Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 232

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

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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).

J. T. Bates was born May 11, 1843, and has always had his home in Danbury. He attended the local schools until he was seventeen, and then began to learn the carpenter's trade which he followed successfully a number of years. Since 1873 he has been interested in the lumber business on a large scale, and for some time he has carried on the manufacture of yellow pine in Georgia. In 1870 Mr. Bates married Miss Abbie S. Taylor, daughter of Joseph Taylor, a well-

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known sex dent of Bethel, and two daughters. ISog as a representative from the town of Bethel in the State Legislature. He was very precise and prompt in all his business dealings, was a member of the Congregational Church at Bethel, Iva > and Anna L .. brighten their home. Mr. Hates was seated in the l'invervalst faith and he and has wate are active members of that ( burch. They are prominent in santes philanthropic . and was a strong temperance advocate. His reverents, and both are men bers of the hospital death ex curred June 30, 1880 Hard Faitmais cur sultent i denated with the Marine order. In pratical faith he is a Ben zar as were his father and grandfather letze him, but in local elections he is inclined to save independently. -

In the town of Redding, Fairfield Co., Conn., Ebenezer S. Judd was married to Harriet Stowe, who was born in Bethel. December 8, 1806, and died April 16, 1895. To this union came chil- dren as follows. Charles S., born July 4. 1827. ded November 25, 1865: Sarah, born June 5. 1829. died July 1. 1844; Emeline, born February

J UDD FAMILY, of the town of Bethel. In . 17. 18:2. mained William H. Judson, and died

Hai. nothing to je stents the memory of such non as the several subiects of this sketch, it Bay until into the hands ofour children the im- I rant ieven that he not and station ate the sure reward of persevering everton, and that, com- jared to a good education and abundant experi- the, coupled with habits of the best industry and odensetomy, the greatest fortune would be but a post inheritance.

December 25. 1862; Henry C. will be mentioned presently; Frederick S., born September 14. 1835, and died October 21, 1859, taught private school in Bethel; Horace, born February 21, 1841. is now pastor of an M. E. Church, at Huntington, 1 .. I. (he served in the Civil war); Frank A. is spoken of farther on; Sarah Eliza, born December 31. 1845. died October 27. 1861; Adeline, born December 14, 1849. died Septem- 1844. Hendes at Chestnut Ridge, Center District,

Un April 4. 1773. was born in the town of : ber 21. 1805; and Arthur S., born November 27. Bethel. Banfield Co .. Conn .. Phineas Judd, who ded there September ;. 13. He mamed : Bethel Sarah Saitman, who was born in the town of

Henry C. Judd, the fourth in order of birth Hanfeld, same county. December 18. 1782, ! in the tanaly of children born to Fbenezer S. daughter of Ebenezer Milkman, and mece of Gen. , and Hammet (Stowe) Judd, was born in the town Gaid Selleck Sollman. They haved on Hoyt's 1 of Bethel October 21, 1833. He spent his boy- Hill, in bethel, where Mr Judd was engaged in I hood days in the Center District of his native farming, conducting also a petrtal store. When I town, attending the district school as well as a young man he taught school for a time. Chil- cien as follows were born to them: Ebenezer S. of whom special mention will presently be made. Mary Penfield, born June 13. 1203. died 1 Jane 13. 1:21: Elza, born December 23. 1804. - Ames Woodman's private school in Bethel. On September 11, 1850, he was apprenticed to the hatters trade with Reuben Taylor, in Elmwood District, Bethel, learning the silk-hat business. finishing and curling, at which latter branch he i 1 has now worked some thirty years, in part with Judd & Company, but most of the time with Judd & Dunning. He is a Republican in politics, has held the offices of constable and deputy sheriff for twenty years, and at present is serving as justice of the peace.

malted Eh Trowbridge: Juha, Mu In November 11. 1hot, died April 4. INGS. Willis, bern Octo. ber 15. 1tak. died September 5. 1883 (he was the grandfather of Leonard and Withs Judd); Sarah, born August 27. JSI. married Elisha Simone; Almon, born July 28, 1812, died Febru- | aty 6. 18>>; and Juha, bwin January 11. 1814. On November 29, 1854, Henry C. Judd was married to liene Taylor, daughter of Asahel B. , and Laura (Gould) Taylor, and six children, as Baffled Fairchild Judd. The mother of these ded April 28, 1828, a member of the Congrega- tional Church, with which Society she and her i follows, have been born to them: Lucien F. hed and united April 24. 1548, and he held offices therein. He also served in vain us town ofices.

Ebenezer Silliman Judd. the oldest in the al ve-mentioned family, was born January 21, 1:02. in the town of Bethel, where, and on Host's Hill, he passed hes bethe od and youth. attending the schools of the meghborhood. He was a lifelong progressive farmer, his residence being in Chestnut Ridge. A Republican in pol- it:cs, he served his fellow citizens faithfully, in : Edward Booth, born July 5, 1897: they now re-

born September 12, 1857. married Sarah E. Camp, and they have two children-Robert Silli- man and Irene; he is a member of Eureka Lodge. F. & A. M. Frederick S., born July 12, | 1859. died January 22, 1863. Harriet Augusta, I born April 10, 1862, married Reuben J. Signor, and they have one child-Grace, born July 16, 1894. Eimer Taylor, born June 16, 1866, mar- ried Susan Booth, and they have one son.

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side in Cando, N. Dak .; he is a member of the 1 made in that town. Whether or not these state- ments are true, it is certain that Danbury now enjoys pre-eminence in that important industry, and the enterprising and · progressive men who have contributed to that result are not likely to allow any latter-day rival to steal their laurels from them. Among the leaders in this line we F. & A. M. Henry Cornelius, born November 15, 1869, married Dorothy A. True. Edward Benedict, born July 26, 1872, died July 29, 1896. Mr. Judd has been a prolific writer on historical matters of local interest, has a wonderfully re- tentive memory, and as an author is possessed of more than ordinary ability. He | must mention the Beckerle Company, of which and his estimable wife are members of the Con- | gregational Church at Bethel; socially, he is a member of Eureka Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M.

FRANK A. JUDD, seventh in the order of birth of the children of Ebenezer S. and Harriet (Stowe) Judd, was born in Center District, town of Bethel, May 15, 1843. His boyhood was passed on the home farm, his education being re- ceived at the district schools, which he attended up to the age of seventeen years (1860). He then came to the village of Bethel, where he served a four-years' apprenticeship to the hatter's trade with George A. Hickok. In the fall of 1864 he worked in a hat factory at Matteawan, N. Y., and subsequently was employed in Orrin Bene- 1 dict's hat factory, in the village of Bethel, until | farmer in Germany; William, our subject; Lena. 1866, in which year he entered into partnership with J. B. Judd, under the firm name of Judd & Co. From 1869 to 1879 he worked as a jour- neyman hatter in Bethel, in the latter year pur- chasing the hat factory of Joel E. Fisher and forming the firm of Judd & Dunning, consisting of F. A. Judd and S. S. Dunning, which partner- ship continued until the latter part of 1893. On January 1, 1894. the style of the firm was changed to the Judd & Dunning Hat Co., the several mem- bers thereof being F. A. Judd. Edward Gehrels and George Crofut. They manufacture stiff hats entirely, which they sell direct to the retail trade, and the factory has a capacity of.7, 000 dozen hats annually.

On October 18, 1864, Frank A. Judd was married in Danbury, Conn., to Sarah E. Conklin, daughter of William Conklin, of that city, and children as follows have blessed this union: Mary married Henry Platt, and has had three children -Edith, Irene, and Florence. Eva, born Octo- ber 25, 1875, married Frank Parsons, a machinist of Danbury. Howard, born February 5, 1877, works in his father's factory. In social matters Mr. Judd is a member of Eureka Lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican, and he has been one of the burgesses of Bethel.

the subject of this sketch is the senior member, | their extensive trade keeping two large factories in operation, and giving employment to a numer- ous force of workmen. At times their payroll amounts to $30,000 in a single month. The business was established in 1876 by William Beckerle, C. H. Peix and Joseph S. Schuldice on a very small scale, and their success has been the result of energetic and thrifty management.

Mr. Beckerle was born in Germany, March 15, 1845, on a farm near the beautiful Rhine. His parents, Sebastian and Christina (Hindz) Beckerle, were both lifelong residents of that locality, the father engaging in agricultural pur- suits. They had six children: John, now a who married and died in Germany; Philip, and Frederick, both agriculturists in the Fatherland, and Philipine, who is married and lives in Ger- many. William Beckerle was trained from early boyhood to habits of industry, and at the age of ten was bound out to learn the potter's trade, re- maining six years, during which he received only his board and clothes. In 1866 he came to America, landing in New York City, where he spent one week before going to Danbury to make his permanent home. For twenty months he worked on a farm in that vicinity as a common laborer, and he then began to learn the business of hatmaking, 'at which he was employed for about eight years " on the bench." In 1875 he began to do contracting in the hat business for Henry Crofut, and in the following year he formed a partnership with Joseph S. Schuldice (since deceased) and C. H. Peix. Thomas F. Fay joined them five years later, but he has since died. In addition to his cares as a manu- facturer Mr. Beckerle has a half-interest in a sixty-acre farm, and also owns .. The Hilltop' stock farm, of 218 acres, overlooking the city of Danbury and extending to the corporation limits. He devotes much attention to the raising of blooded stock, principally horses, and his stables contain about 130 choice specimens of racers of high pedigree, including the famous Wilkes, track on the farm furnishes a fine opportunity for training his speedy trotters, and " Hilltop farm " has a high reputation among horse lovers.

W WILLIAM BECKERLE. It is said that | Electioneer and Jay Gould strains. A half-mile the first building ever erected in America I for a hat shop was built in Danbury, and that the first hat ever made in the United States was

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Mr. Beckerle has an elegant residence, fitted up with the latest improvements. On August 3, 1870, he married Miss Sophia Harthorn, of Dan- bury, a lady of English descent, and four chil- dren have blessed their union: Mae A., who resides with her parents; Edward W., who mar- ried a Miss Lewis, of New Jersey; Essie, deceased; and Ida Mattie, at home. The family belong to the Baptist Church, though Mr. Beckerle is a Congregationalist in religious connection. He has done much to sustain the Church in Dan- bury, and he served as chairman of the Baptist building committee when the new edifice was erected. His benefactions are by no means con- fined to these Societies, however, as he is always ready to encourage any worthy movement. In politics he is a steadfast Republican. Frater- nally, Mr. Beckerle is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

W ILLIAM CLIFFORD, a well-known resi- dent of the city of Bridgeport, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, a son of William and Bridget (Meade) Clifford, farming people, who passed their entire lives in Ireland. They had two children, William and Jane, both now residing in Bridgeport.

Our subject remained in the old country until he reached the age of twenty, when he came to America to seek his fortune. Soon after his ar- rival he settled in Bridgeport, and for six years he was employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, in 1885 engaging in the liquor business, in which he has enjoyed an ex- tensive retail trade from the first. Mr. Clifford married Miss Delia Larkin, a native of Bridge- port, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church in that city. Politically, he is an Independent, and, socially, he is identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Foresters of America. He has been successfully engaged for some time in the liquor business, conducting an establishment at No. 111 Water street, Bridgeport.

FRANCIS L. SHERWOOD is one of the best-known men in Fairfield township, Fair- field Co., Conn., where he has passed almost his entire life, having been born November 23, 1842, in Banks North District, where he still resides.

The Sherwood family is an old and numerous one in Connecticut. The first American ancestor, Thomas Sherwood, came from Sherwood Forest, in England, and settled in Fairfield in 1639, from which time to the present his descendants have

been numbered among the useful and respected members of this community, and they took an active part in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Sherwood, the great-grandfather of Francis L., was a resident of Banks North District during the time of the Revolution, and when the British marched past on their way from Fairfield to Dan- bury his home was plundered among the rest. He was shot at, but as the bullet only struck his hat, they took him prisoner, intending to hold him and take him along with them. He had had his leg broken some time previously, however, and, though it had healed, he was still lame, and complained that he was unable to march; he ex- hibited his limb, to convince them, and he was accordingly released. This Joseph Sherwood had a son also named Joseph, and his son, Salmon Sherwood, the father of Francis L., was born in the old Sherwood homestead, which was built between 1750 and 1760. Salmon Sherwood com- menced to learn the shoemaker's trade, but he soon abandoned it, and he was a lifelong farmer, honorable and upright in his life and respected by all who knew him. He married Arity Sher- wood, who was born in Banks North District, daughter of Levi Sherwood, and they became the parents of three children: Francis L .; Henry B., who is also a farmer in Banks North District; and Esther Mary, who died in infancy. The pa- rents were both Methodists in religious connec- tion, holding membership with the Center Street Church, in Easton. Mrs. Sherwood lived to a good old age, and Mr. Sherwood passed away when eighty-eight years old, spending his declin- ing years with his two sons, Henry and Francis. He was laid to rest in Oaklawn cemetery. Po- litically, he was a Democrat, except in local mat- ters, when he was non-partisan, and he was not a politician in any sense of the word.

Francis L. Sherwood was born in the same house where his father first saw the light, and he received his primary education in the Banks North District school, Thirza Nichols being his first teacher. Horace Smith was also one of his early instructors, and Mr. Sherwood has nothing but praise for the old district schools, for he did well, especially in mathematics, which was his favorite study. Later he studied in Easton Academy, under Parson Prentiss, and at Green- field Hill Academy, under Zalmon Wakeman, completing his literary education before he was sixteen years of age, at which time he went to live with his uncle, Alva Finch, of Westport. For six years, from September 23, 1859, until 1865, he had charge of Mr. Finch's farm, and then returning to his old home he followed the butcher business here for a time, peddling meat

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over the country; he was also engaged in butchering at Westport. In 1869 he went to New York City, where he carried on a commis- sion business in Greenwich street until 1871, when he returned to Fairfield, and the year fol- lowing he purchased his present home, which was then a small tract of eighteen acres. Here he has been successfully engaged in general farming, and, for the past twenty years, in dis- tilling cider brandy, and by careful management and prudence in all his dealings he has been en- abled to add to his original purchase until he now owns nearly sixty-five acres of good land, acquired by his own efforts. Mr. Sherwood is a self-made man, and he is respected and admired by all who know him for the standing he has gained among the thrifty, substantial citizens of the town. He is popular and well-liked among his fellow men for his good nature and many sterling qualities, possessing their confidence wherever he is known, and this probably ac- counts for the fact that he has been chosen to act as justice of the peace in his town for over thirty years, being at present the oldest justice serving in Fairfield. He also filled the office of assessor for three terms, giving satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Sherwood was first married to Miss Jane E. Burr. daughter of Henry Burr, and by her he had two children: Glover B., who died at the age of twenty-one years; and Luella. who died young. . The mother died, and was buried in Oaklawn cemetery. and the father subsequently wedded Miss Georgia A. Banks, daughter of Jonathan Banks, of Banks North District. One child has come to this union, Mabel, who lives at home. Our subject is a stanch Democrat in political sentiment, but he believes in se- lecting only worthy men for office, and rather than support a candidate whom he did not con- sider fit for public service he has declined to vote, even when the nominee was of his own persuasion.

A LFRED B. COLLINGS, of the Higson & Collings Company, leading hat manufact- urers at Danbury, has worked his way up from "the foot of the ladder " to an enviable place among the business men of his locality. It is now twenty-five years since he first began work in the hat industry, and as at that time every- thing was done by hand he has seen marvelous changes in the methods of carrying on the busi- ness." Being himself thoroughly progressive, he has always been among the first to accept and advocate improvements, as they were devised, and his present shop is fitted up with the latest

and best machinery, the uniform excellence of the work turned out being a potent factor in se- curing an extensive and profitable trade.

Mr. Collings was born February 13, 1857, at Leipsic, Kent Co., Del., a son of George W. and Mary (Reeves) Collings. The father, who was born in 1818, at Little Creek Landing, Del., en- listed in the United States navy in 1861, and was killed at Port Royal, S. C., in April, 1862, while on picket duty from the United States ship " Sus- quehanna." His widow, who died May 30, 1894, was. born near Burlington, N. J., December 25, 1816, and attained the advanced age of seventy- seven years. In the fall of 1862 she removed to Philadelphia with her three children, Eva, Mary and Alfred B., and, the latter being then of an age to take advantage of the schools at his new home, passed through the Barlow primary school and the Weccacoe grammar school; then took a two-years' course in the high school. His studies were cut short at the age of thirteen, when he found employment with the Western Union Tele- graph Company as a messenger boy, and after nine months in that service he went into the of- fice of the Wiegand Boiler Company in Philadel- phia. There he remained a year, and then spent a short time in the employ of M. B. Dyot, a crockery and glass dealer of the same city; but on the fifteenth anniversary of his birth he took a position as errand boy for P. Hearst & Co., hat manufacturers, and he has ever since been con- nected with that industry in one capacity or another. He had been with that company about seven months when their superintendent, Will- iam Porter. started a factory under the firm name of Porter, Peniston & Co., and Mr. Collings went with them as an apprentice. He learned the trade, and remained with the firm five years, when they failed, and he then spent several years in the employ of Simon Porter and others. In 1880 he left Philadelphia to go to Newark, N. J., as foreman of the finishing room in Charles Crossley's factory, and he afterward came to Danbury, where he worked for Henry Crofut for a year and a half as a journeyman in the curling department. During the next three years he served as assistant foreman of the curling depart- ment for Gardiner & Dudley, and then, after a vear and a half in a similar position with T. Meith & Co., he took charge of the curling room in John W. Green's shop, of which he was soon afterward made superintendent. About this time machinery was being introduced for various branches of the work, and Mr. Collings, seeing the uniform superiority of the work turned out by the new methods, urged his employer to take ad- vantage of them, the curling of hats by hydraulic

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Harware long an especially notable improve. nent On Mr Greens retirement from him. ness. Mr ( He's returned to Philale ; his as superintendent of the curling room in a factory. but after a year and a half there be came back to D'untary in January. 1806. and fimed his parent partnership with David Heen for the manufacture of 4:d and flexible hats Both part- Bers are practical hatters, and are theroughly agreed as to the value of modern nethe es Their bowness has steadily meseused from the start. and now heets about three hundred hands em- pirsed.

On August 23. 18-8. Mr. Camps was nar- red to Mas Bath Tavior, who was born in Den- ton. England. August 3. 1ths and cattle to Acerca when the years old with her parents. Samuel and Martha (Cock) Tavar Seven chil- dien were I in of this union I dith and Five itwas the lines of whom de in che"! and. Eva W . Aired, who died in Ittakes Walter. Frames and Herbert The farmis attend the First Congregational Church of banbury, of which Mia Calling's is a member While Mr. Collage has never taken an active part in polit- ical : met ente, he is interested in all questions of natural comein, and strongly up holds the pracy of the Republican party

Horace Greeicy. Later he became interested in the drug business, and then in the carriage trade. but he finally settled at Newark, N. J., where for some years before he retired from business be conducted the finest drug store in that place. He is a Republican in politics, having joined that organization on the dissolution of the Whig party. and he has long been prominently identined with the 1. O. O. F. He is now an octogenarian. and his estimable wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Sanford, has long passed the "three- wore and-ten " mark. She is a member of a leading family of New Jersey, of English origin. and her father. Gamaliel Sanford, was a wealthy larmet and milier of Newfoundland. Passaic county. Of the seven children born to this wor- thy couple three died in infancy; Miss Ida is at home; John H., Jr., our subject, is more fully mentioned below: Frank is a contractor in New- ark. N. J., being especially engaged in dock building, Joseph is a dentist in the same city.

John H. Vinson was born May 29. 1854. at Newark, where he attended the public schools until he reached the age of fourteen. He then went to New York City to learn the details of the hat business, and, entering the employ of Solley & Seeley, remained six years. Return- ing to Newark he formed a partnership with 1. H. l'arsels, under the name of Vinson & Parsels. and engaged in the manufacture of hats. The JOHN H VINSON, president of the Vinson : firm was in business but one year when MI. Hat Company, at Danbury, is numbered ' Vinson became a traveling salesman to the among the substantial business men of that same line, and for several years he was " on the city. and the history of his early efforts will , road." In 1884 be located at Danbury, associa- doubtless be an inspiration to many a youth. ting himself with Holley, Hayes & Co., after- One lesson is distinctly taught, and that is the . ward Haves & Co. Later he and Mr. Hayes value of a settled purpose steadily pursued, with- I purchased an interest in T. Brothwell's business. but waste of time in experiments in other lines of work, even though success should be some- ! the others continued under the firm name of T. what sir w in coming

and, Mr. Hayes withdrawing after three years. Brothwell & Co., until the death of the senior partner in 1895. Since that date Mr. Vinson has carried on the business, changing the name ing the hard times he has enjoyed a good trade, in supplying which he keeps about eighty hands employed.

Mr. Vicon is of German descent, his great- grandfather having been a native of the Father- land; he made his home in New York ( itv in the , to the Vinson Hat Company, and notwithstand- intervals afforded by a sea-faring hite, and after his retirement Witham Vinson, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in New York City, where he engaged in the gr xery business In 1875 Mr. Vinson married Miss Hattie Tate, a lady of English descent, whose ancestors lived in New York City at an early period, although the family is now chiefly represented in New Jer- sey. The young wife died three months after her marriage, and in 1886 Mr. Vinson formed a sec- ond union, matrying her sister, Miss Eudora Tate, by whom he has had three children: Ade- laide. born August 27, 1889; Margaretha, July 12. 1892; and Ida. November 22, 1894. Mr. Vinson and his wife attend the Presbyterian for a time, and later he became a faiter in New Jersey His three children were all to in in the metropolis. V.a .: Margaret natried Aaron Swartz, a coal dealer of that city, and both are now decreased. William, who was a check in early life, went to Canforma in 1549 and probably died there. I hn H Vinson. Sr .. the Youngest, was the father of our subject. He attended school in New York City during his youth, and found his first employment in the newspaper basiness under

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 232

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