Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 78

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

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut > Part 78

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The Barclay family is of English origin, and one of our subject's ancestors was the British consul in New York City many years ago. John Barclay, the father of our subject, was a leading jeweler at Providence, R. I. He married Miss Jane Lang, by whom he had two sons, Frederick Alexander (our subject), and Charles, now a res-

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ident of Everett, Mass., who is employed by G. Wm. Bentley Company, of Boston, Massachu- setts.

Mr. Barclay, our subject, was born January 5, 1852, in Providence, R. I., where his boy- hood was spent, his education being begun in the local schools. Later he attended school in Attleboro, Mass., and in early manhood he learned the jeweler's trade under his father's in- struction, becoming proficient as a designer, en- graver and chaser. For some years he was in the employ of Decker & Barclay, of Jersey City, but at the age of twenty-eight he turned his at- tention to other business and became superin- tendent of a button factory at Jersey City, for Palmer & Co. In 1888 he removed to Bethel, and engaged in the bakery business with D. R. Van Riper, the partnership continuing until Au- gust 31, 1894. On October 2, of the same year, he opened his late establishment, where from the first he met with gratifying success, the business now keeping three wagons on the road constant- ly. He died of gastritis, February 14, 1899. The bakery business is to be continued under the old name, Mrs. Barclay holding the larger interest.

On May 22, 1873, Mr. Barclay was married in Providence, R. I., to Miss Jennie Beaty, a native of Jersey City, and one son, Edwin Tres- cott, member of the firm, was born to them. Socially, Mr. Barclay was at one time a member of the O. U. A. M., and he was a Freemason, though not identified with any lodge. He al- ways took an intelligent interest in everything that tended to promote the welfare of the com- munity where he made his home.

IRAM CURTIS, one of the prominent rep- resentative citizens of the agricultural class in the town of Stamford, Conn., is a native of the place, born May 18, 1829, in what is known as High Ridge District. His father and grand- father were also born in that town. The latter, John Curtis, was married in Stamford to Polly Fancher, and passed the greater part of his life in High Ridge District, engaged in farming.

John W. Curtis, son of John and Polly (Fancher) Curtis, attended the public schools of High Ridge, where he became a lifelong farmer. His death occurred in 1857. He was married at High Ridge to Ann Maria Stevens, daughter of Enoch Stevens, and two children blessed their union, namely: Paulina, who is the wife or William E. Dann, of Norwalk, Conn., and Hiram, whose name introduces this sketch. Mr. Curtis was a Whig in his political sentiments.

In his early life Hiram Curtis went to the High Ridge District school, where he was thor- oughly drilled in the common branches, and re- ceived a good practical education. Farm work entered also largely into his early training, and he remained in High Ridge until shortly after his marriage, when he removed to New Caanan, Conn., and there carried on a livery business for about two years. For some years following he made his home in Peekskill, N. Y., whence he at length returned to Stamford, and he has lived on his present farm in that town for thirty years. Agricultural pursuits have received the greater part of his time and attention, but he has vari- ous other business interests, and has found time to serve his townsmen in many public positions of trust and importance. He gave universal satisfaction in the local offices of selectman and assessor, being elected to those offices on the Republican ticket, and by his unfaltering faith- fulness to duty so won the confidence and respect of the peeple, that in 1886 he was chosen one of Stamford's representatives in the Connecticut State Legislature. For many years he has been a director in the First National Bank of New Canaan, and his record in business and political life has been a clean one, befitting a man whom Stamford may be proud to own as a representa- tive of her interests, and one of her typical well- to-do farmers.

Mr. Curtis was married in High Ridge, to Mary F. Jones, daughter of George Jones, and by her he has had four children: Pauline, Cy- rus J., Annie S., and John H. The eldest daugh- ter is the wife of D. H. Delavan, of Rye, N. Y., and has two children-Stewart C., and May Christine. Annie married George A. Ferris, of Stamford, and also has two children-Pauline C. and Ruth Christine. The son wedded Mary G. Scofield, and has one child, Harold S .; he lives in High Ridge. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Cur- tis are members of the M. E. Church, of which he has been a member since 1846. Socially, he affiliates with the F. & A. M., Union Lodge No. 5, of Stamford.

H IRAM D. HAWLEY. For generations the name of Hawley has been prominently as- sociated with the social and commercial interests of the town of Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn. Daniel Hawley was the genial tavern-keeper for many years on the old family homestead in Brookfield, where he always carried on farming. Here, too, he was married, and here his son Charles was born.

Charles Hawley, born in 1804, passed his

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youth in his native town, acquired his education in the district schools, and passed his entire life on the old homestead, in his younger days keep- ing the tavern his father had so successfully managed. For his first wife he married Anna Northrop, by whom he had two children, Waite N. and Hiram D. His second wife was Anna Merwin, which union was also blessed with two children, Charles S., born March 14, 1836, and Sidney E., born November 29, 1844. The latter was elected high sheriff in the fall of 1889, and was again elected by a large majority for four years from June, 1899. We have the following record of this family: Waite N. became a lawyer and practiced at Enfield and Hartford, Conn., and at Washington, D. C .; he was adjutant-gen- eral in the army during the Civil war, and was very prominent politically in Washington. He died April 5, 1867, at Brookfield, at the age of forty. Charles S., of New York City, is general agent of the Capewell Horse Shoe Nail Company, of Hartford, Conn. Charles Hawley was a Con- gregationalist in religious connection, and polit- ically was prominent as a Whig and Republican, holding a number of town offices. He was con- scientious in the performance of duty, and both as a public official and as a private citizen was held in high esteem. He died in 1889, aged eighty-five years.

Hiram D. Hawley was born in the town of Brookfield September 24, 1829, and received his elementary training in the district schools, sup- plementing the knowledge here obtained by an attendance at Robbins Select School at Brook- field Center. He remained at home, working on the farm, until the age of twenty, when he went to Birmingham, Conn., and embarked in the general mercantile business, continuing same for ten years, In 1853 Mr. Hawley was married to Miss Marcia Tomlinson, of Birmingham, daugh- ter of Augustus and Dorcas (English) Tomlin- son, by whom he has had two children: Carolyn Maud, at home, and Agnes Evolyn, who died in 1880, aged eight years. In 1861 Mr. Hawley went out with the 10th Conn. V. I. as sutler, and followed the fortunes of that regiment throughout the war. After the close of hostili- ties he remained in Savannah, Ga., where for several years he had charge of the State busi- ness of the Singer Sewing Machine Company. In 1870 he came north, and for the five suc- ceeding years he was engaged in the retail gro- cery business in New York City. Since that time he has traveled for the wholesale grocery house of Francis H. Leggett & Co., making his home at New Haven, Conn., until 1892, when he transferred his " Lares et Penates " nearer to

his old home, buying the old Starr place, in Brookfield Center, where he has since resided.

Mr. Hawley is a member of the Congrega- tional Church, and, in his fraternal relations, of King Hiram Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M., at Bir- mingham, Conn., and of City Lodge, I. O. O. F., at New Haven, Conn. He is public-spirited and progressive, and his return to his old home occa- sioned general. rejoicing among the older resi- dents, who had known and honored the Hawley family for generations, and were pleased to wel- come a worthy representative of the family in this generation.

G JEORGE E. OBER, M. D., of Bridgeport, is 'an able and talented physician, and is rapidly winning a place in the front rank among the prac- titioners of this section. The story of his life cannot fail to interest our readers, as any true' account of purposeful. and well-directed effort touches a responsive chord in every heart.

Doctor Ober comes of good Colonial ancestry in both maternal and paternal lines, and is a direct descendant of Richard Ober, who came from Ger- many in 1632 and settled in Salem, Mass. Sam- uel Ober, our subject's great-grandfather, was a native of Beverly Farms, Essex Co., Mass., and was a seaman by occupation, as were all male members of the family in the early days. Samuel Ober (2), the grandfather of our subject, was born at Beverly Farms, and became the captain of a vessel before he reached the age of twenty- one. He married Hepsibah P. Foster, whose father took part in the battle of Bunker Hill.

Rev. George Ober, our subject's father, was born at Beverly Farms, and in 1860 entered the, ministry of the Baptist Church. After many years of faithful service he retired in 1891, and he now resides at Rowayton, Conn. His estima- ble wife, whose maiden name was Adeline A. Eaton, was born in North Reading, Mass., a daughter of Moses Eaton, and traces her descent from William Eaton, who came to America in 1632 in the same ship which conveyed the pro- genitor of the Ober family. Our subject was the eldest of a family of eight children, of whom four are now living. Sidney F. is a photographer in South Norwalk. Julia M. graduated from Vassar College in 1891, and is now the wife of Rev. Hugh Gregg, of Mahopac Falls, N. Y. Louis is the youngest of the surviving members of the family.

Our subject was born May 29, 1863, at An- dover, Mass., and during his youth the family re- sided in various places where his father was in charge of Churches. His education was be-

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gun in Beverly Farms, and in 1881, after study- ing in the schools of different towns, he entered upon a course of professional reading with Dr. D. W. Colcord, of Seabrook, N. H. After three years of preliminary study he matriculated at Bellevue Medical College, where he remained during 1885-86. He then found employment with the Estey Piano Company, of Brattleboro, Vt., and remained with them until 1890, con- tinuing his studies meanwhile with Dr. Jas. Conland, of Brattleboro, Vt. In 1890 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, where he was graduated in the same year, and soon afterward he located in Bridge- port. He made a favorable impression from the start, and has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice. He belongs to the City, County and State medical associations, and is the fleet surgeon of the Park City Yacht Club, of which he is a leading member. Socially, he is popular, and among other organizations to which he belongs we may mention here the F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge No. 3, at Bridgeport, being the first Master Mason raised in St. John's Lodge, in the new temple. In politics he is a Democrat, but he does not take an active part in public life.

In 1888 Doctor Ober married Miss Fannie A. Kimball, of Brattleboro, Vt., daughter of Aaron T. Kimball, a farmer in the Province of Quebec, Canada, also a descendant of the old Puritan Richard Kimball, who settled in Massa- chusetts in 1634, at Boston. Two children have blessed this union, George E. and Eugene K.

C APTAIN JAMES NELSON COE, superin- tendent of the Connecticut Soldiers' Home, at Noroton, is a man whose success in that im- portant position has demonstrated his practical sagacity and kindliness of heart-two qualities which are not always found in combination. A soldier himself, and the son of a soldier, he un- derstands perfectly the less fortunate comrades who have come to the Home to pass their declin- ing years. A firm yet considerate spirit charac- terizes his management, and in view of the many improvements that have been made during the few years in which he has had charge of the Home, the most critical observer must admit that he is " the right man in the right place."

The Captain was born in 1836 in Winsted, Litchfield Co., Conn., a son of Col. Nelson D. Coe and his wife, Maria H. Seymour, both of whom were natives and lifelong residents of this State. Col. Nelson D. Coe was a farmer by occupation, and took an active part in public

affairs in his locality. He was especially inter- ested in military matters, and for many years was a member of the State militia, passing through the various grades of the service until, at his death, he held the rank of colonel. At one time he served as ensign under commission of Gov. Henry W. Edwards, dated April 4, 1837. He died in 1856, his widow in 1882. Our subject was the second of four children. His only sis- ter is now the wife of Rev. Dr. Rylance, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, in New York City.

Captain Coe's education was begun in the public schools of Winsted, and later he attended a private school in that town, and also a seminary at Charlotteville, N. Y. On com- pleting his course in the latter institution he re- turned home, where he spent some time in the management of the farm. When the Civil war broke out he was among the first to offer his ser- vices to the government, enlisting April 23, 1861, in Company F, 2nd Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry, for three months, during which he served as a non-commissioned officer. At the expiration of his term he was discharged, but on July 19, 1862, he re-enlisted for " three years or the war," in Company E, 2nd Connecticut Artillery. He was soon promoted to the rank of sergeant-major, and two months after his enlistment was made second lieutenant, assigned to Company K, in the same regiment. While holding this rank he spent eighteen months in Connecticut on recruiting service. Later he became first lieutenant and then captain, with which rank he was mustered out on August 18, 1865. On his return to the North he located in New Haven, Conn., and for many years he was engaged in railroad business, but in August, 1891, he accepted his present position, to which his energies have been so suc- cessfully devoted. In politics the Captain is a Republican so far as State and National issues go, and during his residence in New Haven he took much interest in municipal affairs, serving for four years as a member of the city council. In 1857 he married Miss Kate Goddard, daughter of Jerome Goddard, of Winsted, Conn. Of the three children of this union only one is now living, Nelson D. Coe, a resident of New Haven, who is employed in the general offices of the New York & New Haven Railroad Company. Mrs. Coe is a most amiable woman, and one who knew her well has said of her: "She could not get cross if she tried." The family is prominent socially, and the Captain and his wife are both members of Grace Episcopal Church in New Haven. He also belongs to the G. A. R., the Royal Arcanum, the F. & A. M., St. Andrews Lodge No. 64, at Win-

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sted, Conn., and the Commandery of the State of New York, Loyal Legion, in New York City.

The Home which ranks among the leading in- stitutions of the kind in the country, was founded largely through the generosity of the late Benja- min Fitch, the millionaire philanthropist of Nor- oton, who gave one hundred thousand dollars to- ward its endowment, and it was chartered in 1864. At present (1898) there are 495 ex-soldiers in the institution. It receives yearly appropriations from the National and State funds, and is in- spected once or twice a year by a regular army officer. Religious services are held each Sunday, Mrs. Coe presiding at the piano, and a fine art gallery, the gift of Mr. Fitch, is an attractive feature of the place. A well-stocked library and an amusement room enable the veterans to pass their time pleasantly, and the absence of unnec- essary restrictions upon conduct is noticeable. In an interview published in the New Haven Evening Leader of June 26, 1897, the Captain said : "There is a guard house, but I don't like to use it, and only in extreme cases of rebellion is it ever resorted to. I find there are better ways to control men than severity, and this is a home and not a prison or a house of correction. We can restrain but not command beyond a certain point." From the same article we take the re- porter's description of the Captain, as follows: " It needed but one glance to proclaim him a military man from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet, and the slight limp with which he walked only emphasized the erectness of his bear- ing. His face is bronzed with much exposure, and the iron-grey hair is brushed back a la pom- padour from the forehead. A Roman nose indi- cates decision and firmness, when occasion de- mands, but the keen dark eye softens into sympa- thy for suffering, and the voice is cordial and 'rings true as steel.'"

E ADWARD M. TROY (deceased). Of the younger members of the Fairfield county Bar, the late Edward M. Troy had the reputa- tion of being a most careful and painstaking law- yer, and one of considerable promise.

John Troy, his father, is one of the substan- tial citizens of Stamford, being a leading con- tractor and builder of that city. He is-a native of Ireland, born at Hardmore. He came to the United States when a young man and located at Stamford, Conn. ; first worked as a hand on farms, and later at whatever he found to do that would give him a living. He learned the stone mason's trade, and followed it for a time; later became engaged in the grocery business, and for a period

carried on a saloon in connection therewith. About 1876 he quit the business, and again worked at his trade, following it up to 1887. From that time up to the present he has been engaged in contracting and building, and many of the fine structures of Stamford were erected. by him. He has been prosperous in business. affairs, is well-to-do, and has been interested in all laudable movements having for their object the improvement of Stamford. His wife, who is remembered as a most estimable woman, and who died in 1894, was in her maidenhood Mary Haley; she was a native of County Waterford, Ireland. To them were born children as follows: Thomas J., a theatrical manager; William, a mason and contractor; Richard H., a lawyer; and! Edward M., our subject. The father of these is. a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church, and is affiliated with the Catholic Benevolent Legion.

Edward M. Troy, whose name opens these lines, was a native of Fairfield county, born at Stam- ford, March 2, 1869. He received a liberal edu- cation, first attending the public schools at Stam- ford, then, in the fall of 1886, entering St. johns College, Fordham, N. Y., he completed a three- years' classical course of study. Returning to his native city, in 1889, he entered the office of Hon. E. L. Scofield, under whom he studied law for four years. On June 13, 1893, he was ad- mitted to the Bar at Bridgeport, after which he practiced in Fairfield county with an office and residence in Stamford. Until 1897 he shared the office with his preceptor, and later was in the Burlington Arcade building. Politically, he was an ardent Democrat. Socially, he was a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; of St. Jos- eph's Total Abstinence Society; and of the Sec- ond Division Ancient Order of Hibernians of Stamford.

On August 5, 1895, at Stamford, he married Miss Mary L. Troy, a daughter of Michael Troy, of Stamford, and one child, Frances J., was born. to them, May 12, 1896. Mr. E. M. Troy, as is his widow, was a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Stamford. He died at mid- night, Thursday, November 25, 1898.

W ILLIAM PURDY. As a descendant of one of the best old families of Greenwich township, Fairfield county, Mr. Purdy is a rep- resentative type of the intelligent, thrifty and prosperous agriculturists who make up the com- munity in which he lives. He was born July 14, 1829, on the farm which is still his home, and is.

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a direct descendant of Daniel Purdy, who was the first of the family in this vicinity.

Daniel Purdy had a family of five children, and it is known that the eldest, Solomon, settled near Newburgh; Benjamin settled near Man- chester, Vt .; Nathan married Mrs. Caleb Mer- ritt; Elizabeth died unmarried, and John was the great-grandfather of William Purdy, whose name opens this sketch.

John Purdy was born May 8, 1715, in West- chester county, N. Y., and there married Re- becca Brown, who lived between Port Chester and Rye. They located four miles north of Port Chester, in King Street, Greenwich township, where he carried on farming the remainder of his life. He owned the farm of which William Purdy's formed a part, having a large property, and in addition to farming he followed his trade, that of cooper. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy had a large family, of whom we have the following record: Amy, born November 2, 1739, married Thomas Merritt (these Merritts were Tories, and at the period of the Revolutionary war were obliged to leave the United States, settling in Nova Scotia, where they became famous and wealthy; one member of the family accumulated a fortune of ninety million dollars, owning much of the city of St. John's, N. F.). Martha, born December 2, 1741, married Benjamin Sutton. John, born February 2, 1744. married Susan Studwell. Nehemiah, born February 26, 1746, never mar- ried. Rebecca, born January 16, 1748, married Philip Miller. William, born March 3, 1751, died unmarried. Elizabeth, born March 24, 1754, became the wife of Joshua Lyon, and died April 26, 1822. Hannah, born June 16, 1756, married Sylvanus Simmons, and died March 12, 1832. Daniel, born January 15, 1759, was the grandfather of our subject. Phoebe, born March 29, 1763, married Nehemiah Sherwood, and died April 14, 1853. Rachel, born September 15, 1765, wedded Nathaniel Anderson, and died in 1840. The father of these passed away Au- gust 19, 1802, and was buried in a private ceme- tery that has long since been abandoned.

Daniel Purdy was born near the home now occupied by his grandson, and was brought up to farm life on the home place. On January 3, 1780, he was united in marriage with Abigail Lyon, who was born April 5, 1760, and in 1797 he erected the dwelling house which has since stood on the place, and is now the home of Will- iam Purdy. They became the parents of six children, of whom John, born March 25, 1781, was a farmer, and lived in King Street, where he died in 1866; he married three times. Nehemiah, born January 28, 1783, was the

father of William Purdy. Rebecca, born June 19, 1787, was married September 11, 1806, to Samuel Townsend, and died August 25, 1831, in New York. Hannab, born December 2, 1790, was married March 1, 1810, to William Matthews, and died at New Rochelle, N. Y. Daniel, born September 13, 1799, was married November 25, 1824, to Rachel Brundage, and died February 16, 1878, in King Street; be was a carpenter by trade, and followed it during his earlier years, later becoming a farmer. Will- iam, born March 3, 1804, married Dorcas Park, and was killed on the railroad, near Port Ches- ter, December 17. 1859. The father died April 17, 1817, the mother surviving him until July 3, 1841, and they were buried in the old Baptist cemetery, on the hill above Glenville. Mr. Purdy was a Methodist in religious connection.

Nehemiah Purdy was born January 28, 1783, on the home place, which is situated in what is known as Riversville District, of Greenwich township, and there he was reared to manhood. He learned his trade of cabinet maker, at which he served an apprenticeship of over five years in Franklin Square, New York City, becoming a first-class mechanic. Previous to his marriage he was in business for himself in that line in New York, being located at No. 32 Broad street. During the time he was in business his services were in great demand, but he finally abandoned the trade for the occupation of his forefathers, farming, he and his brother John becoming the owners of the home farm, which they worked to- gether. He was in prosperous circumstances, and made the work he undertook profitable. On June 15, 1825, Mr. Purdy was married to Miss Amy M. Brown, who was born July 19, 1796, in Westchester county, N. Y., daughter of John Brown, and three children blessed their union, viz .: James B., William and Elizabeth W. The eldest son, James B., was married February 22, 1859, to Phebe H. Merritt, and died May 23, 1887; the daughter is the wife of Elias D. Gerow, of Darien, Conn. Mr. Purdy's death occurred August 7, 1873, that of his wife on September 5, 1876, and they rest in the Brown cemetery near Port Chester, N. Y. He was a Democrat, politically, until Harrison's time, after which he voted with the Whigs, and in 1856 he joined the Republican party.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 78

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