Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 112

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

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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).

Amos Smith was born November 12, 1768, and died March 13, 1859. He followed the occu- pation of a farmer, and acquired considerable property, at the time of his death having about three hundred acres of land. On January 1, 1797. he married Sarah Keeler, who was born April 26, 1774, and died September 19, 1854. Their union was blessed with twelve children: Millicent, born November 30, 1797, died Decem- ber 24. 1865; Betsey, born October 23, 1799, died August 19, 1869; John, born February 17, 1801, died August 27. 1848; Philip L., born October 2, 1802, died February 14, 1857; Stephen, born August 10, 1804, died February

26, 1879; Esther, mother of our subject; Sylves- ter, born November 25, 1807, died December 25, 1827; Emma, born October 6, 1809, died November 21, 1896; Amos, born October 4, 1811, died May 4, 1881; Harvey K., born March 15, 1813, died June 21, 1887; Benjamin, born Feb- ruary 12, 1815, died January 10, 1891, in Chi- cago; and Samuel, born October 18, 1816, died August 21, 1889.

DANIEL B. BRADLEY, JR., of Westport, is one of the leading citizens of that locality, and is now serving with marked ability and suc- cess as judge of probate for his district. While he is a Republican of the stanchest sort, his pub- lic spirit is recognized by the people of all part- ies, and few men enjoy as wide a popularity as he.

The Judge belongs to one of the oldest fam- ilies of the town of Westport, and his great- grandfather, Maj. Daniel Bradley, who was a farmer in that town, was an officer in the Revo- lutionary army, his commission bearing the sig- nature of General Washington. Daniel B. Brad- ley (1), our subject's grandfather, was born in Westport, and followed agricultural pursuits there throughout life. Daniel B. Bradley (2), our subject's father, known as Daniel B. Brad- ley, Sr., was born in Westport, in November, 1823, and is now living there upon his farm. He is an excellent citizen, highly respected, and in politics is a stanch Republican, while in religious faith he and his estimable wife are Congregation- alists. He married Miss Sarah M. Henshaw, of Westport, daughter of Samuel Henshaw, who was a native of Fairfield. Their four children are all living, and are residents of the town of Westport. William is a farmer by occupation; Daniel B., Jr., is our subject; Emily married Robert H. Coley; and Frances A. is the wife of William F. Ellwood, a merchant of Southport village.

Judge Bradley was born April 11, 1850, at the old homestead, where his boyhood was chiefly spent. After completing the course offered in the local schools he attended the academy at Greens Farms, and Bryant & Stratton's Business College at Bridgeport, and at the age of seven- teen he began teaching school. This occupation he continued successfully for six years in the town of Westport and at Hempstead, L. I., then engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Mount Kisco, N. Y., with L. B. Gor- ham, under the firm name of Gorham & Brad- ley. After two years he sold his interest and re- turned to Westport, where he has ever since

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been interested in agriculture. He has always | been active in local affairs, and has held numer- ous public offices of trust and responsibility, | of the Democratic party. serving eleven years as selectman, ten years as On October 21, 1874, Mr. Field married Miss justice of the peace, two years as president of | Elizabeth Raymond, and one son brightens their the board of education, and for a still longer | home, Raymond T., born October 14, 1886. Mrs. Field was born December 13, 1850, the youngest of the eight children of John D. and Eliza (Raymond) Raymond, of Danbury. The others were-William (deceased March 22, 1891). who married Susan Dibble, of Bethel, and had two children-Carrie and Grace; Henry (deceased March 18, 1862), who married Sophia Smith. and has one son, Arthur; George N., who mar- ried Miss Emily Sherwood, and resides in Bridge- port; John M., who married Miss Lucy Abbott, and died in 1889 (she survives); Charles, who

time as a member of the latter body. In Octo- ber, 1896, he was elected judge of probate, and he is also identified at the present time with vari- ous movements for local improvement, having been a director in the Willow Brook Cemetery Association for ten years past. His sagacity and foresight are appreciated in business circles, and for eight years he has been a director in the First National Bank at Westport. Socially, he and his family are prominent, and he is an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Westport Grange, P. of H. | died in infancy; Mary Catherine, wife of James In religious connection he belongs to Trinity Episcopal Church, and is a member of the vestry.

On December 29, 1875, Judge Bradley mar- ried Miss Sarah A. Coley, daughter of Lonson Coley, a well-known resident of Westport. She passed to the unseen world April 27. 1890, and in November. 1892, he married Mrs. Grace A. Weed. daughter of Floyd K. and Eleanor Hunt, of Ridgefield. this county, where her paternal ancestors settled in pioneer times. By his first marriage the Judge had two children: Herbert S. (now deceased) and Edith C.

W WILLIAM RUNDLE FIELD. The Field homestead in the Mill Plain District, town of Danbury, Fairfield county, is a beautiful estate of 120 acres, lying on the line between New York and Connecticut, and it has been in the possession of the family since 1 ;- , the well- known agriculturist whose name appears at the opening of this sketch being of the fifth genera- tion in descent from the first purchaser. It con- sists partly of woodland, a number of acres being heavily timbered, but the remainder is kept in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Field was born upon this estate Novem- ber 9. 1850, and has always resided there. His education was obtained in the schools of Mill Plain, and during boyhood he also acquired a | practical knowledge of farm work. On leaving school he continued to assist his father, relieving him of active care, and at his death becoming the sole owner of the place. He keeps about twenty head of cattle and horses, and is a gen- eral farmer, making no specialties in his work. ; While he has never had the wish to enter po- litical life, he feels a keen interest in all ques-

tions which affect the public welfare, local or | national, and his influence is given to the support

B. Wildman, of Danbury, who has two children -Chaster and Bessie: and Sarah (deceased Au- gust 11, 1887). who was the wife of George Bar- num, of Danbury.

The Field family is of English descent, and a brief history of the branch to which our subject belongs will be of interest. The name has under- gone some changes, being rendered Feld, Feild. or Field, by various families of Harton, Shipley. Heaton and Ardsley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and of Bayside, Flushing, N. Y. The first ancestor of whom we have an authentic mention is one William Feld of the Parish Bradford, Yorkshire, England, letters of administration having been granted on April 21, 1480, to his widow Katharine, as administratrix of his estate. [Of the second and third genera- tions we have no record.]

IV. William Feild, of Great Horton, parish of Bradford, Yorkshire, Eng., was named in the will of his brother Thomas, and obtained a grant of land in Horton, in 1590, from John de Lacy. Lord of Horton. His will was dated March 3. 1598-99. and proved July 4, 1599; he was buried at Bradford May 23, 1599. Jenet, his wife, who was named in her husband's will, was buried in Bradford Church June 14, 1612. V. William Feild resided in Somerley, parish of Halifax, in 1591, and at North Ouram, same parish, in 1595. He was named in his brother Robert's will, and his own was dated July 15, 1619, and proved November 10, 1619. He was buried at Halifax July 24. 1619. His wife Susan, daughter | of John Midgley, of North Ouram, was baptized at Halifax December 5, 15-, and was married there June 1, 1591. Her will, dated February 24, 1622-23. was proved May 14, 1623, and she I was buried at Halifax, March 6, 1622-23. VI. | Robert Field, born at Halifax March 9, 1605-06,

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was named in the wills of both parents. On August 23, 1638, he was at Newport, R. I., and on October 10, 1645. he was a patentee of Flushing, N. Y .; he died there in 1673 at his home in Bayside. He was married at Bradford, May 18, 1630, to his second wife, Elizabeth Taylor, and a third wife, Charity, was living at the time of his death.

VII. Anthony Field, of Flushing, was granted lands by his father by deed dated February 12, 1653. He signed public documents in 1656-57, and is named in patents of Flushing of February 16, 1665. He was dead when his son Benjamin was married in 1691. Susannah his wife, named in a letter to her daughter-in-law, Hannah Bowne, was living November 30, 1691. VIII. Benjamin Field, of Flushing, L. 1., N. Y., the youngest son of Anthony, was born in 1690, and died at Flushing December 1, 1732. He is de- scribed in a record as " an ancient Friend." His third wife, whom he married at Flushing April 13, 1727, was Sarah Taylor, a widow. Her will, dated November 26, 1732, was proved March 20, 1734, and leaves her property to her grand- sons, Doughty and March. IX. Joseph Field, named in the records of Flushing, was born there : June 12, 1702, and was the purchaser of the present homestead. He married Mary (or Molly) Denton about . 1719. Their children were: Solo- mon, born 1738, died 1815; Nehemiah, born February, 1740, died December 20, 1814; Joseph, who was an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary war, died unmarried; Gilbert, born 1743, died June 17, 1832; Nancy. born 1745; Comfort, born 1746, died February 24, 1829; Elnathan was the great-grandfather of our subject; Mary, born (no record); Hannah, born 1760, died February 25, 1835; Rebecca, born February 28. 1764, died January 18, 1843. X. Elnathan Field died in June or July, 1814. He married Jane Palmer, and resided at the present homestead. He had five children: Joseph, our subject's grandfather; Molly, Elias, Hepsibeth and Betsey. XI. Joseph, who was born January 30, 1779, at Ridgefield. Conn., died October 8, 1859, in Southeast. On Febru- ary 11, 1801, he married Mary Rundle, who was born in New Fairfield, January 28, 1778, and died November 17, 1826. They had eleven children, whose names, with dates of birth and death are as follows: Delight, April 22, 1803- June 2, 1848: Selah, June 24, 1805-September 29, 1889; Electa, April 20, 1807-May 31, 1896; Harriet, April 10, 1809-February 20, 1812; Bet- sey, March 11, 1811-February 26, 1871; Isaac Thompson, December 9, 1812-March 23, 1895; George, November 4, 1814-August 16, 1837;

Mary A., August 22, 1817, still living; William R., April 21, 1819-January 27, 1844, at Hunts- burg, Ohio; Jane, May 29, 1821-April 23, 1882, | at Catskill, N. Y .; Joseph, March 3, 1823-De- cember 1, 1895.

XII. Isaac Thompson Field, our subject's father. was born at Madison, Madison Co., N. Y. He was a Quaker in religious faith. In early manhood he followed the hatter's trade, | but after spending eleven years at that occupa- 1 tion he bought the old homestead from a brother- in-law and settled there, his death occurring in Danbury. On October 9, 1846, he married Miss Mary A. Brush, who died December 7, 1876. Of their four children, the eldest, John Brush, | born August 11, 1847, married Miss Jane Shep- ard, and died in 1870, leaving no children. Mary Jane, born October 21, 1848, died January 18, 1875, unmarried. William R. was the third in the family. Lucy E., born March 12, 1853, married Byron P. Risley, of Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., and they have had four children- John T., Mary J. and Field A., living, and one that died in infancy.

C HARLES E. MOREHOUSE, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the town of Redding, represents the third generation in the family who have followed agricultural pur- suits.

William Morehouse, his grandfather, was born November 12, 1786, in the town of Mar- gall, Conn., and was there educated. Early in life he located in the town of Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., and for the first few nights slept under the ox-cart in which he traveled. He be- gan the manufacture of brick there, and made the greater number that went into construction of the early houses and church buildings of that town. He erected a brick mill, and in addition to the milling business conducted a feed store and sold lumber. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the town, held local offices, and was a man of influence in the community. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat. He married Miss Julia Stone, who was born Febru- ary 27, 1754, at Margall, Conn., and died March 10, 1825. Their children were: (1) Julius, born in the town of Sharon. married Elizabeth Den- nison, and figured quite conspicuously in public affairs; he was a fluent and able speaker, of Dem- ocratic views, and held various town offices. By occupation he was a miller and farmer. Their children were: Julia (Mrs. Charles Prindle), Al- bina (Mrs. Gerden Van Rensselaer), James, Annie, Joseph, Lilly, and Henry. (2) Chauncey

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(father of our subject), born in the town of Sha- granddaughter of Burr Wilson. The latter was born in the town of Easton, received a good common-school education, and through life was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Politically he was a Republican, and was active in the public affairs of his town, holding different offices, and was a citizen of worth. He was identified with the Congregational Church. He married Polly Burr, and their children were as follows: Aaron married Angeline Winton; Harriet married Moses Ogden; Eliza is single; Sarah married William Corning; Z. Burr: and Esther married Alba Will- Z. Burr Wilson was a native of Easton, where his birth occurred July 2, 1834. He mar- ron, Litchfield Co., Conn., July 15, 1820, was educated in the local schools, then went into the milling business with his father. After a few years he sold his interest in the mill to one of his brothers, and turned his attention to farming and dealing in cattle, becoming quite an extensive speculator: also dealing largely in sheep and horses. He was a great Church man, being a member of and senior warden in the Episcopal Church of the town of Sharon. He was well read and posted in religious matters, and pos- sessed the ability and power to make his influ- I iams. ence in this direction felt in the community. He | married Clarissa Dennison, a daughter of | ried Amelia Ogden, a daughter of Hezekiah and

James and Rebecca (Couch) Dennison. the | former a prominent Mason and a member of the Episcopal Church. The children born to this marriage (all born in the town of Sharon) are: William was a druggist at Southport, and died unmarried when ared twenty-two; Charles E. is mentioned farther on; Annie died unmarried; | school education, and married Charles E. More- Jennie married Alanson Hallock, and had chil- dren-Chauncy, Clara, Willie, Mary and Jesse; 1 Arthur, a farmer of the town of Sharon, married | Hulda Hill, and they have one child. Stephen; Clara married Aaron Marsh, a farmer of New Milford. Conn .. and has children as follows- Jennie, Sadie and Julia; and Frank is unmarried. (3) Orinda was born December 23, 1822, and married Henry Couch. (4) Jane Ann was born August 17, 1833, and married Southard Hitch- cock.

Charles E. Morehouse was born in the town | of Sharon, Litchfield Co., Conn., February 27. | 1851. He attended the common schools and a select school of his town. His school days over, he engaged for a time in the distillery business, then turned his attention to farming and specu- Jating in stock-cattle, sheep and horses. He owns a large farm of over three hundred acres in the town of Redding. Fairfield county, where he carries on operations quite extensively. He is a most capable business man and systematic farmer, influential in the county where he is widely known and highly esteemed. Mr. Moore- house, as was his father and grandfather before him, is a Democrat in his political views, although he does not always vote the ticket of that party, reserving the right to vote in keep- ing with his judgment of men best fitted for the office under the conditions that arise. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Hamilton Lodge No. 54. of Sharon.

Betsey (Banks) Ogden, farming people of the town of Greenfield, Fairfield county, and had children: (1) Hattie, who was deaf and dumb, married William Bunnell, and had one child- Estelle. (2) Anna F., born in the town of Easton, January 3, 1860, received a common- house. (3) Ella married Edward Gillette, and has three children-Clifford, Mary and Dorothy. (4) Mattie died when young. (5) Sarah married Elmer Andrews: has four children -- Clarence, Mattie, William and Lillian.

James Dennison, grandfather of our subject. 1 1 was born in the North of Ireland, and when a young man came to America, locating for a period in New York, where he was for a time an | auctioneer in the employ of Silas Mann. He was also at one time engaged in the hotel busi- ness in the same city. He finally moved to the town of Redding. Fairfield Co., Conn., where he 1 engaged in farming. He was active in the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a member of the lodge in Redding town. He married Rebecca Couch, and their children were: (1) Abbie J. married Joseph Jennings, and had one child-James, who mar- ried Nettie Hubbel; he is an undertaker in Nor- walk, Conn .; had no children. (2) William, a farmer, died unmarried. (3) Mary Ann also died unmarried. (4) James (a farmer) married Margaret Jackson, and had two children-James, who died when young. and Cynthia. (5) Eliza- beth (mentioned before). (6) Clarissa (men- tioned before).

EDWARD J. BUCKINGHAM. The Buck- ingham family. which is one of the oldest in Connecticut. is of Welsh origin, and the sub- ject of this sketch, a well-known merchant of Huntington Center, is of the seventh generation in descent from Rev. Thomas Buckingham, a

On January 12, 1881, he was married to Miss Anna F. Wilson, and they have no children. She is the daughter of Z. Burr Wilson, and | native of Wales, who sailed from London, Eng-

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land, in the ship "Hector," arriving in Boston June 26, 1637. He became a pioneer settler of New Milford. II. Samuel Buckingham, son of Thomas, was born in 1668. III. Samuel Buck- ingham, son of Samuel (II), was born in 1690, and died in Old Milford in 1745. It is certain that he had property in that town, but there is no evidence that he lived there for any length of time. IV. Enoch Buckingham, son of Samuel (III), was born December 15, 1740, and died May 12, 1814.

V. Enoch Buckingham, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Milford, Conn., April 21, 1778, and died at Huntington, Conn., July 13, 1843. He was a builder of no small repute, and some of the finest houses in the town were built by him. He enlisted from the town of Huntington in the war of 1812, and served gal- lantly throughout the war. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Patterson, was a native of the town of Easton, this county. They had nine children: Betsy, Maria, Mary, Joel (who was superintendent of the Norwalk Lock Company at Norwalk), Charles (a farmer in Huntington), Emily, William, and two who had died in infancy.

VI. William Buckingham, our subject's fa- ther, was born April 1. 1822, in the town of Huntington, and followed agricultural pursuits there for many years, his death occurring April 5, 1894. He was a prominent citizen, a stanch Republican in politics, and in 1881 was chosen to represent his town in the State Legislature. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, and he and his wife were members of the Church at Huntington, Conn. He married Miss Harriet N. Shelton, a member of a prominent family of Huntington and a sister of Dr. Shelton, whose biography appears elsewhere. She is yet living. Two children were born of this union: Henry A., a farmer of the town of Huntington; and Edward J., our subject.

VII. Edward J. Buckingham was born March 12, 1852, at the old homestead in Huntington, and his youth was spent in the manner common to country lads, farm work alternating with attendance at the district school nearby. He remained at home until he was about thirty years old, when he decided to engage in mercantile busi- ness, and on December 1, 1883, he removed to Huntington Center, where he has ever since con- ducted a general store. The building, which is known as the " Old Post Store, " is one of the old- est in the town, having been built in 1771, and he resides in a house which was built in 1772-73, in itself an interesting relic of the olden time. On November 12, 1878, Mr. Buckingham mar- ried Miss Annie B. Thorp, who was born at Flush-

ing, L. I., where her father, Bradley Thorp, a native of Easton, this county, was en- gaged in the milling business. No children have blessed this union. Politically, Mr. Buckingham is a Republican, and he is influ- ential in local affairs, being always ready to pro- mote the best interests of the community. He is treasurer of the Village Improvement Associa- tion, which he helped to organize, and he was instrumental in incorporating the Old Cemetery Association in Huntington. Socially, he and his wife are prominent, and they are leading mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, in which he holds the office of vestryman. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

W ILLIAM FAIRCHILD, a leading agri- culturist of Newtown, is a representative of one of the oldest families of that locality, and in the course of a long and useful life has dis- played the qualities that distinguish a good citi- zen.

Mr. Fairchild was born October 4, 1820, on the same farm which he now owns and occupies as a homestead. He received a good education for his time, attending first the Taunton district school under the tuition of Harry Peck, and later a private school conducted by the same teacher. His early course of study has been supplemented by a wide range of reading, and he is well in- formed upon the various topics of the day. In his youth he and his brother, Henry, engaged in farming at the old homestead, and continued for some years, making additions from time to time until they had an extensive tract of land under cultivation. After a time they divided the farm, owing to the marriage of Henry, our subject se- curing the portion formerly belonging to his par- ents, where he now has a modern residence, re- placing the one in which he first saw the light. As his industry and thrift have brought to him their due returns, he has invested in more land until he now owns about 150 acres, making one of the most desirable farms in the town. He is a judicious manager, being noted for his shrewd use of his opportunities for success, and is re- garded as one of the substantial citizens of the neighborhood. Politically he has always been a Republican, but while he takes much interest in local affairs he has never been an office seeker. In religious work he is active as a member of the Congregational Church at Newtown, in which he has for some time served as deacon.

His wife, whose maiden name was Adeline Johnson, is a daughter of Charles Johnson, a well-known resident of Newtown. They had

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three children: (1) Charles Johnson, born June 18, 1852, died January 6, 1880. (2) Julia Mer- ritt, born July 5, 1855, was married October 4. 1876, to George C. Stahl, of Toledo, Ohio. (3) William H., born August 27, 1859, became a bookkeeper in New York City; he was married January 18, 1882, to Miss Nettie A. Hartshorn, of Manchester, N. H., and died March 17, 1889.

J TUDGE GEORGE GORDON McNALL is a native of New York State, having been born June 2, 1857, in the city of Utica. The Mc- Nalis were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who set- tled in Connecticut. Hollister, the historian, says that in 1727 the town of Union was settled by William McNall and, later, others of the same name immigrated, and were the original settlers of what is now the town of Scotland. In all the wars following their settlement-the Colonial wars, the Revolution and the war of 1812-they were prominent as soldiers. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch settled in Utica early in the present century. Preceding him, also from Connecticut, town of Lebanon. were the Meacham-Tilden families, then prominent as New York families, but proud of their Connecti- cut origin.

It is from these families that Judge McNall is descended on his mother's side. He has resided in Greenwich since he was nine years of age, and was educated in the common schools of that town. Leaving school, he was employed as a clerk in the office of the town clerk, which position he held for seven consecutive years.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 112

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