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 21
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Nathaniel Warner, son of Daniel, was a farmer on the family homestead, and married Martha Gif- ford, in 1796, who was born in 1774, and died in 1814, his second marriage being to Martha Newell. His children were: ( 1) Martha, born in 1797, died Dec. 2, 1801, the wife of David S. Pember. (2) Horace, born in 1799, married Matilda Martin and they had these children : Nelson, who married Helen Kibbe; Charles, who married Mariette E. Dimock ; Ellen, who married Julius A. Kibbe ; Treat M., who first married Lucina Lawrence, of Warsaw, Wis., and second Mrs. Sarah Richmond ; and Horace, who first married Ella Hayden, and second, Emily ( name not given ). The father of these children died Aug. 28, 1870. (3) Betsey, born April 22,
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1802, married Eleazer Whiton and died Nov. 10, 1828. (4) Mary ( Polly ), born Aug. 13, 1804, was married April 24, 1828, to John Wadsworth of El- lington, and died Aug. 25, 1897. (5) Nelson, born Aug: 2, 1806, was drowned July 18, 1812, in a small stream near his home. (6) Lora, born May 13, 1808, married Samuel MI. Bliss, and made her home in Wilbraham, Mass., where she died June 2, 1859. (7) Sophronia, born July 5, 1811, married Edwin, the son of Rev. Diadate Brockway, of El- lington, and died Nov. 27, 1841. The one child of the second marriage of Nathaniel Warner was Abigail, born Sept. 5, 1818, now the widow of Aaron Charter, of Ellington.
Horace W. Kibbe, of Meriden, attended the pub- lic school in Ellington and grew up on his father's farm, where he remained until his marriage. His education was completed at a private boarding school conducted by Edward Halls. At the age of twenty-five years he began farming for himself. His tobacco farming and dairying was successfully carried on on a tract of forty acres of land in the locality of his birth, until in 1897, when he gave up' private operations in order to accept the position as superintendent of the Connecticut Boys' School farm, an office which carried with it grave responsi- bilities. For the past five years, however, Mr. Kibbe has most successfully prosecuted the work here, has made innumerable improvements in the methods of cultivation, and has placed the 200 acres of this es- tate on a par with any other tract, under like con- ditions, in the State.
On Dec. 20, 1882, Horace W. Kibbe was mar -- ried in Ellington, Conn., to Miss Henrietta E. Tal- cott, who was the only child of Jamies M. and Amanda (Stoughton ) Talcott. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kibbe belong to the Congregational Church of El- lington. For a period of fifteen years he was chor- ister of his home church, and he is now secretary of the Meriden Choral Club. For several years he was librarian of the Sunday school. Mr. Kibbe is socially connected with the Patrons of Husbandry, in Ellington, having been master of P. of H., No. 46, for two years, and was one of the charter mem- bers. He is also a Mason of high degree, belong- ing to Meridian Lodge, Hamilton Council, Keystone Chapter and St. Elmo Commandery, all of Meriden. He enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of sincere friends.
CHRISTIAN FREDERICK FOX, one of the best known and most successful business men of Meriden, located in East Main street, manages one of the best stores in the delicatessen line in the city, and is engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of bologna sausages, pressed ham. frankfurts and Ger- man sausages.
Mr. Fox was born in Koenigsbrunn, Germany, Dec. 14. 1861, a son of Frederick and Rosa ( Fuchs ) Fox. The parents were also natives of Germany. where the father engaged in the manufacture of
lumber, owning a sawmill, and there spent his whole life. He was a good and worthy man, and reared his family in the tenets of the Lutheran Church. After his death Mrs. Fox married Gottlieb Schwarz, with whom she came to America. They located in New York City, where she still resides, in the home of her son, Jolin, a good, Christian woman, and a conscientious member of the Lutheran Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Fox were born five children: Chris- tian F., our subject ; Gottlieb, Frederick and John, all three in Greater New York; and Elizabeth, who died when a child.
Christian F. Fox received a good common- school education in his native land, and was four- teen years old when the family removed to Amer- ica. Selecting the manufacture of choice sausages as his line of work, our subject thoroughly learned the business, following it eight years in New York, and then going to Worcester, Mass., where he lived four years. There he married, on Dec. 24, 1883, Emma R. Dason, a native of that town, and daugh- ter of Andrew and Minnie Dason, natives of Ger- many, the former of whom is deceased, the latter still surviving.
In 1885 Mr. Fox and his wife removed to Nor- wich, Conn., where he started in the business of sausage manufacture, in partnership with Fred Wie- gert, the firm style being Fox & Wiegert. They continued thus for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Fox came to Meriden and started in the same business, the partnership continuing, he be- ing the manager of the Meriden branch, while Mr. Wiegert managed the Norwich branch. This state of affairs continued until 1890, when the former bought the interest of his partner, and for the past eleven years he has most successfully conducted the business alone, establishing his factory in East Main street, and also conducting a branch in West Main street. By 1900 he found that the increasing vol- ume of business required all his attention, and the latter branch was closed. Mr. Fox has been a very successful business man, and the causes are not difficult to discover, for he is noted for his industry, honesty and fair dealing, which traits have won for him the confidence of the public. He generous- ly contributes much of his success to his most estim- able wife, who has so ably assisted him, and both possess the highest regard of the community.
To the marriage of our subject and wife three children have been born: Andrew F .: Minnie, who died at the age of nine years; Christian, who lived to be only five years old, his death occurring within a few weeks of his sister's. Andrew F. Fox, the only surviving child, attended the public schools of Meriden and graduated from the Pequod Business College, of that city, before he was six- teen years old: although yet a youth, he shows a very remarkable instinct for business. During 1000 Mr. Fox and his wife took a well-earned holi- day and together visited all the principal cities of Europe, including Paris, where they attended the
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great Exposition. During his absence, young An- drew was the efficient manager, his father finding his affairs in perfect condition upon his return. In religious affairs Mr. Fox is very liberal, consider- ing any creed which does not insist upon the fol- lowing out of the Golden Rule of little value, no matter what its name may be, and endeavors to live up to his professions. He is connected with Meri- dian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M. : Court Schiller, No. 117. A. O. F. ; and the Meriden Turnverein and the Saengerbund, where he is very popular on ac- count of his pleasant genial disposition.
HARRY J. DUGAN, D. D. S., whose office is at No. 46 Main street, Ansonia, was born in New London, July 1, 1868, a son of Harry Dugan, who was born in New York. The senior Dugan served as a steward for many years on the boats running between New London and New York. He began in a minor capacity when very young, and worked his way up to a profitable and responsible position. When he was thirty-one years of age he wa's drowned on a voyage, while off Allen's Point. The boat took fire and burned to the water's edge. Mary McDonald, his wife, was born in New Lon- don, and her father, Morris MeDonaid, a native of South Carolina, came to New London, very early in his life. He was a church sexton, and lived to be eighty-seven years of age. His wife, Cath- erine O'Connor, was born in Ireland .. She died in 1898 at the age of ninety-three years. Mary ( Mc- Donald ) Dugan was one of a family of ten children, and of her three children Dr. Dugan is the only one now living. Steward Dugan was well known by the patrons of the New London boats, and was a popular man. With his wife he was connected with the Catholic Church.
Harry J. Dugan spent his early years in New London, where he attended the city schools, and was graduated from the high school in 1886. He ! immediately took up the study of dentistry with Dr. , one of the original purchasers in 1643. He was Keeney, spending two years in his office. He was then a pupil of Dr. R. W. Brown, who is now the Dental Commissioner of the State, spending some time in the office of that gentleman in New London. Dr. Dugan spent a year in New York, and was three years in Bridgeport. On March 1, 1803, he came to Ansonia, and opened an office. With one (II) John Linsley, son of John the emigrant, died in 1684. Of the children born to him and his wife, Hannah, two, John and Jonathan, were bap- tized in 1688. exception he has practiced his profession longer than any other dentist in the city. For sixteen years he has been steadily engaged in its various departments, and is regarded as one of the most progressive and thoroughly scientific young men of his calling. All branches of mechanical dentistry are familiar to him, and he is especially adept at ex- tracting teeth with gas. His friends think it not too much to anticipate for him a brilliant and suc- cessful future.
On Jan. 1. 1896, Dr. Dugan was married to Miss Effie M. Hitz, a native of Nova Scotia, but a resident of Bridgeport since childhood. Her father,
Alexander Hitz, was a sea-faring man, and her mother, Mary J. ( Mckenzie) Hitz, was of Scotch descent. Alexander Hitz and his wife had thirteen children, seven of whom are still living. Dr. Du- gan and his wife have had three children, two of whom, Natalie Ruth and Lorna Elizabeth, are still living. H. J., Jr., died when two months and sev- enteen days old.
Socially Dr. Dugan belongs to Naugatuck Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he is past noble grand, and present treasurer ; to the Encampment, in which he is past chief patriarch and district deputy grand patriarch ; and to the Order of Rebekah. He is also past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. In these various fraternities he takes an active in- terest. He is one of the most popular and thor- oughly successful young men of the city. He is a Republican, but votes for the interests of the city without regard for the party.
EDWARD LEE LINSLEY ( deceased). Since the time of Demosthenes the power to rule and sway the public by oratorical powers has been the aim of every man in public life. The silver tongue does more, both in public and in private life, than does the golden purse. In the village of North Haven, New Haven Co., Conn., was born Edward Lee Linsley, whose name and fame have gone be- vond the limits of his own State, because of the gifts of mind and tongue which made him one of the wittiest and most popular public speakers known in Connecticut's political, legal and fraternal circles. Not only was he a distinguished man himself, but he came from a long line of honest ancestry, who in their day and generation were not unknown to fame.
The first records of the establishment of the Lins- ley family in America show that two brothers, John and Francis Linsley, came to America from England and settled in Totoket, Conn., John being twice married. It is probable that his first mar- riage took place in England, and his wife, Ellen. died April 6, 1654. On July 6, 1655, he married Sarah l'ond. He died in 1608, the father of five children: Jonathan, John, Mary (horn Feb. 2, 1652), Ellen and Hannah ( born April 1. 1654).
(III) John Linsley, the third to bear the name, was known as Ensign John Linsley. In 1699 he married Mary, daughter of Thomas Harrison, an early settler of Totoket, and they became the par- ents of four children: Mary. born June 1, 1701; John, Feb. 20. 1703; Elizabeth, Jan. 20, 1705 ; and Joseph, born Nov. 28, 1707.
(IV) John Lindley, son of Ensign John, married Mary Frisbee, and died in 1787. His children were John, Isaac and Edward.
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(V) Isaac Linsley, sonof Join, became a farmer in North Branford, Conn. The house in which he was born was still standing in 1899. He was mar- ried three times, first to a Miss Beach, second to a Miss Munson, and third to Mrs. Russell. His chil- dren were Munson, Isaac and Lydia.
(VI) Munson Linsley was born in 1769, and engaged in farming in Northford, Conn. On Jan. 1, 1794, he married Anna Foote, who was born in 1770, and died Feb. 11, 1842. He died June 13, 1845. Active in religious affairs, he served as dea- con in the Congregational Church in Northford, and also in Wallingford and in North Branford, He and his wife had children as follows: Samnel, baptized May 20, 1799. died unmarried in early man- hood : Esther Louise, baptized May 20, 1799, mar- ried Benjamin Hall, a butcher and farmer in Wall- ingford : Angelina, also baptized May 20, 1799, mar- ried Benajali Smith, a farmer in Northford, Conn. ; Cleora, baptized Dec. 1, 1799, married Bayard Barnes, and became the mother of Mr. Barnes, of the firm of Sperry & Barnes, New Haven; Marcus, born June 20, 1801, is mentioned elsewhere in the sketch of Solomon F. Linsley ; Alfred is mentioned below; Mary, born March 30, 1805, married Gilbert Page, a prominent paper manufacturer of Chapman and Plymouth, Conn. : and Lucy Ann was born Feb. 28, 1813.
(VII) Alfred Linsley was born July 3, 1803, in Northford, Conn., where he spent his boyhood and received the usual advantages of the district school. His occupation was that of farming : and he also bought and sold a great deal of timber, cutting it for the market. and becoming the largest dealer of the time in his vicinity. He died suddenly, from a stroke of apoplexy, while engaged in digging clams on Governor's Island, Conn., July 1, 1884. A man of fine personal presence, his mind and character were well fitted to inhabit such a frame. and his memory is still held in respect. He married Polly Frisbie, who was born Jan. 24. 1811, and died in April, 1892: she was a daughter of Jacob and Polly Frisbie, the former a prominent farmer and justice of the peace of his neighborhood. The chil- dren born of this union were: Romanta L., born Dec. 17, 1832, is mentioned on another page. Mary F., born July 20, 1835, was a school teacher in An ardent Republican, Mr. Linsley was a mem- ber of the New Haven Republican Club, and served as chairman of the North Haven Republican Com- mittee : was a member of the Republican State Com- mittee from 1888 to 1890: was president of the Connecticut Young Men's Republican League from 1890 to 1804: and a member of the executive Re- publican committee from 1890 to 1895. serving in all these positions with unswerving fidelity to his party and possessing the confidence of the most promi- nent of the leaders all over the country. When it was desirable to particularly interest any section in any issue before the public. Mr. Linsley for many Bristol, Wis., and died Sept. 25, 1867. Eunice, born May 30, 1837, married Jan. 20, 1874. Arthur Dan- iels, and resided in Bloomington, Ill. Samuel Mun- son, born Sept. 12, 1839. died at Fairfax Seminary, Va., Nov. . 19, 1862, a member of Company K. 15th Conn. V. I. Anna F., born Aug. 26, 1841, died Oct. 22. 1852. Delia, born April 18, 1844, married Jacob Viles, a grocer and banker in Boston. Jacob, born June 20, 1846, enlisted in the Union army, first in the Ist Heavy Artillery, from which he was discharged on account of illness, and second in Company K. 15th Conn. V. I .. and died in Washing- ton March 1. 1803. Alfred 0, barn Dec. 15. 1848 .. years was called upon to present the same to the
resided in St. Paul, Minn., where he engaged in various lines of business ; later he became manager of a hotel at Billings, Mont., and he was drowned in the rapids in the Yellowstone river, April 24. 1885, while on a fishing excursion, his body being found 300 miles from where the accident occurred ; his wife was Mary Chandler, of St. Paul. Olivia, born March 16, 1852, married Julius Heaton, a bookkeeper for the New Haven Window Shade Co. Edward Lee is our subject.
Edward Lee Linsley was born March 21, 1858; in the house in North Haven where he always lived. Passing from the schools of his native town, he entered and was graduated at the age of sixteen years from the high school of New Haven, in the class of 1874. this being preparatory to a scientific course examination for Yale College, which he passed successfully. At the age of seventeen years ( having been refused admission earlier, on account of his youth) he entered Yale Law School, receiv- ing the degree of A. B. at the age of nineteen, and taking one of the honors of the class under examina- tion. In 1878 he graduated and was made LL. B., in this class being an associate of the widely known Judge William K. Thomas, and on Sept. 17. of the same year, he was admitted to the Bar, holding the record as the youngest man who ever received such an honor in the State.
Locating in New Haven, Mr. Linsley soon built up a practice, and his interest in politics and his ability were speedily recognized by his appointment, as early as 1883. to the office of assistant clerk of the county court, holding this position for more than ten years, or until a change of administration put a Democrat in his place : but he was prominently connected with all the public offices and work from that time; served on the school board in North Haven from 1880 to 1886: as town clerk. 1880 to 1885: and was justice of the peace from 1882 until his death, and tried almost all of the town cases, having been town counsel for nearly twenty years, and at the time of his death represented eleven towns as prosecuting agent for violations of the liquor laws. Though of slight frame, he was am- bitious, and performed a great amount of hard work in his short life.
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people, visiting many States in the Union, and going as far west as Denver, his glowing gift of oratory peculiarly fitting him for the task.
On Aug. 18, 1881, Mr. Linsley was married to Miss Grace Fitch, a native of North Haven, daugh- ter of Justus and Lucy ( Huntley ) Fitch, a lady who presided gracefully over his hospitable home. With the exception of a short residence in New Haven, Mr. Linsley made his home in the old homestead where he was born, one of the most attractive places in the town, which he remodeled and modernized. From this residence all of the deceased brothers, as also the venerable parents, have been borne to their last resting-places. Here he passed away Oct. 18, 1900, his deathi being the direct result of typhoid fever, which was probably brought on by overwork.
In fraternal circles MIr. Linsley was widely known, being connected with Adelphi Lodge, No. 63, A. F. & A. M., of New Haven, of which he was senior warden at the time of his decease; Pulaski Chapter, No. 26, R. A. M., of New Haven, of which he was high priest ; Crawford Council, No. 19, R. & S. M .; New Haven Commandery, No. 2, K. T .; E. G. Storer Lodge of Perfection ; Elm City Council, . Princes of Jerusalem; New Haven Chapter, Rose Croix; Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine ; Lodge No. 36, I. O. O. F., where he made the semi-centennial address in 1896; American Lodge, No. 52, K: of P .; Davenport Council, No. 700, Royal Arcanum (he held the office of grand trustee of the Grand Council of the State for eight years, visiting almost every lodge in the State during that time) : Quinnipiac Lodge, No. 27, O. U. A. M .; and North Haven Lodge, No. 61, A. O. U. W.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Linsley were valued and con- sistent members of the Congregational Church, in which she is still active, and were socially among the prominent citizens of North Haven, Mr. Linsley numbering among his friends and acquaintances many of the most distinguished people of the country.
E. T. SHARPE, M. D., a prominent young physician of Derby, Conn., is a native of New Ha- Rufus Raymond Fancher spent his early school days in Ridgefield, and served an apprenticeship in the tinner trade with Samuel J. Barlow, and when ven county, born in Seymour, Dec. 18, 1871, and is a representative of an old and honored Connecticut Revolutionary war. The grandfather, Legrand Sharpe, was a native of Southbury and a shoe- maker by trade. Thomas Sharpe, father of Elmer T., was also born in Southbury, in 1831, and when a young man removed to Seymour, where he is now successfully engaged in contracting and building, having learned the carpenter's trade in early life. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. and has most creditably filled the office of justice of the peace. In Seymour he married Miss Charlotte McLane, who was born in Waterville, Conn., of Scotch parentage, and who died Dec. 30. 1808. Our subject was the only child born of this union. family. His great-grandfather was a soldier of the . he was nineteen years old, went to Ansonia to accept employment with T. P. Terry & Son, with which firm he remained two years. Upon coming about . 1880, to New Haven, Mr. Fancher was employed for a time by I. W. Lounsbury, in the tinsmith business, but in 1882, he returned to Ridgefield and spent one summer engaged in the butcher business. In 1883, he returned to New Haven, and entered the employ of W. A. T. Smith, in the tinsmith busi- ness. When Mr. Fancher first came to New Haven, he became a member of the fire department, and in 1885 he was promoted to the position of call man. in 188; was made permanent hoseman of Company No. 2, and on Jan. 2. 1880, was promoted to be captain of Hook & Ladder Company, No. I.
Dr. Sharpe passed his boyhood in Seymour and
his primary education was secured in the local schools. Later he attended the Bordentown Mili- tary Academy, of Bordentown, N. J., for two years, and was a student at the Davis Military College in Winston, S. C., for the same length of time. The following year he attended lectures at the Yale Medical College, and then entered the University of the City of New York, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1894. He took a post- graduate course at the New York Polyclinic Hospi- tal, and spent one year in the Bellevue Hospital. Thus well equipped by education and practical ex- perience for his chosen profession, he opened an office in Derby and has already secured a good prac- tice, his skill and ability being widely recognized.
On Nov. 9. 1898, Dr. Sharpe was united in mar- riage with Miss Emily Jenkins, of Ansonia, a daughter of David Jenkins, of that place. The Doctor is a member of the Board of Trade, and also of Morning Star Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M., of Seymour ; and Mt. Vernon Chapter, R. A. M. In his political views he is a Republican. His an- cestors have been members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, but he holds membership with no re- ligious denomination. As a professional man he stands high, and socially lie is very popular with his fellow citizens.
RUFUS RAYMOND FANCHER, chief of the . Fire Department of the city of New Haven, is one of the reliable citizens, who has won his way to his present position by faithful attention to duty, and he is highly esteemed by the whole community.
Mr. Fancher was born at Lewisboro, West- chester Co., N. Y., on Jan. 10, 1861, a son of Cyrus and Elizabeth ( Raymond) Fancher, the latter a native of Columbus, Penn. Cyrus Fancher was a blacksmith by trade, but his health failed, and he established a store in Ridgefield, Conn., continuing in mercantile business until his death in 1878. Ru- fus Fancher, the grandfather, was a resident of Ridgefield, a farmer by occupation, and lived to the age of eighty-three years.
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So faithfully did Mr. Fancher perform the duties of this position, that his appointment as assistant- chief, in February, 1897, was no surprise to his friends. Later promotions rapidly followed, as on Sept. 4, 1897, he became fire marshal, and chief of the department, Sept. 1, 1898.
Mr. Fancher was married May 2, 1882, to Miss Mary C. Baldwin, a daughter of George B. Bald- win, of New Haven, and this union has been blessed with two children : Alice Louise, who died on May 8, 1898, at the age of fourteen years; and Edward R., born Feb. 8, 1889. Fraternally, Mr. Fancher is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M .; Rathbone Lodge, K. of P .; Pyramid Lodge A. O. U. W .; New Haven Conclave, No. 323 : the Hepta- sophs ; Harmony Division of Sons of Temperance. He is also a member of the Connecticut State Fire- men's Association, and of the International Asso- ciation of Fire Engineers. Mr. Fancher has insti- tuted many reforms in the department, and the safe- ty of the city is well placed in his hands. Although a strict disciplinarian, he has won the admiration and respect of his subordinates by his bravery and personal courage, and his comprehension of his ar- duous work.
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