lished integrity have given him an enviable standing.
For nineteen years he was a machinist in the em-
jjloy of the i5radley & Hubbard Manufacturing
Company, and since 1880 has served as constable
and city sheriff of Meriden, and has been a special
policeman for twenty-four years.
John A. Leeds was born in Vernon, Tolland
county. Conn., Aug. 20, 1841, and is a son of Don
Alonzo and Eliza Ann (Minard) Leeds, natives
of Connecticut. On the paternal side he is de-
scended from one of the first families of Stoning-
ton. Conn., whose ancestors came from Leeds,
England, and on the maternal side he is a repre-
sentative of the Gates family, a long-lived race of
people, the emigrating ancestor of w-hom located in
Salem, Connecticut.
Don Alonzo Leeds was in his earlier life super-
intendent of a woolen mill in Talcottville, and later
was engaged in the same capacity in Rockville.
In 1856 he removed with his family to Yalesville,
where he was employed by Charles Parker in the
spc-on department of his factory, and at a later
period was with G. L Mi.x, in the same line. In
1857 he came to Aleriden to take a position with
Edward Miller as a brass turner, and two years
later entered the employ of Stedntan & Smith, as
a machinist in their sewing machine factory. For
seven years he was employed by Charles Parker as
a machinist. He retired in 1896, and died two
years later. His children were two in number,
.Mary, the deceased wife of Russell Williams, and
John A., whose name introduces this review.
John A. Leeds was educated in the public
schools and in the Meriden Academy, from which
he was graduated in i860. In 1859, while still in
school, he began his apprenticeship at the ma-
chinist trade, but his progress therein was inter-
rupted by the troubled times of the Civil war. He
enlisted in the Union Army, Sept. 6, 1861, and
was mustered into the service as a men\ber of
I430
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Company C, 7th Conn. Vol. Infantry. He par-
ticipated in the battle of Port Royal, the bombard-
ment of Fort Pulaski, the battle of Pocataligo, and
other important events, and in December, 1863,
before his term had expired, he re-enlisted as a
veteran in the same company and regiment. He
was in the front of battle at Drury's Bluff, and June
2, 1864, was taken prisoner on the picket line at
Bermuda Hundred, and sent to Andersonville,
where he remained three months, and was then re-
moved to the Stockatle at Florence, S. C. Three
iVuonths later he was paroled, and reached home
Dec. 16, 1864, weighing only ninety-six pounds.
March 26, 1865, he was exchanged, and hastened
to rejoin his regiuKut, from which he was dis-
charged July 25, 1865. After the war Mr. Leeds
at once applied himself to the completion of the
trade so capably applied in the succeeding years.
Nov. 28, 1867, ^Ir. Leeds was married to Edith
L., a daughter of John L. and Hannah (Kenworthy)
Kinder, of Meriden, and to them was born two
sons, Fred A. and Frank H. ilrs. Leeds, died
March 18, 1895, and tender memories of her af-
fection and devotion as a wife and mother remain
in the hearts of her family and friends. j\lr. Leeds
belongs to the Episcopal Church of Meriden, and
fraternally he is a member of Meridian Lodge, No.
"/y, A. F. & A. M., at Meriden, of which he was
master in 1882; and of Columbia Lodge, No. 5,
O. U. A. M.; and. as might be expected, when his
long and creditable military experience is consid-
ered, of Mcrriam Post, No. 8, G. A. R. In his polit-
ical relations he is a decided Republican.
JUDGE EDWIN BAKER GAGER, lawyer, of
the firm of Williams & Gager, at Birmingham, in
the town of Derby, and instructor in Yale Law
School, New Haven, has throughout his practice,
covering a period of twenty and mor? years, been
a member of one of the strongest and most suc-
cessful law firms of the State, successively
Wooster, Torrance & Gager, Wooster, Williams &
Gager, and, since the recent death of Col. Wooster,
Williams & Gager.
Mr. Gager was born Aug. 30, 1852, in the town
of Scotland, Windham Co., Conn., son of Lewis
and Harriet (Jennings) Gager, farming people of
that town, whose lives and cliaracter were such
as to command the respect and esteem of the com-
munity in which they lived, each descending from
old English families of the Colonial period of New
England.
William Gager, the progenitor of the New
London and Norwich family of the name, from
which descended the subject of this sketch, came
to New England in 1630, in the fleet with Win-
throp. He was elected a deacon in the church at
Charlestown, but died in September of the same
year from a disease incident to the diet on the
voyage, as did also his wife and two of his chil-
dren. He seemed to be reckoned bv Gov. Win-
throp as one of his family, a Suffolk man, and the
former in his will remembered by bequest the lat-
ter"s son. William Gager is characterized by con-
temporary journalists as "a skillful surgeon, a right
goodly man, and one of the deacons of the Congre-
gational Church."
John Gager, son of William, the settler, re-
moved to Saybrook, Conn., with the younger Gov.
W'inthrop, and thence accompanying his patron to
New London, where his name is found on the old-
est list of inhabitants extant. He joined the com-
pany of Norwich proprietors and removed to the
New Plantation in 1660. At New London he had a
grant of 200 acres of land from the town, located
east of the river, removed to it soon after 1650,
and there dwelt until he joined in the settlement of
Norwich and removed thither. His home lot in
the new town bears date of the oldest surveys,
viz.: November, 1659. He served as constable in
1674 and 1688. His wife's Christian name was
Elizabeth, and of his nine children six were born
in New London. Three only were sons, namely:
John, born in 1647, tl'*^
Samuel, born in 1654, married in 1695 Rebecca
Lay, relict of Daniel Raymond, of New London ;
William died when young. John Gager, the fa-
ther, died in 1703, after a residence of more than
forty years in the town, and at that time Samuel
was the only one of his three sons living. In 1693
a portion of the original house lot of eleven and a
fraction acres in Norwich was added to the old
burying ground on the river side, established in
1661, and here rest the remains of that wealtliY
pioneer and others of the family. And though the
grounds were seldom used for burial purposes after
1700, Sanuiel Gager requested that he be buried
there, and from his tombstone, which was standing
in 1825, was taken the following inscription:
"By the Bodies of his Parents
Here lies the body of Mr. Samuel Gager.
A steady counsellor, a friend of piety ;
was an enemy of vice, a lover of pure
public worship, and being blessed with long
life left the world with a comfortable hope
of life eternal, on the nth day of June,
1740. In the 86th year of his linage."
William Gager, son of Samuel, born in 1704,
v,as graduated from Yale in 1721, and in 1725 was
settled as pastor of the Church in Lebanon. He
died in 1739.
So much for the early generations of the Gager
family. On the mother's side our subject is de-
scended from Jonathan Jennings or Ginnings, an
early settler of Norw'ich, who had land granted him
in that town in 1677 and other grants in 1684. He
was made a freeman at the first town meeting ever
held in the town of Ancient Wiiulham. and at the
time when there were but twenty-two freemen in
the town. Windham was incorporated a town May
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1431
9. Jf*y3. a'"i t'"-' first town meeting was held May
30, I0y3. -Mr. Jennings was a land surveyor, and
with Jonah I'almer assisted the legatees of L'ngar
in surveying and laying out a portion of the lands
from the west Canterbury line to the east Mans-
field line, when that territory was first surveyed
and numbered. He was a wealthy man for that
day, owning a number of loo-acre tracts of land.
He was born about 1653, married (first) Susan-
nah, who ilied in 1700, (second) in 1701 Mary
Howard, who died in 1703, (third) in 1703 Han-
nah, widow of John Abbe, who died in 1725, and
(fourth) Elizabeth. A daughter, Hannah, born
l-'eb. 15, 1689, says the late William L. Weaver,
in his Genealogies of Ancient Windham, was the
first white child born in the town. A son Ebenezer,
burn Feb. 18, 1691, says the inscription on his
tombstone, was the first male child born in Winil-
ham. Jonathan Jennings died in 1733.
Edwin B. Gager, the subject proper of this
sketch, was reared on his father's farm in the town
of Scotland, Conn., and his boyhood was passed
much in the accustomed manner of the lads of the
gtneral farmer — working on the farm in season
and devoting the winters to study in the neighbor-
ing district schools. He was thus employed till
seventeen years of age, and gathered from farm
life a good stock of health and practical sense for
use in after years. At seventeen he began to pre-
pare for college at the Natchaug School, \Vill-
imantic. He becanie S€lf-reliant, and taught school
in Hampton and Abington to gain funds for
further study. After completing his preparation
for college he taught school in East Hampton for
one year. Following this experience he entered the
Academic Department of Yale University, and
during his course there taught school two terms.
He so distinguished himself in the University that
he received several honors open to students. He
was one of the editors of the "Yale Courant," one
of the Townsend speakers, and class orator of the
class of 1877. He was one of the competitors for
prizes in English composition in both the Sopho-
more and Senior years, and won high honors both
years. For four years following his graduation
he was principal of the Ansonia public schools.
During the first of those four years he pursued
post-graduate studies in history at Yale, and dur-
ing the other three law studies under the direction
of Wooster & Torrance, of Binningham, in the
town of Derby, having been entered in the second
year of his public duty as a student at law in the
ofifice of the law firm named. In July, 1881, he
went into the office of those gentlemen, and was
admitted to the Bar of Connecticut in October fol-
lowing.
On Jan. i, 1882, Mr. Gager became associated
with his preceptors as a partner, the firm name
changing from Wooster & Torrance to Wooster,
Torrance & Gager. Three years later, in 1885,
Judge Torrance was appointed to the Bench of the
Superior Court of Connecticut and withdrew from
the firm. On April ist of that year he was suc-
ceeded to the firm by William H. Williams, and
the firm has contimied in prosperous business and
gained in knowledge, experience and standing
from that time until the present, or, rather, until
in the fall of 1900, wdicn the death of Col. Wooster
left it Williams & Gager. Through these twenty
years Mr. Gager has been most actively engaged
in professional tluties and not without making for
himself a most creditable reputation and name
among the legal profession in Connecticut. He
became a member of the State Bar Examining
Committee in 1890, and still continues on the board,
a distinction worthy of notice, since it was the first
State committee appointed for that purpose. Since
1892 he has been instructor in Mortgages in the
[xjst-graduate course in Yale Law School, and
since 1894 has been instructor in Equity to the
Senior class at the Law School.
In politics Judge Gager is a Republican, though
never an aspirant for political preferment. From
1889 to 1895 he served as Judge of the Town Court
of Derby. He has kept up liis interest in educa-
tional matters, and has served on the school board
of the town of Derby. A writer has thus referred
to him : "His literary tastes are of a high order.
His English is pure and chaste, idiomatic and ex-
pressive. He is an e.xcellent literary critic. His
speeches are sought for at local banquets and pub-
lic meetings, both in his town and elsewhere ; and
they always exhibit the thoug-ht and taste of the
scholar. His law papers, so far as they betray the
sources from whence they camie, are manifestly
draw-n as to form, literary style, from a scholarly
mind and a cultured taste. He is fond of the work
being done week by week by the Nous Oub, of
which he is a member, and follows the line of
philosophical inquiry with keen relish. He has-
shown his interest not merely in the weekly dis-
cussions, but on the anniversary occasions, w-hen
his poems and addresses are among the exquisite
parts of the programme."
On October 15, 1885. Judge Gager was mar-
ried to Miss Nellie A. Cotter, daughter of Sam-
uel A. Cotter, who for many years was superintend-
ent of the Ansonia Brass & Copper Co. Since
1889 the family have resided on At water avenue,
Birmingham, where they have a beautiful home,
which they make delightful to themselves and to
their numerous friends. The children are : Ed-
win B., Jr., W., Charles C, and Harriet H.
RUSSELL COE. Among those who have con-
tributed to the indaistrial stability of New England
the Coe family is recognized as an important factor,
and of those bearing the name one of the most hon-
ored and influential was Russell Coe, for many years
identified with Mcriden and New York, and well
known as a manufacturer.
Eli Coe, Esq., the honored grandfather of Rus-
1432
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sell Coe, was a native of MiddlefieUl, Middlesex
Co., Conn., where he was bom Aoril 1 1, 1758. His
native town has reason to be oroiid of his career,
for he became prominent in its atTairs, serving for
many years as justice of the peace, appointed to that
office by the State Legislature. For thirteen years
he filled the office of selectman, and his political
service was free from personal aggrandizement or
undue ambition. His life was exemplary, and his
death, March 27. 1835, was deeply regretted. He
married Rachel Miller, who v.-as born in 1761, and
who died in May, 1844. As a woman of the highest
Christian endowment, no praise of her could be too
fulsome. The hospitable home of Grandfather Coe
was one of the pleasantest in the neighborhood, and
both of its honored heads were active workers in the
Congregational Church. Their children were :
Bela, born in 1778, first married Hannah Ward, and
second, Ruth (Ward) Birdsey ; Rachel, born in
1783, marriedi Elisha Coe; Eli, lx)rn in 1785, mar-
ried Lois Coe; Lucy, born April 26, 1786, married
Gershom I'.irdsey ; and Levi, born July 11, 1788,
married Sarah Ward, daughter of William Ward,
and they were the parents of Hon. Levi E. Coe, of
Meriden.
Eli Coe, the father of the late Russell Coe, of
this city, was born on the Coe homestead in 1785.
His life was given to agricultural pursuits, and he
was a man who was noted for his high moral char-
acter, and helpful citizenship. His death occurred
at his home in Middlefield, Conn., and both he and
his wife are buried in the cemetery there. Both had
been most worthy members of the Methodist
Church. He married Lois Coe, who was born in
Middlefield, and was a daughter of Joseph Coe.
Six children were born to this union : Nelson, who
married Phebe Crowell, resides, at an advanced age,
in Middlefield; Lewis is deceased; Russell is men-
tioned below; Isaac, who married Sarah Bacon, is
deceased ; Emma married George H. Bliss ; and Jo-
seph E. is mentioned elsewhere.
Russell Coe was born in Middlefield, Middlesex
Co., Conn., and was there reared to manhood on a
farm, agriculture having been the occupation of
many of his forefathers. However, as he advanced
to early manhood, the restrictions of rural life, with
its limited opportunities, for all around develop-
ment, caused young Russell to seek the larger field
at Meriden where he became a clerk in a store. In
the course of time his energies sought yet a broader
opening, and from his first interest in the possibili-
ties of land fertilizers, until he had become the head
and front of great manufactories in Xcw York and
New Jersey, he pushed this business with an energy
and ability which brought wealth and prominence.
His death occurred in his beautiful residence on
East Main street, in Meriden, and he was reverently
laid to rest with his ancestors in the old cemetery
at Middlefield. Mr. Coe was a type of the success-
ful, sclf-e;lucated, self-made man, a type that is
very generally found at the head of the largest and
most substantial industries. He was endowed with
extraordinary energy and remarkable business
capacity, and his integrity was unquestioned at
home and abroad. He was an ardent supporter of
the Republican party.
Russell Coe married Catherine Birdsey, a daugh-
ter of Seth and Ruth (Ward) Birdsey, and a repre-
sentative of one of the old established families of
New England. She still resides in the home on
East Main street, Meriden, and is widely known
for her liberal and consistent charities.
Ward. The Ward family, of which the Hon.
Levi Coe and Mrs. Russell Coe are worthy descend-
ants on the maternal side, is an old and highly
respected family of New England. Their ancestor,
Stephen Ward (supposed to have been the husband
of \\'idow Joyce Ward, who died in 1640, and son
of James and Anna (Fawkes) Ward) is thought
by some never to have come to America, but the late
Sherman W. Adams, from his investigation in the
Wcthcrsficld records, has virtually substantiated his
emigration, and also the fact that he was killed by
the Indians at Wethersfield.
Ensign \\'illiam Ward, supposed to have been a
son of Stephen, was among the first settlers of the
town of ^Iiddletown, Conn., as early as 1655, ^"^
was granted several tracts of land in that section.
He died March 28, 1690, and the inscription on his
tombstone reads: "Here lies the body of Insine
William Ward age about 58 years dyed March 28,
1690." His title was obtained from the train band.
William was twice married. After the death of his
first wife Sarah, he married March 28, 1660, Phebe
(surname not known), who died Sept. i, 1691. Of
the first union, a son, William, was born June 24,
1659, but died shortly after his mother. The eight
children of the second marriage were: Thomas,
born Feb. 7, 1661 ; Phebe, April 17, 1663; William,
Aug. 2, 1665; Sarah, Dec. 18. 1667; Anne, born in
March, 1670, married James Trappin; Dorothy,
March 5, 1671-72 ; Susanna, born June 6, 1674, mar-
ried John Southmavd; and John, born ^lav 12,
1678.
Capt. Thomas Ward, son of Ensign William,
was born Feb. 7, 1661, and having grown to man-
hood in Middletown, became quite active in public
affairs. He filled the office of selectman in 1696,
was commissioned lieutenant of the South Company
of the train band in 1699. was made captain in
1712; and received his appointment from the Gen-
eral Assembly in 1706- 11 -12. as justice of the peace.
Capt. Ward was a large landowner, and died in the
town of Middletown, June 2. 1728. His first mar-
riage was in December, 1683, to Anna Tappan,
daughter of James Tappan, who was born Sept. 28,
1662, and died in November, 1712. His second mar-
riage was to Elizabeth Browell. The children of
Capt. Ward were: Thomas, born Oct. 17, 1685,
married Deborah Stowe ; William was born April
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1433
14, 1687; Anna, born in 1689, died Oct. 5, 1703;
James died young; I'hel)e, born in 1695, married
Daniel TIall; Mary, born in 1702.
William Ward, son of CajJt. Thomas, was lx)rn
in Middlesex County, and settled in what is known
as Newfields, where he owned both land and slaves.
Mis death occurred March 28, 1762, and his burial
was in the old Indian Hill cemetery, in Middle-
town. Jan. 18, 1710, he married Mary Harris, who
was born Jan. 11, 1685, and died Aug. 14, 1776, a
(laughter of Capt. Daniel Harris. Their eight chil-
dren were: Alary died young; Patience, born in
November, 1712, married a Mr. Plumb; Anna, born
Nov. 3, 1714, married a Mr. Elton; Mary, born
Dec. 2, 1 7 16; William, born Oct. 2Q, 1720; James
Tappan, born Sept. 22, 1722; Abigail, born Dec.
30, 1724, married a Mr. Galpin ; and Joseph, born
Jan. II, 1727-28.
William Ward (2), son of William, was born
at Newfields, Oct. 29, 1720, and settled in Middle-
field, where he owned a tract of land and a number
of slaves. In 1767 he was appointed lieutenant of
the 14th Co., 6th Reg., by the General Assembly,
and was commissioned captain in 1771. Capt. Ward
was also appointed by the town of Middletown to
provide necessities for the families of soldiers who
were in the Revolutionary armv, 1777 to 1779. His
death occurred on his farm, Feb. 25, 1786, after
l>eace had been restored, and freedom gained. His
first marriage, in 1742, was to Martha Bowe, who
was born Aug. 23, 1718, and who died Dec. 17,
1770. On July 4, 1 77 1, he married widow Hannah
Spencer. His children were: \\'illiam, born Sept.
17, 1744: Edward, born Oct. 22, 1746. married
Lydia, daughter of Thomas Alkins ; Anner, lx>m
Jan. 9, 1748, tnarried first Richard ^liller. second
Joseph Wetmore, and third Capt. David Birdsey ;
James T., born April 3, 1751, married Elizabeth,
daughter of Ichabod Aliller; Martha, born May 30,
1753, married Capt. David Birdsey; Asher, born
Oct. 13. 1755, became a physician, and died Aug.
12, 1788; and Mary, born Sept. 9, 1759, married
Braddock Dickinson.
^\'illiam Ward (3), son of Capt. William, and
the grandfather of Mrs. Coe, was born in Middle-
field Sept. 17, 1744. His life was divided between
agricultural pursuits and the sailing of vessels to
the West Indies, and he was also appointed to look
after the families left fatherless and in want by the
ravages of the Revolution. His arduous duties
were faithfully performed, and he is recalled as a
conscientious and enterprising citizen. His death
occurred Nov. 26, 1819, and the following inscrip-
tion is seen on his tombstone in Middlefield ceme-
tery :
"How blest the pair whom Christian love unites,
Joy smiles upon their days and crowns their nights.
In peace their happy moments glide away
Till both are welcomed to Eternal day."
The happy domestic relations which must have
existed between himself and wife arc indicated by
the following inscription upon the tomb of the
latter:
"Thrice happy Christians who when time is o'er,
Shall meet in realms of bliss to part no more."
Grandfather William Ward was married Aug.
20, 1765, to Mary Miller, born Nov. 28, 1746, who
died Oct. 15. 1817, two years before the death of her
husband. Her father was Ensign Benjamin Mil-
ler. She was noted in youth for her beauty, but in
middle life became a victim of what was then called
"fever and ague," but which bears a more scientific
name in these days. As her health and beauty
passed away, she exemplified Christian patience
which endeared her all the more to those who knew
her. A remarkable incident was connected with
her final cure. When she had grown so that no
resource of the time seemed to help her, she, three
times in succession, dreamed of a remedy which
would restore her to health, and upon her husband
securing the same for her, it was found to fulfill all
expectations. From then until her death she was a
robust woman. The children born to William Ward
and wife were: Benjamin, born in 1768, died in
1775; Timothy, born in 1773, died Jan. 7, 1795;
Molly, born Dec. 2, 1775, married Asa Johnson;
Ruth, born Feb. 10, 1777. married first Seth Bird-
sey, and for her second husband Bela Coe; Han-
nah, born in 1780, married Bela Coe; Lucy, born
in 1782, married Ezra Spencer; Eunice, born in
1784, married Capt. Joseph Coe; and Sarah, born
Aprils, 1788, married Col. Levi Coe.
WILLIAM PITT BALDWIN, M. D., one of
the leading among the younger physicians of New
Haven, comes on both sides from English origin,
descending on his father's side from the illustrious
Baldwin family of New England.
Dr. Baldwin was lx)rn May 12. 1867, in New
Haven, son of Charles Amos and Hannah Pitt
(Smith) Baldwin.
Richard lialdwin. the emigrant ancestor of this
branch of the Baldwin family, was baptized in
Parish Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England,
in 1622. He was a son of Sylvester, who died in
June, 1638, on the ship "Martin" in passage from
England. Richard Baldwin came to New England
either before or with his father. His name appears
of record (first page) in Milford, Conn., in 1639.
He was an active, energetic, man of business and
took a prominent part in the affairs of the town,
and was a deputy to the General Court. He mar-
ried about 1643, Elizabeth Alsop, of New Haven,
and died in 1665.
From this Richard Baldwin Dr. Baldwin is a
descendant in the eighth generation, his line being