USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 33
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In 1847 Mr. Price was married to Miss Deborah Crossman, a daughter of Newell Cross- man, of Norwalk. She died shortly afterward, leaving no children. Five years after her death Mr. Price was again married, this time to Miss Eliza Ann Richards, a native of Fairfield county, and to this union have come four children to bless and comfort the declining years of their parents: Henry P., cashier of the National Bank of Norwalk; Hattie A., wife of John A. Camp, manager and part owner of a clothing store in South Norwalk; Edgar T., a hatter in Norwalk; and George L., a clerk in the clothing store of his brother-in-law. In his social rela- tions Mr. Price is an Odd Fellow, a member of
the Lodge that was organized in 1842, he joining in 1844; in this order he has held nearly every office in the gift of the Lodge as well as the Encampment; for twenty years he was a trustee of the local Lodge. He is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, being initiated some thirty- five years ago. Greatly interested in educational matters, he has aided the development of the public schools by being one of the energetic members of the school committee for years. Nearly thirty years ago he became a steward of the Norwalk M. E. Church, and so faithfully has he filled the office that in spite of advancing years he is still urged to retain the office. Now on the shaded street, West avenue, he is passing his days in the enjoyment of the competency won by the toil of his early years, respected and hon- ored by all who know him, and the twilight mystery of an honorable life is slowly merging into starry night.
R EV. EPHRAIM L. WHITCOME. As a faithful exponent of the Church that has survived nearly two thousand years in spite of sect. schism, of persecution and disruption, we present to our readers a brief sketch of the Rev. E. L. Whitcome, rector of St. Paul's Church at Brookfield.
Rev. E. L. Whitcome was born at Townsend, Middlesex Co., Mass., November 3, 1832, a son of Nathaniel Whitcome and his wife Sultina Lord. Nathaniel Whitcome was born at Ashby. Mass., and was educated at the academy at New Ipswich, N. H. After graduating he taught school for a number of years; but his fondness for rural pursuits caused him to lay aside the practice of pedagogics and to take up agriculture as a life work. He married Sultina Lord, and they became the parents of six children, of whom Rev. Whitcome is the eldest living; the others were: Martin, who lives at Townsend Center; Silas, who resides at Nashua, N. H .; George L., of Townsend, Mass., a member of the Legisla- ture, where he serves as chairman of the Agricul- tural committee; Jefferson (deceased), who, as a member of the Thirty-third Mass. V. I., served through the Civil war; and Mary, deceased wife of Elisha Phinney, M. D.
Rev. Ephraim L. Whitcome passed his early days at his home in Townsend, and acquired his elementary education in the public schools, later attending Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H., from which he was graduated with the class of '59. He then began his theological studies at Nashua, N. H., under Rev. William S. Perry, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., late Bishop of
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lowa, and continued them at Norwich, Conn., : November 21, 1727, to Eunice Staples, of Fair- under Rev. David Francis Banks. On May 27, . field, this county.
1863, in Trinity Church, Northfield, N. H., he was ordained Deacon by Rt. Rev. Carlton Chase, ! 12, 1868, in Christ's Church, Norwich, Conn., ! he was ordained to the Priesthood by Rt. Rev. . John Williams, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of Con- necticut. During the years he served as Deacon he had charge of services at the Chapel of St. Paul's School at Concord, N. H., and later, or from February 28, 1864, to October 1, 1869, he was in charge of Grace Chapel at Yantic, Conn. From that time to February 1, 1877, he was rector of St. John's Parish, North Haven, Conn., and in that year came to Brookfield, as rector of St. Paul's Church, Brookfield Centre. Since 1878 he has voluntarily taken on himself the additional burden of the mission at Southville, in Litchfield Co., Conn., where he holds services on Sunday P. M. each two weeks. In February, 1883, he began mission work in Brookfield, hav- ing service there each Sunday evening. Zachariah Clarke (2) was also a native of Stratford, born in May, 1739, but a large portion D. D., Bishop of New Hampshire, and on July | of his life was spent in Zoar District, town of New- town, where he followed agricultural pursuits. Physically. he was strong and active, and, as he was an excellent manager, he acquired a hand- some property, consisting mainly of real estate in Newtown township. Like all of his family. he was public-spirited, and he took a prominent part in local affairs. On February 4, 1761, he married Mary Bacon, who was born in Middle- town, Conn., July 13, 1737, and died in Zoar, November 29, 1800. His death occurred August 12, 1831, when he was in his ninety -third year. In his will, which bears the date of Jan- uary 30, 1825, he makes a generous bequest to a slave named Asa, and also mentions the following children: James; Zachariah, of whom an ac- count is given below; Andrew; Daniel; Mahit- abel, wife of Philo Sherman; Hannah, wife of Elias Beardsley; Esther, who did not marry; Pamelia, wife of David Beardsley, who resided in Tioga county, N. Y .; and Polly, wife of Isaac Beardsley. Each of the sons received a farm. and with the exception of Daniel, who settled in Southbury, Conn., they all remained in New- town and engaged in agriculture.
Rev. Whitcome has been twice married. His first wife, who in her maidenhood was Miss Louisa A. Thrasher, a native of Crown Point. N. Y., died November 6, 1873, at North Haven, leaving two children to the bereaved father's care, namely: Susan L .; and Francis Banks, who is now rector of St. Paul's Parish, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. (he married Mary E. Lewis, of Annandale, N. Y., and has one child-Louise Jane). On May 4. 1876, our subject was wedded to his second wife, Caroline E. Bishop, a daughter of Harley Bish- op and his wife Mary Ann (Moody) Bishop. Socially, Rev. Whitcome is a member of Corin- thian Lodge No. 103, of North Ford, Conn., F. & A. M., and of Housatonic Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, New Milford, Conn. In the twenty years of his rectorate at St. Paul's he has grown in the hearts of the people, not only of his own parish, but in those of all denominations, untir- ing in his labors, cheering the sorrowful, raising up those who fall, and in all ways practicing and preaching from that divine word " Charity.'
CLARKE FAMILY. James Clarke (1) was an early settler at New Haven, Conn. James Clarke (2), the first of the family to locate in Fairfield county, was married about 1662 to De- borah Peacock, of Stratford, and made his home in that town. James Clarke (3), a son of James (2) and his wife Deborah, was born in Stratford February 12, 1664, and was married May 24, 1698, to Jane Griffin. Zachariah Clarke (1), a son of James (3) and Jane (Griffin) Clarke, was born in Stratford, June 8, 1702, and was married
Hon. Zachariah Clarke was born in 1771, and died in 1846. In early manhood he made his home upon a farm in the western part of New- town township, but in 1828 he purchased the Griffin farm, an estate of 100 acres, near New- town village, and his remaining days were spent there. He was a thrifty man, successful in his enterprises, and was always interested in any- thing that seemed to promise benefit to the com- munity. He was an active member of the Epis- copal Church, and was also a leader in political movements in the locality, serving for some time as a justice of the peace, and representing the town in the General Assembly in 1821. Dur- ing the greater portion of his life he was a Jack- sonian Democrat, but in the famous "log-cabin campaign" he supported the Whig party. His wife, Hannah (Toucey), who died in 1844, was a sister of Hon. Oliver Toucey, and an aunt of Hon. Isaac Toucey, formerly Governor of Con- necticut, United States Senator, and a member of two Presidential cabinets. They had a family of eight children. as follows: (1) Sally, born March 2, 1795, married Daniel Connelly, and died in 1865. (2) Oliver, born October 19, 1797. was clerking in New York at the time of his death, on April 22, 1816, and was buried there in the Twenty - second street cemetery. (3' Maria, born March 15, 1801, married (first;
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Harry Hawley, of Ridgefield, this county, and (second) Rufus Skidmore; she died May 17. 1874. (4) Walter, and (5) Charles, sketches of whom follow. (6) Emma, born November 11, 1806, married William Hill, of Redding. this county, a son of John R. Hill; she died Febru- ary 6, 1886. (7) William, and (8) Philo, sketches of whom follow.
WALTER CLARKE was born September 16, 1802, in Newtown, where his life was spent. In addition to the management of his large farm he was engaged for about forty years in surveying, and at one time he held the office of county sur- veyor. As a citizen, he was greatly respected, his firmness and decision of character being balanced by excellent judgment and high moral principle. Fond of reading, he acquired a wide knowledge of the best literature, while in mathe- matical lines his ability was considered remark- able, difficult problems having been referred to him at times by college professors. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian, and for many years he served as warden of Trinity Church, New- town. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Democrat, and in 1855 he represented New- town in the State Legislature. He married Miss Dima Ann Beers, daughter of Eli Beers, a mem- ber of one of the oldest families of Newtown. Mr. Clarke died November 1, 1876, and his wife fol- lowed him to the grave September 2, 1881. They had three children, all of whom lived to adult age: Eli B., a merchant in Bridgeport, died September 10, 1855, at the age of twenty- six; he was a young man of many sterling quali- ties. Edwin is mentioned farther on. Emma J. was married, May 24, 1865, to the late George B. Peck, of Newtown, who was engaged in busi- ness in Brooklyn, N. Y., as a manufacturer of gas fixtures; he died August 10, 1875, leaving four children-Samuel Clarke, born April 24, 1866, died June 13, 1896; Walter Toucey, born May 11, 1871; Elizabeth Fayerweather, born October 12, 1872; and Susan Emma, born May 28, 1874. Although George B. Peck and his son, Samuel C., died when scarcely past thirty, their lives had already given promise of more than ordinary usefulness, as both were men of upright character, and possessed remarkable business ability and acumen.
CHARLES CLARKE, who died December 20, 1854, aged fifty years, was born April 2, 1804, was reared on his father's farm, and in his early manhood was engaged in school teaching. After his marriage he settled on a farm in the vicinity of the old Sherman homestead, in South Centre District, Newtown, which was ever afterward his home. In 1847 and 1848 he was a selectman of the town. He married Betsey Ann, daughter of
Wheeler Fairchild, and had children as follows: Robert T., Emily, (Rev. Dr.) Sylvester, Eliza- beth, Charles Walter and William Henry, all now deceased except Sylvester, who is residing in Bridgeport, Conn. The mother of these died July 24, 1857, aged forty-eight years.
WILLIAM CLARKE, born March 14, 1814, in Newtown, married Elizabeth Lewis, of Mon- roe. His death occurred in 1869, in New York City. In 1840 Mr. Clarke was a merchant of Sandy Hook. He was a partner of David H. Johnson, but after the firm failed, in the crash of 1837, he came on the west side of the stream and did business. Later he went to Fawn River, Ind., where he did a general milling business, at the same time conducting a store at Sturgis. Mich. He was very successful there, and finally returning to New York, honorably sought out and settled all old claims against him in full, having paid only fifty cents on the dollar when he failed while in partnership with Mr. Johnson. He died at New York, and was the first person buried from New Trinity church, Newtown.
PHILO CLARKE was for many years a leading resident of Newtown, and his death, on March 3, 1897, produced a deep and lasting sense of loss in the community which had so long regarded him as a trusted counselor and friend. His men- tal acumen and upright, manly character com- manded universal respect and confidence, while even the casual acquaintance felt the influence of his unfailing courtesy and gentleness, the fruit of his genuine kindliness of heart. Born July 13, 1818, in Flat Swamp District, Newtown, Mr. Clarke attended the public schools of Newtown for a time, also a private school conducted by a son of Rev. Dr. Burhans, improving these op- portunities so well that when sixteen he was qualified to teach. For eleven years he taught successfully in his native town during the winter seasons, his summers being devoted to farm work at the homestead. After his father's death he gave up teaching, and gave his entire atten- tion to agriculture, in which his well-directed industry gained him substantial rewards. For about half a century he resided upon his farm near Newtown, one of the most pleasant home- steads of the vicinity. On account of his sound judgment and integrity he was chosen fre- quently as trustee and administrator of estates. and in ISS4 he was elected president of the Newtown Savings Bank, to succeed Simeon B. Peck. He was often urged to take political office, but he showed no inclination for public life, although he was a firm supporter of Repub- lican principles, and voted that ticket from the organization of the party, in 1856. In 1860 he was made the candidate of the party for State
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Senator, and in 1862, when again mentioned for the place, he declined in favor of John B. Peck, thinking, with characteristic humility, that the latter would be the more popular, and would stand a better chance of overcoming the over- whelming Democratic majority in the town. In all local movements of a non-political nature Mr. Clarke was a generous and efficient helper, and he was especially active in religious work as a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of New- town, in which he held the office of vestryman for many years.
In 1843 Mr. Clarke married Miss Sarah Minerva Beers, of Brookfield, this county, a daughter of Alonzo Beers, and granddaughter of Eli Beers, well-known citizens of the early times. Three children blessed this union: Hannah Sophia, born August 17, 1845. who married L. Burtus Booth, of Newtown, and has one child- Philo Clarke, born December 25, 1886; Emma Frances, born August 18, 1849, who died at the age of twenty-three years; and Flora M., born in October. 1856, who married Alfred Walker, a druggist at Sing Sing. N. Y., and has one child, Clarke Skidmore, born October 17, 1893.
EDWIN CLARKE (deceased), son of Walter (above), was born September 22, 1832, at the old home in Newtown, and during the early years of his life he was interested in stock farming. About 1878 he engaged in business in New York City as a cotton broker, but continued to reside in Fairfield county, making daily trips to the metropolis. In 1887 he removed to Norwalk, where he had a pleasant home, and he and his wife were identified with the best social circles of that city. On November 7, 1854, Mr. Clarke married Miss Nancy Beers, daughter of Ezekiel and Sally (Morris) Beers, prominent residents of Newtown. She died September 13, 1869, and on May 10, 1877, Mr. Clarke formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Miss Mattie A. Parker, of Louisville, Ky., whose father, Sam- uel Parker, was a native of Canajoharie, N. Y. By his first marriage Mr. Clarke had two chil- dren: E. Beers, a resident of Minneapolis, Minn .; and Miss Julia, who is at home. There were two children by the second union: Mattie Eu- genie, who died January 31, 1882; and Edwin P., now a student in the Norwalk High School. The father died suddenly, in Norwalk, of heart disease May, 16, 1899. He was of a quiet, re- tiring disposition, and all who knew him well wished ever to know him better.
Mr. Clarke was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, but was not especially active in political work. He belonged to a num- ber of social organizations, including the Norwalk
Club, and took keen interest in all that con- cerned the welfare of the community. He had been a member of the New York Cotton Ex- change for twenty years.
H ON. HENRY NICHOLS FANTON, who passed away September 4, 1898, was for many years one of Danbury's most honored citi- zens, prominent alike in business, social, polit- ical and military affairs, and although in his clos- ing years less active than of yore, he was not permitted to relinquish the position in public life which his abilities and high character won for him.
Mr. Fanton came of good old Colonial stock, tracing his descent from one of two brothers of the name who came from France at an early period and settled in Philadelphia. They were the first practical dyers by chemical process to come to this country. One of these brothers, our subject's ancestor, served in the American army throughout the Revolutionary war, and afterward located in western Connecticut. Hull and Mary Fanton, the grandparents of our sub- ject, resided at Weston, in this county, and his father, John C. Fanton, was born there in 1810, but spent the greater portion of his life in Dan- bury, where he owned a boot and shoe store. He died in 1854, and his wife, Mary (Dean), who was born in Redding. Conn., in 1800, passed away in 1884. They had five children: Thomas Collier, Elizabeth Jane (now Mrs. Hiram Knapp, of Danbury), Henry N., John Hull and My- ron S.
Commander Fanton, our subject, was born September 6, 1836, at New Fairfield, Conn., where he attended the district schools until he reached the age of fourteen, subsequently work- ing for some time on his father's farm. He afterward engaged in a general building and mov- ing business, as a contractor, and was thus em- ployed when the Civil war broke out, in which, in 1862, he enlisted, becoming a member of Company K, 23rd Conn. V. I., for one year. At the end of the first month he was promoted to the rank of second sergeant, which he held during his term of service. His regiment took part in the famous expedition under General Banks, and among his most important engage- ments were the battles at Brashear City, La., now Morgan City, and at Lafourche Crossing, fifty miles from New Orleans. He was mustered out of the service on August 30, 1863, and on his return horce resumed business life, settling at Danbury, where he opened a grocery. After conducting the same for ten years he sold it and
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formed a partnership with his brother, John H. Fanton, engaging in the manufacture of ma- chines and machinery, but ill health compelled him to dispose of his interest in 1883, his brother purchasing it. Commander Fanton did not en- gage again in any definite business, but his well- known sagacity was called to the aid of various enterprises at times, and for some time he super- vised some gas-well interests in Ohio and West Virginia.
After his retirement from active business, in 1883, our subject traveled extensively in the South and West, many of his experiences being depicted in an interesting series of letters pub- lished in the Danbury News. He has also visited every National soldiers' home in New England, and every National cemetery where the dust of the gallant defenders of the Union reposes. In 1881 he was appointed a commissioner to the World's Fair at New Orleans, and in 1882 he visited that city on an errand which had great influence throughout the South in strengthening the bond of fraternal kindness with the North. It so happened that after the war there came into his possession a Confederate flag. which had been blessed by the Roman Catholic bishop of New Orleans, and had been designed with spe- cial care, as some Latin inscriptions upon it showed. Mr. Fanton wished to return it to the owner, who, after some correspondence with Governor McEnery of Louisiana, was found to be no less a person than the adjutant-general of the State, formerly captain of the Washington Guard Artillery, C. S. A. Having made known his desire to restore the precious memento of the "lost cause," Mr. Fanton went to New Orleans in 1882, and was royally received, the restora- tion taking place at a public meeting presided over by the mayor of the city, and attended by the governor and his staff. During the two weeks of Commander Fanton's stay he was feted and toasted in true Southern style.
From 1868 Commander Fanton was a mem- ber of James E. Moore Post No. 18. G. A. R., Department of Connecticut, in which he held various offices prior to 1890, having served as commander, quartermaster for eight years, and three times as delegate to the National encamp- ment. In 1889 he was elected senior vice-com- mander of the Department of Connecticut, and in 1890 was chosen commander of the Connecti- cut organization. He took an active interest in the State militia also, and in 1874 was appointed by Governor Andrews as one of three com- missioners to secure permanent grounds for them, the result of their labors being seen in the present charming location at Niantic. For three
years he wasan aide on General Crawford's staff, and for two years he was quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment.
In political faith Commander Fanton was a steadfast Republican, and his popularity success- fully endured the crucial test of candidacy for public office. In 1870 he was elected to the General Assembly, and so well were his constitu- ents satisfied with his work as a representative that he was again chosen in 1871. During both years he was secretary of the committee on Mili- tary Affairs, of which Colonel Torrence, of Der- by (now judge of the Supreme Court of Connecti- cut), was appointed chairman in 1871, and at this time the law was passed providing for a change from the old system of eight regiments to the present plan of four. In the last year of his service in the Assembly, Mr. Fanton succeeded in getting an appropriation for a new jail at Dan- bury, an undertaking in which his immediate predecessors had failed. At the time of his de- cease he was serving as one of the assessors of the city a position he held for several terms.
In July, 1859, our subject was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucy A. Barnum, and they had one son, Henry N., Jr. Mrs. Fanton is a daugh- ter of Towner and Ann (Hendrick) Barnum, of New Fairfield, who were both descendants of Revolutionary soldiers.
I ISRAEL HUSON WILSON. The salubrious air of this favored region is certainly condu- cive to longevity, and we are fortunate in having among us many to whom old age has brought its distinctive blessings of wisdom and ripened char- acter.
The subject of this sketch, a well-known resi- dent of Bethel, was born November 6, 1815, in Danbury, then called Bethel Society, and his life has been spent in this section. Samuel Wil- son, his grandfather, was a farmer in Putnam county, N. Y., and Jeremiah Wilson, the father of our subject, was born in that county, in the town of Southeast, on April 1. 1795, and re- mained there until he attained his majority. He learned the details of paper manufacturing at Putnam Corners, and at the age of twenty-one went to Danbury, where he was employed for some years in the paper-mill belonging to Major Comstock. Later he settled upon a farm in the town of Danbury, and the last half of his life was occupied with agricultural work. He was mar- ried in the city of Danbury to Miss Mary Hurd, who was born July 15, 1794, and died November 26, 1864. Her father, Israel . Hurd, was born
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August 6, 1771, and her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Wood, was born August 14, I to the Sons of Temperance, and is also identified | with the I. O. O. F. at Bethel.
1776, a daughter of Benjamin Wood. Jeremiah Wilson died August 11, 1879, at the age of eighty-four, leaving an honorable record as a citi- zen. Ten children comprised his family: Israel Huson, our subject; James Smith, born Novem- ber 20, 1818, died at Waterbury, January 1, 1895; Milo (1), born October 13, 1821, died in infancy; Milo (2), born May 11, 1823, is a resi- dent of Waterbury; Sarah, born April 30, 1825. died May 16, 1835; Albert, born September 4, 1828, resides at Mill Plain, this county; Mariette, born December 25, 1831, married George Brad- ley, of Danbury; George, born April 30, 1833, died May 6, 1835; Emily, born August 31, 1835, married Albert Edwards, of Danbury; and Sam- uel, born July 28, 1837, is a resident of Water- bury.
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