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 209

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 209

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

II, 1608. The children born to him by his first marriage were: Elizabeth. Sarah. Robert. Am. Richard. Timothy, Dorothy. John. San gel, Samuel (2). Joshua and Caleb.

( IH) John Swan, born Ans. 1. 1608. married Aug. I, Imy. Mrs. Susanna Wiol, widow of Thomas Wood, who with three ci his children was killed by the Indians, March 15, 1697. Mr. Swan and -his family came to Stonington in the year 1707, and he Icated on what is now known as Swan Town Hill. North Stonington, and there died May I. 1743. agel ser- enty-five years. His wife survived unul Dec. 20. 1772. being then in her one hundredth year. The following children were born tothem at Haverhill. Mass .: John. Ruth and Witham, while Nathanael. Asa, Elizabeth and Timothy were born in Som- ington.

(IV) William Swan was born June 24. 1,00, in Haverhill, Mass, and married Jan. 20, 1,20, Thank iul Holmes, who died Sept. ;. 1742. He married April 14. 1743. Anna Sa ith. of Gn ton, The chil- dren born to him by his first marriage were : Mars, Abigail, Thankful, Willing, Desire and Ryth. By his second marriage he had two children: Anna and Charles.

(V) Charles Swan, bern May 24. 17, in Som- ington, Conn., grandfather of der sublet. married March 21, 1779. Eunice Bornes, and their children Were: Amos married Betres Palne; . Charles mar- ried Cinthia Brewster; Frederick married Besser Stewart ; Louisa d'el in mianes , Christopher died young : Sibra married James Bailes . Denison mar ried Caroline Bailey : Cialdington B married Con- thia Hewitt : Eunice married John Mcoch: WTham married Deborah Ann Brown. Ephraim married Julia A. Grinnell : Christopher 12) was lost at sea.

(VI) Codlington Billing Swan, Wenn Jun 15. 178%, in Stonington, Conn., che im Magisille, Qum Ile was successfulh org gel m tarmong all his life. and removed to Montalt when auf saint was a small lid, settling in the northwestern part all the town, nur Bardner's lake, where the remuner of Ins useful hie was spent In polied col de sala some of the lesser town times

9.28

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

several years was engaged in butchering for George Loomis, of Norwich. He then took up steamboat- ing, and for some years ran on the steamboats be- tween Norwich and New York. In 1849, attracted by the news of the discovery of gold, he went to California, and there remained for two or three years, but as his health was unequal to the strain he returned home via the Panama route, although he went out around Cape Horn. During his stay in California he worked on steamboats, and re- ceived as much as $100 per week for his services, but as everything was so very expensive the profit was not so great after all. On his way home Mr. Swan was robbed on board of one of the vessels of $2,000, his savings, together with nearly all his clothing. Upon his arrival home he bought the Sherrod Hillhouse farm at Montville, consisting of about 160 acres, and was there successfully en- gaged in farming until his death, which occurred June 13, 1892, in Montville, Conn. In political faith Mr. Swan was a Republican, but he did not desire public office. However, he served his town as assessor, grand juror and as a member of the board of selectmen. Religiously he was a member of the Montville Congregational Church.

Mr. Swan was a man of a genial, jovial disposi- tion, and possessed a robust constitution. He was about five feet, eight inches, in height, and weighed ordinarily 225 pounds, at times more. He was a very hardworking, industrious man, conscientious in his dealings with others, and honorable to a marked degree. Although he had not been in good health for some years prior to his death, he worked as usual until two years previous to the end. His health never recovered from the effects of his hard life in California, and only his determination kept him up.

On Dec. 31, 1851, Mr. Swan was married to Miss Susan Williams, daughter of Prentice and Abby Cliff ( Prentice) Williams. Mr. Williams was a farmer of Montville, residing on what is known as Raymond Hill. Mrs. Swan was born in Ledyard, Conn., Nov. 21, 1828, and is now making her home on the old Swan homestead where her husband passed away. The children born of this congenial marriage, all at Montville, wree as fol- lows : Susan Williams, born Nov. 14, 1852, mar- ried Frank E. Austin, of Montville, who is em- ployed as watchman at Robertson's paper mill : their children are Belle W., Grace Alice, Edith and Reu- ben. Cynthia Abby, born May 24, 1854, is now head teacher in Miss Hill's school for girls in Phil- adelphia ; she studied three years in Germany and one year in France, and is a most accomplished and highly educated lady. Lucy Victoria, born Feb. 29, 1856, married Charles W. Hewitt, of Preston, Conn., where he is engaged in farming ; their chil- dren are Julia A. W., Myrtle and Charles. Sarah Caroline, born May 18, 1857, married Harold O. White and they are now living in Jacksonville, Ill., where he is a prominent member of the musical

profession ; they have no children. Eleanor Eliza. was born March 19. 1859, and died May 20, 1864. Jane Cliff, born Oct. 6, 1860, married Richard De Witt Perry, and they are living at Elyria, Ohio, where he is interested in, and superintendent of, a screw and tap works; their children are Philip, Hes- ter, Richard and Pauline. Isabelle C. was born May II, 1862, and died Sept. 26, 1863. Coddington Amos, born Dec. 28, 1863, married Jennie Parsons, of Norwich, and their children are Hazel and Roy ; he is now electrician for Eaton, Chase & Co., of Norwich. William Morgan, born March 31, 1866, married Minnie Leight, of Norwich, and died June 3, 1894, in St. Paul, Minn., where he was engaged in railroading ; their children were Minnie Susan, Will- iam Anton and Grant Coddington. Grant Prentice, born March 12, 1868, died Sept. 6, 1886, unmar- ried ; he was employed on steamboats between Nor- wich and New York. Merton Orrin, born Aug. 18, 1872, has conducted the home farm since his father's death ; he married Nov. 25, 1891, Frances Wilcox, of Bozrah, Conn., and his children are Mildred, Abby and Merton Linnell.

EVERETT LEROY CRANE, member of the board of selectmen and one of the prosperous men of Groton, Conn., was born in District No. 2, Gro- ton, Aug. 12, 1856, son of LeRoy DeLoss Crane, who was born in South Glastonbury, Conn.

His grandfather, Ralph Crane, was a life-long resident of Glastonbury, where he taught school for fifty-eight seasons, and was a man of good education. A portion of his time was spent in drawing up wills, settling estates and at one time he represented Glastonbury in the legislature of Connecticut.

LeRoy D. Crane, the father, came to Groton when he was twenty-one years of age, locating near the navy yard, where he represented his fa- ther's interests in the ice business, he acting as gen- eral manager of the business. About 1864, he en- gaged in keeping a restaurant at Groton, Conn., and for the past twenty-four years he has owned and operated a successful livery business at Groton bank. He married Jane B. Whipple, daughter of William W. and Cynthia W. Whipple. She died in 1862, the mother of two children: Everett Le- Roy; and Ella J., who died at the age of three years. In politics Mr. Crane is a stanch Democrat.

Everett LeRoy Crane spent his boyhood days in the second and first districts of Groton, until 1869, when he entered Bartlett high school, and there re- mained until 1872, when he was graduated there- from. The first work of Mr. Crane was done for his grandfather Whipple in the market business in Groton, and he continued in the same line for Erastus Gallup, of Groton. When but eighteen, he went to Washington, D. C., with George Hunt- ley, and remained a year, and upon his return, worked for his grandfather for two years. In 1878 he embarked in teaming and trucking, and also in the ice business with Frank Gardiner, under the

C S t

2 E n

to th

t a

929

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

name of Crane & Gardiner. This partnership ex- isted for a year, when Mr. Crane purchased the in- terest of Mr. Gardiner, and continued the business until the preesnt day.

On May 1, 1879, Mr. Crane was married to Miss Bertha M. Chapman, daughter of Edmund C. and Susan A. Chapman, of Groton. The children born of this union are: Ralph W., born June 28, 1881. attending Yale medical school; Cassie Louise, born June 15, 1889, attending the high school at New London.

Mr. Crane has a large amount of tenement prop- erty in Groton, and is one of the most popular men in that place. For four years he served Groton as selectman ; for two years was assessor, and in 1892 was representative from Groton in the Legislature. In politics he has always been a Democrat. In 1886 he joined the A. O. U. W. ; in 1888 he joined the Charity and Relief Lodge, F. & A. M. at Mys- tic ; in 1889, Benevolence Chapter ; in 1892, he united with Mohegan lodge I. O. O. F .; and became a member of the Fairview lodge when it was insti- tuted. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Mystuxet Lodge at Mystic, and is also a member of the Workmens Benefit Association of Boston, Mass. In all of these organizations he is a very prominent and active member. Mr. Crane is highly respected in the community in which he makes his home, and the success which has attended his efforts is but the just result of honest endeavor directed along legiti- mate lines.

FREDERICK H. BREWER, a well known citizen of the town of Groton, was born in Norwich, Conn., May 24, 1834, the youngest of the eleven children of Lyman and Harriet ( Tyler) Brewer. Mr. Brewer is a descendant of an old family, the record of which appears elsewhere. He was edit- cated in the school of Dr. Roswell Park. at Pom- fret, where he studied for six years. In 1852 he went to Buffalo, where he was engaged for sixteen years in the Cuban shook trade, as a member of the firm of Story & Polhemus. In 1800 he returned to Connecticut and settled upon his farm, near West . Mystic Station. He was proprietor for ten years of the "Nawyaug House," on Mystic Island, now called the "Mystic Island House," which was built in 185 ;. and was owned by his brother, Wilham. Politi cally Judge Brewer is a Democrat, for twelve sells served as justice of the peace, and has been regis trar of voters. At the present time he is one of the School Visitors of the town of Groton. He is master Mason, belonging to Washington Lodge, Na 240, Buffalo, and religionsly is a member of the Episcopal Church, in which he served as Vett man and Clerk of the parish.

chil Iren, Irene, Ruth, Frederick and Lyman : Har- riet L. married Thomas J. Topham, of Albu- querque, N. M. : and Julia E ... Ellen Tyler and Frances Hale.

RUSSELL MATTESON BROWN, now Iv- ing in retirement in Jewett City, has by persistent efforts and indomitable courage made a splendid success of whatever he has turned his han I to mn life. As a butcher, a teamster and real estate dealer he has pushed his business to the front and made a large income ; and while engaged in farming he was among the first to get his products on the market. As a soldier in the Civil war he made an excellent record. He has displayed much ability in the discharge of public duties, in the performance of which he has long been engaged. Ile comes of a family of hard workers and efficient public leaders.

Seth Brown, his grandfather, fannlarks kiev.n as Judge Brown, was a prominent agriculturist and able participant in public affairs of West Greenwich. R. 1 .. for a great many years He was probably born and reared 'n that place U'pon reaching manhood be there settled upon a fin. which he managed with success, making a very considerable income. A part of this he wisch o. vested, and became one of the large property owners in the vicinity. He spent his last days with his son Seth, in Voluntown, Conn .. and died there Is remains, however, are interred in the centetery at West Greenwich. He married Water Banv. a native of West Greenwich, and, after her yleath. Lois Carpenter. Both wives died m West Farten wich. His children, all by his first umum, are now deceased . Lydia married Potter Wilcox, of Gris wold, Conn. Nathamel is mentioned be loss Allen a miamifacturer of wooden ware in Southbrilgo Massa, for some years, later an Ilmois father. inl a resident of Springfield (where he deb6. marnel a Miss Green, and, after her death Heuch Ellis of Windstock. Com Ambrose an extensive farmer of Plainfield, Com , was tont times nourish and ched in West Greenw ch. R I Seth of Voluntown, Conn . married Pall Matte Hired, who lived in Shock Ihrel chef t Parcelle in that State, m 1856 and Josiah die vestle a Why Judge Brown was very it thential in local polities, and filled ommy public others wat markel efficiency

Mart Nathaniel Brown, bote o Wee Grew

- 1 In 1859 Judge Brewer was married, im Batt to Rebecca Holmes, daughter of Robert Help, 01 that place. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have tiv . chil dren : Laman, who is a Wells Fargo h rent at P'1 00 1000 0 30000 00 that 1 2 mb alar 9 Robles, Cal .. married Biva Gross, and they have toup Opp for athen le male of the

930

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

place for seven years. By this time he had accum- ulated some means of his own, and purchased on Dudley Hill, near Dudley, Mass., a large farm, whither he moved his family and began working for himself. Though successful in his management, at the end of two years he sold the property and moved to Griswold, Conn. Here he bought what was known as the Pine Tree farm, a heavily wooded tract, and a well improved piece of prop- erty. He worked this place for about three or four years. Then desiring a change of occupation, he moved to Norwich, and later to Greeneville, Conn. In the last place he erected a meat market, which was the first one started in that town, and engaged in the meat business. The new shop proved to be just what the place needed. It was well patronized, and he continued to run it for seven or eight years, clearing for himself a large income. During this period he had disposed of the Pine Tree farm, and now, desirous of resuming agriculture, he pur- chased in the southern part of the town of Plain- field the attractive Woodward place, now owned and occupied by Caleb Bishop. Here he put in several hard and successful years of labor, and then made his last change, purchasing the Albert Greene farm in Griswold, a short distance north- east of the borough of Jewett City. After some years here he retired from active work, and took up his residence with his son Russell M. He died in Griswold, Conn., Aug. 11, 1891.

During his young manhood Nathaniel Brown married Phebey Matteson, who was born in West Greenwich, R. I., in 1811, and died in Griswold, Conn .. Jan. 9, 1894, at the age of eighty-two years and six months. By this marriage there were three children: (1) Russell Matteson is men- tioned below. (2) Josiah, born in West Greenwich Aug. 11, 1831, died in Houston, Texas, Nov. 22, 1872.' He married Elizabeth Pierce, daughter of Freeman and Eunice (Babcock) Pierce, of North Stonington, Conn., granddaughter of Freeman and Nancy ( Cook) Pierce, and great-granddaughter of Joseph Cook, of Stonington. Conn. Mr. and Mrs Josiah Brown had four children-Phebey Lillian, born Aug. 25, 1861, who died Aug. 22, 1864 ; Allen, Josiah, born Nov. 4, 1863, married Martha Cong- don and has one son, Ernest A. : Philip Sherman, born Oct. 5, 1868, died at the age of fifteen years ; Watey A., born June 19, 1871, married F. C. Whit- ing, of Jewett City, and they have two children, May Aurelia and Bessie Elizabeth. (3) Watey Ann, born in Scituate, R. I., Feb. 20, 1833, married George Stetson and lived in Griswold, Conn. She died Nov. 22, 1875.

Major Brown's frequent changes of residence caused him to be widely known throughout Con- necticut and Rhode Island, and being a man of much ability and attractive personality he won the respect and confidence of all who knew him. First as a Whig, later as a Republican, he was influential in local politics. For some years he served very

efficiently as Major of the Rhode Island State Militia, and upon one occasion engaged in a dress parade drill with his company at Brooklyn, Conn. As a successful business man and agriculturist he attained for himself a very solid prosperity.

Russell Matteson Brown was born in West Greenwich, R. I., Nov. 25. 1829, and there passed the first seven years of his life. Due to the family's frequent change of residence, his education was acquired in several different places. From the age of seven until he was fourteen he attended the public schools in Scituate, R. I., later was a pupil in Dudley, Mass., and for short periods in Griswold and Greeneville, Conn. Ambitious for acquiring some business training, as a young man he hired out as a teamster for John F. and William Slater, of Jewett City, and attending to orders promptly and in other particulars giving satisfaction he remained with the company for three years. About this time his father purchased the Woodward farm in Plain- field, and, assisting in the payment of the place, he moved there and also helped in the management. Making a good income and wisely saving his earn- ings, he later went to Baltic and opened a meat market. Working up a paying custom, and giving general satisfaction, he made well out of the busi- ness and continued it three years. The large farm which his father was still carrying on now requir- ing his attention, he closed out his meat business and went home. Soon after this the Civil war broke out, and in response to the urgent call for soldiers, he enlisted, in August, 1862, in Company F, 18th Conn. V. I., and went to the front. He engaged in some pretty hard fighting, was in eigh- teen battles, among them such historic ones as Winchester, Lynchburg, Piedmont, and Snicker's Gap, and escaped without once having to accept hospital treatment. He was discharged at Harper's Ferry, in June, 1865. Soon after returning home he went to Westerly, R. I., and there purchased of Squire Richard Brown the teaming business, having previously had experience in that line of work. After a year, however, he discontinued it and, going to Jewett City, engaged in contract work. The large reservoir and many cellars for the Ashland Company were among his excavations. While re- siding in this place he opened a meat market and engaged in the meat business for many years. His previous experience helped him somewhat in this line, and he met with unqualified success, making considerable money out of the venture. In 1890, however, he closed out this business to turn his attention more especially to another industry in which he had at the same time been engaged. About 1882 he had purchased of Eben Phillips a favorably located farm of fifty acres within the city limits. With much business sagacity he improved the property by laying out streets and building lots, and here engaged in a regular real estate business. This he continued for a number of years after closing out his meat business, and sold large numbers of

te b E pl

1721 he Fi att

Fit .No

me!

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

lots, from which he realized excellent profits. Fin- ally, however, a few years ago, believing he had done his share of hard work in this world, he re- tired from business, and is now living a le surely life.

In 1852 Mr. Brown married Mercy A. Rede, of Lisbon, Conn., and after her death married Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, widow of Josiah Brown, in 1877. By the first marriage there were two children : Georgiana, now deceased : and Emily Estella, born June 1, 1859, who married Ernest Branges, of Oakland, Cal., and had one daughter. Jessie.

Mr. Brown, as a man of large resources, has always been prominent in public affairs and never backward in the performance of social dut'es. . Is a Republican he has been called upon to fill many public offices, and has served two years very accep- tably as street commissioner, a post of honor he was finally obliged to resign on account of more pressing duties elsewhere. He belongs to the G. A. R., Sedgwick Post, No. I, of Norwich : Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 75, A. F. & A. M. : Reliance Lodge, No. 29. I. O. O. F. ; and Undaunted Lodge, No. 34. K. of P., all of Jewett City, being a charter member of the last two lodges and having served as an officer in both. He is widely known and highly respected, especially in Jewett City, where he has many warm friends.

HENRY LEWIS, the well known and success- ful merchant at Fitchville, in the town of Bozrah, is an excellent example of a purely self-made man. Having been left an orphan at an early age, he early learned the lessons of industry, the value of a dollar, and unaided has fought his way to a place among the successful business men of the county. He is of Scottish descent, his parents having been natives of Scotland.

Mr. Lewis was born Oct. 18, 1858, in New London, Conn., and at the age of five years was left an orphan. Ile and his only brother, David F .. now a foreman in the factory at Fitelny lle. were brought up in a good family in Montville, Heury Lewis receiving such educational advantages as were furnished by the district schools, which he at tended until fourteen years old. At that age he began to work at small wages in the factors of Elisha Il. Palmer, at Palmertown, and was con- ployed there until 1886, when the mill at litehyil was started. He became a foreman in the loior mill and there remained until Nov. 4. 1802. when he purchased the general store of F. T. I noffer, at Fitchville, paying for it with his savings. Is strict attention to business he has built up a large tan commanding a patronage he fully deserves

On July 25. 1880. Mr. Lewis W. 0 0, 00 Fitchville, to Angeline B. Rentles, North Stonington. Com., daughter of the lit John S. and Ellen M. (Davis) Bendler www mentioned elsewhere Children as tol me wet born to this union : Jolm B., Wilhand 11 . 1 mb IL. Roswell E. and Sarah L.

Mr. Lewis is not bound by party tes in Ins political belief. He votes for the best man in tal matters, and supported Mckinley at Both che ff. He has never cared for public office. although he is serving as assistant town clerk, and is postilaster. to which latter office he was a pointe I my thos ho President Cleveland : he has held that Ofice ever since. Since 1894 he has been a member of the New London County in 1902 he was elected a director of theit organization. Fraternally It is a thirty -. - und degree Mason, being James Lodge. No. 23. A. M. & A. M. FruK- lin Chapter. Franklin Council, an I Columbian Con - mandery. at Norwich. He attends the langt Church at Fitchville, of which his wife is a ;pender. and of which he is a liberal supporter. Ir, Lewis Is a genial man, accen modating to all, and bear- a high reputation for integrity. He ranks ajuns the substantial and well-to-con on off . trwa, ale tone stands any higher in the esteenvoi his ielle waffen

ROLLIN R. CHURCH his for the past twert years prominently identified himself with the bust Hess interests of Jewett City. first as a cuitra i and builder, and later as an extensive eller in lumber and coal. Square design. confermi work and pronytness in tilling orders have when him the confidence of the community. He is con- sidered thoroughly reliable ny every respect, and his trade is one of the largest Fi its kind in the vien- its, and is steadily mercados

Mr. Church was born in M. on. Gap, Set 1. 1830, Son of Redman F. and Maria Varissa ( Strong) Church, and on both sides of the horse has ancestors of note in the car history of this country. On the material side he desel- 11 the first settlers of the town of Dat ast. Crime il from ancestors who cum cary to Ves Et and were active and prammingit m thie trabelins ot

932

GENEALOGICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

an active and prominent character in Northampton, where he was a lawyer, and served his community as justice of the peace and judge of the county court. He and his wife, Elizabeth (Strong), daugh- ter of Elder Strong, removed to Durham, Conn., in 1709.

Of the Church family, Richard Church, who came with one of the early companies from England and first located at Plymouth, Mass., is the first of whom we have record. He was probably an uncle of Col. Benjamin Church, who, in 1676, com- manded the party that killed King Philip, and who later, in 1704, did valiant service against the French and Indians in eastern New England. In 1636 Richard Church moved to Hartford with the Hooker congregation, and there became a land owner and one of the original proprietors, drawing twelve acres in the first land division, in 1639, and sixty acres in the division of land in East Hartford, in 1666. In 1640 he came into possession of land in the Cow Pasture, and he also owned for some time a house and lot on Burr street. He filled offices of trust in

the settlement, being made viewer of chimneys in 1647; in 1654 he was relieved by the General Court from watching, warding and training. In 1637 he volun- teered his services in the Pequot war, and going to the front did valiant fighting. Because of church difficulties, in 1659, he with others, leaving behind both personal and real estate, moved to Hadley, Mass. Here, in 1667, he died ; and his wife, Annie, who survived him, passed away at Hatfield, March 10, 1684. Their children were: Edward, John, Samuel and Mary.

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

Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 209

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