Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 157

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 157


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Mr. Huntington derives his sterling qualities of character from English ancestry, and his grandfather, Thomas Huntington, a manufacturer of calicoes, was the first of the family to come to America, locating at Bridgeport, this county, about 1825 with his wife, Elizabeth (Cotton),


and several children. After his arrival he con- tinued the manufacture of prints for many years at Bridgeport.


Charles Huntington, the father of our sub- ject, was born in London, England, in 1810. and became a chemist, devoting much of his time in early manhood to the preparation of dyes for his father's goods. He accompanied his parents to America, and after residing for some years in Bridgeport removed to New York City, where he engaged in the drug business with his uncle. About 1850 he became interested in an electro-silver plating company in New Haven, and ten years later he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1873. Politically, he was a Republican, and he was active in relig- ious work as a member of the Baptist Church, serving as deacon for many years. His wife, Frances (Peace), a native of Manchester, Eng- land, died in 1891 at the age of eighty. They had four children: Frances, who married William Dunne, of New York, and died in 1884; Mary Jane, wife of John H. Eccleston, of Brooklyn: Charles E., our subject; and Penelope, wife of Charles Phillips, of Brooklyn.


Our subject was born April 28, 1837, in Bridge- port, and was about two years old when his parents removed to New York City. For some time .he attended school in that city, then, in 1850, entered a school in Brooklyn, where be pursued higher branches of study. In 1857 be went to New Haven, and there learned the silver- plating business, remaining until the fall of 1860. After spending a short time in Baltimore, Md., he returned to New Haven for a year, and later was employed at his trade in Brooklyn. In 186; he engaged in the electro-plating business on his own account in New York City, whence, after about fourteen years, he removed to Middletown. Conn., entering the employ of the Middletown Plate Company, with which he remained three years. In 1882 he became connected with the Derby Silver Company, and his skill and efficiency make him one of their most trusted employes In politics he is a stanch Republican, but is not especially active in party work.


On October 19, 1860, Captain Huntington married Miss Sarah A. Huntley, daughter of Albert and Mary J. Huntley. well known rest- dents of Madison, Conn. Their only son, Ed- ward G., is now a clerk in the office of P. & F. Corbin, manufacturers of hardware in New Brit- ain, Conn. The family is prominent socially. and Captain Huntington and his wife are ident :- fied with the Baptist Church. He is a member of the Order of American Mechanics, Lodge Ne. 26, at Shelton; Wooster Lodge No. 79, F. &


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A. M., at New Haven; Clinton Chapter No. 142, R. A. M., at Brooklyn; and Morton Commandery No. 4, K. T., of New York City. He also be- longs to the Union Veteran Union No. 4, at Shelton, and during the Civil war was appointed by Governor Buckingham as captain in the 8th C. V. 1. He was detached for special duty in the State, and did not go with the regiment; re- signed in 1862, and went to Brooklyn, where he assisted in the organization of the 47th National Guard, State of New York, holding the rank of orderly sergeant. Three days thereafter the regiment was mustered in the State service. It was ordered out for three months, second call for volunteers, and our subject was appointed first lieutenant. He was discharged with the regiment September 1, 1862.


J TOHN W. PERRY was born December 14, 1841, on the same tract of land on which he now lives. He is a son of Andrew Perry, who was born October 5, 1793, also on the same place, and he is a grandson of Abner Perry, who was born on the same place in 1758. Abner Perry was a son of Samuel Perry.


The family originally lived at New Haven, thence removed to Southbury and then to Strat- ford (now Huntington). The property was granted by the King of England to the ancestors of the present Perry family, and it has remained in the family ever since. Samuel, Andrew and Abner were all farmers, and the land passed naturally from father to son. It consisted of over four hundred acres, and was bounded on the north by the river and on the south by the King's Highway. Samuel Perry married, and had two sons, viz .: Abner and Samuel, whose home- steads are still standing. Abner married Eliza- beth Davidson March 11, 1783, she being of Mil- ford, and by her had the following children: Sarah, born December 21, 1784, married Samuel Morse; Elizabeth, born November 21, 1787, married Harmon Clark, of Monroe, and died March 2, 1824; Andrew, born October 5, 1793, married Mary Avis Judson November 4, 1827, who was born May 30, 1806; Lucy, born August 28, 1795, married Samuel Morse; Mary A., born May 12, 1798, married Cornelius Peck, of Mil- ford, and died January 16, 1892; Susan, born May 25, 1800, married Thomas J. Burt and died October 30, 1832. Abner Perry died September 11, 1842; his wife passed away in January, 1833.


Andrew Perry and wife were the parents of the following children: Charles Robert, born No- vember 22, 1828, and now living in LaPlatte, Macon Co., Mo., is a farmer by occupation, and


is one of the county judges; he married Alvira E. Heaston, of Indianapolis, Ind. Grace A. E., born September 20, 1831, is single. George Judson, born July 16, 1835, lived at Odebolt, lowa, and died April 11, 1888; he married Sarah M. Murphy, of Southbury, and followed farming. David H., born May 17, 1839, lived at Odebolt, Jowa; he married Aurelia Lane, of Monroe, No- vember 10, 1869, who died February 18, 1886, he dying November 16, 1893. John W., our subject. Harriet Avis, born July 5, 1844, mar- ried Nathan Botsford April 5, 1864; he died Oc- tober 14. 1874. Andrew Perry died June 15, 1851, aged fifty-eight years, and his wife died November 5, 1888, aged eighty-two years. Ab- ner Perry's branch of the family were members of the Episcopal Church, which is the Church of the family for the most part at the present time.


John W. Perry, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools and in the Birmingham high school, in which he received a good English education. Leaving school when sixteen or seventeen years of age, he became en- gaged in farming, and was thus occupied some eight or ten years, at the same time carrying on market gardening and learning the trade of car- penter. He then engaged in the manufacture of brackets, being the first to use the water from the Ousatonic canal. After following manufac- turing for about four years he became engaged in carpentering and building houses of his own, platting his land and erecting houses on the lots thus laid out for sale, all on the ten acres of land he owns within the town site. Mr. Perry has been one of the most successful men in business in his town. While he is a strong Democrat, he has not taken an active part in politics, so far as relates to office holding, but has always been a public-spirited citizen.


Mr. Perry was married December 27, 1866, to Miranda L. Hurd, a daughter of James R. Hurd, and a granddaughter of Alanson Hurd. Alanson Hurd was a son of Ebenezer Hurd, a son of Ebenezer Hurd, who was a son of John Hurd, who was a son of John Hurd. The latter named John Hurd was one of the seventeen families that settled in Stratford in 1640. He married Sarah Thompson, daughter of John Thompson, and John Hurd, Jr, married Abigail Wallace. Ebenezer Hurd, Sr., married Abigail Hubbell, and Ebenezer, Jr., married (first) Eliza- beth Newton, (second) a Miss Judson, (third) Polly Bostwick and (fourth) a widow named French. Ebenezer Hurd, Sr., was a post rider, as was also Ebenezer, Jr. Alanson Hurd mar- ried Elizabeth Lowe, of New York City, and James R. Hurd married (first) Delia Lane,


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mother of Mrs. Perry, who died November 24, 1856, and (second) Marietta Gregory. He died in 1866.


John W. Perry and wife have four children, viz .: Lucy Maria; Howard Wright, living in Mount Vernon; Louise Hurd and Edith Delia. Louise Hurd Perry was married May 18, 1899, to J. Arthur Haugh, of Derby, Connecticut.


The following is taken from the " History of Stratford:"


"John Hurd, Senior, came from Windsor, Conn., before or not later than 1644. . A grave- stone of John Hurd, 1681, aged 68,' taken from the old Stratford burying ground, is probably his, and hence he was born in 1613, seven years be- fore the landing at what we know as the old Plymouth Rock. Two hundred and three years this plain and often unnoticed stone has borne its unpretentious title, . John Hurd, 1681, aged 68.'


"John Hurd was a miller, and in connection with Thomas Sherwood built the first mill at Old Mill Green, in 1653, where he himself was among the first residents of the town. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of John Tompson, Dec. 15, 1662, and they came to Stratford probably in 1639. His will, dated Feb. 18, 1679; his estate inventory amounted to £504 10S.


"In 1775 Ebenezer Hurd, a regular post rider, closed a service of forty-eight years, hav- ing begun it in 1727. Once in a fortnight in that entire period he had made a journey from New York to Saybrook and back, 274 miles. In other words he had traveled over as much space as twelve and a half times around the world; or as far as to the moon and half-way back. His wife, besides caring for the family, in one year, 1767, spun not less than five hundred yards of wool and flax, all raised on the place.


"Ebenezar Hurd married, in January, 1732, Abigal Hubbell, and they had fifteen children. Their gravestones stand in Huntington burying place, just south of the Episcopal Church, both inscriptions on one stone. They are: 'Mr. Eben- ezar Hurd died May 7, 1788, aged 87 years.' . Mrs. Abigal Hurd, his wife, died April 16, 1783.'


"Ebenezar, Jr., was also a post rider accord- ing to the following: . The 28th of November died at Stratford, in Conn., of a short illness, Mrs. Ebenezar Hurd, wife of Ebenezar Hurd, Jr., Post rider of that place, aged 24 years and 3 months. She was a daughter of the Rev. Christo- pher Newton of Stratford.'"


G EORGE F. BATTERSON, one of the lead- I ing grocers of Georgetown, Fairfield county, is a most capable business man, popular and


obliging, ever ready to accommodate his many customers whom he supplies with the best of everything that is found on the shelves of a first- class grocery.


The Batterson family is one of the old fami- lies of Fairfield county, Powell Batterson, his great-grandfather, being a native of the county. born in the town of Wilton. He was a farmer most of his lifetime, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Grace Jackson, and had children: Coleman, Betsey and Wilkie W. Of these, Wilkie W. Batterson is in line of the descent of our subject, and was born in the town of Wilton also, his birth occurring March 5, 1805. By occupation he was a blacksmith, having learned the trade in his youth. Later in life, however, he followed agricultural pursuits. Before the Civil war, in the training days, he was a member of a company of militia. He was in sympathy with the Know-Nothing movement, and was a member of that party. He was an intelligent citizen, and served in several of the town offices, among them that of roadmaster, assessor and selectman. He was a religious man, for many years being quite a devout and zealous member of the M. E. Church; was also a steward in the Church. He married Miss Janette Ray- mond, who died without issue. His second wife was Eunice Sherwood (daughter of Edward and Patty (Crossman) Sherwood), who bore him children as follows: Aaron was a school teacher and died in early life, unmarried; Edson married Maria Turner; Charles is single; Madora married (first) Lester Bennett, and (second) William Fryer; Alvaretta married William B. Bennett; and George married Lydia Gunn.


George W. Batterson is a native of the town of Wilton, where he was born September 5. 1839. He was educated in the public schools of that town, and there learned the blacksmith's trade, which was his occupation for many years; later in life, however, he became engaged in farming. He is a skilled mechanic, and his work has always given the best of satisfaction: at the same time he is a good manager, and con- ducts his farming interests in a careful and suc- cessful manner. In religious faith he is a mem- ber of the M. E. Church at Georgetown, in which he is a trustee; politically, he is a Demo- crat, has served acceptably as town assessor, and as a member of the relief board of the town. He married Lydia A. Gunn, and to them have come children as follows: George F. is our subject: and Laura B. is married to Richard O. Bennett. a worker in wire by trade, but at present is post- master at Branchville, Fairfield county; they have one child, William L.


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George F. Batterson, our subject proper, is a native of the town of Wilton, where he was born June 2, 1864, and where he also was reared and received a common-school education. After completing his studies he became identified with Henry C. Olmstead in the grocery business in Georgetown. This concern was carried on by these gentlemen until in 1891, when Mr. Batter- son established his present business in the same village. He has ever taken a great interest in the affairs of Georgetown, and is one of the en- terprising and progressive men of the place. He is identified with the M. E. Church at George- town. He married Miss Jessie Olmstead, a daughter of Henry C. and Sarah (Bedient) Olm- stead, and to the union were born: Lester W., October 23. 1888; George Wilkie, March 4, 1890; Mabel G., July 29, 1891; Ruth M., January 13, 1893; Henry P., July 20, 1895; Howard M., August 12, 1897; and Arthur S., December 30, 1898. Howard died in infancy.


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The Olmsteads were among the early settlers of the county. Reuben Olmstead, the great- grandfather of Mrs. George F. Batterson, was a native of England. When eighteen years of age he came to America, and, going to Canada, was there engaged in various occupations. While in Canada he met an orphan of some sixteen sum- mers, Hannah Bass, a native of Canada, with whom he became infatuated and an elopement followed. They came to the mountains in the vicinity of Georgetown, Fairfield county, where a log house was erected and the cultivation of crops begun. Here they reared their six chil- dren, namely: Betsey, Laura (Mrs. Platt Bates), Esther (Mrs. Hezekiah Osborn), Stephen (mar- ried to Ann Burnett), Seth and Charles. Seth Olmstead married Miss Polly St. John, a daugh- ter of Silas St. John, of the town of Wilton, and had children as follows: Ann (Mrs. Joseph Giles); Lewis married. Mrs. Elizabeth Hoyt; Stephen married Mary Ann Crowfut; Maria (Mrs. Seth Greogory); Seth, Jr., is single; Caroline (Mrs. William Edmonds); Clarissa (Mrs. Samuel Williams); Henry C. will be spoken of farther on; and William married Eliza Bedient. Of these, Stephen Olmstead served throughout the Civil war in the 8th Conn. Cavalry.


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Henry C. Olmstead, who was born June 8, 1833, in the town of Wilton, where he was reared, educated and married, is the father of Mrs. George F. Batterson. In his earlier life he was variously employed, farming on the home- stead, working as a weaver of wire at the factory of Gilbert Bennett & Co., and providing wood for the Danbury & Norwalk road. Later he be- came a grocer at Georgetown, and has since


been engaged in business and resided at that point, of which he is one of the substantial citi- zens. His wife, Sarah A. Bedient, is a daughter of Munson and Maria (Hurlbert) Bedient, he a shoemaker by trade, and their children were: Hattie I. (Mrs. Aaron Bennett) and Jessie (Mrs. George F. Batterson).


J TOHN M. EDWARDS, one of the respected residents of Fairfield township, Fairfield Co., Conn., belongs to a family which has been well and favorably known in and around Easton, this county, for several generations, and is a son of Albert and Viola (Hawley) Edwards.


Albert Edwards was born in Newtown, Conn .. where he was reared to manhood, and like his father, who was also named Albert, he became a farmer. In 1825 he removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., remaining there nineteen years, then returned to Easton, Conn. There he passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of sev- enty-five years. He married Viola Hawley, who was born in Monroe township, Fairfield Co., Conn., a daughter of Abel Hawley, a well-to-do farmer and distiller and large landowner, and they became the parents of fifteen children-ten sons and five daughters-John M. being the ninth son. During the Civil war seven of the sons entered the Union service, in which no one of them remained less than three years, and all came home alive-an unusual record. Mr. Edwards was anxious to enlist himself, but he was rejected on account of his age. He was a stanch Republic- an in political faith, and in religious faith he and his wife were connected with the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Edwards passed away at the age of seventy-four years, and she and her husband are buried in Stepney, Connecticut.


John M. Edwards was born December 25, 1844, in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where he spent his early years, receiving his education in the public schools there. As the family was large, however, he was obliged to commence work at a rather tender age, when nine years old going to live with his uncle, Isaac Edwards, with whom he remained three years; this uncle resided in Pepper street, Monroe township, Conn. During the four years follow- ing our subject was in the employ of Stephen Curtis, of Easton, Conn., after which he lived at home for a short time, and then went to work for Capt. Eli Leavenworth, of Monroe, Conn., continuing with him until he joined the army, in 1862, before he was eighteen years old. He be- came a member of Company K, 9th Conn. V. I., and their first engagement was at Biloxi, where


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they defeated the "Mississippi Tigers," captur- ing their regimental flag. Mr. Edwards served with his regiment until November, 1863, when he went to the Ladies Home Hospital in New York City, as he was suffering from temporary blindness, and he remained there until able to join his command. He has never recovered, however, the sight of his right eye being totally gone and the left eye affected, so that at times he is unable to see at all. Leaving hospital in the spring of 1864, he returned to his regiment at Washington, and remained in the service until the following November, when he was honorably discharged, being rejected for re-enlistment on account of the affliction above referred to. On his retirement from the service Mr. Edwards located in Bridgeport, Conn., where he made his home up to the time of his removal to Fairfield, in 1891, when he settled in the Jennings Wood District, Fairfield township, and here he has resided ever since. He owns and cultivates the "Captain Clark farm" in the district, which consists of twenty acres of good land, and in spite of his poor eyesight he has, by constant in- dustry and good management, derived a com- fortable income from his place, having a good home.


In March, 1872, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., with Miss Mary A. Goodsell, who was born August 10, 1849, at Greens Farms, a daughter of John and Mary (Lacey) Goodsell. Seven children blessed this union: Anna V. and Mary A. died in child- hood; Albert J., who lives at home, is a prosper- ous milk dealer; Julietta B. died in childhood; Ernest died in infancy; Clara died at the age of four years; and Florence M. lives with her parents. Mrs. Edwards is a Congregationalist in religious connection, holding membership with the West End Church, in Bridgeport. Mr. Ed- wards, in his political sympathies, has been a life- long member of the Republican party.


J OHN M. WASSING, a leading grocery mer- chant of Stamford, Fairfeld county, is one of the substantial citizens of the town who come of thrifty Teutonic stock.


Martin Wassing, father of our subject, was born and reared in Germany, living there up to the age of eighteen years, when he came to this coun- try. In 1855 he settled in New Canaan, Conn., where he followed his trade, that of a shoemaker, and there he still resides, being now retired. In New York City he wedded Frances Schanz, who like himself was born in Germany, and several children were born to them, of whom but two


lived to maturity, namely: John Martin and Joseph Frederick, both of whom are residents of Stamford. Joseph has clerked for his brother in the store ever since the business was established in Stamford. During the Civil war Mr. Wassing served the country as a member of the Seven- teenth Conn. V. I., and is now a member of the G. A. R. Post at New Canaan; he is also affiliat- ed with the Odd Fellows lodge in that town.


John Martin Wassing, eldest son of Martin and Frances Wassing, was born September 20, 1861, in the town of New Canaan, Fairfield county, Conn., where he passed his early years, receiving his education in the common schools. He commenced business life in the store of Bur- tis & Mead, at New Canaan, clerking for them eight years, after which he embarked in business in the same town, as a member of the firm of Weed & Wassing. His partnership with Mr. Weed lasted until 1891, the year of his removal in Stamford, where he established what is now one of the most prosperous and best patronized gro- ceries in the town. In connection he had a meat business, his first location being at No. 23 Manhattan street, where he remained until, on June 1, 1897, he settled in his present quarters, a fine double store at Nos. 131-133 Atlantic street. He commenced to build this block in the fall of 1896, and it is a convenient, modern, well-equipped building-three stories and store- room, the upper part arranged in flats-and a material improvement to the city. Mr. Was- sing's success has been no accident, for he has shown the thrifty and progressive spirit of his race in the management of his business, which has increased steadily from year to year since his removal to Stamford, where he is thoroughly respected for his many sterling characteristics. among both his commercial acquaintances and private friends. Mr. Wassing is one of the self- made business men of the place, and his prosper- ity is the result of energy and good business judg- ment.


Soon after Mr. Wassing's removal to Stam- ford, he built his pleasant home on Summer street, where he moved with his family, and where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Wassing are members of the M. E. Church; socially, he is an Odd Fellow, being a member of the lodge at New Canaan, and Wascussee Encampment, at Stamford. In political faith he is a Republican.


Mrs. Wassing was Miss Genevieve Durand, of Stepney, Conn. She was the second child of George B. and Betsey (Warner) Durand. Mr. | and Mrs. Wassing have four children, namely- Florence, George, William and Dora, all at pres- ent attending the public schools of Stamford.


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J (AMES RANDELL EELLS, a well-known merchant of Stamford, Fairfield county, oc- cupies a prominent place in business circles, not alone on account of the well-merited success he has achieved, but also on account of the hon- orable. straightforward business policy he has ever pursued.


Mr. Eells is a native of New York State, hav- ing been born March 25, 1855, at Harlem, a son of Marcellus Eells, who was born in New Canaan. Conn., a son of James Trowbridge Eells. James -Trowbridge kept an academy for young men in New Canaan. He was a son of Rev. John Eells, the first minister in New Canaan, who was a son of Samuel Eells, one of the first colony of plant- ers of New Haven.


Marcellus Eells was engaged in business in New York City, where during the earlier years of his life he was connected with the Custom House; later he became a prospector in the South. He died in 1864. In New York City he married Susan Antoinette Randell, daughter of John and Mary (Wells) Randell, the latter of whom was a daughter of Solomon Wells, of Deerfield. She was born September 30, 1797, at the old homestead opposite the city of Utica, N. Y. Peter Wells, her grandfather, moved to Connecticut from Rhode Island, and took up 500 acres of land. Capt. Jonathan Randell, of "Queen Anne's Royal Rangers," had his elegant home on Randell's Island in the East river, New York, and his son John wooed and won the queenly Miss Wells, and took her to his home on the Island near the city. There her children were born. She with her husband attended the reception given to LaFayette in 1824. She was a lifelong adherent of the Harlem Reformed Dutch Church, and at her death, September 3, 1894. was the oldest member thereof. John Randell died in 1850, after which event she lived with her children, and for a few years with her grandson. The children born to Marcellus Eells and his wife, Susan Antoinette (Randell), were as follows: Mary and John, both deceased; Annie, living in New York; Amanda, living in New Roch- elle; Harriet, deceased; Kate, deceased; and James R., living in Stamford. The mother of these died in 1857.




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