Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 137

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 137

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he gave the ground, on Asylum street, on which their plant is located. Mr. Kennedy is industrious, and ably manages the men under him, not working them too hard, yet getting excellent results. He is an honored man, tem- perate at all times in his habits, and justly con- sidered one of the better class of citizens of Middletown. Thoroughly progressive, he es- timates highly the advantages of education. His fortunate selection of a wife has been of considerable help to him.

On February 5, 1880, Roger Kennedy married Miss Annie Joyce, of South Glaston- bury, Conn., born in 1856, at Portland, Conn., a daughter of Patrick and Mary ( Crotty) Joyce, natives of Ireland, who had a family of one son and five daughters, Mrs. Kennedy being the youngest child. To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have come the following children : Maggie, born November 25, 1880, died .\u- gust 15, 1883; Patrick G., born January 13, 1883, took a four years' course at St. Thomas Seminary, in Hartford, and is associated with his father; Roger B., born May 30, 1885. is living at home, and is identified with his fa- ther; Mary E., born December 15, 1887. is being educated in the convent of the Holy Family, at Baltic, Conn. : David H. and Alice C., born November 6, 1892, and July 16, 1895. respectively, are both at home. The parents and children are all members of St. John's Catholic Church at Middletown. In April. 1889. Mr. Kennedy built his comfortable and commodious home at Fort Hill, Middletown. off of Asylum street, and there the family live, enjoying the respect and esteem of the entire community.

FRANK P. SMITH, the well known and popular proprietor of the "Chester House," at Chester, Middlesex county, conducts a hos- telry that has gained merited reputation for the excellence of its cuisine and appointments, which secure for it a large patronage from the traveling public, as well as from residents of the town itself.

Frank P. Smith was born in Moodus, this county. May 6, 185%, son of Amer (. and Lu- cinda ( Arnold) Smith. Mener Smith, the pa- ternal grandfather of Frank P., hoved and dieel at Millington, Coin. : he was engaged in farm ing. Joseph Arnold, the founder of the Arnold family in America, came to Haddan in 1002. and was one of the treaty eight proprietary

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settlers there. David Arnold, the great-grand- father of Mr. Smith on the maternal side, was born on Turkey Hill, this county, and the house in which he was born is still standing and in good condition. He was a farmer by occupation and died when still a compara- tively young man. Nine children were born to himself and wife: John lived in Lynn, Mass .; David lived in Pennsylvania; Samuel lived in Haddam; Curtis migrated West; Alanson lived in Massachusetts; Horace was the grandfather of our subject; Cynthia mar- ried Solomon Shailer; Jerusha married Ira Shailer; Clarissa married a Mr. Hotchkiss.

Horace Arnold, Mr. Smith's maternal grandfather, was born May 29, 1796, on Tur- key Hill, in Haddam, was reared on a farm and later employed in a grocery until a short time after his marriage, when he purchased a place on Turkey Hill adjoining that on which he was born, and there spent the remainder of his active life. His death occurred in Chester, at the home of our subject, where he had re- sided after his retirement, some three years previously. The sad event which robbed the community of one of its most respected citi- zens occurred May 6, 1884. Horace Arnold was a hard-working man, and even during his later . years, although a sufferer from rheumatism, he insisted upon performing his usual tasks. The military record of this good man was most creditable, he having served gallantly in the war of 1812, and in the old militia of Haddam, and he drew a pension for injuries received. He was a man of fine physique, being over six feet tall, and weighing, in his prime, more than two hundred pounds. On February 10, 1818, Horace Arnold was married to Sylvia White, who was born September 25, 1793, in Haddam, daughter of Elisha and Abigail (Bates) White. Mrs. Arnold died in Had- dam January 2, 1881, her death occurring quite suddenly, for she was apparently in the best of health, never having been ill, or taken a dose of medicine in her life, and so vigorous that she did all of her housework until the day of her death. These two good people were con- sistent members of the Congregational Church. They lived together nearly sixty-three years in the house in which Mrs. Arnold died, and are buried side by side in the Turkey Hill ceme- tery. Seven children were born to them : Eliz- abeth A., born October 5, 1818, died Novem- ber 22, 1831. Jerusha A., born October 2,

1820, was married November 26, 1840, to Syl- vester Dickinson, of Haddam, and moved to Ohio, where they resided several years; she died in Haddam, at the home of her father, February 4, 1861. Sylvia L., born September 5, 1822, died October 14, 1853, in Haddam; she was married twice, first time November 2, 1842, to Charles Brainerd, and later to War- ren Pardee. Lucinda, born June 12, 1825, was the mother of our subject. Horace E., born July 17, 1827, married (first) Susan Gladwin, and ( second) Maria Parker ; he was a travel- ing salesman, and died in Amherst, Mass., De- cember 2, 1897. Davis T., born July 22, 1829, was married November 23, 1851, to Esther Dickinson; he is a farmer, residing on the homestead on Turkey Hill. Elizabeth A., born January 26, 1832, married Brainerd Ventres and died November 16, 1864, in Meriden ; her husband was a joiner by trade.

Abner C. Smith, father of Frank P.,, was the only child of his parents, and was born November 9, 1825, in East Hampton, this county, where he resided until he was about nineteen. He then removed to East Haddam, learning the trade of shoemaker from a Mr. Hyde, the shop standing on the present site of the residence of F. C. Fowler, at Moodus. The factory of the Hydes was a large one for those days. Abner Smith worked at his trade there for several years, during which time he also made shoes for customers of his own. Later he engaged in farming for three years, con- ducting a farm in East Haddam. When the war broke out he enlisted, from East Haddam, in Company C, Twentieth Connecticut Vol- unteer Infantry, for three years, and fought with his regiment in all the battles in which it participated. In the last engagement, at Ben- tonville, he was wounded in the right leg, and was removed to a hospital, but as it was twenty miles distant, and he was not properly cared for, although the limb was amputated, his death ensued, on March 28, 1865, at Golds- boro, N. C., where he is buried. When he en- tered the army he left his wife with a family of four children, but one died while he was in the service. Abner C. Smith and Lucinda Arnold were married October 18, 1846. She is still living and resides with her son Frank P. To herself and husband were born four children : Ella G., born July 1, 1849, married Dr. U. S. Cook, of Moodus; Edgar C., born October 3, 1851, married Harriet Dibble, and

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is living in Saybrook, Conn .; Frank P. is men- tioned below; Frederick C., born July 18, 1857, died January 21, 1863.

Frank P. Smith attended the district schools in his native town until he attained the age of fourteen, although he had begun to sup- port himself when only ten, at the time of his father's death. The brave little fellow worked for the farmers in the vicinity in the summer, attending school in the winter. When he was fifteen he went to Deep River, Conn., and was employed in a hotel there, by a Mr. Kellogg. as chore boy, receiving ten dollars a month, with board and lodging. From 1869 to 1872 he remained with Mr. Kellogg and then went to northern Michigan, intending to embark in the lumber business, but after staying there during the summer of 1872 he returned to Connecticut, and accepted a position at the "American Hotel." There he remained one year and then acted as clerk for a summer ho- tel at Cayuga Lake, N. Y. Later he was em- ployed in the "American Hotel," at Hartford, after which he returned to Moodus and man- aged the "Barker House" for three years, for the widow of Charles Barker, the former pro- prictor. In May, 1880, he came to Chester and purchased the "Chester House." from Erastus Weaver, conducting it as a first-class hotel. In November, 1898, Mr. Smith leased the "Hotel Middlesex," at Middletown, and conducted it successfully until April, 1900, when he disposed of the property, returning to Chester and opening up the "Chester House." which had been closed during his absence. The hotel is a large, roomy building, located in the business center of the town, convenient for everyone. Mr. Smith has recently put in a new Gurney Water Heater, every room being heated, and the house is supplied with running water by the new company which has been re- cently formed. The entire interior has been redecorated, and it is now considered one of the best hotels in Middlesex county. Mrs. Smith has brought to the table service a first- class reputation, and the hotel caters to a large number of traveling men, Mr. Smith himself meeting all trains. The hotel also has a con- venient room for the display of commercial men's samples, a livery stable, a well kept pool and billiard room and a. fine hall for the ac- commodation of dancing parties. Situated about half way between Middletown and Say- brook, Chester makes a convenient stopping

place for those who wish to hunt in the wooded tracts or fish in the waters near by.

Frank P. Smith was married October 6, 1878, in Moodus, to Miss Sarah J. Moody. who was born June 12, 1859, in the Parish of Lisirow, County Armagh, Ireland, and was brought to the United States by her parents, James and Jane ( Woods) Moody, when four years of age. She is of stanch Presbyterian stock. Mrs. Smith's paternal grandfather. John Moody, born about 1750, was a native of the Parish of Lisirow, County Armagh, Ire- land. He was being educated for the ministry, but upon the death of his father discontinued his studies, and took up farming as a vocation, successfully following same to the time of his death, about 1813. He married Jane Andrews, of Rich Hill, County Armagh, and to them were born ten children: John, Robert, Sallie, Mary, Samuel, Bessie, Jane, Martha, Marga- ret and James (the father of Mrs. Smith.) Both the Moody and Woods families were of Scottish descent the ancestors of these two families in Ireland going to that country about the time of the Revolution by which James II was dethroned, and William and Mary were crowned. This was perhaps in 1688-89.

James Moody, son of John, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and died at East Haddam, Conn., November 8. 1891. He was a successful farmer in his native country and also in this country, and was a mian highiy esteemed for his honorable and industrious life. He married Jane Woods, a native of County Down, Ireland, whose mother was Hannah Hoosic, of Scotland. Mrs. Moody died at Haddam Neck, Conn., in March, 1000. Mrs. and Mrs. James Moody came to the United States in 1853. landing at New York. and brought three children with them: Han- nah, born June 1, 1845, who married William Selden; Mary, born in June. 1847, who died September 24. 1862; and Margaret, born in March, 1850, who married Nehemiah Murkett. Returning to Ireland in 1850. they took with them the above children and also two born while in the United States: William G., born in February, 1853, who married Lillian Chad- wick ; and John, born in 1854. The following children were born in Ireland : James, born February 18, 1857, who married Mary Cone: and Sarah J., Mrs. Frank P. Smith, born June 12, 1850. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Moody re- turned to the United States, bringing all the

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above named children; and the following chil- dren were afterward born in this country .: Robert J., born in February, 1862, who died August 16, 1867; Samuel Moses, born in No- vember, 1865, who died August 16, 1869; and Francis H., born in March, 1868, who died in June, 1884.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five chil- dren: (1) Georgiana Cook, born October II, 1880, was educated in the district schools, the grammar school at Norwich, Conn., and Mc- Lean Seminary for Young Ladies, at Sims- bury, Conn. ; she taught school three terms and held the position of governess in New York and Brooklyn for two years. On February II, 1902, she married John Frederick Strong, of Pittsfield, Mass., and they reside in South Norwalk, Conn., where Mr. Strong is mana- ger of the Southern New England Telephone Exchange. (2) Frederick A., born Novem- ber 21, 1883, was educated in the district schools, the Deep River high school, and the Middletown high school; he is in the employ of Pratt, Read & Co., of Deep River. (3) Donald Ulysses, born September 19, 1885, was a pupil in the public schools, and is at- tending the Middletown high school. (4) Kittie Louise was born April 1, 1888. (5)

Vernon Edgar was born October 9, 1893.

Having had so long and varied an experi- ence as a hotel man, Mr. Smith thoroughly understands every detail of the business and is able to cater to his guests in such a manner as to make them comfortable and contented. In politics he is a Democrat, and upholds the prin- ciples of his party, but is not an office seeker. The family is a charming one, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith are people of whom nothing but kind words can be said. Their hotel is made more like a home for their guests by their hos- pitality and genial manners, and they have made many friends, not only in the immediate vicinity, but throughout the country.

MYRON H. JOHNSON was in his life- time one of the best known of the younger men in Middletown, Middlesex county, where he came to be regarded as probably as high a type of a citizen for his years as the town afforded. He was a Middletown product in the fullest sense-born, reared and edu- cated in that town, where his entire life was passed with the exception of but a brief period during the latter part, when he had business

interests in Hartford. His many manly quali- ties, pleasant manner, genial disposition and straightforwardness were always prominent characteristics. To the many who knew him, and upon whose heartstrings he had a firm grip, his sudden death meant a deep personal. bereavement. Of the unconscious art of win- ning friends and keeping them, he was a master.

Mr. Johnson belonged to one of the old and respected families of Middletown, one that has been identified with the history of New England from an early period. He was born June 12, 1862, in the Johnson Lane District of Middletown, son of Henry C. and Nancy Adaline (Hubbard) Johnson, mention of whom will be found elsewhere. He was reared on the home farm, and was educated in the district schools. Until 1882 he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home place, and then accepted a position with the Middle- town Plate Company, as a workman. A year later he returned to the homestead, and in company with his brother, Arthur, relieved his father of its management, conducting the farm and dairy business in an able manner. Mr. Johnson was a man of splendid natural busi- ness ability, and in addition to farming and dairying in Johnson Lane, carried on an in- surance and real-estate business in Hartford, under the firm name of Bullard, Johnson & Shipman, his associates being John E. Bullard and James Shipman.

On November 23, 1881, Mr. Johnson mar- ried Miss Mary E. Brock, a daughter of Henry J. and Sarah T. (Roberts) Brock, of Middletown. To this union no children were born. In politics Mr. Johnson affiliated with the Democratic party, but his political strength was, however, by no means confined to that party. He was elected assessor of Middle- town, and subsequently selectman, serving in the latter capacity in 1891-92-93. In whatever capacity he acted as a public servant his dut- ies were discharged with marked fidelity and business ability. His untimely death, on March 17, 1900, after but a few days illness, cut short a career that certainly had a bright future, as well as one that had been more than ordinarily successful. Fraternally he was a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M .; Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, K. T .; Pyramid Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport, Conn .; Arawana Tribe of Red

Myron H. Johnson ,

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Men; and Hose Company No. 2, of Middle- town. In a Middletown journal, on the occa- sion of his death, appeared the following : "Upright and honorable in his business deal- ings, courteous and genial in the ordinary walks of life, Mr. Johnson attracted many friendships, and the news of his death was heard with genuine regret."

JOHN A. CARRIER. The Carrier fam- ily is of Welsh origin, tracing it lineage back to one Thomas Carrier, who was born in Wales about the year 1629. He was a man of enor- mous height-tradition says that he stood seven feet, four inches-with other physical propor- tions correspondingly developed. On account of his extraordinary stature, Charles I. of Eng- land appointed him royal executioner. He married Martha Allen, who bore him three sons,-Thomas, Andrew and Richard. In 1677 he brought his family to America, land- ing on these shores December 4th, of that year. They settled at Andover, Conn., and there en- countered an abundance of trouble. Those were the days of Cotton Mather and the Salem witchcraft folly. Superstition was in the as- cendant, and malice could be easily gratified. Thomas Carrier's wife was executed as a witch in 1692, and some seven years later, Thomas Carrier, with his sons and their families, re- moved to Colchester. There he died, after rounding out nearly, if not quite, a complete century.

(11) Richard Carrier, youngest son of Thomas, married Elizabeth S. Sessions, at An- dover, July 18, 1694. She was born in that town in 1672, and died March 6, 1704.

(Ill) John Carrier, son of Richard, was born in 1697, at Andover, and married May Brown, at Colchester. Of their children, Abiah was born May 7. 1723, and married Joseph Skinner. Sybil was born November 28, 1725. Mary was born December 26, 1727. Titus is referred to below.

(1\') Titus Carrier, the great-grandfather of John A. Carrier, was born Angust 23. 1733. and died July 26, 1795; his remains were in terred in the Lake View cemetery, at East Hampton, He married Merey Cook, who was born February 17. 1745, and died Angust 6, 1819. Their children were: Mary, born Oc- tober 4. 1766; Joli, December 19. 1709: Richard, February 23. 1774; Mercy, May 15. 1776; and Titus, 48

(V) Titus Carrier was born July 24, 1781, in Middle Haddam, and died there November 3, 1848. He was by trade a ship carpenter, but during the latter years of his life had charge of the tollgate near his native place. He married Mehitabel Watrous, who was born May 20, 1786, and died December 6, 1876, in her ninety-first year. Their children were sev- en in number, namely: Maria, Mary, Alvin Cook, Selden N., Sarah Ann, John and Titus. (1) Maria, born August 11, 1807, married Chauncey Arnold, and died January 31, 1892. (2) Mary, born July 11, 1809, married Charles Jacob, and died December 22, 1894. (3) Al- vin Cook, born April 30. 1812, died September 15, 1858; he married Sarah Maria Jacob, who was born July 2, 1811, and died September 17, 1872. (4) Selden N. was born July 9. 1814, and died, unmarried, June 30, 1835. (5) Sarah Ann, born January 30, 1817, died De- cember 5, 1837. (6) John (the father of John A.) was born April 19. 1820, and died December 20, 1896. (7) Titus, born Au- gust 21, 1822, married Sarah W. Rogers, and is now deceased.

(VI) John Carrier passed his life in Middle Haddam, and was twice married, his first wife. the mother of John A., being Adeline Childs. to whom he was united April 12. 1847. Their union was blessed with but one child,-John A. The issue of the second marriage, to Mary Hamilton, was four daughters and one son. Amelia . A., the eldest, was born November 12. 1861, and lives in Middle Haddam, unmarried. Angeline, born August 26, 1863. lives in the same town, as does also Alvin C., who was born November 6. 1865. Sophia Childs, born July 25, 1869, is the wife of John 11. Selden. Jr., of Middle Haddam. Noves B. A., barn September 1, 1871, married Grace Coles, of Middletown, and is a prosperous merchant of East Hampton. John Carrier, the father, was a successful business man. In addition to con- ducting a store, until within a year of his death. he speculated largely in lumber and horses, buying the horses in Vermont and the West. and finding a market for them at Middletown. He was highly esteemed by his fellow towns- men, who not only electell him to various local offices, but also three times chose him as their representative in the Legislature. Politically he was a Democrat.

(V11 ) John A. Carrier was born in Middle Haddam February 7. 1855, and was educated

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in the common schools and at the Glastonbury Academy. His school days over, he entered his father's store, and in 1895, upon the lat- ter's retirement from business, became pro- prietor. He is also an extensive dealer in horses. his political creed is Democratic, and he has held various offices, although seek- ing none. In town affairs his public spirit has forced him into prominence, and he has served his fellow citizens in various capacities, among them that of school committeeman. For ten years prior to 1890, he was postmaster at Mid- dle Haddam, and in 1895 represented his town in the Legislature, serving on the committee on Unfinished Business.

On January 16, 1878, Mr. Carrier was united in marriage with Miss Caroline J. Simp- son, a daughter of Capt. Edward M. and Har- riet (Johnson) Simpson, and they have two sons: Paul S., the elder, was born June 10, 1880, and is a stenographer in the office of I. E. Palmer, of Middletown. The younger, Alfred B., was born July 12, 1882, is a gradu- ate of the Middletown Business College, and is employed as draughtsman by Fox & Becker, at Middletown.

WALLACE PORTER, a citizen of Hig- ganum, Middlesex Co., Conn., who belongs to a family well and favorably known in this State, is a son of John Porter. His grand- father was a resident of Hebron, Conn., near which town he owned and operated a farm. He was three times married, the children of his last union being: Anna and Jasper, who lived on the old homestead; John, the fa- ther of Wallace; Royal, who lived and died in Hebron; Orlean, who lived near the old homestead ; and Almira.

John Porter, the father of Wallace, was a native of Hebron, born in 1800, and died in Middletown, Conn., August 9, 1860. He was reared in the town of his birth, but later moved to Middletown, where he successfully engaged in his profession, teaching music. He gave in- struction in both instrumental and vocal music, and became interested in the manufacture of musical instruments. He married a daughter of Hezekiah Scovil, of Higganum, and they reared the following family: John Scovil passed the greater part of his life in Columbus, Ohio, where he was a well-known musician; he died February 18, 1882, in Meriden, Conn. Jane died September 5, 1837. Joseph married Har-

riet Stevens, of Cromwell; he lives in New Haven, engaged in the provision business. Ed- ward, who lives in Rochester, N. Y., is engaged in the musical profession. Alice lives in Meri- den. Fanny died March 24, 1849. Wallace is the subject of this article.

Wallace Porter was born December 25, 1850, in Middletown, Conn., and lived there until he was ten years old, going later to rela- tives in Columbus, Ohio, where he acquired the greater part of his education. When about sixteen years of age he entered a machine shop in New Haven, Conn., and remained there un- til he had learned that trade. In 1886, Mr. Porter removed to Wilkesbarre, Pa., where he conducted a small business of his own, follow- ing his trade until his removal in 1894, to Hig- ganum, Conn., where he has since been located, employed in the D. & H. Scovil shops, as a machinist.

On September 29, 1881, Mr. Porter was married, in Stratford, Conn., to Miss Florence G. Wells, daughter of Benjamin Wells, and they have had children as follows: Ralph W., born January 13, 1884; Whitney Scovil, Sep- tember 30, 1886; Philip Wells, September 5, 1888; Harriet Louise, December 31, 1890; Florence Adeline, October 21, 1892; Esther Caroline, September 20, 1894; and Hezekiah Scovil, June 4, 1896.

In politics, Mr. Porter prefers to be inde- pendent, although his leanings are toward the Democratic party. Soon after he attained his majority he joined the Masonic fraternity, and is now connected with Trumbull Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M., of New Haven.

Mr. Porter has inherited musical talent and has devoted much time to its development, al- though he has not made it his principal busi- ness in life. He was a church organist in New Haven, and fills the same position in Hig- ganum.

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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 137

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