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 68

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 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HON. JOHN NELSON LEWIS, director and treasurer of the Briggs Manufacturing Company at Voluntown, and ex-State Senator, is a well known citizen of Voluntown and New London county, where for the past thirty years he has been identified with the manufacturing and political world. He was born in Exeter, R. I., April 23, 1847.

The Lewises were early in the town of Exeter, and probably descended from John Lewis, pro- genitor of the numerous Lewises of Westerly, R. I., in which town John Lewis is of record in 1661, as a signer of certain articles in relation to Misquamicut lands ; he was a freeman of the town in 1668, and was an inhabitant of the town in 1669.

James Lewis, whose birth is of record in Exeter as occurring Nov. 20, 1745, a son of James and Elizabeth, married, Jan. 15, 1775, Thankful Barber. The children of this marriage were: Abigail, born Sept. 19, 1775; James, born Feb. 28, 1778; Eliza- beth, born April 27, 1780; Hannah, born April I, 1782; Thankful, born July 22, 1784; Lydia, born June 12, 1786; Esther, born Feb. 12, 1788; Nathan Barber, born March 30, 1790; Moses B., born April 19, 1797 ; David M., born June 24, 1799; and Sarah Gates.

Nathan Barber Lewis, son of James and Thank- ful, born March 30, 1790, married, Feb. 4, 1808, Sally Richmond, daughter of Stephen Richmond, and their children were: James, born Oct. 11, 1810; Lucy, born July 2, 1813; Thankful, born Feb. 26, 1816; and Esther, born Aug. 29, 1818.

James Lewis, son of Nathan Barber and Sally, born Oct. 11, 1810, married, Sept. 2, 1838, Mary Sisson, daughter of Lodowick and Mary (Saund- ers) Sisson, of Hopkinton, R. I. Their union was blessed with the following children: Nathan Bar- ber, born Feb. 26, 1842, is a lawyer, Justice of the District Court of the Second Judicial District of Rhode Island, and former member of the State Legislature, and he resides at West Kingston, R. I .; Mary F., born Oct. 10, 1845, married George F. Barber ; John Nelson, born April 23, 1847; Saund- ers and Peleg (twins), born May 3, 1849, both died young. The mother of these children died in 1849, and for his second wife Mr. Lewis married Fannie Hall. No children were born of the last marriage. James Lewis was styled Deacon and also Captain. He was a captain in the State Militia and as such figured in the Dorr troubles in the State in 1842. By occupation he was a farmer, and his entire life was passed in his native community, and he passed away Feb. 4, 1797, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, universally respected. His remains rest in Exeter cemetery. In his politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican. He was a consistent

member of the Baptist Church, and always t an active interest in its welfare.

John N. Lewis attended the public school: ff Exeter, also a select school there, and then toda course in Schofield's Commercial College at Pr dence, graduating in 1869. He then taught sc in his native town, and met with no little sucr In 1870 he was engaged as a United States Ce: 1s Enumerator in his own State. Having a desir fr see the West, he then went to Illinois, where, a year, he engaged in teaching. The ties of life proved too strong, and at the end of that time he f :- turned East. He taught school in South King [n and Exeter, R. I., until in the fall of 1872, whe fe located in Voluntown as a clerk for Ira G. Br Es & Co. When the Briggs Manufacturing Co. is formed, he was appointed bookkeeper and master, and in 1898 he became a stockholder Id director, and was made assistant treasurer. Ffer the death of Ira G. Briggs, Mr. Lewis was ele ed treasurer of the corporation, an office he fills t Ry to his own great credit, and to the satisfactionof all interested parties. His business career begaat the bottom round of the ladder, and by dil: jat study and untiring energy he mastered each ty as it came, and now, at the topmost round, his Si- tion is secure.

With all his attention to his business, Mr. L'is has not neglected his duty as a patriotic Ame ,in citizen. His views coincide with the principle dl- vocated by the Republican party, and he has alfy's been actively interested in public affairs. In 18: the was elected a member of the State Legislature Com Voluntown, and there he served on the comnfee on Appropriations. So carefully did he look per the interests of his district, and so well did he fry out the behests of his constituents, that in 18 he was re-elected to the same office. In 1897 helas State Senator from the Eleventh District, receing the unprecedented honor of a majority in Pery town in the district, and was the able chairmf of the committee on Fisheries and Game, and a moer of the committee on Contingent Expenses. In (372 before his coming to Connecticut, he had beefap- pointed by the Rhode Island Legislature, a j lice of the peace. Mr. Lewis is a firm believer in e| ca- tion, and has always been an advocate of pod schools ; he served efficiently on the board of el.ca- tion for a number of years. Among the other i ces he has held may be mentioned that of town as- urer, which he has held continuously for a ni| ber of years past. In whatever office his fellowt 115- men have placed him, he has fulfilled all the | ex- pectations, and has given an able administrat of all affairs that came to him.

In 1873 Mr. Lewis was married, in Volur wn, to Eliza Nietta Lee, daughter of Henry Lee, cthat town. One child blessed this union: Bertl E., who was educated in Voluntown, and Norwich Free Academy, is now a young lady at home, acte in the work of the Baptist Church. Fraternall Mr.

.れた

293

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Leve is a 32d degree Mason, belonging to Mt. Ver- non odge, A. F. & A. M., Jewett City, in which he has ald all the chairs ; Franklin Chapter and Coun-

cil, orwich; Columbian Commandery, Norwich ; and In Sphinx Temple, Mystic Shrine, Hartford. uary, 1904, he was appointed Deputy Grand Masg . for the Eighth Masonic jurisdiction of Con- tt. He also belongs to Reliance Lodge, I. O. nect 0. . and gate the

Jewett City, and has served in all the chairs, past grand of the State, and has been dele- : State Conventions. His name is likewise on mbership roll of the O. U. A. M. Mr. Lewis is goal and pleasant, and he attracts many friends, who pon learn to value his sterling worth and man characteristics. His present home, one of the est in the town, was completed in 1902.

IVER A. CHAPPELL, a highly respected citizy of Lebanon, is a native of Charlestown, R. I., born"ct. 4, 1831, the family being one of the old and ored ones of that State.

1 mas Chappell, grandfather of Oliver A., was weaver by trade, and he resided at South King n, R. I., where he was a valued and patriotic citiz He spent eighteen months in the Continental fter which he worked at his trade, and some

army five ars later removed to Charlestown. During many ears of his advanced life he drew a pension for 19 loyal services, and he died in 1842, aged ninet wo. Our subject can recall listening to his gran war. ther's reminiscences of the Revolutionary n-young manhood he married Hannah Arm- daughter of George Armstrong, who re- stron sided Jamestown, on Canonicut Island, and both she [ husband died at the home of their son Scrai in, at Charlestown. They reared a family of el en children, among whom were: George, who ated at Windham, Conn .; Benjamin, who locate at the same place; William, who also lived at W ham; Scranton, father of Oliver A. ; Phares, who died

is drowned at Norwich Falls; John, who young manhood ; Hannah, Mrs. Tifft, who died Hebron; and Polly, who married William Clarkand lived at Windham.

Sc in Ap

nton Chappell, father of Oliver A., was born 1792, in South Kingston, R. I., where his carly e was spent, and he there attended the distri schools and learned how to farm. As soon as his ervices were not needed on the home place he wa employed by others, and when he married he re: d a farm in South Kingston. At a later late 1 bought a large farm near Kenyon's Mill, in the wn of Charlestown, and there resided dur- ing tl balance of his life, dying there in 1874, ged spot

hty-two years. He was buried in a private the old home. Although a hard-working man 1 did not accumulate a very large fortune, being le, however, to rear his family in com- ort, live independently, to bestow charity and o giv to the church. He was a regular attendant of the

aptist Church and was an upright Chris-

tian man. In politics he was a Whig in early life and later a Republican. He served in the State militia and was under arms at Stonington, Conn., when the town was bombarded at the time of the British blockade, in 1814. During his advanced life he drew a pension.

Scranton Chappell married. Hannah Johnson, of Charlestown, R. I., a daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Green) Johnson, who died March 9, 1847, aged fifty-six years. Their children were eight in number, as follows: Welcome, who married Eliz- abeth Larkin, was a farmer, and died at Charles- town, R. I .; Hannah and Dorcas were twins, the former marrying John Reed and dying in Westerly, R. I .; the latter married Perry Dawley, and also died at Westerly; Nancy is the widow of James Carpenter and resides at Newport, R. I .; John mar- ried Marianna Hazard and died at Charlestown, R. I .; Frank died unmarried ; Sarah married Hoxie Tucker, and died at South Kingston; Oliver A. is the subject proper of this sketch.

Oliver A. Chappell was three weeks old when his parents removed to South Kingston and he was there educated in the district schools. At the age of eleven years he went to work for his brother-in- law, James Carpenter, a farmer at South Kings- ton, where he remained two years, and then went to Newport, where he was employed by William Carpenter, the father of his brother-in-law. The lad remained at Newport for seven months, receiv- ing $8 per month, which, according to custom, went to his father. This was the case with all he earned until he was twenty years old, his industry assisting in the support of the younger children. At the age of twenty-five Mr. Chappell was married, and he then began farming for himself on a small rented tract at South Kingston. He spent five years on various farms in this vicinity, removing in 1862 from the Frank Segar farm to a tenant farm owned by Nathaniel Williams, on Babcock Hill, in the town of Lebanon, which is now owned and occupied by E. H. Browning. Mr. Chappell resided on this farm for seven years and then removed to the home farm of Mr. Williams, which the latter had recently vacated, and on that farm he lived com- fortably for a period of fifteen years. His next removal was to the farm of Benajah Barker, west of Lebanon Green, which he occupied for three years, until 1887, when, with his savings which had been accumulating all this time, he purchased the farm of James Madison Abell, consisting of seventy acres. This property has been made valuable by Mr. Chappell, who has spared neither labor nor time in its improvement. He has brought it to a high state of cultivation and may be justly proud of a property so well located and so satisfactory in every way.

Mr. Chappell was married, at Cranston, R. I., Nov. 25, 1856, to Dorcas Chappell, who was born March 13, 1838, a native of Windham, Conn., daughter of Benjamin and Susan Mary (Chappell)

294

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Chappell. She died Oct. 18, 1882, and was buried at Windham. Children as follows were born to this marriage : Elor J., born Dec. 16, 1857, died March 31, 1858; Ellen O., born May 12, 1859, married Joseph Holburton, a farmer at South Kingston, and they have children-Howard and Mabel Agnes; Miss Emma A., born April 4, 1860, resides with her father ; Levi A., born Jan. 15, 1862, a farmer near Rockville, Conn., married Fanny Slater and has children, Elida B. and Herbert; Oliver B., born Jan. 29, 1864, married Anna Wood, farmed near Norwich, and died there, leaving one child, Clar- ence ; George E., born March 5, 1866, a farmer at Ledyard, Conn., married Jennie Brown and has one child, Everette W .; Mabel, born March 13, 1869, died April 4, 1900, at Westerly, R. I .; Will- iam, born Nov. 1, 1872, died Nov. 3, 1872; Arthur A., born Feb. 4, 1875, is a butcher by trade and re- sides at Central Falls, R. I. (he is married) ; and Frederick R., born Jan. 12, 1880, married Josephine Gardner, and is a farmer at Ledyard, Connecticut.

Mr. Chappell's second wife, Charlotte, a sister to his first wife, was born in 1834, and died without issue, Sept. 25, 1901.

"Mr. Chappell is one of the most highly regarded men in this locality, hard-working and temperate, charitable and neighborly. He is a very intelligent citizen, keeping well posted on the issues of the day. He is identified with the Republican party, but has never aspired to office, preferring to devote his attention to his private affairs. With several of his children he belongs to the Baptist Church, as did both his wives. His memory is excellent, and he can royally entertain a visitor with tales of life in Lebanon many years ago, and is almost an en- cyclopedia concerning the families through Lebanon and South Kingston, many of them being kindred.

FISH FAMILY. In 1654, and probably for several years prior to that date, (I) John Fish lived in the town of Stratford, Conn. The family name of Fish was well known in that locality. The wife of John Fish probably bore the family name of Eland. His home was at the north end of the present village of Stratford. In the autumn of 1654 a controversy commenced between John Fish and some young men in the town, growing out of unwarranted accusations which he made against them, and this was very likely the cause of his sell- ing all his property in Stratford, a year later, to John Wilcoxson, and leaving the town. In 1655 he appeared in New London with his wife and chil- dren, John, Jonathan and Samuel. The records show that as early as 1668 he had become a resident of Stonington, where he was granted a twelve-acre lot, which was retained by him throughout his life. On Aug. 6, 1674, he was acting town clerk at a town meeting held at Stonington. He and his son Samuel seryed in 1675 in King Philip's war, and were granted land in Voluntown in 1700, for this service. On Aug. 22, 1679, John Fish was chosen

schoolmaster for the town of Stonington. On lec. 5, 1680, he was admitted a member of the Co kre- gational Church of Stonington.

On Aug. 25, 1681, he married Hannah (Pa ):r) Hewitt Sterry, widow of Capt. Hewitt and of lurer Sterry, and daughter of Walter and Re (Short) Palmer. John Fish was a surveyo Ind laid out some of the public grants in Stonil Bon. By grants and by purchase he became proprie of

considerable tracts of land, in Groton, Stoni fon and other towns in the vicinity.

156, the (II) Capt. Samuel Fish was born about and died Feb. 27, 1733. His name appears patents of New London in 1704, the year pr to the incorporation of Groton. He was the sond townsman of Groton on its organization, and wire- elected to the position for many years. In the Fuch Itis and Indian war he bore a captain's commission property, which must have exceeded a the fund acres, was situated between the Mystic rive and the northeast spur of Fort Hill. Near the fter of his estate was Pequot Hill, between whic fand the river he built his home.

Capt. Samuel Fish's wife, Sarah, was be in 1660, and died Dec. II, 1722. Their children lere : Samuel, born in 1684, died Jan. 20, 1730, mried Sarah - -; John, born in 1686, died Mar 29, 1705 ; Moses, born in 1688, died Jan. 24, 1788 ]ar- ried Martha Williams; Abigail, born in 1691,lied June 17, 1784, married Capt. Daniel Eldridg and later Deacon Daniel Denison ; Aaron, born in 593, married Irene Sprague ; Nathan, born Aug. 1. 599, died July 13, 1732, married (first) Abigail [rris and (second) Mary Burrows; Sarah, born Ag. 2, 1702, married Hezekiah Lord.

Samuel Fish and his wife are buried the Packer burying ground at Mystic. For his fond wife Samuel Fish married widow Dþthy (Wheeler) Smith.

(III) Nathan Fish was born Aug. 19, 699. and died July 13, 1732. He first married / ligail Harris, who was born in 1699, and died ir 727. They had one child, Nathan, born Sept. II 727, who died Oct. 22, 1822. He married for his cond wife Mary Burrows, who was born Nov. 4 704. and died May II, 1732. Their children were Abi- gail,' born in 1730, died Sept. 18, 1790, r ried Capt. Jonathan Fish ; Ichabod, born in 1732, ed in November, 1737.

(IV) Nathan Fish (2) married first on ( . 13, 1748, Catherine Niles, who died in January :759. On July 24, 1759, he married Catherine Helr and he had four children by his first wife, and n by his second wife. Orphaned at the age of fiveyears, he was taught and brought up by his grand other Mercy Harris, on Shelter Island, and at the age of twelve years he was placed in the famous chool of Master Niles, in Groton. Inheriting aliand- some estate, he was proud of his home andsocial position. He joined the First Baptist Sody of Groton, July 25, 1755.

295

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ildren born to Nathan Fish (2) by his vere as follows: Nathan, born July 31, ied Phoebe Packer; Samuel, born July married Sarah Lamb: Catherine, born 753, married Jesse Gallup; Simeon was 1 24, 1756. Of the children born of his riage, Abigail, born May 21, 1760, mar- Perkins; Sarah, born July 1, 1761, mar- Gallup; Sands, born Oct. 18, 1762, mar- t Gallup; Mary, born Nov. 3, 1765, mar-

175 . 24| 1 Ma nd n Luk Josi Bric Chr opher Lester ; Silas, born Aug. 29, 1767, ried ried 2, m. ch 5 1 Fis nthia Bliss ; Cynthia, born Sept. 21, 1770, nadam Gallup; Roswell, born March 5, ied Isobel Phelps; Edmund was born 772; Anna was born Aug. 6, 1776. Na- (2) lived to be ninety-five years of age, wordthe old-fashioned dress of the eighteenth ury

ort breeches, knee and shoe buckles, ing hr and broad brimmed hat.

(V) riage 5. 20,

nds Fish, born of his father's second n Groton, Conn., Oct. 18, 1762, died 838. On June 18, 1789, he married Iget lup, who died March 24, 1842, a daugh- of Be dam and Bridget ( Palmer) Gallup. In- ting a fruga cient just ent. is gr

ortion of the paternal acres, industrious Deacon Sands Fish acquired as a farmer operty for his not extravagant needs and nands of charity, and he was therefore 1800 he erected the house now occupied dson, Alden Fish. From 1787 he was mber| f the First Baptist Church, of which he a dea 1-for many years, discharging the duties

le offi with fidelity until his death, at the ripe ige ofseventy-six years.

ands d Bridget (Gallup) Fish had nine chil- A: was born July 17, 1790; Hannah, born ch IC 1792, died in young womanhood; La- bor Oct. I, 1794, married Isaac Denison ; 'n Jan. 17, 1797, married Eliza Roe nds, Jr., born Feb. 27, 1799, died in Esthe

on, all;

g ma ood; Charles, born Feb. 3, 1801, mar- 3. Williams ; Nathan G. was born Sept. 604;

I, 18II, married Capt. William Clift,

a daughter, Hannah, Mrs. Ives.

than Gallup Fish was born Sept. 7, in

oton, and was educated in the public ls a1

at the academy in Plainfield, Conn. he v

eighteen years of age he remained on estead, and after teaching school on for some time he went to sea, and for twe

years, led. a seafaring life, most of ime 1 1g master. He made numerous voyages ither: ica,

ports, including the countries of South

xico and the West Indies. On retiring the s lecam

he was owner in a number of vessels, heir agent in New York. In conjunc- with Ont. William Clift, B. F. Hoxie and W. axsoille erected a shipyard at Old Field, on lysti iver. In 1860 Capt. Clift and Mr. 1, and Mr. Fish and Mr. Maxson car- reti

ried on the yard, building a large fleet of ships and steamers, among which were the ironclad steamer "Galena" and the gunboat "Vicksburg."

Mr. Fish was a man of position and a leader in the community. Every position he held he filled with dignity, ability and fidelity, and he was uni- versally popular. He was a Whig and Republican, and represented Groton in the Legislature in 1849, 1850 and 1857 ; served as State senator three terms, in 1851, 1852 and 1853; was elected judge of Pro- bate in 1854, and was railroad commissioner of Connecticut. He was president of the Groton Sav- ings Bank, incorporated in 1854, and at the organi- zation of the Mystic River Bank, in 1851, he was the second director chosen, and he was its president from Aug. 7, 1860, until his death.

Mr. Fish was kind-hearted, generous and social, and enjoyed the esteem of a very wide range of ac- quaintances. For nearly twenty-five years he served faithfully as deacon of the Baptist Church, and his life was always consistent with his pro- fessions. He favored all things tending to the im- provement, education and Christian progress of the people of his town, county, State and nation, and gave them his substantial support. For many years he served as president of the Mystic Academy, which he helped to found.

On Jan. 9, 1833, Nathan G. Fish married Eme- line F., daughter of Dr. John O. Miner, of Groton. She died Jan. 9, 1871, and he passed away Aug. I, 1870. They had children as follows: Susan L., of Mystic; Ellen M., deceased; Simeon G .; John O .; Horace W., of New York City; Phebe M., who married May 10, 1864, Capt. Robert P. Wilbur (they had children-Albert and Gertrude, deceased, Helen F., Emeline Miner, Roberta P. and John P.) ; and Roswell W. Of this family,

Simeon G. Fish is engaged in a shipyard and in a prosperous shoe business in Boston. He has been selectman of Groton. During boyhood he attended school at Middleboro, Mass., and for a time was at sea, rounding Cape Horn. He married Eliza Eld- ridge, now deceased, and they had one child, Helen E., a resident of Mystic.

Horace W. Fish spent a portion of his school days at the Middleboro Academy. He engaged in the grocery business in Mystic, and later was with C. Potter, Jr., and manufactured printing presses in New York City. He married Annie Potter, and their children were: Edith, who married a Mr. Spencer ; Alice, and Harry P.

Roswell W. Fish attended Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he en- gaged in a grocery business and coal business at Mystic for a few years. For many years he has been a clerk in the War Department at Washing- ton, D. C. He married Isabel Park, and they have a daughter, Jennie, who married Mr. Kinnon, and resides at Washington, D. C.

JOHN O. FISH was born in Mystic, Conn., Jan. 10, 1839, and spent his early school days in

den was born Aug. 7, 1808; Bridget, Aug hey VI)

ld h Isla

The wif

296

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his native place, attending the Mystic Academy. After finishing his education Mr. Fish went West for Williams & Co., and later was at Werner, Wis., in the lumber business. Next he went into the office of the Reliance Machine Co., at Mystic, and remained several years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he became an employe in the shipyard of Maxson, Fish & Co., and continued in that capacity until 1865. On July 15th of that same year he be- came an employe of the Mystic River National and Groton Savings Bank, and has served in this bank as teller. In 1870 he was made a director of this bank, and trustee of savings. In the same year, 1870, he was elected treasurer of the town of Groton, and has held that honorable position ever since. The year 1870 seems to have been set aside in his life for particular honor to be done him, for it was then that he was made treasurer of the Bap- tist Church, which position he still retains, and he is also church clerk.

On Dec. 1, 1868, John O. Fish was united in marriage with Frances, daughter of Robert N. Eld- redge. The children born of this happy marriage are as follows: Emeline F .; Nathan Gallup, assist- ant timber inspector for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad; and Jessie E. John O. Fish is one of the recognized representative men of Groton, and one who has always taken an active part in public affairs, administering the several offices bestowed upon him with ability, integrity and excellent judgment.

(VI) ALDEN FISH was born Aug. 7, 1808, in the house where his son Alden Fish now resides, and he died Oct. 6, 1898. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm, and he attended school at Mystic. He attended the Whitman Baptist Church, of which he was a member. His days were spent on the farm where he was born, in a house which was the third built on the property. During all his life he was never more than twenty miles from his home, and never rode on a railroad train. He en- gaged in farming, and did a good deal of butcher- ing, being an expert in that line. Alden Fish was a man of high moral character, and never made an enemy. In the old military he held rank as lieu- tenant.

On March 15, 1843, he married Sally Ann, daughter of Capt. Silas and Nancy ( Breed) Beebe, and the children born to them were: Elizabeth Beebe: Sands, who died young; Ezra, who died young : Emeline, who married Charles R. Heath, of Mystic; Harriet; and Alden. Mrs. Alden Fish died May 18, 1899, aged seventy-seven years.

(VII) ALDEN FISH was born April 19, 1870, at the old home of the Fish family, a son of Alden and Sally Ann (Beebe) Fish. He attended the public schools and Mystic Valley Institute, and re- mained on the home farm with his parents, having always been engaged in farming. At present he owns 120 acres of fine farming land, in a high state of cultivation.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 68

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