Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1, Part 19

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1 > Part 19

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(VI) George William Fay, father of our sub- ject, was born May 12, 1805, and died Feb. 5, 1867. He was married at Willimantic, Conn., Oct. 5. 1835, to Amanda Almina Ward, who was born April 20, 1814, a daughter of Jeremiah and Eunice (Storrs) Ward. They resided in Marlboro, Mass., where Mrs. Fay died. Their children were: (1) Lucian Dana, born Sept. 14. 1836, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 10, 1871. He was married April 12, 1865, to Martia King Batchelor. (2) George Austin, born Aug. 29, 1838, married in Meriden, Sept. 11, 1865. Jane Maria Curtis, who was born Jan. 4. 1842. (3) Mary Ann, born Oct. 28, 1840, died June 10. 1880. She married Oct. 12. 1863. Henry Otis Rus- sell, and had two children-Theresa Marilla, born June 27, 1866; and Henry Carlton, born June 27, 1869. (4) Franklin Sullivan, born Sept. 26. 1848. was married at Stuyvesant, N. Y., Sept. 28. 1881,

to Elizabeth Ham, born June 2, 1858. (5) He- man Storrs, born Feb. 6, 1852, married Sept. 23, ISyI, Ella C. Fontaine, and has one child, Heman Storrs, Jr., born June 10, 1896.

(VII) George Austin Fay, son of George W., passed his early youth upon the home farm. He attended the common school of his native town, and was subsequently graduated from the Marlboro high school. In 1859 he left home, going to Meri- den, Conn., where he has since resided. During his carly residence there he was employed as a clerk in the office of the Adams Express Co., and was at the same time the Western Union telegraph opera- tor at that place. Two years later, in May, 1861, he entered the Law Department of Yale University, where in 1862 he was graduated LL. B. After his graduation he entered the office of Hon. O. H. Plait, now United States senator, where he re- mained a year. In May, 1863, he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar as an attorney at law, and has since practiced that profession. In 1871 Mr. Fay was elected by the Republicans to the State Senate from the Sixth Senatorial District, and in that body served as chairman of the committee on Incorporations, and also as chairman of the com- mittee on Elections, to determine who was elected governor of the State. The canvass for State of- fices during the preceding campaign had been an exceedingly exciting one, and resulted, as will' be remembered, in a declaration of the election of Hon. James E. English. of New Haven, on the face of the returns, by a majority of thirty-nine votes. On account of the Fourth ward of New Haven the election of Mr. English was contested and an in- vestigation instituted, with the result of unseating him, and awarding the gubernatorial office to Hon. Marshall Jewell, who was duly inaugurated Gov- ernor of Connecticut. Since that legislative. term Mr. Fay has not taken any active part in politics beyond casting his vote for the candidate of the Re- publican party, feeling obliged to devote his time wholly to his profession, in which he has been much more than ordinarily successful. Mr. Fay is one of the esteemed citizens of Meriden. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a lover of good books, and, probably, has one of the largest private libraries in the State.

In 1865 Mr. Fay was married to Jennie MI. Curtis, only daughter of Alfred P. Curtis, of Mer- iden.

: FRANK S. FAY, a brother cf Hon. George A. Fay, and also a leading lawyer of the New Haven County Bar, and a substantial citizen of Meriden. is a native of Marlboro. Mass., where he was born Sept. 26, 1848. He was graduated from the Marl- boro high school in 1869, and after this event at once came to Meriden to pursue his law studies in the office of his brother. George A. Fav. He was admitted to the New Haven County Bar in Sep- tember, 1871. since which time he has practiced his profession in Meriden, and with desired success.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

From 1882 to 1893 he served as prosecuting agent for New Haven county, and at various times has held the position of city attorney, or corporation counsel, for the city of Meriden. In 1891 he was town site commissioner in the Territory of Okla- homa, and secretary and treasurer of the board of three, deciding land titles for the city of Okla- homa. In March, 1902, he was appointed, by Gov. McLean, judge of the city and police courts of Meriden, succeeding Judge James. P. Platt, which appointment meets with the approval of all the leading lawyers of the city.

On Sept. 28, 1881, Mr. Fay was married, at Stuyvesant, N. Y., to Elizabeth B., daughter of Allen J. and Martha ( Cutter ) Ham.

JOHN E. DUEY (deceased). For a number of years John E. Dney was a prominent citizen of New Haven, and was widely known in business life as an engraver, his work in this line commanding the attention of the most critical trade of the city.

Although the greater part of his business life was passed in Connecticut, and his scene of success was New Haven, Mr. Duey was not of New Eng- land parentage. He was born in Camden, N. J., Oct. 19, 1838, son of John G. and Emily (Ed- munds) Duey, the former of whom was a descend- ant of a French surveyor who came to America in the suite of Gen. Lafayette. The mother of Mr. Duey was born in England, and was a daughter of Nathaniel Edmunds, who located in the vicinity of Canandaigua, N. Y., where he became possessed of large tracts of valuable land. Later he remov- ed to Philadelphia, where he embarked in a broker- age business, his death occurring in that city, at the age of seventy-nine years.

John G. Duey, the father of our subject, was the youngest son of his parents, and inherited a fortune. After his marriage to Emily Edmunds, he settled in Philadelphia, the place of his birth, but died in Detroit, Mich. A family of three children came to John G. Dney and wife, namely: Matilda, who married Charles Stevens, settled in Philadelphia, and died there; Nathaniel, who died in infancy; and John E.

John E. Duey was reared in Philadelphia until he was fourteen years of age, and acquired an ex- cellent education in the Catherine St. Grammar school. His early tastes led him into the study of engraving, and that continued to be his occupation through life. A natural talent, combined with re- fined taste and mechanical skill, enabied Mr. Duey to hold a very prominent place in his profession.

At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Duey be- came a soldier, enlisting in New York City as a member of Co. G. 83d N. Y. V. I., and remained in the service for three years, participating in many of the most decisive battles of the war. After the war he located in New York, where he was en- gaged in engraving for Tiffany. He became a resident of New Haven, in 1869, during the re-

mainder of his active life following his profession in this city, designing to a considerable extent for the Meriden Britannia Co., and also pins and em- blems for various fraternities.

On Ang. 15, 1865, Mr. Dney was married to Eliza Emeline Atwood, born in New Hartford,, Conn., daughter of Buel Atwood, of the same place. Her death occurred Sept. 26, 1898, when she was aged sixty-two years. A family of five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Duey, as follows : George Buel, who died aged eight years: Tillie Ed- munds, who married, Feb. 9. 1892, Dwight P. Wil- cox, of Meriden, and died July 1, 1893, leaving a son, Reginald Parker; Eddie, who passed away at the age of six months; May Florence: and Bessie Maud, who married Oct. 24, 1901, Charles I. Bon- ton, of the New Haven board of education. His religious rearing was in the Episcopal Church, and through life, he was one of its consistent members and liberal supporters. In political life, Mr. Duey was an Independent, binding himself by no party tie, but ever taking a most intelligent interest in public affairs, and actively promoting enterprises which he deemed to be of advantage to his country and city. He was much interested and actively identified with several fraternal organizations, be- ing a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., in which he was senior deacon, and was Past Grand in Center Lodge No. 68, I. O. O. F., of Mer- iden. He also belonged to Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R. In the death of Mr. Duey, which oc- curred Jan. 30, 1902, the city of New Haven lost one of its most prominent, substantial and repre- sentative citizens.

ALONZO FELTON WOOD (deceased) was one of the representative citizens of New Haven county, and his influence was a factor in the devel- opment of the town of Orange, especially along re- ligious and educational lines. He was born June 27, 1824. in Huntington, Conn .. son of Luther and Lydia (Felton) Wood. His father, born Feb. 3. 1778, in Westboro., Mass., was engaged in business as a tanner in different places in Connecticut dur- ing his life. He finally removed to New York City, but returned to Connecticut, and died at Huntington. aged seventy-eight. His grandfather, William Wood, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, taking part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. His mother, Lydia Felton. born Oct. 4. 1783. in Marlboro, Mass., lived to the age of eighty seven years. She was a member of one of the oldest families of Massachusetts. One of her ancestors, Rev. Samuel Skelton, was the first min- ister at Salem, Mass. His daughter married Na- thaniel Felton, who was the first of his family to come to America, settling at Salem in 1633.

The subject of this sketch was the youngest of a family of three children, all now deceased. His early boyhood was spent in Huntington and at the age of thirteen he went to New Haven, where he

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

learned the drug business of L. K. Dow, a prominent druggist. Ile was always a person of strong fam- ily affections, and in those early days, after clos- ing store, late Saturday night, would frequently walk sixteen miles to his home in Huntington, that he might spend Sunday with his parents, return- ing in time to open the store again on Monday morning. In 1845 he opened the drug store at the corner of Church and George streets, which he car- ried on until his death, Aug. 28, 1885, purchas- ing the old building there a few years after start- ing in business. In 1879 he built the brick build- ing on the same site, where the business is still being carried on by his two youngest sons. At the time of his death Mr. Wood was one of the oldest and best-known business men of New Haven. He resided there during the earlier part of his life, first on George street, then on Hill street, remov- ing from this latter place into a new house he built on Broad street. At that time there was a stream of water by the side of the place where Commerce street now is.

Mr. Wood married April 1, 1846, Rachel Hodges, who was born Sept. 29, 1825. in New Haven, daughter of James and Elizabeth ( Prior) Hodges, both natives of Somersetshire, England. They came to America in 1818, on a sailing vessel, the voyage, which was a very stormy one, lasting six weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood were leaders in the work of organizing St. Thomas Church, New Haven, some of the early meetings for that purpose being held in their George street home. Their daughter, Ida M., was the first child baptized in the new stone church on Elm street. Mr. Wood was all his life an earnest worker in the church, was the first treasurer, and held the office of vestryman as long as he lived. He was also at one time vestry- man of Christ Church, West Haven, as well as superintendent of the Sunday-school. At the pres- ent time Mrs. Wood is the only original member of St. Thomas Church now living. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were original members of Trinity Chhrch, the latter having been baptized, confirmed and nur- ried there.

In March, 1858, they settled in West Haven, in the home which Mr. Wood built, on First avenue, and which became his home for the remainder of his life, and is still that of his widow. West Haven Was then but a small country place of old-time houses, few streets, and but one small public school l: use, but Mr. Wood lived to see many changes, both there and in New Haven. Wood street was opened by and named after Mr. Wood. As a resi- dent of West Haven he took an active and keen interest in local politics, served two terms in the State Legislature, and introduced the bill for the horse railroad through West Haven to Savin Rock. lle was also clerk of the school board for many years, and at times served as grand juror. His sound judgment and high moral character were

recognized by his associates, and throughout the community he was held in the highest estcem.

Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, only four lived to maturity: (1) Luther H., the eldest son, a graduate of the Sheffield Sci- entific School, of Yale College, and the Yale Med- ical School, was for a number of years a practic- ing physician, first in Torrington, Conn., and then in Denver, Colo., where he died Sept. 5, 1899. He left one son, Harry C., a journalist of Castle Rock, Colo. (2) Ida MI. is the wife of Edwin A. Hill, of Washington, D. C. (3) A. Felton is residing in West Ilaven. (4) James P. is a resident of New Haven.

As a Freemason Alonzo F. Wood was well known to the older members of Hiram Lodge, New Haven. He belonged to Franklin Chapter, No. 2, and Harmony Council, No. 8. As a man of af- fairs in the borough of West Haven and town of Orange, and its representative in the General As- sembly, his influence was felt for many years in the local councils of the Republican party, of which he was a stanch adherent ; and as a business man he became well known to the older generations of citizens, during the forty years of his business life. at the corner of Church and George streets, New Haven. He was a member of the American Pharma- ceutical Association, also one of the founders of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association. He died greatly lamented and universally respected.

LEWIS MIX, for a number of years a success- ful merchant tailor of New Haven, where he is now living retired, was born Oct. 2, 1821, in that city, where the family has long been established.

Tradition says that the Mix family came to this country from London, England. Thomas Mix (Meekes), New Haven, 1643. was one of the early settlers and first grantees of the town. In 1649 he married Rebecca, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Turner. Thomas Mix died in 1691. leaving a good estate. The prominence in New Haven, about one hundred years after the settlement, of the descend- ants of Thomas Mix is shown by the Wadsworth map, 1748. Three of the principal corners on the public square, the present "Green." were occupied by families of the name. Samuel Mix, schoolmas- ter, lived and kept the school on the southwest corner of College and Elm streets, where the Battell Chapel now stands. Directly opposite, on the north- west corner, where the East Divinity School is built, Jonathan Mix kept the inn, and Timothy Mix, the physician, lived on or near the northeast corner of the "Green," now the corner of Church and Elm streets. Nathaniel Mix, farmer, lived on the same square with President Clap, of the college. Caleb and T. Mix, both farmers, lived in the rear of the college. An earlier map, by Joseph Brown, in 1724, shows the residence also of John Mix. on the northeast corner of College and Elm streets. Before the year 1800 three of the name of Mix ha.l

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

graduated from Yale College: Samuel, in 1720;

5, 1730, married (first) Esther Munson and ( sec- Elisha, in 1724; and Timothy. In 1736 a Joseph ( ond ) Lydia Mills. Mr. Peck settled upon the George Street estate ( homestead ).

Mix was a member of the General Assembly, or deputy, from New Haven, with Jonathan Alling. In 1744, and later, Samuel Mix was prominent as a member of various committees appointed by the Assembly.

Capt. Nathaniel Turner, referred to in the fore- going as the father of Mrs. Rebecca Mix, came in the Heet with Winthrop, 1630; was constable in Boston, 1632; representative at the first court, 1634-36. On the formation of the civil government in New Haven he was elected one of the first four magistrates, 1039; in 1640 he was chosen chici mili- tary agent for New Haven in the purchase of Dela- ware lands ; in 1643 was chosen deputy to the Court of Combination, or Congress of the New England Colonies ; in 1646 sailed for London in the "Phan- :

tom Ship," and was never afterward heard of.

Joseph Mix, the grandfather of the gentle- man whose name introduces this sketch, . was born in New Haven, son of Lieut. Joseph, who served in the Indian war, and died in 1757, at the age of seventy-two. Joseph Mix passed all his life in New Haven, and carried on the baker business in Chapel street, near Orange. He died July 9, 1811, at the age of seventy-one. To him and his wife, Patience Sperry, of Woodbridge, were born nine children, all of whom are now deceased.

Eli Mix, father of Lewis, was born April 1I, 1784, in New Haven, where throughout his active life he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, conducting one of the largest establishments of the kind in the city. He was prominent in various connections. He died Nov. 29, 1848, at the age of sixty-four, a member of the North Church. He | the age of sixty-four years. Two children were married Grace Peek, who was born Dec. 2, 1786, born to Edwin and Abigail ( Ames) Lee: Mary E., Mrs. Mix; and Charles E., who is in Mexico. Mrs. Lee passed away at the age of eighty-seven years. She was a consistent member of the Con- gregational Church. in New Haven, daughter of Henry Peck, and died Jan. 16, 1865. Ten children were born to this union, two of whom survive: Lewis, whose name opens these lines; and Virginia, who married Will- iam Pettit and resides in Redlands, California.

(I) Henry Peck, from whom Mrs. Eli Mix traced her descent, was among the first settlers of New Haven in the spring of 1638. He is sup- posed to have come to this country in the company of Gov. Eaton, with Rev. John Davenport and ! others, in the ship "Hector," in 1637. Mr. Peck signed the compact of the settlers, made June 4, , gaged in the drug business in New Haven, married 1639, and took an active interest in the manage- ment of the affairs of the settlement.

(II) Joseph Peck, son of Henry the settler, baptized Sept. 5, 1647, married Nov. 28, 1672, Sarah, daughter of Roger Alling, and lived and died in New Haven, residing upon the homestead.

(III ) James Peck, son of Joseph. born Feb. 17. 1679-80, married (second) July 10, 1729, Hannah Leek, and settled in New Haven, where he died in 1760.

(IV) Stephen Peck, son of James, born June

(V) Henry Peck, son of Stephen, born Aug. 20, 1755, was a block maker in New Haven. He married Hannah Lewis, and they had a large fam- ily. They lived on the old George Street estate, Mr. Peck building the house subsequently occupied by Lewis Mix.

Lewis Mix, the subject proper of this article, has passed all his life in the city of his birth. He received his education in the common schools and the Lancasterian School, and then learned mer- chant tailoring, in which line he started in business for himself in 1842. By thrift and industry he won a large patronage, and he continued the busi- ness profitably until 1880, in which year he sold out. Subsequently he was health inspector until 1897, being one of the first appointees to that of- fice in the city. Since the close of that service Mr. Mix has lived retired, occupying a comfortable home at No. 83 Mansfield street.

In 1848 Mr. Mix married Miss Mary E. Lee, of New Haven, a daughter of Edwin Lee, and a granddaughter of John Lee, who was born in Lyme, Conn., where he spent his life, engaged in farming. Edwin Lee was born July 25, 1802. in Lyme, Conn., and in 1824 settled in New Haven, where he engaged in carriage building the remain- der of his active life, dying in 1885. He was the first to engage in the manufacture of carriage "bodies" as a separate business. Mr. Lee married Abigail Ames, one of the six children of Uri and Mehitabel (Mix) Ames, the former of whom was a shoemaker in New Haven. Mrs. Ames died at

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mix, six now living, viz. : (1) Edward Eli is book- keeper in the National New Haven Bank, with which he has been connected for many years. He married Ida Andrews, who died in IS98, leaving two children, Edna and Harold. His present wife was Laura Baldwin. (2) Willis Lee, who is en-

Harriet Bradley, and has one daughter, Claribel, who married Albert L. Whitcomb. (3) Nellie is a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y. (4) Lewis B. is a telephone manager in Stamford, Conn. He mar- ried Agnes Brown, and they have four children, Dorothy, Bradford, Ames and Carl. (5) Jessie Ames lives at home. (6) Virginia P. also lives at home. Mr. Mix's religious affiliation is with the North Church. In political sentiment he is a Re- publican. Hle was formerly a member of the Mu- tual .lid Association.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

CHARLES DICKINSON (deceased). For fifty years the Dickinsons, the late Charles and his son, Major Arthur M. Dickinson, of Water- bury, have been prominently identified with the manufacturing interests of that city and town. The Dickinson family was prominent during and after the Revolutionary war at Saybrook Point, Conn., and at Saybrook the late Charles Dickinson was born Sept. 7, 1826, and there passed his boyhood.

Charles Dickinson first engaged in business in Williamsburg, Mass., and for a period was also in New York City. He came to Waterbury in 1851, where he was made secretary of the Waterbury Jewelry Company. Not long thereafter, in 1856, he was given a responsible position in the office of Benedict & Burnham, and had charge of the busi- ness of the large brass concern on the road. In January, 1866, he became the secretary of the com- pany, and on the death of the president, Charles Benedict, Oct. 30. 1881, he was chosen treasurer. The Waterbury Watch Company was established in March, 1880, and Mr. Dickinson was made its secretary with Mr. Benedict as president. On Mr. Benedict's death Mr. Dickinson was advanced to the presidency of that concern, whose phenomenal prosperity is in no small meastire due to his execut- tive ability. Gordon W. Burnham had succeeded Mr. Benedict as president of Benedict & Burnham, and he died March 18, 1885. Mr. Dickinson . was at once chosen as the best man to succeed him in the position of such great responsibility-to keep up the business which had been advanced to such a high standard by men whose names are immortal in the brass industry of the world. Nothing can better attest the business capacity of Mr. Dickin- son. The continued prosperity of both concerns amply demonstrated the wisdom of the choice made by them, and their prosperity has in a large meas- ure meant that of the whole town, hence the deep interest of Waterbury in Mr. Dickinson's career. In further evidence of his great capacity for busi- ness, he was foremost the year prior to his death in advancing the project of the Meriden-Waterbury railroad, and was made president of the company on its incorporation. Those who saw him in those committee meetings, while the stock was being raised for what was considered one of the greatest public blessings ever vouchsafed Waterbury, will never forget how strong was his public spirited- less. In a social way, Mr. Dickinson was also a man of mark, and occupied the position of second vice president of the Waterbury Club. He was a member of the board of aldermen several years, and at one time served as police commissioner. Ile entered but little into politics.

Mr. Dickinson was married to Sarah J. Lynde, and to them were born Nettie L. (Mrs. E. L. Fris- bie, Jr.), Arthur M., Edith M. ( who died Aug. 30. 1863), and Amchia B. Charles Dickinson died suddenly at Fortress Monroe, Va., April 15, 1888,

and on the following day the Waterbury American editorially thus referred to his death and life:

It is difficult in the first suddenness of such a shock to soberly estimate how great is the loss of so forceful a personality. For a generation Charles Dickinson has been identified with the great success of the largest manufactur- ing enterprise in Waterbury. Found and proved by Mr. Benedict while he controlled the policy of the Benedict & Burnham Company, to be a capable and faithful lieutenant in wise direction and in executive management, it was but natural that he should succeed Mr. Benedict in its control, and upon Mr. Burnham's death, should become the nom- inal as well as the real president. Indefatigable as a work- er, loyal through and through, alert and watchful, he brought to the management of its large interests qualities which justified in the success he achieved the great tru-t imposed on him. The same qualities made him a conspicu- ous leader in the struggle to secure for Waterbury the Meriden railroad. And it was universally recognized as only fitting that he should be chosen president when the last dollar of the stock had been pledged, and the enter- prise had become an established fact.

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Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1, Part 19

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040