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 35
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On July 5, 1858, George Henry Smith was married to Miss Pauline M. Butler, of New Ha- ven, who passed away Oct. 8, 1864. Two children were born to this union: Grace E., who married Lewis W. Hulse, of Port Jefferson, L. I., and Sarah P., who married Lewis W. Gates, of New Haven. The second marriage of Mr. Smith, cele- brated Nov. 6, 1865, was to Mary A. Babcock, of West Haven, who died Aug. 9, 1887, leaving five children : Harriet M., Jeremiah C., Mabel A., Olive L. and Mildred L. Of this family, Harriet M. mar- ried S. Hamilton Nussbaum, of La Porte, Ind. Jeremiah C. (who is in business with his father) married Helen Lattin, of Shelton, Conn. Mabel A. married Albert E. Wilson, of New Castle, Del. On Aug. 20, 1888, Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage with Mabel Thomas, of Rushville, Ill., a daughter of Chauncy T. Thomas, of New Haven. Mr. Smith has four grandchildren: Dorothy and Hamilton, daughter and son of S. Hamilton Nuss- baum; Marion, daughter of Jeremiah C. Smith ; and Paul, son of Lewis W. Gates.
In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican, but he takes no active interest in public affairs. His en- grossing business enterprises, his beautiful home, and his family ties and associations, sufficiently fill his days without the excitements of public life to add to his cares, while such honors would not in- crease the enjoyment of a quiet and home-loving citizen such as is George Henry Smith.
DEACON NELSON WARREN MITCH- ELL. That deep religious conviction which in- duced the settlement of New England and gave to the Colonies their distinctive meaning still dwells in the hearts of many of the Puritan descendants. Deacon Mitchell, the subject of this sketch, is one of the best-known citizens of the town of South- bury, where for many years he has been one of its most influential and representative farmers, but he is, perhaps, most widely known for his active and earnest church work. For nearly forty-two years he has been a deacon of the Congregational Church of South Britain. He became a member of the church in 1841, at the age of sixteen years, and has ever since been one of its most earnest wor- shipers.
Deacon Mitchell is a descendant of one of the earliest New England settlers. He is of the seventli generation from Matthew Mitchell, the founder of the family in America, who in 1635 migrated to
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George Henry Smith
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America from England. The first winter this pio- neer spent in Charlestown, Mass., then in 1636 set- tled at Saybrook. He successively lived at Wethers- field and Stamford, then joined the New Haven Colony, and died in 1645. The line of descent to our subject was through (2) David Mitchell, (3) Mathew Mitchell and (4) Deacon Eleazer Mitchell, who was the first of the family to locate in South- bury. Deacon Eleazer Mitchell was the great- grandfather of our subject, and was born in the town of Woodbury, Nov. 24, 1732. When only three days old his mother died, and he was adopted and raised by Capt. Richard Bronson. He partici- pated in the French wars, became a large land owner, and a very prominent citizen of New Haven county. He died Feb. 3, 1819, aged eighty-seven years. His son, Warren Mitchell, was the grand- father of our subject.
Cyrus Mitchell, son of Warren and father of our subject, married Avis Charlotte Pierce, who dicd in Southbury.
Deacon Nelson Warren Mitchell was born on the farm in Southbury which he now occupies, May 29. 1825. His education was commenced in the common schools of Southbury, and completed in the academy at South Britain, to a farm near which town his parents moved when he was eleven years old. In 1849 he returned to the old homestead, where he has ever since resided.
On Feb. 28, 1849, Deacon Mitchell married Miss Edna Platt, of South Britain, daughter of David Platt. and to them were born three children: Ed- ward, proprietor of the New Haven Game and Nov- elty Co .. who married Carrie E. Bradley and has three children : Gertrude Elizabeth, Warren Elliott and Leroy Bradley; Annie C., who married H. C. Stahl, of Bellevue, Ohio, and has four children: Edna Rachel, Alice Emeline. Marion Bell and Har- low Mitchell; and Charles W .. who died at the age of twenty-one years. Mr. Mitchell owns a well- improved farm of 170 acres, and conducts a gen- eral farming and dairy business. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of that party, and he has held various local offices, in 1882 being elected representative to the State Legisla- ture. He is one of the most influential citizens of the town. His commodious home was erected in 1812. and is one of the historical landmarks of the vicinity.
LYON. For generations the Lyons of New Haven have been among the city's intelligent and substantial citizens, prominent among them Col. William Lyon, of the period of the Revolution, a number of whose children allied themselves by mar- riage with the first families of the city and locality- the Lewises, Linsleys, Bennetts and others. Richard Fitch Lyon. still of New Haven, though retired from active business life, has been one of the city's leading residents.
Several persons bearing the name of Lyon were
found in the settling of New England at Dorchester, Roxbury, Salem and other points in the Massachu- setts colony, as early as 1635. A Richard Lyon was at Fairfield, Conn., as early as 1649. Thomas Lyon, probably a brother (says one authority) of Richard, the Fairfield settler, bought land in Fair- field, in 1654, at which time he is first of record there. This property he sold in 1675, and removed to Greenwich, Conn. He was a large land owner in both places. There is a family tradition, says the "History of Rye, N. Y.," that Thomas Lyon, in company with John Banks, came from Yorkshire, England, and settled on the east bank of the Byram river. John Lyon, son of Thomas, was living in Greenwich, Conn., in 1710. A Jolin Lyon removed from the town of Greenwich to Rye. in Westchester county, N. Y., and James Lyon, one of his descend- ants, was proprietor at one time of Byram Point. It is claimed by some that John Lyon, of Greenwich, Conn., was of Scottish origin. Again, there was a Henry Lyon at Milford, Conn .. in 1645, who, says Savage, was a son of Richard, of Fairfield, and mar- ried a daughter of William Bateman. This Henry Lyon was of Fairfield in 1652. So much for some of the forerunners of the Lyons of Fairfield county, Conn., and contiguous territory.
Col. William Lyon, of New Haven, referred to in the foregoing, born March 6, 1748, a son of William and Elizabeth (Maltby) Lyon, married Lois Mansfield, born April 24, 1747, daughter of Lieutenant Nathan Mansfield, of New Haven, and a descendant of Richard Mansfield, one of the first settlers of New Haven, in 1639, through Major Moses and Deacon Jonathan Mansfield. Col. Will- iam Lyon was one of New Haven's literary charac- ters and foremost men of culture. He early ex- hibited remarkable mental power, having been pre- pared for Yale College at nine years of age. He was the first cashier and at the head of the old New Haven Bank, incorporated in 1792. The last twen- ty-five years of his life, approximately speaking, he devoted to intense reading. He possessed an extra- ordinary memory. and was considered one of the greatest antiquarians. and thoroughly versed his- torians in the United States. Although his pen enriched so many periodicals of his time. he could never be persuaded to publish any volume of ancient or modern history. This has been deeply regretted. as for fifty years he was the oracle of so many his- tories published by others. Col. Lyon died Oct. 12, 1830, and his wife died Aug. 26. 1821.
The following extract taken from a chapter ou "New Haven in the Revolution," in the "Atwater History of New Haven," we judge refers to the home of Col. Lyon :
Capt. William Lyon resided in a house which stood where the Lyon Building now is (1886). in Chapel street. While the British held possession of the town. as some of them were passing down Chapel street on the opposite side from this house. a musketshot was fired at them from its windows, which wounded one of them. It would ap-
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pear that the family, having vacated the house, some per- son had entered, gone upstairs and from one of the win- dows had fired on this part of the enemy, and then fled by some back way. The soldiers came across the street in great rage, and searched the rooms to find the person who fired upon them. Not finding him they committed. con- siderable damage in the way of breaking doors and win- dows, and by ransacking desks. drawers, and other re- positories, and by tearing up and scattering papers. Two of the doors, one having a panel replaced where it had been dashed out by the soldiers, and the other pierced by a musket ball, continued in use as long as the house re- mained. It was in this house that the "New Haven Bank," the " Bee-hive," was first established.
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Willard Lyon, son of Levi and Ruth (Fitch), was a lineal descendant of the ancient family of Lyon in Scotland, where in 1371. Sir John Lyon was Thane (Earl) of Glamis, and in 1376 married the Princess Jane, daughter of King Robert Il. and was Lord Chancellor of Scotland in 1380. William Lyon, the first ancestor in this country, at the age of fourteen years, came Sept. 11, 1635. in the ship "Hopewell" and settled in Roxbury, Mass. Willard Lyon was born July 12, 1789, in Ashford, Conn. He came to New Haven when a young man and engaged in run- ning stage lines, in the employ of John Babcock (then one of the largest stage proprietors in this section), and on his own account ; after a long sick- ness, he gave up this occupation and was appointed the "Penny Post" (letter carrier ) at the New Haven postoffice (there being at that time but one such official), but declining to conform his political prin- ciples to those of the administration in power, the office was given to a Democrat, and Mr. Lyon was soon after appointed "City Sexton" and "Hearse Leader," having charge of all city burials. which offices he held for fifteen years, and at the time of his death. Mr. Lyon was an old line Whig, and took an active interest in politics and public affairs generally. Fraternally he affiliated with Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M. and took all the Masonic de- grees up to and including that of the Knight Temp- lar ; he was grand tyler of the Grand Lodge of Con- necticut. In religious connection he was a member of Trinity Church, to which his wife belonged. Will- ard Lyon married. June 1, 1823. Amanda Scarritt. who was born in Wallingford, Conn .. April 16, 1793. daughter of John Scarritt. and three children were born to them, namely: (1) James Willard. born June 16, 1824. married Eliza Kirby, of Stonington. Sept. 11, 1852. He carried on business as a tailor in New Haven and Waterbury, and in 1853 he re- moved to Chicago, Ill., and was one of the most prominent merchant tailors in that city at the time of the great fire, in which his store and contents were swept away. His wife died Aug. 25. 1885, leaving no children, and he socn afterward returned to New Haven in greatly impaired health. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and of Cleve- land Lodge. A. F. & A. M .. one of the largest in Chicago. (2) Richard Fitch is mentioned more fully below. (3) Ruth Amanda, born June 27, 1832, married George F. Selleck, of Norwalk, Conn., Feb.
8, 1864, and they are now residing on a farm in Bethany. Mr. Selleck was a volunteer in the 5th Conn. V. I., participating in most of the important battles of the Civil war, and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. In September, 1863, the 5th Regiment was transferred from the Army of the Potomac to Tennessee, and served with Sherman's army in the battles about Chattanooga and the fam- ous march to the Sea; he was wounded and cap- tured at Cedar Mountain, where the Fifth was so badly cut up, and was confined a short time in Libby prison. After the war he served twenty years on the New Haven police force, and is retired on a pension. Willard Lyon died Sept. 22, 1849, and his wife Jan. 14, 1869: he was buried with the church service and the Masonic ritual, his funeral being attended by about two hundred Knights Templars and Masons, and a large assemblage of citizens. Says a local paper: "In the death of Willard Lyon, City Sexton, the public has lost a good citizen and an honest man."
John Scarritt, the father of Mrs. Lyon, was a son of James Scarritt, who was born in Branford, Conn. He married Love Hall, of Wallingford, and settled in that town. Entering the army at the age of sixteen years, he served with the Colonial troops in the French and Indian War. He was by trade a weaver, and being a man of good education, was for many years a schoolmaster, and as "Master" Scarritt was well known and respected by.his fel- low townsmen. He was among the first churchmen in the town, and was a Freemason. John Scarritt, his son, was also well educated, and he learned and carried on the trade of his father, and also became a schoolmaster, in time becoming one of the prom- inent men of Wallingford. An earnest member of the Episcopal Church, he conducted the services, , when the Church was without a rector, and on com- ing to New Haven united with Trinity Church, of which he was the oldest member at the time of his death. In middle life he came to New Haven, and was elected town clerk, the duties of which office he performed faithfully. until unfitted by the in- firmities of age : he was also a justice of peace. and it is worthy of note that in cases of appeal. his judicial decisions were sustained by the higher courts. His death occurred Oet. 18, 1854. and he was buried from Trinity Church. John Scarritt married Eunice, daughter of Merriman Cook. of Wallingford, May 24. 1792. and they had a family of two sons and four daughters: (1) Amanda (Mrs. Lyon) : (2) Lydia, born July 2. 1797: (3) Marcus Cook, born Feb. 21. 1800: (4) Eunice Lou- isa, born Feb. 26, 1803: (5) James, born April 17, 1806: and (6) Nancy Love, born May 11. ISIO, died May 16, 1811. Of these Lydia married Judge John Davenport Reynolds, of Wallingford. March 18, 1824: and Eunice Louisa married Clement Beers, son of Deacon Nathan Beers, of New Haven, Ang. 19, 1830.
Deacon Nathan Beers. the father of Clement
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Beers, was born in Stratford, Feb. 24, 1753. In 1754, his parents removed to New Haven. He was a charter member of the Second company, Govern- ors Foot Guards, and went with forty members of the company to Cambridge in April, 1775. On Jan. 13, 1777, he received a commission as ensign from Gov. Trumbull, of Connecticut, and on March 23, 1778, was commissioned a lieutenant in the army of the United States ; in May. 1778, was made pay- master ; and in July, 1788, the rank of captain by brevet was conferred upon him. He was one of the officers to whose care Major Andre was committed during the period from his capture to his execu- tion, and he received from that unfortunate officer a sketch of himself drawn by his own pen after his sentence ; this sketch is now in the possession of Yale College. On May 26, 1781, he married, at New Haven, Mary Phelps, daughter of John Phelps, Esq., of Stafford, Conn. After the war Mr. Beers engaged in mercantile business, and was for twenty years steward of Yale College. A man of strong religious principles, he was for many years deacon in the North (Congregational) Church. He died Feb. 10, 1849, lacking only fourteen days of ninety- five years of age.
RICHARD FITCH LYON, son of Willard and Amanda (Scarritt) Lyon, born Oct. 3, 1826, in New Haven, married, Oct. 9. 1853. Josephine, youngest daughter of Henry Becker, of Chatham Center, N. Y. Richard F. Lyon received his elementary edu- cation through the instruction of his grandfather; John Scarritt, in a private school kept by Rev. Smith Dayton, a retired Methodist preacher, and also in classes of the Young Men's Institute, of which he was a director and treasurer. In 1841 he began clerking in a dry goods store, and later served as a clerk in the post office for a period in the forties, receiving his appointment as such through Henry Huggins, under the administration of William Hen-
ry Harrison. In 1849, soon after the organization of the American Mutual Life Insurance Co., in New Haven, Mr. Lyon entered the company as a clerk and became its secretary, and for a number of years most efficiently performed the responsible duties of that office ; he was also secretary and treasurer of the Fair Haven Water Co., until its consolidation with the New Haven Water Co. During the last two terms of office of Hon. N. D. Sperry. as postmaster of New Haven, Mr. Lyon was cashier in the post- office. He was elected city clerk in 1894, re-elected in 1896, and served until June 1, 1899, since when he has lived retired.
Mr. Lyon's earliest religious connections were with the Trinity Church, in which he held the of- fices of clerk and vestryman, and he is now a mem- ber of that Church. Having taken an active inter- est in the mission of Christ Church, established by Trinity Parish on Broadway, he became one of the founders of the present Christ Church Parish. in which he held the offices of clerk. vestryman, ward- en, and was a member of the choir, and was for
several years director of music. He has been active and prominent in musical circles in the city, having been a member of the New Haven Musical Associa- tion and its secretary, a member and one of the board of directors of the Mendelssohn Society, and active in other choral organizations.
At the age of eighteen years Mr. Lyon enlisted in Company A (National Blues ), Light Artillery, Second Regiment Connecticut Militia, rising to the rank of first lieutenant, resigning his commission in October, 1857, on account of business engagements. Politically Mr. Lyon has been a stanch Republican from the formation of the party, and is a member of the Young Men's Republican Club. Fraternally Mr. Lyon is affiliated with Hiram Lodge, No. I. A. F. & A. M., of New Haven, and socially belongs to the New Haven Colony Historical Society. It is needless to add that he commands the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, for one has but to read between the lines, to judge of his useful and prom- inent career.
The children of Richard F. and Josephine (Becker) Lyon are: (1) Richard Becker, born Aug. 8, 1856, married May 19, 1884, Nellie Jo- sephine, daughter of Jeremiah Barnett. He is a graduate of the New Haven high school and the Sheffield Scientific School, and is a professor of mu- sic. He is a member of Trinity Church and of the Young Men's Republican Club. (2) Josephine Amanda, born Nov. 15. 1862, graduated. 1898. from the New York Training School for Deaconesses, and in the autumn of the same year was "set apart" to the work of a deaconess by Bishop Pot- ter of New York. (3) James Robinson is men- tioned below.
JAMES ROBINSON LYON was born Jan. 28. 1867, in New Haven, where he received a thorough edu- cation in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he commenced work for F. S. Bradley & Co., wholesale hardware merchants, remaining with them until Jan. 1, 1891, when he associated himself in business with D. T. Mallet (in the same line). and in September, 1892, with Newton H. Cox, purchased the entire business, and the firm is now Cox & Lyon. They have an up-to-date store. 25x133 feet in dimensions. Mr. Lyon has been very active in various circles in this city. He is a stanch Repub- lican, and a prominent member of the Young Men's Republican Club. in which he has served as a mem- ber of the executive committee, reception committee and house committee, of which latter he was chair- man for two years. On Nov. 5. 1885, he joined the New Haven Grays, in which he served five years, during which period he became corporal and secre- tary. In 1886 he joined the Governor's Foot Guard. Fraternally he is a member of Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M .: the Woodmen of the World: the United Workmen ; and the I. O. R. M.
On Jan. 23, 1809. Mr. Lyon was united in mar- riage with Miss Marion Stiles, a native of Roches- ter, N. Y., the only child of Albert C. Stiles, who
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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now resides in New Haven. Two children have been born to this union: Ida Becker and Henry Stiles. The family attend Christ Church.
HON. WILLIAM SKINNER BEECHER, ex- director of public works of the city of New Ha- ven, former State senator from the Eighth Dis- trict, and for nearly a third of a century superin- tendent of what is now known as the Diamond Matchı Co., at Westville, is a man of prominence in the public affairs of his town and county.
Mr. Beccher was born Oct. 8, 1839, in the town of Plymouth (now changed to Thomaston ), Conn., son of the late Anson and Nancy ( Benton) Beecher, and grandson of Wheeler Beecher, who was born in 1754, in Woodbridge, Conn. His ma- ternal grandfather, Ebenezer Benton, was a native of Litchfield (now called Morris), Conn. Both were of English ancestry.
Anson Beecher was born in Watertown, Conn., Oct. 19, 1805, and died April 7, 1876. He mar- ried Nancy Benton. who was born Aug. 17, 1803, and died Jan. 13, 1884. They were plain and un- assuming people, whose lives commanded the re- spect and esteem of the community in which they lived. After marriage Mr. Beecher located in Mor- ris, Litchfield Co., Conn., and about 1853 moved to New Haven, establishing the firm of A. Beecher & Sons, manufacturers of matches.
Our subject received such privileges for obtain- ing an education as the neighborhood district schools afforded, but like thousands of young men of his period his business career was broken in upon by the outbreak of the Civil war, he being among the number who hastened to uphold the flag of his country. Enlisting July 16, 1862, in Company E, 15th Conn. V. I., he performed efficient duty as first sergeant, and saw three years of active serv- ice, retiring with a creditable war record. The 15th was mustered into the United States service at Camp Lyon, Oyster Point, New Haven. Aug. 25, 1862, under the command of Col. Dexter R. Wright, of New Haven, and later was under Col. Charles L. Upham, of Meriden. Conn., and became a part of the 3d Brigade, Ist Division, 9th Army Corps, un- der Gen. Burnside. This regiment participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; Edenton Road, Va., April 24, 1863; Providence Church Road, Va., May 3, 1863 ; siege of Suffolk. April 12, 1863; and Kinston, N. C., March 8, 1865. Young Beecher shared the fate of the command, bearing an honorable and gallant part throughout the campaign. On March 8, 1865, he was cap- tured by the enemy, confined for a short time in Libby prison, was paroled March 26, 1865, and was discharged from the United States service with his company and regiment June 27, 1865.
Returning from the war to his home, our sub- ject soon entered the match factory of A. Beecher & Sons, at Westville, and was there made super- intendent, which position he most efficiently and
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creditably filled for nearly a third of a century, severing his connection in 1897. This business later was transferred to the Swift, Courtney & Beecher Co., and in 1881 to the Diamond Match Co., and has become an industry of considerable magnitude and importance, the latter company now having a capital of $15.000,000, and controlling the match industry of the United States.
In his political affiliations Mlr. Beccher is a Re- publican, and has done good service for the party, in whose councils he has long been an influential and prominent factor. His tastes and natural equip- ment have fitted him for public life, and he has honorably and efficiently discharged every official duty. For a period of ten years he has served as selectman for the town of New Haven, thus pre- paring for his service in the General Assembly, where he well represented the Eighth District dur- ing 1897-98; he was chairman of the committee on Claims. His term of service was marked by many wise acts of legislation, and his influence was felt in many ways. Mr. Beecher possesses executive ability of a high order, and his appointment as trustee of the Connecticut School for Boys gave most general satisfaction. Socially he is connected with the Republican League and the Young Men's Republican Club of New Haven, and also belongs to Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., taking a promi- nent part in the work of all these organizations.
The marriage of our subject to Fannie Char- lotte Hopkins, a native of Westville, was celebrated July 31, 1862. She passed away June 28. 1898. Mrs. Beecher's father, Isaac Hopkins, yet lives in Westville, now ( 1902). over ninety years of age.
HENRY J. BRISTOL, one of Milford's enter- prising business men. was born May 4, 1830, and has always resided in that town. His ancestors were early settlers in Milford. His grandfather, Jehial Bristol, was born there Aug. 30, 1765, and followed farming and shoemaking in the locality many years, his death occurring Nov. 28, 1858. at the age of ninety-three. Jehial Bristol married Martha Beech- er, who was born in Orange, Conn., Nov. 1, 1778, and they had seven children, viz: Miranda, born Dec. 29, 1798, and Clarence. born Dec. 23, 1800, died in childhood : Willis, born July 15, 1804. was a shoe manufacturer in New Haven : Johnson. our subject's father. is mentioned below : Martha C. married Will- iam Thomas, of West Haven. a scafaring man : Hi- ram, born Oct. 6, 1817. was a shoemaker by trade and died in New Haven : and Lucia. born Oct. 21, 1820, who married Samuel Sanford.
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