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 51

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 51

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Mr. Alling's father and other relatives were sol- diers of the war of 1812, and he manifested his patriotism during the Civil war by enlisting in 1862 in Company H, 20th Conn. V. I. At the close of the war, in 1865, he was honorably discharged and returned to Derby, where he has since successfully. engaged in the livery business. Fraternally he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and politically is a Democrat, but at local elections en- deavors to vote for the man best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party affiliations. For a num- ber of years he was a member of the police force of Derby, and in December, 1898, was elected alder- man from the first ward, which position he is now filling in an able and satisfactory manner.

ELIZUR ZERAH CLINTON is one of the suc- cessful and prominent fruit growers and dairy farmers of Clintonville, near the line of North Ha- ven, in the town of Wallingford. Mr. Clinton was born on the old Clinton homestead Sept. 18, 1847, a son of Jesse (Jr.) and Rosanna (Bassett ) Clin- ton. [For genealogy of the Clinton family see sketch of Edwin Jesse Clinton elsewhere.]

Elizur Z. Clinton was educated in the district schools of Clintonville, and also attended North Haven Academy, after which he engaged in work for David Clinton & Son, in the Agricultural Man- ufacturing Co., and when he had mastered the busi- ness in all its branches he returned to the farm. The homestead consisted of seventy-five acres, well suited for general farming, dairying and fruit growing, and, as he has so very successfully pur- sucd it, Mr. Clinton seems to have made a wise choice when he resumed agricultural lines. His peach orchards have been exceedingly productive and profitable, and, as a side line, he has engaged in the manufacture of a superior article of cider.

In 1860 Mr. Clinton was married, in North Haven, to Miss Julia A. Bishop, a native of North Haven, born May 1, 1850, a daughter of Erus and Charlotte (Thorpe) Bishop. She died of con- sumption soon after marriage. On Dec. 3, 1873, Mr. Clinton wedded Ella J. Palmer, a daughter of Timothy and Sybil ( Barnes) Palmer, and five chil- dren have been born of this union: Robert J., Bessie E., Lovell E .. Dora P. and Jennie F.

For a number of years our subject was a men- ber of the State militia; he was a justice of the peace for several terms. He is past master of North Haven Grange, and belongs to Corinthian Lodge, No. 103, F. & A. M .. of Northford, in which he has been secretary and treasurer and steward. In his political views he is a Democrat. Mr. Clinton is one of the most esteemed and re- spected citizens of his part of New Haven county.

EDSON L. BRYANT. deputy collector of in- ternal revenue, was born Feb. 7. 1842. at Sheffield, Mass. His father, Socrates Bryant, was a native of Sheffield, where he spent the active life of a farmer, taking also a prominent part in public af- fairs. Mr. Bryant's ancestors were among the carliest settlers at Plymouth, and at Plympton, Mass., and of them are mentioned Lieut. John Bryant. Stephen Bryant (the lineal ancestor of William Cullen Bryant ). John Shaw, and Augus- tine Pearce: the last named came to this country in the ship "Confidence" in the year 1638.

On Nov. 9, 1826, Socrates Bryant married Jerusha Terrell, of Naugatuck. Conn. She was a descendant of Roger Terrell and Joseph Northrup. early settlers at Milford, Conn. ; Francis Norton, of . Wethersfield, Conn. : William Hoadley. of Bran- ford, Conn. Josiah Terrell. the grandfather of Jerusha Terrell, was a captain in the Revolutionary army. Five children were born to Socrates Bryant : Clark B., now of New Haven : Alfred T., deceased : Ellen B., wife of Thomas Wallace, formerly of Ansonia : Jane A., widow of Hiram Holabird; and Edson L., the subject of this sketch. The parents were devout members of the Congregational Church and brought up their children in the same faith.

Edson L. Bryant was educated in the public schools of Ansonia and Sheffield, and in the private school of Prof. Phillips at Sheffield. At the age of sixteen he came to Ansonia, making his home for a time with his sister. Mrs. Wallace. He left the high school at Ansonia to enter the employ of Wallace & Sons, a large manufacturing concern. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 23d Conn. V. I .. for service in the Civil war, and was made first sergeant of that company. The military operations of this regiment were mainly in the far Southwest, forming part of the army under Gen. Banks. Mr. Bryant was at Ship Island, New Orleans, and Brashear City, now known as Morgan City. After a year of service he returned home, being discharged on account of the expiration of his term, and re-

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sumed work with Wallace & Sons. He became su- perintendent of the novelty department of the works, and continued with this concern until the sale of its plant to tlie Coe Brass Co. While so engaged he secured several patents for new devices i and improvements. After leaving Wallace & Sons . First Church in Wallingford. He died in 1702, and Mr. Bryant spent several years in the insurance business, and in June, 1898, he was appointed to his present position, that of deputy collector of internal revenue, with headquarters at New Haven. Mr. Bryant is a Republican in politics. and has always been an active worker in the interests of his party. He served as a member of the board of burgesses, under the old borough government of Ansonia ; also on the board of education. He is known as a wide-awake, progressive citizen, and his influence and co-operation are always expected for every for- ward movement. He is a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is junior warden of Christ Church parish, where for thirty years he has been a vestryman. Mary ( Roberts), his second wife, married Jeremiah Howe April 9. 1705. MIr. Cooke was father to the following children: Samuel, born March 3, 1667: John. Dec. 3. 1669; Hannah, March 3. 1671 ; Isaac. March 10, 1673 (died April 7, 1673) ; Mary, April 23. 1675 (married Nathaniel Ives) : Eliza- beth, Aug. 22, 1677 ( died young ) ; Judith, Feb. 29, 1679 (married Jeremiah Howe, April 20, 1704, and died the same day) ; Isaac, Jan. 10, 1681 ; Joseph, Feb. 25. 1683; Hope, Sept. 27, 1686 (married Jo- seph Benham. Dec. 18, 1706, and died Jan. 30, 1731). These were born to the first marriage. By his second wife Mr. Cooke was the father to the following: Israel, born May 8, 1692; Mabel. June 30. 1694; Benjamin, April 8, 1607 (died in 1717) ; Ephraim. April 19, 1699: Elizabeth, Sept. 10, 1701 (married Adam Mott Ang. 28, 1717).

On June 14, 1866, Mr. Bryant married Miss Mary Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Merritt and Mary (Hodge) Clark. The Clark history will be found elsewhere. under the name of George B. Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have had three chil- dren, of whom two are now living: ( 1) Annie E. married Theodore W. Bassett. of Derby, secretary of the Birmingham Iron Foundry. (2) George Clark graduated at Yale College in 1895. and at the Yale Law School in 1897. He was admitted to the Bar in June, 1897, and from July of that year until Oct. 1, 1901, was associated with the firm of Williams & Gager. in Derby. He is now judge of the City Court in Ansonia, which office he has held since July. 1899. In December. 1898 he was married to Florence Adele Farrel, daughter of Franklin Farrel, a sketch of whose life will be found elsewhere.

MARCUS EBENEZER COOKE. one of the oldest and best-known citizens of Wallingford, where he is engaged in farming, and has filled the office of selectman for several years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the community, is a de- scendant of one of the earliest and most prominent families of New Haven county.

The first of the name and family in America was Henry Cooke, a native of Kent. England, who was at Plymouth, Mass .. before 1640, and there spent the remainder of his life. He was the father of four sons: Isaac, who remained at Plymouth ; John, who settled in Middletown: and Henry and Samuel, both of whom made their home in New Haven county.

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now called Cooke Hill. He became the owner of considerable land, and followed the trade of shoe- maker and tanner. Filling many public offices, he left a name for honor and ability. He was active in church affairs, and one of the organizers of the

Samuel Cooke (2), the eldest son of Samuel, was born in New Haven, and moved with his par- ents while still a child to Wallingford, where he followed farming all his life. He died on his farm Sept. 18, 1725, at the age of fifty-eight, and was buried in Wallingford. Mr. Cooke was twice mar- ried, first on March 3. 1692, by 'Squire John Moss, to Hannah Ives, daughter of William Ives, Mrs. Cooke died May 29. 1714. Eliza- beth Bedel, of Stratford, became his second wife, and after his death she married Capt. Daniel Har- ris, of Middletown, Conn. Mr. Cooke was a farmer in the western part of the township. near the line which now divides Cheshire from Wallingford, and some of his descendants still occupy that land. Samuel Cooke (2) was father to the following chil- dren : By the first marriage-( 1) Hannah, born May 28, 1693. married Jeremiah Hull, and died Nov. 22. 1735; (2) Samuel was born March 5, 1695; (3) Aaron was born Dec. 28. 1696: (4) Lydia, born Jan. 13, 1699. married Oct. 12. 1738, Daniel Dutton ; (5) Moses, born Jan. 4. 1700, died Dec. 25, 1711 ; (6) Miriam, born Nov. 4. 1703. married Benjamin Curtis Dec. 12, 1727: (7) Thankful, born Dec. 24, 1705. died Aug. 19. 1714: (8) Esther, born March 8. 1707. married Abel Yale July 22, 1730: (9) Eu- nice was born Feb. 25. 1709: (10) Susannah, born Sept. 5. 1711. married Joseph Cole Dec. 1, 1735. By the second marriage-( II) Moses was born Nov. 6, 1716: (12) Thankful, born Nov. 14, 1718, married Stephen Hotchkiss Dec. 31. 1742; (13) Asaph was born June 25, 1720: (14) Hannah, born Nov. 4. 1721. married Zephaniah Hull, of Cheshire ; ( 15) Hope died Sept. 18, 1728.

Samuel Cooke, the youngest of the above named four sons, was born in Plymouth, Mass., and in 1663 came to New Haven, where he married Hope Par- Aaron Cooke, noted in the foregoing paragraph, was born on the Cooke Hill farm. He was a pros- perous and highly respected farmer, and a land ker, daughter of Edward Parker, May 2. 1666. In 1670 they came to Wallingford, and were among the first settlers of the town, locating in what is , holder in the southeastern part of Wallingford,

Marcus E. Books

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Northford survey, where he settled; he died there Oct. 14, 1756, aged sixty years, and is buried in Wallingford. Three times married, Aaron Cooke was father to a numerous progeny. On Nov. 14, 1723, he married Sarah Benham, daughter of James Benham. Sarah Hitchcock, his second wife, died Aug. 11, 1735. Ruth Burrage, of Stratford, became his third wife, on Feb. 7. 1736. By his first mar- riage Mr. Cooke was father to the following chil- dren: Samuel, born Sept. 25, 1725; Stephen, Dec. 28, 1727; Titus, Feb. 25, 1730; Abel, Feb. 23, 1732. To the second marriage came one child, Sarah, born June 2, 1735. By his third marriage Mr. Cooke was father to. the following children: Lydia, born in 1736, married Uriah Collins, and died Jan. 9, 1793; Ruth, born Sept. 7, 1738, married William Collins, and died June 9, 1790; Esther was born May 14, 1740; Elizabeth, born March 16, 1741, died when ten years old; Aaron was born June 5, 1744; Miriam, born June 30, 1746, died Dec. 1, 1750; Lucy, born Sept. 20, 1748, died April 29, 1760; Elizabeth, born June 7, 1751, died Oct. 19, 1762.

Abel Cooke, whose name appears fourth in the above named list of children, was born on the Cooke homestead in the southeastern part of Wallingford. ; where he grew to manhood. He was a farmer all his life, and died on his farm Aug. 10, 1776. This homestead is still owned by a direct descendant, Levi M. Cooke. On Nov. 16, 1757, Abel Cooke married Mary Atwater, who was born in Walling- ford Dec. 30, 1735, and died Jan. 13, 1774; her parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth P. Atwater. Mr. Cooke was a soldier, a patriot of the first water, and served with distinction in the war of the Revolution. His children were: Atwater, horn Nov. 3, 1758: Porter, July 27. 1760: Elizabeth, . March 13, 1763: Abel, March 27, 1765: Chester, Aug. 13, 1767 (died young ) : David M .. Feb, 16, 1770; Mary. April 2, 1773 (married Col. Eliakim Hull, and died Dec. 1, 1839) ; Chester (2), Oct. 6, 1775.

Chester Cooke, the grandfather of Marcus E. Cooke, was born in Wallingford, on the Aaron Cooke homestead, and grew to manhood in that lo- cality. In 1792 he purchased the homestead where Marcus E. Cooke now resides. He was a lifelong farmer, and also a shoemaker. A leading Demo- crat, he represented the town in the State Legisla- ture, and was a highly respected and upright citizen. He died Aug. 13, 1864. He was twice married. first to Thankful Hall, daughter of Hezekiah and Elizabeth ( Merriman) Hall. Polly Norton was his second wife. Mr. Cooke was the father of three . children : Caroline, born Sept. 5. 1801, married Orrin Andrews : Marilda, born Nov. 17, 1803. mar- ried Sherlock Avery, of Wallingford ; Hiram was born April 23, 1805.

offices, representing his town in the State Legisla- ture, and was the first judge of the borough court of Wallingford. An ardent Democrat, he was active in the party organization. He was twice married. His first wife, Anna M. Marks, was born June 27, 1808, and died September 30, 1855. She was a daughter of Col. William Marks, a prominent citi- zen, who was appointed delegate from Wallingford to the State Constitutional Convention in 1818. He was one of the first manufacturers of woolen cloth in this country. On March 18, 1856, Mr. Cooke married Margaret A. Todd, who was born Jan. 1, 1833, and died Dec. 30, 1891. Mr. Cooke died Nov. 7, 1873, and is buried in the Center Street cem- etery. To the first marriage came the following children : ( 1 ) Chester William, born Dec. 14, 1830, married Mary Merwin May 29, 1855. In 1859 they moved from Hardenburg, N. Y., to Momence, Ill., later to Manteno, Ill., and thence to Frankfort, S. Dak .. their present residence. They have six children. Julia Anna, Marcus Eber. Urben Hiram, Nelson Samuel, Harriet and Maude. (2) Hiram D. was born Oct. 18, 1832. (3) Aurelius Baxter, born Oct. 21, 1834, died May 6, 1842. (4) Martin Van Buren was born June 20, 1839. (5) Jane Anna was born Nov. 4. 1843. (6) Marcus E. was born Nov. 2, 1849. The children of Hiram Cooke's sec- ond marriage were: (7) Thankful Estella, born May 10, 1857; and (8) Waldo D., born Dec. 31, 1860.

Marcus E. Cooke was born in Hardenburg, N. Y., and in December, 1857, removed to the Cooke homestead, in which he now resides. He received his literary training in the district school, but his education is very largely self-acquired, and to a great extent he has made his own way in the world. On the farm which has come into his possession he has made many substantial improvements, and he carries on a system of general farming, making a specialty of dairy interests and peach growing. He is a representative of one of the largest farm imple- ment manufacturers in the county, and keeps on hand a full line of implements. In 1879 he was appointed overseer and builder of the town roads, and held that position for several years. He has invented and patented several valuable pieces of road machinery. A public-spirited and progressive man, he is always willing to lend a helping hand to every worthy cause. He is president of the Wallingford Agricultural Society, and was one of the organizers of the Wallingford Grange. of which he was master for two years. A leading Democrat, he represented the town in the State Legislature in 1883. and has been selectman several terms. Mr. Cooke is a director of the Dime Savings Bank of Wallingford, one of the growing financial institu- tions of the town, and is president of the Walling-

Hiram Cooke, the father of Marcus E., was born | ford Creamery Co. Our subject served nine years- from 1871 to 1880-in the Connecticut National Guard, as a member of Company K. 2d Regiment,

on the farm now owned by that gentleman. and made farming his life work. He was a man of affairs, highly respected, and filled many public , C. N. G., of Wallingford.

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Mr. Cooke and Miss Clara E. Potts, of South Egremont, Berkshire Co., Mass., were married Feb. 12, 1884. She is a lady of culture and refine- ment, and has made a good wife and mother. They have had four children: Lillian A., born May 19, 1886, who died Oct. 6. 1888; Chester Herman, born April 19, 1888; Mabel Anna, born March 30, 1892; and Florence Marks, born Sept. 6, 1894.

HENRY BEADLE, a well-known and promi- nent citizen of Cheshire, was for many years one of the active and progressive business men of the town, as well as one of its most reliable and hon- ored citizens, and now, in his declining years, he is enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. Throughout the county he is widely and favorably known.

The Beadle family is of French descent, and the first to come to America settled in Salem, Mass., but on account of religious persecution and the burning of the witches they afterward came to Connecticut, and their descendants are now num- bered among its best citizens. (I) Nathaniel Beadle, the first of the name in New Haven county. removed to Wallingford early in the eighteenth century and located on a farm on the west side of the river near the Cheshire line, where he spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits, and where his death occurred about 1764. His wife, Elizabeth, also died in Wallingford. Their children were Nathaniel, born Dec. 15, 1703; Mary, born Sept. 18, 1708; Josiah, born Aug. 3, 1711; and Samuel Sharp, who was graduated from Yale in 1757, and died Jan. 5. 1762.

(II) Nathaniel Beadle, son of Nathaniel, Sr., was reared on the home farm. and throughout life engaged in farming in Wallingford, of which town he was a well-known and honored citizen. He was also captain in the militia. He died Feb. 10, 1762, two years before his father, and was buried in the old cemetery. On Nov. 10, 1726, he married Eliz- abeth Hitchcock, and to them were born eight chil- dren, namely: Elizabeth and Susanna, twins, born Sept. 17. 1727: John: Hannah; Saralı; Lois, wife of John Hull : Mehitable; and Nathaniel, who died March 4, 1763.

(III) John Beadle, son of Nathaniel, Jr., was born and reared on the old homestead in Walling- ford, and spent his entire life in that town. He was a member of the militia, and was captain of a com- pany which he recruited, in the 5th Conn. Light Horse, in the Continental army, during the Revolu- tionary war. He married Miss Baker, daughter of John Baker, of Wallingford, and in their family were John, Henry, Joseph, Alfred and others, many of whom removed to New York.

(IV) Alfred Beadle, son of John and grandfa- ther of our subject, was born in Wallingford, where he grew to manhood and learned wagon making and general repairing. When a young man he came to the town of Cheshire and established himself in

business, being one of the first wagonmakers of this locality. Many of his wagons were used by the peddlers in traveling and selling their wares through the South. He bought a house on the site of our subject's present home, and made many improve- ments upon the place. He died in Cheshire at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, and was buried in the old cemetery. In politics lie was a Democrat, and in religious faith a Congregationalist. He mar- ried Polly (or Mary) Donscomb, who died in Cheshire and was buried in the same cemetery. They had five children: Philander, Henry, Ben- ajah, James and a daughter who died young.

(V) Benajah Beadle, father of our subject, was born in Cheshire, and educated in its district school and the Cheshire Episcopal Academy. With his father he learned the wagonmaker's trade and made that business his life occupation, being in partner- ship with his brother Philander for several years, but finally the brother removed to Syracuse, N. Y., and spent the remainder of his life in that city. After that Benajah Beadle was alone in business, and was very successful. He was one of the highly respected and worthy citizens of Cheshire, where he died Oct. 4. 1890, aged seventy-five years, and was buried in Cheshire cemetery. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. in politics was first a Whig and later a Republican, and served as select- man of the town and held other local offices. He married Julia Hitchcock, who was also born in Cheshire of good old Revolutionary stock, and died April 18, 1800, aged seventy-five years. She, too, was a faithful member of the Episcopal Church. In their family were three children: William, who was a soldier of Company A, 20th Conn. V. I., dur- ing the Civil war, and died from the effects of his army life; Henry, our subject ; and Edgar, also a resident of Cheshire.

(VI) Henry Beadle was born on the present site of the high school, at Cheshire Center, Jan. 22, 1844, and pursued his studies in the district school and the Cheshire Episcopal Academy. In early life he learned the wagonmaker's trade with his father and remained with him until 1869, when lie went to Wallingford as foreman of the works of the Carriage Wheel Manufacturing Co., with which he was connected for five years. After his return to Cheshire he was engaged in the painting and paper hanging business until 1890, when ap- pointed postmaster of Cheshire under President Harrison's administration, and held that office until the Democrats came into power in 1893. Since then he has practically lived a retired life, spending his winters in Florida, where he has an orange orchard in which he takes a great interest. He has a beauti- ful home, supplied with all modern conveniences, which has been built upon the foundation of his grandfather's old home. He has quite an interest- ing collection of relics, which he has gathered dur- ing his travels, and is, himself, somewhat of an artist in the carving of animals from wood.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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In 1875, in New Haven, Mr. Beadle was married to Miss Ella Hawes, a native of Wallingford and a daughter of Alonzo and Laura (Merriman) Hawes. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and is an active member of the Congregational Church, and of Crescent Chapter, O. E. S. Julia L., the only child born to our subject and his wife, died in 1886, at the age of seven years. Socially Mr. Beadle is a member of Temple Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Cheshire. For a quarter of a century he has been prominently identified with public af- fairs, and in 1884 represented Cheshire in the State Legislature, where he served as clerk of the com- mittee on claims. He was constable of the town for over twenty years : deputy sheriff seven years ; postmaster three years ; justice of the peace several years ; and chairman of the town committee of the Republican party for twenty-five years. His public and private life are alike above reproach, and he is held in high regard by all who know him.

FRANK OBADIAH BADGER was born March 4, 1841. in Burlington, Mass., a son of Obadiah and Harriet (Cutler) Badger. Of the seven children in this family, five are vet living.

Frank O. Badger was but seven years old when his father died, and he was taken to the home of a paternal aunt in Plymouth, Mass .. where he lived until he was twelve years old, receiving the school privileges of that town. At that age lie entered a store in Lowell as a clerk, with the agreement that he was to attend school a part of each year. He remained in the store until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to California, where he had a claim on the American river. Mr. Badger trav- eled through California and Mexico quite exten- sively, and after a residence of two years on the Pacific coast returned to Boston, and was a clerk in a store in that city for a few months. Return- ing to Lowell he entered the Lowell Locomotive works, and was engaged as a machinist for thirteen months, and then transferred himself to the Spring- field Armory, where he was put on government work. For six years he was in the armory, and at the expiration of this time went to New Britain to do contract work, making bank locks with Fred- erick North, in which he emploved about twenty- five men. For four years he worked in connection with Mr. North. and was then proprietor and man- ager of the Union Hall Hotel at Hartford for a year, after which he went to Kansas City, Mo .. where he was engaged in selling farming imple- ments and in buying farm produce. The state of his wife's health, however. compelled a quick re- turn to the East, and he started a plant at Green- port, Long Island, for the manufacture of wire goods, in which he was quite successful. After the lapse of four years he sold out, and coming to New Britain. was made general manager of the National Wire Mattress Co .. a position he held for four years, when he gave it up and went to New York City,

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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 51

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