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 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
In 1878 Mr. Forbes built the "Forbes House," at Morris Cove, now called the "Morris Cove House," which he ran for fourteen years, commenc- ing in 1882. Like his father, Mr. Forbes has al- ways been in sympathy with the Democratic party, and has held many of the local offices, having been selectman in both East Haven and New Haven, town agent of East Haven, and a member of the board of education. His religious training was in the Epis- copal Church.
ALGERNON O. BEACH, a prosperous and progressive agriculturist of the town of Hamden. is a native of Connecticut, born in New Haven, April 29, 1826, of New England ancestry.
Oliver Beach, his father, was born in 1788, in Woodbridge, Conn., was a mason by trade, and died in New Haven in 1850. By his wife Elizabeth Ann (Allen) he had a family of ten children, named re- spectively : Louisa A., Laura, Edward, Laura (2), Elizabeth, Edward A., Henry O., Algernon O., George E. and Wallace A.
When ten years of age Algernon O. Beach was taken to live with Jeremiah Gilbert, a farmer of the town of Hamden, who was childless, and remained with him until his death, our subject being then but fifteen years of age. He continued to live with Mr. Gilbert's widow, having entire charge of the farm, until her death in 1850, at which time he went to Centreville and entered the employ of Mr. Willis Churchill, in the auger shops; thence he went to Mt. Carmel and worked for Henry Ives in the axle shops for some fourteen years, during the latter part of which period he was foreman of the room in which he was employed. Returning now to the Gil- bert farm he remained thereon until 1890, in that year coming to his present place in the town of Ham- den.
On Jan. 1, 1847, Algernon O. Beach was mar- ried to Frances Hitchcock, daughter of Leveritt Hitchcock, and two children were born to them, Elizabeth and Margaret E., both of whom died young. The mother of these passed away April 29. 1860, and Feb. 20, 1861, Mr. Beach wedded Julia S. Tuttle, of Middlebury, Conn., who entered into
Forbes Hudson 63
Collen & Forbes
545.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rest Feb. 22, 1901, aged sixty-three years. One child graced this union, Frances E., now the wife of Wilson E. Goodsell, of North Haven ; they have two children, Flora L. and Lillian F.
Mr. Beach is a member of the Congregational Church, as was also his wife. In politics he is a Republican, and has been elected to various positions of honor and trust, such as assessor several terms, justice of the peace some twenty years, trial justice a good many years, and has served as grand juror. Mr. Beach is remarkably temperate, never having chewed tobacco, nor smoked more than one cigar in his life.
CHARLES HENRY. YOUNG, a leading rep- resentative of the agricultural and business interests of that part of the town of Wallingford which is known as Yalesville, was born in the North Farms District Jan. 4, 1839.
William Young, the great-grandfather of Charles H., was a land owner and an extensive and successful farmer of Middlesex county, Conn. Syl- vester Young, his son, when a young man, came to Wallingford and located at East Farms, where he married Pattie Mattoon, a native of Wallingford. There he engaged in agriculture, spending his life on the farm. He was a Democrat, a good citizen, and a well-known business man. He and his wife had five children : Samuel and Harley, who died at Liberty, Sullivan Co., N. Y .; Horace, who died in Bradford county, Pa .; Orimell : and Fenelon, who was a merchant in Alabama, where he died. Mrs. Sylvester Young died on the farm and was buried in the Center Street cemetery with her husband.
Orimell Young, the father of Charles Henry, was born in the East Farms District, where he at- tended the local school and grew up after the fashion of the farm lads of his day. As a young man he was engaged in buying and selling cattle, making trips to remote points in Vermont and other regions. Later on he combined with his buying and selling the wholesale butcher business. When he was married he gave up road work and settled down to farming on the old homestead, where he built a fine dwelling house and made many improvements, including the erection of a mill, where he mant- factured cider and brandy. Mr. Young was widely known as one of the best judges of cattle in the State. A hard worker, he was noted for his indus- trious habits, but intense devotion to business somewhat clouded his mind at the time of his death, Sept. 5. 1884. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion held to the Golden Rule. He married Fanney M. Rogers, who was born in Stony Creek, this county, daughter of Gerris Rogers, of that town. To this union came children as follows: Charles Henry; Lewis, who is a butcher of Wallingford; Frank, living on the family homestead; Fanney, who died young; Mary, who died when seventeen Years old : and Cornelius V., living on part of the homestead. Mrs. Orimell Young died Feb. 14, 1893,
!
in Wallingford, and was buried in the Centre Street cemetery. She was a member of the Advent Church, and was known as a good Christian woman, of kind heart and strong domestic virtues.
Charles Henry Young attended the district school in the East Farms District, and when he reached manhood engaged with his father in the cattle business, presently settling down on the old Mattoon farm, where he remained five years. At the expiration of this period he sold out and re- moved to the town of Guilford, where he located on the Murry farm. In 1872 he came to Yalesville where he has bought land, and he has also bought in Cheshire, his two purchases making a farm of 137 acres of fruitful and valuable land. In addition to his other interests he has also handled lumber, and has built up quite a trade in that line.
Mr. Young was married in Wallingford Oct. 25, 1860, to Julia T. Hine, a native of Litchfield, Conn., and a daughter of Sylvester and Sally (Churchill) Hine. She is a lady of marked excel- lence of character, and is especially gifted as a business woman. To Mr. and Mrs. Young have come eight children : (1) Cassius O. is engaged as an iceman. He married Nellie Terrill, and they have had three children-Maude, born Oct. 8. 1888; Charles B., Aug. 8, 1890; and Harold B., May 2, 1893. (2) Wilber F. resides in Springfield. On June 22, 1887, he was married to Sadie Wilcox Peck, who died Nov. 22, 1891. On Nov. 16, 1892, he married for his second wife Miss Ida M. Steven- son, and they have two children-Sarah Stevenson, born Oct. 26, 1893; and Wilber Fenelon, born Feb. 13, 1898. (3) Jennie Phemilia was married. April 17, 1895, to John E. Blakeslee, of Bridgeport,. and has one child, Jennie Isabelle, born Sept. 23,. 1897. (4) Ida Belle graduated from the Yalesville. high school, and is engaged as a bookkeeper. (5) Frank Charles is in the office of the judge of pro- bate at New Haven. (6) Fanny Sarah was mar- ried Oct. 19, 1898, to F. H. Warner, of Walling- ford, and has one child, Irene Cora, born Nov. 18, 1899. (7) Cora Julia graduated from the Walling- ford high school in 1894, and from the Normal School at New Haven. She has taught school one years in Wallingford and three years in Groton. Conn., and has been very successful. (8) Flora May married Richard M. R. Raymond May 16, 1895,. and has one child, Gladis May, born April 23. 1897.
Mr. Young is a Democrat and has served on the school committee at Yalesville. He is a member of Hancock Lodge, at South Meriden, and of the Wallingford Agricultural Society. Mrs. Young be- longs to the Episcopal Church and is a good woman, a faithful mother and a devoted wife.
BENJAMIN F. LEACH, D. D. S., comes of a family of English origin, its first American progeni- tors having been two brothers who emigrated from the mother country in Colonial days. One settled ) in New York State, the other in Massachusetts.
35
546
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The Doctor's father and grandfather were born in Massachusetts, in the town of Wendell, of which he, too, was a native, born April 16, 1842.
Gardiner Leach, his grandfather, was a prosper- ous fariner, enjoyed the universal respect of the community, and was a man of considerable public prominence. He was elected to various minor town offices, and also represented his district in the Leg- islature. He was a man of keen intellect and sterling moral worth, as well as of tried fidelity to important trusts. He married Miss Macomber, and was the father of five children, of whom the eldest, Chester, was the father of Dr. Benjamin F. Leach. The others were Whitman, who passed his life on the old homestead farm; Tamothy, who married Na- thaniel Macomber, and settled in Shutesbury, Mass .; Susan, who became the wife of Smith Orcutt, a shoemaker ; and Salome, who was married to Hawles Williams, a farmer.
Chester Leach was a tiller of the soil, and spent most of his days in the town of his birth, dying in Worcester, Mass., in 1891, surviving his wife for eighteen years. He was first a Whig and later a Republican. He married Mary Orcutt, who was also born in Wendell, Mass. Her father, Samuel Orcutt, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the gallant band of patriotic heroes whom Ethan Allen led at Ticonderoga. The children of Chester Leach were five in number. The youngest died in infancy, and one son, Lucian L., at the age of seven years. Those who grew to manhood were Humphrey S., Valette W. and Benjamin F. The eldest son, Humphrey, was an officer in the Civil war and died in 1898 in Worcester, Mass. Valette is practicing dentistry in Keene, New Hampshire.
The first nine years of Dr. Leach's life were passed in Wendell, when with his parents he moved to Leverett, Mass. At the age of eighteen he be- gan the study of dentistry under the tutelage of his cousin, Dr. D. W. Leach, at Randolph, in his native State. He completed his professional studies in three years, and in 1863 began the practice of his profession at Ansonia, Conn. That was an epochal year in Dr. Leach's life. It not only marked his attainment of his majority and the commencement of his professional career, but was also the year of his marriage to Miss Emma F. Boutwell, of Lever- ett, Mass., a daughter of Charles Boutwell, a farmer of that town.
The Doctor remained at Ansonia only a year, going from there to Amherst, Mass., where he was engaged in active and successful practice for ten years. At the end of that period he removed to the i eight. town of Derby, Conn. (which has since become a city), within whose confines he has since lived, in 1882 purchasing a home in Shelton, where he yet resides. Dr. Leach is a skillful practitioner, keep- ing fully abreast of every new discovery and fresh advance in his profession. He has a large practice and is universally held in sincere esteem, not only for the high order of his attainments, but as well
for his pure life and unblemished character as a citizen, a Christian and a man. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and an earnest worker in the cause of religion. For thirty-five years he has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church, having united with that body while living in Amherst, Mass. His family are also of the same communion. He takes especial interest in Sunday-school work, having been a superin- tendent of Sunday-schools almost during the entire time of his church membership, first at Amherst and later in Ansonia. He is also one of the deacons of the First Baptist Church of that city.
Reference has been already made to Dr. Leach's marriage to Miss Boutwell in 1863. She died in 1887, leaving no children, and on June 4, 1889, he was united to Miss Mary C., a daughter of Austin Eastman, of Amherst, and a niece of Hon. Zebina Eastman, U. S. consul at Bristol, England, for eight years, part of the time under President Lincoln.
THEODORE NELSON HOTCHKISS, a rep- resentative of a well known family, was born in Bethany Dec. 20, 1819, a son of Harvey and Sarah (Alling) Hotchkiss, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom only one, Harpin, a black- smith in Bethany, is now living. Theodore N. Hotchkiss remained in Bethany until he was fifteen years old, acquiring his education in the local school, and then went to Westville, where he learned the mason's trade; and when he became established in life, married Eliza Smith, and followed his trade for a number of years. Coming to New Haven in middle life, he built the home where his daughter Katie A. is now living, and engaged in the building and contracting business on an extensive scale, hav- ing at one time some seventy men in his employ. For a time he was associated with Elizur H. Sperry, who learned the trade under Mr. Hotchkiss, and then selling out his interests, bought a tract of land on Kensington street and Edgewood avenue, where he built homes for some twenty-five families. These he rented, became noted as one of the very successful men of his day, and had the name of be- ing one of the most extensive and progressive build- ers of the time. What is now known as the Uni- versity Club, and the Cutler building, and many other fine structures were put up by him. Mr. Hotchkiss was a member of the Light Guards, and was an enlightened and public-spirited man, but under no condition would he accept office of any i kind. He died Feb. 27, 1888, at the age of sixty-
Mr. Hotchkiss, was twice married, his second wife, Lucia Sperry, was born in Bethany, a daugh- ter of Alvin and Sally Sperry, the former a car- penter in Bethany, where he was a man of much repute, and was known as "Col." Sperry. He was a man of much religious feeling, and often preached, and lived to be seventy-six years of age. He had eleven children, of whom four are now living:
547
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Sarah ; Grace and Gracia, twins ; and Marion. Mrs. Lucia Hotchkiss was the mother of four children -- three of whom are living: ( 1) KATIE A., who re- sides at No. 400 Elm street, New Haven, where the family has had its home for many years. (2) Lillie M., who was the wife of Frank E. Frisbie, and died in less than one year after marriage. (3) Fannie C., who married Frank S. Platt, seedsman and flor- ist. (4) Charles S., a grocer in the city, married first Annie L. Mann, and had one son, Harry Theo- dore, who is the only grandchild of Theodore N. Hotchkiss ; he married ( second ) Lydia Clark. Mrs. Lucia Hotchkiss died at the age of seventy-three.
MISS MELISSA M. METCALFE, a highly- esteemed resident of West Haven, is a native of Au- gusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., and a descendant of a well-known family.
Her father, the late Eleazer Metcalfe, was born in Goshen, Conn., Jan. 31, 1779, and was reared upon a farm. He learned the carpenter's trade, and in the spring of 1799 he went to Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y., to build barns on contract, which he did with marked success, keeping a large force of men employed. At that time Oneida county was an un- broken forest, the public highways being marked by incisions in the trees. Mr. Metcalfe was only twen- ty years old, and that year erected twenty barns. At one "raising" he heard some men talking, and one of them said "That boy will never get that build- ing up." The young contractor, noting that his critics were the idlers present, told them to go home if they could not work like the others. He also owned a carding mill and grist mill, and ground wheat and corn, and later had a large farm and fat- tened cattle for market. For about a quarter of a century he served as justice of the peace at Augusta. His death occurred Jan. 5, 1860, when he was aged eighty-one. He was active in religious work as a member of the Congregational Church; all of his family have taken keen interest in church work. He married Huldah Yale, of Lenox, Mass., who was born Feb. 4, 1781, and lived to the age of eighty -. one. Of their twelve children the subject of this sketch was the youngest and is now the only sur- vivor.
Miss Metcalfe is noted for clear foresight and executive ability in business affairs, and her warm filial devotion was proven by the excellent care which she bestowed upon her parents in their old age. She left school in order to minister to their needs, and also saw four sisters die. In 1877 she removed to West Haven to care for her youngest brother whose wife had entered into rest. Miss Metcalfe has invested extensively in real estate ; she has sold two houses but still owns three in the town and four houses have been built by her, including the handsome residence adjoining her own. Her own home at No. 175 Elm street has lately been much improved by a steep roof and hot water ser- vice. She is most hospitable, and delights in gather-
ing her friends within her pleasant home for social recreation. She is popular among her acquaint- ances, and is one of the active members of church, having brought her letter from Augusta to the West Haven society. While in Augusta she taught in the Sunday-school, and assisted in various branch- es of church work, giving both time and means.
Her brother, the late Judge George W. Metcalfe, remained at home in early manhood while teaching in Augusta and vicinity. In 1845 he removed to West Haven, where he taught for a number of years and also followed the carpenters' trade for a time. For more than twenty years he held office as justice of the peace, and was judge of the police court, his sound judgment and impartiality making his service of recognized value to the community. In politics he was a Republican and throughout his life he ad- vocated strict temperance principles. He was a prominent member of the O. U. A. M., and was always a leader in religious and philanthropic work in his locality. He gave the interest on $500 to the M. E. Church of West Haven and was a member of the Congregational Church, where he sang in the choir for a number of years. He married Mrs. Miles, now deceased, and his own death occurred at West Haven at the age of seventy years.
DAVIS WATSON SMITH, a prosperous farmer in East River District of the town of Madi- son, was born May 8, 1840, in that part of the town locally known as the Neck.
The Smith family, of which he is a worthy rep- resentative, is an old one in Middlesex county, Conn. His great-grandparents, William and Martha Smith, resided many years ago in Haddam, that county, in the old house just south of the jail. William Smith was a seafaring man, owning and commanding ves- sels engaged in the West Indies trade; he lost his life at sea when only forty years of age. We have the following record of his eight children, five sons and three daughters: (1) Jonathan and (2) Ezra, both of whom died unmarried, rendered honorable service in the Revolutionary war; they were pri- vateers, were captured about forty miles off Sandy Hook, and after untold suffering died on the noted prison ship "Jersey," in Wallabut Bay; they were buried in the banks of the bay. One of the brothers was a commissioned officer, and his commission, signed by Gen. George Washington, is now in the possession of a distant relative of our subject, in Higganum, in a good state of preservation. (3) Lucy married Ezra Brainerd, of Haddam, and lived |. to be 106 years old ; she had two or three sons who lived and died in Haddam. (4) Simon married a Miss Shailer, of Haddam. (5) William was twice married, and his wives were sisters of Dorothy Hub- bard, who married his brother Jeffrey. (6) Es- ther married Luther Bordman, of Haddam. (7) Martha married George Kelsey, of Haddam. (8) Jeffrey was the grandfather of our subject.
Jeffrey Smith, grandfather of Davis W., was 1
548
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
born in 1763, in the town of Haddam, and there grew to manhood, and learned blacksmithing. When he had mastered that trade he moved to Madison and located in the Neck, where he bought a small farm, which he cultivated in connection with his work in the smithy. He built a fine dwelling house on this tract, and spent his life there, dying Feb. 1, 1846. During the Revolution he drove cattle across the Hudson river on the ice for Washing- ton's army, and he drew a pension until his death. As may be inferred, he was a public-spirited and patriotic citizen. He married Dorothy (Dolly) Hubbard, who was born in Haddam, and died in Madison July 13, 1836. Their children were: (I) Jonathan was born Jan. 4, 1785; (2) Daniel Hub- bard, born March 23, 1787, married Content Fow- ler ; (3) Ezra, born Dec. 16, 1788, married Martha Stone; (4) Esther, born Oct. 16, 1790, married Dud- ley Brainard; (5) Austin, born in 1793, died in November of the same year; (6) Austin (2), born Feb. 9, 1794, died Aug. 8, 1820; (7) Marvin, born in 1796, married Wealthy Shailer; (8) Davis, born in 1798, died April 25, 1827: (9) Samuel, born Aug. 16, 1799, married Lucinda, daughter of Gideon Watrous, of Chester, and lived and died in Madison in the house where he was born; ( 10) Junius was born March 25, 1801 ; (II) Helena, born Nov. 29, 1802, died Oct. 11, 1806.
Junius Smith was born in the Neck District, and followed farming all his life in Madison, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Davis Watson, where he made many improvements. There he died March 20, 1882. He was a stanch Demo- crat, but had no thirst for office. In religion he was a member of the Congregational Church, and he was a well-known and highly respected citizen, always honest and upright in his business and per- sonal relations, and had many friends. Mr. Smith married Amanda, daughter of Israel Southworth, of Deep River, Conn. She died in 1897, in the home of her son Davis W., a good Christian woman who was much respected in the neighborhood. Their only child was Davis Watson.
Davis W. Smith was educated in the Madison schools and in Lee's Academy. Having been the only child he never left home, but remained to care for his parents as the infirmities of age crept upon them. The old homestead has passed into his pos- session, and under his management many substan- tial and elegant improvements have been made. Mr. Smith has also been engaged in oyster fishing.
Springfield, Mass. In politics Mr. Smith is a Dem- ocrat. Fraternally he is a Mason, affiliating with Madison Lodge, F. & A. M. Mr. Smith has never seen fit to connect himself with any church, but he is a man of fine character, kindly spirit and exalted devotion to what is good and true. The family at- tend the Congregational Church.
AMBROSE H. WELLS. There are no rules for building character ; there is no rule for achiev- ing success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a position of eminence is he who can see and util- ize the opportunities that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same. the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly ; and, when one man passes another on the highway to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encon- pass the whole human race. To-day among the most prominent business men of Waterbury who have made their own way in the world unaided is Am- brose H. Wells, manufacturer of seamless tubing. He was born in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., March 26, 1837, and is a grandson of David Wells.
Emory Wells, father of our subject, was also a native of Newtown, and was a shoemaker by trade. In 1841 he moved to Lockport, N. Y., where he engaged in the manufacture of shoes throughout the remainder of his life. . Politically he affiliated with the Democratic party, and re- ligiously was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. He was one of the honored and highly re- spected men of his community. He married Miss Maria, daughter of Isaac Gilbert, and to them were born three children: Jennette, deceased wife of Henry Jackson ; Isaac, a resident of Fairfield county, Conn .; and Ambrose H., our subject. Mrs. Wells died in Newtown and was buried there. She was a true Christian woman and a model wife and mother.
Ambrose H. Wells was reared in his native town. and acquired a limited education in the district schools. At a very early age he commenced earning his own living by working at farm labor, and later learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until coming to Waterbury, in 1862, when he en- tered the brass mills of Brown Brothers as foreman in their tube department, remaining there nineteen years. He then engaged in the flour and feed busi- ness on Harrison alley near South Main street, Waterbury, for two years, but not meeting with suc- cess in that venture, he sold out his business and again entered the employ of Brown Brothers as fore- man. A year later he started in business for him- self on the Watertown road, in Waterbury, and in 1893 built a large factory, where he has since en- gaged in the manufacture of seamless tubing, it being the only manufactory. of the kind in the town. He has a well-equipped plant, costing him over $25,000, and furnishes employment to more than
In 1872 Mr. Smith was married in New York City to Miss Melvena Tuthill. who was born in' Highland, N. Y., daughter of John and Catherine (Rose) Tuthill. She is a lady of refinement and culture of deep character. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children : (1) Edith, born March 25, 1873, was educated in the Madison schools and in Yale Business College, and is now engaged as a stenographer. (2) Ralph Davis, born March 4, 1875, is with the Standard Oil Co. in , twenty men. Enterprising, energetic and indus-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.