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 2 > Part 19
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Marcus Merriman, Jr., father of Charles G., was born in New Haven, and there died Dec. 1I, 1864. On Sept. 12, 1813, he married Mary Hotchkiss, who was born in New Haven, March 18, 1793, a daugh- ter of Hezekiah Hotchkiss, also a native of New Haven, and a member of an old Connecticut family. Mrs. Merriman died March 12, 1855. Nine chil- dren blessed this union, of whom we have the fol- lowing brief record: James E., born Jan. 27, 1815. resided in Memphis, Tenn., where he was engaged in the jewelry business ; he died May 15, 1879. in New Haven. Marcus P., born Nov. 18, 1817, died June 3, 1821. Elias P., born May 1, 1819, lives in Westville; for many years he was in the tax col- lector's office. George T., born Feb. 22. 1821, died on November 29, 1829. ject proper of this article.
Charles G. is the sub- William, born Dec. 22, 1825, died in infancy. Mary G., born June 13, 1827, died in July, 1830. Grace H., born Nov. 2, 1820, died Dec. 17, 1834. Samuel P., born July 9, 1831, died Sept. 21, 1854. Marcus Merriman, Jr., the father of this family, was a silversmith during his early manhood, and in later life a manufacturer of hardware. He took a very active part in the pub- lic affairs of his section, held numerous local offices,
and discharged the duties thereof so completely to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens that they hon- ored him with election to the State Senate. His political affiliation was originally with the Whig party, and he eventually became a Republican. In religion he was a Congregationalist, holding mem- bership with the North Church.
Charles Granniss Merriman remained in the city of his birth until he was fourteen, and received his literary training in the Lancasterian School, where Mr. Lovell was then the instructor. He then went to New York City, remaining there until he was twenty-one, when he went to Montgomery, Ala., for two years. His next move was to Memphis, Tenn., where he resided for twenty years, engaged in the jewelry business. In 1858 Mr. Merriman brought his family to Hamden, Conn., purchasing a farm whereon they lived until 1875, since which year their home has been in Westville. He never engaged in farming as an occupation, residing on the place mentioned from preference. No citizen of the community enjoys more thoroughly the es- teem and affection of his neighbors than does our subject. Mr. Merriman has literary tastes, which in his years of retirement he has had plenty of op- portunity to gratify. He has written numerous arti- cles for different papers, and has published several books of poems, among them "The Legend of the Sleeping Giant," "Crude Thoughts In Verse," "Past and Present," and "Memories, Reminiscences, etc. in verse of the Old Lancasterian School." Like his father before him, he is a Republican in politics and a Congregationalist in religion, in the latter con- nection holding membership in the Westville Con- gregational Church.
On Aug. 22, 1855, Mr. Merriman married Miss Martha L. White, who was born in Waterbury, Conn., but was living in Memphis at the time of their marriage. Her parents, Hiram J. and Hen- rietta White, were Waterbury people. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Merriman: Fran- cis, who died in infancy; Laura W., who died Oct. 15, 1880, aged twenty-two years; and Miss Alice M., residing at home.
ROMANTA T. LINSLEY, one of the leading and influential men of North Haven, is a worthy representative of an old family in Connecticut. The original settlers in America were two brothers, Francis and John, who came from England, and located and bought land in Totoket, in 1643. From John are descended the Linsleys of North Haven. For genealogy see sketch of Edward Lee Linsley, elsewhere in this volume.
Romanta T. Linsley was born in Northiford, Dec. 17, 1832, and received every educational ad- vantage that the time and place afforded, having both district and select schooling. Until eighteen years of age he attended school, a part of the time, and assisted about the farm, and then started to learn the cabinet maker's trade, later the car-
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penter's trade. His first wages did not cover more than the price of his board. Hampered by poor health, he was not able to continue very long at . one occupation. He worked in North Haven in an agricultural implement factory, and then went to Pennsylvania, where he tried work on a railroad. Returning later to North Haven, he assisted his father in the lumber business. The war breaking out, his brother Samuel gave up his butchering business to become a soldier, and our subject took charge of this, selling meat over a large territory. Closing out this business, he returned to his old trade of joiner, and continued in that line until 1885, when he was elected first selectman, to the duties of which office he gave his whole time and attention. For twelve years Mr. Linsley held that important position, his term expiring in 1897. since which time he has lived on the pleasant farm of eleven acres, somewhat retired from public life. During his administration the beautiful Memorial Hall, in North Haven, was erected, and he was chairman of the building committee. In October, 1899, he was further honored by his fellow citi- zens with the appointment to the office of town treasurer, to succeed the late F. Hayden Todd, which position he still fills. He has also served efficiently as grand juror.
Mr. Linsley married Miss Angeline B. Pardee, a native of North Haven, a daughter of John and Deborah (Todd) Pardee, and the only child of this union was Idora, who was born Aug. 2, 1858, and who died March 18, 1872. In politics Mr. Linsley is a stanch Republican. For twenty-five years he has been the treasurer of the Episcopal Church, of North Haven, and yet retains the po- sition, and he has also been vestryman ; both he and his wife are valued members of the same. Kind and obliging in manner, Mr. Linsley has many friends, and is regarded as one of the substantial and representative men of North Haven.
ALFRED D. TYRRILL, superintendent of the New Haven branch of the National Casket Co., is one of the well known men of the business world in New Haven. Almost his entire life has been passed within the confines of New Haven county, and there, where he is so well known in commercial and social circles, no man stands higher in the estimation of the people. He was born in Derby, Conn., Dec. 10, 1837, a son of Isaac H. Tyrrill, of that town.
Isaac H. Tvrrill was born Jan. 5, 1812, a son of Eben Tyrrill, and his wife Esther, the former of whom was born in 1784, and died Feb. 21, 1825, and the latter born Oct. 17, 1780, and died Jan. 10, 1835. Isaac H. Tyrrill grew to manhood in Derby, and there learned the joiner's trade, be- coming a master builder. In political sentiment he was a stanch Whig, and in his religious faith an Episcopalian. He married Harriett S. Blake, who was born April 6, 1811, a daughter of Isaac
Blake, and died June 1, 1874. Two children were born to them, Elmore S., born March 17, 1835, now residing in New Haven; and Alfred D., our subject.
Alfred D. Tyrrill was one year of age when his parents removed from Derby to Newtown, Conn., and there lie acquired his literary training in the public schools and in the academy, under the personal tuition of J. Homer French and J. E. Goodhue. He was prepared for Trinity Col- lege, but was obliged to abandon his intention in regard to a higher education by the failure of his health. Until he was twenty-one years of age he engaged in teaching in the public schools, spending his summers in looking after his mother's prop- erty. By the time he had gained his majority he had become prominent in public affairs, and he was elected to several offices at different times, being town clerk for three years, registrar of vital statis- tics for a like period, member of the board of edu- cation six years, etc. He had six schools under his charge to visit and examine all the teachers, and was chief constable for three years, tax col- lector one year. When President Buchanan was in power, Jerome Judson was postmaster, but as he was in business in Sandy Hook, Mr. Tyrrill attended to the postoffice. After four years in Newtown, closing up his affairs, he, in 1864, came to New Haven, and has since made it his home. His first employment in this city was as a laborer in the New Haven Clock Co .; he remained with this company some twelve years in various posi- tions, but by straining his eyes while filing saws, he lost the sight of one eye. He was an expert saw filer and held a position as such for fifteen years, at the end of which time he became assistant super- intendent of the company he had served so long. After one year he was chosen superintendent, tak- ing entire charge of the case and brass depart- ment. After nine years in this responsible position he resigned, and for a short time was engaged in the retail grocery business. In 1891 he became superintendent of the National Casket Co., and in 1899, when that company became the New Haven branch of the National Casket Co., Mr. Tyrrill was appointed superintendent, and this he con- tinues to be. He has built up a large trade, and has won much praise for his management of the company's interests in New Haven.
On Dec. 21, 1858, Mr. Tyrrill was married to Miss Martha Dikeman, who was born in New- town, Conn., a daughter of Ebenezer and Betsey M. (Dikeman) Dikeman, the former born in New- town, a son of Nathaniel Dikeman, and the latter born in Danbury, a daughter of Niram and Pat- tie (Berker) Dikeman. Niram and Nathaniel Dikeman were brothers, and they were the sons of Thaddeus Dikeman. Two children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrill: (1) Dwight S .. born Jan. 2, 1860, has for many years been asso- ciated with his father. When the latter was super-
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intendent of the Clock Co., Dwight was the assist- ant superintendent, and again with the National Casket Co., Dwight was bookkeeper for two years, then traveling salesman for a like period, and now is foreman of the Mill department. He married Anna Daniels, and makes his home in New Haven. (2) Gertrude married William M. Reid, of Hart- ford, where he is salesman in Brown & Thompson's fry-goods store, the leading business of its kind in Hartford. Politically Mr. Tyrrill is a Democrat, but in local affairs acts independently, voting for the best man regardless of party. He is a member of Wooster Lodge, No. 79, F. & A. M., and the Mutual Benefit Association. For fourteen years he was a member of the Second Company, Gov- ernor's Foot Guards, and for the last seven years of that time was secretary and treasurer. When a young man, Mr. Tyrrill was possessed of a tenor voice of good quality, and for many years he was the soloist in the Episcopal Church choir in New- town, and also in other choirs.
HON. JOHN QUINCY THAYER, of Meri- den, for thirty years and more one of its substantial men and honored citizens, and now Judge of Pro- bate for the Meriden district, and a veteran of the Civil war, has long held a prominent position in the professional and social circles of the city, in which his useful life is passing.
Judge Thayer was born March 24, 1843, in the town of New Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn., a son of Augustine and Electa ( Fairchild) Thayer, and a grandson of Lemuel and Lucy ( Brownson ) Thayer. Electa Fairchild belonged to the old and respected family of that name in Newtown, Conn., where she passed her girlhood and early womanhood.
Augustine Thayer was a carpenter and builder, and followed his trade all his active life in New Milford, where he was justice of the peace for a number of years. A man of unassuming spirit and genuine worth, his advice commanded respect, and many disputes were settled by him out of court. For fifty years he was a member of the Congregational Church, and his daily life brought no blush of shame to his Christian profession. As a good husband and a kind father, as well as loyal and faithful friend, he is tenderly remembered by those who knew him most intimately. He was a strong Anti-slavery man, and gave very substantial aid to the cause of the Union in the days of war and strife.
The Fairchild family, as noted above, has long been noted in Fairfield county, and is supposed to be of Scottish origin, the name being written Fair- bairn in the early days. The family coat-of-arms indicates that some of its members took part in the Crusades from 1096 to 1400 A. D. The family re- moved from Scotland to England where the name became Fairchild. Thomas Fairchild, who was the first of the name in America, came with the first set- tlers, locating at Stratford, Fairfield county, in the rising colony of Connecticut. He became a mer-
chant, and was one of the leading men of the settle- ment, holding various positions of honor and respon- sibility. In 1664 he was justice of the peace, and was also a leather sealer for the county. In 1654 he, with his brother, and Thomas Sherwood, were appointed a committee to draft men for the Narragansett war. His death occurred Dec. 14, 1670. Miss Seabrook, a sister of Mrs. Thomas Sherwood, was his first wife; and Miss Catherine Craigg, of London, Conn., his second. To these two marriages were born six children.
Thomas Fairchild, born in 1644, was the first white child born in Stratford. He lived and died in his native town, and was the father of the following children : John, Josiah, Priscilla and Emma.
Josiah Fairchild, noted in the preceding para- graph, was born in Stratford, in 1664, where he was a land owner, and where he died. Edward Fairchild, his son, was born in Stratford, where he grew to manhood, and in 1720 removed to New- town, Fairfield county, where he spent the remainder of his life and where his posterity still abide. He was married, and became the father of Jonathan, Ebenezer, Moses and James.
James Fairchild, the great-great-grandfather of Judge Thayer, was born in Newtown, Conn., where he lived and died. He was a land owner and a farmer, and spent his life in his native community. Silas, Philo and James were his children.
Silas Fairchild, the great-grandfather of Judge Thayer, was born in Newtown, in 1748, and was married to Sarah Godfrey, of Weston, Conn., who died March 31, 1832, at the age of eighty-three years. He died Dec. 17, 1821. He was a prom- inent man and was commissioned lieutenant and subsequently a captain of Train Band by Governor Trumbull. His children were as follows: Joseph. born Aug. 12, 1770; Abigail, born Aug. 10, 1772, died March 28, 1794; Stephen Bradley, born May 31, 1774, died Feb. 19, 1775; Polly, born March 3. 1776, died Jan. 22, 1794; Sarah, born July 6, 1781.
Joseph Fairchild, the grandfather of Judge Thayer, died June 23, 1855, and his years covered a long and critical period in the history of the Re- public. He was three times married, his second wife being Amarillas Dibble, of Danbury, Conn. She died Jan. 10, 1827, and their daughter, Electa, became the wife of Augustine Thayer, and the mother of Judge Thayer, as already noted.
Judge Thayer received his preliminary education in the old Housatonic Institute at New Milford. where he was being prepared for College at the breaking out of the Civil war. The firing on Fort Sumter, and the stirring scenes of the summer of 1861, aroused within his heart a patriotic devo- tion that could not be denied, and he left the school room for the tented field, enlisting Sept. 21, 1861. in Company I, 8th Conn. V. I., and was mustered into the United States service with his company and regiment the same day. This command became a part of the Eastern army, sailing with the Burn-
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side expedition in January, 1862, and from that time until its discharge, Dec. 12, 1865, saw much active service, and made an honorable record for itself on many a bloody field. Judge Thayer shared the for- tunes of his regiment from start to finish, and par- ticipated in the following notable engagements : Newbern, N. C., March 14, 1862; siege of Macon, in April, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862; Fort Huger, April 19, 1863; Walthall Junction, Va., May 7, 1864; Fort Darling, Va., May 16, 1864; Petersburg, Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Fort Harrison, Va., Sept. 29, 1864, and entered Richmond with his regi- ment April 3. 1865. After the fall of Richmond he was detailed as clerk in the Adjutant-General's de- partment of the 24th Army Corps, commanded by General Ord, and subsequently, after the dissolution of that corps was assigned to duty at the headquar- ters of the Department of Virginia, commanded by General Terry, where he served until discharged in December, 1865. When his four years and three months of military service were over, young Thayer returned to his home with a record as a Union sol- dier, of which he and his friends may well be proud.
Judge Thayer promptly resumed his studious habits, and became a student in the office of Will- iam Knapp, of New Milford, studying law under his most efficient direction, being admitted to the Litchfield Bar in 1869. In that year he located at Meriden, and for three years it was his privilege to be in the office with Hon. O. H. Platt, now United States Senator from Connecticut. After this period, Mr. Thayer was associated in the practice of the law with Hon. Ratliff Hicks, under the firm name of Hicks & Thayer. This partnership continued sev- eral years, and since its dissolution Judge Thayer has not been a member of any legal firm. Judge Thayer has served several terms as a city attorney, and for about thirteen years was assistant judge and clerk of the city and police court of Meriden. He has also been justice of the peace and a judge advocate of the department of Connecticut G. A. R., and was chosen to his present position. Judge of the Court of Probate for the Meriden district, in 1893, ably performing its many and complicated duties, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Judge Thayer is a man of ability, of the strictest integrity, and com- mands the esteem and respect of the community in which he has so long lived.
On Jan. 19, 1873, Judge Thayer was married to Annie S., a daughter of S. K. Devereux, of Castine. Maine, Collector of Customs of the Port of Castine. The only child of this union was Zerline Devereux, born in Meriden, Conn., May 29, 1880, and died Dec. 9, 1884.
GATES. Throughout the past century there have lived in the town of Derby several generations of the Gates family, among whom have been men of prominence, wealth and large influence in the com- munity-such men as the late Col. Robert Gates and Robert Wilder Gates, and the present Hon. Robert
Owen Gates, former high sheriff of New Haven county, and a man of prominence not only in the town and county but in the State. Various mem -. bers of the earlier generations in America ranked with the most prominent as well as the earliest of the settlers of New England.
Capt. George Gates, the progenitor of the Derby branch of the Gates family, was born about 1634, in England, and came to this country when about seventeen years old, in the care of Capt. Nicholas Olmsted. He was of Hartford, Conn., as early as 1661, and in the following year was an original pro- prietor of East Haddam, which locality was the home of his descendants for generations. He was captain of the First Military Company of Haddam, and served as such until October, 1697. Capt. Gates married Sarah, eldest daughter of Capt. Nicholas Olmsted, of Hartford, son of James, who came to Boston in 1632, and removed to Hartford in 1636, becoming an original proprietor. Nicholas Olmsted was one of the prominent public men of Hartford, and held important public offices. He served in the Pequot war, also in King Philip's war, was ap- pointed a captain and sent to New London in 1675. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Loomis, of Windsor, Conn. Capt. George Gates lived to be about ninety years of age, dying in 1724, and his wife died in 1704. From this Capt. Gates and wife, Robert Owen Gates of Derby, is a descendant in the eighth generation, his line being through Deacon Joseph, Deacon and Capt. Joseph, Ensign Bazaliel, Bazaliel (2), Col. Robert and Robert Wilder Gates.
(II) Deacon Joseph Gates, son of Capt. George, the settler, born in 1662, married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Thomas Hungerford (2), and granddaughter of Thomas Hungerford, of Hartford, and New Lon- don. Deacon Gates died in 1712, and his widow passed away in 1759.
(III) Deacon and Capt. Joseph Gates, son of Deacon Joseph, born in 1695-96, married in 1719 Hannah Brainard, who was born in 1694, daughter of Deacon Daniel and Hannah ( Ventris) Brain- ard, of Haddam, and granddaughter of Daniel and Hannah ( Spencer) Brainard. Deacon Joseph Gates died in 1770, and his wife Hannah in 1744.
(IV) Ensign Bazaliel Gates, son of Deacon and Capt. Joseph Gates, born in 1726, married in 1750 Mary Brainard, who died in 1796.
(V) Bazaliel Gates (2), son of Ensign Bazaliel, born in 1751, married Dorothy Wilder, and died in 1789.
(VI) Col. Robert Gates, son of Bazaliel (2), born Dec. 16, 1780, married March 17, 1804, Re- becca Howe, born May 12, 1782, daughter of Elisha and Ann ( Hollister) Howe, of Glastonbury, Conn. Col. Gates died Feb. 27, 1865, and his wife passed away July 6, 1856. Col. Gates early in life removed from East Haddam to Derby, in which town he ever afterward made his home. He engaged in merchan- dising, keeping one of the principal stores in the Naugatuck Valley, from which many of the settlers
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Josh O. Later
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in that whole region of country obtained their sup- plies. He also owned vessels, freighting between Derby and New York, became a very prosperous and successful man, and was prominent and influential in the community. He was postmaster of Derby from 1833 to 1849, and served in the State Legis- lature in 1838. He served in the war of 1812 in the Connecticut militia, and our subject has four ·commissions hanging in his spacious hall given to the Colonel by the government of Connecticut, as follows : In 1807, when he was appointed by Gen. Trumbull captain; in 1813, when he became cap- tain of the third company of artillery ; in 1816, when he became major; and in 1818, when he was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In Sep- tember, 1813, he and his company were ordered to New London, and served forty-five days. It is said that he furnished and equipped his company on this expedition and is so reported in history. The "Derby History" states that he furnished ma- terial aid to the cause. Rebecca ( Howe), his wife, on her mother's side was a direct descendant of Lieut. John Hollister, Richard Treat, John Tal- cott, Hon. Elizur Holyoke, John Robbins. Gov. Thomas Welles, the Gaylords, Mott, Pynchon and Butler families, all prominent in the early Colonial history of New England.
(VII) Robert Wilder Gates, son of Col. Robert, was born in Derby, June 6, 1812. On June 21, 1833, in old Trinity Church, New York, by Bishop On- derdonk, he was married to Ann Maria Townsend Hotchkiss, born June 8, 1813, daughter of John Owen Hotchkiss. Mr. Gates died Dec. 9, 1882, and his widow May 6, 1891. Mr. Gates was a citizen of Derby throughout his long lifetime. In his boyhood and young manhood he assisted his father in the conduct of his business, and along in the "thirties" became associated with James Standish as a builder and contractor, and at the same time was engaged in the lumber business. Subsequently, associated with J. J. Brown, he was engaged in the carriage business. Like his father before him, he was a successful business man, prosperous in his under- takings, and was a man of means and influence in the town. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. For a time, beginning early in 1853, he served as postmaster of Derby, and he also served as assessor and as deputy sheriff. He com -. manded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
ROBERT OWEN GATES. son of Robert Wilder, was born Nov. 23, 1838, in Derby, and in the public schools of that town received his education. After his school days were over, he for a period assisted his father in his carriage business. Later on and while yet a boy, was a clerk in the office of the Hart- ford & New Haven Railroad Company, at Spring. field, under B. B. Woodford, then in charge there. Following an experience of a year or two so occu- pied in Springfield, he returned to his native town. and became employed in the manufacturing plant of Robert N. Bassett, who in the latter part of the
fifties began the manufacture of hoop-skirt wires and metal corset material, though previously en- gaged for many years in other lines of manufacture. Here young Gates early developed marked ability in the business of manufacturing, and rose rapidly to positions of trust and responsibility. He remained actively and energetically connected with the es- tablishment for a decade and more, and for much of the time was in charge of the factory. Such was his energy and ability, and his fidelity to his em- ployers, that while at the beginning his wages were but a dollar and a half per day they were speedily advanced until he commanded a salary of several thousand dollars per year. An idea of the growth of the business during Mr. Gates' connection with the establishment is shown in what follows. In 1858 only twenty braiders were employed, while in 1868 nine hundred were in running order. In 1858 one man tended five machines, while in 1868 one girl had charge of forty. In busy times the plant was operated 23 1-3 out of the 24 hours ; and toward the close of the decade between 1860 and 1870 there were used annually 75 tons of cotton and 500 tons of wire, making about 75,000,000 vards of braid. For a period during the Civil war the profits of the business netted something like $50,000 per year.
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