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 3, Part 46

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988

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 3 > Part 46

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Richard Hepburn (2), our subject's father, was reared in New York City, spending some years of his boyhood as a clerk in a ship chandler's store on South street. He afterward followed the sea. and at the age of twenty-one years was placed in command of a vessel. Much of his time in later years was passed in Milford. During the trouble between this country and Mexico he commanded a troop ship carrying a New York regiment to Mata- moras, with cur subject on board. When the Re- bellion broke out he enlisted in the navy, with the rank of acting ensign, and served as such on board the monitor "Passaic," and other vessels, until the close of the war. A notable incident in his career | was the successful voyage to the Canary Islands in the bark "Grapeshot," for the capture of Lu Baker, the man who shot Bill Poole in a theatre in New York City, which event gave Capt. Hepburn a National reputation for rapid passages. He died at Staten Island Jan. 2, 1891. He married Maria J. Curry, who died Sept. 17, 1873. She was a na- tive of Peekskill. N. Y., and her father was a 1 farmer of that town. Two children were born of this union : Richard R. and Fannie, of whom the . latter died Aug. 26, 1877, unmarried.

Richard R. Hepburn, the third of the name and the subject of this sketch, attended the schools of Milford when a boy, and completed his course of study in Brooklyn, but he did not go to school after he reached the age of twelve years, the best part of his education having come from contact with the world. During boyhood he made several trips across the Atlantic with his father. For eight-

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een or twenty years he was employed by Nathan A. Baldwin, of Milford, the manufacturer of straw hats, but his public duties have since occupied much of his time.

On July 17, 1884, Judge Hepburn married Miss Ella V. Clements, a native of Milford, and an adopted daughter of John F. Clements. One child, Fanny, has blessed this union.

In politics Judge Hepburn is a Republican, and his popularity is shown by the fact that he now holds several public offices, within the gift of his fellow citizens, having served as Town Clerk and Registrar of Vital Statistics since January, 1895. Judge of Probate since January, 1897, and Judge of the Milford Town Court since July, 1901 ; he is vice-president of the Milford Savings Bank. So- cially he is prominent and belongs to the following fraternal organizations: William Fowler Council. No. 64, Order United American Mechanics, of which lodge he has been recording secretary since its organization ; Wepowage Lodge, No. 14. 1. O. O. F., with which he united in 1881 ; and Volun- teer Council, No. 819. Royal Arcanum, of which he became a member in 1897. He has recently ac- cepted the secretaryship of the Milford Cemetery Association, and is at the present time clerk and treasurer of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Milford, and a member of the Society's com- mittee.

PROF. WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS is one of the well-known and most highly estecmed citizens of Wallingford, where during his long residence he has won a high place in the regard of the commu- nity. His talent and skill as a violinist have brought him considerable renown.

Prof. Williams was born June 18, 1849, on the old Williams homestead, and was reared on the farm. He early displayed remarkable talent for music, and at the age of nine years had mastered the principles of violin playing. His teachers have been among the most distinguished of the world, one the celebrated Prof. Frantz Milcke. For a number of years he has played violin solos in pub- lic, charming his audiences, and receiving many ex- pressions of pleasure from them. For several years he conducted the Williams Orchestra, which, dur- ing its existence, was one of the best in the State, and he has figured in almost all the prominent con- certs and musical gatherings of his section, at one time playing with the well-known Theodore Fleisher. He has written a number of orchestral 1 compositions. Some of the pupils of Prof. Will- iams have become celebrated, and his name is known far beyond local boundaries. He owns one of the finest old violins in existence. Prof. Williams is in- terested in several enterprises in the locality ot Wallingford. He is the owner of the race track and fair ground site, very valuable land, which he - has leased to the Agricultural Society, and to the Wallingford Cycling & Trotting Association. As a -

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lover and fine judge of good horses, Prof. Williams has become the owner of some fine specimens, and hiis trotting stock is well known through the State.

Prof. Williams was married. in January, 1878, in Wallingford, to Miss Mary E. Jones, daughter of Charles N. Jones, a merchant of Wallingford, a lady of refinement and culture, who holds an en- viable position in the social circles of the city. Seven children have come to this tinion: Charles Leslie, born in 1878; Robert Cook, in 1881; Sarah Emma, in 1883 (a graduate of the high school, now a bookkeeper) ; Elsie L., in 1886; Florence, in 1888; Herman, in 1890; and William, in 1895. Prof. Williams is a member and supporter of the Republican party, but is no office seeker. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Epis- copal Church, and they are highly esteemed in Church circles.

Charles Nicholas Jones, father of Mrs. Williams, was born on the old Jones homestead, Sept. 18, 1830, son of Street Jones and a grandson of . Nicholas Jones, old settlers of New Haven county. Street Jones was a man of education, became a large land owner, at one time owning 10,000 acres, dealt ex- tensively in cattle and raised many horses. He died at the age of eighty-four. He took an active interest in the welfare of the Democratic party, and served as a member of the State Legislature, as selectman, and in other local offices, taking also an active interest in educational matters. Through his influence school houses were built, charitable insti- tutions were planned, and religious work in the Con- gregational Church carried on. Street Jones was married in North Haven to Mary Pierpont East- man, a daughter of Benjamin Eastman, and to this union were born ten children, of whom we have rec- ord of the following: Benjamin Trumbull, Peter Eastman, Charles N., Mary P. (who married Charles D. Childs, of Wallingford. Vt.), Sarah, one that died in infancy. Julia ( who married and re- moved to Albany, N. Y.), and Samuel ( who be- came a stock dealer in Kansas).

Charles N. Jones received excellent educational advantages, attending the district school in youth, and later the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suf- field. His home continued to be on the farm until 1870, and he engaged in farming a part of the Cook homestead. In the year mentioned he re- moved to Wallingford, where he started a grain and feed business, in connection with a grocery, and has been thus engaged for over thirty years. Mr. Jones also owns and operates a farm at Cook's Hill, on which he has a productive peach orchard. Mr. Jones married Ellen Cook, of Cook's Hill, a daughter of John and Mary ( Munson) Cook, and a member of an old and representative family. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones : Mary E., the wife of Prof. Williams; Emma, who married William Hodgkinson, of Wallingford ; Sarah Cook, who married William Talcott, of Wall- ingford; and Florence Bertha, now Mrs. Samuel

Clulee. Mrs. Jones died in 1879. In 1889, Mr. Jones married Abbie Bristol, daughter of Urialı Bristol, of Cheshire. Mr. Jones is a prominent member of the Congregational Church. He has served his fellow citizens as selectmian, and for six years has been chairman of the board, and is treas- urer of the borough. The family is held in high esteem in Wallingford, where Mr. Jones has long been regarded as one of the representative citizens.

EDWARD PAYSON BRETT, one of the old- est builders in New Haven, and a man of stability of character, who possesses the esteem of the con- munity, is a descendant, in the seventh generation, of one of the pioneer settlers of Massachusetts.

William Brett and Margaret, his wife, came from England, in 1645, and with Miles Standish and others, became early settlers of the town of Bridgewater, Mass. He was an elder in the church, and often took the pastor's place.

Nathaniel Brett, son of William and Margaret, married Sarah, daughter of John Hayward.

Seth Brett. son of Nathaniel and Sarah, mar- ried Sarah Alden, daugliter of Isaac Alden.

Samuel Brett, son of Seth and Sarah, married Hannah, daughter of David Packard.

William Brett, son of Samuel and Hannah, married Molly, daughter of Ezra Allen.

Cyrus Brett, son of William and Molly, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born Oct. 18, 1789, in North Bridgewater, Mass. He mar- ried Mary Winchester, who was born in 1802 in Boston, Mass. From 1836 to 1856, Mr. Brett was a successful dealer, in Baltimore, Md., in the line of gents' furnishing goods, but coming troubles warned him of business disturbance, and he wisely closed out his interests, and returned North, dying in New Haven, Dec. 30, 1864, his wife having passed away but little more than one month previously, on Nov. 9.

Edward Payson Brett was born Sept. 12, 1837, at Baltimore, Md., where he spent his early school days. In March, 1855, he came to New Haven and began work, as an apprentice, with Bristol & Mer- win, builders, on Artisian street, working for them until 1863, when he formed a partnership with Horace Hubbell. They continued in business to- gether until 1867. when the partnership was dis- solved. In 1869 Mr. Brett entered into partnership with Charles E. Brown, and they continued to- gether until 1880. From 1882 to 1884 Mr. Brett had as a partner C. M. Manning, but for the past seventeen years has been alone. Mr. Brett has built many of the dwelling houses in New Haven, and was entrusted with the work for the Winchester factory. He is one of the most extensive jobbers in New Haven. For the past ten years he has also engaged in the manufacture of boxes. He is noted for his industry and activity, as well as for his higli sense of honor in business dealings. On Dec. 24, 1866, Mr. Brett was married to Harriet J. Crossley,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who was born Dec. 25, 1842. at Tariffville, Conn., daughter of Thomas Crossley, of Middletown, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Brett have had children as follows : Mary and Hattie, who died in infancy ; Lulu, who is a graduate of the Connecticut State Normal School, at New Haven, and is a teacher in that city ; Edna P., a graduate of Hillhouse High School, at New Haven ; Thomas C., a graduate of Sheffield Scientific School, class of 1896, and now secretary of the Yale Safe and Iron Co., of New Haven ; and William W., also of that city. Since the spring of 1881 the family home has been in Gil- bert avenue. Mr. Brett is a Mason, holding mem- bership in Wooster Lodge No. 79. and is a member of the United Congregational Church, of New Hav- en. In politics he is a Republican, and his first Presidential vote was cast for Lincoln.

ELLSWORTH B. COOPER, the well-known and popular town clerk and treasurer of Hamden, is a native of that town, born in Centerville, Sept. 25, 1838.

Charles Cooper, his father, was born in the town of Hamden, Jan. 29, 1798, a son of Ezra Cooper, and during his youth learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in New Haven for some time. Going subsequently to Whitneyville he was em- ployed in the gun factory there until about 1836 or '37, and, after leaving the gun factory, built a blacksmith shop at Centerville, where he followed his trade for twelve or fifteen years. He resided at Centerville for many years before his death, which occurred Feb. 11, 1872. He married Laura Cadwell, who was born Oct. 8, 1807, on the Pardee homestead in Centerville, in the same house where our subject's birth occurred. She was a daughter of Elizur and Esther (Pardee) Cadwell (the latter a daughter of Joseph and Esther Pardee), and died Feb. 6, 1879, and was buried in Centerville cemc- tery, where her husband also rests. Elizur Cad- well came from Durham, Conn., to Centerville, where he followed his trade, that of blacksmith. In the family of Charles and Laura Cooper were five children of whom two grew to adult age. Charles Whitney, the eldest, was born in 1836, and served one year as a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in 1861, in Company K, 6th Conn. V. I .: he has never married and is now a resident of Centerville. Charles Cooper was a Democrat in political faith, and took a deep interest in his party's success, but he was in no sense a politician. Mrs. Cooper was a member of the Episcopal Church.

Ellsworth B. Cooper acquired his primary edu- cation in the district schools of Hamden, which hc attended until 1851, and then entered a select school conducted by Miss Elizabeth H. Dickerman. where he remained two years ( this school was at the pres- ent location of Mt. Carmel Children's Home). Subsequently he was a student in the North Haven Academy under Miss Eunice Linsley, and later at- tended Stiles French's boarding school in Wall

street in New Haven. In 1858 he commenced teach- ing, and successfully followed that profession for several years, in the public schools of North Bran- ford, North Haven and Hamden. In 1867 he was assistant teacher in Rev. H. H. Noble's boarding school. of Brookfield, Litchfield Co., Conn., and the following year taught at Mt. Carmel. In 1871 Mr. Cooper commenced clerking in the store of Eneas Warner, of Centerville, and remained with him until 1877. In 1876 he was elected town clerk and treas- urer of Hamden, which offices he most creditably and satisfactorily filled until November, 1900, when he resigned the position of treasurer, but he still continues to serve as town clerk.

Mr. Cooper was married Oct. 9, 1889, to Miss Julia A. Culver, of North Haven, a daughter of Samuel Culver, and a successful teacher in North Haven and Wallingford, Conn. In December, 1874, our subject joined Day Spring Lodge, No. 30. F. & A. M. Politically he is independent. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge all duties devolving upon him, and the best years of his life have been devoted to the interests of his town and county. A most courteous, obliging official whose com- petency and efficiency may be judged from the length of his service in town office, few men are better known throughout the community, or have more warm friends than Ellsworth B. Cooper.

KENDRICK HARVEY SIMONS. the well known contractor and builder of Waterbury, Conn., was born in Sandisfield. Berkshire Co., Mass., March 11, 1838.

Sylvanus Simons, his grandfather, was a farmer in Massachusetts, where several of the Simons brothers had settled at a point then called "Simons Pond," and there hie reared a family of seven chil- dren, of whom we have the following record: Solo- mon was a farmer, and reared a large family, most of whom went to Ohio, in which State he, too, passed the latter years of his life; Harvey was the father of our subject; Hiram was a farmer ; Daniel and Philip also followed the same calling; Mary was the next in order of birth; and Eunice was the youngest.

Harvey Simons, his father, was a native of Sandisfield, Mass. ( just over the Connecticut line), born June 13. 1795, and his death occurred Dec. 4, 1877. He was reared a farmer. His wife, who was Dianthy Bailey, a daughter of Andrew Bailey, a Massachusetts farmer, died at the age of fifty-two years, the mother of four children, viz .: Darwin, who was a soldier of the Civil war, and is now a mechanic in Waterbury: Juliaette, widow of Hiram Andrews, late of Norfolk, Conn .: Andrew B. and Kendrick H .. both mentioned below.

Andrew B. Simons was born in Goshen. Conn .. April 2. 1833, and like his younger brother, Ken- drick H., is a carpenter and builder., He lived on his father's farm in Massachusetts until seventeen | years of age, and then came to Connecticut, where

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

under Joseph Bunnell at Winsted. Litchfield Co., he learned the carpenter's trade. He remained with Mr. Bunnell two or three years, and then worked in Torrington, Ansonia, Bridgeport, and other places until 1852, when he came to Waterbury, where he has since been actively engaged as a contractor and builder, with the exception of two years passed in the Pennsylvania oil regions. During this period of over half a century he erected, for three or four years, 150 houses per year, many of them at a cost of $15,000 each. In 1865 he moved to hiis present place in the southern part of Waterbury, which, in his honor, is now called Simonsville, he having been the principal factor in developing that part of the city. In 1854. Andrew B. Simons married Julia Ann Taylor, who was born in Willimantic. Conn., a daughter of John Taylor. Two children have blessed this union: Charles H., a carpenter ; and Ida, who is married to George E. Shay. of Woodbury. In politics Mr. Simons was formerly a Democrat, as was his father, but after the Civil war he became an ardent Republican. Although he has been foreman of Fire Company No! I, and also first assistant of the fire department, he has not escaped the devastation of the fiery fiend, and within two months lost twenty tenements through its malevo- lence. Mr. Simons is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of Waterbury. With his fam- ily he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, by the members of which they are all most highly es- teemed, as well as by society at large. Mr. Simons is a public-spirited man in the broad sense of the word.

Kendrick H. Simons was reared on the Sandis- field homestead until sixteen years of age, then came to Connecticut and for two years worked in a cutlery factory at Winsted. In 1857 he came to Waterbury and learned the carpenter's trade with his brother Andrew B. Simons. At this trade he worked as a journeyman about fifteen years. He spent the year 1865 in Titusville. Pa .. at that time the principal center of petroleum oil, and began then to contract and build on his personal account. Being artistic and skillful, he has met with unusual success, and many of the more elegant. as well as the ordin- ary, buildings that dot the streets of Waterbury and its suburbs, attest his mastership of his trade.

On Jan. 3. 1866, Kendrick H. Simons married Maria Antoinette Neal. a native of Burlington, Hart- ford county, Conn., and a daughter of Ira T. Neal. of Winsted, Conn. Two children were born of this union : Herbert A., who died at the age of four years ; and Irving N., who passed away at the age of twenty-six, when he had nearly completed his studies in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. The latter had married Aug. 15. 1895, Miss Emma Michaux. who with one child, Mildred N., survives him. In politics Mr. Simons is a Republican, and in religious belief both he and his wife are members of the Advent Church.

Ira T. Neal was of Scotch extraction, and his oc-

cupation was that of a mechanic. He married Rachel M. Bradley, who bore him three children : George W., deceased : Jane M., wife of Charles C. Lathrop, of Bridgeport ; and Maria Antoinette, wife of Kendrick H. Simons. Mr. Neal passed away June 14, 1880, and his wife survived until June 17, 1893, when she, too, entered into rest.

EDWIN SOMERS PARMELEE, one of the progressive business men of Wallingford, New Ha- ven Co., Conn., and Thomasville, N. C., was born April 16, 1834, in Southbury, New Haven county.

Walter Parmelee, his father, was born Nov. 12, 1808, in Newtown, Conn., and died Dec. 7, 1886, in the city of Wallingford. He was a wagonmaker, and followed that occupation throughout life. In 1881 he retired from active life and came to Wall- ing ford, to spend his remaining years with his sons. Previous to his coming to this city he had a little wagon shop in Southbury, and always had been a very active and industrious man. In 1828 Mr. Parmelee married Miss Harriet Dikeman, of New- town. Both were members of the Episcopal Church. and in later years attended the Methodist Chapel at Southville. A Democrat, and very well informed in current questions, Mr. Parmelee was, however, too much pressed with businesss cares to take much interest in the machinery of the party organization. Mr. and Mrs. Parmelee were the parents of two children, Edwin S. and Bruce Leavenworth, the. latter at present living in Wallingford.

Amos Parmelee, the father of Walter Parmelee. was a wagonmaker ; he married Mary Somers, and lived in Newtown, Conn. Noah Parmelee. father of Amos, canie from England, and was a manufact- urer of saddle trees. He married a Scotch woman. The Parmelees have always been woodworkers.

Edwin Somers Parmelee acquired his education in the common schools of his native town, and on' leaving school went into his father's shop to learn wagonmaking. When he was twenty-three he left home, and went to Naugatuck to take the position of foreman in the factory of the Naugatuck Wheel Co. There he remained until 1860, when he pur- chased a piece of timber land in Southbury, and began to make heavy wagons and carts. In 1864 he bought a wheel factory, and a farm in Wood- bury, where he was busily employed until 1872, in which year the factory was destroyed by fire. Short- ly after this catastrophe Mr. Parmelee, in company with his brother-in-law, Bryant A. Treat, purchased the Naugatuck Wheel Co., and became president thereof. They conducted the plant very successfully until 1878. when it was removed to Wallingford in connection with the Wallingford Wheel Co., which they had purchased some two years before. On May 30, 1888. the Wallingford factory was struck by lightning, and entirely destroyed by fire. Mr. Parmelee sold his interest to the American Wheel Co., and retired from the business before it was resumed. The same year he bought the Thomas-

I Parmeley

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ville (N. C.) Spoke Works, and the next year the Newton (N. C.) Spoke & Handle Works. He conducted both until 1898. when they were consoli- dated at Thomasville, where he is still engaged in business. About seventy-five men are employed in the works at Thomasville. Mr. Parmelee is also largely interested in native lumber, and in this line gives employment to quite a number.

On Sept. 14. 1859, Mr. Parmelee was married to Miss Mary A. Treat, of Oxford, a daughter of Atwater Treat, and a direct descendant of Gov. Treat. Their children are as follows: (I) Jennie M .. born Ang. 4. 1862. was married Oct. 6, 1880, to Seymour G. Baldwin, a wholesale lumber dealer of Wallingford. son of the late Dr. Vincent Bald- win, of Wallingford. They have had the following children-Mary E., born Sept. 30, 1884: Walter P., born June 13. 1889: Elizabeth G., born Aug. 26, 1892 : and Edwin Seymour, born July 21. 1881 ( died Oct. 28, 1881). (2) Hattie Elizabeth, born June 2, 1865. married Aug. 30, 1893, Robert C. Canby, a native of Philadelphia. Mr. Canby is a metallui- gist, and has charge of a smelter in San-Luis-Potosi. Mexico, the largest in that country. (3) Mary Re- becca, born June 22. 1868, is now bookkeeper in the office of her father's spoke works at Thomas- ville. (4) Eva Treat, born Nov. II, 1874. is at home. (5) Sarah Edwina, born Aug. 30, 1881, is at present taking a finishing course in German and French in Coburg, Germany. Mr. Parmelee was born and bred a Democrat, but he is unalterably op- posed to the ratio of 16 to I. The entire family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

JUDGE JAMES R. CAMPBELL is one of the most favorably known citizens of the town of Wall- ingford, where he holds the position of Deputy Judge of Wallingford Police Court. He was born in Windham, N. H .. Nov. 14. 1829, and belongs to the celebrated Scotch Campbells. For hundreds of years the various generations of this family have been conspicuous in Scotland. Among the stoutest followers of Oliver Cromwell, they were given a tract of land in Derry, Ireland, which they aban- doned after the restoration of Charles II, and came to New Hampshire, where many of their descend- ants may still be found. Some have penetrated into other parts of the United States, and wherever they have gone, their upright, honorable and industrious lives have done credit to the New Hampshire Camp- bells.

Henry Campbell, born in Ireland, located in the Derry colony in New Hampshire, and took an active part in the French and Indian war. He be- came the father of five children: ( 1) Daniel, born in Windham, N. H., in 1737. became a land owner. and there died. (2) John, born 1747. served in the Revolution, and died in 1823. He married Molly Campbell. (3) Jane Hylands. (4) Sophia L. (5) David.

David Campbell, born in Windham, N. H., in

1757. died March 11, 1830. He was a farmer and mill owner, and erected the first carding mill in that part of the State. A soldier in the Continental army, he served at the battles of Bunker Hill, Long Island and Bennington. being twice wounded at Bunger Hill, and also in the Cherry Valley cam- paign. Elizabeth Dickey. his wife, became the mother of the following children : (1) Rachel, who died single ; (2) Mary: ( 3) Martha, who mar- ried and lived in Francestown, N. H .: (4) David, who was twice married, first to Mary Marden, and, second to Mehitable Marden : (5) James ; (6) Han- nah, who married James Clark Cloyd; (7) John.

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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 3, Part 46

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988