Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 149

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

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In 1861 Mr. Osborn married Miss Clarissa Williams, of Syracuse, N. Y., who died in 1876, and. in 1878 he formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Miss Sarah Boorman, a na- tive of Sherman, N. Y. By his first marriage he had two children: Frederick E. (deceased), and Howard M., who is general agent for his father's business. Socially, the family is prominent, and Mr. Osborne is connected with the Masonic Fra- ternity and the Knights of Honor. Politically, be is a stanch Republican, and he has always taker keen interest in the issues of the day, having been especially active in the stirring times in Kansas before the Civil war. While in New York he was always interested in municipal af- fairs, and since his removal to Bridgeport he has given careful attention to local affairs, his fellow- townsmen showing their appreciation of his abil- ity and public spirit by electing him in 1896 as alderman from the Eighth district.

J OHN C. BOND is one of Stratford's most en- terprising business men, and has done much to improve the appearance of the water front of the city, constructing docks and buildings and reclaiming land which was formerly regarded as too low and swampy for business purposes.

Mr. Bond was born October 23, 1839, in Suf- folk county, Long Island, where his family has been prominent since Colonial times, his grand- father, Doxie Bond, having been a farmer there during the Revolutionary war. John C. Bond. Sr., our subject's father, was a native of the same locality and passed his life there, being en- gaged in the market business. He married Miss Elizabeth Soper, a native of Long Island, and had nine children: Harriet, Elizabeth and Ann M., all now deceased; Mary, widow of Thomas Garry. and a resident of Stratford; Emeline, de- ceased; George S., wilo is employed as a watch- man at the oyster grounds at Southport; John C .. our subject; Edward, who is a clerk in our sub- ject's saloon at Stratford; and Ashabell A., a re- tired resident of Stratford, who was formerly en- gaged in the oyster business.

John C. Bond spent the first thirty years of his

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life at his old home on Long Island, where he learned the ship carpenter's trade. In 1869 he went to California, and followed farming near the Sacramento river. He was then appointed deputy sheriff of Solano county, for Collinsville, Mont- ezuma district, and this position he held for five and one-half years. In 1883 he came to Strat- ford, where he purchased property and engaged in the oyster business, which he continued for some time, but later he became interested in the liquor business, opening a saloon on the docks. Since locating in Stratford he has not been act- ive in politics, but he is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party. His wife, who was formerly Miss Julia E. Baldwin, is a na- tive of Long Island.

J AMES REILLY, a successful farmer and gardener of Greenwich township, Fairfield county, is a native ! Ireland, born in County Leitrim, January 26, 1838, and is a son of Michael and Bridget (McConell) Reilly, farm- ing people, who spent their entire lives in that country. They reared a family of four sons, of whom three came to America, Thomas and Ed- ward both locating in Stamford. Fairfield Co., Conn., where the former died and where the lat- ter is still living.

On the home farm James Reilly was reared to manhood. early becoming familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, while his literary education was obtained in the common schools of his native land. With his father's assistance he came to the United States in 1859, on the steamer " William Stitson," landing at New York on the 19th of July, thirty- five days after leaving the harbor at Dublin. Coming to Fairfield county, he first worked for Burr B. Lockwood, at Sound Beach, as a farm hand, and being steady and a good worker he was employed by that gentleman for three years. During this time he saved a part of his earnings and bought three acres of land at Sound Beach, on which the Pilgrim Congregational church now stands. However, he never lived upon this place, and afterward sold it. Prior to his mar- riage he operated land for his former employer, Mr. Lockwood, and afterward worked a farm on shares.

In 1863, Mr. Reilly wedded Miss Mary Hag- gerty, who was born in County Cork, Ireland. in 1842, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Col- bert) Haggerty. At the age of sixteen years she came alone to the New World on the vessel " City of Washington," landing in New York after a voyage of eleven days. In that city she

was employed as a domestic for four years. By her marriage to our subject she has become the mother of three children: Lizzie (now Mrs. John Maher), of Greenwich; and Catharine and James B., both at home.

At first it was the intention of Mr. Reilly to returnto Ireland, and with that idea in view he sent considerable money back to his old home; but later concluded to marry and remain in the United States. At that time he had saved a few hun- dred dollars, which he afterward invested in his present farm. His first purchase consisted of twelve acres, a portion of the farm at Sound Beach, which he had previously rented of Simon Brady, and to that tract he has added until he now has a fine place of twenty acres, on which he has erected a comfortable residence. His crop consists principally of strawberries, celery, onions and potatoes, and as a farmer and gar- dener he is meeting with a well-deserved success. His life is a living illustration of what can be ac- complished by industry, perseverance and econo- my, especially if a sensible wife seconds a man's efforts to secure a home and competence, as his has done. As a citizen he is numbered among the best, and as a business man his integrity is never questioned. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church at Stamford, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them. He is a regular voter, and usually sup- ports the men and measures of the Democratic party by his ballot, though at local elections he frequently votes independently.

G EORGE S. RAY, who for twelve years past has served the people of Greenwich borough, Fairfield county, as warden, and who for nearly a third of a century has been a respected and honored citizen of the place, engaged in the manufacture of carriages, is a native of the City of New York, born August 7, 1835. He is a son of Hiram and Mary (Marshall) Ray, the former of whom was a native of New York, the eldest son and second child of Jackson Ray, four of whose children reached adult age.

George S. Ray's boyhood was passed par- tially in New York, and when he was a lad his parents moved to Norwalk, Conn. They re- turned to New York, however, where the father died before George S. had attained his eighth year. About two years later the mother moved to Greenwich, where she died. Our subject here attended the borough schools, his first teacher being Seeley Lounsbury. While yet in his 'teens young Ray began learning the wood- working branch of the carriage maker's trade, under the

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direction of Joseph E. Russell. The wages for an apprentice were low at that time, and the ap- prentice in question received in the start twenty- five cents a day for his services, which was in- creased from time to time by an additional five cents at a time until the maximum figure of fifty cents per day was reached at the close of four and one-half years. After having completed his trade he worked at journey work until in 1870, when he engaged in business for himself at Greenwich, where he has ever since followed this line of work. Of recent years he has built no new vehicles, but has confined himself to making repairs. He is a fine mechanic, and the work that goes out from his place of business is first class. He has the best business of the kind in Greenwich, and as a workman is second to none in Fairfield county.

Aside from his active business life Mr. Ray has found time to give attention to the duties of citizenship that are of a necessity thrust upon men of a community, and usually upon those who manage their own business affairs success- fully, and are of that type whose force bring them into public notice. Mr. Ray has served his fellow citizens of Greenwich in various offices through many years, and with the greatest fidel- ity on his part and to the greatest satisfaction of the public. For four years he was burgess of the borough, one year selectman, and twelve years warden. He is a man of the highest sense of honor, and as a citizen stands deservedly high. He has managed his business affairs successfully. He built a home on West Elm street, and in other ways has evidenced his enterprising and progressive spirit. He is a member of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, in which he is a deacon, and chairman of the build- ing committee. Politically, he is a Republican, although his first vote was cast for James Bu- chanan for the Presidency. He voted for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860, since when he has been identified with the Republicans, and in the coun- cils of that party in Fairfield county he wields an influence. He married Miss Sarah Avery, a native of Greenwich, daughter of Everett D. Avery, and to the union was born one child, An- nie L., now Mrs. A. C. Peck, of Greenwich.

R OSWELL BOOTH GLOVER, a well- known retired citizen of Danbury, is a man to whom success has come as a reward of his own energy and thrift. Starting in life with no capi- tal, he now owns five houses in Danbury, and the evening of his life will be made pleasant by the wisely-invested returns from past years of toil.

Mr. Glover was born January 23, 1829, in Scotia District, Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., a son of Roswell Glover and his first wife, Polly Ann (Ferris). The father, who was a native of Newtown, Conn .. born December 28, 1802, be- came an agriculturist by occupation, his later years being spent in the West. Our subject's mother was twice married, and he was the only child by her first marriage. By her second mar- riage (to W. Lake) there were five children: Ferris, Isaac, Harriet M., D. Jackson and Wal- ter B.

Until the age of thirteen Mr. Glover made his home with his grandmother Ferris, at Newtown, and his education was begun in the district school of Sugar street, in Newtown, and he afterward at- tended select schools in Taunton District, taught by Harvey Peck and Philo Clarke, the latter of whom taught the first school, and was afterward president of a bank at Newton. The course of study was somewhat more liberal than that given to the average youth of that day. Deciding upon the carpenter's trade, he passed an appren- ticeship of three years and nine months with Hiram Parmalee, of Hattertown, and also learned the sash and blind business in the same place. Later he went to Danbury and worked two years as a journeyman, and six years as a regular em- ploye for Barnum & Starr, but that firm was dis- solved in 1861 because of Mr. Starr's death in the army. The business was purchased by Fos- ter Brothers, and two or three years later Mr. Glover entered their service as foreman of the sash and blind department of their factor, a posi- tion which he held for nearly twenty years, and only relinquished in 1895, when, having gained a fair competence, he determined to enjoy a well- deserved leisure. His sound, conservative judg- ment is appreciated by his associates, and he has often been called upon to aid in the settlement of estates, and to advise in other matters of im- portance. Although he has never taken an act- ive part in local politics, he is a stanch Republic- an in principle. Socially, he belongs to the Im- proved Order of Red Men at Danbury, and to the I. O. O. F., though not affiliated to the local or- ganization. He and his family are prominent members of St. James Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Glover, formerly Miss Polly Ann Rob- ertson, is a daughter of Levi and Polly Robert- son, highly respected residents of Redding Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. Glover had three children, viz .: Harriet Jane, born February 9, 1856; Ida Ann, born December 8, 1858, died January 18, 1862; and Lemuel Francis, born June 4, 1864. died November 22, 1894. The eldest and only sur- viving member of this little family is now the

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Roswell OB Glover

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wife of George B. Hoyt, of Danbury, a traveling salesman for and member of the firm of Hoyt & Olmstead. of Norwalk. Conn., and this union is blessed with four children: Mabel Louise, born July 3. 1882; Julia Banks, born September 27, 1884; Annie Isabelle, June 5. 1889; and Leon Glover, born December 20, 1893. Mrs. Hoyt is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

F USSELL L. HALL has been a resident of New Canaan for more than forty-five years, and as an active business man and public-spirited citizen has given his material influence and inter- est to her welfare and progress. He was born August 18, 1832, at Warren, Litchfield Co., Conn .. and comes of one of the oldest families of the State.

In the spring of 1639 Francis Hall, the first of the family in this country. arrived in New Haven. He was a son of Gilbert Hall of Eng- land. He returned to England for his wife and family. and they settled at Fairfield, Conn., liv- ing there and at Stratford, where he died. He was an attorney. His son, Isaac Hall, was a physician. His son, John Hall, had a son El- nathan, who was one of the first settlers of New Fairfield. Conn., and died in 1770. He was an ensign, lieutenant and captain in the militia. Elnathan's son, also named Elnathan, moved to Mt. Washington, Mass., where, in 1776, Elnathan Lewis Hall, the grandfather of our subject, was born. He learned the trades of tanner and shoe- maker at Warren, Conn., where he followed the same for many years, dying in May. 1852, at New Canaan, Conn. He married Huldah Stone, and they became the parents of eight children, namely: Norman S .; Maria (deceased), who married Seth Hickok; Herman L., deceased; Elnathan Smith. deceased; Miranda, widow of Isaac Knapp, living at Danbury; Sarah E .. widow of James W. Lockwood, late of New Canaan; John N., residing in Mankato, Minn. ; and Emily L., widow of H. J. Taylor, late of Sharon, Con- necticut.

Norman S. Hall, the eldest of this family, was born at Warren, Conn., and received his schooling there. He learned the tanner's trade under his father, with whom he and his brother, Herman L., were in partnership in Warren for many years, under the firm name of E. L. Hall & Sons. During the "forties" Norman Hall abandoned his trade and followed farming. dur- ing the remainder of his life. He was married at Kent, Conn., to Mary A. Stone, who died in July, 1876, and their children were Russell Lewis;

Harriet E. (Mrs. Gibson. of Washington, Conn. ); Ezra S., of Norwalk; Mary J. (Mrs. Finch), of Norwalk: Laura I. (Mrs. Benedict), of Warren, Conn .; Charles W .. and Lucy Ann and Amelia S., both deceased. This family attended the Congregational Church. of which Mr. Hall was a member. Politically, he was first a Whig, Jater a Republican.

Russell Lewis Hall received his early educa- tion at Warren, attending the public school and J. C. Howard's private school, and for one win- ter was a pupil in a school in the northern part of the town of New Canaan. When sixteen years of age he went to Goshen, Conn .. where he worked four years and five months as an ap- prentice to the cabinet-making trade. During 1853 he worked for E. C. Warren, at Stamford, Conn., thence coming to New Canaan, where he arrived Christmas Eve, 1853, and here he has since made his home. In 1854 he hired a small place, put in a stock and commenced to work at his trade. shortly afterward purchasing a larger place. In 1856 he bought a building on Main street, in which he continued to do business un- til after the Civil war. when he took his brother. Charles W .. as partner. Our subject has been engaged in this line since the year 1849, and has met with continued success, which he has well deserved. Other business interests have claimed his attention during these years, and that he pos- sesses more than an ordinary allowance of good judgment and discernment in financial affairs is a fact well recognized by his associates in commer- cial life, who have expressed their confidence in him in many ways. Since 1878 he has been president of the National Bank of New Canaan, and also a director in same, and he held the office of treasurer of the Savings Bank for seventeen years. Such a record speaks for itself.

Although his business has had the greater share of his time and attention, Mr. Hall has found time for public service, and much private enjoyment in the field of good literature, which he has always been intensely fond of. He has served in numerous local offices of trust, such as constable, deputy sheriff, assessor, member of the board of relief, registrar of voters for many years, chairman of the Republican town commit- tee, holding this position for twenty-five years, notary public and justice of the peace, in all of which he has discharged his duties with such wisdom and faithfulness that his services could not be other than satisfactory. In 1896 he was honored with election to the post of representa- tive for New Canaan in the State Legislature, and is filling this office with characteristic ability and devotion to duty.

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On December 24, 1857. Mr. Hall was united in marriage, in New Canaan, with Miss Betsey A. Jones, daughter of Reuben Jones, and two children-one son and one daughter-blessed this union, namely: Julia M., who is deceased, and Lewis Carroll, who graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1891, and is now bookkeeper in the Fancher factory; he married Viola E. Riley. The mother of these passed from earth February 27, 1898. In 1884 Mr. Hall took up the Chau- tauqua course of reading, and graduated in same. He is the president of the New Canaan Historical Society, and has held said office since the year 1890. Fraternally, he is a prominent member of Wooster Lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F .; the Order of American Mechanics; the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Sons of Temper- ance, which last named order he joined thirty- five years ago.

E C. BURROUGHS, a well-known dairyman and farmer of Fairfield township, is a na-' tive of Fairfield county, Conn., born March 21, 1830, in Trumbull township, son of Nelson and Catherine (Middlebrooks) Burroughs.

Nelson Burroughs removed with his family to Bridgeport when our subject was an infant, and there he passed the remainder of his life, engaged at the carpenter trade. Soon after the ·completion of the Housatonic railroad he com- menced work on it, and he remained in that em- ploy for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Bur- roughs were the parents of five children, namely: Elizabeth (Mrs. Lewis Wheeler). who died in Stratford; E. C .; Emily, unmarried, who lives in Bridgeport, a member of St. Paul's Church, and for many years assistant superintendent of the Sun- .day-school; Catherine, who married Sherman Stirling, and died in Bridgeport; and Oscar, who died in New Mexico. The parents were members of the Episcopal Church, uniting with St. Paul's congregation in East Bridgeport. They died at the age of sixty-two and seventy-nine years, re- spectively. Mr. Burroughs was a stanch Demo- ·crat politically.

E. C. Burroughs was reared in Bridgeport, where he received his schooling. and when four- teen years of age went to live with Jesse Banks, at Greenfield, remaining with that gentleman in all some fourteen years. For the first seven years he received his board and clothing, and when he reached his majority he was given a suit of clothes and $150. in cash, after which he con- tinued with Mr. Banks for seven years longer. In March, 1858, he went to Douglas county, Kans., where his brother Oscar had taken up a claim, and

the two farmed in partnership for several years. In October, 1860, our subject was united in marriage, in Douglas county, with Miss Mary J. Houghton, who was born May 27, 1831, in Ver- mont, and lived up to the age of about twenty near Boston, Mass. In 1855 she came to Kan- sas with her parents, Josiah and Catherine (White) Houghton, who had two children: Mrs. Burroughs, and George S., who is a teacher in South Boston. Mrs. Burroughs was an eye-wit- ness to the burning of Lawrence, Kansas, by Quantrell, during the Civil war, and Mr. Bur- roughs, who was at the time suffering with in- flammatory rheumatism, was hidden in a corn- field to escape murder by the guerrillas. In the spring of 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs came east, locating first at Somerville, Mass., where he farmed for a time, and later removing to Bridge- port, where the family lived while he worked as a farmhand for Samuel Morehouse. The follow- ing year Mr. Burroughs commenced to work the Jesse Banks farm on shares, and he continued thus for eleven years, until, in 1877, he settled on his present farm. He has since added to his original purchase, and now has thirty-eight or thirty-nine acres of productive land, all of which has been greatly improved during his ownership, and the outbuildings and dwelling-house made more comfortable and substantial. The prop- erty is an excellent one, and in addition to general farming Mr. Burroughs has carried on dairying almost from the start, in this line being one of the best-known men in this part of the county. He markets his milk in Bridgeport. and in the great blizzard of 1888, both he and his two sons, being caught in it. were held in Bridgeport, not being able to reach home till the third day, and then only by wading through the snow three miles on foot, nearly exhausted. Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs have attained an envi- able degree of prosperity through their combined efforts, and he is known as a thoroughly reliable citizen and a man of the strictest integrity.

Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs have had five chil- dren, viz .: Frederick C., who lives at home, is at present engaged in the dairy business, and has also been a highly successful school teacher; Rob- ert N. was a mail carrier in Bridgeport, and is now superintendent of the East Side P. O. Sta- tion; Annie H. lives at home (she is a member of St. Paul's Church, Bridgeport); Catherine and Carrie died in infancy. The parents are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church at Southport, in which Mr. Burroughs formerly served as vestry- man. He is a lifelong Republican in politics. Some years ago an incident occurred which is of interest in the history of the family. John Brown.

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then living in Kansas, but afterward of Harper's Ferry and National fame, called one morning at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs, where he had his breakfast, and asked to be allowed to lie down and rest, as he was tired from traveling all night. He slept there all day. They did not know who he was. but were impressed by his courtesy and nobie bearing, and they were after- ward told his name by friends who called to see him.

E RASTUS W. TUTTLE is a well and favor- ably known resident of the town of New Ca- naan, Fairfield county, where he has followed the business of stone mason for the last half cen- tury. His father and grandfather were also iden- tified with this community, the latter, by name Daniel, being born in what was then known as Canaan Parish, and passing the greater part of his life in New Canaan. He was a blacksmith by trade. He wedded Abigail Pennoyer, and they had one child. Samuel P.

Samuel P. Tuttle was born, in 1800, in New Canaan, at the family home in Oenoke avenue, received his schooling in his native place, and in course of time learned the shoemaker's trade. which he followed all his life. He was mar- ried in 1823, to Orinda, daughter of Daniel Ter- rell, of Wilton, and seven children were born to them, namely: Erastus W .; Augustus S., who died young: Sarah (Mrs. James Whitney), of Darien; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Henry Betts; Maria, deceased; Augustus S. (2) (deceased). who was a respected and well-known citizen of New Canaan, where he was a contracter and builder; and Mary (Mrs. Sterling), of Norwalk. Samuel P. Tuttle died in 1877. He was a member of the Episcopal Church at New Canaan.

Erastus W. Tuttle, eldest son of Samuel P. and Orinda (Terrell) Tuttle, was born September 7, 1825, in the house where he still resides, situ- ated in Oenoke avenue, New Canaan. Here during his youth he was given the educational ad- vantages afforded by the public schools, and in early inanhood he learned the stonemason's trade, at which he has worked continuously since he was twenty years old. On September 7. 1846. he was united in marriage, in New Canaan, to Lydia E. Mills; no children were born to this union. For his second wife. Mr. Tuttle was mar- ried October 2, 1848, at Bedford, N. Y., to Miss Betsey Armstrong, and by her he had five chil- dren: Phobe, who is the wife of Webster Davis. of Wilton. Conn. ; Aabbigal B. ; Lydia E .. of New Canaan; Margaret (Mrs. Asa F. Fancher). of Norwalk; and Sarah, who is deceased. On April

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 149

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