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 52
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Rev. George Champion, son of Major Champion, was born June 3, 1810, in Westchester, Conn., mar- ried at Webster, Mass., Nov. 14. 1834, Susanna, born March 30, 1808, in Oxford, Mass., a daughter of John and Susanna ( Moore) Larned. She died July 8, 1846, in Boston, Mass., and Mr. Champion died Dec. 17, 1841, in St. Croix, West Indies. He was of a very religious turn of mind from his youth and early resolved to fit himself for the ministry and missionary service. At the age of fourteen years he united with the Church in Westchester and was graduated from Yale in 1831, taking then a three-year course at the Andover Theological Sem- - inary, and was ordained at Colchester, Conn., Nov. 19, 1834, as missionary to the Zulus, near Port Natal, in South Africa. Of this grandson Gen. Champion was very proud and fond, and being un- willing that he should go out to Africa offered to pay the expenses of five missionaries to go as sub- stitutes, if he would consent to remain at home. George's reply was: "If I stay at home it will be 1
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said that only the poor go. You may send the five, and I will go myself and that will make six mis- sionaries." When Gen. Champion found that he could not prevail against him he generously gave him $60,000 for the expenses of himself and party. He was one of the first missionaries to South Africa, going in 1834, and labored there four years. He was one of the three men who reduced the Zulu language to writing and prepared a manuscript copy of the Bible before the mission was broken up and the missionaries driven away on account of the war between the Boers and the Zulus. Upon his return to America he was settled over a small church in Dover, Mass., entering upon his pastoral duties in 1839. Two years later, owing to ill health, he sailed for the West Indies, and died shortly after.
HENRY CHAMPION, late of New Haven, was a son of this devoted missionary. His preparation for college was obtained at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Mass., and he was graduated at . Yale College in 1860, passing the following year in the study of modern languages at New Haven. In September, 1861, he entered Yale Law School, and was admitted to the Bar of Connecticut May 15, 1863, and immediately established himself in the practice of law in New Haven. In January, 1866, his health, which had been for several months fail- ing, compelled him to seek a change of climate, and in company with his wife he removed to Mankato, Minn., where, after a year's residence, he died.
In July, 1863, Mr. Champion compiled and pub- lished a "catalogue of the Greek and Roman Coins belonging to Yale College," of which he had charge, and in the arrangement of which he had spent a great deal of time. He subsequently gave to the college his large and valuable collection of between 2.000 and 3,000 coins and valuable coin books. Mr. Champion also prepared a history of Gov. Robert Treat, which he read before the New Haven Colony Historical Society, and he also wrote and published several articles on Numismatics. During his resi- dence in Mankato he contributed a weekly article of local and general interest to the paper published there. At the time of his death he was secretary of his college class. During his whole life he was a man of strong moral character, was a member of the City Tract Society, took an active part in re- ligious work, and was assistant superintendent of Old North Church Sunday-school.
On Aug. 4, 1863, Mr. Champion was married at New Haven to Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Wilson and Sarah (Treat) Booth, who survived him and is yet a resident of New Haven. Their only child, Henry, died in infancy. Mrs. Champion was a daughter of Wilson Booth, a son of Daniel Booth, Jr., and Betsey Booth, who was a daughter of James Booth, Jr. The family was of an old French Huguenot line, the name being originally written DeBooth. Wilson Booth was born in Trum- bull, where he spent his youth, going to New Haven at the age of nineteen. There he learned the car-
penter trade, with Ira Atwater, and became one of the leading contractors in New Haven. During a long and useful lite he held many city and town offices, was highly esteemed and a member of the Old North Church.
Mrs. Champion (Sarah E. Booth) in her mater- nal line is a direct descendant of Governor Robert Treat, deputy governor and governor of Connecti- cut, 1676-1708. She is much interested in historic research and prepared a paper on the "History of Our Flag" which was published with illustrations, and of which editorials have been printed. As regent of the Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, D. A. R., for five years, she gave much time to the his- toric work of the organization.
NORTH. The family bearing this name in New Haven,of which the late Oliver Burnham North, who was one of the city's leading business men and sub- stantial citizens, and several of whose sons, his suc- cessors in business-notably William B., George P. and John H. North, of the firm of O. B. North & Co., manufacturers of saddlery, hardware and mal- leable iron, at No. 67 Franklin street, is one of the oldest of the Farmington families, and one whose coming to New England dates back to within a decade and a half of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.
(I) John North, one of the proprietors and set- ters of the town of Farmington, Conn., a colony which was the first offshoot from the church of Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford, came to New Eng- land in the ship "Susan and Ellen" in 1635, landing at Boston. Mr. North was then twenty years of age. He married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bird. Land was granted him in Farmington in 1635, and he and his sons, John and Samuel, were in- cluded in the eighty-four original land owners of Farmington, among whom were divided, in 1676, the unoccupied lands of Farmington. The senior Mr. North and his wife were members of the Farm- ington Church, uniting therewith in 1656. Mr. North died in 1691, aged seventy-six years.
From this Johan North, the settler, the late Oliver Burnham North, of New Haven, who was born in New Britain, Conn., March 13, 1817, a son of Alvin and Clarissa (Burnham) North, was descended in the seventh generation, his line being through Thomas, Thomas (2), James, James (2), and Alvin North.
(II) Thomas North, son of John North, was born in 1649. He was a soldier in the Indian wars, and had a soldier's grant of land. In 1669 he mar- ried Hannah Newell, born in 1656, and they settled in the north part of Farmington, now the town of Avon. He died in 1712, and she died in 1757.
(III) Thomas North (2). third child of Thom- as, born in 1673, married. in 1608. Martha, born in 1679, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Roys, or Royce, of Wallingford. Conn., and a granddaughter of Rev. John Lathrop, who came
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from England to Scituate, Mass., in 1634. Thomas North (2) settled in what is now the town of Berlin, Conn., then the eastern part of Farmington, and was one of the seven founders of the Congre- gational Church there, uniting with it in 1707. He was a man of wealth and influence, and died in 1725. Of his eight children, James North was the ancestor of the New Britain Norths. [Mr. John Hollister North's record says that Thomas ( 2) married first Mary Rice or Roys, 1698, second (no date) her cousin Martha Roys or Royce. ( No parents names given). Mrs. E. Blakeslee's record says that Martha Royce, wife of Thomas, was daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Lothrop, and granddaughter of Samuel Lothrop, of New London, Conn., and Elizabeth Pendder, who were married Nov. 28, 1614.]
(IV) James North, son of Thomas North (2), born 1709, died 1758, married Sarah Seymour (no date of marriage), who was born Dec. 2, 1712, and died Aug. 20, 1781, and lived in the Great Swamps of Kensington, Connecticut.
(V) Hon. James North (2), son of James, born Jan. 18, 1748, married first Sept. 29. 1774, Rhoda Judd, who died March 15, 1824, and ( second) Feb. 26, 1828, widow of Abi Francis. Mr. North's father died when the son was but ten years of age, and the latter came to New Britain soon after the or- ganization of the first church there, and lived with John Richards in Stanley Quarter. While with Mr. Richards he learned of him the blacksmith's trade. Mr. North was an industrious and energetic man, and prospered, was successful in business. He was a magistrate, clerk and treasurer of the Ecclesiast- ical and School Society, and school visitor, and for a time was captain of the military company of the town. He was a representative from the town of New Britain to the State Legislature, and was a man greatly respected for his intelligence and good judgment. He commanded an influence in the town. He was appointed a member of the standing com- mittee of the church, in 1795, and was active in securing the new meeting house in 1822. Mrs. North died May 14, 1833.
(VI) Alvin North, son of Hon. James, born Sept. 4, 1781, married (first) July 15, 1804, Anna, born Jan. 15, 1783, daughter of Col. Gad and Mary (Judd) Stanley, and granddaughter of Rev. Will- iam Burnham, the first pastor of the Great Swamp Church Society. Col. Stanley was a representative in the General Assembly from the town of Berlin from 1785 to 1804, and was one of the wealthiest and most influential men of the town. Mrs. Anna North died June 26, 1815, and Mr. North married (second) May 1. 1816, Clarrissa Burnham, a daugh- ter of Judge Oliver Burnham, of Cornwall. In 1812 Mr. North, associated with Seth J. North and Hezekiah Whipple, began the manufacture of sil- ver-plated buckles, cloak clasps and other similar articles. For a period of a half a century he was an active and energetic business man of New Brit- ain, engaged in manufacturing and associated at dif-
ferent times with his brother, Seth J. North, Heze- kiah Whipple, Henry Stanley, Horace Butler, sev- eral of his sons and perhaps others. He was in- terested in several corporations and was success- ful in his business affairs. He was a man of sterl- ing worth and integrity, was one of the original members of the South Congregational Church and continued to be interested in its prosperity. He was one of the members appointed on the standing committee of the church in 1843, and was in office at the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 1, 1865.
OLIVER BURNHAM NORTHI, son of the late Alvin North, was born and reared in New Britain and early became identified with its industries. He was for a period of years associated in business with his father, who for many year's had made silver-plated buckles, cloak clasps, rings and hooks for men's clothing, and hooks and eyes for women's clothing. Later.on Mr. North purchased Judds' mills at New Britain and manufactured knobs, bits and other articles in that line. In 1852 he built a larger plant, but later this was burned down and he removed to New Haven, where he continued in the manufac- turing business throughout the remainder of his life, which closed Oct. 23, 1893. Mr. North was one of the leading men and citizens of New Haven and was a man of influence and wealth. He commanded the respect and esteem of the community.
On May 10, 1843, Mr. North was married to Martha E. Post, daughter of Jedidiah and Eliza (Hollister) Post, the former of whom was born in the town of Hebron, Tolland Co., Conn., July, 1788, and passed away in July, 1866, while the latter was born in South Glastonbury, Conn., Dec. 8, 1797, and died July 8, 1838, a daughter of Roswell Hollister, also of South Glastonbury. To Mr. and Mrs. Oliver B. North were born children as follows: William Burnham, George Post, Edward Mills (who died at the age of nineteen), Lizzie (who died in in- fancy), Ellen Augusta, John Hollister and Mary Russell.
JOHN TAIT, M. D., the period of whose identity with the great manufacturing center of Meriden, as a practicing physician, lacks only a little of fifty years, is one of the leading residents of the city and among the prominent men of the med- ical profession in the State.
Dr. Tait was born Feb. 16, 1828, in the town of Trumbull, Conn., son of the late Andrew and Bella (Ronaldson) Tait, and is of Scottish origin. Andrew Tait, the father of the Doctor and the founder of the Tait & Sons Paper Co., of Bridge- port. Conn., was born Jan. 27, 1799, near Edin- burgh, Scotland, and was descended from a long line of paper makers. He served his full time (seven years) as an apprentice at that employment, and in 1820 came to this country, first locating in Morris county, N. J. Here he worked about one year at his trade, and then came to Hartford, Conn.,
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after which we find him in various places until his marriage, in 1822. - He then settled in Trumbull, Conn., where, as superintendent for D. & P. N. Fair- child, paper manufacturers, he built their mill and set it in operation. With this firm he remained but a short time, however, and on leaving their employ he commenced business in a small way at Trum- bull Center, marbling paper for bookbinders' usc. In 1856 he erected in Trumbull what is known as Tait's Mills, and embarked in the box-board or straw-board manufacturing industry. Mr. Tait was married, June 14, 1822, to Miss Bella Ronaldson who crossed the ocean alone from Scotland to wed her old sweetheart, the voyage occupying six weeks and four days. To this union came children as fol- lows: Nancy, wife of Plum Hoyt, of New York; William, president of the Tait & Sons Paper Co., of Bridgeport, Conn .; Mary E., wife of J. M. Prindle, of Bridgeport; Dr. John, of Meriden, a sketch of whom follows; Bella, who died. in 1851 ; and Fannie. Andrew Tait, the father of these chil- dren, died Jan. 27, 1891, the mother on May 22, 1875. For many years they were members of the Congregational Church at Trumbull. In politics he was originally a Whig, later a Republican, and for several terms he served as town clerk. On the oc- casion of the celebration of the golden wedding of this honored pioneer couple a large concourse of relatives and friends assembled at the Tait mansion in Trumbull, bringing with them congratulations and kind wishes, as well as valuable and useful gifts. Mr. Tait's business career was marked by industry, frugality and the integrity of an upright Christian man.
John Tait received a common-school education, obtained in the schools of the home neighborhood, and until eighteen years of age aided his father in his paper industry. When eighteen the son formed a partnership with an older brother to carry on the same business, but after a time they found that they were unable to compete successfully and satis- factorily with foreign manufacturers, owing to the cheap labor and the non-sufficient protecting care of the United States government, and therefore ter- minated the partnership. The younger of the two brothers, our subject, then decided to gratify his thirst for a more thorough education, and applied his share of the earnings to further this end. He went to Thompson's Academy, at Woodbury, Conn., where he fitted himself for entrance to Yale Col- lege. Two years later he entered the arts course in Yale, in the class of 1854. but indoor life and hard study wore upon his physical strength, and he was obliged, after two years' residence at the college, to give up his purpose of graduating with the class. He felt that he must either hasten to his profes- sional course or give it up. so in the fall of 1852 he entered the Eclectic Medical School, of New York, and was graduated in 1854. At this time just such an opening as the young Doctor was look- ing for-one that would give him considerable out- door work-presented itself in Meriden, where Dr.
Henry A. Archer needed an associate to attend to the outdoor part of the business. This associate business arrangement continued for nearly four ycars, or until the spring of 1859. In that year Dr. Tait purchased the entire medical interest and real estate, No. 244 East Main street, and suc- ceeded to the patronage to which both had attended. This proved a fortunate venture for Dr. Tait, espe- cially the buying of the real estate, for it has in- creased in value several fold in the passing of the years, with the growth of the city, and the estate is now one of the most desirable and valuable in Meriden. Dr. Tait has remained in this location ever since the original purchase, having his office in one division of his house, especially fitted up for professional uses. He has remodeled the dwelling part somewhat, has raised the entire walls, con- structed a new roof and decorated the house throughout. Other new and fine residences have been built near by, on what was vacant land in 1854, and he finds himself now in the very heart of the desirable residence portion of the city of Meriden.
Dr. Tait is one of the valued citizens of Meri- den, one whose good citizenship, sterling integrity and religious principles are in keeping with his Scottish ancestry. For nearly fifty years he has been one of the leading physicians of the place, and as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen he has watched and shared in the great growth and devel- opment that has taken place around him since he en- tered Meriden-then but a village-and is permitted now to see it a bustling, busy manufacturing city of many thousands of people, sending the products- of its mills and factories to all parts of the civilized. \ world. He has practiced in nearly all of the old. families of the town, and in his practice has not been. confined to one generation. His acquaintance is ex- tended, and his knowledge of the history of the town and city for the last half century is complete. None are more beloved by the older citizens who have been intimately acquainted with him than Dr. Tait.
Dr. Tait's religious connections are with Center Congregational Church in Meriden. his family shar- ing this membership. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, of which he has been a supporter from the days of John C. Fremont, for whom he cast a vote; but though often urged to allow himself to be brought out prominently by his party for distinguished party honors and service. he has steadily refused, preferring the quiet life of his profession to the noisy strife of politics. Dr. Tait has been for many years a director of the First National Bank of Meriden, also of the Meriden Fire Insurance Co. and the City Savings Bank. He is also a Free and Accepted Mason, affiliated with Meridian Lodge, No. 77; is a member of Meriden Centre Lodge, No. 68, I. O. O. F. : and also of the local flourishing lodge of the Royal Arcanum. He belongs to the Connecticut Eclectic Medical Society.
On Nov. 24, 1859, Dr. Tait was married to Mrs. Catherine E. (Chapman) Tibballs. daughter of
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Julius Chapman, of East Haddam, Conn. To this union came one daughter, Flora Chapman Tait, born April 14, 1863. Mrs. Tait died May 25, 1872. She was a pleasant woman, much esteemed for her many virtues and amiable qualities, quiet, unassuming, of high character, and greatly beloved. On Christmas Day, 1874; Dr. Tait was again married, this time to Laura A. Chapman, a sister of his first wife, who is still spared to share with him the high re- gard and esteem in which he is held. To this mar- riage came two daughters: Nellie Chapman Tait, born June 26, 1876; and Fannie Robins Tait, born Oct. 6, 1878, who died Dec. 17, of the same year.
MAJOR LYMAN BISSELL was throughout his long life more or less intimately identified with the public interests of the city of New Haven. The most striking and characteristic incidents in his ca- reer were of a martial nature, and it was as a mil- itary man that he was best known, for he was a soldier to the core, and he is described as, "in his prime, an ideal martial hero of romance. His tow- ering height was offset by his broad shoulders and .great girth of chest. He weighed over two hun- dred pounds, all bone and muscle. The lower part of his handsome, fresh-colored face was covered by a curling brown beard. He was a magnificent specimen of health and manly vigor." "With nerves of iron, he was as calm in moments of deadly peril as in a time of perfect safety." He had a Webster- like head, and keen black eyes. It is said that his nose was the most aquiline in shape of any officer ever connected with the United States Army, and this feature often attracted notice during his serv- ice, especially the fact that it was a "fighting nose." Such is a brief description of one who for years was among the best known and most beloved resi- dents of the City of Elms, New Haven, Conn., where his unexceptional life as a private citizen proved him worthy of the honored name he bore.
For a period of two hundred and sixty years the name of Bissell has been a familiar one in Con- necticut, where the various representatives of the family have led honorable and useful lives. For many years it has been an honored name in the City of Elms. Major Bissell was a descendant in the seventh generation from John Bissell, of Windsor, Conn. That worthy is supposed to have come from Somersetshire, England, to Plymouth, Mass., in 1638, and he is recorded as living in Windsor, Conn., as early as 1639. The line of descent to Ma- jor Bissell is through Thomas, Lieut. Isaac, Benja- min, Benjamin (2) and Lieut. Hiram.
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(II) Thomas Bissell, son of John, was born in England, and was married in 1655 to Abigail, daughter of Deacon John Moore. He settled on the east side of the Connecticut river, where he died in 1689.
(III) Lieut. Isaac Bissell, son of Thomas, born in 1682, was married in 1706 to Elizabeth Osborn, removed to Litchfield, Conn., ahout 1723. and be- came the founder of the Litchfield branch of the
Bissell family. He died in 1744, and his widow in 1761.
( IV) Benjamin Bissell, son of Lieut. Isaac, was born in 1717, and died in 1747. He married Leah Peck.
(V) Benjamin Bissell (2), born in 1743, was married to Mabel Griswold, and died in 1821.
( VI) Lieut. Hiram Bissell, son of Benjamin (2), was born in 1785, and was an iron monger. He married Beata Wetmore, and died in 1876, at the age of ninety-one years. Of their children we have mention of Lyman, Rufus and Capt. William, of whom William was the last survivor.
(VII) Major Lyman Bissell, son of Hiram, and the father of Gen. Evelyn L. Bissell, M. D., was born Oct. 20, 1813, in the village of Milton. Conn., a few miles west of Litchfield. He was called Ly- man after Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, who called at the house the morning after he was born. In his native place he attended the neighborhood schools during the winter, and worked on the farm during the summer, until he was fourteen years of age, when with an older brother he went to Pough- keepsie to learn the trade of house-painting, but they returned home at the end of six months. For some years he followed this trade in Waterbury, and then in New Haven, where he had made his home in the spring of 1836. When the Mexican war broke out Lyman Bissell was captain of the National Blues. an artillery company of New Ha- ven. On April 9, 1847, he was commissioned lieu- tenant in the 9th United States Infantry, a new regiment made up entirely of New England men, and commanded by Col. Truman G. Ransom. Soon after his arrival in Mexico Lieut. Bissell was as- signed to duty as quartermaster of the brigade of Gen. (afterward President) Pierce. At La Puebla de Los Angeles he was one of a company of some 3,000 men, sick with various disorders, left by Gen. Scott on his march through Mexico. This place was besieged by Mexicans for twenty-eight days, during which time Lieut. Bissell, himself an in- valid, had command of a company of convales- cents, stationed on the flat roof of an old church, the walls of which, projecting a few feet above the roof, served as a parapet. Lieut. Bissell also participated in the bombardment of Vera Cruz. and the battles of Plan del Rio and National Bridge. On Sept. 8, 1847, he was promoted to a captainey. At the close of the war his regiment disbanded and he returned to New Haven, where he was appointed chief of the newly organized police force. In his clischarge of the duties of this incumbency, which he held from 1849 to 1853, he amply sustained the record for courage and bravery which he had won by valiant service in the army. The following is taken from the "History of the State House." published by Henry Peck, a former reporter and newspaper man of New Haven :
"An incident in connection with holding the courts in the State House shows what good men will sometimes do under the presence of tempta-
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tion. Henry G. Lewis was clerk of the county court. His court records were kept in a vault in the basement. Every morning the books needed for the day were taken by the clerk to the court-room and at the close of business were returned to the vault. Mr. Lewis, on opening a book of record one day, discovered to his surprise that there had been an erasure of some part of the record without his knowledge. As it appeared to have been the intention of whoever made the erasure to fill the vacant space with something, the clerk thought of a plan to detect the forger. He consulted with Lyman Bissell, then captain of the watch, and it was decided that the latter should enter the vault before its being locked for the day and remain there until something should be discovered or the vault should be regularly opened the forenoon following. It was a dark and lonely vigil kept that night by Capt. Bissell. Toward midnight, however, he heard footsteps. A key was put into the lock, the door of the vault swung open, and Capt. Bissell and the unknown confronted each other. The man was one of New Haven's respected citizens. He con- fessed his intention of falsifying the record. By advice and after a full consideration of the matter the man was allowed to go free of punishment in State prison. To the day of his death Major Bis- sell would not tell the name of the man; nor will ex-Mayor Lewis, as they and a judge of the court were the only persons cognizant of the facts. There is no foundation for a 'scandal,' as is sometimes denominated an exposure of crime."
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