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 49
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John Thomas, the father of our subject, was born in Woodbridge in 1819, and was educated in the schools of that town. He lived in New Haven, Conn., and Newark, N. J., in both of which cities he engaged in carriage building-a trade he had learned from his father-and for many years was a resident of Derby, where he engaged in the gro- cery business. His political support was also given the Democratic party. In Oxford he married Miss Eunice Johnson, a daughter of Harvey and Nancy (Riggs) Johnson. She was born Sept. 28, 1822, and died April 27, 1897, while he died Jan. 8, 1865. Their children were Charles ( I), Charles (2), John, Adelia and Lottie, all deceased: Frank Harvey, our subject; and Charles, a piano tuner of Derby, Connecticut.
Frank H. Thomas was born in New Haven Sept. 17, 1844, and was five years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Derby, where he at- tended school. At the age of eighteen he began life for himself as a mechanic in the Colt rifle shops at Hartford, Conn., and also clerked in his father's store. For three years he was engaged in the livery business in Derby, and embarked in the manu- facture of corsets there, but later the plant was moved to New Haven, where business was carried on under the firm name of I. Newman & Co., and where employment was furnished 400 hands. Mr. Thomas owned a third interest in this business, but owing to poor health sold out at the end of eight years. In March, 1880, he returned to Woodbridge, where he purchased a farm of fifty acres, and has since successfully engaged in farming, making a specialty of vegetables and fruits.
At Derby, Dec. 25, 1866. Mr. Thomas was mar- ried by Rev. Stephen L. Mershon to Miss Jane Miller, a daughter of Samuel and Barbara (Smith) Miller and granddaughter of Samuel Miller. The father was born, reared and married in England, where he worked at carriage painting for some years, and then emigrated to America, locating in New Haven, Conn., where he died at a compar- atively early age. After his death the family moved to Derby, where the mother died at the age of seventy-five years. She, too. was born in England, and was a daughter of Arthur Smith. Henry Grat- ton, a relative of the Smith family. and a man of some literary note, is buried in Westminster. Mrs. Thomas was born Feb. 13, 1848, and is one of a large family of children, the others being as fol- lows: David, deceased, who was in the carriage business in New Haven; Eleanor, wife of George Smith, of Shelton, Conn., upon whose land the home for working girls now stands; Elizabeth, de- ceased wife of James Buckley, of Derby ; Arthur, an officer of the British army in active service, who first enlisted as one of the Queen's Own Guard. and when last heard from was about to embark for India; Mary, wife of William Tyther, of Shelton, Conn .; Samuel, also a resident of Shelton, who was a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and was severely wounded and taken prisoner while in the service; Martha, deceased ; Martha (2), deceased; Jane and Sarah, twins, the former the wife of our subject, the latter de- ceased ; and Richard, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have five children : Marthia Eva, born June 14, 1868, is a milliner of New Haven. Jolin Amos, born Jan. 30, 1870, mar- ried Lillian Truella, of Derby, by whom he has one daughter; he is a carpenter of Shelton. Dwight Samuel, born Sept. 6. 1871, is a mason of Hart- ford. Arthur Frank, born March 21, 1876, married Carrie Hills, and has one child, Franklin Arthur ; he is a machinist of Shelton, Conn. Lillian Bar- bara, born Jan. 4, 1885, is at home. Both our sub- ject and his wife are consistent members of the
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Congregational Church, and while in business Mr. Thomas also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He is a stanch Republican, but has never been an office seeker. He is a man of recognized ability, and, with his estimable wife, stands high in the com- munity where they make their home. Those who know them best are numbered among their warmest friends.
WILLIAM SMITH, a highly esteemed citizen of East Haven, who for many years has been identi- fied with its agricultural interests, was born in that town on the farm where John Thompson now lives, Dec. 28, 1822. It was also the birthplace of his grandfather, Samuel Smith, a son of Daniel Smith. Our subject's father, Asahel Smith, was born there Dec. 10, 1787. He married Eunice Miner, and to them were born eight children, namely: Mary, Lester, Henry, William, Harriett, Lucius, Harvey and Elizabeth. He died at the advanced age of ninety-one years, and his wife at the age of sev- enty-six. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his father was a member of the Continental army in the Revolutionary war.
William Smith remained upon the old home- stead, aiding his father in its operation until the spring of 1849, when a company of seventy-five men purchased the bark, "J. Walls," and made prepara- tions to go to the gold fields of California. They sailed from New Haven on June 4, rounded Cape Horn, and after a voyage of seven months and five days landed in San Francisco. Mr. Smith went to Sutters Mills and was engaged in prospecting and mining on the south fork of the American river for some time, starting back east in November, 1850. On his return to East Haven he resided on the old homestead until his marriage.
On April 25, 1852, Mr. Smith married Miss Sarah J. Thompson, who was born June 19, 1827, a daughter of John and Julia A. ( Foote) Thomp- son, the latter born Dec. 19, 1802. Her father was born Aug. 12, 1802, and was a son of John Thomp- son, Sr., a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The / latter was a son of Timothy Thompson, a resident of the town of East Haven, where many of his descendants still make their home. Mrs. Smith is the third in order of birth in a family of six chil- dren, the others being Elizabeth A., John H., Will- iam S., Jerah F. and Isaac B. Jerah F. Thomp- son was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, en- listing first at Trenton, N. J., in August. 1862, for nine months, in Company B. 21st Regiment, and second in 1863 ; he served until the close of the war, and died in 1885, aged forty-eight years. Isaac B. Thompson enlisted in Company B, 15th Conn. V. I., in August, 1862, and was killed by a shell in front of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 12, 1862, aged twenty-one years.
After his marriage Mr. Smith purchased the old Samuel Chidsey farm in the Foxon District of East Haven, where he lived for a year and a half,
and then went to New Jersey, locating near Jersey City, where he made his home for four years. Re- turning to East Haven at the end of that time, he bought the place now occupied by Edward Eld, and after living there two years purchased the farm on which he now resides. Here he has since en- gaged in farming with fair success. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He never withholds his support from any enter- prise which he believes calculated to advance the welfare of his town and county, and justly merits the high regard in which he is held. His estimable wife is a member of the Congregational Church.
AMOS HENRY ALLING (deceased) was for forty years one of Derby's most influential and hon- ored citizens. He was descended from Roger Alling, one of a party who emigrated from Eng- land in 1636, and who, after passing a winter in Boston, settled at New Haven in the spring of 1637, making the journey from Boston by vessel, the voyage occupying three weeks. Roger Alling married Mary, a daughter of Thomas Nash, of New Haven, and became the father of seven chil- dren : Mary, Samuel, John, Sarah, Eliza, Susan and James.
Samuel Alling, eldest son of Roger, was one of the proprietors of the Colony in 1685. He died in 1707. He was twice married, and was the father of eight sons and three daughters, of which large family ten were living in 1709. His first wife was Eliza, daugliter of John Winston, who bore him seven sons: Samuel, John, James, Roger, Roger (2), Theophilus and Daniel. His second marriage was to Sarah Chedsey, and the children of this union were Caleb, Sarah, Elizabeth and Esther. The line of descent to the late Amos H. Alling comes through Daniel Alling, the seventh son of Samuel, who became the father of Timothy, Silas and Daniel (2). Silas Alling, the great-grandfather of Amos H. Alling, married Dorcas Baldwin, of Woodbridge. Their children were Amos, Edward, Silas, Lewis, Asa, Anna and Rebecca. Amos All- ing, the first born, married Millie Beecher, bv whom he was the father of six children: Rebecca, Charles W., Asa. Sheldon, Bela and Alfred.
Charles Wyllis Alling. son of Amos, and father of Amos H., married Lucy Booth, of Woodbridge. They were the parents of seven children: The eldest, Mary, who is yet living, married Reilly Davis, of Oxford, Conn. Amos H., the subject of the present memoir, was the second child and eldest son. Charles B., a sketch of whose life ap- pears elsewhere. is a successful and wealthy woolen manufacturer of Derby. Sheldon, the fourth in or- der of birth, died in infancy. Lucy married Nathan Treat, of New Haven county. Leonidas, whose biography may be found elsewhere, was the sixth child. John W., the seventh, is an attorney at law in New Haven. Charles W. Alling, the father of
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this large family, for many years conducted the business of carding wool and weaving cloth, his principal trade being with the farmers of the neigli- borhood. His home and factory were in Orange, where he died April 6, 1868. His widow survived until Dec. 9, 1890. Long before his death Mr. Alling leased his factory to his sons, Amos H. and Charles B., under whose skillful management the business developed until they took up the manu- facturing of hosiery and underwear, the plant being removed to Derby in 1858. A more detailed de- scription of the growth of this enterprise may be found in the biographical sketch of Charles B. Alling.
Amos H. Alling was born in Orange Jan. 3. 1823. In his boyhood and youth he worked in his father's mill, and in 1845 formed a co-partnership with his brother, Charles B., to lease and operate the same as has been already said. The business connection between the brothers continued until the death of Amos H., which occurred Feb. 6, 1898. In 1847 Mr. Alling married Sarah E. Prudden, of Orange, a direct descendant of Rev. Peter Prudden, the first minister and founder of the church in Mil- ford. They had three daughters, two of whom, Louisa Maria and Carolyn Elizabeth, survive. Mary died in 1862. In 1874 Louisa M. married Dr. George Lucius Beardsley, of Milford, and they have two children, Alling Prudden and Elizabeth Coley. In 1882 Mr. Alling married, for his second wife, Mrs. Harriet E. Griffin, who survives him.
Mr. Alling was not only a successful man of business, but also a public-spirited citizen, one whose manly character, liberality and upright life gained for him the esteem of the entire community. He was one of the original proprietors and incor- porators of the Housatonic Water Co. in 1866, and one of the board of directors of same until his death. Fraternally he was a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and the temperance cause found in him a true supporter. Early in life he joined the Methodist Church, of which he was always a strong pillar. His religion was more than a form-it was active Christianity, governing his daily life, and entering into every dealing with his fellows. His benefactions, thoughi liberal, were unostentatious. He will long be re- membered as a man of Christian vigor, and one always active in causes to advance the kingdom of his Master on the earth, and to help lift the world to a higher plane.
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WILLIAM W. HUGHES has in his career illustrated most forcibly the possibilities that are open to the young man who possesses sterling busi- ness qualifications. It proves that neither wealth nor social position, nor the assistance of influential friends at the outset of his career, are necessary to place him on the road to success. It also proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose and indefatigable industry, combined with sound busi-
ness principles, will be rewarded, and that true suc- cess follows individual effort only.
Mr. Hughes, who is now engaged in farming in Oxford, was born in Southbury, New Haven county, Dec. 22, 1823, son of Reuben Hughes, also a native of Southbury, and a soldier of the war of 1812. The paternal grandfather, William Hughes, was born in Wales, and as a soldier of the Revolutionary war aided the colonies in gaining their independence. He was with Washington's army during the dread- ful winter at Valley Forge.
Our subject is a self-educated as well as a self- made man. He was only twelve years of age when his father died, and he at once began work on a farm in his native town for his board and clothes. At the age of nineteen he went to New Haven, where he learned house painting, which he followed for twenty years, several years of this time being spent in Naugatuck, the remainder in New Haven.
On Jan. 1, 1862, Mr. Hughes enlisted, at Nauga- tuck, becoming a private in Company F, 59th N. Y. \. I., and was detailed as a musician, having pre- viously been a member of the 2d Regiment State Band for several years. During most of his service he was in and around Washington, D. C., and was discharged May 27, 1862. Returning to Naugatuck, lie followed painting for two years, and then went to New Haven with the firm of W. & E. T. Fitch, a wholesale hardware firm, with whom he had a contract for the manufacture of harness hooks which he had patented. He received a royalty and interest in the business, and continued his connec- tion with the firm for fifteen years. Giving up his contract in 1877, he came to Oxford, where he has since lived. He purchased property and turned his attention to fruit growing, and now has upon his place 300 plum trees, including six Japanese varie- ties, several hundred pear trees and currant bushes. besides cther small fruits of all kinds, all in a good healthy condition. His place, which is known as the Oxford Valley Fruit Farm, is one of the most de- sirable in the town.
Mr. Hughes has been twice married. His first wife, who died in 1871, was Miss Martha Nettle- ton, of Prospect, Conn., by whom he had three chil- dren : Kate and Agnes, both deceased ; and Harry N., proprietor of a shoe store in New Haven. Mr. Hughes' second wife was Miss Emily McEwen, of Oxford, Connecticut.
Progressive and public spirited, Mr. Hughes takes a deep interest in everything calculated to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his town and county, and his home has become headquarters for literary, musical and other enter- tainments in Oxford. He was instrumental in 01- ganizing the Oxford Town Library, and volunteered his services as librarian free of charge. This library, has been in his house ever since it was organized, and now contains nearly 900 volumes. Socially Mr. Hughes is a member of Delphi Lodge, F. & A. M., of New Haven; and Upson Post, No. 40,
William Wosloughes
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G. A. R., of Seymour ; and politically he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has been called upon to serve in several local offices of honor and trust, having been tax collector one year ; grand juror and trial justice for several years each; and hrst selectman of Oxford. He is widely and fa- vorably known throughout the county, and merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
JOSEPH F. GILPIN, whose widow now re- sides in her pleasant and attractive home at No. 114 South Cliff street, Ansonia, was a native of Man- chester, England, born July 18, 1837, a son of James Gilpin, a native of Fairfield, England. James Gilpin was a carpenter, and followed that trade up to the time of his death, at the age of fifty-five years. He married Sarah Hitchen, who was born in Norwich, England, and they became the par- cuts of thirteen children, three of whom are still living: ( 1) Hannah, Mrs. Sacheler, in New Zea- land. (2) Luzetta, widow of Alfred J. Swick, liv- ing in Ansonia. (3) John E., who lives in Hart- ford. Alice, Mrs. Fielding, who resided in Lock street, Ansonia, died Feb. 10, 1900. Joseph F. was the second child and eldest son. The mother reached the age of eighty-two years. Both parents were members of the Moravian Church, in which they were faithful workers.
Joseph F. Gilpin learned the machinist's trade when a young man, and followed it until he came to the United States. In 1864 and 1865 he worked in New York, and then coming to Ansonia worked with the Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. as a ma- chinist. He was faithful and industrious, possessed of unusual executive force, and soon became tore- man of a room. He continued to advance, and presently became master mechanic and general su- perintendent of the water and steam power work of the four mills. Mr. Gilpin designed and built the beautiful copper mill, one of the largest of all the structures, and greatly admired by all who see it. The works have continually increased in size, and Mr. Gilpin directed the labor of one hundred men. He was highly respected by all who knew him, commanding the confidence of his employers and the good will and friendship of those whose work he directed. For twenty-five years he was with the A. B. C. Company, and was one of the oklest men in the shops of the city ; all the latest designing in machinery, and all the new and novel designs of custom work were done by him, as he was confessedly the best mechanic in the shop. He ched Jan. 1I, 1892, at the age of fifty-four.
MIr. Gilpin was married in 1858 to Sarah Simp- wn, who was born in Oldham. England, one of the six children of Samuel and Anna ( Blackburn) Simpson, and a granddaughter of James Simpson, the latter a wholesale butcher in England, who lived to be ninety-nine years old. Samuel Simpson was a grocer, and died at Manchester, England. at the early age of thirty-eight years. He married 83
Anna Blackburn, who was born in Oldham, Eng- land, one of the fourteen children of Anna Tarren, a native of Yorkshire. Of the six children born of this marriage, there are yet living Mrs. Gilpin, who is the oldest in the family; Ann Ogden, of Eng- land; Jolin, in Oldham, England: and Samuel, in Southport, England. Mrs. Anna (Blackburn ) Simpson died at the age of forty-four. Both she and her husband were members of the Episcopal Church.
To Joseph F. and Sarah Gilpin were born six children, of whom three are living: (1) Charles J., a master mechanic in the A. B. C. Co., who mar- ried Carrie Colling, and has three children, Fred- erick J., Bertha and Charles J. (2) Emma L. married William Roberts, a tube drawer in the Bridgeport Brass Co., and has two children, Clara Louisa and Emma E. (3) Sarah married Edward Harteniz, a cigarmaker in Ansonia, and is the mother of two children, Lillian G. and Flora Louisa. (4) Frederick had learned the trade of wire-draw- ing, and was twenty-two years old at the time of his death. (5) Clara died when seven years old. (6) One died in infancy.
Mr. Gilpin was a Mason, and held different po- sitions in the local lodge; was a working member of the I. O. O. F., where he had passed the vari- ous chairs; and he also belonged to the Knights of Pythias, in which he had filled several important positions. In politics he was a Republican, and was deeply interested in public affairs. He bought the pretty home in which his widow is now living, and found keen delight in its care and improvement. Mr. and Mrs. Gilpin were both members of the Episcopal Church. They were highly respected and popular in the social circles in which they moved. She is still a great reader, and is an intelligent and thoughtful lady, thoroughly familiar with her fine library.
GEORGE COOK, an honored and venerable resident of Yalesville, and one of the older settlers of the town of Wallingford, was born in Plymouth Hollow, Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 10, 1823, a son of Sylvester Cook, who was a native of Litchfield county, where his boyhood and youth were spent.
On reaching adult years Sylvester Cook became a farmer in Plymouth Hollow, where he remained until 1824, when he removed to Middlesex coun- ty, and located in Middletown. There he continued farming, and lived until his death in 1874, at the ripe age of eighty-five years. His remains rest in Westfield cemetery. He was a Democrat in poli- tics, but had little love for the intricacies of party machinery. In religion he was a Universalist, and lived a clean and upright life. Mr. Cook was mar- ried to Miss Marietta Hall, who was born in Meriden, a daughter of David Hall, and died in New Haven at the age of seventy-eight. Her re- mains were buried in the New Haven cemetery. To this union was born a family of eight children :
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Elvah, who died young; Marvin; George; Lucy; Ruth, who married George Higly ; Sarah, who mar- ried C. Finkam, of New Haven; Sylvester, a sol- dier in the Civil war; Josephine, who became Mrs. Lincoln. All these are dead except Sarah and the gentleman whose career forms the subject of this article.
George Cook was an infant when his parents came to Middletown, and there he grew to mant- hood under the parental roof. A common-school education was afforded him, and his was the life of the farmer lads of his day. From a very early age he worked at farm labor, and while still a young man spent some seven years in the employ ci Comfort Hall, a farmer. For two years he worked for William J. Ives, and then bought a small farm in Prospect, which he afterward sold, and was then for five years on a farm which he had bought in Westfield, Middlesex county. Selling this at the expiration of that period, lie came to Yalesville and entered the box shop of the Charles Parker Manu- facturing Co., where he spent the ensuing forty years of his life, the greater part of this time be- ing assistant foreman and foreman of his depart- ment. In 1898 he gave up active work and is now 'living a retired life. To-day he is one of the best known and most universally respected men of the community. His long years of honorable labor, his high character and his genial disposition com- mand the confidence and retain the respect of the people with whom he has lived a full generation of . years.
George Cook was married in 1846, in Westfield, to Miss Cornelia P. Anthony, a daughter of Ab- salom Anthony, and to this union have come eight children : (1) George, a resident of Wallingford ; (2) Maryette, who married Charles Schrader ; (3) Lorenzo, a dry goods merchant in Wallingford; (4) Charles, foreman of the Hallenbeck shop at Wallingford; (5) Frank, who lives in Indiana ; (6) Lillie, who married Samuel Barnes, of Southing- ton ; (7) Cora, who married Charles Doolittle; (8) William C., who is a bookkeeper for the Inter- national Silver Co., of Meriden, and who married Nellie L. Tyler, of Wallingford. Mrs. Cook died in 1887, and was buried in Wallingford. She was a good woman, a faithful member of the Methodist Church, and had many warm and devoted friends. Mr. Cook was selectman of the town for two years, constable for ten years, justice of the peace for many years, and served as postniaster during Cleve- land's first administration. A member of the Board of Relief, and the Board of Education, he has rendered his community lasting services. He is a Democrat in politics, and was once nominated by his party for representative in the State Legis- lature, but failed to be elected. One of the organ- izers of the Methodist Church in Yalesville, his name is associated with the history of its growth and progress ; lie was one of its first trustees and steward, and is still continued in the last named
position, chairman of the official board, class leader and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. From the time of his union with the church he has been zealous in its behalf. Mr. Cook has many friends, who admire not only his upright character, his long and useful life, but also his warm and sym- pathetic heart.
FITCH SMITH (deceased), through years of his identification with Derby, enjoyed the highest respect of his fellow townsmen by reason of his strict integrity, true manliood and progressive spirit. He was a gentleman of refinement and culture, a sincere, honest man, true to his word, his friends and his convictions. His devotion to the public welfare made him a valued factor in public life, and by his death the community was deprived of one of her best citizens.
Mr. Smith was born in Derby Jan. 28, 1806, a son of Abijah Smith, who came here from Norwalk, Conn., where he was born. For some time he was engaged in the coal business in Pennsylvania, and is believed to have been the first in the United States to mine coal. He married Eunice Chatfield, a native of Derby, daughter of Ebenezer Chatfield, and sister of Caleb Chatfield, who was killed in the battle of Brandywine, in 1777, during the Rev- olutionary war. After their marriage they located in Derby. Thirteen children blessed their union. Fitch Smith was twelfth in the order of birth in the family. When a young man he went to Newark, N. J., where he married Miss Jane H. Bouton, who was born in Salem, N. Y., a daughter of John M. Bouton, of French ancestry. To this union were born five children, Wilhelmina, Fitch WV., Wilson H., Estelle and Helen. Fitch W. is a resident of New York; Wilson H. is deceased ; and the daughters reside in Derby in the old home left them by their parents.
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