Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 163

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

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Deacon Daniel Andrews, another descendant of Francis Andrews, above mentioned, was born February 20, 1715, and died January 10, 1800. He was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. Daniel, son of this Deacon Daniel, was born April 27, 1754, and was the great-great-grandfa- ther of our subject. He married Elizabeth Hyde, who was born December 5, 1753, and the names and dates of their children are as follows: Anna, born November 18, 1779; Sarah, September 1, 1781; Ephraim, April 9, 1783; Joseph H., March 20, 1785; Sillick S., January 14, 1787; Eliza-

beth, January 11, 1790; Daniel, October 2 ;. 1791; and Mabel, June 27, 1795.

Joseph H. Andrews, grandfather of Miss Clara J. Bradley, was born in the town of Westoc. Fairfield county, March 20, 1785, and kept & "plantation " there on the spot where is yet the home of the family, and they were the owners of several slaves. He married Clara Thorp, who was born September 21, 1788, daughter of Eben- ezer and Rhoda (Lockwood) Thorp, and two children came to their union, viz .: Rhoda A. born May 15, 1813; and Abigail'T., born Decem- ber 26, 1817, at Weston; she was educated in Westport; she died unmarried, and was a lifeiong consistent member of the Congregational Church of Weston. She ably conducted the farm that descended to her from her honored ancestry. It March, 1852, Joseph G. Smith became a member of the family, and carried on the interests of the farm until his death, which occurred April 24. 1898.

S MIMON C. SHERWOOD, classed among the best and most substantial citizens of Southport, comes of a family of good repute and loyal ever. In the early history of England. during the days of " Robin Hood and Little John, " Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, i frequently mentioned, and from the proprietors of that historic ground-Thomas Sherwood and his two brothers-are descended the Sherwoods of Fairfield county, Connecticut.

Thomas Sherwood, the progenitor of the American Sherwoods, came to Fairfield from England about 1650, prior to the organization of the town; tradition says one brother went Fast and the other West. He settled originally at Hull's Farms, and here for two or three gen- erations his posterity was born. This Thomas died about 1675. His son Thomas, who lived in Fairfield, died about 1698, and he had a son Samuel, also of Fairfield, who had a son Daniel. This Daniel removed to Hull's Farms, and be married Martha Hull, who is descended from the same ancestry as William B. Hull. Her grandmother was killed by the Indians in a small house in which she lived-the first house erected in the vicinity. Daniel and Martha (Hull: Sherwood kept a tavern during the Revolution- ary period, and he died at Hull's Farms in 1784. at the age of seventy-seven. His son Daniel had a son William, who was the father of Capt. Edwin Sherwood, and grandfather of the subject proper of this sketch,

Daniel Sherwood (2) graduated from Yale in 1756. He married Abigail, daughter of Deacon

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John Andrews, of Greens Farms, and their chil- dren were Daniel. Ralph. Walter, Justus, Aaron, Stephen. William, Abigail, Elizabeth and Ellen.

William Sherwood was a farmer. sailor and merchant. He remained on the old homestead with his father until his marriage with Abigail Couch, who was born at Greens Farms, August 14. 1782, and by whom he had children-Simon. William, Edwin, Cyrus, Abigail, Aaron, Mary, Albert and Elizabeth. The parents died at Hull's Farms, the father in April, 1844, the mother in 1858, at the age of seventy-seven; she was a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Sherwood was a Whig in politics.

Edwin Sherwood, son of William and Abigail (Couch) Sherwood, and father of Simon C., was born February 24, 1805. At the age of seven- teen, equipped with a common-school education, he left his father's farm and shipped as a common sailor on the sloop " John," later serving on the schooner " Orbit," the brig " America," and the ** Georgia," plying between New York, Boston and Southern cities. He was mate for two years, and before he was twenty-one he was master of the sloop .. John," of sixty tons, owned by Meeker &. Sherwood. About 1827 he be- came one-fourth owner of the brig .. America," carrying 147 tons, of which he was made captain. This vessel he sailed for four years, and then, purchasing an interest in the schooner .. Georgia." 200 tons, running between New York and Savannah, he commanded her for four years. Captain Sherwood then superseded the " Geor- gia" with a brig carrying 400 tons, which he built expressly for this route, and commanded some ten years, when he sold it. From about 1845 or 1850 he lived retired from active duty until his death, which occurred September 11, 1886; he lies buried in Oaklawn cemetery. Politically, he was a Democrat, and a regular voter, but no partisan. At the time of his decease he was a director of the Danbury & Norwalk railroad, and president of the Southport Savings Bank. He was a highly successful man, selfmade in the fullest sense of the word, and left a valuable estate. He was highly respected by all who knew him, and his life is well worthy of record as an example to others.

On December 12, 1837, Capt. Edwin Sher- wood was married to Mary A. Hyde, who was born at Greens Farms, July 12, 1813, a daugh- ter of Deacon Joseph Hyde, and two sons were born to them: Edwin H. and Simon C., both residents of Southport. The parents were mem- bers of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Sher- wood claimed descent from Humphrey Hyde,

whose name appears on the early records of the town of Fairfield as one of its first taxpayers, having possession of a large tract of land in what is called the "long lots." Humphrey Hyde, her grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving at the time of the burning of Fair- field and Norwalk; was in the Colonial ranks at the battles of Compo and White Plains, receiv- ing a bullet wound in the former engagement; and was present at the battle of Ridgefield and the burning of Danbury. The ancestors orig- inally came from England, where at different places they have impressed their name on loca- tions, as Hyde Park in London, and left prop- erty valued at millions of dollars. Mrs. Sher- wood's father, Joseph Hyde, was born in 1761, married Arete Jesup, and had a family of four- teen children, of whom she was the youngest.

Simon C. Sherwood, whose name introduces these lines, was born June 10. 1845, in South- port, Conn., where he was reared and received his earlier education, later attending Betts' school in Stamford, where he continued his stud- ies. Soon after his marriage, which will be spoken of presently, he took up his permanent abode in Southport, his elegant and comfortable home on West Main street having been built by himself. Aside from his investments, he is liv- ing retired, in the enjoyments of a well-regulat- ed life.

On October 14, 1868, Mr. Sherwood was married to Miss Matilda Simpson. of Southport, daughter of John Simpson, and two sons-Simon W. and Richard S .- have been born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood are identified with the Congregational Church, and he is a member of the executive committee of same. In his polit- ical preferences he was once a Democrat, but for some years past has been a Republican. He is a trustee of the Southport Savings Bank. Mr. Sherwood's honorable business methods and his upright life have gained for him prestige in the community where he has so long made his home, while his genial manner enables him to make friends easily, and when once a friendship is won it is always his. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

A BRAHAM H. VAN SCIVER, the inventor of the Van Sciver Oyster Dredge, is one of Bridgeport's enterprising and successful business men. While he makes a specialty of manufact- uring the dredges, for which there is a constant demand, his shops at No. 107 Water street, Bridgeport, are equipped for general blacksmith- ing. and he has a lucrative business as a machine

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and ship smith. He also gives attention to plain and ornamental blacksmithing, and to the dress- ing and tempering of tools of all sorts.

Mr. Van Sciver traces his descent from some of the earliest settlers of New Jersey, his ances- tors having come originally from Holland. Daniel Van Sciver, his great-grandfather, was born in New Jersey, and was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. Peter Van Sciver, our subject's grand- father, who married Maria Jaycox, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was granted 160 acres of government land in recognition of his services. William Van Sciver, the father of our subject, was born May 6, 1818. at Tenafly, N. J., and although he followed the weaver's trade for a short time in early manhood, he has spent the greater part of his life in farming. He now re- sides at Closter, Bergen Co., N. J. His wife, Eliza Haring, who died in 1885. was born in 1820, near Tappan, N. J., a daughter of James and Maria (Naugle) Harring, and a granddaugh- ter of Abram and Maria (Naugle) Harring. Our subject is the younger of two children. The other, Jacob W., who was born at Closter, July 18, 1840, and now resides at Palisades, was mar- ried in 1867. to Miss Jane E. Post, and they have two children: William J. and Adeline.

Our subject was born May 3, 1844, at the old homestead at Closter, N. J., and his educa- tion was begun in the public schools of that town. When he was sixteen years old his pa- rents removed to Tappan, N. J., but soon re- turned to Closter. Later they resided for some time in the Palisades, on the Hudson river. where he again attended school, and for a year or two he was employed at general farm work in that locality. He also worked for a time on an oyster sloop on the North river, and at the age of nineteen he began to learn the blacksmith's trade in the Erie railroad shops at Piermont, N. Y. After two years he went to Jersey City, where he worked two years in the Erie shops, and he then went to Scranton, Penn., and was employed for several months in a locomotive shop. The next eight months he spent in Buf- falo, N. Y., in the manufacture of tools for the H TERMAN H. KELLNER, of Danbury. is one of the most prominent German-born citizens of the county, and his intelligence. industry, and thrift have won for him general esteem. oil wells; but as the Civil war was in progress and the government was in need of workmen on gunboats, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to en- The Kellner family has made its home for many generations in the Province of Hanover. Germany, and Wilbrandt Kellner, our subject's gage in that work. After spending several months in that city. he went with some boats to | the Mound City navy yards, just above Cairo, ! father. was born there at Achmer-by-Bramsche. where he remained until the close of the war, be- ing employed in dressing and repairing tools for the machinists on the gunboats. On leaving this position he started for Memphis, Tenn., on | his way back stopping at different towns till he

found employment at Ft. Wayne. Returning to the East after about three months in Ft. Wayne. he spent a week at home in the Palisades, and then went to Fishkill Landing, on the Hudson, where he was employed in the engine works and foundry. After a year he went back to Piermont and worked for a year in the Erie railroad shop :. and the next three years he passed at Yonkers, N. Y., in the Clipper Mower & Reaper Works and in the. Otis Engine & Elevator Works. Re- moving then to Bridgeport (having been pre- viously engaged by George Douglas), in that em- ploy he remained some twenty-one years. A partnership was then formed with another black- smith, William Calan, under the firm name of Calan & Van Sciver, and they carried on an in- dependent business for two years. Mr. Van- Sciver then returned to his old position in the shops of Douglas, Moore & Co., and with them remained one year. On July 1, 1896, he opened his present establishment, and from the first be has met with gratifying success. The new dredge is a decided improvement upon all others on the market, as it is so balanced that it will not turn over while being hauled on board a ves- sel, and the public has not been slow to recog- nize its merits. At present the orders keep Mr. Van Sciver and one assistant constantly em- ployed, while the help of two other workmen is required during a portion of the year.

In 1871 Mr. Van Sciver married Miss Mar- garet E. Galt. daughter of John and Margaret (MacClellan) Galt, who were both natives of Scotland. One child, Eliza H., brightens his home. The family is identified with the Metb- odist Episcopal Church at Bridgeport. of which Mrs. Van Sciver was an active member. Our subject belongs to St. John's Lodge No. 3. F. & A. M., at Bridgeport, and Rockland Chapter No. 104, R. A. M., at Piermont. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has not aspired to official honors.

į and for some years of his early manhood followed farming in that vicinity. He married Mary Stapelberg, a native of that locality, and in 1870 came to America with his family, locating first in New York City, where he was employed asa

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lay laborer for about seven years. In 1877 he emoved to Danbury and engaged in the fur busi- jess, but he is now living in retirement. He is in intelligent man, taking an interest in the various questions of the day, and in politics is a Republican. although formerly he gave his sup- port to the Democratic party. He and his estimable wife, who died in 1889. both united with the German Lutheran Church years ago. They had seven children: Anna married John Michael (deceased), who was born in Germany, and for some time was engaged in the grocery business in New York; Johanna married Charles Schledorn, a lithograper in New York; Lottie (deceased) was the wife of Gerhart Schultz, of New York; Henry is a batter in Danbury; Her- man H. is mentioned more fully below; Minnie married Clamour H. Michael. a hatter in Dan- bury; and William, who is not married, is also a hatter in Danbury.

Mr. Kellner, our subject, was born October 19, 1858. at the old home at Achmer-by-Bramsche, and he was partially educated there. Coming to America at the age of twelve years, he attended school for a time in New York, and there began his business career as a clerk in a retail grocery store, where he remained six years. In 1876 he went to Danbury, where he was employed for about seventeen years in different hat factories. learning the trade thoroughly and giving especial attention to curling and finishing. In 1893. he formed a partnership with Henry W. Michael. and engaged in the preparation of hatters' furs, and in 1896 they enlarged their business to include the manufacture of stiff, flexible, and soft hats, and ladies' bonnets.

In March, 1889, Mr. Kellner married Miss Anna M. Sohl, who was born at Varrel, Germany, a daughter of Gerd and Actelheit Sohl. Five children have blessed this union: Arthur H., Edna Mary. and Nellie Annie (who are at home), Lau- retta S. (who died June, 3, 1890, at the age of six months) and Marie Lorine. Mr. Kellner is a believer in the principles and policy of the Re- publican party, but he has not taken an active part in political work, his influence being exerted in a quiet way.

E .DWARD E. CHAFFEE, senior member of the firm of Chaffee Bros., leading grocers of East Bridgeport, is one of the representative business men of that city, his success having been won through his own well-directed efforts.

Mr. Chaffee comes of good Colonial stock, the Chaffee family being descended from two brothers who came from Wales about two hun-

dred years ago. Henry R. Chaffee, his father, was born in Ashford, Conn., in 1830, and moved in 1856, to Bridgeport, where he has been em- ployed as a contractor by the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, from that time to the present. with the exception of three years' service in the Union army during the Civil war. His wife, Lucy A. (Andrews), is a member of a well- known family of Meriden, Conn., and is a daughter of Amon Andrews, of that city. Of the four children of this union, the first born, Harry A., died in 1880; Edward E., our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Robert H. is a car- penter at Port Chester, N. Y .; and Frederick A. is in partnership with our subject.

Edward E. Chaffee was born December 9. 1854. in Hartford, Conn., and was only a year and a half old when his parents removed to Bridgeport. He was educated in the schools of East Bridgeport, and at the age of eighteen years entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, remaining about seven years. In 1878 he became a clerk in his present store, then owned by Robert W. Burritt, and in 1881 he purchased the business, which he has continued with marked success, his trade being probably the largest in his line on the East side. For ten years he carried on the business alone under the name of E. E. Chaffee, but in 1891 he took his brother Frederick into partnership, adopting the present firm name. Their business is chiefly retail, but they also have some whole- sale trade.

On May 23, 1878, Edward E. Chaffee mar- ried Miss Carrie B. Niblo, a native of Bridgeport, where her father, Capt. Thomas Niblo, formerly a resident of Newark, N. J., is a highly esteemed citizen. The only child of this union, William E., born in 1882, is now at home. The family is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bridgeport, of which Mr. Chaffee is a prominent member, and he is also identified with the 1. O. O. F., Pequonnock Lodge No. 4. at Bridgeport. He is a man who does his own thinking, and while he votes with the Republican party on national issues he does not hesitate to support such men and measures as meet his ap- proval, outside as well as within party lines.

H TELEN F. MIDDLEBROOK was born in the town of Wilton, Conn., June 13, 1840. Her early education was received in the public schools, and later she attended and graduated from Olmstead's college, and also from a select school at Binghamton, N. Y. She has never married.

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Sommers Middlebrook, her grandfather, was born in the town of Wilton, Conn., was educa- ted at the common schools of that town, and engaged in farming most of his life.

George Middlebrook, father of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton in 1790. He received his early education in the common schools of that place, became a colonel of a regi- ment of militia during the training days, on account of which he was always known as " Colonel Middlebrook," and engaged in farm- ing all his active life. He was a man of talent and character, and was highly respected as a man by all that knew him. During the early part of his life he was a Whig in politics, but upon the organization of the Republican party he became a Republican, and adhered to that party during the remainder of his life. He mar- ried Miss Lucretia Sturges, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hurlbutt) Sturges, of Wilton. She was born in 1800, and died when she was seventy- one years of age. The children born to George Middlebrook and his wife Lucretia were as fol- lows: Mary, who married William Harris; Cla- rissa, wife of Ebenezer Betts; Susan, who mar- ried Le Grand Comstock; Henrietta, wife of William D. Gregory ; Samuel, who married Sarah Lockwood; Sarah, wife of William D. Gregory; Lucretia, who married Augustus Brown; Emily. who married John Lockwood: Gertrude, wife of Dr. J. E. Turner; Helen, who remained single; Virginia, who married William H. Wil- kinson; George, who died young; and Elizabeth, born in the town of Wilton. Conn., November 19, 1830, where she received her education. She married Dr. John Hill, of Sterling, Conn., who was a son of John Hill.

The ancestors of the Middlebrook family originally came to this country from Wales and England. Joseph Middlebrook lived in Concord, Mass., in 1644. Four generations afterward Michael Middlebrook, great-grandfather of our subject, removed from the town of Fairfield and settled in the town of Wilton, in 1753, and there he bought a farm. He married Miss Abiah Som- mers, by whom he had a number of children, one of whom was Sommers Middlebrook, the grandfather of the subject, who was born in the town of Wilton, and upon arriving at man's es- tate engaged in farming. He and his descend- ants have always been most excellent managers, the property now in the family having been in the family for generations, and has never been mortgaged.

Sommers Middlebrook married Miss Susanna Beal, of England, whose father was a man of superior abilities and scholarship, and who came

to this country in order to enjoy religious liberty. Susanna Beal had but one brother, and he died in infancy. Sommers Middlebrook and his wile Susanna had the following children: William; Matthew, who married Betsy Abbott; George. who married Lucretia Sturges; Jonathan, who never married; Anna, who married John Jones: Sallie, who married William Lester, and Abijah. One remarkable circumstance in connection with the family of Sommers Middlebrook should no: be permitted to pass unnoticed, and that is that a few years before his death seven of his children sat at the communion table at the same time. the youngest of whom was over seventy years of age. The ancient stock of the Middlebrook family were noted for piety, integrity and wealth

Dr. John Hill, already mentioned as the hos- band of Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hill, was born Jans- ary 19, 1821, in the town of Sterling, Cona. After receiving his early eduation in the common schools of the time, he attended the New York Medical College, from which he graduated, and then took up the practice of medicine in Brook- lyn, N. Y., where he remained thus engaged for six years. Removing then to Binghamton, S Y., he practiced his profession in that city : number of years, and then removed to South Norwalk, Conn., where he continued to practice until his death, which occurred in 1880. Polit- ically, he was a Republican, and he was many times elected coroner of his county. Socially. he was a Freemason, while in religious faith be was a member of the Congregational Church d South Norwalk. He married Elizabeth Middk- brook in 1856, and by her had one daughter. Florence, who was born February 2, 1865.

John Hill, father of Dr. John Hill, was born in Sterling, Conn., was educated in the commot schools of the locality, and was engaged in farm- ing there all of his active life. He was a man of character and ability, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors and friends.

W 'ILLIAM L. HALL, a military veteran. and a prominent citizen of Danbury, bas been engaged in business in that city for more than thirty years as a blacksmith, and his indes- try and integrity have won for him the esteem c: all classes in the community.

On the paternal side, Mr. Hall is of Irish de- scent, but his grandfather, Eli Hall, was born i: Stratford, Conn., and was a resident of this State throughout his life. Eli Hall had seven children. viz .: Joseph, Booth, Ezra, Philo, William, Polis Anna and Sarah, none of whom are now living William Hall, the father of our subject, was born

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in Newtown, this county, and after learning the tailor's trade in Brooklyn he located in Bridge- water, where he followed that business exclusively for many years, his death occurring about 1865. Although not active in political work, he took much interest in questions of the day, first as a Whig, later as a Republican. His wife, Susan (Luckey), who is still living, is descended from an old Holland-Dutch family, and her father, Cornelius Luckey, who resided at Brooklyn, was a mason by trade. They had six children: Cor- nelius B. (deceased) was a carpenter in Brooklyn; William L., our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Joseph W., a resident of Springfield, Mo., has been employed in railway and insurance busi- ness, has been cashier of a bank, and is now con- nected with a building and loan association; Ed- win H., also a resident of Springfield, Mo., is a real-estate agent; Cornelia M. married John R. Smith, of Bridgeport; and Ezra J., a resident of Sandy Hook, is engaged in the hardware business.

The subject of our sketch was born May 7, 1840, in Bridgewater. Litchfield Co., Conn., where he spent his boyhood. At seventeen he went to Sandy Hook to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for four years in that place. In 1862 he enlisted in Stamford, Conn., in the 28th Conn. V. I., and was sent to New Orleans where he served under General Banks, taking part in several battles. At the expiration of his term in 1863 he returned to Stamford and resumed his trade, and in 1865 he established his shop and home at Danbury, where he has resided ever since. He has an extensive custom, covering all lines of the trade.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 163

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