board and clothes, he tried to find something else.
For a short time he worked with a carpenter, and
by the time he was eighteen years old was working
as a farm hand, receiving board, clothes and $30
per year. For some time prior to 1871 he found
employment as a coachman for a wealthy man in
Sweden, but America was the goal of his ambi-
tion, many of his friends and relatives having be-
come prosperous in this country.
W'lien .\lr. Carlson landed in Xew York his capi-
tal consisted of $20 in money and an unbounded
ambition, both of which he found very necessary
adjuncts for success in the situation which he
faced. Saybrook, Conn., was his first location, as
there was plenty of work there on the Connecticut
Valley R. R., then in the course of construction,
and for about eighteen months he worked on that
road between Saybrook and Hartford, later finding
employment of the same kind at Tarift'ville, Conn.,
on the New England R. R. At a still later date
he went to Portland, where many of his country-
men were working in the brown stone quarries, and ,5
while there formed the acquaintance of Erastus i
Brainerd, and was engaged by him as coachman, r
remaining one of his trusted employes for nine
years. A part of his earnings were regularly sent
to his aged mother in Sweden, but by economy he
accumulated enough in these nine years to buy his
present farm in North Haven, it then being known
as the Harvey Sacket place, and consisted of
twenty-five acres. Hard work was required to clear
this land of stone and brush, but Mr. Carlson had
the energy and perseverance to accomplish much,
and bravely set to work, transforming in a short
lime this wilderness into a profitable farm. Adding
more land as his means permitted, he has now an
estate of fifty-five acres, upon which he carries on
market gardening and general farming in a very
satisfactory way.
In 1874, in Portland, Mr. Carlson was married
to Georgia Marie Olson, who was born March 10,
1857, in Selillc, Sweden, daughter of Peter and
Eliza (Portstrom) Olson. The children born of
this union were : William, residing in New Haven,
a graduate of Upsaller College, Brooklyn, N. Y. ;
Franz Oscar, deceased : Alfred Herbert ; Axel Har-
old ; Hannah Amelia; Hilma Marie; Carl Henry;
and Helen Josephine. Mr. Carlson has made every
endeavor to give his children good educational ad-
vantages, and, in his upright life, he has set them
a good example. ]5oth he and his wife are valued
members of the Lutheran (Swedish) Church, in
New Haven. In politics Air. Carlson is a Repub-
lican, and is socially connected with the Grange of
North Haven. A generous and progressive citi-
zen, and a kind and liospitahle neighbor, Mr. Carl-
son has the esteem of the whole community.
D. WILLIAM FOWLER, a farmer and citizen
of East Haven, Conn., was born in Flemington,
N. J., Nov. 25, 1841, but is a representative of one
of the old and honored families of this State.
David Sullivan Fowler, his father, was born in
North Guilford, Conn., March 5. 1807, a son of
Samuel Fowler, and was there reared upon a farm.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1055
\\'hcii a young man he began teaching school, and
in that capacity came to East Haven. While thus
employed he boarded with Philemon Holt, and fell
in love with tiiat gentleman's daughter, Miss Char-
lotte E. Holt, to whom he was married Jan. 20,
1832. She was born March 6, 1809, on the farm
where our subject now resides, and her father was
born just across the road. Shortly after his mar-
riage David S. Fowler removed to Flemington,
v. J., where he carried on a general country store
I a time, and then purchased a farm, to the cul-
uvation and improvement of which he devoted his
attention until 1846, when he returned to East
Haven. Conn., and located on the old Holt home-
stead, and continued to make his Uome there until
his death, in his tifty-eighth year. He was one of
the most prominent and intluential men of East
Haven in his day, and in 1857 was elected high
sheriff of New Haven county for a term of three
years, and he had also served in the State Senate.
So efficiently and satisfactorily did he fill that office
that he was re-elected for another term, serving, in
all, six years. Politically he was identified with the
Democratic party, and fraternally affiliated with the
Masonic order. He was an active and prominent
member of St. James' Episcopal Church of Fair
Haven, to which his wife also belonged. To this
worthy couple were born nine children, namely :
Charles II., born March 17. 1833, is an attorney at
law of New Haven; Cornelia, born July 9, 1835,
died Jan. 10, 1885 ; Annie J., born Aug. 6, 1837,
married Joel A. Sperry, of New Haven, and died
July 20, 1895; Harriet, born Dec. 6, 1839, died
Feb. 5, 1889; D. William, born Nov. 25, 1841 ;
Sarah A., born July 21, 1844, is the wife of James
K. Scott, of New York; George S., born Feb. 24,
1847, is engaged in the gents' furnishing business
in New York City; John H., born Dec. 9, 1849, is
in the wholesale lumber business at No. 87 Church
street, New Haven; and James B., born Nov. 17,
1850, is a salesman for Sperry & Barnes, of New
Haven.
D. William Fowler was educated in the public
schools of his native town, and grew to manhood
upon the home farm, of which he had complete
charge after his father's election to the office of
sheriff. On the latter's death, he purchased the
interest of the other heirs, and now has about 200
acres of land in East Haven, with good and sub-
stantial buildings, and has met with fair success in
his undertakings. He is a supporter of the Demo-
cratic party, and in his religious faith is a member
of St. James' Episcopal Church, Fair Haven.
E. ROWEAND DA\'IS is an old and esteemed*
citizen of Waterbury, and as the proprietor of the
Waterbury Steam Laundry, at No. 17 Canal street,
has made his name familiar to the jjeople of a
wide section of country. He has at this point a
fine plant fully equip])ed with modern and up-to-
date appliances, and does not only the regular work
of a laundry, but carpet cleaning and steam dyeing
as well. His trade extends throughout the city,
and agencies are maintained in many of the adjoin-
ing towns and villages. Mr. Davis also owns an
e(|ually extensive establishment at Naugatuck.
His business in Waterbury gives steady employ-
ment to about thirty people. Mr. Davis was born
in Middletown, Conn.. I-'eb. 14, 1847, a son of Evan
Davis, a native of \\'alcs, who emigrated to this
country when about eight years of age.
David Davis, the lather of Evan, came to New*
York City, and owned a farm where the old reser-
voir now stands on Forty-second street. To-day
that property is the most valuable in the city. Mr.
Davis sold out. and bought a farm, which has since
become equally as valuable, located at the inter-
.section of I-'ulton and Classin avenues. Mr. Davis
married a Aliss Newand and reared a family of
five children : Evan, the father of E. Rowland ;
John; Mary; Kate; and Hannah. John wore the
I'nion blue in the Civil war, and is now a resident
of New York City, where his sister Mary also
lives. The other members of the family are dead,
and the father died in Brooklyn vears ago.
Evan Davis grew up in New York, and married
Miss Rachel Brooks, a daughter of Stephen Brooks,
of Steuben. N. Y., a man of more than ordinary
ability. After their marriage the young couple
went to INIiddlctown, where i\Ir. Davis operated the
first ferry between that city and Portland. This
was his business for many years, but he finally sold
it because his religious convictions interfered with
a Sunday traffic. Mr. Davis was a deacon of the
Congregational Church at the time of his death, in
1870, a nian of strong convictions and high moral
worth. Mrs. Da^'is is still living. They were the
parents of six children: Stephen B.. D. Newand,
^arah. E. Rowland. Carroll and Catherine E. Ste-
'phen served in the Civil war. and is Judge of Pro-
bate in ]\Iiddletown : D. Newand also served in
the Civil war, and he has been deputy sheriff in
Middletown ; .Sarah married D. A. Brooks, and
has her home in Brooklyn ; Carroll died in infancy ;
and Catherine is the wife of William Murken. of
Brooklyn.
E. Rowland Davis grew to manhood under the
parental roof in Middletown, and had his educa-
tion in the local schools. As a young man he se-
cured a good position in the First National Bank,
which he held for three years. He then went to
Florida, where he was in business three years, when
be returned to Connecticut and secured a position
as a clerk in a liook store, remaining seven years.
At the expiration of that period he opened up in
his present business, to which reference has alreadv
been made, and in 1884 he came to Waterbury, and
engaged in a steam laundry. Success has crowned
his efforts from the beginning, and he is now the
proprietor of a laundry ])lant that is as complete and
|)erfect in all its appointments as may Ijc found in
the State.
1056
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
On Feb. 4, 1875, Mr. Davis was united in mar-
riage with Miss Eliza Maney, of Portland, a dauf^h-
ter of Morris Maney, who was of Irish extraction.
No cliildrcn have come to this union. Mr. Davis |
is a Republican, and is recognized as a man of
solid worth and genuine character by all who know
him. He is a charter member of the I. O. R. M.,
and is a colonel of the Uniformed Rank of the
Knights of Pj^hias. He is also a charter mem-
ber of the A.'O. U. W., and of the Independent '
Order of the Heptasophs. Mr. Davis is a loyal I
member of the Congregational Church.
WILLT.AAl E. D.WIS is a leading representa-
tive of the business interests of Hamden, where he
is extensively engaged m the manufacture of brick.
A man of excellent business ability and broad re-
sources, he has attained a prominent place among
the substantial citizens of this part of the county,
and has won success by his well-directed, energetic
efforts, the jjrosperity that has come to iiini being
well deserved.
A native of Hamden, Mr. Davis was bora Jan.
30, 1848, a son of Edward and iietsey M. (Augur)
Davis, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. He
was reared upon the home farm, and was educated
in the common schools of Hamden and the private
schools of New Haven. He remained under the
parental roof until eighteen years of age, when, in
company with his brother, James A., he began
business as a contractor in New Haven, grading
streets, laying sewers, etc., for five years. Subse-
quently he was engaged in putting down concrete
smewalks and roads for six years, and then pur-
chased land and established a brick yard. In the
spring of 1883 he opened another yard, and still
continues to operate both plants, giving employ-
ment to between eighty and ninety men. In 1896
over 10,000,000 brick were here inanufactured, and*
the product turned out being of a superior quality,
finds a ready sale in the market.
On Dec. 21, 1874, Mr. Davis was united in
marriage with Miss Sophia M. Tamblingson, a
native of England, who came to the United States
when in her teens to her older sister, Mrs. Howard
Shenuan, and made her home at Whitneyville until
her marriage. The parents of Mrs. Davis died in
England previous to her coming to the United [
States. To this union four children have been born, 1
namely : William E., Jr., is a member of the class
of 1902 at Yale ; Jessie has been educated at the
Orton and Nichols private school of New Haven,
and is now at home; Harold M. is at home; and
Howard S. died in infancy. The family occupy
one of the most beautiful homes in Hamden. where 1
Mr. Davis owns ten acres of land which he has im-
proved in a most artistic manner. He and his wife
are active and prominent members of the Congrc- I
gational Church, and they hold a high position in 1
the best social circles of the commimity. In politi- ;
cal sentiment our subject is a Republican, but has ' '
been distinctively a business man, his interest in
party matters practically ending with the regular
casting of his vote. In town affairs he invariably
selects the best men, regardless of political affili-
ation. In State and national matters he is stanch in'
the support of Republican principles. He is plain
and courteous, unassuming in manner, neither dis-
]:>laying his virtues nor attempting to hide his
faults. His sympathy and kindness of heart have
frequently been shown always in a substantial man-
ner. Mr. Davis is progressive, and a warm friend
and patron of higher education. He is domestic in
his tastes, taking a keen interest in his home and
famil}'. His career has been such as to commend
him to the confidence and respect of all with whom
he has come in contact, and he has become one of
the most prominent business men of Hamden, per-
petuating an honored name in that town.
Lr-:AXDER F. RICHMOND, a progressive and
enlcrprising citizen of East Haven, New Haven
county, who is now successfully engaged in dairy
farming, was born in 1825, in Madison, this State.
He is a son of Dwight E. Richmond ; grandson of
Vial Richmond, who was a soldier in the war of
1812; and a great-grandson of Thomas Richmond,
a Revolutionary soldier.
Dwight F. Richmond was a shoemaker and
farmer by occupation. He married Lucy A. Field,
daughter of Harry and Polly (Leach) Field, and
they had four children : Leander F., whose namt.
opens this sketch ; Frances A., widow of Martin
Chalker, of Durham, Conn., who now lives in Bos-
ton ; Celestia M., who is unmarried and lives with
iiur subject: and Anstress E., who married Monroe
Burr, of Killingworth, Conn. Mrs. Richmond was
related to Cyrus Field and Rev David Dudley
I'leld. Her mother's brother, Leverett Leach, was
a merchant ; his two sons, Marsden and Oscar, both
now deceased, were residents of Durham, Con-
necticut.
Leander F. Richmond was reared upon a farn;
in his native town, and there remained until eight-
een vears of age, when he commenced work at the
butcher's trade in Middletown. I-'rom there he
went to Meriden, and four years later removed to
Guilford, where he conducted a meat market for
three years. At the end of that time he sold out
his business and went to Essex, Conn., where he
followed the same business one year. Coming to
East Haven, he was engaged in the wholesale
butcher business here until 1862. The following
two years he spent at Plainville, Conn., but at the
end of that time he returned to East Haven, where
he had purchased a farm before his removal i"
Plainville, and he made his home there until 1892,
when he removed to his present place, in the same
town. He has been quite successful in his under-
takings, and is today one of the well-to-do and
substantial citizens of his conuunnity. He is also a
man of considerable prominence in town affairs.
^
IP
. ^^H
i^
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
105;
but has never cared for political honors. He af- I
filiates with the Republican party, and gives his ;
support to those measures which he believes calcu- \
latcd to prove of public benefit. In 1861 he joined
the (iovcrnor's Horse Guards, in which he served
until 1875.
On Dec. 5. 1854. Mr. Richmond was united in
marriage with Miss Delia A. Grannis, antl to them
have been born three children, namely: Alice E.,
who died in infancy; Bertha B.. wife of Leroy j
Kirkham (no children); and Clifford Sherwood,
who died in 1871, at the age of two ycars^and seven
niiinths.
Tliomas Grannis. the father of Mrs. Richmond.
was born Aug. 22. 1802, a son of Samuel Gran-
nis, and grandson of Joseph Grannis. Sanuul
( Irannis married a lady named Chldsey, and
Thomas was the youngest in a family of six chil-
dren, the others being : Joseph ; Nancy, who mar- .
ried Ilezekiah Sheppard, and, for her second hus-
band, Thomas Landcraft:. Betsey, wife of Stephen
Smith; Olive, wife of Justin Ludington ; and Har-
riet, second wife of Justin Ludington. Thomas
Grannis and his brothers were among the first in
this locality to engage in the oyster business, and
in the interest of that trade used to make regular
trips to Albany, N. Y., by team. He also carried
on farming with marked success, and was one of
the highly respected citizens of East Haven. He
married liliss Almira Andrews, who was bom Dec.
3, 1805, a daughter of Xathan and Mahital)le
(Pardee) Andrews, the former a soldier in the
Revolution. Airs. Grannis died Oct. 11, 1866, and
Mr. Grannis' death occurred July 4. i860. In the
family of this worthy couple were seven children,
as follows : Thomas, now a resident of Fair Hav-
en ; T'ldwin, wiio was born ]\Iarch 6, 1828, and died
April 2, 1889; Miles, who died in infancy; William
Miles, a prominent farmer of East Haven, wlm
died Oct. 18, 1898; Delia A., wife of our subject;
Sarah, wife of S. D. Bradley, of Fair Haven ; and
Mary A., wife of Charles Packard.
JOHN AVIXGTOX PHELPS, a noted citizen
of Guilford, was born March 21, 1842, in Hadlymc,
this State. He was one of the prime movers in tlic
establishment of a national bank in Guilford, of
which he is vice-president and a director.
Niles Phelps, his grandfather, was a native of
Connecticut, and a farmer and extensive land owner
in Hadlyme, where he spent his life, and died at the
age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Esther Phelps, his
wife, died in March, 1825, at the age of fifty-five
years.
Alvan P. Phelps, the father of John A., was
born in Hadlyme, July 30, 1798, and learned the
trade of a clothier, at which he worked for a num-
ber of years. After a somewhat varied experience,
in which he was employed in Hadlvme, River Head,
Long Island and Killingworth, he snent the balance
of his life in the last named town, where he became
67
engaged in farming and stockraising. He died in
KilHngworth July 31, 1875. and was Ijuried in the
local cemetery in the Southwest district. He be-
longed to the Congregational Church. In his po-
litical relations he was originally a Wliig, on
tl:e dissolution of that party becoming a Repub-
lican. He filled several local offices, was frequently
l)cfore the pul)!ic in a business capacity, and became
widely known as an ui)right and able business man,
as well as a good citizen. On ]\Iay 21, 1823, Mr.
Phelps was married, in Hadlyme, Conn., to Azubah
Hungerford, who was I)orn in Hadlyme April 7,
1797, a daughter of Elijah and Rhoda Hungerford,
and died in Killingworth Oct. 14, 1879; she was
buried in the local cemetery. She was the mother
of nine children: (i) Azubah J., born June 21,
1824, married, Dec. 20, 1844, Philander Harrison,
of Hadlyme. (2) Alvan C, born Feb. 15, 1826,
was a traveling toliacco salesman ; he was married
May 5, 1850. in Wethersfield, to Louisa L. Wood-
house. (31 Sylvester P., born Jan. 6, 1828, died
May 5. 1843. (4) Orris C, born Jan. 24, 1830,
married, Oct. 17, 1849, Stephen E. Wilcox, of
Killingworth, and died Oct. 17, 1899. (5) Fred-
erick O., born March 17, 1832, married Eudora
Eldridge, and died July 6, 18*75 , in Sag Harbor,
L. I. (6) Charlotte M., born Aug. 7, 1834, mar-
ried G. C. Phelps. (7) Ulysses C, born July 10,
1837, married Isabella H. Tiffany March 10, 1863.
(8) Elijah Hungerford, I)orn Jan. 4, 1840. became
a teacher and was professtjr and jjrincipal of an
engineering college in Peoria, 111. He married Mary-
A. Reed April 24, 1862. (9) John A. was born-
March 21, 1842.
John A. Phelps was educated in the Killing-
worth district and select schools. Until the break-
ing out of the Civil war he lived at home. On'
Sept. 7, 1861, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted'
for service in the Civil war, as a member of Com-
pany K, 8th Conn. Volunteers, Col. Edward Har-
land commanding the regiment, and Capt. Charles
L. Upham the company. Mr. Phelps re-enlisted
Jan. 4, 1864, in Companv H, 2d Connecticut Heavy
-Artillery (Col. Elisha Kellogg being in command
of the regiment, and Capt. James M. Coe in com-
mand of the company), and served through the
war. He was promoted to corporal, and proved
himself a brave and capable soldier, participating
in the various battles in which his regiment was
engaged, in the Army of the Potomac. He was
in the Grand Review at Washington. Returning
home, he resumed farming, at which he continued
until 1873, in which year he was made foreman
for Townsend Brothers, at East Haven, remaining
with them one year. Coming back to Guilford, he
bought a farm of sixty acres from Samuel D. Crit-
tenden, on which he made many improvements. He
was one of the pioneer peach and berry growers
in his town. Mr. Phelps was a general farmer
until 1881, when he became connected with the
Phelps Publishing Co., of Springfield, Mass. By
ios8
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the ])tirchase of the Orange ]iu\d Co., of New York,
he hccaiiie a stockholder, and these two companies
are now doing business with a cajjital stock of $700,-
000, piibhshing the leading agricultural papers in
the country. In this work Mr. Phelps has been
very successful, during the twenty-one years he
lias followed it, and during which time he has cov-
ered New England, New York and Long Island
in his canvass for subscriptions to the .\'cw /-"В«.?-
laud Huiiii'sU\id, The fanit and Home and the'
^hiiericaii .-Igriciilturist.
Mr. Phelps was married, March 23, 1865, in
Clinton, to Ellen Griswold Wright, a daughter of
Capt. Jeremiah and Laura Ann (Hurd) Wright.
Her father, who was a. sea cantain, was a son of
\MIliam Wright, of Westbrook. To this union
have come four children: (i) Albert H., born
Nov. 7, 1866, is engaged w-ith his father in the
paper business, and has his home in Clinton. He
married Edith I. Griswold, of Killingworth, a
daughter of Washington E. Griswold, of Guilford,
and they had one child, Edith Griswold Phelps.
This wife died Dec. i, 1894, and Mr. Phelps mar-
ried Frances Burnham. (2) Oscar A., born Jan.
18, 1869, is a resident of Hartford, and is super-
intendent of the Waberton Chapel. He married
Edith C. Foster, a daughter of Ralph Foster, and
they have two children, Dorothy Foster and Alice
Buckland. (3) Emma L.. born Aug. 29, 1874,
married George Walters, of Guilford, Oct. 11, 1899,
and died Feb. i, 1901. She was r. teacher in the
public schools before her marriage. (4) Mary E.,
born A|)ril 14, 1878, is a graduate of the Guilford
high school and is living at home.
Mr. Phelps is a stanch Republican, and is active
in public life, served as burgess of the borough of
Guilford, and also as tax collector, and justice of
the peace. He strongly opposes any form of ma-
chine politics. He is well posted on the events of
the day, and is acquainted throughout the Eastern
States. He and his wife belong to the First Con-
gregational Church, and he belongs to Parmelee
Post, No. 2, G. A. R., at Guilford; St. Albans
Lodge, No. 38, F. & A. M. ; and is a prominent
member of the Veteran Mason Association of Con-
necticut. He was raised to the third degree of
Masonry, Nov. 23, 1868, at Jeptha Lodge, No. 95,
Clinton, Conn., joining St. Albans Lodge by demit.
Mrs. Phelps and daughter are charming and cul-
tured ladies. Since 1889 the family have Hved in
Guilford, where they occupy a pleasant and attrac-
tive home.
CAPT. JOHN B. ZIMMER, a retired sea cap-
tain and farmer in the town of Wallingford, was
born at Wallersangen, near Saaluis, in the Rhine
Province, Germany, April 25, 1843.
Jacob Zimmer, the father of Capt. John B., was
born in the same place, and was a sailor, rising to
the command of several important vessels on suc-
cessive voyages. He died in his native village, pass-
ing away in the communion of the Catholic Church.
Mary Ann Raiiibot, his wife, was the mother of the
following chiklren: John U., whose name appears
above; Jacob, who is a farmer, as well as a con-
tractor and builder; Nicholas, an engineer in the
Imperial service in Germany; Anthone, a commis-
sion merchant in Chicago; John, deceased; Con-
stantine; William, a godson of Wilhelm IV, King
of Germany; Frederick and iVdolph, both deceased.
Captain Zimmer had a good education in Ger-
many, and also worked out for himself a mastery
of mathematics, so that when he went to sea with
his father* as he did at a very early age, he was
prepared to study the science of navigation with an
understanding mind. He remained with his father
until he reached the age of twenty years, and had
become second mate. During these years he had
learned the art of navigation in the Holland lan-
guage. Leaving his father, he secured a position
on the packet "Dunsburg," plying between Rotter-
dam and New York, where he was rated as an able
seaman and second mate. For a year and a half he