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 43

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 43

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Eliphalet Young, son of Samuel and Lydia, was born in the town of Windham, Conn., and in 18II removed to Tolland, Conn., where he became prom- inent in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace, judge, selectman and a representative in the General Assembly. He married Sybil Lathrop, and their four children were: Samuel; Edwin, who for twenty-four years was superintendent of the Home of Refuge for Boys in Philadelphia ; Julia ; and Ben- jamin L.

Edward Young, grandfather of William B., was born in Windham, and followed the sea all his life, being engaged in the foreign and the Atlantic coast trade. For many years he sailed out of Philadelphia as captain of a merchant ship then engaged in the West Indies trade. When about to start there with a large sum of money, this fact being known to sev- eral of the clerks in the employ of the same mercan- tile house, these same clerks banded themselves to- gether, and as pirates robbed and murdered Capt. Young and his crew on the high seas. The crime was afterward confessed.

Edward Bowen Young, son of Capt. Young, was born in Windham, Conn., where he received his education. He was for several years engaged in the foundry business in South Coventry, Conn., and was treasurer of the South Coventry Foundry Com- pany. Later he became interested in the silk thread trade, and traveled in the South and West in its interests. After giving up traveling he located in

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Newport, R. I., where he spent the remainder of his days in retirement, and where he died and was buried. His political faith, originally that of the Whigs, was Republican. He married Lucretia M. Frink, of Stonington, who died in Newport, and was buried there. Five children were born to them: Mary J., who married Felix Peckham, of Newport ; Edward, who resides in Boston, Massachusetts ; Augusta, who married J. W. Follett, of Windham ; Hattie A., who died young ; and William B.

William B. Young was but an infant when his parents removed to Windham, where his boyhood days were spent in attendance on the public schools. Later he was a student in Windham Academy, taught by Dr. Fitch. After completing his educa- tion he went, in 1862, to Norwich, being at that time but fifteen years old. He entered the wholesale drug house of Lee & Osgood, where he learned every branch and detail of the business in which he later met with great success. For over thirty years he traveled for the company through the New Eng- land States. When Hon. H. H. Osgood died Mr. Young was elected his successor as president and general manager, a position he has since held in a manner that redounds to his very great credit. He possesses a genial disposition and a ready wit that makes him an entertaining companion. As a man of business he is most methodical, and he is pos- sessed of excellent executive ability and commercial acumen. His dealings have always been character- ized by the strictest integrity, and his reputation for veracity has never been called into question. Be- sides the business connection already mentioned Mr.

, Young is a director of the Thames National Bank, the Dime Savings Bank, the Richmond Stove Co., of Norwich, and the Norwich & New York Propeller Co .; is treasurer of the Bulletin Association of Nor- wich; and was president of the New England Wholesale Drug Association from May, 1901, to May, 1903.

Politically Mr. Young is a stanch Republican, but in no way could he be looked upon as an office- seeker. He is not afraid of the work necessary to his party's success, but he has always found some excuse to avoid sharing the honors. He was a great admirer and supporter of the late Congressman Rus- sell of Danielson. Fraternally he is a Mason, be- longing to Somerset Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to Franklin Chapter.

In 1875, in Salem, Mass., Mr. Young was united in marriage with Mary W. Bowdoin, who was born in Salem, a daughter of Dr. W. L. Bowdoin, a de- scendant of one of the old French families of Mas- sachusetts. Four children have blessed their home: (1) William B., Jr., who was educated in the public schools and Norwich Free Academy, learned thc drug business under A. G. Beckley, of Danielson, and in 1889 entered the employ of the Lee & Osgood Co., as traveling salesman. He is a member of Som- erset Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Franklin Chapter and Council, and Columbia Commandery, No. 4, K. T.

(2) Mary W. graduated from the Norwich fee Academy. She married George L. Rathborn a druggist of Norwich, and has one child, Gl S. (3) E. Louis was educated in the public sc and Norwich Free Academy and is now a clerk with the Lee & Osgood Co. (4) Edith En- beth is a student in the public schools. The fa all attend the Congregational Church, and are a in every good work. They are highly esteemed ir- sonally, and are very popular socially. Their hay home is a favorite meeting place for their 1 y friends.

The Frink family, to which William B. Y. belongs through his maternal ancestors, was ty in Stonington, Conn., John Frink settling then early as 1666. He was the son of John and My Frink, of Ipswich,. Mass., and he had been ma: d to Grace Stevens, of Taunton, Mass., in 1657. S wife and three daughters accompanied him to Sh ington, and afterward there were born to him : S uel, John, Thomas and Judith. He was the anceor of all the Frinks in Stonington.

ALLYN. This old family has in years gon been a prominent one in Ledyard, New Lora county. The branch given here is that to which longed the late Israel Allyn, who was one of fe highly esteemed and most substantial citizens of st town, and his sons William I. and Henry A. le former is the town clerk of Ledyard, and a pri- inent citizen, and the latter is a farmer on the he place, which has been in the possession of the fat ly for many generations.

(I) Robert Allyn, of Salem, Mass., 1637, un 1 with the church there in 1642. In 1651 he remc 1 to New London, Conn., and in a few years remo 1 to Allyn's Point, now Ledyard. "Proceeding up : river to that division of the township which is ' Ledyard, wc find a series of farms laid out on e northern boundary adjoining Brewster's land, e / in 1653, to Allyn, Avery, Coite, Isabell, Picket 1 others, which were called the Pocketannock gra Some of these were found to be beyond the to bounds. Robert Allyn and John Gager removed this quarter about 1656. The country in the Ir of these hardy pioneers was desolate and wild ine extreme. It was here that the Indian reservat Mashantucket was laid out and the remnant of Pequots settled in 1667."

After the settlement of Norwich Robert A went thither and had a house-lot in that plantat , and was constable in 1669. This house-lot afte i time he relinquished to his son John and retur to his farm, and at the time of his death was c: more an inhabitant of New London. He diec) 1683, aged about seventy-five years. The heirs) his estate were five children: John; Sarah, wife John Geer ; Mary, wife of Thomas Parke ; Hanı wife of Thomas Rose; and Deborah, then married.

(II) John Allyn, only son of Robert, mar :!

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

De 24, 1668, Elizabeth, daughter of John Gager. Af . the death of his father he left Norwich and ret ned to the paternal farm, where he built a how: and warehouse near the river, at a place since knq n as Allyn's Point. This brought him within thepounds of New London, and his name appears in 170 as one of the patentees of that town. He died 09, leaving an estate of £1,278 to be divided bet :en his only son, Robert, and daughter, Eliza- the wife of Thomas Waterman.

i11 bet rie

[II) Robert Allyn (2), only son of John, mar- une 26, 1691, Deborah Avery, and among their chi en . were the following sons: John, Robert, Jars, Ebenezer, Samuel, Christopher and Chris- top r (2).

rom this source came quite a large and noted fan y. Abel Allyn, father of the late Israel Allyn, of ledyard, was born on the homestead in that town Dec 24, 1790. When a young man he learned the trao of carpenter, at which he worked in the vicin- ontinuing to reside at the homestead, and after the path of his father he purchased the interests of her heirs in the place, where he lived until his

ity,

the dea

He passed away Aug. 20, 1857, and was bur l in the Ledyard cemetery. Mr. Allyn was in con rtable circumstances, owning two farms, the hon stead and the farm now occupied by Albert B. Ecc iton. He was a good citizen, always taking an

acti interest in the affairs of his town, was a model hus Und and father, and an earnest Christian, being one the prominent members and workers in the Led rd Congregational Church, which he assisted in f. nding and building. In political sentiment he was strong Whig.

May 4, 1817, Mr. Allyn married Mary Hak , who was born Nov. 6, 1794, in Ledyard, daug ter of Ezekiel Hakes, and died April 17, 1878. Eigl children blessed this union: (1) Abel, born Oct. 5, 1819, was a farmer and became quite wea. y. He died in Wethersfield, where he made his 1 ne. On March 15, 1848, he married Thank- Gridley, of West Hartford. (2) Israel was Tay 13, 1822. (3) Mary E., born Oct. 2, vas married April 26, 1848, to William Will- on of Judge Erastus Williams, of Ledyard. illiams was a farmer, and lived at Garnavillo,

ful : born 182 iams Mr. Clay 1 County, Iowa, where he died Oct. 7, 1854. aac, born Dec. 24, 1826, was a carpenter by (4)

trade He went to California during the gold ex- citen Allyı

Dec.

sidin II, I

July A. W Co., Marg Capt.

it of 1849, in company with his uncle, Edward and he was drowned Nov. 8, 1851, at Benicia, Cal. He was unmarried. (5) William M., born 3, 1828, is now a wealthy retired farmer re- in Garnavillo, Iowa. He was married Dec. 5, to Julinette Eddy. (6) Harriet N., born , 1831, was married Feb. 27, 1856, to Moses lhams, and they reside in Goshen, Litchfield n., where he is engaged in farming. (7) 'et J., born Nov. 7, 1834, is the widow of ames Allyn Billings, who is mentioned else-

where, and resides in Ledyard. (8) Hannah E., born June 2, 1837, was married to William F. Brewster, and resided in Groton, where she died Feb. 28, 1904.

Israel Allyn, son of Abel, was born on the home- stead, and there grew to manhood. He received his education in the district schools and a select school kept by a Mrs. Tuttle, in Ledyard, and, being a good scholar, learned rapidly, so that he was able to begin teaching at the age of eighteen years. After several years' work in that profession he entered the employ of Henry Bill, the publisher, at Norwich, and for twenty years traveled through the West and met with splendid success, during his connection with that business laying the foundation for the large estate he left at the time of his death. When he gave up the book business he returned to the home farm and assisted his father in the manage- ment of the place, and after the death of his father, which occurred not long afterward, succeeded him in the ownership of the homestead. There he passed the remainder of his life. Years before Mr. Allyn invested in wild lands in Iowa which in time became very valuable, and he was able to sell them at a price which made him one of the wealthy men of his community. He was one of the most sub- stantial citizens of his town, in the public affairs of which he took an active part after settling down to the management of the home place, serving a term on the board of selectmen, a term as judge of pro- bate, and in 1869 as representative from the town to the State Legislature. Every movement for the advancement or improvement of the locality had his hearty encouragement and support. He was a charter member of the Bill Library Association, and was president of the Ledyard Cemetery Association. Mr. Allyn was always an enthusiastic church worker, being a member of the Ledyard Congregational Church, and for a time served as superintendent of its Sunday-school. At his death he left a bequest of $1,000 to the church. He passed away quite sud- denly, on Jan. 22, 1897, and his remains lie in the cemetery at Ledyard.

On Nov. 25, 1873, Mr. Allyn was married to Mary Ann Williams, who was a native of Ledyard, born April 1, 1847, and was an adopted daughter of Peter Williams. She passed away May 16, 1886, the mother of three children, viz .: William Israel, born Jan. 20, 1875 ; Susan Mary, born Jan. 6, 1877, who married, Dec. 25, 1901, Wilbur E. Baldwin, a merchant at Taftville, New London county (sketch elsewhere) ; and Henry Abel, born Jan. 5, 1879.

one of the

WILLIAM ISRAEL ALLYN is rising young men of the town of Ledyard, and holds an unusually high place in the esteem of his fellow townsmen for one of his years. He was born and reared on the old Allyn farm, attending the district school and one term at the Norwich Business Col- lege, and, like his father, began his active career as a teacher. For one year he taught at Avery Hill,

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Ledyard, and then went to Taftville, where he was employed as a clerk in the store of Samuel Prentice. There he remained until the death of his father, which necessitated his return to the home place, of which he took charge, also acting as guardian for his sister and brother. He continued to reside there until after his marriage, when he returned to his former position in the store at Taftville, remaining there only a few months, however, until April, 1899, when he purchased and removed to the place which has ever since been his home, the Capt. James A. Billings place. He has made extensive improve- ments on the property since it came into his pos- session, remodeling the house and erecting a fine barn, besides doing many other things which en- hance the value and appearance of the place. He engages in general farming and fruit growing, and has been quite successful financially, in all his under- takings.

Mr. Allyn has been the recipient of many honors at the hands of his fellow townsmen. Soon after becoming of age he was elected assessor, which office he held one year. In November, 1899, he was elected town clerk and treasurer, entering upon his duties as such Jan. I, I900. He has since been elected treasurer of the town deposit fund. At the last two elections he was the candidate on both Republican and Democratic tickets, and at the last two elections received all but three of the votes cast. In 1902 Mr. Allyn was delegate from Ledyard to the Constitu- tional Convention. Such honors do not come to a man still under thirty unless they are well deserved, and unless he has shown himself capable of sup- porting the dignity and discharging the duties of responsible positions. He has also taken his place in other interests in the town, having succeeded his father as a trustee of the Bill Library and as presi- dent of the Ledyard Cemetery Association.

On Jan. 20, 1898, Mr. Allyn married Miss Mar- tha Alma Gardner, who was born Jan. 16, 1880, in Groton, daughter of Benjamin J. and Mary Jane (Billings) Gardner, and granddaughter of Capt. James Allyn Billings, of Ledyard. Two children have blessed this union: Margaret Jane, born Jan. 16, 1899, and Mary Billings, born Oct. 16, 1901, who died Oct. 21, 1902.

HENRY ABEL ALLYN, the youngest child of Israel, was born in the house he now owns and occupies, and has passed all his life there. He re- ceived his education in the district school, and since commencing the active work of life has devoted himself to farming on the old Allyn homestead, which he now owns, and which comprises ninety acres. His residence is seven miles from Nor- wich, on the direct road from that place to Mystic. Mr. Allyn is a successful farmer, and is proving an able business man in his various transactions. He is a Republican in political faith, and his religious connection is with the Ledyard Congregational Church, which he attends regularly.

HON. WILLIAM F. GATES, one of the st known and leading citizens of Lebanon, Conn. un lay claim to an old and honorable ancestry, with reaches beyond the first permanent settlements : le in New England. The English root of the fally goes back to Thomas Gates, Esq., of Highcar, County Essex, in 1327. The family was prom |it in the affairs of England during the middle o tie seventeenth century. Sir John Gates, then the ad of the family, was Chancellor of the Duchy of a1- caster, and member of the Privy Council with ruled England during the reign of Edward VI. te espoused the cause of the unfortunate Lady Grey, and lost title and estates, which were a e through the prominent marriages of his father d grandfather Sirs Geoffrey Gates, and his head ot to the block in July, 1653. Gen. Horatio Gates 10 commanded at the battle of Saratoga, "one of fe twelve decisive battles of the world," was of s stock.

Stephen Gates, the first of the name foil in America, was a son of Thomas Gates, of 1}- wich, County Norfolk, England. He came in Hingham, England, to Hingham, Massachu Is Bay colony, America, in the ship "Diligent,' f Ipswich, in 1638. He was accompanied by his le Ann and two children. They settled first at Hi- ham, and then removed to Lancaster, Mass., at le time of the settlement of that place, were ther [1 1656, but later moved to Cambridge, Mass., wife he died in 1662. His widow in 1663, married R !- ard Woodward, of Watertown, Mass., and she (+1 at Stow, Mass., Feb. 5, 1683. The children w : Elizabeth, Mary, Stephen, Thomas, Simon, I: : and Rebecca.

Thomas Gates (2) was born in 1642, and resi at Stow, Marlborough and Sudbury, Mass., then removed to Norwich and settled in the 1 ..... which subsequently became Preston, the date his purchasing in the latter town being July 1692. On July 6, 1670, he married Elizabeth F. man, and their children were: Elizabeth, born ! 1671; Sarah, born in 1673; John, born in 1678; 5 seph, born in 1680; Josiah, born in 1682 ; Deboral- 1684; Anna, in 1686; Abigail, in 1689; Joanna 1671 ; Ruth, in 1673 ; and Caleb, who married M Forbes, of Preston, Connecticut.

Caleb Gates, born in Preston, died Sept. 3, 17 In 1716 he married Mary Forbes. Their child were: Eunice, born 1717; Mary, 1718; Thon 1720; Sarah, 1722; Simon, 1724; Joshua, 17 Jesse, 1731 ; Caleb, 1735; Nathan, 1738; and Jo than, 1740.

Thomas Gates, of the above family, died at P1 ton in 1797. He married Elizabeth Mitchell, became the father of these children: Cyrus, Eb ezer, Sarah, Susannah, Eunice, Lydia, Frederi Elizabeth, Hepzibah and Ruth.

Frederick Gates, son of Thomas, was born Preston in 1769. He was engaged in agricultu pursuits through life, and also conducted a shoemi

Mr F. Gates

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in. he by an

shop at Preston, Conn. The old homestead :cupied is yet standing and tenanted though built is great-grandfather Thomas Gates before 1722, it is one of the oldest houses in the town. His l took place at Preston. He married Welthy

buł Pd TI 17 ..

rd in 1789, and survived her for many years. · had children as follows: (I) Lucy, born in married Joseph Eggleston, a shoemaker in Pr con, where she died in 1881; (2) Noah, born in® sai 92, died in 1859. He followed the life of a · and soldier, and fought in the memorable bat- tle f Lake Erie under Commodore Perry, during the var of 1812. His first wife was Mary Fitch, and his second, Mary Spicer. (3) Polly, born in 170 died unmarried at advanced age. (4) Jabez,

bor in 1796, died in 1821, unmarried. (5) Hiram,

bor in 1798, migrated to Indiana at an early day ancied there. (6) Philemon Tracy, born in 1801, wa: dealer in ship timber and resided at Preston ; he bor s also captain in the local militia. (7) Betsey, in 1803, married Simeon Hewitt in Preston, and ney resided on the Gates homestead until the dea of Mr. Hewitt, when she moved to Groton, Com , where she died. (8) Aaron Burr, born in lyn, Conn. ; he married Rebecca Mott Tracy, 180 - was a carpenter by trade and a resident of Bro and ied in 1851. (9) John Pollard, born in 1807, mar ed Mary Tillinghast ; he was a blacksmith and tool laker and a noted fashioner of axes at Pres- ton. (IO) William Pitt.

illiam Pitt Gates, the father of our subject, ion was received in the local schools. In wasborn at Preston, Conn., Jan. 8, 1810, and his educ earl manhood he apprenticed himself to Andrew Frin a worthy blacksmith at Windham, and re- mai1 1 there for several years, during which time he r rried the daughter of his employer. He re- sided

n Southbridge, Mass., for a couple of years, worl ig at his trade, and then returned for a time to V ndham and later to Colchester, remaining

some ears in the latter place. He next went back amo his old patrons at Windham, where he fol- lowe his trade for a time, and purchasing a farm ndham Centre, he operated it for the re- r of his active life. His old age was passed s son, William F., at Lebanon, and there he ay 30, 1883, and was buried at Windham. ny years he took a prominent part in poli- st as a Whig, and later as a Republican, and represented Windham in the State Legis- luring the sessions of 1866 and 1867. Mr.

at main with dlied For tics, he al laturı Gates vas a man of superior mental activity, and xept ions nself well informed on all the leading ques- : the day. He was not only noted for his ine 1 ırgur 11 the public sonal appearance, but also for his ability in nt, his capacity for speech-making, and for › qualities which go to make a representative nan. For a time he served as lieutenant of he o Windham artillery. company, and, in fact, vas nected with almost all of the prominent ffair. n Windham.

In religious belief he claimed the right of free thought. He early became interested in the sub- ject of spiritualism, and for many years he served as president of the Spiritualist Association of the State, being one of the first in his locality to accept the teachings of this body. Through life he was hampered through lack of early educational ad- vantages, for he possessed a mind which, properly trained, would have made him distinguished in pro- fessional life.

In 1835, Mr. Gates married Julia Maria Frink, born in Windham April 15, 1815, a daughter of Andrew and Phila (Stowell) Frink; she died in 1855. The three children of this union were: Wil- liam Frederick, born Aug. 8, 1836; Susan Abbe, born Feb. 8, 1838, died Feb. 26, 1860; and Henry, born in 1844, died in the same year.

William Frederick Gates was born at Windham, and his early life was passed there in the comfort- able family home. He was reared to the age of twenty years on the farm, and obtained his edu- cation in the common schools, and in an excellent select school taught by Jabez Frink at South Wind- ham. In 1858 he purchased his present farm, for- merly known as the "John Greenman farm," and a year or so later he married. Mr. Gates followed a general line of farming, and also engaged exten- sively in wood dealing, buying many tracts of wood land, clearing the same and selling the timber. The land thus acquired now comprises some 600 acres in Lebanon, making him one of the largest landhold- ers in the locality. He is considered one of the town's substantial men.

Mr. Gates gave nine months of his life to the service of his country, enlisting Aug. 19, 1862, from Lebanon, in Co. G, 26th Conn. V. I., going out under Capt. Stanton and Col. Thomas G. Kingsley. Soon after entering the service, he was detailed as an orderly to' General Banks' headquarters, and served in that capacity for about three months. After being relieved as orderly, he joined the regi- ment at Carrollton, La., and soon after, was taken sick and was confined in a hospital for three months, rejoining his regiment again at Port Hudson, La., where he remained until the expiration of his en- listment. He was honorably discharged at Nor- wich, Conn., in August, 1863.

Since his return from the army, Mr. Gates has resided at Lebanon continuously, with the exception of about three and a half years when he lived at Windham Centre. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1876 he was chosen to the board of selectmen of Lebanon, and served several years, during the last two being chairman of the board. In 1885 he was again chosen, and served for two years. For many years he has been the town auditor. In 1877 he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served on the committee on Woman Suffrage, and he was re-elected in 1883, serving on the committee on Incorporations. It was Mr. Gates who intro-

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

duced the bill to have the sheriff bury all bodies of executed criminals, a most needed measure intended to do away with the disgusting spectacle of a curious crowd attending the funeral of a murderer, and thus with maudlin sentiment, corrupting public decency. Although considerable opposition was aroused in some quarters, Mr. Gates succeeded in having the law passed. In 1895 he represented the IIth Dis- trict in the State Senate, and during that session was a very useful member of the committee on Temperance, and he succeeded in having some wise measures adopted on this subject.

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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 43

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