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 52
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When it was announced in 1848 that gold had been discovered in California, Capt. Phipps left New York in December on the steamer "Crescent City." for Chagres, and thence walked across the Istlimus
to Panama, where he took passage on a Guayaquil coaster with forty passengers ; they sailed for San Francisco, and the hardships of that four months' cruise up the Pacific may be imagined. Capt. Phipps passed two years in mining on the forks of the American river, and was successful. He returned to the East in 1851, crossing Central America from Realejo on the Pacific to Lake Nicaragua on foot, and in a desperate encounter with brigands, near the old volcano of Masaya, he came near losing his gold dust, and barely escaped with his life. In 1861 he became identified with the New Haven Water Company, and later engaged in hydraulic engineer- ing, and building water works. The Captain is president of the Saybrook Water Co., which was chartered in 1885. In following the records of this family-which are unusually complete-a rather re- markable similarity of life and character, and the repetition of names may be noted. The sea has been the chosen profession of the majority, with a life of great activity and adventure; and very marked traits-determination, courage, great reserve, a high sense of honor-have followed through the line from the earliest time. The family is thor- oughly identified with Harvard, nine of the name having graduated between 1695 and 1832. [Sav- age Dict.]
Mr. Phipps married Mary Elizabeth Hunt, daughter of Capt. James Hunt, a prominent West India merchant, whose family has been in New Ha- ven since about 1774. She was born in the famous old house on Water street built and occupied by Benedict Arnold in 1771, and since owned by Noah Webster, and Mrs. Phipps' grandfather and father. Her mother was a Cutler, belonging to that Tory family living at the time of the Revolution in the old homestead, corner of Chapel and Church streets, where the office building known as Cutler Corner now stands. During the invasion of New Haven in 1779 it was under British protection. This prop- erty is still in possession of the family after nearly 140 years of ownership. Mrs. Phipps died in June, 1896. Of Capt. Phipps' six children, only the two youngest, Edward Hunt Phipps, Yale Scientific, and Lina Mary Phipps, are now living.
HARRISON WEED ( deceased). who was born in what was then the town of Newtown, Conn., and is now Bethel, May 11, 1827, died in New Haven, Nov. 27, 1898.
Levi S. Weed, his father, was born in the same place, a son of Solomon Weed, a farmer there. and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He married Rachel Barnum, by whom he had a family of nine children: (1) Eliza Ann: (2) Edwin; (3) Austin J .: (4) Granville: (5) Ira: (6) Emily; (7) Harrison : (8) Henry R .: (9) John S. Eliza Ann married first. Charles Sherman, a farmer, and sec- ond. Booth Blackman. Edwin was a harness maker in Clinton Corners, N. Y., where he died. Austin J. was a merchant in New Haven, and is now de-
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ceased. Granville, also deceased, was associated with his brother, Austin J. Ira was a silver plater. Emily died single. Henry R. was a farmer on the old homestead. John S. was a harness maker, and sold carriages in the Southi.
Harrison Weed grew up on the farm in Bethel. where he remained until he was nineteen years of age, attending school and helping on the farm. He then went to New York, where he learned the car- penter trade of his brother, Granville, though re- maining with him but a short time. when he went to Bridgeport, Conn., and there engaged in the sash and blind business. After twelve years in farming in Derby and Newtown, Conn., he located in New Haven where he entered the wholesale harness business with his brother, Granville, the firm name being Weed & Co.
On Nov. 27. 1851, Harrison Weed was married to Elizabeth E., the daughter of Levi S. and Patty (Hawley) Platt, of the town of Washington. To this union were born four children: Ira D., who belongs to the firm of Weed & Co .; Lorin L., who died when twenty-six years old : Henry H., who is connected with the Sargeant Manufacturing Co .; Elizabeth married Aro I. Ward, the secretary of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., of New Haven. Politically Harrison Weed was an independent Democrat, and with his family he attended the Bap- tist Church.
Levi S. Platt, father of Mrs. Weed. was born Jan. 6, 1787, a son of Nathan Platt, a native of New- town, Conn., and a wheelwright by trade. This line of the Platts is the same as that of the Platts of Milford. Levi S. Platt, like his father, was a wheel- wright by trade, and he died March 26, 1845. His wife, Patty (Hawley) Platt, was born in Brook- field, Conn., Nov. 14, 1790, and died Oct. 9, 1859. She was a daughter of Liverus Hawley, who served in the Revolutionary struggle, as did also the grand- father of Harrison Weed, who witnessed the burn- ing of Danbury.
THOMAS J. SLINEY, chief engineer of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., was born in Gene- va, N. Y., Oct. 1, 1839, of Irish descent.
William Sliney, his father, was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States while still a boy. He was reared to manhood at Geneva. N. Y., where he became an engineer of a passenger boat on Seneca Lake : his death occurred in Geneva. Alice Duggan, his wife, was born in the same coun- ty in Ireland, and was reared to womanhood in Geneva, where she, too, passed away. To William Sliney and his wife were born six children: John is an engineer, and has charge of the electric light plant in Geneva : Mary resides in New Haven : Thomas J .: Catherine married Frank A. Paulson, and lives in Brooklyn : Alice married Frank Smyth, and lives in Augusta, Ga. ; and William is a machin- ist in New Haven. The parents of William Sliney
located in Canada, where they were engaged in farming.
Thomas J. Sliney lived in Geneva, his native town, until he was twenty years of age, and learned engineering on Seneca Lake, being afterward em- ployed on boats in the river and harbor in New York. During the Civil war he was on the Govern- ment boat "Cossac." In 1868 he became connected with the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., while that company was still established in Bridgeport, and when it was removed to New Haven in 1870, Mr. Sliney came with it as its chief engineer, a position he has held to the present time with credit to him- self and satisfaction to the management.
Mr. Sliney was married in 1866 to Miss Mary Taylor, of Bridgeport, a daughter of Thomas B. Taylor ; she died in 1892. Mr. Sliney is a Demo- crat, and socially, is a member of the A. O. U. W. and the N. E. O. P.
JOHN F. BARNETT, M. D., is one of West Haven's oldest, most successful practitioners and a valued citizen. His grandfather, Samuel, was born in New Haven, and the family-which is of Revo- lutionary fame-is among the oldest in the county. Samuel Barnett was a shoemaker by trade, and died in his native city at an advanced age.
William N. Barnett, son of Samuel, was born in the same town, but while yet a young man went South, settling in Charleston, S. C. where he en- gaged in the wholesale book trade. In 1845 he re- turned to his native State, taking up his residence in West Haven. The first house which he built in that town is still standing, adjoining the town hall. He bought much real estate, and was recognized as one of the most prominent citizens. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith an Episco- palian, serving for many years as a warden and parish clerk. He died in Florida, in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years. While living in South Carolina he was married to Mary S. Pritchard, a de- scendant of the Huguenots. Her father, Paul Pritchard, was a ship builder, and she was one of a large family of children. Of the four sons born to William N. Barnett and his wife, three are vet living: Dr. John F .; William E., who holds the position of third vice-president in the Consolidated Railroad office at New Haven ; and the Rev. F. W. Barnett, of South Glastonbury.
Dr. John F. Barnett was born in West Haven, June 26, 1846. He was educated in the common schools of the town and at Brown's private school. graduating from the Hopkins Grammar school in New Haven. In 1867 he entered the medical school of Yale University, and received his diploma and degree from that institution in 1869. The follow- ing year he devoted to study in the Hartford Hos- pital, and then for some monthis was surgeon on an cmigrant vessel plying between New York and Liverpool. In 1871 he went to the West Indies,
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where he practiced his profession for about six months. This experience afforded him an admirable opportunity to become familiar with the character and conditions of life in the tropics, which a man of his native talent and powers of observation was not slow to improve. Returning to the United States in 1872, he established himself in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he remained for three years. His professional ability was soon recognized. He was appointed on the staff of the Central Dispensary. and made a member of the Kings County Medical Society. In 1875. however, he turned again to- ward his birthplace, and from that year until the present he has made his home among the scenes of his childhood. In August, 1897, he built his pres- ent home on Church street, fronting the "green," and there he loves to dispense a generous, refined hospitality. He is a member of both the New Ha- ven County and State Medical Societies and has been a "Fellow" of the former. Both he and his wife are members of the New Haven Historical So- ciety, in whose work Dr. Barnett takes a deep in- terest. He is a charter member of the Samosett Club, and was at one time connected with the Knights of Pythias. For many years he has been a member of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church. and was formerly a teacher in its Sunday-school. While by nature averse to holding public office. he has consented, at the urgent solicitation of his fellow townsmen, to serve in such positions. Since 1882 he has been, except for two years, treasurer of the borcugh, having been elected seventeen times, and for a longer period school visitor, while for about sixteen years he has filled the statutory office of medical examiner for the coroner.
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In 1887 Dr. Barnett was married to Miss Mary E. Keeley, of Kingston, Canada, whose father, Will- iam, died in Canada, aged forty years. The maiden name of her mother, who is still living, was Julia Gilliard. Mrs. Barnett was one of a family of six children, of whom three besides herself are yet liv- ing, William J., Robert and David H. Dr. and Mrs. Barnett have had two children, only one of whom, Frederick H., is living.
JAMES REILLY, one of the notable and rep- resentative citizens and business men of New Haven, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, June 24, 1835. He came to New Haven when he was ten years of age, where he attended Smith's Academy ( How- ard avenue), and other schools until he was set to learn the mason trade under Asa Hoyt. For three years he worked with him, and followed his trade until 1866. That year he began for himself as a contractor and builder, and met with such suc- cess that he was encouraged to persevere in that line to the present day. Many important buildings in New Haven have gone up under his personal care and direction, and he has strongly impressed himself upon the city as a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy man.
Mr. Reilly is a Democrat, and for two terms was an alderman from the Seventh Ward. For six years he was a member of the board of public works, and when a young man was captain of a company of independent militia, called the Emmet Guard. Out of this organization grew the gth Conn. V. I. and the 24th Conn. V. I., both of which made noble records in the Civil war. Mr. Reilly belongs to St. Patrick's Parish of the Roman Catholic Church, and is one of the most genial and estimable gentlemen of the city. A man of wide reading and much intelligence, he has a fine library in his beauti- ful home at No. 21 Bradley street. Much property is held by him in the city, and his long and honor- able career shows the worth of his sterling manhood and unflagging industry.
DAVID THOMAS WELCH (deceased ) was for twenty years a leading resident of West Haven, where his death occurred, March 7, 1897. Coming of good old Colonial stock, he well repre- sented the best blood of the country, and the founda- tion for his successful career was laid in inherited traits of character. He was born April 19, 1838. in Milton, Litchfield Co., Conn., the son of Garrett P. Welch.
Major David Welch, his great-grandfather. served in the Revolutionary war. and was appointed Captain of 4th Company, later major of the First Connecticut Regiment. of which Gen. David Woos- ter was colonel; he represented the town of Litch- field from 1770 to 1780. His later years were spent in Milton, where he owned a large estate and passed an honored old age.
Judge John Welch, our subject's grandfather. graduated from Yale in 1778, entered the Continen- tai army as lieutenant of sappers and miners, serv- ing five years : he participated in the battles of Sara- toga and Yorktown. He was one of the founders of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Rhode Island. His talents brought him to the front in public life, and he became judge of the county court at Litchfield; was a member of the famous Constitutional Convention of 1818: repre- sentative of Litchfield, 1799-1822: State Senator, 1825: judge of quorum, 1819-1820; judge of county court. 1820-1829. He married Rosanna Peebles, of Albany, and his sons were: William, a graduate of Yale, and later a captain in the U. S. army ; Hugh, a lieutenant in the U. S. army: David . Thomas, a lieutenant and later a captain in the U. S. army: William Henry, a graduate of Yale in 1827, and after governor and chief justice of Min- nesota ; and Garrett P.
Garrett P. Welch, the father of the late David Thomas, was born and reared in Milton, receiving a good education. He engaged in the manufacture of iron and in mercantile business in early manhood. He inherited a large amount of real estate, includ- ing a number of farms which were operated for him. He was a man whose influence could always be 1
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David J. Welch
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counted upon for any worthy cause, and for many years he and his wife were leading members of the Episcopal Church at Milton. He died in Milton, aged fifty-two years, and his wife, whose maiden name was Clarissa Marsh, died at eighty-six. She was born in Litchfield, the daughter of Rev. Tru- man Marsh, a native of that town, and for more than forty years a popular and beloved minister of thie Episcopal Church, and for several years rector uneritus. Her mother, Clarissa Seymour, a woman of pronounced beauty of face and most attractive personality, was a daughter of Major Moses Sey- mour, an influential citizen of Litchfield, who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. (See Hollister's History of Connecticut. ) On his ma- ternal side Mr. Welch was also a lineal descendant of Gov. John Webster, one of the early Governors of Connecticut.
David Thomas Welch spent his youth in Mil- ton, receiving the best educational opportunities that Litchfield afforded, and before he was twenty- one he engaged in business for himself. At twenty- five he went to Michigan and took charge of sev- eral stores belonging with the copper mines, but after five years he returned to the East. locating in Elizabeth, N. J., where he was engaged for himself in the drug business for two years. His health failed. and for five years he was employed by A. T. Stewart in New York City, and finding another change advisable he removed to West Haven in 1877. In 1870 he laid the foundation for the large c. al business, which still bears his name. He gave employment to a large number of men, the business as a single industry being the most extensive of any in that locality. His office was located on the shore, near the Winchester avenue power house. While Mr. Welch tock much interest in local affairs he Lelined to run for office when urged. as he pre- ferred the peace and quiet of domestic life after his business cares were over for the day. Soon after his removal to West Haven he united with Christ Episcopal Church, and ten years later was elected senior warden. He was one of the liberal suppor- ters of the church and a regular attendant at all church services. "I shall never forget his cheerful face and cordial handelasp," says one man. He al- ways welcomed newcomers to the church, and it will be long before his accustomed presence will be i. rgotten. His deeds of charity were many ; greater than the public were aware. His minister, the Rev. K. 11. Gesner, gives testimony to this fact, and praks warmly of the splendid character and the "u tentations generosity of his friend and parish- inter. Mr. Welch belonged to the Masonic order and! was a member of the Annawan Lodge, in which le heil the office of treasurer. but he was not buried with Masonic rites, preferring to have his obsequies " blurted in the "dear old Episcopal form."
Rich and poor, old and young, mourned for him and there was not a man in his employ that did not feel a sense of personal loss at the news of his
death. In 1892 he wrote a letter of instruction to be opened after his death, and Mrs. Welch, found, on breaking the seal, that it expressed his wishes with regard to his funeral. It was requested that carriages be provided for all the workmen in his employ, and that the bearers should be his associate officers in the church. Six of these tenderly bore the casket, the remaining five acting as honorary bearers. The funeral services were held on March 10, at 2:30 P. M. at Christ Church, the rector, R. H. Gesner, being assisted by the Rev. E. S. Lines, of St. Paul's, New Haven. The interment took place in Oak Grove cemetery, West Haven.
Mr. Welch married Miss Sarah E. S. Bradley, of Woodbury, and their life was one of much hap- piness. Mrs. Welch presided over their home, a pleasant residence at the corner of First avenue and Main street, with grace and hospitality; they had no children of their own, and they delighted to bring about them the young people of the borough, and frequently gave musicales and other enter- tamments. Mrs. Welch is a member of the D. A. R., and was an alternate and regular delegate, al- ternate years to the national congress at Washing- ton, D. C., in 1896, '97, '99, 'oo. In the local branch. the Mary Clap Wooster Chapter is one of the larg- est in the State. She is a leading worker, and is now serving her third year as treasurer. She is also a member of the Kalmathean Club, of West Haven, and has been active in religious work as a member of Christ Church. She is descended in different lines from some of the earliest colonial fam- ilies of the State and her paternal grandfather. Col. Aner Bradley, was prominent in the militia, serv- ing as sergeant, ensign, lieutenant, and retired as a colonel of militia in the Revolutionary war. In the Governor's Foot Guards. Benedict Arnold, Captain, he was one of the original members, having joined at an early age; and was one of the sixty who marched from New Haven to Lexington in less than twenty- four hours after the news reached this place of open hostilities. He was also at Ticonderoga, and was commissioned sergeant. He was born in New Ha- ven but spent much of his life in Watertown, Conn .. where he was engaged in business as a silversmith. He filled the office of town clerk for twenty-seven consecutive years. His death occurred at the age of seventy-one and his wife. Anna Guernsey, sur- vived him several years. Of their nine children, none are now living. Phineas Sherman Bradley, Mrs. Welch's father, was born at Watertown, but settled in Woodbury, as a leather manufacturer in carly manhood. He lived to the advanced age of ninety years, his last years being passed in retire- ment. For many years he held a leading place in public affairs in his section, serving as selectman for a number of terms, and as representative in the Legislature in 1842-43. He was known as one of the pillars of St. Paul's Church at Woodbury, and held the office of senior warden for many years. greatly beloved by all. His wife, Sarah Scoville
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Porter, who died aged seventy-six, was one of three children born to Dr. Stephen Porter, of Wat- ertown, who married Lydia Manville, a lady of French Huguenot descent.
DR. THEODORE SMITH RUST, one of the leading dentists, and well-known men of Meriden comes of one of the oldest families in New Eng- land, the ancestry being traced back to Henry Rust, who came from England in 1633-35, and settled in Hingham, Mass., making the trip in the ship "Dili- gent," of Ipswich, Capt. John Martin. He re- mained at Hingham until about 1651, when he re- moved to Boston, where the remainder of his life was spent, and where he became a man of property and influence ; he died about 1685. Six children were born to him: Samuel, baptized in Hingham, Aug. 5, 1638, married Elizabeth Rogers : Nathaniel was baptized Feb. 2, 1639, and married Mary War- dell; Hannah was baptized Nov. 7, 1641, and mar- ried Robert Earle: Israel was baptized Nov. 12, 1643, and married Rebecca Clark : Benjamin was baptized April 5, 1646; and Benoni died Oct. 23, 1647.
(II) Israel Rust, son of Henry Rust the settler, removed from Hingham to Northampton, Mass., when a young man, and there, Dec. 9. 1669, married Rebecca Clark, a daughter of William Clark. On Dec. 8, 1678, Israel Rust took the oath of allegiance. and March 30, 1690, took the freeman's oath in Northampton. His death occurred Nov. 1I, 1712, and his wife died Feb. 8. 1733. Their children were: A son, who was born Sept. 12, 1670, and died on the 25th of the same month and year: Na- thaniel, who was born Nov. 17, 1671, and who mar- ried Mercy Atkinson ; Samuel, who was born Aug. 6, 1673, and died in January, 1701 ; Sarah, who was born May 29, 1675, and married in Northampton Feb. 20, 1699, to Deacon Samuel Allen, who died March 27, 1739; Experience, who was born July 30, 1677, and died young; Israel, who was born July 15, 1679, and married to Sarah North, April 3, 1704: Jonathan, who was born June 11, 1681, and married to Elizabeth Allen, and (second) Anna Lyman : Rebecca, who was born about 1683, mar- ried Robert Danks; and John, who was born about 1685.
(III) Israel Rust, son of Israel Rust ( 1), died Dec. 27, 1759, and he had a family of the following children : Sarah, born Dec. 23. 1704, married May 24, 1727, Samuel Clark : Mary, born Oct. 30, 1706: Lydia, born Feb. 24. 1709. married Jan. II. 1730, Eliakim Phelps : Israel, born Feb. 15, 1712, mar- ried Mary Warner. The sixth child of this family was born Feb. 4. 1714, and died in infancy.
(IV) Israel Rust, son of Israel (2), was by oc- cupation a lumberman in Northampton. He was married on April 10, 1735, to Mary Warner, daugh- ter of Mark and Lydia ( Phelps ) Warner, born May 24, 1715. and died Nov. 10, 1809: he died Nov. 10, 1779.
The children born to them were: Elijah,
born March 8, 1736, married Miriam Strong; Mary, born Dec. 11, 1737, died April 4, 1802; Sarah, bap- tized Aug. 19, 1739, married Nathaniel Parsons in 1768: Israel, born Dec. 4, 1741, married Esther Bartlett; Daniel, born Jan. 12, 1744, died August, 1744; Lydia, born July 18, 1745, died in 1752; Es- ther, born in October, 1747, married, Feb. 28. 1771, Sethi Clapp; Eunice, born October, 1749, married Jan. 9, 1772, Nathan Clark; Jerusha, born in 1751, married, in 1771, Noah Edwards; Daniel, born in 1753, married Penelope Cook; and Jonathan, born Nov. 2. 1755, died March 9, 1776.
(V) Israel Rust, son of Israel (3), was a farm- er by occupation. He was married in Northampton, Ang. 22, 1768, to Esther Bartlett, daughter of Will- iam and Abigail (Lyman) Bartlett. She was bap- tized March 8, 1741, and she was a sister of Phebe Bartlett, whose conversion at the age of four years and interest in Sunday-school books have given her great notoriety. Israel died Oct. 21, 1816, and his wife probably about Dec. 1, 1829. The children born of this union were as follows: Chester, born Feb. 12, 1769, married, in 1798, Esther Wright; Electa, born Oct. 7, 1770, married Jared Clark, Jan. 8, 1800, had one son, and died June 27, 1853 ; Seth, born March 15, 1772, married Jerusha Starr, Sept. 10, 1794, and died March 17, 1838; Phineas, born Aug. 29, 1773. married Miltialı Everett, Nov. 10. 1803, and died Dec. 30. 1848: Israel. born July 9. 1775. died March 6, 1800: Jonathan, born in 1777; and Esther born July 11, 1779, married. June 4, 1806, Col. Josiah Dickinson, and died Nov. 23. 1869.
(VI) Jonathan, son of Israel (4), was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred in North- ampton, April 18, 1828. He married, in 1805, Fan- nie, daughter of Cotton and Olive ( Field) Dickin- son, of Hadley. She was born in 1770, and died in Boston, Mass., May 24, 1852, aged eighty-two. Their children were: Sibyl Partridge, born Nov. 29, 1806, married Theodore M. Smith, and died Nov. 29, 1861 ; William, born in Northampton. March 6, 1809, removed to Canada, where he died March 13. 1846, leaving two children ; Frances Amelia, born in Northampton, March 4, 1813, married in the same town, Aug. 3. 1831, Dr. Marcus Crary, son of Peter and Lovisa (Griswold) Parker, and died in Cleve- land. Ohio, Dec. 20, 1887; and Daniel, born in Northampton. April 10, 1815. married (first) Ann Haskell. (second) Chloe Haskell, and (third) Elea- nor Nelson.
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