Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 254

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

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 254

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TAMES B. BEDIENT, general merchant and grocer of the town of Wilton, was born there May 10, 1865, and obtained his education in the common schools. Having completed his schooling he engaged in farming up to his twenty- second year, when he established himself in the grocery and general mercantile business, which he has since conducted. He has been unusually successful from a commercial stand- i point, having from the beginning enjoyed the

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confidence of the public. From his early man- hood until within recent years he was a Demo- 1 crat, but he is now a Republican: he has never aspired to public office, though he was appointed postmaster of Wilton in 1891. In religious con- nection he is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Bedient married Miss Charlotte N. Hard. daughter of William G. and Sarah (Erwin) Hard. the former a prosperous farmer of Newtown, Conn .. and one child has come to this | brother Theodore, sewing shoes intended for trade marriage, Florence W., born December 30, 1887, who died February 3, 1896.

David Bedient, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton, was there edu- cated, and in early life became a farmer. follow- ing that calling all his life. He married Mrs. Polly Stuwart, a widow, by whom he had two I tinued to follow that occupation until 1862. when children, viz .: Harvey, born March 31. 1816,and Harriet, who married Andrew Partrick.

Harvey Bedient, father of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton, was educated there in the common schools. and, like his ancestors, became a farmer, in which occupation he was very successful. Politically he was a Democrat, served as selectman of his town for a number of years, and for a few years before his death was acting school visitor. He was a lifelong mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was steward and trustee of the Church at Wilton for a number of years. He was twice married, the second time to Miss Martha E. Sterling, who was born in 1829, daughter of Hawley and Maria Sterling. the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of the town of Wilton. They became the parents of the following children: Katie, who died young; Nellie, who married Frank Green; Lucy, who married R. B. Disbrow; Fred H., who married Electa Gregory; David F., who married Carrie James ; James B., our subject; Charles H., who married Lucy Chapman, and Carrie M., unmarried.

HOMAS C. LOUDEN, a leading butcher of Mianus, is a man whose successful struggle with adverse circumstances shows what can be done by industry and economy. Born of poor parents. he was obliged to make his way in life without any of the aids which are usually con- sidered essential to success.

trict school at North Greenwich, his school days were over before he had reached his tenth year. At the age of eleven he was hired out to Abram Watersburg, of North Castle township, West- chester county, New York, but after four or five days he ran away and returned home. as he could not stand working in the sun. His father insisted on his return, and he complied, but remained only a short time. He then took a position under his | in the South and West; it was the custom for job- bers to let out contracts to local men, of which his brother was one. Our subject soon became quite proficient at sewing, and was able to com- mand $6 per month and board. Later he worked for Clark Brundage, in the same line, and con-

he joined the Tenth Legion, from Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y .. under Colonel Van Wyck. but was rejected on account of his age.

Prior to this time Mr. Louden had become able to make a shoe. and to do knife work on twelve pairs per day. He has made women's shoes for fifteen cents per pair, manufacturing six pairs per day. and later could hold a "seat of work" and make shoes on his own account. During the panic of 1858, when times were very hard, he left Mr. Brundage, with all his earthly possessions in an old grip, and, although it was January, he was clothed in a linen suit. In this way he went to Middletown, N. Y., then a boom- ing place, as the Erie railroad had just been con- structed through it. On reaching New York City seventy-five cents of his last dollar had been expended for his fare, and he was forced to borrow two dollars from his brother Samuel to take him to his destination. He became quite homesick en route, as this was his first trip from home, but his spirits rose when he reached Mid- dletown and secured a position with Charles E. Noyes in the shoe business. During the four years he spent there he prospered, and on leaving the place had a building lot paid for, and was en- tirely free from debt. After a visit home, he opened a shop in connection with his brother Theodore, and peddled shoes through the coun- try, but this venture was not as successful as had been anticipated. Later they established a cus- tom shop, and on selling out our subject accepted a position as traveling salesman with the Roches- ter Nursery Company, remaining with them for four years.

Mr. Louden was born in North Greenwich, Fairfield county, November 20, 1842, a son of Obediah and Jane (Rancheart) Louden, and is During that period Mr. Louden came to Fair- field county, and was married, in the Episcopal church at Greenwich, to Miss Susan E. Ferris, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah M. (Warring) one of a family of twelve children, of whom ten reached maturity. As the family were in limited circumstances. his educational advantages were very meager, and, though he attended the dis- | Ferris. They located at the home where he still

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lives, but the wife died six months and ten days

James H. Rowland, Sr .. was brought up in afterward, and was buried at Sound Beach. | the city of New Haven, attending the Lancas- Subsequently he married her sister. Margaret A., by whom he has seven children: Susan E., now

' trian school. He commenced active life as book- | keeper for English & Ives, wholesale liquor the wife of Willis E. Olmstead, of Mianus; i dealers, later clerking on board the steamers of Maria J., wife of J. Stanley Lockwood, who is engaged in the insurance business in New York; Henry A., telegraph operator at Sound Beach; and Ella L .. Thomas O .. S. Garfield and W. Eldon, all at home.

Mr. Louden has spent all his married life upon his farm in Greenwich township, and since the fall of 1877 he has engaged successfully in the butcher business at Mianus. He is also a dealer in both cattle and horses. In his market he has a patent meat rack. which he is manu- facturing in New Jersey, and which is proving a great success. In 1871 he built his present com- fortable residence upon his farm, and besides this property he owns land in Stamford town- ship, Fairfield county. He has not only achieved success financially, but, by his straightforward, honorable course, he has attained a high position in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

Since casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. MI. Louden has i attended, the Lancastrian school, and at the age always supported the Republican party, and he | of twelve years he entered the Adelphi Acade- has been called upon to serve as selectman in Greenwich township for two terms, and is at present justice of the peace. He is a charter member of Empire Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Green- wich, of which he has been treasurer since its organization. His wife holds membership in the Episcopal Church.

J AMES H. ROWLAND, JR., late proprietor | and Eighth streets, New York City. for two of the Home Livery at New Canaan, Conn., was born January 19. 1857, in New Haven, this State, of which city his father, James H. Rowland, Sr., is also a native.

Samuel Rowland. the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the town of Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., and for some years was engaged in the real-estate business in New Haven. Later he took a grocery business in North Carolina which he carried on for a short time, finally re- turning to New Haven, where he became book- keeper and a director of the New York & New Haven Steamboat Company. He afterward re- turned to the real-estate business. Samuel Row- | land married Martha Mansfield, by whom he had six children: James H .. George M. (now de- ceased, who was engaged in the music business in Bridgeport, Conn.), and four others who died in infancy. The father was a member of the Masonic lodge at New Haven.

I the New York & New Haven Steamboat Com- pany, and on the Southern steamers running from Washington to Richmond. For fifteen years he was bookkeeper for the New Haven Clock Com- pany. Removing to New York City. he was there employed by various firms, the Equitable Life Insurance Company, the Commonwealth Life Insurance Company, Mitchell Banks & Co. (chandeliers, bronzes, clocks, etc. ), and the Amer- ican Clock Company. Mr. Rowland now makes his home in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was married at New Haven to Harriet Silliman, who became the mother of three children-Lillie, now a res- ident of Brooklyn; James H., Jr. ; and William, who died in infancy. Mr. Rowland holds mem- bership with the Episcopal Church at New Haven. He was in his prime a member of the New Haven Grays.

James H. Rowland, Jr., was during his early boyhood a pupil in the same school his father my. where he pursued his studies for three years. He began work with Merriam & Duck, to learn the printer's trade, and remained with them four years, when he left the trade to enter the em- | ploy of Louis M. Celestine, wholesale dealer in paper and printer's stock. After working for him for one year he embarked in the printing business. in partnership with F. M. Jackson, the firm doing business at the corner of Broadway | years, at the end of which time our subject sold 1 out to Mr. Jackson and went to Brooklyn, where | he engaged in the business on his own account, and continued same successfully until 1888, the | year of his removal to New Canaan. There in 1 800 he commenced the livery business, in that year purchasing the Stevens stable, which he conducted for three years. In 1893 he erected his late place of business, in East avenue. He has a thriving trade, the fifteen rigs with which his stable is provided being in constant demand.

Mr. Rowland was first married, in New Ha- ven. Conn., to Maria K. Lines, daughter of Au- gustus Lines. In 1888, her health being very poor, Mr. Rowland took her to Florida, but the change failed to benefit her, and she died the same year, in New Canaan. She was the mother i of four children, namely : Stewart, Mabel, Marion, and Edith, who died in infancy. The i eldest son is at present studying medicine in Hart-

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ford. Conn. For his second wife, Mr. Rowland | in the Mediterranean. On May 6, 1825, he was wedded, in Brooklyn, N. Y., Miss Emily F. | promoted to surgeon, and in 1826 he was ordered Comstock, who was born in New Canaan, daugh- I to the "Boston," on which he remained four years in Brazilian waters, returning to New York ter of Chester Comstock, and they have had four children: Ruth, Jessie, Dorothy, and one i in 1830. For two years following he was in the who died in infancy. The family attend the i cholera hospital in New York, and for a like term Episcopal Church. of which Mr. Rowland is a . saw service in the navy yard at Pensacola. He member. In social connection he belongs to i was then sent, in the good ship "St. Louis, " to Harmony Lodge No. 67. F. & A. M. (of which | the West Indies, and in 1837 was appointed fleet be is organist): and the Golden Cross, in which i surgeon of the West India squadron. The year he is past master.

1839 found him on duty in the navy yard at Washington; 1841 on board the steamer "Ful- ton." and 1843 on the frigate "North Carolina."

W WILLIAM EDWARDS WALLER. who is | In 1846 he awaited orders, and in 1847 was as-

engaged in market gardening and the raising of small fruits, was born at New Bedford, Mass., December 17. 1861. the son of William i of General Pierce's brigade, and participated in G. Waller. The father was born in Schenectady, I the engagements at Santa Fe, National Bridge, N. Y., and his father was a native of the island ! Tres Rios, Cerra Gordo and Molino del Rey. In of St. Christopher. West Indies.

William G. Waller was engaged in civil en- gineering in Louisiana. He was married, at Bridgeport. to Harriet S. Edwards, a daughter of Dr. D. S. Edwards. of the United States navy, and to this union were born: William Edwards; Mary G., who married Lieutenant Starkweather,

of the Revenue service (both are now deceased): : squadron between 1848 and 1850, after which he : ! and Harriet H. Mrs. Waller died in 1881. and Mr. Waller passed away at Baton Rouge. La., in 1890.

William Edwards Waller spent his early school 'days in Bridgeport and in Washington, D. C., but since leaving school he has always ' made his home in Trumbull. He was married in Pompton, N. J., to Susan E. Ludlam. So- cially. he is a member of the Sea Side Club.

Dr. D. S. Edwards, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a direct descendant of John Edwards, who came to America from England 1 and settled in Trumbull in 1692. He was born in Connecticut, June 22, 1794, and in 1814 grad- uated from Yale. On July 30, 1818, he entered the United States navy, and thus began a career that was to carry him to all parts of the globe I he could truly sing: and make him a participator in some of the most Joy, joy forever! My task is done: The gates are pasi. And heaven is won. stirring incidents in the history of the New World. He was assigned for duty as assistant surgeon on the frigate .. Congress, " bound for the China sea: in 1820 the ship was visited at Manila by Asiatic cholera. then a comparatively unknown J OHN O'SULLIVAN, prominent in the Irish society of Norwalk, was born in Queens- town, Ireland, October 8, 1836, one of the disease. In 1821 he returned to Washington, and the following year was on duty on the schooner . . Grampus. " With the aid of boats they . four sons of Daniel O'Sullivan and his wife, destroyed five pirate sailboats near Cuba, and : Elizabeth (Tattan), both natives of "Old Erin," Doctor Edwards was severely wounded. He rt- where they passed their entire lives, the former covered, and in 1823 was assigned to the " Erie." following farming as an occupation until his which was sent to protect government interests , death, in 1869. Elizabeth (Tattan) O'Sullivan

signed to the marine battalion, to join the army | in Mexico. At Vera Cruz he was medical director

| August, 1847, he was at Pueblo as medical di- : rector of General Quitman's division, and was at the engagements at Contreras, Chapultepec and | City of Mexico, after which he was transferred to the hospital at St. Augustine. For a time he served as inspector of the sick and wounded. ! He again became fleet surgeon of the West India

was in the navy yard at Washington for some I time. In 1857-60 he was fleet surgeon of the Pacific squadron on the "Merrimac." From | 1861 to 1864 he was at the navy rendezvous at . New Bedford, and in 1865 was on the steamer " Rhode Island," in Mobile Bay. In 1868 he was given special duty on the retiring board, and so remained until his death, in 1874. After so varied an experience, amid seas and scenes so often stormy, he passed quietly away, in Trum- bull, at the ripe old age of full four-score years. In his long service for his country he made a record that may well be emulated. Nights of faithful watching. days of toil, he bravely ac- cepted all, and when his great soul, stripped of all earthly rank and care. rose to its last home,

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died in 1873. The other sons in the family were: James went to sea, and our subject knows not what became of him; Daniel, who had a gold Inine, died in Norwalk, in 1891; and William is now engaged in the mining business in New Zea- land.

John O'Sullivan passed the first sixteen years of his life in Ireland. On June 2, 1852, he bade farewell to the greener fields and the bluer skies of his childhood, and came to America. He first landed at New York, but remained there only for a short time, going to Boston, where he learned the shoemaking trade. In 1853 he came to Nor- walk, and worked at his trade for about ten years. During the following twelve years he gave emi- nent satisfaction by his service as policeman, to which position he was appointed under the Demo- cratic party. He gave careful attention to his duties, and citizens, of whatever political faith, soon learned he was faithfully and conscien- tiously guarding the law to the best of his abil- ity, and all expressed regret when he decided to lay aside the star he had worn so long to enter commercial life. In 1882 he entered the liquor business, in which line of trade he has since re- mained.

In 1859 Mr. O'Sullivan was married to Miss Mary Ryan, who was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, a daughter of Edward Ryan, and to them a family of twelve children were born, seven of whom are living: Elizabeth. at home; John E., in charge of the Dorland Summer Resort (near Norwalk); Mary Ann, wife of Michael Ariorder; Jane, wife of Hugh Donnelly (sketch of whom appears elsewhere); Catherine and Julia, at home; and Daniel, employed by his father. The entire family are members of the Roman Catho- lic Church, and are liberal in their views, believ- ing that each man should worship as he thinks best. Mr. O'Sullivan is one of those men who, having adopted this country for their own, are loyal and patriotic. With the natural wit of his cupies a prominent place, and is in great demand socially.

countrymen, his generosity and integrity, he oc- I eral times during the Mexican war-in the

HARLES B. DYCKMAN. engineer for the Gil- bert & Bennett Manufacturing Company, Georgetown, Fairfield county, was born April 25, 1849, in New York City, and received his educa- tion at Peekskill Academy and other schools in that vicinity.

tween the " Monitor " and the " Merrimac." Aft- er a sojourn in the South of about one year he returned home and resumed his studies. After leaving school he followed clerking for some time and also worked on a farm, and he finally settled in Georgetown, Fairfield county. having accepted the position of engineer for the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company, at that place.

On November 24, 1880, Mr. Dyckman was married to Miss Eliza Jane St. John, who was born at Vista, N. Y., December 23, 1847, daugh- ter of Samuel Noah and Roxana (Fancher) St. John. the former of whom was a Methodist Prot- estant and Congregational minister. Children as follows have blessed this union: Garrett St. John. born October 27. 1883; Alice Emma, born October 30, 1884; Mabel Elizabeth. born Jan. 25, 1887, died in infancy; William Edwin, born March 10, 1888, died in infancy; and Mildred E., born September 17, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Dyck- man are members of the Congregational Church of Georgetown, and in politics he is a Democrat. He was introduced to, and frequently met, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln.

John Dyckman, grandfather of our subject, was born February 17, 1785, in New York City. and during the greater part of his life was a farmer, in his younger days following the truck- ing business for a time in his native city. He served in the war of 1812. By his wife, Leah (Goetchus). who was born September 17, 1786, he had children as follows: Garrett, sketch of whom follows; Martha M. and Betsey Mary (twins). born March 3, 1817; and Peter B., born May 27, 1821.

Garrett Dyckman, father of our subject. was born May 18. 1814, in the town of Cortlandt, Westchester Co., N. Y., and for some time was a clerk in New York. At one time he engaged in the manufacture of soda water. He first en- listed in the First N. Y. V. 1., of which he was commissioned captain, and he was wounded sev-

| battles of Contreras, Cherubusco, and other en- gagements. A large part of his life was passed in military service, and when the Civil war broke out he went to the front as a lieutenant-colonel, and later was commissioned colonel of the First N. Y. V. 1. As a leader in the Democratic party I he was recognized as a great politician, and was awarded the gold snuff-box bequeathed by Gen. Andrew Jackson. He was elected to the State Assembly from New York. Socially, he was a member of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. He died in New York City, May 22, 1868, and

In 1861, Mr. Dyckman's father having to pro- ceed with his regiment to the South, our subject left school and accompanied him, and while at . was buried with Masonic honors. On February Newport News witnessed the engagement be- | 11, 1848. he married Martha E. Tucker, who

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was born April 4, 1826, in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Georgetown, Fairfield county, January 4, 1892, children as follows were born to them: Charles , aged sixty-seven years, three months, two B., our subject, the only survivor: Garrett, born

days. On October 15, 1846, in the town July 8. 1850; Henry A .. born December 1, 1851; . of New Canaan, Fairfield county, Rev. Samuel and George G., born December 7, 1853.

! N. St. John married Miss Roxana Fancher, and children as follows were born to them: Eliza Jane, Mrs. Dyckman; Samuel W., born in 1850;

Mrs. Eliza Jane (St. John) Dyckman comes of English ancestry. and is descended from the eldest of three brothers-Mathias (1), Mark and . Margaret: Emma A., born September 14, 1853; Samuel St. John-who came from England. The and Henry L., born August 23, 1856. The line direct from Mathias (1) is as follows: Ma- , mother was called from earth September 29, thias (2), Samuel (1), Noah (1). Samuel (2), and : 1895, aged seventy years. Noah (2) (grandfather of Mrs. Dyckmanı. Of these,

TOHN LOCKWOOD, a prominent farmer of the town of Wilton. Conn., was born in Lewisboro. N. Y .. June 10, 1839, and re-

Noah St. John (2) was born May 12, 1782, in the town of Wilton, Fairfield Co .. Conn., on the place that has been in the possession of the family some 200 years. By trade he was a stone . ceived his early intellectual training in the public mason. Socially, he was prominent in Masonic , schools of his time. For some years after leav- circles. He married Miss Polly Osborn, who , ing school he was engaged in farming with his was born February 29, 178S. on Long Island, I father, and he then removed to New Canaan, and their children were as follows: Roswell died | Conn .. where he came into possession of a farm young: John O. married Phebe J. Jones; Hiram which he conducted ten years. Then, in about married Mary A. Hull; Rev. Samuel Noah was . 1870, he returned to Wilton, where with his Mrs. Dyckman's father; Abigail died young: Amy | brother Samuel he purchased a farm, which they is deceased.

conducted for six years, or until 1876, when he .

Rev. Samuel Noah St. John was born Octo- ; purchased his present place, to the cultivation of ber 2, 1824, in Georgetown, Fairfield Co., Conn .. : which he has since given his attention. Mr. received a liberal education, and qualified himself : Lockwood has devoted his time to his chosen for the work of the ministry to some extent by

calling to the exclusion of everything else, and private study. In his younger days he worked i for this reason has made farming a success. on farms, and later he taught in various locali- | Politically he is a Democrat, and has held several of the minor offices. Mr. Lockwood married Miss Sarah I. Tuttle, who was born October 21, . 1842. daughter of Anson and Almira (Abbott) Tuttle. the former of New Canaan, Conn., and the latter of Wilton. Conn. Children as follows have blessed this union: George R., born June 28. 1865: and Minnie F .. born March 9, 1869. who married Charles H. Hawkshurst.

ties. his first school being in Diamond Hill Dis- . trict. town of Redding. Fairfield county, his last, i in 1879. in Georgetown. On February 28. 1846. he was licensed to preach under the auspices of the Methodist Protestant Church. and was ad- mitted into the itinerancy by the New York Con- ference of that Church during its sixteenth annual session. April 1-9. 1846. He was first stationed at Tompkins Cove. on the west side of

the Hudson. and preached his initial sermon . ject. was born in the town of Lewisboro. N. Y.,

where he was educated. He always followed

Rufus Lockwood, father of our subject, was born in the town of Lewisboro, N. Y .. where he was educated, and, like his ancestors, engaged in farming all his life. During training days he was a captain in the militia, and hence was called "Captain" Lockwood by those who knew him. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence

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there April 12, 1846. In the spring of 1848 he was ordained a deacon minister at Tarrytown. farming for a livelihood. He was a member of the Baptist Church. He married (first) a Miss Seymour. by whom he had the following chil- dren : Rufus, who married Sallie M. Raymond; and Bettie, who married Samuel Canfield. For N. Y .: during 1849 and part of 1850 he worked in his brother's shop at Georgetown. Conn . and on March 24, that year. he was ordained an el- der. He was subsequently stationed as follows: . At Matteawan. Dutchess Co., N. Y .; Andover, ' his second wife Mr. Lockwood married Bettie Sussex Co., N. Y .: Sheburne, Chittenden Co .. Staples Vt .; Haverstraw and Warren, N. Y .; and in the spring of 1858 he commenced to supply the pul- pit of the Dutch Reformed Church at Montrose, N. Y. While there, he left the M. P. Church, and on October 23, 1860, united with the Fair- field West Congregational Association, by per- sonal application, supplying the pulpit of that Society from 1865 till 1875. He died in . and ability, and had the esteem of his neighbors

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 254

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