Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 122

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

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In 1859 Mr. Beers married Miss Mary J. Squires, a daughter of Aaron and Sallie H. (Bart- ram) Squires, a sketch of whom follows, and five children have been born to them : (1) Adaline, born July 11, 1860, married G. Trowbridge, a fireman of Bridgeport, and they have two chil- dren : Ora M. and Henry M. (2) Benja- min, a farmer, born January 8, 1862, at Redding, where he was educated, was married in his native city to Miss Annie Betts, of Wilton, and their children are-Ernest, An- drew, Frank, Alfred, Annie and Benjamin. (3)

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Howard, born in the town of Weston February 27, 1866, learned the trade of mason with his father, and has since worked at the same; he is a Re- publican; he married Lillie Benedict, of Weston, and they have four children-Sadie E., Charles H., Katie and Florence. (4) Bessie married H. Fluewellyn; children: Leroy V., Gladys, Lois and Mabel. (5) Theresa married Richard Schmidt; children: Carl M., R. Homer, Addie T., Annie B., Effie and Fannie.

Joseph Beers, grandfather of our subject, born in the town of Weston, was a lifelong farm- er. He was an Oldtime Democrat, but cared lit- tle for political excitement. By his wife, Betsey (Morehouse), were born children as follows: Esther married a Mr. Mansfield; Lucinda mar- ried (first) a Mr. Lyon, and (second) a Mr. Day- ton; Orin married Betsey Beers; Bebee married Lettie Wood; Anson, will be spoken of presently; Gideon is single; Carrity married Sanford Bene- dict; Lorinda is single; Ephraim married Sarah Plough; Edson married Susanna Mead; and Han- nah married Sam Smith.

Anson Beers, father of our subject, was born in the town of Weston, in 1800, and, like his fa- ther, followed agricultural pursuits all his life. During the old " training days " he was a member of a militia company, and had his hand injured by the exploding of a musket. He was a Demo- crat in politics, and in Church matters was a Congregationalist. He was twice married, first time to Mary Ann -, and by her had five children, as follows: Edward, married to Abi- gail Mead; Mary, wife of Orin Lockwood; Je- nette, who married John Brown; Theressa, wife of W. J. Waldron; and Margaret, who died when young. The mother of this family dying, the fa- ther subsequently married Rachel Squires, daugh- ter of Samuel and Abigail (Platt) Squires, formerly of Weston, Fairfield county, and children as fol- lows were born to them: Frederick, a brief sketch of whom follows; James M., our subject; Abbie J., the wife of William Williams; William P., married to Parmelia Brown; and Samuel, who died young.

Frederick Beers, the eldest brother of our subject, was born in Weston, and followed the trade of mason until his removal to Dakota, where he now is. He enlisted, during the war of the Rebellion, in the 23d Conn. V. I., nine- months' men, and after the war he located for a time in Norwalk, Conn. In 1856 he wedded Sarah Brotherton, and they have four children: Annie, Fred, Flora and Ellen.

ing the "training days of ye olden time " be served in the militia, and was a deeply religious man, a member of the M. E. Church of Weston. By his wife, Abigail Platt, daughter of William Platt, of Redding, he had children as follows: Polly. wedded to David Smith; Betsey, wife of David Platt; Rachel, who married Anson Beers; William, married to Jane Carpenter; Aaron, a sketch of whom follows; Eunice, married to Wal- ter Mills; Harriet, who was three times married, first time to Walter Mead; Lydia, married to John Andrews; and Abigail, married to Sandy Aiken.

Aaron Squires, father of our subject's wife, was born in the town of Weston, April 7, 1814, and was a skilled mason all his life, working at various places, also as a contractor putting ap many large buildings in different localities. So- cially, he was a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge at Bethel, and of the Sons of Temperance; while all his life he was closely identified with the Methodist Church. He married Miss Sally Bertram, who was born January 20, 1818, a daughter of Isaac W. and Lydia (Platt) Bertram, and the adopted daughter of a Mr. Hamilton. Their children were all born in the town of Red- ding, as follows: (1) Charles E., born June 25, 1835, was a mason by trade; he married Amanda Crofut, and bad children-Ella, wife of George Lockwood, and Sadie, wife of Frank Wilmot. (2) Mary J., born October 12, 1837, married the subject of this sketch. (3) Joseph M., born in March, 1840, was a mason; he married Theresa Walworth. (4) Benjamin F., born in April, 1844, was also a mason; he was twice married, first to Densilla Adams, second to Jennie Ed- wards, and had two children by the first wife- Fannie and Lena. Benjamin served in the Civil war, in Company A, 5th Conn. V. I. (5) Wal- lace, born April 10, 1846, died young. (6) Bessie M., born March 16, 1850, married David Cockrell, a foundryman, and they have two chil- dren -- Eva, wife of William Vail; and Lois, wife of William White.

C CHARLES H. LYON, a farmer of the town of Wilton, Conn., was born December 13. 1833. On November 27, 1879, he was married to Miss Jennie Wilson, daughter of Frank and Eliza (Haynard) Wilson, of Somers, West- chester Co., N. Y., in which place she was born December 11, 1853. By this marriage there is one child-Louisabelle, born June 28, 1892.

SAMUEL SQUIRES, grandfather of our subject's wife, was born in the town of Weston, Fairfield Hezekiah Lyon, the first American ancestor of our subject, came from Hessen-Cassel, Germany. county, where he followed general farming. Dur- | and settled in the north of Fairfield, Conn.,

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which afterward became the parish of Weston (now town of Weston). His descendant, Heze- kiah Lyon, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Fairfield, Conn., and resided there during his life. On October 17, 1760, he married Rachel Dikeman, of Weston, by whom he had three children: Hezekiah, Levi, and Rachel, the last named dying in child- hood. Of these, Hezekiah was baptized July 19, 1765, Rachel on March 20, 1768, and Levi on July 2, 1769. Hezekiah, at the age of six- teen, entered the Revolutionary army, and served until the close of that struggle; he died in 1852.

Levi Lyon, grandfather of our subject, was born in 1769, in Fairfield, Conn. He removed to. Wilton, Conn., in 1807, and resided there till his death. On January 11, 1788, he married Miss Abigail Squires, of Weston, Conn. He died June 20, 1839, his wife, January, 1855.

Hezekiah Lyon, second son of Levi Lyon, and the father of our subject, was born in the town of Weston, February 22, 1799, removed to Wilton, Conn., in 1807, and resided there dur- ing life. On January 26, 1831, he married Miss Emily Baxter, daughter of Ezra and Mary Ann (Peck) Baxter, of Somers, Westchester coun- ty, N. Y., where Mrs. Lyon was born January 21, 1809. Ezra Baxter was a son of Thomas and Hannah (Barnum) Baxter, of Danbury, Conn .; his wife was a daughter of Enoch and Mary (Graves) Peck, of Newtown, Conn. The children born to Hezekiah and Emily Lyon were: Charles H., the subject of this sketch, and Louise L. Hezekiah Lyon died September 8, 1858, his wife on June 18, 1893.

Mrs. Louise L. (Lyon) Hoyt was born in the town of Wilton, March 8, 1835. She mar- ried, October 21, 1868, Edgar Hoyt, who was born in New York, May 22, 1822, a son of Philo and Catherine (Friedrichs) Hoyt, of New York. He served as second lieutenant in Company B, 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war. He died November 18, 1878; he and his wife had one child, Leanora Lyon, born Sep- tember, 1873, and died May 3, 1876.

M ICHAEL TOMNEY, one of the well-to-do respected farmers of Greenwich township, Fairfield Co., Conn., has in his industrious life shown to what a position a man may, by earnest and persistent labor, rise in this country, pro- vided he has determination enough to keep look- ing cheerfully to the future in the face of dis- couragements, and the strength of character needed to sustain his interest in the battle of life.

Mr. Tomney was born October 10, 1831, in County Monaghan, Ireland, a son of Patrick and Mary (Hughes) Tomney, who came to America in their later years, and are buried in Greenwich township, where they died. Michael was reared to farming, and in boyhood was given but limit- ed educational opportunities, for although his par- ents were in comfortable circumstances he was expected to help, and an education was not in those days considered as important as it is at the present time. However, he was blessed with a good memory and possessed considerable nat- ural intelligence, for which he has often had cause to be thankful. When a young man he made up his mind that he would do better in the United States, and as he had not money enough of his own to bring him here his father helped him. He sailed from Liverpool in the " Star of the West," and eighteen days later sighted Long Island, landing on a Sunday morning in New York City, where he had an acquaintance living in Canal street. For a short time he was in Williamsburg, N. Y., and then returned to the city, whence he finally started for Greenwich, Conn., leaving from the old depot at Twenty- seventh street. Here he had friends also named Tomney. In Greenwich he did his first farm work in America, in the employ of "Saddler" William Mead on the place which he now owns and occupies, and he continued with Mr. Mead for eight months, subsequently working for dif- ferent farmers in the township. After his mar- riage he rented a house and garden in Green- wich, as his means were very limited, and here he and his wife worked and saved together until they had enough money to buy property of their own. His first purchase was a small place in the district known as Dublin, in Greenwich town- ship, but he sold that eighteen months afterward, and never lived there. He finally moved to a tract of seventeen acres bought from the estate of William Mead, which is included in his pres- ent farm, and on which he erected the first build- ing and made all the improvements. Mr. Tom- ney has added to this farm from time to time, and now owns seventy-five acres of fine land, highly improved, all of the buildings on which have been put up by him.

When twenty-two years old Mr. Tomney was married, in New York City, to Miss Ellen Flannigan, who was born December 25, 1833, in County Clare, Ireland, daughter of Frank and Nora (Doyle) Flannigan, who died in their native country. She came to the United States alone, embarking at Limerick on the sailing vessel "Minerva," which was almost thirteen weeks crossing the Atlantic, and after her arrival began

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domestic work for $5 a month, out of which meager wages she saved enough in twelve months to pay her sister's passage to America; the lat- ter is now deceased, and is buried in Greenwich. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tomney, namely : Mary, who is the widow of John Callahan, of New York City; Peter, who died leaving three children; James, a painter of Greenwich; Annie (Mrs. Patrick O'Connor), of Greens Farms, Conn .; Katy (Mrs. Joseph Murphy), of New York City; Nora (Mrs. David Fawcett), of Greenwich township; Sarah (Mrs. James McGuire), of Port Chester, N. Y .; John, a resident of Brooklyn; and Frank, who is a farmer. The children have all been given good advan- tages for education, and have been brought up to be industrious and useful men and women, a credit to their parents and respected citizens of the communities in which their lots have been cast. Mr. Tomney has an enviable reputation for honesty, and by good management and hard work has succeeded in acquiring a comfortable property, which it is hoped he will be permitted to enjoy for many years. His word is as good as his bond, and he is just in all his dealings, at the same time expecting others to observe the same principles in their dealings with him. His wife has proved a valuable helpmeet, working side by side with him in the years when they were struggling to get ahead, and now that they are in prosperous circumstances she has her full share of credit and respect for the part she has taken in their success.

Mr. Tomney sympathizes heartily with the Democratic party in politics, but in voting he supports the best man regardless of party lines, being as stanch a friend of a good Republican if he considers him most deserving. He values his franchise highly. In religious faith the family are Catholics, being members of the Church of that denomination at Greenwich.

SERENO H. KING, the owner of the Valley farm and dairy in what is known as the Deerfield District, in Fairfield township, Fairfield Co., Conn., is one of the hard-working, energetic self-made men of this locality, and during his residence here he has won an honorable standing among its respected, prosperous citizens.

Mr. King is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New England, his first ancestor in this country having crossed the ocean in the "Mayflower," and the Kings have resided in Massachusetts for generations. Thomas King, the father of our subject, was a sea captain in his early days, and after abandoning the water

took to farming, which he followed the remainder of his life. He married Myra Reed, and they be- came the parents of eight children, as follows: Thomas, a painter, who died in Chelsea, Mass .; Almira (Mrs. Henry Cushion, of Hingham, Mass. ); Sarah (Mrs. Sereno Howe, of Hingham); George and James (twins), both of whom are unmarried and are engaged in farming on the old homestead at Hingham; Abby F., who became the wife of Elijah Cushion, and died at Hingham; Malinda (Mrs. William Leavitt), who died in Hingham; and Sereno H. Mr. and Mrs. King were Bap- tists in religious connection. He was a Repub- lican in political sentiment, but he took no part in politics beyond voting regularly, though he was deeply interested in the success of his party. Physically Mr. King was a well-built man. He passed away in 1882; his wife died in 1880.

Sereno H. King was born August 5, 1849, at Hingham, Mass., where he received his educa- tion in the public schools. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred when he was nineteen years old, after which he located in the town of Hingham, where he was engaged in driv- ing the express which ran between that place and Boston. Later he entered the employ of the Hingham Cordage Company as night watchman, and for five years and eight months he never missed a night, working Sundays and all, until with other members of his family he was taken ill with diphtheria; two of his little daughters died of the disease at this time. In 1878 Mr. King removed to Milford, Conn., where for the three years following he had charge of the lands of I. A. Lee, of Philadelphia, at the end of that time going to Bridgeport, where he found em- ployment in the wire works of R. H. Wolfe & Co., having charge of the engine room. Two years later the mills were removed from Bridge- port, and after a brief employment elsewhere Mr. King became engineer in the organ shop of Patterson & Co., subsequently working as night engineer for the Bridgeport Forge Company, from which position he was obliged to resign after a time on account of his health. Following this he was with Thomas Carroll for a brief period, engaged in the manufacture of artificial rubber, and in February, 1888, he became chief engin- eer for the Yost Manufacturing Company, with whom he continued until April 1, 1898, when he was succeeded by his son, who still holds the position.

In July, 1897, Mr. King removed to his pres- ent home, Valley farm, which was then known as the John Burr farm, and consists of forty- seven acres of valuable land, where he carries on general agriculture and dairying. Mr. King has

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always been a steady, reliable, determined worker, not easily discouraged, and he acquired his present desirable property by dint of economy and good management. The admirable char- acteristics which enabled him to purchase his farm have not deserted him since he assumed ownership, and he has succeeded in a very short time in building up a profitable business, espe- cially in the dairy line, which under his able man- agement bids fair to grow steadily and yield him a most comfortable income. Mr. King always earned the respect and enjoyed the fullest confi- dence of his employers, and now that he is able to engage in business on his own account the reputation gained in his years of employ with others has been sustained in all his dealings, and he is highly esteemed by all who come in con- tact with him.

Mr. King married Miss Lucy F. Lee, who is descended from an old family of English extrac- tion, and was born at Wellfleet, Mass., a daugh- ter of Capt. Joseph Lee, whose death is shrouded in mystery, all trace of him having been lost since the last time he went to sea. Seven chil- dren blessed this union, of whom Horace S .. of Stamford, this county, is a mechanic in the em- ploy of the Blickensderfer Typewriter Company; Fannie and Lillian died young; George is chief engineer for the Yost Manufacturing Company; Abby is the wife of William Nichols, of Deer- field; Clara and Sereno L. live at home. Mr. King is a Republican in political faith. Fra- ternally, he was at one time an active member of the O. U. A. M., in whose success he took a deep interest, and he declined many offers of high position in that society.

In 1864 Mr. King enlisted in the 6th Massa- chusetts Light Artillery, and he served with that body until the close of the Civil war. He was less than fifteen years old at the time he entered the service, and his parents supposed he was at school until they received the letter announcing his enlistment.

ALIAS H. SAMMIS has been for the past

E year the proprietor of what was formerly the Whitlock livery, and though his residence in New Canaan has been but a short one, he has succeeded in establishing himself in the confi- dence of his fellow citizens and business men, and made most encouraging progress along the road to prosperity in his particular line. He is a native of New Canaan, born May 27, 1849, and is a son of John W. and Abigail (Hawkshurst) Sammis.

John Wood Sammis was born at Huntington,

Long Island, where he was reared to manhood. He learned brickmaking, and here engaged in that business for himself, at West Neck, Long Island, finally removing to Connecticut, and lo- cating at New Canaan, where he began farming. In 1859 he settled in Ridgefield, Fairfield coun- ty, where he purchased a limekiln, and engaged in burning lime for several years, after which he resumed farming. Mr. Sammis was married, in Long Island, to Abigail Hawkshurst, and four sons and four daughters came to their union, viz,: James H., who lived in Ridgefield, but died in March, 1899; Joel, a resident of Brook- lyn; J. Floyd, of East Norwalk; Elias Homer; Maria, deceased; Susan M., who died in August, 1898; Rhoda Jane, who is also deceased; and Dora, who makes her home in Norwalk.

Elias H. Sammis spent the first ten years of his life in New Canaan, where he acquired his elementary education, in 1859 removing with the family to Ridgefield, where he finished his schooling and grew to manhood. He learned the carpenter's trade, and followed same in Ridgefield until December, 1896, when he came to New Canaan and purchased the Whitlock livery, which he has since conducted. To this business he devotes all his time, giving his affairs that careful and constant attention which cannot fail in course of time to increase his trade and place him among the prosperous men of his town. His genial, obliging disposition wins friends for him wherever he goes, and New Canaan has proved no exception in this respect.

Mr. Sammis was married October 2, 1870, at Ridgefield, to Elizabeth Hoyt, by whom he had five children: Mary Jane, the wife of George Patrick, of New Canaan; Lelia (Mrs. Robert Davis), of Ridgefield; William Henry; and Arthur and Charles A., of New Canaan. For his second wife Mr. Sammis wedded, at South Norwalk, Conn., Miss Jennie B. Saunders, and to this union have also come five children: Florence Agnes, Minot Homer, Wallace Ralph, Emma Elizabeth and Clifford Edward. The family worship at the M. E. Church. Frater- nally, Mr. Sammis is a member of the Red Men, belonging to the lodge of New Canaan; also member of the Golden Cross, American Me- chanics and Daughters of Liberty.

SIDNEY EDWIN HAWLEY. In our repub- lican form of government there are men who naturally and easily reach positions of responsi- bility and trust. The suffrages of the people may err sometimes, but the sensitive ballots of an in-

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Sidney E. Hawley

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telligent and educated race point instinctively and almost invariably to the right man for the right place. Hence honored is he who, in the face of odds, wins the hearts and appreciation of a wide . constituency, and conversely happy is the people that has chosen wisely its public officials.

The gentleman whose name appears in the title of this sketch is the present High Sheriff of Fairfield county. He has won official recogni- tion by past fidelities, and has given in return for the trust imposed in him a record of efficient and painstaking service that should permanently enthrone him in the affections of his countrymen.

Mr. Hawley was born in Brookfield, Conn., November 29, 1844, a son of Charles and Anna (Merwin) Hawley. Charles Hawley was born in Newtown in 1804, and died in 1888. He was a son of Daniel and Johanna (Seeley) Hawley, and grandson of William Hawley. His wife, Anna (Merwin), was born in Brookfield in 1817, and died in 1892. She was the daughter of Samuel Merwin. Two children were born to Charles and Anna Hawley: Charles Seeley, and Sidney E. (subject of this sketch. ) By an earlier mar- riage the father also had two children: Wait Northrop and Hiram Daniel.

Sidney E. Hawley was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the common schools of Brookfield and at the academy con- ducted there by Rev. H. D. Noble. He adopted the vocation of his father, and for many years lived on the farm, engaging also quite largely in tobacco packing during the winter seasons. His official career, beyond the confines of his town, began with his election in 1886 as a Representative in the General Assembly of the State Legislature. He was re-elected in 1888, and was the first Re- publican from his district who was ever re-elected, a token of the esteem in which he was held. In 1889 he was appointed Deputy Collector of in- ternal revenue for the Bridgeport Division, under John 1. Hutchinson, Collector for the District of Connecticut, and served throughout the term of four years. Nor in this capacity was he found wanting. By his faithfulness in maintaining the laws of the United States in the matter of internal revenues he won many new friends among the law-abiding citizens of the entire county. This growing reputation and esteem proved a valuable acquisition, when in 1894 he received the nomi- nation of his party for sheriff, his opponent for the nomination having been Emory F. Strong, former United States Marshal. The county had up to this time for many years been Democratic, the Democratic sheriff then in office having been elected by a majority of 1,918. The nomination seemed only a complimentary and empty honor.

Mr. Clarkson, the former sheriff, was a candi- date for re-election, but when the votes were counted Mr. Hawley led by a majority of 2, 118. He assumed the duties and obligations of the office June 1, 1895, for a term of four years. Many reforms have been instituted since Mr. Hawley became sheriff. With his accustomed energy, and under the convictions of honest and fair dealing, which has characterized both his business and political life, he immediately set

about to thoroughly renovate the establishments. Sheriff Hawley has charge of both the Danbury and the Bridgeport jails. Among other improve- ments he instituted a system of bathing, change of food and clothing and other sanitary arrange- ments, which count enormously for physical and moral conditions. The mortality record during his administration has been very low. The State Board of Charities, in its report for the present year, bestows generous words of praise upon Sheriff Hawley for the efficient reforms he has instituted. Another gratifying side of his work is that the reformation has been less expensive to the county than the old system.

In the fall of 1898 the high esteem and ex- plicit confidence of the Republican party in Mr. Hawley were again demonstrated when he was unanimously renominated for the office which he had so acceptably filled. The past administra- tion of the affairs of that office marked him as the right man for the place. The same impres- sion prevailed among the thinking people of the county. The Democratic party realized the situation, and presented a most formidable candi- date in the person of the Hon. Patrick Coughlin, of Bridgeport, a former mayor of that city. The result of the election was a flattering endorse- ment of Sheriff Hawley's administration, and a warm tribute to his ability and integrity. His majority over Mr. Coughlin was 3,879, nearly double the majority he received in 1894. His new term of office will be for four years, and be- gan June 1, 1899.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 122

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