Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 28

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

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ricultural pursuits, interrupted only by the long struggle of the colonies for independence, during which he served as a lieutenant.

Daniel Curtis, the grandfather of Hon. Charles B. Curtis, was a native of Stratford, where he was reared, and after his marriage to Betsey Pixlee he settled on a farm there, where he and his wife both passed away. Their chil- dren were Sheldon P., Peter P., Charles H., Mary (Mrs. Nathan Birdsey), Margaret (Mrs. Morgan Curtis) and Elizabeth (Mrs. Edward Fitch).

Sheldon P. Curtis, our subject's father, was born in Stratford, and grew to manhood at the old homestead. He learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which he followed for some years in Strat- ford and Bridgeport, finally settling upon a farm in Stratford, where he died in 1876. He was a Republican in politics, and was active in religious matters as a member of the Congregational Church. His wife, Sallie (McEwen), now de- ceased, was of Scotch descent, and was a daugh- ter of Joel McEwen, a native of Stratford. Of their four children, Robert William is a well- known resident of Stratford; Alfred H. (deceased) was a merchant in New York City; Charles B., our subject, was the third in order of birth; and Frederick (deceased) was in partnership with his brother Alfred.

Charles B. Curtis was born November 20, 1839, at the old home in Stratford, and attended the public schools and the academy in that town. On leaving school, at the age of eighteen, he en- gaged in general farming, which he has continued ever since on an estate of twenty-five acres, near Stratford village. He married Miss Sadie Strong, daughter of Pond and Clarissa (Chatfield) Strong, of Milford, Conn., and one child has blessed the union: Pauline Strong Curtis, who is at home. Mr. Curtis and his family are prominent socially, and his beautiful home is the center of a refined and luxurious hospitality. He is in sympathy with the work of the Congregational Church, in which he was reared, and is identified with vari- ous organizations, including the Stratford Social Club. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and it would be easier to mention the township offices that he has not held than those he has held. He has served as selectman many times, and has been especially active as a member of the school board, acting at one time as a member of the building committee. For eight years he was deputy sheriff under Robert L. Clarkson, and in 1876 he was elected to the Legislature, serving one term acceptably. In 1898 he was again elected as a selectman of his township, and is now filling that incumbency.

J OHN G. STEVENS, M. D. (deceased), was for several years a successful physician in Monroe, Fairfield county, having commenced practice there in 1884. He was considered one of the valuable citizens of the place, both as a professional man and as an active, public-spirited worker for the general welfare of the community in which he lived.

The Doctor was a native of Milford, Conn., born March 2, 1838, of English ancestry, his great-great-grandfather, Hezekiah Stevens, hav- ing come from England to Connecticut, settling in Brookfield, where his son Hezekiah (great- grandfather of Doctor Stevens) was born. The children of this Hezekiah were as follows: Three sons-Zalmon, Albert and Seth-and two daugh- ters, one of whom, Sarah, married Daniel Bar- low; no record of the other.

Zalmon Stevens, grandfather of Doctor Ste- vens, was a native of Brookfield, Conn., where he passed his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm there, which was one of no mean proportions. He was twice married, first time to Orinda Warner, by whom he had three children: Lucy, Betsey and Warner. For his second wife he married Lydia Williams, and by her had eight children: Caroline, Charles, Barlow M., Elmira, Eliza, Alonzo, Edwin and George.

Barlow M. Stevens, father of Doctor Stevens, was born December 23, 1811, in Brookfield, Conn., was there reared and educated, and be- came a mechanic by occupation. For many years he was employed in the repair shop of the Housa- tonic railroad. Later he was one of the first contractors in the Howe Sewing Machine factory at Bridgeport, in which city he made his home while so engaged. He prospered in business, and earned a comfortable competence. He mar- ried Laura A. Fairchild, daughter of Joseph Fair- child, of Taunton, Newtown, and they had three children, all of whom are now deceased: Laura, who died in infancy; John G., our subject, and Henry W., a brief sketch of whom follows. The. father died in 1883; the mother is still living. He was one of the most ardent Abolitionists of New Milford in slavery days, and later was one of the first members of the Republican party. Frater- nally he was an Odd Fellow, one of the earliest members of the order in this State; in religious faith he was a Presbyterian, a prominent member and active official of the First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport.

Henry W. Stevens was born January 9, 1843, in New Milford, Conn., but was reared in Bridgeport, where he passed his entire life, with the exception of the time he was absent at the front during the war of the Rebellion. He be-

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came a druggist, and for many years was en- gaged in Booth's drug store in Bridgeport. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourteenth Conn. V. I., and served three years, during which time he was taken prisoner at Bristoe Station. He was confined in Libby Prison, Belle Isle, Anderson- ville, and at Macon, Ga., being incarcerated sev- enteen months in all. After the war he was with his father for many years, or until the fac- iory burned; then succeeded him as contractor, and so continued until in 1883 he took possession of the Warner Pharmacy at No. 171 East Main street, and carried same on some thirteen years, or until his death, which occurred May 25, 1898. He was a Republican in politics, and at the time of his decease was serving as alderman for the Sixth ward of the city of Bridgeport. Soci- ally, he was a member of the G. A. R., and was past commander of Post No. 3, at Bridgeport. He was in every way a man highly esteemed and much beloved by all who knew him. He mar- ried Mary E. Stevens, daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Fairchild) Stevens, of Bethel, Conn .; they had no children.

John G. Stevens received his early English education in the public schools of Bridgeport, which he attended until he was about sixteen or eighteen years old. After leaving school he en- tered the drug store of Crofoot & Lyon, remain- ing with them and their successors for three or four years, until, in 1858, he bought out a sim- ilar business in State street, in which he had for a partner a Mr. Thayer, the firm name becom- ing Thayer & Stevens. Our subject continued in this enterprise until August, 1862, when he responded to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men for nine months' service by enlisting in Com- pany I, 23rd Conn. V. I., which went to the front under Colonel Holmes. This regiment was with Banks in the Gulf expedition; the Doctor was captured at Brashear City, La., June 23, 1863, and confined thirteen months in Confeder- ate prison, being released in August, 1864, and re- turned to the provost marshal's office in Bridge- port, Conn. He held the rank of first lieutenant all through his term of service. On his return to the pursuits of peace he again engaged in busi- ness, carrying on the Old City drug store, in State street, of which he was in reality the founder, its location being the old stand of Thayer & Stevens. The establishment is at present sit- uated in Main street, and is owned and conducted by Fred S. Stevens, to whom the Doctor sold out in 1872. In that year he relinquished busi- ness interests to devote himself to preparation for his profession. In 1882 he matriculated in the medical department of Yale College, grad-

uated in 1884, and in the same year settled in Monroe. He was very successful in that vicinity in his profession, gaining a high standing among his patients and brother physicians generally, and was prominent in the public life of the town from the time he made his settlement here. In 1886 he was the choice of the Republican party for representative to the State Legislature, where he served one term, and he was elected to numer- ous local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. He was a mem- ber of the school board; member of the board of selectmen (elected on the Republican ticket, al- though the party was in the minority), in which he served one term; justice of the peace for the last ten or twelve years; health officer of the town; and medical examiner. His interest in the progress and advancement of the town was shown in a most practical manner, and called forth admiration and esteem from all who know him. He was equally prominent in fraternal work, and was a charter member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 102, F. & A. M. (in which he was formerly very active); of Jerusalem Chapter, R. A. M., and of the Masonic Council-all in Bridge- port; member of the Grange, in which he was master; and was one of the founders of Elias Howe, Jr., Post, No. 3, G. A. R., of Bridgeport, which is now one of the largest posts in the State of Connecticut.

In 1868 the Doctor was married to Miss A. Elma Beardsley, daughter of Samuel B. Beard- sley, of Monroe, and one daughter, Elma, who lives at home, was born to them. Dr. Stevens attended the services of the Congregational Church of Monroe. He died March 28, 1899. after a short illness caused by heart trouble.

R ADCLIFF HUDSON, who for the past thirty years has lived retired in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., is a native of this State, born September 20, 1821, in the city of Hartford. His early life, which was spent in his native place, passed without incident; but after reaching man- hood he led an adventurous and active career for a number of years. When a young man he went to Texas, volunteering for six months in one campaign against the Cherokee Indians. In the Sante Fe expedition, 1841, he was elected to the rank of captain, and later he was taken prisoner and confined in Mexico, but he managed to make his escape, and he returned to his native city.

The Hudsons were well represented in the Civil war; Col. Henry W. Hudson (who died at Syracuse, N. Y., in 1887) served with distinction in the Peninsula and Maryland campaigns, in

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command of the Eighty-second N. Y. V. I .; Capt. Edward McK. Hudson, lieutenant-colonel, U. S. army, and a graduate of West Point, was aide-de-camp to General McClellan at the period of his command of the Army of the Potomac, after which he was sent to his company in the field, and he was severely wounded while leading a charge of his regiment in the Wilderness. He retired, and died at Washington in 1891.

On his return to Hartford, as above men- tioned, Mr. Hudson took up the business of paper manufacturing, in which his father and grand- father had also been engaged, and continued same for a number of years. He soon after went to Buenos Ayres, South America, where his brother William H. Hudson was United States consul, remaining some months. While there he was placed in charge of horses shipped by the English Government to Calcutta, India, this being the time of the Indian mutiny there. Mr. Hudson was twice married, first time September 20, 1849, to Maria Rotch, daughter of Francis Rotch, of New Bedford, and later of the . Grove," Morris, Otsego Co., N. Y. She died in 1854, leaving two children, viz .: (1) Anne Rotch, now the widow of Charles W. Morgan, late of Philadelphia, who had been domiciled in France for over thirty years. (2) Frank Rotch Hudson, born in 1854, lived to be about twelve years old, and died at the residence of his grandfather in Morris. Mr. Hudson re- moved to Stamford in 1868. On April 23, 1890, he was married, in that place, to Eliza Hamilton Holly. a member of an old and honored Connec- ticut family, with which Mr. Hudson is also con- nected. Socially, he is a member of the Royal Arch Masons, with which he united in Hartford, and in religious connection he is a member of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, in Stam- ford.

The Holly family was one of the earliest to set- tle at Stamford, Conn., and they trace their an- cestors to (1) John Holly, who was born in 1618 in England. This gentleman came to America in 1630, and in 1642 settled in Stamford, in which community he was one of the most active and prominent business men. He soon became iden- tified with the public affairs of the settlement, holding various offices of trust and importance, and was a man of opulence and influence among his neighbors and fellow men generally. In 1643 he was made marshal of the court; in 1644, ap- praiser of estates; in 1655 and 1667, a member of the Arbitration committee between England and the Indians; in 1667 member of the committee on the boundary question be- tween Greenwich and Stamford; and he also

served on the building committee for the Congre- gational meeting house. His death occurred May 25, 1681. By his wife Mary he had eight children, namely: Samuel (born in 1641), In- crease, Abigail, John, Hannah, Bethia, Elisha and Jonathan.

(2) Increase Holly, born August 20, 1643, was married on April 2, 1678, to Elizabeth New- man, who was born in 1654, daughter of Will- iam Newman. Mrs. Holly passed away in 1713, Mr. Holly surviving until March 1, 1726. They had four children: John, Jonathan, Joseph and Nathan.

(3) John Holly, born March 29, 1679, died December 20, 1718. On January 6, 1703, he married Susannah Selleck, who was born Sep- tember 5, 1682, daughter of Capt. John Selleck, and died September 20, 1745. They had two children, both named John, the first of whom died in infancy.

(4) John Holly, born November 10, 1705, died December 21, 1786. He was quite a prom- inent man in Stamford, in which town he held office, serving as selectman for twenty-four years, from 1750 to 1774, and representing the town as agent at the general court. He was an officer in the French and Indian war. On January 9, 1728, he married Hannah Slauson, who passed away January 11, 1776. They were the parents of six children, namely: Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Jemima and Kezia.

(5) John Holly, born February 2, 1735, was a lieutenant in the Royal navy, and was lost at sea in 1778, while on a cruise. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of William and Deborah King, and she passed away in 1802, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. Their family con- sisted of five children: John William, Elizabeth, David, Hannah and Mary.

(6) John William Holly, born March 8, 1762, was the maternal grandfather of Radcliff Hud- son. When fourteen years of age he was placed under the protection of the British army, and lived at New York and Lloyd's Neck, L. I., un- til twenty years old, when he returned to Stam- ford. In 1792 he built a dam and flourmills at the "Cove," where he also erected a dwelling house; he was the owner of " Cove Farm." On March 8, 1787, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Welles, daughter of Rev. Noah Welles, and six children were born to them: Maria Theodosia, John Melancthon (1) (who died in in- fancy), John Melancthon (2), William Welles, Abigail Elizabeth and Alfred Appellos. Mr. and Mrs. Holly died September 23, 1838, and March 13, 1859, respectively.

(7) Maria Theodosia Holly was born August

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24, 1788, and December 3, 1807, became the wife of Henry Hudson, who was a prominent citizen of Hartford, Conn. Mr. Hudson was a native of that city, and one of its well-to-do busi- ness men, being engaged in paper manufac- turing. He served at one time as mayor of Hartford. He was twice married, his first wife being Maria Trumbull, daughter of Gov. Jona- than Trumbull. To his union with Maria T. Holly came nine children, of whom only two- Radcliff and Elizabeth-are now living; John Holly; Melancthon; Maria; Henry W., who served in the Civil war, as colonel of the 82nd N. Y. V. I .; Radcliff (mentioned above); Hannah; William Holly, who was for many years United States Consul at Buenos Ayres; Edward Mc- Kenny, who served in the United States army during the Civil war, being aide to Gen. G. B. McClellan; and Elizabeth, who is in France. The mother of this family passed away Decem- ber 27, 1870.

(6) David Holly, born April 24, 1768, was a large land owner in Stamford, and one of the most progressive, enterprising citizens of his day. He put up the dwelling, flourmills and dock at the Waterside, erected the iron mills on West Main street, owned vessels, and did an extensive business in flour and iron. His name headed the petition for the first borough charter in 1830. On November 13, 1788, he married Martha Coggeshall, who was born November 11, 1768, daughter of William Coggeshall, of Old Milford, Conn., and a direct descendant of John Cogges- hall, who was one of the first settlers of Rhode Island and its first magistrate. Mrs. Holly died . December 3, 1804, and her husband survived her many years, passing away November 2, 1843. They had eight children: David, William C., John Albert, Augustus, Mary Stiles, Elizabeth King, Sidney Augustus and Martha C.

(7) David Holly, born September 19, 1789, was married January 19, 1824, by Rev. A. S. Todd, to Sally C. Smith, and died February 28, 1854. He was reared and educated in Stam- ford, and subsequently engaged in the iron works there. He made a number of sea voyages to various foreign ports. Religiously be was a member of St. John's Church, of Stamford, and socially of Union Lodge, F. & A. M. Mrs. Sally C. Holly was born March 8, 1796, in New York City, daughter of Moses Smith and granddaughter of Charles Phillips, of New York. She died April 13, 1881. Their three children were Charles Moses, born November 18, 1826, died December 31, 1887; Eliza Hamilton, born July 22, 1831, is the wife of Radcliff Hudson; and Margaret Phillips, born December 1, 1834, died

January 6, 1891. Charles M. Holly was a very popular and well-known man in Stamford, where he was prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party for thirty years, and for many years he served as selectman. He was a member of the F. & A. M. In all his transactions he was the personification of integrity. A man of the most genial personal qualities, his death was most un- iversally regretted.

(7) Sidney Augustus Holly was married by Rev. Dr. Schroeder to Eliza Hamilton, daughter of the famous Alexander Hamilton.

BRAINERD W. MAPLES, manager and ed- itor of the Norwalk Hour, and president of the Norwalk Printing Company, Norwalk, Fair- field county, whose wide experience and prac- tical knowledge have proved him an invaluable member of "the fourth estate," is a native of Connecticut, born April 25, 1837, at Norwich, New London county.

Stephen Maples, his great-grandfather, a far- mer by occupation, and a Revolutionary hero, was born at Montville, Conn., and was descended from an English family, who, on landing in the New World, first located in Massachusetts, finally removing to Connecticut, where they made a permanent settlement. David Maples, son of Stephen, and grandfather of Brainerd W., was also born at Montville, and was a farmer and stone-mason.

David L. Maples, father of our subject, was a farmer at Montville, Conn., the place of his birth, and he there learned carpentry. From Montville he moved, in 1836, to Norwich, New London county, where he was a well-known car- penter and contractor for nearly half a century, dying there in 1883. By his wife, Lucinda (Wells), whom he married just before removing to Norwalk, he had two children: William L., a retired officer of the U. S. navy, and now living in Manassas, Va .; and Brainerd W. The father was originally a Whig in his political proclivities, later a Republican, but he never held office of any kind, as he was averse to the principle. In religious faith he and his antecedents were Bap- tists.

B. W. Maples, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, attended the local schools of his place of birth, after which he spent three years as an apprentice to the printing business, and when fifteen years old he graduated from "devil " to journeyman. At that time he went to Philadelphia and worked at his trade there about a couple of years, when he returned to Nor- wich and taught a district school one year, once

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more, at the end of that time, taking up printing. In 1857 he entered the Connecticut State Normal School, where he graduated with the class of '58, after which he taught in various schools in Connecticut-at Preston, Wallingford, Clinton, Cheshire, and finally at Bridgeport. While in the latter city the news reached him of the break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion, and he con- sequently left the school, and, proceeding to Norwich, opened a recruiting office. After a time he himself enlisted, but was rejected at New Haven because of his lacking front teeth where- with to bite off the ends of the cartridges, but his brother William unhesitatingly took his place and went to the front.

In the fall of 1861 our subject went to New York as assistant teacher in Grammar School No. 40, and remained in that capacity until 1877, in which year he became acting principal of the Fourteenth Street School, during all of which time, however, he was connected with the print- ing business more or less, writing extensively for the New York Herald, the " Scientific Monthly." and other newspapers and periodicals. All this time he was living in Westport, Conn., taking train to and fro. He had a night school, and as many as 3, 300 pupils were enrolled, the largest attendance in one school ever known, whilst at one time he could enumerate over three thousand young men-bookkeepers-who had received in- structions at his school.

In May, 1871, Mr. Maples and Judge Whit- ing. of New York, established the Westport Hour, with the office in Westport; but a year later they moved it and the plant to Norwalk (the name of the paper being changed to Norwalk Hour), at which time our subject resigned his school con- nection at New York, and has since given his entire attention to the paper, of which he is editor and manager; he is also president of the Norwalk Printing Co., a private concern, himself, sons and daughters being proprietors of same. The poli- tics of the Hour are purely independent, and it is a clean, newsy family journal.

In 1862 Mr. Maples was united in marriage with Amelia N. Meeker, of Westport, Fairfield county, daughter of William Meeker, who was captain of a merchant ship, and four children were born to them: Clara, William K., Mary and James W., all at home and unmarried; the sons are employed with their father in the print- ing office.

Socially, our subject is a member of the F. & A. M., and is president of the Masonic Benevo- lent Association. He is also identified with the Norwalk Club, a very successful social organiza- tion which he assisted in starting; has been pres-

ident of the Connecticut State Editorial Associa- tion, and chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Editorial Association. In mat- ters pertaining to the public welfare he has ever taken an active interest, among which may be mentioned the two-cent-per-mile railroad rate in Connecticut, which he was instrumental in hav- ing fixed. In all things he is enterprising and public-spirited, and to all the positions he has been called to fill he has brought a highly dis- ciplined and well-equipped mind.

'ON. HIRAM KEELER SCOTT, of Ridge- field, where he has been a most prominent man for fifty years, enjoys the rare distinction seldom given to any man-that of more than a half century's, continuous service to the public. A record of thirty-three years as judge of probate, thirty-five as town clerk, thirty-five as justice of the peace, and many years as postmaster and school-teacher, in one community, needs no com- ment.

This venerable gentleman, though nearly an octogenarian, is still "in harness "-keeping the town records. He has descended from ancestors who have been identified with the growth and development of the town of Ridgefield for nearly 200 years. David Scott, the first of the Fair- field county Scotts, came from Fairfield, Conn., in 1712, and bought a portion of the 20,000-acre tract of the Purchase of 1708 from the Rampo tribe of Indians. This tract purchased by David Scott embraced about one twenty-eighth part of the town of Ridgefield, and is known as " Scott's Ridge." The land was bought from Mary Bou- ton (widow of John Bouton) and children June 11, 1712. David Scott was a farmer by occu- pation. On coming to the town of Ridgefield he brought with him a son, James, who on April 24, 1722, married Hannah Hyatt, and had children: Thomas, born February 3, 1725; David, born February 24, 1727; Sarah, born August 12, 1729; and Hannah, born October 3, 1731. David Scott (2), the direct ancestor in line succeeded to a portion of his father's estate, and resided thereon during his lifetime. He married on August 4, 1751. Hannah Smith, and the marriage was blessed with the following children: David (3), born June 11, 1752; James, born January 2, 1754. married September 6, 1782, Lucretia Olmsted; Gideon, born December 12, 1755, mar- ried Annie Burt: Sarah, born February 11, 1758, married a Mr. Mather, of Darien; Jeremiah, born Feb. 10, 1770, married, in 1794. Amelia Wake- man; Gould, born June 28, 1778; Thomas, born February 14, 1763; Hannah, born April 26, 1765,

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 28

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