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 138

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 138

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About this time Mr. Minson went West, intend- ing to locate, but after spending some time in Mil- waukee and in Michigan, he returned East, and

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became engineer for the contractor who cut down 77th street from 9th to 10th avenue in New York City. Mr. Minson was engineer in a New York safe factory for several months, and in January, 1874, he became engineer and general superintend- ent of the Roosevelt Hospital Estate Building at Nos. 478-480-482 Broadway, and No. 40 Crosby street. He also has charge of several other build- ings connected with these institutions. In addi- tion to having charge of all repairs, Mr. Minson is general overseer of all matters pertaining to these buildings, and he takes great pride in his work.

Mr. Minson was the organizer of Relief Council, No. 30, O. U. A. M., of New Brunswick, N. J., as well as one of its charter members. He is also a member of Lodge No. 30, K. of P., of New Bruns- wick ; a member of Union Lodge, No. 31, F. & A. M., of New London, having withdrawn his card from Enterprise Lodge, No. 228, of New York ; a member of Richmond Hill Lodge, No. 311, A. O. U. W., of New York ; a member of the Marine En- gineers Association of New London; and was for- merly a member of the Dry Goods Mutual Associa- tion of New York, which is now extinct. He and his estimable wife are members of the Huntington Street Baptist Church, and for over thirty-nine years he has been identified with that denomination. In politics, he is a very stanch Republican, and works hard for the party, but does not desire public office. In every sense of the word, Mr. Minson is a self-made man.

On Jan. 21, 1865, Mr. Minson was married to Sophia Roedel, daughter of Carl Wilhelm and Otelia (Antz) Roedel. She was born in Boppen Hausen, Germany, but came to America when about six years old, being brought by her parents, who died in New York. Mr. Roedel was born at Heidelberg. Germany, and through his maternal grandmother came of royal stock, the family being of Huguenot faith, fleeing from persecution in France. This great-grandmother bore the name of Parafezina, and the family is largely identified with Huguenot history during the mighty struggles between those of that faith and the Roman Catholics. After sery- ing in the German army for fifteen years and seven months, during which time he learned the trade of a cooper, he came with his wife to America in 1847. and when he was sixty-one years of age, enlisted in the 7th regiment of New York Volunteers, and served throughout the war. He was connected with the Invalid Corps, and was at Washington, D. C., when President Lincoln met his tragic death. The death of this loyal, patriotic old man occurred at the Soldier's Home at Hampton, Va. The father of Carl Wilhelm Roedel was for many years super- intendent of a hospital at Boppen Hausen, and there his little granddaughter, the wife of our subject, was born. The brother of Mrs. Minson's grandfather was a civil engineer, and while working on fortress "Rochenberg" was drowned. Five children were born to Carl Wilhelm Roedel and wife: Francis

Jacob, a traveling salesman living in New York ; Charles, living in New York, and engaged as an engineer on Ward's Island; Philip, who followed the water all his life, and died at sea, being robbed by pirates and lost off the San Francisco coast : Sophia, who married John H. Minson: and Anna Maria, living in Brooklyn, who married Isaac C. Varian.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Minson were: (1) Otelia Elizabeth, born May 25, 1866, in New London, married Dexter L. Dan- iels, of Waterford, where he is engaged in farming ; and they have three children, Lincoln Dexter, Everett Courtland, and Lyman Harris. (2) Fred- erick W., born Sept. 11, 1867, in New York, is a pattern maker by trade and is employed in the John Thompson Printing Press Company's plant at Hart- ford, Conn. ; he married Minetta M. King, of New London, and their children are: Frederick W., Jr., Elmer Roedel, John Henry (who died at the age of two years), and Lawrence King. (3) Cora Louisa, born March 13. 1869. at New Brunswick. N. J., married Benjamin F. Coffin, of Nantucket.a book- keeper of Spaulding Company's silver plant, who for one year was treasurer of the Jeweler's Club of Chicago. (4) Abigail Anna, born Sept. 29. 1874, at Jersey City Heights, married Charles W. Church- ill, of New London, where he is employed as a book- keeper. (5) Sophia Mabel, born Aug. 22. 1879. in New York, graduated from the Williams Memor- ial Institute of New London in 1897. and has been engaged in teaching for seven years, being now instructor in the Winthrop School, and a most accomplished and learned young lady.

Mr. Minson and his family reside in what is known to everyone as the old "Aunt Patty Hemp- stead“ residence, in Waterford, which was built in 1633. This house remained in possession of the Hempstead family, until the late Charles Walden bought it, and later he sold it to Mr. Minson, who has since made many desirable changes, altering it until it is one of the most delightful homes in the neighborhood. In this home, in which all that is best of the past two centuries is combined with modern ideas, Mr. and Mrs. Minson dispense a generous and gracious hospitality, and welcome the "stranger within their gates."

CALVIN M. MILLER is a successful busi- ness man of Old Lyme, who contes of a family long settled in Connecticut. His grandfather. Daniel Miller, lived in Haddam and East Lyme, owning a large farm in the latter place, and also carrying on a sawntill.

Epaphroditus Miller, father of Calvin M .. was born in Haddam and attended school there and in East Lynie. His first business was in running a sawmill, and tending the old toll gate at East Lyme. He married, in East Lyme, Catherine Rogers, who is now living with her son, in East Haddam. She is affectionately spoken of as "lively as a cricket,"

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in spite of her eighty-four years. When Calvin M. was fifteen years of age the family moved to East Lyme, where the father engaged in farming, an occupation he continued to follow until his death, at the age of eighty-two. He was the father of fif- teen children, of whom all but one are living. (I) Anne married John Eldridge, of Old Lyme. (2) Mary married Joseph Perkins, of Niantic. (3)

Arunah was drowned at the age of twenty-one, while skating on Rogers Lake. (4) Daniel lives at East Haddam. (5) Nancy married William Bogue, of North Lyme. (6) Caroline married Jo- seph Bogue, of North Lyme. (7) Augusta mar- ried Henry Parks, of Mystic. (8) Sarah married a Mr. Clark, of Hadlyme. (9) Asa lives at Fitch- ville, Conn. (10) Elisha lives in Westerly, R. I. (II) Calvin M. is mentioned below. (12) George, a farmer, lives at Hadlyme. (13) Isoline married John Champion, of Old Lyme. (14) Ida married James O'Brien, of Old Lyme. (15) William lives at Old Lyme.

Calvin M. Miller was born at East Lyme, May 18, 1859, and his early school days were spent in East Lyme and Lyme. At the age of eighteen he began traveling with Prof. Gleason, with his exhi- bition of trained horses, and remained with him four years. During this time they traveled over five States, and Mr. Miller became a partner in the business. He then began the work of training horses, and for ten years was thus occupied in New York State, during the summers, and in Connecti- cut in the winter season. For a time he was with A. A. Gardner, in his sales stable at Norwich, after which he leased a farm at Hadlyme, and engaged in carting and in job work. In July, 1897, he un- dertook the work of mail carrier between Lyme and North Plains. He retained this position four years, driving over his twenty-four mile route, and losing only two days in all the time he was carrier. In November, 1901, he bought the Simmons stable in Old Lyme, where he continues to do a good business the year round. He keeps ten horses, and gives riding lessons in the Boxwood School, where he has increased the business one-half. He is a member of the Society of American Mechanics, and the I. O. O. F.

Mr. Miller's first marriage was in Deposit, N. Y., to Emma Philley, by whom he had the following children : Alta May, Leila (deceased), and Leon. The family lived at Deposit for seven years, and there Mrs. Miller died. Mr. Miller was married a second time in North Lyme, to Mary Ray, a native of Norwich. They have two children, Leila and Lewis. They have their home in Old Lyme.

HENRY F. PALMER, senior member of the firm of Palmer & Rogers, real-estate and fire insur- ance agents of Norwich, is a man who is entirely self-made. From early boyhood he learned to work hard for every advantage, and in looking back over

his exceedingly creditable career one can see how each step forward was attained.

The first American ancestor of the Palmer fam- ily was Walter Palmer, who was born at Notting- ham, England, in 1598, came to Charlestown, Mass., in 1629, and lived until 1662. From this emigrant ancestor the line to Henry F. Palmer is traced through Gersham, William, Wait, Amos, Uriah and Asher.

Amos Palmer, great-grandfather of Henry F., was born Aug. 27, 1729, and made his home at Exe- ter, R. I. In November, 1749, he married Mary York, who was born April 30, 1732, and their chil- dren were: Amos, born Oct. 4, 1750; Dejiah, Nov. 10, 1751 ; Comfort, Aug. 4, 1753; Ashabel, Jan. I,. 1755 ; Ezra, Feb. 10, 1757 ; Stephen, Aug. 28, 1758; Uriah, April 25, 1760; Ruel, Nov. 30, 1761 ; Zibah, Aug. 15, 1763; Hannah, Dec. 18, 1764; Phineas, Oct. 17, 1766; Joel, May 15, 1769; Mary, March 18, 1772; Eleanor, Aug. 1, 1773; Lydia, Aug. 17, 1775 ; and Benjamin, Sept. 24, 1777.

Uriah Palmer, son of Amos, always resided in. Exeter, R. I. He married Elizabeth Newton, and they became the parents of the following named children: Uriah, who (first) married Susan Peck- ham and (second) Freelove Pratt; Matthew, who- married Susan Barber ; Noah, who (first) married Polly Corey and (second) Widow Lydia Champlin ; Comfort, who married Nathan Burdict ; Mary, who became the first wife of John Barber; Delia, who became the second wife of John Barber; Nathan, who married Sally Salisbury; Asher, mentioned below; John, who married Keturah Newton ; Ezra, who married Lucy Lewis; Olive, who married Moses Richmond ; and Albert, who died at the age of twelve years.

Asher Palmer, son of Uriah, and father of Henry F., was born in Exeter, R. I., in May, 1795. Soon after his marriage he came to Norwich, Conn., and settled on a farm where now stands the village of Taftville. There he resided for a number of years, later returning to Lisbon, and residing on the Bishop Burnham farm. After the death of his. father he remained on the home farm in Exeter, R. I., where he lived until the spring of 1845, when he- disposed of the farm and located at Griswold, Conn., there dying Dec. 25, 1851 ; the remains of himself and his wife lie in the Ames cemetery in the town of Lisbon. In politics he was a Whig, but never aspired to office.

In 1816 Asher Palmer married Hannah Pettis, who became the mother of the following children : Sybil A., born in April, 1818, married Henry Saun- ders, and died in October, 1884; John B., born in January, 1820, married Hannah Howard, and died in 1893 ; Denison, born May 18, 1821, died in Plain- field in 1903 (he married Huldah Burdick) ; Lydia, born in 1822, married Ransom Burdick, and died in November, 1870.

For his second wife Asher Palmer married

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Joanna P. Ames, who was born in August, 1802, one of the eight children-four sons and four daughters-of Comfort and Joanna (Penney) Ames, of New London, the former of whom was a native of Lisbon, Conn., and a sea captain by occu- pation. Mr. and Mrs. Ames died in New York City. Besides Mrs. Palmer the children in their family were: George Anderson, who lived in New York; William Henry ; Thomas ; Alonzo ; Rosetta, who married first a Mr. Parmelee, and second a Mr. Anderson, of New York; Emeline, who married William Lawrence, of New York; Julia, who mar- ried John Marsh, and lived in New York City. Mrs. Joanna P. (Ames) Palmer died Aug. 14, 1888. By her marriage with Asher Palmer she be- came the mother of children as follows: Hannah E., born in March, 1825, now the widow of William H. Larkham, resides on Plain Hill, in Norwich ; Julia E., born in October, 1826, married Nathaniel B. Wilcox ; Amanda R., born in May, 1828, became the first wife of George N. Holmes, and died in November, 1866; James B., born in February, 1830, married Sarah Holmes, and died in Canterbury in April, 1903; Jared B., born in November, 1832, died in November, 1851 ; Emily J., born in October, 1833, never married ; Carrie A., born in September, 1835, married Dwight A. Lyon; William A., born in February, 1837, was a member of company F, 26th Conn. V. I., and died in August, 1863, at Mem- phis, Tenn .; Henry F. is mentioned below ; Sarah H., born in October, 1841, is unmarried ; Horace A., born in November, 1843, was in company F, 26th Conn. V. I., and died Aug. 5, 1863, at Mem . phis, Tenn .; Edwin L., born Feb. 17, 1847, resides at Danielson, where he is engaged in the insurance and real estate business, and is one of the leading citizens of that place, being active in all enterprises calculated to prove beneficial to the community at large, and for several years past has served as warden of the borough ; he is now president of the Occidental United Metal & Coal Co., of Colorado, capitalized at $4,000,000.

Henry F. Palmer, the subject proper of this biography, was born Sept. 19, 1839, in Exeter, R. I., and is of the eighth generation from Walter Palmer, the Puritan, who came from Nottingham, England, in 1629, first settling in Charlestown, Mass., and who later, in 1639, settled at Stonington, Conn., becoming an important factor in the settle- ment of that colony. When Henry F. Palmer was five years old his parents removed to the south part of Griswold, New London Co., Conn. He was brought up to hard work upon a large farm, where all the boys were made useful, and here he began his career of usefulness in the spring of 1845. at the age of five, by driving oxen at the plow, He first drove one yoke, and after a few weeks' experience was considered competent to manage two, from carly morn till the sun was lost behind the western hills. His opportunities to secure an education were few, and mostly through his own efforts. The lad was

very ambitious, and desired above everything else to secure a good education. During the winter of 1845-46 nine of the family attended the district school only across the road from the house, and known as the "Burton schoolhouse." It was cus- tomary at that time to hold evening spelling matches, or spelling schools, as they were called, occasionally through the winter, but to be participated in only by the older members of the school and the neigh- boring schools. On one of these occasions, on a bitter cold night, after all the older brothers and sisters had taken their places in the line of contest- ants at the school house, Henry severely felt the loss of their companionship, and manifested signs of anxiety to follow to the spelling match. But the parents were in full command of the household, and all the remaining ones were bidden to remove their footwear and prepare for retirement. They all obeyed in their preparation and all retired ex- cept the one in question : his determination was not to be defeated, and he eluded all in the house and left few tracks till he reached the spelling school. As his youthful face peered through the door, while the two lines were being formed by the alternating choices of the two leaders, the choice of "Henry Palmer" rang out ; straightway the youth took his place in the line with an air of appreciation and self-confidence, notwithstanding the chagrin and disapproving glances of his elder brothers and sis- ters, he being barefooted and jacketless. He proved a worthy contestant and maintained his place till nearly all of both lines were seated in defeat. But the episode that followed on the morning was more pathetic than triumphant. The broken parental command demanded the penalty, and there was no question that it was fully paid, and the settlement will be among his latest memories.

When he was twelve years old his father died. leaving the widowed mother with eleven children, one son having died one month previous to the death of the father, this being the first break in the family circle. The eldest son, then being twenty- one years old, was put in charge of the farming. and Henry F. went to live in the home of his brother-in-law, Nathaniel B. Wilcox, a farmer at Canterbury, to earn his way under a yearly contract of twenty-five dollars, being also furnished with board and clothes, and having the privilege of at- tending the district school in winter. It may be well to remind the younger readers of this sketch that all the days of that year's service began at four in the morning and ended in darkness at night : vet no thought of hardship dulled his courage or ambi- tion and he remained faithful to the fulfillment of the contract. Young Palmer at this time could do as much work as the average man, and after a year he found ready employment with another brother- in-law, George N. Holmes, who was a farmer of Griswold, remaining two years. Thus he continued at farm work under various employers up to the age of sixteen, his ability becoming well known among

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the farmers and his services valuable, especially during the spring and summer months. In this way he was enabled to take preparatory schooling for a few weeks in autumn and winter, with a view to becoming a teacher of country schools, during the winter doing chores in some sonless family for his board. Returning to the home farm, which at this time was being operated by his elder brother, James B. Palmer, he remained there four years, and then went to North Stonington, where he was employed at farm work by Robert Billings, continuing with the latter for two years.

During these two years he had the pleasure of attending a full term of select school, and he next attended a select school at Jewett City, kept by Hart Fuller, of Scotland, Conn., and fitted himself to become a school teacher. In November, 1860, he cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln, and the next day opened his first school, in order to secure which he was obliged to pass examinations in the towns of Colchester and Salem. His salary was sixteen dollars a month, in addition to his board, which he secured by board- ing about among his patrons. The school was held in a house standing on the line between the towns of Colchester and Salem, his pupils coming from both towns, and some of them were as old and fully as large as he, so that the young teacher had his hands full in maintaining order and sustaining his dignity. However, he was highly successful, his school taking highest honors in the town for thor- oughness and advancement in studies. The follow- ing winter he taught in the Brewster District of Griswold, and by this time had saved enough money to take a short course at the New Britain Normal School, which he left in July, 1862. In the winter of 1862-63 he taught at Stone Hill, in the Buck District of Griswold, and his next school was in the Lovett District of Sprague, where he re- mained during the winter of 1863-64. In the spring of 1864 he accepted a position as teacher in the junior department of the Greeneville school, at Norwich, and remained there one year, until the spring of 1865, when he resigned, and in company with a former schoolmate and co-worker, James L. Johnson, purchased a grocery store on what is now Lower Broadway, Norwich, in the Coit block, now known as the Cook building. The firm was known as Palmer & Johnson. A short time later the health of Mr. Johnson failed, and he disposed of his in- terest to an elder half-brother of Mr. Palmer, John B. Palmer, the firm becoming Palmer Brothers. Two years later William Avery Cook, now of Mont- ville, purchased the interest of J. B. Palmer, and the style was changed to Palmer & Cook, continuing thus until 1869, when Mr. Cook, by purchase, be- came the sole proprietor, Mr. Palmer disposing of his interest to accept an agency in a large life in- surance company.

In November, 1870, Mr. Palmer was called with the firm of J. B. Palmer & Co., to Millstone Point,

in the town of Waterford, in company with John B. Palmer operating a large granite quarry. There he remained until the spring of 1880, having become the most important factor in the management of the company's affairs, and doing a large and success- ful business, their annual business amounting to over $100,000. They employed at times 150 able- bodied men. Their product was largely used for building purposes, and they furnished the stone used in the construction of the city hall at Norwich. Mr. Palmer applied himself very closely to this busi- ness, doing a great deal of hard work, discharging the duties of draughtsman, bookkeeper, storekeeper, salesman and financial manager. His health at last began to give way under the strain, and he disposed of his interest to his brother. In the spring of 1880 he was called to Norwich to take charge of a large amount of city real estate for the Norwich Savings Society, they presenting a proposition to him to manage their extensive real-estate interests, collect rents, make repairs, etc. Accepting this charge, Mr. Palmer devoted himself to the work, until he succeeded in disposing of all this property, and so successful was he that he gained considerable repu- tation as a judicious, conservative and prompt manipulator of realty, thus laying the foundation for a permanent real-estate business, which, with a line of fire insurance, still occupies his attention. Strict adherence to truth and honesty has won for him the well deserved title of the "reliable real- estate dealer." His judgment on real-estate values. is considered as good as that of any man in Norwich, and is frequently sought. In 1890, yielding to popu- lar demand, Mr. Palmer branched out so as to embrace the placing of fire insurance, and now rep- resents some of the leading fire insurance companies. of the country. The same year he took Henry M. Yerrington into partnership, under the firm style of Palmer & Yerrington, this partnership continuing two years, when Mr. Yerrington withdrew, and was replaced by W. O. Rogers, some time later, the cap- tion now being Palmer & Rogers. The firm does a very large and profitable business, both as real-estate and fire insurance agents. Mr. Palmer is also a notary public. He is often called upon to settle estates, and frequently is given property to manage, his ability in that direction being well known and appreciated. His counsel is much sought in business matters, and his methods of solving business prob- lems are just and simple, his judgment sound and conclusions safe. Conservatism seems to have been inherent and pervaded all his business transactions, Mr. Palmer being careful to make the best use of means at his command, avoiding all habits that par- take of any appearance of extravagance or luxury. He is a practical temperance man in every sense, a strong opposer of tobacco in any form, and is strong, supple, and athletic, always enjoying a per- fect degree of health, which he attributes to his regular and abstemious habits. Always active, and possessing large powers of endurance, though now

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past threescore years his pace is hardly slackened and natural senses as acute as those of most men of forty.

In politics Mr. Palmer is a stanch Republican, never allowing partisanship, however, to blind his conceptions as to the fitness of opposing candidates, and, in strict accordance with the freeman's oath, considering the public welfare and exercising a free and unbiased franchise. He has always declined the proffer of political honors, preferring to have others enjoy them. During the Civil war he was a member of the Union League. In 1864 he united with the Newent Congregational Church at Lisbon, and later transferred his membership to the Second Congregational Church of Norwich, of which he is a very active member, having served on several com- mittees, and for some years as auditor. In January, 1904, he was elected chairman of the Society's com- mittee. He has been a constant church and Sunday- school worker from early manhood.

On May 14, 1868, Mr. Palmer was married to Emma V. Ward, daughter of Henry Ward. Mrs. Palmer died July 27, 1886, and on Dec. 8, 1902, Mr. Palmer was married to Mrs. Jennie ( Shepard) Bush- nell, daughter of Joshua and Emeline Shepard. Although he never had any children of his own, Mr. Palmer has adopted two, upon whom he has bestowed parental care and affection, educating them carefully. One, Miss M. Annabelle Palmer, was born Sept. 17, 1878, in New York City, and graduated from the Norwich Free AAcademy in 1897, the Willimantic Normal School in 1901, and the Morse Business College, at Hartford, in 1903 : she is a most accomplished and charming young lady. The other, Louis Marsh, was born Sept. 16, 1888, in New York City, and is now attending the Free Academy.

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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 138

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