USA > Connecticut > New London County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut > Part 4
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he built about 1829, and carried on success- fully for a number of years. He was also a prominent Thompsonian doctor. He married Rebecca Roberts, of Middletown; and they had five children, four of whom grew to ma- turity. They were: Almond, Ebenezer, Dan- iel, Clara, and Lucretia. Ebenezer, who was financially interested in steamboating, mar - ried, and died at the age of thirty years. Daniel, after many years' service as captain of a steamboat, retired with a competency, and resided subsequently in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died at the age of forty-two years, leaving two sons: Stephen H., who is unmarried, and resides. in Brooklyn; and Daniel, who is a broker in New York City, and has a family of two children. Clara became the wife of Eb- enezer L. Roberts, an architect.
Almond Bacon, father of the subject of this sketch, also became captain of a steamboat and subsequently an agent for a steamboat company. In 1864 he started in the lumber business, and soon became known as one of the leading business men of the town. Six years previously he had built the house in which he resided the remainder of his life, and which is still standing. He was a Republican politically, and served as Town Treasurer for a period of sixteen years. Ile was married February 29, 1836, to Margaret S. Clarke, daughter of Abraham and Lura (Champion) Clarke, of this town. They had one child, Nelson A. Almond Bacon died in the fall of 1886, aged seventy-five years, and his wife in the spring of 1889, aged seventy-four.
Nelson A. Bacon was educated in the schools of his native town, at the select school of the Rev. Mr. Nichols, and at the academy. He became associated with his father in the lumber business, which they carried on until 1885, when it was closed out.
In his politics he is a Republican, but has never heli public office. He has been a member of the Baptist church for the past thirty years, and is now one of the trustees. His mother was a member of the same church.
PALMER BINDLOSS, a well-known and respected citizen of New London, Conp., who now lives retired after an active and honorable career of some forty- six years, was born December 19, 1829, in Kendal, Westmoreland, England, son of William and Margaret (Palmer) Bindloss.
He traces his descent from Sir Christopher Bindloss, who was Mayor and head of the cor- poration of the town of Kendal in 1579-80 under the charter of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Christopher, with his son Robert, established a regular express service between Kendal and London for the conveyance of their noted woollens. Robert was created a Baronet by Charles I. in 1641, and is believed to have been the builder of Borwick Hall, York- shire. Sir Robert Bindloss was member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1613. His son Francis, born 1603, married for his second wife Cecilia, daughter of Thomas West, Lord de la Ware. He also was member for Lan- caster. He died in the lifetime of his father, and was succeeded by his son Robert, the last male Bindloss of Borwick Hall. It is a mat- ter of history that King Charles II., on his southward march with his Scottish army, reached Kendal on August 16, 1651, and spent the following night at Borwick Hall. The line of T. Palmer Bindloss comes from Sir Christopher's son Christopher, born 1570, continuing through his son Peter, baptized 1607, Peter's son Robert, baptized 1630, Robert's son Christopher, baptized 1666, to Robert, son of Christopher, baptized 1696,
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J. Palmer Bindloss
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who was a farmer and dealer in cattle in Rowel, Westmoreland County, and was a man of considerable means, the typical representa- tive of an English yeoman. The next ances- tor, Robert (third) of Greenside Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, the eldest son of a large fam- ily of children, inherited his father's fine estate, and succeeded to the business. His son Philip, of Park House, Heversham, Westmoreland, married Jane Watson, a sister of Richard Watson, D. D., who was for years the honored Bishop of Llandaff.
The subject of this sketch has an excellent portrait of Bishop Watson, a fine steel engrav- ing taken from a painting by George Romney, the celebrated historical artist and portrait painter; and he has also a full-length steel engraving of the artist.
William, son of Philip and father of T. Palmer Bindloss, engaged in mercantile busi- ness. He was a popular man and held office, and his brother Thompson was twice Mayor of Kendal. William Bindloss came to this country in 1848, and bought a farm just out- side of New London, that is now owned and occupied by his youngest son. His wife was a native of Liverpool, and it was in that city that their marriage took place. Of their children, three sons and four daugh- ters are still living, all American residents, the youngest being now sixty-tour and the eldest seventy-four years old. The first one to immigrate was Jane P. Bindloss, who came over in 1843, and was followed a year later by Margaret. Both settled in New London, their present home, Jane P. being the widow of Leander U. Knight, and Margaret the widow of George Elliott. They each have children. The other brothers and sisters living are : Ellen, widow of llenry Hilliar, aged seventy- four; William, aged seventy-three; Mary, widow of Joseph Scroggie, aged sixty-six;
and Philip George, aged sixty-four. The two deceased are a son who died in England, aged two years and nine months; and Esther B., who married Daniel Collins, and died April 28, 1897, aged sixty-eight. The mother, Margaret Palmer Bindloss, died in 1858, at sixty-two years of age; and the father, Will- iam Bindloss, died in 1864, aged sixty-eight. Their mortal remains rest in Cedar Grove Cemetery. In their native land they were both members of the Church of England, and after coming to this country both they and their children identified themselves with the Episcopal church.
T. Palmer Bindloss received his education in Kendal and Liverpool. When twelve years old he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade for seven years in Liverpool, but when he had served five years his employer died. In 1851, with his widowed sister Ellen and her two children, he came to New London. He subsequently worked eight years as a cut- ter in Elizabeth, N. J., and four years in New York City at the same occupation. Since then he has been a resident of New London. About three years ago his cousin, William Bindloss, Mayor of Kendal, died leaving a large estate and a will in which there were many public bequests, a residue of three hun- dred and twenty-five thousand dollars being set apart for heirs in America. These heirs selected T. Palmer Bindloss as their attorney, to go to England and look after their interests, a task that he accomplished in a manner satis- factory to all. His stay in England exceeded a year; and during that time he availed him- self of the opportunity to gain information of an historical and genealogical character relat- ing to the Bindloss family, searching the rec- ords of many generations. He also secured a large number of portraits and landscape views, among them being views of Castle
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Green, the residence, garden, and grounds of the late Mayor, who, with his noble wife, was much loved and esteemed by both high and lowly, schools having been special objects of their interest and recipients of their bounty. Mr. Bindloss has a beautiful testimonial in colors which was presented to them by the school children in honor of their silver wed- ding anniversary, and another testimonial with their portraits, the size of a newspaper folio, speaking in the highest terms of their work. Mention should also be made of the views of Levens Hall and gardens of Captain Bagot, which show the stone castle and gardens, now some eight hundred years old; also the Bind- loss room in Sizergh Castle, with the family coat of arms, which is a combination of those of the Bindloss and West families, who inter- married, as before noted.
Mr. Bindloss is a Republican voter, but has never sought or held office. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of Pales- tine Commandery of Knights Templars, in which he has passed the chairs. Of genial manners and a true gentleman in all that the word implies, he has many friends in New London and vicinity.
RANCIS E. MERRITT, a prosperous farmer of Groton, Conn., was born in the adjacent town of North Stonington, June 9, 1836, son of Samuel and. Sarah G. (Thomas) Merritt. His grandfather Merritt was a farmer of North Stonington, and he also worked at carpentering and boat-building. He lived to be ninety years old, and was twice married. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Partlow, he had six sons, one of them being Samuel, the father men- tioned above, and three daughters. Of this family one daughter is still living. Grand-
father Merritt's second wife, Nancy Brown, survived him.
Samuel Merritt was born in North Stoning- ton in 1804. Like his father, he engaged in farming and ship - building. He married Sarah G. Thomas, who was born in Wickford, R.I., in 1807. They had eight children, five of whom are living - William H., Charles E., Samuel T., Francis E., and Annie E. William H. Merritt is in Providence, R.I .; Charles E. is in Ashaway, R. I .; Samuel T. is here with his brother, Francis E .; and Annie is Mrs. George S. Champlain, of North Stonington. Another son, John Mer- ritt, died in early life; Albert, at the age of fourteen ; and Mary Merritt, who was married at the age of eighteen, died the same year. The father died in 1890, at the age of eighty- six years. The mother still lives on the old farm with her daughter; and, although in her ninetieth year, she is bright and active,
Francis E. Merritt, after acquiring his education in the common schools and Mys- tic Academy, worked on his father's farm and in the ship-yard, also in the woods getting out timber, and remained at the homestead until 1860. He now has a garden and dairy farm, and has driven his own milk wagon in Noank for twenty eight years. In connection with his farming he has carried on butchering and marketing, and has also dealt in fertil- izers. The farm, including a salt marsh, covers more than two hundred acres. In poli- tics Mr. Merritt is a Republican. Officially, he has served as Tax Collector and on the School Committee, being at present a member of the Board of Relief.
On July 2, 1860, he was united in marriage with Abbie E. Crouch, who was born in Led- yard in 1841. Her parents were David and Elizabeth (Whipple) Crouch. Her father, who was born in Ledyard, was a son of Will-
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iam Crouch, of Vermont. Her mother died in 1881, at the age of sixty-three, and her father in 1892, at the age of eighty-seven. They were the parents of fourteen children; and they rearcd three sons and five daughters, all of whom are living. Mrs. Merritt was mar- ried at the age of nineteen, and has had seven children. The five now living are: Nettie A., Ida C., Francis L., Carrie B , and Lottie G. Nettie A. Merritt married William O. Bailey, and lives in Pontiac, R.I. She has two children. Ida C. married Herinan Wirz, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has three children. Francis L. is in Boston, Mass. Carrie B. is a teacher here, and lives at home. Lottie G., who is fifteen, is still in school. Albert WV. Merritt died at the age of eleven years and eight months, and Mary A. when she was three years old.
RS. MARY E. MORGAN, now residing at Preston City, having removed hither since the death of her husband, the late Danicl Morgan, was born in North Stonington, Conn., where hcr parents, Ephraim and Eliza Prentice Hewitt, who were married on December 4, 1835, had settled on their farm. Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, of whom Mary E., now Mrs. Morgan, is the sole survivor. One son died in infancy. The other son, Giles Hewitt, died in the prime of life, at the age of thirty- two, his wife and only child surviving him but a short time. The father died in 1848, at the age of fifty, and the mother September 11, 1862, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mary E. Hewitt received a good education, and in her maidenhood taught school for some years. She was married to Daniel Morgan on January 1, 1862, and went to live with him
on the old Morgan farm, which was originally owned and occupied by his great-grandfather, Samuel Morgan, whose father, John, son of Captain James Morgan, of New London, set- tled in Preston about 1692. The tract of two hundred and twenty-five acres purchased by Samuel Morgan has since been occupied by three succeeding generations of Morgans, namely : Daniel Morgan, first, son of Samuel; Daniel, second, born in 1788, who died about 1864; and his son, Mrs. Mary E. Morgan's husband, the third Daniel in direct line, who was born on the homestead, and died there on the first day of January, 1892, at the age of seventy-two. He was the second Captain Daniel Morgan in the State militia. In poli- tics he was a Republican. Though not a church member, Mr. Morgan regularly at- tended and helped to support the Congrega- tional church, of which Mrs. Morgan is a member. He was a great reader and thinker, and was well informed on all topics of public importance or interest.
Mrs. Morgan has leased the farm upon which her married life was spent, and with her daughter, Carrie Prentice Morgan, is liv- ing, as above mentioned, at Preston City. She chose this place as being not far from her old home and near the last resting-place of her husband, whose grave is in the Preston City cemetery.
APTAIN ROBERT PALMER WIL- BUR, of Mystic, Conn., now engaged in ship-building at Noank, his na- tive place, was born on October 28, 1839, being the third son of William Allen and Lucy (Palmer) Wilbur. His remote paternal ancestors were English.
His great-grandfather Wilbur's name was William. His grandfather, John Wilbur,
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who was master of a fishing-smack, died in Norfolk, Va., in 1836. He was survived some time by his second wife, Betsy Burrows. A daughter born of their union, Mrs. Lucretia Brown, is still living, now a widow. Iler husband, who was a mariner, died. in 1836. Grandfather Wilbur's first wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Ashby, was the mother of nine children, seven sons and two daughters: James; Nathaniel; William Allen; Ray S. ; Allen, who was lost at sea; John; and Whit- man. The last named was accidentally shot in California. Mary Ellen and another daughter died in childhood. Ray S. died in 1896, at the age of eighty-seven.
William Allen Wilbur, the third son as here recorded, was a mariner and also a mer- chant in Noank. He married Lucy Palmer, of that village. They had six children - Lucy Ellen, Abby, William Allen, John Palmer, Robert Palmer, and Charles. Lucy Ellen died at the age of four; Abby lived to be nineteen; William Allen, second, a ship- master, died in Cuba at the age of twenty-five, of yellow fever; John Palmer, a sea captain, died in Calcutta of cholera; Robert P., the subject of this biography, is the only sur- vivor; Charles Wilbur died at the age of six years. The father, who was born in Noank in 1802, died December 1, 1846. The mother is still living. Her parents were Deacon John and Abby (Fish) Palmer. Dea- con Palmer was a ship-carpenter. . He out- lived his wife, who died leaving seven of her twelve children. But two of the family are now living: Mrs. Wilbur and her brother, Robert Palmer, who is at the head of the ship-building interest in Noank.
Robert Palmer Wilbur had limited educa- tional advantages in his boyhood and youth, going to school only winters after he was ten years of age, when he began to engage in fish-
ing. From the age of sixteen to twenty he attended school at Winsted and Mystic, Conn. During the Civil War he was a three months volunteer in Company A, Second Connecticut Regiment, of New London, going as private. At the age of twenty-five he commanded the steamer "Ulysses." The other vessels in which he sailed as captain were: the bark "Caleb Haley," which was lost on the coast of Mexico in August, 1866; the schooner "Robert Palmer"; the "A. E. Campbell"; the ship "Dauntless "; the "M. P. Grace "; and the "St. Frances," in which he made his last voyage, quitting the merchant marine service in April, 1894. Since that time he has been interested in ship-building, being vice-president of a company in Noank. In politics Captain Wilbur affiliates with the Republican party; and he is fraternally con- nected with Williams Post, No. 55, G. A. R., as Commander.
On May 10, 1864, he was united in mar- riage with Phoebe Miner Fish, daughter of Nathan G. and Emeline (Miner) Fish, her maternal grandfather being John O. Miner. Her father is now dead. Captain and Mrs. Wilbur have had six children. They lost an infant son, Albert, and a little daughter named Gertrude, who passed away at the age of seven years. The four now living are: Helen F., Emeline Miner, Roberta P., and John P. Helen F., a young lady at home, was graduated at the Mystic Valley Institute. Emeline Miner, who is also at home, was graduated at the Williams Memorial High School in New London in 1895. Roberta is a maiden of ten years, and John Palmer, a boy of seven.
Mrs. Wilbur accompanied her husband on several long voyages, going round Cape Horn and to various foreign ports. They reside on the homestead formerly belonging to Mrs.
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CHARLES O. MAINE.
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Wilbur's father, which has been owned by Captain Wilbur for many years. Personally, he is a man of refinement, one who has a great love for home and its higher associa- tions. Mrs. Wilbur is a true wife and mother. The family-circle is still blessed by grandmother's presence. Socially, the Wil- burs stand among the highest and most esteemed citizens. Captain Wilbur is a Dea- con of the Union Baptist Church.
HARLES O. MAINE, M.D., an ac- tive and successful physician of Ston- ington, Conn., was born April 10, 1843, in New Hartford, this State. He is the eldest son of the late Sidney O. Maine, and is descended from one of the best known families of New London County, many of his ancestors having been prominent in industrial and professional circles. His paternal grand- father, Jabez Breed Maine, was born in North Stonington in 1772, and died there in 1856. He was a stone-mason by trade, and an expert in making the broad, old-fashioned fireplaces with good draft that were always found in the Colonial mansions; and as a government em- ployee he did the masonry on the Stonington Light-house. On March 15, 1798, he married Freelove Edwards, a direct descendant of Jon- athan Edwards, the celebrated theologian ; and of the thirteen children born of this union six sons and five daughters grew to mature years, married, and reared families. One son, Sebeus C. Maine, was for many years a . noted counsellor and judge in Boston; another son, Jonas C., was a well-known physician of Con- necticut; and a third son, Christopher Ira, was a skilful surgeon and physician of Central New York, acquiring eminence in his profes- sion throughout the counties of Tioga, Tomp- kins, and Chemung, and at his death leaving a
handsome property to be divided among his large' number of children. The grandmother died in 1856, a few months before her hus- band.
Sidney O. Maine was a farmer by occupa- tion, and a man of literary tastes and- attain- ments. He taught school many terms; and he was a writer of some note, many of his articles on scientific subjects appearing in the public press. He was broad-minded and liberal- hearted, spending his money as he made it, being unselfish and generous almost to a fault. Fraternally, he was a Master Mason. He was a lifelong resident of North Stonington, where he was born May 6, 1818, and died August 20, 1894. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza L. Wentworth, was born April 12, 1818, in Barkhamsted, Conn., and is now liv- ing in North Stonington, being a bright and active woman of nearly fourscore years. She is the mother of five children, namely: Dr. Charles O., of Stonington; Milo M., a stone- mason, living in North Stonington; Albert S .; a farmer in Hampton, Conn. ; Myron M., D. D. S., who was graduated from the Balti- more Dental College, where he took the first prize for excellence of workmanship, and now has a fine dental practice in South Manches- ter, Conn. ; and Annie M., wife of Henry M. Newton, a farmer living in North Stonington.
Charles O. Maine was reared on the home farm, obtaining his early education in the dis- trict school, and at the age of seventeen be- ginning life on his own account as a teacher in the public schools. He taught several terms in country and village, in the meantime con- tinuing his studies; and he subsequently en- tered the medical department of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1870. He settled first in Voluntown, Conn., where he remained eleven years. Be- sides attending to an extensive practice, he
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held town offices, and was School Visitor for many years. Dr. Maine removed to Stoning- ton on April IS, 1881, and has here built up an extensive and lucrative practice, his profes- sional skill being recognized throughout this section of the county. In 1894 be built his present commodious residence on Water Street, at the corner of Harmony, on which his handsome and well-arranged barn is situ- ated. The house is furnished and equipped with all modern conveniences, with a suite of offices both for himself and for his son, who is a popular young dentist. The Doctor is a Master Mason and quite active in the order. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, has been elected a Justice of the Peace many terms, and is a Burgess. He has stock in the velvet-mill, but pays no especial attention to its management, his professional labors de- manding his entire time and energies. He and his wife are valued members of the Baptist church.
Dr. Maine was married December 18, 1866, to Sarah Phebe Main, who, though bearing the same name with a slight difference in spelling, is not akin to him, unless it be possibly on the maternal side, her parents being Robert P. and Phebe (Edwards) Main, of Voluntown, Conn. Her father was in early years a stone- mason and a farmer, but is now living retired, both he and his wife being quite advanced in years. They had but one child besides Mrs. Maine, a son, Crawford R., who died in West- erly, R. I., in 1876, leaving a widow and one daughter, Gertie L. The latter was left an orphan when three years old, and was brought up by her grandparents until about five years ago, when she became an inmate of the Doc- tor's household. Dr. and Mrs. Maine have but one child, a son named Charles Everett, who was graduated from the New York Dental College, March 10, 1888, and has since had
his home and dental rooms in his father's house. He was married June 5, 1889, to Miss Susie Miller, of Stonington, Conn.
DWARD N. CROCKER, of New Lon- don, a wholesale dealer in cold stor- age meats, was born here, July 26, 1841, son of John and Nancy (Thompson) Crocker. The grandfather, Nehemiah Crocker, who was a farmer, had four sons and four daughters, none of whom are living, and was over ninety years old when he died in 1849. John Crocker, who was born in Waterford; this county, in 1793, served in the War of 1812, married Nancy Thompson about the year 1838, and died in 1866. He had previ- ously married Clarissa Brown, who died leav- ing three sons and a daughter. Of these the only survivor is Benjamin A. Crocker, residing in Waterford, who was the captain of a yacht, and has tried a number of cases in the capacity of Justice of the Peace.
Edward N. Crocker lived on a farm during his early years. When the Rebellion broke out, he was attending the district school. In August, 1862, he. enlisted for the defence of the Union in Company F of the Twenty-first Connecticut Infantry. Before leaving the State he was detailed from the ranks as a Quartermaster's clerk, in which capacity he served eighteen months. Then he was de- tailed as clerk under Major J. M. Lucas, Port Commissary at Portsmouth, Va., with whom he remained sixteen months. He served con- tinuously until June, 1865, when he was hon- orably discharged. Afterward for a few months he was engaged in a manufacturing business at Meriden, Conn. Since that time he has been in the meat business, beginning as an employee of Henry Hobron. In 1881 The purchased the market in which he was
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CHARLES E. BRAYTON.
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employed from Clark Steward, and has since carried on a wholesale business. He first sold Nelson Morris & Co.'s meat; but since 1886 he has been interested in the Swift busi- ness, being an equal partner with G. F. and E. C. Swift, each owning a third. They built their finely equipped establishment in 1890. Their business now amounts to about two hundred thousand dollars yearly.
In June, 1867, Mr. Crocker and Janette H. Tiffany were united in marriage. She . was born in East Haddam, Conn., daughter of John Tiffany. They have two children: Stephen M., a graduate of Brown's Business College in Brooklyn; and Leonard G., a clerk in the railroad freight office. Both are living at home. Mr. Crocker is a stanch Republi- can, and has been chairman of the Republican Town Committee for the past five years. During the past six years he has served as a member of the Common Council of this city. He is a Master Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Commander of the W. W. Perkins Post, No. 47, G. A. R. ; and a communicant of the First Congregational Church. The family reside at 182 Ocean Avenue, in the house built by Mr. Crocker's father forty years ago.
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