Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-08
SLATER HALL PORTRAITS
DESCRIBED BY F. ]. LEAvENS

Almost the last strictly public service
which the late Francis J. Leavens was
able to do for his beloved birthplace, the
city of Norwich, was to search with
painstaking effort for data regarding, the
thirty-two portFaits which hang in Slater
hall These portraits, dignified and emil
nently fit for Their surroundings, were the
work of the artist Emmons and were Civ
en- the Norwich Free Academy by the
late Charles C. Johnson. They are OF men
prominent in Norwich fifty or seventy-ffve
years ago. a number of them benefactors
Of the Free cader1y others of the Town.
Mr.. Leavens had completed his task
but short time before his death; the
list of descriptions ct the portraits has
since been typewriter, three copies hav-
ing been made and substantially bound
In the. manual training department Of the
Academy. One copy has been given =
the family Of Mr.. Leavens, a second is
in Peck library and the third has been
left with Principal Henry A. Tirrell of
the Academy. n - =.
The first portrait is that of Nathaniel
Shipman, born in Norwich May 18th,
1854. died in Norwich July IA, 1853. He
was the san of Nathaniel Shipman and
Elizabeth Leffingwell. married Abigail
Colt and had two children. Lydia. who
died unmarried and Thomas i-effingwell
maker. accumulated considerable prop
erty, big man. so heavy, in fact that
there Is family tradition that he had
L specially large cha'se made for him He
was frequently in the general assembly
representing Norwich; he was continu-
ously moderator CT town meetings in
Norwich for many years.
Mr. Shipman was one cf he lay Judges
of New London county under the county
II
Judge Shipman. Numerous references
are made to him In Miss Caulkins His
<ory of Norwich,
Patrick Tanning was born In Jewett
City. Conn. Aug 23~d. 1879. lie was A
halter and resideG in New Orleans for a
time and was successful in his business.
Afterwards he was a commission mer-
chant and lived in Norwich, Conn. and
Hudson and Brooklyn, y. Y.
He married Susan A. Thurston, at Hud-
scn. n z, Nov 5th. 1915. He died at
Astoria, L. /, Nov. 27th, 1857, aged 10.
His children were-Eliza Ann, who
| married John Wheeler Barwell. of Nor
wtch; Francis c.. who married Rev.
| John Paddock, who became Episcopal
Bishop of Oregon she resided most Of
the time in Portland. but was buried at Ia
coma, Wash. and a son. Robert s. Fan
ming, who was engaged in business in
| New York city.
| ]. Newton Perkins was born in Liver
/ pool. Eng. Dec. 4th 1904. He married
Elizabeth Bishop, in 1884. Mr. Perkins
| was a member of Christ church. Al
one time he was cashier of the Norwich
bank. was director of the Norwich !!
| Worcester Railroad company. treasurer II
| the Ohio Life e Trust Co, and was en-
! gagged in financial business in New York
He built and occupied the house IN
Washington street known as Pirehurst
and recently occupied by the late Col
| Charles W, Gale
Mr. Perkins was a corporatoT Of tbs
Free Academy and gave a fund to cs
| tabl:sh several prizes consisting of bronze
madels. He died May IA. 1874, aged u
years.
His children were: Lucy (NIrs. Bern
dicD. J. Newton Perkins, Jr., and Eliza
| beth Perkins.
CONTINUED Fridav)