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 69
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on his farm a mowing machine, a horse rake and a reaper. He early learned that abundant fertilizers richly paid for themselves. He read and studied, and practiced the best idcas he could glean from the world around him. He was a pioneer in tobacco culture, and put on the market the best product that was sold in the State. Mr. Francis became a lead- ing farmer, and was as successful as he was progres- sive and intelligent. Planning for the future, he had a long look ahead, made much money, an'l taught his sons in such a manner that they too have become successful farmers, and solid and substantial citizens. He was enterprising and pushing, and though bearing always a weight of ill-health so care- fully handled himself, that he lived to a ripe old age. He was recognized among his fellow citizens as a man of excellent and energetic business quali- ties, and of high moral worth. He was put into offices of trust and responsibility, and he was able to meet their various duties readily and well. Tax collector for a number of years he was popular and efficient in this onerous position. He was road com- missioner, and for a time was entrusted with the care of all the roads in the town.
Mr. Francis' religious connections were with the Episcopal Church, as were those of his immediate family, holding membership in St. Paul's Church in Wallingford. On March 30, 1831, Mr. Francis was married to Emily Blakeslee, and after her death he married Mrs. Julia (Cook) Tuttle, of Hampden. Conn. Two children were born to the first mar- riage: (I)! WILLIAM J., born in 1832, married Marietta J., daughter of Justus and Jane (French ) Peck, and they have a son, Lyman H. William J. Francis is a resident of a part of the original Joseph Francis farm referred to in the foregoing. He is one of the leading farmers of Wallingford. He is a member of Meriden Grange, No. 29, P. of H. (2) Emory was born Feb. 10, 1837, and died on July 14, following. To the second marriage of William Francis were also born two children: (1) Henry, born Dec. 18. 1842, and died Feb. 22, 1843. (2) JOHN H., born June 20, 1858, married Oct. IO, 1858, married Oct. 10, 1883, Carrie P. Wooding, who died Dec. 18, 1887, and on Feb. 21, 1889, he married Mabel A. Wooding, and they have four children, Isabel A., Caroline M., William H. and Edward R. Mr. Francis lives at the old homestead.
HON. LYNDE HARRISON, lawyer, jurist and statesman of New Haven, is a widely known man of forceful character. He is able and public- spirited and has made his mark on the history of his city, county and State.
The Harrison family in New England and throughout the country has produced many men of rare worth, and some have risen to distinction. Thomas Harrison, from England, settled in New Haven as a young man in 1640, and soon after- ward moved to Branford, taking the oath of fidelity April 4, 1654. His brother, Richard, and their
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Lynde Hariton
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father, also named Richard, came to this country with him. Richard was settled at Branford for some years, but removed to Newark, N. J., in 1662.
Among the ancestors of Judge Harrison are found the Wolcotts, of whom the first ancestor in this country was Henry Wolcott, who settled in Massachusetts in 1630 and five years later came to Windsor, Conn. Henry Wolcott (2), his son, was one of the number who received the charter of Con- necticut from King Charles II. Roger Wolcott was colonial governor in 1754. Another ancestor of Judge Harrison was Justice Simon Lynde. of Bos- ton, whose son, Judge Nathaniel Lynde, was one of the first settlers of Saybrook. Rev. John Daven- port, pastor of the first church established in New Haven, is also on his ancestral line.
The paternal grandparents of Judge Harrison, Philemon and Sarah ( Wolcott ) Harrison, were marriedl in 1784. Mrs. Sarah Harrison was born in 1767, daughter of Dr. Alexander Wolcott, and was of the fifth generation in descent from Henry Wol- cott. James Harrison, the eldest son of Philemon Harrison, and the father of Judge Harrison, was married to Charlotte N. Lynde in 1836.
Judge Harrison acquired his literary and legal education in his native city, attending the Lancas- terian and Hopkins Grammar Schools, and Rus- sell's Collegiate and Commercial Institute. With some further preparation he entered Yale Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1860 and he was admitted to the Bar in May, 1861. In 1862 and 1863 he was clerk of the House of Representatives. In 1863 he opened his office in New Haven and entered upon the profes- sional career in which he has been so signally suc- cessful. In 1864 he was clerk of the State Senate, and developing a taste for political life was nom- inated and elected by the Republicans to the State Senate in 1865 and re-elected in 1866. With little intermission, for nearly twenty years he remained in public life, becoming a conspicuous figure from the start. During his two years in the Senate he was especially instrumental in assisting the project of the Shore Line railroad across the Connecticut river at Saybrook. For a few years following his work in the Senate Mr. Harrison devoted himself to his pro- fession. In 1871 he was appointed by the State Legislature Judge of the City Court, a position he filled for three years. In the meantime he had estab- lished his residence in Guilford, and in 1874 re- tired from the Bench to take a seat in the Legisla- ture, to which he was chosen from that town : he was re-elected in 1875 and 1876. In 1877 he was elected Speaker of the House. In July of that year . he became Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for New Haven county, and at the expiration of his torin, four years later, was again sent to the Gen- cral Assembly, serving there until 1882. During this period he was chairman of the Judiciary com- mittee, and in 1877, when Speaker, he was a de- cided advocate of the bill allowing married women
cqual ownership and equal rights in the disposition of property. Leaving the chair he delivered a brill- iant and exhaustive address in advocacy of the bill, and it was finally passed, after having come up before many sessions. In 1875, 1876, 1884 and 1886 Judge Harrison was a member of the Repub- lican State Central Committee and attended as a delegate the National conventions of that party in 1876 and 1880. Judge Harrison did not agree with the high protective ideas that ruled the party in the campaign of 1892, nor with the Republicans of the State upon a number of State issues in 1891. In 1892, under the guidance of his convictions, he voted for Grover Cleveland.
During his long and varied career Judge Harri- son has ever been more than a prominent, influential man and a public leader. As a jurist and a states- man he has been enabled to leave a deep impression upon the statute and fundamental laws of Connecti- cut. Of the twenty-seven amendments to the Con- stitution thirteen have been the result very largely of his work. He is the author of the amendment changing the time of the State elections from the spring to the fall; of the amendment forbidding representation of new towns in the General As- sembly unless the new and parent town shall each have more than 2,500 population; of the amend- ment extending the term of judges; of the amend- ment forbidding any county or municipality incur- ring debt in aid of any railway corporation, and from subscribing to the capital stock of such cor- porations ; and of the amendment forbidding any increase of salary to any public officer during the term for which he was elected. Judge Harrison drafted the Biennial Sessions Amendment of 1884, the present State Election Law and the well-known Specific Appropriation Bill, by which many thous- and dollars are annually saved to the State.
Since the early eighties Judge Harrison has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, principally as counsel for several corporations. His residence in New Haven is near the head of Hill- house avenue and his summer cottage at Bayhurst, on Long Island Sound, in the town of Guilford, is one of the most beautiful natural locations on the coast. He passes a portion of each winter with his family in Thomasville, Georgia.
On May 2, 1867, Judge Harrison was married to Sarah Plant, of Branford, who died in March, 1879, and Harriet S. White, of Waterbury, became his second wife Sept. 30, 1886. To his first marriage were born : William L., Paul W. and Gertrude P. To the second marriage, one child, Katherine W., was born in August, 1892.
HON. JAMES NOYES STATES, General Ticket Agent for the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad, trustee for the State Reform School, President of the Board of Charities and Cor- rections of New Haven, State Senator from 1889-
, 1 92, and one of the leading men of New Haven, is a
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native of Connecticut, having been born in Stoning- ton, on May 16, 1839.
Adam States, the grandfather of the subject of this biography, was born on Cheesequake Creek, South Amboy, N. J., a son of Matthias and Eliza- beth (Gould) States, who came from Holland and settled first in New York. Adam States was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge. His family num- bered fifteen children, many of them later becoming honorable and distinguished members of society.
Benjamin Franklin States, the youngest son of Adam States, and the father of Hon. James Noyes, was born in Stonington, Conn., March 15, 1809, and died in 1896. When he was but ten years old, his father died. He spent his entire life in Stonington, with the exception of about three years, which time he spent in Providence, and became one of the lead- ing merchants of his native place, and was also very prominent in civic affairs. Favored with vigorous health, and as industry and enterprise .were inherent in his nature, these characteristics mapped out for him a busy life, much of which was spent in pub- lic service, and it has been truly said of him that he performed the duties of the different positions which he held with strict fidelity. When twenty-one years of age, he was elected to the positions of con- stable and tax collector. These offices he held until appointed deputy sheriff, which office he held for sixteen years, four under Sheriff David Baldwin. and twelve under Alexander Stewart. In 1834 he was elected captain of the local company of Light Artillery, having previously held the minor offices of the company. For a long series of years he served as notary public, having commissions issued by Gov. C. F. Cleveland in 1842, Gov. Isaac Toucey in 1846, and Gov. James E. English in 1867. In 1846 he was elected by the Legislature as one of the Commissioners of what was then known as the New York and Stonington Railroad. He held the posi- tion of postmaster for two terms, one commission being signed by Postmaster-General Charles A. Wickliffe on Nov. 29. 1844, and one by President Franklin Pierce on May 23. 1853. Aside from the above prominent positions held by him, he was ap- pointed Collector of Customs for the District of Stonington on June 2, 1856, which office he held for nearly five years. For many years he was vestry- man and parish clerk of Calvary Protestant Epis- copal Church. He was a member of the school committee for many terms, and served the public in some prominent official capacity during a large portion of his long and useful life, besides hold- ing almost innumerable offices of smaller magni- tude, which are not mentioned above.
Benjamin F. States was married to Harriet Pal- mer Burtch, who was born in Stonington. a daughter of Thomas Burteh, a sea-faring man. who was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. States was born in 1812, and lived a long and useful life, dying in 1897, having seen six of her
children grow to maturity: Ichabod, who served in the Civil war, in Company C. Ist Conn. Heavy Artillery, and after his honorable discharge returned home only to die; Benjamin F., who died about ten years ago; James Noyes : Mary, who became a school teacher, married Benjamin F. Chester, and removed to Providence; Hortense; and Henry, who resides in New Haven.
James Noyes States spent his boyhood days in Stonington, where he attended the public schools, and Woodbridge's Academy, and was fitted for college. When twenty-one years old he went to New York for a short time, then located in Bridge- port. Conn., and kept a hotel there for one year. It was in 1862 that he became connected with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, as freight agent at Bridgeport, holding that position until 1869, when he was made special agent, retaining that po- sition until 1871. in which year he came to New Haven. There he held the office of local ticket agent until 1887, when he was made general ticket agent, and holds that responsible position at present. Mr. States' rise has been gradual and permanent, as he has worked his way upward by his own efforts, and now enjoys in the highest degree the confidence of the managers of this great railroad.
Mr. States is a Democrat, and is one of those energetic and forceful men who are bound to come to the front. Entering the court of common council in 1876 as a councilman, representing the Fourth ward, he was elected alderman in 1877. and re- elected at each successive election, his last term as alderman expiring with 1887, bearing the record of more continuous re-elections than any other man in the council. While holding this office, he was several terms president of the board of aldermen, acting mayor, member and president of the board of finance, a member of the commissioners of Public Parks, chairman of committee on Ordinances, Claims, Sewers and Lamps. In 1887 he was elected to the board of Public Works to which office he was re-elected, holding the office until the board was superseded in 1898 by a director of Public Works. He was president of the Board, and chairman of the committee on Streets for several terms, holding office under Mayors Shelton. Bigelow, Robertson, Lewis, Peck, Holcomb, York. Sargent. Hendrick and Farmsworth. Upon the inauguration of the Free Public Library in 1886, he was appointed by Mayor Holcomb, one of the directors of the library, and was elected to the presidency of the board, which office he filled until 1887, and he had much to do with the successful starting of the library.
In 1889 he was elected to the State Senate for two years, where he did credit to himself and his constituents. He was appointed by the Senate of 1889 a trustee of the State School for Boys (then State Reform School) for a term of six years ex- piring in 1895, when he declined a reappointment. He was again appointed a trustee of this institution i in 1899, which office he still holds. Recognizing
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his peculiar fitness, the General Assembly of 1893 appointed James N. States, Henry C. White, Fran- cis G. Beach, George D. Watrous and Eli Whitney, Jr., a commission with instructions "to make investi- gation and consider whether it is desirable that any amendments should be made to the New Haven City Charter, or a new Charter be granted." Soon after the rising of the General Assembly, this commission organized by the election of Hon. James N. States as chairman, and proceeded to investigate and con- sider the matter referred to, and in September, 1894, reported to the General Assembly a revised Charter, which, however, was not adopted at the following session, but at a later session was passed substan- tially as recommended, and it is now the Charter under which the City of New Haven is governed. Senator States is president of the Board of Chari- ties and Corrections of the city, and is identified with this work.
For many years Senator States has been con- nected with church affairs in this city, and has long been one of the vestrymen of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is connected with St. John's Lodge. F. & A. M., of Bridgeport.
On Jan. 22, 1868, Mr. States was united in mar- riage with Miss Louise T. Ayers, of Bridgeport. who was born in New Canaan, Conn., a daughter of Lewis B. Avers, and one child was born of this union, who died in infancy.
JOHN MILTON HARMON, one of Meriden's respected citizens, and assistant manager of the In- ternational Silver Co., in Meriden, was born Oc- tober 20, 1854. on a farm in West Suffield, Hart- ford county, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New England.
(I) John Harmon, born in 1617, in England. came to Boston in 1636, and for a time was in Rox- bury, but finally, in 1640, located at Springfield. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in England in the same year as himself. Mr. Harmon died March 7, 1660-1, and his wife afterward married Anthony Dorchester, and died May 16, 1699.
( II) Nathaniel Harmon, son of John, the emi- grant settler, born March 13, 1653-4, in Springfield, married in Suffield Nov. 19, 1685, Mary Skinner, born Sept. 22, 1667, in Windsor, Conn., and to them were born ten children. Mr. Harmon and his brother, Joseph, became interested in trading with the Indians, and for many years were the principal partners of that noted trader. Col. Pynchon. the original proprietor of the site of Springfield. Mass. Nathaniel Harmon located, in 1670, in Suffield. then Southfield, which remained a part of Hamp- shire county, Mass., until 1749. He died May 21, 1712, and his widow married, in 1713, John Han- chett. and died Sept. 17, 1730.
( 111) Sammel Harmon, son of Nathaniel, born A:2. 15, 1699, in Suffield, married there, April 28, 1723, Deborah Winchell, born in Suffield, Aug. 5. 1793. and they had ten children. Mr. Harmon died
Aug. 11, 1755, and his widow married in May, 1757, Isaac Stiles, and died Feb. 18, 1784.
( IV) Samuel Harmon (2), son of Samuel, born May 6, 1736, in Suffield, married there Nov. II, 1762, Abial Sheldon, born in Suffield, Jan. 24, 1741-2, and they had these children: Abial, born 1763; Deborah, born 1764: Saminel, born 1765; Rhoda, born 1767; Ruth, born 1769; Anna, born 1770: David. born 1772: Elizabeth, born 1773; Jonathan, born 1775: Mercy, born 1777; Alex- ander, born 1779; Ozias. born 1781 ; and Aaron, born 1801. Deacon Samuel Harmon held the po- sition of captain in the militia, his commission bear- ing the signature of King George, and he was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, as well as a deacon in the Congregational Church in West Suffield. He died Feb. 21, 1812, and his wife died in Suffield, Sept. 12, 1802.
(V) Ozias Harmon, son of Deacon Samuel, born in Suffield, March 14, 1781, died April 3, 1855. He married Feb. 17, 1813. Cynthia Taylor, born March 9, 1784. She died Aug. 29, 1849. To this union came six children. Mr. Harmon was a man of prominence and substance. The names of his children were as follows: John Milton, born Dec. 17, 1813, still living in West Springfield, Mass .; William Edwin, born Aug. 31, 1815, died in 1877; Cynthia, born Jan. 28, 1817, died Nov. 3. 1838; Jane, born Dec. 29, 1818, died July 23, 1891 ; James Hezron, born Jan. 14, 1821 ; and Roland, born Sept. 6, 1826, and died Nov. 25, 1895.
( VI) James Hezron Harmon, father of John M. Harmon, was born Jan. 14, 1821. in West Suffield, where he grew to manhood on a farm and where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1867, when he came to Meriden with his family. Here he en- gaged for a short time in business, removing to Wallingford where he was engaged in business, and where he spent the remainder of his life, dying April 26, 1895. He was buried in Wallingford. James H. Harmon was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, a man of sterling integrity and excellent business qualifications. He belonged to the order of Odd Fellows, took a prominent part in public affairs, serving as first selectman in Suf- field, and voted with the Republican party, whose principles he actively upheld.
On May 1, 1844, James H. Harmon was mar- ried in West Springfield, Mass .. to Frances A. Whitney, born Oct. 6. 1822, daughter of Theodore and Ann ( Avery) Whitney, and four children were born to this union, namely: Charles Whitney, born Dec. 16, 1845, is a resident of Jasper, Ala- bama : Ellen Amelia, born Aug. 16, 1848, resides in Wallingford: Minnie Loomis, born Jan. 24, 1852, married B. A. Treat, resides in Jasper. Ala. ; and John Milton, born Oct. 20, 1854. Mrs. Harmon still resides in Wallingford, and is one of the es- teemed members of the Congregational Church.
John Milton Harmon was born on a farm in West Suffield, where his boyhood was spent. He
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was eleven years old when he accompanied his parents to Meriden, attending school liere for a short time before he obtained a position in the Meriden Britannia Company's factory. From this position at the bottom of the ladder, Mr. Harmon's ability has brought him to the responsible office in the company which he now holds. On the organ- ization of the International Silver Co., in 1898, he was appointed its assistant manager. Ever since that time Mr. Harmon has performed his duties with an eye single to the interests of his employers, and enjoys in the fullest degree their confidence. His genial personality and sense of justice are ap- preciated by those under his control, and he is justly popular with them.
On Nov. 14. 1878, Mr. Harmon was married to Rose Whiting Dudley, daughter of Whiting B. and Rosanna ( Hotchkiss ) Dudley. of Waterbury. Three children have been born to this union, viz .: Ruth, born Nov. 22, 1880, was educated in the Meriden schools, graduating from the high school; Hazel, born April 26, 1882, graduated from the Meriden high school; and Dudley, born Nov. 18, 1886, is still a student. Although Mr. Harmon is intelli- gently interested in public affairs, as becomes a good citizen, he is in no sense a politician, casting his vote with the Republican party. He was reared in the Congregational Church and is still attached to it. Socially he is identified with Capt. John Couch branch of the S. A. R. Mrs. Harmon is a lady of domestic tastes, devoted to the interests of her fam- ily and, with her daughters, assists in making a part of the refined social life of Meriden.
The WHITNEY Family of which Mrs. James H. Harmon is a descendant on the maternal side, early settled in New England.
John Whitney. son of Thomas and grandson of Robert, born in England in 1589, with his wife, Elinor, who was born in 1599, came to New Eng- land in 1635, locating in Watertown, Mass. Elinor, who was the mother of his eight sons, having died May 11, 1659, he married. ( second) Sept. 29, 1659, Judith Clement. Mr. Whitney was made a free- man in 1635-6, was appointed constable in 1641, served as selectman 1638-1655 and as town clerk in 1655. He died June 1, 1673.
(II) Richard Whitney, son of John the settler, born in England in 1626. married March 19, 1650, Martha Coldman. He was admitted a freeman May 7, 1651, and became a proprietor of Stow, Mass., June 3, 1680, and probably moved there when it was a part of Concord.
(III) Moses Whitney, son of Richard, born Aug. 1, 1655, married Sept. 30. 1686, Sarah Knight, of Stow, who died March 23, 1755. He had land granted to him in 1681 in Stow, and in 1708 pur- chased land in Sudbury, Mass. His places of resi- dence were in Stow and Sudbury. He served in King Philip's war, in 1676.
(IV) Jonas Whitney, son of Moses, born Feb. I, 1699, in Stow, married Jan. 19, 1723, Dorcas
Wood, and was a resident of Stow and Harvard,. Mass. Mrs. Whitney died Feb. 22, 1725, and he married (second) March 12, 1726, Margaret Strat- ton, and died Sept. 18, 1770.
(V) Esquire Timothy Whitney, son of Jonas, born in February, 1729. in Harvard, married there, May 20, 1752, Alice Whitney, of that town, born April 13, 1733. They lived in Harvard and Peter- sham, Mass. Both died in June, 1803.
( VI) Peter Whitney, son of Timothy, born April 20, 1760, in Harvard, married Mary Blair. Mr. Whitney was a tailor and his place of residence and business was in Chester, Mass. His death oc- curred March 6, 1826, and the death of his wife March II, of the same year.
(VII) Theodore Whitney, son of Peter, born in Chester, married in Montgomery, Mass., Marilla Ann Avery, born May 3, 1799. Mr. Whitney was a farmer and was also engaged in the manufacture of window blinds and shades. He lived at different times in various places, Chester, and Norwich, Mass., at Charlotte. Canada, at West Suffield, Conn., and at Agawam, Mass. His stay in Canada covered the period of the Rebellion of 1837, and un- til after that war he was engaged in keeping a hotel. During the Rebellion the military authorities occu- pied his house, which was used as the officers' head- quarters. No person was allowed to leave or enter the house without giving the countersign. His- children witnessed at different times, three persons shot, presumably as spies, as they were not able to. give the pass-word. Mr. Whitney died Aug. 7, 1851, his widow survived, a number of years, dying in West Suffield, in 1883, and both were buried in Suffield. Their children were as follows: Char- lotte married Aaron Frank, and both died in Suf- field; Martha Sheldon married Hezekiah Nooney ; Frances Amelia married James H. Harmon ; Eliza- beth Allen married first George La Barnes, and sec- ond Miner M. Pomeroy ; Catherine Fowler married first Frank Grover, second, Cyrus King; Alice Pel- ton married Roland Harmon ; and Marilla Ann mar- ried Henry G. Smith, and they became the parents of Mrs. Willis J. Prouty, of Meriden.
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