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 201

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 201

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

George L. Daboll, of Groton Center, and these chil- dren were born to them: Carrie D., who married Charles Ferguson and died June 10, 1900, survived by one daughter, Amelia ; George Edgar, in a gro- cery business at East Greenwich, R. I., married Luella Haley, daughter of John B. Haley, and they have two children, Ralph and Harry Allen; Nathan died aged thirteen years; William Allen, a farmer, married Annie Schofield, of Groton, and they have three children, Frances, Marion and Carrie; Frank E. married Sarah Newberry; and Edith married John R. Haley, of Center Groton, and has one son, John.

(V) JEFFERSON O. BAILEY was born Feb. 12, 1845, on the old homestead in Groton, and received a common school education. At the age of twenty years he went around the "Horn" to San Fran- cisco on a merchant vessel, remaining away from home one year, and returning via the Isthmus. He then located on the home farm, where he has since resided, successfully engaged at general farming. He is one of the solid, substantial men of this lo- cality, esteemed and respected. On Nov. 3, 1869, he married Agnes Josephine Hinckley, daughter of Abel Hinckley, of Old Mystic, Conn., and these children have been born to them: Frederick Jeffer- son, born Aug. 24, 1871, married Evelyn Bailey ; Burchard Hinckley, born March 26, 1876, married Agnes Lamb; and Agnes Josephine, born Dec. 16, 1884, died April 1, 1888. Politically Mr. Bailey is a Republican.

LATHAM. Lieut. Jasper Latham, great-great- grandfather of Ralph H. and Jefferson O. Bailey, was born in 1680. His wife Abigail died in 1750, survived two years by her husband.

Capt. Jasper Latham, great-grandfather of the subjects of this biography, was born in 1715, and died Jan. II, 1799. On Feb. 7, 1732, he bought the property in District No. 2, of Groton, now oc- cupied by Clarence C. and Miss Elizabeth H. Latham. On July 5, 1752, he married Deborah Avery, born in 1733, and died July 3, 1808, daugh- ter of Capt. Christopher Avery. They had children as follows : Mary, born July 7, 1753 ; Jasper, Aug. 30, 1755 ; Amos, July 16, 1759; Deborah, Feb. 24, 1762; Rebecca, Sept. 26, 1766, was drowned May 4, 1789; George, Nov. 6, 1769; Hannalı, Oct. 6, 1774 ; and Robert died aged four years.

George Latham, born Nov. 6, 1769, died Oct. 13, 1849. He married Rebecca Babcock, of Ston- ington, who died April 19, 1852, aged eighty-three years. Their children were: Rebecca, born Sept. 5, 1796; Maria, May 6, 1799 ; George, July 20, 1802 ; Deborah Avery, mother of Jefferson O. Bailey and Ralph H. Bailey of Groton, born July 6, 1805 ; and Jasper, born July 4, 1809.

Jasper Latham died Jan. 13, 1892. His life was mainly passed as a farmer and large wood dealer, cutting the timber from his extensive property. He made one fishing and one whaling voyage. On June 14, 1836, he married Hannah W. Bailey,

daughter of Russell Bailey, born Oct. 4, 1809, and died April 2, 1891. He was active in town affairs, was collector and selectman, a Republican in poli- tics, and a leading member of the Baptist Church of Groton. His children were: George Russell, of Groton, born July 27, 1837, on June 23, 1868, married Mary A. Garrett, and they have one son, Edwin, born Nov. 12, 1870; Miss Elizabeth H., born June 26, 1842, and Clarence C., born May 6, 1852.

Capt. Moses Jones Buddington, brother-in-law of Ralph H. and Jefferson O. Bailey, and one of the well-known and most highly considered men of this locality, was born Feb. 26, 1826, in Groton, but spent a part of his boyhood and school days in Ledyard. He entered upon a sea-faring life when a youth, and by the time he was twenty-one years old, was captain of a whaling vessel, the "William C. Nye." In 1854 he went to California, where he engaged in the coasting trade, and during these years made voyages to many parts of the earth, to Au- stralia and to the Sandwich Islands, which, at that time, were to many but far away places on the map of the world. Captain Buddington was one of the early voyagers, one of the precursors of Western civilization. He was a man of prominence in his line, and was most highly regarded among sea-far- ing men. When he left the water, he settled with his wife at San Francisco, Cal., where he lived for more than eighteen years, but in advanced age his thoughts turned to his boyhood home and in 1892 he returned to Groton. Here his death occurred April 3, 1898, and he was buried in the Starr ceme-' tery. Captain Buddington was a member of Golden1 Gate Lodge F. & A. M., at San Francisco. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Baptist Church, at Groton, in which he served as a trustee. His widow, Mrs. Ellen Amanda ( Bailey) Buddington resides in Groton.

MITCHEL. Francois Michel, the first of this family in America, was a native of Bordeaux, France, and he came to the United States on account of religious persecution. He was in the merchant marine trade, sailing to South America, and he died at sea. He married Mary Leeds.

(II) Capt. James Mitchel, son of Francois, was born in Groton, Conn., and was like his father, in the merchant marine trade, running to Demerara, South America. He was brought home ill from New Haven in a revenue cutter, and died in Groton, where he had his home. On May 8, 1827, he was appointed by President John Quincy Adams, United States marshal for Connecticut, and he was, subse- quently re-appointed. Capt. Mitchel married Han- nah, daughter of Capt. William Latham, of Groton, and they reared a family of five children: James (deceased) was a salt merchant at Syracuse, N. Y .; he married Fanny Avery, of Groton. Joseph mar- ried Caroline Latham ; he followed the whaling busi- ness. William F., a farmer, married (first) Han-

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nah Woodbridge, and (second) Abbie Haley; on Aug. 17, 1844, he was appointed captain of the Third Company, Second Regiment of Horse Artil- lery, Connecticut State Militia. Henry A. is men- tioned below. Augusta married Charles Lay Peck, of Old Lyme, Connecticut.

(III) HENRY A. MITCHEL was born in Groton in September, 1824, and spent his boyhood days in his native place. At the age of twenty-four years he went West to represent the Syracuse Salt Company, locating in Chicago, where on Dec. 19, 1849, he mar- ried Sarah A. Hamilton, daughter of Col. Richard J. Hamilton, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Dr. Patterson. Mrs. Mitchel was born Dec. 19, 1830, at Brownsville, Ill., and still survives, making her home in Groton. Two children blessed this union : Richard Joseph, born June 26, 1853, died May 30, 1854 ; William Henry, born April 16, 1854. at Chicago, died Jan. 28, 1902, at Groton, Connec- ticut.

On the breaking out of the Civil war Mr. Mitchel joined one of the volunteer regiments from Wisconsin, being at the time a resident of Milwau- kee, that State, and his death, which occurred Oct. 10, 1865, at Groton, Conn., was from wounds re- ceived at Chaplin Hill, Ky., when he was lieutenant colonel in command of his regiment, the First Wis- consin. On Nov. 9. 1863, he was appointed a major of the Veteran Reserve Corps by Abraham Lincoln, and he proved himself in every way worthy of that honor. He was a man of high integrity and held the esteem of all who knew him.

COL. RICHARD J. HAMILTON, who was as- sociated prominently with the history of Chicago from the very time of his arrival there, April o. 1831, was born at Danville, Ky., and received his education at the college in his native place. He was one of the pioneers of Chicago, which at the time of his arrival was the merest beginning of a settlement, the only voting place in Cook county, and with only thirty-two residents permanent enough to be en rolled as voters. A man of Col. Hamilton's ability therefore would be a prominent figure at once, and in October of the year he arrived he was appointed commissioner of school lands for the county. Sec- tion 16 of that county embraced what is now in- cluded between Madison and 12th, State and 11a1 sted streets, and if the school lands had been judi ciously retained and managed they would now af ford ample income for the city schools, But such a mania for speculation existed in 1833. that the com missioners were induced to sell the greater part ii the tract, investing what was then considered the enormous endowment fund of $38. 400.15, for the benefit of the schools to be established fol This ilton has sometimes been severely censured for not using better business foresight, but in juste to him it should be added that the sale was offre! only after the presentation of a formal p til son

that effect made by ninety-five residents of the place.

A year after Col. Hamilton's arrival came the war with Black Hawk, and Chicago was crowded with the fugitives who sought safety at Fort Dear- born. The soldiers assigned as reinforcements had not yet arrive 1, and the troops in occupation were not sufficient for the emergency. The Cook county and Chicago militia came to the rescue, and Jesse Brown and Richard J. Hamilton were in command of one company of thirty men. The Chicago His- torical Society in is possession of a document thought to have been drawn up by Col. Hamilton. and which bears his name at the head of the list of those offering their services. Most of their serv- ice was on picket duty at the Fort, or in more ex- tended reconnoissance, but they began with a five days' campaign, which brought them face to face with all the horrors, if not the dangers, that at- tended Indian warfare.

In 1833 Chicago was incorporated as a town. and Col. Hamilton was a candidate for the office of trustee of the new borough, but failed to secure a majority of the votes cast by the twenty-eight citi- zens then recorded, thirteen of whom were them- selves candidates. Two years later the Illinois Ler- islature incorporated a new State Bank, with six branches, and Chicago secured one of the branches. among the directors of which Col. Hamilton's name appears. Ilis name appears frequently alsceon the das book of the Board of Trade, in 1833.

In 1837 Chicago becante a city, and on the first Board of Inspectors elected by the council was tel. Hamilton. The next notice we have of him is as a patron of the drama : he was one of a number who addressed to the actor. Alexander Mckenzie, a re quest that he would appoint a "benefit night" for himself, when the citizens of Chicago, might slovss their appreciation of his dramatic work Col Hey ilten was always specially interested in the develop ment of the schools of the city and State m the . could year of his resilence there. his with Owen employed a teacher for a little school beeld m the North Division Aiming the seman was a Richard Hamilton, the GAmmels sal ater the same tweegentlemen built a solomil bonasy on the north bank of the river, cost of Click street In

Stite chodi convention beldaili Precis ( odlo

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

accepted as infantry for the new regiment. By the election for company officers, Richard N. Hamilton, his son, was chosen second lieutenant. When the regimental organization was completed, Col. Ham- ilton was a candidate for the colonelcy, but was de- feated by E. W. B. Newby.

The war excitement over, Col. Hamilton again turned his attention to municipal matters, and the next record of him is as one of a committee to con- sider the question of a better city water supply-to obtain facts and suggest remedies. The efforts of this committee resulted in the incorporation of the Chicago City Hydraulic Company. That same year, 1850, the Congressional district was reorgan- ized, and became the second district. At the Dem- ocratic convention held in Dixon Sept. 15, 1852, Col. Hamilton was delegate from Cook county. Went- worth was unanimously made nominee for Con- gress. In 1854, when Stephen Douglas came to Chicago to speak during a campaign, the opposi- tion to his views on the slavery question was so bitter that the mob tried to break up his meeting and threatened him. Although it was by his own personality that he held the concourse somewhat in check, he was supported on the platform, and after- ward escorted in safety to his hotel on the North side, by a small band of devoted followers, of whom Col. Hamilton was one. In the next year Col. Hamilton was appointed registrar in the land office, but as the bond he offered for $10,000 was declined by the authorities at Washington, Samuel Ashton was appointed instead.

On Oct. 22, 1855, the Old Settlers Society was organized ; all persons in Chicago prior to Janu- ary, 1837, were eligible to membership ; attendance on funerals of members was obligatory, and a fund established for the indigent and distressed. Of this society, Col. Hamilton was the first vice-president. He was the owner of the "Hamilton House," prev- iously to 1851 known as the "Washington House." This was built in 1840 on South Water street, near Clark, but in 1851 was moved to the southeast cor- ner of Clark and North Water, an addition was built, and the renovated hotel named anew from its owner.

Col. Hamilton was a member of the Cook County Bar, and he is on record as defending the accused in the first larceny case tried in Chicago, in July, 1833. His name also appears on the roll of lawyers in the city in 1837. Judge J. M. Wilson at a meeting of the Chicago Bar held at the Chicago Law Institute, paid the following tribute to the memory of Mr. Hamilton : "He was the first with whom I became acquainted in this city. At that time he was clerk of the City Court, then held in an old building on Lake street. I came here with Jus- tice Butterfield, and we went to the court house to see how legal business was carried on in this city. Judge Breese, now on the Bench of the Supreme court, was the Judge, and Col. Hamilton was the „ clerk. He was also elected recorder of this county,

and in fact held all the county offices in the gift of the people. He was a gentleman remarkable in many particulars, of very high notions as a gentle- man, and of unusual sympathies."

The Hon. Thomas Hoyne had the following to say of Col. Hamilton : "The County of Cook was first organized in the year 1831 by the late Col. Richard J. Hamilton. He had been appointed by Gov. Reynolds, and came with commissions for all the offices, which he continued to hold and faith- fully administer for many years. He was the first clerk of the Circuit Court, clerk of the County Commissioners court, recorder of the county, pro- bate judge, school commissioner, and a notary pub- lic. Then it will appear he was full of honor and of office. He was of Kentucky origin, and an old set- tler of the State. He was of a generous and open nature, a good citizen, a kind man, one of those men who were then shaping the future destiny of the State. He was the nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois with the Hon. William A. Rich- ardson, who was the Democratic candidate for Governor, and although they were defeated, Col. Hamilton ran ahead of the ticket.

In April, 1822, Col. Hamilton married Diana W. Buckner, daughter of Col. Nicholas Buckner, of Jefferson county, Ky., and their daughter Ella, Mrs. Keennon, was the first white child born in Chicago. Mrs. Hamilton died April 22, 1834, and the Colonel passed away Dec. 26, 1861. Another daughter, Mrs. Sarah A. Mitchel, resides at Groton, Conn. Mrs. Hamilton was one of the organizers of the First Methodist Church at Chicago, and during her short residence there she was very active in its af- fairs, her death occurring soon after the church was established.

FREDERICK J. OSTMAN, one of the leading wholesale fish dealers of New London county, and one of the representative and successful business men of Stonington, was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 1, 1851, son of Jerey Ostman, who was a ma- riner living in Germany, and was drowned there in 1855.

Frederick J. Ostman is the only survivor of a family of three, his sister, Mary Elizabeth and brother William, both dying young. He spent his boyhood days until he was twelve years of age in Germany, and was brought by his step-father Stern- berg, who was employed on the North German Lloyd line, to the United States on acount of ill health, being afflicted with chills and fever. The account of the struggles of the German lad, after arriving in America, when he was not more than a child, are pitiful, and yet they inspire admiration for the pluck and determination he displayed. Ar- riving in New York City first he obtained work sawing laths for peach crates at three dollars a week. His next employment was in a restaurant on Warren street, where he received one dollar a week without lodging. This was followed by

FREDERICK J OUTMAN

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

work in a bakery on Sixth avenue, between Six- teenth and Seventeenth streets, where he received eight dollars a month with board and washing, after which, for several months, he worked for a creamery and bakery on Cedar street.

In 1868, Mr. Ostman came to Stonington, and went coasting and smack fishing, and also worked on a steamboat. Possessed of those sterling traits, which characterize the German race, he, by 1871. had accumulated sufficient funds from his meager earnings to start a fishing business of his own, in a twelve-foot skiff, and soon added a thirteen-foot skiff. In 1880, he became owner and master of the seven ton sloop "Lizzie," and engaged in lobstering and general fishing. In 1884, he bought the schooner "Copia" of eleven tons burden. In 1887, he built the 24-foot boat, "Freddie and Willie," and engaged in trap fishing, and in 1888 he had met with such good success that he opened a wholesale and retail fish market in Stonington, which he has since most successfully conducted. In 1892, he built "Ethie and Lena" for his oldest son, a 32-foot boat. He sends his surplus product to New York and Boston markets.

On Oct. 29, 1872, Mr. Ostman was married in Stonington, Conn., to Elizabeth Hammond, a native of New York. Their children are: Annie, who died at the age of twenty-six months : John, a fish merchant, who married Elizabeth Wilson, of Jersey City ; Elizabeth, of Stonington ; Jennie, of Stoning- ton ; Frederick (2), in the fish business at Stoning- ton ; Bessie, of Stonington ; William, in the fish busi - ness at Stonington ; Lena and Ethie, of Stonington. Mr. Ostman has been a legal resident of Stoning- ton since 1868, and is one of its best citizens. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is a very liberal contributor to it. He is no partisan in politics.

Mr. Ostman is in every sense of the word a self-made man, and his success in life is due to the thrift, energy and perseverance that have char- acterized his entire career. He is a progressive and representative citizen of Stonington, where he is held in high estcem by the entire community.

WILLIAM ERASTUS HARVEY was an ev tensive and successful farmer of Colchester, at which place his death occurred Feb. 23, 1901. He was a son of Elias and Sally Maria ( Ransom) Harvey.

Elias Harvey was engaged in farming in Col chester, Conn., at the time of his death. In carh life he traveled through the south as a Yankee peddler, and later still was engaged in a mercantile business. His next venture was operating a hotel in Salem, Conn., and he finally located in Colches ter and became a farmer. The children born to himself and wife were : Lydia N. married Ralph C. Foote, a resident of Coyote, Cal. : John R. married Achsah Staplins, and resides in New London : Sarah M. married Joseph Cotton, of Boulder, Col .. 11.r.

riet N. is unmarried and resides in Coyote. Cal: and William E.

William E. Harvey was born Oct. 30. 1847. in Colchester, Conn., and educated in the district schools and Bacon Academy, living at home until he was twenty-one years of age. After his mar- riage he located on a farm in Colchester, which he had purchased. This farm was located cast of the borough, and upon it he engaged in general farm- ing for the remainder of his life, adding to it by purchase, and becoming in time a well-te-do man and large land owner. His death occurred after an illness of about ten days, and his remains were tenderly interred at Colchester. In politics he was a Republican, and he represented the town in the State Legislature in 1895. During the time he was there he served on the committee on Cities and Boroughs. He also held the office of assessor. Socially he was a charter member of Colchester Lodge No. 30. A. O. U. W., and religioush he at- tended the Congregational Church, of which his widow is a member.

On Feb. 6. 1884. Mr. Harvey was married 10 Annie L. Foote, born June 19, 1857. in Lebanon. daughter of Horace and Lies And (Webster) Foote. Their children are: William Foote, born Oct. 10, 1885. graduated from the Willimantic Buy- ness College in June, 1903, and is now residing in Coyote, Cal. : Harold Ransom, born Ag. 13. 12KS. is attending Willimantic high school: Mande, born July 20, 1800: Carrie Belle, born June 17. 14: and Annie Mas. bern Nov. 22. 1. Viter the death of Mr. Harvey his widow removed to 1.1b- erty Hill, in the town of Lebanon, where she now resides.

CALEB HALEY. Among those who as woning men went from Groton to seek wider fields, and who subsequently achieved success, hond are als better known in their line than Caleb Haley, semin member of the firm of Caleb Hales & Co. No. 18 Fulton Market, New York ( It)

The Hales family is one of the oldest and best known in New London county, and its representa tives are men of substance and gromitonce in the several communities in which their It has been The first record we find of the tagis in the comty is when John Haley anl his wife_ Mary Sanders, daughter of Holman I Silence Samelig. were hving at Laoton Centre in this this hela immuily of six children, hoong when was a sign Gulch

Caleb Haley menniel Ctra) Mary Hekat Por

nativoet Rhode Island Then chibften wire Caleb

Centre, mut. las me one at the lailing wer of the Anhbe extended width of his life will be tomeet

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Caleb Haley, son of Caleb and Mary (Helm) Haley, was born July 18, 1767, and spent his entire life in Groton, where he successfully followed the occupation of farmer. He was a man of much natural intellect, a great reader, and exerted a wide influence for the good of the community. He died Dec. 12, 1847. On Oct. 30, 1791, he married Sarah Burrows, born July 2, 1770, who survived him until Feb. 21, 1862. Their children were: Sarah Niles, born Nov. 2, 1792, married Moses Smith, born Jan. 17, 1807, and removed to Akron, Ohio; Warren, born Jan. 9, 1796, died from injuries resulting from a fall from a house he was building at Fort Hill, Aug. 17, 1816 ; Charles D., born May 10, 1801, was a farmer, residing in the northern part of what is now Ledyard, married Hannah Avery, and died in 1866; Hannah Avery, born Feb. 5, 1803, married Seabury Thomas, and died at Poquetanuck Nov. 24, 1847; Nelson, born March 27, 1808, is men- tioned below.

Col. Nelson Haley, son of Caleb, married Nov. 27. 1834, to Cordelia Haley, daughter of Stephen Haley, and he died March 8, 1853. He had the fol- lowing family : Caleb, born July 27, 1838, at Flan- ders, in Groton ; Phebe Ann, born March 24, 1840, married, June 26, 1867, Delos Hart, son of Hiram Hart, and they reside at Akron, Ohio ; Betsey Avery, born Sept. 17, 1842, married, Sept. 30, 1863, Stephen Burrows, died Jan. 13, 1880, and he died Feb. 17, 1894, leaving a son, Arthur, who is with Caleb Haley ; Seabury Nelson, born Sept. 20, 1847, mar- ried Nov. 3, 1873, Annie Haley, and they reside at Brooklyn, N. Y., where he is in business with his brother. Nelson Haley spent his life in Groton, where he was a farmer. His home was in District No. 9, and he was buried in District No. 4. In politics he was a Democrat, and he entered the mili- tia when a young man and became colonel of the regiment.

Caleb Haley, son of Nelson, spent his boy- hood days in District No. 9, in Groton, and attend- ed school at Mystic one term, after which he clerked for D. N. Prentice and David Mallory in Mystic in 1854. On March 20, 1855, he went to Fulton Market to keep books for his uncle, Dudley Haley, and there continued four years. He next went into business under the firm name of Crocker & Haley, and this style was continued for about five years, when Seabury Nelson Haley bought out Mr. Crocker. Since then the name has been Caleb Haley & Co., and the house is well known throughout the United States wherever there is a market for fish, this concern being one of the leading receivers and shippers of fish along the Atlantic coast, their ad- dress being No. 14 Fulton Market, New York City.

Caleb Haley was married in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 16, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of Brooklyn, daughter of Samuel B. Miller, and their children were: Samuel Caleb, born Nov. 7, 1863 ; Nelson, born Feb. 27, 1866, died Dec. 31, 1866; Eva, born May 19, 1868, died Sept. 25, 1868;

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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 201

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