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 45
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 1872, while looking for something of a per- manent nature, Mr. Bruce was engaged by Simon Beatty to accompany a consignment of heavy draft horses to Canada. Mr. Beatty was a very large im- porter of these horses and young Bruce gladly ac- cepted the offer, desiring, as every young and am- bitious man should, to see something of the world beyond the home environment. Safely making the trip, he landed at Quebec, and then made his way to. the farming district near Toronto, where he was employed for a year in agricultural work, pursuing the same in the Province of Quebec for the suc- ceeding four years.
In 1877 Mr. Bruce came across the border into the United States and went to Jasper county, Iowa, where he took charge of a large ranch, consisting of
584
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1,240 acres, as foreman (this land being utilized as a stock farm), and remained at this place some two years. His experience was such that he had no dif- ficulty in securing his next engagement, this being with James J. Webb, a large dairy farmer of Ham- den, Conn., and as foreman here, with a number of men and the care of seventy-five cows, Mr. Bruce remained four years, giving to Mr. Webb this faith- ful service which insured the success of the model farm upon which its owner prided himself. Follow- ing this engagement Mr. Bruce came to North Ha- ven, where he rented the Col. Warner farm, adjoin- ing his present place on the north. This farm he conducted until he purchased his home in 1882, with four acres of land, this being locally known as the Dr. Stillman place. In 1883 he added twenty-seven acres to the original purchase, from the Col. War- ner farm. This makes a very charming home, but Mr. Bruce is so busy with his other line of work that he devotes but little time to its cultivation. In 1881 Mr. Bruce began contracting, and is the only one in his line in North Haven, and has most suc- cessfully pursued it for the past twenty-one years, his motto being first class work at lowest possible price, the work consisting of the building of mac- adam roads, bridges, culverts, excavating, etc., and his men and teams are never idle. The macadam- ized road in North Haven from Old Cemetery to State street, which is considered by experts to be one of the finest pieces of work in the State, is an example of his skill.
Mr. Bruce was married in the Province of Que- bec, Canada, to Jane Duff, a native of Canada, and two children have been born of this union: Jennie Maud, who is a bookkeeper for the American Agri- cultural Chemical Co., North Haven, Conn .; and Lawrence W., a student of civil and electrical en- gineering. A stanch Republican, when approached with offers of political preferment, he answers that he is too busy to hold office, the only one he has con- sented to fill being that of highway surveyor. So- cially Mr. Bruce is connected with the North Haven Grange and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious views are liberal, and he is one of the most highly esteemed men in North Haven. His word is as good as his bond, and his generosity and liberality to his employes have endeared him to them all, although he is a man of thorough business habits.
EDWARD THOMAS TURNER (deceased) was born in Northfield, Conn .. March 21, 1835. He was the youngest of the eight children born to Eber and Melita (Wilmot ) Turner, both natives of Connecticut. He spent his youth upon the farm and attended the schools of his native town. Early in life he learned the shoemaker's trade, but did not think it profitable enough to follow, so went into manufacturing at Northfield. Three years later, in company with a party of several young men, he started for the gold fields, but returned after be-
ing out three months. For a short time he was en- gaged in the dry goods business in Plainville, and in 1863 went to Waterbury, where, in company with William Newton, he engaged in the same business in the old Arcade building under the firm name of Newton & Turner. At the end of two years, Mr. Turner purchased his partner's interest, and re- moved to the Lathrop block cn Bank St., where his business steadily increased, until it necessitated a removal to more commodious quarters. According- ly, in 1874, he purchased from Benedict & Burnham, the building formerly occupied by them as a dry- goods store, and removed to that building. The firm was later known as E. T. Turner & Co., Mr. H. A. Skidmore being admitted as a partner in 1881, remaining in it until 1894, and Charles E. Turner, Mr. Turner's only son, was admitted into the firm in May, 1890.
Mr. Turner was president of the Fourth Na- tional Bank of Waterbury, treasurer of the Con- nectient Electric Company and member of its board of directors. He always took a deep interest in public affairs, and did much to advance the welfare of the city of Waterbury. Mr. Turner was a zeal- ous Republican, and served the city as councilman and alderman. He was elected in 1883 to represent the Fifth district in the State Senate, and there rendered efficient service as a chairman of the com- mittee on Banks. Deeply interested in Masonry he had been advanced to the Knight Templar and Scottish Rite degrees, and he was a trustee of the Masonic Temple of Waterbury.
On June 4, 1856, Mr. Turner married Miss Jane E. Hubbard, a native of Watertown, Conn., by whom he had two children: Charles E., who mar- ried Kate E. Seymour, and Edith, married to George A. Alling, of New Haven. .
Mr. Turner died Dec. 2, 1891. A man of ster- ling worth, he was deeply mourned in the commun- ity in which he was so well known.
FREDERICK WUTERICH, agent for the Henry Ellis Brewing Co., of New York, and bottler and wholesale dealer in beer, is a well known busi- ness man of Meriden, and possesses the esteem of the community. He was one of the first of his country- men to locate in this city, and is prominent in many successful German organizations.
Mr. Wuterich was born in the town of Mezingen O. B. Urach, Wurtemberg, Germany, Feb. 29, 1837, son of Jacob Frederick Wuterich, a native of the same place. The latter's grandfather was a soldier under Napoleon at the siege of Moscow, survived that memorable campaign. and received a gold medal which he cherished until his death and which is an heirloom in the family. Jacob F. Wuterich was a machinist by trade, operating his own shop, which he successfully managed until his death, in 1852. Like all the family he was a Lutheran, and was a good and worthy man. He married Mary Kaechele, a native of his locality and they had eight children,
6. Saturner
585
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
all of wliom have followed her to the other world except three: Frederick; Katie, who married Fred- erick Beerman, and resides in Webster City, Iowa; and Christian, who lives in Meriden.
-
Frederick Wuterich received an excellent educa- tion in the public schools of Germany, and engaged in work in the machine shop of his father. In the year following the latter's death, when only sixteen years old, he left Germany, crossing the ocean in the sailing vessel "Rhine," with 800 other passen- gers, and landed in New York after a voyage of forty days. Although a stranger in a strange land, young Wuterich soon found some of his own coun- trymen, and being most willing and energetic suc- ceeded in finding work at his trade, remaining in New York six months. On going from there to Connecticut he located at Glastonbury, in Hartford county, and a short time later, April 1, 1854, came to Tracy, in the town of Wallingford. There he entered the auger factory, where he remained hard at work until the outbreak of the Civil war so dis- turbed business that the factory was closed. Mr. Wuterich then went to Pittsburg, where he was em- ployed in a gun shop, going thence to the govern- ment shops in Yonkers, N. Y., and from there six months later to Meriden. Here he entered the auger factory of the Jennings Griffin Hardware Co., and continued with that firm for a long time, being for twenty-five years the foreman in the finishing de- partment. He gave complete satisfaction, and left only in order to enter another business.
After closing his long and profitable connection with the factory, Mr. Wuterich bought out the in- terest of John Bario, bottler and wholesaler, in East Main street, and conducted that business four years, selling it to take charge of the "Byxbe House" cafe and saloon, which, four years after, he also sold. He then bought the interest of Mr. Oefinger in the bottling and wholesale trade, and accepted the agency of the Henry Ellis Brewing Co., of New York, which he still conducts with excellent success.
Mr. Wuterich was one of the first German set- tlers in Meriden and vicinity, and was one of the prominent movers in the organization of the Ger- man Mutual Aid Society. and also in the establish- ment of the German schools and the Lutheran Church, to all of which organizations he has given largely, both of time and means, and much credit is due him for his liberality. Before the Civil war he was a Democrat, but since that struggle he has been an ardent Republican, and is very active in the councils of the party, hav-
ing unbounded influence with his fellow-coun- married Charles Youch, of Hockanum. (6) Gott-
trymen, who regard him with perfect confidence. Mr. Wuterich is of a genial, social nature, and en- joys membership with various clubs and orders. be- ing one of the oldest members of the Elks in this community ; has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1868; and is prominent in the German social clubs, the Saengerbund and the Turnverein.
Mr. Wuterich's marriage took place in East
Hartford, Conn., the bride being Miss Frederika Handel, who was born in Germany, daughter of Philip A. Handel, a prominent farmer of East Hart- ford. To this union have been born twelve children, seven of whom died in infancy, the survivors being : Paulina, a dressmaker by trade, married Louis Schlayer, of Southington; Emma married Stanley Jarvis, of Tracy, Conn .; Philip A. occupies the po- sition of paymaster with the Charles Parker Co .; Josie is a popular music teacher of Meriden; Min- nie is a student at the State Norman School. Our subject enjoys the esteem of the public generally, and he is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Meriden, where he is respected for his public spirit and his acknowledged integrity.
Philip A. Handel, Mrs. Wuterich's father. was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1813, son of Philip Handel, a hotel proprietor and prominent man in his locality. His early training was all in the line of farm work. On reaching man's estate he married Christina Decker, who proved a noble help- meet. Accompanied by his son, Christian, and daughter, Frederika, Mr. Handel came to America, and the mother followed two years later, after the father had found steady employment. In January, 1854, he went to Glastonbury, Conn., where he worked for a time in a shoddy factory, and in 1856 he located in Naubuc (then called Curtisville), where he found employment in a spoon and spectacle factory for some time. In 1857 he purchased a farm in East Hartford. eight years later built the dwell- ing thereon, and he also put up the barn and other outbuildings that improved the place to the extent of making it one of the finest in the town. There he made his home until his death, Jan. I, 1880. In 1863 Mr. Handel made a ten months' visit to his old home in Germany. In politics he was a Democrat. In business, honorable, industrious and upright, he left his wife and family well provided for by the labors of his own hands. He was pro- gressive and public-spirited, and anxious to see his town well abreast of the times. His good wife, who survived him but six months. bore him the follow-
ing children : (1) Frederika is the wife of Freder- ick Wuterich, of Meriden. (2) Jacob. (3) Chris- tian a well-to-do farmer of Hockanum, Hartford Co., Conn., who now owns the large tobacco farm of his father, P. A. Handel ; he married Paulina Wuter- ich, since deceased, and has nine children, Edward, Bertha, Rosa, Mary, Christian F., Albert, Pauline, William and Florence. (4) Paulina is the wife of Charles Sorries, of South Meriden. (5) Louise leib lives in East Hartford. (7) Emma married Joseph Hirth, of Hartford. (8) Bertha. (9) Katie is the wife of Benjamin Fulton, of Hartford.
CAPT. EDGAR S. DOWE has been promi- nently identified with marine interests during his residence in New Haven, which now covers a period of over twenty-two years. Quite naturally he has
---
.
586
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
also been interested in harbor facilities and im- provements, and he is equally well known as harbor inspector and as president of the New Haven Tow- ing Company.
The Captain is a native of North Carolina, born Dec. 12, 1858, on Roanoke Island, where the family has long held valuable property. His grandfather, William Dowe, was born in the same place, and .passed all his life in the cultivation of his large es- tate, being one of the well known planters of that section. He owned slaves, all of whom returned to him after the Civil war. William Dowe lived to the age of sixty-six years. He and his wife, Alice, had a family of eight children, two of whom still survive, Walter (father of our subject ) and Chester. Three died while serving in the Civil war. Mrs. Dowe was a member of the Baptist Church.
Walter Dowe was born on Roanoke Island, where he is still living on a farmi. He became a sailor, was master of a vessel plying to the West Indies, and followed marine life until 1861, when his vessel was used to help form a blockade, and he retired from that calling. Mr. Dowe owned the territory on which Fort Raleigh ( established by Sir Walter Raleigh) was located, and recently sold it to a historical society. He is a Democrat, and has throughout his entire life been a leader in local poli- tics and public affairs generally, serving as county commissioner and justice of the peace. Always a great reader, he has become well informed and in- creased the capabilities of a naturally intelligent mind, and his services have been highly acceptable. Walter Dowe married Miss Margaret Meekins, who was born on Roanoke Island, one of the two chil- dren of William Meekins, a farmer, who spent his entire life there; he died of cholera. Three chil- dren came to this union, Blanche (who married William Forbes, at present in the South), Edgar S. and Thomas. The mother died at the age of thirty- eight. She attended the Baptist Church, as does also Mr. Dowe, and both were interested in the work of the church, and very hospitable to its min- isters.
Edgar S. Dowe passed his early life on Roanoke Island, and received his education there. During his youth and early manhood he began ma- rine life as engineer, in which capacity he was engaged three years, finally receiving promotion to captain. Capt. Dowe early began tow- ing, and has been engaged in that particular line ever since coming to New Haven, in 1879. Since 1880 he has been connected with the New Haven Towing Company, entering their em- ploy as engineer, and two years later became cap- tain. In 1882 he was made pilot, buying an interest in 1887, and he has also run the "James H. Hogan." Capt. Dowe has been active in promoting every en- terprise for the benefit of vesselmen, and improve- ment of the harbor. He acted several years as deputy harbormaster, served two years as member of the board of harbor commissioners, by appoint-
1
ment of the governor, and was elected inspector by that board, which position he still holds, giving emi- nent satisfaction in every incumbency. Though in- terests affecting his business have received special attention, the Captain has shown himself just as ready to give his time to affairs affecting the gen- eral welfare of his adopted city, and his fellow citi- zens have honored him by choosing him as their representative more than once. He was councilman from 1895 to 1898, and served a two years term as alderman, during which time he was aldermanic member of the board of finance three years, a fact which speaks highly for his judgment, ability and integrity as a business man. Our subject gives his political allegiance to the Democratic party.
On June 29, 1881, Capt. Dowe married in New Britain, Conn., Miss Edith Augusta Church, who was born in East Haven. Her father, Daniel M. Church, now deceased, was a steeple builder, and put up fourteen steeples in Connecticut. Mrs. Church is also deceased. They had a family of five children, four now living: Sarah Frances. widow of William H. Thompson; James, of East Haven ; Allie J., wife of John P. Hemingway, of New Britain, Conn. ; and Edith A., Mrs. Dowe, who is the youngest. The Captain and his wife are members of the Congregational Church at East Haven, and at one time were identified with the Christian Endeavor Society. Capt. Dowe is a mem- ber of the New England Order of Protection. He formerly affiliated with the I. O. O. F., and was a member of the Engineers Association.
1
DRYDEN WILLIAM PHELPS. The Phelps genealogy is traced as follows : (I) William Phelps, son of William and Dorothy, of Tewkesbury, Glou- cestershire, England, born there in 1599, with his wife, Elizabeth, and six children, and his brother, George, then unmarried, sailed from Portsmouth, England, in the spring of 1630 in the ship "Mary and John," 140 passengers, for New England, where the company settled. They were the founders of Dorchester, Mass. William Phelps took an active part in the new settlement, and held a number of offices, being several times a deputy to the General Court. In the fall of 1635 he and his family, with his brother George, went with the company headed by Rev. Mr. Warham, and settled Windsor, Conn. Mrs. Phelps died that year, and in 1638 Mr. Phelps married Mary Dover, who died Nov. 27, 1675. Mr. Phelps died in Windsor July 14, 1672, one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the Colony.
(II) Joseph Phelps, son of William the settler, born in England about 1629, married (first) in 1660 Hannah Newton, who died in Simsbury. Jos- eph resided in Windsor until his death, in 1684.
(III) Joseph Phelps (2), son of Joseph, born Aug. 2, 1667, married ( first ) Mary Collier, born in Hartford, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (San- ford) Collier, and died in 1697 in Simsbury. Mr.
-
587
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Phelps settled in Simsbury and was one of its most influential citizens, was justice of the peace many years and served in the General Assembly from 1709 10 1727. He died Jan. 20, 1750.
(IV) Joseph Phelps (3), son of Josephi (2), born Oct. 9, 1689, married ( first ) in 1714 Rebecca North, born in 1693, who was the mother of his children, and died Nov. 8, 1732. He was a farmer and set- tled in Turkey Hills, near East Granby. He died in June, 1763.
(V) Elijah Phelps, son of Joseph (3), born May II, 1720, married Esther, born in 1718, daughter of Daniel Kent, and settled in Turkey Hills. He died . in 1795, and his wife in 1797.
(VI) Judah Phelps, son of Elijah, born May 12, 1750, married in 1778 Abigail Bishop, born Aug. 18, 1758, settled in Suffield, and probably lived for a time in Granby. He died in Suffield Oct. 6, 1818, and his wife died there Dec. 17, 1845. Mr. Phelps served in the war of the Revolution, enlisting Oct. 23, 1775, in the 7th Company, Capt. Abel Pettibone, Col. Josiah Spencer's Regiment.
(VII) Israel Phelps, son of Judah, born Oct. 20, 1782, in Granby, Conn., married May 28, 1806, Mercy Stevens, born Feb. 26, 1785, in Suffield, Conn., a daughter of Phineas and Mercy ( Root) Stevens. Mr. Phelps settled in Granby, Conn., re- siding there up to 1815, when he removed to Suf- field, Conn., and there died Jan. 3, 1827. The chil- dren born to him were: Mercy Maria, born Aug. 7, 1807, died July 23, 1843, unmarried ; Emily, born June 1, 1809, married Josiah Rockwood, and died March 5, 1900; Israel Cromwell, born July 3, 1811, married Teresa Rising and died July 10, 1855 ; Julia Ann, born April 26, 1814, married Josiah Parsons Kent, and died Aug. 19, 1882 ; Rev. S. Dryden, born May 15, 1816, is mentioned below; Judson Root, born July 17, 1818, married Frances Lovisa Noble, and died April 10, 1861 ; Newell, born Aug. 15, 1820, died Sept. 16, 1822; Apollos Newell, born Aug. 2, 1822, married Sarah A. Ketcham, and died March 10, 1886.
(VIII) Rev. Sylvanus Dryden Phelps, D. D., "the fifth child of Israel and Mercy Phelps, was a man of great prominence and was closely identified with' educational as well as theological matters throughout Connecticut. Mr. Phelps taught the Connecticut Literary Institution at Suffield, Conn., and in the academy of Southwick, Mass. After be- ing graduated from Brown University he pursued the study of theology, and was graduated from the Yale Divinity School in 1847, receiving his license to preach, however, in 1840. After supplying the First Baptist Church in New Haven for about a year he was ordained pastor there, Jan 21, 1846. a relation that closed Dec. 7, 1873. During 1874-76 he was pastor of the Jefferson Street Church, in Providence, R. I. In 1876 he became editor and pro- prietor of the Christian Secretary, which was pub- lished in Hartford, Conn., continuing so for twelve years; and also published several books of poems
and other literary works. He spent some time trav- eling abroad through the Holy Land, Egypt and the East, in connection with which he published "The! Holy Land, with Glimpses of Europe and Egypt, A Year's Tour." In 1879 Rev. Dr. Phelps became a trustee of Brown University, from which he had graduated in 1844. Finally he returned to New Haven, living at No. 44 High street, where he died Nov. 23, 1895. He married Sophia Emilia Linsley, a native of Stratford, Conn. Their children were all born in New Haven, as follows: Sophia Lyon, born May 24, 1848, died Feb. 21, 1871, unmarried. DRYDEN WILLIAM, born March 16, 1854, was educated at Yale College; was licensed to preach in 1876; graduated from Brown University in 1877; passed two years in the Hartford Theological Sem- inary, and for several years was assistant editor of the Christian Secretary, published by his father ; on Feb. 16, 1887, he was settled over the Baptist Church of Wilmington, Vt .; graduated from the Yale Divinity School in 1892, and now resides in New Haven. James Linsley, the third child of Rev. Mr. Phelps, was born April 8, 1856, and died Jan. 27, 1860. Arthur Stevens, born Jan. 23, 1863, married Blanche Stroud ; graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1886, and from the Yale Divinity School in 1889 ; was ordained June 5, 1890, in Colorado. Will- iam Lyon, born Jan. 2, 1865, married Annabel Hub- bard, and now resides in New Haven, being a pro- fessor in Yale University, from which he was grad- uated B. A. with the class of 1887, receiving the degree of Ph. D. in 1891, the same day that of M. A. was bestowed upon him by Harvard.
Mrs. S. Dryden Pheips is a lady of culture and refinement, and in early life published an able and touching menioir of her father, Rev. James H. Lins- ley.
WILLIAM LOUNSBURY, the genial proprie- tor of the "Owenego House," at Indian Neck, one of the most popular summer resorts on Long Isl- and Sound, was born in Branford Nov. 10, 1843, a son of David and Ann ( Spencer) Lounsbury. His paternal grandparents were Calvin and Betsy Louns- bury, of Bethany, Conn. His maternal grandparents were Belal and Polly ( Bradley) Spencer, of Bran- ford.
David Lounsbury was born in Bethany in July, 1815, and for some fifty-three years was a resident of Branford. He first began taking boarders at In- dian Neck in what is now the "Annex" of the "Ow- enego House," in 1847, but the demand was so great for accommodations that in 1867 he put up a much larger house, the "Owenego," from the name of a son of an Indian chief locally celebrated. Mr. Louns- bury continued in this business until his death, in 1898. William Lounsbury was associated with his father for a period of twenty-six years, beginning with 1867, and since his father's death, has con- ducted the business very successfully alone.
This well known summer resort was among the
.
588
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
very first buildings to be used for the purpose. It is located at the point where the Sound reaches its widest dimensions, and looking south there is a fine view of Long Island Sound, with Thimble Island in the distance, while to the north is obtained a fair view of the country, with its inviting roads for cy- cling and driving. Indian Neck is fast becoming one of the most popular summer resorts on the coast. The hotel is noted for its fine location, pleasant rooms and superb table.
Mr. Lounsbury has been a life-long resident of Indian Neck. He was educated in the public schools and in Branford Academy. Reared in the hotel busi- ness, he is a master of its every detail, the knowl- edge having come to him by practical experience, and its possession, together with his genial and courteous manner toward his guests, makes the "Owenego" one of the most popular resorts of the present day.
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.