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 191

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 191

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James, Jonathan and Elizabeth, all born between the years 1640 and 1658.

(II) Samuel Rogers, eldest son of James and Elizabeth (Rowland) Rogers, born Dec. 12, 1640, at Stratford, Conn., married Oct. 17, 1664, Mary, daughter of Thomas Stanton and Ann Lord, daugh- ter of Thomas Lord, of Hartford. A contract was made by the respective parents of the young couple by which each side pledged £200 as a marriage portion. In fulfillment of his part of the contract, James Rogers conveyed to his son his stone house and bakery at the head of Winthrop's Cove, where the young people commenced housekeeping. After a few years, however, they moved to land outside the town, in the vicinity of the Mohegan tribe of In- dians, and became the first English settlers within the limits of the present town of Montville. Samuel Rogers was twice married, as appears by his last will, executed Dec. 8, 1712, in which he gives his "beloved wife, Johanna, all she needs." He died Dec. I. 1713, and was buried in the old Rogers burying-ground, on the farm where he had lived, which was afterward owned by Oliver Baker. His children, all born in New London, between the years 1665 and 1680, were: Daniel, Mary, Samuel, Eliza- beth, Sarah and Jonathan.

(III) Daniel Rogers, eldest son of Samuel and Mary (Stanton) Rogers, born in New London about 1665, married, in 1702, Grace, daughter of Thomas Williams. He was a farmer, and inherited from his father a large tract of land in the North Parish of New London, now Montville. From time to time he purchased other land, several deeds to him, dating from 1727 to 1765, being in the posses- sion of his descendants. They also have deeds from him to his sons, one dated Jan. 24, 1753, to his son Thomas, another, dated April 16, 1771, in which "for the consideration of love, goodwill and fatherly affection I have and do bear unto my well beloved sons, Alpheus Rogers and Thomas Rogers," he con- veys to these sons certain lands near to, and includ- ing the homestead. The house in which he lived at the time of his death was on the south side of the highway leading from the Congregational meeting- house in Montville to Houghton's Cove, a short dis- tance south of the present residence of. Augustus A. Parker. He died about 1771, at the age of one hundred and five. It is said that "his appearance in the last years of his life was that of a venerable old man, his long gray hair covering his shoulders, and when seen in the fields without hat upon his head, which was his usual custom, he had the appearance of an old prophet." His children, all born in the North Parish of New London, now Montville, be- tween the years 1703 and 1713, were: Grace, Mary, Daniel, Alpheus and Thomas.

(IV) Alpheus Rogers, born about 1710, second son of Daniel and Grace (Williams) Rogers, mar- rel, Jan. 31, 1745, Delight, daughter of James Harris. Alpneus Rogers was a farmer and settled on land in New Salem Society inherited from his

John B Ragers

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father. He died Feb. 12, 1779, his wife surviving him until March 10, 1783. Their children, all born between the years 1745 and 1759, in New Salem Society, were as follows: (1) Sarah, who was the second wife of Seth W. Holmes, a physician ; (2) Jehial, born Jan. 3, 1747, who married Amy Vibber ; (3) Alpheus, who became a physician ; (4) Grace, born in 1754, who died, unmarried, in 1773: (5) Asa, who married Hannah Harris ; and (6) James, who was a deacon in the Baptist Church at Col- chester, Connecticut.

(V) Jehial Rogers, eldest son of Alpheus and Delight ( Harris) Rogers, married, about 1775. Amy, daughter of Nathaniel Vibber and Desire Brown. Jehial Rogers settled in Montville, on the farm now owned by Augustus A. Parker. He was a devout man, and one highly esteemed by his fel- low citizens. He was a deacon in the Baptist Church of which Elder Reuben Palmer was pastor. He died in Montville Dec. 4. 1815, and his wife passed away Aug. 1I, 1827. Their children, all born in Montville, were as follows: (1) Grace, born Sept. II, 1776, who died March 13, 1797: (2) Sarah, born Sept. 30, 1778, who married Nathaniel Parish, of Montville : (3) Desire, born Jan. 5, 1781, who married Dec. 16, 1804, Jesse Jerome : (4) Al- pheus, born July 10, 1784, who married Deborah Walker (they lived and died in Salem, Conn.) ; (5) Amy, born Aug. 1, 1786, who married Azel Gardner, and lived in Bozrah; (6) Delight, born May 17. 1789, who died unmarried Aug. 25, 1827 ; (7) John Brown, subject of this sketch, born March 27, 1793, who married (first) Nancy Maples, and ( second) Elizabeth Jane Scholfield ; and (8) Ama C., born Dec. 26, 1794, who married Erastus Gard- ner, and died in Bozrah.

(VI) John Brown Rogers, second son of Jehial and Amy ( Vibber) Rogers, received his education in the Montville district schools. When quite young he left the school room and began farming, an ocen- pation to which he devoted his life, becoming a rec- ognized authority in his community in that branch of industry. He lived on the old homestead at Montville until 1847, when he moved to a farm near Scholfield's factory, which he had purchased in 1837 of the heirs of Daniel F. Raymond. This farm of 160 acres he always kept in a high state of cultiva- tion, and on it he built the house in which his widow and daughter now reside. Mr. Rogers was a stanch Republican and for years look an active in- terest in town affairs. For many years he heldl the office of town treasurer, and during the Civil war had charge of the town funds. He was a member of the board of selectmen for several years, and held other honorable and responsible town offices, also representing his town one year in the General Is sembly.

the following children: (1) William James, born Dec. 31, 1818, died unmarried in 1877. in Montville. He was a farmer and also a blacksmith, and carried on a carriage making and blacksmithing business. He was at first located at Montville Center, and later was in partnership with his brother, Elisha M., near Trading Cove, near the Norwich town line. (2) Elisha Maples, born May 18, 1824. now lives re- tired in Norwich. Until 1862 he and his brother. William James, were in partnership in Montville Center. After that they opened a carriage making and repairing shop at Trading Cove, which. after the death of his brother. Elisha Maples, continued to conduct until 1883, when he retired from busi- ness. During his residence in Montville he held several town offices, and was the Republican repre- sentative of the town in the State Legislature in 1852. He married Amy Jerome Gardner, danghter of Azel and Amy ( Rogers) Gardner, of Montville. She died in September, 1893. Their one child was Jennie M .. who married Edward F. Burlingame, of Providence, R. 1 .. now a grocer in Norwich. She (lied in June, 1903, leaving the following children- Amy F., John R., James E. and Harriet E.

John Brown Rogers married (second ) March 24, 1852, Elizabeth Jane Scholfield, who was born June 16, 1822, in Waterford, Conn., daughter . i James and Anna ( Comstock) Scholfield. To this second union came one daughter, Anna Fhza- beth, born Jan. 26, 1865. She is unmarried and lives at home with her mother. She is a member of the Second Baptist Church of Waterford, and takes an active part in religious work.

Mr. Rogers was a member of the Gardnertown Methodist Church, of which he was a Iberal sup- porter. His death, which occurred Oct. 9. 1970. removed one of Montville's best known and most highly honored citizens. He was a very energetic persevering and industrious man, quiet and mmas simning in manner, deliberate in forming an option. but tenacious in holding to it. A profound thinker, and a man of broad views, his opinion was often sought and his advice gladly followed He had in abhorrence of deception in any form, and was known as a man of street honesty in all Ins dealing-

FRANK GURDON KEENEY, now retired. was for many years one of the successful while site Seafood commission merchants im Fulton Market. New York, through carcial and conservative bist ness methods amassing a gowell competence, The new spends his winters in New York and his summers Waterford, New London 200. Com on the old homestead im

Land's old and tune leausted taumiles, which tellins

Mr. Rogers married (first ) Jan. 15. 1818, Names Maples, who was born April 21, 1700, and ded Jan of hund were unike In the townsmen ut New len 8, 1849, in Montville, daughter of Andrew and Eunice (Congdon) Maples, To this imon came Toist in costs of Musiken in the me

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Cape Ann. This colony was led by Richard Blinman, who for eight years had been the min- ister of the Gloucester Church. His party was com- posed of Obediah Bruen, Hugh Caulkin, Hugh Roberts, John Coite, Andrew Lester, James Averye and Robert Isabel. Mr. Blinman had previously agreed to be minister in Pequot (New London). About this same time William Keeney, Ralph Parker and John Elderkin had grants of land at Pequot, and all, probably, says Miss Caulkins, i in her history of New London, Conn., belonged to the Cape Ann party. Early in 1651 New Street in New London was opened in the rear of the town plot for the ac- commodation of the Cape Ann Company; it took the name of Cape Ann Lane. Of the nine lots-six acres each-on New Street, William Keeney's was nearly opposite the south entrance of this street on the Nahantick road. Mr. Keeney was aged sixty- one years in 1662, and his wife, Agnes or Annie, was at that time aged sixty-three years. He died in 1675. His daughter Susanna, who married Ralph Parker, in 1662, was aged thirty-four; another daughter, Mary, who married Samuel Beebe, twen- ty-two ; and John, a son was aged twenty-one years.

John Keeney, son of William, married in Octo- ber, 1661, Sarah, daughter of William Douglas. She died Aug. 4, 1689, leaving one daughter, Su- sanna, who was born Sept. 6, 1662, and married Ezekiel Turner. Mr. Keeney was twice married after the death of his first wife, and had five daughters and one son, John Keeney. John Keeney, Sr., died Feb. 3, 1716, on the Keeney land, that of his ancestors, at Nahantick, which land afterward was divided into three or four farms. Along about this time the Palmers, the Caulkinses, the Prentices and the Keeneys resided on adjoining farms, and for a considerable period occupied a district by themselves around the site of the present, or late, Rope Ferry and Millstone Point. About this time one William Keeney was captain of a vessel. Be- tween 1660-64 the barque "Hopewell" was con- structed for William Keeney, by the firm of Mould & Coit. It was a vessel of from ten to twenty tons, and was built at a cost of from fifty to eighty pounds.

William Keeney, the great-grandfather of Frank G., George A., J. William, Griswold I. and Allen F. Keeney, was born in New Lon- don in 1752, and died in Waterford, in 1837, aged eighty-five years. He was a shoe-maker by trade, which he followed in connection with farming all his life. He married (first) a Miss Moore; (sec- ond) Mary Chappell ; (third) Widow Naomi Dar- row ; and (fourth) Widow Mary Stewart. The latter two were sisters, their maiden names being Caulkins. He became the father of several chil- dren, among them being

John Keeney, grandfather of Frank G. and George A., who was born in New London (now Waterford), and died in East Lyme in 1853, aged

seventy-one years. He was engaged in farming all his life. He was a good-sized man, well-propor- tioned, but had contracted a hip disease which made him quite lame. He possessed a genial nature, was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him, and was very industrious. In his political views Mr. Keeney was a stanch Jeffersonian Democrat. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jor- dan. John Keeney married Eliza Darrow, who was born in 1800, and died in East Lyme, in 1860, aged sixty years. Their children were: (1) John William, the father of Frank G. and George A., is mentioned below. (2) Allen Augustus, who mar- ried Elizabeth S. Moore, was engaged in farming in East Lyme, on the old homestead farm at the head of the Niantic river, until the spring of 1904, when he retired, selling his farm to his nephew, Frank G. Keeney. This farm has been in the pos- session of the Keeney family for about 250 years. (3) Francis Darrow died in Sacramento City, Cal., at the age of fifty years, unmarried. He was a ship carpenter by trade. When about twenty-five years of age he went to California, and was there engaged in teaming. (4) Sarah, who never mar- ried, died in East Lyme.

John William Keeney, father of Frank G. and George A., was born in Waterford, Conn., Oct. 16, 1817, and died there Feb. 7, 1892, aged seventy- five years and three months. He always carried on farming in Waterford, his native town, with the exception of four years, which he spent in Cal- ifornia, engaged in teaming. He went to Cali- fornia, in 1855, returning home in 1859. Mr. Keeney possessed a rugged constitution and en- joyed excellent health, and was an industrious and thrifty man. In disposition he was genial and pleasant, and as a result made many warm friends. He was a good, kind and generous neighbor, and was highly respected by the entire community. In political faith he was a stanch Democrat, but al- ways refused political offices. He was a member of the Lake's Pond Baptist Church, to the support of which he gave liberally, and had been instrumental in helping found this church, of which his father- in-law, Rev. Gurdon T. Chappell, was the prime founder and pastor for many years.

John William Keeney married Frances Ann Chappell, who was born in Waterford, Nov. 19, 1819, and died there Dec. 25, 1898, aged seventy- nine years. Their children were: (1) John W., Jr., born Jan. 7, 1842, died in Waterford in Sep- tember, 1901. He had conducted a general store there for many years. He married (first) Abby Caulkins, and (second) Jennie E. West. (2) Frank G., born Jan. 19, 1844, is mentioned below. (3) Griswold I., born Jan. 2, 1851, is engaged in the wholesale fish business in Fulton Market, New York, in partnership with Benjamin Wallace, under the firm name of Wallace & Keeney. He married Fannie Nugent, of Brooklyn, N. Y. (4) Allen F. died in infancy. (5) George A., born Nov. 12,

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1859, is also engaged in the wholesale fish business in Fulton Market, New York, in partnership with Hiram Burnet, under the firm name of Burnet & Keeney. He married Lizzie A. Luce, of East Lyme, Connecticut.

Frank Gurdon Keeney was born Jan. 19, 1844, in Waterford, Conn., and received his education in the district schools of his native town, leaving school at the age of seventeen years. It was his intention to take up medicine as a profession and he studied with Dr. Green, a botanical doctor of Waterford, for one year. The medical profession did not, however, appeal to his tastes, as he pre- ferred a business career. Consequently he went to New York, and became a clerk in the retail fish market of his uncle, George A. Chappell, in Brook- lyn. At the end of one year.he bought the business and conducted the same successfully for about five years, at the end of which time he sold out to his brother, Griswold I. Keeney. He then established himself in the milk business, receiving his product, which amounted to 1,000 quarts per day, from Orange county, N. Y. This business he conducted for four years, when he sold it out. Mr. Keeney then embarked in a wholesale fish and sea-food business in Fulton Market, New York, being lo- cated at No. 146 Beekman street. He was alone at first, later forming a partnership with his broth- er. George A., who acted as bookkeeper for him at first. They carried on the business under the firm name of F. G. Keeney & Co., and continued thus for about thirty years. In this business Mr. Keeney was very successful, and through strict attention to business, and honorable and upright dealings, he accumulated a goodly competence. In 1901 he sold out the business, and has since lived retired. his time now being occupied in looking after his real-estate holdings, which comprise a number of valuable houses in Brooklyn, and large landed inter- ests in Waterford and East Lyme. In 1899 Mr. Keeney purchased the old homestead farm in Wa- terford, consisting of 325 acres, bordering on the banks of the Niantic river, and here he .and his wife spend their summers in comfort and well- earned case and rest. In the spring of 1024 Mr. Keeney with his brother, Griswold 1 .. purchased the Allen A. Keeney farm, of 150 acres, locate 1 at the head of the Niantic river in the town of Fast Lome. This latter farm has been in the possession of the Keeney family for about 250 years.

In political faith Mr. Keeney is a stanch Roppb lican, and a strong adherent of the principles of that party. He is a member of the Washington Avenue Baptist church, of Brooklyn, and his es- timable wife is also a member of that congress tion, as well as of the various ladies' so iges of the church, and is much devoted to all kinds of religious work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Keenes are hlsal aul generous supporters of all religions and worth Ca11ses.

Mr. Keeney was married. Jan. 12. 1875. to Car- rie Robinson, daughter of Moses and Maria A. Robinson. of Brooklyn. N. Y. No children have been born to this union.

Throughout his business career Mr. Keeney was a keen, far-seeing business man, and possessed to a marked degree that shrewd conservatism often characteristic of enterprising and successful busi- ness men. He and his wife are generous, charitable and benevolent people, the kind of citizens who are always a credit and benefit to the communities in which they reside. Their charities have been numerous and frequent, and many are those who have received aid from their ever willing hands.

GEORGE AVERY KEENEY, one of the most suc- cessful wholesale Fish and Sea-Food Commission Merchants of New York, came from a good, sturdy New England ancestry. His success in life is due to progressive ideas, enterprising and conservative business methods.

George A. Keeney, son of John W. and Frances Ann (Chappell) Keeney, was born Nov. 12. 1850. in Waterford. at the old homestead, near the East Lyme town line. His carly schooling was obtained in the district schools of East Lyme, the adjoining town, and was supplemented by a course in a pri- vate school of East Lyme taught by Miss Charlotte Reynolds. Until he was twenty-one years of age. he remained upon the home farm, but his inclina- tions being for a business career rather than that of farming, and being offered the position of back- keeper with his brother, Frank G., in New York. he made the change, remaining in that capacity for one year. His abilities as a bookkeeper were soon recognized by Chappell & Storer, the large retal fish and sea-food dealers in Washington Market. and he accepted the position of bookkeeper offered him by that firm, which was a very responsible m. In this capacity he remained for one year, when he again became associated in the same capaci von his brother, Frank Ge and after four vers selv with him, purchased a half interest in the De wholesale fish and sea- fre I busines unt lies Filter. the firm being F. G. Keeney & Co Hes well cated at No. 130 Beckman street . kelley and his brother continued very se cechy at the bu iness until foot, when they sofort tool D. Luce & Co Mr. Kene wholesale fish and sea fool billetes . prere 10

& co. and Since that them las hio y sost afully que- god in the busines. 100 ve a Une Hiram Bundes, the mma 100% lame limier &

Fish Market, Ves Son

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

membership with the Grace Methodist Church, of Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Keeney are both liberal supporters of all religious and benevolent work. In political faith Mr. Keeney is an adherent of the principles of the Republican party, but he is not at all partisan.

Mr. Keeney was married, Dec. 7, 1885, to Liz- zie Allen Luce, daughter of Capt. Edward and Julia E. (Beckwith) Luce, of East Lyme, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeney haye been born three bright and promising chil- dren : Mildred Luce, born July 13, 1891; Edward Avery, Aug. 16, 1895 ; and Frank Griswold, Nov. 17, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Keeney reside in a pleas- ant home, at No. 405 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, N. Y., where they enjoy the acquaintance of a large host of friends.

Mr. Keeney is a progressive business man, and possessed of those traits of character that command the respect and confidence of his customers and business associates.

JOHN F. SHERMAN, a highly respected citi- zen and successful farmer residing on Babcock Hill, in the town of Lebanon, comes of old Rhode Island ancestry.

Godfrey Sherman, his grandfather, was a farmer by occupation, and resided at Exeter, R. I. He died there in advanced age, survived a number of years by his wife.

Noyes Sherman, father of our subject, was one of a family of three boys and three girls, and he was born in 1809, in Rhode Island. His entire life was spent in that State where the years of his early life passed at farm labor. After his marriage he lived on rented land in Exeter and South Kingston, and in the'latter town he owned a small farm and died there in 1846. He married Fanny Burdick, of South Kingston, daughter of Jared Burdick, and she died also in South Kingston, survived by these children : Jared, who was employed as a section hand on the railroad at East Greenwich, R. I., and was killed by the cars at the age of nineteen years ; Thomas, who married Kate Sweet; and is a farmer at South Kingston ; John F .; Mary, who is the wife of Phil- lips Babcock, and resides at East Greenwich, R. I .; Welcome, who married Abby Pray, and is a farmer in South Kingston ; Daniel P., who married (first) Abby Webster, and (second) Anna Cranston, and who was a farmer until his death at Franklin, Con- necticut.

John F. Sherman was born June 26, 1833, at South Kingston, R. I., and there his early life was spent. As his father died when he was but a lad, he was obliged to leave school very early and assist in the maintenance of the family. The tragic death also of his eldest brother, made a heavier burden to fall on his young shoulders, but he bravely did the best he could, although his hard work on the farm brought him but $3.50 per month with board,

during the summer seasons. During the winters, with his brothers, he worked in the woods and earned all they could, gladly turning over their money to their mother. For nine seasons, or until about twenty-three years old, Mr. Sherman worked out from home, and then took charge of the home farm. This contained but ten acres, and to this he added twenty-five, cultivating his land until he took up arms in defense of his country. In September, 1862, he enlisted from South Kingston, R. I., in Co. K, 12th R. I. V. I., under Col. George H. Brown. The regiment saw service in Virginia and Kentucky, and participated in a number of engagements, the principal one being the battle of Fredericksburg. After a little over ten months of service, the regi- ment was discharged at Providence, R. I., and he returned to the home farm.

Mr. Sherman remained on the home estate until Nov. 13, 1864, when he removed to Jamestown, on Conanicut Island, R. I., where he took charge of a large farm and remained some six years, remov- ing then to Newport for two years, after which he returned to Jamestown. In December, 1881, eight years later, he removed to the farm he now occupies, which he had purchased two years previously. This property was formerly owned by Mr. Sherman's uncle, Whitman Sherman, who, at death willed it to our subject and his brothers and sisters. Mr. Sherman bought the interests of the other heirs, being obliged to go into debt for part, but he soon discharged all obligations. Since locating on it he has made many substantial improvements in the way of erecting new outbuildings, fencing and . draining, and now owns one of the most desirable eighty-acre farms in this part of the town. He car- ries on general farming and dairying, and is justly considered one of the most prosperous farmers in the locality.

Mr. Sherman was united in marriage at East Greenwich, R. I., to Eliza Ann Shearman, born Oct. 14, 1836, at Exeter, R. I., daughter of Josiah and Honor (Larkin) Shearman. Her death took place Nov. 25, 1899, in Lebanon, and she was buried at Windham. The children of this marriage were as follows : Nellie F., born Dec. 16, 1865, died May 2, 1872; John Frank, born Sept. 10, 1868, and now a farmer in Windham, married Clara Larkin, and they have two daughters, Marjorie Ellen (born May 13, 1901), and Lucy Eliza (born in November, 1902) ; Lucy Ann, born March 8, 1870, married James H. Stivers, a grocer at Stonington, Conn .; Isaac, born Oct. 5, 1873, married Mary Wells, and they reside in Westerly, Rhode Island.

In politics Mr. Sherman is a Republican, but he has never sought public office. He attends the services of the Baptist Church, and contributes lib- erally to its support. Entirely self-made. he is one of the honest, hard-working, responsible men of Lebanon who so worthily represent its very best element.

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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 191

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