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 151

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 151

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V., were engaged for twenty-eight years. During this time they continued their business relations without the slightest differences, John W. conduct- ing the mill. The original one was conducted for three years, then one was established at Napeague, L. I., and operated for six years. The firm then bought the Ferry Boat "Union," of the Shore Line Railroad, put a fish mill on it, and it was anchored at various places. Later they constructed a fish mill on Giant's Neck. Their factories cost from ten to twenty thousand dollars, and the expense of run- ning them was some years as high as $80,000. At . one time they owned and operated four steamers in their business, these being from 150 to 200 tons burden. The trade was altogether wholesale, and in 1896 they added the manufacture and selling of phosphates to their other lines. This firm also built a mill at Lewes, Del., but sold it to the American Fishing Company in 1899.

On March 15. 1859, John W. Luce was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Justin Beckwith, of East Lyme, and they had three children : ( 1) Charles J., born Nov. 7, 1862, in East Lyme, was educated there and at Eastman's Business College at Pough- keepsie, and was then associated with his father in business. In 1899 he began working on a cotton press for baling cotton, which he builded in Birmu- ingham, Ala., for the Luce Compress Cotton Com- pany. He married Grace Cavarly, daughter of John Cavarly, of Waterford, and has two children, Fran- ces Luce, born Jan. 22, 1888: and Elizabeth, born Oct. 22, 1893. (2) Frank, born April 7. 1864. died March 8. 1888. (3) Nettie J .. born July 7. 1805. married George T. Coulter, of St. Thomas, Canada. and has children : Ivan Luce, born in August, 18go: Marguerite, born in February, 1898; and Grace Eleanor, born in June, 1902.

John W. Luce has represented East Lyme in the State Legislature, and served in it as a member of the Committee on Fisheries, in which capacity he did good work, he being so thoroughly posted in all matters pertaining to the fish industry and its won- derful possibilities. During his political life he has been a Republican, and given that party his loval support. Fraternally he was originally a member of L'nion Lodge No. 31. F. & AA. M .. of New 1.on- don, and was a charter member of Bay View Lodge, No. 120. F. & A. M., of Niantic. He has long (11- joyed in the highest degree the confidence of his fellow townsthen.

JUSTIN BECKWITH, father of Mrs, John W. Luce, was born in Waterford, Conn., mn 1815. son of Ezra Beckwith, and he died 111 1870. He spent the greater portion of his hie as a ship car - penter and farmer. He married Mary Ann Crocker, and their chiklien were . Juha, who maisel Ed- ward Luce : Mary Fhzabeth, who marrich lohn W. Luce: Willard Parker, of Milwaukee, who 11.11. ried (first) Stella Hamilton ( who bore him two chul- dren. Minnie and Albert P.) and (second) Ger- trude Todd (who boje him three children, Frankie.

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Harry and Virginia) ; and Jacob E., of Niantic, Connecticut.

CAPTAIN JAMES V. LUCE, the seventh child of Cathcart and Mary Ann (Butler) Luce, was born May 14, 1838. His boyhood days were passed upon his father's farm, now his own property, where he has resided all his life, excepting five years when he was operating a stamp-mill in quartz gold mining in Virginia. Aside from the business the brothers conducted for so many years, Capt. Luce has owned and operated the quarry on Rocky Neck, for many years shipping rock for building sea walls and other like structures.

In 1861 Capt. Luce married Sophia A. Havens, daughter of Silas Havens, and she died May 23, 1882, leaving no children. Later Capt. Luce married Terrie T. Havens, a sister of his first wife, and by this marriage he has the following family: Laura S. and Ervin J. Capt. and Mrs. Luce are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Niantic, and are very highly respected residents of that place, where the Luce family is so prominent in all its branches.

GEORGE W. FRINK. Members of this num- erous family have lived in the New England States for almost two hundred and fifty years. Those of the name of whom this sketch particularly treats are direct descendants in the eighth generation from John Frink, the line being traced through John, Samuel, Jedediah, Andrew, Rufus and George W. Frink.

(I) John Frink was of English origin, and be- came an early emigrant to New England, being of Ipswich, Mass., in 1673. In his will, which was probated in September, 1675, he mentions his wife, Mary, and children, John and George.

(II) John Frink, son of John and Mary, was married in 1657 to Grace Stevens, of Taunton, Mass., and they had a family of seven children, born as follows : Grace, in 1658 ; Hannah, 1661 ; Deborah, 1665; Samuel, 1668; John, 1671; Thomas, 1674; Judith, 1680. As early as 1666 John Frink settled in the town of Stonington, Conn., bringing with him his wife and family, then consisting of three daugh- ters. He bought a tract of land on Taugwonk, in Stonington, upon which he erected his dwelling- house. He served in King Philip's war.

(III) Samuel Frink, born Feb. 14, 1668, in Ston- ington, was married Jan. 6, 1692, to Hannah Miner, daughter of Ephraim Miner, of Stonington. To this union were born the following named children : Samuel, born in 1693; Andrew, born in 1694; Grace, born in 1695 ; James, born in 1697 ; Hannah, baptized in 1700; Jedediah, baptized in 1702; Jerusha, baptized in 1704 ; Elias, baptized in 1706; Abigail, baptized in 1708.

(IV) Jedediah Frink, baptized in Stonington, Conn., June 7, 1702, settled in Preston, Conn., where he lived and died, reaching an advanced age. On July 27, 1726, he married Lucy Stanton, of Preston,

and their children were all born in Preston, as fol- lows: Thomas, Nov. 26, 1727; Andrew, Dec. 31, 1730; Jedediah, April 2, 1732; Amos, Aug, 19, 1734; Anna, Feb. 26, 1736; Lucy, Feb. 28, 1739 (died April 11, 1743) ; Lucy, July 24, 1743 ; Elias, June 1, 1746 (died Nov. 24, 1751).

(V) Andrew Frink, born Dec. 31, 1730, in Preston, died Sept. 25, 1806, in his native town. He was engaged in farming there throughout life. On April 13, 1757, he married Sarah Kimball, of Preston, who passed away Dec. 2, 1836, in her ninety-ninth year, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Elias, born June 2, 1758; Andrew, Oct. 18, 1760; Arthur, Feb. 16, 1763; Elijah, July 20, 1766 (of Salisbury, Conn.) ; Sarah, Aug. 31, 1768 ; Rufus, Oct. 12, 1771.

(VI) Rufus Frink, youngest in the family of Andrew and Sarah (Kimball) Frink, was born Oct. 12, 1771, in Preston, and was attending school there when Gen. George Washington and his army passed through the town during the Revolutionary war. The school was dismissed that the pupils might view the General and his soldiers. In early life Rufus Frink followed the trade of saddler, but later he took up farming in his native town, and the farm he carried on has been in the possession of his de- scendants ever since. On Aug. 21, 1803, he mar- ried Polly Smith, of Preston, and they had a family of nine children, all born in Preston, and all now deceased : (1) Emily, born July 24, 1804, married John M. Richmond. (2) Eliza, born May 2, 1806, never married. (3) Sarah Ann, born Feb. 25, 1808, married Charles Kimball. (4) Maria, born May 1, 1810, became the second wife of George Richmond. (5) Andrew S., born Aug. 7, 1812, married Nancy Ann Duncan. (6) Fannie, born July 15, 1815, was the first wife of George Richmond. (5) Andrew S., born Aug. 7, 1812, married Nancy Ann Duncan. (6) Fannie, born July 15, 1815, was the first wife of George Richmond. (7) Harriet, born Jan. 20, 1818, was the wife of Nathan Kimball. (8) George W. is mentioned below. (9) Susan, born Jan. 18, 1823, died unmarried at the age of about twenty years. The father of this family died Jan. 1, 1868, in Preston, in his ninety-seventh year. He was a man of large stature, well proportioned, and possessed a jovial and kindly nature. He and his family attended the Congregational Church. In political faith he was originally an Old-line Whig and eventually became a Republican.

(VII) George Washington Frink was borr June 17, 1820, in Preston, and spent his life there engaged in farming, in which occupation he wa very successful, as he deserved to be, having been : hard-working, industrious and persevering mar His place comprised about 160 acres, which h always kept in a good state of cultivation. Phys cally he was a man of more than the average size weighing from 180 to 190 pounds, had a rugge constitution and enjoyed good health, and, bein jovial, good-natured and full of fun, always looke

GEORGE W. FRINK

Henry Frink

George Ca. Prink

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upon the bright side of everything, so that he was welcome everywhere he was known. His religious connection was with the Preston City Baptist Church, and he was ever active in the church and in all religious enterprises. Politically he was an Old- line Whig in early life, later becoming a stanch Republican, but though he was deeply interested in politics he never sought office for himself, being content to leave such honors to others. However, he served his town in the capacity of overseer of roads for several years. Mr. Frink died in Pres- ton May 8, 1893, after a useful life of seventy-three years, in which he had earned the esteem and respect of all who knew him.

On March 4, 1846, George W. Frink was mar- ried to Sally Maria Williams, who was born May 13, 1819, in Ledyard, Conn., and was a daughter of John Anson and Sally (Williams) Williams, of Preston ; granddaughter of Amos and Mabel (New- ton) Williams ; great-granddaughter of John Will- iams, who was born in 1714 ; and great-great-grand- daughter of Christopher Williams, who was of Welsh descent. Mrs. Frink's death occurred in Preston Sept. 14, 1855, when she was thirty-six years of age. She was the mother of four children, all born in Preston, viz .: (1) George Anson, born Oct. II, 1847, is mentioned below. (2) Lemuel Williams, born Feb. 27, 1850, is mentioned below. (3) Charity, born April 20, 1852, married Benjamin F. Bentley, of Preston City, where they reside. (4) Henry, born Aug. 7, 1854, is mentioned below. After the death of Mrs. Sally M. Frink, the father married Cornelia Ellisson Blackman, who was born in Franklin, Conn., daughter of Benjamin and Caro- line Fountain (Chapman) Blackman. Mr. Black- man was for many years engaged in farming in Franklin, and later removed to Norwich, where he (lied. To George W. and Cornelia E. Frink were born three children: (5) Wayland B., born Nov. 2. 1860, is engaged in farming in Griswold, Conn. He married Grace Eccleston, and they have had five children, Arthur E., Mabel C., Marion E .. Esther C. and George W. (6) Charlotte I., born March 21, 1862, resides with her mother in Nor- wich, where Mrs. Frink has made her home ever since her husband's death. (7) Cornelia Fountain, born July 13, 1867, married William Tarbox, of Norwich, and they have two children, Walter S. utd Harold F. Mr. Tarbox is principal of the West Town street school on "Bean Hill."

GEORGE ANSON FRINK, present town clerk of Preston, as well as treasurer of the school find and own trust fund, was born Oct. 11. 1847, in that own, and received a good education in the schools of the home district, leaving school at the age of bout seventeen years. He then took up work m the home farm, where he remained until his mar- iage. After that he rented the gristmill of his mcle, Andrew Frink, in the castern part of the wwn, on Broad brook, which he operated for about wo years, at the end of that time purchasing his

present residence in Long Society, town of Preston, in the spring of 1874. He has since carried on general agriculture on this farm, known as the "Kimball place," which contains about fifty acres, and for fifteen years he also engaged in butchering. He then opened a blacksmith and carriage repair shop on his farm, having acquired a knowledge of that business while running the gristmill. and he still conducts this business, which has proved quite a profitable one.

Though he has given his business affairs close attention, Mr. Frink has found time also to serve public interests, and he is one of the "wheel-horses" of the Republican party in his section. However, his popularity as an official is not confined to his own party. as he was the candidate of both parties upon the occasion of his last election to his present incumbencies in the town, which speaks well of the trust his fellow citizens repose in him. He has served his town in various other capacities. with honor to himself and satisfaction to all concerned, having been surveyor for several terms, and in 1902 the delegate from his town to the Constitu- tional Convention which convened in Hartford. In 1903 he represented the town of Preston in the State Legislature, serving on the committee on Judicial Nominations. Such a record of service is sufficient testimony as to his standing in the com- munity.

On Dec. 5. 1871, Mr. Frink married Elizabeth Kimball, daughter of Charles and Sarah ( Frink) Kimball, of Griswold, Conn. To this union no chil- dren were born. Mrs. Frink passed away Dec. to. 1874. and on May 23. 1877. Mr. Frink married Mrs. Ama Woodward ( Hakes) Kimball, daughter of John M. and Sarah ( Millard) Hakes, and widow of Edwin Kimball, of Preston. To this union have come five children, all born in Preston: (1) Cor- nelia Hallett, born June 13. 1879. is living at home. (2) Earl Williams, born Dec. 18. 1880, lives in Norwich, and is employed as a fireman on the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. On Dec. 17, 1902, he married Bessie Mabel Mott, of Gris- wold. (3) Louise Leonora, born Feb. 25. 1883. and (4) Anna Hakes, born Jan. 6. 1885. are at home. (5) Sarah Millard, horn March 30, 1886, died May 14. 1886. Mr. Frink and his family are members of the Third Baptist Church at Greeneville. They were formerly connected with the Preston Cits Bap- tist Church, and Mr. Frink served two years as superintendent of the Sunday school of that con- gregation.

LEMUEL, WILLIAMS FRISK, born Feb. 27. 1850. in Preston, received his early education in the Broad Brook and Brown district schools, later atten led a select school in Preston City, and in t808 and 1800 was a pupil in the Norwich Free Academy. In isto he took the regular business course at the Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie. N. Y., and then entered the Connectient Literary Institute, at Snf- field, Con. A few years previously, in thay, he

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had commenced teaching, and had taught several ses- sions in portions of the town of Griswold, devoting his summer vacations to farming and study. In 187I he began teaching in Jewett City, where he was principal of the Jewett City graded school, remain- ing in that incumbency for about one year. At the end of this time he again entered the Connecticut Literary Institute, and was graduated therefrom in 1873. He then entered the Newton (Mass.) Theo- logical Institution, from which he was graduated in 1876. On Oct. 20, 1876, he was ordained to the Baptist ministry at Hinsdale, N. H., and became pastor of the Main Street Baptist Church of that city, continuing in that charge one year, when he resigned to accept a call as pastor of the Plainfield Union Church at Moosup, Conn., over which he presided as pastor for about a year and a half, dur- ing that time doing effective and far-reaching revival work. Mr. Frink next accepted a call to the First Baptist Church at Wickford, R. I., of which he was pastor for nearly five years, resigning that pastor- ate to become pastor of the First Baptist Church at Marlboro, Mass. After one and a half years' service in that place he became pastor of the Baptist Church at Sharon, Mass., resigning after two and a half years of service there to accept a call to the First Baptist Church at Santa Cruz, Cal., where, however, he was located but a short time. Return- ing East, he accepted a call to the Baptist Church of West Boylston, Mass., with which he remained three years, the far-reaching results of which period only Eternity can measure. His next charge was the North Tewksbury (Mass.) Baptist Church, where he remained for two years. He then returned to Preston City, where he lived for about two years, and in 1896 he removed to Norwich, where he has since resided, during the two years or more of this time supplying the pulpit of the Niantic (Conn.) Baptist Church. He and his wife hold membership in the Preston City Baptist Church. In March, 1899, Mr. Frink became engaged in the monumental business, which he has ever since successfully fol- lowed.

Rev. Mr. Frink was married, Sept. 27, 1876, to Mary Isabelle Burrows, daughter of William and Waity Almira (Smith) Burrows, the former of whom was a sea captain and resided in Poquonock Village, Groton, Conn., where they died. To Rev. and Mrs. Frink have come the following named children: (I) George William, born Dec. 11, 1881, in Wickford, R. I., was educated in the Tewksbury (Mass.) high school, the Norwich Free Academy . and Brown University, which latter he attended for two years. (2) Marion Marguerite was born April 3, 1892, in Worcester, Mass. (3) Almira Gladys was born April 9, 1893, in North Tewksbury, Mas- sachusetts. -

HENRY FRINK, born Aug. 7, 1854, in Preston, in the same house where he now resides, began his literary training in the Broad Brook district schools, and after attending a select school at Preston City

entered the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suf- field, where he was a student for about four years, taking courses in languages. He then matriculated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., from which institution of learning he was graduated in 1886. He then entered the Newton (Mass.) Baptist Theological Institute, where he remained about one year, after which he became a student at the Crozier Theological Seminary, near Philadelphia, Pa., for about six months, thence going to the Rochester, (N. Y.) Theological Seminary for the balance of the year. Although thoroughly trained for the Baptist ministry, Mr. Frink never preached his first sermon, and on account of impaired health he re- turned to Preston, to the home farm. His father dying soon afterward, he purchased the latter's in- terest in the homestead where he was born, and here he has since remained, engaged in farming. In early manhood, like his elder brother, Mr. Frink engaged in teaching, being engaged in district schools in his neighborhood, in the towns of Gris- wold and Voluntown, for several terms. He is of a retiring disposition, and has never shown any desire to mingle in public affairs, never seeking official or other preferment at the hands of his fellow citizens. In political faith he is a stanch Republican, and his religious membership is in the Preston City Baptist Church. Mr. Frink has never married. He occupies the high position in the respect of the community which is universally accorded to members of this family, and which he has won by a life of upright- ness and honorable activity.

WAYLAND B. FRINK was born Nov. 2, 1860, on the homestead. He was brought up to farm work and received his education in the district schools and select schools at Pachaug and Preston City, later attending the Connecticut Literary Institute, at Suffield, Conn. He taught school for thirteen consecutive years with the exception of one winter, when he traveled in Ohio and Michigan as a book agent. During his career as a teacher he was en- gaged in Preston, North Stonington, Griswold and Voluntown, and had splendid success as a thorough teacher and good disciplinarian, being popular with pupils and parents alike. He resided on the home farm until one year after his marriage, when he hired the Butler Chapman farm in Griswold, where he resided until 1896. On Nov. 6, 1895, Mr. Frink bought at auction his present farm, located one and one-half miles south of Jewett City. This place, consisting of sixty acres, was formerly a part of the Simon Brewster farm, and is considered one of the best farms in the town. Mr. Frink is profit- ably engaged in general farming and dairying, and is one of the thrifty and industrious farmers of the town.

On Feb. 15, 1888, Mr. Frink was married, in .. Griswold, to Grace A. Eccleston, who was born June 21, 1865. in Griswold, daughter of John D. and Susan K. (Chapman) Eccleston, and five chil-

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dren have blessed this union, born as follows : Arthur E., Oct. 24, 1892 ; Marion E., April 7, 1897 ; Mabel C., Oct. 5, 1898; Esther C., Nov. 2, 1901 ; and George W., May II, 1903.

Mr. Frink is a Republican in politics, but has never sought political office. He united with the Preston City Baptist Church when he was a young man, and became one of the leading and most active members. He served as superintendent of the Sun- day-school for eight years, until he resigned, upon his removal from that locality, when he transferred to the Baptist Church at Jewett City. Mrs. Frink united with the Methodist Church at Bethel, later transferring to the Baptist Church at Preston City, and from the latter, with her husband, to the Baptist Church at Jewett City. Mr. and Mrs. Frink are held in the highest esteem.

ECCLESTON. The Eccleston family is an old and honored one in the castern portion of New Lon- don county, and among its members one worthy of special mention is one Benedict Eccleston, a farmer and resident of North Stonington, who lived to be ninety-five years of age. He was the father of a large family, and one of them, Avery Nelson Eccle- ston, was born at North Stonington in 1806, and, with the exception of one year spent on a farm in Griswold, lived in North Stonington all his life, and there passed away in 1891.

The wife of Avery Nelson Eccleston was Sallie B. Ray, a native of Griswold, daughter of Jabez und Hannah (York) Ray. She was born in 1807, und died in 1886. Of their ten children, seven sons und three daughters, may be mentioned John D. Eccleston, of Jewett City, who was born Aug. 24. 844, in North Stonington, and received a good ducation, which he put to excellent use, teaching chool for a number of years ; he became very popu- ir in that line. For several years he has been a esident of Jewett City, and is now serving as street ommissioner. He married (first) Susan K. Chap- han, by whom he had five children, and his second ife bore the maiden name of Sarah L. Brown. lis children, all born of his first union, were: Liz- ic, Lila and Annie, all deceased : Hubert W., a raduate of Yale and a resident of Los Angeles, al., who is engaged as a civil engineer ; and Grace ., Mrs. Wayland B. Frink, of Griswold.

GEORGE DIXON THOMPSON, who owns id conducts one of the best farms in the town of orth Stonington, was born Oct. 27, 1853. in Paw- tuck, Conn. His grandfather, Thomas T. Thomp- 11, was a farmer at Pendleton Hill, and the family one of the most respected in the locality.

James Dixon Thompson, father of George D .. is born in North Stonington, and there spent his yhood days, Going to Paweatuck, he found work th O. M. Stilhnan for a few years, after which he urned to the farm in North Stonington, where lie nained until 1860. He again went to Pawcatuck.

where he carried on a building business for seven years, after which he went to Avery, Mich .. where he engaged in making hoe and rake handles for three years. Subsequently, for twenty years, he was in the hotel business at Bridgman, Mich., and he finally returned to North Stonington, Conn., to live with his son George. His death occurred April II, 1904, after four years' residence there. Mr. Thomp- son was always deeply interested in church work, having joined the Baptist Church at Pendleton Hill at the early age of sixteen years, and at Bridgman, Mich., he was one of the organizers of the Congre- gational Church, which he was instrumental in hav- ing built. He married Eliza Swan, daughter of William Swan, and after her death, which occurred in 1855, he married Emily Hale. His only child was George Dixon, who was born to his first mar- riage. James Dixon Thompson was a Republican in political faith.

The progenitor of the Swan family of Connecti- cut and Rhode Island, to which Mrs. Thompson be- longed, was Richard Swan, who is first of record on this side of the Atlantic in Boston, in 1639, he unit- ing with the church there Jan. 6th of that year. His wife died in England prior to his emigration. Later he removed his family to Rowley, Mass., where he remained during life, becoming a prominent citizen, representing the town in the General Court in 1666, and many years after. He served in King Philip's war and in an expedition to Canada. He married for his second wife Mrs. Ann Trumbull.

George Dixon Thompson received his education in private and public schools in Westerly, R. I. When he first commenced to work for himself he drove a hack in Providence, and he later kept a store in Pawcatuck, where he also worked on a farm by the month for two years. For a year he engaged in farming for himself on the Giles Wheeler place in Stonington, after which he was on the Cyrus W. Main farm, in District No. 1. for six years. For the next eight years he was on the Darins Randall farm. in District No. 5, and then spent another eight years on the O. S. Grant farm, in District No. 1. In 1001 he bonght the Gen. William Williams farm, one of ' the best properties in the town, and has since de- voted himself to its cultivation. He rums a regular dairy farm, keeping forty head of stock, and sells his cream in Westerly, Mystic and Stonington. He parks among the most successful farmers in his section, and is one of the most respected men of his community. His fellow citizens have shown their faith in his trustworthiness and ability by choosing him to represent them in the State Legislature, to which he was first elected in 1001, being honored with re-election in 100g. He has also served as nicmber of the board of relief. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in political sentiment.

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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 151

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