Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 46

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

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established an extensive and lucrative business, and in conjunction with the "commercial prince," Moses Taylor, carried on an immense importing trade in molasses and other tropical staple com- modities. Mr. Birch died, and was succeeded by a Mr. Beam, of Goshen, N. Y., who, in addi- tion to possessing great wealth, was endowed with the keenest business acumen and abundant experience; hence the firm lost none of its wonted. business prestige by his advent therein. Mr. Beam also died after a few years' connection with the firm, and the business was continued by Mr. Nichols until about the breaking out of the Civil war, when he retired therefrom, having ac- quired a handsome fortune as the reward of a life of energy and business probity.

The mother of Walter Nichols was Jennett Burroughs, a remarkably beautiful and accom- plished woman. daughter of Stephen Burroughs, the third, Bridgeport's foremnost merchant and shipowner from about the year 1786 to about 1825. He had succeeded his father, Stephen Burroughs, who was not only the most conspicu- ous figure in mercantile trade in Bridgeport, but was possessed of transcendent intellectual quali- ties which, aside from his active participation in matters of commerce, he devoted to the science of astronomy, becoming the author of what was then recognized as a standard text-book on that interesting and important subject. He was the author of the present system of Federal decimal money, and was also a conspicuous and valuable member of the General Assembly of the State for several consecutive years, numbering among his friends and confreres many of the most distin- guished statesmen of the time. It has been said by a clever local historian that Capt. Stephen Burroughs was the " nucleus around which Bridgeport has grown and attained its pre-emi- nently important status in the galaxy of its sister cities of the State."

Walter Nichols was born at Jersey City, N. J., October 10, 1847, and received his rudiment- ary educational training at the celebrated Has- brouck Grammar School, located in his native city, the curriculum of this school being as va- ried as that of our leading colleges. It was Mr. Nichols' intention to pursue a full academic course at Princeton, and he matriculated at that College, but at the end of his Freshman year withdrew, having decided to enter mercantile life in New York. He pursued his business ca- reer successfully until the year 1881, when, his health having become somewhat impaired, he came to Bridgeport, seeking rest and recreation, which in due time he realized. Having decided to remain here, he engaged in the real-estate

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business, which at the time, due to the growing and progressive character of the place, offered great inducements for profitable investments, and it requires the citation of but two incidents to demonstrate his ability and acumen in his newly chosen line of traffic, one being the fa- mous Long Beach, now known as " Pleasure Beach," purchase, with its accompanying inci- dents, which were duly chronicled in the local and State press at the time; the other was the noted purchase, in 1886, in company with for- mer Mayor Walter B. Bostwick, of the so-called "Wordin tract," located at that section of Bridgeport designated the West End. This pur- chase was at the time regarded as the largest and most important single land deal ever consum- mated in Bridgeport, or for that matter since, and immediately resulted in creating a " boom," which in turn advanced the price of land in the section named at least fourfold. Mr. Nichols is regarded as one of the most astute real-estate experts in the State, his services in that line be- ing constantly in demand on the part of execu- tors and administrators in the adjustment of com- plex questions of equity in the distribution of land under their respective functions.

In the year 1893 Mr. Bostwick, who was then mayor, recognizing Mr. Nichols' eminent fitness for the position, appointed him a member of the local Board of Appraisal of Benefits and Dam- ages in company with John J. Ryburn, Esq., a leading merchant and extensive real-estate owner, and Hon. Frederick S. Stevens, the prom- inent local druggist; Mr. Stevens was in 1895 appointed, by his excellency Governor Coffin, a member of the famous committee whose function was to formulate and execute an agreement be- tween the city of Bridgeport and the New York, New Haven & Hudson River Railroad Company as to the manner and expense of eliminating grade crossings within the city's limits. Not- withstanding the fact that Mr. Nichols' private business, together with his official duties, are seemingly all-sufficient to engross his whole at- tention, he frequently finds time to indulge in literary work, such as newspaper correspondence and the fabrication of short stories of an imagi- native order which find a ready market, and which on account of their original and novel character have frequently been reproduced in the columns of the press throughout the country.

M ONROE JUDSON, M. D. This, in his lifetime, well-known physician was a mem- ber of a family which has long been prominent in professional circles, several of the name hav-

ing won distinction among the medical practi- tioners of this and other States. The first American ancestor was William Judson, who came from England in 1634, and died in New Haven in 1662. He was accompanied on his voyage across the Atlantic by his wife and three sons, Joseph, Jeremiah and Joshua.

Joseph, who died in 1696, married Sarah Judson, and reared a family of children, of whom a son, James, the eldest, is the next in the line of descent to our subject.

James, who was born in 1650 and died in 1717, married, and had several sons, among whom was David, the great-great-grandfather of our subject.

David was born in 1693, and by his marriage with Phobe Stiles had four children, as follows: David, born in 1715: Phoebe (Mrs. Matthew Curtis), born in 1717; Abel, born in 1721. and Agur, born in 1724.

Abel, the great-grandfather of our subject, was married May 7. 1744, to Sarah Burton, by whom he had four children, viz .: John, born in 1745. who married Patience Fairman and reared a family of children; Abel, who is mentioned more fully below; Sarah (Mrs. Ashur Peck), born in 1749, and Ruth (Mrs. Henry Fairman), born in 1752.

Abel (2), our subject's grandfather, was born in Stratford, this county, in 1746, and became a leading farmer, owning an estate of two hundred acres on Mile Hill, in the town of Newtown, now occupied by Daniel G. Beers. He was a man of independent thought, and was active in religious work as a member of the Sandemanian Church. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Ann Bennett, had a family of fifteen children, of whom we have the following record: (1) Ruth, born November 17, 1769, married a Mr. Hard, and had a son, who became a successful phy- sician at Hunter, N. Y., among the Catskills. (2) Bennett, born February 12, 1771. (3) Bet- sey, born December 22, 1772, married a Mr. Prindle. (4) Rufus, born December 27, 1774, married and settled in Ohio. (5) Abner, born October 17, 1776, married (first) a Miss Hard, (second) a Miss Judson, and (third) a Mrs. Shep- hard. (6) Abel, born in 1778. (7) Marcus, born February 3. 1780. (8) Laura, born December 8, 1781, married Zera Blackman. (9) Jerusha, born September 22, 1783, married Eleazer Starr. (10) Silence, born April 3, 1785. married Daniel Wells, a shoemaker, who resided in Zoar, this county. (11) Isaac, born February 3, 1787. (12) John, our subject's father, is mentioned be- low more fully. (13) Martin, born in February, 1791, was a miller by occupation, and made his

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home at Sandy Hook. (14) Zenas J., born March 28, 1793, was a tailor by trade; he mar- ried. (15) Anna, born January 6, 1795, married Thomas Seeley, a shoemaker and hotel keeper at Newtown.

Dr. John Judson, our subject's father, was born in Newtown, February 11, 1789, and re- . ceived his literary education there under the care of Doctor Shephard, of the Sandemanian Church. He then studied medicine, securing a diploma from Yale College, and. on October 8. 1812, was licensed to practice. Two years he . was assistant postmaster; in 1849 he was chosen

spent in South Britain, Conn., afterward locating in Newtown, where he established a large prac- tice, being known as one of the leading physi- cians of this section. As he was obliged to con- tend with financial discouragements in early life, his success reflects much credit upon him. Like all his family, he was identified with the Episco- pal Church, and at all times he manifested an interest in the progress of the community. He died July 29, 1839. His wife, Philena (Hubbell). to whom he was married in 1813. was a daughter of John Hubbell, a prominent citizen of Sandy

On May 1, 1844, Doctor Judson married Miss Sarah M. Blackman, who was born May 22. 1824, a daughter of Ziba Blackman. She died February 25, 1867, and on February 2, 1869, the Hook, and she died February 1, 1881. at the : Doctor formed a second matrimonial union, this age of ninety years. They had four sons, namely: (1) George, born March 11, 1814. graduated from Bellevue Medical College, New 1 York City, in 1837, and became a successful physician of Newtown, continuing his practice until his death, April 22, 1853; he married Miss Jane Hitchcock, of Danbury. (2) Monroe, our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (3) time with Miss Sarah Curtis, daughter of Gould Curtis. Four children came of the first marriage: (1) Jerome, born April 3, 1845, died September 14, 1846. (2) Martha J., born January 15, 1849. married Edward P. Taylor, now a resident of Oakland, Cal., and has three daughters and one son. (3) John M., born January 25, 1854. is a traveling salesman, and resides in Newtown, Conn. (4) George B., born November 10, 1862, died March 16, 1865. By the second union there was one child that died when three months old. Doctor Judson was called from earth March 28, 1898.

Jerome, born April 29, 1828, was a merchant of Sandy Hook, but is now deceased; he was un- married. (4) John, born June 23, 1830, was engaged in mercantile business at Sandy Hook with his brother Jerome for a number of years previous to his death on February 27, 1881; he married (first) Cornelia Peck, and (second) Julia Colt, of Harwinton, Connecticut.

Dr. Monroe Judson was born January 17. 1820, at the old homestead in Newtown, which occupied the site of the present town hall. He was carefully educated, especially in the sciences and languages, by Daniel Burhans, a son of Reverend Burhans, and one of the most noted teachers of his day. When about eighteen years old our subject began his medical studies with his father, and after the death of the latter he continued them under the direction of his brother George. In 1841 he entered Yale Med- ical College, and after taking three terms of lect- ures was graduated in January, 1843. In the following year he established himself in practice in Newtown, and on the death of his brother George, in 1853, he succeeded to his business.

His practice from that time was very large until in 1888, finding himself in need of rest, he re- tired from professional work. He then spent 1 six months in California for his health, but the greater portion of the time afterward he passed quietly in his home in Newtown. Notwithstand- ing his arduous labors in his profession, Doctor Judson took an active part in local affairs, being one of the chief advisers on the Democratic or- ¡ ganization of his town. From 1849 to 1854 he i served as town clerk, and from 1848 to 1850 he to represent his town in the State Legislature, and about the same time he was appointed clerk of the probate court, by Jacob Beers. From 1850 to 1860 he was judge of the same court, ; and from 1879 to 1887 he again held that office. He was a member of Trinity Church of New- town, in which he was always an active worker, serving as vestryman for many years.

The Curtis family is well known in this coun- ty, and Mrs. Judson traces her descent from Matthew Curtis, of Stratford, who died in New- town, Conn., in 1796, at the age of eighty-four years. He married Phoebe Judson, and had the following children: Phoebe (Mrs. John Beach), born in 1737; David, 1741; Niram, 1744; Mat- thew, 1746; Stiles, 1748; Jonah, 1750; Josiah, 1752; Abner, 1754; and Reuben, 1757. The mother of this family died in 1758, and in the following year Matthew Curtis married Abigail Thompson, by whom he had one son, Gould, Mrs. Judson's grandfather.

Gould Curtis was born December 17, 1763, and died March 5, 1840. He married Elizabeth Gould, of Fairfield, this county, on December 12, 1781, and had ten children, viz .: Abigail (Mrs. Cyrus Hard), born October 14, 1782; Bet- sey, born March 13, 1784, died July 16, 1807;

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Deborah (Mrs. Herman Warner), born March 19, 1786, died November 10, 1861; Gould (Mrs. Judson's father); Marilla, born March 11, 1790, .died September 23, 1864; John, born March 3, 1792, who married Lucy Blackman, and died August 13, 1845; Phoebe, born October 25, . 1793, .died July 18, 1810; Hezekiah, born March 25, 1796, who married Marcia Glover; David, born July 28, 1798, who married Jeannette Shelton, of Monroe, this county; and Daniel, born Janu- ary 26, 1801.

Gould Curtis, Jr., the father of Mrs. Judson, born December 27, 1787, married Miss Joanna Peck, by whom he had five children, Mrs. Judson .being the youngest. Of the others-Mary mar- ried Cyrenius Beers; Samuel married (first) Mary Nichols, and (second) Betsey Curtis; Elizabeth married (first) Robert Peck (had by him one daughter, Charlotte, married to Eli Barnum), and (second) wedded Simeon Peck (had by him one son, Charles): the fourth child died in in- fancy, unnamed.

H ON. CHARLES W. LOUNSBURY, of Darien, is one of the wide-awake, pro- gressive citizens of Fairfield county, and holds ·in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of all classes of people. He bears an honorable record as a soldier, while in various responsible official positions he has displayed a devotion to duty which has. unhappily, been none too com- mon among public men.

His family is noted for patriotism, his father and his two brothers, as well as himself, having served with gallantry during the Civil war, and .one of his brothers, Joshua, met his death amid the horrors of Andersonville prison. Mr. Louns- bury's paternal ancestors were French Hugue- nots who came to this country and located in one of the Carolinas in the sixteenth century in .consequence of the St. Bartholomew massacre, later migrating to the State of New York. His great-grandfather and grandfather were both named Joshua. The former, who was a farmer by occupation, had five sons, one of whom, Al- exander (after whom Mr. Lounsbury's father was named), was in the shoe business at North Cas- tle, Westchester Co., New York.

Alexander Lounsbury, our subject's father, was a native of New York State, born in Free- hold, Greene county, and for a number of years was engaged in the shoe business at Fishkill. Between 1840 and 1850 he removed to the town of Norwalk. this county, for the benefit of his health, spending some time in agricultural pur- suits, but later he returned to New York State,

where his death occurred in 1881. He was a man of much intelligence and force of charac- ter, and took a prominent part in local affairs wherever he resided. His estimable wife, Mary (Lockwood), survived about bim ten years. She was also a native of the Empire State, and her par- ents and ancestry were English. Of their three sons, our subject and his brother, James H., a resident of Stamford, survive them, and three daughters are living, viz .: Susan, wife of Will- iam Mather; Cornelia, wife of Henry Green, and Josephine, wife of Horace Saunders.

Charles W. Lounsbury was born March 22, 1842, in Eddyville, Ulster Co., N. Y., and dur- ing his youth he received a common-school edu- cation. He spent several years of his boyhood upon a farm, but at an early age began to learn the tinner's trade, which he followed for a time. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company A, 17th Conn. V. I., and he remained in the service three years and two months. Fortu- nately he was neither captured nor wounded, but he did not escape severe suffering, the exposures and hardships of army life bringing on several serious attacks of illness. On his return from the army he located in Darien and established a tin shop and hardware store, which he has ever since conducted successfully, being to-day re- garded as one of the substantial business men of the place. At the same time he has found op- portunities for effective work in political lines, and has gained an influential standing among the Republicans of the State. In 1864 he attended the National Convention that nominated Lincoln and Johnson, and in 1893 and 1895 he was elected as a representative of his town to the State Leg- islature, serving two terms with distinction on the Humane committee. In the contest for sen- ator in the fall of 1898 Mr. Lounsbury defeated George Gregory in the Twelfth District by a ma- jority greater than that given any other candidate in the State except in the Hartford District (and that District has more than two thousand votes to draw from), his majority exceeding thirteen hundred. He is now serving on the Woman's Suffrage committee. Possessing strong convic- tions, he never falters in his devotion to his party, and he is active in local affairs, having served as a member of the Board of School Vis- itors and District committee, and on the Supe- rior Court committee on the Oyster Grounds. For twenty years he was a trial justice in his town, and at present he is a notary public.

In January, 1868, Mr. Lounsbury married Miss Jane L. Torrington, daughter of John and Elizabeth Torrington, of Baltimore, Md .; on the maternal side Mrs. Lounsbury is lineally

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descended from the Balls of Virginia. Three children have blessed this union: Charles Ernest, Ada May and Earle M. Mr. Lounsbury and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at South Norwalk, with which he united before the war. He is a member of Hobby Post No. 23, G. A. R., and Kippowam Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F., at Stamford, while for ten years he was an active worker of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 107, F. & A. M., in which he has held office as warden and treas- urer.

W ILLIAM TALBOT (deceased) was for many years one of the leading business men of Greenwich, as well as one of its most highly respected and honored citizens. He was born in Hampshire, England, February 9, 1825, a son of William and Sarah Privet Talbot. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, was born in 1801 and died in 1833, leaving a family of five children, our subject being the eldest; Caroline married John Locke after coming to the United States, and died in Albany, N. Y .; Jane mar- ried William Whitty, and lives in Orange, N. J .; Robert, a partner of our subject in business at Greenwich, was killed on the railroad at that place; and Elizabeth married Henry Schenck, and died at Newark, N. J. After the death of the father, Mrs. Talbot married William Miles, a plumber, with whom our subject learned his trade, serving a seven-years' apprenticeship. Mr. Miles left England in the early '40s and came to the New World, locating in Brooklyn, where he worked at his trade. There were three children born of the second union: Ann. who married Job DeCamp, and died in Newark, N. J .; Mary A., who wedded Dennis Ryan, and died in New Jer- sey; and John, a retired machinist, now living at Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island.

In 1845 William Talbot left his old home in England, and after a three-weeks' voyage landed in New York. For some years he was employed by a Mr. Watkins on Catherine street, and during this time was married, May 12. 1851, in that city, to Miss Laura Sawyer, who was born in Kingston, N. Y., July 11, 1829, a daughter of Benjamin and Cornelia (Hermance) Sawyer. Her father was a native of Ulster county, N. Y., and was the son of a farmer, who had died when Benjamin was quite small, leaving three children-James, Benjamin and Kate. As a tanner and currier, he followed his trade in Van Buren's tannery at Kingston. Both he and his wife died of cholera, at Marbletown, N. Y., at the age of sixty-five years, and were buried in Stone Ridge, Ulster county. She was a descendant of Walter Van Twiller, one of the first five Colonial governors

of New York. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer were ten children, namely : John, a farmer, who died in Kingston; Harriett, who mar- ried Cornelius Brush, and died in Ulster county ; Blandina, who married Lewis Le Bars, and lives in New Haven, Conn .; Abraham, a farmer, who died in Ulster county. N. Y .; Catharine, who married Jacob Bunton, and died in Indiana ; Maria, wife of Andrew Schonmaker, of Mt. Ver- non ; Laura, widow of our subject; Alexander, who died in Wassing. Ulster county; Jane, wife of Jacob Bunton, of Indiana; and Ann E., now Mrs. Peter Ruger, of Ellenville, N. Y. Mrs. Talbot was reared in Kingston, N. Y., until four- teen years of age, and obtained her education in the common schools there. Her home was then in New York City until her marriage and for a year and a half later.

Mr. Talbot then removed to Stamford, Conn., where he worked at the plumber's trade for Lock- wood & Capron until 1859, when he embarked in business on his own account. During the en- tire time he worked for others, he was in the employ of only two firms, as he was always a steady and good mechanic. In connection with his brother Robert, under the firm name of Tal- bot Bros., he established a tin and stove store in Greenwich, and also engaged in roofing and plumbing. The brother retired in 1868, and two years later George H. Mills became a mem- ber of the firm, which assumed the style of Tal- bot & Mills. After Mr. Mills withdrew, Mr. Talbot was alone in business until his death, which occurred January 20, 1884, after a linger- ing illness. His remains were interred in Union cemetery. He erected his store building in 1860, but it was afterward enlarged, and with his own business he occupied the entire three-story struct- ure. In all things he was upright and thoroughly reliable, and easily won and retained the confi- dence of all with whom he came in contact in either social or business life. After his death the business was discontinued.

In political sentiment, Mr. Talbot was a Re- publican, but he always declined official honors. From early life he was a sincere and earnest Chris- tian, a faithful member of the Methodist Church, with which he was officially connected, and he was always a liberal contributor to all Church work. For many years he served as superintend- ent of the Sabbath-school, and only resigned when his health compelled it. He was a man of stern integrity and honesty of purpose, and de- spised all unworthy or questionable methods to secure success in any undertaking or for any pur- pose, or to promote his own advancement in any direction.

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To Mr. and Mrs. Talbot were born the fol- lowing children: (1) William R., a resident of Port Chester, N. Y., married Lydia Stoothoff, and has one daughter, Nellie R. Chester died in childhood. (2) Sarah J. is the wife of Albert Grigg, of Port Chester, and had six children- Maud, Eugenie, Frederick (who died in infancy), Harold, Walter and Hazel. (3) George E. mar- ried Virginia Sparks, and died in Greenwich at the age of thirty-nine years. (4) Carrie M., at home, was her father's bookkeeper for several years. (5) Louise is the wife of George Tyler, of Round Hill, Fairfield county, and had five children-William, Laura, Chester (died at the age three years), Fred and Helen. (6) Rie E. is the wife of George H. Merrill, of Greenwich. (7) Louis died in infancy. (8) Emma married T. A. Newton, of Greenwich, and has two children- Walter and William Talbot. (9) Estelle M. is at home. (10) Harry is a plumber's apprentice. Mrs. Talbot was left entire charge of a partially involved estate, and her management reflects great credit upon her as a business woman. She was an excellent wife, and at all times is a most highly respected lady.

D AVID SHERMAN BEACH. the founder of the "North American Investment Com- pany," is one of the sons of Fairfield county at whom our citizens point with pride. He was born in Bridgeport February 26, 1861. one of the five children of John H. and Mary E. (Mer- chant) Beach. The other children were: James E., Amelia B., Edmond H. and Frederick H. The two last died in infancy. John H. Beach was a son of Isaac E. Beach, and a grandson of Dr. James Eaton Beach, the latter of whom served with distinction in the war of the Revo- lution. He was the first doctor in Bridgeport, whither he had come from Cheshire, Connecticut.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 46

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