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 47
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George W. Somers was born Feb. 17, 1854, in West Haven, town of Orange, and spent his early years in that town, receiving his education in the public schools near his home and a boarding school
in West Haven. At the age of twenty he con- meneed his business career, taking a position with the New Haven Steamboat Co., with whom he re- mained a few years. His next employment was with George R. Kelsey, for whom he ran a mail steamer on the St. John's river in Florida four years, serv- ing as captain. For a short period following, in 1884, he was with the New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R., and he was again with them as clerk in the freight office previous to his appoint- ment, in 1889, to his present incumbency. Mr. Somers is now Southern New England Freight Agent for the Central Railroad, of New Jersey, and Philadelphia & Reading Railway Co., and his office is in the First National Bank block, New Haven. The exacting and multitudinous duties of this posi- tion require constant oversight, judgment and sys- tematic management, but our subject has proved himself eminently qualified to fill the position, and he has won high praise from his superiors.
Mr. Somers is prominent in Masonie circles, be- longing to Annanon Lodge, F. & A. M., of West Haven, in which he has held many offices ; Franklin Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., of New Haven ; Harmony Council, R. & S. M .; life member of New Haven Commandery, K. T., of New Haven, in which he was sword bearer a number of years ; Lafayette Con- sistory; Pyramid Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport; and the Scottish Rite Ma- sons, 32d degree. For a number of years our sub- jeet has been a member of the Second Company, Governor's Foot Guard, of New Haven, and he is now assistant quartermaster of the company, on Major Clark's staff, with the rank of first lieuten- ant. His first office was that of commissary ser- geant, from which he has advanced steadily, by merit, to his present important position. Mr. Som- ers is popular among all his associates, and his ac- tivity in social and military circles has brought him a wide acquaintance in New Haven.
ALBERT W. PHILLIPS, M. D., of Derby, traces his descent from the hardy race of English yeomen farmers to whom Great Britain owes, in no small degree, her prosperity at home, and the steady development of her power abroad. Hard-headed, strong-armed, of tireless industry and stern integ- rity, they are at once the bulwark and the pride of their native land. The Doctor's father, whose baptismal name was George, was born in Worle, Somersetshire, where he married Betsey Clegg, a maiden of his native place. He was a farmer, as was also his fatlier, and emigrated from England to the United States in 1833, settling on a farm in Onondaga county, New York, where he died in 1842. The wife of his youth survived him until 1884, when she. too. entered into rest. Both had been members of the Established Church in Eng- land, and naturally connected themselves with the Episcopal Church on reaching their new home. George Phillips was a man of keen intelligence and
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A.M. Phúcipos
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sturdy purpose, and a loyal citizen of his adopted country. He was a bitter opponent of human slavery, and naturally affiliated with the Whig party in politics. Four children were born to him. of whom Albert W. was the youngest. The others were Eliza, Edward and George. Eliza married Ralph Mckinney, a contractor and builder of Au- burn, N. Y .; Edward is a farmer in South Dakota ; and George is a court clerk in Montezuma, Iowa, having been for some years a merchant of Brooklyn, that State.
Dr. Albert W. Phillips was born at Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 26, 1838. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm, and his rudimen- tary education obtained at the district schools and at a private school in Syracuse, N. Y., where he spent two years. Having reached the age of eight- een years, and chosen the medical profession as his vocation, he entered the office of Drs. Cator and Morgan as a student. He remained with these in- structors for four years, demonstrating at once his intelligence as a man, his aptness as a pupil, and his capability as an assistant. Later he matricu- lated at the Hahnemann College, in Chicago, gradu- ating therefrom in the class of 1861. Returning to Syracuse, he was taken into partnership by his former preceptor, Dr. Morgan. Their business connection, however, was of short duration. The outbreak of the war of the Rebellion stirred young Phillips' blood, and on May 1. 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 12th N. Y. V. I., responding to the first call of the President for men for two years' service. Because of his professional training, he was made hospital steward at Washington; and after serving in that position until October. 1862, he was promoted to be assistant surgeon, being as- signed to the 149th N. Y. Volunteers. He served with the Armies of the Potomac and the Cumber- land until May, 1864, when his term of enlistment having expired, he was honorably discharged. On leaving the army he went to Derby. Conn., in which city he still resides, having built up an exten- sive and lucrative practice.
Dr. Phillips' acquaintance extends over the en- tire State, and the respect and affection felt for him are co-extensive with his acquaintance. Those who best know his sterling worth appreciate him most highly. He has attained nearly every honor which the Masonic fraternity can confer. He is a member of King Hiram Lodge, No. 12. of Derby. of Solomon Chapter, No. 3, of New Haven Com- mandery, No. 2, K. T. He is also a member of Ousatonic Lodge, No. 6. of the I. O. O. F. Nor has he at all lost sight of his comradeship with the veterans of the war of 1861-5. He is a past com- mander of Kellogg Post, No. 26, G. A. R .. and an honored member of the societies of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Cumberland, as well as of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, and of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. During the years 38
1896 and 1898 he was surgeon general on the staff of Gov. Cooke. The Doctor is a director in the Derby Savings Bank. He is a Republican, and sev- sral times has been the nominee of his party for office, and in the face of the overwhelming Dem- ocratic majority to be overcome he was elected for nine consecutive years as burgess of Birmingham, now Derby, and in November, 1900, was elected mayor of Derby. He has also been made registrar of vital statistics in recognition of his eminent fit- ness for the position.
In October, 1862. Dr. Phillips was married to Miss Nancy Pratt Owen, of Syracuse. a daughter of Augustus H. and Maria (Pratt) Owen, of that city. Mrs. Phillips lost her father when she was but four years old, and her mother one year later. Dr. Phillips and his wife have one child living, El- len P., who married Frank E. Bradley, a lawyer of New York City, in 1897; one child, Nancy, has been born of this union. In 1893 Mrs. Phillips organ- ized the Sarah Riggs Humphreys Chapter. Daugh- ters of the American Revolution (the twelfth chap- ter in the State of Connecticut), and was its first regent, continuing to fill that office for three years. Mrs. Phillips is a communicant of the Episcopal Church.
THOMAS L. REILLY, city editor of the Meri- den Daily Journal, and secretary of and stockholder in the Journal Publishing Co. of that city, is one of its well known citizens.
John Reilly, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland, whence he came to America. Locating in New Britain, Conn., he followed his trade of iron molder there until 1877, when he moved to Meriden, again engaging in his trade for several years. From Meriden he went to Hamilton, Ontario ; thence to Buffalo, on the offi- cial staff, in the Erie county penitentiary, and he- efficiently filled that office until Oct. 3, 1901, when his death occurred. He was married in New Brit- ain to Catherine Fagan, who was born near his old home in Ireland, daughter of Lawrence Fagan. Her death, in 1878, was the result of an accident, and she was buried in the Catholic cemetery in New Britain.
Thomas L. Reilly was born in New Britain, Conn., Sept. 20, 1858, and received his early educa- tion there in the parochial school of St. Mary's Church, or "Town School." as it was called. In order to fit himself for the profession of teacher he attend- ed the State Normal School, from which he graduat- ed with honor in 1876, but instead of teaching he took the position of town clerk's assistant, spending about a year in the office with John Walsh, when that citizen was the incumbent. Soon after this he en- gaged as a reporter on the Hartford Sunday Globe. In the fall of 1877 he came to Meriden with his par- ents and entered the law office of Judge D. J. Dona- hoe, now one of the leading jurists of Middletown, Conn., remaining a student there for one year. Dis-
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turbed by the sad death of his mother and the remov- al of his mentor, Judge Donahoe, to Middletown, Mr. Reilly found circumstances unfavorable to the con- tinuance of his legal studies and took a position as bookkeeper with the firm of J. F. Butler, continuing with them until 1880, when he became the Meriden correspondent of the New Haven Union, which then had no circulation in Meriden. However, it soon after reached a circulation of 1,600. Later our subject becanie connected with the Meriden Penny Press, under J. H. Mabbett, filling a reportorial position, and still later was associated in a like capacity with W. F. Graham, on the Meriden Republican, remain- ing with this latter journal until December. 1885, when he went to the New Haven Register. He was the paper's legislative reporter during the session of 1886. In April, 1886, with Francis Atwater, Lew Allen and F. E. Sands, he formed the Journal Pub- lishing Co., and was made secretary of the company and city editor of the paper, which positions he has since filled. An active Democrat, he has been one of the leaders in his party in Meriden, and In the Pres- idential campaign of 1900 he was elected chairman of the town committee, and had the satisfaction of reducing the Republican majority from 1,477 in 1896 to 54 in 1900.
Mr. Reilly has taken an active part in all pro- gressive movements in Meriden, is a member of the school board, a director of the Meriden Public Li- brary, and equally prominent in social and fraternal organizations, being a member of Meriden Lodge, No. 35, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which he filled the office of exalted ruler for two terms ; of the Amaranth Club, in which he has filled the office of president for years ; a charter member and organizer of Silver City Council, No. 2, Knights of Columbus ; one of the organizers of the Catholic Club ; a member of the Royal Arcanum ; the Macca- bees ; and of the Silver City Lodge, A. O. U. W. Much is due to Mr. Reilly for the stand he has taken in regard to sports in Meriden.
In 1884, in Blackstone, Mass., was celebrated the marriage of our subject to Maria E. Rowen, a popular young school teacher of that town. To this union have been born seven children, Robert, Kath- - erine, Mary, Louis, Arthur. Rose and Agnes. The religious connection of the family is with the Cath- olic Church.
FRANK ELBERT SMITH, secretary, treas- urer, superintendent and general manager of the Stony Creek Oyster Co., was born in New Haven, July 31, 1854, son of Giles Griswold and Emily (Potter) Smith. The parents were natives of Mid- ellesex and New Haven counties, respectively. The paternal grandfather was David Smith, a farmer and shoemaker by occupation, lived many years in Madison, where he died. He married Mercy Gris- wold. The maternal grandfather, William Potter, was a merchant of New Haven. He married Miss Mary Bills.
Giles Griswold Smith was reared in Madison, and for twenty years was engaged in the oyster and fish business at Stony Creek, where he died Aug. 31, 1891, at the age of fifty-eight. The following chil- dren were born to him and his wife: Frank Elbert ; Charles E .; Jennie Louise, who married Charles Huntley; Mary A., who is the wife of Anderson Cook; and Ethel E., who married Robert Rowe.
Frank Elbert Smith was reared in Madison and Stony Creek, received a common-school education, and served his apprenticeship to the business in which he is engaged with the Stony Creek Oyster Co., beginning this work at the early age of six- teen years. Mr. Smith has been associated with this company continuously since the first day he be- gan work, is now the largest owner in the com- pany, and has held his present position since 1885.
Mr. Smith was married Nov. 11, 1876, to Helen E., a daughter of Nathaniel H. and Adeline ( Doo- little) Bishop, of Stony Creek. They have two children, Gertrude A. and Maude H. E. Mr. Smith and his family are members of the Stony Creek Congregational Church, and he is a member of Seaside Lodge, No. 84, I. O. O. F .; Binder Lodge, No. 65, A. O. U. W .; and the N. E. O. P. Mr. Smith has served on the Board of Education, and has proved himself a man of public spirit and good character. His business ability and energetic nature command respect, and have pushed him rapidly to the front. He is a Republican in politi- cal faith.
ARTHUR NETTLETON FARNHAM is widely known in and around New Haven as pro- prietor of the Crescent Gardens, at Westville, where for almost twenty-five years he has carried on a thriving business in market gardening in all its branches, and on an extensive scale. He is one of the substantial business men of the city, and in all the relations of life has proved himself a worthy scion of a family which has been established in Con- necticut since early Colonial days, and whose men- bers have always been among the most respected in the community.
(I) Ralph Farnham, the first of this branch on American soil, came from England, and settled in North Andover, Mass. He died Jan. 8, 1691. He married Elizabeth Holt, who died Oct. 14, 1710, and their children were Sarah, Ralph, John, Henry, Hannah, Thomas and Ephraim.
(II) Ralph Farnham, son of Ralph, the settler, married Sarah Sterling Oct. 9, 1685, and their chil- dren were Sarah, Henry, Ralph, Daniel, Abigail, William, Nathaniel, Barachias, Benjamin, Joseph and Zebediah.
(III) Nathaniel Farnham, son of Ralph, moved from Andover, Mass., to Connecticut, settling in Hampton, town of Windham, where he died July 9, 1760, aged sixty-five. On May 19, 1719, he married Hannah Preston, and they had the following named children: Nathaniel, Hannah, Sarah, Anne, Solo-
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mon, Rebecca, Asa, Jeremiah, John, Martha and Aaron.
(IV) Jeremiah Farnham, son of Nathaniel, was born July 31, 1733, in Hampton, and died March 19, 1827. On Nov. 9, 1774, he married Lucy Durkee, who died Sept. 2, 1809, aged sixty-two years. Their children were Rufus, Aaron, Lucy, Jeremiah and Asa.
(V) Aaron Farnham, son of Jeremiah, was born Nov. 15, 1776, in Hampton, was a farmer, and died April 30, 1853. On Aug. 11, 1803, he married Sarah Abbott, who died Sept. 25, 1815, and chil- dren as follows were born to them: Aaron, Will- iam H., Henry A., Sally L., William Holt, Elisha, Betsey, and one that died in infancy.
(VI) William Holt Farnham, father of the gen- tleman whose name introduces this sketch, was born Aug. 6, 1810, in Windham, Conn., and after his marriage settled in Seymour, this state, where he was engaged as an ax maker. He was married in Seymour Sept. 18, 1841, to Miss Orilla Nettleton, who was born May 8, 1822, and survives him. His death occurred April 23, 1878, in Westville, whither he had removed, and where his youngest child was born. The others are natives of Seymour. (I) Sarah married Charles E. Gorham, a farmer and milkman of Westville, and they have two children, Lena J. and Myrtie O. (2) William H. is men- tioned more fully below. (3) Julia A. married Sergt. Henry M. Crocker, of New Haven. (4) Ar- thur N. is mentioned more fully below.
It will not beout of place in this connection to give a brief record of the Nettleton family, to which Mrs. Orilla Farnham belongs: Her emigrant an- cestor, Samuel Nettleton, came from England in 1639, was in Wethersfield, Conn., for a time and in 1644 settled in Branford. He died in Fairfield, Conn., in 1655-56. He and his wife, Maria, whom he married in England, had children as follows: John, Martha, Mary, Isabelle. Hannah, Sarah, Let- tice and Samuel. Some of these were born in Eng- land.
(II) Samuel Nettleton, the next in the line we are tracing, was born in Milford, Conn., and married Martha Baldwin, of that town, who was born April 1, 1663. Their children were Elizabeth, John, Sam- uel, Nathan, Martha, Joseph, Theophilus, Sylvanus and Elizabeth (2).
(III) John Nettleton, son of Samuel (2), was born in Milford Sept. 18, 1689, and died in March, 1767. He married Sarah Bryan, and their children were John, Theophilus, Sarah, Joseph, Mary, Isaac and Nathan.
(IV) Nathan Nettleton, son of John, was born in Milford May 4, 1734, and died in 1782. On Nov. 3, 1757, he married Sybil Buckingham, who was born Sept. 13, 1737, and their children were Nathan, Eli, John, Sybil.
(V) John Nettleton, son of Nathan, was born in Milford Oct. 9, 1765, and died Aug. 8, 1842. On Nov. 29, 1785, he married Comfort Hine. He was
a private under Capt. Davidson in the Revolu- tion.
(VI) Oliver Nettleton, son of John, and father of Mrs. Farnham, was born in Milford March 3, 1787, was a farmer by occupation, and died Jan. 31, 1864. He married Sarah Treat, a native of Milford, Coun., and six children were born to them: Min- erva, Samuel T., Sarah E., Orilla (Mrs. Farnham), Clarissa A. and Jolin F.
WILLIAM H. FARNHAM was born May 26, 1846, in Seymour, Conn., and was reared in Westville, where he received his education in the public schools. During his carlier life he remained on the farm with his father, and he has for some years been in- terested in business with his brother. He is a man of considerable executive ability, active in various lines, and has become well known in the city of his residence. He was the first alderman elected from the Thirteenth ward after the consolidation of the town and city, and was re-elected to that incum- bency, which he filled two years. He is a Republican in political sentiment. Always interested in mili- tary affairs, he commenced as a private in the Sec- ond Company, Governor's Horse Guard, and was promoted steadily until advanced to the rank of major, which, however, he refused to accept. Mr. Farnham is a fine horseman, and when the Guard attended the Buffalo Exposition he was selected to carry the colors. Fraternally he is a member of the F. & A. M., Olive Branch Lodge, and the A. O. U. WV. In religion Mr. Farnham is a devout Method- ist, and he has been an earnest worker in the church over thirty-five years, during which time he has effi- ciently filled many official positions in that body, and he served faithfully twenty years as superintendent of the Sunday-school. On March 30, 1870, Mr. Farnham married Miss Helen J. Smith, of Milford, a daughter of Edward and Electa ( Clark) Smith, of that place. Two children have blessed this union, Mae P. and Bennett W. The latter received a thor- ough education, attending the public school in West- ville, Hopkins Grammar School, and Yale Scien- tific School, from which latter he was graduated in June, 1897 ; he was quite prominent in athletics dur- ing his college career; he married, Nov. 27, 1895, Mary Dana Foote, of Westville.
ARTHUR N. FARNHAM was born Oct. 16, 1854, in Westville, as previously stated, and there has passed his entire life. He obtained a good literary education, attending the Westville public school, the Dwight school, and Gen. Russell's Military Insti- tute, and commenced work with S. E. Merwin & Son, pork packers, in the office, remaining with them four years. On Jan. 18, 1877, he embarked in the business which has since engaged his attention, and in which he has met with such abundant success. His farm, which is located in Westville, comprises five hundred acres, all under cultivation, and em- ployment is given to from one hundred to two hun- dred hands, according to .the season. Fruit, plants and vegetables in great variety are raised, and Mr.
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Farnham also gives his attention to the breeding of high class land and water fowl, and to some extent to fine stock, always keeping a number of new .milch cows. His products are shipped to various places. In addition to all this he takes contracts for teaming in New Haven, and, as may well be sup- posed, is a very busy man, all the numerous branches of his large business being under his personal su- pervision. The Crescent Gardens are famed for the quality of the products raised, and the success which Mr. Farnham enjoys has been won in a con- stant endeavor to do the best he can, and to give his patrons the best value, a fact which they have not been slow to recognize and appreciate.
Mr. Farnham has found time, with all his multi- farious interests, to concern himself about the wel- fare of his locality, and his public spirit has been specially evident in his active connection with the Westville Improvement Society, of which he is presi- dent. He served twelve years on the Westville school board, and the character of the man is suffi- cient key to the nature of his services. He is a Re- publican in politics. Like his brother, he is a zeal- ous worker in the Methodist Church, and he has been associated for about thirty years with the Westville M. E. Church, of which he has been a trustee for twenty years. He has served as president of the board, and was chairman of the building committee at the erection of the new church, in 1893. Socially he is a member of Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., and of West Rock Lodge, No. 48, A. O. C. W., of which he has been treasurer since its formation, about ten years ago. For about twenty-eight years he belonged to the Governor's Horse Guard, and he held all the offices in that organization up to captain, in which rank he was serving at the time the Guard disbanded.
On Nov. 3, 1880, Mr. Farnham married Miss Jennie B. Austin, daughter of John N. Austin, of Westville, and they have had five children, Birdsey A., Selletta O., Anneva M., John Royden (deceased ) and Myrlon A.
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ALBERT A. IRION, retired, for over a quarter of a century a respected resident of Waterbury, and a well-known builder and contractor, is a native of Massachusetts, born at Great Barrington April 13, 1845.
George Irion, his father, was born at Baden- Baden, Germany, and came to this country when thirty-six years of age, eventually settling in Great Barrington, Mass .. where he followed the business of contractor and builder. He there married Hen- rietta Glentz, also a native of Germany, born in Hessen-Darmstadt, whence the family came to Great Barrington, where her father was engaged in the tanning business. A family of six children were born to George Irion and his wife, as follows: Ma- tilda is the deceased wife of Charles Fuller. a machinist in Lee. Mass. ; Augustus is a sewing- machine agent in Long Island City; Albert A. is our
subject ; Edward, a cigar merchant in New York, died in Colorado; Mina died unmarried ; Colena is the wife of Edward Morree, and they live in the West. The parents of this family both died in Great Barrington, the father in 1879, the mother in IS67.
. Albert A. Irion, whose name opens this sketch, received a liberal education at the schools of Great Barrington, and at the age of fourteen years com- menced working in a woolen-mill. After four years' experience there he learned carpentry, a trade he fol- lowed all his life, together with a considerable amount of contracting and building in Waterbury, to which city he came in 1868. In 1898 he retired from active business.
On Sept. 27, 1869, Mr. Irion married Gennette Van Alstyne, who was born in West Stockbridge, Mass., a daughter of Thomas L. Van Alstyne, who was descended from old Dutch stock. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Irion, all sons: George, Julius, Burton, Roley, Albert and Edward ; julius and Roley are deceased. The family in re- ligious faith are Episcopalians ; in politics Mr. Irion is independent. For a number of years he served on the board of public works in Waterbury.
ORVILLE HARVEY STEVENS, long an honored and respected citizen of Waterbury, was born in Clinton, Conn., March 31, 1824, and disd Nov. 17, 1894, at the age of seventy.
Capt. Elias Stevens, his grandfather, was born in Clinton Sept. 20, 1762, and died June 6, 1852. In the war of the Revolution he served at West Point. Priscilla Chapman, his wife, was the daugh- ter of Deacon Jedediah Chapman, and was born at West Brook, Conn., in 1766. They were mar- ried in 1785, and became the parents of ten chil- dren : Hiel, Polly, Henry, Charles, Elias, Harvey ( father of Orville Harvey), Samuel L., Louisa, Jedediah and Nathaniel.
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