DANIEL CALKINS, M.D., the venerable
and honored physician of East Lyme, Conn., was born August 23, 1825, in
the house in which he now resides, in the village of Flanders, the house
now about two hundred years old, in which his father, Elisha Cadwallader
Colden Calkins, was born, and in which his grandfather, Dr. Daniel, first,
lived and died. He has the old-fashioned journal kept by his grandfather
from 1776 to 1779, which contains many interesting entries, and is a valuable
relic. Grandfather Calkins owned over three hundred acres of land here,
and had a valuable farm. His death, when only forty-five years old, was
caused by a kick by a horse. He was born in New London, and was twice married.
By his first wife, Mary Chappell, he had one child, Esther, who married
John Wood. By his second wife, Elizabeth Smith, his children were: Daniel;
William S.; Amos; Betsey; Ethalinda, wife of Thomas Griswold; Elisha C.
C.; and Sally. Elisha C. C. Calkins, the Doctor's father, was a farmer,
and lived at the old homestead. He married March 6, 1816, Abbie Chapman,
who was born November 23, 1794, and was a daughter of the Hon. Isaac Chapman,
of East Haddam, Conn. Seven children were the fruit of this union, namely:
Elizabeth Abbie Calkins, born September 19, 1817, is the wife of Benjamin
F. Smith, M.D.; Epaphras Chapman Calkins, for a number of years a sailor
and master mariner, died in Boston at the early age of thirty-five years,
leaving considerable property; Juliet G. Calkins, born February 23, 1820,
died at the age of six or eight years; Sarah Louisa, born February 22,
1828, is the wife of Nathaniel S. Lee, of Lyme, Conn., and mother of one
daughter; Caroline Smith Calkins, born October 8, 1830, married Francis
J. Calkins, August 11, 1850; and Frances Anna is the wife of William Storrs
Lee, of Hanover, whom she married April 4, 1860.
Daniel, the younger son, obtained his general
education in the public schools of Lyme and at Bacon Academy at Colchester.
When about fifteen years of age he was persuaded by a romantic friend to
ship before the mast on board the whaling-vessel "Avis," Captain Gilbert
Pendleton. The craft was beached on the coast of Two People's Bay, New
Holland; and the young adventurer was left destitute, without friends and
without money. He shipped again to Hobart Town, Tasmania, and at that place
was taken in charge by the American Consul. After staying there about four
years he shipped in the company of Two People's Bay whalers. He was in
Honolulu for a time, and was absent from home about five years in all.
After his return he studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
New York City. Dr. Calkins has been engaged in the practice of medicine
in this town since 1850, and in that time has probably visited nearly every
family in the town; and by most of the inhabitants he is looked upon as
a personal friend. Early in his practice he showed himself not only well
trained for his profession, but as having the personal qualities which
would be sure to win for him the confidence of his patients and ultimate
success in his chosen line of effort.
In October, 1850, he married Elizabeth M.
Calkins, daughter of Nehemiah and granddaughter of Jonathan Calkins. Three
sons were born of this union, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining
son is Arthur B. Calkins, an attorney, and at present serving his second
term as a member of the lower branch of the State legislature, where he
is chairman of the Committee on Judiciary. He was one of the few Democrats
elected in 1896. He is a prominent Knight Templar and a member of the order
of the Mystic Shrine. Dr. Calkins became a Mason in 1853, and has been
a Knight Templar for forty years, one of the first in this encampment.
He has taken thirty-two degrees in Masonry, and is Past Grand Commander
of the Grand Commandery of Connecticut. In 1892 he went to the Grand Encampment
in Colorado, and he has attended several other encampments in various parts
of the United States. The Doctor was a Republican until the third time
of Grant's candidacy. He has been Town Clerk for fifteen years, and is
still holding that position; has been Justice of the Peace for eighteen
years, also Judge of Probate for seven years; and at present is Notary
Public of Flanders, Conn. He has also been on the School Committee several
years.
(Photo attached)
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 442 - 445
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