Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 240

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

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R OBERT T. WHEELER. Few young men have made as promising a beginning in life as has this able and enterprising business man of Stratford, a leading dealer in coal, wood and similar commodities.

Mr. Wheeler was born in Stratford June 12, 1874, and belongs to a family which has long been noted in that section for industry, thrift and public spirit. His grandfather Wheeler, a farmer by ocupation, was a native of the town of Stratford, while the grandmother, Elizabeth (Wakelee) Wheeler, was born in the town of Huntington. This worthy couple had four chil- dren: Louise, William E., and two whose names are not given.

William E. Wheeler, our subject's father, was born in Stratford, and was only three years of age when his father died. In early manhood he studied medicine, but his plans for entering the profession were interrupted by three years of gallant service in the Union army during the Civil war. On his return home he opened a gen- eral store which he conducted in Stratford for a number of years, and later he engaged in the coal business at the dock, continuing same until his death, which occurred October 29, 1889. He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church at Stratford, and was also active in local politics, affiliating with the Republican party and serving in various offices, including that of justice of the peace. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Tomlinson, survives him. They had four children: Fannie L. died unmarried: Will- iam M. is a teacher in Mt. Pleasant Military Academy at Sing Sing, N. Y .; Robert T., our subject, was the third in order of birth; and Miss Elizabeth, resides with her mother.

The Tomlinson family has been identified with this county for inany years, and Mrs. Sarah Wheeler's grandfather was a farmer near Strat- ford village. Her father, Gideon M. Tomlinson, was born in that locality, and followed agricult- ural pursuits there throughout his life.

TON. GEORGE WHEELER (deceased) was one of the leading citizens of New Fairfield, and his death on August 21, 1896, caused sincere mourning throughout the community. Few men of his locality have taken a more active part in the various movements that tend to progress, and none have held in a higher degree the esteem and confidence of the people.

Mr. Wheeler was born August 1, 1818, in Patterson, N. Y., the son of Nathan D. and Louisa (Beardsley) Wheeler. He was educated in the local schools, and in early manhood learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed during the greater portion of his life, becoming well-known as a builder of fine residences. For eight years le resided in Illinois, where he did an extensive business in this line. At one time he conducted a sawmill at New Fairfield in connec- tion with his other work, and he was also inter- ested for a while in a hat factory there. Being a stanch Democrat he took much interest in political matters, and his popularity made him a favorite candidate on his party ticket, as he served for many years in offices of trust and responsibility. At one time he was a member of the State Legislature of Connecticut, and for a number of years he was selectman and town clerk of New Fairfield. Socially he was promi- nent as a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and his family has always been identified with the best circles of the neighborhood. He married on May 1, 1848, Miss Harriet Hopkins, by whom he had the following children: M. Louisa, born May 11, 1849; Harvey H., born July 21, 1852; and Bessie, born January 24, 1860, in Knox county, Illinois.

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Mrs. Wheeler, who survives her husband, is a lady whose excellent qualities of character en- dear her to her associates. She was born July 21, 1825, and is connected with several of the ! old and respected families of New England, of which we will give a brief account. Her father, Stephen Barnum Hopkins, was a direct descend- ant of Stephen Hopkins, the Pilgrim, who came to America in 1620 on the "Mayflower." He was a person of some importance and wealth, as he had with him two male servants, and his standing among his companions is indicated by the fact that he was sent ashore with Capt. Miles Stand- ish to treat with the Indians. Abbott, the his- torian, describes him as a man who was "both discreet and true." He had six daughters and Hiram S. Hopkins, Mrs. Wheeler's brother, 1 was born in New Fairfield, May 9, or 11, 1815, I and died November 20, 1852, at Winchester, Va., where he had gone as advance agent for Turner's circus, of which he was a part owner. three sons. Of the latter, one, Oceanus, was born on the voyage and died in infancy. Giles married and settled on Cape Cod, and of the other son. Caleb, nothing is now known, although it is believed that he did not marry. In the third | In his early manhood he followed mercantile generation Judah Hopkins, a son of Giles, mar- business in New Fairfield, and he always held a prominent place in the social and political life of that locality. On October 18, 1837, he was ried and had a son, John, born in 1704. John, of the fourth generation, married and left a son, John (5), who was born in Harwich, Mass., a I married at New Fairfield, to Miss Louisa Sher- town on Cape Cod, in 1751, and is said to have wood, who was born July 2, 1817, a daughter of Abel Sherwood, a well-known resident of the same town. They had one son, Lewis Legrand. born February 24. 1842. . After the death of Hiram Hopkins, his widow married Nathan Ter- rell, then a resident of Danbury, who was born in New Fairfield. and was killed March 28, 1895, at the age of eighty-six, by an engine on the New York and New England railroad. been a man of great ingenuity. About the time ! of the Revolutionary war, possibly a little later, he removed to Guildhall, Vt., and after a short residence there he proceeded to Lyndon, and then to Brattleboro. in the same State. From there he started to Centerville, N. Y., in 1813, but died on the way while at Pike, Wyoming Co., N. Y. Little is known concerning his family, but he had at least three sons: John (6), who is the next in the line of descent; Judah, who was killed in early manhood by falling from a barn; | and Clark, who settled in New York and left de- scendants there. John (6) was born at Ballston Spa, N. Y., and became the owner of a large tract of land in the town of New Fairfield, this county. He was married in Vermont to Miss Sarah Smith, and had two sons, John and Stephen I to Jersey City and secured employment as a Barnum (7), both of whom located in New Fair- field.

Stephen Barnum Hopkins (7), Mrs. Wheeler's father, was born in New Fairfield, May 29, 1789, and died March 24, 1866. He received a com- I mon-school education in his youth, and for a short time followed the shoemaker's trade. but later he engaged in mercantile business, which he successfully conducted in New Fairfield for many years. He was a generous man, and was well-liked by his fellow citizens, being often chosen to fill local offices. including that of select- man. The different questions of his time excited his keen interest, and he was always a strong

supporter of the Whig party. On November 7, 1 1811, he married Miss Chloe Judd, who was | born in New Fairfield, May 17, 1795, and they had seven children: (1) Betsey M., born May 28, 1813, was married September 16, 1830, to Nathan Terrell, and died March 2, 1868. (2) Hiram S. is mentioned more fully below. (3) Joseph, born September 9, 1817, was married (first) to Caroline Terrell, and (second) to Sarah Clark. (4) George J., born May 2, 1820, married Rebecca McGraw, and died in 1894. (5) Harvey, born February 17, 1823, died Novem- ber 19, 1850, unmarried. (6) Harriet (Mrs. Wheeler) is mentioned above. (7) Stephen L., born April 22, 1828, died July 10, 1837.

....

Hon. Lewis Legrand Hopkins was but a child when the death of his father brought him face to face with the problem of earning a livelihood. He had begun his education in the common schools of New Fairfield, but at the age of eleven he was sent to the town of Brookfield, this county, I to live with an uncle upon a farm. This quiet existence not suiting him, he after a year went newsboy on the New Jersey Transfer Company's line. In the following year he went to New York to take a similar position on the New York I and New Haven railroad, and while there he had an opportunity to attend school in winter, a privilege which he eagerly accepted and made the most of. He next entered a large grocery establishment in that city as clerk, but finding the emplopment uncongenial he shipped on a vessel, the "Endymion," for Liverpool, Eng- land. When off Burton Head, on the coast of 1 Wales, the ship was burned to the water's edge, and a falling spar struck the young sailor upon | the head, crushing his skull For several weeks

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he lay in Southworth Hospital, Liverpool, in a dangerous condition, under the care of the American consul. On his recovery he returned to New York, and as his love for adventure was not yet satisfied, he went to California to engage in placer mining in Shasta county. Tiring of this, he took ship at San Francisco for a voyage around Cape Horn, the trip proving to be a very rough one. His next employment was as a night clerk on a steamer on Long Island Sound, and later he went to Danbury and learned the business of hat finishing, which he followed for a time there, also in Bethel and Philadel- phia. In 1865 he began drilling for oil in Pennsylvania, and afterward he accompanied a surveying expedition in the interests of the New England Railroad Company in the northern part of this State. When this ended he returned to Danbury and engaged in a bottling business with S. A. Barnum and Joseph Beers, but he soon traded his interest in that establishment for a factory and store at New Fairfield, where he made his home for a time. His factory, where he conducted a hatting business, was burned to the ground, and he then engaged in the manu- facture of shirts in New Fairfield; but the ven- ture proving unprofitable he went back to Danbury to take a position in the freight office of the Danbury & Northern railroad, the com- pany afterward appointing him agent at that place. In the meantime he had become promi- nent in political circles. While residing in New Fairfield he was town clerk for twelve years, and there, as elsewhere, he took an active inter- est in educational affairs. In 1870, 1871, 1875, 1881, and 1887, he was elected to the General Assembly of this State, and his able service as representative won the approbation of all classes in his community. During Sheriff Clarkson's first and second terms he appointed him a dep- uty. As the last warden for the old borough of Danbury, Judge Hopkins held office two months beyond tbe legal time in order to con- form to the dates set in the city charter for the opening of the new regime. In 1889 he was chosen mayor of the new city, and in 1892 he became judge of the probate court, a position he still holds. Politically, he is a Democrat, and for two years he served on the State Central Committee of that party. On September 18, 1865, Judge Hopkins was married at Danbury to Miss Grace Agnes Croal, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who came to America at the age of thirteen with her parents, David and Agnes (Kay) Croal. Two children have blessed this union: Marie Louisa. born August 3, 1876, and married June 20, 1894, at Danbury, to Francis T. Bene-

dict; and Stephen Legrand, born in New Fair- field August 3, 1876, who resides with his parents at Danbury.

On the maternal side Judge Hopkins is des- cended from Thomas Sherwood, of "Sherwood Forest," England, who was born in 1586 and died at Fairfield, this county, in October, 1655. He came from Ipswich, England, in April, 1634, in the ship " Francis," with his wife, Alice, and four children, Ann, Rose, Thomas (2), and Re- becca. According to Mrs. Schenk's . History of Fairfield County," Vol. 1, page 307, he is first heard of after his landing as a resident of Mass- achusetts, but he was in Fairfield county as early as 1645. He is mentioned in the first vol- ume of the Colonial Records as having bought land in Fairfield county in 1653. By his first wife, Alice, he had eight children, and by his second, Mary, he had four, the names of all be- ing as follows: Jane Thomasine, Margaret Sarah, Hannah, Rose, Thomas, Rebecca, Stephen, Mat- thew, Mary, Ruth, Abigail and Isaac.

II. Thomas (2) was born in England in 1624, and died at Fairfield, this county, in 1697. He was the first miller on Mill run, at that place. He was married four times, his first wife being a daughter of Thomas and Annie Wheeler; his sec- ond was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Turney; his third was the widow of John Cable, Jr .; and his fourth was the widow of Peter Col- by, and the daughter of Humphrey Hide. [See American Ancestry, Vol. 5, for 1890.]

Il. Isaac Sherwood, youngest son of Thomas (1), married Elizabeth Jackson, daughter of John Jackson, and had a son, David. III. David married Sarah Meeker, daughter of John Meeker, and had a son, Abel. IV. Abel was born De- cember 20, 1720, and was married on January 1, 1749 or 1750, to Hannah Fountain, who was born April 2, 1729, a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Fountain. Abel served as a soldier in the French and Indian war under General Mont- gomery, and is said to have caught the latter in his arms when shot. He entered the service April 12, 1761, as a member of the Sixth Com- pany Second Regiment, from Connecticut, which was mustered in at Horseneck, this county, in that year, and consisted of one hundred men. He served twelve weeks and two days, and hav- ing received a serious wound was discharged on September 28, 1761, and died in November fol- lowing from the effects of his injuries. His pay for his period of service was 12 shillings, 10 pence, and I farthing, according to the pay rolls preserved in the State capitol at Hartford. He had three daughters and one son, Abel.

V. Abel Sherwood, son of Abel and Han-

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nah, was also a soldier, and during the Revolu- tionary war he enlisted three times. He mar- ried Keziah Hodge, and had seven children, who lived to maturity, married, and left descendants. VI. Abel Montgomery Sherwood, son of Abel and Keziah, was named in honor of General Montgomery, under whom his grandfather fought. He was born May 26, 1777, and died April 12, 1866. His first wife, Betsey (Disbrow). died in 1828, and in 1829 he married Clarissa Knox. By the first union he had four children: Ran- som W., Harriet, Amanda, and Louisa, wife of Hiram S. Hopkins, mentioned above, and mother of Judge Hopkins. By his second marriage, Abel M. Sherwood had one son, who was named after him.

C HARLES F. OSBORN, whose death, on | February 25. 1897, is still fresh in the minds | er of his life in its enjoyment. On March 23. of his fellow citizens of Norwalk, where he lived | 1841, Charles F. Osborn was married to Miss in retirement for a number of years previous, ! Caroline Kellogg, of Norwalk, who died April 1, 1864. leaving no issue. On April 19. 1865. Mr. Osborn was again married, his second wife being Mrs. C. A. Maybury, formerly Miss Har- riet E. Smith, a daughter of Stephen Smith, of Norwalk. One child, Clarence F., blessed this union. was one of the most esteemed residents of that place. On October 13, 1814, there died in Nor- walk Jacob Osborn, who had long been prom- inent in the affairs of the town. For years he taught the village school, and by precept and example inculcated lessons of industry and mor- ality. He also served as town clerk, and in many ways showed his interest in municipal affairs. His wife in her maidenhood was Betsey Jarvis, and they became the parents of Lewis. Frederick, Maria, William, Charles (mentioned in full later on), George (1), George (2), and Eliza. The family were faithful members of the Established Church.

Charles Osborn was born in Norwalk, in 1792, and in 1807, after acquiring such educa- tion as might be obtained in the common schools, he went to New York, where he served his time in the jewelry business, following it as a means of livelihood until 1820, in which year he em- barked in the real-estate business. He rapidly advanced to the front rank, becoming agent for such men as Gen. S. Van Rensselaer, Gen. Mor- gan Lewis, John Jacob Astor, etc. In 1841 Mr. Osborn laid aside business cares, and returning to Norwalk passed the remainder of his life in close retirement. Of a naturally reserved dispo- sition, he took but little part in any affairs that would render him at all conspicuous. Courteous and manly in bearing, and strictly honorable in all his dealings. he was held in the greatest re- spect by all who knew him. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Huldah Jarvis, daughter of Noah Jarvis, who was of French and English extraction, and six children were

born to them: (1) Elizabeth married Aaron Hard- man, and both are now deceased. (2) Charles F. is the subject proper of this sketch. (3) Maria and (4) Julia both died in infancy. (5) Frances married Charles H. Jennings, of Ridgefield. (6) George, deceased, was at one time in the real- estate business in New York City. The father of this family died in March, 1869, long pre- ceded to the grave by his noble wife, who passed away September 18, 1827.

Charles F. Osborn was born September 28, 1818, in New York City, remaining there until 1850, when he joined his father at Norwalk. Like his father he engaged in the real-estate business, and held the confidence and esteem of the same wealthy element in New York, where his business was as extensive as that of any agent in Gotham. Having acquired a fortune largely of his own ac- cumulation, he, too, desired to pass the remaind-

In politics Mr. Osborn was first a Whig, but he became an independent voter, casting his bal- lot for the men and measures that, in his judg- ment, seemed best calculated to promote the general welfare. For many years he served as trustee of the Savings Bank, and he was a man whose advice in matters of finance was much sought. He was actively interested in the Epis- copal Church, to which the family have belonged for generations, for many years serving as treas- urer and vestryman. and he was one of the trus- tees in support of the Diocese of Connecticut. His closing years were passed quietly, his private affairs taking up all the time he cared to give 10 business, and the major portion of his days bt- ing passed in the enjoyment of the luxuries sup- plied by his abundant wealth. His generosity to those less fortunate than himself, his ready help to those deserving, made him one of the best loved men in the town.

R EV. RICHARD EDWARD SHORTELL was born July 23. 1860, in Ansonia, Conn., and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of County Kilkenny. Ireland. It is supposed that the first of the name came into Ireland under "Strongbow," in 1170, from the Welch marches. The family gained wealth and influence, but were

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deprived of both by Cromwell, because of their reluctance to give up their Catholic faith.

Richard Shortell, grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in County Kilkenny, and enjoyed much popularity and respect in his neighborhood. He was a man of considerable education, and by reason of his many sterling qualities was honored with various positions of trust, which he filled in a highly creditable manner. He married a Miss Kennedy, by whom he had four sons-Edward, Columb, Robert and John-and the entire family came to America and settled in Ansonia, Conn. The sons, Columb and John, enlisted on the Union side in the Civil war and served through- out the struggle.

Edward Shortell was born in County Kil- kenny, Ireland, came to America with his parents, and became an iron-roller by occupation, work- ing in the Iron & Steel Works at Birmingham, Conn .; he continued at this until his death, which occurred about 1869. He wedded Bridget Ca- hill, daughter of Michael and Margaret Cahill, and this union was blessed with five children, namely: Richard Edward; Mary; Margaret M., who is married to John Dunn, of Derby; Julia V., unmarried, who is a teacher; and James, who is a druggist in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Richard Edward Shortell received a good pre- liminary education in the public schools of An- sonia and Birmingham, completing the course in the Birmingham High School in 1879. The same year he entered Niagara University, at Niagara, N. Y., where he graduated in 1882, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts, receiving that of Master of Arts from the same institution in 1884. Father Shortell's theological training was received at Niagara Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, where he was ordained priest in 1886, after thorough preparation for his calling. He is known as one of the best informed of the younger men in the Church. After his ordination he was stationed at Norwich, Conn., as assistant in St. Patrick's Church, where he served four years, at the end of that time being transferred to St. Augustine's Church, in Bridgeport, and continuing there for sixteen months. For the eighteen months fol- lowing he was assistant in St. Peter's Church, at Danbury, finally, on May 30, 1893, taking charge as pastor of the Church at Ridgefield, where he has remained ever since. He has made an excellent record in this, his first charge, and has won a warm place for himself in the hearts of his people as an untiring. devoted worker. Since his advent in Ridgefield he bought the land, built the rectory, and has finished a handsome new church, which is one of the finest in this part of Connecticut. In addition to his duties in

Ridgefield he has undertaken the care of the mission at Georgetown, which he attends each Sunday. Father Shortell, though still a young man, is considered one of the most efficient priests in the Hartford Diocese, which is under Bishop Tierney. His influence in Ridgefield has been strong and beneficial, and he has given his help in many matters for the welfare and ad- vancement of the town. As a public speaker he is in great demand, and his eloquence and earnestness have made him very popular in this respect. Father Shortell interests himself in politics and political affairs only so far as they affect the moral life of the community.

E FNOCH KNAPP (deceased). "Our fore- fathers," writes a well-known author, * still live among us in the records of their lives as well as in the acts they have done, which live also. Whoever has left behind him a record of a noble life has bequeathed to posterity an enduring ! source of good." The quiet yet useful career of this honored resident of New Fairfield, who passed away December 2, 1887, should be held in lasting remembrance, and it is most appro- priate that the following outline of his history should find preservation in this volume.

The Knapp family is of German origin, the immediate ancestors of our subject coming to this country in the early part of the eighteenth I century. Jonathan Knapp, his grandfather, was born May 16, 1730, in Greenwich, Fairfield county, and engaged in farming in that locality. He married Miss Eunice Peck, daughter of Theophilus Peck, and they had twelve children, whose names, with dates of birth, are as follows: Eunice, February 12, 1755; Mary, November 6, 1756; Shubal, November 21, 1757; Joshua, Jan- uary 6, 1761; Sarah, June 5. 1763; Isaac, Au- gust 13, 1764; Rachel, October 31, 1765; Sam- uel; Benjamin, January 1, 1772; Reuben, March 16, 1774; Enoch, October 8, 1776; and Jared, March 15, 1779.

Dr. Isaac Knapp, the father of our subject. was a native of Greenwich, and at the age of twenty-five became a citizen of New Fairfield, being the first physician to locate there. He gained a wide reputation by his success in treat- ing malarial fevers, which were then prevalent in this section, and was regarded as one of the lead- ing members of the profession. His death oc- curred in 1838. He was married in New Fair- field to Miss Amy Brush, daughter of Amos and Hannah Brush, and eight children were born of this union, the names and dates of birth being as follows: Theresa, February 16, 1790; Isaac, July

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12, 1801; Sally. September 7, 1803; Enoch, May 21, 1805; one who died in infancy; Ezra, August 19, 1816; David, June 13, 1820; and and Euphemia, February 20, 1823.

Enoch Knapp acquired his education mainly in the schools of his native town of New Fair- field, and spent one term in the study of higher branches in the academy at New Canaan, this county .. He engaged in farming and cattle raising, in which he was very successful, and for many years he was a leading spirit in the various progressive movements in his locality. In 1835 he became a member of the Congregational Church at New Fairfield, and throughout life re- mained a faithful worker in that Society, serving as deacon for many years. He was a member of the Board of Foreign and Home Missions, to which he always contributed generously, and he was equally liberal in relieving the temporal needs of the poor around him. He also delighted in helping young men to get a start in business, and many successful men of Danbury and other places are ready to acknowledge the value of his timely assistance. In politics he was a strong Republican, and for some years he held office as justice of the peace and as selectman of the town of New Fairfield. In the old "training day's " he took a great interest in the militia, serving as a major, and later he was appointed lieutenant- colonel, but he never was in active duty in a time of war. In 1838 he married Miss Rachel A. Barnum, daughter of Deacon Seeley Barnum, a prosperous farmer of the town of New Fairfield, and a granddaughter of Deacon Ephraim Barnum, of Bethel, this county. Mrs. Knapp's mother, whose maiden name was Louisa Rogers, was a daughter of Rev. Medad Rogers, who preached for nearly half a century in the Congregational Church at New Fairfield.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 240

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