Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 108

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

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Richard Vivash. The maiden name of our sub- ject's mother was Martha Lowman. On her mother's side she was a lineal descendant of Ad- miral Sir Francis Drake. Mr. and Mrs. John Orchard had ten children, six of whom are still living in England.

William Henry Orchard received his educa- tion in England, in the Island of Guernsey, and in Paris. In 1865 he came to the United States, locating in New York City, and engaging in the dry-goods trade. On November 14, 1872, he married Miss Harriett Arabella Sackett, and they have two children: William Henry Bell Orchard and Harriett Sackett Orchard. The family are members of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at Nor- oton, and Mr. Orchard belongs to the Masonic Fraternity, being made in St. Nicholas, No. 321, New York City, in 1871. In politics, both he and his son belong to the Democratic party.

Mrs. Orchard was born in Bridgeport, Conn., being a daughter of Capt. James Joseph Sackett and Harriett Capes Sackett, who were natives of New York City, both being born there in 1812. They were married December 26, 1836, by the Rev. James Demarest, of the Dutch Reformed Church, Williamsburg, L. I. Their children were: Edward Wetmore, Mary Wetmore, Har- riett Arabella and Ellen Louisa. Mrs. Orchard is now the only one of the family living. Cap- tain Sackett died in 1846. His ancestor, Simon Sackett, with his wife and two sons, came to this country in 1629 from the Isle of Ely, Cambridge- shire, England, and settled in Cambridge, Mass., locating in Newtown and Jamaica, L. I., in Co- lonial times, where they were large property holders, and held high positions in both civil and military services. He was the son of James Joseph Sackett and Ann (Blanck), and great- grandson of Dr. Joseph Sackett and Hannah Alsop, daughter of Richard Alsop, of Jamaica, L. I. Mrs. Harriett Capes Sackett, on March 22, 1855, was married to John Jay Bell, by the Rev. Mr. Meeker, of the old Dutch Reformed Church of Bushwick, Williamsburg, L. I., and came to Mr. Bell's homestead (Bell Mansion), where she died November 9, 1888. Mr. Orchard and family still continue to reside there. Her father, William Capes, was born in Boston, England, and when of age came to New York City, where he became a prominent shipbuilder. His wife, Sally (Brooks), was a great-grand- daughter of Capt. Samuel Youngs, his muster role reading: " A muster Role of ye Melitia, or Military Company or Training Band of ye So- i ciety of Middlesex, under ye Command of Capt. Samuel Youngs, in ye Ninth Ridegement, in ye

W TILLIAM HENRY ORCHARD, a leading resident of Noroton, Conn., has been for many years identified with mercantile interests in New York City. He was born in 1843, in London, England, where his father, John Orchard, was a dry-goods merchant for over fifty years. The family is an old English one, John Orchard's father being Joseph Orchard, descended from the family of Orchard Portman, Somersetshire, and his mother a daughter of Sir | year of our Lord Ano. Dom. 1767, April ye 2nd."

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This document contains the names of the an- cestors of many families now living in the towns of Darien, Stamford and Norwalk. He was the son of John Youngs and Ruth Elliott (married in 1690), who had a large family. He descended from the Rev. John Youngs, as history records: "Most of the first Planters were originally from Hingham, Norfolkshire, England, and came here by way of New Haven. The Rev. John Youngs, son of the Vicar of Southwold, Norfolkshire, England, who had been a preacher in England, was their leader. He organized a Church in New Haven, and they with others willing to ac- company them, commenced the settlement of Southhold, L. I., in 1640, and died there Feb- ruary 24, 1672."

JOHN JAY BELL was a descendant of Francis Bell, an early settler of Stamford, and one of the twenty-nine to receive assignment of land in 1640. His wife, Rebecca, died there in 1684, and he survived her only six years. Their son, Jonathan, was the first white child born in the town of Stamford. John Jay Bell was born in 1816, in Sodus, Wayne Co., N. Y., and died September 8, 1893, at his homestead.

YOHN H. LIGHT, of South Norwalk, Conn .. was born in Carmel, N. Y., March 27, 1855, the son of Belden and Annie Light.

Having pursued the usual course of instruc- tion in the public schools, Mr. Light subsequent- ly entered Chamberlain Institute, at Randolph, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1880. After- ward he taught school for several years, pursued the study of law at Norwalk, Conn., and having completed his preparatory legal studies was duly admitted to the Fairfield County Bar in Septem- ber, 1883.

Mr. Light combines in his personality in an eminent degree the elements of superior man- hood. He is a great soul, and has a strong mind in a sound body-a born leader of men, therefore it is not strange that in the short pe- riod of sixteen years he has come to stand among the foremost lawyers at the Fairfield County | never forgotten that- Bar, and has acquired a large and lucrative prac- tice throughout the State.

dence of his fellow-citizens in his integrity and ability that since May, 1884, he has continuously held the office of corporation counsel for the city of South Norwalk, notwithstanding the numer- ous changes in the political control of the city, which have taken place during that period.

Being deeply interested in the educational welfare of the community in which he lives, Mr. Light has served for many years as acting school visitor of the town of Norwalk, and to his wise judgment is largely due the excellent condition of the schools under his supervision. In 1896 he was appointed prosecuting attorney for the criminal court of common pleas for Fairfield county, a position which he has continuously held with marked satisfaction to the Bench and Bar, and in which he has promoted the adminis- tration of justice tempered with mercy born of a kind charity that never forgets our human rela- tionship to the most unfortunate criminal. Like Lincoln, he is a keen student of human nature, and reads the motives of men as a story in an open book, and thus wisely discriminates in the execution of his office, as public prosecutor, between the maliciously vicious criminal and the unfortunate victim of social environment.

Yet, however signal his success at the Bar, no man with the type of mind possessed by Mr. Light would be content simply to become a great lawyer. Free from the stereotyped convention- ality which characterizes many a college-bred man, whose individuality was lost in the col- legiate mold, Mr. Light is a profound student and a bold investigator in every field of human inquiry. While exceptionally active in the arena of the business world, and familiar with men and things, making friends by the multitude in the mart, he knows the power of silence, and in the seclusion of his own study, which contains I one of the finest private libraries in the State, he has communed with the master spirits of the ages in their best moods, and fed his soul on their richest thoughts. Science, literature and I art have poured their treasures into his heart and mind, while in all his acquisitions he has

Knowledge and wisdom far from being one Have ofttimes no connection.

Fitted by nature and education to fill with With high scholarship he combines a rare type of mental discipline-being both cultured and profound. With marked originality he credit to himself and honor to his constituency any position in the gift of his fellow-men, he has with slight exception steadily refused all solicita- : couples a familiar acquaintance with all the tion to political preferment, choosing rather to devote his undivided attention to the practice of his profession, and to serve his clients with a devotion worthy of their profound and grateful remembrance. So great, indeed, is the confi-

great thinkers from Plato to Spencer, and while finding inspiration in them all preserves his indi- 1 viduality unmarred. He voices the vision of his own spirit. Drawn toward the ministry in early | life, he has often spoken from the pulpit, and

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those whose privilege it is to have heard him on i tegrity of the universe, in the divinity of man in such occasions can but feel that he has helped human progress. The doctrine of total depravity, to establish in the hearts of his fellow-men the | the theory of degeneration, the poetry of tears. everlasting gospel of the Fatherhood of God i find no welcome in his soul. His spirit stands and Brotherhood of Man. Profoundly inter- ested in all the great problems of life, civil, so- cial, philosophic and religious, he holds his mind receptive to all truth from every source. A de- vout disciple of Emerson-

His Bible is the boundless universe, His pentecost the long, long age of man.

While sympathizing with every effort for the

in the sunshine, and his presence is an inspira- tion to the true life. With Tennyson he believes. that: "Somehow good will be the final goal of I ill." and if there is any one class of men and women for whom he has no special use it is the 1 1 whining pessimists who are not quite sure whether to worship God or the devil.

While a member of the Congregational amelioration of mankind and friendly to all | Church of South Norwalk, whose liberal creed is: denominational organizations, he has often ex- pressed to his friends the desire to bear no label, largely traceable to his influence, Mr. Light, as indicated, belongs to the Church Universal, whom realizing that names are limitations, and the best i no man may christen, whose membership includes shibboleth only a fragment of eternal truth.

I all honest, loyal souls in all ages and in all lands · men. Such a life is a perpetual encouragement

Few, indeed, are the men in this age of mer- | by whatever name they may be known among ciless competition who can attain eminence in a profession dealing with controversies and selfish I to high endeavor, and forever proves the fallacy contentions of clients and Jose not faith in the I of the doctrine so common even in our own day divinity of humanity or find opportunity to live . that no man can be successful and keep his much in thought with the poets, philosophers ; soul awake to the anthem of, " The choir invisi- and reformers, whose mighty works and deeds | ble of the immortal dead," reading the prose make up the drama of a world. Such is John i of the law with eyes that behold the vision of the Į poet.

H. Light. and to this communion with the mas- ters in the higher life is doubtless due his inspir- ation and wonderful diction which with the peculiar power (that for want of a better name we call personal magnetism) make him a fasci- nating orator on all occasions. As a public speaker Mr. Light is always in demand, and his addresses delivered on Memorial Day and other patriotic celebrations, together with his literary lectures. especially that on the " Women of ! Shakspeare," have won for him the admiration of many highly appreciative audiences. In de- bate he is always fair, brilliant, logical, con- vincing - a most formidable antagonist, the remembrance of whose victories are never clouded with the spirit of malice or revenge.

For years Mr. Light has been a prominent Republican, and one of the most gifted and popu- lar stump speakers of the State. In 1898, in the State convention of his party. he delivered a | speech, in which he nominated Hon. George E.

The Peck family is an old and numerous one in the township, and our subject is a grandson of | Samuel Peck, who settled on the farm soon aft- Lounsbury for Governor, that placed its author : er his marriage to Mary Mead, and became a among the foremost orators of Connecticut. The same year he was elected representative fromn South Norwalk to the General Assembly, where he has acquitted himself with marked ability as a statesman. He was house chairman of the committee on Incorporations, and the committee on Constitutional Amendments. respected well-to-do farmer. His children were Allen, who became a merchant in New York City, and died when yet a young man; Obadiah, : who was long a successful merchant of New York City, and spent his last years in retirement, dying ! in Brooklyn; Samuel, who died young; Isaac, the father of Zenas M. Peck; Whitman, who was Whatever else John H. Light may be or not ; given superior educational advantages, and be- be, this is true-he is a thorough-going optimist. came a minister of the Congregational Church; He believes in the goodness of God, in the in- I and four daughters-Anna, Maria, Sophia and

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On August 3, 1881, Mr. Light was married at Stamford, Conn., to lda May Lockwood, and to them have been born two sons: Jay Irving Light, who died April 3, 1896; and Freeman Light.

Z 'ENAS M. PECK needs no introduction to the farming population of Greenwich town- ship; in fact his reputation as a skillful and pros- perous agriculturist extends all over Fairfield county. He owns and resides upon the farm in Greenwich which his grandfather purchased a i century ago, and which in his father's day was awarded second prize among all the farms in Fairfield county for its fine appearance and con- dition.

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Jane-none of whom married. The entire family is now deceased. Mr. Peck passed away in 1842. survived many years by his wife, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-two, and they both rest in the Congregational cemetery at Green- wich.

Isaac Peck was born in 1812 on his father's farm, where he grew to manhood, commencing to learn farm work as soon as he was old enough to be of any assistance. He was educated in the common district schools. Being the only one of the sons to remain at home, he took the farm aft- er his father's death, at which time it was some- what "run down, " and brought it to a state of the highest cultivation, taking considerable pride in doing his work in a systematic and orderly manner, and keeping everything about the place in a condition of neatness not often attempted even by good farmers. His home and property received all his attention, and well repaid him for the care he bestowed upon them, for his skill and industry brought him a comfortable income, and placed him among the most prosperous farm- ers of the county. As above stated. he was given second prize in a contest among the farm- ers of Fairfield county, and such an honor is not easily won in this section. Mr. Peck was a man of ordinary build, weighing about 150 pounds. and was quiet and reserved in his manners and habits, nevertheless making many friends in the town. He married Miss Julia Mead, who was born in 1818. daughter of Zenas Mead, and their union was blessed with two children: Sophia. who died when nineteen years of age: and Zenas M .. whose name opens this sketch. The parents were both sixty-four years old at the time of their deaths, the mother living five years after the father. and both lie buried in the cemetery of the Greenwich Congregational Church, of which Mr. Peck was a member. In his early years he was a Whig in political faith, and when that party merged into the Republican faction he became a stanch member of the new organiza- tion, with which he voted the remainder of his days.

Zenas M. Peck was born August 9, 1844, on the farm which has always been his home. In boyhood he attended the district schools of Greenwich, having for his early teachers Miss. Hatch, Miss Hibbard and Miss Stark, and later he entered Green Academy, then taught by Prof. Button. Mr. Peck has always been engaged at work on the homestead, first as his father's as- sistant. and he has proved a worthy successor to the latter. from whom he has probably inherited the love of system and neatness which has char- acterized their work. It is a difficult matter,

among so many good agriculturists, to call any one the best, but it is certain that our subject's right to a place in the first rank of farmers in this region would not be disputed.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Peck wedded Miss Hannah E. Husted, who was born in 1846, daughter of Augustus and Nancy E. Husted, and two children have been born to them: Fred- I erick, who died at the age of six years; and Eliza A., who lives with her parents. The family are united with the Congregational Church at Green- wich. Mr. Peck is a Republican in politics. though, like his father, he takes little active part | in public matters; his ability and worth are un- questioned, but he is afflicted with a slight de- fect in his hearing, from which his father also suffered, and this has caused him to stand aside more from outside affairs than he might other- I wise be inclined to do. He is looked upon as one of Greenwich's most substantial, thrifty citi- zens, and is everywhere respected for his stabil- ity and integrity of character. Mr. Peck and his cousin, Lewis Peck, son of Obadiah Peck, are the only male descendants of Samuel Peck now living, and the name goes out with them. Lewis Peck served with the Union throughout the Civil war, and came out with the rank of major-gen- eral. His home is in Brooklyn.

W ILLIAM F. BISHOP, of Norwalk, is a citizen who is held in high esteem for his many excellent qualities of character. His family has had an important place in the history of the business development of that locality, his father, the late George G. Bishop, having been the prin- cipal founder of the Union Manufacturing Com- pany, which for many years paid more taxes than any other concern in the township. In fact, the manufacturing interests of this and other sections are very largely indebted to that far-sighted in- ventor, to whom genius is due the discovery of the process of making felt cloth, a process which has now been adapted to many fabrics.

The Bishop family is of English origin, but the ancestors of our subject came to this country at an early date. Benjamin Bishop, the grand- father of our subject. was born in Fairfield county, and passed his life in the town of Norwalk, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. The late George G. Bishop was born in Ridgefield. this county, in 1803. and grew to manhood there. He learned the hatter's trade during his youth, and his observations as to the processes and ma- terials used in that business probably suggested to his thoughtful and inventive mind the possibil- ty of making what is now known as felt cloth.

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He was unusually practical for an inventor, and as soon as his ideas had been fully developed he formed a company for the manufacture of the new product, and in 1837 it was incorporated under the name of the Union Manufacturing Com- pany. This was the first company incorporated in this State, and the Legislature passed a special law to authorize the proceeding. From 1837 until the time of the Civil war a large and profit- able business was carried on by the company, but the demand for blankets and similar woolen goods for the use of the soldiers caused many concerns to spring up in different parts of the country. As they manufactured " shoddy goods," the Union Manufacturing Company could not compete with them in prices, and as a result the latter withdrew from the competition and soon afterward engaged in the manufacture of thread goods. This was a paying business until the pass- age of the Wilson Tariff bill, which, while it was in force, stopped all profit in the manufacture of woolen goods, and the mills of this company with many others closed, much to the sorrow of the two hundred workmen who were formerly given constant employment. A return to the old protective tariff brought better times and the mills were reopened. After the retirement of George G. Bishop, a brother of our subject, Adolphus F. Bishop, became president of the com- pany, and in December, 1890, our subject as- sumed control and in 1895 purchased the mills.

This sketch would not be complete without a reference to the high character of the late George G. Bishop, and to his enviable standing as a citizen. He was a man who always con- tributed freely of his time and means to any proj- ect that promised to be of benefit to the public, and he was especially active in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church. In politics he was a Democrat, but his party allegiance did not need official honors to keep it steadfast. His death, which occurred August 10, 1888, was mourned throughout the community where he had so long been a prominent figure. His wife, who died June 6, 1850, was formerly Miss Julia A. Taylor, a daughter of Benjamin Taylor, and a member of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of this county. Seven chil- dren were born of the union, of whom our sub- ject is now the only survivor.

W. F. Bishop was born December 4, 1844, in Norwalk, where he spent the first eighteen years of his life. In early manhood he went to New York City and became a member of the Stock Exchange, with which he has now been connected for more than a quarter of a century. In December, 1887, he returned to his native

town, and he has since made his home there. He takes great interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his city and town, is a life director in the Norwalk Hospital, and a vestryman in Grace Episcopal Church. Politically he is an ardent Republican, his belief in the principle of pro- tection being strengthened by the experiences of the company with which his family is so inti- mately connected. He was married in 1869 to Miss Anna Norris Smith, daughter of the late Adon Smith, of New York City; she died in 1871. In 1877 he married Miss Jennie L. Stearns, of New York, a daughter of Joseph A. Stearns and a granddaughter of Dr. John Stearns, who was the first president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of that city. Three children- Marjorie, William F., Jr., and Grace (who died in infancy)-have blessed this marriage. So- cially, Mr. Bishop and his wife are prominent, and he is a member of various fraternal orders, including the F. & A. M., and others.

AREDERICK E. SILLIMAN, a well-known contractor of Bridgeport, is senior member of the firm of Silliman & Godfrey, who are now extensively interested in the construction of Trin- idad asphalt pavements, also concrete walks. drives, curbs and gutters, with offices at No. 3 Post Office Arcade. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Silliman has been engaged in these lines of business in Bridgeport, and he is also actively associated with the various social, relig- ious and philanthropic movements of his city.

The Silliman family originated in Italy, the name being at one time Sillimandi; but our sub- ject's ancestors settled in Holland at an early period, and there remained some time. The first of the name in America came about 1640, and the first home of the family in this country was at Holland Heights (named after Holland whence they had come), in the town of Fairfield, about two miles from Bridgeport; but the branch to which our subject belongs removed to Easton, and has been chiefly engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. Mr. Silliman is of the sixth gen- eration in descent from Nathaniel Silliman, the line being traced through Daniel, David, David (2), and Ezra Silliman, the last named being our subject's father. Nathaniel Silliman was broth- er of Ebenezer Silliman, who graduated at Yale, 1727; his son, Gold Selleck Silliman, was briga- dier-general in the Revolutionary war, and his son, Benjamin Silliman, was professor of chemistry in Yale, 1802.

David Silliman (2), the grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Easton, and

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followed farming there through life. He mar- ried Catherine Adams, a member of a prominent pioneer family, and a daughter of Ephraim Adams, a merchant, who was much esteemed as a citizen, and served for a number of years as justice of the peace. Four children were born to this marriage, viz .: (1) Catherine married Rev. Alva Gregory, a Baptist minister, who preached in Stepney, Conn., for a number of years; (2) Ezra was the father of our subject; (3) David, Jr. (deceased), was a farmer in Easton; and (4) Clarissa died unmarried.

Ezra Silliman, the father of our subject, was born November 29, 1798, in Easton, where he grew to manhood and engaged in farming. In 1843 he sold his property there, and bought a small farm of twenty acres at Bridgeport, now within the limits of the West side. For many years he was president of the Western Turnpike Company, and as a business man and a citizen he enjoys a high reputation. his strict honesty and uprightness winning the respect and confi- dence of all who knew him. In his youth he united with the Baptist Church in Easton, in which he held the office of deacon when only thirty years old, and after his removal to Bridge- port he served in a similar capacity in the Church there for forty years. Politically he was origin- ally a Whig, later a Republican. He died April 27, 1883, leaving the memory of years of good deeds. His wife, Lucinda (Burton), who died November 7, 1881, was a daughter of Elijah Burton, and a granddaughter of Benjamin Burton, both well-known residents of the town of Trumbull. Our subject was the youngest in a family of three children, the others being: Emily, who died at the age of twelve years; and David G., who is not married and resides in Los Angeles, Cal., being extensively interested in business operations in the West. He owns a ranch of 3,000 acres in Montana, and is also active in mining, having valuable property in Alaska, California and Montana.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 108

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