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 18

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 18

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Othniel Gager was twice married. On Oct. 12, 1820, he wedded Freelove Ayer, who was born in Franklin, a daughter of Bailey Ayer. Of the three children born of the union, the first and third, Re- becca R. and John, died young ; the second, Oliver A., who married Mary Willard, became a well known and prosperous manufacturer of crockery and china, and was associated with the Havilands, but he died in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1889. For his second wife, on Jan. 28, 1827, Othniel Gager married Eliza Backus, who was born Nov. 10, 1801, a daughter of Oliver and Dice (Hyde) Backus, of Bozrah; she died in 1883, aged eighty-two years. Two children blessed this union; (I) Freelove Eliza was born Dec. 5, 1827. (2) Rebecca Rudd, born Dec. 7, 1839, is the widow of Alfred A. Peck, a successful insurance man, who was engaged in business in New

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

York, but who resided in Brooklyn, where he died Dec. 10, 1896. Their two children were : Helen G., who died young ; and Alfred C., a promising young man who died in early manhood.

On Dec. 20, 1847, Freelove Eliza Gager was married to Samuel Hyde Johnson, and their chil- dren were: Abbie E., widow of Henry A. Speeler, of Norwich; Samuel Hyde, Jr., employed in New York, by G. F. Bassett & Co., crockery dealers ; and Lillian R. and Frederick, at home.

SAMUEL HYDE JOHNSON was born in Franklin, Aug. 30, 1822, son of Capt. Oliver and Abigail (Hyde) Johnson. For many years he was engaged in the crockery business both as a manufacturer and as a salesman. He made the trip to California in 1852, but remained only a year or so. Later he returned to the Golden Gate and engaged in the lumber business. He died near San Francisco July 20, 1878, and was buried at San Rafael, Cal. Mrs. Johnson and her family reside in Norwich, at the late home of her father, the lamented Othniel Gager, and they also have a pleasant summer home situated on a high hill in North Franklin. Mrs. Johnson is a representative of an old and honored family, and though crowned with more than three score years and ten, is an active, gracious mistress of a cultured home, and she is greatly beloved in the city she has known so many years.

HON. JONATHAN NEWTON HARRIS, late of New London, merchant and philanthropist, whose death occurred Oct. 18, 1896, was long one of that city's foremost business men and useful citizens. Born Nov. 18, 1815, in the town of Salem, Conn., Mr. Harris was a son of Jonathan and Lu- cinda (Jones) Harris, farming people of that town, and in the paternal line a descendant in the sixth generation from James Harris, of Boston, from whom his lineage is through Lieut. James, Jonathan, Nathaniel and Jonathan Harris (2). These gener- ations in detail follow in the order named.

(I) James Harris, of Boston, born about 1640, married, in 1666, Sarah Denison, of that place. The births of seven of their eleven children are recorded in Boston ; all excepting one who died an infant and the youngest three were baptized in "Old South Meeting House," Boston, in 1683. Mr. Harris and his wife and all three of their sons-James, Asa and Ephraim-came from Boston to New London, Conn., about 1690. Issue (Boston record) : Sarah, born March 2, 1668; Deborah, born July, 1670; James, born April 4, 1673 ; Margaret, born Jan. 16, 1675 ; Mary, born Feb. 3, 1677; Elizabeth, born in June, 1678; Asa, born Nov. 10, 1680; Hannah, born April 22, 1682; Ephraim born in May, 1684; Mary (2), born in June, 1686; and Ephraim (2), born July II, 1688.

(II) Lieut. James Harris, born April 4, 1673, married, in 1696, Sarah, born in 1676, daughter of Samuel Rogers of New London. She died Nov. 13, 1748, and he married (second) in 1750 Widow

Sarah Jackson (nee Harris), daughter of Li Joseph Harris, of New London. In 1698 Mr. Ha removed to Mohegan and settled on a tract of 1lt granted by Owaneco to his wife Sarah, adjoir the lands of her father, who had already set there, being the first white settler, in about I( Lieut. Harris, weaver and husbandman, became extensive landholder. Between the several gen tions of the Sachems and the Rogers family tl existed a strong and intimate friendship, and in family relation James Harris and his wife, Sar warmly participated. Owaneco and his success were lavish in their grants of land to Lieut. Ha and his wife. In 1714 Mr. Harris was comn sioned lieutenant of the North Company of N London, and by this title was ever known, althor afterward he was commissioned captain of a co pany in Colchester. He removed in 1718 to south part of Colchester, now Salem, and there c tinued to live until a short time before his death 1757. He was a man of position and importance his town, was selectman of Colchester in 1730, I' and afterward, and served in relations of importa: in public affairs. Lieut. Harris and his wife w admitted to the Montville Church in 1732. He d Feb. 10, 1757. His second wife died Oct. 8, 17 His children, all born to the first marriage, we Sarah, born Sept. 27, 1697; James, born Jan. 1699; Mary, born Nov. 1, 1702; Jonathan, born Jt 15, 1705 ; Alpheus, born Feb. 29, 1708; Abigail, bi May 17, 1711; Lebbeus, born Aug. II, 1713; pheus (2), born Aug. 31, 1716; and Delight, bo Oct. 17, 1720.

(III) Jonathan Harris, born June (or Jan.) 1705, in Mohegan, now Montville, married July 1735, Rachel, daughter of Hon. Joseph Otis, of wl is now Montville, and a man of distinguished se ices who came from Scituate and became a la1 landholder in a number of towns in Connectic Mr. Harris and his wife settled at first in Sale He was admitted a freeman in Colchester Sept. 1739, and in 1756 and several other years served selectman. He was a man of commanding fo: and dignity of character, and fine personal presen His wife Rachel was a woman of marked natu abilities, a noble mate to her husband. Both died September, 1761. Their children were: Alphe born March 22, 1736; Rachel, born Sept. 30, 173 Jonathan, born June 6, 1739; James, born Dec. 1740; Nathaniel, born April 2, 1743; Hannah, bc Oct. 13, 1746; Abigail, born Dec. 22, 1748; Beth born Sept. 14, 1752; Joseph, born Oct. 17, 175 Mary, born Jan. 1, 1756; Ruth Ann, born May 1758; and Delight and Dolly, born in 1760.

(IV) Capt. Nathaniel Harris, born April 2, 17. in Salem Parish, Colchester, married Feb. I, 17( Mary, daughter of Samuel Tozer, of Colchest They settled on the old Harris homestead in Sal Parish, now Salem town, where they lived and di and where all their children were born. M Harris was a farmer. He served in the Revoluti

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

inne summer and fall of 1777 for at least six mo hs. He is said to have been a proud and high- tom l man-proud of his lineage and blood ; proud of fa: ing to he

di be Lo

s little wife and of his daughters ; proud of his stock, etc. Of stalwart form and stately bear- he was ever tender and gentle as a belted knight 1 womankind and to children ; but among men 'as dignified, austere and even imperious and lo1 y. He died March 12, 1812, and his widow March 22, 1834. Their children were: Leb- born Sept. 19, 1764: Joel, born July 8, 1766; born July 1, 1768; Mary, born Sept. 14, 1770 ; Sash, born Sept. 10, 1772; Maria, born Feb. 3, 17 ; Nathaniel, born Feb. 24, 1777 ; Samuel, born 10, 1780; Rachel, born Jan. 17, 1783; Lydia,

De bo Nov. 16, 1784; Hannah A., born Sept. 19, ; and Jonathan, born Aug. 21, 1788.

V) Jonathan Harris, born Aug. 21, 1788, in Sa n, Conn., married April 7, 1813, Louisa Jones bo Oct. 27, 1794, daughter of Capt. Daniel Jones, of lem, and settled on the old Harris homestead of his ather and grandfather in Salem, as a farmer. TH I3 e he died April 28, 1850. His widow died July 861, in Rockville. Their thirteen children were: Lcisa M., born Feb. 28, 1814; Jonathan N., born 18, 1815; Fannie L., born May 3, 1818; Leb- born March 14 1820; Mary A., born April 15,

Nc be1 18. ; Joel, born April 15, 1824; Caroline L., born

Se 18, 1826; Nathaniel, born Feb. 3, 1828; Na- tha De el (2), born June 2, 1829; Henry Wesley, born 24, 1831 ; William W., born Aug. 20, 1835 ; Gelige W., born Aug. 16, 1837; and Robert H., bor March 6, 1842.

he career of Jonathan Newton Harris, the sub- jec proper of this article, affords a striking ex- am e of what is within the possibilities of any ican boy, and its simple story is an encourag- ing Ar xample to the youth of our land and an inspira- tio Reared to toil and on a small and hard farm, he as placed when in his seventeenth year as a cle in a small country variety store in Hamburg, Co ., where he remained some two years. From 18: to 1838 he was a clerk in the grocery store of 1 & Cady, of New London. In the latter year, wit a capital of $100 only, he engaged in the gro- cer business on his own account and was success- ful its conduct. In 1844 he took into partnership .wit him his brother-in-law, George W. Brown, the bu ess being conducted under the firm name of Ha s & Brown. This partnership continued until

in which year Mr. Harris became sole owner of the

ime greatly extending it and adding a large lin

f farm tools and agricultural implements, and also

ne being the first direct importer of these ar- in New London. In 1853 Mr. Harris asso- others with him in the business, the firm title ning Harris, Ames & Co., and in 1857 the firm ch wi

ed to Harris, Williams & Co., and continued increasing success in the business until 1865,

when Mr. Harris retired from merchandising with a handsome fortune.

In June, 1848, Mr. Harris, in company with Mr. Perry Davis, of Providence, R. I., established the extensive medical house of J. N. Harris & Co., at Cincinnati, Ohio, a concern which has continued in business for upward of fifty years, and been emi- nently successful ; and from 1862 to 1873 Mr. Har- ris was a partner and the capitalist of the firm of Hill & Harris, owners and operators of the cele- brated "Hill & Harris" coal mine in Pennsylvania, which was another success.

For forty and more years Mr. Harris was an ac- tive director in the Bank of Commerce, later the National Bank of Commerce, at New London. In 1876 he was elected president of the . New London City National Bank, and sustained such relations to it from that time on until his death. He was one of the organizers of the Fellows Medical Manufactur- ing Company, of Montreal, Canada, with branches in New York and London, England, and for several years was its president. He was a director in the Davis & Lawrence Company of Montreal, a director in the New London Northern Railroad Company, in the New London Steamboat Company and in other companies.

Mr. Harris was a member of the city government of New London for a number of years and mayor of the city from 1856 to 1862. He represented New London in the Connecticut Assembly in 1855, and served as a member of the joint standing committees on Banks and Finance. In 1864 he served ably and effectively as State senator from the New London district, and was chairman of the joint standing com- mittee on Banks.

In religious work and educational matters Mr. Harris ever took a deep interest. He was an early and firm friend of the late evangelist Dwight L. Moody, and aided materially in founding Mount Hermon School and Northfield Seminary. He was chosen president of the board of trustees of this in- stitution in the autumn of 1893. "This honor," said the College paper, "is a most fitting one to bestow upon him because of his long connection with the school as trustee, and his untiring interest and aid in its development. A more satisfactory choice could not have been made. As students of Mount Hermon we feel that the interests of our school will be looked after under a president so eminently fitted for that position in the management-and we hope he may be spared to us many years to aid in the fuller develop- ment of the institution which he knows from its in- ception."

Mr. Harris took a deep interest in the religious and educational work in Japan. In 1889 he founded and endowed the Harris School of Science, the scientific department of the Doshisha University at Kioto, Japan, his contribution amounting to $100,- 000. The School of Science was opened in 1890. Mr. Harris built and presented to the city of New London the Memorial Hospital which was opened

184 isiness and carried it on alone until 1853, in the meli

ardware, iron, steel, etc., of his own importa- tio tic cia1 bec

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Aug. 1, 1893. The Harris Building in New Lon- don stands as a monument of his public spirit and enterprise. In 1875 Mr. Harris was made chairman of the State Executive Committee of the Y. M. C. A. of the State of Connecticut, and he devoted him- self to the high objects of that association with a liberality, energy and zeal even more fervent and effective than he ever manifested in his own private enterprises. He was a charter member of the Con- necticut Bible Society ; a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; a charter member and president for sev- eral years of the board of trustees of the Interna- tional Committee of the Y. M. C. A. of New York ; was a charter member and president of the Y. M. C. A. of New London, and a member of the board of trustees. From 1874 to 1894 he was president of the board of trustees of Bradley Street Mission. He was a director of the Evangelical Association of New England. Through the summers for many years Mr. Harris was active in sustaining open-air relig- ious meetings on the streets of New London. He held membership in the Second Congregational Church at New London, and was one of its deacons.

"The same faithful and diligent attention to bus- iness ; the same high sense of honor and the same unspotted integrity of character, which first gave to this young grocer, with a capital of only a hundred dollars, an unlimited credit wherever known, have ever been the marked and distinguishing characteris- tics of his whole life." He was a man about whom there can not be truthfully said anything but good. Many of his kind and extremely generous acts have been hidden from the public, and those that have become known have been told of by the recipients of his generosity. No man could hand down to posterity a cleaner, better record, as a useful man whose influence was always exerted for good.

On May 8, 1843, Mr. Harris was married to Jane M. Brown, daughter of Benjamin Brown, of New London, who was the mother of his eight chil- dren, all of whom are now deceased. He married (second) July 19, 1869, Martha Ann Strong, daughter of Hon. Lewis and Maria (Chester) Strong, of Northampton, Mass., and granddaughter of Hon. Stephen Chester, former high sheriff of Hartford County.

DANIEL F. PACKER. In the death of Daniel F. Packer, on April 16, 1904, at Mystic, Conn., there was removed from life one of the successful manu- facturers of New England, and one whose success was solely the result of his own efforts. With char- acteristic originality and business shrewdness, he originated and developed a manufacturing business whose product not only became a household word, in America, but found ready sale in the markets of the world. Mr. Packer descended from an old New England family.

The first member of the old and honorable fam- ily of Packer that came to this part of America, of

whom we have any information, was John Pack who settled in New London in 1651, and the n year was one of the three purchasers of a tract land extending more than a mile north and sou and a half mile east, embracing the most of a tr. of land upon the southern and eastern slope of t. Pequot and Prospect Hills, and the hills and val. lying between Old Field and Palmer's Cove. ] settled on these lands as early as 1655, and was . puted to be the largest proprietor. When the Noa Indians, a remnant of the Pequots, squatted on l lands, he complained to the General Court of t Colony. The question was not finally settled un his son's day, when a commission was appointed the Court, the results of which are given further c.

Captain James Packer, christened Sept. II, 168 died April 24, 1765. He married (first) Abig. Avery, born June 18, 1679, and died Nov: 16, 172. daughter of John, granddaughter of James, al great-granddaughter of Christopher Avery. Th had children as follows: Ichabod, born June I 1707, died May 10, 1758, married Abigail Eldredg Abigail, born Oct. 23, 1708, married Thomas El redge; James, born Nov. 2, 1710, married Savia! Eldredge ; Desire, born Sept. II, 1712, married Cap John Burrows ; Lucretia, born Aug. 2, 1717, marrid John Fish ; Ann, born Feb. 9, 1719, married Willia Havens; John, born Sept. 16, 1720, died March 1797, married Hannah Avery; Joseph, born Nov 1722, died Nov. 28, 1804, married Eleanor Ashbe Capt. James Packer married (second) Elizabet Springer, and they had children: Samuel marrie Freelove Satterly; Molly married Philip Covi Thankful married James Chester; Elizabeth ma ried Edward Ashbey ; and Rebecca married Christo pher Ellis. Captain James married (third) Thank ful Fanning.

Captain James Packer had a controversy abot the title to a portion of his estate with the town ( Groton, as well as that with the Noank Indians. I 1735 a compromise was effected by commissioner appointed by the General Assembly. This was a occasion of great local interest, and on Aug. 5, 173: when the commissioners-Major Timothy Pierce Mr. West of Lebanon and Sheriff Huntington c Windham-left New London on their way to vier the contested premises, they were accompanied fror New London by 40 mounted men from the tow and found their train constantly increasing as the proceeded, by farmers from Groton Ferry, Poquc nock and other places, while on the ground a larg assembly had already convened. The neighborin farmhouses of Smith, Burrows, Niles, Fish, Pal mer, Park and Packer were filled to overflowing with guests. No such turnout of the yeomanry o the land, of a like nature, is recorded in these parts At this time, the place of crossing the Mystic Rive was called Packer's Ferry, and was so called bot! in the town records and in newspapers until th building of the bridge across the river in 1818. Capt James Packer's house was situated a few rods fron,

D.J. Packer

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

e West Mystic depot. Capt. James met death by e, being burned in his own barn.

James Packer, son of Capt. James, was born ov. 2, 1710, and died prior to 1765. He married ¿viah Eldredge, born Oct. 6, 1715, daughter of aniel Eldredge, and they had children as follows : wiah married James Brown; James, born 1734, ed Aug. 24, 1803; Charles ; Eldredge, born Jan. 1756, died May 19, 1834; Basheba married John shbey ; Joshua was drowned in Long Island und ; Nathan ; and Molly married Samuel Fox.

Eldredge Packer, of the above family, was mar- ed Jan. 7, 1779, to Sabrina Packer, born June 4, 60, daughter of Daniel Packer; she died April 1843. They had.one son, Charles, born June 6, 80, who died Sept. 10, 1840. Eldredge Packer is a man of attractive and remarkable personality, d a man of exceptional business ability. He was e father of ship-building in Mystic, the first fleet fishing vessels being mainly built by him. He is the builder of the "Fox," which was captured by e British, and was used as a fast privateer, with lich they captured twenty-seven vessels in two eks in the spring of 1813. He also built the Iero," fitted out as a privateer, to recapture the 'ox." The "Hero" overhauled and captured the ler vessel, ten miles southeast of Block Island, th the British squadron in sight to the southwest, d brought the prize into Mystic.

Charles Packer, son of Eldredge, married Abi- il Latham, born Sept. 14, 1782, died Oct. 19, 1828, d they had children: Eldredge, born Aug. 18, )9, married (first) Christina Mead, and (second) ary Morton; Saviah, born March 17, 1801, mar- Nyd Daniel Chesbrough; Abby Ruth, born Sept. 6, 04, died March 14, 1882, married (first) Dr. Che- ier, and (second) a Mr. Bissell; Adelia, born in uary, 1808, married George Holdredge; Latham, en Nov. 7, 1810; James, born March 4, 1812, mar- d Mary Ann Appleman ; Hannah Williams, born 1. II, 1814, married Samuel S. Latham ; Augusta, 'n Dec. 25, 1816, married Alfred Ashby ; Henry, n May 7, 1817; Sabrina, born Nov. 25, 1818, السا مية d in 1825; and Daniel F., born April 6, 1825.

This long and interesting family record brings attention Daniel F. Packer, the inventor and 1 nder of the Packer Manufacturing Company, of w York. To recapitulate briefly Mr. Packer's at-grandfather came to New London county, nn., from Plymouth, Mass., in the seventeenth tury and settled at Mystic, Conn. Here was born ( son, Eldredge, who became a noted shipbuilder l launched the first large vessel in the Mystic. It 1

supposed that he owned or commanded a priva- t: during the war of the Revolution. He attained t age of four-score-and-four years. His son, ot. Charles, was born at Groton, near Mystic, te 6, 1780, and was a mariner, engaged princi- J

Fy in the coast trade. For some years he did an ellensive fishing business as captain of a fishing ick. In the great Christmas snowstorm of many

years ago in this locality, he had a narrow escape from death, being one of the castaways of Long Island Sound. He was very successful in his busi- ness ventures, and through industry and thrift ac- quired a fortune. The mother of our subject was born in Mystic. The only survivor of the original eleven children is Hannah W., widow of Samuel S. Latham, residing at Noank and previously men- tioned. The father died .in 1834, aged three-score, and the mother in 1829, at the age of forty-seven years. They and the grandparents, with three of Mr. Packer's sisters and his brother Eldredge, are laid to rest in the Packer burial ground in Mystic.

Daniel F. Packer, who won a world-wide reputa- tion as a manufacturer of choice soaps, was born April 6, 1825, in the historic town of Groton. The greater part of his life was spent in Mystic. His early education was obtained in the district school of Fish-town and he completed his studies at a board- ing-school at Weston, Fairfield Co., Conn. At the age of fifteen years, in 1840, he went to New York to assist his brother Eldredge, who was conducting a poultry market in that city, and in the following year he shipped before the mast on the packet ship "Emerald," under Capt. George Howe, a most daring and able skipper. With Capt. Howe, Mr. Packer made two voyages to Havre, France, each lasting from thirty-four to forty-five days. Subsequently he was engaged in the market business in New York City for four years. In 1847 he went to Key West, Fla., with Capt. C. H. Mallory, and was afterward employed for a year by Capt. Latham Brightman. Six days before attaining his majority he bought and assumed charge of the "Plume of Mystic," hav- ing for first mate, Augustus Williams, of North Stonington, and for two years coaster along the reefs of the Tortugas and Florida.

The gold fever found a victim in him in 1851, and during that and the two succeeding years he was in California mining for gold. While on the Pacific coast he began the manufacture of different soaps, to which he ever afterward devoted his attention with such great success. He was the originator of the pine tar soap which was the nucleus of the famous "Packer's All Healing Tar Soap" so well known all over this continent and Europe, and it can be bought in far-away China. In expanding his business he engaged in the manufacture of another product, making a specialty of "Packer's Cutaneous Charm." Beginning in a very modest way, he con- tinually found it necessary to enlarge and expand until his business reached immense proportions. His largest enterprise was the manufacture of "Silver Pearl" soap at Pittsburg, Pa., which was before the time of his beginning the manufacture of his famous product. Thirty-four years ago Mr. Packer established a factory at Mystic, which has since been one of the leading industries of the place. In 1900 Mr. Packer sold the rights of the "All-heal- ing" soap to E. A. Olds, retiring because of ad- vanced age and ill health, and the firm is now known

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

as The Packer Manufacturing Company of New York, though the manufacturing is continued in Mystic under the original name. Mr. Packer, with business judgment, brought his goods before the public by attractive advertising.

On June 7, 1849, Mr. Packer was married to Margaret M. Norcross, of New York City, who died in 1855, leaving one child, Arline M., who married (first) Robert A. Packer, (second) Benjamin Mil- ler, and (third) John S. Rathbone, of Mystic. On Feb. 21, 1861, Mr. Packer married (second) Carrie A. Randall, of Ridgefield, Conn., who survives him. The only child of this union, Samuel Edward, died at the age of four years and eight months.

After his return from the West Mr. Packer re- sided in New York and New Jersey until coming back to Mystic, where his substantial and commo- dious residence on High street was erected in 1868; it is beautifully located on the hillside of the Mystic river, commanding an extensive view. In politics Mr. Packer was a Republican. He was long one of the leading members and a trustee of the Method- ist Church, and before his illness attended services faithfully. Mr. Packer passed away April 16, 1904, and was laid to rest in Elm Grove cemetery.

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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 18

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