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 50
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While a resident of Newark, Mr. Smith was a member of the firm of Smith & Wright, extensive leather manufacturers, doing business in the South, and he spent his winters mostly in Charleston, S. C. After several years devoted to the leather busi- ness lie retired in April, 1843, and returned to Derby-Birmingham (now Derbv) being his place of residence-where he was extensively interested in real estate, owning the greater portion of the small village, then in its earliest days. He was president of the Naugatuck Transportation Co. dur- ing its existence, a large owner in steamboats, was possessor of many sloops, and did an extensive car- rying business. He was also a stockholder in many other enterprises, but shortly after the close of the Civil war he retired from active business life, giving his attention principally to his real estate interests. He opened up streets in Derby, named them, and made many other improvements in the property, which is now covered with beautiful homes. Mr. Smith was a man of high intelligence and a typical gentleman of the old school.
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Mr. Smith died Jan. 10, 1894, his wife passing away on the Ist of the same month. They were active members of the Episcopal Church, and he gave the land on which the rectory and other build- ings of the church have been erected. He was first a Whig and later a Republican, but took no active part in political affairs. He was very generous, extremely public-spirited, and took an active part in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of Derby, especially during its infancy, being a liberal con- tributor to the enterprises which insured its prog- ress. It is to such men that the community owes its prosperity and advancement, and to them it owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
MRS. ALMIRA E. TURNER, of Woodbridge, is a worthy representative of an old and highly esteemed family of New Haven county, which was founded here by Richard Sperry, who came from England about 1660. Her paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Sperry, was a native of Woodbridge, born July 27, 1773, on what is known as the Sperry farm, and is still owned by the Sperry family. The house standing thereon was built when he was a child of five years. He wedded Mary Newton Booth, also a native of Woodbridge and a daughter of Walter and Mary ( Newton) Booth. He died Oct. 26, 1850, and she departed this life Feb. 2, 1865, at the age of eighty-two years. They had two children, of whom Calvin, the father of our subject, was the youngest. Eunice married Edward Hine, of Woodbridge, and to them were born three children: Catherine Mary, who married the late Riley Peck, of Woodbridge, and died Nov. 5. 1901, aged seventy-four years ; Sarah Antoinette, widow of Birdsey Bradley, of Hamden ; and Velina, wife of Lewis Hitchcock, of Woodbridge.
Calvin Sperry was born on the old homestead Dec. 11, 1807, and there spent his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits. In addition to general farming, he was also engaged in the milk business for a time, and in his undertakings met with fair success. He was a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party and its principles, and was a con- sistent member of the Congregational Church of Woodbridge. After an honorable and useful career he died May 28, 1871, in his sixty-fourth year.
Mr. Sperry was married three times, his first wife being Sarah A. Carrington, a daughter of Liverus and Lowly Carrington. She died Jan. 23, 1853, at the age of forty-four years, and he next married Cynthia Riggs, by whom he had one daugh- ter, Eleanor, now deceased. The third wife was Perentha Baldwin. There were three children by the first marriage, namely: (1) Elizur L., born Feb. 5, 1831, married Sarah L. Williams, and spent the greater part of his latter years in Florida; he died Aug. 16, 1901, aged seventy years. (2) Al- mira E., our subject, was born in Woodbridge March 28, 1837, and has been twice married, her first husband being Charles Baldwin, son of Newton
and Esther Baldwin. After his death she married George Turner, son of Orib and Nancy ( Com- stock ) Turner. She makes her home in Wood- bridge and is highly respected by all who know her. (3) Sarah Angeline, born Aug. 28, 1839, died April 19, 1849.
CHARLES H. STOWE. The first account we have of the Stowes was during the time of the Norman invasion. Whether they were in England before this time we are unable to ascertain. Several of the name are now living in Germany. It is a Saxon name meaning "place," and is written in- differently with or without the final "e," more com- monly with it.
About the year 1500 there was dwelling in St. Michael's parish, London, Thomas Stowe, who is the first known ancestor. His will is recorded among the births in the London Register. His son, Thomas Stowe, Jr., was the historian and annalist, well known in history ; he was Duke of Devonshire and Buckingham. From the Heralds' College it appears that there is a coat of arms, with the title of Duke, belonging to Thomas, Jr. Previous to their emigration to America a number of Stowes ·had lived in London, England, during several cen- turies. Their principal residence was in Leadenhall street, and they owned the beautiful place now oc- cupied by the Duke of Buckingham, and known as "Stow Park." The name is also very common in Scotland.
John Stowe, Jr., the first Stowe to arrive in America, was born in England about 1595, and landed at Boston April 12, 1635, coming over in the ship "Elizabeth," Capt. Stagg, master. From there he moved to Roxbury, Mass., and he gave three acres of land for the grammar school of Rox- bury. He died in September, 1663. From hin Charles H. Stowe traces his ancestry through Thomas, Sr., Thomas. Jr., Samuel, Stephen, Jede- diah, Sr., Jedediah, Jr., and Alvin.
Stephen Stowe, the tenth child of Deacon Sam- uel, was born May 22, 1726. He married Free- love Baldwin, of Milford, and the local Daughters of the American Revolution have honored her mem- ory by naming their chapter for her. During the Revolutionary war a British ship had on board a large number of American prisoners afflicted with a contagious disease, whom they landed one cold win- ter's night near the Stowe home. He kept them during the night, and as no one could be found to care for them he volunteered to do so. Feeling that it meant to sacrifice his life, he made his will the next morning. In two weeks time he contracted the disease and died. He is termed a martyr to his country.
The Stowe family has been represented in the State from pioneer times, and Jedediah Stowe, the grandfather of Charles H., was born in New Ha- ven county. For many years his occupation was farming, and his death occurred in Milford. He
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married Martha Camp, and they had eight children, two of whom died in childhood. Jerry, a carpenter by trade, resided in Milford many years, but died in Bridgeport. Alvin is mentioned more fully be- low. Mary married Charles Baldwin, a grocer of Milford. Caroline married Samuel B. Gunn. Har- riet married Hezekiah Baldwin. Martha married Isaac Woodruff, of Milford.
Alvin Stowe, our subject's father, was born in Milford May 8, 1802, and died March 21, 1889. He was a farmer by occupation, owning a farm of one hundred acres. He was prominent in local affairs, being one of the organizers of the Democratic party in the town, served several times as assessor, and three years as selectman. As a member of the Con- gregational Church he was active in religious work. He married Sarah Peck, of Milford, and had four children, namely: Urban C., born Nov. 2, 1838; Treat P., born April 22, 1841, died April 22, 1842 ; John N., born March 9, 1846, died Jan. 17, 1892; Charles H., born Nov. 22, 1848.
Charles H. Stowe, the subject proper of this sketch, a highly respected citizen of Milford, was born Nov. 22, 1848. After securing a district and high school education he learned the machinist's trade. Later he entered the employ of Baldwin, Rice & Read, as machinist, having charge of all the machines used by them in the manufacture of straw hats. Although the personnel of the firm ha's changed several times. he occupies the same posi- tion. He owns a small farm, but does not give his personal attention to its cultivation. As a promi- nent and influential member of the Democratic party he has held several public offices, having served two terms as assessor and four years as se- lectman. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Masonic fraternity. He and his family are identified with the First Congregational Church in Milford.
On Nov. 3. 1875, Mr. Stowe married Susan E. Smith, of Orrington, Maine, and four children have blessed their union: Mabel W., born Oct. 31, 1876, wife of Arthur Whitcomb, of Paterson, N. J. ; Walter P., born Oct. 18, 1878, a graduate of the New York College of Pharmacy, now located in Brooklyn as a pharmacist ; Stella L. C., born May 2, 1883; and Albert P., born Aug. 16, 1892.
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DEACON SAMUEL HULL. one of the well- known and much respected citizens of Wallingford, is a deacon of the Baptist Church, and a leading agriculturist of that town. Born Feb. 5, 1824. on the Hull homestead in the North Farms District of the town, he is a descendant of two of the oldest and most prominent families in this part of the State. He has led a long and useful life, acting from high principles and seeking a noble ideal.
The Hull family came from Derbyshire. Eng- land, and George Hull, its first representative in America, settled at Windsor, Conn., in 1636. He was a surveyor. He married Elizabeth Loomis.
Richard and Andrew Hull, whose relationship to. George is not known, were at New Haven the year that gentleman was married, 1639.
Dr. John Hull, an ancestor of Deacon Hull, was admitted a planter in 1661. Seven years later he removed to Derby, where he remained until 1687. in that year coming to Wallingford to spend the rest of his life. He died in 1711. Dr. Hull was the first of the name in the town. He exchanged the Hull homestead at Stratford for the Benjamin Lewis property at Wallingford. On Oct. 17, 1671,. he married, for his second wife, Mary Jones, and after her death Rebecca Turner became his wife, Sept. 20, 1699. To him were born the following children : John, born March 14, 1661 ; Samuel, born Feb. 4, 1663; Mary, born Oct. 31, 1666; Jo- seph, born in 1668 (married Mary Nichols, of Der- by) ; Benjamin, M. D., born Oct. 7, 1672 (married Elizabeth Andrews) ; Ebenezer, born in 1673 (mar- ried Lydia Mix) ; Richard, born in 1674; Dr. Jere- miah, born in 1679; and Asher.
Dr. Jeremiah Hull was a physician of more than ordinary skill and reputation, and was the pro- prietor of a considerable tract of land in Walling- ford, where he died May 14, 1736. On May 24,. I711, he married Hannah Cook, daughter of Sam- uel and Hope Cook. She died Dec. 1I, 1741. To this union came the following children: John, born Nov. 13, 1712, who married Mary Andrews ; Moses, born Dec. 21, 1714, who died June 3, 1736; Tabı- tha, born March 3, 1717; Hannah, born March 18, 1720; Anna ; Jeremiah. born Jan. 5, 1729, mentioned below; Joseph, born March 24, 1733, who married Hannah Corbitt ; Patience, born Oct. 20, 1735; and Keturah.
Jeremiah Hull, noted above, was a prominent farmer and land owner in Wallingford, where his life was spent. He died Aug. 24, 1790, and was buried in Wallingford. On Jan. 18, 1753, he mar- ried Mary Merriman, who died Aug. 22, 1774. They had the following children: Caleb, born Dec. I, 1753; Jeremiah ; Samuel; and Ann, who married Jacob Rice. To his second marriage were born : Benjamin ; Levi; Hannah, who married a Mr. Heath, of Wallingford; and Eunice, who married a Mr. Pratt, of Essex, Connecticut.
Samuel Hull, son of Jeremiah, and grandfather of Deacon Hull, served as a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war. He was born in Wallingford, married Lois Peck, and settled on the Hull home- stead, on which he made extensive improvements, being one of the most enterprising farmers of his. day in that section. He was a lifelong agriculturist. and he and his wife died on the farm. Mrs. Hull was a woman of much character and cultivation. Her father's home was in Deerfield, and when that town was burned by the Indians, in 1704, Mrs. Hull's mother or grandmother (with the lapse of years some uncertainty has arisen), then a girl, secreted herself, with the town records and Bible,. in the cellar of the only house left standing. The
Samuel Hull
Susan et. Hull
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Bible is now in the possession of Deacon Samuel Hull, our subject. Samuel and Lois ( Peck) Hull had three children : William : Sylvester, who mar- ried Delilah, daughter of Benajah Morse; and Lois, who married Miles Ives.
William Hull, the father of Deacon Hull, for the most part educated himself, and was one of the best-known citizens of the town. He owned and operated a tract of 100 acres in the North Farms District of Wallingford, on which he made inany substantial improvements, and gave much attention to stock raising. He did considerable business in getting out staves and other timber. and was a prosperous and fore-handed man. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Baptist Church. He died on his farm in 1849. and was buried in the Center Street cemetery. William Hull married Alma Hall, who was born on the Wallingford farm now occupied by her son, Col. Henry Hull. Her father, Reuben Hall. was one of the large land owners and farmers of Wall- ingford. Her mother was a Miller, and thus our subject is descended on the maternal side from Benjamin Miller, of Middlefield, one of the first settlers there. Benjamin Miller had several sons, and our subject's wife, Mrs. Susan A. ( Miller ) Hull, is descended from one of these on her father's side, and from another on her mother's side. Through a third son the line descends to our sub- ject. The families were first united in the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William Hull, and with the union of Samuel Hull and Susan A. Miller they are now doubly united. To Mr. and Mrs. William Hull came four children: (1) Col. Henry married El- nora Humiston. (2) Elizabeth first married Dr. O. Doolittle, and later Horace Smith. (3) Samuel is the subject proper of this article. (4) William Dexter died at the age of seventeen years.
Deacon Samuel. Hull attended the North Farms schools, and also a select school at Meriden. He remained at home with his parents until he reached the age of twenty years. when he went West to Illinois, then very largely a wilderness. After spending two years in the West he then came back to his Connecticut home, but soon returned to Illi- nois, where he engaged in farming. The poor health of his father very soon called him home again to cultivate the family farm, which passed into his possession after the death of his parents, and for the past fifty years he has been engaged in cultivat- ing this very desirable tract, which has been the home of his father, grandfather and great-grand- father. He was one of the first farmers to engage in tobacco culture. Mr. Hull is now enjoying the fruits of a long and useful life.
Mr. Hull was married Jan. 31. 1855, at Middle- field, Conn., to Miss Susan A. Miller, who was born there, daughter of Ira Miller, an old resident of that community. Mrs. Hull was educated in the public school of Middlefield and in a select school, and was a very capable and successful teacher before
her marriage. To this union have come two chil- dren : (1) Alida was educated in the district school, a select school in Meriden, and the State Normal at New Britain, and taught school in Wallingford three terms; she married Horace HI. Williams, a dairy farmer, of East Wallingford. (2) Anna, who was educated at the district school and in the Gram- mar School at Boston, married Julius Williams, a farmer.
Deacon Hull is a Republican, but has no thirst for office. He and his wife belong to the Baptist Church, where for eight years he has officiated as deacon. They are both highly respected people, and have many warm friends throughout the com- munity.
THE MILLER FAMILY. of Middlefield, is traced to Thomas Miller, of Birmingham, England, who came to Rowley, Mass., was made a freeman in 1639, and was a carpenter there in 1651, according to the records. Thence lie moved to Middletown, Conn., where lands were recorded in his name in 1654, and where he was admitted to the church through letter, from Rowley. He built the first gristmill in that town, and it stood on Miller's brook, where one of the factories of the Russell Manufacturing Co. now stands, at the "Farms." By his first wife, Isabel, he was the father of one child, Ann, who married in 1653 Nathaniel Bacon. His second marriage, at the age of fifty-six years, was to Sarah Nettleton, daughter of Samuel Nettle- ton, of Branford. To this union came eight chil- dren, viz .: Thomas, born May 6, 1666, married Elizabeth Turner, for his first wife, and for his sec- ond spouse chose Mary Rowell; Samuel, born April 1, 1668, married Mary Eggleston ; Joseph, born Aug. 21,. 1670, married Rebecca Johnson, in 1701; Benjamin, born July 20. 1672, married Mary John- son, and (second) Mercy Bassett : John. born March 10. 1674, married Mary Bevin in 1700: Margaret married Isaac Johnson; Sarah; Mehitabel, born March 28, 1681, was married to George Hubbard. Thomas Miller, the emigrant, father of this family, died Aug. 14, 1680, and his widow passed away March 20, 1727.
Benjamin Miller, the fourth of the above family, was one of the first three settlers of Middlefield town. He located in the southern part. on the east side of the Coginchaug or West river. not far from the Durham line. Tradition has it that the title of "governor" was conferred upon him, partly because of his influence with the Indians, partly on account of his being a large land owner, and partly on ac- count of his dominant disposition. He was not, however, exempt from the action of the law. as will be seen. He was greatly annoyed at the frequent loss of his pigs, and suspected that they were de- voured by bears: he accordingly kept watch, and one Sunday morning caught Bruin in the act, and shot and killed the animal. For this he was arrested on the charge of desecrating the Sabbath.
Benjamin Miller first married, Sept. 18, 1696,
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Mary Johnson, who was born in 1676, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Smith) Johnson. They had eight children, namely: Rebecca married David Robinson, of Durham : Mary married a Spencer, of Haddam; Benjamin, born Oct. 2, 1700, married Hannah, daughter of David Robinson; Sarah, born Oct. 5, 1702, became the wife of Joseph Hickox, of Durham ; Hannah, born June 1, 1704, was mar- ried to Ephraim Coe : Isaac, born May 2, 1706, died unmarried : Mehitabel, born Feb. 5. 1707, was mar- ried to A. Barnes ; and Ichabod, born Dec. 15, 1709, married Elizabeth Cromwell, daughter of Capt. Jo- seph Cromwell. Mrs. Mary Miller, mother of the above named children, died Dec. 15, 1709, and Ben- jamin Miller, for his second wife, married Mercy Bassett, who was born in New Haven in 1677. To this union came seven children, namely: Lydia married Eliakim Snow : Amos, born June 1, 1713, married Abigail Cromwell: Ebenezer, born Ang. 20, 1714, died unmarried : Martha, born Dec. 8, 1715, married Thomas Atkins: Rhoda, born March : 8, 1717, was married to Benjamin Bacon; David, born Oct. 3. 1718, married Elizabeth Brainerd ; Thankful died unmarried. Benjamin Miller, the father, who was a man of fine physique, and very powerful, died Nov. 22, 1747, and Mercy, his widow, died Feb. 9, 1756. The remains of both were in- terred in the old cemetery at Middlefield.
Amos Miller. the second child born to the sec- ond marriage of "Governor" Miller, was a farmer in the East District of Middlefield. He married Abigail, daughter of Joseph Cromwell, to which union were born six children, namely: Ebenezer, Amos, Abigail, Daniel, Elisha and Joseph.
Elisha Miller, fifth child of Amos, was largely engaged in farming and fruit growing in the East District of Middlefield. and sold much of his fruit in Middletown; but, being a liberal, kind-hearted man, he gave a great deal of his fruit away, and in fruit season was always followed about the streets of Middletown by a crowd of small boys .. whom he supplied liberally with his luscious prod- ucts. He married Elizabeth Miller, and to theni were born eleven children, viz. : Abel settled in Ohio, `where he married and passed the remainder of his life ; Abigail also went to Ohio. where she was mar- ried and where she died : Elizabeth died unmarried, in Middlefield ; Jerusha and Mary also died unmar- ried, in Middlefield : Esther went to Ohio, was mar- ried to a Mr. Bingham, and died there ; Elisha mar- ried Rhoda Parsons. of Durham: Eunice died young ; Ira became the father of Mrs. Hull : George R., a farmer, married Martina Rice : Amos first mar- ried Miranda Miller, and afterward Arabella Miller, of Granville, Mass. (he was a colonel in the Staddle Hill militia).
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Ira Miller, the ninth of the above family, was born July 21, 1792, on the farm now occupied by Frank A. Coe, in Middlefield: He received a plain district-school education, but was a very bright scholar, and for seventeen winters was a successful
school teacher in Middlefield and vicinity; in the stimmer he worked for his father on the farm, which he inherited. He went to Ohio, but remained a short time only, and then returned home, and for a time engaged in peddling Yankee notions through- out Long Island and in the South. On his final return home he followed fruit growing besides farming, was the principal grower to introduce new fruit varieties, and was quite successful in grafting. In early life he was a Democrat, as was his father, but later voted with the Republican party, and was the only one of his family to do so. He never held an office. Mr. Miller was a quiet, self-contained man. He died Aug. 1, 1867, respected by all who knew him.
To the marriage of Ira Miller and Lecta Miller, who was born July 3. 1796, daughter of Ichabod and Sarah ( Birdsey) Miller, were born seven chil- dren, namely : (1) Emma married Joseph Congdon, lived for a time in Michigan, then in New York State, and finally in Westfield, Conn., where she died. (2) George W. (3) Marietta, the widow of Rufus B. Sage, died in Cromwell March 23, 1900. (4) Margaret E. is the widow of Joseph E. Tryon, of South Farms, and resides with her brother George W. (5) Charles Ira married Delia Clark, for his second wife Lydia F. Moulton, of Great Falls, N. H., and for his third wife Mrs. Lucy Jane (Miller ) Hall, widow of Walter P. Hall. (6) Su- san A. is the wife of Samuel Hull. (7) Amos H. married Louisa Cooper, and for his second wife Rose Parks, of Prince Edward Island. He is a wool waste manufacturer in Boston, Mass., and re- sides in Brookline, an aristocratic suburb of the city. Mrs. Lecta Miller, mother of the above family, died Jan. 16, 1890, at the venerable age of ninety- three.
ICHABOD E. ALLING. a well-known livery- man and prominent citizen of Derby. Conn., who is now representing the first ward in the city council. was born in the town of Hamden, Oct. 17, 1826, 2 son of Michael Alling, a native of the same place. There the grandfather. Ichabod Alling, spent his entire life as a farmer. In his family were six children, namely: Lyman, who was a farmer and butcher of Westville, and a man of prominence in that locality ; Russell and Timothy, who were con- tractors and builders in New Haven; Michael, fa- ther of our subject ; Elizabeth, who died unmar- ried; and Ezra, who engaged in farming on the old homestead throughout life.
Michael Alling became a boss mason in New Haven and continued to follow that occupation until his death, which occurred in Seymour. He married Miss Wealthy Sperry, of Bethany, a daughter of Ezra Sperry, a farmer by occupation. She is also deceased. To the parents of our subject were born four children : Eliza, who married Henry Pomerov, of Seymour, Conn., and moved West; Ichabod E., who was next in order of birth; Henry, who in
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early life followed the machinist's trade, but later conducted a store in Bath, N. Y., where he died in 1898; and Fannie, widow of Capt. John Neil, of Chicago, Illinois.
The early boyhood of Ichabod E. Alling was passed on the home farm, and from there lie re- moved with the family to the city of New Haven, where he attended school, and later to Seymour, this county. During his youth he learned the anger- maker's trade, which he followed for about thirty years in Seymour, Deep River, Troy, N. Y., and other places, but has always considered Derby his home.
Mr. Alling was united in marriage with Miss Laura Smith, of Seymour, a daughter of Russell Smithi, a jobber and speculator of that place. By this union was born a daughter, Emma, now the widow of Charles Tracey, and a resident of Meri- den, Conn. The wife and mother died in 1881, and Mr. Alling was again married, in 1882, his second union being with Miss Sarah Jane Jacques, of Providence, R. I., her family being an old one of that State.
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