USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 22
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(VII) Hon. Ebenezer (2) Jackson, second son of Lieutenant Ebenezer (1) and Charlotte (Fenwick-Pierce) Jackson, was born January 31, 1796, in Savannah, Georgia, and died August 17, 1874, at Middletown, Connecticut. At the age of
fourteen years he entered St. Mary's College, near Baltimore, Maryland, from which he was graduated, and joined his parents at Middletown, Connecticut. He immediately took up the study of law at the Litchfield Law School in the class of 1814, where he received a thorough pro- fessional training, and practiced law five years in Philadelphia, beginning in 1821. In 1826 he removed to his father's former residence at Walnut Grove, near Middle- town, which was his home for the re- mainder of his life. For several terms, he represented the town in the Connecticut Legislature, and in 1834-35 represented his district in the National Congress. He preferred the quiet life of a private citizen and repeatedly refused to be a candidate for office. His acquaintance was large, and he maintained a correspondence with statesmen and eminent men of his day. He continued to take an intelligent inter- est in the affairs of the community in which he lived, was president of the In- dian Hill Cemetery Association, a mem- ber of the Church of the Holy Trinity, and was everywhere respected and es- teemed as a man of culture and ability. Hon. Ebenezer Jackson married Eliza- beth Harper, born July 28, 1801, in An- trim, Ireland, died May 28, 1838.
(VIII) Arthur Harper Jackson, eldest child of Hon. Ebenezer (2) and Eliza- beth (Harper) Jackson, was born Novem- ber 1, 1826, in Middletown, Connecticut, and died there March 9, 1869. In 1846 he graduated from Amherst College, being valedictorian of his class, and four years later graduated from the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons in New York, where he studied especially under the celebrated Dr. Willard Parker. After the period of post-graduate college practice at Bellevue Hospital, New York, he settled at Mid- dletown, Connecticut, and soon became interested in manufacturing, where he
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continued until his death, March 9, 1869. He married, October 17, 1854, Mary Thorne, of Brooklyn, New York, born October 4, 1825, died February 26, 1909.
(IX) Francis Oliver Jackson, youngest child of Dr. Arthur Harper and Mary (Thorne) Jackson, was born August 8, 1860, in Middletown, Connecticut, and lived for many years on the Jackson homestead at Walnut Grove. He was educated in the public schools of the town, and at Seabury Institute at Say- brook, Connecticut, from which he graduated in 1877. He then took up agriculture at Walnut Grove, where he remained some years, and subsequently spent eleven years in Kansas. In 1916 he removed to his present home in Portland, where he purchased a part of the old Gil- dersleeve estate, and is engaged quite ex- tensively in the production of tobacco. He also carried on general farming on leased lands. Mr. Jackson is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, Mattabes- sett Grange, No. 42; of Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks ; and Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, of Middletown. He has never been very active in political movements, and is independent of party dictation in public matters. Like his an- cestors, he is identified with the Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown.
LYMAN, Abner Abiathar, Prominent Citizen.
From the time of the earliest use of sur- names in England, the name of Lyman has existed. It is derived from the old Saxon personal name, "Leoman," and has been varied by different branches of the family, but Limas, Limon, Leamond, Ley- man, and Lyeman have been used.
(I) Richard Lyman, the immigrant an- cestor, and son of Henry Lyman, was
baptized at High Ongar, County Essex, England, October 30, 1580, and died in 1640. In August, 1631, he sailed with his wife and children in the ship "Lion" for New England. This ship also carried Eliot, the famous Indian apostle. After landing at Boston, Massachusetts, Rich- ard Lyman proceeded to Charlestown, where he first settled, and there his wife joined the church of which Eliot was pastor. Richard Lyman was admitted a freeman, June 11, 1635, and in October of the same year joined the little band which formed the settlement of Hartford, Con- necticut. He was one of the original pro- prietors of Hartford, and received thirty parts of the purchase from the Indians. His house was located on the south side of what is now Buckingham street. His name is inscribed on the stone column in the rear of Center Church, in Hartford, erected in memory of the first settlers. Richard Lyman married Sarah Osborne, daughter of Roger Osborne, of Halstead, Kent, England, and they had one son, Richard (2) Lyman.
(II) Richard (2) Lyman, son of Rich- ard (1) and Sarah (Osborne) Lyman, was born in England and baptized Feb- ruary 24, 1617. He and his two brothers were taxed in 1655 in Hartford for a rate assessed to build a mill. They probably removed the same year to Northampton, where in December, 1655, Richard Lyman was chosen one of the selectmen. In 1660 he sold his father's homestead in Hart- ford. He married Hepsibah Ford, daugh- ter of Thomas Ford, of Windsor. He died June 3, 1662.
(III) Richard (3) Lyman, eldest son of Richard (2) and Hepsibah (Ford) Ly- man, was born in Northampton. He mar- ried and was the father of Jonathan Ly- man.
(IV) Jonathan Lyman, son of Richard
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(3) Lyman, married and was the father of Jacob Lyman.
(V) Jacob Lyman, son of Jonathan Lyman, was born in Lebanon, Connecti- cut, May 4, 1721. He died in 1802. Jacob Lyman married, June 26, 1745, Mehitable Bushnell, of Lebanon, and it is probable that they removed soon after this time to Andover, Connecticut.
(VI) Abiathar Lyman, son of Jacob and Mehitable (Bushnell) Lyman, was born January 15, 1758, and died Septem- ber 19, 1842. He was a tanner and cur- rier, and also cultivated rather a large farm. He married, December 25, 1782, Joanna Loomis, born October 1, 1758, died July 1, 1837.
(VII) Eli Lyman, son of Abiathar and Joanna (Loomis) Lyman, was born in Andover, Connecticut, December 28, 1793, and died at Coventry, Connecticut, April 21, 1856. He was a hatter by trade and followed this occupation many years. His wife was Hannah Darrow, and she died at the age of forty-four years, July 31, 1854.
(VIII) Abner Abiathar Lyman, son of Eli and Hannah (Darrow) Lyman, was born in Covington, Connecticut, January I, 1839, and died at New Britain, Connec- ticut, December 27, 1917. He was next to the oldest child in the family, and his mother died when he was but a boy. At the age of fourteen years his formal edu- cation was completed, and he went to work on a farm and was thus employed for the next four or five years in his na- tive town. In different places he contin- ued at farm work until 1874, in which year he went to New Britain and there was employed by Austin Brothers, whose sister he had previously married. They were plumbers, and Mr. Lyman learned the trade, and also the trade of tinsmith with them. Later they branched out into the sewer contracting business. Subse-
quently changes were made in the busi- ness relations of the Austin Brothers, who finally left New Britain, and Mr. Lyman remained to look after the sewer contracting end of the work. In 1889 he engaged in this line of contracting on his own account, and was actively engaged in it until his death. For more than a quarter of a century he numbered among his constant patrons most of the larger industrial concerns of the city, and had almost a monopoly of that line of work in New Britain. At times he employed as many as twenty men, and he also dealt extensively in sewer pipe, cement and other materials used in sewer construc- tion. He superintended the laying of the first water pipes in the town of South- ington. He started in business with a capital of one dollar, and at the time had undertaken the expense incidental to a hospital operation on a daughter. But Mr. Lyman was a man of immovable de- termination, measureless ambition, inde- fatigable industry, and a reputation for honesty and square dealing that was un- questioned. He obtained his tools of a local dealer on credit, and never a week passed without his meeting his hospital bills and other obligations. Mr. Lyman was a man of great natural shrewdness, and possessed a memory most remarkable for its retentiveness, and a mind that re- tained its flexibility to the very end. Withal, he was extremely modest and unassuming, disliking anything that sav- ored of dogmatism, and seldom spoke positively, even concerning matters about which his knowledge was certain. But this habit of expression misled no one, for the uniform accuracy of his statements won the implicit confidence of all who had dealings of any kind with him.
Mr. Lyman was a Republican in poli- tics, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He always
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took more than a passive interest in pub- lic affairs, and often was solicited to ac- cept nominations for public office, but his almost excessive modesty compelled him to decline the honors.
Mr. Lyman married Harriet Eliza Aus- tin, daughter of Moses Seymour and Charlotte (Hale) Austin. Their children were: 1. Jennie Charlotte, deceased ; she was born at Windsor Locks, and died in March, 1915, wife of Henry C. Talmadge, and mother of Marion Lyman, who mar- ried Frank R. Parker, principal of a school at Greenwich. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are the parents of three children: Frank R., Jr., Charlotte Serina, and Marion Tal- madge. 2. Ella M., who died young. 3. Ella Hale. 4. Addie B., who was closely associated with her father in the conduct of his business during the latter years of his life, becoming familiar with not only the accounting, but with the buying of materials; after her father's death she continued and still continues to deal in sewer building supplies, and has retained the most important of the patrons who dealt with her father during his long busi- ness career.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were members of the Baptist church in New Britain. He was a man who believed in showing his faith by his works rather than by boast- ful expressions of faith, and exemplified in his life that type which by general ac- ceptation has come to be called "the Christian gentleman."
CAMPBELL, Arthur Joseph, Physician and Surgeon.
Among the oldest physicians of Mid- dletown, Dr. Campbell enjoys the esteem and confidence of his contemporaries and the general public, and has been the means of healing multitudes of the people of his home city. He is a native of the
Isle of Wight, England, born March 25, 1856, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Far- rell) Campbell. His grandfather was a native of Ireland, and was in the foreign service in India, where he took a wife, whose name is not now known. Their son, Patrick Campbell, was born in 1816, in the parish of Toker, near Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, and enlisted in the British military service at the age of twenty-one years. After faithful service of twenty-one years and twenty-eight days, he was discharged January 14, 1859, with the rank of sergeant. Before his promotion to that office he had received two good conduct crosses, and at his dis- charge he was awarded a medal and gra- tuity of £5 sterling, for long service and good conduct. This medal, beautifully engraved with military emblems and suit- ably inscribed, is now preserved by his son, Dr. Campbell, with justifiable filial pride. While in Australia, Patrick Camp- bell married Margaret Farrell, who was born in India, where her father was an officer of the British navy. Both her par- ents were of Irish birth.
Dr. Arthur J. Campbell received an ex- cellent English education, graduating from a high school in Armagh, Ireland. After the death of his father, he brought the family, then including six persons, to America, arriving in 1870. They located at Thompsonville, Connecticut, where the son, Arthur J., labored in the mills until all were able to care for themselves, and there earned the funds with which to complete his medical education. In 1881 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Maryland, and was graduated M. D. four years later. After one year of post-graduate work as interne at Bay View Hospital, Baltimore, he began practice in Portland, Connecti- cut, in March, 1886, and two years later removed to Middletown, where he has
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since continued with gratifying success. Since the establishment of the Middle- town Hospital by Drs. Edgerton and Calef, Dr. Campbell has been a member of its staff. This is a high testimonial to his ability and high character as a man. He is medical examiner for the Travel- ers', Aetna, and Northwestern life insur- ance companies, and much of his time is consumed in these duties. While devot- ing his life to the healing art, Dr. Camp- bell has naturally earned some of the emoluments of industry, and he is a direc- tor of the Middletown Trust Company. He is a member in good standing of St. John's Roman Catholic Church, the prin- cipal congregation of that faith in Mid- dletown, and one of its trustees ; and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, an organization which has done remarkable work in promoting the comfort and wel- fare of the United States Expeditionary Forces abroad during the recent war. For the last fifteen years Dr. Campbell has been a member of the Middletown School Board. In politics he has always acted with the Democratic party, but he is not a blind partisan and gives little attention to political matters. His patri- otic interest in the recent World War is shown by the fact that he is a first lieu- tenant of the Home Guard of Middletown.
Dr. Campbell married, in that city, Oc- tober 15, 1890, Ellen Mountain, who was born in 1866, in Portland, Connecticut, daughter of John and Ellen (Lynch) Mountain, of that town, the latter a na- tive of Ireland. Dr. and Mrs. Campbell are the parents of three children: I. Ar- thur Thomas, born in 1891, is a graduate of the Middletown High School and has been a student successively of Wesleyan and Yale universities, and spent two years in a medical college in Baltimore. The World War interrupted his studies and he enlisted, in September, 1917, for serv-
ice abroad. After five months of prep- aration at Oglethorpe, Georgia, he was attached to the medical department, went to France in March, 1918, and was as- signed to the 38th Infantry, Third Divi- sion. At Chateau Thierry, July 27, 1918, he was gassed, and was discharged in 1919. 2. John Harold, born in 1894. 3. Marion Emelda, born in 1897.
DOUGLAS, William Benjamin,
Manufacturer, Business Man.
The qualities of integrity and sagacity are admirably blended in the character of William Benjamin Douglas, one of the leading business men of Middletown, Connecticut, and his intellectual and bus- iness attainments are recognized by all who come in contact with him. Mr. Douglas bears a name which is one of the most famous in the annals of Scotland.
The earliest known member of this family was Robert Douglas, who was born about 1588 in Scotland. He was the father of the immigrant ancestor, Deacon William Douglas.
(I) Deacon William Douglas was born in Scotland in 1610. He married, at the parish church in Ringstead, Northamp- tonshire, England, in 1636, Ann Mattle, born in 1610, died about 1685, only daughter of Thomas Mattle. Four years later William Douglas, accompanied by his wife Ann, and two children, came to New England, settling first at Gloucester, Massachusetts, subsequently at Boston. In 1641, he removed to Ipswich, where he remained for four years, returning again in 1645 to Boston. He followed the trade of cooper. In 1659, he pur- chased property in New London, where he moved in the following year. He be- came one of the wealthiest and most prom- inent men of New London, and in 1670 was chosen one of the first deacons of
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the church there. His education and abil- ity were such as to cause his election to several of the town offices. He served as townsman, 1663-1666-1667, and in 1672 was chosen deputy to the General Court at Hartford. His widow died in 1685. When she was sixty years of age she made the long journey to Boston on horseback in order to prove her right to her father's property.
(II) Deacon William (2) Douglas, son of Deacon William (1) and Ann (Mat- tle) Douglas, was born in Boston, April I, 1645, and died March 9, 1724-25. He received by inheritance a farm of sixty acres in New London, which was origi- nally granted to his father, and in his own right he was subsequently granted land in Voluntown. He was admitted to the New London church in 1670, and he succeeded his father as deacon, in which capacity he served for about fifty years. On December 18, 1667, he married Abiah Hough, born September 15, 1648, died February 21, 1715, daughter of William Hough, of New London.
(III) Deacon William (3) Douglas, son of Deacon William (2) and Abiah (Hough) Douglas, was born February 19, 1672-73, in New London, and died Au- gust 10, 1719. In 1698, he united with the church, and in the following year removed from New London to Plainfield, Connec- ticut, where land was granted him on the east side of the Quinneabaug river. Hav- ing assisted in organizing the church in that town, he was asked to officiate as its first deacon. He married Sarah Proctor, and they had a son, John Douglas.
(IV) John Douglas, son of Deacon William (3) and Sarah (Proctor) Doug- las, was born July 28, 1703, in Plainfield, and died April 20, 1766. He was lieuten- ant-colonel of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, under Colonel Jedidiah Hunt- ington. He married, January 13, 1724,
Olive Spaulding, born January 17, 1709, died February 21, 1752, daughter of Ben- jamin and Olive (Hall) Spaulding.
(V) William (4) Douglas, son of John and Olive (Spaulding) Douglas, was born January 27, 1742-43, in Plainfield. He married, July 5, 1767, Hannah Mansfield, born November 17, 1747, died May 22, 1825, daughter of Stephen Mansfield, of Northford. At the age of sixteen years, William Douglas took part in the French and Indian War. He was orderly ser- geant in the company commanded by Israel Putnam, and took part in the ex- pedition resulting in the surrender of Quebec in 1759. He removed to New Haven and engaged in seafaring business, commanding a merchant ship, sailing be- tween New Haven and the West Indies. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, William Douglas formed a military company in New Haven, of which he was commissioned captain, May 16, 1775. He proceeded to the North, and there Gen- eral Montgomery requested him to take charge of the flotilla on Lake Champlain, of which he assumed command. In 1776, Captain Douglas raised a regiment of sol- diers, and was commissioned colonel. June 20, 1776, by Governor Jonathan Trumbull. He marched to New York and joined the Continental army under General Wash- ington, and took part in many engage- ments. This gallant and brave soldier died May 28, 1777.
(VI) William (5) Douglas, son of Wil- liam (4) and Hannah (Mansfield) Doug- las, was born February 23, 1770, in New Haven, and died at Northford, Connec- ticut, September 14, 1823. While but a boy he served his country, and after peace prevailed, he returned to his native home and there took up agricultural pursuits, which he followed throughout his life. He married, January 28, 1797, Sarah Kirt- land, born March 19, 1778, died Novem-
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ber 28, 1842, daughter of Constant Kirt- land.
(VII) William (6) Douglas, son of William (5) and Sarah (Kirtland) Doug- las, was born January 19, 1812, in North- ford, and died April 21, 1858. He received a fair education for his day, and very early showed the taste for things mechan- ical, which was later to make him famous. In 1832 he removed to Middletown, Con- necticut, and there became associated with W. H. Guild, as job machinist, and maker of small engines.
In 1839, with his brother, he established the firm of W. & B. Douglas Company, which firm is now the oldest and most extensive manufacturers of pumps in the world. In the first years of the business, Mr. Douglas and his brother performed most of the work themselves, but gradu- ally its extent became so great they em- ployed several helpers. To-day the bus- iness is one of the leading industries of Middletown, and gives employment to many hundreds of the citizens of that city.
Mr. Douglas married (first), April 12, 1835, Grace Caroline Parker, daughter of Elias and Grace (Mansfield) Parker, who died February 19, 1840. He married (sec- ond) Catherine Creamer Riley.
(VIII) Joseph William Douglas, son of William (6) and Grace Caroline (Parker) Douglas, was born January 29, 1838, in Middletown, where he died May 20, 1885. Mr. Douglas attained his edu- cation in the schools of that city, and at an early age became associated with his father in business. He applied himself to the mastering of all the details of pump manufacture and upon the death of his father he was able to assume the respon- sibilities of the business. Mr. Douglas continued at the head of the firm until his death, and despite the many demands upon his time he found opportunity to give the benefit of his experiences and
executive ability to the welfare of his fel- low-citizens. Mr. Douglas was a Repub- lican in politics and was the choice of his party for mayor of Middletown, the af- fairs of which important office he admin- istered in a way which brought satisfac- tion to his constituents. He also served for some time as a member of the Board of Aldermen. With several of the finan- cial and industrial institutions of Middle- town he held a place on, the directorate, and was a trustee of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank.
Mr. Douglas married, June 1, 1859, Julia Welles Dabney, of Middletown, Connecticut, who died July 14, 1920.
(IX) William Benjamin Douglas, son of Joseph William and Julia W. (Dab- ney) Douglas, was born September 19, 1863, in Middletown. At the public and high school of that city he attained his early education, and at the time of his father's death was a student at the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology. It was imperative that someone take charge of the manufacturing business in Middle- town, and Mr. Douglas relinquished the hope of finishing his course to take up this responsibility. The qualities of suc- cess which distinguished his father and grandfather have been inherited by him to a large degree, and among the business men of his native city, he holds an hon- ored place. Imbued with that public spirit which seems to be the natural trait of those whose lineage can be traced back to our earliest settlers, Mr. Douglas has ever taken an active part in the civic af- fairs of Middletown. He is a Republican and watchful of the interests of that party. During the World War, Mr. Douglas was a lieutenant in the Naval Battalion of the Connecticut State Guard, in command of the Second Division. He served as treas- urer of the War Bureau, and is now chair- man of the Shipping Committee of the
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Middletown Red Cross Chapter. Frater- nally Mr. Douglas is affiliated with Theta Xi, Middletown Lodge, No. 71, Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, and Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pyth- ias. He is a member of the Middletown Club, of which he is secretary, and of the Highland Country Club, and is a member of the Founders and Patriots of America.
Mr. Douglas married, October 18, 1888, Sarah Ellen Camp, daughter of Daniel W. and Sarah (Walkley) Camp, of Middle- town, Connecticut. They were the par- ents of a son, William Wallace Douglas, who died in youth.
COMSTOCK, Lewis Bridgeman, Civil Engineer.
The surname of Comstock has been derived from the little village of Culm- stock in Devonshire, England, which in turn took its name from the river, Culm, on which it is located. In the time of William the Conqueror the name was spelled Colmestock in the Domesday Book.
(I) William Comstock, the ancestor of the family, came from England in 1635, and was settled in New London, Connec- ticut, at an early date. He held several public offices. He was the father of sev- eral children.
(II) John Comstock, son of William Comstock, lived in Lyme, Connecticut, where he died in 1680. The Christian name of his wife was Abigail, and their son, John, is of further mention.
(III) John (2) Comstock, son of John (1) and Abigail Comstock, was born Sep- tember 31, 1676, in Lyme, Connecticut, and died between 1747 and 1748. He mar- ried Mary Lee, daughter of John Lee, and their son, Christopher, is of further men- tion.
(IV) Christopher Comstock, son of John
(2) and Mary (Lee) Comstock, was born in 1726, and died October 30, 1808. He removed from Hadlyme to Chatham, Connecticut, and settled on the Salmon river near Colchester. He married Anna Wiley, and their son, Jabez, is of further mention.
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