Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 200

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 200

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

done. finished, and properly finished. Socially,

(1) Charles Blakslee was born in 1802, at too, he was highly respected, for his genial, kind I the head of Newtown village. Along in the first and unassuming manners, and a consideration for all with whom he came in contact won for him the universal esteem of his fellow citizens, 1 during his long residence in his adopted town, and. in every relation of life, an unusually affec- 1 tionate regard. He died April 3, 1896, of inter- mittent fever, being in his eightieth year. half of the century he did a thriving business, I making clocks, keys and other small brass work. In 1840 he was a resident of Sandy Hook Dis- : trict, and carried on his business in a shop near the Niantic Mills. He married Jane Botsford. and died at Washington City. March 28, 1849. aged forty-seven; John B., his son, died Febru-

. At the age of thirty- five Mr. Gately was mar- i ary 24, 1833.

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(2) William Blakelee was born in 1995. and ' In Pennsylvania, he married Ella M. Hugus, of followed the trade of his father -that of a jew- eier In an early day he went to St. Louis, Mo . on horseback rand there harned the jeweler's business). returning to Connecticut in the same manhet. After a residence of four years in St. Louis. Mr Baksice returned to Newtown and took his father's business, following it until he was over eighty years of age, his place of busi- hess being on the north end of Main street. He was a man of good natural ability. enterprising and public-spinted, but not at all a public man; he was brought up in the faith of the Congrega- tional Church, and he was a member of Hnam Lodge. F. & A. M. He waited Chive, daugh- ter of James Beach Faiman, She died October 30. 1862, be on October 23. 1879 Ther mite children were .

(a James Beach Bakker was born April 29. 1823. He inherited much of his father s gemus, and at the age of sixteen he went to Sandy Hook to work with his uncle Charies, a machinist. When twenty -one be carried on buss- ness for himself opposite Niantic Mille. Later. in company with a younger brother, be built a large foundry, opposite the present M. E. church. in which they carried on business until 1857. when the business was cised out and James went to Meriden, Conn., remaining a year. Soon after be removed to New York, and with his brother-in-law, D. S Hammond, worked at the manufacturing of satchels and vaires from 1802 to 1872. Then he became interested in oil wells in Pennsylvania, formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, John C. Bress, and from this nu- cleus formed an important industry. Later the firm became Blaksice bros., comprising James, Charles and William. Wilham died years ago. but the firm remained unchanged. Their base of operations was (18%; and had been at Peters- burg. Penn., and they were pioneers in oil devel- opment. They also went largely into the manu- facturing of appliances for working wells. James Blakslee died in 1887. His widow. Susan J. who died May 29, 1800, was a daughter of Lem- vel Beers. Their children were: Carrie and Annie B., both deceased

(b) Eliza Maria Blaksice. born February 19. 1826. married Henry Beers Glover, and had chil- dren-Florence S. and Mary B. (c) Charles Fairman Blakeslee was born September 24. 1827. His early life was passed in Newtown, where he was engaged in the manufacturing business. Later he became a -- coated with his brother in the oil regions of Pennsylvania was set forth in the foregoing). where he is still engaged in business. being the only one of the brothers now living.

Franklin, that State, and they have two children -Florence Glover and Charles Fairman. (d) Sophia Augusta Blakslee, born February 26, 1:20. married Daniel S. Hammond, of New York. (c) Witham Zaba Blakeslee was born December 7. 1835. In early life he learned the trade of a machinist. Later he became associated with his brothers in the manufacturing business in New- town, thence in 1853 he went to New York, and was there successfully engaged in business until 1864. when, attracted by the outlook in the oil regions of Pennsylvania, he located at Tarr Farm, where he was engaged in the manufacture of drill- ing tools. In 1872 he removed to Petersburg. Fenn .. and for years was associated in business with his brothers, as set forth in the foregoing. Mr. Blakeslee became one of the incorporators of the Antwerp Pipe Company, a pioneer in the practical transportation of oil through pipes. He was one of the earliest operators in the produc- ing hun of Bradley & Co., and a stockholder in the United lines. Mr. Blaksive married Eliza Dingman, and at his death, July 5. 1880. left surviving a widow and three children. (f) Mary Jane Blakslee, born July 20. 1831. died May 2. 1834. in her third year. (g) George benjamin Blakslee was born July 19, 1836, and died May 8. ISSO He was reared and educated in New- town. During the Civil war he served his coun- try as a member of Company C. 23rd Conn. Vol. Int. After the close of the war he was variously employed in Newtown. He did not marry. (h) Mary Jane Blakslee, born January 18, 1839. died singic. July 5. 1881. (i) Sarah Grace Blakslee, born January 5. 1842, married Samuel C. Glover.

(3 Sarah Blakslee married a Mr. Stebbins, and they both died in early manhood and woman- hood.

(4 Augusta Blakslee married Ziba Blackman, and had children: Sarah, John. Ehza, Mary, Hattie, Martha, and several that died in infancy.

JOEL BLAKSLEE. The Blakslee family of Ply- mouth, of which our subject was a member, de- scended from Samuel Blakslee. who was a planter in Guilford. Conn., in 1650. but who afterward removed to New Haven, where he died in 1672. His grandson. Moses Blakslee, moved from New Haven to Waterbury, North- bury (afterward called Plymouth), about 1739. and settled on land previously laid out by him on what is now known as Town Hill. He was ap- pointed a deacon in the Congregational Church in Plymouth at its organization in 1740, and was an active and influential member of same and of the community. From him Joel Blakslee de-

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scended through John, born in 1725; Joel, born i maker by trade. He was married, in Ridgefield, 1752; and Ransom, born 1781. Of the genera- tion on the stage at the time of the Revolution- ary war, two at least are known to have served in the Continental army, one in Capt. Joseph Mansfield's (of Litchfield) company of infantry, and one in the Light Horse.

CHAMUEL CURTIS GLOVER, a son of Wal- ter C. Glover, was a farmer in Hanover District, Newtown, where he was born Decem- ber 29, 1831, and where he attended school. completing his education, however, in an institu- tion away from home.

In his early life Mr. Glover was largely in- terested in stock, buying and shipping horses and cattle from the West and Canada for the local markets, in which line he was at one time as- sociated with Fred Wheeler. In connection with this business Mr. Glover followed farming. He contracted with the New England Railroad Com- pany for their supply of meat during the con- struction of the road through this locality. Later in life, owing to ill health, he retired from active business. He was a man of good busi- I Company. He then commenced in the insur- ness ability, public-spirited. and was successful in his undertakings. He was a Democrat in his political views, vet, properly speaking, he was not a public man, though he represented Newtown In 1890 Mr. Disbrow added to his office a | United States pension agency. On January 23, 1867, he became a member of Elias Howe Post, G. A. R., of which he has been com- mander three terms. Under Governor Coffin in the Legislature in 1865. Socially, he was identified with Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., at Sandy Hook, and in religious faith he was an Episcopalian.

On December 18, 1878, Mr. Glover was mar- I he was quartermaster-general of the State of ried to Sarah G. Blakslee, who was born January | Connecticut. In 1880, under President Hayes. 5. 1842, a daughter of William Blakslee, and a | he was supervisor of census for Fairfield and granddaughter of Ziba and Mehitabel (Botsford) | Litchfield counties. For a term of years he Blakslee. To this marriage was born, October 11, 1 1883. a son, Samuel Curtis Glover. The father died July 5. 1890, and the widow and son now | He has held the office of registrar of voters. make their home in Newtown village.

W ILLIAM E. DISBROW (originally spelled Disbrough), a well-known business man of Bridgeport. and a typical American "hust- ler," engaged in general insurance business and as pension agent, comes of an old and honored | identified with the First Baptist Church of Bridge- family of Eastern New York. The Disbroughs port. are still well-known residents and property hold-

In 1878. at La Crosse, Wis., Mr. Disbrow ers of the town of Mamaroneck, Westchester i was married to Miss Lillie 1. Robinson, a de- Co., N. Y., and there is vet standing, on the i scendant of Dolly Madison, Robert Trent Paine. southern part of the house lot of Henry Dis- , and the Wilders. To this union have been born brough, the identical house he built in 1677.

@ Meeker Disbrow. father of our subject, was a resident of Brookfield, Conn., and a comb-

1 Conn., to Julia Whitlock, daughter of Jonathan Whitlock, of that locality, and three children were born to them: Henry Selleck, of New Milford, Conn. (he enlisted, in 1861, in the 8th Conn. V. I., and saw service at the front); David Burr, who is deceased; and William E. Thefa- ther of this family died in Brookfield, in 1846, aged thirty-five years.

William E. Disbrow was born March 15, 1844, in the town of Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., and received a liberal education in the public schools of both Brookfield and New Mil- ford, Conn. At the age of eighteen, on August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 19th Conn. V. I., being the youngest man in the company. This regiment later became the 2nd Conn. Heavy Artillery. and participated in many hotly-con- tested battles. Mr. Disbrow was with his com- pany in all its engagements, was wounded at Petersburg, Va., and was mustered out at New Haven, Conn., when the war ended. Returning 10 New Milford, he remained there until Octo- ber. 1866, at which time he came to Bridgeport, where, until 1870, he was with the Spring Perch i ance business -- fire, life and accident-in which he has established a first-class connection and : an excellent business reputation.

was deputy United States marshal, and he has : served as deputy sheriff of Fairfield county. and as a Republican. first. last, and all the time. I he has been State committeeman, also a member i of the county committee, and has always been a I hard worker in the interests of the party. So- cially, he has been master of Corinthian Lodge. I F. & A. M., at Bridgeport, and is a Knight : Templar. In religious faith he and his wife are

three children, to wit: Charles Robinson, Lillie E. and Helen J.

Mr. Disbrow, as already intimated, is a

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" hustler." and the different offices which he has held from time to time have been filled most creditabiy, while the same shrewd judgment and energetic management which have won him sur- cess in the business arena have been devoted to the discharge of his official duties

Bowden, and has one daughter-Mabel): (2) Juhette married Winthrop Alvin Foote, son of Winthrop and Cynthia Childs (Barlow) Foote.

C MIRTIS. There resided in Nazing. County of Esses. England, two brothers - John and Witham Curtis John was married there. on April 19. 1610. to Elizabeth Hutchins, and Will- John Elliott. afterward apostle to the Indians. William Curtis and wife came to America, and

A BIJAH CURTIS, son of Bemamin and Elizabeth (Birdsey) Curtis, was born Janu- ; iam, on August 6. 1618. to Sarah Elliott, sister of ary 31. 1740. He married Sarah Birdsey, and they had the following children: (1) John. born in 1764. married Hannah, daughter of John and . settled in Roxbury, and from them are descended the Courtises of Boston. John Curtis, it seems.

Phebe (Curtis) Beach, and had children-( arios G., Charles, Russell, Lucy, Betsey and Beach. . died in England, for Elizabeth, his widow, came (2) Benjamin, born in 1,66. died, childless, I with two sons. John and William (2), to this February 20, 1825. (3; Abijah Birdsey, born in country, and settled at Stratford, Conn. From I these are descended the Newtown Curtises and 1772. died in 185 ;.

Maior Abijah Birdsey Curtis was a great , other families of the name in Connecticut.

The earliest mention of the family on the

figure in Newtown history, and through tradition the youth of to-day are not unacquainted with I town records in Stratford is in 1652, excepting his painted iches and quaint expressions He ' the entry of children's birth, and there we read: repeatedly served as selectman, and was promi- .. Widow Elizabeth Curtis, mother of John and nent in public affairs generally. He was a large | William."

landowner, and resided in the old red house

William Curtis (2) took an active part in standing north of the New York & New England | public and military affairs. The name of his railroad, near the Sandy Hook depot. Many of first wife is unknown. His second wife, whom those who are yet living in Newtown can recall I he married after 1676, was Mrs. Sarah Good- the Major's favorite driving nag. " Bess." the old I rich. His children, all by his first wife, were: Sarah, Jonathan, Joshua, Abigail, Daniel, Eliza-

gray mare. He acquired his title. It is said. in service in the war of 1812. There is a story still . beth, Ebenezer, Zacharay and Josiah. told of him in his military career: The soldiers had been stealing poultry and other eatables | Curtis, and the ancestor of the Newtown Cur- from the neighboring farmers during a temporary

Josiah Curtis, the youngest son of William tises, was born in August, 1662. He married armistice, so Major Curtis got his men into line . Abigail Judson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah and read them a solid lecture on the enormity . (Porter) Judson, and his children were: Will- of stealing, winding up in a tone which type can i tam, born September 22. 1693; and Ann, born not reproduce. .. Boys, it's wicked to steal, but I in 1697, was married, in 1718, to Zachariah Booth, and died childless. The mother of these

if you do steal, you mustn't get ketched at it " He married, in 1793. Anna Glover Curtis, and . died in 1697, and the father married Mary Beach. had children - Marcia (married to John Beach). I daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Peacock) Beach. Horatio N., Charlotte (married to Nicholas B. ' Of their eleven children, Benjamin, born Decem- Lake . Anna imarried to Simeon B. Nichols ;. 1 ber 25, 1704. Josiah, born January 6, 1702, and Joseph b .. Birdsey G. (married to Louise ! Matthew, born in December, 1712 (says Cothren,. Ketchum . Caroline (married to Simcon B. "removed from Stratford to Newtown." Peck . and Ira lawrence.

Ira Lawrence Curtis, born November 19. 1813. died January 1. 1843. in Newtown. In 1835 he married Marietta Glover, born March 27, 1814. died August 30. 188 ;. She was the elder daughter of John Glover by his second wife. Polly Curtis. Ira L. Curtis and his wife had two daughters: (1) Elizabeth married Daniel Webster Parker, son of Woodbridge and Harriet M. (Thornton> Parker, and had the following children: Cora (Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Leonard) and Altred Curtis Parker (who married Gertrude | (1735) married (first) Phedima Nichols, (second)

Benjamin Curtis, son of Josiah Curtis, married. August 27. 1727. Elizabeth Birdsey, daughter of Abel and Comfort (Wells) Birdsey. She died Feb- ruary 24, 177 3. ared sixty-six years, and Mr. Curtis married, June 2. 1773. Bathsheba Ford. His death occurred September 4. 1776. His chil- dren (all by his first wife) were: Nehemiah (1727-March 20. 1804) married Martha Clark; ! Phæbe (born 1729) married Daniel Morehouse; Eunice (1731) married Amos Hard; Elizabeth 1 (1733) married Capt. John Glover; Benjamin

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Mary Devine, and (third) Phebe Ferris; Abel (1738-1767): Abijah (1740) married (first) Sarah Birdsey: Salmon (1759-February 2, 1824); and Sarah married Nirom Hard.

1796, aged eighty four years. He married, in 1737. Phebe Judson, daughter of David and Phebe (Stiles) Judson. Their children were: Phebe. born in 1738; David, in 1744; Matthew. in 1746: Stiles. in 1748; Jonah, in 1750; Josiah, in 1752: and Abraham, in 1754. The mother of | these children were born February 9. 1717. and | citizen. died September 18, 1758. The father in the following year married Abigail Thompson, by whom he had one son, Gould Curtis.

schools he was paid seventeen and sixteen dollars respectively, and boarded himself. The name of Philo Curtis, Jr., appears of record as the teacher in 1816. receiving for his services eighteen dollars per month. Our subject is said to have been a

Matthew Curtis, son of Josiah and Mary (Beach) Curtis, was born in 1712, and died in i strict disciplinarian. He always took a deep interest in school affairs. Mr. Curtis, 100, farmed as well as he taught. The old farm on which he resided was on the Bennett's Bridge road, bevond that of Benjamin G. Curtis. Mr. Curtis' name / appears among those who served as selectman of the town. He was a respected and esteemed

Benjamin Curtis, son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Birdsey) Curtis, had by his first wife, Phe- 1 dima Nichols, to whom he was married Novem- ber 23. 1758. children as follows: Philo. born June 27, 1760; a daughter whose name is not given, born December 16, 1761; Elizabeth (Mrs. Peck), born September 21, 1766; a daughter whose name is not given, born December 20, 1769; and Benjamin, born September 10, 1772. The mother died February 15, 1773. and in 1774 | the second generation), Ephraim, and Gideon.

Philo Curtis, son of Benjamin and Phedima (Nichols) Curtis, born June 27. 1760, married Huldah Hubbell. He died March 7, 1818, aged fifty-seven. and she died June 25, 1853. in her ninety-sixth year. Their children were: Philo, Betty, Carlos, Huldah, Julia, Nichols and Phe- dima.

the father married Mary Devine (deVine). To the second marriage were born children as follows: Sarah. born November 24, 1775. married Julius Curtis; Artemisia. born May 5, 1778. married Linus April 23. 1796; Alfred Devine, born January 24, 1783: and Epenetus, born October 4, 1786. The mother of these children died August 23, 1795, and on May 6, 1801, the father was married to Phebe Ferris. Samuel B. Peck in the morning of life was quite a noted school teacher. He then went into merchandising in Sandy Hook, first with William B. Glover, afterward conducting the Sherman: Aurelia, born November 3. 1780, died | business alone. and later he was in partnership with Dick & Sanford, in a new store. In 1839 he represented the town in the State Legislature: also served the town as a justice of the peace. He possessed rare judgment, and the requisite make-up for a successful man of affairs. Tali and broad shouldered, though spare, his appear- ance and character commanded respect. He was a leader of men. one to whom they went for ad- vice, and he commanded respect and admiration. Such was his standing in the community that he was entrusted with the settlement of many estates, and his reputation was so good abroad Philo Curtis (deceased), son of Philo and Hul- dah (Hubbell) Curtis, and who was one of New- town's substantial men and farmers of years ago, was born in Newtown, in 1791, and died in 1872; his wife. Sarah Maria (Birch), was born in 1803, and died in 1893. Their children were: Jane, born in 1829, died in 1862; and Cornelia. who survives Mr. Curtis, like his father before him, was a school teacher in his early years. Among the teachers in Sandy Hook District in early years of this century we note the name of Philo Curtis as having taught in 1814, receiving $18 per month for his services; the name also appears again in 1818 and 1819 for the teaching of which that some time before his death he had been selected by two different banks for their presi- dency-one in Bridgeport, at the head of which the late Munson Hawley was for years, and one in New York City. He was also one of the incorporators of several banks, including one at Bridgeport, his wise counsel establishing it on a firm basis. His last work was in the settling up of the affairs of the Pequonnock Bank, which failed early in 1856. A few weeks before his death he was unanimously called to the presidency of a bank in New York. Mr. Peck's personality naturally attracted the friendship of men of ability and prominence, and he delighted to en-

SAMUEL B. PECK, who died at Newtown July 15. 1856, was one of the most promi- nent men of his time in that locality. He was born June 11, 1800, a son of Levi Peck, who settled in Southbury, Conn .. where he died Au- gust 8, 1836. Levi Peck married (first) Mercy Peck, daughter of Henry Peck, and (second) wedded Eunice Erwin. Levi Peck was of the fifth generation from Joseph Peck, of Millord. the line of his descent being through Joseph (of

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tertain in his hospitable home those kindred named after the twelve sons of the Patriarch souls who could best appreciate his own worth. ; Jacob, and Benjamin, the youngest, was given a Gov. Dutton, of Connecticut. Charles Chapman. and many other leaders in business, political and social ble. having been his guests When his daughter, Miss Julia, was in school in New Haven, Gov. Dutton called upon her and invited her to come to his home with his granddaughter, her classmate, and let him tell her what an admir- able man her father was and how he had mourned i Mills, in Paterson, with an office at No. 45 Broad- his loss. "double portion " by his father's will, following the Biblical example. Curtis and Sarah (John- som) Faver weather had three sons: (1) William. who died in 1840, aged twenty-one years; (2) John, who died in Paterson, N. J., leaving one son. Oakley. a prominent business man, now president and treasurer of the Passaic Rolling way. New York City; (3) Walter, who is living m Danbury, at the age of eighty-three, and has

S. B. Peck was married to Juba E. Faver- weather, of Newtown, and their children were: ' two daughters

George B . deceased: Sarah J. who died in in- fancy; Julia E . and Edward > George B., who died August 10, 1875, married Miss Emma J. Clarke. daughter of Walter ( lathe Fre Clarke family sketch ] They had four children: Samuel Clarke, born April 24. 1800 And June 13. 1800; Walter Joucey, May 11. 1271. Lizabeth Faver-

weather. October 12, 1872. and Siran Emma. May 25. 1878. Edwards Pack was married in 1877 to Mis Lithe Lar kitt, daughter of Thomas Lack- itt. of the firm of George Lackatt & Sons, whole- sale grocers and pork packers of brooklyn, NY. She comes of an old English tammy, and her grandfather. Thomas Lackitt came from Eng- land, bringing a large fortune. and established in brooklyn three large enterprises. the pork pack- mg and grocery business mentioned and a fringe factory. He was noted for his charities, and his wife was especially prominent in social life. Ed- ward S. Peck has had three children: George Faverweather, who died in 1829. aped eleven months: Edward Stanley, Jr. born in 1881; and Grace Lackitt, born in 1xs :

Mrs. Julia (Fayerweather) leck died June 26, 1883. aged sixty five years She was a descend- , hept a general store; also bought a large tract of ant of Col. John Faverweather, who was killed I land, and farmed extensively. He was a man in the " Battle of Long Island at what is now , of great force of character and originality. On

called ". Battle Park," encieved in Prospect Park. Brooklyn. Capt. Sam Faverweather, great-great- . uncle of Mrs. Samuel B. Peck, was also in the bat- the of Long Island as a lad of nineteen. When the way of 1812 came on he insisted upon taking the place of a son who had been drafted, and showed notable courage and boldness throughout that struggle. He died at his home in Stepney, Conn., and on his deathbed called the roll of his old company and fought his battles all over again. His grandson, the late Daniel Faverweather, was one of the contestants under the famous .. Fair- weather Will." Mrs. Peck's father. Curtis Faver- weather, a carriage maker, died in Easton. Conn .. about 1827. aged twenty-eight vers. He mar- ried Sarah Johnson, who was one of sixteen chil- dren. twelve boys and four girl: The boys were

OSJAH SANFORD, who was a prominent business man and well-known citizen of New - town during the earlier part of the present century. descended from Thomas Sanford (see genealogy of the Sanford family chewhere in this volume] through Samuel (1). Samuel (2). Samuel ( 3' and Samuel (4)

SAMUEL SANFORD. of the fifth generation, had a shop opposite the old Sanford homestead, and was engaged in the manufacture of spinning- wheels, reels and looms for spinning thread and weaving cloth, carpets, etc. He was soc- ceeded by his son Josiah, who followed the same business until 1830, when he entered into the manufacture of broadcloth, cassimeres and sat- mets. in the village of Sandy Hook, in which in- dustry he remained, extending it from time to time until some time in 1842. Between the years 1830 and 1842 he did a very heavy busi- ness, which led to the building up of a consider- able part of the village of Sandy Hook. He elected a large factory there, and in addition -

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 200

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