Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 10

Author: H. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1899
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1795

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On June 1, 1894, Dr. I. Franklin Wardwell married Miss Helen Embury, and they have one child, Helen Embury, born October 23, 1896, who was christened on the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of her grandfather Wardwell, and

the forty-third anniversary of the marriage of her grandfather Embury. Dr. and Mrs. Wardwell reside opposite the present Wardwell homestead in a stone house built nearly sixty years ago, the Doctor "commuting " to New York daily. He takes great interest in photography, yachting, etc., being measurer of the Stamford Yacht Club, and he has built one of the finest boats at Stam- ford.

Dr. Claison S. Wardwell was married Sep- tember 8, 1885, to Miss Mary Bradford, and they have three children: Helen, born June 17, 1886; Joseph Bradford, born February 4, 1888; and Margaret, born December 22, 1894. He resides with his family on Elm street, the second house west of his father's residence.

L EWIS W. BURRITT (deceased) was one of Stratford's substantial citizens, and worthily represented a family which has long been noted for industry. thrift and public spirit. He was born in Stratford September 2, 1802, and passed his entire life there, his death occurring February 1, 1878, and the esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen is a convincing testimony to his high character as a man.

His ancestors, William and Elizabeth Burritt, were among the first settlers, and Ephraim Burritt, his grandfather, was born in the town of Strat- ford, there making his home throughout his life. He married Miss Ufford, also a native of the town, and had the following children: Stephen, who was employed for many years as a laborer in the harbor at Stratford; Thomas, a farmer in the town of Stratford; Ephraim and Abel, who were weavers by trade and also followed farm- ing in Stratford; Phoebe (Mrs. Legrand Wells); Lewis, our subject's father; P. Mary, who mar- ried James Cannon.

Lewis Burritt, the father of our subject, was born in Stratford, where he followed the cabinet- maker's trade for many years. He was a Whig in politics, and was active in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church. He married Esther Frost, a native of Stratford and daughter of Stephen Frost, a house carpenter by trade. They had three children: Lewis W., our sub- ject; Alfred, a retired resident of Stratford, and Ephraim, who died in infancy. Alfred Burritt was born June 14, 1810. in Stratford, and be- came a cabinet maker, following the trade first in New York City and later in Stratford. He has been prominent in politics as a Whig and Republican, and has held various local offices including that of selectman, while in 1853 he was elected on the Temperance ticket as a repre-

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sentative from his town to the State Legislature. He married Miss Catherine A. Burritt. daughter of David Burritt, of Stratford, and has had six children, of whom the youngest died in infancy. Ransom is a farmer and cabinet maker in Strat- ford; Miss Fannie resides at home; Charles is engaged in business in Norwalk as a tinner and plumber; Emma married John Rhoades of Brooklyn; and William died in early manhood.

Lewis W. Burritt followed the cabinet-mak- er's trade in Stratford throughout his active years, and by his judicious management accumu- lated a handsome competence. His sound judg- ment and well-known integrity caused him to be frequently chosen to positions of trust, and for many years he served as town treasurer. Poli- tically he was a Republican from the time of the formation of the party, and his advice was val- ued in the councils of the local organization. He and his wife were leading members of the Episcopal Church in Stratford, and for years he held the office of treasurer in that society. On July 20, 1831, he married Miss Mary E. Wil- · mot, who was born in New Haven, Conn., Sep- tember 7, 1805, the daughter of Samuel Wilmot, a native of the city and a representative of a well-known family. She died December 20, 1849, and he afterward married Miss Delia De- Forest, daughter of Daniel De Forest, of Strat- ford. He had four children, all by the first marriage: George H., who died in New York City at the age of fifty years, was in business in the metropolis; Lewis W. (deceased) was also in business in New York; Miss Elizabeth M. is a highly respected resident of Stratford; and Emily L. died in childhood.

LANSON LYON (deceased), who in his life- time was prominent in business circles and in the public affairs of the county, where his an- cestors before him had figured, was born in the town of Redding, August 21, 1805, having de- scended from an ancient historic family.

This family traces its origin to Leoni, a Ro- man nobleman. A branch of the family settled in France, where the name was known as De- Lyon. One of the family went to England with the Conqueror, and some thirty years later ac- companied Edgar to Scotland, where he located. Glammis castle and lands came into the family through the marriage in the fourteenth century of one of the successors to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert II. But their good fortune only cre- ated jealousy, and De Lyon was assassinated soon thereafter. The castle and lands have ever since remained in the family, although they have

been more than once in danger. The succession was unique, Thomas, the eighth Earl, being the last of six brothers who succeeded each other - the elder two as heirs presumptive, and the oth- ers as actual earls.

Lemuel Lyon, father of Alanson Lyon, was born in the town of Redding, January 21, 1768, and was educated in its common school. He learned the shoemaker's trade, although he al- ways followed farming as a means of livelihood. He became possessed of considerable property. He married Miss Hulda Sanford, who was born in 1767, and to them came the following chil- dren: Rebecca married Curtis Fanton; Susan married William Platt; Eli married Esther A. Northrop; Aaron married Betsey Sanford; and Alanson married Marrietta Skidmore.

Alanson Lyon, after his schooldays were over and he began life for himself, became engaged in the lumber business with a brother. They also manufactured hat boxes, and later our subject manufactured brick; during all of the time how- ever, he was carrying on extensively farming op- erations. He was a capable business man, full of energy and industry, and made a success of his undertakings. He served the people of the county as deputy sheriff, and was repeatedly elected constable of the town of Redding. His official acts met with the approval of the people, and he was popular with the masses. Politically he was a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party, he espoused the principles of that party. A man of good information, and of considerable force, he was influential in social and public affairs. He was identified with the I. O. O. F .; and also with the F. & A. M., be- ing prominent in both orders. He married Miss Marietta Skidmore, a daughter of Rufus and Jerusha (Ferris) Skidmore, he a prominent physician of Newtown, Conn. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Alanson Lyon were born the following children: (1) Mary Ella, born July 19, 1851, and married Hobart Brinsmade, a native of Trumbull, Conn., who became principal of a Bridgeport public school, was subsequently European agent of the Wheeler & Wilson Co., but is now a wholesale merchant in St. Louis, Mo .; they have two children-Robert B. and Lewis. (2) Rufus Alanson, born February 21, 1853, was reared and educated in his native town- Redding. He taught school some in that locality, and at the age of nineteen he went to Bridgeport, where he became connected with the Bridgeport Farmer. With that publication he remained for a number of years, and became familiar with every branch of the newspaper business. From there he went to New Haven, and for several

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years was identified with the New Haven Reg- ister. He was then one year with the Bridge- port News as its editor, and of which he was part owner. Later he again became identified with the Farmer, serving on the editorial staff, being the city editor. For a year subsequently he was the managing editor of the New Haven Union. Mr. Lyon is unmarried, and resides with his mother at Redding. (3) Elizabeth F., born May 9, 1855, died in 1861. (4) Jennie A., born in the town of Redding, June 27, 1857, married John Reed, a farmer of that town, and they have three children-Herbert, Bessie, and .Ferris.

Peter Ferris, the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Alanson Lyon, bought a farm in the town of Newtown as early as 1711, and farmed throughout his lifetime. The deed to the farm was given to Danbury, there being no probate office at Newtown at the time the deed was made. He married Martha Northrop, of New- :town. Joseph Ferris, one of their children, was a very conscientious and strict member of the Church of England, and during the Revolution- ary war refused to enter the service of the Continental army. At that time such a stand was considered next to treason. His property was about to be confiscated, and but for the acts of his wife it would have been lost. He left, go- ing to Nova Scotia, where he remained eight years, then returned and passed his life in New- town, Fairfield county, engaged chiefly in agri- cultural pursuits. He married Abigail Sherman, ·of Newtown, daughter of Daniel Sherman, who belonged to the family which produced Roger Sherman, of Revolutionary fame. Abigail Sher- man's mother seemed to be by nature a doctor, and much of her time was spent in traveling on horseback through that locality, visiting and ad- ministering to the sick. The children of Joseph Ferris and his wife were: Daniel, Martha, and Ruth. Daniel Ferris was born in Newtown, and by occupation was a farmer. He married Jerusha Glover, a daughter of Elias Glover, of Newtown, and had children: (1) Jerusha, was married to Dr. Rufus Skidmore, and had chil- dren-Jane A., born February 11, 1822, married B. T. Burr (now deceased), who was a merchant of Greenfield, and also engaged in farming; Marietta (Mrs. Alanson Lyon), born June 6, 1825; and Martha E., born January 29, 1827, married James T. Johnson (now deceased), who was a farmer, and later was in business at Bridge- port. (2) Glover was married to Mary Briscoe, and had one child that died in youth.

Dr. Rufus Skidmore was graduated from the Vermont Medical University, in 1817, under the

presidency of Daniel Huntington. Early in his professional career he traveled through the South and to Cuba, in search of a suitable place to lo- cate in the practice. But owing to climatic con- ditions, his health would not permit of a location in the South, so he returned to New England and settled at Newtown, where he passed his life. He was a skillful surgeon and physician, and was frequently called in consultation. In one case there was a lady of the town who had presum- ably passed into the unknown; her case had been given up by the attending physicians, and she was supposed to be dead, but through some skill- full act of Dr. Skidmore's the patient rallied and recovered, and outlived the Doctor.

W ILLIAM MEACHEN, a well-known prosperous citizen of Bridgeport, where for several years he was engaged in the business of market gardening on the spot where a portion of East Bridgeport now stands, but is now living retired, is a native of England, born in 1819, in the County of Norfolk.

Robert Meachen, father of our subject, was of the same nativity, and followed farming pur- suits in Norfolk all his days, dying there. He married Ann Bridges, and by her had a family of eleven children-six sons and five daughters. The sons were named, respectively, Charles, Robert, James, William, Edward and Henry. Of these, Charles was a farmer near Cleveland, Ohio, and died there; Robert was a market gardener at New Haven, Conn., and died there; James is a retired market gardener, living in Stratford, Conn .; William (our subject) will be fully spoken of farther on; Edward was a market gardener in Indiana, where he was killed; and Henry is a market gardener at Michigan City, Ind. None of the sisters left their native land.

William Meachen received his education in England, and there commenced to learn the trades of miller and baker, but did not finish them. Afterward he worked on the home farm with his father. At about the age of twenty years he married Miss Ann Carr, who was born in the same neighborhood, a daughter of James Carr, and some eighteen months later (about sixty years ago) the young couple came to the United States, making their first New-World home in Paterson, N. J., where Mr. Meachen found employment as a coachman in a private family, a position he filled twelve years. From Paterson he moved to Jersey City, and for the next fourteen years conducted a lucrative market- gardening business; but selling out at the end of that time, in 1862, he came to Connecticut, and

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in the town of Stratford, Fairfield county, pur- chased a farm of forty acres of raw land, covered with wild brush, rocks, etc., now the scene of beautiful residences, fine streets and avenues, etc., in fact a portion of the site of East Bridge- port. When Mr. Meachen came here there were no more than six houses to be seen between his place and the city (proper) of Bridgeport. Here he was the first gardener, and followed his old vocation of market-gardening until in 1892 he sold his property, the forty acres above referred to, to Bradley Nichols & Son for $40,000, the same having originally cost him $4,000.

To Mr. and Mrs. William Meachen were born nine children, seven of whom grew to ma- turity, as follows: Margaret is the wife of Charles Hulah, of Bridgeport; George lives in Stratford; Christianna married George Dew, formerly a merchant, now a farmer in the town of Fairfield; Sarah is the deceased wife of Will-

iam Paddock, a jeweler in Bridgeport; William, Jr., is a market gardener in Stratford; Charles is a manufacturer of brooms in Bridgeport; and Elizabeth married Thomas Wyle, clothier, of New Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Meachen and all the family are members of the M. E. Church, in which denomination he has been an officer for the long period of nearly half a century, and he gave valuable assistance toward the erection of the M. E. Church building in East Bridgeport.

In politics Mr. Meachen is a Republican; he served as one of the burgesses of East Bridge- port at the time it was a borough, and in earlier days was a member of the school committee sev- eral times. He at all times gives liberal support to those measures which he believes calculated to promote the general welfare. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and his friends are legion throughout the county.

ATON. SAMUEL BALDWIN BEACH, a wealthy and influential resident of the town of Trumbull, has been identified with the agri- cultural interests of his locality for many years, while various investments in enterprises in Bridge- port have brought him into prominence among business men of that thriving city.

Mr. Beach was born October 4, 1823. in the Daniels Farms District. of Trumbull township, where his family have been prominent for many years. Ephraim Beach, his grandfather, was a farmer in that locality, and he and his wife, Mary (Edwards). were much esteemed by the early residents.

Ephraim W. Beach, our subject's father, was born in Trumbull township and spent his early

years at Daniels Farms, but in 1833 he removed to Chestnut Hill District, of Trumbull, where he made his permanent home, his death occurring there at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a man of ability and influence, and held nu- merous township offices, including that of super- visor. and at one time he represented his town in the State Legislature. He was also active in re- ligious work as a member of the Congregational Church in Trumbull, in which he served as dea- con for many years. His wife, Dorothy (Curtis), who also lived to the age of eighty-eight years, was a daughter of Agur Curtis, of Stratford, Conn. They had the following children: William Agur, a resident of Georgia; Minerva (Mrs. Sterling); Reuben, deceased; Samuel Baldwin, our subject; and Mary, wife of S. G. Beardsley.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of Chestnut Hill District, and has contin- ued to reside there at the old homestead. He has always been prominent in public affairs in his lo- cality, having served as representative in the Leg- islature from the town of Trumbull. For one of his age he is remarkably well preserved, the fleet- ing years having touched him but lightly. In 1865 he was married in Easton, this county, to Miss Augusta J. Seeley, and three children have blessed the union: Samuel W., Frances E., and Mary A. The family are prominent socially, and are connected with the Congregational Church at Trumbull, Mr. Beach having been for many years an active worker therein.

J' UDGE NICHOLS C. DOWNS, of Stam- ford, now occupying the Bench of the City Court, has been a conspicuous figure and character of the Stamford Bar, and of the city as a citizen, from the time of his admittance to the Fairfield County Bar, in 1884.

A native of Fairfield county, Judge Downs was born in the town of Newtown, December 12, 1861. Monroe D. Downs, his father, was born in Southbury, New Haven Co., Conn. He married Miss Charlotte Nichols Curtis, a daugh- ter of Nichols Curtis, of Newtown, Connecticut.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of Newtown, and at the Newtown Academy. On the completion of his literary education he be- gan the study of law under the direction of Julius B. Curtis, of Stamford, and was admitted to the Bar in Fairfield county, May 15, 1884. From 1887 to 1893, he was deputy judge of the borough court of Stamford, and since 1893, the date of Stamford's incorporation as a city, he has been judge of the city court. From 1887 to 1891 he was borough attorney for Stamford,

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and from 1893 to 1898 he was corporation coun- sel for the city. Judge Downs has established a reputation as a careful and painstaking lawyer, conscientious and zealous in the business he un- dertakes. He is a lawyer of marked ability, and as a judge his decisions have been eminently sat- isfactory. He is a member of the board of governors of the Suburban Club; and is also vice-president of the Stamford Board of Trade. In 1894 his name was prominently mentioned as a popular candidate for the position of Judge of the Superior Court. On September 5, 1885, Judge Downs was married to Miss Jessie Mac- Donald, of Brooklyn, New York.

ON. BENJAMIN PENFIELD MEAD, State comptroller of Connecticut, is a man so widely and favorably known throughout the State that he needs no introduction here. His genial personality and official capabilities have won for him the highest esteem of his fellow- citizens. who have shown their appreciation of his worth by placing him in numerous public positions of trust.

Mr. Mead is a native of Connecticut, born September 21, 1849, in Bridgeport. His father, Benjamin Close Mead, was born in Greenwich, this State, and there spent his boyhood days, at the age of twelve commencing a sea-faring life, which he followed for many years. When nine- teen years old he became a vessel master, and he ran a packet between Bridgeport and New York in the days before there were steamers, the last boat which he commanded being the schooner " William P. Boggs." Benjamin C. Mead was married at Greenwich to Mary Elizabeth Rich, who survives him, living at Greenwich, where he passed away. Their children, eight in num- ber, are as follows: Louisa Woodruff, wife of Charles T. McKenny, of South Norwalk, Conn. ; Mary Elizabeth, wife of James W. Burtis, of New Canaan; Clemence Sophia, living in Green- wich; Benjamin Penfield; Isadore Frances, wife of Fred W. Emerson, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Rob- ert William, of Greenwich; Josephine Frances, wife of Walter R. Parks, of Brooklyn; and James R., residing in Greenwich. The father was an old-time Whig in political sentiment.

Benjamin P. Mead passed his early life in Greenwich, where he received his education, at- tending first the public schools, and later the Greenwich Academy, from which institution he graduated with honors. At the age of eighteen he went to New York City, where for three years he was engaged as bookkeeper in a storage ware- house and flour store, and then came to New

Canaan, Conn., where he embarked in the gen- eral mercantile and hardware business as a mem- ber of the firm of J. W. Burtis & Co. (afterward Burtis & Mead). Here he has since made his home, and the firm continued to carry on the above mentioned business until January 20, 1895, when, after many years of success, they retired. Mr. Mead's position among the promi- nent citizens of the town, however, was not only a commercial one. He soon established himself in the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, who honored him with election to almost every office in their gift, and so satisfactory did he prove as a public servant that, although he has been a candidate for office more than twenty terms, he has never been defeated. In 1880 he became town clerk, and the year following was made selectman, continuing in that office seven con- secutive years. In 1885 he was sent as the rep- resentative of this district to the State Legisla- ture, and again in 1887. during the latter year serving as chairman of the committee on Fish- eries, in which incumbency he made an excellent record, bringing about considerable legislation on that subject. In 1885 he was a member of the School Fund committee in the House, and also served on the Claims committee. In 1889 Mr. Mead was appointed State Auditor by Gov. Mor- gan G. Bulkeley, to fill an unexpired term, his service in that office ending in 1891. He took his seat in the State Senate as a representative from the Twelfth district in 1889, in 1889-90 acting as chairman of the committee on Cities and Boroughs and other important committees, and was re-elected in 1891. Here, as ever, his integrity and sterling uprightness of character was made manifest, especially during the " dead- lock " session of 1891, when he made many new friends and sustained his honorable reputation among the old ones by his straightforward con- duct. In 1894 he was elected to the office, the duties of which he has since discharged in so able a manner-that of State comptroller. His good judgment, and faithfulness to the interests of the public, have been particularly noticeable, and were rewarded in 1896 by a re-election with the largest plurality received by any candidate on the State ticket. Mr. Mead devotes himself to his public duties with zeal, bringing to his present office all the business tact and acumen acquired in years of successful commercial life, and only gives such time to his private interests as is nec- essary for the management of his property.

Our subject was married, in New Canaan, to Miss Florence Heath, a daughter of Benjamin N. and Julia A. (Hoyt) Heath, and four children have blessed this union, viz .: Benjamin Heath,

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B.P. Mead

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Harold Hoyt, Stanley Penfield, and Florence Louisa. Mr. Mead is a member of the Congre- gational Church; fraternally he is an Odd Fellow.

BEL S. HAWLEY (deceased ) was born July 4, 1812, in Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., where he grew to manhood, and at an early age acquired a knowledge of car- pentering and the hatter's trade. For some time he engaged in business there as a carpenter and builder, and in 1857 he removed to Dan- bury and continued in the same line of work. In 1862 he commenced in the undertaking business, which he followed during his remaining years. His intelligence and his high character, combined with unfailing public spirit, made him a promi- nent member of the community, and he served for some time as judge of probate. His sympa- thies were always on the side of progress, and he gave special attention to educational affairs, serving on the school committee many years. Like all of his family he was deeply interested in religious work, and was an active supporter of the Episcopal Church, in which he held the office of senior warden. He took a keen inter- est in political questions, although he was never an office-seeker, and he was always a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. His death, which occurred December 22, 1891, caused sincere mourning throughout the community, his benevolence and kindly spirit having won the affection and esteem of all classes.

On February 26, 1836, Mr. Hawley married Miss Susan Blake, who survives him. She was born at New Preston, Litchfield Co., Conn., where her ancestors were early settlers. Her grandfather, David Blake, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. He married Lucy Mer- chant, of Fairfield county, and their son Joseph, Mrs. Hawley's father, was born in Litchfield county, and became a prosperous business man, his attention being given mainly to the cooper's trade. He married Miss Louisa Osborn, also a native of Litchfield county, and they had thir- teen children, of whom none are now living ex- cept Mrs. Hawley and her sister Louisa, who married Silas Abbott, of Danbury. The Blake family is of English origin, and has always oc- cupied a prominent position in business and so- cial life. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley had two chil- dren: (1) Margaret married Azariel C. Fuller, a native of Litchfield, and died May 28, 1864, leaving two sons-Granville H., a member of the firm of Reynolds & Fuller, undertakers in

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 10

Author: H. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1795

Author: H. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1899
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1795