Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 36

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

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NORWICH, August 25, 1864. Executive Department.

HON. JAS. S. TAYLOR,

Danbury.

Dear Sir: I much regret that your favor of the 9th inst. came during my absence and I have not seen it until this bour. In reply I would say that I issued an order some days ago which gave men an opportunity to organize into companies in such a manner as you suggest. I trust some will avail themselves of this opportunity to associate and go together.

I am very respectfully, Your obedient servant, (Signed) WM. A. BUCKINGHAM.

While Mr. Taylor was in favor of adequate measures for the suppression of the Rebellion, he was no less desirous of allaying the bitterness of strife and restoring harmony between North and South as soon as possible, and in 1866 he was a delegate to and attended the Peace Con- vention held at Philadelphia.

When Mr. Taylor, at the close of the war. terminated his duties as State Senator, first selectman of the town, and an officer of the war under the commission of Adjt .- General Perkins, and as a special committee for securing funds for procuring recruits and disbursing the same, there could have been no more fitting tes- timonial from his fellow townsmen for the faith- ful discharge of his duties in his various capaci-

ties than the presentation by a committee of about one hundred citizens of the several polit- ical parties of the town of the full set of the then new edition of Appleton's Encyclopedia. We may here further note that it was immediately following the above presentation that he was again elected to a seat in the House of Repre- sentatives of the State in 1866, and again to the Senate in 1869. Early in life Mr. Taylor joined the Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has re- mained a member up to the present time, and for a number of years acted as the recording secre- tary of Samaritan Lodge No. 7, of Danbury, Conn. He is now (1899) over seventy-two years of age, enjoying all the faculties of life and health.

G EORGE L. EASTMAN, secretary of the J Rogers Silver Plating Company, at Dan- bury, is a young man of more than ordinary busi- ness ability as is shown by his efficient adminis- tration of various positions of trust and respon- sibility.

Mr. Eastman comes of a good New Hamp- shire family, noted for strength and vigor of mind and body. His grandfather, Rev. L. L. Eastman, a well known minister of the M. E. Church, died December 31, 1897, when nearly eighty-five, and though not in active service as a preacher for a number of years continued to give attention to many worthy enterprises, and was a trustee of Tilton Seminary, at Tilton, N. H. He married Lucy A. Methuen was their home after he gave up preaching.

James H. Eastman, our subject's father, who was born May 31, 1842, in Hanover, N. H., has a national reputation as a manager of reforma- tories and similar institutions, and is now super- intendent of four of the Rhode Island institu- tions-State Almshouse, Workhouse and House of Correction, Girls and Boys Reform Schools. He married Miss Elizabeth F. Finley, a native of Clinton, Conn., born February 9, 1844, and they have four children: George L., our sub- ject; Frank G., a physician at East Greenwich, R. I., married Miss Theresa M. Golden, and has one son, James H .; Alice M. married E. R. Trowbridge, a cotton broker at Providence, R. I., and has one son, Charles E .; and Miss Grace is at home with her parents.

Mr. Eastman, our subject, was born August 10, 1863, at Middletown, Conn., and after at- tending the public schools of that city for some years continued his studies at Meriden, Conn., at the Wesleyan Academy, in Wilbraham, Mass., and at the seminary in Pennington, N. J. At

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the age of seventeen he left school to take a po- sition as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Jamesburg, N. J., where he remained three and one-half years. He then became an officer in the New Jersey State Reformatory, of which his father was the superintendent, but a few months later he resigned to take a more lucra- tive position in the Nebraska State Reformatory. His stay there was not long as his father took ·charge in the meantime of the Rhode Island State Reformatory, and our subject went there as assistant superintendent and clerk, and re- mainedeight and one-half years. Inthe fall of 1892 he gave up this work to accept a position with the Rogers Silver Plating Company, and he has since acted as superintendent, assistant secretary and finally as secretary, the duties of each suc- ·cessive post being discharged with marked abil- ity. He is also a stockholder and director in the company.

On August 18, 1890, Mr. Eastman married Miss Helen Estelle Atkinson, of Montville, Me. The only child of this union died when six months old. Mr. and Mrs. Eastman attend the Congregational Church, and are popular in the best social circles in their city. Mr. Eastman belongs to the F. & A. M. ; Union Lodge No. 40, of Danbury; the Ancient Essenic Order, Justin- ian Senate No. 68, of Danbury; the I. O. O. F., Park Hill Lodge No. 44, of Auburn, R. I .; Narr- agansett Encampment No. 1, of Providence, R. I., and Paugusset Tribe, I. O. R. M., of Dan- bury. Politically he is a Republican, and while residing in Cranston, R. I., he was a member of the town committee.

S MERWIN MEAD, a venerable and highly esteemed resident of Greenwich, is a man whose life and character do credit to a family which has long been honored for good citizen- ship. The mention of his name in the commu- nity in which he resided since his birth calls out unmistakable evidences of the respect and affec- tion with which he is regarded by all classes, and a host of friends, won by his genial, kindly nature, brighten his declining years.

Mr. Mead was born October 3. 1823, and notwithstanding his advanced years he is still in good health and spirits, his hardy pioneer ances- try having bequeathed to him a sound constitu- tion which his wholesome mode of life has preserved. He is of the seventh generation in descent from John Mead [other authorities say William], one of the first settlers of Greenwich township, the line being traced through John, son of the pioneer, Ebenezer (1), Ebenezer (2),

Jared, and Daniel S., Sr., the father of our sub- ject. His mother, whose maiden name was Rachel Mead, was also a member of the well- known family, as will be seen in a more extended account of the family given the biography of Daniel S. Mead, Jr., a brother of our subject.

Mr. Mead's education was begun in the dis- trict schools of Greenwich village, and Leonard and Horace Mead were among his early teachers. The school was of the kind only too common in that day, the scholars being seated upon long wooden benches with no backs, the writing being done with the old-fashioned quill pen. The course of study was limited, and after acquiring a knowledge of the rudiments, our subject attended the academy at Greenwich where he pursued higher courses under competent teachers, Phi- lander Button being in charge of the institution during the latter part of the time. At the age of twenty Mr. Mead left school, and soon afterward engaged in agriculture as a business. When he was but eight years old his father died, leaving him a good farm, which he sold about eight years later to his brother Edwin; but he doubted the wisdom of this arrangement afterward, and when twenty-two years old he bought halt the tract which he held throughout his remaining years as a homestead, although for one year he resided in Stanwich. The farm includes some of the best land in the township. In 1882 Mr. Mead retired from active work, and he now resides with his son George.

On May 20. 1851, Mr. Mead was married in Greenwich to Miss Elethea Reynolds, who was born in that town May 4, 1826, a daughter of Joshua and Rachel (Reynolds) Reynolds. She died April 28, 1890, deeply mourned by all who knew her, and her remains now rest in Putman cemetery. Of the children of this marriage, (1) Mary L., born February 24, 1853, married May 15. 1873. A. B. Brush, a prosperous farmer of New Fairfield. (2) Ella R., born July 17, 1857, died November 13, 1896, unmarried. (3) George M. born August 14, 1859, is a successful agricult- urist of Greenwich, owning a farm which for- merly belonged to Ambrose Reynolds, his great- grandfather. He is a good citizen, and politically he is a Republican. On September 29, 1886, he married Miss Georgia E. Graves, daughter of George W. Graves, of Danbury. She died August 23, 1887, leaving no children, and on October 17, 1893, he married Jeannette Mead Finch, born May 9, 1868, at Amboy, Lee Co., Ill., a daughter of Jared and Hannah B. (Mead) Finch, the latter the daughter of Elkanah Mead; she was reared in Greenwich, this county. They had three children: Theodora L., born August

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26, 1894; George M., Jr., born July 4, 1896; and Hobert R., born June 14, 1898. (4) Anna R., born September 25, 1861, married October 12, 1881, Nelson B. Mead, of Belle Haven. (5) Miss Elathea G., born August 23, 1863. (6) Joshua R., born January 8, 1866, died July 11, 1885. (7) Miss Ada B., born June 12, 1869. The family hold a high place in the best social circles of the town. For fifty-five years Mr. Mead has been connected with the Congregational Church at Greenwich, of which his wife was also a devout member, and he has always been ready to assist in religious work with his time and means.

CHARLES A. BEERS is one of Bridgeport's most esteemed citizens, and for many years he has been prominently identified with the lead- ing business interests of his locality. At present he is not actively engaged in business, but a good judge of human nature will observe under his habitual quiet and unassuming manner the reserve force which indicates both ability and energy.

Mr. Beers is a descendant of an old and highly respected family, now numerously represented in this county, and his great-grandfather, Isaac Beers, and his grandfather, Isaac Beers (2), were residents of this section. Andrew Beers, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Easton, this county, receiving only the limited educational privileges of the early days, and as his abilities and inclination turned toward me- chanical lines he became an edge-tool maker. While the manufacture of commoner kinds of im- plements, such as axes and hoes, occupied much of his time, he was capable of duplicating almost anything. He built Beers' factory in Easton, which was operated by water power, and at one time he had three water wheels running, and em- ployed several workmen. The product of the factory was peddled around the country, as was then the custom, and while on one of his frequent trips he caught a cold which resulted in asthma. From that time his health seemed to fail, and during the last ten years of his life he did noth- ing except an occasional piece of light tinkering. As an inventor he contrived some valuable ma- chines, but they cost him a small fortune for the defense of his patents and the prosecution of in- fringements by others. His industry brought him a good income, and his home was supplied with every essential comfort. In politics he was a stanch Republican, although he never sought prominence in public life, and in religious faith he was a Methodist, he and his wife being

members of Church. He died at the age of seventy-five, and his wife, Mary (Wheeler), who was born at Booth's Hill, in the town of Monroe,. lived to the age of eighty-nine. Her death oc- curred in Bridgeport, where she had made her home for several years, but her remains were taken to Easton to be interred beside those of her husband.

Our subject was the youngest in a large family of children, the others being George W .; Marietta, who married (first) a Mr. Booth, and (second) Nathan R. Sherman; Mrs. S. E. Lewis, who resides in Bridgeport; and Charles W., who died in childhood. George W. Beers was born in Easton, May 1, 1829, and died in Bridgeport, July 26, 1892, his remains being laid to rest in Mountain Grove cemetery. He had a most honorable and successful career. His schooling was limited, but he seemed to have inherited his father's mechanical genius and skill, and as a boy he was often employed to alter old flint-lock guns to the more modern percussion guns. At twenty-one he went to Bridgeport where he entered the brass factory of Wheeler Beers, in whose employ he remained for some time. As his savings permitted, he engaged in manufactur- ing on his own account, meeting with success from the start. He became connected with numerous business enterprises, being at the head of several, and for nearly thirty years he was identified with the Spring Perch Company, of Bridgeport, of which he was in charge for some time, giving especial attention to the brass-work- ing department. During the Civil war he was employed by Jerusalem Shaw to travel over the United States to buy old gold and silver, and in this as in other lines of business he was success- ful. He was the inventor of the Beers patent curtain roller and the Beers concealed hinge, both for use in coaches, and in connection with his varied enterprises he acquired a handsome fortune. At times he suffered loss by fire, but he was not of the kind to be discouraged by reverses. He was an excellent marksman, and while attentive to business he believed in recrea- tion and often found time to go hunting. Polit- ically he affiliated with the Republican party, but beyond voting regularly he took no active part in the support of the organizatian. He never married.

Charles A. Beers was born November 4, 1838, at the old home in Easton, and his educa- tion was begun in the public schools of the neigh- borhood (Hall Beardsley being his first teacher, and Legrand Beers, of Long Hill, one of his later instructors), and for a short time he studied at Easton Academy. His progress was slow, as

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it required much effort for him to learn, espe- cially in the district schools, but what he once comprehended he has never forgotten. Until he reached the age of nineteen he remained at the homestead, but he then went to Bridgeport where he began to learn the business of silver plating with the Spring Perch Company. At this time the clothes he wore constituted his only earthly possessions, and for a time he made but fifty cents per day by his work; but as he made good progress in the business his salary was soon increased. In time his earnings ena- bled him to buy a farm in Trumbull township, where he resided one year, but when his brother, George T. Beers, secured control of the manu- facturing business with which he was then con- nected- Brass Department of the Spring Perch Company-our subject retired to Bridgeport to engage in the business. After his brother's death Mr. Beers looked after his interests, but in 1898 he disposed of them and retired. While Mr. Beers has never aspired to political honors, he is a strong believer in the principles and poli- cy of the Republican party, and as a citizen he takes an intelligent interest in all the questions of the times.

In 1891 Mr. Beers built his present comfort- able and attractive residence at No. 1258 Park avenue, corner of Vine street, Bridgeport, where he is now passing his well-earned leisure. He was married in 1872 to Miss Anna A. Gould, the only living child of Morris and Polina (Wheeler) Gould. Her father was a representative agricult- urist of Fairfield township, and a member of one of the prominent families of the county. Mr. Beers and his wife are leading members of the Methodist Church at Bridgeport, and their fami- ly is much esteemed socially. They have five children: Morris A., who married Miss Alice C. Nelson, January 4, 1899, and now lives in Fairfield township; George G., Ellen A., Charles W., and May L., all four living at home.

H ON. CORNELIUS MEAD. In these days a restless desire for change leads so many to break the ties that bind them to their early home, that it is especially pleasing to find a large family connection remaining unbroken, the in- heritance from the pioneer ancestry, and show- ing a just appreciation of family tradition by the careful preservation of the associations of the past. The Mead family, now numerously repre- sented in the town of Greenwich, is one of the oldest in the county, and much of the land occu- pied by different branches of the family has been held by its members for more than two cen-

turies. The subject of this sketch, a leading ag- riculturist of Greenwich, owns a valuable estate of over two hundred and twenty acres, which has been in the family many years, and his pres- ent dwelling house, although it has been care- fully remodelled and fitted up with modern con- veniences, is substantially the same as when first built in 1796. Mr. Mead is one of the most highly esteemed citizens, his long and useful life having won for him the respect of all who know him, and the following history will be read with more than usual interest.

Mr. Mead was born June 20, 1829, at his present homestead, and is of the seventh genera- tion in descent from John Mead [other authorities say William]. who came from England about 1642 [other authorities say 1635], and after re- siding for a time in Massachusetts, and at Hemp- stead, Long Island, located, in 1660, in the town of Greenwich, with his two sons, John and Joseph. John, son of the pioneer, had a son known in the family records as Ebenezer (1), and the latter's second son, known as Lieut. Caleb Mead, was the great-grandfather of our subject. Jonah Mead, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer by occupation, and resided at the present homestead, where he died in 1828, his remains being interred in a private cemetery on the farm. He was married three times, first to a lady whose name is not now known; second to a Miss Husted; third to Miss Mary Mead. and he had eleven chil- dren in all, seven of whom lived to adult age. Only two sons survived: Lot, a child of the second wife, and Drake, our subject's father, who was born of the third marriage. Lot Mead, who was fifteen years older than Drake, never mar- ried, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years.

Drake Mead was born at the old homestead in 1796, and was reared after the usual customs of that day, farm work occupying much of his time. He had a fine intellect, and while attend- ing a school in Stanwich, this county, conducted by Prof. Buffett, he acquired a good practical education. It was his desire to study medicine, and at one time he began his preparation for the profession; but circumstances were so much against him that he abandoned the plan. He engaged in agricultural pursuits in partnership with his brother, Lot, at the old homestead, which had been left to them jointly, and they continued together until the death of the latter. If his early disappointment as to his calling af- fected Mr. Mead seriously, he never manifested any sign in later years as he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the work of his farm, and his success showed his ability as a manager. He was a

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strong, well-proportioned man, five feet, ten inches in height, and of robust build, and he passed the allotted time of man's years, his death occurring when he was aged seventy-nine. Read- ing, especially in ancient history and the Bible, was his chief recreation, and his excellent mem- ory enabled him to gather a goodly store of in- formation. While taking keen interest in all the questions of his day, he was not a politician, and although he was a Jacksonian Democrat, he neither never sought office nor held one, except that of selectman in which he served one term only. He was a devout Christian, a strict ob- server of the Sabbath, and was a leading mem- ber of the Episcopal Church at Greenwich vil- lage. At the time the Church edifice was built there he contributed liberally, and for some years he served as senior warden. When about thirty- two years old he married Miss Julia A. Knapp, daughter of William Knapp. a prominent citizen of Greenwich. She died at the age of forty-two years, and the remains of both parents now rest in the Episcopal Cemetery at Greenwich. Our subject was the eldest in a family of three chil- dren, the others being William Jonah, a farmer in Greenwhich township, and Julia A., who died when nine months old.

Mr. Mead's education was begun in the "North Street school " in the town of Green- wich, with Leonard Mead as his first teacher. Later he attended Greenwich academy, then con- ducted by Prof. Philander Button, and one year was spent in study in a grammer school in New York City. He then returned home to assist in the management of the place, and he has ever since been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of the locality. He has never disposed of an acre of land, his inheritance being kept intact, and he enjoys a high re- putation as a scientific worker in his chosen line. At the age of thirty-one he married Miss Frances Cheesman, a native of New York City, and a daughter of Joseph B. Cheesman. They began housekeeping in a building upon the farm, but after a few years they removed to the house in which they now reside. Three children have blessed this union: Walter C., a resident of Den- ver, Col .; Edgar T., at home; and Miss Mary G., who married William Richmond Talbot.

Mr. Mead is a stanch Democrat in politics, and his ability and public spirit have caused him to be frequently called upon to serve his fellow citizens in an official capacity. For a number of years he represented his town in the State Legislature, and he has held various local offices, including that of township assessor, and he was a member of the board of relief. Socially he is

affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Greenwich, and he and his family are prominent in social and philanthropic work, his wife and daughter being active members of the Episcopal Church at Greenwich.

H ENRY DWIGHT SIMONDS, the very effi- cient principal of the high school at Bridge- port, Conn., is a native of Mansfield, that State, born October 1, 1850, a son of Elijah and Eunice (Walker) Simonds. The father was born in the same town in 1821, and is still living, at Oxford, Mass., where for twenty years he has followed agricultural pursuits. He served two years as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, being a mem- ber of Company A, 25th Mass. V. I., and was discharged on account of illness. Mr. Simonds' mother was born in West Ashford, Conn., in 1830, and died in 1872. In their family were three children: Henry D., our subject; Ada L., who died in infancy; and L. Ernest, now resid- ing in Oxford, Mass. Mr. Simonds' grandparents were Asa and Keziah (Conant) Simonds, the lat- ter being the daughter of Sylvanus Conant, who who was a member of General Putnam's militia, located at Cambridge, Mass., under General Washington, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Asa Simonds, who was the son of Darius Simonds, lived to be one hundred years and six months old.

Henry D. Simonds commenced his education in the public schools of Worcester, Mass., but at the age of thirteen he was compelled to leave school and earn his own way in life. Later he attended a commercial school taught by B. G. Howes, where he mastered the mysteries of "debit and credit," and then became book- keeper for the dry-goods house of J. H. Clarke & Co., remaining in this position about four years, during which time he saved enough to enable him to proceed with his long-interrupted education. Accordingly he entered the Oread Collegiate In- stitute at Worcester, of which institution Harris R. Greene at that time was head master, and Ava Williams preceptress. He completed his college preparatory work at Wilbraham, Mass., where he was graduated in 1872. In 1876 he was graduated from the Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn. During his term at the university, as he was obliged to earn the money with which to pay his way (his purpose was to become a minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal Church), he sup- plied various pulpits; he also sang in churches and in the glee club. During the vacation months he worked in the Worcester post office. He taught school for five months during the senior year,

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thus providing means with which to remain con- tinuously in college. On leaving his Alma Mater he found all the Conferences East were more than full, and his past experience proving that he had a talent, as well as a liking, for teaching, he abandoned the idea of entering the ministry and determined to make teaching his life work. After his graduation from the Wesleyan University he was first engaged to teach the North East school, at Hartford. Conn, but there was a division among the school authorities, and on the arrival of our subject at that temple of learning he found the candidate of the opposing party already in possession, and he was compelled to submit to the inevitable. In consequence of this he was out of a position for several months, as all the schools were filled; however, he brought suit against the district, and recovered $300 in dam- ages and the entire costs of the suit.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 36

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