Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 69

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

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being the son of Deliverance and Abigail (Howe) Mead, and a grandson of Ebenezer (2), who was born October 25, 1692, and died in May, 1775, leaving a family of twelve children-eleven sons and one daughter. Our subject's mother was a woman of ability and force of character, and after the death of her husband she reared her two sur- viving children while managing the homestead in i a most successful manner. She was a devout Christian, a member of the Second Congre- gational Church, and she died in that faith April 4, 1890. Our subject was the eldest in a family of four children. Of the others Augustus 1. and Oliver Z. (twins) were born November 21, 1861 (the latter died in infancy, and the former is now a resident of Belle Haven); Samuel C. also died in infancy.

Nelson B. Mead was born March 25, 1860, at the old farm at Field Point, and his education was begun in the schools of that locality, with Mrs. Helen Osgood as his first teacher. After attending Professor Shepherd's school at Green- wich village for some time, he was sent to Gun- nery school, at Washington, Conn., where he re- mained three years, and at the age of seventeen he returned home to take charge of the farm. On October 12, 1881, he married Miss Anna Rachel Mead, who was born September 25, 1861, a daughter of S. Merwin and Elethea (Reynolds) Mead, and until the death of his mother he made his home at the old farm. Since that event he has resided elsewhere temporarily, and in 1896 he completed his present beautiful residence at Belle Haven. Of late years he has not given at- tention to agriculture, being engaged exclusively in real-estate business, and his large capital and shrewd judgment made him a leader in that line of enterprise. He has a most pleasing address, and is popular socially, sustaining well the envi- able position held in the community by his hon- ored ancestors. He belongs to various societies, including the Royal Arcanum, and the Reform Club of New York City, of which he is a non-res- ident member. He and his wife are prominent workers in the Congregational Church at Green- wich; at present he is serving as deacon, and for several years past he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. While his first Presidential vote was cast for the Republican party he pays little attention to partisan politics, supporting the "best man " on whatever ticket he may find him. Five bright and attractive children make his home merry: Augustus, born August 7, 1883; Elizabeth Lyon, born June 30, 1886; George Gordon, born August 4, 1888; Nelson, Jr., born January 14, 1893; and Anna Rachel, born June 9, 1896.

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W WILLIAM J. NICHOLS, a well-known liveryman of Bethel, has been engaged in business there for several years, and by his judi- cious management has won increasing success.

Mr. Nichols is a native of the village, and his family has been identified with this State for many years. Philander Nichols, his grandfather, who was a tanner by trade, resided at Woodbury, .Conn .. during the greater portion of his life. Kellogg A. Nichols, our subject's father, was born in 1830 at Woodbury, Litchfield county, this State, and for some time was engaged in the hatting trade. He died at Haverhill. Mass., De- cember 25, 1888. He was married in Danbury, to Miss Hattie A. Bell, by whom he had three children: William J .; Amelia H., wife of W. C. Robbins, of Acton, Mass. : and Miss Mary E., who resides in Danbury. The mother died June 21, 1898.

Mr. Nichols, our subject, was born Novem- ber 10, 1861, and his boyhood was spent mainly in Bethel, his education being obtained in the public schools of the place and the neighboring city of Danbury. He served an apprenticeship to the hatting business with Judd & Co .. of Bethel, and continued the trade until December 28, 1894, when an attack of hemorrhage of the brain interrupted his work. In April, 1891, he bought his present livery business from Charles Allen, and there is now no more popular estab- Jishment of the kind in the town.

On June 4, 1885, Mr. Nichols married Miss Alice A. Flint, a daughter of Nelson Flint, of Bethel, Conn., and they have had one child, a son, that died in infancy. While Mr. Nichols .does not take an active part in local affairs, he is well liked socially, and is a member of various orders, including the Knights of Honor.

S AMUEL C. MORRISON (deceased) was a leading resident of the town of Darien, and his death in April, 1891, when he was of the comparatively early age of forty-eight, caused sincere mourning in the community with which he had been identified. His honorable record as a soldier, won during the long conflict between the North and South, was an indication of his high character, and in all the relations of life his sterling qualities of mind and heart were con- stantly winning for him the esteem of those who came into friendship with him.

his death, which occurred when he was thirty- two years old, carried on a heavy trucking busi- ness. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Amelia E. Smith, was born in New Canaan, this county, and after her husband's death re- turned there to spend her remaining years. Of her children only one is now living, Mrs. Agnes Benedict, of West Norwalk, Connecticut.

Our subject was educated in the schools of New Canaan, his youth being mainly spent in that town. When the Civil war broke out he was in the first flush of manhood, and he went to the front as a member of Company A, 17th Conn. V. J. He took part in several engage- ments, including the battle of Gettysburg, and afterward was assigned to duty as hospital stew- ard, which he held until the close of the war. On receiving his discharge he returned to New Canaan and, later, he established himself in the drug business in Stamford, this county, where he remained in business during his life. The busi- ness was afterward for a time conducted under the name of S. C. Morrison & Co., his widow keeping the control of his interests, but she has sold her interest in the concern, and the firm is no longer as of old. Mr. Morrison was popular socially, and had reached the Knights Templar de- gree in the Masonic Fraternity. In 1873 he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Scofield, daughter of Hon. Ira Scofield, of Darien, and his wife. Elizabeth (Gray), who both lived past the age of eighty, and were representatives of some of the earliest families of this county. Mrs. Morrison received an excellent education in the schools of the county, and for some years previous to her mar- riage she taught successfully. She now resides in the old Scofield homestead at Darien with | her only son. Robert Scofield Morrison, who is studying art.

Her brother. Charles E. Scofield, is a prom- inent citizen of Noroton, where he holds the office of postmaster. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and in | addition to the hardships of the camp and the battle field, he endured for six months the hor- rors of imprisonment at Andersonville.

BENJAMIN BENTLEY, a successful business man of Shelton, is possessed of remarkable vitality, and notwithstanding the fact that he is well advanced in his seventh decade, he con- tinues to devote much of his time and attention to the management of his grocery, a prosperous establishment located on Elm street, Shelton.

Mr. Morrison was born in 1842 in New York, of Scottish ancestry, his grandfather having come from Scotland to this country. Robert Morrison, the father of our subject. was born and reared in Mr. Bentley comes of sturdy English stock, New York State, and for some years previous to | and his grandfather, Joseph Bentley, was a loom

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and jenny maker in Bristol, England. Benjamin Bentley (2), our subject's father, was born in Bristol, and in early life learned the trade of millwright and machinist in his native land. He married Miss Mary Wilkinson, who was born near Bristol, some years later coming to America and locating at Woonsocket Falls, R. I. He and his wife were Episcopalians in religious faith, and after coming to this country he became identified with the Church of his faith. He died in Rhode Island in 1865. his wife in 1864. One of their sons, David (now deceased), served in the Union army throughout the Civil war, and of their large family of children, three are yet living, our sub- ject being the eldest; the others are: George, a resident of Madison, Maine, a weaver by trade; and Nancy, the widow of Joseph Mellor, for- merly of Wethersfield. England.

Our subject was born July 17, 1823, at Arm- ley, Yorkshire, England, and attended school there. When about fourteen years old he went to Farnley from Armley, and there served an ap- prenticeship of four years to the business of finishing woolens. He then worked for a time with his father as a millwright, and in 1843 he came to America. Shortly after his arrival he was employed as a millwright by Edward Harris, a manufacturer of cassimeres, and for twenty- four years he was in the same establishment, be- ing promoted from time to time until he became general superintendent and manager. During this time he made many valuable improvements in machinery. and although the factory produced only a cheap grade of cloth when he first became connected with it, the quality of the product was improved under his management until it was nec- essary to run the mill nights, which was done for many years, and much better prices obtained for the goods. In 1870 he removed to Water- bury, Conn., where he remained two years, eight months of the time being spent as superintendent of a woolen factory. Later he went to Ludlow. Vt., to take a position as general manager of a similar establishment; and after three years he removed to Shelton, where he has since resided. For seven years he was manager of the Radcliffe Bros. Hosiery Factory at Shelton, and on leav- ing that position he purchased a mill at Hunting- ton and converted it into a woolen factory. which he conducted for a number of years. In 1895 he opened his present grocery at Shelton, where he has built up a fine trade. Mr. Bentley is a Re- publican in politics, and he is an ardent believer in temperance reform, having united with the Sons of Temperance forty years ago.

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In Norwich, Conn., Mr. Bentley was married :to Miss Mary Waterhouse, a native of Horsforth,

England, who came to Northampton, Mass .. when twenty-two years of age. Five sons were born of this union: George A., Benjamin F., James W. (of Rockville, Conn.). Joseph W. (of Hartford, Conn.), and David H. (who is associ- ated with his father in the grocery business). In October, 1898, George A., Benjamin F., James W. and David H. formed a partnership under the firm name of Bentley Bros., and are at pres- ent manufacturing woolen goods at their father's mill.

EROME JUDSON. Success in business, sound judgment as to men and affairs, and a hearty sympathy with all forms of progress are among the characteristics which have gained for this well-known citizen of Sandy Hook the confidence and esteem of the community. For many years he and his brother, the late John Jud- son, were prominent in mercantile circles in their locality, and the family name has become asso- ciated with ability and probity.

The subject of our sketch was born April 29, 1828, in the village of Newtown, in a house front- ing upon the Street. His education was obtained in the common schools and the academy of the village, and at the age of fourteen he began his business career as a clerk in the store of William B. Glover, of Sandy Hook, with whom he re- mained from 1842 to 1849. By the time he reached his majority he had secured a most ex- cellent training in business methods, and after spending one year as assistant to Daniel B. Haw- ley, of Hawleyville, in connection with the Hou- satonic railroad, he decided to return to mercan- tile life, and in 1850 went to New Canaan, this county, to take a position as a clerk in the store of W. E. Raymond. Two years later he re- turned to Newtown to reside, and soon afterward he was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to the office of postmaster of that village. He held this position until the spring of 1858, having been re-appointed by President Buchanan, and on retiring he went to Sandy Hook and engaged in general mercantile business in partnership with his brother John, under the firm name of Judson Brothers. Their first store was located where the barn now stands, but as prosperity came to them they purchased from Mrs. Curtis Morris the building now occupied by Terrill, Betts & Co., and in 1868 opened a store there with a fine stock of goods. After the death of his brother Mr. Judson continued the business alone for one year, when he sold his stock of merchandise to L. B. Booth and M. B. Terrill. then associated together as M. B. Terrill & Co. Mr. Judson retained the

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ownership of the store building, and not long Mr. Mallory has had much experience in the after giving up the business he took charge of a | settlement and care of estates. While he has gristmill property in which he held an interest, never sought an office, the fact of his being so the management of this enterprise occupying his i often called upon to fill important positions of time from October, 1883, to the fall of 1892. He then disposed of the property, and since that

trust indicates the confidence and esteem which I his energetic and conscientious discharge of duty time he has not been actively identified with any | has won for him. In 1873 he represented his business. His excellent judgment has often led

I town in the General Assembly, being with one to his being called upon to advise and assist in i exception the youngest member of that body. In the administration of estates, and for some time . all business transactions his word is considered as he was a director in the Newtown Savings Bank, good as his bond, which fact has given him a high I standing among business men. a position which he resigned a few years ago. He has also been urged at times to take public office, but. although he is a stanch Democrat, he has not done much party work since his early days. In all local affairs of a non-political na- ture he is prompt to give his endorsement and aid. Mr. Judson's reading has been extensive, and this, together with his keen observation, has made his range of information unusually broad for a non-professional man.

The late John Judson was born June 25, 1830, and was educated in the schools of the vil- lage of Newtown. When about fourteen years old he became a clerk in the store of D. H. Johnson, of that place, and after spending about eight years in that position he went to Chicago to clerk in the wholesale hardware store of J. B. Botsford. An accident which occurred about three years later compelled him to give up work for a year, and returning to this county in 1857 he decided to locate permanently in Sandy Hook, where he engaged in business in the fol- lowing year. As a citizen he was highly es- teemed, being active in all progressive move- ments, but. like his brother, he did not devote especial attention to political matters. By his first wife, Cornelia (Peck). he had one daughter. Anna C., now the widow of Henry Tucker. of Sandy Hook. By his second wife, Julia A. (Colt), he had two children: Grace L., who mar- ried Herbert Clarke; and Jerome, an employe of Marsh, Merwin & Lemmons, private bankers of Bridgeport.

H ON. CHARLES A. MALLORY was born in Sherman. Conn., March 30, 1846. After obtaining an academic education and taking a course in a business college, he for many years successfully represented the Weed Sewing Ma- chine Company. of Hartford, Conn., as traveling salesman, and, later, the Wheeler & Wilson Com- pany, of Bridgeport, Conn. At the same time he was engaged in farming, being one of the largest and most successful tobacco growers in ! the county.

Mr. Mallory is a director in the National Bank of Pawling, Pawling, N. Y .. also in the State Bank of Anoka, Anoka, Minn., besides having business interests in several of the West- ern States. Socially, he is a member of St. | Peters Lodge No. 21. F. & A. M., New Milford, Conn. [For family records see sketch of his | brother, Daniel B. Mallory. elsewhere in this work. ]

H ENRY FISHER, senior member of the firm of H. Fisher & Son, the leading drug- gists and apothecaries of Bridgeport, is a worthy representative of a well-known New England fam- ily, and the sterling qualities of character which have marked his long and useful career are char- acteristic of his pioneer ancestry. The ancestors of the Fisher family, of whom we write, came to this country in the " Mayflower," one settling in Massachusetts, one in Vermont, and one in New York State.

Ebenezer Fisher. our subject's great-grand- father, was born April 4: 1741, in Brattleboro, Windham Co., Vt., and died January 10, 1831, aged eighty-mine years, eight months and twenty- four days. He married Bathsheba Wilder, who. was born February 13, 1751, and died March 19. 1829, aged seventy-eight years, one month and: six days. They had a large family of children, the names with dates of birth and death being as follows: Mary, August 24, 1767-October 7. 1850; Bathsheba, June 22, 1769-January 22, 1855; Mercy, July 22, 1771-1790; Susan- nah, June 22, 1773-1775; Lucy, January 1, 1775-January 2, 1863; Ebenezer, January 14, 1777-September 1. 1833; Abigail, June 14, 1779-1780; Anna, September 16, 1781-De- cember 14, 1863; Susan, August 16, 1783-1784; Betsey, March 20, 1785-November 15, 1850; Sally, April 20, 1787-March 17, 1886; Lucinda, November 20, 1789-1791; Joseph, December 20, 1791-October 17, 1867; Benjamin, June 25, 1795-August 3, 1853.

Ebenezer Fisher (2), the grandfather of our

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subject, made his home at Brattleboro, Vt. He married John W. Allen, son of Henry W. and Cordelia Allen, of New Britain, Conn., and they have had four children-Eva M. (deceased), Josephine F., William H. and Emma Russell. was married April 4, 1799, to Lucy Fisher, who was born April 20, 1780, and died April 16, 1863. Ten children were born to them, and the names with dates of birth and death are here given: | (4) Charles died in childhood. (5) Elbert E. Asa, April 9. 1800-March 10, 1880; Elsy (Mrs. I was born August 13. 1868. in Greenfield, Mass .. | and was educated in New Britain, Conn., gradu- Gleason), February 26, 1802-March 23, 1866; Ira, September 12, 1804-March 20. 1863; i ating from the high school in 1884. He gained Owen, March 6, 1806-August 9, 1850; E. I a practical knowledge of the drug business by Wilder, May 26, 1809-April 7, 1892; Sybil clerking in stores in Bridgeport and in Newark, ¡ N. J., and afterward took a course in the College (Mrs. Shepherd), October 15. 1811-March- Charles, March 13, 1817-March 14. 1849; Rus- sell. May 7, 1819-March, 18 -: Roswell (twin of Russell), May 7, 1819-June S. 1869.

1888: Emeline. June 28, 1814-June 16, 1823; 1 of Pharmacy in New York City, where he was | graduated in 1889. On returning home he im- mediately entered into partnership with his father. and he has made an excellent reputation as a business man. In 1891 he married Miss Ella A. Arthur, daughter of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Clark) Arthur, and they have one son, Henry A.

Asa Fisher. our subject's father. was a pros- perous agriculturist, and resided for many years near Brattleboro. Vt. He married Mary Lon- ley, and had children as follows: Joseph, Ed- | ward. Willard, Henry, John, George W., Har- riet Beecher. Harrison, Ezra, Oscar, Roscoe, Eugene and Mary Ann.

Our subject was born March 30, 1827, at Jamaica, Vt., and his education was chiefly ob- tained in the district schools of Brattleboro, Vt. On leaving school at the age of sixteen he de- voted his time to assisting his father in the work of the farm, but when twenty-two years old he went to Green River. Mass .. where he was em- ployed by J. Russell & Co., in their table-cutlery works. He remained with the company for thirty-five years, winning the entire confidence of its members, and for about twenty years he was foreman of the establishment. In 1874 he gave up his position and came to Bridgeport, where he purchased a drug store at No. 144 Park av- enue, and engaged in business on his own ac- count. The venture proved successful, and five years later he bought his present store, which is advantageously located at the corner of Railroad avenue and Broad street. In politics, Mr. Fisher is a Republican, but he has not aspired to official honors. Socially, he and his family are prominent, and he is identified with Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M., of New Britain, Connecticut.

Mr. Fisher married Miss Julia A. Russell. daughter of David Lussell, a native of Deerfield, Mass .. and his wife, Laura (Hooley), who was born in Utica, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher take much interest in religious work, and are leading members of the First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport. Five children have brightened their home: (1) Henry, who owns and conducts a grocery business, married Miss Satie J. Coats, daughter of Captain Coats, and they have had two children-Ernest W. (deceased), and A. L. (2) William died in childhood. (3) Hattie E.

G USTAVE SCHLEICHER, the founder of the house of Schleicher & Sons, manufact- I urers of high-grade upright and grand pianos at Stamford, Conn .. has been living retired for the past several years, leaving the business in the hands of his four sons, who have proved worthy successors of their worthy father.

Mr. Schleicher is a native of Germany, born in 1827. and came to the United States in 1852, settling in New York City. Under the instruction of his father, who was a manufacturer in Ger- many, he had acquired a knowledge of the art of piano making and cabinet work in all its depart- ments, and, in addition to being a finished me- chanic, he had always given proof of his unusual ability as an inventor in his line. He found ample scope for his genius on this side of the water, but he did not commence manufacturing : on his own account until 1866. when the house now so well known all over the United States . was established in New York. From the start the business proved a success, and, devoting ! themselves strictly to the manufacture of high- grade instruments, the Schleichers soon gained a reputation second to none in their line. The four sons. all of whom were born in Mt. Vernon, N. Y., were in turn thoroughly inducted into the mysteries of the business in every branch, and, having the benefit of their father's years of ex- perience, became more than ordinarily familiar with all the exacting details of this delicate work. At the present time each one of the sons has his own special department to look after and exer- cises a personal supervision over every particular of the work in that department, which in this manner is brought to a high state of perfection.

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Andrew J. and Edward G. Schleicher have charge of the manufacturing, and the new factory erected in 1892 at Nos. 125. 127, 129 and 131 Pacific street, Stamford, was designed by them and built under their direction, and is provided with all the most modern equipments necessary and obtainable. It is heated throughout by steam, has steam elevators, machinery of the most improved up-to-date construction, and the latest facilities for use in seasoning materials. The Schleichers have invented and patented many of the improvements employed in the con- struction of their pianos, and we make special mention of the sounding board, the pressure bar. which holds the strings in place, the practice stop. to prevent the wearing of the action and to reduce the sound during continued practicing; the special manner of adjusting the action, which keeps it more even; the music desk, to hold the music in perfect position; the arrangement for taking the instrument apart in sections, so that it may be moved without injury through a small space: the patent panel protector over the pedals, which saves the panel from defacement -these and many others have combined to win for the Schleichers first rank among modern high-grade instruments. Their new sounding- board deserves special notice, is acknowledged to be greatly in advance of any other heretofore used, and is pronounced a periect success. Its special feature is the ribbing on both sides, which gives it more rigidity, overcomes strong pressure entirely, and consequently lends added character . to the tone; the sustaining power is increased to a wonderful degree. Among the well-known products of their factory we note their "Baby Grand" piano, which has ever since its intro- duction been gaining in popularity, and is an instrument which any house would be justified in being proud of, it being fully up to their standard in every respect.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 69

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