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 4, Part 19

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 934

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 4 > Part 19

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FRANCIS G. DANIELL, the electrical en- gineer and superintendent of the electrical and me- chanical department of the Fair Haven and West- ville Railroad, was born in Dedham, Mass., April 4, 1868, a son of Ellery Daniell, and a grandson of Jesse Daniell. His remote ancestor, Robert Daniel!, settled in Watertown as early as 1636, where he died in 1655. From him to Francis G. Daniell, the family line is as follows: Samuel, Joseph, Joseph (2), Joseph (3), Jesse and Ellery.

Ellery Daniell was born in Dedham, Mass., in 1829, and his father, Jesse. in the same place in 1786, where he died Aug. 29, 1832. Joseph Daniell, his father, was a sergeant in the Revolutionary forces, serving in Capt. Aaron Smith's Company, under the command of Col. William Heath. He was a deacon in the West Parish, of Dedham, and was prominent in the affairs of that community.

Ellery Daniell was reared in Dedham, where he received his education in the local schools. When he had attained his majority he entered into the banking business, in which he was engaged until his death at the age of fifty. He married Olive C. Guild, one of the ten children of Francis Guild, and a granddaughter of Calvin and Lendamine (Dra- per ) Guild. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Guild. was a captain in the Revolutionary army and fought at Lexington and at Ticonderoga, as well as at other important places. Francis Guild was a tax collector in Dedham many years, and his brother was long the president of the Dedham Institute for Savings. To Ellery and Olive C. Daniell were born four children, three of whom are still living : Caroline is in Boston ; Francis is the subject of this writing ; and Jennie is a resident of Boston. The mother is still living in Dedham. She is a member of the Congregational Church, as was also her hus- band, and both were highly respected in the com- munity where their useful and active years were passed.

Francis G. Daniell spent his early years in Ded- ham, where he attended the public schools. When quite young he took up the active duties of life and was received into the machine shop of the local mills. The machinist trade was thoroughly learned by him, when he connected himself with the American Tool Machine Company at Hyde Park, where he remained a year. With the Thompson-Houston Electrical Company's factory, at Lynn, he was connected some two years, and was then associated with the Street Railway Co. in Minneapolis some two years, and while there put two roads in running order. The Newburgh line in Cleveland was built by him, and also a line in Lincoln, Neb. He was connected with the Evansville street car line for about a year and April, 1893, he came to New Haven to take a posi- tion with the local street car company, which he held for a year or more. Since that time he has been connected with the Fair Haven and Westville Railroad, having charge of the cars, wiring and poles of a hundred miles of track and three hundred cars. One hundred and twenty men are employed by the company and are under his general direction. The entire construction of the line was put in his charge and the fine condition of the road and its perfect operation attest his mechanical ability, as well as his administrative genius.

Mr. Daniell was married in 1900 to Miss Maude Mazeine, one of two children, born in New Haven, to William Mazeine, an old and prominent business man of this city. Raymond Mazeine is her brother. Mr. Daniell is a member of the Wooster Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Governor's Foot Guard, of New Haven.

JAMES J. FLANAGAN, D. D. S. Promi- nent among the professional men of Meriden was Dr. James J. Flanagan, the well known and success- ful dentist and useful and esteemed citizen. He was born in Newington, Conn., March 1, 1863, a son of Owen E. Flanagan, a highly respected resi- dent.

Dr. Flanagan's education was begun in his na- tive place, but at the age of eleven years, with his parents, he removed to Saugus, Mass., where he entered the public schools, becoming well grounded in the primary branches. When he changed his residence to Rockville he entered a factory in that city and for the succeeding four years was a faith- ful and valued employe there, later removing to Meriden. Here he also was employed in a factory but, from childhood, his tastes and ambition had been in the direction of the science of dentistry. All obstacles being overcome, in 1889 he went to New York and there completed a course in the New York Dental College, an institution second to none in the country. After his graduation, in 1801, he returned to Meriden, where he had many friends, and opened up a practice which at the time of his death was one of the best in the city.

For ten years Dr. Flanagan was faithful to his

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patients, giving universal satisfaction. A skilled practitioner, he also worked with love for his pro- fession and succeeded where others who look upon dentistry entirely from a sordid view, would prob- ably fail. Not only was he a close student, but his comfortable apartments were supplied with all mod- ern appliances known in the profession. Absorbed in it he took very little interest in politics and voted independently, as liis judgment dictated.

Dr. Flanagan was married to Miss Catherine Mahan, a daughter of Thomas P. Mahan, one of the respected citizens of Meriden, and both he and his estimable wife were consistent members of the Catholic Church. Fraternally Dr. Flanagan was a member of the T. A. B. Society and the Royal Arcanum, while professionally he belonged to the State Dental Society. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the people of this community, and his death at the early age of thirty-eight years was deeply lamented.

FREDERICK BYRON HILL, associate of the American College of Musicians, and organist of the First Congregational Church, of Meriden, as well as a successful composer of music, is one of the best known young men of Meriden and a representative of one of the oldest families in New Haven county. He was born in the town of Wallingford, Conn., in 1871, a son of Byron and Emma Augusta ( Howd) Hill.

Byron Hill was born in 1841, a son of William Hill (born 1796) and Susan (Hull) Hill (born about 1810). With his father he operated a farm and also a shop for woodturning, but later retired to his farm, where he now resides. His wife was born in 1852 in Wallingford and was a daughter of. William and Lucinda (Tuttle) Howd. Three chil- dren were born of this union: Frederick B .; Elmer, born in 1873, died when young ; and Linus Atwater, born in 1875, is a successful jeweler of Wallingford, and by his wife, Ethel (Lucas), has one child, Ivan Lucas.

Frederick B. Hill was born in the Hill home- stead in North Farms, near Wallingford, Nov. 27, 1871. His primary education was secured in the public schools of Wallingford, and he early com- menced the study of music, at first under the direc- tion of Miss Nellie Hall, of Wallingford, and Prof. James Prescott, of Meriden. Later ( 1894) he be- came the pupil of E. M. Bowman, of Steinway Hall. New York, devoting himself to piano and theory. In April, 1892, Mr. Hill secured his first appoint- ment as organist, in Wallingford, began teaching the piano and played first violin in an orches- tra, which he himself led. He received the appointment as organist and choir director in the First Congregational Church, Meriden, in April, 1805. In 1806 Mr. Hill successfully passed an examination in piano and theory before the ex- aminers for the American College of Musicians, in New York, and also covered the organ examination,

having pursued his studies in that branch with S. P. Warren. Mr. Hill's touch is extremely versa- tile ; he has studied Bach thoroughly and can prop- erly interpret Beethoven and Chopin, and he has received the most favorable press notices, as well as the highest encomiums on his touch and rendi- tion from brother artists.

At the First Congregational Church of Meriden Mr. Hill has developed an excellent choir, and has given several series of recitals, which have been among the most popular Meriden has ever known. His large class of pupils-piano, organ and theory- is steadily increasing, and he has secured a substan- tial place in the respect of the people of Meriden, as well as in the musical world generally. Mr. Hill has composed for the voice, piano and orchestra, music which has met with a very flattering reception.

On June 2, 1897, Mr. Hill was married, in Meri- den, to Miss Bertha Hotchkiss Camp, a daughter of Nelson Hinman and Mary ( Butler) Camp. Mrs. Hill is a lady of refinement, highly educated and deeply sympathetic with her husband's work. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Hill is ideal, and they gather about them a most congenial circle of friends. Mr. Hill is deeply interested in the Y. M. C. A., of which he is librarian, and presents to his associates a rare example of Christian manhood.

DR. FRANK G. ATWOOD is, though one of the youngest business men of New Haven, by no means one of the least known, for as proprietor of the largest veterinary hospital in the State and of the Metropolitan Stables, at No. 127 Meadow street, he has at an unusually early age gained a firm foot- hold among the enterprising citizens of his adopted place. If heredity counts for anything he was born to his chosen calling, for his father has also been a most successful veterinary surgeon, though he has not devoted himself entirely to practice.

The Atwood family is one of the oldest in Wood- bury, Litchfield Co., this State, where our subject's grandfather, William R. Atwood, was born. He was well educated and taught in both public and private schools, and he also followed the vocation of farming. William R. Atwood was one of the well known residents of Woodbury in his day and was regarded by his fellow citizens as a man of exceptionally good judgment and uprightness of character. He and his wife were devout members of the M. E. Church, in the work of which he took an active part, being especially interested in the Sunday-school, in which he taught, and of which he served as superintendent. He died at the age of forty-five years, his wife, Roxey, who like himself was a native of Woodbury, living to the age of sixty- seven. They had a family of six children, four of whom survive : Vestina, who married Dr. Elisha Munger, of New London; Orvesta, who married Orlon Morehouse and resides near New Preston, Conn. ; Frank J., our subject's father ; and William R., a farmer of Thomaston, Connecticut.

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Frank J. Atwood was born in Woodbury and has passed all his life on the place of his birth. He took up the study of veterinary medicine and sur- gery, which he has continued to practice in connec- tion with farming, and has been quite successful. He lias served as selectman and in other local offices and is highly respected in his locality. Frank J. Atwood married Miss Ellen Capewell. of West Woodbury, and they have had eight chidren, six of whom are still living : Edna R. : Frank G., whose name opens this sketch: Ellsworth, a resident of Middlebury ; Warren S .. who is a butcher in Wood- bury ; and Margaret B. and Grover C., who are still under the home roof. The parents attend the M. E. Church. Mrs. Atwood's father, Joseph Cape- well, was a prominent man in the business circles of West Side and later Oakville, in Litchfield county, where he was engaged as a manufacturer of am- munition supplies and also conducted a machine shop. He died at the age of sixty-three, his wife, whose maiden name was Pitts, at the age of sixty- four. They were identified with the M. E. Church.

Frank G. Atwood was born Feb. 24, 1875, in Woodbury, where he remained with his parents up to the age of twelve, after which he lived with his father's uncle, Chauncey Atwood, until he was nine- teen. His literary education was acquired in the common schools of Woodbury and the Storrs Agri- cultural College. He pursued his professional stud- ies in the Toronto College of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, graduating from Veterinary Depart- ment in 1896, in which year he commenced prac- tice. His first work was as State Veterinarian on Tuberculosis, in 1896-07, and he has since been in general practice in New Haven except during the time he served in the Spanish-American war and the various periods he has spent in post-graduate work in his line. No better evidence of his devo- tion to the science and earnest desire to thoroughly master it in every detail is needed than a record of his faithful and persistent study. His post-gradu- ate courses have been pursued at Yale and the Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, which latter institution he attended in 1897: 1898 and 1890, taking post-graduate work in general medicine and surgery. He was in the United States service nine months, beginning with February, 1898. as a specialist, being engaged on microscopical and X-ray work in the Army Medical Museum, at Wash- ington, D. C .. under the surgeon general.

In November. 1809. Dr. Atwood became a part- ner of John E. Cook in the Metropolitan Stables, No. 127 Meadow street, and shortly afterward bought out that gentleman. He has since been sole pro- prietor of this well equipped livery establishment, where about thirty high grade horses are kept, an ] he enjoys a fine patronage. Dr. Atwood leaves the care of this business, however, to his manager. George II. Robinson, his attention being given to the management of his veterinary hospital, No. 12 ) Meadow street and Nos. 43 to 45 Prout street,

where he has accommodation for fifty-five horses. Many successful operations have been performed there and the hospital has grown to its present pro- portions through the reputation which the Doctor has earned for reliability, efficiency and absolute trustworthiness. That a man should gain so great a success in so brief a period is astonishing, and the heights he has reached thus early in life hold prom- ises of even wider fields of usefulness in the future. Within the past few years the profession which our subjeet has adopted has come to be regarded with a due sense of its importance, and golden oppor- tunities lie before those who are not afraid to be the pioneers in its development along broader lines.

On Oct. 17, 1900, Dr. Atwood was united in marriage with Miss Mai A. Lockwood, daughter of Samuel G. Lockwood, of Wilton, Conn., where he owns a large farm. Mr. Lockwood is also interested in New York real estate. His family consisted of two children, Charles and Mai A. Dr. and Mrs. At- wood are members of Trinity M. E. Church. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and a mem- ber of the Young Men's Republican Club. Though no office-seeker, he believes that every citizen should serve his community when he possesses special fit - ness for duty, and he is at present acting as humanc agent for the State of Connecticut. The Doctor and his wife reside at No. 158 Whalley avenue. which piece of property was recently purchased of William E. Roberts.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS BLACKSTONE, a prominent farmer of Branford, is a descendant of Rev. William Blackstone, the first of the family in : America, who settled in Boston in 1623 or 1625.

William Blackstone was the first white settler and owner of the territory on which Boston is built. The name Blackstone is a famous one for various reasons. Sir William Blackstone, the eminent En- glish jurist, whose commentaries are the first books put into the hands of every law student, was a · posthumous child, and his mother also died before he was twelve years of age. He was born in London July 10, 1723, was educated by friends, and by his literary labors has kept the name in great honor to this day.

The William Blackstone who first built at Boston is supposed to have come to this country from Eng- land in 1623 with Capt. Robert Gorges. He may have obtained possession of Shawmut, which was then the name of that locality, by lease or purchase from Gorges. He was not driven off by the later settlers, because of his kind offices to them and his carefulness not to be- obnoxious to them.' He is believed to have graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1017, and was a clergyman of the Church of England. He had "left England because of his dislike of the Lord Bishops." He had built a house in which he lived near a fine spring of water. that good authorities believe was at the northern terminus of Leveret street, and near the depot of

Than Blackstone

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the Lowell railroad. The improvements he had madle showed he must have been there seven or eight years before any others came. He seemed to prefer solitude. Winthrop and his company, having located on the other side of the Charles river, at Charlestown, were having much sickness and dis- tress. Mr. Blackstone, becoming acquainted with their condition, went over and invited them to re- move to his place. His advice and invitation were accepted, and before August most of them moved over. Some years later Blackstone, becoming dis- satisfied with his new neighbors, sold out most of his property and removed to the borders of Rhode Island. Lechford says that he was induced to re- . ley. John was born May 7. 1733.

move because he would not join the church. The saying is, he left England because of his dislike of the Lord Bishops, but now he did not like the lord brethren. He was paid a small sum by each of the new settlers. Purchasing cows with his money. he went to a place about six miles north of Provi- dence, at Attleborough Gore, on the Blackstone river. He called it Study Hill, a name which still clings to it. As at Shawmut, he had finie gardens, or- chards and meadows in his new locality. There, as in the former settlement, his were the first apples produced in the place. In 1765 several of his apple trees remained and bore fruit. In 1836 three trees were standing, in appearance very old, and probably grew from the sprouts of those planted by Black- stone. These facts are found by Drake in Mr. Bliss' History of Rehoboth, and in Daggett's His- tory of Attleborough. On July 4, 1659, Rev. Will- iamı Blackstone married Mary Stevenson, widow of John Stevenson, of Boston. When Williams and his associates came to Providence Blackstone occasion- ally preached for them. He died a month before

the land is still owned by the Blackstone families of to-day.

Capt. John Blackstone, great-grandson of Will- iam, and son of John, was born Jan. 28, 1699. On April 2, 1727, he married Elizabeth Foote, who died May 14, 1733. On Nov. 25, 1736, Capt. Blackstone married Rebecca Harrison, of the same town, who died Oct. 8, 1765. He passed away Jan. 13, 1785. His children, all by the first marriage, were: Abi- gail, born April 20, 1728, was married Dec. 17, 1750, to Abraham Hoadley, of Branford, and died Sept. 15, 1810. Stephen was born Feb. 15, 1730. Elizabeth, born Dec. 18. 1731, married Isaac Hoad-

John Blackstone, son of Capt. John, was mar- ried May 19, 1754. to Rebecca Baldwin, and their children were: Ann, born Oct. 14. 1759; John, April 24, 1763: Timothy. Nov. 7. 1765; Abigail, July 10, 1768; Edward. Sept. 2, 1770: Stephen Foote, Dec. 3. 1772; Ebenezer, June 25. 1775; Ralph, July 5. 1778.

John Blackstone, son of. John and Rebecca ( Baldwin ) Blackstone, was married Nov. 17, 1788, to Rebecca Foote, and they had children : Ransom, born April 17. 1790, never married, and died Dec, 14, 1859. Lucy, born July 23, 1792, was married Nov. 26, 1815. to John Tyler, and died Nov. 5, 1825. Augustus was born July 24. 1800. The father of this family was a soldier in the war of 1812, and several Blackstones served as minute men from 1776 to 1779.

Augustus Blackstone married Esther Linsley Nov. 27, 1822. She died Jan. 19. 1866, aged sev- enty. On Dec. 16, 1866, Augustus Blackstone mar- ried, for his second wife, Mrs. Ruel Andrews, of East Haven, who was born March 28, 1801, and

the breaking out of King Philip's war. The Indians , died Dec. 9. 1891. Augustus Blackstone died Feb. . 18, 1878. He and his first wife had two sons born to them. John Augustus and James Linsley .. James Linsley was born Aug. 24. 1832. and on Aug. 20, 1857. married Isabella Lee, of Madison, Conn .. who was born Dec. 2. 1835. Two children came to them : Lee, born April 16, 1861 : and Catherine Lee. born Jan. 23. 1866. This entire family died March 29, 1869.

ravaged his plantation and burnt up his buildings and his valuable library. Mr. Blackstone is known to have left one son, whose posterity are somewhat. numerous. Drake thinks that Blackstone should be the name of the principal street of Boston. His nanie does survive there in the park or "square," and in several other things and places. The town of Blackstone and the river Blackstone also perpet- tate his memory.

Soon after 1700 a John Blackstone appeared in Branford, Conn. He was a mariner, and came from Rhode Island with his wife Rebecca. He purchased considerable land from time to time. As Branford in those days was quite a port of foreign com- merce, it was natural he should find it and choose it as a home for his family. He was probably the grandson of Rev. William Blackstone, of Study Hill. Tradition relates that his marriage was not agreea- ble to his friends or his wife's friends, so the young in Connecticut. This John Blackstone began to buy land near the present "Blackstoneville." in Branford. and continued from year to year until he was one of the largest landholders in the place. Much of

people resolved to make a new home for themselves. and useful life.

John Augustus Blackstone was born June 28, 1829. in Branford, where he was reared and received a common-school education. He became a prosper- ous and successful farmer there. Mr. Blackstone was married Nov. 7. 1855. to H. Minerva, daughter of Ruel and Olive ( Foot ) Andrews, of East Haven. and they had two sons, Charles Augustus and Ruel Andrews. Mr. Blackstone was selectman of Bran- ford ten years, and also held the offices of assessor and constable, and was sheriff of the county. He died Oct. 2. 1893, leaving memories of an honorable

Charles Augustus Blackstone was born Sept. 26. 1856. in East Haven, Conn., and grew to manhood in Branford, where he attended the public school. Bred to farming, he has made that his life work,

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and is now living on a part of the old Blackstone property. Mr. Blackstone was married Oct. 29, 1879, to Hattie M., daughter of Capt. John Hamil- ton and Lucy Kelsey (Bishop) Spencer, of Madi- son, Conn. They have one daughter, Pearl Esther, born Oct. 23, 1804. Mrs. Blackstone's paternal grandparents were Elias and Rebinah (Stevens) Spencer, and her maternal grandparents were Levi and Polly (Coe) Bishop.

Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone are members of the Congregational Church, and he is enrolled in Wid- ows' Sons' Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., of which he is senior warden; Israel Putnam Lodge, No. 31, A. O. U. W .; Montowese Lodge, No. 184, N. E. O. P., the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, and the Su- preme Lodge at Boston ; the Knights of Honor; and the Branford Agricultural Society. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, N. E. O. P., held in New Haven April 11, 1900, Mr. Blackstone was elected representative to the Supreme Lodge for two years. Mrs. Blackstone is a member of Princess Lodge, No. 29, N. E. O. P., the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, and the Supreme Lodge at Boston. In sentiment Mr. Blackstone is a Repub- lican, but he is no politician. He is fond of the hunt, and his home is full of fine trophies which tes- tify to his superior marksmanship.

WILLIAM A. RUSSELL, a well-known black- smith of West Haven, was born in Bethany, Conn., June 6, 1845, the son of Styles A. and Susan An- drew Russell.

His family became identified with Bethany at an early day and his grandfather Daniel Russell, was a farmer there. Styles A. Russell, our subject's father, was born and reared in Bethany and be- came a wheelwright by trade, many wheels having been put in place by him in different places in his section. He died in Bethany aged forty-one years. His wife, Susan Andrew, who now resides in Derby with one of her sons, is a devout Methodist. She was born in Bethany and is a descendant of Rev. William Andrew, who settled in Massachusetts in 1637, and was one of the twelve founders of Yale College. Her father William Andrew, died in 1857 and her mother Temperance Hotchkiss, in 1887. She was one of a family of seven children and had ten children, of whom six are living. Mary mar- ried Ransom Hitchcock and settled at the old home in Bethany ; Catherine married Gilbert Doan ; Ellen (Mrs. Newell ) resides in West Haven ; Elvira V. married Thomas Horsfall ; William A. was the next in order of birth; Dwight S. is a resident of An- sonia ; Ann E. (Mrs. H. D. Seldon), resides in Chester ; and Wallace A. lives in Derby.

William A. Russell was but eight years old when his father died, and at the age of ten years he made his home in Orange, where he remained until eight- een years old. He secured a common-school edu- cation and after learning his trade in Woodbridge he followed it as a journeyman in Orange two years ;

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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 4, Part 19

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 934

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 934