Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 216

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 216

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).

N IRAM J. STEVENS is a well-known agri- culturist and dairyman, whose independ- ence and thrift are displayed in the successful management of a small but productive farm, in Pembroke District, town of Danbury.

Our subject is a native of that town, having been born August 19. 1849. in King Street. George E. Stevens, his father, was a carpenter and boxmaker by trade. He married Clarissa Seymour, who is now living at the advanced age I trade at Sharon, and during the first year of the of eighty-six years, and this worthy couple had | Civil war he worked at making shot and shell at four children: George E .. Niram J., Luzon T., and Charles, who died in childhood.

| Sharon while keeping up with his classes in the seminary in three studies. On July 29, 1862. he

Niram J. Stevens was educated in the com- , enlisted, at Sharon, in the roth Conn. V'. 1 .. mon schools of his native town, and at sixteen : afterward the 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery. The began to learn the hatter's trade with the firm of i following record of his service and promotions George Hickok & Co., of Bethel. After three i we find in the history of his regiment. written by vears' work with them he completed his appren- | Captain Coe, now in command of the Soldiers ticeship with Mallory & Co., learning all the de- | Home at Noroton, Conn. : .. Maj. Michael Kelly

Digitized by Google

Mr. Stevens is a man of independent thought,

The Major was born September 11, 1838. in County Roscommon, Ireland, son of Thomas and Mary (Moran) Kelly. The father, who was also a native of County Roscommon. came to America with his family in 1849 and engaged in farming in the town of Sharon, Litchfield Co .. ConD. Our subject was one of seven children, six sons and one daughter, and four of the sons served as soldiers in the Union army during the Rebellion.

Michael Kelly's education was begun in the National schools of Ireland, and after coming to this country he continued his studies in the pob- lic schools of Sharon, Conn., and the seminary at Amenia. N. Y., where he completed a four- years' course. He learned the iron molder's

1063

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

enlisted in the 19th Conn. V. I. at Sharon, ' Y. V. I .. and died September 1. 1801. in Libby Conn. July 29, 1862, and was mustered into the prison: George Gilbert is the subject proper of these lines; Juha Frances, born September 8. 1846, married Allen Taylor, and died February pany F. March 6. 1864: to hast heuterant of : 19. 18;5: William Howard. born May 1. 1852. died December 3. 1856. The mother of these passed from earth November 20, 1883.

United States service as first sergeant. September 11. 1502; promoted to second heutenant of Com- Company L. December 20. 1804: to captain of Company G. March 15, 1865: to major, by brevet. April 2. 1865: mustered out of service Mayor followed his trade with the Howe Sewing

George G. Durant, the subject of our sketch, August IS. 1865." On his return home the , was born June 12, 1842. in Batavia, N. Y.,

where he received his elementary education, Machine Company, in Bridgeport. Conn .. for I later attending the public schools of Bethel. many years, and later was connected with the ' Conn., and Burton Bradley's Boarding School. Bridgeport Malleable Iron Company, but he re- + at Redding, Conn. In 1859 he was apprenticed tued from active labor about ISex . on account , to Giles M. Hoyt, hat manufacturer, of Grassy of ill-health

, Plain, Conn .. with whom he remained ten years.

Major Kelly was married, in New Haven, ' becoming foreman and finally superintendent of Conn., to Miss Margaret Reardon, and they have . the establishment. In 1870, at the " Willows." had eight children: Mary Louise. Elizabeth, , be commenced business in the same line for his Abbie. Heiena, Margaret. Agnes. Lilhan, and . own account along with a Mr. Reid, the hrm Francis Joseph (deceased . The family is iden- name being Reid & Durant for six months, at tified with the Catholic Church of Bridgeport, of : the end of which time it became Reid. Durant & which the Major is a leading member. For many wears he has been an active worker in Ehas Howe ( business alone in Bethel, near the .. Fountain." Jost. G. A. R. and at present he is vice-president 1 1

of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery Asso- cation

Barnum .. In 1871. Mr. Durant embarked in where he remained until 1884. from which year until i&os he retired from the hat-manufacturing industry, engaging in the real-estate business in I Bethel and Danbury. In the first-named city be opened up Fleetwood avenue, sold the land and I loaned the money; in Danbury he opened up Durant street; he is still in this line. doing a comfortable business. In 1895 Mr. Durant be- came a member of the firm of Andrews, Mcken-

G EORGE G. DURANT. a prominent repre- sentative citizen of Bethel. Fairheld county. cones of an old and highiv-honored New Eng- land family. His grandfather, benjamin Du- rant, was a well-known resident of Redding, I zie & Durant, hat manufacturers, which con- ( onn., for a number of years. He was of French ancestry.

| tinued for six months, and at the end of that time the hrm of Durant & Andrews (George G. Durant and Elgin S. Andrews, was organized for

Preston Durant, the father of our subject. was a native of Connecticut, having been born at & the manufacture of stiff derby hats. The factory Redding October 21, 1794. Learning the trade I our subject had near the " Fountain." the largest of hatter in his native city, he followed it the in Bethel, was burned in 1893; his present place greater part of his life. at first in Monticello, , gives employment to some two hundred hands. Buffalo and Batavia, N. Y. consecutively, and

In January, 1868, our subject was married to in 1850 moving to Bethel, where he engaged in Alice Thompson Benjamin, and they have had business; he died there December 9. 1875. On i children as follows: Nellie. born January 30, October 1, 1823. at Redding. Conn., Mr. Durant | 1873. died August 17, 1873; Bessie A .. born July 28. 1874: George Gilbert, Jr., born December 19. 1881; Mary F., born February 20. 1876. died June 3, 1878; and Alice, born November 22, 1883. A Republican in politics, Mr. Durant has served as selectman, constable, member of the grand jury, etc., and in 1883 was elected repre- sentative to the State Legislature for one term. Socially, he is a member of Eureka Lodge. F. & A. M., at Bethel; Eureka Chapter, at Danbury; Lafayette Consistory. R. S. M., and Pyramid Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Bridge-

married Betsey Gilbert, who was born June 3, 1203, a daughter of Ichabod Gilbert, and chil- dren as follows came to this union: Lydia, born August 3. 1824. died September 24, 1878; Susan, born January 28. 1826. is the widow of Oliver Stone; Eunice (Mrs. Norton). born July 7. 1828. died February 28. 1802: Maria. born August 18, 1830. married Eromine Barnum; Juha A., born July 16, 1833. died October 12, 1834: Margaret A .. born February 2, 1836. is the widow of Henry H. Taylor, who was an at- torney at Yonkers, N. Y .: Charles P., born Au- ; port. Conn. In religious faith he is a member of gust 18, 1838, became a member of the 12th N. i the Congregational Church, in which he holds the

Digitized by Google

1064

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

office of trustee. In civic matters he is one of the commissioners of Putnam Park and treasurer of same.

Anna Hickok, mother of Mrs. George G. Du- rant. was a daughter of Daniel Hickok (born | over one hundred years of age. This worthy 1771, died 1821), son of Capt. Daniel Hickok, son i couple had eleven children, of whom our subject

of Ebenezer (born 1691, died 1774). son of Sam- ! uel (born 1669, died 1713), son of Samuel (died 1694), son of William Hickok.

John Benjamin, paternal great-great-grand- father of Mrs. Durant, was born in 1700, and died April 13. 1773. He was a son of John Benjamin, whose father, also named John, was born in England, and died in June, 1645. Capt. George Benjamin, great-grandfather of Mrs. Durant, was born September 28, 1734. married February 15. 1756, to Mary Howe, who was born August 22, 1737. He served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. Gideon Benjamin, his son, was born in November, 1759, and died Janu- ary 16, 1841. Hiram Benjamin, father of Mrs. Durant, was born at Stratford. Conn., and mar- ried Anna Hickok, who was born in 1800, and died in 1865. Their children, twelve in number, were named respectively: Emily. Eliza, Sarah, Lucy, Theodore, Edward, Mary, Martha. Frank- lin, Susan, Edward G. and Alice Thompson.

H IRAM DELOS GREGORY. One of the oldest and best farms in the town of Dan- bury is the Gregory homestead in Middle River District. This estate, which contains more than three hundred and fifty acres of choice land, was purchased from the Indians in pre-Revolu- tionary days by John Gregory, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and has ever since been owned aud occupied by his descendants. The family is of English origin, but at present there is little data accessible as to the early his- tory, except that Henry Gregory came from Dorchester, England, with early settlers of Con- ! necticut. He was in Springfield, Mass., in 1637: subsequently came to Norwalk. Conn., and died in Stratford, this State. He was a cadet for the house of Gregory, of Leicestershire and Notting- ham, England. In their pedigree he is set down as " Henry of Boston

curring December 1, 1845. His wife, Desire (Sears), was born May 25, 1778, a daughter cf Knowles and Susan (Townsend) Sears, of Ridge- field, Conn., and died February 17, 1879, when

was the youngest. (1) John S., born October 3c. 1797, died August 4, 1885, was married in De- cember, 1826, to Miss Eliza Earle, and settled in New York City. (2) Albert, born June 7, 1799, was married (first) on February 20, 1828, to Jane Low, and (second) on November 2, 1854. to Harriet Vicks. By the first union he had eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: John Albert, November 25, 1829: De Witt Clinton, July 24, 1831; Aaron Palmer, November 19, 1834; Mary Louise, August 30. 1837; James Curtis, September 8, 1840; Ade- laide, November 23, 1845; Albert, Jr., March 2. 1847; David DeLong, January 12, 1849. By the second wife he had one son, Arthur W., bom March 2, 1856. (3) Adaline, born February 21, 1801, died December 17, 1836, was married September 5, 1825, to James St. John. They had two children-Sylvester, who is now living in Michigan, and Lucy Ann, who was a mis- sionary to China for twenty-eight years, the wife of Miles Knowlton, who died there. (4) Lucy, born July 1, 1803, died June 23, 1887, was mar- ried to James Benedict, of Albany, N. Y., June 1, 1828, and had two childcen-Ezra and Mary Amelia. (5) Ezra, born April 8, 1805, died March 16, - 1826. unmarried. (6) Mary, bora .November 21, 1808, died in 1885, was married October 7, 1829, to Levi Starr Benedict, of Danbury, and had three children-Charles H .. James A., and Albert G. (7) Hiram (1). bora August 2, 1810, died October 10, 1821. (8) James C., born May 8, 18.12, died February 4, 1836. unmarried. (9) Keziah, born May 23, 1817, is now the widow of Herman Stevens, of Napan- och, N. Y. She has five children-James, who I married; Joseph, unmarried; Ezra, who was | married November 12, 1891, to Miss Ida A. | Pitcher, of Albany, and is now deceased; Will- iam, who married Miss Emma Hornbeck, daugh- I ter of Jacob Hornbeck, of Napanoch, N. Y .: and | Lucy, wife of Augustus Whiteley, of the same

John Gregory. of Norwalk, Conn .. a descend- | city. (10) Susanna, born August 27, 1822, died | December 9 of the same year.

ant of Henry Gregory, was first married to Ke- ziah Curtis, of Sharon. Conn., November 22, (11) Hiram D. Gregory was born September 1763. who died March 17, 1787, and he subse- ! 28, 1823. at the homestead where he has always | resided. The district schools of the locality af- forded him his only educational privileges, and at an early age he began to render effective help in the farm work. This practical training pre- quently married Ruth St. John, of Sharon, Conn., July 6. 1788. By his first wife he had a son, Caleb C., our subject's father, who was born at the homestead July 8, 1771, and passed his lile there as an agriculturist, his death oc- I pared him to take up in his turn the manage-

Digitized by Google

Hiram I Gregory 0

Digitized by Google

- -

Digitized by Google

A I Gregory

Digitized by Google

1065

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ment of the place, which shows excellent care. Dairy work is an important and profitable depart- ment, and he keeps from forty to fitty cows. While Mr. Gregory has not been especially active in local politics, he is a stanch supporter of Ke- pubinan doctrines, and is in sympathy with all progressive movements. For many years he has been a member of the Baptist Church at Dan- bury.

On November 13, 1844. Mr. Gregory mar- . continuing with same as a director until 1882. sied Miss Harnet Evaline Dann, who was born 1 when he became president of the company, and 1 ! so continued until his death. He was salesman for the firm on the road, and found the market for the output of the factory, traveling from the time he was twenty-one years of age until he was in June. 1821. a daughter of John and Mary ( Ramsdell, Dann, the former a native of Salem, N. Y., and the latter of New Haven, Conn. Mrs. Gregory passed to the unseen world on January 30, 1891. Of the two children born to I three-score and ten, to within a week of his this union James Smith Gregory survives; the I death. He and his brother were the de facto second. William Arthur, born September 7. managers of the business, the magnitude of which 1851. died May 19, 1873, aped twenty -one years, . may be estimated when we state that employ- nine months and twenty-three days. He was a , ment was given to two hundred and fifty hands.

young man of the promise, and at the time of his death was a student of Yale Coliere.

James Smith Gregory was born August 3. 1845. and was educated in part at the district schools of the locality, and in part at a private school in Danbury taught by Frederick Jackson. Since completing his course in the latter institu- tion he has devoted his attention to the manage- ment of the farm, of which he now has entire charge. Like his father he is a steadfast Repub- lican, and he attends the Baptist Church, of which his father and wife are also members. On January 8, 1873. he was married to Miss Isadora A. Gilbert, daughter of George H. and Hannah A. (Banks) Gilbert, the former of whom died March 2. 1898. Her paternal grandparents were Harvey and Sally (Hull) Gilbert, of a family old and prominent in Ridgefield. Conn. On the maternal side she is a granddaughter of Alva and Eliza Gape, Banks. Her brother. Dr. G. A. Gilbert, a well-known physican and surgeon of Danbury, and for a long time member of the board of education of that town, is now engaged in writing a biography of Gen. Patrick Ferguson, of Revolutionary fame. James S. Gregory and wife have one son, William Arthur, born October 22, 1875. married Cora E. Howes, May 18. 1898 ; he is now at home assisting in the dairy business.

B ENJAMIN H. GILBERT, of the Deland & Gilbert Company, widely known as man- ufacturers of toilet soaps. Branchville, is one of the most progressive and energetic young busi- ness men of Fairfield county. He was born at Georgetown, N. Y., April 18, 1863, and his first , in 1895 it became a stock company known as the

ancestor, of whom we have record, settled at New Rochelle, New York State.

William J. Gilbert, father of our subject. was born April 14, 1814. at Wilton, Conn .. a son of Benjamin and Charlotte (Birchard) Gilbert, the former of whom carried on an extensive wire factory. William J. and his brother Edwin were , partners with their father, and in the spring of 1872 the business was incorporated, William J.

Wilham J. Gilbert married Harriet Augusta | Howe, a daughter of George C. Howe, a jeweler of New York City, and children as follows blessed their union: Benjamin Howe is our subject; George C., born August 27, 1865, is now in the perfumery business at Ontario, Cal. ; William H., born June 1. 1867, lives in the town of Wilton; Elizabeth G., born July 3, 1869, is the wife of Walter C. Townsend, of Utica, N. Y. The fa- ther died May 11, 1884, the mother, on August 8, 1892.

Benjamin H. Gilbert, whose name introduces this sketch, received his education at the public schools of Georgetown and Wilton, Conn .. and the private school of Doctor Fitch, in Norwalk. When sixteen years old he went to New York City and found a position in the wire business of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company. where he remained from 1881 to 1885, in the latter year commencing the manufacture of per- fume along with his brother, George C., under the firm style of Gilbert Brothers; later their uncle Edwin came into the firm, the name of which was then changed to The Gilbert Extract and Per- fume Company, but at the end of two years Ben- jamin H. sold out to his uncle.

Early in the fall of 1888 our subject began the manufacture of toilet soap, operating the busi- ness alone for about a year, when he sold out to the Osborn & Lincoln Soap Company, a com- pany capitalized at $50,000, Mr. Gilbert holding the position of soapmaker until 1892, in which year the business was discontinued on account of trade depression. In 1893 Mr. Gilbert formed a partnership with F. H. DeLand, of New York City, the hrin name being DeLand & Gilbert, but

Google

Digitized by

1066

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

DeLand & Gilbert Company. Mr. Gilbert has built up an extensive trade " on the road," and it is his opinion that the grand secret of their success has been and is the manufacturing and selling of pure goods only. From eighteen to twenty hands are employed the year around.

On October 3, 1886, Mr. Gilbert was mar- ried to Miss Sarah L. Renaud, of Cannon, Fair- field county, and five children have been born to them, named, respectively: Grace, Charlotte, Edwin, Ruth and Naomi. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are members of the Congregational Church of Georgetown; in politics he is a Republican; and, socially, he is affiliated with the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Milford. He is a useful, loyal citizen, has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and in business he is recognized as one of the most careful and conservative of men.

A NDREW B. GORHAM, M. D., was born in the town of Weston, Conn., January 1, 1851. His early education was obtained in the district schools of the time, and later he attended Redding Academy, and in 1879 he graduated from the Medical department of Yale College. Then removing to the town of Wilton. Conn., he began there the practice of his profession, and has since built up an extensive and profitable clientele.

At the present time Doctor Gorham is post surgeon of Fairfield county, and he is a member of the Fairfield County Medical Society, hav- ing as a surgeon had wide experience. Doctor Gorham is a member of Ark Lodge No. 39, F. & A. M., of Georgetown, Conn .. and in politics he is a Republican. He married Miss Deborah Hill, who was born October 7, 1851, a daughter of Moses and Mary (Goodsell) Hill. the former of whom is a prosperous farmer of Redding, Conn. Doctor and Mrs. Gorman have no children. *

Isaac Gorham, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Redding. and was there educated in the common schools, from which time on he gave his entire attention to farming. He married Miss Adaline Bennett, a daughter of Ezra and Esther (Prince) Bennett, and by her had two children: George M .. who married Angeline Buckley; and Mary E., who married Andrew L. Winton.

George M. Gorham, father of Doctor Gor- ham. was born in the town of Redding. Conn .. in 1820. After receiving his education in the common schools he learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked at same for some time; later he established himself in a general store in the town of Weston, Conn., and conducted it most

of his life. While Mr. Gorham lived a conss- tent and exemplary Christian life, yet he neve: joined a Church or subscribed to any creed. H+ was a man of broad views and liberal though: and was charitable and tolerant toward all. H .: married Miss Angeline Buckley, who was borne W'eston, a daughter of Aaron and Anna Buckley the former of whom was an extensive axe mar .:- facturer of Weston, Conn., and children as fol- lows were born of this marriage: Frank, wtr married Fannie Salmon; Mary, who died yourg. and Andrew B., the subject of this sketch.

Frank Gorham, brother of Doctor Gorhat. was born in Weston, Conn., in September. 1852, and was educated in the common schon: of that town. He gradauated from the Medica. department of Yale College, class of '76. in k :: medicine and surgery. Returning then to :: town of Weston, he there began the practice c: his profession, and has now a large and prof.ta- ble practice. He is a member of the Fair- field County Medical Society, and is medical examiner for the town of Weston. He has given some little attention to politics, and was elected to the Legislature of the State to repre- sent his town. He married Miss Fannie Sainicz a daughter of Morris and Bettie Salmon. of ::: town of Weston. Dr. Frank and Mrs. Gerhar have no children.

Following is a brief genealogy of the tamir of Dr. Andrew B. Gorham's wife, Dekerat Hill. It is from a "Genealogy of the Hi! Family. " compiled by Moses Hill, her father The first ancestor of the Hill family to arrive in this country was William Hill, who, in 16 ;. upon his arrival in the country, sojourned ter awhile at Dorchester, Mass. After a time heft- moved to Windsor, on the Connecticut river, where he bought a farm and set out an orchard. Wh. iam Hill and his wife, Sarah, had the following children: Sarah. William, Joseph, Igratics. James and Elizabeth. The father of these children died, it is believed. in 1659.

William Hill (2), who was born, probably. about 1653 or 1654. by his wife, Sarah, had chi .- dren, as follows: Sarah, who married Richard Widdon; William, next in line; Joseph, who died without children, in 1696; John, who died :: 1727; Eliphalet, who died in 1695: Ignatics and James.

William Hill (3) had the following children. Sarah: William, who died in 1739; Joseph act David, who died in 1737.

William Hill (4). called Deacon W"." Hill, had by his wife Sarah children as fol. w. Joseph: William, who died in 1775; and Davx.

Deacon Joseph Hill, born April 1, 1009, mat-

Digitized by Google

€

1067

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ied Abigail Dimon, March 30. 1731. died April Ebenezer Hill, fourth child of Deacon Joseph Hill. was born, as stated above, February 26, 1742. and died March 27. 179S. He married Mabel Sherwood January 17. 1765. She was born December 8. 1745. and died October 20, 1:20 The children of this couple were as follows: David, born July 7. 1766, and died December 24. 1848; Ebenezer, born February bet 22. 1769. died December 10. 1825; Dimon, born in October, 1771, died December 8. 1793: Joseph, born May 3. 1774. died April 19. 1816: Mabel, born September, 1776, died July 8. 1 ;; 9; Jabez. born June 13. 1780, died August 2. 186 ;; and Esther, born October 26, 1785. died . August 27. 1804 25. 1774. Their children were as follows: Abi- rail. born March 21, 1732: Sarah, bern August 21. 1733: David, born April 22. 1737. and died March 20, 1700: Ebenezer. born February 21. 1742. and died March 27, 1798; Jabez. born June 17. 1;44. died October 9. 1799. and Moses, born January 11, 1748. died October 3. 1777. Of these children. Abigail married David Gould, and had , 20. 1768. died May 5. 1842; Seth, born Decem- tight children: Dimon. David. Sarah. Eunice, Abigail, Esther, Mabel and Charity, and died in Fairfield county at an advanced ape. Sarah mar- , ried Wilham Wakeman, and lived and died in Fanheld. David died unmarried at his father's home. in histwenty-third year. Jabez settled at Weston, was a major in the Revolutionary army. was a man of ability, and died of consumption when nearly forty years of art

Major Jabez Hill married Sarah Read, daugh- ter of Col. John head, after whom the parish of headax was named. The children by this mat- Hage were as follows: Sarah, John Read, and Moves. Of these, Sarah married Timothy Platt. and had the following chudten: Sarah Read. Moses, Timothy, and Lemuel. Moves married. and had the following children .. Moses Read, Henry, Walter and Williams.

I benezer Hill (2) (above) married Sarah Bar- low, daughter of Nathaniel Barlow, of Redding. in May. 1;91. She was born January 16, 1770, and died April 11, 1845. Their children were as follows: Mabel, born December 17. 1791. married Daniel Mallet, had no children, and died of con- sumption. December 16, 1845: Nathaniel Bar- low, born October 23. 1793: Gershom. born March 10. 1706, died January 4. 1871: Ebene- zer. both October 11, 1797. died June 10. 1875; Moves born October 7, 1804: and Jabez, born March s. 1808, died of consumption at Key West, Fla .. January 27. 1831.

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 216

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