USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 41
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seventies he continued in this business and by that time the timber in his im- mediate section had been nearly all logged off. After this time Mr. Post gave his entire attention to the cultivation of his farm. He was an active and interested citizen in his community, and in politics was a War Democrat. Several times Mr. Post was honored with public office; he served as selectman and also was repre- sentative to the Legislature in 1876. Mr. Post married, April 28, 1841, Eliza Kel- logg, born December 1, 1819, daughter of Elisha and Emily (Stratton) Kellogg (see Kellogg V). Mr. and Mrs. Post were the parents of six children : I. Thaddeus Welles, served in the Civil War, and was eleven months in Andersonville Prison ; he was exchanged and wrote home from Annapolis, dying the same day. 2. John Henry, enlisted at the age of fourteen in the Civil War, and served throughout the war. 3. Edward K., resides in Andover, Connecticut. 4. George D., now living in New Haven, Connecticut (1921). 5. Robert Woodbridge, of whom further. 6. Anna E., married James H. Marsh, of Andover; she was a school teacher there for fifty years.
(VIII) Robert Woodbridge Post, son of Bissell Elijah and Eliza (Kellogg) Post, was born in Andover, November 19, 1861. He was educated in the public schools there and the high school in Wil- limantic. Subsequently he served with Case Brothers, of Manchester, paper man- ufacturers, an eight-year apprenticeship, and thoroughly learned the business. During the latter years he was superinten- dent of several of their mills. Mr. Post resigned from their employ to go with the Brookside Paper Company, of Manches- ter, of which he became a stockholder. In 1890 he was one of the four incorporators of his present business, the Westport Paper Company, of which he is now
president and treasurer. They built a mill which was burned August 11, 1900, and immediately another mill was erected. The business of manufacturing binder's board and other specialties has grown rapidly, and the plant from a small be- ginning has grown until today it repre- sents eight acres of ground on which are located a large brick and cement factory, housing the general office and pulp ma- chinery rooms and the manufacturing de- partment. They have a dock with 600 feet of water front. When the new build- ing was erected it was equipped with the most up-to-date and modern machinery, and it is one of the largest factories of its kind in the country. One of their big specialties has been gun wads and heavy box board. The products are largely used in Connecticut, and goes to large manu- facturing consumers.
Mr. Post is well known among the man- ufacturers of Connecticut ; he makes his home in Westport and takes much inter- est in local affairs. For the past ten years he has been a director of the Wethers- field State's Prison. A few years ago Mr. Post built a beautiful residence on the Post Road, on an eminence fifty feet above the road, which makes it a promi nent landmark, the site commanding a fine view of Long Island Sound. The architecture is of the school of the Span- ish renaissance. The walls are of solid concrete, while the roof is of red Spanish tile. Fraternally Mr. Post is a member of Temple Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Westport ; Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Nor- walk; Clinton Commandery, Knights Templar; Lafayette Consistory; and Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport.
Mr. Post married, August 20, 1884, Lisetta Hale, daughter of Dwight Hale, of Manchester. They attend the Congre-
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gational church, of Westport, and aid in its good works.
(The Kellogg Line).
(I) Samuel Kellogg, the ancestor of the Kellogg family, was born in Braintree, England, after 1630. The first record found of him in New England is that of his marriage, November 24, 1664, to Mrs. Sarah (Day) Gunn, daughter of Robert and Editha (Stebbins) Day.
(II) Samuel (2) Kellogg, son of Sam- uel (1) and Sarah (Day-Gunn) Kellogg, was born April 11, 1669, in Hadley, Mas- sachusetts, and died August 24, 1708, in Colchester, Connecticut. He married Hannah Dickinson, born January 18, 1666, daughter of Nathaniel Dickinson, of Had- ley. Samuel Kellogg was taken prisoner by the Indians in Hadley when a lad of eight years and was taken by them to Canada, later being found and taken home by his relatives. In 1701 he removed to Colchester, Connecticut.
(III) Deacon Joseph Kellogg, son of Samuel (2) and Hannah (Dickinson) Kel- logg, was born June 18, 1696, in Hatfield, and died about 1765 in Hebron, Connec- ticut. He went to Colchester with his father's family, and on February 28, 1722, sold his rights in the homestead to his brother for a few pounds and removed to Hebron. He lived in that part now called Marlboro until his death. He was a dea- con in the church for many years. He married, October 23, 1717, Abigail Miller, of Colchester.
(IV) Samuel (3) Kellogg, son of Dea- con Joseph and Abigail (Miller) Kellogg, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, about 1740, and died about 1780. He married, May 31,1759, Hannah Strong, daughter of Ezro and Abigail Strong, of Colches- ter.
(V) Elisha Kellogg, son of Samuel (3) and Hannah (Strong) Kellogg, was born November 9, 1763, and died April 16,
1846. He married, February 7, 1781, Em- ily Stratton, born April 24, 1761, died April 17, 1854, daughter of William and Ruth (Goodrich) Stratton, of Chatham. They lived on a farm near South Glaston- bury, Connecticut.
(VI) Eliza Kellogg, daughter of Elisha and Emily (Stratton) Kellogg, became the wife of Bissell Elijah Post (see Post VII).
SKENE, Rev. John Dolby, Clergyman.
The church as a field of labor offers opportunities for the gratifying of intel- lectual honors and the most sincere spirit- ual activities, but among the men who truly adorn the cloth, an occasional cler- gyman stands out eminent among his fellow laborers for the deep strength and dynamic force of a well-rounded, highly developed character. In the veins of the Rev. John Dolby Skene, of Stamford, Connecticut, flows the blood of Scotch ancestors who for centuries followed their King or their leader to the death, if need be, and even turned from the men for whom they would have given their lives to follow an ideal. When such spirit and devotion, together with brilliant mental- ity and broad culture, are consecrated to the Church of Christ, the meaning and dignity of the Christian religion is made clear and significant to the world.
The surname of Skene, according to one authority, is derived from Loch Skene, being a combination of the Gaelic, sgean, meaning cleanliness, brightness, and the old Norse, skina, to shine. Be- cause of the clear, shimmering surface of its waters this beautiful Loch was named Skene, which name was adopted by the first family which bore it because of their residence in its vicinity. Another his- torian says: "In Aberdeenshire the an- cient family of Skene always held the
Conn-8-19
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rank of free barons and took their name from the Castle of Skene, in the Earldom of Mar, which was in their possession from the thirteenth century until 1827, when by the death of the last Skene of that ilk the estates passed to his nephew, the Earl of Fife." Tradition asserts that the Skenes descended from the Robert- sons, of Struan, and that the first of them was so called from having killed an enor- mous wolf that endangered the life of Malcolm III. in the royal forest of Stocket with his skene (or dagger) only. Hence the family and clan arms are :
Arms-Gules, three sgians, or daggers, pale- wise, in fess, argent, hilted and pommelled, or, on the points of which as many wolves' heads of the third.
Crest-A dexter arm from the shoulder, issuing out of a cloud, and holding forth a triumphal crown or garland of leaves proper.
Supporters-On the dexter a Highlander in his proper garb, holding in his right hand a sgian, and on the sinister a Highlander in a more simple habit, his target on the left arm, and his dorlach, by his side, all proper.
Motto-Virtutis regia merces.
The history of the ancient Scottish family of Skene is most interesting. In the "View of the 'Diocese of Aberdeen,' it is stated that there had then been twen- ty-eight Lairds of Skene in direct suc- cession." The name appears in court records in 1488 and 1494. In the thir- teenth century, John de Skene joined the following of Donald Bain, the Usurper, but later proved his loyalty to King Alex- ander when he was restored to royal favor. John de Skene, his great-grandson, during the reign of Alexander III., was chosen one of the arbiters between Bruce and Beloil, both contestants for the crown. A grandson, Robert de Skene, was a close friend of Bruce, fought at Bannockburn, and was given a charter by his leader in 1318. Later on in history we find Alex- ander Skene, fighting for King James
during the celebrated battles of Flodden ; still later James Skene, his direct descend- ant, leading the charges at the battle of Pinkie, where he fell in 1757. Under the Duke of Marlborough, Major George Skene distinguished himself in the wars of Queen Anne, and in 1720 purchased the estate in Forfarshire. Two other mem- bers of this family were soldiers and died in battle, one in Spain, and one in the battle of Preston, in 1745.
This warlike history by no means stamps the family as a war-making race. The times were troublous and they found their duty leading them forth to battle, and the world well knows that a Scot will do his duty without counting the. cost. When conditions became more set- tled and there was opportunity for more peaceful pursuits, the family which had given such magnificent warriors to the service of their leaders also gave to the world brilliant lights in the various pro- fessions. A branch of the old family of Skene designated as of Curriehill, in the Parish of Colinton, were said by the "Old Statistical account" to be in some way connected with the royal family. John Skene, of Curriehill, came prominently forward as an advocate in the reign of James VI. In 1575, with Sir James Bal- four, John Skene was appointed by Re- gent Morton a committee to study and make a comprehensive digest of the laws of Scotland. It was a Skene who did the actual work of the commission, and he was publicly commended for the thor- oughness and excellence of his work and also pensioned. In 1588 he accompanied Sir James Melville of Malhill, on a mis- sion to the Court of Denmark to conclude a marriage with the Princess Anne. In 1594 he was appointed lord clerk regis- ter. Three years before that he was one of the eight lords commissioners ap- pointed to look after the King's Ex-
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chequer, "properties and casualties." He is reputed to have been a very scholarly man. According to a short biography by Sir James Melville, he was able to make addresses in Latin. John Skene is best known for his compilation of the old laws and constitutions of Scotland, printed in Edinburgh in 1609, and covering the period from Malcolm II. to King James I. The title of the work is "Regiam Ma- jestatem."
In 1590 Gilbert Skene was a professor of medicine in King's College, Aberdeen, and was later physician to the King, which honored position he resigned in 1594. He was afterwards knighted. James Skene was a long and faithful friend of Sir Walter Scott, co-worker and co-part- ner with him, and responsible for many of the most interesting scenes in the works of Scott. Andrew Skene succeeded Lord Cockburn as solicitor-general of Scotland. Alex Skene, of that ilk, appears in 1633 in the "Book of the Annualren- taris" for Aberdeenshire together with Alex Skene, of Drumbreck, Gilbert Skene, of Dyce, and James Skene, of Ramoir.
William Skene, in the early part of the nineteenth century, resided in Aberdeen, Scotland, and enjoyed with the sincere satisfaction of a man of peace the less turbulent times. With his wife, Eliza- beth, he was highly respected and much beloved in the community.
John Skene was born in the old home in Scotland, and made a lifelong study of horticulture. He became an authority on the subject and was consulted by owners of large estates regarding the laying out of their gardens and the propagation and culture of fine and curious plant life. He married Anna Dolby, of Lincolnshire, England, and their children were: Wil- liam, a clergyman of the Episcopal church, who died in 1871; Mary, wife of George W. Wilbur, president of the Wil-
bur Shirt and Collar Company of Troy, New York; George, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church; Anna, who died in Troy, in 1883; John Dolby, of further mention ; Charles, an inventor and expert mechanic, long manager of an iron foundry in Chicago.
Rev. John Dolby Skene was born Oc- tober 16, 1849, in Lincolnshire, England. His parents came to this country when he was a small child and he received his education here, beginning in the public schools of Troy, New York. His prepara- tion for college was made under private tutors, and his theological studies were directed by Rev. Dr. J. I. Tucker, then rector of the Church of Holy Cross, Troy, and Rev. Dr. Nichols, of St. Mark's Church, Hoosic Falls, New York. His whole course of preparation was marked by brilliant scholarship and the most de- vout sense of religious responsibility.
Mr. Skene was ordained deacon in St. Mark's Church in Hoosic Falls, at the Feast of the Epiphany in 1877, and on St. Peter's day, 1878, was advanced to the priesthood. He acted as assistant to Dr. Nichols until May, 1881, and was then sent to Gouverneur, New York, by the Bishop of Albany. He had charge of that parish for a year and a half. The Bishop then sent him to Ilion, New York where he remained three years, going on at the end of that period to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where he remained until 1889. Next he went to St. Paul's Church, Brooklyn, New York, and this pastorate he held until December 1, 1894. He then went to Danbury, Connecticut, where he remained until 1902. From 1903 to 1904, Rev. Mr. Skene was without a parish, and spent the year in California. In May, 1904, he was transferred to St. Andrew's Church, Stamford, Connecticut. During his pastorate there the parish has grown to such an extent that it has been neces-
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sary to engage a priest to assist Mr. Skene in the manifold duties that devolve upon a rector.
Mr. Skene has never narrowed the scope of his work to the strictly religious duties of his office. He believes that it is the duty of every man of wholesome ideas and upright convictions to enter into the public life of the community and spend his strength and wield his influ- ence toward upbuilding of civic righteous- ness. While never a partisan, he has for the greater part of his long career sup- ported the Republican party.
His life has been far too crowded with labor for the moral and spiritual welfare of his parish to admit of his taking such recreation as is afforded by the purely social organization which would find him so congenial a member, but he has always held membership in the Masonic frater- nity. He is a member of the lodge at Gouverneur, New York, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; also the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, there.
In 1879 Rev. Mr. Skene married, in Hoosic Falls, New York, Ellen A. Cal- houn, daughter of John C. and Harriet (Breeze) Calhoun, Mrs. Calhoun being a member of an old Holland family which has been established in Bennington, Ver- mont, for many generations. Rev. and Mrs. Skene are the parents of three chil- dren: 1. John Calhoun, who resides in Banning, California, and is engaged in the automobile business; he married -, and they have two children. 2. George Matthew, born September 21, 1886, in Vineland, New Jersey ; graduated from Norwalk High School, 1904, at- tended Hopkins Grammar School and · University of Michigan ; in 1908 he grad- uated from Yale University Law School, and was admitted to the bar the same year ; he married Dorothy Wilson, daugh- ter of John T. Wilson, of Mount Vernon,
New York, and they have one daughter, Dorothy. 3. Malcolm Stanley, born March 25, 1890, in Brooklyn, New York ; he is a graduate of the Norwalk High School, the Hopkins Grammar School and of the Sheffield Scientific School; on De- cember 20, 1911, he was commissioned second lieutenant, Coast Artillery Corps, United States army, and has done serv- ice in various parts of the United States and Washington; he spent three and a half years in Panama; in the summer of 1918 he was with the American Expedi- tionary Forces in France, and was com- missioned captain in 1917 and major in 1918.
LEE, Mortimer Montgomery, Ex-Mayor, Former Legislator.
When the titles we have just written are appended to the name of a citizen, a formal introduction by the biographer is more than superfluous. It is certainly so in the case of Mr. Lee, whose record of long and distinguished service has given him a State-wide reputation. Over and above his political eminence the name of Mr. Lee is notable as that of a member of the firm of Haughton & Lee, well known importers of New York City. Mr. Lee has been for many years a resident of South Norwalk, Connecticut, the city which has been the scene of his political career.
The name of Lee is spelled also Lea, Leigh, and in various other ways, and signifies a dweller at a meadow or pas- ture. It is likewise an old word for a shelter or a sheltered place. The Lee family is one of the most ancient in Eng- lish history. Its early seat appears to have been in Cheshire, but branches are found in a number of other counties. Members of the family emigrated, at early periods in Colonial history, to Mas-
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sachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and New York.
John Lee, founder of the Massachusetts branch of the family, was born about 1600, in England, and appears to have been the son of a Londoner, probably a merchant. Records show that in 1634 John Lee was living in Agawam (Ipswich), Massachu- setts. He was a farmer and a soldier, perhaps with some military rank, as the inventory of his estate includes a buff coat, fire-arms, such as pistols and hol- sters, a musket and a sword and belt. That he was not illiterate is shown by the fact that his "bookes" were of sufficient importance to be named and valued in the inventory, and that he was a man of means is evident from the same inventory of his estate amounting to £928 12s. 2d., a handsome sum for the times. The seal he used on his will bore the device of a bird (not a martlet) somewhat similar to the one used on the will of Thomas Leigh, of Ipswich, 1661, and similar to that used by his son, John Lee, with the omission, on the son's seal, of the motto, "Sola."
(I) Daniel Lee, Jr., probably a descend- ant of John Lee, the immigrant, and great- grandfather of Mortimer Montgomery Lee, enlisted in the Revolutionary army from the neighborhood of Worcester, Massachusetts. He afterward lived for many years as a farmer in Oneonta, New York, and for a time served as tax col- lector for the town.
(II) Barnes Lee, son of Daniel Lee, Jr., was born in Milford, New York, where he engaged in mercantile business. He married Azubah Sargent. Mr. Lee was a handsome man, and of such great strength that he never found his equal in a wrestling match, being able to throw any man in the vicinity. His mental abil- ities were not inferior to his physical prowess. His death took place in Mil- ford.
(III) Alonzo Lee, son of Barnes and Azubah (Sargent) Lee, was born in Mil- ford, New York, which was the original part of Oneonta. He was educated in the district school, and even as a boy helped to take care of his widowed mother and three sisters. While still a young man he removed to Farmington, Pennsylvania, where he conducted a store and also dealt in wool. He married Almira A. Wright, born in Greene county, New York, daugh- ter of Ashel Wright, of Farmington, Pennsylvania, and their children were: Minnie, married Daniel Lee; Mortimer Montgomery, mentioned below; and Charles H., of Detroit. Minnie Lee, after her marriage, lived in Knoxville, Penn- sylvania, and both she and her husband are now deceased. For some years before his death, Alonzo Lee, the father of the family, lived in Elmira, New York. His wife was a member of the Christian church.
(IV) Mortimer Montgomery Lee, son of Alonzo and Almira A. (Wright) Lee, was born May 28, 1846, in Farmington, Pennsylvania, where he attended school for a time, afterward passing successively to Troopsburg Academy and Union Acad- emy, Knoxville, Pennsylvania. He was then for some years associated with his father in the latter's business in Farming- ton and also in Elmira. In 1880 Mr. Lee went to New York City, where he formed a partnership with William Atwood Haughton under the firm name of Haugh- ton & Lee. He has since engaged very successfully in the business of importing and handling fine lace and silk goods at wholesale, keeping many salesmen on the road and covering every State in the Union.
Since becoming a resident of South Norwalk, Mr. Lee has identified himself actively with the leading interests of his home community. He is vice-president
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of the People's Trust Company, of South Norwalk, and affiliated with Old Well Lodge, No. 108, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of the same place. While a resident of Elmira he took the Royal Arch and Commandery degrees in that city.
Always a staunch Republican, Mr. Lee has for many years played a prominent part in the political life of South Nor- walk. In 1892-93-94, he was mayor of the city, retaining the office until 1895, and in 1901-02 was again summoned by his fel- low-citizens to serve them in the highest municipal position of trust and responsi- bility. During both his administrations he introduced several innovations which were accepted by the city not merely as changes, but as real and valuable im- provements and have been retained ever since. They included a book of police rules which all officers are required to carry in their pockets, and he also intro- duced the taxing of property at its full value. This met with much opposition, but his wisdom has since been shown in the result. His action was afterward fol- lowed in other cities all over the State of Connecticut. In 1905 Mr. Lee repre- sented his fellow-citizens in the Legisla- ture, serving on various important committees and accomplishing results of practical use and genuine value to his community and his constituents.
Mr. Lee married, June 24, 1885, Julia Clarissa Adams (see Adams IX) and they are the parents of two sons and a daugh- ter: Guy E., of Norwalk; Marion Mont- gomery, wife of Le Roy Montgomery, of South Norwalk, a biography of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; and Rob- ert M., of South Norwalk.
Truly, a well-rounded career has been that of Mortimer Montgomery Lee. As business man, political leader, mayor and legislator, he has done work that will
endure and has writ his name large in the history of Connecticut.
(The Adams Line).
The home of the Adams family, three centuries ago, was Devonshire, England, but it is thought that they went thither, from Wales, and that the patronymic, which signifies "Adam's son," was orig- inally Ap Adam.
(I) Henry Adams, called Henry Ad- ams of Braintree, came in 1632 or 1633 from Devonshire, England, to Boston, Massachusetts. He was granted land in Mount Wollaston, an area which now in- cludes Braintree, Quincy and Randolph, his own land being the present site of Braintree.
(II) Lieutenant Thomas Adams, son of Henry Adams, was born in 1612, in Eng- land, and was a young man when he came with his father to Massachusetts. He re- moved from Braintree to Concord, where he was active in military affairs and held civil offices. He married Mary Black- more. His death occurred in 1688, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
(III) Jonathan Adams, son of Lieuten- ant Thomas and Mary (Blackmore) Ad- ams, was born in 1646, in Concord, and became a farmer in or near Littleton, Massachusetts. He married, in 1681, Leah Gould (Goole?). He died in 1712, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
(IV) David Adams, son of Jonathan and Leah (Gould) 'Adams, was born in 1699, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He married, in 1723, in Canterbury, Connecti- cut, Dorcas Paine. David Adams died in Canterbury, in 1759.
(V) Levi Adams, son of David and Dorcas (Paine) Adams, was born in 1728, in Canterbury, Connecticut. He followed the trade of a carpenter. He served, with three of his sons, in the Revolutionary army, afterward removing to Vermont, and thence to Hartwick, Otsego county,
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New York. He married, in 1751, Mar- garet Perkins. The death of Levi Adams occurred in Hartwick, in 1816.
(VI) Sergeant Levi (2) Adams, son of Levi (1) and Margaret (Perkins) Adams, was born in 1754, in Oswego, Oswego county, New York, and was a carpenter by trade. He removed to Otsego county, New York, and Chautauqua county, New York. As a young man he served in the Revolutionary army with his father and two brothers. He married, in 1772, in Canterbury, Hannah Pettingall. Ser- geant Adams was enrolled as a pensioner in May, 1833, and died in December of the same year.
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