Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 9

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

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Since the death of David Stiles Nichols, Charles Brinsmade Nichols is the leading repre- sentative of the name at Nichols. Harry Nichols French is a grandson of the late David Stiles Nichols, and the wife of the Rev. Dr. John L. Peck, who resides at Nichols, was a Miss Nich-

ols, a great-grandaughter of Andrew Nichols, Esq. The late Charles Lewis Nichols, of New York, born at Nichols, married the beautiful and accomplished Jeanette (Jennings) Burroughs, a relative of Sir Joshua Bates; Walter Nichols, of Bridgeport, is their son. Sir Joshua Bates, who married Lucretia Jennings, of Boston, used to visit in Bridgeport at the house of his wife's rela- tives, the capacious Stephen Burroughs home- stead, which stood near the present railroad sta- tion, and almost on the site of the "Atlantic Hotel." Walter Nichols, a son of Charles Lewis Nichols and Jeanette (Jennings) Burroughs, married Eliza L. Nichols, a daughter of the late James K. Nich- ols, of Bridgeport, formerly of Nichols. Walter Nichols and his wife are second cousins through both the Nichols and Peet sides of their families, and his grandfather Burroughs was, on another line, second cousin to his wife's grandfather Nich- ols; he is a brother of the millionaire, George W. Nichols, of Brooklyn Heights. Mrs. John V. Singleton, of New York (whose husband's family came originally from Philadelphia), Miss Frances Serena Nichols, of Bridgeport, and Mrs. Lewis Bonnell Crane, of New York, are daughters of the late James K. Nichols and Elizabeth Seeley, of Bridgeport, and great-granddaughters of An- drew Nichols, Esq., of Nichols. Lewis Bonnell Crane, of New York, who married Miss Carrie J. Nichols, is a son of the late Russell Crane, of New York and Saybrook, Conn., a wealthy mer- chant, whose wife was a daughter of Judge Wil- lard, of Saybrook. Russell Crane's only daugh- ter. Minnie T. Crane, married Edmund Penfold Schuyler, of New York, a son of Cornelius Van Alen Schuyler, whose wife was a Miss Quintard, sister to Bishop Quintard, of Tennessee, and aunt to Mrs. William Ford Nichols (nee Quintard), the wife of the Bishop of California. Bishop Nich- ols' father, Charles Hubert Nichols, was born at Trumbull, Conn., two miles from Nichols.

REV. CHARLES WILBUR DE LYON NICHOLS, philanthropist and author, is the only son of the late Gerge Kneeland Nichols, of Bridgeport, and lived at Nichols, his birthplace, until his seventh year; then attended schools at Rochester, N. Y., for eleven years, commencing the study of Latin at eight and of Greek at twelve years of age. He graduated at De Graff's military school, where he was a pupil of Clark, the grammarian, and finally at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., tak- ing high honors in the classics. Three years were then devoted to the study of vocal music and the ancient classics, until Mr. Nichols' entrance at the Johns Hopkins University, during the summer vacations of his course there attending lectures on the philosophy of Hegel at the Concord

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Summer School of Philosophy, under the United States commissioner of education. the Hon. William T. Harris, LL. D. A thesis written by Mr. Nichols at that time was forwarded by Dr. Harris to Scotland, to the renowned author. of The Secret of Hegel, as a specimen of what American students were doing on speculative lines. Mr. Nichols' theological training occupied five years-two in the study of ethics and speculative theology at Seabury Divinity School, Minnesota, and the regular three-years' course at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, New York City. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Henry C. Potter, at St. Thomas' Church, New York City, and to the priesthood at the Church of the Holy Com- munion of that city. During his diaconate, the Rev. Mr. de Lyon Nichols was assistant to the Rev. Dr. E. Edwards Beardsley at St. Thomas' Church, New Haven, also attending lectures on the philosophy of religion at Yale Divinity School. He was then called to be rector of St. Stephen's Church on the historic Bentley Manor, an out- lying portion of the William H. Aspinwall estate. on Staten Island, New York city. Having im- ported some of the ideas of Henry R. Haweis, the London divine, the author of Music and Mor- als, the Rev. Mr. de Lyon Nichols' Parish was widely known as " The Aesthetic Parish of Staten Island ", and its Easter and Twelfth Night festival services were attended by throngs from a radius of more than ten miles. Mr. Nichols was a contributor to the memorial birthday volume presented by Americans to Sir Michael Munkacsy, of Paris, the renowned painter of "Christ before Pilate." For four years he was chaplain of the Department of Public Charities, New York City, and he has made a highly suc- cessful dash into literature, "The Greek Madonna" · written under the nom de plume "Shelton Chauncey," having passed through several editions with a wide circulation in England and on the continent of Europe. He passes three months of each year in literary seclusion at Bridgeport, where he is now completing the MS. of "The Decadents", his story of Black well's Island. and Newport, into whose plot a pretty sketch of Nichols, his birthplace, is interwoven. Rev. Mr. Nichols is also the author of "The Park City Peerage," a genealogical volume. For one month of each year he sojourns at New- port, the remainder being passed in New York City occupied with various philanthropic institu- tions, and as Vicar of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. Rev. Mr. Nichols is the founder of the New York Sunday Kindergarten, backed by men and women of National repute, and where the

system of religious artistic symbolism, of which he is the originator. is brought to bear upon the lives of tenement-house children. He is to inaugurate a much greater philanthropic under- taking on Cathedral Heights, New York City, after an extended sojourn in Europe.

OHN BEACH NICHOLS, SR., (deceased), was at the time of his death one of the oldest living members of this distinguished family. and for many years was a leading agriculturist of the town of Trumbull, Fairfield county.

Born August 16, 1817, our subject was a son of John Nichols, and a grandson of Andrew Nichols, who was a native of Nichols, and fol- lowed farming there throughout his life. At the age of thirty-five he married Hepsey Curtis, by whom he had ten children: Silas, Robert, John (sketch of whom follows), Isaac, Sally, Mary, Patty, Hezekiah, Abiah and Nathan.

John Nichols, the father of John B, Nichols, Sr .. was a lifelong resident of Nichols, and in early manhood purchased farming land from the Fairchild's. where he built a house and estab- lished his home. Politically he was a Whig, and like the other members of his family he was prominent in the Congregational Church at Trumbull. He was twice married, first to Mary Curtis, by whom he had three children: Abiah, born June 6, 1793; Roswell, born December 1, 1801; and Sidney, born December 3, 1807. The mother of these died May 8, 1811, and for his second wife John Nichols wedded Ruth Beach, daughter of Daniel Beach, of Daniels Farms, town of Trumbull, and by her had five children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Ruth Ann, April 19, 1813; a son that died in in- fancy; John Beach, Sr., August 16, 1817; Com- fee Maria, March 21, 1820; and Mary H., Feb- ruary 8, 1824. All of the above are now de- ceased except Ruth Ann, who is a resident of Elgin. Illinois.

John Beach Nichols, Sr., always made his home at Nichols, where he owned a fine farm. As a citizen he showed much public spirit, and for many years he had been an active supporter of the Congregational Church at Trumbull. In local politics he was influential as a member of the Republican party, serving as selectman, as- sessor, and member of the board of relief. He was married three times, first November 18, 1840, to Mary R. Brinsmade, who was born February 14. 1820, and they had two children: Horatio Brinsmade, born May 9, 1845, married Laura Fairchild, and died October 19, 1875; and John Wickliff, born April 13, 1847, died

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JOHN B. NICHOLS.

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July 25. 1853. The mother of these passed away February 23, 1849, and for his second wife Mr. Nichols wedded, March 23, 1850, Har- riet E. Brinsmade, who was born July 5, 1816, and died June 19, 1860, without issue. For his third wife Mr. Nichols married, August 17, 1864, Catharine E. Plumb, who was born February 4, 1833, and died August 29, 1879, leaving two children: John Beach, Jr., born May 22, 1866, married January 28, 1894, and is now engaged in farming and dairying; and Catharine May, born March 5, 1876, married June 8, 1898, to Lester Shelton, of Booth Hill, town of Hunting- ton. Fairfield county. On May 1. 1899, John Beach Nichols, Sr., died at Nichols, Trumbull, aged 81 years, 8 months, 15 days.

ISAAC ELBERT NICHOLS, a prominent ag- riculturist of the town of Trumbull, is highly esteemed among a wide circle of acquaintances, his sterling qualities of character commanding the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Nichols was born at Nichols. Conn., February 10, 1827, a son of Isaiah Nichols and grandson of Isaac Nichols, who owned an exten- sive tract of land in that locality, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits. His first wife was Sally Hawley.

Isaiah Nichols, the father of our subject, was also an agriculturist, owning a large farm in Trumbull. He received a good education for his time, and was much respected for his sound judgment, being often called upon to settle es- tates. His wife, Abiah Nichols, a daughter of John Nichols, was a devout member of the Con- gregational Church. They had four children: Anna A., wife of Elbert Edwards, of Daniels Farms, Elliot P., Isaac Elbert, and Sidney W.

Isaac Elbert Nichols was educated in the schools of his native town, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits since early manhood. The greater portion of his life has been spent at Nichols, but at times he has resided in Bridge- water, Newtown and Fairfield. Politically he is a Democrat, though in early life he was a Whig. By his first wife, Ermina (Gregory), of Tashua, he had no children; by his second marriage, with Miss Henrietta Banks, of Easton, he has a daughter, Ermina M., wife of David E. Plumb, and a son, Charles Banks. The latter, who is now a resident of Monroe, this county, married Miss Mary I. Hubbell. and has two children, Charles Frederick and Theodore Elbert.

Mrs. Henrietta (Banks) Nichols is a daughter of Samuel Banks, and granddaughter of Solomon Banks, both residents of Easton, where they fol-

lowed the trade of carpenter and joiner. Sam- uel Banks married Laura Sherwood, and had seven children, of whom the following are now living: Mary B., wife of Charles N. Fairchild; George S., who resides in Easton; and Henri- etta, Mrs. Nichols.

L UCIUS CURTIS NICHOLS, a well-known citizen of Trumbull township, is passing the afternoon of life in retirement at his pleasant home near Nichols village, on the road between that place and Huntington.

Our subject was born at Nichols, May 6, 1828, a son of Prosper Nichols, and grandson of Rob- ert Nichols. The latter was a leading farmer of that locality in his day. He married Joanna Peet, and had four children: Ira, Abijah M., Prosper and Charles L.

Prosper Nichols, the father of our subject, was born January 6, 1795, and was reared upon the old farm, but on entering into business life he became interested in the buying and selling of cattle. Later he engaged in butchering at Bridgeport in partnership with Gideon Thomp- son, and afterward continued the business alone for a time, but finally formed another partner- ship with Capt. William M. Terry. He was known throughout this section as a careful, hon- est man, whose business ability was above the average, and for years he was prominent in local affairs as a worker in the Whig party. He was senior warden of Trinity Episcopal Church, Nichols, from its formation until after his second marriage, when he resigned, as his Sabbaths were then spent in Newtown. His first wife, Lucy Curtis, daughter of Daniel M. Curtis, of Nichols, died January 1, 1859, and he was afterward married in Newtown to Mrs. Benjamin Glover. He had five children, all by the first marriage: Charles Carlos, who died in 1845; Samantha, who married David Nichols, and died in 1849, leaving one son, Charles Carlos, now deceased; Eliza, who married Rev. John L. Peck; Lucius Curtis, and Caroline, deceased, who married Edwin Peck, and had a son, George, now a member of the firm of Peck & Lines, of Bridge- port.

Lucius Curtis Nichols was reared to farm work at the old homestead, his education being obtained in the schools of his native place. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice in the saddle-tree factory of Fairchild, Peet & Co., afterward F. P. Ambler & Sons, where he was employed continuously until the establishment was closed, and since that time he has not been engaged in business. While he has never been

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especially active in politics, he is a stanch Repub- lican, and at all times he has taken a keen inter- ert in the welfare of his community. On No- vember 7, 1852, he married Miss Josephine Eliz- abeth Curtis, daughter of Sheldon Curtis, of Nichols. She died in August, 1861, leaving one daughter, Idwella Imogene, now the wife of Gideon Tomlinson. They have four children: Josephine Elizabeth, Charles Henry, Jessie May and Lucius Nichols Tomlinson. Of these Jose- phine recently married Wm. H. Lyon, of Ansonia.

D ANIEL M. NICHOLS, a highly respected resident of Nichols, seems to have inherited the military ardor of his ancestry, and during the Civil war he made an honorable record as a sol- dier, serving from August 25, 1862, to August 31, 1863, as a private in Company D, Twenty-third Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.

Mr. Nichols was born April 16, 1835, at the old homestead at Nichols village, the son of Abi- jah M. Nichols, a well-known citizen. On com- pleting his course of study in the schools of his native town, our subject was employed by F. P. Ambler & Sons, in their saddle-tree and harness- tree factory, remaining until the business was abandoned.

C HARLES BRINSMADE NICHOLS. This respected resident of Trumbull township is the owner of a large estate near Nichols village, and, like his ancestors for several generations past, he devotes much of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Nichols was born April 16, 1838, at his present homestead, which has been in the pos- session of the family since pioneer times. His great-grandfather, Andrew Nichols, was a native and lifelong resident of that locality. John Nichols, our subject's grandfather, was also born at Nichols, and he died there March 1, 1862, at the age of eighty-four years and eight months. By his first marriage, to Mary Curtis, John Nichols had three children: Abiah, Roswell and Sidney, and by his second wife, Ruth Beach, he had four children: John B. (a resident of Nichols), Mary, Maria and Ruth Ann.

Sidney Nichols, the father of Charles B., was born at the old homestead, December 12, 1807, and died April 9, 1867. He was a well-known citizen and took much interest in political ques- tions of his time, first as a Whig and later as a Republican. His wife, Caroline Elizabeth (Brins- made), who died November 6, 1881, was a daughter of Abraham Brinsmade, of Daniels

Farms, and of their two children, Charles B. and Elsia A., the latter died when nineteen years old.

Charles B. Nichols began his education in the schools of his native village, and at thirteen en- tered a private school at Trumbull Center. Later he attended Hines Institute, at Warren, Conn., and on completing his course there he engaged in general farming at the homestead. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and he has at times held local offices, including that of selectman. He is interested in all that concerns the development of the community, and for years he has been a. leading member of the Congregational Church at Trumbull. On January 12, 1870, he was mar- ried in Huntington to Miss Hannah E. Nichols, daughter of Nathan B. Nichols, and two children have blessed the union: Elsie E., who died Sep- tember 5, 1897, and Edith Caroline. The mother of these died February 24, 1899, aged fifty-one years, five months and two days. Mr. Nichols is treasurer of the Village Improvement Associa- tion. For several years he served as school treasurer.

A USTIN SHERMAN NICHOLS, a military veteran, is a leading resident of the town of Trumbull, and enjoys in a high degree the con- fidence and respect of his fellow citizens. He was born March 10, 1844, at his present home- stead in Nichols village, a fine estate which has now been in the family for three generations.

Silas Nichols, our subject's grandfather, was the first of the name to own this farm, and he fol- lowed agriculture there for a number of years. He died at the advanced age of eighty-one. He and his wife Sarah had four children: David Plumb, Andrew B., Cynthia, and Harriet.

David Plumb Nichols, father of Austin S., was born and reared in the town of Trumbull, and soon after his marriage to Harriet Sher- man of Monroe, this county, settled at the pres- ent homestead, where he built the residence now occupied by his son. He was originally a Whig in politics, and on its organization transferred his allegiance to the Republican party, of which he remained a faithful adherent until his death, at the age of sixty-three. His wife survives him and resides at the homestead. They had two sons: Austin Sherman, and Hobart L., who died at the age of thirty-four.

Austin S. Nichols was educated in the public schools of Trumbull and in Easton Academy. In early manhood he took up arms in defense of the Union, enlisting on August 30, 1861, in Company D, Twenty-third Conn. V. I. During his term of service he was taken prisoner at Brashear City,

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but after a couple of weeks he was exchanged, and on August 30, 1862, he was mustered out at New Haven. In November, 1862, he went to New York City to enter the employ of a dealer in oil, and later he was engaged in a commission business there for sixteen years. On the death of his father he returned to the homestead, where be has since given his attention to agriculture and dairying. He still retains his interests in military affairs and belongs to the society of Ex- prisoners of the Civil War and to the G. A. R., Elias Howe Post, at Bridgeport. Mr. Nichols was married in New York City to Miss Harriet Huxford, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and three chil- dren have been born to the union: Lester S., who was accidently killed at Bridgeport, by a rail- way train; Merton, who died at the age of nine years; and Lulu, who died when one year old.

TSAAC WARDWELL, a venerable citizen of Stamford, Conn., now eighty-three years of age, is one of Fairfield county's prominent and successful business men, his commercial career covering a sixty-years' connection with the Rip- powam Foundry, of Stamford, now the Stamford Foundry Company, and formerly J. D. Warren & Company.

Mr. Wardwell is of the sixth generation of the family who have lived at Stamford. His great-grandfather came from Rhode Island and built a house on the present site of the Congrega- tional church. His son, William Wardwell, who is next in line of descent, was born in Rhode Island, and came with hisfather's family to Stam- ford, where his son Isaac, father of our subject, was born December 28, 1766. There were two other sons in the family, James and William, the latter of whom was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in which he was wounded. It is quite pro- bable that James also served in that struggle. There were five daughters: Abigail, Sarah, Hannah, Mary and Betsey.

Isaac Wardwell (1) when but a lad of four- teen enlisted in a boy's company, and did sentry duty during the Revolution. He learned the carpenter's trade, and after completing his ap- prenticeship went to South America, where he remained ten years. He returned to Stamford, purchased what was then known as the Westcott farm, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying February 22, 1841. On March 24, 1799, he married Hannah Knapp, and to this union were born fourteen children: Polly, born Jan- uary 14, 1800, married Pliney Daniels, and died April 24, 1894, at New Canaan; William, born July 15, 1801, was married on November 19,

1837, to Harriet Webb, and lived at New Canaan; he died October 11, 1843. Rufus, born Decem- ber 18, 1803, married Mary Gaylor on February 28, 1836; he died in Stamford, July 29, 1876. James (1), born June 30, 1805, died February 14, 1807; Sally, born May 22, 1807, became the. wife of William H. Adams; she died March 1, 1875. Isaac (1), born May 7, 1809, died May II, 1812. Hannah, born November 12, 1810, became the wife of Rev. S. W. Scofield; she is. still living, at Stamford. Abigail, born August 20, 1812, died November 11, 1891. Luther, born April 19, 1814, died June 28, 1814. Isaac (2) is the subject proper of this sketch. Betsey, twin sister of Isaac, born December 10, 1815,. was married May 7, 1838, to Rev. William C .. Hoyt; she is still living in Stamford. Priscilla, born January 15, 1818, died January 28, 1820 .. A son, born and died January 9, 1820. James (2), born June 13, 1821, died June 24, 1894; he married Sarah C. Rebecca Bishop, on January 22, 1845.

Isaac Wardwell passed his boyhood on the homestead in the town of Stamford, where his birth occurred December 10, 1815. He re- ceived a good common-school education, attend- ing at a house that stood on the site of the pres- ent St. Johns Park, and later studying at the Stamford Academy, which stood on the ground now occupied by the town hall. In 1832, after his school days were over, he was apprenticed to. the carpenter's trade with Edwin Bishop, and served five years. In 1838 he went to work for George E. Waring, in the foundry, and in 1846. he became the junior member of the firm which was then comprised of George E. Waring, James B. Scofield, Jonathan Hall and Isaac Wardwell, Mr. Hall's interest being purchased one year later by J. D. Warren. In 1851 the firm changed, becoming J. D. Warren & Co., and it subsequently became a stock company under the name of the Stamford Foundry Company, of which J. D. Warren was made president. Mr. Wardwell had learned his trade thoroughly, and he soon became a skilled worker in wood, and being of a mechanical turn developed into a first- class pattern maker. Possessing business tact and ability, it was not long before he came to the front in the company, and also in outside business affairs. From the start he served as superintendent, and at this time, although prac- tically retired from active duties, he still devotes some time to the business of the plant. Mr. Wardwell was one of the promoters and builders of the improved Stamford canal, and was also in- strumental in the improvement of the harbor. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank

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of Stamford, which is now the oldest national bank in the United States. At the time its charter was granted it was fourth in point of age, but since the other three banks have ceased to exist, the Stamford bank is now the oldest in the country. Mr. Wardwell is remarkably active for one of his years, and to this day enjoys greatly a sail on the Sound; he also delights in the sport of Izaak Walton.

On April 27, 1847, Mr. Wardwell was married to Miss Frederica Louisa Shaw, a daughter of Frederick Shaw, and to their union were born children as follows: Anna Wilkinson, Ida Louisa. I. Franklin and Claison Shaw. The entire fam- ily are members of St. John's Episcopal Church, Stamford, Mr. Wardwell having been an active worker as Sunday-school teacher and member of the choir in former years. His residence is on Elm Hill, west of the old homestead, having been built in 1860 on property adjoining the Westcott farm.

I. Franklin Wardwell was born October 10, 1854, and passed his early life attending the schools of Stamford, first the common and later the high school. In the meantime he had com- menced the study of dentistry under Dr. E. T. Payne, from whom he had two years' tuition, and he completed his preparation for his profession at the Philadelphia Dental College, in which he eventually became one of the demonstrators, during his second year being made one of the Faculty. After his graduation, in 1876, he be- came connected with the University of Pennsyl- vania, as clinical instructor, continuing with the institution in that capacity to the present day. From 1876 to 1878 he practiced in Stamford with his brother, and in the latter year they es- tablished the office in West Thirty-eighth street, New York City, which they have ever since con- ducted, of late years giving their entire attention to practice in the metropolis. Drs. Wardwell are endowed with unusual ability as mechanics, and have made a steam engine, billiard table, etc., which are practical proofs of their ingenuity in this line. Before the electric motor was used in dentistry, having conceived the idea of the use of compressed air, they developed it, constructed the engine, which was a double-action, upright- cylinder affair, and used same until their re- moval to New York; it was a most desirable piece of mechanism, and could be regulated per- fectly as to speed and power.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 9

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