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 54
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(VIII) Bazel Munson, father of our subject, was born July 7, 1814, and spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm in Hamden, his education being acquired in the district and high schools of that town. When a young man he engaged in the butcher business, and later followed farming in West Woods, Hamden, on a tract of 100 acres of land, and also engaged in the wood and charcoal business. He met with success in his undertakings and became one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the community, as well as one of its hon- cred residents. His political support was given the Democratic party, but he took no active part in public affairs, and was liberal in his religious views. On April 9. 1838, he married Jennet Lovisa Peck, a daughter of Amos Peck, of MIt. Carmel. She was born in Hamden ,Dec. 24, 1818, and died Aug. 30, 1888, and he died Jan. 15, 1891, the remains of both being interred in the Mt. Carmel cemetery. They had four children : Francis Bennett, born April 14, 1839. of Hamden; Jerome Courtland, our subject : Sarah Jennet, who wa's born April 26, 1851, and (lied April 16, 1853 ; and a daughter, who was born April 14, 1855, and died unnamed.
(IX) Jerome C. Munson, whose name intro- ciuces this sketch, was born on West Wood road. in the town of Hamden, Nov. 5. 1845. and received a limited district school education. He was mar- ried while still in his teens and located on a small tract of land near the home farm, where, for over
twenty years, he engaged in market gardening and fruit growing. Since about 1866 he has resided where he now lives, his time and attention be- ing devoted to general farming, stock raising and dairying. He has made many improvements upon the place, including the erection of a fine residence 111 1897.
On Nov. 3. 1864, in Hamden, Mr. Munson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Doolittle, who was born in that town Oct. 5, 1844, a daughter of Heman and Julia (Allen ) Doolittle. They have three sons: (1) George Walter, born July 1, 1866, married Effie Perkins; they live in Hamden and have one child, Grace J. (2) Bennett Peck, born Feb. 14, 1870, married Amelia Holt ; he is superin- tendent of the Hamden town farm. (3) Willis Burton, born Sept. 11, 1880, married Carrie Grace Wooding, of North Haven, Conn., and has one son, Burton Noyes.
Mr. and Mrs. Munson are member of Hamden Grange, of which he was master two years, and both are widely and favorably known. He gives his political support to the Republican party and its principles, and has most creditably filled the offices of constable nine years, justice of the peace four years and grand juror four years, and assessor one year. Although he began life for himself in rather limited circumstances, he has, through his industry, integrity, good business ability and sound judgment, succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence, and his course has ever been such as to gain for him the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact, either in business or in social life.
EDMUND ARMOUR PARKER, one of the highly respected and well known citizens of Meri- den, a worthy descendant of a long line of highly honorable ancestors, and a member of a family whose record is without blemish, was born in Meri- den June 1, 1843, son of Edmund and Jennett ( Bradley) Parker, and nephew of the venerable Charles Parker. The genealogy appears elsewhere.
Edmund Parker. the youngest son of Stephen and Rebecca (Ray Stone) Parker, was born Feb. 9, 1811, in Cheshire, Conn. In early life he removed to Meriden, and soon thereafter became associated with his brother, Charles, and Heman White, in the manufacture of hardware, under the firm name of Parker & White, the concern being the pioneer in the hardware business in Meriden. To the energy. perseverance and great ability of the partners, cou- pled with their enterprise and public spirit, are due in a great measure the growth and prosperity of the Ycity of Meriden. When the firm dissolved Edmund Parker associated himself with his brother, John. in the brass and iron foundry business and in the manufacture of coffee mills and other hardware, "the style of the firm being J. & E. Parker. The business was so conducted until 1865, when Ed- mund's health failing, he sold huis interest to Charles
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Parker. Edmund Parker died April 19, 1866. For several years he had served the town as selectman and the county as commissioner, and he was dis- tinguished for the clearness and strength of his judg- ment, the case and accuracy with which he trans- acted business, and the kindness and affability which lie uniformly manifested in all relations of life, and while always attentive to business, he never neg- lected the duties of friendship nor social life gener - aily. At an early age he embraced Christianity, and for many years was a member of the Methodist Church in Meriden. In 1858 he united with the Episcopal Church, in which communion he remained until his death.
Mr. Parker wedded Miss Jennett, daughter of Anson Bradley, and the union was blessed with chil- dren as follows: John Edward lives in Hamilton. Ontario; Elizabeth Ann died at the age of sixteen ; Ellen Maria is the widow of Horace C. Wilcox : Georgiana Augusta, wife of Augustus P. Day, re- sides in Brooklyn ; Edmund Armour, our subject ; Candora Alice married Junius A. Talmadge. of Westfield. Mass. : Jennett died at the age of six.
Edmund Armour Parker attended the public schools of Meriden, finishing his course of study at the Flushing Institute. Long Island. N. Y. At the age of seventeen he was filled with patriotism, and when the call came for volunteers to defend the Union, he enlisted in September. 1861, in Company K, 8th Conn. V. I .. for three years, under Col. Har- land and Capt. Upham (now Col. Upham, of Mer- iden). Mr. Parker was mustered in as corporal. and served in that capacity until June 1, 1862. when . he was promoted to sergeant major at Newbern. N. C. On July 1. 1862, he was promoted to second lieutenant of Company F. of the same regiment, and served his country until Nov. 7, of that same year, when he was honorably discharged on account of ill health. Returning home he made a voyage to the West Indies in the hope of improving his health, but the climate not agreeing with him. he returned to New York and took passage to Cali- fornia, via Aspinwall and Panama, remaining in San Francisco until the death of his father, in April. 1866. Returning by the same route he came direct to Meriden and accepted a position as traveling salesman with the Meriden Britannia Co. He re- mained in this service eleven years. The Simpson. Hall & Miller Co. offered him the position of super- intendentof their works, and he served most ac- ceptably for three years at Wallingford. Wishing to go upon the road again. he engaged with the firm of R. Wallace & Sons, of Wallingford. as trav- eling salesman, with territory west of the Missouri river to the Pacific coast, and continued in this ca- pacity eight years, after which he settled down in Meriden, and has since made that city his home. Notwithstanding his labors as a traveling man, Mr .. Parker has found time and opportunity to give ex- pression to his genius as an inventor, and has placed upon the market many useful articles.
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On Dec. 17. 1894. Mr. Parker married Miss Katherine Leonard Relfe, who was born at Elmira, N. Y .. daughter of the late William and Sarah ( Warwick) Relfe. The ceremony was performed in Milwaukee, Wis., at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Congenial in tastes, hospitable, they have made their home an ideal one, where it is a pleasure to visit. Mrs. Parker is a lady of refinement and pos- sessed of many excellent characteristics, which. com- bined with her pleasing personality, win for her hosts of devoted friends. Mr. Parker is a member of the Arthur Dutton Post, G. A. R., Wallingford. and is also a Mason. In politics he is an independ- ent Republican, but has never been a politician. During the many years he has been associated with men of all classes in his extensive travels, Mr. Par- ker has learned to estimate humanity at its true value, and judges a man not by the length of his purse. but by those characteristics which go to make a good citizen and an honorable business as- sociate. He is generous and kindhearted. a model husband. a good citizen, a noble friend and a worthy representative of the men who fought so bravely to maintain the prosperity of the greatest country in the world-the United States of America.
PIERPONT. The Pierpont family, of New Haven, Conn., is one illustrious in the city's history. The family record in America reaches back to the coming of the Puritans to New England, in the per- son of John Pierpont, born in London, England, in 1619, a son of James Pierpont, of that city, who was an early settler at Roxbury, in the colony at Massachusetts. Bay, where his death occurred in 1682. He married Thankful Stow, and of their five children, all sons, James, of Roxbury, born in 1659, is the ancestor in whom we have an interest. His graduation from Cambridge occurred in 1681, and he was settled in the ministry over the First Church (Congregational) in New Haven, in 168.4. He took possession of what was long afterward known as the old family mansion, about which cluster en- dearing memories and historic facts. Two years after coming, in 1686, he planted two elm trees in front of the north side of the village green, and these are still standing. The sweet Christian char- acter of Mr. Pierpont made him beloved by his peo- ple, and for thirty years he was pastor over the churchi at New Haven, and became one of the founders of Yale College. Sarah, one of his daugh- ters, became the wife of the noted divine, Rev. Icnathan Edwards, whose name has been given a place in the Temple of Fame, in New York. Rev. Pierpont was married three times, his third wife be- ing Mary, daughter of Rev. Samuel Hooker, of Farmington, Conn. Rev. Pierpont died in 1714.
From this ancestor came the late Cornelius Fierpont. of New Haven, long a prominent citizen of the city, and whose widow and children survive and fill honorable positions in the spheres of life where fortune has placed them. Rev. James Pier-
CORNELIUS PIERPONT.
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joint (2) was born in New Haven to the third mar- BARe of Rev. James Pierpont, and was educated in Saybrook, Conn. From Saybrook he went to Bos- ! 1, Mass., and then to New Haven, becoming for a time one of the professors in Yale College.
James Pierpont (3), a son of Rev. James (2), san born in New Haven and settled in early life in sa hat is now the town of Morris, Litchfield Co .. Conn. where for years he was engaged in the manufacture vi woolen goods, but later was occupied in farm- mg: he first married Elizabeth Collins, a grand- daughter of Rev. Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, and second, Mrs. Crossman, of Salisbury, Connect- icut.
CORNELIUS PIERPONT, a son of James, and late of New Haven, was born Aug. 15, 1829, in what is now the town of Morris, Conn., where he was reared on his father's farm and attended the neigh- borhood schools and also the well known Washing- ton Academy. Later he taught school for a period in East Chester, N. Y., and in 1854 located in New Haven and engaged in the grocery and provision business. For thirty years he so successfully con- ducted this enterprise that his name became known throughout Connecticut, Hundreds of farmers were his customers, some of whom drove in from great distances to sell their produce and make trades. While conducting his business on Broadway, he was interested in several other enterprises, princi- fully the manufacturing of agricultural implements, at the corner of Crown and Park streets, and he also became interested in the development of what is now the ninth and tenth wards, built the Dixwell avenne car line, and equipped it and Shelton ave- nue with horse cars. A few years ago this he sold to a l'hiladelphia firm who in turn disposed of it to the Fair Haven & Westville R. R. Company, who have equipped it with electricity.
For several years prior to his death Mr. Pier- pont was not in any active business. In 1879 he lxcame a member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce. The only political office he ever held was that of alderman from the tenth ward, and this was about twenty-five years ago. While teaching school at East Chester, N. Y., Mr. Pierpont became acquainted with Miss Martha Hinman, a descend- ant of an old family of that place, whom he mar- ried in 1856, being twice married after this, his second wife being Catherine Smith, of Litchfield, and the third, Helen E. Brooker, of Torrington, who survives, as also do three sons and a daughter : I rank II .: James, who is professor of mathematics in Yale College; Henry P., of New York City; and Sta !1 , now Mrs. Levi T. Snow, of New Haven.
The death of Cornelius Pierpont occurred on Match 21. 1900, at his home, No. 262 York street, New Haven.
Samuel Brooker, the father of Mrs. Cornelius l'arpont, was a native of Torrington, Conn. (then known as Wolcottville), where he lived and died.
He married Julia A. Seymour, also of Torrington, and the following children blessed their union : Maria ; Albert, who became a major during service in the Civil war, and is now a resident of Torring- ton ; Helen, Mrs. Pierpont ; Jennie, deceased ; Alice J .; Frank, deceased ; Arthur S., of Torrington ; and Ella T .. deceased. The Brooker family is an old and prominent one, the father of Mrs. Pierpont repre- senting his town in the Legislature, and a cousin of Mrs. Pierpont is Charles F. Brooker, of Ansonia and Torrington, known to the world as the million- aire brass manufacturer.
ROBERT OWEN, one of the successful and prosperous agriculturists of the town of Meriden, whose fine establishment is located in Murdock ave- nue, was born in Glanhespin, Llaneledan, Denbigli- shire, Wales, March 8, 1844. William Owen, his father, was born in the same place, where his life was devoted to farming, and where he died at a ripe old age. He was married to Catherine Owen (no relative), whose father was agent for Sir Hugh Williams, and they became the parents of thirteen children : William and John, who died in England ; Elizabeth, who married Price Williams, and resides in Wales; Mary, who married Joseph Gardner and resides in Wales; Robert; Thomas, a hotel keeper in Coventry, England; Frederick and Hugh, living in England; Catherine, who married John Gardner and lives in Denbighshire: and four who died in early childhood. The parents died in Wales. They were members of the Church of England.
Robert Owen is a self-educated man, having enjoyed only brief attendance at the common schools- of his native place. He remained on the home farm until 1863. in which year he came to this country, by way of Liverpool, crossing the ocean on the steamship "Minnesota" to New York. Mr. Owen came directly to Meriden, where he was employed by Zina K. Murdock, with whom he remained a year and a half. After the expiration of this period he was employed in the factory of Edward Miller & Co. The employment proved congenial ; he was a close and hard worker, and gave general satisfac- tion to his employers during his connection with that house of more than twenty-five years. With the interests of a growing family on his hands to care for, he. in 1889, bought what was known as the Nelson Ives farm, a tract of 100 acres, where for the past twelve years he has been engaged in dairying and general farming with the co-operation of his sons. Under his capable administration the farm has been greatly improved with new buildings and extensive alterations and adaptations to mod- ern conditions, and is now one of the most attrac- tive places in the town. In 1901 the house was destroyed by fire. and was at once rebuilt.
In 1861. in Denbigh, North Wales, Mr. Owen was married to Alice Evans. a native of that place. daughter of Thomas Evans, a cattle and slicep.
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dealer, and sister of David Evans, of Meriden. Children as follows have been born to them: Mar- garet Alice, who married Ebenezer Davis and re- sides in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Catherine Jane, who mar- ried Arthur Hart, of Meriden: William Thomas, a traveling salesman for the Eddy Plow Co .; and Frederick Robert, who died Dec. 10, 1901, aged twenty-five years; and Arthur Evans, at home. Twins died in infancy. Mr. Owen belongs to Meri- den Grange and to A. O. U. W., Silver City Lodge, No. 3. He and his wife are members of the Bap- tist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He is a man much liked and respected in the community.
ELBERT N. CLARKE. The Clarke family, which has long been prominent in this section, orig- inated in England, and the subject of this sketch, a well known agriculturist of Milford, is of the eighth generation in descent from George and Mary Clarke, who came from England about 1637. With him came three relatives, James, John and another George Clarke, and all remained in Boston for some time. Later our subject's ancestor came to Con- necticut, locating first in New Haven and then in Milford, as a member of a band of over a hundred men who settled in the wilderness. A tract of three acres, purchased for a common or public park, is still free from buildings, and has been in the pos- session of the Clarke family since 1639. It is now owned by the father of our subject, his grandfather having bought out the other heirs. The family tra- ditions convey much valuable information concern- ing the early days, and among the relics is a church record which was started in Milford Aug. 22, 1639, on the organization of the Congregational Church in that town. The First Church of New Haven was established on the same day. George Clarke was a deacon in the church and a man of wealth and prominence.' Like all of the pioneers he gave much time to clearing and farming his land, but as he was a contractor and builder it is probable that all of the houses in Milford in his day were built by him. He died June, 1690, and his wife, Mary, also died in Milford. They had nine children, viz .: Samuel, Thomas, Sarah, George, Jolin, Abigail, Elizabeth, Rebecca and Mary.
Thomas Clarke, son of George, was born in 1637, probably in Boston, and died Oct. 23, 1719. He was a farmer by occupation and owned more land than any other man in Milford. In 1663 he married Hannah Gilbert, of New Haven, who died in Milford. Six children were born to them, viz. : Sarah, Samuel, Thomas, George, Joseph and Han- nah.
Thomas Clarke, Jr., who was also a farmer, died in 1728. He was married in 1703 to Martha Clarke, of Farmington, Hartford county. They reared a family of six children : Martha, Ann, Thomas, Kezia, Jonathan and Jared.
Jared Clarke, born in 1719, died in 1789. He followed farming throughout his active life. His -
wife, Martha Baldwin, a daughter of Deacon Bald- win, was born Dec. 8, 1723, and died before 1770. They reared a family of eight children, as follows : David, Enoch, Hial, David (2), Hial (2), Jerusha, Abel and Martha.
David Clarke was born in 1751 and died in 1831. Like his ancestors lie was a farmer, and as his ma- ture years fell during the stirring period of the Rev- olutionary war he showed the patriotism of the family by active participation on the side of free- dom. He was with Gen. Washington on Long Isl- and and above New York, and many incidents have been preserved in the family concerning him. When General Tryon, with his army, went to Dan- bury, Conn., he, with Justus Wood, Samuel Green and others, proceeded to the path, and from behind fences and trees they shot and killed many English. Samuel Green was killed, but Mr. Wood and Mr. Clarke escaped. His wife, Anna Clarke, was born in what is now the town of Orange in 1755, a daugh- ter of Isaac Clarke, and a descendant of Dr. Andrew Clarke, one of the founders of Yale College and pastor of the First Church of New Haven. She died in 1812. The children born to David and Anna Clarke were as follows: David, Hannah. Martha, Nancy, David (2), John, Samuel, Hial, Elizabeth, Jerusha, Sarah A., Mary A. and Mabel.
David Clarke was born Nov. 15, 1782, and died Jan. 17, 1853. He followed agricultural pursuits during his active years and was prominent in local affairs as a member of the Whig party and of the Congregational Church. His wife, Mary Smith, was born in Milford Nov. 2, 1784, and died Feb. II, 1857. She was a daughter of Samuel B. Smith, of Milford, who was with General Montgomery when he went to Quebec, and at one time was com- mander of a vessel which transported troops across the lakes. He also had charge of a fort on one of the Great Lakes, and while there a vessel loaded with English officers drifted ashore in a fog : they were taken prisoners by the men of the fort. family of ten children were born to David and Mary Clarke: Maria, born Oct. 9, 1806, married Dennis Beach, of Milford, a carriage manufacturer by trade. Louisa A., born April 21, 1809, never married. Laurette, born Aug. 19, 1811, married Isaac F. Stone, of Orange, a carriage maker and successful merchant, who died in Louisville, Ky. Catherine, born Oct. 29, 1813, married Elias Clark, a farmer of Milford, now deceased; she died in 1901. Mason S., born Nov. 11, 1815, was a whole- sale merchant in New Orleans, where he died. Em- ily S., born July 21, 1817, married Lemuel Powell, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and both are now deccased. Julia S., born Sept. 29, 1819, married Harvey Beach : both are deceased. David N. is mentioned more fully below. Samuel B., born Feb. 19, 1824, was a wholesale merchant in New York, where he died. Charles W., born Sept. 19, 1827, died in boy- hood.
David N. Clarke was born Oct. 8, 1821, and was
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educated in Milford. Since early manhood he has had charge of the homestead, but for three years he also sold goods in Milford for his brother, Sam- uel. He is now a general farmer, but devotes much attention to market gardening and fruit culture. He also deals in native wood and timber. Mr. Clarke is a prominent member of the Congregational Church in his town and is influential in the local Republican organization, having held various offices, including those of selectman and assessor. On June 19, 1854, Mr. Clarke married Miss Charlotte N. Platt, daugh- ter of Newton Platt, and sister of A. Clarke Platt, of Milford. She died Oct. 10, 1866, and on Oct. 17, 1867, he married her sister, Miss Lenora S. Platt. By his first marriage he had three children: David L., a farmer of Milford; Miss Mary E .; and El- bert N., who is mentioned below. There were also three children by the second marriage: Charlotte A., wife of Frank Hine. a civil engineer; Vincent B., a student in Yale College, class of 1903 ; and one that died in infancy.
Elbert N. Clarke was born in Milford Sept. 7, 1860, on a place adjoining the one he now occupies, and was educated in the district school mear his home and the graded schools of Milford. On leav- ing schcol, at the age of eighteen, he turned his attention to the work of the homestead, and at twenty-one he engaged in business with his father under the firm name of D. N. Clarke & Sons. They carried on farming and general market gardening, and Elbert N. Clarke continued in that business until 1894 when he became a general contractor. His business includes the laying of concrete and cement walks, road building and grading, and he deals ex- tensively in hardwood posts and native lumber. Mr. Clarke began contracting in a small way, and by good management this business has steadily in- creased. He owns a farm of twenty-five acres, and leases other land for agricultural purposes, and all his varied enterprises are carried on with uniform success. Mr. Clarke is still a young man, but he has accomplished more than the average man of his years, and he is conceded to be one of the most progressive and aggressive business men of the com- munity. The respect which his fellow men show hini is in no way lessened because his high posi- tion has been gained by his own efforts. His ex- tensive operations in general contracting have af- forded much opportunity for the display of ability of a high order, and Mr. Clarke has not been found wanting. His financial obligations have been equally well met, and in all inis transactions involv- ing the handling of many thousands of dollars, he has borne the highest reputation for straightfor- ward, honest methods.
In politics our subject is a Republican, and al- though he is not an office holder, his influence is recognized as a factor in local affairs where his support is invariably given to good and competent officials. Socially he is identified with the Milford Wheel Club and the Milford Driving Association.
He is a member of Arctic Fire Company, No. I. He and his family are prominent workers in the First Congregational Church, in which for five or six years he has served on the society committee. In short, Mr. Clarke is the type of citizen to perpetuate an honored family name along the same lofty plane it has occupied for generations.
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