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 146

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 146

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Since 1898 Mr. White has been engaged in farm- ing and in the milk and grain business in East lynne. Ile has been a life long Republican, casting his first presidential vote for AAbraham Lincoln. llc has acceptably served the town of East Lyme as a member of the board of assessors and as a member of the board of relief. He was elected to the State Legislature in the fall of two2, giving good service upon the committee on the Putnam Memorial Camp.

Fraternally he is a member of Bay View Lodge No. 120. F. & A. M., of which he was a chatter member and first master. He is also member of the Union Lodge, No. 10. .. O. C. W., of which he was also charter member and first master, and a member of the Ancient Order of Fraternal Helpers. In his religions connections he is a member of the Baptist Church, and is now its senior deacon, having

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

served as deacon for about thirty years. For eight years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, and also for a number of years acted most efficiently as clerk of the church and trustee. Mr. White en- joys the distinction of being one of two deacons who have been ordained in the church at Niantic, the council of the Baptist Church Association having been called to Niantic for that purpose.

JAMES FITCH (deceased). The death of a good man is a distinct loss to the community in which he lived. When James Fitch passed away at his home in New London May 28, 1901, there was re- moved from the State a man whose busy active life had been filled with good deeds, whose life, public and private, fulfilled high ideals of citizenship, and whose character was in every way worthy of emula- tion. He came of good old Pilgrim stock.

(I) Rev. James Fitch, the ancestor of the Mont- ville families of the name, was born at Bocking, Essex, England, Dec. 24, 1622. At the age of six- teen years he came to America, being one of a band of thirteen young men, all intending to enter the ministry. After his arrival he was placed under the instruction of Revs. Hooker and Stone, of Hartford, where he remained seven years. In 1646 a Church was formed at Saybrook, over which he was or- dained pastor. In 1660, after the death of his first wife, Mr. Fitch, with a part of his parishioners, re- moved to Norwich. He had learned the language of the Indians, and often went among the members of the neighboring tribes endeavoring to convert them to Christianity. The Mohegan sachems, not- withstanding their ordinary obstinacy to the Chris- tian religion, were warmly attached to Rev. Fitch and his family, and large tracts of land were con- veyed to them, either in trusts or in absolute grants. A tract of land five miles in breadth and one in width, located in what is now the town of Lebanon, was conveyed by Owaneco to Rev. Fitch. On this tract some of his children settled, and among them he died Nov. 18, 1702, in the eightieth year of his age. He married (first) Abigail Whitfield, daughter of Rev. Henry Whitfield, minister at Guilford, in Oc- tober, 1648. She died Sept. 9, 1659. In October, 1664, he wedded Priscilla Mason, daughter of Major John Mason. By his wife Abigail he had six chil- dren, namely: James, Abigail, Elizabeth, Hannah, Samuel and Dorothy. By his wife Priscilla his children were: Daniel, John, Jeremiah, Jabez, Ann, Nathaniel, Joseph and Eleazer.

(II) Samuel Fitch, son of Rev. James, was born in April, 1655. It is not known whom he married, but of his children there is record of five : Heze- kiah, Jabez, Benjamin, Peletiah and Samuel. He lived in Long Society in the town of Preston, and he died in 1725. Some of his descendants settled in Lebanon.

(III) Hezekiah Fitch, son of Samuel, was born about 1690. He married, Nov. 18, 1713, Hannah Read, and his death occurred at Norwich Oct. IO,

1727. His children were: Mary, John, Abiah, Ben- jamin, Benajah and Ebenezer.

(IV) Benajah Fitch, son of Hezekiah, was born July 30, 1721. On Oct. 6, 1747, he married Sarah Palmer, and they settled in Preston. Their five children were: Elijah, Nathaniel, Susannah, Thomas and Rufus.

(V) Thomas Fitch, son of Benajah, was born Feb. 4, 1761. On March 10, 1782, he married Free- love Smith, daughter of Paul and Mary Smith, of Lyme, Conn. She died Jan. 21, 1783, and he mar- ried (second) Mary Allen, daughter of Stephen Al- len. He died in Montville Sept. 2, 1855. His chil- dren, all but the first of whom were born of the sec- ond marriage, were: William, born Jan. 18, 1783, married Nancy Latimer, and died June 22, 1856; Nancy, born in 1785, married Clement Bishop, and died in 1868; Freelove, born in 1787, married Thomas Strickland, and died in 1871 ; John, born in 1789, married Elizabeth Tinker, and died in 1872; James ; Mercy, born in 1795, moved West ; Thomas, born in 1797, died in 1812 from injuries received in an accident.

(VI) James Fitch, born Nov. 10, 1790, in Mont- ville, passed nearly his entire life in his native place, where he was a prosperous farmer, and a highly respected and honored citizen. He served in the war of 1812, and was a first lieutenant of cavalry, then called "troop." His death occurred Jan. 9, 1871. On Feb. 1, 1815, he married Nancy Strick- land, who was born Feb. 16, 1793, daughter of Jo- seph and Phebe (Lewis) Strickland; she lived to. be over one hundred years of age. Their children were: Joseph S., born Dec. 31, 1815, married Har- riet T. Harris ; Maryette, born June 24, 1818, mar- ried Henry E. Turner ; and James.

(VII) James Fitch, son of James, was born in Montville, Nov. 27, 1823, and his education was be- gun in the public schools of his native town. Later he attended Bacon Academy at Colchester, which institution of learning he left in the fall of 1839. In March, 1840, he came to New London and clerked in the grocery store of Ralph Stoddard on State street, where his brother, Joseph S., was also em- ployed. A year later he entered the grocery of Ab- ner Bassett, on Bank street, remaining there until early in 1842, when he began clerking for F. W. Holt, at the corner of Bank and Pearl streets. In 1843, when but nineteen years of age, in company with his brother Joseph S., he purchased the Abner Bassett store, and the following spring they ad- mitted Nehemiah B. Payn, as a partner, the firm name becoming Fitch, Payn & Co. The partnership lasted two years, in which time they conducted two stores, having become the owners of the Giles Harris store. In 1846, on the dissolution of the partnership, Mr. Fitch became the sole owner, and he conducted the business for himself, meeting with great success, until 1856. That year Augustus A. Rowe became his partner, and the firm of Fitch & Rowe was engaged in business three years, when Mr. Rowe retired and

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from 1859 to September, 1891, Mr. Fitch carried on the grocery and provision business on his own ac- count, at No. 87 Bank street, where he had been lo- cated for over forty-nine years. As a business man Mr. Fitch was careful and conservative, strictly honorable and upright, meeting every obligation with promptness, and winning a firm place in the com- mercial world and a high reputation for integrity. A large part of his trade was with the boats plying in New London harbor, and his store was a head- quarters for the hardy fisherman along the Sound. When he closed out the store and retired to private life, there were many who missed his familiar figure and cheery greeting from the place he had filled so long.

Politically Mr. Fitch was a stanch Republican, and he often served his town in official capacity. While he was strictly a party man, when once elected to office, he regarded himself as the officer of the whole people regardless of politics, and he so con- ducted himself. It was during his administration as first selectman that the Alms House was pur- chased, and he also served in the common council as councilman and alderman, and for several years was chairman of the finance committee. In 1874 he represented New London in the State Legislature. Although for years a public official, he was by nature of a retiring disposition, and very averse to doing anything that brought him in the limelight of pub- licity. His manner was always pleasant and agree- able, but he was happiest in his own home. When he accepted a trust he fulfilled it at all costs. Duty was his watchword, and he never shirked any re- sponsibility that was put upon him. In business and public and private life, his record was alike spotless, and he held the esteem and reverence of all with whom he was ever associated. After several years of ill health followed by one year of close confinement to his home, James Fitch passed away May 28, 1901, aged seventy-seven years, six months and one day. He was a member and liberal sup- porter of the First Baptist Church. His devotion to his wife and family was a marked characteristic. His evenness of temper was something remarkable and in his long married life this characteristic was always prominent-"not an unkind word" to his wife and his politeness and courtesy to her never lacking from the time of their courtship.

On May 31, 1848, Mr. Fitch was married to Betsey Am Lathati, who after fifty-three years, less three days, of happy wedded life is left to mourn her loss. She was the daughter of Deacon Daniel and Adelia Ann (Denison) Latham, of New Lon- don. Two children came to bless their union, of whom the younger, James Clarence, bort Aug. 20, 1854, died at the age of four months ; the elder, Latham, born Dec. 10, 1849, was educated in Brown University, and for a time taught in the Putnam (Cont. ) high school, then in the Worcester ( Mass. ) High School, after which he entered the ministry of the Baptist Church, becoming pastor of the Sec-

ond Baptist Church of New London, in which ca- pacity he was serving at the time of his death, Nov. 6, 1895. Rev. Latham Fitch married, Dec. 25, 1872, Addie Stevens, daughter of David R. Stevens, for- merly of New London, now of Kansas City, Mo., and their children were as follows : Clarence C., born Dec. 30, 1873, now resident manager of the Rem- ington Typewriter Company, at New Haven : James L., born Sept. 12, 1875, now bookkeeper for Post Brothers (he married Theresa Firman, and has one daughter, Hazel) ; Alida L., born May 11, 1877 ; Elmer B., born June 10, 1879; Bessie, born Aug. 26, 1880; and Addie, born March 27, 1882.

WILLIAM BYRON MANIERRE, who is well known as the successful merchant at Poquonock Bridge, Conn., and comes of a family that has given several able representatives to the mechanical world, chiefly in the line of car construction, is a native son of the town in which he now resides, having been born in the house just opposite his present store June 23, 1851.

The Manierre family is of French descent. but for several generations has been resident in Con- necticut. Louis Manierre, grandfather of William B., made his home in New London.

John Manierre, son of Louis, was born in New London. He received exceptional educational ad- vatages in the famous school conducted by Lorenzo Dow. In his young manhood he learned the trade of shoemaker, and followed that occupation all his life, the greater part of which was spent in Poquo- nock. He died at the remarkable age of one hun- dred years and three months. He married Mary A. Hill, of Poquonock, who lived to the age of sixty- eight years. They were the parents of nine children : John, who was killed in the car shops in Troy. N. Y .: Ellen, deceased ; Benjamin F .. mentioned below ; George, William and Harriet. all three de- ceased : William B. ; Hannah, who married Edwin Morgan, of Poquonock; and Frances, who became Mrs. Knight, of Poquonock. In his religions be- lief, John Manierre inclined toward Spiritualism.

Benjamin F. Manierre attended school in Po- quonock, and there under E. 11. Avery learned the trade of carpenter. He spent two years working on the old depot and the stone church opposite the post- office in New London. Going to Ramapo, N. Y., he spent two years at work in the car shops of the New York & Erie Railway, and then went to Troy. N. Y., where for thirty -four years he was employed in the Eaton & Gilbert Car Manufacturing Com pany, When he began work there Is sages amounted to $1.50 per day, and at the last he re- ceived $5,000 a year as superintendent of the shop there and at Schenectady, In order to keep in touch with the work at both places he was obliged to travel to Schenectady every other day for five years Ill health resulting from a fall that fractured his jaw bone and produced nervous prostration necessi- tated his retirement to private life. During his or-

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ceedingly busy life he was always found ready to do his part as a good citizen, and he kept fully abreast of the times, and was keenly interested in all public questions. For five years he was presi- dent of the suburban village of Green Island, where he made his home for a time, and he was the Repub- lican candidate for the Legislature from there. In 1891 he returned to Poquonock, where he had made extensive real estate investments, and since that time has busied himself with his private interests. Be- fore the Civil war he was affiliated with the Demo- crat party, but since 1861 has been a stanch and un- compromising Republican.

On Oct. 27, 1853, in Hackensack, N. J., Ben- jamin F. Manierre was married to Mary A. De Graw, of Bellvale, Orange Co., N. Y. They have three children : Mary A., who married (first) L. D. Avery, by whom she had two children, Grace and Frank, and she married (second) Calvin Burrows ; Benjamin F., Jr., assistant superintendent of the Union Trolley System, Providence, R. I., who mar- ried Julia Burrows, daughter of Calvin Burrows, of Poquonock, and has a daughter, Catherine ; and Nel- lie, who married William Baumes, and has three children, Gladys, William H. and Priscilla.

William Byron Manierre was educated in the schools of his native village, and at the age of seven- teen he went to Troy, N. Y., to take a course in civil and mechanical engineering in the school of Loath and Berdon, where he studied for two years. After leaving school he was employed by the Gilbert Car Company, of Troy, for twenty-three years, leav- ing that firm in 1891 to go to Minnesota, where he had charge of the Car Department of the Sioux Railroad in Minneapolis, and for six years was su- perintendent of the shops of that road. His first employment in Minnesota was with the Northern Car Company which was burned, and he then joined the Sioux road. Feeling desirous for a less strenuous life, he returned to Poquonock, in 1898, and there succeeded Russell Wells in the mercantile business, in which he has met with no little success, and has built up a very large trade. He is broad- minded and liberal, and is in the front rank of the progressive citizens of his pretty little home town. On Feb. 20, 1899, he was appointed postmaster, an office he still holds, to the very great satisfaction of the patrons.

In Troy, N. Y., Mr. Manierre was married to Miss Serena Kirtmarsh, of French descent. She died April 22, 1898, at Minneapolis. Two children blessed this union: Albert Gordon, born in Troy, Feb. 9, 1879, a student in the Medical Department of the University of Syracuse, N. Y. ; and William E., born at Schenectady, N. Y., Aug. 28, 1890.

LOUIS P. ALLYN, one of the representative citizens of Mystic, Conn., and a successful business man, comes from old and honorable New England ancestry. On the paternal side he descends from Robert Allyn, who settled at Allyn's Point, the line

of descent being as follows: Robert (settled at Allyn's Point), John, Ebenezer (who married a Turner), Elder Rufus (whose wife was a Billings), Capt. Rufus (who married Freelove Morgan), Gur- don S. and Louis P. On the maternal side Louis P. Allyn is a descendant of Capt. James Avery of Gro- ton. Mr. Allyn is also a lineal descendant of Simeon Avery, who was aide-de-camp to Washington in the war of the Revolution. The Allyn family, from the very earliest history of Ledyard, has been one of the leading families of that town.

Gurdon S. Allyn, the father of Louis P., was born in the town of Ledyard, west of Meeting House Hill. His boyhood days were passed in Ledyard, and at an early age he came to Mystic, where he learned the carpenter's trade with Harry Latham. After completing his apprenticeship and working for a time as a journeyman, he engaged in the con- tracting business, and for a. time was interested in the quarry at Quiambaug. The greater part of his active life was spent in the menhaden fishery busi- ness, in which he was engaged at the time of his death, and in which he was very successful. The lumber fields in Wisconsin attracted him, and for some years he was in business there. In all public movements tending to the advancement of his town he was at the fore, and to him is largely due the excellent system of waterworks that is now the pride of the town. The business interests of Mr. Allyn were varied and extensive, and to give them the close attention he did, yet take such a prominent part in town and public affairs, required a great capacity for business, which was surely his. His wonderful energy, combined with an ability to read- ily see through matters, made it possible for him to transact quickly the unusual volume of business his interests created. He was the leading spirit in most of the projects with which he was identified. He exerted a big influence in matters generally in and around Mystic. He had a wide acquaintance, which included most of the prominent men of the county, as well as many throughout the State.

Mr. Allyn was one of the prominent Republi- cans and was active in the work of the party, being one of its counselors and advisers in his section. He served as selectman in 1868 and again in 1874. During two sessions of the Legislature he repre- sented Groton in that body, and served with great credit to himself, as well as with satisfaction to his constituents. He also held a number of minor town offices. He was conscientious in the performance of duty, and whatever he attempted to do he did well. He was a general favorite of the people, who had unbounded confidence in his integrity and in his wisdom. His religious connection was with the Union Baptist Church in Mystic, of which he was a trustee. His death occurred in February, 1876, when he was aged fifty-nine years. Fraternally he was a Mason.

Gurdon S. Allyn was twice married. His first wife, Hannah Avery, daughter of Joseph S. Avery,

Louis Pallyn

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Groton, became the mother of four children, namely : Juliette, deceased ; Louis Packer ; Francis, deceased ; and Hannah, deceased. By his second wife, Martha Champion, Mr. Allyn had a son Gur- don C., now a resident of West Mystic.

Louis Packer Allyn, eldest son of Gurdon S. Allyn, was born in Mystic, Conn., July 22, 1851. The schools of Mystic afforded him good facilities for a substantial common school education, which has formed the basis for the wide knowledge he has acquired by reading and experience. After leaving the school room he clerked four years for Luther A. Morgan, and there gained a good knowledge of the business world. He then joined his father in the menhaden fishing business under the firm name of G. S. Allyn & Co., and continued same alone after his father's death until the year 1883, when he became connected with S. S. Brown & Co. For fif- teen years he maintained his connection with that firm, and then joined James Lennen & Co., at Lewes, Del., in the same line, there continuing until he went into the syndicate. His long years of expe- rience in the one line have made him invaluable to the business, and his upright methods have won the highest esteem of the best men in the commercial world. Mr. Allyn is now secretary of the Men- haden Oil & Guano Co., of Harborton, Va., of which the president is Alden S. Swan, and the general manager and treasurer is James Lennen. While his many interests have taken him away from Mys- tic, Mr. Allyn has always retained his legal resi- dence there, and he has shown in many ways that the home of his early years is most dear to him.

Mr. Allyn has other interests outside of the Menhaden Company, and is a director of the Mystic River National Bank. Like his father he is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, in which he is now serv- ing as a deacon. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

On Oct. 24, 1876, Mr. Allyn was married to Miss Emily Fenner Maxson, daughter of William E. Maxson and Sarah Maria (Fenner), Mrs. Allyn comes from one of the old families of Rhode Island and is connected with many of the old and prominent families of that State. She is eligible to a number of the Colonial societies, and is a mem- ber of Fanny Ledyard Chapter, D. A. R., at Mystic. Mr. and Mrs. Allyn have three sons, whose genuine appreciation for their unusual advantages is shown by their high characters and exceptional promise.

Louis Maxson Allyn graduated from the Mystic high school, and prepared for college at Westerly. R. 1. He then took a course at Lehigh Univer- sity, after which he entered the University of Penn- sylvania, graduating therefrom in 1903. with the legree of M. D. He was for some time a resident physician at St. Joseph's Hospital, Reading, l'a .. und in May, 1904. located in Mystic, where he has since been practicing and enjoys a rapidly grow- ng patronage. He is a member of the New Lon- lon County Medical Society, and of the John Gui-

teras Medical Society of the University of Penn- sylvania. While at college Dr. Allyn took a promi- nent part in athletics; he was a member of the 'Varsity football team at Lehigh and at the Univer - sity of Pennsylvania was one of the class crew that won the University championship in 1899. He was a member of the Detta Upsilon at the University of Pennsylvania.

Gurdon Spicer Allyn graduated from the Mystic high school and the Bulkeley high school at New London, and after a special course at Colgate Uni- versity entered the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1903 with the degree of M. D. For a time he was a resident physician at St. Joseph's hospital, Lancaster, Pa .. but in October, 1904, he opened an office in New London, where he is now practicing. Dr. Allyn is a member of the New London County Medical Society and the John Guiteras Medical Society of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. During his college career he was for four years a member of the 'Varsity crew at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1900 he rowed No. 4 in the crew that won the inter-col- legiate championship at Poughkeepsie, and broke the record at that time. In 1901 he rowed as No. 6 in the celebrated crew that contested at Henley. England. This was the best crew that ever went abroad from the United States and was the only foreign crew that ever made the finals in the Grand Challenge at Henley. He captained the crew of 1902, and was a member of 1903. Dr. Allyn rowed as No. 6 during three of the four years. He was received into the Skull and Dagger, as well as the Sphinx, fraternal societies, in honor of his yeoman service for the University. He is a member of the A. M. P. O. and of the Delta Upsilon.

William Ellery Allyn graduated from the Bulke- ley high school, at New London, and is now attend- ing the University of Pennsylvania.

THOMAS. The Thomas family has been prom- inent in the agricultural circles of New London county for nearly two centuries. Each generation has given to the world men who have held high place in social life, and who have been useful to the com- munity in which they lived. All have had un- tarnished reputations.

Daniel Thomas was born Nov. 10, 1757, and he passed the greater part of his life in Ledvard and I reston engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as a soldier for seven years during the war of the Revolution. His death occurred Juh to. 1836 On Jan. 11, 178t, he married Eunice Baker, who was born June 1.4. 1750. Right children were born to the, of whom we have the following record . Het- sey, born Nov. 38, 1783, married Sept. 10, 1810. Jonathan Daboll, and resisted in Cana.m. Com. Wealthy, born Nov. 21, 1785, married Nov. 20, 1808. Avery Chapman, removed to Castro, N. Y. and died April 5. 1851: Wilham Stewart, born March 21. 1787, married ( first ) April 5. 1813.

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Fanny Rogers, (second) September, 1836, Esther Miner, and (third), 1857, Mrs. Mary Cole- man, and was a pioneer . settler at Canisteo, N. Y. ; Eunice, born March 31, 1789, married, Sept. 24, 1815, Joseph Moxley, removed to Jefferson, N. Y., and died Feb. 26, 1871; Jerusha, born Feb. 2, 1792, married, Jan. 22, 1815, James Rose, resided in what is now Ledyard, and died Jan. 1, 1837; Al- fred, born May 26, 1795, married, Nov. 12, 1819, Lucy Benjamin, and resided in Waymart, Pa. ; Dan- iel, born March 12, 1798, married, Sept. 10, 1819, Lucinda Kimball, resided at Kinsman, O., and died in 1869; and Seabury, born Aug. 22, 1802, died Dec. 27, 1873.

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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 146

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