Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1, Part 64

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1 > Part 64

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Samuel Ives, born Nov. 22, 1792, son of Ben- jamin and Jerusha ( Rich) Hart, married Abigail Doolittle Hall, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth

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(Hall) Hall. Their children were: Daniel Hall, born June 19, 1815; Edmund, born Aug. 12, 1817, died Feb. 16, 1818; Jerusha and Elizabeth, twins, born Aug. 22, 1822, the former of whom married Horace Pratt, and the latter Edward B. Miller.

Daniel Hall Hart, born June 19, 1815, married May 14, 1840, Harriet Gilbert Miller, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Gilbert) Miller, of Middle- town, born Marchi 3, 1812, died Jan. 14, 1891, in Meriden. He died in Meriden, Oct. 2, 1891. His life was spent in agriculturat pursuits. Children of Daniel H. and Harriet Gilbert (Miller) Hart: (1) Ives William, born Oct. 4, 1841, married Nov. 4, 1870, Elsie Tooley Lane, a widow and daughter of Russell Tooley. Of their children, Arthur Mill- er, born May 20, 1872, married Nov. IS, 1896, Catherine Jane Owen, daughter of Robert Owen, and the one child born to this last named marriage is Owen Stephen Hart, born Sept. 23, 1898. (2) Ellen Delia, born Nov. 23, 1842, resides on the Middletown road opposite Robert street, Meriden. (3) Edmund Benjamin, born Dec. 31, 1845, married Sept. 23, 1878, Harriet Beecher Denison, daughter of Ebenezer and Lydia S. (Noyes) Denison, born Dec. 24, 1853, and died Jan. 26, 1889; their children were: Edmund Denison (born Oct. 26, 1879, died July 28, 1882), Harriet Edith (born July 16, 1883), Anna Eliza (born Jan. 20, 1889, died April 9, 1889), and Albert Denison (born Jan. 20, 1889).

HALL FAMILY. John Hall, the first settler, was known in Connecticut prior to 1669, and his sons, John, Thomas and Samuel, were signers to the Plantation Covenant, in Wallingford, in 1669-70.

Thomas Hall, son of John the settler, married Grace Watson, June 5, 1673, and she died May I, 1731 ; his death occurred Sept. 17, 1731. They had eleven children.

Jonathan, second son of Thomas and Grace Hall, was born July 25, 1679, and married May 12, 1703, Dinah Andrews, who died Jan. 15, 1760.

Dr. Isaac Hall, son of Jonathan and Dinah (An- drews) Hall, born July 11, 1714, married Nov. 5, 1739, Mary Morse; he died March 7, 1781, and she died Oct. 9, 1791. He was the first physician of Meriden. His surgical needle is still in the posses- sion of his great-grandson, Abijah Hall, of Boston, Mass., and his ledger is owned by the Hart family in East Meriden. The children of Dr. Isaac and Mary (Morse) Hall were as follows: Mary, born Oct. 6, 1742, married John Ives. Isaac, born May 7, 1745. Joel, born April 3. 1747, died Oct. 22, 1748. Esther, born March 18, 1751, married Dr. Aaron Hosford. Elizabeth, born June 11, 1752, married Dr. Jehiel Hoadley. Jonathan born Dec. II, 1757, married May 14, 1777, Martha Collins, who died in May; 1841, aged eighty-three years ; he died June 6, 1832, aged seventy-four years.

Isaac Hall, son of Dr. Isaac and Mary ( Morse) Hall, resided in the eastern part of Meriden, in the house now owned by Rollin Ives on Paddock ave- nue. He was a lieutenant in the Third Company,

First Regiment, of Light Horse, in this State. The troops were ordered by an Act of 1776 to the west- ern part of the State, to join the forces under Gen. Wooster. The captain of the company being at the time sick, Lieut. Hall took command of the com- pany from Oct. 25, 1776, to Dec. 31, 1776, for which service neither he nor his company received any pay. Tlie Assembly in October, 1783, ordered the pay- table to adjust the pay roll of said troop of light horse, by the rule before allowed by Congress to the troops of light horse in this State while in service of the country; and "draw on the Treasurer, and charge the same to the Continent." [Davis His- tory, Page 369.] Isaac Hall was three times mar- ried. His first wife whom he married Sept. 6, 1764, was Phebe Ives, daughter of Abijah and Mary Ives ; his second marriage was to Martha ( Mix) Francis, widow of Jacob Francis; and for his third wife he wedded Lois Buckley, widow of Prescott Buckley. He died in Leyden, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1810, aged sixty- four years. The children of Isaac and Phebe ( Ives) Hall were: Mary, born July 21, 1766, married William Topping, died September, 1813 : John, born July 3, 1768, married Mary -; Phebe, born Jan. 31, 1770, married Elihu Ives : Elizabeth, born Sept. 3, 1771, married Daniel Hall (3) ; Sarah, born Oct. 23, 1773; Isaac, born May 19, 1775, married Ruth Wetmore, and died Sept. 13, 1857, aged eighty-two years: Jonathan, born Aug. 23, 1776, married (first) Eliza Hoadley, and died Feb. 22, 1841 ; Clarissa, born Aug. 12, 1779, married Will- iam Cutler ; Abijah, born Sept. 25, 1781, married Betsey Mix, died Aug. 9, 1857 ; Sally, born Jan. 19, 1784, married William Cutler. One child was born to the third marriage of Isaac Hall, Joseph, born 1803, married Dec. 31, 1826, Mary Ann Crofoot.

Daniel Hall (2), born June 1. 1727, son of Dan- iel and Martha ( Doolittle) Hall, and grandson of Thomas Hall, married July 27, 1750, Patience Bald- win, daughter of Daniel Baldwin. She died July 24, 1756, aged thirty years. He married ( second ) in November, 1758, Zerviah Whitmore, daughter of Francis Whitmore, of Middletown, Conn. She was born Feb. 27, 1735, and died Oct. 6. 1777. aged forty-two years. He married (third) Abigail Doo- little, daughter of Stephen. He died Oct. 26, 1805, aged seventy-eight years. They lived on the old Mid- dleton road. now closed, a few rods north of his son Daniel Hall's house which he built in 1828, this place being now ( 1902) owned by Ives W. Hart, one of his descendants. The children of Daniel and Patience ( Baldwin ) Hall were: Esther Hall, born Sept. 15. 1751, married Jonathan Yale; Lois, born Nov. 21, 1752, died Dec. 9, 1774; Eunice, born April 4. 1754, died Sept. 20. 1777. aged twenty-three years ; Joel, born June 1. 1756, died a soldier of the Revolution- ary war, in January, 1777, of starvation on a prison ship in New York harbor, at the age of twenty years. By his second marriage, Daniel Hall became the father of: Zerviah, born March 2, 1760, mar- ried Abner Mitchel; Sarah, born March 5, 1762,

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married Rev. Caleb Douglass : Patience, born Aug. 20, 1764, married Amos Higby; Aaron, born Oct. 2, 1766, married Lydia Hall; Daniel, born 1770, married Elizabeth Hall; and Lois Hall, born Sept. 26, 1777, married Orchard Guy.

Daniel Hall, born 1770, son of Daniel and Zer- viah ( Whitmore ) Hall, married June 14, 1792, Elizabeth Hall, born Sept. 3, 1771, daughter of Isaac and Phebe ( Ives ) Hall. He died Jan. 1, 1829. She died May 5, 1859, at East Meriden. They had one child, Abigail Doolittle Hall, born Aug. 25, 1793, married Sept. 20, 1814, Samuel Ives Hart, who died Sept. 10, 1870; she died Dec. 12, 1874.

ANDREW BUECHLER (deceased), who for over twenty years was one of the best known Ger- man citizens of Meriden, and a thoroughly suc- cessful business man, was born in the city of Hes- sen, Germany, in 1840, where he received a good education in the local schools, and learned the trade of fire-brick making, an occupation which he fol- lowed for ten years. Wishing to improve his con- dition, he came to this country in 1868, landing in New York, where he spent the following year. He was then employed as a casemaker in a piano factory at New Haven, where he remained until 1870. In April of that year he came to Meriden, to begin a business of soap making, being the first to make that article on an extensive scale in Meri- den. In this line he was engaged for two years. In 1874 he opened a German delicatessen store, which he continued for eighteen years, making a successful business record by his close attention and strict honesty. He was known as one of the most successful Germans in the city. In 1889 he built a fine brick block on West Main street, and made extensive improvements amounting to over $30,000. A part of this building was destroyed by fire in 1895, and was rebuilt by his son John at a cost of $15.000, and is now regarded as one of the finest blocks on West Main street. He also owned other property in the city.

Andrew Buechler died in August, 1892, and his remains were interred in Walnut Grove cemetery. . He belonged to the Lutheran Church, and was a good Christian man, highly respected by all who knew him. In politics he was a Democrat, and was agent of the town deposit funds for five years. He belonged to Teutonia Lodge, No. 95. I. O. O. F., the Deutschen Ordens Harugari, and took a lead- ing part in the Meriden Rifle Club. Domestic in his tastes, he was a kind father and a devoted husband.

Andrew Buechler was married in his native country to Katharine Kippe, who died at her home in Meriden Oct. 4, 1898. Her ashes rest in Wal- nut Grove cemetery, and she, like her husband, be- longed to the Lutheran Church. She was a woman of high character and kind heart, and was beloved in her home, and among her friends, of whom she had many. Two children were born to this union, one died in infancy; and John was born in New York May 8, 1866.

JOIIN BUECHILER came to Meriden with his par- ents, and was educated in the public schools. From boyhood he was engaged with his father in busi- ness, and since the death of the latter has man- aged the estate left him with unusual ability and business sagacity. On March 2, 1892, John Buech- ler was married, in Meriden, to Rose Yetter, who was born at Shelburne Falls, Mass., a daughter of Casper and Margaret ( Karl ) Yetter, both of whom were German born and bred. but who died in New Britain, Conn. Mrs. Buechler is a woman of good business ability, genial manners, and a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband belong to the Lutheran Church. To them have come three chil- dren: Margaret and Catherine (twins), the first named dying young; and Edna. Politically Mr. Buechler is a Democrat, but has no aspiration for official position. He belongs to the Turnverein and the Saengerbund of Meriden, and he is a highly respected and much esteemed citizen of the com- munity in which his long and useful life is passing.

WILLIAM M. MERWIN, of Milford, the real pioneer in the business of oyster growing in his locality, was born April 24. 1827, near the site of his present residence. He has been one of the most successful men of his time in his town. a man whose life has had its ups and downs, finding suc- cess only after trying periods and conditions that would have defeated one less persistent. In his tenacity of purpose lies the secret of his prosperity. That salient characteristic has stood against the advice of all, and achieved success against the pre- dictions of almost the entire community. Mr. Mer- win has surrounded himself and family with com- forts and luxuries such as in his early life would have seemed impossible, but all this has not served to change the man; he is the same approachable, plain-going individual, whose manner is in no way suggestive of pride. or self-consciousness. Friends of former days who may have been less success- ful are the friends of to-day.

The Merwin family is one of the oldest in the town and is descended from Miles Merwin, who came from England in 1646, and settled in Mil- ford, where he died April 23, 1697, aged seventy- four.

John Merwin, son of Miles, came from Eng- land in 1646 and died in Milford in 1728.

John Merwin (2) was born in Milford April 16, 1683, and died in 1762.

John Merwin (3) was born in Milford in April,. 1707.

David Merwin, our subject's grandfather. a native of Milford, was baptized in 1743. He- owned and operated a tannery where the hat fac- tory is now located, and later he purchased a farm on the Sound. in the southern part of the town, and engaged in farming. He married Eunice Perry, a native of the town of Huntington. Fairfield Co .. Conn., who was born in 1747, and died in 1836. They had eleven children: David, who succeeded

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his father in the tannery business; Isaac, who went to Pennsylvania ; John, who died in Bridgeport, and the twins, Mark and Merritt, all four of whom were farmers ; Mary, who married a Mr. Baldwin, a farmer; Susan, who married a Mr. Platt, a farmer; Eunice, who died unmarried ; Martha, who married a Mr. Davis, a miller of Ilamden, Conn .; Mchitable, who married a Mr. Potter, a carpenter in Orange; and Nancy, who married a Mr. Stone. Of these children, one attained the age of ninety- five, and two others more than ninety ; four lived to be over eighty, and four over seventy. David Merwin, the father, died in 1816.

Merritt Merwin, our subject's father, was born in 1792, at the present site of the village of Mil- ford, on "Factory Lane," and died Jan. 20, 1863. Throughout his life he followed farming, and he was the first man in the town to raise vegetable seeds for the market. Politically he was first a Whig, and later a Republican, and for many years he and his wife were leading members of the Con- gregational Church at Milford. He married Catlı- erine Peck, who was born in Milford, in April, 1796, and who died Nov. 5, 1876. She was a daughter of Ephraim Peck, a merchant in Milford, and his wife, Rachel Bennett, and traced her de- scent from Joseph Peck, an Englishman, who set- tled in Milford at an early period. The line of descent is as follows: Joseph, the pioneer ; Joseph and his wife, Alice; Samuel, born in 1653; Samuel (2), born July 13, 1690; Samuel (3), born in 1716, died in 1801; Samuel (4), born in 1736, died in 1822, and Ephraim Peck, Mrs. Merwin's father. Two children were born to Merritt and Catherine (Peck) Merwin : William MI. our subject; and Charles D., born in 1841, now a resident of Brooklyn.

William M. Merwin was reared upon the old homestead in Milford, and after his twelfth year attended school only in winter, his help being needed on the farm. At fifteen he left school al- together, and in early manhood he engaged in farm- ing on his own account, and later conducted a retail coal business for about ten years. He became in- terested in the oyster business in 1878, and al- though the product for three years was destroyed by winds he continued, losing thousands of dollars. Much to the astonishment of the community, he finally made a complete success of the enterprise, thus opening a new field of labor in the locality, and at present he also has oyster beds in Providence. He was the first grower to employ a steamer of his own in the business, and his large trade now re- quires three. The interests of his town have al- ways called forth loyal effort, and he has been in- strumental in having factories built there, and in the organization of the Milford Savings Bank. In politics he was once a Whig, and now a Repub- lican, and his influence as a man of brains. energy and honesty is felt in public affairs, his advice being heeded by every one, from Congressman down to

the humblest voter. He was the first resident com- missioner appointed by the State to lay out oyster beds. He owns a beautiful home in Milford and one in Florida, where he has spent his winters for a number of years. His present residence, while originally built in 1850. has been greatly remodeled and improved, and is one of the comfortable homes of the town, and stands in the same yard with the old homestead, in which our subject was born, and in which yard our subject played as a boy. It is doubtful if there is another instance of the kind in the town, where one man has resided for sev- enty-four years in the same yard, and now sees his great-grandchild. Charlotte MI. Andrew (and grandchild of his son Merritt W.), play where he, too, played as a child. In adjoining houses live his two sons, forming a most pleasant reiglibor- hood. Mr. Merwin has never sought public honor or notoriety. During his active life he was a busi- ness man in the fullest sense, and whatever position he attained in public affairs was unsought, and simply the result of his public-spirited interest in the welfare of the town.

On Jan. 10, 1850, he was married to Miss Sarah C. Peck, in New York, by Rev. Dr. Adams, of Hous- ton Street Congregational Church, and they have two sons, Dumond P. and Merritt W., both of whom are members of the firm. Mrs. Merwin was born in Orange, Conn., Jan. 10. 1828. the daughter of Harvey Peck, and a descendant of Joseph Peck. the pioneer. The line of descent is as follows: Joseph (1) ; Josephi (2) and Alice, his wife; Sam- nel, born in 1653: Samuel (2), born in 1690; Samuel (3), born in 1716. died in 1801, married Hannah Jennings, of Fairfield; Samuel (4). born in August, 1736, died in 1822, married Mehitable Smith, of Milford, born in 1740; Hezekiah, born in Milford in December. 1768, died in January, 1846, married Sarah Bull, of Milford. born in 1768, died in June, 1837; and Harvey (Mrs. Merwin's father), who was born Feb. 18, 1799, and died May 8, 1860. Harvey Peck was a prominent agri- culturist of Orange in his day; he married Susan Fenn, of the same town ( who was born in 1810, and died in Warren. Ohio, in 1889), and had seven children : Susan, Mary, Benjamin, Sarah. George. Hezekiah and Caroline, of whom but three are liv- ing, Mary, Mrs. Merwin and Hezekiah.

Mrs. Merwin has proven a helpmeet. indeed. and during over half a century of married life has given her husband her constant help, and has loyal- ly encouraged his efforts. Mr. Merwin's accumu- lation of property is not to him nor his good wife their greatest source of satisfaction-that rests in the fact that their efforts to rear their sons have been successful. and that to-day the sons are a credit to any parentage, and are numbered among the best business men of the town, successfully conducting a business the foundation of which was the most trying part in their father's life, and the corner-stone of his success.

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FREDERICK ROBERT SEIDENSTICKER. Among the prominent citizens of Meriden is Fred- erick Robert Seidensticker, who for a period of some thirty-five years has reflected credit upon that city, through his artistic skill as a designer. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 30, 1838, of German ancestry.

Jerome Napoleon Seidensticker, his father, was born in Goettingen, in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was named in honor of King Jerome Napoleon, who was a brother of the great Emperor of France. Jerome was King of Westphalia at the time of his birth, and Anton Johann Julius Seiden- sticker, father of Jerome Napoleon Seidensticker, was clerk of the chancery at his court. Jerome Na- poleon Seidensticker was educated in his native country, and after learning the trade of bookbinder came to America to pursue it. Taking passage on a sailing vessel, he reached Baltimore, Md., and there engaged in business on his own account, con- tinuing in the bookbinding business for several years. Later he went to Philadelphia, and there also engaged in business, still later removing to Boston, Mass., where for a number of years he conducted a similar business, spending his last years in that city. There his death occurred in 1883, and his remains lie in Forest Hill cemetery. The business career of Mr. Seidensticker was a fairly successful one, and his private life was be- yond reproach. For many years he was a leading member of the Lutheran Church, living up to his religious professions. Fraternally he was a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, belonging to a lodge of that order in Baltimore. In politics he supported the Republican party.

The mother of Frederick R. Seidensticker, of Meriden, was also a native of Germany, and her maiden name was Maria Busch. She survived her husband until 1895, passing away in Boston, Mass., and rests beside him in Forest Hill cemetery. She was a most devout and consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and reared her children to lives of morality, setting them an example of Christian virtue. A family of eight children was born to her, some of whom have passed away, others re- maining to be useful and honorable members of society: James died in Chicago; Richard is also deceased; Emma is deceased; Clara is the widow of James Galvin; George is a steel engraver, in Boston, Mass. ; Bertha resides in Boston; William is a well-known artist and resides at South Fram- ingham, Mass. As will be seen, the family is one of unusual attainments.

Frederick R. Seidensticker was liberally edu- cated, being afforded every advantage possible both in the Quaker City and in Boston. From his earliest youth he had shown artistic talent, and this leaning was recognized by his parents, who, willing and anxious to foster and develop it, sent the talented youth to Germany, placing him under teachers who thoroughly instructed him in the art of designing,

in sculpture and in silversmithing, his studies being followed with all the advantages offered in the beautiful and artistic cities of Berlin (with David Vollgaldt & Son) and Vienna ( with the Imperial silversmiths, Meyerhoffer & Klinkosch), For three years he was under instruction there, and then returned to Boston, prepared to teach designing, following this profession in that city until 1870, and becoming well and favorably known in artistic circles. In the year last named Mr. Seidensticker accepted a position as designer with the well- known firm of Bradley & Hubbard, in Meriden, and remained with this house for seventeen years, becoming known all over the State for the beauty and utility of his designs. Following this con- nection, Mr. Seidensticker became connected with the Breckenridge Manufacturing Co., which con- ducted business successfully for several years but later failed.

In 1880, Mr. Seidensticker built a fine residence on Lincoln street, this city, which is a repository of many valuable works of art, executed by himself and by his son, Robert, who inherits a high order of talent. From his earliest boyhood the latter has displayed wonderful ability, some work that he ex- ecuted when but five years of age showing remark- able artistic conception. His talent has been fos- tered, and there is every reason to believe that the world will yet hear of this young man in the field of sculpture and design.

In 1876 Frederick R. Seidensticker was mar- ried in Meriden, to Miss Harriet E. Beach, who was born in Meriden, a daughter of George Beach. Children as follows have been born to this union : Georgia, who was educated in the Meriden schools. graduated from the high school, and is now one of the valued teachers in this city; May, also a grad- uate of the high school; Robert. also well edti- cated and connected with H. K. Bush Brown. the well-known sculptor of Newburgh, on the Hudson river ; and Richard and Harold, who are yet stu- dents.

Fraternally Mr. Seidensticker is connected with Meridian Lodge, No. 77. A. F. & A. M .: Keystone Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .: Hamilton Council, No. 22, R. & S. M .: St. Elmo Commandery. No. 9. K. T .: LaFayette Consistory, of New Haven ; and the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. In politics he votes with the Republican party, but has little taste for political life. The religious connection of the fam- ily is with the First Congregational Church.

BEACH. The Beach family, of which Mrs. Seidensticker is a member, was established in Amer- ica by Samuel Beach, who came to New Haven from England. His first wife was a Miss Sanford, and his second a Miss Potter.

(II) Benjamin Beach, only son of Samuel, above mentioned, was a farmer in North Haven. He married a Miss Blackley, and had three sons. One of these.

(III) Benjamin Beach went from North Haven

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to Chiusetown (now Seymour), being the first set- tled pastor of the Congregational Church there. He moved into the parish house, then just con- pleted, in March, 1790.

(IV) Elias Beach, son of Benjamin (2), died in North Haven Aug. 17, 1822, aged eighty-one years. His wife, Elizabeth, passed away Dec. 3, 1821, at the age of seventy-six years.

(V) Major John Beach, son of Elias, acquired his title because of his militia service. He was born July 4, 1786, in North Haven, and died Jan. 29, 1865. He taught many winter terms of school, while pursuing agriculture in summer. Prominent in town affairs he served several years as select- man, and was representative in the General As- sembly. In politics he was a Whig, and joined the Republican party upon its organization. In early life he accepted the doctrines of the Methodist Church, but during his last years affiliated with the Congregational organization. His wife, Betsey (Blakeslee) was born in North Haven May 12, 1787, and died July 12, 1856. Their children were : Nelson John, born Nov. 12, 1814; Julius Vespasian, March 14, 1817; George, Nov. 21, 1820; Roxana, Aug. 2, 1829.

(VI) George Beach attended the district schools of North Haven, where he grew to manhood on the home farm. He came to Meriden when a young man, and was employed by the Charles Parker Co. as foreman in one of the factories, a position he held at the time of his death, which oc- curred May 6, 1856. Like his father, he was a Whig and Republican, and made the Golden Rule his standing through life. He was a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., of Meriden, and was held in high esteem by all who enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance.

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Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 1, Part 64

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040