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 91
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JARED BENHAM. The expression the "dig- nity of labor" is exemplified in the life record of this gentleman, who, without reserve, attributes his success to earnest work. He is a man of strong force of character, purposeful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judgment are shown in his capable management of what is one of the leading industrial concerns of Hamden-the Ham- den Manufacturing Co .- of which he is president.
Mr. Benham was born on the farm where he now resides, May 18, 1823, and belongs to an old New Haven county family. His paternal grand- father, Deacon Joseph Benham, was a native of the town of Cheshire, born in 1750, and there he grew to manhood and learned the tanner's and shoe- maker's trades. After his marriage he came to Hamden, where he continued to follow his chosen occupation throughout his active business life, but he spent his last days in retirement from labor with the father of our subject. He always took a deep interest in public affairs, and was numbered among the useful and respected citizens of the community in which he lived. In Cheshire he married Miss Elizabeth Bunnell, a native of that town, born about 1752. She died in Hamden in 1832, and he passed away in the same place Jan. 25, 1836, and both were buried in the Hamden Plains cemetery. They were earnest, consistent Christian people, and held mem- bership in the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Benham was a deacon. Their children were George, Amos, Ransom, Betsey, Ada, Jared (who died at sea) and Isaac, all now deceased.
Isaac Benham, father of our subject, was born in Hamden Ang. 2, 1791, and received only a dis- trict-school education. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, and made the same his life work. He owned the small farm on which our sub- ject now resides, partly built a house, and made other improvements upon the place. The house is still standing, and is kept in good repair. Mr. Ben- ham was noted for his temperate habits, was a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. in which he served as class-leader and held several church offices. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, but never sought political hon- ors. On March 8, 1815, he married Miss Annie | Tuttle, a daughter of Aaron Tuttle, and a school
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teacher, who was born in Middlebury, Conn., Jan. 20, 1795, and died in Hamden Aug. 2, 1876. She was a lady of education and refinement, and was also a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father died at his home in Hamden, Jan. 23, 1879, from the effects of an injury he had received in the bowels, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife in the family cemetery in Hamden Plains. To them were born four children: (1) William, born March 4, 1817, a retired citizen of North Haven, married March 27, 1843. Nancy Ivcs. who was born Aug. 22, 1817, and died July 11, 1884, the mother of two children, Addie Betsey and Anna Nancy. (2) Isaac, born July 6, 1821. died when one day old. (3) Jared is the subject proper of this review. (4) Betsey Ann, born Sept. 30, 1827, died July 30, 1846. Isaac Benham, the father, was a most remarkably well-preserved man, and at his advanced age he was spoken of by all as a man who surely would live to be one hundred. He lived a most exemplary life, his influence and example al- ways for right and the betterment of all.
The common schools of Hamden afforded Jared Benham his educational advantages, but he was able to attend school only through the winter months. as he was employed during the remainder of the year on the home farm, or by neighboring farmers. after he attained his fifteenth year, and his small wages went toward the support of his parents until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one his father gave him $100 and a cheap satinet suit of clothes, as was the style those days, as a bonus, and he found employment in the rubber shop of L. Can- dee & Co., of Hamden, where he at first worked for $I per day. During the eleven years he remained with that company, by the faithful discharge of his duties, he worked his way upward to the position of superintendent of the packing department. The following year he engaged in farming in Hamden, and then obtained a position in the auger and bit manufactory of W. Churchill & Co., where he was gradually advanced until he became manager of the plant. Later he was a stockholder of Ives & Co., in the same line of business. and when that firm dis- continued business he became a stockholder. man- ager and treasurer of the Hamden Manufacturing Co. On the retirement of Horace P. Shares as president he was elected to that office, which he has since filled, in connection with that of assistant treas- urer, to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
In 1844, in Hamden, Mr. Benham married Miss Rhoda M. Woodin, a native of that town, and a daughter of Charles and Betsey ( Cooper) Woodin. Her paternal grandfather was Benjamin Woodin, her maternal grandfather Abram Cooper, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Benham: (1) Charles Isaac, secretary and manager of the Hamden Manufactur- ing Co., was married May 9, 1867. to Miss Emma Adelle Dorman, and they have children as follows: Charles Jared, a thrifty and enterprising merchant
in the flour, feed and grain business in New Haven, born April 12, 1868, married Dec. 25, 1890, Miss Kathleen Peters, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has one daughter, Mildred Adelle, born Jan. 7, 1892; Sarah MI. was born Oct. 17, 1882; and Leroy Orrin was born March 7, 1891. (2) Jared A., also with the Hamden Manufacturing Co., was educated in the district schools and the schools of New Haven. He was married Dec. 4, 1870, to Ineetta Potter. He is very prominent in social circles, is a member of Day Spring Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hamden; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Sterling Lodge, A. O. U. W., all of New Haven ; Ansantawae Tribe, I. O. R. M. : Jun- ior Order United American Mechanics ; Washington Camp, P. O. S. A .; Golden Rule Encampment, I. O. O. F. : and the Mutual Aid Association.
By his ballot Jared Benham, our subject, has supported first the Whig and later the Republican party, but he has never sought political preferment, though he was at one time a candidate for repre- sentative, losing the election by a single vote. He had frequently declined to allow his name to be used as a candidate, and this defeat came at a time when Hamden was a Democratic town. At the regu- lar election the vote was tie, which was voted over on the day after election, at which time Mr. Ben- ham was bedfast with pneumonia. In town affairs Mr. Benham looks first to the man, and his political connection has been simply that of a good citizen, who has at heart the town's welfare. He is well known and highly respected by all classes on ac- count of his sterling worth. He continues to reside on the old homestead, where he has made many im- provements, including the erection of a fine resi- dence, supplied with all modern conveniences, and this beautiful home is noted for its hospitality and good cheer. For the success that Mr. Benham has achieved in life he deserves great credit, for it is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts and strict integrity.
In church affairs Mr. Benham has shown greater activity than in politics. He has always been prom- inently identified with church work, as also was his estimable wife in her lifetime. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, during over forty-five years, he was always in some office, holding every office in the church at different times, except that of class-leader, which he declined. In Sabbath-school work he took an active part. He was for years a teacher, and for almost thirty years was superintendent. The fol- lowing set of resolutions were given him by Ham- den Plains Sabbathi-school in recognition of his faithful services :
WHEREAS, Our esteemed brother, Jared Benham, has for more than a quarter of a century filled the office of Sahbath School Superintendent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Hamden Plains, Conn ..
Resolred, That the Sabbath School Board, composed of officers and teachers, and representing more than 200 mem- bers, do record our high estimate of the ability, the integ- rity, the liberality, and the self-denying labors of our dear
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brother, whose disinterested efforts for the welfare of the school, we have seen and admired.
Resolved, That his presence in the school has yielded us the highest gratification, and his cheerful spirit and strong and steady faith in God has enlisted our affection and inspired us with greater efforts in the work of our blessed Lord.
Resolved, That we desire Heaven's richest blessings to rest upon him and that the same may attend him through. life.
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered in the Sab- bath School record book, also that a copy be prepared and neatly framed and presented to Brother Benham.
Hamden, Conn., Marcb, 1884.
[Signed]
NELSON L. PORTER, HUBERT E. WARNER. EDWARD D. SANFORD.
Mrs. Jared Benhanı died May 22, 1901, after fifty-six years of married life, and was buried in Hamden Plains cemetery. She was a noble, kind- hearted, Christian woman, who had the profound respect of every one. The life of Mr. Benham has been one of constant effort to do unto others as he wished to be done by. No man in Hamden has, to any greater extent, the respect of every one. His kind and gentle manner is known of by old and young. His remarkable activity and well-preserved condition are the result of a temperate life and regu- lar habits. When eighteen years old he made his mother a promise never to use tobacco, and he never did afterward. He tasted ale once when a young man, and that was the last time he ever used intoxi- cants, and he is just as strong in example as in pre- cept. He was a "home spun' boy of his time, reared under Christian influence and teachings,and has ever endeavored to live a Christian life, not one day. but seven days in the week. His nearly eighty years of life have been spent, with exception of a few years, at the same home where he is now passing the evening of his well-spent life.
BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, M. D., LL. D., Pro- fessor of Chemistry, Mineralogy and Geology in Yale College from 1802 to 1865, and the most emi- nent teacher of Natural Science of his time in Amer- ica, was born in North Stratford (now Trumbull). Conn., Aug. 8. 1779. In the following pages we quote freely from the memoirs of Prof. Silliman by Prof. George P. Fisher.
Daniel Silliman, the first of the name who set- tled in Fairfield, Conn., is understood in the tradi- tions of the family to have been an immigrant from Holland. "Later discoveries, in which Professor Silliman was much interested, indicate that the fam- ily was of Italian origin. At the epoch of the Ref- ormation persons bearing the name of Sillimandi, and professing the Reformed faith, removed from Lucca, in Tuscany, and took refuge in Geneva, then the conimon resort of persecuted Protestants. Their descendants, who had dropped the terminal syllable di from the name, are found established in Swit- zerland. They have among them the tradition that a member of their family. named Daniel Silliman, who had held a civil office in Berne, left that city
for political reasons and went to America about the time of the Puritan cmigration from England. There are strong reasons for believing that the first Daniel Silliman of Fairfield was either the emigrant from Berne, or a near relative. In this case Holland may have been a temporary place of sojourn, and at any rate, front Holland he would naturally embark for America, which will perhaps account for the tradi- tion which identifies the progenitor of the Fairfield Sillimans with that country.
Judge Ebenezer Silliman ( 1707-1775), the grandfather of Professor Silliman, was a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1727 ; he pursued the profession of law, became a judge of the Superior Court of the Colony, and was a member of the Governor's Council. He was the proprietor of a large landed estate, and an influential man in public affairs. His son. Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman ( 1732- 1790), the father of Professor Silliman, was like- wise graduated from Yale College, in 1752. After engaging for a short time in business he studied law, and became a successful practitioner at the Bar. as is indicated by his holding the office of Prosecut- ing Attorney for the County. He had interested himself in military affairs, and at the outbreak of the Revolution was a Colonel of Cavalry in the local militia. But during most of the war he was Brig- adier-General, and was charged with the superin- tendency of the defense of the Southwestern front- ier of Connecticut, which, on account of the long occupation of the City of New York and West- chester county, as well as Long Island, by the Brit- ish, was a post requiring much vigilance and effi- ciency. He took the field at the head of a regiment early in 1776, was in the battle of Long Island. and both in that retreat and in the retreat of the Ameri- can forces from New York City his command was placed as the rear guard. He bore a perilous and honorable part in the battle of White Plains, and on this. as on several other occasions, narrowly escaped the balls of the enemy. While serving in the camp of Washington, Gen. Silliman enjoyed his confi- dence. In May, 1779. a party that was sent to Lloyd's Neck by Sir Henry Clinton surprised Gen. Silliman in his own house, and for a year he re- mained a prisoner on parole at Flatbush and Graves- end, L. I. Subsequently he was exchanged.
On his mother's side Professor Silliman was di- rectly descended from Pilgrims of the "Mayflower." His grandmother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Peabody, was the daughter of Elizabeth Peabody. who lies buried in Little Compton. R. I .. and was well remembered by her grandson, she dying in her eightieth year at his father's house, and she was fourteen when her grandmother died: and her mother was the daughter of John Alden and Pris- cilla Mullins, the legend of whose love, which brought disappointment to the hopes of Miles Stand- ish, has been commemorated in Mr. Longfellow's verse.
The grandfather of Professor Silliman in the
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