USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 3 > Part 30
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(I) James Shearer, founder of the fam- ily in America, was born in County An- trim, Ireland, in 1678. In 1720 he emi- grated to the New World, and settled in the town of Union, Connecticut. He re- mained in Union for a period of six years, and in 1726 his family and that of the Nevins removed to Elbows, near the town of Palmer, Massachusetts. He occupied a central location in the district, his farm being laid out east from Cedar Swamp brook and south of Deacon Sedgwick's farm. He was a man of considerable prominence in the early community and several localities in the vicinity were named after him and his family. His home was frequently used by the proprie- tors of the town for their business meet- ings. The children of James Shearer were : I. John. 2. James, Jr. 3. Williams.
(II) John Shearer, son of James Shear- er, was born in 1710, and accompanied his parents to America in 1720. He later set- tled in Brimfield, in the easterly part of what is now Three River village. His children were: 1. Joseph. 2. John, born March 22, 1746; married, 1774, Jane White. 3. William. married Jerusha Ferry. 4. Thomas. 5. David, married Kate King, 1791. 6. Jonothan. born March 29, 1762; married Hannah Dick- inson. 7. Noah, married Terza Merrick in 1791. 8. Daniel, mentioned below. 9. Jane, married Wallace Little. 10. Betsey, married William White.
(III) Esquire Daniel Shearer, son of 206
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John and Jane Shearer, was very promi- nent in the local affairs of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, during his entire lifetime. He was active in the judicial and political life of the place. He married Sarah King. Their children were: I. Elvira, married A. V. Blanchard, October 25, 1827. 2. Jane, married William Blanch- ard, August 23, 1831. 3. Columbia, men- tioned below.
(IV) Columbia Shearer, third daugh- ter of Judge Daniel and Sarah (King) Shearer, married on September 12, 1836, Nathan Moore Cutler, son of the Hon. Nathan and Hannah (Moore) Cutler. (See Cutler VII.)
(King).
Among the pioneer settlers of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, and the imme- diate vicinity, was John King, Esq., the progenitor of the King family herein under consideration. The theory has been advanced that John King, Esq., was a resident of the town of Springfield, Mas- sachusetts, prior to his coming to Palmer, as were many of the original settlers of the place. There has, however, been no proof to substantiate the theory. The King family of Palmer, in subsequent generations became large landowners, and were numbered among the most promi- nent and influential citizens of the town, active in civic and religious affairs, office holders, and public servants of ability.
Arms: Sable on a chevron, or, between three crosses crosslet of the last, three escallops of the first. An esquire's helmet surmounts the shield.
(I) John King, the progenitor of the family and the immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1681. The date of his coming to America is not known. Prior to his emigration he was married in Eng- land to Sarah -, born in 1691. He became the first settler of the Elbow dis-
trict, Hampshire county, Palmer, Massa- chusetts, where he was the first to build a crude log cabin, camping out, tradition says, near the site of the old cemetery during the first few days there. He finally located near the small stream which after- wards became known as King's brook. The noted Tamor spring divided his prop- erty from that of his neighbors, Richard Combs, of Springfield, and Ebenezer Mi- rick, of the same place.
The following mention of the original John King and his family is found on the flyleaf of the first volume of the Rochester Church Records :
On the 18th of May, 1729, then John King and Sarah, his wife, who lived at a place called the Elbows, in Hampshire Co., owned the covenant, and their children were baptized, viz .: William, Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin, Aaron and Sarah, by me, who was sent by the proprietors of the land to minister to them. TIMOTHY RUGGLES.
Had the visit been six months later, the result might been different. - Hardwick History, per Lucius Page, D. D.
The children of John and Sarah King were: I. John, Jr., born in Boston, in 1715; married Margaret 2. Jo- seph, born in 1716. 3. Thomas, born in 1719; married Jemima -. 4. Aaron, mentioned below. 5. Benjamin, born in 1722 ; died June 7, 1756. 6. William, born in 1720. 7. Sarah, born in 1723. 8. Moses, died April 26, 1729. 9. Hannah, born Au- gust 8, 1729; died September 4, 1729. 10. Mary, born December 30, 1730; married Captain Sylvanus Walker. II. David, born in April. 1733; married Mary Graham. 12. Jonathan, born January 17, 1736.
(II) Aaron King, son of John and Sarah King, was born in 1725. He was a resident of Elbow District, Palmer, Mas- sachusetts, all his life, and was a promi- nent citizen of the place.
He married Sarah Kibbe, of Connecti-
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cut. Their children were: I. Sarah, born September 7, 1747 ; married Thomas Bliss, April 25, 1765. 2. Aaron, born July 2, 1750; died October 22, 1754. 3. Joseph, born August 20, 1752; died October 8, 1754. 4. Myrane, born September 7, 1755; married Charles Eddy. 5. Isaac, born June 20, 1757, returned to England. 6. Jesse, mentioned below.
(III) Jesse King, son of Aaron and Sarah (Kibbe) King, was born in El- bow District, Palmer, Massachusetts, on March 5, 1759. He was one of the most prominent citizens of the town during the greater part of his life-time, and was ac- tively identified with local affairs. He was also prominent in the militia and bore the rank of captain.
He married, February 24, 1781, Mary B. Greyham, daughter of Rev. Mr. Grey- ham, of Pelham, Massachusetts. Their children were: I. Aaron, born October 15, 1782; married Eliza Ketchum. 2. Sarah, mentioned below. 3. Myrana, born July 7, 1786; married Timothy Ferrell. 4. Nabbie, born August 1I, 1788, married Gursham Makepeace, of Warren, Massa- chusetts. 5. Mary L., born August 9, 1790; married Daniel King, of Palmer. 6. Jesse, born August 8, 1792. 7. Isaac, born July 2, 1795; married Abby Cutler, of Warren, Massachusetts. 8. Joseph, born November 19, 1798; married Mary E. Chamber, and removed to Mobile, Ala- bama.
(IV) Sarah King, daughter of Captain Jesse and Mary (Greyham) King, was born in Elbow District. Palmer, Massa- chusetts, October 22, 1784. She married Judge Daniel Shearer. Esq., of Palmer, Massachusetts.
SMITH, Emor Armington,
Telephone Company Manager, Legislator.
Emor Armington Smith, District Com- mercial Manager of the Southern New
England Telephone Company at Hart- ford, is identified not only with the busi- ness interests of his city, but also with its political life, having served as a mem- ber of the Connecticut Legislature. Through his maternal ancestry, Mr. Smith is numbered among the lineal de- scendants of Roger Williams.
Emor Armington Smith was born Au- gust 17, 1864, in Providence, Rhode Island, and is a son of Jencks Appleby and Harriet James (Medbury) Smith. The ancestral record of Mrs. Smith is appended to this biography. Emor Arm- ington Smith was educated in the public schools of his native city, and afterward served an apprenticeship to the manufac- turing jewelers' trade. He then spent some time in the service of the Liver- more Stylographic Pen Company, and in 1882 became chief operator of the Provi- dence Telephone Company. This posi- tion Mr. Smith retained until October, 1884, when he entered the service of the Southern New England Telephone Com- pany. Remaining in his native city until he attained his majority, he has since then, filled various positions in different parts of Connecticut, each change bring- ing with it increased responsibility. On April 1, 1904, he was appointed to his present position as commercial manager of the Hartford and Waterbury District, and under his aggressive methods the number of telephones in use has been greatly increased. Not only this but the business in general has received an added impetus and has been brought into a highly flourishing condition.
When in Providence, Mr. Smith served five years in the United Train of Artillery, and since coming to Hartford he has taken an active interest in public affairs. For five years he was a member of the Common Council and Board of Aldermen, serving for one year as president of the board and ex officio acting mayor during
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the absence of Mayor Henney in Europe. In 1905 Mr. Smith became a member of the Connecticut Legislature, serving on the committee on cities and boroughs, and holding the position of chairman of the committee on assignment of seats. During his term many acts were passed for the city of Hartford which were due largely to his efforts. The most useful of these was the law establishing the Hartford Board of Finance. Another important board created was the Board of Contract and Supply. A seat in the Chamber of Commerce is occupied by Mr. Smith. He affiliates with St. John's Lodge, No. 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Norwalk; the Royal Arch Chapter, of Norwalk, and Hamilton Coun- cil, of Meriden. He is a charter member of A. H. Hall Council of the Royal Ar- canum, of which he is past regent. His clubs are the Republican, City and Hart- ford, and in the last named he holds the office of secretary. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of New York City. He is a member of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Meriden.
Mr. Smith married, June 10, 1891, Anna C., daughter of James and Catherine (Morgan) Murray, of Norwich.
The record of Mr. Smith is that of an able and useful citizen-an enterprising business man and a disinterested public official.
(The Medbury Line).
(I) Josiah Medbury was born Septem- ber II, 1776, and married Phoebe Rhodes (see Rhodes line). Twelve children were born to them.
(II) Thomas, son of Josiah and Phoebe (Rhodes) Medbury, was born April 25, 1801, and married, June 18, 1826, Eliza- beth J. Armington, who was born No- vember 12, 1806.
(III) Harriet James, daughter of
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Thomas and Elizabeth J. (Armington) Medbury, was born June 7, 1836, and be- came the wife of Jencks Appleby Smith, as stated above.
(The Rhodes Line).
(I) John Rhodes was born in 1658, and married, February 12, 1685, Waite Water- man (see Waterman line). The death of John Rhodes occurred August 14, 1716. He and his wife were the parents of eight children.
(II) John (2), son of John (I) and Waite (Waterman) Rhodes, was born November 20, 1691, and married, April 29, 1714, Catharine Holden, who died July 25, 1731, leaving nine children. John Rhodes survived his wife many years, passing away in 1776.
(III) Charles, son of John (2) and Catharine (Holden) Rhodes, was born September 29, 1719, and married, Janu- ary 31, 1739, in Warwick, Deborah Greene, who was born February 4, 1721. They were the parents of eleven children. Charles Rhodes died early in 1777, at Cranston, Rhode Island.
(IV) Peter, son of Charles and De- borah (Greene) Rhodes, was born Feb- ruary 24, 1742, and married, March 22, 1761, Hester Arnold, who was born Octo- ber 23, 1740. Nine children were born to them. The death of Peter Rhodes occurred March 16, 1823.
(V) Phoebe, daughter of Peter and Hester (Arnold) Rhodes, was born Feb- ruary 14, 1768, and became the wife of Josiah Medbury (see Medbury line).
(The Waterman Line).
(I) Resolved Waterman was born in 1638, and married, in 1659, Mercy Wil- liams (see Williams line). Resolved Waterman died in 1670, and the death of his widow occurred in 1705.
(II) Waite, daughter of Resolved and
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Mercy (Williams) Waterman, was born in 1668, became the wife of John (I) Rhodes (see Rhodes line), and died in III.
(The Williams Line).
(I) Roger Williams, founder of the colony of Rhode Island, was born in 1599, in Wales, and was a clergyman of the Church of England. In 1631 he arrived in Boston, accompanied by his wife Mary, and about 1636, being driven from the colony on a charge of heresy, he jour- neyed through the wilderness with a num- ber of his adherents and founded the town of Providence. After half a century of usefulness he died, in 1683, in Rhode Island.
(II) Mercy, daughter of Roger and Mary Williams, was born in July, 1640, and became the wife of Resolved Water- man (see Waterman line).
ANDERSON, Joseph, S. T. D., Clergyman, Antiquarian, Historian.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Anderson, an eminent New England clergyman of the Congregational faith, an antiquarian, and an author of note, came of ancestry rep- resenting several Scottish clans. His paternal forebears resided in the North Highlands, while on the maternal side he was lineally descended from the families of MacBain, Cameron, and Grant. He was born at Broomton, Easter Ross, Scotland, December 16, 1836. The only child of William and Mary (Rose) An- derson, he came with his parents to the United States in 1842, spending his child- hood in Delaware county, New York, and in Astoria, Long Island.
As a lad he was much given to out-of- doors sports, which may account for his exceptionally robust constitution. He was naturally inclined to books and study, however, and at the age of five
years could read the Bible easily. When he was thirteen years of age the family removed to New York, the father having been for many years a manufacturer of fine paints in that city. The early edu- cation of the son, begun in Scotland, was now continued in one of the New York public schools, and from the latter Dr. Anderson entered the College of the City of New York, then known as the Free Academy. He was graduated from that institution in 1854 as valedictorian of his class, and from the Union Theological Seminary in 1857. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After completing his seminary course he returned to the Col- lege of the City of New York as tutor in Greek and Latin. In 1874 he declined an offer of the chair of English Litera- ture in Michigan University. He re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater in 1857, and enjoyed the distinction of being the first alumnus to be invited to deliver the baccalaureate address at commencement. In 1878 Yale College conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology. Elected a fellow of Yale University in 1884, for several years before his death being the senior member of the corpora- tion, he served that institution for more than thirty years, and was recognized as a champion of liberal studies. He also did much to lay the foundation for educa- tional progress at Yale.
Dr. Anderson was ordained to the Con- gregational ministry in 1858, and became successively the pastor of three "first" churches in Connecticut cities: The First Church of Stamford, 1858-61; the First Church of Norwalk, 1861-64; and the First Church of Waterbury, 1865-1905. He began his work in Norwalk on the first Sunday of the Civil War, while his pastorate in Waterbury dated from April, 1865, and continued for four decades, his
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resignation having been tendered on the fortieth anniversary of his settlement. He became pastor emeritus in 1905, and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles A. Dinsmore, D. D., the present pastor. As clergyman and preacher, Dr. Anderson won distinction, showing catholicity of spirit and a "wide humanness." In creed he was a liberal Congregationalist, hav- ing been among the first of New England ministers to advocate the so-called New Theology. He did valuable work in be- half of church federation, and in 1885 was leader in a movement to establish the American Congress of Churches. His in- terest in missions was lifelong and keen, and during a summer vacation in semi- nary days he labored as a missionary of the American Sunday School Union in Northern Illinois, in this pioneer work traveling more than a thousand miles on foot. He was moderator of the General Association of Connecticut in 1877 and again in 1890, and moderator of the Gen- eral Conference of Congregational Churches of Connecticut in 1878; dele- gate to the International Council of Con- gregational Churches held in London in 1891 ; president of the Connecticut Bible Society during the years 1884-1904: direc- tor of the Missionary Society of Connec- ticut, 1885-1906 ; and a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
As a scholar, Dr. Anderson was ver- satile and thorough. His interests were wide, but he gave special attention to history and philology, selecting as his particular field of research the relics and history of the North American Indians. In collaboration with the Bureau of Eth- nology at Washington, he also specialized in the languages of the Algonkian family. In connection with this work he accu- mulated a valuable library of books and pamphlets and a representative collection
of stone implements. Although he left no original volumes of importance, he gained considerable reputation as a writer, and was the author of a number of valuable papers on local history. In addition to these he published various poems and sermons, as well as articles in magazines. He also delivered many addresses, several of which have appeared in print. An incomplete list of his pub- lications may be found in the Annual Re- port of the American Historical Associ- ation for 1889, pages 174-176. In 1872-73 he was the editor of the "Waterbury American," one of the leading news- papers of New England. In 1892 "The Churches of Mattatuck" was published under his name as editor. He was like- wise the editor and joint author of "The Town and City of Waterbury, Connec- ticut," a work of exceptional historical interest, appearing in three volumes in 1896. lie was a member of the American Historical Association, the American Phil- ological Association, the American Anti- quarian Society, the National Institute of Social Science, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the New Haven Colony His- torical Society.
During his last years his interests centered in The Mattatuck Historical So- ciety of Waterbury, of which he was one of the charter members. Following the bicentenary of the town of Waterbury, when special enthusiasm was aroused concerning local history, this society was founded on the evening of Forefathers' Day, 1877, under the leadership of the late Hon. Frederick J. Kingsbury, who was its first president and its chief offi- cer for nearly thirty-three years. When the society was reconstructed in 1902, Dr. Anderson became one of its vice- presidents, holding that office until the death of Mr. Kingsbury in 1910. when he succeeded to the presidency, thus becom-
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ing its second chief officer. He was ap- pointed curator of the collections of the society in 1902, and chairman of the Memorial Committee in 1915, holding these various offices until his death.
Through the generosity of friends, the Indian relics and other stone implements accumulated by Dr. Anderson were pur- chased and presented to The Mattatuck Historical Society, and served as the nucleus of its museum exhibit. The books and pamphlets used in connection with these relics were purchased by the late Elisha Leavenworth, the benefactor to whom the society owes its present status, and this gift forms the nucleus of a valuable library, as these works espe- cially relate to the races of men, the stone age in Europe and America, and the American Indians.
DI. Anderson made his first visit to his native land in 1863. After resigning his pastorate in Waterbury, he with his wife spent a winter in Porto Rico with his son. On returning to Connecticut in the spring of 1906, he made his home in Woodmont on Long Island Sound, a summer colony of which he was the pio- neer settler in 1874. He was warden of this borough from 1904 to 1908. In 1891, after attending the International Council of Congregational Churches in London, he made a trip through England and Scotland and in some of the more north- erly countries on the Continent. He traveled more extensively in 1907, when he visited Italy, Egypt and the Holy Land. After the death of Mrs. Anderson, he closed his home at Woodmont and again took up his residence in Water- bury. During previous years spent in the latter city, he served several sessions on the Board of Education. In National politics, he usually voted the Republican ticket.
On January 24, 1859, Dr. Anderson was
married to Anna Sands, daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Dorothy (Hamil- ton) Gildersleeve, of Brooklyn. After a long illness, Mrs. Anderson died at "Winnituxit," the home in Woodmont, April 6, 1914. Five children were born to them: William, whose death followed a brief illness in 1884; Mary Rose, who died November 25, 1889, a year after her marriage to Dr. Carl E. Munger ; Joseph, Jr., who died early in 1917, leaving a widow and two young daughters; and Isabel Hoyt and Anne Sands, twins, the former dying in infancy, and the latter being the sole survivor of the family.
Increasing ill health made the last year of Dr. Anderson's life one of depression and suffering. The hope of deriving benefit from a more northerly climate led his physician to consent to his attendance on the Congregational Conference at Star Island, or Isles of Shoals, in August, 1916. After a short stay, however, symptoms so alarming appeared that he started at once for home. He was only able to reach Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was hurried to a hospital. his death taking place there August 18, 1916, in the eightieth year of his age. Funeral services in charge of the Rev. Dr. Dins- more were held in the First Congrega- tional Church, Waterbury, on August 23, and were largely attended. Interment followed in the Riverside Cemetery, Waterbury, beside his wife, in the lot belonging to the church with which he was so long associated.
BULKELEY, Morgan Gardner,
Soldier, Statesman, Man of Affairs.
In the long list of eminent men who have borne the name Bulkeley since Baron Robert de Buclough, who flour- ished during the reign of King John of England, down through the centuries to
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the present, no man has more worthily borne it than Morgan Gardner Bulkeley, ex-soldier, mayor, Governor, United States Senator ; a banker, public-spirited citizen; now and for thirty-eight years past president of one of the great Amer- ican corporations, The Aetna Life Insur- ance Company.
From the coming of Rev. Peter Bulke- ley, fellow of St. John's College, Cam- bridge, minister of the Gospel, non-con- formist, who came to Massachusetts in 1634, the lineal descent to Morgan G. Bulkeley is through a line of most emi- nent ministers, lawyers and business men. In the second American generation, Rev. Gershom Bulkeley, son of Rev. Peter Bulkeley, was one of the intellec- tual giants of his day; a graduate of Harvard in 1655, he had no superior in scholarship, none as a minister, a con- troversialist or linguist. He was further- more a brave soldier, a skilled surgeon for his day, and a leader in public affairs. He was minister at New London and Wethersfield and first of the name in Connecticut.
Rev. John Bulkeley was first settled in 1703 over the church at Colchester, of which he was one of the first settlers and minister. He was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1699, and ranked exceedingly high among the clergy of his day. He wrote and published much, and in the strength of his intellectuality equalled if he did not surpass his father. He was classed by Rev. Dr. Chauncey in 1768 as one of the three men most eminent for strength of genius and power of mind that New England ever produced.
His son, "Hon. Judge (John) Bulkeley, of Colchester, who for a number of years was a great honor to an uncommon vari- ety of exalted stations in life," was a graduate of Yale, class of 1725. He was eminent in the legal profession, assistant
of the province, judge of superior and probate courts, and colonel of his regi- ment.
His son, Colonel Eliphalet Bulkeley, responded to the Lexington Alarm as captain of Colchester troops, and in 1780 was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. He served as a captain of volunteers at the siege of Boston under Colonel James Wadsworth.
His son, John Charles Bulkeley, mar- ried Sally Taintor, and they were the parents of Eliphalet Adams, father of Morgan G. Bulkeley.
Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley was a grad- uate of Yale, class of 1824, a lawyer of East Haddam, president of the East Had- dam Bank, assemblyman and State Sen- ator. In 1846 he moved to Hartford, where he practiced law, was elected to the State Legislature in 1857, was first Republican speaker of the house, 1857, and one of the founders of the Repub- lican party in his State. His later years were given wholly to the development of the life insurance business, the business that has made Hartford famed the world over. He was the first president of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, and one of its organizers; in 1846 the organizer of the Aetna Life Insur- ance Company, and its president from 1850 until his death, stricken at his desk in the Aetna offices. He was possessed of a marvelous memory, and prompt in keeping every engagement; for eighteen years he never failed to preside at the meetings of the Pearl Street Ecclesias- tical Society; regularly attended the school meetings in his district; never failed to vote, and urged others to never neglect so important a duty. He won fortune in his many business enterprises, possessing a sagacity in investment and a sound judgment that rendered him in- valuable to the Aetna companies-bank-
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