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 21

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1010

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 21

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Mr. Foote was married, Sept. 8, 1869, to Miss Nancy M. Adams, of Scotland, Conn., who has been a true helper to him. They are members of the Congregational Church at North Haven, and for ten years he was deacon and superintendent of the Sunday-school, making the school one of the model ones of the State and nation. For many years he has been one of the prominent men in Sabbath-school work in Connecticut, taking great interest in the welfare of children and young peo- ple, and the betterment of institutions for their moral and intellectual development. For eighteen years he was a leading member of the executive committee of the Connecticut Sunday-School As- sociation, and for eight years president of the as- sociation. He is a life member of most of the large missionary societies of this country and the world. While his benefactions have been largely to aid organized philanthropic effort, he has ever been quick to relieve, unostentatiously, individual cases of need. He spends considerable time each year at his summer residence at Short Beach, Conn., and has taken great interest in the build- ing up of the Sabbath-school and moral and religious interests there. Politically he is stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. By special request of his fel- low citizens he accepted the position of school visitor of Hamden, and served as such with much acceptance from 1895 to 1899. Mr. Foote is a thoughtful reader, and well informed on matters of general interest. As a public speaker on educa- tional, religious or moral topics he has been in great demand, and has delivered addresses in every

town and nearly every Protestant church in Con- necticut. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and is justly numbered among the valued and useful citi- zens'of his community.

WATSON DAVIS AUGUR is a leading and influential citizen of North Branford, and is a worthy representative of one of its honored old families. His paternal grandfather, Joel Augur, was an extensive and prominent farmer of the town, and owned considerable land at the time of his death. He had one brother. Capt. Reuben Augur, who died Jan. 13, 1831, and a sister, Rhoda, who died Sept. 13, 1821, at the age of forty-four years. He was born in 1790, and died July 5, 1873. For his first wife he married Abigail Augur, who was also born in 1790, and died Dec. 8, 1824, and for his second wife he married Hannah A. Blake, a school teacher, who was born in 1789, and died Nov. 28, 1876. He had five children: Phoebe E., born in 1820, married Henry Loper, and died Nov. 24, 1895; Angeline married John Allen, of Wallingford; Reuben, born Sept. 29, 1822, was the father of our subject; and Cornelia, born in 1824, married Thelus Todd, and died June I. 1861. One son, John P., was born of the second marriage, and he died on the old homestead, south of Northford.

Reuben Augur was born in Northford, and be- came an extensive and very successful farmer of North Branford, owning at the time of his death 300 acres of valuable and highly productive land. He died May 10, 1898. He was three times mar- ried, his first wife being Esther E. Todd, daugh- ter of Willis Todd. She died Oct. 23, 1849, aged twenty-three years, leaving one son, Elbert R., who died July 22, 1879, at the age of thirty-one vears and ten months. He next married her sis- ter, Maria C. Todd, who died Jan. 3, 1873, at the age of forty years. By this union there were three children : Robert Duane, who died Aug. 23, 1883, at the age of thirty-one years and nine months ; Ella M., wife of Henry M. Stevens, of Walling- ford. Conn .; and Watson Davis. The father's third wife was Mrs. Margaret ( Barnes) Hall.

Watson Davis Augur was born in the town of North Branford, May 1, 1856, and began his education in the district school near his boyhood home, but later attended Powers' Institute at Bernardston, Mass., and studied for three years under the tutorship of Prof. A. J. Sanborn, a most able instructor, now deceased. It was his inten- tion to make the practice of law his profession, but owing to ill health he was forced to discontinue his studies. At the age of twenty-two years he embarked in the livery business at Middletown, Conn., and continued there for twelve years. On Nov. 21, 1882, he was married to Miss Agnes Gertrude Stevens, of Northford.

The first of the Stevens family of whom we

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have any authentic record was Rev. Timothy Stevens, a native of Bristol, Wales, who came to Hartford, Conn., when a young man, and was the first Congregational minister at Glastonbury, be- ing ordained in October, 1693. He died April 10, 1725. His son, Joseph, born in Hartford, in 1705, was the father of Elisha Stevens, who was born in Glastonbury, in 1752, and married Agnes Kimberly. Their son, Milton Stevens, the grand- father of Mrs. Augur, was a native of Hartford county, and died in Prospect, New Haven coun- ty, when her father was quite small. He had three children : Henry ; Mary, wife of Timothy Fowler, of New Haven; and David. .

David Stevens, Mrs. Augur's father, was born in Prospect, July 14, 1823, and there married Eliza Benjamin, who was born Jan. 1, 1824, and died Sept. 8, 1865. By this union were born the fol- lowing children: Albert, who died at the age of thirty-six years; Alice, born Aug. 17, 1849, mar- ried Jared Bassett, of North Haven, and is now deceased; Elizur Seneca, born March 3, 1851, married Harriet Maltby, of Northford; Henry, born May 7, 1855, married Ella Augur, a sister of our subject, and lives in Wallingford; David S., born April 4, 1857, is a resident of North Branford; and Agnes G., born Oct. 4, 1859, is the wife of Mr. Augur. For his second wife the fa- ther married Frances Hart, of Quinnipiac, town of North Haven, and to them were born two chil- dren : Fannie, wife of Lee Revere; and Peter, both residents of Millenbeck. Va. When a young man the father moved to Quinnipiac, where he engaged in the manufacture of spoons, silverware, etc., until 1869, when he sold his business there and came to Northford, town of North Branford, where he continued to manufacture silverware for some years. In 1883 he removed to Lancaster county, Va., where he purchased property and lived in retirement for some time. He died there March 24, 1895, at the age of seventy-two years.

Finding the Connecticut winters somewhat severe WV. D. Augur purchased property in Millen- beck, Va., where during the winter season he made his home for three years, but has since dis- posed of his interests there. He has a summer cottage on the Sound at Stony Creek, Conn. For four years he led a life of ease, but finding that steady employment provided more real enjoyment, he again engaged in business, owning and man- aging a boarding and sale stable at New Haven for two years. He then returned to Middletown, where he was again engaged in the livery busi- ness for four and one-half years. He has always been a lover of fast horses, has followed the cir- cuit for years, and like many others has not al- ways been successful, though his interest has been more for enjoyment than gain. In his own stables he has a fine pacer, Faustina Smith, who, in the fifthi heat of a race, driven by her owner, paced a half mile in I :0472 ; he also drove a two-year-old

that covered a half mile in 1 :10. On May 10, 1899, Mr. Augur returned to the old homestead in North Branford, and now oversees the operation of his farm land, consisting of 400 acres. He also owns property in Wallingford, and New Haven, and his interest in land speculation claims much of his attention. Politically he is a Democrat, though not radical in his wiews. He is a liberal supporter of the Episcopal Church at Northford, taking his father's place in that respect, and his wife is a member of the Congregational Church. He is a pleasant genial gentleman, who is very popular with his many friends and associates.

HORATIO NELSON LYMAN (deceased). The Lyman family, of which the late Horatio N. Lyman was a notable representative, was descend- ed from Richard Lyman, a native of the County of Essex, England. In August, 1631, he left England with his wife and children, in the ship "Lion," sailing from Bristol for New England. He located at Charlestown, where he became a free- man June 11, 1635. The same year he joined a party who settled Windsor, Hartford and Wethers- field, Conn., himself being one of the first settlers of Hartford. He died in 1640, and his widow, Saralı, did not long survive him.

Lieut. John Lyman, son of Richard, the emi- grant, was born in the County of Essex, England, in 1623, and came to New England with his par- cnts. In 1654 he was married to Dorcas, the daughter of John Plumb, of Branford, Conn., and settled in Northampton, Mass., where he died Aug. 20, 1690. Lieut. Lyman was in command of the Northampton soldiers in the famous Falls fight above Deerfield, May 18, 1676.

Moses Lyman, a son of Lient. John Lyman, was born in Northampton, Mass., Feb. 20, 1662, and died Feb. 25, 1701.

Capt. Moses Lyman, son of Moses Lyman, . was born Feb. 27, 1689, married Dec. 13, 1712, Mindwell Sheldon, and died March 24, 1762; she died May 23, 1780.

Deacon Moses Lyman, son of Capt. Moses Ly- man, was born Oct. 2, 1713, and was married March 24, 1742, to Sarah Hayden (or Highton), of Windsor, Conn. She was born Sept. 17, 1716. Mr. Lyman removed to Goshen, Conn., in the autumn of 1739, being one of the earliest inhabi- tants of the place, the settlement having only been opened the preceding year. He died Jan. 6, 1768.

Col. Moses Lyman, son of Deacon Moses Ly- man, was born March 20, 1743, and was married to Ruth, a daughter of William Collins, of Guil- ford. She died June 8, 1775, and twelve years later Col. Lyman married the widow of Jesse Judd, and the daughter of Capt. Jonathan Buell, of _Goshen. Col. Lyman was a farmer, and oc- cupied through life the homestead of his father. In the State Militia he held every position from that of Corporal to Colonel, and during the Revo-

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lution spent much of his time in the Continental army. He went with the recruits from Goshen to join the Northern Army before the surrender of Burgoyne, and was in command of a detachment which was stationed on the extreme right on the night of Oct. 7, 1777, to watch the movements of the invading enemy. It was his privilege to be the first to inform Gen. Gates that the English camp was deserted, and for his promptness he was sent to Gen. Washington to convey the in- formation in person. The guard which had the custody of the gallant and unfortunate Major Andre was commanded by him. Col. Lyman was afterward prominent in civil life, and was elected to many important offices. A man of strong will and much determination, he was active and forceful all his life. His death occurred Sept. 29, 1829, his second wife dying in Milton Society, Litchfield, Oct. 7, 1835. at the very advanced age of ninety-three years.

Erastus Lyman, son of Col. Lyman, was born Nov. 1, 1773, and was married Sept. 8, 1803, to Abigail, a daughter of Ephraim Starr, of Goshen, Conn. They resided through life in Goshen, where he was known as a man of ability and energy. His success in business put him among the solid men of the community, and his integrity and benevolence declared him a man of lofty character and noble soul. He died Dec. 20, 1854; and his widow Jan. 22, 1855.

Horatio Nelson Lyman, son of Erastus, whose name introduces this article, was born May 2, 1804, and was married to his first wife, Marana Elizabeth Chapin, of Goshen, Conn., May 9, 1836, and to Mrs. Juliet North, widow of William North, June 4, 1850. After a residence in Goshen of some twenty years Mr. Lyman removed to Waterbury, Conn. Some three years were spent by him in Germany, and on his return he located at New Haven, where his home was maintained until his death, July 13, 1886. To his first mar- riage were born : (1) Jane E., July 11. 1837. (2) Henry Alexander, Sept. 5, 1839, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was married in Westminster, London, England, Sept. 12, 1866, to Isabella Maria, a daughter of T. K. Faulls, of London. He compiled the pedigree of the Lymans in England from the time of Edward III, which appears in Dr. Lyman Coleman's His- tory of the Lyman Family-1872. (3) Josephine Maria, Oct. 2, 1841. (4) Abby died an infant. To the second Mrs. Lyman were born: (5) Will- iam Thomson, March 5, 1851, died Feb. 15. 1853; (6) George Nelson, Aug. 29, 1852, died Feb. 19, 1853; (7) Edward Norman, July 1, 1855, died Oct. 29, 1855.

The second Mrs. Lyman was Juliet Thomson, a daughter of Eben Thomson, and was born in Goshen. Her father, who was born in the same town, came to New Haven, and followed the gro- cery business for many years. Mrs. Lyman, who

was born in 1821. married her first husband, Will- iam North, a lawyer of Elmira, N. Y., who died after fourteen months of married life, at the age of twenty-eight years. The family were all asso- ciated with the United Congregational Church of New Haven.

LUCIAN DAYTON WARNER affords in his career a striking illustration of what may be achieved by the hard sense, rugged determination and steady insistence of the sons of Connecticut, of which he is a worthy representative.

Richard Warner, his grandfather, was born in Salem (now Naugatuck), Conn., in 1772, and was. one of a large family, the others being Obadiah, Ran- som, Eri, Wakely, Walter, Philena, Carolina and Roxana. Richard Warner married Polly Hicox, who was born in the same town, daughter of Gideon and Philena Hicox, and was four years his junior. They were poor, and finding life in Con- necticut by no means a bed of roses, in their com- parative youth they migrated overland in a wagon to Pitcher, Chenango county, N. Y., a locality then considered the "far West." There they settled, shar- ing bravely the toil and danger attending the estab- lishment of a new home in the forest. To these sturdy pioneers were born fifteen children, namely: Obadiah, Sheldon, Adna, Minerva, Edward, Maria, David H., Curtis. Rachel, Electa, Lucina, Calvin, Florilla, Elmina and Richard P. Only the youngest, Richard P., now survives. With the exception of Calvin, who became a minister, all the eight sons were farmers, and five of the seven daughters mar- ried farmers, Elmina W. becoming the wife of George P. Swan, a wagon maker of Binghamton; her home was at No. 149 Robinson street, that city. Richard P. Warner has been twice married, his first wife being Lucy Parks, and his second Helen Debell ; his residence is at Candor, Tioga Co., N. Y. Of the other thirteen children all were married but Florilla, who was born July 6, 1815, and died July 8, 1863. Obadiah, born April 13, 1793, married Lucy L. Sperry. Sheldon, born Nov. 20, 1794, mar- ried Lucy Carter, and died Feb. 7, 1892. Adna, born April 9, 1796, is mentioned below. Minerva, born Jan. 22, 1798, was the wife of Elijah Fenton. Ed- ward, born May 14, 1799, married Soplironia Sails, and died Oct. 28, 1890. Maria, born Dec. 3, 1800, married John Hinman. David H., born Feb. 5, 1802, married Almira Robbins, and died Aug. 9, 1896. Curtis, born July 4, 1803, married Caroline Hyde. Rachel, born July 4, 1805, married Orlando Pierce, and died April 18, 1882. Electa, born July 5, 1807, became the wife of John Robbins. Lucina, born July 5, 1809, married Norman Burnham, and passed away Jan. 20, 1887. Calvin, born in August, 1812. married Delia Knight. Richard Warner, the father of this large family, died on his farm in Pitcher. Chenango Co., N. Y., May 25, 1857; his faithful wife entered into rest nine years previous.

Adna Warner, the father of Lucian D., was born

Lucian D. Kanser

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Naugatuck April 9, 1796, and had grown to early manhood when he accompanied his parents to Che- mango Co., N. Y., to do his part in clearing the forest and plowing furrows in the virgin soil. There he married Lucia Carter, a school teacher of Pitcher. whose father, Elias Carter, was the scion of an old English family, which settled in Lancaster, Mass., in the first half of the seventeenth century. Adna Warner was a blacksmith by trade, and a farmer by occupation. He owned 400 acres of land, and made a specialty of dairy farming, being largely in- terested in breeding fine Devonshire cattle. He was · a man of deep and earnest convictions, in both re- ligion and politics-an energetic worker in the Con- gregational Church, and a strong abolitionist, be- ing first a Whig and later a Republican. He died Nov. 25, 1881, preceded to the grave by his wife, who passed away July 26, 1880.

Lucian D. Warner was born in Pitcher. N. Y., Sept. 18, 1839. After attending the district schools of that town he was sent to the academy at Cincin- natus, Cortland county, N. Y., and at the close of his school days entered the general store of Jefferson Kingman, who in addition to keeping store dis- charged the duties of postmaster. There young Warner remained for two years, in October. 1859: coming to Naugatuck, Conn., where he at once be- came a clerk in the general store of Thomas Lewis. He evinced from the outset a natural aptitude for the business, to which were joined unwearying in- dustry and serupulous fidelity. On Jan. 1, 1863, he became an equal partner with Mr. Lewis, the rela- tion continuing for three years. In 1866 Mr. War- ner was tendered and accepted the position of secre- tary and treasurer of the Connecticut Cutlery Co .. whose plant was located at Union City, but three years later he resigned this dual office to enter into partnership with B. B. Tuttle and J. H. Whitte- more, under the firm name of Tuttle & Whittemore. In 1871 a joint stock company was formed under the style of the Tuttle & Whittemore Co., which was the predecessor of the Malleable Iron Co. of to- day. Mr. Warner was at first secretary and af- terward treasurer, later becoming president and gen- eral manager. On Jan. 2, 1899, he retired from ac- tive business, and has since had no care outside of the management of his estate. His home is in Church street, a center of culture, refinement and religious influence.

Mr. Warner has been twice married. On Sept. 14, 1864, he was united to Miss Julia M. Lewis, a daughter of his partner, Thomas Lewis. To this union were born six children: Lewis C., the eldest, is superintendent of the Beacon Falls Rubber Co. Winnifred L. is the wife of George B. Alford, of Torrington. Carleton S. is a foreman for the To- ronto Rubber Shoe Co., at Port Dalhousie. Canada. Frederick A., formerly a traveling salesman for the Malleable Iron Co., is now general manager for the Metal Finishing Co., of Union City. George D. is in the employ of the Beacon Falls Rubber Co. Lucia

E., the youngest child, is attending school in Nor- walk :. The mother of these died March 15, 1890. On Nov. 10, 1892, Mr. Warner married Miss Anna B. Rowe, the orphaned daughter of Dr. Rufus J. Rowe, of Whitehall, New York.

Mr. Warner is social in his tastes and life, fond of friends and deservedly popular. He is a Repub- lican in politics, but although repeatedly requested. has steadily refused to become a candidate for office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to Shepherd's Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., of Naugatuck, and to Clark Commandery, K. T., of Waterbury. Since 1861 he has been a devout member of the Congregational Church, is a liberal i contributor to its support, and earnest in advancing its work, having been for thirty-two years super-, intendent of the Sunday-school.

SAMUEL M. BLAIR, a well-known grocer at No. 32 Mott street. Ansonia, was born in Riverton,. town of Barkhanisted, Litchfield Co., Conn .. Aug. 17, 1838, son of Sherman C. Blair, who was born in Blandtord, Mass. Nathan Blair, his grandfather. was a native of the same place, and was a son of one of the first settlers of that locality. The fam- ily is recorded as being settled in Massachusetts in the very early part of the seventeenth century, and the great-grandfather of Samuel M. Blair was a farmer, and received his land from the Colonial government. He was a man of parts, and served . in the Continental Congress. Nathan Blair was a physician, and practiced medicine all his life in Blandford. He was a well-known man, and his life was a singularly honorable and useful one. He- married Sally Tirrell, a daughter of a well-known tamily of that region, and to them were born thir- teen children, of whom only two survive, Reuben,. of Fair Haven; and Mary Ann, who resides in. Massachusetts. Nathan Blair and his wife both reached an advanced age.

Sherman C. Blair was reared in Blandford. where he began his business career. When some- what older he went to Farmington to take a posi- tion as treasurer of a hoe and shovel company. When the railroad was run through to Ansonia he was made agent at the depot, and was among the earlier railroad agents in that part of the State .. For a number of years after leaving the railroad service he was treasurer of a building and lumber company in Derby, Conn. For some time he was a bookkeeper for the Ansonia Clock Co., after leav- ing which position he gave up business. He died at the age of sixty-seven years. He married Lydia M. Mallory, who was born in Spencertown, N. Y .. a daughter of Ebenezer Mallory, a lifelong farmer in that locality. Sherman C. and Lydia M. Blair became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Samuel M .: John, who is man- ager of the Apothecaries Hall Co., at Waterbury ; and James, now living in California, who has trav- eled all over the world. The mother died at the age

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of seventy years. She and her husband were de- vout members of the Congregational Church, in which he was a deacon and deeply interested in its welfare. He was a member of the Home Mission- ary Society, and an active worker in everything that conserved the public good. In politics he was a Republican, and for many years held the office of justice of the peacc.

Samuel M. Blair spent the earlier years of his life at home, attending the public school: When he. was fourteen years of age he entered the store of Almon Smith at Ansonia, for whom he clerked a number of years, and he was employed two years at Bridgeport. Mr. Blair became sergeant of Com- pany F, 23d Conn. V. I .. which went from Derby, and received an honorable discharge after one year of service. Returning to Ansonia, he entered the employ of T. P. Terry & Son, in the general hard- ware line. He was then employed by E. H. Ran- dall, in the grocery business, also by C. H. Smith, In 1884 Mr. Blair started in his present store, and while he has not attempted to do a large business he has a very satisfactory patronage. One clerk and his daughter are with him in the store. Mr. Blair has been established in business many years, and is one of the oldest and most respected men in his line in the city. All his competitors speak well of him, and he is much respected in the community. He was a charter member of the Board of Trade.

Mr. Blair was married in 1861 to Betsy A. Smith, who was born in Derby, daughter of Almon Smith, a grocer of long-time standing in that city. Mrs. Blair was one of six children. To our sub- ject and his wife have come two children, Jennie S. being the only one now living. The other child died in infancy.

Mr. Blair belongs to George Washington Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has held several offices, and has been senior deacon for a number of years. He also belongs to the American Mechan- ics, and is a charter member of Thomas M. Red- shaw Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled all the offices and in which he is deeply interested. He was an aid-de-camp on the staff of Adjt. Gen. Goben in 1898. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the Congrega- tional Church; he was secretary of the society for a time, has also been treasurer, and has acted as librarian of the Sunday-school.

DWIGHT ELI TODD, for many years a farmer and honored citizen of Bethany, passed away Jan. 3, 1901, in Woodbridge, where he spent the last two years of his life. He was a native of New Haven county, born in Bethany Sept. 11, 1834, son of Leonard and Julia (Bradley) Todd. His father. who was born Nov. 8, 1800, and died , April 6, 1876, was a son of Eli and Bede Todd, in whose family were three children, the others being Lovisa, wife of Amos Peck, of Hamden; and Mary Ann, wife of Jesse Allen Doolittle, of

the same town. Eli Todd was also a native of Bethany, and a son of Jonah Todd, who was born in Northford, and went to Bethany in 1783.

Our subject was the sixth in the order of birth in a family of seven children, as follows: Grace, born April 1, 1823, married Rev. F. B. Woodard, of Watertown, Conn., and died in June, 1898; Emily, born June 1, 1825, married Isaac Perkins, of Bethany, and died Aug. 3. 1880; Margaret, born March 16, 1828, married Chauncey Beecher, of Bethany, and died March 15, 1886; Celia, born july 23, 1830, is the wife of Wales Dickerman, of Hamden; Street B., born Aug. 9, 1832, married Sarah Hotchkiss ; and Jasper B., born Sept. 9, 1842, married Minnie Moody, and resides in the old Todd homestead in Bethany township.

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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 2, Part 21

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1010

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1010