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 2
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Mr. Lines was born in New Haven, Sept. 13. 1797, not far from the historic old mansion at No.
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Augustus Lines
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144 Olive street still occupied by his widow, and where . he resided for over eighty years. It was built in 1804, by one of his ancestors, and is one of the oldest houses in that part of the State. . The Lines family has long been located in Woodbridge, this county, and there our subject's father, Ezra Lines, was born. Coming to New Haven in early manhood, Ezra Lines remained in that city until his death, at the age of sixty, engaged in mercantile business. He was three times married, and Au- gustus was one of the six children (all now de- ceased) born to his last union, with Elizabeth Um- berfield. She also died at the age of sixty. They were originally Episcopalians in religious connec- tion, and later attended the North Church, known as the United Church.
Augustus Lines was reared and educated in the city of his birth, and early commenced his business training under the careful guidance of his father. later carrying on that store on his own account for a time. He subsequently had a tailoring establish- ment, in which, as in his other business ventures, he made a decided success. He was long a director in the New Haven National Bank, the oldest bank in the city, at the corner of Orange and Chapel streets. and was regarded as a man of integrity and un- questioned honor in every transaction. As above mentioned, he was on the board of assessors for thirty years, and was the oldest member thereof at the time of his retirement. He was also on the school committee for many years. Mr. Lines reached the age of ninety, dying Dec. 31, 1887, and he was remarkably well preserved, retaining his faculties to the last and continuing to take an active interest in all around him. In political faith he was a stanch Republican.
Augustus Lines married Lucy Ann Ritter, and they had three children; ( 1) Augustus E., who re- sides in New Haven, married Mary A. Kimberly. (2) George P. died in New Haven in June, 1875. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Elmira Augur, had two children, who died very young ; there were no children by his second union, with Ann Eliza Hibbard. (3) Jane E., born Aug. 2, 1830, resides in New Haven.
On Aug. 5, 1852, Mr. Lines was united in mar- riage with Miss Martha Kimberly, a native of New Haven, and they made their home at once in the old Lines residence, where Mrs. Lines still resides. Two children blessed this union, Martha Kimberly and Maria Kimberly, the eldest dying in infancy. Maria K. Lines became the wife of James Henry Rowland, Jr., of New Haven, and died at the age of twenty-nine years. They had four children : Stuart Lines, Mabel Silliman (now Mrs. William C. Lloyd, of New Haven), Marion (deceased) and Edith (deceased). Mrs. Lines attends the. Third Church (Congregational).
THE KIMBERLY FAMILY, to which Mrs. Lines belongs, has long been identified with West Haven, and was founded in America by Thomas Kimberly,
who came from London to New Haven in 1638. He was one of the founders of the New Haven Colony. He removed to Stratford, and died in 1673. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, and Eleazer was the first male white child born in New Haven ; he became a prominent man, was for many years secretary of State, and died at Glaston- bury in 1707, leaving one son and four daughters. Thomas, the second son of Thomas, died at New Haven in February, 1705, leaving no children. Abraham was killed by the Indians in South Caro- lina. Nathaniel is next in the line of descent to Mrs. Lines.
(II) Nathaniel Kimberly died at West Haven in 1705. He had five children : Mrs. Elizabeth Mall- ory, Mrs. Sarah Blakeslee, Nathaniel, Mrs. Kirby and Mrs. Mary Chittenden.
(III) Nathaniel Kimerbly (2), son of Nathaniel, died at West Haven in 1720. His children were: Nathaniel (3), Zuriel, Abraham, Abigail, Hannah, Mary and Bathsheba.
(IV) Nathaniel Kimberly (3), son of Nathaniel (2), died at West Haven in 1780. His children were: Israel, mentioned below; Silas, who mar- ried Mary Smith, daughter of Jonathan, and died in 1803 (they had two children) ; and Abigail, wife of Lamberton Smith.
(V) Israel Kimberly, son of Nathaniel (3), died in 1768. He married Mary Umberfield, and they had children as follows: Azel, Gilead, Nathaniel, Israel, Ezra, Gideon, Liberty, Huldah, Mary, Sarah and Hannah.
(VI) Gilead Kimberly was a sea saptain, and lived to the age of seventy-six. He married Mary Brocket, and their children were: Maria, who married Eliakim Kimberly ; William, father of Mrs. Lines ; Elizabeth, who married Capt. Francis B. Davis: Hannah; and Lydia, who married Capt. John Neagle.
(VII) William Kimberly was born in West Haven, but spent the greater part of his life in New Haven, dying at the age of fifty. He was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Kimberly married Ruth Ann Nichols, who was a native of Trumbull, as was also the father, and who died at the age of forty-five years. She and Mr. Kimberly were both members of the Congregational Church. Twelve children were born to this worthy couple, four of whom lived to maturity, and of whom we have the following record : (1) William Henry ( deceased ) married Mehetable Coggshall, and they had a family of six children-Martha Elizabeth, who married George Spencer, of Hartford (no children) ; Mary Ruth, widow of George G. Baldwin, residing in New Haven (no children) ; William Henry ; Harriet ; Hettie, Mrs. Eugene Del Foss, who has one child, Eugene; and Frank William, who married Harriet V. Kelsey (no children). (2) Eliza Ann and (3) James are both deceased. (4) Martha is the widow of Augustus Lines. (5) Gilead, now a resident of New Hartford, married Abigail Baldwin, and they
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have eight children-William Gilead, who married Laura Dennis, and has had four children, Caroline, Agatha and two sons; Ellen Mary, wife of Felix Chantrell, who has had two sons and one daughter ; Angeline, Mrs. Frederick Dorman, who has had two children, Abigail and Arthur; Martha Emma, who married Henry: Fairchild, resides in Lynn, Mass., and has had three children, Dwight, Henri- etta and Louisa; Augusta Lines, who married John Ransom, and had three daughters ; Abigail; Fred- erick Abner, who is married and has one son; and Harry. (6) Dennis is deceased. (7) Francis (de- ceased) married Jane Platt ; they had no children. (8) Harriet Newel (deceased) married Charles Gates Bostwick, and they had four children-Leon- ard, married to Helen Friend Plumb (one daughter, Ruth Plumb) ; Martha Kimberly, who is deceased; Harriet Kimberly, wife of Henry Smith Patten, and the mother of three children, Lenora Bostwick, James Thomas and Leonard Bostwick ; and Charles Gates, deceased. (9) Edwin is deceased. ( 10) Eliza (deceased) married Cornelius Starr Morehouse, and their daughter, Mary Louise, married Rev. Ed- win Stevens Lines, by whom she had four children -Edwin Morehouse, Henry Starr ( deceased ), Mar- garet Kimberly (deceased) and Harold Stevens. ( II) James, who now resides in New Hartford, married Margaret Eunice Clark, and to their union were born four children-James William, Robert Barnard, Edwin Nelson and Ruth Minerva. (12) George Dwight lives in Fair Haven. He married Mary Louisa Hurlbut, and to them were born two children-Caroline Emily and Edna. The former is the widow of John Horax Hall, and has had two children.
ABNER AUSTIN. The Austin family of New Haven, Conn., traces an honorable ancestry for many generations, many of its members having been conspicuous in public. military and religious life. possessing also, domestic virtues and leaving credit- able records in business careers. Among the resi- dents of New Haven, and a representative of this old and respected family, is Miss Sarah E. Austin.
Great-great-great-grandfather John Austin, lived in Wallingford, Conn., a region rich in historic as- sociations, and he there married Prudence Royce. Joshua, son of John was born in Wallingford, and there married Nancy Hall. Abner. son of Joshua. born also in that town, married Ann Beers, and their son, Joseph, born in Wallingford, married Bethiah Page, also of Wallingford.
Abner Austin, son of Joseph and Bethiah Austin, was born in Madison, Conn., Jan. 3. 1810, and died in New Haven, Nov. 1, 1884. He was sixteen years old when he first came to New Haven, which. for so many years was destined to be the scene of his commercial success. Naturally intelligent and very studious, he was at this time better educated than youths of his age ordinarily were, and after two years with Prof. Benjamin Silliman, of this
city, he was engaged by Professor Shepherd, and assisted that distinguished man in laboratory, work. Later he was employed by Mr. Eli Whitney, with whom he remained for a number of years, accepting then a situation as clerk in the grocery house of Smith & Ives. . Some time later he embarked in the grocery business with his brother-in-law, Elijah Gilbert, and their grocery and market was located on the corner of Elm and Church streets (the site being now occupied by Mr. Nesbit), and for more than thirty-six years this business was conducted on principles which reflected honor upon both the firm and this city. Through times of activity and those of depression, the foundations of this business were ever the same, speculation having nothing to do with its success or failure. By those incorruptible methods of honesty and fair dealing, Mr. Austin gained and kept the confidence of both the trade and his patrons.
The lamented death of Abner Austin removed one of the oldest merchants in New Haven. His establishment had long been recognized as the most complete in the city, and he was a leader in his line for many years. His prominence and success had come to him by honest effort, as he was a self-made man, beginning at the bottom of the financial ladder. Close attention to business commended itself to Mr. Austin as the surest way to succeed, and he built up a business that contributed to the prosperity of a large force of employes, added prominence to the city, and brought competence to his own family in whose welfare he took so deep an interest.
Mr. Austin was united in marriage with Esther A. Gilbert, a lineal descendant of Matthew Gilbert, one of the chief men of the commonwealth in the early days of Connecticut. Two children were born to Abner Austin and wife: E. Gilbert, who died in 1886, at the age of forty-one years, a finely educated man, who was associated with his father as book- keeper; and Miss SARAH E., the youngest of the family. The death of Mrs. Austin occurred June 22, 1873, at the age of sixty-four years. Both par- ents had been worthy and consistent members of the North Church, now the United Church.
JOHN RUGGLES ROSSITER, one of the ven- erable retired residents of the town of Guilford, comes of a family which has long been identified with this region, and is a descendant of Edward Rossiter. one of the early settlers of Boston and an assistant of Governor Winthrop, and the first of the name in America. He arrived at Salem, Mass., in June, 1630, and died in the autumn of the same year.
Dr. Bryan Rossiter, son of Edward, came to this country with his father in 1630, making the voyage in the " Mary & John." In 1631 he was made a free- man in Dorchester, Mass., whence he removed to Windsor, Conn., in 1639; he was the first town clerk of the latter place. In 1651 he removed to Guil- ford, where he passed the greater part of his remain-
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Abner Austin
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ing years, dying there Sept. 30, 1672. On account of difficulties with the people of Guilford about the union of the New Haven and Hartford Colonies, he removed to Killingworth, now Clinton, but later returned to Guilford. He enjoyed an extensive practice. Dr. Rossiter married Elizabeth Alsop, and eleven children were born to them: Jolianna, who married Rev. John Cotton, died Oct. 12, 1702; Esther died in 1649; Jolin married Mary Gillette, and died in September, 1670; Samuel died Aug. 10, 1640; Timothy died in 1647; Josiah is mentioned below; Peter died in 1651: Abigail died in 1648; Susanna, born Nov. 18, 1652, married Rev. Zach- ariah Walker, and died April 26, 1710; Elizabeth died in September, 1651 ; Sarah died Aug. 10, 1669.
Josiah Rossiter, fourth son of Dr. Bryan, was born in Windsor, and came to Guilford with the rest of the family, spending the remainder of his life in this town. He was a farmer by occupation. He married Sarah Sherman, daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Mitchell) Sherman, of Stamford, and they died Jan. 31, 1716, and March 13, 1713, re- spectively. They had a large family: Sarah, born Nov. 26, 1677, died May 18, 1679; Elizabeth, April 16, 1679, Sept. 17, 1698: Josiali, May 31, 1680, Sept. 23, 1751 (married Mary Hill) ; Samuel, Jan. 28, 1682, Aug. 23, 1682; Timothy, June 5, 1683. Feb. 7, 1725 (married Abigail Penfield) ; John, Oct. 13, 1684, Jan. 8, 1687; Samuel, Feb. 17, 1686, Jan. 6, 1711 (married Anna Ward) : David, April 17, 1687, April 29, 1688; Jonathan, April 3, 1688 (mar- ried Anna Pierson) ; Nathaniel, mentioned below ; Sarah, Feb. 25, 1691 (married Abraham Pierson) ; Patience, April 6, 1692 (married John Belding) ; Johanna, April 23, 1693, June 16, 1703 ; Mary, Sept. 3, 1694 (married Samnel Chesebrough) ; Theophi- lus, Feb. 12, 1696, April 9, 1771 (married Abigail Pierson ) ; Susanna, June 13, 1697; Ebenezer, Feb. 4, 1699, Oct. II, 1762 (married Hannah White).
Nathaniel Rossiter, son of Josiah, born in Guil- ford Nov. 11, 1689, spent his entire life in that town, where he died Oct. 4, 1751. He engaged in farming. On July 8, 1714. he married Anna Stone, also a native of Guilford, born June 17, 1692, died April 20, 1770, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary ( Bartlett) Stone. Five children were born to this marriage: Nathaniel, March 23, 1716, died Nov. 21, 1769 (married Deborah Fowler) ; Benjamin, Sept. 25, 1718 (mentioned below) ; Sarah, June I, 1720, died April 4, 1760 (married Aaron Evarts) ; Noah, April 15, 1725, died. Feb. 9, 1757; Nathan, Oct. 31, 1730 (married Sarah Baldwin).
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Benjamin Rossiter, born Sept. 25. 1718, in Guil- ford, died Sept. 27, 1796. He was a lifelong farmer, living in the northern part of the town. On March 21, 1751, he married Abigail Baldwin, daughter of Timothy and Bathsheba (Stone) Baldwin, born March 5, 1724, died Sept. 14, 1754. On Nov. 19, 1755, he married for his second wife Sarah Morse Baldwin, widow of Timothy Baldwin, a brother of the first wife. Mrs. Sarah Rossiter was born May
6, 1728, and died Jan. 27, 1828, when almost one hundred years old. Children: Bathsheba, born Jan. 18, 1752, died Oct. 10, 1770; Timothy, men- tioned below ; Sarah, born June 6, 1757, died April 19, 1852 (married Theophilus Fowler ) ; Lois, born July 13, 1759, died June 17, 1791 (married Eben- ezer Fowler ) ; Benjamin and Abigail (twins), born Nov. 21, 1762, died July 5, 1764, and Jan. 22, 1821, respectively ( she married Ebenezer Russell).
Timothy Rossiter, born in North Guilford May 21, 1754, died Feb. 26, 1835, and was buried in North Guilford cemetery. He passed most of his- life in his native place, and was quite active in all its interests, and a deacon in the church. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. On May 14, 1783, he was married in Guilford to Mary Rug- gles, daughter of Deacon Nathaniel and Anna (Bartlett ) Ruggles, born 1758, died March 16, 1816. On Oct. 16, 1816, he was married to widow Anna Arnold, of Haddam, Conn., who died in No- vember, 1844. Children : Benjamin, born Aug. 20, 1784, died Oct. 31, 1787; Abigail, Aug. 3, 1786, Sept. 20, 1796; John, Aug. 22, 1788, Oct. 8, 1799; Benjamin (2) (mentioned below) ; Lois, May 12, 1793, Feb. 22, 1821; Timothy, Dec. 2, 1796, Aug. 15, 1879 (married Sally Todd) : Daniel, Oct. 8, 1798, Nov. 29, 1837 (married Harriet Hanford) ; Mary, July 28, 1801, April 6, 1883 (married John Norton ) .
Benjamin Rossiter was born Oct. 10, 1790, on the old Rossiter homestead in North Guilford, and there spent his entire life. He took an active inter- est in the affairs of his day, and was well known in public and church circles, serving as deacon in the church. In political opinion he was first a Whig, later a Republican. On July 1, 1816, he married Catherine Brooks, born in 1793, daughter of Dr. David S. and Annis ( Benton) Brooks, and she died Jan. 1, 1825. He subsequently married, Dec. 12, 1827, Nabby Dudley Fowler, widow of Daniel Fow- ler, born Oct. 21, 1786; she died Nov. 19, 1872, and he died Nov. 20, 1866. Children, all by first mar- riage : John Ruggles, born June 20, 1817, is men- tioned below ; David Brooks, born Nov. 16, 1819, married Carrie M. Rossiter ; Sophronia Annis, born Nov. 8, 1822, married Nathan C. Dudley. The parents both sleep in North Guilford cemetery.
John R. Rossiter was born on the old homestead in North Guilford, and received a good education, which he put to practical use, engaging in the teach- er's profession for forty years in the public schools of New Haven county. He also carried on farming. and has assisted in the local civil administration in various capacities, though specially active in educa- tional affairs. As selectman, justice of the peace, assessor and school visitor he gave universal satis- faction to all concerned, and his services in the State Legislature received substantial approval in his re-election ; he served four terms in the House. Mr. Rossiter has, like his forefathers, taken a deep interest in the work of the Congregational Church,
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of which he is a member, and in which he was elected deacon in 1856, serving many years. He has led a temperate, industrious, useful life, and is now enjoying in retirement the fruits of his early efforts, deservedly contented in the substantial rewards which have attended his industry and the esteem which he commands wherever he is known.
On June II, 1845, Mr. Rossiter married Miss Cleora Frances Cruttenden, who was born Aug. 29, 1824, and children as follows were born to them: Benjamin, born Sept. 7. 1846, is mentioned below ; Adeline, born March 1, 1848, is a teacher ; John, born Jan. 20, 1850, is a resident of Norwich, Conn., and is also a teacher (he married Eleanor G. Brown, of New Canaan) ; Catherine, born June 30, 1852, was married Feb. 13, 1883, to George H. Chitten- den, and died March 15, 1885; Frances. born Dec. 18, 1854, is unmarried, and is a trained nurse ; Lois, born Oct. 3, 1857, was married July 27, 1882, to William M. Foote; Mary, born Dec. 28, 1859, was married Jan. 3, 1880, to Arthur Newton, of Durham, Conn .; Anna, born April 8, 1862; and Ruth Fow- ler, born Sept. 21, 1864, died Aug. 20, 1884.
BENJAMIN ROSSITER is a representative citizen of North Guilford, where he was born, and where his entire life has been passed. He received his edu- cation in the district schools and North Guilford Academy, and taught in the district schools of Guil- ford and Durham, Middlesex county, in his earlier manhood, but he is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on the old homestead. His life has been one of useful, effective industry, and by his tem- perate habits and uprightness.he has won universal respect among his fellow men. The confidence which his townspeople have in his ability and intelli- gence has been shown in his election to the State Legislature, where he represented them in 1891. Mr. Rossiter is an active member of the North Guil- ford Congregational Church, in which he holds the office of deacon, and he is a worthy representative of ancestry which has always held an honored place in the life of the community.
The Cruttenden family, to which Mrs. John R. Rossiter belongs, is also of English origin, and Abraham Cruttenden, the first of whom we have record, came from Cranbrook, England, settling in Guilford in 1639. He died there in January, 1683. After the death of his first wife, Mary, he married Mrs. Johanna Chittenden, a widow, on May 31, 1665; she died Aug. 16, 1668. Children: Thomas, who died Feb. 8, 1698; Abraham, next in line of descent ; Isaac, who married Lydia Thompson, and died July 10, 1685: Marv, who married Deacon George Bartlett, and died Sept. 11, 1669; Elizabeth, wife of John Graves; Hannah, wife of George Highland; and Deborah, who died April 30, 1658.
Abraham Cruttenden, son of Abraham, was mar- ried May 13, 1661, to Susanna Gregson, daughter of Thomas Gregson, of New Haven : she died Sept. 8, 1713. Children : Abraham. born March 8. 1662. died May 14, 1725 (married Susanna Kirby) ;
Sarah, born Aug. 21, 1665, died in October, 1692 (married Thomas Robinson) ; Thomas, born Jan. 31, 1667, died Sept. 14, 1754 (married Abigail Hall) ; John, born Aug. 15, 1670, died May 16, 1751 (married Bathsheba Johnson) ; Joseph, born April 9, 1674, died Feb. 6, 1763 (married Mary Hoyt).
John Cruttenden, born in Guilford Aug. 15, 1670, died May 16. 1751. On May 6, 1703, he married Bathsheba Johnson, born Aug. 20, 1683, died April 25, 1752. Children : Elizabeth, born Feb. 3, 1704, died Aug. 31, 1789 (married Ebenezer Hall) : Rachel, born Nov. 27, 1707, died Sept. 22, 1751 : John, born May 2, 1710, died June 18, 1784 (married Lucy Lee) ; Mary, born March 13, 1713, died Feb. 22, 1795; David is mentioned below ; Isaac, born April 5, 1720, died July 13, 1796 (mar- ried Lucy Benton ).
David Cruttenden was born in Guilford Dec. 3, 1716, and died Sept. 30, 1770. On Oct. 20, 1742, he married Elizabeth Stone, born May 6, 1717, died Sept. 3, 1797, and they had children: Elizabeth, born 1744, died Oct. 8, 1820; David, born May 15, 1746, died Sept. 27, 1829 ( married Hannah Foster) ; Nathan, born Jan. 22, 1751, died July 28, 1817; Ruth, born Jan. 7, 1749. died March 2, 1829; Abra- ham, born Oct. 11, 1756, died Nov. 28, 1837.
Abraham Cruttenden, born in Guilford Oct. II, 1756, spent his entire life as a farmer in East Guil- ford (now Madison), where he died Nov. 28, 1837. On Jan. 15, 1783, he married Hannah Dudley, born April 23, 1754, died Aug. 7, 1810. and on March 19. 1812, he married widow Nabby Griswold, daughter of Josiah Kelsey. Abraham Cruttenden was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, serving as a private in Capt. Hand's Company, Col. Talcott's Regiment. Children : Abraham, born March 9, 1784, died May 14. 1861 : Eber is mentioned below; Harvey, born Nov. 17, 1788, died 1868 (married Catherine Mur- phy) : Sally, born Jan. 19, 1791, died Oct. 23, 1844 (married Jared Redfield ).
Eber Cruttenden, born March 5, 1786, died Aug. 6, 1872. On Jan. 2, 1811, he married Olive Dudley, born in June, 1791, died Aug. 25, 1826. On June 25, 1827, he married Ruth Fowler, born Feb. 11. 1783, died May 13, 1866. Children : Han- nah Maria, born May 21, 1812, died Nov. 5, 1882; Eber Dudley, born June 7. 1814, died Aug. 15, 1821 ; Adaline, born Jan. 2. 1817; Samuel Dudley, born Jan. 25, 1819, died Feb. 25, 1819; Eber Dud- ley. born April 2, 1823, died May 20, 1889; Cleora Frances, born Aug. 29. 1824, married John R. Ros- siter : Samuel Dudley, born Dec. 5, 1825, married Rhoda B. Chittenden.
MAIER ZUNDER ( deceased), the founder of the firm of M. Zunder & Sons. wholesale dealers in foreign produce, liquors and tobacco. and late presi- dent of the National Savings Bank, was long one of the leading business men and most substantial citizens of New Haven.
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Mr. Zunder was born May 24, 1829, in Fuerth, Bavaria, son of Aaron and Besla (Kaiser) Zunder, and was of that nationality to which this country is greatly indebted for a good class of citizens, whose frugality, industry and public spirit have been potent factors in the general progress. In 1848, in company with three brothers, Mr. Zunder came to the United States. For a time he worked as a print- er, which trade he had learned at home, and in 1852 began business on his own account, his patron- age increasing from a very modest beginning to large proportions under his able management. Be- fore his demise the business was located in a five- story brick building, with basement, in State street, New Haven. Each story has a floor space of 25x100 feet, and ample room was afforded for the manipu- lation and display of a choice line of goods, embrac- ing French and German wines and liquors, the better grades of domestic whiskies and California vintages, tobaccos, and table condiments of almost every de- scription. The firm has an extensive patronage, and . they act as agents for various ocean lines, issuing drafts payable in all the principal European cities.
Mr. Zunder was first associated with his brother, Samuel, at No. 54 Church street. After the latter's death our subject carried on the business in the Church street location until 1860, when he removed his store to State street. For many years he was as- sociated with Mr. Metzger, the firm being known as M. Zunder & Co., and in 1882, when Albert, the eldest son of Mr. Zunder, was admitted to the firm, it became M. Zunder & Son. In 1887 another son, Theodore, was taken in, and the firm was composed at the time of the death of Mr. Zunder of himself and his two sons, Albert and Theodore. Both these young men are natives of the "Elm City," and are prominent in various social and benevolent organ- izations.
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