USA > Connecticut > New London County > Ledyard > History of the town of Ledyard, 1650-1900 > Part 17
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DWIGHT SATTERLEE, M. D., was the youngest child of Elisha A. and Hester S. Satterlee and was born near Gale's Ferry, March 24, 1837, being one of the sixth generation born on the same spot. His early years were spent on a farm, attending
15
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district school in winter, and helping his father on the farm in summer. When about sixteen years of age he attended the Providence Conference Seminary at East Greenwich, R. I., and afterwards a school at Charlottsville, N. Y. He was an as- sistant teacher at the Bartlett High School in New London for nearly two years. He studied medicine with Dr. Lord, of New London, afterwards pursuing his medical studies at the University of Vermont, and graduating in medicine at the Berkshire Medi- cal College in the winter of 1862. He was commissioned as- sistant surgeon of the Eleventh Regiment, Connecticut Volun- teers, in February, 1863, and served with that regiment almost three years, or until it was mustered out of service in December, 1865. Previously, he was commissioned major of the regiment. In 1867 he moved to Iowa, and settled in the new town of Dunlap, in the western portion of the State. The country at that time was very sparsely settled, and in practicing his profession he fre- quently rode distances of twenty and thirty miles, including four counties.
In 1870 he was married to Anna E. Hickox, who with her parents had moved to Iowa, from Rockville, Conn., a year or two previously. The union has been blessed with four children, three of whom, two daughters and one son are now living. Be- sides the practice of medicine, Dr. Satterlee engaged in the drug business in 1869. He was one of Dunlap's pioneer postmasters, and, subsequently, after retiring from active professional life, was for nine years county commissioner. He also owned and managed a large stock farm, and still holds an interest in bank- ing and other concerns in Dunlap and elsewhere. Soon after locating at Dunlap, the doctor united with the Congregational Church, in which he has since taken an active interest. His has been a successful business career, and at present he lives to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil. [D. S.]
CAPT. EDMUND SPICER was born in North Groton, Jan. 11, 1812. He was a grandson of Edmund and Abigail (Allyn) Spicer. His parents were John Spicer, born Aug. 14, 1770, died June 2, 1856, and Elizabeth Latham, born July 23, 1775, died
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June 10, 1859. They were married Sept. 7, 1794. Their chil- dren were
Prudence, born May 1, 1795, died May 25, 1864.
Abigail, born Aug. 21, 1797, died Dec. 25, 1849.
CAPT. EDMUND SPICER.
Isaac, born Sept. 19, 1799, died Nov. 30, 1861.
John Seabury, born April 30, 1802, died Sept. - 1829.
Fanny, born Aug. 20, 1804, died March II, 1894.
Gurdon Bill, born Nov. 14, 1806, died Sept. 8, 1816.
Mary Avery, born March 28, 1809, died July 9, 1824.
Edmund, born
Jan. II, 1812, died May 1, 1890.
Elizabeth, born Feb. 25, 1815, died June 28, 1854. Cynthia, born Sept. 5, 1817, died Feb. 28, 1818.
Edmund Spicer was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in his early manhood was a successful teacher in these schools. for quite a number of terms. Later in life he was for many years a member of the school board. His regular vocation was that of a farmer, and with it he at length combined that of a merchant. He was postmaster from 1867 to the time of his death. He became captain of the rifle company to which he belonged, and the title adhered to him through the remainder of his life. Among the offices which he held, by appointment of the town, was that of selectman, seven years, between 1836 and 1851 ; clerk and treasurer from 1853 to 1865 ; representative in the State Legislature in 1849. He was a candidate for the State
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Senate in 1862. He was judge of probate for twelve years, be- ginning in 1855. He was one of the charter members of the Bill Library Association, and was secretary of the association eighteen years in succession, retiring from the office in 1885. He was treasurer and librarian from 1867 till his death in 1890. Mr. Spicer united with the Congregational Church in 1843. His wife and children were also members of this church. He often served on the church committee, also on the standing committee of the ecclesiastical society.
He was married Nov. 16, 1836, to Bethia W. Avery, daugh- ter of John Sands and Bethia (Williams) Avery, of Groton. Their children were
Mary Abby, born Sept. 23, 1837, married George Fanning, April 16, 1862.
John Sands, born Sept. 20, 1842, married Anna M. Williams, May 27, 1873.
JOHN S. SPICER.
Joseph Latham, born March 4, 1845, died Sept. 3, 1847.
Sarah Elizabeth, born Aug. 3, 1847, married Nathan L. Lester, May 24: 1871.
Carrie Gallup, born May 28, 1850, married Amos Lester, May 28, 1868.
Cecelia Williams, born Sept. 30, 1852, married Jonathan F. Lester, May 28, 1873.
Edward Eugene, born July 25, 1856, married Sarah A. Griswold, Dec. 22, 1878.
George Walter, born Dec. 25, 1858.
At the close of the last century, twenty-nine grand-children had been born to Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Spicer, six of whom had
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died. Mrs. Spicer, after a very active and useful life, died March 7, 1886, aged 59. Mr. Spicer survived her a little over four years, when his busy and prosperous life was terminated by death, May 1, 1890, at the age of 78.
JOHN S. SPICER succeeded to his father's business, and was the postmaster, and kept the store at the Centre for a number of years. He removed to Norwich about 1893, and is there engaged in the grocery trade on Water street. He has several children.
GUY CARLTON STODDARD was born May II, 1790, in Groton, Conn., and was the son of Vine Stoddard and Abigail Avery, his wife. He came from good old Revolutionary stock, his father being lieutenant and his grandfather, Ralph Stoddard, captain in the Revo- lutionary service, both appointed by Gov. Jonathan Trum- bull. He had two sis- ters and two broth- ers. The following is a copy of an article which appeared in a Norwich, Conn .. paper, at the time of his death, March 31, 1882, and expresses GUY C. STODDARD, ESQ. the sentiments of the writer of this, per- haps better than anything else could: "An ancient landmark was swept away in the death, last week, of Guy C. Stoddard, of old age, after a few days of painful illness. Mr. Stoddard was almost a centenarian and was one of the most widely known and respected of our citizens. He was a life-long Democrat,
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.
and an influential man. All but the last years of his life were spent at the Stoddard homestead here. Mr. Stoddard was a Master Mason, though long since retired from active working with that order. As early as 1819, he was elected constable, and subsequently during all the years of his business life he filled various offices in the gift of the town, Groton, and later, Led- yard. Previous to the setting off of Ledyard from Groton he was elected a member of the Connecticut House of Representa- tives for several terms. In 1842 he was a successful candidate for Senator, from what was then the Seventh district. He early retired from the political field, however, although a brilliant future was opened before him, preferring the quiet of his coun- try home and surroundings to the greed and wiles of a political life. In 1846 he was appointed a notary public by Gov. Isaac Toucey. All his public positions and duties were filled with dignity and honor to his constituents. Mr. Stoddard was a soldier in the War of 1812, and used to relate interesting details of his participation in the memorable battle of Stonington Point. He early identified himself with the interest of his town and was foremost in many of the leading reforms of his time. He joined the M. E. Church here Sept. 27, 1868. He died at the resi- dence of his daughter, Mrs. Julia A. Adams, where the last years of his life were spent, and his funeral was largely attended. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren followed his body to the grave. He was a perfect sample of the gentleman of the old school, and although he had attained so great an age, and outlived so many of his relatives, yet he will be long held in grateful remembrance by many .. He has gone down to his grave full of years and honors. Two sons and four daughters survive him. The New Haven Register and the New London Day have published appropriate and graceful comments on the death of this aged man."
SANFORD BILLINGS STODDARD, eldest son of Sanford Stod- dard, was born in North Groton (Ledyard), Dec. 4, 1813. His father was a sea captain. Having received a common school education young Stoddard went on the water with his father
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while yet a boy. At the age of twenty-one he went before the mast. Two years later he became mate; and serving in that capacity for two years he was again promoted to the position of captain. In 1842 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Hibbard Stoddard, of Ledyard. Their children were Mary Elizabeth, Sanford B. and Jane F. Mr. Stoddard left the sea soon after he was married, and spent the remainder of his life in farming, occupying the place which had been in the possession of the family since 1700. He died in 1892, and Mrs. Stoddard in 1895. Their daughter, Mary E., and their son, Sanford B., died young. Their daughter, Jane F., was married to S. A. Crandall. After becoming the mother of two children, a daughter and a son, she died in 1885, aged 34. The family were members and liberal supporters of the Congregational Church in Ledyard.
ORLANDO SMITH was the ninth child and sixth son of Shubael Smith, and his wife, Sarah Raymond, and was born in Ledyard, Feb. 14, 1814.
Shubael Smith was a direct descendant of Rev. Nehemiah Smith, one of the first settlers of Norwich, Conn.
Sarah Raymond was a descendant of Dea. Joshua Raymond, of New London.
In Ledyard were born all, save the eldest, of the family of eleven children and they lived at the "Smith homestead." In addition to the managing of his farm, Mr. Smith carried on quite an extensive business in buying and shipping mules to the South and the West Indies. He died in 1823 at the age of 48, leaving a widow and nine children, several of them of quite tender years. Upon Mrs. Smith rested the burden of great responsibilities.
Orlando received a sound and excellent training, developing principles of honesty and integrity and acquiring habits of in- dustry, economy and self-reliance which remained with him through life.
He received such educational advantages as the schools of his native town afforded, and was a good scholar, with a special aptitude for mathematics. He supplemented his somewhat limited education by studious habits and well-chosen reading
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.
and was always a lover of good books. In his youth, he learned the trade of a stone mason, an occupation which he followed for several years. In his early manhood, a great wave of enthusiasm for Western emigration swept over New England. In this movement the State of Connecticut has always borne a con- spicuous part and the town of Ledyard has contributed some of her most promising sons to the making of the West. With a company of young men from his native town, Orlando Smith went to Joliet, Ill. He was much impressed with the new coun- try ; but fell a victim to malaria and returned home so shattered in health that it took many months for him to recuperate.
He then resumed his trade of stone masonry and with care and good management developed a fair business. In 1839, Mr. Smith decided to locate in the enterprising village of Westerly, R. I. Though then in their infancy, the manufacturing interests of the town were developing and the place was growing, thus affording good opportunities for the building contracts which he wished to secure.
Being constantly on the lookout for good building material, Mr. Smith discovered, on the farm formerly owned by Dr. Joshua Babcock, the stone which proved to be the celebrated Westerly granite.
That year was a fortunate one for Mr. Smith in another re- spect as it witnessed his marriage to an estimable young woman, also born in Ledyard, Emeline, daughter of Isaac Gallup, Esq., of Preston.
Three years later the purchase of the farm on Quarry Hill was completed, the family was established in the old Babcock home- stead, and Mr. Smith prepared to develop the granite business which was destined to become one of the most important in- dustries of his adopted town.
Although the quarry was opened and originally worked chiefly for the purpose of supplying building material, the possi- bilities of the fine, enduring granite for monumental purposes, soon became apparent and the development of the business along that line has been of marked importance, fully keeping in touch
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with the wants of a people constantly advancing in wealth, culture and artistic taste.
Mr. Smith died after a short illness, at the age of 45, May 30, 1859, leaving a widow and four children to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father.
Mr. Smith was a director of the National Phenix Bank and one of the founders and original members of the Pawcatuck Con- gregational Church, of Westerly.
Mrs. Emeline (Gallup) Smith survived her husband twenty- seven years, being spared to be the comfort and stay of her family. The children of the marriage were
Orlando Raymond, born June 1, 1851, died Oct. 19, 1898.
Sarah Almira, now Mrs. Otis P. Chapman, born June 16. 1853. Julia Emeline, born Feb. 16, 1855.
Isaac Gallup, born June 5, 1857, died July 12, 1888.
[J. E. S.]
REV. ROBERT E. TURNER, son of Erastus H. and Betsey (Wilcox) Turner, was born in Ledyard, May 17, 1852. He ob- tained his early education in the district and select schools of Ledyard. He taught in the public schools of Ledyard and vicinity six years. He then worked at the carpenter's trade in Norwich, contracting and building for about seven years. Dur- ing a large part of this time as lay preacher he occupied the pulpit of the chapel at Brewster's Neck. He was ordained to the gospel ministry, Oct. 8, 1890, in the Central Baptist Church, Nor- wich. He soon became pastor of the Baptist Church at Fitcli- ville. Meantime he entered the Newton Theological Seminary, and pursuing a regular course of study there, was graduated in 1892. Before his graduation, in addition to his Fitchville charge. he became pastor of the Baptist Church in Lebanon, and has served these two churches up to the present time. Large nun !- bers have been added to both of the churches since he began to supply them, fifty to the Fitchville Church, and about as many to the church in Lebanon. Mr. Turner has been president of the Jonathan Trumbull Library Association from its organization to the present time. He has for eight years been chairman of the
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.
Lebanon board of education. He was one of the representatives from the town of Lebanon in our State Legislature in 1895, and was chairman of the committee on education in that body. He was married March 24, 1873, to Mary Emily, daughter of Theophilus and Mary L. Avery, of Ledyard. This wife died May 27, 1874; and on Aug. 15, 1875, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Simeon and Lucy A. Stoddard, of Ledyard.
[R. E. T.]
SAMUEL WHIPPLE. The marriage of Samuel Whipple, Jr., of Providence, to Elizabeth Eddy, of Swansey, Mass., is recorded at Providence, Feb. 26, 1690. The births of seven children are also recorded there. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1718, leaving nine children. He appears in Groton as early as 1711 where he owned large tracts of land at Poquetanuck. In his will, dated April 18, 1728, he speaks of his wife, Deborah, who is to be provided for by his son, Daniel. To Daniel he gives all his land on the west side of the saw-mill brook, his saw-mill and iron works on said brook and his dwelling house and barn; he also mentions sons, Samuel, Zachariah, Zepheniah, and daughters, Alice Whipple and Hope Caprin. His inventory amounted to £4,796, and in- cluded 780 acres of land. He, with other members of his family, was buried on his own farm, and their headstones are still in a fair state of preservation. A portion of his land is still in the possession of his descendants. [M. E. G.]
SAMUEL S. WHIPPLE, the grandson of Mr. Henry Watrous, enlisted from Ledyard in Company C, First Connecticut Cavalry, Nov. 25, 1861, and was given the position of farrier, and acted in that capacity till sometime in 1863. During the fall of 1863 he had a talk with the lieutenant commanding his company, to whom, in the course of conversation, he said, "Many of the boys who enlisted first are being promoted, and I do not want to re- main at the bottom of the heap. My people at home have not the disposition, as you know, to assist me, and I can only be helped by some one like you who knows me." The officer re- plied, "I will take the first opportunity that offers itself, to aid
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you." A few days later there came a call from another company for a sergeant. Tears of thankfulness came to Whipple's eyes as he was informed that he had been recommended for the posi- tion. The transfer to Company G was made, and eventually he became regimental color bearer, and it was while gallantly carry- ing the flag during the battle at Ashland, June 1, 1864, that a rebel bullet passed completely through his body. Turning to a comrade by his side, he had strength to say, "I'm shot; take my horse and the colors." He fell from his horse, but ere his body touched the ground, his soul had winged its flight to Him who gave it. His comrades endeavored to secure his body, but that was impossible, and he was buried by the Confederates.
[W. T. C.]
ASA WHITNEY, son of Shubael Whitney, was born about 1800. The family lived in the north-east part of the town, near Lantern Hill. The father was a farmer and carpenter. The son learned the trade of a cabinet-maker ; and when a young man carried on the business for a time at Jewett City. About 1830-40, he was very prosperous as a grocery merchant in New York City, his family residing meantime at New Rochelle. During this period he used to spend portions of almost every year at the home of his youth in Ledyard. At length Mr. Whitney, Sen., sold the home- stead, and with his wife and daughters went to live with his son at New Rochelle. From this place Mr. W. and his family moved to Sing Sing, N. Y., and at a subsequent date to a place near Washington, D. C., where he was last heard from about 1875. He had two wives; the first, a Monroe; the second, a Pellette. They had no children. While he was carrying on business in New York, Mr. Whitney acquired considerable celebrity by call- ing the attention of Congress to the idea of a railroad across the Continent, a thing which at that time seemed to many visionary and impracticable. He early foresaw the great possibilities of America.
JEMIMA WILKINSON. Sometime between 1770 and 1790, while the farm now owned by Amos Hurlbut was in possession of the second James Smith, it was the home of Jemima Wilkinson.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.
This eccentric woman in early life resided in Waterford, Conn. At one time her relatives supposed that she was dead, and prepa- rations were made for the funeral. When the coffin was opened to allow the sorrowing friends to take a last look at the remains, Jemima startled the congregation by sitting up, and remarking that she would do the preaching herself that day.
She claimed to have passed through the gates of death, but that she had been sent back to earth, to be the second Redeemer, and that from her resurrection was to date the regeneration of the world.
She preached for some time in North Groton (Ledyard), at- tracting large congregations, and making some converts. But, finding the "Land of Steady Habits" rather sterile soil for the propagation of her peculiar doctrines, she removed with her fol- lowers to Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Here some accessions were made to the Jemimakins, as they were called, but believing that they could prosper still better in New York State, the whole colony removed thither. Tradition says that Jemima was car- ried through the woods, in a gorgeous chariot, drawn by her proselytes.
They settled in Yates County, New York, where they estab- lished the "City of the New Jerusalem." and presently their num- bers so increased that they required a postoffice.
At a meeting called to choose a name for the new postoffice, it became evident that the regeneration of the Jemimakins was not so complete as to entirely eliminate a spirit of jealousy be- tween the first of the faith, who were called Yankees, because they came from Connecticut, and the later proselytes who came from Pennsylvania. Every suggestion of one faction was laughed to scorn by the other. At length some peace-loving brother proposed a compromise. He suggested that the name be divided between the two parties, with Penn for the Penna- mites, and Yan for the Yankees.
Although the meeting adjourned without formerly ratifying the suggestion, it was adopted the next day by general consent, and to this day Penn-Yan remains the name of the city.
[F. R. H.]
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HON. HENRY WARREN WILLIAMS, LL.D., oldest son of Warren and Elisabeth Stanton (Gallup) Williams, was born in North Groton, Jan. 20, 1816. He was one of ten children- four sons and six daughters. He fitted for college at Bacon Academy, Colchester, and Plainfield Academy. He was grad- uated at Amherst College in 1837. Among the honors won by him in college was that of class orator, being chosen by his class- mates. He received the degree of M. A. from his alma mater in 1850, and that of LL.D. in 1860. He spent his first year after graduation teaching an academic school in Southwick, Mass. Removing to Pittsburgh, Pa., he studied law in the office of Judge Lowrie, and was at the same time engaged in teaching. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, and continued in legal prac- tice till 1851, when he was elected associate justice of the Dis- trict Court for ten years, and re-elected in 1861. He was ten- dered the office of judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Judicial District, comprising Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, by President Grant, through United States Sena- tor John Scott, but declined it. In August, 1868, Gov. Geary appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court bench of Pennsylvania, and he took his seat, Oct. 26, 1868. The follow- ing year he was elected for a full term of fifteen years, and took his seat on the first Monday of December, 1869. He joined the Third Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, on profession of his faith, in March, 1840, was chosen elder of the church in 1858, and held the office for sixteen years. He was a member of the Gen- eral Assembly of the New School Presbyterian Church in 1859, 1865, 1866 and 1867. He was elected a corporate member of the A. B. C. F. M. in 1869. He took an active part in securing a re-union of the two branches of the Presbyterian Church, Old School and New School, in 1870. He was married May 20, 1846, to Lucy J. Stone, of Petersburgh, N. Y. They had six children- three sons and three daughters.
Judge Williams died Feb. 19, 1877. Mrs. Williams and five children survived him.
At a meeting of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a few days after his death, Judge Agnew said the following among
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEDYARD.
other things of his late associate, Chief Justice Williams: "His mind was peculiarly receptive and retentive of facts, and his memory one of the most tenacious. He seemed never to forget a case he had once heard. * He seized the leading points of a case quickly and with a strong grasp. His oral arguments and his charges were always clear, pointed, discrim- inating and forcible. * Our brother Williams was a man of great probity and firmness of character, of conscientious con- victions and strict notions of duty. * In purity and sin- gleness his mind was especially conspicuous, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, so far as he knew himself. This was eminently so in the performance of his judicial duties. * *
* His was a genial and kindly nature, filled with wit and good humor, poured out often in a sonorous voice, and with a liberality which made his intercourse enjoyable."
HON. ELIAS HEWITT WILLIAMS, son of Erastus and Nancy .(Hewitt) Williams, was born in North Groton (now Ledyard), July 23, 1819. He was graduated at Yale College in 1840. The first year after he left college he spent in New Hampshire, acting as principal of Goshen Academy, in Sullivan County, in that State. The next year he went South, and became tutor in a private school near Columbia, S. C. This school was largely devoted to the fitting of boys for Yale College. His duties not occupying all of his time, he commenced the study of law, and continued it for five successive years. The sickness and death of his father called him home in 1846. Soon after his father's death he went to Iowa, and settled at Garnavillo. Upon the breaking out of the Mexican War he enlisted, and was chosen sergeant in a regiment of Dragoons, stationed at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, the officers and men who had previously been there being ordered to Mexico. At the end of the war he returned to Gar- navillo, commenced the practice of law, and also opened up a farmı near by. In 1851, under the new code system of county government, he was elected the first county judge of Clayton county. He held the office two terms ; and accomplished a work which called forth much praise from men every way qualified to
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