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 179

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 179

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791

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tion. Politically he was a Whig, later a Republican, but he never cared for official honors. He attended the Congregational Church. On Feb. 15, 1810, Mr. Loomis was married to Lucy Lathrop, daughter of Charles Lathrop, of Lebanon. She died Feb. 27, 1855. Their children were as follows: (1) Charles L., born Dec. 6, 1810, was the father of Charles C. (2) Anson, born Jan. 14. 1813, married, Dec. 18, 1838, Emily A. Phillips. He was a farmer and re- sided on the homestead, being the last of the name to own the property. After disposing of it he re- moved to Meadville, Mo., and there died Oct. I, 1885. (3) Adgate, born May 29, 1815, died Sept. I, 1839. (4) Eunice, born May 6, 1818, married on Dec. 7, 1843. Edward H. Strong. He was a farmer and resided in Colchester, Conn., where they died. She died June 30, 1902.

(VIII) Charles Lathrop Loomis, father of Charles C., was born in Goshen Society, during the brief residence of his parents on the farm now occu- pied by William H. Geer. He was an infant when they returned to the home farm. He attended the district schools, and, at the age of eighteen years. began to learn the trade of carpenter under Capt. Joseph King, of Goshen, to whom he was appren- ticed for three years, for small wages such as were paid in those days. Soon after completing his ap- prenticeship he removed to Dutchess county, N. Y., and was there for two years, working as a journey- man. He then returned to Lebanon and purchased the nucleus of the farm now occupied by his son, Charles C., of Frederick Avery, a tract then com- prising only eight acres, and there he resided. fol- lowing his trade and employing several men and ap- prentices. He had the reputation of being a fine mechanic, and erected many of the better farm houses and public buildings in Lebanon, including the Exeter Church, and the school house in the Thirteenth district. He continued at his trade for about thirty years, or until about 1861, and then he devoted his time principally to farming, though he still did a little carpentry work. In the meantime he had added to the acreage of the farm, and he made agriculture the chief pursuit of his life for the rest of his days, being quite successful in that line. He died May 3, 1802, after a decline of two years. Mr. Loomis was a stirring, hard working man, about six feet tall and well proportioned, and was capable of doing a great deal of hard work. Like his father he was a Whig, and later a Repub- lican, and in 1853 he represente I his town in the State Legislature, which hody met in Hartford that year. He served several years on the board of selectmen, proving highly competent, and he de clined offers of other offices. He was a member of the old local militia when it was in existence. In religions connection he was a member of the Fêter Congregational Church, and was a regular attendant He was well to do, a man of high integrity, and commanded the respect of all

Mr. Loomis was twice married, first on Nov.

IO, 1836, to Wealthy Grant, born Aug. 17. 1812. in North Stonington. Conn. She died Jan. 3. 1842, the mother of one child. Charles Adgate, who was born Dec. 17. 1841, and who died Sept. 5. 1842. For his second wife Mr. Loomis was married. on Dec. 21. 1842, to Frances E. Clark, who was born Aug. 13, 1820. a native of Exeter Society. daughter of Hosea and Esther (Williams) Clark. She died July 19, 1901, at the home of her son. Charles. Two children blessed this umion : ( 1) Cordelia Wealthy. born Jan. 12, 1844. married Capt. Andrew Wash- burn, on Jan. 9, 1867. She was his first wife. Capt. Washburn was a native of Lebanon and enlisted in the 18th Regiment. Connecticut Volunteer .. Later he was promoted to be captain in a colored regiment, and served as such until the close of the war. He located at Danvers, Ill., and for many years was engaged in the mercantile business there. Later he removed to Bloomington. Ill., and for the past twenty years he has been engaged as a florist doing a large business. His wife died March 20. 1883. in Bloomington, Ill., but was bur'ed at Danvers. They had four children: Frank L., born Jan. 11. 1800 : George A .. Sept. 22. 1873 : Emma F. Sept. 12. 1875 (wife of Prof. Henry Edmunds. of Rushville. ill. ) : and Alfred Edwin. Dec. 27. 1878. (2) Charles Clark was born Jan. 30. 1848.

Charles C. Loomis was born in the house he now occupies. He attended the district school. an 1 a select school on Goshen Hill kept by Joseph Kel- logg, a Yale graduate, and later was a stn lent in a select school at Hebron, kept by Edward S. Inck- ley. He taught school for seven winters, three winters in Exeter, one in Columbia, and three more in Exeter. He resided at home until his marriage. and then for one year lived on a rented farm in Goshen. Returning to his father's farm, he assisted in the management of it, and later assintel full charge, after the death of his parents coming into the possession of it. He has a splendid place of to4 acres, and is engaged at general farming al dairying. His business career has been a success throughout, and he has made many impri gment- on the farm since it came into his hands.

On March 22, 1876, Mr. Loomis was afarrel to Ella C. Foote, of Exeter, who was hat Seit 23. 1853. daughter of Horace and Enes (Webster) Foote, and they have had three children 11 00001g. Foote, born Ang. 27. 1820, restles meir Denver, Colo. (2) Everette Erastu. bom April 20 19%2 graduated from the Buon Valley It Conser. class of một, andis now atten ling Worcester Pas-

tional Church, of which Ar and Mr Lembi the r sons are members, an Der sela sehr. \

ure of the church Political's Fells a Renihliom and has been quite active in the wink of the parts lle has served as registidt et voters SE assessor.

792

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. .

and on the board of relief, and in 1882 he repre- sented the town in the State Legislature, and served on the committee on the Sale of Lands. Mr. Loomis is a well-read man, and as an intelligent, prosperous citizen ranks high in the community, he and his family being much respected.

SAMUEL LUCAS, now living in well-earned retirement in Poquetanuck, was for a number of years actively associated with the firm of B. Lucas & Co., of that place. Mr. Lucas has passed all but a few years of his life in New London county, but he is a native of England, born July 4. 1826, in Trowbridge.

Samuel Lucas, father of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, was also born in Eng- land, and there learned the trade of finisher of woolen and cotton goods, at which he worked in his native land until his emigration to America, in the latter part of the year 1831. Settling in Yantic, town of Norwich, New London Co., Conn., he was engaged as boss finisher in the Yantic mill until his death, which occurred when he was fifty-five years old. In England Samuel Lucas married Elizabeth Miles, the ceremony being performed by the poet, Crabbe, and they became the parents of twelve chil- dren, ten of whom reached maturity. The family consisted of six children at the time they settled in America. We have the following record of those who lived to manhood and womanhood: (1) Caro- line married George Brooks, and died in Nebraska. (2) Ephraim was for several years connected with the Lucas mill in Preston, where he died. He mar- ried Julia Herrington. (3) Martha married Albert Stafford, of Preston, where she died. (4) Samuel is mentioned farther on. (5) Noah, who was for sev- eral years connected with the Lucas mill, married Abby Jane Lewis, and died in Norwich. (6) Benja- min married Sarah Jane Tubbs, of Yantic. He is mentioned more fully elsewhere. The other four were born in Norwich: (7) John married Harriet Colby, and is living in Norwich, where he is engaged as agent for State Treasurer H. H. Gallup. (8) Solomon, a resident of Norwich, is State's attorney for New London county. He is mentioned more fully elsewhere. (9) Aaron is connected with the Lucas mill. He is also mentioned more fully else- where. ( 10) Ruth married Jonathan B. Gay, and they reside in Bellefourche, South Dakota.

Samuel Lucas was only five years old when he accompanied his parents to America, but he had re- ceived a little schooling in England. He attended the district school in Yantic until about nine years old, at which early age he entered the Yantic mill, under his father, and worked in the various depart- ments, learning the carding of cotton and wool. He finally entered the finishing room, and after the death of his father became boss finisher, holding that position for about a year. When about twenty- one years' old he went to Stevens village, Vt., where he entered a mill, and, showing his familiarity with

manufacturing, he was made superintendent within a short time. After a year or so in this position he was offered a half interest in the mill to remain, but he declined, and the next fall returned to Nor- wich, taking the position of cloth tender at Charles Rockwell's mill, at Bean Hill. He refused the offer of the position of boss finisher on account of im- paired health. Remaining at that place for the winter, he went to Stonington in the spring, and there became superintendent of the John Hyde "Lantern Hill mill," which had been leased by his father-in-law, John Lord, continuing thus for about two years. His next move was to Potter Hill, R. I., where for a short time he was boss carder and spin- ner in what was known as the "small mill," later holding the same position in the two mills there. He then went to the Lantern Hill mill in Stoning- ton, where he was superintendent in John Hyde's mill for about one and a half years, until the mill was closed down because of hard times. He then removed to Poquetanuck and went to work in the Lucas mill, in which he was a stockholder. After a short residence at Poquetanuck Mr. Lucas was offered the position of superintendent of the two mills at Potter Hill, R. I., the mills in which he had worked a few years previously, and being operated by Horace and Edwin Babcock, of Westerly, R. I. Mr. Lucas had entire charge of the management of these mills, which employed a large force of help. He remained there seven years and left because of poor health, his employers making very liberal in- ducements to have him remain. During this time the mills experienced an era of unusual prosperity. Returning to Poquetanuck he received several flat- tering offers to take charge of other mills, but could not accept them on account of his health. Since then his residence has been at Poquetanuck. The mill of B. Lucas & Co., at Poquetanuck was formerly the Brewster mill, and was purchased in 1856 by Samuel, Benjamin and Noah Lucas, and their brother-in-law, George Brooks, and the original firm name has been continued to this day. After about a year the old wooden mill was burned, but it was soon replaced by the brick structure which still stands, and Samuel Lucas retained active con- nection with the establishment until 1880, in which year, on account of ill health, he withdrew. He has since lived in retirement, but he lias never relin- quished his interest in the mill. Shortly after enter- ing the Yantic mill young Lucas had his left arm caught in a gear, almost severing that member from the body, and the accident has caused him more or less trouble ever since. However, it did not prevent his becoming an excellent workman. He was persist- ent in applying himself so closely to his work that he acquired a thorough knowledge of all the details of the lines in which he became interested, and he showed much ingenuity in devising improvements on the machinery used in manufacturing woolen and cotton goods, patenting several of his inventions. In fact, he was an all-around success as a business

Samuel Lincas

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

man, whether as workman, boss or manufacturer, and enjoyed high standing among his associates of half a century in the manufacturing business. Though he has been distinctively a business man, he has found time to interest himself in the public wel- · fare to the extent of serving several terms on the committee of the local school district, and in 1889 he represented his town in the State Legislature, during his term in that body acting as member of the committee on Manufactures. His political con- nection is with the Democratic party.

On Dec. 21, 1849, Mr. Lucas was married, in Yantic, to Betsey Lord, daughter of John and Fan- nie ( Ashworth ) Lord, the former of whom was for several years connected with the Yantic mill. Mrs. Lucas was born in England, and came to America with her parents in early life. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, viz. : (1) Mary Camille married John Taylor, of Potter Hill, R. I., and they have had three children, Cora (who died young), Bessie and John. Mr. Taylor has been a merchant in Poquetanuck for several years, and the family make their home in that place. (2) Samuel was drowned at Potter Hill, R. I., when three years of age. (3) Adele died at Potter Hill. R. I., when four months old. (4) Annie married George Bur- click, who was engaged in farming in Preston, where he died. She has one daughter, Mary Burdick. (5) Mattie married Edwin Burgess, of Norwich, where they reside, and they have four children, Jennie, Edna, Mattie and Edwin. Mr. Burgess is a molder and nickel plater by trade. (6) Willard .1. was for several years employed in the Lucas mill, where he lost his right hand by having it caught in a picker, in 1880, since which time he has been engaged in looking after his father's interests. He married Nettie Avery, of Gales Ferry, who died in Norwich, and they had one daughter, Ruth. All this family have been attendants of St. James Epis- copal Church of Poquetanuck.

TION. ARTHUR M. BROWN. of Jewett City ( Griswold ), Republican Senator from the Eleventh District, has the honor of being the youngest men- ber the Senate has had for many years, also of being the youngest member of the House in Foot. ably serving on the committee on Incorporations. and of being the youngest delegate to the Constitu tional Convention in 1902. He is creditably ini lowing in the footsteps of his grandfather. Francis S. Young, who was a member of the Legislature in 1860, and of his father, George W. Brown, who was a prominent member in 1872. Senator Brown's mother was Sarah F. daughter of Francis S. Young. He was born in Jewett City Sept. 21, 1877. and was educated in the public schools of his native town, the instruction received there bemg supple- mented by a course of three years at the well known Norwich Free Academy. As quartermaster of William A. Slater's steam vacht "Eleanor" he had the pleasure of sailing around the world in sagen.

In the winter of 1897 he entered the office of Hon. Solomon Lucas, of Norwich, as student, and in January, 1901, was admitted to the New London county bar. Senator Brown has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his town, and has been clerk and treasurer of the borough of Jewett City. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and socially of Mount Vernon Lodge. No. 75. A. F. & A. M. He was the efficient Senate chairman of the leading committee on Incorporations. His prover- bial good nature and gentlemanly qualities have gained for him the universal respect of all his col- leagues at the Capitol, and he richly merits contin- ued honors.

In October. 1901, Arthur M. Brown married Gertrude E. Sanderson, daughter of Henry and Harriet Sanderson, of Plainfield. Conn., and this union has been blessed with one child, Francis Young.

CHARLES F. CHAMPLIN, who holds a prominent place in the affairs of his native State. and is successful in agricultural pursuits. comes of ancestry long identified with the States of Rhode Island and Connecticut.

George Champlin, the progenitor of this line of the Champlin family, was born in Rhode Island. and in his young manhood removed to North Ston- ington, Conn., where he married Nancy. danghter of George and Amy ( Carter) Bentley, and a di- rect descendant of (1) William Bentley, who came to New England in the ship " Arabella," which sailed from Gravesend, May 27, 1071. William Bentley was a resident of Narragansett, R. I .. Jan. 20, 1670, and his will was proved at Kingston. R. 1. (11 ) William Bentley (2). son of the engrant. married April 21, 1703, Marv, danghter of Henry and Deborah ( York) Ehot, of Stonington. Com ( III ) George Bentley, son of William (2), 107- ried, March 4. 1724. Ruth Barber, daughter of Moses and Susannah ( Wint ) Barber. (A ) Bentley, son of George, was born in to, and vals of Westerly. R. 1. He died Let. 25. 11 000 June 27. 1751. he wedded An Carter. In der daughter (A ) Nancy, mirred Lenge Llaallinn. and became the mother of one som. Wheat l'ont lev t Implin.

William Bentley Champlin was born in Yons. on the old Bentley firm, mit sah of the Sol Baptist Church of North Stington, now 1 1 105 of Richard Wheeler In isi; he nunesl Vanla. daughter of Isaac and Himlah / Brentesi Bandlek. North cere, who manuel Referes Ik, and len Que daughter. Anychme Bre 1. wo 0un 70 P. Wilcox! Lage Tymklm, decare, when Sim Camb, and had two Muchters. hiver Ihzabeth Brown, and had two children. Sarah and George, Martha, who chad vamgs and Mara wi

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Avery Brown, and has three children, Will- iam Avery, John and Benadam.

Soon after his marriage William Bentley Champlin moved to a farm at Clark's Falls, Conn., which was given him by his father, and there he made his home for the remainder of his life, dying at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow lived to the advanced age of eighty-five years, and they both sleep in the Second Baptist Church cemetery at North Stonington.

Charles William Champlin was born on what is now known as the "Daisy Farm," near the old Bentley farm in North Stonington, Aug. 24, 1818. He was but about six years old when his grand- father gave the farm at Clarks Falls, and there spent his boyhood days. As a young man he came to the town of Stonington to work on a farm for John Holmes, and afterward worked for Dudley Randall, Judge William Randall, Thomas Avery and Randall Brown. On Dec. 24, 1844, he married Harriet Lucina Caswell, who was born at Wind- ham, Conn., April 13, 1824, and died at Quaim- bogue Feb. 24, 1904. They began housekeeping at the White Hall farm in Old Mystic, and later they removed to the Borough of Stonington, where Mr. Champlin engaged in teaming for the stores, and also carried on farming. Subsequently he re- moved to "Egypt," in the northern part of Ston- ington, thence to North Stonington, and after a time returned to Egypt. He lived there until 1889, when he moved to Quaimbogue, and a year later to the Benjamin Greene farm in Hopkinton, R. I. At the end of three years he moved to the Maxson Kenyon farm in North Stonington, where he re- mained for a like period, and then for a time, be- fore his final location in Quaimbogue, he lived near the pumping station in Stonington. Though now eighty-seven years of age, aside from defective hearing his faculties are unimpaired and his mem- ory is excellent. He and his wife were members of the Second Baptist Church at North Stonington. To them were born six children, as follows: Har- riet Ellen, born Dec. 14, 1845, married Horace Bromley, and died July 18, 1895: Martha Abbe, born Oct. 8, 1848, married Charles W. Gibbons, and has a son, Walter F. ; John H., born March IO, 1853, married Mary Elizabeth Bromley, and has two children, Horace B. and Elwin H. : Charles F., born Jan. 24, 1857, married Lenora Estella Ayers ; Mary Elizabeth, born Dec. 13, 1859, married March 23, 1881, William H. Brown ; and Hannah Sabrina, born Sept. 1, 1863, married Benjamin C. Brown, and died June 8, 1901.

Charles F. Champlin was born in the town of North Stonington, and was but two years of age when he was brought to Stonington, and there in District No. 13 he attended school. At the age of seventeen years he began working for others, H. C. Brown being his first employer, and in the sum- mer of 1876 he worked for J. H. Gardner, later being employed by Mrs. Randall and John H.

Champlin. In the spring of 1880 he went to West- erly, R. I., and for three years there engaged in farming on his own account. At the end of that time he came to his present home, where, however, he remained but two years, when he moved to the stock farm of James S. Brown, in North Stoning- ton. . After six years there he passed three years on the William Williams place in Stonington, and in 1897 he became the owner of his present fine farm. He has been very successful in his work wherever he has been, and he has also given con- siderable attention to the raising of stock.

On Jan. 5, 1879, in Groton, Mr. Champlin was united in marriage with Miss Lenora Estella Ayers. Mr. Champlin has followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, and has taken a keen interest in public affairs from the time of the casting of his first vote. In political faith he is a stanch Republican. In October, 1903, he was elected selectman ; from 1898 to I90I he was assessor, and for four years he served as constable : in 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905 he was the representative from Stonington in the State Legislature, where he gave most efficient service as a member of the committee on Temper- ance, and in his present term he is a member of the committee on Banks. Fraternally he belongs to the B. P. O. E. Thrift and progressiveness have characterized Mr. Champlin's entire business career, and in an official capacity he has ever dis- played fidelity and trustworthiness to the duties im- posed. Mr. Champlin is one of the substantial and influential citizens of Stonington, and in whatever community he is known commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.

JAMES MURRAY, a highly respected citizen, and well-to-do and successful farmer, in Montville, is of Scotch birth and parentage, his birth occurring Dec. 31, 1831, in the Parish of Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland.

His grandparents, Gilbert Murray and his wife, Jeannette McIlrich, were farming people, and lived and died in Scotland. Of their five children the only one to emigrate was Gilbert, Jr., father of James of this sketch.

Gilbert Murray was born in Colmonell, Scot- land, and was all his life a farmer. He came to America in 1855, and settled at first in Norwich. After a year there he moved to Lisbon, where he rented a farm which he carried on for about ten years. He then bought a farm in Salem, Conn., on which he lived until his death, which occurred April 14, 1886, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife, Jeannette Murray, survived him until July 7, I891, when she passed away in Norwich. Gilbert Murray was a good Republican, and during his res- idence in Salem took an active part in town affairs, serving as a member of the board of selectmen, and holding other town offices. In the early seventies he represented the town in the State Legislature for two terms. He was of medium height, and of

795

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rather spare build, an industrious, hard-working man, of a genial, jovial disposition, and highly re- spected in the community in which he lived. The children of Gilbert and Jeannette Murray were as follows: (1) John, a retired farmer, living in Can- terbury, Conn., married Sarah Lyon, and they have one daughter. (2) Miss Jeannette is living in Nor- wich, in the home of the late Henry Bill, where she has resided since November, 1856. (3) James is mentioned below. (4) Gilbert is living in Salem, where he carries on the homestead farm. He mar- ried Emeline Hurlbut, and they have no children. (5) Thomas, a farmer in Salem, married Clara (Williams) Sisson, and they have one son. (6) William, (deceased ) was an Illinois farmer. He married Elizabeth Fisher, who bore him five chil- dren. His death occurred in February, 1877, on his fortieth birthday. (7) David, a retired farmer in Illinois, married Helen Burnham, and they have one son and one daughter. (8) Jane married John Service, a paper maker, and is living in Norwich. They have three children. (9) Mary, living in Nor- wich, married Archibald Torrance, a carpenter by trade. They had three children. (10) Margaret married John Henderson, who carries on a machine shop in Waterbury, where they reside. Of their four children, threc sons are living. ( 11) Peter, a carpenter, living in Norwich, married Eliza Mat- thews, and they have two daughters. (12) Ellen, (deceased ) married Edwin Niles, a farmer of Salem. She died in December, 1887, leaving a son and a daughter. ( 13) Robert. a butcher by trade. lives in Meriden, Conn. He married Lucy Hall, and they have no children.

James Murray received a meagre education in the schools of his native country, leaving the school room at the age of ten to become a shepherd boy. After a few months he began to work on a farm, and continued to do various kinds of farm work while he remained in Scotland. On June 19, 1856, he and his wife sailed from Glasgow on the "City of Edin- burg." the second trip made by that steamer, land- ing in New York after a pleasant voyage of seven- teen days. They at once took passage on the "Com- monwealth," under Capt. Jerome W. Williams, for Norwich, where Mr. Murray's parents were then living. James Murray went to work immediately on his father's farm, after a time obtaining a post tion in the Chelsea paper mills, where he remained two years, He then rented a firm in Preston, Conn., for eighteen months, after which he took charge of the farm of the late Henry Bill. on Laurel Hill, Norwich, remaining in that position ten years. He has in his possession a time silver watch presented to him by Mr. Bill for "faithful service." After leaving Mr. Bill's employ he obtained a position overseeing the outside work at Hubbard's paper millls, in Norwich, where he remained twenty six years. Resigning this post tion March 16, 180%, he bought the Mark Stoddard farm of seventy seven acres, located in Massapeng.

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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 179

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