Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 31

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

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Mr. Smith was for five years pastor at West Granville, then the next twenty-seven years were passed in Connecticut. Abington, his first par- i ish, retained his services until August 11, 1863; | in bringing the paper up to a high standard, and Burlington, until 1867; Newtown for six years; : Greenfield Hill until July 31, 1877; and, finally, Staffordville, until November 1, 1879. From Staffordville he went to South Amherst,

Mass., where a father's bequest had made it pos- sible for him to secure a small place at which to end his days, and help some of his boys through college-at his own Alma Mater. He supplied the South Amherst pulpit, but closed his labors at Shutesbury, ten miles from his South Amherst home, where he began a yearly supply April 10, 1880. His death occurred on August 10, 1882. Rev. Smith was a successful pastor. He was a pastor rather than a preacher, but many a word of his has lingered to comfort and sustain the Christian hope. He threw heart and soul, him- self, his family and all the resources he could command into his parish work, and his genial smile has been a benediction in many a house- hold. In all matters of public moment he was prominent, taking a leading part with other citi- zens, a man among men. With scarcely an in- termission, for stalwart health, boundless push and an indomitable will kept him at work almost every Sunday during his whole ministry.

Abington, Rev. Smith's longest pastorate, was also the birthplace of most of his children: Horace D., born November 8, 1852, died in in- fancy; Clara W. (Rev. Mrs. Thresher), born Feb- ruary 9. 1854; Sarah M. (Mrs. Jenks), January 23, 1856; Robert D., October 4. 1857; Willie D. (a graduate of Amherst College), June 7, 1859; Charles H., April 11, 1861, and Henry M., Jan- uary 5, 1863; Horace died a babe of nine months; Allison P. was born October 27, 1866, at Bur- lington; Arthur J. and Emily L. were born in Newtown, March 10, 1868, and May 12, 1870, respectively.

Reuben H. Smith, the eldest surviving son of a country clergyman with a large family, early in life learned what hardship was. When his fa- ther was preaching at Burlington, although but a lad, he worked for a time in an axe-works at Collinsville, and frequently on Monday morning in winter the six miles to work through snow storms were walked. His tenderness and care in looking after his numerous small brothers and sisters is a matter of history which broadened his heart for the children which in later years blessed his home. At eighteen he learned typesetting on the Waterbury American, and in a short time assisted in the make-up of the paper. At twenty- two he entered Berea College in Kentucky, re- mained one year and then returned to Waterbury as the editor of the American. His work on that newspaper spoke for itself. He succeeded when he left it was one of the best known and most quoted journals in the State. His next po- sition was on the Springfield Republican, a paper which has always had a high standing from a

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literary and news standpoint. His experience on the American fitted him for his new work, and it was not long before editors Clark and Griffin discovered his real worth. He wrote a series of articles on education in the South, which attracted wide attention, and required months to gather the material. Although nominally hold- ing the position as "exchange editor," he con- tributed largely to the editorial columns. Night work, however, was very disagreeable to Mr. Smith, and it was with regret that editor Griffin accepted his resignation to come to the Newtown Bec. Mr. Smith's success on the Bee has largely been augmented by the assistance Mrs. Smith has given him, who in recent years has taken an active hand in the office work. During the years of his residence in Newtown, and years of service on the Bee, there were few men more esteemed in the community and in the county at large than was he of whom we write. Honesty of purpose. and a hardworker, he brought the Bee up to a high standard. True to his convictions, strictly honest in his dealings with his fellow men, he won respect and admiration on every side. Up- right in character, he is unswerving in loyalty to duty and to God. Mr. Smith retired from the Bee in October, 1892, to engage in newspaper work at Riverside, Cal., and after a period there he returned to the East and became con- nected with the Religious Herald, of which he is now editor and proprietor.

Mr. Smith married Miss Rebecca Webb, of Waterbury, Conn., and has five children living.

ALLISON P. and ARTHUR J. SMITH received the benefit of a good education, completing their studies in the public schools at Amherst. In September, 1882, Allison P. came to Newtown, and for a year and a half was in the office of the Bec with his eldest brother, during which time he learned the printing trade. Thence he went to Springfield, Mass., and took a position in the composing room with the Phelps Publishing Com- pany. the publishers of the New England Home- stead. Springfield Homestead and the Agricul- tural Homestead. It was not long until some of his occasional contributions attracted the atten- tion of Edward H. Phelps, the able editor-in- chief, who became interested in the young man and invited his services on the reportorial staff, and from that time on for eight years he did re- porting and editorial work on the several publi- cations of the company, chiefly on the Home- stead. He was complimented by being made the representative of the Springfield District for the Zion Herald of Boston, one of the leading papers of the M. E. Church in the United States. This position was given to the young reporter and

editor at the solicitation of the ministers of Springfield, his work in the district comprising some sixty-five Churches. His historical writ- tings in this work attracted much attention. His next field of labor was on the Newtown Bec, which is referred to farther on. Mr. Smith was mar- ried, in May, 1890, to Miss Hattie, daughter of Frederick S. Hazen, of Springfield, Mass., and has one child, Hazel Hazen Smith.

Arthur J. Smith, after the completion of his studies at Amherst, learned the jewelry business in that city with J. A. Rawson. Subsequently for a period he was employed in a business house in Springfield, Mass., then was for a time em- ployed in a factory in Bridgeport, Conn. From Bridgeport he came to Newtown and entered the office of the Bee, and, like his older brothers, learned the printing trade. Subsequently, how- ever, he returned to Bridgeport, and for a period was employed in the Mechanics and Farmers Savings Bank there. Thence he came to New- town, which he has since made his home and field of work. He was married, in May, 1897, to Miss Frances, daughter of Samuel Scudder, of Newtown.

The Smith brothers, on the retiring of their eldest brother from the Bee, in October, 1892, bought a controlling interest in the paper which, had been operated for some years by a company. The paper has since been conducted by these gentlemen, who hold the greater part of the stock of the company. They have inherited the characteristics of their ancestors and elder brother, and through their energy, ability and good man- agement the Bee has been brought to its present excellent position, standing as it does among the foremost country weekly papers in Connecticut. The Bee is wisely edited, and its business man- agement has been of high order. Its circulation is now between three and four thousand-an in- crease in a few years of something like one thou- sand. These young men are Christian gentle- men; Allison P., the editor, is a deacon in the Congregational Church and superintendent of the Sunday-school, while Arthur J., the business manager, also held the office of superintendent of the Sabbath-school, was the Church chorister for five years, and has held other offices in the gift of the Church.

D UDLEY PETTIBONE ELY (deceased). This honored resident of South Norwalk, who passed to the unseen life on July 9. 1895, was a member of an old Colonial family that has been characterized in every generation by sterl- ing qualities of mind and heart. Tradition

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points to a French origin, but the first authentic ancestral record is of one Richard Ely, Sr., a widower, who came from Lyme, England, with two sons, William and Richard, Jr., and settled in 1660 at Lyme, Conn., where he died Novem- ber 24, 1684, his remains being interred in the "Ely burying ground" at that place.

JI. Richard Ely, Jr. was born at Lyme, England, but resided during the greater portion of his life at Lyme, Conn., where he built a house in 1715. He married Mary Marvin, and had four children: Samuel, who married Jane Lord; Richard, who is mentioned below; Mary, born in 1689, who married a Mr. Niles, of Hebron, Conn .; and Sarah, born in 1695, who married a Mr. Gillet, of Colchester, Connecicut.

III. Deacon Richard Ely, the great-grand- father of our subject, was born at Lyme, Conn., in October, 1697, and died there February 21, 1777. his mortal remains being laid to rest in the family burial ground at what is now North Lyme. He was married January 23, 1724, to Elizabeth Peck, by whom he had four children: Elizabeth, born October 11, 1724, married Col. Samuel Selden; Esther, born May 22, 1726, died at the age of ten years and thirty-one days; Ezra, our subject's grandfather; and Mary, born October 21, 1729.

IV. Rev. Ezra Ely was born January 6, 1728, at the old home in Lyme, Conn., and married (first) Sarah Starling, of the same town. On August 21, 1760, he was married there to Ann Starling, by whom he had four children: Daniel Harlin, born October 15, 1761, died March 22, 1786; Ann, born September 15, 1764, married B. E. Chaplin, of East Lyme, Conn., and died February 8, 1842; Benjamin, who is mentioned more fully below; and Israel, born January 12, 1770. Daniel became a colonel in the Revolutionary army, and it is said that he had the French coat of arms belonging to the family engraven upon his sword.

V. Benjamin Ely, our subject's father, was born July 18, 1767, at Lyme, and in 1786 grad- uated from Yale College. He made his home at Simsbury, Conn., where he was successfully en- gaged in agriculture. As a citizen he was highly esteemed, and at times he held local office, ser- ving in 1809 as town clerk, and from 1814 to 1817 as justice of the peace. On April 14, 1796, he was married at Simsbury to Miss Polly Pettibone, of that town, and they had nine chil- dren, our subject being the youngest. The names of the others, with dates of birth and death, are as follows: Ezra Stiles, May 17, 1797-October 31, 1863; Edwin Dwight, June 30, 1798-Au- gust 25, 1831; Mary Ann, November 16, 1800-

November 7, 1875; Henry, October 25, 1802- October 17. 1849; Seth, April 20, 1805-April 28, 1828; Nathan Case, September 13, 1807- May 30, 1886; Rosetta, November 10, 1809- October 18, 1831; and Nancy Humphrey, Octo- ber 6, 1812-April 19, 1877. Ezra, Edwin, Mary Ann and Rosetta did not marry. Henry married Caroline St. John, of Simsbury, Conn .; Nathan married Elizabeth Olmstead, of Hart- ford, Conn .; and Nancy married Nathan F. Mil- ler, of Bloomfield.

On the maternal side Mr. Ely was descended from Bigot Eggleston, who was born in England about 1580, and came to America in 1630. He landed at Dorchester, Mass., where he remained until 1635, and at that date he, with a company of sixty, made the first settlement in Connecticut, at Windsor. The records of that town show that he "died September 1, 1674, nere 100 yeres of age."

The subject of our memoir was born Novem- ber 16, 1817, at Simsbury, and his education was begun in the common schools of that local- ity. At the age of fourteen he was sent to Hartford, where for two years he attended the school of Mr. Olney, the author of "Olney's Geography." Farming not being to his taste, he on his return home found a position as clerk in a country store. After a year and a half, although only a few months over eighteen years of age, he was engaged by a Mr. Toby to take entire charge of a store in West Hartland, Conn., where he spent a year. On January 13, 1837, he went to New York City to enter the employ of his brother Nathan C., as bookkeeper, and four years later he became a partner in the estab- lishment. Up to this time he had received no financial aid whatever in his business, but on his entrance into the firm his father sent him, unso- licited, two hundred and fifty dollars. This gift was fully appreciated and never forgotten, and in the settlement of the father's estate many years afterward, Mr. Ely accounted for the sum. With this exception he was never assisted by any one beyond the usual mercantile credits, and although he passed through many severe panics and financial crises, he invariably met his obliga- tions at maturity. When his brother retired from business Mr. Ely took two Boston gentle- men into the firm, and continued until 1867, when he disposed of his interest.

In May, 1861, he removed with his family to South Norwalk, and there his last days were spent. His ability and experience made him a valued counsellor in business, and he became associated with various enterprises, being at one time president of the First National Bank of

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South Norwalk, president of the Norwalk Gas Light Company, president of the South Norwalk Savings Bank, treasurer of the Alden Mining Company, and a director in several other cor- porations. He also took much interest in agri- cultural affairs, and for a time was president of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society. He owned more than half of the stock of the First National Bank, and had the largest real-estate holdings of any one in that vicinity, the assessed valuation of his property being two hundred thousand dollars. During the Civil war he lost about fifty thousand dollars, but he was a most enthusiastic supporter of the government in that trying time, as he was one of the original sub- scribers for the first issue of bonds when many others felt fearful of the risk. For some years he was interested in real estate in Brooklyn, N. Y., and his operations there brought him a hand- some profit. As a business man he was prompt and diligent, but his manner was always unas- suming and his disposition genial. He took an active part in local movements, and in the work of the Republican organization. He was the first mayor of South Norwalk, being elected in 1870, and he was re-elected in 1871, '72, '76, and '77. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian, and he was at all times ready with his means and influence to assist in any worthy cause.

On November 28, 1844, Mr. Ely was mar- ried at Simsbury, by the Rev. Seth W. Scofield, to Miss Charlotte Wilcox Phelps, who died Octo- ber 3, 1858. She was a daughter of Judge Jeffery O. Phelps, an officer of the war of 1812, and a leading citizen of his day, who died in 1879, at the age of eighty-eight years. The Phelps family is descended from William Phelps, of Tewkesbury, England, who sailed from Ply- mouth, March 20, 1630, in the ship " Mary and John," under Captain Squeb. and landed at Hull, Mass., on May 30, 1630. He located first at Dorchester, Mass., but later moved to Windsor, Conn., where he died July 14, 1672. The line of descent is traced through Joseph; Joseph, Jr .; David; Noah, who was a colonel in the Revolu- tionary army; Noah A., and Judge Jeffery O. Phelps, to our subject's wife.

George H. Millard, of Delhi, N. Y. (4) Au- gusta Ayres married Russel Frost, a lawyer in South Norwalk. (5) Dudline Pettibone mar- ried CHARLES TEMPLE RAYMOND, who was born in Bethel, this county, December 16, 1856, and died January 20, 1897, in Norwalk. He was of the sixth generation in descent from Samuel Raymond, of Norwalk, Conn., the line being traced through Eliakim; Nathaniel, a resident of Norwalk; Charles, also of Norwalk; and Samuel. a resident of the same city, and the father of the late C. T. Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond had two sons: Dudley E., born April 28, 1887, and Ely, born June 19, 1890.

TTOSIAH B. FAIRCHILD, M. D. The Fair- child family is of Scottish origin, the name having formerly been Fairbairn, and tradi- tion assigns to some of its members an active part in the Crusades.

The immediate ancestors of our subject, who is now a prominent physician of Winnipauk, were early settlers at Newtown, and Josiah Fair- child, our subject's great-grandfather, was born in that town and passed his life there with the exception of the time spent in the navy during the Revolutionary war. The remains of this worthy old citizen now repose in the cemetery at Newtown. Wheeler Fairchild, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Newtown, and after his marriage to Miss Millen of the same place he settled upon a farm there. He had five children: Boyle, our subject's father; Josiah B., who did not engage in business, but became a leading poli- tician of the locality, serving at one time as sheriff of the county; Lucy Ann, who married John Hawley, a farmer in the town of Newtown; Laura, who married Pell Barnum, a hotel keeper at Newtown; and Betsey Ann, wife of Charles Clark, a farmer in the same town.

Boyle Fairchild, the father of our subject, was a lifelong resident of Newtown, and for many years was organist in the Episcopal Church, his gifts and accomplishments as a musician giving him a wide reputation. In political faith he was a Democrat, but his tastes did not lead to a pub- lic career. He died in 1845, and his wife, Julia A. (Hatch), survived him many years, her death occurring in 1875. She was born at Oxford, Conn., the daughter of Chauncey M. Hatch, who was also a native of that town. His mother was living in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, at the time of the massacre by the Indians, and as

During the first years of their married life Mr. Ely and his wife resided in New York City, but later, as has been said, he located at South Nor- walk, where he purchased the finest residence property in the place. Five children were born of the union (three of whom are living): (1) 1 Harriet Pauline, who married Jonathan Wheel- er, of Westport, died May 2, 1868, at the age of | he was then a mere child, three days old, she twenty-two. (2) Charlotte Elizabeth died Feb- carried him with her on horseback out of danger. ruary 24, 1883. (3) Mary Rosetta married | The Hatch family is of Scottish blood, but has

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been represented in this country since an early period. Six children were born to our subject's parents, viz .: George (1) who was killed in childhood by a kick from a horse; George (2), who is now dead; David, who is living in retire- ment at Danbury; Josiah B., of this sketch; Elijah, who is in an insane asylum; and Cath- erine, wife of Hart Davis, of Oxford, Connec- ticut.

Doctor Fairchild was born November 2, 1835, at the old home in Newtown, where he remained until he reached the age of twelve years, his edu- cation being begun in a select school held in the house of his parents. On leaving home he went to New Haven, and for one year was employed in the office of the New Haven Register, but the next seven years he spent on the ocean. He cir- cumnavigated the globe twice, and then, having a desire for life on terra firma again, he went to Cincinnati, and later to Kansas. He was at this time about twenty years old, and being inclined to a mercantile career he located at Atchison, Kans., where his brother George was then mayor, and opened a boot, shoe and hat store. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he and his brother David joined Fremont's body guard at St. Louis, Mo., a company organized for special duty. After receiving an honorable discharge he entered the United States navy, where he served gallantly until the close of the war. He joined this branch of the service on September 1, 1862. with the rank of acting master's mate, and at the time of his discharge, on November 3, 1865, was acting ensign. For some time he was engaged in mercantile and other enterprises at various places, and about 1886 he began to practice med- icine as a specialist in the Eclectic School in Winnipauk and Stamford, his success demon- strating the wisdom of his choice of a professional life.

Doctor Fairchild's first wife, whose maiden name was Jane M. Wade, was a daughter of George Wade, of Bridgeport, this county, a well- known citizen who at one time held the office of postmaster of that place. They had four chil- dren: William, David, George and Katie. The last three died, and were buried, as well as the mother, at Bridgeport, Conn .; William, who survives, resides at Tracy, near Meriden, being general superintendent of an extensive auger. bit, and chisel establishment at Unionville. After the death of his first wife, the Doctor married Miss Elizabeth Waterbury, a member of a lead- ing family of Darien, this county. Socially the Doctor is highly respected and is an active mem- ber of the G. A. R. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

S OLOMON MEAD was at the time of his death the oldest representative of one of the pioneer families of Fairfield county, a family which has been distinguished in public affairs of the State, and occupied an honorable position in society here for nearly two and one-half cen- turies.

The Mead family is an ancient and honorable one. In 1642 [some authorities say 1615] Will- iam Mead, in company probably with one or two brothers, came to this country. It is not known where the brothers settled, but William, after having tarried a short time in Massachusetts, came to Horse Neck, or rather Stamford, and the Stamford town records contain the following: "Dec. 7, 1641, William Mayd received from the town of Stamford a house lot and five acres of land." This is the first record of any Mead in Fairfield county, and he was unquestionably the ancestor of that family. William had three chil- dren, Joseph, Martha and John, the ancestor of the Stamford (Horse Neck) Meads, and the one who most closely concerns us. In England one of the ancestors had been the friend and physi- cian of the talented Queen Elizabeth. Solomon Mead is of the seventh generation in line of de- scent from John [other authorities say William], who, with his two sons, John and Joseph, after remaining a short time in Massachusetts, moved to Hempstead, L. I., where they remained until October, 1660, when they settled in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., where many of their descendants still reside. The two sons bought land of Richard Crab and others, which was deeded to John Mead, son of the pioneer. He married Miss Hannah Potter, of Stamford, Conn., and on his death, in 1699. left, as ap- pears by his will, eight sons and three daugh- ters, viz .: John, Joseph, Jonathan, Ebenezer (1). David, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Samuel, Hannah, Abigail and Mary Elizabeth.

Among the descendants of these children was Amos Mead, who was surgeon of the Third Con- necticut Regiment in the French and Indian war. He was a prominent man during the Rev- olution, and was many times the representative of his town in the Colonial Legislature. He was a member of the body of men who adopted the Constitution of the United States, and after that event he was a member of the State Legis- lature. Richard Mead. a son of Dr. Amos Mead, figured conspicuously in Greenwich during the Revolutionary war. Other members of the Mead family played important parts in the history of Fairfield county, as will appear to the reader of this record.

Nathaniel Mead, the grandfather of our sub-

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ject, was a resident of the town of Greenwich, and lived to an advanced age. He married Pru- dence Wood, and among their children was Joshua Mead. Like their ancestors before them the parents were Christian people, frugal and in- dustrious, and were excellent citizens. They were members of the Congregational Church.

Joshua Mead was born May 16, 1751, in Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn. He was a farm- er, well versed in his calling, and during the war of the Revolution was a true patriot and good citizen, while not serving in the army, rendering valuable aid to it. He was an upright Christian man, a member of the Congregational Church, and politically was a strong Federalist and Whig. He was twice married. His first wife-Rachel Knapp, of Round Hill-bore him children as fol- lows: Jonathan, a farmer, moved to Illinois, and died in Hancock county; Joshua, a farmer, re- sided near Round Hill, and died there; David, also a farmer, resided in Greenwich, and there died; Darius was a well-known physician of Greenwich for half a century, dying on Putnam Hill; Prudence married Robert Mead, and died near Cos Cob; Mary married Isaac Mead, and died in Greenwich; and Rachel married Daniel S. Mead. The mother of this family died, and on November 15, 1804, the father married Hannah Mead, daughter of Deliverance Mead, and their only issue was Solomon, our subject. Joshua Mead, the father, died May 30, 1812, and his wife Hannah passed away March 14, 1844. She was a very exemplary woman.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 31

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