Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 227

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

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Mr. Marsh comes of good old Colonial stock in both lines, and his paternal ancestors came from Scotland at an early day. Benjamin Marsh, his grandfather, was born in Newport, R. I., and became a shoe manufacturer there. He had sev- eral sons, some of whom engaged in the same business, while others followed carpentering, etc.

Samuel J. Marsh, the father of our subject. was born and reared at Newport, and early in life learned the ship carpenter's trade, which he followed many years, his death occurring at New- port. His wife, Mary C. Williams, who died in Massachusetts, was a descendant of Roger Will-

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iams, and a daughter of John Williams, who was one of the prominent business men of Rhode Island in his day, owning ships which ran be- tween America and the East Indies. serving as president of a bank and carrying on general mer- chandising. He also owned a large tract of land at Newport. Of his sons, Thomas was president of a bank at Warren, R. I .; John was president of the Eagle Bank in Boston; and Richard was at the head of a bank in Newport. Samuel J. and Mary C. Marsh had the following named children: Samuel J., a farmer at Cascade, Iowa, who en- listed in the Union army during the Civil war, and died in hospital; Sally W., widow of Edward Barker. of Newport; Phobe, who died in child- hood: William E., our subject; Phoebe (2), now deceased, who married Charles Barker, of New- port; and Edward P., an undertaker in Newport.

Our subject was born February 13, 1828, in Newport. and was educated in the schools of that place, at the age of nineteen going to Gardiner, Mass., where he learned the business of chair making and painting, serving an apprenticeship of two years. In 1850 he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and on his arrival engaged in mining, spending about thirty months there. In June, 1854, he came to Bridgeport. and here established himself in busi- ness as a chair manufacturer, but in 1863 he was obliged to abandon it on account of difficulties arising through the war, and for some time following he was employed as a salesman by Bridgeport firms. At various times he acted as chief of police, about five years in all, and in 1869, when the force was reorganized up- on the present lines, his able discharge of duty having attracted attention, he was appointed chief, holding the office with the exception of one year until January 1, 1890. At present he is engaged in the wholesale cigar business. Politically Mr. Marsh is a Republican, and among the other municipal offices which he has held is that of councilman, to which he was elected in 1862. Socially he and his family are prominent, and for thirty years he has been a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M., and the 1. O. O. F., at Bridgeport.

On May 22, 1850, Mr. Marsh married Miss Nancy W. Putnam, a native of Gardiner, Mass., and a descendant of General Putnam. of Revolutionary fame. Her grandfather, John Putnam. was born probably in Massachusetts, and Amasa Putnam, her father, was a native of Gardiner. where he engaged in farming in early manhood. Later he engaged in shoemaking and the manufacture of chairs, removing to Bos- ton, where he followed the latter business for

some time. He died September 3, 1840, while on his return from the Bermuda Islands, and was buried at sea. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Temple, was of English descent, and was born in Gardiner, the daughter of Ahio Temple, a native of Massachusetts. Seven child- dren were born to Amasa Putnam and his wife: Amasa, who died at the age of eighteen; Mary, Mrs. Sumner Simonds; Lucy, Mrs. L. H. Sawin; Martha, Mrs. Augustus Knowlton; Nancy W .. wife of our subject; Sarah, Mrs. Amasa Merritt; and Betsey, Mrs. Jabez L. Beebe. Of this family the three last named survive.

C HARLES N. HASKELL, M. D. The med- ical fraternity in this section is composed of an exceptionally gifted class of men, and this well-known physician of Bridgeport may well take pride in the high standing which he has won in the profession. His preparatory course. in- cluding a study of the principles of both the Homeopathic and Allopathic schools, together with extended observation in hospital wards, has given him a practical knowledge obtainable in no other way.

Doctor Haskell was born May 11, 1862, at Woodstock, Vt., and in the paternal line is of English descent. It is a fact that the Haskell family can trace its ancestry, and can prove it, for more than one thousand years, and this the Queen of England can not do. There have been few geniuses among them, but there have been strong, faithful and honest men and women, from the time when Oseytel, the Saxon bishop, beard- ed his King in favor of the Witenagemote; from the time when Roget de Haskell, at the battle of Hastings, dashed forward, and, amid a shower of the enemy's arrows, secured and brought to William, the Conqueror, who was exhausted from lack of food, the fruit from an apple tree which stood near the line of Harold the Great, the enemy; from the time Ordegar Haskell trained with Cromwell's Ironsides on the fens of Lin- colnshire; from the time when Surrey Haskell flashed his sword for Prince Charles; from the time when William, Roger and Mark Haskell landed at Salem in 1632; from the time when George Washington, in his personal letter, com- plimented Prince Haskell for his courage in the Revolution: from that time to this there has been no blot upon their record, no shame or disgrace attached to the name.

The Doctor is a direct descendant of William Haskell, one of the three brothers who came to this country from England in 1632 and located in Gloucester, Mass. His grandfather, Nahum

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Claret . Moskeer, M.D. .- -. =

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Haskell, was born in Gloucester, Mass., whence, ifter a sojourn in Dartmouth, he removed to Woodstock, Vt., where he became the editor of a newspaper.

Dr. James N. Haskell, our subject's father, was born and reared in Woodstock, Vt., and graduated from the medical college in that city. In early manhood he engaged in the practice of dentistry, becoming, in his day. the most noted dentist in the State of Vermont. Later he prac- ticed medicine, and the latter years of his life were passed in St. Louis, Mo., where he died in 1884. His wife, Loraine (Young), who passed away in 1878, was a native of Woodstock, Vt., and was of Scottish descent. Her father, John Young, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812, lived to the advanced age of ninety-one years. and, although a man of small stature, was noted for his great physical strength and endur- ance.

Our subject, who was the only child of his parents, was educated in Vermont. attending the public schools, and also receiving instruction from private teachers. His mind was most receptive, and, learning readily, he easily stood at the head of his class in school. His energy and ambition, when a mere child, caused his parents no little anxiety. He studied shorthand and telegraphy, mastering the latter art in the surprisingly short period of one month, and was at one time the youngest operator in the United States. His favorite recreation, when but ten years of age, was playing checkers with another youthful oper- ator in a distant city, by telegraph. A few years later, after leaving school, he became one of the most skillful operators in the country, being em- ployed in that capacity and holding many po- sitions of responsibility in the large offices of the country, from Maine to California. In 1884 he won a prize for fast sending, in a tournament held in Chicago. He early developed a liking for the stage, and was an active member of sev- eral amateur dramatic organizations in different cities where he resided. In the season of 1879-80 he played with the first "Pinafore " company that toured New England. Having depended entirely upon his own resources from his tenth birthday (from choice rather than from neces- sity), it was no hardship for him to earn and save enough to enable him to carry out the ambition which he had cherished from childhood-to study medicine. He first enlisted in homeopathy, and entered the office of Dr. F. M. Bennett, a promi- nent homeopathist of Springfield, Mass. For nearly two years he was employed as chief oper- ator in the Western Union telegraph office, and, after working hard all day, would study the ele-

ments of his chosen profession far into the night. After this course of preparation he finally entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College. It was not long, however, before he abandoned the theory of homeopathy for the more substantial practice of allopathy. After three years of study he was graduated from the University of Ver- mont in 1890, being awarded second prize for high standing in his class, while, in the intervals of other work, he took courses of instruction in hospitals in Boston, in connection with the Har- vard Medical School and the different hospitals in New York. He also served a year as assist- ant instructor in pathology in the Post-Graduate Medical School in New York.

In 1891 Doctor Haskell located in Bridge- port, where he soon built up a lucrative practice. Not long after his arrival he was appointed to the post of city physician and attending surgeon of the Emergency Hospital, but two years later he resigned both positions in order to devote his entire time to his practice. The Doctor belongs to the City, County and State Medical Associa- tions, and, socially, is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically. he is independent, and he has had neither the ambition nor the time to enter the struggle for official honors.

JOHN McCARTHY is now the leading coal and wood dealer of Danbury, and the story of his life suggests a useful lesson in self- reliance.

Mr. McCarthy was born May 3, 1856, in County Clare, Ireland, the son of Malachi and grandson of Jeremiah McCarthy. His father was born in the same locality, and died there. His mother, Mrs. Winifred (Keating) Mccarthy, who was born in Ireland, now makes her home with our subject, who is the youngest of a fam- ily of six children, the others being Mary, Mar- garet, Kate, Bridget and Annie.

John McCarthy attended school in his native land until he reached the age of thirteen, when he began to work as a farm hand. The pros- pects for advancement were not satisfactory to a lad of his ability and force of character, and when sixteen he came to America, landing in New York City May 22, 1872. His first employ- ment was in a button factory in New Milford, Conn., where he remained four years, and in 1876 he removed to Danbury to work as a fin- isher in the hat factory of Beckerle & Co. Five years were spent with them, and in 1882 he es- tablished his present business, in which he speed- ily built up a large and lucrative trade. In 1887 he bought William Mansfield's coal business and

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added it to his own, which he enlarged still fur- ther in 1889 by purchasing Patrick Murray's trade and good will. In 1892 he bought from A. E. Graves the contract for sprinkling the streets of Danbury, which he has since filled, and in this work, together with the hauling of coal and wood, he keeps sixteen horses busy, winter and summer. His office is at No. 1 Elm street.

Mr. McCarthy has a pleasant home at No. 15 McDermott street, Danbury. He married Miss Margaret Kane, daughter of Connor and Joanna (Wixted) Kane, of Danbury, and three children, Josephine, John Augustus and Rina, bless this union. Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy are members of the Roman Catholic Church. In political faith our subject is a Democrat, and he has twice been a candidate for selectman in his town: each time, however, his ticket was defeated, and he went down with the rest. His worth as a citizen is recognized, and he has at times been appointed to offices, for two years serving as a member of the board of relief in Danbury. and at present he is serving a four- years' term as trustee of the Reform School for Boys, located near Meriden, Connecticut.

A NDREW SHERMAN. Every profession and business has its prominent men, some made so by long and dilligent application to their respective occupations. others by proficiency in their callings. The subject of this sketch has a claim to both categories, as he has been made conspicuous among the manufacturers of Bethel, Fairfield county, both by the length of time he devoted to the industry with which he was con- nected, and by the eminent success he made in it.

Our subject was born in Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., April 12, 1S20, and comes of old New England stock. His ancestors were for the most part agriculturists. and Andrew Sherman, his grandfather, followed that pursuit in New- town, of which he was a lifelong resident. He died April 23, 1809, at the age of forty-nine years. His wife, Betsey (Lake), passed from earth November 29, 1843. aged seventy-seven years. They had four children. as follows: An- nie, Mrs. Ezra Fairchild: David, a brief sketch of whom follows; Zalmon. of Newtown; and Lucretia, wife of Hiram Shepard, of Newtown.

David Sherman, father of our subject, was born in Newtown, Conn., July 14. 1793, and died August 3, 1860. He received a fair educa- tion at the district schools of his native town, and when old enough commenced learning the hatter's trade with Elam Benedict, of Bethel.

In course of time he commenced the hat-manu- facturing business for his own account, in Elm- wood District. of Bethel, and continued same up to about the time of his death. On October 17, 1815. he married Tamar Beebe, who was born April 9, 1791, and died November 14, 1860. She was a daughter of Ethel and Naomi Beebe, the former of whom died May 19, 1812, aged forty-seven years, the latter on June 2, 1841, aged seventy-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Sher- man had a family of five children, a brief record of whom is as follows: Ethel B., born October 9, 1816, married Susan Dart, November 23, 1845, and died at the age of seventy-two years; Andrew is our subject; William Wright, born December 11, 1821, in Brookfield. was married November 29, 1854, to Angeline Gale, who was born February 14, 1831; Lemuel V., born at Bethel. Conn., January 9, 1825, married Har- riet Peet. October 14, 1846; and Mary Jane, born December 19, 1833, was married October 13, 1856. to George N. Fairchild, since deceased. The parents of this family were members of the M. E. Church.

Andrew Sherman received his education at the Wild Cat District school, and learned the trade of hatter with his father. He engaged first with Fisher & Co., and afterward with George G. Durant, but since 1896 he has been retired from active work. On October 26, 1842, Mr. Sher- man was married to Miss Mary Fairchild, who was born June 26, 1820, and died January 29, 1860. Two children were born to this union, as follows: Maria, who is deceased; and William A., who is engaged in gold-mining in Salt Lake, Utah (he was twice married, first, to Lizzie Rob- inson, and. second, to Laura Kiem, and has two children-Andrew Fairchild and Mary Kiem). For his second wife, Andrew Sherman was mar- ried in Newtown, May 1, 1861, to Sarah Black- man, who was born June 22, 1828, and died April 15. 1887, and the children of this union are: Mary Helen, born February 23, 1863, who mar- ried Leonard S. Smith, of Bethel; and Frederick B., born January 3, 1865, living at home Mr. Sherman in his political preferences is a Repub- lican, and has served as selectman of Bethel; in religious faith he is a prominent member of the M. E. Church at Bethel, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

W B. MEEKER, a highly esteemed citizen of Fairfield township, was for many years identified with the mercantile and shipping in- terests of Southport, and although he is now liv- ing in retirement he reaps in the respect of his

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fellow citizens the reward of an honorable and upright business life. He still owns the vessel "Walter," which is run under his direction, and he also oversees in a general way the work of his homestead, a valuable farm near Southport, while notwithstanding his failing health he dis- plays much of the public spirit which made him in his earlier years an influential worker in the cause of progress in his locality.

The Meeker family has been well-known in Fairfield township for several generations, and Seth Meeker, our subject's grandfather, made his home there. W. B. Meeker (1), our sub- ject's father, was a lifelong resident of the town, and at an early age became interested in the shipping trade. At that time large quantities of grain were raised in that locality, and for many years he shipped loads from Southport to supply the market at other points. He conducted a store at Southport, and at one time owned sev- eral vessels which were employed in the grain trade. He was a shrewd and energetic business man, andalthough he began life poor he acquired a handsome competence. In politics he was a stanch Whig, but he never sought or held public office. He died at the age of seventy-three, and his wife, whose maiden name was Marietta Jennings, passed away when aged seventy-two. She was a daughter of Burr Jennings, a well-known agri- culturist of Greens Farms. Our subject was the youngest in a family of five children, the others being Julia (now Mrs. Taylor), a widow residing in Boston, Mass .; Matilda (deceased), who mar- ried John Simpson; Miss Emily, who resides at Southport; and Eleanor, who married William Howell, and died in Southport.

Our subject was born February 24, 1829, and was reared on the old homestead at Southport. His education was obtained in the local schools, Orange Hubbell being one of his teachers. The opportunities afforded were much inferior to those of the present day in that locality, and for this change Mr. Meeker is himself largely re- sponsible, as his own deprivations led him to make special effort in his manhood to secure the adoption of better methods. For eleven years he was connected officially with the educational affairs of his town, and at all times his influence was a power on the side of improvement. As a boy he gained practical knowledge of mercantile business in his father's store, and at the age of twenty-two he became a partner in that enter- prise, his father's former partner, Simon Sher- wood, retiring. At the death of his father our subject took entire charge of the business; but on account of illness he disposed of it about 1878, and retired to his farm. In his younger

days he was a skillful navigator, being familiar with every detail of a sailor's work, and as a ves- sel master he gained much popularity.

His domestic life has been of the kind which fosters and develops the higher qualities of human nature, and to him no place is so dear as home. At the age of twenty-four Mr. Wheeler married Miss Eliza H. Jennings, daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Hull) Jennings. The only child of this union, Ada A., died aged twenty-two years, leaving a sense of loss which nothing can dispell in the hearts of her loving parents. Mr. Meeker and his estimable wife are leading members of the Congregational Church at Southport, to which he is a liberal contributor, and at the time of the building of the present handsome edifice he was one of the building committee. He is a member of Temple Lodge No. 65, F. & A. M., at Westport, and of Hamilton Commandery, No. 5, K. T., of Bridgeport. Politically he is a believer in Republican principles, but he has not aspired to official honors.

A L. MEAD, farmer, dairyman and stock- man of Clapboard Ridge District, town of Greenwich, Fairfield county, is a member of an old family whose members have been ranked among the best citizens of Greenwich for genera- tions. Among the younger agriculturists of the township none stands higher than our subject, who is keeping up the reputation established by his ancestors for success in farming, and has gained prosperity beyond the average.

The great-grandfather of A. L. Mead was Abram Mead, whose son Job reared a family of five children, namely: Zachias, Abram, Amanda, Eliza and Emeline. Of these, Abram was born in Clapboard Ridge District, and was but a young boy when his parents settled on the farm where he spent his days, the place now occupied by our subject. He was educated in the prim- itive schools in vogue during his boyhood, and grew up to the knowledge of farming under his father's instruction, proving an apt pupil in that line. After his father's death the home farm came into his possession, and he displayed more than ordinary ability in its management and cultivation, always seeming to get the best re- sults and wresting more than a mere living from from the soil. He added to the tract as increas- ing means enabled him, and at the time of his death was the owner of three hundred acres of arable land. He passed away in January, 1867, at the age of sixty-five years, highly respected by his neighbors, among whom he had a wide ac- quaintance, and his remains were interred in the

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cemetery of the Congregational Church at Green- wich, of which he was a member. He was a Republican politically. Mr. Mead married Abi- gail Selleck, who was born in Greenwich town- ship, daughter of Sands Selleck, and seven chil- dren came to their marriage, viz .: Henry C., who is a farmer in Greenwich: Elsie, deceased wife of Abram Close: Samuel, who has a butcher and grocery business at Five Mile River, Fair- field county; Emeline, Mrs. Isaac Wilson, of Greenwich township: A. L .; William E., a farmer of Greenwich; and Frederick B., of Five Mile River. The mother. now aged seventy

Doctor Rowell is the keeper of Wampum of years, is passing her declining years on the | Powahay Tribe No. 33, Powahay Hay Loft of homestead with her son, our subject.

A. L. Mead, whose name introduces these lines, was born October 22. 1859, on his present | member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M.

farm, and here he has passed his entire life, attending the district schools in his, early boy- hood. For one year he was a pupil in Green- wich Academy under Professor Webster, receiv- ing altogether a good practical education. He commenced the earnest work of life at rather an early age, and has always been an energetic worker, progressive in every sense of the word, I ward, was also born in County Monaghan, and I was a farmer and linen weaver by occupation; at one time he was also engaged as a contractor. The mother's name was Margaret Connolly.

and one of those citizens whose labors count in the advancement of the community. He owns 175 . acres of the old home farm, and in addition to his i necessarily extensive farming interests is engaged Mr. Duffy lived in his native country until in stock dealing, and, since 1890, in the dairy | twenty years of age, receiving his education in business. His herd consists of from fifteen to | the National schools of the neighborhood of his twenty cows, and he wholesales the milk, adding considerably to his income by this profitable | Stamford, and here obtained employment with enterprise.

Mr. Mead has been twice married. His first I factory at the Cove, where he remained continu- wife was Miss Mary E. Wishart, of North Castle township, Westchester Co., N. Y., by whom he I steady industry, thrift and economy, he had man. had two sons: Elmer and Harry. After her ; aged to accumulate in that time enough capital death he wedded Miss Martha Worden, of North I to embark in business, and accordingly, in 1869. Castle, Westchester county, by whom he has | he started a retail grocery and liquor store on two daughters: Lillian and Grace. Mr. Mead's | the Cove road, which he has ever since con- political symphathies are with the Republican ducted. The requirements of his increasing I trade, however, had long outgrown the capacity party, with which he votes in State and National affairs: in local issues he is non-partisan. Mrs. i of that establishment, and in 1890 he opened his Mead is a member of the Methodist Church.

F. ROWELL. M. D .. the health officer of Stamford, Fairfield county, is one of the youngest physicians of the county.

Born March 20, 1874, at Dalton, N. H., | business career. He has been a Democrat ever Doctor Rowell is a son of Charles E. Rowell, . since he became a citizen of the United States, M. D., one of the leading physicians and sur- i and has devoted considerable time to public geons of Stamford. Young Rowell was educated | affairs in his town, for whose advancement and in the public schools of Stamford. In 1892 he | improvement he is always ready to give his aid entered the Hahnemann Medical College, Phila- I and influence. For the past eight years he has I served as tax collector, and for three years as a

delphia, Penn., and in 1895 was graduated

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 227

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