Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 166

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 166

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Mr. Wilbur and Miss Maria Cadwell, a native of Portland, were married May 6, 1880. She is a daughter of Capt. Henry S. and Pa- tience (Graham) Cadwell, her father born in Wilbraham, Mass., her mother in Berlin, Conn. Henry S. Cadwell was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, was captain of Company D, Twentieth Connec- ticut Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged

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from the service on account of disability. He was fifty years in the employ of the Middlesex Quarry Company, and died in April, 1896, leaving two children: Edward G., who was killed in the Middlesex quarry, and Maria, Mrs. Wilbur.

The only child of Gideon S. Wilbur, Thom- as Henry, was born July 14, 1881, and was graduated from the Portland high school in the class of 1900. He is an accomplished musi- cian, both vocal and instrumental, having a fine basso voice, and, though still young, is a singer of much promise, enjoying more than a local reputation. He is librarian of the Sun- day-school of the Episcopal Church.

Mr. Wilbur is a Democrat politically, but not an office-seeker. He belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity, affiliating with Warren Lodge, No. 51, A. F. & A. M., and is also an Odd Fel- low. With his wife and son he belongs to the Episcopal Church. They are highly esteemed members of the community.

WINGATE C. HOWARD, clerk of the town of Middletown, Middlesex county, and also registrar of vital statistics, is a young man whose future seems assured, and it cer- tainly is if pronounced ability, steady habits, and an industrious disposition have anything to do with the matter. He makes friends readily, and keeps them steadfastly. He holds a position that has never before been filled by anyone after so brief a residence in the town, and his efficiency is attested by the largely in- creased majorities given him on the occasions of his subsequent elections, majorities that were his on purely personal grounds, as he be- longs to the party that was and is now in the minority.

Mr. Howard was born September 25, 1865, at the village of Deep River, in the town of Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Conn., son of Ly- man and Hannah ( Brockway) Howard. His mother was born in Deep River, and his fa- ther in the town of Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y. Lyman Howard spent the first twelve years of his life in his native place, when he went to New York City and secured a position on the Connecticut river steamers. He was apt about machinery, became a fireman, and mak- ing rapid progress, was soon taken on as fireman in one of the ocean steamers. His natural genius for ma-

chinery had full play, and at the end of three years he was made first engineer, and present- ly became inspector of the Morgan line of steamers, with his office in New York. Later he formed a partnership with Richard Peck, under the firm name of Peck, Howard & Co., and founded the Washington Iron Works, on West street, New York, where he established a large business, manufacturing steam engines and steam boilers, and taking contracts for fit- ting out ocean steamers with power machinery. During President Cleveland's first administra- tion he was appointed local inspector of Gov- ernment steam boilers and steam vessels, and had his office in the post office building in New York. He resigned this position, owing to ill health, in December, 1901, and went to reside with his son Wingate, in Middletown. His health continued to fail, and he died March 25, 1902. Lyman Howard was a self-made man. He was noted for his sterling honesty, and ability in his chosen profession, and was a close student of American men and affairs. He was highly respected by all with whom he came in contact.

On July 2, 1855. Mr. Howard married, at Deep River, Hannah Brockway, daughter of Roswell and Katharine ( Tyler ) Brockway. and granddaughter of Elijah and Sarah (Av- ery ) Brockway. Her ancestors on her motli- er's side took prominent part in the Revolu- tionary war, as did also the ancestors of her husband. Elijalı Brockway was a farmer, and spent the last years of his life at the home of his son Roswell. He was the father of the following children: Elijah married Asenatlı Dickinson, and resided in Deep River ; he was a carpenter and joiner. Roswell was the grandfather of Wingate C. Howard. George married Emily Post ; he was a ship carpenter. and lived to be ninety-two years old. Sally married Stephen Pratt, a quarryman of Say- brook. Charlotte married George De Wolf, a farmer of the town of Lyme. Lychia died un- married.

Roswell Brockway, referred to above, 11,75 born July 1. 1785, in Saybrook, in the house How occupied by his son Ehaphalet. He was reared a farmer, but carly in life went into the coasting trade, hauling produce from the Connecticut river ports to the city of New York. He owned several different schooners and sloops, at different tunes, The last ves

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sel he owned was the sloop "Hero" and short- ly after he had disposed of this he was struck by a falling tree when cutting trees on his farm, and fatally injured. He died nine days later, June 7, 1827. Mr. Brockway was mar- ried November 18, 1810, to Katharine Tyler, who was born in Haddam March 27, 1792, daughter of Nathaniel and Hannah (Bush- nell) Tyler, and died in Essex, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hannah Howard, April 14, 1875. Mrs. Hannah Howard had a brother, Roswell T., who was killed in Florida by the Seminole Indians. Her sister, Katherine, married Ralph Buckingham, and they are now (1902) living in Essex, he at the age of nine- ty-two, and she, aged eighty-six. Eliaphalet, another brother, was a farmer and fisherman in Saybrook. Charles, the youngest of her brothers, was a steamboat captain and pilot ; he lived at Columbus, Ga., where he died un- married in 1894. Minerva, another sister, is the widow of Jesse M. Kingsley, and is living in Deep River.

The children of Lyman Howard were five in number: Eliza B., now Mrs. R. P. Nye, of North Falmouth, Mass .; Charles L., a newspaper man of Bridgeport, Conn .; William P., a mechanic, at Bridgeport ; Wingate C. ; and Olive Tyler, who died when four years old.

Wingate C. Howard spent the first eight years of his life at Deep River, and then lived at Essex, Conn., where his father had a home, going to and from New York City to his busi- ness. At Essex young Wingate attended school and remembers Miss Achsah Wright among his earlier teachers. When the family began to spend their winters in the city of New York he attended the 13th street school, and later continued his education at the Weston Military School, at Weston, Conn., an institu- tion of the highest character, under the late Gen. Jarvis. His parents removing to Jer- sey City, Mr. Howard there completed his preparation for Yale, at Hasbrouck Institute, a boys' school, and was about to enter college when a most desirable business opportunity presented itself, and all thought of Yale was abandoned. Wingate and his brother, Will- iam P., engaged in the manufacture of ivory and bone novelties at Ivoryton, Conn. After three years in this business they sold it, and Wingate went to Hartford, where he became a newspaper man, working on the Times, and

then on the Telegram, on which latter paper he was city editor for two years. It was con- ducted by Judge D. C. Birdsall, and was a newspaper of much influence.

In 1887 Mr. Howard came to Middletown to take the position of assistant bookkeeper for the Middletown Plate Company, and for eight years was connected with that establishment. In 1897 he was elected to his present position by 215 majority, and two years later was re- elected by almost one thousand majority, though he had for his antagonist the strong- est man the Republican party could put in the field. As the town is largely Republican, this is evidence of Mr. Howard's character and standing. He is a stanch Democrat, and while he lived in Essex, and carried on the manu- facturing business at Ivoryton with his brother, he began his political career by attending as a delegate the Congressional convention that nominated Washington F. Willcox for Con- gress. This convention was held at New Ha- ven, and Mr. Willcox was duly elected.

Mr. Howard belongs to Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a Mason of high degree, being a member of St. John's Lodge, Washington Chapter, Cy- rene Commandery, all of Middletown. He is a charter member of the Middletown lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Middletown Wheel Club, a director in the Russell Library Company, a director in the Middletown Building and Loan Association, secretary of the Middletown Board of Fire Underwriters, and secretary of the Middletown Silver Company.

Mrs. Wingate C. Howard was Grace A. Perry, of Lowell, Mass. They were married in 1890, and have two children, Hope and Ray, both living. Mrs. Howard belongs to the South Congregational Church in Middletown. She is eligible to the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, but has not uni- ted with it.

WILBUR SAMUEL COMSTOCK is an energetic and successful business man of East Haddam, Middlesex county, who is now de- voting his time and attention to insurance and real estate.

In tracing Mr. Comstock's ancestry we find the first of the Comstock family of whom we have any accurate knowledge was Jabez Com-

T .

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stock, who was born May 20, 1758, and died August 14, 1821. He married Dorothy Hunn, who was born in 1756, and they had five chil- dren, namely : Dorothy, born April 2, 1784, who died December 28, 1829; Sophia, born March 8, 1787; Julia, born May 21, 1790; Ja- bez, who is mentioned below; and Vincey B. A., who was born April 14, 1795, and died August 25, 1816.

Jabez Comstock, the grandfather of Wil- bur S., was born February 11, 1792, and died December 11, 1860. He was a life-long resi- dent of East Haddam, dying in Hadlyme. In his political views he was a Republican. On October 28, 1818, he married Ann Parmelee, who was born June 10, 1800, and died January 17, 1824. By that union there were two chil- dren : Samuel P., father of Wilbur S., and Ann, who was born January 8, 1824, and died November 5, 1873, the mother dying a few days after her birth. The grandfather was again married, September 25, 1825, his sec- ond union being with Margaret Brockway, who was born March 30, 1807, and died in 1883. By this marriage there were twelve children, whose names and dates of birth were as fol- lows: Jabez, December 21, 1826; Caroline, June 11, 1828; Margaret, June 22, 1830; Vic- tory, March 26, 1832 (died of lockjaw Janu- ary 2, 1840) ; Hiram, December 6, 1833; Vin- cey, January 12, 1836 (died July 23, 1843) ; John, December 13, 1837; Elizabeth Smith. June 8, 1840 (died July 22, 1843) ; Antoin- ette, April 5, 1843; Llewellyn, September 28, 1844; Clayton, December 5, 1847; and Major Victory, April 16, 1850.

Samuel P. Comstock, father of Wilbur S., was born October 29, 1821, in East Hladdam, where he grew to manhood and was married to Almira Gardner, a native of the same town, who died in 1855. He was again married, in 1860, his second union being with Mary Jane Miner, who died on June 26, 1863. His death occurred in Moodus, East Haddam. April 5, 1865. By trade he was a joiner and ship carpenter. Wilbur S., subject of this review. was the eldest of his three children. Eliza- beth A., born in October, 1851, married J. W. Root, of East Haddam, and they have one son, Wilbur C. Arthur died in 1856.

Wilbur S. Comstock was born in East Had- dam, August 16, 1849, and lived in the Hlad- lyme Society until ten years of age, when the

family moved to Moodus. He attended first the local schools, and later spent two years at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. He comes of a family which has much natural abil- ity along mechanical lines, his father and grandfather both being good mechanics, and at the age of sixteen years he entered the shops of Zelote E. Chaffee, of Moodus, where he laid the foundation for his trade, that of a ma- chinist. He continued to be thus employed in Moodus for a time, and for three years was with the Pratt & Whitney Company, at Hart- ford, afterward working for Brown & Sharpe of Providence, R. I., for a time. During the following three years he was in the employ of W. J. Squires, of East Haddam, who was the inventor of the machines for the manufac- ture of linen netting, and was engaged in mak- ing the same. In 1879 and 1880 Mr. Com- stock leased and successfully operated the fer- ry at Goodspeed, and for six years represented C. D. Boss & Son, of New London, as a trav- eling salesman, his territory covering Rhode Island, Connecticut and a small part of New York State, and Massachusetts. In 1889 he located permanently in East Haddam, and turned his attention to the insurance business. in which he has been unusually successful. rep- resenting twenty-three of the leading compa- nies of this country, principally of New York. Hartford and Philadelphia: Ile devotes most of his time to fire insurance, though he also includes all other forms of insurance, and is interested in the real-estate business.

In 1886 Mr. Comstock was married to Miss Jennie Douglas Boardman, daughter of Capt. Frank and Mary Douglas Boardman, of East Haddam. Mr. Comstock is an enthusias- tic Mason, a member and past master of Co- lumbia Lodge, No. 26. A. F. & A. M., in which he has taken a great interest for many years, acting in the capacity of secretary since 1805. and has been prominent in raising the lodge to a very creditable standard, and in securing for it a lodge room of its own. He has held nearly every office in the gift of his lodge, and is now a member of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Connecticut, acting at present as District Deputy to the Grand Mas ter, for Middlesex county. He is also a mem ber of Burning Bush Chapter No. 20, R .L. M . of Essex, and of Cyrene Commandery, No S. Knights Templar, of Middletown, Conn In

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1893, when Columbia Lodge celebrated its one hundredth anniversary, Mr. Comstock was put in charge of the celebration, which, though car- ried out on a large scale, was very successful. In 1900, when East Haddam celebrated its two hundredth anniversary, his fellow citizens, having in mind the ability he displayed on the former occasion, made him chairman of the ex- ecutive committee, and his services fully justi- fied their selection. Mr. Comstock is at pres- ent a vestryman of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 'of his town. He is secretary of the Southern Middlesex County Insur- ance and Tariff Board; secretary and treas- urer of the Moodus Drum and Fife Corps ; one of the original members, president and treas- urer of the Moodus Drum and Fife Corps Cor- poration; secretary of the River View Ceme- tery Association of East Haddam; and inter- ested in several other enterprises. He is ac- tive in all local matters which have for their aim the best interests of his town and its pes- ple. Politically he is a pronounced Repub- lican.

ARCHIBALD W. COMSTOCK, of The Comstock, Cheney & Co., was born in Essex May 25, 1860. His education was received in the public schools, and later he became a stu- .dent at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., where he graduated in 1880. The several suc- ceeding years he devoted to travel.

Upon his return to his native town Mr. Comstock entered the company's office, being made a director in the business, having been a member of the firm since attaining his ma- jority, and for the past several years he has been treasurer of the company. In politics he is a Republican, although not an active politi- cian. A regular attendant of church, he has not connected himself with any organization in Essex, and belongs to no societies.

On April 22, 1889, Mr. Comstock was united in marriage to Harriet Mooar, of Oak- land, Cal., and to this union was born one son, Elliott Mooar, October 20, 1891.

GEORGE W. McALLISTER, one of the leading men of Saybrook, Middlesex coun- ty, who follows the vocation of blacksmith, and who has served as second selectman, is a son of James McAllister.

James McAllister was born and reared in

West Virginia, near the Pennsylvania State line, and for a time in his early manhood was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. Disposing of this business, however, he moved to Monongahela City, Pa., where he engaged in blacksmithing and general carriage work. in which he was very skillful. During the Civil war he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of cavalry saddles for the Union troops, an enterprise that proved disastrous, as the sharp competition on a constantly rising market proved fatal to profit in any contract he took. Mr. McAllister spent his last days in Pittsburg, where he died December 20, 1883, aged seventy-seven years. Mr. McAl- lister married Susan Neal, and to this union were born: John, who is deceased; William, Samuel, and Jane, all three living in Marion, Ind .; James and Louise, both dead; George W., whose name appears at the beginning of this sketch; and Mary C., who married Robert B. Gorton, of Niantic, Connecticut.

George W. McAllister was born at Bethle- hem, Pa., January 3, 1848, and received his ed- ucation in the public schools, which he attended until he was sixteen years old. At that age he entered his father's shop, and under his in- struction became a competent blacksmith in every branch of the trade. When the father was obliged to give up the shop on account of advancing age, the son took up the business, and for a number of years carried it on alone. In early manhood Mr. McAllister moved to Cayuga, Livingston Co., Ill., and in company with a brother-in-law, engaged in the black- smithing business for four years, when he came East to Niantic, Conn., where for two years he was engaged at his trade. In December, 1876, he came to Saybrook to open a shop in a building which he rented of R. B. Chalker, and in November, 1883, he removed to the new shop which he built at the head of Main street, and now occupies. Mr. McAllister is a careful and methodical business man, ex- tremely painstaking, and very skillful, with a broad and accurate knowledge of his trade. In horseshoeing and general jobbing he excels, points of much importance in a community like Old Saybrook.

George W. McAllister and Miss Ida Hunt- ley, of Niantic, were married in 1877, and to this union have come three children : William (deceased), Lyle and Claude.

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Mr. McAllister is a stanch Republican. He is deservedly popular among all classes, and has served on the board of selectmen five years, but he steadily refused during that time to be more than the second member. He is not will- ing to act as chairman of the board, though urged to do so by his friends. Mr. McAllis- ter is a member of the Cemetery committee. His wife belongs to the Congregational Church, and is a member of Saybrook Grange, No. 59, P. of H., and a lecturer of that order.

CHARLES B. YOUNG, M. D., is forcing his way to the front rapidly by his native pow- er and his thorough preparation for his pro- fessional career. It is very uncommon for a young physician to secure such a high-class patronage as Dr. Young has commanded. He is a young man who adds dignity to his pro- fession, and is highly regarded in the com- munity.

Dr. Young was born in that section of Brooklyn which is known as Williamsburg, N. Y., January 2, 1869, son of Deckett and Susan H. (Bellamy) Young. Thomas Young, the Doctor's grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he was married to Mary Mayberry. He died on his native soil in 1844, leaving a widow and a family of five children : John, a resident of Madison, N. J .; Margaret. the widow of George Fawcett, living in New York; Deckett; Thomas, now a merchant in Montclair, N. J. ; and Mary A., Mrs. Thomas Barrett, of Brooklyn.

Successful in his business enterprises. Thomas Young moved among the better class of people. His children were well reared by the widowed mother, who is remembered as an intelligent and far-seeing woman. They all came to America and Mrs. Young lived long enough to see her sons successful in busi- ness and her danghters well married. She died in Brooklyn in 1884, at the age of seventy-sev- en years.

Deckett Young was born October 10, 1839. in County Kerry, Ireland, and obtained his early education in his native country. He lost his father when he was but five years old. In the summer of 1857 he left Ireland for the United States, where he hoped to find a better field for an energetic and capable young man. Landing in New York City, he soon secured a position with Napier, Johnson & Co., tea and coffee importers and by attending strictly to his

work became known for his business character- istics among the neighboring firms. In the early seventies he entered the office of the Goodyear Rubber Company as a bookkeeper, and soon became regarded as a valuable man. being presently put in charge of one of the fac- tories of the company in the upper part of New York, where he was engaged for some time. Later in his connection with this company. m 1881, he was sent to Middletown, as manager of the plant in that city. Here he remained 1 un- til 1889, when he returned to New York and became the business manager of the Lawrence Cement Company. He was engaged in the work of that concern until 1895, when he gave up active business connections and spent a year abroad with his family. In the city of New York he made his home until 1899, when he removed to Middletown, where he is now liv ing.

Deckett Young was married. July 16, 1803. in New York, to Miss Susan H. Bellamy, a native of that city, born March ;. 1840, daugh- ter of William and Catherine ( Kelley ) Bella- my. Iler father came from the County of Suffolk, England, to the United States, when but a lad of six years. His wife, a native vi New York, was a daughter of William Kelley. who came from Ireland. Mr. Bellamy was an expert locksmith, and his name is still remem bered in the lockmaking circles of that city. Much of his work, which was the finest and most skillful in his line, was done in the sub treasury and in the large banking houses en Wall street. He died December 16, 1880. (11 his family of five children, Susan I. was the second child and the eldest daughter.

Deckett Young and his wife had the fol lowing named children: Joseph del 11 1 fancy. Charles B. is mentioned below Wilham B., who is a merchant of Middletown, of the firm of Young & Burr, is a graduate of the New York College of Physicians and Sin geons, 1800; he married Ruth f. Buckley, and they have one son. William B. J. Mrs Deckett Young die December 13. 1000. Middletown, and was buried in Licenseand cemetery, Brooklyn

Charles B. Young attended school m Brook In and in New York, and later the high school at Middletown, completing his preparation course in Wilson's Grammar School, Middle Town In the fall of 1887 Ife Recante a student of Western University, where he remained

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two years, when his parents removed to New York City. There Charles B. and his brother entered upon a mercantile business and spent a year in New York and another year in Brook- lyn, at that work. Disposing of this business Charles B. Young entered the New York Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, and was graduated in the class of 1894. One year was spent abroad with his parents and brother. In the closing days of 1899, he opened his office in Middletown, where he has since engaged in practice. Dr. Young belongs to the Mid- dlesex County Medical Society, to the Central Medical Society, and to the Chi Psi fraternity, a college organization.

Dr. Young and Miss Daisy M. Coe were married in Middletown August 30, 1898. Mrs. Young was born on Trench Hill, March 18, 1879, daughter of. Frank and Sarah ( Perry) Coe, and is a member of one of the old and well-known families of Middlesex county.

GEORGE SYLVESTER BUTLER, pres- ident and general manager of the Butler & Jewell Company at Cromwell, Middlesex coun- ty, was born March 20, 1866, in that town, of which he is now a most enterprising and progressive citizen, one who is advancing with each year. Mr. Butler comes of sturdy New England stock, and for generations the family have been prominent in their church, their Christian spirit being made manifest with each succeeding generation.

Deacon Richard Butler, founder of the fam- ily in America, came to Boston, Mass., from Braintree, County of Essex, England, in 1632, and first located in Cambridge, Mass., where lands were assigned him, and where he erected a dwelling. He was freeman in 1634, was a member of Rev. Thomas Hooker's congrega- tion, and in 1635 he and his elder brother, William, joined a company for the settlement of Hartford, Conn. Under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Hooker and Elder Stone, the plantation was begun in the fall of that year. Richard Butler was made deacon of the First Church, subsequently a grand juror, and for several years a selectman of the town, and was repeatedly chosen a representative of the peo- ple to the General Assembly. Deacon Butler was twice married, but the name of his first wife and all particulars regarding her have passed into oblivion. His second marriage

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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 166

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