Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 161

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 161

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The work to which the little lad of ten was first put was that of cleaning bolts, in the Fox Bolt Works of New York, and he continued at same until he went with his parents to Guil- ford, where he immediately found work with the Guilford Manufacturing Company. There he remained until it closed, going then to the lock factory, where he was engaged at japan ning locks. Later he entered the machine shop of Bull & Bishop, and still later the bit shop owned by Daniel Hubbard, thence going to the foundry of Oliver Fowler, which later became the property of I. S. Spencer & Sons. All this time Mr. Grosvenor was becoming acquainted with different lines of work, and entered the sash and blind factory of Samuel Chittenden.

at East River, to learn that branch. being by that time a good machinist. Wishing to be- come a blacksmith, he then went to Fair Haven and entered the employ of Ambrose Clark, re- ceiving as wages $35 and board for the first vear, and an increase of $5 for the next. Dur- ing the same time he acted as janitor of the East Pearl Street M. E. Church, at Fair Haven, for which he received $50 per annum. After two years he had as assets good clothes and his trade, had given his father $40. and had the consciousness that all this time he had done his share to assist in providing for the wants of the younger brothers and sisters.

Just at this time opened the Civil war, and as Mr. Grosvenor was a fine musician, being a member of the bands of Fair Haven and Guil- ford. he enlisted in that capacity, and was as- signed to the First New York Regiment, with which he served a few weeks. in eastern Vir- ginia, playing the B flat trombone. He was taken seriously ill, with an acute attack, and was sent home that he might die among his friends. For a year he was ill, but he grad- ually regained his health, and finally was able to continue in the shop, although he has never entirely recovered the robustness of youthi.

In 1873 Mr. Grosvenor left Guilford and repaired to Fair Haven, where he purchased a house, rented a shop and remained until 1883. Here he acted in his old capacity of janitor. led the church choir for many years, and was prominently identified with Adelphi Lodge. F. & A. M .. of that town, having affiliated with the fraternity in St. Alban's Lodge, Guilford ; he was also a member of the I. O. O. F., but has dropped that connection. In 1883. at the re- quest of his wife, he came to Westbrook, and built his present shop, where he has been by ils engaged at his trade, also doing all kinds of wood work, general jobbing and carrilde le- pairing, making a specialty of the tones, of which he makes about 150 pairs annually. sur plying all for the New Haven lee Como For a number of years Mr. Chesteuer his cafe ried the mail between the depot and Wet brook.

Mr. Grosvenor was mariel, November . 180%. to Josephine Anna Pratt, who was boat August 8. 1835 m Westbroek, dunghey of Capt. James A. and Amiga ikutlands Post. and died Sept 1. 1803 born to this umon as follows Chiles who marited Alide Bushnell, is the agent o1

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the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail- way Company at Leete Island; James P., who graduated from the New Haven Business Col- lege, is now cashier of the Meriden Cutlery Company, and quite prominent in the Congre- gational Church in Meriden. The second mar- riage of Mr. Grosvenor, on October 17, 1894, was to Martha A. Holliday, daughter of Ed- ward M. Holliday, of Westbrook.

During his residence in Fair Haven Mr. Grosvenor became a member of the East Pearl Street Methodist Church, and has since transferred to the Congregational Church of Westbrook, where he is the efficient superin- tendent of the Sunday-school; he also acts as janitor. As an active Republican Mr. Gros- venor has served in many public positions, has been tax collector (since 1891), grand juror, and justice of the peace. He is a member of Admiral Foote Post, No. 17, of New Haven, the largest G. A. R. post in Connecticut, and is past commander of the same; was the organ- izer of Chapman Post, No. 72, of Westbrook,

is commander of the same, and has been its capable adjutant for the past fifteen years. In 1899 he was appointed by Department Com- mander Henry Jones, of New Hartford, to the position of inspector of the Department of Connecticut for that year, and his discharge of the duties of that position was marked by the completeness which characterizes all his ac- tions. Among his acquaintances, who are nu- merous, he is esteemed in the highest degree, and he is one of the representative citizens of Westbrook, in both public and private life.

PETER ANDERSON is one of the oldest employes in point of service in the large green- house of A. N. Pierson, of Cromwell, Middle- sex county. He is a son of Andrew and Anna ( Hausen) Anderson, natives of Borlunda, in the southern part of Sweden, who had chil- dren as follows: Andrew, who died when eighteen years old; Peter; Annie, who died when four years old; Annie (2), who is living in Sweden: and Johanna, who is living in Sweden. The mother died in 1880, and the fa- ther, who was a school teacher in Germany, died in 1899. Both were buried in Borolunda.

Peter Anderson was born October 9, 1859, in Borlunda, Sweden, where he received a pub- lic-school education. After leaving school he began working in a greenhouse in Wrans, Gunnarstorp, which was about seven miles

from his home. After remaining there for three years he was engaged in a greenhouse in Lu- beck, Germany, for three years. For the en- suing nine years he was in Sweden, and for two years was foreman in a garden at Marshog. In March, 1886, he sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark, for America, and after being on the water fourteen days landed in New York. Making a brief stop in Plainwell, Conn., he was soon located in Cromwell, where he found employment in the Pierson greenhouse.

On June 7, 1889, Mr Anderson married Miss Ida Christine Johanson, who was born in 1863 in Sweden, and came to the United States in 1887. Their children are: Harry, born De- cember 15, 1892; Anna, born November 2, 1894: Thomas and Phillip, born October 6, 1896; and Margaret, born May 27, 1899. Mr. Anderson built his present convenient and at- tractive home in 1894. Politically he is a Re- publican. He is treasurer of the Swedish Benefit Society, of Cromwell, and is a trustee of the Cromwell Swedish Church.

S. M. FOOTE, a representative business man of Middletown, Conn., conducts the lead- ing livery business of that city. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Connecticut, and the family has for generations been prom- inent throughout New England. He himself, is the son of John ML Foote, who married Sarah Munson. The father was born in 1819, and is yet living, hale and well preserved, and as active as many men at fifty, despite his eighty-one years. Mrs. Sarah (Munson) Foote passed away in 1889.

S. M. Foote was born April 22, 1853, in Northford Society, in the town of North Bran- ford. As a farmer's son, he early learned all varieties of farm work. He enjoyed but meagre educational advantages, attending the district school during the winter (sometimes only for three months), until he reached the age of six- teen, when, for a short time, he was a pupil at the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. His school days ended, he left home to begin the battle of life for himself. Procuring through his own efforts, the necessary outfit, he embarked in business as a butcher, a pursuit which he followed for eleven years with decided success. His next enterprise was the printing of visiting and business cards, which at that time was an industry of no mean proportions at Northford, from which place firms sent the

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

883

product of their press to all parts of the coun- try. In connection with his card printing Mr. Foote also did business as a lithographer at New Haven, and both ventures proved profit- able. He disposed of his plant to Stevens Brothers, and in 1890 came to Middletown, where he bought a livery stable from the es- tate of Thomas B. Bent. For three years he conducted this business at its former location on Court street, but in 1893 removed to his present quarters on Main street, where he has an equipment second to none in the town. To its management he has brought the same sound judgment and keen business sense which had won for him success in previous undertakings. That he has acquired a competence is due to his own unaided efforts, and to the unflagging en- ergy which has marked his life since he was a boy of sixteen. He is of a happy and even temperament, which readily wins friends who are retained by his strong personal influence and his high character. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, having first entered the order in Corinthian Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 103, at Northford, Conn. He is a member of Fair Haven Chapter, R. A. M .; New Haven Commandery, K. T .; and Bridgeport Con- sistory. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and while residing in North Branford served his party in several official positions.

On September 18, 1878, Mr. Foote was married to Miss Rosa J. Cooper, of North Branford, a lady of excellent family, and the daughter of Charles and Laura Cooper, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Foote is a com- municant in the Episcopal Church. The chil- dren born of this marriage are four in number, two daughters and two sons : Laura graduated from Middletown High School, class of 1897: S. Scott graduated from the Connecticut Busi- ness College, at Middletown; Herbert J. : and Sarah M.

FRANK J. CARRIER, the genial host of the "Fowler House," at Moodus, Middlesex county, is a man whose varied experience fits him for the position he now occupies, and en- ables him to cater successfully to the require ments of his many guests. He was born in Moodus Inne 8, 1852, aud there the greater portion of his years has been spent.

Oren Carrier, his father was born in 1800. in Westchester, town of Colchester, New Lon- don Co., Conn., where he grew to maturity and

married, on April 16, 1825, Prudence R. Chap- man. They had children as follows: Abby J. ; Henry B .; Ellen G .; Omri G. : Prudence R .; Mary B .; Edwin I. ; and Emma S. The mother died in 1840, and on May 26, 1844, the father married again, his second wife be- ing Miss Hope Buckley Coon, daughter of Daniel Coon. To this union were born: Rob- ins : Eveline B .; and Frank J., our subject. The father died July 11, 1862, and his widow married, on December 17, 1868, Giles Shat- tuck. She passed away December 12, 1870.

Frauk J. Carrier, being bereft of his fa- ther when but ten years of age, was early obliged to look after himself, and consequently his educational advantages were limited, but he embraced every opportunity offered. and taught himself at night, until he gained a fair knowledge of the necessary branches. The first real employment he had was on a river boat plying between Saybrook and Hartford. and when but sixteen, having attained to man's stature, he did the work of a man. For six years he continued in this employment, but his active mind was ever at work, seeking to glean new knowledge, recognizing that every addi- tional acquirement was but another weapon to conquer fortune, and he learned all the details of handling an engine. Returning to Moodus the young man engaged with Emory Johnson in his coffin trimming factory, constantly ac- quiring new knowledge, and later was engineer for the Moodus Yarn Company for eighteen months. By this time his savings had accum- lated, and he decided to engage in the business for which he felt himself best fitted ;he was con- nected with a hotel business for two years be- fore he purchased the "Fowler House," one of the best hostelries in Moodus, finely appointed. with an excellent cuisine, and which enjoys a gratifying patronage, not only from the com- munity, but also from the traveling public. In addition to conducting his hotel, Mr. Carrier is one of the most extensive ice dealers in Moodus, and has extended his field of opera- tion to Goodspeeds. His fine taris, of 1,30 and zon acres, respectively, are m excellent con- dition, and the crops are astonishingh huge

Mr. Carrier married Mary Mc Meer, a na- five of Cape Cod, Mass., who che in Jammers. 1801, the mother of four children! born November 1. 1871, who died in itunes. Minnie H., born September 16, 18-19 Annie. born December 20, 1876, who was married

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

September 8, 1897, to George E. Barber, and resides in Derby, Conn .; and Oren, born De- cember 21, 1880, who is attending business col- lege at Hartford, Conn. Minnie H. and Annie both attended Bacon Academy, at Colchester, Conn .; the former is assistant postmistress at Moodus, an office she has held for six years.

Politically Mr. Carrier is a stanch Demo- crat ; socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Columbia Lodge, No. 26, of East Haddam; and he also holds membership in Middlesex Lodge, No. 3, I. O. O. F., of East Haddam. He is as prominent in the community as he is popular in these or- ganizations, where he is always so warmly welcomed. -

GEORGE MORTIMER STARR. Among the well-known citizens of East Hampton who have passed here a busy and useful life is George Mortimer Starr, who was born in the town of Chatham, Conn. January 17, 1845, a son of Vine B. and Amanda ( Markham) Starr, well-known in this locality.

Mr. Starr was reared in this locality and attended the district schools for a short time, at the age of nine years removing into the vil- lage of East Hampton to make his home with his grandmother, who had married for her sec- ond husband, Walter Sexton. There he was given more educational advantages, but his va- cations were spent in the bell factory, where he earned a boy's wages, his real entrance into business being in the shops of William E. Bar- ton where he was engaged many years. For the last twenty years he has been a member of the Starr Bros. Bell Co., having active charge of its foundry.

Mr. Starr has been twice married. On Jan- uary 12, 1876, he wedded Antoinette Watrous, who was born in Taunton, Mass., a daugh- ter of William and Eveline ( Ackley) Watrous, the latter a daughter of Nathan and Eveline Ackley. Mr. and Mrs. Starr became the par- ents of the following children: Eveline Ade- lia, born November 29, 1876; Georgia, born August 9, 1879 ; and Lillie, born July 17, 1882. Mrs. Starr died in July, 1883. On February I, 1888, Mr. Starr married Lila Ingraham, a daughter of William and Mary (Fuller) In- graham, the former of Westchester and the latter of Massachusetts. Besides Mrs. Starr, Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham had two children: Mina, who married Frederick Sage, of West-

chester, Conn .; and William, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have a daughter, Hel- en, born April 21, 1891.

In politics Mr. Starr is a Republican, ad- vocating, however, Prohibition principles, but he has never been willing to accept office of any kind. Closely attending to his business, he has accumulated a competency, and has taken an active part in several of the important business enterprises of the town, being one of the large stockholders in the Starr Bros. Net & Twine Works, of East Hampton, and a di- rector in the Starr Bros. Manufacturing Com- pany of which company he was one of the in- corporators. Both Mr. and Mrs. Starr are reg- ular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination Mrs. Starr is a valued member, and the family is one which possesses the esteem of the whole community. By industry and integrity Mr. Starr has made his success in life and has fulfilled the requisites of a good citizen, having done his duty to his family, his town and his country.

RANDOLPH MATHEWSON is a pro- gressive and wide-awake druggist at South Farms, Middletown, Middlesex county, and stands well to the front in his line in that city. He has a most attractive store, which was first , opened for trade in September, 1893. There is a fine storeroom in the front, a large labora- tory in the rear, and a fine, roomy basement under the entire structure. The building is a satisfaction to the artistic eye, both in its con- struction and planning, as well as in its fine decorative finishing.

Randolph Mathewson is a native of Dur- ham, and a son of the late Dr. Rufus W. Math- ewson, who was a physician of excellent re- pute. He is also a brother of Dr. Earl Math- ewson, now of Durham. His grandfather bore the name of Rufus, and his great-grandfather was Joseph. The Mathewson family has been prominent in local affairs for some generations back, and its various representatives have large- ly been men of character and ability.

Randolph Mathewson was born March 13, 1858, the youngest son of his parents. He was a student in the Durham district school, and at Durham Academy when that excellent insti- tution was under the control of Mark Pitman, as principal. When his school days were over. he was employed by his father for a time and then went to Chicago, where he remained six

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years with the Meriden Britannia Co. In 1888 Mr. Mathewson came back to Connecti- cut and after a short engagement at Manches- ter was engaged in a leading drug store at Hartford, where in several years of practical experience he perfected himself in compound- ing, while in that city he became a registered pharmacist. In the fall of 1893 he came to Middletown and opened a pharmacy at South Farms, which rapidly became known as one of the best and most complete in this part of the State. The store at the Farms is abundantly stocked with everything pertaining to the druggists' business, including the side lines, and neatness and good order are everywhere apparent. The business transacted is that of a first-class, up-to-date pharmacy, and in ad- dition to attending to an extensive patronage in the compounding of physicians' prescrip- tions, many standard articles are prepared from formulas owned by Mr. Mathewson. One of these, Dr. Wellington's Cough Syrup, was used for many years with especially good re- sults in the private practice of the late Dr. Mathewson. Our subject also handles an iron tonic that is gaining more than a local name.

Mr. Mathewson was married. in Chicopee, IMass .. October 17, 1883, to Miss Anna R. Wood, who was born April 23, 1856. a daugh- ter of John B. and Lucy ( Kimball) Wood. She was reared in her native town, is a lady of many gifts and graces, and takes a promi- nent place in the social circles of the commu- nity. Fraternally Mr. Mathewson belongs to Mattabessett Lodge, Royal Arcanum, at Mid- dletown. He is an admirer of antiques and curios, and in his home has several valuable specimens of old furniture and clocks.

GEORGE EDWIN ELLIOT. Tradition traces the ancestry of the Eliots of England to the time of the landing of William the Con- queror on the shores of that country, in the year 1066. In the early history of England the name was variously spelled Eliot, Elliot, Flyet. Elyotte, etc.

John Eliot, commonly called the "apostle to the Indians." was the American ancestor of the Elliots and Eliots who reside in Clinton, of which family our subject is a worthy mem ber. That great and good man was born in England December 20, 1604, in-as authorities claim -- Nasing, County of Essex, though both the counties of Deven and Cornwall lav claim

to his birthplace, and there is a record of his baptism in the register of the church at Wid- ford. Herefordshire. Nothing is related of his parents except that they gave him a lib- eral education and were exemplary for their piety, to which fact Mr. Eliot himself bore testimony, when, in after years, he wrote thus : "I do see that it was a great favor of God unto me to season my first years with the fear of God, the word, and prayer." He was educated at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, where he became distinguished for his love for the languages, especially Greek and He- brew, of which he acquired a sound. thorough and discriminating knowledge. He became well versed in the general course of liberal studies, and was particularly learned in the- ology. After leaving the University he was employed as an usher in the grammar school of Rev. Thomas Hooker, at Little Baddow, County of Essex. Mr. Hooker subsequently was one of the most eminent of the worthies of New England. He exerted a salutary in- fluence on the formation of Mr. Eliot's char- acter and principles, and decided him in pur- sning the profession of a Christian minister. When Mr. Hooker was driven from England Mr. Eliot followed him to the New World. making the voyage in the ship "Lion." and ar- riving at Boston November 1. 1031, in com- pany with his brothers Jacob and Philip. Gov. Winthrop's wife and children, and about sixty others. He was immediately placed in charge of the First Church in Boston, the pastor, Mr. Wilson, having gone to England temporarily. on business. His betrothed. Hanmalı Mini- ford, who was born September 16. 1003. fol- lowed him to New England, and they were married in October, 1032. Mr. Eliot conti- ned in charge of the Boston congregation in til his removal to Roxbury, where he was or- gained November 5. 1032. He was the first minister in that place, and continued as teach er of the church there until his death, a peril of nearly sixty years, preaching as long as his strength lasted. His meeting house was on the hill where the present meeting house of the First ( Unitarian) Church of Roxbury stads.

At that time there were man Indums with in the limits of the English plantations and to Christianize and improve then became the rul ing motive of My, Phot's lite, his work among them commencing October 8, 16gb, at Non- intum, in Newton He devoted his great in-

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tellect to learning their language, and made several translations of Holy Writ, the most noted being that known as the "Indian Bible." The New Testament was published at Cam- bridge in September, 1661, and was followed by the Old, and thus the entire Bible, with a Catechism and the Psalms of David in metre, was given to the Indians in their own tongue within forty years after the settlement of the country. This work was of such magnitude, requiring such deep and exhaustive learning, that it yet excites the wonder of philologists. Eliot's labors were far greater than those of any of the translators in Germany, France or England, for they had the facilities afforded by copies of the Bible in Latin, which was the conventional language of the priests and stu- dents of Europe, while his work was in an unwritten and hitherto unknown language, which he was first obliged to learn; and, after his Bible was published, he had to establish schools and prepare a grammar and other books for instructing the savages to read it. In all these arduous duties he had no assistant but an Indian boy. Thus a humble and modest, yet faithful and zealous, pastor of a small Chris- tian community, on the shore of a vast conti- nent which was then almost an entire wilder- ness, alone achieved a work which excited the wonder and admiration of both hemispheres, and has rendered his name memorable for- ever in the annals of literature and piety. With such holy ardor and untiring perseverance did he prosecute his great and commendable labors as to richly deserve his exalted title of "apostle to the Indians." His manner of preaching was very plain, yet powerful ; his delivery graceful. The old oak at South Natick, beneath which he preached to the Indians in 1690, stood for nearly two centuries afterward. Mr. Eliot's death occurred on May 20, 1690, in the eighty- sixth year of his age, and he was laid to rest in what was called the minister's tomb in the First burying ground. His wife died March 22, 1687. Their children were: Ann, born September 17, 1633, was a daughter of ex- cellent character, and remained with her par- ents as long as they lived; she was the wife of Habakkuk Glover. John, born August 31, 1636. died October II, 1668. Joseph, born December 20, 1638, is mentioned below. Sam- uel, born June 22, 1641, died in 1664. Aaron, born February 19, 1644, died November 18,

1655. Benjamin, born January 29, 1647, died October 15, 1687.

Joseph Eliot, born December 20, 1638, died May 24, 1694. at Guilford, where he was set- tled as minister. He was graduated from Harvard in 1658. On November 23, 1662, the people of Northampton unanimously expressed their desire to settle Mr. Eliot as teacher, and fixed his salary at fifty pounds. In 1664 he was settled at Guilford, receiving ordination December 23d, of that year. It is said that he delivered an annual sermon before the Gen- eral Assembly, and he received a grant of land from that body, probably in acknowledgment of these services. He continued to discharge his pastoral duties at Guilford until his death. Joseph Eliot first married Sarah, daughter of Hon. William Brenton, governor of Rhode Island, and after her death he married Mary, daughter of Hon. Samuel Wyllys, of Hartford. She died October II, 1729, at the age of sev- enty-three years. His children, four by each ; wife, were as follows: (I) Mehitable, born October 4, 1676, married William Wilson, of Guilford, and died April 14, 1723, without is- sue. (2) Ann, born December 12, 1677, mar- ried December 20, 1698, Hon. Jonathan Law, of Milford, governor of Connecticut, and died November 16, 1703. (3) Jemima, born in 1678, married Rev. John Woodbridge, of West Springfield, Mass., and died June 10, 1718. (4) Barshua married Augustus Lucas, of Fairfield, a French refugee. (5) Jared is mentioned below. (6) Abiel, of Guilford, died October 28, 1776. (7) Mary, born in 1688 married in 1734, Hawkins Hart, of Walling- ford, and had a large family. (8) Rebecca born in 1690, married John Trowbridge, sher- iff of New Haven, and after his death became the wife of Ebenezer Fisk; for her third hus. band she married Capt. William Dudley.

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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 161

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