Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 127

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

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conducted until the building was destroyed by fire in 1894. He immediately rebuilt, however, and the present Wilton "Educational Institute" (for so the school is styled) has a wide and flat- tering reputation. Mr. Witlock opened his school without the prospect of a single student, vet the first year he began with eight, while the attendance now averages some forty the year round. There is accommodation for two hun- dred scholars. In this work Mr. Whitlock gives special attention to the teaching of Spanish, and he prepares students for entrance to any profes- sion. He has always been a great student him- self, is a representative self-made man, one who has one won every battle in life, and so far has met with no reverses. Politically, he is a Re- publican but not an active one, though he has frequently been offered public positions of trusts. In religious faith he and his family are Congre- gationalists.

On September 25, 1888, Mr. Whitlock was married to Miss Anna B. Smith, born February 26, 1860, a daughter of William and Jane (Fil -: low) Smith, the former of whom was a prosper- ous farmer of Wilton, Conn. By this union there was one child, Gaylord G., born November 24, 1889.

Augustus Whitlock, father of the subject of these lines, was born in 1825, in South Wilton. and received his education at the common schools of the locality, although he was for the most part self-educated. In 1847 he established a school for boys at Wilton, which he continued until his death in 1895. As a mathematician he had not his superior in his day, and his fame ex- tended over the State and far beyond. He was such a thorough educator, and so much beloved and esteemed by his pupils that he invariably left the impression of his character upon them. For many years he was superintendent of schools. and also a trustee. In religious belief he was a stanch Methodist, ardently devoted to his Church and its work, and was superintendent of the Sun- day-school for several years.

On October 18, 1853, Augustus Whitlock was- united in marriage to Miss Emily D. Davenport, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Gaylord) Daven- port, of Wilton, Conn., and four children have been born to them : Minnie, deceased; Louisa, who married C. Borda; Charles W., our subject; and Carrie, deceased wife of A. E. Winchester.

J JOSEPH H. WILLIAMS. For nearly two hundred years the family of Williams has played a prominent part in the local history of Fairfield county. The great-grandfather of

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the gentleman whose name appears at the begin- ning of this sketch was Elnathan Williams, who was born in 1729, and died October 23, 1815. He was a tanner and currier by trade. He had a brother who took part in the war of the Revo- lution, and was captured and imprisoned by the British in New York. Whether he attempted to escape or whether he was overcome by the terri- ble sufferings endured by the imprisoned patriots will never be known, as he was never heard from afterward. Elnathan Williams married Hannah -, who was born in 1738 and died June 28, 1818. Among their children was Elnathan, Jr., a hotelkeeper, who was born in 1766 and died July 4, 1856. He married Abigail Bradley, daughter of Enos Bradley, and they became the parents of four children: David, Bradley, Peter and Hanford.

David Williams was born in 1782, and passed his boyhood days in Easton, later engaging in farming. He married Olive Treadwell, a daugh- ter of Joseph Treadwell, and their children were: Huldah, Bradley, Abbie, and Nathan, all de- ceased, and Joseph H. David Williams was an ardent Democrat in his political belief. He con- tributed to the support of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was a member. He died December 10, 1856, preceded two years by his devoted helpmeet, who had passed away Oc- tober 28, 1854.

Joseph H. Williams was born June 13, 1829. and was reared to the habits of industry and economy peculiar to the citizens of the old Col- onial States, and attended the public schools. He was naturally a thoughtful child, and always seemed to possess the wisdom that belonged to mature years. At the age of twenty-three he came to his present residence in Trumbull, which he inherited from Josiah French, whose wife was an aunt of Mrs. Williams.

On October 20, 1852, he was united in mar- riage with Electa Ann, a daughter of Hezekiah Gould, of Weston, Conn. Two children have blessed this union: Hezekiah Gould, who mar- ried Augusta Curtis, and is now deceased; David H. (deceased), who married Marietta Ward, and was the father of four children-Mary Olive, Ruth Electa, Joseph H. and Leland Morton.

Mr. Williams is, by conviction, a Democrat, and has held a number of important offices. In 1883-84, he represented his district in the State Legislature, and left a record that cannot fail to be a matter of pride to him, and of satisfac- tion to those who elected him. He has also served as collector and treasurer of the town de- posit fund of Trumbull. In religious belief he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of

which he has been steward for many years; Mrs. Williams is a member of the Baptist Church. His fine farm of one hundred acres is in a high state of cultivation, and gives evidence of the system and thrift of the owner. Within, all is cheerful and homelike, and a hearty welcome is accorded each and every one who crosses the threshold.

TAMES M. AND WILLIAM H. WILSON, leading lumber dealers and contractors in Fairfield township, Fairfield county, Conn., engaged in business under the firm name of J. M. Wilson & Bro., have for many years been foremost in their line in this section, where they are highly respected as they are well known. They are sons of Henry G. and Eliza (Provost) Wilson, the former being the founder of the busi- ness now conducted by his sons, which he carried on with remarkable success for many years before his death.

Henry G. Wilson, better known as "Captain Wilson," was born August 23, 1819, on Wilson's Highway, in Fairfield township, and was the son of Wakeman and Betsey A. (Glover) Wilson. During his youth he attended the common schools of the district, and became considerable of a reader and a well-informed man. Helearned the carpenter's trade under his father, serving a regular apprenticeship, and worked at same some years, daily going on foot to work in Black Rock, five miles. He finally erected a mill, where he first commenced the sawmilling business, and later bought another mill which stood lower down along the same stream, in which he carried on the business formerly done by both, discontinu- ing the first mentioned. He continued in this line until his decease, doing a thriving business at a stand where for years the trade had been any- thing but profitable, and by the exercise of in- dustry and perseverance became one of the ex- tensive and widely known lumbermen of this re- gion. His prosperity was well deserved, for it was the direct result of energy, patience and good management, and he stood as high among his neighbors and fellow citizens as he did in com- mercial circles. On May 7, 1890, while occupied as usual with business affairs, Mr. Wilson was struck by a train at Fairfield, and received in- juries from which he died five days later. He was a man of great individuality and strong, forci- ble character, one whose judgment was highly esteemed. Mr. Wilson married Eliza Provost, daughter of Rebecca (Van Nice) and James Pro- vost, the former a native of Matteawan, N. J., who followed her husband to the grave March

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18. 1892, and they rest side by side in Oaklawn cemetery. This union was blest with two sons- J. M. and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were members of the Congregational Church at Greenfield Hill. His political sympathies were with the Democratic party, and though not an active politician he was a regular voter, missing only one election, on which occasion he paired off with a voter of the opposite party, neither casting a ballot.

J. M. Wilson, the senior member of the firm of J. M. Wilson & Bro., was born May 18, 1850, on Wilson's Highway, on his father's land in Fairfield township, and received the chances afforded by the neighboring district schools for education. From early manhood his time out of school was passed assisting his father in the mill, and he practically grew up into a knowledge of the business, becoming thoroughly familiar with its many details. He has devoted all his active life to this business, which at his father's death passed into the hands of himself and his brother, and they have proven themselves worthy succes- sors to a worthy father, for they have not suf- fered the name of Wilson to lose anything of in- tegrity or ability during their management. Their plant is fully equipped for the reduction of all native woods into marketable condition, and in addition to the milling they have done a large business as contractors, for years taking the lead in contracting for town work, in which they have given the highest satisfaction. They are alto- gether known everywhere as thrifty, reliable business men, and in their lifelong career in the town they have won the confidence and esteem of all who have had dealings with them. Their land holdings in this locality are extensive, and in addition to their business property both have comfortable, pleasant homes. Like their father before them, both are stanch members of the Democratic party, though in local affairs they support the best men regardless of politics; in fact it may be said of them that they are Demo- cratic in national matters, and Independent in local affairs.

J. M. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Susie V. Stevens, who was born in Bridge- port, Conn., a daughter of C. H. Stevens, and they have had four children: Nellie P. and Stephen, living; and Charles H., who was killed by a schoolmate by the accidental discharge of a gun. they being in the home of a neighbor at play; and Helen V., also deceased.

William H. Wilson was born November 23. 1854, at the old family home on Wilson's High- way in Fairfield township. and received the same advantages in youth as his brother, with whom

he has always been associated in business. He married Miss Marion H. Case, of Easton, Conn., daughter of J. B. Case, and who comes from one of the best families of that neighborhood. They have three children, namely: Leora, Maud and David, all living. Mr. Wilson has always taken quite an interest in the Grange, and has been one of its officers.

T HEOPHILE W. HAVEE, a first-class photographer in Stamford, Fairfield coun- ty, where for some fifteen or more years he has shown his adaptability to the business, and his taste as an artist in the fine work he has given to the public, is a native of Paris, France.

August Havee, grandfather of our subject, was a carriage manufacturer in Paris, and for years made vehicles for the Royal family. Early in life Augustus Have, father of our subject, who was a native of the French capital, sought a change of climate on account of poor health. He went to Belgium, thence to Holland and Norway; at Christiania, in the last named coun- try, establishing and carrying on a large bleach- ery, for bleaching muslin goods. In 1855 his wife, who was Miss Josephine Gerette, a native of Belgium, died, which caused his return to Paris. He was a pupil of the inventor Daguerre, who was the father of the daguerreotype process, and learned the art from him. Subsequently he returned to Christiania and practiced the art there, and he was the only one engaged in the business in that city. He died there in 1879, when he was seventy-nine years of age. Of the six children born to his marriage with Miss Gerette three died in Norway; a married daugh- ter resides at Christiania, Norway; a son, who was a machinist in Australia, is supposed to have been killed by cannibals, together with his family; Theophile W. is the subject of these lines.

Theophile W. Havee was born April 23, 1848. Being quite young at the time his father located at Christiania, his boyhood was passed chiefly in that city. He received a primary edu- cation in the parochial schools of the Roman Catholic Church. When he was seven years of age he began learning photography under his fa- ther, and before he had attained his fifteenth year, he started in that business for himself in a little village in Norway. Subsequently he was in business for about one year at Arvika, Swe- den. He then went to St. Petersburg, Russia, and from there to Moscow, thence to Abo, a large city in Finland, where he was engaged in business one year. From Abo he went to Stock-

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holm, Sweden, and from there he went to sea. In the fall of 1879 he came to the United States, and first worked in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1881 he came to Stamford, and was for two years in the employ of photographer Hendricks. After this service he went to New Canaan, Fairfield county, and was there three years engaged in photography. At the expira- tion of that time he returned to Stamford and opened a photograph gallery in the Quintard Block, where he carried on business until in 1894, when he moved to Relay Place, where he is now engaged in the same line. He is master of his vocation, in fact work in the line of art sent out from his gallery and studio is excellent, and will compare favorably with that executed in the great cities of this country. Mr. Havee was married at Gottenburg, Sweden, to Miss Emily Damm, and their home has been blessed with the birth of the following children: Will- iam, Louis, Eddie, and Harry (deceased). Our subject is quite prominent in the societies of Stamford. He is a member of the Turnverein; of the Corinthian Yacht Club; of the Building and Loan Association; of the Swedish Beneficial Society; of the New England Order of Protec- tion; of the Knights of the Maccabees; of Rip- powam Lodge. I. O. O. F .; of the Masonic Chapter, and of the Royal Arcanum.

C HARLES C. PERRY, treasurer of the South- port Savings Bank, Southport, is one of the borough's representative business men, and is widely, and favorably identified with the financial interests of the county at large.

The genealogy of the Perry family in America, of which the gentleman here mentioned is a worthy member, as far as has been ascertained, commences with Richard Perry, "the emigrant," who is frequently mentioned in the records of the New Haven Colony, prior to 1650, as "Mr. Richard Pery," often as a "freeholder," and at one time as "Secretarie of the Court of New Haven." In 1647 he "had liberty to go a void- age." These memoranda indicate that he was a a man of substance and note in that colony; and from him the Perry family in Fairfield county is supposed to descend. The ancestral lineage of our subject is as follows: Nathaniel, son of Richard Perry, was a clothier; died in January, 1682. His eldest son, Joseph, born 1677, a wheelwright by trade, died 1753. His eldest son, Joseph, Jr., born 1713, was a miller by trade. His eldest son, Peter, born 1739, was also a miller. His third son, Walter, our sub-

ject's grandfather, born at Fairfield January 12, 1770, died March 1, 1831.

Walter Perry, the last named, was a merchant and shipowner at Southport, and a man of means. He married Elizabeth B. Sturgis, who was born February 2, 1772, a daughter of Joseph Sturgis, and died April 1, 1837. Issue: (1) El- bert, born October 17, 1794, died July 20, 1820. (2) Narcissa, born July 10, 1796, died November, 1854; she married (first) a Mr. Whitmore, by whom she had children; her second husband was a Mr. Hitchcock. (3) Austin is mentioned more fully farther on. (4) Emily, born February 20, 1801, married a Mr. Smith. (5) Walter B., born March 28, 1803, died October 4, 1817. (6) William P., born August 16, 1805, died February, 1832. (7) Gurdon, born October 12, 1807, died December 15, 1869. (8) Elizabeth, born April 10, 1810. (9) Delia, born March 31, 1813, died unmarried November 2, 1876. (10) Oliver H., born February 21, 1815, died March 27, 1882, was one of Fairfield county's best known men; his long service in the Con- necticut Legislature is a matter of history; in 1854 he was secretary of the Legislature: in 1859- 60 he was speaker of the House; he was one of the founders of the Southport Savings Bank, and its treasurer from 1865 till the time of his death. and in every respect he represented the highest type of citizenship. (Judge J. H. Perry, of Southport, was his eldest son).

Austin Perry, father of the subject proper of these lines, was born September 5, 1798, in Fairfield, Conn., but was reared in Southport, where he received his education. He first com- menced business in Fredericksburg, Va., after- ward, until his retirement some time in the "for- ties," conducting a general store in Southport, Conn. On October 20, 1819, at Fredericks- burg, Va., he married Miss Emily Milna, who was born December 11, 1800, a daughter of Colin and Elizabeth Milna, the former of whom was a Southern gentleman of Scotch descent. A brief record of the children born to this union is as follows: (1) Elizabeth P., born at Freder- icksburg, Va., August 16, 1820, was married, September 20, 1841, to William H. Guion, of New York, and died at Southport, Conn., at the old homestead, August 24, 1895. (2) Mary A., born at Greenfield, Conn., May 4. 1823, is now living at Danbury, and is the widow of Roger Averill, to whom she was married September 18, 1861. (3) Delia F., born at Greenfield, March 30, 1825, died unmarried, June 10, 1877. (4) Anna V., born at Greenfield, October 23, 1827, married Claudius B. Hall, and lives at Racine, Wis. (5) Elbert, born in Southport, August 6,

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1829. died June 24, 1855, in New York, where he was connected with a wholesale carpet house. (6) Emily Milna, born in Southport, July 10, 1832, died there, unmarried, September 23, 1864. (7) Charles A .. born in Southport, February 12, 1834, died when five months and sixteen days old. (8) O. H., born April 13, 1837, died May 5, 1876, at Hartford, Conn. (9) Charles C., our subject, is the youngest. The father of this family passed from earth September 19, 1864, the mother on May 15, 1869, and they lie buried in Oaklawn cemetery. They were consistent members of the Congregational Church, and be was one of the organizers of the Church of that denomination at Southport, from the Fairfield Church. In 1834 he built the home in South- port where his son Charles C. now lives.

Charles C. Perry was born April 2, 1841, in the house where he now has his home and which he owns, in Southport, and attended the schools . of the borough, one of his old teachers being a Mr. Edmunds. When fourteen years old his schooling was interrupted through sickness, but on his recovery he attended Greens Farms Academy under Mr. Adams, after which he com- menced clerking for Allen Nichols, in Southport, with whom he remained some five years, his salary for the first year being $50. Subsequently he was employed in a New York banking house for a short time, then in an insurance office; but returning to Connecticut, he accepted a position in Benedict & Nichols' retail dry-goods store at Danbury. where he remained until May 27, 1868, about which time he secured the appointment as teller in the Southport Savings Bank. In March, 1882, on the death of O. H. Perry, our subject succeeded to the treasurership of the bank, and has since continued uninterruptedly in that position.

Mr. Perry has been twice married, first time, January 15, 1878, to Miss Jennie Austin, who died July 5, 1881. On October 14, 1885. at the residence of the bride's half-brother, Elmore G. Alvord, Bridgeport, Conn., by Rev. H. A. Davenport, he was wedded to Miss Anna S. Skiff, of Greens Farms, Conn .; she died Novem- ber 12, 1896, at Torrington, Conn. In religious faith Mr. Perry is a member of the Congrega- tional Society, of which he has served as treas- urer and clerk some thirteen years. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but he is no aspirant for office. Socially, he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Arcanum Lodge No. 41, at Bridgeport, Connecticut.

. The name of Charles C. Perry is a synonym for honesty and worth, his dealings have been and are characterized by a straightforward, hon-

orable business policy, and he therefore well merits, and receives, the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

W ILLIAM P. ENGLISH, a prominent cit- izen of Bethel, is the senior member of the Fountain Cigar Company of that place, one of the best-known firms in the tobacco trade. They manufacture a number of noted brands, and their name is especially identified with the "Seal of Connecticut," a popular cigar, the " American Beauty," and the famous " Silk Hat " cigar.

Mr. English was born March 20, 1857. in the town of Newtown, this county, and is of Irish parentage. William English, the father of our subject, was born in 1814, in County Tipperary, Ireland, and for some years of his manhood was a dealer in horses and cattle in that locality. In 1849 he came to America, and after working for a time as a bridge builder on the old Danbury & Norwalk railroad, he removed to Hawleyville, and later to Newtown, where he engaged in farm- ing in the fall of 1856. In 1868 he bought the old homestead of the late John B. Dettel, in Bethel, and his death occurred there in 1881. He became naturalized as a citizen of the United States in 1857, and always took much interest in a quiet way in the questions of the day, being a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. In re- ligious faith he was a Catholic, and his children were reared in that faith. He was married at Goshen, Conn., to Miss Bridget O'Connor. a na- tive of County Kerry, Ireland, who survives him and resides in Bethel. They had seven children, of whom only two are now living: William P. and Charles J., of Bethel.

Until he was about eleven years old Mr. English, our subject, remained at the homestead in Newtown, and after the removal of the family to Bethel he continued to attend the district school while assisting on the farm; he also worked on the Bethel Branch railroad, driving horses. In 1875 he began to learn the hatter's trade with George G. Durant; for eight years worked for this employer, and two years for George H. Hickok, but in 1884 he gave up the trade and began selling cigars for Ben Meyers. In August of that year he engaged in the manu- facture of cigars in partnership with his brother, Charles, their establishment being located on the farm in the Stony Hill District. Fire de- stroyed their plant in August, 1886, and they removed to the old " Weed House " in the same district, but in the fall of that year they pur- chased the Corning place in Bethel and trans- ferred their business again. During the follow-

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ing year they built what is known as the English Brothers' block in Bethel, and in the fall of 1887 they opened a retail tobacco store at the place now occupied by the Bethel Pharmacy, their business of manufacturing being also carried on there. In July, 1888, our subject gave up the business, but after working for a year at his trade with Judd & Co., he organized the firm of English & Lynn, now the Fountain Cigar Com- pany, and began business at the present location, in the rear of the English Brothers' block on Center street.

On October 26, 1887, Mr. English was mar- ried, in Bethel, to Miss Nora Crowe, daughter of Anthony Crowe, a well-known citizen. Of their four children, the first three-Charles E., Mary and Julia-are living, and the youngest -Regina -died at the age of eight months. The family owns a fine residence on Grand street, Bethel, and are connected with St. Mary's R. C. Church. Mr. English has served five years as a member of the Connecticut Militia; at present he belongs to the fraternity called the Knights of Columbus, of which he was its originator here, and its first Grand Knight. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and he is one of the leading ad- visers of the party in his locality, having served four years as chairman of the town committee, and is holding the same at the present time.

REDERICK KEMPER, for twenty-five years the efficient deputy sheriff of this county, and also constable. as well as a popular business man of his locality, is a native of the county, born April 10, 1848, at Westport.

Mr. Kemper is a grandson of Charles M. Kemper, who was a native of Hudson, N. Y., and a son of Frederick A. Kemper, born Novem- ber 2, 1819, at Hudson, N. Y. The latter, when a boy of thirteen years of age (1832), shipped on a whaling vessel, and for twelve years was en- gaged in that line. After his marriage, in 1847, to Mary Ann Race, a daughter of Cornelius Race, of Hudson, N. Y., of Holland stock, the young couple settled in Westport, Conn., where for a short period the husband conducted a grocery business, thence he went to Hudson and sailed a sloop on the Hudson river; next he again en- gaged in the grocery business, this time at Kin- derhook. N. Y. From this business he became occupied in farming near the same town, then again returned to Hudson and thence to Cat- skill, N. Y., where he followed farming pursuits some five years (from 1854 to 1859). In the lat- ter year he came to Westport and here resided one year, then located on a farm near Saratoga,

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 127

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