Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 126

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 126

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Mr. Olmstead was educated partially in the public schools of Ball's Pond, New Fairfield, this county, but after the removal of the family to Danbury in 1870, he pursued his studies there for some time. In 1873 he began to learn the carpenter's trade with his father, for whom he worked seven years. He then .spent one year (1880) in New York City as foreman for Edward Steadwell, and in the following year he entered into partnership with his father under the style of F. S. Olmstead & Son. In 1893 the father retired, and since that time Mr. Olmstead has conducted the business in his own name at the ola station, Nos. 19 and 21 Crosby street, Danbury.

Mr. Olmstead is not less active in local affairs than in business matters. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, but has taken more inter- est in non-political movements than in partisan work. From 1876 until his withdrawal in 1894 he was a member of the Danbury Fire Depart- ment, and he was one of the organizers of the Padamaran Hose Company No. 3. In 1886 he was assistant chief of the department. In fra- ternal society work Mr. Olmstead has been un- usually active and prominent. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution of the District of Columbia; a charter member of the A. U. A. M., and a member of the State Council, having passed the several chairs. For five years he was Deputy State Councillor in this order. He was the organizer of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, at Danbury, and has passed the chairs in that order. At present he is a member of grand castle of the State and supreme castle of the United States. He also belongs to all the various bodies of Odd Fellowship, viz .: sub- ordinate lodge, encampment and canton. He was originally a member of Samaritan Lodge, I. O. O. F., but with four others withdrew and organized Progressive Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., of Danbury, with 210 members, the largest num- ber of charter members of any lodge ever organ- ized in the United States. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of the State, having been through the several chairs.

In 1883 Mr. Olmstead married Miss Ida Irene Lane, of Richland Center, Wis., a descendant of an old Quaker family and a daughter of David and Maria (Lawrence) Lane. Mr. Olmstead

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and his wife have three children: Pauline, Winona and Jennie. Mrs. Olmstead is a mem- ber of Pocahontas Lodge, Order of Red Men, and the second child, Winona, was named in this order.

SAMUEL B. MIDDLEBROOK, a prosperous farmer of Wilton, Conn., was born in that town February 24, 1828, and was there well ed- ucated in the common schools. From early boyhood he was engaged in farming, with the exception of the time he spent in California in the search for gold in 1852, making the journey thither by way of the Isthmus, during which time he had some remarkable experiences. In politics he was originally an Old-line Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party he became identified therewith, and he still adheres thereto. As such he has held several of the local offices of his town, such as selectman, for seven years, from 1861 to 1868, and most of the other town offices.

During the war of the Rebellion he was active and earnest in the support of the government, and was instrumental in sending many soldiers to the front. He married Miss Sarah L. Lock- wood, daughter of John and Mercy (Weed) Lock- wood, of New Canaan, Conn. She was born June 8, 1831, and died October 4, 1878, the mother of the following children: George S., born January 3, 1857, died December 26, 1864; William L., born May 20, 1858, died December 29, 1864; John F., mentioned below; Samuel E., .born April 22, 1853, died January 6, 1865; Joseph W., mentioned below; Mercy W., mentioned below and Miss Sarah L., born March 26, 1874. ; Mr. Middlebrook is a man of more than ordinary mental qualities. Keen and incisive in his grasp of ideas or in the expression of a thought, he must be accounted one of the interesting char- acters in New England life.

John F. Middlebrook, eldest living son of the subject of this sketch, was born December 28, 1860, in the town of Wilton and educated there in the common schools, subsequently taking academic work at Professor Olmstead's school. Afterward he graduated .at Columbia Law Col- lege of New York, and he is now practicing his profession in that city, and enjoying a large de- gree of success. He married Miss Minnie Jones, of Brooklyn, N. Y., she having been born there in 1862. Two children have graced this union: Mary Ann and George. The mother of these died, and Mr. Middlebrook has not married again.

Joseph W. Middlebrook, second eldest living son of the subject of this sketch, was born July

31. 1865, and was educated in the common schools of his native town, subsequently prepar- ing for Yale College at Professor Olmstead's school in Wilton, afterward graduating at Yale College in 1887. Then attending Columbia Law College in New York, he graduated from that institution in 1889. He is now practicing his profession in Tarrytown, N. Y., where he was elected a director in the Tarrytown Bank. He is also a collector of collateral inheritance tax at Dobbs Ferry, N. Y. He married Miss Emma Bradley, daughter of David Ogden Bradley, of Dobbs Ferry, and they have two children- Bradley and Joseph.

Mercy M. Middlebrook, eldest daughter of our subject, was born January 22, 1890, in the town of Wilton, received her early education there, later graduating from St. Margaret's Sem- inary at Waterbury, Conn. She married George Boyd, of the firm of Root & Boyd, insurance agents at Waterbury, Conn. Mr. Boyd is a singer of renown, and leader of the choir in his Church. He and his wife have one child, Mercy.

Sarah E. Middlebrook, youngest daughter of our subject, was educated with her sister, and has never married.

Michael Middlebrook, great-grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Fairfield, Conn., and was there educated, afterward en- gaging extensively in farming. He married Abiah Summers.

Summers Middlebrook, son of Michael and Abiah (Summers) Middlebrook, and grandfather of the subject proper of these lines, was born December 25, 1748, in the town of Wilton, and was there educated in the common schools. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and followed that honorable occupation all his life. He was also accustomed to do his own tanning and blacksmithing. He served his country faith- fully and effectively in the Revolutionary war, being in Captain Arnold's company, and later in Captain Gilbert's company. He married Susanna Beal, who was born February 11, 1755. She was a most ardent Christian, led a devoted and blameless life, and her influence has descended to the present generation of her descendants. The children born to Summers and Susanna (Beal) Middlebrook were as follows: Matthew, born November 10, 1781, married Betsey Ab- bott; William, born January 23, 1784, married Betsey Denton; Abijah, born September 8, 1786, remained single (he opened the first store in Mid- dletown, Orange Co., N. Y.); Anna, born Novem- ber 21, 1788, married John Jones; George, born September 6, 1792, married Lucretia Sturgess; Jonathan, born September 17, 1794, remained

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single; and Sarah, born April 1, 1798, married William Lester.

George Middlebrook, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Wilton, and there educated in the common schools. After leaving school he adopted the occupation of farming, and during the training days was colonel of a regiment of militia. He was a man . of great strength of character, and highly re- spected as a citizen and as a man. Politically, he was a Whig, was selectman of his town, and while not a member of any Church was yet greatly interested in the cause of religion. He married Miss Lucretia Sturgess, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hurlbutt) Sturgess, the former of whom was a farmer of Wilton. She was born there January 24, 1801, and died June 3, 1871. The children born to them were as fol- lows: Mary, born December 29, 1818, married William Harris; Susanna, born October 2, 1820, married Le Grand Comstock; Clarissa, born May 17, 1822, married Ebenezer Betts; Henrietta, born May 15, 1824, married William D. Gregory; Sarah A., born January 21, 1826, now the widow of W. D. Gregory, she having been his second wife; Samuel B. (our subject), born February 24, 1828; Elizabeth A., born November 21, 1831, married John Hill; Lucretia, born November 13, 1833, married A. E. Brown; Emily, born No- vember 20, 1835, married John L. Lockwood; Gertrude, born March 4, 1837, married Dr. J. E. Turner: Helen, born June 13, 1839, is still single; Virginia S., born June 21, 1842, married a Mr. Wilkinson; and Georgia, born January 12, 1847, died when about twelve years of age.

CHARLES P. NETTLETON, president of

C the Shelton Tin & Plumbing Company, was born December 22, 1835, in Newtown, Zoar District, and is a son of Joseph Nettleton, who was also born in Newtown, in 1805. He is a grandson of Abner A. Nettleton, also a native of Newtown.

Abner A. Nettleton was a farmer by occupa- tion, living on a farm of his own of considerable size located in the Zoar District, and he built the house just north of the Morris House in Zoar District. He married Lucy A. Glover, a mem- ber of the Glover family of Newtown, by whom he had one son, Joseph, and two daughters- Ann, who died when she was about two years of age, and Phoebe, who died at the age of twenty- two. Abner A. Nettleton died at the age of forty-four.

Joseph Nettleton, father of our subject, was in his time a farmer, living on the Nettleton

homestead during his entire life, which, however, terminated when he was in his prime. He was uniformly successful in his undertakings, and was recognized as a man of ability and even talent. He married Phoebe Curtiss, daughter of Divine Curtiss, who was a soldier in the war of 1812. To the marriage of Divine Curtiss children were born as follows: Sophia, Hiram, Cyrenus, Al- fred, Phoebe, Susan, Mary, Edwin and Edward. Joseph Nettleton died in the year 1842, he and his wife having had four children, as follows: Edgar A., deceased; Susan, who died in infancy; Charles P., the subject of this sketch; and Joseph Foster.

Charles P. Nettleton was educated in the pub- lic schools of Zoar, and had no other educational advantages in his youth; but what he there learned has been well supplemented by wide reading and extensive observation. When about. four- teen years of age he left school and went to work in the comb shop of Samuel Curtiss, remaining there about two years, and then he worked at Woodbury for one summer, making thimbles. When seventeen years of age he went to Sey- mour and there learned his trade, that of tin- smith and plumber, with Henry Bradley, serving an apprenticeship of three years and remaining with Mr. Bradley one year longer as journeyman. Then going to Plymouth (now Thomaston), he re- mained there one year, and then returned to Sey- mour and afterward to Birmingham, in which lat- ter place he formed a partnership with E. W. Peck, which lasted four years, and after its dissolution he worked for Mr. Peck one year. In 1874 he established a tin shop and plumbing busi- ness of his own, continuing the business for some time at his home, and in 1880 rented the James Beard store for four years, at the end of which period he removed to the opposite corner, where he remained six years, and on November 24, 1890, removed to his present location, where he has ever since carried on the business. The firm of which he is a member and of which he is president, is known as the Shelton Tin & Plumb- ing Company, and it commands the principal trade in this line, Mr. Nettleton being known as one of the best of plumbers and a strictly honest business man. After the town was platted Mr. Nettleton built the first house therein and moved into it. In his business he has been eminently successful, and he has always taken an active part in political and public matters. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and with that organization served three years in the Army of the Potomac. He is a member of Kellogg Post, G. A. R., and of the Episcopal Church of Derby.

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Mr. Nettleton was married in July, 1861, to Miss Fanny A. Hallock, daughter of Israel Hal- lock, of Derby. Conn., and he and his wife have had seven children, four of whom grew to mature years. The names of the seven children are as follows: Charles S., a sailor, living in Rhode Island; Albert Q., living at Pleasant Prairie, lowa; Earnest C., working with his father; Rosa and Rebecca, both deceased; Francis I., a student in the Medical Department of Yale Col- lege; and Ruth, deceased.

S NIPSCO STEVENS, principal of the West Stamford school, has the distinction of be- ing the oldest teacher in point of service, in the town of Stamford, Fairfield county, Connecticut.

The Stevens family is an old and highly re- spected one in this section, Daniel Stevens, who was the great-great-grandfather of Sipsco Stevens, having been an early resident of the High Ridge district, in the town of Stamford. His son, Jacob Stevens, also lived there. The latter was twice married, and by his first wife had one child, Sarah (Mrs. Hanley Walton); by his second wife, Molly (Prindle), he had six children: Enoch, Jacob, Montgomery, Molly, Olive and James. James became an extensive farmer, both in High Ridge and in Pound Ridge, Westchester county, N. Y., whither he removed. He married Lu- cretia Jones, and they became the parents of ten children viz. : Minor, George, James (all three de- ceased), Charles, Polly (Mrs. Ebenezer Hoyt, of Stamford), Sally (1) and Samuel (1) (both de- ceased), Aaron (of Stamford, who married Mary J. Pelham), Samuel (2) (deceased), and Sally (2) (who was first married to Henry Selleck, and later wedded William Olmstead, and lives in New York City). The father died in 1828 at the age of forty-two years.

Charles Stevens was born June 20, 1812, in Pound Ridge, N. Y., and is still living, making his home at High Ridge. During his early years he attended school at Pound Ridge, and he subsequently learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for about twenty-five years. Then for many years he was engaged in selling glass and tinware, for a portion of the year giv- ing his time to the cultivation of a small farm which he owned at High Ridge. For his first wife he married Nancy J. Dixon, daughter of Amos Dixon, a Revolutionary pensioner, who served under Col. James Mead, of Greenwich; he lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years. To Charles and Nancy (Dixon) Stevens were born three children, namely: Mary Prudence, who is the wife of Augustus Beale, of Brooklyn;

Sipsco; and Virgil, who died at the age of three years. The mother died in 1850, and Mr. Stevens subsequently wedded Emily Ann Au- gusta Willson, by whom he had one child, Frank Virgil, born in 1852, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Sipsco Stevens was born May 8, 1841, in the town of Pound Ridge, Westchester Co., N. Y. His early schooling was acquired in High Ridge, Fairfield Co., Conn., and he studied later at the' Hudson River Academy, Claverack, N. Y. In the spring of 1860 he commenced teaching in District No. 7. New Canaan, known as Dantown, and afterward, for two years, taught at Bangall, in the town of Stamford. His next school was in the Farms District, and he then taught at Hamden, Conn., for a short time in the Rectory school, conducted by Rev. Charles William Everest. From there he returned to the Farms District, finally, in the spring of 1865; taking a position in the Green school, which was formerly situated where St. John's Park now is, but had been moved to a site near the park. Mr. Stev- ens was connected with that school for a period of twenty-one years, and bas since been the principal of the West Stamford school, where, as in other incumbencies, he has given entire satis- faction. As an instructor and disciplinarian he has an enviable reputation, and his ability and efficiency are best attested to by the record of his work-his years of continued service in one section, which is the best evidence any one can have of qualification and reliability in any voca- tion.

Mr. Stevens was united in marriage Decem- ber 29, 1873, in St. Anne Des Plaines, near Montreal, Canada, to Miss Caroline Jeanne Richard, a native of Canton de Vaud, Switzer- land, whose father had charge of a French- Canadian school at Pointe aux Trembles, Canada. Two children have blessed this union, namely: Alice May, born November 28, 1874, who died at the age of fourteen months; and Lucy Mabel, born November 30, 1876. In 1867 Mr. Stevens became a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., and about the same time joined Rippowam Lodge, I. O. O. F. He takes considerable interest in fraternal affairs, and is past master of Union Lodge and past high priest of Rittenhouse Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

O SCAR NICHOLS ROCKWELL, justice of the peace in and for the town of Danbury, Fairfield Co., Conn., is a prominent agriculturist and dairyman of that town, having charge of the Rockwell homestead, a fine farm in the Mill

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Plain District. It contains about 500 acres, and was purchased in 1860 by our subject's father, the late Rufus Townsend Rockwell, whose death on March 22, 1896, left it subject to division among numerous heirs.

Rufus T. Rockwell was born December 5, 1818, the son of Thomas and Deborah (Horton) Rockwell, of Mill Plain. He followed agricult- ure for some years in the town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y., but the last thirty years of his life were spent in this county. His first wife, Harriet (Nichols), daughter of Benjamin and Pauline (Seeley) Nichols, was born in the town of Southeast, August 3, 1822, and died Septem- ber 10, 1861. By this marriage there were five children, viz .: Pauline, born in 1847, resides at Danbury; Oscar N. is mentioned more fully be- low; Rufus T., born March 12, 1852, married Miss Lina Parcells, and has had four children, of whom Sanford died in childhood, and Pauline Starr, Sarah Nichols and Helen are living; Will- iam, born January 4, 1856, died in early man- hood; and Hattie, born in August, 1860, is the wife of Frank Beardsley, of Danbury. By his second marriage, with Mary E. Howe, Mr. Rock- well had four children: Cortes C., Howard H., Garry and Sidney D.

The subject of this sketch is a native of the Empire State, born November 9, 1850, in the town of Southeast, Putnam county, but as his father removed to Fairfield county a few years later, he was educated chiefly in the district schools of Mill Plain and in a private school at Danbury. At seventeen he began to devote his attention to the farm, and for many years pre- vious to his father's death he had the full man- agement of the place. He gives especial care to dairy work, keeping from fifty to seventy-five head of cattle ordinarily, while at times his herd numbers over a hundred. His sound judgment and excellent character command the respect of all who know him, and he has much interest in local affairs and in the Republican organization of the town. He was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace and served one term, and in 1896 he was again chosen to that position, which he now holds.

In 1871 Mr. Rockwell married Miss Josephine Stone, by whom he has had four sons: Two died in childhood; Benjamin O. married Miss Emma Ellsworth, daughter of Alonzo and Julia (Burt) Ellsworth; and George C. married Miss Edith Ganung, daughter of John and Mary Eliza- beth (Blauvelt) Ganung.

Mrs. Rockwell is a daughter of Amos Stone, of Danbury, and a granddaughter of Daniel and Polly (Jackson) Stone. Her mother, whose

maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Abbott, was a daughter of Aaron and Anna Abbott. Amos and Mary Elizabeth Stone had seven children, of whom six lived to maturity: Mary A., born July 11, 1851, married William Betts, Jr., of Danbury; Josephine, born October 12, 1852, is the wife of our subject; Clark D., born August 13, 1854, married Miss Louie Harrison, and has had seven children-Sadie (who died in child- hood), Bertha, Georgie, Arthur (deceased), How- ard (deceased), Clara and Josephine; Ida born December 25, 1857, married Charles Canfield, of Danbury, and has three children-Winnie, Bessie and Rachel; Lillie died in childhood; Asa T., born June 19, 1869, married Miss Sadie Light, and has had two children-Percy, who died in childhood, and Earl A. (they reside in Danbury); Miss Hattie A. Stone, born January 5, 1872, resides at Mill Plain.

G EORGE McARTHUR. Beaver Brook Mills, two miles from Danbury, are justly celebrated throughout the United States for the high quality of paper manufactured there, and the name of McArthur Bros. is a synonym in the trade for promptness and fair dealing. It is now nearly thirty years since the business was established by George, Robert, John and Will- iam L. McArthur, who, with true Scottish tenac- ity, stood by each other through the early days of discouragement, and now reap the reward of their combined efforts in a prosperity which not even the past few years of panic could interrupt. They began with limited capital in an old two- story frame building, 30 x 30 feet, which had previously been used as a woolen-mill, but they have improved and enlarged the plant from time to time until they now have one of the largest and best equipped mills in the locality. Steam has been substituted for water power, and a large number of hands are kept constantly em- ployed, a little settlement having grown up around the mill. The firm makes a specialty of manilla and heavy wrapping papers, their trade being largely with hardware dealers, and their product is in use from Maine to California.

The family is of Scottish nationality, and our subject's parents, John and Isabella (Campbell) McArthur, were born, reared and married in the old country. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy, and the four brothers named above came to America with their par- ents in 1848. Their first home was at Thomp- sonville, Conn., where the father engaged in the business of carding wool, but later he moved to Hawleyville, and after spending a short time as

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George M. Arthur

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a partner in a woolen-mill he purchased a small farm, where he passed his last days, his death occurring in 1889. His estimable wife died in 1850, at Thompsonville.

George McArthur was born in 1834 at Loch- winnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and was about fourteen years old when he crossed the ocean. He remained at Thompsonville with his parents until 1852, when he went to Boston to learn the machinist's trade, which he followed some years, in 1868 giving up that business to join his brothers in their present partnership. Since lo- cating at Danbury he has identified himself with the best interests of the place, taking a leading part in all matters that concerned the public wel- fare, and giving generous encouragement to every laudable enterprise. The family has been connected with the Presbyterian Church for many generations, but our subject is a member of the First Congregational Church at Danbury, and at present holds the office of deacon. He was instrumental in building a small chapel at Beaver Brook, and has been superintendent of a Sunday-school there for nearly a quarter of a century. He and his brothers are all Repub- licans in their political faith, as was their father in his lifetime. Public office has no charms for Mr. McArthur, however; the only position he ever held was that of justice of the peace.

In 1866 Mr. McArthur married Miss Frances Dascomb, and their union has been blessed with four children: Isabella, wife of Arthur Sherman, formerly of Danbury and now of Waterville, Conn .; Maggie, who died at the age of seven- teen; Mary, who died when seven years old; and Frances, who is engaged with her father in the paper manufactory. Mrs. McArthur's ancestors came from France at an early day and settled in Maine, where their descendants are now numer- ous. Her grandfather served in the French and Indian wars. Thomas Dascomb, her father, owned a large amount of real estate at Malden, Mass., and he followed agricultural pursuits.

C HARLES WILBUR WHITLOCK, proprie- tor of a classical school in Wilton, Fairfield county, was born in that town January 16, 1862, and his education was secured in his father's school in Wilton. After completing his educa- tion he, at the age of eighteen, commenced teach- ing in that school, and was thus occupied for some fifteen years, during part of which time he was professor of languages and also head master. He then established a " boarding school " at Wil- ton, in which seven languages were taught, he himself teaching three, and this establishment he

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 126

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