USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262 | Part 263 | Part 264 | Part 265 | Part 266 | Part 267 | Part 268 | Part 269 | Part 270 | Part 271
Five children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mead, three of whom are living. (1) Thomas O., born January 5, 1850, died Oc- tober 27, 1851. (2) Miss Sarah Carpenter, now residing at home, is a lady of rare ability and force of character, as is shown by her efficient assistance in the management of her father's farm and home. (3) Brockholst Livingston, born July 10, 1854, now a resident of North Green- wich, was married April 10, 1882, to Harriet Alathea Mead, daughter of Silas D. and Emily L. (Close) Mead, and has one son, William Hervy. (4) Minnie A., born October 13, 1863, married Frederick W. Close, and died at Round Hill, April 17, 1887. (5) Miss Agnes Varker, born May 22, 1866, resides at home with her parents, and has full charge of the household affairs.
J TOHN D. KIMMEY, a prominent resident of Norwalk, is engaged in extensive business operations in New York City and elsewhere, but in choosing a home he has sought a place where salubrious air and inviting scenery are combined with a most refined and cultured social environment. He has become fully identified with the best interests of the town, and his fellow citizens, appreciating his ability and public spirit,
have at various times called him to fill positions of responsibility and trust.
It is not definitely known where the Kimmey family originated, but it doubtless comes of either German or Holland-Dutch stock. Jacob Kimmey, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer in Albany county, N. Y., and may have been born there. He married Jane Winney, and bad three children: David I., our subject's father; Philip (deceased), who was a millwright by trade, and also conducted a farm and a mill of his own; and Jacob, now a farmer in Rensselaer county, New York.
David I. Kimmey was a native of Albany county, N. Y., and always followed agricultural pursuits, his death occurring there at the early age of thirty-five. He married Maria Niver, a lady of Holland descent, who was born in Albany county, N. Y .. a daughter of John Niver; she died February 8, 1899, in her ninety-first year. Both united with the Dutch Reformed Church, and remained devout and consistent members. Mr. Kimmey, Sr., was much interested in poli- tics, also, and was always a Whig, the Repub- lican party being organized after his death. This worthy couple had five children: Jacob, who died of camp fever while serving as a soldier in the Civil war; John D., our subject; Jane, who married William Selkirk, of Bethlehem, Albany Co., N. Y .; and Elizabeth and Ann, deceased.
Mr. Kimmey was born May 21, 1828, in the town of Coeymans, Albany Co., N. Y., and re- mained upon the old farm until he was fifteen years of age. He then went to Albany, and for three years was employed as a clerk in a dry- goods store. Later he went to New York City and learned the machinist's trade, spending three or four years there in that occupation. Return- ing to Albany, he was engaged for a short time in mercantile business, and during all this time he was occasionally employed by various parties in handling and shipping freight by canal at New York and Albany. Through the influence of these parties he was appointed freight agent at New York for the Harlem railroad, with his office on 42nd street. He held this position twelve years, and in the meantime became interested in deal- ing in grain from breweries, which after being used in the manufacture of beer, could be dried and sold to farmers as food for stock. On leav- ing the railroad he began to pay more attention to this business, and was instrumental in organ- izing the Farmers Feed Company, of which he was secretary. This company buys the wet grain from several breweries in Brooklyn, and all but two of the breweries in New York City, making about one hundred in all. Their plant
Digitized by Google
-
364
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in New York covers eight lots, and has a storage capacity of eight thousand tons, and drying capac- ity of from sixty-five to seventy-five tons per day. The product is regarded as a good milk food, and is shipped to farmers in all parts of this country, while much of it is sent to foreign lands. For some time Mr. Kimmey was also associated with Jacob Ebling in a grocery busi- ness at Harlem, and at present he is connected with various enterprises. He is a director in a building and loan association in New York City, and is a director and stockholder in the Roton Point Improvement Company of the same city, which owns valuable property on Long Island Sound.
On October 14, 1849, Mr. Kimmey married Miss Adeline Hoyt, a native of Greene, county, N. Y., and a daughter of Joseph Hoyt, who was born and reared in this county. No children have blessed this union. In 1886 Mr. Kimmey removed to Norwalk, and he now owns a beauti- ful home on the principal street of that charming city. He and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Norwalk Club. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and he takes much interest in municipal affairs, having served as a member of the board of burgesses before Norwalk become a city, and as warden, a position equal in dignity and im- portance to the modern office of mayor.
G EORGE C. BLICKENSDERFER, the in- ventor of the Blickensderfer system of type- writers, and president and general manager of the company engaged in their manufacture at the splendidly and completely equipped works at Stamford, Conn., deserves more than a passing notice in the pages of this volume. Commencing life with no particular financial advantages over his fellows, Mr. Blickensderfer found a field for his inventive genius in an undertaking to which it had been incidentally directed in the course of his ordinary business affairs, and then used the fortune acquired in this field to assist him in another-the development and manufacture of a model typewriting machine, one which should possess all the advantages of the machines in general use, and as few as possible of the disad- vantages.
Mr. Blickensderfer comes of a family of strong intellectuality, being a son of Nathan Blickens- derfer and a grandson of Judge Blickensderfer, both of whom were lawyers by profession, and well known in their day. The latter was a mine owner. He distinguished himself as the only Whig in Ohio who advocated the revision of the
Charter of that State. Nathan Blickensderfer was born at New Philadelphia, Ohio, and was engaged in the practice of law and, subsequently, in the real-estate business at Erie, Penn., where our subject was born October 13, 1850.
George C. Blickensderfer spent the early years of his life on his father's farm near Erie, attend- ing school at the Home Academy, and later at Allegheny College. After finishing his education he engaged for six years in the dry-goods busi- ness in Erie; but finding that the confinement was injuring his health, he made arrangements to represent a large New York firm in the same line throughout the middle and western States. During his frequent visits to the large dry-goods houses and department stores, his attention was often attracted to the somewhat crude system of cash and package carriers then in use, and the idea of an improved system for transporting both packages and cash entered his mind. He at once began a series of experiments, with results beyond his anticipations, and in the fall of 1884, having satisfied himself that he had a practical system which was a decided improvement over any other then in use, he resigned his position, in which he had been successful far beyond the average, and devoted himself to the further devel- opment of his invention, the securing of patents, and the organization of a company for the man- ufacturing and introducing of it. The system was successful from the start, and Mr. Blickensderfer was actively engaged as general manager of the company, which was known as the United Store Service Company, and was successful in intro- ducing and setting up his system in many of the largest department stores in the country. It was during this period that his attention was first called to the subject of typewriters. Continually moving about the country, with a large corre- spondence to keep in order during his travels, he felt the necessity of a typewriter, and carefully searched the market, examining all the different makes in the endeavor to find one built to his requirements. He needed a machine simple and durable in its construction, easily learned, rapid in operation, and, above all, light in weight and compact in size, so that it might be moved from place to place without hiring a dray or porter. It is needless to say that he failed to find what he was looking for, as the machines of that date were designed as an office fixture, and were en- tirely unsuited to the demands of a traveler.
After several days spent in examining the working and construction of the various ma- chines, he returned one evening to his room with the conviction that the ideal typewriter had not yet been made. He had carefully noted the va-
Digitized by Google
RE:
locBlickaus derfun
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
365
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rious requirements of a typewriter of the first grade with the various devices for obtaining the desired results, and already in his fertile mind an idea of an entirely new principle was rapidly as- suming tangible form. With pencil and paper he worked during the evening and far into the night, drafting out the central idea of what has since de- veloped into the Blickensderfer typewriter. As the gray light of dawn came stealing into his window, he threw down his pencil with the satis- faction which comes from an accomplished task, having solved the question which puzzled the best inventors of the age-the perfect control of a revolving wheel. This essential point being determined upon, the construction of a machine to meet all the requirements of the highest-grade machines, with the added convenience and porta- bility required, rapidly took form in his mind, and by devoting such time as he could from his busy life to the development of his latest inven- tion, he reached a point where he believed a satisfactory working model could be constructed. With a view of devoting his entire time to the building of his experimental model, he now opened negotiations for the sale of his interest in the Store Service system, which finally resulted in a consolidation of companies, which purchased all of his interests. The sale gave to Mr. Blickens- derfer an independent fortune, and placed him in an enviable position to push the development of his typewriter.
An incident connected with the consolidation referred to will serve to illustrate the unyielding force of character and strong sense of justice which has had so much to do with Mr. Blickens- derfer's success in everything he has undertaken. Among the employes of the United Store Service Company were two salesmen, who were working under contract, which contract was, under the terms of sale, to be assumed by the consolidated companies. Some time after Mr. Blickensderfer had severed all connection with the Store Service business, he learned that this contract had not been fulfilled; and the salesmen in question, not having sufficient means, were unable to compel the execution of the agreement. With charac- teristic generosity, Mr. Blickensderfer voluntarily assumed all expense of instituting a suit against the company, which eventually resulted in the trial of twenty-two suits, during which the Con- solidated Company lost over two million dollars in depreciation of their capital stock, every suit being decided against them.
Being now supplied with abundant means, Mr. Blickensderfer purchased a beautiful home in Stamford, Conn., and proceeded to build an ex- perimental workshop and laboratory, admirably
equipped for the work of developing his new ma- chines. Employing the best skill obtainable, he set about building his working models, in which he was so successful that in 1889 a company was formed, of which Mr. Blickensderfer was made president and general manager, a position he has held ever since that time. Realizing the impor- tance of perfecting all details of construction, and thoroughly proving every step before proceeding to the manufacture of special tools, the next two years were employed in further developing the system, simplifying construction, discovering and strengthening weak points, and studying the best methods of manufacture, until, in 1891, the con- struction of the necessary tools, gauges and special machinery was begun. Another period of four years was necessary to complete this prep- aration for active business, during which the company spent over two hundred and fifty thous- and dollars in constructing and equipping a plant of tools to manufacture the different models of the new system.
During this period occurred two notable events-the money panic of 1893 and the World's Fair at Chicago. Although not yet ready to manufacture, a number of machines were hur- riedly built for exhibition at the Fair, where they made a marked sensation. All of the standard machines then on the market were entered for competition when the Blickensderfer made its ap- pearance, but before it had been three weeks on exhibition nearly all of its competitors were with- drawn from competition, in violation of the rules of the exhibit. The award given by the World's Fair judges to the Blickensderfer system was the strongest endorsement given to any exhibitor, characterizing it as "an extraordinary advance- ment in art, scope, speed, operation and manu- facture of typewriting machines."
Although a few samples were made in the fall: of 1894, it was not until the spring of 1895 that the Blickensderfer No. 5 was regularly placed on. the market, and since that time the factory has never been able to keep pace with the demand. In the fall of 1896 a new factory was erected and fully equipped, and now constitutes the largest and most complete plant in the world devoted exclusively to the manufacture of typewriting machines; and yet the company is contemplating still further additions to enable them to manu- facture rapidly enough to supply the increasing demand made upon them. In spite of the fact that the company had done no advertising, over twenty thousand machines were manufactured and sold during the first two years, and each month shows a decided increase in their sales. This remarkable record of a success, unprece -.
Digitized by Google
-
366
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dented in the typewriter world, has been in a measure due to the untiring energy and marked executive ability of Mr. Blickensderfer, who has personally directed the business policy of the company and the development of the magnifi- cent plant which has grown up under his hands. It is worthy to note that during the long period of preliminary work, and notwithstanding the long continued business depression beginning in 1893, this firm has escaped the ordinary vicissi- tudes of industrial corporations, and that the company which is now reaping the reward of success is identically the same as was organized in the experimental workshop of 1889, a fact only to be explained by the strong personality of Mr. Blickensderfer, which has gathered around him a body of progressive men, who, with abso- lute confidence in his ultimate success, have never hesitated or lost faith in the enterprise.
The latest product of Mr. Blickensderfer's genius is seen in the Blickensderfer No. 7, which has just been placed on the market. This ma- chine is a development of the same general prin- ciple running through his system, and for which so many claims are made. The extremely light weight and small size which characterized the Blickensderfer No. 5 have been maintained in the No. 7, as well as the visible writing, direct ink- ing, speed, ease of operation, and other desirable features which have made this system almost famous during its short history; and in addition there are many important improvements which are novel in the construction of typewriters, and which are the result of unceasing study of the necessities and conveniences of the typewriting operator. The most important new features are the automatic spacing, which gives the space be- tween words automatically when the space bar is struck simultaneously with the last letter of the previous word (this device will undoubtedly result in a great saving of time and labor, as in all makes of typewriting machines one-fifth of the time is consumed in making the spaces be- tween words); an adjustable margin stop, which can be set instantaneously for any width margin required without a set screw, and can be jumped at will for marginal notes; an adjustable alarm bell, which can be set in an instant at any point on the carriage. Connected with the bell is an automatic action-stop which locks the action of the machine several letters after the bell has sounded, thus preventing the piling up of letters at the end of the line. This lock can be disen- gaged by a touch of the finger, and several addi- tional letters printed if so desired. It has also an automatic pointer, or indicator, which, when the machine is at rest, always indicates the line
or printing, and the exact point where the next letter will be printed. This being in plain sight will be appreciated by operators who have many insertions and corrections to make.
An elevated scale with black markings, which is directly before the eyes of the operator, is a perfect device for headings and paragraphing, and adds greatly to the finished appearance of the machine. This machine is equipped with either the scientific or universal key-board. Mounted on a handsome oak base, with a highly- finished veneer cover, this machine certainly pre- sents a perfect picture of beautiful mechanism.
Although the great success of the Blickens- derfer system has, without doubt, been greatly owing to the phenomenally low prices at which the machines are sold, this question did not en- ter into Mr. Blickensderfer's calculations when designing his models. He aimed at producing a machine of the highest grade, and an improve- ment over all others in the line of portability and convenience. In arriving at the required result he has so revolutionized the construction of the writing machine that, when finally manu- factured, it was found that the small number of parts required to each machine (about 250) en- abled him to use the finest materials, manufact- ure with the greatest care and attention to accurate and finished workmanship, and yet pro- duce a mechanism of the highest grade at a re- markably low price.
C HARLES Y. BALDWIN, a prominent resi- dent of Roxbury District, town of Stam- ford, has been for many years identified with the best interests of that locality, and as a citizen he is held in high esteem by all classes. While he is in sympathy with all progressive move- ments, he has been especially active in educa- tional affairs, and for nine years he served as a member of the local school board.
Mr. Baldwin was born November 13, 1828, at Bloomfield, N. J., where his family has re- sided for several generations. His grandfather, Ichabod Baldwin, a native of that place, passed his entire life there, engaging in business as a tanner and currier. Isaac Allen Baldwin, our subject's father, was also a lifelong resident of Bloomfield, and in addition to carrying on ex- tensive agricultural operations he followed the trade of tanner and currier. ~ He married Miss Elizabeth Baldwin, by whom he had six children: Edward A., William W., Lucy I., Charles Y., George T. (who died in 1898), and John F., of whom, only Charles Y. and John F. are now living.
Digitized by
.867
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native town, and later he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., to learn the carpenter's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship. Early in the 'sixties he came to Stamford and located in Roxbury District, where he has ever since re- sided. He has followed his trade continuously, meeting with marked success, and many fine specimens of his workmanship can be seen in the vicinity. In 1850 he was married in Brooklyn, N. Y., to Miss Elizabeth C. Foster, who died in 1863, and two children blessed the union. In 1865 Mr. Baldwin married Miss H. M. Burton, of Stamford, and they have one child. The family is popular socially, and Mr. Baldwin is an active member of Union Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., at Stamford, Connecticut.
EORGE E. SCOFIELD. The Scofield family is of pioneer stock, and the subject of this sketch, a prominent resident of Stamford, is of the eighth generation in direct descent from Daniel Scofield, who settled at Stamford in 1641. The name has always been associated with a high order of citizenship, and during the Civil war our subject and his only brother served as soldiers in the Union army, the latter losing his life while on duty.
I. Daniel Scofield was born in the parish of Rochdale, Lancashire, England, and was a grandson of Sir Cuthbert Scofield, of Scofield Manor, the family being of ancient and honor- able lineage. In 1639 he came to America in the ship "Susan and Ellen," and after residing for a time at Ipswich, Mass., he located at Stam- ford, where his death occurred in 1670. He ap- pears to have been a man of prominence in the colony, and in 1658 he served as marshal of Stamford. His wife, Mary (Youngs), was a daughter of Rev. John Youngs, and six children were born of the union.
II. John Scofield, a son of Daniel and Mary Scofield, was married, July 12, 1677, to Hannah Mead, and his death occurred March 27, 1699. He had seven children, among whom was a son, Nathaniel.
III. Nathaniel Scofield was born December 10, 1688, and died in 1768. He was married, June 13, 1713 or '14, to Elizabeth Pettet, by whom he had ten children.
IV. John Scofield, son of Nathaniel, was born October 4, 1714, and was married, March 4, 1744, to Hannah Mills, by whom he had three children.
V. John Scofield, a son of John and Hannah (Mills) Scofield, was born in Stamford Septem-
ber 4, 1746, and died April 17, 1833. He was a substantial citizen and owned property at Ship- pan, in the town of Stamford. He was married three times, first on February 18, 1768, to Susanna Weed, second on January 14, 1773, to Sarah Nichols, and third to Martha Lounsbury. By his second marriage he had eight children, among whom was a son, Robert.
VI. Robert Scofield, our subject's grand- father, was born July 14, 1777, in the town of Stamford, and died May 9, 1817. He was a farmer by occupation and owned an estate at Shippan. On April 15, 1799, he married Han- nah Bell, by whom he had ten children.
VII. James B. Scofield, the father of our sub- ject, was born at Shippan May 10, 1807, and died October 15, 1869. In early life he followed the blacksmith's trade, but later he engaged in the foundry business with Warren & Wardwell, and he was connected with the Stamford Foundry Company for many years previous to his death. He was a leading member of the Universalist Society at Stamford, and in politics he supported the principles of the Republican party. On April 10, 1830, he married, for his first wife, Miss Betsey Ann Raymond, who was born at Long Ridge (Stamford), November 14, 1804, and died May 7, 1839. Later he formed a second matri- monial union, this time with Miss Mary Holmes. By the first marriage he had three children: George E., our subject; Lewis B., born May 4, 1833, who died at New Orleans June 14, 1863, while serving as a member of Company B, 28th Conn. V. I .; and Hannah M., born De- cember 12, 1836, who died February 6, 1863. By the second marriage there were also three children: Mary A., born June 14, 1841, who married Thomas Haslam; Emily J., born Janu- ary 24, 1845; and Elizabeth H., born January 14, 1855.
VIII. George E. Scofield was born February 4, 1831, in Stamford. He learned the carpen- ter's trade with Thomas P. Dixon, serving an apprenticeship of four years, and then became connected with the Stamford Foundry Company, remaining twenty-one years. About 1874 he dis- posed of his interest in that business, and at various times he has been connected with im- portant enterprises in his town, for three years acting as treasurer of the Stamford Gas Light Company. Politically, Mr. Scofield is a stanch Republican, and his ability and public spirit made him a leader in the local organization. Among the offices to which he has been ap- pointed we may mention that of assistant asses- sor under the Internal Revenue Act for the towns of Stamford, Greenwich and Darien, which he
Digitized by Google
368
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
held for eighteen months; for ten years he was clerk of the Probate Court for the district of Stamford; was inspector of customs for the dis- trict of Fairfield; and he has also served as col- lector of town and borough taxes, both as town and borough assessor, and for twenty-one years as Republican registrar of voters. He was ap- pointed, by President Arthur, postmaster at Stam- ford, which appointment he declined. He has taken an active part in religious work as a mem- ber of the Universalist Society at Stamford, and for thirty-five years was treasurer of the same. His military service, which has been referred to above, should be more fully mentioned. He en- listed in 1862 in Company B, 28th Conn. V. I., and served as commissary sergeant of the regiment, being mustered out at New Haven in 1863.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.