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 208

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 208

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days at sea the vessel sprang a leak and the captain turned back to Falmouth, England, for repairs which were completed in a fortnight and the voyage resumed. After a somewhat rough passage the vessel sailed into New York harbor on July 20th. being forty days from Falmouth. Mr. Jordan found himself a stranger in a strange land, with a capital of $50 and energy, determination and reso- lution. He was willing to accept work at anything to make an honest dollar. He found employment at construction work on the Pennsylvania railroad. between New York and Philadelphia, continuing thus for two months, when he became ill and for four months was unable to work. The following March he was employed by a farmer about twenty- five miles north of New York City, receiving S5 a month for the first two months, when his wages were increased to $to a month for the next four months. He then went to Norwich, Conn., where a boyhood acquaintance, Jacob Gross, was residing. On the following day, Sept. 25, 1849, Mr. Jordan found employment with Orlando Johnson, a farmer in Lebanon, with whom he remained about three months, working as a farm hand. His next work was in the tannery of George Hill, at Lebanon, where he remained for four years. During the last year of his working for Mr. Hill Mr. Jordan was married, and the following spring he went to Norwich and for seven months was employed on the premises of Gen. William Williams, a promi- nent and wealthy citizen there. Returning to Leb- anon Mr. Jordan located near the tannery where he was formerly employed, and for a year worked as a laborer. He then rented a nearby farm, now occupied by Charles H. Loomis, and there resided until March, 1852, when he rented his present farm for a period of five years, buying it at the end of that time and going heavily into debt for it. It consists of 172 acres, and nearly all the buildings now standing were erected by Mr. Jordan. He has greatly improved the land and has since been en- gaged as a general farmer.

While advanced in age Mr. Jordan is spry and active, with faculties but slightly impaired. The management of the farm has for the past ten venir's devolved upon his son Charles. Mr. Jordan is liberal in his political views, and while he has never sought political preferment he has served two terms on the board of relief. He attends the Bap tist Church. He is a self-made man in the fulle t sense of the word, but to his worthy wife is due large share of credit for his success; by they nie ! energy and perseverance they have won for them selves a firm position in the community, and their integrity is unquestioned.

Spaulding and died in Will'mantic. (2) Catherine married Thomas Little, of Willimantic, and has three children, Harriet May. Willard Hill an 1 Fred1- erick Parker. (3) Harriet died unmarried at the age of twenty-two. (4) Charles and (5) John (twins) are both unmarried and residing on the home farm. (6) William Peter and (;) Frederick Dwight are mentioned below. A few years ago Peter Jordan returned to his native land for a visit, the first he had made since leaving there.

WILLIAM PETER JORDAN was born Fcb. 28. 1863. on the homestead in Lebanon. He attended the district school, the select school at Liberty Hill taught by Edward S. Hinckley, a well known in- structor, and the Natchaug high school at Willi- mantic, from which he graduated in 1882. Entering the employ of the Willimantic Linen Co., as a time- keeper, he worked a few months and then resigned to teach school. He began teaching in the school at Lebanon Center, and after one term there taught a district school at South Coventry for two forms. He then opened a private school at 1 chamen, which he conducted for two terms. In 1884 he arcentel a position as clerk in the drug store of When & Leonard, at Willimantic, and was later with Mr Wilson, who had bought out his partner and con- ducted the business alone for a time. In 14% Mr. Jordan bought an interest in the store. any th. firmi became F. M. Wilson & Co. Mr Jonlm re- mained there until 1808, when he purelysal hus interest in his present bus ness from the heirs of the late A. B. Carpenter, who was a partner of Frederick D. Jordan.

On Nov. 22, 1888. William B. Jordan wis Mar- ried to Lina A. Little, of Mansfield, Come when having lost her parents in childhood. was Weight up by a sister. Their dulden air Varen R. born Jul 5. 1803 : and Maurier 1', Tem Um -. 1807. In politics Mr. Jordan Is a Roundlen val he has served ome terit as allergies fiscal wird, a new chairman of the Republic por cine mitce, and is a member vi she Ba pe ami trick Lodge, Non. 1 O O Fo al Windham Encamiprent, No 10, somne driler atal lir lim bien a delegate to the Grand bole and some Dicum ment and through all the chules of the 1 co e. F. lle attends the congre .sheel ( lateli

In New York City, Jan. 1, 1853. Mr Fordin married Philopena Page, born Dec. 18, 1920, in the same town as her husband, a daughter of S'eler Page : she came to the United States in 15,1 with an uncle. Children as follows were born to this moment annual names union : ( 1) Elizabeth became the wife of Braliam x af I dea Conog Jeg556 My Timbre som

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Willimantic and became a clerk for Carpenter & Fowler, who had a hardware store on the corner of Main and Railroad streets. He remained there for three years or until October, 1889, when he became a partner of Mr. Carpenter, who had dissolved partnership with Mr. Fowler the previous May and had established a business in the room now occupied by Jordan Brothers. The firm became Carpenter & Jordan and so continued until May, 1898, when William P. Jordan bought the interest of Mr. Carpenter from the latter's heirs, Mr. Car- penter having died the month before. The firm then became Jordan Bros., and has so continued.

On Sept. 5, 1889, Frederick D. Jordan was married to Nettie M. Brewster, of Lebanon, daugh- ter of Eldridge and Drucilla ( Holberton) Brew- ster, and a descendant of Elder William Brewster of the "Mayflower." Their children are: Roland B., born May 15, 1892; and Myrtle V., born Aug. 21, 1895. Politically Mr. Jordan's affiliations are with the Republican party, but his interest in polit- ical matters ends in the casting of his vote. Socially he belongs to Obwebetuck Lodge, No. 16, I. O. O. F. ; and to Willimantic Lodge, No. 7, A. O. U. W. He attends the Congregational Church.

Jordan Brothers are of the best type of ener- getic young American business men-the type that has brought America to the position of commercial supremacy which she holds to-day. They are wide- awake and progressive, honorable and upright, whole-souled gentlemen.

JOHN OWEN PECKHAM is a descendant of one of the old New England families, and he is one of the successful farmers and dairymen of the town of Preston, New London county.

The name of Peckham has been widely and honorably known in Rhode Island since its early settlement. One John Peckham was a settler in Newport, R. I., in 1638. He was one of eighteen associates of William Coddington, who out of fealty to conscience, and in the search of a larger religious liberty, went out from the Massachusetts Colony under the inspiration of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, to found a plantation which should be "judged and guided by the absolute laws of Christ." Mr. Peckham resided in that part of Newport which afterward became Middletown. He married Mary Clarke, a sister of Rev. John Clarke, of Bedford- shire, England, Boston, Mass., and Newport, R. I., who was intimately associated with Roger Wil- liams. Mr. Peckham died in 1681, and Mrs. Peck- ham passed away in 1648.

Benjamin Peckham was born in Rhode Island, and on coming to Ledyard, Conn., settled upon a farm, and died there. He married Lucy Wilcox, also of Rhode Island, and they had fifteen children, namely : Benjamin, Nathan, Isaac, David, Rouse, John, Stephen, Hiram, Lucy, Sally, Sophia, Cyrus, Harry, Eunice and Robert.

Nathan Peckham, son of Benjamin, was born in

Rhode Island, and died in Ledyard, Conn., at the age of sixty-six years. Brought by his parents, who were farming people, to Ledyard, he naturally, fol- lowed the same calling for his life work. He mar- ried Sarah Perkins, daughter of John Perkins, of Ledyard, where she died at an advanced age. Of their children we have the following record: (I) Robert, born in Ledyard in 1815, died in that town at the age of seventy-six years, after a life devoted to farming. He married Almira Sheldon, and they had two children, Sarah and John. (2) John Owen is mentioned below. (3) Sally married Daniel Sheldon, of Preston, and died in Ledyard, at the age of eighty years. They had three children, Philo, Sarah A. and Delano. (4) Appleton, a farmer in Preston, where he died, married Prudence E. Heath, of Ledyard, and had three children, Phebe, Ellen and Abby. (5) Adin, a soldier in the Civil war, died at his home in Preston, shortly after his re- turn, unmarried.

John Owen Peckham was born in Ledyard Feb. 22, 1817, and he died Dec. II, 1902, in Preston, where he had received his educational training. After leaving school he went to New York State, where he was for several years engaged in farming. Returning to Preston, in 1842 he purchased there the farm upon which his widow now makes her home. This consisted of about seventy-three acres, which he greatly improved, placing it in a high state of cultivation. Thrifty and industrious, after the manner of the true New Englander, he pros- pered in his work, and in time became comfortably well off. Though slight in build, weighing but about 150 pounds, he possessed the nervous energetic temperament that accomplishes great things. In his political faith he was a Democrat, but in his voting in local elections he was never strictly parti- san. He held the offices of assessor and member of the board of relief, giving good satisfaction to his constituents for the conscientious manner in which he performed every duty devolving upon him. Mr. Peckham was a faithful and consistent mem- ber of the Ledyard Baptist Church, serving as a deacon for a number of years. Later he joined the Preston City Baptist Church, by letter, and there, too, for a time he held the office of deacon, resigning only when obliged to do so by ill health.

In 1840 Mr. Peckham married (first) Margaret Connor, of New York State, who died in 1857, in Preston. To this union were born: (1) Mary L. married Giles H. Bliven, a contractor and builder in Florida, and they had six children, Lucy, John. R., . Robert, Rhoda (deceased), Alice, and Jennie (deceased). (2) Nancy A. married Albert M. Brown, a farmer of Ledyard, and they have had four children, Nancy Ella, Philetus A., Emma, and Minnie (who died at the age of eighteen years). (3) Robert A., a farmer in Preston, married (first) Fannie E. Brown, and ( second) Hannah Peckham. By the first marriage he had three children, Albert B., Herbert I. and Stephen E .; and by the second

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

two, Hattie and John O. (4) Clarissa married William H. Bennett, a farmer of Preston, and had four children, Louise, William A., Earl and Charles. Mr. Bennett's second wife was Nancy Ella Brown, and they had four children, two of whom survive, Albert B. and Harriet E.

For his second wife John O. Peckham married, Nov. 7, 1858, Sophia Louise Brown, daughter of Albert and Seviah (Maine) Brown, of Ledyard, and the four children of this union were as follows : John O., Jr., is mentioned below. Sophia Louise. born June 6, 1861, married Edward Hollowell, a farmer of Preston, and they have had five children, Edward D. (born in 1882, who died in 1893), John P., Rebecca L., Sophia B. and Josephine W. Jo- seph Tyler, born Jan. 8, 1865, now a farmer on Laurel Hill, Norwich, married Hannah A. Story, of Preston, and has two children, Joseph B. and Mary L. William Hazzard, born May 12, 1871. is a machinist employed in Norwich, and is unmarried.

John Owen Peckham, Jr., the subject proper of this sketch, was born in Preston, Conn .. Aug. 12, 1859. His education was acquired in the Tenth district schools of his native town, and at a select school in Preston City, where he attended two terms. At the age of seventeen he began work on the home farm, and there he continued actively employed un- til he was twenty-three years of age. Meantime. however, he had worked out occasionally by the month. When he left home he went to East Great Plain, and was there employed by Mrs. Lyman Ran dall for three years as foreman on her farm, during which time he also ran a milk route in Norwich. For one year he held a similar position on the farm of R. E. Turner, on Laurel Hill, Norwich, in the latter place also having an opportunity for carpen- tering, a trade he had taught himself. Being mar- ried about this time he leased a too-acre farm in Ledyard, known as the Theophilus Avery farm, where for two years he carried on general farming. . In March, 1889, he purchased his present fine farm in Preston, near the Norwich City line, on the cast side of the river, where he has 200 acres of rich land, which yields him liberal returns for the labor he wisely expends upon it. Upon his fand is located the plant of the Continental Compressed Air Com- pany, which furnishes compressed air for power purposes to Norwich industries. Mr. Beckham is also extensively engaged in dairying, keeping from twenty to twenty-five cows, and rimmung a milk route in Norwich.

Politically Mr. Peckham is a Republican, but he is too busy to take an active part in party work. and besides an occasional service of the grand fit he has steadfastly declined to accept offices a member of the Preston City Baptist Church, all for several years held the office of hbimian, tout three years was assistant superintendent of the Ser day-school, and for four years sierintendent In is also a member of the church conmittey

his work in the church he finds an able second in hi- wife, who is also an active member of that faith.

On March 13, 1887, Mr. Peckham was unite I in marriage with Anna Elizabeth Avers. daughter of Theophilus and Mary Lydia (Corning) .Avery. of Ledyard, farming people of that town, beth now deceased. Two children have come to brighten their home: Florence Belle, born Jul 2%, 1801: and Howard Clifton, born Nov. 6. 1802. Mr. Beckham is one of the enterprising farmers of the town, and owes his success to his own unaided efforts. He practical and progressive, and is a man of many friends. His home is always open, and the poor and needs are sure to find there rest and comfort.

PERKINS. The Perkins family of Giroton. which is represented by Charles Clark Perkins, of New London, Conn., originated n France, where ( I) Pierre de Morlaix, its progenitor, was born. He married Agnes Taylor, and the next generation was represented by elly Henry Pierrekin, who be- came the father of (HD) John Perkins, as the man was softened, who was high steward of the estate of Hugo Despenser. It is recorded in family rec- ords that (IV) John Perkins was lord of the nenor of Madrasfield, as well as steward of the Despenser estate, and was living during the reign of king Henry At. and continued to hold the stewar Ihop when the heiress of that famous fanny married the sovereign. His children were John. I In 1014. died 1680; Thomas, bern toto. Elizabeth, barn 1618, died 1 1700: Jacob, barn 1024. Siel lan. >> 1,00 ; and Lydia born 1032 dem 1;2.

(1) Jacob Perkins, son of John, had the follows ing family : Elizabeth, born 109. John. For the2 Judith, born 1055. Mars, barn 1658; Jacob. In. born 1002. Mathew, born 1005. Hannal. barn 1670 : Joseph, born 16; ;. and Jabez, bort 16""

( I) Jacob Perkins, Jr. son of laugh, through his first wife had children Jacob, bon uss John. born Sept 21. 05; and Elizabeth In Of a second marriage the following children were born: Phisha. m 104 Sarah, m 166 Malm

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ried Sarah Stewart, of Stonington, and their chil- dren were: Rufus, Robert, Jabez, Elijah, Asa, William, Dudley, Phineas, Remember and Esther. (X) Phineas Perkins, son of Rufus, took part in the defense of Fort Griswold at Groton Heights during the Revolutionary war. He married a Daboll, and their four children were: Henry, Phineas, John and Servillian.

(XI) Servillian Perkins, the youngest son of Phineas Perkins, was born Aug. 8, 1808, and died Nov. 18, 1878. He married Aug. 9, 1832, Lucy B. Potter, born May 23, 1814, of Noank, a member of one of the oldest families in the county ; she died Aug. 31, 1856. Their children were all born in Noank, Conn., and were as follows : Charles C., born Nov. 5, 1833, died in California ; Albert W .; Hiram ; John, born June 15, 1841, resides in Cali- fornia ; Sophronia, born Sept. 3, 1846, married John Griffin, of New York City: Anson, born in 1848, died at an early age ; Howard, born June IO, 1850, married Ida Leathers, Oct. 31, 1870, and re- sides in San Francisco, Cal .; and Alice Lucy, born March 15. 1855, married Samuel E. Tyler, April 7, 1879, and they reside in New London. Servillian Perkins was a sailor and fisherman. In 1849 he went with a party to California where he engaged in prospecting for a few years. Returning to Con- necticut, he bought a fishing sloop in which he went after cod to George's Banks.

(XII) Albert W. Perkins, the leading dry-goods merchant of Noank, in the town of Groton, was born there Oct. 3, 1835. He was about ten years old when he began to accompany his father on his fish- ing and coasting expeditions, and continued to follow this life for twenty-four years. On April I, 1870, he embarked in a mercantile business in Noank, where he is now considered one of the most substantial and reliable citizens.

On Jan. 22, 1858, Mr. Perkins married Julia Avery Burrows, of Groton Bank, daughter of Austin and Almira ( Hill) Burrows. Her maternal great-grandfather, Samuel B. Hill, was among the slain at the massacre at Fort Griswold. Six chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, namely: (I) Lucy Burrows, born Sept. 18, 1861, married Charles I. Fitch, born March 27, 1859, and they have had five children : Marion Josephine, born Aug. 17, 1883, married Jerome S. Anderson, of Stonington ; Howard Malcolm, born Dec. 14, 1884, died Dec. 18, 1884; Herbert Warren, born March 16, 1887; Julia Alberta, born Aug. 7, 1889 ; and Maria Wilbur. born June 4, 1894. (2) Charles Clark was born Nov. 5, 1864. (3) Almira Hill, born June 18, 1868, married Otto W. Monroe, of Providence, R. I., and they have three children : Howard Earle, born April 9, 1888; Edith Louise, born Dec. 4, 1891 ; and Clifton Irving, born Dec. 28, 1894. (4) Warren Chesebro, born Aug. 14. 1870, married Flora Stanton, of Stonington, at Noank, Conn., and they have one child, Esther. (5) Albert W., Jr., born Nov. 2, 1880, is engaged

in the mercantile business. (6) Abbie Howard was born Nov. 1, 1882. Mr. Perkins is a loyal supporter of the Republican party, and has served in various offices, being at the present time, grand juror. He is a Master Mason in Charity and Relief Lodge, and he is the first charter member of the A. O. U. W. of Noank, now of Mystic. Religiously he belongs to the Baptist Church at Noank, one which has an interesting history. He and wife have spent forty-two of their forty-seven years of married life in their present comfortable residence at No. 58 Main street.

CHARLES CLARK PERKINS was born Nov. 5, 1864, at Noank, Conn., where he was educated in the public schools. At the age of seventeen, after gaining some experience in mercantile pursuits in his father's store he went to Providence, R. I., where he was employed in a wholesale gentlemen's furnishing store in the several capacities of sales- man, entry clerk and commercial traveler. While in Providence he supplemented his early education by taking a business college course, but later, on ac- count of his father's failing health, he returned to Noank, and assumed charge of the latter's business. In 1885, when Johnson & Shurts opened their New York store in New London, he went there, at the same time retaining his interest in his father's busi- ness. After serving as second salesman in the new establishment for four years, he embarked in the hat and furnishing business, and in April, 1889, he bought out George W. Meeker, hatter and furnisher. Owing to the smallness of the store he gave it the name of the "Hat Box," one which soon became associated with the most choice selections of hats, caps and furnishing goods. So successful did this enterprise prove that two years later, when the new Cronin block was completed, he removed there, changing the "Hat Box" to the "Hat Palace."

Mr. Perkins continued to push his business, and two years later he established a branch in Norwich, buying out John C. Clark, and conducting the busi- ness under the firm name of Perkins & Montgom- ery, until he withdrew from the connection in 1894. In the following year the firm of C. C. Perkins & Co. was formed by the consolidation of the "Hat Palace" and the old establishment of Shepard & Harris. S. E. Tyler was admitted to the firm, and the business was removed to No. 130 State street, in November, 1895. Five years later Mr. Tyler withdrew from the business, and the firm became Baumes & Perkins, and so continued for two years when Mr. Perkins sold his interest to Baumes & Co. On March 7, 1903, Mr. Perkins purchased the clothing house of C. B. Ware, which had been in existence for thirty-five years. This is now the Perkins Clothing Company, incorporated.

On Nov. 27, 1887, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage with Miss Hattie S. Fish, daughter of Samuel W. and Amanda J. (Smith) Fish. They have one child, Alice Tyler Perkins, born March 23, 1891.

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Mr. Perkins is Past Grand of Mohegan Lodge, I. O. O. F. and Past Chief Patriarch, and Past Dis- trict Deputy of the Encampment; a member of Sprague Lodge, A. O. U. W., of which he is over- seer ; Past Leader of the Home Circle ; a member of the Jibboom Club, and of the Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution ; and ex-president of the New Lon- don Business Men's Association. He is a director of the State Business Men's Association, and was secretary of the committee that drew up the con- stitution and by-laws of that association at its or- ganization in New Haven. He is a member of the New London County Historical Society, and treas- urer of the committee appointed by the society to raise funds for the John Winthrop monument. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. His musical ability has led him to become chorister of his own church, the Second Presbyterian, and also of the Third Baptist Church. He is a trombone soloist of unusual skill, and for several years played1 in Wight's orchestra at the Lyceum Theatre. On May 26, 1894 he enlisted in the company band of the 3rd Conn. N. G., and had served for five years previously, and was honorally discharged June 6. 1896. Mr. Perkins has been at various times hon- ored by offices of trust, and for four years was treasurer of the Young Men's Christiain Associa- tion. He takes great interest in young men, and organized the Success Club, a literary and debating society at the Y. M. C. A. The first year this so- ciety won the prize for being the most progressive in the United States.

CODDINGTON W. SWAN (deceased ), in his day one of Montville's progressive and industrious farmers and a respected citizen, was a descendant of an old New England family, he being in the sey- enth generation in direct line from Richard Swan.

(I) Richard Swan, the emigrant ancestor, and progenitor of the Swan family of Connecticut and Rhode Island, appears first on this side of the \ lantic ocean in Boston, Mass. His wife died in England before he came to this country, Later he settled in Rowley, Mass., where he remained dur ing the rest of his life, becoming a prominent cifi- zen in that place, representing the town in the Massachusetts General Court in robo, anl ntm years thereafter. He served in King Philip's war. and in the expedition to Canada. He married tor his second wife, March 1. 1658, Mrs, Aim 111100 bell. His death occurred May 14. 10-%. The el dren born to him were: Richard, Franges Kleit Jonathan, Susan, Sarah and John.

(II) Robert Swan, born in 1628, married Elisa beth Acic. In 1650, with his fandil. he bemne ant inhabitant of Haverhill, Mass,, where non of In descendants have lived. He was a sobli til Great Swamp Fight in King Philip's war, m lie Benjamin Swett's Company, His first wife do 1 10 1680, and he married for his second wife, on \fol I, 1000, Hannah Russ. The death wanie by

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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 208

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