Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 213

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 213


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262 | Part 263 | Part 264 | Part 265 | Part 266 | Part 267 | Part 268 | Part 269 | Part 270 | Part 271


S YLVANU'S L. REYNOLDS is a representa- tive well-to-do farmer of Greenwich town- ship. Fairfield county, and the place he now owns and occupies has been in the family for three generations. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Greenwich, and the Reynolds have always ranked with its well-to-do agricultural citizens.


Ambrose Reynolds, great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name introduces these lines. was a farmer and lived in Greenwich township. He married a Miss Knapp. Their son Ambrose


Svivanus L. Reynolds was born October 17, 180 ;. on the farm where he resides, and has passed all his life in Greenwich township. in his boyhood attending the North Street school. When eight years old he returned with his mother moved from the place after her husband's death, , and in the spring of 1888, after the death of his | paternal grandmother, he became the owner by inheritance of half of the old home place, being his father s only heir. His farm comprises about one hundred and fourteen acres of good land, to the cultivation of which he devotes all his time and attention, taking no active interest in politics or other public affairs. On February 11, 1896, Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage, in New 1 York, with Miss Johanna Murphy, who was born and reared in that city, and is the daughter of Daniel and Johanna (Bradley) Murphy. She is i a member of the Catholic Church.


PETER McDONALD. a well-known citizen of Bethel, has made his own way in life, and his present high standing in business circles re- fiects great credit upon him.


The McDonald family originated in Scotland,


Digitized by Google


1048


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and our subject's grandfather. was a native of mon schools of that place afforded, Mr. Keeler i attended Prof. Edward Olmstead's Academy. | from which he graduated in 1870, taking the regular prescribed course, which included the languages and mathematics. He had good ad- vantages for that time, and has always been ! much of a reader, a great essential in the mental make-up of any well-informed man. For two years after leaving the academy he worked on his father's farm, later being engaged in mercantile business as clerk for Keeler & Gilbert at Wilton; I but at the end of two years he returned to the I farm for some time. We next find him in the employ of J. C. Myers for a short period, then again returning to the farm, on which he worked I until 1882, in which year he commenced an en- gagement as clerk for James Comstock. In 1884 i the latter retired from business, and Mr. Keeler that country, but made his home in later life in Ireland. Michael McDonald, father of our sub- ject. was born in the Emerald Isle in 1819, and in 1848 came to the United States, locating in Fairfield county, in the town of Redding. where he died March 8. 1872. For some time after his arrival he was engaged in farming, and for twenty years he was in the employ of Daniel Sandford, who conducted a boarding school. He was naturalized, and took much interest in polit- ical questions, his vote being cast for the Demo- cratic party on all occasions. In religious faith he was a devout Catholic. and his family were all members of the same Church. Mr. McDonald was married in Redding to Miss Catherine Scol- lins, a native of Ireland, who died about 1883. Our subject was the eldest of six children, the others being Mary A .. wife of Theodore Braun- I bought out the concern, which he has conducted eis. of Bethel: Catherine. wife of Patrick E. Jef- , ever since. fery. of Danbury; Elizabeth and Margaret. who are trained nurses, the latter residing in New Haven; and Helen, wife of Patrick Fisher, of Danbury.


He has been an industrious, , energetic and successful man, and owes his present position in business and society to his I own efforts and worth. He has been a member of the State militia.


Mr. McDonald was born December 15. 1851, In politics a Republican, Mr. Keeler has in the town of Redding. where he received a dis- i served as chairman of the Republican town com- s I mittee since 1888 or '89, and the party find in


trict-school education. For some years he was engaged in farming and teamning in that locality, I him an able leader; he has been overseer of the but in 1875 he removed to Bethel, where for a I town poor (most of the time) for the past twenty vear and a half he drove a team for Crofut & years, and tax collector of Wilton continuously since 1880, with the exception of five years, from 1888 to 1893. Mr. Keeler deserves a word of praise for the manner in which he has collected the taxes for the town, he having always col- Foster. He then spent four years in the factory of Judd & Co., and until. 1888 he worked as a journeyman hatter in different shops in Bethel and Danbury. Later he conducted a livery stable for three years, and he also became inter- | lected and settled his tax book each year, and ested in trucking and contracting, which he still continues. In May, 1894. he began dealing in coal and wood, and he is now one of the leaders in his locality in this line. He owns his busi. ness property, upon which he has built a trestle 1 and coal house and constructed a side track fromn the railroad.


I never once caused a tax payer one cent of expense -in fact, he is conceded by everyone to be the best collector the town ever had. Since May. 1884. Mr. Keeler has been postmaster at North Wilton. He has ever taken an active interest in public affairs, and is one of the town's most pop- I ular leaders. Socially. he is a member of Arch | Lodge, F. & A. M., of Georgetown, Conn .; also


On June 1. 1876. Mr. McDonald was married in Danbury to Miss Bridget Gallagher, a daugh- I of Washington Chapter, F. & A. M., of Nor- ter of Hugh Gallagher. of Hawleyville, and the union has been blessed with five children: Anna ! Knights Templar. He takes considerable inter- V., Elizabeth, Nora. Martha and Frank. Mr.


est in the craft, although somewhat removed McDonald is a member of St. Mary's Roman I from his Lodge and Chapter, in which he stands Catholic Church at Bethel, and in politics he is ! high. In religious faith he is a member of the a stanch Democrat.


R OBERT W. KEELER. general store keeper at the post office of North Wilton, and post- master there. was born in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, September 5. 1853.


walk, and is soon to step higher and join the Congregational Church. and has been one of the society's committee since 1897.


In 1876 Mr. Keeler married Ruth Zelda Ray- . mond, who was born in the town of Norwalk. Conn., February 11, 1855. She received her education in the common and high schools of I her native place. To this union children as fol-


After receiving the best education the com- | lows were born, their names and dates of birth


Digitized by Google


Digitized by Google


1


1


a



1


1


S


1


1


Digitized by Google


1049


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


being respectively: Florence C .. November 9. 1877; Ance K .. February 18. INN: bessie L .. January 2. 1884. Samuel. November 2, 1888; and Raymond, May 15. 1564


Samuel Kevier was the great-grandfather of our subject, and Isaiah Kevier was the grand. father. The latter was born in the town of Wilton. in 1791, and there obtained his educa- tion in the common-schools After leaving school he became a farmer, an occupation he followed all his life. Politically he was hist a . wife, was born in the town of Norwalk in 1809. Whig. later a Republican. He was a man of


ceived his education. From his boyhood days he was engaged in farming. He married Miss Lumce Meaker, by whom he had the following children: Henderson, who married Joanna Thorp: William M .. who married Sarah Eliza Thorp: Funce, who married Dennis Hanford: Hannah. who after her sister's death married Dennis Han- ford; Charity: and Mary A., who married Jesse Keeler.


William M. Raymond, father of our subject's


After leaving the common schools, in which he standing in his community, and was honored , received his education. he engaged in farming. « tten by his fellow citizens by election to office. . He married Miss S. Eliza Thorp, who was born in the town of Easton, Conn., in 1818. daugh- ter of Samuel and Ruth (Sherwood) Thorp. By children: (1) William T .. (2) Ruth, (3) Thomas 1 .. (4) Henry W .. (5) Sarah E .. (6) Frederick ' M. and (7) Ruth Zelda. Of these (1) Wilham many of the manor local offices having been filled by him He was a Royal Arch Mason, being atthated at Redding, and he was a mem- . this marriage Mr. Raymond had the following ber of the Congregational Church. Always well . abreast with the times, he was a representative, progressive man. He married Mas Lucy Wat- trous, of Ridgefield, and by her had the follow- | T., was born in Norwalk, Conn., and was edu- ing children: Jannie M., who married Benajah cated there. He has been engaged in the coal business with his brother Thomas I. since 1867 at Gilbert. Emily, who married Newton Benedict; Martha, who died unmarried at the age of : So. Norwalk. During the Civil war he was twenty seven; and Le Grand W .. father of our . drafted, but owing to ill health was not con- subiect


pelled to serve. He married Josephine A. Lock- wood, but has no children. (2) Ruth died young.


Le Grand W. Keeks was born in the town of Wilton. Conn .. October 15. 1815. Having (3) Thomas 1. was born at Norwalk, was edu- obtained a good education in the common- i cated there, and has been engaged in the wood schools and Wilton Academy, he taught school , and coal business there since 1867 in connection for some years with success in Wilton, also in I with his brother. William T. He was married the Umon school of Norwalk. Later he was for , twice, (first) to Eliza Tolles, by whom he had the a number of years connected with a wholesale


' following children: Martha E., who married grocery in New York City as salesman, then re- | Minor D. Randall: Lizzie M., who married turning to Wilton engaged in farming in con- 1 . Charles D. Burns: Elsie T., who remains single; nection with his father. During training day's he was captain of a militia company He was 1 an active member of the Congregational Church of Wilton. In politics he was a Republican, and served as selectman of his town for a num- 1 ber of tears, also as assessor, Insides holding


many other minor offices within the gift of the people. being one of the foremost men of Wil- 1 ton. He married Miss Catherine Lockwood, who was born in 1822, in Found Ridge. N. Y .. . he had two children-William and Josephine -


a daughter of Horatio and Bathia (Lockwood) Lockwood. also of Pound Ridge To this mar- riage there came the following children: Samuel, born in 1845, married Arvilla Bailey, of Rage- field: Edward L., born October 29. 1849. died Catherine L., born December 25. 1856. re- mained single; and William L., loin m 1861, married Elouise Fanton. of Western.


single: Robert W. is the subject of this sketch; Joseph W. Sanders; Nettie E., who died young;


Th mas Raymond, grandfather of the wife . all three of whom are still single. (6) Frederick of our subject, was born in the town of Norwalk, M. died in infancy. (7) Ruth Zelda is the wife and in the common schools of that town re- i of our subject


and Ruth. Wilham T. and Eva, all three of whom died young. For his second wife Thomas 1. married Miss Carrie Van Cliff, by whom he has no children. (4) Henry W. was born in Norwalk, Conn., was educated there, and for eleven years was overseer of the town farm in Norwalk, Conn. : of late he has been occupied in farming on his own account. He was married twice, and by his first wife, Hannah M. (Lyons)


the latter of whom died young ; by his second wife, Minerva (Price). he has no children. (5) Sarah E. married Harlem R. Gorham, of Westport. and had the following children: William M. Gor- ham, who is still single; Edith E., who married Herbert W., who married Lilly Gilbert; Fred M .. who died young: Edith, who married Arthur Fer- riss: and Robert W., Raymond and Harold A ..


Digitized by Google


1050


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


I SAAC F. HAVILAND is the owner of a beau- tiful farm in Pembroke District, town of Dan- bury, and the judicious management he has dis- plaved in its cultivation has won for him a lead- ing place among the agriculturists of the vicinity. His estate comprises about three hundred acres of choice land, and in addition to raising general crops he conducts a large dairy.


Mr. Haviland was born September 4, 1854, at Ridgefield, this county, the son of Isaac Havi- land, and grandson of Jacob and Amy (Gilbert) Haviland. Isaac Haviland was born October 2, 1820, and the greater portion of his life has been spent in Fairfield county, although for some years he was engaged in the manufacture of tobacco at Brooklyn, N. Y., as a member of the firm of Harvey & Haviland. He now resides at Bridgeport, where he located in 1866. His wife,


In this family was a son bearing the name Mary Augusta (Thorpe), was born May 20, 1831, | of James, who learned the shoemaking business and died January 8, 1881. was a daughter of Walker W. and Emeline (Fanton) Thorpe. Our subject was one of three children, the others be- ing William Thorpe, born March 29, 1850, and Ernest Clifford, born September 7, 1868.


During our subject's childhood the family re- moved to Brooklyn, N. Y., and his education was begun in the schools of that city. When he was about eight years old his father pur- chased the farm mentioned above. and removed thither, remaining two years, afterward settling at Bridgeport. Our subject's education was con- tinved in that city at the public schools and the private school conducted by G. B. Day, and on completing his literary training he learned the cigarmaker's trade with an uncle, Reed Haviland, . at South Norwalk. Two and a half years of work there enabled him to master the details of the business, and then he engaged in cigar manu- facturing at Bridgeport on his own account. The occupation injured his health, however, and after three and a half years he gave it up and went into the plumbing business, carrying on a concern of his own. for three years and keeping the books of a firm of plumbers for about two years. In 1885 he sold out his interest in Bridge- port and settled upon the farm which his father had bought years before, and there he has since remained amid the wholesome surroundings of country life. He makes a specialty of dairy work. keeping from thirty to forty cows and sell- ing the milk in Danbury.


In 1879 Mr. Haviland married Miss Victoria Garnsey, daughter of Alexander N. and Emma (Allen) Garnsey, of Pottsville. Penn., and two children have blessed this union: Isaac, born April 4. 1881, and Clayton G., born January 23, 1885. The family attend the Universalist Church,


of which Mrs. Haviland is an active member Politically, Mr. Haviland is a Democrat, and he takes much interest in local affairs, especially those of an educational nature, having served to: four years as school trustee in his district. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Pequonnoch Lodge, at Bridgeport.


JAMES MORRIS BENEDICT. In examining the ancient records of Fairfield county, we find the name of Benedict. In the family was one Caleb Benedict, of the town of New Canaan, where he was an extensive shoemaker He married Polly , and reared a family of sixteen children, nearly all of whom married and settled in the town of New Canaan.


i under his father, and followed it all his litt James Benedict married Phoebe Mills, of New Canaan, a daughter of Rufus Mills, a store mason by trade, and English by descent. To this young couple were born four children: James Morris, whose name introduces this brel review; Louise and Marian, who are unmarried and reside at Norwalk, this county; and Geofft. a grocer of Norwalk. James Benedict died ir. 1865, his wife in 1882. They were both con- sistent followers of the Methodist faith, and i? politics he was a Republican.


James Morris Benedict was born in the town of New Canaan, January 26, 1847, and attended the local schools until his eighteenth year. wher. he went to Hartford. Conn., and there in the ex- tensive works of Pratt, Whitney & Co .. learned the machinist's trade. For four years he ce- voted his time to a complete mastery of tix details of his chosen calling, and then, in 186c. returned to Fairfield county and entered the en .- ploy of the Norwalk Iron Works at Norwalk. where he remained for two years. Later he became engaged with the Yale Lock Company at Stamford, but after eight years in that pesttror. he decided to seek an opening in the commercial world. Accordingly he opened a stationery stand in the post office, and for seven years cr- voted his energies so well to this business that its financial success was assured, and he was enabled to move across the street into a store built for him. In 1888 he sold out this bes- ness, and started a grocery store at the corner cf Main and School streets; but at the end of six months he turned the business over to his son-it .- law, F. S. Byxbee, and commenced his presen" business at No. 43 Wall street, where he carries a complete and attractive line of cigars. contec-


Digitized by Google


1051


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


tionery, stationery, etc .; he is also agent for the Adams Express Company at that place.


engaged in farming in the town of Westport. ' He operates the homestead for his mother, and On August 24. 1870, Mr. Benedict married ' he also owns the farm of thirty-five acres upon Nancy Brown, of South Norwalk, a daughter of which he resides in a beautiful home built by James Brown, and to them four children have been born: Eva, wife of Frederick S. boabee.


him in 18;4 Mr. Wakeman is what is generally known as a " truck farmer." and under his able of Norwalk: Eugene, a newspaper reporter in , management the estates which he conducts yield charge of the South Norwalk Sentand: Harry, of Norwalk; and Charles, who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. Benedict is a Republican, and while active in the interests of his party has no desire for public office. He has always been prominent in the affairs of the town, progress- we as he is disinterested. The family attend the baptist Church, and are among the highly respected families of the town.


handsome returns. As a citizen he is public - . spirited, taking keen interest in local affairs, and he is one of the leading Republicans of his . locality. In the fall of 1896 he was elected first selectman, and he is still serving in that office. hav- ing been re-elected in the fall of 1897. He is a . valued member of the Grange, the K. of P .. and the Masonic order, and he and his family are prominent workers in the Congregational Church at Westport.


On March 12, 1874. Mr. Wakeman was married to Miss Jennie S. Sherwood, a native of Westport and a descendant of one of the early


L EWIS P. WAKEMAN, a profite at agricult- urest of the town of Westport, is related to several of the most esteemed fammes of the I settlers of the county. Four children have section, and by his own character and life , blessed their union: Bertha 1 .. Elsie R. he does credit to his ancestry. The Wakemans . (deceased). Ethel S. and L. Kenneth. have been identified with Westport from an early period, and the old homestead there was owned and cultivated by Jessup Wake man. our subiect's great - grandfather, who was probaby born in Fairfield county.


W WATSON H. SMITH is one of the leading citizens of Stratford, and for many wars he has been influential in the business, political and social activities of the town. He owns valuable property there and elsewhere, his real- estate holdings including farms in Florida and South Dakota, but his attention has been given


Banks Wakeman, the grandfather of our sub- ject. was born in the present dwelling house on the fart. The Jate Henry B. Wawchan, father of our subject, was born in the same house April 12. 1820, and passed his life at the home- I mainly to mercantile pursuits. Coming of good stead, following farming as an occupation. His New England ancestry, he has always shown in death occurred on March 30. 1542, and his esti- ; a marked degree the mental acumen and business mabie wife, whose maiden name was Esther M. ; ability which characterize that race, and his Jennings, still resides at the old tain. She is a . career indicates that he could well have achieved native of Westport and a member of a well- . success in any line of effort.


known family, her ancestors having located in this county in 1661. She traces her descent from Joshua Jennings, who came from England in 1020, and settled in the eastern part of Con- 1 necticut, tracing her lineage through Joshua (2). Joshua (3), Joshua (4). David, and John B. Jen- nings, Mrs. Wakeman's father, who was born in : Westport. Henry B. and Esther M. Wakeman reared a family of four sons: Moins B .. a resi- dent of Oregon, who is connected with the Oregon Transfer Company; Lewis P., our subject: Will- iam J., a surgeon in the United States army, now stationed in Arizona; and Alfred J., a chemist in New York City.


Our subject was born June 11. 1847. at the homestead where his youth was chietiy spent. His education was begun in the local schools, and


Mr. Smith was born August 25. 1836, in Kent. Litchfield Co., Conn., where his ancestors settled at an early period, the family coming originally from England. Capt. Joseph Smith, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in ! Litchfield county: his title was won by service in the Revolutionary army. Harvey Smith, father of Watson H. Smith, was born and reared in Kent. and became a farmer in that neighbor- hood. He married Miss Julia Park, daughter of Asa and Margaret (Fuller) Park, of the same town, and they had six children: Flora; Chaun- cey. deceased; Julia; Harriet and Newton A., both deceased; and Watson H. The Fullers were one of the very first settled families in Kent, | Litchfield county


Watson H. Smith attended school in Kent completed in a select school in Norwalk, and on , and in Danbury, and on completing his course of leaving school he taught for four winters, and then , study entered upon his business career as clerk


Digitized by Google


1052


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


in a store in the former town, continuing until he reached the age of twenty-two. In 1860 he removed to the town of Stratford, where he fol- lowed farming for five years, and later he spent four years in the hay-pressing business. He then formed a partnership with John Hurd, and conducted a grocery store and livery stable in Stratford, and on the dissolution of the firm he purchased his present grocery store on Main street, Stratford, which he has now conducted successfully for twenty-six years. He has always taken an active part in local politics, being a stanch Democrat, and at times he has held office, including that of deputy sheriff. He has also been prominent in religious work as a member of the Congregational Church, in which he has held various positions and has served ten years as clerk. He is a member of the Stratford So- cial Club. In 1860 he married Miss Asenath Sumner, who was born in eastern Massachusetts, a daughter of William G. and Eliza Sumner, and the second cousin of Hon. Charles Sumner, the distinguished statesman. No children were born of this union, and on January 8, 1890, Mrs. .Smith passed to the unseen life, deeply mourned by a large circle of friends.


M ORRIS BURR WHITLOCK, who is now conducting a first-class livery stable at Ridgefield, where may be found the best of horses and vehicles of all descriptions in keeping with the demand of the times, is one of the family which for generations have been identified with the development of the county.


Joseph Whitlock, his grandfather, was one of several brothers and one sister. all residents of this section. The brothers and sisters were: Thadeus married Polly Smith, daughter of Matthew, of Limestone; James married Amanda Smith: Rufus never married; and Phoebe became the wife of William Thrall. Joseph Whitlock ·carried on agricultural pursuits in a limited man- ner at Bennett's farms. He married Polly Smith. and among his children were the following: Rufus located in Tioga county, Penn. : Henry. father of Morris B., is mentioned at more length farther on; Mead was a master mechanic, and now resides in Ansonia, Conn. : Eunice married Richard Harris, an extensive contractor and builder of Birmingham and Derby: Maria mar- ried John Henry Olmstead, of Ridgefield; Morris, who was drowned in a pond: and John, a con- tractor and builder, went to St. Louis; he had ten sons, each of whom weighed over two hun- .dred pounds.


Henry Whitlock was born at Bennett's farms


in the town of Ridgefield, in 1826. He took a great interest in horses, and became a horsemac of some note. At various times he was the owner of the stage lines running from New York City to Danbury, from Danbury to White Plains. from Ridgefield to Norwalk, and from Ridge- field to Branchville. He was a very active and energetic man, large and strong, and generaliy made things around him move. Thoroughir versed in his line of business, be conducted : successfully. He was considered one of the best four-in-hand drivers in the county, and he could manage with ease even a greater number of horses; at one time he drove twenty-two in the streets of Danbury. His wife was Miss Lucy Ann Burr, a daughter of Zalmon Burr, a schoc. teacher and farmer, and to this union came :wc sons: Lyman H., born August 5, 1849, a plumber residing at Ansonia, Conn., and Morris Burr, our subject. The father of these, while he voted the Democratic ticket, was in no sense a politician His death occurred July 1, 1892. His widow still survives.




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.