Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 65

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

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In 1855 Mr. Farist was married in Rockaway, N. J., to Miss Eliza Estelle, who died in 1866 in Windsor Locks. In 1867, at Warwick, N. Y., he married Miss Martha A. Wood. By the first marriage he had four children: Stephen and Maggie, deceased; Annie, the wife of Arthur E.

Penfield, secretary and treasurer of "The Baird, Untiedt and Penfield Company," hatters, of Bethel, this county; and one that died in infancy. By the second union there were three children: J. Windsor Farist, secretary for The Farist Steel Company; Charles S. Farist, who died Decem- ber 3. 1898; and Lulu E. Farist. Mr. Farist is recognized among cast-steel workers as being the oldest living representative of the manufact- urers of cast steel in this country. He is actively engaged at the works every day, super- intending, and working each day as he has done during the past forty-five years.

W ILLIAM H. SAXTON, now retired from active business, and residing in one of the many elegant homes of Fairfield county, is one of the prominent citizens of Saugatuck, town of Westport.

Born in New York City, May 1, 1842, Mr. Saxton is the son of Stephen R. Saxton, a native of Long Island, born in 1813, of English extrac- tion on his father's side. He was reared in Long Island, and when a young man went into busi- ness in New York, becoming a merchant and im- porter of goods, and a manufacturer. He was a young man of intelligence and business tact, which was soon evidenced in the large business he developed and the success which attended his efforts. He became a man of means and influ- ence, and left his impression upon the commu- nity in which he lived. He married Samantha Porter, who was born near Danbury. Conn., a daughter of Menander Porter, a native of Bridge- water, Litchfield county. After their marriage they settled in a home in New York. In about 1850 he purchased the property in Saugatuck and built the elegant home in which our subject, his only child, now resides, and where the father died in 1886. His widow survives. Both were identified with the Congregational Church. In his political views he was a Republican.

William H. Saxton passed the first fourteen years of his life in New York, but since that time. with the exception of when abroad, he has re- sided at Saugatuck. In boyhood he attended the Green's Farms Academy, then under the prin- cipalship of Ebenezer Adams, and after com- pleting the course of study there, he went to New York, where he began his business career as a clerk in his father's business, subsequently be- coming a partner. For some eight or ten years he represented the firm in Paris, France. He possessed that tact and business acumen evi- denced in his father, and has been successful in his undertakings, which has enabled him to have

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such of this world's comforts and luxuries that are enjoyable and elevating. His elegant home and beautiful grounds on the bank of the Saugatuck, overlooking that stream, bespeak the taste and refinement of its occupants.

On August 21, 1867, Mr. Saxton was married to Miss Emily F. Sherwood, a daughter of Fred- erick Sherwood, of Westport, Fairfield county. After their marriage they resided in Saugatuck one year; thence went to Paris, France, where they made their home for a period, then returned, and have since occupied their present home. This marriage was blessed with four children, namely: Clara H. (Mrs. Rev. H. M. Burr). of Spring- field, Mass .; Angie L. (now Mrs. B. L. Wood- worth); Emily F. (died in Paris, France); and Edward R. (now in Yale College).

Socially, the family move in the best circles, and at their home is dispensed a generous hospi- tality. In politics Mr. Saxton is a Republican. He is at the present writing vice-president of the First National Bank of Westport, and also chair- man of the board of school visitors of the town.

TON. WILLIAM A. BRAUN, who has twice ' represented his district in the State Assem- bly, is one of Danbury's most successful and en- terprising business men. Few have entered upon a career under less promising circumstan- ces than those which surrounded Mr. Braun when he came -to Danbury, in 1879, without capital, to take a place in a tailor shop, and his rapid progress has been due to hard work and judicious management.

Mr. Braun was born April 22, 1855. in New York City, and is of German blood. His father, William Braun, was a native of Pots- dam, Germany, and at the age of twenty-one, while a University student, he became involved in the Revolutionary struggles of 1848. Hav- ing incurred the displeasure of the authorities by his ardent efforts in the cause of the people, he was obliged to flee from the country and naturally sought a refuge in America. On land- ing in New York City he turned his attention to the necessary task of earning a livelihood, so learned the tailor's trade, which he has ever since followed. In 1860 he removed to Hartford, Conn., and still resides there. He takes a keen interest in public questions, his sympathies being with the Democratic party on national issues. His wife, Elizabeth (Christman), who died in 1891, was a native of Bavaria, Germany. Of their seven children four are living, our subject being the eldest of the survivors. Louis C. is now employed in our subject's establishment at

Danbury; August is a machinist at Hartford; and Robert C. is now in the employ of our subject.

Mr. Braun was five years old when the fam- ily removed to Hartford, where he grew to man- hood, his education being obtained in the public schools. He learned the tailor's trade under his father's instructions, and in March, 1879, loca- ted in Danbury, securing employment with F. T. Haldin. After six months he purchased his employer's business, giving notes for the amount, as he had no funds at hand, and by industry and thrift he has succeeded in making his way to wealth and prosperity.

Mr. Braun is a fine-looking man of pleasing address, and is popular among all classes. He is a member of the 1. O. O. F., also of the Masonic Fraternity, and now holds the rank of eminent commander in Crusader Commandery No. 10, K. T. He has always felt keen inter- est in political affairs, and is an active and influ- ential worker in the Democratic organization. In 1891 he was chosen to the General Assembly, and in 1892 was re-elected, his faithful service having won the approbation of his constituents. In 1894 he was a candidate for the office of mayor of Danbury, but was defeated.

In 1881 Mr. Braun was married in Hartford to Miss Caroline F. Staudinger, a native of New York City. Her father. Charles F. Staudinger, a native of Germany, and a contractor by occu- pation, was then a resident of Hartford, where he was engaged in the manufacture of Gatling guns, on contract.

C HARLES W. RAYMOND. The Raymond family is one of the oldest in New England, two brothers of the name, having joined the Massachusetts Colony, settled near Lynn, at an early day. Some of the children of these two brothers settled at Hartford, Conn., a few years later, and soon after the founding of Norwalk the records show that representatives of the family had located there. Others went to New York, and H. J. Raymond, who was for many years the editor of the New York Times, was a member of this family. Nathaniel Raymond, who took an active part in the defense of Nor- walk during the Revolutionary war, was of this family.

The subject of this sketch, who is now a prominent resident of Darien, is a descendant of the Norwalk branch of the family, his great- grandfather. Gresham Raymond, and grand- father, of the same name, having been in their time well-known citizens of that town. Charles W. Raymond, Sr., our subject's father, was a

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farmer in the town of Norwalk, his property be- ing located on Five Mile river, and there he died in 1862. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Susan L. Cook, was born in the town of Huntington, Long Island, N. Y., and died in Darien, Conn., in 1860. Three children sur- vive, viz .: Charles W., our subject; William H., a resident of Norwalk; and Adeline. wife of T. Spencer, of West Haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Raymond, our subject, was born in 1833, at the old home on Five Mile river, in the town of Norwalk, and was educated in the district schools of that locality. On leaving school at the age of sixteen he went to sea, and for a number of years he followed the coasting trade from North Carolina to Maine, and intermediate places. About 1865 he engaged extensively in the business of oyster budding, which he followed successfully until 1893, and although he still owns oyster grounds he has not since been actively interested in the business. His release from business cares has made it possible for him to give more atten- tion to local affairs than before, and his fellow- townsmen, desiring to have the benefit of his sound judgment, have chosen him to fill the re- sponsible post of first selectman, his election occurring in October, 1897. He had previously served a term as third selectman, and at other times was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and as member of the oyster commission. Ever since attaining his majority he has taken keen interest in political questions, and his mem- bership in the Republican party dates back to 1860, at which time he was an ardent supporter of Lincoln.

In 1852 Mr. Raymond married Miss Sarah J. Wilmot, of the town of Darien, and twelve chil- dren have blessed their union. Of this large family seven are now living. as follows: Agnes A., Robert A., James H., Harriet A., Anna E., Charles W., Jr., and Susan L. The family is prominent socially, and Mr. Raymond and his wife are both members of the Episcopal Church at Darien. He also belongs to various fraternal orders including the F. & A. M.

HARLES HEZEKIAH KNAPP, one of the C well-to-do agriculturists of the town of Stamford, Fairfield county, Conn., is a native of same, born August 23, 1825, on Richmond Hill, in what was then known as Knapp's Parish, now West avenue. Mr. Knapp is a grandson of Hezekiah Knapp, who followed the trade of car- penter in Stamford, and built the old Presby- terian Church in that town. He married Polly Peck, a native of Sharon, Conn., by whom he

had six children, namely: Polly (Mrs. Newman); Hannah (Mrs. Isaac Wardwell); Sally (Mrs. Sco- field); Rufus Bethia (Mrs. Charles Gaylor), and Luther.

Luther Knapp was born in the year 1796 in Knapp's Parish, and engaged in farming in his native township all his life. On October 25, 1814, he was united in marriage to Hannah Sel- leck, daughter of Joseph Selleck, of that town, and they became the parents of six children, born as follows: Phebe Selleck, July 19, 1815; Joseph Selleck, March 15, 1818; Mary Peck, June 6, 1821; Ann Eliza, May 26, 1823; Charles H., August 23, 1825; Hannah M., June 26, 1827. Of the daughters, Phebe married Samuel Pierson; Ann Eliza became the wife of James Law, and died October 11, 1852; Hannah wedded Grant Judd. The father of this family passed away December 5, 1866.

During his boyhood Charles H. Knapp at- tended the public school located at the corner of Greenwich and Stillwater avenues, in Stamford, and acquired a practical common-school educa- tion. He was trained to farming on the home place, and has made agriculture his life work with satisfactory results, for he is one of the suc- cessful and prosperous farmers of this section. In about 1847 he erected the residence which he and his family still occupy, and he has enjoyed a good income from his farm for many years as the result of able management and skill in its culti- vation.

Mr. Knapp was first married in Stamford, to Miss Harriet E. Crabb, by whom he had three children: Ida A., Emma F. and Charles E. His second marriage, which also took place in Stam- ford, was to Ann Jeanette Crabb, who died with- out issue, and he subsequently wedded, in Green- wich, Miss Emeline L. Scott, the daughter of Lewis J. and Julia Ann (Denton) Scott. Two children blessed this marriage: Nellie M. and Everett J., who died at the age of six years, seven months, three days. Mr. Knapp was a Whig in early life, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its loyal supporters. Fraternally, he is a Mason, uniting with Union Lodge.

¡HARLES E. KNAPP, son of Charles H. and Harriet E. (Crabb) Knapp, is one of the substantial, enterprising young merchants of Stamford, where he conducts a thriving meat market.

Mr. Knapp was born May 9, 1862, in the town which has always been his home, and here passed his boyhood days attending the public

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schools, where he received a good common- school education. When fifteen years of age he commenced clerking in a meat market, and by steady work gained a thorough knowledge of the business, in which he has since continued. On June 15, 1880, in partnership with H. S. Pro- vost, he opened a market at No. 67 Main street. and was in business with that gentleman until the following January, after which he carried on the establishment alone. Mr. Knapp's trade has widened yearly, and by faithful attention to the wants of his customers and sound business meth- ods he has succeeded in placing himself in the ranks of the solid business men of Stamford. though he is still a young man, with, it is hoped, many active years before him.

Mr. Knapp was married in Stamford to Miss Anna L. Lewis. a native of New York City. daughter of Laban Lewis, and they have three children. namely: Lewis H., now (1899) twelve years old: Anna Viola, aged eight, and Mabel L., aged four. Our subject is a member of Stamford Council No. 999. Royal Arcanum.

A RTHUR WILLIAM GRISWOLD. M. D .. was born August 12, 1853. at Worcester, Mass., a son of Ralph B. and Catherine E. (But- ler) Griswold.

Ralph B. Griswold was born at Enfield, Conn., a son of Horace Griswold, also a native of that place. He received his education in the district schools, but early started out for himself in life. In his earlier years he was a wool buyer, and at the age of thirty years he began the manufacture of woolen goods at Concord, N. H., where he continued until 1855. He then again engaged in wool buying, and for over thirty years he re- mained in the West at this business. On April 22, 1843, he was married at Ashford, Conn .. to Catherine E. Butler, who died August 2. 1875. To this worthy couple were born four children: Dr. Hamilton B., of New Milford, Conn .; Arthur William, mentioned below; Nellie A., deceased wife of E. E. Allen, of Newtown; and Laura, also deceased. Socially Mr. Griswold is a mem- ber of the F. & A. M.

Arthur William Griswold passed his early days at Worcester, Mass., and at Newton, Mass., in the public schools of which places he acquired his elementary education. Having a natural love of books, he determined to choose a life-calling that would keep him continually associated with them. He first went to Stafford Springs. Conn., and there completed his course in dentistry. This but opened up to his inquiring mind the broad field of medicine, and he determined to delve

deeper into its mysteries. After three years practice of dentistry at Stafford, he began the study of medicine, and took the course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Vermont, later graduating from the Wisconsin Medical College. He began practice at Bridge- ton, Maine, and in 1890 moved to Gaylordsville, Conn., then to Kent. Conn., in 1894; and in 1896 came to Brookfield.

On April 18, 1878. Doctor Griswold was married to Rose L. . Day, daughter of William and Sarah L. (Cobb) Day, and they are the par- ents of the following children: May H., Ralph A., Seneca E., Harry B., Pearl J. and Leon W. Socially. the Doctor is a member of St. Luke's Lodge F. & A. M .. of Kent, Conn., and of the Roval Arcanum, while Mrs. Griswold is an active worker in the Eastern Star. The family are members of the Congregational Church, and are highly respected citizens.

W 'EBSTER BURROUGHS BEARDSLEY (deceased) was for many years a lead- ing citizen of Bridgeport, his sterling qualities of character winning for him a large circle of friends. His death. which occurred September 27, 1896, caused sincere grief, and the afflicted family received the sympathy of the entire com- munity.

The Beardsley family has been prominent in this county from pioneer times, and the subject of this sketch was a direct descendant, in the eighth generation. from William Beardsley, a mason by trade, who came from England in 1635 in the ship " Planter," with a party of which Rev. Adam Blakeman, of St. Albans, England, was the leader. At this time William Beardsley was thirty years old; his wife Mary was aged twenty-six; his daughter Mary, four; his son John, two years: and his other son, Joseph, six months. William Beardsley located at Hadley. Mass., and probably remained there until 1638, when he removed to Hartford. In the follow- ing spring he settled at Stratford, this county, being one of the first to locate there. He died there at the age of fifty-six, and his will. which was dated September 28, 1660, was proved July 6, 1661. Tradition in all branches of the family states that he was a native of Stratford, England, born on the far-famed river Avon, and that he gave the name of Stratford to the planta- tion in this county. One of his descendants, who settled in western New York, at the present town of Avon, bestowed that name upon the place in honor of the river by which his ancestors had dwelt. The children of the pioneer were Mary,

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born 1631, who married Thomas Wells; John, 1632; Joseph, 1634; Samuel, 1638; Sarah, 1640, who was married June 8, 1668, to Obadiah Dickinson; Hannah, 1642, who was married in 1662, to Nathaniel Dickinson; Daniel, 1644; and Thomas.

II. Joseph Beardsley, the next in the line of descent which we are now tracing. was strongly inclined to a sea-faring life. but as his father left him half the estate on condition that he would remain at home and take care of his mother, he settled down at the homestead in Stratford. On July 31. 1684, he traded his property for the homestead of Andrew Gobb, at Brookhaven, L. 1., but later he returned to Stratford, where he died in 1712, aged seventy-seven years. He and his wife Abigail raised a family of eight chil- dren: Joseph, born June 10, 1666; John, Novem- ber 14, 1668; Hannah (Mrs. Thomas Marvey), April 30, 1671; Elizabeth, who married Edmund Pulford: Thomas, Ephraim, Jonathan and Josiah.

III. Thomas Beardsley was married July 18, 1707. to Sarah Deming, and had the follow- ing children: Israel, born December 3, 1708; Sarah (Mrs. Ichabod Lewis), born March 24, 1709; Hannah (Mrs. Jacob Lane), born May 28, 1715; Elizabeth, born October 26, 1716, who was married December 25, 1739, to George Mc- Ewen; Esther, who married Benjamin De For- est; Thomas and Henry (twins), who died in childhood; and Thankful, born July 8, 1729.

IV. Israel Beardsley was married May 30, 1730, to Elizabeth Blagge, a daughter of Sam- uel Blagge. Previous to 1761 he removed to Newtown, where his death occurred in 1791. He had nine children: Samuel Blagge, born in January, 1731, died in June, 1746; Israel, born September 30. 1733; Elisha, born August 17, 1735; Urania (Mrs. Samuel Hawley), born April 9, 1738; Lemuel, born in June, 1740, who died in the French and Indian war; Abel, born in April. 1743, died in 1788; Jared, born in 1744; Katharine, born in February, 1753; and Price, born May 19, 1761.

V. Elisha Beardsley died in Monroe township April 6, 1824, aged eighty-nine years. He was a prosperous farmer, owning a large tract of land, and was a prominent member of the Episcopal Church in his locality, holding the office of warden for many years. He married Mehitable Hurd, daughter of Ebenezer and Abigail Hurd, and had seven children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Abbie Betsey (Mrs. Ne- hemiah Gray), August 5, 1770; Ebenezer, April 22, 1772; Elisha Hubbard, December 5, 1773; Ezra Abel, January 14, 1776; Elihu, September 7, 1777; Agur, August -, 1779, who married

(first) Ann Shelton, and (second) Sylvia Curtis; and Roswell, 1782.

VI. Elisha Hubbard Beardsley died March 14, 1840, aged sixty-six years. He married (first) Patience Prudence Edwards, daughter of William Edwards, of Huntington. She died February 20, 1818, aged forty-one years, and he married (second) Betsey Walker, who survived him, passing away January 3, 1853. By the first marriage he had four children: Prudence, who died April 5. 1813, at the age of fifteen; Sarah, who married Eli Blackman; Elisha Ezra and Juliette. By his second marriage he had one son, James Walker Beardsley, donor of Beardsley Park to the city of Bridgeport.

VII. Elisha Ezra Beardsley was born October 21, 1804, and became a farmer in the town of Monroe. He died in 1852, and his wife, whose maiden name was Laura Ann Burroughs, died in 1886. They had eleven children: Susan Elizabeth, Webster Burroughs, Adaline Hepsa. Caroline Ann, Ezra Elisha, Mary Jane, Hobart Edwards, George Lucius, Gertrude Amanda, Laura Annetta, and Agnes Maria.

VIII. The late Webster Burroughs Beardsley was born August 21, 1834, in the town of Monroe, and was educated in the common schools of the locality. He was reared to farm work, and for four years after his marriage he was engaged in agriculture in the town of Monroe. In 1875 he removed to Bridgeport and became interested in the milk business. He was an excellent citizen, and for many years was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church at Nichols. His wife, Mrs. Eliza Ann (McNeil) Beardsley, to whom he was married June 22, 1870, survives him. Of their three children, the eldest. James Ezra. born July 2, 1872, died June 27, 1875; William Wat- son is mentioned below; and Laura Eliza, born March 30. 1886, died August 6, 1893. Mrs. Beardsley is a daughter of James Watson Mc- Neil, and his wife, Eliza Ann Jackson. Her father came from Scotland in early manhood, and for a number of years was engaged in hat manufacturing at Stepney. Of seven children four are now living, Mrs. Beardsley being the youngest daughter. Catherine P. married Charles Joyce, of Monroe; Amanda married Albert Blis- sard, of Danbury; and Charles Watson resides in Danbury.

IX. William Watson Beardsley was born July 18, 1874, and was educated in Bridgeport, graduating from the high school June 23, 1891. He spent four years as a clerk in the Bridgeport National Bank, but severed his connection with that institution on November 19, 1896, and since that time has turned his attention to farming.

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He makes a specialty of dairying, and supplies a large amount of milk to the local market. His success in his chosen line of work indicates ex- ecutive ability as well as energy, and he ranks among the substantial citizens of his locality. He is not married, but is prominent in social life, and attends Trinity Church at Nichols, with which his honored father was so long identified.

W ILLIAM HOLMES, a leading citizen of Shelton, has for many years held a re- sponsible position with the Derby Silver Com- pany, and his long and faithful service is in itself an evidence of mental and moral worth.

The Holmes family is of English stock, and William Holmes (1), the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a lifelong resident of the old country. William Holmes (2). the father of our subject, was born in Leeds, England, where he married Miss Lucy Walker, also a native of that city. About 1845 he came with his family to America, locating first at Derby, this county, where he was employed as foreman by the Shelton Com- pany. In 1856 he removed to Madison, Wis., and operated a gristmill and sawmill for about three years, when his mills were destroyed by fire. In 1859 he returned to Derby and took his old position again, and a few years later he located in Shelton (then known as Huntington) and engaged in business as a florist, continuing until his death in March, 1892. He took an in- terest in all that concerned his adopted country, and was a stanch Republican, while he and his wife remained devout members of the Episcopal Church. They had ten children: Joshua, Mary A. (deceased), Walter (deceased), Lucy, Will- iam, Lillie, Emma (deceased), Florence, Royal and Josephine. The mother is yet living.

Our subject was born September 6, 1858, in Madison, Wis., but the greater portion of his life has been spent in the town of Huntington. His education was chiefly obtained in the schools of Shelton, and on leaving school he entered the employ of the Derby Silver Company, with which he has remained ever since, except for three and one-half years spent with the Meriden Plating Company, of Meriden, Conn. In 1880 he became foreman of the plating department of the Derby Silver Company, a position which he still holds. His fellow citizens have not been slow to recognize his abilities, and he is one of the leading advisers of the Republican organiza- tion in his locality. He has been (and still is) chairman of the Republican town and borough committee for eleven years, and he has also held the office of assessor for the borough. Socially

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 65

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