Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 129

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

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John Newton Williams, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the various village schools in the several villages in which his father lived during his school- boy days in Michigan, In- diana and Iowa. He received but little educa- tion except in the public schools, attending, be- sides them, a high school in Dubuque only a short time. When sixteen years of age he quit school entirely, and assisted his father, who was,

at the time, engaged in building some houses at Dubuque, Iowa. At eighteen he went with his father's family to Minnesota, and there spent some time in farming. In 1862, when the In- dian war broke out on the Minnesota frontier, Mr. Williams helped to organize a volunteer com- pany of mounted men and went to the frontier. Soon after arriving at Fort Ridgely, he saw his first Indian fighting with the party sent to the relief of "Birch Cooley;" was in the battle of Wood Lake and Yellow Medicine, and assisted in the capture of several hundred Indians, and the recapture at La Qui Parle, of the 114 white prisoners-mostly women and children-that had been held for weeks in the Indian camps. After this campaign he recruited some men for the Minnesota Mounted Rangers, a regiment raised for frontier service, and was appointed commis- sary sergeant of the regiment. Was on the plains with the regiment in all its engagements with the Indians, took part in all the fighting and did special scouting work; was a good rifle and pistol shot; could throw a lasso or pick up a glove from the back of a galloping horse; and once shot a buffalo and issued the meat to his regiment, then on short rations. After one year of service he was mustered out with his regiment.

Mr. Williams saw a good deal of border war- fare in that section of the country, and picked up a smattering of the Chippewa and Dakota languages. The Indians were finally driven across the Missouri river, and then Mr. Williams was employed as a citizen clerk in the commissary and quartermaster's departments of the army for several years, located at Fort Snelling, Fort Ridgely and Fort Ripley. After remaining in the service until 1866, he aided in the organiza- tion of a volunteer company to go up to the north shore of Lake Superior, where the State geologist had found gold and silver-bearing quartz. This company started from St. Paul in mid-winter, and was sixty days in going ninety miles, from Superior to Vermilion lake, at which latter place they remained during the winter and a part of the following summer, returning in birch-bark canoes.

Having returned from this expedition, Mr. Williams engaged in the sale of agricultural imple- ments, and invented and patented a fanning mill, the manufacture and sale of which engaged his attention for several years. In 1874 he engaged in breeding and rearing high-bred trotting horses near Nashville, Tenn., and later at Cynthiana and Frankfort, Ky. While in Nashville he was in partnership with Mr. Ewing, and with him owned the mare "May Queen," the fastest trotter in the State. She finally went to Palo

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Alto, where she became the dam of May King- sire of Bingen-and other noted ones. In 1879 Mr. Williams went to Big Stone Lake, Dakota, where he helped to organize the first county government, and was engaged in dealing in lands, in surveying, etc. In about 1881 he engaged in railroad construction work on the L. F. & D. branch of the N. P. R. R. (Northern Pacific) for De Graff & Co., having charge of bridge building. After being thus engaged for two years he in- vented the automatic bank check punch, the first one with automatic feed ever placed on the mar- ket. This punch was manufactured in Brooklyn, N. Y., and to this he gave his attention for sev- eral years, about twenty thousand of these punches having been placed upon the market. While engaged in this line of work he began to work upon his typewriter, completing a working model in July, 1889. The result of this was the Williams Typewriter of to-day, which was a rad- ical departure from all others, in that the writing is in full view of the operator, and it is entirely without a ribbon. the ribbon being supplanted by a pad. This machine is protected by about a dozen patents that cover some two hundred claims. It has rapidly grown in popular favor, and has many obvious advantages, and already occupies a prominent place in the typewriter field. He is secretary of the Williams Typewriter Com- pany. of the United States of America, and vice- president of the Williams Typewriter Company for Europe.

Mr. Williams has made a study of the horse world, and is an authority in this department of knowledge. He is a clear thinker, and is of an analytical turn of mind. He is the author of some articles on the gaits of saddle horses, the first series of the kind ever published, and it was given a prominent place in many of the leading sporting and agricultural papers.

In politics Mr. Williams was a Republican until the Presidential campagn of 1884, when he voted for President Cleveland. His Church affil- iations are Episcopalian, and he is a highly re- spected member of general society.

Mr. Williams was married in 1884 to Miss Lu- cile Wilde, daughter of Richard Wilde, of Newark, N. J., and a granddaughter of Henry Wilde, who came from England to Newark, N. J., when he was nineteen years of age, and became interested with his father in the manufacture of woolen goods. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iams there have been born three sons, viz .: Mil- ton Sanborn, Lee Henry Wilde and Newton Hal- sted. Henry Wilde located in Birmingham, Conn., about 1850, and was there associated for a time with Ed N. Shelton and others, returning

to Newark, N. J., where he lived till his recent death at the age of ninety years.

A few lines as to the Halsted family may ap- propriately close this sketch: John T. Halsted, father of Mr. Williams' mother, was a silver- smith, and carried on his business at the north- east corner of Broad and Beaver streets, New York City, at the same spot where his father, Benjamin Halsted, had carried on business be- fore him. The Halsted family was a most re- spectable one, and belonged to the Knickerbocker societies of the City of New York.

J JOHN H. SCOFIELD has been the superin- tendent of the Woodland Cemetery in the town of Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., for more than twenty years, and is a well and favor- ably known resident of his community. He is a nauve of the county, born June 14, 1843, at Shippan Point, son of John D. Scofield, and grandson of John Scofield, who lived for many years in the town of Darien, Fairfield county.

John D. Scofield was born in Huntington, L. I. He was educated in the common schools of Darien, learned the trades of carpenter and shoemaker, which he followed to some extent, and later engaged in farming on Shippan Point. He married Elizabeth Ferris, a native of Stam- ford, and they had two children: John H. and Addison E., of Springdale. The father died May 9, 1854, at New Canaan, Conn., the mother on July 4, 1855, at Goshen, N. Y. They were members of the Baptist Church, and in political sentiment the father was a Whig.

The boyhood of John H. Scofield was passed in the towns of Darien and Stamford, he in each place attending the public schools. On June 14, 1861, the day he was eighteen years old, he en- listed in the 2nd New York State Militia, later known as the 82nd N. Y. V., he being a member of Company C. On April 13, 1863, he trans- ferred to the navy, from which he was honorably discharged at Baltimore, Md., on July 11, 1864, his term of serving having expired. On July 30, he re-enlisted in the navy as first-class fireman, and served on the "Rescue " and the "Arethusa," participating in the bombardments of Forts Wag- ner, Sumter, Gregg, Moultrie and the city of Charleston. While in the infantry he took part in the engagements at Goose Creek, siege of Yorktown, West Point, Fair Oaks, Peach Or- chard Station, Savage Station, White Oaks Swamp and Malvern Hill. The following copies of credentials still in Mr. Scofield's possession speak for themselves:

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John St. Scofield

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U. S. Steamer " Rescue," Port Royal, S. C., April 12, 1864. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

It is with pleasure I recommend Jobn H. Scofield, a fire- man on board of this vessel, as being a sober, industrious and intelligent, as well as a good fireman; and any person or persons wanting a man of that description will find him to be as I recommend, as he has been with me for the term of twelve months and I have always found him ready and willing to perform any duty which might be assigned him. With my best wishes for his future welfare, I remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEORGE W. HOWE, Engineer in charge.

U. S. Steamer " Arethusa," Port Royal Harbor, S. C., May 24, 1865.

The bearer, John H. Scofield, first-class fireman, has been doing duty on board this vessel since August last, standing engineer's watch. I have ever found him capable, industrious and temperate. It affords me pleasure to recom- mend him to the department for promotion.

GEORGE W. HOWE, Act'g 2nd Asst. Engineer.

I approve the above and certify that Scofield is a man worthy the favorable consideration of the department. JOHN V. COOK, Act'g Ensign, U. S. N., Com. of " Arethusa."

After the war Mr. Scofield returned to Darien, Fairfield county, where he learned the carpen- ter's trade with his uncle, Henry S. Scofield, and he continued to follow it until, in 1879, he en- tered upon the duties of his present position. He has kept up his old-time reputation for hon- esty, industry and reliability, and has discharged his responsibilities in a most capable manner, winning the esteem of all who know him. In connection with this work he represents the Smith Granite Co., of Westerly, R. I. Mr. Sco- field takes an interest in his community, which every public-spirited citizen must feel, and he has filled several local positions of trust with his customary faithfulness, having been assessor, justice of the peace and special policeman in Stamford.

On August 13, 1866, Mr. Scofield was mar- ried, in Brooklyn, N. Y., to Frances E. Peck- ham, whose mother was a member of the Holmes family, descended from the Holmes of " May- flower " fame. Five children have blessed this union, viz .: Mabel Winton, John Thomas, Will- iam Francis, and George Henry and Howard Lyon (twins). On June 30, 1898, John Thomas, the eldest son, married Miss Susan Walton, of Calton, Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Robert Walton, a well-known retired shoe and slipper manufacturer of that city. William F. married a Miss Rambo, on June 23, 1897. On May 1, 1896 the two eldest sons. J. Thomas and Will- iam F., both plumbers by occupation, went into the plumbing, tinning, gasfitting and heating business, under the firm name of Scofield Bros., and March 7. 1898, Mr. Scofield, their father, entered into co-partnership with them as silent

partner. At the same time they bought out the well-known plumbing house of B. D. Lum & Son, of Stamford, Conn., and are doing a pros- perous business under the name of Scofield Brothers & Co. The other sons, George H. and Howard L., are employed by the firm as plum- bers and tinners, while the daughter, Mabel W .. is bookkeeper for the firm.

Mr. Scofield's family, in religious connection, are members of the M. E. Church at Stamford. Socially, he is a member of Rippowam Lodge, I. O. O. F., the O. U. A. M., the Naval Post at New Haven, Conn., and Hobbie Post, G. A. R., of which he has been adjutant. In politics he is a Republican.

W ILLIAM VOLLMER, chief of police of the city of South Norwalk, deserves special mention in this volume, as he has risen by his own efforts to an enviable position in the community, and now fills with marked ability a difficult and responsible office.

The Vollmer family is of German origin, and the late Dr. George F. Vollmer, our subject's father, was born in the Fatherland, at Wurtem- burg. In 1839 Doctor Vollmer came to Amer- ica accompanied by his wife, Mary (Spindler), a native of the same place, and for some years re- sided in Lancaster county, Penn., where he con- ducted a drug store. Later he removed to New- ark, N. J., and engaged in the tobacco business, but his last years were spent in South Norwalk, where he died February 4, 1889. He was a man of much intelligence, taking great interest in the questions of his day, and while he never sought or held office he was a firm supporter of the Republican party. His wife survives him, and of their family of seven children three are still living, our subject being the youngest. Mary married William Lovatt, a silk manufacturer, of Newark, N. J., and Amelia married William E. Hicks, of the same city, who, with his father, was in the carriage-manufacturing business, but is now connected with the police department there.

Mr. Vollmer first saw the light April 24, 1858, in Newark, N. J., and his early life was mainly spent there, his education being obtained in the public schools. At an early age he began to learn the business of finishing morocco leather, with the firm of Nugent & Kelley, of that city. and remained with them one year. In 1874 he came to South Norwalk, where he learned the tobacco business with ex-Sheriff Swartz, in whose employ he spent fourteen years. On February 1, 1888, he was elected

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chief of police, and he has ever since given his whole attention to the duties of that office. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is regarded as one of the leading workers in the local organiza- tion.

In 1882 Mr. Vollmer married Miss Mary Perry, of Newark, N. J., whose father, John H. Perry, a native of England, is a patent leather manufacturer of Newark, N. J. Three children were born to our subject, one of whom died in in- fancy; the others. John W. and Wallace, are with their parents. The family is identified with the Congregational Church, and Mr. Vollmer belongs to various fraternal orders, including the K. of P. and the Masonic Fraternity, in which he has been active for some years, and has now reached the Knights Templar degree. He is also an hon- orary member of the Old Well Hook and Lad- der Fire Company, and for five years he served as a member of Company D, Connecticut National Guard.

ICHARD DUNDON, of Bridgeport, has been successfully engaged in business for many years as a dealer in coal, feed, hay and other supplies, and the story of his career will afford an encouraging object lesson to any youth who has his own way to make in the world.

Mr. Dundon was born April 4, 1853, in Columbia county, N. Y., son of Patrick and Mary A. (Plunkett) Dundon, both natives of Ireland. His father, who is a shoemaker by trade, came to America in early manhood, and is still living in Columbia county, N. Y. The mother is deceased. Of the six children of this worthy couple four are now living: John, a butcher in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Richard, our subject; Sister Anna (Episcopal sister in Boston), and Thomas, a grocer in East Bridgeport.

Our subject's youth was spent in his native county, his education being attained in the local schools, and at the age of twenty years he came to Fairfield county, locating in Bridgeport. For a time he was employed in a machine shop, and later he engaged in the grocery business at the corner of E. Main street and Nichols, in partner- ship with Herman Barthelmass, the firm being known as Barthelmass & Dundon. After eight years he sold his interest to his brother Thomas and went to Waterbury, Conn., to engage in similar business as a partner of Lewis N. Dyer, under the firm name of Dundon & Dyer. They continued about two years and a half, when Mr. Dundon sold out and returned to Bridgeport, where he has since carried on a lucrative trade in coal, feed, hay, grain and other commodities.

Politically, he is a Democrat, but he is not in- clined to take part in the political scramble for official rewards. On October 20, 1875, he mar- ried Miss Louise C. Neilson, a native of Chris- tiania, Norway, who died October 29, 1896. Two children blessed this union: Arthur Hall, who resides with his father; and Herbert N. (deceased). Socially, Mr. Dundon is much es- teemed, and he is identified with the Episcopal Church and with the I. O. O. F., Pequonnock Lodge No. 4, of Bridgeport.

J OSHUA D. HEMPHILL, manufacturer, of Shelton, was born February 12, 1854, in Springfield, N. H. He is a son of Peter Hemp- hill, who was born in Henniker, N. H., in 1800, and he is a grandson of James Hemphill, who was a farmer by occupation, and it is believed of Scotch-Irish descent. He married Ruth- and had children as follows: Joshua, Eben, Peter, James Robert, Betsy, Silas and Edward; he died in the year 18-, his wife in 1860 at the age of one hundred years.

Peter Hemphill, like his father before him, was a farmer in his early youth in Deering, N. H., and also after he removed to Sprinfield, N. H. He was a man of moderate means, modest and retiring, and took but little active part in public affairs. His physical health was good, he was temperate and highminded, and lived to be eighty-eight years old. He was a prudent, care- ful business man, never indulged in speculation, and so far as farming is concerned was every- where considered a successful man. In religious views he favored the Baptist faith and attended the Baptist Church. He married Lucy Kirk, daughter of John Kirk, and to this marriage there were born nine children, four of whom died young, and five grew to adult age. These five were as follows: Betsey, who died single at the age of twenty years; Charlotte, who married George Miller, of Bristol, N. H .; Horace, who married (first) Julia Sanborn, and (second) Esther Powers, the latter of whom is now living in Bristol (he died in 1895, a carpenter by trade); John, who died in 1864, and Joshua D.

Joshua D. Hemphill was educated in Spring- field, N. H., attending school in winters only until he was fifteen years of age, but ever since then he has been a close student of mechanical works. Upon leaving school he began to learn the trade of machinist in Bristol, serving an apprenticeship of five years, after which he was in the employ of the Amoskeag corporation for about one year. From there he went to Concord, N. H., and thence to Franklin, N. H., for Clarke & Haynes

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in the latter place, and about this time he re- moved to Bristol and formed a partnership with S. G. Holland, which continued in existence for two years. Selling his interest to his partner, he was with George Robie in the machine business one year, at the end of which time he established himself in business and so continued for six months, when, in May, 1880. he removed to Derby, working for A. H. & C. B. Alling for one year. Removing to Bridgeport, he attended an engineering school for some time, and then went to Philadelphia and attended a similar school there. Returning to Derby he again entered the employ of A. H. & C. B. Alling, remaining with them for about seven years, when he removed with them to Radcliffe Bros'. and was with them there a short time longer. In 1889 he rented the buildings and employed from six to ten men, and has since been engaged in the manufacture of machinery, and in doing all kinds of repairs. Mr. Hemphill patented the Unique Knitting Ma- chine, which has been used by the Allings and the Radcliffes; and has been in many ways a very successful man. He is one of the finest machinists in his section of the State, and is in every way a self-made man. Mr. Hemphill, though a Re- publican with a leaning toward Prohibition, has never taken an active part in politics, preferring to give his attention to business, in which he takes pleasure, and from which he may reason- ably expect profitable returns. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., though not now affiliated with any lodge. In the year 1878 he married Finette Nelson, daughter of Stephen Nelson, of Bristol, N. H., and has one daughter, Lucy Louisa, born in September, 1879, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill attend the Baptist Church of Shelton, and are a highly esteemed couple, their social qualities being everywhere recognized and appreciated.

DWIGHT ALFONZO RICHARDSON, M.D. practicing physician in the township of Hunt- ington, was born October 22, 1857, in Bridge- port, Conn. He is a son of Henry Daniel Rich- ardson, who was born in Somers, Conn., in 1834, and he is the grandson of William Rich- ardson, who was born in Somers in the year 18 -; and he is the great-grandson of Stevens Richardson and Eunice Wright.

The family traces its ancestry back to three brothers-David, William and Jesse-who came from England to America about 1660. Doctor Richardson is descended from Henry Daniel Richardson and Mary (Bachelor), the latter of whom was born in the neighborhood of Bath,

and was a daughter of Simeon Bachelor and Ann Hall. They had three children, viz .: Henri- etta, born in 1855, married George S. Northrop, now of Shelton; Dwight Alfonzo is the subject of this sketch; and Sarah Louise, born in 1862, died in 1869. Henry D. Richardson has been a machinist, and was foreman in the Florence Sewing Machine shop, but during the war of the Rebellion he was in the Springfield armory. He has always had charge of a shop since age and experience would warrant it. The ancestry all the way back have been mechanics, so that he came by his talent in this direction by inherit- ance.

Dwight A. Richardson, our subject, took a scientific course in Williston Seminary, in East Hampton, Mass., entering school in the spring of 1874 and graduating in 1876. For three years aft- erward he was engaged in mechanical work, being at work at his trade, which he picked up in his boy- hood. Upon graduating, as above narrated, he stood second in his class, and had taken a three- years' course in two and one-half years. Having decided to become a physician, he registered in the summer of 1878 with Dr. Ambrose Beardsley, of Derby, and was with him off and on during his whole course of study. He assisted in the lec- ture room with Professor Silliman, did prepara- tory work in the physiological department with Professor Thatcher in the second year, and grad- uated second in his class, Doctor Hawkes being first.

Having graduated, Dr. Richardson opened an office in Monroe, where he practiced his profes- sion for one and one-half years, and in January, 1864, went to Osceola, Ark., where he remained until 1888, while there being a member of the American Public Health Association and of the Tri-State Society, of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, being vice-president of the latter society two terms. While in Arkansas he was a partner with Doctor Donovan, of Little Rock, and enjoyed an extensive practice. In Novem- ber, 1888, he returned to Connecticut, and began the general practice of medicine in Shelton and vicinity, where he has since remained, and where he has built up an extensive and profitable clientele. He has always been self-reliant, and has made his own way in the world. While he has not taken an active part in politics, yet he has been a member of the school board, also health officer of the village, and has been a mem- ber of the board of burgesses for four years. Socially, he is affiliated with King Hiram Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., with the American Me- chanics (Roger Sherman Council), with the A. O. U. W., Shelton Lodge, with the Kalorama Lodge

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of Osceola, Ark., and with the Knights and Ladies of Honor; he is an honorary member of the Echo Hose Company, serving nine years on the active list; was chairman of the fire department for four years, and has been a member of the board of health for seven years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Shelton.

On December 25, 1884, Doctor Richardson was married to Minnie E. Brush, a daughter of Samuel H. Brush, of Derby, and Elizabeth Cur- tiss, of Stratford. To this marriage was born in January, 1889, one son, Henry Brush. [Since the above was written, Doctor Richardson moved, in May, 1899, to Derby. ]

R EV. JOHN HENRY CARROLL, the be- loved pastor of the Catholic parish at West- port, Church of the Assumption, is deserving of special mention in this volume. While the mater- ial interest of the community naturally attract much attention, they are not all, nor are they the most important, and the names of those who have ministered to the spiritual need of our people will be held in honor more and more as years roll by.

Father Carroll was born February 15, 1855, at New Haven, Conn., the son of Patrick and Eleanor (O'Bryene) Carroll. Both parents were natives of Ireland, the father's birth occurring in County Leitrim, in 1808, and the mother's in the same county in 1821. They came to America soon after their marriage, in 1841, and made their home in New Haven. Patrick Carroll always took much interest in the political ques- tions of the day, and was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. His wife died in 1875, and he survived her many years, passing away in 1893. Of their eight children, the eldest, Mary T., resides in Westport; Anthony is a contractor in New Haven; Michael died in 1850; Margaret died in 1854; John Henry (our subject) is men- tioned more fully below; Thomas M. is a mer- chant in Danbury; Patrick F. is engaged in busi- ness in New York City; and Nellie E. (now Sister Angela Stephen) is a Sister of Mercy in Mount St. Mary's Convent, Manchester, New Hamp- shire.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 129

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