USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 23
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(IV) Millard Kossuith Palmer, son of Isaac B. and Armenia (Jones) Palmer, was born November 29, 1851, in Sound Beach, Connecticut. He attended local public schools, his studies suffering fre- quent interruptions by reason of his often being employed at some kind of work. At seventeen he went to Stamford, where he filled the position of general utility man to John C. Moffat, receiving fifty dollars for the first year and seventy-five for the second. Meanwhile he supplied the de- ficiencies of his early education by attend- ing a night school known as St. John's Guild, and for a time studied under Pro- fessor Scipio Stevens. At the end of two years, Mr. Palmer, out of his scanty wages, had saved $115 and had gained a mental equipment which fitted him to earn much more. After going home he became night watchman at the railroad engine house, Stamford, and later served for thirteen months as fireman on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail- road. This employment, while much to his liking, proved injurious to his health, in consequence of which he was forced to abandon it. In partnership with his
brother, Joseph G. Palmer, Mr. Palmer purchased the sloop "Louise" and engaged in the oyster business, continuing for several years, eventually selling the ves- sel and dividing the grounds. He then formed a partnership, in the same busi- ness, with William Whalley, and together they built the sloop "Libby M.," which was sold on the dissolution of the firm, the grounds being divided. Mr. Palmer was the owner, in association with his brother, Andrew Palmer, of the vessel named "Mary Belle." About ten or twelve years ago he abandoned the run- ning of a boat, and is now the owner of "Isle de Kass," at Sound Beach. In ad- dition to his own house he owns three which he rents, and also one at Sound Beach. In politics Mr. Palmer is a Re- publican, but has never taken any active part in public affairs. He belongs to the Senior Order of United American Me- chanics, Stamford. He and his wife are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which Mr. Palmer holds the office of trustee. He served both as elder and trustee of the Presbyterian church at Sound Beach until that church united with the Episcopal.
Mr. Palmer married, September 30, 1882, Kate L. Kane, born in New York, daughter of Edward and Jane (Nolan) Kane, both of whom are deceased. Ed- ward Kane was born in the province of Connaught, Ireland, and was educated in Dublin. As a young man he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City, where for many years he worked at carriage making. During the Civil War he enlisted from New York and was dis- charged at the close of the conflict. His death was caused by tuberculosis con- tracted while in the army. His wife was a native of West Meath, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have been the parents of the following children: 1. Millard Kos-
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suth, Jr., died July 3, 1900, at the age of fifteen years. 2. Helen Louise, born No- vember 10, 1886; married George H. Cor- nish, of Brooklyn, New York, whose bi- ography follows this. 3. Walter Burley, born January 1, 1890; learned the plumb- er's trade, and was for a long time in business for himself; during the World War was engaged with Richards & Com- pany in the manufacture of gun-cotton ; was for a time postmaster of Sound Beach; married Mildred Perry Ellis, and has one child, Millard Ellis, born March 3, 1917.
Millard Kossuith Palmer is a fine type of the self-made man, and as such has a record in which his children and grand- children may take a just and laudable pride.
CORNISH, George H.,
Manufacturer, Volunteer in World War.
The name we have just written will be instantly recognized by very many as that of one who, during the late World War, gave his best efforts and eventually his life for the cause of human freedom. The death of Mr. Cornish occurred while he was in the discharge of the very im- portant duties of an instructor in Frank- ford, Pennsylvania.
George H. Cornish was born October 15, 1886, in Brooklyn, New York, and was a son of Louis H. and Minnie (Nich- ols) Cornish. He learned the trade of a toolmaker. and held the position of in- spector of tools for the Yale and Towne Manufacturing Company, of Stamford, Connecticut. The absorbing nature of his duties left Mr. Cornish little time for politics, but he was intensely civic-spir- ited, never failing to do his utmost toward the promotion of reform and good govern- ment. He affiliated with Acacia Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of
Greenwich, receiving the thirty-second degree in Philadelphia. When the United States entered the World War, Mr. Cor- nish was one of the first to respond to the call of the Federal government. On April 9, 1917, he became a member of the Con- necticut State Guard, and on July 14, 1917, was appointed sergeant. On De- cember 13, 1917, he reported at New Ro- chelle, and on May 31, 1918, became ser- geant of ordnance. In August, 1918, he was appointed ordnance sergeant, the highest non-commissioned officer, but was retained in the United States on account of his exceptional value as an instructor.
Mr. Cornish married Helen Louise Pal- mer, daughter of Millard Kossuith Palmer, a biography of whom precedes this, and they became the parents of one child, Helen Rhoda, born January 1, 1916.
Having been appointed instructor in optical repair work in Frankford, Penn- sylvania, Mr. Cornish, in the full tide of ardent devotion to his responsible duties, and having one hundred and twenty-five men under his charge, fell seriously ill, and on October 5, 1918, breathed his last, giving his life for his country as truly as if he had fallen on the battlefield. A few days after his commission as lieutenant was received from Governor Holcomb. George H. Cornish was a true patriot. In time of peace he was a loyal citizen, and when war spread its dark cloud over the land he hesitated not to make the supreme sacrifice.
BATES, John S.,
Business Man.
The Bates family has long been iden- tified with the history of Connecticut. It appears in the earliest Colonial records, and is found previous to this time in the English records. The surname is sup- posed to have been derived from Bartho-
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lemew's son, Bartholemew being short- ened to Batte or Bate. Some authorities think it may have come from the Anglo- Saxon noun, bate, meaning contention. In the form of Bate, the name was com- mon in England several centuries before the departure of the Puritans. In New England, the name was usually Bate or Baitt, becoming fixed as Bates about the time of the Revolution. The coat-of- arms is: A field sable, a fesse between three dexter hands, couped argent. In one emblem there are five mullets or five- pointed stars on the fesse or horizontal band. In another emblem there is a crest : A stag's head pierced through the neck by an arrow. This coat-of-arms has a motto: Et corde et manu. (Both with the hand and with the heart.) In all the emblems the three right hands, two above and one below the fesse, remain constant.
Before 1630 and 1640 five men named Bates emigrated to Boston and its neigh- borhood. They were: George, who was called a thatcher or thacker; William, of Charlestown; James, of Dorchester ; Clement, of Hingham; and Edward, of Weymouth. James Bates, of Dorchester, is undoubtedly the ancestor of the Bates family herein described. His descendant, Nicholas Bates, was born about 1700, and resided in Ridgefield, Connecticut, during the latter part of his life. He was twice married; the Christian name of his first wife was Martha, and that of his second, Abigail.
John (1) Bates, son of Nicholas Bates, was baptized and joined the Redding Church in 1762. He married Esther Brooks, daughter of Thaddeus Brooks, and she joined the church with her hus- band.
Ezra Bates, son of John (1) and Esther (Brooks) Bates, was married March II, 1785, to Huldah Platt, daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Sanford) Platt, of Red-
ding. Ezra Bates was a farmer in Red- ding.
John (2) Bates, son of Ezra and Huldah (Platt) Bates, was born in 1789, and died in Redding, December 13, 1875. John (2) Bates married Clara Jane Lacey, born in 1785, probably in Stratford, died August 6, 1847. The farm of John (2) Bates lay within the towns of Redding, Wilton, and Ridgefield.
Walter Bates, son of John (2) and Clara J. (Lacey) Bates, was born in 1813, in Redding, and died in 1882. He grew to manhood in that town, and was brought up accustomed to the duties of farm life. Later, after his marriage, he took charge of building a railroad bridge at Susque- hanna, Pennsylvania, having learned the trade of stone mason. Mr. Bates was a natural mechanic, and met with success in this work. After the contract was com- pleted, he returned to the homestead farm at Branchville, in the town of Ridgefield, and lived there many years. Fraternally, Mr. Bates was a Mason, a member of Jerusalem Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons. He married Lorena Wood, daugh- ter of Philo Wood, and they were the par- ents of seven children. Six of these chil- dren grew up, and they were: Philo W., Mary Emma, Rowena, Amy A., John S., of further mention ; and Oscar.
John S. Bates was born in Ridgefield, April 14, 1848, and was educated in the public schools there. He learned the trade of stone-cutter at Stony Creek, starting first with quarrying stone and continuing until he had learned every branch of the business. He lived on the home farm until 1887, in which year he sold it, and two years later removed to Danbury, and thence to Norwalk. For several years he was in the stone business, and meeting with success in this, he ven- tured into the monument business, in 1902, and in this was very successful.
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Mr. Bates employs about five men on an average.
In politics, Mr. Bates is a Democrat, actively interested in all public affairs, yet does not seek to hold public office. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Jerusalem Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the New England Order of Protection.
Mr. Bates married Juliette Dimon, daughter of Seeley Dimon, of Easton, Connecticut. Their children are: I. Jen- nie L., wife of Theodore E. Soderlund, a native of Sweden. 2. Frederick D., mar- ried Evelyn McAllister. 3. Viola F., mar- ried William G. Abendroth, and they re- side in Christobal, Panama, Canal Zone, and have three children: Dorothy Bates, Viola Helen, and William G., Jr. 4. John S., Jr., resides in Bridgeport ; married Mil- dred G. Ayrault, and has two sons: John S., 3d, and Walter. 5. Flora Mildred, mar- ried Charles H. Bath, and resides in Chris- tobal, Panama Canal Zone; he has three children : Mildred Jennie, Charles H., Jr., and Flora Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Bates are members of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church, of Norwalk.
BELL, Captain Charles W., Oyster Planter, Legislator.
An important factor in the business in- terests of Norwalk, Connecticut, is the oyster industry. One of the pioneers in this industry is Captain Charles W. Bell, a scion of an early Colonial family. The Bell family was founded by Francis Bell, who was in Stamford as early as 1641. Captain Bell's grandfather, Isaac Bell, was born in Stamford, and was a black- smith. He helped to make the chain that was stretched across the Hudson river at West Point in the Revolution. Mr. Bell married a Quakeress, whose surname was Clark, and subsequently went to live on his wife's homestead, where he re-
mained as long as he lived. The place has always borne the name of the Union Farm.
Isaac (2) Bell, son of Isaac (1) Bell, was born in Cornwall, New York, and learned the trade of harness and saddle- maker. At one time he was in business for himself, and was located in Horse- heads, New York. In his younger days he followed the water, sailing up and down the Hudson in a market sloop, and later he gave up his saddlery business to join his brother in sailing freighting craft on the Hudson. He was thus engaged for many years, until one unfortunate day he was drowned opposite Sing Sing, New York. Mr. Bell married Rachel Wandell, daughter of Jacob Wandell, of New Wind- sor, New York. The latter was proprie- tor of a line of sloops, and was dock- owner there. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were the parents of three children, two of whom grew to maturity. They were: I. Eliz- abeth Ann, deceased, wife of John Mitch- ell; she was a resident of Friar Point, Mississippi. 2. Charles W., of further mention. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Captain Charles W. Bell, son of Isaac (2) and Rachel (Wandell) Bell, was born April 4, 1836, in New Windsor, near Corn- wall, New York, and was less than two years of age when his father was drowned. He was reared in New York City by an uncle, and when he was about eight years old, ran away with a cousin of the same age. At that time the family were living in Columbia street, New York City. The lads hid aboard a Newburgh barge, and went to sleep on a coil of rope. When they reached Newburgh, they slipped ashore and walked to the home of Cap- tain Bell's people in Cornwall. Later they went to City Island, New York, and there two uncles of Captain Bell were established in the oyster business. They
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were among the earliest oystermen east of New York. Captain Bell remained with his uncles until his fourteenth birth- day, and then went into business for him- self at City Island. Four years later he went to the eastern shore of Maryland, and with his brother, John Bell, engaged in the oyster business there, in the Nanti- coke river, continuing until the outbreak of the Civil War. On the day of Abra- ham Lincoln's first inauguration, Captain Bell came North on a sloop, selling his load of oysters at Philadelphia, and laid the sloop up in the Bordentown Basin. Then he went to City Island, and was married. During the time he was in the South, Captain Bell had retained his land at City Island and at Northport, Long Island, so he resumed his oystering where he had left it in 1856. Continuing in that business, Captain Bell met with well- deserved success until he sold his hold- ings there about twenty years ago. In the meantime he had acquired oyster holdings at Rowayton, Connecticut, where he was a pioneer in the laying of the first oyster lands in Long Island Sound. Since that time Captain Bell has continued alone in business, and most of his oysters have been sold in New York. In the old days all restaurants and hotels served oysters; there was a class of eating houses, now almost wholly passed away, known as oyster houses. There oysters were served raw and cooked in all styles. Captain Bell did a large business with such places all over New York and the surrounding country. Captain Bell has disposed of most of his oyster lands, but still operates about four hundred acres.
In the public life of the communities in which he has lived, Captain Bell has been particularly active. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has held all the town offices except that of selectman. For
three sessions he was a member of the Legislature, 1881-82-83. During that time he served two years on the Committee on Cities and Boroughs; one year on the Shell Fisheries Committee; and was chairman of the School Fund Committee for a term, besides serving on minor com- mittees. In 1879 he was one of a com- mittee appointed by Governor Andrews to examine and report on the oyster in- terests of the State and on a method for the regulation and encouragement of the business. When Captain Bell came to Rowayton to live, the village was in con- trol of rum and the Democrats, and he has lived to see National prohibition and a majority of one hundred Republicans. For twenty years he was a member of the Republican Town Committee.
Captain Bell was made a Mason in Iv- anhoe Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Darien, and when that lodge was dis- banded, he affiliated with Old Well Lodge, of South Norwalk. He inaugu- rated the chapter of the Eastern Star at Rowayton, and has been a member of it since that time. Other business interests of Captain Bell include a directorship of the South Norwalk Savings Bank.
Captain Bell was married to Emily Terry, daughter of Gershom Terry, of East Moriches, Long Island, and they were parents of the following children : Helen, married Harvey M. Kent, of Norwalk; Aurelia, married Fred Ambler, and is the mother of a son, Tracy Bell Ambler ; Howard, married Jessie Mather, and has a son, Clayton Bell. Captain and Mrs. Bell were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at various times Captain Bell has held all the offices. In 1864, Captain Bell organized, in the old schoolhouse, the first Sunday school in Rowayton, which was the beginning of the present Methodist Episcopal church.
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He became superintendent of the Sunday school, and held that position for fifty-two consecutive years, a record which proba- bly has no equal in the country.
MORGAN, Albert D., Hardware Merchant.
The patronymic, Morgan, is a Welsh name of high antiquity. It is a Cymric derivative, meaning one born by the sea, or a son of the sea. It is derived from muir (sea) and gin (begotten), and is often found written Margan and Morecan in the very early records. A worthy scion of this distinguished surname, Albert D. Morgan, was born in High Ridge, town of Stamford, January 12, 1880, son of John Smith and Annie E. (Jones) Mor- gan.
The great-grandfather of Mr. Morgan was Zalmon Morgan, probably a native of Wilton. He was a farmer, and married Sarah Mead, of Ridgefield.
Curtiss Morgan, son of Zalmnon and Sarah (Mead) Morgan, was born in Fair- field county, July 23, 1819, and died Jan- uary 20, 1899. He spent his early life in Wilton, and was a shoemaker and farmer all his life. At one time he lived in New Canaan, thence removed to Poundridge. His death occurred in the town of Stam- ford, in the section known as High Ridge. Curtiss Morgan married Mary E. Tucker, daughter of David Tucker, of Stamford; she was born September 4, 1821, and died October 5, 1897.
John Smith Morgan, son of Curtiss and Mary E. (Tucker) Morgan, was born in Poundridge, New York, March 12, 1848. He was educated in the district school, and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some years. He then took up stair building, and at one time did contract work. After his marriage he lived for five years in Norwalk, removing
later to Federalsburg, Maryland, where he followed his trade. Mr. Morgan then removed to High Ridge and for fifteen years made his home there. During all this time he worked at his trade as a journeyman, until April 20, 1890, in which year he became a resident of East Nor- walk, and worked for George Norvell for some years. After the death of the latter, Mr. Morgan carried on his business for a number of years. At that time, 1897, Mr. Morgan entered the employ of A. R. Mal- kin, the builder, and was with him for twenty years, until his retirement from active duties in 1917. Mr. Morgan is a member of Wooster Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of New Canaan.
Mr. Morgan married, December 23, 1868, Annie E. Jones, daughter of Ebene- zer and Mary E. (Palmer) Jones; she was born January 14, 1851. Her father, Ebenezer Jones, was born in Poundridge, June 20, 1809, and died January 14, 1892. He married, February 5, 1834, Mary Eliz- abeth Palmer, born March 2, 1819, daugh- ter of William and Betsey (Ferris) Pal- mer, of Coscob. Ebenezer Jones was a farmer in Poundridge, and he and his family were members of the Presbyterian church there. His father, Jesse Jones, was a farmer, and married a cousin, De- borah Jones. John S. and Annie E. (Jones) Morgan were the parents of the following children : I. Ernest Jones, born July 4, 1870, resides in Berlin, Con- necticut. 2. Russell Eugene, born De- cember 18, 1875, is a practicing dentist in East Norwalk. 3. Albert D., of further mention. 5. Martha A., born May 27, 1882, of East Norwalk. 6. Percy C., born July 7, 1886, resides in East Norwalk. 7. Jessie E., born July 7, 1889, married Wil- liam H. Moffett, of East Norwalk. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church of East Norwalk.
Albert D. Morgan obtained his educa-
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tion in the public schools of High Ridge and East Norwalk High School, then, in 1898, he entered the employ of Comstock, Watkins & Dow, hardware merchants. Mr. Morgan applied himself diligently to the mastering of the hardware business, even to the smallest detail. In this he was remarkably successful, so much so that five years ago he purchased the busi- ness from Charles E. Dow, the sole surviving partner. This is the oldest hardware store in the town, and employs five clerks. A large business is carried on in the sale of paints, oils, shelf hard- ware, mill supplies, boat hardware, auto supplies and battery accessories.
Mr. Morgan is one of the prominent business men of the town, and takes an active interest in all public affairs. Al- though not a seeker for office, he can al- ways be found willing to aid in any way a movement for the general good. Fra- ternally, Mr. Morgan is affiliated with the Masonic order. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 6, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Moner Grotto, Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm.
Mr. Morgan married Lottie J. Morrell, daughter of O. F. Morrell, and grand- daughter of Judge Morrell, of Norwalk. Mrs. Morgan is descended from one of the old Connecticut families.
HUSTED, Nehemiah H., Agriculturist, Legislator.
Long numbered among the leading ag- riculturists of Fairfield county, Mr. Husted was also distinguished for his activity in the political life of his home town of Greenwich. In addition to serv- ing in several local offices, he was for three terms the representative of his town in the State Legislature.
(I) Robert Husted, born in 1596, prob-
ably in Somersetshire, England, sailed in 1635 for Massachusetts, and after re- maining there a few years removed to Stamford, Connecticut. The Christian name of his wife was Elizabeth. Robert Husted, at the time of his death in 1652, in Stamford, was the owner of land in that town and also in Greenwich. His widow died in 1659.
(II) Angell Husted, son of Robert and Elizabeth Husted, was born about 1620 in England, and settled in Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1640 he was a witness to the Indian deed of Greenwich, Old Town, to Robert Feeks and Daniel Patrick, and he was also one of the original patentees named in the patent granted to the town of Greenwich in May, 1665. The Chris- tian name of his wife was Rebecca. An- gell Husted died in Greenwich, in April, 1706.
(III) Angell (2) Husted, son of Angell (1) and Rebecca Husted, was born about 1654. He was twice married, the names of both his wives being unknown. His death occurred about 1728.
(IV) Benjamin Husted, son of Angell (2) Husted, was born about 1700, and was a farmer in Greenwich township. He married Sarah Newman. His death oc- curred in 1783.
(V) Nathaniel Husted, son of Benja- min and Sarah (Newman) Husted, was born March 2, 1757. He was a soldier of the Revolution. He became one of the most successful farmers and land owners of his day, being especially prominent in the Round Hill district, where much of his property was situated. To each of his sons he gave a farm. Farsighted and skillful in business, he was strictly honest in all his dealings. His religious member- ship was in the Methodist Episcopal church at Round Hill, in which he was an active worker. He married Ruth Kniffen, or Sniffen, daughter of Jonathan Kniffen,
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or Sniffen, who at one time owned nearly all of what is now the site of Port Ches- ter. Nathaniel Husted died January 20, 1826, and his widow passed away October 14, 1843.
(VI) Benjamin (2) Husted, son of Na- thaniel and Ruth (Kniffen, or Sniffen) Husted, was born June 20, 1799. He re- ceived his early education in the district school of Round Hill and in Greenwich Academy. The son of a Revolutionary soldier, we may imagine with what de- light he listened to the accounts given by his father, who enlisted twice in the Con- tinental army, of various incidents in the struggle for independence. Nathaniel Husted was with General Putnam on the occasion of that officer's hasty ride down what is now known as "Put's Hill," at Horseneck, and it is easy to fancy how the heart of the boy Benjamin thrilled to the recital of that hair-breadth escape. All his life Benjamin Husted was a farmer in the Round Hill district of the town. At one time in their early manhood he and his brother Jonathan owned the home- stead farm, but later Benjamin lived on a farm by himself. He served in the militia. A Democrat until the Civil War, he then became and ever after remained a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was, perhaps, the leading member, holding the offices of . steward and trustee. The church was built by the family, the members of which might truly be said to be its mainstay. Mr. Husted married (first) in 1835, Sarah A. Knapp, of Salem, New York, and their children were: Sarah A., John A., and Nehemiah H., mentioned below. Mrs. Husted died November 17, 1843. Mr. Husted married (second) Electa M. Brown, daughter of Major Brown. Mrs. Husted died August 27, 1878. Mr. Hu- sted passed away May 27, 1879. He was
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