Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 244

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

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Fernan P. Brush, our subject's father, was i. in at tos Cob, October 2, 1830, and was edu. cated in the district schools of that locality, and in the academy at Greenwich, then conducted by Philander Button. In early manhood he as- wasted his father in the store at Cos Cob, and as the Here's of meat packing and shipping required tech of has attention he became especially famil- tar with the details of the butcher's trade. After a tame he engaged in that business in Stamford. and later returning to Cos Cob he went into partnership with his brother Amos in a general state and meat market. His last years were spent at Greenwich village, where he conducted a meat market on Greenwich avenue for some He was an excellent citizen and a suc - cessful business man, and while he was never a "eher after official positions he took keen interest in public questions, and voted the Democratic ticket regularly. His death occurred June 19. 1575. and his remains now repose in the ceme- try of the Congregational Church at Greenwich, with which he and his estimable wife united many Mais apo. He married Miss Sarah Mead, and they had tive children, as follows: Henry M. who resides in New York City; Charles M. ; Jo- seph, the subject proper of this sketch; Gertrude 1 ... who died at the age of sixteen; and Annie L., who died in 189 ;.

On the maternal side our subject is of the minth generation in America of the well-known Mead family. His mother, who is a highly re- spected resident of Greenwich, was born at Indian Fuld, and is a direct descendant of John Mead (1 , the noted pioneer, who came from England in 1642, and located in 1660 in Greenwich, where his death occurred about seven years la- te :. John Mead (2), a son of the pioneer, mar- red a Miss Potter, of Stamford, and died in 1696. Ebenezer (1,, the next in line of descent, was lern in 1663, and died about 1728, and he and his

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wife, Sarah Knapp, became the ancestors of many of the name in this section. Ebenezer (2), who married Sarah Howe, was born Octo- ber 25, 1692, and died May -, 1775. Jonas (1), born December 25, 1725. died September 14, 1785. Jonas (2), our subject's great-grandfather, who married Hannah Hibbard, was born April 13, 1784, and died August 2, 1871. Deacon Charles Mead, the grandfather of our subject, was born February 4. 1812, and died in January, 1898. He married Rachel Sackett, and among their children was Judge Whitman S. Mead, of Greenwich, whose biography appears elsewhere with a more complete account of the ancestry of this branch of the family.

Mr. Brush was but a child when his parents removed from Cos Cob, and the greater portion of his life has been spent at Greenwich. His education was begun in a private school, but la- ter he attended a public school in Greenwich.

At the age of sixteen he accepted a desira- ble position in New York City, where he re- mained about six years, returning home to take the post of teller for the Greenwich Trust & Deposit Co., which he filled satisfactorily until his resignation in 1893. Having determined to embark in his present business he organized the firm of Banks, Brush & Mead, they buying out the extensive trade of Waterbury & June, estab- lished in 1868. In 1895 the firm became Banks & Brush, the other partner retiring. The busi- ness is constantly increasing, and in 1896 the trade of another firm was absorbed. Mr. Brush's energy and shrewdness are proverbial. and his straightforward methods have won him unlimited confidence in commercial circles. Socially, he is popular, and he is an active worker in the Congregational Church at Greenwich. While not ambitious for political distinction, he is a firm supporter of Republican principles, and at one time he held the office of township auditor; he has been identified for several years with the Amogerone Fire Company of Greenwich. All movements tending to local improvement com- mand his hearty approval.

G EORGE M. BENEDICT, junior member of the well-known grocery firm of Finney & Benedict, was born in New Canaan, Fairfield Co., Conn., November 27, 1853, a son of James M. and Pha be (Mills) Benedict, the former being a shoemaker and highly respected citizen of New Canaan, and the latter a daughter of Rufus Mills, a stone mason by trade, who came of an old English family.

George M. Benedict attended the district

schools until he was fourteen years of age. On reaching that age it became necessary for him to take up the battle of life for himself. Coming to Norwalk, he was employed by the Norwalk Lock Company of South Norwalk for three years, proving himself a faithful worker, conscientious in his outlook for his employer's interests. For some time he was employed in the foundry of the Austin Parsons Co., and then for two years found employment in a hat factory. In 1875 he and William J. Finney, Jr., with remarkable foresight for such young men, saw the possibili- ties for a successful grocery business, if it were based on a solid foundation. They accordingly formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Finney & Benedict, and beginning in a small way, they established themselves firmly in the commercial world of Norwalk. The business has grown much since those days of early strug. gles, and is now one of the most extensive in that line in the county, while the proprietors are enabled by their carefully invested capital to spend some time in the enjoyments of the fruits of their business sagacity.

On September 25, 1879, George M. Benedict was united in marriage with Miss Ella Armstrong. a daughter of Isaac Armstrong, of Brooklyn, and a native of the Empire State. Two chil- dren blessed this union: Jessie and Howard Melville.

Mr. Benedict is a Republican in his political faith, and works much and faithfully for his par- ty's interests. He is public spirited and pro- gressive, keenly alive to the needs of his town, and willing to contribute liberally toward all im- provements. For twenty-two years he and Mr. Finney have faced the storms and stress of busi- ness together, and have by their fair and honor- able dealing. and upright lives, brought them- selves close to the hearts of their fellow towns- men.

TOHN G. LAUTH. As one of the leading German-born citizens of Stamford, the sub- ject of this sketch deserves prominent men- tion in this volume.

Mr. Lauth was born March 18, 1847, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and was educated in the public schools of his native place. Dur - ing his boyhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and later he was employed as a journeyman for three years in Frankfurt and other cities of the Fatherland. At the age of twenty he came to America, landing at New York City, where he remained about fifteen months, thence moving 10

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to a number of whether meinding the 1 0 01 .. ES, and Aurora I.man . Bent No. 25. at New Haven, the Order of Hatt- Fani, Fredenach Herbes Lodge, at New Haven, the New England Order of Estation. M . art Libre, and the fran Society and the Inde- pendent German Kir Conjam, both e! News Haven; the Hatapart I statafel, a stamp . . fiets, the Stanford Jern Veren, and the Stam- ford Quartette Chal

W ILLIAM H SMITH. The Branch of the Smith fans of which this well-wie wn rodent of Shorting a number, was established in Connecticut r any ware att .

Library South of . the great grandfather of and it is believed that he receded for some time in Chechite He had given s ns: h. w ... E;bram, Taux, Kav. A.d. Sylvester, Lyman and Anson, all of wh m removed to Suspe- hatna county, J'ai. in 1997. and located in the then wilderness pan having a large tract of land in what is now the fi wishing town of Franklin. Anson was killed while felling trees . years of which brought great improvement. In

in the forest. The descendants of these brothers ale new numerous, many of them residing at or bear Franklin, and on August 27. 1897. they Meld a frenk n there, our subject being one of the goods

1 ; bram Smith (2), our subject's grandfather. wast in at Cheshire, Conn .. and died Novem- but 4. 1:36, at his homestead in Franklin. He was a Wig in politics, and in religious connec- then. The the majority of the family, was a mem- Ber of the Presbyterian Church. His wife, wice naden name was Sarah Tuttle, was also a native of Connecticut. They had four chil- dien Wiam, deceased, was a farmer near Franklin, Merab married Covel Park, a farmer in the same locality: Ephraim is mentioned more 1 : My brow; and Sally married Levi Fellows, a farmer near Franklin.

I ;liam Smith (3). our subject's father, was I in at the homestead in Franklin, and his life Was sent in that neighborhood. He married Mes Mary Barnum, a native of Franklin, and the daughter of Stephen Barnum, an early set- for those, who was doubtless related to the Jared county family of that name. After his mariage our subject's father purchased a farm that the old homestead, and for many years fol- iowed agricultural pursuits, his death occuring In his later years he was a Repub- Man, and in religious faith be and his wife, who card in 1882, were devout Presbyterians. They had seven children: Frances, widow of Joseph Meinutan, a merchant of Franklin, where she how toades: Sarah, deceased, who married O. M. Hall, a farmer near Franklin; Stephen A., a Veteran of the Civil war, who is now engaged in Marang near Franklin; Lavinia M., wife of Ed- on linening, a farmer at Montrose; Elijah B., a far.er of Wayne county, Penn .; William H .. car sul rect; and Hiram F., who occupies the old in mestead.

Our subject was born September 12, 1846, at Franklin, Fenn., and remained at the old farm until he reached the age of twenty-one. He tin went to Susquehanna, Penn., to learn the j. mer's trade, which he followed about nine Wars, two years of the time being spent in this ( anty, at Birmingham, now Derby, where he is ated in 1874. In 1876 he entered the factory of the Brewster Corset Company, of that place, spending two years as cutter, and he was subse- quently promoted to the post of superintendent of the entire plant, which he held for about twenty years. In 1801 he went to California, his health having failed, and on his return six months later he sought outdoor occupation, three

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1894 he resumed his work with the Brewster Company, but his health would not permit him to continue, and on March 14, 1898, he retired. His earnings have been wisely invested, and he owns property in Shelton, which he rents. On May 3, 1877, Mr. Smith married Miss Maria R. Hinman, daughter of Charles Hinman, a promi- nent citizen of Westville, Conn. No children have been born to this union. Mr. Smith and his wife are well-liked socially. and he is a mem- ber of Ousatonic Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., at Derby. In politics he is a Republican.

M G. GELSTON. Doubtless many of our readers, in tracing their ancestral lines to a point where uncertain tradition brings their researchesto an early and unsatisfactory ending, have realized the value to future generations of this attempt to preserve in substantial form the information still obtainable concerning the gen- ealogies of our citizens, together with such ac- counts of the men of to-day as will serve to con- tinue the record for the use of posterity.

In the case of the subject of this biography, a well-known agriculturist of the town of Sherman, the line of descent is traced through six genera- tions to a citizen of Belfast, Ireland, who is sup- posed to have been wealthy and to have owned mills on the river at that city. He seems to have had a large family of sons, of whom Sam- uel was educated for the ministry, and Hugh for mercantile business, while Thomas sailed the high seas in a trading vessel owned by himself. In 1717 Samuel and Hugh came to America, lo- cating on Long Island, at Southampton. These appear to have been the only members of the family who made a permanent home in this country, but Thomas is said to have come to New York in his ship, and afterward sailed down the coast of Long Island to visit his brothers. It is believed that a nephew came at a later date and remained a short time. Rev. Samuel Gelston was for many years the pastor of the Presbyte- rian Church at Southampton, but later he resigned that charge and settled in or near Goshen, New York.

were ten children, as follows: Mary, born Jan- uary 19, 1718, died October 9, 1740; Susannah, born March 28, 1721, married Col. Josiah Smith; Maltby. born March 20, 1823, died September 22, 1783; Sarah, born March 10, 1725, died April 14, 1784; Samuel, born March 24, 1727; Jane, born April 13, 1729; Hugh, born July 19, 1730, died May 19, 1734; John, born July 17, 1732, died February 26, 1734; Thomas, born May 15, 1734, died April 1, 1752; and Hugh (2), born September 13, 1735, died December 1, 1815. By the second marriage there were three children: Chatfield, who died at an early age; Mary, who is thought to have married Elias Howell; and Jerusha (Mrs. Sanford), who died in January, 1841, at the age of ninety.

Hugh Gelston, the youngest son by the first union, was born and reared on Long Island and became a farmer by occupation. On November 17, 1763, he married Phoebe Howell, by whom he had one son, Maltby.

Rev. Maltby Gelston, our subject's grand- father, was born at the old homestead at South- ampton, July 17, 1766, and his education was begun in the local schools. At an early age he expressed a desire to enter the ministry, and having prevailed upon his father to permit him to take a course in Yale College, he matriculated there at the age of nineteen, and pursued his studies until 1791, when he was graduated. Doctor Stiles being at that time the president of the institution. He made no profession of relig- ion until 1792, when he united with the Presby- terian Church at Jamaica, Long Island. He studied theology with Rev. Jonathan . Edwards, of New Haven, and in 1794, was licensed to preach by the New Haven Association. On be- ginning his active work he preached with accep- tance in various places, including West Granville, Mass., Roxbury. Conn., and West Rupert, Vt .. and in the fall of 1796 he came to Sherman, this county, where he found the Church in a discour- aging state, many divisions having arisen. Be- lieving it to be an excellent field for work he decided to remain, and on April 26, 1797, he was installed as pastor, at a yearly salary of 100 pounds sterling, and a few cords of wood. On July 17, 1798, he married Miss Jane Bordwell. daughter of Rev. Joel Bordwell, of Kent, Conn. She died April 26, 1850, and he did not long sur- vive her, his death occurring December 15, 1856. They had seven children, of whom our subject's father, Hugh Gelston, was the eldest; Betsey, | born March 7, 1801. died February 19, 1894; Phoebe, born September 15, 1803, died April 22. 1841; Maltby, born April 30, 1805, died Febru-

Hugh Gelston, from whom our subject traces his descent, became a prosperous merchant at Southampton, and took a leading part in political movements in his locality, serving for some years as county judge, and holding various other offices in the county and State. He died December 13, 1775, aged seventy-eight years. His first wife, Mary (Maltby), died July 21, 1737, and he subsequently married Mary Pelletreau, widow of Francis Pelletreau. By the first union there | ary 9, 1893; Jane, born February 7, 1808:

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Mary, born May 30, 1812, died November 11, 1888; Mills, born August 27, 1817.

Hugh Gelston, the father of our subject, .was born December 17, 1799, in the town of Sherman, and during several years of his boyhood he at- tended the common schools of that locality, thus acquiring a good practical education. Owing to poor health he did not pursue a higher course of study, but at an early age engaged in farming. He always took a prominent part in local affairs, holding various township offices, and for long periods he served as judge of probate and clerk of the board. In political sentiment he was a Re- publican. In religions work he showed keen in- terest, and throughout his life he was a faithful member of the Church at Sherman, in which he served for many years as deacon and clerk, retain- ing both offices until old age made him too feeble to perform the duties attaching to them. His death occurred June 18, 1882. Mr. Gelston mar- ried Cornelia Gailord, daughter of David and Armida (Geddings) Gailord, a former prosperous farmer of the town of Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn. Our subject was the youngest in a family of five children, the others being Mary E., born March 27, 1829. died August 5, 1834; Jane, born November 9, 1830, who did not marry; Betsey, born March 5, 1833, who married Ferris Leach, a farmer of the town of Sherman; and Paulina W., born October 3, 1835, who married J. O. Northrop. Betsey has had five children: Mary E., born March 6, 1861, died April 4, 1883; Levi, born July 21, 1863, died in June, 1872; Maltby G., born December 26, 1865; Watson F., born March 17, 1868; and Anna, born September 22, 1873, died June 8, 1874.

The subject proper of this sketch was born February 9, 1847, at the old home in the town of Sherman, and after acquiring an elementary ed- ucation in the local schools was sent to different institutions in Bridgeport and New Milford, grad- uating from the Naples Academy. On leaving school he returned home and assisted in the work of the farm. When he was nineteen years old he met with a strange experience. While work- ing in his father's shop during a thunderstorm he was struck by lightning, the fluid entering on his left side below the shoulder blade and passing under his arm, around his chest and down his leg, where it tore his boot to pieces before proceed- ing on its way. It burned a large hole in the floor and passed downward through a wagon top on the lower story of the shop and into the ground. Mr. Gelston was unconscious for some time after the shock, and the effect upon his nerves has not vet worn off entirely, but he may consider himself fortunate to survive such an ac-

cident. Mr. Gelston has devoted his attention to agriculture, and still occupies the old homestead. In politics he is a strong Republican, but he does not aspire to office. From early manhood he has been a leading worker in the Church at Sherman, and in March, 1879, he was made a deacon, while at various times he has served as trustee, clerk and treasurer.

On February 9, 1875, Mr. Gelston married Miss Sophia Geddings, who was born June 2, 1849, the daughter of Alfred Geddings, a farmer of the same town, and his wife Mary (Picket). Three children were born of this union: Cor- nelia, born January 8, 1879; and two who died in infancy, unnamed.

W (ILLIAM J. FINNEY, JR., whose name is so familiar to the citizens of Nor- walk. as a member of the popular grocery firm of Finney & Benedict, was born in that town, Jan- uary 19, 1853.

William J. Finney, Sr., father of our subject, was also a native of Norwalk, born in 1803, a son of Charles Finney, who followed farming in Norwalk all his life, and there reared his three children: Charles, who died in early manhood; William, Sr .; and Rufus, a hatter by trade. William J. Finney, Sr., was raised on a farm, but in early life learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until his retirement from active life. He married Susan Disbrow, who was born in Norwalk, a daughter of Phineas Disbrow, who I came of a numerous and ancient family of the Colonies. Four children were born to William J. Finney, Sr., and his wife: Charles, a resident of Salem, Westchester Co., N. Y., where he fol- lows carpentering; George E., a dry-goods sales- man, and William J., Jr. The father of this family first affiliated with the Whigs, later join- ing the ranks of the "G. O. P." where he is still found. Religiously he and his family incline to the Methodist faith. Mrs. Finney died July 28, 1895.

William J. Finney, Jr., spent his early days in the pursuit of knowledge, attending the schools at Norwalk; and also a private school. Shortly after he had passed the seventeenth anniversary of his birth, he entered the shoe store of a Mr. Brown, as clerk, remaining one year, and then entering the grocery store of Gould D. Jennings, where, for three years, he studied the details of that business and acquired the practical knowl- edge that has added so materially to the manage- ment of the present firm of Finney & Benedict. In 1875 he formed the co-partnership with George M. Benedict (who is mentioned elsewhere), and

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now for twenty-two years this firm has prospered and increased in scope until it rivals any firm in similar line of business in Fairfield county, and the proprietors are rated among the most sub- stantial of men.

On October 10, 1879, Mr. Finney was mar- ried to Miss Carrie E. Vaille, a daughter of Will- iam Vaille, a native of Litchfield county. Four children have graced this union: Mable, who died at the age of three years; Arthur G. ; Myrtle, and Glenna. Mr. Finney votes the Republican ticket. and the entire family attend the Methodist Church, to which they contribute liberally. They occupy an honored social position, and their comfortable home is often thrown open to their many friends.

i 1

G EORGE I. ABBOTT has for a number of years conducted the largest flour, feed and grain business in or about Ridgefield, and occupies an enviable position among the success- ful business men of this section. He was born November 13. 1858, in Irvington, Westchester Co., New York.

Samuel Abbott, grandfather of George I. Ab- bott, was a native of Ridgefield, and was of English descent. He lived in West Lane Dis- trict, where he owned a valuable farm of 150 acres, and in addition to its cultivation was en- gaged as a cattle drover, being a heavy dealer, especially in oxen and milk cows. Capable in business and successful in all his undertakings, he was a man of some prominence in his day and locality, where he was well and favorably

known. He had a family of six children, viz .: I clerked for a time with his father, succeeding Ruth, Mrs. Seymour; Harriet, unmarried; Char- I him in the bakery business above mentioned,

ity, who became the wife of Rev. Abbott Nash; i which he carried on about four years, and after

William, who wedded a daughter of Walter | selling same he conducted a bakery in Brooklyn for Smith, and lived in Norwalk, Conn .; Mary, who ! three years. The year following he was in the married Francis Meeker, of Ridgefield; and George.

George Abbott was born at Ridgefield, and there grew to manhood. Choosing the mercan- tile business for his life work, he commenced as a clerk in New York City, returning thence to Ridgefield, where he opened the corner store now being conducted by Mr. Smith, doing a gen- | eral merchandise business. After four or five

following nine years at Yonkers, where he had an extensive trade. His health being poor, he re- turned to Ridgefield, and there from 1865 to 1875 he carried on a general merchandise busi- ness, which he sold out in the year last men- tioned to the firm of Seymour & Borhite (L. C. Seymour and Philip Borhite). His next enter- prise was the boot and shoe store and bakery, which his son took later, and which he ran until his retirement from active life in 1887. Mr. Abbott was essentially a self-made man. He was possessed of good judgment in business matters, and was decidedly successful in life, financially and other- wise. Had he desired official honors he might have had them, but he took little active interest in public affairs, and no part in politics beyond casting his vote, supporting the Republican

party. In religious connection he was a promi- i nent member of the M. E. Church, and was an I officer in same. He married Fannie S. Adams, a daughter of Stebbins Adams, of South Salem, N. \'., and they had three children-Eva T., who 1 became the wife of Dr. G. S. Kendall, a dentist 1 of South Norwalk; George I .; and Annie C., who married Henry L. Hoyt, a farmer of Ridgefield. The parents of this family are both deceased, the father passing away in July, 1895, the mother in August, 1888.

George I. Abbott received a good education. attending the district schools of Ridgefield, and Brown's private school at Cannon Station, Conn. He continued at school until about eighteen years of age, and has all his life read more or less, keeping himself especially well informed on cur- I rent events. On beginning life in earnest, he

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 244

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