Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 21

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 21

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).

IV. Samuel Starr, son of Captain Josiah, was born in Danbury about 1700, and married Abigail Dibble, who died July 24, 1791, aged eighty-eight years. They had six children, viz. : Samuel, our subject's great-grandfather; Rachel, who died August 12, 1824; Silvanus, born 1736; Caleb, born February, 1739; Abigail, who died November 27, 1767, in her twenty-sixth year; and Peter, born September 17, 1744.

V. Samuel Starr, son of Samuel, was born July 28, 1732, and died of smallpox October 18, 1770. He was married April 1, 1752, to Ann -, born November 5, 1731, and they had eleven children, whose names and dates of birth and death are here given: Noah, March 24. 1753, 17 -; Abigail, July 22, 1754, May, 1813; Sarah, March 27, 1756, January 30, 1819; Ann, November 7, 1757, October, 1827; Peter. No- vember 1 (?), 1759. April 13, 1812; Platt, July 29, 1761, 17 -; Hannah, June 29, 1763, Febru-

Digitized by Google

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ary, 1828; Eunice, August, 1765, May, 1813; Mary, August 1, 1767, 17 -; Olive, July 11, 1769, December 2, 1833; Samuel, April 1, 1771, 18 -.

VI. Peter Starr, son of Samuel, and the grandfather of our subject, married Deborah Smith or Weed (?), who died May 6, 1812, aged fifty-one years. Five children were born to them: Smith, October 3, 1784; Rory, July 22, 1786; Anna, born June 29, 1788, died July 20, 1844; Harry, July 26, 1795, and Orlando, Sep- tember 5, 1804.

VII. Rory Starr, son of Peter, and the father of our subject, was born in Ridgebury Parish, and received a common-school education. He was a great reader, with a wonderful memory, and was noted as a man of few words and many deeds. He possessed decided mechanical genius, and for many. years followed carpentering in Danbury, where he framed the first house put together by the square rule, now the common method, but then considered impossible. He was greatly in- terested in reading of the invention of the circu- lar saw in England, and was the first to put it into practical operation here. He dammed a small stream that ran through his grounds, built a mill, and put up a circular saw and turning lathe to run by power, and numbers of people from far and near came to see these wonderful inventions. This mill was the beginning of the business carried on successfully, many years by himself, next by his son George, and now, 1897, by his nephew, Daniel Starr, who has conducted it for twenty years. Rory Starr represented the town in the General Assembly in 1831-1832- 1333, and was a member of the Senate one year. An active Christian, he was for years a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and throughout his life he exerted a wide influence for good. He married Sarah, twin daughter of Stephen Bronson and Eunice Wildman Bene- dict. She was born April 23, 1790, and died April 30, 1850; and his own death occurred Feb- ruary 17, 1845. Of their five children, William, born April 12, 1813, was learning the trade of printer in Bridgeport, when he died November 13, 1830; George, born August 26, 1815, car- ried on the business established by his father, for many years. He was twice elected to repre- sent his town in the Connecticut Legislature, in 1858 and 1861; Peter, born May 23, 1820, was scalded, and died March 7, 1823, from his in- juries; Benedict, the subject of our sketch, is mentioned more fully below; Mary, born March 5. 1828, was married July 13, 1852, to Noah Knapp Barnum, who was born December 24, 1824, the son of Darius and Maria Knapp Bar-

num. He was a prosperous merchant in Savan- nah, Ga., before the Civil war, and later con- ducted a mercantile business in New York City.

Professor Starr was born August 4, 1822, at the old family residence on Elm street. Dan- bury, and his education was begun in the schools of that city. In 1838 he entered the seminary at Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and from 1840 to 1844 he pursued a course in the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. On graduating from that institution he taught two years in the academy at Danbury, and then con- ducted a private school in the same place for two years. In 1849 he went to Newark, N. J., to teach in the Wesleyan Institute, where he remained until 1856, and for two years of this time he was principal. His next work was in the Wesleyan Female College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent five years as Professor of Mathematics. In 1861 he established a private school at Hamilton, Ohio, but he left this posi- tion in 1866 to establish "Starr's Institute," a boys' boarding school, in the village of Seven Mile, Butler Co., Ohio. With his marked ability as a teacher and disciplinarian, developed by ex- tensive and varied experience, he could not fail of success in such an enterprise, and he remained there eighteen years, building up in the mean- time a flourishing institution. After an interval of rest, occasioned by the death of his wife, he resumed his professional labors, going to Chatta- nooga, Tenn., in the spring of 1887, to fill a place in the university there during the absence of one of the professors. In the fall of the same year he returned to Danbury, where he has since been engaged in private teaching. He is a mem- ber of the board of education in his city, and spends much of his time among the local schools. As there are seventy-five teachers in the town- ship, the task of visiting each is no light one, but Professor Starr has done a most effective work in counseling and inspiring these faithful and hardworking instructors.

While the Professor is not a politician, he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and is a steadfast supporter of its principles. He is an ardent advocate of the temperance cause, and for many years was connected with the Sons of Temperance and the Temple of Honor. Early in life he united with the M. E. Church, and wherever he has lived he has taken deep interest in the work of the denomination, serving in various offices, including that of steward. As Sunday-school superintendent he has ever given assistance to the cause in different places.

On April 8. 1846, Professor Starr married Miss Frances Eliza Andrews, who was born in

Digitized by Google

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Danbury, November 7, 1819, a daughter of Capt. Oliver Andrews and his wife, formerly Mrs. Eliza Ferry Raymond. Mrs. Starr died in Danbury, April 20, 1885, leaving one son, Oliver Andrews Starr. A daughter, Sarah Frances, born March 10, 1857, died September 28, 1859.

Oliver A. Starr was born November 1, 1848, and went to Boston, Mass., in 1871, as salesman and bookkeeper for a business firm, and remained until 1893, when he engaged in the shoe business at Charlestown, Mass., under the firm name of Starr & Spaulding. In 1890, he married Miss Annie Hook, of Charlestown, Mass., a daughter of Aaron and Anstrice (Levey) Hook, of Boston, Massachusetts.

ALONZO SETH WHEELER, president of the Saugatuck Manufacturing Company, at Saugatuck, one of the largest business firms in this county, is a man of marked ability and en- terprise, and his many inventions in connection with his business are now in practical use in all parts of the United States. Although he is now less active than formerly, the impress of his en- ergy and careful management remains upon the operations of the firm in which he has so long been a chief factor, his connection with the business having lasted continuously for more than sixty years.

Mr. Wheeler was one of the first in this country to engage in the manufacture of covered buttons, and for forty years the silk and velvet buttons made by this firm have been in demand. Among the patents taken out by him is one for the " rivet pants button " which is now so popu- lar throughout the country, and the success of this and his other devices has done much to en- large the trade and advance the reputation of the company. The plant occupies a large brick building, and the greater portion of the product is shipped to the general offices in Broadway, New York, although orders from all sections of the United States are at times filled directly from the factory. The stock is held exclusively by members of the Wheeler family, and our sub- ject's son, E. Sterne Wheeler, is now serving as secretary and treasurer. The business was es- tablished in 1837 at Naugatuck, Conn., under the firm name of Hopkins & Wheeler, our sub- ject being the junior partner, and in the spring of 1860 it was removed to Saugatuck, the firm name being changed to E. S. Wheeler & Co. In 1875, when articles of incorporation were taken out, the present name was adopted. At the time of the removal to Saugatuck, our subject's brother, Hon. Jonathan Wheeler, was one of

the firm, and on its incorporation he became its president, which office he held until his death in February, 1886.

The Wheeler family is of English extraction, but has long been identified with this country, our subject's grandfather, Ager Wheeler, having been a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Capt. Samuel Wheeler, the father of our subject, was born in South Britain, Conn., where he followed agricultural pursuits during his active life. He is descended through his mother, Oria Hinman, from Titus Hinman, one of the very first settlers of Woodbury, Conn., 1672. Hon. Jonathan E. Wheeler, our subject's brother, mentioned above, was one of the leading Democratic politicians of this State, and for many years he represented his locality in the Legislature and Senate of Connecticut, his ability and public spirit being recognized by his fellow citizens irrespective of party lines.

Our subject was born March 29, 1816, at the old homestead in South Britain. At an early age he began to give evidence of practical business sagacity, and his energies found an appropriate channel in the establishment of the manufactur- ing business which has occupied his attention. He has a handsome residence at Saugatuck near the factory, and is regarded as one of the most prominent citizens of that locality. In politics he is a Democrat, as are all the members of his family, and he is an adherent of the Episcopal Church, in which faith he was reared. He has always taken an active interest in local improve- ment-in fact, the family name is a synonym for public spirit. Among the important movements fostered by him we mention especially the build- ing of the bridge at his town across the Sauga- tuck river, while Hon. Jonathan Wheeler was in the State Senate.

Mr. Wheeler and his wife, who was formerly Miss Caroline Smith, of Naugatuck, hold an en- viable position socially. They have five chil- dren : Robinson H., Clarence L., Kate W., Bertha C. (Mrs. Hazelton), and E. Sterne.

J EDUTHAN PECK, one of the oldest citizens of Riverside, Fairfield county, who is ripe in honors as well as years, is now retired from the labors of a long and active life, and is spend- ing his declining days in the midst of ease and plenty upon a part of the old Peck homestead which has been in the possession of the family for over a century.

Mr. Peck is a native of Fairfield county, born at Mianus, March 17, 1811, and is a son of Capt. Solomon and Mary (Ferris) Peck. The father,

Digitized by Google

100

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who was a son of Joseph Peck, was born March 15, 1768, and was married, December 29, 1799, to Miss Mary Ferris, who was born February 6, 1782, a daughter of Jeduthan Ferris, whose home was on the old Post road east of Mianus. After his marriage Captain Peck always resided at Mianus, and was engaged in the boating busi- ness. Although he started out in life for himself in limited circumstances, he was very successful in his business ventures and accumulated much wealth, leaving to his family a comfortable prop- erty. His death occurred June 2, 1816, and his remains were interred in the Sound Beach ceme- tery. He was a large man, weighing consider- able, and was held in high regard by all who knew him. After his death his widow removed to what is now Riverside avenue, where .she reared her family and spent her remaining days, dying there in 1845. She was also laid to rest in the Sound Beach cemetery. Our subject was third in the order of birth in their family of four children, the others being as follows: Solomon, born December 31, 1802, was a boatman and lived at Mianus, where he died. He married Caroline Selleck, and left a family. . Emeline, born December 29, 1805, married Lemuel Wells, and went to St. Catharines, South America, where her death occurred. John F., born No- vember 16, 1814, died July 5, 1839.

Mr. Peck was only five years old when his father died, and at an early · age he began to assist his mother in the care of her property. On November 23, 1845, he was married, in Port Chester, N. Y., to Miss Frances M. Jessup, a native of Fairfield county, Conn., born February 14, 1826, along the Post road in Riverside. Her parents were Samuel and Susan (Dibble) Jessup, the former a native of Sound Beach, Conn., the the latter of Bedford, N. Y. By occupation the father was a farmer. In his family of ten chil- dren, Mrs. Peck was the ninth child and fifth daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have four children: (1) Samuel J. married Mary A. Underhill, and lives at Riverside. (2) Isaac A. married Emma L. Underhill, and has two children-Anita and Marion. (3) John F. is engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his father's farm. (4) William J. also assists in the operation of the old homestead at Riverside.

After his marriage Mr. Peck located where his mother had lived for some years previous to her death, and when the estate, was divided he took the portion he has since occupied, along Indian Head road. Most of the farm was still in its primitive condition, and he has erected all of the buildings upon the place. As his health was poor, his sons assumed the management of the

place as soon as old enough, and in connection with its operation have successfully engaged in the dairy business. They are upright, reliable business men, who command the confidence and respect of all with whom they come in contact. In politics .Mr. Peck is a Democrat, and in relig- ious connection his wife is a faithful member of the Sound Beach Congregational Church. For fifty-three years they have traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, and now in their declining years they are surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances .who appreciate their sterling worth.

P ECK FAMILY. One of the oldest families of Connecticut, and one whose representa- tives in each generation have played an import- ant part in public affairs, bears the name of Peck. In 1643 the records show the name of Joseph Peck, and tradition says he came over from England in 1637 on the good ship "Hec- tor" with Governor Eaton and Rev. John Dav- enport. Certain it is that he left New Haven in 1649, and settled in Milford, where we find his name recorded as a Church member in 1652. He was twice married, his first wife being Mrs. Alice Burwell, widow of John Burwell, who died at Milford, Conn., in 1649; he was one of the first Free Planters under the first Planters' Agree- ment at Milford, dated November 29, 1639, having previously removed from Wethersfield to Milford. Joseph Peck's second wife was Miss Marie Richards. He died in 1701, leaving six children, namely: Elizabeth, baptized in 1651, married October, 1677, to Sergeant Thomas Hayes; Joseph (II), baptized 1653; John, baptized 1655; . Mary, baptized 1670, married William Northrup; Ann, baptized 1672; and Hannah.

II. Joseph Peck settled in Milford, and made that place his home until his death, which oc- curred March 1, 1731. He married Mary Camp, in. January, 1678 or 1679. She was the daughter of Nicholas Camp, who was one of the original settlers and Free Planters of Milford under the first Planters' Agreement at Milford, dated No- vember 29, 1639, having previously removed from Wethersfield to Milford. Mr. and Mrs. Peck became the parents of eleven children: Joseph (2), born 1680, married Abigail Baldwin, January, 1706 or 1707; Mary, born December 15, 1682; John, born September 4, 1683, :died November 27, 1709; Jeremiah, born 1687, mar- ried Hannah Fisk, August 20, 1713; Samuel, baptized . 1690, married Martha Clark, May 5, 1714; Ephraim, baptized 1692, married Sarah Ford, November 7, 1716, and died July 23, 1760;

Digitized by Google

101

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL" RECORD.

Henry (III), born 1695; Elizabeth, born 1697; Nathaniel, born 1699; Abigail, born September 25, 1701; and Heth, born October 3, 1703, mar- ried Hannah Camp, February 26, 1729 or 1730, and died May 4, 1797. From 1702 to 1709 Joseph Peck served as sergeant ensign in the training band, and was Lieutenant-Deputy to the General Assembly in the years 1701, 1702, 1703, 1704, 1707, 1710, 1711, 1713, 1714, and 1718.

III. Henry Peck, seventh child of Joseph Peck, resided in Milford. On April 1, 1745, he bought a farm of 105 acres of John Glover of Newtown, and in 1750 deeded this land to his son-Henry (IV). Henry Peck (III), was twice married, his first wife being Ann Ford, to whom he was married February 8, 1722 or '23; she died December 28, 1726; she was the grand- daughter of John or Thomas Ford, who settled in Milford about 1646. On July 4. 1729, Henry Peck (III) married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Northrup, widow of Amos Northrup. She was the granddaughter of Joseph Northop, who was one of the early settlers in 1639, having removed from Wethersfield. Mr. Peck was the father of four children: Henry (IV), born December 7, 1723; Ann, born August 15, 1725, married Jesse Lambert, and died July 3, 1809; Benjamin, born November 16, 1726, married Mary Smith (he served as a captain of a company from Milford throughout the Revolutionary war), and Mehit- able, born October 3, 1735, married ' Colonel Allen. Henry Peck (III) was very prominent in the affairs of the town. He was appointed ensign of the militia in May, 1742, and four years later was made lieutenant. He was deacon in the Congregational Church for a number of years, and died November 19, 1762.

IV. Henry Peck, son of Henry Peck, and great-grandson of the founder of the family in America, was born December 7, 1723, and moved in 1745 to Newtown, now Brookfield, parish of Newbury. He became a very wealthy farmer for those times, and was one of the highly hon- ored members of the community. Of the old Puritan - cast, pious and most conscientiously strict, he faithfully lived up to all the require- ments of his creed, and served as deacon in the Congregational . Church many years. Kind- hearted and benevolent, he held greater charity for the doings of others than he allowed for him- self, and in the cause of truth and Christianity he labored without ceasing. In the political affairs he too acted well his part. In 1763 he was com- missioned ensign, and as justice of the peace he served throughout the' years 1773, '74, '75 and '76. He married Rachel Lambert, of Milford;

she was a granddaughter of Jesse Lambert and Deborah Fowler, daughter of Capt. William Fowler and granddaughter of William Fowler, magistrate and one of the first Planters of Mil- ford under the first Planters' Agreement at Mil- ford dated November 29, 1639, having previously removed from New Haven to Milford. After the death of this wife, January 29, 1792, Mr. Peck wedded Abiah Peck, of Newtown. Abiah Peck (née Smith) was the widow of Gideon Peck of Newtown, and the mother of Amarillis Peck, who married, John Peck, he being the son of Henry Peck, of Brookfield. The children of Henry Peck were: (1) Mary, born December 25, 1752, married David Jackson. (2) David, born March 21, 1755, died . April 23, 1843, married Isabella Nichols; he was a patriot of the Revolution, serving under Washington throughout the war. (3) Jesse L., born May 31, 1757, died May 10, 1773. (4) John (V),- born December 3, 1759, died February 9, 1839. (5) Rachel, born Feb- ruary 7, 1762, died October 3, 1796. (6) Henry, born March 3, '1766, is mentioned in full later on." (7) Amos, born April 5, 1769, mar- ried November 27, 1792, Miss Lucy Blackman, and died March 23, 1835. Henry Peck (IV) died October 4,' 1808.

V. John Peck, of the fifth generation of this .

family in the New World, carried on extensive farming operations in Brookfield, where he was born December 3, 1759. He was faithful to the teachings of his father, became a worthy member of Church, and was at the helm in guiding the little political ship of . his 'town. He had an abundant charity for the shortcomings of his fel- lowmen, and an ever-ready hand to aid the struggling ones. When the old watchman in the church tower rang out the *Independence " bell, its echoes awakened all the latent patriotism in John Peck, and he enlisted in the Continental Army, serving throughout the war, late in life receiving a pension for his faithful services. On December 23, 1784, he married Amarillis Peck, who was born July 31, 1764, daughter of Gid- eon Peck, and died December 16, 1785. After the death of his wife, he was again married, this 'time, on January 11, 1787, to Clarina Wheeler, who was born July 16, 1767, and died November 7, 1835. By each marriage Mr. Peck became the father of one child; John A. (VI), born De- cember 9, 1785, 'died August 27, 1864; and Amarillis, born December 4, 1787, died January II, 1794. Mr. Peck died February 9, 1839.'

VI. John A. Peck, son of John Peck (V) and Amarillis, his wife, passed his life in Brookfield except that portion spent in the service of his country during the war of 1812. For his service

Digitized by Google

102

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the army he was paid in land warrants. On February 17, 1811, he was married to Huldah Keeler, who was born January 30, 1789, and died October 20, 1842. Nine children were born to this union: Henry W., born May I, 1812, died July 26, 1864, married Johanna W. Platt, December 16, 1846; George W., born September 22, 1813, died May 7, 1898, was married November 6, 1836, to Mary Andrews; Amarillis, born October 21, 1815, died August 8, 1887, married November 7, 1836, to Medad R. Kellogg; Clareny, born August 2, 1817, died February 18, 1888, married October 11, 1835, to Sherman Foote; John L., born April 12, 1820, married February 24, 1854, to Sarah T. Law, and died February 6, 1887; Arza C. (VII), born June 8, 1822; Lucy Ann, born October 31, 1824, married October 21, 1846, to Edwin Smith; Adaline, born January 30, 1827, died December 19, 1846, and Alfred A., born October 27, 1830, died April 20, 1855. On July 1, 1847, John A. Peck (VI) was again married, his second wife be- ing Sally H. Payne, who was born April 19, 1795, and died August 29, 1860. John A. Peck died August 22, 1864.

VII. Arza C. Peck was educated at Brook- field, but at the age of twenty-one he left his native hills and became an extensive importer of goods from Russia, East India, China and Japan, and has become a prominent factor in commer- cial circles at New York. On February 20, 1862, he married Janie Bodes, and of this union have come two children: John A. (VIII), born September 6, 1863, married on February 24, 1885, to Miss Agnes E. Freedman, by whom he has one child-John A. (IX), born October 15, 1885, and William H., born May 15, 1866, mar- ried April 29, 1891, to Lizzie Stackpoole, and has one child-Reginald.

HENRY PECK, son 'of Henry Peck (IV), passed nearly the allotted three-score and ten years in the town of Brookfield, where he engaged in farming, and his old home farm still remains in the possession of his family. On May 26, 1791, he married Hannah Northrup, by whom he had seven children, all now deceased, as follows: Hannah (who married Elias Sturtevant), Henry L., Harriet, Harmon, Henrietta, Hiram and Hetty. Henry Peck died August 29, 1834.

HENRY L. PECK, who in his day was one of the most highly honored and respected citizens of the town of Brookfield, was born in that town May 4, 1797. In his early manhood he went south, locating at Darien, Ga., but after a few years, owing to illness amongst his kinspeople at the North, he returned to Brookfield Center, and engaged in the mercantile business. Honest and

upright, his business principles assured him a success seldom attained. He continued in this line of work until his death, at the age of sixty- six, during the exciting days of the rebellion. On October 19, 1828, he was united in marriage with Eliza Smith, daughter of Preserve Smith, and to them were born three children: (1) Henry died in infancy. (2) Harriet E. married Robert T. Clarke, and became the mother of three chil- dren-Henry P., of Columbia, S. C., married Julia Hurd, and has one child-Nancy B .; Mary Toucey, who married W. C. Haight, of Bridge- port, and has two children-Alton and Marion; and Charles R. (3) Henry S., whose sketch fol- lows. The mother of this family, Eliza Smith Peck, lived until November 4, 1893, and hers was a familiar face among the philanthropical workers, but after ninety years there came a morning when her place was empty, for she was no more.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 21

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