USA > Connecticut > Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut > Part 13
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ERASTUS GEER, LEBANON: Farmer.
The Geer family, or the branch of it which is now so numerous in New London county, traces its ori- gin directly to George Geer, who was born in Hevi- tree, England, in 1621, and his brother Thomas in 1623. The biography of the ancestor and his descendants, to and in- cluding the subject of this sketch, is given in the history of New London county substantially as follows:
" They (George and Thomas) were bereaved of their parents while ERASTUS GEER. young, and were put in charge of an uncle. They came to America and settled in Boston in 1635, without friends or money. George Geer became an early settler in New London, Conn., about 1651, and Thomas 1682.
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On the 17th of February, 1658, George Geer mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Robert Allyn, one of the earliest settlers in New London, Conn. Immedi- ately after his marriage he settled on a tract of land adjoining or near said Allyn's land, on the grant of fifty acres made to him by the town of New London, now called Ledyard. He was one of the first officers of the town. He died towards the close of the year 1726 at the age of one hundred and five years. He had a family of eleven children, the eighth of whom was Robert, born Jan. 2, 1675, and died in 1742. Robert married Martha Tyler
and had five children, the second of whom was Ebenezer, born April 1, 1709, and died August 28, 1763. Ebenezer Geer married Prudence Wheeler, Jan. 2, 1735. She was born Sept. 25, 1712, and died June 2, 1797. They had ten children, the youngest of whom was David, born June 18, 1755, and died Ang. 31, 1835.
David Geer married Mary Stanton, May 17, 1781. She was born Aug. 28, 1756, and died December, 1837. Their children were Dorothy, David (2) born Jan. 20, 1784, William S., Prudence, Joseph, Cyrus, Anna, Robert, Isaac W., and Charles, all born in Groton, now Ledyard, Conn.
David Geer (2) married Anna Gallup, Jan. II, 1810. She was born Sept. 3, 1787, and died Feb. 12, 1862. He died May 19, 1867. Their children were Cyrus G., William F., Thankful S., an infant son, Sarah A., David, and Erastus, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, born Oct. 9, 1823. David Geer settled in Lebanon, Conn., 1817, on the farm now (1891) owned and occupied by his son Erastus. His farms, now comprising nearly eight hundred acres, are in a good state of cultivation. . Among Lebanon's substantial men and representative farmers, none, perhaps, have accomplished more than the Geer family, and much credit is due to the indefatigable energy and perse- verance of David Geer. He was a whig and re- publican in politics.
His brothers and sisters settled in New London county, excepting Wm. S., Robert, and Charles, who settled near Syracuse, New York. His chil- dren settled in Lebanon, with the exception of Wm. F., who settled at Syracuse, New York.
Erastus Geer was reared on the farm, and early learned the cardinal principles of success - indus- try and frugality. His advantages for an educa- tion were such as the common schools of the day afforded, supplemented with a few terms at Bacon Academy, at Colchester, Conn. At the age of nine- teen he commenced teaching school, and taught ten terms during the winters, working on the farm sum- mers. Being the youngest of the family, he very naturally continued the occupancy of the home- stead. He is energetic, prudent, and practical alike in public and private affairs. As a man he is re- spected at home and abroad ; as a farmer he ranks among the most enterprising of the town. In addi- tion to his farming interests, he manufactures the patent iron stall window frame, a device the result of his own invention. In politics a life-long whig and republican, and as such has held important offices of the town.
In 1877 he was a member of the state legislature, serving on the committee of claims. In 1878 he was appointed one of the county commissioners of New London county, and served two terms, retiring in 1884. He has been twice married, - first to Almira
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H. Saxton, May 12, 1852. She died May 30, 1853, leaving one son, Wm. H .; second, to Frances A., daughter of Joseph and Lura (Witter) Geer of Ledyard, Conn., Nov. 21, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Geer are members of Goshen Congregational church in Lebanon, Conn.
EDWARD LUDLOW COOKE, HARTFORD: Man- ufacturer of Burial Caskets, Handles, and Un- dertakers' Supplies.
E. Ludlow Cooke was born in North Haven, April 5, 1840, and was the youngest of six children. When he was but six months old the family moved to New Haven, where they resided many years. Mr. Cooke's ancestors, who were Puritans, came from Kent, England, to Plymouth, Mass., some- time before 1640. One of them was a celebrated admiral in the English navy, whose remains are entombed in Westminster Abbey. Samuel Cooke was one of the first set- tlers of Wallingford, E. L. COOKE. Conn., and among his de- scendants were Commodore Foote and the wife of Ex-President Hayes. Stephen Cooke, the father of Ludlow, was a man of sterling qualities. He was one of the original members of the Free Con- gregational church of New Haven, and its build- ing on Church street was erected under his super- vision. Its pastor at this time was the Rev. Mr. Ludlow, and after him Edward Ludlow Cooke was named. Stephen Cooke was the publisher of the Christian Spectator and the Religious Intelli- gencer. Beside being interested in the growth of Congregationalism he worked earnestly in the anti-slavery movement, but died before his hopes in that direction were realized, and when his youngest child was but six months old, leaving his widow dependent on her own exertions for the sup- port of her family. She, however, was a woman of the true New England type, and her strong Chris- tian character, unfailing courage, and indomitable will, enabled her to overcome obstacles that a weaker nature would have deemed insurmountable. She supported and educated her children, and lived to see them settled in homes of their own.
Ludlow inherited his father's strong anti-slavery principles, and very early in life his sympathies were aroused for the colored people fleeing from slavery. His home was near that of Amos Town- send, who for many years was the agent of the " Underground Railroad," and being so well known
in that capacity, feared to shelter the runaways himself, and used to send them to the home of Mrs. Cooke, who would keep them for days at a time when they were sick and foot-sore and unable to continue their journey; and her youngest son - though a lad of not more than twelve years - was often called up at three o'clock in the morning to act as guide to slaves who were fleeing to Canada. Very often there were slaveholders in the city offering rewards of five hundred, eight hundred, and a thousand dollars for the capture of the fugi- tives, and they would have the streets near Mr. Townsend's house patrolled to prevent their escape. Mr. Cooke was present at the famous meeting held in the North Church of New Haven one Sunday evening in 1857, to bid farewell to a company of men who were being sent to help make Kansas a free state. Rev. S. W. S. Dutton presided and called for donations of the necessary equipments for the company. Few meetings have equaled that since the days of the Revolution. The excite- ment was intense as man after man arose offering rifles, Bibles, blankets, and money, but the climax was reached when Miss Mary Dutton stood up and contributed a rifle, and the applause was so great as to fairly shake the building. The next day the New Haven Register, a democratic paper, in its account of the meeting printed a doggerel, begin- ning:
"Shoulder arms, Miss Mary Dutton, Your knapsack buckle tight, Put on your soldier breeches And show them how to fight. Quick ! march upon the foe, And now your rifle, cock it And send a slaveholder to H- With every whistling bullet."
Mr. Cooke was a great admirer of Wendell Phil- lips and never failed to hear him when he delivered his lectures in New Haven. In 1860, soon after the execution of John Brown, Mr. Cooke and a young friend invited Mr. Phillips to deliver his celebrated lecture on that subject. One of the Vale professors promised to introduce the speaker to his audience, but at the last moment withdrew, saying that he feared the act would injure his political prospects. The result was that Mr. Cooke, though a very young man, was obliged himself to present the lec- turer. At this time there were many southern students in Vale, and they were persistent in their attempts to prevent Mr. Phillips from speaking, and at one time during the lecture the orator stood twenty minutes before he could make himself heard.
Mr. Cooke attended the public schools of New Haven until his fourteenth year, when he entered a dry goods store, where he remained eight years. At this time, his health being impaired, he spent a winter on the island of Porto Rico. At this period the oil excitement was running very high, and
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Mr. Cooke, after his return from the West Indies, went as agent for a company to West Virginia, where he sunk two wells, one eight hundred and the other twelve hundred feet deep, but found no oil. Another winter was spent in prospecting, when he traveled over six hundred miles on mule-back in Alabama.
In 1864 Mr. Cooke married Ella E., the youngest daughter of Oliver Parish of Hartford. In 1865 he associated himself with Mr. Herman Glafcke in the manufacture of burial caskets. Three years later the firm was changed to Cooke & Whitmore, and is, perhaps, the oldest partnership in Hart- ford, it having remained unchanged for twenty- three years. For twenty years Mr. Cooke was the traveling man of the business and probably jour- neyed more miles than any other person in the city at that time. This being the pioneer concern in this line of goods, the territory covered was a large one, extending from Bangor to St. Louis. In 1872 Mr. Cooke built his fine residence on Woodland street, where he still resides. The summer of 1888 he spent in Europe, traveling through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, and Scotland.
All strong characters have their weak points and Mr. Cooke's appears to be a passion for antiquities. He has the largest collection of ancient clocks in Hartford and also possesses many other unique and valuable pieces of antique furniture. Mr. Cooke has been a prominent member of the Fourth Congregational church for twenty years, and for thirteen years was superintendent of the Sabbath- school.
DAVID M. MITCHELL, SOUTH BRITAIN ( South- bury ) : Farmer.
David Merwin Mitchell is a well-known resident of the town of Southbury, where he was born Oc- tober 16, 1841, in that part of the town known as South Britain, where he still resides. He was born and bred on the farm, but took time enough at the district school to lay the founda- tion for a good education, which was subsequently acquired at Hinman's well-known academy. He married Miss Hattie I. Lemmon, who with their three children is still liv- D. M. MITCHELL. ing. He is a republican in politics, and as such has served his party and his town as selectman, and has held other minor offices. He belongs to the Congregational church of South Britain.
HON. LEVERETT MARSDEN HUBBARD, WALLINGFORD: Attorney-at-Law.
Leverett M. Hubbard was born at Durham, April 23, 1849. He was educated at the Wilbraham Academy and Wesleyan University, at which latter institution was also edu- cated his father, Rev. Eli Hubbard, who, for many years before his death, in 1868, had been a clergy- man of distinction in Mis- sissippi. His mother was the daughter of Mr. L. W. Leach, for many years a prominent merchant and honored citizen of Dur- ham, and the only sister of Hon. L. M. Leach and Hon. Oscar Leach, both of whom are well L. M. HUBBARD. known as among the most substantial and in- fluential men in Middlesex county. Mr. Hub- bard's mother died when he was three years of age, and from that time until he went from home to attend school he lived with his grandparents at Durham. After leaving college he studied law at the Albany Law School, grad- uating in 1870. In August of that year he located in Wallingford, and soon became marked at the bar of his county, and by the community gener- ally, as a young man of fine spirit and rare in- tellectual endowments. From that time he has steadily grown in the confidence and esteem of the community, until now, no lawyer of his age in New Haven county has a more remunerative practice, or is more widely known and respected. From the beginning of his practice he has maintained an office connection in New Haven. For a year he pursued his studies with the late Charles Ives. From 1874 to 1877 he was a law partner of Morris F. Tyler, and since that time he has been associated with John W. Alling, one of the leading lawyers in the state. Mr. Hubbard was appointed postmaster of Wallingford by President Grant in 1872, which office he held by successive re-appointments until the inauguration of President Cleveland in 1885, when he resigned with an unexpired commission for three years. He administered that office with great intelligence and fidelity, and to the universal acceptance of its patrons, who, without respect of party, tendered him, upon his retirement, a com- plimentary banquet, which was widely remarked at the time for its elaborateness and the enthusiasm which attended it.
Mr. Hubbard has been borough attorney since 1870, and counsel for the town during most of the same period. He has been a director in the First National Bank of Wallingford since its organization
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
in ISSI, and a director in the Dime Savings Bank since 1884. He has also been a trustee of the Wes- leyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., since 1881. Upon the establishment of a borough court for Wallingford by the legislature of 1886 he accepted the position of its first judge, and is now discharg- ing the duties of that office to the eminent satisfac- tion of the community. In 1886 he was elected Secretary of State on the republican ticket, which had Governor Lounsbury at its head, and during the term of his office performed its duties with signal ability.
Mr. Hubbard is esteemed throughout the com- munity as an honorable and upright citizen, en- joying great popularity among all classes and in both political parties.
HEZEKIAH L. READE, JEWETT CITY: President Jewett City Savings Bank.
Hezekiah L. Reade was born in Lisbon, Oct. I, 1827. He is the only child of Silas and Sarah (Meech) Reade. His ancestors emigrated from England to this country in 1640 ; settled at Ips- wich, Mass., and subse- quently came to Norwich, Conn., where they bought a tract of land one mile long by half a mile wide, of Owaneco, the brother of Uncas, on which the family has since continu- ously resided. The deed of this land bears date 1686. He was educated in the common schools of his H. L. READE. town; in select schools in a near village -Jewett City- and in Plainfield acade- my. Spending his summers at work on the farm, he commenced teaching school winters at the age of seventeen, continuing this occupation with success for many years. In 1864, he added to his farm and other occupations that of manufacturer of pa- per. The business was successfully conducted, and at length grew into the " Reade Paper Com- pany," which owned and profitably operated three paper mills. Of this company he was for a consid- erable time the business manager. Disposing of his interest in this business, he was called to the city of New York to take charge of the agricul- tural department of " The Hearth and Home "- an illustrated paper published by Pettingill & Bates, and of which both Donald G. Mitchell and Harriet Beecher Stowe were editors. He contin- ued with this paper until it was sold to another leading New York journal. In 1873, he was one of the projectors of the "Jewett City Savings Bank," and
upon its organization was elected its president, and has been reëlected at each annual meeting of the corporation since. The institution is one of the most prosperous in the state. At the age of twen- ty-two he united with a Congregational church. He immediately began public speaking on temper- ance, Sunday-schools, and on specially religious topics, and in 1874 began the work of an evangel- ist. His labors since that time have been in five of the New England states, and more or less else- where, beside stated ministrations for indefinite times to a large number of churches.
In 1880, he conceived the idea of " compulsory temperance teaching in public schools." He in- troduced the first bill into the legislature of Con- necticut for a public act to this end that was ever presented before any legislative body. He pro- cured letters commendatory of the idea from Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D., president of Vale College ; Hon. Chief - Justice John D. Park, D.D., LL.D., of this state; Leander T. Chamber- lain, D.D., at that time pastor of Broadway church, Norwich, and others, which he published in leaflet form, and whose wide circulation pre- pared the way for the subsequent adoption of the idea in this state and elsewhere. In 1883, he trav- eled extensively in the west and south in advocacy of this measure; had personal interviews with the governors of Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and other states ; presented the matter to legislative committees, and through the columns of western papers to the people, sowing the seed that afterwards yielded a harvest. Subsequently, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union took up the matter, and he withdrew for work in other fields.
Mr. Reade has written a number of books : " Money, and How to Make it and Use it," 600 pages ; " Boys' and Girls' Temperance Text Book "; " Reade's Business Reader "; "Story of a Heathen and his Transformation," and others, all of which have had and are having a wide sale. He has been a large contributor to the secular and relig- ious press, and some of his sketches have, witlı others from kindred pens, taken permanent fornis. His editorial connection with Connecticut journal- isin covers many years.
Mr. Reade was- married to Faith B. Partridge in 1867. Having no children of their own, they edu- cated a girl who subsequently became a mission- ary in Japan; and recently have helped to educate a Japanese who already fills a high place in his government, and whose future is one of great promise, both in secular and sacred lines in the "Sunrise Empire."
Mr. Reade is a republican in politics. Was as- sistant United States assessor during the last years of the war, and until the office was abolished.
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CHARLES STORRS HAMILTON, NEW HAVEN: Attorney-at-Law.
Charles S. Hamilton was born Jan. 3, 1846. He is descended on his father's side from the famous family of which Alexander Hamilton was a mem- ber. The family, which is of Scotch-Irish extrac- tion, came to Rhode Island in 1640, and went from there to Norwich, Conn. The Storrs family, from which Mr. Hamilton takes his middle name, is connected with the Ham- ilton family by marriage. On his mother's side, Mr. Hamilton's ancestors were of German descent, C. S. HAMILTON. who came to New York about the year 1600, his maternal grandfather being a direct lineal descend- ant of Conrad Gesner, the Zurich scholar and phi- losopher. The early years of Mr. Hamilton's life were spent entirely in study, and in 1869 he gradu- ated from college with high honors. He has never failed in his love for the classics, and still reads Greek and Latin as a pastime, and speaks both French and German fluently. After graduating, Mr. Hamilton went to Boston and commenced the study of law with Congressman Clarke, and entered the Yale Law School in 1872, graduating one year later on account of advanced standing. He also took a special course in the Yale Medical School, to the more thoroughly fit himself for the extensive practice in technical cases in which he has since been so successful. The following winter was spent in traveling in the southern states, and in May, 1874, he opened an office in the Yale Bank building, which he still occupies. As a jury lawyer he has been peculiarly successful, and an inspection of the different court dockets shows that he ap- pears in a large percentage of jury cases. He has always from the first fought his cases sin- gle-handed and alone, except where he has been called in to act as senior counsel in closely con- tested cases. Mr. Hamilton's success at the bar is due to his superb generalship and thorough prepar- ation. He is never surprised by an adversary, and never fails to detect the weak point in the enemy's line, and take advantage of it. He frequently wins his case before the actual trial, by outgeneraling the other party in the preliminary manœuvering. He is a " master of English," and his jury ad- dresses are fine specimens of the use of wit, pathos, and sarcasm. An announcement that Mr. Hamilton is to speak in an important case never fails to crowd the court room with stu- dents and fellow members of the bar. In poli-
tics, Mr. Hamilton has always been a republi- can, but has seldom accepted office. In 1888, in response to the urgent request of the residents of the western part of the city, he was nominated for councilman of the second ward, and was elected by a handsome majority, although the ward is na- turally democratic. In 1889 he was nominated for alderman, and received a majority of 110. In 1890 he received the unanimous nomination of the con- vention for state senator, and succeeded in reducing the usual democratie majority by several hundred. In the year 1890 he was chairman of the commis- sion to compile the charter and revise the city or- dinances of the city of New Haven, and earned the perpetual gratitude of the members of the bar and city officials by the thorough and discriminating manner in which that task was accomplished. He takes a deep interest in legislative matters, and has drafted many of our important statutes.
Mr. Hamilton has a charming family, consisting of an accomplished wife and two young children. He is an Episcopalian in religion, and is a member of St. Paul's church. He has been for many years a vestryman of that church. Mr. Hamilton is a Freemason, and a member of Hiram Lodge, No. I.
DANIEL 'KELEHER, PAWCATUCK (STONINGTON): Granite Cutter.
Daniel Keleher holds the position of captain in Company B of the Third regiment, C. N. G., and is a popular officer. He enlisted as a private March 4, 1875, and became sec- ond lieutenant March 23, 1876. He resigned Au- gust 9, 1876, but re-en- listed as a private in De- cember, 1877. He was commissioned second lieu- tenant August 18, 1879 ; first lieutenant May 16, 1882, and captain July 28, 1886. He was a charter member of the company. He was born in the County of Cork, Ireland, August 20, 1851, and re- DANIEL KELEHER. ceived a public school education. Captain Keleher is a granite cutter by avocation. His work has led · him to different parts of the country, and he has resided in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Penn- sylvania. November 28, 1877, he married Ellen Tuite of Leeds, Greene County, N. Y., and has a family of five children. He is a member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic church of Stonington. In politics Captain Keleher is a democrat. He held the office of assessor in 1887 in the town. He is an officer of the Pawcatuck fire district, assessor of
the
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BIOGRAPHY OF CONNECTICUT.
the eighteenth school district, and is in other ways connected with the interests of the community. He is a charter member of Narragansett Council, Knights of Columbus, and is past grand knight. He was chairman of the Stonington delegation to the democratic state convention September 16, 1890.
WILLIAM E. MOSES, WATERBURY : Publisher " The Connecticut Guardsman."
First Lieutenant William E. Moses is a commis- sioned officer in the Connecticut National Guard. He first saw the light of day in the " Hub," having been born in
Boston, Mass., March 12, 1861, in which city he received his education. Upon leaving the public schools, he took a thorough course in the- oretical bookkeeping for the purpose of becoming an expert and consulting accountant. Since grad- uating from commercial college, he has performed expert work for corpora- tions and large firms en- W. E. MOSES. gaged in nearly every kind of business, and located in the cities of Boston, New York, Providence, Washington, and Baltimore. In addition to this work he has found time to de- sign and copyright several books and devices, used in accounting, which are meeting with a sale that is highly gratifying. He is at present cashier of the Connecticut Indemnity Association, a well-known life insurance corporation of Waterbury, with which he has been connected for the last five years. Lieutenant Moses comes of a military family - one proud of its records made in all the wars, from In- dian to Rebellion - and has served eleven years in the National Guard of three states. He is the pro- prietor of a publication, entitled The Connecticut Guardsman, devoted to the interests of the national guard of the United States and enjoying a național circulation. The following is his military record : Entered the service as private in Company C, First regiment, Mass. V. M., March 19, 1880 ; discharged November, 1882, to engage in business in Washing- ton, D. C. Joining Company A, Washington Con- tinentals, as a private, in 1883, he held the several appointments of commissary-sergeant and sergeant- major, and in May, 1884, was elected first lieuten- ant and adjutant, which commission was resigned August, 1885. Enlisting as a private in Company A, Second regiment, C. N. G., March 2, 1887, he was appointed corporal, August 12, 1887 ; commis- sioned second lieutenant, January 30, 18SS, and commissioned first lieutenant, February 26, 1890.
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