Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 269

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

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. Van Valkenburg, by whom he had five children, namely: Henry, Gilbert, George Scott. Jane and Catherine. His second was a Mrs. Vander- werken, a widow, and by this union there were also have children: Sally, Susan, Jacob, James and William. The father passed away in Still- water township, Saratoga Co., N. Y. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the land for that church and burial plot at Water- ford. N. Y .. was donated by the Vanderwerken family

VIII. George Scott Vanderwerken, father of the gentleman whose name introduces these lines. was born in 1811 at Waterford, in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and passed his early days in his native town, there receiving a common-school education. He worked in the mill with his father, and also en- gaped in agricultural pursuits, working part of the farm in Stillwater, Saratoga county. At Scagh- ticoke. Rensselaer Co., N. Y., he was united in marnage with Mary A. Reynolds, who survives him, making her home at Mechanicsville, N. Y. Their union was blessed with four children, to wit: Elijah: Sidney, who is deceased; Maggie, the wife of C. M. Fort. of Mechanicsville, N. ). : and Ida. deceased wife of Holmes C. Baker, of Stillwater, N. Y. Mr. Vanderwerken died at Waterford, N. Y. He was originally a Whig in political sentiment, later becoming a member of the Republican party, and in religious connection he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. with which his widow also unites

Ehiah Vanderwerken obtained a good educa- tion in the academy at Mechanicsville. N. Y., where he spent his youth. He began life as a clerk in the establishment of his uncle. Thomas P. Crook, who was a wholesale provision mer- chant in State street, Albany, N. Y .. remaining | Catherine. Rebecca Ann, James, John. Edward.

with him five years, after which he embarked in besmess for himself, in the grocery and provision Henry Neison Weed was born September 20. IS22. and learned the trade of iron molder. ! which was his life occupation. He was married. in Stamford. to Gertrude Hopper, daughter of four children. namely: Addison P., born Juiy 31, 1847. married to Adelaide DeForest: Will- iam S., who married Gertrude Dalson and died line. as a member of the firm of 1. P couse & Co .. Hudson, N. Y., for two years. At the end of that time he went to Marion. N. Y .. where for two years he was in the employ of the United . William Hopper, and they became the parents of States Watch Company, and in 1871 he came i to Stamford. Conn .. to fill a short engagement her. He remained, however, for me years,

clerking with Andrew Clark, jeweler, and then for about nine years traveling in the interests of the Yale & Towne Lock Company, whose ser- vice he entered through the influence of Emory Stockwell, the inventor of the time lock. In 1885 Mr. Vanderwerken started in the jewelry business for himself. in a corner of the store he now occupies, at No. 45 Atlantic Square, and from this humble beginning has seen his trade thrive and expand to its present proportions, the whole store being now required for his business. He is deserving of the prosperity which has come to him, for he has worked hard to gain a solid footing in the business world, and he has an en- viable reputation among customers and trade associates for honesty, fairness and uprightness in all his dealings.

On November 24. 1874, Mr. Vanderwerken was united in marriage, at Stamford, to Miss Jane E. Scofield, daughter of Charles William Scofield, and ten children have been born to them, namely: Lillian Maud, George Scofield. Charles William (deceased), Louise, Ethel (de- ceased), Gertrude, Marion, Irene, Gilbert Henry and Walter. The family are active in the work of the Stamford Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Vanderwerken is one of the most prominent members. He is deeply interested in religious work of all kinds, and is at present serving as deacon in the Stamford Church, as treasurer of the deacons fund of the Presbyterian Church, and as treasurer for the American Volunteers. In social connection, he is a member of Union Lodge No. 5. F. & A. M .. of Council No. 999. Royal Arcanum, and of the Order of United American Mechanics

F RANK WEED is a native of the city of Stam- ford. born March 2, 1858, and his father. grandfather. and great-grandfather, the latter named Aaron Weed, were born in Stamford

Joseph Weed, grandfather of our subject, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Stamford all his life, and died in April. 1850, aged seventy-three 1 vear :. He married Rebecca Jacobs, by whom , he had ten children: Sally, Mary. Willam. Henry N. and Charles.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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to Shelton, this county, and after engaging three years in the trucking business, Mr. Robbins opened a meat market, which be conducted until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and as a citizen he was much respected, being a de- vout and consistent member of the Comptepa- His death occurred April 21. ihope and his wife survives ham with one son. our subvert

Witam P. Robbins was born December 30. isos, at Arany. Maine, where his education was lopen, and when about twelve years old he came to the county with his parents, and for about the tears attended school at Shelton. At the age of seventeen he was employed in a meat market by A. C. Booth, with whom he re- named ten wars, and he then entered the em- pics of his father, since the death of the latter he has condu ted the business on his own ac- count. and he there's and sound judgment are shown in its successful management. He is not married, and takes his home with his widowed mother. Socially, he is popular, and he is an active member of the Congregational ( burch. and of Ouratenie Lodge No. 6. 1. 0. 0 1 . of Derby Formally, he is a stanch bepalen.

G FORGE 1. JOHNSON, for many years a respected and well-to-do business man of New Cataat, was a native of Fairfield county. Com. . for Jane 7. 1851. on the farm at West Norwain where his father, Henry Johnson, still resides

Mi patroon was brought up on the farm where he was born, and received his education at the district schools of West Norwalk. At the age of eighteen years he went to Bridgeport. (inn , and there entered the shop of Mr. Mc- CheMan with whom he worked four years. learn- ug the trade of horseshoer. In 1873 he embarked in this business in New Canaan, in partnership with Mr. Hover. with whom he remained but a short time, establishing a shop of his own on South avenue, where he added carriage making to his other work His business prospering. he bought the land and built the factory at the cor- ner of East avenue and Forest street, where he continued h- business, forming a partnership with a Mr hatmond, under the firm name of Johnson & hatmond. They engaged in carnage making. an! a to conducted a livery business. having said the horseshoeing branch to Henry E. and Fhas R. J. inson, who still carry it on in New Cannal. They manufactured heavy and light waper - of various kinds, finding a ready market for their vehicles, which were always " up

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to the mark" for durability, style and workman- ship, a fact which fully accounts for the propor- tions to which the business grew. Mr. Johnson was active in local affairs, and served creditably in several public positions, such as constable, member of the school board, member of the board of burgesses, etc. He cast his vote with the | Norwalk, and three children came to this union, Democratic party.

Jn 1874 Mr. Johnson was married, in New Canaan, to Clarissa A. Weed, daughter of Andrew J. and Betsey (Banks) Weed, and they had four children, born as follows: Howard F., Decem- ber 28. 1875: George Herbert, September 16, 1881; Horace W., April 29. 1886; Clara Gladys, December 12, 1892. Fraternally, Mr. Johnson was a member, in good standing, of Wooster Lodge No. 37. I. O. O. F .: Commodore Perry Council No. 44. O. U. A. M .; and Olive Branch Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he was made a knight on January 30, 1890.

Medad Banks, Mrs. Johnson's maternal grand- father, was born in the town of Greenfield, Conn., a son of Nathan and Mabel (Bradley) Banks, the former of whom was a school teacher in his younger years. The family consisted of ten children: Mabel, Clarissa, Medad. Bradley, Marilda. Aaron, Betsey, Permelia. Nathan and Elv. of whom Permelia is the only survivor. Medad Banks was brought up in Greenfield. and was a lifelong agriculturist of Fairfield county. He married Polly Betts, of Greenfield. and they had eight children. namely: Morris, who is now deceased: Fanny (Mrs. Gould S. Weed). of White Oak Shade, New Canaan; Betsey, who married Andrew J. Weed; Bradley. deceased; Joel: Medad, deceased; Clarissa ( Mrs. George S. Banks), of Easton; and Melissa (Mrs. David H. Osborn), of Easton. The father of this family was an active member of the Baptist Church at Easton.

J OHNSON BROTHERS. This firm. com- posed of Henry E. and Elias R. Johnson, has done business in New Canaan for many years, and the brothers have a patronage of which they may well be proud, and a reputation second to none for good. honest work. They are great- great-grandsons of Henry Johnson. who lived in Greenwich, Conn., where he carried on farm- ing. His son. also named Henry, was a ship carpenter at Norwalk, Conn .. and married Abi- gail Raymond, of that town, by whom he had nine children, namely: Raymond. Ann, Edwin H., Elias, LeGrand, Caroline. Angeline, Mary, and Almira, all of whom are deceased.

Raymond Johnson was born in Norwalk, Conn., where he grew to manhood, meantime

learning the ship carpenter's trade with his father, and he followed same all his life. For eight years he was also engaged in farming at Salis- bury, Litchfield Co., Conn. At Norwalk Mr. Johnson married Julia A. Raymond, daughter of Gershom Raymond, of Five Mile River, town of

viz .: Henry; Deborah Ann, deceased wife of Henry Clark; and Raymond, who lives in West Norwalk. Henry Johnson, father of Henry E. and Elias R. Johnson, was born August 7, 1828, at Salisbury, Litchfield county, and was reared in the town of Norwalk, Fairfield county. Early in life he received practical instruction in farm work, and he has made agriculture his life occu- pation, though he has also done considerable work as a stonemason. As above stated, he still lives in West Norwalk, where he has made his home for over sixty years, highly respected as an industrious. honest citizen, one who would be a credit to any community. He was married. in New York State, to Sarah Ann Gregory. daugh- ter of George B. Gregory, of Henrietta, N. Y .. and they became the parents of four children. three sons and one daughter. namely: George F .. Henry E., Elias R., and Annie M .. who is the wife of Robert M. Seymour, of West Nor- walk. and has three children-Robert, Sarah E., and Eugene.

Henry E. and Elias R. Johnson passed their boyhood days on their father's farm at W'est Nor- walk, and went to the neighboring district schools for their literary training. At the age of eigh- teen Henry went to Bridgeport, Conn., to learn the trade of horseshoer. working for three years in that town with Edward McClellan, after which he came to New Canaan, where for some time he was employed in the shop of his brother, George F. He was in partnership with him for a while. but finally he and his brother Elias R., who had also learned his trade under Mr. Mc- Clellan at Bridgeport, bought out the elder brother's business, which they have carried on on in partnership ever since-a period of thirteen or fourteen years. Their standing in the com- munity, both as citizens and as business men, is sufficient evidence of their success, which is an- other example of what hard work, coupled with thrift and enterprise, can accomplish.

Henry E. Johnson was married. in New Ca- naan. to Mary F. Weed, sister of J. A. Weed, and they have two sons-Henry W. and Edwin F. Mr. Johnson and his brother in social connection are members of Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M., Woos- ter Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Commodore Perry Council. O. U. A. M., and Elias R. Johnson also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.

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Has K when was married, in Found Ridge. Worker (c. " S. to Frames Ficamos Louis, daughter of Frank Davis, and they also have two som -J has R., Jr .. and

T' HUMAN SMITH. Harper, town of Water.

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- feront tens he was enposed in Einennat :. Che. and I. S.8. \ 3. tot he passed the premier

ford. Little gid to . Com ... he was started in natt age with M'a Mala Samman, daughter of Han Serran, at &theyle ane the patented Are af Sommate. and Howard Father, attivoichat and surgeon of Georgetown. ( . 11) Inpoate. Me Maisfeld was at het a Whip but on the I maten of the Repetia an parts be west his la times support, and con- rund wo to de catal ha dith. December 4. not BewanmioSt. Paul's kapal Church, at brockbe A Cette)

Arthur Startar. Mangeit has passed In the life in the town of hersteld He acquired la education in the hal wheels for a short time attending a c'estoch of, and after leaving school be at once tugan fuming, which he has made his life with Is a ode que he runs a Sage cider mill. equipped with improved proces. Steam ent hes, die , and. a. and fit on to supplying inal customers. l. bean output of atout 9:0 his sine years he has de. .: :: n to this work and i as constantly are they want Like his father. Mr. Mansfield soirs the hope! inan ticket. He has held a regler of water offices, and at pres- ent is seien ton of this town. Socially, he is a render of Un nl. 're No. so. F. & A. M. at Danbury, Center! "

On September e. g. Arthur S. Marsfeld was married to I proce 1 ... daughter of Wil- Iam J. and Soplat theerst Kelling of beach. fold They are serrated in the work of ". Pauls Episcopal thanh, of which they are members.

J OHN OLDENSCHLAGER, a prominent resident of South Norwalk, is a self-made man whose industry and thrift are character- istic of his German blood and training. Be- inning his business career without capital or influential friends, he has progressed gradually but surely on the path to prosperity, until he now ( wis an extensive establishment for the manu- future of cigars and tobacco, employing a large . number of hands.

Mr. Oldenschlager was born near Hamburg. Germany, in 1856. a son of Peter and- throwper Oldenschlager, both natives of Germany. In 12;1 the family came to America, and the father spent his remaining years upon a farm near Oralife. N ] Our subject was the youngest of three children, the others being Peter, a retired radent of Orange, N. J., who was formerly en- Laped in business there as a baker; and Jacob, a prover, now retired.

Our subject was fifteen years of age when he left the Fatherland, and his education was ob- talked in the common schools near his early home. On arriving in Orange, N. J., he became a baker. and for two years was associated with his brothers in that business. Later he went to St. Louis. and during his three-years' stay there learned the (par makers trade. He then returned to the I ist, and for a time followed his trade in New York, but in 1879 be settled in this county, for four years being employed as a cigar maker in Norwalk. In 1883 he began business for him- sell in a very small way in South Norwalk. where he has ever since conducted a growing trade, and in his factory, at No. 104 Washington street, he not only manufactures cigars, but also prepares tobacco in packages for the market.

Mr. Oldenschlager married Miss Delia Wolf, who was born in New Canaan, this county, and is of German descent. They have two daugh- ters, Louisa and Minnie. The family is identi- ford with the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Oldenschlager is a member, and he also belongs to the German Lodge, Order of Red Men, and to the Maennerchor. Politically, his sympathies are with the Democratic party in National affairs, but at local elections he votes for the best man. according to his own judgment.

G FORGE MEACHEN, a successful market gardener of Stratford, furnishes a good ex- ample of thrift and enterprise, as his prosperity is the result of his own well-directed efforts.

Mr. Meachen was born July 9. 1845. at Pat- erson, N. J., and is descended from good old Eng- lish stock. His grandparents lived and died in

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

England, but six of their sons came to America. Of these, Charles. now deceased, settled at San- dusky, Ohio, and engaged in gardening; Robert was a gardener at New Haven, where he died a few years ago; James, who is living in retirement in Stratford, was formerly a gardener; William, our subject's father. is mentioned more fully be- low; Edward, deceased, was a gardener at Mich- igan City, Ind .; and Henry, who followed the same occupation in Stratford for some time, is now living in Indiana.

his thorough knowledge of all the details of his | calling, and by the success he has made in it.

Mr. Turner is an Englishman, having been born at Denton, near Manchester, England, March 19, 1871, and is the son of John and Jane (Ashworth) Turner, both of the same nativity, the former of whom, born in 1836, died in 1884; the mother, born Apri! 6, 1837. is still living at Denton. The father was a son of William Tur- ner, a pioneer in the hat-manufacturing industry at Denton, England. The mother was a daugh-

William Meachen, father of our subject. was | ter of John Ashworth, also a pioneer in the same born in England. He has always taken a keen i industry in Denton. John Turner started in the

interest in the questions of the day, is a stanch Republican in politics, and in religious connec- | tion is a member of the Methodist Church. He | man, from which modest nucleus the business i machine-manufacturing business at Denton in 1860, in a small way, employing at first only one married Miss Ann Carr, of England, who died in | has developed in the passing years to its present · magnificent proportions, employment being given, I in one way or another, in Denton (England) and ! Danbury (Conn.), to over four hundred men.

1858, and they had seven children: Margaret, wife of Charles Holah, of East Bridgeport; George, our subject; Annie, who married George W. Dew, formerly a merchant, but now a farmer, of Greenfield Hill: Sarah (deceased), who mar-

To John and Jane (Ashworth) Turner were I born eight children, a brief record of whom is as ried William Paddock, a jeweler of Bridgeport; I follows: (1) Mary married Lewis Barber, a hat William, a market gardener in Stratford: Charles, ; manufacturer of Denton, England, where they a broom manufacturer in Bridgeport: and Lizzie, : reside. (2) Henry Herbert is a partner with our wife of Thomas W. Wyre, a clothier at New : subiect in the business at Danbury, and has his Haven.

' residence on Fairview avenue, in that city: he William J. and Margaret (Weston) Allkin, and I they have one child-Gladys. (3) Albert is also ; interested in the Turner Machine Company's . works at Danbury. and has charge of the work at Denton; he resides at Western Lea, Auden-

Our subject's boyhood was spent chiefly in i married Miss Constance Allkin, a daughter of Dr. Jersey City, where he attended school, and after- ' ward engaged for a few years in gardening. Later he became interested in the meat business, which he followed four years, and in 1869 he located in this county, engaging in market gar- 1 dening at Stratford. He has about twelve acres ' shaw, near Manchester, England. (4) Nellie of land under cultivation, and his careful and , married William Jacques. of Audenshaw, and judicious management is shown in all the ai- . they have two children-Fred and Lewis. (5) rangements. Mr. Mcachen is influential in local : Eliza married Frederick W. Pinshon (now de- affairs, having been one of the wardens of the , ceased), of Harrogate, Yorkshire, England, and borough before its annexation to Bridgeport, I has one child-Eveline. (6) Arnold, our sub- while at various times he has served in other po- | ject, is next in the order of birth. (7) Clara , and (8) William Ernest (both unmarried) live at

ious faith he is a Methodist, and socially he is | Denton, England.

sitions, including that of prand juror. In rehg- vears. In 1867 he married Miss Fannie Pyle. connected with St. John's Lodge. F. & A. M .. at

Arnold Turner received his elementary edu- Stratford, and with the Housatonic Grange. of . cation at the public schools of his native place, which he has been a member for twenty seven : later attending the grammar schools in Manches- i ter, and then pursuing a course of study at Vic- daughter of Emanuel Pyle, a well-known Jesi- I toria University, in the same city. On leaving dent of Jersey City. and they have one son. George C., who is still at home. college he went to France and studied French : under a private tutor: he also traveled consider- · ably all over Europe. in order to become ac- · quainted with the various languages, after leav-

A ARNOLD TURNER. Every business or i ing France visiting Germany, Austria, Hungary, profession has its prominent men, some Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and made so by long experience, others by their pro- ! Holland-in all spending several years in these ficiency in their particular occupation. The sub- . countries. Not only did he occupy himself in ject of these lines is conspicuous among ma- . acquiring the several languages, but he made chinists and manufacturers both on account of | himself acquainted, also, with the hat trade in

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1835 --

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In it , Henry H Trates came from Eng .

ind to the United States, and established the piro.i.t .: ties in Danbury, which now gives capi vient to from seventy have to one hundred Lands, who invariably receive good wages. In Is part of the present butidings for the works were per " red, and from year to year, as the !..... Hattemed. they have been extended or es sind to meet the demand. In 1893 our sub- "it satte to America for the first time, and since then has divided his attention alternately boven the firm's works at Danbury and those at Detten Ing and. He has a large acquaint- atce in the hat-manufacturing industry, being As an to tearis all the hat manufacturers in to th Europe and America. He holds the most p .... nt relations with his employes on both .i. of the Atlantic, and has been the recipient at anysouvenirs from them as tokens of esteem, w! ch he well ments.

Battute of Freetrical Engineers of Great Brit- at and his political sympathies, on this side of the Atlantic, are with the Republican party- "tur fing and no favors " He is unmarried.

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INDEX.

PAGE

TAI.I

Baldwin, Caleb.

1 ... .

Beach, Judge John 1297

Beach, Rev. John

1297

Baldwin. Charles Y.

Beach, John H

656

Beach, Mrs. Laura A. 746

Beach, Marshall, Sr .. 598

11 .

A.A

Halinu. Waldo R

Beach, Hon. Samuel B 47

DDS

. 1

Hanke. ( Lincoln, M. D.

1 :-

Beach, William F

918

Banks, Dwight M ..

A.il

Beard Families

651, 723

Hanks. Edward

Beard, J. H.

1151

Hanks. Hearkiab

Beardsley, Aaron T

:14

Hanks. Horace B.

Beardsley, Asa B ...

1267

Hanks, Irving )

301

Beardsley, Charles F

1024

1.400

Banks, Mrs. Mary E.

13:52

Beardsley Families .. 316, 1267

643

A. r. l.r .ir 11

Banks. Truman A.

179

, Beardsley, Henry N.

678

Barber, Alvin E., M. D

1:43

Beardsley, Hiram

648

A .. .... Iroos

Harber, Henry A

Beardsley, Israel A

1267

A .... .......

4:4

And. et Fattura

Harlow Family.

Beardsl. y, Webster B

316

Harlow, John H.

Beardsley, William N.

Harlow, Talcont.

Beardsley, William S.

Au! er Iral.

Harnum, David B

12-1

Beardsley, William W

317

Aber. W . am

:4:

Harnum, Fli C

33. 45. 11:

Beckerle, Peter ..

1240

Beckerle, William

1142

Andrews Bul

Barnum, George W

1217

Bedient, James B.

1251

Ardores Cut Juin 1 ..

:47

Barnum, Mrs. Jane.

Beecher, Alva B

1014

Augur. (art. D. C.

Harnum, Phineas T.

12-1

Beecher, William J 826

Beehler, William 1168

980

Austin, Kro David K.

244

Barrett Family.

Beers, Hon. Alfred B.

584

Austin Fam.

243

Barrett, Henry A .

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 269

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