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 199

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 199

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Chief Greeneberg became a member of the fire department in 1857, when he joined the Niagara Engine Company, of which he became assistant foreman in 1868. In 1871 he was made foreman, and after serving in that capacity a little more than a year was in 1872 elected assistant engineer of the

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

artment. This important position he held con. tinuously for eighteen years, and upon the death of · late Joseph B. Carrier was elected chief in his id. On Nov. 10, 1872, Mr. Greeneberg, then as- tant engineer under D. A. Delanoy, accompanie 1 't portion of the Norwich fire department that ant to the assistance of the Boston fire department " ring the great fire in that city, the detachment nsisting of 120 men, the steamer Wauregan No. Delanoy steamer No. 5, and three hose carts. In : 87, while assistant engineer, Mr. Greeneberg was shown the esteem in which he was held by the de- partment and the fire commissioners, by being pre- sented with a silver trumpet which was inscribed as follows : "Presented to First Assistant Louis W. Greeneberg, by the Fire Commissioners, officers and members of the fire department of the city of Nor- wich, Conn., Oct. 3, 1887." On Feb. 22, 1888, he won a trumpet in a voting contest, for the most popular assistant engineer of Norwich.

Chief Greeneberg resigned from the department in July, 1901, and his decision to leave caused much sorrow, as he was a most efficient and popular officer, and a very brave and courageous man. During his eleven years of service as chief he never lost a day from duty because of illness.

Throughout his busy life Mr. Greeneberg has been provident, and is now well-to-do. He lives retired at his pleasant home on Division street, which he erected in 1874, when there were but few houses in that vicinity. Mr: Greeneberg married in Nor- wich, in April 1866, Miss Lina Reiss, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., a daughter of Jeremiah and Christina Reiss, natives of Germany. Mr. Reiss came to Norwich in 1849, and there passed the rest of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Greeneberg have had two children : William L., who holds a responsible

position with Preston Brothers, of Norwich ; and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mrs. Greene berg is a member of the Universalist Church. Mr. Greeneberg is independent in politics, and votes for the best men and principles without regard for the party supporting them. He is a charter member of the Lodge of Elks.

EUGENE K. BECKWITH, one of the success. ful men of Niantic, Conn., was born at East Lyme. near Flanders, March 5, 1847, son of John 1 .. Beck- with, also born in East Lyme, in May, 1816, and died in 1885, aged sixty-nine years.

Ezra Beckwith, grandfather of our subject, was a resident of Flanders in East Lyme, and his house was opposite the Baptist Church in that place. Bv occupation he was a ship builder at the head of the river, and was well known as a good workman. In religious views he was a consistent Baptist

John L. Beckwith spent his carly school days in East Lyme, learning the carpenter's trade mudei John Bishop in New London. He followed his trade the greater portion of his life in East Lavme. but during his latter years he resided in Niantic,

having a shop on Pennsylvania avenue. On June 6, 1839, he was married in East Lyme to Lois Harris Comstock, sister of John J. Comstock, Sr. The children born of this union were: Emma 1 ... of North Adams, Mass., who married V. A. Whittaker. and has one child. Ezra Douglass: Raymond Com- stock, of Niantic, Conn. : Eugene Kincaid. Like his father, John L. Beckwith was a member of the Baptist Church : in politics he was a Whig. a strony Abolitionist and later a Republican. In addition to holding many local offices, he represented his party and town in the State Legislature, and was also active in business lite until the day of his death. and was honored and respected by a large circle of friends.

Eugene K. Beckwith was educated in District No. 8. of East Lyme, and as his first business es. perience clerked for two years in a crockery and grocery store in New London. He learned Is trade with his father, and after two years went to Hart- ford. and worked for Erastus Phelps and James T. Porter for five years, returning in 1874. to hast Lyme, since which time he has been engaged in several lines, making this town his home. For years he worked for his father, but in ISSo he began contracting and building in the southwestern part of New London county.

On Dec. 3. 1808, Mr. Beckwith was married 1 Waterford, Conn., to Emma 1. Vatrons, daughter of Hubbard 1. and Harriet 1. (Strickland W.it- rous. Their children are as follows born Aug. 6. 1800, married Elizabeth Damals, and resides in Niantic, Conn .: they have the for wine family : Ethel 1 .. Phyllis E .. and Ivan W Harry. born Sept. 19. 1872, died im August, 1822 Tient min S., born Sept. 9. 1873, 15 m the freight ale el the Consolidated road of Hartford, Conn Engor. born March 21, 1875, died in September 1875 llarry 1 .. , born March 12. 1850, a resident @ Mot dleboro, Mass., married Lena Bryant, lohn 1 was born Max 12, 1881 R Rosee, was born De 13. 1882.

Mr. Beckwith is a member at U'nin |120 Flanders, of which he was the first teammelhor 117 has been active in town affairs repres dans les lavme in the State Legislature in IMped 1991 during which umie he served on the committee on Claims. He has also been assessor on the towie

the town of bast Lyme hib iists auf way ojos cated in District No & Heleaned his uncle carpenter with his father and ler alesit Tour wyare worked at his trade in Bible pert long Hernan To1 11 1 Morchense for a fils Wantte he wentke I will be rather ninll 10 wiesch im ISS En twelve very he has been estrellas of the state camp at Mantic Con and ales en gages in the carphen lesmes at Vest Beck with has lach a grant joner and TOCHCE of

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

zen. Fraternally he is a member of the A. O. U. W., having joined that order in 1890, and for thir- teen years has been recorder of the order.

At Black Rock, in the town of Fairfield, Mr. Beckwith married Sarah Esther Rew, daughter of Edward Thomas and Mary Jane ( Olmstead ) Rew, he a native of Washington, N. C., and she of Norwalk, Conn. The grandmother of Mrs. Beck- with on her mother's side was the oldest member of the Congregational Church at Norwalk, at the time of her death. Mr. and Mrs. Beckwith had one son, who died at birth.

CHARLES W. LAMB, of Mystic, is a de- scendant of one of the old families of New London county, and one that has been settled in what is now Ledyard for many generations.

Samuel W. Lamb, born in Ledyard, married, Sept. 16, 1798, Eleanor Packer, and both were of Groton, Conn. Their children were: Alfred, born Aug. 20, 1799 ; Eliza, born Feb. 28, 1801 ; James C., born Sept. 10, 1802, died Nov. 22, 1804: Joseph P., born Nov. 24, 1805, died Dec. 15, 1882 ; Harriet, born Sept. 20, 1807 ; Daniel W., born Nov. 13, 1809 ; Hannah P., born Dec. 15, 1811. The occupation of the father of this family was that of farming, and he made his home at Rome, New York.

(II) Joseph P. Lamb, son of Samuel W., mar- ried Nancy Beebe Halsey, who was born Aug. 30, 1812, daughter of Capt. Jesse Halsey, of Sag Har- bor, L. I. ; she died Feb. 20, 1889. They had chil- dren as follows: (I) Laura, born Nov. 23, 1835, married at Kinderhook, N. Y., Charles E. Packer, of Mystic, who for thirty years followed the sea. and was captain of vessels of the Mallory line, but who for the past twenty years has been living re- tired. Their children are: Halsey, born April 13, 1864; Charles C., born March 28, 1869; and Addie L., born June II, 1870, married Edward S. Okie. (2) Charles W. was born Jan. 5. 1837. (3) Maria E., born Oct. 20, 1838, is the widow of William S. Okie, of Jersey City, N. J. (4) Edmund, born Oct. 5. 1844, died in February, 1845. (5) Daniel W., born Oct. 15, 1846, married Julia Eldridge, and their children were: Joseph C., born Sept. 18, 1871 ; Robert D., born Dec. 4, 1876; Laura M., born Dec. 12, 1891.

(III) Charles Wightman Lamb, son of Joseph P., was born at Sag Harbor, L. I., Jan. 5. 1837. His early days were passed in his native town, where he received an excellent education in the public schools, also attending a free academy in New York City. He then applied himself, and learned the builder's trade with his father, after which he spent a year in the West, but later became manager of the William H. Colwell & Co. lumber yard, and sub- sequently of the James W. Colwell yard at Mott Haven, N. Y., continuing to hold that responsible position for many years.

Mr. Lamb was also engaged in the coal busi- ness in New York City, although during the decade

he was thus engaged he made his home principally at Mystic, preferring it to the noisy city. Mr. Lamb has always taken a deep interest in local affairs, and during his residence in New York was a mem- ber of the Metropolitan Fire Department, thus con- tinuing until the establishment of a paid fire de- partment.

In 1859 Mr. Lamb was married, at Stockport, N. Y., to Lucy Benjamin, and the children born of this marriage were : William and Adelaide both died young. Edwin L. married Louisa H. Crandall, by whom he had two children, Charles (who died in infancy) and Leslie Edwin. Edwin L. Lamb was associated with his father in the coal business in New York City, and there his death occurred. Charles D., the youngest of the family, died young.

Mr. Lamb is a member of the Union Baptist Church of Mystic, in which he is a trustee. He is one of the reliable, substantial men of the place, and is an excellent representative of the solid New Eng- land men, of long descent from the early Colonists. in whose hearts was born the love of home and country which resulted finally in the establishment and development of the greatest nation in the world.

EDWIN HOXIE KNOWLES, M. D., one of the most prominent citizens of North Stonington and an eminent member of the medical profession, was born Feb. 18, 1842, in Smithfield, R. I., son of Dr. John Hoxie, and grandson of John Knowles.

Dr. John Hoxie Knowles was born in Rich- mond, R. I., and passed his boyhood at Hopkinton and Richmond. He studied medicine with Dr. Isaac Collins, his future father-in-law. He first engaged in practice in Washington, R. I., and then at Burrillville, later at Exeter and still later at Westerly, R. I. In 1863 he gave up practice and moved to Voluntown, Conn., where he resided with his son John M., but passed the last ten years of his life at Hopkinton with his daughter, Mrs. Mary S. Collins. He married Catherine Eliza Collins, who died in Hopkinton, who, like himself, was a Quaker in religious belief and observance. Their children were: William C. died aged twenty-two years ; Henry G., of San Francisco, Cal., served in the Civil war, and was incarcerated in Libby Prison ; Eliza A., deceased, married Daniel Gardner, of Exeter, R. I .; Mary S., born in Hopkinton, R. I., married Gilbert L. Collins ; Emeline L. became Mrs. Briggs, of Providence, R. I .; John M., a farmer and mason builder, died at Cranston, R. I .; Isaac C. served as assistant surgeon at Eckington Hos- pital during the war, and d'ed at Old Point Com- fort : and Edwin Hoxie. While living at Exeter, Dr. John H. Knowles took a prominent part in poli- tics, and was widely known in his profession.

Dr. Edwin Hoxie Knowles was educated at Smithfield and Exeter, R. I. At the age of nineteen years, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, at Providence, R. I., on the day after the battle of

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Bull Run, and was sworn in Aug. 8, 1861, a mem- ber of Company B, Ist Rhode Island Light Artil- lery, and served until the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 14, 1862, where he was severely wounded in the left thigh. He was confined for two weeks at Falmouth Field Hospital, for six weeks at the Lin- coln General Hospital, and was sent home on a fur- lough for thirty days, but was obliged to return to Lincoln Hospital, and was subsequently sent to Convalescent Camp, Virginia. In the spring of 1863 he was honorably discharged, having almost given his life for his country.

The young soldier returned to Westerly and began the study of medicine with his father, and during the winters of 1864-5 attended lectures at the Homeopathic College in New York City. He then filled a clerical position in Potter, Champlin & Spicer's drug store in Mystic, for one year, and three years in Potter's drug store in Stonington. Opening then a drug store of his own at Westerly. he conducted it for ten years, when he sold it and went to Philadelphia, where he attended medical lectures, and received his degree. In the spring of 1878 he came to Stonington, and has since been engaged in active practice, having built up an envia- ble reputation in the science of medicine.

Aside from his profession, Dr. Knowles is very . prominently identified with the men and affairs of this part of New London county. He is a promi- nent Mason, being raised to degree of Master Mason in Asylum Lodge, at Stonington, is a mem- ber of Palmer Chapter at Pawcatuck, Howard Council, and Narragansett Commandery at West- erly, and is now a member of Pawcatuck Lodge, F. & A. M. He belongs to Hancock Post, G. A. R., was a charter member, and was commander of Bud- long Post during the first two years of that post's existence. Since the establishment of post surgeon he has filled the office for New London county, has been medical examiner since the county coroner's office was established, and has been health officer of North Stonington since that office was made.

Politically Dr. Knowles is a Republican, and he has been chairman of the Republican town com- mittee since the death of Thomas Clark. He is also one of the substantial men of this section, is president of the Pawcatuck National Bank, which is now winding up its affairs, and is also president of the Pawcatuck People's Savings Bank.

On March 28, 1865. Dr. Knowles was married at Nesquepaug, R. L., to Mary Elizabeth Champlin. daughter of George W. and Esther Champlin of Wakefield, R. I., later of Pawcatuck. R. I. They had two children : (1) William Hovic, born Ml. 24, 1866, is a dentist at Baltimore, Md. : he married Catherine Robertson, and has one child. James Robertson. (2) Charles Edwin, born Det. 8, 1808. died Oct. 6. 1891, in North Stonington, he was . young man of the greatest promise, and had a wide circle of personal and business friends. He had taken a course in Pharmacy in New York ( II), 11.1. then connected with a drug store in Willimantic, and

was later employed at Nicholas & Harris' drug store, New London. Dr. Knowles has also been one of North Stonington's distinguished legislators, serv- ing in 1886 and 1889. during his first term being on the committee on Banks and Federal Relations, and in 1889 on Humane Institutions, and again on Fed- cral Relations.

CLARENCE H. NORTON. manufacturer of binder's board at North Westchester, in the town of Colchester, Conn., is one of the leading citizens of that town. He descends from one of the carliest settled families of this State, the early history of which is given elsewhere.

David Norton, his great-grandfather. resided in Hebron, Conn., where he followed the occupation of farmer, and there died. His farm was located in the northeast part of the town.

Samuel S. Norton, grandfather of Clarence 11. was a carpenter by trade, and resided in Hebron, Conn .. until he removed to Colchester to give his children better educational advantages, such as could be obtained at Bacon Academy. Later he returned to lebron, where he resided until his death, which occurred Dec. 12. 1Soo, when he was seventy-three years old, and his remains were in- terred at North Westchester. He was an all around mechanic, of considerable genius, and at one time was engaged at tool making, and the manufacture of a superior gauge for carpenters. Personally he was an upright, Christian man, a devoted member of the Methodist Church, of which he was a liberal supporter. He was active in the creation of the present church edifice at Colchester. In politics he was a Whig, later a Republican, and he had strong views on anti-slavery.

Samuel S. Norton married Sylvina C. Chapman. of Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Conn., who sur- vived him, and died April 6, 1885, aged eighty seven years. The children born of this union were: (1) John S., who attended Bacon Academy and grad- unted from Wesleyan University, located soon there- after at Brenham, Washington Co, Texas, where he was engaged as a school teacher. He enlisted as a n111% cian in the Confederate arm, and was under Cien. Lee at the time of his surrender to Gen, Grant. Returning to Hebron for a short unge. he went back to Brenham, where he was engaged as a mer chant for many years, later retiring to Austin, where he died. He married a Southern lash. I seplane Jones, and had two sons, Herbert and Sauter

teacher at Him Fever where she may ! Henny Cooks, of North Lady's They now roule Oklahoma tis. Oka, and their dillegar Edwin Han Gelter who are engaged ml

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Daniel Ives Norton, father of Clarence H. Nor- ton, was born at Hebron, and was a small boy when his parents removed to Colchester. He received a good education in the public schools and Bacon Academy, and then worked for his father as a me- chanic, thus continuing until about 1861, when he engaged in the cotton manufacturing business, in company with David Thompson, at Hope Valley, in the town of Hebron. In 1876, the mill was burned, and he then came to North Westchester, and settled on the farm of his father-in-law. After repairing the saw and grist mill, he operated it, but soon after had a stroke of paralysis, and being in poor health after this, did not continue the work. His death occurred Oct. 9, 1880, when he was fifty- six years and three months of age, and he was in- terred in the cemetery at North Westchester. In politics he was a Democrat. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Church. He was mar- ried, at North Westchester, to Eunice B. Buell, a native of North Westchester, daughter of Talcott L. and Mary G. (Carrier) Buell, the former of whom died May 1, 1885, in his eighty-eighth year, and the latter Jan. 18, 1836, aged thirty- nine years. Mr. Buell was a well-known citizen of North Westchester, where he conducted an iron factory, on the site of the paper mill now owned by Mr. C. H. Norton. Mrs. Norton resides with our subject.

Clarence Horatio Norton, the only child born to his parents, was born Oct. 22, 1853, in Hebron, and received a common school education. He was reared to mechanical work, starting when he was a small boy in his father's mill. He remained with his father, and when the latter's health failed, the son took entire charge of the business, which has since been conducted by him, although he discon- tinued the sawmill some years ago. In 1888, Mr. Norton engaged in the manufacture of binder's board, in the old building, which was formerly occu- pied by his grandfather, but which had later been used by other parties in the same line of manufact- uring industry. In 1893 the mill was burned, but Mr. Norton immediately rebuilt it upon a much larger scale, putting in new and improved machin- ery, and greatly enlarging the capacity. He gives employment to about twenty workmen.

On Dec. 25, 1885, in North Westchester, Mr. Norton was married to Atta B. Carrier, a native of Westchester, daughter of Demas and Roxie E. (Staples) Carrier. Demas Carrier was a carpenter and millwright, and a prominent and well-known citizen of his section. He was born Oct. 25, 1828, and died in North Westchester, Dec. 12, 1893. His wife died Dec. 9, 1877, aged fifty-three. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton were: Sylvina C., who graduated from Bacon Academy in 1903 ; Minette C., now attending Bacon Academy ; a son that died in infancy ; Marian E .; Edward H. In politics, Mr. Norton has always been a Democrat, and has served on the board of selectmen, and also

as assessor, serving very ably in both capacities. He- has been a representative from Colchester several times, the last being in 1893, when he served on the committee on Claims. In religious matters he is a member of the Westchester Congregational Church, as are also his wife and two elder children.

HON. SOLOMON LUCAS. The life of the Hon. Solomon Lucas, of Norwich, furnishes an ex- ample of what the boy of today may accomplish, though he be left alone in the world and penniless, and it should be an inspiration and incentive to such boys and all others who aspire to position and use- fulness in society and in the activities of life.

Born April 1, 1835, in Norwich, Conn.,, of Eng- lish parents, and one of the youngest of a family of twelve, Mr. Lucas was left an orphan at the early age of eight years. He became self-reliant and self- supporting, and, through the force of his innate na- ture, pluck, perseverance and energy, he rose un- aided to the foremost rank of his contemporaries at the Bar of Connecticut. Until sixteen years of age he worked on a farm, receiving for his service his board and clothes, acquiring what schooling he could at the district school of the neighborhood dur- ing the winter months. Following this for three years he was an operator in the Potter Hill Mills at Potter Hill, R. I. His opportunities in all direc- tions were embraced with a vigor and manfulness that made the most of them. He early determined to become a lawyer, and after attaining his major- ity bent his efforts to meet and overcome, unas- sisted, every obstacle that stood in his way. On the. invitation of Hon. John T. Wait, young Lucas en- tered his office as a law student. Mr. Wait had been then a candidate for lieutenant governor sev- eral times, had just closed a ten years service as States Attorney for New London county, and had a' wide acquaintance in that region. He opened his office to the young student, took an interest in his ambitions and approved his diligent application to the study of law. In addition to the invaluable ed- ucation of a practical character in the office of a lawyer who had so large and varied a clientage, he pursued a very advantageous course at the Albany law school, consequently when he was admitted to the New London County Bar, in April, 1861, he at once attained an enviable position as a lawyer of ability and promise.

In 1863. Mr. Lucas was sent to the General As- sembly of Connecticut, as a representative from the town of Preston, and was assigned to the commit- tee on Humane Institutions. The lower house was at that time an unusually able body, Chauncey F. Cleveland being speaker, and William W. Eaton, the leader of the Democratic minority ; both parties contained a large number of men of pronounced and conflicting views as to the conduct of the Civil war, and the relations with the South. William T. Elmer, now a judge of the Superior Court, was as- sistant clerk. Mr. Lucas was almost the youngest

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member of that body, that distinction belonging to Hon. George M. Woodruff, who was one year his junior. Though he acquitted himself with excep- tional credit, and won the commendation of the members of the profession, and his own constitu- ents, political life had no enticements for him in comparison with the satisfying honor of success as a lawyer. He turned his back at once on office seek- ing, and from that time to the present has repeat- edly declined to accept political favors. His prac- tice, meanwhile, began to grow in extent and im- portance. His devotion to business and unrelent- ing care of the interests confided to him soon brought substantial returns, and he rapidly came to the front among the members of the Bar of New London County. Mr. Lucas has doubtless been en- gaged in the trial of more cases than any other liv- ing member of the New London County Bar, and the Connecticut Reports show that he has frequently appeared before the Supreme Court of Errors of the State. His fame as a cross-examiner of wit- nesses is not confined to Connecticut. Mr. Lucas now possesses a lucrative practice, and is one of the leaders of the Bar of the State. In 1889, when Hon. John M. Thayer was promoted to the Bench of the Superior Court, Mr. Lucas received the ap- pointment of States Attorney for New London county, and has filled the position ever since with signal success. He has the reputation of being a most honest practitioner, an honorable man and a patriotic and useful citizen, always ready to perform any public service which lies clearly within the line of duty, not incompatible with his professional obligations. He enjoys an enviable reputation among his legal contemporaries and with the public. His standing as a lawyer is high, and he is accorded universal credit for the great success which he has achieved. He has been absolutely untiring in work- ing his way upward in his profession. One of his distinguished contemporaries at the Bar has said of him: "He is a bright, keen, successful lawyer. «levoted to his profession ; one who takes good care of his clients, and is not dismaved by any opposi tion. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and deserves great credit for winning the high posi- tion which he occupies as an attorney and advocate."

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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 199

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