Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 111

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

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Turney comes of good pioneer stock, his great-grandfather, Albert Turney (1), having em- igrated from Scotland at an early period to make his home in the town of Easton, this county. Albert Turney (2). our subject's grandfather, was born in the town of Easton, and followed farming there throughout his later years. James M. Turney, the father of our subject, was also a native of Easton, and for many years he was en- gaged in mercantile business in Easton. Stepney, Redding and Bridgeport, his death occurring in the latter place in 1882. He was an exemplary citizen, and his patriotism was shown by gallant service in the Union army during the Civil war. His wife, Martha (Skelly,, was born under the English flag on the Island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea. Of their four children, our subject is the eldest; Lemuel E. died at the age of three years; Charles, a traveling salesman, is a

resident of Chicago; and Elmer W. is in the res- taurant business in New York City. The mother of these died in 1890.

Lyman M. Turney was born February 20, 1848, in the town of Easton, but a portion of his boyhood was spent in Redding and Stepney, his father's business causing the removal of the fam- ily from Easton. In 1863 he entered the United States Marine Corps, spending two years and four months on the flagship " Roanoke," on the James and Potomac rivers, and then returned to New York City, in the fall of the same year being assigned to duty assergeant on the " Brooklyn," visiting Rio Janeiro and other points in Brazil. I and spending same time on the river Platte. On

I after four years and four months service. Later i he was offered a lieutenancy in the army, but de- clined the honor, and for some time he remained at his old home at Redding. In 1869 he removed to Bridgeport. where he became connected with the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co., with which he has since remained. Politically he is a Republican, but he is not inclined to seek official honors, and at one time, when elected city sher- iff he did not serve. He has held the office of city treasurer, however, and at present is a member of the board of selectmen.

In 1871 Mr. Turney married Miss Lucy O. White, daughter of William H. White, of Bridge- port, and five children have blessed the union; Arthur C., Maud L., Vera M., Nina and Ruth. The family is prominent in the best social circles of the city, and Mr. Turney is identified with the I. O. O. F., the Masonic Fraternity, being a Knight Templar, the Park City Yacht Club, the G. A. R., and the Algonquin Club.

D AVID B. CAREY. There is probably no man in the city of Stamford better known throughout this section than Mr. Carey, who has been station agent at that place for almost a quarter of a century. This fact alone would be sufficient to account for his wide popularity and acquaintance, but he is also well known as an an active. public-spirited citizen, who has proved faithful to the interests of his community in the various offices which he has been chosen to fill, and discharged his duties with marked ability, uprightness and fidelity.

Mr. Carey was born December 13, 1847. in Brooklyn. N. Y., of which city his father, Giles Carey, was also a native. The latter was mar- ried in New York City to Mary Frazer Brown (who was a descendant of General Frazer of the Revolutionary war), and in 1855 they removed

Digitized by Google

- -

548

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with his family to Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., where they made their permanent home. Mr. Carey was a carpenter by trade, and he followed same until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted for three years, becoming a member of Company D. 6th Conn. V. I. He was honorably discharged after two years' serv- ice on account of disability, and returned home to Stamford, as soon as he wasable resuming his trade, in which he was engaged all his active life. He now lives retired at the age of seventy-three years, in Stamford, in which city his wife passed away in 1894. They were the parents of five children, namely: David Brown, Edward Brown, Ida (Mrs. F. I. Palmer), of Sound Beach; Jennie (Mrs. Frank Allen), of Stamford; and George D., who resides at Sound Beach.

David B. Carey's early childhood was spent in his native city, whence he came with his par- ents to Stamford in 1855. There for a time he attended the public school, the learning thus ac- quired being supplemented by a course in Glen- denning's Academy, where he was a student for two years. During a period of four and one-half years before he entered the academy he was em- ployed in Lockwood & Haight's drug store. Shortly after casting his first Presidential vote he was appointed recording clerk of Stamford, un- der Edwin Scofield, Jr., and continued in that office for two and one-half years, until, in 1871, he began his service with the Consolidated Road as clerk for George H. Hoyt. In October, 1873, he succeeded Mr. Hoyt as agent at Stamford, and he has been retained in that position ever since, a fact which in itself is ample evidence of his trustworthiness and fitness for the place. He has continued to shoulder the responsibilities of this position year after year with unabated en- ergy and ever-increasing efficiency, and in a manner which has given unbounded satisfaction to the general public. and proved most accept- able to his employers. The ability and tact dis- played in his business life would hardly fail to win public recognition, and his fellow citizens have not been slow in showing their appreciation of his value by electing him to various offices of honor and trust, in filling which he has never yet disappointed his constituency. He was a mem- ber of the board of burgesses of Stamford for four years; in 1891 was nominated on the Demo- cratic ticket for Representative to the State As- sembly; and in 1892 was elected a member of the city council. At one time he was vice-presi- dent of the Stamford Co-operative Building & Loan Association. He is an active member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Masonic Frater- nity in Stamford, affiliating with Union Lodge

No. 5. Rittenhouse Chapter and Washington Council.

Mr. Carey was married May 12, 1873, in New York City, to Miss Helen B. Wilson, daugh- ter of Israel H. Wilson, of Bethel, Conn., and to this union came two children: Leon B. and Harry W. The former is engaged in the in- surance business in New York City; he married Maude Brody, daughter of ex-mayor Brody, of Brooklyn, and has two children: Helen and Robert. Harry W. Carey graduated from Yale University with the class of '97, and has now en- tered upon a four-years' medical course in the Johns Hopkins University.

J JAMES MADISON HERRING, who holds a leading place among the enterprising and prominent business men of Stamford, Conn., is a native of New York State, born September. 9, 1849, in Rockland county. His ancestry for some few generations back were of New York State nativity, great-grandfather Herring having been born in New York City, and grandfather William Herring on Staten Island.

Luke Herring, father of our subject, was of New York City birth, where for a long time he followed the occupation of contractor and builder. the later years of his life, however, being passed in Rockland county, N. Y. He married a Miss Henderson, and children as follows were born to them: Mary J., Uretta, Eliza J., John H., Amy C., Catherine E., James M .. William H. and Charles E. The father died August 14, 1876, the mother on February 25, 1888.

James M. Herring, whose name introduces this sketch, passed his boyhood days in the town of Haverstraw, Rockland Co., N. Y., where he attended the public schools. On laying aside his books he began learning his trade under the preceptorship of his father, after which he served a regular apprenticeship of three years, and then worked two years under instruction. At the age of twenty he commenced as a journeyman, and so continued until 1883, working in Brooklyn, N. Y., some fourteen years. In 1886 he came to Stamford, and here established himself in his present prosperous business as general contractor and builder.

On May 15, 1872, in Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Herring was married to Miss Elmira Johnson, of Brooklyn, and two children have blessed their union: Grace, wife of E. Jerman, of Stamford; and E. May. In religious faith the family are identified with the M. E. Church. Socially, Mr. Herring is a member of the New England Order I of Protection; of the Independent Order of Im-

Digitized by Google

544

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

proved Red Men; of Rippawan Lodge No. 24, 1. O. O. F., and of the Knights of Pythias. Among the numerous buildings of various kinds put up by Mr. Herring in Stamford alone, may be mentioned seven dwellings on Pleasant street. His life has been successful, and he may well be proud of his enviable position in society, for his prosperity is the just reward of his own labors.

D AVID W. STUDWELL, a substantial cit - izen of Stamford, Fairfield county, where for twenty years or more he has been engaged in contracting and building, has descended from one of the pioneer families of Connecticut-a family whose history here reaches back nearly two and a half centuries. He is of the eighth generation in the line of descent from Thomas Studwell, a native of England, who came to America and settled in Greenwich, Conn .. about the year 1650. [ A genealogical record of the | Studwell family will be found in connection with the sketch of James W. Studwell. ]

David W. Studwell is a native of Rye, N. Y .. born December 27, 1849. He passed his boy- hood in the place of his nativity, and there at- tended the public schools. He learned the car- penter's trade at Rye. under the direction of his ! father, and after its completion he worked at the same at Rve for two years. Later he fol- lowed carpentering for years at Stamford, and in 1880 he engaged in that line of business for him- self in connection with his brother, James W'., under the firm name of Studwell Brothers. This firm continued until 1892, since which time our subject has been alone, conducting an ex- tensive contracting and building business. Dur- ing the past twenty years the name of Studwell

On January 28. 1891. Mr. Merchant married has been connected with many of the substan- | Miss Emma J. Saver, daughter of James and tial buildings and improvements of Stamford and ! Elizabeth J. (Reed) Saver, of Danbury. Her : mother was a daughter of David and Mary | (Hoyt) Reed.

in other parts of Fairfield county, where our subject is well and favorably known. As a citi- zen he has been enterprising and public-spirited, and lent not a little aid in measures that advanced the common welfare of Stamford. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, and popular in social cir-

to New York. He married Susan Bundy, a de- scendant of one of the " Mayflower " families, I and had a family of seven children, the fifth child, George M. (father of Mrs. Studwell), being 1 born in 1819. He married Christiana Taylor, a native of Somersetshire, England. He died April 9, 1897, she on January 19, 1893. They were the parents of two children: Susie C., now the wife of Ralph R. Guernsay, of Otego, N. Y .. and Alveline A. (Mrs. David W.Studwell). The great-grandfather of Mrs. Studwell served in the Revolutionary war.

J YOEL MERCHANT, one of the substantial citizens of the Pembroke District, town of Danbury, Fairfield county, was born in Fair- I field county, March 25, 1846, in the town of Red- I ding, where two generations of his family have made the name respected by their upright though unassuming lives.

Joel and Mollie (Sanford) Merchant, parents of our subject. resided there upon a farm, and his father, the late Asher Sanford Merchant, was born there May 18, 1811, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits. In 1868 he moved to Dan- bury, and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred August 4. 1884. Our i subject's mother. Mrs. Sarah (Haviland) Mer- | chant, who died April 11, 1898, was born in | Ridgefield May 12, 1817, the daughter of Reed and Amy (Gilbert) Haviland.

Joel Merchant, whose name introduces these ! lines, was educated in the common schools near his home. Until 1868 he resided in his native town, and he then removed to a place adjoining his present home.

C HARLES HUBERT WARD is the surviving member of the old druggist firm of Parker & -- the longest established in their line (excepting Lockwood & Haight) in Stamford, Fairfield county. The partners came here together from

cles. He is a member of the New England | Ward-Ward R. Parker and Charles H. Ward Order of Protection, and has served as an officer in the same

On September 26, 1877, at Otego, N. Y., Mr. Studwell was married to Miss Alveline A. | New York City in 1876, and opened a drug store French, a daughter of George Morell and Chris- I in Park Row. under the firm name mentioned. tiana (Taylor) French, and this union has been | the establishment being removed later to the blessed with one son, Royden F., born June 9, | present quarters in Miller's block, Main street. 1881. The French family belong originally (in Mr. Parker's decease in 1889 ended a long and this country) to Massachusetts, whence Abel : harmonious business partnership and a lifelong French, grandfather of Mrs. Studwell, moved | friendship, begun when they were boys together

Digitized by Google

Joel Merchant

Google

Digitized by

Google

---

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at New Bedford, Mass., of which town both ; they had no children. In social connection Mr. were natives.

Mr. Ward was born February 8, 1847, a son of Archibald and Elizabeth (Tobey) Ward, the former of whom was a native of New York State, but spent the greater part of his life in California, J OHN F. HOLMES. The northeastern part of Ireland is inhabited by a race of people, an intermixture of the hardy .. metaphysical Scot " with the wit of Ireland, and to this race of people belong many of our most honored families. Abraham Holmes, the founder of the Holmes engaged in mining. Both parents died in New Bedford, Mass. Our subject received his early education at his birthplace, where he remained | until seventeen years of age, at which time he went to New York City: there for four years he was connected with a tug and wrecking firm who : family in America, was one of those in whose ran a line of heavy sea-towing tugs, and he then | turned his attention to the drug business, which |

I blood was an admixture of the Scotch and the Irish. He was born in 1683, came to America he adopted as his life vocation. He commenced i in 1719, and had a large tract of land in New as a clerk in New York City, and passed the : Hampshire. Before coming to this country he College of Pharmacy there, also the New York State Board of Pharmacy, after which he con- tinued clerking in a drug store, finally becoming a clerk in New York City, for twelve years. In

had married Mary Morrison, and they had one son, John, born in 1709, who was probably an , 1 agriculturist. John Holmes married Grizel Given, who was born in 1701, and they had children as 1876, as above stated, he and Mr. Parker estab- I follows: Sarah, born May 11, 1735; Margaret, lished the business in Stamford, where they at once met with most encouraging success, soon winning a place for themselves among the prom- :

born October 21, 1736; Abraham, born May 18, 1738; Eloner. born June 15, 1740; Robert, born September 28, 1742; Thomas, born December inent business men and substantial citizens of 1 9, 1746, mentioned below; Marian, born May the town. This store has always been well | 8, 1749; and Martha, born November 3, 1752. patronized, and has held its own throughout the years against all competitors. Since Mr. Park- er's death his interest has been held by Mrs. I Patterson, who was born November 4, 1755, and Parker, who is Mr. Ward's sister.

Thomas Holmes, son of John, passed his entire life as a farmer. He married Margaret 1 died October 19, 1838. He died April 9, 1822. i Following is the record of their family of chil- dren: (1) Sarah, born December 18, 1776, died June 4. 1826, married Amos Page, who was born February 2, 1777, and died February 4, 1826.

Mr. Ward was married. October 31, 1881, in Stamford, to Miss Emily B. Bayliss, daughter . of John and Eliza (Bray) Bayliss, of New York City, who are of English descent. No children have been born to this union. Mr. and Mrs. | (2) John, born December 19. 1779, died Sep- Ward reside in Broad street. in the home where , tember 21, 1857, married Sarah Anderson, who they began their married life. Mrs. Ward is

was born February 25. 1783, and died March 9. endowed with unusual talent as an artist. and in | 1819. (3) Grizel, born June 18, 1782, died her home has many specimens of her handiwork, . April 12. 1832, married Thomas Savory, who in oil and water color: her work on china is also , died December 15, 1867. (4) Peter, born Octo- elaborate and beautiful. In fraternal connec- i ber 10, 1783, died July 14, 1860, married Olive tion Mr. Ward is a member of Excelsior Lodge, I Graves, who died April 3. 1851. (5) Robert, Knights of Pythias, at Stamford.

born April 7. 1785, died July 17, 1825, married Jane Anderson, who died December 10, 1871.

Ward R. Parker was reared and educated at New Bedford, Mass., and during the years of : (6) Margaret, born February 12, 1787, died February 16, 1868, married William Boyd, who

his early manhood sailed from that port in the merchant marine. Later he engaged in the tug . died July 17, 1841. (7) Thomas, born Decem- and wrecking business, which he closed out in 1876, when he took up his residence in Stam- '

ber 18. 1788, died July 23, 1848, married Sally Graves, who died in August, 1857. (8) Abra- ford as a member of the firm of Parker & Ward, , ham, born October 13, 1791, is mentioned continuing thus until his decease in 1889. He was ' below. (9) James, born March 26, 1793. died March 10, 1867, married (first) Martha Baker and (second) Susannah Coleman. (10) Mat-

a highly respected man in the community. where he had made many friends both in business and social circles, and where he had acquired an ; thew, born October 2, 1795, died September 14, enviable reputation as an honest man and a good 1874, married Betsey Fitts, who was born Feb- ruary 3, 1796, and died January 31, 1856. (11) William, born May 24, 1797, died May 11, 1885, citizen. At New Bedford he was married to Lilla E. Ward, daughter of Archibald Ward; 35

Digitized by Google

545

- - Parker was an active member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., of Stamford.

546

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Judith Noyes, who died October 2, 1885. | are now living in New Haven. Their children (12) Jane F., born April 3. 1799, died Novem- | are: Walter T., born January 30, 1871; Carrie ber 1, 1872, married George A. Raymond, who | L., born May 8, 1875; Florence, born February was born August 25, 1785, and died in February. 1 2, 1877. Of these, Walter T. married Lulie 1870.

Kiernan April 23, 1896, and Carrie L. married, Abraham Holmes, about 1823 or 1824. came : on June 10, 1896, Cyrus L. Jones. (7) Esther to Ridgefield, Conn., from the old home in Lon- donderry. N. H. (a part of which is now owned by, and is the residence of, Thomas Holmes). and bought the place where Dr. Cushman now lives. This place remained in the possession of K .. twin sister of A. Wilson, born March 8, 1844, died February 20. 1847. (8) John Franklin, born March 29, 1847, was married August 31. | 1869, to Lizzie Rexford Hatch, who was born | in Lewisboro, N. Y., February 6, 1850, a daugh- the Holmes family for over sixty years. By oc- I ter of Orville Wells and Mary Hatch. Their cupation Mr. Holmes was a tanner, and he fol- ; i children are Lena Esther, born July 4, 1874; lowed this trade some forty years. He married | Orville Wells, born November 8, 1877, and Irv- Esther Smith, who was born February 9. 1806, ing Smith, born August 27, 1884. Abraham Holmes, the father of this numerous progeny. 1 was a very successful business man, and spent | the later years of his life managing the farm in- herited by his wife. He was a Congregational- ist. and very much interested in all matters | pertaining to religion. His political preference I was for the Republican party, and he carefully studied the political issues, becoming very well informed on all sides of a question. He died July 2, 187S. and died September 6, 1887, and they had chil- dren as follows: (1) Amos, born November 20, 1828, died November 24, 1852, unmarried; he was a civil engineer on the Chicago & Rock Is]- and railroad. (2) Patterson, born September 1, 1830, married. on July 3. 1854, Helen M. Snow, who was born March 16, 1835. He was a civil engineer, and served as county surveyor of Henry county, Ill., for sixteen years, and he was also treasurer of the same county six years. He now resides in Chicago. Children as follows were born to him and his wife: Lillian S., September 25, | 1855: Ida N .. April 12, 1857; Fred L., October 7, 1864 (married Lucy D. Best on September 15, 1895); Charles P., 1871 (died January 16. 1873); and Roy W .. born September 18, 1875. who died September 27. 1893. (3) Margaret W .. born September 1, 1834. married, on September 25, 1 856. Linus O Northrop, who was born June 9, 1830, and they had children as follows: Caro H., born October 30, 1860. who married Lillie Jen- nings on June 4, 1885; Arthur W., born August 18. 1862. who married Annie Hammond Febru- ary 4. 1891 ; and Horace W., born November 11, 1864. who was married January 16, 1895. to Lil- lie Wright. and lives in New York City. Mar- garet (Holmes) Northorp died August 25, 1885. (4) Sarah J., born March 16, 1840, was married on November 28. 1861, to John Dempster Nash, who was born May 25, 1838, and had children: I become largely interested in fruit culture. Marion H., born No ember 15, 1862; Luther R., born January 22. 1871 (married Bonnibel Rem- ington October 15. 1896), and Howard P., born February 17. 1877. (5) Mary A .. born June 9. 1842. was married on June 28, 1871, to Charles D. Page. who was born May 29. 1839. and moved to New Haven. They had the following children: Abbie H., born October 19, 1872, and Fred H .. born November 1, 1874. The mother died November 25, 1880. (6) A. Wilson. born .

March 8. 1844. married, April 7, 1869, Emma ]. Hurl, who was born January 13, 1849, and they

John F. Holmes, whose name introduces this review, and whose life history is of great inter- est, was born March 29, 1847, in the town of Ridgefield. The district schools and the select I school of William O. Seymour - the High | Ridge Institute for Boys-afforded him the means for the foundation of the excellent educa- tion he has acquired since leaving the schoolroom by wide and varied reading. At the age of seventeen he saw his school days vanish, with only a bright happy memory in their place, and confronted with the sterner realities of existence he began work on the farm where he now lives. He has always followed farming as an occupa- tion, and by a judicious use of improved ma- | chinery, scientific methods, proved efficient by their practicability, and wise management, he ! has become one of the important factors in the agricultural world of Fairfield county. He has peaches, pears and quinces being his specialties: he was the first in the town to foresee the ad- vantages of this culture. and is now reaping the reward of his experiment. He is also one of the largest onion growers in the place, and the supe- rior quality of his fruit and produce finds it a ready market in the larger cities. Mr. Holmes was one of the first board of directors of the | Ridgefield Co-operative Creamery Association. and is now the honored secretary of the associa- I tion, in whose work he takes great interest. In local politics he has played an influential part.

Digitized by Google

547

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and has long been one of the leaders of the Re- publican party. He served his fellow citizens as constable and grand juror, and in 1887 he was called upon to fill the more impor- tant position of member of the Legislature. He discharged the duties of this office with the same fidelity which has characterized his work in minor places, the minutest detail not failing to receive his attention. In the work of the Con- gregational Church he is ever one of the most active, and for twelve years has filled the office of superintendent of the Sunday-school. He belonged to the State militia for five years under Captain Scott. Few men find time to so con- scientiously look after the different lines of work that fall to their lot as does Mr. Holmes. What- ever he undertakes he does well and faithfully, being sustained and cheered by the respect and esteem of all men.

Esther (Smith) Holmes, the mother of our subject, was a daughter of Amos Smith, whose grandfather, Ebenezer Smith, was one of the first settlers of Ridgefield in 1709, locating on the same property, on Main street, near the railroad station, which was owned by Amos Smith, and which has always been in the Smith family, being now owned and occupied by Miss Evalyn Smith. It is also of special interest that the above men- tioned Ebenezer Smith was a grandson of John Smith, who was one of the first settlers of Mil- ford, Conn., in 1640, and whose name is inscribed on a memorial bridge built over Indian river on the 250th anniversary of that town in 1890. John Smith, father of Amos Smith, was born June 24, 1730, and died February 28, 1779. On October 29. 1751, he was united in marriage with Clemence Mills, who was born May 18, 1733. and died March 14, 1828. In their family were children as follows: Lydia, born November 19, 1752; Abiah, December 12, 1757; John, March 15, 1759: Sarah, September 26, 1763; Phebe November 16, 1765; and Amos, mentioned below.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 111

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