USA > Connecticut > New London County > Ledyard > History of the town of Ledyard, 1650-1900 > Part 15
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realty, and all is now known as the Bill parsonage property, be- longing to the Congregational Society of the town.
During the first year of their married life, the bombardment of Stonington occurred, and Mr. Gallup did duty as a soldier during the War of 1812. The death of his father, two years later, con- siderably increased his responsibilities. He assisted his mother in the management of her business affairs, and helped his younger brothers to acquire useful callings in life. During all these years, he carried on business, taking such contracts as he could secure, the busy wife, meanwhile plying the loom, managing the house and caring for the increasing family of children. In this house were born the four daughters, and the only son. For sixteen years it continued to be their home; but in the spring of 1828 Mr. Gallup felt it advisable to remove his family to Norwich Falls, much of his work being in that vicinity. They remained there one year, and the following spring saw them located in Greeneville, then a mere hamlet, but soon to be the scene of great and varied activity. The year 1829 witnessed the begin- ning of a great enterprise. The skill of the inventor, as applied to the production of textile goods, was already opening up great possibilities. The keen vision of such capable and far-sighted men as Wm. C. Gilman and Wm. P. Greene, clearly saw that the swift flowing river above Norwich would furnish sufficient power, if rightly applied, to turn the wheels of great factories, and put in motion the thousands of spindles, soon to supersede the slow and tedious handloom. To make that power available it was necessary to construct the Greeneville dam. It was a great, a stupendous work, and its completion was counted a great triumph of engineering skill. The importance of that work can scarcely be over estimated; for the opening of that fine water privilege paved the way for those great and important industries which shaped the future of Norwich and laid the solid foundations of her prosperity. The Greeneville of that time though in its infancy, was a place of great activity, and there Mr. Gallup found full scope for his business talents and executive ability. He
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superintended the work of the large force of carpenters employed in the construction of the dam, he also built temporary quarters, and with the aid of his efficient and practical wife and such help as they could secure, cared for the small army of mechanics and laborers there employed. At the end of a year, the work being virtually completed, Mr. Gallup purchased a farm in Preston adjoining the Geer homestead, the birthplace of his wife. His connection with Greeneville continued for sometime later, al- though his family removed to Preston in 1830, and he held, for a number of years the position of agent of the Norwich Water Power Company. Mr. Gallup took a great interest in improving his farm in Preston, and in building the large, comfortable and well-appointed house which he felt would be a fitting and per- manent home for his family. That house, now standing and still in the name and family, has a beautiful and healthful situation, and with its well-tilled fields, large orchards and substantial buildings, is a good specimen of the Connecticut country home.
For many years after his removal to Preston, Mr. Gallup carried on business as a builder, handling many important con- tracts. Though often absent from home, he skillfully directed the labor of his farm, on which he was constantly making im- provements. In addition to other business, he was much occu- pied in surveying. He probably acquired some knowledge of this pursuit from his father who followed it to some extent. He perfected himself, however, by diligent study and the instruction he received from the late Asahel Robbins, then the leading sur- veyor of Norwich. In his connection with town affairs and in the settlement of estates, Mr. Gallup's proficiency as a surveyor was of great value. His work was always marked by the thor- oughness, accuracy and nice regard for details, which were char- acteristic of the man. Boundary lines laid down by him were seldom, if ever, disputed.
Possessing a strong mind, a positive character and a sound judgment, Squire Gallup, as he was generally called, was held in the highest regard by his friends and townspeople who often
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sought his advice and always valued his counsel. With his fine administrative ability, his wide experience and perfect integrity, he was singularly well qualified for the adjustment of business affairs and the settlement of estates and his services were int demand in his own and neighboring towns. For many years he transacted business for the Treat and Doane families of Preston, whose affairs he managed to their entire satisfaction. Althoughi able to adjust the most complicated and difficult business, he never betrayed a trust or missed an opportunity. Mr. Gallup was a man of strong convictions and took an active part in the early movement for temperance reform, uttering a resolute pro- test against the habit of treating and the drinking customs of society, and aiding many of his friends and neighbors to shake off the bondage of alcohol. In his mature manhood, Mr. Gallup united with the Congregational Church of Ledyard, of which he was a strong supporter all through life. His pastor and life- long friend, Rev. Timothy Tuttle, found him a ready helper and counted him his strong right hand in every good work. He ex- erted an excellent influence on the young men who served him as apprentices. Though a kind master, he was an earnest ad- vocate of good morals, correct habits and honest work. Being himself of a broad, progressive spirit, he always welcomed signs of enterprise and ambition in the young men of his town whom he often aided in making a start in life, by friendly encourage- ment and practical assistance. Mr. Gallup was devoted to_his home and happy in the relations of domestic life. He was also a truly public-spirited citizen, a friend and promoter of good schools, sound government and public improvements. He re- tained his mental vigor to the close of his long, useful and honored life, from which he departed May 2. 1867.
Isaac Gallup was the worthy head of a good family, and a tower of strength in his day and generation.
The children of the family were
Mary Ann, born Dec. 10, 1812, married Elias B. Avery.
Prudence Almira, born March 4, 1815, married Jas. L. Geer. Emeline, born Feb. 27. 1818, married Orlando Smith.
Isaac, born Nov. 13, 1820, married Maria T. Davis.
Julia, born April 4, 1823, married Jacob A. Geer. [J. E. S.]
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ISAAC GALLUP, JR., born Nov. 13, 1820, married Maria T. Davis, and lived with his father at the homestead for the most part till his father's death, when he succeeded to the estate and has since spent his life on the farm near Poquetanuck. His eldest son, Hon. Henry H Gallup, was educated in the public schools. He early entered business in Norwich in the leather belting and kindred sup- plies and has won great success in his business, and been conspicuous for many years among the best citi- zens of that city. Lately he has been honored by HON. HENRY H. GALLUP. the Republican party of his State by an election as
State treasurer. He is a director in several of the banks of Norwich, president of The Bulletin Co., and prominent in church affairs.
DEA. ERASTUS GALLUP was born in Ledyard (North Groton), July 31, 1800, and died at Groton, July 7, 1882, aged 82. He was the son of Isaac Gallup and grandson of Col. Benadam Gallup, a soldier of the French and Indian Wars. He was one of the young- est of a family of ten children, eight of whom were sons-one of those sturdy New England families such as have made its religious and political history and have created its thrift. He received the advantages of the public schools. He was also well grounded in the Scriptures, and to the end of life could recite with ease whole passages of the sacred writings. In his sixteenth year he was put to the carpenter's trade to his older brother Isaac, but
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he soon acquired all that was then practiced of the art, and set up in business by himself. He became a master builder and took contracts. He had learned carpentry by what was known as the scribe rule but soon threw it away for the square rule, which is now altogether practiced by skilled mechanics. His workmanship was so thor- ough and his terms so fa- vorable that he was sought for as a builder far and near, to construct dwell- ings, factories, churches and school-houses. As the contracts increased he took apprentices, brought them up in his family, accus- tomed them to go to church, and in that way DEA. ERASTUS GALLUP. became a moral and relig- ious instructor as well. And it is a fact to be noted that very many of the young men who learned the carpenter's art of Dea. Gallup became devout men. Probably very few teachers have lived to see so many of those under their tuition become members of churches. Two of the deacons of the church of which the departed died a mem- ber were apprentices to him. He frequently had six or eight young men in his family at one time. In 1834 he was chosen a deacon of the church in Ledyard of which Rev. Timothy Tuttle was pastor. He had joined the church when a boy. Of this church he remained a member for fifty-nine years, when he re- moved his connection to the Congregational Church at Groton, where he resided, being then too old and infirm to attend service at the former. He was Father Tuttle's beloved and trusted deacon, ever ready with counsel and encouragement. About the same time that he was elected a deacon of the church at Ledyard
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he was also elected captain of the First Flank Company of the Eighth Connecticut Regiment, and he was ever after styled Captain and Deacon interchangeably. He married for his first wife a daughter of Seth Williams. She having died, about 1840 he married again, Miss Frances Sheffield, sister of Dr. W. W. Sheffield, of New London. About this time, 1843, he removed from Ledyard to Groton Bank, where he afterward resided except for a short period at Norwich and again at Ledyard. He con- tinued active through his whole life, and New London County is dotted all over with substantial structures built by him, many of them temples to the God he worshipped, crowning the hilltops with their white spires pointing heavenward, whither he has gone. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His."
RUSSELL GALLUP, son of Capt. Isaac and Anna (Smith) Gallup, was born in North Groton (Ledyard), April 11, 1791, and married Hannah Morgan, daughter of Shap- ley and Hannah (Allyn) Morgan, March 28, 1816. and they had children, viz. : Edwin R., born Jan. 22. 1817. Rufus M., Sept. 24, 1818. Sarah, Sept 10, 1821. James A., Nov. 15: 1823. Nelson, Jan. 8, 1827. Erastus, Sept. 24, 1828. Ellen, Dec. 18, 1830, Francis E., Aug. 15, 1833. and Joseph Albert, July 2, 1835, three of whom are living-Nelson, in Nor- wich, Conn .; Francis E., DEA. RUSSELL GALLUP. in Groton, Conn., and Joseph Albert, at the old Gallup homestead in Ledyard, Conn. Russell Gallup was a
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farmer by occupation and bought the land and built the house in which he lived till his death, which is now owned by his grand- son, Russell Gallup. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church for more than fifty years, which office he held till his death. He was in the military service in the War of 1812. He was an honest, upright man, of sterling integrity, always ready as far as he was able to help those in need of assistance or counsel. He died at his home in Ledyard, Feb. 16, 1869. Hannah (Mor- gan) Gallup died April 26, 1868.
AVERY GALLUP, fourth son of Capt. Isaac and Anna (Smith) Gallup, was born in North Groton (Ledyard), April 6, 1796, and married, first, Melinda Bailey, Nov. 21, 1822. Their children were William A., born Jan. 2, 1826. Elizabeth, Oct. 8, 1828. His wife dying in 1828, he married, second, Mary Haley, March 13, 1834, and their children were Anna, born 1835 ; Simeon, 1837; Lucy, 1840; Mary, 1843; Emily, 1846; Edward, 1850; of whom Wm. A., Anna, Simeon and Lucy are now living. He learned the trade of blacksmith and worked at it for a num- ber of years; afterwards purchased the home farm, and devoted the remainder of his life to farming. He was chosen deacon of the Baptist Church in Old Mystic in 1842, and held the office till his death, Nov. 4, 1864, which oc- curred very suddenly. His widow, Mary Haley Gal- lup, died Dec. 8, 1891. [W. A. G.]
REV. JAMES A. GALLUP, third son of Dea. Russell and Hannah (Morgan) Gallup, was born in Led-
REV. JAMES A. GALLUP.
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yard, then part of Groton, Nov. 15, 1823. He was graduated at Yale College in 1851, and Yale Divinity School in 1854. He was ordained and installed as the first pastor of a new Congre- gational Church in Essex, Conn., May 17, 1854. After a very successful ministry there he accepted a call to a larger field in Madison, Conn. He was dismissed from Essex, Oct. 4, 1865, and installed in Madison, November 2, and continued there with great acceptance until his retirement on account of advancing years and declining health in November, 1893. His connection with the church as pastor emeritus was terminated by his death, in Madison, on Jan. 30, 1898, after a distressing illness of several weeks, in his 75th year. He married, on June 21, 1854, Emily T., daughter of Ezra S. Hubbard, of New Haven, who died on May 3, 1870. He next married, on Nov. 28, 1876, Charlotte R., daughter of Rev. Samuel R. Andrew, of New Haven, who sur- vives him. He had no children. [Yale Obit. Record for 1898.]
DEA. N. SANDS GALLUP.
PETER A. GALLUP was born Jan. 16, 1776, and died April 9, 1851. My mother, Rebecca T. Mor- gan, born Aug. 19, 1793, died Jan. 15, 1886. They were born in Groton and were married April 9, 1820. There children were
Eliza, born Dec. 16, 1820, died May 22, 1869. James M., born October 28, 1822, died August 27, 1841.
Annis F., born July 9, 1824, died July 7, 1865.
Nathan Sands, born Sept. 13, 1829.
Julia A., born Oct. 2, 1832.
Ray D., born Aug. 29, 1834, died April 21, 1854.
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Mary Ellen, born Nov. 5, 1837.
N. S. Gallup, married Julia A. Gallup, daughter of B. F. Gallup, May 6th, 1858. Their children were
Josiah Wesley Gallup, born March 10, 1859. Ellen Gallup, born April 23, 1862.
Amos Morgan Gallup, born Oct. 20, 1864. Cora B. Gallup, born June 11, 1866. [N. S. G.]
AMOS GEER, EsQ., son of Robert Geer, Jr., and Abigail (Greenman) Geer, was born April 14, 1736, in North Groton, on the place now occupied by his great-grandson, Dea. Isaac Gallup Geer. He was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1757. He was a superior penman ; and many old documents, in his elegant hand, are still preserved-among them the records of Groton for the years 1797 and 1804. He served the town 34 years as justice of the peace, from 1781 to 1815, and during that period performed the marriage ceremony for more than one hun- dred couples, as it was customary in those days to call upon a civil magistrate rather than a clergyman for that service. He was appointed by the town one of the committee of correspond- ence. June 20, 1774. in the cause of liberty, after the British had ordered the port of Boston closed. He represented the town of Groton in the State Legislature in the year 1780-two terms- and again in 1790. He died May 19, 1821, aged 85. He had ten children. His son, Amos Geer, Jr., succeeded him on the same farm. Amos Geer, Jr. (1772-1865), was succeeded by his son, Jacob A. Geer (1817-1857), and he by his son, the present oc- enpant. Dea. I. G. Geer has, within a few years, added to his landed possessions by purchasing the adjoining farm on the east, known as the Seabury Thomas farm, which includes the ledge known as Winthrop's ledge, as it was granted to Gov. John Winthrop, May 6. 1656, and described as "the stone quarry. south-east of Poquetannek river, near the foot-path from Mo- hegan to Mistick."-Miss Caulkins. [E. G.]
DAVID GEER Was born in the town of Groton (now Ledyard). in the year 1755. He was the son of Ebenezer and Pru-
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dence (Wheeler) Geer, and was a descendant of George Geer, the first of the Geer family in America. David was of the third generation born in this country. When he was born, Connecti- cut was a British Colony, and subject to British law. Under that law the eldest son had a double portion, David being the young- est son received a small inheritance of land, to which he added by purchase, and in 1785 he built the house now occupied by Isaac W. Geer. By trade he was a tanner, and shoemaker, trades that then went together. He carried on farming in con- nection with his trade, and acquired a good estate for the times in which he lived. His wife was Mary Stanton, of Stonington, by whom he had ten children. One child died in infancy. Three of the sons settled in this county. David, the eldest, settled in Lebanon. From him the Geers of that town are descended. Joseph and Isaac settled in their native place. Three sons, Will- iam, Robert and Charles, settled in Central New York, which then was a frontier settlement. The daughters were married to men who resided in this county. The subject of this sketch died 1835. [I. W. G.]
COL. ISAAC W. GEER, the sixth son of David and Mary (Stanton) Geer, was born in the year 1801, and came to the in- heritance of the homestead. He lived here and carried on farm- ing during his life. In early life he served in the militia where he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He had more ambi- tion to succeed in personal business affairs than for public life, but was honored by several town and society offices. He was passionately fond of music. For 25 years he was chorister in St. James' Church in Poquetanuck. He was one of the old- fashioned singing masters. He taught singing at Meeting-house Hill in Ledyard, at Preston Plains, and Poquetanuck. He was frequently called upon at funerals to conduct the music. He was twice married-first, to Asenath Williams, of Groton, by whom he had one daughter. Later he was married to Experi- ence Avery, of Preston, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He died 1855.
The children by last wife were Isaac, David, Delia and Louise.
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The eldest son lives on the old homestead in Ledyard and near Poquetanuck. The next two are deceased, and the youngest married Capt Brown and they live a mile south of the "ferry" in Groton, Conn.
[I. W. G.]
CAPT. NATHANIEL BELLOWS GEER, the second son of James and Sally (Lewis) Geer, was born at Geer homestead, North Gro- ton (now Ledyard), Jan. 31, 1810. He is a descendant, in a direct line, in the sixth gen- eration, of George Geer, who came from England to this country in 1635, settling at the place now known as Geer homestead in 1653, which has ever since been continuously in possession of his descend- ants. In early life he gave his attention to farming, af- terward engaging in teaching in the public schools of Led CAPT. NATHANIEL BELLOWS GEER. yard and adjoining towns. He was also a surveyor. In 1832, he was appointed to the captaincy of the fifth company of the Eighth Regiment of Infantry in the State, and always re- tained the title. In politics, he was a Republican, holding the offices of constable, assessor, tything-man, justice of the peace, and treasurer of the town deposit fund. As judge of probate he served several successive terms, and on reaching the age of compulsory retirement from that office, was continued in charge as clerk of the court. He was one of the original trustees of the Bill Library Association, and a president of the Poquetanuck Cemetery Association.
In early life he became a member of St. James' Church, Poquetanuck, and in the various capacities of Sunday-school teacher, member of the choir, player of the bass-viol, vestryman, collector, delegate to the convention, parish clerk for sixty years,
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and warden for twenty-six years; until the time of his death, he steadfastly wrought in the cause of Christ and His Church.
Nov. 19, 1837, he married Julia, eldest child of Thomas and Mary (Shaw) Davis, of Preston, Conn., whom he survived two years. Soon after his marriage, he purchased the farm ad- joining Geer homestead, on the south. Here he lived fifty years, returning to the ancestral home in 1887, where he spent eleven years, being called to the life eternal, Aug. 18, 1898. He left two sons and three daughters-Thomas Henry Geer, of Cleve- land, Ohio; Albert Davis Geer, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Misses Juliette and Mary A. Geer, of Ledyard, and Mrs. John D. Brew- ster, of Norwich, Conn. Also four grand-children-Mrs. Edwin L. Thurston, of Cleveland, Ohio; Harold M. Geer, of Bingham- ton, N. Y .; and Clara Louise and Arthur Morgan Brewster, of Norwich, Conn. The immediate family relations of Mr. Geer, who survived him, were his brother, James L. Geer, of Norwich, Conn., and his sister, Miss Abby Geer, also of Norwich.
The spirit of his life work is portrayed in tributes to his memory, here briefly quoted.
From the Trustees of the Bill Library Association: "A val- uable citizen ; an exemplary Christian gentleman."
From The Poquetanuck Cemetery Association : "He pos- sessed the respect and friendship of all who were associated with him in life."
From The New York Churchman: "Capt. Geer, as he was affectionately styled for the half century following his meritorious service in the organization of the militia of his native State, was a man of mark, one of those whom a community easily counts among the pillars of Church and State. He combined, with the sweet humility of a disciple of the Christ, the power which quali- fies a guide and leader of men. His silent example was a living force. Such men as he, combining high ability with the modesty which never seeks official promotion, are they who have been and continue to be the 'makers' of this nation. 'And such men as he. as humble-minded as they are brave and true-hearted, are they whose light of Christian living, shining in a naughty world, gives truest glory to Almighty God." [J. G.]
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DEA. JOHN HURLBUT was the son of John, who was the son of Stephen, who was a descendant, in the third generation, of Thomas Hurlbut, the first of the name in this region who came to Saybrook in 1635. Stephen Hurlbut, the grandfather of Dea. John, settled in New London soon after 1690. John, his father, settled at Gale's Ferry, and died there May 5, 1761. The subject of this sketch was born at Gale's Ferry, March 13, 1730. About 1757 he was married to Abigail, daughter of Dea. John Avery, of Preston, by whom he had eight children-four sons and four daughters. After their marriage they lived for several years in the north-east part of North Groton (Ledyard), on what has been known as the Phineas Holdridge place. "In the movements which immediately preceded the Revolution, Mr. Hurlbut was associated with Col. Ledyard, Robert Allyn and Phineas Bill, and others in town as a committee of correspondence. As early as 1773 he visited the Susquehanna Valley, having bought a right in the Connecticut Susquehanna Company. Selling his farm in Groton in the summer of 1777, he, in the spring of 1778, with his wife and children, with two wagons, horses, cattle, sheep and swine, left his home in New England for the Connecticut colony on the Susquehanna. Detained on the way by sickness they reached their destination in November, 1779. Dea. Hurlbut was a member of the General Assembly of Connecticut for three years."
While living in Pennsylvania, the family occasionally visited their friends in Connecticut, and generally made the journey on horse-back. In one instance Mrs. H., hearing that her father was very sick, and fearing that it might be his last sickness, started promptly for the home of her childhood by the usual mode of travel, with a baby in her arms, and one of her little boys, some ten years old, on a pillion behind her. As she ap- proached the Housatonic river late in the afternoon, she halted at a country tavern, where she had been accustomed to stop on previous trips, with the expectation of spending the night there. To her great disappointment she was told that the house was occupied with a great crowd of people, gathered for a social en- tertainment, and that they could not accommodate her. She
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was told, however, that she could find a good stopping-place a few miles further on, just over the river. So she pushed on. As she came to the place where she supposed the bridge ought to be it was so dark that she could see nothing distinctly, but could hear the water rushing by with great violence, the result of a recent storni. Presently, her horse came to a full stop. She urged it to go forward, and it did so, though with slow and measured step. Pretty soon she came to the tavern to which she had been directed, and, upon inquiring if they could keep her over night, was glad to receive an affirmative answer. "But," said the keeper of the tavern, "How did you get over the river?" "Why," she replied, "I rode over on the bridge, I suppose." "But," said he, "the bridge was swept away with the flood a few hours ago." Here thie matter rested for the night. And in the morning it was found upon examination that the faithful horse, with his precious burden, had walked over the boiling flood on one of the stringers of the bridge which the swollen river had not displaced. Dea. Hurlbut died March 10, 1782, aged 52. Mrs. Hurlbut lived on into the following century, dying March 29, 1805, at the age of 70. She is said to have been a woman of great personal worth, and withal a very devoted Christian. "There is evidence, too, that her patriotism was no less than that of her husband, for it is told that she first proposed to send their two oldest sons-one aged 19 and the other 16-to aid in their coun- try's necessities."
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