Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 226

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 226

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).

1111

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(Hull) Studwell, was born March 25, 1864, and married Elizabeth Moger. Children: Anna E., born July 15, 1884; Emma J., December 13, 1886; Wilhelmina, deceased; William L., July 9, 1889; Ruth, November 5, 1892; and Clarence Harold and Herbert, deceased. William L. Studwell, the father of these, is now living in Port Chester, New York.

Solomon Studwell, the progenitor of the above mentioned families, was an extensive and pros- perous farmer, and was a large landowner, as the records of Greenwich show. He served in the war of 1812, at Shippan Point, Conn., along with his brother Richard. under Capt. David Haight. III. Thomas Studwell (2) married Martha [ maiden name not now known], and had two sons, both born in Greenwich: (a) Nathan- iel, born June 14, 1707, died in 1777 [nothing is known of his descendants]; and (b) IV. Thomas (3).

IV. Thomas (3) Studwell, born March 31, 1709, died in 1783, leaving a widow, Jemima [maiden name not now known], and sev- eral children, among whom were Thomas (4) (born 1732, died 1788), Gabriel, Joseph, Ward, Henry, Elizabeth (married to A. Jessup), Rachel (married to Daniel Howard, of Greenwich), Je- mima and Lilla (both unmarried), and V. An- thony (great-grandfather of James W. and David W. Studwell), a sketch of whom follows. Of this family Gabriel, Joseph, Ward and Henry all served in the Revolutionary war.

V. ANTHONY STUDWELL, son of Thomas (3) was born 1738 and died 1824, leaving a widow, whose maiden name was Hannah Whelpley. He was a farmer of North Mianus, Fairfield county, and his house is still standing on the old home- stead. Children of Anthony and Hannah Stud- well: (1) Enoch, (2) Anthony, (3) James, (4) Drake, (5) Hannah (see farther on), (6) Betsey (see farther on). Of these, (1) Enoch, born 1771, died 1840, leaving no issue. (2) Anthony married Diadoma Studwell, and had three sons- Luke, Ralph and John-and .three daughters- Amy, Eliza and Fanny; Anthony died 1838, pre- deceasing his wife and children, who are now also dead. (3) James, grandfather of James W. and David W. Studwell, is mentioned farther on. (4) Drake married Elizabeth Smith, and died 1838, leaving a widow and eight children-(a) John S., (6) Luther W., (c) Edgar, (d) William A., (e) Polly Ann, (f) Eliza Ann, (g) Smith, and (h) Alanson. Of these, John S., born Novem- ber 20, 1807, married Harriet Provost, who was born December 31, 1815. Their children: Ann Elizabeth, born December 31, 1836, now living at Stamford; William Washington, born March | married Martin Searles, and has three daugh-

22, 1839, married Augusta V. Studwell; Charles Henry, born March 1, 1841 ; George Albert, born April 30, 1843, is deceased; Emily Frances, born June 30, 1844, is deceased; Edward Franklin, born September 13. . 1846, is deceased; John Wallace, born November 6, 1848, died in 1868; Harriet Amanda, born August 5, 1852, is now living at Stamford; Caroline Matilda, born Janu- ary 24, 1856, died in 1878. Of the above, Har- riet Amanda married Harvey Weed, and they have one child, Matilda Weed. (b) Luther W. married Julia Ferris; children -- Sarah, now living at Mianus, unmarried; and George D., born March 13, 1844, married Caroline Ingersoll, who was born March 12, 1847; names and dates of birth, etc., of their children: Julia Belle, Octo- ber 6, 1869; George L., January 24, 1871. died 1873; Harold E., March 15, 1873, died 1893; Walter R., June 1, 1876; Eva L., August 22, 1880, died March, 1899. (c) Edgar, born De- cember 31, 1819, was engaged in the building business, was partner in a steam saw and planing mill, also a lumber yard, in 1868, afterward buying part of Shipman Point, in Fairfield county, where his father went in 1812 to protect Stamford from the invasion of the British; he is now living on the old homestead on Palmer's hill. He married, March 8, 1840, Cornelia Smith, who died April 10, 1881; their children, nearly all of whom are yet living, are as follows: Frances, born May 19, 1841, married N. B. Moulton; their two children are-Hattie, born March 20, 1872, and Herbert, born July 15, 1875. Edward, born August 26, 1842, died De- cember 21, 1845. Cornelia Elizabeth, born Oc- tober 10, 1844, is now living in Stamford. Ed- ward L., born July 17, 1846, married Amelia Weed. John A., born August 1, 1848, died March 1, 1849. Adaline, born January 12, 1850, died December 10, 1851. Adelaide, born December 5, 1851, married John Scofield; had two children-Charles and Mortimer. Ida, born October 24, 1853, married Frank Hamilton; have two children-John and Mabel. Addison, born August 12, 1855, married Sarah Allen; they have two children-Clason A., born 1878, and Harry H., born 1888. Wilbur, born January 24, 1857, married Ada Purdy; have one son- Victor B., born August 23, 1885. Josephine, born March 9, 1859, married Frank Holly; have one daughter, Ella B., born March 2, 1888. Emily L., born May 3, 1862, married, May 14, 1899, George W. Lockwood, son of Sylvester Lockwood. (d) William A., born November 8, 1820, married Catherine Reynolds, and had chil- dren: Ann Maria, born September 16, 1845,

Digitized by Google

1112

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ters-Alice. Edith and Ethel; John W., born De- cember 2, 1850, married Sarah Marshall, daugh- ter of Newcomb Marshall, and had one child; Mary E., born March 18, 1857; and Belle, wife of Ellsworth Finney. (c) Polly Ann married John Ruckels. and had children: Elizabeth, Mary E. and John. (h) Alanson married Eliza Reynolds. and had children: Theodore, who mar- ried, and had one daughter, Lydia; Emily, who married, and had one daughter, Anna; and Sarah, who married Theodore Smith. (5) Hannah Studwell, sister of Drake Studwell (above), mar- ried Elijah Scofield, and had children as follows: Samuel, Delia (wife of David Knapp). David, Mary (wife of William Watson Webb). and Bet- sey (wife of George Patterson). (6) Betsey 1

Studwell, youngest sister of Drake Studwell (above), married J. Tucker.

Rye, N. Y., and with his partner, Robert Sloat, erected some of the best dwellings there, includ- ing the building for Episcopal Christ Church in 1850, of which Society he and his wife were members. In 1869 he returned to Stamford, where his remaining days were spent, his death occurring November 13, 1884. He was held in high esteem among his acquaintances for his excellent qualities of character.

In the year 1833 Calvin Studwell was mar- ried to Miss Esther Gedney, who was born De- cember 13, 1813, at Rye, N. Y. (where her fam- ily has long been prominent), and died in Stam- ford, June 7, 1881, the remains of both her and her husband being buried at Rye. Their chil- dren: (1) Emily L., born March 6, 1837, mar- | ried Stephen Barry, of Rye, where she died in 1856; her only child died the same year. (2) / Augusta V., born January 13, 1839. married | William W. Studwell, and had three children: (a) Bradford, born February 2, 1866, died October

VI. JAMES STUDWELL, born in 1780 in Stam- ford, made his home there. He died in 1838, and was buried in Riverbank. About 1807 he married Mary Scofield, who survived him with : 21, 1866; (b) Laura E., October 4, 1867, mar- six children: (1) Julia, born in 1807 (she died, ! ried, March 20. 1888, to Arthur G. Jessup, has one daughter, Edith H., born January 14, 1889; and (c) Henry Albert, born August 4, 1874. mar- ried Irene Bush, February 1, 1899. (3) Cyrena J .. born August 14, 1840, married David Avery, i of New Canaan, and has two children: Alice M., I born February 27, 1878, and Lester S., born | August 14, 1881. (4) John C., born February 10, 1844, died unmarried, February 5, 1872. (5) Sarah M., born July 25, 1845, married Leonard Sloat (now deceased), and had the following children: (a) Jessie L., born October 28, 1868, married, December 12, 1893, to William Louden, has a son, Leland H., born October 14, 1894; (b) Robert C., born October 4, 1870, married in January, 1895, to Miss May Ritch, and has two children-Clarence and Leon; (c) Albert, de- ceased in infancy; (d) Charles B., born February 15, 1874, died February 13, 1899; (e) Irena M., born February 14, 1876, married Charles Clark in April, 1899; and (f) Leonard, born July 26, 1879. (6) James Willette is fully spoken and her remains now rest in the cemetery at i Banksville). married Stephen Finch, but had no ; children (2) Calvin is mentioned more fully below. (3) Mary, born in 1809. married John Austin, and died leaving no children. (4) Jar- vis, born September 23, 1820, died August 23, 1852, married Althea Adams; his children: (a) George H., born March 10, 1849, married Mary De Tour, and is now living in Hackensack, N. J. (He has been in the machine business for some time, is of an inventive turn of mind, and has made many useful articles for the present and coming generations; he is the inventor of a machine for cutting felt and velvet for dress bind- ings); his children: Florence, born February 4, 1872. married Julius S. Greenow, and has one child, Mildred T .. born September 17, 1898; and George, born July 19, 1875. (b) Harriet. born May 5. 1845. died 1886; married Mr. Montes, and they had one son, Harry, born April 16. 1866. (c) Edward H., born 1852. died 1853. (5) Jehiel, who never married, died in Stamford | of farther on. (7) David W., born December and was buried there. (6) Samantha, single. 27, 1849, is a resident of Stamford. Heis a car- penter and builder by occupation, and along with his brother James W., from 1880 to 1891, did a prosperous business; he is now living in his nice I home on Hovt street. Stamford. He married Miss Alveline A. French, of Otego, N. Y., and I has a son, Royden F., born June 9, 1881. (8) born in 1824. died at her home in Stamford, June 20, 1898; she had in her possession a copper ket- tle, also a bucket made of ash wood, which be- longed to Anthony Studwell, and though in use long before the Revolutionary war they are still in a good state of preservation.

VII. CALVIN STUDWELL, born in the town of | Mary A., born February 22, 1852, married Ben- Stamford. Conn., June 3. 1811. during his youth learned the carpenter's trade there. serving an apprenticeship with Thomas Dixon, of Stam- | ford. Later he was for many years a builder at

jamin B. Avery. and died July 2, 1893. She had the following children: Annie L., born February 4, 1876, died November 24, 1887; Stuart B., born July 8, 18So; Leland R., born March 28,

Digitized by Google

Formes WStudwell

Digitized by Google

1118

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1886; Bertha E., born June 6, 1890; and Wil- lard C., born March 14, 1893. (9) Loretta E., born August 21, 1856, was married October 31, 1894, to B. B. Avery, above.

In looking over the land records it will be found that the ancestry of the Studwells, from 1850 back to 1656, were extensive land holders,

scendants owned farms on King Street, in both New York State and Connecticut, on both sides of the Byram river. The early generations of the family were chiefly occupied clearing and tilling the soil, also in raising horses and cattle, and like their descendants they were quiet, law- abiding citizens. Physically, the majority of the members of the family have been of large build, and of robust constitution. During the Revolu- tionary war Joseph, Henry, Gabriel, Anthony and Ward Studwell served in General Wooster's command, the Ninth Regiment, Connecticut Militia, Col. John Mead. Joseph and Henry both enlisted November 1, 1776, in Capt. Abram Mead's company. and were discharged January 11, 1777. Gabriel enlisted in same command and for same length of time, but was in Capt. Thomas Hobby's company. Anthony was in same command, serving in Capt. David Haight's company from August 13 to September 27, 1776. Ward was in Capt. Thomas Hobby's company, having enlisted May 10, 1776, and was dis- charged December 5, following. This regiment was at Port Chester, N. Y., whence it was ordered by General Washington to New York City, but it soon returned to Port Chester, where it remained on guard duty while Washington was at White Plains, 1776-77. Thomas Studwell (born 1732) also served in the Revolution. Thomas Studwell (born 1709) owned and oper- ated a large farm in Greenwich, and in 1776 had on several occasions to secrete his farm and household articles, and drive his stock to other localities, to keep them out of the way of the British foraging parties. In the war of 1812 the family was represented in the militia at Stamford by Solomon, Richard and Drake, the latter two serving at Shippan Point under Capt. David Haight.

VIII. JAMES WILLETTE STUDWELL. of Stam- ford, is an enterprising and successful citizen, and but few men in active business life have been so uniformly fortunate in their ventures. His steady perseverance in his chosen line of work is well worthy of emulation.

As will be seen by the genealogical record of the Studwell family, given with this sketch, James W. Studwell is of the seventh generation

in descent from the original ancestor, Thomas, born about 1600 or 1620; Thomas (2) [date of birth not known]; Thomas (3), born in 1709; Anthony, born in 1738; James born in 1780; Cal- vin, born in 1811; James Willette, born in 1848.

Born January 2, 1848, at Rye, N. Y., JAMES W. STUDWELL received his education there, and

nearly all of them possessing fine large farms or i on leaving school he learned the carpenter's other landed property. Joseph (2) and his de- | trade with James Tucker, of that town. In August, 1869, he removed to Stamford, where he worked as journeyman carpenter for about eleven years, in 1880 engaging in business on his own account, and forming a partnership with his brother David W., under the firm name of Studwell Brothers. This partnership continued until 1892, since which time Mr. Studwell has carried on business alone. He has a pleasant home and a charming family. On April 4, 1872, he married Miss Julia M. Dann, who was born May 10, 1852, a daughter of Theodore and Re- becca (Strobridge) Dann, and a descendant of one of the early settlers of the town. Eight children have blessed this union, all of whom are living: (1) Flora T., born April 22, 1873, was married April 7, 1897, to William H. Spen- cer, of Meriden, Conn., and has one son, Will- iam Elton, born February 26, 1898. (2) Frank W., born July 25, 1874, was married July 15, 1896, to Miss Florence Eddy, of Mianus, this county. (3) Grace E., born March 25, 1877, was married February 2, 1896, to Warren A. Ferris, of Stamford. (4) Ralph S., born Decem- ber 5, 1878, married April 12, 1899, to Miss Lena Smith, of Stamford. (5) Earle M., born September 24, 1887, (6) Walton F., born Feb- ruary 13, 1889, (7) Alfred Theodore, born July 5, 1890, and (8) Julia Idabelle, born January 26, 1894, are at home. In politics Mr. Studwell is independent. Mrs. Studwell is a member of the Congregational Church, which the family attend.

H B. COLEY. This enterprising and suc- cessful agriculturist is the owner of a fine homestead near Norwalk, and its substantial im- provements betoken the care of a scientific man- ager. He is of English descent, and the name is well known in this county, one of his ancestors, John Coley, having been among the first settlers in the vicinity of Coleyville, which was named in honor of the family.

Eben Coley, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of that locality, and throughout his active life he conducted a farm and gristmill there. Walter Coley, our subject's father, was also born in the town of Westport, on the old I homestead, and became a prominent farmer in

Digitized by Google

1114

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the same neighborhood. He married Miss Ora Coley, who was only distantly related, and five children were born of the union, our subject being the youngest.

Mr. Coley, our subject, was born April 27, 1839, at the old farm in the town of Westport, where he grew to manhood. He learned the butcher's trade with Ephraim Osborne, spending three years in his employ, and for about four years was engaged in that business in Westport. On May 1, 1874, he removed to his present farm, which contains thirty-five acres of excellent land, and in connection with the work of farming he has conducted a wholesale butchering business and an extensive trade as a peddler. He has made many improvements upon his property, his buildings being especially good. Politically he is a Republican, and he has held various local offices. his interest in educational advancement leading him to give much attention to the local schools.

Mr. Coley's wife, who was formerly Miss Helen A. Seymour, is a daughter of Charles Sey- mour, a well-known citizen of Wilton, this county. They have had five children: Alice, Etta, Bertha (who married John R. Wilardson, of Hoboken, N. J.). Maud, and one that died in infancy, un- named. The family attend the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Coley is a leading member.

T THOMAS ALONZO LOUNSBURY, chief of the Danbury fire department, has long been identified with that branch of the public service, and his courage, energy and quick vet accurate judgment have more than once earned for him the gratitude of his fellow citizens. Under the old volunteer system he served as foreman of Humane Hose Co., No. 1, for four years, from 1869 to 1872, and was elected chief engineer on July 10, 1874: re-elected May 18, 1875, May 17, 1876 and June 18, 1877. He then declined to serve further, but on May 11, 1891, he was ap- pointed first assistant engineer of the paid de- partment, and in 1892 was again chosen to that post. Since May 6, 1893, he has held his pres- ent position. and each succeeding year has but increased the confidence and esteem in which he is held by the public.

Mr. Lounsbury is a native of Fairfield county, having been born April 15. 1843. in the town of Horse Neck, now Greenwich. The family is an old and honored one, and among its most distinguished members is ex-Governor Lounsbury of Connecticut, a cousin of our sub- ject. Jesse William Lounsbury, our subject's 1

father, was born February 18, 1813, in the town of North Stamford, this county. the son of Will- iam H. Lounsbury, and received an excellent education in his youth. For some time he con- ducted a private school at Port Chester, N. Y., and later was a bookkeeper in the screw factory of Russell, Birdsall & Ward, near that city. In 1854 he went to New York City to take a po- sition as bookkeeper in the Market Bank, on the corner of Beekman and Pearl streets, and after three years' service there he became teller of the Citizens Bank, on the corner of the Bowery and Canal street, where he continued until his death in 1861. His wife, Abiah Jane Horton, who died April 12, 1884, was born May 21, 1821, in the town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester Co., N. Y. They had ten children: Mary Elizabeth. Thomas A., Harriet A., Henry B., Lizetta M., William H. (deceased), Lilian J., George A. P., Fred C., and Lavina (who died in childhood).

Our subject's education was begun in the schools of Port Chester, but as the family re- moved to Brooklyn during his childhood he con- tinued his studies in the public schools of that city. At the age of sixteen he went to Dela- ware county. N. Y., where he worked upon a farm two years for the munificent salary of six dollars per month "and found." On returning to Brooklyn he was employed as a driver for W. L. Hendrickson's East Brooklyn & New York City Express for about five years, and he then spent a year in the trucking business in Brooklyn. In that city, also, he was connected with the fire department under the volunteer sys- tem, being first a runner and afterward a mem- ber of Empire Hook and Ladder Co. No. 3. On July 25, 1865, while in the express business, he married Miss Martha S. Fry, then a resident of Danbury, and about a year and a half later he removed to that city, which had at the time a population of from 6,000 to 8,000. There he entered the employ of J. M. Ives, a dealer in house-furnishing goods, with whom he remained as a salesman for twenty-seven consecutive years. when his duties. in the paid department demanded his entire attention.

While Mr. Lounsbury is inclined to support the principles of the Democratic party, he is by no means a slave to party ties, and votes accord- ing to his own judgment, his first ballot having been cast for Abraham Lincoln. He was once elected in Danbury to the office of constable, but he refused to qualify. Mr. Lounsbury be- longs to the State Firemen's Association, and 10 Samaritan Lodge No. 7, I. O. O. F., of Dan- bury, and his sterling qualities of character have made him popular in social life. In religion he

Digitized by Google

1115

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

inclines to the Baptist faith, and he and his wife attend that Church.

Mr. Lounsbury's first wife, who died Febru- ary 16, 1892, was a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and a daughter of James and Catherine (Keech) Fry, who resided for many years in Dan- bury. Mr. Fry was born there, and became prominent in his later years as an official, serv- ing in various positions, including that of water commissioner; he was also warden of the bor- ough for several years. On February 25, 1893, Mr. Lounsbury married, for his second wife, Mrs. Phœbe A. (Carpenter) Lounsbury, widow of Will- iam H. Lounsbury, his brother, and daughter of Dr. Thomas Carpenter, of White Plains, N. Y. There are no children by this marriage. By the first union there were three: Harry D., born in Brooklyn, March 26, 1866; William A., born in Danbury August 25, 1869, now deceased; and Howard N., born September 14, 1871, also in Danbury.

R OYAL J. BIRDSEYE. The Birdseve family, which has been prominent in this section from pioneer times, is of English descent, and the name was originally Eldred. The first to emigrate to America were two brothers, John and Abel, who crossed the ocean in 1636, and settled in Connecticut, one in Stratford and the other in Middletown.

Joseph Birdseye, the great-grandfather of the well-known agriculturist whose name opens this sketch, was born in the town of Huntington. David Birdseye, our subject's grandfather, was also born in that town, and passed his life there in agricultural pursuits. He married Rebecca Curtis, of the same town, and they had five chil- dren, none of whom are now living: Ephraim was a spice importer of New York City; Thaddeus, who was for many years the postmaster at Bir- mingham, now Derby, also conducted a grocery store there for some time, and later became presi- dent of the Birmingham Savings Bank; Philo, our subject's father, is mentioned below; Rebecca never married; Joseph, a farmer, died at the age of forty-one.

Philo Birdseye, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Huntington, and learned the tailor's trade in his youth. After a time he went to Georgia to continue that business, but he finally settled upon a farm in Huntington, where he was accidentally killed in 1874. He was a Republican in politics, and in religious connection, was for many years an active worker in the Con- gregational Church. He married Miss Sarah Tucker, who survives him, with two children:

Fannie, wife of Louis A. Downs, a wholesale cor- set dealer in Chicago; and Royal J., our subject. Mrs. Sarah Birdseye is a native of New Haven county, where her father was a prominent farmer. This family is also of English descent.

Our subject was born June 4, 1848, at the old homestead in the town of Huntington, and was reared to farm work. He attended the local schools for a time, and afterward pursued a more advanced course of study in the public schools of Birmingham and a select school at Huntington. He entered upon his business career as a shipping clerk for Downs & Birdseye, of Shelton, with whom he remained three years, and since that time he has been engaged in agricultural and dairying at his present homestead near Hunting- ton village. The farm contains 150 acres, afford- ing an excellent opportunity for conducting his | business on a profitable scale, and for thirteen years he has made a specialty of wholesaling milk. While Mr. Birdseye is not a politician, he is a strong believer in the principles and policy of the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Congregationalist.

In 1874 Mr. Birdseye married Miss Gertrude E. Booth, daughter of David and Julia (Lewis) | Booth, prominent residents of the town of Hunt- ington. Two children have blessed this union: Olive, wife of John Wilkinson, a carpenter in Bridgeport; and George, who is employed by Downs & Birdseye, of Shelton.

W ILLIAM E. MARSH. Few residents of Bridgeport are held in as high esteem by the general public as is this well-known citizen, who for a quarter of a century served as chief of police of that thriving city. On his retirement in 1890 his fellow townsmen presented him with a beautiful and costly gold medal, set with dia- monds, in token of their appreciation of his faith- ful and efficient services in that difficult position, and this is now one of his most treasured posses- sions.

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 226

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