Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 268

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

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D ANIEL BOOTH HAWLEY, second son of i Jabez and Parthena (Booth) Hawley, was descended from ancestors who were among the I terest in Church affairs, attended all meetings, early settlers (from England) in Stratford, Conn. I and gave liberally toward the support of the On the maternal side they were direct descend- | Church; he taught a class in the Sabbath-school ants of Earl Booth.

Mr. Hawley's line of descent is through Jo- seph, the emigrant, Samuel. Samuel, Jr., Benja- min, Benjamin, Jr., and Jabez. [See genea- logical record elsewhere. ]

Daniel Booth Hawley was born May 15. | rough and hilly road, in an open or covered 1805. in Lands End District, Newtown. On I wagon. December 25, 1833, he was married to Olive Mrs. Olive Hawley died November 2, 1886, Hawley, born June 16. 1815. a daughter of Abel i at Newark, N. Y. "She was very intelligent,

| generous, sympathetic and kind-hearted," and,

Hawley) and Hester (Hurd) Hawley (daughter : says a son, "I always felt very proud of her. of Jabez and Lucy (Blackman) Hurd), the former ! She was a great reader and well informed; was born March 5, 1786. and the latter on Septem- I a good conversationalist and a fine letter writer. ber 2, 1790, Abel S. having other children: | Her mind was clear and strong to the day of Isaac H., born February 22, 1811; Maryett, born August 10, 1819: and Ferris Hurd, born July 31, 1821. Abel S. Hawley died March 12, 1 1849, his wife on September 15, 1872. He was a captain in the war of 1812, stationed at New London, Conn., and at Providence, Rhode | pain from rheumatism, and for several years was Island. her death. She kept up her correspondence with her friends to the last. Her letters to me were always entertaining and instructive, and did I me a great deal of good. She was a devout Christian. For many years she suffered great unable to walk. But she bore it all uncomplain- The children born to Daniel Booth and Olive | ingly." After the death of her husband she moved i to Newark, N. Y., and spent three or four years

(Hawley) Hawley were: (1) Esther A: Hawley, born June 5, 1837. married, October 9, 1860, I with her daughter, Esther A. Goodhue.

Rev. J. E. Goodhue, and had children-Mary H., born May 17. 1862: Willis E., born Decem- ber 23, 1866; and Marian L., born September 11, H ENRY ALLEN (deceased), who in his life- time was warmly esteemed, respected, ad- mired and beloved, was possessed of a most kindly, generous and charitable nature. He prospered by industry, and his life history bears 1876. (2) Elmer Booth, born September 7, 1843, married Cornelia B. Estey, of Chicago; no children. (3) Henry S .. born January 25. 1849, married, November 20. 1879, Julia Curtis. and had children-Samuel C .. born January 27. 1881; I testimony to what it is possible for man, with and May N., born November 18, 1882. Henry | willing heart and hands, to accomplish. S. died January 19, 1883.

Mr. Allen was born April 24, 1821, at Dan- Daniel Booth Hawley died March 10, 1882. i bury, Conn., a descendant of an old Connecti- His father owned a large tract of land, and at his : cut family, and was the only child of his parents; death left each of his iour sons a farm.

This | but as he was a mere child when they died, he farm Daniel Booth cultivated during his lifetime. : remembered nothing of them. The lad was At the time the Housatonic railroad was organ-

: reared by his grandfather. Stephen Allen, a far- ized he assisted the chief engineer, R. B. Mason, : mer in the town of Danbury, who served in buying the right of way through Newtown and i as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Brookfield. At the completion of the road Mr. : After attending school at Danbury our sub- Hawley was appointed station agent at Hawley- | ject commenced to learn the carpenter's ville, the station being named for him. He was : trade. He did not finish his apprentice-

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S. (eldest son of lotham and Olive (Terrill)

agent for the company for thirty years, and for twenty years was postmaster, assisted by his sons. For many years he owned and operated a sawmill, and also a brickyard. He was kind- hearted, generous and accommodating, always ready to extend a helping hand to the needy. While not an active politician, he always took great interest in the leading questions of the day, first as a Whig, later as a Republican. He was a strong Episcopalian, taking great in-

for many years, Daniel N. Morgan, ex-U. S. Treasurer, being one of his pupils. He was a | devout Christian, and as long as his health would permit attended Church twice a day on Sunday, rain or shine, a distance of three miles, over a

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ship there, but in Chicago, whither he accom- Connecticut: and is an honorary life member of panied his employers, and in that then booming | the Masonic Charity foundation of Connecticut. young town he followed his trade some six years. 1 At the annual Communication of Acacia Lodge. No. 85. in December, 1898, Mr. Knapp was pre- sented with a beautiful past master's jewel, as a i mark of esteem for and a recognition of his many years arduous labor for the Masonic Fraternity. At the end of that time Mr. Allen returned to Norwalk, where he established himself perma- nently as a house carpenter. He passed from earth September 23, 1878. a consistent member of the Congregational Church, with which de- nomination his widow is also prominently identi- fied; in politics he was originally an Old-line Whig, later, on its organization, associating him- self with the Republican party.

On December 6, 1876. Mr. Knapp wedded | Miss Belle Farrell, a native of Dundalk, Ireland, who came to America in early womanhood. To this union children have been born as follows: Frederick H., now an undertaker in Worcester. Mass. : Elmer T., who died in childhood; and Mabelle. a charming and popular young lady,

Ridgebury. Fairfield Co .. Conn., daughter of | the sunlight of her father's home, who possesses Josiah D. and Sally (Lighthall) Benedict. the i rare musical talent, and is now attending the former a native of Redding. Conn., the latter of | Conservatory of Music in New York City. Mr. Ballston. N. Y .. born of Dutch lineage. Mr. I Knapp owns a pleasant home at the corner of Benedict followed blacksmithing in Ridgefield, | Lafayette place and Lake avenue, Greenwich.

where he died. He and his wife had a family of William H. and Catharine (Waters) Knapp, parents of our subject, had a family of eleven children. of whom Harriet died after reaching ten children, only two of whom are now living: Mrs. Ann E. Allen, and John, who also lives in Norwalk. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Allen were : maturity: William was killed by an accident, in born two children: William B., living with his | childhood; Esther died in childhood; William 1 Henry Harrison, a blacksmith. resides in Greenwich (he served three years during the widowed mother: and Charles Henry, a dentist in New Milford. Conn. Mrs. Allen, who occu- ! pies a handsome and comfortable residence on | Civil war as orderly sergeant of Company W'est avenue. Norwalk, is respected and es- [ ]. Tenth Conn. V. I.): Elizabeth is the wife of teemed for her many virtues by a large circle of | Henry W. Bixby, of Greenwich: Sarah is the friends and acquaintances.

I wife of Charles E. Mathews, of Brooklyn; Han- nah and Charles E. are residents of Greenwich; Frederick D. is the subject of this sketch.

FREDERICK D. KNAPP. It is not an easy task to write the history of an uneventful life. Our subject is a plain. unpretentious man. generous, genial and popular. He was born in 1852, midst the picturesque hills of Greenwich, Fairfield Co .. Conn .. a farmer's son, and grew to manhood under the usual disadvantages that attach to farm life. His schooling was some-

what meager, as he could attend only in winter, , and received his education in the common schools and ended in his seventeenth year.

Finding farm work distasteful, he engaged ! with his brother-in-law. Mr. Bixby, to learn the painter's trade, being associated with him for three years. after which he formed a co-partner- : ship with John A. Slagel. This was terminated | houses in the vicinity of his home town. Polit- in 1883. by Mr. Knapp's engaging with I. L. Mead as assistant undertaker and embalmer. Politically, Mr. Knapp is an enthusiastic Repub- lican, and he has frequently been elected to office, serving as constable and tax collector, while in the . also filled minor offices. Socially, Mr. Taylor is fall of 1898 he was elected town treasurer. i a member of Our Brothers Lodge No. 10, I. O. Socially, he is a member of Acacia Lodge No. O. F. of Norwalk, Conn .. and. in religious con- 85. F. & A. M., of which he was master for two ! nection, of the Congregational Church of Wilton. vears, having passed all the chairs; of Ritten- I On November 21, 1886, he married Miss Louisa house Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., of Stamford, I Geoppler, who was born September 7, 1866, in

E M. WELLS, postmaster at Stratford, town of Stratford, Fairfield county, Connecticut.

G E. TAYLOR was born in the town of Weston, Fairfield county, March 30, 1863, of that place. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has been en- gaged for the past twelve years, not, however. , as an ordinary journeyman, but as a contractor and builder, having erected many of the finest ically, he is a Democrat, and in 1893 he was ap- 1 1 pointed postmaster of Wilton under President Cleveland, a position he still holds. He has been a justice of the peace and town clerk, and has

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On January 5. 1848, Henry Allen was mar- ried to Miss Ann E. Benedict, who was born in 1

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the town of Wilton, a daughter of Louis and Louisa Geoppler. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have no children. .

Curtis Taylor, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Westport, and was edu- cated there in the public schools. He had the following children: Osborne, who married Eliza A. Wood; Augustus; Marvin; and Clarissa, who married Noah Hoyt.

Osborne Taylor, father of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton. Conn .. was educated in the common schools of that place. and learned the miller's trade. He owned and ran two mills in Weston, and later went to South Norwalk, where he ran a mill for a number of years. Po- litically, he was a Democrat, was twice elected a representative of the town in the Legislature of

the State, and held many minor town offices. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was active in all Church affairs. He married Miss Eliza A. Wood. daughter of Burr and Maria (Andrews) Wood. and their children were as follows: Edward B .. who married a Miss Sammis: Frank W .. who remains single; and George E .. the subject of this sketch. The mother of these children dying. Mr. Taylor mar- ried Miss Clarissa Dickens, by whom he had the following children: Charles D., who married Katie Coughlin; Minnie, who married James Blake: Carrie, who married Edgar Davis; Wil- liam, Alfred ,and Annie, all three of whom re- main single.

Louis Goeppler, father of Mrs. Taylor, was born in Germany, and came to the United States when a young man. He learned the machinist's trade, and was foreman of a gas-fixture works in New York for some years. Later he removed to Wilton, buying a farm, which he conducted, and he also ran a cider mill. He married Louisa - -- , by whom he had the following children: Louis. who married Lizzie Trembly: Charles, who married Addie Abbott; Henry; Adolph, who married Katie Ruggles; Louisa, wife of the sub- ject of this sketch; Emma. who married Harry Foot; Edward, Lavina, William and Julia, all four of whom are single.

W YALLACE W. WELCH. This well-known citizen of Bridgeport is a worthy repre- sentative of a family whose patriotism has been shown on many battlefields. and whose members have by industry and thrift in private life made the name a synonym for good citizenship. The family in this section is descended from two brothers who came from Wales at an early day, locating in Connecticut, and various members

distinguished themselves by soldierly conduct in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, while during the Civil war our subject's father and only brother. Homer, were in the Union army, the latter dying amid the horrors of Andersonville prison, after three years of active service. After a re-enlistment, and just before his capture, he had been commissioned a lieutenant in the 13th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.

Our subject's great-grandfather Welch was born in Litchfield county, Conn., in the village of Warren, where he passed his life. Jason Welch, grandfather of Wallace W., was born in Litch- field county, and followed farming there, having inherited the homestead from his father, and he passed his entire life in Warren. For many years he was also engaged in charcoal burning, produc- ing large quantities annually, owned many teams, and did much in that line. At this time the Welch estate consisted of over one thousand acres, the family ranking among the more wealthy ones of the place.

Noah B. Welch, the father of our subject, was born in Warren, and, like his father before him, was interested more or less in farming and char- coal burning nearly all his life; was also buyer for the Barnum Furnace Company, and in all his business transactions proved himself to be a man of good judgment. He died in 1886. His wife Henrietta (Gibbs) was a daughter of Tillot- son and Eunice (Cole) Gibbs, who were members of a Sussex county (England) family. To Noah B. Welch and his wife were born two children: Homer and Wallace W.

Wallace W. Welch was born July 29, 1850, in Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn., and the first four years of his life were spent on his father's farm. He then went with his parents to New York City, where he remained until 1861, and on returning to Litchfield county (with his parents) he setted in Kent, and for some time clerked for his uncle, Jerome Gibbs, while attending school. He did not have many educational facilities, as he left school at the age of sixteen years; but, having always been much of a reader, he is a well-informed man on all topics. At sixteen he commenced to learn the trade of mason, which he followed for two years at Glendale, Conn., and on the Housatonic railroad. In 1870 he re- moved to Bridgeport and engaged in the bakery business, meeting with gratifying success from the start. He first hired out to C. Russell & Co., and has been connected with them in one capacity or another ever since. He has done business with A. W. Wallace for twenty-five years. Mr. Welch is also interested in the milk business, conducting a route in Bridgeport, while for some

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time he has dealt extensively in real estate, and is now the owner of considerable property, in- cluding several valuable brick stores in Bridge- port. Taken all in all. he has met with more than ordinary success, which fact he attributes in a great measure to the sound judgment and business acumen of his wife, who is a lady of ac- . William, in 1718-all in Windsor. Conn. Then knowledged ability.

On December 25, 1873. Wallace W. Welch was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anderson, a daughter of Charles Anderson. of Bridgeport, and a granddaughter of Lorenzo Anderson, a na- tive of Copenhagen, Denmark, whence he was brought to America in his infancy. Charles An- derson was first lieutenant of a company in the 19th Conn. Heavy Artillery (afterward known as the 2d Conn. Heavy Artillery), and he was a member of the G. A. K. By trade he was a

or Jacob was a son of Jacob, and this son had a son Benjamin, who married Abigal Marshall, September 16, 1708. They lived in Windsor and Litchfield. Conn., and had Benjamin, born 1710; Zebulon, born 1711; Henry, in 1713; Abigal, in 1715 or 1714: Hannah, in 1716; came Gersham, who was the first white male child born in Litchfield town, the event occur- ring July 28. 1721 ; Zadock, born 1722; Elizabeth, 1725: Sarah, 1727; Caleb, 1729; Justice. 1731; and Remembrance (the last), in 1734.

Mr. Gibbs great-grandfather. Gersham Gibbs, his brother Benjamin, his sons Isaac and Moore, i were enlisted in a company of volunteers organ- ized in Litchfield, Conn .. and served in the Revo- lution. Gersham died on board the convict ship " Grosvenor." in New York harbor. on Decem-

spring-fitter and carriage-ironer. By his wife, i ber 29, 1770. Isaac, his son, died on the same Catharine Ward, of South Britam. Conn .. he | ship, January 15. 1777. Among the effects of had four children: Mary. Charles. Robert Lin- ! coln, and Catharine. To Mr. and Mrs. Welch have been born four children: Frederick, Bessie.

Captain Beebe was found the receipt following. I Account of Gersham Gibbs: " Received of Cap- i tain Beebe three dollars that belonged to my hus- Sarah and Harry. who are all at home. The ! band and son, which was part of the money sent family are identified with St. John's Episcopal Church at Bridgeport.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and in

Moore Gibbs. son of Gersham Gibbs. went 1896 he was elected alderman from the Second i to South Britain. Conn., and there married Patience Skeel, June 29, 1786. Their children

ward of Bridgeport; was It-elected in the spring . of 1899, on that occasion receiving the largest ' were: Amos A., born April 4. 178 ;. died Sep- vote of any candidate on the Democratic ticket. ! tember 25. 1820, in Pennsylvania; Reuben Mar- shall. born March 14, 1794; Tillotson Howe. born

viz .: 5,992, the mayor receiving 4,547. It is almost superfluous to add that he gives to his : May 2. 1790, died February 23, 1868; Birdsey. duties in that incumbency the same energy and : born February 16, 1798; Phebe. born May IS, foresight that has made his private business | 1803: Willis, born August 13. 1804. died July affairs so successful, as witness among other 5. 1874: Rhoda, born March 1 ;. iSo ;: and things his efficient work in securing crushed ' Menton, born April 20, 1800.

stone for the use of the city, which has saved

Tillotson Gibbs, Mr. Gibbs' father, whose many dollars to the treasury. He was a mem- I birth occurred in Litchfield. Conn., was reared ber of what was called the " Crushing com- I a farmer, and followed that occupation, at the mittee," and in ISOS saved over five thousand same time keeping a hotel in his native town un- dollars to the city; has also served on the Ways | til he reached middle age. Then he removed to and Means and Sidewalk, besides several miscel- ! Kent, where he passed the remainder of his life. laneous committees. Socially he is a member dying at the age of seventy-one. He was widely of the I. O. F. of America, and has taken quite : and favorably known as a genial and fair-minded an interest in Freemasonry as a member of St. ¡ man and a useful citizen. John's Lodge, F. & A. M .. at Bridgeport.

On January 11, ISIS, at Weston. Conn., he

JUDGE JEROME F. Gnas. a prominent mer- ; married Eunice Cole, a daughter of Jonathan chant of Kent, town clerk, and formerly a mem- . Cole. and she became the mother of six children. ber of the Connecticut Legislature. was born in . whose names and dates of birth are as follows: hent, Conn., May 19. 1830. a son of Tillotson . Catherine L., January 8, 1819: Henrietta. Octo- and Eunice (Cole) Gibb): The founder of this | ber 16. 1822. died November 8. 1895: Frederick family was Giles Gibbs. who with his brothers, I rancis and Joseph. came from Devonshire, Eng- land. It is believed that Gies settled in Dorchest- er in 1633. He died in Windsor, Conn., in May, 1041. Jacob was a son of Giles, and either Samuel

Baldwin. November 19, 1824: Willis. May 24. 182%, died June 13. 1882; Mary 2 .. August 16. 1832; Jerome F., May 9, 1836. Catherine mar- ried (hrst) a Mr. Rigner, after whose death she married (second) Daniel Trembley, by whom she

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i to them whilst prisoners in New York. [Signed] Tabitha Gibbs."

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

had three children-Sarah, Isabella and Daniel; Henrietta became Mrs. Welch, and reared two children-Homer and Wallace W .; Willis mar- ried Margaret Nevins, and reared four children- Mary, born March 28, 1851; George W., Decem- ber 10, 1852; Henrietta, September 13. 1858; Frederick Howe, October 24. 1860; Mary Z. be- came Mrs. Henry Small. The mother lived to the age of ninety.one years.

Revolutionary services of Moore Gibbs, of Litchfield, aged sixty-three: He served in the regiment of cavalry commanded by Col. Elisha Sheldon, in the Continental establishment, part of the time in the company commanded by Capt. Josiah Stoddard; afterward in the company com- manded by Capt. Elijah Wadsworth: afterward in the company commanded by Capt. Jeronimus Hoogland. in which last company he was serv- ing at the conclusion of the war, when he was discharged. He enlisted in said regiment in the month of April, 1777. during the war, and served until the war ended. Previous to his joining the Continental army, as foresaid, he served in a regiment raised in the State of Connecticut for seven months in the year 1776, commanded by Gen. David Wooster, in the company com- manded by Major David Welch. In the year 1776 he was in a regiment raised in said State for nine months, commanded by Col. Phillip Burr Bradley, in the company commanded by Capt. Bezaleel Beebe. Received a pension on the 20th of September, 1818. No. 3180; was discharged at the termination of the war, at Danbury.

Lebbens J. Welch, a thriving and industrious farmer of Cornwall, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Warren, Conn .. March 12, 1835. son of jason and Sarah (Bright) Welch. His first ancestor in this country was Thomas Welch, a native of Wales, who migrated from that country to America. His son Paul, Mr. Welch's great-grandfather, followed the sea, and was engaged as a trader for some years between Bridgeport. Conn., and the West Indies. He subsequently settled in New Milford. Conn .. | where he engaged in mercantile business, and was the first merchant in that town. His chil- dren were: David, John, Abner, Nathan. Jeph- thah, Irene and Harriet.

John Welch, grandfather of L. J. Welch, was born in New Milford, Conn .. and followed the trade of a carpenter. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and at the close of his military experience took up his residence in War- ren, Conn. He lived to reach the age of eighty- three years. He married Rispah Page. a native of Litchfield, and they reared two children, Jason

and Lois. Mrs. John Welch died at the age of sixty-six years.

Jason Welsh, father of our special subject, was born in Warren, and was a lifelong resident of that town. He adopted agriculture as an occupation, and, being energetic and industrious, achieved a fair degree of success. He lived to be eighty-seven years old. His wife Sarah (Bright), daughter of Shores Bright, a native of New Jersey, became the mother of eight chil- dren, namely: Henrietta, David, Noah, Evi, Antoinette, Teresia, Lebbens J. and Mary.

FRANK L. CURTIS, undertaker and em- balmer. Stratford, town of Stratford, Fair- field county, Connecticut.

E ALIJAH VANDERWERKEN is a highly-re- spected citizen of Stamford, Fairfield coun- ty, where he has carried on a jewelry business for a number of years.

Mr. Vanderwerken is a native of New York State, born October 29, 1845, at Green Bush, and comes from an old New York family. The first of his ancestors in this country, of whom we have record, was Roeloff Gerritse Van Der Werken, of Halve Maan, who as early as 10; owned a farm on Cahoos Island, above the fourth fork of the Mohawk river. In 1680 he purchased seven morgens adjoining his land on the west, and north of the fourth fork. and two morgens on Havre Island, from Armetie Lievens. He married Geertruy Jacobse, by whom he had a family of ten children, namely: ! Gerrit, Albert, Hendrick, Nicolaas, Maritie, Jan- nettie, Catarina, Johannes, Elizabeth and Jacob.

Il. Gerrit Roeloffse Van Der Werken mar- ried Maritie Janse De Voe, and was the father of five children: Geertruy. Jannetje, Catharina, Gerardus and Johannes. He was buried Febru- ary 2. 1756.

III. Johannes Van Der Werken, born June 13. 1714, married Christina Pruyn. on March 1. 1737. and had ten children: Margarita. Frans. Elizabeth, Barent, Gerardus. Marytje, Johannes, Barent, Alida and Johannatje.

IV. Johannes Van Der Werken, Jr., of Halve Maan. married Marytje De Voe on De- cember 26, 1754. and they became the parents of nine children, viz .: Engeltie, Margarita, Marya. Johannes, Geertruy, Elizabeth, Annatie, Abraham and Roeloff.

V. Johannes Van Der Werken married Cath- arina Slingerland, and by her had three children: Abraham, Rebecca and Hendrick.

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VI. Hendrick Van Der Werken, of Halve Maan, married Catharina Kremer; four children were born to them: Lawrence, Adam. George and Abram.

1 VII. George Vanderwerken, grandfather of our subject. was born at Waterford. Saratoga Co .. N. Y. By occupation he was a miller, run- ning one of the first mills in his part of the country. For his first wife he married a Miss

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 268

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