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 2 > Part 55
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On Feb. 18, 1885, Mr. Clarke was married in Milford to Miss Susie I. Smith, and four children have blessed the union, all of whom are living, viz .: Stanley Newton, born Dec. 7, 1887; Mildred Leo- nora, born June 19, 1891; Florence Isabelle, born March 14, 1897; and Marjorie Theresa, born Sept. 18, 1898. Mrs. Clarke formerly taught in the Sab- bath-school, and she is a member of the Ladies' Be- nevolent Union of the Congregational Church, of Milford. She is a charter member of Freelove Baldwin Stowe Chapter, D. A. R., at that place.
The SMITH family, to which Mrs. Elbert N. Clarke belongs, has been settled in Milford from an early day. Her great-grandfather, Isaac Smith, her grandfather, Nathan Smith, and her father, E. Stiles Smith, made shoe making their occupation. E. Stiles Smith, who is still living in Milford, mar- ried Maria Theresa Platt, a native of Milford, who is a daughter of Jonah Platt; her grandfather, Fisk Platt, was also the grandfather of A. Clarke Platt, of Milford. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. E. Stiles Smith : Susie I. and Sadie T., twins, born Feb. 13, 1862, in Milford, the former the wife of Elbert N. Clarke, the latter the wife of Charles S. Clarke, a seed grower of Wakeman, Ohio; and Frank W., of New Haven, who married Miss Carrie W. Beard, of Milford.
Through her mother Mrs. Clarke is a member of the Fowler family, one of the oldest in New Eng- land, being a descendant in the tenth generation from William Fowler, who came to the New World in company with Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport and Peter Prudden. She is of the sixth genera- tion from Capt. John Fowler, who was commis- sioned by the assembly captain of the 2d Company, or train band, of the Second Regiment, and served his town and country by raising troops for the Continental army.
Mrs. Clarke is also descended maternally from Capt. Charles Pond and Sir Charles Hobby, the lat- ter an officer in the Colonial wars, who was one of the six American knights knighted at Windsor Castle in 1705. He was the ancestor of Mary Hob- by, who married Zachariah Hubbard. Their daugh- ter, Mary, married Peter Pond, and they became the parents of Capt. Charles Pond. Capt. Charles Pond was first ensign in Capt. Peter Peret's company, Col. Charles Webb's regiment, and was at the siege of Boston. On Jan. 17, 1776, he wa's commissioned first lieutenant, and in June, 1776, was in command of the war vessel "Scuyler," thirty-three men cap- tured from the British ship "Crawford," and a sloop. In August, 1776, he captured three prizes, and the same season recaptured vessels belonging to
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the United States, and stores taken to Long Island. He was at the battle of White Plains and crossed the Delaware with Washington in December, 1777. He was also at Princeton. On Jan. 1, 1777, he was commissioned captain, resigning April 20, 1779, to take charge of the war vessel "New Defense," which was captured after an engagement with a British brig and taken to New York, while the captain was confined on the prison ship "Jersey"; however, he was soon exchanged. He became a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Capt. Pond married Mar- tha Miles, and their daughter, Sally, became the wife of William Herpin Fowler, and their daughter, Sarah, was the wife of Jonah Platt, Mrs. Clarke's maternal grandfather.
THOMAS FITZSIMONS, one of the pro- gressive men who have done so much to develop Waterbury, and make it the industrial center of so much life and activity, was born in County West- meath. Ireland. April 13, 1838. He was the grand- son of Hubert Fitzsimons. a soldier in the English armv. who distinguished himself for gallantrv in the Franco-English war, under the Duke of Well- ington. Hubert Fitzsimons had two sons and one daughter. One son came to America quite young and began life in Utica, N. Y., and the daughter married a Canadian architect of great ability.
Thomas Fitzsimons, the second son and father of the gentleman whose name appears at the intro- duction of this article, married Miss Susan Laird, who was of Scotch descent. They were the par- ents of seven children: William, Thomas, George, Robert, Alicia, Charlotte and Susan. The mother and daughter. Susan, both died and were buried in New York City, whither the family had removed in 1848. Thomas Fitzsimons and his son, our subject, came to Waterbury in October, 1849, and in the following year the father married Miss Anna Groves. To this second union were born seven children:
Thomas Fitzsimons, Jr., attended the Water- bury public schools for a short time, and at the age of thirteen was put to work in a factory to learn the trade of chasing buttons, which at that time was principally done by boys and girls. In 1862 he be- gan work in Steele & Johnson's button company, then known as The Jewelry Co. After working there for twelve years he rose to foreman of the finishing department. In 1871 he went to Newark, N. J., to take charge of the establishment of God- dard & Brothers, button manufacturers, remaining there for one year. Returning to Waterbury in 1872, he, with William Blake, Edwin Putnam and John Kirschbaum, organized the firm known as the Novelty Mfg. Co., of which he was first elected sec- retary. At the death of William Blake he was elected treasurer, and upon the death of Edwin Put- nam he was elected president, which position he still holds. The business has grown from a one- story building with a few workmen, to a four-story
plant of modern structure, fully equipped with special machinery and operated by steam. Their trade is rapidly increasing, and extends over all parts of the United States. Mr. Fitzsimons has been interested in real estate, and has shown keen foresight in selecting tracts of land for improve- ment. He was the originator of the Columbia Boul- evard, which has since become such a desirable residential section. He has been a member of the city council, and served on the committee of the street department and of the law department, and has held other offices of trust. When the electric lighting enterprise came up he worked faithfully for the lighting of the city by electricity.
In 1865 Mr. Fitzsimons married Sarah A. Essex, of Cornwall Bridge, Conn., who belonged to one of the oldest families in New England of English extraction. To Mr. and Mrs. Fitzsimons were born the following children: Joseph Essex, who is a practicing physician in Waterbury; Louis Edward, secretarv and treasurer of the Novelty Manufacturing Co .: Mary Louise, who married Emery Gilson, of Machias, Me .; Oscar Samuel, as- sistant secretary of the Novelty Manufacturing Co .; and Grace Leffingwell, at home. The children all reside in Waterbury. Mrs. Sarah A. Fitzsimons died June 26, 1895. On April 15, 1897, Thomas Fitz- simons married Mrs. Rhoda M. H. Strong, daugh- ter of Sheldon Hotchkiss, and whose ancestry runs back to the Revolution. Mr. Fitzsimons is a pub- lic-spirited man, and has done much towards bringing Waterbury to its favored position. Al- though not a politician, he is a stanch member of the Republican party, as are also his sons. He has always been an active church worker, and his first instruction in religion was received in St. John's Episcopal Church under the Rev. Dr. Clark. At the age of seventeen he became quite active in the Baptist Sunday-school and a singer in its choir, After his first marriage he accompanied his wife to the Methodist Church, and became a teacher in its Sunday-school, a member of its official board and chairman of its finance committee for six years. He was also superintendent of Sunday-school at. Waterville, and was also an exhorter in the church. He was a member of the Connecticut State Sunday- school Association for ten years and in this capacity kept in close touch with forty-four Sunday-schools. He is now an active member of the Second Advent Church, and for many years has been the superin- tendent of its Sunday-school, chairman of its finance committee and official board, and also for many years has been elder of the church; from year to year he has taken an active part in revival work, and was president of the Hope Mission for a time. His donations for church purposes have always been liberal.
SAMUEL W. CHAPMAN, foreman of the lamp-burnishing department of the Holmes, Booth & Haydens Co., Waterbury, and a stockholder in the
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concern, is a native of Waterbury, born Nov. 13, 1853.
Adam Chapman, his grandfather, was born in Princeton, Mass., and died there. He was a farmer by occupation. He was a Baptist in religious con- nection. Ilis children were: Lorenzo, William, Moses, Lovel, Leander and Angeline.
Leander Chapman, father of Samuel W., was born in 1831, in Princeton, Mass.,and died in Water- bury, Conn. He married Isabella Benn, also a na- tive of Massachusetts, and they removed from Mas- sachusetts to Waterbury where Mr. Chapman fol- lowed his calling of mechanic. Here were born to them a family of six children, as follows: Lottie, who is married to Irving C. Beecher and resides in Santa Cruz, Cal .; Samuel W., whose name opens this sketch; Leander ( I) and Leander (2), botlı deceased; Frederick C., a mechanic in Waterbury; and Ella J. married to Sumner Holt, also of that city.
Samuel W. Chapman was preliminarily educated at the Town Plot school in Waterbury, and later attended the Waterbury high school. For a short time he worked on a farin and was then employed by the Waterbury Button Co., as shipping clerk, three years, leaving this company to form a connection with the Holmes, Booth & Hayden Co., with which he las been identified since April 1. 1869.
Mr. Chapman first married. May 1, 1879, Miss Lillian L. Beecher, who was born May 22, 1859, and died Feb. 16, 1881: no children graced this union. On Nov. 23. 1898, he chose for his second wife Miss Laura B. Peck, who was born in Suffield, Conn., and is a daughter of Rev. Edmund Peck. Rev. Edmund Peck was born in Greenwich, Conn., was educated to the ministry of the Methodist Church and married Elizabeth B. Smith, who was born in Bethany, Conn .. a daughter of Theophilus Smith, a native of Milford. Conn. Rufus Peck, father of Rev. Edmund Peck, was no doubt also a native of Greenwich, Conn. Rev. Edmund Peck still survives at the advanced age of eighty-four years, while his wife has attained the age of seventy- two.
Samuel W. Chapman is one of the most popular Republicans in his city and has been a member of the Republican town committee. He has repre- sented the Third Ward in the board of the common council many years ; has served as alderman, grand juror and justice of the peace ; and as notary public for several years. He has ever been a most pub- lic-spirited gentleman, and has been an ardent ad- vocate of many local improvements, and through his influence two parks have been donated to the city-Hamilton and Windemere Parks, the latter comprising at least 100 acres on the town plot. He has also been instrumental in the laying out of west Porter street ; the tunneling of Banks street under. the New York & New England road; the cutting down of Washington avenue at the intersection of Leonard street. Mr. Chapman is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and of the Concordia Singing Society. In religion he is a Congregationalist and has been clerk of the Third Church ever since its organization, April 1, 1892. Ile has led a pure, abstemious life and is greatly respected by the com- munity at large for his many personal merits, while he and his wife are always gladly welcomed in the best social circles of Waterbury.
JOSEPH PIERPONT. To trace a noble an- cestry is a desirable object of research, but few, in the present day, have succeeded so well as Joseph Pierpont, of North Haven. The derivation of the name is of noble origin, being derived from a stone bridge which the emperor Charlemagne supplied in place of a ferry. From Hugh in the first generation, the line is traced through Sir Godfrey, Robert, Will- iam, Hugh, William (2). Robert (2), Sir Henry, Sir Henry (2), Sir Robert (3), Sir Edmund, Sir Henry (3), Francis, Sir William (3), Sir George, William (4), James and Hon. John. Hon. John Pierpont, the last named, was the first to come to America, which he did in the early colonial period, and was accompanied by his brother, James. He resided in Roxbury, near Boston, in 1640, and his grave may yet be seen in the old burying ground of that historic place.
(11) On July 2, 1685, James Pierpont, son of Hon. John, was ordained a minister in New Ha- ven. He gave to North Haven "Pierpont Park." a record of which is found in the family archives. He died Nov. 22, 1714, aged fifty-four years.
(III) Joseph Pierpont, son of Rev. James, was born Oct. 21, 1704, and was the first of the name to settle in North Haven. On Sept. 27, 1727, he married Hannah, youngest daughter of Rev. Noah- diah Russell, of Middletown. Of this union were born, Samuel, Joseph. James, Benjamin. Hannah, Mary, Giles, Abigail, Hezekiah and Sarah. Joseph Pierpont died Nov. 24, 1748, and his widow on Aug. 6, 1752, married Samuel Sackett. She died June 6, 1791.
(IV) Joseph Pierpont, son of Joseph and Han- nan Pierpont, was born Sept. 13, 1730, and died at the home of his son, Daniel. in North Haven. Feb. 8, 1824, in his ninety-fourth year. On Sept. 21, 1756, he was united in marriage with Lydia Bassett, who bore him five children, as follows: Ezra, Jos- eph, Lydia. Lucy and Daniel. Lydia, wife of Jos- eph, died Nov. 9, 1783. For his second wife Mr. Pierpont wedded Annis Blakeslee, of Plymouth, Oct. 26, 1791 : she died Sept. 4, 1800.
(V) Daniel Pierpont, Esq., son of Joseph, was born May 6, 1775, and became one of the prominent men of the town. A cabinet maker by trade. he fol- lowed it only occasionally, as much of his time was occupied in looking after public affairs, being at various times clerk, selectman, justice of the peace. representative from the town in 1813, 1815 and 1824, and delegate to the constitutional convention in 1818. In the church he was as prominent as in
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public life, and was active in the work of St. John's Episcopal Church. On Sept. 26, 1799, he married Esther Humiston, and their children were: Bede, Elias, Esther, Harrick, Sally, Jared and Rufus. Dan- iel Pierpont, Esq., died in North Haven, Nov. 16, 1851, aged seventy-six and one-half years. Esther (Humiston ) Pierpont died Aug. 17, 1864, aged over ninety years ; she was a daughter of Samuel and Mary Humiston, the former born May 16, 1743. and died June 20, 1809. Mrs. Mary Humiston died June 6, 1820, aged seventy years.
(VI) Rufus Pierpont, son of Squire Daniel. spent all his life in the town of North Haven, where he was born March 5, ISIS. He received his educa- tion in the district schools and for several winters was employed in teaching, after which he embarked in the mercantile business, founding at that time the great store of which itis son is the fortunate owner. The beginning of this enterprise was in a small way-one room, located in the southwest cor- ner of the house now occupied by his widow, suf- ficing for the storage and display of the goods of- fered for sale-but long before his comparatively short life ended, it had grown beyond the limits first accorded it.
Mr. Pierpont was a popular man with his neigh- bors and associates, and was captain of the North Haven Blues-a local military organization. He was one of the faithful members of St. John's Epis- copal Church from 1841 until his death, being the clerk of the parish and foremost in every good work organized under the wing of the church. He died suddenly July 31, 1855, leaving, beside a large circle of friends, a widow and three dependent children. He had married Sept. 14, 1847.
Harriet Richards. the mother of Joseph Pier- pont, was born in Westminster, Vt., Oct. 1, 1824. and was one of the noblest and most self-sacrificing of her sex. Confronted with the problem of exist- ence with her three helpless children, she faced life bravely and took upon herself the unexpected bur- den. For twenty-one years she ably managed the store, increasing its business, added new features as modern ideas crept in, until, when her son was able to relieve her by purchasing it, she was able to give a faithful account of her stewardship. Her residence is now in North Haven. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Pierpont were: (1) Elias Richards, born in 1849. died in 1850. (2) Daniel Hobart, born in 1851, graduated from Yale Scien- tific School at the age of twenty years, and for two years was in the employ of the government in coast survey work; he died in 1874. (3) Joseph is mentioned below. (4) George Rufus, born Sept. 3, 1854, married Anna Cheney, a niece of ex-Gov. Bigelow and is located in Salem, Va., engaged in brickmaking.
(VII) Joseph Pierpont was born in the old house in North Haven, in which his mother still resides, March 1I, 1853. While a lad he was kept at the district schools, his mother determining to give her
children the benefits of a good education, and he was then sent to Cheshire Academy, leaving school at the age of eighteen years to become his mother's as- sistant in the store. At the age of twenty-one he purchased the business and since that time, by his admirable business methods, has built up an im- mense trade, having now one of the largest and most complete stores in the county. Six delivery wagons are required to accommodate his patrons in Ham- den, Northford, New Haven and Wallingford, and the shelving required to hold the great stock of merchandise would cover a mile in length. In ad- dition to a general store which supplies every want, Mr. Pierpont also conducts a feed and ice business, the same honest, upright dealing whichi marked the career of his father being the secret of his great success.
Mr. Pierpont was married in 1875 to Miss Hat- tie Brockett, who was born in North Haven, a daughter of Atwater and a granddaughter of Beth- uel Brockett, an old family of the section. The chil- dren of this union were: Grace Genevieve, born in 1877, married Frank S. Brockett, now with the Pittsburg Plate Glass Co., of New York; Richards Brockett, born in 1881, a student in Meriden; and Joseph, born in 1888.
Mr. Pierpont has taken great interest in public affairs and has been identified with all important measures of public good in his neighborhood for many years; has been elected town clerk, but has declined other local offices, accepting in 1893 an election as representative, however, and during his term of office bringing about many needed reforms in various lines. For fifteen years he has been senior warden of St. John's Episcopal Church, where he is esteemed and valued for his many ex- cellent traits of character. Mr. Pierpont is one of those who do not publish their generosity and char- ity to the world, but his intimate friends have found him out and are able to value him at his worth. Fraternally he is connected with Quinnipiac Lodge, O. U. A. M., being a charter member of the same ; Day Spring Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; for ten years has been treasurer of the Bradley Library, of North Haven, and has been and is now guardian for a num- ber of persons in the neighborhood, his character being such that he possesses the confidence and es- teem of the whole community. The success which has come to Mr. Pierpont is but the natural result of application and energy combined with tact, good judgment and honesty.
HARRY S. HOLCOMB, whose recent death was such a severe shock to his friends and acquaint- ances, was a retired carriage manufacturer in New Haven, formerly a member of the firm which op- erated the New Haven Carriage Works. He was born in Branford Marchi 5, 1846.
Frederick A. Holcomb, his father, was born in Guilford, but was reared in Branford and educated in that town, and there carried on a small carriage.
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making plant ; he made the first bent shaft used in carriage making. As he was a fine mechanic he did a prosperous business for a number of years, con- timing same up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in Branford when he was seventy-six years old. lle took an active part in politics, and at one tinte was the choice of the Democratic party for the Legislature. In religious faith he was an Episco- palian. Mr. Holcomb married Mary Rodgers, who was born in Stony Creek, a daughter of James Rodgers, a farmer there, who, during the Revolu- tionary war, was in the patriot army. The parents of our subject had nine children, the survivors be- ing: Fanny, who resides in Portland, Oregon ; Mrs. James H. Page ; G. F., ex-mayor of New Haven ; C. N., of New Haven ; and Minnie B., of New Ha- ven. The mother was a member of the Episcopal Church, and lived a beautiful, consistent life; she died at the age of seventy-six, in Branford.
Harry S. Holcomb was reared in Branford and remained there until he was twenty-four years of age, learning to be a skilled workman in his father's shop. He was but seventeen years of age when he first went into business, becoming a member of the firm of F. A. Holcomb & Sons, which firm, at the death of the father, became Holcomb Bros. (G. F. and Harry S.). The latter firm existed for some years, and in 1870 they moved to New Haven. La- ter the style became Holcomb Bros. & Co. Our sub- ject subsequently organized the New Haven Car- riage Co., his brother retaining his connection with Holcomb Bros. & Co. These two firms were closely connected in a financial way, and later consolidated, becoming the New Haven Carriage and Wagon Co., which after a short time became the New Haven Carriage Co., which was absorbed by the Columbia Electric Vehicle Co. Harry S. Holcomb was for one year a member of the board of directors of that combination, and at the same time was superin- tendent of the company's New Haven plant. In 1898 he retired from the carriage business and gave up all activity. He was one of the best known men in the carriage trade in the country, and was at one time one of the larger manufacturers in his line. The plant that he founded in New Haven was one of the leading concerns in the country. He made a success of the business. and from his own efforts accumulated a comfortable competence, which he retired to enjoy at a time when he was really in the midst of his business life. Personally he was a modest, unassuming man. He made a success in all he undertook, and as a successful business man and public-spirited citizen was nich honored among the circle of his acquaintances.
In March, 1867, Mr. Holcomb was married to Esther M. Bradley, who was born in Branford, one of the eight children of Gurdon and Ann Maria ( Spinks ) Bradley : six survive. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb: Anna M. married Samuel A. York, an attorney. a son of Judge York, of New Haven; their children are Holcomb and
Samuel. Harry C. carries on a general carriage business at No. 105 Goffe street ; he married Mar- garet Manson.
In politics Mr. Holcomb was a Democrat and his position in political affairs was ever a leading one, although he steadily refused office; however, he served as president of the board of fire commis- sioners. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Holcomb held many positions. He joined the fraternity in 1867 in Branford and there became past grand mas- ter; he belonged to Adelphi Lodge, Fair Haven ; Pulaski Chapter, in which he was past high priest; and was a member of Crawford Council and New Haven Commandery. Mr. Holcomb was something of a traveler, and spent the years between 1878 and 1882 in San Francisco, looking after a branch house! for the sale of carriages. His social position gave him membership in the Quinnipiac Club; in the Yacht Club, of which he served as commodore ; and in the Ansantawae Club, in which he served on the board of directors. For many years he was connected with St. Paul's Church, of New Haven. His death, on Jan. 20, 1902, was the result of a fall on the ice, which fractured his skull and pro- duced concussion of the brain. Few men have been so deeply mourned, and none more highly esteemed by the community at large.
GEORGE B. ZORN, who was efficiently serv- ing as superintendent of the town poor farm of Hamden, New Haven county, at the time of his death, Jan. 15, 1901, was born in Germany, Feb. 12, 1848, son of Solomon and Christina ( Wise) Zorn, also natives of that country. The father at- tended the public schools of Germany, and when his literary education was completed engaged in farm- ing there until 1854 when, with his wife and family, he emigrated to America. They crossed the Atlan- tic on a sailing vessel and landed in New York City, thence going to Lewis county, N. Y., and locating at High Market, where the father purchased the farm on which he still continues to live, his time and attention being devoted to general farming and stock raising. He is an ardent supporter of the Re- publican party, and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church and are held in high re- gard by all who know them. To them were born three children, namely: Christiana, now the wife of Peter Burdick, of Lewis county, N. Y .; George B., our subject ; and Emma, deceased wife of Gus- tave Scidel.
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