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 70

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 70

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).

Le ist

Rho: Lage se

1 1, where they lived and died. (10) Isaac, born Stonington, Conn., March 21, 1800, married (

istina Richards. (II) Nathan, born in Mont- 1/:, in 1802, went West in later years, and left de- idants.

John Scholfield, grandfather of Charles Fox, n Fox and Benjamin Franklin, came to erica in 1793, as before stated, and was assisted lis first manufacturing enterprise by Lord Tim- Dexter, of Newburyport, the man famous for ling a cargo of warming-pans to the West es. Having been told that this was a good way make money, Lord Dexter had the warming-pans e and shipped, and his quick-witted captain lily disposed of them to the inquiring natives by ng them that they were to be used in dipping mo- es, and that the lids were to keep out the flies. first successful machinery for the manufacture voolen cloth in this country, was made in Lord ter's barn, and then set up in the Byfield mill. er five years in the Byfield mill, and the four-

teen years in Montville, previously mentioned, John Scholfield purchased the mill privileges in Stoning- ton, and in Westerly, R. I., making use of an old mill, and building another mill adjoining it, where he manufactured fine woolens, and carded rolls, which were spun by women outside of the factory. About 1814 he left these mills in charge of his son, Joseph, and coming to Montville bought a mill near Oakdale, which had been operated by a Mr. Bemis, as a finishing mill. This he enlarged and equipped as a first class woolen mill, and was there engaged in the manufacture of cloth until his death. He was a stern man, of strong physique, a good financier, and successful business man.

(III) Joseph Scholfield, father of Charles Fox, John Fox and Benjamin Franklin, was just four years old when his parents sailed from Liverpool for this country. His boyhood was passed in By- field and Montville, most of his schooling being ob- tained in the latter place, where his parents settled when he was nine years of age. He began work in the Montville mill with his father at an early age, and moved with his parents to Stonington. When his father returned to Montville in 1814, he left the Stonington mill in charge of Joseph, who was then twenty-five years of age. He remained at the head of this mill until it was sold, in 1831, to O. M. Stillman, when he became superintendent for the new owner. In 1834 he returned to Montville and took charge of his father's old mill, manufacturing satinet with great success until 1843, when he sold out to his three sons, Joseph Arthur, Charles Fox and John Fox. He then bought a small farm near the old factory at Oakdale, where he lived until the death of his wife. She was Mercy Newberry, born April 20, 1790, daughter of Nathan and Wealthy (Green) Johnson Newberry. She and Joseph Schol- field were married in 1815 ; her death occurred July 26, 1863, when she was seventy-three years old, and was occasioned by a fall from a wagon which broke her hip and caused lockjaw. Her husband died in Uncasville, at the age of eighty, March 12, 1869. The children of Joseph and Mercy (New- berry) Scholfield were as follows: (I) Jo- seph Arthur, born Nov. 25, married Sept. 25, 1835, Eunice C. Vibber. He lived at first in Montville, but about 1850 moved to West- erly, R. I. He and his brother, Charles Fox, manufactured satinets in the old Scholfield factory in Montville, and he continued his oc- cupation as a woolen manufacturer after his re- moval to Westerly, until his death there, April 23, 1855. His children were: William, Elizabeth, Jo- seph A., Lucy Ann., William and Eunice Ellen (2) Charles Fox, born June 6, 1817, is mentioned below. (3) Edwin A., born March 8, 1819, married (first) Jan. 26, 1843, Mary Andros. She died May 10, 1867, and he married (second) Celestina L. Morse, April 22, 1868. He began his business life as a woolen manufacturer, later was interested in the Middlesex Mills, in Lowell, Mass., and finally settled

I t r

1 0

, citizen hore. Expa

302

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Westerly, R. I., where he was for many years a successful photographer, and where he still lives. His children were: Everett, Edwin Delanoy, Ad- dison A. and Alice C. (4) John Fox, born Nov. 7, 1820, is mentioned below. (5) Benjamin Franklin, born June 19, 1822, is mentioned below. (6) Han- nah Fox, born Dec. 28, 1823, married Judge Henry A. Baker, who for about twenty-five years was judge of probate and town clerk of Montville. He was also the author of the "History of Montville," in the publication of which he spent much valuable time in research and compilation. Judge Baker died in 1902, his wife having passed away May 18, 1892. Their children were: Oliver A., Charles L., John F. (deceased in infancy), William H., and Anne Alma (married to George H. Bradford, of Mont- ville). (7) Alma Lester, born Feb. 19, 1827, mar- ried Oct. 26, 1863, Thomas Lindsay. He was man- ager of the Rockland Paper Mill in Montville until 1866, and later moved to Brookville, Ind., where he was successfully engaged as a paper manufac- turer until his death, Jan. 21, 1895. His widow makes her home in Montville, with her brother, Ben- jamin Franklin. Their one child was Joseph Lind- say, born Jan. 26, 1865, died in Brookville, Ind., Jan. 14, 1896. He married (first) Hattie Moore, of Brookville, by whom he had one daughter, Jean Moore. By his second wife, Lillie Kaiser, also of Brookville, he had one son, Thomas. (8) Mary Jane, born Nov. 29, 1829, married March 19, 1854, Elisha Rogers, of Montville. Their children were: Edwin, who died young; Alice E .; Horace; and Stella, who also died young. (9) Anson Smith, born Dec. II, 1831, married Anna E. Eames. In 1849 he moved to California, where he is still liv- ing in Butte county. He had one daughter, Annie, who married Irving F. Moulton.

(IV) CHARLES FOX SCHOLFIELD, born in Ston- ington, Conn., June 6, 1817, went to school in Westerly, R. I., just over the State line. His school days lasted until he was seventeen, but all of his spare moments were spent in the mill with his father. He moved with his parents to Montville, when he was seventeen, but three years later, in 1837, returned to Westerly, where he took charge of O. M. Stillman's woolen mill, the former prop- erty of his father. After a few months he went West, stopping in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, and then taking a position as roll carder in Deerfield, Ohio, where he remained several months. He re- turned then to Montville, and in 1840 went to Low- ell, Mass., becoming second hand on the looms in the Middlesex mills. After remaining there three years, he came back again to Montville, and began manufacturing satinets, in partnership with his brother, Joseph Arthur, who had previously pur- chased the mill from the heirs of his grandfather. This partnership continued three years, and then Charles Fox moved to Salem, Mass., where for an- other three years he was foreman of weaving in the Naumkeag mills. He then returned once more to

Montville, and buying the mill from his b Hier Joseph Arthur, conducted it successfully for fur- teen years. His brother, John Fox, then purosed an interest in the mill, and they conducted it jatly for a year, when Charles Fox sold out to his th- ers, John Fox and Benjamin Franklin. Honen purchased water privileges on the Oxoboxo fer, adjoining his old mill, one of which is now sed by Palmer Brothers, and is known as the O fiale mill. This purchase included his present hon but not the residence, which he built, as well as themill property thereon, and the dam. In this m for about two years he manufactured twines. I1 870 he refitted the twine mill with machinery f the manufacture of woolen goods, and engaged i chat industry for several years, finally abandoning [, as he had not the equipment to compete with the l'ger mills. Meantime he had rebought of his bifers the mill which had been established by their And- father, and leased it to Benjamin Franklin who also discontinued after a few years: Benjar F. bought the mill later from Charles F.

Charles Fox Scholfield married, Oct. 7. 343, Phebe Elizabeth Winchester, daughter of Inuel and Phebe (Parker) Winchester, of Lowell, ass. Mrs. Scholfield's grandfather was at one ti: the tion owner of a large farm, where the business

and of Lowell is now located. The one child of M. Mrs. Scholfield, Laurence, died in infancy Scholfield owns a farm of forty acres, w.lin a Mr. stone's throw of the ground on which his g: dfa- ther established his mill. He is a stanch Replican in politics, but cares nothing for office. He fends the Montville Congregational Church. Al pugh nearly four score and ten years of age, he :1 re- tains all his faculties to a remarkable degr his mind is exceptionally bright and alerí and Mr. Scholfield has shown no little public spirit, d he gave to the town of Montville the land fc what later became a popular highway.

(IV) JOHN Fox SCHOLFIELD, born Nov. : 11820, in Stonington, attended the district school there until he was thirteen. He then moved wi his parents to Montville, and went to school odd times when not working in his father's mi until he was about twenty years old. By the time : was twenty-one he had acquired a valuable kno ledge of woolen manufacturing, and going to Low ! was employed in the carding room of the Mi lesex Mills, later going into the fancy weaving ror . Be- fore he was twenty years old he had purch ed an interest with his brothers in the Montville n , and his earnings in Lowell enabled him to keep 1 pay- ments on that property. Returning to Mont lle he improved a loom for making a special !id of double-faced satinet, which won the approvalof the managers of the Uncasville Manufacturing Com- pany. Their agent, Edmund Smith, engag ! Mr. Scholfield to alter some of their looms, and e was in this employ for nearly three years, operat g and keeping the looms in order. He then went ick to

303

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

well, here he engaged in the grocery business h hi brother-in-law, Henry Smith, under the n na : of Scholfield & Smith. After a short e hesold out his interest in this business and nt in the Naumkeag Mill, in Salem, acting as ond Ilid in the weaving room, and looking after : mar acture of the belts. This position he re- ned fim 1847 to Sept. 1, 1849, when he sailed m San as a passenger on the ship "Talma" for liforn by way of Cape Horn. He arrived in liforr., after a voyage of six and a half months, 1 wer o mining. In the spring of 1851 he turned back n the gold fields and returned to Salem ere h ook charge of the finishing department in : Naukeag Mill, soon becoming boss weaver, d ren ning until 1856. In that year he went ain to alifornia, this time by way of the Isthmus Pana® . On reaching California he gave up his ention f mining, and instead, established a saw- 11, usi . an engine he had shipped around Cape rn. was located for about three years in ity, Cal., with his brothers-in-law, Henry n Smith, and his brother, Anson Smith

tte C 1 Wil x, wh still resides in California. He returned to ontvill vith the intention of taking his wife back Califc ia, but being offered a good position with new emberton Mill, at Salem, decided to re- e East. This mill was built to take the : old one which had fallen down, and Mr.

in in ce of iolfiel superintended the setting up of the ma-

d on the completion of the buildings was nery, de fo man of the weaving department. He ainecht that position until the death of his moth- July , 1863, caused his return to Montville. Fre h

engaged in the manufacture of satinets h his fothers, for four years, at the end of that beching superintendent of the Uncasville nufach ing Company's mill, where he remained ther for years. He then went to Palmer, Mass., took large of the weaving in the Palmer Mill, er Jcl E. Chase, who had been agent of the nbert Mill. After three or four years in the mer MI he went to Lowell, where for five years tvas incharge of all the out-of-door work of the leton [ills, and was then made assistant super- ndent, ¿ the mills. After retaining that position four ars and a half, he retired, in 1886, from ve bu ess, and moved to the home in Montville ch he d previously purchased. He still resides his pl :, which is on the Thames river at Gale's ying a well earned rest after his long

eer.

ry, e1 ness John 5, to th, o

x Scholfield was married (first), May 5, ary Minerva Smith, daughter of Hosea Pomfret, Vt. She died March 1, 1899, Monty

e, the mother of one daughter, Estelle, died nmarried at the age of twenty-nine in rell, .ss. Mr. Scholfield married (second) 27, 1 0, Mary Amy (Stoddard) Bailey, daugh- of Joli than and Hannah (Morgan) Stoddard,

and widow of George Anson Bailey, of Ledyard, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were the parents of one daughter, Mary Amy, wife of Denison I. Chap- man, a grocer of Middletown, Conn. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have one son, Ivan Bailey. Mr. Schol- field has no children by his second marriage. He is a stanch Republican in national politics, but in town affairs is rather neutral. He has served several terms as assessor, and one term as a member of the board of selectmen of the town. He and his wife at- tend the Uncasville Methodist Church, of which the latter is a member.

(IV) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SCHOLFIELD, born in Stonington, June 19, 1822, attended district school in that place and in Montville, his parents moving to the latter town when he was about twelve years old. On leaving school he entered his father's mill, where he worked until he was twenty-one. He then spent a year on the road, buying wool, and selling the goods manufactured by his father. After that he spent several months with his cousin, Nathan Schol- field, in Greeneville, Conn., where he learned the trade of machinist, working at that trade in Wor- cester, Mass., for several months, as a tool maker, for Thompson, Skinner & Co. His next move was to Norwich, where he worked at his trade for Schol- field & Huntington, and Cranston & Bates, for some time, afterward working for the latter firm in New London, to which place they had moved their busi- ness. Later he went to Salem, Mass., and for about a year found employment in the machine and repair shop of the Naumkeag Mill. On Dec. 18, 1849, he started for California on the brig "Victorine," in which he was one-eighth owner, going around Cape Horn and after seven months at sea arrived in July, 1850. After nearly a year in the mines he returned home, and in a few months went to Newbern, N. C., as overseer of machinery in a woolen mill. Return- ing to Connecticut he worked at his trade in Nor- wich, in the paper mills of Amos H. Hubbard, for nearly nine years. He then went back to Montville again, purchased an interest in the mill with his brother John Fox, and after two years in this part- nership, leased the mill (the one originally estab- lished by his grandfather), and continued to manu- facture woolens until 1894, when he retired from, business. Since then he has occupied himself with farming. In his chosen trade of machinist he won a wide reputation for competent and fine workman- ship.

Mr. Scholfield married, Dec. 26, 1852, Mary Jane Winchester, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Parker) Winchester, and their children are as fol- lows: (I) Franklin C., born Oct. 9, 1861, in Mont- ville, married Lucy Raymond Parish, daughter of Raymond N., and Elnora (Emerson) Parish, of Montville. They have one son, Raymond F., born Aug. 20, 1900. He is a merchant in Oakdale. (2) Jessie Maria, born April 19, 1867, in Montville, is a bookkeeper and typewriter. Mr. Scholfield is a

304

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

strong Republican, and has served as a member of the school committee. He attends the Montville Congregational Church, of which his family are members.

CAPT. THOMAS A. SCOTT. The novels of F. Hopkinson Smith have a convincing vitality and fidelity to nature that leaves the reader quite pre- pared to hear that many of his characters are drawn from life. In his picture of Caleb West, master- diver, a figure at once heroic and simple, he described many of the actual experiences of a man engaged under him in many engineering contracts of a mari- time nature, Capt. Thomas A. Scott, of New Lon- don. Imagination fails to transcend the daring of many of his exploits. He is a native of Worcester county, Md., born at Snow Hill, Aug. 10, 1830, son of William and Elizabeth (Pruett) Scott, of the old Virginia family of that name.

(I) The Scotts of Virginia trace their lineage from Rev. John Scott, M. A., of Dipple, Morayshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1650, and where he died in June, 1726. He married (second) Helen Grant, who died Jan. 7, 1769. By his first union he had a son, Alexander, who married Sarah Gibbons. His second wife bore him four children: James, Elizabeth, Isabella and Grizzel.

(II) Rev. James Scott, M. A., of Dipple, Scot- land, and Westwood, Va., was a son of Rev. John and Helen (Grant) Scott, born in Dipple Parish, Elgin, Scotland. He died in Virginia in 1782. His will was dated Aug. 22, 1782. He married at Rich Hill, Charles Co., Md., in 1738, Sarah Brown, a daughter of Dr. Gustavus and Frances (Fowke) Brown. Their children were: Helen, Alexander, Catherine, James, Jr., Christian, John, Robert, Will- iam and Gustavus.

(III) Capt. James Scott, son of Rev. James and Sarah (Brown) Scott, was born in Clermont, Fau- quier Co., Va., Jan. 8, 1742. In 1760 he married Elizabeth Harrison, born in 1740, died in 1823, daughter of Cuthbert and Frances Harrison. Capt. Scott was a member of a company in the Revolu- tionary war, stationed at Long Bridge, Norfolk. He was ordered to Pennsylvania with his company, then incorporated in a Virginia regiment. He died dur- ing the war from hardships incurred in the field, and his memory was long cherished by his surviving comrades. His will, proved in Fauquier county Nov. 22, 1779, names his wife Elizabeth, to whom he gives a life interest in his estate; daughters, Sarah, Frances, Elizabeth and Nancy ; and sons, Alexander, James, Cuthbert and Thomas. These eight share alike in his estate, after his wife's death, or mar- riage, except his Ohio lands, which he gives to his four sons. He names his wife, son Cuthbert and Cuthbert Harrison, executors, who were "to have my sons well educated out of the profits of my es- tate, and that they shall be got into such business as they shall think will best suit their genius." The extant records of his children are as follows: (I)

Alexander, who married (first) Frances W ling and (second) Sarah Butler (Henry) Campbel

2) Frances Harrison, who married Gustavus Jewil Horner, M. D .; (3) Sarah, who died unmated; Įza- 6) (4) Ann, who married William Brown; (5) beth, who married Major Lawrence Ashton Cuthbert Harrison, who married a Miss Waug find died at the age of ninety years; (7) James -ho married Rebecca Burch; and (8) Thomas, wl Was born about 1775-76.

(IV) James Scott, born about 1773-74, És a farmer, stock-breeder, and salt manufacture find acquired what was in those days a large profrty. He married Miss Rebecca Burch, and both li i to an extreme old age, attaining the ages of nine und one hundred, respectively. They were the pants of two sons and two daughters, William, Afins, Patience and Mary.

(V) William Scott was born at Snow I} in 1805. He married (first) a Miss Painter, by Hom he had two children, neither of whom outlivec hrly childhood. After the death of his first wife, h har- ried, in 1828, Elizabeth (Pruett) Shelly, the How san

of Zachariah Shelly, and mother of one son. Ince deceased. Her parents were Zachariah and Pruett, of Snow Hill, both of whom lived to tower ninety. To William Scott and his wife wer born three children: Sarah Truth, Ann Mari; and Thomas A. The two daughters grew to marity, married and died, leaving children to survive em. The mother died at the home of her son, Mah 2, 1890, aged eighty-eight.

ited

(VI) Thomas A. Scott received a very education, as the stern necessities of life con lle 1 him at an early age to ship as a sailor on a menant vessel. He gradually worked his way up ul, in 1850, he became captain and part owner "Thomas Page." Several years later he bout an the interest in the "William Home," of Conneicut, and engaged in the transportation of heavy ofgoes of stone from Bridgeport, Conn., to Washing , D. C., which proved to be a very successful enterise. For three or four years Capt. Scott tried a n tile business in Fort Lee, N. J., as an expe: fient, can- but he decided finally that he was out of 1 ele- ment there and returned to a maritime life. was at that time that he began diving, and his fir con- tract in that line was to save the cargo of a sumer that had been partly burned, and then sunk, o

Fort Lee. From that beginning he was by degrees a wil into the work that has made him famous amor men of his craft.

Capt. Scott's first large contract as wreck and diver was taken in 1865, to raise the "I hing Wave" off Sandy Hook. Four years later was engaged at a salary of $250 per month to big to the surface what could be saved from the cryo of the steamship "Scotland," of the Nationa Line, which was wrecked off Sandy Hook. The go ls re- covered were valued at $1 10,000, of which stlı, be- tween his salary and the percentage of salvag, Capt.

JA Scott

305

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ott 1 lized $11,000. It was during this engage- he remained under water seven hours and it minutes, thereby breaking all previous

cords for endurance. Capt. Scott's pres- ce off ind, added to his quickness of thought and 1., and prompt, decisive action, make him

vem mira fitted for his chosen work.

Oneof the most remarkable of his undertakings g the palatial steamer "City of Worcester," nt on the rocks near Bartlett's Reef light at "greyhound of the Sound," valued at

s sav ich ip.

ny tl 1sands of dollars, was given up by its own- as ay tal loss, but Capt. Scott and his able corps assis

its, by heroic efforts, both day and night, cceed) in getting her off the rocks. He took her his jant in New London, and made temporary pairs .ich enabled the vessel to reach New York. Cap Scott's personal daring can, perhaps, be no ore foibly illustrated than by the following in- nce : steam to a le h In a January morning, when in charge of on the North river, he saw a tug crash vily loaded ferry boat. Drawing along- ed to buoy up the ferry boat with the bow his ov boat, but failing, he leaped aboard, rushed low, I finding nothing suitable with which to je hole, he deliberately forced his own body ng up o the

ap, and remained with his arms outside ffetingthe floating ice until the boat was towed to ety.

ictical cont New Sharl bed ir the ions ( grani

To t man F. Hopkinson Smith instrusted the management of affairs when he received t for building Race Rock lighthouse, off ndon Harbor, disguised in "Caleb West" edge light. Most of the incidents des- le book were actual occurrences, especi- ficulties encountered in laying the foun- rough stone, protected by ten-ton blocks Another piece of work worth special nation 's the building of Pier No. I, North river, Y. ot. Scott also enjoys the distinction of ig thefirst man to work on the Brooklyn bridge; made il the preliminary examinations of the r bot n, and superintended the work of clear- the 1 urf at ensive re floa Ns al lges c of 1 one c his lging. ling; §, shi tom for placing the caissons. His own equot avenue extends 200 feet, and his isiness requires five tugs, seven lighters, g and four portable pile drivers, five mud one mud digger, besides pumps and 1 derricks, and he employs a working vards of one hundred and fifty men. He he best equipped plants along the coast, -k includes wrecking, towing, lighting, le driving ; wharf, bridge and foundation xamination and repairs of marine rail- ottoms and dams ; sea wall building ; and ict all nds of sub-marine work.

ing t I, 1903, there was incorporated, ac- he laws of Connecticut, the T. A. Scott pany , ith Thomas A. Scott, Jr., as president, iam A Fones, secretary, and Capt. T. A. Scott, urer. This company was formed for the busi- 0

ness of general contracting pertaining to all matters marine.

In his politics Capt. Scott is a Republican, has served as alderman for one term, and always has a keen interest in public affairs that would lead him to take an active part, if his onerous business cares and responsibilities left him time for it.

On Dec. 5. 1855, Capt. Scott was married to Miss Harriet Whitbeck, born at Catskill, N. Y., Oct. 20, 1835, daughter of John and Mary E. (Ackley) Whitbeck, of Port Jefferson, L. I. To this union have been born twelve children, only six of whom survive, and comprising a family that would reflect great credit on any parentage. Their names follow : John A., born in 1859; Mamie, who married Will- iam H. Hull, of New York, and has two children, William H., Jr., and Natalie W .; Eva L., who is the widow of Woodruff Hull, a brother of her sis- ter's husband, and who has one son and one daugh- ter ; Harriet F., who married Andrew B. Parrish, of Jersey City, a member of the T. A. Scott Co., and they have two children, Margarette and Eva ; Cas- sie Viola; and Thomas A., Jr., sketch elsewhere. One of the children, Willie A., born April 18, 1858, was lost while wrecking on the Sound, in 1880, by falling overboard from the "Narragansett."

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 70

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