Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 123

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 123

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).

Sheriff Hawley is a member of various fra- ternal and social organizations, including Pe- quonnock Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F .; St. Peter Lodge, of New Milford, F. & A. M .; Koncka- potanauh Tribe No. 30, Imp. O. R. M .; Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order; the Grange, and others. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sarah A. Roe, daughter of Harvey and Mary (Black- man) Roe. They have no children. Sheriff and Mrs. Hawley are both members of the Congrega- tional Church of Brookfield. He is at present one of the trustees of the trust fund of that Soci- ety. He has held many positions of honor and responsibility, has frequently been requested to

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act as guardian for minor children, and on sev- eral occasions he has administered large estates that were left in trust.

SAMUEL CRISSEY, who from early man- hood has been engaged in the butcher busi- ness at New Canaan, is a native of that town, born September 14, 1848. The family is an old one in New Canaan, our subject's grandfather, also named Samuel and a farmer by occupation, liv- ing in Pornes street, in that town. He was the father of six children, viz. : Samuel S .; Ebenezer, who lives in New Canaan, below the M. E. church; Cyrus, living in Pornes street; Erastus, who died in early manhood, and Emily and Polly, both deceased.

Samuel Sherman Crissey, the eldest of this family, was born in the town of New Canaan, and there attended the district school. He was reared to farm life on the paternal homestead, and conducted a one-hundred-acre farm which he owned. In his early years he also worked at shoemaking to some extent. In addition to car- ing for his farm he was engaged in the butcher business, first carrying meat around throughout the vicinity and finally opening a market at New Canaan, on the present site of Bates' jewelry store. He carried on this market up to the time of his death, in partnership for a time with Jones & Terrill, and later with Mr. Terrill, Mr. Jones retiring. He was a straightforward business man, thoroughly upright and honest in all his dealings, and was a most highly respected citizen of New Canaan. He married Catherine Eliza- beth Lockwood, and two children-one son and one daughter-were born to them, namely: Mary Elizabeth, who is the wife of William L. Smith, of Ridgefield, Conn., and Samuel. Mrs. Crissey makes her home with her son in New Canaan. Mr. Crissey passed away in 1866 at the age of fifty-two years.

Samuel Crissey has spent his entire life in New Canaan. In his childhood he attended the district schools and from the time he began life in earnest he has worked at his present business. For a couple of years after his father's death he was engaged in farming, and then, at the age of twenty, started in the butcher business in partner- ship with Frank J. Smith, peddling meat in the town. This partnership lasted one year, after which Mr. Crissey carried on the business alone for three years, when he took William L. Smith as a partner. On March 1, 1876, they opened the market on Main street now conducted by our subject and C. E. Brinckerhoff, who became a partner in September, 1890. In 1878 Mr. Crissey

bought out Mr. Smith's interest, and for the fol- lowing three years had for a partner William E. Rich, whom he also bought out. He conducted the market on his own account from that time until he formed his present alliance with Mr. Brinckerhoff. Mr. Crissey has always been guided by those principles of honesty and in- tegrity which characterized his father's life both in business and private matters, principles which could not fail to win for him the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.

In September, 1869, Mr. Crissey was married at Pound Ridge, N. Y., to Miss Mary Elizabeth Hitt, daughter of Hiram Hitt. Seven children have come to bless their union, namely: Estelle (who married Bradford Sarles, and has one child, Helen), Clarence, Bertha, Lester, Percy, Mabel and Ethel. Mr. Crissey is a Democrat in political sentiment, and has been a lifelong supporter of the principles of that party.

BENJAMIN F. HOYT has been connected with the clothing firm of H. B. Rogers & Co. since 1880, and during that time has made his home in New Canaan, where he has be- come well and favorably known. He is a na- tive of Connecticut. born May 28, 1841, in South Norwalk, and is a member of one of the oldest families of New England, the first of whom, John Hoyt, came over in the " May- flower."

Mr. Hoyt is of the eighth generation from Simon Hoyt, who was named as being one of the first settlers of Dorchester, Mass., and in 1635 removed to Scituate, same State, then in 1639 to Windsor, Conn., and from there, in 1649, to Fairfield, Conn., finally taking up his abode in Stamford, Conn., where he passed the remain- der of his days, dying September 1, 1657. He was born prior to the year 1600. From the records it appears that he was among the first settlers of no less than seven different towns in New England, in most cases being the first white settler. What an experience of pioneer life! Scarcely was he settled in one place before he gave up his home with the comforts which are so hardly and slowly acquired under such cir- cumstances, and commenced anew the work of subduing some other portion of the wilderness. This family participated in all the hardships un- dergone by the early settlers of Charlestown and Dorchester, and their hardy and courageous spirit is shown in this exercise of their endur- ance, and the fact that at Windsor, at least, they lived away from the other settlers.

Walter Hoyt, son of Simon, was born in

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1618, and was a resident of Windsor, Conn.,. in 1640. He removed from that place, and was one of the first settlers of Norwalk, where he served as deputy in the general court from 1658 to 1681. He was made sergeant of a company at Norwalk in May, 1659, and was selectman there in 1672, from all of which it will be seen he was a prominent citizen, active in the affairs of the community. In the Norwalk Patent, he was fifth among the ten proprietors of the town- ship of Norwalk in 1686, and the family had owned land there for twenty years previous to that time. Walter Hoyt died in 1698.

Zerubabel Hoyt, son of the above, was born between 1650 and 1654. He married Miss Me- hitable Keeler, and lived at Norwalk, where he died between the years 1727 and 1738. In 1717 he was called "deacon." He was one of nine persons appointed by the general court to pur- chase of the Indians a certain tract of land lying about fourteen miles north of the northern part of the town of Norwalk.

Joseph Hoyt, son of Zerubabel, was born about 1676-78, and died either in December, 1730, or in January, 1731. He lived in Norwalk, and in February, 1699, land was granted to him situated on the east side of Five Mile river. In 1704 his father deeded him a house and lot, and other land in 1710-21-25-26. In his will his wife Sarah and seven children are named.

One of these, Moses Hoyt, was born before 1712, and married Mary Hayt. He lived in Norwalk and New Canaan parish, and it is known that land was laid out to him at Canoe Hill in 1737. On May 5, 1734, he is mentioned as owning horse cover at New Canaan church. He died in 1785.

Josiah Hoyt, the next in line of descent, was born May 17. 1736, and was baptized June 12, following. He married Elizabeth Tuttle on Jan- uary 13, 1763, and they lived in Middlesex parish, Stamford, now Darien. He was a soldier in 1758 at Lake George, and on July 14, 1775, en- listed in the 4th Company, 17th Connecticut Reg- iment, Col. Charles Webb, receiving his discharge December 10, same year. He served along the Sound and in Gen. Sullivan's brigade on Winter Hill at the left of the besieging line. In 1776 he was lieutenant in Capt. Sergeant's company, Major Backus' light horse regiment; marshal September 7, 1776; ordered to New York same month, and discharged November 2, 1776.

Josiah Hoyt, grandfather of Benjamin F. Hoyt, was born in Norwalk, June 12, 1773, and died December 1, 1818. He was a hat manu- facturer. On June 18, 1797, he wedded Mary Warren, daughter of James Warren, of Norwalk.

Mr. Hoyt was originally a Baptist in religious connection, but changed to the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Charles Hoyt, father of our subject, was born August 1, 1809, in the Five Mile river district, town of Norwalk, and is still living, making his. home at Darien, Conn. He attended the district schools during his boyhood, and when a young. man learned the shoemaker's trade at South Norwalk. There he subsequently built a shop for himself, and for some years engaged in boot and shoe making, later buying a farm at Darien. which he worked for a number of years. After this he embarked in the trucking business in New York City, continuing same for fifteen years, and about 1872 returned to Darien, where he. has since resided. He was married in that town to Hannah Mather, a direct descendant of Cotton Mather. Her grandfather, Moses Mather, was the first pastor of the Darien Congregational Church. During the Revolutionary war he served as a minute-man. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hoyt had three children: Nancy E. (Mrs. Daniel Gleason); of Darien; Mary L., deceased wife of Henry B. Rogers; and Benjamin F. The mother passed from earth in September, 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, a lifelong member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Hoyt is a member of the M. E. Church.

During the boyhood of Benjamin F. Hoyt the family lived in New York City, where he at- tended the public schools and the College of the City of New York. For fifteen years after com- pleting his education be held a position in the es- tablishment of H. B. Claflin & Co., of New York City, and in 1880, as above mentioned, he came to New Canaan to enter the employ of H. B. Rogers & Co., manufacturers of clothing. He- has charge of the office branch of the business, and the mere fact of his being retained for such a period in this responsible position by a business house of such magnitude is sufficient proof of his. ability and fitness for same. He is also a di- rector of the New Canaan Savings Bank. Mr. Hoyt was married in New York City December 18, 1865, to Frances L. Case, a native of South- old, L. I., daughter of Andrew J. Case, and granddaughter of the late Col. Benjamin Case, of the war of 1812. To this union have come five chil- dren, namely: Frank Case and Andrew Ralston, both of whom are brokers on the stock exchange in New York City (Andrew married Elma Teresa Wells, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they have one child-Elma Frances); and Agnes, Bertha and Charles Mather, all three of whom reside in New Canaan.

When the Civil war broke out Mr. Hoyt re-

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sponded to the first call for volunteers, and they were in command of the navy yard for three months, also participated in the battle of Bull Run. He belonged to the New York City Militia, and is at present a member of the vet- erans of the 71st Regiment, New York State Militia, in which he served seven years, and of the G. A. R. Socially, he is connected with the Sons of Temperance, Mt. Vernon Division, the Sons of the American Revolution, the New Canaan Club and the Home Market Club, a Re- publican organization. Religiously, Mr. Hoyt is a member of the Congregational Church at New Canaan.

R UFUS B. JENNINGS, who completed his eighth year as selectman of Fairfield town- ship, Fairfield Co., Conn., is one of the repre- sentative well-to-do farmers of his town, and he belongs to a family whose members have for generations been highly respected citizens of this part of Connecticut.

Joshua Jennings was the first ancestor of whom we have record, and from him was descend- ed Daniel Jennings, Jr., who was the great-great- grandfather of Rufus B. Jennings. His son Ger- sham was married in 1762 to Rhoda Sanford, daughter of Zachariah Sanford, and their son, also named Gersham, was born at Hoyden's Hill. The latter wedded Esther Nichols, daugh- ter of John Nichols, and they had three sons- Sanford, Hill (of whom all trace was lost after he went west), and Ephraim (who died unmarried). The Jennings were all farmers by occupation.

Sanford Jennings, father of the gentleman whose name introduces these lines, was born March 7, 1800, in what was then Fairfield town- ship, but is now included in the town of Easton. His parents dying when he was still in his "teens," a guardian was appointed for him, but he ran away and enlisted in the war of 1812-15 when a mere boy. On his return to Fairfield he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, which he learned thoroughly, though after his marriage he devoted considerable time to both farming and carpentering, having inherited enough from his father to invest in land of his own, and buy- ing from David Nichols the farm on which he passed the remainder of his life-the nucleus of the one now occupied by his son Rufus. Phys- ically Mr. Jennings was much larger than the average man. He died in 1845, while crossing the Gulf of Mexico on his return home from Mex- ico, whither he had gone to build a mill for a Mr. Sanford, and where he contracted the fever which caused his death; he was buried at sea.

Sanford Jennings married Elizabeth Davis, who was born in 1807 near Greenfield Hill, and was a granddaughter of Joshua Davis, a Revolution- ary soldier. Three children blessed this union, viz .: Elizabeth, who is the widow of Charles Hopkins; Sarah M., who became the wife of Jesse Atherton, and died in Bridgeport; and Rufus B. Mrs. Jennings survived her husband many years, dying in 1893 on the farm where she made her home with her son, and her remains rest in the Oaklawn cemetery. Religiously, she was a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Jennings was a Jacksonian Democrat in politics.

Rufus B. Jennings was born June 6, 1830, in the house where he still resides in Burr's Dis- trict, Fairfield township, and he received his ed- ucation in the local schools, among his early teachers being Horace Nichols, Aaron B. Sher- wood, Alban Sherwood, Nathan Bulkeley, Abram B. Sherwood, Samuel Banks and Peter Fair- weather. He has lived to witness marked im- provement in the schools and methods of con- ducting them, and Fairfield has no more earnest supporter of education and kindred interests than Mr. Jennings. Continuing his studies, either at home or school, he was at the age of eighteen prepared to take up the teacher's profession, and he commenced by teaching in his home school for ten dollars a month, boarding himself, following this calling in all for twenty terms; one at North Bridgeport. He finally bought out his sisters' interests in the home place, and took up farming, which he has since continued with ever-increas- ing success, enlarging his farm, which when he took possession contained but twenty-six acres, until he now owns one hundred acres in Fairfield township and forty-five in Easton-a fine prop- erty, which he has improved and put under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Jennings derives a substantial income from his farm, and he has gained the reputation of being among the most progressive agriculturists in this section, stand- ing high in the ranks of the intelligent, thrifty citizens of his community. In 1862 he was mar- ried to Miss Rebecca Bradley, who was born in Greenfield Hill, daughter of William H. and Harriet (Gould) Bradley, and the young couple started housekeeping on the farm, which has al- ways been their home. They have eight chil- dren: Harriet E., the eldest, was a school teacher previous to her marriage to Mr. A. H. Pease, of Easton; William S., Frederick R., R. Bradley, Mary E., Helen E., Amelia B. and Re- becca D. live at home, Mary and Amelia being engaged in teaching. The children are all fol- lowing in the footsteps of their worthy parents, taking their places as industrious and useful men

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and women, and the entire family is esteemed among a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances. Mrs. Jennings is a member of the Con- gregational Church.

Mr. Jennings cast his first vote with the Whig party, and he is now a stanch Republican and one of the leaders in local public affairs. He has served creditably as justice of the peace. constable and assessor, and as above stated has completed his eighth year as selectman, to which office he was first elected in 1889, and re-elected continuously, with the exception of one year, until he declined further preferment. In 1898 he was nominated for and elected representative to the State Legislature. No man in the township has a better claim to the term " public-spirited " than he has, and he possesses the confidence of his fellowmen to an unusual degree.

N' ELSON U. LOCKWOOD, who at this writing owns and cultivates a fine farm in Greenwich township, Fairfield Co., Conn., be- longs to a family old and well known in that vi- cinity, being the eldest child of Henry S. and Sarah E. (White) Lockwood. He was born Oc- tober 14, 1851, at Riverside.

The Lockwood family of Fairfield county, Conn., are descended from Robert Lockwood, who came to America from England in 1630, when he located in Watertown, Mass. In 1646 he moved to Fairfield county, and there passed the remainder of his days, dying in 1658.

Our subject is of the eighth generation, trac- ing his lineage from Robert (1), through Jona- than (2), still John (3), Jonathan (4), Frederick (5), Uriah (6) and Henry S. (7). Frederick Lockwood married Deborah Reynolds, and they reared a large family, of which we give a brief record: Seymour, born January 14, 1786, moved to Western New York. Frederick, Jr., born February 3. 1788, died in Greenwich. Fanny, born April 13, 1790, died unmarried. Ezekiel, born June 5, 1893, became a ship carpenter, working first in Brooklyn and later moving to Cincinnati, Ohio; he passed his last years in re- tirement. Deborah, born July 31, 1795, mar- ried Charles Lockwood, and died in Riverside. Alfred, born August 14, 1797, died at Riverside; he married a Miss Whiting. Sally, born Sep- tember 19, 1799, married John Parsons, and died in Stanwich. Luke, born September 8, 1801, died in New York; he was a cabinet maker. Lot, born September 21, 1803, died in Winsted, Conn .; he married and had four children. Uriah, born September 18, 1805, was the grandfather of Elbert S. Lockwood. The father of these

children died February 18, 1808, the mother sur- viving until May, 1857.

Henry Smith Lockwood, the eldest son of Uriah Lockwood, was born April 30, 1828, at Riverside. town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, Conn. He received his education in the primi- tive district schools of the day, attending first at Sound Beach and later at Mianus, becoming a pupil of the school at the latter place the first day it was opened. Mr. Mead was the first teacher there. Fortunately he learned readily, but even so his schooling was limited, for from the early age of eight years he found more op- portunity for work than for lessons. His father being a farmer, he was required to assist in whatever way he could with the work about the home and place, and was also employed from boyhood in his father's boats. He continued his studies when he could during the winter, and for part of two winters attended the Greenwich Acad- emy when Philander Button taught that insti- tution, but when only eleven years of age he was engaged during the summer as cook on the "Griffen Tompkins," a market-boat running be- tween New York and Mianus, in which his fa- ther had a half-interest with Sylvester Newman. Some years later the father sold out his interest in that boat, and had built at Nyack the vessel " Adaline," of which he was sole owner. This he also sold, and had another built at Nyack, the sloop " Empire," which was launched in 1845; but she was never in the market trade while in Mr. Lockwood's possession. The next boat he owned was the " James K. Polk," which he ran as a freighter on the Hudson and elsewhere for three years, when he sold her and bought the sloop " Gen. Ward, " running her as a " transient boat," part of the time- on the Hudson. After that he hired his boat to others.

Henry Lockwood worked for a time in the "Empire," and with the exception of one trip to Albany on the " James K. Polk," that was the last boating he did for his father. When nine- teen years of age he took up farming at home on a small scale, and in 1848 helped to drive piles for the Terminus railroad bridge at Cos Cob, also working on the bridge itself. He was twenty- one years of age when he. embarked in the oyster business on his own account, at first hiring a ves- sel, and later becoming the owner of the " Amer- ica," the "Flora Temple," the "Sarah E. Lockwood" (which he had built at Glenwich, L. I.) and the "Mina A.," owning the two last boats at the same time. He used all these boats in his oyster business, in which he continued un- til his sons, Nelson U. and Elbert F. (who had been in partnership with him for years), bought

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him out, and he has since lived a retired life, making his home in Cos Cob. Mr. Lockwood is best known along the Sound as Captain Lock- wood, and he has an extensive acquaintance throughout his locality. His success has been well merited, for although he has acquired abund- :ant means he has never resorted to underhanded dealings or done business on any but a solid basis, and his reputation for integrity and honesty among all who have had dealings with him is un- blemished.

On December 22, 1850, Mr. Lockwood was married to Miss Sarah E. White, a native of New York City, born February 10, 1828, a daughter .of Jacob and Phoebe (Reynolds) White, who have four children, viz .: Sarah E., Emily A., Abel R. and Jane A. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood lo- cated at Riverside after their marriage, and later moving to Sound Beach, where they resided sev- en years, and finally, in 1863, coming to their present home in Cos Cob. They have had three .sons: Nelson U., Elbert F. (who is engaged in the oyster business), and William H., born Oc- .tober 25, 1855, who lives in Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Lockwood is a member of the Methodist .Church. The Captain is a Democrat in political faith. He is well preserved and hearty at " three score years and ten," has a specially good mem- .ory, and is in full possession of all his faculties except his eyesight, which is somewhat impaired.

Mr. Lockwood, our subject, received his .early education at Mianus, and later attended the Sound Beach school. When his parents re- moved from the latter place to Cos Cob he re- mained with his grandfather, Uriah Lockwood, for a couple of years, during which time he was ·engaged at farm work when not at school. His literary education was completed at Greenwich Academy, where he was a pupil for three years under Professor Shepherd. After reaching the .age of fifteen our subject worked with his father in the oyster business for three years, and then for a year clerked with Charles P. Holmes, who carried on a dry-good business in Greenwich. Re-entering his father's employ, in the oyster business, he continued in the same for many .years, he and his brother Elbert F. forming a partnership with their father, and later buying him out and doing business under the firm name .of Lockwood Bros. In the fall of 1885, on the advice of his doctor, our subject abandoned that 'line, selling out to his brother, and has since given his attention to other business interests, :although he still owns some oyster grounds in Long Island Sound.

Mr. Lockwood, on his retirement from the .oyster trade, purchased what is known as the

Nathaniel Briggs farm, a sixty-seven-acre tract lying along the road from Bedford to Mianus. He has purchased thirty-six acres more adjoining, . and has made numerous improvements about the place, remodeling the buildings, etc., and by the most improved modern methods of agriculture has brought the land to a high state of cultivation. Everything pertaining to his farm and house be- speaks the intelligent care of the owner, and the property is one which any man might be proud to possess. Mr. Lockwood has by earnest labor placed himself in the comfortable circumstances he now enjoys, and, better than financial success, has gained the confidence and respect of friends and neighbors, who esteem him one of the best and most reliable citizens. No one has a better reputation for sterling honesty and integrity in all dealings, and his word is never questioned by any who know him.

In June, 1875, Mr. Lockwood was married to Miss Adeline Hopkins, a native of Morris- town, N. J., and a daughter of Samuel W. and Sarah L. (Jessup) Hopkins. Two daughters have blessed their union : Grace and Sarah M., who live with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood are active and prominent members of the Stanwich Congregational Church, in which he serves as deacon and superintendent of the Sunday-school. Socially, he belongs to the Jr. O. U. A. M., holding membership in Council No. 86, at Banksville. In political belief he is a Democrat, but in voting he is independent, fol- lowing the dictates of his conscience.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 123

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