USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 33
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 33
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Elihu Dickerman, born in 1802, in Hamden, is a son of Enos and Mary (Todd) Dickerman, grandson of Enos, who was a revolutionary soldier. The latter was a son of Jonathan. who was a descendant from Thomas Dickerman. Mr. Dickerman is a farmer. He came from Hamden to North Haven in 1848. He taught school 14 winters, was a surveyor several years, selectman in Hamden and in North Haven, and was constable and justice several years. He married Sylvia, daughter of Justus Humiston. Their children were: Elihu J., Charles A. (deceased), and Elisabeth S. (Mrs. Hubert Barnes). Mr. Dickerman had in August, 1891, six grandchildren and four great- grandchildren living.
Elihu J. Dickerman, born in 1828 and died in 1872, was a son of Elihu and Sylvia (Humiston) Dickerman. He was a farmer. He married Grace A., daughter of Zopher Blakeslee. She died in 1889. Their children are: Sarah A., William E., Robert E., Grace E. and one that died, Julia M. Robert E. is a farmer on the homestead of his father.
Jesse B. Goodsell, son of John and Huldah (Bassett) Goodsell, was born in 1830. He is a lineal descendant from Thomas Goodsell, who settled in East Haven in 1647. He is a farmer. He taught school a
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part of thirteen years, and was a member of the school board for several years, acting school visitor for ten yearsand sole acting visitor of the town four years. He is now (1890) filling his third term as selectman, and is also a justice of the peace. He married Charry E. Tucker, and has one son, Wilson E.
ROBERT BEARDSLEY GOODYEAR, M. D .- The ancestral home of the Goodyear family is in England, where their coat of arms is a partridge, holding in its beak three ears of wheat-their motto: " Possunt Quia Posse Videntur." Stephen Goodyear, the ancestor of the family in this country, was one of the founders and principal men of the New Haven colony. He was a merchant from London and was here a man of large business and active in public affairs. According to Doctor Bacon (Hist. Discourses) he had much to do with the civil govern- ment of the colony and was in the extent of his services and qualifi- cations second only to Governor Eaton. He helped to organize the government of the colony and was the deputy governor until his death in London, in 1658. His first wife was one of the company which sailed from New Haven in 1646 in the ill-fated vessel whose loss at sea was revealed by the " phantom ship."" He afterward married Mrs. Lamberton, the widow of the master of that unfortunate bark, and from this second marriage are descended all of the Goodyear family in this country-among them being, in a long line of descent, Bela Hub- bard Goodyear, who was married to Delia Ann Gill, and who was the father of the subject of this sketch.
Robert Beardsley Goodyear, the fourth of their family of seven sons. was born in North Haven, November 4th, 1836. He received his early education principally in the public schools of his native town and Wallingford. He was next, for several years, a teacher in the public schools of North Haven and other towns in the state. At the breaking out of the civil war, in 1861, he was teaching a portion of his time, being also engaged in pursuing a preliminary course of study with a view of entering upon the practice of the medical profession. Four of his brothers had enlisted in the army for the defense of the Union, when he also volunteered his services. He was enrolled in September, 1862, in Company B, 27th Regiment, Conn. Volunteers, and was commissioned a sergeant. He served with his regiment until the expiration of its term of service in July, 1863, and was in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862; at Chancellorsville May 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1863; he was captured and was a prisoner of war at Richmond about two weeks.+
*See account in General Chapter.
+Of the six brothers of Doctor Robert B. Goodyear all but the youngest, whose age did not permit him to volunteer, were in the army and held more or less prominent positions, obtained by meritorious service. The eldest, Gen. E. D. S. Goodyear, raised a company of volunteers and was commissioned its cap- tain in the Tenth Regt., C. V. I. He was promoted to the rank of major, lieut. col. and colonel and brevetted general for gallantry in leading a charge on Fort
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Soon after his return from the army he entered the Medical School of Yale College, from which he finally graduated in January, 1868. In the meantime. he received the appointment of resident physician of the State Hospital at New Haven, in January, 1865; the appointment of physician and surgeon of the Hartford Hospital, in January 1866; and supplied a vacanev in the Retreat for the Insane. at Hartford, under the late Doctor John S. Butler, in 1867. After his graduation he became a general practitioner in North Haven and has since been successfully and extensively engaged in his profession in this and adjoining towns. He has also retained a warm interest in education, serving for a long time as a member of the town board and for ten years was acting school visitor.
Doctor Goodyear was married, May 19th, 1869, to Jane, daughter of Norman Lyman, of Hartford, Conn. She died in March, 1878, leaving two children: Anna Lyman, born February 17th, 1874, and Robert Walstein, born January 9th, 1878. For his second and present wife, he married Ellen Maria, daughter of Stephen and Maria Good- year Hotchkiss, of New Haven, June 26th, 1884.
Merwin E. Hemingway, born in 1831, is one of eight children of Augustus Hemingway, and a brother of Willis B. Mr. Hemingway is a farmer and market gardener. He married Mary, daughter of Medad Robinson. She died leaving three children: Walter MI., Harry L. and Minnie A. His second marriage was with Fannie V., daughter of Grove Winchell. They have two sons: Louis R. and Clinton G.
Willis B. Hemingway, born in 1820, is a son of Augustus and Juline (Blakeslee) Hemingway, and grandson of Samuel, whose father Samuel, was a son of John, and he a son of Samuel and Sarah (Cooper)
Gregg, near Petersburg, in 1865, in which he was severely wounded. He partici- pated in nearly all the engagements of his regiment in its service, from 1862 until the end of the war in 1865. He next served for 25 years as inspector of the New Haven custom house and is now living retired in North Haven.
Simeon Eldridge, the second brother, was an independent commissary. He was captured at Winchester, Va., and was a prisoner several months. He died at Springfield, Mass., January 22d, 1890.
Edward L., the third brother, enlisted as a musician in Company C, 10th Regt. C. V. I., and gallantly assisted in the care of the wounded, serving until the sur- render of Lee in 1865. He is now postmaster of the North Haven office.
Walstein, the fourth brother, was the first of the family to enlist. He was a member of the 1st Conn. Heavy Artillery; was wounded at Malvern, in the Peninsular Campaign, taken prisoner and carried to Richmond; paroled and died from his wounds in the hospital at Philadelphia.
Francis Wilbur, the fifth brother, was in Company E, 7th Regt. C. V. I .; was for several months a prisoner at Andersonville and has never recovered from the effects of his imprisonment at that place. Returning to his command he was promoted to lieutenant and was with his company until the end of the war.
The youngest brother, Stephen Edgar, died beloved by all who knew him, November 26th, 1871, aged 24 years.
R. B. Goodyear. M.D.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Hemingway. Mr. Hemingway has been a farmer since 1865. He was a brick maker and school teacher previous to that time. He was assessor for about 20 years, selectman two terms, a member of the state board of equalization in 1868, and was in the house of represen- tatives in 1866-7. He married Betsey B., daughter of Jonathan B. Huntley, of Fair Haven. They have two sons: Frank W. and Edgar A., both married.
Romanta T. Linsley, born in 1832. is a son of Alfred and Polly (Frisby) Linsley, and grandson of Monson Linsley. He is a carpenter by trade, though he has spent a part of his life farming and handling timber and lumber. He has been six terms selectman and five years chairman of the board. He married Angeline B., daughter of John Pardee. They lost one daughter, Idora A.
George Munson, oldest son of James and Abigail (Sackett) Munson, and grandson of Jonathan Munson, was born in 1810. He is a farmer and mechanic. He was two years assessor, and four years selectman of North Haven. His father was a farmer, and died in 1858, aged 78 years. He had five children, all of whom survive him: George. Olive, Eunice, Willis and Louisa.
Burt H. Nichols, son of Wilbur and Harriet N. (Lewis) Nichols. and grandson of Samuel Nichols, was born in Minnesota in 1858. He is a farmer, also agent for fertilizers and farming utensils. He mar- ried Nellie H., daughter of George W. Smith. Their sons are: Herbert L. and Ralph W. Mr. Nichols' father was in the war of the rebellion 15 months in the 2d Minnesota Battery. He died in North Haven in 1889, aged 62 years.
Marvin Olmstead, born in 1815, in Wilton, Conn., is a son of Alden and Sally (Smith) Olmstead. He has been a farmer in North Haven since 1867. He was in the late war nine months in Company H, 27th Connecticut Volunteers. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 5. I. O. O. F. He married Sarah, daughter of William Beers. She died leaving one daughter, Margaret A. (Mrs. J. A. Munson). His present wife was Mrs. Abigail Andrews, daughter of Artemas Hitchcock. She had one son by her former marriage. Ambrose M. Andrews.
Henry J. Pardee, born in 1829, is one of four children of John and Deborah (Todd) Pardee, grandson of John and great-grandson of John, whose father John, was the eldest son of George and Martha (Miles) Pardee, they having been married in 1650 by the governor. This George Pardee served five years as apprentice to Francis Brown. a tailor. Henry J. Pardee is a farmer, owning and occupying the home- stead where three generations have been farmers before him. He married Mrs. Louisa Davis, a daughter of Richard and Lola (Humiston) Blakeslee, and granddaughter of Captain Philamon, a son of Isaac Blakeslee. They have two children: Fannie A. (Mrs. T. H. Wallace) and Edwin H., who has been a card printer since 1876. He married in 1881. Lizzie M., daughter of Matthew M. Tyler of Fair Haven.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Joseph Pierpont, born in 1853, is a son of Rufus and Harriet (Richards) Pierpont, and grandson of Daniel, whose father Joseph, was a son of Joseph Pierpont. Mr. Pierpont has been a merchant since 1876, having succeeded to the business which was established in 1848 by his father, who conducted it until his death, when his wife succeeded him, continuing until 1876. Mr. Pierpont married Hattie, daughter of Atwater Brockett, and granddaughter of Bathuel Brockett. They have three children: Grace G., Richards B. and Joseph, Jr.
Hubert F. Potter, born in Hamden in 1857, is a son of Samuel F. and Martha E. (Pierpont) Potter, and grandson of Horace Potter. He graduated from Yale Business College in March, 1877. He is a farmer and market gardener on the farm where his father lived for six years prior to his death in 1874. Mr. Potter is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 103, F. & A. M., and in 1889 he was master of the County Grange, P. of H. He is now one of the school visitors and one of the town auditors. He married Katie A., daughter of John E. and Susan C. ( Heaton ) Brockett, granddaughter of Bethuel, a son of Eli, whose father Isaiah, was a son of John Brockett. They have one son, Walter F.
REVEREND WILLIAM THOMAS REYNOLDS, the pastor of the Congre- gational Church of North Haven, is a descendant of the Reynolds family, which was among the first settlers of Wethersfield, this state. His great-grandfather, James Reynolds, served in the French and In- dian wars and later as a soldier in the revolution was with the gallant General Wooster, when he fell mortally wounded, at the battle of Dan- bury. Near the close of that war, in the spring of 1783, he removed to West Haven, which was his home until his death, May 8th, 1818. Of his family one of the sons, James Blakeslee, the grandfather of Reverend W. T. Reynolds, was born at Wethersfield, April 27th, 1754, and died at West Haven, January 1st. 1834. His only son. James Reynolds, 3d, was born at that place January 27th, 1795, and was the father of him whose life is here sketched. He was a merchant and farmer and died in Orange, November 17th, 1862. His first wife was Hetty, daughter of Deacon Ezra Smith, also of West Haven, whose only son to attain manhood was the Reverend W. T. Reynolds, born at West Haven, November 23d, 1823.
After spending his boyhood on his father's farm, young William Thomas was prepared for college at the Episcopal Academy at Ches- hire and entered the freshman class of Yale in 1841. He graduated in 1845 and in the fall of that year entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass., but remained only one year. From 1846 to 1848 he pursued his studies in the seminary connected with Yale College, graduating the latter year. Poor health prevented him from at once entering upon the work of the ministry and he devoted several years to other duties, teaching in the academy at Adams, N. Y., in 1851. In October of the same year, he began to preach at the Congregational
William J. Reynolds
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
church at Sherman, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he was ordained as the pastor April 22d, 1852. He continued in that capacity three years, when failing health compelled his return to his native home, where he remained one year and was much benefitted.
In the spring of 1856 he removed to Kiantone, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he was the minister of the Congregational church six years. In 1862 he returned to West Haven in consequence of the death of his father and remained there until April, 1863, when he was invited to become acting pastor of the Congregational church of North Haven. In that relation he served six years when, in 1869, he was formally installed as the pastor. As such he has since continued. how well is attested by the uniform or increased prosperity of the church, in spite of the changes in population of the town. At different periods the membership was increased in consequence of special awakenings and the temporalities of the parish have been much im- proved.
In 1879 Mr. Reynolds took a trip through European countries, in the company of his daughter, for the benefit of his health and return- ed much improved. His pastorate is one of the longest in the county and although confined to narrow limits has conduced to the general welfare of the community where he has so long resided. He has preached sermons which were published, and delivered a historical discourse, on the occasion of the first centennial celebration of the town's organization, October 21st, 1886, which has also been issued in pamphlet form. By his ministerial associates Mr. Reynolds is much esteemed and he has held responsible trusts and offices in ecclesiasti- cal associations, in this and other states.
On the 18th of November, 1850, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Sarah Maria Painter, the eldest daughter of Alexis and Thalia M. Painter. She was born in Westfield, Mass., January 12th, 1827, but when eight years old her parents returned to their native place, West Haven, where the Painter family was among the first settlers. Thomas Painter, her grandfather, was a brave seaman and while fighting for the independence of the colonies, in the revolution, was taken prisoner and confined for a time on the old "Jersey " prison ship, where he suf- fered all the privations inflicted upon those there held in captivity. Five children came to bless the marriage of this couple, the two first born and the youngest dying in youth, namely: Julia, born June 14th. 1852, died December 2d, 1867; Sophia Eliza. born August 3d, 1853, died September 22d, 1854; and Mary Painter, born August 24th, 1862, died March 27th, 1868.
The third child, Anna Maria, was born at Kiantone, N. Y., August 12th, 1858. After being a student at Wellesley College a little more than a year, she traveled six months in Europe for her health, then remained on the continent to study French and German. She thus spent several years at Constance, Heidelberg, Berlin and Paris. Re-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
turning to this country she engaged in teaching at Nyack-on-the- Hudson, until 1887, when she entered into the service of the Young Women's Christian Association. In that department of Christian effort she is now (1891) the state secretary of the Iowa association.
James Bronson, the fourth child and only son, was also born at Kiantone, March 17th, 1861. He graduated from the Hopkins Gram- mar School in 1879 and from Vale in 1884. He then went abroad for travel and study, one year, when he returned to Yale, where he began his theological studies in 1885. He graduated in 1888, when he again went to Europe, in the interests of the International Committee of the Y. M. C. A., "to promote Christian fellowship between students in the Universities of Europe and America and to unite them together in helpful relations." He has thus labored in nearly all the European universities and his work in that capacity is still successfully contin. ued, with Paris as his headquarters.
Willard A. Robinson, born in 1843, is the youngest of eight chil- dren of Jesse and Betsey (Todd) Robinson, grandson of Harmon, and great-grandson of John, whose father John, was a son of Jacob Rob- inson. Mr. Robinson is a farmer. He was postmaster at Montowese for about 19 years prior to April, 1889. He is a member of Adelphi Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M. He married Georgiana, daughter of Zenas O. and Lydia W. (Smith) Lombard. Their children are: Nellie E., Amelia J., Herbert W., Merton A. and Jesse G.
Samuel A. Sackett, born in 1824, is the youngest son of Daniel and Patta (Brockett) Sackett, grandson of Eli, and great-grandson of Samuel, whose father Joseph, was a son of John Sackett. Mr. Sackett is a mechanic. In company with three brothers he built an auger shop on the Five Mile brook in 1844, where they manufactured augers until 1862, when the factory was converted into a saw mill and is now owned and run by Mr. Sackett. He first married Mrs. Betsey Blaksley, daughter of Zopher Jacobs. His present wife was Mrs. Delia Maria Culver, daughter of Zenas Young.
Roswald J. Shepherd, born in 1862, is a son of Franklin, grandson of Ziba, and great-grandson of John Shepherd. His maternal ances- tors were : Sarah M ., Jared', Joel®, Titus5. Titus', Joseph3. Joseph2, Rich- ard Mansfield'. Mr. Shepherd married in 1888 Louise N., daughter of Solomon Linsley. They have one daughter. Margaret.
Mrs. Sibyl Smith, daughter of John and Chloe (Bishop) Barnes, married Jacob Smith, who was born in 1783, and died in 1834. He was the son of Jacob Smith. They had three children: John S. and Robert, both deceased, and Marina-Mrs. Reverend Doctor Bennett of Guil- ford. She has one daughter-Mrs. Doctor Bishop.
EZRA STILES is one of the oldest and best known of the pres- ent citizens of North Haven. He was born July 26th, 1804, the seventh of a family of eight children, and is the only surviving member, all the others -Laura, Lucina, Eunice, Isaac (father of the present Isaac L.),
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Zopher. Horace and Harvey -- having deceased. He is a son of Isaac C. and Eunice (Blakeslee) Stiles and a grandson of Isaac, born 1729. whose brother Ezra, born 1727. became president of Yale College. They were the sons of the Reverend Isaac Stiles, who was born in Windsor in 1697. and who became the pastor of the Congregational church of North Haven." The Reverend Isaac was a grandson of John Stiles, born in England in 1595, who came to America in 1635 and who died in Windsor in 1662. This descent places the family of Mr. Stiles among the very oldest of the state, in which this name has been illustrious in church and civil affairs.
In the early years of his life Ezra Stiles was a successful teacher in the public schools, but later became a brick maker, in which occu- pation he was very active. In later years much of his time was absorbed in public affairs, but for a long period he has lived retired. Since 1826 his home has been in the house built by the Reverend Doctor Trumbull, in 1765, and which remains in a fine state of pres- ervation, much as it was built by that well-known historian. On the exterior are the original clapboards, beaded, chamfered and fastened on with English wrought nails. The famous study of Doctor Truni- bull, which also served as his private school room. has been enlarged to form a chamber. The historic desk upon which he wrote his four thousand sermons, was detached from the wall and presented by Mr. Stiles to the New Haven Colony Historical Society, and it is preserved among its relics.
Mr. Stiles was thrice married. His first wife, Esther Pierpont. died and there is no living issue. To his second wife. Mary Bristol. two sons were born, one dying in youth, after the death of his mother: the other. Ezra L., born in 1844, is now a citizen of North Haven. He served in the rebellion as a member of the 13th New York Cavalry and, after the war, was for ten years a clerk in the adjutant general's office, of Connecticut. Mr. Stiles married his present wife. Frances E. Johnson, in 1854. By this marriage there is one son, Arthur MI .. born in 1865, and now connected with the dry goods house of Jordan. Marsh & Co., of Boston.
Since his youth Mr. Stiles has been a devoted churchman and a member of St. John's parish. He had a fine talent for music and early taught "singing meetings " in the Episcopal society, and led the first chanting in St. John's church. He also introduced that practice in St. Paul's church, Wallingford. in 1825. In his own parish he was the first to use musical instruments, to assist the service of song, and was the first organist of St. John's church. For thirty years he was the leader of the church choir. He served as parish clerk from 1843 until 1875 and was a warden of the church from 1845 until 1884. In all things he has ever held the interests of St. John's parish warmly at heart.
*See account of the Church.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
In politics Mr. Stiles has always been a consistent democrat, but frequently received the votes of those belonging to other parties in his election to important offices. He was for many years the town clerk and treasurer and served a long term of years on the board of education. In 1833 he was elected a seleetman and served, in all, four terms in that office. He was a trial justice many years and was ap- pointed probate judge of the New Haven distriet. In 1845 he was the member from North Haven in the state house of representatives and the following year he was honored. by an election to the state senate. In both houses he made an honorable record.
Ezra Stiles has been a prudent, methodical business man in his own and in public affairs. His nature is kind and genial and being blest with a good memory, he is an interesting member of former generations, and is much esteemed by all who know him for his worth as a neighbor and a citizen.
ISAAC LORENZO STILES, son of Isaac Stiles and Lois Cooper, was born at North Haven, Conn., June 28th, 1819. His grandfather was Isaac Clark Stiles, and great-grandfather Reverend Isaac Stiles, pastor of the Congregational church, North Haven, 1724-1760. The latter gen- tleman was the son of John and was born at Windsor, Conn., in 1697. The Stiles family is one of the oldest in the state. Of English origin, the " passenger list " of the good ship "Christian " mentions that eight persons of this name were brought in her to Boston, early in 1634. Among them was Francis Stiles, who joined the expedition to Con- necticut, shortly after, and settled at Windsor. According to Savage, he was a freeman there in 1640. Tradition avers that the wife of his son John was the first white woman to set foot on Connecticut soil, but as this honor is elaimed by two other families at least, limited credence should be given it.
Mr. Stiles was born at a period when industry, good character, and sound religious views were insisted upon as requisites of every young person. The first he learned on his father's brick yard, the second at the family fireside, and the latter, by inheritance, from that stubborn, though staunch old divine, his great-grandfather. He ob- tained but a limited education in the district school. A boy was an indispensable acquisition on a brick yard and with the exception of a term or two under the tuition of his uncle, Hon. Ezra Stiles (see this volume) at the latter's house, which course supplemented a few brief years in the " old red school house on the green," he had no other ad- vantages. As said, he was early put to work on his father's yard driving the oxen on their weary round in the clay tempering pit, and frequently falling asleep at his post. At this occupation-briek mak- ing- he grew to manhood, becoming thoroughly familiar with every step in the process.
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