Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 47

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

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Our subject received an unusually good educa- tion, as he attended Guy B. Day's seminary from his seventh year until his twelfth year, and then was two years at S. B. Jones' Park Avenue In- stitution. At the age of fourteen he became in- terested in partnership with the firm known as J. H. Beach & Sons, and at eighteen was en- rolled as a student in the Eastman Business Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he remained ten weeks. Having here acquired a thorough theoretical knowledge of business methods, he returned to the old firm and took an active interest as partner in business with them for ten years. Being always much interested in horti- culture, he decided to make it his life work. Accordingly at the age of twenty-eight he began

this work for himself, and to-day is one of the largest growers of table delicacies under glass, in New England. He has 50,000 square feet of glass in greenhouses, is also a large holder of valuable real estate, and has experienced unin- ! terrupted success, although in his second year he I had the misfortune to be burned out. His in- domitable energy and pluck caused him to per- severe, however, and he re-built on a larger scale.

Of late years Mr. Beach has given consider- able study to corporations and the laws govern- ing them, and has prepared a valuable work as the result of his researches. He has paid par- ticular attention to the laws of New Jersey, and his chief work, the formation of the North Amer- ican Investment Company, was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey. The offices of the company are located in Bridgeport and Jersey City. The object of this corporation, of which our subject is the chief executive. is pre- sented in the following introduction to a pam- phlet, setting forth the advantages of this system. "It is after years of mental research and science that I have been led to organize the North American Investment Company, which will supply that long felt want that has never been filled intelligently heretofore-placing Capi- tal and Labor on such an equal basis that both will become as one; giving to the purchaser, ren- ter, or borrower, an opportunity to realize from his expenditures and savings, under this system, such untold advantages, which will bring joy and relief to him and his beloved ones, placing no barrier of impossibilities which will occasion losses or indebtedness to his estate, making him wholly the recipient in the end. He is, and will be now a permanent resident of the United States, a taxpayer and an independent citizen, which this great country of ours offers to every- one. not equalled by any other nation on the globe.'

One of Mr. Beach's latest achievements is a municipal insurance system, whereby the pub- lic debt of any city may be extinguished with economy by life insurance. Briefly stated, the plan contemplates that the city shall take out insurance policies on the lives of a number of the best and most influential citizens, from the age of twenty-five to fifty-five years, or more properly speaking that the citizens shall make applications for insurance on their lives for the amount of $1,000 or $10,000, as the case may be, in the form of an indemnity bond, or life policy, payable, say, in twenty years at a premium of so much per thousand, which will be an average rate for the ages mentioned, and have-

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these bonds or policies assigned to the city, the latter to pay the premiums. The economical and financial advantages of life insurance in individual business affairs is most clearly recog- nized to-day, and the plan is an application of the same principles to the affairs of the com- munity. It is a novel and striking proposition and an index to the mental brilliancy of the in- ventor. Mr. Beach has elaborated Tables, dem- onstrating the results of the system. The plan has attracted wide attention, and at present there is a Bill before the Legislature at Hartford to legalize the items mentioned in this plan. Many legal lights declare no legislation is neces- sary; but in order to avoid future complications, Mr. Beach thought best to secure Legislative sanction. On July 3, 1899. the mayor of Bridgeport appointed a special committee to con- sider the same. What the outcome will be is hard to conjecture, but from every standpoint there is the appearance of acceptance, though it could hardly be confirmed until made final.

On October 15, 1885, at the age of twenty- four, Mr. Beach was married to Miss Mary Jane Meeker, of Westport, and to this union the fol- lowing children were born: John H., David Sherman, Jr., Harold Page and Mary Jane, the last named dying in infancy. Mr. Beach is one of Bridgeport's most reliable citizens, and his mathematical researches have been made with a view of bettering the condition of the working people. The people he has enlisted as his fol- lowers are among the best in the county, and this speaks well as to the faith reposed in him as a business man and a good citizen.

R OYAL LACEY HIGGINS, M. D., a well- known resident of Norwalk, is one of the busiest and most successful physicians and sur- geons of Fairfield county, and there is no one more deserving of mention in this volume. He is.a direct descendant of John Lacey, an early settler of Stratfield Parish. [See page 150, "History of Fairfield County."]

Doctor Higgins is a native of Connecticut. having been born August 10, 1841, in Roxbury, Litchfield county, of New England ancestry. His grandfather, John Higgins, was a farmer in the town of Easton, and his father (John's), Abra- ham Higgins, had his home in an old stone house that is still standing.

Lacey Higgins, son of John, and father of our subject, was born in Easton, Fairfield coun- ty, and learned the trade of general blacksmith and wagonmaker, in Newtown, which he after- ward followed in Roxbury, Litchfield county,

until about the year 1853, when he took up farming. (Ex-Governor Morris, of Connecticut, was an apprentice to Lacey Higgins, but did not finish his apprenticeship. because he wished to study law, and Lacey Higgins gave him his time. In Fairfield county Lacey Higgins mar- ried Miss Priscilla Silliman, of the town of Mon- roe, a lineal descendant of Daniel Silliman, the first of the name to settle in Fairfield, having, so tradition says, emigrated from Holland. He died in 1690. His youngest son. Robert, mar- ried Sarah Hull, and died in 1748. His young- est son, Ebenezer, married Abigail Sellick, and their youngest son, Deodate (called " Date "), was the grandfather of Mrs. Lacey Higgins. To Lacey and Priscilla Higgins were born chil- dren as follows: Royal Lacey, Jerome Silli- man, Riverius. Thornton, Harriet Priscilla, Jane Eliza and John Sellick, all of whom live in St. Louis except Royal Lacey. The mother of this family died at the home of her son in St. Louis, May 19. 1891, aged seventy-six years; the father died January 29, 1892. aged seventy-eight years. In politics he was a Democrat, and in 1852 he represented Litchfield county, and some years later Fairfield county, in the State Legislature. For several years he served as justice of the peace, and was notary public for ten years.

Dr. Royal L. Higgins passed the first twelve years of his life in his native village, Roxbury, and then removed with the family to Stepney, town of Monroe, Fairfield county, and his earlier education was received in both places, while at the same time, as opportunities offered, he worked on the farm. At the age of seventeen he was teaching school near Monroe Center, and a year later was teaching in Easton. After that he attended Winthrop Institute under the preceptorship of Rev. William Dennison, which school stood between Saybrook and Deep River, Conn. At the end of a year there he again took up school teaching for a time, the scene of his labors this time being near Bethel, but not long afterward he again went to school at Easton Center.

While living at Grassy Plain, near Danbury, our subject commenced the study of medicine under Dr. George Benedict, of Bethel, later continuing same under Dr. Robert Hubbard, of Bridgeport. In the fall of 1864 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and was graduated there in 1867, coming on the first day of March, that year, to Norwalk, where he has ever since remained in the active and successful practice of his profession, being now the oldest medical practitioner in the city.

On February 3, 1870, Doctor Higgins was

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married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Watkins, daugh- ter of James Y. and Catherine Watkins, of New York City, and they have one daughter, May Jerome, who is living with her parents. Since 1892 the home of the family has been at No. 55 West avenue.

The Doctor is a member of the Fairfield County Medical Society, and of the State Medi- cal Society. Socially, he was first affiliated with the F. & A. M. in Eureka Lodge, Bethel, thence demitted to Monroe (now Wash- ington) Lodge No. 19, Monroe; is a member of Butler Chapter and Clinton Commandery No. 3, K. T., of Norwalk. Politically, he is a Demo- crat, and he has ever manifested a deep interest in and taken his part in the support of all meas- ures calculated to prove of benefit to the com- munity at large. His pleasant and affable man- ner invariably wins for him friends, and as one of the popular and honored citizens of Fairfield county he stands second to none.

DATRICK KEANE, deceased. Although taken away at a comparatively early age, while en- tering the prime of manhood, this well-known manufacturer of Botsford had established an influ- ence in his community which was second to none. Possessing the warm-heartedness for which the Irish race is noted, he had won hosts of friends among all classes, and as a devout member of the Catholic Church his daily life was such as to commend his religion to every one, irrespective of creed. His death, which occurred March 20, 1896, called forth many sincere tributes to his worth as a man and a citizen, and the funeral eulogy of Father Smith, of St. Rose's Church, contained the following touching words: * One has been taken from us who could be truly called a good man. He was truly a practical Catholic. He was a good citizen, and all spoke highly of him without regard to creed or nationality. He had been a dutiful son, a good father, and an affectionate brother. How true these words are touching all his relationships no one knows as as well those who are connected with him. Those who were his neighbors regarded him as kind and obliging." The editor of the Newtown Bcc, speaking through the columns of his paper, said in part: " The passing away of Mr. Keane in the prime of his life is sincerely regretted by all our citizens of whatever creed. He was of a substantial type, square in his business dealings. a man who despised hypocrisy and dishonesty in business or wherever it showed its head. If he made a promise his word could be depended upon, a characteristic that is not as universal as it

ought to be. His children, yet young, can scarcely realize their great loss in the death of their father and protector, for he was a man deeply attached to his children and chosen friends."

Mr. Keane was born March 12. 1853, in County Clare, Ireland, the son of Thomas and Mary (Lillis) Keane, who were both highly- esteemed residents of Botsford. Thomas Keane was born in Ireland December 23, 1814, and for some years of his early manhood was a farmer in County Clare, but in 1863 he came with his wife and family to America, locating first in Monroe township, this county, where he found employ- ment with a Mr. Booth, a manufacturer of stir- rups. After his son settled in Botsford he also removed there and became interested in the business of button manufacturing, which they carried on successfully for a number of years under the firm name of Thomas Keane & Son. At that time the industry was in a state of decay, but they infused new life into it and made it one of the chief sources of prosperity for the town. The works were enlarged as time passed, and their energetic and judicious business methods extended their trade greatly. Thomas Keane died February 4, 1896, and his wife on De- cember 27, 1890. Two daughters survive them. Mrs. Dennis Crowe, who has several children, and Miss Norah E. Keane, a lady of fine abilities and rare kindness of heart. who has taken charge of her deceased brother's children since the death of their mother.

The subject of our sketch was about ten years old when he came to this country, and was edu- cated in the common schools of Monroe and New- town townships. At the age of sixteen he se- cured a position as clerk with Oliver Botsford, at Botsford Station, remaining there until 1872, when he entered the employ of William Platt, the button manufacturer of Botsford. A few years later he succeeded to the business in part- nership with his father, and they conducted it with the most gratifying results, as noted above. Our subject, being naturally gifted as a mechanic. put his inventive genius to good account in his own establishment, doing his repairing and mak- ing many of his machines. He accumulated a fine property, all due to his own well-directed ef- forts. In politics he was an uncompromising Democrat, and for several years he was a mem- ber of the town committee of his party. his advice and work being much appreciated. Official honors had no charms for him, however, and although he served at times as a member of the school committee and board of relief he persist- ently refused nomination to other positions. His

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death, which was caused by pulmonary hemor- rhage, was quite unexpected, for although he had been under medical care for several months his condition was not thought to be serious until a few days before his demise. Being naturally of a buoyant disposition, it is doubtful if he realized his own danger. His funeral was largely at- tended by the townspeople, all classes, parties and creeds uniting in the final tribute of respect. The interment took place at St. Rose's cemetery, and was preceded by a solemn high mass for the repose of the soul. Many beautiful floral offer- ings gave token of the grief of friends and rela- tives, and the pall-bearers were leading men of the community.

In 1882 Mr. Keane married Miss Margaret Finnell, by whom he had five sons, Mrs. Keane dying April 14, 1890, at the birth of the young- est. She was a daughter of Edward Finnell, formerly a well-known resident of Newtown, and her family is connected by blood or marriage with most of the old Catholic families, her an- cestors having settled here many years ago.

J JOHN J. BOOTH. The quiet pleasures of farm life are made doubly enjoyable by contrast with years of active work in business centers, and the subject of this sketch, a well-known re- tired resident of Stratford township, is fortunate in the choice of a home for the "afternoon " of his long and useful career. For many years he was identified with mercantile pursuits, and has now retired to his old family homestead near Stratford village, an attractive estate to which early associations add an unfailing charm.

Mr. Booth is a representative of one of the pioneer families, being a direct descendant of Richard Booth, the first settler in Stratford. Capt. James Booth, our subject's great-grandfa- ther, was a native of Stratford, and made his home there throughout his life. Silas Booth, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared there, and for many years followed farming upon an estate of which our subject's present home- stead is a portion. He married Ruth (Curtis) Jones, widow of Isaac Jones, a Revolutionary pensioner, and had six children: Isaac P., our subject's father; Eliza, who married Samuel Peck, a farm in Stratford; Maria, who married Henry Beardsley, a farmer in Stratford; Susan, who married Isaac B. Bristol, of Stratford, where their grandson, William B. Bristol, now resides; Nancy, who died in childhood; and Silas C., who resided in Bridgeport, and wasat one time mayor of that place.

Isaac P. Booth, the father of our subject, was

born in Stratford and became a farmer at the homestead, where his death occurred in 1879. His wife, Abigail (Wheeler), who died in 1875, was a daughter of Nathaniel L. Wheeler, a well known citizen of Stratford. Eight children were born to this worthy couple: Lewis W., founder of the Booth drug store in Bridgeport (he died in 1883); Charles, who died in 1878, in Petersburg, Va., where he was engaged in mercantile busi- ness; John J., our subject; Mary, wife of Charles Fowler, of Galveston, Texas; Elizabeth, wife of Sanford Southwick, of Galveston, Texas; Emily, unmarried; George, who died in Texas, in 1859, aged twenty-two years; and Adeline, unmar- ried.

John J. Booth was born January 31, 1827, in Stratford, and remained at home until he reached the age of sixteen, when he began to learn the tinner's trade in Bridge- port with Porter, Booth & Co. In 1851 he started a retail crockery store at Waterbury, Conn., and this he conducted successfully for about seventeen years. In 1868 he returned to Bridgeport, where he spent sixteen years in the L. W. Booth drug store, and he has since been living in retirement at Stratford, de- voting his attention chiefly to the cultivation of his homestead, which contains about ten acres. Although he has not taken an active part in poli- tics, he has been a stanch Republican ever since the organization of the party, and he is interested in all that relates to the welfare of the com- munity. For many years he has been identified with the Congregational Church, and he and his family have always held a prominent place in social life. On April 29, 1857, he married Miss Jane C. Bunce, daughter of Daniel P. Bunce, of New Haven, and three children brighten the home: Jennie A., Georgiana and Rinnie C.

W ILL W. KIRK, editor and proprietor of the New Canaan (Conn.) Messenger, is one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of Fairfield county. He comes of Scotch ex- traction, his great-grandfather, John Kirk, having at an early day emigrated to this country from Scotland.

Born March 6, 1852, in Patterson, N. Y., our subject received his education at the com- mon schools and at Prof. Glendining's Academy at Stamford, Conn., the family having removed to that State when Will W. was a child. At Carmel, N. Y., he learned the printer's trade, and after working nine years in the office of the Stamford Advocate he, in August, 1879, pur- chased the New Canaan Messenger, at New

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Canaan, and has conducted that paper continu- ously ever since, having by his ability, shrewd- ness and perseverance made it one of the lead- ing and most newsy journals in the county.

A leading Republican, Mr. Kirk takes an active interest in the affairs of the party and in its councils. He has been a member of the Board of Warden and Burgesses every year since the incorporation of the borough system. He has been a prominent and enthusiastic mem- ber of the local fire department since it was es- tablished in 1880; is a member of Wooster Lodge, I. O. O. F .; of Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M .; and of Stamford Council, Royal Arcanum. For the past four years he has served as Deputy State Factory Inspector. As a loyal citizen, he is true to all the duties that devolve on him, and he deservedly enjoys the esteem and respect of the community.

SAMUEL TWEEDY, one of Danbury's most able and prominent attorneys, is the senior member of the firm of Tweedy, Scott & Whittle- sey (formery Brewster & Tweedy), and his repu- tation for learning and ability extends far beyond local limits.

Mr. Tweedy belongs to a well-known family which has been identified with Connecticut from early times. He is of the fifth generation in di- rect descent from John Tweedy, who came from Ireland to America about 1738, and was married at Woodbury, Conn., to Miss Jane Edmunds, also a native of the Emerald Isle. They had four children: Jane, Samuel, Ann and Smith. Samuel Tweedy, the grandfather of our subject, was born March 18, 1776, and on September 22, 1805, was married to Ann Burr. Of their seven children, two died in infancy; the others were: Oliver B., Edgar S., Mariette, Edmund and John H. Edgar S. Tweedy, our subject's father, was born May 23, 1808, and was married on June 4, 1834, to Miss Elizabeth S. Belden. Ten children blessed this union: Annie, widow of C. H. Benedict; two daughters, both named Martha. who died in infancy; Edmund; Jennie B .; John; Samuel: Edgar; Elizabeth, who died in infancy, and Eleanor.

Mr. Tweedy, our subject, was born April 21, 1846, at Danbury, where for some time he at- tended the public schools and a private school conducted by Rev. Frederick Jackson in a build- ing which is now known as the " Turner House." He then entered Prof. Olmstead's school at Wil- ton, this county, to prepare for college, and from 1864 to 1868 he pursued a course in Yale College, graduating in the latter year. Having chosen

law as a profession, he began his legal studies in the Columbia Law School, New York City, and on returning to Danbury in 1870 he entered the office of Averill & Brewster. In 1871 he was admitted to the Bar and engaged in practice in partnership with his preceptor, Judge Lyman D. Brewster, under the style of Brewster & Tweedy, Mr. Averill having retired from the former firm. The new partnership continued without change until July, 1878. when Howard B. Scott was added, the firm being then known as Brewster, Tweedy & Scott. In September, .1890, Judge Brewster ceased to be a member, and since that time the firm has been Tweedy, Scott & Whittle- sey. They have a large and lucrative practice, being connected on one side or the other with some of the most important cases arising in their locality.

While Mr. Tweedy is a stanch Republican, he has never taken an active part in political work. He is, however, to be found as a helper on the right side of any movement which promises to benefit his community, and has given much time to educational work, having served ten years as a member of the board of school directors.

In 1879, Mr. Tweedy married Mrs. Carrie Krom, daughter of Ira and Adah M. (Barden) Miller, and one child has blessed the union, Maud Eleanor Douglass Tweedy, who is at home. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church of Danbury, and are prominent in the best social circles. Mr. Tweedy is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Union Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M., Eureka Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., Crusader Commandery No. 10, K. T., and Wooster Council No. 28, R. & S. M.

L EMUEL P. WETMORE, deceased. The manufacturing interests of New England have played such a prominent part in the devel- opment of that region that the public-spirited citizen can not fail to feel a keen interest in the personal history of those who have spent their entire lives in the manufacturing business, and we here present to our readers a brief review of the life of Lemuel P. Wetmore, of Brookfield. He was born October 10, 1825, in Newtown, son of Ephraim P. and grandson of John Wetmore.

Ephraim P. Wetmore was born at Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., and in his native town learned the goldsmith's trade, which he followed for some time. His next venture was the manu- facture of combmakers' tools, which he carried on for many years, and he finally engaged in tin- smithing. He married Miss Sophia Griffen, daughter of Peleg Griffen, of Newtown, and they

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became the parents of eight children, namely: Mary Jane, who married Wheeler Wilcox, and is now deceased; Emeline, Mrs. Fairchild, de- ceased; Sarah, deceased; Cyrus, of Roxbury, Conn .; Lemuel P .; Henriette, deceased wife of Walter Simpson; Harriet, Mrs. Parmalee, of Iowa, and Cornelia, Mrs. Simpson, of lowa. The father of this family was active in the work of the Democratic party, and held the office of col- lector and sealer of measures.

Lemuel P. Wetmore passed his boyhood and youth in Newtown, where he attended the pub- lic schools up to the age of sixteen, when he came to Brookfield in company with a cooper, working with him at the trade about six months. He then worked at the limekiln for awhile, later learning the blacksmith's trade under John L. Burdick. After serving an apprenticeship of three years he opened up a blacksmith shop for himself and engaged in business for thirty years. He spent one year in Putnam county, N. Y., and after returning to Brookfield he secured em- ployment as forger with the Tomlinson Knife Company, where he remained two years. He then began forging knives and doing custom work as a member of the firm of Wildman & Wet- more, having bought a half-interest in the old factory. Later Mr. Wildman retired, and the firm became Wetmore & Bennett, John F. Bennett being Mr. Wildman's successor. Mr. Bennett died, and his son, Frederick A. Bennett, took his father's interest. In 1884 Mr. Wet- more retired from the business and bought a farm, on which he passed the remainder of his days in quiet and comfort, reaping the reward of his early industry. He passed away September 17, 1897, and his wife followed him to the grave November 8, 1898.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 47

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