Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Sarah Savelle, baptized October 16, 1717.
Samuel Palmes, second son of Bryan and
Sarah Palmes, was born May 6, 1755. in
New London; was a saddler and harnessmaker,
residing in East Haddam.
He married, September 2, 1781, Mary
Foster, born in 1756, in Sag Harbor, New
York, died December 3, 1824. Their eld-
est child was Guy Palmes, born April 16,
1782, in East Haddam, a very successful
tanner throughout his active life, and
died August 3, 1878. He married, September
22, 1812, Silence Hungerford, born
May 5. 1791, died February 3, 1866,
daughter of Elijah and Rhoda (Harvey)
Hungerford. Their eldest child, Caro-
line Williams Palmes, born July 3, 1814,
became the wife of John Gardner Way, as
previously noted.
Henry Russell Way, eldest child of
John Gardner and Caroline Williams
(Palmes) Way, was born November 12,
1835, in East Haddam. and died November
25, 1916, at his home in Hartford.
His career was characterized by untiring
industry, and his success in life was the
result of his own efforts, aided by his
sound judgment and thoroughly upright
character. He was educated in the pub-
lic schools of East Haddam. In boyhood
he was apprenticed to a joiner and
became thorough master of the builder's
trade. He erected two houses in East
Haddam. and made his home in that town
for many years ; in 1884 he purchased a
house on Sherman street, Hartford, which
he thoroughly remodeled. After arriving
at manhood's estate he purchased a farm
on Town street, East Haddam, and began
the cultivation of tobacco, and afterward
purchased land in East Haddam, on
which he carried on this industry. In
time he began the purchase of tobacco
from other growers, and became an exten-
sive packer of toabcco. The growth of
his business led him to remove to Hart-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
310
ford, where in 1877 ne established his
business on State street, as a dealer in
tobacco, and continued very successful
until he sold out his warehouse in 1910,
a period of over forty years. At this time
he retired from active management,
though still retaining an interest. When
a young man, Mr. Way was led by an
inherent spirit of enterprise to go West
and for a short time he lived in Rockford,
Iowa, where he joined the Congre-
gational church. He was recalled to his
native town to manage the estate of his
great-aunt, Polly Palmes, and to care for
her in her old age. The last years of his
mother were also made happy and comfortable
by his filial care. Mr. Way was
always prompt in carrying out every obli-
gation, and was especially known for his
promptness in business affairs and in
meeting his bills. Of a retiring nature,
he did not seek any part in the conduct
of public affairs, but was actuated by
settled principles and usually sustained
the Republican party in political matters.
For some years previous to and after
his retirement from business, his leisure
was employed in preparing a genealogy
of his mother's family, on which he expended
several thousand dollars, besides
his own labor. The result is a most beau-
tifully written copy of the history of this
family, produced entirely by his own pen
and closely resembling copperplate manu-
script in its evenness and neatness, a
model of good English.
Mr. Way married, April 24, 1862, Jane
Foster, who was born July 8, 1841, in
Moodus, Connecticut, daughter of John
and Marilla (Chalker) Foster, who sur-
vives him and now resides in Hartford.
They were the parents of two sons : Clarence
Henry, born March 12, 1863, and
Ernest Newton, of further mention.
Ernest Newton Way. son of Henry
Russell and Jane (Foster) Way, was born