Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 178

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 178

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Miss Shailer's first paternal ancestor in the State was Thomas "Shaler" ( now spelled with an "i"), who came to Haddam in 1662, as one of the original settlers and proprietors of the town. The line is traced from him down through (II) Thomas Shailer, Jr., (II) Hez- kiah Shailer. (IV) Hezekiah Shailer, Jr., and (V) Russell Shailer, the father of (VI) La- rissa. On her mother's side Miss Shailer is de-

scended from James Wells, another original settler, who was the great-great-grandfather of her mother, Ann Wells.

ROBERT W. BINGHAM, a prominent citizen of East Haddam, Middlesex county, whose life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, is a descendant of Gideon Bingham, a native of England, who came to this country with his brother, but the latter afterward re- turned to England. Gideon first located in Boston and later removed to Canterbury, Windham Co., Conn. He had twelve sons, all of whom were over six feet tall.

Eliphalet Bingham, a son of Gideon, was born in Windham, May 4, 1740, and was ten years old when the family removed to Canter- bury. He married Sarah Underwood, who was born in East Greenwich, R. I., April 2, 1742, and died in East Haddam, Conn., De- cember 23, 1816, while he died in Plainfield, May 2, 1816. In their family were ten chil- dren, all of whom were born in Plainfield with the exception of the second, who was born in Canterbury. They were as follows : Mrs. Mary Thayer, born May I, 1762, died June 14, 1860; Eliphalet, born January 27, 1764, died October 1. 1823; Lydia, born January 19, 1766, died February 6, 1801 ; Sarah, born July I. 1767; Thomas, born May 22, 1769, died in Williamstown, Mass., September 9, 1859; Mrs. Hannah Vaughn, born February 25, 1771, died in Plainfield, February 21, 1849; Ruth, born April 28, 1774; Elizabeth, born February 28, 1776, died October 14, 1777; Elisha, born June 4, 1780, died in Williams- town, Mass .. December 23, 1863; and Elijah Alonzo, grandfather of Robert W., completes the family.

Elijah Alonzo Bingham, was born in Plain- field, Canterbury, Conn., March 6, 1785, and died in East Haddam, June 17, 1864, having come to this town in 1810. He was a man of some military prominence, serving as lieuten- ant colonel in the local militia, and his com- mission is still preserved by our subject. For many years he also served as deputy sheriff of Middlesex county. . In East Haddam he was married November 20, 1810, to Abigail Cone. who belonged to one of the oldest fam- ilies of that town. Her father, Elisha Cone, was born April.8, 1766, and was married Sep- tember 28, 1786, to Elizabeth Tracey, who was born July 5. 1768. They had two chil-

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dren : Stephen, born September 18, 1787; and Abigail, born May 13, 1791. In the family of Elijah A. and Abigail (Cone) Bingham were the following children: Elijah, born January 20, 1812, married Rosella Daniels and died in Middlefield, Conn .; S. Abigail died young ; Elisha C., father of Robert W., was next in order of birth; William B., born Septem- ber 2, 1816, married Amelia Smith, of Moodus, and had two children, Sarah and Mary; Susan, born August 13, 1818, died December 11, 1834; Fannie Griffin, born May 28, 1820, married Jonah Chapman ; Carile Cone, born August 22, 1823, mar- ried Allen S. Newell, of Auburndale, Fla., who died in February, 1898, and they had one daughter, Ellen C., deceased; Thomas, born August 28, 1826, died September 18. 1826; Mary Abigail, born February 22, 1829, mar- ried John I. Tracey, of Madison, Conn., and they now reside in East Haddam; and Benja- min died young.

Elisha C. Bingham, father of Robert W., was born December 12, 1814, and died in June, 1882. He was a prominent farmer and lumberman and one of the representative citi- zens of East Haddam, occupying most of the local offices, including that of selectman, and serving in the Legislature in 1868. In times past the family have always been identified with the Congregational Church, and he was no exception in this regard, being an active church worker. Il'e was twice married, his first wife being Julia Etta Cone, by whom he had nine children, namely: Elijah A., born May 6, 1838, served in the Twenty-second Connecticut Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and is now a resident of Brooklyn. N. Y. ; William Henry Harrison, born Janu- ary 20, 1840, served as first lieutenant in the First Connecticut Artillery and is a resident of Northampton, Mass. : Charles Elisha, born March 28, 1841, lives in Haverstraw, N. Y. : Eliphalet N., born October 15, 1842, was a member of the First Connecticut Heavy Ar tillery and died in the service: John Fuller, born October 25, 1844. was a member of the Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Antietam; Wells AAnderson, boru Angust 7. 1846, enlisted at the age of sixteen years in the Sixteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and is now a resident of New York City : George Cone, born May 28, 1850, lives in Thomaston, Conn. ; Robert Wellington.

born August 7. 1851. is mentioned below : and Mary Julia, born June 10, 1853. died at the age of ten years. For his second wife the fa- ther married Maria M. (House) Gates, oi Glastonbury. Conn., and to them were born five children : Ralph Edmunds. born April 6, 1858, died young: Allen R .. born May 10. 1859, is a resident of New Bedford, Mass. : Ann Sophia, born October 5. 1860, died in childhood; Hattie Marie, born November 28. 1861, also died in childhood ; and Ruth Ann. born December 29, 1862. is a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

On the maternal side Robert W. Bingham traces his ancestry back to Daniel Cone, who came to this country from Scotland in 1002. and was born in 1625 and died in 1706. The next in direct descent was Nathaniel, whose son Nathaniel, Jr., was born in 1712 and died in 1790. He had five sons in the Revolution- ary war, and one who served as captain in the war of 1812. Israel Cone, son of Nathaniel Cone, was born in June. 1,86, and died April 7, 1821. He wedded Mary Ander- son and had children as follows: Lucy Ant. born February 25, 1809. married George Kau- som: Robert G., born September 3. 1810, mar- ried Harriet Tyler: Julia Etta, born January 4. 1814, married Elisha Cone Bingham, ia- ther of Robert W .; Lord Wellington, born July 26. 1815, married Fluvia Arnold, of Mill ington ; Mary Anderson, born September 14. 1818. was married, in May. 1840. 16 Rufus Wheeler Swan, and after his death married Adonijah Olmsted: Jane Crosby, born Sep tember 28. 1821, married first, Cyrus Chap- man, and second, Jared Spencer : Fannie \ ol bury, born Angust 31. 1823. mimed Edwin B. Griswold, of Hartford, Conn ; and Fr. beth C., born February 21. 1826, marned Da- vid R. Martin, of Jamestown. New York

Robert W Bingham was ban net Bashaft Bond, in the town of Last Haddam, and was five years old when the family moved to the house he now owns and exemples He attend ed the common and select schools of the Beruf borhood, one of the latter being conducteit by the Rev. Mr Robbins, a Congregational und ister, who carried on quite a thamishing schied at one time. Mr Brigham was gradnate 1 1ton Eastman Business College. Penghkeepsie N Y .. in 1822 His first independent effort lite was as a farmer, and that occupiten he still follows He began under the supervision

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of his father. In times past he has been quite extensively engaged in dairying, and also keeps quite a large flock of sheep.

In East Haddam, May 19, 1874, Mr. Bing- ham was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of Benjamin Varley (a native of Bradford, Yorkshire, England) and his wife, whose father, Rev. Allison, was a Baptist min- ister, and had quite a large family. To Mr. and Mrs. Bingham were born three children, namely: Frederick Allison, born April 24, 1875, died at the age of five months ; Harry Varley, born Deceniber 26, 1876, is attending the East Greenwich Academy, R. I .; and Rob- ert W., Jr., born February 14, 1888, is at home. In politics Mr. Bingham has always been a Republican and has held various offices, acting as grand juror for the past twelve years ; tax collector several years ; and clerk and treas- urer of the school district until recently, when the system was changed. He is also chairman of the town Republican committee; represent- ed the town in the State Legislature in 1894 and 1895, and served on the Railroad commit- tee. He has proved a very competent and pop- ular official, and his duties have always been most faithfully performed. Fraternally he is a member of the Order of United American Mechanics, No. 82, of Moodus, of which he is recording secretary, and both he and his wife belong to the Grange.

LEVI HULL. The Hull family is an old one in New England, and at one time was nu- merous through Connecticut, in the towns of Killingworth, Madison, Clinton and Guilford. . The present representative, Levi Hull, a veter- an of the Civil war, is a successful farmer re- siding in Centerbrook district of Essex.

George Hull came from England to Dor- chester, Mass., in 1629, and was a member of the first board of selectmen of Dorchester, and a representative to the first General Court held in the colony, on May 14, 1634. Moving to Windsor, Conn., he was a representative to the General Court of Connecticut, from 1637 to 1646, and assistant governor in 1639. Later he moved to Fairfield, Conn., and was repre- sentative from that town. He died in 1659, and his son, Josiah, became the ancestor of the Hulls of Clinton, Killingworth and vicinity.

Levi Hull, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Killingworth in what is known as Parker's Hill district, where the whole of his

life was passed. Quite an extensive farmer, he cultivated over 200 acres, lived to old age, and lies under one of the old stones in Killing- worth cemetery. In those times he was con- sidered a wealthy man, and he generously as- sisted many of his friends who undertook the journey to Ohio, that then being away out into the wilderness. His children were : Nathan- iel; Cynthia, who married Samuel Colt, of Chester, and Luther, the father of our sub- ject.

Luther Hull was born in Killingworth where his entire life was spent. While a young man he studied medicine and practiced considerably in the vicinity, remaining on the homestead, and combining farming with medi- cal advice and attention. An active Democrat, he represented Killingworth in the General Assembly for several terms, became a promi- nent and influential man, and was wealthy for the demands of those days. Always a strong Congregationalist, he was a cheerful support- er of that denomination. He married Clar- issa Dennison, a daughter of Wells and Jedida (Tyler) Dennison, the former being a farmer who resided where our subject now has his. home. The children of this union were: Levi; Selden T .; George L. ; and Frances, who married J. Sherman Buell and lives in Mad- ison.

Levi Hull was born in Killingworth Febru- ary 16, 1820. He obtained his education in the district schools, later attending Hills Acad- emy, in Essex, also receiving instruction from Rev. Burke, Mr. Belden, and others. At the age of sixteen he left school and began to learn the trade of cabinetmaking under the tutelage- of Selden S. Dennison, who had a shop and carried on cabinetmaking in Essex. At the end of a four-years' apprenticeship, during which time his wages were board and clothes, he purchased the business of his uncle, employ- ing a number of hands, and the product of his works was shipped South where good prices were realized. After conducting the business for eight years Mr. Hull disposed of it to his uncle, Tyler Dennison, receiving in exchange his present farm, which was formerly owned by his maternal grandfather, Wells Dennison, and upon this he has since resided, following general farming. In 1863, at Essex, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fourth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Horace John- son, and Colonel Mansfield, for service in the

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Civil war. The regiment was sent to New Orleans, and from there to the Siege of Port Hudson, engaging in a number of skirmishes on the way, and was present at the surrender of Port Hudson, on July 4, 1864. After its return to New Orleans, the regiment saw se- vere service, but after thirteen months was sent to Middletown, where it was discharged. Mr. Hull is now the recipient of a pension.

On May 5, 1843, Mr. Hull was married to. Caroline M. Bishop, of New York, born February 13, 1822, a daughter of Benjamin and Harriet (Tribby ) Bishop. Their children are : Ellen, who died in infancy; Luther, who died at the age of thirty-eight; Carrie, who married Avery Pratt and lived in Deep River, where she died, leaving one child, Clarence, who lives in Essex; Willis; and Ida M., who married James Blaney, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has two children, Estelle and Royal. In politics Mr. Hull is a Republican, and in religion both he and. his wife are consistent and worthy members of the Congregational Church, where they are highly esteemed.

FRANK M. DUGAN (deceased) was a popular and successful business man of Mid- dletown, at which place his death occurred Oc- tober 16, 1900.

Patrick Dugan, his father, was a native of Queen's County, Ireland, and came to this country in early manhood. He located at Wat- erbury, Conn., where he was for many years employed in the manufacture of silverware. and also owned and conducted a grocery and liquor store. He died there at the age of thir- ty-two years. His wife, Katherine ( Kelley ). survived him, and later became the wife of Major Joseph Keefe, a prominent citizen of New Haven, who was for many years sheriff of New Haven county. To Patrick and Kath- erine Digan were born two children: John. who was a floor walker in a dry goods store. married Elizabeth Dougherty, and died in Kearney, N. J. ; and Frank M. By the moth er's marriage to Major Keefe she had one child. Marion, who married W. R. Wrinn, chief of police of New Haven.

Frank M. Dugan was born July 18, 1862. in Waterbury, Com., and lost his father when quite young. After his mother's marriage to Major Keefe the family moved to New Haven, about 1868. Frank M. Dugan acquired his el ucation in the schools of that city. Viter leas-

ing school he entered the employ of F. S. An- drews. a wholesale meat dealer, beginning as assistant shipping clerk, and was promoted un- til he became a traveling salesman, his territory covering Connecticut and neighboring States. He remained in the employ of Mr. Andrews seven years, and then engaged as a traveling salesman for Bryan, Miner & Read, of New Haven, continuing with them several years. After a short residence in Hartford he went to New London, Conn., and there held the respon- sible position of manager in the branch house of Nelson. Morris & Co., wholesale meat dealers. He remained there a few years, and then accepted. on September 1. 1888. the po- sition of traveling salesman and general agent in New England for the Meriden Brewing Company. traveling over New England and gaining a large acquaintance. In May. 188. he came to Middletown, purchased the estal- lishment of J H. Ryan, and carried on a suc- cessful retail liquor store, also acting as agent for the well known brewers and distillers. llc was eminently successful in whatever he mider- took, and made extensive improvements on his business block at No. 400 Main street. In May, 1899. he purchased a nice home al No. 1; Park Place. Middletown, where his widow and! children reside. His death was preceded by a several months' decline in health, and he sleeps his last sleep in the new St. John's cente tery, at Middletown. He had a wide circle of acquaintances, was liberal and kind-hearted and many besides his family neuen his city death. Politically he was a Democrat unul the Free Silver movement. Socially he was a men ber of the Meriden Lodge of Elks, in which he was a past exalted ruler : and he able longed to the Amaranth Club, of Merilen, the Ancient Order of Hibermans in Middletown. and the Heptasophs. He was a con mun cant of the Roman Catholic Church

On September 12, 1803. Frank M. Dugan was married, in Meriden, to Annie Hilles, wh, was born July 4. 1870, in West Stockbridge. Mass. daughter of Timothy Dailey Three children brightened their home. Marion C. horn September 11, 1891. Frank M . June 18. 1800! and Neville Vy De Paul. April 25. 1000

Timothy Dules, the father pt Mr. Dugan. Wist natice el Comit Cork. Ireland He was unkiem and teamster, and died in West Shell relue. Massy June 20, 18-2, col 115

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five years. His wife was Katherine Lynch, who died at the home of Mrs. Dugan in Middle- town, December 13, 1901. Both are buried at Pittsfield, Mass. Their children were: Kath- erine, wife of Thomas Flynn, of Dalton, Mass .; John, who married Jessie Ross, and resides in Winona, Mich .; Michael, residing in T'ex- as; Timothy, manager of our subject's late business in Middletown; Mary, wife of John Dalton, of Boston, Mass .; and Annie, Mrs. Dugan.

PATRICK SULLIVAN furnishes in his own career a fine example of what close atten- tion to business, push and energy, combined with fair and honest dealing, will accomplish. These characteristics have made him one of the leading merchants of Portland, and from the most modest beginning he has built up a suc- cessful business and has won for himself a good standing in the town.

Mr. Sullivan was born near Newmarket, in County Cork, Ireland, in 1847, a son of James Sullivan, an old-time Irish farmer. The latter sent his children to school, and gave them such advantages as people of ordinary means were able to afford. When he found young Patrick not as attentive to his schooling as he might wish, he tried to impress upon him the advantages of an education, and his early admonitions his son has since found based on solid facts. Patrick, however, was ready to take hold of work, and when he was nineteen years of age he came to this country, landing at New York after being eleven days on the ocean. He came to Portland, where he had some acquaintances, and when he reached this town his cash capital was less than two dollars.

Of the family of James Sullivan, there are Patrick, and his brother James, at Bridgeport; two daughters, also, came to the United States -Mary and Margaret, but the latter is now deceased.

Patrick Sullivan found employment at the Middlesex quarry, and was there about a year, when he secured a better position with the Shaler & Hall quarry. Not very long after this a new quarry was opened at Belleville, N. J., by Patterson & Baldwin, and the wages they offered, being so much better than those paid in Portland, drew many of the more am- bitious men of the town to that point, Mr. Sul- livan being among them. He received two dollars and a quarter a day, and this was re-

garded as large wages for the time. Mr. Sul- livan was better worth it than some of the larger and more giant-like men, as he was steady and reliable, and did thoroughly what- ever he undertook. He worked on the Central Railway of New Jersey, then in process of con- struction, and from there he came to Crom- well, Conn., where he worked in the quarry for two seasons. Returning to Portland, he re- sumed work in the Middlesex quarry as a "scappler" at two dollars and seventy cents a day, being classed among the best workmen in the yard. For a few months he was night watchman on a locomotive in the yards at Mid- dletown, and worked a time in the Shaler & Hall quarry. It was now late in the fall of 1875, and while Mr. Sullivan had not been idle, he determined to go into business for himself. He had been careful with his money, and had laid aside a considerable sum, the accumula- tion of days' wages. He invested part of his savings in a small grocery store, being care- ful not to risk his entire capital. On Decem- ber 3, 1875, he opened on a most modest scale, and by giving his business the most careful attention, he has prospered from the start. He conducted it at two different sites previous to his purchase of his present location, near the foot of Main street, where he established him- self in 1882. From time to time Mr. Sullivan has taken on additional lines, until now he car- ries feed, coal and wood, with quarters large enough to accommodate each line. His excel- lent coal sheds, as good, perhaps, as any in the county, are fitted with concrete floors. He buys his feed by the carload, and has erected a large and commodious warehouse for that interest. He also owns four choice tenement houses. This extensive business has been built up in the face of the keenest competition, a fact that shows his grit and determination, as well as his business ability.

Mrs. Patrick Sullivan was Miss Margaret Bransfield, a native of Portland, and a daugh- ter of Morris and Abbey Bransfield. Seven children have been born of her marriage with Mr. Sullivan: Margaret Agnes, a graduate of a. Catholic boarding school for girls at Bal- tic, Conn .; Abbey Evangeline, a graduate of Mrs. Patton's private school and Harding's business college, Middletown; Nellie Bernar- dine, attending the Portland high school; Anna Naomi, at home; Mary, who died in July, 1899, at the age of nineteen, and two others,

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who are also deceased. Mr. Sullivan is a Democrat, and has served as a member of the grand jury. Both he and his wife are Roman Catholics, and he has been secretary and treas- urer of the Catholic Knights of Honor at Portland. He also belongs to the Catholic Be- nevolent Legion of America, and is a member of the A. O. H., at Portland, in which organi- zations he has held offices, and is a reliable and trusted worker. He has an excellent family, and has given all fine educational advantages. His word is never questioned, and his stand- ing is among the best in Portland.

JOHN GILBERT SPENCER, one of the prosperous agriculturists of Westbrook, is a scion of one of the old and prominent families of New England.

Jonathan Spencer, his grandfather, was born in Post District of Westbrook, and was reared on the farm, but he early learned the trade of ship carpenter and worked in the va- rious yards in Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, following the same business many years. The farm work was carried on by his older sons, and until ten years prior to his death, Mr. Spencer followed his favorite occupation. Coming then to his farm, he endeavored to continue busy, but his health became precarious on account of a cancer on the neck. which caused him much suffering. and finally death, in 1862. A Democrat in politics, he always desired the success of his party, but was too busy with his work to care for office. He married Clarissa Smith, a na- tive of Lyme, Conn., who survived her hus- band for many years, dying at the home of her son, at the age of ninety-three.

Alanson La Fayette Spencer, the father of our subject, was born in Post District of West- brook, in 1822, and in early life went on the water and engaged in the coasting trade, be- ing then in the employ of residents of West- brook. Until he was twenty-four he continued this life, and he then purchased a farm (the same being now occupied by his son Edwin), and followed agricultural pursuits, also doing a great deal of teaming. A Democrat in his political faith, he was prominent in local poli- tics, and he efficiently held the minor town offices. His death occurred on June 17. 1880. after a busy, useful life. His wife, Cordelia A. Buell, born on March 15, 1828, a native of Clinton, Conn., was a daughter of Harvey

and Hannah ( Turner ) Buell, and she row re- sides in comfort on the old homestead. They had a large family.

John Gilbert Spencer was born on the farm June 20, 1869. His education was acquire 1 in the common schools. later in the Westbrook Academy, with others of his age, many of whom have followed the same various hines as he, and now have settled as his neighbors in the same community. Beginning with farm work at home, Mr. Spencer went upon other farms as a helper in the boss seasons, and als. engaged in pound fishing, one of the principal industries of the locality. One season was spent on the coasting vessel "Traveler." com- manded by Capt. Frayne, of Middletown, and another on the "Wave." owned by parties in Guilford. A life on the water, however, did not quite suit his tastes, and he finally engage 1 with Mr. Elmer A. Lynn, a meat dealer, in Westbrook, and drove his wagon and attend- ed to his butchering for seven years, building up for his employer a fine trade through the country. Removing to Wallingford. he was employed there by a Mr. Youngs, in the same line, remaining with him until May, 1897. when he purchased of John G. Holbrook, the Gideon Chapman farm of twenty -eight acres. Since that time Mr. Spencer has been engaged in general farming, and is also employed on- tinnally wherever his services are needed. is he is one of the energetic and bass men of the community.

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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 178

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