Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 86

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

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Tjerck Claeszen De Witt, great-great-great-

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great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Grootholt, Zunderlandt, and was the first of his family to come to America. The earliest infor- mation concerning him that is obtainable is con- tained in the marriage register of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York. This information is to the effect that on April 24, 1656, he mar- ried Barbara Andriezzan, Van Amsterdam, and that he resided in the city of New Amsterdam until after the birth of his eldest son, Andries, when he removed to Wiltwyck, now a part of Kingston, and there Mr. De Witt remained until his death, which occurred February 17, 1700. He and his wife had the following children: Andries, Tjerck, Jan, Jacob, Lucas, Peek, Kjaatze, Janetje, Gertruy, Rachael, Marietje, and Aaghie. The mother of these children died July 6, 1714.

Andries De Witt, great-great-great-grandfa- ther of our subject, was born in Kingston, was there educated and was there married to Janatfe Egbertson, March 7, 1682.

John De Witt, son of Peter De Witt, and great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., there obtained his primary education, and afterward studied the- ology, becoming an ordained minister of the Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston, N. Y. Shortly after his marriage he established his resi- dence at Crum Elbow Creek, in Charlotte pre- cinct, now Staatsburg, where his children were born. In 1804 he moved to Albany, and in 1806 he removed from Albany to Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., where he resided until his death. In 1773 he married Miss. Catharine Van Vliet, by whom he had fourteen children, one of whom,

Peter De Witt, was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Peter De Witt was born at Crum Elbow Creek, Dutchess Co., N. Y., April 19, 1780, and there he received his early education in the common schools. Later he graduated from the law department of Columbia College, and afterward practiced law in New York most of his life, devoting his entire ener- gies to his profession. In June, 1807, he mar- ried Miss Jenat Gosman, daughter of George and Jenat Gosman. The children born to this marriage were thirteen in number, one of whom,

William Andrew De Witt, was the father of the subject. He was born July 31, 1830, and died November 2, 1863. He was a native of the City of New York, was educated there, first in private schools, and afterward graduated from .Columbia College. Then studying law, for the benefit a knowledge of the law would be to him in business, he established a wholesale and im- porting business in New York under the firm

name of De Witt & Benjamin, the business con- sisting of the importation and sale at wholesale of spices, liquors, etc., on Front street. The business of this firm was very extensive, and was conducted by them for many years. In politics he was a Democrat, and at one time he was col- lector of internal revenue for the Port of New York; socially, he was a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He married Miss Amelia Duncan, daughter of Thomas Duncan and Hester (Par- rett), the former a cousin of Bishop Parrett, and by this marriage he had the following chil- dren, their names, with dates of birth, etc., being: William A., Jr., July 29, 1851; Freder- ick N., .June 30, 1852; Thomas D., October 29, 1853; Cornelius J., June 10, 1856; Amelia D., April 5, 1858, died June 12, 1863; Alfred, Sep- tember 2, 1860, died June 17, 1863; and Peter, June 20, 1861, died June 14, 1863. Of this family.

William . A., Jr., was born in New York, edu- cated there, and has ever since been engaged in mercantile business in Buffalo, where he also has large planing-mills. Frederick N. was also edu- cated in New York, afterward studied law there, and went west, serving in Marion county as deputy auditor and deputy treasurer for many years. He married Miss Abigail Bishop, of Marion, Ohio, by whom he had no children. He was a thirty-third-degree Mason. He died Feb- ruary 25, 1895. Thomas D. is a graduate of a New York business college, and is engaged in the wholesale and retail coal trade in New York. which has been his business so far throughout his life. He married Amelia P. Hammond, of Sears- dale, Westchester Co., N. Y., a daughter of Judge Hammond, of New York. To this mar- riage there have been born the following children: William Archie, George G., Lucy, Amelia P., Grace and Thomas.

Peter Kilty, father of our subject's wife, was born May 25, 1820. Mary Mccarthy, his wife, was born in Canada, November 1, 1825, and they were married November 20, 1852. Peter Kilty was a soldier in the Mexican war, and while in Mexico was taken ill with yellow fever, from which he did not recover for about six months. After the close of that war he went to Canada, where he remained a few years. He and his wife were married in Chicago, where their daughter Margaret E. was born, and previous to the break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion he removed to Manitou county, Mich., and there became a farmer. About 1868 Margaret E. Kilty returned to Chicago, and some time later went to Colo- rado, where she and Cornelius J. DeWitt were married.

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W WILLIAM H. REDMAN, who owns a handsome residence in the attractive town of Riverside, located on Long Island Sound, in Fairfield county, Conn., is one of the many retired business men of New York City who have chosen this delightful region as a rest- ing place after a busy commercial career, and found it the ideal spot for a life of enjoyable quietude and comfort. The locality, naturally healthful and beautiful, has been enhanced from year to year by the various wealthy men who have taken up their residence here, building lux- urious dwellings and sparing neither pains nor expense to make their homes and surroundings all that heart could wish in the way of comfort and beauty. Mr. Redman has been prominent among this class since his removal here in 1890 from New York City, where he passed all his previous years, having been born there in 1835 at No. 185 Hester street, where the Redman family had their home for years.

The Redmans are of English extraction, and the progenitor of the branch to which our sub- ject belongs came to America, in 1680, from Yorkshire, England, settling on land now em- braced in the city of Philadelphia, in which city and also in Trenton, N. J., many of his descend- ants are yet living. His son, Thomas Redman, was born in 1684 in Philadelphia, and was mar- ried in 1706. From ancient records are gleaned the following: In 1721 the Assembly passed the law regulating party walls in Philadelphia, which is in force to-day, and Thomas Redman was one of four to be the first regulators. On May 1, 1729, the House took into consideration the ne- cessity of a house for the Assembly of the Prov- ince to meet in; appropriated £2,000; on Octo- ber 15, 1730, purchase of grounds was made; 1732 ground was broken and the work divided to the different trades. John Parsons and Thomas Redman were the stone masons and cellar dig- gers. Some of the bricklaying was done by this firm. This building, at first called the "State House," has been known for years as "Inde- pendence Hall."

Mr. Redman's father, Charles H. Redman, was born in 1798, in Trenton, N. J., the eldest of the two children of Samuel and Susannah Redman, viz .: Charles H. and Wolloston. He was reared in Trenton, and there received his education, which was gained in a six-months' at- tendance at the public schools, but he was a man of extraordinary business capacity and force of character, and his success in life was an unusual one. As his father died when he was thirteen years old, leaving the family in any but comfort- able circumstances, he was obliged to go " into

the harness" at an early age to help support them, and he was still in his "teens " when he went to New York City and entered the shop of his uncle, Jesse Redman, as an apprentice, the uncle being a " cedar " cooper and the pioneer in his line in the metropolis. Mr. Redman picked up the business rapidly, and displayed such unusual interest in it that it was not many years before he succeeded his uncle, the latter re- tiring, and with no capital but ambition and un- tiring energy set himself to work to establish a profitable trade. He toiled early and late, and at the first, when he was able to fill all orders himself, he not only did that, but also carried the finished product to market on his shoulder and brought the raw material-large cedar tim- bers-to the shop in the same manner. His business grew, however, from a merely local one until he had customers as far south as the Caro- linas, and he gave employment to a large force of men, continuing until 1844, when he retired. Having given his undivided attention to business up to this time, Mr. Redman decided to travel for some time, and after the death of his wife he had no permanent home until the marriage of his daughter, Harriet. after which he lived with her. Although he had abandoned, practically, his business affairs, Mr. Redman would never have been content to live a life of idle leisure, and he looked after the interests of his large estate- which at his death amounted to half a million- in person, in this connection acting as director in various banks and companies, viz .: The Old Bowery Bank, the Butchers & Drovers Bank, the Pacific Bank, the Broadway Insurance Co. and the Park Insurance Co. He had a large number of tenants, in his dealings with all of whom he was kind and considerate, canceling many an un- paid rent bill, and such a thing as an eviction was unknown among them. He was active and well preserved up to the time of his decease, in 1878, when he was thrown from a wagon and sustained injuries to his hip which proved fatal. Mr. Redman was a remarkable man, and had many sterling qualities of head and heart which endeared him to all who knew him. His up- rightness and integrity were displayed in all his business dealings, and he was highly respected by his associates in any of the relations of life. Reared in the Quaker faith, to which his parents and forefathers also adhered, he was always a devoutly religious man, and after his marriage he attended the Presbyterian Church, to which his wife belonged, though he never joined himself. However, he took a deep interest in Church and benevolent enterprises, acted as trustee of the Church, and was an early member of the Me-

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chanics Society, now called the Mechanics In- stitute, on the library committee of which he served for years. He was unostentatious and re- tiring in his manner, but nevertheless he num- bered among his circle of acquaintances many of New York's best citizens, and he was well known for a man of his habits and tastes. Politically he was a Whig.

Mr. Redman was married in New York City to Miss Mary A. Tappan, who was a native of that place, belonging to one of the old families, and died in 1843, leaving the following named chil- dren: James H .; William H., whose name in- troduces these lines; Joseph, who died in New York, leaving a family; Angeline A., living in New York, who is the widow of Charles Bell; and Harriet, who married Richard Stillwell, and died in New York leaving a family of seven chil- dren.

In 1816 Mr. Redman joined the military organization then known as the Eleventh Regi- ment of Artillery, in New York City, and re- tained his membership until 1844, during which time all his enthusiasm seemed to center in military matters, and few if any members of the corps were better known or more popular. At the time of his resignation he held the rank of lieutenant in the Ninth Regiment, as it was then known.

William H. Redman attended school up to the age of sixteen years, receiving a careful training in the best private schools, and not long afterward he commenced to learn the trade of wood engraver, which at that time was a highly remunerative one. He finally engaged in busi- ness as a member of the firm of Redman & Ken- ney, who in their day held high rank in that particular line, and were well known, receiving many important contracts. This firm did all the engraving for Johnson's Encyclopedia, and when it was published Mr. Redman was presented with a complete set of the books by the compiler, with his compliments. The firm did a large and successful business until Mr. Redman's retire- ment some years ago, and as above stated he has had his home in Riverside since 1890, enjoying all the advantages, natural and social, for a life of ease, which are found here. He has built two residences, his own beautiful home and another which he sold, and like his neighbors he is con- stantly improving and beautifying his grounds till his property is now one of the most desirable in the region. Mr. Redman is a great admirer of fine horseflesh, and takes much pleasure in driving, but he prefers the quiet of his own home to social excitement, and avoids publicity of any kind in his own life.

Mr. Redman has been twice married. His present wife was Miss Beulah Howells, who was born October 6, 1854, in Freeport, Ill., the daughter of Joseph Charles and Louisa Odlin Howells, who had seven children-three sons and four daughters. The family removed from Freeport, to Madison, Wis., during Mrs. Red- man's infancy, and thence to Washington, D. C., where they resided during the period of the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Howells now live at Baltus- roll, N. J. He is an inventor. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Redman, Will- iam H., Jr., who died in infancy, and Laurence, who is still with them. Mr. Redman's political sympathies are with the Democrats, but he is not bound by party ties, and he voted for Mckinley: at the last Presidential election. He takes no part in politics beyond casting his ballot.

REV. JOHN W. GILL, late rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Bridgeport, needs no special introduction to the readers of this volume, being so well and favorably known ..

A native of New York State, Mr. Gill was- born March 24, 1861, in Brooklyn, and is of English descent, his grandfather, Joseph Gill, having been born in England, whence he mi- grated to the United States. John Henry Gill, son of Joseph, and father of our subject, was- born in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. He was in the employ of Have- meyer in the sugar business during his active busi- ness life. He was the father of two children: Stephen, a resident of Brooklyn; and John W.

Our subject received an excellent education, one well fitting him for the ministry of the Epis- copal Church. He graduated at the public: schools of Brooklyn, at Trinity School, New York, at St. Stephen's College (receiving the de- grees of B. A. and M. A.), and at the General- Theological Seminary in New York. After his. ordination he received the appointment as rector of St. Paul's Parish, at Keeseville, N. Y., where he remained until called in December, 1895, to. the rectorship of St. Luke's Parish in Bridgeport.

On November 18, 1890, Rev. John W. Gill was married to Mrs. Frances F. Rogers, daughter of Hon. W. W. Tabor, of Keeseville, N. Y., and: niece of Secretary Frelinghuysen and Judge For- syth. He himself is connected with some of the most prominent families of the States of New York and New Jersey, and by his marriage be -- comes related to the following families in New York State: Frelinghuysen, Pumpelli, Tibbits, Tabor, Forsyth and Parker, and also with the: Ramsays of Vermont.

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Rev. Gill while in Bridgeport served as chap- lain of the 4th Regiment Connecticut National Guard, of the Park City Yacht Club, and of vari- ous other organizations of that city. Socially, he is a member of Crusade Lodge No. 149, F. & A. M., at Keeseville, N. Y., and is chaplain thereof. For several years he has faithfully served in the Master's vineyard, doing all in his power for the betterment of mankind, and has gained the confidence and respect not only of his own people, but of the community at large. As a worker in the spiritual and temporal affairs of St. Luke's Parish he was indefatigable, and as a preacher, lecturer and public speaker he had no superior in Bridgeport. Two years ago he re- signed his incumbency in St. Luke's Parish, and returned to his old home in Keeseville, Essex Co., N. Y., where he has since been, with the exception of nine months he served in the late war.

W ALTER GODDARD. If deeds measure a man, the subject of this sketch takes high rank. If devotion to public interests is praiseworthy, encomium may properly be show- ered upon him. Born in England, there reared to manhood, imbibing its national life, the sub- ject of this sketch had scarcely attained his ma- jority when he resolved to unite his fortunes with the newer nation of kindred blood across the waters. His advocacy of Union, his estimated and efficacious labors for the people among whom he settled, his worthy example of clean-handed stewardship in public trust, are matters of record and history.

Mr. Goddard was born in London, England, February 2, 1836. He was educated in the private schools of his native metropolis, and at the age of fifteen he bade good-bye to his school books to engage in the practical affairs of life, and to win a livelihood, and also, perchance, a com- petence and the regard of man. He left South- ampton, England, July 4, 1858, for America, and, settling at Bridgeport, he found employment in the dry-goods store of Hall & Read. Soon acquiring familiarity with the business, Mr. God- dard, with his innate energy and determination, went to Easton, Conn., and at Easton Center opened and conducted a general store. Those were the dark, sullen days that preceded the Civil war, when forebodings cast gloom upon business affairs, when public sentiment was yet uncrystal- ized, and when bold, clear utterances were the need of the hour. Mr. Goddard warmly espoused the cause of the Union, and while at Easton he arranged many demonstrations in favor of patri-

otism and national spirit. In 1862 he returned to Bridgeport, and engaged in the fancy and dry- goods business at the corner of Main street and Fairfield avenue.

The public life of Mr. Goddard is a long and honorable one. Under the old educational regime, he was a member of the Bridgeport board of education from 1871 to 1875, and in that capacity the administration of the board's affairs and the responsibilities of its duties fell' largely upon his shoulders, as the other members of the board were engaged in New York City. During this period the district school was brought to a high degree of efficiency, and many marked improvements were wrought. In 1870 Mr. God- dard was elected justice of the peace, and was re-elected in 1872 and 1876. He brought to his judicial duties a mind that was at once fearless and clear, and many important cases, both civil and criminal, were tried before him. It was also in the year 1870 that he was appointed health officer of Bridgeport, holding the position for several years. It is notable that during his serv- ice in this capacity the cleansing of the Hydraulic Companies' reservoirs in the northern portion of the city was accomplished, while abattoirs and various nuisances in that locality were removed. In 1873 Mr. Goddard was elected to the com- mon council. He has also filled the office of town auditor most creditably with Hon. Samuel Baldwin. Solicited to accept the appointment as assessor, he most ably and equitably fulfilled the delicate duties of this office from 1889 to 1892.

It has been perhaps in his discharge of his duties as Collector of Customs that Mr. God- dard is most widely known. He was appointed to that office by President Cleveland for the district of Fairfield in 1885. At the time of his appoint- ment Secretary Manning had under serious con- sideration the abolition of Bridgeport as a port of entry, and its amalgamation with the New Haven office. The business done at Bridgeport amounted to about one thousand dollars per year, in duties collected. Through the untiring efforts of Mr. Goddard this action was postponed, and when the new collector, as he did, brought the revenue up to one hundred thousand dollars per year, there was no longer any disposition to re- move the office. At the expiration of his term of office thirty-four importers tendered him a magnificent banquet and presented him with costly presents. Mr. Goddard's personal efforts also availed to secure for that port the applica- tion of the Immediate Transportation Act, whereby foreign merchandise might be shipped in bond directly to Bridgeport and there appraised.

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The extension of the Marine Hospital service to Bridgeport, whereby the seamen might receive gratuitous hospital treatment and care, and in case of death a fitting burial, was also due to the labors of Mr. Goddard. In 1893 he was re- appointed to the office of Collector of Customs, and served to August, 1897.

Not least among his public service was the successful issue of his efforts to secure for Bridge- port the present handsome post office and cus- toms building, and also the addition of one hun- dred thousand dollars toward its enlargement. Many pilgrimages were made by Mr. Goddard to Washington before the necessary apportionments were made. While the building was under con- struction during the years 1888, 1889 and 1890, Mr. Goddard acted as disbursing agent for the government.

In politics he is a Sound-money Democrat. For six years he has served as chairman of the town Democratic committee, and he successfully managed thirteen elections. For a number of years he served as a member of the State Finance committee of the Democratic party. His re- ligious affiliations are with the Episcopal Church, and he is the oldest male member and a vestry- man of Trinity Church.

In the East End, formerly known as West Stratford, Mr. Goddard laid out and improved at his own expense many public streets, doing as much as any one man for that vicinity. For the semi-centennial celebration of the city, known as the Municipal Festivities of July 3d and 4th, 1888, Mr. Goddard was an active worker, and he secured the assignment of the U. S. S. "Atlanta " to participate in the celebration. When the Second Heavy Artillery reunion was held in Bridgeport the U. S. S. " Cincinnati " was pres- ent through the same instrumentality.

Mr. Goddard is a member of the Sea Side Club, the Bridgeport Yacht Club, the Park City Yacht Club, the Sound Money Club, St. John's Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., the Y. M. C. A., and the Church Club of Connecticut. He is a vice- president of the Bridgeport Board of Trade, and an honorary member of the Second Connecticut Light Battery. He has keen power of observa- tion, has a wide and valuable fund of practical information, and is pre-eminently a self-made man.

H ENRY M. WHEELER. It is refreshing in these days of "calamity howlers " to find an agriculturist whose judicious management en- ables him to overcome the disadvantages of un- favorable years, and maintain an even balance

of prosperity. The subject of this sketch, a sub- stantial agriculturist of Fairfield township, is thoroughly scientific in his methods, and his fine farm north of Greenfield Hill is a model estate.

Mr. Wheeler belongs to one of the oldest families of Easton township, where its members are still numerous, and in every generation the name has been associated with good citizenship. Samuel Wheeler, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a farmer near Jump Hill, Easton township.

Silas Wheeler, our subject's grandfather, was a well-to-do farmer in Easton, and a well-known citizen in his day. He was a robust man of stocky build, and lived to be nearly eighty years old, his remains being now at rest in the ceme- tery of the Baptist Church in Easton. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Sanford, a member of one of the pioneer families, and a sister of Ebenezer San- ford, of Easton, who formerly resided near the Baptist church. Silas and Sarah Wheeler had the following children: Sanford, our subject's father; Samuel, a jeweler in Canada, but who died in Easton; Ebenezer, a prominent business man of Bridgeport, now deceased; John, a farmer of Easton; Edwin, who died at the old homestead in Easton; David, who died in Bridge- port, where he had been engaged in business for a number of years; Esther, widow of Bradley Sanford, of Easton; Lozia, who married John Hull, and died in Easton; and Lydia, wife of William Sanford, of Weston township.

Sanford Wheeler, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Easton township, several years of his boyhood being spent with his grand- father, Samuel Wheeler, who was extremely careful and systematic as a farmer, and gave him thorough training in all the details of agricultural work. As he grew older he engaged in farming on his own account, and for many years he oper- ated a sawmill in Easton. He was an industri- ous man and a good manager, and through his own efforts he gained a fine competence, owning at one time nearly 300 acres of land. In poli- tics he was a stanch Democrat, and he took keen interest in party work, voting regularly and serv- ing at different times in minor offices, including that of member of school committee. He at- tained the advanced age of eighty-three years, and was married three times. By his first wife, Marietta Banks, he had one son, Morris, a car- penter in Bridgeport. His second wife, Lorena Wilson, a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Perry) Wilson, of Fairfield, died at the age of fifty-eight years, leaving three sons: Henry M., our subject; Frank S., a carpenter at Bridge- port; and Benjamin S., a jeweler, who died in

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 86

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