Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 104

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

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L EVI FRANKLIN SHERWOOD, one of Southport's able and enterprising merchants, is one whose history bears witness to a high ideal of citizenship. A successful business man, a pro- gressive and public-spirited citizen, his example is worthy of emulation.

Mr. Sherwood was born February 28, 1839, at Greenfield Hill, Fairfield Co., Conn., a son of Eli Sherwood and a grandson of Hezekiah Sher- wood, a farmer of Greenfield Hill, who was twice married and had a large family of children, Eli being the eldest son by the first wife. Grand- father Sherwood was a jovial friend and a man of excellent heart, in his later years being a great friend of the young folks, for whom he always had a pleasant and merry word. He was born April 28, 1777, and died May 8, 1851; his first wife, Mabel (Banks), wasborn October 31, 1781, and died May 20, 1805. They sleep their last sleep in Greenfield Hill cemetery.

Eli Sherwood, the father of our subject, was born May 26, 1801, at Greenfield Hill, Fairfield county, and received such education as was with- in reach of the farmer boy of his time. In early manhood he married Miss Anna Caroline Banks, a native of Greenfield Hill, and daughter of Jon- athan Banks, Jr., and Abigail (Wakeman), the

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and died October 20, 1841. A brief record of the children born to Eli and Anna C. (Banks) Sherwood is as follows: (1) Augustus J. (deceased) was for many years a school teacher, was a wide- ly-known man and a well-to-do citizen; he was a prominent Democrat, and represented his district in the State Legislature. (2) Erastus B. was a merchant at Rockville Center, L. I. (3) Levi Franklin is the next in order of birth. (4) Mary A. married Henry Lockwood, and died at Green- field Hill. (5) Anna A .. the youngest. died un- married. Eli Sherwood was a lifelong farmer in the vicinity of Greenfield Hill, and met with an average degree of success in his occupation. He was a Democrat, but not active in politics, merely recording his vote regularly. He was above the average in height, strong and wiry, always industrious and full of energy until within a short time of his death, and during his busy lifetime did a vast amount of work. He and his wife were consistent members of the Greenfield Congregational Church. He passed from earth at the age of seventy-nine, Mrs. Sherwood when seventy-five years old; their names are recorded in Oaklawn cemetery.

Levi F. Sherwood secured a liberal education at the village schools, and supplemented same with an attendance of one year and six months at Easton Academy, laying aside his school books at the age of sixteen, up to which time he had aided, as best he could, in the farm work. He then went to Saugatuck, Fairfield county, and for over two years clerked in the dry-goods and gro- cery store of A. L. Winton, the first year on a salary of $50 and board, and the second year receiving $100 and a present of a silver watch as a token of appreciation, which he now prizes highly. This was the commencement of a re- markably successful mercantile career. From Saugatuck he removed to Lyons Plain, Conn., and clerked in a store there, but not long, and we next find him "on the road." For nine years he traveled throughout Long Island, part of the time selling his own goods, part of the time rep- resenting others. By perseverance, industry and thrift he succeeded in amassing some means, and in 1866 he came to Southport, becoming a part- ner in a general store business with his cousin, Simon Banks, the style of the firm being Banks & Sherwood. In connection with their store they ran a market boat weekly to and from New York, and also dealt in coal and wood. At the end of four years Mr. Sherwood sold out his interest to Mr. Banks, and shortly afterward he Senator Bernd is a member of an old Pensyl- vania family, and his grandfather, George Bernd was born in the city of Philadelphia. The late purchased the hardware business of the heirs of David Bradley, at that time carried on in Mr. Sherwood's present store. Mr. Bradley had also | Peter Bernd, the Senator's father, was a native

been postmaster of the village, and Mr. Sher- wood was appointed his successor in that incum- bency, serving fifteen consecutive years, until Cleveland's first administration. By the gradual introduction of groceries, grain, flour and feed, our subject expanded the business, in course of time abandoning the hardware branch, and con- fining the trade entirely to the lines above men- tioned-as it stands at present, the most exten- sive one in Southport.

On September 26, 1866, Mr. Sherwood was married, in Easton, to Miss Esther Wheeler, a very estimable and worthy young lady, who was born November 22, 1845, a daughter of John and Malvina (Smith) Wheeler, and children as fol- lows have been born to them: Royal Wheeler. who is a traveling salesman; Lillian Esther, who died when four years old; and Annie Wheeler, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood are members of the Congregational Church at Southport, with which they united in November, 1870, Mr. Sher- wood being deacon in same, a member of the executive board and also superintendent of the Sunday-school for a number of years. A Re- publican in politics, he takes an active interest in the affairs of the party. He is a zealous off- cial of the Southport Savings Bank, and, taken all in all, he stands to-day as one of Southport's most useful, most enterprising and most loyal citizens, having no superior. Purely self-made, he has, by indefatigable energy, consummate business tact, and honest and fair dealings in all his transactions, accumulated a nice property, and reached the enviable position he how holds in society. He has many sterling characteristics, but the most noted is his integrity, for his word can always be depended upon-his inheritance, he claims, being the training of Christian par- ents.

ON. HENRY BERND, of Danbury, is one of the most distinguished citizens of the county, his successful business career and his long and faithful service in various offices of pub- lic trust giving him a wide reputation. His popularity among his fellow townsmen is shown by the political honors gained through their con- stant support, and his ability and fidelity have justified their confidence. As one of the substan- tial business men remarked to the writer-"All through his public career you cannot point to a dishonest act."

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Henny Berg

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of Montgomery county, Penn. born June 13, 1801. In 1836 he settled at Upper Milford, in the same State, and remained until 1855, when he made his permanent home at Allentown, Penn. He died there from paralysis on March 11, 1882, aged eighty years, eight months and twenty-eight days. He was greatly esteemed by all who knew him, his sterling qualities of char- acter being revealed in all the varied walks of life. Intelligent, industrious and thrifty. he left an unblemished reputation as a citizen, while in the closer relations of social and domestic life he was always kind, loving and considerate, his constant aim being to leave no Christian duty undone. His beloved wife, whose maiden name was Christiania Hoffman, passed to the unseen life some years before him, and a tasteful monu- ment over her grave at Allentown bears this in- scription :

OUR MOTHER. CHRISTIANIA H. WIFE OF PETER BERND. BORN IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA. MAY 28. 1795. DIEI' AUGUST 20, 1873. AGED 80 YEARS, 2 MONTHS, AND 22 DAYS. "DEAREST MOTHER, THY CARES AND TROUBLES ARE O'ER, THY ONLY ENEMY IS CONQUERED."

This worthy couple reared a family of nine children: John, a resident of Emans, Penn .; William, of Michigan: Jesse, of Reading, Penn., Peter, Jeremiah and Henry, all residing in Dan- bury, Conn .; Lovina. wife of William Osmun, of Allentown, Penn .; Christiania, wife of William Bortz, of Americus, Kans .; and Elizabeth, who married Enoch Wetzell. of Lehigh county, Penn., but now a resident of West Point, Ne- braska.

Hon. Henry Bernd was born at the old home in Allentown, January 15. 1837, and received his education in the common schools of that city. At an early age he learned the cigar maker's trade, completing his apprenticeship when only fifteen years old, and for some time he worked at this business in different places in Pennsylvania. In April, 1856, he located at Danbury, where he was employed at his trade for about two years, but in October, 1858, when but twenty-one years of age, he began manu- facturing cigars on his own account, establishing a wholesale and retail business. His capital amounted to $120, but his fund of energy and shrewd judgment made good the lack of money, and on January 1, 1885, he retired from the

business with a handsome competence. He has been and is identified with various important en- terprises, and at the organization of the Electric Light Company of Danbury, which has since been merged with the Danbury Gas Company, he was chosen its first president. He is a director in the Danbury and Bethel Electric Railroad Company, and for many years past has held the same relation to the Danbury Gas Company.

On May 28, 1863, Mr. Bernd married Miss Clarissa J. Leibensperger, daughter of David and Polly (Smith) Liebensperger, of Allentown, Penn., and they have four children: Arthur E., Idella May, Jennie C. and Cora B. Mr. and Mrs. Bernd are members of the Lutheran Church at Allentown, Penn., but they attend the First Congregational Church at Danbury. Their pleas- ant home, at No. 13 Delay street, is a center of hospitality, and Mr. Bernd is an active member of various social orders, including the " Town Club," of Danbury; Union Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M .; Eureka Chapter No. 28, R. A. M .; Crusader Commandery No. 10, K. T., and the Mystic Shrine.

In recent years Mr. Bernd has given much of his time to public affairs, and the characteristics which brought him success in the commercial world in the face of heavy odds have told equally well in his service to his fellowmen. Always a leader in anything in which he chooses to inter- est himself, he has, since entering the arena of politics, been one of the foremost members of the Republican party in the State, and his con- scientious adherence to duty, his faithfulness to promises, and, above all, his good sense and judgment, have won him an unusually high place in the esteem and confidence of the public. Though the honors of which he has proved him- self so deserving have no doubt been gratifying, they have never to Mr. Bernd been of greater importance than his own self-respect. which is ever, in his opinion, as important and difficult to gain and retain as the more ostentatious homage of the public. His indomitability, developed in years of struggle for pre-eminence in business circles, has shown itself on more than one occa- sion in his career as an official, and, as will be | seen in the record of his services for various movements for the benefit and improvement of 1 the community in general, he labors persistently until he carries his point, and by his coolness and systematic methods overcomes obstacle after obstacle until his object is attained. He is self- reliant in everything he undertakes, a deep I thinker, and with a mind as liberal and lofty as | it is ambitious, a wide-reaching spirit of enter- | prise, refined tastes and sympathies that give

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him touch with all classes, he has made a record as a public worker, not only in his own locality, but all over the State, of which he may justly be proud. And yet in all this Mr. Bernd has only shown himself, as he is, a man public- spirited and aspiring for the good of his fellow- men, with a fine sense of duty, and capable in its performance.

In 1884 Mr. Bernd became prominent in municipal life, being elected a member of the board of burgesses of Danbury, then a borough, and this office he held for two years. On Octo- ber 1, 1885, he was chosen third selectman, and in the following year he was made first select- man. In October, 1887, he was again elected as the third member of the board of selectmen, and from October, 1888, to 1893. when he did not run for the office, he served continuously as first selectman. In 1885 the town debt was $75.000, but during Mr. Bernd's service as selectman this was entirely wiped out, the auditor's report for September 28, 1892, show- ing a surplus of $8,984.69. During this time the rate of taxation was lowered from ten mills to five mills. In 1894 Mr. Bernd was again elected first selectman, and during that term the new almshouse was completed. In 1896 he was made the nominee of his party for the same position, against his will, but he was not elected.

In November, 1894, Mr. Bernd was elected to the State Senate from the Fifteenth Senator- ial District, by a majority of 436, and for two years he took a prominent part in the work of that body, serving on the committee on Humane Institutions and the Putnam Memorial committee. One of his greatest achievements was the secur- ing of an increase in the annual appropriation for the Danbury Hospital. The Evening News, of Danbury, says under date of June 13, 1895: " In the Senate yesterday, the petition concern- ing the annual appropriation to the Danbury Hos- pital was taken up. Senator Bernd had made a strong effort in behalf of the petition, but had been handicapped by the action of the com- mittee on Appropriations, which had reported unanimously against the measure. Yesterday, however, the tide turned and much of the opposi- tion was silenced. Senator Bernd made a stir- ring speech, and was ably seconded by several other senators. At last the petition was with- drawn, and a resolution was offered providing that the annual appropriation to the hospital be $5,000. The resolution was submitted to a vote and passed unanimously.

" The speech of Senator Bernd is said to have been one of the best delivered in the Senate dur- ing the present session. It was enthusiastically

applauded, and after the Senate had adjourned Senator Bernd was the recipient of many con- gratulations. A part of the speech is printed below:

MR. PRESIDENT :- I regret exceedingly that I am com- pelled to take the floor in behalf of a measure that should have received the unanimous approbation of the committee on appropriations and which should receive the hearty sup- port of every member of this body. It is not my desire to make a long speech at this time, but I feel it to be my duty to lay before you a few pertinent facts, and ask you to con- sider them from the standpoint of charity and humanity. One of the noblest institutions in this grand old common- wealth, Mr. President and gentlemen of the Senate, is the Danbury Hospital.

That Hospital, last year, received patients from twenty- four towns. One hundred and twenty-two patients were received and cared for during the year. Of those, the great majority were charity patients. A very large proportion were emergency cases, the patients being victims of rail- way and other accidents. The field covered by the Danbury Hospital is larger than that covered by any other hospital in the State of Connecticut. We are situated in the north- western part of the State and draw patients from the section that includes the whole of Litchfield and the larger part of Fairfield counties.

Mr. President, the managers of the Danbury Hospital ask that the appropriation granted by the State be increased from 83,000 to $5,000 per year; not for the purpose of extend- ing its already great and important work, but to enable it to continue its existence. The sum that has been received from the State has been insufficient to pay the running expenses of the hospital, and the citizens have been called upon time and again to make up the deficiencies. The churches have aided to the best of their ability, but they were able to do but little. The total amount received from the churches last year was only $81.50, and the subscriptions from individuals were proportionately small.

Poverty, Mr. President, has increased the number of charity patients at the hospital, and has almost wiped out the class of paying patients. The managers have repeatedly been obliged to put their hands in their pockets to enable the hospital to continue its work. They are no longer able to contribute so generously, and are compelled to ask that the State come to their assistance. They do not ask any more than is given to every other institution of its kind in the State. I desire to call your attention to the fact that every other general hospital in this State receives from the State 85,000 per year. Most of them have large endowment funds also. 'The Danbury Hospital is a comparatively new institution and struggling hard for an existence. Shall it be said that this General Assembly allowed the doors of this noble institution to be closed and its suffering inmates to be turned out into the world for the sake of saving a few dol- lars that they may be spent for far less worthy causes? I say reverently, God forbid such economy! The Danbury Hospital needs money; not at some future time when there is less need for rigid economy, but it needs it now-to-day.

Mr. President, your committee on humane institutions visited this hospital recently, and made a thorough investi- gation of its work and all that appertains to it. That com- mittee unanimously recommended the increase of appro- priation asked for. They did not make that report without knowing full well that every dollar of the appropriation was needed, and would be carefully and judiciously expended.

Mr. President, I appeal to this Senate to grant this addi- tional appropriation. I appeal for charity's sake and for God's sake that the State of Connecticut intercede to save the Danbury Hospital from having its doors closed and its keys handed over to the keeping of its creditors. It is not much to ask-only $2,000. 'It is only what you are giving every general hospital in the State. If we are to economize, Mr. President, let us not do so at the cost of human agony. Human forms mangled by the ruthless hand of accident, forms wasted by sickness, are dependent upon the generosity of the people for comfort and proper care. Eyes made tear-

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ful by distress are looking piteously toward you, gentlemen of the Senate, and voices made tremulous by affliction and pain are lifted in a fervent appeal that they may be accorded the slight boon it is within your power to grant.

Mr. President, and gentlemen of the Senate, before clos- ing I desire to call your attention to the case of a very poor man who was supposed to be critically ill. A consultation of physicians deci ed that by an operation there was one chance in a hundred of saving his life. He was taken to the Danbury Hospital, and the operation was performed. In a few weeks he began to recover, and to-day is well and strong. That man, Mr. President, has a wife and seven little children depending on him for support. I tremble to think of their pitiable condition if the husband and father had died. It is because we had the Danbury Hospital and the operation was performed that he is alive to-day. There is a still more har- rowing case there now. A three-years-old child has a dis- ease that has almost destroyed its eyes. The physicians said that in order to save it from total blindness it must be sent to the hospital where it would receive care and treat- ment that would be impossible at its home. The little one was taken to the hospital, and is well on the road to recov- ery. But it requires the almost constant attention of a trained nurse. Every fifteen minutes, day and night, for many weeks, that poor little sufferer has been taken on the lap of a trained nurse who has bathed its fevered head, and washed its almost sightless eyes until recovery is assured.

Mr. President and Senators, I ask if the restoration of sight to that one helpless babe is not worth many times more than the entire cost of the hospital? Suppose that child was yours or mine, Mr. President or gentlemen of the Senate, would we not feel that it was the duty of the State to save it, whatever the cost might be? If there had been no hospital at Danbury. that poor babe would have been condemned to a life of blindness and perhaps would have been a charge on the State for its whole life.

These are but two cases out of a very large number. It is needless to say more. I leave it with this body to decide whether Danbury shall lose its hospital so that this General Assembly shall acquire a reputation for economy.

COMMENTS ON SENATOR BERND'S SPEECH. "Adverse report by the appropriations commit- tee on increasing the annual appropriation to the Danbury Hospital from $3,000 to $5,000. Sena- tor Bernd advocated the increase in an interest- ing speech. Senator Chandler also spoke in its favor. Senator Marigold gave a helping word, as did Senators Warner, Webster, Fuller and Douglass. The report of the committees was rejected and the resolution passed. Senator Bernd was congratulated on his victory." -- Hart- ford Times.

" The Senate overturned the appropriations committee to-day by voting to give $2,000 ad- ditional annually to the Danbury Hospital. Senator Bernd, of Danbury. made the fight for the appropriation. While he was discussing the measure one of the messengers put a glass of water on his desk. 'I don't take water, bring me a beer,' said the Senator, and the remark caused an uproar in the chamber." - New Haven Register.

"Bernd, of Danbury, won a decisive victory over the appropriations committee by getting the Senate to vote $2,000 for the Danbury Hospital. The committee had reported against the appro- priation. Mr. Converse, of Stafford, felt so badly

over the Senate's action that he engaged Bernd in a wordy squabble during recess. He threat- ened to kill the measure in the House, but as Bernd has many friends in that body the young Stafford gentleman may not be able to carry out his threat."-Bridgeport Farmer.

"The unfavorable reports of the committee on appropriations on the appropriation of $5,000 for the Danbury Hospital caused considerable debate. Senator Bernd, of Danbury, made a long speech advocating the extra appropriation. He showed that the hospital was of direct benefit to the whole western section of the State, and he told of the good work it had done. He advo- cated the appropriation very strongly. Senators Chandler, Marigold, Coffey, Douglas and War- ner supported Senator Bernd's appeal. Senator Bernd carried his point, and the appropriation was made. Shortly after one o'clock the Senate took a recess till two o'clock."

The Meriden Republican said: "Senator Bernd, of Danbury, made the hit of the session in the Senate to-day. The court of appeals had reported unfavorably on his bill to increase the annual appropriation of $3,000 to the Danbury Hospital to $5,000. His committee (humane institutions) had previously reported in favor of the appropriation. He started in to carry the appropriation through, and by appealing to the Senate for ' humanity's, for charity's, for God's sake', to pass the appropriation, succeeded."

New Haven Journal and Courier said: "In the Senate this afternoon, Senator Bernd, of Danbury, won a notable victory in the face of an adverse report from the committee on appropria- tions. The bill appropriates $5,000 for the Danbury Hospital, and Senator Bernd made a telling speech in its favor, and the bill was passed without opposition. After the vote the Senator was warmly congratulated upon his success."

H ENRY BURR CURTISS, a military vet- eran, has been a resident of Bridgeport for a number of years, and his sterling qualities of character have won for him the friendship and esteem of the people of that pleasant city.

Mr. Curtiss belongs to one of our oldest fam- ilies, and is a direct descendant in the eighth generation from William Curtiss (1), an English- man, who came to America in 1632, and located at Roxbury, Mass., his wife and five children joining him there in the spring of 1634. As a more complete account of the family is given elsewhere, we will briefly trace the line of de- scent to our subject, which includes William (2),

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a pioneer settler at Stratford, who died Decem- ber 21, 1702; Zachariah (November 14, 1659, June -, 1748), who married Hannah Porter; Zachariah (2), who died June 12, 1748; Mitchell, who was married February 11, 1753, to Phobe Peet; Daniel Mitchell, born January 5. 1755, who married Hepsey Burr; and Ira Curtiss, our subject's father (December 8, 1800-June 21, 1849). who married Mrs. Sally (Bradley) Burrit, of Stratford, and always made his home at the old farm near Nichols.

Our subject was born September 29, 1840, at the old homestead near Nichols, and his edu- cation was mainly obtained in the schools of that village. In his youth he served an appren- ticeship in the carriage shops of Nichols Brothers, giving especial attention to the making of car- riage bodies; but when the Civil war broke out he decided to offer his services to the govern- ment. On July 22, 1861. he enlisted in Com- pany A, 5th C. V. I., for the term of three years, during which he saw much severe fighting. On August 9, 1862, he was wounded at Cedar Mountain. Va., but after five months confine- ment in a hospital he returned to his regiment, with which he remained until mustered out July 22, 1864, at Chattanooga. Tenn. On his return home he engaged in general mercantile business in Nichols, continuing successfully for thirteen years, but since 1885 he has resided in Bridge- port in his pleasant home at No. 348 Noble avenue. He is a member of Elias Howe, Jr., Post No. 3. G. A. R., at that place, and is also an active worker in the Masonic Fraternity, be- longing to St. John's Lodge No. 8. F. & A. M., at Stratford, and the Chapter, Council and Com- mandery at Bridgeport.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 104

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