his parents removed to Highwood, where he was
reared on a farm. Hfis educational advantages were
vastly inferior to those of the present day. His
parents needed the help of their children as soon
as they were old enough to be of use on the farm,
and accordingly Andrew was put to work early in
life, and from childhood received a practical knowl-
I'lge of labor. His schooling was received entirely
at District No. 10 school, in Hamden, where he at-
tended usually a few months in the winter ses-
sion. Work coming first, regular attendance at
school was im];ossible. and, all in all, Mr. Ure"s
later success supports but feebly the often advanced
theory that a man must have a college education in
order to succeed in business. He possessed orig-
inality, judgment and good common sense, which,
with his superior business capacity, more than made
up for whatever he may have lacked in the way
of book learning. His work during bovhood and
early manhood was at garden farming, to which he
was practically reared. He remained in Hamden
up to the age of seventeen years, when, work be-
ing somewhat slack in the home neighborhood, he
went into Pennsylvania, and at a small town called
lUittonwood, near Wilkesbarre, hired out to an ex-
tensive market gardener, one who was thorough in
his line of farming. There Mr. Ure hadi one and
one-half years' valuable experience, and being a
close observer he took note of new methods and
their results, all of which were to be improved
upon, or practically api)lied, in his own business
later on. Soon after returning to Connecticut, and
when yet several years under age, he commenced
market gardening for himself, at first having his
brother, \\ellington, as a partner. These young
men then owned four acres of ground, and renting
as much more embarked in a business which pros-
pered from the very start. It was continued by the
brothers for a period of twelve years, when our
subject became sole owner, and has since been car-
rying it on alone. For alx)Ut six years, ending in
1898. Mr. L're conducted the Keystone Stables, in
George street, Xew Haven, succeeding Frank Tat-
tle in that business. After severing this connection
he removed to Highwood, where he has been giving
his entire attention to his extensive farming inter-
ests. During the time he was in the livery busi-
ness he superintended the operation of his farm,
which he carried on without interruption.
I'Vom the humble begiiuiing mentioned the mar-
ket gardening business has grown to extensive pro-
portions, Mr. l're enjoying the largest trade in the
town in his lines, and the business ranks among the
most important of the kind around Xew Haven. His
operations have included as many as one hundred
acres in a season, and he has employed as many
as ninety-nine people at once in the busy season.
His outlay for fertilizers alone in one season has
been $3,000. In the business, as conducted by our
subject, are employed all the up-to-date methods,
many of which he has originated, and he is always
on the outlook for new ideas, observing closely and
experimenting extensively. He has made a care-
ful study of the business in every detail, and he is as
familiar with the office work as witli the ground
conditions and preparation of the soil, his success
being as much the result of good judgment and
management as of energetic industry. The new
methods and systems he introduces are often a rad-
ical deviation from old-time customs, and failure
has often been predicted for him, but he has carried
out his ideas successfully, not infrequently to the
surprise and astonishment of those many years his
senior. His management of cultivated fields has
been such as to obtain the best and most liberal re-
sults. Mr. Ure's success in life has been beyond
the ordinary, and a better example of a self-made
man is seldom found, his present high standing be-
ing simply the result of natural ability coupled with
application to business push and energy, not self-
denial and penuriousness. for he has lived well, en-
joying life and many of its luxuries and comforts.
-At the same time he has not forgotten the "rainy
day," for which he is well prepared. Though he
is still in his prime he has amassed more than the
large majority do in a life time.
While the head of a large business, to which
he gives the closest attention, Mr. L're from his
sense of duty as a citizen, takes quite an active and
prominent interest in the affairs of his town, not as
a politician or office seeker, but as the progressive
citizen which he is. He is proniinentlv identified
with the Republican partv, of which he is a coun-
selor and adviser, in his town, and his influence is
always felt by both his friends and the opposition.
1350
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He has served on the board of relief and was dele-
gate to the Gubernatorial convention of 1900. Fra-
ternally he is a member of Day Spring Lodge, No.
30, F. & . M., of Hamden ; Fulaski Chapter; Rath-
bnrn Lodge, K. of P.; and Hira Temple, D. O. K.
K. Mr. L"re is well known, his acquaintance not
being confined to his town or conmiunity, but in-
cluding men prominent in business and financial cir-
cles in Xew Haven as well. He is a well-met con-
genial man, and gives evidence of contact with the
world in a broader sphere than his town affords.
Mr. I're married ^liss Nellie R. Parmelec, a
native of Guilford, Comiecticut.
WILLIAM HENRY BEERS, a venerable and
honored resident of Branford, where he is now liv-
ing a retired existence, was born in Branford, Oct.
9. 1831, and is a son of Almcn and Betsy (Hobart)_
Beers. James Beers, his paternal grandfather,
was the son of James Beers, and both did valiant
service in upholding the cause of the colonists in
the war of the Revolution.
Almon Beers was born in Branford in 1806,
and died March 2y, 1885. His wife, Betsey (Ho-
bart) Beers, was a daughter of Samuel and Esther
(Ives) llobart, and granddaughter of John Ho-
bart, of Branford. Almon Beers was a shoemaker
by trade, and in later life became a molder. For
many years he was employed at the Branford Lock
Works, and was for a time in the shops of the M.
I. F. Company. He had two sons, Henry (who
died young) and William. Mrs. Beers died at the
home of our subject, Aug. 6, 1900.
William Henry Beers was the only child of his
parents who grew to manhood. Educated in the
public school and in the Branford Academy, he
subsequently learned the shoanaking trade, and for
many years was in the employ of liristol & Hall,
at New Haven, engaged principally in the manu-
facture of white kid slippers and shoes for women.
After learning the molder's trade late in life, he
was employed in the Lock Works and in the Malle-
able Iron Works of Branford.
During the Civil war Mr. Beers drove a stage
between Fair Haven and New Haven, and also
had a livery stable in the latter town. From 1870
to 1898 he ran a 'bus during the summer season
from Branford to the MoiUowese House, at In-
dian Neck, a period covering twenty-eight years.
Mr. Beers also did the painting for the Montowese
House.
June 25, 1861, Mr. Beers married Nettie, daugh-
ter of James and Henrietta (Munger) Lindsey, of
Branford. The family are attendants and sup-
porters of the Branford Baptist Church, of which
the mother of Mrs. Beers, who died in August,
1900, was the last surviving founder. !Mr. Beers
is a Democrat, and' served as constable for nine
years. In early life he was a member of the State
militia, in which he served five years, and during
the Civil war sent a substitute to fill his place. He
has an enviable reputation in the community to-
wards whose material prosperity he has unceasing-
ly worked, and where his skill, integrity and gen-
eral worthiness have long been unquestionetl.
REV. JOHN II. CARROLL, the beloved pas-
tor of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Wall-
ingford. Conn., where he Itas been in charge since
1898, is one of the few whose predominant char-
acteristic is an overwhelming devotion to the spir-
itual needs of his people, to the utter disregard of
his own personal affairs.
Father Carroll was born Feb. 15, 1855, at New
Flaven, Conn., son of Patrick and Eleanor
(O'Bryene) Carroll. Both parents were natives of
Ireland, the father's birth occurring in County
Leitrim, in 1808, and the mother's in the same
County in 1821. They came to America soon after
their marriage, in 1841, and made their home in
New Haven. Patrick Carroll always took much
interest in political questions of the day, and was
an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. His
wife died in 1875, and he survived her many year-,
passing away in 1893. Of their eight children, the
eldest, Mary T. resides in Westport ; Anthony i<
a contractor in New Haven; Michael died in 18511;
Margaret died in 1854; John Henry is mentioml
more fully below; Thomas ]M. is a merchant "i
Danbury; Patrick F. is engaged in business in New-
York City; and Nellie E. (now Sister Angela
Stephen) is a Sister of Mercy in Mount St. Marv's
Convent, Manchester, New Hampshire.
John H. Carroll's education began in his na-
tive city, where he attended St. Mary's School
until he reached the age of thirteen years. As both
of his parents were devout members of the Roman
Catholic Church, his early inclination toward the
priesthood received every encouragement, and on
completing his course in St. Mary's School in Sep-
tember, 1868. he went to St. Charles College, Elli-
cott City, Md., to prepare for his sacred calling.
He was graduated in 1874. and then entered St.
Mary's Seminary of St. Sulpice, Baltimore city,
and there he spent four and one-half years in the
study of philosophy and theology. On December
21, 1878, he was ordained to the priesthood, and
his work has been blessed with remarkable success
in the various charges which he has held during
his service. He spent some time in New Haven,
being stationed first at St. Mary's Church, then at
the cathedral in Hartford, and later at St. Pat-
rick's Church. New Haven, and at St. John's
Church at Middletown, and then on June 10. 1885,
was made pastor of the congregation at West])ort.
The last named parish was in his charge until 1898,
when he was transferred to Holy Trinity at \\'all-
ingford. During the years of his stay in Westport,
he won many warm friends outside of his parish, his
ability and high character commanding the esteem
of the best people regardless of denomination.
His interest in educational affairs, and his clear
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
'35«
conception of the needs of the public schools, was
so appreciated by the Protestants of the town he
was elected a member of the scliool board, and of
the board of the "Staple High School." Since
coming to Wallingford he has taken the same in-
terest in the public welfare and has won a firm
hold in the hearts of Catholics and Protestants
alike. The Church and Parish House at Walling-
ford are fine structures worthy a town of much
greater size. While keenly alive to the needs of
his town, Father Carroll does not neglect his par-
ish, and gives his influence to various organiza-
tions among his people, including the Order of the
Knights of Columbus.
DWlCirr NOYES CLARK, the well-known
faille dealer, wliose fairness in all transactions is
proverbial, was born March 2, 1829, in the house
where he now lives, in the town of liethany. Conn.,
and is descended in two different lines from the
(.lark family who came early from Milford and set-
tkil in the town of \\'oodbridge, which then in-
cluded lieihany. His ancestry is also traced to
<"i0v. Robert Treat, who was governor of the col-
onies for fifteen years, from 1683 to 1698, to Rev.
Kn^cr .\ewtoiT, first pastor of the church in Farm-
ington and second in Milford, succeeding at the
latter place Rev. Peter Prudden; and to Rev.
Thomas Hooker, the first pastor of the church at
Hartford.
The Clark family of which Dwight N. is a
member was founded in America by Deacon George
Clark, who came from England to the New Eng-
land Colonies in 1637, in company with Rev. John
Davenport and his congregation, from Kent and
Surrey, near London, together with several other
parties of wealth and respectability. The party
landed at Boston, remaining there about one year,
tlicnce went to \ew Haven, Conn., and in 1639 Mr.
Davenport's congregation, including George Clark,
removed to ^^lilford. Deacon Clark died there in
1690. He was one of the deputies under the
Colonial government.
(H) Ensign George Clark, son of Deacon
George, was born in Milford, in 1647, and died
July 19, 1734. He married Deborah Gold. En-
sign Ck'orge Clark was one of those who negotiated
for the purchase from the Indians, Feb. 29, I7Chd,
of the land on which our subject now lives.
(HI) Capt. Nathan Clark, son of Ensign
George, married Abigail Nev/ton, and died in 1783.
(HI) Sergt. George Clark, son of Ensign
George, was born .\pril 3, 1682, and died Aug. 21,
1762.
(I\') Nathan Clark, son- of Capt. Nathan and
-Miigail (Newton), was born in August, 1746, and
died July 12, 1819. He married ^label Treat (a
descendant of Gov. Robert Treat), who was born
in 1753. and died July i, 1828.
(IV) David Clark, son of Sergt. George, was
baptized July 31, 1713.
(V) Robert Clark, son of Nathan and .Mabel
(Treat), was boni I-"eb. 3, 1777, and died April 17^
1863. In 1796 he married E.xpericncc Newton, who
was born in 1776, and died Aug. 16, 1856. Rob-
ert Clark lived on the farm now occupied by our
subject, and was a cattle dealer all his life. He made
a shipment every year for many years from his own
stalls, of the choicest, finest, heaviest premium beef
cattle that came to the New York city market in
those times, always securing the top price for the
year. Mr. Clark was first selectman for ntany years,
that office remaining in his house for thirteen con-
secutive years. He represented the town in the
Legislature for many terms, and at one time was
the oldest member in point of service, and had the
honor of calling the House to order. His children
were: Treat, mentioned below; Maria, who died
Oct. 8, 1803, aged four years; Noyes, mentioned
below ; and Maria (2), who married Clark Wooster,
of Seymour, Connecticut.
(\') David Clark, son of David, was born in
1742, and died in March, 1778. He enlisted in
May, 1777, during the Revolutionary war, in Capt.
Jonathan I'rown's Company, New York Regiment
of Artillery, and was sergeant of his company. He
was captured at Fort Montgomery Oct. 6th, fol-
lowing, and died in prison in New York. This
prison was an old sugar house, and the prisoners
therein, being forgotten when the British evacu-
ated New York, starved to death.
(\T) Elioenai Clark, son of David, the Revolu-
tionary soldier, was born Dec. 30, 1763, and died
Aug. 31, 1847.
(VI) Noyes Clark, son of Robert and E.xperi-
ence (Newton), was born June 27, 1804, and died
Sept. 20, 183 1. On Aug. 30, 1827, he married Mary-
Abigail Clark, a daughter of Elioenai Clark, men-
tioned above. She was born Sept. i, 1803, and died
Jan. 25, 1895.
(VII) Dwight N. Clark, son of Noyes and
Mary A. Clark, and' whose name introduces this
sketch, was but two years old when his father died.
He was educated in the district schools, then at-
tended Cheshire Academy, and early cqmmenced
following the business of his grandfather — that of
dealing in cattle, a vocation he has ever since suc-
cessfuUv pursued, buying and sliipi)ing for a time
fiom Chicago, later from Buffalo and Albany,
N. Y., and at this day there is no man in the State
that is a better judge of live stock than iMr. Clark.
Although now well advanced in years he manages
not only his own farm of 600 acres, but those of
his wife and relatives, aggregating over one thou-
sand acres. His affable manner and liberal dealing
have won for him the respect and esteem of his
townsmen and of a large circle of customers who
have relied upon him for the purchase and sale of
cattle, and he has become widely known through
his extensive business transactions in Western Con-
necticut, as well as at Albany and Chicago.
In politics Mr. Clark is a conservative Democrat,
1352
:OMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and he was in full sympathy with the government
and prominent in its aid during the Civil war. He
was elected to the State Legislature two terms ; for
many years, including the period of the Civil w^ar,
he served as first selectman, and he has been hon-
ored with every office in the gift of his fellow towns-
men which he would accept. He has always taken
a deep interest in the schools and been ready to con-
tribute liberally toward their support and improve-
ment, as wcUas to whatever else would promote
the culture and refinement of society. He has been
interested in church and society, and living near
the Woodbridge line, he has been identified with
the Congregational societv of Woodbridge, of
which Rev. S. P. Marvin has long been pastor. Mr.
Clark has been one of the church's most liberal sup-
porters, and has been one of the committee; gave
valuable advice and was liberal with his nx-ans
toward the remodeling of the church, making it for
the time one of the most elegant country churches
in all the region.
On Sept. 26, 1866, Dwight N. Clark married
Althea E. I'>radley. a daughter of Jason Willis
Pradley, who was born Jan. 10, 1809. and died Oct.
12, 1888. They have one child, Xoyes Dwight, men-
tioned below.
Jason Willis Bradley, a stanch Republican, was
State Senator, judge of probate, and for many years
first selectman, and for years held the first offices
of his town, though Bethany is strongly Demo-
cratic. He married, Oct. 23, 1834, Elizabeth Six;rr\j
who was bom Dec. 24, 1809. and died May 11,
1870. We have record of three children born to
;them: .\lthea E. (Mrs. Dwight X. Clark); Isaac,
who during the Civil war was a member of Com-
pany E, 27th Conn. \'. I., was taken prisoner, con-
fined to Libby Prison, and died in 1866, from the
effects of confinement: also Ida I., who married
John W. Smith, of Seymour, Connecticut.
(VI) Jason Bradley, father of Jason Willis,
was born March 22, 1772, and died Oct. 11, 1831.
He married Electa Tolles, born in 1779, who died
March 20, 1858.
(V) Jason Bradley, father of (VI) Jason, was
born Jan. i, 1741, and died May i, 1819. He mar-
ried INlarv (surname unknown), born in 1742, who
died July' 8, 1808.
(IVJ Joseph Bradley, father of (\') Jason, was
bom March 18, 1707, and on Oct. 27, 1731, mar-
ried Miriam Gilbert, born April 14, 1712.
(Ill) Joseph Bradley, father of (IV) Joseph,
was born Eeb. 15. i''>77.
(II) Joseph I'.radlcy, father of (III) Joseph,
was Ixarn Jan. 4, 1645-46, and died in January, 1705 :
he married Oct. 25, 1667, Silence Brockett.
(I) William Bradley, father of (II) Joseph,
came from England to New England about 1637,
and was a resident of New Haven, Conn., in 1644,
when he took the oath of fidelity. He married, Fe'b.
18. 1645. Alice Pritchard, daughter of Roger Pritch-
ard, of Springrfield and Milford. He died in the
early part of 1692, or possibly in 1691, leaving a
wiir which is recorded in the New Haven Probate
Records, Book II, page 3. The inventory of his
estate bears date May 29, 1692. His wife died some
time between Oct. 5, iCj
(VIII) NovES Dwight Cl.\kk, only child of
Dwight N. and Althea E. (Bradley) Clark, was
bom April 2, 1869. He distinguished himself in
the Scientific Department of Yale, graduating in
1 89 1, and in 1894 took the degree of C. E. For
several years he has been engaged in the New Ha-
ven city engineer's office.
(\'I) Treat Clark, son of Robert and Experi-
ence (Newton), died May 10, 1866, aged si.xty-
nine. He married Maria Peck, who died July 2G.
1886, aged eighty-five. They had four children :
Ann Eliza, who died Feb. 15, 1840, aged eighteen;
Frances C, who died Oct. 19, 1853, aged twenty-
six ; Mary, who died May 4. 1892 : and Nathan
Noyes, who died Oct. 5, 1842, aged eight years
and six months. Mary, the only one of the chil-
dren to marry, became the wife of Judge Amos S.
Treat, of Bridgeport, Conn. ; they had one daugh-
ter. Mary C, who still resides in Bridgeport.
WARREN PERCY BRISTOL, superintendent
of the Meriden Electric Railroad, is a descendant
of one of the earliest settlers of the town of
Cheshire.
Henry Bristol, the first settler of Copper Valle\ ,
located there about the beginning of the eighteenth
century, and there became a land owner and farm-
er, and spent his days. He died in 1750, at the
ripe age of ninety-seven years. He married De-
sire Bristol, and to the union came children as fol-
lows: Jonathan, born Dec. 27, 1725; Lydia, born
March 16, 1728: Desire, who married Thomas
Brooks; Austin, who died in carlv manhood; .\mos;
Simeon, who was a graduate of Yale College;
Gideon, wlio died in 1747: and Augustus, who died
in 1742.
Amos Bristol, son of Henry, was born in Che-
shire, where he also became a land owner and
fanner, and where he passed his entire life. In
June, 1740, he married Joanna Parker, who was
born July 8. 1723. a daughter of Eliphalet and
Hannah (Beach) Parker. Their children were:
Thomas, born March 28, 1741 : Augustus, July 19,
1743; Hannah, March 20, 1745: Amos. May 6,
1751 ; Ezra, Jan. 9, 1753: Reuben, Oct. i, 1755;
Lydia, Sept. 15. 1757: and Lucy, Sept. 10, 1759.
Ezra Bristol, son of Amos, was born in Che-
shire. He passed his life in his native town, en-
gaged in farming and stock raising, and became a
land owner. He died on the farm, and was buried
in the Cheshire cemetery.
Azariah Bristol, son of Ezra, was born in Che-
shire, where he lived and died. Like his father,
he was a farmer and stock raiser.
Rver Bristol, son of Azariah. was born in Clu-
shire'Feb. :. 181 1. and died there Aug. 31. 1871.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1353
He, too, was a fanner, but also engapfed to some
extent in manufacturing. He married Abigail
Munson, who was born Dec. 27, 1810, daughter of
Levi and Tenna (llrnoks) .Munson, the former
of whom, born April ^,. 1783, died Dec. 25, 1844;
the latter, born Sept. 23, 1783, died Jan. 3. 1862, at
Haniden, Conn. The following named children
came to Ryer and Abigail (Munson) liristol: (i)
Antoinette, born Oct. 2ij, 1834, married Sept. 17,
1855, William S. Hates, of \ew York, and died
June 17, 1874, leaving two children — Mena, born in
1863: and William G., born in 1866, who married
Ida Chidsey, of Cheshire. (2) Alfred was born
June 15, i83(;. (3) Abbie, born Aug. 21, 1844, was
married in June, i8t)o, to Charles X. Jones, of
W'allingford.
.\lfred Bristol, son of Ryer, and father of War-
ren P., was born on the old homestead in Che-
shire June 15, 1839. He grew to manhood on the
farm, and in his younger days followed farming
as an occupation, later becoming engaged in the
lumber business in his native town, and also carry-
ing on some insurance business there. He died at
Hartford, Conn., Dec. 20, 1884, and his remains
were laid to rest in Cheshire cemetery. Mr. Bristol
was a stanch Republican, and always supported his
party. He held local offices in Cheshire, serving as
ta.x collector for several years. In religion he was
a mendier of the Episco])al Church. (Jn Sept. 7,
1865, he was married in Cheshire to Fannie A. Doo-
little, who was born in Cheshire, a daughter of
Warren Doolittle, of that town. Mrs. Bristol is
still living with her familv in Cheshire. Seven
children came to this union : Edward D., born in
1866, is a machinist by trade, and is at present
(1902) a member of the State Legislature from
Cheshire; May Louise, born in 1869, died young;
Alfred S., born in 1871, is a machinist, and resides
in Hartford: Warren P. is the subject of this
sketch; Lucia, born in 1875. resides at home;
Drurie, born in 1877, is at home; Arthur C, born
in 1880, is employed by the Winchester Arms Co.,
New Haven.
Warren P. Bristol was born .April 21, 1873, in
Cheshire, and acquired his education in the district
schools of that town. W'hen he was eleven years
of age death deprived him of his father, and he
at once started' out to work, finding employment
in the Cheshire watch factory, where he received
three dollars per week. He continued at this place
two years, attending school during the winter sea-
son. He then spent two years in the jewelfng de-
partment of the Waterburv watch factory, and
next obtained a position in the button factory in
West Cheshire, where he worked one vear. Tlie
jeweling department in the watch factory was again
the scene of his labors for a year, and he received
eighteen dollars per week. Having saved some