Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 167

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

firm of Russell, Birdsell & Ward, and during that time resided in Rye township, near Port Chester, Westchester Co., N. Y. In 1841 Mr. Craft wedded Ann E. Strang, who was born in 1825 in New York City, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Storm) Strang. Stormville, Dutchess Co., N. Y., was named after her mother's family. The Strangs were of French extraction, the name as now spelled being a corruption of the French name L'Estrange. Daniel Strang was a member of the firm of Strang & Whitney, in its day one of the oldest and most reliable cotton firms. He had a family of six children: Charles, Thomas, William, John, Ann E. and Susan, of whom Charles died at White Plains, N. Y .; he was in- spector of meats in New York City. Thomas (also deceased) was a planter at Mobile, Ala., having gone to the South through the influence of his uncle, Thomas Strang, who was an exten- sive cotton planter and manufacturer of Alabama. William was a trunk manufacturer in New York City; he died in Jersey City. John, who passed away at Fishkill, N. Y., was for years freight agent for the Erie railway at pier No. 7, East river, New York. Susan is the wife of Edward Bogardus, of Hopewell, Dutchess Co., New York.

Mrs. Ann E. Craft passed away January 12, 1855. and was laid to rest in the private cemetery at King Street. Mr. Craft subsequently married Mrs. Sarah Y. Finley (widow of John H. Finley), who died in 1894, and is interred in the Baptist cemetery in King Street by the side of her hus- band, who followed her to the grave June 20, 1896. Physically, Mr. Craft was spare in build, weighing from 140 to 145 pounds. He was a good worker, and placed himself in prosperous circumstances by his energy and good judgment in business affairs, for he had no advantages over the ordinary to commence life with. He took an active interest in the public as well as the commercial affairs of his community, served as selectman of Greenwich for several terms, and while living in Rye township, Westchester Co., N. Y., was assessor of same. In political senti- ment he was a Democrat. His religious sympa- thy and support were given to the Baptist Church. Socially, Mr. Craft was a member of Acacia Lodge, F. & A. M., Greenwich. His family consisted of five children, viz .: William S., who will be presently spoken of; John S., who is in the domestic produce business in Buffalo, N. Y .; Catherine M., wife of Norman L. Nobles, of Attica, N. Y., who is an engineer on the Erie railroad; Mary S., who married William H. Stebbins and died in New York City: and Daniel S., who died in infancy.

William S. Craft commenced his education at

the district school in King Street, later attend- ing the Greenwich Academy for two years. After his mother's death he made his home with her cousin, and in 1856 he began his mercantile career as a clerk in the wholesale grocery house of Nelson Sherwood & Co., No. 466 Pearl street, New York City. After two years' service with that firm he became clerk for John Lounsbury, a grocer at Port Chester, N. Y., whence he re- turned to New York City, entering the employ of Coffin & Seabury, of Water street, dealers in domestic produce. Some few years later he re- turned to his birthplace, and shortly afterward embarked in the meat business in Glenville as his father's partner, continuing with him until he branched out alone, running retail wagons. He has continued this business ever since, and in ad- dition, for over thirty years, has been extensively engaged as a grower and jobber of apples and other fruit for foreign trade. He is also a stock- holder in a soap factory in Buffalo, N. Y. He has been a member of the school committee, on which he served for years, and for nine years he was school visitor.

In August, 1863, Mr. Craft was united in marriage, at White Plains, N. Y., with Miss Sarah A. Huestis, a native of that place, daugh- ter of Caleb Huestis. Five children blessed this union, of whom the three eldest- Frank L., Charles S. and Lewis S .- died in childhood; Edith H. and Evelyn W. live at home. Mrs. Craft is a member of the Episcopal Church.

G EORGE B. CHRISTISON. Among the J brave men who helped to make up the quota of soldiers sent by Connecticut to defend the Union in the dark days of the Rebellion was the subject of this biography, now a prominent resident of Stamford.

Entering the service on August 15. 1862, as a private in Company B, 17th Connecticut Vol- unteer Infantry, he made an honorable record, remaining throughout the war. He was mus- tered into the service August 28, 1862, at Bridge- port. this county, and left the State September 3, being assigned first to the Middle Depart- ment of the 8th Army Corps, then serving on the defences at Washington, D. C., where he re- mained until November. He was then assigned to the 2nd Brigade, ist Division, 11th Army Corps, and in August, 1863, his regiment was transferred to the 2nd Brigade, Gordon's di- vision, 10th Army Corps, stationed for a time at Folly Island, S. C. From February, 1864, until the close of the war he served in the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, District of Florida, or the 4th Sep-

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arate with Union Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., at Stam- Brigade, Department of the South, | and for twenty-nine years has been connected under William H. Noble, colonel; Albert H. Wil- | coxon, lieutenant-colonel. and Henry Allen, i ford. while he is also an active member of the major. On July 1. 1863, he was wounded at 1 Connecticut Veteran Masonic Association. Gettysburg. Penn .. by a gunshot in the left knee. and also had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the enemy, suffering imprisonment in Libby R USSELL J. SCUDDER, of the town of New Fairfield, is a prosperous agriculturist, and his large farm gives every sign of judicious man- agement. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and for years he has been almost constantly in office in his township. Prison. Belle Isle, and Richmond. On August 25. 1863. he was paroled at Richmond, and on October 2nd of the same year he was exchanged. He remained on duty as long as there was any fighting to be done, receiving his discharge from the United States service July 19. 1805, and August 3 of that year he was mustered out of the State service at New Haven.

Mr. Christison is a descendant of an old and honorable family, long resident in Edinburgh, Scotland, and one of his cousins. Sir Robert Christison, M. D., was physician to the Queen of England The father of our subiect, John Christison, was born in Scotland, whence he came | to America, locating in New York City, where his death occurred in 1839.

Our subject was born August 11. 1828. in 1 age of eleven years. Soon afterward he went to Stratford, this State, to reside, and in 1845 he Temoved to Stamford, where he learned the shoe- makers trade, and for some time worked as a journeyman. The war interrupted this work, and after his return he was employed as a cutter in the factory of Cook & Lounsbury, at Long Ridge, Conn. In 1883 he took a position as foreman in a shoe factory in New York City, and from 1885 10 1891 he was a member of the firm of Cook. Lounsbury & Co., at Long Ridge. Dur- ing 1892 and 1893 he was foreman for the firm of Lounsbury & Soule, in their factory at Stam- ford, and since that time he has been employed as janitor in the Elm Street school building. He

has always taken an active interest in local affairs, and he held the office of assessor under the old borough government for some time. From 1872 to 1893 he was a member of the town school board, and at present he is serving as a special policeman, being known as " Number 39. "

In 1850 Mr. Christison was married in Stam- ford to Miss Phoebe M. Scofield. daughter of Ebenezer Scofield, a well-known citizen of that place. and their home has been brightened by one daughter, Isabella S. The family is highly estremed socially, and Mr. Christison is identified with a number of organizations, including the G. A. R .. Hobbie Post No. 23. at Stamford, in which he holds the rank of senior vice-com- Rev. Isaac Scudder, our subject's father, was mande :. He is an honorary member of Leeds | born August 4. 1803, in the town of New Fair- Council, Order of United American Mechanics, I field, where he obtained a practical education in

The family is of good Colonial stock and Robert Scudder. our subject's great-grandfather. was born in the town of Easton. this county, and I was educated there after the custom of that early time. In 1774 he married his first wife, Esther Jennings, who died a few years later, and July 31, 1785. he married Rachel Buckley. His death occurred in 1806. Among his children were three sons: Peter, Isaac and Jesse.

Capt. Jesse Scudder, the grandfather of our subject, was born April 12, 1778, in Westport. this county, and after receiving a common-school ¡ years he removed from Westport to the town of New Fairfield, where he purchased a large tract of land in the center of the town. He became prominent in the affairs of the locality, and being an active worker in the Democratic party was elected to various official positions, including that of justice of the peace, which he held for many years. He took great interest in military oper- ations, and his title was gained by service in the local militia. In religious faith he was a Meth-

1 odist, and he was at all times ready to assist in I the work of the Church. He was married three times. By his first wife he had two sons, Meaker and Isaac, both of whom are mentioned more fully below. By his second wife, Polly (Birch), he had two daughters: Lavina, who married Russell Stevens, and Harriet, who married Henry Wilson. His third wife, Jemima (Barnum), had no children.

Meaker Scudder was born in the town of New Fairfield in 1805. and was educated in the com- mon schools of that locality. He engaged in farming, and after his marriage he went west, to Michigan, where he purchased an extensive farm and became a well-to-do citizen and a man of influence. Like his father, he was an active worker in the Methodist Church. He married Miss Ann Bradley, by whom he had three chil- · dren: Jessie and Sabina (deceased), and Bradley.

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New York City, and was left an orphan at the I education he engaged in farming. In his later

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the local schools. From boyhood he was accus- tomed to assist his father in the work of the homestead, and later he engaged in farming on his own account. When he was thirty years old a change came into his life, and while still con- tinuing the cultivation of his farm in New Fair- field, he entered the ministry of the Methodist Church. About this time he married Miss Mary Coleman, who was born October 20, 1808, a daughter of Rev. James Coleman, an itinerant minister of the same denomination. Rev. Mr. Scudder was for many years a local preacher at Centerville, and he also officiated in various other towns in this region, doing much for the spread of the Gospel and the upbuilding of the Church.

Rev. James Coleman was one of the best known preachers of his day in his denomination. His home was in Ridgefield, this county, but he traveled on what was called the Courtland cir- cuit, which required six weeks to make the rounds, and during his life he is said to have been on horseback all through Canada and New Eng- land. He and his wife, Martha (Defrees), reared a family of five children: Abigail, who married Joel Griffin; John, who remained single; Martha, who married Zebulon Main; James, and Mary, our subject's mother.

Rev. Isaac Scudder and his wife had four children-one daughter and three sons: (1) James, born June 1, 1837, in New Fairfield, died June 24. 1855, at the age of eighteen. (2) Russell J .. our subject, is mentioned below. (3) Henrietta A., born January 21, 1845, married Henry Gard- ner, a farmer, who afterward became a hatter of Danbury. They had six children-Jemima, Ad- die, Chloe, Jessie, Fannie and Henry. (4) John W., born July 1, 1847, married Phoebe Wheeler June 4, 1871, and they had three children-Eu- nice A., Emma L. and James Irving. By occu- pation he is a farmer. On June 29, 1895, he was licensed to preach as a local Methodist preacher, and at present frequently fills the pul- pit at various places.

Our subject was born April 27, 1841, at the old home in New Fairfield, and the district schools of that town furnished him his educa- tional opportunities. He became familiar with the details of farm work in his boyhood through assisting his father, and at the age of twenty-one he hired his time to the latter for one hundred dollars per year. This arrangement continued two years, when he began farming for himself. In 1864 he married Miss Salina Sturges, daugh- ter of John H. Sturges, a farmer of the same town, and his wife, Eliza Knapp. The only child of this union, Miss Mary E. Scudder, born

May 28, 1874, received a literary education in the schools of New Fairfield, and afterward graduated from the School of Music at Danbury. She has become quite proficient as a musician, and at present is organist of the Methodist Church at New Fairfield. Doubtless her gifts are in- herited from her father, who has for years been the leader of the choir in the same church. He is actively interested in all branches of Church work, having held the office of steward during the greater part of his life, and he has also served as trustee; and as superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Politically, he is a stanch Dem- ocrat. and for the past three years he has been the treasurer of the town. At varions times he has been chosen to other positions of trust, his first election being to the office of assessor, which he held for three years. During the Civil war he was drafted, but owing to physical disability he was excused from service.

J JOSEPH H. WHITCOMB. This enterpris- ing and popular citizen of Bridgeport en- joys the distinction of being the only Demo- crat ever elected to the board of aldermen from the Fifth ward of that city. As a self-made man he has won an honorable place in business circles, and his fine grocery and meat market at No. 1193 E. Main street, Bridgeport, shows what well-directed energy can accomplish, even without the aid of capital or influence.

Mr. Whitcomb belongs to an old Colonial family of Pennsylvania, and is descended from one of three brothers of the name, who came from England about 1620. John A. Whitcomb, the father of our subject, was born at Harris- burg. and is a veteran of the Mexican war, and in early manhood went to Peru, Ind., but later removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., where he now re- sides. He is a carpenter by occupation, and formerly he was also interested in the cooper's trade. His wife, Mary (Harvey), is a native of Belfast, Ireland, but came to America in child- hood with her father, John Harvey, who was a prosperous farmer of Indiana. Of the five chil- dren of John A. and Mary Whitcomb, the eldest, William, who died in 1896, was engaged in rail- roading, and resided in Kalamazoo; Anna died in infancy; Joseph H., our subject, is third in the order of birth; Frank resides in Kalamazoo. and is engaged in the railroad business; and Mary married and resides in Kalamazoo.

Joseph H. Whitcomb was born May 25. 1863. in Peru. Ind., and was two years old when his parents settled in Kalamazoo, Mich., where he received his education. On leaving school

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he entered the employ of Miller, Wicks & Ter- rill, meat dealers in that place, with whom he remained five years. He then spent three years with Thomas O'Neil, and two years with John R. Allen in the same line of business, and in May, 1882, he came to Bridgeport. For about three years he worked at the spring-maker's trade, and for six months he was employed in the meat market of Platt & Ritch. In March, 1886, with no capital except his savings, he en- gaged in the meat business on his own account, opening a market on Barnum avenue; after two years he removed to his present location, where he keeps on hand a large and well-selected stock of groceries and meat for the retail trade. On November 3. 1886, he married Miss Mary Con- nelly, a native of Newtown and reared in Bridgeport. Five children have blessed this union: Frank, William, Joseph, Jr., Lilian, and Ethel. Mr. Whitcomb and his family belong to the Catholic Church, and he is affiliated with the Knights of the Macabees. For many years he has been an active worker in the Butchers' Protective Association, in which he has served as president. His term as alderman (1890-91) was marked by faithful and efficient service.

TULIUS W. SKIDMORE, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Bridgeport. where he is successfully engaged in the manufacture of hat blocks, is a native of Connecticut, born March 15, 1847, at Bethlehem, Litchfield coun- ty. He is a son of P. H. Skidmore, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere.

In 1853 our subject came with the family to Bridgeport, where he first attended school, and in 1862, while the war of the Rebellion was at its height, he was still conning his books. He was burning also with patriotism, and caused his father so much trouble by making repeated ef- forts to enlist in the army that it was found necessary for a "guard " to accompany him to and from school. His dinner was sent to him, and he was kept locked in the school-room dur- ing noon recess; but, as will be seen, it was no avail. The lad was always handy with his pocket-knife, and one day, at noon, he contrived, by slyly taking an impression of the school door- key with some gum he was chewing, to make a key out of his maple-wood ruler. With this he succeeded in opening both doors which stood be- tween him and his heart's desire - the army. Now free, he at once wended his way to New Haven, Conn., where he enlisted as a drummer boy in Company D, 23rd Conn. V. I., and ac- companied the regiment to the front. At the

battle of Brashear City. La., June 23, 1863, he was shot through the leg by a sharpshooter who had already killed the fifer and six others of our subject's comrades, shooting each one through the forehead. Julius fell when wounded, but had sufficient presence of mind to lie still. The Rebel sharpshooter. after waiting a while, and thinking that our subject and comrades were all dead, emerged from his place of concealment, and was instantly killed by young Skidmore. Upon his return to Bridgeport, Mr. Skidmore was met at the train by Mayor Stirling and P. T. Barnum, who lifted him to their shoulders and carried him around among the citizens, who loudly cheered him. The city of Bridgeport pre- sented him with a handsome rosewood drum, and a letter of thanks for his heroic service.

After the war the " Drummer Boy of Com- pany D" attended the Cheshire Military Acade- my, from which institution he was graduated. On his return to Bridgeport he commenced learning the pattern-maker's trade in the Pacific Iron Works, under the instruction of his father, and from 1879 to 1884 he was a partner with his father and brother in that business. In 1870 he superintended. for his father, the construction of the Tocoi & St. Augustine railroad, in Florida, remaining there until 1875. In 1884 he became an employe of and designer for the firm of Glover, Sanford & Sons, wool-hat manufacturers in Bridgeport, and his branch in the business was the designing of ladies'. hats. When this firm discontinued business, Mr. Skidmore went to Newark, N. J., and became a member of the American Hat Machine & Supply Company, re- maining with them one year. Once more return- ing to Bridgeport, he embarked in the manufacture of hat blocks, his present flourishing enterprise, the business being situated on Washington avenue. We are sorry to have to record further that Mr. Skidmore has been guilty of manufacturing " wooden nutmegs," similar to those historic ones that were once upon a time " sprung " upon a too-confiding and unsophisticated public, with this difference that those of Mr. Skidmore's manufacture were very highly flavored and were intended as souvenirs to his many friends.

On October 18, 1876, Mr. Skidmore was mar- ried to Miss Marion E. Lewis, daughter of Dr. Theodore Lewis, of Stratford, Conn., and two chil- dren-Lewis Palmer and Maude Bernice-have been born to them. Socially, our subject is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a member of St. John's Lodge No. 3. Jerusalem Chapter. of Jer- usalem Council, of Pyramid Temple of the Mys- tic Shrine, and is a Knight Templar, Hamilton Commandery; he is also a member of Lafayette

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Consistory, 32º Scottish Rite Mason. He is a member of Elias Howe, Jr., Post No. 3, G. A. R .; is also a member of the Park City Yacht Club. and it is to his efforts that the present beautiful club house is largely due. He is an en- thusiastic yachtsman and hunter, one of the most popular men in Bridgeport, and the longer he is known the more he is esteemed, respected and admired.

G EORGE WILLIS BENEDICT, M. D .. the genial and intelligent postmaster of the city of South Norwalk, is a member of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of this county, the name having been prominent in local annals from pioneer days.

Several representatives of the family took an active part in the struggle which resulted in freeing the nation from the British yoke, and others in later times have been influential in social, political, financial and professional life. E. C. Benedict, a wealthy resident of Greenwich, and an intimate friend of Grover Cleveland, is a first cousin of our subject. The Doctor's grand- father, Asa Benedict, was a native of the county, and became a leading agriculturist of the town of Norwalk.

The late George Benedict, the Doctor's fa- ther, was born in South Norwalk June 2, 1807, and passed his life in that locality. From 1840 to 1885 he was a member of the firm of G. & W. H. Benedict, hat manufacturers of Norwalk, but the last three years of his life were spent in retirement, his death occurring September 17, 1888, at South Norwalk. As a good citizen he was always interested in political movements, and he was a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. In religious faith he was a Congregationalist, and for many years he | he died there in November of the same year. He held the office of deacon. He was also active 1 in municipal affairs, and at one time was a mem- ber of the city council of South Norwalk. His wife, Amanda (Benedict), who died May 1, 1893. was a daughter of John Benedict, a resi- dent of the town and county. Of the two chil- dren of this union, the elder, Miss Ophelia Jennie, died in 1873.

Our subject was born September 25. 1852. in South Norwalk, and until he reached the age of sixteen he attended the union school of that town. He then entered Prof. Olmstead's Acad- 1 emy at Wilton, Conn., to prepare for college. and in the fall of 1870 he became a student at Yale, where he was graduated in 1874 after tak- ing the regular Academic course. While in col- Our subject was born February 17, 1857. at lege he was a member of Alpha Delta Phiand Psi | West Bromwich, England, and was about twelve

Upsilon Fraternities. His professional education was begun in the medical department of the | same institution; after one year, however, he went to New York City and completed his course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, grad- uating in 1878. Soon afterward he established himself in practice at South Norwalk, but as time passed his attention was turned to political affairs more and more, and in 1895 he retired from practice. During the last five years of his professional work he made a specialty of treat- ing diseases of the nose and throat. Since June 1, 1895, he has held office as the postmaster of his native city. At various times he has declined nominations for other offices, and although he is an independent voter yet he could have com- manded a large following at the polls. The Doc- tor is not married. He is well liked socially, and is a member of the Congregational Church.

W ILLIAM HADLEY, a well-known resi- dent of Shelton, holds a responsible po- sition with the firm of M. Seward & Sons, manu- facturers of carriage hardware, New Haven, and his ability and skill in mechanical lines is widely recognized.

Mr. Hadley is of English birth and ancestry, and his grandfather. William Hadley, was a wealthy land owner near West Bromwich, Eng- land, where his life was spent as a " country squire." William Hadley (2), the father of our subject, was born at the old home near West Bromwich, and in early manhood became inter- ested in a rolling-mill business in England, but later he settled upon his estate and devoted much of his attention to its management. In 1870 he came to America to take possession of a farm in Illinois (which he had previously purchased), and

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 167

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