Source: https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio12inbeer
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 431 mer in Saybrook, Conn., went to New York City, where his death occurred in 1896. Reared in his native land, John Bunting ob- tained his education in its pubhc schools. De- termined to try his fortune in the Xew World, where he believed better opportunities were afford- ed ambitious young men, he sailed from Liverpool, England, Alay i, 18C3, on a sailing vessel and landed in New York July 5, the day following the great riot. The following December he came to r^Ieriden, Conn., where he worked at farm labor for Deacon Allen twelve years, and in 1877 he purchased the well-known Beach fann in Cheshire, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted his energies. He is engaged in general fanning and fruit-growing, and has met with well-deserved success in his labors. In ^leriden, in 1882, Mr. Bunting was united in marriage with Miss Ida Alenkirk. a native of Holland and a daughter of Louis A. and Ellen ( Am.elinxeen) Alenkirk, who emigrated to Amer- ica in 1881 and located in Meriden, Conn., where the father died in 1891, but the mother is still liv- ing there. 'Mr. and Mrs. Bunting have one child living, Elizabeth; Anna died' Jan. 2, 1896; and Robert died Jan. 4, 1896. GEORGE F. PECKHAM, one of the highly re- spected and well-known retired business men of Xew Haven, is a native of this city, having been born here Aug. 8, 1836, a son of Charles \V. and Elizabeth P. (Coggeshall) Peckham, and a grand- son of George Peckham, a cooper of Xew Haven, where he married a Miss Merwin, of Milford. Charles \V. Peckham was a cabinet-maker and resided in Xew Haven all his life, dying there in October, 1842. His wife was a native of Milford, Conn., a daughter of Capt. Freegift Coggeshall, and died on May 16, 1882, the mother of nine chil- dren: Charles, born May 14, 1829, died Dec. 13, 1831 ; Caroline E., born January, 183 1, died Dec. 26, 1831 ; Charles W., born in 1833, now resides in West Haven ; Sarah E., born Oct. 23, 1834. married William H. Lawrence, of Xew Haven ; George F., our subject; Harry W.. born Aug. i, 1838, died Oct. 18, 1842: David H., born July 8, 1839, died Sept. 2, 1843 ■' ^lartha C, born April 26, 1841, is the widow of Albert E. Barnett. of Xew Haven: Mary C, born June 16, 1843. f^i^^l o" Oct. 6, 1843. The father was a Whig in politics, and the family were Congregationalists. George F. Peckham grew to manhood in his native citV, attending the excellent public schools, as well as the private one of Amos Smith. After finishing school, he took up harness making, and followed that calling for three years and then learned the trade of carriage trimmer under Ribert Sizer. continuing with him three years. Flis knowledge of the harness maker's trade was of great help to him in taking up the carriage trimmer's trade, which he learned rapidly, as after but one month he was put at trimming a carriage. Ordinarily an appren- tice was supposed to work two or two and a half years before he was put on such work. He took contracts in carriage trimming, and before he was twenty years old, his net profits were at times as high as $60.00 per week. He then spent three years in the freight department of the X. Y., X. H. & H. R. R. Mr. Peckham ne.xt became a clerk in a gro- cery establishment, continuing in that capacity for about eight years. Having learned all the details of this line of business, in 1872, he established a grocery store on the corner of Howard and Congress avenues, where he remained until February, 1890, when he retired with a comfortable competence. He began mercantile business on small capital, but his credit was good, and all during his eighteen years of business his credit remained gilt edge. In 1891 he built his excellent home at Xo. 412 Howard ave- nue, in which vicinity he owns some valuable real estate. On March i, 1859, Mr. Peckham married Mary A. Glennon, a native of Ireland, who was reared in Xew Haven, and to this marriage seven children were born: Ella L., born Dec. 17, 1859, died Jan. 16, 1900, married Joseph McGuire, of New Haven, and had one son; Alary E., born July 17, 1862; died July 13, 1865; George F., born Oct. 8, 1864, died Alarch 9, 1867; Charles W., born Dec. 18, 1866, died Alay 10, 1871 ; George H., born Oct. 23, 1872, is an electrician, married, and has a son, George X. ; Albert W., born Sept. 16, 1874, died Aug. 26, 1880; Alartha B., born March 11, 1869. married Joseph F. Hubon, of X'ew Haven, and has four children. In political affiliations, Mr. Peckham is a Democrat, and fraternally is connected with Hiram Lodge, Xo. I, F. & A. M.; also with the Knights of Honor, Sherman Lodge. Both he and his estimable wife have many friends, whose good will they have gained through their excellent qualities and pleas- ing personalities, and are justly numbered among the representative people of Xew Haven. CHARLES A. ROBERTS (deceased), who during his life was a well-known and highly-es- teemed citizen of Meriden, was born in the town of Middletown, Conn., March 3, 1828, and was a descendant of an old and deservedly famous fam- ily of Connecticut. Ambrose Roberts, his father, was born in Mid- dlesex county. Conn., and in his lifetime sustained a good name as a citizen of Middletown, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where he died. Charles A. Roberts was educated in the public schools of his native town and grew up on the homestead farm. While still a lad he learned the tinner's' trade with P. J. Clark, of Meriden. with whom he worked m^any years. Later in life he began in business for himself as a manufacturer of novelties, securing a large patronage. His death occurred in Aleriden, Oct. 29, 1872. and his