Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 174

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 174

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became manager for one year of the drug store of W. B. Moore in New London, Conn. Fol- lowing this he bought a drug store at Salis- bury, Conn., where he continued business for four years, after which he established a drug business at Lakeville, Conn., conducting same for five years. Disposing of this he returned to Deep River, where he is engaged in the manufacture of flavoring extracts. On July 28, 1893, he married Sarah Champion, of New London, daughter of Alonzo and Mary (Cook) Champion, and they have one child, Barbara, born November 12, 1900. (3) Fannie Harding, born December 5, 1870, was married in 1894 to Herbert Mather, now a suc- cessful merchant at Deep River. She was ed- ucated in the district schools and the Deep River high school, and subsequently taught school in Winthrop and Deep River. Mr. and Mrs. Mather have had one child, Emma La- Place, born February 8, 1898. (4) Harold O., born July 27, 1876, died October 28, 1880. The death of this bright and interesting boy was the result of an injury he received while at play in school, his death occurring three weeks later.

William G. La Place was born December 3, 1862, in Deep River, and his education was limited to that obtainable in the district schools. As soon as of proper age he entered the em- ploy of Pratt, Read & Co., Deep River, and for fifteen years remained in their factory, during the latter part of his service there as foreman in the key sawing department. Mr. La Place grew tired of his connection with the factory, and being of an enterprising spirit looked about for a good opening in some other line, finding it in the furniture business and in un- dertaking. He left the factory in 1897, in which year, in order to prepare himself thor- oughly for undertaking, he went to New York and took a course in the United States School of Embalming, graduating and receiving his diploma in the latter part of the year. Re- turning he located in a commodious room in the town hall for a short time, in 1898 pur- chasing his present location, and he has stead- ily and carefully pursued this line ever since, being one of the most reliable business citizens of the place.

Mr. La Place was first married to Minnie L. Starkey, who was born in 1862, in Deep River, a daughter of Nathaniel and Alecta

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(Hayden) Starkey, and died in March, 1894, leaving one child, Simon R., born August 24, 1884. Mr. La Place's second marriage on June 24, 1896, was to Ena Hanchett, a native of Westfield, Mass., daughter of Lewis J. and Josephine (Fowler) Hanchett. To this union has come one daughter, Edna Ursula, born August 31, 190I.

Socially, Mr. La Place is a member of Trinity Lodge, No. 43, F. & A. M., of Deep River; Burning Bush Chapter, No. 29, of Es- sex; Cyrene Commandery, K. T., of Middle- town; Webb Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F., of Deep River; and Good Intent Encampment, No. 25, I. O. O. F., of Deep River, of which he is past chief. He is also a member of the Ecclesiastical Society of the Congregational Church, and in all of these organizations is highly esteemed.

JOHN M. GARDNER, of Middletown, conducts the most extensive and representative bicycle agency in Middlesex county. He also does skillful repairing, and has built up a very extensive and remunerative business, having a naturally gifted mechanical mind, and being a man of boundless push and energy.

Mr. Gardner belongs to the old Gardner family founded by Lyon Gardiner, after whom Gardiner's Island is named. Edward Colston Gardner, his paternal great-grandfather. lived in Providence, was a sailor, and commanded several vessels. For several generations mem- bers of the family followed the water.

Capt. Edward Colston Gardner, son of Ed- ward C., was also a sailor, and had command of the "Comet." when it made the record for the quickest trip from San Francisco, around Cape Horn, to the city of New York. It held the palm for years, and it is known that until a very recent time this record was still unbroken. Capt. Gardner commanded sev- cral vessels in the China trade, and was in the service of Bulkley, Crane & Co., of New York, importers of tea, silks, etc. He married So- phia Jeanette Hurd, of Middle Haddam, a sister of Capt. Ben Hurd. Capt. Gardner and his wife lived in Chatham. They were buried in Middle Haddam.

Edward Colston Gardner, father of John M., was born in Middle Haddam, and died in the room in which he was born. He was on the water in his early life, and served as

purser on various vessels under the command of his father. For a time he lived in Brook- lyn. N. Y., where he was engaged in the gro- cery business. He also lived some time at Millburn, N. J., and then returned to Middle Haddam, to spend his last days in the home in which he was born. In Portland he married Miss Ruth McCleve, who was of Highland- Scotch extraction, her family coming to the United States in 1800. Her parents were John and Martha ( Pelton) McCleve. The Pelton family early settled in Chatham, and has been honorably represented in its social and com- mercial circles. Martha Pelton was born Oc- tober 18, 1820, married February 15. 1840. and died October 16. 1900. She was the mother of the following children : Ruth, Mrs. Gardner : Emma, Mrs. Whitney, of San Fran- cisco, where her sister. Mrs. Parkinson. also lives : Henry, living in Middletown ; and Will- iam. in Winsted. John McCleve was captain of a schooner engaged in carrying the products of the Portland quarries to the Atlantic coast ports. He came of an old family. and was an upright and honorable man. Capt. Gard- ner and his wife were the parents of two chil- dren: Edward Colston. the fourth in the family to bear that name, died in Middletown in 1895. at the age of twenty-eight. leaving a young wife; he was a toolmaker by trade; he belonged to the Knights of Pythias John M .. the second of the family, is the subject of this article. The father was a Republican, and with his wife belonged to the Episcopal Church. She is still living.

John M. Gardner was horn April IS. 18;o. in Middle Haddam, and spent his childhood and youth in Middle Haddam and Norwalk. Conn., Brooklyn, N. Y .. and New Jersey He obtained his first schooling in Middle Had- dam, and continued his education at the dif ferent places where the family resided He was a member of the class that graduated from the Middletown high school in 1800, but did not finish the course, completing his training at the New Haven Business College, from which he graduated in 1842 His first posi- tion in the mercantile world 11.75 76

clerk for Lucius R Haren. the sta tioner and bookseller, where he remained four years, and he was then with Merch & Stallard. as shipping clerk and bookkeeper for one year He was then bookkeeper for the Eastern Time

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ware Company at Portland for one year, and next came to Middletown to act as bookkeeper for the firm of Caulkins & Post. There he found the way to the world of mechanics open- ing to him through the shops of the Worcester Bicycle Company ; he was assistant foreman in their machine shops. In 1896 he opened a bicycle agency and repair shop for himself in Middletown, where he has continued to the present time. He knows his business well, is courteous and attentive to his patrons, and has built up a large and growing patronage. Mr. · Gardner is a prominent worker in the L. A. W., and runs the official repair shop in Mid- dletown. He is a clean and straightforward business man, and fully up to the times in every particular.

John M. Gardner married Miss Harriet Kel- sey, a resident of Middletown, and a native of Cromwell, daughter of Wilbur F. and Ger- trude (Clark) Kelsey. Mrs. Gardner was one of the first lady bicycle enthusiasts in Middle- sex county, and the first lady in the vicinity to make a century run on a bicycle.

Politically Mr. Gardner is a Republican, and fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, and a prominent Mason, belonging to St. John's Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Washington Chapter, Cyrene Commandery, and Sphinx Temple, Hartford, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; he is said to be one of the youngest Shriners in Mid- dletown. With his wife he belongs to the Or- der of the Eastern Star. In religious connec- tion they are members of the Episcopal Church.

ALBERT GALLATIN MARKHAM, now successfully engaged in farming and conducts a hotel and livery business in East Hampton, was born in the town of Chatham, Middlesex county, February 21, 1845. His father, Hiram Markham, was born in the same town, in 1794, son of John Markham, and was for many years employed in carrying the mails on horseback in Middlesex and Tolland coun- ties. Later he was extensively engaged in farming on Chestnut Hill, in his native town. Socially he was a Mason, and politically a Democrat. As one of the leading citizens of his community he was called upon to fill various town , offices. He was married, October 3, 1817, to Laura Niles, daughter of Daniel Niles. He died December 5, 1870, at the age of sev-

enty-six years, and she passed away, subse- quently, at the age of seventy-five. Of their children, Emeline, the eldest, died young. Dan- iel N. married Mary Skinner, and lives in Chatham town. Mary P. (deceased) was the wife of Glover N. White. Erskine El- dredge married (first) Lavinia Cook and (sec- ond) Harriet Jones. Wickliff, born in 1829, married Sarah E. A. Bevin, and died at the age of twenty-eight years. Elizabeth Ann (Betsy) (deceased) was the wife of Horace Silliman. Frank W. married Mary E. Ack- ley, and lives on the old homestead on Chest- nut Hill, in the town of Chatham. Selden A., married Ellen S. Clark, and lives in East Hampton. Catherine P. is the wife of Fred- erick A. Rich, of Westfield, Mass. Albert G. completes the family.

Reared on the home farm, Albert G. Mark- ham attended the district schools of the neigli- borhood and a private school at East Hamp- ton. At the age of fifteen years, he began to provide for himself, and going to Hartford se- cured employment in Colt's shops. At the end of a year he went to New York City, where for three years he worked for Mr. Silliman, a relative, who was engaged in the coke burning business, and at the end of that time returned to Connecticut, where he worked in granite quarries at Stony Creek two years, Danbury four years, and Mystic two years. Subse- quently he operated a granite quarry in the town of Portland, which he still owns. In 1890 he purchased property at East Hamp- ton and embarked in the hotel and livery busi- ness, which he has since carried on with marked success. Besides this property he owns several tracts of land in Chatham and Portland, which he tills. Mr. Markham is a progressive, enterprising business man, and the prosperity that has come to him is cer- tainly well deserved. In political views he is a stanch Democrat.

At Danbury, Conn., on March 16, 1867, Mr. Markham was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Bates. She was born December 17, 1842, in Ridgefield, Conn., daughter of Walter and Loraney (Wood) Bates. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Bates were: Rowena, wife of Leroy Taylor, of East Nor- walk, Conn .; Amy, who has been twice mar- ried, and is now the widow of Stephen Au- gustus Dodge, and a resident of East Norwalk;

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John and Philo, both residents of South Nor- walk, the latter deceased : and Oscar, a resident of Bethel. To Mr. and Mrs. Markham came seven children, namely: Alberta E. and AI- berta G., twins, born August 30, 1868, in Guilford, Conn., died the same day; Clara Bates, born May 9, 1870, died October 29, 1870, in Stonington ; Mary P., born September 20, 1871, is the wife of Frank Cook, of Hart- ford, and they have one child, Mary Lenora, born May 20, 1897; Albert G., Jr., born Octo- ber 27, 1873, wedded Mary Walker, and is employed as a traveling salesman by the Mil- ton Bradley Company of Springfield, Mass .; Walter I. C., born May 12, 1875, married Mary Nolan, and lives in Boston; Loraney Bates, born July 9, 1878, is at home. Mrs. Mary E. Markham passed away May 20, 1882.

JAMES PICKETT FOOTE, who at nine- ty-four years of age ranked as the oldest resi- dent of Durham town, had sight and hear- ing that surpassed in accuracy and keenness that of many people thirty years his junior. Until past his ninetieth year he did most of the chores about the house and almost every day drove to Durham, over a mile distant. With memory extraordinary good he re- called events and occurrences of almost ninety years, extending back to the first decade of the past century, a period that has witnessed many changes in the history of Connecticut. Mr. Foote often told of the old stone oven from which the week's baking was withdrawn on a long handled "slice," and the spider with its three long tapering legs to stand in the coals of the fireplace. He related the story of a journey he made through the woods at dark when eight years old, bringing home, through the Hladdam woods, a large roll of cloth from the fuller's for the family's winter clothing, and riding a large bay horse called the Elephant. He watched the growth of the plants in the garden that blossomed into vivid blue flowers, which were pulled and broken on the flax break, spun and woven and fash ioned into garments. The first cooking stove which he saw was wonderful. A book could be filled with the interesting stories and or currences which he narrated, his peculiar school experiences, the visit of Lafayette, the militia drills on training day's, the love tales of his youth and many other incidents.

Mr. Foote was in the eighth generation in descent from Nathaniel Foote. who came from England and settled in Wethersfield. in 1660. He was the father of two sons and several daughters. Nathaniel. one of the sons, settled on the cast side of the Connecticut river. Robert. the second son. settled in Guilford. and from him our subject is descended.

Isaac Foote. the great-grandfather of our subject. was a major in the French and Indian war. He resided in Northford, Conn .. and died at Greenbush, N. Y., of camp distemper, while on his way home from the war.

Isaac Foote, grandfather of our subject. was a farmer and resided in Northford. where he died. He was captain of a local company of cavalry and it is supposed saw service in New York City. during the Revolution. He was quite a prominent and influential man in his time. He married Lydia Tyler for his first wife and they had a family of seven children. four boys and three girls. Two of the sons were physicians, and of the daughters, one lived to be ninety-three years of age, and an- other to be over ninety-eight years old. For his second wife he married Phebe Benton. by whom he had three children. two sons and one daughter.

Dr. William Foote, son of Isaac and the father of our subject, was born in the north- western part of Northford. Conn. He studied medicine with his brother. Dr. Malica Foote in Rye. N. Y., and with Dr. Benjamin Rock- well of New York. He came to Durham in 1802, residing on the South corner, nearly op- posite the North Church. He removed to Goshen, Litchfield Co., Conn .. in 180;, where he remained two years, and where our subject was born. Returning to Durham. he resided in Haddam Quarter until his death. Janmary 3. 1842. lle was an able and successful phy sician, and his charge for making calls to any part of Durham was fifty cents. He married Catherine Pickett, of Durham, daughter of James and Catherine Pickett, who ow nel and occupied the farm at Haddam Quarter non occupied by Chauncey Harvey, The mother of our subject died September 5. 1841. The family of Dr. William and Catherine Finie consisted of children as follows: (1) Hepsi bal, who died in infancy. (2) James Pickett. the subject of this sketch. (2) Catherine, who married Blyun Brainerd, and lived in Had

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dam. (4) Rebecca R., who married Frank- lin Johnston, who became a merchant at Colum- bus, Ga., where he died. (5) William R., who married Amanda Jones, and died in Edge- wood, near Atlanta, Ga., an M. E. clergyman. James P. Foote, our subject, was born in Goshen, Litchfield county, June 9, 1808. He attended district school in Durham, and re- sided on the home farm in Haddam Quarter, until 1860, when he sold out, and removed to Meriden. Soon after he moved to Durham to the farm now occupied by Henry H. New- ton, and a little later he moved to the district of Middletown, becoming superintendent of the large firm of Timothy Gilbert, where he remained for three years. In 1865, he came to Durham, purchasing and taking possession of the farm where he ever after resided. He married first, September 5, 1832, Mary Avery, who was born in February, 18II, in Wallingford, Conn. He married August 13, 1862, for his second wife, Miss Adah C. Gilbert, born February 22, 1823, in Newfield, daughter of Timothy and Ada (Cromwell) Gilbert. Timothy Gilbert was an extensive farmer, and one of the well known and prom- inent citizens of Middletown. Mrs. Foote died July 5, 1902, and Mr. Foote passed away November 8, 1902. He was prominent in the bi-centennial celebration of the town of Dur- ham in 1899.

In politics Mr. Foote was formerly a Whig and later a Democrat. For ten years he was orderly sergeant in the old Durham militia company. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church for nearly seventy years, while his wife joined the Church in 184I. Mr. Foote was one of the best known residents of Dur- ham, his crowning years only adding to the worth of citizenship which he brought down from almost a century ago, and which was a splendid example of the oldtime sterling type of American character.

EDWARD J. MCNULTY. To relate the trials and triumphs, the sufferings and success, of those men who have risen from poverty to opulence, and who have hewn out their own path by persistent effort, is to the biographer a pleasant task. Such a one is the well-known druggist of Middletown whose career consti- tutes the subject of this brief narrative.

The seat of the McNulty family was orig- inally in County Donegal, Ireland, where

they were well-to-do and highly respected, Mr. McNulty's paternal uncles being prosperous merchants. Edward J. McNulty his father, was brought up to trade, but had no capital of his own. While yet a young man his men- tal vision turned toward the New World, with its budding opportunities and its vast and con- stantly expanding possibilities, and he crossed the ocean, content to risk his future upon his youth, his strength, his energy and his rather slender stock of experimental knowledge. He brought with him but little money, but this he invested judiciously, having first augmented it by his own toil. His first commercial ven- ture, the opening of a store in New York, proved successful, and he engaged in other branches, and at the outbreak of the Civil war had a store in Memphis, Tenn .; he previously conducted one at Nashville, al- though his chief establishment still remained in New York. He also speculated, more or less extensively, in lumber in the South, and in 1861, he regarded himself as prosperous, and his financial outlook as extremely bright. His experience, however, after the secession of the Southern States, was not dissimilar to that of other Northern merchants. One re- verse followed close upon the heels of another, and the accumulation of years was speedily swept away. Mr. McNulty had made his home in the South, leaving his business in the North in the hands of his partner, but when he found his fortune shattered, he returned, with his family, to New York, to begin life anew. Broken in health as well as in purse, he died in that city at the early age of thirty- six years, leaving his widow and three chil- dren in straitened circumstances. The fam- ily were all boys: Tames, a shoe dealer, in Middletown, who died at the age of thirty- four, unmarried; William, who died in child- hood; and Edward J., our subject. ,

Mrs. Edward J. McNulty, the mother of Edward J., Tr., was, like her husband, born in County Donegal, Ireland. Her maiden name was Rebecca McLean. She was mar- ried in New York. In the early 'seventies she came, with her children, to Middletown, where she entered into rest in 1898, at the compara- tively early age of fifty-six.

Edward J. McNulty is a New Yorker, hav- ing been born in New York City October 27, 1868. He lost his father when so young that he cannot recall even his features, and was but

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a young child when his widowed mother re- moved to Middletown. There he was reared. He attended the public schools for a time, but his mother's poverty necessitated his seeking employment before he was thirteen years old. He turned newsboy. His first regular em- ployment was in Coe's Market. He was but an errand boy, but his industry and fidelity soon won recognition in the shape of advancement in position and increase in wages. From Coe's he went to Kennedy Brothers, on Union street, where for a short time he had a clerk- ship, and on October 22, 1882, he began the study of pharmacy in the drug store of John T. Wall. For three months he worked with- out compensation, but the time-thanks to his hard study and close application-was not lost. His perseverance was rewarded by his finding himself able to pass, successfully, the prescribed examination for registration as a pharmacist. He remained in Mr. Wall's em- ploy until the autumn of 1891, on November 2d, of which year, was formed the firm of Mc- Nulty & Murphy, who opened a store at No. 450 Main street. On May 2, 1897, Mr. Mc- Nulty became sole owner of the business and yet remains proprietor. Through sound sense, good judgment, unwearying industry and strict probity, he has greatly prospered, and on November 2, 1898, he purchased the South- mayd block, which valuable property he still owns. His store enjoys a reputation second to none in its line, and is generally recognized as one of the best and most prosperous in Mid- dletown.

As a citizen Mr. McNulty is broad-gauged, yet conservative ; as a merchant and a man he enjoys an enviable reputation for straightfor- wardness and sincerity. In politics he has ever been a stanch Democrat, having cast his first Presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He has never either desired or sought office. and the exacting cares of his large and con- stantly growing business forbid his devoting any attention to practical politics or party work. Mr. MeNulty is social by nature, a warm friend, and one to be trusted in every relation of life. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and both he and his wife are practical Catholics, being communicants of St. John's Church.

Mr. MeNulty was married, February 20. 1897. to Miss Hannah F. Foles, of Middle

town, daughter of Morris Foley. who married a Miss Sarsfield. They have three children : (1) Edward J., Jr., born May 2, 1898; (2) Mary A., October 22, 1899; and ( 3) Julia P .. October 26, 1901.

EDWARD STRONG HALE belongs to a Portland family whose name has been closely associated with thrift, industry and good citi- zenship for generations, and he himself does not belie the implications of the name. He is widely known as one of the best farmers of the town, and as an honest and upright man.

Mr. Hale was born on the old homestead at Gildersleeve, where his father has lived for years, July 27, 1855. a son of Titus and Mary K. (Strong) Hale, mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. He acquired his education mainly in the public school at Gil- dersleeve, and recalls Mr. Pinckney, Miss Ov- erton and Mr. Arnold among his earlier and well-remembered teachers, and his school days were finished at Miss Sperry's private school at Portland. Having been trained to farming he naturally followed that occupation, and re- mained at home. In 1887 he and his brother Chester K., bought the old farm of their father and tilled it for a year, when our subject sold out his interest to his brother. Harry T .. and during the year worked for his brothers. In the early part of 1889 he engaged as manager of the extensive farm of Joseph Covell, in Portland, and the following year entered the employment of F. W. Goodrich, a farmer, re- maining with him until January, 1892, when he bought what was known as the old "Sage farm." and here he has since resided. He has lately bought sixteen acres from the David Hall farm, and now owns a choice and productive farm of eighty-seven acres, on which, with characteristic push and energy, he has made big improvements. He is an extensive grower of tobacco and keeps a herd of choice dait's cous, being provided with the latest daisy ap pliances.

On October 8, 1886, Mi Hale was muted in mariage with Miss Ida | Caswell, who was born in Delaware county, \ Y . Apnl 10. 1800, a daughter of John and Mary , Gan oming ) Caswell. the former a farmer and a member of an old histone family of Connect ent. To this union were bom four children of whom but one. Edward Conel is having

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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 174

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