Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 156

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 156

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Michael McDonough, father of our subject,

and of the same nativity, died there, having never left Ireland, where he was a lifelong farmer. He married Mary Verdon, also of County Sligo, and seven children were born to them, named respectively: Mary, Bridget, Mar- garet, Catherine, Winifred, Patrick V. and Michael. Of these, Mary is unmarried and is living at No. 10 Oak street, Bridgeport; Bridget

in the town of Norwalk, Fairfield county; Ru- | married Patrick Reeves, of Bridgeport, who is now deceased; Margaret died in Plattsburgh, N. Y .. unmarried; Catherine married Edmund Dailey, and both died in Bridgeport; Winifred wedded Thomas Laydon, of Springfield, Mass. ; Patrick V. is the subject of this memoir; and Michael is farming the old homestead in County Sligo, Ireland.

Patrick V. McDonough remained in his na- tive land, working on his father's farm, until he was twenty-three years old, at which time, in 1868, he came to the United States, locating first in Cleveland, Ohio, where he found employ- ment as shipping clerk in one of the freight offices of the Lake Erie railroad, remaining there from 1868 till 1872. In the latter year he came to Bridgeport, where he has since made his home. After working for some time in a spring and axle factory in the city. he opened a grocery and liquor business on Oak street, remaining at that stand until 1897, in which year he built and re- moved to his present place of business on the corner of Oak and George streets, where he en- joys a fine trade and a wide patronage.

In his political predilections Mr. McDonough is a Democrat, but is no office-seeker, his time being closely devoted to his business interests. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Ameri- can). and of other societies; in religious faith he is a Roman Catholic. Honest and upright in all his dealings, he has won the respect and confi- dence of all with whom he has come in contact, and the warth regard of many friends. Mr. Mc- Donough is unmarried.

A BSALOM VINCENT, a prominent agricult- urist and dairyman in the King Street Dis- trict, town of Danbury, owns a beautiful farm of more than two hundred and ninety acres, which he keeps in an admirable state of cultivation. He keeps from twenty-five to thirty-five cows in his dairy, and is the leading milk dealer of his locality, one of his customers, the De Klyn Bak- ery, at Danbury, having been supplied by him for thirty years past.

Mr. Vincent was born February 9, 1827, in South Dover, Dutchess Co., N. Y., a son of Leon-

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ard and Lydia (Cary) Vincent. His father, who was born in 17 -- in The Clove, near Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., was a farmer in Dutchess county un- til his death, which occurred in June. 1876. The mother was born in the town of South Dover, in 17-, and died in April, 1880. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Elliot) Cary, and her grandfather Elliot was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. To Leonard and Lydia Vincent five children were born: Egbert, de- ceased; Job, who died in 1888; Absalom, our subject; Delia, now living at Sherman, Conn .; and Mary Ann, who died in childhood.

Mr. Vincent, our subject, received a district- school education in his native town, and having been reared upon a farm naturally engaged in agricultural work when he began to earn his own livelihood, although he was employed at times in other lines of business. In 1856 he bought a farm at New Fairfield, in this county, two years later disposing of it, however, but continuing to reside there for some time. In 1859 he pur- chased another farm in the same town, which he sold in 1863, and for seven years following he rented land in the Pembroke District, near Dan- bury, and conducted a milk route in that city. In 1870 he purchased sixty acres at his present home, and by additions from time to time has in- creased the size of the place until it is now one of the best farms in the neighborhood. Mr. Vin- cent is one of the stanch Republicans of his town.

In 1852 Mr. Vincent married Miss Harriet Walker, daughter of Hiram and Alma (Stocker) Walker, and after a long and happy wedded life both are spared to cheer each other and to enjoy the fruits of their past labors in well-earned leis- ure. They have had two children: Austin, born September 18, 1852. and Albert, who was born August 26, 1861, and died January 13, 1876.

Austin Vincent resides at the farm, and as a successful manager does credit to his early train- ing. He was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Culliton, of Chateaugay. Franklin Co. , N. Y., daughter of Pierce and Mary (Graham) Culliton. Five children were born of this union: Harriet, Nettie, Lydia, Albert and Mary Elizabeth. Austin Vincent is a member of Samaritan Lodge No. 7. I. O. O. F., at Danbury, and he and his wife attend the M. E. Church and are interested | in its various lines of work.

J TAMES FRANKLIN ELWOOD, a farmer of Greens Farms in the town of Westport, Fairfield county, and the general agent, for James Franklin Elwood, our subject, better the State, of the E. Frank Coe Company Fertil- | known as J. Frank Elwood, was reared on the

izers, of New York, is a native of the town in which he resides.

Born on Christmas Day, 1858, Mr. Elwood is a son of Capt. John B. Elwood, and a grand- son of Eliakim Elwood, both of whom were farmers of the town of Westport, where they were born, and where they passed their lives. Elia- kim Elwood was born October 24, 1786. He married Lydia Bennett, who was born Septem- ber 22, 1789. They were a good, upright couple. plain and unassuming in manner, yet the best of neighbors and citizens. In their religious faith they were Congregationalists, and politically he was a Democrat. Both died on the farm. Their marriage was blessed with children as follows: Munson (now deceased), born in 1812, was a shoemaker in Southport; Shelton, born in 1814, was a sea captain and, later, a painter of West- port; John B., father of our subject, is referred to farther on; Charles B. (now deceased), born in 1823, was a sea captain; Edward B., boru in 1826, a carpenter by trade, is now a farmer re- siding in New Canaan; Frederick (now deceased). born in 1828, was a carpenter and resided at Bridgeport; and Mary Cornelia (now deceased) was born in 1831.

John B. Elwood was born December 17, 1820, on the home farm where he was reared, and attended the neighborhood schools. He went to sea, and for a number of years led a sea- faring life, then returned to the farm, there reared his children, and there passed the re- I mainder of his life. In 1848, he was married to Margaret D. Van Wagner, and three children blessed the union, namely: Mary C. is a teacher | in Norwalk; William F. resides at Southport, | but is in business in New Haven; and George E. is a grocer in Bridgeport. The wife and mother died September 25, 1855, and the father was again married, this time, April 24, 1856, to Mary S. Banks, who was born May 13, 1829, in the town of Westport, a daughter of Alson and Lucy (Chapman) Banks, and to the union came five children, namely: John H., born December 24. 1856, is a farmer of Greens Farms, in the town of Westport; James F. is our subject; Lewis E., born February 17, 1863, is in the fertilizer busi- ness in Cleveland, Ohio; Lucy B., born May 26, 1866. and Minnie S., born March 8, 1872, reside at Greens Farms. The parents died, the father January 8, 1873, and the mother July 4. 1884. Both were members of the Congregational Church, and were endeared to the community for their many excellencies of character. In politics the father was a Democrat.

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farm on which he now resides, his father having purchased it when the son was four years old. He attended the public schools of the town and also Greens Farms Academy, quitting school at about seventeen years of age. His chief occu- pation has been farming. although he has in the past been engaged in the fertilizer business, and as he is now traveling much of the time, conse- quently his farming operations are left to other hands, he looking after the management only. He has a neat and comfortable home. and en- joys life. He is identified with the Congrega- tional Church at Greens Farms, of which Church he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, an office he has held some eleven years, a longer period than any of his predecessors. He is a member of the Grange; also of the Masonic Fra- ternity. Politically, he is a Republican, and is at this time a member of the school board of Westport. He is an esteemed and highly re- spected citizen. Mr. Elwood is unmarried.

T HEODORE JUDSON. a highly-esteemed resident of Stratford, is a representative of a family which has been identified with that locality for several generations, and has always been noted for thrift, enterprise and sturdy in- dustry. The first of the family of whom we have a definite account is Ephraim Judson, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Stratford and passed his life there, following farming and weaving for a livelihood. He married, and had two sons: Curtis, our subject's father, and Aguar, who was a farmer in the town of Strat- ford.

Curtis Judson, the father of our subject, was born in Stratford, March 20, 1804, and for many years he followed the shoemaker's trade, his death occurring April 28, 1888. In politics he was a Republican, and he was active in re- ligious work as a member of the Congregational- ist Church. On June 20, 1831, he married Miss Delia Stowe, who was born March 5. 1812, a native of Milford, New Haven Co., Conn. Our subject is the eldest in a family of four children, the others being as follows: William C. (de- ceased) was employed for many years by the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company. at Bridgeport; Henry (deceased) was a wood turner in Bridgeport; and Charles F. is a resident of Stratford.

Theodore Judson was born September 29. 1833, at the old home in Stratford, and after at- tending the common schools of the town for a time he pursued a more advanced course in the academy. He then learned the saddler's trade, which he

followed for some time, but later he entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, with whom he remained about thirty- three years, his faithful and efficient service gain- ing for him the entire confidence of the members of that well-known firm. By judicious manage- ment he succeeded in gaining a comfortable con- petence and at present he is living in retirement. While he has not been active in political affairs, heis a stanch Republican, and he is interested in the welfare of the community in which he resides, assisting in various progressive movements and contributing to the work of the Congregational Church. On October 23, 1863, he married Miss Susan Francis Benjamin, daughter of William H. and Cynthia A. (McEwen) Benjamin, of Stratford, and granddaughter of Gideon Benja- min, who conducted the " Benjamin House " in Stratford, and once had Gen. LaFayette as his guest. Two children have blessed this union: Mary E., wife of Sherman B. Mallett, a resident of Hartford, Conn., now in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company; and Edmund, who is employed in a bank at Bridgeport; he married Miss Ida Atwood, daughter of Charles Atwood, of Stratford.

A UGUST H. LIEBERUM, a leading grocer of Bridgeport, is a man whose energy and practical sagacity have won for him an enviable reputation in business circles, and the following account of his career will be read with interest:

Mr. Lieberum derives his ability from thrifty German ancestry, and his father, Henry Lieberum, a well-known retired resident of Bridgeport, was born in Cassel, Germany, whence he came to the United States when fourteen years old, locating first in New York City. Later he engaged in business there as a grocer, continuing twenty-two years, and then he removed to Bridgeport, where he carried on the same business for two years before his retirement. He married Miss Amelia Guthardt, also a native of Cassel, Germany, and they have had four children, as follows: Anna married Frederick Granau, of New York City; August H. is our subject; Marie is at home; and William is deceased.

Our subject was born in New York City, July 12, 1870, and during boyhood he learned the jeweler's trade there, after which he followed the trade of manufacturing jeweler for six and one- half years. At the age of nineteen he came to Bridgeport, where, on September 4. 1890, he engaged in the retail grocery business at No. 400 Pembroke street, corner of Maple street, with his father, and which continued for two years, his

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father then retiring from business. He has built . up a large and lucrative trade.

On February 21, 1898, Mr. Lieberum married Miss Marie L. Rohe, a native of Bremem, Ger- many. They are both popular in social life of Bridgeport. Mr. Lieberum belongs to Pequon- nock Lodge No. 4. I. O. O. F .. and in religion he inclines to the Lutheran faith, of which his ancestors for many generations past were devout adherents. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.

R ICHARD WALDO OSBORN is a descend- ant of one of the oldest families of New Eng- land, his ancestors having come from London, .England, to this country as early as 1634. in which year Capt. Richard Osborn located in Hingham, Mass., among its first settlers. The line of descent in the mother country can also be traced far back, one Osborn (first name un- known) having come to England in the train of William the Conqueror. The name signifies "Great Bear," and the family coat of arms car- ries out the same idea.

Capt. Richard Osborn, above mentioned, did not remain long in Massachusetts, as he is soon heard of in Connecticut, and he served in the Pequot war in 1637. Prior to 1640 he removed to New Haven, and in 1653 took up his abode in Fairfield, where he was still living in 1671. He had two sons: (1) Capt. John Osborn, of Fairfield, who married Sarah, daughter of James Bennett, before 1673, and died in 1709; and (2) David, also of Fairfield, who married Abigail Pinckney (daughter of Philip Pinckney), of East Chester, N. Y., whither he had removed, being a proprietor of East Chester as early as 1665; David Osborn died in 1679, and on November 10, that year, his widow was appointed adminis- tratrix of his estate. Beginning with the third generation in this country, our subject traces his descent on the paternal side as follows: (3) David Osborn married Dorothy- --; (4) Will- iam Osborn married Elizabeth Turney; (5) Isaac Osborn married Martha Higgins; (6) Isaac Os- born married Hannah Knapp; (7) Isaac Osborn, father of R. W. Osborn, married Caroline Pris- cilla Osborn, daughter of Richard and Ann (Bron- son) Osborn. On the maternal side also, as will be seen, his first ancestor was the Capt. Richard Osborn above spoken of; (2) David Osborn mar- ried Abigail Pinckney; (3) Richard Osborn mar- ried Sarah (he first chose as his guardian his uncle, John Pinckney, of Eastchester, N. Y., and later, in March, 1689 or 1690, chose his uncle, John Osborn, of Fairfield, Conn. He

bought land in Ridgefield June 4, 1713, of Rich- ard Whitney, and his ten children are recorded there, though it seems that only three were born there); (4) David Osborn. born in November, 1700, married Rachel Keeler (he was the first of the family to settle on the property at Starrs Plain, which was owned successively by his son, David, grandson James, great-grandson Richard and great-great-grandson James, who sold it some years ago); (5) David Osborn, born September 25. 1729; (6) James Osborn, born December 4. 1766; (7) Richard Osborn, born July 29, 1801.

Isaac Osborn, the paternal great-grandfather of Richard W. Osborn, was born September 6, 1740, and died in 1816. He married Martha Higgins, who was born October 11, 1745, and died in 1823. The record of their children is as follows: Mabel, born February 4, 1764. died April 8, 1847; Hannah, born September 10, 1769, died March 19, 1789; Jasper, born July 19. 1771, died December 11, 1773; Mary, bom May 11, 1774; Isaac, born March 11, 1776, died March 25, 1850; Sarah, born April 22, 1779, died April 22, 1843; Aaron, born February 27. 1781. died in 1807; Turney, born May 19, 1782, died September 12, 1855; Samuel, born December 29, 1787, died July 18, 1870.

Isaac Osborn, born March 11, 1776, married Hannah Knapp, who was born March 26, 1781. They had a family of twelve children, as follows: (1) Thier, born April 15, 1800, married Eben Treadwell, of Lyons Plains. (2) William, born June 10, 1802, married Anna ~. 3 ) Knapp. born September 8, 1804. married Katherine Nash; he was a wagon maker by occupation. (4) Aaron, born July 19, 1808, married a Miss Rock- well, and died in Texas; he was a shoemaker. (5) George, born September 4, 1810, married Sarah Goodsell. (6) Polly, born November 16, 1812, married William Nichols. (7) Edmond, born December 26, 1814. married Mary; he lived for a time in Philadelphia, but finally removed to Texas at the time of its separation from Mexico, and there passed the remainder of his life, engaged in merchandising. in which be was very successful financially; he took an active part in the Texan war, doing good service under Gen. Sam Houston. (8) James, born December 26, 1817, married Fanny Jelliff. (9) Isaac, born August 16. 1819, married Caroline Priscilla Osborn. (10) Hannah, born March 20, 1822, married Thomas Lounsbury. (11) Samuel, born November 16, 1825, married Harriet Squire; be learned the tailor's trade, which he followed, and in connection with his brothers also specu- lated in stock to some extent. (12) Charles, born January 30, 1829, married Amelia --. The

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father of this large family was, like his ancestors, a farmer, and his sons, with the few exceptions mentioned, followed in his footsteps. The entire family seems to have a fondness for the business of stock handling.

Isaac Osborn, father of our subject, farmed on the parental homestead until he was twenty- four years old, when he married. The first farm he bought for himself was in the Bennetts Farms District, and later, in 1858, he purchased of Amos Smith a tract of about eighty acres at Ridgefield to which he added twenty-one acres, the property now occupied by his son, Richard W. Until 1868 he engaged in farming exclusively, and in that year, selling the place just spoken of, bought the Starrs Plain farm, to the cultivation of which he de- voted his time for the next three years. His next venture was in the cattle business, which he followed for some years, operating on an exten- sive scale. He made many trips to northern and western New York, buying stock which he brought east to sell, and was successful in this line, being one of the largest stock dealers in his section of the country. In his later years he became inter- ested. with his son, in the lumber business. Dur- ing his earlier years Mr. Osborn was a teacher, and the habits of reading and study then formed made him known eventually as a well-informed man. He had strong personal characteristics, was possessed of considerable natural ability as a business man, and was capable, energetic, and determined in all he undertook. As might be ex- pected, he was always active and prominent in the affairs of his locality, but he never sought office.

Isaac Osborn married Caroline P. Osborn, and they reared a family of five children, viz .: Sarah Ann Eliza. born March 6, 1845; Richard Waldo, born November 11, 1850; S. Ernest, born June 15. 1855; Jessie Mandana, born December 28, 1862; and Caroline Winifred, born May 5, 1867. The eldest daughter married Peter M. Osborn, and lives at Danbury, Conn. Ernest was married on February 10, 1876, to Rebecca Couch, and died August 6, 1893, leaving one son, Richard Couch Osborn. Jesse died August 29, 1864. Caroline W. is living with her brother Richard. The father of this family was a faith- ful member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He died December 1, 1894, being preceded to the grave by the mother, who passed away Jan- uary 11, 1884.

Richard W. Osborn was engaged as his fa- ther's assistant in business until September, 1879, when he took up the lumber interests which have since occupied his attention. The firm was originally I. Osborn & Son, but in -

March, 1895, William A. Gilbert was admitted to partnership, and the name changed to Osborn & Gilbert. They have a trade which they are constantly increasing, and do a thriving busi- ness, being the only firm of importance in their line in this section. Mr. Osborn is a great reader, and keeps well up with the times in every way. In political sentiment he is a strong Republican, as was his father before him; his grandfather was a Whig. Mr. Osborn has been registrar of voters, but has held no other public office, his business affairs occupying all his time and at- tention.

On August 30, 1893, he wedded Miss Annie Talman, daughter of Alfred Talman, of Spring Valley, Rockland Co., N. Y. They are mem- bers of the Ridgefield M. E. Church, in the wel- fare of which they take an active interest. Fra- ternally, Mr. Osborn is a member of the F. & A. M., being affiliated with Jerusalem Lodge No. 49, of Ridgefield.

ATRICK KENNELLY. This well known business man of Bridgeport enjoys in a marked degree the esteem and respect of his fel- low citizens, his ability, honesty and enterprise in private life, and his loyal support of all meas- ures for the promotion of the public welfare, winning the confidence of all classes.

Mr. Kennelly was born January 15, 1846, in County Kerry, Ireland, in the town of Listowel, where his family has resided for several genera- tions. His parents, John and Catherine (Slat- tery) Kennelly, who were both also natives of Listowel, came to America in 1862 and settled in Holyoke, Mass., where their last days were spent. They had nine children: Honora, who married Michael Shine, now the oldest member of the police force at Holyoke; Patrick, our sub- ject; Thomas, who died when twenty-one years old; Ellen (deceased), who was a successful school teacher in Holyoke, Mass .; Margaret; Mary, Annie and Catharine, none of whom are married; and Bridget (twin of Catharine), who died in infancy.

Our subject's education was begun in a pri- vate school in his native town, and later he attended a national school in same place. At the age of fourteen years (in 1860) he came to the United States, and at Holyoke, Mass., began an apprenticeship with the Whiting Manufactur- ing Company, but the business being not long afterward sold out he finished his apprentice- ship to the machinist's trade with the Ames Manu- facturing Company, at Chicopee, Mass. On com- pleting his term of five years he worked at various

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places in New England, and in 1868 settled at Bridgeport, where he was first employed by the Union Metalic Cartridge Company. Later he worked for the Wheeler & Wilson Company as tool maker, for some time, and in 1893 he engaged in the grocery business, meeting with success from the start. For some years he has also been interest- ed in the artesian-well business. Mr. Kennelly is a stanch Democrat, being an active worker in the local Democratic Club, and his interest in po- litical questions led him into public life soon after his arrival in Bridgeport. In 1873 he was elected to the common council from the Third ward, and during his term he served as chairman of the committee on Streets and Sidewalks. In 1883 he was again chosen to the council, and in 1885 he was elected alderman, a position which he held two years, serving as a member of the Roads and Bridges Commissioners. He has also served two years as street commissioner, three years as tax collector, and two years as a member of the board of apportionment and taxation. The temperance movement has found in him an active champion, and at one time he was first vice-president of the Catholic Total Abstinence Association Union of Connecticut. He was also delegate to the Nation- al Total Abstinence Union held in Philadelphia in July, 1876, from Connecticut. He is a leading member of the Catholic Church at Bridgeport, and belongs to various social societies, including the Catholic Benevolent Legion, and the Knights of Columbus, of which he was a charter member.

In November, 1869, Mr. Kennelly married Miss Bridget Maloney, a native of Canada, who died in August, 1884. In 1886 he married Mrs. Ellen Hanrahan, née Hilley, of Stamford, daugh- ter of John Hilley, a native of Ireland. By the first marriage he had five children: John, Mary. William (who died at the age of twenty-one), Frank and Catherine. There are three children by the second marriage: Honora, Edward and Julia.

HARLES EDWARD HUNTINGTON, a C prominent resident of Shelton, holds the re- sponsible position of inspector and foreman of the packing department of the Derby Silver Company, and is held in high esteem, not only by his employers, but by the people of that com- munity in general.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 156

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