Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 13

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568

USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 13

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F .:

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a director of Uncas National Bank, and in 1903 was elected vice-president of that institution. At a meet- ing of the directors of the bank the following min- utes were entered upon its records :

Upon the occasion of the death of William H. Fitch, the vice-president of this bank, his fellow directors desire to place upon record their appreciation of his efficient services in the interests of this institution and of those personal qualities which he possessed, and which so well entitled him to the respect and confidence of this com- · munity.

Mr. Fitch has been a director of this bank since 1896, and since 1903 its vice-president. His extensive and varied business training and practical knowledge of human nature as well as a prior service as director in another bank in Norwich and his close touch with many of the financial interests of the city, entitled his judgment to much con- sideration and rendered his services with us of much more than ordinary value.

He was a man of independent views, positive convic- tions and the strictest integrity. With him there was no such thing as any deviation as a matter of policy from what he considered as right. His own rights were no more sacred with him than those of others. His presence upon the board of any institution was an element of safety in its financial management.

Altogether, Mr. Fitch was a man of rugged and marked personality. He possessed qualities which justly entitled him to the regard and respect with which he was held by those who knew him. Such men are too few among us, and seem sometimes to belong, too often only, to the training of a past generation. In his death, not only this institution, but this community has suffered a great loss.

In his memory we enter this minute upon our records, and direct that this bank be closed at one o'clock on the day of the funeral, and request that its directors attend the services in a body.

Mr. Fitch's political affiliations were with the Democratic party, the party of his forefathers. He never sought political preferment or offices of any kind, but he had various honors bestowed upon him, among them the position of judge of probate for his district. While in Oregon (and, by the way, this was before that territory had assumed Statehood) he served as assistant commissary during the Indian troubles on the frontier. A man of means, Mr. Fitch was also one of influence and power in eastern Con- necticut. He ably sustained the reputation made by the earlier generations of the family.

On Jan. 13, 1870, Mr. Fitch was married to Louise C. Smith, born Dec. 3, 1844, in Bozrah, Conn., daughter of Capt. William Smith of Nor- wich. Three children blessed this union, namely : Mary I., now deceased ; Stephen D., also deceased ; and William D., born Oct. 25, 1879, who graduated from Norwich Free Academy and then entered Yale Law School, graduating with the class of 1903.

COL. ISRAEL MATSON, late of Old Lyme, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the town, was born there Dec. 25, 1826. Tradition says that the first Nathaniel Matson resided in Boston, was a shipmaster, married a sister of Ray Thomas, and died when his son was about two years old, his widow dying soon after.

(II) Nathaniel Matson (2), son of Natliai born in 1684, died in 1776. By occupation he wat ship carpenter. He married Ruth Roe, by what he had no children. He then came to Lyme, wh he married Joanna Ely, daughter of William I and they lived where his descendant, the late ( Israel Matson, lived. His children by the sec wife, Joanna (Ely), were: Ruth married Jos Sill. Elizabeth married Timothy Mather; Nath iel married Dinah Newton, of Colchester ; Recha married Travers Ayers, of Saybrook; Joanna m ried Joseph Mather, of Lyme; Mary married Joset Smith, of East Lyme; Abigail married John Co of Lyme; William married Eunice Skinner; ¿ Deborah married Samuel Sanford.

(III) Nathaniel Matson, born in 1727, in Lyı died in 1787. He married Dinah Newton, and tl: children were: Susanna married Remick Wai Abigail died unmarried; Nathaniel married (fir Polly Sill (by whom he had no children), 2 (second) Anna Ely, daughter of Elihu Ely; Dir died unmarried; Israel married (first) Cathar Johnson, and (second) Phoebe Ely, daughter Elihu Ely; Lois died unmarried ; and Joanna m ried Samuel Buckingham. Of these, Nathaniel v a merchant in New London in early life, but turned to Lyme, and was for many years deacon the Congregational Church, and was active church and benevolent organizations.

(IV) Israel Matson, father of Col. Israel, w born in Lyme, Conn., April 6, 1770, and died Se 4, 1853. He spent his early school days in Lyr., He was married (first), in what is now Old Lyn to Catharine Johnson, of Lyme, who lived only short time, and who bore him one son, Steph Johnson Matson, who married and has three sc and two daughters living in New York State. Isral Matson married (second), in what is now Lyme, Feb. 11, 1821, Phoebe Ely, of Lyme, who was bo Aug. 1, 1787, and died Feb. 26, 1874. They h three children : Catherine Ann, born Jan. 28, 18. became the wife of Rev. James P. Terry ; Nathani born Oct. 18, 1824, was a lawyer in Hartford and died Jan. 24, 1851, unmarried; and Israel w born Dec. 25, 1826. Israel Matson, the father, 1 sided all his life in Old Lyme, and there built t house where his son Israel lived to the time of 1 death. He engaged in farming all his life. He w a leading member of the Congregational Church a: Society, and in political sentiment was an old-tir Whig, and was very active in town matters. Social he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Rev. James P. Terry, who married Cathari Ann Matson, was a native of Enfield, Conn., born 1812. He was pastor of the Congregational Chur at Somers, Conn., and at South Weymouth, Mas Mr. and Mrs. Terry were the parents of seven ch dren, born as follows: Nathaniel Matson, April 1844; James Luther, May 23, 1846; Anna Ely, Se] 21, 1848 (died Oct. 20, 1851) ; Israel Newton, Fe 20, 1851 ; Catharine Margaret, April 28, 1853 (di

Israel Matin

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ril 30 1864) ; Frank Augustus, July 24, 1855; tarles Appleton, March 2, 1858. Of these, Prof. Nathaniel Matson Terry was born in Old me, graduated at Amherst College, and then ent two years at Heidelberg and Guttenberg, rmany. For about thirty years he has been con- cted with the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Mary- 1d.

James Luther Terry, born in Old Lyme, grad- ted from Amherst College, and the College of nysicians and Surgeons, and is settled in practice in iladelphia.

Israel Newton Terry, born in South Weymouth, ass., graduated from Amherst, and studied theo- gy in Hartford and the Theological Seminary in ew York. He has been located in New Hartford, . Y., and Utica, N. Y. He married Emily Butler, New Hartford, New York.

Frank Augustus Terry, born in South Wey- outh, Mass., graduated from Yale Scientific School d is a chemist in Philadelphia. He took a year's st-graduate course at Harvard.

Charles Appleton Terry, born in South Wey- outh, Mass., graduated from Amherst, studied law New York City, and is now attorney for the West- ghouse Electric Company. In 1886 he married ary E. Cady, of New Haven, and they have had o children, Catharine Louisa and Matson Cady.

Col. Israel Matson spent his early school days in Id Lyme and Old Saybrook, Conn. He engaged farming and resided in Old Lyme all his life, be- g one of the town's best citizens. Col. Matson was the State Legislature three terms, and served on e staff of Gov. Buckingham (his cousin) for four ars. He was married (first) Sept. 14, 1864, to rah McCurdy Lord, who died July 10, 1865, and 1 Sept. 27, 1887, at South Weymouth, Mass., he arried for his second wife, Harriet Howe, daugh- r of Dr. Appleton Howe, a physician of South Weymouth for over fifty years. Her mother was liza Loud, of Weymouth, Mass. Col. Matson was member of the Congregational Church, in which : was very active, serving as superintendent of the inday School for over thirty years. He was one the most active and influential men in the So- ety affairs of the Church, and his death, which curred July 9, 1903, was deeply mourned in re- gious circles, as well as in other activities of the ·wn.

HON. DAVID AMES WELLS, economist, orwich. For many years this city, the "Rose of ew England," was honored as the home of this stinguished man and writer, a sketch of whom, ith that of his family and lineage, follows: Dr. Tells was in the eighth generation from his Amer- an ancestor, Thomas Welles, his line being through homas Wells (2) Ichabod, Jonathan, Jonathan (2), ieut. James and James Wells (2).

Thomas Welles, born in 1598, in Essex, Eng- nd, came to Saybrook, Conn., as secretary to Lord

Saye and Sele, for the purpose of co-operating in the founding of a settlement. Lord Saye and Sele re- turned to England, and Thomas Welles removed with the company to Hartford, where he was chosen one of the nine magistrates of the new Colony in 1637, holding the office until his death. He was treasurer in 1639; secretary in 1641; one of the commissioners of the United Colonies in 1649 ; dep- uty governor of the Colony ; and governor in 1655- 58. He died in Wethersfield, Conn., Jan. 14, 1660. It is stated in "American Ancestry" that Gov. Welles. was probably related to William Shakespeare's fam- ily, as Dame Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Barnard, the granddaughter of Shakespeare, bequeathed in her will £50 to be given to her cousin, Thomas Welles, of Carlton, Bedford, England. Thomas Welles married (first) in 1618, in England,

Hunt, who died in Hartford about 1640, and he mar- ried (second) in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1646, Elizabeth Foote, daughter of John Deming, of Eng- land, and widow of Nathaniel Foote. Gov. Welles had issue : Anne, born about 1619 ; John, about 1621 ; Robert, about 1624; Thomas, about 1627; Samuel, about 1630; Sarah, about 1632; Mary, about 1634; and Joseph, about 1637.

(II) Thomas Welles (2), born about 1627, in Northamptonshire, England, came with the family to America in 1636, landing at Saybrook. He was taken to Hartford the same year, and to Wethers- field in 1637, where he passed the remainder of his lifetime, and died in the spring of 1668. "He was the largest and tallest man of his time, in Hartford, with a strong mind, and sterling and honorable character." He was quartermaster under Major John Mason, of Hartford, and a deputy magistrate. He was married in Hartford, June 29, 1651, to Han- nah, widow of John Pantry, of that town, and daughter of William Tuttle, of Boston. His chil- dren, all born in Wethersfield, were : Rebeckah, born in May, 1655; Thomas, in October, 1657; Sarah, in April, 1659; Ichabod in November, 1660; Samuel, in October, 1662; Jonathan, in September, 1664 ; and Joseph, in August, 1667. The mother of these died in Hartford Aug. 8, 1683, aged fifty years.

(III) Ichabod Welles, born in November, 1660, in Wethersfield, died in Hartford after 1706.

(IV) Jonathan Welles, born Sept. 17, 1689, in Wethersfield, died in West Hartford in 1752.

(V) Jonathan Welles (2), born in 1718, in West Hartford, died in 1795.

(VI) Lieut. James Welles, born in 1753, died in 1837. Mr. Welles was a soldier in the Revolu- tion, serving as a lieutenant in the 2d Regiment, Connecticut Light Dragoons, Col. Sheldon's Com- pany, 1777-1783.

(VII) James Wells (2), born November 14, 1783, in Hartford, Conn., married Rebecca, born in 1787, daughter of David Ames, who was born in' West Bridgewater, Mass., in February, 1760, and died in Springfield, Mass., in August, 1847. James: Wells resided in Springfield, Mass., and died No-

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vember 14, 1843. His wife survived him, dying in 1871. She descended from William Ames, who was born in 1605 in Breton, England, and died in Brain- tree, Mass., in 1654, her line being through John Ames, of West Bridgewater (1647-1725), Thomas Ames (1682-1774), Capt. John Ames (1738-1805) and David Ames. The latter was one of the lead- ing iron manufacturers in America. He was a sol- dier of the Revolution, and by reason of his ac- knowledged ability and large experience in business was selected by President Washington in 1794 to construct a national armory at Springfield, Mass., of which he was made the first superintendent in 1794, serving until 1805. Later he was a pioneer in the manufacture of paper in the United States. He was commissioned a colonel in the United States army.

(VIII) Hon. David Ames Wells, M. D., LL. D., D. C. L., economist, was born June 17, 1827, at Springfield, Mass. He was graduated from Will- iams College in 1847. He was associate editor of the Springfield Republican in 1848-49, and was ap- pointed assistant professor at the Lawrence Scien- tific School, Harvard University, in 1850. In 1852 he received the degree of B. S. from Harvard, and in 1863 the honorary degree of M. D., from the Berkshire Medical College. In 1857-58 he was en- gaged in the general book and publishing business in New York, as a member of the firm of G. P. Putnam & Co. He removed to Troy, N. Y., in 1858, and thence to Norwich, Conn., in 1870. In April, 1865, he was made chairman of the United States Revenue Commission, and was appointed special commissioner of Revenue of the United States in 1867. The same year he was sent on a mission to Europe by the United States Government. He retired from the office of special commissioner of United States Revenue by limitation of term of office in July, 1870, and received on retirement a letter of thanks for his official services from a ma- jority of both branches of Congress. In July, 1870, he was appointed by the governor of New York a commissioner to revise the laws for the assessment and collection of taxes in the State of New York, and in this new position he prepared and submitted to the Legislature, in 1872 and 1873, two reports and a code of laws. All of these reports have been since reprinted in the United States, and in Europe ; and one of the first acts of the French National As- sembly, after the conclusion of the German war, was to order the translation and official publication of Mr. Wells's reports as special commissioner for 1868-69. This compliment was further supple- mented, in the spring of 1874, by the unanimous election of Mr. Wells by the Institute of France to fill the chair of Foreign Associate, made vacant by the death of the late John Stuart Mill; and later by the voting to him of the degree of D. C. L., by the University of Oxford, England. The honorary de- gree of LL. D. had been given him by the college of his graduation-Williams, and on his retirement from Washington a testimonial of the value of sev-

eral thousand dollars was also presented him by merchants of New York, without distinction party, as a "token of their esteem for his unsull integrity, high personal character, and as a slig recognition of his inestimable services to his cox trymen."

In 1872 the corporation of Yale College elect Mr. Wells university lecturer on Political Scien In 1873, on invitation of the Cobden Club, he visit England and delivered the address at the anni meeting and dinner of the Club. The name of M Wells was brought prominently forward in t spring of 1874 as a candidate for United States se ator for Connecticut. In the spring of 1875 he w elected president of the Democratic State conventi of Connecticut ; and as such firmly committed t party in the State to the doctrine of hard money a taxation for revenue only. In March, 1876, he w chosen president of the American Association for t! Promotion of Social Science. Originally he was believer in the economic system of protection, b his experience abroad, in investigating the indt tries in competition with those of the United Stat resulted in his acceptance of free trade doctrines. I was a delegate to the Democratic National Conve tions of 1872 and 1880, and in 1876 he was a ca didate for Congress from Connecticut. He was a pointed by the United States court in 1876 one the trustees and receivers of the Alabama & Cha tanooga Railway Company, and in fourteen mont rescued the corporation from bankruptcy and e pended a considerable sum for improvements al repairs, without incurring an additional dollar indebtedness. In 1877 he was appointed by ti: State Board of Canal Commissioners chairman of commission to consider the subject of tolls on th New York canals, and in 1878 made an exhausti report. He was one of the trustees of the bon holders that bought under foreclosure and sale, ar reorganized, the Erie Railway Company. In 18; he was elected by the associated railways of tl United States a member of the board of arbitration to which they agreed to refer all disputes and af rangements for "pooling" or apportioning their r spective earnings. Mr. Wells was elected a foreig associate of the Academy dei Lincei of Italy, recei ing its medal of honor in 1863. He was preside. of the American Social Science Association in 187 79 ; president of the New London County (Conn Historical Society in 1880; and of the America Free Trade League in 1881.

Mr. Wells was a prolific writer in pamphlets ( economic subjects, some of the best known of whid are "The Creed of the Free Trade" (1875) ; "Pr duction and Distribution of Wealth" ( 1875) ; "WI we Trade and How we Trade" (1878) ; "The Silv Question or the Dollar of the Fathers vs. the Doll; of the Sons" (1878) ; and "Principles of Taxation (1886). In book form he published "Year Book ( Agriculture" (Philadelphia, 1856) ; "Wells' Scien of Common Things" (New York, 1856) ; "Repo

5 1

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of nited States Revenue Commission" (Washing- toi [866) ; "Reports of United States Special Com- mig oners of Revenue" (4 Vols., 1866-69) ; "Rob- insa Crusoe's Money" (New York, 1876) ; "Our M :hant Marine; how it Rose, Increased, became Gift, Declined, and Decayed" (1882) ; "A Primer of ariff Reform" (1884) ; "Practical Economics, a ('d ction of Essays" ( 1885) ; "A Study of Mexico" (I7); "A Short and Simple Catechism" (1888) ; an "Relation of the Tariff to Wages" ( 1888).

Vith others Mr. Wells published "History and Skiches of Williams College" (Springfield, 1847). In ambridge he began with George Bliss, in 1849, th publication of the "Annual of Scientific Dis- corry," which he continued until 1866. He com- "Science of Common Things" (New York, pi I8 ); "Elements of Natural Philosophy" (1857) ; nciples and Applications of Chemistry" ( 1858) ; an "First Principles of Geology" (1861), of which wors two were translated into Chinese, and that on ch mistry was adopted as a text book at the United Stles Military Academy.

On May 9, 1860, Mr. Wells was married to Mary Saford Dwight, born Oct. 13, 1826, daughter of Jales Sanford and Elizabeth Dwight, he a mer- chit of Springfield, Mass. After her death, Mr. Wis married (second) June 10, 1879, Ellen A. Dight. One son, David Dwight Wells (now de- celed), was born to the first marriage, April 22, 18 . David Ames Wells passed away at Norwich N 5, 1898.

EDWARD CHAPPELL. The death of this léman removed one of the best known and most essful business men of eastern Connecticut, and w; a distinct loss to the city of Norwich. He de- schded from one of the oldest families in New Lon- county, being a son of Ezra and Wealthy Chap-

dc pe and was born in New London Nov. 3, 1815.

Ir. Chappell came to Norwich in 1839 and as- so ted himself in business with John G. Hunting- to After a year or two the copartnership was dis- SO e a hard struggle for success, but in 1848 he ed, and he went into business for himself. He m be me embarrassed and failed, with large liabilities. creditors had faith in his strict business ability

H ar integrity, and he immediately resumed busi- ne on a new basis. Enoch F. Chapman then en- te 1 his employ as clerk, and became his partner in I8 „, remaining his business associate for forty- the years ; the association was only broken by the deth of Mr. Chappell. The firm prospered, and

th business grew to its immense proportions, sur H. Brewer being added to the firm, he hav- in acquired a one-third interest in the business. Chappell left Norwich with his wife and daugh- M te Miss Julia Chappell, for a business and pleasure tr

to New York. He was as well as usual when heleft the city, but while in New York was taken stilenly ill, and died Oct. 13, 1891, and his death a surprise and shock to his family and the w

public. His remains were brought to Norwich and interred in Yantic cemetery.

In politics Mr. Chappell was a Republican, and at one time represented his ward in the common council. He was not a man who sought office, but office sought him, and he had been urged to accept the nominations from his party as representative to the Legislature, and as mayor of the city. But he always declined public honors, and showed no taste or ambition for political or ecclesiastical offices. He was a member of Christ Church, and a liberal sup- porter of same. He was a man who disliked osten- tatious display and the laudation which so often marks generous giving. He was a liberal giver to all good works, and was a large dispenser of private charity, but he placed upon all his personal dona- tions the seal of silence, and only those whom his bounty blessed were ever permitted to know any- thing about it. He was a shrewd business man, and as he increased his capital he became interested in manufacturing establishments in his vicinity, and at the time of his death was the largest stockholder in the Ashland Mills at Jewett City; the largest local stockholder in the Ponemah Mills at Taftville; and the largest stockholder in the Falls Company. A tribute from a friend published at the time of his death was as follows :

The sudden death of Mr. Edward Chappell, Tuesday noon, at the "Marlborough Hotel," New York, fills the hearts of a host of friends in Norwich and elsewhere with profound sorrow. To know him was to esteem him for his many sterling qualities of character. Among business men his strong, active mind won respect, which was fully warranted by his more than usual success. His sense of honor was of the highest order, and his word was considered as good as a gold-bearing bond. Like many another man he had met disasters in his business career. At the age of thirty-two years he failed for over one hundred thousand dollars. Ten years later, by dint of tremendous energy and great economy, he was again on the road to prosperity. Unlike many another man, he paid his creditors in full and with interest. And in his prosperity he took sincere pleasure in saying that he was ever grateful to those who treated him with consideration when he was down. Norwich has lost one of her most valued citizens, who at the time of his death was most largely interested in its commercial and manufacturing enterprises. The church to which he belonged and chari- table societies of the city found a reliable supporter in Mr. Chappell, and when he gave he was a cheerful giver, and many of his charities were marked by our Savior's injunction, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

Mr. Chappell married Elizabeth E., daughter of Lyman Brewer, of Norwich, and she survived him, with two daughters, but all are now deceased. One of the daughters, Mary Brewer, married Edwin S. Ely, of Norwich, and died March 19, 1895, leaving four children. Mrs. Chappell passed away on May IO, 1897, and the remaining daughter, Miss Julia Chappell, died in San Francisco in 1899.

FRANKLIN NICHOLS, whose death occurred Oct. 30, 1890, at Norwich, was widely and prom- inently known throughout eastern Connecticut from

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his long connection with the banking business, be- ing at the time of his death, and for many years prior thereto, president of the Thames Bank, and for fifty and more years engaged in the banking business.

Born Aug. 11, 1805, in the town of Thompson, Conn., he was a son of Elijah and Millicent (Brack- ett) Nichols. Young Nichols passed his boyhood in his native town, and in the public schools of the locality received his elementary book training. He inherited extensive farming lands from his father, and early in life began the improvement and develop- ment of these, in this work being associated with an older brother until 1840. In that year he removed to Norwich, in the same State, where he became as- sociated in a partnership with Mr. Eddy in the whole- sale grocery business, which was carried on under the firm style of Nichols & Eddy. The firm later became Nichols & Evans, and, still later, Nichols, Evans & Almy. Mr. Nichols withdrew from the firm in 1844, and in company with the late Leonard Bal- lou engaged in the cotton business, a connection that lasted some two years. Ever afterward Mr. Nichols was engaged in banking. He had, in the spring of 1833, assisted in obtaining a charter for the Thomp- son Bank, which was organized in the fall of the same year, with eleven directors. Of these eleven men Mr. Nichols was the sole survivor at the time of his death. In 1846 he became identified with the Thames Bank at Norwich, with which he remained prominently connected until the time of his demise -a period of more than forty years, during which he was the bank's president thirty-nine years, from 1851. He was trustee of the Norwich Savings Bank for thirty-nine years, from 1851, and its president from 1879. He was the last survivor of the forty trustees of that institution at the time of his election. He was one of the Thames Loan & Trust Company in 1869, and for several years its president. On the organization of the gas company at Norwich, Mr. Nichols was chosen a director, and, at the time of his death, was the sole survivor of the original board. He also served as president of the Gas Company. He was one of the promoters of the Bank of Mutual Redemption in Boston, and again he survived all of the original board. Like the old oak of the forest, venerable and grand, this distinguished financier out- lived all of his contemporaries. Mr. Nichols, too, was a director of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad Company. Such a record needs no comment-the life of such a man no eulogy. One has only to read between the lines to measure the prominence and worth to a community of the man.

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Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 13

Author: Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1568

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568