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 56
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George B. Zorn was a child of six years when brought by his parents to the United States, and upon the home farm in High Market, Lewis Co., N. Y., he grew to manhood. receiving his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. On leav- ing the parental roof, at the age of nineteen years, he started out to make his own way in the world, working at first as a farm hand for $22 per month. At the age of twenty-five years he came to Ham- den, New Haven county, where he worked at farmi
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labor for others for several years, and then operated rented land in the same town until 1890, in which year he was appointed by the selectman of Ham- den as superintendent of the town poor farm. This responsible position he filled in a most creditable and satisfactory manner, displaying excellent busi- ness ability and sound judgment in the management of the place. Previously the farm had cost the tax- payers of the town over $2,000 per year, but dur- ing his administration the expenses very materially lessened. He carefully looked after the welfare of the poor unfortunates in his charge, and was kind - and generous in his treatment of them. In the dis- charge of his duties he was ably assisted by his es- timable wife, who proved a true helpmeet to him. Mr. Zorn's death was keenly felt in the town. He was no doubt one of the ablest ineumbents of the position of town farm superintendent, and his serv- ices were very highly appreciated, though the praises bestowed on his management were justly earned, for he tock the same interest in the work as if his individual interests had been at stake.
On Dec. 4, 1877, Mr. Zorn married Louise Chatterton. a native of Hamden, and a daughter of Edwin and Eliza ( Warner) Chatterton. To them were born two children, Robert and Elsie, the for- mer of whom died at the age of seven months. Mrs. Zorn is a consistent and faithful member of the Congregational Church, which her husband had at- tended and contributed toward its support. He was a stanch Republican in political sentiment.
JAMES R. SUTLIFF, late president of Fos- ter, Merriman & Co., manufacturers, Meriden, was one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the Silver City, and was born in South- ington, Conn., July 10, 1839, a son of the late John Sutliff. Mr. Sutliff was descended from an old Con- necticut family. The first of the name of whom we have any record is Nathaniel Sutliff, who lived at Medfield, Mass., in 1667. He was a settler of Deer- field, Mass., in 1673, and became chief military of- ficer when King Philip's war began, and May 16, 1676, he was, with Capt. Turner, killed at Falls Fight. In 1664 he married Hannah Plympton, a daughter of Sergt. John Plympton, who was born in Cambridge, England, and came to America in John Winthrop's company in 1640.
Sergt. Nathaniel Sutliff, son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Plympton), was born in Deerfield, Mass., in 1672, and located at Branford, Conn., in 1702,
1 becoming prominent there in religious anl educa- tional matters. He was a representative to the Gen- eral Court from 1728 to 1731. His wife, Saraii Savage, died April 1, 1732.
rah, dying in 1780; he married (second), 1791, Catherine Seward. His children by the first wife were Joseph, Nathaniel, Anne and Sarah. Joseph Sutliff died Nov. 11, 1801.
Nathaniel Sutliff, the great-grandfather of James R. Sutliff, was born in Durham, Conn .. Dec. 7, 1740. and married Hannah Pritchard. a daugh- ter of James and Elizabeth ( Johnson ) Pritchard. Their children were: John, Nathaniel, Titus, Han- nah, Anne, Ruth and Elizabeth. He died in 1808, and his wife Jan. 2, 1791.
John Sutliff, son of Nathaniel, was born Feb. 19, 1773, and died in Wolcott, April 23, 1836. He married Eunice Munson, a daughter of Samuel and Susanna (Tyler) Munson, of Waterbury, Conn. Their children were: Anson, born in 1798, went to Meriden in 1817. He married Mehitabel Comstock, of Deep River, Conn., and removed to Minnesota in 1857, and died there when aged sixty-four years. Statira, born in 1800, married Jerry Williams, of Waterbury, Conn. He settled in Meriden in 1835, where she died in 1873 when aged seventy-three years. John is mentioned later. Lucius, born in 1806, married Rachel Foote, and settled in South- ington, Conn. Lucas A., born in 1808, married Maria Matilda Upson, of Wolcott, Conn., who died in 1871, in Southington, Connecticut.
JOIIN SUTLIFE, son of John Sutliff, was born Aug. 2, 1802, in Wolcott, Conn. At the age of six- teen years he bought nis time from his father, for which he agreed to pay one hundred dollars, giving his note for two years. ' He went to Northford and found work on a farm. Although he received but seven dollars per month and board, he managed to save enough to pay off his note. His industrious disposition and economical habits brought him to the notice of the Meriden capitalists, and after fif- teen years of work for wages at the manufacture of ivory combs, a partnership with three others was formed, and combs 'were manufactured in the town of Southington. The business was then conducted with the least possible risk of loss. The combs were salable in the market, and the factory and power were engaged on terms of easy relinquishment, so that if the hopes of the young men were not real- ized, the business could be discontinued without loss. The business was, however, progressing sat- isfactorily when one of young Sutliff's friends, Al- bert Foster, who had observed his business ability and habits, and who in part composed the firm of Foster, Merriman & Co., invited him to purchase an interest in the firm. He did so and took charge of a department himself, his partners devoting their time and energies to the development of their in- dustry. The large business of Foster, Merriman & Co., of Meriden, was incorporated under the laws of the State in 1866. Nelson Merriman was elected its first president, holding that office until his death, when Mr. Sutliff was made its president. At the
The first of the name in Wolcott was Joseph Sutliff, son of Sergt. Nathaniel and Sarah (Sav- age), who located there as early as 1765, and lived at the foot of Chestnut Ilill. He was born in . Branford, Conn., in 1712, and was a tailor by occu- ; time of his entrance into the firm, the whole product pation. He was twice married, his first wife, Sa- | of the factory was wrought out by only five or six
Eng. by F. G Fernon NY.
John Sultiff
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Jas. R. Sutiff .
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hands, while to-day about 300 are employed. The growth thereafter was rapid, and to his ability, en- ergy and management, much of the great success which the company attained was due. He was ac- tive late in life, going to the factory up to the time of his last illness.
As a capitalist of Meriden Mr. Sutliff was prob- ably best known. He was for many years a direc- tor of the First National Bank of Meriden, and was a trustee of the City Savings Bank at the time of his death. He made large investments in the West, as well as at home, and was never lacking in funds with which to aid persons who desired a few hun- dred or thousands of dollars. The fortune so meager at the beginning of his residence in Meri- den became a great estate in late years.
On Nov. 22, 1828, Mr. Sutliff was married (first) to Miss Mary Ann Dayton, of North Haven, and (second) Nov. 9, 1842, to Miss Rebecca Miles, of Cheshire. The children born to the first marriage were: Mary Ann, who married Frederick A. Higby, and died Dec. 22, 1859; John A .; and James R. To the second marriage were born : Abby R. and Edgar M., both of whom died in in- fancy. Mr. Sutliff passed away June 22, 1897, at the advanced age of ninety-five years.
James R. Sutliff, who succeeded his father as president of Foster, Merriman & Co., obtained his education in the district schools of Meriden. His chances for an education were good, but he pre- ferred the shop to the school, and while still a boy, entered the factory of Foster, Merriman & Co., be- ginning as a common hand. Being a boy of en- ergy and ambition, he soon raised himself to fore- man, then to superintendent, later to that of stock- holder and director. In 1887 he was elected vice- president of the company, which office he filled up to the death of his father in 1897, when he was elected president, which high office he ably filled un- til his death, Jan. 18, 1902. A man who thor- oughly knew every department of the business, hay- ing begun from the bottom round, he climbed to the top through his own efforts.
Of a genial disposition and high ideals, Mr. Sut- liff was honored and respected by the citizens of Meriden. In politics he was a Republican, but no politician. He was elected councilman for the Fourth Ward, and he also served as alderman, and was chairman of several committees. He was a con- sistent member of the First Congregational Church, of which he was elected Deacon. He was deacon of the Center Congregational Church six years and superintendent of its Sunday-school four years, al- ways being quite active in church matters. He was a well-read man, and thoroughly posted on all leading events.
On Nov. 2. 1869, in Meriden. Conn .. Mr. Sut- liff was united in marriage with Sarah D. Easton, who was born in Providence. R. I. Mrs. Sutliff is a lady of culture and refinement, a good, Christian woman, and a loving mother. Two children blessed
this union: (1) Hattie E., born Feb. 27, 1871, was married in April, 1895, to Dr. Oswald A. Parker, a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, now a leading dentist at Wakefield, Mass. Mrs. Parker was edu- cated in the Meriden High School, also in Abbott Academy at Andover, Mass., and at the Conserva- tory of Music in Boston. (2) James, born Sept. 19, 1873, is at home.
ULRIC EDWARD NEVEU, a member of the firm of N. P. Lamontagne & Co., an old and well established house in State street, Meriden, dealers in groceries and wines, was born at St. Scholastique, in the Province of Quebec, Canada. June 9, 1849.
Joachim Neveu, the father of Ulric E., was born in the same place, of French descent, the family be- ing one of the oldest in Quebec. Joachim Neveu was a blacksmith, engaged in business on his own account at St. Scholastique, where he died at the age of sixty-nine years. In religion he was a stanch Roman Catholic, and in politics a supporter of the Liberal movement in Canada. He married Mar- celine Hogue, who was born in St. Vincent de Paul, County Terrebonne, Canada. This union was blessed with fifteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity. Eight are now living: Alphonse, a . dry goods dealer in Montreal: Ulric E .: Emma, widow of Nazaire P. Lamontagne: Malvina, who makes her home with Ulric E .; Adelle, who married A. Vermette, of Montreal; Alphosine, married to Michael Labelle, of Montreal; Marie Louise, of Trov, N. Y., who married Charles De Fault; and Ferdinand, a clerk with his brother, Ulric E.
Ulric E. Neveu attended the schools of his na- tive town until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he entered his father's smithy to learn the blacksmith's trade. At the age of nineteen years he left his native town to better his condition, and in 1868 appeared in Meriden, where he worked three years as a burnisher for the Wilcox Silver Plate Co. Saving his money, at the end of that time he was able to start in business for himself, and with his brother, Alphonse, and Mr. Langlois, founded and conducted a grocery. For three years these three continued together, when the last two retired, leav- ing Ulric E. Neveu alone in the business, which he conducted five years. Subsequently he had a . partner, Leander Govreau, for two and one-half years, when they sold out to N. P. Lamontagne, and the firm engaged in the grocery and wine busi- ness with much success. In 1886 Mr. Lamontagne died, but under the able management of Mr. Neveu, the firm has continued very successful.
Mr. Neveu was instrumental in the organiza- tion of the Knights of Columbus in Meriden, and is a member of the French Catholic Church of that city. Politically he is a Democrat, with but little ambition, however, for the honors of official position. A good man and an upright tradesman, he is well liked in the community. He has a fine home in Franklin street.
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NAZAIRE P. LAMONTAGNE, whose name is men- tioned above, was born in Verchere, Quebec, and there learned the harness making trade. During the Civil war he came to the United States to take a position in the ordnance department of the army, making harness for the government. He was lo- cated first at Springfield, Mass., and was afterward a burnisher in one of the shops at Taunton, Mass., until 1876. In that year he came to Meriden and entered the grocery business with his brother-in- law, Mr. Neveu. He died in June, 1886, and was buried in St. Patrick's cemetery. He was a mem- ber of the French Catholic Church. Mr. Lamon- tagne belonged to the Knights of Columbus in Meriden, and politically he was a Democrat, but had no desire for office. A careful business man, he was noted for his honesty and fair dealing.
Mr. Lamontagne married Miss Emma Neveu, a sister of his partner, and to them were born five children : Ernest attended the public schools and Montreal College, where he studied theology and took holy orders from Archbishop Bruchesi, of Montreal, by whom he was ordained a priest. He spent some time in Rome and is now a professor in the Catholic Seminary at Hartford. Ernestine, a graduate of Mt. St. Mary's College, at Montreal, and from Yale Art School, is an artist in both music and painting, and is a lady of much culture and re- finement. Olaus, a graduate of Montreal College, is now a student at Yale Law School. Henry, a graduate of Montreal College. is now studying med- icine. Camilla is a student at Mt. St. Mary's Col- lege, Montreal. Mrs. Lamontagne is still living at the beautiful home in Franklin street, and her fine qualities and sweet spirit make the home an ideal one.
CHARLES W. SCRANTON. The family bearing the name of Scranton, from which sprang the late Hon. Erastus Clark Scranton, of Madi- son and New Haven, and the late Hon. Sereno Hamilton Scranton, of Madison, both men of prom- inence in the public affairs of their respective com- munities. and who have representatives in New Ha- ven in the persons of Miss Mary E. and Charles Woolsey Scranton, is the oldest and most prominent of the families of the towns of Guilford and Madi- SO11. Miss Mary E. Scranton has erected in memory of her father, the former of the two brothers noted above, a substantial library building; and Charles W. Scranton is one of the leading and substantial citizens of New Haven.
John Scranton, the progenitor of the New Ha- ven Scrantons, was one of the early planters who, with about twenty-five other heads of families, made a settlement in Guilford in October, 1639. These settlers arrived in Boston June 26, 1637, com- ing from there to New Haven in company with Mr. Davenport and Mr. Prudden and their congrega- tions: They were possessed of considerable prop- erty, and some of them are recorded as wealthy.
They were pious, intelligent and industrious, most of them being farmers from Kent and Surrey, Eng- land. John Scranton is thought to have been about thirty years of age at the time of his coming to this country, and is supposed to have married in Eng- land, his first wife, Joanna, dying in 1661. Five years later he was married to Adaline Hill, who died in 1685. Mr. Scranton served as a deputy to the General Court in 1669 and 1670, and died tlie fol- lowing year. From this John Scranton Charles ·Woolsey Scranton is a descendant in the eightli gen- eration, his line being through Capt. John, Capt. John (2), Capt. Ichabod, Theophilus, Jonathan and Hon. Sereno H. Scranton.
Capt. John Scranton, son of John the emigrant, was born about 1641 in Guilford, and was first mar- ried March 12, 1674, to Mary Seward, who was born Feb. 28, 1652, daughter of William and Grace ( Nor- ton) Seward. He located in East Guilford, now Madison, as early as 1672, where he followed farm- ing, and died in that town Sept. 2, 1703.
Capt. John Scranton (2), son of Capt. John, noted above, was born about 1676 in the Hammon- assett District. On Dec. 12, 1699, he married for his first wife Mary Norton ; his second wife was Miary, daughter of John Evarts. She died Oct. 8, 1749, and Capt. Scranton married his third wife, Mary Bushnell, and died March 21, 1758.
Capt. Ichabod Scranton, son of Capt. John (2) and Mary ( Evarts) Scranton, was born Feb. 19, 1717, and married Chloe Fowler, who was born March 3, 1723, daughter of Abraham Fowler, of Guilford. Capt. Scranton was a farmer and lived in Madison. He was a captain in the French and Indian war, serving at Louisburg and Ticonderoga, and died of disease while on the homeward journey in December, 1760; he was buried at midnight on Clapboard Hill, Guilford. He was a man of patri- otic character and ability, and his death was deemed a public loss.
Theophilus Scranton, son of Capt. Ichabod, was born Dec. 1, 1751, and married Abigail Lee, who was born July 11, 1754, daughter of Jonathan Lee, of Madison. Mr. Scranton was a farmer in the town of Madison, where he died Feb. 16, 1827, his widow surviving him until Dec. 23, 1840.
Jonathan Scranton, son of Theophilus, born Oct. 10, 1781, married for his first wife, Jan. 27, 1805, Roxana Crampton. who was born May 30, 1789. daughter of Ashbel Crampton, of Madison, where he made his home, being a prominent member of the church, a prosperous farmer, and in his active years a constructor of breakwaters and wharfs. Mrs. Scranton died Dec. 27, 1833, and Mr. Scranton was married the following year to Jemima, daughter of Daniel Platt.
Hon. Sereno Hamilton Scranton, son of Jona- than, and the father of Charles Woolsey, was born March 1, 1811, and married Sept. 29, 1833. to Susan Roxanna Dowd, who was born Oct. 12. 1814, daughter of William Dowd. Mr. Scranton was one
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of the prominent and reliable citizens of Madison, and held the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsthen to such a degree that he was honored by repeated elections to positions of trust and respon- sibility ; and they in turn were honored by the efti- cieney and ability which he gave to the discharge of the duties placed upon him. He was a representative to the General Assembly from Madison in 1859. 1800, 1867 and 1872. In ISto he was elected to the State Senate. In political faith he was a Repub- lican. Mr. Scranton died Jan. 25, 1896, and Mrs. Scranton passed away July 28, 1894, both in Madi- son. To Mr. and Mrs. Sereno Hamilton Scranton came the following children, all born in Madison : Roxanna, born Sept. 4, 1834; Samuel W., born Dec. 30, 1836, who died April 8, 1841 : Edward Sereno. born June 26, 1840, who died Dec. 30, 1897; Jona- than Samuel, born Feb. 22, 1842: William D., born April 18, 1844, who died Ang. 18, 1865: Charles Woolsey, born Dec. 21, 1846: Catherine L., born Feb. 18, 1849; George Curtis, born March 13, IS51, who died Nov. 30, 1863; Susan A., born Feb. 21, 1854, who died April 3. 1887.
Charles W. Scranton grew up in Madison, where he attended the local school, finishing his education at Gen. Russell's Military Academy in New Haven. At first he was engaged with his father in the wholesale produce business, and was later engaged in the mercantile business at Branford, Conn., where he married Marietta Palmer Sept. 23, 1869. She was born Aug. 6, 1851, daughter of Capt. Henry Palmer. To this union have come five children : Minnie Irene, born Nov. 13, 1870, who married E. E. Conover and resides in Boston : Alice Palmer, born March 24, 1872, who married Robert E. Milli- gan, and lives in Chicago; William Dowd, born June 10, 1875 : Helen Woolsey, born Feb. 15. 1878; and Charles Woolsey, born Sept. 24, 1883, who died Feb. 13, 1897.
Mr. Scranton moved to New Haven in 1870, where he has been in business as a broker since that time. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Congregational Church, of Madi- son. He is a member of Widows' Sons Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., of Branford, is associated with the Royal Arcanum, and also with the Union League and Yacht Clubs, well known institutions of New Haven, and has many friends in every circle where he moves.
GEORGE W. IVES, senior member of the well known firm of George W. Ives & Son, former brick manufacturers of Hamden, is a worthy representa- tive of the industrial interests of the town and an important factor in its business circles. He was torn in the town of North Haven Dec. 23, 1842, and belongs to an old and honored family of this county. His great-grandfather was Noah Ives, a farmer of North Haven and a soldier of the Revolu- tionary war, who lived to a ripe old age.
Talcott Ives, son of Noah, was born on the same
farm, and in early manhood married HJannah Todd, a native of the same town and a daughter of Daniel and Lucy ( Frost) Todd. By this union the fol- lowing children were born : Harvey, a farmer and brick maker of North Haven, now deceased ; Al- fred. father of our subject: Mary, who married Loyal Thorpe, of North Haven, and both are now deceased : Nancy, deceased wife of William Ben- ham, of North Haven : Loyal, a tarmer of the same town, now deceased ; Olive, who married the late Merritt Lane, a manufacturer of buttons, and lived in Waterbury until her death in 1901 ; and Caroline, deceased wife of James Payne. The father of these children followed farming throughout life and lived to be over seventy years of age.
Alfred Ives, the father of our subject, was born Sept. 17, 1813, on his father's farm in North Ha- ven, and there passed his boyhood. At the age of thirteen years he began life for himself as a farm hand for Elias Bassett, with whom he remained un- til he attained his majority. He then turned his attention to the manufacture of brick and was among the first to use an engine for grinding the clay, horses having previously been used for that purpose. He continued in that business up to the time of his death, which occurred May 22, 1887, his remains being interred in the North Haven ceme- tery. He was a consistent and faithful member of the Congregational Church for many years, and was a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He was quite a prominent and influential man in his community and was called upon to represent his town in the State Legislature two successive terms. He was a self-educated and self-made man, who started out in life for himself in limited circum- stances, and through his own well-directed efforts became quite well-to-do. In 1836 he removed to the place in North Haven where he spent the re- mainder of his life and where his widow still con- tinues to reside.
On Dec. 29, 1834. Alfred Ives married Miss Syl- via Blakeslee, who was born in North Haven Oct. 26, ISI6. Her father, Levi Blakeslee, was also a native of North Haven, and was a son of Joel Blakeslee, who was born in the same town in 1739. Levi Blakeslee married Mercy Beach, a daughter of Benjamin Beach, and to them were born eleven chil- dren, namely : Alfred : Eunice ; William and Willis, twins ; Joel ; Mercy ; Betsey ; Benjamin : Sylvia ; Al- vira ; and Roxana. Mrs. Ives is the only one of this family now living. She is a most estimable lady and has been an earnest member of the Congrega- tional Church, of Whitneyville, for over half a cen- tury. She has two children : Susan Charlotte, wife of Horace P. Shares, a former brick manufac- turer of New Haven ; and George W., our subject.
During his boyhood and youth George W. Ives pursued his studies in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen commenced his business career, being engaged in the manufacture of brick with James E. Brown for one year. He then formed a
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partnership with his father, and together they were engaged in the same business until the latter's death. The plant formerly owned by George W. Ives & Son was established by our subject and his father in 1883, and here from seven to eight million brick are now manufactured annually. He continued his residence in North Haven until 1894 and then re- moved to the place in Hamden where he is now living, it being a part of the old Eli Whitney home- stead and consisting of forty acres of land on the Ridge road, three miles from New Haven.
On Dec. 23, 1863, Mr. Ives was married to Miss Betsey M. Davis, of Hamden, who was born April 12, 1846, oldest daughter of Edward and Betsey M. (Augur) Davis, and to them were born two children: (1) Alfred E., formerly in business with his father, married Elizabeth Peabody, and they have three children, Alfred, Robert and Edna. (2) Lucy married William J. Konold, of New Ha- ven, and died at Antwerp, Belgium, while on her wedding trip, Feb. 28, 1896.
Fraternally Mr. Ives is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., of New Ha- ven; Harmony Council : Franklin Chapter; and New Haven Commandery. He is a stanch suppor- ter of the Republican party. has filled the office of selectman, and in 1892 was a member of the State Legislature, where he served on committees on Fed- eral Relations, and on Humane Institutions. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment, unflagging enterprise and capable management have brought to him a well merited success. In manner he is pleasant and cor- dial, which, combined with his sterling worth, makes him one of the popular citizens of his com- munity.
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