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 72
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On Oct. 14, 1878, in Boston, Mr. Camier was married to Miss Nellie J. Warner, who was born in Winchendon, Worcester Co., Mass., elder daughter of the late Edwin T. and Tamina ( Davis) Warner.
Mrs. Warner was a great-granddaughter, in the paternal line, of a Revolutionary soldier. She was descended, in the maternal line, from the Blue fam- ily, which located soon after 1620 at Rehoboth, Mass. The Davis family was also located at that place. Edwin T. Warner was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in the Sixty-first Massachusetts Regi- ment. Mrs. Camier is a member of the Second Baptist Church, a lady of many domestic virtues, who cared for her husband with great devotion through his years of infirm health.
ALMON JOHN FLETCHER, of the Boston & Meriden Clothing Co., Meriden, was born Aug. 15, 1842, in Acworth, Sullivan Co., N. H. His father, John Fletcher, was also a native of that State, where he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and this pursuit occupied his most active years. With advancing age he removed to Litch- field, Meeker Co., Minn., where he passed the bal- ance of his days, giving some attention to farming, and died April 29, 1896. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and a Republican in politics. John Fletcher married Almina Tandy, a native of New Hampshire, where she died before the removal of her husband to the West. She was also a member of the Methodist Church.
Almon J. Fletcher grew up on a farm in East Lempster, Sullivan Co., N. H., and attended the district schools of the locality. Being somewhat ambitious, he has supplemented the ordinary train- ing afforded the youth of the neighborhood by ob- servation and business experience. Before he at- tained his majority the Civil war began, and he en- listed as a soldier in Company G, 9th N. H. V. I., under Col. Fellows and Capt. S. A. Whitfield, for three years. He went to the front with his regi- ment and stood the shock of battle at South Moun- tain and Antietam, two of the most sanguinary en- gagements of the Civil war. At the latter place he received a shell wound in the right shoulder, which caused his discharge for disability. He returned home to recuperate, and when strong enough to labor went to Winchendon, Mass., and was em- ployed there three years in a machine shop. He was subsequently employed in Boston as a ma- chinist, and later as clerk in a store. In 1879 he came to Meriden and purchased an interest in the store then recently established by John H. Camier, which was thereafter known as the Boston & Meri- den Clothing Co. This establishment has enjoyed a flourishing trade for twenty-three years, as has also a branch establishment at Middletown in 1883. under the title of the Boston One-Price Clothing Co. These stores are conducted by Mr. Fletcher and the widow of Mr. Camier, under the supervision of the former. He is well known in Meriden and vicinity as a reliable and capable business man, re- spected for his probity and industry. He is active in church work, being steward and teacher in the Sunday-school of Trinity M. E. Church. Frater-
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nally he is a member of Pacific Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F., and Merriam Post, No. 8, G. A. R. In political affairs he acts with the Republican party, but is in no sense a politician.
On June 7, 1883, Mr. Fletcher was married in Meriden to Mrs. Tamma (Davis) Warner, widow of Edwin T. Warner and mother of Mrs. Camier. She was a very capable business woman, and care- fully conserved the estate inherited from her father. She died Jan.1, 1892, and was buried in Walnut Grove cemetery. Mrs .. Fletcher was a member of Trinity M. E. Church, a kind and devoted wife and mother, a true Christian.
HENRY H. RICHARDS. The earliest Amer- ican ancestor of that branch of the Richards family, to which this prominent and influential citizen of West Haven belongs, was Paul Richards, who landed at New York Dec. 3, 1667, and took his holdings by virtue of a patent granted by Governor- General Richard Nicolls. Tracing down the de- scent from that early settler we find in direct and succeeding line the baptismal names of Stephen ; John (I), died in March, 1765: John (2), born 1737; John (3), 1768; and William, the last named being the father of Henry H. For the purpose of the present narrative, however, it is unnecessary to enter into detail as to the family history prior to the time of Jolin, the third of that name, who was the grandfather of the gentleman whose career is un- der consideration. This John Richards was a sea captain, and lost his life upon the element which he so dearly loved, at the early age of thirty-one years. His vessel laden with lumber and bound for Bermuda was lost. A lad of seventeen years was taken from the floating wreck to tell the sad tale of long and terrific storm, and final loss of all but himself clinging to the bowsprit. Capt. Richards was swept from the helm by a huge wave, having refused to leave until swept from it. That wave took all but the boy and one man, who was later washed off the bowsprit. John Richards (3) mar- ried Amarilla Smith, by whom he had four children. His eldest son, William, born June. 19, 1794, was the father of Henry H. His widow survived him until she reached the age of seventy-four years.
For William Richards the sea possessed the same fascination as for his father, and he, too, com- manded a vessel sailing to ports in the West Indies. At length, however, he began to grow weary of adventure with its attendant perils, and bought a farm in West Haven, where he made his home, and where he died in 1861, in his sixty-seventh year. His wife, Mehitable Reynolds, was the daughter of another weather-beaten mariner, Capt. Frederick Reynolds, of West Haven. Of their children five reached maturity: (1) Frederick R., of Sidney, Ohio, was captain of two or three West Indies vessels from New Haven, afterward circum- navigating the globe, and is now retired. (2) Henry H. (3) John M. lives in West Haven;
(4) Elizabeth E., widow of W. Edson Doolittle, of Cheshire, Conn., has two children, Adella May and Jennie E. Her eldest child, Gertrude, died young. (5) Laura A., deceased, married Charles Woodward, of East Haven, and had two children, Edmund B. and Lulu, the latter now deceased. The other four children were named John W., Edward A., Emily E. and Martha A. The mother of Mr. Richards passed away at the age of eighty. Both she and her husband were communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Henry H. Richards was born in West Haven May 22, 1826. His education was acquired at the best public schools and academy of the town, and by his perseverance and application he acquired an education much above the average of that day. He was later employed as a teacher in East Haven, Southington and West Haven, and afterward with his two brothers embarked in the coal business at New Haven. under the firm name of Richards Brothers. This firm by their own vessel, the "Sam- uel Griscum," received the first cargo of coal shipped from New York ports to New Haven, that came to New York from the coal fields by rail. The eldest brother was the first to withdraw from the firm, and subsequently Henry H. disposed of his interest to the youngest. himself removing his busi- ness interests to West Haven. There in 1861 he opened a coal and wood yard, and later he engaged in the sale of lumber, his place of business being on Water street. After some years of active, suc- cessful, commercial life he disposed of his business to his sons, although still aiding them by wise coun- sel, the fruit of sound judgment and ripe experi- ence. After some time a joint stock company was formed, the name of the concern being The H. H. Richards Lumber Co. Personally. however, Mr. Richards does not take an especially active part in the control of the company's affairs, his attention being chiefly devoted to the management of his own private business, and particularly of his extensive real estate interests. Despite his seventy-five years he is of sturdy physique and undimmed intellect. He has hewn out his own path to success, his na- tive sagacity suggesting means, and his indomit- able resolution overcoming every obstacle.
Mr. Richards was one of the founders of the Republican party in the town of his residence, but since 1884 has acted with the Prohibitionists. While averse to holding office, he has consented to serve his fellow townsmen as assessor. He is an active worker in the church, having acted as both trustee and steward, and was for many years a teacher in the Sunday-school.
On Oct. 24, 1849, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Esther C. Ward, of East Haven. a grand- daughter of Samuel, and a daughter of Josialı J. Ward both farmers of Middletown, Conn., although Josiah J. Ward spent some years in the South. He died at the age of eighty-four. Mrs. Richards' mother's maiden name was Abiah L. Roberts, and
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she was one of six children born to Collins Roberts, of Middletown, who donated the site for the asylum in that city. Mrs. Richards herself is one of a family of eight children, six of whom lived to ma- turity, while three are yet living: Ruth, the widow of Edward Thompson, of East Haven; Maria H., widow of James McLeve, of Portland, Conn., and a resident of New Haven; and Mrs. Richards, Among those deceased were Samuel, Josiah, Will- iam and George. Mrs. Ward entered into rest in her seventy-fifth year.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards have been blessed with ten children, of whom five died young. The living are (1) Fannie M. married John J. Carman, a merchant of Bay Shore, Long Island. (2) Edward A. married Harriet E. Haswell, of Hardinsburg, Ky., and has two children, Florence O. and Hobart H .; and he is engaged at the old wharf and lumber yard in the lumber business. (3) George O. en- gaged in the lumber trade; he married Mary S. Hyde, of West Haven, and they have four chil- dren, Eleanor B., Esther A., Durell S. and Char- lotte M. (4) Benjamin F., president and director of the H. H. Richards Lumber Co., retired, and is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business ; he married Dora B. Seiter, of Monroe, N. Y., and has one son Earl F. (5) Etta Belle is an artist, a graduate of the Yale Art School of Yale University, and lives with her parents. Of the five children who are deceased, Henry Ward died at eleven, Sidney P. at nine and the other three, William, Ruebin and Bertha, in early infancy.
MINOTTE ESTES CHATFIELD, president and treasurer and principal owner of the Chatfield Paper Co., of New Haven, and prominent in busi- ness circles not only in that city, but throughout the State, is a representative of one of the old Colonial families of Connecticut.
Mr. Chatfield was born March 13, 1859, in Cen- terville, near New Haven, a son of George W. and Cornelia (Ford) Chatfield, and a descendant in the eighth generation from George Chatfield, who came from England in 1639, accompanied by his two brothers, Francis and Thomas, in the party led by Rev. Mr. Whitfield, to Guilford. Conn. George Chatfield married (first) Sarah, daughter of John Bishop. She died in 1657, and on March 19. 1659, he married (second) Isabel, daughter of Samuel Nettleton. In 1663 he removed to Killingworth, Conn., where his death occurred June 9, 1671. From this first American paternal ancestor our subject's line is through John, Ebenezer, Elnathan, Joel, Oliver Stoddard and George W. Chatfield, all of whom, as well as the eighth and ninth genera- tions, have resided within a radius of twenty-five miles.
(II) John Chatfield, son of George (the emi- grant ) and Isabel. born April 8. 1661, in Guilford. Conn .. located in Derby (a single man), receiving his first grant of land and preparing to occupy it in
1684. In that year he married Anna, daughter of Jabez Harger. He died in 1737.
(III) Ebenezer Chatfield, son of John, born in Derby July 4, 1703, married in 1728 Abigail, daugh- ter of John Prindle.
(IV) Elnathan Chatfield, son of Ebenezer, born in 1733, married Hannah Northrup, and resided on the north side of Bladen's brook, in that part of the town of Milford which subsequently became Woodbridge, and still later Bethany.
(V) Joel Chatfield, son of Elnathan, born in 1756, married Nov. 13, 1785, Ruth Stoddard, of Woodbury. He built and lived in a house on the south bank of the stream, near his father's resi- dence. Joel was one of the first Society Committee of the Episcopal Church (now Trinity) of Sey- mour, Conn., in 1797. He died June 14, 1836, at the age of seventy-nine years, being killed by a spring lever while loading lumber. His wife passed away Nov. 21, 1831.
(VI) Oliver Stoddard Chatfield, son of Joel, was born Nov. 19, 1793, and in 1822 married Abi- gail Tuttle, who was born March 28, 1804. daugh- ter of Amasa and Sybil (Wooster) Tuttle, of Middlebury. They lived in a house on the south side of the road from Seymour to New Haven, which house is still standing, on the boundary line . between Woodbridge and Seymour ; across the road a corner of the town of Bethany joins the other towns. Mr. Chatfield was one of the wealthiest men of his day, and was a genial and hospitable host. He owned five farms, and worked them for years, and operated the old family mill. furnish- ing heavy timber for the construction of the old State House, some of the older Yale College build- ings, the First Methodist Church (which used to stand on the corner of the New Haven Green ). and other buildings of a public nature. His death occurred March 16, 1877, and that of his widow April 14, 1887; she was then the oldest member of the Methodist Church in Seymour, with which she had been connected for sixty-seven years. Fra- ternally Mr. Chatfield was a Free Mason, joining King Hiram Lodge, Derby, in 1814. He was cap- tain of a military company in Bethany.
(VII) George W. Chatfield, son of Oliver S., and the father of the subject of this biography, was born Oct. 14, 1829, at the old homestead, on the line between Woodbridge and Seymour. At the age of twenty-four years he went to Centerville, where he conducted a general store, and in 1865 moved to New Haven and opened up a grocery business in Dixwell avenue, continuing same until 1875, when he engaged in the wholesale notion business. travel- ing about the State. He still resides in New Haven. On Nov. 23, 1853, he married MIrs. Cornelia (Ford) Andrews, who was born Aug. 6, 1830, daughter of Elias Ford, of Hamden. ( Elias Ford died March 14, 1899, aged ninety-six years, one month, twelve days. He was a direct descendant of Timothy Ford, one of the original settlers of New
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Haven.) Mr. Chatfield is a Free Mason and Odd Fellow.
The eighth generation of the Chatfield family has these representatives (children of George W.) : Andrew Oliver, of New Haven ; Frank H., of Chi- cago; and Minotte E. The ninth generation is represented by Alfred Burton and Gertrude Yates, children of Andrew Oliver Chatfield; Lena, daugh- ter of Frank H .; and the children of our subject : Russell Estes, born June 11, 1884; Sterling Rus- sell, born Sept. 14: 1891 ; and Helen Russell, born Ang. 27, 1893.
Minotte Estes Chatfield received his preliminary education in the Hopkins Grammar School and the public schools of his native city, and at sixteen years of age entered the New Haven post office, as clerk under the veteran postmaster. Hon. N. D. Sperry, now a member of Congress from the New Haven District. He was thus engaged until 1882, when he entered a large paper and hardware es- tablishment of the same city, continuing his serv- ices with same for seven years. On July 1, 1889, he purchased the paper and twine departments of that business house, the branches to which he had given his time and efforts, and for the following six years, as proprietor of the Chatfield Paper Co., carried on an extensive and successful paper and twine business. In 1895 was incorporated the Chat- field Paper Co., of which he was made and has since been president and treasurer. and of which he is the principal stockholder. He is also con- nected with the New Haven Pulp Board Co., of which he is president and a leading stockholder ; this company has built and is now operating a large plant at the foot of Green street, on Mill river. Mr. Chatfield is also a stockholder and director in the Evening Leader Co., publishers of the Evening Leader, a daily Republican newspaper of New Ha- ven, and one of the leading papers of the State; he is also a director in other enterprises. He is a man of recognized business ability, energetic and industrious, and has been noted wherever placed as a faithful and conscientious worker. He has been especially active as a member of the New Haven Young Men's Republican Club, in which since its organization he has held several offices, and he is regarded as one of its faithful members and friends. He has most effectively served his fellow citizens as an alderman and also in the common council; is a trustee of the Old Town Farm, and a director and treasurer of the New Haven Free Public Li- brary. Fraternally he is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M.
On Sept. 29, 1880, Mr. Chatfield was married to Miss Stella Stowe Russell, a daughter of Edwin Russell, of New Haven, formerly of Prospect, Conn., and three children have been born of this union. MIrs. Chatfield is a direct descendant of Capt. Stephen and Freelove (Baldwin) Stowe, of Milford, Conn., the former of whom lost his life in caring for released Revolutionary soldiers from
New York prisons. These soldiers were abandoned on Milford Point on account of having the plague, then epidemic in the prisons. Capt. Stowe took pity on them, and was the only one to house and care for them, his reward being his death from the disease.
MARCUS P. SMITH, a well-known citizen of New Haven and a member of the enterprising firm of Smith Bros., of Oyster Point, was born in West Haven, Conn., Dec. 31, 1846, a son of Willis and Sarah L. (Hinman) Smith, and a grandson of Harry Smith.
Willis Smith was born in West Haven, where the family was one of the oldest and best known and died in New Haven at the age of seventy years. With his brother, Jeremiah Smith, he was among the earliest men to see the advantages to be gained by embarking in the business of oyster farming along this coast, the required conditions here being excellent. Later in life. with his sons, he became in- terested in the firm known to the trade as Smith Bros. From his marriage into the Hinman family, one of the old and esteemed ones of Middlebury, was born a family of nine children, seven of these still surviving, as well as the most estimable and beloved mother.
Marcus P. Smith was four years of age when his parents moved to City or Oyster Point, receiv- ing his education in the schools of that locality and in the Washington school, in New Haven. For some time prior to his own active entrance into the oyster farming business he managed for his father, but later formed a partnership with his brother, Riley T., and for twenty-five years this firm has stood for reliability and excellence of product. The business has increased to immense proportions, the sales being entirely wholesale, 20,000 bushels to one party not being an unusual transaction.
On June 15, 1869, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Fannie A. Thomas, who was born in New Haven, although her parents were natives of West Haven. The two sons of this union are: George T. and Leslie P. Smith. The beautiful fam- ily home, which Mr. Smith built in 1890, is located at No. 194 Howard avenue, where a generous hos- pitality is dispensed by its courteous and genial owner, his intimate friends being numbered among the most prominent social figures of the city. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Howard Avenue M. E. Church.
In political life Mr. Smith has been particularly noted, a leading member of the Republican party, at one time police commissioner, declining all other honors, even the mayoralty. Fraternally he is con- nected with the order of A. O. U. W .. was a charter member of Sterling Lodge, No. 43, and for a period served as one of the trustees. For eight years he has been connected with the Union League Club. and has been a member of the board of governors and chairman of the supply committee, also serving
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this club one year as a director. For seven years he has been a member of the Chamber of Com- merce. In social circles Mr. Smith is popular and active, possessing a pleasing personality, a gift of oratory and the ease and poise of manner that wealth and culture gives. At a late elaborate dinner given by his club to Congressman Sperry, Mr. Smith was the orator of the occasion, acquitting himself in his usual happy manner.
GEORGE HOXIE BEEBE, M. D., the oldest medical practitioner in the town of Guilford, is a native of Rhode Island, born Feb. 1, 1855, in Westerly.
Dr. Beebe is the only son of Rev. D. F. and Sarah E. ( Witter) Beebe, the former of whom was a native of Litchfield county, Conn., and was an ordained minister of the Baptist Church, spending his life in that service. His latter years were passed at Rocky Hill, Hartford Co., Conn., and he died May 16, 1897. at Colebrook, Conn., while on a visit, his remains being interred there temporarily. He was well known in connection with his life work. Mrs. Bcebe, who was born at Westerly, still makes her home at Rocky Hill; she is a lady of culture and refinement.
George H. Beebe attended the common and high schools of his birthplace, and later Hopkinton (R. I.) Academy, from which he was graduated. After teaching school for a year he entered the Medical School of Yale, where he studied a short time, com- pleting his professional preparation at the Univer- sity of New York, where he graduated, receiving his diploma in the spring of 1878. His first loca- tion for practice was at Pontiac, Ill., as he con- sidered the West the best field for a young practi- tioner, and he remained there three years. The next four years he practiced at Charlestown, in his native State, and in. 1885 came to his present loca- tion, where he has been continuously engaged in active practice to the present time. He succeeded to the practice of the late Dr. Hamilton, and has, by skill and devotion to the wants of his patients, built up a large and lucrative clientele, his duties taking him from Guilford to Madison, North Guil- ford, North Branford, and other places in the neigh- borhood. Personally the Doctor is genial and so- ciable, and though his professional success is quite sufficient evidence in itself of his popularity he is no less esteemed in other lines. A stanch Repub- l'ican in politics, he is an earnest supporter of the principles of his party, but he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. However, the people of the town have chosen him to serve as health officer and on the school board, of which he is secretary, and on which he has done efficient work. Socially he is a member of the New England Order of Pro- tection, the Royal Arcanum ( in both of which he is medical examiner), St. Alban Lodge, F. & A. M., of Guilford, and the Chapter. His religious con- nection is with the Congregational Church, to which his wife also belongs.
Dr. Beebe was married in Westerly, April 29, 1879, to Miss May E. Lewis, a native of North Stonington, Conn., and daugliter of Henry Lewis. Three children have blessed this union: Grace, born Sept. 15, 1884; Florence, born Dec. 7, 1886; and Albert Lewis, born May 6, 1889; the daughters are now attending high school. Mrs. Beebe is an intelligent, cultured woman, and a leader in social circles in Guilford, where she shares fully the es- teem and popularity enjoyed by her husband.
KENDRICK. For three quarters of a century, through three generations, the family bearing this name have been prominent in the annals of Water- bury, among those conspicuously prominent and useful being Hon. Greene Kendrick, Hon. John Kendrick and Hon. Greene Kendrick (2), father, son and grandson.
John Kendrick, the grandfather of Hon. Greene Kendrick, and a descendant of an ancestor who came to Massachusetts, was a Virginian, born about 1735, and in his native State was occupied in growing tobacco. Of his four sons, John, William, James and Benjamin, and several daughters, John Kend- rick, the eldest son, was born in 1764, removed to North Carolina about 1786, and was occupied as a cotton planter. His wife Martha, born in 1763, was a daughter of a wealthy planter, believed to be of Welsh descent. John Kendrick was a man of marked ability, religious character, and of eminent usefulness in the affairs of the Church, State and society. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church. His wife was a woman of great force of char- acter, and at their home was dispensed a generous hospitality. He died in 1823, and his wife passed away in 1825. They were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, nine of whom became heads of families.
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