Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 183

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

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M TILLS H. HUSTED. For more than one hundred and fifty years the Husted family. through six generations, have been residents of the town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, and he whose name opens this review, one of the substantial farmers of the town, is of the sixth generation who have occupied the same farm.

Born on this farm on Independence Day. 1860, Mr. Husted has descended from one Angel Husted, the progenitor of the family in Fairfield county, through the family line in the following order: Peter, Aaron and Mills H. Peter was born in May, 1742, was married in 1768 to Eu- nice Lyon, who was born April 1, 1750. in North Street, daughter of Job Lyon, also of North Street, and a sister to Isaac Lyon, a well-known citizen of his time. To the marriage were born: Amos, December 2, 1769, died when young: Cynthia, September 22, 1770, married Husted Hobby; Peter, October 11, 1772; Elnathan, January 16, 1775; Moses, December 19, 1776; Aaron (grandfather of our subject); Caleb. March 2, 1782; Eunice, January 24, 1784, became the second wife of Thomas Green; and Esbon, Janu- ary 25, 1787, died September 19, 1792. The father of these was a farmer, and his sons were tailors, shoemakers and merchants. He was buried in the Husted cemetery on the farm, near Greenwich.

Of his sons, Aaron Husted, born on the farm of his father, and where his father before him

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was born, married Amy Hobby, and they had also private schools, and although but compara- children as follows: Amos, Silas, Job. Emily. , tively a girl when left a widow, she showed tact Harriet and Mills H. Of these, Amos died when

and at once developed remarkable business young: Silas was a farmer, married a Miss Mar- ' ability. She has been a most kind and indulgent tha Mead, daughter of Jabez Mead, of Green- mother, and is greatly esteemed by her many friends and acquaintances for her many virtues. She is a member of the Congregational Church. Great credit is due her for the successful manage- ment of the estate of her husband. She has assisted her two children in getting settled in wich, and died in Greenwich; Job married a Miss Elma Brush. daughter of Edward and Sarah Brush: Emily and Harriet never married. The father of these, who hved to old age. was identified with the Congregational Church, and was buried in a private burying ground on the : comfortable homes.

homestead. He was fond of horses, and kept the best. He was a good farmer and citizen. and reared his children to adorn society. All three of his sons who reached mature are en- gaged in farming.

Mills H. Husted, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the homestead. He attended the pub- he schools of Greenwich, then went to Greenwich Academy under the principalship of Prof. Web- . ster. The only son. and his father dying when he

Mills H. Husted (father of our subject) was , was but one year old, the lad soon felt that much reared on the old Husted farm, the place of his responsibility rested on him, and he early relieved birth, which occurred November 28, 152: He ' his mother of as much of the management of attended the district schools of his neighborhood ' the farm as he could. At thirteen he was able and later went to Greenwich Academy. He was ' to do almost a man's work, and at fifteen he the youngest of the children by seven years, was time there He was a pious Christian man. greatly beloved for his exemplary life and kindly carried on the farm. Born, reared and ever reared on the home farm and lived all his life- I lived upon the same farm, occupied in agricult- I ural pursuits, he has had a quiet and honorable : life. On April 29, 1885, he was married to Miss ways. He was a member of and an official in the ' Abby L. Smith, who was born June 1. 1864. at Congregational Church, and was often a delegate | Port Chester, a daughter of Edmund L. and Adaline (Ritch) Smith, both of whom died in 1886, the father on April 17. and the mother on March 3. To the marriage of our subject and wife have been born: Adaline S., March 7, 1886, and Mills H., Jr., January 9, 1890. The father of these is one of the esteemed and respected citizens of the community in which he resides. Politically, he is a Democrat. The wife and mother is identified with the Congrega- tional Church.

to their Assemblies He understood farming thoroughly, was a good business man, and accu- mulated a competence. He, too, was fond of horses, and his animals were of the best, and were well kept. Politically, he was a Republican. His death occurred October 10, 1861, after a spinal affection of years standing. He was buried in a private burying ground on his farm, but later his remains were removed to 1 Putnam cemetery. He was twice married, first to Mary Brush, who was born in Indiana, daugh- ter of Capt. Edward and Sarah (Ingersoll) Brush, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. She died childless. was buried in a private burying ground, E PHRAIM THOMES. Few business men have shown greater versatility than has this enterprising resident of Rowayton, Fairfield coun- ty, who after some years of successful effort as a merchant, real-estate dealer and insurance agent ' in that pleasant village has engaged in contract- but afterward removed to Putnam cemetery. [ For his second wife Mills H. Husted married. | December 16. 1856, Miss Henrietta Brown, born August 10, 1839. in the town of Greenwich, a daughter of David and Sally J. (Brundage) , ing and building, with an office at South Nor- Brown. Her father, David Brown, was a son of

I walk. Although his varied lines of work have William Brown, and the mother was a daughter . necessarily required close attention, he has also of Jonah Brundage. To the marriage of Mr. · found time to take a prominent part in lo. Husted and Miss Brown were born: Harriet, I cal affairs, and his well-known ability and energy December 27. 1857. now Mrs. James G. Wilson, ' have been called into service by his fellow citi- of Greenwich; and Mills H., our subject, referred i zens, who have kept him continuously in office to again farther on. Ever since the death of the as selectman for five years past. father of these, his widow, who is a good busi- Mr. Thomes comes of good Colonial stock, ness woman, has managed his business affairs | his ancestors having located in Maine at an early well. . She was reared in Greenwich, where she | date. Samuel Thomes, his grandfather, lived up attended the public schools of the neighborhood, I to the time of his death at Westbrook, a suburb

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of Portland, Maine. Augustus Thomes, our sub- ject's father, was born in Portland, Maine, and spent his youth there, going to New York City when sixteen years of age. He engaged in the retail grocery business in New York in early manhood, and later came to Rowayton to con- tinue the same occupation. In politics he was first a Whig, afterward a Republican, and as a citizen he commanded the respect of all who knew him. His wife, Ann Hoyt, was a daughter of Stephen Hoyt, and a member of one of the oldest families. Of the five children of this es- timable couple our subject is now the only sur- vivor.

Mr. Thomes was born in Rowayton, Febru- ary 7, 1860, and his education was acquired in the schools of the locality. At the age of nine- teen years he became assistant postmaster of the village. At twenty-one he was appointed as the head of the office, and this position he held some twelve years. During this time he was employed for ten years by the New Haven Rail- road Company as ticket and freight agent, being at the time the youngest agent in their employ, beginning when he was nineteen. In the later years of his term as postmaster he conducted an extensive business as a dealer in coal, wood, brick, lime, cement, feed, grain, baled hay and straw and peat moss stable bedding. In addi- tion, he represented several leading fire, life and marine insurance companies, and also dealt in real estate. During this period he held the po- sition of notary public. In 1896 Mr. Thomes sold out his business and opened an office in South Norwalk, where he has since been en- gaged in a contracting business, making a spe- cialty of large enterprises, such as the construc- tion of bridges and docks.

As has been said, Mr. Thomes takes an active part in local politics. and he is one of the lead- ing advisers in the Republican organization of his town. In 1894 he was chosen selectman, and his efficient work in that office has won ap- proval from all parties. His wife, who was formerly Miss Kate Gleason, was born in Pitts- field, Mass., November 25, 1863. Their pleas- ant home at Rowayton is brightened by two chil- dren, Ruth and Russell. Socially, the family is prominent, and Mr. Thomes is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the I. O. O. F. and Old Well Lodge of Freemasons.

J TEREMIAH MILLER, a leading merchant at Springdale, in the town of Stamford, is one of the most prominent citizens of that local- ity, and is held in high esteem for his ability,

sound judgment and many excellent qualities of character. He is a man of much energy, and in addition to his mercantile business he acts as postmaster of the village, and also holds the posi- tion of ticket agent and baggage master for the New Canaan branch of the New York, New Haven & Hartford road at that point.

Mr. Miller's ancestors were identified at times with Fairfield county, and his grandfather, Alva Miller, a native of Cross River, Westchester Co., N. Y., resided for many years in the town of Da- rien, where he was engaged in the shoemaker's trade. He died in 1891, and his wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Jane Loder, passed away in 1892.

The late Lewis B. Miller, our subject's father, was born at Cross River, N. Y., and his early life was spent in New York City, where he en- gaged in the grocery business in early manhood. Later he removed to Darien, Fairfield county. and for some time was interested in the shoe business there, but during the last two years of his life he resided with his son at Springdale and assisted in the work of the store. In politics he was a Democrat, and socially he was connected with Rippowam Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Stam- ford, for many years. He married Miss Louisa Bell, daughter of Harmon Bell, a well-known resident of New Canaan, this county, and the following children were born of the union: Ellen L., wife of A. B. Knapp, of Springdale; Jere- miah, our subject; and Mary Amelia, wife of George C. Wilser, of Darien. The father passed to the unseen life July 5, 1896, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother is still living on the old homestead at Springdale.

Jeremiah Miller was born September 21, 1860, in the town of Darien, and his youth was spent there and in the town of Stamford, the dis- trict schools affording him a practical education. As a boy he became familiar with farm work. and later he learned the shoe-cutting trade with J. L. Tracy & Son, at Stamford, which he fol- lowed for exactly three years and seven months: but as it was not congenial he decided to engage in the grocery business at Springdale, where he opened his store on May 2, 1883. Since that time he has occupied three different stores in. Springdale, and on November 5, 1896, his estab- lishment was robbed and then destroyed by fire. He at once rebuilt at the same location, and his present store is a well-arranged brick building. 25 x 70 feet. For five or six years Mr. Milier served as assistant postmaster at the village, and in 1893 he was appointed postmaster, which pe- sition he has since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people.

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Mr. Miller was married, in 1890, in the town . present provision business in the village of of Stamford, to Miss Florence Strang, daughter I Fairfield, which he has since carried on con- of J. B. Strang, a prominent resident of that lo- ' tinuously with the exception of brief intervals cality, and one son, Robert, brightens their . during which he was farming. From 1874 to home. i 1878 he conducted a grocery business on the corner of Spring and Sanford avenues. He re- sides at Mill Plain, where he erected a comforta- ble home with commodious outbuildings.

0 LIVER C. JENNINGS. treasurer of the town of Fairfield. and the leading pro- vision dealer in the village of Fairfield, is one of community.

On February 10. 1858. Horace Jennings . was married to Miss Harriet H. Morris, of the wide awake, progressive business men of the i Litchfield county. Conn., a daughter of Garry I Morris, and children as follows were born to them: Hattie and Helen (twins). the former

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Jennings was born August 28, 1863. at Mill Plain. Fairfield . vet at home, the latter being the wife of county, a son of Horace and Helen (Morris) len- i Thomas Forsyth, of Fairfield; Annie, at home; nings, the former of whom was born April 4. i and Oliver C., our subject. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In poli- 1836, in the town of Fairfield. a son of Nehe- miah and Abigail Platt (Saunders-Meeker) Jen- 1 tics the father is a stanch Republican, but in nings. [See sketch of C. A. Meeker.] Nebe- ! State and local affairs he casts his ballot for the miah Jennings was born at Redding. Conn., in i best man, irrespective of party. For three years 1780. He was three times married, his third | he served the borough as selectman, and is looked wife being the widow of Aaron Meeker. She . upon and respected as a good citizen and a true was born in Westport. Conn., a daughter of ! friend. Thomas Saunders. Nehemiah followed the

Oliver C. Jennings, whose name introduces butchering business for many years, and when i this sketch, received a liberal district-school edu- he had attained the advanced age of eighty-seven i cation in Fairfield, one of his earlier teachers be- years he still ran a meat wagon-in fact, till within a few months of his death, which occurred ing Miss Kate Peet (now Mrs. Burr Perry). Aft- er leaving school heat once commenced to assist July 28, 1868, when he was about eighty-eight, I his father in the butchering and provision trade, he was still an active business man. His last I and has ever since been associated with him in wife lived to within a month of being ninety | the former line. In 1893 he embarked in his years old, dying January 29, 1895. and they , present provision business, the leading one in now rest side by side in the Oak Lawn cemetery. | Fairfield.

Their children were as follows: Horace, father

On April 10, 1889, Oliver C. Jennings was of our subject; Stephen, conducting a butchet- i married to Miss Sarah S. Forsyth, who was born ing business in Fairfield; Mary, who married | in Hyde Park. Dutchess Co .. N. Y., a daughter George Banks, and died in Fairfield: Nehemiah, I of John and Sarah (Arthur) Forsyth, and three a provision dealer of Southport; and Jane, de- I children have come to brighten their home: ceased wife of William Morris, of Southport. | Amy. Elsie and Ruth. Mrs. Jennings is a mem- Grandfather Jennings was a Whig and Repub- : ber of the Congregational Church of Fairfield. lican in politics; in religious faith the grand- ' Socially, Mr. Jennings is affiliated with Pequon- mother was a Methodist.

| nock Lodge No. 4. I. O. O. F., at Bridgeport; in

Horace Jennings, father of the subject of | politics he is a stanch Republican, and July 1, this sketch, secured a liberal common-school ed- , 1897, he was appointed town treasurer of Fair- ucation in the village of Fairfield. Moses Betts , field, while in the following October he was elect- being one of his earliest teachers; but after he ed to succeed himself. As a good business man. well-known, popular and highly esteemed, he has all the promises of a yet brighter future. was fourteen years old he saw little of the in- side of any school. At Birmingham, Conn., he commenced learning a trade, which after a few years, however, he abandoned, and he then re- turned home, remaining there until he was twenty-one. assisting his father in driving the ,

E LGIN S. ANDREWS, one of the younger progressive manufacturers and wide-awake meat wagon, etc. He then opened out a meat i citizens of Bethel, Fairfield county, is a native market in Southport. on a small scale, which he , of Connecticut, born in the town of Newtown, Jan- uary 9, 1860.

successfully conducted for several years, in which enterprise he was succeeded by his brother Nehe-

George A. Andrews. father of our subject, was miah. Horace then, in 1866, established his i born in the town of Bethel. in 1824, a son of An-

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drew and Huldah (Stowe) Andrews, respectable farming people of that locality. They were the | the last two firms mentioned Mr. Andrews con- parents of children as follows: Henry (deceased) ducted an orchestra, and gave violin lessons. was a farmer of Roxbury, Conn .; Andrew (de- ceased) was a hatter by trade; Eden (deceased) was a resident of Danbury township, and a hat- ter by trade: William (deceased) was an engineer

George A. Andrews attended the public schools

consecutively. Between the time he was with

In June, 1886, our subject commenced build- ing the small hat factory that is now a part of his present plant, and engaged in business under the firm name of Andrews, Mackenzie & Co. (E. S. of Cheshire, Conn .; Thomas died young; George | Andrews, F. W. and H. E. Mackenzie). In A. was the father of our subject; Eliza (deceased) 1 married Ezra White; Mary Ann, of Bridgeport, married Benj. Ray; and Emily (deceased) mar- ried Moses Parsons. The father of this family died March 31, 1893.

May, 1894, the firm name became Andrews, Mackenzie & Durant, changed November 27, 1895. to Durant & Andrews. The firm manu- facture stiff hats only, and are doing a thriving business.

On December 10, 1879, Elgin S. Andrews of Bethel, and was reared by his uncle Thomas . was married to Lauretta Ray, daughter of George until apprenticed to learn the trade of hatter : and Emily (Lloyd) Ray, and a native of Sandy with his brother-in-law. Moses Parsons, at Sandy | Hook, in the town of Newtown. Four children Hook, town of Newtown. There he remained ! have blessed this union: Emma Ray, Eudora until his marriage, at which time he commenced | N., Lauretta and Lillian. In religious faith Mr. in the hat-manufacturing business for his own ! Andrews is a member of the M. E. Church at account at Sandy Hook. During the Civil war ! he took up his residence in Danbury, and became Bethel; in politics he is a Republican; in social | affiliation he is a member of the F. & A. M .. foreman for E. A. Mallory & Son, with whom | Eureka Lodge No. 83, and of Eureka Chapter he remained several years: then moved to Great | at Danbury; and member of the K. of P., Put- Plain, in the town of Danbury, where he acted i nam Lodge, at Bethel. His residence is on Grant as foreman for a time in the Nichols Hat Fac- . street. Bethel, and he and his estimable wife en- tory at Bethel, after which he started a small hat ! joy alike the respect of a wide circle of friends. factory at Great Plains. In 1887 he moved to Bethel, and became foreman for Charles Smith, manufacturer of ladies' hats; at the end of four years he worked a short time for Judd & Co ..

later in the factory of Andrews, Mackenzie & Co. I time extensively engaged in business as a whole- at Bethel, Connecticut.

In 1848 George A. Andrews was married to 1 Nancy Sherman, daughter of Harry Sherman, I comb manufacturer and truckman for the Rub- | kind in the city.

ber Factory at Sandy Hook. Children as fol- lows were born to this union: George Edwin. now a resident of Bethel, married Gertrude Ricks, and had the following children-Stephen D., Harry and Alice: Carrie married George | occurred in Bridgeport.

Ferry, and resides in Bethel, they have one child-Bertha; Elgin S. is our subject; Jennie | in County West Meath, Ireland, and came to married Leonard Judd, and lives in Bethel, they | America in early manhood, locating in Bridge- have two children-Emma, and Julius (of Judd & | Co.); Frederick T. married Carrie Klinzing, and i married Miss Bridget Kennedy, of Bridgeport, who resides in Bethel, they have two children-Hazel and Pauline; Gertrude and Clifford both reside in ! living: William F., the eldest, is the subject of Bethel. In politics George A. Andrews was a | this sketch; Mary Ann married Harry Bliss, who Republican, and while a resident of Great Plain he served as justice of the peace.

Elgin S. Andrews, whose name introduces ! these lines, received his education at the New Street public schools in Danbury, and learned | the hatter's trade with his father at Great Plain. after which he worked for Judd & Co., Lane & | Short, Charles Smith, and F. W. Smith & Co.,

W ILLIAM F, SHERIDAN, a well-known citizen of Bridgeport, has been for some

: sale and retail dealer in wines and liquors, and his store, at the corner of Middle and Golden Hill streets, is one of the leading establishments of the

Mr. Sheridan was born in Bridgeport July 27, 1860, and is of Irish ancestry. Frank Sheridan, I his grandfather, a native of Ireland, came to the | United States many years ago, and his death

John Sheridan, our subject's father, was born

port, where he died December 8, 1885. He I survives him, and of their six children five are | is in the employ of the Eaton-Coe-Burnham Company, of Bridgeport; John is connected with the Haves fish market in Bridgeport; Miss Katie i is at home; Thomas, a plumber by trade, went to Santiago, Cuba, as a member of Company L, 1 United States Volunteer Engineers; and Michael is deceased.

During his youth our subject attended school

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in Bridgeport. and at the age of sixteen his . cially, and are both active members of the father started him in business as a peddler of ' Catholic Church in Bridgeport. He is also con- fruits. This work he continued successfully for nected with various fraternal organizations, in- cluding the Order of Foresters of America, the E. C. & B. Relief Association, the Catholic Be- nevolent Legion and the Knights of Columbus, being treasurer of the latter. Politically. he is a Democrat, and he is both active and influential in local affairs. In 1886, '88, '91 and '92 he was elected councilman for the Fourth ward. Bridgeport. and during the last two terms he served as chairman of the council. In 1893 he was elected alderman, and in all the positions to which he has been chosen he has discharged his duty to the public with ability and faithfulness. nine years, and he then tended bar for Samuel Ment for two years. Wishing to return to his former business. he entered into partnership with John H. Rush. under the firm name of Sheridan & Rush, and on the dissolution of the firm a year later Mr. Sheridan took a position as bartender with Moran & McCoy, remaining five years. In 1800 be established himself in his present store. where he has since carried on an extensive trade. Politically, be is an Independent, and he and his wife are prominent members of the Catholic Church in Bridgeport On October 2, 18:2. he married Miss budget E. Cannon, daughter of Thon.as ( annon. of Bridgeport, and one child. Cathrine V., brightens their honat .

G EORGE T. KELLY. This well-known resi- dent of Bridgeport has gained for himself an honorable piace in business circles through the exercise of the old-fashioned qualities of thrift and industry, and his frequent election to positions of trust and responsibility shows the high appreciation in which he is held among his fellow citizens

C HARLES A ROWE, who has been engaged in the dairy business here for the past twelve tears, is one of the estimable citizens of Fair- field township, and has resided in his present home there since the fall of 1897.

Mr. Rowe is a native of Milan, Dutchess Co .. N. Y .. born April 27. 1860, and comes from an old and highly respected family of that county. of German extraction, his ancestors belonging to the well-to-do agricultural class. His father. Mark Rowe, was born in Dutchess county. son of William M. Rowe, a farmer, and grandson of

Mr. Kelly is of Irish blood, and his father, Terrence Kelly, was born in County Tipperary. ' Mark Rowe, and he passed his entire life there. Ireland, whence he came to America in early engaged in farming in the town of Milan. He married Susan Squires, who was born in Fair- field, Conn., and removed with her parents, John manhood, and for many years was employed on the Naugatuck division of the New York, New, Haven & Hartford railroad, his home being in . and Clarissa Squires, to Dutchess county. They Bridgeport, where he died in 1862. He married Miss Bridget Stapleton, sister of George Staple-

reared a large family of children, as follows: Adaline C. (Mrs. Lewis W. Near), of Rhinebeck, ton, of Bridgeport, and she afterward married ' N. Y .; Isophine Mrs. Brush W. Mott), of Pough- keepsie, N. Y .; Mary S., unmarried, who lives

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 183

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