Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 146

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

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 146

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Josiah Botsford, the father of our subject, was born October 13. 1798, and inherited from his father a fine homestead near Botsford, com- prising more than one hundred acres of land, part of which is now the property of our subject. Although he had only a common-school educa- tion his excellent mental abilities enabled him to acquire a wide range of information on general topics, and he was especially noted for his good judgment. As an agriculturist he was successful, and for some time he was engaged in surveying

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roads in this section in addition to his other lines of work. He was a Democrat in politics, but was not particularly active in public affairs. In religious faith he was a Universalist, and he is still remembered as a man of large heart, his generous sympathy with the poor being shown in many ways. He died October 1, 1857, and his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Ann Sher- man, passed away March 22, 1887. Our subject was the youngest in a family of three children. Mary Ann, born April 2, 1825, at the old home- stead, married John Curtis, and Sherman B., born May 13, 1826, married Cornelia A. Wakely. . The mother of our subject was born in New- town in 1798, and was married November 25, 1823. In religion she was an Episcopalian, as her family has been connected with that Church from early times. Her father, Lyman Sherman, was a well-known resident of this county, and he and his wife, Hepzibah (Mallory), reared a large family of children, as follows: Zerah, born March 6, 1786; Aby, January 6, 1788; Nathan B., November 16, 1790; Marcia, November 6, 1792; Dellany, November 16, 1794; Sally, May 9, 1797; Polly Ann, October 9, 1798; Joel, Octo- ber 3, 1800; and Laurison, April 17, 1803.

Mr. Botsford was born February 25, 1833, on the farm which he now owns and occupies as a homestead. He was educated in the common schools of the '. Walker's Farm " District, having no other advantages, and as his help was needed at home during the summer his attendance was limited to the winter sessions. When about six- teen years old he went to Oxford, Conn., to learn the blacksmith's trade with Nicholas French, and served an apprenticeship of five years, gain- ing a thorough knowledge of the business in all its details. At the expiration of his term he worked for some time as a journeyman, being employed first by Mr. French, at Wolcotville, now Torrington, where he spent two years, and later he secured a position in Hallock's shipyard, Derby, Conn. In 1857 he went west, and after spending some time at Pepin, Wis., he worked for one summer at Walnut Ridge, Washington Co., Ind. In the fall of the same year he re- turned to Newtown on account of the death of his father, and he spent the following winter in working for his old employer, Nicholas French. He established his residence at the old homestead, in the fall of 1858 opening a shop across the road from the house. Mr. Botsford is considered one of the best workmen in this section, and his high reputation has drawn a large custom, extending to Birmingham, Norwalk, Derby and Danbury, and his forty years of active business life have given him a stand among the leading men of the

locality. F. J. French, a son of the Mr. French above mentioned, served an apprenticeship of three years with our subject.

On July 2, 1863, Mr. Botsford married Miss Adelia Jordan, who was born December 7, 1835, a daughter of Marshall and Delaney Sher- man Jordan, of Newtown, and their home is brightened by one child, Mary Gertrude, bora July 25, 1882. The family is identified with St. Peter's Episcopal Church, of Monroe Center, and Mr. Botsford is in sympathy with all movements that tend to promote the welfare of the commu- nity. Politically, he is a Democrat so far as Na- tional issues are concerned, but in local affairs be votes independently. While he is not an office seeker he does not shirk his duties as a citizen, and at times he has served as juryman.

C LARENCE LEROY MORGAN, of Danbury. is an enterprising and successful business man, and conducts an extensive trade in groceries, meats, coal, wood and other commodities at No. 224 White street.

Mr. Morgan is a native of Danbury, and his family is well-known in this county. His great- grandfather, Joseph Morgan, was a resident of New Fairfield. Peter Morgan, our subject's grandfather, married Clarissa Taylor, and settled in the town of Bethel, in this county. Their son, George, our subject's father, was born there July 12, 1826, and is now living in the Great Plain District, town of Danbury, where he is en- gaged in farming and in the hatter's trade. His wife, Ann M. Morris, who is also living, was born in 1827, in Brookfield, Conn., a daughter of Alfred and Hannah (Starr) Morris, and granddaughter of Bethel Morris. This worthy couple have had eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity. Of these, the eldest, Charles S., died at the age of thirty-nine, while the following survive: George R., Alfred M., Clarence L., Evelyn E .. Georgianna and Susan E.

Mr. Morgan, our subject, began his earthly career November 2, 1856, and has always re- sided in his native town. He obtained a com- mon-school education during boyhood while as sisting his father in the farm work, and remained at home until the age of twenty-two. About 1878 he spent a year in the meat business, but after his marriage, in 1879, to Miss Jennie J. Chase, he made his home for a time upon a farm and devoted his attention to agriculture. In 1884 he again established himself in the meat business, and has ever since continued in that ever-increasing custom. As time passed be added a stock of groceries, and that venture

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proving successful, he engaged in the coal and wood business, in 1893. and in all of these varied lines he has built up a large and profitable trade. He has a high reputation in business circles, be- ing prompt to settle all obligations, and his ex- cellent qualities have won for him the esteem of all classes. While he is not especially active in local politics, he takes an interest in all public questions, and is a strong adherent of the Dem- ocratic party.

In 1879 Mr. Morgan married Miss Jennie J. Chase, daughter of Walter and Eunice (Barnum) Chase, of the town of Danbury, and three chil- dren have blessed the union: George W., who now assists his father in the business; Eunice M. and Rena I., who are at home. Mr. Morgan and his family attend the Church of the Disciples, of which his wife and son are active members.

S MAMUEL A. PATTERSON, a successful hor- ticulturist and florist of Stratford, is a man whose sound judgment and energy have won for him an enviable reputation in business life.

Mr. Patterson brings to his enterprises the keen insight of his Scottish ancestry, sharpened by generations of New England life. The first of the name to come from Scotland was Andrew Patterson, who, with two brothers, located in New Jersey at an early day, later settling in Mas- sachusetts, where many of his descendants are now to be found. James Patterson, great-great- grandfather of Samuel A., was a descendant of Andrew Patterson, and was born August 13, 1707. in or near Northboro, Mass., and followed farm- ing in that vicinity. He married Lydia Fisk. David Patterson, great-grandfather of Samuel A., was born in Northboro, May 17. 1739, and mar- ried Beulah Clark. Their son, Jonathan, grand- father of Samuel A., was born at Northboro. September 3. 1765, and died there November 28, 1846, aged eighty-one years. In 1794 he went to Canada, and there took up a farm of 400 acres in the wilderness, and built the first frame house at Three Rivers, Province of Quebec. In 1812, on account of the war breaking out between the United States and Great Britain, he returned to Massachusetts. He married Sarah Rice, also a native of Northboro, daughter of Deacon Seth Rice, and a cousin of Governor Rice, of Massa- chusetts. They had the following named chil- dren: William, David, Anson, Franklin, Law- son, Isaac, Sally, Mary and Sophia, all of whom settled in Massachusetts, where many of their descendants are to be found. The mother of this family died March 28, 1844.

Anson Patterson, the father of our subject,

was born in 1801 in Canada, but his early life was mainly spent at Northboro, Mass., where he followed the blacksmith's trade in connection with farming. He married Maria Garlick, a native of Huntington, Fairfield Co., Conn., a grand- daughter of Dr. Samuel Garlick, who was born at Stratford, and died at Galen, N. Y., at the patriarchal age of one hundred and ten years. Capt. Samuel Garlick, her father, was born at Stratford in 1764, and died at Rose, N. Y., in 1843. aged seventy-nine years. He married Huldah Gilbert, daughter of Lemuel Gilbert, a Revolutionary soldier. She was born at Hunt- ington, Fairfield Co., Conn., and died at Galen, N. Y., in 1878, at the advanced age of ninety years. Great-grandfather Gilbert was born in Huntington, and died there, and all the descend- ants of Dr. Samuel Garlick settled in Wayne county, N. Y., whither he had removed in 1815, settling in the wilderness at the site of the present village of Galen, where he built the first frame house.

Soon after his marriage Anson Patterson re- moved to Derby, Conn., and engaged in raising seeds for the market, being a pioneer in that in- dustry. Later he made his home in Huntington. where he died in 1888, aged eighty-three years. He was a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife Maria (who died in 1837) were devout mem- bers of the Congregational Church. For his second wife Anson Patterson married Sally Gil- bert. and they had one child, John.

Samuel A. Patterson was born October 3, 1834, at the old family home in Northboro, Mass., and was about a year old when his parents moved to New Haven county, Conn., to reside. He attended schools in Huntington and Trum- bull, and on completing his course of study in the latter named place he learned the saddler's trade there. For fifteen years he followed that business, and for two years he was employed in carriage manufacturing. while other two years he spent at the carpenter's trade. He then con- ducted a grocery in the same town for two years, but in 1869 he removed to Stratford, where he engaged in the manufacture of hoop-skirts. After two years he became interested in the meat busi- ness in partnership with E. Whiting, with whom he continued nine years under the firm name of E. Whiting & Co. His next venture was in the oyster business as a partner in the firm of Pat- terson, Batterson & Co., retiring after two years and settling upon his present farm near Stratford. For some time he devoted his attention to the raising of fruits and vegetables, but recently he engaged in the culture of flowers, in which he finds gratifying results, his specialty in this in-

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dustry being pinks and violets for the Bridgeport market. Politically, Mr. Patterson is a Democrat, aud he takes an active part in local affairs, hav- ing served as selectman and as member of the school board. Socially, he and his family are much esteemed. He is past master of St. John's Lodge No. 8, F. & A. M., at Stratford, and past master of Housatonic Grange No. 79.

On January 1, 1857, Samuel A. Patterson married Miss Elizabeth Gray, a native of Strat- ford, and daughter of George Gray, a well- known citizen. Their only child, Ella, is now the wife of C. F. Axtell, of Morristown, N. J., by whom she has had four children: Roland P., Rachel E., Merritt F., and Kenneth E., who died February, 8, 1892.

W ILLIAM A. AMBLER, a highly respected citizen of Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Conn., is a worthy representative of the "Land of Steady Habits," as he has been continuously in the employ of one firm since 1865. However, he first tested the desirability of a roving life be- fore settling down to his present occupation, and both on sea and land had his full share of ad- venture and change. His experience in the army during the Civil war was well adapted to arouse in him a longing for a quiet mode of life, wounds and imprisonment being added to the ordinary trials of a soldier's career.

Mr. Ambler was born December 26, 1836, in this county, in the town of Weston. Uriah Ambler, our subject's father, was a native of New York State, where he grew to manhood, learning the carpenter's trade and preparing to engage in business as a contractor and builder. He married Miss Augusta Hemson, a native of New Jersey, and soon afterward came to this county to reside. About 1838 he located in Norwalk, where his remaining years were spent, his death occurring in 1848. In politics he was a Whig, and he and his wife, who died in 1892, were devout and consistent members of the Methodist Church. Our subject was the young- est of four children, the others being Mary E., who married Henry K. Selleck, of Norwalk, both now deceased; Sarah, wife of James Sherman, a resident of Rochester, but formerly from Troy, N. Y .; and Rosena, wife of Silas B. Meeker, a ·coal dealer of Norwalk.

The schools of Norwalk furnished our sub- ject an opportunity to gain a practical education, and on completing his course of study he began to learn the business of making mathematical apparatus and surveyors' instruments at Troy, N. Y., and Westport, this county, with one of

the same firm. After four years in this employ- ment he went to sea, where he spent about four years, having a glimpse of life in the navy and taking voyages on various whaling and mercan- tile vessels. He then returned to Norwalk and learned the carpenter's trade, but on July 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, 5th Conn. V. I., and went to the seat of war. He took part in a number of important battles, and August 9, 1862, was wounded in the engagement at Cedar Mountain, and captured by the enemy. The lol- lowing month he spent amid the horrors of Lib- by prison, but fortunately he was exchanged at the end of that time, and discharged on Decem- ber 14, 1862, his physical condition being such that he was discharged from the service on ac- count of wounds. He then returned to Norwalk, where he soon afterward found employment as a lock maker in a factory. In 1865 he became connected with the Morrison & Hoyt Shirt Com- pany, with which he has ever since remained, the fact speaking more plainly than words could do of his fidelity and industry. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he is prominent in dil- ferent social orders, including the I. O. O. F., the I. O. R. M., the Norwalk Club, and the G. A. R., Buckingham Post No. 12, at Norwalk. He is also a member of the Norwalk fire police, and he and his wife are active workers in the Methodist Church.

On April 15, 1861, Mr. Ambler married Miss Eliza Cole, and two children blessed their home, one of whom died in infancy. The survivor, Frederick S. Ambler, a promising young business man of Norwalk, is a dealer in extracts, and the agent there for the Columbia bicycle. The mother died January 5. 1898, and March 30, 1899, our subject wedded Miss Lucy Jenning, of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The late Mrs. Ambler was a member of a well-known family, and her grandfather, Thomas Cole, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. Her grandmother, whose maiden name was Mary Ressigue, was a daughter of Alexander Ressigue, whose wife was a daughter of Pierre Boutecue, 2 Huguenot, and a native of France. Thomas Cole made his home in the town of Wilton, this county, and his son Sherman, Mrs. Ambler's father, was born there in 1804, and for many years was a leading manufacturer of that town. His wife, Susan Hurlbutt, was a daughter of Louis Hurlbutt, of Wilton, and their union was blessed with twelve children: Emily, Jane, Eliza, Ira, Mary E., Harriet. Lydia A., Theodore, Henry, Allee, Lester S. and Victor. The mother of this family passed from earth in September. 1897. The father died in Norwalk in 1879 alter

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' a life of more than ordinary usefulness. At one time he represented his district in the State Leg- islature, receiving the indorsement of both parties for the position, and he held various township offices, which he filled in a manner to command public esteem. In religious affairs he was also active as a member of the Methodist Church.

E ADWARD H. FOSTER, of Stamford, has been prominently identified for a number of years with the business interests of that place, and the following account of his career and fam- ily is appropriately included in this collection of biographies of the leading men of Fairfield county.

Mr. Foster's ancestors were early settlers upon Long Island, and his grandfather, Justus Foster, was a native of the town of West Hampton, N. Y. Josiah Foster, our subject's father, was born on Long Island, in the town of South Hamp- ton, but the greater portion of his life was spent in West Hampton. By occupation he was a shoemaker, and as a citizen he was held in high esteem, being active in religious work as a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church in his locality. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth L. Griffing, was a descendant of another old and respected family of Long Island. They had eight children, of whom the following are now living: Mary, wife of Thomas Cloyd. of Web- ster, S. D .; Nathaniel G., a resident of Cran- ford, N. J., Edward H., our subject; Josiah, who settled in Plainview, Texas; Susan F., widow of George Meeker, of West Hampton, N. Y .; and Harriet H., widow of Hiram Wines, of West Hampton.

Our subject was born December 31, 1837, at West Hampton, N. Y., and his education was obtained in the schools of that section. At the age of seventeen he went to Washingtonville, Orange Co., N. Y., to learn the builder's trade, and later he went to New York City, where he completed his apprenticeship. During the Civil war he remained in the metropolis, working at his trade, and he afterward spent some time at Mor- tonville, Orange Co., N. Y., and at Cold Spring, Putnam Co., N. Y. He then returned to New York City where he was employed in the enroll- ing bureau for a while, and later he engaged in the building business in Cranford and Elizabeth, N. J. In 1874 he removed to Stamford, this county, where he has ever since resided. For twelve years he was engaged in the hardware business at the corner of Canal and Atlantic streets, and he then transferred his store to the town hall building. At present he is interested

in pump manufacturing, making a specialty of rubber bucket pumps, also the Ingersoll self- dumping well curb, and he carries on as well an extensive business in carpet cleaning by steam. He is in sympathy with all progressive move- ments in his locality, and is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been a trustee for twenty-three years, while he is a char- ter member of the Y. M. C. A., and served as secretary and treasurer of that society for many years.

In 1867 Mr. Foster was married in Stamford to Miss Jeannette J. Clark, and four children have blessed the union, two of whom are now living: (1) Marion C., married Frank W. Jer- man, who is mentioned below, and (2) J. Clark is now engaged in the sub office of the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stamford. Mrs. Foster is a daughter of John Clark, a well- known resident of Stamford, who was born in the parish of Hillside, Dumfries, Scotland, and came to America in 1836, locating first in New York City. For twenty years he was engaged in business there on 9th street, as a carpenter and builder, but in 1856 he removed to Stam- ford, and after carrying on his business in New York some four or five years retired from active business. He was married first in Scotland to Miss Susan Hunter, and after her death he formed a second union, this time with Mrs. Phoebe Ann Daily. By his first marriage he had six children, two of whom lived to mature age, Mrs. Foster being the elder. The younger, John Smith Clark, did gallant service as a soldier in the Civil war in Company D, 6th Conn. V. I., being dis- tinguished for his bravery, and in 1864 he met a soldier's death at the battle of Strawberry Plains.

Frank Webster Jerman, the son-in-law of our subject, was born in Stamford March 11, 1867, and is a member of one of the old families. His great-grandfather. Rev. James Jerman (or Jar- mon, as the name was formerly spelled), was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years resided in the town of Green- wich, this county. Hanford Jarmon, the grand- father of Frank W., was a native of New Canaan, this county, and followed the shoemaker's trade there during his active life. He was a man of excellent character, and was interested in relig- ious movements, being a member of the Method- ist Church. He married Miss Mehitable Lock- wood, and had four children, viz .: William Henry, deceased; Fannie, who married William Y. Davenport, of New Canaan; Mary Ann, wife of Alonzo Scofield, of Stamford; and Chauncey Lockwood, the father of Frank W. Chauncey

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L. Jerman was born in the town of New Canaan, and after receiving a common-school education he learned the shoemaker's trade. Between 1860 and 1870 he removed to Stamford and en- gaged in the retail shoe business, which he car- ried on successfully until his retirement in 1895. He was married in New Canaan to Miss Ann R. Betts, daughter of Captain Betts, of Ellenville, N. Y., and they had two children: Frank W., and Ella Betts, now the wife of Dr. F. H. Barnes, of Stamford.

In his boyhood Mr. Frank W. Jerman at- tended the public schools of Stamford, and at the age of fourteen he began clerking in his father's store. He has ever since been associated with the business, being admitted to partnership in 1891, when the firm name was changed to C. L. Jerman & Son, and since his father's retire- ment in 1895 he has conducted the business alone under his own name, his successful man- agement gaining for him a high reputation as a progressive and clear-headed merchant. On September 22, 1891, he was married in Stam- ford to Miss Marion C. Foster, mentioned above, and they have one son, Herbert Foster, born December 25, 1895.

P ETER REILLY, a prominent resident of Shelton, is successfully engaged in business as a contractor and builder, being the junior member of the well-known firm of M. A. Durr- schmidt & Co., whose professional skill has been shown in the erection of many of the best build- ings of this section.

Like many other successful business men, Mr. Reilly is of Irish birth and ancestry. His par- ents, Edward and Bridget (Kelly) Reilly, were lifelong residents of Ireland, his father being a wheelright at Longford. This worthy couple. had several children, and of the three who lived to maturity our subject is the youngest. Richard, who died in 1889, came to America in early man- hood, and after being employed for some time as a coachman on Long Island he came to this county, locating at the present site of the village of Shelton, purchasing the second lot sold and building the first house in the borough. Ann married Capt. Thomas Spring. who had charge of a boat on Long Island Sound, and was drowned in 1883.

Mr. Reilly, our subject, was born August 30, 1848, at Longford, Ireland, and obtained his education in the schools of that town. In 1867 he came to the United States, locating first at Shelton, and soon after his arrival he began to learn the carpenter's trade with William A. Lum,

of Birmingham. After completing his term of apprenticeship he remained with Mr. Lum for some time, making ten years in all, and later he was employed for several years as a pattern maker in the factory of the Derby Silver Com- pany. He then engaged in business as an under- taker in Birmingham, in partnership with Joseph P. Colwell; but in March, 1893, he sold his in- terest to Mr. Colwell. During the following year he was employed as inspector by the Derby & Ansonia Electric Railway Company, which was then constructing a pavilion, boat houses, and other buildings, in Ousatonic Park, and on their com- pletion he was given the management of same for the season. On leaving that position he formed his present partnership with M. A. Dur- schmidt, and they have since conducted a large and lucrative business. Politically, Mr. Reilly is a Democrat, while in religious faith he is a Cath- olic. He is active and influential in local affairs, serving at present as a member of the school board and the local board of relief, being the first Catholic ever elected to either office in his town.

In 1875 Mr. Reilly married Miss Catherine McMahon, daughter of Joseph McMahon, of County Monaghan, Ireland, and three children have blessed the union, viz .: Margaret, Cath- erine and Joseph, all at home. Socially, Mr. Reilly is identified with the Order of Knights of Columbus, which he helped to organize in 1885. being the first member enrolled. For two years he held office as first grand knight, and he served the same length of time as treasurer. He also, this year (1899), became a member of the Cath- olic Benevolent Legion.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 146

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