NATHAN SANDS FISH, a
well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Groton, residing on his farm
near Poquonnock Bridge, was born in this town, April 11, 1828, son of Simeon
and Eliza (Randall) Fish.
Sands Fish, father of Simeon and son of Nathan,
was born at the old Fish homestead, a mile above Mystic. A portion of the
farm owned by Nathan Fish is still held by some of his lineal descendants.
The pioneer ancestor of the Fish family of Groton was passing through this
section prospecting, and at Mystic village called on a settler named Burrows,
and the owner of a large tract of land. The call resulted in Mr. Fish receiving
the offer of a portion of it, provided he would settle upon it. He did
so, and the farm mentioned above is part of that grant. Nathan Fish, who
spent his life thereon, attained the venerable age of ninety-six years.
Sands Fish married Bridget Gallup, daughter of Deacon Benadam Gallup and
granddaughter of Colonel Benadam Gallup, whose wife was an Avery. Her mother's
name was Palmer. Sands and Bridget Fish had nine children, as follows:
Hannah, who was born about 1790, and died in young womanhood; Lavina, wife
of Isaac Denison; Asa Fish, who held the position of Probate Judge some
thirty years, or until disqualified by age; Simeon, father of Nathan S.;
Sands, Jr., who died in young manhood, unmarried; Charles, whose son William
was a Colonel in the Civil War; Nathan G., a ship-builder; Alden, an octogenarian
living on the old farm; and Bridget, wife of William Clift. Sands Fish
died in the thirties, at about seventy-five years of age, and his wife
several years later. They rest in the Fish Cemetery on Pequot Hill, which
was dedicated to the family by Roswell Fish. Sands Fish was a Deacon of
the first Baptist church in Connecticut. The house of worship, located
about one mile east of Centre Groton, is still standing, but is not occupied
by the society.
Simeon Fish was a merchant in Mystic some
forty years. He was a man of good business ability and sterling integrity.
In earlier days he was a Whig and later a Republican, one of those who
voted for Abraham Lincoln. His wife, Eliza Randall before marriage, was
born about 1803 at North Stonington, or Mill Town, but spent her girlhood
in Mystic. Simeon and Eliza Fish were the parents of three children: William
Randall Fish, who died in 1889, leaving a widow and three children, a son
and two daughters; Nathan Sands, of whom more is given below; and Jedediah
Randall, a retired merchant living in New London, Conn.
Nathan Sands Fish supplemented a good district
schooling by two terms of study at a school in Suffield, Conn. When hardly
seventeen years old he entered his father's store as clerk. He was subsequently
received into partnership, and finally succeeded his father in the business.
For two years he owned and operated a glass furnace in New London, and
in 1872 ran a hotel in Madison, Ga. It is now twenty-eight years since
he settled on his farm of over one hundred acres on the west side of Poquonnock
Plains.
Mr. Fish was married on April 22, 1850, to
Jennett Morgan, daughter of Elisba and Caroline Morgan, of Salem. They
have two children living: E. Bertha, living at Poquonnock, wife of Charles
L. Burrows and mother of one son; and Donald M. Fish, unmarried, who lives
on the farm with his father. One daughter died in infancy; and Frank, who
was born in 1852, died in 1889, leaving a widow and four children.
In political views and affiliation Mr. Fish
is a stanch Republican. He has served as Grand Juror, Selectman, Assessor,
Town Clerk, and as Justice of the Peace about eight years. While living
in New London, he was a member of the Common Council. He has been a member
of the State Board of Equalization, the Board of Relief, and the Board
of Health. Since 1880 he has been one of the Executive Committee in charge
of the Groton monument, and he had charge of the letting of the contracts
for the repairs of 1881 and 1893.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 453 - 454
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