Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 250

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

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retired in Pleasantville. By industry and good management he made agriculture more profitable than the ordinary farmer finds it, and acquired a

John Fitzgerald, father of our subject, was a competence which enables him to spend his later : farmer in Ireland, as were his immediate ances- years in comfort and ease. Mr. and Mrs. Water- bury reared a family of five children: George tors, and he and his wife Elizabeth (Michael) both died there. They had a family of nine I., who is a resident of De Kalb county, Ill .; I children, all of whom are now deceased except Charles: Harvey C., who is a clerk in the post two: Michael (our subject), and John, who is in the trucking business in Bridgeport. office department at Washington, D. C .; Mary F., Mrs. Charles Lawyer, of Pleasantville, N. Y .; and John A., also of Pleasantville. The parents hold membership with the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Waterbury has held office; he is a Re- publican in political sentiment.

Charles Waterbury was born October 27, 1861, in Pierceville, Ill., and received his edu-

M MICHAEL FITZGERALD, for the past twenty-eight years a resident of Bridgeport, ! tions, is a native of Ireland, born March 17, 1852, in County Limerick.

Our subject received his education at the schools of his native parish, and assisted his father on the farm until he was seventeen years old, at which time he came to the United States, where he found employment in New York, Brook- lyn, and Ansonia, Conn., respectively, until 1871, in that year coming to Bridgeport. Here he

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first worked for J. D. Albert, as a machinist, remaining five years, after which he was in the employ of the city corporation, paving and flag- ging the streets, some eighteen or nineteen years. In the meantime in May, 1886, he embarked in his present liquor business at No. 79 Lexington avenue.

Mr. Fitzgerald married Miss Alice Hayes, who was born in Limerick, Ireland, and is now deceased. For his second wife our subject wedded Miss Kate Rowe, a native of Bridgeport, Conn., and a daughter of Michael Rowe, who came from Ireland some years ago. Two child- ren blessed this union: Lizzie, and one that died in infancy. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald are members of the Roman Catholic Church; socially he has been affiliated with the Ancient Order of Hibernians for many years: in politics he is a stanch Democrat, and he takes an active interest in all that pertains to the wel- fare of his adopted city and county.

F FREDERICK B. BANKS, a well-known farmer of the town of Weston. was born February 22, 1855, in the town of Fairfield. Fair- field Co .. Conn., and received his education in the district schools of the locality. Learning the trade of carpenter he has for many years worked at same in connection with agricultural pursuits, which he follows on the farm his wife inherited from her father.

On June 16, 1887, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Coley, who was born June 16, 1862, daughter of Burr B. and Eliza- beth B. (Tompkins) Coley, prosperous and highly respectable farming people of Weston. Three children were born of this union, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Anna L., De- cember 25, 1888; Willis B., August 6, 1892; and Florence C., February 9, 1895. Mr. Banks is not a member of any religious denomination, but he regularly attends the services of the Norfield Congregational Church. In politics he is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office.

Noah Banks, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Fairfield, and followed farm- ing throughout life. He married Miss Sallie Gould, and by her had five children: Benjamin, married to Betsey Smith; Abram, married to Sarah Goodsell: Seymour, who married Sarah Banks; Simeon (twin of Seymour,) a sketch of whom follows: and Mary A., wife of Hezekiah Meeker.

Simeon Banks, father of our subject, was al- so a native of the town of Fairfield, born De-

cember 25. 1821, received his education at the district schools, and learned the trade of shoe- maker, following same for a time. His chief occupation, however, was agriculture, in which he engaged extensively. Simeon Banks was thrice married, first to Mrs. Sarah Banks, widow of his twin brother, Seymour, and one child, Sarah (Mrs. Wilson), came of this union. After the death of his wife, Mr. Banks married Miss Sarah Burr, daughter of Alfred and Julia (Ray- mond) Burr, and there was also one child by that union, Frederick B., our subject. For his third wife Simeon Banks wedded her sister Harriet Burr, and the children born to this union were: Georgiana; Mamie, wife of Allen Jennings; Arthur, and Charles. The father of this family was an ardent Democrat in his political prefer- ences, and in religious faith was a member of the Congregational Church.

Eliphalet Coley, grandfather of Mrs. Frederick B. Banks, was born in Weston, Fairfield county. August 15, 1746. and died November 12, 1812. Farming was his life vocation, but for many years he kept a general store near the present home of our subject. He married Eunice -, who was born July 22. 1752. and children as follows were born to them: Demmon, who married (first) Henry Nichols. and (second) Harry Finch: Burr B., mention of whom follows; Bradley, un- married; and Wakeman, married to Anna A. Sanford.

Burr B. Coley, father of Mrs. Frederick B. Banks, was born in the town of Weston, Fair- field county, in 1816. and was a lifelong farmer. In his political predilections he was a loyal Demo- crat, and in religion he was a regular attendant of the Congregational Church. He married Elizabeth B. Tompkins, who was born February 16, 1827, a daughter of John Tompkins, and their only child, Mary E., is the wife of our sub- ject.

John Tompkins was born October 23, 1776, and died June 3. 1842. On April 16, 1806, he married Miss Hannah Dean, who was born Octo- ber 31, 1784, and died October 20, 1839, and children as follows were born to them. Mar- garet M., born November 23, 1806, never mar- ried; Elijah D., born October 21, 1808, married Ann Miller; Sally A., born October 4, 1810, mai- ried Thomas Miller: Katherine M., born January 28, 1813, married Uriah Perry; John, born August 28, 1815. married Ann Miller; James, born Octo- ber 3, 1817, died unmarried; Nancy, born Novem- ber 1, 1820, died unmarried; Deborah, born November 11, 1823, died February 27, 1832; Elizabeth B., married Burr B. Coley and died in December, 1888.

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J OHN MO DEVIT. the popular proprietor of the " Waverly H tel." at Shappan Point, 1

Fairfield Co., Conn., is a native of England. born October 31, 185%, at Hexham, in the County of Northumberland

Witham Me Devit, his father, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, came to this country, and passed his later days at Stanford. Conn , where he died in lagd. He was engaged in the liquor business.

Our subject was brought up in Glasgow, where at the age of sixteen years he entered the employ of the Anchor Line of Steamers, running from that city to New York. After four years of this work be located in New York City, engaging in the barber business, which he continued for - ten years, part of the time in Stamford, Conn .. whither be removed in 1884. For some time he conducted a salon there, in Pacific avenue, and then for a period of four and one-half years owned and conducted the ". Grand I'mon Hotel." at the end of that time erecting the .. Waverly Hotel." at Ship pan Point, which he still carries on. He has also been the proprietor for a num- ber of years of a liquor business located at the corner of Canal street and Pacific avenue, and he enjoys a comfortable income from these sources. judicious management and careful oversight of the details of his business affairs working together for his prosperity.

- Mr McDovit was married in New York City. to Miss Mclachlan, a native of Glasgow, Scot- land, and they have two children: William, and Marguerite Norma. Fraternally, our subject is . a member of Lodge No. 990. Royal Arcanum.

P ATRICK BLE. a well known citizen of Bridgeport, is a native of that city, born January 8, 1854. a son of John and Mary (Neid) Bce.

John Bee was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and on coming to this country settled in Bridgeport. His family consisted of five children, - as follows: John (deceased) was in the grocery . dist Church of Wilton, Conn., of which he has business for many years in Bridgeport; Michael also died in that city; Margaret was married (first) to Patrick Calahan, and (second) to Peter Dority, of Bridgeport; Patrick, our subject, is the next in order of birth; Delia married Patrick Clancy, of Bridgeport.

Patrick Bee, whose name opens this sketch, after leaving school commenced learning the ! trade of brass molder, which he followed in his native city about twenty years. In 1890 he com- menced the liquor business which he is still con- ducting at No. 983 Main street, and has always ,

enjoyed a good trade. On June 12, 18;7. Mr. Bee was married to Miss Mary Keenan, of Bridge- port, whose father was killed while serving in the Civil war. To this union were born five children: Anna. Amanda, Alice, Kittie (1) (deceased), and Kittie 12'. The mother died January 6, 1890, and in October, 1893, our subject wedded Ellen Kelley, by whom he has one child.

In his political preferences Mr. Bee is a Dem- ocrat: socially, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus; in religious faith he is a Roman Catholic. Possessed of a jovial, genial disposi- tion, he makes friends wherever he goes, and in both business and social circles occupies an en- viable position.

- - - - - 1 W TILLIAM B. SMITH was born in South Salem, Westchester Co., N. Y .. Decem- ber 4. 1822. and received his early education in Wilton. Georgetown, and other places. After leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. which he has followed the greater part of his life in Connecticut, and a great many buildings in the vicinity of his home are the work of his hand and his genius. However. he did - not wholly depend on his trade for a living. for - he purchased a farm which he conducted some - thirty years. At the breaking out of the war of - the Rebellion he enlisted in Company E, Twenty- third Conn. Vol. Inf., in which he served his country faithfully for a period of nine months. During the early part of his life he was a Whig in politics, but upon the organization of the Re- publican party in 1854 he became a Republican, and has since for the greater part of the time adhered to that party, though at the present time he is an ardent supporter of the principles of the ----- Prohibitionists. He was elected by the Demo- cratic party as selectman of the town of Weston, serving one term in that office to the satisfaction I of all concerned. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge at Ridgefield, and in re- ligious connection he is a member of the Metho- served as steward and trustee.

Mr. Smith married Miss Jane A. Sturges, daughter of John R. and Fannie (Hull) Sturges, , prosperous farmers of Weston, and to this mar- riage came three children, all now deceased, viz. : Sarah A., born June 27. 1854. married Wilbur Sturges; Fannie B., born July 15. 1859, married Lloyd Godfrey; and Theron, born December 22, 1861. died in infancy. After the death of his first wife Mr. Smith married again, and by this union had one child. deceased in infancy.

Samuel Smith, the grandfather of the subject

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of this sketch, was born in the town of New Canaan, Conn., and was there educated in the common schools. Throughout life he was a farmer, except during the time he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary army. He married a Miss Blatsley, by whom he had children as fol- lows: Blatsley, who married Clara Stebbins; Alfred, who married Chloe St. John; Samuel, who married a Miss Sanford; Ezra; Cyrus, who married a Miss Blatsley; Mercy, a Mrs. Ferris; Sallie, Mrs. Osborne; Abbie, Mrs. Curtis; Matilda, Mrs. Blatsley; and Mary, who remained single.

Blatsley Smith, eldest son of Samuel Smith, and father of our subject, was born in the town of New Canaan, Conn., and was educated there in the common schools. In the early part of his life he was engaged in farming, but later he car- ried on business as a general storekeeper in South Salem, N. Y., where he died at the age of forty-two years. He married Miss Clara Steb- bins, and became the father of the following named children: Mary E., who married Peter Osborne; William B., the subject of this sketch; and Clarissa, who married Orin Adams.

Robert Sturges, grandfather of Mrs. Jane A. (Sturges) Smith, was born in the town of Wes- ton, Conn., April 10, 1774, the eleventh child in a family of twelve children, as follows: Isaac, born February 25, 1754; Lyda, October 24, 1755; Abigail, September - 24, 1757; Ezekiel, November 24, 1759; Elias, April 17, 1762; Han- nah, May 15, 1764; Edward, April 14, 1766; Jabel, April 19, 1768; Daniel, April 7, 1770; Joel, March 7, 1772; Robert, April 10, 1774; and Eleazer, June 7, 1776. Robert Sturges was a manufacturer of axes and ran a sawmill, besides owning a large farm in the town of Weston. He was a most active, industrious and successful man, accumulated considerable property, and was highly esteemed by all his neighbors and friends.

He and his wife had the following children: Eliphalet, who married twice, first, Eunice An- drews, and, second, Sallie A. Davis; Abbie, who married a Mr. Morehouse; Rachel, who married Isaac Lockwood; and John, who married Fan- nie Hull. John Sturges, father of Mrs. Jane A. Smith, was born June 8, 1798, and died May 31, 1874. Having received his education in the common schools of his native town, he engaged in farming for the rest of his life. Politically, he was a strong Democrat, and he was honored with successive elections to the Legislature of his State, also served as selectman many terms, and was justice of the peace. His character was eminently respectable, and he was highly es- teemed by his neighbors and friends throughout

his life. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he was one of the leading men. On February 11, 1823, Mr. Sturges married Miss Fannie Hull, daughter of Aaron and Betsey (Fanton) Hull, the former of whom was a farmer of Weston. Fannie Hull, was born December 10, 1804, and died August 8, 1876. The children born to this marriage were as follows: Louisa, who married William B. Smith; Jane A., who also married William B. Smith; Mary E., who married John B. Coley; and . Frederick, Lydia, Adele, Elizabeth and Electa A., all of whom died young.

H ON. MICHAEL KENEALY, a prominent member of the Fairfield County Bar, ex- member of the General Assembly, and one of the leading citizens of Stamford, was born in that city July 8, 1855.

John Kenealy, his father, a native of Ireland, born at Waterford, came to the United States when a young man, and in about 1845 located in Stamford, where he engaged in the grocery trade, and became actively identified with the business interests of the place. Here he married Johannah Fitzgerald, a native of Ireland, and to their union were born children as follows: James, who is in the Signal Service at Duluth, Minn .; Michael, our subject; and Mrs. Mary O'Brien, a widow. The father died at Stamford in 1893. The mother still survives.

Michael Kenealy received the basis of his education in the public schools of Stamford. He clerked in his father's store in boyhood, and while thus employed learned business methods, gained information by general reading, and at the same time began the study of law. Later he continued his law studies in the office of Olmstead & Sco- field, and in 1876 was admitted to the Bar at Bridgeport. He at once began the practice of law in his native city and county, and has here continued ever since. In his professional career he has never had a law partner, but has been alone from the very outset; however, from 1880 to 1893, he and the Hon. E. L. Scofield occu- pied an office jointly. Ambitious, of studious habits, and full of vim and energy. young Kenealy soon rose in his profession. His ability was recognized in his election to the office of prose- cuting attorney for the city, which he creditably and very acceptably filled for several years. In the fall of 1896 he was honored by an election to the General Assembly of the State, and while a member of this body served on a number of important committees, acting as chairman on Ju- dicial Nominations and as a member of the

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Judiciary committee. Mr. Kenealy is not only a lawyer of ability, but he is a man of rare judg- ment in business affairs, rendering opinions sound and of weight. Socially, he stands high in the community and wherever he is known. He is a member of the Knickerbocker Club of New York City; of the Connecticut Bar Association; of the Suburban Club; of the Business Men's Club, and of the Corinthian Yacht Club. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Kenealy married Miss Lizzie A. Fagan, and four children have blessed their home, name- ly: Edward, Matthew, James and Elizabeth. The family are members of St. John's Parish Roman Catholic Church, of Stamford.

D R. WILLIAM J. RIDER, the oldest dentist in Danbury, and one of the leaders in his profession in this section, has an interesting genealogical record, his lineage being traced back to one of the devoted band of pilgrims that landed at Plymouth Rock.

John Rider, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, was born near Chatham Four Corners, N. Y., and his son John, the Doctor's grandfather, was a native of Putnam county, N. Y .; he settled at Danbury, where he cultivated a farm and was also engaged in contracting and building. He married Miss Mary Jarvis, a native of Danbury, and a niece of Bishop Jarvis of New York State, and nine children were born to them: John, Ralph, Stephen, Charles, George, William H., Hannah, Rachel and Mary.

William H. Rider, the Doctor's father, was born in 1798 in Danbury, where he made his home throughout life, dying there in 1854. He was a prosperous carpenter and builder, a man of intelligence and standing, and in politics affil- iated with the Whig party. His wife, Adelia (Howes), was a descendant of an old English family, and was born in the town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y .. the daughter of Moody Howes. Our subject was the youngest of the four children born to this union, the others being Frances, and Lewis and Henry, both deceased.

Doctor Rider was born at Danbury in March, 1827, and there his life has been spent. The schools of that place have always been noted for their efficiency, and he availed himself of the op- portunity which they afforded, completing a course in the academy, from which he graduated. He then entered the office of William B. Hurd, a successful dentist, with whom he spent some years, learning all the details of the work, and in 1848 he established an independent practice

which he has ever since continued with undi- minished success. He has won a wide reputa- tion for skill and ability, and is now one of the dental commissioners for the State of Connecti -. cut, and a leading member of the Connecticut State Dental Society, of which he has been pres- ident for three terms. He is interested in several business enterprises at Danbury, is vice-president of the Union Savings Bank, and was one of the incorporators of the Danbury Savings Bank. In politics he is a Republican.

In 1852 Doctor Rider married Miss Elibia F. Fry. a daughter of Deacon John Fry, and a member of one of the old families of Danbury. Six children have blessed this union: Ella, William H., Katie B., Charles, Sarah and Mary, all of whom are living. The Doctor and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, and have always been prominent in its various lines of work. He is also identified with many philan- thropic movements, and is now acting as the president of the Children's Home.

M MICHAEL J. ROWE, M. D., one of the able young physicians of Bridgeport, has found that, for him, the best field of effort is among the people who have known him from childhood, and whose confidence is based on the intimate knowledge of his sterling qualities of mind and heart.

Doctor Rowe was born in Bridgeport, Sep- tember 10, 1866, son of Michael Rowe, a native of County Westmeath, Ireland. His father was a carriage blacksmith by occupation, came to America in early manhood, and was married here to Miss Catherine Gill, also a native of West- meath. He died in 1893; the mother yet sur- vives him, and of their eight children six are still living: Annie married (first) Thomas Kee- gan, and after his decease wedded James Payden, formerly of Wallingford, now of Bridgeport; John is in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company; Cather- ine married Michael Fitzgerald; Michael J., our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Edward is a member of the Second Light Artillery, N. Y. Regulars, and went to Santiago during the late war with Spain; William is at home; James is deceased; and the youngest child died in infancy, unnamed.

Our subject was reared in Bridgeport, where he attended the Washington street school, and the city high school. In September, 1884, he entered St. Charles College, in Baltimore, Md., where he remained four years, and on leaving that institution he spent a year as clerk in a

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drug store in Bridgeport, owned by L. F. Curtis. He then received a diploma as an efficient phar- macist, and, going to Hartford, he was employed by M. Greenbaum and, later, by another drug- gist. He then entered the Medical Department of the University of New York, remaining two years, and in 1896 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, with the degree of M. D. For one year he practiced in Hartford, and then located in Bridgeport, where his talents and skill have found a promising opening. He is a valued mem- ber of the Bridgeport Medical Society and the Fairfield County Medical Society, and of the Hartford Pharmaceutical Society, while he is also identified with numerous social organiza- tions, including the Foresters of America.

On January 11, 1893, Doctor Rowe married Miss Mary E. Twigg, a native of New York, and a daughter of John Twigg, who was born in this country. The Doctor and his wife are lead- ing members of the Catholic Church in Bridge- port. and are much esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. While he does not take an active part in political affairs, he is keenly inter- ested in public questions, and is an ardent Dem- ocrat.

G ILBERT SPAULDING is a prominent real- estate dealer of Stamford, where he has made his home for almost forty years, honored as one of the best citizens of that thriving little city. He is a native of Connecticut, having been born July 3, 1821, at Eastford, Windham county, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of New England, being a grandson of Ephraim Spaulding, who was a lifelong resident of Windham county, and a son of Dua Spaulding, also a native of Eastford, who passed the eighty- seven years of his life in the house where he was born. Dua Spaulding married Marcy Warren. He was a farmer by occupation.

Gilbert Spaulding commenced school at East- ford, where he received his rudimentary educa- tion, and later was a pupil at different institutions of recognized standing, attending the school at Hollister, Conn., conducted by Gardiner Rice (who was the father of Dr. Watson E. Rice, of Stamford), and the academy in the town of Ash- ford, Conn., taught by Rev. E. B. Huntington, who subsequently came to Stamford and was the author of the history of that place. During his early manhood Mr. Spaulding taught music, for which he possesses considerable talent, giving lessons on the violin and in singing until 1843, when he went to Worcester, Mass., and embarked

on a commercial career. He carried on a grocery business in that town for seven years, and for another seven years acted as agent for the five roads at Worcester Junction, after which, for one year, he was employed in a bank at Providence, R. I. Following this he was engaged two years in New York City as agent for the Atlantic Glass Company, and on August 15, 1860, he came to Stamford to live, making his home on Prospect avenue, where he has ever since resided. For the past thirty years he has dealt in real estate, handling Stamford and New York City property. and he has made a number of important trans- actions during this time.

Mr. Spaulding was married, at Eastford, Conn .. to Mary Rose Ripley, whose father was a Congregational clergyman, and they have had one daughter. Rosalie B. Miss Spaulding is a talented musician, and she is an active Church worker, having served for seventeen years as superintendent of the primary department of the Sunday-school of the Stamford Congregational Church, to which she and her parents belong. Mr. Spaulding is a Republican in political pref- erence.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 250

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