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 79

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 79

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(II) Nicholas Bishop, fifth son of Eleazer Bis- hop, was born June 22, 1723. He married Feb. 14, 1749, Hannah Douglass, born June 2, 1732, daugh- ter of Robert Douglass. Nicholas Bishop bore the title of Captain Nicholas, and was very popular. His death occurred July 30, 1780, aged fifty-seven years. His wife died Feb. 3, 1807, aged seventy- five years. Their children were Sarah, born March II, 1750, married Edward Richards ; Ebenezer, born Nov. 14, 1751, died Jan. 3, 1782, aged thirty years ; Jonathan, born June 24, 1754, died April 18, 1840, aged eighty-six years ; Joseph born Aug. 14, 1758, died Nov: 15, 1834, aged seventy-six years ; Mary, born April 21, 1765, married David Congdon, and died April 21, 1813, aged forty-eight years ; John, born Jan. 27, 1768, died in 1805, aged thirty- seven years.

(III) Joseph Bishop, fourth child of Nicholas Bishop was born Aug. 14, 1758. He married in March, 1781, Desire Gilbert, daughter of Jonathan Gilbert. Joseph Bishop died Nov. 15, 1834, aged seventy-six years. His wife Desire died Sept. 17, 1851, aged ninety years. Their children were : Sarah, born May 23, 1782; Charles, born April 20, 1784, died in April, 1866; Betsey, born Sept. 19, 1786; Joseph, born Dec. 18, 1788, probably died un- married ; Lois, born June 2, 1791, married John Congdon, and died in New London; Henry, born June 8, 1793, died young ; Polly, born July 24, 1795, died young ; John, born July 24, 1798, died young ; and Hannah, born Aug. 23, 1804, died young.

(IV) Charles Bishop was in early life engaged in farming in Montville, where he was also a school teacher. In about 1840, he removed to New Lon-

gage an B ving hen me

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

don, and established himself in the grocery business, first locating on Broad street, and later for a time was at the foot of Hempstead, finally establishing himself at the corner of Main and Williams streets, where he was still conducting his business at the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1866, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife died Dec. 15, 1867, aged eighty-four years, in New London. Charles Bishop was an old line Whig, and later became a Republican. In religious affairs, he was a member of the Huntington Street Baptist Church, of which his wife was also a member. He was a quiet, reserved man, and one who always acted as his conscience dictated. In appearance he was short, medium set, and very healthy until about two years prior to his death, and was fairly successful in his business ventures. He left behind him an untarnished name and many friends, and his loss was deeply felt by those who knew him. His mar- riage occurred in September, 1809, in Chesterfield, when he was united with Charlotte Latimer, daugh- ter of Henry Latimer, of the town of Montville, and his wife Sarah (Christophers) Latimer. Mrs. Lat- imer was the daughter of Christopher Christophers, of New London. The children born of this mar- riage were: (1) John, born March 17, 18II, in Montville, was for many years engaged in the lum- ber business in New London, where he died. His first wife was Fannie Avery, of Norwich, who died at Buffalo, N. Y., the mother of three children, John, Mary and Annie. His second wife, Helen Stowell, died in New London, leaving three children, Fred- erick, Jessie and Lottie. For his third wife, he wedded Sarah Rowland, who is now living in New London, and has one son, Albert F. (2) David, born March 27, 1812, in Montville, was for several years engaged in the lumber business at Norfolk, Va., and later in the general grocery business in New London, where he died, beloved by all. His first wife, Cynthia Lester, died in New London, leaving one child, Cornelia, who died single. His second marriage was to Mrs. Mary E. (Peckham) Greenfield, widow of Richard Greenfield, and they had one daughter, Cornelia, now Mrs. Dennis Mc- Ewen. (3) Charles, born June 20, 1813, in Mont- ville, learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1838 started in the lumber and building business with his brother John, and later with his brothers Gilbert and Henry, thus continuing until 1892, when he re- tired. The greater portion of his life was spent in New London, where he held various town offices. He married first, Cynthia Davidson, of Preston, Conn., who died in 1892. Their children were: Charlotte, the wife of ex-governor Thomas M. Wal- ler ; Dr. H. M. Bishop, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Charles A., now deceased; Adam F .; and George, now de- ceased. Charles Bishop married (second), in 1893, Mrs. Cordelia Sanford Young, a widow, of Daniel- son, Conn., who is now also deceased. (4) Joseph, born June 27, 1815, in Montville, for a number of

years was superintendent of the cemetery offfew London, in which city he died. He marriedpara Noyes, of New London, who also died there. Their children were: Joseph and Julia. (5) Ch: otte, born April 25, 1817, in Montville, married En S. Beckwith, who conducted a marine railway i Kew London harbor. He died April 1, 1865, in New London, where his widow now resides. The hil- dren were; Louisa married Arnold Rudd; E D. died young ; Isabella C. is unmarried ; Mortin . H., lives in New London; Emily is the wife of forge M. Cole, adjutant-general of the State of Co fecti- cut, residing in Hartford. (6) Henry, born play 9, 1820, in Montville, was engaged in the haber business with his brothers Charles and Gill : in New London, where he died Jan. 25, 1892 His education was obtained at Montville and at C ter- field, but when he was fifteen years of age, hfame to New London, and commenced learning tl car- penter's trade under his brother John. For geral years, he worked at his trade, but later whis brothers Gilbert and Charles formed the f | of Bishop Brothers, and was placed in charge } the general outside work. Henry Bishop was a 11 of high moral life and belonged to the First :ptist Church, in which he was an active worker [His home life was a very happy one, and he lc 1 to beautify it and make those happy about hij In politics he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonia ype, although in local matters he often voted for tliman best fitted for the office. As for himself, he ferly refused public office. As a business man Il was very successful, and he conducted his affairs long the lines of the Golden Rule. In February 842, Mr. Bishop was married to Mary Smith H ard, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Smith) H ard, of New London. The children of that happ nar- riage were: Jonathan S., who was engage in a crockery business for a number of years in New London, and married Martha Benham, of (oton, and they have one child, Abby, who married carles D. Van Winkle, of Brooklyn; Henry, a mener of Bishop Lumber & Coal Co., mentioned below [ary, who married Nathan Woodsworth, of Watford, owner of a paper mill there, and they have c- dren as follows: Laura B., Thomas B., and C a B. of Waterford. Henry Bishop built the prese Bis- hop residence on Jay street in about 1845 (7) Gilbert, born July 15, 1824, in Montville, i nen- tioned below. (8) Elias, born Aug. 27, 1 7, in Montville, is now living in New London, id is mentioned below.

GILBERT BISHOP was born July 15, 1: 4, in Montville, Conn., the seventh child of Char and Charlotte (Latimer) Bishop. His early b hood days were passed in his native town where e at- tended the district schools of his time. F. later attended a school in New London, taught by ysses Dow. The school days of young Bishop wei prac- tically over when he was about fifteen years id, at

Gilbert Bishop

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ch ag he entered upon his business career. He an a clerk in a store, and soon after accepted pos cery lyin iness find n of head clerk in the meat market and ore of David Bishop and Adam Frink. himself closely, he soon mastered the Being ambitious and full of energy, and { a field for his ability in the capacity of k, ho oncluded to go into business for himself. oper a grocery store on Bank street, and con- ted 1; t for a while, subsequently disposing of le to xe up the lumber business with his broth- Da , Charles and Joseph. Thus began his necti emos positi s. C iness with a business that was built up to im- nse piportions, and with which he maintained a osition for fifty-seven years, or until the of the property in 1904 to the Palmer During this time the personnel of. the langed from time to time by the advent retirent of one or the other of the brothers, or ir sor and the style of the firm name was sev- hop & I time hanged as a result. Originally known as `o., it later was changed to Bishop Broth- , therfo Bishop & Sons, and finally was incor- poratd as the Bishop Lumber & Coal Co., with bert Ihop as president. For a number of years

bert hop was the foremost member of the practical head of the business, the art being almost entirely looked after until in 1903, failing health com-

its a

to relinquish his close attention

irs and its final disposition as pre- tioned. This marked the closing of one usly 1 ndon's oldest business concerns, and one r many years the leader of its kind, not ; city but in eastern Connecticut. The

New was in ness two occasions suffered from disastrous

63-65 Water street, where it remained eafter In 1889 occurred the second fire, from usiness seemed to recover with renewed r, nwithstanding the heavy loss sustained. firm

nufactured sash, doors, blinds and out- finis and dealt in lumber, coal and building erials During the latter years of his active ness 1

Mr. Bishop was extensively engaged in ling erations, erecting upward of a dozen les, pı The

:ipally in east New London.

marriage of Gilbert Bishop occurred 45, to Catherine Delaney Bishop, who ly II, 1825, a daughter of Robert Bishop

24, born his fe Sally Holmes, and a descendant. igh omas and Amy (Fargo) Bishop, of zer BI op, the emigrant ancestor of the Bishop ly.

: died Feb. 26, 1889, in New London. his uig n were born children as follows: Rob- ay, bin March 6, 1847, died Dec. 25, 1867, irried le was a clerk in the employ of his fa-

Sar Minerva, born June 20, 1848, was mar- Apri 7, 1873, to Henry Ferris, a practicing ney allıw in New York City, residing at West-

chester, N. Y., and to them have been born seven children, Anna Gertrude, Claiborne (who died aged five years), Katherine Livingstone, Nathalie, Hes- ter, Gilbert Bishop, and Margaret Oakley. Cather- ine Gertrude, third child of Gilbert Bishop, was born Nov. 29, 1849, and married June 17, 1873, Frank Huntington Chappell, president of the F. H. & A. H. Chappell Co., of New London, and their children are Minnie Huntington, Robert Bishop, Donald, Harold, Marion, Lawrence Arnold and Frank Hun- tington. Gilbert Curtis, fourth child of Gilbert Bishop, was born Feb. 8, 1869, was a member of the firm of Bishop & Sons until his death June 4, 1893, in New London ; he married, Oct. 20, 1890, Electa Ann Merrill, of New London, and left two children, Robert Curtis. Bishop and Katherine Bishop.

The second wife of Gilbert Bishop, whom he married Nov. 19, 1890, was Miss Lydia Allen Holmes, daughter of Elisha Harlow Holmes and Lydia Allen, of South Windham, Connecticut.

When a young man Gilbert Bishop was a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In early life he was a member of the Second Baptist church, but later he and his wife attended the Prot- estant Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Bishop is a Republican, and he has been a member of the com- mon council of the city, during his services in which he was chairman of the sidewalk committee. Though never what could be called a public man, or one seek- ing political honors, no citizen of the city has taken any more interest in its material growth and de- velopment than Mr. Bishop. His has been a busy and successful life, and, looked upon as he is, a most venerable and highly respected citizen, he has es- tablished a high standing for a family name that a numerous posterity can look upon with pride.

ELIAS BISHOP was born in Chesterfield, Mont- ville, and was educated there until he was seventeen years of age. At that time he came to New Lon- don, and with his brothers Charles and Joseph learned the trade of a carpenter. With them he was afterward a builder, and then for a year or two, he followed his trade very successfully. He then re- moved to Waterford, near the New London line, and established a door, sash and blind factory, run- ning it by horse power for several years, in conjunc- tion with his brothers. A fire made removal neces- sary, and the plant was transferred to the present location of the Adams Express office. Mr. Bishop then removed to Hampton, and bought a farm and gristmill, and was soon engaged in furnishing hay and grain to the railroad builders. After remaining there three years, he sold that property, and return- ing to New London, worked at his trade, and also operated a grocery on Mountain avenue, which he purchased. Once more he went to Waterford, and became superintendent of Cedar Grove cemetery, and held that position for over twenty-five years. He has since engaged in farming, and also has a

ch the

first conflagration resulted in its removal

T1 Nos.

1, an Incial him, ed 1

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

good milk route through New London. Since 1900 he established on Broad street, an up-to-date grocery store, managed by his son.

Elias Bishop is a member of the Huntington Street Baptist Church, of which he is a most earnest supporter. In politics he is a Republican.

On Oct. 10, 1847, Mr. Bishop was married to Harriet Newell Lincoln, daughter of John Lincoln, of Hampton, and she died in New London, Oct. 27, 1875. The children born to them were: Harriet Jane died young ; Sarah Jane died young.

On May 31, 1876, Mr. Bishop was married to Louisa Johnson of Waterford, daughter of James and Hannah (Beebe) Johnson, and the children of this marriage are: (1) Elias Johnson, born Jan. 20, 1877, is now operating his father's grocery store ; he married Nov. 3, 1897, Harriet J. Sistare, daughter of Charles G. Sistare, Jr., and they have one child, Charles Bishop, born Sept. 1, 1899. (2) Joseph, born July 29, 1887, is at home with his father.

HENRY BISHOP, born Aug. 6, 1846, in New Lon- don, Conn., received his education in that city, and also attended the high school known as Bartlett's high school, finishing his studies when about seventeen years of age. He clerked in a dry goods store owned by C. C. Culver for a short time, and was then a clerk in a stationery business. For about a year he operated a grocery store where Havens li- brary now stands, and his next venture was the es- tablishment of a stationery and book store on State street, and the firm style was Slocum & Bishop. It so continued for a year, and then Mr. Bishop con- ducted it alone for two years more. He finally sold his business, and going to Hartford, became a dealer in gold and silver spectacles, in company with Rob- erts, under the style of Roberts & Bishop. At the end of two and one-half years, he sold his interest to his partner, and went to Saybrook. Mr. Bishop became interested in the woven wire spring bed factory at Chester, Conn., and was a member of the Farnum Woven Wire Bed Springs Company for about two years. Coming to New London, about 1877, he became a clerk for Bishop & Company, and continued in that position until the death of the father, when he became a member of the firm of Bishop & Sons, and later of the incorporated com- pany, in 1890 of the Bishop Lumber and Coal Co., he being made treasurer, and still later general man- ager, which office he held until the dissolution of the firm in 1904.

Like so many of his family, he is a consistent member of the First Baptist Church of New Lon- don. He is a strong Republican, but has never sought office. On April 8, 1869, Mr. Bishop was married to Georgiana Sawyer of New London, who died March 20, 1889, in New London. On Nov. 20, 1890, he was married to Mary J. Hoskins, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who died May 28, 1897. On Oct. 20, 1898, he was married to Harriet Watrous, of New London, and she died Oct. 20, 1900, in New London. He has no children.

MARTIN VAN BUREN BRAINAR clerk and judge of probate of the town of Mon yle, is one of the most useful and esteemed citizens that section. He has held the two offices mention con- tinuously for several years past, and has se fellow citizens in other official capacities fidelity and efficiency which justify his sition among the leading and influential men of ti com- munity.

Mr. Brainard is a son of Zeno Brain for many years a highly respected resident o lont- ville, and is a direct descendant of Danie Grain- ard, who as a boy of eight years was brought to Hartford, Conn., where he lived.in the Wyl | fam- ily until twelve years old. These Wyllys , were prominent. George Wyllys, the head of the family, was a native of Fenny Compton, County . War- wick, England, and a son of Richard Wyllys feorge Wyllys came to America in 1638, and wa in or- iginal proprietor of Hartford. He was seven times elected a magistrate-1639-40-43-44 ; was deputy governor, 1641 ; governor, 1643 ; etc.

Daniel Brainard became a proprietor an zettler of Haddam in 1662, and was a prosperou [influ- ential and very respectable man. He was ; Justice of the peace and a deacon in the church. was twice married, marrying (first) Hannah encer, daughter of Gerard Spencer, of Lynn, Ma , and later of Haddam. After her death he marri ( sec- ond) Widow Hannah Dexter, and it is a dition that the entire maiden name of this wife fis the same as that of the first. His children, all born to the first marriage, were: Daniel, born Mich 2, 1665; Hannah, Nov. 20, 1667; James, Jan. 1669; Joshua, July 20, 1671 ; William, March 3 1673; Caleb, Nov. 20, 1675 ; Elijah, 1677; Hezeki |, 1680 or 1681.

Zeno Brainard, the father of Martin V. . , was a direct descendant of this ancestor, and w. born May 6, 1809, in Ledyard, Conn. His fat : died when our subject, Martin V. B. Brainard, 's very young. Zeno Brainard passed all his active [ars in agricultural pursuits, and was quite succoful in his vocation, being a progressive and enterising man in all that he undertook. In the latte. Thirties he removed to East Haddam, Middlesex Cc Conn .. where he remained until 1845, conducting a firm of about seventy-five acres, and thence rented to Montville, where he settled in the Elevent school district, on the old Chesterfield and Norw. acres.

turn- pike. There he purchased a farm of I( which he cultivated profitably, and at the me of his death he was in good circumstances. M Brain- ard was a jovial, good-natured man, well-led so- cially, and held in high esteem by all who k w him for his uprightness of character and annirable moral qualities. He was actively intereste in the affairs of his adopted town, in which he hel several offices, among them that of assessor. Inpolitical sentiment he was a stanch Jeffersonian L'hocrat. Mr. Brainard died Aug. 8, 1889, in Montvill Conn.

d his th a

On. U. B. Brainard.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

red eil ty years, three months and two days. Mr. raina ept. I illiar vay UI married Mary Hilliard, who was born 1812, in Salem, Conn., daughter of Deacon a local preacher of Salem. She passed t. 19, 1897, in Montville, aged eighty-five ars a this Mo one day. Children as follows were born ion : (1) Mary married Anson Chappell, ille, where she died when twenty-eight ars ch .. She was the mother of two children, ary A 62, al by and Aurelia A. (2) Martin Van Buren mentned below. (3) Henry L. died Nov. 2, ember of Company H, roth Conn. V. I., the avice of his country in the war of the Re- llion;le never married. (4) Frederick C., a ember f Company F, 2Ist Conn. V. I., died in rvice ay 5, 1863 ; he never married. (5) Aure- . A. 1 rried Jonathan Gay, of Montville, where e die the mother of one daughter, Ada. (6)

ewis I married Lydia Ann Davenport, of Mont- lle, an they have one son, LeRoy. Mr. Brainard

enga 1 in farming in Montville.

Mar Van Buren Brainard was born Feb. 27, alem, Conn., and was only a few months

36, in d whe his parents removed to East Haddam. here h began his education in the district schools, ich huttended until nine years old, when he re- oved with his parents to Montville, at which place conti ed his schooling up to the age of seven-

n. T winter that he was seventeen he taught one the district schools of Montville, after ich h was a student at the grammar school of v Ld lon for one term. He then took up the

pente trade, which he followed in the summer le for number of years, teaching in the winters, il 18; in which year he and his brother-in-law Irving

Browning, established a wagon and car- ge faury, which they conducted under the firm ne of Brainard & Browning. They were very cessf but Mr. Brainard was obliged eventually aband the business on account of ill health, er ten inter his ti c he 1 twelve years of it, Mr. Browning buying For several years he had devoted much to the settlement of estates, and at the the wagon business he was under $90,000 ds irat connection. Meantime he had also chase ch he ning a tract of land in Palmertown, from old some building lots, also carrying on ere to a limited extent. In the fall of 6 he as elected judge of probate, to succeed ırles offi Comstock, and he has been retained in continuously ever since. On Sept. I, 7, he le by as elected town clerk, to fill a vacancy, e removal of Dr. Druley, and he has also i re-€ le pr velÎ f com ce fo ted to that office for continuous service nt date, a record which speaks sufficient- the value of his services to need no fur- nt. He has served on the school com- eventeen years, was selectman for seven 's, fir selectman for four years, assessor, mem-

ber of the board of relief, and, in fact, has been chosen to almost every office within the gift of his fellow townsmen. For several years he was a jus- tice of the peace. Mr. Brainard is a stanch Repub- lican in politics, and is one of the influential men of that party in his town, where his approval or dis- approval of candidates or measures counts for con- siderable. He has also taken an active interest in the religious life of his community, being a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has been deacon for thirteen years; he has also served on various committees, and has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school for the past fourteen years. He may be called a leading citizen of Montville in more ways than one, as a record of his activities and interests shows, and he is highly respected among a wide cir- cle of friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Brainard was married, Jan. 2, 1866, to Miss Martha Maria Browning, daughter of Dr. Isaac Browning, of Montville. No children have come to this union.

CHARLES BILLINGS CHAPMAN, who wields a power in the financial world as assistant secretary and assistant treasurer of the Chelsea Savings Bank at Norwich-positions that show the marked confidence in which his ability and integ- rity are held-comes of a family long known in New England and Connecticut.

The name Chapman first appears of record in New London county, in 1657, when William Chap- man bought a home lot, on what is at present .Hempstead street. He died Dec. 18, 1699, and while there is no record of his family, the children named in his will were: John, William, Samuel, Jeremiah, Joseph, Sarah and Rebecca. Of these John removed, in 1716, with his family to Colches- ter ; William married Hannah, daughter of Daniel Lester, and is supposed to have settled in Groton ; Samuel, the ancestor of the Waterford branch of the family, lived in the Cohanzie district, reared to maturity nine children, and died Nov. 2, 1756; Joseph was a mariner, and removed his family to Norwich, where he died June 10, 1725; Jeremiah, probably the youngest of the five brothers, retained the family homestead, and died Sept. 6, 1755, aged eighty-eight. All of the brothers left large families, and their posterity is now widely scattered.

Eber Chapman, the great-grandfather of Charles Billings Chapman, was born May 16, 1770, and on April 10, 1794, he married Desire Stark, born Nov. 26, 1769. Their children were: Nancy, born Feb. 20, 1795, married Phineas Crumb, and died at Jewett City; Elias, born May 23, 1796; Mercy, born 1798, married Thomas Mulky; Simeon, born April 3, 1799, married twice, and lived first in Led- yard, later removing to New York City, where he engaged in business, and where he died; Jesse, born Nov. 8, 1800, married a Miss Brand, and died in Ledyard; Solomon, born March 18, 1803, resided

346

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Mystic; Mary, born Dec. 28, 1804, died young ; and Phebe, born Nov. 15, 1806, and Amy, born Nov. 13, 1808, never married.

Elias Chapman, son of Eber, was a farmer resid- ing in Preston, where he died at an advanced age, April 24, 1883. He married Clara Avery, daughter of Theophilus and Margery (Newton) Avery ; she died April 13, 1883, aged eighty-five years. Their children were: (I) Theophilus Avery. (2) Nancy H. died July 24, 1844, aged twenty-one years. (3) Jared, born Oct. 21, 1826, was a farmer in early life, and later a carpenter in Preston, where he died in February, 1870. He married Elizabeth Palmer, and had four children: Emma M., who married Alfred Lockwood, and died in Preston; Sarah Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Lillie, wife of James G. Maples, of Norwich; and Elias S., who resides in Schenectady, N. Y. (4) Nancy died in young womanhood.

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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 79

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