Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 90

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 90

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appointment of coroner's medical examiner for Newtown, and he is now serving his fourth year as health officer of the town. He belongs to the Danbury Medical Society, and to the medical associations of the county and State, and to the American Medical Association, his ability com- manding the respect of his fellow-practitioners. Political affairs have never claimed his attention, as he is exclusively devoted to his profession, but he is a firm believer in the principles of the Re- publican party. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Honor, and the F. & A. M., Hiram Lodge, No. 18, and Hiram Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M. In religion he is an Episcopalian, being a member of Trinity Church of Newtown, in which he has served as a vestryman for five years, and as treasurer for four years.

In 1887 the Doctor was married to Miss Grace Dibble Raymond, the daughter of William W. Raymond, of Danbury, and their home is bright- ened by two children: Grace Edna, born June 15, 1888, and Andrew Raymond, born January 29, 1892.

EORGE E. LEMMER, M. D., one of the leading members of the medical fraternity in this section, has since April, 1885. been in ac- tive practice at Danbury, his office being located at No. 153 Main street. While he does not specialize in his practice, he has made special preparation in the most important branches of a general practitioner's work, and in addition to the regular course of study in Bellevue Hospital Medical College at New York City, he took private course work in surgery with Prof. Alex- ander B. Mott; in heart and lung diseases with Professors Janeway and Smith; in pathology with Prof. William Welch; and in chemistry with Prof. Ogden Doremus.

Doctor Lemmer comes of German ancestry on the paternal side, his father, Adam Lemmer, being a native of Berlin, Prussia. Coming to America in early manhood, Adam Lemmer estab- lished himself in business as an organ builder, and is regarded as a pioneer in that industry in this State. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Burke, was born in Limerick, Ireland.

Doctor Lemmer was born September 30, 1855, at Newark, N. J., whence he was taken, in 1861, to Ansonia, Conn., where his youth was spent, his education being obtained in the public schools, with three years of private tuition in the Latin classics. He then entered upon journalistic work, and for six years was a reporter on the New Haven Union and the Ansonia Sentinel. In the summer of 1881 he began his preliminary

course of medical reading under the direction of Dr. W. W. Baldwin, of Ansonia, and in Septem- ber, 1882, he became a student in Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, where he was graduated an honor man on March 9, 1885. In the following month he opened an office at his present location.

The Doctor is actively interested in the vari- ous progressive movements in his locality, es- pecially in educational affairs, having served con- tinuously for nine years past as a member of the board of active school visitors. Aside from this position his official honors have been connected more or less closely with his professional work. For two years (1893 and 1894) he was police surgeon for the city of Danbury. On March 13, 1895, he was appointed town health officer by County Health Officer George E. Hill, and in October, 1896, he was reappointed to that office for the term of four years. On April 12, 1897, he was appointed city health officer by the mayor and common council, and April 9, 1898, he was reappointed. He is a member of the town, county and State Medical societies, and for five years past has been secretary and treasurer of the Danbury Medical Society; in January, 1899, he was elected president. As a public official he displays the same energy, foresight and faithful- ness to his ideal of duty which characterize his professional work, and his efforts have won the unqualified approval of his fellow citizens. While he was serving as police surgeon some of those who were best acquainted with the nature and the results of his labors resolved to give a tangi- ble token of their admiration, and at a meeting of the Danbury Medical Society held April 4, 1894, an interesting incident occurred, which the Danbury Dispatch of the next day described as follows:

Many out of town practitioners were present, as well as the majority of Danbury's doctors. The only parties out- side of the profession were: His Honor Mayor Andrews, Captain of Police Bevans, and Editor DeStyak, of the Dis- patch. Speeches were made, some of which were bright and witty. The principal item on the evening's program, how- ever, had been kept a secret, not more than perhaps a half dozen of those present knowing of what was to prove a very amusing surprise.

When the time was ripe for its inception, Mayor C. S. Andrews and Capt. George R. Bevans were in an adjoining room and asked for admission. The members present were consulted and it was decided to admit them. When they were seated President Stratton arose and stated that he had some very serious charges to present against one of their number, and as the mayor and police captain of the city were present he thought it a just time to present the charges in question. The audience were still as death and every one looked grave. President Stratton then presented charges of a serious nature against Police Surgeon Lemmer. He had been reappointed to this office, but when the charges were made and sustained, as they certainly would be, there would be no doubt as to his guilt and dismissal. The charges in- cluded those of aiding and abetting the providing of a new emergency hospital; how he had tried all kinds of schemes

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until he had secured the same, and after securing it, how he had begged some rubber sheets from one party, bandages from another, etc., until now the hospital was a full-fledged one.

The mayor accepted the charges and the prisoner was now in the hands of Captain of Police Bevans. The mayor found that the prisoner was guilty of the charges, and the penalty imposed was that he be presented with a gold shield for his behavior. The applause of the audience was long and loud, and the police surgeon, whose face had been turn- ing all the colors of the rainbow, was now nonplused. His mouth was closed and he had lost the key. After the presen- tation a fine banquet was held, and the happy party broke up about 1 o'clock. The shield presented to Dr. Lemmer bears the Connecticut coat-of-arms with the inscription : "Police Surgeon " over it, and the presentation date under- neath. It is of solid gold, and will be highly prized by the surgeon.

On November 14, 1894, Doctor Lemmer mar- ried Miss Helen E. McGinty, daughter of Matthew and Harriet McGinty, of Bethel, and two chil- dren, George James and Ruth, have blessed the union. The Doctor and his wife are members of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, and for ten years he sang first tenor in the choir. Mrs. Lemmer herself is quite musically inclined, and for many years prior to her marriage much of her time was given to both vocal and instrumental culture.

FREDERICK C. GRAVES, M. D. Success in the medical profession depends not merely upon acquired knowledge and its skillful applica- tion, but also upon personal worth and innate abili- ty. To have made one's way to the front in such a body of men as compose the medical fraternity in this section is to have demonstrated beyond question the possession of unusual gifts, and the subject of this biography, a leading physician of Bridgeport, might well take pride in his honora- ble standing. Among the other qualifications is a fine physique which enables him to perform the arduous duties of a general practitioner without difficulty, while his gentlemanly bearing is a ready passport to the confidence of all classes of people.

Doctor Graves was born January 30, 1863, in Bainbridge, Chenango Co., N. Y., and in the paternal line is of English descent, his ancestors locating in New England about 1637. Gaylord S. Graves, the father of our subject, was a native of Mt. Upton, Chenango Co., N. Y., and was successfully engaged in the furniture business in Bainbridge for thirty-five years, but is now living in retirement at the latter place. He married Miss Harriet E. Pettys, a native of Bainbridge, and a daughter of Capt. Isaac Pettys.

Doctor Graves spent his youth mainly in Bainbridge, graduating from the academy at the age of nineteen. He attended Colgate University at Hamilton, N. Y., for two years, and then taught for a time in the Union School at Mason-

ville, N. Y., and in the graded school of Ridge- field, Conn. His choice of life work having been made, he entered the medical department of the University of New York, from which he was grad- uated in 1888. On April 1, 1888, he came to Bridgeport to take a position as house physician in the Bridgeport Hospital, where he remained until December of the same year. Since that time he has been engaged in private practice, meeting with unqualified success from the start. He belongs to the State, County and City Med- ical Societies, also the American Medical Associa- tion, and at one time was president of the Bridge- port Medical Association, while he also maintains his connection with the City Hospital as a visit- ing physician.

On September 15, 1892, Doctor Graves mar- ried Miss Fanny E. Damon, daughter of Dr. S. J. Damon, a well-known physician of New York City, who resides in Bridgeport. Two children have blessed this union, Frederick T. and George W. The Doctor and his wife are prominent in the best social societies of Bridgeport, and he belongs to various organizations, including the Y. M. C. A., of which he is a director and also medical examiner in the gymnasium; the I. O. O. F., the N. E. Order of Protection, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a member of the Sea Side Club and Bridgeport Yacht Club. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and is a member of the official board of the First Church at Bridgeport. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party, but he has not been especially active in public affairs.

ADWARD C. BURRITT, a resident of the town of Stratford, isa representative of one of the old families of his locality, and occupies an estate which has been held in the family name for many years.

For several generations the members of the family have been identified with agricultural interests, but the grandfather of our subject, Philip Burritt, who was born in Stratford January 26, 1801, was engaged in mercantile business in addition to the management of his farm. This worthy citizen was married October 26, 1828, to Miss Alice Coe, who was born in the same town December 1, 1794, and two children blessed the union: Ann Satterley, born February 10, 1833, who died at the age of fifteen years, and Charles P., our subject's father.

The late Charles P. Burritt, born in Stratford township August 27, 1835, followed farming throughout his life, and was much esteemed as a

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citizen. He was a regular attendant of the Con- gregational Church for many years. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and his fellow townsmen frequently called him to offices of trust and responsibility, the position of town treasurer having been filled by him several terms. He died June 3. 1886, leaving a widow, Mrs. Mary E. (Burton) Burritt, and one son, Edward C. Mrs. Burritt was born March 9, 1829, in Stratford, the daughter of Albert Burton, a well- known citizen of that town.

Our subject was born June 15. 1862, in Strat- ford township, and was educated in the public schools and the old academy in Stratford village. During his youth he became familiar with the details of farm management, and on leaving school he gave his attention to the work on the homestead. The farm comprises forty acres of excellent land, which he at present rents to a tenant. Politically he is a Republican, and he takes an intelligent interest in the questions of the day, being in sympathy with all forms of progress. He has not married.

H UGH STIRLING, manufacturer of mat- tresses at Nos. 5 and 7 Union street, Bridgeport, was born in the City of London, England, January 16, 1848, the third son of Hugh (Sr.) and Eleanor (Stratton) Stirling.

Hugh Stirling. Sr., the father of our subject, was born in Falkirk, Scotland, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Stirling, and a lineal descendant of Sir Thomas Stirling, who was born in Scot- land in 1735, and who served with distinction in the British army during the American war for in- dependence. In 1856, Hugh Stirling, Sr., came to the United States, bringing all of his family with the exception of his son Hugh, and settling in Bridgeport.

When his father brought the rest of the family to this country, Hugh Stirling, our sub- ject, was adopted by a cousin and sent to Grove House Academy, in Highgate, London, where he remained until September. 1860, when he sailed for this country to rejoin his parents. He served an apprenticeship with an ornamenter in Bridgeport, and then for about fifteen years fol- lowed that business. In 1878 he was made fore- man of one of the departments in the Howe Sewing Machine Company, where he remained until 1885, when he engaged in his present busi- ness, the making of mat.resses, in which he has been more than successful, and has built up a large and lucrative trade.

On October 10, 1877. Mr. Stirling was mar- ried to Anna Eleanor Reid, daughter of Samuel

and Anna Eleanor Reid, the latter of whom died when Mrs. Stirling was but a few months old. Samuel Reid was a native of the North of Ire- land. To Mr. and Mrs. Stirling has been born one child, a daughter, Anna Eleanor. They are earnest and devout workers of St. Paul's Epis- copal Church, in which Mr. Stirling is the pres- ent junior warden and treasurer. In politics he adheres to the principles of the Republican party; and in the fall of 1898 was elected a Representative to the General Assembly. For two years he served the city of Bridgeport as a member of the common council; for four years was on the board of police commissioners; and for three years he has been a member of the board of health. In 1893 he was the candidate of his party for mayor, but he suffered defeat, Walter B. Bostwick, the opposing candidate, be- ing elected. At the election of April 3, 1899, he was elected mayor. Mr. Stirling may be classed among those who, by gentlemanly bear- ing and courteous manners, hold their associates in the bond of friendship. His aggressiveness is seldom obtrusive, yet there is sufficient of that sturdy Scotch element in his composition to maintain his dignity and command respect; be can enforce discipline, yet at no time is he ever autocratic. His friends love him for his many virtues, his acquaintances esteem him for his in- tegrity.

While Mr. Stirling's business success and standing is traceable to the possession of rare natural mental power, together with much self- reliance, entire independence of character and a conservatism possessed by but few, in advance of gray hairs and failing eyesight, his social position, one of prominence seldom equalled, has been won through a disposition at once kindly, affec- tionate, tender and winning. In the Masonic institute of the city of Bridgeport, and also of the State, our subject has filled and is still filling a large space. The many thousand members of the order realize how large that space is; how sagacious and true; how nobly and unselfishly devoted to the fraternity; how sedulously careful to guard its interests, and how comprehensively he directed its affairs. Mr. Stirling was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge No. 3, Bridgeport, September 1, 1869, and was elected Worshipful Master in 1875, '76, '77, '82 and '83, having previously served in each of the subordinate po- sitions. In 1884 and 1885 he was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for Fairfield county, and, in recognition of the able and faith- ful discharge of his official duties, he received the appointment of Grand Junior Steward of the Grand Lodge in 1886, filling each successive

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Haughn Stirling

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station. In 1891 he was elected Most Worship- ful Grand Master, and in 1895 received the rare honor of a re-election to that exalted station.

On March 11, 1870, Mr. Stirling was exalted in Capitular Masonry in Jerusalem Chapter No. 13, Bridgeport, and was installed as Most Excel- lent High Priest in 1874, and again in 1875, having filled nearly all the subordinate positions in the Chapter. This year (1897) he is serving as Grand Master of the 2d Vail in the Grand Chapter, having been advanced from the Master of ist Vail, to which he was appointed in 1896. On May 9, 1870, he was received into Cryptic Masonry in Jerusalem Council No. 16, Bridge- port, occupied one or two of the subordinate positions, and was elected its Thrice Illustrious Master in 1873 and 1874.

On August 11, 1870, Mr. Stirling advanced another step, and was knighted in Hamilton Commandery No. 5, Bridgeport, and in this, as in the other bodies, he took an active interest, filling each position in turn until 1881, when he was elected its Eminent Commander, and again in 1882 and 1883. In 1886 the Right Eminent Grand Commander appointed Mr. Stirling Grand Sentinel of the Grand Commandery, and by ap- pointment and election he filled each station, when, in 1895, he was chosen as the Right Emi- nent Grand Commander, serving in that capacity one year. In 1886 he was chosen as Prelate of Hamilton Commandery, and to this day still per- forms the duties of that important position.

Our subject has also become a member of Lafayette Consistory (Scottish Rite); is a Past Po- tentate of Pyramid Temple, Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and a Past Patron of Orient Chapter, Order of Eastern Star.

H ON. WILLIAM J. H. BOHANNAN, who has the distinction of being the first Democratic mayor of Stamford, Fairfield county, is a Southerner by birth and education, having descended from one of the old families of Vir- ginia.

Born in Mathews county, Va., March 9, 1865, Mr. Bohannan's only knowledge of the Civil war is through history and from tradition. His boyhood days were passed at Mathews Court House, the county seat of Mathews county, where he attended a private school. In 1879 he entered Emory and Henry College, Washington county, Va., and after a year's resi- dence there he was for a time under a private tutor; he then attended Richmond College three years, and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Society. In 1884-85 Mr. Bohannan attended

the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, passing the following year at home. In 1886- 87-88 he was a law student at the University of Virginia, and in the year last named he was ad- mitted to the Bar before the superior court of the State of Virginia. In December, 1888. he became a member of the Bar at Columbus, Ohio. In December, 1889, he entered the Bar of Con- necticut, at Bridgeport, and in April, 1890, he commenced the practice of his profession at Stamford. In 1892-93 he was engaged in post- graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1893 Mr. Bohannan went to Germany, and spent most of the time until the summer of 1895 in Goettingen and Berlin, returning to the United States and to Stamford in July of the latter year. He then resumed his law practice. In 1896 he was the Democratic candidate for mayor of Stamford, but was defeated at the election. However, in 1897, he was elected to that office, and has since, very acceptably to the people and with credit to himself, performed the duties of the incumbency.

W ILLIAM H. MALONE, the genial young postmaster of Norwalk, is one of the native sons of Fairfield county, of whom she is justly proud. He was born January 31, 1869, a son of Patrick Malone.

Patrick Malone was born in Clare, Ireland, whence when a young man he came to this coun- try, locating first in Massachusetts, where he remained about a year, then coming to Nor- walk about 1849. His first occupation in this country was that of a laborer, but he soon re- ceived employment in a pottery, and worked at that until about fifteen years ago, when he began farming, in which he has continued with unin- terrupted success ever since. He married Cath- erine Farrel, who was born in Garthamone, County Leitrim, Ireland, and eight children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: John, a hotel keeper in Nor- walk; Mary A., wife of T. C. Murphy; Marga- ret, wife of James Winn, of Norwalk; Elizabeth J., wife of Daniel Corcoran, of the same place; Kate A., at home; and William H. Patrick Malone is a stanch Democrat, and the entire family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

William H. Malone passed his early days in Norwalk, and received his education in the public schools, from which he was graduated with the class of '85. For nearly a year after leaving school he was employed in the printing

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office of the Norwalk Hour, a paper published in Norwalk. He then decided to learn hat mak- ing. and accordingly entered the hat factory of A. Solomon as finisher, where he remained from August 1, 1886, to June 27, 1887, at which time he was appointed assistant postmaster under A. C. Golding. His services proved so efficient that he retained his position under the next postmaster, C. G. Hubbell, and on August 1, 1894, Mr. Malone was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland, and is still holding that office, giving satisfaction to the citizens, and keeping the affairs of the office in first-class con- dition.

As might be inferred Mr. Malone is a Demo- crat, stanch and true, and very active in party work-counting no labor too excessive, and no sacrifice too great if it furthers the interests of the party whose principles he strongly advocates. As a member of the Roman Catholic Church he is interested largely in its welfare, and contrib- utes liberally of both time and means to the various worthy causes advocated by that faith. Socially, he is a member of the Catholic Club and the Knights of Columbus. It is seldom that one so young as our subject attains such prominence in public affairs, and Mr. Malone presents an example worthy of emulation. Of gentlemanly deportment, kind and obliging, he has won the high esteem of those with whom bis entire life has been spent.

R OLLO E. GOODSELL. Few young men of this section have made as good a start in life as has this enterprising agriculturist, whose farm near Newtown is conducted in a model manner. Although but little past his ma- jority, he has been in business for three years, and his success in the various lines of agricultural work, so far undertaken, gives evidence of sound judgment.

A native of this county, Mr. Goodsell was born in Bethel, July 18, 1876. His grandfather, Lewis Goodsell, was in his day a prominent resi- dent of Redding, this county. The late Edward L. Goodsell, our subject's father, was born in the town of Redding, September 3, 1852, and in early manhood engaged in business as a dealer in groceries and meat, first in Hattertown, then in Bethel, and later in Danbury. About 1880 he became interested in the hatting business in Dan- bury, and in this he met with marked success until failing health compelled him to retire. In 1893 he located upon the farm now occupied by our subject, and his death occurred there August 30, 1896. He was a man of fine natural abili-

ties, and his associates held him in high esteem. In politics he was a Republican, but he did not seek prominence in local affairs. For many years he was a leading member of the Congrega- tional Church of Bethel, and he also belonged to Samaritan Lodge No. 7, I. O. O. F., of Dan- bury. On September 9, 1874. he married Miss Amelia Platt, who was born October 13, 1854, a daughter of Wanzer and Paulina Godfrey Platt, well-known residents of Newtown. She died December 23, 1891, leaving two children-Rollo Edward, our subject, and Nellie Amelia, who was born April 15, 1882.

Mr. Goodsell was educated chiefly in the public schools of Danbury, but he also studied in the academies at Newtown and Bridgeport for periods of six months each. He was an excel- lent scholar, being naturally fond of learning, and he still continues that wider schooling which is found in the reading of good literature. At the age of seventeen he took charge of his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of fine land, and during the years of his management the place has been brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. He keeps a dairy of fifteen cows, exclusive of young stock, and in this, as in other work, is making a success.

On January 16. 1897, Mr. Goodsell married Miss Nellie May Wheeler, a daughter of Osa Wheeler, a prominent citizen of Bethel, and one son, Lewis Edward, was born to them May 7, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Goodsell are popular so- cially, and a host of friends wish them long life and prosperity.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 90

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