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 152

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 152

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On May 3. 1877, Mr. Thompson was married. at Potter Hill. R. I., to Miss Agnes McDonald. daughter of William McDonald, a native of Scot- land, and five children have blessed this union,

672

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

namely : James William, George D., Jr., Elizabeth Agnes, Carrie Eliza and Harrison Morson. James William, born March 16, 1879, is a machinist at Mystic, Conn. ; he married Elizabeth Boice, and they have one child, Edith Agnes. George D., Jr., born July 23, 1880, is with the Brown & Sharpe Co., of Providence, R. I .; he married Florence Harris, and they have two children, Jeanette Lyon and Leslie George. Elizabeth Agnes Thompson on Aug. 5, 1903, became the wife of Julius Gavitt, of Westerly, Rhode Island.

THOMAS A. LATHAM, a prominent farmer of Groton, was born March 24, 1827, at Brook street, District No. 6, Groton, son of Holloway and Hannah (Fish) Latham.

Holloway Latham was born in District No. 6, Groton, and died in June, 1862, aged seventy years. His whole life had been devoted to farming. At Salem, Conn., he married Hannah Fish, daughter of Thomas Fish, of Groton, and they settled at Brook street. The following children were born to them: Hannah, now eighty-eight years of age, is the wife of Alonzo Williams, of Cleveland street, New London, Conn. Eunice, deceased, married William Watrous, and is survived by a daughter, Ellen, wife of Thomas Hamilton, of Groton ; Hollo- way was a stone mason and died at Noank ; Emma, deceased, was the wife of Henry B. Lewis; Jona- than F. was a seafaring man, and never returned from his last voyage; Thomas Albert; and Lucy A. is the wife of Joshua L. Burrows of Groton. Mr. Latham and wife were members of the Fort Hill Baptist Church. In politics he was a Demo- crat.

His widow survived him about seven years. Joseph Latham, grandfather of our subject, was a resident of District No. 6, and built the house now occupied by his grandson over one hundred years ago. At one time he operated a fish market in New York, but the greater part of his life was spent at Groton. He married Abby Packer, who died aged ninety-two years, his death occurring at the age of eighty-four years. Their children were: Jonathan, . Joseph, Holloway and Hannah, all residents of Groton.

Thomas A. Latham was educated in the schools at Brook street in District No. 6. For eight years he followed the water with Capt. Latham Ashbey and Capts. Charles Burrows, William Ashbey and Eldredge Spicer. Later he became interested in the quarry business at Fort Hill quarry in Groton, and continued there for fifteen years. Since retiring from that industry he has been engaged in farming.

On Oct. 25, 1855, Mr. Latham married Miss Nancy Smith, daughter of Nathaniel D. Smith of Poquonock, and the children of this marriage were: Loretta, who married John Space of Groton, and has two children, Lottie and Latham ; Henry Lewis, who died in 1881, aged twenty-one; Nathaniel, who is employed at New London as a machinist, and who married Ella Burrows, and has one child,

Catherine; Hannah, who is the wife of Noah F. Ball, and resides in Hartford; and Hubbard, who died in 1885, aged six years. In politics Mr. Latham is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Mason, and belongs to Charity and Relief Lodge at Mystic.

SMITH. The Smith family, of which Mrs. Latham is a member, is one of ancient ancestry. Her father, Nathaniel Dennison Smith, was born Nov. 5, 1802, in Groton, son of Dennison, son of Oliver, son of Nathan, son of Nehemiah (3), son of Nehemiah (2), son of Nehemiah. On June 17, 1827, he married Eliza, daughter of Capt. Jesse and Elizabeth (Avery) Williams, of Groton. Mr. Smith died Feb. 19, 1837, and his widow, Dec. 15, 1848. They reared a family of four children, namely : Sarah Elizabeth, born May 26, 1828, mar- ried Joseph Washington Smith; Jesse Dennison, born April 18, 1830; William Burrows, born Sept. 14, 1833; and Nancy, born Oct. 28, 1835, is wife of Thomas A. Latham. Mr. Smith was a prosperous merchant in New London, where he was engaged in business for many years. His resi- dence was in Groton.

EDWIN F. WHITE, one of the enterprising farmers of North Stonington, who has already ac- complished more than most of the other younger men about him, was born in Stonington on the Charles P. Williams farm, Feb. 5, 1871, son of Ed- win and Martha B. (York) White.

The paternal great-grandfather of Edwin F. White was Charles White, a soldier in the war- of 1812, and a son of a patriot of the Revolutionary days. He married Ruth Perry, who was one of Commodore Perry's family. Their son, Charles Perry White, who became a well known citizen, was born in North Stonington, Nov. 12, 1813. As he grew older he received both a common school and an academic education, studying in his native town first and later in Rhode Island. By occupation he was a farmer, but he was a man of force of char- acter, and was held in such confidence and esteem by his contemporaries that for many years he was kept in offices of trust and responsibility. For twenty- five years he was a justice of the peace and for a period of twenty-two years he served as judge of probate. ' In his earlier years he held the views of the Whig party, and later joined the Republican ranks after the formation of that party. In 1853 he was elected to the Legislature from North Stoning- ton, and in his latter years, in the fall of 1880, was chosen Senator from the old eighth district by a ma- jority of 800. He was a man of the highest integrity and of great ability, and in every position fully justified the confidence of his constituents. In his church relations he was connected with the Second Baptist Church of North Stonington, in which he was long a leader.

Judge Perry was twice married. His two sons were the offspring of the first marriage: Charles, deceased, left one son, Daniel P., a resident of North

THOMAS A. LATHAM

بنت 3 ط ناعيب

673

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Stonington; Edwin, the second child, is the father of Edwin F.

Edwin White was born in North Stonington, and is a resident of that town. He has been engaged in farming all his life. His first wife was Martha B. York, now deceased, and by her he had five chil- dren, as follows : Frederick Eugene, who died when twenty-nine years old; Edwin Frank ; Harriet Eliza, wife of Leander F. Park ; Jane Louisa, who married John E. Thompson ; and Arthur. His second union was with Mrs. Eliza Crandall.

Edwin Frank White spent his youth in North Stonington, and since attaining manhood has been principally engaged in farming, although for two years he worked in the Charles B. Chapman market in Norwich. As a farmer he was busied first in North Stonington, and then for four years at East- ern Point in Groton for Thomas W. Avery. After leaving Norwich he lived two years on the George A. Avery farm in North Stonington, and then spent two more on the General Williams farm in District No. I. He next passed a period of three years on the old family homestead, in District No. 6, and then finally, in October, 1903, bought the Nelson A. Brown farm, in North Stonington, where he now resides.

Mr. White was married at Norwich, Sept. 19. 1894, to Miss Mabel S. Woodward, daughter of Calvin H. and Clara L. (Cushman) Woodward, of Norwich, Conn. They have had a family of five children, the eldest of whom, Mabel Jennie, died in infancy. The others are: Marion Ethel, Frank Woodward, Edwin Calvin and Harriet Eliza. Mr. White, who is a Republican in his politics, takes an active interest in public affairs and has twice represented his town in the Legislature. in 1901 and 1903. For five years he held the office of as- sessor, and was elected a member of the board of selectmen in 1904. In whatever position he lias filled he has acquitted himself most efficiently. He is one of the charter members of Fairview Lodge. No. 101, I. O. O. F., of Groton.

WILLIAM P. YOUNG, now residing on his arge and attractive farm near Glasgo in the town of Griswold, has been for years one of the pros- erous agriculturists of the county, and although aving some time ago retired from active farm work e still attends to public duties, having long been rominent in local affairs. He was born in Green- rich, R. I., April 21, 1828, and comes of a family f well-to-do agriculturists and successful business ICI1.

Andrew Young, grandfather of William P., spent le greater part of his long and useful life in Coven- y. R. 1. Here during his mature life he engaged farming very extensively, was successful in that le and accumulated considerable property. Liv- g during the Revolutionary war, he enlisted and d some valiant service for his country. He died Coventry at the advanced age of eighty. During

his young manhood he married Sarah Potter, and, after her death, a Miss Burgess. He had seven chil- dren : Jeremiah, a man of considerable prominence, who served his community as representative in the Legislature, also as justice of the peace, married Dorcas Mowry, and they resided in Sterling, Conn., where he died. George, born April 4, 1778, married Elizabeth Pike, and they resided in Ohio, where his descendants now live. James resided first in Foster, R. I., later in Youngstown, Ohio, a place named in honor of his family. John married Roxey Wells, and resided in Sterling, Conn. Andrew, a farmer, married Martha Perkins, a sister of Mrs. William P. Young, Sr., and they resided in Sterling, Conn., for some years, later in Coventry. R. I., where he died. William P., Sr., is mentioned below. Bet- sey, who never married, lived to the advanced age of ninety- six.

William P. Young, Sr., father of William P., was a man of force of character and of good busi- ness ability. As a Connecticut village merchant, an extensive Ohio agriculturist, a prominent New England manufacturer, and a promoter of other en- terprises, he always conducted his business on a large scale and at the same time made an unquali- fied success of it. He was born in Coventry, R. I., Sept. 3, 1789, and there in the public schools pro- cured his education, developing habits of attention and self-reliance, which prominently characterized his later life. At the early age of eighteen, at Ster- ling Hill, in the town of Sterling, he opened a gen- eral store and embarked in business for himself. Prudent management and courteous reception of cus- tomers won him success, and he continued the busi- ness for three years. Then desirous of becoming a possessor of some of the rich lands being opened to settlers in the Middle West, he went to Ohio, and took up 600 acres of land, upon which he erected good buildings and made other extensive improve- ments. His house stood on the site now occupied by the Youngstown Female Seminary. He re- mained on the place for seven years, clearing and breaking new portions of it, and making it one of the most valuable pieces of property in the vicinity. Enabled to sell at a good advantage, he then dis- posed of his property and returned East, settling in Plainfield. Oneida Co., N. Y. After two years, however, he came to Sterling, Cont., and now pos- sessed of considerable means, opened there a cot- ton factory. Making a success of this industry, he later invested his savings in a similar mill in Dor- chester, R. 1. In both these establishments he carried on a large business, and furnished employment to a number of men and women. Making a profitable income, he put in the best years of his hie in running these factories. For some time he also took charge of mills in what is now Putnam, where he like- wise met with success. Finally, after having amassed considerable means, he disposed of his various industries, and retired to a farm which he purchased in Sterling, Conn. This he managed suc-

674

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cessfully for some years, but later moved to Plain- field, Conn., where he died, June II, 1873.

Mr. Young married Mary Perkins, daughter of Elisha and Mary (Montgomery) Perkins, and granddaughter of Jonah Perkins, who was born Jan. 13, 1792, and died in Griswold, Conn., Sept. II, 1872. To Mr. and Mrs: Young were born ten chil- dren: Horace P., born Dec. 18, 18II, died in Jewett City, Conn., Dec. 19, 1893 (his son Adelbert R., now resides in that place) ; Mary, born Aug. 14, 1813, died July 7, 1818; Elisha D., born Jan. 4, 1815, died Aug. 31, 1837 ; Emily P., born Nov. 9, 1817, died April 2, 1839; Susan E., born May 9, 1820, died Oct. 19, 1886 (she married Barton C. Keigwin, of Oneco, Conn.) ; Mary Sophia, born Oct. 8, 1822, married in 1848 Amos Sweet, and, after his death, Edwin Tucker, of Ohio, who is also now deceased, and she resides at Minneapolis, Minn. ; Damon Erastus, born in1824, died in Decem- ber, 1835; William Potter is mentioned below ; Eliza F., born July 14, 1832, married, in 1868, Frederick Tucker, of Paxton, Ill. (who is now de- ceased) and they had one son, Frederick, who died at the age of twenty-three years ; Ransom C., born Aug. 31, 1835, married, in 1863, Jennie Tucker, and they resided in Voluntown, Conn., where he practiced medicine for twenty-five years, and where he died.

As a live business man Mr. Young always evinced a keen interest in everything which per- tained to the welfare of the community in which he chanced to reside. In the early days he affiliated with Whigs, later with Republicans, and so great was his interest in politics that in his last years when ill health prevented him from walking to the polls he always insisted upon being driven there. As a man not afraid to stand by his convictions, he joined the F. & A. M., when that organization was exceed- ingly unpopular in this country. He possessed the highest integrity of character, and both he and his wife were consistent and substantial members of the Moosup Baptist Church.

William P. Young received more than the ordin- ary rearing, having the advantage of considerable culture, which surrounded his home life. In the public schools of the various places in which the family resided he procured a good education, fin- ishing in the East Greenwich Academy, an insti- stution of much excellence and widely patronized in his time. As a boy he evinced a keen interest in mechanics, and often busied himself about his fa- ther's mills. Acquiring in this way much practi- cal knowledge, at the early age of seventeen he started out repairing and setting up machinery for the various factories in his vicinity. Giving excel- lent satisfaction, his business increased from year to year, and commanding a good salary he continued it for twenty years. He also during this time en- gaged in various other lines of mechanical work. In 1864 he decided to turn his attention more ex- clusively to agriculture, and purchased in Glasgo a splendid 240-acre tract, where he moved with his

family, and has since resided. Giving his time and attention largely to the development of its resources, he has greatly improved the place and caused it to yield large and valuable crops. Besides general farming he has engaged extensively in the dairy business, and he has always kept excellent stock. A few years ago he retired from active farm work, and turned over the management of the place to his son Byron, who still takes charge of it.

Mr. Young married in Plainfield, Conn. (by Rev. Joseph Brown), Laura A. Hill, who was born June 4, 1827, daughter of Sheldon Hill, of Plainfield, and they have had five children : (I) Herbert Stan- ley, born Dec. 7, 1853, graduated from Norwich Free Academy, and in 1876 from Yale. For the suc- ceeding three years he taught in New York City, and continued teaching in various places for twen- ty years. He is now merchant and Postmaster at Norwich Town. He married Louise Witter, of Preston, and their only child died in infancy. (2) Estella Frances, born Dec. 3, 1857, died Sept. II, 1858. (3) Ransom Henry, born March 24, 1860, now a thrifty farmer of Griswold, married Hattie Bill, and they have had four children: Howard Stanley, born Aug. 13, 1885, died Aug. 10, 1899; Laura Prentice, born Aug. 31, 1887 ; Henry Eames, born May 14, 1892; and Benjamin William, born Oct. 22, 1895. (4) Eliza Hill, born June 15, 1862, married Walter Burdick, of Griswold, Conn. (5) Byron Perkins, born Oct. 19, 1864, who now lives at home and carries on the farm, married Susan L. Kinney, now deceased, and they had three chil- dren, Laura Mabel, Floyd Kinney and Olive Mont- gomery.

Mr. Young possesses those traits of character, combined with a magnetic personality, pleasing man- ners, and great physical and mental power, which have pre-eminently fitted him for filling positions of trust and honor. From 1872 to 1891 he acted as postmaster at Glasgo, winning for himself a wide popularity. He has served six years as selectman, and ten years as justice of the peace, and in the dis- charge of his duties has evinced much wisdom, and legal and business ability. He has occasionally filled the position of grand juror, and has served five terms on the board of relief. As a Republican he has long wielded a wide influence in politics. He and his family are prominent members of the Bethel Methodist Episcopol Church, of which he is now trustee and steward.

JOHN W. McDONALD, one of the prosperous and substantial business men of Mystic, and one who enjoys the universal esteem of his fellow townsmen, is a son of Donald McDonald, and a grandson of William McDonald, a prosperous farmer of Prince Edward Island, where the family of McDonald is an old and numerous one.

Donald McDonald was born on Prince Edward Island, and there spent his boyhood days, working at pump making and as a ship carpenter. His

e F

675

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

death occurred in Mystic in 1872, when he was forty- seven years of age. In 1852, he removed to Hoboken, N. J., and later went to Newport, R. I., where he worked at ship building. Still later, he came to Mystic, and found ready employment in the Green- man yard. After some time there, he and Samuel Colburn formed a partnership, working in the Mal- lory yard doing contract work. In Mystic, Conn., he married Alice Sutton, of Liverpool, England, who died April 17, 1903. They became the parents of the following family : Barbara, deceased, married Joseph W. Noble, of Mystic, and had one child, Jennie ; John William; Charles Richard died at the age of twenty years; Sarah, Alice and Lizzie died young.

John W. McDonald, the subject proper of this sketch, was born Oct. 20, 1857, in Mystic, and there spent his boyhood, attending the public school. Later, he worked at carriage trimming with Charles Johnson, and followed that trade for four years, when he embarked in the grocery business with Sam- uel S. Brown, and thus continued for five years. He next went into a meat business with J. W. Noble, inder the firm style of Noble & McDonald, and for en years was thus engaged, when he sold his inter- est to his partner, and a year later bought it back igain, and continued it alone for five years, success narking all his business enterprises. On April I, 903, he purchased of Elijah A. Morgan the Morgan ce Company, whose storage capacity is 3,000 tons, nd is now profitably carrying on that business, hav- ng greatly enlarged the field of operation and the olume of trade.

On June 25, 1885, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide A. Hopkins, daughter f George O. Hopkins, who was principal of the ublic schools of Mystic for some fifteen years. he following children have been born to Mr. and Irs. McDonald : Sarah E., Alice A., Barbara and uth Wade. Mr. McDonald is a popular member E Mistuxet Lodge, K. of P. He and his wife are onsistent members of the Congregational Church, id he is treasurer of the church society. They are ell and favorably known in the community and turch, and have a host of warm, personal friends.

SHOLES. The family bearing the name of holes has lived for several generations in the town Preston, New London county, and its various embers have held honorable places in the cont- mity.

Jabez Sholes was born in the latter half of the yhteenth century, and he died at his home in eston at an advanced age. He was an industri- s and successful farmer on the Spicer homestead. w the home of Ransom S. Sholes, and he was es- med by all who knew him. He married a Miss icer, and they became the parents of five children : delia, who married a Mr. Faulkner, and went est, where she died ; Francis Jeremiah ; two dangh- tis that both died young : and Sanford, who mar-

ried Eliza Stanton, a sister of Hannah Stanton, and lived in Norwich, where he died.

Francis Jeremiah Sholes was born in Preston March 21, 1812, and became a farmer, following that occupation all his life. When he was first mar- ried he rented a farm in Lisbon, Conn., where he re- mained for about four years, when he returned to Preston and purchased a large farm, to which he added as prosperity came to him, and in the culti- vation of this land he passed the remainder of his life. His success was the result of his industry and frugality, and from a very small beginning he was possessed of 250 acres at the last. He was a large man physically, and possessed a genial, good natured disposition that won him many friends. In his po- litical faith he was a stanch Democrat, but cared nothing for the holding of office. He died in Pres- ton, Feb. 2, 1854. In 1836 he married Hannah Stanton, born Dec. 10, 1816, in Griswold, Conn., daughter of Palmer and Catherine (Roath) Stan- ton. She died Aug. 27, 1863, while on a visit in Exeter, R. I., and was buried beside her husband in Yantic cemetery, Norwich. Their children were: Jeremiah Francis ; and Ransom Sanford, sketch of whom appears elsewhere ; and Caroline Stanton, who married Daniel W. Benjamin, (born 1837, died 1898, aged sixty-one years, son of Nathan Benjamin, of Preston), who was engaged in farming in Norwich until his death, and their children were: Daniel Webster, Jr. (born in 1865, married Nellie Dunham, of Broad Brook, Conn., had two children, and en- gaged in farming in Norwich until his death in 1900) and Caroline ( who died at the age of twenty years ).

JEREMIAH FRANCIS SHOLES was born in Lisbon May 14, 1837, and was scarcely four years of age when his parents returned to Preston. He attended the Bridge District school, continuing to attend dur- ing the winter terms until he was eighteen years of age. Selecting farming as his life work he began on the home farm, where he remained until in 1866, when he purchased his present farm, known as the Elias Chapman farm, 175 acres, where he has since carried on extensive farming operations in the most approved modern manner. He keeps from thirty to thirty-five cows, and for over thirty years has had a milk route in Norwich, never in that time missing the delivery of milk to his customers a single day.

Politically Mr. Sholes is a stanch Democrat, and he has served his town in various capacities of trust. having been a member of the board of selectmen two years, highway surveyor for a number of years. etc., giving the same careful attention to his official duties that won his success in his personal affairs.

In June. 1864. Mr. Sholes was married (first ) to Mary E. Benjamin, daughter of Nathan Benja- min, of Preston ; she died Oct. 28, 1865, in Preston, leaving no children. On March 25, 1806, Mr. Sholes married Nancy Amelia Crary, born May 11, 1844. in Preston, daughter of Avery and Eliza ( Brew- ster ) Crary, of Ledyard. The three children of this

676

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

union were : (I) Eliza Crary, born March 25, 1868, died May 9, 1872. (2) Hannah married Napoleon Bonaparte Lewis, a leading physician of Norwich, and has two children, Helen Crary and Earl Sholes Lewis. (3) Jeremiah F., Jr., died in infancy Nov. 20, 1876. Mr. Sholes is a leading farmer in the com- munity, and he and his family hold an exceptionally high place in the esteem of their friends. Mr. and Mrs. Sholes are both members of St. James Episco- pal Church, of Poquetanuck, of which he has been vestryman for some six years.

WILLIAM B. LATHROP, who has passed all but a few years of his long and useful life in the town of Norwich, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of eastern Connecticut. His first ancestor on this side of the Atlantic was Rev. John Lathrop, who suffered persecution in the cause of religious liberty early in the seventeenth century. He was baptized Dec. 20, 1584, in Etton, Yorkshire, England, was minister at Egerton in Kent, and re- moved in 1624 to London where he was pastor of a Congregational Church. The archbishop caused the arrest, on April 29, 1632, of Rev. Mr. Lathrop, and forty-three members of his church, and most of them were confined in prison for two years for the simple offense of practicing the teachings of the New Testament. The pastor and some others were released on condition that they leave the country, and they came to New England in 1634, soon after- ward organizing a Church at Scituate. Rev. Mr. Lathrop was admitted a freeman of the Plymouth Colony in 1636-37. Two years later, with the prin- cipal part of the Church, he moved to Barnstable. He is mentioned as a man of deep piety, great zeal and large ability. Mr. Lathrop's first wife died while he was in prison, and he brought his family with him to this country. Here according to "Pope's Pioneers of Massachusetts" he married "a second wife whose name is not on our records, who came here with him, joined the church June 14, 1635, and survived him." His children were: Jane, Barbara, Thomas, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph, John, Benjamin, Barnabas, Abigail, Bathshua, and two that died in infancy.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 152

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