Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 40

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 40

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In politics Mr. Gladding was a Republi- can and enjoyed the entire respect and con- fidence of his party, being called upon to repre- sent the town of Chester in the General As- sembly of 1895, and he also took his seat as a itember pro tem. of that of 1897, several weeks in the place of the regularly elected representa- tive, who was ill, and he showed himself to be a wise counsellor and safe adviser. Frater- ually he was connected with Trinity Lodge. No. 43, F. & A. M., of Deep River, and with Burning Bush Chapter, of Essex. Through- out the town Mr: Gladding was known as a man of uprightness and integrity, and his word was as good as his bond. Of a kind and

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generous nature, always ready to help those in need of assistance, he will long be remembered by those who shared his bounty and received sympathy and help in his kind and unostenta- tious way.

ISAAC EMERSON PALMER, a sub- stantial and prominent manufacturer of Middle- town, Middlesex county, is a descendant of one of the early families of New England.

Walter Palmer, the emigrant ancestor of

. the New! London county (Conn.) branch of the Palmer family, of which Isaac E. Palmer is a member, was born in England as early as 1598, and arrived in New England as early as 1629, appearing at Charlestown, Mass .; he built the first dwelling erected in that place. In 1643 he removed to the Plymouth Colony, and, with others, joined in the organization of the town of Rehoboth, Mass. In 1653 he re- moved to Stonington, Connecticut.

The subject of this sketch is a descendant in the seventh generation in direct line from this Walter Palmer, the emigrant. Elder Reu- ben Palmer, his grandfather, son of Gershom and Dolly ( Brown) Palmer, of Preston, Conn., was born June 12, 1759, the fifth child and only son in a family of ten. Elder Reuben Palmer was married November II, 1780, to Lucretia Tyler, daughter of Caleb and Hannah Barnes, of Preston, Conn. He was ordained an elder in the Baptist Church at Stonington, Conn., and for a period was pastor of a church there, after which he became pastor of the old Baptist Church at Montville, Conn., serving it from 1798 until his death, in 1822, at which time he was aged sixty-three years. For many years he was a most liberal contributor toward the support of the church, giving much more than he received from it.

Gideon Palmer, son of Elder Reuben Pal- mer, and the father of Isaac Emerson, of Mid- dletown, was born October 23, 1793. He was married, July II, 1813, to Mercy M. Turner, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Comstock) Turner, and they settled in the town of Mont- ville, Conn., where they owned large tracts of land on both sides of the Oxobox stream, con- trolling several water powers. He then en- gaged in various occupations in connection with his father, among which was the extrac- tion of oil from, flax seed. ' While thus en- gaged he developed and obtained a patent for extracting oil from cotton seed, now one of

the large industries of our country. This i teresting patent document, which is now' the possession of I. E. Palmer, reads as fc lows :

The United States of America, To all to whom the Letters Patent shall come :

WHEREAS, Gideon Palmer, a citizen of the Unit States, hath alleged that he has invented a new a useful improvement in the mode of extracting oil fro Cotton Seed, which improvement he states has not be known or used before his application ; hath affirmed th he does verily believe that he is the true inventor discoverer of said improvement; hath paid into t treasury of the United States the sum of thirty dolla delivered a receipt for the same, and presented a petiti to the Secretary of State, signifying a desire of obtain ing an exclusive property in the said improvement, a praying that a patent may be granted for that purpos These are therefore to grant, according to law, to t said Gideon Palmer, his heirs, administrators or assigi for the term of fourteen years, from the fourteenth d .of December, one thousand eight hundred and thir the full and exclusive right and liberty of making, co structing, using and vending to others to be used, t said improvement ; a description whereof is given in t words of the said Gideon Palmer himself, in the sche! ule hereto annexed, and is made a part of these pre ents.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have caused these L ters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the Unit States to be hereunto affixed.

GIVEN under my hand, at the City of Washingtc this fourteenth day of December in the year of o Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and of t independence of the United States of America the fift fifth. ANDREW JACKSON.

By the President,

[SEAL] M. VAN BUREN. CITY OF WASHINGTON, To Wit :

I do hereby certify, That the foregoing Letters Pa ent were delivered to me on the fourteenth day of D cember in the year of our Lord one thousand eig hundred and thirty, to be examined; that I have e amined the same, and find them conformable to lay and I do hereby return the same to the Secretary State, within fifteen days from the date aforesa To Wit: on this fifteenth day of December in the ye aforesaid.

[Signed] M. MACPHERSON BERRIN, Att'y General of the United States.

The schedule referred to in these Letters Pate! and making part of the same, containing a descripti in the words of the said Gideon Palmer himself, of 1 Improvement in the mode of extracting oil from Cott Seed.

Be it known that I, Gideon Palmer, of Montvil in the County of New London, and State of Connectici, have made an improvement in the mode of extracti! oil from Cotton Seed; which is described as follow The seed being hulled in the usual way is grou in an oil mill like flax-seed. About three quarts water are mixed with about 75 lbs. of seed. The flo is then put into an iron cylinder and heated over a fi until steam is produced. It is then put into my patent oil press and the oil extracted.

The effect of the process is to extract much mo oil than in the common mode of pressing the seed wi the hull on. The oil cakes are also made much mo valuable.

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What I claim as my invention, and which I wish to cure by Letters Patent, is the before described mode extracting oil from cotton seed with the hull off, and it in the usual way with the hull on.

GIDEON PALMER.

itnesses, W. B. ELLIOT, CHAS. M. KELLER.

Previously he had invented and patented oil press, the principles of which are used - one of the popular baling presses of the pres- t time. In time his son, Hon. Elisha Palmer, 'came associated with him in business, estab- hing the cotton seed oil business in several rts of the South. Through this channel he came interested in the cotton gin, and estab- hed at his house in Connecticut a foundry d machine shop for the manufacture of cot- n gins. Later they added to these several in- stries the manufacture of cotton twine, rope, tting, etc. Gideon Palmer died July 12, 54. His widow passed away September 17, 70.

Isaac Emerson Palmer, the seventh son, d subject proper of this sketch, was born bruary 27, 1836, in the town of Montville, n., where he received a common-school « ucation and a practical knowledge of machin- and the manufacturing business, under the instruction of his father, with whom he was fociated. He was born and brought up along the above mentioned surroundings, ich seem to have had a tendency to develop ¿natural instinct to devise and produce new 1 ngs. His father considered an education ¿ essential in following the art of mechanics ad manufacturing as it was for any other Ifession, and placed him at the Connecticut ] erary Institute at Suffield, to prepare for lege. After the first term the opportunity aose for him to go to Texas with his ther Elisha, to establish the first cotton man- cturing industry in Texas. His father, isidering such experience would be advan- 'eous, favored his going. While engaged t

1 Texas he acquired a knowledge of the work- 's of the steam engine of the mill, made pat- is of a working model of the cylinder, and alisted in molding and casting it, brought the tings home completed and put it in opera- C t

1, before he was eighteen years of age. He t 1: now in his possession the engine and the 1: te with which he built it.

After Mr. Palmer returned home, and dur- the great yellow fever epidemic of 1853.

the superintendent left in charge at Houston died. Efforts were made to find a capable man to move the Texas cotton mill from Houston to Galveston. Young Palmer was induced to accept the position at a very con- siderable salary, with all expenses paid. After putting the mill into successful operation he deemed it more advantageous to return home to complete his education, although offered an increased salary to remain.

Two weeks after he reached home his father died, which changed his plans. His father's estate could not be settled until after the death of his mother, consequently he com- menced life for himself, and his first enterprise was to contract for building machinery for the Willimantic Linen Company, under guardian- ship, which was the real beginning of his in- dependent business career. Next he purchased all the machinery of a woolen mill then located at the foot of South Main street. This ma- chinery was moved to Montville, Conn., where he converted it into cotton carding and spin- ning machinery.

During a visit to St. Louis, in 1858 and 1859, he invented and took out his first patent (at twenty-three years of age) for the well- known Palmer Self-Adjusting Stop Pulley, under the fourteen year term, which was later, owing to its unusual merits, extended to the full term of twenty-one years. It is in general use to-day, not having been superseded. This pulley being specially adapted to suspending mosquito caanopies, which were used exten- sively in that city, led to the manufacture and selling of articles of this description, which has been carried on without interruption to this day. The patented stop pulley led to the non- ufacture of cord to be used in connection there- with, and bell cord for railroad use. Patents were obtained on circular looms for weaving covering around cord. The manufacture of this cord gradually extended until it embraced a considerable line of picture and curtain cord. which business in due time, owing to the de- mand of many other articles for his attention, he organized, transferring the entire cordage manufacture to the Ossawan Mills Company, of Norwich, Conn., who have successfully car- ried on this branch of the business to the pres- ent day.

From the manufacture of pulley cords, and patented canopy attachments and fixtures, the next step was the manufacture of mosquito

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

netting and complete canopies, for which patents have been obtained on several varieties of looms and weaving. Window screen cloth was next taken up. Then a complete dyeing and finishing establishment was added to the business, a number of patents being obtained on the machinery and various finishing pro- cesses. Crinoline dress lining was next added to the line of manufactures. About 1833 the weaving of cotton hammocks was added to the line, many patents being obtained on ham- mocks-their construction, weaving and de- signs. The cotton woven hammock which Mr. Palmer put upon the market in 1883 grew rapidly in popularity, and has actually revolu- tionized the hammock industry, which includes many appurtenances, such as supports, awn- ings, trapezes, ropes, hooks, etc., for which sev- eral patents have been granted. As many of these articles require the use of yarns, Mr. Palmer took up their manufacture, with which he was conversant in his youth, organizing and establishing a modern plant for spinning yarns from raw cotton. At present his busi- ness occupies two plants, requiring a floor space of over 100,000 square feet. He has a steam boiler with a capacity of 800 horse power, of which 500 is engine power. There is also in addition a considerable water power. Em- ployment is now given to about 350 persons.

Although never having served as an appren- tice in any one line of artisanship, Mr. Palmer's natural intuition, with his varied experience, has enabled him to master every branch of his diversified industries, such as making his draw- ings and patterns, building and operating his machinery, dyeing and bleaching his fabrics, and successfully directing the disposal of the product. The extent of his inventions may be realized from the fact that, beginning with the one patent obtained in 1859, he now has over 180 patents, covering articles, machines, pro- cesses and designs. Among his early and im- portant patents is that of a tentering machine, which was the first practical machine of its nature in use. Many of the patents which have been issued to him have been extended to Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Aus- tria, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. Every article made at his plant is now manu- factured directly from raw material, i. e., from iron, wood and cotton.

For a limited period, prior to 1882, Mr. Palmer had associated with him, at two dif-

ferent times, a junior partner. During the whole period of his business career there has never arisen the necessity for compromising or extending an obligation.

In politics Mr. Palmer is a stanch Republi- can ; his business interests prevented him from taking active part to any considerable extent in the affairs of his party, 'but he was once placed upon the party ticket as a Presidential elector.

On May 16, 1876, Isaac Emerson Palmer was married to Miss Matilda Townsend, a native of Bovina, Miss., daughter of Samuel and Caroline (Johnson) Townsend, of Bovina Miss., and a granddaughter of Hon. William G. Johnson, of Uncasville, Conn. To Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have been born two children, Townsend and Nathalie Harris Townsend.

JESSE SPENCER, a substantial and pro- gressive farmer of Haddam, whose name has been a synonym for honesty, uprightness of liv. ing and sincerity of purpose throughout the community for many years, was born March 7 1816, on the farm he now occupies, son of James Spencer.

Elias Spencer his grandfather, son of Dan- iel, a descendant of one of the original twen- ty-eight proprietors of Haddam, was born ir Haddam, where he was married December 30 1778, to Abigail Sexton. Purchasing a farm in the Candlewood Hill District, he engaged in farming, and died at his home there agec seventy-seven. His widow survived him some years. To them were born: Ezekiel, James Jesse, Sylvester, Susannah and Sarah. Ezek iel lived and died in Haddam; he married Fan ny Bailey, daughter Christopher Bailey, and had two children, Ansel and Phebe. James, was the father of our subject. Jesse left Had dam, and the last information that the family had was that he had married, had children, and lived in the District of Columbia. Sylvester died at the age of twenty-one. Susannalı mar ried Oliver Prout, of Middletown, and had six children. Sarah married William Prout, the brother of Oliver, and lived in Middletown She married, for her second husband, Elish: Harvey. She had six children, Elias, John Sylvester, Sarah, Ruth and Nancy.

James Spencer was born in 1781, and diet in 1856, his wife surviving him until 1872. Th entire life of this worthy man was spent in Haddam, where he pursued the occupation o

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

f. ning. He was greatly interested in the c se of education, and politically upheld the pliciples of Democracy. He married Soviah E ley, daughter of Christopher and Phebe Bley, of Haddam. Christopher Bailey was in he war of the Revolution, saw much serv- 1C T d I and was a pensioner ; he died in Haddam. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were born two chil- 1, Jesse and Cyrus, the latter born October 1817. Cyrus Spencer, full of the patriotic foror of his ancestors, served and died in the g at Civil war. He enlisted in Company A, Tenty-fourth Regiment, Connecticut Volun-

te Infantry, going into the army from Had- din, saw much service with his regiment, and at Port Hudson and in many other en- W ements. He took an active part in the 00 ir norable siege of Port Hudson, and al- thigh weak from the effects of disease he stk to his heroic work, and as soon as the 'ender of the fort was made fell exhausted in W he trenches, while in the line of duty. He brought north as far as Fort Schuyler, N. Y where he gave up his life August 15, 1863. Jc e Spencer brought the remains of this brave HIdam soldier home, and he lies in the Hig- gium cemetery.

Jesse Spencer was reared on the farm he 110 th St a

occupies, receiving his early education in common schools of the neighborhood, and lementing same by a three years' course at

lect school, having as teachers Mr. Conant, M Holton and later Mr. Gardner. At the age of ghteen, feeling that his services were need-

ed n the farm, he took charge of affairs, and m aged them successfully until the death of hi father. At the present time Mr. Spencer s the finely cultivated place he occupies, an which he has brought to its present state by is own efforts. In addition to his agricul- t11 pursuits, he lias devoted a portion of his

tir to the carpenter's trade. Among the build- 111: in the neighborhood which bear testimony to is skill are his own residence, a sawmill, many other useful as well as ornamental stıl

tures in Haddam and vicinity.

111: of

On August 22. 1846, Mr. Spencer was 'ied to Sarah Elizabeth Gladwin, daughter ideon Gladwin, who was born March 13, , and died October 27, 1828; he married a Brainard, born March 2, 1802, who March 12, 1835, and they had two chil- Silas and Sarah E. ( Mrs. Spencer). Mrs. cer was born Angust 8, 1826, and died

June 16, 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Spencer came three children: Irvin B. died February 2, 1849, aged one year, three months. Edgar James, born December II, 1856, married De- cember 22, 1875, Josephine Stannard, who was born August 22, 1857, daughter of Miner and Sarah (Crowell) Stannard, and they have six children --- Sarah Inez, who married Edward Quinn, and had five children, all now deceased; Gertrude, who married Elmer Graves, of Hig- ganum, and has one child, Wesley; Myron; Grover ; and Ruth and Raymond, twins, the lat- ter deceased. Frances A. was married May 5, 1869, to Eldridge S. Spencer, son of An- sel and Rowena (Smith) Spencer, and to them were born Howard Irwin, Jesse C. and Clemen- tine Lotta.

Mr. Spencer has given over the manage- ment of the farm to his son, who lives with his father on the old homestead. He was edu- cated in the district schools and at a select school in Haddam. He is a member of the Congregational Church, which his family at- tend. Mrs. Eldridge S. Spencer was educated in the district schools and in a select school in Meriden, Conn. She is a member of the Hig- ganum Congregational Church. Her husband is a successful farmer and they live in the home next to her father's.

Although Mr. Spencer is eighty-six years of age he is very active, and takes a deep in- terest in all matters pertaining to town, county or National affairs, adhering to the Republican party, having been a member of that party since 1856; he was originally a Democrat. For many years Mr. Spencer served as constable and collector. He and his son and daughter are active members of the Congregational Church, in which for many years he was a trus- tee. Although upon the declining slope of life, with the setting sun shining upon his hon- ored head, encircled by snowy hair, Mr. Spen- cer gives evidence, in his cheery manner, pleas- ant reminiscences, and hearty good-will toward all, of a vitality calculated to bear him past many a milestone before he reaches the end of his life's journey.

WELLINGTON GILLETTE SPEN- CER (deceased) was for thirty-three years the leading undertaker in Portland, during which long period of years his faithful per- formance of all the delicate responsibilities at- tendant upon his calling made his name familiar

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

throughout that portion of Middlesex county. His manly qualities and straightforward busi- ness methods won the esteem of the communi- ty, and his unswerving honesty and sympa- thetic spirit converted every patron into a per- sonal friend. He was not a public man or a politician, but a plain, candid and benevolent citizen, full of public spirit, who wished well to his friends and neighbors. He was success- ful in his life work, and left a good estate.

Mr. Spencer was born at Saybrook, Mid- dlesex Co., Conn., September 10, 1839, and came to Portland about 1865. His parents were Chauncey and Eliza (Tripp) Spencer, and the family is of old and honored New England stock. He was reared in his native town, and attended the local schools, complet- ing his education at Wilbraham College. In his early manhood he was a carpenter and joiner. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the three months' service, and his health fail- ing while he was in camp, he was advised on his return home to go to sea, and consequently shipped as carpenter on the vessel "Cornelius Grinnell," under the command of his brother, Capt. Albert Spencer. He made two voyages to Europe, and as his health improved aban- doned the water. Coming to Portland he bought the undertaking business of his brother- in-law, C. W. Hills, and thus began his life work. The establishment is now in the hands of his son-in-law, Arthur J. Emmons.

Mr. Spencer was first married, in 1865, in Portland, to Miss Amy Pelton, daughter of Lewis Pelton, of that place. She died leav- ing no children, and in 1875 Mr. Spencer mar- ried Miss Lucy Strong, of East Hampton, Conn., daughter of Charles and Sally ( Hurl- but) Strong, of that point. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer adopted Nettie Spencer, who was born January 3, 1874, and on May II, 1893, mar- ried Arthur J. Emmons ; she now resides with her adopted mother in Portland.

Mr. Spencer was a strong Republican, and served as first selectman for a term. He be- longed to the Methodist Church, and held var- ious offices in that communion, doing much faithful and effective work for the church. Fraternally he belonged to Warren Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Portland, and was a member of the A. O. U. W. and the O. U. A. M. He died in November, 1898, and is buried in Portland. Mr. Spencer was a genial and unassuming man, generous and faithful to his friends. His

widow, who still resides in the home which he built, is a most estimable lady, a consisten member of the Methodist Church.

CHAUNCEY. B. WHITMORE, one o the most substantial and highly respected resi dents of the Maromas District of Middletowr was born July 9, 1829, and is a descendant o one of the oldest families of Connecticut o English descent. Before narrating the inci dents immediately connected with the life o Mr. Whitmore himself, the genealogy of th family will be given.

The name Whitmore is traced in Englan as far back as the Conquest in 1066. I originated in Staffordshire from a village of manor on the banks of the River Sow, th ancient seat of the family, De Whitmore. Th Whitmores of Middlesex county, Conn., are de scended from John Whitmore of Stamford who was living in Wethersfield, in 1639, an who was killed by the Indians in 1648. A what time he located in Stamford is not o record. He was the father of five childrer namely : Thomas, born in 1615, was the ar cestor of the "Wetmores;" Ann, born i 1621, married George Farrar February I6. 1644; Mary, born in 1623, married Joh Brewer; Francis will be spoken of in the fo lowing paragraph; and John, born in 1627 lived in Stamford in 1650.

Francis Whitmore, of the above family was born in 1625, and he located in Cambridge Mass. There for his first wife he marrie Isabel, daughter of Richard Parke. She die March 31, 1655, leaving six children: Eliza beth, born May 2, 1649, was the wife of Dar iel Markham; Francis, born October 12, 1650 will be again mentioned; John, born Octobe I, 1654; Samuel, born May I, 1658, rembve to Lexington, where he died and left heirs Abigail, born July 3, 1660, married James Wi; cox, and Sarah, born May 7, 1662, was th wife of William Locke. The second wife ( Francis Whitmore was Margaret Hartl: whom he married November 10, 1666, an who died March I, 1686, leaving four chi dren, viz : Margaret, born September ( 1668, married Thomas Carter; Frances, bor March 3, 1671, married Jonathan Thompson Thomas, born in 1673, died in Killingly, an. left a family : and Joseph, born in 1675, die in Woburn, Mass., and also left a famly.

Francis Whitmore, the second-born of tl

Chauncey B "Whitman C

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

dove-mentioned family, settled in Middletown af1 married Hannah Harris, daughter of lliam and Edith Harris, February 8, 1674. this union were born eight children : Fran- c. November 25, 1675; Hannah, November 1677; Abigail, January 23, 1681 ; Joseph, Agust I, 1687; William, December 18, 1689; Hith, March 3, 1692 (died September 9, 10) ; Isabel, December 4, 1694, and John, Aril, 1698.

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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 40

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