Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 111

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 111

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In 1874 Mr. Smith came to Saybrook, and opened an establishment where he gave spec- ial attention to tinning and hardware, carry- ing a full line of stoves and housekeeping supplies, and recently putting in a side line of bicycles. He has been very successful and his prosperous career has had in it no element of accident, but has been worked out by honest industry, hard work and a thorough knowl- edge of all circumstances that enter into his business relations.

In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, has been chairman of the town committee twelve years, and is still in office. He has been first selectman for the past three years; has been one of the deputy sheriffs of the county; was a member of the constitutional convention which met in 1902 to frame a new State Con- stitution ; and in the Legislature he was on the committee on Engrossed Bills, and also upon the committee upon Expositions. Fraternally Mr. Smith belongs to Siloam Lodge No. 32, F. & A. M.

NATHANIEL D. MILLER, of the Com- stock, Cheney & Co. factory, located at Ivory- ton, Conn., is a descendant of an old and numerous family, for whom the town of Miller Place, in Suffolk county, L. I., is named.

Charles Miller, the grandfather of Na- thaniel D. was a native of Miller Place, who resided there all his life, extensively engaged

in farming, and in furnishing ship lumber for ship construction, owning interests in various vessels in the West India and coasting trade. Politically he was a Republican, but was not willing to accept any office at the hands of the party ; he lived a quiet, Christian life, and was one of the leading members and supporters of the Congregational Church, in which he was a deacon for many years. Charles Miller mar- ried Corrinna Miller, and to this union were born: Spafford, deceased; and Edwin N., the father of Nathaniel D.

Edwin N. Miller was born at Miller Place, and educated in the district schools and acad- emy of his native place. All his life he fol- lowed the occupation of farming on the home- stead where he died, at the age of fifty-one, during an epidemic of typhoid fever. A Re- publican in politics, he, like his father, declined all office, and was a consistent member of the Congregational Church. Edwin N. Miller married Catherine O. Hopkins, a daughter of Samuel Hopkins, of Miller Place, and to this union were born : Ellen M. who married El- bert M. Davis, and resides at Port Jefferson, L. I., where he is cashier in the Bank of Port Jefferson; Nathaniel D .; Charles E., who mar- ried Almira Tooker, and is engaged in the grocery business at Port Jefferson ; Catherine, who died at the same time as her father; Sam- uel H., who married Alilah Tillotson; and Luetta J., at home, unmarried.

Nathaniel D. Miller was born February 7, 1848, at Miller Place, L. I., and there attended the district schools and the academy, remain- ing at home up to the age of seventeen. Long- ing to see something of the world, he shipped before the mast, on a sailing vessel running between New York and the West Indies; re- maining on the water for four years, on vari- ous vessels, upon some of which he held the office of mate, he made voyages to the West Indies, Mediterranean ports, and to the ports of South America.

On account of many changes in the com- mercial relations of different countries, im- provements in ships, and progression every- where following upon discoveries, the sailing business, as a life employment, began to offer lesis attraction to the sensible, thinking young man, and Mr. Miller decided to make a change. Coming to Ivoryton in 1870, he accepted a position in the factory of the Comstock, Cheney & Co., beginning as a factory hand in the ivory

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department. In 1874 he was made foreman in the keyboard factory, and is now a stockholder and director in the company.

On December 29, 1869, Mr. Miller mar- ried, in Miller Place, L. I., Jennie S. Snow, born February 20, 1848, a daughter of Rev. Aaron and Abigail (Hovey) Snow, and to this union have been born: (I) Aaron Snow;, born November 4, 1870, attended Vermont Academy, and the New Haven Business Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1890, and is now employed in the office of The Comstock, Cheney & Co. He married Sarah Stannard, and has two children, Elizabeth and Doris. (2) Florence C., born August 16, 1874, mar- ried Rev. Alliston B. Gifford, of the M. E. Church, lives in Amherst, Mass., and has one child, Nathalie B.

In youth Mr. Miller joined the Mt. Sinai Congregational Church, and later became a member of the Centerbrook Church, changing to the Ivoryton Church when that was organ- ized. In 1880 he was chosen church treasurer at Centerbrook, and has retained that office continuously ever since. Mr. Miller has also served as superintendent of the Sunday-school, and Mrs. Miller is one of the leading workers in the affairs of the church and auxiliary so- cieties. In 1872 their present pleasant home was erected, and throughout Ivoryton there are none more highly esteemed than are Mr. and Mrs. Miller. In The Comstock, Cheney & Co. Mr. Miller is held in great respect, as one of the oldest of its employes. In politics he is a Republican, but he has never been willing to accept political honors.

; Rev. Aaron Snow, the father of Mrs. Miller, was born June 26, 1804, in Essex, and removed with his parents, when quite young, to Deep River. He graduated from Yale in 1835, and engaged in preaching in various places, reg- ularly, for a time at Stanwich, Conn., and, al- though he had been offered more lucrative positions, finally located at Buckingham, For twenty-one years he labored faithfully there. then was called to Eastbury, going from there to Miller Place, where he preached thirteen years, at the end of which time failing health made a change necessary. Although he served many churches as a supply, he took no other charge, and his last days were spent with his daughter, Mrs. Miller, his death occurring March 1, 1880. Aaron Snow first married Sarah Hoyt, who died six months after mar-

riage. He married (second) Mary Treat, and to them one daughter, Mary H., was born, who is now, the wife of John W. Brown of Port Jefferson. After the death of his second wife, he married (third) November 11, 1846, Abigail Hovey, a native of Mansfield, Conn., daughter of Edmund and Sophia (Bulkley) Hovey ; she is now residing with her daughter, Mrs. Nathaniel D. Miller. Although a stanch Republican, Mr. Snow desired no political recognition. His strong Abolitionist principles caused him to have trouble with his Eastbury congregation, a powerful sermon preached at the time of the John Brown excitement caus- ing him to deem it wise to sever his connection there.

ROBERT SELDEN MITCHELL, town clerk of Portland, Middlesex county is a courteous and accommodating public official, and has made many friends by his obliging dis- position and faithful performance of the va- rious duties that are placed upon him. He is generally regarded as the most efficient and popular incumbent who has ever filled the office of town clerk.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Portland, No- vember 21, 1848, son of Robert A. and Susan (Brown) Mitchell, and grandson of Zephe- niah Mitchell, who died of old age at Mitchell Hill, in the town of Chatham, on the east bank of the Salmon river. He was a cooper by trade. He had a family of seven children. of whom the historian briefly speaks. Horace went to lowa, and since the Civil war no trace of him has been found: Erastus was, at last reports, an officer on board the school ship "St. Mary," having charge of the dis- cipline of the boys ( all trace of him has been lost) : Robert A., is mentioned below: and there were four daughters who attained wo- manhood.

Robert A. Mitchell was born October 10. 1810, in the town of Chatham, where he was reared, and when nineteen years of age he went to Pertland and entered the butcher business, leaving the employment of Elizur Goodrich, at Gildersleeve, to take up this work. Samuel Wilcox, his employer at Portland, was a very successful butcher, who combined farm- ing and the meat business most successfully. Mr. Mitchell learned the trade thoroughly, and when he became older entered it himself, and was for fifty-one years a stockman. He trav-

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eled as far west as Albany, N. Y., bought cat- tle and drove them back to Portland, slaugh- tering en route, and disposing of what was left at Portland. In 1839, in Portland, Mr. Mitchell married Susan Brown, who was born October 1, 1819, in that place, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Holmes) Brown, who were natives of Portland and East Glaston- bury respectively. Among the children of Rob- ert A. and Susan Mitchell was a daughter, Elizabeth M., who was born September 28, 1850, and died September 28, 1891; she was the wife of Edward S. Cadwell, and survived her husband, dying at the home of Robert S. Mitchell, in Portland.

Mr. Mitchell was a Whig in early life and later became a Republican. He was a promi- nent member of old Freestone Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was its treasurer for years previous to its discontinuance. His wife was a member of the Methodist Church, and was very high- ly esteemed in that body. Mr. Mitchell was an active and vigorous man, and enjoyed un- usual health up to the illness that carried him off in a few days. He died August 17, 1889, in Portland, and was buried in Trinity cemetery. Mr. Mitchell left the record of a long and honorable business career, unmarred by deceit or fraud, was a well known citizen and universally respected. His widow is still living in Portland.

Robert S. Mitchell first attended the "old stone school" in Portland, and after that dis- trict No. I. In April, 1861, he began attend- ance upon Bacon Academy, at Colchester, Conn., was a pupil for one year at that school, and spent another year at the private school of George G. MicLean, at Portland, finishing his schooling at Chase's Institute at Middle- town. When a young man Mr. Mitchell took an active part in the old Portland Lyceum, and displayed much ability in its debates. On April 1, 1867, he hired as a clerk to the firm of S. Gildersleeve & Sons, at Gildersleeve, and remained with them until January 1, 1869, when he entered the employ of Strong & Mitch- ell, meat dealers. He was with this firm two years, when he became the junior member of the meat firm of R. A. Mitchell & Son, from which he retired in October, 1878. On April Ist, following, he became engineer for the Shaler & Hall Quarry, working on a hoisting engine, on which he was engaged two years, then becoming foreman of what

is known as the cart gang, and also time keeper. He was in the quarry until his elec- tion; in October, 1894, as town clerk, an office which he has held continuously to the present time. He is also a justice of the peace, assess- or, and grand juror, and ex-officio registrar of births, marriages and deaths.

Mr. Mitchell is a Mason, belonging to War- ren Lodge No. 51, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been a member since 1871. He has filled various offices in the fraternity, having been secretary for the past twenty-four years, and is well up in the mystic lore of the craft. He holds membership in Portland Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F., where he was initiated Octo- ber 29, 1890, has been recording secretary since his entrance, and financial secretary since July, 1895. Mr. Mitchell has been librarian of the Buck Library, in Portland, since its opening, and is a trustee of the Masonic .Mu- tual Benefit Association of Western New York.

Mr. Mitchell and Miss Jessie L. Andrews, of Glastonbury, were wedded December 29, 1870. She was born July 24, 1849, in Port- land, daughter of George H. and Louisa H. (Kellum) Andrews. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have one daughter, Grace Louise, who is liv- ing at home. They are members of the Epis- copal Church, and Mrs. Mitchell is a mem- ber of the Ladies' Aid Society connected with that body. Mr. Mitchell has built a good home on Fairview avenue and he and his family are the center of many warm friendships.

CONRAD G. BACON, a lawyer of ability of Middletown, and widely and favorably known throughout Middlesex county, is a na- tive of Middletown, born May 18, 1844. He is of the seventh generation in descent from, Nathaniel Bacon, and of the eighth generation from William Bacon, of the Parish of Stretton, in the County of Rutland, England. The line from Nathaniel is as follows: Nathaniel, 1630-1705; Elder John, 1662-1732; Lieut. John, 1695-1781; Joseph, 1728-1785; Capt. John, 1776-1837 ; John P., 1814-1898; Conrad G., our subject.

John P. Bacon, father of Conrad G., was in his day one of the best known citizens of Middletown, in which city he passed nearly his entire life. He was born there, on the west side of Main street, just north of Grand, son of Capt. John and Martha (Bates) Ba-

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con. In early manhood he went to New York City, and remained in business there for sev- eral years, in 1842 returning to Middletown, where he passed the remainder of his life. At one time he was in business with his brother William, later being associated with his sons under the firm name of J. P. Bacon & Sons, and he retired from business pursuits after nearly sixty years of active life. At the time of his decease, November 26, 1898, he was vice-president of the Middletown Savings Bank, with which he had been connected for forty-four years, as trustee, director, etc., be- ing the oldest member in point of length of service connected with that institution. In his political predilections he was a stanch Demb- crat, and one of the old "standbys" of the party. For years he served as selectman, and his administration is said to have been the most economical ever recorded in the town.

On May 14, 1838, John P. Bacon was mar- ried in Middletown to Miss Sarah E. South- mayd, who was born March 4, 1819. on Ferry street, in that city, daughter of Col. John B. and Elizabeth ( Perkins) Southmayd, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Children were born to this union as follows: ( 1) John Buck- ley, born March 21, 1842, enlisted during the Civil war at Columbus, Wis., in the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, and, being a good pen- man, was given the position of captain's clerk. After the war he came to Connecticut, and for some time was agent for the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad at Middle- town, and later, in the same capacity was at Meriden ; he then went West and resided in several places. He is now a successful mer- chant at Pittsford, N. Y. His first wife, Mary (Axtel), of Columbus, Wis., died in Middle- town, Conn. ; his present wife was Miss Fred- rika Rogers, of Pittsford, N. Y., and they have one son, John Howard. John B. Bacon is a prominent Freemason, a stanch Democrat, and a member of the G. A. R. ; he is a vestry- man in the Episcopal Church. (2) Conrad G. is next in order of birth. (3) Ernest M., born in December, 1846, died March 12, 1853. (4) Sherman Mitchell, born January 21, 1849. was married March 30, 1870, to Arianna Pauline Bailey (sketch elsewhere). (5) Au- gustus Southmayd, born May 22, 1851, mar- ried Rose King ( sketch elsewhere). The moth- er of this family is still living at the old home-

stead, enjoying the respect and esteem of hosts of friends and acquaintances.

Conrad G. Bacon was born May 18, 1844, on Cherry street, Middletown, in what was known as the old "Sage House," and received a liberal education, in part at the Green street school, in part at the high school, and in part at D. H. Chase's school. In 1869 he entered the New Haven Law School, from which he was graduated in 1871, and he was admitted to the Middlesex County Bar in October, 1871, when he at once opened a law office in his native city. In 1874 he was elected assistant clerk of the House of Representatives ; in 1875 was clerk of the House, and in 1876 served as clerk of the Senate-all of which positions he filled with honor to himself and credit to his constituents. While, with one exception, he did not seek office in either the town or city government up to the time of his candidacy for the postmastership of Middletown, he al- ways took an active part in political battles, and did much effective work for his party. For a few years in the eighties he was en- gaged in business with his brother, John B., in western New York. In the spring of 1894 he made an effort to secure the office of post- master at Middletown, and not long afterward was rewarded by receiving the appointment at the hands of President Cleveland. This position he held four years, or until 1898, hav- ing entered upon his duties July 23. 1894. He proved an efficient and courteous official. and the entirely acceptable manner in which the office was conducted during his incum- bency showed the wisdom of his appointment. With the exception of four years passed in New York State, in business with his brother. as above related, Mr. Bacon has been a life- long resident of Middletown, and he has al- ways been well and favorably known to its citizens, while a successful law practice has crowned his professional labors. For one year he served as town clerk of Middletown, and in that, as in all his other duties, he proved himself a man of ripe experience and good business ability-promptness, punctuality and reliability being among his prevailing good qualities. In real estate he has dealt not a little. and he is regarded as a good judge of vahies. Conrad G. Bacon has been twice married. Oh November 4. 1868, he wedded Miss El- lena lves, of Meriden, Conn., daughter of Will-

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iam G. and Lucy J. (Birdsey) Ives. There was but one child of this union, Ellena Ives, born July 29, 1870, who was married October 6, 1890, to Arthur L. Allin, secretary of the Middletown Savings Bank; their children- Margaret, born November 30, 1891 ; John W., born October 19, 1898, who died October 27, 1898; and Ellena, born October 11, 1899. Mrs. Bacon died July 30, 1870. On September 15, 1874, Mr. Bacon wedded Miss Anna Louise Donaldson, who was born November 30, 1851, at Toronto, Canada, daughter of Capt. Will- iam and Caroline E. (Bulkley) Donaldson. One son has blessed this union, Frederick Stanley, born February 27, 1877, he was a stu- dent at Trinity College, class of '99, and Yale Law School, class of 1902, and was admitted to the Bar in June of that year. Mrs. Bacon is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bacon is affiliated with Apollo Lodge, K. of P., at Middletown, and is eligible to member- ship in the Mayflower and kindred societies, though not a member. The family home is part of the original Bacon tract owned by his ancestor, Nathaniel, when Middletown was first settled.

BILLINGS NEFF (deceased) in his time probably stood as high in respect of all who knew him as any resident of Portland. He lived there for many years, and made his word as good as his bond.

Billings Neff was born in that part of Windham which is now. the town of Chaplin, Windham county, Conn., October 5, 1816, a son of Elkanah and Sophia (Fisk) Neff, and a grandson of John and Sarah (Jennings) Neff. John Neff was a farmer in Windham county. Elkanah Neff was early trained to farming and made it his life work. By his marriage with Sophia Fisk, he became the father of five children, as follows: Lucius died unmarried in Windham county at the age of sixty-nine years ; Elathea married Benjamin Chappel, and died in Windham county, the mother of several children; Billings was the third child in this family; Olive married John Cullum, and died in Berlin, Mich. ; and Mason was a farmer at Willimantic, Conn., and died February 13, 1902. Elkanah Neff served in the War of 1812, and died at the age of fifty- eight years. His widow lived to be eighty- three. They both sleep in the cemetery at Chaplin, Connecticut.

Billings Neff attended school in the old days, when teachers "boarded round." The limited means of the family early obliged him to work out among the farmers, and though a strong and sturdy lad, at seventeen he could earn only fifty dollars a year, in the current wages of the time. He came to Portland in 1835, and at that time it was about the only place where a young man could find employ- ment at general labor. Here he received twelve dollars a month and his board, and worked from daylight to dark. Pay day came once in the summer, and during the first year he drew only ten dollars of his earnings, and when he went home he carried money enough to buy a yoke of oxen for his father. For several seasons he worked in the Portland quarry, and spent his winters at home. In the spring of 1837 he entered the employment of Experience Storrs, on a farm at Mansfield, Conn. The next year he returned to the Port- land. quarry, on a salary of seventeen dollars a month. During his thirty years in the quarry, he rose from the lowest position to that of overseer. In 1850 he was employed in the ship yard at Gildersleeve, after which he came back to the Middlesex quarry, and had charge of a gang of men for twenty-two years. He began as stated, with a salary of twelve dollars a month, and quit with a salary of three dol- lars and seventy-five cents per day. He was often offered positions in other quarries, but preferred to remain where he was. In 1872 he left the quarry and engaged in farming, raising tobacco and other products. He built a house near the Methodist Church, and in 188I he erected the handsome edifice which was his home at the time of his death, Feb- ruary 2, 1900. Mr. Neff was twice married. In Portland he married Miss Bartlett, who was born in that town in 1820, a daughter of Sam- uel Bartlett. She died April 24, 1869, and is. buried in Center cemetery. One son, Charles Henry, blessed this union. The wedding of Mr. Neff and Miss Bartlett was the first to take place in the present town of Portland. For his second wife, Mr. Neff, on January 26, 1870, married Miss Maria J. Hopkins, who was born in Middletown, in January, 1841, a daughter of Russell Hopkins, a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Neff cast his first vote in 1840 for William Henry Harrison, and ever after voted for Whig and Republican presiden- tial candidates, and missed but one town elec-

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tion. He was first elected tax collector in 1855, and from 1866 to 1888 served continu- ously in that position, making a record of twenty-eight terms. His first collections were less than seven thousand dollars, and his last over fifty thousand dollars. This was a posi- tion in which his business characteristics were conspicuous. He had also served as constable. He belonged to the First Congregational church, and filled several offices in the Society. At the time the old militia disbanded he had been a lieutenant for three years, and he was an active and vigorous man to the end of his life. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows when it first started in Port- land. Throughout the many years of his career he always gave satisfaction wherever employed, and was able to get a situation the second time if he wished it.

CHARLES H. NEFF, son of Billings and Jane ( Bartlett) Neff, was born December 26, 1846, in Portland, where he attended the pub- lic schools, George McLean and Huber Clark being among his early teachers. He went to work at the Portland quarry when he became a young man, and for twenty years was a quarryman. In his later life he engaged in farming with his father, but for some time has been retired. He is a naturalist, taking much pleasure in the last twenty-five years in the collection of curios and Indian relics, and he has a fine store of native birds, snakes, insects and Indian relics, and a special case of bird's eggs. He gave the Wadsworth Athenaeum at Hartford a superb collection of bird-nests. A careful reader, he is thoroughly posted along these various lines. In 1901 he traveled ex- tensively through the United States, visiting San Francisco and Portland, and spending a week in Yellowstone Park. Like his father he is a Republican, and has been registrar of voters in Portland, and served one year on the board of relief. Mr. Neff is a stockholder in the Middlesex quarry, and holds other quarry stock. He is a man of simple habits and retir- ing disposition, and like his venerable father his word is never questioned.

FREDERICK HALE DUNHAM, the present first selectman of the town of Chat- ham, Middlesex county, and one of the lead- ing citizens of his community, is a descend- ant of an honorable Connecticut ancestry.

Levi Dunham, son of Isaac Dunham, of

Hebron, married Anna Waddams, daughter of Caleb Waddams, June 24, 1779. Their chil- dren: Levi, born December 18, 1780; Elijah Rodney, July 14, 1783 ; Sylvester Chester, July 12, 1785 ; Anna, January 4, 1788; Asa, Deceni- ber 30, 1789; Betsey, June 8, 1792; Abraham, August 25, 1794; Orin, August 31, 1803. [ From Glastonbury Town Records]. Levi Dunham died January 23, 1821, aged seventy- five years. His wife, Anna, died June 28, 1844, aged eighty-four years. Both are buried in East Glastonbury, in the cemetery at the junction of the Mott Hill road and the Hart- ford & New London turnpike. By occupation he was probably a farmer, and he lived at one time in what was then Glastonbury, but is now a part of Marlboro, afterward moving to what is now Glastonbury. All of his children ex- cept Sylvester Chester, Anna, Betsey and Orin, left Marlboro prior to 1820.

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 111

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502