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 95

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 95

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DR. SIDNEY L. GEER, one of the oldest and best known dentists in eastern Connecticut, born Sept. 17, 1838, is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the State.

George Geer, the first of that name in America,

30, 1

31, I' Ladd Anna I794 Smith

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

appears of record in New London, Conn., Feb. 17, 1658, the date of his marriage to Sarah Allyn, daughter of Robert Allyn. He was born about 1621, in England, and according to tradition was a son of Jonathan Geer, of Devonshire. George and a younger brother, Thomas, tradition tells us, were left orphans at a tender age, and by an uncle were put aboard a ship which was to sail for America, and which arrived in Boston, Mass., in 1635. The first reliable record of them thereafter is that George was one of the early settlers of New London, Conn., in 1651, and Thomas in Enfield, Conn., in 1682. George Geer, immediately after his marriage, set- tled on a tract of fifty acres of land granted him by the town of New London. Later on, in 1665, he received from the town another grant of land, one of 100 acres. He also owned a tract of land in the town of Preston (now Griswold), a part of which he obtained by grant from the Indian Sachem, Owaneco, eldest son of Uncas, bearing date Dec. II, 1691. He also held other lands. In 1705 he re- sided in what became the town of Groton, of which he was a selectman. His death occurred in 1726. His wife, Sarah, was baptized in Salem, Mass., about 1640, some time previous to her father's re- moval to New London, Conn., in 1651. She died a short time previous to the death of her husband. Their children were: Sarah, born Feb. 27, 1659; Jonathan, May 26, 1662; Joseph, Oct. 14, 1664; Hannah, Feb. 27, 1666; Margaret, in February, 1669; Mary, March 26, 1671 ; Daniel, in 1673 ; Rob- ert, Jan. 2, 1675 ; Anne, Jan. 6, 1679; Isaac, March 26, 1681 ; and Jeremiah.

(II) Jonathan Geer, born May 26, 1662, settled at an early period about ten miles north of his fa- ther, on land given to him by the latter in 1686. In that year he, with others, petitioned the General Court for a new town, which petition was granted, and the town called Preston. His wife, Mary, died April 24, 1718. The children of Jonathan and Mary Geer were: Jonathan, Deborah, Sarah, Mary, Zer- via and Dorothy. The father died April 30, 1742.

(III) Jonathan Geer (2) married (first) June 15, 1721, Elizabeth Herrick ; she died Feb. 10, 1743- 44, and he married (second) April 6, 1745, Hannah Putnam, of Preston. Five children were born to the first marriage and two to the second, as follows: Aaron, born May 7, 1722; Jonathan, June 3, 1724; Stephen, Feb. 22, 1726-27; Elizabeth, May 9, 1728; Samuel, June 3, 1731 ; Elizabeth, Jan. 24, 1746; and Elisha, March 5, 1749-50.

(IV) Stephen Geer, born Feb. 22, 1726-27, mar- ried Jan. 8, 1746-47, Ruth Clark, of Norwich, and their children were: Amos and Thomas, born Sept. 28, 1747, and Aug. 9, 1750, respectively.

(V) Thomas Geer, born Aug. 9, 1750, married (first) Feb. II, 1773, Meribah Killam, of Preston, Conn. She died March 17, 1801, and he married (second) March 22, 1803, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilbur, of Preston. His children, all born to the first mar- riage, were: Jephthah, born Feb. 7, 1774; Jonathan,

March 8, 1776; Joseph, July 22, 1778; nna, Oct. 19, 1780 ; Ichabod E., May 8, 1783 ; and Įbby, Nov. 30, 1791.

(VI) Jephthah Geer, born Feb. 7, 1774, rried Nov. 19, 1797, Olive Herrick, of Worth gton Mass .; she died in August, 1854, aged :enty- seven years. Their children were: Olive born Jan. 24, 1800 ; Laura, Nov. 10, 1801 ; Jephtlı Feb. 13, 1804; Eunice, April 20, 1806; Almira, March 24, 1808; Hollibut W., March 8, 1810; Tho fs C., Feb. 22, 1812; Isaac Sidney, April 7, 18 g and Persis C., Sept. 12, 1816.

(VI) Jephthah Geer, born Feb. 7, 1774, rrie: ·ston, son of Jephthah, was born in the town of New London county, Feb. 13, 1804. He Les en- gaged all his life in the manufacture of woole froods in the town of Scotland, and had as a partn Will- iam Davidson. He built up an extensive 1 liness, but met with some reverses on account of anges in the tariff. Being a man of pluck and det @nina- tion; he succeeded in his business, and laid 1 h fair competency for his declining years. He die fat his home in Scotland Dec. 8, 1870, and is bed in Scotland cemetery. Politically he was a Wr and later a Republican. Mr. Geer was a good tizen, a devoted father and husband, and lived an onest, upright life.

Mr. Geer married Olive Starkweather, w., bore him two children: (1) Henry B., born . 18, 1836, was a farmer ; he married Lizzie Ca /, and died April 18, 1900. (2) Sidney L. was bo Sept. 17, 1838. The mother of these children died No- vember, 1838, and was buried in Scotland.

or his İnball, second wife Mr. Geer married Mary L. . who after the death of her husband came to ] [rwich and spent her days with Dr. Geer, who carecpr her in her old age. She died Oct. 28, 1900, and ; buried in Scotland cemetery. She was a good ( istian woman, a loving wife, and a much devoted other to her step-children.

Sidney L. Geer, the subject proper of the lines, attended the public schools of his native to 1, and in 1855, when seventeen years old, came to : rwich to learn the profession of dentistry, under le pre- ceptorship of Dr. E. K. Cook, who in 1858 ent to South America, where he located and pract d and where he died. Dr. Geer succeeded Dr. ok at Norwich, in the practice of his chosen pr ssion, and has remained there ever since, his resi ice in that city covering nearly half a century. His one of the oldest dentists in eastern Connecticut, id has built up an extensive practice, due as muc to his pleasant disposition as to his skill. He is ned for his liberality of thought, and broadmindedr s. In 1877 Dr. Geer built a fine brick block in Br dway, and a fine private dwelling on Franklin stree which was one of the most picturesque homes in Nrwich.

The Doctor is a stanch Republican. H was a member of the board of water commissio rs for eight years, during four of which he was i chair- man. To this incumbency was attached a sary of

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Do per ear, for which he gave a receipt, and then urned he money to the city treasury, which was ver die before or since by any other official. is an ttendant of Christ Church.

On ily 20, 1865, Dr. Geer married, in Nor- ch, Cin., Harriet Perry, who was born June 30, 42, dIghter of J. B. and Harriet Perry. She d Mah 15, 1898, and was laid to rest in Yantic meter Mrs. Geer was a woman of fine Chris- n chatter, a member of the Universalist Church, d no e wa ight ving oadw for her charity and Christian virtues. ducated in Norwich Free Academy, and 1001 for a number of years in Norwich, en assistant to Prof. John Allen, at the School. For eleven years she was a emberli the Children's Home committee.

JOS PH T. DONOVAN, proprietor of the ltic I ig Co., and town clerk of the town of raguens not only one of the most wide-awake 1 thryy young business men of that town, but

e of influential and representative citizens as 11. one of his years Mr. Donovan has made pid pi ys to : ress towards the goal of success, and en- unusual degree the confidence and esteem his flow townsmen.

Mr. id Co. nie andfa

Donovan was born at South Coventry, Tol- Conn., July 6, 1877, a son of Jeremiah and cklin) Donovan. Timothy Donovan, his r, was a resident of County Cork, Ire- e he became well to do. After the death

d, wl his w he and two sons and one daughter came the Uted States, and settled at Norwich, Conn., ere tl father lived retired until his death. Jere1 ih Donovan, father of Joseph T., was 'n in unty Cork, Ireland, in 1832, and there re- ved a pod education. He was about twenty-one irs offige when the family came to this country, 1 the vere eight weeks on the voyage, having barke in a sailing vessel. Having learned the de of blacksmith, Jeremiah Donovan followed at No vich for several years, but later became foiman with James H. Hyde, of Franklin. the e y seventies he removed to South Coven-

Co ed up

where he had purchased a farm, and re- it a number of years, then disposing of chasing a large farm of 400 acres in the ming ved ith, w re in nch I

und p vn of olland. He was extensively engaged in 1til 1892, when he again sold out, and re- Rockville, there living retired until his ch took place Oct. 14, 1901. His remains red at Norwich. Mr. Donovan was a nocrat, and, while he never cared for poli- he was much interested in the success of

nul offi part Ever a hard-working man, beginning his 'e with nothing, he was able to rear cred- ge family, and leave behind him an ex- te and untarnished name.

iness bly a ent e On t. 22, 1850, Jeremiah Donovan married,

Norv 1, Miss Annie Cocklin, a native of County rk, I and, daughter of Daniel Cocklin, who

came to the United States when his daughter was six months old. Daniel Cocklin settled at Norwich and there died. Mrs. Donovan survived until June, 1903, when she died at Rockville, aged sixty-seven years, and was interred beside her husband. She was a kind and affectionate wife and mother, and is held in loving remembrance by her family and friends. The following children were born to Jere- miah Donovan and wife: Annie, wife of M. H. Donohue, manufacturer of woolen goods at Baltic; William, a barber at Providence, R. I .; Jeremiah, a boss weaver at Rockville; Nellie, who died in in- fancy ; James, who holds the responsible position of superintendent of the local agency of the John Han- cock Fire Insurance Co., at Newark, N. J., and is also treasurer and one of the chief organizers of the Newark Electric Park Amusement Co. (formerly he was located at Providence, where he is well known in insurance and lodge circles) ; Mary, a milliner at Rockville; Margaret, a graduate of the State Normal School at New Britain, and a success- ful school teacher, formerly principal of the school at Uncasville; Joseph T .; Julia, an accomplished musician ; and Daniel.

Joseph T. Donovan received his education in the district school at Tolland, and the public schools and convent at Rockville. After leaving school he was for three years employed as driver of a bakery wagon, and then accepted a position as local agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., being lo- cated first at Rockville and later at Providence, R. I. He remained in the employ of that company for four years, and then, in conjunction with John M. Leach, a well known merchant of Stafford Springs, Conn., opened a clothing, men's furnishing, boot and shoe store at Baltic, in December, 1900. The business prospered from the start, and enjoyed a steady and healthy growth, until it became one of the largest of its kind in northern New London county. Mr. Donovan had entire charge of the store, and to his excellent management and keen appreciation of the possibilities of its several lines is due the success which came to it. In September, 1904, Mr. Donovan severed his connection with the firm of Leach & Donovan, in order that he might de- vote more time to other interests requiring his at- tention, having in May, 1904, acquired an interest in the Baltic Drug Co., of which he is now sole owner. When he took the management of this busi- ness there was at once reflected the influence of his push and energy, as it rapidly became the leading business of its kind in that portion of New London county. In connection with his other interests Mr. Donovan has written a great deal of life insurance, and actively pursues that line, representing the ordi- nary department of the Metropolitan Life Insur- ance Co., of New York.

Mr. Donovan is a stanch Democrat and in 1903 he served as town tax collector in a very efficient manner. In October, 1903, he was elected town clerk of Sprague, receiving a majority of 116 votes

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the 335 votes cast. His opponent had held the office continuously for eighteen years, and the town is normally Republican, a fact which Mr. Donovan had to overcome. In October, 1904, he was elected a member of the board of relief in the town of Sprague. He is a member of Court Sprague, For- esters of America, and of St. Ann's F. A. B. So- ciety. In religious matters he is a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. Mr. Donovan is a capable, enterprising young man, exceedingly popular, and wields a strong influence in the town. Personally he is courteous and genial in manner, and he has proved a very efficient public official. Mr. Donovan is unmarried.

WILLIAM ALONZO FONES, secretary of the T. A. Scott Co., and one of New London's representative business men, was born April 9, 1857, at Springs, Long Island, and comes of an early Rhode Island family. Of its representatives in Colonial days we have the following record :

Capt. John Fones, Savage presumes, was the first comer of this name, and was, perhaps, from London. He was of Newport, Jamestown and Kingstown, R. I. In 1659 he called himself servant to William Coddington. He was one of six, in 1672, who bought land in Narragansett, of the Indians. He was deputy in 1679-80-81. He was taxed in 1680, and was conservator .of the peace, Kingstown, 1682- 83. He was made a justice of the peace in 1686, and in that same year clerk of court of commissioners. He was again deputy and also assistant in 1698. His wife, Margaret, died in 1709. He died in 1703. His children were:

(I) John Fones, born in 1663, married Lydia Smith, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia (Carpen- ter) Smith, and was of North Kingston. He was taxed, 1687, in Kingstown, and was deputy in 1704. He purchased lands in Narragansett in 1709. He died Feb. 17, 1738. His widow died Jan. 24, 174I. Their children were Margaret, Lydia and Mary ; the first named married Stephen Hazard.

(2) Jeremiah Fones, born in 1665, married (first) in 1694 Elizabeth, who died in 1709, and he married (second) in 1710 Martha Chard. He was of Kingstown, Jamestown and North Kingstown. He was taxed in 1687, was a freeman of Jamestown, 1703, and constable, 1705. He died in 1747. His wife Martha died in that same year. His children were: James, Jeremiah. Joseph, a daughter, Mar- garet, John (all born to the first marriage), and Mary, Daniel, Samuel, a daughter and Thomas (all born to the second marriage).

(3) Samuel Fones, born in 1666, married (first) Anne Tibbitts, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Stan- ton). She died in 1702, and he married (second) Meribah. He was of North Kingston. He was taxed in Kingstown in 1687. He was town clerk from 1704 to 1715, was justice of the peace in 1708, and deputy in 17II. One child, Ann, was born to the first wife, and the following children to the

second: Samuel, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, a: and Francis.

(4) Mary Fones, born in 1668, married in I( James Greene.

(5) James Fones, born in 1670, died w young.

(6) Daniel Fones also died when young. F1 this source came the great-grandfather of Will A. Fones. By trade he was a ship carpenter, followed that calling in Wickford, R. I., for m years. His children were as follows: (1) Sang went West and died there. (2) Benjamin diec North Kingston, R. I. (3) Joseph is mentioned low. (4) John, who died in North Kingston, R. was a mule spinner by trade. (5) Ruth marı Randall Fones, and died in North Kingston, Rh Island.

Joseph Fones, grandfather of William A .. born in Rhode Island, and died in Centerville, 1 State, in middle life. He married Julia Jecoy, Harrisville, R. I., and children as follows came their union : (1) William H. is mentioned bel (2) Joseph was a spinner of woolen, and died Providence, R. I. He went to California during gold fever of 1849. (3) Sybil married Will Hunt, and died in North Kingston, R. I. (4) Jai kept a hotel in East Greenwich, R. I., for a num of years, and died there. (5) John, who died New York, was a plumber by trade. (6) Mary ir ried William Hunt, Jr., of Lonsdale, R. I., wl they reside. (7) Daniel died in Davisville, R He was a "Yankee notion peddler." (8) Sarah A married Carlton Chase, and died in Davisville, RI. (9) Abigail is the widow of Daniel Whitman, is living in Davisville, R. I. (10) Susan marı Edward Dunn, and they are living in Provider). R. I. He is a retired jeweler. The father of :, family was engaged in butchering and also in fa' ing. He was a very rugged, strong man, but inju I himself so badly from lifting that his death result

William Havens Fones, father of William was born Feb. 1, 1818, in North Kingston, R. and received his schooling in his native town. education was somewhat limited, as he left scl 1 when quite young. He took up farming which really been the greater part of his life work, thoth he followed the sea for about ten years, during wl 1 time he made three whaling voyages. He lived 1 Gardiner's Island for about eight years, being tl-|: engaged in farming, and then removed to Fish |5 Island, and for seven years was engaged in farm 5 for Robert Fox, who at that time owned the Isla Mr. Fones then came to New London and wor' for Capt. Thomas A. Scott, during the building Race Rock Light House, remaining with him about one year, since which time he has lived w his son, William A. Mr. Fones was formerl. Democrat, but of late has been non-partisan. married Miss Evelyn Franklin, of Centerville, R. . daughter of Waterman and Patience (Pra) Franklin. Mrs. Fones died Aug. 21, 1902, in Mi

W. Q. Jones

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ndo ion arried orge y Pl aria oton. Children as follows were born to this ) Julia A., who died on Fisher's Island, (first) Sylvester Miller, and (second) bbott. (2) Katherine G. married Chaun- and died in Norwalk, Conn. (3) Anna rried Charles Chapman, and she died in onn. (4) William A. is mentioned below. ) Sami Elizabeth married Herbert C. Burdick, New ondon, where they reside.

Will n Alonzo Fones was born April 9, 1857, sland, and received his schooling in Mys- , at ]rnett's Corners, and in the Brooklyn (N. Lon ) confon schools, leaving school at the age of irteen! Fis me u: wen own pt. S was e air 88 he ng in neral the il ears. He then assisted in the farm work 's Island with his father, remaining at I he was sixteen years of age, after which o work for Capt. T. A. Scott, the well- er and wrecker of New London. With t he started as a boy, and the second year hoisting engineer, and assisted in running nps, etc. He later became an engineer on e tug pats, and subsequently pilot on same. In as made superintendent of work, contin- at capacity until 1894, when he was made inager of the business. On May 1, 1903, rporation of the T. A. Scott Co., with a pital q 3100,000, Mr. Fones was made secretary of ny, and is also acting as general manager. is a member of New London Council,

Royal Arcanum. He attends the First urch, of which his family are members. Mr. Fones is a stanch Republican, but seeker for political preferment.

. com . Fo 148 ptist litical is no Mr. zabet] omas idon. Byr idon,

nes was married Jan. 20, 1879, to Abbie Sterry, born July 23, 1855, daughter of and Leonora L. (Ames) Sterry, of New Two children have been born to them: Alonzo, born March 1, 1880, in New bookkeeper of the T. A. Scott Co., of w Lcon. (2) Leonora May, born Sept. 26, I, in ew London, resides with her parents. In o MI lletts Fones built his pleasant home at No. 90 enue.

HAR LD LAWTON, general manager of the tic Ml; Co., in the town of Sprague, New Lon- cour , and one of the well known and success- goods manufacturers of New England, He was born May 8, 1852, in the Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England, a son 1 Martha (Holden) Lawton. The Law- were English Quakers, and John Law- gaged in the manufacturing business in ut later was a merchant. Both he and ed in Saddleworth. Harold was one of ren, and the only one to come to this 10 has achieved success as a result of his cotto man 1 eff ge o John à fam was y life wife In ch ntry. At th k in : k as

ge of eight years Harold Lawton began otton mill in his native town, doing such oy of his age was competent to perform. 37

His opportunities for securing an education were limited to those afforded by his native town, where he attended each half day until he was ten, and the balance of his education was acquired by attending night school in America, as well as through observa- tion and close study. He acquired his first knowl- edge of the cotton manufacturing business in Eng- land, and in 1872 came to the United States, with but little money, his capital stock being his knowl- edge, ambition and energy. First he went to Woon- socket, R. I., where for one year he was an over- seer in the Globe Mill. Thence he went to Moosup, Conn., where he held a like position in the old Glad- ding mill, and two years later he returned to the Globe Mills, where he was overseer for two years. His next position was in a like capacity at Wester- ly, R. I., in the White Rock Mill, where he remained four years. Mr. Lawton then went to Tilton, N. H., and for several years was superintendent of the Tilton Cotton mills. His next place was North Grosvenor Dale, Conn., where he was overseer of mule-spinning for several years. From there he went to Centerville, R. I., to the Lapham Mill, of which he was superintendent for five years. He then went to the mill of the Merchants Manufacturing Co., at Montreal, Canada, and was there for five years. Returning to Centerville, R. I., he was the prime factor in the building of the Warwick Mills, acting as general manager and agent of the com- pany, which has had a constant run of success, and he remained there for five years.

In 1900 Mr. Lawton organized the Lawton Spin- ning Co., at Woonsocket, and is a director of the same. The same year he organized the Baltic Mills Co., and he has since been a resident of Baltic. The Baltic Mills Co. is the largest manufacturing con- cern in the town of Sprague, and gives employ- ment to about eight hundred hands. The company manufactures high class cotton goods, and the busi- ness is constantly increasing. During his residence in Centerville Mr. Lawton was a director of the Centerville National Bank, the Warwick Institute for Savings and the Centerville Savings Bank.

Fraternally he is a Chapter Mason, having been made a Master Mason in Morning Star Lodge; he is also a member of Woonsocket Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In church matters he is a member of the Meth- odist Church, and is one of the chief supporters of the church at Baltic, in which he serves as a member of the board of trustees. In 1873 Mr. Lawton was married in Plainfield to Georgianna Pettegrew, of Plainfield, daughter of William Pettegrew.

In politics Mr. Lawton is a Republican, and in 1903 he represented Sprague in the Legislature, and served on the committee on Incorporations. Mr. Lawton is a most public-spirited man, and is very generous in his donations, not only to matters which are known to all, but also to the deserving who come under his special notice. Although he has only been a resident of the town a few years he has represented it in the State Legislature, and his record while in

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

that body demonstrated his ability and fitness in such capacities. Seldom is found in any community a man who has at heart the progress and welfare of the community as has Mr. Lawton. Not in New' London county is there a town whose transforma- tion from complete business inactivity to that of a prosperous and growing place can be attributed so directly, to an employer of labor, as in Baltic, where the Baltic Mills Co. furnishes employment to eight hundred employes. Mr. Lawton was one of the very foremost men in organizing this company. Among the better class of citizens his true worth and value are thoroughly appreciated. His type of public spirit is the one demanding or creating action, and always on the alert for a field in which to act. His influence has been invariably exerted for the purifi- cation and betterment of society as a strong advo- cate of temperance and a ready champion of any movement whose object is to uplift the morals of the community. Whatever may be the position of Mr. Lawton, as business man, citizen or individual, it is a position won on his merits, and his unassum- ing manner and gentlemanly precepts give no evi- dence whatever of his consciousness.

WHEELER. The line of the Wheeler family treated of in this sketch is that to which belonged the late Major Dudley R. Wheeler, of North Ston- ington, and his family, of which the only repre- sentative now living is Henry Dwight Wheeler, of New York. Major Wheeler was a descendant of Thomas Wheeler, the first of the name in Stoning- ton, the line being through Isaac, Isaac (2), Thomas, Faul and Perez.

Perez Wheeler was born Nov. 20, 1767, and died Feb. 12, 1808. On Sept. 27, 1786, he married De- sire Randall, who after his death was married Nov. I, 1823, to Christopher Palmer. She died Sept. 8, 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were born nine children, as follows: Zerviah, Feb. 29, 1788 (mar- ried Amos Hill) ; Perez, Sept. 17, 1789 (married Desire Wheeler) ; Polly, July 17, 1791; Eunice, Jan. 4, 1794; Dudley R., Sept. 14, 1796; Cyrus, March 9, 1801 (married first Lucy S. Browning, and second Eliza Dow) : Lucy Ann, Jan. 30, 1803 ; William R., May 29, 1805 (married Emeline Stew- art) ; Fanny, April 17, 1808 (died June 29, 1809).

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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 95

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