Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 67

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

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dletown. Orange county, N. Y.); Anna, born November 21, 1788, married John Jones; George, born September 6, 1792, married Lucretia Sturges; Jonathan, born September 17, 1794, remained single; and Sarah, born April 1, 1798, married William Lester.

George Middlebrook, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Wilton, and there educated in the common schools. After leaving school he adopted the occupation of farming, and during the training days was colonel of a regiment of militia. He was a man of great strength of character, and highly respected as a citizen and as a man. Politically, he was a Whig. was selectman of his town, and while not a member of any Church was yet greatly inter- ested in the cause of religion. He married Miss Lucretia Sturges, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hurlbutt) Sturges, the former of whom was a farmer of Wilton. She was born there January 24, 1801, and died June 3, 1871. The children born to them were as follows: Mary, born De- cember 29, 1818, married William Harris; Su- sanna, born October 2, 1820, married Le Grand Comstock; Clarissa, born May 17, 1822, married Ebenezer Be ts; Henrietta, born May 15, 1824, married William D. Gregory; Sarah A .. born January 21, 1826, is now the widow of W. D. Gregory, she having been his second wife; San- uel B. (our subject), born February 24, 1828; Elizabeth A., born November 21, 1831, married John Hill; Lucretia, born November 13, 1833, married A. E. Brown; Emily, born November 20, 1835, married John L. Lockwood; Gertrude, born March 4, 1837, married Dr. J. E. Turner; Helen, born June 13, 1839, is still single; Vir- ginia S., born June 21, 1842, married a Mr. Wil- kinson; and Georgia, born January 12, 1847, died when about twelve years of age.

G EORGE MORGAN, one of the honored and substantial agriculturists of Danbury, was born in that town July 12, 1826, a son of Peter Morgan. and a grandson of Joseph Morgan.

The Morgan family were of English stock, and early settled in this country. Joseph Mor- gan followed the occupation of farming in Fair- field county. He married Miss Mary Drew, of Wilton, and the young couple then settled on a farm in New Fairfield, where they reared their family of nine children: Joseph, who carried on farming in New York State; John and Drew, who were also farmers in New York State; Peter, the father of our subject; James, a farmer in the town of Danbury; Stephen, a farmer in western New York; Hannah, married to -- Cleveland,

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of New Fairfield; Clara, who married Darius Hoyt, of New Fairfield; and Mary, who married Elija Sherwood, also of New Fairfield.

Peter Morgan was reared on the farm in New Fairfield, and enjoyed the usual educational privileges of farmer boys in that day. Before 1812 he went to work for Isaac Seeley, of Bethel. He married Clarissa Taylor, a sister of Joel Tay- Jor, so well known in the manufacturing world of Danbury in the early half of this century. They settled on a farm in Danbury, and reared a family of seven children, as follows: Sally (deceased) married John Johnson, a combmaker of Bethel, now living retired; Mary married Frank Judd, a farmer of Bethel, and both are now deceased: Taylor was a farmer, later a butcher. in Birming- ham. where he died in 1892; Peter was a hatter in Danbury, and died in Brookfield in 1889; George is our subject; Ursula married Charles D. Leavenworth, a hatter, and both are de- ceased; and Jerome R. lives on the old farm in Bethel. The father of this family died in 1871. at the age of eighty years; the mother passed away in 1878, aged eighty-one. In politics, Mr. Morgan was a Democrat.

George Morgan passed his early days in the uneventful manner of farmers' boys, working on the farm and attending the district school about three months in the year. When seventeen years old he began to learn the hatter's trade under Russell Benedict, and during the years between 1843 and 1891 he followed that trade, in which latter year he retired from the active cares of business, and is now living quietly on the old homestead, enjoying the reward of his industry and economy. There are seventy-five acres on this farm, devoted to general farming.

In 1847, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Morris, a native of the town of Brookfield, and a daughter of Alfred Morris, a farmer of that town. Alfred Morris was a son of Bethel Morris, a representative of one of the ! fond of field sports, and for some years has been oldest families in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. George Morgan eight children have come, namely: : Charles S., at one time a carpenter in Danbury, who died at the age of forty; G. Randolph, a carpenter and pattern maker in Boston; Caro- 1 lyn, who died in infancy: Alfred M., a carpenter in Danbury; Clarence L .. a merchant on White street, Danbury; Evelyn E., the wife of Charles B. Hatch, a wagon maker of New Fairfield; Georgiana. the wife of James P. Kyle. a hatter; and Susan E .. unmarried and at home.

Mr. Morgan's entire life has been passed in this community. and the high estimation in which he is held by his neighbors and acquaintances, through all the years of daily companionship, I lard, Jr., is president.

speaks well for the sterling integrity and inher- ent nobleness of his character. In all matters of general interest, and in all enterprises for the advancement of the material growth of his town and county, he has identified himself. His lib- erality and generosity are unfailing in all worthy causes. In politics he is a Democrat, but though a worker for his party, he has no political aspi- rations, preferring to continue his simple stead- fast life.

H ON. SIMON C. BRADLEY. Few men of his years are as well known as this young and enterprising agriculturist of Fairfield town- ship. It would be difficult to analyze the cause of his wide popularity and influence, as his genial, friendly disposition, his progressive ideas, his sound practical judgment. and upright character are all factors in maintaining for him an enviable .position in the community.

Mr. Bradley was born July 29. 1858, in Banks North District. Fairfield township, the son of Zalmon B. and Sarah E. (Sherwood) Bradley, of whom an account is given elsewhere. His edu- cation was begun in the district schools, and after completing the course offered in the local schools he attended Greenfield Academy, then conducted by Mr. Loveridge, and Easton Acad- emy, acquiring a good practical education. During boyhood he received practical training in farm work under his father's direction, and as a young man he took charge of the homestead for some time. At the time of his marriage, in 1879, he built a new house upon the farm, where he continued to reside until his removal in 1893 to his present farm, formerly known as the William Banks farm. Since taking possession he has made many improvements, and the neat and orderly appearance of the place shows the skill- ful management of the scientific farmer. He is

actively interested in rearing dogs of high breed, many specimens from his kennels having carried off prizes in contests which were open to the world. He now has charge of the .. Del Monte Kennels." one of the noted kennels of the United States. recently removed from Mississippi to Greenfield Hill. Since 1894 he has been judge of many important contests, and has awarded more than $13,000 in prizes, some going to Eng- land and Scotland. In November, 1897. he had five appointments as judge in contests in North Carolina, and three in Ohio and Indiana. He is. secretary and treasurer of the Eastern Field Trials Club of America, of which Pierre Loril-

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Mr. Bradley was early brought into promi- oldest and most respected citizens of Naugatuck. having resided there for half a century. nence through his efforts in behalf of agricultural interests, and for years he has been a leading worker in the P. of H., as a member of Green- field Grange No. 133. He has held various offices in the State Grange, serving two years as State deputy, and he has been chairman of the executive committee of Pomona Grange, of Fair- field county. As he has always been a stanch | office of Dr. C. E. Gates, of the same city. This Democrat, he naturally became influential in the party councils, and in 1887-88 he served as a representative in the State Legislature, being only twenty-nine years old when elected, making one of the youngest members of that body. In 1894 and 1896 he was nominated by his party for the same position, but was defeated. For three years he was chairman of the Democratic town | committee, resigning in 1896, and since 1894 he has held the office of first selectman of Fairfield. his efficient and faithful service winning the ap-

Doctor Cronan was born September 1, 1871, ¡ at Naugatuck, and his education was secured in that town and in Waterbury. After graduating from the high school at Naugatuck he began his professional studies in the office of Dr. Fred Warnes, of Waterbury, and later he entered the practical work was supplemented by a three- years' course in the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, where he was graduated with the class of '95. On May 1 of the same year he located in Bridegport, and as his skill met with prompt recognition he has already built up a lucrative practice. He is much interested in military mat- ters, as befits the son of a Union veteran, and at present is first lieutenant and adjutant of the ist Battalion, 4th Regiment Connecticut National Guard. In religious faith he is a Roman proval oi all classes, irrespective of party. He | Catholic. and he attends the Church of the Sacred Heart at Bridgeport. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Foresters of America.

comes honestly by his ability in public affairs, | his ancestors having been prominent in this sec- tion from pioneer times. His father was a se- lectman for many years. and also served as a representative from Fairfield, while in the ma- ternal line his grandfather, William Sherwood. served ably as postmaster at Southport, and judge of probate court in the town of Fairfield.

On September 30, 1879, Mr. Bradley married Miss Anna Belle Bulkeley, a native of Kendall- ville, Ind .. and daughter of Moses A. and Eliz- abeth Bulkeley. During her childhood her fa- ther met his death while operating his lumber mill at Kendallville. and soon after that event she came to Fairfield county, where she was educated. Two children, Elizabeth B. and Sarah E., have blessed this union, and both are popular in the best social circles of Greenfield Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are members of the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church.

O RLANDO S. WILDMAN. In compiling a volume of this kind it would be a grave error to omit from it a record of the lives of those worthy men who bear names that have been prominent in the history of the county from its earliest period. The name of Wildman is one familiar to every inhabitant of the town of Dan- bury, and, for that matter, throughout the entire State of Connecticut. Orlando S. Wildman was born April 26, 1823, on the farm which has ever since been his home.

Thomas Wildman, the grandfather of our sub- | ject, married Lucy Hamilton, of Danbury, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom we have the following record: (1) Silas learned the hatter's trade, and when a young man went to Hartford; (2) Philo is the father of our subject; (3) Starr died young; (4) Lucy mar- : ried a Mr. Adams; (5) Curtis, who was a hatter, died young; (6) Zilla married Henry Barnum; and (7) Eppa was a hatter in Danbury, where

STEPHEN P. CRONAN, D. D. S., a lead- ing dentist of Bridgeport. is a young and enterprising practitioner whose ability and thor- ough preparation have won for him a well- deserved success. His offices, which are advan- I he died. The parents of this family were farm- tageously located on Main street, are handsomely | ing people, and died in Fairfield county.

furnished, and the apparatus for professional work shows a progressive spirit which from the ; in summer and attending school during the winter first commands the confidence of the visitor.

Philo Wildman grew up on a farm, working months. On attaining man's estate he married Miss Hulda Terrell, a native of the town of New Fairfield and a descendant of an old English family, and they immediately afterward settled

Dr. Cronan comes of Irish ancestry, his parents, .Michael and Ann (McNally) Cronan, be- : ing natives of the Emerald Isle. His father. who served gallantly as a soldier during the Civil , on the farm where our subject now resides, and war, with the Ninth Conn. V. I., is one of the ! there their family of three children were born

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and reared: William T., a resident of Sutter Creek, Cal., has been engaged in the mining business since 1852; Minerva married Cyrus White; and Orlando S. is our subject. The | tering the legal profession, he pursued a course father of this family was summoned to his final rest in 1875, just ten years after the death of his noble and devoted wife. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a faithful follower of John Wesley.

Orlando S. Wildman has lived almost his en- tire life on his present farm, and in the cultiva- tion of its 125 acres of fertile land has taken great pride. He has been a farmer all his life, though for a brief period he worked at hatting.

On May 31, 1849, Mr. Wildman was married to Miss Esther A. Beers. of the town of New Fairfield, a daughter of Elijah Beers, who came from Easton, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wild- man at once began their married life on the homestead, and there reared one child: William A .; three others died in infancy. Active in the work of the Methodist Church, our subject and his wife are identified with the principal religious and charitable enterprises of the place. In poli- tics Mr. Wildman is a stanch Republican, but, though one of the workers of his party, he uni- formly refuses to accept the offices his friends have so often offered him. He is highly re- spected and esteemed by his friends and neigh- · bors, and the citizens of Danbury look upon him as one of the substantial farmers and public- spirited men of the place-one who shirks no duty of citizenship, but scorns the paltry aims that are the offspring of petty ambition and selfish gain.

WILLIAM A. WILDMAN, the only child of our subject, was born June 17, 1850, and on reach- ing maturity was united in marriage with Miss Frances L. Nash, a daughter of Harry W. Nash, a farmer of the town of Wilton. William A. Wildman is engaged in the meat business in Danbury, and is regarded as one of the enterpris- ing citizens of the town. He and his wife reside with his parents on the old farm, and there look after the comfort and welfare of that aged and honored couple. A Republican in political faith, and in the same commendable way as his father, he gives liberally of time and means to all worthy enterprises.

W ILLIAM J. BEECHER, a well-known member of the Fairfield County Bar, was born March 5, 1859, at Bridgeport, this county, a son of John and Margaret Beecher, and his life has been mainly spent in this section.

During his boyhood Mr. Beecher attended

the schools near his early home, and his academic education was completed in Staples Institute, at Easton, this county. Having decided upon en- in the Yale Law School, graduating in 1880. On July 1 of that year he was admitted, at New Haven, to practice in all the courts of the State. In August, 1880, he opened an office in Bridge- port, where he remained through the trying first months of idleness and discouragement which every briefless young lawyer must undergo, but on January 17, 1881, he removed to Newtown. There he had some difficulty in securing a suit- able office, his first location, over the old tin- shop, being far from desirable, but he finally ob- tained pleasanter quarters above the store now occupied by Mr. Beers. By sheer force of merit Mr. Beecher has made his way to a flourishing practice, and he can now look back with amuse- ment upon his early experiences. In his first case, events took a somewhat unusual turn, as he arrested his own client. In November, 1886, he was elected judge of probate on the Demo- cratic ticket, and this office he held for four years. For a short time he served as town clerk, having been appointed to fill a vacancy, and for four or five years he was assistant town clerk. He con- tinued his practice in Newtown until October 1. 1892, when he opened an office at Bridgeport. In October, 1894, he formed a partnership with Frank M. Canfield, Esq .. under the firm name of Beecher & Canfield, and they have since enjoyed a constantly-increasing clientele of a general na- ture.

On April 3, 1891, Mr. Beecher married Miss Mary B. Glover, daughter of the late Henry Beers Glover, and their home has been bright- ened by three children: Florence Glover, Henry Glover (who died November 4, 1897) and Mar- guerite Katharine.

The late Henry B. Glover was for many years a leading resident of Newtown, and his father, Abel Booth Glover, was in his day a prominent merchant of the place, occupying a store at the site of Charles H. Peck's residence After re- ceiving an academic education in the schools of his native town, Henry Glover entered Yale College, where he was graduated in September, 1820. On completing his education he spent some time in Cleveland, Ohio, but later settled at New- town, and his remarkable abilities as a financier were shown in various enterprises requiring fore- sight and sound judgment. He never took an active part in politics, and although he was a firm supporter of the Republican party so far as national issues were concerned, he voted inde- pendently on local questions. He felt a deep in-

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terest in all that relate to the welfare of his town, and for many years was an active worker in Trinity Episcopal Church of Newtown, being one of the most liberal contributors at the time of the building of the new edifice. His business enterprises included the organization of the New- town Savings Bank, and from its foundation until his death he held the positions of secretary and treasurer in that institution, with the exception of one year. For a number of years he was identified with the First National Bank at Bridge- port, serving as a director. He died March 6, 1870, at the age of forty-five, and his wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Blakeslee, died May 17, 1875, aged forty-nine. Many tributes of respect were paid to his memory, and at a special meet- ing of the board of directors of the First Na- tional Bank of Bridgeport, held March 28, 1870, the following resolutions were passed:

WHEREAS, It has pleased an All-wise Providence to re- move by death our late friend and associate, Mr. Henry Beers Glover, who for many years was a prominent and efficient director of this bank,

Resolved, That we sincerely deplore the loss of our esteemed friend, endeared to us as he was by his superior business capacity and his many social virtues, and whose manly deportment has commanded our highest regard.

Revolted, That we tender to the family and relatives of the deceased our sympathy in their affliction. knowing that the Bank and the community in which he lived, as well as his deeply afflicted family, have experienced an irreparable joss.

Resolved, That the President, Cashier and Messrs. Tom- linson and Nichols be appointed a committee to attend the funeral services of our deceased friend at his late residence in Newtown, to-morrow at 2 o'clock P. M.

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the friends of the deceased, be entered upon the records of this bank, and published in the papers of the city.

DR. EDWARD A. STRATTON, of Danbury. is a descendant of good New England stock, and has been successful in his profession.

C HARLES P. TURNEY, who for nearly half a century has been intimately identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Nor- walk, Fairfield county, as a contractor and builder, as well as an enterprising citizen, is a native of the county, born March 14, 1826, in the town of New Fairfield, of an old and honor- able Connecticut family.

John Turney, grandfather of our subject, was born in Fairfield county, where he was a lifelong farmer, and he died at Easton, in 1847. In religious faith he was a Baptist. His son, Andrew, father of our subject, was born, in 1801, in what is now the town of Easton, Fair- field county, and was reared on a farm. He

married Paulina Gregory, a daughter of Elijah Gregory, who was a blacksmith by trade, and two children came of this union: Melinda, who married Lewis Hayes, a farmer in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield county (they are both now deceased, Mr. Hayes dying in 1884, Mrs. Hayes in 1886); and Charles P., still living. In 1835 the parents moved with their family into the town of Redding, and settled on a farm. In 1837 they came to Norwalk, whence, in 1845, they moved to Fairfax county, Va., where the father again took up agricultural pursuits, and followed same till his death, on February 14, 1861; he was originally a Whig in politics, later, on the organization of the party, uniting with the Republicans. His widow died January 5, 1879.

The subject proper of this memoir, whose name opens the sketch, was reared on his father's farm in the town of New Fairfield, and received a good, substantial district-school edu- cation. He then commenced learning the car- penter's trade, which he has followed ever since. in connection with contracting and building, for five years in Virginia, and since 1850 in Norwalk.

On September 11, 1851, Mr. Turney was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda A. Sturges, of Norwalk, daughter of Joel Sturges, a farmer of the town of Weston, Fairfield county. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Turney. He is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, Mrs. Turney being a Methodist, while in his political predilections he was originally a Whig, later a Republican. and at the time Norwalk was a borough he held the office of burgess five years. They have their home in an elegant and com- fortable dwelling fronting on Union Park. Dur- ing. his long residence in Norwalk Mr. Turney has put up many dwelling houses and other build- ings in the place, more, in fact, than any other man, and has owned and sold many houses in that time. That he has been an all-round suc- cessful man goes without saying, thanks to the active qualities of his nature-enterprise, energy, business tact and public spirit, to which may be added thorough judgment, honest work, and hon- orable dealing.

M ICHAEL J. HOULIHAN, proprietor of the "Grand Central Hotel," Newtown, is one of the most popular men to be found in Fair- field county, and his fellow-citizens have on many occasions given proof of their esteem by choosing him to important offices of public trust.

Mr. Houlihan is a native of Newtown. born January 7, 1858, but his ancestry is Irish, the

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Houlihan family being one of the oldest in Coun- | members and took an influential part in legisla- ty Clare, Ireland. Many of its members have | tion. been prominent in various lines of effort, and his grandparents, Michael and Margaret (Haugh) Houlihan, who were lifelong residents of that county, where much respected by their associates. John Houlihan, our subject's father, was born in 1 County Clare and in 1855 came to America, set- tling at Newtown, where he has been employed for more than thirty years in the shipping depart- ment of the New York Belting & Packing Com- pany. He married Miss Margaret Keane, daugh- ter of Martin Keane, also a native of the Emerald Isle. Our subject is one of five children, the others being John F., a resident of Newtown: Miss Mary Jane: Martin F., of Newtown, and Miss Margaret.

Mr. Houlihan, our subject, was educated in Newtown. attending the common schools and the academy, and as he has always been a great reader he is well-informed upon general subjects. At an early age he began to devote his attention to the hotel business, starting in 1874 as a porter and general utility boy, and from this humble position working up gradually until in 1887 he became the proprietor of his present hostelry. succeeding Capt. A. W. Snow in its manage- ment. Having begun at the foot of the ladder he knows the business thoroughly, and he has met with well-deserved success in his efforts to please the public. He has made .many improvements in his establishment, introducing drainage and gas, and it is now one of the best hotels to be found in the section. His genial manner adds to the attractions of the place, as he seems to take hearty enjoyment in seeing his guests comfortable -a characteristic. however, which is to be noted in his treatment of everyone, and may be regarded as one of the reasons for his popularity in public and social life. In politics he is a Democrat, and for years he has been a leader in the councils of the party in the State. He has held numerous local offices, including those of town clerk, in which he has served continuously since 1887, reg- istrar of voters and clerk of the probate court. In 1884 he was elected to the Lower house of the Legislature to represent the town of Newtown, and in 1890 and 1892 he was chosen to the State Senate from the Fifteenth Senatorial District, Hon. D. N. Morgan being his colleague. During his first term of two years in the Senate he was chairman of the committee on Labor and chair- man of the joint standing committee on Military Affairs, and during the second term he was chair- man of the joint standing committee on Railroads, consisting of one senator and eight representa- tives. He was quite popular among his fellow

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 67

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