Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 38

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

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The subject of this sketch was born in Nor- walk August 20, 1819, in the house which he now occupies as a residence. His boyhood was mainly spent in his native place, but for a short time he held a position as clerk in New York City. In the spring of 1851 he became interest- ed in the Lounsbury & Bissell Company, which was incorporated in 1840, with a capital of $200,- 000, for the manufacture of felts of every de- scription. He has been connected with the com- pany ever since, and his shrewd judgment has been a potent factor in the success of the busi- ness. The factory, a large stone building, is lo- cated at Winnipauk, about a mile and a half from Norwalk, the street cars affording a con- venient means of transit. As his business inter- ests have required close attention, Mr. Betts has not taken an active part in political life, but he is a firm upholder of the principles of the Re- publican party. On September 30, 1850, he married Miss Mary E. Bissell, by whom he has bad nine children: Thaddeus C., Edward C., Charles J., William M., Sally S., Mary A., George F., Harry J., and Charlotte F., and all but Thaddeus, Mary, and Harry are still living. The family is prominently identified with the Congregational Church, Mr. and Mrs. Betts both being active members.

Mrs. Betts is a native of Norwalk, and a daughter of ex-Governor Clark Bissell, a man whose ability as a lawyer and statesman was an honor to this section. According to tradition the ancestors of the Bissell family were Hugue- nots who fled to England to escape the persecu- tions suffered in France by followers of that faith in the latter part of the sixteenth century. They probably settled in Somersetshire, but there seems to have been a branch of the family in Worcestershire, where the name was sometimes spelled Byssell or Byselle. The coat of arms is described in " Burke's Complete Armory." The first of the name to come to this country was John Bissell, who was born in England in 1591 and landed in Plymouth, Mass., in 1626 or 1628, but removed about ten years later to Windsor, Conn. Clark Bissell, Mrs. Betts' father, was of the eighth generation in direct descent from this

worthy emigrant, and was born in Lebanon, Conn., September 7, 1782. He was the eldest of three sons, and as his father was a farmer who found it hard to make headway financially, the boy's education would have been limited to the narrow curriculum of the district schools of that early time had he not possessed an unquencha- ble desire for knowledge, and the force of char- acter to secure a collegiate course through his own exertions. In 1806 he graduated from Yale College, and in 1809 was admitted to the Bar, where he speedily won high honors. In 1829 he was elected to the Legislature from Norwalk, and in the same year he was chosen judge of the Su- preme Court of Errors and Superior Court. This position he held until 1839, when he resigned, and in 1842 and '43 he represented the Twelfth dis- trict in the State Senate. In 1847-48 he was governor of the State, and while holding this po- sition he was appointed Kent professor of law at Yale College, a position which was most congenial to him, and which he continued to fill until old age compelled him to abandon active labor. In 1850 he was again a member of the Legislature, there be- ing at that time an important controversy pending which affected the interests of Norwalk. He died September 15, 1857, and his wife, Sally Sherwood, to whom he was married in April, 1811, died February 27, 1856. She was born in the town of Weston, this county, and was of English descent, tracing her lineage to Thomas Sherwood, who was born in England in 1586, and came to America in 1634 with his wife and four children. They settled in Fairfield, where ten other children were born, and their descend- ants are now numerous.

J ¡AMES SINCLAIR JENKINS, junior member of the firm of Taylor & Jenkins, attorneys at law, of Stamford, Fairfield county, was born in that city October 31, 1871, son of George A. Jenkins. He is of Welsh descent, his first ancestor in this country having been James W. Jenkins, a native of Wales, who settled in New York City, where he carried on a hardware busi- ness. His son James was also a hardware dealer in New York City, where he was born in 1755 and died in 1817. His son, also named James, was born in New York City in 1789, engaged in the hard- ware business, and died in 1837. He married a Miss Gordon, of Edinburgh, Scotland, a niece of Sir John Sinclair, the Scottish statistician and agriculturist.

George Alston Jenkins, son of the last named James, was born in New York in 1816, and was reared to manhood in that city. He received a

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good education, attending boarding school at New Canaan, Conn., and, after commencing a business life, followed for a time in the footsteps of his immediate ancestors, carrying on the hard- ware business. He was one of the founders of the National Academy of Design, of which he is now a fellow, and engaged quite extensively in importing paintings from Europe. He was also interested in the real-estate business, and in 1865 settled in Stamford, where he bought and improved real estate, doing considerable in that line. Mr. Jenkins was married in Stamford to Emma Clarke, daughter of John Clarke, and two sons, James Sinclair and George Alston, were born to them.

James S. Jenkins was a pupil in H. U. King's private school during his early boyhood, later studying at St. Mark's school, in South- borough, Mass. In the fall of 1890 he entered Yale University, from which he was graduated in the classical course in 1894. This he followed with a course in the law school of the same university, graduating with the class of 1896, after which for several months he was in the of- fice of Hart & Keeler, lawyers in Stamford. In February. 1897, the firm of Taylor & Jenkins was established. In social connection Mr. Jen- kins is a member of the Suburban Club .of Stam- ford, the Stamford Yacht Club, the Wee Burn Golf Club of Norton, the Yale University Club and the Graduates Club of New Haven, and the Uni- versity Club, and the Yale Club of New York. While at the university he was a member of two Greek letter societies, the Senior Society of Wolf's Head, and, during his law course, of the law school society best known as Corbey Court.

A LEXANDER MEAD. America is emerg- ing rapidly from the conditions that forced upon our forefathers a hard utilitarian view of life, and among all classes of our people a keen artistic sense is being manifested. One of the most noticeable indications is found in the de- mand for floral decorations on every occasion, whether of joy or sorrow, the lovely blossoms seeming to be appropriate to all moods and times. The first to recognize the demand for a constant supply of choice plants, Mr. Mead, a man of in- telligence and enterprise, and in the spot where his great-great-grandfather cleared off the prime- val forests, has established fine modern green- houses, stocked with delicate plants from all lands and climes.

Mr. Mead belongs to one of the best and well known families, of which an extended genealog- ical record is given elsewhere, and he is of the

seventh generation in direct descent from John Mead (1), who came from England to America about 1642 [other authorities say 1635], and be- came a resident of this county in 1660. This noted pioneer had two sons, John and Joseph, who accompanied him to Greenwich, and the for- mer was the first of the name to acquire land in that section.

John Mead, son of the pioneer, married Miss Hannah Potter, of Stamford, and at his death, in 1699, eleven children were living: John, Jo- seph, Jonathan, Ebenezer (1), David, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Samuel, Hannah, Abigail and Mary Elizabeth. Samuel Mead, our subject's great- great-grandfather, made his home at the farm now occupied by our subject. He had three sons who lived to adult age, married and left de- scendants: Peter (1), Zaccheus and Samuel.

Peter Mead (1), the great-grandfather of our subject, was born at the present homestead, and always resided there. He had two sons who grew to maturity: Peter (2) and Zaccheus, both of whom married and reared families.

Peter Mead (2), our subject's grandfather, was born January 14, 1755, at the old homestead, and became one of the leading farmers of that locality in his day. Like all of his family, he took the patriotic side during the Revolutionary war, and at one time he was pursued by some British soldiers who sought to take his life. He was married November 9, 1777, to Miss Hannah Close, who was born March 14, 1756, and died November 5, 1824, and his death occurred De- cember 26, 1832, the remains of both being in- terred in a private cemetery on the farm. They had a large family of children, of whom, one son, Sanford, our subject's father, was the youngest. Mary, born August 17, 1778, was married March 29, 1797, to Joshua Mead; Peter, Jr., born De- cember 25. 1780, was married November 15, 1803, to an Ohio lady (married twice, both wives being from Ohio), and removed to Huron county. Ohio; Cyrus (1), born January 2, 1784, died at the age of eight months; Deborah, born April 28, 1785, died July 5, 1811, unmarried; Anna, born August 17, 1787, was married Sep- tember 11, 1816, to Jonas Howe; Cyrus (2), born August 11, 1789, was married in Greenwich, this county, November 22, 1814, to Miss Eliza Close, and afterward settled in Greenwich, Huron coun- ty, Ohio, where his death occurred; Luckner, born May 17, 1793, was married February 14, 1814, to Miss Sophia Fletcher, and became the father of Benjamin Mead, of New Canaan, and grandfather of James R. Mead, now clerk, of Greenwich township.

Sanford Mead, our subject's father, was born

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December 20, 1803, at the present farm, and was reared after the manner of country lads of his time, his educational opportunities being limited to the local schools. He always followed agricultural pursuits, and for some time he made a specialty of raising potatoes, frequently sending a schooner- load of his crop to New York City for sale. He was one of the pioneer dairymen of Greenwich, and in order to supply his customers in the me- tropolis he drove the entire distance, thirty miles, every night, starting at 9 P. M. His city depot was located on Essex street, and two wagons were used to distribute the milk from that point. In those days of limited transportation facilities he often carried passengers to and from the city while making his regular trips. When the Har- lem railroad was completed to the Williams bridge he shipped the milk from that point, and later when the railroad was constructed to White Plains he transferred the business to that station, but the building of the New York and New Haven railroad enabled him to finally ship direct from Greenwich. In addition to his other line of work he occasionally took contracts for teaming, and he hauled all the stone for the Second Congrega- tional church at Greenwich. He was tall and slender, industrious and thrifty in his habits, and made a success in all his undertakings. Through- out life he was known as a public-spirited man, and as a consistent Christian. As a member of the Congregational Church he was active in re- ligious work, while he also championed the cause of temperance from an early date. Politically he was a Whig and later a Republican, his strong anti-slavery principles being freely expressed dur- ing the agitation on that subject. On February 25, 1833, he was married to Miss Cynthia Hus- ted, who was born November 13, 1812, daughter of Caleb and Mary (Grigg) Husted, of Greenwich, Conn. His death occurred May 14, 1873, his remains being interred in the Congregational cemetery at Greenwich, and his widow has since continued to live at the old homestead. They had five children: (1) Alexander (our subject); (2) Hannah M. resides at the old home; (3) Hen- ry H., who never married, enlisted early in the Civil war in Company I, 10th Conn. Vol. Inf., and died of typhoid fever April 20, 1862, at New Bern, N. C. He was the last man to join his company and the first man whose remains were brought home for burial. (4) Peter C. died in childhood. (5) Mary E., who resides in Green- wich, married and has two sons-Frank and Sanford. Two girls, Grace and Adelle, died young.

Our subject was born May 27, 1835. and has always made his home at the old farm. After

completing a course in the district schools of the neighborhood, he attended the Greenwich Acad- emy, then conducted by Prof. Button, and on leaving that institution he engaged in agricultu- ral work with his father. As he was especially fond of gardening, he began that work in a sci- entific way in February, 1867, in a small hot- house 10 x 20 feet in size, constructed under his directions, the building being heated by an old cook stove. His first venture, which consisted in raising early tomatoes, proved most success- ful, as he had many plants to give away after supplying his own gardens, and the demand was so great that he decided to make the most of the new business opening. He built an addition to the hothouse, making it 10 x 40 feet, and from time to time as his business has increased he has enlarged his establishment until he now has eight houses, covering in all about one acre of ground. The premises are fitted up in an artistic manner, and the horticultural department now occupies much space, there being a fine array of plants for decorative purposes as well as for the supply of cut flowers. The homestead, which is located on Lake avenue, comprises 160 acres of excellent land under Mr. Mead's able and energetic man- agement, and is kept in a high state of cultiva- tion, general crops being raised. As a citizen Mr. Mead is much esteemed for his sterling qualities of character, and, while he is not espe- cially active in local affairs, he is a regular voter, giving his support to the Republican party. He and his family are identified with the Second Congregational Church, in which he has held office as a member of the Church committee. His handsome house was built by his father in 1860. On October 22, 1861, he was married in Greenwich to Miss Matilda H. Grigg, who was born September 18, 1839, a daughter of John R. and Orphelia A. (Banks) Grigg, of Greenwich, Conn. and during her early life, which was spent in Greenwich, Mrs. Mead attended the Academy, and a private school taught by Miss Marshall. Six children have brightened the home of this worthy couple, viz .: Lida G., Minnie S., John G., and Jessie F., all of whom died in childhood, and Henry S., and Tillie A .. who are still living.

W J. MEAD, a resident of Greenwich, is the owner of one of the best farms in that vicinity, and although he does no manual labor, his able management of the place entitles him to high rank among scientific agriculturists. A man of intelligence and culture, genial and friendly in disposition, he possesses a host of admiring friends in all parts of the United States, much of

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his leisure time having been spent in visiting the many interesting and attractive scenes in which this country abounds.

Mr. Mead was born November 18, 1835, on a farm adjoining that which he now owns, and is of the seventh generation of the family to reside in the town. His line of descent from John Mead [other authorities say William], who was among the first settlers at Sand Beach, is traced through John Mead (son of the pioneer), Ebene- zer, Caleb, Jonah, and Drake Mead (our subject's father). Drake Mead, who was born at the old homestead, married Miss Julia A. Knapp, and our subject was the second son and child of this union. His brother, Cornelius Mead, is a well- known resident of Greenwich, and a more com- plete history of the family is given elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Mead's education was begun in the schools near his home, with Miss Worcester as his first teacher. When ten years old he entered Green- wich Academy, where he continued his studies for about five years, and he afterward attended Irving Institute, at Tarrytown. N. Y., and an- other school at Yonkers, N. Y. At the age of seventeen he left school and returned to the old farm. where he remained for several years. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Katherine Carroll, a native of New York City, and a daugh- ter of Nicholas Carroll, and they began house- keeping upon the present farm, which was for- merly the property of Elkanah Mead, brother of Jonah Mead, our subject's grandfather, and was purchased by Drake Mead, in 1852, from Stephen W. Mead. It contains about 200 acres of ex- cellent land, and the rapid development of the locality has brought a great increase in value in recent years. Mr. Mead suffered a sunstroke in early manhood, from the effects of which he has never entirely recovered, and owing to this he has not been able to engage in severe physical labor. He takes keen interest in the questions of the day, and in National affairs he votes for the candidates and the measures that promise the best results, irrespective of party lines. In 1870 and 1871 he was a member of the State Legislature from his district, and in 1871 to 1875 he acted as selectman of the town of Greenwich, this closing his political career. Socially. our subject and his family are prominent, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Greenwich.

Mrs. Katherine Mead died in 1869, and her remains were interred at Greenwich. Our sub- ject subsequently married Miss Sarah Carroll, a sister of his first wife. She is a member and a leading worker in the Episcopal Church at Green- wich. Mr. Mead has a bright and clever family

of children: Drake C. is a resident of Stamford; Edward W. is employed as auditor and book- keeper for a Mexican railroad, and now resides in that country; Julia C. married Walter L. Sackett, of Brooklyn; Miss Elizabeth is at home; William J., Jr., is a civil engineer in New York City; Miss Cornelia F. is at home; Francis D. re- sides in New York; and Miss Catherine C., a successful teacher, resides at home.

H ON. JOHN CLASON. The public spirit so eminently characteristic of the true American is notably manifested in the career of this well-known resident of Stamford. Through- out his life he has been identified with extens- ive agricultural and lumbering interests, yet the cares of business have not prevented him from taking a prominent part in politics and other movements, his abilities fitting him for effective work in any sphere of life.

Mr. Clason is descended from good old Colonial stock, and among the soldiers in the Revolutionary army were four members of his family: Nathaniel, Isaac, Samuel, and Stephen Clason. In the early records of Stamford we find the name spelled variously, to-wit: Clason, Cloyson, or Clawson, and at the assignment of land by lot, on December 26, 1699, when 69 lots were drawn by 75 persons, Stephen Clawson drew the first. Stephen Clason, Sr .. the great- grandfather of our subject, was a leading resi- dent of what is now called Bangall District, Stamford township, in his time, and Stephen Clason, Jr., our subject's grandfather, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in that locality during his active life. He served in the cause of freedom under Washington, and took much interest in local affairs, being specially active in religious work as a member of the Baptist Church. His death occurred in 1808. He mar- ried Martha Whelpley, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: Isaac, a resident of Greenwich, who served in the Revolutionary army; Stephen and Solomon, residents of Stamford; Benjamin, our subject's father; Abigail, who married Thomas Jessup, of New Rochelle; and Ard, a sea captain.

Benjamin Clason. the father of our subject, was born in Bangall District. in 1775, and, after receiving a common-school education, set- tled upon the old homestead, which he inherited. While he was not especially active in politics, he took much interest in the questions of his day, and was a stanch supporter of the Whig party. He was married in Westchester county. New York, to Nancy Ayres, daughter of Reuben

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John blason

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Ayres, and his death occurred in 1838, his wife surviving him many years and dying in 1862. They had seven children, of whom the eldest, Stephen, is now deceased. (2) James, who served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, died in Ohio; he married Mary Miller and had three children-Mary, Adolphus, and John C. (3) George W. is deceased. (4) Lewis (deceased) married Susan Marshall, and had five children-Stephen I., John W., George L., Charles C., and Mary A. (5) Samuel died in Stamford. (6) John, our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (7) Joseph W. married Louisa Smith, and has one daughter-Lillian; they reside in Ohio.

Mr. Clason, our subject, was born Septem- ber 8, 1825, at the old homestead in Bangall District, of Stamford. His education was begun in the common school near his home, his at- tendance being usually limited to a three-months' term in the winter each year. These privileges only served to stimulate his desire for knowledge, and later, as he could afford it, he took private instructions under John Lyell, A. M., a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, with a view to civil engineering as a profession, making thorough preparation in the mathematical branches. In 1841 he became a clerk in the store of Alanson Studwell, of Roxbury, with whom he remained one year, and later he taught for two years in the common schools of Roxbury and Turn River Districts, one term being spent in the last named district. About 1844, he engaged in farming on the homestead, and for many years he was also interested in dealing in native timber. His operations were uniformly profitable, and he enjoys the reputation of being the most success- ful agriculturist ever in Stamford. In 1862 he sold his farm, but he devotes much attention to the care of his homestead of twenty acres, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. At an early age he became interested in practical politics, identifying himself with the Whigs, and since the organization of the Republican party he has been a zealous defender of its doctrines. His interest in educational advancement is shown by his active work in his own town, where he has held every office connected with the schools, and for four years he was a member of the board of education, resigning when elected Judge of Pro- bate for the district of Stamford, Fairfield Co, Conn., at the State election in November. 1876, serving ten years. He proved a most capable judge, courteous and painstaking, discharging his duties with true fidelity, and justly deserving and receiving the full praise and appreciation of the public.

In 1851, at the age of twenty-six, he was elected to the Legislature, being the youngest member of that body, and in 1854 he was again chosen to that office. His legislative service was resumed in 1871, after an interval, and he then held the position for five consecutive years, that being the longest continuous service as repre- sentative from Stamford since the adoption of the Constitution in 1818. While in the Legisla- ture he was ever active in promoting the best in- terests of his locality and the State at large, and was noted for his sound, practical judgment, his patient, intelligence in investigations connected with committee work, and his sturdy opposition to dishonesty in any form. In 1855 he was elected assessor of his town, an office which he filled satisfactorily for twenty-five years, and from 1876 to 1886 he served as judge of the Probate Court for the District of Stamford, while at times he has held other local offices, including that of justice of the peace. His business ability has been called into service in various enterprises, and he was one of the incorporators of the Stam- ford Savings Bank, in which he served as director until he resigned, in accordance of law, to take office as director in the Stamford National Bank, with which he is still connected. His honorable and upright conduct in all relations, public and private, has won and retained the confidence of all classes in the community, and at all times he has proved himself a friend of progress, assisting generously in the support of Churches and other worthy enterprises. In this connection we quote a well-deserved tribute from " Picturesque Stam- ford ":

" A gratifying and memorable incident which developed in connection with the preparations for the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the town of Stamford, was the gift to his native town, by Hon. John Clason, of the sum of $43,- ooo, to be used for the purpose of erecting a public hospital. Mr. Clason had quietly made this donation a year and a half previous, in Octo- ber, 1892, and the fact was known only to him- self and the three gentlemen, Messrs. Charles A. Hawley, George H. Hoyt, and Edwin L. Sco- field, whom he had selected as trustees of the fund. It was also disclosed that Mr. Clason had, some years previous, given the sum of $10,- 000 to another useful public institution, the Fer- guson Library. With characteristic modesty he was reluctant to allow these generous dona- tions to become known, but finally yielded the point on the advice of friends, who felt that there could be no more appropriate time for such a disclosure than in association with an interesting epoch in the town's history. The donor was

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 38

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