Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 130

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

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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).

Our subject's education was begun in his na- tive city, where he attended St. Mary's School un- til he reached the age of thirteen years. As both of his parents were devout members of the Cath- olic Church, his early inclination toward the priesthood received every encouragement, and on completing his course at St. Mary's School in September, 1868, he went to St. Charles' Col- lege, Ellicott City, Md., to prepare for his sacred

calling. On graduating, in 1874, he entered St. Mary's Seminary of St. Sulpice, Baltimore city, and there he spent four years and a half in the study of philosophy and theology. On Decem- ber 21, 1878, he was ordained to the priesthood, and his work has been blessed with remarkable success in the various charges which he has held during his service. He spent some time in New Haven, being stationed first at St. Mary's church, then at the cathedral in Hartford, and later he served at St. Patrick's church, New Haven, and at St. John's church at Middletown, but on June 10, 1885, he was made pastor of the con- gregation at Westport. He has many warm friends outside his parish, his ability and high character commanding the esteem of the best people of all denominations. His interest in ed- ucational affairs is appreciated by the Protest- ants of the town, and he is now a member of the public-school board, and of the board of the "Staple High School." In the management of his parish he neglects nothing that will advance the welfare of his people, giving his influence to various organizations among them, including the order of the Knights of Columbus.

S STEPHEN C. BEACH, a representative agri- culturist and a prosperous citizen of the town of Trumbull, has demonstrated the true meaning of the word "success " as the full ac- complishment of an honorable purpose. Energy, close application, perseverance and good man- agement-these are the elements which have en- tered into his business career, and crowned his efforts with prosperity.

The Beach family claims the distinction of being one of the oldest in Fairfield county, and traces its descent from the Beaches of England, the name being by no means rare in the history of that country.

Ephraim Beach, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Fairfield county, Conn., was a farmer, tanner and currier, by occupation, and died at the age of eighty years. He married, and had a family of eight children: Elijah, Rice E., Abiah, Sybil, Anna, Ephraim W., Sherman and Frances, all of whom settled in the town of Trumbull, except Abiah. The father of this family took an active part in the war of the Revo- lution.

Rice E. Beach, grandfather of Stephen C., was born in the town of Trumbull in 1779, was a farmer, and a representative man of his town. By his wife, Betsey Booth, a daughter of Philo Booth, he had six children (all now deceased), named respectively: Charles, Johanna, Starr,

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Delia, Miles and Edward. In politics he was a Jeffersonian Democrat, was often elected as se- lectman of the town, and at one time served as a member of the Legislature. In religious faith he was a Congregationalist.

Charles Beach, father of our subject, was born January 7, 1805, in White Plains District, town of Trumbull. Fairfield county. He passed his boyhood there, receiving his education in the local schools, and took up the occupation of a farmer for his life work. On October 21, 1829, in Monroe, Fairfield county, he married Miss Elizabeth E. Beardsley, of that town, born November 30, 1810, a daughter of Samuel Beards- ley, and he and his young wife then settled on his own farm. The issue by this union was as follows: Betsey Ann, Prosper E., Charles L., Ezra M., William F., Banford S., John W., Stephen C. and Emma E .. all now deceased (Betsey Ann dying at the age of seventeen years) except William F., Stephen C. and Emma E. The father of this family was called from earth in February, 1892, at the age of eighty-seven years; the mother died in December, 1893. On Octo- ber 21, 1879, they celebrated their golden wed- ding, on which occasion there were present among others six children and seventeen grand- children. Mr. and Mrs. Beach were members of the Episcopal Church at Long Hill.

Stephen C. Beach, whose name introduces this sketch, was born October 2, 1850, in the White Plains District, town of Trumbull, Fair- field county, was there reared, attending dur- ing the winter season the public schools and the academy of that locality. . At the age of seventeen years he went to Stratford with his parents, and for a time attended the public schools of that borough, then returned to Trum- bull and engaged in agricultural pursuits on the home farm. In 1893 he bought a property in New Milford, Litchfield county, Conn., and for three years carried on a prosperous lumber busi- ness, at the end of which time we again find him in Trumbull. In the spring of 1898 he re- moved to his present farm in the town of Bridge- port.

On May 23, 1876, Mr. Beach was united in marriage with Miss Cora Adelle Buckingham, daughter of Homes Buckingham, of New Milford, Litchfield county. In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat, and has been selectman and justice of the peace, besides filling various minor offices. In 1885-86 he served as a member of the State Legislature. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, attending service at Long Hill. As already intimated, Mr. Beach has prospered in business, and he

is now the owner of land in Trumbull, Bridge- port and New Milford towns. He ranks among the best citizens of Fairfield county, using his influence in the promotion of all measures having for their object the elevation of his fellow- men.

S IAMUEL A. MINOR, a well-known con- tractor and builder, is a prominent resident of Byram, in the town of Greenwich. He is a self-made man in every sense of the word, hav- ing earned his own livelihood from the early age of eleven years, and his history will convey an instructive lesson.

The Minor family has been identified with the Empire and Nutmeg States for several gen- erations, and our subject's grandfather, Henry Mi- nor, who served as a soldies in the war of 1812, owned a farm at Marmaroneck, N. Y., on the Sound near Milton Point. In his younger days he worked in the old cotton factory at Marmaro- neck, but later he removed to Tarrytown, N. Y., and conducted a gristmill until 1827, when he located at Glenville, Conn. For some time he was employed as foreman in the picking depart- ment of the cotton factory at that place, but when the establishment burned down he engaged in farming in the same locality. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and while he was not an office-seeker he took great interest in the success of his party. He died April 16, 1864. at Port Chester in his eighty-eighth year, and his wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Hyatt, died July 4, 1864, in her eighty-third year. Their remains now rest in the burial ground in King street. Greenwich, formerly known as the Purdy Anderson Cemetery. This estimable couple had a large family of children as follows: Charles, who died in the South, went to that section in early manbood, and was married there to the widow of a planter by whom he had been employed for a time; Henry, who died in Providence, R. I., was employed there as foreman of a boiler shop; Ezra, a shoemaker by trade, married Jemima Travis, of Port Ches- ter, and died in New York City; David, also a shoemaker, died in New York City; Samuel, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully below; Harvey, formerly a conductor on the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., died in New Haven; Hyatt, a boilermaker by trade, went to Maine, and all trace of him was lost; John died in Greenwich at the age of fourteen; Phoebe married Knapp Merritt, and died at their home in Weaver street, Greenwich; Ann m. (first) Henry Fairchild, (sec- ond) William Newman, and died at Byram, this

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county; Lucretia, now a resident of South Nor- walk, married (first) a Mr. Bardsley, and (sec- ond) a Mr. Lockwood; Jane (Mrs. Henry Hin- man), died at Port Chester, N. Y .; and Maria {Mrs. Elijah Merritt), died in Greenwich.

Samuel Minor, our subject's father, was born June 6, 1813, at Glenville, Conn., and was about fourteen years old when his parents settled at Glenville after living at Tarrytown. He attend- ed schools at his native place and in Tarrytown,. as well as in Port Chester, and in early manhood he was employed in a stone quarry at Byram, belonging to Elijah Merritt. For about fifty years he continued in that line of work for differ- ent employers, serving for some time as foreman for William Ritch; he died April 10, 1898, at his home in Brooksville, Port Chester, where he had been living in retirement, and where he was much respected. He had always been a stanch Dem- ocrat in politics. When less than twenty years old he married Miss Cynthia Merritt, daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Lyon) Merritt, prominent residents of Byram. She passed to the unseen world May 30, 1850, and her remains were in- terred in the cemetery at Byram. Mr. Minor afterward married Miss Rachel Hamilton, a daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Gett) Hamil- ton. By his first marriage Mr. Minor had three children: (1) Elisha, a stone cutter at Green- wich, married Elizabeth B. Martling, and has children-Willis, Newbury, Emma, Mary and Robert; of these, Willis married Miss Addie Merritt, of Greenwich; Newbury married Miss Matilda Tabely, of New York City, where they now reside; Emma married Horace Smith, of Port Chester; Mary married Willis Smith, of Port Chester; and Robert is not married; (2) Samuel A. is the subject proper of this sketch; .(3) Willis, a stonemason by trade, residing in Byram,. married Maria Lounsbury; children- Kate (married to Melville Beede) and Herbert {unmarried). By the second marriage there was one daughter, Sarah E., who married Lewis Hecker, and died in Port Chester at the age of thirty-nine years, leaving five children.

Samuel A. Minor was born July 12, 1841, in Greenwich, and his education was obtained in the public schools of the Byram District. Among his early teachers he remembers especially Mr. Gwyer and Mr. Dusenbury. As he contrasts the "crude methods and equipments of the schools of that time with those of to-day he can see great advancement, and his own deprivations have made him an earnest advocate for better schools, his own children being given the best opportuni- ties available. He was but nine years old when his mother died, and his father having married

again, he was taken (when he was about eleven) to the home of an uncle, Henry Merritt, who conducted a small farm near Byram, and from that time his attendance at school was re- stricted to the winter terms. For some years he received only his board and clothes in return for his work, but later he was given small wages. On leaving his uncle he was employed by different parties, being quite "handy " at various kinds of work, and for a short time he worked in the screw factory at Pemberwick. At the age of twenty-one he began to work at the mason's trade with Floyd Mead, and as he had already picked up a practical knowledge of the business he took to it readily, and was given good wages from the start. After a time he engaged in busi- ness for himself as a contractor in plastering. bricklaying and masonry, and he has continued successfully ever since, sometimes with partners and sometimes without. For twenty years past he has carried on the business alone, and of late he has done no active work himself, the general oversight of the operations occupying his time sufficiently. Notwithstanding his business cares he enjoys out-door sport keenly, being especially fond of hunting, and he is one of the most en- thusiastic members of the State Line Fox Hunt- ing Club, in which he holds the office of presi- dent. In politics he is a Democrat so far as State and National matters are concerned, but in local affairs he selects the "best man " irrespect- ive of party. He has never sought or held office, but he manifests a keen interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community. Fra- ternally, he is identified with the K. of P., Day- ton Lodge, at Greenwich.

Mr. Minor has a pleasant home at Byram, , and he and his family are prominent in the social life of the locality. On September 4, 1862, he was married to Miss Jemima Green, who was born October 25, 1845, in New York City, where her girlhood was spent. She was the only daugh- ter and eldest child of Edward and Sophia (Hyer) Green. Of her two brothers, Robert died in the West and Edward now resides on Weaver street, Greenwich. Soon after his marriage Mr. Minor began housekeeping in his father's old home in Greenwich township, between East Port Chester and Greenwich village, and he afterward resided in different neighborhoods in the same town. He built his former residence in 1868, and his pres- ent residence in the year 1896. He has bad five children, all of whom are living : (1) .John E., who is not married, he is an active member of the K. of P. (2) Samuel, who resides at Byram, married Miss Abbie M. Mead, of Byram, and has two children-Ralph W. and Edith M.

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(3) Miss Cynthia E. (4) Miss Clara I. (a grad- uate of the Greenwich High School, class of '98), and (5) Miss Isabel A. (still attending school), are at home.

D' DANIEL M. ROWLAND, building inspector of Bridgeport, and one of the most promi- nent workers in the Democratic party, was born July 22, 1850, one of the two sons of Charles H. and Susan A. (Mills) Rowland.

Charles H. Rowland was a native of New Fairfield, Conn., and youngest son of Daniel Rowland, also a native of New Fairfield, where he followed farming until his death. The first of the Rowlands to settle in this country came over from Wales about 1640. When quite young Charles H. Rowland went to Danbury, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he there followed until 1845. when he removed to Bridgeport. He married Susan A. Mills, who was born in Bridgeport, a daughter of Moses M. Mills, a mason by trade, and a descendant of an old English family. This union was blessed with two children: Daniel M., our subject; and Charles P., who learned the carpenter's trade, and went first to the South, then to California, and thence to Australia, where all trace of him was lost. The father of this family went to Cin- cinnati about 1847. and engaged in the manu- facture of car wheels. His death occurred there December 29, 1854. His wife still survives. him

Daniel M. Rowland, the subject proper of this sketch, spent his boyhood days in Bridgeport. His education was received first in public schools and later in a private school. On finishing his education he served an apprenticeship in the building business with his uncle. He remained with him about seven years, when he bought an interest in a stair-building concern, under the firm name of Blakeman & Rowland, the firm continuing successfully in business for over four years. In 1877 he went to New York City, and for one year engaged in selling books, when he became connected with the John Han- cock Mutual Life Insurance Co., serving in the capacity of instructor of agents, and he was in- strumental in establishing that business success- fully in New York City. After this he was for some time superintendent of the New York Mutual Insurance Co., but in 1886, after the death of his wife, he returned to Bridgeport, and re- sumed work at his trade-that of carpenter-and was the foreman for several contractors there. At this work he remained steadily until March, 1893, when he was elected county commissioner;

during his term as commissioner the county built more structures than had been erected for many years previous, and all these improvements could be traced to his remarkable executive ability. On February 5, 1897, he was elected building inspector, and is capably filling that office at the present time. In 1891 he was elected to the common council.

In June, 1876, Mr. Rowland was united in marriage with Miss Lucy M. Peck, of Bridgeport, a daughter of William Peck. the founder of the Pacific Iron Works, and three children were born to them, all now deceased: Charles, who died in infancy; Eleanor A., who died at the age of four- teen; and Daniel, who died at the age of seven. The mother of this family passed away in 1882, thus completely destroying the happy family cir- cle. Since the death of his devoted helpmeet Mr. Rowland has given his entire time and atten- tion to his work.

Mr. Rowland is one of the energetic workers of the Democratic party, and is a favorite candi- date among his associates. For nine consecutive years he has served as chairman of the First ward; in 1881 he served in the council. Socially, Mr. Rowland is a member of the Masonic Frater- nity (having joined when twenty-one years of age) and is now one of the past masters of St. John's Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., and has the thir- ty-second degree; is also a member of Lafayette Consistory. He holds membership with the Park City Yacht Club; and with the Arion Singing Society. He is a very prominent man in Bridge- port, and well liked and esteemed by all who know him. He is very public spirited, and when once he

"Sees the want and feels the need, Puts Truth and Justice in the lead, Then studies means and ways."

B ENJAMIN HOLMES, a well-known resident of Stratford, has been engaged in business for a number of years as a contractor and builder, and has won a high reputation for ability and skill in his chosen line of work.

Born April 17, 1843, in the town of Strat- ford, Mr. Holmes is a son of William and Abigail (Coley) Holmes. William Holmes, the father of our subject, was a native of Vermont, whence he came to this State in early manhood, and for many years drove a stage from New Haven to Stamford. He died in Stratford June 7, 1891; his wife, who was a native of Weston, this county, passed away September 26, 1875. This worthy couple had seven children: Samantha, wife of Harvey E. Atwood, a farmer at Wood- ribdge; George, a farmer in the town of Strat-

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ford; Lucy. widow of Horace B. Osborne; Ben- jamin, our subject; Miss Priscilla, who resides in Stratford; John, a market gardener in Stratford township; and Alfred, a resident of Stratford, who is now employed in driving a grocery wagon.

Our subject received his education in the schools of his native town, but at an early age he began to earn his own livelihood, finding employ- ment on the farms of the neighborhood in sum- mer and in the factories in winter. When nine- teen years old he apprenticed himself to S. R. Bunce, a carpenter in Stratford, with whom he remained about fifteen years, becoming proficient in all branches of the trade. In 1886 he began business on his own account, and he is now one of the leading contractors of the place, having constructed many important buildings of the lo- cality. Politically, he is an Independent, being quite free from party prejudices. In religion he inclines toward the Episcopal Church, in which he was reared, and socially he is idenitfied with the Order of American Mechanics. In 1872 he married Miss Harriet Jones, a native of Strat- ford, where her father, John Jones, conducted a tavern and meat market for many years. Two children have blessed this union: Frederick B. and Isabella, both at home.

C CHARLES H. NETTLETON. Among the names of those who have contributed large- ly to the development of all that is good in the community, the honest historian of this vicinity must write that of Charles H. Nettleton, who, born in New Haven, Conn., in the year 1850, soon moved with his parents, Charles and Ellen (Hine) Nettleton, to the city of New York, where he attended the public schools and fitted for the College of the City of New York, from which he graduated in the class of 1870.

In 1871 Mr. Nettleton came to reside in Derby, Fairfield county, Conn., and immediately entered upon a business career, which has been marked by signal success. Being interested in the Derby Gas Company, he at once took charge of the construction of its plant, and has continuously since that time held the office of treasurer and general manager of the corporation. The importance of this position is manifest when we remember that the company supplies the gas and electric light, both private and public, for the cities of Ansonia and Derby and the borough of Shelton, besides furnishing electricity for manufacturing purposes in these municipalities. In 1874 Mr. Nettleton was chosen manager of the Birmingham Water Company (of which he is the treasurer), and still serves the concern in

that capacity. In 1894 he was elected president of the Birmingham National Bank, located at Derby, through which the banking business of Derby and Shelton is transacted, and still occu- pies that position. For years Mr. Nettleton has been an acknowledged authority in the manu- facture and distribution of illuminating gas and allied industries, having introduced into the community all the most approved methods for utilizing the commodities placed upon the market by the Derby Gas Company. He has been prominently identified with the New England Gas Association, of which he was secretary from 1885 to 1891 and president from. 1893 to 1894. In 1897 he was the president of the American Gaslight Association. Upon the removal of Hon. H. Holton Wood to Boston, Mass., and his consequent resignation as president of the Derby and Shelton Board of Trade, Mr. Nettleton was chosen to fill the important office thus made vacant.

The business and social interests of Derby and Shelton are so interminably interwoven that the more prominent citizens of the one munic- ipality are often equally identified with the other. This is true of Mr. Nettleton; but while his vast business enterprises seem to center largely in Derby, his beautiful home and extensive grounds are situated on the Shelton banks of the Housatonic river, and he is always loyal in his devotion to the town and borough in which he resides. All measures conducive to their true advancement have always received his hearty support. When Shelton was incorporated as a borough Mr. Nettleton was elected its first warden, and served in that capacity for two of- ficial terms with credit to himself and honor to the municipality, in which many improvements were carried forward under his administration. In politics Mr. Nettleton is an unswerving Re- publican-one whose devotion to his party has never been doubted. With him Republicanism is a conviction, and its success in Huntington is in part attributable to his suggestions and sup- port. Yet however strong his party affiliations may be, in him the upright patriot is never lost in an office-seeking politician; and it may be truly said of him that he represents the type of citizen in whom as voter and statesman rests the hope of the State and Nation, and all that is best in American civilization.

Mr. Nettleton is a vestryman of St. James Church, Derby, and has served as treasurer of that Society since 1885. In these days of in- tense competition which try the moral fibre of men, he has reached an enviable eminence in the business world, while yet a comparatively young

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man, living meanwhile a life so true that those who know him best love him most. With him

To do the will is more than creeds As words are less than deeds.

With marked executive ability, undoubted moral integrity, and a dignity which, to a stranger. might seem severe, Mr. Nettleton has a kind, genial nature. No man abhors more deeply than he anything like a Pharisaical display of virtue or benevolence, yet it is but justice to add that he never turns a deaf ear to the voice of the worthy poor, many of whom have found in him a friend in their necessity, while many a young man owes his success in life to his wise counsel and substantial encouragement.

In 1874 Mr. Nettleton was married to Miss Katharine Arnold, daughter of the late Joseph Arnold, a prominent citizen of Derby, and two daughters-christened Katharine Arnold Nettle- ton and Ellen Arnold Nettleton-were born to them. the former on June 29, 1880, and the latter on July 21, 1883.

W TILLIAM FERRIS WATERBURY, a most popular and efficient official of Stam- ford. and a man of prominence in Church and society circles, is of the eighth generation of the Waterbury family who have been identified with the interests of Fairfield county.

John Waterbury, a native of England, was born about the year 1615, and on coming to America settled at Watertown, Mass. He mar- ried Rose and their children were: Rachel, born at Watertown about 1640; Sarah, born at Watertown about 1646; John, born at Stamford, Conn., about 1650; Jonathan, born at Stamford about 1653; and David, born at Stam- ford about 1655. The father of these died July 31, 1658, at Stamford, and the widow, on May 11, 1659, married Joseph Garnsey, and their issue was: Joseph, born June 30, 1662. The father served in the General Assembly in 1657.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 130

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