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 69
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of a high order. Commissioner Betts was a rec- ognized authority in the National Convention of Insurance Commissioners, which is composed of the Supervisors of Insurance in the different States of the Union. It was through his instrumentality that this important body of insurance officials held its annual meeting in Hartford in 1900. Mr. Betts concluded his term of office as Insurance Commis- sioner July 1, 1899. His administration during the four years was one which reflected credit on the State of Connecticut, not less than on himself. After the expiration of his term he was appointed receiver of the National Life Association of Hart- ford; the adjudication of the affairs of that com- pany is still in progress. Mr. Betts received a high recognition from President Mckinley, at the begin- ning of his second administration as President of the United States. Under an Act of Congress, ap- propriating $5,000,000 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held at St. Louis in 1903, nine commissioners were to be appointed throughout the country by the President. On April 1, 1901, Mr. Betts was appointed by President Mckinley as one of these commissioners. The distinction was the more important as only one of the nine commis- sioners was selected from New England. The ap- pointment expressed the President's confidence in the ability and attainments of Mr. Betts. The com- missioners are supervisors for the government in carrying out the plans for the exposition and in expending the sum appropriated by Congress. Commissioner Betts has engaged in the duties of the position with his customary intelligence and enthusiasm.
Mr. Betts has been identified with the Repub- lican party in Connecticut from the beginning of liis public career. He was one of the organizers of the Young Men's Republican Clubs in the State and was highly honored by these organizations. He is a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee from the New Haven District. Mr. Betts is also a prominent member of the Baptist Social Union of Connecticut, the membership of which comprises the foremost business men of the Baptist denomination in the State.
Frederick A. Betts is a native of New Haven, born Aug. 8, 1858. son of Samuel Betts, an influ- ential business manager and carriage manufacturer. He was educated in the public schools of New Ha- ven, and spent the early years of his life in a New Haven newspaper counting room, laying there the foundation for the extended acquaintance which he now has with the public men of the State. After his newspaper life he engaged in the wholesale trade in New Haven, conducting an extensive business. This lasted for ten years, during which period he took a deep interest in the educational life of the city. In 1893 he was elected a member of the New Haven board of education, receiving one of the largest majorities ever given in that city to a candi- date at a school election. In 1896 he was re-elected
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Anna (Burnham) Filer. Mr. Phelps was a farmer and a resident of Hebron, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, enlisting in August, 1778, and was discharged in September, 1780. He died in Hebron in 1800, his wife surviving until 1818.
Erastus Phelps, son of Amos, was born Jan. 15, 1763, in Hebron, and was married in April 1801, to Polly Yeomans, who was born in Stonington, Conn., in 1776. She died in Hebron Aug. 25, 1850. Mr. Phelps served in the war of the Revolution, for which service he was rewarded with a pension, be- ing on the rolls in 1832 as a resident of Tolland. His children, who were all born in Hebron, were: . Charles C., born in 1802; Mary Ann, born in 1804, died in 1805; Erastus R., born Jan. 31, 1806; Henry A., born in 1808, married Harriet Dodge; George G., born Dec. 15, 1809, married Mary Page; Sarah Ann, born April 19, 1815, married Samuel H. Har- ris; and Alfred W., born July 12, 1818, married Mary A. Bunnell.
George Gurden Phelps, son of Erastus, was born Dec. 15. 1809, and was married Nov. 13, 1836, to Mary Page, and settled in Hebron, Conn., where he resided until 1854, when he removed to Meriden, and died there Sept. 23. 1862. Their children were: Mary Elizabeth, who was born May 10, 1840, and married Charles C. Foskett; and Harriet C., born Nov. 8, 1842, who married Rev. William H. Wardell.
Mrs. Foskett is most highly esteemed in Meriden, is an active and interested member of the Methodist Church. Socially she belongs to Ruth Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution.
HON. FREDERICK A. BETTS, of New Ha- ven, who has been actively in public life in this State during the past ten years, is one of Connecticut's most widely known representatives. He was ap- pointed insurance commissioner by Gov. O. Vin- cent Coffin and confirmed by the Senate during the session of the General Assembly in 1895, and entered upon the duties of the office July Ist of that year. The insurance commissionership is the most important one in the gift of the governor. The of- fice is for four years. The occupant must of neces- sity be a man of great administrative ability. From the outset Commissioner Betts showed himself to be the possessor of the requisite qualifications for the position. He mastered the details of insurance management and was the originator of important changes in the general statutes relating to different fields of underwriting. During the sessions of the General Assembly, while he was in office, he made himself thoroughly familiar with every bill that was presented for the consideration of the commit- tee on Insurance, and, without exception, his views were received by the committee with the utmost deference. The annual reports of Commissioner Betts, relating to fire and life underwriting, were models of actuarial and literary work. He showed in them sound judgment and intellectual capacity
of a high order. Commissioner Betts was a rec- ognized authority in the National Convention of Insurance Commissioners, which is composed of the Supervisors of Insurance in the different States of the Union. It was through his instrumentality that this important body of insurance officials held its annual meeting in Hartford in 1900. Mr. Betts concluded his term of office as Insurance Commis- sioner July 1, 1899. His administration during the four years was one which reflected credit on the State of Connecticut, not less than on himself. After the expiration of his term he was appointed receiver of the National Life Association of Hart- ford; the adjudication of the affairs of that com- pany is still in progress. Mr. Betts received a high recognition from President Mckinley, at the begin- ning of his second administration as President of the United States. Under an Act of Congress. ap- propriating $5,000,000 for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held at St. Louis in 1903, nine commissioners were to be appointed throughout the country by the President. On April 1, 1901, Mr. Betts was appointed by President Mckinley as one of these commissioners. The distinction was the more important as only one of the nine commis- sioners was selected from New England. The ap- pointment expressed the President's confidence in the ability and attainments of Mr. Betts. The com- missioners are supervisors for the government in carrying out the plans for the exposition and in expending the sum appropriated by Congress. Commissioner Betts has engaged in the duties of the position with his customary intelligence and enthusiasm.
Mr. Betts has been identified with the Repub- lican party in Connecticut from the beginning of his public career. He was one of the organizers of the Young Men's Republican Clubs in the State and was highly honored by these organizations. He is a member of the Republican State Central Com- mittee from the New Haven District. Mr. Betts is also a prominent member of the Baptist Social Union of Connecticut, the membership of which comprises the foremost business men of the Baptist denomination in the State.
Frederick A. Betts is a native of New Haven, born Aug. 8, 1858, son of Samuel Betts, an influ- ential business manager and carriage manufacturer. He was educated in the public schools of New Ha- ven, and spent the early years of his life in a New Haven newspaper counting room, laying there the foundation for the extended acquaintance which he now has with the public men of the State. After his newspaper life he engaged in the wholesale trade in New Haven, conducting an extensive business. This lasted for ten years, during which period he took a deep interest in the educational life of the city. In 1893 he was elected a member of the New Haven board of education, receiving one of the largest majorities ever given in that city to a candi- date at a school election. In 1896 he was re-elected
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Frederick A Better
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for a term of three years. When the new charter of the city went into effect, in 1897, Mr. Betts was appointed a member of the board for four years. His services on the board were invaluable. He has been governed through life by a high sense of honor and is a man of the strictest personal integrity.
Mr. Betts was married in 1882 to Miss Fannie E. Blakesley, of New Haven, and has one daugh- ter. His home life has been of the most delight- ful character. He is a gentleman of superior so- cial instincts and is the soul of courtesy and per- sonal refinement.
DRIGGS. Since early in the seventeenth cen- tury the Driggs family have been residents of Con- necticut, and through the greater part of eighteenth century of Cheshire and Waterbury, in the former of which towns figured the late Dr. Asa Johnson Driggs, a physician of State reputation, and at Waterbury, for forty-five years, there were few men more prominent than the late Theodore Ives Driggs, son of Dr. Driggs, and there are yet in Waterbury a number of the Doctor's posterity, among them George Asa Driggs, secretary and treasurer of the American Pin Co., and a leading citizen of the city.
The ancestors of the Driggs family came from England to Saybrook, Conn., in 1721. The father of Dr. Asa J. Driggs was a sailor in command of a ship at Lisbon, Portugal, and married the daughter of the British consul at that point. Dr. Driggs was born at Middletown, Conn., in about 1803, and when about sixteen years of age became a pupil of the Episcopal academy of Connecticut, and of which he was afterward a trustee. He was graduated from the Medical Department of Yale College, in 1826, and commenced the practice of medicine at Cheshire, Conn. In 1828 he married a daughter of Rev. Reuben Ives, then rector of St. Peter's Church. She died in 1829, leaving one son, Theodore Ives Driggs. On the death of his wife, Dr. Driggs went to Cuba, where he practiced his profession and had charge of several plantations. After a few years residence in Cuba, he returned to Cheshire, and there lived with little exception until his death on March 16. 1878. He was an able and successful practitioner, a man of marked characteristics, affable in manner. of a humorous disposition, and he was possessed of a large fund of amusing anecdotes.
Theodore Ives Driggs, son of Dr. Asa J. Driggs, was born Oct. 25, 1829, in Cheshire, Conn., and in 1848, at the age of nineteen, was graduated from Trinity College. That same year he came to Water- bury as assistant to Charles Fabrique, principal of the academy and afterward an associate of Gen. Russell in his famous New Haven school. Young Driggs devoted himself to teaching with character- tic enthusiasm, and maintained to the last an active and intelligent interest in all educational matters. He was prominent in the organization of the Centre School district, which led to the establishment of the high school in 1851, of which he was for a year
or more the assistant principal, when throat trouble compelled him to give up the profession of teaching. He served for many years as a member of the board of education, and for several terms as chairman and treasurer. To his energy and thorough work, es- pecially as school visitor, are to be credited many of the reforms which have given the district so ef- ficient a system of public schools. From the organ- ization of St. Margaret's school up to the time of his death, he was one of the trustees, serving as secretary. He was greatly interested in the Cheshire Academy while it was in charge of Dr. Horton, which he attended as a boy. Mr. Driggs was one of the citizens appointed by the common council to re- ceive the donation of the Bronson Library fund in 1868. From that time on he was secretary of the board of agents of that institution. In 1853, when obliged to give up teaching, Mr. Driggs became bookkeeper for Abbott & Wardell, manufacturers of Waterbury. In September, 1855, he took charge of the books of the American Pin Company, in whose management he ever afterward held an important place. He was elected secretary in 1865, to suc- ceed Deacon Hall, and subsequently was chosen president. His interest in music led him to estab- lish the Driggs & Smith Company, which since 1850 has been the leading house in Waterbury, dealing in pianos and musical goods. On first coming to Waterbury in October, 1848, Mr. Driggs became the organist of St. John's Church, serving contin- uously until Easter Sunday, 1873, when rheuma- tism compelled him to give up this work of love for years. He resumed his place again in 1876, and served until his illness before his death compelled him to retire permanently. His inestimable services to the church as organist and choir master were fit- tingly remembered in the presentation of a silver fruit dish, a beautiful piece of work which he greatly cherished. This gift was, in fact, supplementary to a service of testimonial resolutions, suitably engraved and framed, presented to him at the time of his former disability. As a church organist Mr. Driggs was in a most congenial place, one that he filled with exceptional ability. He always insisted on ecclesiastical music, and his accompaniments, keep- ing the organ in its proper place, and never allow- ing it to dominate the choir. Its members he in- spired with his own enthusiasm, and his training was most thorough and effective. He kept up his active interest in all its affairs to the last. Mr. Driggs was one of the founders and for eight years director of the Mendelssohn society, which, until 1871, was the principal musical association of this vicinity. He was elected president of the Harmonie Society at its organization in 1889, an office which he continued to hold until his death. Mr. Driggs was an active and influential man in both church and public affairs, and a liberal contributor to good causes. He was a vestryman of St. John's Episcopal Church of Waterbury for many years, and agent of the parish until April 18, 1892. In politics he was a
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strong Republican, but despite unwavering loyalty to his party was ready to see and approve worthy politics or acts in his opponents. He represented the Second ward in both branches of the common council. He was a member of Nosaltogan Lodge, I.O.O.F.
Mr. Driggs was married (first) in 1854 to Sarah E. Shepard, who died in 1857. On April 9, 1860, he married (second) Margaret S., daughter of the late George Pritchard, of Waterbury. His children are: George Asa, Martha R., Henry P. and Helen P.
MAJOR JOHN ADAMS MUNSON (de- ceased) was a veteran of the Civil war, long an of- ficer of the Governor's Foot Guard, of New Haven, a business man of many years' experience in New Haven, and a citizen of high standing in the com- munity ; he was also a representative in both pa- ternal and maternal lines, of old Colonial families that have been identified with the affairs of New Haven for more than 260 years.
In the sketch of Amos Munson, which may be found on another page, the ancestral history of the Munson family is very fully traced. Its founder in America was Thomas Munson, who is on record in Hartford as early as 1637, performed military service in the Pequot War, and lived and died in New Haven. Back to him the ancestry of John Adams Munson was traced through Amos, Joseph (2), Joseph (1), Israel, Theophilus and Samuel Munson, all men of more or less prominence in the community, and well sustaining an unblemished family name.
Amos Munson, father of John Adams, was a . man of far more than the usual business ability and push, and became the founder of the pie-making in- dustry that has now grown to such vast proportions. His career is exceedingly interesting, and will well repav thoughtful perusal.
The maternal ancestry of Major Munson has a history which begins with the arrival of Thomas Dickerman, in Dorchester, Mass., in 1635, the line of descent to the subject of this writing being through, Abraham, who made his home in New Jersey, Isaac, Stephen, Isaac (2) and Rebecca (Dickerman ) Munson.
Major Munson was born July 8, 1829, a son of the late Amos and Rebecca ( Dickerman) Mun- son, both noted for their kindly hearts and genuine interest in humane endeavors of every kind. The boyhood and youth of Major Munson were passed in New Haven, as were also, in the main, the years of his long life, during which he has served the city most efficiently in the various public trusts re- posed in him by his fellow citizens. He was iden- tified with the great pie industry established by his father, successfully conducted by father and son for more than sixty years. He was also engaged in other lines of business, and served the city on its police force for a time. Having a pronounced
taste for military life, in his young manhood he became a member of the Governor's Foot Guard, and on April 24, 1861, became Major of the organ- ization.
Major Munson enlisted Sept. 9, 1862, in Com- pany D, 27th Conn. V. I., and shared the fortunes of that organization from start to finish, returning home with an honorable military record. The regi- ment was mustered into active service Oct. 22, 1862, with Gen. Abercrombie as its first commander, but later it passed into the Third Brigade, under the command of Gen. Hancock, who included it in the Twentieth Army Corps, where it was under Gen. Sumner, who had command of the Right Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac. One-third of the regiment engaged at Fredericksburg lay dead or wounded in the field, or in the hospital at night- fall. After this bloody struggle the 27th came un- der the command of Col. John N. Brooke, after- wards a most distinguished officer. The regiment was engaged. at Chancellorsville. where the most of its men were captured by the Rebels. Com- panies D and F, however, escaped the fate of the balance of the regiment, having been detached for
other duty. The 27th participated in the battle of Gettysburg, reaching the battle-line July 2, and be- ing stationed a mile and a half from Cemetery Hill, sharing the line of the Second Army Corps. It was presently hurried forward to the support of the Third Corps, disastrously engaged on the Em- mitsburg Road. The broken and disordered col- umns of the Third Corps were slowly retiring, when their supports, part of which was the 27th Regiment, came to their assistance. The enemy were crowding forward, and as the supporting forces of the Union army forced their way into the wheatfield, met them with a galling fire, and here fell Lieut. Col. Merwin mortally wounded, while leading his men with his accustomed bravery. The Union forces pressed forward and forced the en- emy out of the wheat field into the woods beyond. The 27th went into action with seventy-five men, all that could be mustered for duty after an active service of not quite nine months, and at dark eleven were dead and twenty-seven wounded. The day following the 27th was stationed in the main line of battle, and a few yards to the left of the point at- tacked by the Rebels in their last charge in that great battle.
From Gettysburg the regiment moved to Falling Waters, a short distance from Williamsport, arriv- ing in time to participate in the closing scenes of that engagement. From there it moved to Harper's Ferry, from which point it was sent home July 23, 1864, being mustered out of active service. In the battle of Fredericksburg Major Munson was wound- ' ed in the left thigh.
On Sept. 13, 1850, Major Munson was married to Miss Martha J. Wooding. of Bethany, Conn., who died June 19, 1873. On April 28, 1874, he was married to Margaret A. Olmstead. To the first
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marriage were born : John H., born Aug. 9, 1851, is now deceased ; Charles H,, born Nov. 10, 1853, died Aug. 9, 1870; Elizabeth A., born Nov. 20, 1855, died Dec. 10, 1858; James B., born Sept. 22, 1857, married, first, June 1, 1876, Anna C. Blake, and second, June 2, 1892, Fannie Wilbur ; and Hattie H., born in New Haven, March 6, 1865, is married and lives in Kansas. Major Munson died May 17, 1898. He was engaged in the pie business in Balti- more for a few months. He was a veteran fireman, and held all positions in that organization from pri- vate to board of engineers. In the Masonic fratern- ity he was very conspicuous, and held many im- portant positions. When he died New Haven lost a good citizen, a loyal and straightforward friend and business man, a knightly character, and a lead- ing spirit in all forward and humane movements.
HENRY GREAVES DAVIS, late a venerable citizen of Meriden, where he lived retired, and one of its leading mechanics of English birth, was born Oct. 6, 1818, in the city of Birmingham, England.
John Davis, his father, was a gunsmith by oc- cupation. He was reared in Birmingham, and there spent his entire life, dying at the age of eighty-four years ; his remains repose in St. Aston's churchyard, Birmingham. He was a faithful adherent of the Church of England. Mr. Davis was widely mourned as an honest and worthy man. He was married in his native city to Miss Catherine Greaves, who was also born there, and who died in Birming- ham at the age of seventy-four years ; she was buried in St. Philip's churchyard. She was a consistent Episcopalian, a devoted wife and mother, and a true Christian. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of three children. John, the eldest, came to America in 1853, locating at Hartford, Conn., where he died the following year and is buried there. Thomas, the second, died at the age of seventy years in his na- tive place ..
The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Philips' Church School, known as the "Bluecoat School."" At the age of fourteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship to the Britannia business, and continued as a journeyman until the year 1845, receiving a sovereign per week as wages. From Birmingham he went to London, where he continued at his trade, working seven hours per day at two guineas per week, and was thus employed until 1852. Hoping to better his condition in the Western world, he embarked at London, and arrived in Albany, N. Y., in April, 1852. There he found employment at his trade and remained one year, when he came to Connecticut. He at once found a situation in the service of I. C. Lewis, at Meriden. After a short time he went to Taunton, Mass., and worked two years at two dollars per day. After working a short period at Providence, R. I., not finding his hopes realized in America, he revisited his native land, but remained only a brief time abroad, visiting Birmingham and London. He became convinced
that America offered a broader field for the ad- vancement of himself and family, and he rejoined his family in this country, again taking up Britannia work in Taunton, Mass. He was subsequently em- ployed, for varying periods, at Dorchester, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., spending three years at the latter point in the works of Rogers, Smith & Co. In 1862 he removed to Newark, N. J., where he re- mained four years, still pursuing the same vocation. After a year in the employ of Manning, Bowman & Co., at Middletown, he settled at Meriden, and was for a quarter of a century connected with the buffing department of the Meriden Britannia Co. In 1893 he retired from active labor, and passed the remain- der of his peaceful life in well-earned repose, dying Feb. 28, 1902.
In 1892 Mr. Davis built a handsome home in Britannia street, which is the abode of contentment and cheerful hospitality. He was married in Birm- ingham, England, Oct. 4, 1836, to Miss Mary Thompson, a native of the same place, and daughter of William and Mary Thompson. For nearly sixty- three years she was his helpful companion and friend, and reared a family which was a credit to them. Her Christian virtues . made the home a haven of delight, and her departure for the better home left a void which cannot be filled. Her death occurred Jan. 13, 1899, and her remains were loving- ly interred in Walnut Grove Cemetery. She was a faithful member of St. Andrew's P. E. Church, with which the father also affiliated, as well as the chil- dren. The family included five children, four of whom are now living: Mary Ann, the eldest. is the widow of Edward Furniss, and resides in Brit- annia street; Emily is the widow of Alpheus S. Graham, who died at his home in Linsley avenue ; Sarah is unmarried, and cared for her father's house- hold; John Henry is a solderer in the shops of Manning, Bowman & Co., Meriden; Stephen, the fifth, died in childhood.
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