Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 124

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 124

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).

[Since the above was formulated, Mr. Lock- wood, in April, 1898, moved from Stanwich to Cos Cob, and is now engaged in the real-estate business. ]

DENNETT S. HAWLEY, a successful agri- culturist, resides upon an attractive home- stead of forty acres, about three miles northeast of Danbury, and for more than a quarter of a century has tested the truth of the praises be- stowed upon country life by the poets and philoso- phers of all time.

Mr. Hawley was born January 3, 1832, in Roxbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., a son of Orin and Charlotte (Weeks) Hawley, and was reared upon a farm, his education being obtained in the district schools near his home. At eighteen he began to learn the hatter's trade at Roxbury, and in 1852 he removed to Danbury, where he fol- lowed the same occupation for a number of years. In 1865 he made his home upon a farm in that locality, although he still continued his trade; but in 1871 he removed to his present homestead, and

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has since given his attention exclusively to agri- cultural work. He is an excellent citizen, a Democrat in politics, and while not especially active in local affairs, he is in favor of progress in all lines.

On November 15. 1857. he married Miss Mary E. Mallory, who was born at the present homestead. She was a member of a well-known family, and her grandfather, Nathan Mallory. was a first cousin of the father of E. A. Mallory, of Danbury. Her father, John L. Mallory, who was born in Ridgefield, married Sarah Morris, a native of the town of Danbury, and daughter of Bethel Morris, a cloth manufacturer. After his marriage John Mallory located upon the farm now occupied by our subject. Mrs. Hawley was the younger of two children; the elder, Lucy J., mar- ried Daniel P. Barlow, a hatter of Danbury. Mrs. Hawley passed to the unseen life May 9. 1886. leaving the memory of a well-spent life. She was a devout member of the Disciples Church, and her character was an illustration of her faith. Three sons survive: Charles B., a hatter of Danbury, married (first) Miss Minnie Leach (de- ceased), and (second) Miss Lavinia McNabb; George M., a hatter by trade, married Miss Anna Stuckey, of Danbury; William M., who is not married, is at home.

The Hawley family has been prominent in this locality for many years, several of its mem- bers having attained distinction in political life. As a rule the majority in each generation have been identified with the Episcopal Church, and public spirit, sound judgment and integrity have been the family characteristics. Our subject traces his descent from Joseph Hawley, who was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1603 and crossed the ocean in 1629, landing near Boston, Mass. He afterward settled in Connecticut, and his death occurred at Stratford in 1690. He had five sons, of whom: (1) Ebenezer and (2) Jos- eph left no children. (3) Samuel, born in 1652, had seven children. (4) Ephraim, born in 1659, had four sons. (5) Capt. John Hawley, born in 1661, had six children.

Isaac Hawley, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Roxbury. Litchfield Co., Conn., and for several years he followed agricultural pur- suits there, but later he removed to New York State to spend his remaining years. He married Elizabeth Warner, a daughter of Dr. Warner, a successful physician in Newtown, Conn., and they had six children: Orin, our subject's father; David, who died in Danbury; Stephen, a farmer in Roxbury; Eliza, who married Edmund Garlic, a farmer and tailor in Roxbury; Caroline, who married George Dean; and Nancy. who married

William H. Curtis, a farmer in the town of Mon- roe, this county.

Orin Hawley, our subject's father, was a na- tive of Roxbury, and resided there throughout his life, engaging first in a general mercantile business and later in the carpenter's trade. He was a Democrat in politics, but was not espe- cially active in political affairs. He married Miss Charlotte Weeks, of Bridgeport, a lady of English descent, who died in 1874, and he sur- vived her fifteen years. Of their thirteen chil- dren three died in infancy, and our subject is the eldest of those who lived to adult age. Caroline, the next in order of birth, married James Zarr, a farmer of Bedford Station, and died some years ago. Eliza married Mr. Gettis, of Bridge- port, and both are now deceased. Helen is the wife of David H. Briggs, of Bridgeport. David D. is a farmer in the town of Danbury. Daniel D., a twin of David, resides in Bridgeport. Will- iam (deceased) was a farmer by occupation. Henry is engaged in the livery business at Bridge- port. Charlotte married David Wanzer, a farmer of New Milford. Isabell (deceased) was former- ly the wife of Austin Phelps, of Danbury.

A' BRAM HEATON. Forty-one years of con- tinuous service in a responsible position is, in itself, a sufficient evidence of ability and per- sonal worth, and this well-known resident of Bridgeport, chief engineer and expert machinist in the Wheeler & Wilson factory, has won dur- ing this long period of faithful and efficient work the esteem and respect of all classes in the com- munity.

Mr. Heaton comes of good Colonial stock, be- ing descended direct from James Heaton, born in England in 1633. who married Sarah Street, and joined the New Haven Colony. ' He was one of the witnesses of the Dixwell Trust, and also a Deputy from New Haven to the General Court at Hartford in 1697, 1698 and 1699. His stone is still standing in the Grove Street cemetery. From him, through Seth Heaton, who was born in 1676 and married Hannah Todd; to James Heaton (2), who was born in 1722 and married to Sarah Basset; to Abraham Heaton, born in 1745, at North Haven, who married Mabel Good- year Cooper, and removed to Litchfield county.

Levi Heaton, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Litchfield county, and passed his life there, following farming as an occupation.

Hon. Levi Heaton (2). our subject's father, was born in Litchfield county, and became a farmer near Plymouth village, where he also con- ducted a general store for many years. He was

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prominent in public affairs, holding many local offices, was representative in 1847 and 1848, and in 1850 he served as State Senator from the Six- teenth District. His wife, Avis (Catlin). was a native of Litchfield county, and a granddaughter of Lieut. Levi Catlin, an officer of the Revolu- tionary army. also a prisoner in the Wallabout hulks. Three children were born to this worthy couple : Abram, Amelia and Mary E.

Our subject was born January 9, 1834, at Plymouth, and during his youth he learned the machinist's trade there. At the age of sixteen he went to sea, but after a time he wearied of a sailor's life, and for several years was employed at the Seth Thomas Clock factories; at the New Haven Machine shopsand as a locomotive engin- eer. In 1857 he removed to Bridgeport, and he has ever since held his present position with the Wheeler & Wilson Mig. Company. Politically, he is a Republican, but he has not taken an active share in partisan work. He married Miss Sarah F. Burritt, daughter of Charles T. Burritt, of New- town, and granddaughter of Joseph Burritt, a native of Stratford. Mr. Heaton and his wife are much esteemed socially. and he is a member of the Bridgeport Scientific Society, and of the Masonic Fraternity, having been for years an active worker in most of the local Masonic bodies, and was in 1880 grand master of the Connecti- cut Grand Council.

FREDERICK SWEET OLMSTEAD. Few men of to-day can trace their lineage farther back than can this well-known resident of Dan- bury, whose honorable record as a soldier and citizen has won for him the esteem of all classes in the community.

The family is of English origin, and the first of the line of whom we have a definite account was Thomas Olmstead, who was born in England about 1525. He left three sons : Thomas, James and Nicholas. II. James, the next in the line of descent, was born between 1550 and 1555, and reared a family of ten children : Richard, James, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Mary, Mabel, Elizabeth, John, Mary and Thomas. III. Richard, who was baptized in 1579, had three children : John, Rebecca and Richard. IV. Richard, born in 1607, had two children : James and John. V. John, born 1649, had nine chil- dren : John, Mary, Jane, Sarah, Rebecca, Dan- iel, Richard, Eunice and Deborah. VI. Daniel had eight children : Daniel, Samuel, Nathan, Ambrose, Hannah, Jonathan, Elizabeth and Ezekiel. VII. Daniel had three children : Sam- uel, James, Ebenezer.

VIII. Ebenezer Olmstead served in the Revolutionary army. He had three children, two, Sweet and Ebenezer, by his first wife, and one, Nathan, by his second wife, Mrs. Betsey (Sherwood) Roberts, widow of John Roberts, his former comrade in arms, who died of starvation in the old Sugar House Prison at Brooklyn, N. Y. John Roberts enlisted from the section which is now known as the town of Southeast, Putnam county, N. Y., in Capt. Joshua Barnum's company, and was captured by the British at the battle of White Plains. When, after the evacuation of New York City, his body was found with that of other prisoners left in the old Sugar house to die untended, his teeth were closed upon a brick which he had evidently gnawed in his last mo- ments of agony. IX. Ebenezer (2), our subject's grandfather, was born at Ridgefield, Fairfield county, August 8, 1770, and died in 1838 in the town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y. He mar- ried Betsey Roberts, daughter of his stepmother by her first husband, so that our subject is a di- rect descendant of two patriots of Revolutionary times. Five children were born of this union: Richard, Almon R .. Ebenezer R. and Amzi and Alvah R., twins. X. Amzi R. Olmstead, the father of our subject, was born July 18, 1797, at the old home in the town of Southeast, and his death occurred October 14, 1866, at the age of sixty-nine years and two months. On November 6, 1834, he was married to Mrs. Hannah (Elwell) Roberts, widow of Rufus Roberts. She was a native of Patterson, Putnam Co., N. Y., born October 31, 1796, and survived him but a short time, passing away July 7, 1867, aged seventy years, eight months and seven days. Of their three children, our subject was the eldest. (2) Fernando C., born November 29, 1838, married Christina Burch, who died April 18, 1878, leaving two children-Burton, who is now in business with his father, and Henry, who is a machinist. (3) Catherine A., born September 9, 1843, was mar- ried October 6, 1882, to Rev. William B. Haight, who died at Ballston Springs, N. Y., in March of the following year; she now resides in the town of Pawling, Putnam Co., New York.

Frederick S. Olmstead was born May 12, 1836, in the same locality, with which his ances- tors had been so long identified. He attended in early boyhood the " Little Red School House" near De Forests Corners, Putnam Co., N. Y., but at the age of thirteen was bound out for six years to Nathaniel Blauvelt, a carpenter and builder at New Fairfield, Conn., for whom he worked three years. On account of the death of Mrs. Blauvelt, his remaining time was sold to Floyd B. Howes, of Southeast, Putnam Co.,

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N. Y., and on completing his term he went to New York City to find employment at his trade. After a year there he went to Bethel, Conn., and remained a year when, removing to the town of Patterson, Putnam Co., N. Y., he began business on his own account. In 1859 he settled at New Fairfield, in this county, where he bought prop- erty and in a short time established a large and lucrative business.

In the meantime the war broke out, and Mr. Olmstead, with a patriotism worthy of his an- cestry, enlisted, September 11, 1862, as a private in Company K, 23d Conn. V. I. This regiment was recruited in New Haven and Fairfield coun- ties, during August and September of that year, and was mustered into the service at Camp Ter- ry, New Haven, November 14, 1862, with Col. Charles E. L. Holmes, Lieut .- Col. Charles W. Wordin and Major David H. Miller in command. Previous to this date Mr. Olmstead had been ap- pointed corporal, and in that rank he continued to serve until mustered out with his regiment, August 31, 1863. They left the State November 17. 1862, and joining General Banks' forces at Camp Buckingham, Long Island, were sent to the South, to assist in the operations in the Department of the Gulf. Companies B. C. D. E. F. G. and K sailed on November 30. from Brooklyn, N. Y., on the steamer " Che Kiang, for Ship Island. in Mississippi Sound, and from there moved, December 11, to New Orleans. where they were on duty at Camp Parapet until January 11, 1863, as a part of T. W. Sherman's independent command. They were then incor- porated in the Second Brigade, Second Division of the Nineteenth Army Corps and, January 12, moved to Berwick Bay in support of Weitzel's Reserve. They held Brashear City during Weit- zel's operations on the Teche, January 13-14, and were afterward on duty on the New Orleans and Opelousas railroad until June 1. Companies A, H and I had sailed from New York Decem- ber 30, 1862, on the ship " Planter," which was wrecked on the Bahama Islands January 14, 1863. These members arrived at New Orleans March 4. and during the attack on the hospital at Berwick January 1, Companies C, G, I and K protected the working parties while the sick and government property were removed.

The regiment took part in the operations in Louisiana west of the Mississippi river until July 13, and on the 17th a detachment was sent to La Fourche Crossing to meet Gen. Dick Taylor's raiding forces. They repulsed the attack in the engagements of June 20 and 21, and on the lat- ter date had another skirmish near Brashear City. On June 22 Corporal Olmstead was captured at

that place, but was paroled June 25. On the 23rd a detachment stationed in Brashear City was attacked, and, on their surrender, were held as prisoners. The privates were all paroled July 3. but the officers were imprisoned at Tyler. Texas, until July 22, 1864. In the action on Bayou Bluff, La., June 24, 1863, Companies A, C and H took part, and later all the regiment who were not prisoners were on duty at Metaire race course, Congo square, New Orleans, and at Bonnet Carre, La., until August 7, when they started for New Haven, Conn., arriving August 28, and three days afterward all were relieved from further service.

On returning to New Fairfield Mr. Olmstead resumed his business, and in 1870 he trans- ferred it to Danbury, where he has ever since continued, his office being located at Nos. 19-21 Crosby street. To mention the build- ings which he has erected in Danbury would be to make a list of the best residences, factories, churches and business blocks in the city; among the most notable, however, are the new Episco- pal church; the two blocks for V. E. Hawley on White and Main streets; the David Pierce block; all of I. W. Ives' White street, Main street and Keeler street buildings; Belden & Co.'s machine shop; the Theodore Clark box factory; the hat factories of D. E. Lowe, Nichols & Hine. Green Bros. and I. W. Ives: the Armstrong box fac- tory. and the buildings of the T. C. Williard Company and the Rogers Silver Plate Company.

On February 17, 1856, Mr. Olmstead married Miss Mary Jane Bouton, who was born July 23, 1839, in North Salem. Westchester Co., N. Y., a daughter of John P. and Mary E. (Dickens) Bouton. Six children blessed this union: (1) Fernando Cortez, born March 9. 1858, in the town of Patterson, Putnam Co., N. Y., is now a resident of Danbury. He was married November 27, 1883. to Miss Ida Irene Lane, of Richland Center. Wis., and they have three children -Pauline, Winona and Jennie. (2) Minnie B., born July 13. 1864, in New Fairfield, was mar- ried February 21, 1889, to Harry B. Burkhart, of Chicago, and has one son, Harold, born in Chicago, April 20. 1894. (3) Wallace G., born May 27. 1868, in New Fairfield, is now the edi- tor and part owner of the Danbury Dispatch. He was married October 5, 1893, to Miss Nellie Conklin, of Danbury. (4) Bertha, born March 27, 1872. in Danbury. died April 12. of the same year. (5 and 6) Frederick S., Jr., and Frank A. (twins) were born in Danbury. February 19, 1875, and the latter died on August 31, following. Frederick S. 13 now in partnership with his brother Wallace, and is business manager of the

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Dispatch. The family is prominent socially. Mrs. Olmstead is a member of the M. E. Church. Our subject is an active worker in various fra- ternal and social orders, belonging to the Im- proved Order of Red Men, the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R., the Sons of the American Revolution, Washington, D. C., and to the Masonic Fra- ternity. in which he has passed to the Egyptian Rite, and is a member of Pyramid Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Bridgeport. In February, 1898, he was appointed a member of the board of Estimate and Taxation in the city of Danbury, for a term of one year, and Febru- ary 27, 1899, his services were so much appreci- ated that he was re-appointed for a term of two years.

In politics Mr. Olmstead is a Democrat, well known in his locality as an able and faithful worker for the party, his influence having been potent at critical times in turning threatened de- feat into victory. He served six successive years as burgess of Danbury borough, to which incum- bency he was first elected in 1874; for three years he served creditably as tax assessor of Danbury; was elected a member of the board of relief for four years, and was a member of the grand jury for three years. On May 14, 1889, he was hon- ored with the appointment of superintendent of public works at Danbury on the recommendation of both Republicans and Democrats, and for five years he served in that position with marked ability and success.

H ENRY DAYTON. It has been no uncom- mon experience in the lesser municipalities of this country for a young man, eager to enter life's battle amidst wider and more active sur- roundings, to leave the scenes of his quiet child- hood and take up the struggle in a great city, and later, when honor, fame and wealth have at- tended his honest and earnest efforts, to be attracted back to the home of his boyhood, there to enjoy life in comparative and dignified ease, and to contribute from the wealth of his larger experience and ripened judgment to the better- ment of his fellow men. Henry Dayton was a farmer boy of Greenwich many years ago. He is now one of its most eminent citizens. Be- tween these two periods is an interval of time spent by him in a successful career in New York City.

Mr. Dayton was born in Greenwich Septem- ber 10, 1834, son of David and Elizabeth (Brush) Dayton, and was reared on his .father's farm in Stanwich, becoming thoroughly familiar with the duties of a farmer boy a half-century ago. Polly

Lounsbury was one of his teachers, and one who occupied a prominent place in his esteem. He learned to write with quill pens, many of which he made, and the old school house that he attended stood near the upper end of the upper reservoir in Stanwich, and the viaduct now passes over the old play grounds.

He shared in the primitive customs of his early years; when a child, before the days of friction matches, he often went to a neighbor's house to borrow fire. In February, 1848, at the age of fourteen years, Mr. Dayton left the old home- stead and went to New York City, where a cou- sin named Dayton was in the grain and feed busi- ness on West Houston street (then Hammersley street), and there he began as general utility boy, doing such work as he could. After serving sev- eral years there, he became associated with Wells & Christy, wholesale merchants, and later he entered the employ of J. & S. French, whole- sale dealers in boots, shoes, etc. While in the employ of each of the last two named firms he spent much time on the road as a salesman, trav- eling from New England to the Rockies, and vis- iting the principal cities of the country. Over thirty years ago he became associated with the Broadway Fire Insurance Company as an inspect- or and surveyor, and after some years of service in that capacity he became connected with the American Fire Insurance Company, his brother George succeeding him in the Broadway Insur- ance Company. Mr. Dayton was with the American Fire Insurance Company a number of years, becoming the general agent, and later sec- retary of the company. Recently he took up the insurance business on his own account, which be now follows, with an office in New York, and his residence at Belle Haven.

Mr. Dayton was married, at Newark, N. J., to Miss Lizzie J. Davies, a native of New York City, the daughter of J. L and Ann (Rogan) Davies. Mr. and Mrs. Dayton are the parents of two children: Charles H. and Edith E., both at home; the son is a promising young man, and is now completing his preparatory course for en- trance to Amherst College. Edith is attending the Greenwich high school.

Mr. Dayton cast his first vote for President, for J. C. Fremont, and has since been a most loyal supporter of the Republican party. While not a politician in the strict sense of the term, he has for many years been an earnest worker for party success. He was at one time vice- president of the Ninth Ward Republican Club of New York City. In 1873 he was appointed school trustee in the Ninth ward, and while serv- ing in this capacity he took great interest in the

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public schools and their betterment. When he resigned, in December, 1883, contemplating a change of residence, his associates presented him with a testimonial in evidence of the high esteem in which they held him, and the valuable service he had rendered as a trustee. Mr. Dayton and his brother, George H., about this time pur- chased land on Field Point, Greenwich, where their elegant homes now stand. They were the pioneers (in the way of building fine homes) in that beautiful residence section on Field Point, as there were but eight houses on the Point when theirs were started, and the construction of these houses was the introduction of a modern style of architecture. Soon after he came to Green- wich Mr. Dayton became a school committee- man, and he has served in that position ever since; he was a member of the committee on the construction of the Havemeyer school building at Greenwich. His long experience as school trustee in New York, with the keen interest he has always taken, gave him unusual insight into the needs and the advantages of good schools, and the high position occupied by the Green- wich school (foremost amongst its class in the State) is to no small extent the result of the ef- ficiency of those who manage it, and the intro- duction of modern methods and progressive ideas. As school committeeman (a gratuitous office) the services of Mr. Dayton have certainly been of inestimable value.

Mr. Dayton has been a member of the New England Society of New York since May 10, 1865. He is a life member of the Mechanics and Tradesmens Society of New York; a mem- ber of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and of the Belle Haven Casino Association. He is an hon- orary member of the Volunteer Fire Company. In his religious affiliations he belongs to the Con- gregational Church and is a member of its stand- ing committee. While living in New York City he was for twenty years superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and since uniting with the Church, when a young man, he has almost con- tinually been identified officially with its inter- ests, and always active in Sabbath-school work. He is at present teacher of the Bible Class in the Congregational Sabbath-school of Greenwich.

The Dayton family have been eminent in the history of Greenwich, and of the four brothers, who in their youth left that village to engage in business in New York City, Henry was the first. The rudiments of his education were gained in the common schools of Greenwich, but it has been chiefly to the close observations which he has made in his broad and extensive travels that Mr. Dayton is indebted for the education, prac-

tical though it be in its nature, which impresses the friend or stranger who meets him in social or business relations. He has also imbibed freely of the learning of books, and has ever been a student of good literature. He impresses the ob- server as a thorough gentleman, refined and cult- ured, and the observation deepens as acquaint- ance grows. Skilled in the details and master of the principles of an important modern voca- tion, honored and highly respected as a citizen of Greenwich, generous in his contributions of time and means to measures that up-lift his fel- low men, Mr. Dayton in his highly successful career typifies the potentialities of American character and American manhood.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 124

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