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 5

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568

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(III) John Coit, born in New London, Conn., ec. I, 1670, married Jan. 25, 1693, Mehetabel handler, daughter of John and Elizabeth Chandler, Woodstock. Mr. Coit passed a long life in New ondon in ship building, for which business in 1699, e town granted him land for shipyard near the point of Rocks, where in 1729 he built a wharf. r. Coit died Oct. 22, 1744. His wife survived m, dying Nov. 3, 1758. Their children were : hn, Joseph, Samuel, Thomas, Elizabeth and Mar- a, all born between 1696 and 1706, inclusive.

(IV) Joseph Coit, born Nov. 15, 1698, in New ondon, married, in June, 1732, Mary, daughter of ev. Nathaniel Hunting, of Easthampton, L. I .; le died March 29, 1733, leaving one child only- nathan, born in that year. He married (second) in.9,1739-40, Lydia Lathrop, of Norwich, and their lildren were: Elizabeth, Lucy, Lucretia, Joseph, homas, Daniel, Jerusha and Joshua, all born be- veen 1741 and 1758, inclusive. The mother of lese was born in 1718, and died Jan. 10, 1794. The ther died April 27, 1787. He passed the most f his early life in sailing as master from New Lon- on, and later in mercantile and commercial pursuits ntil the disturbance of Revolutionary times, when e removed to Norwich. In middle life he was act- re in matters of public interest. He was received to the church in 1718.

(V) Hon. Joshua Coit, born Oct. 7, 1758, in New London, married, Jan. 2, 1785, Ann Boradill, orn in 1764, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Hallam, of New London. Mrs. Coit was a superior roman and brought up her children with singular iscretion. She died March 22, 1844. To Mr. and Ars. Coit were born the following children: Rob- rt, born Nov. 6, 1785; Lydia, born Dec. 12, 1787 ; Leonard, born Nov. 12, 1789; Fanny, born Feb. II, 792; Nancy, born June 10, 1795 ; and Susan, born April 28, 1798. Joshua Coit was a rare man. He vas graduated from Harvard in 1776, studied law ind early settled in practice in New London. There le attained an honorable position, receiving numer- us offices of trust from his fellow citizens. He represented the town in the lower house of the General Assembly in 1784, 1785, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1792 and 1793, serving repeatedly as clerk and speaker. He was a representative in the United

States Congress from 1793, until the time of his death, Sept. 5, 1798, when but forty years of age. In politics he adhered mainly to the Federal party, but separated from that party on particular points in Congress, illustrating his own independent char- acter and incurring some displeasure. In 1798 yel- low fever prevailed in the central part of New Lon- don, and he fell a victim to that scourge.

(VI) Robert Coit, born Nov. 16, 1785, married Oct. 15, 1821, Charlotte; daughter of David and Elizabeth (Coit) Coit. After making a few voy- ages on commercial business to the West Indies, Mr. Coit settled in New London in the ship-chand- lery business, and later was a dealer in lumber and coal. Mr. Coit passed a long life of honorable and successful industry, receiving in many ways tokens of the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He was for a period the president of the Union Bank, withdrawing from the office prior to 1867, but re- tained the presidency of the Savings Bank, of which he was one of the founders. He served as a deacon in the Congregational Church in New Lon- don. He died in October, 1874, and his wife passed away in January, 1874. Their children were : Fanny L., born Feb. 16, 1823, was married on Aug. 26, 1861, to Rev. Aaron L. Chapin, a former president of Beloit College, Wis., and she died at Beloit in September, 1904; Charlotte, now deceased, born May 27, 1825, was married May 9, 1866, to Rev. Thomas P. Field, D. D., a former pastor of the First Congregational Church in New London ; Ann Bor- adill, born March 5, 1827, died unmarried ; Robert, born April 26, 1830; Joshua, born Feb. 4, 1832, was married Oct. 2, 1860, to Mary L. Chandler, and is a Congregational minister at Winchester, Mass .; Alfred, born May 23, 1835, married Ellen Hobron, and became the father of Judge Alfred Coit, of New London ; and Ellen, born Nov. 3, 1837, married Rev. Thomas P. Field, D. D., now deceased, and she re- sides in Beloit, Wisconsin.

ROBERT COIT, late president of the Union Bank and of the New London Northern Railroad Com- pany, a son of the late Robert Coit, was born April 26, 1830, in New London. He was prepared for college in private schools in his native town and Farmington, Conn. He entered Yale College, and was graduated with the class of 1850. Studying law with William C. Crump, and at the Yale Law School, he was admitted to the Bar in New London county in 1853, and commenced the practice of law in his native town. In 1860 he was elected judge of probate for the New London district, and effi- ciently performed the duties of that office for four years. Following this service he was for a time, and continuing in office as long as it was in force, Register in Bankruptcy, for his district. 1867, when chosen treasurer of the New London After and Northern Railroad Company, Mr. Coit's active business life was greatly taken up with the interests of that corporation, and he lived to see the value of its business more than doubled, and the value of its

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

stock increased in like proportion. He was elected mayor of New London in 1879, and directed the affairs of the city with ability and good judgment. In that same year he was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly of Connecticut, and served on the Judiciary committee and the committee on Constitutional Amendments. Following this serv- ice he was for four years a member from the Ninth District of the State Senate, where he served on various committees, being chairman of the commit- tees on Corporations, Cities and Boroughs and on Insurance. During his second term of two years, Senator Coit was President pro-tempore of the Senate. In 1897 he was again elected to the Gen- eral Assembly, and was chairman of the committee on Corporations. While in the House and Senate Mr. Coit was recognized as one of the most influen- tial members. He had been elected to both branches by handsome majorities, and in the Eastern part of the State, where he was most widely known, his popularity was and remained great. His ability, conscientiousness and acumen were recognized by those of both political parties. For many years Mr. Coit was identified with the banking interests of New London, and, too, with other corporations and enterprises, being president of the Union Bank, vice-president of the New London Savings Bank, president of the New London Steamboat Company, and also of the New London Gas & Electric Com- pany. He was secretary and treasurer of the Smith Memorial Home, and a trustee of the J. N. Harris estate.

The following complimentary notice of Mr. Coit, written by his fellow townsman, Hon. Augus- tus Brandegee, appeared some years ago in the New London Telegraph.

He was just entering upon a successful career at the Bar, when some evil genius persuaded him to take the position of treasurer of the New London Northern Rail- road, from which he was ultimately promoted to be its president. He had every quality to have made a great lawyer and ultimately a great judge. He was cultured in ancient and modern literature. He was familiar with the useful, as well as graceful sciences and arts. He had a diction and power of speech when once aroused that car- ried not only persuasion but conviction with it. He knew how to express his thoughts with the pen as well as the tongue in pure English, undefiled. He had studied law as a science from its deep English foundations, and his mind was broad enough and strong enough to apply it with its limitations and adaptations to the whole business of life. And then he had a character as pure as the sun-light which had come to him through a long line of noble ancestors, with whom honesty, fidelity, integrity and honor were hereditary transmissions, and to whom a stain was a wound. So equipped, I hoped to see him pass from the front rank of the Bar to the front rank of the Bench, as one of the great names in our judicial history. But just as his sun began to mount to its meridian he left the Bar for the more congenial activities of a business life as president of the New London Northern Railroad. To him more than any and all others, it is due, that the stock of that local corporation, in which so many of the people of this vicinity are interested, stands higher in the mar- ket, with but two or three exceptions, than any other rail- road in the United States.

On Aug. 1, 1854, Mr. Coit was married to Lı cretia Brainard, daughter of William F. and Sara (Prentis) Brainard, of New London, and to the1 came children as follows : (I) Mary Gardine born Jan. 21, 1857, died in childhood. (2) Williar Brainard was born July 23, 1862.

WILLIAM BRAINARD COIT was reared in New London, Conn., his present place of residence an field of operation. He was graduated from Phil lips' Academy, Andover, in 1881, and from the Yal Scientific School in 1884. He pursued his law stud ies in the office of Hon. John C. Crump, of Nev London, and was admitted to the Bar in New Lon don county, in 1887, and has since been identified with the legal profession in the courts of that coun. ty. He has served efficiently as prosecuting attor ney for the city of New London, and has long beer the assistant clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of New London county, a genial and popular official and a citizen of the highest type. He succeeded his father as secretary and treasurer of the Smith Me- morial Home. He is vice-president of the Union Bank. In 1901, and again in 1903, he represented New London in the State Legislature. In the for- mer session he was chairman of the committee on House Rules, also member of the committee on cities and boroughs, and a member of the committee on Revision of Statutes. In the latter session he was chairman of committee on Cities and Boroughs. In 1903 he was elected by the General Assembly, Judge of the city and police court of New London. On Oct. 20, 1886, Mr. Coit was married to Anna Blan- chard Bancroft, a daughter of Major E. A. Ban- croft, U. S. A., and Eleanor (Croes) Bancroft.

The Hon. Robert Coit passed away on Sunday night June 19, 1904. As late as the Wednesday be- fore he had been down town, and the news of his death, so unexpected, caused universal and sincere regret among all classes of society. His strong per- sonality, his high attainments, his sterling intergity, and his great good heart were appreciated by his fellow citizens, who revered him as a man and citizen-one who reflected credit on the town and the business interests with which he was identified. The flags on the city hall and the liberty pole were at half mast in his honor.

Mr. Coit believed strongly in birth, feeling it a duty he owed to his ancestors to maintain unsullied the family escutcheon. He was an active worker in the Society of Colonial Wars in Connecticut, and he was chairman of the commission to place a bronze statue of John Winthrop in New London. In his death the whole State mourns with the bereaved widow and son, for the noble man who entered into rest.

Of him the New Haven Register said :

The death of Robert Coit of New London removes from the life of that city one of its foremost citizens. He had reached a ripe old age, and at the moment of his death was enthusiastic in a state service designed to honor the first governor of Connecticut, and the city of New London in which he lived. Personally he was a most

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

orming man, fond of his friends and delighting in their ( t ipany. Keen as' a man of affairs, his probity of char- ¿ r and his rare sense of humor made him a representa- son of old Connecticut.

The Norwich Bulletin of date June 20, 1904, 1 1 this tribute to his memory :

Endowed with keen intelligence, marked executive ¿ ity and conservative judgment in financial affairs, he fays held the confidence of the public, faithfully dis- drging the duties of a number of important offices. He an esteemed member of the Republican party.

HON. JEREMIAH HALSEY (deceased). e Connecticut Bar has given to New London € nty some of the most brilliant legal minds the urld has ever known, and among these none held nore honored place, won not alone by his clear 1 soning, sound conclusions, and thorough mastery the technicalities, but by his native nobility and nity of character, than the late Jeremiah Halsey, o entered into rest on Sunday, Feb. 9, 1896, at ashington, D. C.

Mr. Halsey was born in Preston, Conn., Feb. 8, 22, a son of Jeremiah S. and Sally ( Brewster) lsey, and a grandson of Col. Jeremiah Halsey, of eston, who was an active officer in the Continental ny. Mrs. Sally (Brewster) Halsey was a de- ndant in the sixth generation in direct line from ler William Brewster, of the "Mayflower" npany.

Jeremiah Halsey received his literary training in public and private schools of Preston, and for a he was a student at Norwich Academy. It had en his intention to enter Yale, but ill health made it an impossibility, and he was obliged to go uth in search of a milder climate. He located at wkinsville, Ga., and became a student in the law ice of Polhill & Whitfield. On April 23, 1845, he is admitted to the Bar in Georgia, and on Decem- r IIth following to that of Windham county, Conn. s health had not improved sufficiently for him to gage in continued work, so that until September, 49, he passed his time in travel and study. He en opened a law office in Norwich with the late muel C. Morgan, and from that time until his ath was actively engaged in the practice of the ofession he so loved. When, as a young lawyer, faced the Bar of New London county, he found any there who had acquired far more than a local me, but Mr. Halsey in a very short time displayed e ability and erudition that made him their equal, id that firmly fixed his place in the front rank of e foremost lawyers of the State. In April, 1863, was admitted to the Bar of the United States ircuit court, and on Feb. 20, 1870, to the Supreme urt of the United States. In the courts of the tate and nation his practice was most varied, but all departments of law he seemed equally at home. Mr. Halsey preferred his profession and the hon- 's of legal battles, bravely and honorably fought id won, to distinction in the political arena. Or-

iginally he was a Whig, but later became a Repub- lican. While he held many offices, the office always sought him. In 1852 and 1853 he represented Nor- wich in the State Legislature, and again in 1859 and 1860. In 1873 he was appointed by Gov. Ingersoll one of the commissioners to supervise the construc- tion of the new statehouse at Hartford, and he so served until the completion of the building, in 1880. This statehouse, to the honor of the commissioners be it said, was built within the appropriation. In 1853 Mr. Halsey was made city attorney, and for fifteen years efficiently discharged the duties of that office, and for several years he was corporation counsel. Men of all parties reposed confidence in him, because of his uncompromising honesty and his absolute impartiality. Among the lawyers of the State he early became first. His cases were always well studied, and his logical reasoning and perfect command of language literally gave to his opponent no loophole. Judges and lawyers admired him as a brilliant member of their profession, and they re- spected him as a man among men. His life was pure, his habits simple and democratic, and his ca- reer showed no shadow or stain. While his disposi- tion was somewhat retiring, his friends knew him to love him. His pupils found in him a sympathetic listener and a most congenial companion, and in his home he was a most devoted husband.

Mr. Halsey was a trustee of the Norwich Free Academy ; a member of the advisory council of the United Workers ; a member of the citizens corps of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R .; trustee and counsel of the Norwich Savings Society ; director of the First Na- tional Bank; counsel for the Chelsea Savings and Thames National Banks; director of the New Lon- don Northern Railway Company; and, associated with Rev. W. W. Sylvester ( former rector of Trin- ity) and Hon. John T. Wait, was one of the original incorporators of the Huntington Memorial Home.

In his religious belief Mr. Halsey was an Epis- copalian, and a member of Christ Church parish, taking an active interest in its welfare. His death occurred at the "Hamilton Hotel," in Washington, D. C., whither he and his wife had gone for the winter. His health had been poor for some time, but such was his power of endurance and self-efface- ment that few realized his race was so nearly run, and the sad intelligence that all was over was a severe shock to the many friends at home. Services at the capital were attended by many whose names are household words all over the land-men whom he had met in public life and who had learned to admire him for his upright character and his great ability. All gathered to pay a last tribute to this sturdy son of Connecticut. Final services were held at his Norwich home, and were attended by the mayor, the city council, town and county officials, representatives of the great financial institutions of the county, and a large number of the members of the New London county Bar. Besides these, noted judges from all over the State came to do honor to

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

one they loved and esteemed. The interment took place in Yantic cemetery, the burial services being read by Rev. Erit B. Schmitt, of Stonington (formerly of Trinity, this city), and closing with the beautiful hymn, "Now the Laborer's Task is Done."

On June 1, 1854, Jeremiah Halsey was united in marriage with Elizabeth Fairchild, of Ridgefield, Conn., who survives him.

HON. HUGH HENRY OSGOOD (deceased), for a number of years one of the leading druggists of the State of Connecticut, at the time of his death president of the Norwich Druggists' Association, and associated with numerous other enterprises, commercial and otherwise, in his city, county and State, was one of the most progressive, successful and altogether creditable citizens Norwich has ever had the honor to claim. Perhaps no better descrip- tion of the character of the man could be given than that which appears on the tablet at the entrance to the beautiful parish house of Park Congregational Church, erected to his memory: "An interested and generous member of Park Congregational Church from its organization ; a sincere and earnest Chris- tian; a public-spirited citizen ; a broad-minded pa- triot ; a wise counsellor; a devoted and unselfish friend ; a man of noble powers, nobly used." The last clause is the keynote to his whole life.

Col. Osgood was born Oct. 10, 1821, in South- bridge, Mass., son of Artemas and Saloma (John- son) Osgood, and passed his earlier years at his na- tive place. At the age of ten he came to Norwich, and first lived with an uncle, but his parents came hither later, from Pomfret, and the family resided in what is now the Young block, on Franklin Square. Mr. Osgood's early ambitions inclined him toward the drug business, and he entered the employ of Samuel Tyler & Son (afterward Tyler & Devotion), who conducted a drug store in a small wooden build- ing on Water street, where the Tyler Building now stands. In March, 1842, in company with his uncle, Dr. Charles Lee, he opened a drug store under the firm name of Lee & Osgood, occupying the room later used for part of their wholesale business. Dr. Lee remained as a member of their firm until his death, in the middle sixties, and Mr. Osgood con- tinued in the business for over half a century, until his death on Oct. 22, 1899. The concern prospered beyond all expectation, in time requiring two large buildings, and Mr. Osgood came to the front not only in that line, but in every branch of commercial enterprise in his section. At the time of his death he was president of the Uncas Paper Company, the Goodwin Cork Company, the Dime Savings Bank, and the Sterling Dyeing & Finishing Company of Sterling, Conn. He served a long time as president of the Worcester Thread Company, of Worcester, Mass., and the Glasgo Yarn Company, of Glasgo, Conn., until they were absorbed by the American Thread Company. He served a long time as presi-

dent of the Norwich Bleaching, Dyeing & Printi Company, and when it was merged into the Uni- States Finishing Company, of New York, he : came vice-president of the new concern. He wa: director of the Thames National Bank, the Fi National Bank, the Ashland Cotton Company, Jewett City, the Norwich Gas & Electric Compal the Yantic Woolen Company, and the Richmo Stove Company. Ever on the alert to advance t interests of his own city, he was one of the ear promoters of the Norwich Bulletin, and acted president of the Bulletin Association and the Bull tin Company ; and he was one of the prime move in the organization of the Norwich Board of Trac was the first president of that body, and never lo his interest in it.

Mr. Osgood was equally active in the publ life of the community. He served several terms : a member of the court of common council, and wa subsequently honored with the mayoralty of the cit serving from 1875 to 1876, and from 1877 to 188 with what satisfaction may be best judged from th length of his term. Whenever he consented to ru he was elected with flattering majorities, which wer fully explained by the character of his administra tion. Many public improvements were inaugurate and carried through while he was in office, amon the most important being a sewer system in the cer. tral part of the city, and the introduction of the fir alarm telegraph. He was always interested in th fire department. When the Wauregan Steam Fir Engine Company was organized, his name headed the list, and he was foreman several years, and al ways a warm friend of the organization, in which he retained an honorary membership until his death' Public education was another matter to which he gave especial attention. He was a Fellow of the Corporation of the Norwich Free Academy, and for over forty years served as treasurer of the Center school district.

During the Civil war Mr. Osgood was an ardent Union man, aided in raising and sending troops to the front, and was a member and on the executive committee of the Loyal League, an organization formed to advance the Union cause. While William A. Buckingham was governor Mr. Osgood was a member of his staff, ranking as colonel, and he was the only one on the staff who served through that governor's entire administration. He was a pro- moter of the organization of the Buckingham Rifles. His political allegiance was originally given to the Whig party, and he joined the Republican party at its organization, and was ever after one of its stanch- est supporters.

Socially Mr. Osgood was one of the organizers of the Kitemaug Association, of which he was presi- dent ; was a charter member of the Norwich Club; and held membership in the Arcanum Club. Fra- ternally he stood high in Masonic circles. In 1860 he joined Somerset Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M., and in 1872 he became a charter member of St. James

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

odge, No. 23, F. & A. M .; he also affiliated with anklin Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; Franklin uncil, No. 3, R. & S. M .; Columbian Command- y, No. 4, K. T. ; and all of the Scottish Rite bodies. e was one of the trustees of the Masonic Temple orporation bonds.

Mr. Osgood's religious connection was with the ırk Congregational Church, of which he was one the constituent members, and he served for years chairman of the Society's committee. He attend- services regularly, and was active in every branch work undertaken by the congregation, but he was articularly interested in the Parish House Asso- ation organized to promote Church work and build parish house to accommodate the needs of an in- easing membership, and afford room for the vari- is entertainments and social functions of the con- egation. In February, 1895, it was voted to pur- lase a piece of land south of the chapel, which had en offered to the association for $3,000. Col. Os- pod purchased the land himself, and before his eath deeded it to the association. He was much terested with the idea of having this needed build- g, and on the Easter morning after his death it as announced that Mrs. Osgood would make a gift a parish house in memory of her husband. The eautiful building, complete in every detail, and nple for every requirement, was dedicated on Sun- ay, November 2, 1902, and is a fitting memorial to le high Christian character in whose honor it was ared. It is the most beautiful structure of the kind eastern Connecticut. Colonel Osgood was inter- sted in all benevolent and charitable work, was a ice-president of the Y. M. C. A., was a member of le advisory committee of the United Workers, and or two years was president of the Norwich City lission. In all these organizations, as, indeed, in very body with which he was connected, Mr. Os- ood was a power for good, possessing much influ- ice with all his associates-the result of a life of nimpeachable integrity, combined with ability of high order. The welfare of his employes was al- ays a matter of concern to him, and he had their nbounded confidence and esteem, and the same light be said of his relations with his patrons, mong whom he was regarded with feelings of the tmost respect. He was often chosen to act as nairman at public meetings, and invariably gave itisfaction in such positions, his remarks being few nd well chosen, typical of his unassuming and re- ring disposition. All the honors he received came him entirely unsolicited, and Dr. Howe expressed le general sentiment when, in his funeral address, e said: "No office in his reach could have brought im added honor. The few offices of trust and re- ponsibility which his fellow townsmen thrust upon im added nothing to the name he won, and were nly accepted as the means of rendering his city a eeded service." Such was the impression he made pon those with whom he daily associated.

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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 5

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