USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 11
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(VI) Roswell Griswold, son of Seth and Huldah (Priest-Loomis) Griswold, was born in Winchester, Connecticut, February 8, 1780, and died in Colebrook, Connecticut, December 10, 1833. He married (first) November 3, 1802, Lucre- tia Wheadon, daughter of Solomon Wheadon. He married (second) in No- vember, 1808, Jerusha Grant, daughter of Joel and Zilpa (Cowles) Grant. Joel Grant was born in Litchfield, Connecti- cut, February 21, 1756, died in Norfolk, March 16, 1796. He was a direct descend- ant of Matthew Grant, the immigrant, and his daughter, Jerusha, born April 3, 1785, in Norfolk, died March 3, 1828, in Cole- brook, became the wife of Roswell Gris- wold.
(VII) Lucius Griswold, son of Ros- well and Jerusha (Grant) Griswold, was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, July 12, 1810. He was a school teacher and farmer for many years. Later in life he became a traveling representative for the Winsted Manufacturing Company, whose products were scythes and cutlery. He married, in Colebrook, March 27, 1834, Julia Elizabeth Barnard, born there, No-
vember 22, 1811, died July 12, 1884, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth (Hart) Barnard.
(VIII) Dr. Ralph Barnard Griswold, son of Lucius and Julia Elizabeth (Bar- nard) Griswold, was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, January 18, 1835. When he was a boy his parents removed to Win- sted, Connecticut, and he attended the High School there. He studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. H. B. Steele, of Winsted, and then attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City. From there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he completed his medical studies in the Eclectic Medical College, which was then at the height of its success, under direction of its famous founder. Subsequent to his graduation, Dr. Griswold practiced a year in Strong's Sanitarium in Saratoga, New York. Then he settled in Banksville, New York, and engaged in the practice of medicine from April 1, 1857, until within a year or so of his death, which occurred August 18, 1917. Dr. Griswold took an interest in many public matters, and was among the upright, useful citizens of Banksville. He served as road commissioner for sev- eral years ; he was a member of the Green- wich Medical Society ; member of Acacia Lodge, No. 85, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Greenwich, and a mem- ber of the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics.
Dr. Griswold married, May 1, 1858, Mary Jane Derby, born in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Ireland, July I, 1835, daughter of Andrew Derby. Mrs. Griswold was adopted when a child by Oliver Loomis, of Winsted. Dr. and Mrs. Griswold were the parents of four chil- dren, two of whom grew to maturity, namely, Julia Alice, married Wilbur W. Cooper, of Colebrook, Connecticut ; Wil- liam Loomis, of further mention. The
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family were long active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Dr. Griswold served as steward, trustee and chorister. He sang base in the choir for many years.
(IX) Dr. William Loomis Griswold, only son of Dr. Ralph B. and Mary Jane (Derby) Griswold, was born in Banks- ville, Westchester county, New York, February 12, 1861. He received his edu- cation at a private school in Long Ridge, town of Greenwich, and his college pre- paration was obtained in the Winsted public school. In 1881 he graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School with a Ph. B. degree, and for the following year en- gaged in teaching. Dr. Griswold then turned to the study of medicine, gradu- ating from his father's alma mater in 1885. Immediately afterward he settled in Greenwich, Connecticut, and has contin- uously been engaged in practice since. He specializes in surgical work, and is held in high esteem by the medical asso- ciation. Dr. Griswold is a member of the Greenwich, Fairfield County and Connec- ticut Medical societies; the American Medical Association; the New York Academy of Medicine ; and is on the staff of the Greenwich Hospital.
Other interests claim his attention in addition to his manifold duties as a phy- sician, and it is one of the sterling traits of this family that they always are ready and willing to do their share of public service. Dr. Griswold is a director of the Putnam Trust Company of Greenwich, having been a member of this board since the first year of the bank's existence. He finds recreation from his business in the care of his large dairy farm in Middle- town, New York. It contains one hun- dred and twenty-three acres and is well stocked. A specialty is made of dairying, and the milk is sold to a cheese factory. Fraternally Dr. Griswold is a member of
Acacia Lodge, No. 85, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Greenwich, of which he has twice been worshipful master, and is now a member of the board of trustees ; member of Rittenhouse Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Washington Council, Royal and Select Masters; Clinton Com- mandery, No. 3, Knights Templar ; Pyra- mid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport ; Empire Lodge, No. 8, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Greenwich; Knights of Pythias; and the Orange County Golf Club.
Dr. Griswold married Carolyn E. Mor- rell, daughter of William and Ellen (Hall) Morrell, of Lawrenceville, St. Lawrence county, New York, and they have two children : Ralph, born December 28, 1907 ; Virginia, born June 23, 1916. Mr. Gris- wold and his family are members of the Second Congregational Church, of Green- wich, of which Dr. Griswold is a member of the finance committee.
McCLELLAND, William A.,
Optometrist, Manufacturing Optician.
The Scotch have been called a canny race. Their thrift is commended by the wise and ridiculed by the thoughtless. But certain it is that the national char- acteristics of the Scot are such as make for success, not merely the personal suc- cess which is selfish at best, but that suc- cess achieved by patient attention to detail, tireless devotion to duty, and a sane and just estimate of values. The elements of personal advancement react upon every individual who comes in con- tact with them, and thus is spread the gospel of sincerity which, being inter- preted, means little more or less than upright dealing and honest work. There is no work involving more closely the public welfare than the profession of Op-
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tometrist ; and in Stamford, Connecticut, William A. McClelland, D. O. O., is put- ting into this profession all those qualities which the Scottish people have always so highly prized.
The family name is a very old and highly honored one in Scotland. It is spelled somewhat differently by different branches of the family, which have be- come scattered in various countries all over the world. Men of that name have won honors in the British army in the Napoleonic wars, and others fought gal- lantly in the Sepoy Rebellion, in India, and were lost in the "Black Hole of Cal- cutta."
Robert McClelland was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1841, and came to America at the age of twenty-two years. He was a young man of excellent appear- ance and good taste, and his early ex- perience being along similar lines he soon placed himself to advantage as a silk buyer. This was in New York City, and he continued there for a number of years. Then desiring breadth of experience, he went to Toronto, Canada, and became a traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods house. He married, in Toronto, Margaret Miller, daughter of Hugh Mil- ler. She was born in Scotland, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom seven grew to the age of maturity : Helena Miller, who became the wife of V. B. Coleman, and now resides in Port Hope, Ontario; Robert Bailey, of To- ronto; Hugh Miller, a resident of Syra- cuse, New York; Margaret, who became the wife of John Waddell, of Port Hope, Ontario; William A., of whom further; Jessie, who became the wife of Lieuten- ant Frank Dwight Rice; and Kathleen Elsie, of Port Hope, Ontario.
William A. McClelland, D. O. O., was born in Toronto, Canada, March 27, 1884. He received his early education in the ex-
cellent public schools of that city, making the most of his opportunities by careful attention to his studies. Becoming in- terested in optics, and seeing the great necessity of highly skilled attention in all matters pertaining to the eyesight, the young man chose his life work along this line. He was not contented with a cas- ual preparation, but entered the Canada Ophthalmic College, of Toronto, from which he was graduated in 1903 with the degree of Doctor of Ophthalmology. Fol- lowing his graduation he was employed for six years in the establishment of Ryrie Brothers, of Toronto. In planning for an independent future, his mind turned to "the States," and upon leaving Toronto he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he remained with E. B. Meyrowitz, Inc., for about a year. He then came to Stam- ford, Connecticut, where he became asso- ciated with an optician. He worked in this way for three years, and in 1909 started in business for himself. He quickly established himself in the confi- dence of his patrons, and his trade extended well outside the city. The business prospered, and in January, 1916, was incorporated under the name of W. A. McClelland, Inc., with Dr. McClelland as president. The company handles a general line of optical goods and does refracting work. Dr. McClelland does his own surface grinding, being the only optometrist in this part of Connecticut who does. The scope of the work has been broadened to include also the han- dling of photograph supplies. Aside from his important position in the business world of Stamford, Dr. McClelland is con- nected with various social organizations. He is a member of Union Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Rittenhouse Chapter; Washington Council; and also a member of Puritan Lodge, No. 14, and Wascussee Encampment, No. 14, Inde-
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pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Dr. Mc- Clelland is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Stamford.
Dr. McClelland married Anna Kather- ine Barthel, daughter of Justus J. Barthel, of Stamford. Mr. Barthel was a well known citizen of that city, and was tax collector for ten years. His death oc- curred September 15, 1919. Mrs. Mc- Clelland's death occurred December 30, 1918. Dr. McClelland is a member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his wife.
WOOD, Frank,
Business Man.
The patronymic Wood is of the same origin as Bywood, Atwood and so forth. They all were originally designations of persons from the location of their homes in or near woods, similar in derivation to the names, Hill, Pond, Rivers, Lake, Bridges. The medieval spelling of the name was Ate Wode, afterwards modified to Atwood, and afterwards to Wood. In the Domesday Book, the name is found in its Latin form, De Silva.
Frank Wood, a worthy representative of this ancient surname, was born Janu- ary 16, 1880, in Poundridge, New York, son of Cyrus S. and Emma (Moore) Wood. His great-grandfather, Abraham Wood, was also a native of Poundridge. He was the father of Henry, of further mention.
Henry Wood, son of Abraham Wood, married Amanda Sanders, daughter of John Sanders, of Poundridge. He was a farmer and lived in Poundridge all his life. His son, Cyrus S., is of further mention.
Cyrus S. Wood, son of Henry and Amanda (Sanders) Wood, was born in Poundridge, June 14, 1854. He attended the district schools, and during vacations and spare time was accustomed to aid in
the work about the home farm. When he was twenty-four years old he went to Bedford, New York, and secured work on a farm, remaining until 1882. In the lat- ter year he removed to Stamford, Connec- ticut, and engaged in teaming on his own account. Although he was success- ful in this venture, he gave it up to take a position with Captain Green as foreman of his Rock Hill Farm on Stillwater road. Subsequently he was similarly employed on the Conyer's farm, continuing until the business of his son, Frank Wood, grew to such an extent that he was needed to assist him. Mr. Wood married Emma Moore, daughter of Frank Moore, of New York City, and they were the parents of four children: 1. Frank, of further men- tion. 2. Dora, deceased. 3. Harold, who was born in Poundridge, and after com- pleting school studies worked on the Con- yer's farm until forming a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of Wood Brothers; he married Esther, daughter of Charles Fisher, of Greenwich, and they have two children: Florence May and Helen Louise. 4. Howard, is associated with his brothers. Mrs. Wood died in 1888, and Mr. Wood married (sec- ond) Mrs. Emma Stover, who has two children by her former marriage, Benson and Helen. The family attend and sup- port the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frank Wood, son of Cyrus S. and Emma (Moore) Wood, attended the schools of his native town until he was fourteen years of age. Removing to Stamford at that time, he was in the pub- lic schools there for a few terms, and early went to work for the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company. After four years he left to work on the Conver's farm in Greenwich, remaining for nine years. As a young boy Mr. Wood had been very ambitious, and this characteris- tice became more marked as he grew into
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Thomas J. Bergin MD.
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man's estate. He absorbed all of the in- formation possible from every position he held, and ever had visions of the day when he would enter business on his own ac- count. In 1912 he found the fulfillment of his hopes and resigned from his work to engage in partnership with his brother, Harold, in a business of general trucking. Although they had but one small truck to start with, they rapidly extended their business and were remarkably success- ful. Now three large trucks are needed to take care of the large volume of truck- ing business. A large amount of their work is on contract, such as hauling pav- ing material, and for over three years they have held the contract for hauling for Maher Brothers, contractors of Green- wich.
Mr. Wood married Edna May Parke- ton, daughter of Frank Parketon. They have a daughter, Hazel Wood.
BERGIN, Thomas J., M. D., Honored in World War.
Coming to Greenwich, Connecticut, with a professional reputation already well established, Dr. Bergin has added to it with every year of his residence in that city. By his war record of foreign service he has inserted a brilliant chapter in the narrative of his career.
The name of Bergin is extremely an- cient, the form in the original Irish hav- ing been O'Aimirgin, modernized into Mergin and Bergin. Some authorities incline to regard Bergin as a weak form of Burgoyne, but the preponderance of evidence seems to be in favor of its deri- vation from O'Aimirgin.
Patrick Bergin, father of Thomas J. Bergin, was born in 1839, in Tipperary, Ireland, and came to the United States as a young man, settling in New Haven, Connecticut, where for forty years he served on the police force. He belongs
to the Roman Catholic church, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Bergin married Ellen Crotty, born in County Waterford, Ireland, daughter of Thomas Crotty, and of the children born to them all but one reached maturity : Michael Henry, Margaret Josephine, Thomas J., mentioned below; John Pat- rick; Edward, died young; Mary Cath- erine; James, deceased ; and Francis Se- bastian, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee of New Haven. Three or four years ago Mr. Bergin retired from the police force with a most honorable record.
Dr. Thomas J. Bergin, son of Patrick and Ellen (Crotty) Bergin, was born March 18, 1875, in New Haven, Connecti- cut, and received his preparatory educa- tion in local public schools. In 1896 he graduated from Yale University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1899 Yale Medical School conferred upon him that of Doctor of Medicine. He then spent two years in the New Haven Hos- pital, holding, during the second of these years, the position of house surgeon. For three years thereafter Dr. Bergin prac- ticed in New Haven, and in 1906 removed to Greenwich, where he has ever since been successfully engaged in general practice. He serves as surgeon on the staff of the Greenwich Hospital. The professional organizations in which he is enrolled are the City, County and State Medical societies and the American Med- ical Association. He also belongs to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He affili- ates with Orinoco Council, Knights of Columbus, and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, both of Greenwich, and with the Royal Arcanum, of New Haven.
When the United States entered the World War, Dr. Bergin was one of the first to respond to the call to arms. On September 12, 1917, he went into active
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service with the rank of first lieutenant, and from October 9, 1917, to July 23, 1919, was continuously engaged in foreign service. He went over with the 103rd Field Artillery and remained with them until November 1, 1917, when he became ward surgeon in Camp Hospital No. 15. He served there until May 9, 1918, when he went with the French in charge of the town of Rens and took care of the Amer- icans in that place. On September 20, 1918, he left Rens and returned to Camp Hospital No. 15 as chief of the Medical Service, a position which he retained until July 1, 1919, when the hospital was sold. On August 18, 1919, he was discharged, having meanwhile been promoted to the rank of captain. On November 19, 1920, Dr. Bergin received his diploma as an officer of the French Academe, a mark of distinction for his valiant service in the war, and in August, 1920, he was pro- moted to the rank of major of the Reserve Corps. When the United States was forced to participate in the most terrible war the world has ever seen there were none of her citizens on whom she could more implicity depend than those of Irish birth and ancestry. Dr. Bergin's record furnishes notable proof of the truth of this statement. To his high standing as a physician and surgeon he has added the distinction of having shown himself to be a thoroughly patriotic American citi- zen.
Dr. Bergin married Irvinea Goddard, daughter of Thomas Goddard, of Jersey City, New Jersey. Mr. Goddard was born in England. Dr. and Mrs. Bergin are the parents of one son, Thomas Goddard, born November, 1904.
CASE, Robert Ludlow,
Man of Enterprise.
To the man who has spent a good part of his life out among men, observing the
struggle and development of human kind under adverse conditions and in various localities, the greatest privilege life offers is that of usefulness. Robert Ludlow Case, proprietor of Windridge Fruit Farm, of Stamford, Connecticut, is making a practi- cal and wonderfully significant demonstra- tion of how a man can be vitally useful to his fellowmen. Tracing the ancestry of Mr. Case back to American pioneer times, it is found that the entire history of the family is one of practical useful- ness.
(I) The first known of the Case family in America was Henry Case, of Southold, New York. The records are fragmentary, at best, but it is noted that he married, in November, 1658, Martha Corwin, born about 1630 to 1640, daughter of Matthias Corwin.
(II) Theophilus Case, son of Henry and Martha (Corwin) Case, was born about 1661, and died October 26, 1716, in Southold, Long Island. He learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, and built many houses in that vicinity, some of which have been standing until very re- cently. His wife's Christian name was Hannah.
(III) Ichabod Case, son of Theophilus and Hannah Case, was born in Suffolk county, New Jersey, and died about 1762, in Roxbury, New Jersey. He was an in- dustrious and highly respected citizen. He was married three times. His third wife, whom he married July, 1725, was Hannah Goldsmith, daughter of Joseph Goldsmith.
(IV) John Case, whom the late Dr. Case, compiler of the Case genealogy, be- lieved to be a son of Ichabod and Hannah (Goldsmith) Case, was born July 8, 1742, and died February 11, 1819, at Hamp- tonburg, New York. He followed farm- ing throughout his life. He married (first) Elizabeth or Hannah Ketcham, a daughter of John and Sarah (Matthews)
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Ketcham, of Orange county, New York. She died in 1772.
(V) Benjamin Case, son of John and Elizabeth or Hannah (Ketcham) Case, was born November II, 1766, and died August 9, 1823. He was a resident of Newburgh, Orange county, New York, and spent his life sailing sloops in the river trade, which at that time was a very important means of commerce between New York City and points above. He married, November 23, 1808, Ann Dash- wood Ludlow, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Wetherell) Ludlow. She was born March 27, 1789, in Newburgh, and died March 2, 1828.
(VI) Robert Ludlow Case, son of Benjamin and Ann Dashwood (Ludlow) Case, was born in Newburgh, New York, November 17, 1809, and died February 25, 1880. He began life as a clerk in New York City, leaving home at the age of thirteen years. After spending some years in a store handling butter, eggs and cheese, letting no opportunity escape him for acquiring a thorough knowledge of every detail of the business, he went into that line of business for himself. He was a man of original ideas, which he was constantly working out in his business, and this placed him in an enviable posi- tion among his competitors. His trade was largely with the South, where the greatest consumers of cheese were the colored people. As they bought mostly with their eyes, and liked an appearance of size, he conceived the idea of making cheeses thin and flat, which gave any cer- tain weight of cheese the effect of being larger than when cut from a cheese of the old-fashioned shape. Thus was origi- nated the shape which has become a universal standard among manufacturers of American cheese. Besides this far reaching wholesale business, Mr. Case did a considerable amount of exporting
in dried apples and prunes, sending these to France, where they were used in the manufacture of champagne. He followed this business for many years, but later in life became interested in life insurance. He was one of the organizers and was made president of the Security Life In- surance Company. That was in the days when competition was ruthless, before the insurance business was brought under State regulation. It was not many years before the larger companies forced the Security Life out of business. From that time until his death Mr. Case lived re- tired. He married, April 8, 1837, in New York City, Mary Ann Gibson, daughter of James Renwick and Katherine (Van Kurin) Gibson, of New York City. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five grew to maturity: Anna Au- gusta, Mary Josephine, Robert Ludlow, of whom further ; Elizabeth Powell, and Frances Ramsdell. Mr. Case was a mem- ber of the Episcopal church, and his wife was a Presbyterian. Both being broad- minded, and conceding due measure of respect to every denomination, they de- cided on a compromise and united with the Dutch Reformed church.
(VII) Robert Ludlow (2) Case, son of Robert Ludlow (1) and Mary Ann (Gib- son) Case, also the venerable Stamford fruit grower, who is making such a pro- gressive record in his line, was born in New York City, October 27, 1844. He received his education in the private schools of Newburgh and Portchester, New York, and in Public School No. 35, New York City, under Principal Hunter. At that time No. 35 was considered one of the first schools in New York in its educational standards and efficiency. He then learned the trade of pattern-making. The development of the mechanical arts in this country had at that time reached a high point in volume and importance
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and the skilled pattern maker was an in- calculable force in the constant improve- ment which has brought American-made machinery to its present level of perfec- tion. From his apprenticeship Mr. Case went directly to the machinee shop of a large iron works. When the Civil War broke out he went into the navy as third assistant engineer. He had for his "bunkie" George Westinghouse, who later won imperishable fame as the in- ventor of the air brake. Mr. Case was in the service for nearly two years, then went to Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, to executive positions with the paint mills and iron works. He more than made good under this test of ability, for after being there for three years, in the election of officers, he missed being placed in charge of the iron works by only one vote out of a total of twenty-seven. He then became actuary of the Security Life In- surance Company, of which his father was president, and during his period of serv- ice in that capacity worked hand in hand with other actuaries, who have since be- come famous, in laying the foundations of the insurance business in America, which has become such a vital factor in our economic order.
After the insurance company went out of business, Mr. Case made a trip to As- pinwall, and while in that locality met the French engineers who were making the survey for the Panama Canal. Upon his return to New York he engaged in the real estate business. Later on he became a salesman for the Simonds Manufactur- ing Company, in which capacity he was very successful. Then about thirty-five years ago, as has been the case with so many thoughtful men, the idea of the re- turn to nature came to him with a strong appeal, and he bought a farm about six miles from Geneva, New York. There he raised wheat and potatoes, remaining
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