cemetery, which was originally in Vol- untown. His first marriage was contracted at the age of twenty-five with Anna Crandall, who was then twenty-one years old. She was a daughter of the Rev. Amos Crandall, who was widely known in Connecticut and Rhode Island as a Baptist minister. A second mar- riage afterward united him with Belinda Cook, a second cousin of the present governor of Connecticut. His first wife had seven chil- dren, namely: Sterry S., born in 1803; Sally L., born in 1806; Stephen S., born in ISog; Daniel A., born in 1811; Erastus C., the subject of this sketch; and two daughters who died in infancy. By the second marriage there was one child, Barton C., born April 22, 1823. Barton and Deacon Kegwin are the only surviving children.
After attending the district schools for the usual period, Deacon Kegwin, at the age of eighteen years, began to work in a woollen factory. Subsequently he was a clerk at Vol- untown in the store of James S. Treat. He was married in 1839 to Hannah, daughter of Ebenezer Paine, of Windham County. She died in 1871, having borne three children, of whom two are deceased. The other child,
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Henry W. Kegwin, a graduate of Brown Uni- versity, is now a teacher in Norwich Free Academy, is married, and has two daughters and one son, Richard P. Deacon Kegwin was again married on November 5, 1874, to Mrs. Louisa Read, the widow of Nelson Read. Mr. Read died in 1870, leaving one son, Asher N. Read, who is now married and has one son, Nelson G. Read. Mr. Kegwin is a Republican in politics, and has been very ac- tive in the public life of the town. He was Town Clerk for ten years, and has been a Jus- tice of the Peace and a member of the Board of Education for many years. Of the one hundred and fifty wills he has drawn, not one has been broken. In 1862 he was in the State legislature. At the age of nineteen he joined the Baptist church in Plainfield; and for much of the time since he was twenty-one years of age he has been a Deacon, having during the last sixty years served in that ca- pacity in three different churches. For nine years he was in Norwich, and was very active and prominent in the church there. Deacon Kegwin purchased his present home in Jewett City about thirty years ago. He was for fif- teen years station agent in the railroad office here, and in that responsible position made many warm friends and admirers.
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