Mary Ann Bradley, and, for his second wife, Mrs.
Abigail C. Smith, a native of Durham, and a daugh-
ter of Asahel Harvey ; she is living with her fam-
ily on the farm. Emily Rebecca, born Sept. 16,
1820, married Samuel A. Tuttle, of Cheshire. Hins-
dale Silliman, born April 11, 1823, first married
Nancy Munson, of Southington, Conn., and second
Sarah Gaylord, now a resident of Meriden, and an
aunt of Dr. Gaylord of Branford. Elizabeth Jane,
born Aug. 31, 1825, died April 13. 1842. Samuel
Atwatei", born Jan. 26, 1828, married Mary L.
Wetherell, of Canaan.
IIEXRY FORBES (deceased) was for many
years an honored and highly resjjected citizen of
East Haven, New Haven county, and was actively
identified with its agricultural interests. He was
bom in that town on the farm now occupied by
Winchester Andrews, in 1803, a son of Isaac
Forbes, Jr., and grandson of Isaac Forbes, Sr., also
natives of East Haven. Throughout his active
bu.siiness career he engaged in apricultural pursuits
and met with well-deserved success in his chosen
occupation. When a small boy he accompanied his
parents on the removal to the farm now occupied
by John Lancey, and upon that place he spent the
remainder of his life, dying there April 22, 1875.
He was a Republican in ]X)litics and was quite a
prominent and influential man in his community —
one who commanded the respect and confidence of
all with whom he came in contact either in busi-
ness or social life. He married Miss Almira
Forbes, who died Nov. 9, 1891, at the age of eighty-
three years. To them were lx)rn two children :
Willet B., whose sketch appears on another page
of this volume ; and Jane E., mentioned below.
On Sept. 23, 1859, Miss Jane E. Forbes was
united in marriage with Daniel Bradley, who was
born in East Haven, in 1829, and was reared to
the occupation of farming, which he made his life
work. He was a son of John Bradley. His death
occurred in 1873. To Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were
born three children : John H. and Daniel, both
of whom died in infancy ; and Eveline, who mar-
i nied Lewis Smith and lives with her mother in
East Haven ; she has one child, Raymond. Since
the death of her husband !Mrs. Bradley has dis-
played excellent business and executive ability in
the management of her farm, and in 1892 she
erected thereon a beautiful home, whose hospitable
doors are ever opened for the reception of her many
friends. She is an active member of the Congrega-
tional Church, and is held in high regard by all
who know her.
GEORGE FELLOWS PETERS. In the re-
spect that is accorded to men who have fought
their way to success through unfavorable aiviron-
mcnts we find an unconstrious recognition of the
intrinsic worth of a character which cannot only
endure so rough a test, but gain new strength
through the discipline. The following history sets
forth briefly the steps by which our subject, now
one of the substantial agriculturists of Hamden,
New Haven county overcame the disadvantages of
his early life.
Mr. Peters was born in Highmarket, Lewis C".,
N. Y., March 23, 1848, a son of John and Margaret
(Legal) Peters, natives of Germany, who came to
this country when young, sailing from Havre, and
were married in the United States. In their family
were six children : George F. ; John, of Lewis coun-
ty, N. Y. ; Louise, Mrs. Christopher ^Var^en, of
New York ; Jacob, of Booneville, N. Y. ; James, of
i Burlington, Kans. ; and \\'illiam, of Lowville. New
York. Mr. Peters was bom Sept. 12, 1820, died
May 2, 1885, at Locust Grove, Lewis Co., N. Y.
Mrs. Peters was born March 16, 1816, and died
April II, 1877, at Locust Grove. He was a farmer,
and also worked at the joiner's trade.
Our subject acquired his education in the com-
mon schools of his native State. He was twenty-
one years of age on coming to Hamden, where he
found employment on the farm of Perry Rock-
well, and later he worked on the farm of Robert
Dickerman, in the same town, spending almost
six years in these places. At the end of that time
he l)Ought a milk route and engaged in the retail
milk business in New Haven for sixteen years,
since which time he has carried on dairy fanning
and sold hi.* milk at wholesale. He is one of the most
â– prominent and successful dairy farmers of Ham-
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
12831
den, where he owns over ninety-two acres of land
in different tracts. In June, 1S75, ^^r. Peters
bought the old Johnson place, on Circular avenue,
and has lived there ever since. He built the ex-
cellent home thereon — which was completed in
February, 1876, — and has made about all the other
improvements ; the place is one of the best improved
and most desirable farms of its size in the neigh-
borhood. His holdings of farm land comprise sev-
eral tracts in Hamden and some real estate in New
Haven.
In Westville, Conn., Nov. 17, 1875, ^^r. Peters
married Miss Dency Harriet Dickerman, who was
born Xov. 8, 1845, '" Bethany, Conn., daughter of
Lebbeus and Amanda ( Doolittlc ) Dickerman, she
being their youngest daughter and fourth child.
She was almost eight years old when her parents
removed to Hamdon, where she has lived ever
since except a few years spent in Westville, where
she was residing at the time of her marriage. Mrs.
Peters' grandparents w-ere Enos and Mary (Todd)
Dickerman, the former born Jan. 15. 1775, son of
Enos Dickerman. The family has been identified
with the history of New Haven county from the
earliest period. Mr. and ]\Irs. Peters have one
child, Henry Dickerman, born Oct. 4, 1885, who
is the only representative of the Dickerman family
descended from his grandfather Lebbeus Dicker-
man .
.\Ir. Peters casts his ballot with the Republi-
can party and is now filling the office of school
trustee. Religiously he is a mem'ber of the ^leth-
odist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also be-
longs. For the success that he has achieved in
life he deserves great credit, and his course has
been such as to command the respect and confi-
dence of all. with whom he has come in contact.
EMORY SABINE COGGINS, superintendent
for the Bradley & Hubbard ^Manufacturing Co.,
and a well-known citizen of Meriden, was born
in Lubec, Washington Co., Maine, Sept. 8, 1857,
the twelfth child of John aiid Lucinda (Guptillj
Coggins. The Coggins family is of Scotch de-
scent; but the grandfather of the subject of our
sketch came from Briar Island, Canada, to Lubec,
in Maine, where he located, reared his children,
and remained until gathered to his fathers.
John Coggins, father of Emory, was born in
Lubec, as indicated, went to school there, and there
learned and followed his trade of carpenter and
joiner. He married Lucinda, daughter of Robert
(a farmer and fisherman of Lube(i) and Ann
(Small) Guptill, who bore him twelve children.
These were as follows, the order being that of liirth :
( I ) Esther Ann is now the widow of Robert Watt,
a native of Nova Scotia, who died in September,
1892. Mrs. Watt bore her husband three children :
! Robert died in infancy; Maude Minola, who mar-
' ried Albert Morris, and has one child, Myra; Myra
i Mahlman, who married Arthur F. Glaessner, a
traveling salesman, and with whom Mrs. Watt
now makes her home. (2) Lottie is the wife of
(ieorge Christopher, of Eastport, Maine. (3)
Ezra died young. (4) Emerson died at the age of
fourteen. (5) John, now deceased, lived till man-
hood. (6) Daniel, a contractor for the Bradley &
Hubbard Company, married Emma Reynolds. (7)
Sanford, a resident of Meriden, married first,
Nellie Harriman, and second, Annie Tryon. (8)
Horace died young. (9) Barbara married Jared
Lewis, and now resides in Meriden. (loj Ches-
ter lis now a resident of New Haven. (11) Emma
died the wife of Edward Lee. (12) Emory Sa-
bine is our subject. The father of this round dozen
of children came to Connecticut with his family in
1869 and took employment with the New Haven
Car Co., in the city of New Haven, where he con-
tinued until his death in October, 1870. His re-
mains were taken for interment to his native town
of Lubec. In his faith he was a member of the
Christian Church ; and his political creed was Dem-
ocratic. His widow still lives in Lubec at the ripe
age of eighty-eight years, a member of the Chris-
tian Church there, a good woman, well known and
highly respected.
Emory S. Coggins attended the district schools
of Lubec until his twelfth year, when he went to
Eastport, Maine, and began work at the trade of
carpenter and joiner. After a 3'ear of this he con-
cluded that something else would suit him better,
and in 1870 he came to Mcrideji and went to work
for the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Co.,
where he is today, but in a somewhat different ca-
pacity. Then his duties were sweeping the floors,
"jx)lishing up the handle of the big front door,"
and the like, for the magnificent salary of three
dollars and fifty cents a week, nfter a year of
these labors he was put at assembling or putting
together kerosene chandeliers, at whicli he contin-
ued for six years. Thereafter he was brought into
the office, and given the work of figuring the cost
of goods, and more of similar character and im-
portance. Later he was appcyinted assistant super-
intendent to ^Ir. C. F. Linsley, whom, in 1891, he
succeeded in the position which lie now holds, and
fills through bis ability with signal credit to him-
self and satisfaction to all concerned, winning the
respect and esteem of employers and subordinates
alike.
Mr. Coggins is a member of Alfred H. Hall
Council, No. 1423. Ro\al Arcanum,; and of Myrtle
Lodge, No. 4, K. of P., of which he is Past Chan-
cellor. He is known as a general all around "good
fellow." His politics are Republican, and his re-
ligion the Golden Rule.
Mr. Coggins has l)een twice married. His first
wife, who died in 1880, was Lavinia Schleiter, a
(bughter of Capt. Henry L. and Adelia (Potter)
Schleiter. Of this union were born txVins, both of
whom died in infancy. On May 17, 1882, Mr.
Coggins was united in marriage with Edna Snow,
1284
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who was born in Norwich, New London county,
daughter of Augustus and Hannah (Pierce) Snow.
One child, \'era Irene, has blessed their home.
Mrs. Coggins is a member of Susan Carrington
Clark Cha])ter, D. A. R. She was educated in
Williniantic, and acquired her musical education
under Miss Black, of New London, later studying
under Prof. F. H. Rolleston, and she was gradu-
ated from the New England Conservatory of Mu-
sic, Boston, in 1880. For some time she taught
music in Williniantic, where, also, she was organist
in the .M. E. Church.
LETSOME TERRELL WOOSTER. One of
the most influential men of the Naugatuck Valley is
Letsome Terrell Wooster, whose face is familiar in
business, church and educational circles through-
out the State. Mr. Wooster was born in Water-
bury. He is the seventh in descent from Edward
Wooster, who came across the water from England
in 1630 and founded the family home in the green
hills of Connecticut, whence this branch of the fam-
ily has not migrated for over two and one-half cen-
turies.
The Colonial hero, a man of great courage,
deep piety and abiding patriotism, uprooted him-
self for religion's sake from the haunts of his
ancestors and, with a handful of brave compatriots
of like convictions, established the first traces of
Anglo-Sa.xon civilization along the shores of the
Housatonic, the two towns which are glad to do
him honor beine Milford and Derby. It is not sur-
prising that the descendants of Edward Wooster
were earlv drawn into the Revolutionary movement
and that wc find them everywhere connected with
the wars of that period. Thus it is that the sub-
ject of this sketch jwints to an ancestry of six il-
lustrious Revolutionary commissioned officers,
among them Gen. David Wooster and the great
lieutenant of I'rench and Indian war fame, Gideon
Hotchkiss.
Letsome T. Wooster is likewise sixth in descent
from Rev. John Bower, a graduate of Harvard Col-
lege in the class of 1649 who became, in 1652, the
first instructor in the classics in the school which
eventually grew into Yale University, and who
later, in 1672, became the first minister in Derby,
where he performed the multifarious duties which
fell to the lot of such a Colonial dignitarv until his
death, in 1688.
The two and one-half centuries which have inter-
vened since the stirring Colonial days have served
but to transfer, as through a single generation, the
sterling characteristics of these early heroes to their
lineal descendant, Letsome Terrell \\'ooster. The
.sympathy and interest in the welfare of the com-
munity that .Mr. Wooster feels and substantially
shows in his many benevolences are the outcome of
generations of patriotic forbears who have devoted
themselves to the cause of church and State in this
locality since 1630. He has been froan early man-
hood closely identified with educational matters and
is at the present time a trustee of Wesleyan Univer-
sity. His interest in the cause of religion is one
of the strong traits of his character and he has al-
ways given munificently to churches throughout the
\ailey.
Mr. Wooster is the oldest and best known brass
manufacturer in the United States. He is the
founder and principal stockholder of the Seymour
Manufacturing Company, a prosperous concern
brought to its present degree of success by Mr.
Wooster's executive ability, inventive genius and
rare knowledge of metals. He is a metallurgist of
admitted p)Ower, using many of his own secret
formulas, notably one for German silver, which
make the product from his manufactory especially
in demand by concerns requiring delicacy and pli-
ability, as well as strength and durability, in their
metals. His molds for casting brass have revolu-
tionized that feature of this great manufacturing in-
dustry, and innumerable devices of his own invention
for saving time and labor have made the Seymour
Manufacturing Company a model of modern meth-
ods in its unsurpassed capacity for business.
Mr. Wooster's prt^eminence in the business af-
fairs of the Naugatuck X'alley is recognized. Early
in life he was prevailed upon by the president of the
Waterbury Brass Company to abandon his chosen
career of mechanical engineer and engage in the
manufacture of brass. This was in 1852. He sub-
sequently went to Torrington with Hon. Lyman W.
Coe, and with him organized the Coe Brass Com-
pany, remaining as manager for eight years. For
the last twenty years he has been associated with
his brother in Seymour, and is officially connected
with the following concerns in that town: The
Seymour Manufacturing Company, the Se_\Tnour
r\lectric Light Company, the H. .\. Mathews Com-
pany and the Rimmon Manufacturing Company.
EDW.A.RD A. TODD was born in New Haven,
Conn., his present home, July 17, 1836, a worthy
descendant of a most hcnorable family. His an-
cestral line is traced from Christopher Todd, an
early settler.
Christopher Todd was born in England, antl
being one of the original settlers of New Haven
he was, without doubt, a member of the Rev. John
Daycn]x>rt's company, which arrived at Boston,
-Mass., July 21, 1637. By occupation he was fann-
er, miller and baker, and after a most useful life
he died April 23, 1686.
Capt. Samuel Todd, son of Christopher, was
born .April 20. 1645, followed his father's trade of
miller, and (fied in 1714.
Samuel Todd, son of Capt. Samuel, was torn
July I, 1672, and died in 1741. He had several
sons, one of whom was Deacon Samuel Todd, of
Northbury, now Plymouth.
Stephen Todd, son of Samuel, was l>orn Dec.
4, 1702, settled in Wallingford, and died in 1772.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1285
Jonah Todd, son of Stephen, settletl in Bethany,
Conn., where he had a sawmill, and died in 1803.
Charles Todd, son of Jonah, was born Aug. 28,
1752.
Albert Todd, son of Charles, was the grandfa-
ther of the subject of this sketch, antl he was born
May 2, 1783, and died July 24, 1843. tie mar-
ried Hannah l'"(K)te, and he settled on a fami in
North ford. Conn. They reared a family of four
children, najuely: Charles; Alfred, the father of
our subject; Lydia ; and Ambrose.
Alfred Todd was born in Northford, Conn.,
March 22, 1814, and died March 29, 1882. He
married Hannah \'. Harrison, who was born in
Northford, Conn., June 12. 1819. and who died on
Jan. II, 1896. Her parents were Jacob and Han-
nah Harrison, the former of whom was a shoe-
maker in Northford. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Todd
rame to New Haven about 1848, and there they
lived until the time of their death. Mr. Todd was
engaged in the butchering and pork packing indus-
try, and was well known and highly esteemed. In
politics he was a Re])ublican, and the family be-
longed to the Episcopal Church.
Edward A. Todd, subject of this biography,
spent his boyhood days in New Haven, and was
most liberally educated, having advantages in the
Cheshire Academy, and later in
Military Academy in New Haven. After finishing
school, Mr. Todd entered into a business life, be-
ing employed by Erank S. Andrew & Co., in the
pork packing business for some three years, later
becoming interested in the business of manufac-
turing corsets. In 1887 Mr. Todd became book-
keeper for L. C. Bates, in the produce and commis-
sion business, and in 1894 a corporation was
formed under the finn style of "The L. C. Bates
Co.." and our subject i)ecame a member of this
firm, having previously represented it on the road.
Since that time the business has grown to large
proportions, and is known over a wide e.xtent of
country.
On Oct. II, 1876, Mr. Todd was married to
^liss Ida L. Oviatt, who was born in New Haven,
a daughter of Henry and Louise (Hull) Oviatt,
the former of whom was' born in Milford, Conn.,
and the latter in New Haven. Their cliildren were;
Nelson F., who died young; Ida L., who is ^^rs.
Todd ; \\"alter C. ; and Clarence E. Walter resides
in New Haven, and Clarence died in youth. Mr.
Oviatt was by profession a bookkeeper, and he
was a son of Curtis Oviatt, who was born in Mil-
ford, Conn., and married Tenty Carrington. On
the maternal side, the grandfather of Mrs. Todd
was Elam Hull, who by trade was a maker of tal-
low candles, and, starting out in life with limited
means, by successful methods, later became wealthy
and well known. After marriage our subject and
wife made their home in New Haven, and their
two children are, Louise Hull, and \"enelia Har-
rison. In his political sympathies, Mr. Todd has
always been connected with the Republican party,
and socially he has membership with the .\. O. U.
W., and the Royal Arcanum ; he is also a member
of the second company of Governor's Eoot Guards.
The family are consistent and valued members of
the Episcopal Church, Mr. Todd being one of the
vestrymen at Christ Church.
M. M. RUSSELL, a well-known citizen and
skillful farmer of East Haven, is a native of New
Haven county, born in the town of North Branford,
July 26, 1841, and is the son of Saniiiel E. Russell,
whose birth occurred in the same town, Oct. 7,
1802. The grandfather. David Russell, was also
a native of North Branford; bis wife, who bore
the maiden name of Betsey Monroe, departed this
life at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. The
father of our subject was twice married, his first
wife being Ann Chidsey, by whom he had one
child, Annie, now the wife of Benjamin S. Wood-
ward, of Lyons, Iowa. After her death he married
her sister, Almira Chidsey, and our subject was
the only child born of this union. The father was
a carpenter by trade, and followed that occupa-
tion until 1852, and then engaged in farming, re-
moving to the farm where our subject now resides
in the spring of 1869. There his death occurred
Jan. 7, 1888. He was a member of the Congrega-
tional Church and was held in high regard by all
who knew him. Our subject's mother tlied Feb.
21, 1875.
During his boyhood and youth Mr. Russell,
of this review, attended the Guilford Institution
and Eastman's Business College, where he acquired
a good practical education. He assisted his father
in the labors of the farmi and on the latter's death
came into possession of the place, which he is still
carrying on, being successfully engaged in general
fanning. . * <4|
Mr. Russell was married, Jan. 27. 1867, to Miss
Nellie Luddington, who died in December, 1879.
Four children were born of that union, namely :
Henry, who died in infancy; Samuel C, a resi-
dent of New Haven ; Myra A., of Iowa; and Lewis,
who died at the age of two years. On June 10,
1 88 1, Mr. Russell was again married, his second
union being with Mrs. E. Augusta ( Hill 1 .\verill,
widow of Jarvis Averill. In his political affiliations
Mr. Russell is a Republican, and in his church re-
lations is a Congregationalist. He has a large
circle of friends in East Haven, and is highly re-
spected and esteemed wherever known.
^\TLLIA.^l G.KRLICK, contractor, and presi-
dent of the Beaver Lake Ice Co., is one of the self-
made men of Meriden and one of the leading citi-
zens of South Meriden, where he has long been
actively engaged in business. He is a native of
England, lx)rn Aug. 19. 1847. in Sheffield, West
Yorkshire.
William Garlick, Sr., his father, was also born
1286
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in Sheffield, and there his youth was passed. He
became skilled in the art of making cutlery, and
becoming convinced that he would find larger op-
portunities for himself and his children in Amer-
ica, he set sail in 1850, acconi^ianied by his family,
for these hospitable shores. After a voyage of sev-
eral weeks on a sailing vessel, they landed in New
York, whence they soon found their way to Meri-
den, which town was then establishing the fact
that Americans could make a good article of cut-
lery. Mr. Garlick at once obtained employnient in
the grinding department of the Meriden Cutlery
Co., and continued faithfully in this service until
1874. Having put aside some of his earnings, he
was now able to embark in business for himself,
and estabHshed a nursery, and also engaged in the
ice business, being one of the pioneers in that line
in his section. At the end of four years he sold
out his ice business to his son, but continued the
nursery business until the time of his death. This
occurred at his home in South Meriden in 1880,
and his body was laid to rest in West cemeterv-.
In his native home he was identified with the Es-
tablished Church, but worshipped with the Meth-
odist organization in this country. After becom-
ing a citizen of the United States he was loyal to
its government and acted with the Republican
party, in political contests. His widow, Harriet
Davidson, who was born in Sheffield of Scotch
lineage, survived him until April, 1882, and was
buried beside him in West cemetery. She was a
faithful member of the M. E. Church, a true wife
and kind mother. All of their seven children were
born in Sheffield, and three died in infancy; Walter,
who died in middle age. married \'irginia Daly, and
had two daughters, Lillian and Emma, who now
reside in Baltimore, Md. ; Mary is the wife of
Henry W. Longden, of Soijth Meriden ; Emma
married John H. Daly ; and William, Uie subject
of this sketch, is the youngest of the family.
William Garlick was only three years of age
when he accompanied his }>arents to this country.
He was reared in South ^leriden and received his
schooling in the district school of that section.
When he was fifteen years old he entered the em-
ploy of the Meriden Cutlery Co., in the same de-
partment in which his father was engaged, and con-
tinued there until he attained his majority. He
was then employed for a period of three years in
the responsible position of inspector at the Aetna
Cutlery Works, in Xew Britain, and returned
thence to take a position as contractor in the shops
at South Meriden, where he was fonnerly en-
gaged. This connection has continued for the past
thirty-one years, which fact clearly demonstrates
his executive ability and integrity. In 1878 he pur-
chased the ice business of his father, which he im-
mediately began to extend. In his first season he
put up 1,600 tons of winter's product, and his
harvest now exceeds, nine thousand tons, which he
disposes of at both wholesale and retail. He has
one ice house in the northern part of the town, on
the main line of tlie Consolidated Railroad, and
one in the western part of the town, on the Water-
town line. In 1889 he consolidated his business
with the Meri