Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 73

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

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On October 27, 1882, his beloved wife passed to the unseen world, and her remains now rest in the Congregational cemetery at Greenwich. Their family is one of which any parents might well be proud. Of their ten children, the eldest, Ophelia, married William Long, who met a sol- dier's death during the Civil war; Esther A. is the wife of I. L. Mead; Daniel S. died in Green- wich, aged forty-eight years; OLIVER D. is a farmer at Field Point; Abraham died at the age of seven years; Anna H., who is not married, resides at the homestead; Sarah H. died at the age of eighteen years; Miss Elizabeth J. is at home, unmarried; and two died young.

E DWARD J. COUCH, a leading citizen of Ridgefield, Fairfield county, is a native of the town of Redding, Conn., born July 17, 1828, of honored New England ancestry.

The first of the family of whom we have 23

record was Simon Couch (1), who married Mary, daughter of Francis Andrews, of Bankside, and had children: Thomas; Simon (2); Samuel; Mary, who married John Grumman; Martha, who wedded Abram Finch; Sarah; and Hannah, wife of Peter Coley. Of these, Simon (2) married Abigail Sturges, daughter of John Sturges, and had children whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Abigail. January 31, 1694; Thomas, June 9, 1695; Simon, July 6, 1697; Hannah, August 30, 1699; Sarah, March 30, 1706; Isabelle, September 17, 1708; and Deborah, March 30, 1710. Of these,

Thomas, great-great-grandfather of our sub- ject, married Sarah Allen, daughter of Gideon Allen, December 7, 1721, and had issue: Simon, who married Abigail Jennings, daughter of Joshua Jennings, born May 18, 1721; Thomas, born No- vember 28, 1725; Sarah, born December 1, 1723, and Ann, born 17 -. Of these,

Thomas, great-grandfather of our subject, married February 25. 1750, Elizabeth Jessup, who was born February 13, 1728, a daughter of Edward Jessup, and their children were as follows: Thomas, born February 12, 1751, married Sarah Nash, and died March 16, 1817; Simon, born November 6, 1752; Sarah, born March 30, 1754, was married to Hezekiah Banks October 14, 1772, and died in 1815: Elizabeth, born January 23, 1756, was married to Noah Hanford, and died about the year 1783; Gideon, who was born September 12, 1757, was married to Eleanor Wakeman, and they became the par- ents of Mrs. Horace Smith, of Bridgeport; Mary, baptized May 15, 1760, was married May 5, 1784, to Moses Sherwood, and died May 13, 1824; Stephen, born May 4, 1763. married Ann Edmond January 29, 1784, and died April 21, 1813. The last hamed went to New Hampshire, where there are now many of his descendants. Of the above named family,

Simon, grandfather of our subject, was born in Fairfield and moved to Redding in 1776, on January 7 of which year he married Eleanor Nash, who was born January 14, 1758, and died March 5. 1818. Issue: Elizabeth, born October 9. 1776, married Ozias Burr, and died in 1834 in Worthington, Ohio; Jessup, born August 3, 1778, died June 30, 1821, unmarried (he was judge of the Superior Court of Ohio from 1815 to the time of his death, which occurred in Chillicothe, Ohio); Seth, born August 31, 1780, was married April 15. 1806, to Sarah Burr, and died April 30, 1841 (he was identified with the Brooklyn Basin); Eleanor, born August 26, 1782, died unmarried December 8, 1856; Simon, born December 1, 1784, died in 1793; Nash, born April 23, 1787,

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died single March 22, 1835; Priscilla, born June 27, 1790, married Edward Mallory, and settled in Worthington, Ohio, where they both died; Ed- ward, born July 14, 1792, in Redding, Conn., died April 16, 1856, in Ridgefield; Simon Andrew, born December 16, 1794, was a physician in Marion, Ohio; Caroline, born June 22, 1801, died March 8, 1802. Of these,

Edward, father of our subject, married Bet- sey Marchant, who was born May 6, 1805, daughter of Joel Marchant, of Redding, Conn., and had children: Edward J., sketch of whom follows; and Simon, born March 12, 1830, who died March 11. 1893 (he was a silver-plater, and lived on the home farm most of his life). The father was a lifelong farmer and became pros- perous.

Edward J. Couch, the subject proper of these lines, received his education at the public schools of his native town, and at the age of seventeen commenced learning the trade of a hatter, which he followed for several years as a journeyman in Troy, N. Y., and in Charleston, S. C., where he also clerked; this was in 1853. From there he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he was engaged in the business of hatter some five years; just before the Civil war he returned to Connecticut, and for some few years followed his trade there, when he abandoned it. Of late years he has been interested in real estate, and by judicious investments has acquired a comfortable compe- tency. He is a director of the Ridgefield Sav- ings Bank. Mr. Couch has traveled widely, covering in one trip in 1895 10,000 miles in the United States. He is much interested in pomol- ogy, is a member of the American Pomological Society, and in the trip (some seventy members forming the party), just mentioned, to California, etc., in 1895, the greatest hospitality was ex- tended them. He has given natural history considerable study, and has an excellent collec- tion of works on that subject, as well as a very large collection of birds, all his own mounting, as he is quite a skilled taxidermist.

On November 16, 1858, Mr. Couch was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Hawley, who was born April 8, 1836, daughter of Eben- ezer Hawley, of South Salem, N. Y., and two children have come to them: Ida F., born July 21, 1871, was graduated at Hackettstown, N. J., and also from the Teachers College in New York City, and is now an instructor in manual train- ing at Passaic, N. J .; Edward S., born October 16, 1879, is attending school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mr. Couch in his political preferences was a Democrat until the breaking out of the war of

the Rebellion, since when he has been a stanch Republican, and in 1882 he served in the State Legislature. In his religious views he is con- servative, and broad and liberal in matters per- taining thereto. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. Public-spirited at all times, and true to his antecedents, he has always taken an active interest in all that concerns the welfare and prosperity of his adopted town.

H ENRY BURR OGDEN, a leading agricult- urist of the town of Fairfield, is a worthy representative of a family which has long been prominent in that locality. His present home- stead in Banks South District has been held in the family name for three generations, and, aside from its interesting associations, it is a valuable and attractive estate, Mr. Ogden's scientific knowledge and skill being shown to good ad- vantage in its management.

Hezekiah Ogden, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born October 28, 1775, and died Janu- uary 21, 1844, leaving a large property and an honorable name as a citizen. His wife, whose maiden name was Hulda Merwin, was born De- cember 15, 1779, and died September 24, 1832. Their family consisted of two sons and four daughters, the former being Horace, our subject's father, and Hezekiah, Jr., who followed farming in Banks South District until his death, some years ago.

The late Horace Ogden was born October 24, 1809, and was reared as a farmer boy, his educa- tion being obtained in the schools of the district. In early manhood he married Miss Rachel A. Sturgis, who was born January 20, 1812, a daughter of Wakeman Sturgis, a prominent resi- dent of Weston, this county, and after residing for some time at the Ogden homestead, he bought an adjoining farm and made his permanent home there, building a new house. He was a success- ful farmer, and while he met with occasional losses, he left a comfortable competence, mainly gained by his own industry. Notwithstanding some accidents at various times, he enjoyed robust health during the greater portion of his life. His home was his chief interest, nothing but important business ever calling him away from it for any length of time. In politics he was a Republican, and although he was never an office seeker he voted regularly in the support of his principles. His death occurred January 20, 1891, and his wife, who was a devout Presby- terian, died March 13, 1890, their remains being interred in the Oak Lawn cemetery in Fairfield township. Our subject is the eldest in a family

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of three children; (2) Hulda E., born June 30, 1844, married Franklin Whitehead, of Greens Farms, and has one son, George Burr. (3) Mary E., born July 25, 1849, married Willis Morehouse (deceased), and now resides in Bridge- port.

Henry B. Ogden was born March 30, 1838, at the old homestead, and in boyhood he at- tended the common schools of the vicinity for some years, Walter Merwin and Miss Meeker be- ing among his teachers. Later he pursued high- er branches of study in the academies at Greens Farms and Greenfield Hill, and at the age of twenty-two he taught for one winter, his wages being $16 per month. He remained at home un- til he reached the age of thirty-five when he pur- chased ten acres from his father and built his present dwelling house. He has prospered, and now owns seventy-one acres of choice land, en- gaging in the dairy business and general agricult- ure. As is well known, farming has its uncer- tainties, but he succeeds when any one else does and when many do not. He is unassuming in manner, of a quiet disposition, and his reputation is of the best. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party, but he takes little interest in the issues of the day, and does not even vote regularly.

At the age of thirty-five, November 26, 1873, Mr. Ogden married Miss Amelia J. Bradley, of Fairfield township, and one daughter, Beatrice, has been born to them; she has just completed five years' schooling at Greenfield Hill, and she is now at home with her parents. The family attend the Church at Greenfield Hill. Mrs. Og- den was born June 25, 1844, in Deerfield Dis- trict, Fairfield township, a daughter of Seth and Amelia (Burr) Bradley, and in early life she taught school for a time, receiving $8.00 per month, one term $9.00, and boarding herself. She has one sister, Mary L., who is the widow of John H. Fanton, and a brother, Thomas, who is a resident of Deerfield District.

C ARLES MILLER, EsQ., one of Stamford's leading residents, has won an enviable repu- tation for ability and sound judgment, and while his long and useful life has been free from am- bitious striving for public notice, he has been frequently called upon by his fellow-citizens to adjudicate their controversies and disputes. For about twelve years he has held the office of justice of the peace, and his impartiality and keen insight into the merits of his varied ques- tions which arise from time to time have shown him to be the "right man in the right place."

Like many of the successful men of the county and state, he is descended from good German ancestry, his thrift and industry being strongly characteristic of his race. He was born February 22, 1828, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and was educated in the public schools of his native land. On completing his course of study he learned the cooper's trade with an uncle, but he never followed it regularly. At the age of twenty-one he came to America, locating first in New York City, where he con- ducted a restaurant and hotel for many years. In 1872 he removed to Stamford. making his home in Glenbrook District, and he has ever since been prominently identified with the inter- ests of that locality, having invested largely in real estate there. Some thirteen or fourteen years ago he purchased the brick block on Main street, Stamford, known as Miller Music Hall.

In New York City he was married to Miss Susannah Koehler, a native of Heidelberg, Ger- many. Of the three children who blessed this union only one is now living, Charles H., a resi- dent of Stamford. In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat, but casts his vote for the one he deems best qualified to fill the office. He has been twice a delegate to the Democratic State Conventions, both times when Cleveland was nominated, and is still serving his town as justice of the peace, which office he has capably filled for fourteen years. Mr. Miller is a self-made man and enjoys the comforts of a fine home on Schlocker avenue, Stamford, which he has equipped with all modern improvements of his own architecture. In 1863 he visited bis old home in Germany.

M RS. CATHARINE STURGESS was born in the town of Wilton, Conn., June 27, 1828, and received her education in the schools of that town. She married Bradley Sturgess, a. native of Wilton. His grandfather was a native. of England, and came to the United States when yet a young man, and engaged in farming in Westport. William Sturgess, father of Bradley Sturgess, was born in Westport, was educated there and learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked most of his life. Politically, he was a Democrat. He married Miss Fannie Beers, of Cranberry Plain, by whom he had the following children: Martha, who married a Mr. Gregory; Mary F., who married Erastus Roscoe; Julia A., who married Alvan Roscoe; Jeanette, who mar- ried James Burchard; and Bradley, a sketch of whom follows.

Bradley Sturgess was born in the town of

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Wilton, Conn., October 31, 1831, and obtained his early education in the common schools of that place. Notwithstanding he learned the shoemaker's trade, he worked at it only a short time, becoming instead assistant foreman of the Lock Manufacturing Company of Norwalk, Conn. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he was drafted, but furnished a substitute. He married Miss Catharine Betts, the subject of this sketch, by whom he had no children. Mrs. Catharine Sturgess has always been connected with the Episcopal Church, has been active in its work, and has been more particularly identified with its charitable endeavors-in short she has devoted her entire life to religious work.

Thaddeus Betts, great-grandfather of Mrs. Sturgess, was born in Wilton, Conn., was edu- cated and married there, and one of his children, Thaddeus Betts, Jr., was the father of our sub- ject. He was born in the town of Wilton, was educated there in the common schools, and after leaving school engaged in farming, which occupa- tion he followed most of his life. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. He married a Miss Mead, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: Zadoc, who married Lucretia Arnold; Nehemiah, who remains single; Aner; Lydia, who married Uriah Betts; Rebecca, who married William Gregory, and Hannah, who married a Mr. Northrop.

Zadoc Betts, father of the subject, was born in the town of Wilton, and educated there in the common schools. From early boyhood he was engaged in farming. The house in which he lived until within a few years was one of the landmarks of the Revolutionary war, and since it was burned down it has been replaced by a modern dwelling. Zadoc Betts married Lucretia Arnold, daughter of Isaac and Phebe (Hayden) Arnold, of Wilton, Conn. Their children are as follows: Sallie, who married John Renoud; Eliza, who married Samuel Dudley; Betsey A., who married Thomas Benedict; Caroline, who married Giles Rockwell; Catharine, who married Bradley Stur- gess; and George, who married Susan Betts.

J JACOB LE GRAND DAUCHY. One of the most prominent and influential pioneer fami- lies of the town of Ridgefield, Fairfield county, is that of which Jacob L. Dauchy is an honored scion-a family noted for the patriot- ism, enterprise and moral worth of its several members.

The first of the name which appears in the - annals of Ridgefield was (1) Vivas Dauchy, great-grandfather of our subject, who was born

in 1707, and came into the town of Ridgefield from New Rochelle, whither his ancestors had fled during the religious persecutions in France, and who, among other French Huguenots, took up their residence in that town. Vivas came to Ridgefield about the year 1725, and first pur- chased land (according to the town record) in 1729, near the center of the village. On No- vember 28, 1732, he married Rachel Wallace, born in February, 1711, a daughter of James Wallace, of North Salem, and by her had seven children. She died November 20, 1748, and for his second wife Vivas Dauchy wedded, on March 24, 1751, Hannah Sherwood, born March 7, 1712, by whom he had one son. She died Sep- tember 10, 1754, and for his third wife Mr. Dauchy, in the early part of 1755, married Mrs. Mary Keeler Olmsted, formerly of Milton, the widow of Richard Olmsted, of Ridgefield. By this union he had five children. He died De- cember 16, 1795; his widow, who was born Oc- tober 10, 1725, passed away May 22, 1816.

The children born to Vivas Dauchy, the im- migrant, were as follows: James, born Novem- ber 30, 1734, died in -; Mary (Folliot), born November 25, 1736, died 176 -; Vivas, born Oc- tober 7, 1738, died in the French war; John, born 1741, died May 13, 1809; Elizabeth, born 1742, died -; Philip, born January 12, 1744, died April 30, 1822; Nathan, born February 9, 1747, died April 14, 1824; Daniel, born January 23, 1752, died July 25, 1807; Jeremiah, born November 1, 1755, died September 20, 1823; Thomas, born November 5, 1757, died --; Vivas, born December 8, 1759, died -; Mary (Sanford), born March 18, 1764, died ---; (II) Jacob, born March 2. 1768, died December 26, 1857.

(II) Jacob Dauchy, grandfather of our sub- ject, married Lois Bennett, who was born Janu- ary 10, 1768, and died June 27, 1841. Issue: David, born July 18, 1790, died September 2, 1827; Charles, born September 27, 1791, died June 24, 1833; Walter, born December 31, 1792, died April 12, 1857; Josiah, born March 17. 1794, died September 20, 1873; Philip, born Decem- ber 20, 1795. died August 23, 1839; Polly (San- ford), born November 20, 1797, died May -, 1890. (III) Jacob, born March 21, 1799, died December 12, 1883; Keeler, born January 8, 1801, died January 10, 1888; Rachel, born Feb- ruary 26, 1803, died in November, 1893; and Phoebe, born February 28, 1805, died July 10, 1892. Thefather of this family was one of the most prominent citizens of the town of Ridgefield in his day, was a member of the Legislature, and held various local offices of responsibility and

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trust. He was an influential member of the Episcopal Church, to which the entire family have generally belonged, and he and Isaac Olm- sted were prominent in the F. & A .. M., during what is known as the "dark period " of that or- ganization in New England.

(III) Jacob Dauchy, father of our subject, was married September 16, 1821, to Eliza Ann Os- born, of Norwalk, Conn., born April 26, 1803, and their children were as follows: Mary Eliza, born November 12, 1822, died August 26, 1827; Frances I., born March 26, 1825, died August 25, 1828; Charles Osborn, born May 1, 1826, died August 16, 1827; (IV) Jacob LeGrand, born March 26, 1828; Mary Esther, born November 12, 1829, died September 17, 1885, and Francis, born June 23, 1834, died June 12, 1860. The mother of this family passed away August 23, 1883, the father on December 12, same year. Like his father before him, he was one of the most prominent citizens in Ridgefield, in local affairs, holding many offices of honor and trust, and also served in the Legislature.

(IV) Jacob LeGrand Dauchy, the subject proper of this memoir, was born and reared in the town of Ridgefield, receiving his education in the schools of the neighborhood up to the age of seventeen. He then commenced an apprentice- ship to the hat-making business, which he com- pleted when twenty-one years old, serving his time in part with Jones, Slosson & Co., of Ridge- field, in part with Charles Benedict, of Danbury, Conn. For several years thereafter he worked as a journeyman hatter in most of the factories around his native place, but chiefly in Norwalk, being employed during his last year or so at the business in making ladies' napped hats. In 1861 he enlisted, under the 300,000-call for three- years' men, in Company A, 11th Connecticut Regiment, and served in the Army of the Poto- mac. In 1863 he re-enlisted for three years. or during the war, and was mustered out in Sep- tember, 1865. He participated in most of the principal engagements in that struggle, and proved himself a brave and patriotic soldier.

On May 21, 1848, Mr. Dauchy was married to Mary, daughter of William Smith, and they have had three children, of whom but one son, William, is living. Mr. Dauchy in politics was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the party has been a stanch Republican, actively interested in the affairs of the party. He has held various offices of his town, in 1881 repre- sented his township in the State Legislature, and at the present time is assessor. In religious faith he is a member of the Episcopal Church of Ridge- field; socially.he is affiliated with the F. & A. M.,

Jerusalem Lodge No. 46, of which he is past master, and is prominently identified with the G. A. R., holding membership with Nelson White Post, at Danbury.

I OREN T. DAY, M. D., a physician and sur- geon of ability and skill, located in the town of Westport, Fairfield county, is of the fifth gen- eration of the Day family in this county, and has descended from Revolutionary stock in both ma- ternal and paternal lines.

The line of descent is Martin, Absalom, Ab- salom George, John L., Loren T. Martin Day, who was an Englishman, came from England to America, and died at Chatham, N. J., where he had located and was engaged in mercantile pur- suits. Absalom Day, who was a clergyman, died at Norwalk, Conn., in 1843. He had married Bettie Smith, of Norwalk, and there reared a large family of children. Absalom George Day was a potter by trade and carried on that busi- ness at Norwalk. He married Mary Ann Fitch, and they had a numerous family of children, among whom was John L. Day, the father of the Doctor. Absalom George Day was born at Nor- walk, Conn., in 1796, and died there. He was a man of quiet, unassuming manners, and of good business ability. John L. Day was reared and received his education at Norwalk. He married Jane Ann Lewis, of Stepney, Conn., a daughter of Charles H. and Sally (Wayland) Lewis, of that place. After marriage John L. Day and wife lo- cated in Bridgeport, where they reared their only child. The father was a prominent citizen of that city, engaged in the fancy dry-goods busi- ness. In his political views he was a Republican, and in religious faith both himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1864, respected by the community at large. The widow still survives.

Sally Wayland, the grandmother of our sub- ject, was a daughter of David and Ann (Sherman) Wayland, both natives of Stepney, Conn. David Wayland was the son of James and Hannah (Beach) Wayland. James participated in the war of the Revolution.

Dr. Loren T. Day was born August 11, 1860, at Bridgeport, Conn. When four years old he was taken to Waterbury. Conn., and there attended the public school until fourteen years of age. Then he returned to Bridgeport and attended the Military Academy there until 1876, when he be- gan the study of medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. Robert Lauder. He re- mained with Dr. Lauder for about one and one- half years, then entered the medical department

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of Yale College, graduating with the class of '80. He took a post-graduate course in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. During the winter of 1881 he was one of the late Prof. O. C. Marsh's assistants in Peabody Museum, at Yale University, engaged in palæontological work. During this time he published several articles on scientific subjects-one, a monograph on the Odontomyia, being published in the "Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences." In 1882 he entered the New Haven (Corn.) Hospital, and in 1883 he located in Westport, Conn., where he has since been act- ively engaged in practice. Thoroughly prepared for his profession, of studious habits, affable and courteous, he soon grew into favor, and is hav- ing a successful career. His talents and ability as a physician are recognized in the community and county where his influence is felt. Socially the Doctor and family are interested in various lines. He is prominent in Masonic circles, a member of Temple Lodge No. 65, F. & A. M., of Westport, holding in the same the office of re- cording secretary; he also is a member of Clinton Commandery and of Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M .. S. He is identified with the Episcopal Church at Westport. In politics he is an Inde- pendent, and is at this time secretary of the school board. Doctor Day takes great interest in historical matters, and is vice-president of the Saugatuck Historical Society. He is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, being one of that society's board of managers. He is an honorary member of the Bridgeport Medical Society, a member of the Fairfield County Medical Asso- ciation, of the Connecticut Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 73

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