Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 223

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

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On November 24. 1866, Mr. Benjamin mar- ried Miss Susan N. Bronson, daughter of O. H. Bronson, of Waterbury, who was engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds for many years. Of the four children born to this union three died in infancy: William H. is now his father's bookkeeper. Mr. Benjamin and his family are much esteemed socially; he is not identified with any fraternal orders.

J AMES BUCHANAN MURPHY. The his- tory of a self-made man possesses more than ordinary interest because of the helpful lesson suggested in its plain record of energetic and wisely-planned effort. In the biography of the senior member of the well-known manufacturing firm of J. B. Murphy & Co., of Danbury, the reader will find " between the lines " abundant evidence of the pluck, enterprise and sound judg- ment necessary to success.

Mr. Murphy was born July 4. 1858, in New Fairfield, Conn., a son of Daniel and Mary

(Dugan) Murphy, who were both natives of Ire- land. The father, who was born May 29, 1829, came to America in 1838, and died June 13, 1892, in New Fairfield, Conn. The mother was born August 12, 1825, and breathed her last November 13, 1885, in New Fairfield. They had nine children, of whom: John F., born October 31, 1854, resided at New Milford, Conn., where he died May 27, 1897; he married Miss Elizabeth Dolan and had four children-Veron- ica, Angela, Leon and Gertrude. Mary, born March 8, 1857, married Aaron Bates, of Dan- bury, and has three children-Monica, Aaron and Joseph. James B. is mentioned more fully below. Elizabeth, born February 12, 1862, and Daniel, born March 2, 1866, are not married. Annie, born April 20, 1873, married Samuel Taylor, of Danbury, and has one son, James. Robert E., born September 12, 1869, resides at New Milford.

During his boyhood Mr. Murphy attended the district schools at New Fairfield, while assisting, according to his strength, in the work on his . father's farm. On leaving school, at the age of sixteen, he continued this work for two years, and then entered the hat factory of Hopkins & Co., at New Fairfield, where he remained two years, gaining a complete knowledge of finishing. Going to Newark, N. J., he worked for a short time in the factory of Crossley & Co., and his next employment was in a similar establishment in Brooklyn, N. Y. His attention was then drawn to the advantages that skilled workmen in his trade could find in Danbury, and, going there, he found employment with the Tweedy Manufacturing Company, later with L. H. John- son & Co., with whom he remained five years, the first year as foreman and afterward as super- intendent. In 1888 the firm went out of busi- ness, and Mr. Murphy, after working for T. C. Millard & Co. for about six months, moved to New Milford and spent three years in the employ of. Hill & Hankey. In June, 1893, he returned to Danbury and organized a company for the manufacture of stiff fur hats, taking in as part- ners John B. Miller and Belisario Pontery, under the firm name of J. B. Murphy & Co. Their shop in Railroad avenue presents a busy scene, and their business, which at first employed about twelve hands, now requires from seventy- five to one hundred, having more than trebled in volume.

Mr. Murphy has a pleasant home in Danbury. On October 20, 1882, he was married to Miss Anna E. Banner, daughter of Edward and Sarah E. (Chamberlain) Banner, of Newark, N. J. Two children blessed this union: Neil Dugan,

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born July 3, 1886, and Marjorie, born in Octo- ber, 1892. Mr. Murphy and his wife are promi- nent socially, and, fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Honor and Paugassett Tribe, Im- proved Order of Red Men. He is an excellent citizen, and, while not a politician, gives close attention to all matters that concern the country's welfare. Previous to the campaign of 1896 he was a Democrat, but his influence has since been given to the support of the Republican party.

JOHN MILLER, JR. An encouraging ex- ample of success in the overcoming of un- promising circumstances is given in the his- tory of this well-known business man of Danbury. who has made his way from the foot of the lad- der without any advantages except those supplied by his own sound sense, energy and steady pur- pose. Mr. Miller is a thorough American, but his parents, John and Wilhelmina (Smith) Mil- ler, were both natives of Germany. The father, who was born in 1832, came to this country in 1852, and is now living in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he follows the tailor's trade. The mother was born in 1838, came to America in 1853, and passed to the unseen life in 1872. They were married in 1854. in Rondout (now Kingston), Ulster Co., N. Y., and they had nine children: Minnie, John, Jr .. William, George, Charles, Josephine, Julius, Elizabeth (who died in child- hood) and Minnie Elizabeth. Mr. Miller en- listed in the service of the Union in 1863, serving to the close of the Civil war.

John Miller, Jr., was born November 26, 1856, in Rondout (now Kingston), Ulster Co., N. Y. He attended the public schools of his native town, and also the German Lutheran school for a brief period; but at the age of ten years he began to work as a driver on the Dela- ware & Hudson canal. Later he became a steersman on the canal, on which he spent in all about six years, and he was subsequently em- ployed for two years and one-half on the Erie & Northern canal. His next experience was as deckhand on a towboat on the Hudson river. running from Rondout to New York City, and after a year there he found employment on a ·cement boat running from Rosendale to New York City. Two years in this work satisfied him with boating. and he then decided to seek another Jine of business. He spent six months in New York learning the boxmaker's trade, and in the fall of 1876 he located at Danbury, where he commenced to learn the hatting industry with Beckerle & Co. For nineteen years he continued to work at this trade with different manufactur-

ers, for twelve years of that time as foreman in the finishing departments of various factories. and in 1893 he formed a partnership with J. B. Mur- phy and Belisario Pontery under the firm name of J. B. Murphy & Co. Although they started in the business of hat manufacturing in the midst of one of the worst financial depressions that this country has ever known, they have been remark- ably successful.

On September 7, 1879, Mr. Miller married Miss Henrietta Light, daughter of Gilbert and Maria (Bailey) Light, of Brewster, Putnam Co., N. Y. They have a pleasant home at No. 9 Bates Place, Danbury, which is further bright- ened by their adopted daughter, Ethel Georgiana. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are firm believers in Chris- tianity, though they are not identified with any particular Church. Their daughter attends the Methodist Church and Sunday-school. Our sub- ject is a Republican in political faith, and so- cially he is a member of Union Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M., and several other fraternal societies.

B ELISARIO ANTONY PONTERY. Among our foreign-born citizens none should be more welcome to the advancement which our country affords than the sons of Italy, the de- scendants of the compatriots of Columbus. The subject of this sketch, who was born June 18, 1861. in the northwestern part of Italy, at Sagliano-Micca, Province of Novara, is now a prosperous business man of Danbury, Conn., having made his way to success through his own efforts.

But few of Mr. Pontery's relatives are in the United States. Antony Pontery, his grandfather, died in Italy in 1871 at the age of eighty-one years, and James Pontery, the father, who was born in 1821, has spent almost his entire life under the sunny skies of that country, except one year and a few months-from March, 1892. to May, 1893-which he passed with his son (our subject) in this country; returning to Italy, he is still living there. His wife, Gertrude Mosca, who was born in Italy in 1836, died there in 1875. To James and Gertrude Pontery were born five children, as follows: Belisario, Cath- arina, Rosa, Theresa and Elisio. Theresa died at the age of eleven years. Catharina, Rosa and Elisio came to this country. at different times. Catharina is married and lives in Staten Island, N. Y. Elisio makes his home in Boston, Mass. Rosa stayed in this country about six years, marrying here, and about four years ago returned to Italy with her husband.

Belisario A. Pontery received an excellent

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education in his native town, attending first the common school, and later taking a course in Sagliano Andorno College. He then be- gan to work in a hat shop in Sagliano- Micca, and after continuing in that em- ployment for about ten years, he went to France and spent a few months in the hat factories there. His prospects for the future appearing unsatisfactory, he decided to come to America; so on February 15, 1885, he crossed the ocean, landing at New York City, and immediately there- after came to Danbury to work in the establish- ment of Henry Crofut, afterward engaging with Beltaire Brothers and Greene Brothers. A brief venture in the fruit and candy business on his own account did not result satisfactorily, and at the end of six months he obtained employment in the hat shops of Byron Dexter and J. W. Greene, continuing with the latter firm until early in 1892. In June, 1893, he formed a partnership with John Miller, J1 .. and J. B. Murphy, under the firm name of J. B. Murphy & Co., and engaged in the manufacture of stiff hats, in which they have since continued success- fully, now having an extensive and profitable trade. Mr. Pontery's inclination and ability for this line of work may be said to be hereditary, as his father has been for many years a prominent hatter in Italy. Our subject, while still a mere youth, was made the secretary of the Italian Hat Association, which included all the hatters of Italy. He has a pleasant residence at No. 10 Railroad avenue, and his family is an interesting one. His wife, Margarite Ferrarone, is a daugh- ter of Anthony and Florinda (Vella) Ferrarone, and they have three children -- Theresa, James and Herbert. Theresa was born in Italy April 30, 1883, and came with her mother to this country in November. 1888; James and Herbert were both born in Danbury, the former on September 14, 1891, the latter on October 1, 1894. Mr. Pontery and his wife are both members of the Roman Catholic Church. As a good citizen he takes much interest in the questions which con- cern the welfare of his adopted country, while in politics he is a stanch Republican.

S STEPHEN M. CONGER. In the history of this well-known resident of Bridgeport, who has advanced in life through his own efforts, there is a valuable object-lesson, and the thoughtful reader cannot fail to see that perseverance, in- dustry and good judgment form the basis of his success.

Mr. Conger was born May 22, 1851. in Bridge- port, and is the third of his family to bear the

name. Stephen M. Conger (1), the grandfather of our subject, made his home in Troy, N. Y., and Newark, N. J. Stephen M. Conger (2), our subject's father, was born in 1815, in Troy, but his youth was chiefly spent in Newark, N. J., where he learned the trade of a carriage trim- mer. He was married there to Miss Catherine M. Whittemore, daughter of James Whittemore, and soon afterward removed to Fairfield county, Conn., locating in Bridgeport, where his death occurred in 1894. For many years he followed his trade there, being employed by the leading carriage and coach makers of the place, includ- ing the Brewsters, Jacob A. Mott and the firm of Haight & Hubbell. As a citizen, he was much esteemed, and he took an active share in local politics as a member of the Republican party, and at various times held office, serving as coun- cilman, tax collector and member of the school committee of his district. He was also an active worker in the cause of temperance, being identi- fied with several reform societies. His estimable wife, who was a native of Newark, N. J., died in 1886. They had twelve children: William Henry; Mary, deceased; Frances Amelia; Stephen, de- ceased; Charles Augustus; David M. ; Stephen M .; Charlotte Augusta; Horace; James; Nellie: and Mary.

Stephen M. Conger acquired his education in the public schools of Bridgeport, and at the age I of fourteen entered the employ of the Wheeler & | Wilson Sewing Machine Company. He remained with them fourteen years, working in different departments, and finally becoming connected with the needle department, under Mr. Kingman: in 1871 he was employed by David Baldwin, who had the contract for making the bobbins for the Wheeler & Wilson Company, continuing with him until his death, in 1879. In 1880 the con- tract was awarded to Mr. Conger, who has since carried on the work satisfactorily, supplying all the bobbins used by the company. Politically. he is a stanch Republican, and has always taken keen interest in local affairs, as well as national issues. At times he has served as registrar of voters in the Fifth ward of Bridgeport. In the days of the old volunteer hre department, Mr. Conger was an active member of the force, and for eight years and a half served in a paid fire company. At present he is a member of the Firemen's Benevolent Association, in which he was elected for nine consecutive years to the office of secre- tary, but after his eighth year he declined to serve longer.

On November 28, 1872, Mr. Conger was married, in Pittsfield, Mass., to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Allen, daughter of Gideon S. and Mary A.

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(Lewis) Allen. Two children have blessed the union: Harry M. and Edward G. Mr. Conger and his wife are prominently identified with Park Street Congregational Church, at Bridgeport, and he belongs to various social orders, including the I. O. O. F., Pequonnock Lodge No. 4. and the Order of United American Mechanics, Waldemar Council, in which he has served seven terms as recording secretary.

F EUBEN A. LOCKHART, M. D., is one of Bridgeport's leading physicians, and is no less prominent as a citizen, his public spirit being shown by a helpful participation in various pro- gressive movements in his community. He was born September 18, 1870, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is of Scotch descent in the paternal line, his grandfather, who was born in Scotland, emigrating to Nova Scotia in early manhood and engaging in farming there. Thomas A. Lock- hart, the Doctor's father, was born at Halifax, and was married there to Sabra A. Hazel, a na- tive of Nova Scotia, of English descent. For some years he conducted a retail grocery busi- ness there, but in 1875 he removed to Bridge- port, where he has since engaged in the same line successfully. He and his estimable wife have had three children, of whom, Reuben A. is the only survivor, the others dying in infancy.

Doctor Lockhart was five years old when his parents removed to Bridgeport, and his literary education was obtained in the schools of that city. On graduating from high school in 1888 he turned his attention to the study of medicine, and in the fall of the same year entered the med- ical department of Yale College, where he was graduated in 1891. At that time he was not yet of age, so he was obliged to wait several months before his diploma could be granted. Soon after he received an appointment as assistant physician and surgeon, continuing as such for eighteen months, after which, on account of failing health, he went to Nova Scotia for rest and recreation. For six years past he has been in practice at Bridgeport, where his abilities have met with ready recognition.

On June 13, 1894. Doctor Lockhart married Miss Elizabeth Uschmann, who was born in Bridgeport, a daughter of Frederick Uschmann, a native of Germany. The Doctor and his wife are prominent socially, and he is connected with the Order of Heptasophs; the Woodmen of the World; St. John's Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M .; Samuel Harris Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Joseph Dow- ling Lodge, K. of P .; Ivy Grove Lodge, Wood- men's Circle, and the Foresters of America. He

is also an active member of the city, county and State medical associations, and maintains the ties of early friendships through his membership in the Yale Alumni Association and various college and high-school societies, including the Delta Epsilon lota Fraternity. He has always been interested in athletic sports, and while in high school was captain of the football team. Polit- ically, Doctor Lockhart is a Republican, and, notwithstanding the cares of his growing prac- tice, he finds time to take part in local affairs, being a member of the Board of Education and a committeeman from his district, and no worthy enterprise fails to receive his sympathy and sup- port. He was reared a Methodist, but he attends the Congregational Church.

H ENRY WEBB. That community is fortu- nate which has in its midst a man who in- tuitively recognizes and grasps business oppor- tunities. The prosperity of a village or city is so intimately associated with its industries that their number and character either make or mar in the sum total of common good. In the pictur- esque town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, there now resides, after a long and successful business career, a man who by his own foresight not ouily accumulated for himself a handsome compe- tency. but has also been, in the broadest sense of the term, a public benefactor. Henry Webb has lived a busy and varied life. He has for nearly thirty years been actively identified with the busi- ness prosperity of the town, and enjoys the re- spect and good will that is always bestowed by an appreciative community upon a successful man.

Mr. Webb was born September 22, 1836, in Stamford township, on Webb's Hill, a few miles north of Stamford, the son of John and Sally (Raymond) Webb. Both his paternal and ma- ternal ancestors were among the honored pion- eers of the town of Stamford. Richard Webb, the original Colonial ancestor of Mr. Webb, came to Stamford in 1654, and was a prominent figure in the colony, as well as a man of property. He represented the town of Stamford in the Connec- ticut General Court. The Davenports, maternal ancestors of our subject, constituted one of the prominent families of America, descending from the Rev. John Davenport, the founder and patri- arch of New Haven, Conn., and one of the most eminent divines of Colonial days. He was born in Coventry, England, in 1597, and came to America in 1637, in the good ship " Hector." He died in Boston, Mass., March 15, 1670, and was buried in the tomb of Stone Chapel Church,

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on Tremont street. Boston. He was pastor of ! ferred the duties of private life. In the old days, when the militia flourished, Mr. Webb was [ heutenant of the company at Greenwich. In 1893 he erected a handsome home on the corner of Putnam avenue and Field Point road, and in 1897 he built another substantial residence ad- joining; he is also the owner of much business property. the First Church of Christ in Boston at the time | of his death. The mother of Mr. Webb, Sally (Raymond) Webb, was the daughter of Samuel and Clarissa (Davenport) Raymond, and it is through her that the descent from the Davenport family is traced; the mother lived to the remarka- ble age of one hundred and four years. Mr. Webb's paternal grandfather and great-grand- Mr. Webb is a practical business man, gifted with that power which can foresee the value of commercial enterprises. His judgment is excel- lent, and he makes up his mind quickly and seldom errs. He has been associated in many undertakings, some of which were quite original with him, and no better tribute to his keen sagacity need be paid than the mention of these father were both named Nathaniel Webb. John Webb, his father, was a farmer and a lifelong resident of Stamford. He died at the age of seventy-two years. He had two sons, Nathaniel and Henry, the former of whom removed to Cal- ifornia in 1856, and some years later to the Terri- tory of Washington. now residing at Walla Walla; he has amassed a fortune in sheep and i continued business successes. After his long and wheat.

Henry Webb spent his early days on his father's farm, and in his boyhood enjoyed the educational advantages of the old Roxbury school at Stamford. As a boy he did not take very kindly to books, for he was a youth of ac- tion rather than of the schools, and the active affairs of life were of the greatest interest to him. He remained on his father's farm until after he attained his majority, and in 1860 he came to Greenwich and entered into business, making his first independent venture in 1863 by establishing a coal business along the Steamboat road. After

dealer, he formed a partnership, from which he later retired. In 1876 Mr. Webb purchased the ice business of the town. The ice crop that year was a complete failure, and ice was im- I ported from Norway at great cost, being trans- [ ferred at New York to a coast boat and so de- 1 livered to the consumers. This business so in- creased under the management of Mr. Webb that it soon demanded his entire attention.

1 In 1880 he purchased the Theodore H. Mead farm, adjoining Put's Hill. which included a ten-acre pond, the source of his ice supply. and he con- tinued in the ice business until 1887. He now enjoys a life of comparative ease which has been | Maior. honorably won by his many years of enterprising | ship. Westchester Co., N. Y. His wife was and successful labor.

In November, 1866. Mr. Webb was married 10 a daughter of Col. Thomas A. and Hannah 1 (Seaman) Mead, a sketch of which family ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Webb has one son, who bears the family name of Nathaniel. 1 Henry Webb is a member of the Congregational Church, and in politics is an ardent Republican. He has never lacked in interest for party success, , but the offices within the gift of his party have never appealed to him, for he has always pre- | the great-grandfather of our subject, was born at

eventful business life, no name in the community stands higher than his. He has never been found wanting in public spirit, and he enjoys the complete confidence and esteem of his fel- low men.

J OSEPH M. MERRITT, one of the wide- awake and prosperous citizens of Greenwich, and one who has been prominently identified with the development of the town, particularly with the section in the vicinity of the depot, is I the descendant of an old English family which an experience of some time as an individual | over two centuries ago was prominent in the City

I of New York, and for years since has contributed largely to the personnel of its enterprising mer- chants. This family is of English origin, and in this country is traced back to William Merritt, who was mayor of New York from 1696 to 1698. Our subject is eighth in lineal descent from this early mayor of the metropolis, as follows: (1) William, (2) John (called " Major "). (3) Caleb. (4) Daniel, (5) Ebenezer, (6) Capt. Daniel, (7) Joseph G., (8) our subject.

William Merritt, the early mayor of New | York, died in 1708. His wife was Margery; I among his children was John, who was called This John Merritt lived in Rye town- named Mary, and their family of ten children , was as follows: Daniel, Caleb. Nathan, Thomas, John, Phoebe, Amy, Ruth, Mary and Hannah. Maior John Merritt by his will left a plot of ¡ ground (half an acre) in King Street to be used as a cemetery. Of the ten children of " Major " John. there was Caleb, whose second son was Daniel, born August 17, 1742. and who, April 20, 1703. married Rebecca Sherwood. Caleb Mer- intt died July 15. 1782. Capt Ebenezer Merritt,

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MERRITT BUILDING. GREENWICH. CONN.

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Hoppen Ridge, near Port Chester, N. Y., March 28, 1764, the eldest child of Daniel and Rebecca (Sherwood) Merritt. Capt. Ebenezer Merritt was a noted boatman on the Hudson river. While at Sing Sing he met Miss Cynthia Willis, of that village, and they were married August 17, 1783. She was born July 29, 1765. Capt. Ebenezer sailed the sloop " George Washington," and later in life he retired from the sea. He died at Albany, N. Y., in 1819.

The nine children of Ebenezer and Cynthia Merritt were as follows: (1) Daniel, grandfather of our subject, born in Sing Sing, N. Y., October 19, 1784. (2) Willis, a sea captain, who was once wrecked on the ocean but rescued from a raft, and who subsequently migrated to Ohio, where he bought land in an early day. (3) Henry, once justice of peace in City Hall, N. Y., and a prominent citizen of the metropolis. (4) John Willis, for years a lawyer in New York, and later a citizen of Ohio, subsequently became a well-known journalist in Illinois, where he died; he was the father of Gen. Wesley Merritt, who graduated from West Point in 1860, and is now highly prominent in the military affairs of the nation. (5) Wesley, a leading dry-goods mer- chant on Broadway, New York, owning one of the largest stores of his day; during the gold ex- citement he migrated to California. (6) Charles, a New York private detective, who made profes- sional trips to Europe. (7) Cynthia, who mar- ried and died in New York. (8) Phoebe, who mar- ried Gideon Peck, and died in New York. (9) Ann E., who married James Wood, of Tarry- town, N. Y., and died there.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 223

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