Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 197

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

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 197

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served his neighbors in the capacity of justice of the peace. In his younger days he was inter- ested largely in things mihtary, and for a number of years was a member of the State Militia. Religiously, he and his wife are liberal contrib- utors toward the Congregational Church, and by his life he has added luster to the untarnished family name he bears. In whatever capacity he is found, - as friend, neighbor, business man or public official - he is ever the same genial. . courteous gentleman; his clean, honest soul find-

S NAMUEL F. HAGER, of the firm of Hager Bros., contractors and builders of Danbury, is a native of New York State, born in 1860, the son of John and Cecelia (Oberlee) Hager. The

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parents are both natives of Germany, though the mother is of English and French extraction.

John Hager and his wife were married in Germany, and in 1855 came to America, where he labored at his trade of millwright at various places. He finally located on a farm at West Morris. There were ten children in the fam- ily, namely: John, residing in Torrington, Conn., where he follows the trade of carpenter; George, of the firm of Hager Bros .; Samuel F., our subject; Carrie, the wife of Joseph Concel- man, outside foreman in a foundry at Bristol, Conn .; Kate, the wife of Roland Hull, a machinist of Bristol; Rebecca, the wife of Clifford Barnes, a liveryman, also of Bristol; Sarah, deceased in infancy: Lewis, a merchant in West Morris, Litchfield Co., Conn., and Mary and Elizabeth, both deceased in infancy. The father died in 1874. He was a Republican in his political

faith, and was an active worker in the cause of | troduces these lines, received his earlier educa- religion, being a member of the Baptist Church, as is also his widow.

Samuel F. Hager lived on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade at Southington, Conn., and for six years followed it at that place. Then for five years he worked at various places, but in 1888, in connection with his brother George, he formed a co-partnership, and Hager Bros. have since won a good reputation for superior workmanship and honest dealing in their business of contracting and building.

On January 6, 1892, Mr. Hager was married to Julia Procter. of Woodbury, Conn., a daugh- ter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Terell) Procter, of Bethany, who were of English extraction. One child was born to this union, Florence J., on April 18, 1893. In politics Mr. Hager is a Republican, and in religious connection he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is one of the substantial young business men of the place and ranks high in the estimation of those with whom he comes in contact. Of pleasant address and undoubted integrity, he has become a favorite socially, and his commercial success in the past is a good guaranty for the future.

ANIEL SEYMOUR BRINSMADE, civil representative native-born business men of Fair- field county stands the gentleman whose name here appears, and who is one of the most hon- ored and influential citizens of this region.

. Mr. Brinsmade was born February 17, 1845, in the town of Trumbull, Fairfield Co .. Conn.,

and is the youngest son of Daniel Stiles and Catherine (Mallette) Brinsmade. He is a direct descendant in the eighth generation from Will- iam Brinsmade, who came to this country from England in 1630, locating in Dorchester, Massa- chusetts.

John Brinsmade, the eldest son of William, settled in Charlestown, Mass., where, on May 2, 1638, he was made a freeman, and the same year married Mary Carter. About 1642 he moved to the town of Stratford, Conn., which at that time comprised within its limits both Trumbull and Huntington; and it is interesting to note that John Brinsmade and his ancestors have main- tained a continuous residence within the limits of the original town of Stratford from the year 1642 to the present day-a period of over two hundred and fifty years.

Daniel Seymour Brinsmade, whose name in- tion in the public schools of his native place and in the Gunnery at Washington, Conn. In 186; he matriculated in the Scientific department of Yale College, and graduated in 1870, having taken the Engineering course. Immediately thereafter he went to Huntington, locating in that part now known as Shelton, and became assistant engineer on the construction of the dam there (which is the largest in the State). at that time being constructed by the Ousa- tonic Water Company. In the fall of 1870 he was made chief engineer of the company, and the further development of the water- power and its surroundings, including the lay- ing-out of the borough of Shelton, together with its system of sewers and water works, have since been under his charge. In 1891 the dam built by the Ousatonic Water Co. in 1870 was swept away by an immense freshet accompanied by large quantities of ice, and upon Mr. Brins- made devolved the responsibility of designing and constructing a new dam, one containing such features as would make it safe beyond peradven- ture, and capable of meeting the conditions which resulted in the destruction of the original dam. The efficiency and general plan, as regards strength and engineering skill, of the present Ousatonic dam are solely due to Mr. Brinsmade's success in this important work, and the wide and enviable reputation that he enjoys as a hydraulic

D engineer of Shelton. Prominent among the I engineer is not to be wondered at.

The intimate connection which the Ousatonic Water Company bears to the building up of both Shelton and Derby has naturally brought Mr. Brinsmade-as vice-president and treasurer of that company-into close relations with the financial and manufacturing interests of the com-

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munity. At present he enjoys the still further ' from a record made by Charles Wesley Brins- distinction of being vice-president of the Home made, of Wellington, Ohio, in November, 1857.] Trust Company, and a director in the Birming- - -- ham National Bank, also in several manufactur- ing companies.

William Brinsmade came from England about 1628 or 1630 to Dorchester, Mass. His wife's name is not known. His children were: John, born in England in 1617; William, born in Dorchester. entered Harvard College in 1644.

Notwithstanding his manifold responsibilities in various incumbencies, yet his time and efforts i have not been entirely absorbed in his profession I was first minister at Marlboro, Mass., from

and business. For twenty-eight consecutive 1000 10 1701. on July 3 of which latter year he died [ See Allen's " Biographical Diction- ary"]: Alexander was in Charlestown, July 17, years he has been a member of the board of education of the town of Huntington, and is now its president; he is also president of the . 1654. but there is no subsequent trace; Ebbet, board of trustees of the Plumb Memorial Li- I born in Dorchester, married - Hart, was brary. appointed administrator of his brother (Rev.) Wilham s estate July 23, 1701, and died in 1708; Mary married Benjamin Leeds, July 16, 1667. and dird soon after; Jane, his other daughter, is in Latin. His eldest son John, who appears on

Politically a Republican, our subject repre- sented the town of Huntington in the Legisla- ture of ISS2. during which session he was largely instrumental in securing the charter for the . mentioned in his notes or diary which is written borough of Shelton, and for much of the time ! since he has served that borough in some ca- ' the record of Charlestown in 1636, united with pacity, at present filling the position of warden ' the Church, and was made freeman in 1638, mar- with his well-known ability and efficiency. In tried Mary Carter, who united with the Church in religious faith he is a member of the Congrega- , 1639; he removed to Stratford, Conn .. in 1642, tional Church of Derby.

In 1870 Mr. Brinsmade married Miss Jenette 1 of that village. [According to Connecticut rec- S. Pardee, daughter of Dr. John H. Pardee, of : ords the spelling of the name, Brinsmead was

Trumbull, and to this marriage have been born tive children: Frances L., Daniel E. (who gradu- ated from Yale S. S., class of 96). Caroline C. Helen J. and Wallace S. The name of an hon- ored old family Mr. Brinsmade bears worthily and well, and in both business and social circles he ranks deservedly high.

changed to Brinsmade by John Brinsmade, son of William. ]

John Brinsmade, son of William above men- tioned, born in England in 1617, married Mary Carter, and had children as follows: Mary, John, DANIEL, Zachariah, Paul, Samuel, Eliza- beth.

DANIEL (I) Brinsmade, son of John above, born 1645. married Sarah Kellogg; children as follows: Mary. DANIEL, Abigail, Samuel, Ruth.

DANIEL ( 11) ( Lieut. ) Brinsmade, son of | Daniel and Sarah Kellogg, above, born 1687, married Mary or Mercy Curtis, 1715, moved to Trumbull, Fairfield county, very early. Chil- dren as follows: Mary, Daniel, Hannah, ABRA- HAM. Daniel (11) was commissioned lieutenant in - connection with the French wars. [ Family tra- dition.]

ABRAHAM BRINSMADE (Capt.), son of Lieu-

Tradition has it that the first Brinsmead (for . tenant Daniel and Mary (or Mercy), was born in so the name was originally spelled to come from 1;27; married Mary Wheeler; children as fol- lows: Abigail, Hannah, DANIEL, and Abraham (deceased). Capt. Abraham Brinsmade was commissioned captain by Governor Trumbull, and was in Tryon's raid on Danbury. England to America was an offer of high rank in Cromwell's army, and that his sword, brought by him to this country, was highly ornamented, and furnished with a " guard" for the hand and aim up to the elbow made of small steel rings. DANIEL BRINSMADE, the great-grandfather of our subject. was the eldest son of Captain Abra- .. This was kept as a family record by his descend- ants until our great-great-uncle Peter's boys got , ham and Mary Wheeler, and was born Septem- possession of it, and had it made into a rat trap, , ber 22, 1752. He married Mary Beebe, and at which act of vandalism our grandfather was , reared the following children: Abigail, ABRA- most intensely indignant." [The above is taken ; HAM. Daniel, James, Federal, Mary and Ali.

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J AMES R. BRINSMADE, an honored vet- eran of the Civil war, and a representative manufacturer of Fairfield county, Conn., has demonstrated the true meaning of the word success as the full accomplishment of an hon- orable purpose. A soldier himself, he is de- scended from honored soldier ancestry who never drew the sword without a cause, and never sheathed it without honor.

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Mary Beebe was born January 20, 1755, daugh- ter of Capt. James Beebe, who was born in Danbury, 1718; was chaplain in the French wars 1759; enlisted several times; was at the battle of Ticonderoga; he was a lieutenant and a captain in the Second Regiment, Connecticut line; transferred as captain by General Wash- ington to corps of Sappers and Miners, and was at Valley Forge and siege of Yorktown. In 1783 he joined the " Sons of Cincinnati."

The following is taken from the "Hartford Cincinnati Records" in the possession of Yale University, New Haven, Conn .: "Capt. James Beebe, Stratford, detached, September 1, 1779, from the Second Regiment, Conn. Line, to serve with Sappers and Miners; resigned June 7. 1781 : Society of Cincinnati 1783; James Beebe- Captain Stratford".

The following is taken from Orcott's "His- tory of Statford "-" James Beebe, born in Dan- bury, 1718, graduated from Yale College 1745; chaplain in French wars; absent from his parish from May 5 to September 16, 1759." His name alao appears on the list of men who re- ceived back pay for service at Ticonderoga, September 2, 1775; and, in Church History, name appears as absent at Valley Forge.

ABRAHAM BRINSMADE (grandfather of our subject), born February 11, 1781, married Bet- sey Beach, daughter of Abel Beach, born Janu- ary, 1780. He (Abraham Brinsmade) enlisted for the war of 1812 as private at Bridgeport, Conn., September 30, 1812.

Abel Beach, father of Betsey, enlisted in Captain Goodwin's company, Second Battalion, Wadsworth Brigade, raised in June, 1776, to re- inforce Washington at New York; was taken prisoner September 15, 1776, and confined in prison ships in which he caught the fever, and three of his children died of the malady, having taken it from him after his return home.

Abraham Brinsmade and wife reared the fol- lowing children: Pauline, DANIEL S., Caroline, Sarah M., Eliza J., Charles S. and Rebecca. Of these, Pauline married Powell Hickox, of Washington, Conn .; Daniel S. is mentioned farther on; Caroline married Sidney Nichols, of Trumbull, Conn .; Sarah M. married Daniel Fris- bie, of Washington, Conn. ; Eliza J. married My- ron Hine, of Warren, Conn. ; Charles S. married Mary E. Frisbie, of Roxbury, Conn .; and Rebec- ca married Stephen Stirling, of Trumbull, Con- necticut.

CAPTAIN DANIEL STYLES BRINSMADE, father of our subject, was born February 22, 1808, in Trumbull. He married Catherine Mallette, daughter of Robert Mallette, of Trumbull, Conn.,

who was a grandson of John Mullette, a Hu- guenot refugee. Capt. D. S. and Catherine (Mal- lette) Brinsmade became the parents of three children: (1) Frances A., who married James R. Middlebrook, of Trumbull, Conn .; (2) JAMES ROBERT, our subject, who will be fully spoken of presently; and (3)Daniel Seymour, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. The mother of this family passed from earth in 1849, the father in 1872. He was commisioned captain of the Fifth Company, Fourth Regiment Connecticut Light Artillery, April 8, 1835. In their political predilections the Brinsmade family bear the record of having been Federalists, Whigs and Republi- cans.

JAMES R. BRINSMADE, whose name intro- duces this biographical sketch, was born August 25, 1839, in Trumbull, Fairfield county, Conn., and there received his elementary education, which was supplemented with a course of study at academies. In 1858 he commenced mercan- tile life with the dry-goods firm of Hall & Read, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

While in their employ he enlisted July 23, 1862, and entered the United States service as cor- poral, Company D, 17th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers. The regiment was first ordered to Fort Marshall, near Baltimore, Md .; from there moved to defenses north of Washington, D. C., and after being assigned to the Eleventh Corps, operated with that corps in Virginia until after the battle of Gettysburg, when it was ordered to Florida, where it remained until the close of the war. On January 29, 1864, by special No. 45, War Department, he was detached from the regiment by order of the Secretary of War, and ordered to report to the Adjutant-General's office, Washington, D. C. He received an hon- orable discharge from the 17th Regiment, August 31, 1864, through the War Department.

On July 10, 1864, when it had developed that General Early was on the road to capture Washington, volunteers for a War Department regiment were called for, and a battalion of six companies was organized in one day, and went on duty at once. One company was on skirmish line July 12, and had several men wounded. Enrolled July 10, in Company A; was on duty July 12, when the opportune arrival of the old Sixth Corps made a speedy end of the attack. On July 29, 1864, was commissioned second lieutenant and transferred to Company K, War Department Rifles. October 6, 1864, was pro- moted to first lieutenant, same company and regiment. This regiment was on special duty in and around Washington for one year. (While in Washington our subject took Masonic degrees

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in Lafayette Lodge and Mount Vernon Chapter). Resigned position in War Department July 11. 1866.

Mr. Brinsmade then made a trip west, located at Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the office of Hon. Richard Parsons, Internal Rev- enue collector, as accountant, afterward as ex- pert bookkeeper and accountant in mercantile lines. In 1872, on the death of his father, returned to Trumbull, Conn., where he remained until 1883, in which year he became connected with the Silver Plate Cutlery Company, of Bridgeport, which concern was, in January, 1855. removed to Shelton, where it built factories, and bas since been in active operation. In connec- tion with this company he first held the position of treasurer, then that of secretary and treasurer, and since 1894 he has filled the positions of president and treasurer.

In 1876 Mr. Brinsmade married Martha A. Beardsley, of Trumbull, Conn., a daughter of Col. Orville H. Beardsley, a direct descendant in line from William Beardsley, who came from England on the ship ". Planter" in April, 1635. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brinsmade: C. Alice and James B., both yet under the parental roof. The family are members of the Congregational Church; in poli- tics Mr. Brinsmade is a Republican; socially, he is affiliated with the G. A. R., and, as already related, with the F. & A. M. His pleasant, genial mannet has made for him a host of friends in the city, where he now makes his home, and as a brave soldier, loyal citizen and honorable business man, he justly deserves the high regard in which he is held. He has a beautiful home on Elizabeth street, Derby, Conn., where hos- pitality reigns supreme.

M RS. LUCY A. BARTRAM LEE, a vener- able resident of the town of Redding. is honored by all who know her. A long life has been vouchsafed to her, more than ninety years having passed over her head, and her last days are brightened by the company of her children and her children's children. Her husband, the late Milo Lee, who died May 12, 1877, in his seventy-first year, was a leading citizen of Red- ding, being influential in public affairs as well as in business circles.

As the Bartram family has been identified with the town of Redding from an early date the following history will be of general interest. Daniel Bartram, Mrs. Lee's grandfather, was born in England, and after coming to America located for a time in Fairfield, Fairfield Co.,

Conn. Later, however, he settled at Redding Centre, where he carried on an extensive busi- ness as a tanner, currier and shoemaker, the building used by him being still standing. He was a member of the Colonial militia, and at the time of the burning of Danbury was called into service to repel the British forces. He married Miss Ann Merchant, a member of one of the rep- resentative families of Redding, and they had seven children: Gurdon, Uriah, Levi, David, Annie, Julia and Phoebe.

Gurdon Bartram, the father of Mrs. Lee, was born September 21, 1776, in the town of Redding, and was educated in the common schools of the locality. On leaving school he learned the shoemaker's trade, but he never fol- lowed it, as he preferred to devote his attention to farming. He was active in religious work as a member of the Methodist Church, and was also identified with the Whig organization and prom- inent in local affairs, holding numerous town of- fices. His wife, whose maiden name was Loraine Sanford, was born September 3, 1787, the daugh- ter of Oliver Sanford, a wealthy agriculturist of the town of Redding. Twelve children were born of this union, ten of whom lived to adult age. (1) Aaron R., born November 15, 1804, was educated in the common schools of Redding, and engaged in business as a carriage maker. On January 15, 1827, he married Miss Harriet Bates, by whom he had three children-Walker B., David and Lydia A. (2) Lucy A., Mrs. Lee, is mentioned more fully below. (3) Barney, born September 20, 1808, became a cattle broker in New York City. He married Miss Laura Culver, of Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and they had one daughter, Belle. (4) Coley, born November 1, 1810, learned the blacksmith's trade but became a farmer by occupation. He married Miss Malvina Adams, of Westport, this county, and they had four children-Nelson, Agnes, Sarah and Louisa .. (5) Betsey, born May 23, 1813, married Ebenezer Wilson, a car- riage maker of Redding, and had three children -Charles H. (now a resident of Chicago), Lucy and Annie. (6) Oliver, born July 11, 1815, died at an early age. (7) Daniel S., born January 14, 1818, engaged in farming. He married Miss Eliza Godfrey, and they had eight children: Eli. George, Frank, Charles, William, Laura, Cath- erine and Anna. (8) Ephraim B., born March 26, 1820, died in infancy. (9) Levi W., born April 25, 1822, became a farmer. He married Miss Sarah Haines, and had three children: Gurdon, Francis and Elizabeth. (10) Frederick A., born September 13, 1824, was engaged in business as a pork packer at Bridgeport. He

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married Miss Amelia Burr, and had four children: Edgar B., Lillie, Belle and Jessie. (11) Mary B., born July 16, 1827, married Rufus Banks, a farmer of the town of Redding, and had three . children: Henry, Frederick and Carrie. (12) Julia, born September 30, 1829, married Myron Haines, a merchant in Illinois; they had no children.

Mrs. Lucy A. Lee was born August 27, 1806, at the old homestead in the town of Redding, where she received a good common-school edu- cation during girlhood. On April 18, 1830, she married Milo Lee, who was born and reared in Otsego county, N. Y., and for some years in early manhood was engaged in the hat manufact- uring business, owning a shop at Redding. Sub- sequently he became interested in farming, his later years being spent in that occupation. He gave much attention to politics as a supporter of the Democratic party, and was a leader in local affairs, holding numerous offices from selectman down. Two children, a son and a daughter, survive him: (1) Gurdon B., born November 29, 1831, was educated in the district schools of Redding, and for a number of years followed the trade of carriage maker; at present he resides in Bridgeport, where he holds the office of town clerk. He married Miss Caroline Gorham, daugh- ter of Joseph W. Gorham, of Redding, and they have had two children-Ella, who died at the age of twenty-four years, and Laura, living. (2) Mary received a common-school education in the town of Redding. In 1867 she married SAMUEL B. OSBORN, an intelligent and prosperous agri- culturist of Redding, where she now resides, and they had two children-Carrie and Milo, of whom the first-named died when twenty-two years of age. Mr. Osborn passed away Decem- ber 10, 1889, aged forty-six years.

W ILLIAM AGNEW CUMMING. While childhood and youth have a distinctive charm, an even greater interest invests a person- ality which conveys to the thoughtful mind the impress of long years of useful activity and the wealth of wide experience. The subject of this biography has been for many years a leading resident of Stamford, and his worth as a man and a citizen has gained for him the esteem and confidence of the community. Although now well advanced in years, being now in the eigh- tieth year of his age, he takes an interest in all that concerns the general welfare, and his influ- ence is none the less potent for good because quietly exerted.

The Cumming family is of Scotch-Irish origin,

and Thomas Cumming, the father of our subject, was a native of Bangor, Ireland, coming in early manhood to New York City, where he engaged in business as a contractor for city paving. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Susannah Pollock, died in the metropolis, he on March 6, 1861, aged seventy-seven, she on February 10, 1840, aged forty-five. Of their children, John, born in 1813, died January 11, 1894; he followed contracting in New York the greater part of bis life. Thomas, born June 22, 1815, is a contrac- tor, living in Hackensack, N. J. William Agnew is next in the order of birth. Susannah M., born June 5, 1822, is the wife of Rev. Dr. Patterson, of Brooklyn, N. Y. James P., born September 10, 1824, died in 1891, in Yonkers, N. Y .; be was a dry-goods merchant. Isabella H., born November 11, 1826, died in 1891; she married Rev. David Beattie, of Scotchtown, N. Y. Robert P., born November 20, 1828, died in 1887; he was a business man of New York. Stephen C. R., born November 22, 1830, died April 25, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York.

William A. Cumming, our subject, was born June 22, 1819, in New York City, where he was educated in a private school. On completing his studies be made several voyages, and later be engaged in business with his brothers, for some time conducting a flourmill at New York. He gave up this occupation to engage in contracting, which he followed successfully for forty years. Finally he became interested in the oyster busi- ness along the coast of Stamford and Greenwich townships, Fairfield county, and in this venture he met with his accustomed success. In 1856 be removed to Stamford with his family, and he has since made his home at Cumming's Point, a most desirable spot for a residence. While he has never been a politician, Mr. Cumming has never- theless always watched closely the course of pub- lic events, and in early life was a stanch Whig, later giving his support to the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and be and his family are prominently identified with the Church of that denomination at Stamford.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 197

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