Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 253

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

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A. De Wayne.

| in Hopkinton, R. I., and was brought up in his native State. His early schooling he received at Rockville. R. l., and when fourteen years old he en- tered the East Greenwich (R. I.) Academy, from which institution he graduated, following this with a classical course at Alfred University, Alfred, N. Y., where he graduated with the class 1 of '87. During the period between his academ- | ical and college courses he taught district school

Oscar L. Burdick was born October 14, 1866, I various offices of honor and trust, as assessor,

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justice of the peace, member of the board of re- lief and of the school board, and others. Socially, he is a member and secretary of the Grange at Weston, and in religious faith he is identified with the Norfield Congregational Church of Weston, of which he is clerk, assistant superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school, and member of the choir.

In 1885 Mr. Godfrey wedded Miss Mary E. Hoyt, who was born at Ridgefield, Conn., Octo- ber 10, 1856, a daughter of Edwin Smith and Mary G. (Keeler) Hoyt. They have no children.

Samuel Coley, one of the earliest ancestors of our subject on his mother's side, was born and leared in England, and thence emigrated to the United States, locating at first, in 1631, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony; from there he re- moved, in 1637, to Milford, Conn., along with Jehu and John Burr, Lieut. Robert Seeley, and others. Some finally settled in Fairfield, Conn., and there the descendants of Samuel Coley the emigrant are to be found. In 1640 he married Ann Prudden, daughter of James Prudden, brother to Rev. Peter Prudden, who came to Connecticut from Herefordshire, England. The children of this union were: Peter, who married Sarah H. Hyde; Abilene, wife of Japhet Chapin; Samuel; Sarah (Mrs. Baldwin); and Mary, who married (first) Peter Simpson and (second) John Stream.

Samuel Coley, Jr., son of Samuel the emi- grant, was baptized in February, 1646, married Mary Carter in 1669, and had issue: Daniel, Esther, Samuel and Mary (twins), John, Abigail and Annie.

John Coley, son of Samuel, Jr., married, January 22, 1728, Mercy Gregory, daughter of Benjamin Gregory, and their children were: Mary, born August 13, 1732, married John Dike- man; Lois, born June 17, 1736, married Jonathan Taylor, of Norwalk; John, Jr., born December 31, 1738, married Anna Ogden; Hezekiah, born April 23, 1742, married Sarah Morehouse; and Eliphalet, born August 3, 1746, married Eunice Bradley, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Bradley, of Deerfield Hill. The children of Eliphalet and Eunice Coley were: Ruhamah, born October 8, 1770, married Samuel Coley; Eliphalet, born December 9, 1773, married Priscilla Bradley; and Mary. born September 20, 1777, married Silliman Fanton (she was the maternal grand- mother of Vanderbilt Godfrey, our subject).

Silliman Fanton, mentioned above, was born June 24, 1777, in the town of Weston, Fairfield county, and from early life followed agricultural pursuits. By his marriage with Mary Coley he had children as follows: Eunice, born October 21, 1799, married William Coley; Paulina, born

August 4, 1801, died young; Eliphalet C., born August 1, 1806, married Hannah Silliman; Horace, born February 14, 1808, married Katie Diamon; Pauline S., born August 3, 1817, mar- ried George Godfrey.

Levi Godfrey, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Weston, Fairfield county, and was a lifelong farmer. He married a Miss St. John, and their children were: George, a sketch of whom follows; and Eliza, who married D. S. Bartram. Grandfather Godfrey died in 1821, and his widow afterward married Stephen Partrick, by whom she had one child, Mary E., who married Charles B. Sutton, a grocer of Wilton, Fairfield county.

George Godfrey, father of our subject, was born in the town of Weston, in 1795, and learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed for a few years, the latter part of his life being de- voted to farming. He died in 1884, a lifelong Democrat, and a member of the M. E. Church of Easton. He married Miss Pauline S. Fanton, who was born in Weston, August 3, 1817, a daughter of Silliman and Mary (Coley) Fanton, and children as follows graced this union: Mary E., born August 2, 1847, married Charles B. Sutton, who was born November 17, 1846; David, mention of whom follows: Vanderbilt. our subject; and Henry H., born June 20, 1856, died young.

David Godfrey (deceased), above mentioned, was born and educated in the town of Weston, Fairfield county, and engaged in the grocery business at Wilton. He married Mary Read, and they had three children: Eva F., George R. and Annie M. David's widow married Wilbur Blakeman, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Ebenezer Hoyt, grandfather of Mrs. Vander- bilt Godfrey, was born in the town of Ridgefield, Fairfield Co., Conn., and was a lifelong farmer. In the old-time "training days" he was a cap- tain in the militia. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Ridgefield, and in poli- tics was a stanch Whig. He married Miss Theo- dosia Keeler, and they had children as follows: Edwin S. is spoken of farther on; David married Eliza Andrews; Katie married Ambrose Good- sell; Sallie married Rufus Fillow; and Almira married Isaac Pardee.

Edwin Smith Hoyt, father of Mrs. Vanderbilt Godfrey, was born in the town of Ridgefield, Fairfield county, July 30, 1818, and, like his father, followed agricultural pursuits all his days, and also served as captain in the militia during the "training days." A Republican in politics, he held some minor town offices; he was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church of Ridgefield,

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and served on the committee of same. He was twice married, first time to Mary G. Keeler, born in 1826-27, daughter of John and Eliza (Bene- dict) Keeler, farming people of Wilton, Fairfield county, and two children were born to them: Elizabeth K., who married Lewis Thomas, and has two children-Arthur Thomas and Frederick; and Mary E., Mrs. V. Godfrey. The mother dying in 1856, the father subsequently married Miss Frances J. Fanton, daughter of Horace and Keter (Diamond) Fanton, and the children of this union were: William F. and Jennie F. William F. Hoyt was born in Ridgefield, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has worked the greater part of his life. He is an ardent Republican, but has never aspired to pub- lic office of any kind. He married Edith Jen- nings. and they have had two children-Flor- ence, living, and Eva, who died in infancy.

E ADMUND H. SMITH, a prosperous carpen- ter and contractor of Fairfield, Fairfield Co .. Conn., is one of the well-known and re- spected citizens of that town, where he has made his home since 1889. Mr. Smith is a native of Connecticut, born April 14, 1850, in Bridgeport, a son of John B. and Sarah A. (Shaw) Smith, both of whom were born in England, where they were reared and married.

John B. Smith was a baker by trade, and be- sides following that vocation he engaged in the ! grocery business until his removal, in 1859, to Greenfield, Fairfield Co .. Conn., where he com- menced the milk business, which he carried on up to the time of his death. From Greenfield he removed to Holland Hill District, where he lived during the remainder of his life, dying at the age of forty-seven years. His widow still survives. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, viz .: Sarah A. (Mrs. John E. Osborn), Edmund H., Grace (Mrs. Frank Corning), Eva (Mrs. John L. Thomas), Ida (Mrs. Charles Per- kins), Frederick W. (who is a farmer at Holland Hill), Minnie (deceased in infancy), and Etta (Mrs. Oliver Piatt). Mr. Smith was a Repub- lican in political sentiment, but he took no act- ive part in public affairs. Religiously, he was a devout member of and earnest worker in the Methodist Church, in which he held various offices, serving as class-leader, leader of the choir, etc., and he took a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the Church.

Edmund H. Smith lived in the city of his birth, Bridgeport, until he was nine years old, attending the public schools there, and he re- ceived the balance of his literary training in the

district schools of Fairfield county, where in the country he grew to manhood. He lived at home until about eighteen years of age, at which time he returned to Bridgeport to learn his trade, that of carpenter, under S. Squires, who gave him fifty dollars and his board for his first year's I services. Before his apprenticeship was com- pleted, however, he was called home by the death of his father, so he took up the latter's business and conducted it for several years, until his younger brother was able to handle it success- fully; when he returned to his trade, entering the employ of Beers Bros., of Bridgeport. Later he worked with Gould Bros., and finally, after five or six years. commenced contracting on his own account. which he has continued ever since, meeting with most encouraging success. Mr. Smith has, by honest and reliable work and hon- I orable dealing with his patrons, built up a profit- able business, which is increasing yearly, and he has, by his upright life, gained the good will and esteem of all who know him, being regarded as one of the good substantial residents of the town where he makes his home.

Mr. Smith was first married to Miss Harriet A. Winton, of Easton, Conn., by whom he had one child, Walter W., who lives at home. His second wife was Miss Edith M. Judd, and to this union was also born one child, Grace E., who died in infancy. His present wife was Mrs. Char- | lotte (Underwood) Clemmens, widow of William Clemmens. Mr. Smith settled in Fairfield in 1889, and he now has a very pleasant home in the vil- lage. He is a Republican politically, and he has taken an active interest in local affairs, serving as assessor and member of the board of relief, and at present acting as foreman of the Fairfield fire department-in all these incumbencies dis- charging his duties with a faithfulness and ability which won for him the favorable opinion of all concerned. Socially, he unites with Pequonnock Lodge. I. O. O. F., and with the United Friends, both of Bridgeport. In religious connection Mrs. Smith is a member of the Episcopal Church.

J YAMES HANLEY, one of the ablest of the younger business men of Danbury, has the entire management of the business of the well- known firm of H. A. Hanley, manufacturers of stiff hats. The factory is located in Taylor's Lane, Danbury, and was formerly owned by W. H. Burns.

Mr. Hanley is a native of Danbury, born June 22, 1863. His father, John Hanley, was born in County Longford, Ireland, and, coming to Amer- ica in 1849, settled on a farm in the town of

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Danbury, where he spent his remaining years, his death occurring July 8, 1873. He was a stanch Democrat, politically, and, like all of his family, was a devout Roman Catholic. His wife, whose 1 maiden name was Shannon, was born in the town of Tipperary, Ireland. and is still living. |

Enoch, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Stratford, and there learned the They had seven children: John, a traveling ! trade of shoemaker, at which he worked some salesman in the Western States for a St. Louis | twenty-eight years for S. J. Patterson, of Bridge- firm; Thomas, who was killed in Danbury in Oc- tober, 1875, by an explosion; William, a hatter by trade, residing in Newark; James, our sub- ject, mentioned more fully below: Anna. married to William Deacon, a hatter of Danbury; Kate, and Maggie, unmarried.

The first seven years of our subject's life were spent upon the farm, but in 1870 he went to : Danbury. where he has ever since made his home. He attended the city schools up to the age of fourteen. when he entered the fur-cutting factory | Curtis married Miss Harriet Clark, who was born of P. Robinson & Co., with whom he spent : in the town of Trumbull, a daughter of Andrew three and one-half years. He then began to | Clark, a carriage maker, and three children have learn the hatter's trade with the Tweedy Man- I been born to thein: Walter S., who is station ufacturing Company, with whom he spent ten agent at Stratford for the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R .; Clara M .: and Clifford, who at this writing has just completed his schooling. years, in 1890 entering the employ of W. H. Burns, in the factory now conducted by the firm of H. A. Hanley. The change of ownership occurred June 24, 1896, and our subject's mother has the leading interest in the firm. They do an extensive business, turning out about forty dozen hats per day, and Mr. Hanley's able management entitles him to a place among the rising young manufacturers of the city.

On February 5, 1885, Mr. Hanley was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Feehan, a native of Brew- sters, Putnam Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Timothy and Ann Feehan, who are both of Irish descent. Five children have blessed this union, viz .: Anna, Stella, Timothy, Thomas and Leon- ard. Mr. Hanley and his wife are leading mem- bers of the Roman Catholic Church at Danbury, and take an interest in all the lines of work con- nected with that organization. In politics he is a Democrat.

0 TIS B. CURTIS, farmer and dealer in milk, town of Stratford, is a native of the locality, born February 2, 1842, a son of Enoch Curtis.

Judson Curtis, grandfather of our subject, was of the same nativity, and followed farming all his life. He had a family of seven children: Ashbel, Judson, Ager. Roswell, Enoch, Mary, and another daughter, whose name is not given. Of these, Ashbel, who was a shoemaker, died in the town of Stratford; Judson is a tanner in Stratford; Ager, who was also a tanner, is now deceased; Roswell, who was a merchant for many years in

Stratford, is now also deceased; Mary married Thadeus Peck, of Stratford; and the youngest daughter wedded Lewis Curtis, of the town of Stratford.

port, proprietor of a patent-leather shoe factory. | Enoch Curtis died in 1876, his wife in 1896. In I religious faith they were Methodists, while in politics he was a Republican.

Otis B. Curtis was educated in part at the public schools of the locality where he was born, i in part at Stratford Academy, after which he took up farming. In 1877 he added the milk business, and he at present has a well-paying milk route in the borough of Stratford. Mr.

The family are all identified with the Metho- dist Church. In politics Mr. Curtis is a Republi- can; socially, he is a member of the O. U. A. M. of Stratford, Pequonnock Council, No. 67. For twenty years he was connected with Company K, Connecticut National Guard, of which he was a charter member. He is a progressive, enter- prising citizen, one who does all in his power to promote the public welfare, and he is also one of the leading and representative business men of Stratford.

A LEXANDER SEMPLE. The "land of the mountain and the flood " has given to America some of her best citizens-men of en- ergy, perseverance, probity and courage; men who are ever loyal to their adopted country, sup- porting on all occasions whatever is just and right, and whatever may conduce to the benefit of the community at large. Such an one is the gentleman whose name here appears.

Mr. Semple is a native of Renfrewshire, Scot- land, born May S, 1835, a son of Alexander Sem- ple, who first saw the light April 29, 1805, in England, while his parents were visiting in that country. The father was a weaver by trade in Scotland, whence in May, 1848, he came with his family to the United States, first locating for a short time at Utica, N. Y., thence removing to Warehouse Point, Hartford Co., Conn, where he was "warper " in a woolen-mill. He married

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Janet Buchanan, born February 11, 1806, at years, at the end of which time, on account of - impaired health, he traveled abroad; also at- Kilborchan. Renfrewshire, Scotland, a daughter of James Buchanan (of the same place). and ; tended the World's Fair at Chicago. In 1893 granddaughter of James Buchanan, who was an | he came to Norwalk, Conn., to take charge of intimate friend of Robert Tannahill, the poet. ! the Union Mills, but shortly afterward the mills To this union were born children as follows: Jean married William Brown in Scotland, and I taking a well-earned repose after forty-three

closed, since when he has been living retired. years' active connection with the woolen in- dustry.

died there. Alexander is the subject of this sketch. James is a mechanic in Torrington, Conn. Annie married Charles Cooper, a manu- Mr. Semple was married to Elizabeth Wil- son, of Dracut, Mass., a native of Scotland, and they have one son. William A., now super- 1 intendent of a woolen-mill at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Semple are members of the First facturer of knit underwear at Bennington, Vt. Janet died in infancy. John enlisted, during the Civil war, in Company D, First Connecticut Squadron of Cavalry; was captured in Maryland, near Hagerstown, July 10, 1863: was confined in i Congregational Church of Norwalk; socially. he Belle Isle prison, whence he escaped by swim- I has been affiliated with the F. & A. M. thirty- ming the James river, but was run down by blood- ! five years. and is now a member of Washington hounds, recaptured and taken to Libby prison; | Commandery, at Hartford; in politics he is a 1 Republican.

thence transferred to Castie Thunder. from which dungeon he escaped by tunneling : he served three years in all, and was honorably discharged in August. 1864: on his return home he followed E ALMER E. BENNETT. one of the ener- getic young mechanics for which the thriving village of Georgetown, Fairfield county, is famed. and who is at present engaged with the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company, is a native [ of New Hampshire, born June 3, 1861. the manufacturing business at Utica. N. Y., later becoming a commercial traveler; he died unmar- ried, January 3, 18So. The mother of this fam- ! ily is yet living. The father died at Whitehouse Point. Conn., July 5. 1873. In religious faith he was an Old-school Presbyterian. and in pol- itics he was first a Whig, later a Republican. For seven years in his early manhood he served in | he was employed as a cork cutter for some time. the British army, stationed chiefly in Canada and the West Indies.

Mr. Bennett received his education at the common schools of Norwich, Conn., after which He then entered the service of the Consolidated Railroad Company of Connecticut, as brakeman, from which position he was promoted to conduc- tor. filling same until he severed his connection with that corporation. In 1892 he entered the employ of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company. in the wire-drawing department. and there he has remained ever since. For five years he served in the United States Battery of Artill- ery, stationed on Long Island. In politics Mr. Bennett is a pronounced Republican.

Alexander Semple, whose name introduces this sketch, attended school in his native country until he was thirteen years of age. at which time he came with his father to the United States, and in Utica, N. Y., worked in a woolen-mill. in his evenings, for a time, improving his mind at a night school. Early in life he had to commence learning the trade of weaver. his parents being in comparatively humble circumstances. so he had not the advantages of education he so ardently Our subject married Miss Grace S. Paulmier, who was born March 5. 1865, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Prentice) Paulmier. the I former of whom was a painter of Poughkeepsie. Dutchess Co .. N. \' .. and two children were born I to them: Georgie E .. on September 10, 188;, and Dorothy. on October 28, 1893. wished. However, he made up for such short- comings by considerable reading and observa- tion, and became a well-informed man. At Warehouse Point, Conn .. he was a " joom fixer." or " tuner." in woolen-mills, and when he moved to Windsor, Conn .. he had charge of the weaving department in a mill. From there he went to George A. Bennett. father of our subiect. was born July 25. 1823. commenced his business life 1 as a clerk in a store, and was connected with mercantile pursuits up to his death, July 12, 1803. ! In politics he was an ardent Democrat, but nei- ther sought nor accepted office. He married Miss Susan Jane (Fernside) Partridge, who was Lee. Mass .. and was overseer of the weaving de- partment of a mill; thence returned to Utica, N. \ .. and was " designer " in the Globe Mills some seven years. Removing then to Broadbrook, Hartford Co., Conn., he became general man- ager for the Broadbrook Manufacturing Com- pany, manufacturers of fine cassimeres, with | born July 2 ;. 1834. a daughter of John and Eliz- whom he remained in that capacity twenty-one : abeth (Hill' Fernside, the former a foreman in

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the finishing department of a cotton mill; Mrs. I man of much independence of thought. follow- Bennett was adopted by Reuben and Ruth Part- | ing his own judgment in politics as well as in ridge, and took their surname. Two children were | other matters, and was accordingly held in great born to George A. and Susan Jane Bennett, as follows: George S., born January 10, 1858, in Brattleboro, Vt., died at the early age of five vears; Elmer E. is the subject proper of these lines.

Jacob Bennett, grandfather of our subject, was born April 21, 1798, in Preston. Conn., and married Miss Esther Lawrence, who was born

i Mr. Evans. our subject, was born January 6, September 26, 1798, in the town of Plainfield, | 1838. at the old homestead in the town of Sher-

man, and there his education was begun. Later he attended school in New Milford, Conn., and W. was born August 27, 1825. in Griswold. i the town of Warren. this State, and at Millerton,

Conn., and their four children are as follows: George A. was the father of our subject. Dwight i Conn., and was a lifelong farmer: he had ten children, of whom five are named-Mary E., Charles, Kate, Laura, and Louisa. Laura E., born August 14. 1827. married Charles Hurlburt, and had four children-Charles, Ella, Fred, and George. Mary L., born September 18, 1830, married Dwight Roy, a farmer of Plainfield, Conn., and had four children-Frank, Eunice, and two who died in infancy.

Samuel Hill. maternal great-grandfather of our subject. was a native of England. His daughter Elizabeth married John Fernside, an Englishman, who has been employed in cotton mills, both in England and in the United States, and three children were born to them, all of whom are married.

AMES H. EVANS, a prominent agriculturist of the town of Sherman, is an honored mili- tary veteran. having been among the first to enlist in the service of the Union during the Civil war.

Mr. Evans belongs to a well-known family of Sherman, and his grandfather, Jonathan Evans, was born and reared there, and became a suc- cessful farmer of the locality. He married a resident of the same town, and they had seven children: Harvey P., our subject's father; Wil- liam. who married Miss Charlotte Gaylord; Lydia, who died unmarried; Oliver, who mar- ried Miss Harriet Hopkins; Neilson, who married Miss Fannie Kellogg; Lucy. wife of Charles Mallory: and Charles, who married Miss Eliza Radiord.

Harvey P. Evans was born in the town of Sherman, where he received a common-school education. In early manhood he engaged in the manufacture of fire brick, and for a number of years ran a brickvard at New Milford, Conn., but during the latter part of his life he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a

respect by his fellow-citizens, being honored with election to various town offices. He married Miss Esther A. Gilbert. daughter of Elijah Gil- bert, of Sandy Hook, this county, and they had I three children, of whom our subject was the youngest; Jane is unmarried, and Emily is the wife of Eli T. Potter.

Dutchess Co., N. Y. When a young man he I worked for about two years and a half at the carpenter's trade, but this occupation was inter- rupted during the first year of the war by his en- listment. On October 30, 1861, he was sworn in as a member of Company C, 13th Conn. V. I., which was assigned to the Department of the Gulf, and sent to New Orleans to join the forces under Gen. B. F. Butler. Mr. Evans took part in many important engagements in the Gulf re- ¡ gion, and was present at the siege of Port Hud- I son, remaining in the service until April 25, 1866, when he was discharged at Fort Pulaski, Ga. On coming home he engaged in farming, which he has ever since continued successfully. For more than ten years he has been a member of Post No. 14, G. A. R., at New Milford. Mr. Evans is in sympathy with any movement which tends to progress. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but he has never aspired to office.

In November, 1866, Mr. Evans married Miss Jane Spaulding, who was born in May, 1836, and was one of the fourteen children of John Spaul- ding, of Pawling, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Three children have blessed this union: Cora B., born in 1870, who has taught successfully for nine years, and is now engaged in that profession in the town of Kent, Conn .; Lewis, born in 1873. who is a farmer at East Canaan, Conn .; and Lottie, born in 1875, who lives at home.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 253

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