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 28
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In 1867 Mr. Tucker married Miss Adelia L. Boughton, a native of Woodbury, and one of three children of John Boughton, a well-known black- smith. Three children have blessed this union, name- ly: Reuben H., Jr., who became connected with the predecessor of the Coe Brass Manufacturing Co., and is now a clerk there; Miss Abbie M .; and Miss Jessie B. The family is esteemed socially, and all are members of Christ Episcopal Crurch. Mr. Tucker is a 32d-degree, Scottish Rite Mason. He was elected to a lodge on the first meeting after his twenty- first birthday ; is a member of the Veteran Masonic Association ; George Washington Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M., in which he passed all the chairs ; Mt. Ver- non Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M., in which he is past high priest ; Union Council, No. 27, Derby, in which he holds the rank of past thrice illustrious master ; the Grand Chapter of the State, in which he is past grand high priest; the Grand Council of the State, being a past most puissant grand master; and the New Haven Commandery. At present he is the rep- resentative in the Connecticut Grand Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska; the Grand Chapter of the State of Georgia; and the Grand Council of the State of North Carolina; is chairman of the com- mittee on By-laws in the Grand Chapter of the State of Connecticut, and chairman of the committee on Ritual, in the Grand Lodge.
HORACE W. MERCHANT, who entered into rest in September, 1880, in New York, was for many years a well known resident of New Haven. He was born in the State of New York, and there learned the blacksmith trade, becoming a very ex- pert workman. As a journeyman, he came to New Haven, Conn., in about 1842, and opened up an es- tablishment in his line in this city, continuing in the same business until his death.
In 1845 Mr. Merchant was united in marriage with Mary E. Thomas, who was born in Wood- bridge, a daughter of General Amos Thomas. One son was born of this union, Wellington, who mar- ried Mary Dagle, of Montreal ; by trade he was an expert carriage painter, and followed this trade un- til his death at the age of fifty years.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Merchant were John and Sarah ( Gilbert ) Thomas, the former of who:n was a successful farmer, and the latter was a native of Litchfield, who lived to the advanced age of eighty years. She was the mother of six chil- dren (including one pair of twins), and both she and all her children have long since passed out of life.
Gen. Amos Thomas, the father of Mrs. Mer- chant, was reared in Woodbridge, and in 1828, when
about twenty-five years of age, came to New Haven, and opened up a store on Broadway, continuing in business there for a number of years. Later he em- barked in the carriage business and followed in this line for a number of years, but late in life sold this and bought a farm near Westbrook, where he lived until his death, at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Thomas took a great interest in military affairs, and when a militia company was formed he entered in the ranks and was promoted until he was made a brigadier general and had command of all of the State militia and was well known and much es- teemed. In politics, Gen. Thomas was a very stanch Democrat, and acceptably served as chief of the po- lice department of the city of New Haven, and in every situation of life came up to the expectations of his friends. He married Lucretia Baldwin, who was born in Woodbridge, a daughter of George Baldwin, a farmer of that locality, who later moved to Huntington, where he died; his wife died in middle age. The children born to Gen, and Mrs. Lucretia Thomas numbered eleven, these being : John, who died in Derby, Conn .; George, the father of a family, lives in Waterbury; Mary. E., the widow of Mr. Merchant : William Wallace, a resident on Norton street, in New Haven; Fran- ces Jane, deceased ; Silas Mix, resides in California ; Sarah L., widow of Edward E. Bowns: Grace A., the widow of Edward Lines, lives in New Haven ; Charlotte Adele married Henry W. Munson, of Hamden. The others died in infancy, and the mother died in 1879. The father was a consistent and worthy member of the Universalist Church.
Mrs. Merchant was still young in years when her parents came to New Haven, and she was edu- cated in the city schools. She is a lady of winning manners and pleasing personality, and enjoys the esteem of the residents of this city, her pleasant home being at No. 289 Dixwell avenue.
ELIHU HUMISTON, a representative citizen and successful farmer of Hamden, New Haven county, was born Nov. 15, 1820, on the farm where he still resides, and which was also the birthplace of his father, Justus Humiston, it being the home of his paternal grandfather. Joseph Humiston. The father spent his early life upon the farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits, but later turned his atten- tion to tlie carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time in New Marlborough, Mass. While there he met and married Miss Elizabeth Harmon. A few years later he returned to the old homestead and took charge of the farm, which he successfully operated until called from this life in 1855, at the age of seventy-five years. In political sentiment he was a Democrat, and he was honored and respected wherever known. His wife died in 1848, at the age of sixty-two years. To this worthy couple were born six children, and the birth of all occurred on the old home farm in Hamden, where our subject I now resides. Sylvia, the oldest, married Elihu
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Dickerman, and died in August, 1899, when past the age of ninety-four years. Eliza married Sydney Benham and died in 1889, at the age of seventy- three. Harmon is living in Hamden, at the age of eighty-three years. Elihu, our subject, is next in order of birth. Maria S. is now seventy-seven years of age. Austin married Julia Bradley, and died at the age of thirty-seven years.
During his boyhood, Elihu Humiston attended the common schools near his home, and assisted his father in the operation of the farm until twenty-five years of age, when he commenced teaming with oxen for the rubber factory at Centerville, and Churchill Brothers' auger factory, being thus em- ployed for many years doing more of such work than any man of his time in Hamden. During this time he made his home on the old farm, and when he gave up teaming he turned his attention to the dairy business upon that place. He has met with marked success in this undertaking and was one of the sub- stantial and prosperous dairy farmers of Hamden until he gave up that work, as well as one of its highly esteemed citizens. He is the owner of forty acres of land, including the old homestead, which consists of twenty-five acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Whitneyville, and his life has ever been in harmony with his profes- sions.
W. CECIL DURAND, secretary and treas- urer of the Milford Savings Bank, is a native of Milford, born June 15, 1851, and he belongs to one of the oldest and most honored families of that town.
William Durand, his grandfather, was born in Milford, and he and his wife, Mary Baldwin, were both interred in the old Milford graveyard. Of the thirteen children of this worthy couple, we have record of the following: Calvin (1) died in in- fancy; Calvin (2) is mentioned below; William, who died in Milford in 1865, was the first Demo- crat ever elected to the Legislature from Milford, and for many years was prominent in public life, serving as judge of probate, town clerk, surveyor of the port of New Haven, and as an official in the custom house in that city; Nathan L .; Mason .A., a merchant, died in Bombay, and was buried there; David H. was a merchant in London under the firm name of Durand & Farland, but was buried in Mil- ford; Julia and Charlotte never married; and Mary married Francis Trowbridge, a nurseryman in New Haven
Calvin Durand, our subject's father, was born in 1802, at the old homestead in Milford, and died in the same house in 1884. In early manhood he took a position as a clerk in the commission house of Goodhue & Co., No. 64 South street, New York, and after serving in that capacity for ten years, Mr. Durand became a partner. Seventeen years later he assumed the entire business as proprietor, and
conducted it in his own name twenty-nine years, making fifty-six years in all of mercantile life in New York City. During this period he carried on business with all parts of the world, but for the latter part of the time he confined it to Central and South America. In politics he was a Democrat, being an ardent believer in free trade. He married in April, 1847, Miss Sarah Cecil Hunter, of Sa- vannah, Ga., a daughter of Col. James Hunter, a merchant of that city. Col. Hunter was born in Ireland, and his wife, Eliza Cecil, was a native of England. Our subject's mother died in June, 1851, leaving W. Cecil, our subject, who was but twelve days old when his mother died.
Although born in Milford, W. Cecil Durand spent his boyhood mainly in New York, and on completing a course in the schools of that city he entered Sheffield Scientific School, Yale College, where he was graduated in 1871. He traveled ex- tensively with his father, going abroad three times, and in the fall of 1871 he engaged in business with him, the firm continuing until 1878 when they sold out. On Feb. 12, 1891, Mr. Durand was chosen secretary and treasurer of the Milford Savings Bank, and since that time the deposits have in- creased from $200,000 to about $295,000. Politi- cally he is a gold Democrat, and as representative from Milford he served three years in the Legisla- ture in 1883, 1884 and 1889. and from 1889 to 1891 he was one of the State Auditors. He is also treas- urer of the Taylor Library, and a member of the Society of Colonial Wars. His public spirit has been shown in many ways, and he was one of a committee of five on the Stone Arch Bridge, built in Milford in 1889, to commemorate the 250th an- niversary of the settlement of the town.
On Jan. 15, 1885, Mr. Durand married Eliza- beth C. Ford, of Milford, who died Aug. 18, 1888. Her father was killed in the Civil war. On June 17, 1890, Mr. Durand married Miss Clara Baldwin Clark.
HENRY B. CARTER, late a prominent and in- fluential citizen of Wolcott, is a worthy representative of an old and honored family of this State. The first of the name to come to Connecticut was Jacob Car- ter, who was of English descent and came from Southold, Long Island, locating in Branford, where he spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. He was married Dec. 4, 1712, to Dorcas Tyler, who died in 1735. They had three chidren: Sarah, born Feb. 4, 1714; Jacob, born Nov. 26, 1716; and Abel, born June 4, 1718.
Jacob Carter (2) was born in Branford, and when a young man removed to Southington, Hart- ford county. Upon a farm in the southern part of that town he made his home until called from this life July 6, 1796, his remains being interred there. He wedded Mary Barnes, who was born in 1726, a daughter of Stephen Barnes, and died in Southing- ton, Oct. 23, 1788. The children born of this union
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were Jacob, May 1, 1745; Sarah, Sept. 16, 1747; Stephen, July 11, 1749; Jonathan, May 20, 1751 ; Ithiel, Aug. 1, 1753; Isaac, May 12, 1757; Levi. Sept. 23, 1762 ; and Elihu, baptized March 18, 1759. Jacob Carter (3) was born and reared in South- ington, but when a young man located on East Mountain, Wolcott, New Haven county, being the first of the name to take up his residence in that town. There he engaged in farming until his death, and he was buried in the Wolcott cemetery. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Hitch- cock, was killed by being thrown from a wagon, at Becket, Mass., in 1818. Their children were Pre- serve, born Feb. 24, 1773; Marcus, born July 28, 1774, removed to Michigan; Rhoda, born Nov. 6, 1775, married Washington Upson; Mary, born Feb. 16, 1781; Uri, born June 15, 1782; and Gaius and Loami, twins, born Dec. 2, 1785.
Uri Carter was the grandfather of our subject. He spent his entire life as a farmer in Wolcott, and was well-known and highly respected throughout the town. He married Lue S. Baxter, who died March 17, 1867, and he departed this life Feb. 6, 1835, both being laid to rest in the old Wolcott cemetery. In their family were six children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: George W., Jan. 18, 18II ; Henry J., Feb. 17, 1813; John MI., Oct. 2, 1815; Mary E. (wife of William W. Steele), March 12, 1818; L. Salina, Feb. 25, 1820; and Cyrus H., Oct. 19, 1822.
George W. Carter, the oldest of this family and the father of our subject, pursued his studies in the district schools of Wolcott, but was mostly self-edu- cated. While still in his teens he traveled in the South, selling clocks, and later engaged in farming and stock raising in Wolcott, taking special pride in his oxen, steers and horses. He was deeply in- terested in public affairs, and was a stanch supporter of first the Whig, and later the Republican party. He was quite a prominent man of his community, and was elected to the State Legislature and Senate, to the latter from the 5th district. For many years he was a deacon in the Congregational Church, and also served as clerk and treasurer of the church for over twenty years. Upright and honorable in all things, he commanded the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He died March 3, 1884, and was buried in Wolcott Centre cemetery. For his first wife he married Sarah A. Bronson, a daughter of John and Hannah (Root) Bronson. She was born in Wolcott, April 1, 1811, and died March 12, 1868, being laid to rest in the old cemetery. She was a good Christian woman and a faithful wife and mother. The father was again married, May 10, 1871, his second union be- ing with Mary P. Baldwin, who was born March 27, 1823, and died Oct. 9, 1900. Of the six chil- dren born to the first marriage, our subject is the eldest ; Mary M. and Sarah S. (twins), born May 23, 1842, died Sept. 23, 1894, and Aug. 24, 1866, respectively (Mary M. married George Walker
of Saybrook, Conn.) ; Hannah J., born Jan. 26, 1844, married Elmer Hotchkiss, and died April 7, 1900; Frederick W., born Oct. 27, 1845, lives in Wolcott; and Walter S., born Dec. 3, 1853, died May 8, 1855.
Henry B. Carter was born in Wolcott, Dec. 2, 1839, and was educated in the district schools. At the age of seventeen years he began life for himself as a farm hand, working at $13 per month, and later located on a small farm, which he successfully operated, at the same time engaging in light and heavy teaming. In 1895 he located on the Hotch- kiss farm-the home of his father-in-law-which comprises 187 acres of well-improved land, and en- gaged in dairy and general farming, also following teaming to some extent, until his death, Feb. 15, 1900. Mr. Carter always took quite an active part in local politics, and was chairman of the Republican town committee. He served his fellow citizens in the capacity of assessor, road commissioner, super- intendent of highways, member and chairman of the school board, selectman five terms, and a member of the State Legislature in 1883 and 1884, during which time he served on several important committees. His last term of office as selectman expired Oct. I, 1899. He was a member of Mad River Grange, No. 71, P. of H., and was president of the Wolcott Agricultural Society fifteen consecutive years. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church, to which office he was appointed after his father's death. He was a member of the church committee, and for many years superintendent of the Sunday- school. For seventeen years Deacon Carter was superintendent of a Sunday-school in an out-dis- trict, and was rarely absent from his post of duty. He was a man of industrious and temperate habits, popular and highly respected, and took a deep inter- est in everything calculated to advance the moral or material welfare of his town or county. In 1860, in Wolcott, Mr. Carter was united in marriage with Miss Mary Rufina Hotchkiss, a native of that town and a daughter of Stiles L. and Mary Ann Hotch- kiss. By this union was born one child, Charles Hotchkiss, a merchant of Wolcott, who died in 1888. He married Lois Alcott, and had one child, Sarah Lois. Our subject and his wife adopted a daughter, Mabel. Mrs. Carter is a lady of character and cul- ture, who takes an active and prominent part in church and temperance work and is a talented writer, contributing many able articles to such papers as the New England Homestead, the Connecticut Farmer, the New Britain Herald, the Waterbury Republican and the Waterbury American.
The Hotchkiss family to which Mrs. Carter be- longs was one of the first to locate in New England, and the name was originally spelled Hodgkis. The first to cross the Atlantic was Samuel Hotchkiss, a native of Essex, England, who located in New Haven as early as 1641. On Sept. 7, 1642, lie mar- ried Elizabeth Cleverly, and died in New Haven, Dec. 28, 1663. His children were John, born in
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1643; Samuel, 1645; James, 1647; Joshua, Sept. 16, 1651 ; Thomas, Nov. 30, 1654; and David, March 9, 1657.
John Hotchkiss, son of Samuel, was married, Dec. 5, 1672, to Elizabeth Peck, daughter of Henry Peck, of New Haven, and died about 1688 or 1689. In his family were six children whose names and dates of birth were as follows: John, Oct. 11, 1673; Joshua, 1675; Joseph. June 3, 1678; Josiah, July 24, 1680; Caleb, Oct. 18, 1684; and Elizabeth, July 18, 1686.
Joseph Hotchkiss, son of John, was born in New Haven, and when a young man removed to Guilford, Conn., where he followed the weaver's trade until his death, which occurred July 31, 1740. He was married, in April, 1699, to Hannah Cruttendon, a native of Guilford and a daughter of Isaac Crutten- don, of that place. To them were born seven chil- dren, namely: Joseph, born Sept. 3, 1700; Isaac, Dec. 25, 1702; Wait, Jan. 18, 1704; Hannah, Sept. 13, 1707; Deborah, Jan. 18, 1710 (died young) ; Miles, July 28, 1712 (died young) ; and Mark, July 1, 1714.
Wait Hotchkiss, son of Joseph, was born in Guilford, and in 1777 removed to Wolcott, where he died July 30, 1778, being buried there. He was married, Nov. 2, 1730, to Sarah Bishop, of Guil- ford, where she died April 24, 1761. In their fam- ily were four children: Wait, born Nov. 18, 1733; Lois, who was born Oct. 5, 1735, and died May 9. 1818; Sarah, who was born June 5, 1738, and died Feb. 5, 1745; and Selah, born Dec. 24, 1742.
Wait Hotchkiss, Jr., a son of Wait, removed to the town of Wolcott in 1764, and there he followed farming until called from this life in 1799. On Oct. 16, 1759, he married Lydia Webster, of Bolton, Conn., who died April 12, 1776, and he was again married, Oct. 10, 1776, his second union being with Deborah Twitchell, who died June 18, 1831. By the first marriage there were five children: Joel, born Aug. 8, 1760; Lydia, Aug. 28, 1762; Sarah, March 27, 1765; Abner, May 24, 1771 ; and a twin sister of Abner, who died in infancy. The children of the second union were Luther, born Dec. 9, 1778; Miles, July 23, 1783 ; and Isaac, Oct. 16, 1787.
Luther Hotchkiss, son of Wait, Jr., was a life- long resident of Wolcott and one of the best known citizens of the town. He was a large land owner, a well-to-do farmer and a highly respected citizen, one who had considerable influence and was a good church worker. He was known as Major Hotch- kiss. On Nov. 24, 1800, he married Anne Hall, daughter of Curtis Hall. She died March 3, 1864, and he departed this life April 14, 1863, both being laid to rest in Wolcott cemetery. They had five chil- dren : Olive Ann, born Nov. 22, 1801, married Walter Webb and died in Meriden, in November. 1855 : Sarah Elizabeth, born Sept. 24, 1805, married Ira Frisbie; Lucas Curtis, born Oct. 14, 1807; Thomas Gholson, born Feb. 6, 1811; and Stiles
Luther, the father of Mrs. Carter, completes the family.
Stiles Luther Hotchkiss was born near the cen- ter of Wolcott, March 25, 1817, and died Nov. 30, 1894. He made his home on the farm now occupied by our subject's widow, his time and attention being given to agricultural pursuits. He was one of the strongest supporters of the Congregational Church, and was kind and benevolent ; not only in his home but in the entire community, was he loved and re- spected.
He was married, Oct. 12, 1836, to Mary Ann Holt, who died Sept. 9, 1863, and on March 3, 1864, he married Annis E. Bassett, of Plymouth, Conn. He had three children by the first union, namely : Martha Anna, who was born July 1, 1837, and died Sept. 9, 1842; Mary Rufina, who was born March 29, 1840, and is now the widow of our subject ; and Elmer, born March 17, 1846.
THOMAS PRESTON, one of the prosperous retired business men and property owners of New Haven, is a native of Ireland, born June 20, 1818, in County Fermanagh, a son of Thomas Preston, who never came to America.
Thomas Preston, of whom we write, was the only child by his father's second marriage to Sarah Kelly. He remained at home upon the farm, at- tending school and assisting his parents, until twen- ty-one, when he crossed the Atlantic and located in St. John's, New Brunswick, where he learned the trade of ship carpenter. After serving a portion of his apprenticeship there, Mr. Preston came to New York, later removed to New Orleans, and in 1843 journeyed to New Haven to see a friend. Being well pleased with the locality, he settled in the city and followed the trade of joiner for several years.
During the Civil war. Commodore Gregory, a friend of Mr. Preston, induced him to locate in Bos- ton, and while there he worked upon the famous "Merrimac." After fifteen months, he went to the New York navy yards, where his skill obtained him employment for five years, under Admiral Foote, d friend of Commodore Gregory. Feeling, however, that New Haven suited hint better as a place of residence, Mr. Preston removed to this city, and until his retirement followed his trade, working upon ships. Being a man of prudence, he carefully saved his earnings and wisely invested in real es- tate, which so increased in value as to make him a man of means.
On Nov. 8, 1843, Mr. Preston was married to Miss Margaret Bannon, a native of the same county as himself, who died March 22, 1889. To this marriage were born six children: Jolin died when about twenty years old; Margaret, widow of John Waddock, lives in New Haven ; Rev. Thomas Pres- ton, a Catholic priest, of Thompsonville, Conn .; Joseph, a resident of New Haven, is a real estate agent. Charles, of the firm of Preston Bros., dry
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Thomas Preston
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goods, died in June, 1886; Mary Catherine is the wife of Michael Loughery, of New Haven.
In politics, Mr. Preston is a Democrat. He was the first of his nationality to be put on the police force of New Haven. Religiously he is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Pleasant and genial in manner, Mr. Preston has made many friends, and is highly respected by all who know him. He is a remarkably well preserved man, and his good memory and jovial manner together with a ready wit, make him an entertaining companion. He has an extensive acquaintance in the city.
SOLOMON MEAD. The Mead family has a coat of arms, and the name is of English origin. Its members have been known in America since 1642. and among them have been many distin- guished men, who in times past have done much toward the development and advancement of their Iespective localities. The present generation worthily represents this old and honorable name.
The records tell that John Mead located in Greenwich, Conn., in 1642, and our subject has descended from him through John (2), John (3), Ebenezer, Ebenezer (2), Solomon, Clark and Richard. His great-grandfather, Solomon Mead, was born in Greenwich, Conn., in 1725, and died If: 1812, in South Salem, N. Y .; he was the first pastor of the South Salem church, and remained in charge there for forty-eight years. His son Clark was born in South Salem, as was also his son Richard, the birth of the latter taking place Oct. 26, 1795. During the period of the Revolu- tion Rev. Solomon Mead was an eloquent and stirring preacher. His first wife was Hannah Strong, and his second Hannah Clark. They reared a family of five children.
Clark Mead, the grandfather of our subject, was reared on a farm, but was of a mechanical turn of mind, and is said to have made the first practical electrical machine in his locality. Undoubtedly he was a fine workman. His death occurred Jan. 8, 1832, when he was aged sixty-three years. He married Lois Gilbert, who was born in South Salem, N. Y., and died Jan. 21, 1851, at the age of seventy-nine years; she was a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church for more than forty years. They reared a family of seven children. A relative of the grandfather, also of the name of Solomon Mead, was a well-known man in mili- tary affairs, and held the position of colonel of the militia.
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