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 180

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 180

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

Montville, overlooking the Thames river. There he has ever since been successfully engaged in farming.

On June 3. 1856, Mr. Murray married1 Mary Davidson, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Howell) Davidson, farming people of Scotland. where they lived and dicd. To Mr. and Mrs. Mur- ray have been born the following children : (1) Eliza, born Nov. 23, 1857. in Norwich. unmarried and living at home; (2) Jcannette, born Nov. 15. 1859, in Preston, Conn., married Thomas Young. a paper maker, of Norwich, where they live. They have no children. (3) Miss Mary, born Oct. 17. 1861, in Norwich, is now living in Westchester, N. Y. She is a trained nurse, a graduate of the New Haven Training School. (4) James. born Nov. 26, 1863, in Norwich, is a farmer in Tampico, Ill. He married Emma Rourke, and they have no children. (5) William, born April 20. 1866, in Nor- wich, died aged five years and ten months. (6) Frank Abbott, and (7) Frederick Wilbur ( twins ) born Oct. 1, 1870, in Norwich, where both died at the age of seventeen months. (8) Walter, born April 2, 1874. in Norwich, unmarried, and living in Chi- cago. He is a traveling salesman for a mne lical supply house.

Mr. Murray is a stanch adherent of the Re- publican party, but is not an active politician. lle and his wife are members of the Fourth Congre- gational Church, of Greeneville, Conn. They are kindly and charitable people, and their pleasant home, always open to their many friends, has also a hospitable greeting for the stranger.

SHUBEL HOLMES, a veteran of the Civil war, and a representative farmer of Preston. (1111 .. where he bears the esteem of the community. With born Nov. 7. 1832, at Lebanon, Com., and he is :1 direct descendant in the eighth generation of Robert Hohnes.

(1) Robert Holmes, the progenitor of the Stonington Holmes family, who came to this town before the town was unmed Stonington, and pur- chased large tracts of land, and made this his per- manent place of abode, was registered there is a resident Dec. 25, 1670. He served in the tadomal Indian wars. His wife is not kifun. i'm is there any record of the date of his marriage, but he had one child.

(11) Joshua Holmes, whose bitte des fast appear, was donttless bern bet re his tothe settd in Stonington. He was married, june , 107%, to Abigail Flugralian Chesbrough, wales 11 Sammel Chesbrough. He purchased In Westerk. R. L. upon which De bilt hing dwell ing house, and oc apie lit dining Ins din Deling King Philip's War. he was a brave solari The children born to himself and white were. Mais and Josling (2)

in Westerly. R. D. manuel \\ 21. mos lem Sturges, daughter of Elward Sings, of Var

796

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mouth, Mass. Joshua Holmes (2) bought and re- ceived large tracts of land at Stonington, upon which he built a house, and he lived in it the re- mainder of his life. His children were as follows : Joshua, John, Abigail, 'Temperance, Thankful, Thomas, Mary, Bethia, and Marvin.

(IV) Thomas Holmes, born Jan. 19, 1711, in Stonington, Conn., married, Nov. 12, 1740, Mar- garet Frink, and died April 9, 1796. The children born to himself and wife were: Margaret, Thomas (2), Jeremiah, Bethia, Samuel, Joshua, Nathan, Molly, Lucy, Abigail and Marvin.

(V) Thomas Holmes (2), born April 28, 1744, in Stonington, married March 15, 1764, Mary Frink. and after her death, he married (second), Nov. 24, 1767, Temperance Smith, of Groton, Conn. His children all born of his second marriage were: Thomas, Shubael and Nathan.

(VI) Shubael Holmes, born Aug. 2, 1769, in Stonington, grandfather of our subject, married, Jan. 22, 1792, Lois Brown, of Stonington, and their children were: Shubael, born Nov. 19, 1793 ; Polly, born Jan. 22, 1796; Asher, born Sept. 11, 1800; and Christopher, born Nov. 9, 1804.

(VII) Asher Holmes, born Sept. 11, 1800, in North Stonington, Conn .. died Dec. 20, 1835, in Yantic, town of Norwich, Conn. By occupation he was a miller. From North Stonington he moved to Windham, and was there engaged in running a gristmill for several years. From there he went to Lebanon, where he remained for some time, later removing to Yantic, Conn., where he was engaged for some time before his death, in teaming for the Yantic mills. He married Phebe Brown, daughter of Walter Brown, of Preston, Conn. After his death, Mrs. Holmes moved to Greeneville, town of Norwich, where she with her children lived for sev- eral years. Later she removed to Mystic, Conn., and there died March 18, 1861. Asher Holmes was an industrious, hardworking man and one respected by all who knew him. The children born to him and his wife were: (1) Asher D. married Almira Corey, of Lebanon, Conn., and they had two chil- dren, who died young. He was killed during the Civil war, June 15, 1863, at Winchester, Va., while he was a member of Company C, 18th Conn. V. I., in which he had enlisted Aug. 7, 1862. (2) Nathan W. married Harriet M. Maynard, of Ledyard, and had one son and one daughter. He was a painter by trade, and died in Mystic, Conn. (3) Phebe A. never married, but died at Mystic, Conn., aged sev- enty-two years. (4) Sallie Maria died in Norwich aged ten years. (5) Shubael is our subject. (6) Erastus was a carpenter by trade, and died in Stonington. He married Mary E. Shain, who with one son survives and lives in Stonington.

Shubael Holmes was born in Lebanon, Conn., and when he was but an infant, his parents removed to Yantic. He received his education at Greene- ville, Preston and Norwich, he attending school until about 1850, when he removed to Mystic, and

entered the Iron & Grinnell ship yards, where he learned the trade of ship carpenter. There he re- mained working at his trade, until 1873, when he . removed to North Stonington, and purchased the Ellis Leonard farm of eighty-four acres, upon which he was engaged in farming for about nineteen years. He then sold his farm in North Stonington, and re- moved to Preston, buying the James Birch farm, of fifty acres, near Preston City, on Amos Lake. This occurred in 1892, and since then he has been a res- ident of this town, and is successfully engaged in farming. Mr. Holmes is a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M., of Norwich.

In political belief, Mr. Holmes is a stanch Democrat in national and State affairs, but in town matters he votes for the man he believes best suited for the place. While living in North Stonington, he served his town as constable, and tax collector ; since coming to Preston, he has been registrar of voters several terms.

On Sept. 4, 1864, Mr. Holmes was married to Miss B. Angeline Grey, daughter of Alva Grey, of Preston, and three children have been born to them : Nellie M., born at Mystic, married Nathaniel Main, of. Preston, who was engaged in farming in Frank- lin, until his death, and they had one son, Ernest Nathaniel Main. R. W., born at Mystic, is unmar- ried and lives at home. Phebe Jennie, born in North Stonington, married Samuel E. Holdridge, of Ledyard, where he is engaged in farming, and they have two children, Samuel Archie and Ray Daniel.

During the Civil war, Mr. Holmes served his country, enlisting Sept. 1, 1862, in Company H, 26th Conn. V. I., as a private. On Jan. 20, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He was honorably discharged Aug. 17, 1863, at Norwich, and for his gallant services he now receives a pen- sion. When but 'a mere lad, Mr. Holmes was thrown upon his own resources, and the success which he has attained has been won by steady and untiring endeavor, intelligently directed along legit- imate channels. He has never let an opportunity slip to better his condition, when he could do so honorably, and he has always been willing to do more than his part of hard work, his success being excellent proof of the adage that "Honesty is the best policy." Both Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have many friends, whom they welcome at their delightful home with gracious and hearty hospitality.

ALBERT STAFFORD, a venerable and highly respected citizen now living retired at Poquetanuck, in the town of Preston, was for many years a hard worker and closely applied himself to his business. and, having always been provident, he is now enabled to spend his latter years surrounded by the comforts and luxuries secured by ample means.

The Stafford family is an old and numerous one in Rhode Island, where Allen Stafford, father of Albert, was born. The place of his birth was in Warwick, and he followed through life the trade

Albert & tafford

797

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of a machinist, working in various places in Rhode Island and Connecticut, and at Oxford, Mass. His death occurred at the latter place, when he had at- tained a good old age. His widow survived him only two months, and both are buried at Oxford. He was the father of eight children, as follows : Christopher, born Dec. 14, 1808, was a boss carder and died at Oxford, Mass .; Henry S., born Jan. 3, 1814, was a shoemaker and died at Plainfield ; Lydia, born Nov. 8, 1815, married Joseph Preston, a farmer, who died in Plainfield; Eliza, born Oct. 7, 1818, became the second wife of Joseph Preston ; Albert was born Jan. 23, 1821 ; Rhodes, born Dec. 7, 1823, was a shoemaker, and enlisted from Boston in a Massachusetts regiment of heavy artillery for service in the Civil war ; William Allen, born July 28, 1826, resides at Oxford, Mass .; Hiram, born Sept. 2, 1829, died at Oxford, Massachusetts.

Albert Stafford was born Jan. 23, 1821, at Plain- field, Conn., and received the benefits of the public schools until he was twelve years of age, when he had to leave school to go to work in the Almyville mills. His father was poor and there was a large family to support, so it was necessary that the lad bear his part. His work in the mill consisted of helping dry the wool and doing other odd bits about the mill, such as would fall to the share of a boy of his tender years. However, it was soon discovered that in spite of his youth he was almost able to do the work of any ordinary man. The wages paid at that time were very small compared to those of these days. Until 1841 he continued in those mills. at that time removing to Yantic, and taking a post- . tion with the Yantic Woolen Co., beginning at a salary of $16 per month, out of which he had to pay his own board. Mr. Stafford worked in different departments of the mill, finally becoming engineer and machinist, and when he left, after spending over a quarter of a century in their employ, he was re- ceiving $3 per day, which was considered very good in those days.

Soon after the close of the Civil war Mr. Staf- ford resigned his position with the Yantic Woolen Co., and, with a part of his savings, purchased an interest in the factory of B. Lucas & Co., at Poque- tanuck, the partners being his brothers-in-law, and in this mill Mr. Stafford passed the remainder of his active business career, retiring abont 1897 he cause of his age. His part of the work in the mill was to look after and keep in repair the machinery. he being an expert machinist. He vet owns an in- terest in the mill, which is one of the strong man facturing concerns of the neighborhood.

On Feb. 27, 1843. Mr. Stafford was married, at Yantic, to Martha Lucas, who was born Ang. 4. 1825, in England, daughter of Sammel and Elizabeth ( Miles) Lucas. Mrs. Stafford passed away March 22, 1800, after a happy wedded bie of over fifty six years. This couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1893. a large minber of their friends attending, and they received many beautiful tokens

of affection. Two children were born to them : Eugene, who died at the age of nine months ; and Elizabeth, who married Albert L. Allen, and died Feb. 1, 1902, at East Norwich, leaving one daughter, Mattie Stafford, born June 11. 1881. a charming young lady.

In politics Mr. Stafford is a Democrat. but he has never desired office. He was one of the organiz- ers of the old Yantic fire company, and served as the first captain for a number of years. Only four members of this company are now living. At one time Mr. Stafford was a member of the Odd Fel- lows. He attends St. James Episcopal Church at Poquetanuck. Genial, courteous, kind and hospi- table, he is esteemed by all who know him. The success which has attended him is certainly well merited, and perhaps he is as good an example of the real self-made man as may be found in New London county.

GEORGE HENRY HOXIE is a well known citizen and enterprising farmer of Lebanon. He is of a stock whose members have been more pleased with the substantial rewards of the peaceful pur- suits of agricultural life. than desirous of the un- satisfactory honors of political success, and the empty praise of political followers ; and, consequently they have been numbered among those who have quietly, but none the less successfully develope I the country, in so doing making happy homes and hon- orable names for themselves and their children.

The American progenitor of this stock, as shown by records still existing. was Lodowick Hoysie. whose name and that of his family has been vari- ously spelled, Hoyse. Horses, Hovic, Hawksie and llaxie. He was a native of England, and when a young man, without the influence of wealth of family, he left his native land to settle on the bleak and rock-bound coast of Massachusetts, there to brave the dangers of pioneer life among wage beasts and more savage men, and build a hone for himself and his loved ones, Lodow ck Hoysie is found living at Sandwich, Massa, 100%. In Decem ber, of that year, he married Mary Presbury, who is supposed to have been a daughter of John Pies bury, and from this comple have spring a mangerons Imeage in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the family is also represented in many other States of the union.

Calleon Hovic, a native of Rhode Island, calle. in 1704. to Lebanon, and purchased the tim now occupied by his great grandson Gorge I Have Here he resided until his death, which occurred Feb. 13. 1827, he being seventy fon veis et age Amy, his wife, chied April 1. 1st1. agel hify-nin years Both are buried m a small condens en th old homestea !

Isaac Horses, son of falcon, bem n Klod Island, in 1780, came with his parents to Eden when he was fourten years old He, too, was a farmer Politically he was a Depresthat He nur

798

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ried Cynthia Loomis, and died Oct. 28, 1848. She died Nov. 27, 1864. Their children were: Mary Ann, who married Daniel Blanchard, a farmer, who resided in Lebanon, where both died ; Gideon, the father of George H. Hoxie, and Abby Jane, who married Joshua Tracy, who kept a hotel in Franklin for many years. He subsequently moved to Monson, Mass., and dealt in real estate. She died at Monson.

Gideon Hoxie was born March 9, 1808, and re- ceived a common school education. He remained on his father's farm until 1837, and then went to Franklin and became a partner in the hotel busi- ness with his brother-in-law, Joshua Tracy. Sub- sequently he made the journey to the West and pur- chased horses, and returning to Connecticut located at South Coventry, where for six years he was en- gaged in teaming. After another trip West for horses, he settled on a farm at Liberty Hill, where he remained until the death of his mother in 1864. During the next eight years he did not engage in any business. In 1873 he bought out the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead, upon which he settled and carried on farming until his death Aug. 16, 1890. In 1879-80 he erected the handsome residence which now ornaments the farm. He was a member of the Democratic party. In religion he inclined toward Universalism. For many years before his death he was deaf, a misfortune that kept him out of public life. He was over six feet in height, of spare build, weighing about two hundred and ten pounds, and was a powerful man, capable of doing an immense amount of hard work. He was an industrious and successful citizen.

On June 9, 1856, Gideon Hoxie married Mrs. Phylura O. Mason, widow of Edward Mason, and daughter of Edmond and Wealthia (Loomis) Stiles. She died at Liberty Hill, Oct. 13, 1860, aged forty- six. By her marriage with Mr. Mason she had the following named children: James F., of Franklin ; Nancy F., of Lebanon ; George Edward, who died at the age of four years; William Alfred, who en- listed in the Civil war, at the age of seventeen, and died six months later; and Jeremiah, who died at the age of four months. By her marriage to Gideon Hoxie, our subject was the only child.

George Henry Hoxie, the only child of Gideon and Phylura (Mason) Hoxie, was born Dec. 31, 1858, at Liberty Hill, in the town of Lebanon, and was sixteen years old when his father moved to the present homestead. His education was obtained in the district schools, the Norwich Grammar School, in private schools, and Wilbraham Acad- emy. At the close of his school life he returned to the farm which has since been his home. He man- aged the farm for his father, and for two years, before the great packing concerns absorbed the trade, he did a large business in the wholesaling and retailing of beef, for which purpose he bought large numbers of cattle in Massachusetts, New York and Canada. He has a good farm on which he keeps

fine high-grade Jersey cattle. He also owns con- siderable real estate in Lebanon. Besides farming he is also engaged in buying apples and potatoes from the producers, and selling them to commission merchants in the cities.

On Nov. 20, 1884, George H. Hoxie married Lucie A. Williams, born Aug. 28, 1861, in New Lon- don, daughter of William A. and Jane (Stoddard) Williams. The children of this union are: George Hammond, born Feb. 22, 1892; Allan Williams, born April 3, 1893; and Wilton Henry, born Feb. 16, 1897.

Mr. Hoxie is a member of Oliver Woodhouse Lodge, No. 51, Knights of Pythias, of Colchester, and has had the honor of filling all the chairs of his lodge. He is also a member of Wooster Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., of the same place. Mr. Hoxie is a Republican. He is content to do his duty as a private citizen and does not care for office. He is energetic and successful in business, and has a good estate. His lodge membership is ample evidence of the fact that he is fraternal. He has a wide acquaintance, is popular and a leading man among his associates. The family attend the Congregational Church.

. CHARLES H. DAWLEY, town clerk of the town of Colchester, and junior member of the fur- niture and undertaking firm of P. A. Dawley & Son, belongs to an old and honorable family of Rhode Island.

Daniel Dawley, his great-grandfather, was a resident of South Kingston, Rhode Island.

Benjamin Dawley, his grandfather, was born May 27, 1789, and was one of a large family. He was born at Kingston, where he learned the trade of carpenter, and resided in his native town until after his marriage, when he removed to the Harris factory village, in the town of Coventry, about 1826. Here he was employed in the Harris mill, doing the repair work that came in his line. For over thirty years he lived in that place, and during the greater part of the time was employed in the mill. After he retired from active work he resided for a time in Providence, later in East Greenwich, R. I., where he died at the age of sixty years : he was buried at Kingston. In politics he was a Whig. He was a member of the Baptist Church.

On April 26, 1814, Benjamin Dawley married at North Scituate, R. I., Rebecca Potter, born April 26, 1791, who survived him a number of years, dy- ing at Bristol, R. I., aged seventy-seven years. Their children were: Louisa, born Aug. 22, 1815, married Irving Potter, and died in Harris, R. I .; Benjamin, born Oct. 20, 1816, died in Hope, R. I .; Sarah and Royal, twins, were born Jan. 31, 1818; the former married William Tanner and died in Providence, and the latter resides at Bristol ; James M., born Nov. 26, 1820, removed to the State of Wisconsin and died there; Horace F., born March 10, 1822, died at Bristol, R. I .; Jesse B., born May

T-

1 t

er p

18 H

Te H

799

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

27, 1824, died at Stockton, Wis .; John, born July 8, 1826, resided in Stockton for a time, later re- moved to Vermont, and died there ; La Fayette, born July 17, 1828, died in Coventry, R. I .; Peleg A., was born July 3. 1830 ; Daniel, born Nov. 29, 1832, died at Bristol, R. I. ; Elizabeth, born July 29, 1835, married (first) Thomas P. Bowler, and (second) Darius Phillips, and is now a widow, living at Bristol.

Peleg A. Dawley was born in the town of Cov- entry, R. I., and was afforded very limited school opportunities. At the age of seven years he went to work in the Harris factory, at a time when four of his older brothers were employed there, and the combined wages of the four boys was $2 per week, this amount being paid to the father for their board. The length of a working day in the factory was, in the summer season, from early morning until late evening, or as long as the work people could see without artificial light, beginning about daylight and not finishing before eight o'clock. Those were long before the days of child labor laws, and smack unpleasantly of the grinding of human flesh and the stunting of bodies and minds. Peleg remained at home until the age of seventeen, when he went to Providence, and was there employed for a year as caretaker of some property belonging to some maiden ladies. He then apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter's trade, with the firm of Rice & Dawley, one of the members being his brother Jesse. His wages were $30 per year and board. He was apt in picking up the trade and soon was able to do as much work as his masters. After four months he went to Warwick, R. I., where he was employed for some eighteen months, until 1851, in which year he came to Colchester, in the employ of a Mr. Smith, who engaged him to erect a house for his uncle, Deacon Thomas L. Smith. He remained in Colchester about three years, and then went to Jacksonville, Ill., where he remained from April to November, 1854. While there he worked at his trade and assisted in the construction of several of the public buildings of that place.

In November, 1854, Mr. Dawley went to Stock- ton, Portage Co., Wis., where two of his brothers resided, a large part of the trip being made by stage. He remained in the West and Northwest about six years, upon his return to Colchester being employed at his trade until his enlistinent in Com- pany C. 24th Connecticut Volunteers, in August. 1861, umder Capt. A. G. Fitch and Col. Mansheld. Ile enlisted for the nine months' service and the regiment was sent to the vicinity of New Orleans, He participated in the siege of Port Hudson and in the engagement at Irish Bend, between New Or- leans and Port Hudson. After the latter place sifr- rendered the regiment was located for about six weeks on Ship Island, and then proceeded to New Orleans and did garrison duty until ordered home and discharged, in September, 1803, at Middletown, Conn. After his return from the army Mr. Daw ley

continued working at his trade of carpenter until about 1869, when he entered the employ of P. R. Strong, who conducted a furniture and undertaking business, and remained with him until 1874. when he purchased the business. He remodeled the orig- inal store building and later erected a fine business and tenement block adjoining. In 1890 he took his only son into partnership, and the firm is the well known one of P. A. Dawley & Son. They carry a well selected line of furniture and are also engaged in the undertaking business.

Mr. Dawley was married ( first ) in Colchester to Elizabeth H., daughter of James Otis. of Colches- ter, and she died April 24, 1874. aged forty-two years. The children of this marriage were Charles H. and Rebecca Grace. The latter born June 14, 1858, at Stockton, Wis., married James S. Case, a traveling salesman, resides at Colchester, and has had these children: Amos, Robert ( deceased ). Elizabeth (deceased). Frank. George, James, and Charles and Joseph D. (both deceased ). Mr. Daw- ley married for his second wife Eliza A. Cary, a na- tive of Lewiston. Maine, daughter of Samuel Cary. and they have two children, Florence Isabella and Josephine Amelia.

Mr. Dawley takes but little interest in political matters. He votes the Republican ticket on na- tional issues, but in local affairs supports the best man. He is a member of the Baptist Church. hav- ing united with the same at Stevens Point, Wis. Ile is a kind-hearted, pleasant man, and is held in the highest esteem by all. He has accumulated a large property, entirely through his own efforts.

Charles H. Dawley was born July 30. 1856, at Stockton, Wis., and was an infant when his parents returned to Connecticut. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Colchester and at Bacon Academy. In young manhood he worked at the carpenter's trade and at factory work until April, 1874, when he entered the employ of his father, who had lately acquired the business above mentioned. He continued in his father's employ until 1890. when he became a partner and the firm assumed the name by which it is still known

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

Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 180

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