Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 98

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

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Mr. Peffers attended the public school, col- legiate, commercial and military institutes at New Haven, Conn., also the Eastman Business Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After leaving school he learned a branch of the hatting business, and was engaged at that trade and at bookkeeping until September 20, 1891, when he formed a co- partnership with George F. Nash for the con- ducting of a livery and sales business at Danbury, under the firm name of Nash & Peffers. This copartnership continued until June 6, 1899, when Mr. Nash sold his interest to Mr. Peffers, who has since conducted the business alone.

P ETER L. PERRY. When a man reaches the age of three score and ten years there can be no keener satisfaction than that given by a review of a life spent in useful labor in his ap- pointed sphere, marked by the approval of con- science and the respect and affection of those among whom his lot has been cast. The sub- ject of this sketch, a highly-respected resident of Bridgeport, held for many years a position of

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trust and responsibility with the Wheeler & Wil- son Company, and the confidence reposed in him is conclusive evidence of his ability and trust- worthiness.

Mr. Perry belongs to a well-known family, and his ancestors settled at an early date in West Woodstock, Conn. Daniel Perry, his grandfa- ther, was born at West Woodstock, and passed his life there in agricultural pursuits. Daniel Perry (2), the father of our subject, was also a native and lifelong resident of West Woodstock, and for many years he carried on farming and operated a gristmill and sawmill. His wife, Sophia Childs, was a daughter of Elias Childs, a prominent citizen of the same locality, and their family comprised four sons: William, now a retired resident of Bridgeport, who was superintendent of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Com- pany's plant for many years; Peter L., our sub- ject; Byron, deceased, who was for a long time in the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manu- facturing Company; and Elias, deceased.

Our subject was born March 9, 1823, in West Woodstock, and his education was obtained in the schools of that town. When fifteen years old he went to Manchester, Conn., being for some years employed on a farm in that vicinity, and later he spent two years at South Coventry, learning the machinist's trade. He then entered the employ of the Samuel Colts Manufacturing Company, at Hartford, Conn., where he was en- gaged in making firearms, and after a time he be- gan contracting for them, remaining there alto- gether about eight years. On leaving this com- pany he came to Bridgeport to take the position of assistant superintendent for the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, with which he continued until his retirement in 1880. Polit- ically Mr. Perry is a strong Republican, but he has never sought official honors, his business re- quiring close attention. He takes keen interest in all that concerns the welfare of the community, and he and his family are active workers in the Congregational Church at Bridgeport.

Mr. Perry married Miss Jessie Sheldon, daughter of Joseph and Jerusha (Pease) Sheldon, well-known residents of Hartford, her father be- ing a rope manufacturer there. Two children were born to this union, Grace L., who is de- ceased; and Alice C., now the wife of Henry Setzer, of Bridgeport.

RANCIS H. GREGORY. Especial men- tion should be accorded, in any list of our representative business men, to this well-known citizen of Stamford, who has made his way in

life by his own ability and energy, and has won a substantial success. It is such men as Mr. Gregory who form the foundation of the pros- perity of any community, and the thrift, enter- prise and foresight shown by him are well worthy of emulation.

The Gregory family became identified many years ago with this county, and George Betts Gregory, our subject's father, was a native of Norwalk. In early manhood he removed to Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y., where he was a pioneer settler, and for some time he was en- gaged in farming and in the shoe business there. In 1851 he returned to Norwalk, where his death occcurred. He was highly esteemed as a citizen, and was an active member of the F. & A. M. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Taylor, was a daughter of Lewis Taylor, a prominent resident of Norwalk, Connecticut.

The subject of this biography was born April 18, 1831, at Henrietta, N. Y., and his early life was spent upon the old homestead there, his education being obtained in the district schools and in the academy at the village. At the age of nineteen, having contracted " the gold fever," he went to California, where he passed one year. On his return he spent a year at Norwalk, but he then went back to his native place and engaged in farming with a brother for about a year. From that time until 1858 he followed the carpenter's trade in Norwalk, and in the mean- time he became interested in droving. From 1858 to 1878 he followed the latter business exclusively, making his headquarters from 1868 at Davenport Ridge, in the town of Stamford. In 1878 he removed to the city of Stamford to engage in a meat, fruit and vegetable business on Main street, and so well did he succeed in the enterprise that in 1883 he erected the Gregory block at No. 63 Main street, and established his store there, adding a stock of groceries. In April, 1892, he retired from active business, and at present he is enjoying the rewards of his past years of effort. On April 23, 1854, Mr.Gregory was married, in Norwalk, to Miss Mary E. Weed, a daughter of Isaac and Hannah M. (Waterbury) Weed, well-known residents of Darien, this county, where the Weed family were numbered among the early settlers. Mrs. Gregory was but six years of age when her mother died; her father lived to the advanced age of eighty-one. Dolly, the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory, married James H. Mead, of Stamford, and had two sons, Percy Gregory and Mortimer Milton, who are now living with their grandparents, Mrs. Mead having departed this life October 19, 1889.

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The family is prominent in social life, and Mrs. Gregory is a member of the Congregational Church at Stamford.

TOHN H. ELWOOD, a prominent citizen of the town of Westport, is engaged in agricult- ure on Sherwood's Island, and his ability and scientific skill are shown in the successful management of his farm.

The Elwood family is well-known in the town of Westport, and Eleakim Elwood, our subject's grandfather, was born there October 24. 1786, while his wife, Lydia Bennett, was born Septem- ber 22, 1789, in the town of Fairfield. This worthy couple reared a large family of children, among whom was a son, John B., our subject's father, who was born December 17, 1820, in the same town. John B. Elwood followed the sea in early life, but later engaged in farming in West- port. He first married Miss Margaret D. Van- Wagner, and (second) Miss Mary S. Banks, a native of Westport, and daughter of Alson and Lucy (Chapman) Banks. By the first marriage there were three children: Mary C., William F. and George E., and by the second there were five: John H., James F., Lewis E., Lucy B. and Minnie S.

John H. Elwood was born December 24, 1856, at Greens Farms, and as the son of a farmer he became familiar in his youth with all the details of agricultural work. After attending the com- mon schools for some time, he took a course in the academy at Greens Farms, securing a good practical education. Politically, he is a Derno- crat, but he is not especially active in party work. On October 23, 1879, he married Miss Fannie L. Sherwood, and their union has been blessed with three children: Clifford Franklin, Elsie M. (de- ceased); and Katharine S. Soon after his mar- riage Mr. Elwood located upon his present farm, which is well adapted to the raising of general crops, and so far he has not specialized in his work. His family is prominent in the best so- cial circles of his locality, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church at Southport.

Mrs. Elwood was born on Sherwood's Island, and is a descendant of that noted pioneer, Thomas Sherwood, who came from England in 1634. and settled upon a farm at Greenfield, this county. His son Thomas and grandson Samuel both followed farming in this county. Samuel Sherwood had a son, Daniel, who had a son Daniel (2), who had a son Daniel (3) (Mrs. El- wood's grandfather), who married Catharine Burr, and made his home upon a farm on Sher-

wood's Island, in Greens Farms, town of West- port. Ten children were born to them: Ebene- zer; Catherine; Eunice; Daniel; Abigail, who died in infancy; Abraham; Silas B. ; and the trip- lets, Frederick, Francis and Franklin.

Capt. Franklin Sherwood, Mrs. Elwood's father, was born November 3, 1810, and died September 9, 1888. He followed the sea for about thirty-five years. After leaving the water he settled down at the homestead on Sherwood's Island; and followed' farming during the re- mainder of his life. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife was a devout member of the Congregational Church. He married Miss Jane Guyer, who was born at Greens Farms, September 10, 1819, and died November 11, 1882. Her father, Gershom B. Guyer, was a native of Norwalk, this county. Mrs. Elwood was the youngest in a family of four children, the others being Arthur, a farmer on the Island; Ida, who died at the age of twelve years; and Jane S., wife of L. P. Wakeman, of the town of Westport.

T RUMAN A. BANKS. The fertile lands of this section have attracted a high order of agriculturists, and the thriving towns and cities furnish an excellent home market for their varied produce. Among the well-kept farms of Middle River District, Danbury township, is that of the enterprising and successful dairyman whose his- tory is here outlined.

Mr. Banks was born July 13, 1857, in the town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y., a son of Elliot O. and Eliza J. (Mead) Banks, both of whom were natives of the Empire State and are now living in Connecticut. The father followed farming from early manhood. Our subject was the youngest of four children, the others being Thomas E .; Eliza A., and George H.

The family removed to this State before our subject's school days were ended, and he con- tinued to attend the district schools of that day for some time after the removal. His first em- ployment was in Hendrick Barnum's grocery at Danbury, where he remained five years, the owner in the meantime taking a brother as a partner under the firm name of Barnum & Bar- num. On leaving this position Mr. Banks was employed by Hendrick Barnum in the grain busi- ness for two years, and then he returned to the store and spent three years with a new firm, Bar- num & Reed. For two years following he worked for Betts & Dunway in their grocery, on the corner of Main and West streets, and then renting a stable he engaged in the livery

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business. After two years he traded for a gro- cery, which he conducted three months. On selling out he began to work at the hat trade, continuing at same about two years, when he took a position in Major C. Austin's grocery for a year. Another year in the hat business fol- lowed, but by that time he had decided to seek a country life, and in July, 1891, he purchased twenty-five acres of land about a mile from his present farm. Two years later he sold this and bought thirty acres about a mile and a half from Danbury. and by subsequent purchases he has increased his holdings to sixty acres. He keeps from ten to fifteen cows, and sells the milk in Dan- bury. While working in that city he did a pro- fitable real-estate business, buying lots and erect- ing buildings for sale. One of these, a factory on Franklin street, he still owns.

Mr. Banks is a steadfast supporter of the Re- publican party, and is influential in local affairs, being always in favor of improvement. For five years he has been the pathmaster of his town, and for one year he worked the city roads. He married Miss Annie A. Hodge, daughter of Orson and Amy (Barnum) Hodge, well-known residents of Brewsters, New York.

HERON EUGENE PLATT. The praises of an agricultural life have been sung by poets from the remotest times, and the sentiment that prompts mankind to seek close harmony with nature seems to be universal, however the customs and acquired aptitudes of our modern civilization may tend to obscure it. The fertile fields of this section, in their romantic setting of wooded hills and sparkling waters, might well tempt any one to hope that here he could realize the picture which fancy paints of the joys of a country life. Certain it is that in our rural com- munities a high type of citizenship is to be found, as many of the histories of this volume will bear witness.

The subject of this biography, a prominent citizen of Newtown township. resides upon a farm which has now been in the possession of his family for several generations, and his man- agement of the estate is an object lesson in scien- tific farming, while at the same time he keeps well informed upon general topics, and is a con- stant and intelligent reader of the best literature. A thorough student, his investigations have thrown light upon many questions of interest to all farmers, and his scholarly articles upon agri- cultural matters command the attention of thoughtful observers. His library, containing

about a thousand volumes, is mainly devoted to science, and he has made a special study of botany, geology and chemistry. In his practical work upon his estate he has given much time to the propagation and development of the potato, that homeliest but most useful of tubers, and during one year he grew four hundred and fifty varieties for the purpose of making tests. He was probably the first to discover the cause of the potato scab, his report on the subject having been the first to be printed, and he is rightly re- garded as one of the leading authorities on all matters relating to this plant, from its germina- tion to its full development. Not being content with the ordinary means of observation, he has made extensive use of the microscope in his in- vestigations, and for several years he has issued valuable and interesting reports of his inquiries into the "whys and wherefores," of the phe- nomena which comes under his notice. A man of his talents and acquirements would naturally attract a most desirable list of friends, and his includes many of the bright minds of this and other localities. For some years he has been a leading member of the State Board of Agricult- ure, and has served as president of the Newtown Agricultural Association since its organization.

An account of the personal and family history of Mr. Platt will doubtless be of interest to our readers. He was born May 16, 1848, in the house he now owns and occupies, and received a com- mon-school education, two years being spent in a graded school at Redding, this county. From an early age he showed an interest in agricultural pursuits, but he has taken part in other lines of enterprise, and for years has been a director in the Newtown Savings Bank. Any movement tending to promote the best interests of his local- ity receives his hearty indorsement, and he is, and has been for a long time, president of the Cemetery Association, while for years he has been an active worker in the Methodist Church at Redding, serving as trustee. Politically, he is a Republican, so far as national issues are con- cerned, but on local questions he votes inde- pendently. On November 26, 1873, he married Miss Mary C. Russell, daughter of Bethuel Treat Russell, of Southbury, Conn., and they have one son, Philo T., born May 20, 1880. Mr. Russell died May 5, 1872, but Mrs. Russell still resides in Southbury.

This Platt family is descended from Richard Platt, of Milford, through Isaac Platt, of Hunt- ington, Long Island, who married Elizabeth Wood, daughter of Jonas Wood, and died July 31, 1691.

Jonas Platt, a son of Isaac and Elizabetb.

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was born August 10, 1667, and married Sarah Scudder.

Obadiah (1), the next in the line of descent which we are now tracing, was born about 1706, and was married August 10, 1722, to Mary Smith, who died November 16, 1771. Obadiah Platt (2) was born August 8, 1729, and died November 25, 1784. in his fifty-sixth year. He married Thankful Scudder, who was baptized May 18, 1735, and died December 19. 1816. Jarvis Platt, a son of Obadiah (2), was born September 6, 1759, and died in 1841. He was married in 1779 to Ann Nichols.

David Platt, our subject's grandfather, was born February 6, 1782, and died April 19, 1814. He was married, May 18, 1803, to Lucretia Toucey, of Newtown, and made his home at the farm now occupied by our subject.

Philo Toucey Platt, the father of our subject, was born September 3, 1811, and was married, November 24, 1841, to Jeanette E. Tuttle, of Southbury, Conn. He became a prosperous agri- culturist, and his death occurred at the old home- stead. March 10, 1880. His children were John- son T. and Theron E.

The late Johnson Tuttle Platt, brother of our subject, was a leading member of the Connecti- cut Bar, and his brief but energetic and success- ful career is an honor to the family name. He was born at Newtown, January 12, 1844, and graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1865, having chosen at an early age to make the pro- fession of law his life work. He entered upon his practice at Pittsfield, Mass., but six months afterward removed to New Haven, Conn., where he quickly won recognition as a lawyer. On the re-organization of the Yale Law School, in 1869, he was given a responsible place in the manage- ment of the institution, together with Professors Robinson and Baldwin. In 1873 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Yale College, and during his life in New Haven he held numerous positions of public trust. For several years he was a member of the Court of Common Council and Board of Aldermen, and in 1874 he was made corporation counsel, in which position he did a large amount of valuable work for the city, including the revision of the ordinances. He also held the office of registrar in bankruptcy, and for a number of years was Master of Chan- cery for the State of Connecticut, while for some time previous to his death he had been serving as United States Commissioner. He died Janu- ary 23, 1890, at the early age of forty-six years, being cut off suddenly in the prime of life by an attack of cerebral hemorrhage. At the time he was stricken he was on his way to his class in 31

the Law School, and becoming insensible he was taken home, where he died a few hours later. His death called forth many tributes to his noble character and high intellectual abilities and at- tainments. The New Haven County Bar, in minutes approved January 24, 1890, used these fitting words: "He was not only well read in the ordinary literature of his profession, but long and loving study had made him familiar with the science of jurisprudence in its widest range. His sympathies were warm and his friendships true and deep-rooted. During nearly a quarter of a century at the Bar and twenty years in the Yale Law School, he had been honorably known as a learned lawyer, an independent thinker, a public-spirited citizen, and a kind-hearted and high-minded man." As a lawyer he was able and ready, and as an instructor he was thorough, gentle, helpful and sympathetic, winning the hearts of all his students. His literary culture was extended, and he was especially fond of his- tory and poetry. He was a good conversation- alist, being noted for his ready and apt quota- tions as well as for his original remarks, and his sincerity and agreeable manners won him a host of friends. While in the Law School his range of subjects included, first, equity and pleadings, then "torts" and criminal law, and finally gen- eral jurisprudence and the history of law. It is to be hoped that his lectures will be published. Among the valuable articles prepared for the press by him were two entitled " The Assertion of Rights" and "The Opportunity for the De- velopment of Jurisprudence in the United States." For abont twenty years he had been gathering facts for a history of the Platt family. from which much of the data for this sketch has been drawn. A brief but admirable biographical account was written by Morris F. Tyler. Esq .. of the New Haven County Bar, at the time of his death. On September 3. 1867. Professor Platt married Miss Mary Jay Pettee, of Pittsfield, Mass. They had no children.

J OHN A. WEED, a prosperous general mer- chant and well-known citizen of New Canaan, is a native of that place, born September 11, 1861, in what is known as White Oak Shade District. His grandfather, Carey Weed, was born in 1782, and came to this locality from Stamford at an early date, settling on a farm in in White Oak Shade District where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a shoemaker as well as a farmer, and employed a number of hands. For his first wife he married Clarissa St. John, by whom he had two children, Delia

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and William H., both of whom are now de- ceased. His second wife was Hannah Reed, and Andrew J., the father of our subject, was their only child. Carey Weed passed away Novem- ber 9, 1842. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Andrew J. Weed was born August 19, 1819, in the town of New Canaan, where he spent his days. He attended the neighboring district school, and, under his father's tuition, was thoroughly inducted into the mysteries of agricult- ture and shoemaking, which he followed all his active life, living on the paternal homestead. On March 31, 1851, he was married, at Easton, Conn., to Betsey Banks, daughter of Medad Banks, a farmer of that town, and by this union there were five children, as follows: Clarissa, who is the wife of G. F. Johnson, of New Canaan; Mary F., Mrs. Henry E. Johnson; Henry B., who married Rosa -, and died at the early age of twenty-eight years; John A .; and Freddie, who died in infancy. The father died in May, 1884. in White Oak Shade. He was a member of the Congregational Church at Darien.

John A. Weed was reared on the home farm, and pursued his early studies in the district school. At the age of twenty-one years he be- came a clerk in the employ of S. H. Raymond (who at the time carried on a grocery business in New Canaan), and remained with him five years, when he embarked in business for himself. The firm of Weed & Wassing (John A. Weed and John M. Wassing), general merchants, was formed in October, 1887, and continued until January, 1891, when Mr. Wassing withdrew. He has since lived in Stamford. Mr. Weed has con- ducted the business alone for the past seven years, keeping a full line of groceries, flour, feed, hay, family madicines, oils, mixed paints, crock- ery and hardware. He is established in the Com- stock building in New Canaan, and receives a large share of the custom in the town and neigh- boring district. His business is constantly in- creasing, and he is entitled to no unimportant place among the well-to-do citizens of his town.

Mr. Weed was married, September 10, 1883, at Binghamton, N. Y., to Hattie E. Gabriel, daughter of John M. Gabriel, and they have be- come the parents of seven children: Harry (who died at the age of seven years, three months), Walter Gabriel (deceased in infancy), Ernest, J. Floyd, Harold, Clarence, and Nellie Frances. The family are regular attendants and supporters of the New Canaan Baptist Church, of which Mr. Weed is a prominent member, at present holding the offices of clerk, deacon and trustee in the

Church. He is widely known in social circles in this part of the State, being a member of Wooster Lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F., of which he is chaplain; a charter member of Com- modore Perry Council No. 44, O. U. A. M., of which he is the present treasurer; a member of the Heptasophs; the Knights of the Maccabees; the Daughters of Liberty; Friendship Division, Sons of Temperance; president of the Band of Hope, and an honorary member of the New Canaan Fire Department. He is active in pro- moting the interests of all these organizations, and is very popular among his fraternal asso- ciates.

E LIJAH P. BROWN. The town of Green- wich, Fairfield county, was settled at an early day by a most intelligent and enterprising class of citizens, among whom were the ances- tors of our subject, now a respected resident of New Fairfield.

James Brown, our subject's great-grandfather, was born and reared in Greenwich, and was for many years engaged in mercantile business there. His wife's name is not now recalled, but it is known that they had one child, David, born in Greenwich and educated in the common schools of that locality. On reaching manhood he be- came interested in the manufacture of cloth, and for many years he conducted a mill for that por- pose at Greenwich, employing about twenty hands. He is said to have been the first manu- facturer in the United States to make blue broad- cloth. It cannot now be positively stated whether he took an active part in the Revolu- tionary war or not. He married Miss Deborah Jessup. daughter of Jonathan Jessup, a prom- inent farmer of the town of Greenwich, and thirteen children were born of the union, as fol- lows: James, David, Robert, Sarah, Deborah, Phoebe, Martha, Margaret, Eliza, Clara, Anna, William and Mary.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 98

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