Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 176

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 176

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six others, and in 1686 was engineer of the im- portant work of deepening the channel of the river as far as Hartford. On November 7. 1678, he was married to Sarah Welles, who was born in 1659, a granddaughter of Gov. Welles, and died in 1708. Seven children were born to them: John (3). born September 1. 1679: Hannah, born August 31. 1980, died in 1707; Sarah, born August 10. 1081 : Thomas. born December 27. 1682: Jonathan, born March 5. 1684: David, born in 1087; and James, born in 1691.

John Bidwell (3) was a miller by trade. His death occurred September 3. 1751. He married Hannah Pitkin, and was father to a son, Zebulon Bidwell.

Zebulon Bidwell, son of John (3). was born in Hartford about 1;08, and died in 1731 when twenty-three years old. lle married Mary Gillman, a daughter of Solomon Gill- man.

Stephen Bidwell, son of Zebulon, was born in November, 1730, and died May 20, 1800. and was buried in Manchester, Conn. He married Rebecca Keeney, and their children were as follows : Polly, born October 11. 1759. died August 21. 1830; Zebulon: David. born January 17, 176 -- , died April 23. 1795: Stephen: Rebecca, born September 4. 1200. died January 20, 18 17 ; and Father, hogy 1700. died 1,-80.

Zebulon Bidwell, son of Stephen an A great grandfather of Dr. Bidwell, was born In 1-10. and died July 31, 1853- Be maruel. Jid among his children was a son Marim

Martin Bidwell was born in 1703, and alle a useful hie spent in Manchester, Ahol im 15-0 Ile married first. Better Marks Saucher of Captain Marley, of Bilen. Com. In Ween he lind two children : Alfred, barn in ISES, died in 1808, married Banned Clapp. ant le came the father et Al. ring \ da merchant of Hartford). Kale (who leder ile ge VI twenty-one), Andrew Ga Langer to Fos 1. Ford), and Frank cof Harmony los was the father of Dt. Bidwell married second, Melilla Kecses, Wie diefin 1848, leaving two children Dwight bom in 1827. a teacher and a tamnici in Manchester.

Dr Edwin Bilwelk . w.m Minim was holm Manchester Felmer do 21 ale tended school in Massheder, Wetell and

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East Hartford. In early life he took up the study of medicine and was graduated from Yale Medical School in 1847. On February 19, 1847. he located at Madison, Conn., where he practiced for two years. He then lo- cated in Westbrook, but after five years took the place of Dr. Horace Burr, of Haddam, where he remained until April, 1860, when he moved to Deep River and took the practice of Dr. Rufus Baker. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and in religion is an active member of the Congregational Church. He is a member of the County Medical Society, and has served as health officer and coroner. On May 8, 1848, he married Maria C. Lane, a daughter of See- ley Lane. Three children blessed this union : Elliot L .. born July 4, 1850, married in 1881, Mrs. Belle Holt, and had two children, Flor- ence and Dwight; Eva M., born 1854, married October 2, 1884, Thomas L. Parker; and Ed- win Hamilton. For his second wife Edwin Bidwell married. August 26, 1874. Mary Burnham Miner, of Lyme, and one daughter, Marguerite M., born October 2, 1877, and now connected with the Emerson School of Ora- tory, Boston, has been born of this union.

Mrs. Mary B. ( Miner) Bidwell was a daughter of Joel and Mary ( Hanes) Peck, the former born in Lyme, March 7, 1809, and deceased January 27. 1885, and the latter born in Lyme June 26. 1811, and deceased Decem- ber 5. 1873. To Joel and Mary Peck were born : Mary B .. November 25, 1843; William, of Lyme; and Anna R., of the American Board of Missionary Teachers in the South. Joel Peck was a son of Daniel, who died Sep- tember 26, 1846, aged seventy-two years.

Edwin Hamilton Bidwell, M. D., was born in Haddam, August 18, 1859, and was an in- fant when the family moved to Deep River, where he attended the village school. At the age of thirteen he went to Middletown and en- tered the high school, from which he was grad- uated at the age of seventeen. After teaching one year in the old Lyme Academy, he took 11p the study of medicine at Yale, and a year later entered the medical department of Dart- mouth College, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. He devoted one year to hospital work in New Haven, and thus well fitted for his chosen profession, he located in East Haddam in 1884, and successfully en- gaged in practice there, with the exception of a short time spent in New Haven. His skill

and ability soon gained deserved recognition, and won for him a large and lucrative practice.

In Fast Haddam Dr. Bidwell married Miss Laura Clark, a daughter of Capt. Lewis and Grace E. (Fowler) Clark, and they have two children : Helen, born August 26, 1884; and Edwin, born June 27, 1897. The Doctor is a member of the State and County Medical So- cieties, and efficiently served as health officer in East Haddam. Politically he is a stanch Republican, thoroughly interested in the party, but not an office seeker. Religiously both he and his wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church.

Mrs. Bidwell is a granddaughter of Dud- ley Clark, an extensive farmer of Middlesex county, in whose family were the following children : Henry, Sheffield, Dudley, Lewis and Luzurne.

Lewis Clark was born in Haddam and there grew to manhood. He married Grace E. Fowler, of Northford, a daughter of Horace Fowler, and their children were: Grace C .. who married William E. Brockett, of Fair Haven, Conn .; Anna B., who married a Mr. Newcot: Nettie, deceased; Maria Antoinette, who married Edward Gillman, of New Haven ; Henry H., who married Mary Brockett ; Fred. who wedded M. Humstead; Nellie, who died in childhood; Victoria, who married Merritt Parker, of Deep River : Laura, wife of Dr. E. H. Bidwell; Nina, who is the wife of Charles Gates, of Saybrook, Conn .; and Arthur M. Lewis Clark engaged in the coasting trade, and owned a number of sailing craft. He died at the age of sixty and his wife passed away aged fifty-two years. In politics Mr. Clark was an active Democrat.

PATRICK KENNEDY, a retired real-es- tate dealer, Middletown, Middlesex county, who has his home in South Farms, is well known in that section of Middletown, and was associated with some very important real-es- tate transactions in former years. He is a native of Ireland, born about 1845, son of Patrick and Margaret (Welch) Kennedy. His family had long been known in the neigh- borhood of his birthplace, and there his fa- ther, Patrick Kennedy, his grandfather Mar- tin Kennedy, and his great-grandfather, also named Martin, were born, living and dying in the same locality. The Kennedys had owned land for nine generations, and were

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well-to-do people. Patrick Kennedy's mater- nal grandfather, David Welch, was a mer- chant, and his family was also prosperous.

In 1847 Patrick and Margaret Kennedy came to the United States, and lived for a time in the city of New York. They brought only two of their family with them, David and Martin. In New York Martin died, and they soon afterward removed to Massachusetts, the father engaging in mercantile pursuits in a suburb of Springfield, Mass., which is now a part of the city. There Ellen and Patrick joined their parents the following year. Roger, the youngest child, did not leave Ire- land until a number of years after the others. Patrick and Margaret Kennedy had the fol- lowing children: Martin, who died in New York; David, who died at South Farms, Au- gust 20, 1892 (he was a member of the firm of Kennedy Brothers, grocers) ; Ellen, living with her brother, Patrick, at South Farms; and Roger, mentioned elsewhere. The par- ents came into Connecticut after some years, and aside from a brief stay at Portland were always residents of Middletown, where Mr. Kennedy died at the age of seventy-three, and his wife at the age of seventy-six. They were buried in St. John's cemetery, and were de- vout Catholics. When Mr. Kennedy left Ire- land he leased his land there, intending to re- turn to attend to it; he did not go back at the expected time, and when he did the settlement of his business was attended with much diffi- culty. Returning to the United States, he brought back with him his youngest son, Roger.

Patrick Kennedy, the subject proper of this article, learned the trade of ship carpenter and caulker, and worked in the shipyards along the Connecticut river. After a few years at this work he joined his brother David and took contracts in the business, working in this line for a number of years along the Sound shore and the Connecticut river. They were energetic, industrious young men, physically able to work hard, and with their knowledge of the work they met with success and accumulated a handsome fortune. When they abandoned that line they opened a grocery store in Middletown, and for fifteen years the firm of Kennedy Brothers was one of the solid business houses of the city. In the month of April, 1892. Patrick Kennedy

had a paralytic stroke, which for the time entirely incapacitated him for business. It was a very sudden affliction, and. as the brothers were very close to each other. it quite pros- trated David, whose death, in August, 1892. was apparently greatly hastened by the illness of his brother. The store was disposed of. and as his health returned Patrick Kennedy took up the real-estate business. He now owns ten tenement houses, and their care and management very largely occupy his mind.

Mr. Kennedy never married, and has al- ways remained at the old home, which after the death of their mother his sister Ellen con- ducted. She and Patrick visited the . 11 Irish home in the month of July. 1897. They are Catholics in religion and most estimable people.

MRS. ELIZABETH BAKER. In the death of Mrs. Baker, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ellen Reader, on March 21. 1895. there passed away the oldest lady in Middletown, she having passed her ninety - ninth birthday.

Mrs. Baker was the widow of Joseph Baker, who died March 15. 1868, and daugh- ter of Lot and Fannie ( Wiseman) Connell. She was born March 12. 1790, in Ireland. In about 1835 she came to New Brunswick. and to Middletown in about 1850. On her ninety-eighth birthday, at the anniversary sup- per, she occupied the post of honor, and re- ceived great attention from her numerous puis- terity and friends who were present to tender their congratulations and good cheer. She was then remarkably sprightly, and was in the pas- session of all her faculties. Her memory was of the keenest, and she was able to recall in- cidents that had happened ninety years before. Some weeks before her death she fell and broke her shoulder, and from that time until she passed away constantly inled Mr. Ba- ker left three children. Mrs. Ellen Reader. Mrs. Martin R. Mehaffey toi Rowles. Mas ) and John W. Baker: ten grandchildren, and over twenty great grandchildren

WILL ARD A. CHAPELLE The fast of the Chapell family of whom we have any an thentic account is Jonathan Chapell, a lite long resident of Fame, Low, where he died at the age of seventy three yeus He nar ried Las Wars, and to them were born five

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sons, namely : Zebadiah ; John ; Thomas Gris- wold, who is mentioned below; Ira, some of whose descendants live in Centerbrook; and Oliver.

Thomas Griswold Chapell was born Jan- uary 8, 1815, and died January 23, 1881. He was twice married, his first wife being Han- nah La Shore, who was born August 26, 1811, and died July 4, 1847. All his children, five in number, were by this union, viz .: John Oliver, born October 14, 1836; Charles Ed- win, March 9, 1838; Albert Merrick, Janu- ary 3, 1840; Martha, January 3, 1842; Lucy, December 30, 1844. They were all born in Monson, Mass. After the death of the moth- er Mr. Chapell returned to Lyme, Conn., and he subsequently married Mehitable B. Lord, who was born December 1, 1805, and died September 11, 1881. Not long after this mar- riage he moved to Salem, Conn., of which town he remained a resident until his death, Janu- uary 23. 1881. Of his family, John O. was killed at the battle of Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. Charles E. is mentioned below. Al- bert M. died April 23, 1847. Martha died March 23, 1845. Lucy was married in Au- gust, 1868, to Alfred A. Miner, and died Sep- tember 19, 1887, leaving seven children, all of whom survive at this writing.

Charles Edwin Chapell, father of Willard A., was born March 9, 1838, in Monson, Mass., where his parents lived for a time, and he was reared in Lyme, Conn. Through- out life he followed the occupation of farming, and he died February 15, 1865. In Colchester, Conn., he was married, December 18, 1860, to Cynthia A. Gallup, who was born January 3, 1834. in Lee, Mass., and is still living in Moodus, Conn. Her father was a grandson of Col. Benadam Gallup, an officer in the Revolution, and was born in Groton, moving to Lee when a young man. He af- terward returned to Groton, where he died June 28, 1871. Willard A. is the eldest of the two children born to Charles E. and Cynthia A. (Gallup) Chapell. The other, Charles E., born June 23, 1865, married Ellen F. Watrous, and lives in Colchester, Connec- ticut.

Willard A. Chapell was born April 4, 1862, and is now engaged in farming and lumbering in East Haddam, Middlesex county. By trade he is a broommaker, and for six years he was engaged in the manufacture of brooms there,

prior to which time he followed the same occu- pation in Westchester. He has been twice married, his first wife being Fannie N. Ingra- ham, of Colchester, who died May 9, 1890, and on February 1, 1891, he married Dora Silliman, by whom he has one child, Florence W., born March 1, 1892. Mrs. Chapell was born April 6, 1865, and was the only child of Henry and Leonora (Ackley) Silliman. Her paternal grandparents were Eliphalet and Nancy (Fuller) Silliman, and her maternal grandparents were Amasa and Amanda (Clark) Ackley. Her father was born Octo- ber II, 1842, and now resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. Her mother died February 22, 1872, aged twenty-nine years, and for his second wife Henry Silliman married Nettie Jenks, by whom he has one daughter, Gertrude, who is now the wife of Leon D. Prince, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has one child, Leon D., Jr. Politi- cally Mr. Chapell is identified with the Re- publican party, and fraternally both he and his wife are members of the Grange. She also holds membership in the Congregational Church, and both are highly esteemed by all who know them.

HERMAN EHLERS is one of the oldest employes of the Russell Manufacturing Com- pany, at Middletown, Middlesex county. He was born in Holstein, Germany, November 5. 1846, and his father, Jasper Ehlers, was a small, but prosperous farmer in that country. Herman is one of a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, of whom the two sons alone survive. The other is still living in Germany. The mother died when Herman was but an infant.

Herman Ehlers attended school until he was sixteen years old, when he was confirmed, and supposed to be ready to take his place as a man in the world. He was apprenticed to the weaver's trade in Neumunster, which was quite a weavers' center ; the hand looms were nearly all located in private houses. While Mr. Ehlers was learning his trade, he ate and slept in the house where he was serving his apprenticeship, his board being ,all the com- pensation he received, his father having to furnish his clothing. When he had learned his trade he went to Prussia as a journeyman weaver, and worked in that country some four and a half years, at the end of that time re- turning to Holstein, and setting up for him-

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self in Neudamm, spinning woolen yarn for stockings. Wishing to improve his circum- stances, and knowing that the future for his trade was not bright in his own country, he decided to go to America. In 1873, taking with him his wife and his two children, Will- iam and Otto, he sailed from Hamburg, Ger- many, on the vessel "Touraine," landing in New York. ' Coming directly to Middletown, Conn., he found employment in the "Star Mills," of the Russell Manufacturing Com- pany, on Staddle Hill. For three years he held that place, and then, work becoming slack in his trade, he found employment on the farm of A. M. Colegrove, with whom he remained for a time. He was next taken into the Ar- awana Mills, of I. E. Palmer, at Middletown. In 1867 that gentleman was obliged to close down, and Mr. Ehlers was again taken into the operative force of the Russell Manufactur- ing Company, entering upon the position in which he is now engaged. He built his pleas- ant home on Russell street, in South Farms, and is very cozily housed.

Mr. Ehlers was married in Neudamm, Germany, to Amelia Lummer, who was born May 29, 1843, and they have had children as follows: William, a joiner by trade, who married Bertha Neff; Herman, who died in Germany; Otto, who married Dena Henry (he is also a joiner ) ; Gustav, who died young ; Emel (their first born in the United States ). a painter, living at home; Henry, a joiner ; Anna, who married Fred Bellefield; Annis, a joiner ; Fannie; Charles, a clerk; Jolin ; and Frank.

Mr. Ehlers is a Democrat, and socially be- longs to Schiller Lodge, No. 92. I. O. O. F., and to the German Sick Aid Society. Our subject is an uncle of Gustav Loewenthal, the well-known contractor and builder, of Mid- dletown.

CHARLES G. TUCKER. a well known and prosperous farmer of Durham town. Middlesex county, is of the fourth generation of this nanie in America, his great grandfather having come from England and having settled. it is supposed, in Madison town, New Haven county. Connecticut.

James W. Tucker, grandfather of Charles G., resided in North Madison on what is known as Town Hill, and was a farmer all his life He first married Ruth Coe, a native of Mid-

dlefield, Middlesex county, who bore him eley- en children, namely: Mary, who was mar- ried to William Southmayd. of Durham : Hen- ry, of whom further mention will be made; Abbey, who married William Harris : Samuel, who died in Fair Haven; Nelson, who mar- ried and died at Stony Creek, Branford town, New Haven county: Ruth, who be- came the wife of Alfred Camp, of Durham : Willis, who first married Sarah Wilcox, and next Mrs. Clarissa Dudley, and is living in Madison: Wealthy, wife of Charles Thomp- son, of Plainville: Eliza, who married William Coe of Durham: Amy, who died unmarried in Durham ; and one child that died unamed. After the death of Mrs. Ruth ( Coe) Tucker. James W. Tucker married Rhoda Walkley by whom he became the father of two children. Ann, wife of Ely Stannard, of Westbrook : and Oscar, a resident of Baltimore.

Henry Tucker, father of Charles G., was born August 20, 1811, in North Madison, and. being one of a large family and his father in limited circumstances, he was bound out, at the age of nine years, to Deacon Rossiter, a farm- er in North Guilford, with whom he lived until eighteen years old. His education was limited as he attended the district school a few short terms only. On leaving Deacon Rossiter, he went to Northford. Com., and was employed for a few years as a farm hand by Levi Fow- ler. Ile next came to Durham, where he was later joined by his sisters. Abbey and Ruth. who kept house for him and also did tailoring at the home.

Henry Tucker worked hard and was eco- nomical, and with his savings bought a wound- lot in the west side of Durham, and for about two years was engaged in the wood and char- coal business. He made money and purchased a house and small farm on Main street. Du ham the second house south of the North Congregational Church-where he tarmed his own and rented land in addition lle later built the house now occupied as the Congress tional parsonage, resided mit a short time and then disposed of it. purchased las late tam. tore down the old and built a new house, flows occupied by John Ball, and situated ane hali nule east of Man street. Dushin, where he carried on farming and stock growing deal- ing in cattle qinte extensively This tarm comprised 300 acres, and he owned and oper- ated a saw mill, a short distance cast using

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water power. Mr. Tucker was first a Whig, and later a Republican, served in the State Legislature in 1869, and held many town of- fices, including that of first selectman. He was very active in the affairs of the Congregation- al Church, was a liberal contributor to its sup- port, and hospitably entertained a great num- ber of the ministers of that denomination at his home.

Mr. Tucker married, March 19, 1838, Ro- silla Riedell, who was born April 7, 1817, in Thompson, Conn. This marriage was favored with ten children, viz .: Mary, born January 4, 1840, resides in Hartford and is the widow of John Newton, late a farmer in Durham; Henry, born October 19, 1841, married Clara Bacon, of Westfield, Middletown town, where he is farming; Charles G .; Rose, born September 6, 1846, is the wife of Thomas Gil- bert, of Newfield; Ruth, born January 9, 1849, was married to Talcott P. Strong, of Durham, and died February II, 1886; Maria, born February 17, 1851, died July 1, 1851; Albert, born May 17, 1852, first married Mar- ietta Crowell, and next Etta Frost, and is a farmer in Middlefield; James, born December 14, 1855, married Martha Lawrence, is living in South Salem and is a school teacher; Cyn- thia, born October 5, 1858, was married Octo- ber 5, 1892, to Cæsar Bannihar, and is living in New York; and Louie, born December 8, 1862, was married July 24, 1895, to John Ball, and resides on the homestead in Durham. The father of this family was a very industrious, careful, honest and; entirely self-made man, and died universally respected, February II, 1892, his remains being laid to rest in the Durham cemetery; his wife died March 28, 1895, and was buried beside the husband.

Charles G. Tucker was born November 17, 1843, in Durham, on the home farm, and is th third of ten children born to Henry and Rosilla Tucker, as mentioned above. He was educated in the district schools and at the Dur- ham Academy under Professors Jewett, Hub- bard and Griswold. After quitting school, he went to Hartford and was employed in a saw- mill, on Dutch Point, in the southeast part of the city and operated by Burgess & Stevens. A year later at the request of his parents, he re- turned to the homestead and assisted on the farm until he was twenty-five years old. He then purchased his present farm across the street from the old place, erected a dwelling

and barns, made other necessary improve- ments, and engaged in teaming, general farm- ing and charcoal burning. In 1877, he re- moved to Hamden, Conn., and ran a milk route into New Haven for about a year, but im- paired health compelled him to desist, and he returned to his home in Durham.

On April 28, 1868, Mr. Tucker first mar- ried Miss Sarah Rogers, who was born De- cember 15, 1849, in Madison, Conn., a daugh- ter of Joseph and Nancy (Hale) Rogers, the former a farmer in Madison, and who removed to Durham but died in New Haven, and his wife Nancy died in Deep River, Conn. To Charles G. and Sarah (Rogers) Tucker was born one child, Sarah B., February 13, 1869, who is now the wife of Frank Kurt, formerly of Middletown; they were classmates, and graduated from the Wesleyan University with the class of 1899, and now reside in Boston, Mass. Mrs. Sarah (Rogers) Tucker died Feb- ruary 13, 1869, and Mr. Tucker married, for his second wife, Miss Eliza Rogers, who was born March 17, 1844, and is a sister of his first wife. This marriage has been graced with four children, viz .: Wesley G., born June 12, 1870, married in February, 1898, Nellie Allen, and is a livery man in Durham; Lemuel R., born February 27, 1873, married Sarah Siefert, and is a farmer in Durham; Charles M., born June 13, 1880, is a mechanic ; and Ruth M., born May I, 1885, is still at home.

In politics Mr. Tucker is a Republican, has served as first selectman, was in the State Legislature in 1889, and was on the commit- tees on Fisheries and Contingent Expendi- tures. He is also a member of Coginchaug Council, No. 62, O. U. A. M., of Durham. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, which they liberally contribute to fi- nancially, and no family in the town is more highly esteemed than theirs.

RUFUS BAKER, M. D., deceased. This eminent member of the medical profession was in his lifetime probably the leading practition- er in Middlesex county, and was a noble and lofty character, beloved by all-a man who sealed his every act with the stamp of a true and honest purpose.

Dr. Baker was born January 7, 1815, in Albion, Maine, and was the son of farming people. His mother, who was a Marshall, of

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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 176

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