Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 134

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

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J OHN H. BEACH. The Beach family is one of the oldest in New England, and the sub- ject of this sketch is in the direct line of de- scent from another name inseparably linked with the early history of Connecticut-Theophilus Eaton, who for twenty consecutive years was governor of the Colony. It was in June, 1639, that, in convention assembled, Theophilus Eaton and his Puritan contemporaries formed their gov- ernment, called the House of Wisdom, and form- ally adopted the Bible as their constitution. The Eaton name is still preserved in the Beach family.

Dr. James E. Beach, the grandfather of our subject, took his brother's place in the ranks of the nine-months' men, and served in the war of the Revolution. His home at this time was in Cheshire, Conn., but after his term of service in the army had expired he removed to Bridgeport, Conn., and began the practice of medicine, which he continued for over half of a century. He married Hulda Sherman, daughter of Matthew Sherman; she was the heiress of a large estate located in the north part of the town on what was formerly known as Division street, but is now called Park avenue. The old home, now over one hundred years old, is still in the posses- sion of the family, being the property of our sub- ject. To Dr. Beach and his wife were born three children, namely: Polly, who became the wife of Sylvanus Sterling; Laura, who married Ira Sherman, both prominent business men of Bridgeport; and Isaac E., the father of our sub- ject. Dr. Beach was one of the foremost sup- porters of the First Congregational Church at Bridgeport, and was one of the acting deacons at the time of his death, which occurred in 1838 when he was aged seventy-six years.

Isaac E. Beach was born in Bridgeport, in 1802, and married Miss Eliza Hawley, daughter

of Gurdon and Annie Hawley, who lived on the upper part of Main street. This union was blessed with two sons: John H., our subject, and George E. Beach, who died in 1877. The last twenty-five years of his life Isaac E. Beach spent in reading the most profound works in lit- erature, chiefly theological, but in all his re- searches he found naught to turn him aside from the strict but simple faith of the Puritan forefa- thers, and in 1877, at the age of seventy-four, he died as he had lived, a faithful and consistent member of the old North Church. His wife sur- vived him, passing to her reward in 1885 at the age of eighty-two years.

John H. Beach, the subject proper of this review, was born in Bridgeport, August 9, 1824. He received his primary education in the district schools, and at the age of fourteen entered a classical school in Lafayette street, where he re- mained for two years; this school was taught by a noted teacher, Isaac M. Johnson. When six- teen he took up the battle of life for himself, becoming a clerk in the dry-goods business for Shelton & Thatcher, on State street, a little east of Main street, at which time, over fifty years ago, there was very little business done on Main street. With this firm he remained two years, but his father's health failing at this time it became necessary for him to take charge of the home farm. At the age of twenty-one he was married to a daughter of Capt. Samuel Stratton, and the same year built himself a house just below the old homestead. In less than two years his young wife died, and the home life so happily begun was brought to an abrupt close. Two years later he married his second wife, Mary E., daughter of Orson Merchant, of Red- ding, and to this union have been born five children: twin boys, who died in infancy; James E., Amelia M. and David S. The two sons are married and have homes near their father's. Amelia M. married George S. Curtis, and lives in East Orange. Nine grandchildren have been added to the family of Mr. Beach.

As soon as his sons were old enough to enter the business world, a co-partnership was formed under the name of John H. Beach & Sons, for the purpose of carrying on market gardening. They were about the first to enter this line in this vicinity, and made a speciality of straw- berries, having as many as fifteen to eighteen acres devoted to their cultivation. Hothouses were erected for the forcing of early vegetables. New York markets offered favorable induce- ments, and almost all their product was shipped there. David was the first of the firm to retire, and for ten years after the father and son James

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E. continued under the firm name of John H. Beach & Son. They added new houses for the cultivation of flowers, and the floral trade has now assumed mammoth proportions. In 1895 John H. Beach retired, and James E. is continu- ing the business alone.

Mr. Beach is the owner of nearly one hun- dred acres of the best farming land in the county, and of two attractive houses on Park avenue. He has never taken active interest in politics, but uniformly votes the Republican ticket. For eighteen years, or until the enactment of the new free-school law, he held the position of dis- trict school committeeman in his own district. Although now over seventy-three years of age. he is still well preserved, and has outlived all his schoolmates. For forty-eight years he and his faithful wife have walked together, and now in the evening of their lives, surrounded by children and grandchildren, they are resting, quietly awaiting the time when "their Sun shall go down in the West."

R USSELL HATCH. EsQ., is one of the sub- stantial citizens of the town of New Fair- field, owning and operating a sawmill, and carry- ing on an extensive business as a carpenter. He is a man of excellent qualities, among which pa- triotism is prominent, as is shown by his active service in the Union army during the Civil war.

The Hatch family has been identified with the town of Brookfield. this county, for many years, and Joseph Hatch, our subject's father, was born and reared there and became a well- known farmer of the locality. He married Miss Sallie Hawley, and had the following children: Harmon, who married Mary Way; Daniel, who died unmarried; William, who married Sarah Cole; Russell, our subject; Charles, who married Sarah Etts; Lucy, who was the second wife of Hiram Barber; and Phoebe, who was the first wife of Hiram Barber.

Squire Hatch was born in the town of Brook- field February 14, 1832, and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood. He learned the carriage maker's trade in his youth, and for some time followed it successfully, but of late years he has been engaged in carpenter- ing and in the sawmill business, as before men- tioned. His fellow citizens hold him in high esteem, and have called him at various times to serve in township offices, including that of justice of the peace, which he now fills with credit. He belongs to James E. Moore Post, G. A. R., at Danbury, by virtue of nine months of service in Company K, 23rd Connecticut Volunteer Infan-

try. During his term of enlistment he took part in a number of battles. In New Fairfield, in 1855, he married Miss Betsey Wildman, and five children were born to them: (1) Charles B., born in 1856, was educated in the New Fair- field schools, as were all of his brothers, and at an early age began to learn the blacksmith's trade. This occupation he has continued to follow ever since, and at present he is also en- gaged in carriage making in New Fairfield and at Brewsters, N. Y., his business being extensive and profitable. He married Miss Evelyn Morgan, and has had three children-Edna M., Beatrice and Morgan, the two last named dying in in- fancy. (2) M. Elizabeth, born in 1858, died at the age of three years. (3) Ezra S., born in 1861, conducts a farm in the town of New Fair- field, and is also engaged in the manufacturing of carriages with his brother Charles. He mar- ried Miss Kate Sherwood, daughter of Daniel Sherwood, a mason of Bridgeport, Conn., and his wife, Helen (Cromwell). The only child of this union, Daniel R., was born August 2, 1896.

(4) J. Russell, born in 1863, is an agriculturist in the town of New Fairfield. He married Miss Almira Hayes, daughter of Lewis Hayes, and has had five children-Clara M. (who died at the age of eleven years), Lewis, Chester. Bessie and Addie V. (5) Norris, born in 1867, is en- gaged in farming, and also works with his father at the carpenter's trade. He married Miss Anna Morgan.

Mrs. Hatch, who has proved a true helpmeet to her husband, was born January 25, 1835, in the town of Brookfield, this county, and was ed- ucated in the district schools of New Fairfield. Her grandfather, Philip Wildman, was a native of the town of Brookfield, where he received a common-school education, and afterward engaged in farming. He owned a large tract of land there, and was regarded as one of the successful agri- culturists of this section. On one occasion he met with an unfortunate accident. While cut- ting timber on the mountains near his home a falling tree struck his leg and broke it, necessitat- ing an amputation, so that he was obliged to wear a wooden leg during his later years. He and his wife, Luana (Platt), reared a family of nine children: Edward, who married Armida Bennett; Edmond, who married a Miss Brad- shaw; William, who married Ann Stilson; Dan- iel, who married Jeannette Foote; Ira, who mar- ried Harriet Northrop; Harry, who died unmar- ried; Joseph, Mrs. Hatch's father; Betsey, who married (first) Mead Osborn, and (second) Cal- vin Ward; and Eunice, who never married.

Joseph Wildman was born in the town of

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Brookfield in 1798, and his education was re- stricted to the district schools near the old home- stead. From an early age he was interested in farming in his native town, but his last years were spent in the town of New Fairfield, where he purchased real estate and made his permanent residence. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, but he never aspired to public office. He married (first) Miss Betsey Chase, daughter of Gideon Chase, and they had six children-Hannah, wife of Caleb Benedict; Abram, who married Irene Way; Bennett, who married Annie Gardiner; Luenna, wife of Curtis Barnum; Daniel, who died in childhood; and George, who did not live to mature age. The mother of this family died. and Mr. Wildman afterward formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Miss Amanda Way, daughter of Jared Way, a blacksmith of New Milford, Conn., and his wife, Mabel Nor- ton. Mrs. Hatch was the eldest of four children of the second marriage, the others being Laura, wife of Elias Cromwell; Joseph, who married Caroline Rowe; and Ira, who married Alice Bal- lard.

N ELLIS H. SHERWOOD is probably one of the most widely known farmers in the State of Connecticut, and his property is conceded to be the finest and best conducted in Fairfield county. .. Sound View Farm," situated on a high piece of ground, commanding a splendid view of Long Island Sound, is surpassed by none in this section of the country. Many of the choicest farms in this county are owned by wealthy New Yorkers, who conduct them for pleasure, and spare no expense in their improvement and culti- vation, profit being no object with them; but not one of them presents a more beautiful appear- ance, or yields finer products than Mr. Sher- wood's, while his peach orchard is considered the best in the State.

Mr. Sherwood comes from one of the oldest and most highly respected families in Fairfield county, this branch being known as the " Mill Hill " Sherwoods, and he belongs to a race of progressive agriculturists, his grandfather, Hull Sherwood, having also been known as one of the advanced farmers of his day. J. H. Sherwood, father of our subject, married Selina Beecher, and they built and occupied a house a short dis- tance from the old homestead on Mill Hill, where Nellis H. was born (November 29, 1860) and reared, and where he acquired his first knowledge of the vocation in which he has proved so suc- cessful. He received his literary education in the district schools and in Fairfield Academy.

From mere boyhood he displayed extraordinary good management, as well as advanced ideas in regard to the tilling of the soil, and his success is entirely due to his own unaided efforts. He was but twenty years of age (in 1880) when he purchased the " Burr Sherwood farm" of eighty acres in the town of Fairfield, for $6,000, going in debt for every penny of the amount A large part of this place was then in a primitive condi- tion, much of it being rough-timbered land, while the only buildings were an old house and barn. In fact, there is scarcely a man in a hundred who would not have considered its transformation from that state to its present condition a hope- less task, or who would have expended the work and capital he has toward that end; but Mr. Sherwood has had the satisfaction and pleasure of seeing his entire place made to " blossom as the rose," and the cedar thickets and wild land have been converted into veritable gardens. Hundreds of wagon-loads of stone were taken from the rocky land and used to fill in low places, huge boulders were dug out, two and one-half miles of drainage were laid, and many of the fences torn down so that sixty acres of the farm is in one large tract, set out with small fruits, peach trees, onions and flowers. All this work was necessary to put the land in perfect condi- tion for its present use, and though the expense was great it has proved profitable in the end, for there is not another farm in the county where every available foot of ground is utilized to such good purpose.

Mr. Sherwood commenced as a general farm- er, and later took up the growing of small fruits and peach culture, which he now carries on on an extensive scale, his orchard of 2,500 peach trees being, for its size, one of the finest in the State of Connecticut, and he may be justly proud of it. The quantity as well as the quality of the fruit and vegetables raised on his land testifies to the advantages of careful cultivation, even if the first expense is greater, and Mr. Sherwood finds agriculture more profitable than does the ordinary farmer. In 1894 he engaged in the florist busi- ness, erecting extensive greenhouses, and each year since has seen additions and improvements in this feature of his work, which has now grown to large proportions, his product in this line be- ing marketed in the large Eastern cities. Mr. Sherwood is possessed of mechanical genius of no mean order, and his judgment in tools and labor-saving contrivances seldom errs. His greenhouses, and indeed all his buildings, are supplied with every practical device for con- venience and the facilitation of the work, which in the winter time requires from five to eight

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men, and in the summer from fifteen to twenty. Mr. Sherwood himself supervises and oversees his employes, and he stands second to none as a practical agriculturist in every department.

Mr. Sherwood holds that the idea that there are no good farmers except in the West is erron- eous, and he himself is a living contradiction of the theory. The "theoretical " farmer is often accused of being strong in precept but weak in example, and Mr. Sherwood has always followed his addresses before agricultural meetings with an invitation to visit his place, where the ideas he advanced were 'in constant application. Though comparatively young in years, he is old in experience, and this experience has been ac- quired by long years of constant and close study and careful experimenting, a fact which gives his opinion more than ordinary weight with agri- culturists. The successful cultivation of peaches requires the closest scrutiny and complete famil- iarity with the various insects that prey on fruit and tree; and after close and continued investi- gation Mr. Sherwood has evolved some very ef- fective methods for the extermination of these pests. Our subject formerly served on the State Board of Agriculture, of which he was one of the most efficient members, and he was the first to agitate the idea of organizing the Greenfield Grange No. 133, of which he became a charter member and served as first overseer. The build- ings on his land are all large and complete in every detail, and it requires nearly 60,000 shingles to roof his barns.

Mr. Sherwood is no less popular as a citizen and liked as a friend, and though his vast business interests leave him no time for public affairs he is deeply interested in the general welfare, and is loyal and public-spirited in promoting the inter- ests of the community where he has his home. He is a Republican in political faith, but he takes no part in party affairs beyond voting, though he has served as a member of the board of relief, and he also acted for some time as chief of the Southport fire department, during his service in that capacity winning the admiration of all for his coolness and resource in any emergency. He is thoroughly esteemed as one of the best exam- ples of the self-made man in the county, but he has won his success fairly, for he is personally familiar with every detail of his complicated business-from the weeding of his onion beds to the marketing of his now extensive output-while his integrity and honor in all his dealings have never been questioned.

Mr. Sherwood was united in marriage Novem- ber 29, 1883, with Miss Carrie Campbell, daugh- ter of Robert and Mary Hayes Campbell, and

born and reared at Greenfield Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood are active members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, in which he is at present serving as vestryman.

I ISAAC W. DANIELS is well known all over the town of New Canaan, Fairfield county, having conducted his present sawmill in the Sil- ver Mine District for many years. He is a native of New Jersey, born December 4, 1827, son of Pliny Daniels.

Pliny Daniels was a native of Hartland, Hart- ford Co., Conn., at which place his father, Orrin Daniels, · was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Pliny worked in New Jersey when a young man, carding wool, and after his marriage settled in New Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn., where in 1833 he purchased the mill now owned and run by his son, Isaac W. For some years he had a clothing factory here, but after that business ceased to be profitable he turned his attention to the manufacture of wagon hubs, finally engaging in sawmilling, which he continued until his death, in 1853. In 1825 Mr. Daniels was married at Stamford, Conn., to Polly Wardwell, daughter of Isaac Wardwell, and she survived him over forty years, dying in April, 1894, at the age of ninety-four years and three months. Their fam- ily consisted of four children: Isaac Wardwell; Mary, who lives in Stamford, Conn .; Emeline (Mrs. Stephen Raymond), of Bridgeport, Conn. ; and Sarah, deceased wife of Benjamin St. John, of Darien, Connecticut.

Isaac W. Daniels was a mere child when the family settled in New Canaan, and he received his schooling in the Lockwood District, except two winters in Stamford. He has always been in the sawmilling business, having worked in the mill with his father from boyhood, and after his father's decease he conducted it alone. Of late years, however, his son, William E., has been associated in the business with him. Mr. Daniels has given all his attention to his own affairs, and has had little time or inclination for public office or preferment of any kind. He has now been sixty-six years at the place where he lives, and his sawmill, which of course has been repaired from time to time, was built over one hundred years ago. There are twelve other mills on the . Silver Mine river, but this one enjoys the best privilege. He also has a small farm and a grand garden, with all kinds of fruit, etc., and here he spends his time in summer.

In 1858 Mr. Daniels was united in marriage in New Canaan, to Augusta Beers, daughter of Ezekiel Beers, and one son blessed their union, .

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William E., who as above stated is interested in the mill with his father. He married Sadie F. McDonald, and they have one son, William Edgar. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels attend the M. E. Church. He was formerly a member of the Sons of Temperance. His life has always been a tem- perate one in all things, and he never drank a drop of intoxicating liquor.

C OMMODORE FRANCIS BURRITT. Among the most beautiful homes to be found in this region is that of the genial subject of this sketch, who is widely known in yachting circles. Some years ago he purchased " Judah Island." an ideal place for a residence, situated in Long Island Sound near South Norwalk, and this spot, already made charming by the hand of Nature, has been improved in every way that a cultured taste could suggest. The original cost of the island, which formerly belonged to the famous "Tweed gang," was $25,000; and much more has been expended in the various improvements. The view from the residence is unexcelled-com- prising as it does a wide sweep over the adjacent islands and the mainland with the ever-changing waters of the Sound, and amid such surroundings it is not strange that the Commodore should keep undimmed the enthusiasm for aquatic sports which has led him to build at different times twenty-three yachts, or that he should have used his best efforts to promote the work of the vari- ous yachting clubs in this and other localities.

The Commodore belongs to a well-known family. and his grandfather, Wakeman Burritt, was born at Greens Farms, this county, in 1785, and probably passed the larger portion of his life here in agricultural pursuits, his death occurring March 2, 1847, in New York City. He was one of the owners of the paper called the "Prices Current and Commercial Advertiser." He mar- ried Miss Grace Burr, a native of the same local- ity, a cousin of Aaron Burr.

Francis Burritt, our subject's father, was born in New York City March 16, 1811, and after spending his youth in the metropolis he went into business there with the firm of Bore- man & Johnson, East India merchants. A few years later he started independently in the same line, in which he accumulated a very handsome fortune, the achievement being the more notable from the fact that he had begun his career with no capital. He became the owner of three large ships, and had shares in others, and at the time of his death, which occurred April 17, 1861, from cancer, his wealth was estimated at about · a million dollars. In politics he was first a Whig,

later a Republican, and for years he was a lead- ing member of St. George's Episcopal Church, at New York City. On September 29, 1833, he married Miss Phoebe Perrin, who was born June 14. 1810, in Elizabethtown, N. J., and died Au- gust 28, 1887, at the home of our subject on Judah Island. . The Perrins are an old English family allied with the nobility through intermar- riages in the past, and some old tombs and a burial ground at Bourn, England, bear the fam- ily name. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject was Richard Perrin, who was born in Eng- land, March 8, 1768, a son of John Perrin, and came to America in 1810. He married Miss Lu- cretia Blackwell, of Gloucestershire, England, a daughter of John Blackwell. After the marriage of our subject's parents they made their home in New York City on East Sixteenth street, which was then considered "up town," but they also owned a fine summer residence at Saugatuck, this county. Of a family of three children, our subject, who was the youngest, is now the only survivor; Phoebe was the wife of Charles J. Ketcham, of New York City; and Ann A. mar- ried Laudon Ketcham, a brother of her sister's husband.

The Commodore was born May 29, 1850, at the old home in East Sixteenth street, New York, but at the age of twelve, when he lost his father, he came to Saugatuck to reside, and remained until he attained his majority, his education being acquired there. On August 30, 1870, he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Quintard, who was born in South Norwalk, a daughter of Francis E. and Anna M. Quintard. The Quintard family is of Huguenot descent, and the ancestors of Mrs. Burritt came from France at an early date. So- cially, the Commodore and his accomplished wife are regarded as leaders, and he is an active member of several New York clubs, also of the B. P. O. E. Lodge No. 36, of Bridgeport. He also belongs to numerous yachting associations, including the Larchmont Yacht Club, the Park. City Yacht Club, of Bridgeport, the Indian Har- bor Yacht Club, of Greenwich, in which he has been vice and rear commodore, and the Cedar Point Yacht Club, in which he held the rank of commodore for three years. Politically, he is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party.

HOMAS G. SUTTON, who is now serving his fourth term as selectman of the town of Greenwich, is one of the leading citizens. He has won an honorable record, both in war and peace, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of a

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 134

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