USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 23
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(V) Jabez Comstock, son of Christo- pher and Anna (Wiley) Comstock, was born in 1763, and died March 28, 1817. He married, January 1, 1784, Almy Greene, born May 27, 1753, died April 5, 1837, daughter of James and Desire (Slocum) Greene, of Warwick, Rhode Island. James Greene and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, and the former was the founder of the cemetery at Center- ville, Rhode Island, now called the James Greene Cemetery.
(VI) Franklin Greene Comstock, son of Jabez and Almy (Greene) Comstock, was born March 17, 1790, died August 6, 1845. He married Tryphena Tracy, born October 27, 1791, died October 6, 1874, daughter of Gamaliel Tracy, who fought at Monmouth under General Washington. Franklin Greene Comstock was a man of unusual intelligence, and was the author of "Comstock's Digest of Probate Laws." He was also the youngest judge to sit on the bench of the Probate and Superior courts in Connecticut.
(VII) William Greene Comstock, son of Franklin Greene and Tryphena (Tracy) Comstock, was born October 11, 1810, at Comstock Bridge, which was on the line between the towns of Chatham and Com- stock. He attended the district schools and a military school, finishing at Wil- braham Academy. When he was eighteen years of age, he began to teach school, continuing for five years, resigning to be- come associated with his father in the management of a "weekly" which the latter had purchased. The newspaper business held his interest until his father
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disposed of the ownership, which was in 1836; in the meantime the elder Mr. Comstock had become interested in the business of raising silk-worms, which had interested all farmers in Connecticut for the past few years. In his enterprise he was associated with Christopher Colt, father of Samuel Colt, and their success was astonishing. With headquarters in a large store building on Front street they grew and also purchased mulberry trees, raised the cocoons and reeled the silk. Mr. Comstock was everywhere looked upon as the leading silk culturist in Con- necticut, and was also the publisher of a monthly magazine devoted to the inter- ests of silk culture. In 1837 William G. Comstock went to Cuba, bringing with him a large number of young mulberry trees which he planted on land purchased there for that purpose. Although the craze soon died out among the farmers in Connecticut, owing to the little success they had, Mr. Comstock and his partner met with success and amassed a consid- erable fortune for that period. Always a man of enterprise, Mr. Comstock now turned his attention to another line of industry and purchased the farm of James L. Belden, a seed-grower. Mr. Comstock formed a partnership with Butler Strong and they founded the first seed farm "worthy of the name" in New England. During all these years William G. Com- stock had been closely related with his father, and had several times proved him- self to be possessed of business acumen. He was the designer of the box for ship- ping seeds now in use throughout the country, and at the death of his father all the responsibility came upon him, but he had been preparing himself for years, and immediately began plans for enlarging the scope of the business. Five years later he formed a stock company under the firm name of Comstock, Ferre & Com-
pany, with a capital of $40,000 and the dividend the first year was six per cent., and each succeeding six months ten per cent. was declared. For many years Mr. Comstock was the active head of this flourishing business, and was widely known throughout the country.
Several years before his death, Mr. Comstock retired from active business cares and lived at his beautiful home in East Hartford, at that time among the finest residences in that town. In politics, Mr. Comstock was a Whig, and after the party went out he was not allied with any other. During his day he made the ac- quaintance of many famous men, and was the first to introduce the name of Wil- liam Henry Harrison to the public as a candidate for the presidency, which he did during the time he was associated with the "New England Review." The beautiful bridge which now connects Hartford and East Hartford, and where there is no toll charge, would indeed have been a pleasant sight to Mr. Comstock had he lived to see it. He was a most bitter enemy of the toll bridge owners, which structure preceded the present one, and he was untiring in his efforts to have free transportation over the bridge. No citizen of East Hartford held more land than Mr. Comstock, and with his sons he did more to improve and build up the town than any other man, adding to its progressiveness in many ways.
Mr. Comstock married, July 3, 1837, Adeline Strong, born April 29, 1812, died January 3, 1880, daughter of Henry and Susannah (Cook) Strong, and a descend- ant of John Strong, of Windsor, Connec- ticut, and of Elder John Strong, of North- ampton, Massachusetts.
(VIII) Frederick Comstock, son of William Greene and Adeline (Strong) Comstock, was born February 13, 1847, in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and died
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February 12, 1911. He was brought up on the home farm, and then formed a partnership with his twin brother, Wil- liam G. Comstock, under the firm name of W. G. & F. Comstock, continuing in busi- ness until the death of William G. Com- stock. At first they engaged in farming, and then were in the paint business, also raised about fifteen acres of tobacco. In 1899 they built the Comstock block in East Hartford, which was considered a big innovation as it gave the town its first real hall for public meetings, and in front of the hall on the ground floor are stores and the second floor is divided into offices.
Mr. Comstock married Nellie Howe Williams, daughter of Horace Williams, and she died in 1910. They were the par- ents of the following children : Tracy S., now a resident of Thomasville, North Carolina ; Frederick H., died unmarried : Lewis Bridgeman, of further mention ; Donald C. S., married Mary Dahill, and has two children, Ellen E. and Donald C. S., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock were members of the First Congregational Church, of East Hartford, and the former served as trustee for many years.
(IX) Lewis Bridgeman Comstock, son of Frederick and Nellie Howe (Williams) Comstock, was born in East Hartford, Connecticut, March 12, 1881. He attended the public schools and the Hartford High School, graduating in 1900. He then attended Sheffield Scientific School, grad- uating in 1903 with training as a civil engineer. The following year he entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, and after another year was transferred to New Rochelle, New York. He worked on the Harlem River Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, and in 1907 was with the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Company as assistant engineer and designer of the tunnels then being
built. In 1908-11, was with the New York Central railroad as designer and assistant engineer in charge of masonry and de- signing between New York City and Buf- falo. In 1911 he resigned his position and returned to East Hartford, Connecticut, where he has since engaged in the private practice of his profession. He is a mem- ber of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers, and the Yale Engineering As- sociation. His clubs are the City Club, of Hartford, the Yale Club, of New York City, and he is a member of the First Congregational Church, of East Hartford. In 1917 Mr. Comstock became a member of the Connecticut State Guard, and con- tinued in the service until it was mustered out. He started as first lieutenant and was promoted step by step, being ap- pointed captain in August, 1917, and major in March, 1921.
TUCKER, George Eugene,
Physician.
George Eugene Tucker, medical director of the accident and liability department of the Aetna Life Insurance Company, and author of several important medical papers, was born May 6, 1879, in Genoa, Illinois, son of Eugene Adelmer and Al- faretta (Bristol) Tucker. Although born far from New England, Dr. Tucker is a scion of one of the oldest families of Colonial days, his ancestry tracing to Woodstock, Connecticut, where his great- grandfather, Perley Milton Tucker, is be- lieved to have lived at one time.
(I) Perley Milton Tucker was also a resident of Cayuga, New York, where he was captain of a boat that sailed on Cay- uga Lake. He married Rebecca Lyon, born in Woodstock, April 26, 1741, died there, May 28, 1830, daughter of Jona- than and Rebecca (Corbin) Lyon, and they were the parents of a large family.
Conn-10-11
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Perley Milton Tucker removed to either New Hampshire or Vermont, probably the latter State.
(II) Pliny Hall Tucker, son of Perley Milton and Rebecca (Lyon) Tucker, was born in Rutland, Vermont, March 7, 1804, and died in Belvidere, Illinois, December 6, 1880. He was a farmer and a pioneer settler of the Illinois town, where he served in many public offices. He was justice of the peace, county supervisor, president of the Township Board, and United States commissioner, under Pres- ident Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Tucker married (second) Delia Ann Stone, born July 30, 1825, died July 11, 1879, grand- daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Marsh) Stone, and daughter of Thomas Stone, Jr. and his wife, Desire (Wing) Stone.
(III) Eugene Adelmer Tucker, son of Pliny Hall and Delia Ann (Stone) Tucker, was born May 13, 1856, in Homer, Cortland county, New York. His prep- aration for college was obtained in the schools of Belvidere, where his father had settled, and under the able preceptorship of Judge Button, of Trempelau, Wiscon- sin, he read law, graduating from the law school of the University of Wisconsin in 1878. Mr. Tucker engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Genoa, Illinois, later removing to Humboldt, Nebraska, where he was successful as a lawyer, and one of the enterprising and progressive citizens. Like his father, he took a very active interest in public matters and was several times honored with offices of trust and responsibility. In politics, Mr. Tucker was a Republican, and served as city clerk, police judge, city and county attorney. For a term he served the city as mayor, and was subsequently elected State Senator. He was appointed asso- ciate justice of the Supreme Court of Ari- zona by President Theodore Roosevelt, and during his term became a resident of
Globe, Arizona. Soon after this time Mr. Tucker became a resident of Los Angeles, and has since been engaged in practice there, and taken his place as one of the useful citizens of the community. Mr. Tucker is a past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Hum- boldt, Nebraska. He married Alfaretta Bristol, born at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, September 17, 1857, daughter of Ashel and Hannah (Foster) Bristol, and they were the parents of two children: George Eu- gene, of extended mention below; and Blanche May, wife of Ray Gist, of Hum- boldt, and mother of Preston Gist. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker attend the Baptist church, of Los Angeles.
(IV) George Eugene Tucker, son of Eugene Adelmer and Alfaretta (Bristol) Tucker, attended the public schools of Hum- boldt, and in 1895 graduated from the high school there; the following three years he was a student at the University of Nebraska, and in 1898 received his degree of B. S. from the University of Chicago, and in 1903 graduated with an M. D. de- gree from Rush Medical College. The following year he spent in the Norwegian Hospital in Chicago, and then followed a year of practice in that city, removing in 1906 to Riverside, California, where he engaged in general practice until 1916, and served as city and county health of- ficer. Possessed of natural ability, com- bined with determination and an entire devotion to his work, Dr. Tucker has achieved success in his profession ; he has made extensive research along specially directed lines, and is often called upon to lecture on the result of his research. He was secretary of the California Associa- tion for the Study of Prevention of Tuber- culosis, and while associated with the Riverside Portland Cement Company be- came greatly interested in industrial med- icine. He made an extensive and valuable
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investigation of the cement industry, and is the writer of a paper read before vari- ous societies bearing on this subject: "Physical Examination of Employees En- gaged in the Manufacture of Portland Cement." During 1916 and 1917, Dr. Tucker was associated with the National Industrial Conference Board of Boston, making special investigation of the sub- ject of sickness insurance, and in Febru- ary, 1920, he was appointed to the office he now holds, medical director of the Aetna Life Insurance Company.
Other important papers written by Dr. Tucker, of interest to the medical frater- nity, include the following: "Compul- sory Health Insurance;" "Has the Med- ical Profession Adequately Met its Res- ponsibilities ?" "Health and Accident Haz- ards in the Cement Industry ;" "The Med- ical Administration of Workmen's Com- pensation Laws ;" "Sickness Insurance or Sickness Prevention." He is a member of the City, County and State Medical societies, and of the American Medical Association, the California Academy of Medicine, Southern California Medical Society, the American Public Health As- sociation, Association of Industrial Phy- sicians and Surgeons. His fraternal affil- iations are with the following organiza- tions and clubs : Tuscan Lodge, No. 126, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Washington Commandery, Knights Tem- plar; Connecticut Consistory, Valley of Norwich ; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of California; Hartford Club, University Club, and the Get-to-Gether Club. He is a member and secretary of the Rotary Club, of Hartford, and is president of the Aetna Life Men's Club. By virtue of his ancestry, he is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Dr. Tucker married May Heller, daugh-
ter of Edward Heller, of Freeport, Illi- nois, and they are the parents of two chil- dren : Mariana, born August 9, 1914, and Patricia, born January 30, 1916. While resident of Riverside, they attended the Congregational church of that place, and are now attendants of St. John's Episco- pal Church, of Hartford.
A man of decided views, Dr. Tucker gives expression to his opinions with clearness and force, and is a citizen of real worth to his community.
HAMERSLEY, William,
Lawyer, Jurist, Legislator.
Prominently identified with the public affairs of Hartford, Connecticut, during the last three-quarters of a century, the Hamersley family achieved an honorable reputation.
(I) The first member of the family in this country was William Hamersley, who was an officer on board the British Man-of-War "Baleur." This ship was stationed in New York in 1714, and it was at this time that the English ances- tor resigned his commission and married Lucretia, daughter of Andries Greven- redt, and granddaughter of Johannes Van Brugh. They subsequently took up their residence in New York City.
(II) Andrew Hamersley, son of Wil- liam and Lucretia (Grevenredt) Hamers- ley, married Margaret (Gordon) Stelle, daughter of Thomas and Janet (Mudie) Gordon, of Montrose, Scotland. Thomas Gordon was one of the proprietors of East Jersey.
(III) William (2) Hamersley, son of Andrew and Margaret (Gordon-Stelle) Hamersley, married Elizabeth Van Cort- landt de Peyster, daughter of James and Sarah (Read) de Peyster, and grand- daughter of Joseph Read, who was a member of the King's Council, and also
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granddaughter of Abraham de Peyster, treasurer of the Province of New York.
(IV) William James Hamersley, son of William (2) and Elizabeth Van Cort- landt (de Peyster) Hamersley, was a dis- tinguished resident of Hartford, and one of the most prominent men of his day. He married Laura Sophia Cooke, a daugh- ter of the Rev. Oliver Dudley and Sophia (Pratt) Cooke. They were of Puritan descent. The former was graduated from Yale College, and for some years follow- ing was a minister of the Congregational church. In 1800 he opened the publish- ing house of O. D. Cooke, which was one of the foremost of its kind in Hartford, engaged in bringing out valuable and standard works. The sons of the founder were later admitted as partners, and the firm name of O. D. Cooke & Sons Com- pany was taken. Subsequently the busi- ness passed into the control of Mr. Ham- ersley. As an auxiliary of the publishing business they also conducted a book store. In 1849 Mr. Hamersley engaged in the business of publishing many famous school books, among which were such books as "Swift's Natural Philosophy," Robbins "Outline of History," the "Prac- tical Spelling Book," Woodbridge's Geog- raphy, and Sophocles Greek books. He was also the publisher of many other fa- mous and standard works. For some time previous to his entrance into the publish- ing business, Mr. Hamersley had been the editor of the "American Mercury," and this paper was sold to the "Independent Press" of Hartland, of which Mr. Ham- ersley was also the editor. The first issue appeared July 1, 1833, and the publication of it was continued for two years. Al- though at all times taking a keen and active interest in public affairs, Mr. Ham- ersley was never a seeker for public of- fice. Nevertheless, he was nominated and elected to the office of mayor of Hart-
ford, and served from April 14, 1862, to April 1I, 1864. A man of upright char- acter, Mr. Hamersley held the entire con- fidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He died in May, 1877.
(V) William (3) Hamersley, son of William James and Laura Sophia (Cooke) Hamersley, was born in Hartford, Con- necticut, September 9, 1838, and attended the old Hartford Grammar School. He was graduated from Trinity College in 1858, and after studies at the Harvard Law School was admitted to the bar. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession. He served as president of the Common Council, and as city at- torney of Hartford, and for twenty years was State's attorney for Hartford county. Mr. Hamersley represented his constitu- ents in the Legislature, and from 1893 to 1894 was judge of the Superior Court. Governor Morris appointed him associate justice of the Supreme Court of Errors in 1894, and he remained on the bench until 1908. While in the Legislature, Mr. Ham- ersley was the framer of the Legal Prac- tices Act of 1878, and of the Rules of Court which brought the refreshment of simple common sense into the atmosphere of the law. His opinions while on the bench, noted for their depth of learning, clearness, and sound judgment, indeed merited the approval accorded them.
For thirty-six years he was a familiar figure to all Trinity College men as a lecturer on constitutional law, and for thirty-seven years was a member of the board of trustees of the college. His alma mater was justly proud of his achieve- ments, and honored him with the degrees of M. A. in 1865 and LL. D. in 1890. Though formerly a member of old St. John's Church, and in 1868 junior warden there, he later became a communicant of Trinity Church. He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the University
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and Manhattan clubs of New York, and in Hartford and elsewhere in Connecti- cut he joined many clubs and was affil- iated with various organizations.
In 1870 Mr. Hamersley married (first) Cynthia Williams, daughter of Henry Williams, of Painesville, Ohio, but she died the following year. On October 21, 1882, he married (second) Jane Allen, daughter of John and Mary Ann (Phelps) Allen, of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. John Allen was a descendant of Roger Allen, treasurer of the New Haven Col- ony, and Mary Ann Phelps was descended from William Phelps, appointed by the Bay Colony one of the commissioners to govern Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Ham- ersley had one daughter, Jane de Pey- ster Hamersley, born in 1883, who died in 1910, and one son, William James, of whom further.
(VI) William James (2) Hamersley, son of William (3) and Cynthia (Wil- liams ) Hamersley, was born in 1887. He was graduated in 1909 from Trinity Col- lege-of the faculty of which he later be- came secretary-and from the Harvard Law School in 1912. Admitted the same year to the practice of law in Hartford, he began a career of great promise in his profession. Like his father a Democrat in politics, he entered actively into civic affairs as assistant corporation counsel, and became a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. In 1917 he was retained in the legal department of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, where he was engaged until his active association with the Red Cross. He had always been interested in military affairs, having attended the First Military Training Camp at Plattsburg in August, 1915, and served on the Mexican Border with the Connecticut National Guard. After the entry of this country into the World War, he was commissioned major
in the judge advocate general's depart- ment. Not being called into active serv- ice in that department, he participated most efficiently in local Red Cross work and organized its activities in the Civil- ian Relief in Hartford. So successful were his efforts in this direction that Mr. Henry P. Davison urged him to come to New York, where he was appointed to organize the Civilian Relief of the Atlan- tic Division of the Red Cross. While en- gaged in this work at Camp Devens, he contracted influenza, from which he died at his home, October 12, 1918. His life fully sustained the traditions of his illus- trious ancestry.
On December 6, 1916, Mr. Hamersley married Emily Brace Collins, daughter of Atwood and Mary (Brace) Collins, of Hartford, and twin daughters were born to them, of whom one, Jane Gordon Ham- ersley, now survives.
Justice William Hamersley died at his home in Hartford, September 17, 1920. His judicial career was one of usefulness, satisfaction to the bar and litigants, and his legal opinions contributed materially to substantive law. He was patient, con- . siderate, painstaking and conscientious, and in his personal relations kindly, gen- erous and loyal. His serenity of spirit, honorable ambitions, public conduct, and honest friendships dignified his life and brought to it the honor and esteem of hosts of friends.
PARKER, Rienzi Belcher,
Insurance Actuary.
Among the men of mark of Connecti- cut who attained success in both their business and private life should be num- bered Rienzi Belcher Parker, who was born February 15, 1838, son of Lucius and Bathsheba (Belcher) Parker, and
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died at Hartford, Connecticut, April 12, 1912.
(I) The ancestor of his family was James Parker, who came to America from England previous to 1640, settling first at Woburn, Massachusetts, where he is listed among the taxpayers of that town in 1645. Nine years later he removed to Billerica, in 1658 to Chelmsford, thence to Groton, Connecticut, in 1660. Through grants of land and subsequent purchases he became one of the largest property holders of Groton, and was rated among its wealthiest citizens. He was a man of influence and active in both town and church affairs; he served as selectman from 1662 to 1699, served as town clerk, as representative to the General Assem- bly in 1693, and also held many other minor offices. He was captain of the Groton Company in service against the Indians. James Parker died at the age of eighty- three years in Groton. He married (first), May 28, 1744, in Groton, Elizabeth Long, a daughter of Robert Long, of Charles- town, Massachusetts
(II) Eleazer Parker, son of James and Elizabeth (Long) Parker, was born No- vember 9, 1667, in Groton. The Christian name of his wife was Mary and they were the parents of seven children, the fourth of whom was Zachariah.
(III) Zachariah Parker, son of Eleazer and Mary Parker, was born January 29, 1699, in Groton. In later life he settled in Mansfield, Connecticut, and was twice married, his first wife being Rebecca Parks. They were married at Weston, Massachusetts, August II, 1731, and she died June 11, 1748.
(IV) Ephraim Parker, second son of Zachariah and Rebecca (Parks) Parker, was born in Newton, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 1, 1733, and was a small boy when his parents removed to Mansfield. He
married Deborah Sargent, and they were the parents of Ephraim.
(V) Ephraim (2) Parker, son of Eph- raim (1) and Deborah (Sargent) Parker, was born November 10, 1770, in Mans- field, where he was educated and worked on the homestead during the vacation periods. He removed to Willington, Connecticut, and was engaged in the busi- ness of manufacturing clocks and spoons. In 1818 he was living in Dobsonville, Ver- non, Connecticut, where for many years he was proprietor of a hotel, and there died. He married Lucy Prior.
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