Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 119

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 119

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. de Lima was married, March 12, 1896, in New York City, to Miss Mabel A. Adams, and their union has been blessed with one son, Da- vid, born April 2, 1898.

L YFORD BROTHERS, of Bridgeport. It is believed that all persons in the United States bearing the name of Lyford are descendants of (I.)Francis Lyford, who came from England about 1650 and engaged in ship building at Boston, where he married his first wife. Later he re- moved to Exeter, N. H., and was married there to his second wife. He had four children by each marriage.

II. Thomas Lyford, son of Francis, was born March 25. 1672. III. John Lyford, son of Thomas, was born in 1720. IV. Thomas Ly- ford, son of John, was born November 12, 1768, and was married April 1, 1793, to Hannah Hall, of Northfield, N. H. V. Thomas D. Lyford, son of Thomas and Hannah Lyford, was born March 15. 1803, at Northfield, N. H., and he became a

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successful farmer at Tilton, N. H., but is now de- May 20, 1877, and during boyhood they accom- panied their parents to Union, lowa, and He- bron, Neb. The educational privileges afforded ceased. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Gilman, and whom he married March 18, 1825, was born December 18, 1802, at North- I them by the schools of those localities were sup- field, N. H. They had two children: Sarah Ann Kent, born March 4, 1827. married B. C.

plemented by attendance at a grammar school in West Newton, Mass., where both completed the

Sargent, of Evanston, Ill. ; and Joseph G., born . course. At the age of sixteen Jay B. Lyford July 8, 1830. became a clerk in the clothing house of Myers &

VI. Joseph G. Lyford, son of Thomas D. | Andrews, in Boston, where he remained four and Sarah Lyford, was born July 8, 1830, at Northfield, N. H., where he grew to manhood.

| years, and October 12, 1892, he located at Bridgeport, purchasing his present establishment He then went to Illinois to engage in the grain | from H. D. Pearce. He is also interested in business, locating at Annawan, from there re- the Atlantic Steam Laundry Company. on East moving to Wilton, Iowa, later to Union, in the | Washington avenue, Bridgeport, having formed a same State. For some years he made his home . partnership with C. K. Shelton on February 22, at Hebron, Neb., and he now lives in Bridge- 1897, for conducting that business. He is a man port, Conn. While residing in Illinois he was i of unusual ability, and has gained a wide reputa- married at Groveland. May 13, 1856, to Mary I tion as the inventor of the Lyford Fender for A. Shannon, who died February 7, 1864, the · street cars, a device which would make it impos- mother of children as follows: John T .. born | sible for any one to be drawn under the wheels August 1, 1859. died April 4, 1860; and Clar- : of a car. On January 1, 1895, he was married ence E., born June 23. 1861, died February 6, | at Newtonville, Mass., to Miss Gertrude M. 1862. Joseph G. Lyford for his second wife

Jones, daughter of Mrs. John Jones, of that city, was married December 17, 1866, at Tilton, N. | and they have two children: Merna, born Sep- H., to Miss Annie M. Brown, daughter of Sam- I tember 20, 1895. and Delma, born April 5, 1898.

uel B. Brown, a well-known citizen of North- Fred H. Lyford, who is not married, began field, N. H. She is a lady of fine mental gifts ! his business career by clerking some four years and strong character, and was elected president of the school board at Hebron, Neb., for three | H .. and on September 20, 1895, he came to years. This worthy couple have four children: ! (1) Jay B., who is mentioned more fully farther on; (2) Laura M., who was married in Novem- ber, 1897, to Fred H. Smith, of Malden, Mass., | for Thomas H. Dearborn & Co., of Dover, N. Bridgeport and joined his brother, forming the present firm. Both brothers are prominent in social life. the elder being an active member of Samuel Harris Lodge, I. O. O. F., while Fred where they make their home, and they have one | H. belongs to the Park City Yacht Club and the child-Hobart L., born October 6, 1898; (3) | Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order, Bridge- Fred H., who is mentioned more fully farther | port branch.

on: and (4) Anna Belle, who was married in Oc- tober, 1898, at Bridgeport, Conn., to Leslie A. Hager. of Littleton, Mass .. where they reside. Joseph G. Lyford is a man of energy and enter- prise, and as a citizen is much respected. In politics he is a strong Republican, and wherever he has resided has made his influence felt in local affairs, being elected mayor of Wilton and

H TARRIS L. CROFUTT, deputy sheriff of Fairfield county, is one of Danbury's lead- ing citizens, and for more than thirty years has held some official position either in the munici- pality or in the county.

Mr. Crofutt's ancestors on the paternal side I and his great-grandfather was a soldier in the ! Revolutionary army. Isaac Crofutt, our subject's the age of eighty-six, was a blacksmith and

Union, Iowa, during his residence in those cities. I came from Scotland during the Colonial period, While at Hebron, Neb., he served as a member of the board of county commissioners.

VII. JAY B. AND FRED H. LYFORD, who | grandfather, who died at Newtown, Conn., at are now associated in business at Bridgeport un- der the firm name of Lyford Brothers, are lead- I farmer by occupation. He had a brother who ers among the younger business men of that

ing vessel. Luzon Crofutt, the father of our I this county, and from the age of fourteen was was in the service of the United States Govern- thriving town. For several years they have con- i ment during the war of 1812 as captain of a sail- ducted a store at No. 265 East Washington ave- : nue, and have built up a large trade as dealers | subject, was born August 14, 1800, at Newtown, in men's clothing and furnishing goods. They were born at Wilton Junction, Muscatine Co., , engaged in the blacksmith trade, his death oc- lowa, Jay B. on July 23, 1871, and Fred H. on | curring September 29, 1871. His wife, Calista

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(Hoyt), who was of English descent, was born in Danbury, June 2, 1801, and died November 2, 1874. Her mother when a child was one of a party of white-robed girls who strewed flowers on the bridge at Norwalk, Conn., before Gen. Washington as he rode through the town with his staff on the way from New York to Boston. Lu- zon and Calista Crofutt had two children, our subject being the younger, the elder child, Anna Urana, born December 31, 1823, died April 5, 1894.

most desperate character he ever arrested was Daniel Griffin, a burglar, who threatened him with a shoemaker's knife sharpened to a point from both sides. Mr. Crofutt, however, drew a revolver and forced him to deliver up the knife and deposit it in the pocket of his captor, who still keeps it as a memento. Then, handing him a pair of handcuffs, Mr. Crofutt compelled him to fasten them in place. Griffin was afterward convicted of a murder and sentenced to be hung, but died before the day set for his execution. Mr. Crofutt has witnessed four hangings, two in Connecticut and two in New York State, and in one instance helped to adjust the noose.

H. L. Crofutt, our subject, was born Decem- ber 10, 1826, at Newtown, and since 1836 has had his home in Danbury, his father having re- moved there at that date. He attended school In politics our subject has been a Republican from the organization of that party, having voted I for John C. Fremont for President. Since April, 1848, when he became legally entitled to vote, he has never missed a town, city, State or National election. He is an active worker in the I. O. O. F., being a member of Samaritan Lodge at Danbury, the Grand Lodge, and the Encampment, and for five years he served on the colonel's staff of the Patriarch Militant, a mili- tary branch of the order, with the rank of captain. until he was seventeen, at which time he began to learn the carpenter's trade. His apprentice- ship ended, he worked sixteen years as a journey- man for D. & J. Stevens, but in 1861 he engaged in business on his own account as a contrac- tor and builder, and so continued for twenty years, during which period he built many impor- tant structures, including some of the largest fac- tories and stores in Danbury. At present he is a deputy sheriff of Fairfield county. Much of his time for years past has been given to public work. In 1881 he was appointed deputy sheriff On March 25, 1849, Mr. Crofutt married Miss Hannah A. Barnum, who was born July 6, 1828, 1 a daughter of Hiram and Marilla (Hoyt) Barnum, both of whom were descended from well-known families of this State. Of the three sons of Mr. April 20, 1854. married Miss Mamie Cowle, daughter of Aiken and Esther (Couch) Cowle, and niece of the late Gen. Darius N. Couch, a graduate of West Point, who served in the Mexi- can war as a lieutenant, and in the Civil war as a major-general, and who died in 1892. The second son, Arthur Everett, born March 4, 1856, died September 6, of the same year. The third son, Frederick B., was born August 6, 1858, at Danbury. under Sheriff Charles H. Crosby, and served the full term of three years. In 1884 the board of burgesses of Danbury appointed him chief of police, and he held that office for several years. In 1890 he was candidate for the position of high | and Mrs. Crofutt, the eldest, Edward F., born sheriff of the county, but he shared the fate of his party at the election that year. Afterward he served as constable and collector for some time, but in 1895 he was again appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff Sidney E. Hawley, and still holds that position. In addition to his continu- ous service in the offices named he was for twen- ty-five years register of voters, and for twenty- one years was a member of the fire department, serving as assistant foreman, foreman, and as- sistant engineer.

As may be imagined, Mr. Crofutt has had some exciting experiences, scores of criminals of every grade having been arrested by him. Among these was James Riley, a colored man, who had murdered a Mrs. Sunderland, of Patter- son, Putnam Co., N. Y., for which he was sent to Sing Sing on a life sentence. Another crim- inal was Samuel Pine, alias Riley, also a colored man, who was wanted in several States for trial on various charges. He served sixteen years and a half in the State prison at Wethersfield, Conn .. and when released was re-arrested in New York State and sentenced to Sing Sing for twenty-five years for felonious assault. The

S MAMUEL GRUMMAN was born in South Salem, N. Y., April 13, 1781. He was a manufacturer of shoes. He married Polly North- rop, who belonged to an old Connecticut family. The record of their children is as follows: (1) Cyrus B. will be spoken of farther on in this re- view. (2) Jerome married Deborah Heustead, of Greenwich, Conn. (3) Mary married William Clarke. of North Salem, and lived in Bethel, Conn .; they had the following children-Levi, Jane. Samuel, Josephine, Henry, William, Jesse, George and Mary Elizabeth. (4) Eliza- beth married Calvin Bartram, of Redding. (5)

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William married Mary Hard, and lived in Ridge- field and in other localities in Fairfield county; he had one son, Frederick, who died in the army. (6) Josiah married Mary Hayes, of Lewisboro, Westchester Co., N. Y. : they also lived in Ridge- field, but for more than twenty-five years made their home in South Norwalk; they had two children-Julia. who is the wife of John H. Knapp, and Samuel, who married Emma Will- I iams, of Darien. (7) Samuel went to Bridge- port early in life, and engaged in business which he followed to the time of his death; he married Harriet Jones. of Bridgeport. Conn., and they had five children-Hellen and Harriet, who are deceased; Frank: Lillian, who is the wife of Edwin Bartrum, and Elmer Ellsworth, who married Sarah B. Burr, of Fairfield. (8) Elizabeth Jane and (9) George remained unmarried. (10) Je- rome removed to Milan, Ohio, where he became a merchant, and died leaving one daughter, Ella, now the wife of Roswell Derby, of Wakeman. Ohio. The family worshiped at the Episcopal Church.

Cyrus B. Grumman was born January 11, 1858. in Ridgefield. Conn .. on Silver Spring road. He married Sophia Perry, daughter of David Perry, a farmer of Ridgefield. who mar- ried Clarissa Benedict, by whom he had three | 1676, leaving a son, Ephraim, who also had a ! son Ephraim. The second Ephraim had a son Daniel, born in 1745. Daniel removed to Ridge- field. Conn., and when the Revolutionary strug- gle came on he joined the Continental army, being one of the defenders in the attacks on Danbury and Ridgefield in 1777 by Tryon. Edmond was the son of Daniel, and had a son Jonathan, born in 1789, who lived at Vista, Westchester Co., N. Y., and died in 1868.

children: Sophia, wife of Cyrus B. Grumman. Samuel, who married Sophia Crofutt, of Green- field, and had two children-Caroline (Mrs. Ed- win Nichols, of Westport, now residing in Ridge- field), and Col. David Perry, of the regular army. whose first wife was a Miss Proudfoot, of New York, his second wife being Miss Louisa Hoyt, of Greenwich. Nehemiah married Emeline Gould, and had four children-Clara, who was the wife of Joseph Walton, of New Jersey: Nehemiah, Alfred Beers, the father of the subject of this who married Emily Gardner, of Boston: Lavinia, | sketch. was the son of Jonathan Beers, and was who married Joseph Howland. of New York; and William, who married Mary Haves, of Bloom- field. Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus B. Grumman had one daughter, Emma, who married John P. Mills. Cyrus B. . Grumman in politics was a Democrat.

JOHN P. MILLS, a prominent and highly re- spected resident of Ridgefield, Conn., is a native | Bishop, one of the first ministers of Stamford. of Ohio, having been born October 24. 1842, in His grandmother was a descendant of Dr. Charles Willshire, Van Wert county, a son of Halstead ! McDonald, a Scotchman by birth, who came to Coe and Mary Ann Mills. He received his liter- this country before the Revolutionary war. Upon the breaking out of hostilities he enlisted in the Continental army, and served during the entire struggle, participating in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, and also in the battle of White Plains. N. Y., in 1776, where he distinguished himself by his bravery. After the close of the war he entered the medical profession, and prac- ary education at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, and followed this with a com- plete course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Chicago, Ill., from which institution he graduated in 1863. On leaving school he came to New York City, and commenced busi- ness as clerk in a dry-goods store. After two 1

years in this employment he engaged in the pro- prietary medicine business, and has continued to the present time.

Mr. Mills married Miss Emma Grumman, only child of Cyrus B. Grumman, of Ridgefield, as related in the sketch of Mr. Grumman. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are Episcopalians, members of St. Stephen's Church, of which he is senior ward- en. Socially, he is a member of the F. & A. M., Jerusalem Lodge No. 49, of Ridgefield, and also belongs to the Country Club.

H TON. ALFRED BISHOP BEERS was born at New Rochelle, N. Y., April 23, 1845, i and his ancestry may be traced back to James Beers. who resided at Gravesend, County of . Kent, England. James Beers died about 1635, I and his two sons, James and Anthony, soon after emigrated to America, with their uncle, Richard Beers, locating first in Watertown, Mass., and some years later removing to Fair- field. Conn. Richard Beers was for many years a member of the General Court of Massachu- setts, and was a captain in the Colonial service ! until he was killed in the Indian wars against King Philip. Anthony Beers was lost at sea in

identified with the Naugatuck railroad from 1851 to 1886. Judge Beers' mother was the daugh- ter of Leander Bishop, of Stamford, Conn., a brother of Alfred Bishop, late of Bridgeport, who was a well-known contractor and builder of railroads. Their father was William Bishop, of | Stamford, Conn., who was a descendant of John

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ticed successfully at Port Chester, N. Y., until his death, which occurred about the year 1842.

Alfred B. Beers removed to Bridgeport in 1851, and was educated in the public and private schools of that city. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted, on September 5. 1861, for a term of three years, in Company 1, 6th Conn. V. I., and as a member of this regiment it was his lot to take part in the bombardment of Hil- ton Head, S. C .: battle of Pocataligo, S. C. (where he was honorably mentioned in the re- port of the commanding general for bravery and meritorious conduct during the engagement ); in the siege of Fort Pulaski. Ga. ; actions at James Island, S. C .; Morris Island; siege and assault on Fort Wagner, and siege of Charleston, S. C. He veteranized in the same regiment, was en- gaged in the campaign of 1864 against Richmond, Va., and took part in the siege of Petersburg, Va .; capar ments at Deep Bottom, Deep Run, Chapin's Farm, and Laurel Hill, on the north side of the James river. in 1864, being wounded in the battle at Deep Run. During his second term of enlistment he was promoted from first sergeant of Company ] to captain of Company B, in the same regiment. He was present at the bombardment, charge at and capture of Fort Fisher, N. C., under General Terry, in January, 1865; the capture of Wilmington, N. C., Febru- ary 22, 1865; and in the advance upon Golds- boro, N. C., in March and April, 1865, receiving his discharge from the service as captain at New Haven, Conn., on August 21, 1865, when he was twenty years of age.

1 Mr. Beers engaged in general business and in study until 1867. when he commenced the study of the law. In 1871 he was admitted to the | Fairfield County Bar, and entered into partner- As a judge, Alfred B. Beers discharged the ship in business with the late Hon. David B. | duties of his office with marked fidelity, stern in- tegrity and inflexible honesty, holding the scales of justice evenly balanced, and rendering his de- i cisions unmoved by sympathy and unawed by 1 clamor. As a lawyer he is devoted to his chosen profession, and brings to its practice a clear and logical mind, a retentive memory, a confidence ! in his cause upon its merits, and a thorough ! hatred of trickery and shams. He is careful in the preparation of his cases, ready in speech as client, and he has taken part in many of the im- is esteemed and honored as an upright and con- Lockwood, under the name of Lockwood & Beers, the partnership continuing until January, 1897, when Judge Lockwood died. In 1872 Judge Beers was appointed clerk of the city court of the city of Bridgeport, and in 1875 assistant city attorney. In 1877 he was elected by the Legislature of the State as judge of the city court of the city of Bridgeport, to which position he was continuously re-elected at each succeeding session of the Legislature until 1893, when he ; an advocate, and honest in his claims for his declined further election. From that time he devoted himself wholly to his private practice . portant trials in Fairfield county and in argu- until July, 1897. when he was appointed city at- , ments before the Supreme Court of the State. torney for the term of two years, and has re- | As a man he is possessed of a genial and kindly cently been reappointed. For the past fourteen nature, is affable in intercourse with his fellows, years he has been a member of the Soldiers , and with a personal character above reproach he Hospital Board of the State of Connecticut, and is now the chairman of its executive committee. i scientious Christian gentleman.

During this period he has spent much time and energy in bringing to perfection that magnificent institution, Fitch's Home for the Soldiers, and the Connecticut Soldiers' Hospital at Noroton, Conn. His public-spiritedness has also been shown in the interest he has always taken in the Bridgeport Public Library, which he assisted in founding, and of which he is now one of the directors. He is also a director in the Standard Association, publishers of the Bridgeport Daily Standard; the Eaton, Cole & Burnham Co., and the Bridgeport Electric Light Company. Since the organization of the Grand Army of the Re- public he has been one of its most prominent members in Connecticut; in 1870 he was Com- mander of Elias Howe, Jr., Post No. 3, located at Bridgeport, and in 1880-81 Commander of the Department of Connecticut. He is a mem- ber of the New York Commandery, of the Loyal Legion, the Sea Side Club, the Algonquin Club, the Republican Club, and the Masonic Fraternity. Politically, the Judge has always taken an active and prominent part in the councils of the Repub- lican party, and has been a familiar figure at most of its State conventions during the past twenty years.

On February 29, 1872, Judge Beers was mar- ried to Miss Callie T. House, of Vineland, N. J .. daughter of William House, who was a brother of Royal E. House, the inventor of the House printing telegraph system, with whom he was in- terested, and took part in the construction of the first telegraph line erected in this country-the line from Baltimore to Washington. Four chil- dren have been born of this marriage: Alfred B., Jr., Henry H., Ralph T., and Mary E., the daughter being now deceased.

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S M. BOUTON, a leading representative busi- | June 3, 1866, he was married in Stamford, Conn., ness man of Stamford, Conn., is prominent i to Miss Isabella A. Buttery, of Stamford, and in Grand Army of the Republic circles, being the i eight children were born of this union, four of present commander of W. T. Minor Post, G. A. I whom are living: Jennie A., Herbert J. (mar- R., of Stamford. 1

ried to Mary Horton), Samuel E. and Louis J.

Mr. Bouton comes of an industrious and en- | The parents are members of the Presbyterian ergetic family. His grandfather, Samuel Bouton, ' Church of Stamford. Socially, Mr. Bouton has born in South Salem. Westchester Co., N. Y., | been affiliated with William T. Minor Post No. was a tanner by trade, following that occupation in Stamford, Conn. Seymour H. Bouton, son of Samuel, and the father of our subject, was also born in South Salem, and followed the trade ;

1 85. G. A. R., of Stamford, ever since it was or- panized, having been one of its charter members; has been its adjutant and its chaplain, and is now its commander. On March 1, 1875, he be- of shoemaker in Stamford. Conn., where he i came a member of Rippowam Lodge, I. O. O. F., married Miss Rhuey J. Ferris, of Greenwich, I has passed all the chairs therein, and in January.

Conn. To them were born four children, viz. : | 1897, he was made the recipient of an elegant Samuel M., John (deceased). Cornelia E., and . past grand's collar. He is also a member of the Seymour H., Jr. (a resident of Stamford ). The | United American Mechanics, Leeds Council No.

| dates of the Republican party, and in all respects

father died in April, 1884, the mother in 1852, | 16. In politics he casts his vote for the candi- and both were buried on an Easter Sunday.

Samuel M. Bouton, whose name introduces i he conscientiously performs his duties as a good this memoir, was born November 9, 1834, in | citizen. Stamford, Conn .. where he attended school in the old academy that stood on the present site of the town hall. In that city he learned the J AMES HOWLEY is one of the substantial and respected citizens of Greenwich township, Fairfield Co., Conn., where he is the owner business of sash and blind making. and at the time of the breaking out of the war of the Re- bellion he was working at his trade in Stamford, . of considerable property and the proprietor of a Conn. On August 30. 1862, he enlisted as a | thriving hotel business.

Mr. Howley is a native of County Kilkenny.

musician in Company B, 28th Conn. V. 1., and was mustered into the service November 15. | Ireland, born in October, 1837, a son of James 1862. For a time. until November 18, 1862. he | and Alice (Leary) Howley, who had a family of did duty at Camp Terry, New Haven. Conn., ; four children, namely: Michael, who died in Milwaukee, Wis. ; James; Patrick, living in Penn-

and then joined General Banks' expeditionary corps at Camp Buckingham, Centerville, L. I., | sylvania (he was a soldier of the Civil war); and where he remained on duty November 19-29. 1862. From December 18. 1862, to May 10. 1 Catharine, who is the wife of Michael Hickey, of | County Kilkenny, Ireland. The family having 1863, he served in the District of Pensacola U. | been left penniless by the great famine of 1849. S. forces in western Florida, Department of the Gulf; on May 26, 1863, arrived at Port Hudson 1 I caused by the potato blight, the father in 1850 came to the United States in the hope of being | able to make a comfortable home for them here, and worked as a laborer and at the shoemaker's trade for several years. In June, 1854, he sent for his three sons, who made the voyage from 1 Liverpool to Boston in five weeks, landing with- out a cent to their names. The father and mother. who came to this country years after tive country, where they spent their declining years, Mr. Howley dying when seventy years and was brigaded with the 4th Massachusetts, 16th New Hampshire and the 110th New York regiments, 2nd Brigade, 3d Division, 19th Army | Corps. Department of the Gulf; was next | brigaded with the 8th and 15th New Hampshire. the 133d and 173d New York, and the 4th Wis- consin regiments, and did duty at Port Hudson until its surrender July 8, 1863. He was mus- . our subject, subsequently returned to their na- tered out August 28, 1863, at New Haven, and . returned home.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 119

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