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 73
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Richard Tennant spent his boyhood and youth on the Scottish homestead, and availed himself of the opportunities of education presented by the local schools. After attaining his majority he went to Glasgow and served three years as an apprentice to the machinist's trade, at the Neilson Locomotive Works. Howden & Co., marine engineers, had the young man in their employ for two years, and he was then with the London-Glasgow Engineering Co. one year. By this time Mr. Tennant had be- come an experienced and thoroughly efficient ma- chinist, and his services were in demand. King & Co., a celebrated engineering house, counted him among their ablest employes. Only the desire to come to this country, where many of his compa- triots had already reaped a rich reward for their courage and enterprise, induced him to break away from this firm. In 1871 Mr. Tennant came to the United States, and located in Paterson, N. J., where he was in the employ of the Rogers Locomotive Works until the close of the year 1873, and in the following spring he came to Connecticut, working for three months in Ansonia, and then for a year in Seymour, with the Swan Bit Co. Mr. Tennant then returned to Ansonia and engaged with Wal- lace & Sons until January, 1888, in which month lie came to Waterbury to take a position with the Scovill Manufacturing Co., where he is still at work. For a year Mr. Tennant was master nic-
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chanie for the Aluminum Brass & Bronze Co., at ยท Bridgeport, and with that exception has been with the Scovill Co. since coming to Waterbury.
On June 27, 1867, Mr. Tennant married Miss Helen B. Duncan, who was born in Perth, Scot- land, a daughter of Stewart Duncan, a merchant of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Tennant are the parents of four children: Mary D., Robert, George B., and Agnes A. George graduated with the class of 1900 from the Academic Department of Yale College. In political faith Mr. Tennant is a Republican. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the Con- gregational Church.
CHRISTOPHER KELLEY, a well-known citizen of Ansonia, now living in retirement, is a worthy representative of the Irish race, from which so many of the leading business men of the day are descended. He was born April 9, 1828, in Dub- lin, Ireland, son of Thomas Kelley, and grandson of Thomas Kelley. Thomas Kelley, the father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Ireland Aug. 15, 1832, aged forty years, and his wife, Julia (Dane), a native of Dublin, died in Rhode Island at the age of seventy. This worthy couple had butt one child, our subject.
Mr. Kelley was only four years old when his father died, and at the age of twenty he came to America with his young wife, leaving Dublin Nov. 22, 1848, a week after their marriage. The voyage was made on a sailing vessel, and it was not until Jan. 27, 1849, that they landed in New York. On March 27 our subject entered the employ of Gen. Clark Wooster, in the axe factory at Humphreys- ville, New Haven Co., Conn., where he remained about fifteen years. He then spent two years and three months in Collinsville, and later was em- ployed in Colt's Armory, in Hartford. He was one of those chosen to carry Col. Colt to his grave. For a time he worked in the Colburn axe factory at Ansonia, remaining until the firm went out of business, and after a short period with Wallace & Sons he spent ten years in the clock shop. The next seven years were spent with Wallace & Sons, and in 1884 he retired, limiting his business in- terests to the care of his real estate, his investments in that line being numerous. His first purchase was the Colburn house on High street, and later he built his present residence, at No. 6 Franklin street, and the house adjoining, while at various times he has bought houses and stores in the town. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and he and his family are members of the Catholic Church at Ansonia.
On Nov. 17, 1848, Mr. Kelley married Miss Eliza Morriss, daughter of Capt. William Morriss and granddaughter of William Morriss, a lifelong resident of Ireland. Her father, who died aged sixty-six years, was taken to sea during the re- bellion of 1798. and after spending twenty-one years on board a man-of-war became captain of a coast guard. Her mother, Mrs. Mary A. ( Blackburn )
Morriss, who died aged thirty-eight, was one of the fourteen children of James and Mary Ann ( Wall) Blackburn, the former of whom was a well-known resident of Dublin in his day, being an extensive land owner and builder; for many years he was janitor of the Temple there. Mr. Blackburn died in 1832, aged sixty years. Capt. William Morriss and his wife had thirteen children, and their sons were prominent shipbuilders. Of this family are mentioned Isabella ( deceased), who married Steven Murphy; Eliza, Mrs. Kelley; Rebecca ; Theresa,
who married Michael Kenny ( deceased) ; Will- iam ; and Michael, who went to Australia in 1845. The parents were devout members of the Catholic Church, and the children were reared in that faith.
Ten children have brightened our subject's home, nine of whom are living: ( 1) Mary A. mar- ried William McCarthy, a plumber in Ansonia, and has had eleven children, of whom are living William, Mary, Freddie, Sadie, Christopher. Johnny, Albert, Lizzie, Rebecca and Agnes. Of these, William married and has one son, Frederick, so that our subject is a great-grandfather. (2) Julia married Thomas Scallion, a machinist, and has one child, Belle. (3) Lizzie married James Beasley, of Rome, N. Y., and has three children, William, James and Charlotte. (4) William, a prominent physician in Flint, Mich., married Ella Graham, of New York, now deceased. (5) Thom- as is married and resides in Bridgeport. (6) Christopher, Jr., is professor of Surgery and Clin- ical Surgery in the Grand Rapids Medical College, Grand Rapids, Mich. (7) Charles, a machinist, in Ansonia, married Miss Annie McGee, and has six children, Bessie, May, Charley, Christopher, William and Winnifred. (8) Frederick M. is a bookkeeper in Grand Rapids, Mich. (9) Rebecca resides at home.
LUCIUS NICHOLS BEARDSLEY, M. D. (deceased), was one of the most honored medical practitioners of this section, and was in active prac- tice for forty years.
Dr. Beardsley was born Oct. 8. 1814, in Mon- roe, Fairfield Co., Conn., and was of English de- scent. His father, Agur Beardsley, was a native of Huntington, Conn., born June 12, 1791, and be- came a farmer by occupation, much of his life hav-' ing been spent in Monroe. He died Nov. 18, 1872, at Easton, Conn., aged eighty-one years and five months. For many years he was a deacon in the Congregational Church of Monroe. His wife, Lu- cinda Nichols, was born Sept. 8, 1794, in Trum- bull. Conn., and died in Bridgeport, Sept. 8, 1864.
Dr. Beardsley was reared in Monroe, and as a. young man taught school for some time. At twen- ty-three he was graduated from Yale Medical Col- lege, and began practice in Milford, where he con- tinued till his health failed, and he died in West Haven Nov. 22, 1880. He had treated three gen- , erations, and was regarded as a father by many
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LUCIUS NICHOLS BEARDSLEY.
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to whom his wise and kindly counsel had brought relief at some critical moment. His advice was often sought by his fellow practitioners, and when he finally retired at the earnest solicitation of his wife he was obliged to leave town in order to se- cure complete rest. For the last few years of his life he went to the Southern states, or the Bahama Islands in winter, and found in their milder climate some relief from the lung trouble which conquered him at last. His influence in local politics was marked, as he was one of the stanch Republicans of the town, and for many years he was postmaster in Milford. In religious work he also took great interest as a member of the Plymouth Church, of Milford.
Dr. Beardsley married ( first) Miss Betsey Ann Coley, who was born in New York City May 30, 1815, and died in Milford Nov. 24. 1869. She was the daughter of Ebenezer and Amelia (Sanford) Coley, who were married Oct. 10, 1810. Her fa- ther, who was a school teacher in New York, was born in Redding. Fairfield Co., Conn., May 17. 1781, and died April 5, 1816. By the Doctor's first marriage he had two sons and one daugh- ter: Maria Elizabeth, born May 25. 1842. died of scarlet fever March 10. 1847: George Lucius. born at Milford May 12. 1848, is now practicing medicine in Derby: and William Edgar. born at Milford Nov. 6. 1850. is a physician in Brooklyn. N. Y .. For his second wife Dr. Beardsley married at West Haven. Oet. 6. 1874. Mrs. Susan ( Prud- den) Smith, whose record is given elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of Mrs. David Smith. of West Haven.
SIDNEY BARKER SMITH, a highly re- spected citizen and successful market gardener of East Haven, was born in North Haven, this county, Aug. 20, 1844. and is a son of Charles and Sarah ( Atwater) Smith, natives of North Haven and Hamden, New Haven county, respectively.
Sidney Smith, our subject's paternal grand- father, was born in North Haven, and was a cooper by trade. He was married to Ruth Parker. and they had four children: Henry, Horace. Sidney and Charles. The maternal grandfather of Sidney B. Smith was Stephen Atwater, a native of Ham- den, and by occupation a market gardener. He married Sarah Barker. Charles Smith, who is mentioned above, is a farmer and resides in North Haven, where he has been very successful in his business, and is now quite well-to-do. His family consisted of three children: Sidney Barker ; Stephen A .; and Elizabeth, who is now Mrs. Wal- ter Bailey.
Sidney Barker Smith remained on the North Haven homestead until he reached the age of six- teen, meantime receiving a very fair common school education. In 1860 he went to live with his grand- father at Hamden, to learn the practical work of market gardening, remaining with him seven years.
For the last two years of that time he was a part- ner with his grandfather, and when that gentleman died he continued the business alone for twelve years. In 1884 he removed to East Haven, to the farm he now occupies, which he purchased in 1882. and where he has done a most successful business in market gardening. He has made all the im- provements on the property, buildings and barns, and to-day owns one of the choicest places of the kind in this part of the State.
Mr. Smith was married April 4, 1867, to Char- lotte J., daughter of Henry I. and Maryette (Smith ) Bradley, of East Haven. By this union there is one son, Charles S., who married Carrie Louise, daughter of Frank W. and Jessie ( Hollis) Willoughby, of East Haven, and has one son, Charles Bates, born Nov. 25, 1900.
Mr. Smith is one of East Haven's leading and progressive citizens, extremely industrious and in- flexibly honest. He is a Democrat, and has served as selectman of the town.
GEORGE T. CLARK, a thorough and skillful farmer, and a wide-awake, energetic business man of Beacon Falls, is a native of New Haven county, born in the town of Bethany, Nov. 11, 1859, and is a worthy representative of one of its old and highly esteemed families.
Sheldon Clark, his paternal grandfather, was born in what is now Oxford, this county, Oct. 19, 1794, and died April 18, 1874. He married . Miss Anna Frech, a native of Bethany, and they lo- cated upon a farm in that town, where they reared their family of four children, namely: David, born Sept. 28, 1819, was a farmer of Beacon Falls, where he died Feb. 1. 1877; Stiles, born March 16, 1821, was also a farmer by occupation, and died March 7, 1873 ; Eliza Ann, born Sept. 21, 1823, died Nov. 13, 1851, unmarried ; Charles F., father of our sub- ject. was the youngest of the family.
Charles F. Clark was born in Bethany. July 8, 1829. and was reared on the home farm. In early life he followed the teacher's profession and con- ducted a select school in Bethany, but later engaged in farming. He was a Republican in politics, and held some local offices. He died in September, 1880, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Anna Perkins, and was a native of Litchfield, Conn., died in August. 1882. Of the two children born to them our subject was the younger. Sheldon, born Sept. 21, 1855, followed farming in Beacon Falls, and died Oct. 19. 1887. Religiously the par- ents were Episcopalians.
When only two years of age George T. Clark was taken by his parents to the town of Beacon Falls, where he was reared upon a farm. He pur- sued his early studies in the public schools. and con- tinted his education at a select school in the town of Redding, Fairfield Co., Conn. After leaving school he returned to the farm, and has since de- voted the greater part of his time and attention to 1
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agricultural pursuits. He owns a well-improved and valuable place of 150 acres in the village of Beacon Falls, and in connection with its operation is also engaged in the milk and ice business, and does teaming to some extent. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On March. 24, 1886, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Reffelt, who was born .in South Coventry, Conn., June 8, 1866, a daugh- ter of Frederick Reffelt, who was of German birth, and was foreman of a woolen shop. To this union five children have come, namely: Frank T., born Jan. 9, 1887; Eva I., Sept. 14, 1892; George R., July 18, 1894; Ethel MI., Feb. 20, 1896; and Ros- etta I., June 9, 1900. Mr. Clark and his family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the Grange. The Republican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles. He has served his fellow citizens on the school board and as school visitor, and is now a member of the board of selectmen. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and he merits and receives the high regard of the en- tire community in which he lives.
WILLIAM BARRON, a prominent farmer and notable citizen of the town of Branford, whose honorable and useful career well entitles him to mention among the successful men of his com- munity, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, April 4, 1844, a son of James and Mary ( Reed) Barron.
James Barron was born and bred a farmer, fol- lowing that occupation all his life. He lived in Aberdeen, where he died in 1886. His widow, Mrs. Mary ( Reed) Barron, is still living ( 1901), and has reached the venerable age of eighty-four years. The children born to them were: Jane, the wife of James Mitchell; William; George; Mary, who married John Mason ; David ; John ; and Mari- ette, who married Robert Armstrong.
William Barron was reared in Scotland, where he had his education in the excellent public schools of his native community. In 1869 he turned his face towards the United States-that land of prom -. ise to so many of his compatriots-and, crossing the ocean, located in the town of Branford, where he has since been successfully engaged in farming. Mr. Barron has always retained a warm spot for his old home, and during his residence of thirty-one years in Branford, has made three visits to his na- tive land.
voted home maker. Mr. Barron is a member of the Congregational Church, and his life of hon- esty, integrity, industry and neighborly kindness brings no discredit to his religious associations. In politics Mr. Barron is a Republican, and socially he is connected with Woodlawn Lodge, No. 39, K. of P., where his manly qualities and genial dis- position command respect and retain friendship.
ELNATHAN A. CURTISS, a leading mer- chant of Ansonia, is a representative of one of the oldest families of Southbury, New Haven county, where he was born Feb. 19, 1859.
Simeon Curtiss, his great-grandfather, was a native of that town, and passed his life there. Reuben Curtiss, our subject's grandfather, who was also born there, became prominent as an edu- cator, and for many years conducted a large school at Southbury known as the Buck Hill Seminary, where he fitted pupils for business or college. He owned a large farm, took an active part in local affairs, and was identified with religious work as a member of the Congregational Church. For forty years he served as deacon, and every Sunday he collected his Sunday-school classes and took them to church in a wagon which held thirty peo- ple. He died at the age of eighty-seven, and his wife, Minerva (McEwen), a native of Oxford, died aged fifty-three. They had three children, none of whom are now living.
Wales H. Curtiss, our subject's father, was born and reared at the old homestead in Southbury, and received a district-school education. He fol- lowed farming upon a portion of the homestead, and was regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the town. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious faith he was a Congregationalist. His death occurred in 1886, when he was aged fifty- nine. He married Miss Mary Hammill, a native of Brooklyn, E. D., who is still living at the old home- stead. Of their eleven children ten survive: Will- iam conducts the homestead ; James M. is deceased ; Sarah M. married Cornelius M. Hard, of South- bury ; Charles H. resides in Naugatuck; Elnathan A. is the next in order of birth; Arthur E. resides . in Naugatuck; Miss Jessie H., a teacher, is at home; Miss Isabella is also a teacher; Miss Estella, twin of Isabella, is a trained nurse; Bertha married Charles Benjamin, of Bristol, Conn .; and Nellie C. married C. Ellison, a station agent in Ohio.
Our subject's education was begun in the com- mon schools of his native town, and at the age of ten years he left home to work for a neighboring farmer. At sixteen he engaged in the milk busi- ness in Seymour, where he had a wagon route for three years, and he then spent three years in Water- bury as bookkeeper for J. E. Gaylord, and one year in Naugatuck as clerk in the grocery and meat market of Tolles & Bennett. In 1884 he went to
In 1878 Mr. Barron was married to Georgiana, a daughter of John Mallroy, of New Haven, and has become the father of four children by this union : Mary J .; John W .; Georgiana A. ; and Agnes F. Mrs. Georgiana Barron died in 1894, and the fol- lowing year Mr. Barron was married to Mrs. Catherine Ball, of New Haven. She is a lady ot more than the usual accomplishments, and is a de- , Ansonia, and after five years with J. H. Steinman
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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formed a partnership with a brother and purchased a meat market, at his present stand, which they conducted together until 1891. In 1893 our subject sold the business, and six months later he bought the store of E. H. Wakelce. He carries a large stock of dry goods, notions, groceries and provis- ions (including a fine line of canned goods, jellies and preserves), drugs, cigars, bicycles and every- thing which one might expect to find in a metro- politan department store. The establishment boasts a complete modern set of fixtures, with computing scales and cash register. The upper story of the building is rented by a social organiza- tion known as the West Side Club, of which our subject is president. He also belongs to the Order of Red Men and the New England Order of Pro- tection, and politically he is a stanch Republican, - although he has declined to seek official honors. For some time he was a member of the Ansonia Board of Trade. While residing in Waterbury he took an active part in the work of the Second Con- gregational Church and Sunday-school; his wife is a member of the Methodist Church in Ansonia.
In 1888 Mr. Curtiss married Miss Annie Has- sard, who is one of the six children of Thomas Hassard, now a well-known dealer in coal and wood on North Main street, Ansonia. Three children have brightened our subject's home: Mabel H., born April 15, 1889; Raymond H., born Oct. 27, 1893; and Chester G., born Jan. 26, 1898.
JOHN KIRSCHBAUM is a quiet and unob- trusive gentleman, who has little to say unless di- rectly appealed to, but he is known as one of the most expert machinists and skilled workmen in Waterbury, where he has lived for many years. His genuine manhood and real worth have been long recognized and appreciated at their true value.
Mr. Kirschbaum was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 29, 1844. Michael Kirschbaum, his father, was a farmer and a shepherd. shipping sheep to all parts of Europe. Michael Kirschbaum, his father, was also a shepherd, and this was the business of the family for many generations. Michael Kirschbaum. the father of John, married Barbara Kromer, a native of the same community in which he was born, and where she was born in 1815. Michael Kromer, her father, was also a shepherd, which business this family has also fol- lowed for generations. Michael Kirschbaum died in 1890, when about seventy-nine years old, his wife in 1899. To them nine children were born: (1) Samuel died in Waterbury, where he had been employed in a brewery, and previously worked for Valentine Bohl about eight years ; he was a man of remarkable strength. In the old country he had been trained to the work of a shepherd. (2) John is our subject. (3) Michael is a butcher in the city of New York. (4) Christian died at the age of three years. (5) William lives in Germany, and is a weaver. (6) Christian (2) died at the age of
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three years. (7) Barbara is married and lives in Germany. (8) George is a toolmaker in Water- bury. (9) Carl is a surveyor in Germany.
John Kirschbaum received his early training in Germany, and lived on the paternal homestead un- til he was fifteen years of age, when he went into a machine shop to learn the trade. Here he re- mained five years, and was two years in a factory devoted to heavy machinery. In July, 1866, Mr. Kirschbaum came to New York City, and secured work in the piano factory of the Steinway Co. He spent two years in that city, and then went to Naugatuck, Conn., where he worked for a time in the Allerton Iron Works. In 1872, in company with Thomas Fitzsimons, Mr. Putnam and Mr. Blake, he formed the Novelty Manufacturing Co., and with the exception of ten months, which he spent in Newark, N. J., he has been continuously identified with that concern, of which he is a stock- holder. In the fall of 1896 he made his first ap- pearance in Waterbury, and for nearly two years was employed by the Steele & Johnson Manufac- turing Co.
In 1869 Mr. Kirschbaum married Miss Eliza- beth Brickel, who was born in the old country, and was brought to this country in her mother's arms. She died in 1885, and was the mother of seven children: Elizabeth, John, William, Lillian B., Carl, Joseph and Lewis. Miss Anna Brown, of Waterbury, a daughter of John Brown, became the second wife of John Kirschbaum, their marriage taking place in 1886. They are the parents of two children : Anna and Edward H. Mr. Kirschbaum has been a Republican from his arrival in the coun- try. He takes an active part in the Concordia Sing- ing Society, and is a member of the K. of P. and the New England Order of Protection. He is also active in the old German Harmony Society. He attends the Episcopal Church.
LEROY C. BEECHER, one of the most pro- gressive, skillful and successful agriculturists of Woodbridge, belongs to a prominent old family of New Haven county. His great-grandfather, Enoch Beecher, was born in this county, and lived for a time on George street, New Haven, but the greater part of his life was spent in Woodbridge, where he owned at one time some 300 acres of land, and was also a merchant, having a general store near the center of the town.
. Amos Beecher, the grandfather of our subject, was reared in Woodbridge. He inherited a consid- erable property, and followed farming extensively, but discontinued the store. He died at the age of cighty-five years. He was a member of an inde- pendent military company and was very active on "training day." In early manhood he married Abi- gail Baldwin, and to them were born children as follows: The eldest died in infancy; Charles N., father of our subject, was next in order of birth : Abigail married Charles Baldwin, of New Haven;
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Alonzo E. is a fariner of Woodbridge: George E. (deceased ) was twice married, his second wife being Martha Baldwin, and resided in Wood- bridge; Franklin A. married Augusta Doolittle, and died in Milford; Elizabeth is deceased; and Jane is the wife of Marcus M. Baldwin, of Wood- bridge.
Charles N. Beecher, father of our subject, was born in Woodbridge, Nov. 26, 1821, and died Aug. 9, 1897. He was a lifelong farmer, and though not engaged in agricultural pursuits on a large scale was very successful, owing to the fact that he paid particular attention to small matters and aimed always to reach the best results, was always anx- ious to learn the methods of others in order to im- prove his own, and attended town fairs and horti- cultural gatherings for that purpose. He raised principally small fruits and vegetables. Owing to ill health he retired from active labor some years prior to his death, and the management of affairs fell upon our subject. In Mt. Carmel, New Haven county, the father was united in marriage with Miss Mary Angelina Warner, a native of that place, and a daughter of Zenith Warner. Our subject was their only child.
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