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 42
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Throughout his entire life George H. Munger has followed the occupation of farming with good success, and is the owner of considerable property in North Branford. He attended the district school until fourteen years old, and finished his education in a private school. On Nov. 14, 1852, he married Miss Susan M., daughter of Rev. Reuben Torrey, pastor of the Congregational Church at North Madison, who was born April 3, 1789, and died Sept. 28, 1870. Rev. Torrey was a son of Dr. James and Deborah (Fitch) Torrey, of Weymouth and Nantucket, Mass., respectively, and for fifty years was prominent as a Congregational minister, hav- ing at different times charges at Ashford. Eastford. | North Mansfield and North Madison, Conn., and
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Elmwood and Providence, R. I. His wife, Ann Eddy, was born July 5, 1796, a daughter of Capt. Moses and Hannah ( Carpenter ) Eddy, and died Dec. 5. 1890. The Eddy family is descended from Rev. William Eddy, A. M., vicar at Crainbrook, England ( 1589-1616), whose sons came to America. Capt. Moses Eddy was born March 26, 1766, became a prosperous merchant, running a line of packets between Providence and New York; he died May 28, 1823. His brother, Samuel Eddy, was a judge of the supreme court of Rhode Island, and for many years was a member of Congress. Mrs. Hannah (Carpenter ) Eddy was born.Oct. 17, 1766, and died May 14, 1838.
Mrs. Munger died Jan. 1, 1861, aged nearly thirty-eight years, leaving three daughters: Mar- tha C., wife of Erastus Dudley, a prominent citizen of Guilford; Ann Isabel, wife of Lawyer C. A. Harrison, of Wallingford; Susan, widow of Clay- ton Thompson, residing in North Madison. On May 15, 1862, Mr. Munger was united in marriage with Miss Emily Frances Russell. One daughter has blessed this union, Helen Russell, who is the wife of Charles M. Bergstresser, editor of the Wall Street Journal, of New York, and a graduate of Lafayette College, Pa., and they have one child, Ethel Munger Bergstresser. Mr. Munger has taken a prominent part in public affairs, and has served as selectman and filled numerous official stations while living in Madison. He resided in that town until April, 1888, when he came to North Branford to occupy part of the Russell ancestral estate. He has been superintendent of Sunday-school and choir master of the Congregational Church, but has stead- ily refused any political positions since coming to North Branford. He has been a staunch Repub- lican since the organization of the party, having for- merly affiliated with the Whigs, and is noted for his temperance principles and practice.
The Russell family, to which Mrs. George H. Munger belongs, is an ancient and honorable one, and has rendered great services to church and State. Those who settled in North Branford gave monies to the Congregational Church for the establishment of fund which to-day aids in its support. The American line is traced back to John Russell, a native of England, who emigrated from London in the ship "Globe" Aug. 7, 1635, with his wife, Phebe ( family name unknown), and two sons, John and Phillip. He first located in Cambridge, Mass., but later re- moved to South Hadley. In 1636 he was one of the prominent citizens of the former town, was town clerk in 1645, and constable in 1648. His wife died July 8, 1642.
John Russell, son of John, the emigrant, was born in England in 1626, and was graduated from Harvard in 1645. He was called to be pastor of the church at Wethersfield, Conn., and his father accom- panied him. In 1659 he moved to Hadley, Mass., and
died there May 8, 1660. He gave shelter to the "Regicides."
Samuel Russell, son of John, was born Nov. 4. 1660, and was graduated from Harvard in 16So. He moved to Branford, Conn., becoming the second pastor of the Congregational Church there Sept. 12, 1687. In his study was founded Yale College, of which he was librarian, and trustee from 1701 to 1731. He married Abigail Whiting, daughter of Rev. John and Sybil ( Collins) Whiting, of Hart- ford, and granddaughter of William Whiting, Esq., first treasurer of the Connecticut Colony. Rev! Samuel Russell died at Branford June 25, 1733, clos- ing a pastorate of forty-three years.
Jonathan Russell, Esq., son of Rev. Samuel, located in what is now North Branford, where he owned a large tract of land given to his father by the parishioners. He served as justice of the peace and held various other town offices. His brother, Ithiel Russell, was the first deacon of the North Branford Congregational Church in 1754. Jonathan Russell married Eunice Barker, of Branford, and he died July 24, 1774, aged seventy-four years ; she died Aug. 23, 1781, aged eighty-five.
Jonathan Russell, Jr., son of Jonathan, married Lydia Barker, who died Feb. 3, 1823, at the age of eighty-eight years, and he departed this life March 5, 1814, at the age of eighty-two.
Deacon David Russell, son of Jonathan and Lydia (Barker) Russell, and the grandfather of Mrs. Munger, was born May 31, 1762, and died July 2, 1836. At the age of sixteen he volunteered for service in the war of the Revolution, and was ever a prominent and public-spirited citizen. For twenty-eight years he was a deacon in the Congre- gational Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eunice Monroc, was born Jan. 30, 1770, and died in August, 1852. In their family were! the following children: Samuel F., who was born March 12, 1794, and died April 6, 1805; Julia Eliz- abeth, who was born Jan. 14, 1796, and married Samuel Chatterton, a merchant tailor of New Ha- ven ; Lydia Frances, who died in childhood ; Samuel Factor, born Oct. 7, 1803, was a deacon of the church many years and died Jan. 7, 1884; Joseph Barker; Jonathan; David Andrew, father of Mrs. Munger; Lucretia, who married Charles Brown, a prominent man of New Haven, Nov. 25, 1825; and Benjamin B., who died young.
David Andrew Russell was born April 6, 1805, and was a life-long resident of North Branford, where he engaged in farming. He was an active and prominent member of the Congregational Church, served as church collector. He was nearly all his life in the North Branford Congregational Church. In his political views he was a Democrat, and held the offices of constable, grand juror and other local positions of honor and trust. In the town of Madison, this county, he married Miss Betsy Norton, the ceremony being performed by
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Rev. Judson Root. She was born Sept. 28, 1806, a daughter of Timothy Norton and his wife Polly (Hutchinson), of Southold, Long Island. Mr. Russell died Nov. 4, 1881, his wife, Oct. 7, 1872. To this worthy couple were born six children, of whom the eldest died in infancy, Jan. 13, 1834; Jane Elizabeth, born Feb. 14. 1835, married Elizur Foote and died Dec. 14, 1879; Julia Frances, born Jan. 19, 1836, died March 23, 1839: Emily Frances, born Aug. 17, 1838, is the wife of our subject ; Julia Augusta, born March 22, 1842, died Jan. 20, 1859; and Helen Louise, born April 18, 1847, died Sept. II, 1852.
Timothy Norton was a prominent man in the town, and was engaged in the droving business, shipping horses and mules to the West Indies. He was a son of Noahdiah and Mabel ( Hopson) Nor- ton; and his wife, Polly Hutchinson, was born Feb. 24, 1779, a daughter of Samuel Hutchinson, of Southold, L. I., who was an early settler there. When Long Island was invaded by the British, he shipped his family and his belongings in a sloop to Guilford.
RICHARD A. PECK, a well known citizen of New Haven who for many years was connected with the Peck & Bishop Co., of that city, comes from an old and prominent family.
Jonathan Peck, his grandfather, was born in Fairfield county, Conn., where he married a Miss Lockwood, and then settled at Flushing, Long Isl- and, where he embarked in the transportation busi- ness, continuing same until the time of his death. He reared a large family: Cornell, born in 1809, was in the coal and lumber business in Flushing : Anna Eliza, born in 1811, married William Fair- weather, who was in business with her brother Cornell; James, born in 1813, was in the fertiliz- ing business in Flushing; Richard was the father of our subject; Thomas engaged in the sash and blind business in Norwalk, Conn .: Caroline, born in 1819, married William Rowe, of Flushing : Janet married Theodore Demont, of Flushing, and still survives ; Jonathan, born in 1825, was in the salt business, and died at Hempstead, L. I. ; Henry A., born in 1829, is in the fertilizing business in Flush- ing; William, born in 1831, is in the real estate busi- ness in New York City: and Susan A., born in 1823, married Augustus Mitchell, of Flushing, and is deceased.
Richard Peck, the father of our subject, was born in Flushing, Dec. 28, 1815, and died April 18, 1900. His educational advantages were limited, only such as the district schools of his time and place afforded. He seemed to inherit from his father a desire for "following the water," and when but little more than a child had shown unusual adaptation for that line of work. When a lad of twelve he left Flushing with his father to engage in the steamboat business, and he was captain of one steamboat before he was eighteen, holding that po-
sition in a highly satisfactory manner. In the early forties he located in New Haven, where from 1850 to 1898 he managed the New Haven Steamboat Co.'s line of boats, one of these, the "Richard Peck," a large passenger steamer running between New Haven and New York. During the last year of his life the "Chester W. Chapin" was added to the fleet. Sometime prior to his death a deal was made with the N. Y. & N. H. Consolidated Road for the purchase of the New Haven Steamboat Co., and the transfer was made the day Mr. Peck died. The boats which he commanded on the New Haven line were the "Bell," Globe," "New York" and "Con- necticut," the last named being his last boat, having charge of her in 1850.
In his time Mr. Peck built the "Granite State," of the Hartford line: the "Elm City," the "Conti- nental" and the "C. H. Northam." Also under his supervision were built the "Richard Peck" and the "Eleanor F. Peck," the former of which was named for him, and was for years probably the best known coaster steamer carrying the United States flag ; and Mr. Peck, during his management of the New Ha- ven line, which extended over a period of nearly half a century, was probably one of the best known steamboat men on the Atlantic coast. He had grown up in the business, and retired in 1898 after over seventy years of active service in that line. For many years he was in positions of great re- sponsibility, the duties of which he always filled in a most efficient manner. His life had been a very busy one, and he was well known throughout the country and among all men, especially in his line. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. His life was without reproach, and he was a grand type of man, many kindly acts showing his true character. When but a young man he assumed responsibilities that were far beyond his years, displaying a keen sense of duty to his parents and others of the family who were less successful than he. While a disciplinarian in his business, and systematic at home, he was a kind-hearted, generous man, and an indulgent father. He was generous to a fault, finding pleasure in his home and family, in which he took great interest. Accumulation of property was certainly not his greatest desire, though he left a most com- fortable competence, and neither he nor his family ever lacked comforts or luxuries that his means permitted. His substantial kindnesses and gener- osity toward others were frequent and voluntary. At the time of his death the New York Marine Journal published the following :
The founders of our successful sail vessel fleets and steamship lines are fast passing awav. The latest to pay the debt which nature demands is Capt. Richard Peck, of New Haven, Conn., the founder of the New Haven Steam- boat Co., between this port and New Haven, which has been so eminently prosperous through his oversight in con- nection with President Chester W. Chapin in building boats of a superior class, with which Commodore Peck was actively identified until increasing years forced him to give way to younger men.
Mr. Peck was a native of Flushing, L. I., and came 10
Richard Pack
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this city in 1842, in command of the steamer "Bell." A short time afterward he, together with C. H. Northam and Chester W. Chapin, of Springfield, Mass., organized the New York and New Haven steamboat line, and he was made captain of the "Connecticut " of that line.
In 1850 he was made superintendent of the company, which position he held until 1895, when he resigned. After his resignation as superintendent, he became secretary of the company, and held the office up to his death. He was commodore of the company's line of steamboats, and one of their most famous ones is named after him. He is sur- vived by a wife, two sons and two brothers.
It is a great victory over temptation when a man in his 85th year dies with a character on which there is not a blein- ish. Where is the man that can say that this veteran steam- boat man ever did him a wrong? Such a one never lived. True to the hard and fast principles of doing as he would be done by, Richard Peck died beloved, honored and respected by all who knew him. To be able to leave such a legacy to family and friends is worth an hundred times all the self-denial necessary to attain it. The example is as valuable to his associates in social as well as in business life, as the ten commandments.
On Feb. 21, 1839, Richard Peck was married to Anna E. Haviland, who lived but one year, and on Oct. 16, 1842, he married Mary A. Smith, who was born in Quakers Farms, Oxford, Conn., Dec. I, 1818. Her father, Theodore Smith, born in Ox- ford, was a farmer there ; he was a captain, 9th Co., 2nd Reg. Riflemen, Connecticut Militia, in the war of 1812. Mr. Smith married Julia Bradley, who was born in Humphreysville, or Hamden, Conn., a daughter of Elephaz Bradley, a farmer of that locality, and his wife Betsey ( Perry). The great- grandfather of our subject, John Smith, was a sol- dier in both the Revolutionary war and in the war of 1812. Soon after the marriage of Richard and Mary (Smith) Peck they settled in New Haven, where Mrs. Peck lives. A family of four children came to them: (1) Frederick J., born in August, 1843, has been in the steamboat business at times being like his father, the captain of several boats; his home is in New York City. (2) Richard A. is mentioned below. (3) Henry, born in April, 1848, died Oct. 31, 1887 ; he was shipping clerk for the New Haven Steamboat Co. (4) Miles L., born in September, 1850, died July 31, 1887; he was steward on a steamboat. The mother is well pre- served in spite of her eighty-three years. She is highly esteemed and is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church.
Richard A. Peck, our subject, was born in New Haven, Aug. 21, 1845, and was reared in that city, receiving every educational opportunity. For some time he attended Russell's Collegiate Military School, where the training in every department was excellent. His first entrance into business was as clerk in a drug store, where he remained for three and one-half years, and he then went to the New Haven Steamboat Co. This business was success- fully pursued by all his family, and our subject was no exception, his energy and interest soon making him a valuable acquisition to the firm of Mvers & Peck. Later he engaged in the business under the firm name of Peck & Bishop, which later changed
to the Peck & Bishop Co., of New Haven, and when Mr. Peck retired from the firm his name was re- tained.
On Jan. 11, 1871, Mr. Peck was united in mar- riage with Nellie M. Terrell, who was born in New Haven, a daughter of Horatio and Sarah ( Richard- son) Beecher Terrell, also of New Haven. In his political connections our subject votes with the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are val- ued and consistent members of the Episcopal Church.
HENRY C. SEABROOK, whose death oc- curred on Christmas day, 1901, was one of the im- portant factors in the business life of New Haven, Conn. He was born on the island of Nevis, West Indies, March 2, 1830, a son of William Seabrook, a native of London, England, who died in the West Indies.
William Seabrook early in life was a steward in a prominent London family, as his father before him, but at the time of the birth of Henry C., his son, he was conducting a large plantation in the West Indies. About 1835, during the slave troubles in the island, he went to Canada, built a home in the wilderness and remained there one season. However, as he had become accustomed to the warm climate of the West Indies, he could not endure the extreme cold of his northern home. and returned to the island of Nevis, and there lived until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Freeman, and she was a native of London, England. Fifteen children were born to them, but our subject knew nothing of his brothers and sisters, with the excep- tion of two sisters, Maria Dalley and Harriet Auld, late of Hamilton, Canada, but who are deceased.
Henry C. Seabrook spent the years from 1835 to 1846 in London at school, and in Hamilton, Can- ada, where he learned the trade of carriage wood- working. In 1846 he came to Rochester. N. Y., and there remained until 1849, working at the trade of carriage painting and woodworking, and he was also employed on the canal and at other work. Dur- ing the Mexican war he was at Vera Cruz, not as a participant in the fighting, but loading vessels. On July 15, 1849, he came to New Haven and followed his trade of carriage woodworking until 1855, when he went to New London in the employ of Mr. Cable. From there he went to Syracuse, where he remained until the fall of 1858, when he returned to New Haven and entered the employ of George T. New- hall, where he remained until Oct. 1, 1865, when he entered the business of carriage building with C. F. Dibble, who remained in the concern until 1868, when Mr. Seabrook formed a partnership with Ly- man T. Smith, and the style of the firm became the Seabrook & Smith Carriage Co. They manufac- tured a large number of carriages, and shipped their products to Texas, California, and in fact all over the United States. Their plant was well equipped and they gave employment to thirty-five men.
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On May 30, 1853, Mr. Seabrook was married to Lydia Beecher, of New Haven, a daughter of Hor- ace Beecher, also of New Haven. She died May 3, 1885. Two children were born of this marriage: Charles H. and Ida. The son, who is in the livery business in New York City, is a very promising young man ; he is married and has three children, Henry Hawley, Anna M. and Clara L. Ida is unmarried and at home. In politics Mr. Seabrook was a Democrat, but never sought political honors. In 1853 he joined Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and he was also a member of the Red Men. With his family Mr. Seabrook attended the Episco- pal Church. Upright in all his dealings, and self- made in the best sense of the term, Mr. Seabrook won a firm position for himself in the commercial life of New Haven, and too much credit could not be given him for his energy and enterprise in build- ing up his business and financial standing from such small beginnings.
DAVID B. WILSON, senior member of the D. B. Wilson Co., general hardware merchants, Water- bury, and one of New Haven county's most progres- sive and popular citizens, is well worthy of promi- ment place in the pages of this work.
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A native of Connecticut, Mr. Wilson was born April 1, 1848, in Harwinton, Litchfield county, a son of Charles M. Wilson and a grandson of David Wilson. The latter was born probably in Harwin- ton, and followed agricultural pursuits there. Hc died at the age of fifty-nine years. He married Betsey Miller, of Middletown, Conn., and had a family of five children, as follows: David A. was a farmer in Harwinton, and died there ; Russell died unmarried; Charles M. is fully mentioned farther on; Cornelia (now deceased) married Charles En- sign, a farmer in. Morris, Conn .; Elizabeth (now de- ceased) married Lemuel Ensign, a farmer.
Charles M. Wilson, father of David B., was born in 1822 in Harwinton, received his education there, and followed farming until 1870, in which year he came to Waterbury. Here he conducted a restaur- ant and confectionery business, but is now living retired. He married Sarah E. Barber, also a na- tive of Harwinton, daughter of Orren Barber, a farmer of that locality, who died at the age of eighty years. There was but one child born to Charles M. and Sarah E. Wilson, David B., our subject. The mother was called from earth in ISgo, aged sixty-six years.
David B. Wilson passed his boyhood on the home farm where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, attending in the summer seasons the district school, afterward for two years he studied at Wil- braham Academy. After clerking a short time in the telegraph office at Winsted, Conn., he, in 1867, came to Waterbury and purchased a restaurant and confectionery business, which he conducted until his father took it off his hands. He then for two years was employed in the store of E. R. Sampson, hard-
ware, etc., at the end of that engagement embark- ing in his present mammoth business (probably the largest in the county), comprising hardware of all kinds, agricultural implements, sporting goods, bi- cycles, field and garden seeds, etc. Since ISSo the place of business has been at Nos. 13-15-17 Broad- way. In 1897 a stock company was organized under the firm name of the D. B. Wilson Co., D. B. Wilson, president and treasurer ; E. W. Wilson, vice-presi- dent and assistant treasurer ; and George Lee, secre- tary.
On Jan. 5, 1869, our subject was united in mar- riage with M. Christine Webster, who was born in Waterbury, a daughter of Elias Webster, a native of Harwinton, who for several years was a boot and shoe dealer in Waterbury. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson; Edward W. (born March 20, 1871), member of the D. B. Wilson Co .; and Florence Zullette.
In politics Mr. Wilson is an independent Repub- lican, in religious faith has been identified with Trinity Church since its organization ; and socially is a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. and Order of Red Men. An enthusiast in agricultural affairs, he is the owner of a fine 500- acre farm in Litchfield county, which he conducts, but not altogether for the profits his industry and good management bring from it. His essay on farm- ing entitled, "I Want to Buy a Farm," published in the firm's pamphlet of 1895, is well worth, not only careful perusal, 'but deep thought and close applica- tion. Mr. Wilson has never taken an active part in political affairs, caring nothing for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his attention to the pleasures of his home and his farm, and to the prosecution of his business interests, in which he is meeting with unbounded success.
STEPHEN OLIN PARKER, one of the well known business citizens of Meriden, now holding the responsible position of foreman of the pattern de- partment of the Charles Parker Co., was born in Meriden April 22, 1847, a son of the late Stephen L. and Martha M. (Andrews) Parker.
The Parker family has been identified with the history of New Haven county, Conn., for a period of nearly two centuries, and representatives in each generation have held honored places in the community.
Stephen Parker, the great-grandfather of Stephen Olin Parker, of this sketch, was a son of Joel and Susannah (Hotchkiss) Parker, and was born in 1759. Farming was his chief occupation and this he followed with much success through life. For some time he was a soldier in the Continental army during the war for independence. His first marriage was to Sally Twiss and his second was to Mrs. Rebecca Stone, who was a daughter of Joshua Ray. The eight children of the first mar- riage were: Clarissa, Zeri and Stephen, two of whom died in infancy; Stephen; Sarah; Clarissa ;
-
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Joel and Isabella. The second marriage resulted in four children: Jolin, Betsey, Charles and Ed- mund, all of whom are now deceased, except the venerable Charles Parker, one of Meriden's oldest and most respected citizens, a full sketch of whom, together with the Parker family, will be found else- where in this volume.
Zeri Parker was born on the family homestead in Cheshire, where he grew to manhood and here he passed the greater part of his life engaged in farm- ing. His latter days were spent with his sons, Julius and Stephen. Liberal in his views, he found good in all, and lived an honest, upright life, and held the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was married in Ches- hire to Tryphena Munson, who was born in that town and who was a daughter of Peter Munson, and two children came of this union: Jul- ius, who married Mary Richmond, is now deceased, having had two sons, George Wallace, who died in 1895, and Charles I., of Meriden ; and Stephen L.
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