Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 174

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

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1792. On July 15, 1794. Mr. Dayton wedded | acres of highly improved and valuable. land, Miss Anna Kiel, who was born February 16, i which is one of the most desirable tracts in the 1772, and by her he had five children, namely: | township, a large part of it lying on a ridge which Nathaniel B .; Hannah, born July 4. 1798, who died young: James and John (twins), born July 17, 1805, the former of whom died in early man- ! hood, the latter at the advanced age of seventy- five; and Mary A., who married Alexander Brown, and died at Green Point, Long Island. makes it specially pleasant as a residence site. They have cultivated the land profitably for many years, and have left nothing undone which would enhance its value or appearance either as a farm or home. Besides looking after the gen- eral agricultural work they have given special at- tention to dairying, at one time having a herd of

Nathaniel B. Dayton was in his day one of was born October 17, 1795, in Harrison town- ship, Westchester Co., N. Y., where he was feared to farm work, in boyhood attending the i country district schools, where he received all

the most remarkable men in this locality. He | over forty cows, and at the present time running wo wagons. They are among the most exten- sive milk dealers in this section. The brothers originally wholesaled their milk, but having lost i several thousand dollars through unscrupulous

his literary education. For his first wife he | dealers they concluded to try the retail trade, and married Alice Selleck, who was a native of I had a large patronage, running three wagons. Round Hill, Greenwich township, a daughter of In 1890 they abandoned retailing, but took it up Sylvanus Selleck, and they located on a farm | again in 1897. No men in the county have in King Street. which Mr. Dayton's father had i cleaner reputations for strict integrity and just bought for him, living there some years. Their i dealing, and none are more respected in private next home was on a farm in Rye township, | life for their honorable and prosperous career. Westchester Co., N. Y., whence they removed |. They are both unmarried. to a farm in Greenwich township, near the vil- lage of Greenwich, in which it is now in- cluded. On leaving this place he rented the "Titus Mead" farm, in Greenwich, for a time, D AVID TREAT BOOTH, a well-known resi- dent of the town of Trumbull, is at present engaged in agricultural pursuits near Long Hill, and for many years has made his home in Trum- bull. and thence came to the property now oc- cupied by his children, where he passed the re- mainder of his life. His first wife died March 20, 1838, leaving three children, viz .: Mary E., Mr. Booth belongs to one of the oldest fam- | ilies of Trumbull, and his great-grandfather, born September 17, 1829: Silas S., born January 17, 1831; and James H., born May 10, 1835, | Philo Booth, was a citizen of note in the early who have lived together on the farm all their | days. The old Booth home in the White Plains District, built by this worthy pioneer in 1742, went out of the family about twenty-five years ago. David Carr Booth, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in the White Plains District of Trumbull, and married Elizabeth Ann Blakeman. lives. Mr. Dayton, for his second wife, married | Mrs. Elma Redfield, and for his third wedded Mrs. Margaret Gregory, but had no children by either union. He was a large man, weighing usually about 185 pounds, enjoyed robust health. and was active up to the time of his decease, October, 1894, when he had attained the un- Philo Treat Booth, our subject's father, was born at the old homestead, and was educated in the schools of the district. He was married in Bridgeport to Miss Abigail M. Hubbell, of Hunt- usual age of ninety-nine years. He was laid to rest in Putnam cemetery. He died of pneu- monia, but during his early years he was seldom sick, and he never needed a doctor's services | ington, this county, and soon afterward removed

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to Cayuga county. N. Y., where he was engaged in farming for eleven years. He then returned to Trumbull, and for a number of years was em- ployed in Fairchild's paper-mill. where he was accidentally killed January 6, 1860. His wife survived him many years. her death occurring in the fall of 188 ;. They had four children: Sarah E., who married Richard B. Aver. of Bridge- port: Kate Miranda, wile of Abbott L. Blood, of Yarmington Court, Bridgeport; David T .. our subject; and Ella M .. who married 'first) George H. French, and (second, John Bailey, of Trum- bull.

Our subject was born December 28, 1848. in the town of Ira. Cayuga Co .. N. Y., but his edu- cation was obtained chiefly in the schools of the White Plains District of Trumbull, and in the , tions, including the Masonic Fraternity; the Sea city of Bridgeport. For some time he was em- Side Outing Club, of which he is president; and the Sea Side Club, in which he holds office as a member of the board of governors. His parents were members of the Methodist Church, and he was reared in that faith, but he and his family attend the Congregational Church. ployed in Fairchild's paper mill and in Cook's mill at Trumbull. but in 1887 he removed to Long Hill, where he worked five years in Coan's wagon- shop. In the fall of 1892 he settled at his pres- ent homestead, and engaged in farming, which he has since pursued successfully. As a citizen he is much estermed, and he takes an interest in all plans for local advancement. having been es- pecially active in educational affairs as a member C HARLES H. WELLES. proprietor of a neat and productive farm in the town of Stratford, is a native of Connecticut, born September 4, 1854. in the house where he is now living, in the Putney District, town of Stratford. of the school committee. Socially, he is con- nected with the I. O. O. F., Pequonnock Lodge at Bridgeport, with which he united twenty-six years ago. He was married (first) in Easton, this county, to Miss Mary Pauline Thorp. and (second) to Miss Kate C. Odell, of Bridgeport. who is a member of the Congregational Church at Trumbull, and is active in the work of the So- ciety. His only child, Perry Treat Booth, died in infancy.

J JOHN A. RUSLING, junior member of the firm of Wilson & Rushing. of Bridgeport, tail- ors and dealers in furnishings, has made his way in life through his own energy and ability. being now a partner in the same establishment in which he was formerly an employe.

Our subject was born at the old home in Warren county, N. J .. and comes of good old English stock. As a boy he began to learn the tailor's trade with his father. At the age of four- teen he went to Easton, Penn., where he was employed for a time in a store, and later he spent several years in Wilmington, Del. He then went to Philadelphia to take a place as cutter in a clothing establishment. but soon afterward he re- turned to New Jersey and remained for some years at Belvidere, being appointed in the mit an- time to the office of postmaster by President

Grant. For about four years he resided in New- ark, N. J., and in New York City, but in 1878 he located at Bridgeport, where he has since re- mamed. For some years he was employed as a cutter by Frank M. Wilson, his present partner, and in 1884 he purchased a half-interest in the business. He is also a member of the local Board of Trade, and, as a public-spirited citizen, he takes part in municipal affairs, having served on the police board and in the city council. In politics he is a Republican.

In 1872, Mr. Rusling married Miss Mary S. Lane, daughter of Garrett Lane, a respected citizen of Easton, Penn., and two children-Mar- paret and John A., Jr .- have blessed the union. Mr. Rusling is identified with several organiza-

Mr. Welles is a son of Charles C. Welles (or W'ells. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere) and Caroline M. (Wheeler), a daughter of Everett Wheeler, all natives of Stratford, the Wheelers being one of the old and prominent families of the county.

Our subject received a liberal education, in , part at the schools of the neighborhood of his place of birth, and in part at Stratford Academy, afterward attending a private school in Bridge- , port. At the age of eighteen he laid aside his books and cominenced life for himself on his present place, where he has since carried on . general farming. He makes a specialty of raising and shipping poultry, chiefly for breeding pur- poses, finding markets all over the United States and Canada. His favorite breed is .. Plymouth Rocks." and his reputation for this strain of poultry is known far and wide.

In 1883 Mr. Welles was united in marriage with Mattie B. Curtiss, daughter of Peter and Mary E. (Fitch) Curtiss, and a cousin of Robert W. Curtiss, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Four children were born to this union: Olive, Ruth, Myra Christine and Charles Ralph.

In politics our subject is a lifelong Repub- lican, and at the present time is serving on the

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school board and as first selectman. Socially, i emigrated in 1842 to Holyoke, Mass., where he he is a member of the Grange of his town. He has never allowed his private interests to inter- fere with his duties of citizenship, and he has thus become honored and esteemed by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. or who have met him in a business way.

apprenticed himself to learn the machinist's trade. at the Ames factory. This trade he followed up to the time of his death. During his lifetime he held positions of responsibility. When he re- ; moved to Hartford, in the early " fifties." he be- came foreman of the screw department in Sharp's Rifle Factory, which responsible position he held during the Civil war, and in 1865 he ac- i cepted a similar position with Parke Brothers. gun makers, of Meriden, Conn. This latter posi- ! tion he held until his death, from pneumonia.

W WILLIAM JAMES A. O'HARA. M. D., was born in Hartford, Conn .. on the eighth day of October, 1863. He received his preliminary education in the public schools, the : after a brief illness, in 1875. Of a family of Christian Brothers Academy and St. Joseph's twelve children, only five survive the father: Dr. William J. A., our subject; Francis H., Jr., who Parochial School. After finish ng school he en- tered the employ of Arthur Mulford to learn | is an expert mechanic, at present employed at photo engraving, and this occupation he followed | the Western Electric Company, New York. for a year. He then turned his attention to more advanced studies, and entered Niagara ! University, in Niagara county, New York.

! formerly for twelve years model gunmaker with the Pratt & Whitney Company; Edward J., a machinist, who died in 1896, at the age of thirty- eight; Thomas J., who is a machinist and tool maker with the Pratt & Whitney Company: i George M. (the youngest), engaged in the retail I tea business at Hartford. Mrs. Ann O'Hara,

In 1889 our subject commenced the study of medicine and surgery in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md. Here he finished his medical studies after taking a full course, and graduated with degree in April. 1893. ' the mother, is yet living, now (1899) aged seventy- Soon after graduating he returned to his native | nine years. town. Hartford. and entered the office of Dr. Horace S. Fuller, one of the oldest and foremost medical practitioners in the State. The Doctor studied attentively under the direction of his able tutor. and in January, 1894, opened an office at his present quarters, the corner of East Main and Sterling streets, Bridgeport. The Doctor soon established a practice here, and distin-

NELSON FREDERICK HUBBELL, one of the most enterprising and successful ag- riculturists of the town of Trumbull, owns an at- tractive homestead near the village of Nichols. As his present prosperity follows after many years of toil in his congenial occupation, he can guished himself by performing several major sur- I take the greater pleasure in his surroundings and gical operations. In June, 1899, he entered the ' in the wholesome outdoor life which is a farm- Practitioner class at the Post-Graduate College i er's privilege. and Hospital. New York, in order to familiarize

Mr. Hubbell belongs to one of the pioneer himself with the latest improved method of sci- ! families of the county, and is a direct descend- entific treatment of medical and surgical cases, i ant of Richard Hubbell, an early settler of Fair- especially diseases of women and children.

In January. 1894. Doctor O'Hara married Miss Catherine A. Colgan, daughter of the late Denis Colgan. . The Doctor is a member of the : Miss Eunice Hooker, daughter of Dr. Daniel Connecticut. Fairfield County and Bridgeport Medical Societies; is medical examiner of the Letter Carriers Life Insurance Company: the : children as follows: Zalmon, Joseph, William, Alanson, Charlotte, Caroline, Mary Ann, Nancy,

ford, and of several fraternal societies: is also a | Eunice and Polly.

C. L. B. G .. and the Phoenix Mutual of Hart- member of the Park City Yacht Club, and of the Nassau Game and Fishing Club. In religious faith the Doctor is a practical Catholic. and a Bridgeport. Politically, he is a Democrat.

Alanson Hubbell, the father of our subject. was born in Easton, where he learned the car- penter's trade with his brothers. He married member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. East | Miss Delia Ward, daughter of Thomas Ward, of Trumbull, and for a time made his home in the town of Newtown, but his death occurred in

Francis Henry O'Hara, the father of Dr. W. T. A. O'Hara, was born in County Louth. Ire- . Trumbull when our subject was about nine years land, and with his wife, Ann (O'Connell) O'Hara, I old. His wife passed away, in 1877, in Trum-

field township. Joseph Hubbell, our subject's grandfather, was a carpenter by trade and made I his home at Easton, this county. He married Hooker. of New Haven, and a descendant of Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford, and had

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bull. Our subject was the youngest in a family

born in Hampden county, Mass., and is now liv- of four children, the others being Delia Ann, de- i ing at the homestead near South Norwalk. For ceased; Thomas, who died in the Civil war; and Caroline M .. deceased.

Nelson F. Hubbell was born January 12. 1836. in the White Plains District of the town of Trumbull, and his education was acquired in the schools of that neighborhood. On leaving school he spent four years as an apprentice with a shoe- maker of the town, but later he was employed in 1 Fairchild's paper-mill in Trumbull. remaining thirty years. During that time he purchased his present homestead. formerly known as the B. F. I Brinsmade farm. and since 1885 he has devoted | her home with our subject, is of English descent. his attention exclusively to agricultural work. In ; Her maiden name was Maryette Oatman, and 1859 he was married to Miss Mary E. Whitlock, ! her father, Arnold Oatman, was a well-known resi- a native of Bethel, this county, and a daughter . dent of Hartland. Hartford Co., Conn .. where of Marvin and Amanda Whitlock. Five chil- : she first saw the light. They had a family of four children: Milo H., our subject; Howard L., who resides in St. Paul. Minn .. is engaged in the whole- dren blessed this union: (1) Annie C. married Loring J. Ambler, of Stratford, Conn., and has one son, Nelson F. (2) Frederick N. (deceased) I sale grocery business; Ellen died in infancy, and married Miss Harriet Hager, and had two chil- ' William did not live to adult age.

dren-Frederick N., and Alice (deceased . (3) Charles H. married Miss Harriet E. Way. of | 1840, in Berkshire county, Mass., where he re- mained until he reached the age of fifteen. He

Bridgeport, and resides in Trumbull. (4) Eva- line married Charles Nichols, of Shelton, and has . was educated there and in the Connecticut Liter- had five children- Myrtle, Maud, Charles, Wesley , ary Institute, at Suffield, Hartford Co., Conn .. and Stanley. (5 Wilmot H. resides in Shelton. ' his course in the latter school being completed The mother of this family died in 1895. aged | in 1858. After graduating he spent seven years fifty-six years.

M ILO H. PARSONS. Few localities com- bine so happily the advantages of climate. scenery and rehned society as does this favored region, and among the rural homes are many whose owners have, after wide travel, found no | grain broker, but his health became impaired spot so desirable for a permanent residence. The | again, and in 1885 he came to this county to re- pleasant homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons, ,

| in Hartford, Conn., in a wholesale and retail : shoe business, but in 1865 he went to New York City to engage in the manufacture of lubricating oils. In 1879 he retired from this business, and passed three years in Colorado seeking recrea- tion and renewed health. On his return to New York City in 1882, he engaged in business as a

cuperate. One year he spent in Stamford, and near South Norwalk, gives evidence of the cult- : in 1886 he purchased his present farm of forty- ure and artistic taste of its occupants, and since i five acres near South Norwalk. He is fond of good horses, and since settling at the farm he has : devoted much time and attention to breeding and rearing fine specimens of horseflesh.

locating there in 1886 they have become promi- nent in the best social circles of the vicinity. Their hall is ornamented by a fine old clock : which stood in the capitol at Washington for many years.

Mrs. Parsons, whose maiden name was Georgiana Hull, is a native of this county, her Mr. Parsons comes of a good old Colonial family. He is of the fifth generation in descent from William Parsons, who emigrated from Eng- land at an early date in company with three ' the locality, and Mr. Parsons is an active mem- father. George Hull, having been a prominent citizen of Danbury. The family is helpfully re- lated to all the varied progressive movements of brothers. Anson Parsons, the great-grandfather : ber of several social organizations, including the of our subject. was born at Durham, Conn., and Norwalk Club and the Knob Outing Club. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. Of his three sons, (1) Frederick H. graduated from became a farmer by occupation. Levi Parsons. : our subject's grandfather, was a native of West Granville, Hampden Co .. Mass., where he passed . Columbia College, and is now engaged in busi- his entire life in agricultural pursuits. William ness as a civil engineer; he married Miss Lulu H. Parsons, the father of our subject, was also | D. Bedell, and resides at Bridgeport, this county.

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some years of his early manhood he was engaged in business as a blacksmith and carriage manu- 'facturer, but in 1867 he removed to Rochester. Beaver Co .. Penn., where he followed the lumber business for about fourteen years. He then went to Rockland county, N. Y., to en- gage in farming, but since 1887 he has resided with our subject. In politics he is a steadfast Democrat, and he has taken an active part in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church. His estimable wife. who also makes

The birth of our subject occurred October 5,

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(2) Harold A., who is also a graduate of Colum- bia College, is a civil engineer; he married Miss Mary B. Paxson, of Bristol, Penn. She belongs to good old Pennsylvania stock, and one of the possessions of which she is justly proud is the table on which the Declaration of Independence was written, which belonged to Thomas Jeffer- son. Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Parsons reside in Stamford, Conn. They have a house full of valuable antique mahogany furniture. (3) Wal- do H. has just been honorably discharged from service in the Third Conn. Regiment, and is in business in Boston, Massachusetts.

A RTHUR SHERWOOD. One of the most | five children, several of whom inherited their attractive farms in this section is that owned by the subject of this biography, a well-to- do agriculturist of Sherwood's Island, town of Westport. About half a mile of water front on Long Island Sound affords a beautiful view, and the farm itself, which contains about thirty-five acres, has been favored by Nature's lavish hand.

The island was named in honor of our sub- ject's family. which is one of the oldest in this county. The first ancestors to settle here were Thomas Sherwood and Alice Sherwood. who came from England in 1634, and the line of de- scent to our subject is traced through Thomas (2), a son of the pioneer; Samuel; Daniel (1); Daniel (2); Daniel (3); and Franklin, our subject's father.

Capt. Franklin Sherwood, the father of our subject, was born November 3, 1810, on Sher- wood's Island, and in early manhood he followed the sea, but in 1844, he engaged in farming at the present homestead. He was an excellent citizen, taking an interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the island, but he never aspired to official honors. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Guyer, was a daughter of Gershom B. and Fannie Guyer, prominent residents of West- port township. Our subject was the eldest in a family of four children, the others being: Ida, who died at the age of twelve years; Jane, wife of L. P. Wakeman, of Westport; and Fannie, who married John H. Elwood, a farmer of Greens Farms. The father of this family died September 9, 1888, and the mother in Novem- ber, 1882.

Arthur Sherwood was born October 16, 1842, in the town of Westport, and was two years old when his parents located at the present farm, where he has ever since resided. He attended the local schools and the academy at Greens Farms, while in his spare time he gained a thor- ough knowledge of agriculture by assisting his fa-

ther on the farm. He is a general farmer, but at one time he was engaged in breeding fine horses, a half-mile speeding track upon the farm affording an opportunity for training them. Po- litically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and in religious faith he is an Episcopalian, and he and his family take an active part in Church affairs. He possesses an excellent voice, a rare appreciation of music, and for many years he was a valued member of the Church choir.

In 1866 Mr. Sherwood married Miss Harriet J. Kemper, daughter of Charles H. Kemper, Sr., of Westport, Conn. She died April 17, 1881, and in December, 1882, he married her sister, Miss Mary Kemper. By the first union they had talent for music: (1) Lillian A., an accomp- lished teacher of instrumental and vocal music. married Dr. J. C. Newkirk, a dentist of Nor- walk, Conn. She is considered by musical crit- ics to be one of the finest soloists in the State. and she has held positions in several large churches, having been soprano soloist in one of them for over seven years. (2) Alice A. is win- ning fame as a contralto singer, having recently met with a most gratifying reception by critical audiences at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and in Brooklyn. At present she is singing at the Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth avenue, New York. She married L. H. Irwin, a stock broker in Brooklyn, N. Y. (3) Arthur P., who holds State records as a bicycle rider, was manager of a bicycle house at Bridgeport, and is now assistant superintendent with Warner Bros., corset manufacturers, Bridgeport. (4) Har- riet E., a successful teacher in the schools of East Norwalk, is an accomplished musician and has an excellent contralto voice, being at the present time a member of the choir of the Congregational Church in Norwalk. She married V. H. Yarnall, an electrical engineer of New York, she and her sis- ter Alice being both wedded at the same ceremony, at the Memorial Church of the Holy Trinity, at Westport, Conn., October 26, 1898. (5) Flora E. is also gaining prominence as a musician and soprano vocalist, and is now holding a position in the choir of the Congregational Church, Fair- field, Conn. By his second marriage Mr. Sher- wood has one daughter, Mabel, who is attending school.

T HOMAS MCADAMS, who does a large con- tracting business as a mason builder in and around Stamford, Fairfield county, is a represent- ative, well-to-do citizen of that place. He is a typical self-made man, steady, industrious and

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honest at all times, and is respected for the suc- ' Stamford and Syracuse, N. Y., and was but cess he has won and well deserves.

twelve years of age when he entered the employ of the Stamford Manufacturing Company, in the ' licorice department. He has continued in their service ever since, and by steady habits has risen

Mr. McAdams is a native of Ireland, born April 22, 1845, in Armagh. County Armagh, where his father was engaged in farming. and he spent his early years attending the national ' through different positions to that of night super- schools of that town, in which he obtained a practical knowledge of the necessary branches. Before reaching his majority he came to America. and for a time lived in New York City, where he learned the safe-building business with the Hern & McFarland Company, for whom he worked intendent. which he is filling with his customary ! faithfulness and attention to duty. Mr. Day- ton has been connected with the Cove Trans- portation Company ever since its formation, and since 1891 has held the office of president, for which he is well fitted. In 1861 he enlisted in two years. On account of ill health he left their . the Union service, joining the Third Connecticut employ and turned his attention to agriculture, I Volunteer Infantry for three months' duty. and in 1862 he enlisted in the United States navy. with which he served one year, part of the time continuously, part of his time being passed in the . on the " Dale," which belonged to the Eastern Gulf Squadron, and the rest of the time on the ·· Summerset."

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 174

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