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 87

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 87

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378

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1866, when he started in business for himself in a boot and shoe store in the Rockwell building, oc- cupying one side of a store room. He remained there until 1871, when he removed to his present location in the Austin block. Mr. Kies did not have a partner until 1884, when Mr. James L. Coffee, who had been a clerk in his employ for twelve years, was taken into partnership and the firm became George W. Kies & Co. It is the oldest boot and shoe establishment in the city and does a large business.

Mr. Kies was married in Norwich, July 26, 1852, to Ellen Cornelia Allen, born in Killingly, the daughter of Jabez and Sarah ( Bacon) Allen, by whom he has had one child, George Allen.

George Allen Kies, born May 4, 1854, in Nor- wich, received his education in the public schools and the Norwich Free Academy. He early showed much musical ability, and after receiving local in- struction at the age of fifteen years began taking lessons under Eugene Thayer, a well-known teacher of Boston. When he was fifteen years old he was organist of the Central Baptist Church, serving there for one year, and at Christ Church for three years. At the age of nineteen he took lessons on the organ from Prof. August Haupt, the leading teacher of Germany on that instrument, and also re- ceived general musical instruction from Richard Wuerst, a famous composer. In August, 1874, on his return to America, Mr. Kies became organist of the Park Congregational Church and has since held that position. He is one of the best known and most successful music teachers in eastern Con- necticut. He has served three terms as president of the Connecticut Music Teachers Association, be- ing in May, 1903, elected to his third term, and is a member and one of the founders of the American Guild of Organists. He was for many years a mem- ber of the Manuscript Society, a national organiza- tion of composers.

George A. Kies is a Republican in his politics. Fraternally he is a member of St. James Lodge, No. 23, F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Franklin Council, No. 3, and Columbian Commandery, No. 4, K. T. He has served as master in the first four bodies, and was Grand Master of the State for one year. In Scottish Rite Masonry he is a member of King Solomon Grand Lodge of Perfection, Van Rensselaer Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Nor- wich Sovereign Chapter, Rose Croix, and Connec- ticut Sovereign Consistory.

Mr. Kies was married, Jan. 27, 1875, to Jennie, daughter of George F. Palmer, of Norwich, and has had two children : Helen M., who is a vocalist of ability and is now receiving instruction in New York ; and Mabel L.

George W. Kies is an ardent supporter of the Prohibition party. He united with the Westfield Congregational Church at Danielson in 1842, and when he removed to Norwich transferred his mem- bership to the Broadway Congregational Church of

that city, with which Mrs. Kies is still conr ged Mr. Kies remained a member of same until ,02. when ne joined the Emanuel ( Holiness) Chus at Providence, R. I. Mr. Kies has been for th fast twenty years engaged in evangelistic work, de ling time and money unselfishly to that cause. Havas the prime mover in the Holiness Mission at for- wich, of which he is the leading worker and fi cial supporter, and though not a regularly ordained in- ister in the church he has filled a number of bits and has done a great deal of mission work. Ithas mp also taken a prominent part in the annual meetings of the church, being a director in bof the Douglass (Mass.) and Portsmouth (R. I.) ( mp Meeting Associations, and has for many year fern a leading worker in the semi-annual camp moings held at Silver Lake, Vt., and Hebron, Ma as well as all the various camp meetings and off en- tions of his church throughout New Englar fand the East. In connection with his unceasing wx in the Holiness Church he has written several boks, among them "Sanctification Definitely Soug' fand Obtained," "Fifty Years in the Congreg onal Church," "Did Ye Receive the Holy Ghost then Ye Believed?" and "Walking with God

the Twentieth Century."

Mr. Kies resides in a beautiful home at . : 10 Laurel Hill avenue, which he purchased in $79. six years after it was built, and in this del tful home he dispenses a most generous hospitality

SMITH. The family bearing this name | one of the oldest in New London County, and one fhich has given to the State many good and hor able citizens, who have played well their parts in ublic and municipal affairs, as well as in private life One of the original proprietors of the town of Novich was Rev. Nehemiah Smith, who was born i: Eng- land about 1605. He emigrated to Americand was admitted a freeman at Plymouth, Mass., jarch 6, 1637-38. He married Anna Bourne, whos ister Martha married John Bradford, son of Gov Vill- iam Bradford. Rev. Mr. Smith lived in Strford, New Haven, New London, Groton, and cije to Norwich as one of the original proprietors . the town, who purchased land from Uncas in une, 1659. The descendants of Rev. Mr. Smith a very numerous throughout eastern Connecticut.

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It is the purpose of this article to treat branch of the family which has for many yea been one of the leading and most highly respected umil- ies of Franklin, where several of the name JE re- side, and of Owen S. Smith, of Norwich Tov and his brother, Frank H. Smith, member of tl well known firm of J. F. Barstow & Co., at Novich, sons of the late John Owen Smith.

Thomas Smith, the great-grandfather o these gentlemen, was born May 16, 1754, in L vard, Conn., and by occupation was a farmer ; and also worked at coopering. He enlisted from Ston gton, Conn., in the Revolutionary army, on May 1, 1775,

379

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

months, under Capt. Samuel Prentice ; wo months he was under Capt. James id still later, for two months, was under Swan. For his services he drew a pen- as low as he lived. In 1844 he moved to Frank- with his son Prentice P., and there re- his death. He enjoyed good health un- ickness, which was due to old age, and he

d un is las . De [, 1844, in his ninety-first year. He be- e a 1, an politi mber of the Methodist Church at Led- was ever an upright Christian man. In . faith he was a Whig at the time of his 1. ( Nov. 2, 1777, he married Thankful Ben- , boriOct. 5, 1757. She survived him, and died he hhe of her son Prentice P., in Franklin, 3. 9, marri e of jo, in her ninety-third year. The period life of this venerable couple covered a «ty-seven years. Mrs. Smith was a re- kablyvell-preserved lady, retaining her every le was a constant reader of the Bible, and ngly well versed in Scripture, which she fond of quoting. Their children were : Jan. 27, 1779, married a Mr. Geer, and Erie, Pa .; Betsey, born Oct. 1, 1780, be- fe of a Mr. Latham, and removed West ; n April 28, 1782, married a Mr. Grant, ug. 26, 1820: Thomas, born March 12, ed (first) Phebe Bennett, (second) hnson, and died Dec. 1, 1844: Thankful,

ilty. ex ver ly, boğ oved e the gail, died 1, ma be L. Apr 23, 1786, died July 1, 1797 ; Nancy, born 38, married William Avery, and resided 20,

1; Lydia, born Nov. 14, 1790, died Aug. anny, born Feb. 13, 1793, died Aug. 20, rentice P. was born Sept. II, 1795.

indh 1813 ; anc 'rentil and idvan er, a1 :dyar oper,

P. Smith was born in the town of Led- as brought up to farm work, having only res of a district schooling. He became a had a farm in the north part of the town From his father he acquired the trade id he had a shop on the farm where he engag at coopering when not otherwise busy he fa 1. At times they employed several s, andnade many barrels for use in the West :s mo ses trade. He continued to reside there 1844 then he removed to Franklin, where two had

ceded him, and he purchased the farm occuĮ 1 by Charles B. Davis, then owned by ew Hl. A few years later he disposed of the yard, and he remained on the farm in

in L klin 1 il 1868, when he and his wife went to vith

ir son, William C., until their deaths. as a ccessful farmer, reared a large family omfortable circumstances ; he was buried fis death occurred Jan. 3, 1881, due He had been quite active retaining his les u

ied i elin. ag

! a few weeks before the end. Politi- le wą led I

¿ Whig, later a Republican, and he rep- yard one term in the Legislature, and ·ved the board of selectmen, and also held of the minor offices. In early life he united

with the Ledyard Methodist Episcopal Church, but later transferred to the Bean Hill Methodist Church. His wife united with the Ledyard Methodist Epis- copal Church, and also transferred to Bean Hill Church. During his residence in Ledyard he took an active part in church matters.

On Dec. 1, 1814, Prentice P. Smith was married to Maria Avery, who was born Aug. 13, 1797, and who died Dec. 17, 1885, after a happy wedded life of sixty-six years. Their children were: Sarah Maria, born Sept. 30, 1815, became the wife of Rev. Silas Leonard, a Methodist minister, and died in Franklin Nov. 29, 1884. Prentice O., born Aug. 3, 1817, married Eliza King, who died June 17, 1904. He was a member of the firm of Smith Brothers for many years, and later he was a general agent of a publishing house ; he died in Franklin Feb. 14, 1898. John Owen, born Oct. 6, 1819, married Abby S. King. Mary Louisa, born Jan. 25, 1822, married John Shapley, a machinist by trade, and they resided in Cazenovia, N. Y., for a number of years, but later removed to Gananoque, Canada, where they now re- side. Austin A., born May 21, 1824, married Fran- ces Mather ; he was a machinist by trade, but was engaged in several business enterprises, and he died in Franklin April 22, 1883. Henry N., born April 18, 1827, married Lydia Lathrop, and resided in Franklin, where he was engaged at farming until his death, June 15, 1883 ; from 1859 until a few weeks previous to his death, he was a deacon in the Frank- lin Congregational Church. In early life he was connected with the firm of Smith Brothers. Lucian H., born July 1, 1829, married Jane Lathrop, was a blacksmith, later a farmer, and was killed by a fall in his barn in Bozrah Oct. 5, 1879. Frances H., born April 24, 1832, married Hezekiah Huntington, and resides in New York, where he is a retired real estate dealer. William Curtis, born July 1, 1835, married Elizabeth H. Mumford ; he is a farmer and resides in Franklin, where for many years he has served as a deacon in the Franklin Church. Ezra Leonard, born Aug. II, 1837, is a farmer and re- sides in Minneapolis, Minn. ; he married Lucy Hast- ings, of Franklin. The first death in the family was. that of Lucian H., who, as above stated, was acci- dentally killed, at the age of fifty.

Smith's Corners is a well known locality in the town of Franklin. It derives its name from this family, and as above noted the first of this branch of the family to locate there were the two sons of Prentice P. Smith. These sons began the manu- facturing of wagons under name of Smith Brothers, their shop being located at the corners, and their dwelling in the immediate vicinity. At one time several of the brothers were engaged at wagonmak- ing, in addition to other help, and they did a good business for many years. Their wagons and other vehicles were widely known for their durability, the work being hand made, and the workmen all natural mechanics.

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380

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

John Owen Smith, of the above family, was born in Ledyard, Conn., and was a young man when he went to Franklin. Before he became of age he bought his time from his father, and was employed in the carriage shop as a carriage trimmer. Later on he traveled for the establishment, selling buggies and wagons in New London and surrounding coun- ties. He purchased the homestead farm at Smith's Corners, one of the best farms in the county, and erected the house now standing, For many years the management of the farm was looked after by his son Owen S., and Mr. Smith was general agent in Massachusetts, for the successive editions of the atlas published by Mitchell & Bradley, holding the field to the satisfaction of all parties, and with splendid financial results to himself, for many years. He was a splendid salesman. Later he was an agent for the celebrated West's American Tire Setter. He then devoted his entire attention to his farm until 1889, when he disposed of the place and in 1893 he removed to Norwich, to make his home with his son Frank H., residing here until his death, which was due to heart failure, and occurred very suddenly Jan. 30, 1896, while he was walking down town on Water street. He was buried with his wife in Yan- tic cemetery, and the funeral was attended by many of his old friends and neighbor's from Franklin.

Mr. Smith was an Andrew Jackson Democrat, and later a Republican. Throughout his long resi- dence in Franklin he had been prominently identi- fied with the interests of the town, was foremost in every good work, and always an advocate of prog- ress. He represented Franklin one term in the Leg- islature. He united with the Franklin Congrega- tional Church when a young man, and became one of the most valued workers in that body. He was the prime mover in the erection of the present church and parsonage, giving a great deal of his time when they were under construction, and he was also the most active one in looking after its finances. He served as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.

In 1842 Mr. Smith was married to Abby Shap- ley King, who was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1822, daughter of Capt. Joseph and Abby (Shapley) King. The King family is mentioned more fully elsewhere. Mrs. Smith passed away Sept. 21, 1894. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Smith covered a period of fifty-two years. Mr. Smith was well to do, and was most highly respected. During his comparatively brief residence in Norwich he had made many new friends, who esteemed him highly. His family consisted of three children: (I) Owen S., born June 29, 1848, is mentioned below. (2) Frank H., born March 28, 1852, married first Flor- ence Proctor, and second Maude Richmond. He has two children by the second union, Helen B. and Frank R., the latter a member of the firm of J. P. Barstow & Co., in Norwich. (3) Julia O., born in 1856, died in 1897, unmarried.

OWEN S. SMITH was born in Franklin, and re-

ceived his education in the district schools, e select schools in Franklin, and the Norwich je Academy. After leaving school he returned to home farm and assumed the management of it his father, remaining there for eight years afte marriage, until 1881, when he moved to his produit farm in Norwich Town; this place has been ir le possession of the Huntington family for one (1- dred and eighty-seven years. The house the in was erected in 1717. This home has been the b place in succession of seven generations of the Hl- ington family. Mr. Smith has been engaged at fi- eral farming, and from 1887 to 1900 he condi

d a successful ice business. He now devotes his ie to real estate business, in which he has been eq ky successful.

Mr. Smith was married Oct. 2, 1872, to riet E. Huntington, who was born in her profit home, June 27, 1851, and graduated at North Free Academy, class of 1871, daughter of De on Edward Andrew and Harriet A. (Lyman) Hun ky- ton, and a descendant of one of the oldest far fes of the town. They have had four children: ) Edward H., born July 1, 1873, was educated in wich Free Academy, Amherst College ( from vich he graduated in 1898), and Hartford Theolo sal Seminary (from which he graduated in 1901). Le was ordained at Norwich Town in June, 1901, a foreign missionary of the American Board, andas been stationed at Foo Chow, China, since De fu- ber, 1901. He was married Oct. 2, 1901, to (ce W. Thomas, of Boston, and they have one od, Helen Huntington. (2) Mabel King, born De eI, 1874, graduated from Norwich Free Academy las married Oct. 2, 1901, to T. Snowden Thoma of Boston, and has two children, Lucille Franklin End Julian Snowden. Mr. Thomas is general secr ry of the Y. M. C. A. of Watertown, N. Y. (3) ir- old Lyman was born Oct. 2, 1886, and graduat in 1904 from Norwich Free Academy. (4) Siley Palmer was born Jan. 1I, 1889.

Owen S. Smith was a Republican in sentimrt, but he never cared for office. He united with he Franklin Congregational Church, and transferr to the Second Congregational Church at Norwich ud later to the First Congregational Church. Heras superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Send Congregational Church, for several years. Trs. Smith and three of her children are also cl ch members.

CAPT. BENJAMIN W. LATHAM, one c lie representative men of Groton, comes of an oldInd distinguished family, the record of which in pa is as follows :

William Latham, his grandfather, was bo at Fort Hill, Groton, and there passed his entire fe. He served in the war of 1812, in which servi he was wounded at Fort Ledyard, Groton. He ar- vived his injuries, however, and died at an advanced age.

BWL atham

38I

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Sila Latham, son of William, and father of Capt. Benjain, was born in District No. 9, of Groton. He mied Miss Lydia P. Lewis, who died in 1892, venty-seven years. His death occurred in when he was eighty-seven years of age.

ipation Silas Latham was a mariner, and le a seafaring life from his boyhood. During one v age he was shipwrecked, and spent six month

on one of the group of Fiji Islands. For many gaged servic Years active ars he was master of the "Lizzie," and en- sealing and whaling, and was also in the of the merchant marine. For the last ten his life he remained in Noank, retired from irsuits. His church membership was with he Brist denomination, and he always took an active uting were : and n rt in the good work of that body, contrib- erally toward its support. His children ) Frances married the late James Gaskell, lives in Norwich. (2) Silas B. is men- ioned sewhere. (3) Ezra was lost at sea between Savan 1 and New York, in 1889, from the "Will- er ;" he was unmarried. (4) Elizabeth mar- bert Chadwick, and, resides at Norwich 5) Walter died young. (6) Benjamin W.

am Fi riedl Town. s men ned below. (7) Elmer, an artist and half-

tone el raver, in Brooklyn, N. Y., married Belle Hende n.

Ca Benjamin W. Latham was born at Noank, ov. 20, 1849, and attended the school at reet, in Groton. When nine years of age lis first trip with his father, and the next ecame steward of the "Thorn," upon which ed until 1867. In that year he went South, southern waters from Mobile, and the ar from Key West, Fla. For many win- rs, 01 ntil 1893, he continued fishing in southern aters He was with Capt. Peter Baker on the loop nnie D." and the schooner "Angie & .mma, and later he became captain of the "Sam- el C. ildon," with his brother Silas, and on the

Lillian He was with the "Isabel" two winters in le Sch, and later purchased the "William isher, In partnership with his brother Ezra. He ien p hased the "Melinda Wood," which he iled ta winters in the South, and four summers the rth. His next venture was the buying of

le "G rude Summers," which he had at Savan- th the

irst winter, and at Galveston the second inter, ard,

id from its deck he was washed over-

1 was very near drowning when rescued a b e and daring member of his crew. For ree s

mers he sailed this vessel in the North, hen h rs and ra C thing ouith

bought "The Conquest," and fished win- wo summers. He ran the "Storm King" reston company in the winter of 1892-93, the banks of Campeachey, but has not been ce that time. Capt. Latham then bought ' "Ha e Hamblin" and fished one summer, after hich built the steamer "Ethel," and ran her ree ye

s. He next bought the "M. A. Baston," ran two summers, and then bought the

"Charlotte J. Kingsland," which, after having it re- built, he has run four summers. He is also a part owner in several other fishing vessels.

On June 16, 1873, Capt. Latham was married, at Noank, Conn., to Emma F. Peckham, daughter of Robert H. Peckham, and one child has been born to this marriage, Ethel W. Fraternally Capt. Latham is a member of Charity and Relief Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Benevolent Chapter, No. 27 ; Mystic Council, No. 21 ; Washington Council No. 7, Jr. O. U. A. M .; an honorary member of Noank Fire Company No. I ; and he is also a very active mem- ber of the famous Jibboom Club at New London. Capt. Latham is a genial companion, and upright gentleman, and a man who makes and retains friends wherever he happens to be. His duties of neces- sity call him from home, but he takes a pride in his town, and favors all measures calculated to prove beneficial to its best interests. He has been more than ordinarily successful, in fact few, if any, of his time, have been as much so. In addition to this feature of his life, it can be said that none are better known in their line of business than Capt. Latham in the fishing industry.

EUGENE PALMER. The enterprising farm- ers of our land are in reality the backbone of this country, and they contribute more to its actual strength and prosperity than any other class of citi- zens. The New England farmer in particular pre- sents the best type of American, and is in most cases a man of strong character and sterling virtues. Such a one is Eugene Palmer, of Stonington, whose life has been passed in the active management of the farm which was his boyhood's home and the scene of his manhood's labors. He belongs to one of the old Connecticut families and is in the eighth genera- tion from the original settler in this western world.

The Palmer line descends from (I) Walter, through (II) Nehemiah, (III) Nehemiah (2), (IV) Thomas and (V) Thomas (2), to (VI) Thomas, who married March 15, 1795, Lucy Prentice Wheel- er, daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Prentice) Wheeler. The children born to Thomas and Lucy Palmer were: Lucy, born Nov. 9, 1796, wife of John J. Stanton ; Thomas W., born Sept. 21, 1798, who died Oct. 10, 1801; Mary Rossiter, born Aug. 10, 1800, wife of Deacon Noyes Palmer ; Alden ; Eugene, born March 26, 1806, who married Jane Smith ; Hannah, born Feb. 4, 1807, who died young ; Lydia Emeline, born Feb. 19, 1813, who became Mrs. Joseph Warren Stanton ; and Thomas W. (2), born July 20, 1816, who married Lucy Browning, and resided in Stonington.

(VII) Major Alden Palmer was born July 17, 1802, in district No. 7, Stonington. His title was earned in the old military company. He followed the occupation of a farmer all his life, and built the present farm home where his son lives. Politically he held the views of the Democratic party, and was one of the stanch supporters of its principles till his

econd

Conn., 'rook e too! ear he e rem shing

aged 1893, c

ich

382

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

death, which occurred March 22, 1876. Major Pal- mer's wife was Miss Nancy D. Palmer, born Feb. 20, 1810, died May 13, 1886, daughter of Lemuel and Abigail (Davis) Palmer. They were married Oct. 10, 1831, and were the parents of eight chil- dren. (I) Harriet J., born July 28, 1832, died un- married June 4, 1884. (2) Mary Rossiter, born March 16, 1834, married Henry Martyn Palmer, of Stonington. (3) Thomas, born Aug. 30, 1835, mar- ried Minnie Pond, and died Oct. 24, 1889. (4) Alden, born Sept. 4, 1837, died May 2, 1869. He

married Eunice Noyes and had three children, Fan- nie S., Alden (deceased), and Paul Noyes, of Mys- tic. (5) Lucy W., born Dec. 28, 1839, died unmar- ried, July 26, 1897. (6) Eugene was born Nov. 29, 184I. (7) Emeline, born March 23, 1846, married Noyes S. Palmer. (8) Eliza Babcock, born June II, 1849, married Frank W. Palmer, of New York City.

(VIII) Eugene Palmer was married June 9, 1881, to Mary Adelia, born July 30, 1857, daugh- ter of Gideon P. and Anna Adelia (Lasher) Chese- brough. They have had four children, namely : Henry Rhodes, born Oct. 26, 1882, who resides in Providence, R. I., and is connected with the Narra- gansett Electric Lighting Company; Daniel Stan- ton, born Sept. 25, 1884, who died May 29, 1903; Adelia M., born Dec. 2, 1887 ; and Jean, born Aug. 7, 1900. With the exception of four years which he passed in the State of New York, Mr. Palmer has always resided in Stonington, actively engaged in farming at the old homestead. He is a member of the Old Road Church, of that place, as is Mrs. Pal- mer. Although alive to all questions pertaining to the welfare of his community, Mr. Palmer has not carried his political activities to the extent of holding any town office.

ALEXANDER FRAZIER SHAW, resident manager of the United States Finishing Co. of Greeneville, and a well known resident of Norwich, is a Scotchman who came to Connecticut in 1892. He was born at Thornliebank, near Glasgow, Scot- land, Aug. 9, 1867, and came with his parents to this country in September, 1881.

John Watt Shaw, father of Alexander Frazier, was also a native of Thornliebank, where he learned the engraver's art. He married, in Scotland, Agnes Frazier, who bore him thirteen children, seven of whom died in infancy. The remaining children came with their parents to America in September, 1881, the family locating at Chester, Pa., where Mr. Shaw followed his profession until his death, in 1891. He was buried in Chester, where he was known and honored as a devoted husband and fa- ther, and a good citizen. He had been, in Scot- land, an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and on coming to Chester allied himself with the Methodist Church of that place. His wife was also an active member of that church, a good Christian woman, and a devoted wife and mother. After her

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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 87

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