Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 204

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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ment, and continued in the service until the close , aged twenty-three years, and Mr. Belden after- of the war, and retired from it as captain with the brevet title major. Subsequently he was colonel of militia. He married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of El:ha Williams, in September, 1781 "

ward married Susan Johnson, sister of his first wife. The second Mrs. Belden died January 15. 1835. in her twenty-seventh year. For his third wife Mr. Belden married Miss Ann Clarke, who died in 1862. and. for his fourth, Sarah J. Peck. To the first marriage was born a daughter. Susan:

Capt. Azor Belden was an early settler of Wilton, Fairfield county. He held a captain 's commission in the train of artillery, and served , to the second two sons. David and John, and with distinction in the war of the Revolution. . two daughters, one of whom died single and the He was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was . other married a Doctor Maddox. By the third with General Washington when he evacuated I wife Mr. Belden had four children: Mary E. : New York, and with General Wooster when he I Fred, deceased in 1862; Howard R. ; and Reuben fell at Ridgefield, and continued in active service i B. By the fourth wife he had no children.

Judge David Belden, son of David H. Belden Beiden were graduates of Vale and Princeton I by his second wife, Susan (Johnson), laid down Colleges, and had honored professional careers, , he's burden on May 14. 1888, at San Jose. Cal. namen

kes. William Belden was graduated from ' lamentations and plaudits of his fellow-citizens. Yale College in 1803. From 1812 to 1821 he was pastor at Greenfield, and teacher there, and .

whose good will and respect he had so fully carned He was born August 14. 1832. and afterward at Fairfield. Also from 1224 to 1843 | when a boy was put to work with Hiram Par- in New York City. Heresided in brooklyn from ; malee, of Hattertown, to learn the carpenter's 1853 to 1861, dying in the latter you!

trade. In 1853 he went to California, read law

Lewis Belden, M. D., who was graduated | at Marysville, and began the practice of the pro- from Princeton in 1811, was a physician in New ffession at Nevada City in 1855. His command York City. He died in 1831

Charles Belden, M. D., another son of Azor Belden, was graduated from Funceton College in 1812. died in New York nearly seventy years ago

of language was phenomenal, as those who It- call his boyish efforts remember, and he mounted swift and high He was elected county judge of Nevada county in 1858, and three years later I married Miss Elizabeth Farrell, who survived

hey. David Belden, of Wilton, was gradu- { hun. " His married life was a poem, adorned ated from Yale College in 1785, and died in 1832. | by the gems of mutual trust, love and affection." He took orders in the Episcopal Church, after- . said Judge Searles, the eulogist of the funeral. ward engaged in farming.

David Hull Belden, son of het. David Bel- den, early located in Newton, and from hun came the descendants there. Mr. Bilden at his . death, May 7. 1872. when he was seventy-four . scribed so well in the " Overland Monthly " a years of age, was the oldest member of the Fair- 1 year before his death. He was judge of the field County bar, having been associated with ; Twentieth judicial district of the State of Cali- same for upward of hity seat: He was a : fornia, from 1871 to 1880, and of the Superior man of ability, was well-known throughout the . court of Santa Clara county, from 18So until his State as a successful lawyer, and served as States attorney. His life was passed mainly in peatedly honored by his fellow.amen. His public measures that made Newtown what it was as early as 1829 he was a representative from the town in the State Legislature. He was one of the founders of the Newtown Academy. and ever encouraged and gave a helping hand to educa- tion.

Judge Belden was sent to the State Senate in 1864. and at the close of his term took his wife to Europe. On his return he made his home at San Jose, in that lovely fertile region he de- death. His brethren of the California Bar have left the warmest of tributes as to his worth, jus-

Newtown village, where he was respected and re- tice and generosity. They declared that ". he ever wore the stainless ermine of judicial integ- name is associated with many if not all of the , rity, bearing hunself always with lofty impar- tiality. In his bearing toward the Bar he was in his time. In politics he was a Democrat, and , distinguished for the graceful and uniform cour- tesy accorded every member, and especially noted for the kindly encouragement which con- stantly flowed toward the young men of the pro- fession. With broad intellectuality, with bril- liant literary ability, with incessant zeal, he in- vestigated every problem of life, and scattered his conclusions abroad with tongue of silver and

On October 20, 1824. Mr. Belden was mar- ried to Cornelia Johnson, eldest daughter of John and Clarissa Johnson. She died January 5. 1828, . pen of hire. Beside the unstained robes of his

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, and was laid to rest on the 17th. amidst the

during the was Several of the sans of Azor

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. .

public service may be laid the equally immaculate garments of his private life." The personal tributes of his fellow barristers read like tributes to a brother or father, so warm and sincere are they. San Jose suspended business on the day of the funeral, banks and stores closing; public and private flags hung at half-mast. and a funeral train a mile long followed the remains to the grave. Newtown was honored to have been the birth place of such a man.

Of the other sons of David H. Belden, Fred died when a young man, in Newtown, where all were educated and reared. John went to Cali- fornia and there died. Howard R. and Reuben B., as did many others from Newtown, went into the publishing business, their specialty being atlases and books. Both brothers were very active, energetic and broad-gauged business men, and reached out into business on a large scale. They published . Picturesque Canada," a work involving a fortune, which placed them in the very front rank as publishers. Later. they went to Australia, and were there engaged in similar work.

On January 30. 1889, Reuben B. Belden married Miss Claire Louise Peel. of London, Can- ada, and they have two children: Claire Peel, born November 19, 1889, and Mildred Eliza- beth, born November 11, 1891.

G OULD CURTIS, son of Matthew Curtis, was born December 17, 1763. and died March 5. 1S40. He married. December 12, 1781, Elizabeth Gould, of Fairfield. Conn .. and had children as follows: Abigail (Mrs. Cyrus Hard), born October 14, 1782, died July 16, 1807: Deborah (Mrs. Herman Warner). born March 19, 1786, died November 10, 1861 ; Gould, born December 27, 1787, died February 3, 1858; Marrilla, born March 11, 1790, died September 23, 1864; John. born March 3, 1792, died August 13, 1845; Phoebe, born October 25. 1793, died July 18, 1810; Hezekiah, born March 25, 1796; David, born July 28, 1798, married Jeannette Shelton. of Monroe, Conn .; and Daniel, born January 26, 1801.

Of the sons of Gould Curtis. Gould Curtis, Jr .. was born December 27, 1787. died February, 1858. He married Joanna Peck, who was born April 8, 1788, and to them were born five chil- dren, as follows: Mary, January 19, 1817. mar- ried Cyrenius Beers; Samuel, April 29, 1818, is referred to farther on; Elizabeth, September 5, 1824. married (first) Robert S. Peck, and (second) Simeon B. Peck; Sarah, November 5. 1827, died in infancy; and Sarah, October 4. 1834, is the

widow of the late Monroe Judson, M. D., of Newtown. The father of these in the mustering days was a captain in the militia, and the name of Capt. Gould Curtis is well known to the older citizens of Newtown. In his earlier life Captain Curtis made whips, but later he was engaged in farming. In his political views he was a Whig and Republican, and in his religious faith he was an Episcopalian. Captain Curtis was an excel- lent neighbor and good citizen. He died Febru- ary 3, 1858, his wife on November 7, 1860.

John Curtis, son of Gould Curtis, Sr., was born March 3, 1792. He was a tanner by trade. He married Lucy Blackman, and had children: John, a tanner. resides in Ludlow, Penn .; Daniel is deceased; David makes his home in New Haven part of the time; and Simeon died in 1853. when aged twenty-six. The father of these passed away August 13, 1845, and the mother August 28, 1859, aged sixty-five.

Hezekiah Curtis, son of Gould Curtis, Sr., was born March 25, 1796. He married Marcia Glover, and their children were: Benjamin. Henry, Betsey and Mary. The father of these. who was a large landowner and farmer, resided on Curtis Hill. He died April 14, 1866, and his wife on April 3. 1873, aged seventy-five years.

SAMUEL CURTIS, son of Gould Curtis, Jr .. was born April 29, 1818. In early manhood he bought out the comb-making and button business established in Sandy Hook by his uncle David Curtis, learned the business after becoming pro- prietor, and carried it on at the old stand for a year or two, when he removed it to its present site in Berkshire. He built a factory which later on was destroyed by fire, and he then erected the present large and commodious works, where several different kind of combs and a certain kind of buttons are made. Mr. Curtis was identified with the business from about 1838. and conducted it very successfully. His son. Henry, early in life became associated with his father in the business, and through their ente !- prise there was built about the works a neat little New England village, of which the father and son were the proprietors. Some time after the factory at Berkshire was built, a store was started in connection with the business and is still a part of the establishment. Mr. Curus was also engaged in farming, and through his good judgment and business ability he prospered. becoming one of the substantial men of Newtown In politics, he was a Republican, while, in mat- ters of religion, he was identified with St. John's Episcopal Church at Sandy Hook. Mr. Curtis was married three times: First to Mary Nichols (daughter of Henry Nichols), who was born

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Henry G. Curtis

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March 28. 1828, and died March 22. 18;1. His | Hawley was born in 1603. It is believed that second wife, whom he married in ISSO, was ' he was married when he came to America, or Betsey, widow of David Hinman, and daughter soon after, that his wife died leaving no children. and that he married a second wife, Katherine, before he came to Stratford, Conn. The first record of Joseph Hawley after his immigration to America is that made by himself at Stratford. of Hezekiah Curtis. She died May 18. 1889. and for his third wife Mr. Curtis married her sister. Mary Curtis. The children of Mr Curtis - Henry G. and Juha (now the widow of Henry

S. Hawley - were born to the first manage. . Conn., in togo, in which he purchased a lot and Samuel Curtis died February 11, 1899

HENRY G. CURTIS, son of Samuel Curtis, was born in 1848. in Berkshire, Newtown. Early in his teens he began making himself useful in his father's store and about the factory, and when twenty-one he became associated with his father in the business, taking an interest, and the firm name became S. Curtis & Son. Mr. Curtis, like his father. is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, as is evidenced in the beautiful little New England village of which they were practi- cally the founders. The factory, their residences, and the village itself, are models of meatness. Instead of the town being " painted red." as goes nowadays, they have painted it white, and it is very appropriately dubbed the ". white vil- lave " Mr. Curtis is a very busy man, and is honorably sustaining the good reputation of the fammiy, which has from pioneer dass been one of prominence Heserved as selectman from 1895

to 1897, and a few years ago came within a few i children were: Ebenezer, Ellen, Elizabeth. votes of being elected to the Legislature He is a director of the Newtown Savings bank, and has been a director of the Newtown Agricultural Thomas, Ezra, Mary, Hannah, Hester. Samuel and Catherine. Deacon Thomas Hawley was a farmer and clothier in Pequonnock (now Bridge- Association ever since its organization. He mat- { port). He was chosen deacon of the Stratfield sied a daughter of George Beers. and they have . Church in 1710, and died in 1722. .

two sons - Harry and Willam, the former of whom is with the banking house of horr & Knapp, in Bridgeport, while the latter attends . and their children were: Thomas, Elizabeth. the Newtown Academy. Mr. Curtis has been a Thomas (2), Hannah, Ezra. Samuel and Grissel. member of the firm of R. H. beers & Co. since V. Thomas Hawley, baptized December 7. 1738. died November 19, 1797. He married Ann Gregory, and their children were: Eben- ezer, Abigail. Zalman, Capt. Abijah and Anna. 1892, when the partnership was formed for the purpose of carrying on a general merchandise business in Newtown Center. He is prominently identified with Trinity Church, being one of its stanchest and most earnest supporter:

E EDWARD A. HAWLEY is a member of one of the oldest families of New England. Born August 6. 1844. at Brideport. ( onn .. he is of the eighth generation in descent from Joseph Hawley, who came from England to America in 1629-10:30. of about that time, the place of his residence in England being revealed in his will. in which he says: " I give to my son Samuel Hawley all my lands and buildings in Farwidge in Darbyshire in Old England to him his heirs and assigns . It was supposed that Joseph

built a house on the corner of Stratford avenue and Main street. He lived there, and for some two hundred years that site was occupied by his posterity. He married Katherine Birdsey.

The line of our subject's descent is from Joseph through Samuel, of Stratford. Deacon Thomas. ( apt. Ezra. Thomas, Capt. Abijah. and Thomas, all of Stratfield, afterward called Bridgeport.

1. Joseph Hawley's children were: Samuel. Joseph, Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Hannah, Ephraim. John and Mary.

11. Samuel Hawley, born in 1647, was twice married, the first time to Mary, daughter of Thomas Thompson, by whom he had children as follows: Samuel, Joseph, Thomas. Mathew. Ebenezer. Jehiel and Elizabeth.

III. Deacon Thomas Hawley, born July 10. 10;S. married Johanna, widow of John Sher- wood, and daughter of Ephraim Booth Then

IV. Capt. Ezra Hawley, born May 15, 1711. died April 27, 1773. He married Abigail Hall,

VI. Capt. Abijah Hawley, born January 26. 1769. died November 18, 1818. He married Mary. daughter of Capt. Stephen Summers. Their children were: (1) George, born June. 1797. died in 1839. He followed the water for many years. (2) Abijah, born October 7. 1798. died in 1861. He was a sea captain, and also a merchant. (3) Eliza died in infancy. (4) Mun- son, born April 10, 1803. died in 1891. He was a merchant in his earlier life, and in later years pave his attention to banking, and for twenty years, probably, was the efficient president of the Bridgeport National Bank. (5) Emeline, born December 5. 1804. married Deacon George Sterling, of Bridgeport. She died in 1868. (6)

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John. born February 1, 1806, died December 12, 1823. (7) Thomas is referred to farther on.

The firm of Abijah Hawley & Co., composed of Abijah. Aaron and Wilson Hawley, carried on a Boston coasting grain business and West Indies trade. Their coaster was called the "Three Sisters," probably on account of the wives of the partners being all daughters of Capt. Stephen Summers, and their New York packet was the sloop " Caroline.'

VII. Thomas Hawley, son of Capt. Abijah, was born March 22, 1808, and commenced his business career when quite young as clerk in the dry-goods store of his brother. Munson Haw- ley, located on Main street. That position he left to become clerk in the hardware store of Josiah B. Hall, on Water street, nearly opposite to the present store of T. Hawley & Co. Sub- sequently he was taken into partnership by Mr. | Hall, the name of the firm being Hall & Hawley. Later the senior member of the hrm retired | in Bridgeport. Conn., where he passed his boy-

from business, and Mr. Hawley remained as sole proprietor. He afterward formed a partnership with Frank W. Hawley, but after continuing in the firm a few years the latter withdrew. David N. Hawley. a nephew of Thomas Hawley, then became associated with him in the business. but in 1850 he also withdrew and went to California. Mr. Hawley then formed a new partnership, which continued mainly as then constituted until his death, July 7, 1875. He thus remained con- tinuously in the hardware business from the time of his connection with it, a period of forty-nine years. On the discovery of gold in California in 1849 Mr. Hawley established a business in San Francisco, with which his son. Marcus C. Haw- ley, was prominently connected. For many years Thomas Hawley was one of the leading business men of Bridgeport. and had been in the hardware trade probably longer than any other man in the State. In his business habits Mr. Hawley was energetic, industnous, method- ical and possessed excellent judgment. He always maintained the highest character for in- tegrity: he was very affable and genial. and his ever-smiling. kindly face will always be remem- bered by those whose privilege it was to know him. He at all times had a word of good cheer for his callers and customers, and the parting was concluded with that hearty good will and kind- liness that gained him great popularity, and made every one feel at home in his presence. During his last few years he gave little attention to business and traveled considerably, having made one visit to Europe and two trips to California, as well as a good deal of general travel in other parts of the country. For a long time he was a

member of the South Congregational Church. and was one of the members who left that Society to found the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an elder.

On May 6, 1832, Mr. Hawley was married to Jane Maria, daughter of David Nichols, Jr., and Polly (Booth) Nichols, David Nichols, Jr., being a son of Capt. David Nichols, of Booth's Hill, Fairfield county. The following-named six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hawley: Marcus C., deceased, is mentioned more fully below. Walter was a member of the firm of ! Hawley Brothers. San Francisco, and died there in 1892. George is a member of the San Fran- cisco firm, and resides there. Mary married Levi Eaton, of Bridgeport, Conn. Edward is referred to farther on. Jane M. died when about ten years of age. The mother of these passed away June 12. 1887.

Edward A. Hawley was born August 6, 1844. hood and received his education. In January. 1861, he went to San Francisco, and there clerked in the hardware store of his brothers, It- maining with them four years. He then went to Portland, Ort .. and established the hardware business of Hawley, Dodd & Co., continuit; there in the business for about twenty years. o: until 1884. when he returned to Bridgeport. Conn., and has since been retired from active business, giving his time to the care of his private interests. At the time of his going to California the firm name was Hawley & Co., and on his re- tirement from Portland it was changed to the style of Hawley Brothers Hardware Company. At the time of his coming east he expected to ft- turn, but circumstances prevented. He still It- tains his stock in the Western house. Mr. Han- ley is a thorough business man, practical in hx ideas, and possessed of excellent judgment. 1r. no sense is he a politician, as he cares nothing for official honors. On August 28, 1873, he married Miss Hettie A. Thompson, of Bridet. port, a daughter of Joseph and Harriet Themr. son, and their union has been blessed with two children: Ellen and Hattie.

MARCUS C. HAWLEY, who died in Newtown in January, 1899. became connected with his ta- ther's business when but fifteen years old, and on going to San Francisco, in 1849, soon den .- onstrated marked ability in the management c: the business of Hawley & Co. This firm was succeeded, on January 1. 1867, by M. C. Haw- ley & Co., which was incorporated July 1. 1882. under the firm name of Hawley Brothers Hard- ware Company. Marcus C. being president of the Company, and his brother, George T., vice-presi-

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dent and treasurer. For some years the parent house has had branches at Los Angeles, Cal .. . William E., born in 1865, died in 1880; Harry

known as Hawley, King & Co., and at San Diego, Cai., as Todd & Hawley. Until recently the firms agricultural interests were a large part of their business, and in these hoes it was a com- mon occurrence for them to ship out tram leads of agricultural goods. At one time, it is said, the house virtually controlled the California market on nails, being the only jobbers having large stocks in San Francisco and on mute by sea. Until a short time before his death Marcus C. Hawier was president of the Shreveport & Hous- ton rauroad, in which corporation he was also a director and stockholder at the time of bis de- ! cease fire was a director in the Water Works both at bridgeport. Conn., and Houston, Texas. and was vice-president of the Bridgeport Steam- boat company, with all of which interests he was prominently identified for a number of years.

ing all those years Mr. Hawley made his home in Connecticut, and looked after the Eastern im- terests of the California business.

follows: Wilham B., born in 1860, died in 1864; C., born in 1868, died in 1870; and Mary E.

D AVID BOOTH BEERS, a lawyer by pro- fecon, died July 28, 1885, in the house at Newtown in which he was born on February 18. 1805.

Samuel Beers, Jr., his father, was born De- cember 20, 1773. and on October 13. 1799. was married to Charlotte Booth, who was born April 26, 1780. Their children were: Sally Maria, born October 4. 1800; Julia, born April 18. 1803: David B .: Charlotte, born December 15. ISOe; and Harriet, born October 30, 1808.

David B. beers received his legel education in the old Litchfield Law School, the first insti- tution of the kind established in the United States. From 1844 until his death he resided he married Miss Margaret Pray, of Brookfield. and they had the following children: John

Mr. Hawley was also closely associated with the i continuously in Newtown. On April 12, 1835. late Joseph Richardson in his santvad enter- prises. and in view of the confidence in which he was held. and his familiarity with his affairs, was ' Samuel, mentioned below; Emma E., who died active in the settlement of his large estate. Dur- i in 1852, aped six years; George, who died in 1859. aged seventeen; and Emma S., now resid- ing in Newtown.

Rev. John Samuel Beers was born in Brook-

The fact that Mr. Hawley lived in a Con- | field, Conn .. April 19, 1836, and died at Natick. necticut town, with an office in New York, to ' Mass .. November 20, 1886. During the early which he went almost every day. made him, . part of his hte he was in business in Danbury perhaps. the most frequent commuter on the , and Bridgeport, Conn., the last few years of this New York, New Haven & Hartford ratiroad, he , period being connected with Woods Bros .. car- having seen many of the various managements in the last forty-six years' history of the road come and go. He had crossed the American continent from ocean to ocean mnety-six times, .

( nage manufacturers of Bridgeport. In 1871 he I was graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity School and entered the ministry of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church. He held the following and shortly before his death completed the forty- eighth round trip to San Francisco. While on his last visit to the Pacific coast he made a voy- ' | positions in the Church: Assistant minister i of Grace Church, Philadelphia; rector of Grace Church. North Attleboro, Mass .; rec- age to the Hawaiian Islands, and was able to ! tor of Christ Church, Towanda, Penn. ; and general missionary of the Diocese of Massachu- setts. The work in Massachusetts occupied the last five years of his life. He was the first

speak very highly of their climate and product- iveness, believing them to be a desirable and necessary acquisition for the United States. In addition to his travels in this country. Mr. Haw- I general missionary, and through his efforts many ley traveled about Europe and Mexico exten- | new parishes were started and churches built. sively His first trip to California was made via In 1886 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Trinity College. On June 1 10, 1862. he was married to Maria Josephine ! Wakeman. daughter of Zalmon Wakeman, of Greenfield Hill. Conn. Their children were as follows: Charlotte Louise, born July 12. 1863. died May 26, 1864; George Emmerson is men- tioned below; a child born June 19, 1868, died in carly infancy; John Howard, born September 25. 1869, died August 22, 1876; Susan Wakeman. the lethmus, but on the opening of the trans- ! continental lines, in May. 1869. he went that way until the opening of the Southern Pacific. Mr. Hawicy was a man of character. of excellent business capacity and strict integrity. one whose generosity and kindly personal traits won for him many friends. He married Sarah A .. daughter of Dr. Carenius Booth, and granddaughter of Judge William Edmond, of Newtown, Conn. . The chikiten of Mr. and Mrs. Hawley were as | born September 26, 1873, is now residing in

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 204

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