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 175

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 175

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(111) Jeremiah Armstrong, of the above given family, married Mary Hartshorn, a member of the old family of Hartshorn of Franklin, Nov. 20, 1750 and their children were: Calvin, born April 3. 1752: removed to Bennington, Vt., and there died unmar- ried ; Mindwell, born July 10, 1753. married John Smith, and resided in Franklin; Capt. Amos, born Nov. 24, 1757 is mentioned below ; Isaiah, born Aug. 3. 1758, married Artemesia Fillmore: Jeremiah, born Jan. 24, 1761, married Anna Hazen, and re moved to Vermont ; Levi, both Aug. 20, 1770, went to the State of New York ; Rebecca married Samuel Smith.

(\\) Capt. Amos Armstrong married Mary Smith, Jan. 27, 1780. She was born March 6, 1750. and died July 22. 1827. His death occurred Jan. 25. 1828. Capt. Amos Armstrong was a farmer. and resided in Franklin, on the farm now occupied by 1. 1 .. Mabrey. He was a very active man in town affairs, lending his influence toward the better ment of the community and the advancement . i it- material prosperity. For many years he was captain of the local company of militia. His children were as follows: Calvin, born Nov. 21. 1780, removed to the State of New York ; Ambrose, born April 5. 1782. was the grandfather of our subject : Sterling, born June 22, 187 1. married Betsey Chappell, and resided in Newark, N. J. : Martha, born March 20. 1780. married Hezekiah Hibbard and went to New York State : Names, born March 10, 1788, was the second wife of Hezekiah Hibbard ; Sabin was born Feb. 21.

1791 : Ira, born Nov. 17. 1793. was twice marr ed and removed West; Elias, born Feb. 28. 1797. went to Michigan and married Eunice Hewitt.

(V) Ambrose Armstrong, the grandfather of Frederick S., learned the trade of cabinetmaking in Norwich, and worked at it in that town and in Franklin. He was known as an excellent workman. Later he settled on a farm in Franklin, near that of his father, and he carried on farming and at the spare moments worked at his trade. Still later he retired from cabinetmaking entirely, and devoted his attention to farming exclusively. He spent the re- mainder of his life on this place, and there died. being buried in Franklin. In politics he was a stanch Democratic advocate of the principles of Jef- ferson, and being an exceedingly well informed man soon became a power in his town. His chief pleas- ure was in reading, and he was a very entertaining conversationalist and could meet any man in argu- ment.

On Nov. 28, 1805. Mr. Armstrong married Elizabeth Armstrong, of Bennington, Vt., a daugh- ter of Levias Armstrong, who served throughout the Revolutionary war. Her father died when she was small and the family separated. she coming to Franklin, Conn., with friends, when about three years old. Children as follows were born of this marriage: (1) Renben, born July 20, 1807, went to Michigan when a young man, and died in that State. Hle served in the Civil war, and he married a na- tive of New York State. (2) Phebe, born Nov. 20. 1808, married Dwight Bailey, a prominent citizen of Franklin, well and favorably known as a con- tractor and builder. (3) Lucias, born Jupe 11. 1811. married a Whitemore and died in Wisconsin. where he was a successful farmer and cooper. (4) Fanny, born March 20, 1815, died unmaniel. (5) Mary, born Jan. 29, 1817. married Thomas Hazen. of Sprague. (6) Luther, both Jau. 3. 1Sto, mar- ried Lucy Porter, and died in Franklin, where he was a successful farmer. (7) \salud. Lern Ich. 22. 1821. was the father of our subjet (1 ) kee, born March 20, 1823, married July Porter. and is a prosperous farmer m frank ir. (0) Names, born Oct. 22. 1825. de woning (10) Julia Ann, born April S. 1829, die I ving

(1) \schiel Armstrong, father Babice. was born m Franklin, Conn, and ott i les ile strict school, acquiring a smind commen lol education. Being gutted with a co h mbal Dim et mod. when a young nam le lenol the trade of carpenter under los lautier is. Dwiciu Dades of Banking, and m time he left a que excelent workman, being om tout the lesi'm the topen. cated in centiacting and building sidsteeye the editiees put up by them may be pentier. the tn- gregationa church at Franklin They carter man houses and barns m Franklin and weblog towns Mr Armstrong was also an expert turner and an all around mechanic

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taking and strictly honorable in his work and deal- ings, he was always rushed with orders, and gained and retained the full confidence of everyone with whom he had any transactions. For over forty-five years he worked at his trade, indeed, until a short time prior to his death, which was caused by an accident in a sawmill, which he owned and operated. While working in the mill he was caught by a belt and was thrown so as to injure his side, and this resulted in complications from which death finally resutled in March, 1889; he was buried in Franklin cemetery. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and served acceptably on the board of selectmen in Franklin, but he never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his work and private affairs. He attended the Congre- gational Church and was one of its most liberal contributors. Being a man of quiet nature he talked but little ; however, when he did speak it was to the purpose and in words easily understood.

On Jan. 26, 1848, by Rev. Samuel Nott, Mr. Armstrong was married to Lydia Ann Sweet, born Nov. 22, 1829, in Franklin, a daughter of Dr. Ste- phen and Matilda ( Armstrong) Sweet. Dr. Sweet was married four times. His first wife was Ann Champlin; his second Matilda Armstrong; his third Mrs. Phebe ( Heath) Huling. By his second marriage he had children as follows: Lydia Ann, mother of our subject ; Sarah M., widow of B. F. Greenslit, of Franklin; Cornelia F., who died un- married ; Benoni, who died young ; Harriet E., who married David Hillhouse and died in Montville, Conn .; and Armida H., residing in Preston, Con- necticut.

Children as follows were born to Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong: Cornelia Matilda, born Dec. 8, 1848, married George Weaver, and resides in North At- tleboro, Mass. ; Julia Elizabeth, born Oct. 1I, 1854, widow of Elisha Douglass, resides in Naugatuck, Conn., and her children are Charles, Florence and Raymond ; Lydia Eliza, born March 9, 1858, died Sept. 29, 1858; Annie Adel, born March 1, 1859, died March 27, 1877; Mary Jane, born Aug. 14, 1861, died Sept. 21, 1863; Mabel, born Nov. IO, 1863, married George Barber and resided in Jewett City, Conn., until his death, after which she went to North Attleboro, Mass. (she has one child, Ethel ) ; Frederick Sweet was born April 17, 1866.

Frederick Sweet Armstrong was born in Frank- lin, and attended the district school and Natchaug high school, graduating therefrom in 1885. For a year and a half after finishing school he remained at home, and then went to Melrose, Mass., where he was employed at carpenter work, remaining there four months. He then returned to Franklin, and soon thereafter took charge of his present farm, renting the same for a period of about one year, when he purchased it. The farm is pleasantly sit- uated on "Meeting House Hill" and was the home- stead of his maternal grandfather, Dr. Stephen Sweet. The farm consists of 188 acres. Like his

father, Mr. Armstrong is a natural-born mechanic, and has a shop on his farm where he works at blacksmithing, carpentering and wagonmaking, when not otherwise engaged on the farm. He is: also largely interested in dairying, keeping about thirty head of cattle.

In March, 1893, he was married to Addie Nancy Avery, who was born Nov. 3, 1874, in Lebanon, Conn., daughter of Isaac G. and Eliza Maria (Will- iams) Avery. Both the Avery and Williams fam- ilies are treated of exhaustively elsewhere in this volume. The children born of this marriage are : Ralph Avery, March 21, 1896; Kenneth Frederick, April 23, 1899 ; and Stanley Elias, July 24, 1903.

In earlier life Mr. Armstrong was a Democrat, but he changed his politics and is now a strong Re- publican. He cast his first presidential ballot for Benjamin Harrison. He has served very creditably on the board of selectmen in Franklin, having been chosen at a special election to fill an unexpired term, and he has also served as registrar of voters ; has been a member of the board of relief, and is now chairman of the board of assessors, having held this latter office upon several occasions. Again he has served as constable, and in 1903 he repre- sented the town in the State Legislature, and while there was a member of the important committee on Joint Rules ; he was a prominent member of the farmers' association of that year, which association did such excellent work for the State.

At the age of seventeen Mr. Armstrong united with the Franklin Congregational Church, and since then has been very prominent in its good work. He has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school for several years, and has been one of the leading members of the Christian Endeavor Society, having been its president for a long period. In addition he has been clerk of the Ecclesiastical Society, and his wife is also a member of the church and various societies, and a very active worker in all, assisting her husband in his efforts, as well as doing her own part.

One of the important members of the household of Mr. Armstrong is his mother, who is a gentle Christian lady, of generous impulses, whose noble teachings are shown forth in the lives of her chil- dren, all of whom are a credit to her. Through her mother she is a descendant of the Rhode Island branch of the family. Edward Armstrong, her grandfather, came from Newport, R. I., to Frank- lin. He had a brother, Oliver, who had previously settled in Lebanon. Edward settled south of the center of the town, on a large farm which he had rented, and there resided until his death, being a very extensive farmer and large dairyman. The immediate cause of his death was a fall. He was sincerely mourned, for he was an honorable man, a good citizen, and a kind and indulgent husband and father. It was a desire of his to see his chil- dren well educated, and he never lost an oppor- tunity to impress upon them the necessity of im-

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proving every advantage. While a very excellent and upright man, he was also a good business man, and was known as a shrewd trader. Many stories still exist of his sharpness in holding his own while dealing with some neighbor or other who sought to get the best of the genial old gentleman. To the day of his death he enjoyed trading, and never had cause to regret any bargain he made. The elder Mrs. Armstrong well remembers him and recalls with tenderness his many acts of kindness, not only in his own family, but throughout the entire neigh- borhood. His second wife was Mary Herman, who survived him, dying in Norwich. Sixteen chil- dren were born to him, of whom Mrs. Sweet, mother of the elder Mrs. Armstrong, was one of the youngest.

WALTER LESLIE ADAMS. From the hum- ble position of driver of a horse car through succes- sive promotions won solely by merit and ability to the secretaryship and superintendency of the Nor- wich Street Railway Company, and the superintend- ency of the Montville Street Railway Company, is, in brief, the story of the life of Walter Leslie Adams, whose own intrinsic worth has won the bat- tle over adverse circumstances.

(1) The Adams family is an old one in Massa- chusetts. Robert Adams, the founder of this branch of the family in America, was born in 1602, in Eng- land, and in 1635 he came to America with his wife, Eleanor Wilmot, and two children, locating first in Ipswich, Mass. He then removed to Salem, where he resided in 1638-39, and in 1640 he went to New- bury, where he acquired a large farm and valuable property, and where he died Oct. 12, 1682, in his eighty-first year. His wife, Eleanor, had died June 12, 1677, and on Feb. 6, 1678, he had wedded Mrs. Sarah (Glover ) Short, who died Oct. 24, 1607. His children, all born to the first marriage, were: John, Joanna, Abrahani, Elizabeth, Mary, Isaac, Jacob, Hannah, and Jacob (2).

( 11) Sergeant Abraham Adams, son of Robert, was born in Salen, Mass., in 1639, and he made his home in Newbury, Mass. He was a corporal in the militia in 1685-93, and became a sergeant in 1703. On Nov. 10, 1670, he married Mary Petten- gill, born July 6, 1652, daughter of Richard and Joana ( Ingersoll ) Pettengill. Their children were : Mary, Robert, Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, John. Mat thew, Israel, Dorothy, and Richard. Sergeant \ raham Adams died in August. 1714.

(111) Richard Adams, son of Sergeant Abra ham, was born in Newbury, Nov. 22, 10013, and he lived all his life in his native town, engaged in hus- bandry, until his death at Newburyport, Nov. 2. 1777-78. On Dec. 12, 1717, he wedded Susanna Pike, who bore him the following children : Mary, John, Hannah, Enoch, Richard, Susanna, John, Dan- iel, Moses and Edmund.

(IV ) John Adams, son of Richard, was born in Newbury July 30, 1732, and he died there in Sep

tember, 1811. He married, Dec. 22, 1761, Elizabeth Thorla or Thorlow, who died Sept. 4. 1820. Their children were: Moody, Jesse, Elizabeth, George, Simon, Susanna. Freeborn. Isaac. John and Green. (V) Simon Adams, son of John, was born in Newbury, May 24, 1770, and on Oct. 19. 1799, was married to Sarah Lunt, who died April 13. 1817. He died Sept. 25. 1836. Their children were as follows: Joanna, born Aug 5 .- 1800: Isaac. born March 28, 1807 ; and Jesse, born Aug. 11. 1812.

(VI) Jesse Adams, son of Simon, was also a resident of Newbury. He was twice married. On Jan. 7. 1836, he was married to Elizabeth Kert. who died March 19, 1843. aged twenty-eight years, the mother of two children : Simon Augustus, born Oct. II, 1836; and Sarah Elizabeth, born Dec. 5. 1838. Jesse Adams married ( second ) Oct. 18. 1849. Sarah A. Knapp, who died June 15, 1859. aged forty-one years.

(VII) Simon Augustus Adams was born Oct. I, 1836. and was educated in the public schools of his native Newbury, and in Dummer Academy. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in market gar- (lening, which has been his life work. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Congregational Church. On Dec. 15, 1800, he mar- ried Elizabeth Brown, daughter of True Brown. Esq. Their six children are: Walter Leslie. born Sept. 3, 1867 : Jessie M., born May 11, 18;2. died in young womanhood : Ernest, born Aug. 27. 1874. resides in Norwich : Frank W., born Jan. 12. 1878; Emma F., born Oct. 27, 1880: and Nellie A .. born March 4. 1883.

(\'111) Walter Leslie Adams received his edu- cation in the public schools of Merrimac, Mass .. where his parents were located for a short time. He remained at home until 1889, assisting his father with the market gardening. He then accepted a position on the Newburyport & Amesbury horse railroad, where he acted as driver and conductor. When electricity was introduced as a motive power. he continued as a conductor and later worked m the repair shop as assistant electrician, where he con- tinted until 1802. That year the Norwich Street Railway Company adopted electricity, and Mr. Adams came to Norwich to install the motors. Later he accepted the position of electricum, which he tilled until 1800, when in recognition of his mark ed ability and his strict attention to work. he was appointed secretary and superintendent as siecesser to E. B. Shaw, Jr., and in How he was apsofitel superintendent of the Montville Railway These two positions he tilled to the very great satisfaction of the companies and ai the public natal Ms fest nation in 100g. He had mastered the other ent service" problem, and his cats wife nim on si he lub time, hits machinery was kept in careful condition. thus preventing the amoving delas ing bank downs, and Ins emploses were obliged to test the people with the utiles conftest and dassderation His administration while in Norwich was popular

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from the start. While in many ways a very strict disciplinarian, he was invariably just, and the hun- dred or more employes under him knew that as long as they did their duty, and did it well, they were sure to profit for it-the superintendent was their friend, and he was most popular with them.

The Republican party finds in Mr. Adams a stanch adherent of its principles, but one whose manifold duties prevent him from giving his valuable time to active party work. , Fraternally he is a 32d degree Mason, and he also belongs to Uncas Lodge, I. O. O. F.

In 1893, in Norwich, Mr. Adams was united in marriage with Florence Ogden, daughter of John Ogden, and they have one child, W. Leslie.

FREDERICK M. SHERMAN, a prominent contractor and real estate man of New London, was born in East Hampton, L. I., March 4, 1841, and died Dec. 21, 1896. He was a son of William F. Sherman, who came to New London about 1852.

William F. Sherman was a seafaring man for part of his lifetime, but had also at one time learned the cooper's trade and followed that for many years. He married Julia Ann Lester, and had children as follows: Julia Ann, Frederick M., Constance and George. His demise occurred Oct. 27, 1891, several years after that of his wife.

Frederick M. Sherman was a student in the pub- lic schools of New London for several years, but as he was the oldest son his father depended greatly on his assistance in the support of the family, and the boy was obliged to leave school when quite young and began to learn the carpenter's trade of Albert Burgess. Before he had been occupied long in this work he began branching out in more ambitious lines, and undertook contracting and building, and later became, as it were, his own architect, himself drawing many of the plans for some of the finest houses in New London. One of his achievements was the building of the Casino at Pequot in fourteen weeks. After being thus engaged for about twenty- nine years Mr. Sherman became interested in real estate, a business so allied to his former occupation that the transition was not an abrupt one. He was one of the first to open up and develop additions to the city and gradually acquired more and more property, until at his death he was one of the large land owners of New London. During his first few years in the contracting business he was associated with Asa O. Goddard and a Mr. Reynolds, under the name of Sherman, Goddard & Co. Another business interest of Mr. Sherman's was the Thames ferry, of which he was an owner, in partnership with Messrs. Walter R. Denison, Armstrong and Perry. In all his enterprises he was very successful and could claim the entire credit for his success, as he had worked his way up with assistance from no one.

One exception, however, should be made to the last statement ; in his wife Mr. Sherman had more than the ordinary helpmate. She stood by him

bravely in all his early struggles, encouraging and supporting him, while for many years she gave him material assistance by keeping his books. In addi- tion to this community of interest, the fact that Mr. Sherman was essentially a domestic man made their home life unusually happy. Mrs. Sherman was Miss Caroline M. N. Steward, the daughter of J. Pember and Nancy (Noyes) Steward, the former of Waterford, Conn., and the latter from Ston- ington.

HERBERT STEWARD. Among the young men who have gone from New London, during the past third of a century, to enter the turmoil of busi- ness life in whatever field, none deserves any more credit for success attained, or furnishes any better example of the self-made type of man, than did Herbert Steward, a brief sketch of whose life is herewith given. He was born. Oct. 27, 1847, in New London, son of J. Pember and Nancy ( Noyes) Steward, the former of Waterford, Conn., where he was born May 4, 1813, and the latter a native of Stonington, Conn., born July 18, 1813. J. Pember Steward was a carpenter and builder by trade, and was so occupied in New London for many years. One of the structures he built was the Rogers build- ing on Main street. He died in 1866 in Plano, Ill., where his wife survived until Jan. 28, 1888. They had a family of five children: Annie L., living in New London, unmarried ; Alvin B., who died Nov. 3, 1904, in New London : James N., living in New London, who married Mary Newbury, of Noank, Conn. : Caroline M. N., now the widow of Frederick M. Sherman, and residing at No. 64 Williams street, New London ; and Herbert, our subject.

Herbert Steward was reared in New London. He received only a limited education, but early showed himself to be the possessor of natural gifts which fully supplied any lack of formal preparation for life's work. When a mere boy he displayed those habits of thrift and industry which kept him almost constantly employed, either at home or for others. It was said of him, "A man from begin- ning, never a boy." Not only was he nearly always doing something-he did well whatever he had to do. His business training began as a boy in a store where he started as clerk, and later he accepted a position in the National Bank of Commerce, where for some time he was teller. So ambitious was he, however, while in the latter position, that he con- tinued to clerk, being engaged in one of the stores after banking hours, in order to increase his re- sources and acquire added experience. He re- mained in New London until shortly before he was twenty-one, when he went to New York City to accept a position in the New York store of the Brainerd & Armstrong Co., silk manufacturers, of New London. After a lengthy and highly satisfac- tory connection with the company he concluded to go into business for himself, and branched out as a builder and contractor. Meeting with success from

HERBERT STEWARD

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the first, he soon turned his attention exclusively to bridge and viaduct construction, in which line he became one of the best-known builders of his time in New York. Among his largest contracts were those for the Girard avenue bridge in Philadelphia, and the building of the McCoomb's dam and via- duct at 155th street for the city of New York, which cost over $1,250,000. He also executed a number of large contracts for the Pennsylvania Railway Company, including the widening of the tunnel at Trenton, N. J., for four tracks, and, in association with Miles Tierney, he built the Wash- ington bridge over the Harlem river. He was a member of the Society of Civil Engineers, the Con- tractors' Club, and the Colonial Club, and in all was a most popular figure, well meriting the encomium once paid him. "a man of high standards and gener- ous character, and withal a modest and companion- able man.'

Mr. Steward died March 4, 1899, in New York. and was buried in New London. He had hosts of friends wherever he was known, and his untimely death, at the age of but fifty-two, cut short an hon- orable and successful career and one that was rich with promise for the future. He was unmarried.

ISAAC WALTER THOMPSON. for nearly twenty-five years the faithful and efficient town clerk of New London, was born April 7. 1847. son of Dr. John Mumford Thompson, and was named for his paternal grandfather. He was a descend- ant of John Thompson, who was born in 1582, and died in 1678. He was the first of the line in Amer -. ica, coming among the earliest settlers of Strat- ford, Conn .. about 1640. He married in England, and his wife, Mirable, died April 13, 1690.

. (11) Ambrose Thompson, born Jan. 1. 1651. clied Sept. 6, 1742. He married Sarah Welles, who was born Sept. 28, 1659, daughter of John Welles, of Stratford, Conn .. and granddaughter of Thomas Welles, the Colonial governor.

(111) Deacon John Thompson, born in 1680, died July 20, 1767. On Nov. 15. 1705. he married Ruth Curtis, who was born Jan. 11. 1683, and died April 23, 1721.

(IV) John Thompson (2), born in April. 1717. died Aug. 16, 1753. On Dec. 5. 1739, he married Mehitable Booth, who was born in 1720.

( V) Lient. William Thompson, born Oct. 20. 1712. was an officer in the Revolutionary arni. and was killed April 27. 1777, in a skirmish with British troops. He was married Oct. 1. 1702. 10 Mchitable Ufford, who was born March 10, 17 15.

(VI) Isaac Thompson, born Ang. 24. 1775. in Stratford, Conn., come to New London about 1,00. He was engaged as druggist throughout his active life, studied medicine for some time, and was al ways known as Dr. Thompson, though he never completed his medical studies. He carried out wholesale and retail drug business, and imported many drugs, having the largest trade in that line

between New York and Providence, jobbing his goods in many towns. He was the original manu- facturer of Thompson's Eye-Water, an eye-wash from the sale of which the family derived a large income, and which enjoyed a wide celebrity for many years. In 1802 he bought from James Bax- ter the wooden building on the northeast corner of Main and State streets, now commonly known as the Irish property, and the deed states that he was a tenant of same before the purchase. The property extended on State street from the corner of Main to the store where Ralph Smith & Son are now located, and he paid $5.000 for it. Be- tween 1802 and 1815 Dr. Thompson erected the brick store now owned by J. Fisher, and probably removed to the place as soon as it was completed. as the few now living who knew him first re- member him there. He also built the brick store on State street west of his own place of business (the store now partly. occupied by Solomon & Baruch ) and fitted same up for his son, John M. Prospering in his drug business, he invested extensively in real estate, both in New London and in Waterford. He lived in Tilley street, New London, and was often spoken of as the owner of that thoroughfare and all that bordered on it. Dr. Thompson was very public-spirited, and active in all the interests of his home city, being one of the founders of the fire department, an incorporator of the Savings Bank of New London, and an alderman of the city for many years. His death occurred March 2. 1853. in the house at the corner of Bank and Tilley streets now occupied by Edward Keefe.

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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 175

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