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 88

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

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1 > Part 88

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. CHARLES W. BRADLEY. A valuable chro- nology and genealogy, with a few abbreviated biographies of some of the first settlers of the suburban town on the eastern border of one of the principal New England cities, was edited, com- piled, and published in book form, seventy-eight years ago, by Rev. Stephen Dodd, a resident clergy- man of East Haven. No copies of this valuable work are for sale, and the few still remaining in the town, are treasured with the greatest care by their fortunate possessors. Among those mentiored upon the two hundred pages of the work the Brad- ley families are dealt with at length, and it appears that there were three brothers bearing the name, who came from England to this locality about 1640, one of whom married Elizabeth The record further states that "he first appeared on the Branford records in 1674; is noticed as a sojourner at New Haven and the town, probably Branford, granted him a home lot of two acres, at Conoe Brook." This settler, who removed to East Haven in 1683, had the following children: Isaac; Will- iam; Samuel; Daniel; Sarah, who married George Pardee in 1703; and Elizabeth, who married John Auger in 1710. Thirty-six families having this euphonius cognomen are mentioned in Mr. Dodd's book, after Isaac, the first. The following vital statistics of one branch of the Bradley family, is brought down to about 1812, taken mostly from the volume above mentioned.

Azariah Bradley married Elizabeth Thompson. on Nov. 7, 1759, nothing being said about children. His second wife, Elizabeth Woodward, he marrried

Jan. 18, 1764, and their children were: Elizabeth, born on July 12, 1765 ; Samuel, born on Jan. 6, 1707; Esther, born on Aug. 15, 1770, married Leverett Bradley in 1791; John, born April 9, 1774; Lydia, born July 8, 1776; and Roswell, born Aug. 15,: 1780.

Samuel Bradley, son of Azariah, and the grand-' father of Charles W. Bradley, of East Haven, mar- ried Sarah Bradley, the daughter of Jared Bradley, who, at the time of the marriage of his daughter,; had charge of the Gov. Saltonstall farm, near the lake which bears that name. The children of Sam-, nel and Sarah were: Laura, William, George,' Esther, Lue, Azariah, Adeline, Lydia, Samuel H .; and Justin.

Samuel H. Bradley, son of Samuel, was the vil -; lage blacksmith of East Haven, sixty-five years ago, and by his industry accumulated considerable: wealth. James and Edward E. Thompson, Samuel Chidsey and other large farmers in the town kept for New Haven shippers hundreds of horses and: mules collected in Kentucky. Thus it happened' that a large share of the work which fell to the genial blacksmith consisted in pulling off the shoes of the animals preparatory to shipping. He mar- ried.Sarah Louisa, a daughter of Jacob and Huldah (Stannard) Tyler, the tormer of whom was born in North Branford, and the latter in Westbrook,' Conn. Neither lived to middle age, Samuel Brad- ley dying in 1843, at the age of thirty-five years, and his widow in 1848, at the age of thirty-three.

Charles William Bradley. the only child of Sam -: uel H., was born on the north side of East Haven Green, on Monday, Dec. 8, 1834; and the old home; having withstood the attacks of time and the ele -. ments for more than 100 years, is still a feature of the landscape. Mr. Bradley's preparatory edu- cation was received in the district schools, after which he studied at Branford Academy, under Mr. Frisbie; at Samuel M. Brown's Academic school; at St. Mathew's Hall, Port Colden, N. J., under Rev. P. L. Jaques ; and at a select school, which was conducted in the town hall, in East Haven.

Mr. Bradley is well-known to the residents of East Haven, where for many years he has been iden- tified with public and private interests. For several years he engaged in educational work in this and other towns, and has at times been interested in the grocery and provision business, as well as in agri- culture and stock-raising. In 1867 he was ap- pointed keeper of the New Haven light-house, and he has filled the positions of superintendent of the New Haven alms-house, and secretary of the board of education. As a military man lie was at one time a member of the 2nd Company of the Govern- or's Horse Guards, and as a forceful and even brilliant writer he has for fifty years contributed to the Journal and Courier.

On April 9, 1854, Mr. Bradley was united in marriage with Sarah Amelia Leete, a direct de -: scendant of Gov. William Leete, the chief executive

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of Connecticut, in 1676. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, Annetta Adeline, Harriet Louisa and Seymour Percy.

Seymour Percy Bradley developed into a young man of much more than usual ability. In 1879 he entered the West Point Military Academy as a cadet, a representative from the 2nd Congressional district, of Connecticut, and he is now an official and a civil engineer, in the construction of the rapid transit tunnel, in New York city.

Although at one time the Bradley family seemed almost the most numerous in East Haven, of any there, it has scarcely kept its place in the changing generations. It is believed that at the present time there is only one male member, under thirty, of that name in the place. However, although a recent election showed that but seven Bradleys registered, the name has not by any means become extinct or of little worth in the world. Probably no family in the United States has more conspicuous members in various walks of life, in the many States to which they have drifted, than the family established by the first Bradley in the little Connecticut ham- let, so many years ago.

GEN. . PHELPS MONTGOMERY, Judge Ad- vocate General on the staff of Gov. McLean, was born in Portland, Oregon, Nov. 17, 1872. Though still a young man he has become one of the most popular characters in the city of New Haven, where his manly qualities and genial disposition have won him a host of friends.

Gen. Montgomery was educated at the public schools, the Portland high school. Phillips Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire, and Yale University, of which latter he is a graduate in both the acad- emic and law departments. In 1898 he was admit- ted to the Bar, and on Dec. 10, 1900, he was ap- pointed Judge Advocate General, his appointment being confirmed by the Senate the 7th of the follow- ing January. After his admission to the Bar he opened an office for the practice of the law in asso- ciation with Judge Livingston W. Cleaveland and Roger Sherman Baldwin. He is president of the West Haven Buckle Co., and has considerable inter- ests in many of the large local corporations. He is a popular and genial gentleman, and is prominent alike in social, business and professional circles.

.. Gen. Montgomery was married, Oct. 12, 1896, to Miss Elsie Matthias, only child of the late John J. Matthias, the well-known West India importer and merchant, and granddaughter of the late Daniel Trowbridge, formerly president of the New Haven Gas Light Co. Gen. and Mrs. Montgomery reside in a beautiful home at No. 221 Whitney avenue. They are the parents of three children, Elsie Matth- ias, John Phelps and Mary Marjorie.

Gen. Montgomery was born a Republican and has never changed his political faith. During the campaign of 1900 he was active in his support of the Republican candidates, particularly of Gov. Mc-

Lean, making several effective speeches in his be- half. In Oregon he was connected with the Na- tional Guard, but had no connection with the mili- tary in this State previous to his present incum- bency. Always interested in military affairs, how- ever, he has kept in close touch with them, and the duties of his present position are particularly con- genial to him.

Gen. Montgomery is a member of the Gradu- ates' Club, the Quinnipiac Club, the Union League Club, the Young Men's Republican Club, the Coun- try Club, the New Haven Lawn Club, the Sons of the American Revolution, and Wooster Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is a member of the board of public park commissioners of New Haven and formerly served as a director of the Free Public Library.

Gen. Montgomery is the son of the late James Boyce Montgomery and Mary Phelps Montgomery. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, be- gan to make his own way in the world at the age of sixteen, at the printing trade. He rose to be editor of several successful newspapers, but finding a larger field for his energies in the development of the railroad industry, then in its infancy, he became a contractor, and after meeting with considerable success in his native State moved to the Pacific coast and located in Oregon in 1871. He there con- tinued his railroad building, and was also largely occupied in the manufacture of lumber and in ship- ping wheat to Europe.

The first of the Montgomery family to locate in this country was Archibald Montgomery, who came from Galway, Ireland, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa., where he engaged in farming the re- mainder of his life at what became Montgomery's Ferry, he owning the ferry privilege at that point. William Montgomery, son of Archibald, and father of James B., was born there Jan. 22, 1791, and passed most of his life in his native place, dying in 1852. He was a prosperous farmer.

Gen. Montgomery's mother was born in Spring- field, Mo., daughter of John S. Phelps, who repre- sented that State in Congress for eighteen years, and served as its governor from 1876-80. He com- manded a Union regiment during the war, and was also for a time military governor of Arkansas. Al- though he is known chiefly as a Missourian, having moved there as a young man, he was a native of Simsbury, Conn., and graduated from Trinity Col- lege, in Hartford, or, as it was then known, Wash- ington College.

The Phelps family, which is one of the oldest in New England, is descended from William Phelps, who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, in 1599, and came to Dorchester, Mass., in 1630. In 1636 he became one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., where he died July 14, 1692. He was appointed by the governor and council of Massachusetts as one of the board of com- missioners authorized to govern the people of Connecticut, for one year next ensuing. The

Phelps Montgomery

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

following year the same commissioners, with committees from the three towns then consti- tuting the Colony, carried on the government. Mr. Phelps was chosen one of the magistrates in 1643. From this William Phelps Gen. Montgomery descended through (II) Joseph, born in England in 1629; (III) Joseph (2), born in Windsor in 1667; (IV) David, born in 1710; (V) Gen. Noah, born in Simsbury in 1740 (He fought in the Revo- lutionary war and was at Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen. He entered the fort disguised as a farmer, the day before its capture, and was shaved by the fort barber. He noticed' the armament, position of the sentries, etc., and reported to Ethan Allen) ; (VI) Elisha, born in Simsbury in 1779; (VII) John S., born in Simsbury in 1814; and (VIII) Mary, born in Springfield, Mo., in 1846.

FRANK PECK EVARTS, superintendent of the ornamental department of the Bradley & Hub- bard Manufacturing Co., of Meriden, is one of the city's well-known and esteemed citizens.

Mr. Evarts was born in Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., April 21, 1846, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New Haven county, Conn. The first of the name in New England was John Evarts, who was born in Hereford, England, in 1610, and came to Amercia with some of the early settlers and located at Guilford, Conn., in 1640, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring May 10, 1669; his remains were interred in Guilford. John Evarts was a son of Samuel Evarts, born 1570-74 at Hereford. The Stone fam- ily, which frequently intermarried with the Evarts family, is descended from Rev. Samuel Stone, a non-conformist clergyman of Hereford. John Stone, his son, born 1610, came to Guilford with John Evarts and several others. The distinguished New York statesman, William M. Evarts, was a scion of the same family.

John Evarts was twice married. His first wife, Anne, died in 1651, and was the mother of all his children. His second wife, Eliza, was the wid- ow of John Parmelee, and a daughter of Jacob Sheaffe, of Guilford. The children of John and Anne Evarts were: John, born Feb. 28, 1641, married (first) Mary French, daughter of Thomas French, and (second) Sarah Crampton, daughter of Dennis Crampton, of Killingworth; Judah, born Oct. 27, 1642; James, born 1644, married Lydia Guttridge, daughter of Nicholas Guttridge; Daniel, born 1646, married Elizabeth Baldwin, daughter of John Baldwin; and Eliza, born 1648, married Peter Abbott.

(II) Judah Evarts, son of John,. was born at Guilford, Oct. 27, 1642. married Aug. 3. 1670. Mary Hayden, daughter of Thomas Hayden, of Killing- worth. He died in 1696. His children were: Mary, born June 28, 1675, died 1678; Samuel, born Oct. 4, 1678; Mary (2), born May 16, 1682, died young; and Ebenezer, born June 16, 1688.

(III) Ebenezer Evarts, son of Judah, was born in what is now the town of Meriden, June 16, 1688, married Rachel Crampton, of Killingworth, May I, 1711, and died at Saybrook, Conn., in 1759. His children were: Rachel, who died young; John, born in 1714, married Submit Stone; Ebenezer, born in 1716, married Ann Norton ; Rachel, born in 1718, married Benjamin Stone; and Anna.

(IV) John Evarts, son of Ebenezer, born in 1714, married in 1738, Submit Stone, and their children were: John, born in 1739, married Naomi Branch in 1769; Samuel, born in 1741 ; Daniel and Anna died young.

(V) John Evarts, son of John and Submit (Stone) Evarts, born in 1739, married, either in Guilford or Killingworth. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His children are thus recorded : Samuel, born in 1771; Daniel, in 1773; John, in 1775; Isaac, in 1778; Emeline, in 1780; and Branch.

(VI) Isaac Evarts, fourth son of John and Sub- mit Evarts, born in 1778, married Nov. 28, 1799, Elizabeth Phinney, who was born Sept. 20, 1778, and died Aug. 30, 1855. Isaac died of cholera in Athens, N. Y., Sept. 2, 1832. His children were: Claudius Lucius, born Jan. 6, 1804, died in Low- ville, Wis., Aug. 29, 1854; Lauriston Lewis, born Feb. 26, 1806, died Jan. 28, 1813; Marcus Corn- ight, born May 1, 1808, died May 22, 1872; Char- lotte Ann, born Sept. 5, 1810, died Nov. 21, 1890; Clythera, born July 1, 1812, died April 13, 1840; Emeline, born July 1, 1814, died Dec. 7, 1879; Isaac Branch, born Feb. 13, 1816, died May 2, 1864; Lauriston Lewis (2), born Sept. 20, 1821, was killed by lightning, June 15, 1832; and Philo Gris- wold, born Aug. 15, 1823.

(VII) Philo Griswold Evarts, father of Frank P. Evarts of Meriden, was born Aug. 15, 1823, at Athens, N. Y., where he was educated. He began his business life as commander of a sloop which plied the Hudson river between Athens and New York city. Later he carried on a business in stoneware and pottery, at Hudson, N. Y. On June 13, 1845, he was married, in Athens, N. Y., to Jane Pallas Seward, who was born in Scipio, New York, Sept. 5, 1822, a distant cousin of the noted Auburn statesman, Wiliam H. Seward, who was secretary of State, under President Lincoln.

After the birth of his son, Mr. Evarts went West, with his family, locating in Middleburg, Ohio, where he followed the pottery business. From there he removed to Bridgeport, Mich., and there became financially interested in the lumber business. From there he moved to Lowville, Wis., and en- gaged in farming until 1858, returning then to Mich- igan. Until 1860 he resided in Bridgeport, where he was interested in the salt works, removing from there to Oberlin, Ohio. In the latter city he worked as a carpenter and joiner, and during his residence there joined the State militia, which was called out by the Governor of Ohio at the beginning of the Civil war. In 1864, Mr. Evarts returned East, and

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after locating in Southington, Conn., enlisted in the 12th Conn. V. I. From the close of the war until 1870, Mr. Evarts worked at his trade, coming in that year to Meriden, where he died, in June, 1898, and was interred in the West cemetery. He drew a pension for military service.

Mr. Evarts was a Democrat in his earlier life, but later became a Republican. In his last years he became attached to the Prohibition party, taking a deep interest in the work of this organization. He belonged to Merriam Post, No. 8, G. A. R., Meriden, in which he was a valued contrade. His wife also died in Meriden, March 8, 1900, and rests beside her husband, in West cemetery. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evarts were consistent members of the Methodist Church, earnest workers for the advance- ment of religious and moral enterprises, and were held in high esteem. They had three children, namely: Frank Peck, our subject, born April 21, ! 1846; Benjamin Seward, born in Bridgeport, Mich., Oct. 4, 1851, as a painter and decorator by trade, married Clara Vandenberg, of Coeymans, New York, and died in Meriden, in March, 1901; and Charles Lucius, born in Lowville, Wis., Aug. 10, 1856, married Charlotte (Lottie) Lucas, of Meri- den, and resides in Boston.

Frank Peck Evarts was educated at Oberlin, Ohio, and later learned the carpenter trade with his father, and worked at it successfully prior to the location of the family in Southington. At this time, although but a lad of seventeen, he was fired with the patriotic spirit which was sweeping in such a wave over the country, and unknown to his parents, made his way to Hartford, in March, 1863, and there enlisted in Co. I, 12th Conn. V. I., under Col: Peck and Capt. Frank Smith. Until the close of the war, the young soldier served his country faith- fully and well, participating in the operations of the Army of the Gulf, and in Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign. He was discharged at Savannah, and with the thousands of the survivors, took part in the triumphal review at Washington, D. C.

After being mustered out of the army, at Hart- ford, Mr. Evarts returned to the family home and followed his trade until 1869, when he accepted a position as millwright with the great Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Co., of Meriden. Since that time Mr. Evarts has been a resident of Meriden, and has watched with interest the growth of many of its great concerns. The plans from which the Winthrop Hotel was erected, were drawn under his supervision and he superintended its construction. Mr. Evarts occupies a position of responsibility with the Bradley & Hubbard Co., in being the super- intendent of the ornamental department, and pos- sesses the confidence of the directors to such a de- gree that he is sent on the road as their representa- tive, a part of the time. He has made the interests of the house his own interests, and by honesty and reliability has attained his present position.

On Sept. 3, 1867, in New Britain, Conn., Mr.

Evarts was married to Mary H. Bodwell, born in Farmington, Conn., daughter of Woodbridge and Sarah Elizabeth (Hull) Bodwell. The latter was a daughter of Timothy Gilbert and Polly ( Ocame) Hull, natives of Old Milford. Mrs. Evarts is a member of Susan Carrington Clarke Chapter, D. A. R., being a descendant of Benjamin Bodwell, a soldier of the Revolution. Isaac, father of Timothy Hull, was a pensioner of the Revolution. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Evarts, namely: Arion F., born Nov. 14, 1868. is a photog- rapher connected with the Bradley & Hubbard Co., married Elizabeth Walker, of New Britain, and has one child, Walter Bodwell; and Walter Clement, born Nov. 21, 1875, died March 3, 1876.

Mr. Evarts has taken a very active part in po- litical life in Meriden. He is a Republican, and in 1890 was elected alderman from the Second ward. serving with efficiency on the committees on Water, Fire and Claims. Both his wife and son, with him- self, are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Evarts has been prominently identified with fraternal and social organizations, being well-known and valued in Meridian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .; Ham- ilton. Council, No. 22, R. & S. M .; St. Elmo Com- mandery, No. 9, K. T .; Pilgrim Harbor Council, No. 543. Royal Arcanum : Loval Additional Benefit Association : and the Home Club. In the social circles of Meriden, both Mr. and Mrs. Evarts are factors. Although now Mrs. Evarts devotes the greater part of her time and interest to her family circle. many of her admirers remember her as a gifted vocalist, who contributed to the church music in Hartford, New Britain and Meriden. The beau- tiful family residence is the result of plans and de- signs made by Mr. Evarts, and it stands as one of the most imposing and attractive on Lincoln Street, Meriden, testifying in a very substantial way, to the mechanical knowledge and artistic genius of its owner.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON MACKAY. a well- known and much respected citizen of Meriden, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born near Troy, Bradford Co., Penn., Nov. 13, .1840, a son of John- R. Mackay, and a grandson of Captain Daniel Mackay.

Daniel Mackay was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a member of a Highland Clan whose coat-of-arms dates back more than a thousand years. The greater part of Captain Mackay's life was spent at sea, where he was in command of a ship which sailed from Edinburgh. After being shipwrecked seven times, he met with an accident from the ef- fects of which he was compelled to retire from the sea, and spent his last years at home, where he died, old in years and prolific of honors.

Mrs. Mackay, who was formerly Mary Rait, was born in Lannock, Scotland, and became the mother of five children: (1) William, who died in

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Edinburgh, his native home; (2) Catherine, who died young; (3) John Rait; (4) Donald, who lived at one time in Meriden, and later in Long Island, where he died; and (5) Mary, who died young.

John R. Mackay was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, where his parents died in 1813, and where he learned the silversmith's trade. When a young man he came to the New World, locating first in Canada, where he was employed for a time with the Hudson Bay Company. Removing to New York City some years later, he married Isabella K. Robertson, daughter of William Robertson, a native of Scot- land, and at that time a crockery merchant in New York. Mr. Mackay removed to Pennsylvania with his young bride, making a home near Troy, in Bradford county, where he followed farming for several years. Not finding the life of an agricul- turist as congenial and remunerative as he hoped, he returned to New York City and resumed his trade as a silversmith,, working principally in Sterling Silver. At a later period he removed to Dorchester, Mass., and found employment with R. Gleason & Sons, a position maintained until shifting his al- legiance with the starting of the Britannia business by H. C. Wilcox and others, in Wallingford, Conn. When the latter named concern was removed to Meriden, Mr. Mackay brought his family to this city, where he passed the remainder of his life work- ing in the die and mould-making department of the Meriden Britannia Company. While still in middle life he died in 1878, and was buried in Wal- nut Grove Cemetery. In politics he was first a Whig, and became by natural development a Repub- lican. His devoted wife and widow died in 1880, and was also laid to rest in Walnut Grove cemetery. In religion she was a member of the Congregational Church, a Christian woman, and devoted to her home and family. Mr. and Mrs. Mackay had a family of four children: (1) Daniel, who died in Wallingford in 1868, and was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, married Cecilia Kissam, and had two children, Isabella Robertson, who died young; Elizabeth, who married D. A. Toles. of Jersey City, N. J .; (2) William Robertson ; (3) John Rait, who died in Meriden in 1901, and was buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery; (4) Catherine B., of Meriden. The latter is an active worker in the Congregational Church, and is a woman of marked culture and social ability.

William Robertson Mackay removed with his parents to New York City, where he attended school. and later went to Dorchester, Mass. While still in his teens he came to Wallingford and worked in the Britannia shops until the breaking-out of the ' Civil war. On Aug. 6, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany K, 15th Conn. Vol. Infantry, under Col. Dex- ter R. Wright, and Capt. H. H. Stiles, of New Haven, and, as recruiting officer, succeeded in en- listing fifty-nine men. Serving until his discharge at New Haven at the close of the war, he partici-

pated in the various engagements of his command, and was never sick or off duty a day.

Upon resuming a life of peace, Mr. Mackay lo- cated in Meriden, where his parents were living at the time, and worked for nine months in the spin- ning department of the Meriden Britannia Company. Being a man of resource and possessing progressive ideas, he formed, in company with P. S. Pelton, Jesse Cline, Henry Lewis and Lewis Hall, a Britan- nia business in Philadelphia, a venture of short dura- tion, owing to the fact that the climate and com- mercial spirit of Meriden were more favorable to a profitable management of the business. When the firm of Parker, Casper & Company was formed, Mr. Mackay became interested therein, and was a stock- holder and contractor for three years. He was also engaged in contracting with the Silver Plating house of the Wilcox Company, and continued with that house until the formation of the Meriden Silver Plate Co., of which he was one of the organizers and stockholders, and assistant treasurer and super- intendent for over thirty years. He then became identified with the International Silver Company, and has since efficiently performed his numerous duties to the entire satisfaction of the management of that institution.

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Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1, Part 88

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

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