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 63

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 63

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On Sept. 26, 1872, Mr. Hovey married, in Web- ster, Mass., Emma F. Joslin, daughter of Nathan Joslin, founder of the "Joslin House," of Webster. The following children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Hovey : Mabel Estelle, born Jan. 18, 1874, who mar- ried Sept. 14, 1898, R. H. Vaughn, of Norwich; Nathan Joslin, born May 24, 1877, who died May 20, 1885 ; Grace E., born June 9, 1884, who in 1903 graduated from Norwich Free Academy and is now attending Simmons College, Boston; and an infant that died Nov. 1, 1889.

Mr. Hovey is a Republican in principle, but is not an active politician. Fraternally he belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and to the Knights Templars. His wife is a member of the Broadway Congregational Church, with which he is also identified.

WHEELER. The Wheeler family is one of the oldest settled families of New London county, Conn., and the record of it reads as follows :

(I) Thomas Wheeler, the pioneer ancestor of the family, was doubtless of English origin. The first knowledge we have of him in this country is when he appears as a resident of the town of Lynn, Mass., in 1635, where he held official position. He

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

became a freeman in 1642, purchased a large tract of land, and built and operated a saw and grist mill. In 1645, he married Mary -- , a woman of pleas- ing and attractive accomplishments, who graced her domestic duties with cheerful loveliness, filling his home with light and love. The children of this marriage were: Isaac, born in 1646; Elizabeth, born in 1648, who married Joseph Witter; and Sarah, born in 1650. In 1667, he sold his business and real estate, and moved to Stonington, Conn. Mr. Wheeler was an intimate friend of the Rev. Joseph Noyes, who came to Stonington the same year that Mr. Wheeler located in the place. Mr. Wheeler was made a freeman of the Connecticut Colony in 1669, elected representative to the General Court in 1673, and was one of the nine who originated the First Congregational Church of Stonington, June 3, 1674. His wife also partook of the first communion serv- ice held in the church. Mr. Wheeler built his home in North Stonington, and there he and his wife lived and died. They are buried in the old Whitehall burial place on the east bank of the Mystic river. He died March 6, 1686, aged eighty-four years.

(II) Isaac Wheeler, born in 1646, married, Jan. 10, 1667, Martha, daughter of Thomas and Dorothy (Thompson) Park. He served in the Colonial In- dian wars, and died June 5, 1712, while his widow passed away Feb. 14, 1717.

(III) Richard Wheeler, born March 10, 1677, married, Dec. 12, 1702, Prudence, daughter of Deacon John Payson, and granddaughter of Edward Payson, and Mary Eliot, sister of the Apostle Eliot. Richard Wheeler died April 12, 1712, and his widow later married Christopher Avery, of Groton.

(IV) Jonathan Wheeler, born Feb. 7, 1708, mar- ried, March 1, 1732, Esther Dennison. He died Oct. 8, 1790, and she March 18, 1790.

(V) Jonathan Wheeler (2), born Jan. 20, 1737, married, April 29, 1756, Priscilla Lester. He died Jan. 28, 1807, and she died Dec. 20, 1803.

(VI) Lester Wheeler, born July 24, 1757, mar- ried, Feb. 9, 1774, Eunice, daughter of David and Eunice (Brown) Bailey. He died May 15, 1835, and she died June 29, 1837.

(VII) William Wheeler, born Jan. 21, 1782, married in 1800, Wealthy Turner. The children of this marriage were: Eliza A., born in 1802, married, Sept. 26, 1828, Benjamin F. Williams ; and William E., born June 16, 1807. William Wheeler was a resident of North Stonington, and by occupation was a farmer. He was one of the defenders of Ston- ington from the attack of the British.

(VIII) William E. Wheeler was born at Ston- ington, Conn., and spent his boyhood days at North Stonington, where he attended school at the head of the river. When a young man he went to sea on a sailing vessel, and later on whaling ships. Still later he was on coasting vessels, sailing until 1854 from New York to southern United States ports, and sometimes further. In 1854 he went in the

East India trade, sailing from New York to hina, for A. A. Lowe & Bros., thus continuing ar ten years, he being on the barque "Penguin." F1865 he ran a steamer from New York to souther ports. He lived to be eighty-two years old, he (ng in May, 1889. In Groton, Conn., on Aug. 2 he married Pedee Heath, of Groton, who October, 1891. The children born to this r were: Eliza A., married John J. Godfrey, : l died in Groton; William E., Jr .; Charles H. is : of Mystic, Conn .; and Horace N. is a dru grocer fist of Mystic, Connecticut.

1831, fed in Triage

State being William E. Wheeler was a member of t Legislature, and held many lesser office very prominent as a Democrat. Fraternall he be- longed to Charity and Relief Lodge of Masc ing his long and eventful life Mr. Wheeler tained Dur- many friends, and impressed all who knew 1 1 with his sterling traits of character, which wei many, and firmly established himself in the confi the community. His death was keenly felt outside his immediate home circle, and his is tenderly cherished, as he was a man who himself to those who came in contact with

WILLIAM EDWARD WHEELER was Mystic, Conn., in the town of Groton, he 24, 1842, and there spent his early boyhood days attend- ing school, and working upon the farm. Fra year he went to sea with his father as cabin It, at a salary of two dollars a month. He then Itended the excellent academy at Mystic, and late became shipping clerk in a steam, water and gas pi fitting company in Clift street, New York. Agair fe wen to sea with his father for a year, and upon 1 } returi was employed in a sash and blind factory fofa shor time.

His next change was made when he fent New York and shipped aboard the "Abral n Lin coln" bound for France. On Sept. 5, 186 he ro turned from this voyage, and joined, at Mys , Con pany C, 2Ist Conn V. I., for a period of th He was wounded May 16, 1864, at Drur year Bluf Va., and was sent first to the field hos] later to the hospital at Newport News. al, an I, 1864, he was honorably discharged, and bon h return from the war, he went west to Ill bis an Wisconsin. His father having, in the m nwhil gone into the grocery business with a partne about this time discovered that the intere partner was for sale, and in 1867, W of tl Wheeler, Jr., returned and engaged in the iam

usine for seven years, when he moved to the pre nt loc cation of the W. C. T. U. building ; stil ater moved to the present site of R. A. Sta on, ar in 1885 built his own store. There he har jed gr ceries, dry goods and hardware, until Ice, wh he disposed of his grocery interests to R. AStanto

Fraternally Mr. Wheeler is a memberof Wi iams Post G. A. R .; of Charity and Reli Lods A. F. & A. M .; Mistuxet Lodge, K ghts

fice of , many emory ,leared [n. rn in

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ythias A. O. U. W. ; I. O. R. M. ; and is very pop- lar in I of these organizations. Mr. Wheeler is n inccforator of the Groton Savings Bank.

On as mali Hanna n. 4, 1869, in Groton, Conn., Mr. Wheeler ed to Sarah Stark, daughter of Albert and N. (Wolfe) Stark, of Groton. The chil- ren bor orn F to this union were: (I) Albert Edward, 5, 1871, was educated in Mystic, and has pent afof his business career in his father's store. During le session of 1903 he represented the town the fate Legislature as a Democrat, and served pon to important committee on Manufactures nd Lei lative Expenses. Fraternally he is a mem- e Masonic order, the I. O. O. F., Mystic er of Encamfient, the Sons of Veterans and the Red Men. i the business world he is recognized as ne of e leading young men of Mystic, while so- ially 1 s very popular. (2) Ada, born March 14, d Sept. 27, 1874. (3) Frank Rowland, 7. 4, 1875, graduated from the high school and the Connecticut Literary Institute, at

873,

born n 189

Suffiel In 1897 he was graduated from Brown Jnivery, and in 1898 took a post-graduate course n that stitution of learning, receiving the degrees and A. M. In 1899 he attended the Gallu- ge, in preparation for the teaching of the of B. 1 let Cc leaf at Tashington, D. C., after which he taught in he Illi s State Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, at

our y

ackso ille, that state, for a year, and for the past s, he has been at Faribault, Minn. He mar- ied H n M. Rudd, of West Mystic, and they have one ch Helen E., born May 25, 1902. (4) Ella Harris a's born Oct. 22, 1889.

ered

Fo many years Mr. Wheeler has been num- long the successful, ambitious and capable usine

men of Mystic, and his house ranks among he fir: if its kind, not only in the city, but through- ut the tire county, the volume of business increas- ng ste ly with each succeeding year. Not only has Mr. Wheeler had the ability to conduct his busi-

essfully, but he has also found time to give to public improvements, although not a

less s ittenti politic , and can always be counted upon to favor Ill me ires looking toward a betterment of exist- itions. During a long business career, he ys employed honorable methods, and taken n giving his customers the best articles in et, at prices as low as consistent with good

ng co mas al i prid The m: qualit und as a result his reputation as a solid and

reliab merchant is unquestioned, and his popu- arity ·sonally, is marked.

CHILES HENRY WHEELER was born in Mystic, 'onn. the town of Stonington, July 19, 1845, and here ent his boyhood days, attending school on the C on side of the river. When only twelve Fears

age, however, he went to sea with his father m th arque "Penguin," on a voyage of twenty- nths. Returning home he took a two-years nd then went as boy with Capt. George B.

hrce course Crary 1 the "B. F. Hoxie," from New York to San cisco. From that city the ship went to the

Gulf of California and thence to Falmouth, England. At 16 degrees North Latitude, he was captured by the southern privateer "Florida," and held ten days, when he was placed on the whaling schooner "Ver- non H. Hill," on which he remained about ten days, when he was landed at Bermuda, and placed with the United States consul. There he remained a week, and then was sent home on the brig "Hen- rietta," landing in New York City at the time of the negro riot. From J. S. Fish of that city, he ob- tained money to carry him home, where he was warmly welcomed after his exciting adventures. He was on the steamer "Fanny," United States trans- port, which was run down off Fortress Monroe ; and on the "Linda," the "California," and "Nevada," and the "Ann Maria," all United States transports. After the war, he went to San Francisco on the steamer "California," hailing from New York, stopping at Rio Janeiro, through the Straits of Magellan, stopping at Lota and Valparaiso, Chili, and Callao, Peru, then to San Francisco, and, after several years there engaged in the coasting trade, he returned on the "Invincible" to New York. He then went to Australia on the barque "Free Trade," thence to San Francisco, where he remained five years engaged in the coasting trade. From there he returned on the ship "Young America." He next engaged in the coasting trade on Long Island Sound, and was also interested in fishing in the same body of water. At one time he ran the "Zepher" and the "Julia," pleasure boats from Mystic to Fishers Island and New London. For two years he was mate of the Ram Island light ship, and for two years more he worked for the government on the break- water construction. His next venture was the pur- chase of the schooner "Grace Phillips," with which he engaged in fishing for about twelve years. At that time he sold his vessel, and bought a fish mar- ket on Bank street, New London, conducting it for two years. Returning to Mystic, July 10, 1901, he embarked in the grocery business on Pearl street, and is now one of the leading grocers of this city, where he has a very flourishing business, and enjoys a large trade.

Fraternally Mr. Wheeler is a member of the A. O. U. W. ; Stonington Lodge I. O. O. F .; Orient Encampment at New London; and the Jibboom Club, and is one of the most popular members of these organizations.

In 1873 Mr. Wheeler was married at Noank, Conn., to Miss Isabel F. Myers, a native of that place, now deceased. One daughter was born to this union : Eliza A., of Mystic, Conn., who married George J. Green, and resides in Mystic, where Mr. Green is a drug clerk in the employ of H. N. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler is one of the most genial of men, entertaining in conversation, and pleasing in manner, and one who makes and retains hosts of friends wherever he goes.

HORACE NELSON WHEELER was born in Mystic, Conn., in the town of Stonington, Oct. 2, 1849. He

272

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

spent his boyhood days in Mystic, on the Groton side of the river, and attended the schools of the fifth district, and also the academy. Later he attended Palmer Gallop's private school in Mystic, Connec- ticut.

At the age of fourteen years Mr. Wheeler began clerking for Francis M. Manning, of Mystic, with whom he remained until 1882. In 1873, he became a pharmacist, and in July, 1882, he succeeded Mr. Manning in the control of the business. In addition Mr. Wheeler is interested in the Mystic Distilling Company, manufacturers of Witch Hazel and Witch Hazel tar soap, which industry is located in Groton, with the following roll of officers : John C. Nichol, president ; George W. Nichol, secretary ; H. N. Wheeler, treasurer ; and G. M. Gates, manager.

Mr. Wheeler also controls the Aceton Medical Company, manufacturers of Dr. Marland's Aceton, a cure for headache, neuralgia and la grippe, whose offices are also located at Mystic, with a branch office at No. 79 Murray street, New York City. Since 1895 Mr. Wheeler has been in control, and since then the business has made rapid strides for- ward, and is now in an extremely flourishing con- dition.

On Nov. 30, 1871, Mr. Wheeler was married in the Episcopal Church at Groton, by the Rev. O. F. Starkey, to Ella E. Giddings, of Groton, daughter of Gordon Giddings, of Groton. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, John Godfrey, born March 19, 1875, who married Sadie Balmer, of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts.

Mr. Wheeler is a member of Charity and Relief Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Stonington Lodge, I. O. O. F. ; and Knights of Pythias Mistuxet Lodge, and he has served as district deputy of the I. O. O. F., as well as being very active in all the organizations.

Without doubt, Mr. Wheeler is one of the best known druggists of New London county, and his remarkable success is largely due to his thorough understanding of his profession, and his excellent business management, which has enabled him to take advantage of opportunities when offered. His in- terests outside his pharmacy are very large, and re- quire much of his time, but he gives a personal su- pervision to the establishment in which he worked his way up from errand boy to sole proprietor. Mr. Wheeler, like the other members of his family, is very popular with his intimates, and enjoys the friendship of a wide circle, in which are included many of the prominent people, not only of New London county, but of the State. His son is one of the rising young men of Mystic, and both father and son are good Democrats, although neither have time nor inclination for public life.

JAMES LEWIS REED. Industry, thrift and sound judgment form a combination of qualities which will win success in any line of effort, and the history of this excellent citizen, late of New London, shows that he possessed them all in a high

degree. Mr. Reed was a successful contrac and builder, and was born at Great Bend, near tter- town, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1836, son of Scammel eed , a native of Keene, N. H., and his wife Lau Brit- ton.

Scammell Reed was a cabinetmaker bygade. He resided at Great Bend, N. Y., for a numer of years, later going to Watertown, where 1 |died about 1846. His widow survived many yes, or until 1873, when she passed away in New Indon, Conn., at the home of her son James L.

James L. Reed was the tenth child and y igest rents

son in a family of eleven children. The were people of respectability, but their mea {were limited, and with their large family of chi gen it was found necessary to utilize early the capacity of each. Thus, when James L. wabut a ning lad of ten he had no little practical knowlige of the meaning of self-support. He attended chool in Watertown, where he was a pupil in wig was known as the "old brick schoolhouse." As a by he manifested a thirst for knowledge, and so [1 did he improve his meager advantages, and sethor- oughly did he supplement them by readi and study at home, that he was able to lay a bro: solid foundation for his success in after life. Hi chool days over when he was about eighteen, he .s not the type of young man to wait for someting to turn up, but was ready to go out and hun for it. An older brother, DeWitt C., was then 1 ing in New London, Conn., where young James con- cluded he would go. Some money was n cessary for such a journey, and in order to supply mme he sold some hens that he owned, also his gh and other articles he had accumulated. With ceeds from these sales he came to New pro- Endon. ·stina- cents. ing to honest New This was in 1854, and when he reached his tion his cash on hand amounted to only a fe The young man was full of energy, and w work at anything that would bring him ar dollar. Among his very first employers London was Major John Gard, who later be fne his father-in-law. No matter what his work M Reed always took a pride and interest in it, an before long he was known as a thoroughly reli ,e and steady-going young man-a reputation thas ho grew older became so thoroughly establis d that he bore it until his death.

On April 21, 1857, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Jeannette M. Gard, daughter of Ma : John Gard and Eliza Patchen. Fortunate in his lection of a wife, she proved a worthy helpmate, d con tributed her full share toward their later s cess.

During the Civil war Mr. Reed was inhe em ploy of Col. Thomas Fitch, who bought hises fo the government. He followed the sea at terval for about three years, making several whag voy ages, visiting France and at another tim Greer land. On one of these voyages the veel wa wrecked and the Captain entrusted Mr. Rd wit $3,000 in gold to be delivered to the owr s.

273

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rece was given, so an associate suggested that they ivide the money, but Mr. Reed indignantly refu , although in order to reach home with the fm intact he was even obliged to sell som of his clothes in Philadelphia. After leav- ing e sea Mr. Reed went to work for Havens & capell, as a ship carpenter and joiner, and mained either under that firm or under Mrs Richard Chapell for over forty years, in t time working on more than fifty vessels. Fro the time of his first saving he was partial to real-cate investments, and as his accumulations grev he 1 e continued to invest in realty. About 1870 an for 'himself as a contractor and builder, config his operations mainly to erecting dwelling- hous in New London. Twelve of these were built for esta

iself as a speculation. A good judge of real- values, his operations were attended with suc- cess that at the time of his death, Feb. 4, 1901, Mr. ed left a valuable estate. He was a self-made

rega but

man the strictest sense of the term, not only as the accumulation of worldly possessions, : manner in which it was done, and the en- viab reputation for strict integrity that he enjoyed. "Hi "ord was as good as his bond."

1 Reed was always of a studious and medi- tativ turn of mind and a great reader, taking the NewYork Tribune for many years, and in the cour of his life drawing over 1,000 books from the libre His naturally fine memory was, in addi- tion lo well trained that he could often repeat who

sections of any discourse which he had heard. Poli ally Mr. Reed was an ardent Republican, thor he had too many other responsibilities to ente xtensively in public life. For one term, how- ever e was a member of the common council. In his ly manhood, in 1865, he helped form Com- panyp, Conn. N. G., and was the first lieutenant of the pany. For many years he was a member of the od Templars.

Il. Reed's activities in the line of church work werd y no means confined to his own denomination. For fer forty years he was a member of the Hunt- ingt Street Baptist Church, and a teacher of a larg Sunday-school class there. But even with that

mand upon his thought and time his attend- ance as uninterrupted at the Second Congrega- Sunday-school, then under the charge of Mr.

tion. Hen P. Havens, where he taught a class every Sun , before going to his own church services, and tere he was appointed one of a committee to buil he Bradley Street Mission. His chief inter- ; in the cause of religion, the advancement of

est whi

seemed to him a duty which it can be truth- full

tid he endeavored to discharge.

his funeral were members of all denomin- atio: From the time that he was a boy there was in 1 unusual evidence of high moral character and keen sense of honor. These boyhood traits beca more prominent with advancing years. Wh a young man he showed a strong abhorrence 18

for intemperance. At times when with companions who frequented places where intoxicants were sold, young Reed would wait outside for those who went in. No amount of persuasion could induce him to take the first drink. He had a mind of his own, and when he took a position for what he thought was right he was firm to the last. In the use of to- bacco he was equally abstemious. When a young man at sea he found great interest in reading the Bible, which on one voyage he read through three times. Honor and integrity marked him always in his dealings with his fellowmen. He took great pride in the promptness with which he met his ob- ligations, and no man paid a debt with any greater pleasure than did James L. Reed. A man of un- usually sound judgment, he was very frequently consulted by men of all ranks, and his death was deeply lamented by the many who had classed him among their trusted friends.

Mr. Reed was survived by his widow and daugh- ter, Nettie A., who reside at the family home, No. 47 Broad street.

SIDNEY MINER. In the death of Sidney Miner, Dec. 29, 1881, a man who was long one of New London's substantial men and useful citizens, there passed from that community a life which had been one of great business activity and of material influence for the good of society. Born Dec. 16, 1805, Mr. Miner was a son of Frederick and Han- nah (Wood) Miner, and came of an ancient family of England, the records dating back to the early part of the fourteenth century. From that period to the emigrant settler in New England, and from him to the deceased, has been preserved an unbroken Miner lineage. This shows Sidney Miner to have been in the fourteenth generation from Henry Miner, of England, and in the seventh generation from Lieut. Thomas Miner, emigrant New Eng- land settler.

(I) According to Heraldric Essay now in the Historical Society rooms at Hartford, Conn., the surname of Miner had its origin in England in this wise : During the reign of King Edward III, from 1327 to 1377, the King preparing for war with France took progress through Somerset, and came to Mendippe Hill, where lived a man by the name of Henry Bullman, a miner by profession, whose ex- traordinary and successful efforts to aid the King in his movements of war, with one hundred powerful men-his own retainers and domestics-in the serv- ice, so pleased the King that he granted him a coat of arms, with the name of Henry Miner thereon, in recognition of his loyalty and patriotic devotion to him and his cause. This Henry Miner died in 1359, leaving four sons heirs-at-law of the realm. These were :. Henry, Edward, Thomas and George.

(II) Henry Miner (2) married Henrietta Hicks.

(III) William Miner married a Miss Greeley.

(IV) Lodowick Miner married Anna Dyer ..

(V) Thomas Miner married Bridget Hervie.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(VI) William Miner (2) married Isabella Har- cope.

(VII) Clement Miner married Sarah Pope.

(VIII) Lieut. Thomas Miner, born April 23, 1608, married in Charlestown, Mass., April 23, 1634, Grace Palmer, born in 1608, in England, daughter of Walter Palmer. Mr. Miner appears as a member of the church in Charlestown, Mass., in 1632, and he was a proprietor of the town in 1634. He removed to Hingham, and was a proprietor there in 1636. From Hingham, Mass., he removed his family, in 1646, to Pequot (now New London, Conn.), where five of his ten children were born. His children were: John, Clement, Thomas, Ephraim, Joseph, Manasseh (first white male child born in Pequot), Ann, Maria, Samuel and Hannah. Lieut. Miner served in the Colonial Indian wars.

(IX) Ephraim Miner, baptized in Hingham, Mass., May 1, 1642, married Jan. 20, 1666, Hannah Avery, and their children were: Ephraim, Thomas, Hannah, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Samuel, Deborah, Samuel (2), James, Grace and John. Ephraim Miner served in King Philip's war.

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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 63

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