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 68
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Samuel Dickinson Otis attended the district school and also a military academy in Saybrook and was graduated from the high school in that town. He had early determined upon a professional career and had studied for some time with that end in view. He began his medical studies under Dr. Grannis, of Saybrook, and in 1874 he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of New York, and after a three years' course lie was graduated in 1877. His first location for the practice of his profession was in New Jersey, where he remained for a year and a half. In 1878 he came to Meriden and for the past twenty-three years he has been kept busy with his constantly growing practice. In spite of the many hours each day he is obliged to give his patients he has managed to study and keep well up in his profession. He is a man of unassuming manners, a thoughtful and quiet student, but is very popular and has the respect of the people of Meriden. In politics he is independent, was elected to the city council from the Second Ward in 1881 and served on several committees. Socially he belongs to Me- ridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and St. Elmo Com- mandery, K. T. He is a member of the State, County and City Medical societies, and of the American Medical Association. In religious belief he follows the faith of his ancestors and is an attendant of the Episcopal Church, as is also his wife.
In 1882 Dr. Otis was married. in Meriden, to Mary Newport, who was born in Windsor Locks, a daughter of Edward C. and Caroline (Norton) Newport. Their children are: Fessendon Newport, born Sept. 19, 1891; and Israel Sabine, born Feb. 2, 1895.
EDWARD CHARLES NEWPORT, M. D., was born in Halle, Germany, July 1. 1837, and died Aug. 2, 1895. In paternal lines he was of English descent and in maternal lines his ancestry is traced back to the family of Martin Luther. His father an active participant in the Revolutionary disturbances in Germany in 1848, was obliged to emigrate. Young Newport remained in his native land until his twenty-second year, when he, too, came to America and joined a brother at Windsor Locks. where he found employment as a cutter in the Medlicott Mills.
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In 1862 he became a member of Company C, 25th Conn. V. I., and was corporal of his company, was later promoted to chief bugler of the regiment and in January, 1863, was made brigade bugler. He was disabled in the attack on Port Hudson and after two months returned home. His medical studies were pursued in the New York Homeopathic Hos- pital College, from which institution he was gradu- ated in 1868. After a year in California he located in Meriden and made that place the scene of his professional labors. He was prominent in the civil life of his town and served one term as alderman. He also served a term as medical director of the State Encampment of the G. A. R.
Dr. Newport was a prominent Mason, being a member of Apollo Lodge, Suffield ; Meriden Chap- ter, O. E. S. ; Keystone Chapter, R. A. M. ; Hamilton Council, R. & S. M .: St. Elmo Commandery, K. T .: and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Bridgeport. He was enrolled as well in the mem- bership of Merriam Post, G. A. R. ; Teutonic Lodge. I. O. O. F .; Montowese Tribe, I. O. R. M .; Silver City Lodge, A. O. U. W. ; and the Meriden Scientific Association. Dr. Newport held the office of medi- cal examiner for a number of life insurance com- panies and societies.
JOHN M. RICHARDS, a leading citizen of West Haven, and a representative of the Diamond Match Co., was born Nov. 27, 1834, near the site of his present residence.
John Richards, his grandfather, and William Richards, his father, both followed the sea and were captains of vessels. The father was connected for some time with the trade to the West Indies, but his last years were spent in West Haven and his death occurred at the age of sixty-seven years. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Mehet- able Reynolds, was born in West Haven and died there aged eighty-two years. Of the eleven children born to William and Mehetable Richards, four are living, as follows : Frederick, who resides in Ohio ; Henry H. ; John M. : and Mrs. Edson Doolittle.
John M. Richards was educated in the West Haven and New Haven schools and in early man- hood went to New Haven where he was employed for some time as a hotel clerk and then engaged in the coal business in partnership with his brother. Henry. Later he bought his brother's interest and for a time conducted the business alone, selling out to the New Haven Coal Co. After this he engaged in the coast shipping business, owning several ves- sels. He built one three-masted schooner in the vards in West Haven that bore his name. Three of his vessels were wrecked and he then disposed of his other shipping interests, subsequently becom - ing connected with the Diamond Match Co. as a stockholder and representative. He has assisted in buying up a number of factories throughout the country and travels chiefly in the South and South- west, his shrewd judgment being of recognized
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value to the company. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a Congregationalist. He takes keen interest in all public movements and while perma- nently residing in West Haven was prominent in Sunday-school work and served on the committee on public schools.
In 1860 Mr. Richards married Miss Gertrude Baldwin and five children have blessed the union : ( 1) Lida G. married Edward F. Smith, a manu- facturer of wire goods in New Haven, and has four children-Gertrude, Marjorie, Arthur and Elisabeth. (2) William I., formerly in the men's furnishing business in New Haven, is now representing (in New York) Brown, Durrell & Co., of Boston, hav- ing charge of their Southern and Western business. (3) Nettie B., who resides in West Haven, married Harry E. Nettleton, chief clerk to the general su- perintendent of the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford Railroad, and has two children, Vincent R. and Constance. (4) John Elbert, for a number of years connected with H. R. Hatch & Co., of Cleveland, Ohio, and now in the men's furnishing goods busi- ness in that city, married Mary Earle, of Milwaukee, Wis. (5) Harry Van Dusen is residing in West Haven and takes charge of his father's real estate and other interests in the absence of the latter. The children were educated in West Haven and New Haven, the daughters completing their studies in Cleveland, Ohio, and New York City. The family holds a leading place in the social life of West Ha- ven. The present residence, Hedgehurst, was built by Mr: Richards in 1868.
Mrs. Richards was born in New Haven, a daugh- ter of Silas Irving Baldwin, and granddaughter of Silas Baldwin. Her father, who was born in Wood- bridge in July, 1801, was connected with the shoe business and resided in New Haven, but had an ex- tensive trade in the South. At one time he was in- terested in the dry goods business with a son in Cleveland, Ohio, but several years before his death, which occurred in 1881, he spent in retirement. His wife, Eliza (Newton ). was one of the five children of Jonah Newton, a farmer in Woodbridge, and his wife, Mary (Peck), a native of that town, who lived to the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Rich- ards' parents were members of Dr. Leonard Bacon's Church in New Haven and their four children, ot whom she is the only one living, were all baptized by him. Her brother, Elbert Irving Baldwin, born in New Haven, was engaged in the dry goods busi- ness in New York, and later in Cleveland, Ohio, where he became a prominent citizen. Her sister, Eliza Newton, married Henry R. Hatch, who was at one time in business with Elbert Irving Bald- win and is now senior member of the firm of H. R. Hatch & Co., of Cleveland. Another brother, Adolphus Kirk, died at the age of eleven years.
SIGMUND BERNSTEIN, one of the best known citizens of Meriden, and proprietor of the immense clothing and men's furnishing establish-
ment, conducted under the firm name of Baum & Bernstein, was born in the town of Lissa, province of Posen, Prussia, July 31, 1849, a son of Jacob and Jennette ( Baum) Bernstein.
. Jacob Bernstein was also a native of Lissa, where he resided most of his life. Being in com- fortable circumstances, he was enabled to give his children good educational advantages. After his death his widow came to America, settling in Jer- sey City, where she still resides with a daughter, having attained the age of eighty-one years. To herself and husband were born six children who grew to maturity: Sigmund; Augusta, wife of M. Serge, of Jersey City ; Morris, a real estate dealer in New York City; Isaac, a merchant of Ithaca, N. Y. ; Tina, who married Joseph Calf, a diamond mer- chant of Jersey City ; Joseph, a clothing merchant of Jersey City.
Not only did Sigmund Bernstein receive a good common school education in his native language, but he also attended a preparatory college and was one of the primary teachers. While yet attending school. at the age of fifteen, he entered a hardware store as an apprentice. Having long possessed a strong de- sire to see the New World he left his family and friends in 1864, embarked on a steamer for America, finally locating at Haverstraw, N. Y., where he ac- cepted a position in the clothing store of Jacob Baum. Here he worked faithfully for seven years and in 1871 was taken into partnership. He can well remember the happiness he experienced when he saw the firm name of Baum & Bern- stein upon the door. This sign still remains, although Mr. Bernstein long ago left the town. Mr. Baum being engaged in the manufacture of brick Mr. Bernstein was left in charge of the store. In September, 1877, Mr. Bernstein came to Meri- den and purchased the establishment of Mr. Morris Levy, clothing merchant, and for the past twenty- five years he has remained in the same location, en- larging the business until he now operates one of the largest clothing and men's furnishing houses in New England and is also extensively engaged in custom tailoring. The firm name of Baum & Bern- stein still continues, although Mr. Bernstein is the sole proprietor. Mr. Bernstein is one of the most liberal men in every respect and believes in conduct- ing his business upon broad methods. He has given away thousands of dollars as prizes in guessing con- tests and other ingenious ways of advertising. One of the most notable of Mr. Bernstein's advertising schemes was a "button guessing" contest with a valuable prize awarded to the one who guessed the correct number. To give the scheme proper eclat Mr. Bernstein gave a banquet at one of the leading hotels to which were invited the mayor and the com- mon council. all the town and city officials and a number of State dignitaries. Practically every one who was invited responded and letters of regret were read from U. S. Senator O. H. Platt, Governor Waller and other notables. The buttons were
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counted at the banquet by the mayor and council members. Mr. Bernstein was one of the first cloth- iers to organize "Mackintosh Clubs." To show "the boys" how such a job should be run he undertook personally to sell the first 400 tickets and executed the contract inside of twenty-four hours. The unique method he took to conduct the scheme gave him very, wide newspaper publication without a great expenditure.
In 1897 Mr. Bernstein purchased a tract of thirty-five acres, known as the Holcomb place, and offered a valuable prize to the person suggesting the best name for the property and hundreds of names were suggested. Judge Levi Coe, who was then mayor, suggested the name of Bernstein Heights, which was accepted. In order to encourage the building up of what has proved to be one of the most healthful spots in or about Meriden, he has given away over twenty lots and has constructed several handsome residences, fitted with all modern con- veniences. A reservoir with a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons has been built. He laid out the streets and turned the waste tract into a beautiful residence dis- trict. He, with Mr. A. Schmelzer, also purchased a tract of land at Kensington Heights and they have built several handsome residences in that locality.
In all his undertakings Mr. Bernstein does noth- ing by halves and shows his enterprise on every available occasion. One of the first paving stones laid in Meriden was presented by him to Mayor Ives and put down on Main street opposite the Mer- iden Journal office, engraved with his name and the date. When the electric road was opened Mr. Bernstein gave the first trolley ride between Meri- den and Wallingford to the newsboys and completed their enjoyment by giving each little fellow a nice box of sweetmeats, showing thus he had not forgot- ten his own youth. His many thoughtful deeds dem- onstrated his broad-minded, kind-hearted, generous nature.
'Mr. Bernstein has traveled widely, both in this country and abroad. In 1891 he spent the summer in England, Germany and Austria. He made a European trip again in 1897, bringing his aged mother to this country with him. This incident illustrates one of his characteristics. He was the . oldest of six children and when he left his home in the Fatherland in his boyhood days Mr. Bernstein promised his mother he would make places across the Atlantic for his brothers and sisters and for the parents as well. This pledge, like every one he has since made, he has kept. From time to time lie found an opening for one brother after another and brought them to this country with his earnings. In 1897 he was preparing to bring the aged parents across the sea when a cablegram announced the sud- den death of his father. In twelve days Mr. Bern- stein was in the ancestral home arranging to bring his mother back to this country and thus fulfill the pledge of his youth.
In politics our subject is an independent Republi-
can but the cares of his business and his many charit- able enterprises absorb his time so that he has none to spare for party matters. So genial a man is of necessity prominent in social circles, and he is very popular in various fraternal organizations, among which are Meridian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .; Hamilton Council, No. 22, R. & S. M .; Pacific Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F .; and Atlantic Encampment, No. 28, of the same order; Myrtle Lodge, No. 4, and J. S. Stokes Div., No. 12, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias ; Pilgrims' Harbor Council, No. 543, Royal Arcanum; Amaranth and Cosmopolitan Clubs and the Turn Verein and Saengerbund, of Meriden.
On Oct. 27, 1878, in New York, Mr. Bernstein was married to Miss Jennie Baum, who was born in Seymour, Conn., a daughter of Jacob Baum, a native of Germany, who came to America and lo- cated in Haverstraw, N. Y., where he engaged in the clothing business, being the senior member of the firm of Baum & Bernstein. Mr. Baum, after a long and successful life, died in 1889 in Haver- straw, being the first to be interred in a beautiful cemetery which he had donated to the congregation with which he was connected. His wife, Rachel Koerpel, who survived her husband until 1901, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bernstein, in Meriden, and is buried by the side of Mr. Baum. To Mr. and Mrs. Baum six children were born, namely: Moses, engaged in the clothing business at Pittston, Pa .; Jennie, wife of Sigmund Bernstein ; Charles, with Bernstein & Co., Jersey City; Esther, who married Israel Rich, of Michigan, but is now deceased : Aaron, a member of the firm of Baum Bros., of Haverstraw, N. Y .: Sadie, wife of A. Maver, a banker of Jersey City.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bernstein the following chi !- dren have been born: Algernon J., a graduate of high school and Packett's Business College, N. Y., now engaged in a wholesale house in New York City : Louisa, Daisy and Melville, at home attend- ing high school ; Frances and Jacqueline, students in the public schools.
PERRY MILES TWITCHELL was born in Broome county, N. Y .. Feb. 15, 1834. a son of Miles Johnson Twitchell, a native of Oxford, Conn. Isaac Twitchell, father of Miles J., was a farmer in Oxford.
Miles J. Twitchell was born Feb. 24, 1800, and died in October, 1860. He was a prosperous and successful agriculturist and owned a large farin which he tilled in the most modern and progressive fashion. When he became of age he left his native town and located in New York where he secured a farm of 120 acres, which always evinced the touch of a master farmer. A Democrat, politically, he was not a politician. Always much interested in military matters he was captain of a company in the old State militia. He was a member of the Baptist
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Church and a solid and substantial citizen. Mr. Twitchell married Eliza Alden, daughter of Benj. Alden ; she died in 1864 in Windsor. Broome county. To this union were born: (1) Hannah is the wife of Charles Snedeker and is living in Aurora, Ill. (2) Elvira married Elias Andrews, of Naugatuck, and died in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1897. (3) Anas Tecia married. Joel Brown, of Kirkwood, N. Y. (4) George H. was a carriage and wheel maker in New Haven, served in the army and died in Dur- ham, Conn. (5) Perry Miles. (6) Ursula mar- ried Benjamin Andrews, of Knox county, Ill., and died there. (7) Thomas Edgar served in the army and is now an inmate of the Soldiers' Home at Noroton, Conn. (8) Olinda married John Hoadley and is living in Windsor, N. Y. (9) Jerome served in the army and is now connected with the post- office at Binghampton, N. Y. This family presents a remarkable record, four of the sons, George H., Perry M., Thomas E. and Jerome, and three sons- in-law, Charles Snedeker, Elias Andrews and Ben- jamin Andrews, all serving in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war.
Perry Miles Twitchell was born in Windsor, N. Y., where he had his schooling, and at the age of seventeen began work as a carpenter. In 1857 he came to New Haven to take a place in the carriage factory of George T. Newhall, where he worked un- til 1861. The greater part of that year he was work- ing as a carpenter in Durham, Con., and late in the fall of that year he enlisted in the army. Mr. Twitchell was mustered in as a member of Company C. 12th Conn. V. I., and served throughout the Southern States and in the Gulf region. In the spring of 1864 he came into Virginia and was a part of the command of General Sheridan. Mr. Twitchell saw much hard service and participated in many fierce conflicts, but was never wounded. Mus- tered out at Hartford, Conn., in December. 1864. he completed full three years of service, and though he was not in at the death of the Confederacy, yet he feels that he was all through the critical years and that the Rebellion was virtually crushed before he left the army. Returning from the army MIr. Twitchell was located in Delaware county for some fifteen years working as a carpenter, and in 1880 he came to Durham, Conn., to follow this same occu- pation. In 1883 his home was removed to Walling- ford and since that year he has been in business in this city as a contractor and builder. Here his most important contract was the Lindsey & Valen- tine factory. Many handsome and attractive resi- dences in Wallingford and in the neighboring com- munities have been put up by him and lie is regarded as an honorable and trustworthy workman.
Mr. Twitchell belongs to the O. C. A. M., where he has passed through all the chairs. A member of Arthur H. Dutton Post. No. 36, G. A. R., he has filled its various chairs, and is Past Commander. A Republican, he has no desire for official honors and emoluments. Mr. Twitchell attends the Method-
ist Church, where his wife is a member. She is a member also of the W. R. C., No. 37, and is one of its most efficient workers, having filled its several offices.
Mr. Twitchell was married July 25, 1855. to Miss Belarma Woodmansee, a daughter of Simeon Woodmansee, and a native of Delaware county, N. Y. She died April 24. 1878. This union was blessed with one child, John Clark, born April 22, 1856, who is now running a ranch in Azusa, Cal .; he has been twice married, his first wife was born in Illinois, and left two children, Earle (born Feb. 22, 1892) and Howard H. (born Aug. 8, 1894), and his present wife, Maggie Hassett, was born in Pennsylvania, but at the time of her marriage she was living in San Miguel, California.
On March 31. 1891, Perry M. Twitchell was married to Mrs. Elizabeth A. (Bailey) Twitchell, the widow of George H. Twitchell. his brother, and the daughter of Jeremiah B. Bailey, of Durham, Conn. To this marriage there have been no chil- dren, but Mrs. Twitchell had one daughter, Ida M., by her first husband, who married Elliott C. War- ner, a farmer of Durham, Connecticut.
THE FRANCIS FAMILY. For generations the family of this name in turn have been honest tillers of the soil in Wallingford, and have proved themselves upright and honorable men. Such names as Joseph, Jacob, Tacob (2), William, Will- iam J., and John H. will live long in the memories of the agricultural communities of the town in which their industrious and useful lives have been, and are being, passed. On the old farm in North Farms, Wallingford, reside descendants in the sixth generation from Joseph Francis. its first occupant, from whom William J. and Jolin H. Francis, farm- ers of the town, are fifth in line of descent, their line being through Jacob, Jacob (2), and the late William Francis.
On their mother's side these gentlemen are de- scended from sturdy New England ancestors, and of that type who fought through the war of the Revo- lution, and have never hesitated at any sacrifice which the good of their country seemed to demand. The mother of William J. Francis was Emily Blakeslee. of Wallingford, a family whose record in Wallingford begins as early as 1712, in the per- sons of Samuel and Elizabeth Blakeslee. The origin of the Blakeslee family in tradition is that two brothers of that name left the western part of Eng- land to come to Massachusetts. One died en route, and the other came to Plymouth, where he died in the early days of the Colony, leaving a son, who was placed with a blacksmith to learn the trade in New Haven. The mother of John H. Francis was Julia ( Cook) Tuttle, widow of Lewis Tuttle, daughter of Col. Thaddeus Cook, and a descendant in the seventh generation from Samuel Cook, who came to New Haven in 1663, and married in 1667, Hope, the daughter of Edward Parker. He went with the
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first planters to Wallingford in 1670, and was per- haps the first and only shoemaker and tanner of. leather in that town for many years. He was a member of the church and held public office, and he died in 1702. The line of descent of Julia (Cook) Francis was through Samuel, Samuel (2), Capt. Samuel, Col. Thaddeus. Samuel (4), and Col. Thad- deus (2).
Samuel Cook (2) was born in 1667 in New Ha- ven, and married his first wife, Hannah Ives, in 1692. He died in 1725. Capt. Samuel Cook, son of the foregoing, was born in 1695, married in 1721. Eliza- beth Lewis, of Wallingford. He was a wealthy shipping merchant from the port of New Haven, and died in 1745. Col. Thaddeus Cook, the son of Capt. Samuel Cook, born in 1728, married for his second wife, Sarah Hall, of Cheshire. He served under Gen. Gates in the Revolution, and was highly honored by his fellow townsmen, being elected in turn to all the county offices in their gift. He died in 1800. Samuel Cook (4), son of Col. Thaddeus. born in 1758, married Mary, daughter of Constant Kirkland, of Wallingford. He too was a patriot in the Revolution serving with his father in the army. He was a thrifty farmer residing in the western part of the town of Wallingford. He died in 1824.
Col. Thaddeus Cook (2), son of Samuel (4), born in 1791, married for his first wife, Julia Cook. Col. Cook was a Colonel of Militia, having served in the war of 1812, and his military experience was afterward put to good account. In civil life he was equally prominent, and served as selectman, and member of the Legislature. He died in 1879, and at the time of his death, was the oldest man in Wall- ingford, having passed his eighty-ninth birthday.
The late William Francis, the father of William J and John H., was born March 3. 1804, on the old Francis farm in Wallingford where his seventy-five years of useful life were passed. In early boyhood he attended the North Farms district school, and after fifteen years of age took private instruction. Being of a delicate constitution he was for a time deprived of following the inclination and taste of his mind in the avocation of farming, much to his dislike. So on the advice of his physician he adopted an out-door life that really called for little physical labor, and for a time was engaged in ped- dling Yankee notions through the State of New York. This business, however, was not to his lik- ing, and he longed to be a farmer, trusting that care and good sense would give him still a long lease of life on the farm. Jacob Francis, his father, having died in July, 1829, William Francis the following spring began the erection of the house where he lived the rest of his life, and where his son and grandchildren still reside. Through necessity at the start, he gave much thought to the easiest methods of farming, and thus became a student of farm methods and watchful for all improvements in farm machinery. He had faith in labor-saving devices. and was the first farmer in all his district to place
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