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 215

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 215

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IRANLIS D BURTCH is the jegnoter ad Buntch' Drug Store, Bested M the Bank booking.

956

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

WILLIAM R. CARVER, the well-known and popular liveryman of Norwich, was born in Greene- ville, that town, June 16, 1864. He is active in business and fraternal circles, and is a man of many friends.

Richard Carver, father of William R., was born in Limerick, Ireland, and came to America in 1850. He settled in Norwich, where for over thirty years he was employed as a teamster by the Chelsea Paper Co., for twenty-eight years driving the same horse. When the Chelsea Paper Co. closed its business Mr. Carver retired, and in 1872 settled in Preston. There he passed the remainder of his life, dying April 27, 1901. On the voyage to America Mr. Carver met his future wife, Bridget Sheedy, who was also a native of Limerick. Their early homes were only about a mile apart, they discovered, al- though they had been quite unknown to each other. They were married about two years after coming to Norwich by Rev. Peter Kelly, of that place. Mrs. Carver survived her husband but a few days, dying in Preston May 2, 1901. Their children were as follows : (1) David, a paper-maker, lived in Preston, where he died in 1883. He married Delia Lyons, and they had one daughter, Jane E. (2) James, who had driven a coupe in Norwich for a number of years, and was very popular with his patrons, died, unmarried, in 1889. (3) John died when one year old. (4) William R. is mentioned below. (5) John Richard died young. (6) Mich- ael, who married, and has several children, is an engineer in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway Co., and resides in Put- nam, Conn. (7) Mary Jane lives at the homestead in Preston, unmarried. (8) Catherine A. is also unmarried, and living at the homestead. (9) Ellen P. married Joseph McHeely, a foreman in the em- ploy of the United States Finishing Co. of Nor- wich. They have one son, Joseph W.

William R. Carver went to school in Long So- ciety District, town of Preston, until he was six- teen years old. He then found employment for a year at the Bleachery. The next three years he was employed in the restaurant of William Noss, and the three following in J. R. McNamara's cafe. The mail delivery system was just then established in Norwich, and he became one of the first mail carriers in the town, retaining that position a year. He then bought a horse and coupe which he drove in Norwich for about twelve years. This business throve so well that in May, 1899, he established himself in the livery and boarding stable business at No. 21 Willow street. He has been successful in this enterprise from the first, and his genial, accom- modating manner has won him many friends.

On Oct. 29, 1903, Mr. Carver married Nellie McNamara, daughter of Patrick and Johanna (Ryan) McNamara, of Norwich. Mr. and Mrs. Carver are both devout members of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, of Norwich. On national issues Mr. Carver votes the Democratic ticket, but

in town politics he is neutral. He is a member of White Cross Council, No. 13, Knights of Columbus, of Norwich, and a charter member of Court City of Norwich, No. 63, Foresters of America. He also belongs to St. Joseph's Sodality and Literary Asso- ciation of Norwich. For seven years he was an active member of the volunteer fire company of Nor- wich belonging to Niagara Hose Co., No. 2. This term of service entitles him to honorary mem- bership in the society.

JOHN TURNER O'BRIEN is a well-to-do citizen of Montville, where he is now living in re- tirement. He was born in Preston, Conn., which was also his father's birthplace, and his mother was likewise a Connecticut woman, a native of Ledyard.

Grandfather Barney O'Brien was born in Ire- land and came to this country as a young man, set- tling in Preston, Conn., where he lived to an ad- vanced age. He married in the United States twice, having by his first wife four children, and by his second wife, a Quakeress, three sons and two daugh- ters, as follows: John, who died in Preston ; George, who was the father of John Turner; Erastus, who died in Preston; Lavissa, Mrs. Deming; and Han- nah, who married Charles Dewey.

George O'Brien was born in 1800, in Poque- tanuck, town of Preston, and died in Ledyard, Feb. 28, 1847. He was engaged in the fish and oyster business on the Thames river, at that time the lead- ing industry of the vicinity. Starting in life a poor boy, by thrift and perseverance he acquired con- siderable property before his death. He was a quiet, unostentatious man, who attended strictly to his own affairs. In politics he was a Democrat, and a stanch supporter of the principles of that party. In his later years he became much interested in re- ligious matters. Of a rugged constitution, a large, well-proportioned man, weighing about 200 pounds, he was always energetic and a hard worker until he was attacked with consumption, from which he never recovered.

George O'Brien married, June 15, 1823, Hannah Turner, daughter of Ezekiel Turner, a farmer of Ledyard. She died Oct. 13, 1848, of consumption. The following children were born to this union : (1) Juliet G., born Feb. 9, 1824, married Sept. 14, 1847, James Church, of Montville, who was en- gaged in the fish and oyster business. He died in Montville, where his wife also died, Oct. 10, 1872. They had two sons and one daughter, George Henry, of Providence, R. I., and James Seymour, of Groton, and Ella, who died in infancy. (2) Mary Ann, born April 21, 1825, married Elisha Allyn, a farmer of Ledyard. They had no chil- dren, and she died May 23, 1852, in Ledyard, where her husband also died. (3) George Henry, born May 9, 1827, married Caroline Allyn, of Ledyard. He was a farmer in Ledyard where his wife died. Their two children are deceased. (4) John Turner, born May 30, 1828, is the subject of this sketch.

957

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(5) Caleb Allyn, born Feb. 21, 1830, died May 14, 1856. (6) Orien Stoddard, born July 14, 1832, died Oct. 12, 1833. (7) Hannah Ann, born June 22, 1833, married William A. Church, of Montville. (8) Ellen Maria, born Nov. 22, 1834, died, unmar- ried, in 1901, in Groton, Conn. (9) Abby Gavitt, born July 31, 1837, lives, unmarried, in Canton, Mass. (10) Emma Jane, born March 31, 1839, married (first) Charles Phillips, of Preston, Conn., and (second) Nelson Roach, of Ledyard. The lat- ter was formerly in the steamboat business, but is now a farmer. They have no children. (11) Eliza Morgan, born March 27, 1840, married Capt. Sim- eon Church, of Montville. ( 12) Byron Manlius, born Aug. 18, 1843, married Sarah Amidon, of Groton. They have no children. They reside in Groton, where Mr. O'Brien is in the undertaking business.

John Turner O'Brien was born in Preston, but received most of his education in Ledyard, to which place his parents moved when he was eight years old. Leaving school at the age of sixteen he worked on the Norwich and Worcester railroad for about a year, until the death of his father. He then was employed at farm work for several months, by Col. John Lester, and then for a year on the Big Neck farm, at Mystic. At the age of eighteen he took passage at Norwich on the schooner "Boston," bound for California, working his way as a common sailor. The course was through the straits of Ma- gellan, and they reached their destination after a very rough voyage of nine months. Mr. O'Brien settled in Sacramento City, and for a year and a half occupied himself in mining. He then went into the teaming business, carrying provisions to the Chinese merchants and miners in the mountains, After a year and a half at this he was able to buy a team of his own, and for the next six years did a very prosperous teaming business on his own ac- count. Selling his heavy team after six years, he bought a horse and dray, and for about two years engaged in draying in Sacramento City. He then sold out and returned to Connecticut, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He made a visit of two months in Connecticut, and then went back to California by way of the Isthmus. This time he went to gar- dening, for a year being employed by the month, then renting a farm of 160 acres, which he culti- vated, marketing his produce in San Francisco and in Sacramento City. His lease expiring at the end of a year he bought a farm of 160 acres, and was successfully engaged in gardening for about six years. He then sold his farm and again returned to his native State, where for two years he lived in retirement at Ledyard, with his brother George. After that he went into partnership with his brother- in-law, James Church, in the oyster business, this connection lasting about eight years. He then pur-

chased the James Church farm of eighty acres, on the banks of the Thames river, at Mohegan sta- tion, on the Central Vermont railroad, where he has since been engaged in general farming.

Mr. O'Brien married, July 24, 1807, Julia Eme- line Smith, born March 5. 1840, in Montville, daugh- ter of Lyman and Emeline ( Fanning) Smith, vi Montville. He'and his wife are most estimable people. No children have been born to this union, but they have an adopted son, Edward N. O'Brien, whom they took into their home when he was but three years of age, and to whom they gave their name, and who now has charge of the farm. Mr. O'Brien is a Democrat in principle, but takes little active interest in politics. His religions creed is the Golden Rule. He is an affable, genial man, and his many experiences and extensive travels make him an interesting conversationalist. He has been hard-working and industrious, and is now enjoy- ing in retirement a well-earned competence.

HOWARD L. WOOD, M. D., one of the prom- ising physicians of Groton, Conn., was born either in England, or on the high seas, April 28, 1800. his mother dying at the time of his birth. His father. whose name was Hall, had resided in the United States. The motherless babe was adopted by Fran- cis Edwin Wood, of Walton, Delaware Co., N. Y., and he passed his early school days in Walton. Dr. Wood was graduated from the Delaware Literary Institute at Delhi, N. Y., after which he acted as a drug clerk in the same town, when he was but eigh- . teen years of age. In 1803 he was a graduate of the New York College of Pharmacy, and from (km) until 1895 he was in charge of a drug store in Brooklyn, N. Y., during the last two years of which time he was pursuing his medical studies. In 1805 he entered the medical department of U'nien College. Albany, N. Y., but on account of accident and typhoid fever, he did not complete his course until the For four months he practiced in Danbury, Conn . and then spent a year in New York City In Fcb- ruary, 1901, he located in Groton, and has built up a very good practice.

Dr. Wood is a member of the American Ornith- ological Union, and is an expert taxidermist Hc publishes an illustrated monthh journal Fur, Fin and Feather" which is devoted exclusivch to the interests of fancy pet stock, Professionals he he longs to the New London Medical Society an ! socially to Fairview Lodge, 1 O. O. F. 4101 the Scottish Clans.

Dr. Wood was married in Jersey City, No Mar tha Mote, of Newark, Del. He and his wife are justly munbered among the leading factors in the social lite of Groton, and have many fr cil, mint onh in their immediate vicinity, but also where they have ternerhy made their home.

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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 215

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