Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 171

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

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J OHN P. MOREHOUSE, one of the repre- sentative agriculturists of Fairfield township, is a citizen whose intelligence and public

Mr. Morehouse belongs to a family which has furnished many excellent citizens to this sec- · tion. Deacon William Morehouse, his grand- father. was born July 22, 1784. and died May : 21, 1860. His wife, Esther Burr, to whom he was married March 23. 1809, was born March 10, 1786, and died October 29. 1855. the re- mains of both being interred in Fairfield East cemetery. They had eight children: (1) Will- tam B .. born October 17. 1811. died at his homestead in Greenfield. where he had been en- paged in farming. He was active in local af- fairs and in the Congregational Church, in which he served as deacon for many years. He mar- ned Mary Burr (Hays) Lyon, and left two chil- dren. Morris and Mary E. (2) Sarah A .. born January 2, 1810, married Sylvester Randall, and died on Long Island, leaving three children- Esther B .. William M. and Caroline E. (3) Marietta, born November 20. 1813. married Jehiel Kandall, of Freeport. L. I., and has had hve children-Jehiel S., Stephen M., John J .. George and Mary E. (4) Stephen, our subject's father, is mentioned below. (5) Esther. born November 11. 1817, died at the age of forty. years, unmarried. (6) Miss Elizabeth B., born September 25, 1824, resides in Fairfield. (7) John, born July 15, 1826. served as a soldier during the Civil war, and for some years resided in California, but died in Middle District, Fair- field township. in 1894. For eight years pre- vious to his death he was blind. He married Miss Julia F. Sturges, and had three children, who died from diphtheria. (8) Catherine, born March 25. 1828. married William Banks, of Greenfield, and had one son. William Bradley, now a retired resident of Fairfield.

Stephen Morehouse, the father of our subject, was born August 20, 1819, in Middle District,

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dren-Sarah M. and Samuel A. (6) William S., born July 21, 1861, is a mechanical engineer at Seneca Falls, N. Y. He married Alice M. Earle, and has one child, Reba E.

Fairfield township, and after acquiring a common- school education he engaged in farming at the homestead. On March 10. 1846, he was mar- ried at Hull's Farms, to Miss Sarah Banks, a native of that locality, and began housekeeping Our subject was born April 10, 1850, in the Middle District of Fairfield, and his education was begun in the schools of that neighborhood. Among his early teachers were Samuel More- house, Edson Banks and Lewis Beers, and after completing the course offered in the home schools he attended Fairfield Academy. As a boy he had a thorough training in farm work under the able supervision of his father, and in early manhood he engaged in farming on his own account. His homestead, which was formerly known as the William Nichols farm, is located in the Deerfield District, near Greenfield Hili. He has been a leading spirit among the pro- gressive farmers of his locality, and he has been the treasurer of Greenfield Hill Grange, No. 133. ever since its organization. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and although he is not an aspirant for public office he served one year as constable. upon a farm which he purchased in 1843. He was a good manager, showing keen foresight, and ! at his death, which occurred July 3, 1891, he left a comfortable competence. For years he suffered severely from rheumatism, but he re- mained active to the very last, being at work when stricken with his final illness. His remains now rest in Oak Lawn cemetery. He was a man i of integrity and honor, and while not a Church member his daily life showed that he was a true Christian. As a citizen he was much esteemed, but it was within his family circle that he was seen at his best, as a loving husband and father. While he was interested in public questions, be- ing a Whig in early life and later a Republican, he never cared to enter the political arena, pre- ferring the quiet life of an agriculturist, and he was heard to say shortly before his death that if he had his life to live over again he would be a farmer. His wile, who was born April 14, 1825, On March 25. 1874. he married Miss Mary B. dren: Arthur H., Edna L., Elizabeth M. and William Clinton. As Mr. and Mrs. Morehouse both place a high estimate upon education, they are giving excellent opportunities to their chil- dren, who are clever and energetic enough to make the most of their privileges. Mrs. More- house is prominent in the best social life of the I locality, and is an active member of the Grange and of the Congregational Church at Greenfield Hill. She was born January 8, 1850, at Hull's Farms, the daughter of Albert B. Hull and granddaughter of Alson L. and Mary (Banks) Hull. Her father was a successful farmer, a strong Republican in politics, and except for a short residence at Greens Farms he made his munity. They had five children: Miss Martha J .: Mary B., wife of our subject; William H., a ! farmer at Hull's Farms; Amelia, who married | Herbert Knapp, and died in Fairfield; and Al- survives him, and resides at the homestead. | Hull, and their home is brightened by four chil- She is a most estimable lady, a member of the Congregational Church at Fairfield, and is a de- scendant of one of the leading families of the county. Her grandfather, Nehemial Banks, who married Sarah Sherwood, owned an extensive tract of land, and her father, Capt. Eliphalet Banks, was a prominent citizen in his day, being active in the local militia, and serving in various offices, including that of deputy sheriff. For years he led the choir in the Congregational Church at Greenfield. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and his death occurred at his home- stead in 1830. His wife, Mary Chaplain (Hull), was a daughter of Cornelius and Mercy (Platt) Hull, and they had two children, Sarah (Mrs. Morehouse), and Mary C., widow of Daniel H. | home at Hull's Farms, his death occurring there . Meeker, of Greenfield. Six children were born | at the age of seventy vears. His wife, whose to Stephen and Sarah Morehouse: (1) Willis | maiden name was Catherine Banks, resides at F., born October 15, 1847, died April 10, 1886. i the old home, and is much respected in the com- at Bridgeport. where he was employed as cashier in Watson's Bank, having risen from the position of clerk. He married Miss Mary Ogden. (2) John P. is mentioned below. (3) Matilda B .. born October 28, 1851, married James E. Beach, I bert B., Jr., who died in early manhood, un- married. of Bridgeport, and has three children-Tillie M., Mary S. and Sarah M. (4) Edward B., born June 16, 1853. is engaged in farming. He mar- ried Miss Louise Bradley, and has three children MOS M. BRUSH, who, since 1881, has lived retired in Greenwich, Fairfield county, -H. Livingston, Eleanor N. and Lewis E. (5) Sarah M., born July 14, 1859, married John B. I is one of the most favorably known citizens of Wakeman, of Hull's Farms, and has two chil- | this section. His long and creditable service in

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Amor. M. Brush

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various public offices, and his connection during : the Stratford Savings Bank, of which he has his active years with the commercial life of the . served as director ever since; he is also an incor- county. have given him an unusually extensive porator and director of the Greenwich Savings acquaintance throughout the locality. in whose | Bank, and president of the Greenwich Mutual advancement and welfare he has always taken an ' Insurance Company.

important and substantial interest. Mr. Brush is the oldest hving male representative of his family, which has long been identified with the : ficient to occupy all his time, yet he found oppor- history of Fairfield county, and he is also con- ! tunity, even in his busiest years, to serve his fellow nected. on the maternal side, with the Mead . citizens, who honored him with election to numer- family, being a descendant of Ebenezer Mead (11). . ous offices of trust, which he filled with his usual ability, and with a faithfulness which could not

Although it would seem that Mr. Brush's extensive and varied business interests were suf-

Mr. Brush's great - grandfather. Edward Brush, was one of two brothers who settled in Fairfield ! be anything but satisfactory to all concerned. county about the beginning of the seventeenth | Originally a Whig in sentiment, he changed his century, coming from Long Island, and founded views in course of time and became a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, of which he has for years been reckoned one of the i stanchest members in his vicinity. He served as justice of the peace until advancing age compelled him to resign; was a member of the board of relief: in 1860 was elected a member of the State Legislature; for years was a member of the State Central Committee; member and clerk of the | board of health, and also served as assessor of Greenwich. Such a record speaks for itself, for the present Brush family in that region. His son, Benjamin, married Samantha Reynolds, and their son, Joseph, became the father of our sub- ject. Joseph was born August 3. 1792, in Stan- wich, and on March 18. 1523. wedded Sarah A. Mead, who was born January 9. 1803. in Green- wich village, daughter of Richard Mead by his second wife, Rachel Mead. Ebenezer Mead (11,. from whom this family descends, was born Octo- ber 25. 1692, and died in May, 1775 Amos ' Mead, his seventh son, and the father of Richard I a man's work is his best recommendation, and Mr. Mead, was born November 22. 1730, and died | Brush s repeated elections were a high compli- ment to his trustworthiness and integrity.

February 24, 1807.

On October 15. 1849, Mr. Brush was united in marriage, in Greenwich, to Miss Sarah P. Mead, who was born in 1825, in North street,

Amos M. Brush was born January 9. 1825, in Greenwich village, and his first schooling was received in the primitive institution of learning then conducted in the Cos Cob district. Here ! the daughter of Amos and Mary (Purdy) Mead. he attended until he was twelve years of age, and this union was blessed with four children, of whom the first two, Richard M. and Joseph W., died in Cos Cob at an early age. A. Edgar Brush married Lizzie Luke, of Greenwich, Conn., the daughter of Andrew Luke, and they reside in | Greenwich (his place of business is in New York). when he entered Greenwich Academy. and there finished his literary education when about seven- teen, at which age he commenced his life work. He began as clerk in his father's store at Cos Cob, but it was not long before he had to share the more important duties of the business, the ! They have two children-A. Luke Brush and father having met with an accident in which his : Catharine W. Brush. Augustus M. married Sarah leg was broken and thereby incapacitated for | K. Hodgeman, of New York, the daughter of Dr. active work. In time Amos succeeded to the | A. Hodgeman, and they reside in Greenwich, business, which he continued until 1879, and he : though Mr. Brush is employed in New York City; built up a trade which was considered the most i they have four children-Abbott H., Ralph P ..

extensive ever carried on in Cos Cob. That town was then the market place for a great part of the surrounding country, and the general mercantile business proved a profitable one for Mr. Brush. who, by his thorough honesty, straight methods . and upright dealing. gained the confidence, respect and patronage of the citizens in and around Cos Cob. He devoted the greater part of his time and attention to this branch, but he Gladdys M. and Margery U. The mother died September 28, 1859, and was laid to rest in Green- wich. in the cemetery of the Congregational Church, of which she was a member. Mr. Brush subsequently wedded Miss Cynthia J. Stafford, of New York, who died in 1886 and was buried in Greenwich. He is a prominent and active mem- , ber of the Congregational Church, of which for years he has efficiently served as treasurer, and also engaged in the boating business and dealt in i he is a worthy type of the Christian citizen, well coal, doing well in both lines. As an interested , preserved as a result of careful living and regular worker in the substantial welfare of the county, , habits, esteemed by all who know him for the he, in 1851, became one of the incorporators of . honorable life he has led, and passing his declin-

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ing years in peace and quietude, surrounded, as he deserves to be, by comforts and friends.

This sketch would be incomplete were no mention made of Mr. Brush's career as a mem- ber of the Connecticut State Militia. When eighteen years old he joined the Eighth Connecti- cut National Guard, and was soon afterward made orderly sergeant of the company at Cos Cob. When he was nineteen Colonel Stephens gave him a place on his staff, with the rank of quartermaster sergeant, and in July 22, 1846, he | deceased; Alson is also deceased; and Jewett re- was elected major of the regiment. receiving his | sides in New Milford, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he has been engaged in the creamery business.

commission from Gov. Isaac Towsey. On August 2, 1847, he was elected lieutenant-colonel, under Clark Bissell. and two years later was promoted to the rank of colonel, from which he i of his life at Woodbridge, and later he resided

finally resigned, however, pressure of business and public affairs campelling him to sever his con- nection with the militia.

J YULIAN S. CLINTON is an enterprising and i and blinds, and after working in these lines for successful business man cf Stratford, and | five years he took up the trade of pattern maker,

through his own efforts he has attained an enviable standing among the citizens of that pleasant town.

Born November 19. 1859, at Woodbridge, New Haven Co .. Conn., Mr. Clinton traces his de- scent from good old stock, his ancestors having settled in Connecticut at an early day. Almon Clinton, the grandfather of our subject, was born in this State, whence in early manhood he removed to Pennsylvania and engaged in farm-

ing in Susquehanna county. His wife, Polly ! No. 8; also with the Order of American Me- I chanics and the I. O. O. F., Oronoque Lodge No. 90, of Stratford.

(Carpenter), was a native of Pennsylvania, but her family had been identified with Connecticut at an earlier period. Five children were born to Almon and Polly Clinton, viz .: Uriah, our sub- ject's father; Sally A., who married Edwin Judd, a contractor and builder of Waterbury, Conn .; Ira, who was engaged in the manufacture of root beer at Waterbury, first with our subject's father. and later alone; Edwin, formerly a blacksmith in Susquehanna county, Penn. ; and Henry. who was engaged in the bottling business in Wood- ! bridge and Seymour, New Haven county, but finally removed to Augusta, Ga .. where he was | granddaughter of Peter Clemons. in business at the time of his death.

in June, 1881. He was not especially active in political work, though he took an interest in public affairs and was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. His wife, Caroline (Coleman). who died in October, 1870, was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Hanna and Will- : jam Coleman. Our subject is the youngest of five children, of whom the third died in infancy. unnamed; of the others, Loranda married Al- bert Porter, of New Haven, and both are now

Julian S. Clinton spent the first eleven years i for brief periods in Bridgeport and Birmingham, Conn., and in Pennsylvania, attending school in all these localities. While in Pennsylvania he learned the details of cabinet making, carriage making, and the manufacture of sash, doors,

I which he followed in Bridgeport, this county, for some time. In 1891 he removed to Strat- ford, and engaged in the grocery and bakery business with G. L. Holmes, the partnership continuing until the death of Mr. Holmes in 1897. Since that time Mr. Clinton has carried on business alone, his judicious management bringing him a gratifying degree of success. Po- litically, he is a Democrat, and socially he is identified with the F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge

In 1881 Mr. Clinton married Miss Mary E. Judson, of Stratford, and six children have blessed the union, of whom the following are living: Emma, Alison D., Ada C. and Lee. Mrs. Clinton is related to some of the old fam- lies of Stratford, and her father, David William Judson, and grandfather, Silas Judson, were both well-known residents of the town. Her mother, whose maiden name was Emma Clemons, was born in Stratford, a daughter of Andrew B. and

Uriah Clinton was born and reared in Sus- quehanna county, Penn .. and learned the black- smith's trade there. After following it some C .HARLES E. SEYMOUR. There is no les- son which should be more deeply impressed . upon the mind of an aspiring youth than that of the necessity for being reliable and trustworthy in all his dealings. Truly " honesty is the best : policy," and the confidence of the public is of , greater value in the long run than the results of years, he came to Connecticut and engaged in business with his brother, Ira, at Woodbridge. On retiring from that partnership, he took charge of a hotel at Woodbridge, and in 1871 he lo- cated at Bridgeport, then removed to Gibson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 1874, where he died | trickery. In the career of this well-known busi-

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ness man of South Norwalk we find this truth studies in the schools of that locality. On his exemplified, as his own reliability has opened to , return to South Norwalk he entered the employ him the doors of opportunity in every direction to which he has turned his attention. of Tolles & Ely, lumber dealers, as office boy, bookkeeper and salesman, and later was em- The Seymour family originated in France. and some of its members were among the carhest settlers in this section. Thomas Seymour, our subject s grandfather, was a native of Westches- ter county. N. Y., and passed his life there in ploved for about four years by Millard & Brow- nell, the grain dealers. His abilities having at- tracted the attention of the officials of the First National Bank of South Norwalk, he was em- , ployed as a bookkeeper, and so well did he per- agricultural pursuits. He married Hannah Mer- , form the duties that he was promoted to the post ntt. and reared a large family of children, among . of paying telier and cashier, which he held for " hom was a son, John, our subject s father. The , thirteen years. In 1885 he formed a partner- late John Seymour was born and reared in Westchester county. N. Y., and his first business enterprise was as a real-estate dealer in that ! locality. In 1837 he purchased one hundred ship with F. D. Lawton, and purchased a gro- cery business from David Beers, Jr .. and this they conducted for one year. Mr. Seymour was then urged to return to his former position in the thousand acres of land in Tennessee, and his ex- , bank, a fact that speaks volumes for his relia- bility: but he declined the offer, and has con- tinued the business since with gratifying success, having gained the largest general grocery trade

tensive speculations in this hne, and as a dealer in provisions, enabled him to amass a very large fortune for his time. As his interests lay in the South during the greater part of his life. he | in his locahty. At the end of the first year Mr. sympathized with the news of the people of : Lawton sold his interest to a brother of our sub- ject, and two years later Mr. Seymour became the sole proprietor. His store at No. 33 West Washington street contains a fine stock, and his standing in business circles is shown by his credit among them, which is practically unhmited. He that section upon political questions, and was a supporter of the Democratic party until his death. which occurred September 12. 1801. at Norwalk. In religious faith he was a devout Methodist, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Saunders. This estimable lady survived her , is a member of the Board of Trade of South husband many years, passing away July 21, 1892. Norwalk, and, in addition to his extensive busi- , ness interests, he finds time to devote to the gen- eral welfare of the community as a member of the Citizens League. In politics he is a Re- publican, and his intense interest in temperance , reform leads him to oppose the granting of a li- cense to a liquor dealer. In municipal affairs he has always been prominent, and he has served She was of English descent and was born in Nor- walk, a daughter of Harvey Saunders, a leading citizen. On the maternal side she was a grand- daughter of Rev. Absalom Day, a man of much influence in his time, who gave such faithful and effective help in the organs ation of the First Methodist Church of South Norwalk that he was regarded as its real founder and chief sustainer. | two terms as councilman.

After the marriage of our subject's parents they resided for a time in Fulton, N. Y., but they later made a permanent home at Norwalk. Of | Henry J. Smith, a well-known citizen of that ( place. Two children have blessed this union: Grace M. and Susan E. The family is identified prominently with the First Methodist Church at South Norwalk, and for the last fifteen years Mr. Seymour has been the treasurer of that So- ciety. He is also a member of several frater- nities, including the I. O. O. F., the Royal Ar- canum and the Order of Red Men.

their five children, the first born, Myron, died at an early age; Newland S. died February 16, 1899 (he was connected with the auditing depart- ment of the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford R R.); Mary E. married the junior member of the firm of Hoggson & Robinson, printers; Charles E., our subject, is mentioned more fully below; and W. Howard is assistant paymaster for the General Electric Light Company, at Schen- ectady, New York.

In 1875 Mr. Seymour married Miss Anna F. Smith. a native of Danbury, and a daughter of

Mr. Seymour, our subiect. was born January 12, 1851, at Fulton, N. Y., but as his parents removed to South Norwalk when he was about a year and a half old, his boyhood was mainly spent in that place. He attended the local schools, and for two years. while living upon a farm in Genesee county, N. Y., he pursued his , men who saved the Union is diminishing; but no

ORIN I. BACKUS. As the passing years have softened the animosity which once burned so hotly between the North and the South, and new ties of sympathy have been woven. there have been those who feared that the gratitude and affection of the people for the brave

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one who is in touch with the heart of the Amer- ican people can fail to realize that the more quietly-voiced sentiment of later times is as deep and fervent as that which found vehement ex- pression during the period of greater excitement.

It was in the " dark days " of 1862 that the subject of this sketch, then a young man of nine- teen, enlisted as a private in Company A, 127th N. Y. V. I., and he was in the service from Au- gust 12, of that gloomy year, until June 30, 1865, when, peace having been restored, his regiment was mustered out, at Charleston, S. C. During these years he saw much severe fighting with the Army of the Potomac. His first important en- gageinent was the siege of Suffolk, and after the battle of Gettysburg his regiment was sent to the Department of the South and took part in the siege of Morris Island, the battle of Honey Hill on the Broad river, near Charleston, and the bat- tle on the Pocateligo river. Fortunately he was never wounded or captured, though that fact does not in the least detract from the quiet hero- ism which kept him in danger of both until the long struggle was ended. On April 15, 1865, he was one of the guard of honor when Major Anderson rehoisted " Old Glory " over the ruins of Fort Sumter.

Mr. Backus is a native of New York State, born December 29, 1842, in the town of Butter- nut, Otsego county. His paternal grandparents, William and Hannah Backus, resided at Pine Plains. Dutchess Co., N. Y .. where his father, Isaac Backus, was born in 1808. Isaac Backus married Miss Rachel Roberts, who was born at Danbury, Fairfield Co., Conn., May 24, 1809, daughter of Isaac and Elmira (Flynn) Roberts; Isaac Roberts was born at Ridgefield, Conn., in 1788, and he served in the war of 1812; his wife was born in Danbury in 1790, a daughter of Thomas Flynn, who also served in the war of 1812. Six children were born to the union of Isaac and Rachel (Roberts) Backus, viz .: Eliza A., George William, Mary A., James Henry, Sarah M., and Orin Isaac, who is now the only surviving member of the family. The father died in November, 1842, and the mother on Oc- tober 23, 1861.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 171

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