Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 219

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

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H TIRAM SCOFIELD, who for over fifty years has successfully conducted a shoemaking business near Lyons Plain, town of Weston, Fair- field county, is well worthy of prominent men- tion in the pages of this work.

Mr. Scofield was born June 18, 1825, in the town of Weston, where he received his earlier edu-

cation, subsequently attending Easton Academy, from which he graduated. On laying aside his books he learned shoemaking under the tuition of his father, whom he succeeded in business, and for over half a century he has industriously followed his trade, engaging also in harness- making part of the time at the same stand. During the Civil war he was drafted, but furn- ished a substitute. Politically he was originally a stanch Whig, and since the formation of the party has been an equally zealous Republican. In religious faith he has been a lifelong member of the Congregational Church of Weston, of which he is deacon, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for some years. Mr. Sco- field has not married.

Peter Scofield, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Norwalk, Fairfield county, and was a shoemaker by trade all his days. His children were as follows: Edward, I who will be more fully spoken of farther on; Charles, mention of whom immediately follows; George: Susan A., wife of William Smith; and Harriet, who married Edmund Smith.

Charles Scofield, father of our subject, was born in the town of Norwalk, Fairfield county, and was also a lifelong shoemaker. succeeding his father in the business. He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church of Nor- walk. He married Miss Abigail Diamond, daughter of John and Sarah Diamond, respected farming people of the town of Weston, and three children were born to them: Hiram, our subject; Elizabeth, unmarried; and Edward, deceased in infancy.

Edward Scofield was born in the town of Norwalk, and received his elementary education at the common schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood home, afterward attending the Zanesville (Ohio) Theological Seminary, where he was graduated. He married a Miss Williams. and two of their sons who graduated at Union (New York) College are now ministers of the Gospel.

M MISS SARAH COLEY, whose life history in a volume of this kind, is indeed most appropriate, was born in the town of Redding. where she still resides. Her father dying when she was but nine years of age, she was early thrown on her own resources, and took up the battle of life for herself. Naturally kind-hearted, her own experience has taught her wherein the best aid can be extended to the unfortunate. Charitable aud benevolent, with that great brotherhood love that overlooks the evil and

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finds the good, Miss Coley has gone quietly | twelve children in the family: William, Jr., Eliza- about easing the burdens of her fellow men. She | beth, John and Sarah, all deceased; George, now is a devout and consistent member of the Con- | a resident of Orange county, N. Y .; Ann, de- gregational Church, of Georgetown, and one of . ceased; Thomas, residing in Orange county, the most loved of the noble women of Redding. I N. Y. ; Christopher, who lives in Cleveland. Ohio; Edward, deceased; Louisa. now residing in Or- ange county. N. Y .; Henry M., our subject; and Joseph, who is in the printing business at Bridge- port, this county.

Onesimus Coley. grandfather of our subject, was a blacksmith by occupation, and followed that trade all his life. Of his two children, Mary married Ezra Hull, and Azariah was the father of our subject.

Azariah Coley was born in Redding, was given the usual educational advantages of the common schools, and devoted his entire life to farming. He married Miss Sarah Andrews, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hyde) Andrews, of Greens Farms, Conn., and the following is the record of their family of chil- dren: (1) Betsey, who was educated in the schools of Redding, married Edward Merchant, and has had three children: Sarah J., Annie S. (who first married Augustus Hanford, and (second) Henry Remington), and Libbie C. (2) Mary A. mar- ried Aaron Banks, and has had six children- William C., George W., Stephen E., Martin A., Henry H., and Eugene. (3) Eunice married. William S. Cole. (4) William, deceased, was a farmer of Redding; he enlisted in the 17th Conn. V. l.,and served out his term of enlist- ment; he was a prominent member of the Methodist Church. (5) George, who died in Georgetown about twelve years ago, was a farmer, and a prominent worker in the Repub- lican party; he held a number of town offices, and otherwise showed his interest in public affairs. (6) Sarah is our subject. The parents of this family were faithful Congregationalists, and left the impress of their God-fearing characters on their children. The family has always held an honored place in the social life of the com- munity, and has been worthily represented by each individual member.

TENRY M. SENIOR, a prominent resident of Mill Plain, where he has been engaged in mercantile business since 1865, was also for many years identified with the business of hat manu- facturing, having built a shop there in 1870.

Mr. Senior is a native of Dorsetshire, Eng- land, where he was born July 1, 1826. His father, William Senior, who was a farmer by oc- cupation, was born in the same locality in 1789, and on coming to America with his family located in the town of Washington, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where his death occurred in 1859. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Harvey, was born in 1794 and died in 1881. There were

Henry M. Senior was between three and four years of age when his parents brought him to this country, and his education was obtained in the schools of Dutchess county, N. Y. In early man- hood he learned the hatter's trade at Danbury, and then continued to work for a time as a jour- neyman. On April 1, 1865, he opened the gen- eral store at Mill Plain which he has ever since conducted successfully, and in 1870, as has been noted, he erected a hat factory in the same vil- lage. For some time he carried on a thriving business in this line, employing about fifty hands and manufacturing a good quality of stiff and soft fur hats, but in 1892 he closed up his shop on ac- count of the dull times.

Mr. Senior has always been prominent in local I affairs, and is a leading Republican of his town. For twenty years he has held the office of post- master at Mill Plain, serving continuously with the exception of the four years during Cleveland's first term, when a Democrat was appointed.

In 1847 Mr. Senior married Miss Phoebe Jane Legg, daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Newkirk) Legg, her mother a daughter of Peter and Eliza Newkirk. Mr. and Mrs. Senior have eight chil- dren, all of whom are living: Alice, born Sep- tember 29, 1849, and Elizabeth, born August 23, 1851, are at home; Henry M., Jr., born Oc- tober 29, 1853, married Miss Hattie Scofield, of Norwalk; Ella J., born December 31, 1855, mar- ried Elmer J. Rundle, of Salem, N. Y., son of Nathan and Sarah (Rider) Rundle; Theodore, born April 17, 1858, married Miss Elnora Vrad- enburg, of the town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y .; Charles A., born August 16, 1860, mar- ried Miss Susie King, daughter of James and Jessie King, of Matteawan; Sadie M., born No- vember 13, 1862; and John J., born January 16, 1865, are at home. Mr. Senior was reared in the Episcopal faith, but he and his family attend the Baptist Church at Mill Plain, of which Mrs. Senior is an active member.

C HARLES P. HUTCHINS, M. D., of Bridge- port, is prominent among the younger mem- bers of the medical fraternity in that city, and his success in the practical treatment of cases

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furnishes a guarantee of wider fame and oppor- tunity in the future.

The Doctor comes of good English ancestry, and his family has been identified with New Eng- land from an early period. Col. Gordon Hutch- ins, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was a regularly commissioned officer in the Rev- olutionary war. Levi Hutchins, his son, was a resident of Concord, N. H., and a clockmaker by occupation. John Hutchins, the Doctor's grand- father, was born in New Hampshire, and was engaged in business for many years as a boot and shoe dealer.

Dr. Alexander Hutchins. the father of our subject. was born in New York, and is a leading physician of Brooklyn, where he has been in active practice for about forty years. His wife, Doctor Burnell is a representative of a prom- inent family of Otsego county, N. Y., founded by his great-grandfather, who more than a century ago migrated to America from England. Hon. John Jay, the brilliant statesman, jurist and diplomatist in the formative years of the Repub- lic, was-connected with this family. Our subiect is a son of George G. and Mary (Barnes) Burnell, the former of whom was a native of Coopers- whose maiden name was Mary Pelton, is a mem- ber of a well-known family of Dutchess county, N. Y., and was born in Poughkeepsie, the daugh- ter of Charles M. Pelton, a wealthy carpet man- ufacturer. Seven children were born to Dr. Alexander Hutchins and his estimable wife, as follows: Elizabeth and Jeannie, deceased; Marion, wite of George F. Johnston. of Pough- keepsie; Miss Gertrude, who is at home: Charles | town, N. Y., and a prominent merchant of Otsego P., our subject; Gordon, who is connected with a Nevada gold-mining company; and George, a student in Yale College.

Charles P. Hutchins was born September 10, 1872, in Brooklyn, N. Y., where his boyhood was spent. In 1890 he graduated from Adelphi Academy after an eight-years course, and he then entered Williams College, where he re- mained a year and a half. For about the same length of time he studied in the art department of Columbia College, and on leaving that institu- tion he spent a short time as. a reporter on the New York World, and nine months with the A. D. Juillard Company. His natural bent toward the medical profession having asserted itself, he took a course in the Long Island College, and graduated in 1897 with high honors, being ap- pointed valedictorian of the class. As the result of a special competitive examination he received 1 the appointment of resident physician of the Long Island College Hospital, a position which gave him invaluable opportunities for observa- tion and practice in a wide range of cases. Later he opened an office at No. 252 State street, Bridgeport, and he has already won an enviable standing among the local practitioners. He is a | Cooperstown, New York.

while in Columbia College he was captain of the base-ball team. On May 5, 1897, the Doctor married Miss Margaret E. Snowden, daughter of Samuel Snowden, of Baltimore, Maryland.

J JOHN J. BURNELL, M. D., is one of the successful and prominent practitioners of Greenwich. He is yet young in years, but he stands foremost among the medical men of the town, and in the whole array of brilliant phy- sicians it would be difficult to find one whose de- votion to the healing art is more enthusiastic, or one who more thoroughly keeps pace with the wonderful strides that have lately been made in this great profession.

county. He was public-spirited, and took an active part in politics. Prior to the Civil war he was a Democrat, but during the great struggle and until his death, which occurred in Septem- ber, 1863, he was a Republican. He was driv- ing a spirited horse, on his way home from a business trip, when he was fatally kicked by the fractious animal. death ensuing soon after. George G. Burnell had been twice married. By his first wife he had four children: Ella, William C .. Kate, and George G. Ella, who is a graduate of Albany Normal School, resides in Brooklyn, the widow of J. C. Stead, who was a prominent in- ventor, and the manufacturer of Stead's celebrated appliances for engine boilers. William C. is an attache of the pension office at Washington. Kate is a graduate of Albany Normal School, and is now Mrs. Samuel Patton, of Albany, N. Y. George G. is a capitalist of Cooperstown, inter- ested in many important enterprises. By his second wife, Mary Barnes, the father of our sub- ject had two children: John J. and Frank R. the latter of whom is a practicing physician at South Norwalk, Conn. The mother died in No- I vember, 1863. and both parents were buried at

John J. Burneli, our subject, was born at

member of the Bridgeport Medical Society and of several organizations of a social nature. including | Cooperstown, N. Y., February 11, 1861, and, as the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity of Williams Col- I will be seen, was a young child when bereft of lege. His fine physique has been developed by I both parents. He received an excellent educa- athletic sports, of which he is still fond, and | tion, being first under the instruction of John G.

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White, who had charge of the Boys' School in New York City. Our subject progressed rap- idly, and was but a boy when he entered Union College, at Schenectady, N. Y. From the col- legiate department he entered the medical de- partment of that institution, at Albany, matricu- lating in 1886. Thence he entered the Roose- velt Hospital, New York, and was attached to the College of Physicians and Surgeons until 1888, when he was appointed, by the New York board of health to look after the reservoirs and their sources in Westchester county, in the vicin- ity of North Castle. While attending to these municipal duties at North Castle, and guarding the purity of the water supply, he built up a considerable medical practice, which extended largely to Greenwich. In 1894 he severed his connection with the New York board of health and located at Greenwich, where he opened an office, and where he has since been in continual and increasing practice.

Doctor Burnell is married to Miss Mary Tripp, of Mamaroneck, N. Y., daughter of Lehman B. Tripp, ex-sheriff and ex-treasurer of Westchester county, and a member of one of the oldest and best-known families of that county. Doctor and Mrs. Burnell have two children: Mary and Fran- cis. Mrs. Burnell is a member of the Episcopal Church. Doctor Burnell is a stanch Democrat, and an earnest advocate of the principles of finance which have been championed by Hon. William J. Bryan. He is a member of Mt. Kisko Lodge No. 708, F. & A. M., in New York State. As a citizen, the Doctor ranks high in the commu- nity, and, as a physician, it can be said that he has been remarkably successful, and that he has built upa most lucrative practice. His brilliant profes- sional talent is supplemented by an energy of de- votion that has materially assisted him in his professional advancement, for he believes in hard work, a theory he puts into constant practice.

A LBERT R. MALKIN. Prominent among those who have been successful as con- tractors and builders is Albert R. Malkin, who was born in New Canaan, this county. April 16, 1860, a son of Samuel and Julia (Raymond) Malkin.

Samuel Malkin was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, a son of Richard Malkin, who, coming to America, settled in New Canaan, and there died. Samuel Malkin was a child when his parents came to the New World, hence almost his entire life has been passed in Fair- field county, where he followed his trade oi shoe fitter. He married Julia Raymond, who was

born in the town of New Canaan, a representa- tive of one of the oldest families in the county. Seven children were born to them: Albert R. (our subject), Lilia, Nellie, Mary, Hattie, Harry and William. Mr. Malkin is a firm believer in the principles promulgated in the platforms of the Republican party, and he is a faithful attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also his wife.

Albert R. Malkin was eleven years of age when his parents brought him to Norwalk, and he ac- quired his education in the public schools of that city. On leaving the classroom he entered the drug store of Edward P. Weed, with whom he remained until Mr. Weed's death in 1880; then, in company with Dr. J. G. Gregory he bought out the store, which for nearly six years was conducted under the firm name of J. G. Gregory & Co. On January 1, 1886, he began to learn the carpenter's trade with Hart Denton, and after a two-years' apprenticeship he formed a co- partnership with Mr. Denton which lasted until 1894. when Mr. Malkin embarked in the con- tracting and building business for himself. This venture has proved successful, and the careful supervision exercised by Mr. Malkin is made manifest by the superior work, and by the emi- nent satisfaction of his patrons. In connection with his carpenter shop a planing-mill is run, where first-class workmanship is assured.

In 1883 Mr. Malkin was married to Miss Catherine A. Denton, who was born in Norwalk, a daughter of Hart Denton, with whom our sub- ject learned his trade. Two children have been born to them: Albert D. and Kathryn H. Mr. Malkin cast his first vote in behalf of the men. and measures advocated by the Republican party, and has never seen any reason to cause him to transfer his allegiance. When he was just twen- ty-one years of age he became a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and has ever since taken an active part in its work. He is also a member of several local benefit societies. In religious be- lief Mr. and Mrs. Malkin cling to the faith of the Episcopal Church, and contribute liberally to its support. They are prominent in social rela- tions, and their pretty home is often the scene of pleasant social gatherings.

A MOL F. BERGER. Many of our most substantial citizens are of foreign birth, and to them all honor is due when they come to this country and, finding in the friendly soil a home, give to this government the honor and allegiance due to a kindly foster-parent. Amol F. Berger, the subject of this sketch, was born

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at Courchavon, Canton of Berne, Switzerland, May 12, 1860.

Francis Berger, father of our subject, was also a native of Courchavon, where he was en- gaged in cabinet-making. In 1868 he left his native land and sought to find a new home and new friends in the Western World. He entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Company at Bridgeport. Conn., and there remained. Francis Berger married Jeanette Myers, and they became the parents of the following named chil- dren: Amol F. : Mary, of New Haven; Lumena, of Baltimore: Frank, who is connected with the Pembroke laundry; Jeanette. Augustine and Marguerite, of Bridgeport; and Julius and Charles, both of the Pembroke laundry.

Amol F. Berger began his education in the excellent schools of his native land, and on com- ing with his parents to America he studied in the schools at Vandeusen, Mass., and at Bridgeport, | this county. At the age of twelve years he be- gan working in the Wheeler & Wilson factory, but remained only three months, as he was offered a more lucrative position with the Howe Company. with whom he continued.for seventeen years. In 18so he began farming the Hill's farm, on the Newtown turnpike, in the town of Bridgeport, and here for nine years he toiled with no little success. He then removed to the " Bonnie View Farm" in Trumbull, and is now engaged in the milk business. He now owns a fine farm in Chestnut Hill District, the result of his careful management and good business methods, and by industry and economy he. has been able to provide for himself a rest from business cares when he desires.

Mr. Berger was married in Bridgeport to Miss Margaret Maguire, a native of Liverpool, England, and eight children have been born to this union: Irene. Emil, John, Fred, Jeanette, Aurelia, Loraine and Ethel. Mr. Berger has al- ways befriended any progressive movement, and has contributed both time and means toward ob- taining substantial improvements for his town and county.

Doctor Lowe is of English descent, his grand- father, John Lowe, having been a native of Eng- land, whence he came with his family to America in about 1847. He settled at Stockbridge, N. Y .. in the Oneida Valley, and here reared his family of seven children, who were named as follows: James, John, Walter Robert, William, Septi- mus, Charles and Sarah. Walter Robert Lowe, the father of our subject, was born in 1839, in Buxton, Norfolk, England, and was but a boy when he came with his parents to the United States. He became an architect and builder, acquiring an enviable reputation and patronage in that line, especially in Madison county, N. Y., where he is considered a very successful business man. His fellow citizens have honored him by placing him in many positions of trust, and he has served for years as collector and assessor of his town, and also as alderman, to their un- bounded satisfaction. Public-spirited and enter- prising, he has done all in his power to advance the welfare of his community, and has given his influence and support to every measure for that end. In political opinion he is a stanch Repub- lican. On August 9, 1864, Mr. Lowe wedded Miss Abbie De Etta Ranney, daughter of Oliver Russell and Elizabeth Ranney, of Stockbridge, N. Y., and two children were born to them: Russell Walter and Agnes E.

Doctor Lowe received his early education in his native town, graduating from the Oneida High School in 1883. On October 26, 1884, he went to the University of the City of New York, ma- triculating there. and, taking the full three-years' course, graduated just two weeks before reaching his majority. He was a class officer, being one of the three committeemen, and chairman of the committee. During his course he took up much special work, and in his second year spent several months in Roosevelt Hospital. After graduation he came to Bridgeport to take the examination for house surgeon at Bridgeport Hospital, and was chosen for that position, which he filled one year. | In April, 1890, the Doctor located in George- I town, Fairfield county, where he opened an office and engaged in general practice for about three years, up to the time of his removal to Ridgefield. He had a lucrative and growing country practice, but after the death of Dr. Todd, of Ridgefield, he was induced to remove hither by several promi- I nent citizens, taking up his residence in the town

RUSSELL WALTER LOWE, M. D., of Ridgefield. Fairfield county, is well known | in medical circles throughout the State of Con- i necticut, and, locally, has the largest penera] practice in his section. Though respected. | in March, 1893. He has built up a very fine trusted and consulted alike by patients and i general practice in the village and adjoining brother professionals, for his learning, experi- . county, of which he may justly be proud, and ence and skill, the Doctor is still a young man, | his reputation is not confined to his town of having been born March 19, 1866, in Oneida, ; county. Doctor Lowe has risen to his present Lenox township, Madison county, New York.

rank by steady perseverance and strict attention

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to duty, and his material success is as much due to this as to his professional ability. He is now resident fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, as member of the American Medical Association, the Fairfield County Medical Asso- ·ciation, the Connecticut Medical Society and the Danbury Medical Society. As a citizen he is public-spirited and progressive, working for the welfare of the people in general, and taking a keen interest in public affairs. Politically, he is a Republican, and a sound-money man, but he is not active in party work.

Doctor Lowe was married, in 1891, to Miss M. Louise Beers, daughter of William Beers, of Ridgefield, and they have one son, Gilbert Rus- sell. Fraternally, the Doctor is a most active and interested member of the F. & A. M .. being associated with Ark Lodge No. 39, of George- town, of which he is past master.

T THOMAS BLAND. Few representative cit- izens of Stamford have attained the suc- cess in life which must be accorded to Thomas Bland, a well-known builder and a prominent man of that city. He is a native of Stamford, having been born there April 4. 1852, son of Charles Bland. Joseph Bland, the grandfather of our subject, was an Englishman by birth and a resident of Manchester, England, where he fol- lowed the occupation of a butcher. Coming to America, he settled in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn. He became a captain of a coasting ves- sel, and during a storm was drowned in Long Island Sound.

Charles Bland, the father of our subject, and a son of Captain Moses and Sarah E. Bland, was born at Manchester, England. He learned from his father the butcher business, and with him emigrated to America. He was largely a self-educated man, and was unusually well read. He had married Miss Margaret Sweeny in Eng- land. Upon his arrival in the United States he became connected with the Stamford Manufac- turing Company, and for thirty-five years was a cooper in the employ of that company. He died about.1877. Charles and Margaret Bland had three children, as follows: Sarah E., widow of D. Waterbury; Thomas, the subject of this sketch; and Charles J., who is now deceased.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 219

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