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 3 > Part 41
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John Wilmot, the father of Noyes S .. was born in Bethany in 1779, and spent the greater portion of his life there, engaged in farming. He married Asenath Clark, who was born April 29. 1789, in Old Milford, a daughter of Andrew and Annie Clark. They were also born in Old Milford. the father about 1751. He was a farmer by occupation. and died in Middlebury, Conn .. about 1835. aged eighty-four years. His wife also died at the age of eighty-four. She was a granddaughter. on the maternal side. of Gov. Treat, of Connecticut. An- drew Clark and his wife were the parents of nine children, Nancy, Nathan. Asenath, Andrew, Sam- uel, Julia, Edmund, Susan and Mary. Nathan was a farmer as well as carpenter, and lived in Middle-
bury. Asenath, as has been said, was the wife of John Wilmot, and the mother of Noyes S. Nancy married Caleb Nettleton, also a farmer, who was the father of George Nettleton, of Naugatuck ; after her death he married her sister Mary, who passed away in 1896, aged ninety-four years. Andrew was a tailor by trade, and made his home in the South. Samuel married, and was a farmer in Middlebury. Julia became the wife of Almond Clark, of Water- bury. Edmund, who was a tailor in Troy, N. Y., died in Bridgeport aged ninety-two years; he was twice married, each time to a Miss Fry, his wives being sisters ; he went to California in 1849. Susan died in infancy.
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Andrew Clark served with gallantry and dis- tinction in the patriot army during the Revolution. His first experience as a soldier covered a period of eighteen days under Lieut. Col. Thomas Seymour, at the time of the "Lexington Alarm." From July IO, 1776, until Aug. 5, following, he served in Ma- jor Skinner's troop of light horse, and from Sept. 7 to Nov. 10, of that year, he was with the 21st Regiment of militia in New York. Later, from March 12, 1782, to Jan. 12, 1783, he was a member of a company commanded by Capt. Jabez Fitch. He was a Revolutionary pensioner in New Haven county, where he died. The following Wilmots served in the Revolutionary war: John, Daniel, Amos, David, Elisha, Francis, Joel, John A., Jos- eph. Samuel. Thomas, Timothy, Walter ( brother of the grandfather of our subject) and Zophar.
After their marriage our subject's parents set- tled upon a farm in Bethany, and in April, 1830, removed to Naugatuck. He died in 1837, and his widow Feb. 1. 1887, aged nearly ninety-eight years. Noyes S. Wilmot was the youngest and is the only surviving member of a family of five children. Lewis, a carpenter in New Haven. died about 1891. Lucius died at the age of nineteen. Julanty died when two years old. Edmund A., who was a farmer, died April 6, 1887. The male members of the family were Whigs, and all of the adults became members of the Congregational Church.
Noyes S. Wilmot passed the first seventeen years of his life in Naugatuck. but when his school days were over he went to New Haven to learn the trade of an iron molder. He remained there six years, when he returned to his native place and found work in the Naugatuck Iron Foundry. For thirty years he remained with that concern, mani- festing such mechanical skill, fidelity, industry and executive capacity that during twenty-one years he filled the post of superintendent. At the age of fifty-eight he retired. having accumulated a hand- some competence, which through judicious invest- ment and wise management he has since materially increased. His home is at Union City, where he owns farms comprising 220 acres. During the Civil war he served one year in Company H., 23d Conn. V. I.
Both socially and as a citizen Mr. Wilmot is
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deservedly popular, while his high moral worth commands respect. Besides being a member of the G. A. R., he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. the I. O. O. F. and the I. O. R. M. As a Mason he has attained high rank, being a member of Shep- ard's Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., Allerton Chap- ter and Waterbury Council. He is also an officer in the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican, and in religious faith a Congregationalist.
On Nov. 24. 1859, Mr. Wilmot married Miss Mary A. Breneiser, a daughter of Benneville and Lavina (Drinkle) Breneiser. She was born in Reading, Pa., her parents being also natives of that State, although of German extraction. Mr. Wil- mot's marriage has been blessed with seven chil- dren : Edmund B., Louisa R., Frank H., Charles E., Lewis H., Benneville N. and Mary T. Louisa rand Charles are deceased, the former dying in 1895. and the latter in 1803. Edmund and Mary live at home. Frank was formerly superintendent of the Malleable Iron Co., of Bridgeport. Lewis H. is a practicing physician in Ansonia. Benneville N. is a clerk in the Naugatuck National Bank.
HENRY WILLIAM HUBBARD, well and fa- vorably known as a leading manufacturer of car- riages in Branford, was born in Hartford. Conn., June 27, 1833. son of Richard and Rhoda (An- drews) Hubbard. The father is supposed to have been a native of Durham, Conn., but he lived a good part of his life in Hartford and Middletown. where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. He died at the home of his son, Henry William. in Branford, Jan. 27. 1860, at the age of seventy-eight years. Richard Hubbard was twice married. By his first wife he had five children. William. Edwin. Hiram, Frederick and Sara A. He married for his second wife Rhoda ( Andrews) Graham, of Wal- lingford, New Haven Co., Conn., and they had four children : Sara A., who married Harvey Bar- ker; Susan, wife of Edward Spencer: and Henry W. and H. Cornelia, twins, the latter of whom mar- ried Harvey Beach.
Henry William Hubbard was reared from the age of five years in Middletown. where he re- ceived a limited education in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the carriagemaker's trade in Middletown, at which he served six years. becoming a master workman. and developing an unusual business capacity. In 1854 Mr. Hubbard located in East Haddam and engaged in business in partnership with Edward H. Cheney. This partnership was terminated the following year. In 1855 Mr. Hubbard came to Branford, and in October of that year began busi- ness with his half-brother. William E. Graham, un- der the firm name of Graham & Hubbard. This association continued for many years, and when it was terminated the business was divided, Mr. Hubbard taking into his own hands the blacksmith and painting departments. Mr. Graham died in 1889
and Mr. Hubbard has since continued the business in all its branches. Our subject was one of the incorporators of the Branford Savings Bank, and of the James Blackstone Memorial Library.
During the Civil war Mr. Hubbard was a mem- ber of Company B. 27th Conn. C. V., Capt. C. L. Ely, enlisting Aug. 22, 1862, for nine months, and being mustcred into service on Oct. 3. of the same year. He participated in the desperate battle of Fredericksburg, and was taken prisoner at Chan- cellorsville, being confined in Castle Thunder about two weeks, after which he was paroled, on May 3, 1863. and for a time was at the parole camp at Annapolis, subsequently at the convalescent camp at Alexandria, Va. From this point he was hon- orably discharged July 27, 1863, with the rank of corporal, to which he was promoted before the bat- tle of Chancellorsville. On his return from the war he joined Company K. 2d Conn. N. G., and served five years. He entered that command as orderly sergeant, was promoted to second lieutenant, and later to first lieutenant, being discharged with the latter rank.
Mr. Hubbard was married, June 6, 1858, to Miss Emma P. Linsley. a daughter of James and Henrietta ( Monger) Linsley, of Branford, the for- mer a native of that place : Mr. Linsley was a car- penter by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have three daughters: (1) Ida married Frank W. Jerrold. and has three children, Olive M .. Gladys L. and Emma H. (2) Henrietta W. (3) Luella L. is the wife of Wilfred L. Mcore, and has one child. Ethel. Mr. Hubbard and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church of Branford, in which he is deacon. In politics he is a Republican. Though no politician, he has been delegate to the county convention, and once was nominated for the Legis- lature, but was defeated, the town being Demo- cratic. In May, 1901, he was elected burgess. Mr. Hubbard belongs to Mason Rogers Post, No. 7, G. A. R., and his wife is a member of Mason Rogers Relief Corps, No. 46, which is associated with the Branford post. They are good people and have a host of friends.
JOHN LAMBERT FOOTE. Fortunate is he who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith.
Our subject, one of the prominent citizens and retired business men of Cheshire, is blessed in this respect, for he springs from one of the oldest and most prominent families of Connecticut. The first to locate here was Nathaniel Foote, who was a pioneer of Wethersfield, Hartford county. His son, Robert Foote, removed from that town to New Haven county, and took up his residence in Walling- ford, where he remained until 1678. He then went to Branford, Conn .. where he died suddenly, in 1681, at the age of fifty-two years, and was buried there. He was married in 1659, and after his death
H. M. Hubbard
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his widow, Sarah, married Aaron Blachley, of Bran- ford, in 1686.
John Foote, the sixth child of Robert and Sarah Foote, was born July 24, 1670, and spent his entire life in Branford, dying in 1713. Seven children were born to him and his wife Mary.
John Foote, son of John and Mary, was born in Branford in 1700, and when a young man lo- cated in North Branford, where he died Jan. 26, 1777. He was twice married, first Dec. 25. 1733. to Elizabeth Frisbee. who died Feb. 3, 1737, aged twenty-two years. On Ang. 16, 1738, he married Abigail Frisbee, who died May 17. 1779. By the first union there was one son, Jonathan, who was born Jan. 23, 1737. and died in North Branford in 1801. The only child by the second marriage was John, mentioned below.
John Foote, grandfather of our subject, was born in North Branford April 2, 1742, and was graduated at Yale College in 1765. He had studied in the divinity school and was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church, succeeding Rev. Mr. Hall at Cheshire, where he ministered to the spirit- nal needs of the people until his death, which oc- curred Aug. 31, 1813, when he was aged seventy- one years. His remains were interred in Cheshire cemetery. He was beloved and respected by the entire community. He was twice married. his first wife being Abigail Hall, of Cheshire, a daughter of Rev. Samuel Hall, and granddaughter of Gov. Jona- than Law, of Connecticut. She died Nov. 19. 1788, at the age of thirty-nine years. and for his second wife he married Eunice Hall, a daughter of John Hall. Her death occurred Jan. 31, 1817. All of his children were by the first marriage, namely: Abi- gail Sarah Hall, born Jan. 2, 1769. died Jan. 20, 1775; Mary Ann, born Sept. 21, 1770, died Sept. 25, 1775 ; Lucinda, born May 19, 1772, married Dr. Thomas T. Cornwall. of Cheshire; John Alfred, born Jan. 2, 1774, died Aug. 25, 1794; Abigail M. A., born Sept. 16, 1776, died Aug. 9, 1778; William Lambert, father of our subject, was next in the or- der of birth ; Samuel Augustus, born Nov. 8, 1780, died Sept. 16, 1846: Roderick, born Dec. 15. 1782, died May 16, 1791 ; and Matilda, born May 6, 1785, died Oct. 9, 1787.
William Lambert Foote, father of our subject. was born in Cheshire Oct. 10, 1778, and attended the schools of his native town. Subsequently he was graduated from the Medical Department of Yale College, and throughout the remainder of his life successfully followed his chosen profession in Cheshire and adjoining towns, having built up an extensive practice. He was quite prominent in pub- lic affairs, and was one of the first to hold the of- fice of judge of probate in his town: also served as town clerk, and represented Cheshire in the State Legislature. He was one of the leading and influen- tial residents of the town, ond one of the most high- ly respected, and always faithfully performed his duties of citizenship. In politics he was a lifelong
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Democrat. Religiously he was a member of the Con- gregational Church. He died Aug. 9, 1849, and was laid to rest in the family cemetery in Cheshire. In March, 1801. he wedded Mary Scoville, a native of Berlin, Hartford Co., Conn .. and daughter of Capt. Daniel Scoville, later of Saybrook, Conn. She, too, was an earnest member of the Congregational Church, and died in that faith Jan. 1, 1861: she was buried in Cheshire cemetery. In their family were six children, of whom John L. is the youngest, and the others were as follows: ( 1) William Sid- ney, born Nov. 21, 1802, graduated from Yale Col- lege, and became a physician of Ohio. He was mar- ried in 1827 to Mary Butler. (2) Mary A .. born May 23, 1856, died unmarried April 20, 1888. She possessed a remarkably sweet voice, and sang for a number of years in the Congregational Church of Cheshire. (3) Abigail, born April 28, 1808, was also a singer, and was connected with the choir of the same church. She married Edward Doo- little, who died March 4. 1837, and she died March 29. 1892. (4) Scoville D., born April 10. 1810. married Martha Whiting, of Milford, Conn., and was engaged in merchandising in New York, where he died March 28, 1883. (5) Eliza S., born June 29, 1812, died unmarried March 19, 1892.
John Lambert Foote, whose name introduces this sketch, was born Sept. 14, 1817, and pursued his studies in the district and select schools of Cheshire. While still quite young he worked in a store at New Haven for two years. After his return to Cheshire he was employed at farm labor for a time, and from his wages managed to save $16, with which he embarked in merchandising on a small scale, although only fourteen years of age. By close application to business his trade steadily increased, and from time to time he enlarged his stock until he had a good general store. For over forty-eight years he was successfully engaged in business along that line, and on his retirement, in 1885, had accumulated a handsome fortune, having become one of the wealthiest men of the town. His career seems almost phenomenal, vet his success has by no means been the result of fortunate cir- cumstances. It has come to him through energy. labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly bal- anced mind and by honorable business principles. From early life he made it his plan to spend less than his income. Although economical, he is liberal. In his religious views and in politics he is independent, and during President Van Buren's administration served as postmaster at Cheshire for four years. Although he is now over eighty-four years of age, he is still quite active in both mind and body. His life has been well spent, and he is now enjoying a well-earned rest, surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem hin highly for his sterling worth.
Gov. Samuel Augustus Foote, an uncle of our subject, was born in Cheshire Nov. 8, 1780. a son of Rev. John and Abigail (Hall) Foote. He was.
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graduated at Yale in 1797, and after studying law engaged in practice in his native village. He mar- ried Eudocia Hull, a daughter of Gen. Andrew and Elizabeth Mary Ann Hull. of Cheshire, and later became a partner of Gen. Hull in commercial busi- ness at New Haven, though he continued to make his home in Cheshire. where his mansion is still standing. He was a member of Congress in IS19: was re-elected in 1823 and 1834; was Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Connecticut Legislature in 1825-26; and was chosen United States senator in 1827. In 1834 he was elected gov- ernor of Connecticut, and while in that office re- ceived the degree of LL. D. from Yale. He died Sept. 16, 1846, and was buried in Cheshire. His wife died at the home of her son, in Cleveland, Ohio, but her remains were brought back and in- terred by the side of her husband. In their family were five children, two of whom died in infancy, and the others were : Hon. John A. Foote, a promi- nent lawyer of Cleveland: Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote, of the United States navy, who died in New Haven ; and Augustus E. Foote, of Clevelandi.
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CAPT. FREDERICK ALONZO WELD (de- ceased) was. in his day, one of the best-known whaling captains along this part of the Atlantic coast, and in his long life on the water met with many an adventure. He was born Feb. 1, 18.20, in the town of Guilford. and attended the public schools there and on Long Island, whither he re- moved with his parents while still young. A por- tion of his boyhood was spent upon a farm, and at the age of twelve he became an apprentice to the jeweler's trade with Zebulon Elliot, of Sag Harbor, who was also a watchmaker, gunsmith and repairer of chronometers. He acquired a thorough knowl- edge of all these branches, remaining with Mr. Elliot three years, after which for a time he was engaged with his father in carpenter and joiner work. Having a strong desire to go sea, when fifteen years of age he shipped as cabin boy on a whaling vessel, and in time worked himself up from that humble position until he commanded a vessel. He was promoted from second mate on the old whaling ship "James Hamilton," under Capt. Isaac Ludlow, to captain. The first ship he commanded was the whaler "Italy," of Greenport, Long Island. Later he was master of the "Marengo," of New Bedford, and his last voyage was made in the "Odd Fellow," of Sag Harbor, returning in 1868. Capt. Weld met with gratifying success in his chosen call- ing, and during his career as a sailor went farther north than any of the explorers had yet penetrated, and twice sailed around the world. His voyages took him to many seas and strange lands, and his , home contains numerous relics and souvenirs of his voyages to different countries. He was the first man who went whaling in the Sca of Ochotsk, and as the natives along the shore had never seen a whaling vessel, they were much alarmed, thinking
it a Russian man-of-war. However, he was a very unassuming man, and although he passed through many exciting and perilous scenes, he never boasted of his achievements in any line. On Nov. 3. 1856. he encountered a hurricane in Behring Straits. al- most wrecking the vessel, which was laden with a valuable cargo of oil and whale-bone. In a badly disabled condition they drifted about forty-two days before reaching the Sandwich Islands, and as pieces of the vessel had been picked up, they had been given up as lost. During those forty-two days the vessel had been leaking fearfully-both pumps go- ing night and day in order to keep afloat, clothes and bedding wet, and men dying frequently with scurvy, sometimes two in one day, induced by wet clothes, exposure and want of vegetable food. The men, themselves, had long given up all hopes of life, when land was finally discovered, and their lives and cargo saved; only six men of a crew of thirty were able to be about the vessel. On account of the saving of the cargo, the underwriters of the vessel presented Capt. Weld with a valuable ring. During one of Capt. Weld's voyages in the "Italy" five of the crew, being thwarted in their plans to steal a boat and desert, conspired to fire the ship. throw the mate overboard, kill the captain and other officers. The ringleader carried a knife in his boot- leg, and at one time drew it to attack the captain. Fortunately the fire was discovered; the mutineers were put in irons, and when the vessel reached Lahaina, Sandwich Islands, they were delivered to the American Consul to be dealt with according 10 law.
After abandoning the water Capt. Weld settled at Guilford, where he passed the remainder of his days in quiet retirement, dying in January, 1893. His remains rest in Guilford cemetery. On April 26, 1849 he married, at . Sag Harbor, Miss Mary Douglass Washburn, who was born in that place, a daughter of Capt. Noah Washburn (3), a native of Hartford, and Nancy C. ( Hodges) Washburn. Capt. Noah Washburn was a mate on a gunboat in the war of 1812, and later a captain of artillery in the 13th Regiment, of New York State, and later for twenty-five years was an officer in the Custon House. Two children were born to Captain and Mrs. Weld: Frederick Floyd, who is mentioned below; and Elias J., who died young. Capt. Weld attended the Episcopal Church, as does also his widow. In political faith he was a Republican, but was not active in public life. Fraternally he held membership in St. Alban's Lodge, F. & A. M., .Guilford. and he and his wife both belonged to the .Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Weld serving as matron in her lodge for eight years. She is highly esteemed by her many friends in Guilford, and is a woman of many sterling Christian qualities.
FREDERICK FLOYD WELD (deceased) was born Feb. 19, 1850, in Sag Harbor. Long Island, and early displayed a penchant for his father's calling. While yet in his 'teens he made application, en-
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dorsed by the governor of Connecticut and other citizens of the State. for appointment as cadet eu- gineer at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. Receiving assurance that his application would be granted, providing he was qualified to enter, hic prepared himself to pass the necessary examinations. For some reason, however, Congress failed to pass the necessary appropriation for the academy for that year, and Mr. Weld instead entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale, taking the course in civil engineering, in which he was graduated with the class of 1872. For the year following he was in the employ of the United States Coasting Survey, sur- veying the Delaware river from Easton to Trenton, and in August, 1873, he obtained a position as draughtsman and general assistant in the office of the city engineer at New Haven, continuing in that incumbency until July, 1881, when he resigned in order to accept a more lucrative position, becoming managing engineer for Thomas P. Simpson, a con- tractor on the Pittsburg & Western railroad. In the summer of 1883 Mr. Weld accepted a position as assistant engineer in charge of the construction of a system of sewers in Waterbury. Conn., designed by Rudolph Hering, and so ably did he discharge the duties of this position that when, a few months later, a vacancy occurred in the office of city en- gineer, caused by the resignation of N. J. Welton, he was at once selected for the incumbency. In this office he remained continuously under different administrations until his death, June 28, 1890. Al- though a large portion of his time and resources were given to devising means for checking the ravages of preventable diseases, he was one of the first victims in the epidemic of typhoid which pre- vailed in Waterbury that year. For several years he had been one of the most prominent and efficient workers on the Waterbury board of health, and in company with H. J. Kellogg, his first assistant, he designed a system of sewers for the borough of Wallingford. He also acted as consulting engineer in the construction of the sewer systems of Tor- rington and Ansonia, as well as many less important engineering works. On Sept. 3, 1884, he became a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and he was a leading member of the Connecticut Civil Engineers & Surveyors Association, of which he was serving as president at the time of his dc- mise.
The Waterbury American under date of June 28, 1890, says :
City Engineer F. Floyd Weld died at his home at No. 127 North Main street at 2:30 this morning. Mr. Weld had been confined to his home not quite two weeks with a severe attack of typhoid fever. June 16. he was one of a party that left this city to visit New York and investigate the laying of asphalt paving in that city. He returned the same night and his physician found him suffering from an advanced stage of the disease. For weeks he had not been himself and his physical condition was such that it feebly opposed the ravages of the fever.
The deceased was born at Sag Harbor, L. I., and was forty years of age last February. Graduating with the
class of '72 from the Sheffield Scientific School, he en- tered the office of the city engineer in New Haven. He was assistant city engineer there when called to this city in June, 1883, by City Engineer N. J. Welton, who was then very busy in laying out and constructing the sewer system just adopted here. In January, 1884, Mr. Weld was appointed city engineer and from that time devoted himself to the extension of a pipe system for Waterbury which has few superiors in eastern cities, and which has served as a model for many more pretentious cities. As an accurate engineer his reputation was State wide. if not more. Every foot of sewer planned and laid by him was the result of a carefully thought out system, and every minor detail of the work was completely mastered and carried in mind by him. His maps were always models; he was abreast of municipal developments and improve- ments in every particular that concerned his profession. He was an admitted authority on sewer systems, and the Connecticut Association of Civil Engineers and Survey- ors acknowledged his ability by electing him its president. At the time of his death he was giving much of his time and attention to Waterbury's paving question. He thor- oughly believed in the merits of asphalt for our city's streets. and visited many cities and collected a vast amount of data to defend his position, and to demonstrate the growing importance of this material for paving. Whatever the material eventually used. and however done, the absence of the experience and judgment of the late city engineer in these matters will be a great loss to the city.
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