Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 152

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

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each with cylinders one hundred inches in diam- eter and four-foot stroke. Mr. Vanderbilt retired from the company in 1862, and Mr. Secor con- tinued the business until 1868, when the destruc- tion of our merchant marine vessels by the action of the Rebel privateers Alabama and others, compelling their transfer to foreign flags, so de- pressed the ship-building industry that he retired from the business. After the affairs of the company were settled up, Mr. Secor withdrew from busi- ness pursuits, and has not since actively engaged therein.

On April 13, 1829, Mr. Secor was married to Miss Mary E. Curtis, of Stratford, Conn., who died December 10, 1869. All their children are now deceased except Mrs. Sarah Jane Miller, wife of Ephraim Miller, of Stamford. Mrs. Ma- ry E. (Curtis) Secor was a daughter of Jabez and Sarah (Buritt) Curtis, the former of whom was a shoe manufacturer, at which time all shoes were made by hand, and he used to supply shoes to the Southern trade. Mr. Secor's present wife, whom he married November 18, 1875, was Miss Sarah M. Husted, daughter of Augustus W. Hus- ted, a representative of one of the oldest families in Greenwich. Her ancestors were of Revolu- tionary stock. Mr. Secor located in Greenwich. He bought the A. W. Husted homestead, which he has since improved in many ways; he now has one of the most pleasant homes in Green- wich as well as a valuable estate in connection therewith.

In politics, Mr. Secor has affiliated with the Democratic party, usually. He is, however, non-partisan in views and in no sense a politician. His character is steadfast and irreproachable. In manner he is gentle and approachable; he is generous to the deserving, but discerning in his charities. Although he has lived an active and | busy life, he has never over-taxed nor abused his splendid abilities. He is remarkably well-pre- served, physically and mentally, and exhibits the same keen judgment and intellectual poise which characterized his days of extensive business cares and responsibilities. He was master of his trade, and in the mastery of his business he has devel- | oped the sterling character which is now the 1 subject of deep respect and esteem among his | friends and acquaintances. the medium for a mellow and genial afternoon of life, which is the full fruition of its earlier promise.

A GUR S. BEACH, a prominent citizen of Trumbull, Fairfield Co., Conn., was born August 3. 1850, on the farm where he now re- sides, a son of Reuben Wells Beach. In looking

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over the pages of history of Fairfield county, we find no name of more frequent occurrence than that of Beach. For several generations the members of the family have held high places in the estimation of the community in which they live.

Agur S. Beach received his literary training in the public schools of Trumbull, later attending the Business College of Bridgeport. His entire life has been passed on the home farm, where he is now engaged in the dairy business. He is the owner of a large amount of real estate in and around Bridgeport, which is kept in a highly im- proved condition, which adds much to its constant- ly increasing value.

Mr. Beach married Juliette R., the accom- plished daughter of John Olmstead. Their home is a delightful one, and the genial host and gra- cious mistress make it a favorite gathering place for both young and old. Mr. Beach is a member of the Grange in Trumbull.

Reuben Wells Beach, the father of our sub- ject, was born December 12, 1821, in the Dan- iels Farms District, in Trumbull, and there he obtained his education. In 1850 he purchased the present home of our subject, and there he remained the rest of his life actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. In his religious belief he coincided with the doctrines promulgated by the Congregational Church, of which he was an ear- nest member for many years before his death. He was twice married, his first wife, to whom he was married November 29, 1848, being Miss Sarah Sherwood, a daughter of Amos Sherwood, a rep- resentative of a prominent family of Easton, this county. She was born February 18, 1832, and died January 15, 1862. Four children came of this union: Agur S .; Franklin W., born October 1, 1852, died January 18, 1862; Flora, born Feb- ruary 3. 1856, married Henry Seeley, a farmer of North Bridgeport; and Elma, born July 3, 1859, wife of Eli S. Godfrey, of Brooklyn, N. Y. After the death of the mother of these Mr. Beach was married, March 29, 1866, to Miss Laura A. Peet, and of this marriage there is one child: Essie, born November 20, 1871, who married Ed- win M. Curtis, of Bridgeport, and has two chil- dren-Merritt B. and Edith S. In politics Mr. Beach was an ardent Democrat, and took an act- ive part in the work of his party, but had no de- sire to hold office. He died May 2, 1874, leav- ing a host of warm friends to mourn his depart- ure from their midst.

Mrs. Laura A. (Peet) Beach was born Au- gust 20, 1828, a daughter of Elijah Peet, Jr. Elijah Peet, Sr., her grandfather, was a native of Bridgeport, where he was extensively engaged

in farming. He married Anna Seeley, and in their family was Elijah, Jr., who also followed farming. He married Lacena Stratton, and they became the parents of Laura A. (Mrs. Beach); Harriet L., deceased wife of L. B. Sherman; and Jane E., wife of Elihu Taylor, of Stepney, Conn. Mrs. Laura (Peet) Beach is now living in Bridge- port, and in her kindly way is letting the sun- shine of her noble life fall on all who come ber way.

The happiest heart that ever beat Was in some quiet breast That found the common daylight sweet, And left to Heaven the rest.

J TOHN HADDEN, formerly proprietor of the "Preston House " at Norwalk, is an enter- prising business man, and has shown great skill in the management of his extensive property interests in that town.

The Hadden family is of English origin, and the late James Hadden, our subject's father, was born in Preston, England, July 20, 1850. Dur- ing his boyhood he learned the mason's trade, and became familiar with the shipping business while working in a woolen-mill. At the age of seventeen he came to America, and for some time remained at Holyoke, Mass., where he fol- lowed his trade. In 1868 he came to Norwalk, and soon afterward secured employment in the Winnipauk mills, but later he gave up that work and turned his attention to the mason's trade. Finally he became interested in the liquor busi- ness, and in. 1874 he opened a saloon and dining- room, which he conducted until his death, which occurred July 13, 1894, when he had reached the comparatively early age of forty-four years. He was a self-made man, a hard worker, and he gained a handsome competence by strict atten- tion to business and a careful investment of his income. Socially, he was identified with the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife were both mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, while as a citizen he took great interest in all questions of public improvement. He married Miss Elizabeth High- land, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who died January 13, 1897. Our subject was the eldest of their four children, the others being Jessie, who died in March, 1886, at the age of four years; Elizabeth, who died in the same month at the age of two years; and Isabella.

Mr. Hadden, our subject, was born in Nor- walk, Conn., April 14, 1875, and has always made his home there. At the time of his father's death he was attending Professor Wilson's Pre- paratory School, but he was obliged to discon- tinue his studies in order to take charge of the

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estate. He owns a valuable piece of business property opposite the post office, and some time since he enlarged the business left him by his father, opening a first-class hotel with accommo- dations for thirty guests. In June, 1899, how- ever, he gave up the hotel, but has continued the saloon business.

On January 6, 1897, Mr. Hadden was mar- ried to Miss May C. Brennan, who was born in . Bridgeport, this county, the daughter of Edward Brennan.

E DGAR TAYLOR ANDREWS, a resident of Bethel, Fairfield county, holds a prominent place among the progressive and public-spirited men who have built up that thriving little town, and his energy and enterprise are worthy of emu- lation.

The Andrews family has been identified with this locality from an early period, our subject's great-grandfather, John Andrews, having been a resident of Bethel. This noted pioneer died Sep- tember 21, 1825: at the age of seventy-four, and his wife, Eunice (Seeley). died March 31, 1835, at the same age. They had five children: Julia Stow, Anson S., Mary Smith, Seth and John Ly- man.

Col. John Lyman Andrews, our subject's grandfather, was born in 1787 in the town of Danbury, and for many years was engaged in farming in the town of Bethel. He died April 12. 1867, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, Sophia (Taylor), a daughter of Capt. Eli Taylor, died November 26, 1845, at the age of fifty- three; she was born in 1792. Of their ten chil- dren, the eldest, Samuel T., born May 20, 1815, married Clarissa Bill, and died August 30, 1898; Harriet T., born May 23, 1817, married Zalmon Bulkeley, and died January 2, 1853; Horatio, born December 3, 1818. died August 19, 1888; Anson S., born June 4, 1820, is residing in Bethel; Julia M., born June 6, 1822, married William Clarke, and died July 5. 1891; Mary Ann, born December 23, 1823, died February 21, 1827; Eliza Jane, born May 20, 1825, mar- ried Calvin Bulkeley, brother of Zalmon, and is deceased; Hannah T., born February 6, 1827. married Zalmon Bulkeley, and died January 12, 1863; Eli T. is mentioned more fully below; Frederick, born February 23, 1836, died Decem- ber 26, 1893.

The late Eli Taylor Andrews, father of our subject, was born in Bethel December 29, 1830, and was reared there upon a farm. He attended the district schools for some years, and then, de- siring a collegiate education, entered a prepara-

tory school at New Haven, but as his father's health failed about that time he had to give up his plans and return home. On January 1, 1860, he married Mrs. Jane (Sherman) Tyrel, who was born in 1822, the daughter of Ebenezer and Eunice (Fayerweather) Sherman, of Redding, Conn. She is still living' at the old Captain Eli Taylor homestead in Bethel, where Mr. An- drews located soon after his marriage, during the remainder of his life engaging in agricultural work. He was prominent in local affairs, and for many years served as chairman of the Demo- cratic Town Committee, also taking an active part in religious work as a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. in which he held office at va- rious times as vestryman and treasurer. Fra- ternally. he belonged to Eureka Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. He died December 1, 1884, leaving three children, of whom our subject is the eldest. (2) Jennie, born January 15, 1865. was married September 2, 1891, to Alfred Belknap, of Jack- sonville, Fla., who died in August. 1892, leaving no children; she now resides in Bethel. (3) John Lyman, born December 16, 1866, is a phy- sician in New York City; on June 29, 1892, he married Miss Sophie L. Townsend, a native of Maryland, who is the daughter of Colonel Fiske and Fannie (Loockerman) Townsend, and they have two children-Sophie Townsend, born Sep- tember 24, 1893, and Eleonore Jane, born De- cember 10. 1895.

Edgar T. Andrews first saw the light May 30, 1862, at the old Captain Eli Taylor homestead, where his boyhood was spent, and after taking the course offered in the local schools he at- tended Newtown Academy and Sagendorf's pri- vate school in Danbury. For some time he car- ried on the milk business, but in 1887 he became interested in real estate and contracting and building, in which he has engaged extensively. Mr. Andrews at one time owned all the property abutting on Andrews street and Highland avenue, much of which is now covered with attractive and well-kept homes, and he was the only man who had the courage to build a house in Bethel in 1897. In any feasible project for the im- provement of the town he has always been a ready and active helper, and he wasinstrumental in securing the electric railroad extension for Bethel. He constructed the sewers in his end of the town, and at present he is at the head of the Elm Street Sewer Company. In politics he has always been a Prohibitionist, and in religious faith he is a Methodist, being a member of the M. E. Church at Bethel.

On August 17, 1881, Mr. Andrews was mar- ried to Miss Jennie L. Todd, daughter of Seth

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and Deborah (Burr) Todd, of Redding, and four children have blessed the union: John Todd, born May 24. 1882; Laura Taylor, May 17, 1889; Alfred Edgar, April 16, 1894, and Wilbur Horatio, June 23, 1897.

E BENEZER W. KEELER. As a member of an old and honored Connecticut family of Puritan descent, this energetic and enterprising citizen of Ridgefield, Fairfield county. is entitled to prominent place in the pages of this volume.

Matthew Keeler, great-grandfather of our subject, lived on what is known as the Whipstick District. where he was the owner of a large farm, consisting of some 500 or 600 acres, as shown in the Church and other records. and was a leading man in the community. Of his children, Matthew was the grandfather of William Keeler; Jonah will be spoken of presently; and Sarab married a Mr. Smith.

Jonah Keeler inherited a portion of his father's large estate, and passed his entire life thereon. He also was a very prominent man in his day, and a consistent member of the Presby- terian Church, which afterward became a Con- gregational Church. By his wife Rebecca (Ray- mond) he had nine sons, a brief record of whom is as follows : (1) Raymond married Cynthia Osborne, and moved to Chautauqua county. N. Y. (2) Smith married Hannah Benedict, a sis- ter of Andrew Benedict, a jeweler of New York City, and also a sister of Lewis Benedict, whose daughter married a son of Henry Ward Beecher; Smith Keeler was a merchant up to the time he was of middle age, when he went to Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. (3) Burr married Mary Nash, of Norwalk, and lived in Ridgefield until of middle age, and then removed to North Fair- field, Huron Co., Ohio. (4) Rufus married (first) a lady from Black Rock, and (second) Ann Eliza Flowler, of New York; he lived in Ridge- field, was a hatter by trade, and kept a hat store in Savannah and New York City. (5) Charles married (first) Henrietta Olmstead, of Norwalk, and (second) Sarah Betts, of Ridgefield; he re- sided in Norwalk for many years, passing his la- ter years on the homestead. (6) George A. married Clorinda -, and lived in Chau- tauqua, N. Y. (7) William lived for many years in Ridgefield. and then removed to Catherine, N. Y. (8) Zalmon was a merchant in James- town, Chautauqua Co., N. Y .; he married Johanna Crosby. (9) David C. They were all bright men, successful in business, and much re- spected.

David C. Keeler, the youngest in the above

remarkable family of sons, was born in July, 1811, and inherited a portion of his father's es- tate, followed farming, in connection conduct- ing a nursery business for some years. He has always been prominent in the Congregational Church, and a devout member therein; in politics first a Whig, later a Republican, he served as a selectman of his town. He married Hannah Wood, and they had one daughter, Margaret E., who married Matthew Betts, a civil engineer in the department of Public Works, New York City; and one son, Ebenezer W., our subject. The parents of this family are still living, the father at the age of eighty-six, the mother being eighty- four years old.

Ebenezer W. Keeler, whose name introduces this sketch, was born October 7, 1841, in Ridge- field, Fairfield county, and received a liberal ed- ucation in part at the district schools of the village, in part at Rev. Mr. Short's select school in Ridgefield, in addition to which he has been a great reader, and a man of close observation. For some years he has followed farming, and learning surveying, has been much identified with that profession in his locality, doing all the land surveying. He has also done considerable in contracting, making a specialty of laying out and fitting up fine summer places, such as Olcott's, Dutton's, etc., employing usually from twenty to thirty hands.

In 1889 Mr. Keeler was married to Emma ]. Paddock, daughter of Archibald Y. Paddock, and one son, Harold, born April 19, 1896, brightens their home. - Mr. and Mrs. Keeler are active members of the Congregational Church.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Keeler was elected the first selectman of the town, and in 1865 served in the State Legislature, being at the time the youngest member in the House. In local as in other matters no man takes deeper interest or is more public-spirited than Ebenezer W. Keeler.

W TILLIAM SHERWOOD GEDDES. a well-known resident of the town of Sher- man, Fairfield county, has been identified for some years with the agricultural interests of his local- ity, and also carries on an extensive trade as a butcher, his wagon making regular trips through- out the region. His business sagacity has won for him the respect of his associates, and al- though he does not take a very active part in local affairs he is held in high esteem as a citizen.

John Geddes, our subject's paternal grandfa- ther, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., where he passed his life, becoming interested in business

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there He married a Miss Taylor, and they had | completing his course of study he turned his at- three children: John, Jr., James H. and Mary. tention to farming, and for nine years he had the oversight of Thomas Wheeler's farm at South Dover, N. Y. He then removed to Fairfield county. Conn., and settled in the town of Sher- man, where he has ever since resided, his butch- ering business occupying his time profitably. Al- though he is the only Republican in his family, he is a firm supporter of the principles of the party. and his indifference to official honors has never affected his zeal. He is a member of the Congre- gational Church at Sherman, and, fraternally, he belongs to New Milford Lodge No. 21, F. & A. M. James H. Geddes, father of W. S. Geddes, was also a native of Philadelphia, and after receiving a common- school education in that city he was apprenticed by his father to Hiram Barton, a bell manufacturer of East Hampton, Conn. After learning the trade he continued to work for Mr. Barton for some time, and finally married Phi- lora Barton, his employer's daughter. Mr. Bar- ton made the young couple a present of a farm, and there Mr. Geddes carried on agricultural work for a number of years, devoting his nights to his trade of bell making. Later he conducted a hotel in Greene county, N. Y., where he also took a prominent part in political affairs, serving for some time as sheriff of the county. He and P ATRICK T. MONGON, the oldest grocer in the village of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., is a credit to the community where he has made his home since early manhood, and to the country of his nativity. the " Land of Erin." A self-made man in the best sense of the word, with none of the arrogance which so frequently accompanies hard-earned success, he is an exam- ple which no young man could go amiss in taking. but which many might find difficult to follow. · his wife reared a large family: (1) Leroy is a civil engineer in the employ of the United States Government, and is now stationed at Washing- ton, D. C .; he married Miss Antoinette Bennett. (2) Julia married Richard Clow, and in 1842 or '43 went with him to California, where he en- gaged in gold mining and became wealthy; both are now deceased, and their children-Rich- ard, Dora, Mary. Julia and Rene-reside in Nevada. (3) Valentine E. went to California in 1845, and engaged in mining; he married Miss Mary Friedenburg and had four children. (4)

Irving W. is the owner of a quarry at Sawkill. N. Y., and has been for some years engaged in taking out flag stones; he married Miss Annie

Burhance. (5) Mary A. married George Bovee. (6) Clark H. who is a farmer near Kingston, N. Y., married Miss Sarah Brink, and has one child, Alice. (7) Cassius M. became a farmer, and for nine years has had charge of ex-Governor Morton's estate at Rhinebeck, N. Y. (8) Sarah C. married William Decker, of Kerhonkson, N. Y. (9) Fan- nie married a Mr. James, a merchant of Rondout, N. Y., who died leaving one child, Mazie. (10) William S. is mentioned more fully below.

Hiram Barton, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Geddes, was born and educated in Scotland, where he became familiar with the process of manufacturing bells. After following his trade for a number of years in his native land he came to the United States and located at East Hamp- ton, this State, continuing his business there. According to the old method, bells were made in two pieces and then put together, but Mr. Bar- ton, who had much inventive genius, devised a number of improvements, one of which was the making of sleigh bells in one piece.

W. S. Geddes was born June 25, 1855, at Cairo, Greene Co., N. Y., where he acquired a practical education in the common schools. On

Mr. Mongon was born March 15. 1842. in Galway. Ireland, and was the only one in a fam- ily of four children-two sons and two daughters -who grew to adult age. He was reared in his native place, and there received an excellent common-school education. At the age of twenty (his parents having died, and his prospects in Ireland being none too brilliant), he took the savings laid by out of his own earnings, and with them a good supply of clothing, came to the United States, making the voyage from Liverpool to New York in seven weeks. On landing he had only $35 in cash, so he lost no time in com- mencing work, at first acting for a time as book- keeper for a cousin. Later he found employ- ment with his maternal uncle, in which capacity he proved himself steady and trustworthy. so he had little difficulty in finding employment, though he had no regular occupation up to the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twen- ty-six years of age. He then took the grocery and liquor business of his father-in-law, in Green- wich, which he has followed successfully ever since, adding to the size of his quarters as in- creasing business demanded until he now has a commodious business room. Mr. Mongon has devoted himself assiduously to his business, and if 'he has gained prosperity beyond the average with his opportunites it is a recognized fact that he is deserving of it, and his popularity in and around Greenwich is sufficient evidence that he has the good wishes of all. He owns nine dwell-

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ings in Greenwich and Port Chester, Westches- ter Co., N. Y., besides his business room, and he has found time to devote to the advancement and improvement of the village, especially the west end, where he resides, showing himself progressive, public-spirited and generous in that and many other ways. Among his friends he is looked upon as a true hearted and sympathetic man, and he is held in the highest esteem in all circles-business, political and social.

Mr. Mongon was married in Greenwich, No- vember 1, .1868, to Miss Delia Daly, a native of Ireland, who came to America with her parents, John and Anne Daly, when a small child. She was brought up in Greenwich, attended its public schools, and was well-known, beloved and re- spected by all who knew her as a most estimable young lady. The esteem and popularity which she enjoyed in her youth grew as she advanced in years, and her taking away, on February 18, 1888. was regarded by the people as a public affliction, and occasioned deep regret among the wide circle of her friends and acquaintances. A few days later she was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery of Greenwich, on which day, as a mark of unusual respect, all the business houses, etc., were closed, something which had never before been done on a like occasion in Greenwich. "Let her own works praise her, " is probably the best eulogy of such a shining example of womanly goodness and kindness. She was the mother of nine children, of whom, the eldest, Thomas F .. died when three and one-half years old; Loretta A. is the wife of David C. Broderick, of Glen- ville; Annie is the wife of Dr. W. Burke, of Greenwich; John F. is a clerk in the Greenwich post office; Robert E. is employed in his father's store; Mary L. died at the age of two and one half years; and Walter H., Fred V. and George M. are at home. The sons are steady and reliable young men, and the entire family bid fair to fol- low in the footsteps of their worthy parents. They are members of the Catholic Church, of which Mr. Mongon has served twenty years as trustee. In political faith he is a stanch Demo- crat, influential and untiring in his work for the party in this region.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 152

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