USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 26
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benefaction, which he had long cherished, was the dedication, June 18, 1918, of the Bailey Memorial Hall of Olivet Church at East Arlington, Vermont. In this he was faithfully seconded by his amiable wife.
Mr. Bailey was married in 1875 at Arlington to Miss Miriam S. Webb, daughter of Reuben and Rhoda (Bowker) Webb of that town. She is the great- granddaughter of one of the first settlers of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were members of the South Congregational Church of Middletown. One who knew them intimately penned the following beautiful tribute to Mr. Bailey and his wife :
Some years ago there grew up together in Arlington, Vermont, a boy and girl. They went to school together and became fast friends, and finally married and moved away to another New England town-Middletown, Connecticut. Here they lived for many years. Mr. Bailey occupied a prominent position in the business life of the city and the years went on happily full of joy and comfort. But they never forgot the home of their youth in the little town among the green hills. For years, Mr. Bailey had nourished the plan of building a memorial hall in connection with the church in Arlington, which he had attended in his youth and where his father had died a happy Christian. But alas, it was not to be. Before he could carry out his plans, he has passed away. "God's finger gently touched him and he slept." And now his wife has found comfort in her loss in carrying out the plans her husband had so much at heart, and today the work is finished; this new memorial hall stands as a monument to the memory of that Christian gentleman, Edgar L. Bailey, a memory which will be held by generation after generation of men and women who shall come to this hall from time to time to find recreation and pleasure in the various entertainments which shall here take place.
His soul, at last, has found a glad release, From earthly cares and now is full of peace, And in the days that are to come may all Who meet together here, within this hall, Think kindly of the friend now passed away, Whose monument we dedicate to-day. -Oscar Kuhns, Middletown, Conn.
The program of the dedication services of Bailey Memorial Hall was as follows:
Pastor: To the glory of God, our Father, the giver of all good gifts, to the honor of Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and Saviour; to the praise of the Holy Spirit, source of Life and Light.
People: We dedicate this hall. For cheer to those who are friendless, for strength to those who are tempted; for arousing the conscience against all evil; we dedicate this hall. For the strength of the Church's social life, for the recrea- tion of all ages and classes, for Christian cheer and fellowship, we dedicate this hall; for the advancement of the community spirit, for the extension of the church's influence, for the gath- ering of all to the Master's fold, we dedicate this hall, as a tribute of love and gratitude to the kind and generous donors of this hall, and a heartfelt offering to God, the source of all goodness. We, the people of Olivet Church and congregation, renewing the consecration of ourselves and our service, dedicate this hall in the name of the Father and of the Sun and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The address was given by Hon. J. K. Batchelder.
DYER, KIRK Worrell,
Motor Manufacturer.
For the past ten years actively identi- fied with the business interests of Middle- town, Mr. Dyer has established himself in the esteem and respect of his con- temporaries. He is descended from one of the first American families early estab- lished in Rhode Island. The first in this country was William Dyer, who was born in London, England, where he was a mer- chant, handling millinery and dry goods. In December, 1635, he settled at Boston, Massachusetts, whence he removed to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, being one of the original company which settled that place, a signer of the compact made March 7, 1638, for the government of the Colony, and on June 5, 1639, he joined in a similar compact for the settlement of Newport, where he was granted land. He
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was secretary of the Portsmouth and Newport Colony, from 1640 to 1647, gen- eral recorder in 1648 and attorney-general from 1650 to 1653, inclusive. In 1661-62 he was a commissioner and from 1664 to 1666, inclusive, was a deputy to the Gen- eral Court. He was general secretary of the Colony in 1664, 1665, 1668 and died in 1677. His first wife, Mary, was one of the martyrs, executed on Boston Common, May 31, 1660. Their eldest child, Samuel Dyer, baptized December 20, 1635, in Boston, lived in Newport and Kingstown, Rhode Island, and died in 1678. He was appointed, May 21, 1669, one of two con- servators of peace with the Narragansett Country and was long active in promot- ing its settlement. He married Anne Hutchinson, daughter of Captain Edward and Catherine (Hanby) Hutchinson, bap- tized November 19, 1643, granddaughter of the famous Anne Hutchinson of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, great-grand- daughter of Rev. Francis Marbury and grand-niece of the poet Dryden. She was descended from Edward Hutchinson of Alford, England, through his son, Wil- liam Hutchinson, and his wife, Anne Mar- low. Edward Dyer, third son of Samuel and Anne (Hutchinson) Dyer, born in 1670, was a house carpenter and owned a farm in North Kingstown, Rhode Is- land. He married Mary Green, who was born July 8, 1677, in Warwick, daughter of William and Mary (Sayles) Green, a great-granddaughter of Roger Williams. Edward Dyer, eldest child of Edward and Mary (Green) Dyer, born January 6, 1701, in North Kingstown, lived in that town, was made a freeman May 1, 1722, and was deputy to the General Court in 1748. He was the father of Edward Dyer, born 1725, in North Kingstown, made a free- man in 1752. He married, November 29, 1750, Elizabeth Fish, who was probably a
daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Fish of South Kingstown. Their fifth son, Henry Dyer, born July 12, 1759, in North Kings- town, was a pioneer settler in Shaftsbury, Vermont. He was a man of much mental capacity and as a youth was so eager for knowledge that he traveled three miles twice a day in order to attend school. Ile was very much interested in mathematics and was often wont to calculate in his mind mathematical problems quicker than his sons could master them with pencil. He settled in Manchester, Ben- nington County, Vermont, where he had a fine farm and died January 2, 1855. He married, March 19, 1787, Sarah Coy, and they had children: Moses, Anna, Olive, Lydia, Rufus, Dennis, David, Daniel, Louis and Heman.
Heman Dyer, grandson of Henry and Sarah (Coy) Dyer, was born, 1847, in Man- chester, where he grew up, attending the public schools and a seminary. About 1878 he removed to Rock Falls, Illinois, where he conducted a mercantile business and was postmaster for several years. In 1885 he removed to Pasadena, California, and there engaged in the real estate busi- ness and was long in the public service. For twenty-eight years preceding his death he was city clerk of Pasadena. He was buried December 1, 1920. He was an active member and Deacon of the Con- gregational Church, a thirty-second de- gree Scottish Rite Mason, served as State treasurer of the Royal Arcanum and was a member of the Modern Woodmen and Knights of the Maccabees. Politically, a Republican, he was many times unani- mously elected city clerk of Pasadena, be- ing supported by both parties. He mar- ried Sarah Elizabeth Worrell, who was born in the vicinity of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. Their only surviving child is the subject of this biography.
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Kirk Worrell Dyer was born January he was chairman five years. He now 31, 1882, in Rock Falls, Illinois, and was a represents the county and is secretary of the board in control of the Norwich State Hospital. In 1907 Mr. Dyer was married to Ruth (Coe) Pierson, widow of Frank Allison Pierson, born in Providence, Rhode Island, daughter of Orian Ward Coe and granddaughter of Osborn Coe of Cromwell and Pasadena. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson were the parents of a son, Frank Orian Ward Pierson, who now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Dyer. The latter are the parents of two daughters, Esther Lavinia and Margaret Elizabeth. small child when his parents removed to California. There he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1899, and was subsequently a student at Throop Institute, now the California Institute of Technology, from which he was graduated in 1902 with the degree of S. B. in Chemistry. For some time fol- lowing he was employed as chemist in a beet sugar factory and was subse- quently employed in the city treasurer's office of Pasadena, where he was chief deputy treasurer and tax collector for two years. Pursuing further studies at the ATKINS, Thomas Jefferson, Agriculturist. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the years of 1905-07, he received the de- gree of Bachelor of Science. In the mean- A prosperous and well known farmer of West Long Hill district, Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut, Mr. At- kins is of English descent, and resides on a homestead which has been in the possession of the Atkins family for gen- erations. The name of Atkins bears many spellings in early American records; in fact, it is still used under various spellings in the United States. Among the old English spellings is Atkyns, and it fre- quently appears in this country as Adkins. Several of the early New England immi- grants bore the name, including Joseph Atkins of Roxbury in 1630 and Abraham Atkins, residing in Boston in 1642. time he pursued a summer course at the University of Greenoble, France, and was for one year following this chemical en- gineer for the Opaque Shade Cloth Com- pany of West Pullman, Illinois. After spending a short time in California in 1910 he purchased a half interest in the Frisbie Motor Company of Middletown, becom- ing its secretary and treasurer, and in April, 1920, succeeded B. A. Frisbie as president of the company. Mr. Dyer has contributed in no small degree to the great growth and prosperity of this in- stitution. He occupies a beautiful home in Cromwell, formerly the home of the late Frank Allison Pierson of that town. Luke Atkins was in New Haven as early as 1639, and married there (second) May 1, 1651, Mary, daughter of Deacon Richard Platt of New Haven. He does not appear in New Haven records after that date and probably moved to Middle- town. His widow married, January 3, 1677, in Middletown, Thomas Wetmore. Josiah Atkins, undoubtedly a son of Luke by the latter's first marriage, lived in Middletown and received four acres of Mr. Dyer is still a member of the Con- gregational Church at Pasadena. In po- litical principle he is a Republican and has been allied with the Progressive wing of that party. In 1913 he represented Crom- well in the State Legislature and was sub- sequently a candidate on the Progressive ticket for member of the State Senate. He has been several years a member of the Cromwell School Committee, of which
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Albert Aikins
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land in an allotment there, not far from the present home of many of his descend- ants, on West Long Hill. He died Sep- tember 12, 1690. He married, October 8, 1673, his step-sister, Elizabeth Wet- more, born 1648, daughter of Thomas Wetmore. Ephraim Atkins, fourth son of Josiah, born March 9, 1685, lived in Middletown and died December 26, 1760. He married, June 16, 1709, Elizabeth Wet- more, born September 2, 1685, eldest child of Thomas, Jr., and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Wetmore. Elizabeth Hubbard, born Jan- uary 15, 1659, in Middletown, was the youngest child of George Hubbard, the patriarch. She was married, February 20, 1684, to Thomas Wetmore, who was born October 19, 1652, and died February I, 1689. She died December 6, 1725.
The eldest son of Ephraim Atkins was Thomas Atkins, born April 5, 1710, lived on Long Hill and built a house there in 1734, a short distance northwest of the present handsome home of his descendant, whose name heads this article. He mar- ried, August 6, 1735, Martha Miller, born March 28, 1705, daughter of "Governor" Benjamin Miller and granddaughter of Thomas Miller, the Middletown pioneer.
Ithamar Atkins, only son of Thomas and Martha (Miller) Atkins, born Novem- ber 16, 1757, was a prominent figure in the town, residing on the spot now occu- pied by T. J. Atkins, where he built a brick house in 1807. His farm embraced more than eight hundred acres of land, much of which is still in possession of his descendants. He was possessed of a strong mind, was industrious and capable, and achieved unusual success in life. He married, November 27, 1783, Anna Hub- bard, born October 18, 1762, twelfth child of Nehemiah Hubbard and Sarah Sill, de- scended from George Hubbard, the patri- arch. Ithamar Atkins died January 27, 1829, and his wife April 11, 1838.
Albert Atkins, sixth and youngest son of Ithamar and Anna (Hubbard) Atkins, was born September 14, 1804, on the pa- ternal homestead and lived there all his life, dying January 30, 1881, as the result of over-exertion in building a stone wall. The strain of severe labor brought on pleurisy, which was succeeded by con- sumption. Like all of his tribe, he had a strong will, was industrious, and pros- pered accordingly. He was three years of age when his parents moved to the house built by his father, which continued to be his home through life. The district school of the day furnished the founda- tion of his education, and he also attended a select school in Middletown. In early life he was a successful teacher, and among his pupils was his first wife, the mother of his children. Ambitious for a military career, frail health prevented the attainment of his hopes. In association with his elder brother, Henry, he man- aged the home farm for some years, and after the death of his father, he acquired its ownership by purchasing the interests of the other heirs. Of medium height and solid build, he was able to accomplish much by his own labor, and did not flinch from the effort. His labors were guided by intelligence, and he left a fine property to his heirs. Gifted with intelligence and a fine memory, he acquired much informa- tion of a practical nature, was often con- sulted by his neighbors, who found no cause for regret in following his advice. His methods of agriculture were in ad- vance of his time, he was possessed of de- termination and independence, and none were left in doubt as to his position on any subject that engaged his attention. A faithful supporter of the Methodist Church, as the exponent of his religious views, and an equally ardent supporter of Democratic principles in politics, he was respected by adversaries and adherents
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alike, and exercised a wide influence. Though not a seeker for office, he yielded to the solicitation of his townsmen in fill- ing local stations. Originality was a marked feature of his character, he read much, was a close observor, and was much above the average of men in mental capacity and influence. He respected character in others, and was a strong ad- vocate of temperance as an influence in moulding character. Mr. Atkins married, January 1, 1836, Susan Eliza Hale, born March 5, 1814, in Middlefield, died Octo- ber 20, 1864, daughter of Joseph and Julia (Stowe) Hale. Julia Stowe was a daugh- ter of Joshua Stowe, a very prominent citizen of Middlefield and Middletown, twenty years postmaster in the latter town. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins were the parents of four children, as follows: I. Frances, born July 16, 1837, died unmar- ried January 30, 1862. 2. Marion, born September 7, 1841, was married, April 25, 1866, to Leonidas C. Vinal, a druggist of Middletown, and died February 13, 1869. 3. Osmin, born January 6, 1844, graduated from Wesleyan University at Middletown in 1866 and from Columbia University in 1868. He engaged in the practice of law in New York City, but his health broke down and, after endeavoring to recuperate by visiting Florida, Minnesota and other parts, he died at Middletown Springs, Vermont, September 17, 1871, and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Middle- town, Connecticut. He married, July 13, 1868, Cordelia Knowlton of Maine. The fourth child, Thomas Jefferson, receives further mention below.
Thomas Jefferson Atkins, youngest and only surviving child of Albert and Susan E. (Hale) Atkins, is a worthy son of a worthy father, whose memory he justly reveres, was born August 18, 1846, in a house that stood on the site of his present
residence. He inherits the most promin- ent characteristics for which the Atkins family is notable, is well read, and a keen and intelligent observer of events and an original thinker. In boyhood he attended the district school on Long Hill, was later a student at the celebrated prepara- tory school of Daniel H. Chase in Mid- dletown City and taught school in his home district. At the age of twenty-two years, he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attended a preparatory class at the State University and found employ- ment in a flouring mill and a planing mill. At the request of his father, he re- turned to his native place to take charge of the cultivation of the homestead. Agri- culture has taken much of his attention, he has always been accustomed to take part in the labors of the farm until a very recent period, when the bulk of the home- stead was rented to a neighbor. Though he has advanced beyond the allotted years of man, he is still found actively engaged in such labors as are necessary about a country homestead. In 1915 the home built by his grandfather was taken down, and he erected on its site a thoroughly modern house, equipped with every mod- ern convenience, where he may rest when fatigued by his activities. He has em- ployed his leisure in pursuing investiga- tions of many subjects, as well as peru- sal of current literature, and is never at a loss for a topic of conversation with either the ignorant or the learned. He despises empty show and upstart pride, is modest and unpretentious in person, but quick to recognize merit in others. He is the owner of considerable real estate outside of Middletown, is a sound and conservative business man, a shrewd investor, whose judgment is everywhere respected. He is a charter member of Mattabessett Grange, a consistent up-
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holder of Democratic principles, but has rarely consented to become a candidate for office. For many years he served as justice of the peace. Ist nute.
Mr. Atkins married, in Minneapolis, October 9, 1872, Mary M. House, who was born August 18, 1852, in Manchester, New Hampshire, daughter of Josiah and Hannah House. She was a capable and faithful helpmeet, a loving companion, whose loss by death, February 14, 1883, was a heavy blow to her husband and children. Of the latter, only one, a daugh- ter, Grace M., now survives. The eldest, George R., born January 31, 1874, died December 20, 1920, at Vero, Florida. Albert, born December 2, 1878, died Jan- uary 8, 1883. Richard H., born June 13, 1882, resided at home and died May 23, 1909.
BACON, Louis Paddock,
Merchant, Plumbing and Steam Fitting.
A worthy and respected member of the ancient family which participated in the first settlement of Middletown, Mr. Bacon is identified with an important industry of the city. Nathaniel Bacon came from England and was among the settlers of Middletown. His son, Nathan- iel, was an extensive land owner in the town, and died in 1759. He married Han- nah Wetmore and their second son, Ben- jamin Bacon, was born November 28, 1708, lived in Middletown and married Rhoda Miller. Their second son, Phineas Bacon, born October 19, 1744, was a tan- ner, innkeeper and farmer, and died. in 1716. He married, December 25, 1766, his cousin, Sarah Atkins, born Decem- ber 27, 1745, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Miller) Atkins. Benjamin Bacon, eldest child of Phineas and Sarah, born November 17, 1767, died in 1840. He
married December 22, 1788, Abiah Corn- wall, who was born February 18, 1763, in Middletown, seventh daughter of Lieu- tenant Nathaniel and Mary (Cornwall) Cornwall, of Westfield. Benjamin Bacon, eldest child of Benjamin and Abiah (Cornwall) Bacon, born October 2, 1789, lived with his grandfather, Phineas Bacon, until the death of the latter. The man- agement of the paternal homestead came into his hands. He died December 20, 1881, in his ninety-third year, in posses- sion of all his faculties. He married Lavinia Wilcox, born January 31, 1797, third daughter of Joseph and Miriam (Ba- con) Wilcox. Mr. Bacon bears in his veins the blood of many Middletown pioneers.
Phineas Bacon, third son of Benjamin and Abiah (Cornwall) Bacon, was born November 4, 1795, in the Westfield sec- tion of Middletown, was a farmer in early life and later, operated a grist mill on West River, within the limits of the pres- ent city of Middletown, at the power now occupied by the I. E. Palmer hammock factory. He died October 29, 1882, in Newfield. He was a very active man, a member of the North Church, and a Re- publican from the organization of the party. He married, June 9, 1823, Sarah Paddock, born February 18, 1800, bap- tized at the North Church, October 12, 1883, "two or three years old." She was a daughter of Seth and Lucinda (Ken- yon) Paddock of Middletown, descended from Robert Paddock, who was in Plym- outh, Massachusetts, as early as 1643, probably earlier, and died July 25, 1650. His second son, Zachariah Paddock, born March 20, 1636, lived in that part of Barn- stable now Yarmouth, Massachusetts, where he died May I, 1727, in his eighty- eighth year. He married Deborah Sears, daughter of Richard Sears, who had a
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wife Dorothy and lived early in Dart- mouth. Deborah Sears was born there in September, 1639, and died August 17, 1732, "lacking about a month of being ninety-three years old." She was admit- ted to the Second Church of Yarmouth by letter from the First Church, August 16, 1727. They left forty-eight grand- children and thirty-eight great-grand- children, thirty of the latter being de- scendants of their second son, Zachariah. Robert Paddock, the fourth son, was born January 17, 1670, and lived in Yarmouth. There he married, March 6, 1702, Martha Hall, born May 24, 1670, daughter of John and Priscilla (Pearce) Hall. Their sec- ond son, Seth Paddock, was born March 13, 1705, in Yarmouth and married there, April 13, 1727, Mercy Nickerson, who was born November 22, 1706, daughter of John and Elizabeth Nickerson of that town.
Zachariah Paddock, son of Seth and Mercy (Nickerson) Paddock, born 1728, was the first of the family in Middletown, where he settled as early as 1751. His first land was purchased from Samuel Warner, Sr., the deed dated July 24, 1751, the amount one-fourth acre, price three hundred pounds. Subsequently he pur- chased of Andrew Bacon two other par- cels amounting to nearly forty-seven square rods. It is apparent that he was a mechanic or professional man, as his land was of small dimension and located in the village, now city. He died in Middle- town, May 13, 1800, in his seventy-second year. He married Hannah Smith, step- daughter of John Birdsey of (now) Mid- dlefield, whose wife was a widow Smith from Long Island. They had seven sons and one daughter, the latter being the last. Seth Paddock, third son of Zach- ariah and Hannah (Smith) Paddock, born in 1756, in Middletown, was a well-known resident of Middletown, a forceful, practi-
cal man and useful citizen. He died in 1839. He married, January 7, 1779, Phebe John- son, baptized June 3, 1759, died 1827, daughter of Elijah and Mary (Hall) John- son of Middletown, descended from John Johnson, who came from England in 1630 and settled at Roxbury. He was made a freeman there in May, 1631, was repre- sentative in the first General Court in 1634 and many years afterward, was a member, in 1638, of the Ancient and Hon- orable Artillery Company of Boston, in charge of arms and ammunition. He died September 30, 1657, leaving a good estate, and his wife, Margery, who came with him from England, was buried June 9, 1655. Their eldest son, Isaac Johnson, born in England, was a freeman of Rox- bury, March 4, 1635, a member of the Artillery Company, 1645, captain in 1667, representative in General Court in 1671. He was killed at the head of his company in the "Narragansett Fight" with Indians December 19, 1675. He married, January 20, 1637, Elizabeth Porter, and they were parents of Isaac Johnson, baptized Janu- ary 17, 1644, settled at Middletown, where he died February 3, 1720, leaving a good estate. He married, December 26, 1669, in Roxbury, Mary Harris, who died August 1, 1740. Their fourth son, Joseph Johnson, born March 9, 1677, in Middle- town, died November 12, 1739, and was buried on Farm Hill. He married, Janu- ary 25, 1698, Elizabeth Blake, who died March 24, 1720. Their eldest son, Joseph Johnson, born August 26, 1702, died April 30, 1768, was admitted to full communion at the First Church. He married (first) February 2, 1726, Mehitable Hamlin. They were the parents of Elijah Johnson, born December 3, 1734, baptized six days old, married, July 19, 1756, Mary Hall. Their daughter, Phebe, became the wife of Seth Paddock, as above related.
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