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 213

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 213

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(III) Lemuel Gardner, son of Jonathan, was born in Bozrah July 10, 1763. He engaged in farming, first at Bozrah, but in 1800 he removed to Norwich, and there leased the Keeney farm, now owned and occupied by Frederick L. Gardner, and located in what is now known as East Great Plains. In 1816 he came to Montville and settled on the Jared Fitch farm, taking care of his uncle during his declining years, and at his death succeeding to the estate. Lemuel Gardner died July 10, 1839. On Oct. 28, 1789, he married Jemima Lathrop, youngest daughter of Jedediah and Jemima (Burchard) Lathrop, of Bozrah. She died March II, 1850, aged eighty-three years. Mr. Gardner was a very large man, weighing about 250 pounds, with a height of over six feet. He was ever jolly and good-natured, and in spite of his size was a tireless worker. In his younger days he made a trip to Ohio, driving a four-horse team on the jour- ney. After remaining there some time he contracted fever and ague, which greatly undermined his con- stitution, and for several years before his death his health was poor. For about three years prior to that event he was unable to walk. His children were: (I) Lorinda, born June 15, 1790, married, in 1810, Levi Whaley, born in 1788, son of David Whaley, and they settled in Montville. They had eight chil- dren-Levi, who married Weltha Davis, of Nor- wich, and had four children, Weltha, George, Wil- liam and Frederick; Charles Lathrop, who married Emma Smith, and had one daughter, Lorinda ; Da- vid Chauncey, who married Frances Gardner, and had two children, Sidney and Charles Bentley ; Theodore Dwight, who married Jane Maynard, and had three children, Abby Jane, Sarah Anne and Alice A. ; Mary Jane, who married Henry Fanning, settled in Newton Upper Falls, Mass., and had three children, Eugene, Henry H. and Francis ; Jane Maria, who married Jacob Johns, of Norwich, and had four children; Sarah Anne, who married Marvin Leffingwell, of Norwich, and had two chil- dren, Maria and Chauncey ; and Lorinda, who died aged about four years. (2) Almira, born May 27, 1792, died unmarried in Montville. (3) Sidney, born April 17, 1795, married, in 1823, Maria Fan- ning, of Norwich, and after engaging in farming at Norwich died there Sept. 14, 1840. His children were Sidney Alfred, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-three; Sarah Ann, who married Daniel Price, who died in California; Frederick Lester, who is living in Norwich ; and Charles Henry, who married Ellen Chappell. (4) John Fitch, born Nov. 5, 1808, is mentioned in full below.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(IV) John Fitch Gardner was born on the turn- pike, near Trading Cove, in Norwich. He followed the occupation of farming and stone quarrying with no little success all his life, and in company with his son, our subject, furnished a great amount of stone for building and curbing purposes in and about Nor- wich, the stone all being quarried from their farm. At the death of his father John F. Gardner fell heir to the homestead farm, and he conducted it as long as he lived. Politically he was a Republican, and he held several offices in the town, among them those of assessor and member of the board of selectmen. He attended the Montville Congregational Church, and later the Bozrah Baptist Church-the latter from the time of its organization. He died in April, 1872. On Feb. 25, 1829, he married Martha Crary, born in 1808, in Preston, daughter of John and Mary Crary. She died in March, 1886. Their chil- dren were: (I) Henry. (2) Albert, born April 29, 1833, died March 12, 1856, being killed at Goshen, Litchfield county, by the unexpected fall- ing of a tree which he was chopping down. At the time of his death he was there on a visit, his work being that of the cultivation of the home farm. (3) Mary Helen, born March 23, 1838, mar- ried Albert S. Becbe, who has followed the sea all his life, visiting many ports in different parts of the world. They make their home in New London. Their only child, a son, died in infancy.

Henry Gardner was born in Norwich, in that portion known as Trading Cove, and when he was but a year old his parents removed to what is still his home, in the town of Montville. He received his education in the Seventhi school district, but was obliged to leave school when he was fifteen years of age, at which time he began active work on the home farm. He continued at this until the death of his father, when he settled up the estate, and, purchasing the interests of the other heirs. he has since carried it on on his own account. Ile has about 180 acres, and it is all in a good state of cultivation, being one of the most valuable farms in that section of the county. He is practical in Ins ideas, and has made many improvements on the farm since it came into his possession. While he carries on general farming he also makes a large amount of butter each week, which he delivers to private customers, having been engaged in the latter line over ten years. He keeps in all about tour milch cows. The home is one of the oldest in the section, having been erected some time during the eighteenth century by one of his great grundunthe Fitch's ancestors. The house has been kept ma good state of repair, and it stands a mommaci ! to the memory of the Fitch family.

In his political views Mr. Gardner 1 a Ri publican, but he has never cared for the active pat work, and has no desire to be bur lened wotte the responsibilities that come with offerdl hypn

On Dec. 23. 1877. Mr. Gardner wal mal marriage with Caroline ( Beebe) Shame OnMe

of Jacob Fitch Beebe and his wife Sally Mowry. of Norwich. Mr. Beebe was a successful farner and quarryman. The first husband of Mrs. Gardner was Bentley Shaw, to whom she was married m February, 1859. He was a harnessmaker by trade. and died in Norwich in 1874. leaving a daughter. Sarah Ella, who married the late Alfred H. Beebe. of Norwich, and has one son, Alfred Henry Beebe. the printer and teacher of printing in the Norwich Free Academy. No children have been born tu Mr. and Mrs. Gardner.

WILLIAM J. RILEY, for ten years prior to 1904, superintendent of the Eastern Straw board Company's mill at Versailles, in the town ci Sprague, but now a resident of Norwich, is a man who has earned success because of his own menit and worth.

Henry Riley, his father, was born in Dublin. Ireland, and there learned the trade of a paper- maker. He came to the United States in this pin a sailing-vessel, the trip taking several weeks. Set- tling at Burnside, in the town of East Hartfor 1. Conn., he was employed at what was called the middle mill at that place, now belonging to the East Hartford Manufacturing Company, where at that time was made the bank note paper for thus and several other comitries.

William J. Riley was born Oct. 18 1817, and was less than a year old when his parents come tel the United States. He attended the public . Heds until the age of nine years, when he began to cart his own living The father was poor. the famille large, and the children in these days had to hele bear the burden of existence. was put to work in a cotton mill at Rockville The hours were from 5:30 A. M. until p . He wages at this time were $1.50 a week, pay di mme ing every three months, and dunning all this time flu financial condition of the country was a myslel that when hus wages were paid him the iduen was in great that he actually recesel fut Felt of the stipulated amount. Hos however, le conte etterward made gli was empleoyol in the coti i cill aud der var ao

the latter business because of love fredhte

In ts, when the tally rm vedl is kanten

at en de jel er, ho OV.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was increased, and there was also a large increase in the quality of the product. In 1904 Mr. Riley resigned his position, and is now in the insurance business.

In Middlebury, Vt., Mr. Riley was married to Margretta F. Russell, daughter of William H. Rus- sell, a paper maker, who learned his trade in Scot- land, but died in Versailles.

In politics Mr. Riley is a stanch Republican. In 1902 he was chosen delegate from Sprague to the Constitutional Convention. Fraternally he is a member of Orient Lodge No. 62, F. & A. M., and of the Royal Arcanum, at East Hartford.

ARCHIE McNICOL, a business man of Gris- wold, is president and general manager of the Tex- tile Novelty Co., of Jewett City.

Mr. McNicol was born March 26, 1842, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. With the firm of Muir & Brown, at Strathclyde, he served a seven years' apprenticeship, learning the printing business. Mr. McNicol is singularly simple in his tastes.

CHARLES E. STEWART claims descent from two of Connecticut's old families, as he is in the sixth generation of the Stewart family and the ninth of the Denisons, of New London county.

(I) William Stewart was baptized in the First Congregational Church of Stonington, as an adult, by Rev. Joseph Noyes, Feb. 13, 1710. He married May 5, 1713, Sarah Church, who died March 2, I745.

(II) William Stewart, Jr., born Dec. 26, 1714, was one of the model farmers of his day. He pur- chased from the Elliotts what is now known as Stewart Hill, in North Stonington. His wife was Elizabeth Stevens, and they were married Dec. 4, I740.

(III) Nathan Stewart was born June 22, 1745, and was married May 1, 1768, to Barbara, daughter of William Palmer. His wife was a woman of un- usual nobility of character, while he himself was a man of fine independence and great resolution. He bought out the family rights in the homestead and built there a house which descended to his son Ed- ward and was next occupied by Denison Stewart.

(IV) Edward Stewart, born Dec. 8, 1774, was married Feb. 15, 1801. His wife was Rebecca Noyes, who was born March 6, 1782, and whose death occurred Sept. 30, 1842, some years after that of her husband, who passed away April 29, 1837. Edward Stewart was a farmer by occupation, and one whose admirable character made him beloved by all. He was the father of eight children, viz. : Rebecca, born Nov. 8, 1801, became the wife of Na- thaniel M. Crary ; Betsey R., born Nov. 24, 1803, died Feb. 26, 1849, the wife of Frederick Swan; Denison, born Aug. 26, 1807, married Abby J. Starkweather; Emeline, born Jan. 6, 1810, Mrs. William R. Wheeler, died Oct. 31, 1879; Nancy, born Jan. 2, 1813, died young ; Cyrus, born Dec. 20,

1815, and Edward, born Jan. 3, 1818, both died young ; Dudley is mentioned below.

(V) Dudley Stewart, born Dec. 17, 1820, lived in North Stonington all his life, engaged there in general mercantile business. He was a public-spir- ited man, actively interested in everything concern- ing his town and State, and did good service as selectman and as representative in the Legislature. In religious faith he was a Baptist. He was mar- ried May 6, 1856, to Eliza F. Denison, who bore him two children : Charles Edward, the subject of this sketch, and Frances D., the wife of George O. Miner, of Groton, Connecticut.

On the maternal side Charles E. Stewart's line of descent is through (I) William and Margaret (Chandler) Monck Denison, who came to America in 1631; (II) George and Anna Bordell ( second wife) Denison ; (III) John B. and Phœbe (Day) Denison; (IV) Daniel and Mary (Stanton) Deni- son ; (V) Daniel and Esther (Wheeler) Denison ; (VI) Isaac Denison, born Dec. 20, 1751, who mar- ried Eunice Williams, Nov. 10, 1773.

(VII) Isaac Denison, born Feb. 1, 1790, died Aug. 28, 1855. He married Feb. 18, 1817, Levina Fish, daughter of Sands Fish; and children were born to them as follows: Isaac W., Nov. 20, 1817; Rev. Frederick, Sept. 28, 1819 ; Charles C., Sept. 20, 1821; Bridget G., March 13, 1824; John L., Sept. 19, 1826; Daniel W., Sept. 5, 1828; Emily F., March 8, 1831 (wife of George W. Noyes) ; Eliza F., Aug. 12, 1833 (Mrs. Dudley Stewart), and Frances L., May 8, 1837.

(VI) Charles Edward Stewart was born at Mystic, Conn., Dec. 20, 1859. He passed his boy- hood and early school days in North Stonington, at- tended private school in East Greenwich, R. I., and Suffield, Conn., and remained in North Stonington till he was twenty years old. For a time he clerked in his father's store, and then removed to North Adams, Mass., where he spent eight years, part of the time with the North Adams Gas Light Com- pany and latterly with the United Zylonite Com- pany, as paymaster. In 1890 he went to Westerly, R. I., and started the Westerly Laundry, which he has been conducting successfully ever since. His legal residence, however, is now at Stonington. Mr. Stewart was married at North Adams to Miss Ada Ann Evans, Dec. 15, 1885, a union which has been blessed with two children, Evans and Dudley.

ELISHA ROGERS, a representative farmer, and an old and honored citizen of Montville, is de- scended from the first white settler in that town. He is of the seventh generation from the emigrant ancestor, the line being as follows: James, Samuel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas Perkins and Elisha.

(I) James Rogers came to America from Lon- don, England, in 1635, in the ship "Increase," be- ing then twenty years of age. He is first heard of in Stratford, New Haven Co., Conn., where he mar-

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ried Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Rowland. They afterward moved to Milford, where his wife united with Rev. Mr. Prudden's Church, in 1645. He be- came a member of the same church in 1652 and all their children were baptized in Milford. In 1656 Mr. Rogers had business which took him to New London, and liking the place he settled there per- manently, becoming a resident of the "plantation" previous to 1660. Gov. Winthrop encouraged his settlement in New London, and accommodated him with a portion of his own house lot, next to the mill which was afterward leased to him. On this lot Mr. Rogers built a stone dwelling-house. He was a baker, and did an extensive business furnishing bis- cuit for seamen, and for the Colonial troops, be- tween the years 1661 and 1670 having the largest interest of any one in the locality in the trade at New London. He became an extensive land hokler, owning several hundred acres on Great Neck, a tract of land at Mohegan, in the place then called Pamschog, and now known as Massapeag, in the town of Montville, several town lots, and, in part- nership with Col. Pyncheon, of Springfield, Mass., 2,400 acres on the east side of the river. He ac- quired a position of influence in the town in both civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and was six times elected as representative to the General Court. He was an upright and circumspect man, and his niein- ory is held in great honor by his throng of de- scendants. On settling in New London he and his wife united with Mr. Bradstreet's Church, but after a few years they severed their connection with the orthodox Congregational Church and joined the Sabbatarians, who were afterward called Quakers. There is no account of any action on the part of the church in regard to this change of faith, and little is known of the later life of James Rogers. Ile was born in 1615, and is supposed to have been the son of Rev. John Rogers, of Dedham, England, who died in 1636; and the family tradition is that he was a grandson of Rev. Jolin Rogers, of London, who was burned at the stake, in Smithfick, in 1555. dur- ing the reign of Bloody Mary. James Rogers died at New London, in February, 1682-88, Sir Ed- mund Andros being then Governor of New Eng land. His will was proved in Boston, and the chil- dren, in accordance with his earnest request, made an amicable division of the estate, which was ap proved by the General Court May 12, 1002. 1his children were Sammel, Joseph, John, Bathsheba, James, Jonathan and Elizabeth, all born between the years 1640 and 1658.

(11) Samuel Rogers, eldest son of James au Elizabeth ( Rowland ) Rogers, born Dec 12. Hope, at Stratford, Conn, married Oct. 17. May, Mais. daughter of Thomas Stanton and Ann Lord, dangh ter of Thomas Lord, of Hartford. A command will made by the respective parents of the youngr cepde by which each side pledged [2 . 1 11|1x tion. In fulfilhnent of lus part of the confract Lope Rogers conveyed to his son huis stone house ant tok

ery, at the head of Winthrop's Cove, where the young couple commenced housekeeping. After a few years, however, they moved to land outside the town, in the vicinity of the Mohegan tribe of In- dians, and became the first English settlers within the limits of the present town of Montville. Samuel Rogers was twice married. as appears by his last will, executed Dec. 8, 1712. in which he gives his "beloved wife. Johanna, all she needs." He died Dec. 1, 1713, and was buried in the old Rogers burying-ground, on the farm where he had lived. which was afterward owned by Oliver Baker. His children, all born in New London, between the years 1665 and 1680, were : Daniel. Mary, Samuel, Eliza- beth, Saralı and Jonathan.

( III) Daniel Rogers, eldest son of Sanitiel and Mary ( Stanton) Rogers, born in New London about 1665. married. in 1702. Grace, daughter of Thomas Williams. He was a farmer, and inher- ited from his father a large tract of land in the North Parish of New London, now Montville. From time to time he purchased other land, several deeds to him, dating from 1727 to 1765. being in the possession of his descendants. They also have deeds from him to his sons, one dated Jan. 24. 1753. to his son Thomas, another, dated April 10, 1771. in which, "for the consideration of love, goodwill. and fatherly affection f have and do bear unto my well beloved sons, Alphons Rogers and Thomas Rogers," he conveys to these sons certam lands near to and including the homestead. The house in which he lived at the time of his death was on the south side of the highway leading from the Congrega tional meeting-house in Montville to Houghton's Gove, a short distance south of the present rest dence of Augustus A. Parker. He died about 1 ;; 1. at the age of 105. It is said that "his appearance in the last years of his life was that of a venerabil old man, his long gray hair covering his shoulders. and when seen in the fichls without a hat ipon los head, which was his usual custom, he had the ap perance of an old prophet " His children, all letu In the North Parish of New hampshire, now More ville. between the years moj and IFI were Gracey Mars, Dame1, Mphòng and Thenà

(IV ) Thongs Rogers, thing an auf suger

in the North Parth of Ness Laober n Alowe Such, daughter of Anmate es Tos and

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Baker; and (8) Frederick, born in 1768, who mar- ried (first) Parthenia Baker, (second) Desire Vib- ber, and (third) Abigail (Bolles) Wright.

(V) Capt. Thomas Rogers, second son of Thomas and Sarah (Fitch) Rogers, born April 10, 1757, married, Nov. 7, 1784, Mary Baker, born Nov. 14, 1758, daughter of Joshua and Abigail (Bliss) Baker. He lived in Montville, on land which he bought of the Indians in 1787, and on which he built a house two years later. This farm, on which he lived until his death, June 2, 1842, is still in the possession of one of his descendants. He was also a sailor, and as captain of a West Indies merchant vessel made forty voyages in all to those islands. His wife died Jan. 19, 1831. Their chil- dren, all born in Montville, were as follows: (I) Elisha Hinman, who was born July 5, 1785, and died Jan. 14, 1819, married Mary Whipple. (2) Jared Starr, born Jan. 7, 1787, died Sept. 1, 1816, unmar- ried. (3) Henry Truman, born April 20, 1789, died March 30, 1871. He was a carpenter and a clockmaker, and married Clarissa, daughter of Rev. Rozel Cook. (4) John Baptist, born Jan. 24, 1794, died Oct. 5, 1798. (5) Thomas Perkins, born Jan. 15, 1797, married Mary C. Fish. (6) Mary Ann, born April 10, 1799, died Dec. 27, 1866, unmar- ried, and (7) Eliza Bliss, born July 25, 1802, died June 17, 1834, in Montville. She married George Raymond, Jr.

(VI) Deacon Thomas Perkins Rogers, fifth son of Capt. Thomas and Mary (Baker) Rogers, mar- ried, about 1820, Mary C., daughter of Samuel Fish. In early life he followed the sea, but later settled down to farming in Montville, living in the house which is now the residence of his son, Elisha. He was an industrious and highly respected man and a devout Christian. In 1838 he was chosen deacon of the Congregational Church in Montville, and filled that honorable position with great zeal and faithfulness until his death, Aug. 12, 1873. He lost his devoted wife nearly ten years before, Nov. 9, 1863. Their children, all born in Montville, were as follows: (I) Chester died in infancy; (2) Phebe D., born March 10, 1826, married Ebenezer Tracy, a carpenter of Lisbon, Conn., and died in Bridge- port, Conn .; (3) Elisha, subject of this sketch, was born Sept. 30, 1828; (4) Samuel died young ; (5) Thomas Cotton, born Sept. 5, 1832, went to Cali- fornia during the gold excitement in 1849, and died there of fever in 1850, unmarried; (6) Mary E., born in 1834, married George W. Rogers, who is treasurer of a large packing house in St. Louis, Mo. ; she died in February, 1904.

(VII) Elisha Rogers, third child of Deacon Rogers and Mary C. Fish, his wife, was born in Montville in the same house in which he now lives. He attended the district schools of his native town, and later was for three months a pupil in the Mystic high school, while serving an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade with John Gallup, of Mystic. He began his apprenticeship when about seventeen and

a half years of age, having previously found ample occupation on the home farm. After three and a half years as an apprentice he was employed by Mr. Gallup as a journeyman for five or six years, be -. ginning at a salary of $15 a month, which had in- creased before he left this employ to $3.50 a day. On leaving his first employer he went to Norwich, where he was employed for about a year by Rogers, Willoughby & Fanning. Returning to Mystic he spent another year in the employ of Mr. Gallup, and then went back to Montville, where for a time he worked at his trade, at Johnson's Dye Works, and later for John Comstock. On the death of his father, in 1873, he returned to the old homestead, where he has since been engaged in general farm- ing, occasionally doing something in the carpenter- ing line as a neighborly accommodation. He cul- tivates about 100 acres of land, and markets his produce in Norwich.

On March 18, 1854, Mr. Rogers married (first) Mary Jane Scholfield, daughter of Joseph and Mercy (Newberry) Scholfield, of Montville. To this union came the following children : (I) Edwin, born July 27, 1855, died May 4, 1860; (2) Alice Elizabeth, born Dec. 26, 1857, married Justin H. Kimball, an employe of a large dry-goods house in Lowell, Mass., and their two children are Merrill H. and Gladys E .; (3) Horace, born Feb. 3, 1863, is now a carpenter, living in California, unmar- ried ; (4) Stella, born March 20, 1866, died May 5, 1876. His first wife having died May 21, 1869, Mr. Rogers married (second) Nov. 5, 1870, Martha Perry, daughter of the late George Perry, of Put- nam, Conn., a descendant of one of the well known and highly honored families of Windham county. No children have been born to this union.

Mr. Rogers is a strong Republican, and, al- though not an office-seeker, has served as district school committeeman, and as clerk and treasurer of the committee, for several years. He and his wife are active members of the Montville Congrega- tional Church, and are hospitable and benevolent people, kindly neighbors, and highly respected in the community of which they have so long been members.

JEAN B. LE CLAIRE, a well known business man of Jewett City, engaged in carrying on a suc- cessful bakery, has been located here for the past eighteen years, during which time his industry and integrity have won him friends with every class of citizens.

Mr. Le Claire was born Feb. 22, 1856, at La Presentation, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, where his father, Joseph Le Claire, was also born, a descendant of one of the first French settlers in that section. Joseph Le Claire was a large land- owner and an extensive farmer, and with the excep- tion of four years spent with his son at Jewett City passed his whole life in his native locality, where he died in 1896. As is general with French-Cana-

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dians, he was a devoted member of the Catholic Church.

Joseph Le Claire married Zoe De Grange, born also in the Province of Quebec, who still survives, at the age of seventy-three years, active and spright- ly, possessing much of the vivacity which character- ized her youth. She is the beloved mother of the following children : Jean B., of Jewett City : Napo- leon, a farmer at the old home; Adelia, married and living in the West; and Francis and Hermides, at home. Jesse died young. Mrs. Le Claire is a de- voted member of the Catholic Church, a good, Christian woman.

Jean B. Le Claire was educated in the govern- ment schools in his native place and remained with his parents, assisting in farm work, until he was sixteen years old, when he started out to make his own way in the world, determined to succeed if honest industry would accomplish it. He came to Connecticut, and soon found work in a woolen mill at Putnam, where he continued for a time, and then accepted a position as driver of one of the bakery wagons. He kept on working steadily and saving his money, and by 1886 had accumulated a few hundred dollars, which represented much self- denial. With this he came to Jewett City and started in the bakery business, and two years later he built his present home and bakery, where he has been located for the past fifteen years, being now regarded as one of the fixtures of the place. In 1900 he built the Le Claire block, where he has a branch store, and also owns other property. That he has never been an idler is self-evident; on the other hand, he has been progressive, and has not only pushed his own business with success, but has taken a deep interest in public matters. For the past six years he has filled the office of tax collector with efficiency. Mr. Le Claire is a broad-minded and liberal man.

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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 213

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