Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 46

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 46

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Taken as a class, the descendants of Rev. Roger Newton, of whom there are a great host not herein mentioned, like their ancestors during the past 250 years, have earned what they have obtained, paid their debts and taxes. assisted in sustaining the church, furnished their full quota of farmers, clergymen, law- yers, physicians, editors, teachers and dea- cons, lived honestly and uprightly, and re- ceived and deserved the respect of their fel- lows; and the world has been better for their having lived in it. May the coming genera- tions maintain and improve upon the family traditions.

AARON PEASE (deceased) was in his lifetime one of the leading business men of Middletown, Middlesex county, and left an en- viable reputation. He served in the city count- cil, and had a share in almost every local for- ward movement. He accumulated considerable property, and was interested in a business way in the river affairs and other matters. from Rocky Hill to Long Island Sound, and from Colchester to Meriden. He lived well, and reared his family in keeping with the best. His

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commercial standing was of the very highest, and it is related of him that in the great panic of 1837, he was one of but five business men on Main street, in Middletown, who kept their doors open. The other four were Reuben Chaffee, William Southmayd, John L. Smith and Deacon John Sumner.

The Pease family is one of the old New England families whose loyalty to home and country is proverbial. Robert Pease, the Amer- ican ancestor, came from Ipswich, England, and landed at Boston in April, 1634, crossing the ocean in the good ship "Florence." He died at Salem, Mass., in 1644. The line of descent from him to Aaron Pease, our subject, is through John, Sr., who was born in England in 1630; Robert, born in 1656 in Salem, Mass .; Samuel, born December 30, 1686, who died in Enfield, Conn., in 1770; Aaron born April I, 1726; Aaron, born June 3, 1752; and Aaron, our subject, born in 1777.

Robert Pease was born at Salem, Mass., married Abigail Randall in 1678, and settled first in the "Northfields," at Salem. In 1681 they removed to Enfield, Conn., where he died in 1744. He had a family of ten children, of whom the fifth son,

Samuel Pease, born December 30, 1686, married Elizabeth Warner. He located in En- field, where he died. He was the father of nine children, among whom was Aaron.

Aaron Pease married Ann Geer, and after her death, Mary Terry. He had ten children.

Aaron Pease, eldest child of Aaron, mar- ried Huldah Spencer, of Somers, Conn., daugh- ter of Jonathan Spencer, Sr. They had eleven children, of whom Aaron, our subject, was the seventh child and the eldest son. The other sons were William Agift (generally known as Agift), the grandfather of Capt. William A. Pease, whose sketch appears elsewhere; Spen- cer, who settled in Providence; and Randolph, who died in Middletown, where he was for years a member of the firm of Aaron & Ran- dolph Pease, grocers. Aaron Pease, the father of our subject, was a farmer, and owned a fine estate on the banks of the Connecticut river, near the old Enfield bridge. This farm was mortgaged to help the Revolutionary struggle, and its foreclosure left the family in straitened circumstances, and broke up the home. The father and mother both died in Enfield, when advanced in years.

Aaron Pease was born in 1777, in Enfield,

Conn., where he lived until 1809, when 1 went to Hartford to enter the employ of Le & Eliphalet Terry, wholesale grocers an dealers in West India merchandise. They ha their place of business in Albany avenue, nez what is now the Tunnel. Through the Teri Brother's Mr. Pease took up shipbuilding, wit which he was somewhat familiar. They il troduced him to a man from Savannah, Georg who wanted a vessel built in a hurry, and wa willing to pay a good price for it. He went 1 Savannah and did the work, clearing $8,00 in the transaction. This gave him his start : life. When he came back he began the grocer business in company with his brother Rai dolph, on Main street, in Middletown, in 18I his brother continuing with him for twelt years, after which Mr. Pease carried the bus ness on alone until 1845. Aaron Pease died 1848, and was buried in Indian Hill cemeter He was a Whig. During the war of 1812 M Pease and his cousins fitted out a number ( vessels at Marblehead, Mass., for the West Ii dies trade, some of which were lost. After tl war of 1812 was ended Mr. Pease employed number of men in building vessels on the Cor necticut river, and carried on those operation in connection with his mercantile interest building the following vessels: "J. Palmer "Victoria," "Osceola," "Oscar," and in par nership with Joseph Alsopp, the bark "Cor dor," which sailed on the Connecticut rive and on the day before Thanksgiving was froze in at the Haddam dock, and remained there ? winter. In all Mr. Pease helped build abo twenty vessels. He was a determined and e ergetic business man.

Aaron .Pease married Nancy M. Griswol of Chicopee, Mass., a cousin of Gov. Griswol and a daughter of Joseph Griswold, who we from Lyme, Conn., to Massachusetts. Mı Pease lived to be eighty-four years old, at was a highly esteemed member of the Congr gational Church. Her death occurred in Mi dletown. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pea were six in number: Mary M .; Nancy A Aaron G. and Robert A., who succeeded the father in business; and Randolph and Franc Louise, who live on the old Pease homestea on College street, Middletown, which has be in the possession of and continuously occupi by the family for more than ninety years. Ra dolph Pease is an extensive property owne and a well known citizen. His public spirit

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1 .versally recognized in the town, and he is, 1 e his father, wide-awake and earnest in mat- tus of public progress.

SILAS ROSE HOLMES. Among the minent and leading agriculturists of East F ddam, Middlesex county, none stand higher il he public esteem than the gentleman whose none introduces this sketch. He belongs to o: of its oldest and most honored families. F; great-grandfather, Capt. Eliphalet Holmes, M/s for five years a captain in the Continental any, serving with distinction.

Eliphalet Holmes, grandfather of Silas R., ws born in Hadlyme, near the Hadlyme Con- g gational Church, April 21, 1776. He was Fried in the same town to Oris Cone, daugh- to: of Judah and Lydia Cone, and grand- dighter of Samuel Cone. She was born in tlf house where our subject now lives, July 27, 7, and died April 14, 1863, while the death I

o: Eliphalet occurred December 10, 1857. Af- tohis marriage he began farming, and located ofa farm about a mile east of our subject's plje, but in 1810 removed to the old Cone hohestead, where he spent the remainder of hi life. He was a Whig in politics, and in re- ligon a believer in Christianity, though not a mjaber of any church. His wife held mem- lxc hip in the Congregational Church. In their fa ily were only two children: Anne, the cl r, was born August 11, 1799, and died un- riedl, January 14, 1888.

Timothy Holmes, the only son of Eliphalet, al the father of Silas R., was born February 241802, and died March 15, 1871. After his ci; th year he always lived in the house now octpied by our subject, and throughout life enliged in farming. In Bridge Hampton, Lig Island, May 8, 1826, he married Miss Plebe H. Rose, a daughter of Stephen and Plebe ( Howell) Rose. She was born Octo- be 30, 1800, and died May IT, 1873. Silas R. the only child born of this union. Both pa C.

uts were active members of the Hadlyme gregational Church, and were highly re- sp ted and esteemed by all who knew them. father was originally a Whig and later a iblican in politics, and was called upon to fill arious town offices, including those of se- lec ian and representative.

11 the house where he still continues to re- Silas R. Holmes was born August 9, 1827, Sic ¿111 after receiving the common school ad- iges of the neigliborhood, he attended a

select school conducted by Rev. Stephen A. Loper. At the age of twenty he began life for himself as a farmer upon the old home- stead, and later built a bone mill, being engaged in the manufacture of fertilizers for twenty years, making about 100 tons of bone fertilizer per year. He also sold various other fertiliz- ing materials, but for a number of years past has devoted his entire time to agricultural pur- suits, and is now engaged in general farming. He has a fine farm of 150 acres, part of which is under a high state of cultivation.

On June 9, 1851, Mr. Holmes was mar- ried, in Williamsburg, N. Y., to Miss Emily Adeline Rose, who was born in New York City, January 31, 1833, a daughter of Silas. and Eliza (Fordham) Rose. The first of the Rose family in America was Robert Rose, who came from England in 1650. From him Mrs. Holmes traces her descent through Joseph, Martin, Jabez, Stephen and Silas. Her grand- father died on Long Island when compara- tively young. Her father, Silas Rose, was born at Bridge Hampton, Long Island, Sep- tember 25, 1798, and died June 12, 1878. When a young man he went to New York City, where he married Eliza Fordham, who was born in 1803, and died May 15, 1886. Her parents were Caleb and Aletecia ( Wessles) Fordham, the former a boss builder in New York, who was quite successful in business, and was one of the representative men of the city. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Fordham were Ca- leb, who married Jane McCollum; George, who married Amanda Bradley; Letitia, who mar- ried Lewis Hanford; Eliza, the mother of Mrs. Holmes: Julia Ann, who married Caleb Gil- more; Emily, who married ( first ) Peter Os- trander. (second) Capt. Odel, of Tarrytown. and ( third) William Wood, also of Tarrytown, N. Y .; and Maria, who died young. As a boss mason, Silas Rose worked upon many of the most important buildings of New York in early days, and remained in that city until 1858. when he came to East Haddam, Conn., and purchased a farm, where he spent the remain- der of his life. Though there engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, he did not entirely give up work at his trade. Politically he was a stanchi Republican, as are nearly all of the Rose and Fordham families. He had six children, of whom Emily A., Mrs. Holmes, is second in the order of birth. The eldest. Phoebe M., born February 20, 1831, is unmarried: Eliza Aun. born in January, 1836, died April 13. 1859:

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Caleb F., born August 2, 1838, married Jose- phine Warner, of East Haddam, and is a suc- cessful carpenter ; George H., born February 3, 1841, was a soldier of the Civil war, and was married August 2, 1882, to Hattie Wood, by whom he has two children-Lizzie, born July 23, 1883, and William Palding, born Febru- ary 4, 1885; and Sophronia, born June 17, 1845. died May 22, 1857.

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have had a family of five children, namely: Annie Maria, born De- cember 19, 1852, is at home. Phœbe Eliza, born July 5, 1855, married William E. Gates, and died December 19, 1883, leaving one son, Robert Holmes. Mary Lucretia, born Octo- ber 28, 1858, died April 11, 1859. Stephen Eliphalet, born November 28, 1862, married Annie Burke, by whom he has three children, Howard J., Silas R. and William Burke; they reside in Glastonbury, Conn. Sophronia Rose, born . November 6, 1867, is at home.

For many years Mr. Holmes has been an active and prominent member of the Hadlyme · Congregational Church, and for half a cen- tury with his family he has conducted the music of the church. In September, 1874, he was chosen deacon, which office one of his ances- tors, Christopher Holmes, held in the same church for forty-two years, being the longest in office by ten years of any member since its organization, in 1745. Christopher Holmes served from January, 1750, until his death, which occurred April 12, 1792. In 1895, on the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the church, Deacon S. R. Holmes prepared and read a his- torical paper which shows much study and re- search. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and represented his town in the State Legis- lature in 1861, serving on the Flowage com- mittee. For many years he was a member of the board of school visitors, and among other local positions he has served as constable and collector in his town. During the Civil war he was agent for East Haddam to keep up its quota of men in the service, and for thirty- five years most acceptably served as justice of the peace, continuing in that office to the "age limit."

SIMON W. SHAILER, who for thirty years has been associated with the Ivory Works of The Comstock, Cheney & Co., at Ivoryton, Middlesex county, where he has charge of the

cutting of the ivory, is a representative of on of the oldest families of Connecticut, one c prominence in both church and State.

Born November 29, 1827, in Haddan Middlesex Co., Conn., Mr. Shailer is a son o Rev. Nathan Emery and Ann ( Webb) Shailer and is a descendant in the seventh generatio from Thomas Shailer, Shaler or Shayles who, it is supposed, was one of the origina twenty-eight proprietors of Haddam, Conn in 1662. These were mostly young men wh had recently married, and in general were fror Hartford. Thomas Shailer, however, is nc mentioned as an original proprietor or amon; the later settlers from Hartford. There is family tradition that he with two brother came from England and settled in Haddar Neck. It is stated in a sketch of Major Ger. Alexander Shaler that his American ancestor Thomas Shaler, came from Stratford-on-Avor the home of Shakespeare. This Thomas Shai ler married, in 1673, Alice, widow of Thoma Brooks, and daughter of Gerard Spencer, o Haddam, and, it is stated by an early writer died at sea in 1692, while on a voyage to th West Indies. From this emigrant settler, th lineage of Simon W. Shailer, the subject o. this sketch, is through Thomas (2), Samue Asa, Rev. Simon, and Rev. Nathan E. Shailer, (II) Thomas Shailer (2), born about 1674 lived in Haddam. His wife's name was Cath erine.

(III) Samuel Shailer, born February 6 1710, married a lady whose Christian nam was Mary, and who died in July, 1795. H passed away October 26, 1753.

(IV) Asa Shailer, born March 1, 1736 married Susanna Cone, who was born Apr: 30, 1736, and died April 26, 1826. Mr. Shai ler died December 13, 1805. The Americas ancestor of the Haddam Cones was Danie who with three sons-Daniel, , Jared an Stephen-came to this country in 1651, fror Edinburgh, Scotland, in the ship "John an Sarah." Daniel Cone was one of the twenty eight original purchasers of Haddam in 1662

(V) Rev. Simon Shailer, born in 177€ in Haddam, married Dolly Shailer, also o Haddam. where she was born October ( 1778. She lived to be ninety-three years o age, dying April 25, 1872. Mr. Shailer was farmer, and also a minister of the Baptis Church. He had also, in his early life, bee occupied in the business of fishing in the Cor

Pinion In. Shallen

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

r ticut river. He lived to be eighty-eight rs of age, dying Aug. 27, 1864. A most use- f| citizen, as well as one of prominence in his comunity, he was the representative from his torn in the State Legislature during seventeen s sions. The children born to Mr. Shailer ali his wife were: Russell, Lucinda, Nathan E Hannah, and two who died in infancy. Of tlse, Russell was a farmer and resident of Hddam, where for forty years he was town tilsurer and held other offices of trust and hjor; he was a Democrat in his political vivs, and represented the town a number of tiles in the State Legislature. Lucinda mar- ril Henry Sisson, of Lyme, Conn., and Han- died unmarried.

(VI) Rev. Nathan Emery Shailer, son of R :. Simon, and the father of Simon W., was a jative of Haddam, born in 1803. Follow- the example of his father, he prepared for the ministry of the Baptist denomination, and beame an honored and useful member of so- cily. He was prepared for his calling in the schools of Colchester, Conn., and in the Theo- lo cal Institute at Hamilton, N. Y., and most aceptably filled charges at Chesterfield, Vol- uiown and Preston City, for two, one and ei; t years, respectively. After these pastor- at he was for thirty years State missionary, ar in all was faithful and efficient. Political- lyle was of the Democratic school, and in the cla; when the slavery question was before the people, he was an Abolitionist. He bore the es fem and respect of the people of the several communities in which he lived, and went to hii reward, full of years and of good works, Ju 10, 1879, his death occurring at Deep Rir.

Rev. Mr. Shailer married Anna Webb, of Clster, Conn., who was born March 6, 1806, a dughter of Reynold Webb, sister of Reynold Wb, M. D., of that town, and a granddaugh- terof Reynold Webb, of Wethersfield, Conn. 11 father was a teamster in the Revolutionary and carted supplies from Connecticut to bury when the troops lay there during the wi er time. Mrs. Shailer passed away Jan- 16, 1891, at the home of her daughter,

二 he L. D. Webber, in Ivoryton; she was a an of many Christian graces. She and husband passed the evening of their lives eep River, Conn., where they located some at

after the close of Mr. Shailer's regular oral work. Their three children were:

(1) Simon W. is mentioned below. (2) Catherine M. married L. D. Webber, of Ivory- ton, a portrait of whom appears elsewhere. (3) Anna Louise married Rev. James Mc- Whinnie, who served as a soldier in the Civil war, and lost a leg in the battle of Chancellors- ville. He was pastor at Lansingburg, N. Y.,. Portland, Maine, and Cambridge, Mass., and died at the latter place. His widow is now a. resident of Cambridgeport, Mass., and has- charge of the Alaska Foreign Mission.

Simon W. Shailer, the subject proper of these lines, passed his boyhood in the several: places named in the foregoing pastorates of his, father-Chesterfield, Voluntown and Preston, Conn .- and attended the common schools at. those places. He furthered his studies at the. Suffield (Conn. ) Institute. Being of a me- chanical turn of mind, he began a business ca --- reer in the line of manufacturing in the Jen- nings Bit Shop at Deep River. There he re- mained one year, after which he entered the ivory factory of George Read & Co., and for some twenty-five years he was employed in that_ establishment and with Pratt, Read & Co. Fol- lowing this, in about 1872, he located at Ivory- ton, entering the employ of The Comstock,. Cheney & Co., with which he has since re- mained, and he is the oldest employe of that company, now living there. It goes without saying that Mr. Shailer is master of his trade and position, a skilled workman, thorough and" faithful. One has only to read between the- lines to form an estimate of the man. Upward of fifty years' time practically with two con- cerns speaks louder than words. Mr. Shailer has for years been in charge of the cutting de- partment of the factory, and is a stockholder of the corporation. Mr. Shailer's political af- filiations are with the Republican party. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and for thirteen years had charge of the choir at Deep. River. He has also served as church clerk. While at Saybrook he served the town as se- lectman, and he has ever been regarded as au enterprising and public-spirited citizen, com- manding the esteem and respect of his fellow men.

On November 30, 1849, Mr. Shailer was married to Mary Eliza Kirkum, of Guilford. Com., daugliter of George Kirkum, of that town, and to the marriage have come children as follows: (1) William W. is employed in The Comstock, Cheney & Co.'s factory. He

tin pa

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Sarah Morgan, of New, London. (2) Tamzin Frederica is the widow of Leonidus Vinal, of Middletown, Conn. (3) Nathan E. is employed in New York City. He married Mabel Blake. (4) Simon R. married Sarah' Clark, and resides at Ivoryton, where he is employed by The Comstock, Cheney & Co. (5) Don W., who lives in Winsted, Conn., is unmarried ; he is the organist of the Congrega- tional Church.

JONATHAN KILBOURN, who for over half a century was an honored and respected citizen of Middletown, and at the time of his death, on February 8, 1890, was the oldest native of Middlesex county, was born in 1801, in Killingworth, Conn. Thomas Kilborne, the ancestor of the American family, came from London, England, in the ship "Increase," in 1635, and with his family settled in West- erfield, Conn. John Kilbourn, the father of Jonathan, was born in East Haddam, Conn., in 1769, and in 1791 married Elizabeth Farnham. He settled in Clinton, Conn., and there died in 1850, his wife dying previously, in 1828. Their children were: Abner, Leonard, Phenetta, Aaron, Jonathan, Betsey and Peter E.

Jonathan Kilbourn continued to work on his father's farm until of age, during which time he had only the advantages of the com- mon school education of that day, which were meager. After becoming of age he went to Middletown and began the business of manu- facturing rifles for the Government. Later he moved to Whitneyville, but remained there only two years. Returning to Middletown in 1829, he opened a grocery store, which he conducted until 1838, when he opened the hotel where the "Kilbourn House" now stands. The original property was sold in 1873, when it was de- stroyed by fire and the present brick residence erected. During his residence of fifty years in Middletown Mr. Kilbourn served as se- lectman of the town, member of the common council, and chief engineer of the fire depart- ment. In 1846 he was appointed State bank director by the Legislature; in 1850 he was appointed State committeeman on the Middle- sex Turnpike Company. He served as a di- rector of the Middlesex County Bank, the Mer- iden Bank, the Connecticut River & Long Isl- and Steamboat Company, the Middlesex As- surance Company, and the New York Railroad Company. During his early residence in Mid- dletown he became a member of Day Spring

Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1828 he affiliated wit St. John's Lodge. He passed through the ser eral chairs of the Blue Lodge, and was the old est past master of St. John's Lodge and one ( the oldest Masons in the State. He was ma: ter of St. John's 'Lodge during the Morgan e: citement. Mr. Kilbourn was equally prom nent in the Royal Arch Chapter, the command ery and council, and for years attended th State and National gatherings of Masonry a a delegate from St. John's.

Mr. Kilbourn was twice married, first, i 1835, to Sally B., daughter of Godfrey Hof kins, of Chatham, and later to Mrs. Sophi Hart, widow of William Hart, and daughter ( Benwell Newton, of Durham. One daughter Miss Sophia Kilbourn, and Jonathan B., wh for many years was connected with the Mic dletown Savings Bank, survive the parent: The mother died some three years prior to th death of the father.

CAPT. WANTON H. SHERMAN, wh in his life time was a well-known and substar tial citizen of Middletown, as well as a prom inent Prohibitionist, passed away at his hom on Church street, in that city February 2, 189:

Capt. Sherman was born September 6. 1816, in South Dartmouth, Mass., a son o Jireh and Ann (Howland) Sherman, the forme of whom was collector of customs at the por of New Bedford, Mass. The Captain was on of fourteen children, one of whom died at th age of twenty-two months, the remainder- seven sons and six daughters-reaching year of maturity, and of the sons, all became shif masters except two-the eldest, Nicholas, an Jahaziel, who died when twenty-two years old Our subject, who was reared in his native towr at the age of eighteen commenced a seafarin. life, and for years was engaged in whalin; voyages, during which period he was for long time master of a ship sailing from Nev Bedford. In those days that business wa profitable, and he became very successful, hav ing ownership in other ships than those h commanded. In 1864 Capt. Sherman retire from the sea, and in July, 1866, removed fror South Dartmouth, Mass., to Middletowr Conn. There he entered into partnership wit Edward Paddock, his brother-in-law, in th furniture business, which was located on th north side of Court street, a short distanc east of Main. In a few years thereafter th Captain retired from all business pursuits. I.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rellious faith he was a member of the South Cogregational Church. He was heartily in svi athy with the Temperance cause, being the nost prominent Prohibitionist (originally a I mocrat) in the town, and always headed tha party at the elections. His name was in- vai bly on the ticket for some office, he being cor dered a thoroughly representative member e party. For many years Capt. Sherman walt director of the First National Bank, and alsoof the Peoples Insurance Company, now fet. In the fullest sense he was a self-

man, and when he died he left a good

ma nar and the record of an estimable citizen, hig y respected by all who knew him.

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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 46

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