Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 207

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

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Ichabod and Elizabeth Johnson were resi- dents of the southern part of the town as early as some time in the first half of the eighteenth century. Their children were: John; Hannah: Jerusha: Eben; Abel. born March 26, 1748: Molly, born October 30, 1750; Mabel. born De- i and Enos, born October 13, 1757. There is a November 7. 1865. Nine children were born to I record made on the town records of Newtown this union, seven of whom survived the father. (3) Frederick and (4) Mary died in infancy.

(5) Frederick W. Foote was born October 23. 1816. His father dying when he was eleven years old he. at twelve, went to live with David Curtis, a comb maker on Mile Hill. Newtown, with whom he remained three years. He then returned to his home, and until seventeen, dur- ing the summers. worked at whatever he found to do, attending school through the winters. At seventeen he went to Elizabeth, N. J., and there taught for two years in a district school. Next he was for a time assistant in the Trenton Acad- emy, his superior being Rev. Samuel Starr. brother of the late Edward Starr, of Newtown. After two years there he returned to Newtown, and for a time was assistant to his brother. the principal of the Newtown Academy. In 1839 he returned to Elizabeth, N. J . and for thirty years he was uninterruptedly engaged in teach- ing. At the expiration of this time he went into journalism, purchasing the New Jersey Journal. In 1871 be established the Elizabeth Daily Jour- nal, which he left in a flourishing condition at the time of his death, which occurred March 18. 1879. For forty years he was a communicant in St. John's Parish, and for twenty years its Sunday-school superintendent. In 1840 he was

married to Vashti Thompson, and they had nine children, seven of whom survived him, as did also his wife. (6) Mary, born April 13, 1819, mar- ried Rev. H. V. Gardner, and died September 11, 18-, in East Aurora, N. Y. Mrs. Gardner was a lovely, Christian character. (7) Harriet, born April 13. 1819. became the wife of Rer. William Atwill, an Episcopal clergyman. (8. Robert died in childhood. (9) Henry, a prac- ticing physician, died in Newtown when a young man. (10) Jane married Walter B. Welton, of Bridgewater, and died in Newtown.

of the names and dates of birth of the last five children just given.

John Johnson, son of Ichabod, married, Ac- gust 9. 1765. Dolly Hurd, of Monroe, and his children were: Ezra H., born January 14, 1772; Abraham, died when nineteen; Clarissa; Isaac: Jacob; Joseph; Eben; John: Lucy; Dolly; Abra- ham; Daniel: Sally; Eli; Elias; and Benjamin. Some of these children were born to a second marriage of the father. It is worthy of note and somewhat remarkable that there were nine of the children who were tailors by trade.

Ezra H. Johnson, son of John, was born January 14, 1772, and died February 17, 1857. aged eighty-five years. On February 11, 1795. he was married to Rebecca Northrop, who died January 22, 1838, in her sixty-fifth year. Their children were : Charles, born January 31. 1798, died September 29, 1799; Charles (? . born December 6, 1799; Clarissa, born Decem- ber 23. 1806, died April 25, 1810; a daughter ! born December 15, 1808, died in infancy; John. I born December 16, 1809. Ezra H. Johnson. ! the father of these children, was a tailor bytrade. and lived his long life amid the scenes of his youth in Newtown. He was a quiet man, of a kindly nature and disposition, making a good neighbor and citizen.

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John Johnson, son of Ezra, was born Decem- . cational interests of Newtown. Such an evi- ber 16. 1800, and died December 17, 1873. He idence of his usefulness as a citizen, and of the married Mary, daughter of John and Betsey , community's appreciation of him as a man, needs (Hinc) Dibbie. John Dibble, born November 13. no comment. As vestryman in Trinity Episco- 1;86, died November 16, 1830. and Betsey. his pal Church Mr. Johnson is active in religious work. and his name is ever foremost among those favoring and advocating measures calculated for 1 the elevation of mankind. He has been fre- quentiy a delegate from the Church to its con- ventions. and his voice is often heard in its deliberations. His make-up has fitted him for usefulness. Of a literary taste. Mr. Johnson is not unfrequently called upon to entertain in that ine in social and educational gatherings. Polit- ically. he has followed in the footsteps of his father, and is a stanch Republican. He has served his town as selectman. wife, born August 11, 1789. died about 1875. John Dibbie was a son of Philo F. Dubbie, who was born in 1703. and died in 1827. Eunice. wife of Philo Dibble, was born in 1700, and died in 1834 To John and Mary (Dibble, Johnson were born Edward, who died March 16, 1868. in his twenty-first year: Rebecca, who died Decem- ber 29. 1807. in her fifty-fourth year; and three who died in infancy. John Johnson was occu- pied through life in agricultural pursuit: He lived in South Centre District, town of Newtown. . Before the Civil war, in the days of slavery. he was a zealous supporter of the Anti-slavery move. ment, and rendered assistance thetem in the

1 ". underground rauroad ' system In this he had . Catharine ( Foote) Camp. a sketch of whom is the sympathy and support of his wife.

CHARLES JOHNSON, Son of Ezra H., was born December 6. 1799, and died May ;. 18;1 On May 25. 1826. he was married to Juha, daughter of Abijah and Hannah 'Sanfordi Merritt, and the marriage was blessed with two children, namely: Adeline, born July 17. 1828. married Witham Fairchild. of Taunton District. town of Newtown; and Ezra Levan, born November 11. 1832

In the early years of Mr Johnson's manhood the comb-making business in this section of New Eng- land was one of the leading occupations He learned the trade in early lite, and followed the business in Newtown until about 1840, after which he was engaged in farming on the place now occu- pied by the son Mr. Johnson was an Old-ime Whig in his political views, and on the formation of the Republican party expoused its principies. While he had no particular taste for public preter- ment, he at times came before the public when it ' to Bishop John Williams).

seemed the desne of his fellow citizens. In 1837 he was one of the representatives of the town in the State Legislature. Religiously, he was of the faith of the Congregational Church, and he held the esteem and respect of the community

EZRA LEVAN JOHNSON, Son of Charles, Is a native of South Centre District, born November 11. 1832, on the homestead where thus far his life has been passed At the age of seventeen he began teaching school. and followed the pro- fession for nearly a decade, mainly in Newtown. Since 1858 he has been an agriculturist. In 1854, while engaged as a teacher, his fellow townsmen placed him on the board of education, and with little exception he has continued there- on from that period to this. For quite fifty years he has been closely identified with the edu- . lar still exist, and tansy, live-for-ever and yellow

On October 10. 1858. Mr. Johnson was mar- ried to Miss Jane Eliza. daughter of Beach and given elsewhere. Mrs. Johnson, who was born April 6. 1837. in her early hte taught school in various localities in Newtown, and is conse- quently known and remembered by the youth of that day as a teacher. She is a woman of force of character, and her influence for good has been felt in the community. To Mr. and Mrs. John- son have come children as follows. William ( amp. born June 16, 1802. married Catherine Augusta, daughter of Lamson B. Lake; Charles Beach. born June 16, 1802. married Alma M., daughter of Lemuel F. ( amp; Levan Merritt, born July 10. 1804. married Mrs. Nellie Fair- child, nic Hartshorne; and Frederick Foote. born April 23. 1866, married Susan Lynne Beers the is the rector of an Episcopal Church in Red- lands. Cal .. is a graduate of Trinity College, also took a three-years' course at Berkley Divin- itv School and while there was private secretary

The MERRITT FAMILY into which Charles Johnson, son of Ezra H., married. was one of the pioneer families of Newtown. The Merritts were originally from the North of Ireland, and from Milford here came the ancestor of Abijah Merritt, referred to in what follows. John Mer- ritt was one of three brothers who came from the North of Ireland some time about 1740. He was frozen to death on Milford beach, when out one cold winter's day digging clams. He left a son. John. who migrated from Milford when a young man and married Hannah Wheeler, of Monroe. The country was a wilderness then, and he put up their first shelter on Pine Swamp hill. in the south part of Newtown, in the Hunt- ington school district. Remains of the 6x8 cel-

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lilies, descendants of long years gone by, mark the spot beyond all question. His was the only white man's hut in that vicinity, and the place still retains the name given it then, and is known by all the natives now as "Merritt hill." John had one son, Abijah. who showed his loyalty to his father by contributing (as the records show) to his support. during the last twenty years of his life, $1,139.69. He died March 25, 1827, aged eighty-one years, and was buried in Hunt- ington cemetery.

Abijah Merritt, son of John and Hannah {Wheeler) Merritt, who were residents of New- town, was born here in 1775. and died January 15, 1854. His wife died December 3. 1839, when aged sixty-five years. Their children were: Julia, born September 15, 1804, and Levan inent public men of his day in Newtown. When

On April 21, 1840, Mr. Merritt was married Wheeler. Abijah Merritt was one of the prom- I to Cynthia P. Loomis, of Clarkson, N. Y., and seven children were born to the marriage a boy he was bound out until of age to learn the | Charles J., who lives in Chicago; Henry S., a trade of cloth-making. He lived in Sandy Hook. I resident of Elkader, lowa; Lee W., of Medina. and followed that occupation when such goods were made by hand. Later on, he gave up that ¿business and operated a gristmill. In middle life he was quite active in public affairs, and his name is frequently on record in town business. | Julia; Cynthia A. ; and H. Elsie. One child die in infancy. Of these. Charles J. lived in New- | town for three years before the Civil war, and I enlisted in Company D, ist Connecticut Cavalry | He married Miss Esther B. Fairchild (daughter From 1815 10 1835 he was frequently selectman i of Joseph B. Fairchild), who died February :. of the town. A man of good business ability, | 1890. strict integrity and of sound judgment, he had the settlement of many estates, which with other business in that line kept him busy and led to his dropping out of active pursuits in other lines.

L EVAN W. MERRITT, an esteemed citizen

years was engaged as a clerk for Chase & Britt. on the canal dock. In 1840 he bought and operated the flouring-mill occupied some years ago by B. A. Gilbert, and after selling the mi" he retired from active business. He was always greatly interested in the welfare of Medina, and frequently served as trustee, assessor and on the board of education. Being a man of strictest 1 integrity, he was constantly called upon to settit estates until advancing years required. releas from such responsibilities. A peculiarly strong attachment to his native town always existed. 1 and he often expressed the wish that his affairs might be so arranged as to permit him to return I to Newtown to live during the closing years o! life.

W ILLIAM EDSON HAWLEY is a proni - nent dairyman and agricultureist of New- town township, and his farm is one of the best in that locality. He has also been well known in | business circles as a dealer, in cattle and horses.

of Sandy Hook, town of Newtown, died i and as a citizen he is held in high esteem for his August 23, 1886.

many sterling qualities.

The Hawley family has been identified with

His parents were of true New England stock. His father, Abijah Merritt, at the age of fifteen | this section from an early date. Benjamin. vears. was bound out to learn the trade of a | Hawley. our subject's father, was for many years cloth-dresser. and after an apprenticeship of six i engaged in agriculture and in the cattle business. vears was, in 1796, discharged. With a good i dealing chiefly in working cattle. He settlec. trade, well learned, and two suits of new home- 1 upon his marriage, at the homestead now occu- spun clothes, but without a dollar in his pocket, ; pied by our subject, and the foundations of his he commenced business for himself in Sandy | house, a little above the present residence, ati Hook, Newtown, from which place he never I still to be seen. By successful management i removed, until called away by death. He was | became one of the substantial citizens of h:s a self-made man. whose word at any time was town. Although he was not an office seeker. i .: was regarded as one of the leaders of the Reput- as good as his bond. For many years he was entrusted with the town's affairs as selectman, I lican organization in his district. He was e and was sought after, as long as he would agree member of Trinity Episcopal Church at New. to serve. for the settlement of estates. It was a I town, and attended divine service with great res. part of his creed never to spend a dollar until he I ularity, being an active helper in all forms o: had earned it. [See sketch of Merritt family.] I religious work. He died July 30, 1883, and his

Levan W. Merritt. our subject, was born i estimable wife, whose maiden name was Emelit June 24, 1806, in Sandy Hook. In November, | Glover, passed away April 2, 1880. They had 1833, he went to Medina, N. Y., and for several

| the following children: Mary; Frederick; Susan.

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who married John R. Smith, of Lake George : Mr. Peck died June 26, 1877, and Mrs. Peck District, Newtown; Juliette, who married Ho- , passed away February 22, 1877. aged sixty-six bart B. Camp, and resides south of Hawleyville; , years. Mr. Peck was occupied through life in Wilham Edson, our subject: Margaret. wife of . farming. owning a farm on Mt. Pleasant. New- Homer W. White, a carpenter, residing in Ob- . town. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal tuse District, town of Brookfield, this county: Anna, wife of Duane Stone, of Morvall. New Milford; and Sarah. wife of H. D. Lake, of Ob- tuse, town of Brookfield.

Our subject was born November 16, 1839. at the present homestead. and attended district school and Newtown Academy, Professor French being the teacher at that time. After leaving school Mr. Hawiey remained at home until about the time the Civil war broke out, when he em- barked in business as a dealer in cattle and horses, and he bought many horses for the por- ernment service in Canada, as well as stock cat- the, which he shipped home to sell to the farmers for fattening. He was the first one to pay duty on cattle that crossed the line at Buffalo at that time. As the business became less profitable he discontinued his ( anada trade and bought fat cattle for the markets of Bridgeport and New Haven, at the same time carrying on an exten- sive dairy business.

Emeline, born December 8, 1873. married Homer Baldwin. November 30, 1898; Einest. born December 20, 1875, and William Stanicy, born September 18, 1877, are at home; Jabez Carlton, born January 8. 1880, died September 22, 1897: Mary Alice, born March 23. 1882. died January 24. 1800 : Harry Nichols, born June 15. 1884, and Heien Fairchild, born January 30. 1887, are at home. The family attend Trinity Episcopal Church, at Newtown. Mr. Hawley takes much interest in local affairs, and in poli- tics he is a firm supporter of the Republican party, having voted that ticket since Lincoln's first campaign. in 1800.

JABEZ BOTSFORD PECK (deceased . son J of Isaac Feck. was of the sixth generation from Joseph Peck of Milford. [See " Con- necticut Peck -. "] His hne of descent is through Joseph (2), Samuel, Samuel (2), and Isaar

Church, and in his political views was a Whig. later a Republican His children were: (1) Charles A., a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y .. has been in the storage business in New York City for forty years or more. In early life he went 1 to Bridgeport. where he was a clerk in a dry- goods store for some years, thence removing to New York, and for a time was engaged in a grocery house. He married Mary E .. daughter I of Joseph Oliver, of Brooklyn, and their children now living are -Charles B .. William J. and Mary E. (:' Elizabeth J. married Samuel J. Pinkney. of New York, and her children are-Henry W .. Jennie E., and Elizabeth T. (3) Capt. Albert W. Peck, at the age of fourteen years, went to Bridge- port and entered the employ of Moseman & Sturdevant; was also with Hall & Read and E. , Birdsey & Co., who were carrying on a dry- goods store, and was there some ten or twelve , years, during seven of which he was a member of the State militia, being identified part of the

On February 3. 1509. Mr. Hawley married . time with the Washington Light Guards, and Miss Mary F. Terrill, who was born January 20. 1848, daughter of E. G. Terrill, a farmer of the town of Brookheld, this county. Of their chil- . Conn. V. I., and was soon thereafter made dren the eldest. Witham Edwin, born January 9. 1870, died August 11, 1872; Edward B., born then with the City Guards. On July 22. 1862. he enlisted as a private in Company D. 17th orderly sergeant. On November 15. 1862, he was promoted to second lieutenant, and after July 5, 1871, died December 27, 1800; Ammue ' the battle of Chancellorsville he was again pro- , moted, this time, February 20, 1864. to a first i heutenancy. His next promotion was June 29, 1865. when he became captain. Captain Peck was first with the Army of the Potomac. 2nd Brigade, ist Divison, 11th Army Corps, then in , August, 1863. his command was sent South, and was in the Department of the South. Through the three-days' battle of Gettysburg Captain Peck was in command of the company. and lost. in ' killed, wounded and captured, twenty-seven out of thirty-six men. His command was at the . siege and bombardment of Charleston, S. C. was finally mustered out at Hilton Head, S. C., July 19, and was discharged in August following. On the close of the war he returned home, and for some two years was again in the store of his former employers. E. Birdsey & Co., in Bridgeport. Later, for about four years, he was a member of the firm of Peck & Beers, who had a general store in Newtown village. Since then he has occupied the old home farm on Mt. Pleasant, Newtown, and been engaged in farming. Captain Peck is a Republican, and is a member of the Episcopal

Jabez Botsford Peck was born December 10. 1804. He married Henrietta, daughter of Charles Jarvis, a descendant of Bishop Jarvis. . Church. He has served as commander of Custer

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Post No. 46, G. A. R., of Sandy Hook, and of which he is now officer of the day.

On December 27, 1865, Capt. A. W. Peck married Louisa W., daughter of Charles M. Booth. of Bridgeport, Conn., and their children are: (a) Robert N., born October 4, 1866, married Helen

Mr Gay's education was begun in the district L. Curtis, of Chicago, March 3, 1894. and has i schools of the town of Bethel, where he also 1 1

one son, Eugene Curtis, born February 5. 1895 (b) Dr. Charles H., born June 18, 1870. married Betsey F. Chaffee, of Montreal, Canada, Septem- ber 2. 1896, and has one son, born June 25. 1899. (c) Grace L., born January 13. 1873. married, June 22, 1899, James S. Minor. of New York City. (d) Albert W. Peck, Jr., born July S. 1 880.

(4) Nelson J. entered the United States service during the Civil war, August 24. 1862, in I at the close of the Civil war, but the comparison. Company C, 23rd Conn. Vol. Inf .. and lost his I life June 5. 1863, at Bayou Boeuf, La., where he was accidentally drowned, at the age of twenty- three years.

C HARLES HARRISON GAY, carriage man- ufacturer. Newtown, was born June 11, | 1842. in the town of Weston, this county, and is of Holland-Dutch descent on the paternal side. His grandfather, John B .. Gay, was a leading | resident of Poughkeepsie, N. Y .. and at one time owned about two hundred acres of land at the | present site of Vassar College. By occupation he was a hotel keeper, and he took an influential part in many movements for the development of his city. being a friend and associate of Matthew and John Vassar, and other men of public spirit. By his wife, Mahitabel, he had four children, viz .: John, our subject's father; Emma, who married Jesse Wood. of Newburg, I N. Y .; Frances, wife of James Hatfield: and an- | other daughter.

John Gay, the father of our subject, was born in 1804, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He became a l hatter by trade. and the greater portion of his life was spent in Bethel, this county, his death oc- curring there in 1868. In business he was quite ! successful, and he was active in local affairs. be- ing especially prominent as an advocate of Tem- perance reform. He was one of the first signers to the petition to establish the "Maine law " in | the Christian name of the other, George. Welt Bethel, a movement which resulted in keeping the i town free from liquor selling for more than forty years. He was a member of the Sons of Tem- John Smith was born June 17. 1741, and died perance, and, like all of his family, he was an ! November 16, 1799. He married Hannah Boott. active adherent of the Episcopal Church. His | and their children were: John, Squire Van, and wife, Alina Julia Nichols, of Greenfield Hill. this | Hannah. Of these children, John Smith, ou: subject's father, was born June 18, 1793, and like all of his ancestors before him he followed county, survived him a few years. They had four children, as follows: Miss Abigail Nichols Gay.

| Ophelia. wife of L. B. Sage, a dealer in station- ery and jewelry in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Charles Harrison, our subject; and John Gilbert, who re- sides in Newtown and is in the employ of his brother.

studied for a few years in the academy. At the age of seventeen he turned his attention to wagon making, and after working for a short time in Bridgeport he apprenticed himself to Stephen Chase. of Bethel, for a term of four years. When his time expired he remained one vear as a journeyman, and then went to Bridge- port, where he continued the same employment for a year. He spent one year in St. Louis, Mo., with other localities caused him to determine to i make his permanent home in his native county. Returning to Bethel he soon afterward, in 186 ;. | located in Newtown, near the village, where he has since been engaged in the manufacture of carriages.

Politically, Mr. Gay is a stanch Republicar. but while he is interested in all that relates to progress he does not take an active part in put - lic affairs. He is a leading member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Newtown, and at one time was an active worker in the Masonic Fraternity. with which he is still identified as a member o! ! Hiram Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., at Bethe). I Connecticut.

JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, an old and es- teemed resident of Lake George District. town of Newtown, is descended in both pa- ternal and maternal lines from pioneer famille: of this locality.

There is a family tradition that the district ir. which Mr. Smith resides received its name through his paternal and maternal great-great- grandfathers, one of whom was George Smith and the other Nathan Lake. These men came together from Old Milford, Conn., and settled on the site of the home of our subject, where he was born March 5. 1819. and where he has eve: since resided. The surname of one, Lake, and combined, and hence the name Lake George District.

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agricultural par-uits throughout life. He was an ter). March 3. 1741. all born in Newtown except upright man, was held in high esteem by his ' Nathaniel, whose place of birth was Stratford. neighbors and follow citizens, was identified with The name of John Lake appears of record as the Epicopal Church, and in his political views , one of the citizens of Newtown in 1712; the name was a Whip and Republican. He was twice married. 'hroth to Susan Lake in 1818. and (secondi on April 1. 1834. 10 Maria Camp. His children fall by his first mathtage were: John Russell is our subject: Enza Jane married Mar- cus Camp; and Susan married Henry R. Weed. of Bethel, Conn. The mother of these died September 19, 1833. aged thirty-five years, and the father on July 19, 18:s. His second wife survived him some years, doing July 24. 1807. also appears of record as a selectman a number of times during the first half of the present cen- tury Thomas Lake and Betty Jackson were married December 25. 1755. Samuel Lake, of New Milford, was married, January 23. 1776, to Sarah Henry. Joseph Lake, of Sharon, was married to Sarah Warner, July 11, 1764. John Lake, Jr .. married Rhoda Warner, January 10, 1753. and their children were: Emma, Dime, Gilead. Huldah, Lucy. Warner, and Rhoda.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 207

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