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 17

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 17

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it known that I, Gideon Palmer, of Mont- vill Co in the County of New London, and State of ecticut, have made an improvement in the of extracting oil from Cotton Seed, which is des bed as follows :

in &

le seed being hulled in the usual way is ground oil mill like flax-seed. About three quarts of are mixed with about 75 lbs. of seed. The

wat flor is then put into an iron cylinder and heated int ovej fire until steam is produced. It is then put ly patented oil press, and the oil extracted.

The effect of the process is to extract much more oil than in the common mode of pressing the seed with the hull on. The oil cakes are also made much more valuable.

What I claim as my invention, and which I wish to secure by Letters Patent, is the before described mode of extracting oil from cotton seed with the hull off, and not in the usual way with the hull on. . GIDEON PALMER.

Witnesses : W. B. ELLIOT, CHIARLES M. KELLER.

Previously Mr. Palmer had invented and patented an oil press, the principles of which are used in one of the popular baling presses of the present time. In time his son, Hon. Elisha H. Palmer, became as- sociated with him in business, establishing the cot- ton seed oil business in several parts of the South. Through this channel he became interested in the cotton gin, and established at his home in Connect- icut a foundry and machine shop for the manufac- ture of cotton gins. Later they added to these sev- eral industries the manufacture of cotton twine, rope, batting, etc.

Gideon Palmer was a man of public spirit, and favored enterprise in all matters of public interest. He was ever aiming and planning public improve- ments ; was the projector of the mill privilege first occupied by Francis B. Loomis, and afterward by R. B. Hooper & Co., and also the water privilege afterward occupied by C. M. Robertson on the stream next above his own. It was mainly due to his untiring energy that a highway along the north- erly side of the Oxoboxo stream from the Rockland Paper Mill to Uncasville was built. He was a strong advocate of temperance and the Abolition of slavery, and fought for both with much ardor and zeal until his death, which occurred July 12, 1854. His widow died Sept. 17, 1870. Their children were: Elisha H., born June 23, 1814; Gideon, born Oct. 30, 1816; Sarah A., born March 30, 1818; Cornelia, born Oct. 14, 1819; William H., born Oct. 14, 1821 ; Matthew T., born Sept. 26, 1823, died in 1828; Reuben T., born Sept. 24, 1825; Maria T., born July 30, 1830; Joseph C., born Jan. 22, 1833 ; Isaac E., born Feb. 27, 1836, and Herbert F., born Oct. 23, 1838.

(VII) Hon. Elisha H. Palmer, son of Gideon, born June 23, 1814, in Montville, married Nov. 30, 1837, Ellis Loomis, born Jan. 26, 1814, daughter of Joel Loomis, of Lyme, Conn., and his wife, Ellis Chappell. Mr. Palmer early in life became engaged in the manufacturing business in Montville, and continued in it through life with success, and while thus actively engaged he did not lose sight of the interests of his native town, in the promotion of all moral reforms, in which he ever took a leading part. Party ties had but little weight with him, and he was an enthusiastic advocate of the prohibition of the use, manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors,

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and devoted much of his time in the last thirty years of his life to public speaking in the cause of tem- perance. In any office or position where he could serve the cause, he never faltered nor failed to put forth all his powers to make prohibition a success. He was an early advocate of anti-slavery principles, and fought against the slavery of the African to the last, and lived to see the day when slavery was abolished. He was elected a representative to the State Legislature by the citizens of his native town in 1854, and voted in the Legislature for the "Maine law"; he again served in 1864; two years later, in 1866, he represented the Ninth Senatorial district in the Senate ; he held the office of town clerk for four years, was selectman for several years, and was for several years the nominee for member of Congress on the Prohibition ticket for the Third Connecticut district. He was president of the Pal- mer Reunion Association, and enthusiastically en- gaged in the gathering of names of those who were descendants of the first American ancestor. He was an upright citizen, a good business man, and a model father. He had exceptionally good health all his life, and his death was unexpected. Mr. Palmer died Jan. 17, 1895. His wife passed away Jan. 9, 1893. Their children were: Elisha L. ; Edward A., deceased ; Frederick C., born May 18, 1845, who married Estelle Darrow ; Mary Alice, born Dec. 26, 1847, who married William S. Mitchell; Arabella, born March 3, 1849, who married Joseph S. Lati- mer ; Frank Loomis, and George S.

The Palmer Bed-Quilt Mills are located on the Oxoboxo stream in Montville, and consist of two stone structures, connected with each other, and run by both stream and water power. These mills stand, one on the right of the old oil mill built by Elder Reuben Palmer in 1798; and the other on the opposite side of the stream. In 1797 Elder Reuben Palmer purchased the water privilege at this point, and converted the old building there into an oil mill. A grist mill was added a short time previous to 1814. The grist mill was afterward converted into a distillery, which was run by Elder Palmer and others, until it was sold to Gideon Palmer in 1820. The distillery was soon abandoned, and only the oil business was carried on. In 1850 Elisha H. Palmer and others bought the privilege, together with the oil mill, and commenced the manufacture of cotton rope, twine, batting, etc., which business was continued until the present owners came into possession. Elisha H. Palmer, in 1866, built the stone mill on the north side of the stream, and great- ly enlarged the business. The old oil mill was burned down and a small stone one was erected in its place, and the factories have been enlarged by Palmer Brothers. Mr. Elisha ,H. Palmer continued to carry on the cotton business until his sons commenced the manufacture of bed-quilts, when he gave up the plant to them, although he retained the oversight of a portion of it.

EDWARD A. PALMER, born in Mont Conn., May 28, 1843, died in his native town, 13, 1899, where his widow still resides. Mr. Par was the son of Hon. Elisha H. and Ellis (Loor Palmer, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere.

The New London Day, under date of Jan. 1899, in speaking of the death of Mr. Palmer, s

The town of Montville mourns the loss of e of its most highly esteemed citizens. In every ho hold ,in the community there is genuine sorrowit the death of Edward Augustus Palmer, which curred at his home in Uncasville, on Friday even Mr. Palmer's sickness was of brief duration. 1 week ago, returning home from New York, he 1 symptoms of the grip. He was attended by a If sician, but the disease proved to be of a more ser Is character and all that medical science could do him was unavailing. He gradually grew worse ul death ended his useful career.

"The firm of Palmer Bros., the extensive 1[- quilt manufacturers, of which Mr. Palmer wała member and practically the founder, has been lit up into an immense business, and no small par ff its success is due to the ability and energy of , ward A. Palmer. Mr. Palmer had charge of firm's New York office, and was a most cap le business man.

"The deceased had a great love for his na town and its interests were always dear to his he His public-spiritedness is evidenced by the gift « a large, sum of money for the construction of an proved highway, and the part he took in giving fe town the magnificent schoolhouse at Palmerto). which will be an enduring monument to the fany.

"His liberality was one of the unobtrusive kl, and was by no means confined to public benefactil. His heart was full of sympathy for the unfortunf. Many men and women have cause to revere s memory for the help he has given them in their the of need.

"Socially, Mr. Palmer was one of the net charming men one could meet. He was of a ha disposition, and to know him was to love him. e fact that he has attained wealth and success in :, did not make him one whit the less companional:, and the poorest operative in his employ was as : e of a kindly word of greeting, as his best custor . No one appreciates better the worth of the - ceased than the common people in Montville. 0 them his death is indeed a sad loss.

"Mr. Palmer owned a beautiful home on e banks of the Thames river, a short distance sch of the Montville Station. He was also an exten traveler, generally spending the winter abroad.

Edward A. Palmer served his country as a I- dier in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting from Niv York, and was a brave and gallant man.

On May 28, 1870, Mr. Palmer married Isal e Mitchell, daughter of William Minott and Dla (Silliman) Mitchell, the former a prominent at -

E a. Palmer

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1 1 in New York, and the latter a daughter of Will- Silliman, and a descendant of Benjamin Silli- 1 3 1 n, who has justly been called "The Father of tural Science" at Yale University, which depart- nt of investigation he created at that famous ool of learning, where he was a professor for e fifty years, his appointment having been given 1 1 when he was but twenty-three years of age. Jesident Woolsey, of Yale, said of him at the time his death: "I think we can truly, say today ter an interval of nearly forty years) he was ong all the men who have lived in New Haven Cy during the century, as I think will be conceded 1 everybody, the most finished gentleman, and this 1 3 true of him in the highest sense. I mean that it Į tained not to his exterior, but to his character a! his soul."

Mrs. Palmer is also a descendant of Roger Min- Sherman, who was one of the signers of the I claration of Independence. Her father was a I minent attorney of New York City, and asso- (ed with him in the firm of Mitchell & Bar- I , attorneys-at-law, was Hiram Barney, ex-col- 1 or of the port of New York. Minott Sherman :chell, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Palmer, ; a successful lawyer of New York City, and for a number of years served as a judge at White ins, New York.

Mrs. Palmer is closely related to the Mitchell

lily, from which Hon. Chauncey Mitchell De- f v descends.

To Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Palmer were born dren as follows: Edward Augustus, who grad- ted from Thacher's school in California, and later eered Yale, where he was compelled to give up his s lies on account of ill health ; Grace Estelle, at he; Percy Silliman, who is associated with the I mer Bros. at their Fitchville mill, and who mar- r ! Edna Pratt, daughter of George H. Pratt, of Mrwich.

ELISHA LOOMIS PALMER, vice-president the well-known corporation, The Palmer Broth- € Company, of New London, is one of the well wn business men and citizens of New London, k

V i born in Montville, Conn., Feb. 14, 1840, son of

late Hon. Elisha H. Palmer, and is a member of

Palmer family, the ancestral record of which has

b 1 given heretofore.

The early training of Mr. Palmer was received i he Montville district schools, but he later spent ayear in the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suf- f

1, Conn., and then took a course in a business

c ege at Providence, R. I., leaving the same at the

of eighteen years. Going to New York City, he

V ; engaged as a clerk in a wholesale house for a ut three years.

About this time, the War of the Rebellion broke c and Mr. Palmer enlisted in April, 1861, in Capany I, 57th N. Y. V. I., as a private, serving u 1 the close of the war. During this term of service

he was a prisoner in Libby Prison for nine months, and was in the prison at Columbia, Charlestown, for nine months more. He was promoted several times, and returned home with the commission of lierten- ant.

At the expiration of his war experience, Lieut. Palmer returned to Montville, and a year later en- tered business in New York City, forming a part- nership with his brother Edward A., under the firm style of Palmer Brothers, commission merchants. This enterprise was continued for about twelve years, when Elisha L. Palmer returned to Montville, and became identified with the extensive bed-quilt manufactory, conducted under the firm style of Pal- mer Brothers, and in 1900, at the incorporation of the above named concern, he was made vice-presi- dent, which office he still holds. In 1880 he took up his residence in New London, purchasing the well known "Mount Vernon House."

Mr. Palmer is prominently identified with the interests of New London and Montville, where one of the plants of The Palmer Brothers Company is located. He is a member of a number of clubs, among them being the Thames Club of New Lon- don ; the Loyal Legion of New York ; the Army and Navy Club of New York ; the National Arts Club, of New York; the Grolier Club of New York; the Bibliophile Society of Boston. Mr. Palmer affili- ates with the Republican party. He has been a vestryman for several years of the St. James Episco- pal church of New London.

On June 6, 1866, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Cornelia Kissam, of Brooklyn, N. Y., daugh- ter of James A. Kissam. The children born to them were: (1) Courtland K., who married Mary L. Rudd, daughter of Arnold Rudd, of New London, is associated in the grain and feed business in New London, with Mr. Rudd. One son and one daugh- ter have been born to them. (2) Adeline E. mar- ried Alfred S. Chappell, son of William S. Chappell, of New London, and he is associated with the firm of F. H. & A. H. Chappell Company, wholesale and retail coal dealers of New London. One son and one daughter have been born of this marriage. (3) Emily Gertrude is at home.

FRANK LOOMIS PALMER, of New Lon- don, Conn., president of the extensive bed-quilt manufacturing concern, known as The Palmer Brothers Company, and one of the most prominent and influential citizens of New London, was born at Montville, Conn., June 9, 1851. He began his early scholarly training in the Montville district schools, but later spent two years at Claverack-on- the-Hudson, New York. Returning home from the latter institution at the age of seventeen years, he took up the manufacturing line, becoming associated with his brothers, and has continued the extensive manufacturing interests, greatly enlarging the field of operation.

At the age of sixteen years Mr. Palmer made

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

an extended western business trip, covering many of the largest cities in the interests of his father's output. In 1900, the firm of Palmer Brothers was incorporated, and Mr. Frank Loomis Palmer was elected president, an office he has since held.

Socially Mr. Palmer is a member of a number of clubs, among which may be mentioned the Thames Club, of New London. He affiliates with the Re- publican party.

On May 16, 1876, Mr. Palmer married Miss Louisa Townsend, daughter of Samuel Townsend, of Vicksburg, Miss. The children born of this mar- riage are: Charles Townsend, who attended Brown University for two years, and is now associated with Palmer Bros .; and Theodora and Virginia, both at home.

The business of The Palmer Brothers Company has, by their industry, ingenuity, tact and ability, developed from a small beginning into one of large proportions. At first the work was done by hand, the sewing of the goods being done at the homes of the farmers by their wives and daughters. Grad- ually they brought machinery and inventions into use until the corporation is now able to compete with the world in quality and in price in their line of man- ufacture.

GEORGE S. PALMER, youngest son of the late Hon. Elisha H. Palmer, and one of the prom- inent manufacturers of eastern Connecticut, was born March 20, 1855, in Montville. He received his education in the schools of his native town, later attending the Norwich Free Academy, where he prepared for Yale, and entering that institution, he graduated from the academic department in 1878. He then returned to Montville, and became asso- ciated with his brothers in the Palmer Brothers' corporation, continuing his interests in that organ- ization to this day. In 1880 Mr. Palmer removed to Norwich, where he lived until 1904, when he re- moved to Pequot avenue in New London.

On Dec. 10, 1879, Mr. Palmer married Ida Amelia Cook, born Aug. 10, 1855, daughter of Dwight and Abbie (Avery) Cook, the former a successful citizen of Norwich. Mrs. Palmer died June 7, 1896. Two children were born of this mar- riage: Arthur Cook, who died in infancy ; Howard Palmer, born Nov. 28, 1883, attended the Free Academy, and is now a student at Yale. On Sept. 17, 1901, Mr. Palmer was married to Neva L. Fen- no, of Geneseo, N. Y., daughter of Willis W. and Annie (Clark) Fenno. One child has been born to them, Neva, born Aug. 1I, 1902. Mr. Palmer, like the other members of his family, is a Republican, but has never sought office. While at Yale, he be- came a member of D. K. E. and Phi Beta Kappa fraternities.

In addition to his connection with The Palmer Bros. Company, Mr. Palmer is a director of the Thames National Bank, and of the Uncas National Bank ; is a member of the board of trustees of Otis

Library ; one of the corporators of the William Backus Hospital ; a director and one of the org izers of the Broadway Theatre Corporation. H a vice-president of the board of trustees of the ( necticut Agricultural College, and is also one of trustees of the Free Academy at Norwich. He member of Park Congregational Church, Norw Mr. Palmer is one of the influential business 1 1 and public-spirited citizens of New London cou He is not only successful and prominent, but h honored for his many excellent traits of charac and is recognized as one of the most representa men of New London county.

OTHNIEL GAGER, in his life time an honot! and esteemed citizen who served as town clerk Norwich for forty-nine years, descended from of the oldest families of the county.

The founder of the family of Gager in Ameh was Dr. William Gager, who came to the Un il States in 1630, with Gov. Winthrop, and died : same year, from disease contracted at sea from [ diet, many of the emigrants dying from the s.f: malady. Contemporary records speak of Dr. Gar as a skillful surgeon, a right godly man and on f the deacons of the church. His son John, the child that has been traced, was one of the comp that settled at New London with John Winth the younger, and his name is found on the ear t extant list of inhabitants. John Gager ( I ) had a git from the town of New London of a farm of ) acres, east of the river, near the straits, now in It- yard, Conn., to which he removed soon after I f), and there dwelt until he joined in the settlementf Norwich, removing thither. His house lot in le new town bears the date of the oldest survey, . vember, 1659. In 1674 and 1688 he was const e of Norwich. He died Dec. 10, 1703, at an old leaving two sons and one daughter, one of e former being Samuel Gager.

Samuel Gager was a man of good repute d considerable estate, a resident of the parish of Iv Concord (now Bozrah), Conn., but was interredit his own request, in the old, neglected graveyar n the town of New London. In 1695, he married Ils. Rebecca (Lay) Raymond, widow of Daniel I'- mond. Their children were : Elizabeth ; John ; Sp- uel; William, who graduated from Yale Colleg n 1721, and was pastor at Lebanon, Conn., until is death, in 1739; Sarah; Simon ; and Rebecca.

John Gager (2), son of Samuel, was a far r, who located at what is now North Franklin, C |1. He married Jerusha Barstow, and their chil n were: Jerusha, John, Jason, Samuel, Lydia, Da 1, Simon, Aaron and Levi.

John Gager (3), son of John, was born in wat is now Franklin, and there resided all his life, lowing the occupation of farmer on the farm W owned and occupied by his granddaughter, Elizabeth E. Hyde. He was prominent in towi fairs, having held a number of the local offices .. is

Attiniel Gager.

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

( th occurred Nov. 10, 1817, when he was aged e hty-one years. He was married first to Lydia ery, who died Nov. 9, 1785, aged forty-seven J rs. Their children were : Irene, who died young ; I lia, who married Cherub Abell; John, who died unarried ; Asenath, who married Greene McCall, C Lebanon; Othniel; Amos, who married Sarah roop, and had a son, Dan T., who located in Leb- aun (a granddaughter, Kate E., is wife of W. L. Spencer, of that town) ; a son that died in in- f cy ; and Alvan and Annie, who both died young. e second wife of John Gager was Phebe Hyde, vo died Oct. 24, 1838, aged eighty-three years. 7 r this marriage were born: Phebe, who lived to a old age, and died unmarried ; Hermon, who mar- 1 (first) Elizabeth Hartshorn, and (second) Feline Gager (one of his two children by his sond wife is Elizabeth E., now the widow of Jeph Isham Hyde, residing at North Franklin, to vom we are indebted for the data pertaining to the Gger family) ; and Job, who died unmarried at the a of ninety years.

Othniel Gager, son of John (3), was born Aug. 2 1769. By occupation he was a farmer, and he a) operated a sawmill. He died at his home in Mrth Franklin April 18, 1841, at an advanced age, a: was buried in the Gager cemetery there. He v; a member of the Franklin Congregational Circh. His wife, who was Rebecca Rudd, of Enklin, survived him, and died March 30, 1857; d ninety years. Their children, two in number, a we Becca ( Rebecca), who died young ; and Oth- n

Othniel Gager, son of Othniel and Rebecca, was bin in North Franklin, Jan. II, 1794, and he re- C

'ed a good education in the district schools, and S il a select school on Franklin Hill, kept by Rev. huel Nott, D. D. Owing to a frail constitution arly life, he found farm work too taxing for his ngth, and he was obliged to follow some less S S h

nuous occupation. He began teaching school ill native town, and later taught in the towns of ston and Norwich. For some time after he teaching, he was employed as an accountant

q a in similar clerical work, but this work, prevent-

i1 as it did any original effort on his part, was not P icularly congenial, and he determined to enter business world for himself. He then engaged in tl

tl crockery business with Horatio Willes, under the name of Willes & Gager, their store being lo- 12 d on Water street. Later in the same line his

p ner was R. M. Havens, when the firm was k wn under the name of Gager & Havens. Mr. Cher was a man who made a thorough study of w .tever he undertook, and when he entered busi-

n for himself, he mastered every detail, kept him- so

posted on all the work, and by his ability and P. Istaking care made a success of his line. His gations were promptly met, and he stood high in comercial circles for his open, honest methods, and h unwavering personal integrity.

First a Whig, and then a Republican, Mr. Gager was a power in his party. He held decided views on the public questions, and never allowed his per- sonal advancement or prosperity to prejudice him in favor of any measure he did not deem absolutely just to every other interested citizen. In 1839 he was elected town clerk of Norwich, and held that office continuously for the remarkable period of forty-nine years, relinquishing it in 1888. This period marks the longest term in that office ever served by an individual in the county, if not in the State. During this time Mr. Gager was elected town treasurer and agent of the town deposit fund, which positions he held at the time of his death. The pub- lic interests confided to his keeping were held as a sacred trust, and he never allowed anything to in- terfere with the conscientious performance of these duties. A local paper said of him at the time of his death : "Mr. Gager's life was quiet and uneventful, but it was that of a truly honest, honorable, modest, industrious and model citizen. He was also a model town clerk, and it has been well said that his best monument is the 'forty nine volumes of records in the town vaults,' which for accuracy, neatness and precision of writing, are hardly to be equalled any- where." For a man of his age he accomplished his work with remarkable endurance, nor did the ad- vancing years make him more careless-his last work in no way giving evidence of any laxity in the methodical manner that characterized it from the start. In his religious views he was a Congregation- alist, first uniting with the Second Congregational Church at Norwich, later transferring to the Broad- way Church, when it was organized in 1842. He was a strict churchman, and always gave as liber- ally as his means permitted. For many years he held the office of deacon; but when the infirmities of age prevented his assuming too many burdens, he resigned. His mind remained unclouded to the last, and he died June 15, 1889, a man honored by all who knew him. He was buried in the Gager cemetery at North Franklin. The three selectmen and town clerk acted as pall bearers, and the flag on the city hall floated at halfmast.

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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 17

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