USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 11
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Nathaniel J. Wyeth, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Nor- ris) Wythe, was born in Maryland, in 1830. He was named after his great uncle, Nathaniel J. Wythe, of Cambridge, well known as a pioneer, hunter and trapper with Kit Carson, and who was a man of sterling mind, and invented many useful machines as is shown at the Patent Office at Washington, D. C. At the age of four years young Nathaniel was sent to the board- ing school at Mt. Hope, where he remained until the death of his mother, which occurred when he was eleven years old. Soon after this bereavement he was placed in the Classical High School at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where he received a care- ful course of mental training in mathematics, rhetoric and the classics. His instructors were bright scholars and experienced edneators, and they soon initiated the pupil into a course of culture which laid the foundations of good scholarship. Mr. Wyeth's father, having a sound appreciation of the value of a liberal education, determined to give his son the most ample opportunities of a University course. To further this design he placed his boy Nathaniel under the tuition of the Unitarian divine, the Rev. E. Q. Sewell, when he was scarcely fifteen. In the summer of 1846 he was admitted to Harvard University, which was under the presidency of Edward Everett, of whom it may be said: "He put much of his soul into his act, that
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his example had a magnet's course and all were prompt to fol- low whom all loved."
In the summer of 1850 Mr. Wyeth graduated, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and the next spring entered the Law School at Harvard, where he exclusively devoted his time to the study of law and political science, except the few hours occasionally given to reading Dante's immortal poem under the supervision of the poet, Henry W. Longfellow. In a year and a half he received the degree of LL.D. Having arrived at manhood, he immediately went to the city of New York and opened an office for the practice of his profession. A few months subsequently he married and changed his residence to Staten Island, where his home overlooked the broad Bay of New York and commands a full view of the ocean. Mr. Wyeth still prac- tices at the New York bar, and is in the very heart of commer- cial activities and industrial pursuits. He represented Rich- mond county in the Assembly, to which he was elected by the Democrats by a majority of eight hundred and twenty-nine, and during his term served as a member of the committee on col- leges, academies and common schools, and the sub-committee of the whole.
Mr. Wyeth was married, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 4, 1854, to Annie Caroline Frost, born June 23, 1830, in New Orleans, Louisiana, daughter of William and Susan Ann (Hill) Frost, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. William Frost was a prominent and successful cotton broker of New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent the latter years of his life at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he became extensive- ly engaged in building enterprises, and was part owner of the "Swallow," then the largest vessel afloat. He passed away at Cambridge in 1895, and his wife also died at Cambridge in 1892. Of this marriage Nathaniel J. Wyeth had born to him the
Vol. II-11
Hon. William G. Davies, L. L. D.
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following children: 1. Annie Florence, born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 14, 1855; she died at Richmond Hill, Borough of Richmond, November 12, 1864. 2. Charles Nath- aniel, born at Richmond Hill, October 12, 1858. He was a student in the School of Mines of Columbus College, was for some time engaged at his profession at Scranton, Pennsylva- nia, and at the present time is with the Hydrographic De- partment at New York City. He married Mary Ruth Admy, daughter of Captain Admy, and has two children-Charles Nathaniel, born May 16, 1903, and George Hamlin, born Janu- ary 11, 1905. 3. Helen Elizabeth, born at Richmond Hill, Feb- ruary 22, 1865. She is a graduate of the Art School of Cam- bridge, Massachusetts. She took up the study of art and some of her work has met with favorable comment. 4. Lucille, born at Richmond Hill, October 15, 1867. Mr. Wyeth and his family are regular attendants of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church at Richmond.
FAMILY OF DAVIES.
From the best information that can be obtained John Davies the first settler of the name in America, was the only son of Thomas Davies, who was the fourth son of Robert Davies, of Gwysany Castle, in the Parish of Mold, Flintshire, England. Thomas Davies was a merchant in London, and re- mained there till some time after the year 1680. He then re- moved to Kington, in Herefordshire, where he died, and his son John, with what estate lie inherited, came to America.
As regards the earliest history of this honored race, it ap- pears that they were among the first families in North Wales and the line of descent is unbroken from the founder, Cymric Efell, Lord of Eylwys, Eyle, who was living in 1200. The fam- ily was first known under the name of Davies in 1581, when
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Robert of David, at Gwysany, assumed it, and obtained from the Heralds of England, a confirmation of the family arms, and a grant of crest and motto. At the time of the English Revolu- tion they adhered to the Royal canse; Robert Davies fortified his mansion and held it in behalf of King Charles against the Parliamentary army. It was besieged by Sir William Brere- ton, and after a gallant resistance was compelled to yield, and the garrison of three officers and twenty-seven men were made prisoners April 12, 1645. Colonel Thomas Davies, an uncle of Robert, was Constable of Hawarden Castle in Cheshire, the late residence of William E. Gladstone. The ancient mansion stands on high ground, six hundred feet above the sea, and two miles north of the town of Mold, which was called by the Romans, Mons Albus, and by the Britains Yr Wydd Gryg, "a lofty and conspicuous hill." He was High Sheriff of Flintshire, and held the office again after the restoration of Charles II. It was the fourth son of this man, who was the father of John Davies, the settler.
John Davies was born in Kington Parish, Hereford, in 1680, and with his wife, Catharine Spencer, came to America in 1735. He made his home in the western part of Litchfield county, Connecticut, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, from Thomas Lee for £190. This is in what is now the town of Washington, and the neighborhood was known for more than a century as "Davies' Hollow," and is now Rom- ford, a station on Shepaug Railroad. He is described as "a man past middle life, well educated, married, and having means be- yond the average settler." He left behind him in England his only son, who subsequently joined him in his new home. His desire was to become the owner of a landed estate and to leave it to his heirs. His son became the owner of one thousand acres of land, at the cost of fl per acre. He was attached to the
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Church of England, and was the only Episcopalian in a neighbor- hood of Congregationalists, and in 1745 he, with eleven others, founded the first Episcopal church in Litchfield. Their first . minister was Mr. Samuel Cole, a lay reader. A church was erected in 1747, to which Mr. Davies contributed liberally, and gave the services of a carpenter and the use of "a strong team of horses and a hired man." On April 4, 1747, he con- veyed to Mrs. Samuel Cole, as trustee, fifty-two acres of land for the use of the church and minister. The lands were after- wards sold, but the proceeds as a fund still exists. The church was completed and the first service held April 23, 1749, and at the request of Mr. Davies it was named St. Michael's. After a useful life, he died November 22, 1758. His wife had died some years before, but the date is unknown.
His son, John Davies, was born in 1711. He came to this country with two sons by a former marriage, and a second wife with her children. He was educated at Oxford, and in 1731 mar- ried Elizabeth Brown, and had three sons: John, born in 1735. Thomas, born 1737, died in the early part of 1769. He was a graduate from Yale, in 1750, was ordained deacon by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, August 23, and priest August 24, 1761, and at the time of his death was rector at New Milford, Con- necticut. William, who died in infancy. His wife died in 1740, and he married Mary Powell, and by this marriage had children : William, born January 29, 1744. Walter, June 22, 1747. Catharine, July 20, 1751, married Nathaniel Bosworth. Eliz- abeth, July 3, 1753, married "a Mr. Howard, and died in the state of New York, 1831." Anna, November 18, 1755, married John Sperry. James John, December 31, 1757. David, March 14, 1759. Rachel, August 20, 1761, married James McDonald. George, February 12, 1764, who in the latter part of his life went to Landsdowne, Canada. Thomas, born May 31, 1766. He was
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a physician at Redding, Connecticut, and died there July 11, 1831.
In 1757, John Davis, Jr., purchased a large tract of land at Saratoga, New York, but was driven off by hostile Indians and never acquired possession. He died May 19, 1797, and was buried at Davies' Hollow.
His son, John Davies the 3rd, married, in 1763, Eunice Hotchkiss, of New Haven. Their children are: Elizabeth. Thomas, John, Eunice and Esther. The Revolution brought disaster and ruin to the honored family. The fact they were not only Episcopalians, but also Loyalists, brought upon them jealousy and persecution and imprisonment for some of its mem- bers. After an honorable but troubled and unfortunate career, the father of the family died April 18, 1799, two years after the death of his father. His wife survived him, and died March 29, 1824, at the age of seventy-nine.
Thomas John Davies was born at Davies Hollow, Novem- ber, 1767, and was too young to take any part in the Revolution. He took land and made his home at Davies' Hollow, and mar- ried Ruth, daughter of Captain John Foote, December 29, 1792. In 1798 he, with his father, engaged in a business enterprise, which proved disastrous through unlooked for circumstances. Collecting what little remained, he sought a new home and purchased six hundred acres of land on Black Lake, St. Law- rence county, New York, about nine miles southeast of Ogdens- burg. He went there in the winter of 1800 with his wife and three children and household goods. It was then a journey of six weeks, but can now be made in twelve hours. Here he built a large log house, and the family fortune began to mend. Mr. Davies was an ardent Democrat, was made Sheriff of the coun- ty, and County Judge, and lived to see all his children estab- lished in comfortable circumstances. After a useful and active
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life, during which he had met and conquered adversity, he died April 18, 1845, at the age of seventy-eight. His last resting place is marked with a lofty obelisk, erected by his son, General Thomas A. Davies. His wife survived him, dying September 21, 1852. Their children were Belvidere, wife of George Ran- ney. John Foote, remained on the ancestral heritage, living a quiet and uneventful life, and died May 1, 1888, at the great age of ninety-two. Charles Frederick, died unmarried, December 3, 1865, while in the service of his country. Henry E., see forward. Thomas Alfred and Eunice Ruth.
Henry Ebenezer Davies was born February 8, 1805, and at the age of fourteen entered the family of Judge Alfred Conkling, and under his direction pursued a course that was substantially that of the colleges of his day, and obtained a good education. He was admitted to the bar of Albany county, April, 1826. He settled in Buffalo, and one of his first law cases was one of great importance, involving a publie right of way along the shore of Niagara river. His success in this case gave him a good standing in his profession, and led to his election as City Attorney. Seeking a wider field, he went to New York, in 1829. and formed a partnership with his uncle, Samuel A. Foote, which continued until 1848. While here he was counsel for the Erie Railroad Company, a position requiring the greatest ability. He then entered into partnership with William Kent, the son of the former Chancellor. This continued till 1853.
The law firm of Davies and Sendder was then formed, the junior member, Henry J. Sendder, a son-in-law of Professor Charles Davies. In that firm the late James C. Carter was chief clerk. Mr. Davies was a Whig in politics. In 1842 he was one of the Aldermen of the city, and was one of the com- mittee appointed to celebrate the introduction of Croton water. He also compiled the statutes relating to New York City, with
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its ancient and modern charters. In 1855 he received the well merited honor of being elected Judge of the Supreme Court. In 1859 he was elected as one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals, and was Chief Judge. He also held the position of Dean of the law school of the University of New York, and re- ceived the degree of LL.D. from the University, and also from Amherst College. He was a close and intimate friend of Presi- dent Fillmore, and did much to assist him to reach his high position. After a life of usefulness and honor, in which he gained the respect of his fellow citizens, Judge Davies departed this life in New York, December 17, 1881. Judge Davies mar- ried Rebecca Waldo, daughter of John Tappan, of Boston. Their children were Henry Eugene, William Gilbert, Julian Tappan, Francis Herbert, Helen, wife of Charles G. Tainter; and Lucy, wife of Samuel Swift.
William Gilbert Davies was born in New York, March 21, 1842. He entered Trinity College, Hartford, and was grad- uated in 1860, and going abroad he studied at the University of Leipsic. Upon his return he began the study of law. In the summer of 1863 he joined the Twenty-second Regiment, New York state militia, and took part in the campaign which ended in the great victory at Gettysburg. In 1863 he commenced practice, and was solicitor for the Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of New York until 1894. He received the well merited degree of LL.D. from Trinity College, Hartford, in 1906.
Mr. Davies married Lucie, daughter of Hon. Alexander H. Rice, of Boston, who was for many years member of Congress, and was chairman of committee on naval affairs during the Civil war. He was also Mayor of Boston and Governor of Massachusetts for three terms. They have one child, Augusta McKim, wife of Lewis Mansfield Ogden.
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REV. DUNCAN J. McMILLAN, D.D.
Edward McMillan, the ancestor of this family, came from Scotland in 1773 and settled at Fayetteville, North Carolina. He belonged to the straightest sect of the Covenanters, was a pious elder in the church and a man of the deepest religious feeling, and although an heir to estates and title in his native land, he left all for the freedom of America. His family was de- scended from the Earl of Argyle, who died a martyr's death in the Castle of Edinburgh, and was also connected with the Dukes of Buccleugh, famous in Scottish history. Mr. McMillan lived a long and useful life and died at Fayetteville.
His son, Malcom McMillan, married Joanna Jacobs, daugh- ter of Henry Jacobs, an English gentleman. In 1805 he re- moved to Tennessee, crossing the mountains in canvas cov- ered wagons, and among the company of emigrants was the father of James K. Polk, afterwards president of the United States. Their families were at a later date connected in mar- riage. He was a very devout elder in the Presbyterian church, and was a major in the army of Andrew Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. It is an interesting fact that members of this family took part in every war in which the United States has been engaged from the Revolution to the late war with Spain.
Rev. Edward McMillan, son of Malcom MeMillan, passed his youth and early manhood in Tennessee, upon his estate to which he gave the name of "Gemini Fontes," from the spring's upon his land. He married Mary Ann Brown, whose brothers, Neill S. and John C. Brown, were both governors of Tennessee, and one was a lieutenant-general in the Confederate army.
Rev. Duncan J. McMillan, his son, was born at his father's home in Giles county. His father was a chaplain in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and died in the service.
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One of his brothers was a captain and won official distinction for bravery, while another brother with himself were privates in Sherman's army, and one of his nephews was a soldier in the Spanish war and took part in forty-one engagements and skirmishes. Upon one occasion an uncle of Dr. McMillan was taken prisoner by the Union army and by mistake was reported as a Confederate colonel, although he was a strong Union man and had never borne arms. Application was made by Senator Trumbull to President Lincoln for his release. Upon hearing it the president immediately seized his pen to sign the order, remarking, "If he is a brother of Edward McMillan, he must be all right, for Edward McMillan was one of the best men that God ever made." Although well knowing that their estate and every earthly advantage were at stake, this family freely offered everything upon the altar of their country. Though slaveholders inheriting slaves, they were ever opposed to slavery, and never sold a slave, and upon one occasion the father of Dr. MeMillan purchased a woman and her child for the sole purpose of setting them free.
Dr. D. J. McMillan spent his early childhood in Gallatin, Tennessee, where his father was pastor of the Presbyterian church and president of the College for Young Ladies. The family removed to Carlinville, Illinois, where the six boys, of whom Duncan was the fifth, grew to manhood. The death of the father in the service of his country left the widow and her six boys dependent upon their own resources. Duncan, the youngest of the three soldier boys, served a few months dur- ing the last year of the war. Returning from the army penni- less, feeling his share of responsibility for the support of his widowed mother and being ambitious for education, he worked at whatever offered, as farmhand, as a wool buyer, as a sales- man, as a school teacher and finally as a tutor in college, until
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he completed his collegiate and theological course. He grad- uated at Blackburn University in 1870, where he received the degrees of A.B. and S.T.B. He was superintendent of the city schools of Carlinville two years, which office he relinquished to accept the call to the Walnut Grove Presbyterian church, Car- rollton, Illinois. After two and a half years of successful pas- toral work, failing health compelled him to seek a change of climate. Resigning the charge of the church, he sought the Rocky Mountains where his health was completely restored. He then inaugurated a system of mission schools among the Mor- mons in Utah under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. Thirty-seven primary schools and four acad- emies were established, of which Dr. McMillan was general superintendent. Out of these mission schools, twenty-seven churches have been organized. The jurisdiction of Dr. Mc- Millan was extended by the Board so as to include all the schools and missions in Utah, Idaho and Montana. After completing the organization of this work he accepted the presidency of the College of Montana. In six years he secured buildings, laboratories, a library, a splendid faculty and arranged four graduate courses. From the college he was called in 1890 to be Corresponding Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions in New York. While in this office he was invited to the presidency of one university and three colleges in as many states, but declined all these, devoting himself wholly to the cause of Home Missions. In 1897 the General Assembly or- dered a re-organization of the Board of Home Missions, and in November of that year Dr. McMillan resigned, but, at the request of the Board, continued in office until July, 1898.
In February, 1899, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the New York Presbyterian Church, Seventh avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-eighth street, New York, succeeding the
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late Rev. Dr. Charles S. Robinson. For six years Dr. MeMil- lan edited the Home Mission department of "The Church at Home and Abroad," the official publication of the Presbyterian church. He received the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater in 1873, and of D. D. from Washington and Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1883. He is a member of the Quill Club, of Chi Alpha, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Vic- toria Institute, or Philosophical Society of Great Britain.
Dr. McMillan married Emily Kent Johnston, daughter of Rev. Adam Johnston, a native of Glasgow. Her maternal grandfather was a consin of Chancellor James Kent. Her mother was a passenger on the first railroad train that entered the city of Chicago. They are the parents of three children- Harran Haskell, who died at the age of eleven years. Clarence, who is now a practicing lawyer in New York and Florence, who is a professional musician.
It may be said in conclusion that among the Presbyterian clergy in New York, there are few who hold a higher position or whose talents command greater respect, and there is no tru- er or more faithful follower and defender of the "faith once delivered to the saints."
SIMONSON FAMILY.
This name, after the Dutch form, is found as early as 1631, but not as a family name. The first of the name on Staten Is- land was William Simonson, who came in the "Fox" in 1662. The early genealogy of the family is given in the following:
Robert Simonson married Appolonia Messeher, and had a danghter baptized 1701, a son John in 1702, and a son Aert in 1710. Aert Simonson (probably a brother of Barent) married Margaret Daniels, April 20, 1708. They had children : Hans, 1710; Aert, 1713; Christopher, 1714; Daniel, 1724; Barent, 1728;
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and Simon. Simon Simonson married Sarah Van Pelt and had children : Van Pelt, Aert, John and Evert. Daniel Simonson (son of Aert) married Maria Deker and had son Abraham, born February 26, 1758, and two daughters. Isaac Simonson married Neeltje Cotelean, and had son Isaac, born December 17, 1732. He was the father of Joseph, who married Elizabeth Winant, and had children: John, Jacob, David Joseph and Abraham. Cornelius Simonson married Elizabeth Depew and had son Abraham, born June 24, 1759. Jacob Simonson married Andra Poillon, in 1790. He was born 1768, died October 27, 1844. Robert Simonson (probably son of Aert) married Abigail Crocheron, March 8, 1755, and had son, Jolm, born 1758. From the above it may be possible to trace some of the present mem- bers of the family.
Isaac Simonson, grandfather of Charles H. Simonson, when he was a young man, lived in New York, on a farm which is now in Grand street. He and Deborah Pelton were married Sep- tember 6, 1784. Their daughter Deborah was born September 28, 1785; Jacob was born October 15, 1787 ; Richard S. was born March 27. 1794; James B. Simonson was born March 20, 1804; Pelton A. was born May 14, 1808. Deborah Pelton's folks were leather merchants of New York.
James B. Simonson's parents were Methodists, and they named him after a minister of their denomination (Rev. Jacob Brush), a highly esteemed friend. The health of the lad be- came very poor, and the doctor advised a sea voyage, and he went to New London, Providence. Newport, Nantucket, and Sag Harbor, then took a sailing vessel around Cape Horn, and visited South America. He understood navigation, and could sail a ship. He returned from his travels with health improved, but his father and brother Pelton had a malignant fever, and he caught it from them, but recovered, while his brother and
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father died, the former on May 9, 1812, aged four years, and the latter on May 17 following, in the fifty-fourth year of his age.
James B. Simonson's health became poor again, and he took another sea voyage, and when he came back was better, and married Sarah Weeks MacVoy. Her mother was Margaret De Voe, daughter of John De Voe, of High Bridge, the place known as Woody Crest. Margaret De Voe was of French de- scent. She married an officer of the British army who was en- camped near her father's place. Her mother did not like it be- cause he came with the English at Revolutionary times. One evening he called to see her. Her mother answerd the call. She said to him "I do not wish you to come to see my daughter." He said, "Madam, I will see the fair lady." They had an in- terview and went off and were married. At the close of the war he was a shipping merchant, with office at Bowling Green.
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