Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10, Part 35

Author:
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 698


USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 35


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In 1901, Mr. Scofield was selected as marshal of the day at New Canaan, when ten thousand people were assembled to celebrate the Centennial of the town. He has been president of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, for about eight years, and felt it to be his duty to write a history of the regiment as a means of instilling patriotism into the minds of the coming generation, the ob- ject of which is to keep alive the memory of the services of the Twenty-eighth. One hundred and fifty prominent men of the State are honorary members of this association. On Decoration Day, 1917, Mr. Scofield made the Memorial Day Ad- dress in New Haven, and has made many similar addresses in other places. He made the memorial address to the Naval Veterans of New York City, May 22, 1921, near Grant's Tomb, New York City. Mr. Scofield was the organizer of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Association, and also was the founder of the New Canaan Band.


On February 1, 1866, Mr. Scofield mar- ried Adeline M. Selleck, daughter of Sands and Betsey Elizabeth (Austin) Sel- leck, and they were the parents of three children : I. Fred Bennett, a sketch of whom follows. 2. Harry S., born July 30, 1870, died in 1911; married Lillian Scott, and their children were: Ethel, Charles, Stewart, Everett, Ralph; Stewart and Everett served in France in Battery F, from Stamford, and at the close of service the former held the rank of lieutenant and the latter that of quartermaster-sergeant. 3. Stewart C., born in 1872, died in 1904; he married Harriet Lane Scott.


Mr. Scofield and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of New Canaan, and Mr. Scofield has held the office of steward there for forty or more years ; he has also been class leader, and superintendent of the Sunday school at Selleck's Corner church in this town. Mrs. Scofield has taken an active part in patriotic movements in the district, and from the time of its organization has been a patriotic instructor of the Woman's Relief Corps of New Canaan. She has caused distribution of large quantities of patriotic literature, has addressed many gatherings in the interests of American- ism, located a flag pole at Center School, and has conducted valuable work in teach- ing children the lessons of loyalty to country. In a time when many sinister influences are spreading their various propaganda, the benefits from such in- struction as this cannot be overestimated.


SCOFIELD, Fred Bennett,


Manufacturer.


Fred Bennett Scofield, son of Loomis and Adeline M. (Selleck) Scofield (q. v.), was born in the neighborhood where he now resides, October 29, 1866. He was


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educated in the public schools of Pound- ridge, and was employed by his father, driving through the country selling teas, coffees, spices, drugs and light groceries. Some of the lines were manufactured by his father and sold at wholesale and re- tail. At the age of seventeen he bought his time from his father and continued in the same line of business on his own ac- count. After his marriage, in 1889, he removed to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he formed a partnership with his brother- in-law under the firm name of F. S. Byx- bee & Company. They manufactured ex- tracts for the wholesale trade, and about a year later Mr. Scofield bought out the drug part of the business and built a laboratory on Henry street, where he car- ried on business in wholesale grocers' and confectioners' sundries for about two years. After disposing of his interests in this line, he purchased a tenth interest in the firm of S. T. Willetts & Company, of New York City, and continued in their New York store until 1895. In the latter year he accepted a position with D. Os- born & Company, of Newark, New Jer- sey, as a salesman, and remained with them three years. In 1898 he purchased a place on Highland avenue, Poundridge, and started a factory for the manufactur- ing of handmade splint baskets, employ- ing about one hundred and fifty men. He also buys and sells lines of baskets he does not make, and in this manner is pre- pared at all times to take care of his large trade. The business is wholesale and the product is entirely made by hand labor, consisting of oyster, ice, coal and mill baskets. He also deals in farmers' and grocers' baskets, and ships all over Amer- ica and to England as well.


Mr. Scofield is a Republican, and was commissioner of the town of Poundridge for about six years. He was town super-


intendent of highways for six years, and has also held the office of county commit- teeman. Mr. Scofield has often served as a delegate to county and State conven- tions. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of New Canaan; Wooster Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of that town, and of the Sons of Veterans there. Mr. Scofield organized a Fife and Drum Corps at Long Ridge, Connecticut, for the Harrison campaign for president, and this corps was kept busy in several subsequent campaigns.


Mr. Scofield married Lucy Monroe Byxbee, daughter of Moses James Byx- bee, and granddaughter of Captain James Byxbee, of Norwalk. They are the par- ents of two children: 1. Marjorie A., a member of the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution through her Byxbee an- cestry, and a teacher of violin with studio in New Canaan. Formerly, Miss Scofield taught in Grade VI of Center School, New Canaan. 2. Dorothy F., now de- ceased. Mrs. Scofield is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, of New Canaan.


RAYMOND, William H., Jr.,


Fire Insurance Special Agent and Adjuster.


The insurance interests of Connecticut have no more aggressive representative than they possess in the citizen whose name heads this article. Mr. Raymond is active in the business community, and is well known in its social circles.


The name Raymond is of very ancient French origin, being derived from two French words, rai, signifying a beam of light, and monde, meaning world. The Latin word, raimundus, is its exact equiv- alent.


The Raymond family is very ancient, including in its history many generations


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William H. Raymond


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY


of Counts of Toulouse, several of whom participated in the Crusades, and in other ways played important parts in making the history of their times. It is stated on unquestioned authority that Raymond Berenger was one of the earliest French- men to bear a double name. He was slain by the sword of the first Simon de Mont- fort, presumably in the Albigensian War, the Raymond family being among the prominent supporters of that persecuted sect. The names of Stephen and Pierre Raymond are found on the rolls of the first Knights Hospitaler of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem early in the twelfth century. Prior to that, the persecutions of the Albigenses had scattered many of the Raymond families to the surrounding countries, some of them going to Eng- land about the time of the Conquest and settling at a place in the Hundred of Wye, in Kent, which became known as Ray- mond. The Essex families of the name claim descent from the settlers in Kent.


Richard Raymond, founder of the Con- necticut branch of the family, probably came from Sussex, England. The reason for this statement is found in the fact that he lived in the territory included in the Captain John Mason colony, and that the members of that colony came from Sus- sex. Richard Raymond, who on May 14, 1634, was made a freeman in Salem, Mas- sachusetts, was granted on January 2, 1636, half an acre of land at Winter Har- bor (now known as Winter Island in Salem Harbor) "for fishing trade and to build upon." The same year he received a grant of sixty acres at what is now Man- chester, Massachusetts. In 1660 he sold a one-fourth interest in "the good Ketch called the 'Hopewell of Salem,'" and on October 20, 1662, he purchased a house and lot in Norwalk, Connecticut, prob- ably becoming, shortly after, a resident of


that place. Two years later he moved to Saybrook, where he was rated a "mar- iner" and engaged in coastwise trade with the Dutch and English settlers on Man- hattan Island. It is also said that he made voyages to the Barbadoes. He and his wife Judith were members of the First Church in Salem prior to 1636, and all his children save John were baptized there. In 1676 he gave by will all his lands in Norwalk "unto those children which my son, John Raymond, already has, or may have, by Mary Raymond, his present wife." He died in Saybrook, in 1692, aged about ninety.


William H. Raymond, Sr., son of Charles Lewis Raymond, and father of William H. Raymond, Jr., was born in Rowayton, Connecticut, and at the time of his father's death was still a child. At the age of fifteen years and ten months he enlisted for service during the Civil War in Douglas Fowler's company. After the war, Mr. Raymond returned to Pine Or- chard, where he made his home with an uncle and aunt by the name of Cook. Later he became a locomotive engineer on the New Jersey Central Railroad, after- ward filling the same position on the Os- wego, Ontario & Western Railroad. Still later he was employed in the railroad shops at Kokomo, Indiana, settling finally at his native place and engaging in the oyster business. He retired in 1912, and in June, 1920, passed away.


Mr. Raymond married Elizabeth Mar- shall, whose father was a native of Eng- land, and who emigrated to Canada, tak- ing up his abode in Ottawa. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond: Charles L., of South Nor- walk; Irene, married Thornton Friel, of Brooklyn, New York; William H., Jr., of further mention; Homer E., of Newark, New Jersey ; Stephen O., of Yonkers,


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New York; Aneita, who married Charles Appleyard, of Port Washington, Long Island ; and two who died in childhood.


William H. Raymond, Jr., son of Wil- liam H. and Elizabeth (Marshall) Ray- mond, was born March 23, 1886, in Ro- wayton, Connecticut, and was nine years old when his parents removed to South Norwalk, where he attended the grammar and high schools. On completing his course of study he became a clerk in the office of Coolidge & Lynes.


At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Raymond found himself financially able to purchase the business and also possessed of suffi- cient aptitude and experience to conduct it with a fair measure of success. At the end of a year, he formed a partnership with Herbert O. Pollard, under the firm name of Raymond & Pollard. About 1914 the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Ray- mond devoting all his time to fire insur- ance field work. The result has been most satisfactory. During the last six years Mr. Raymond has done field work for a number of insurance companies, act- ing as special agent and adjuster, and on January I, 1921, had rounded out nine- teen years of service in the fire insurance business, a truly enviable record. He is recognized as an authority on all matters pertaining to insurance throughout the New England States, and also New York State, and is considered to be a valuable and highly trained specialist.


In the sphere of politics, Mr. Raymond adheres to the Republican party, and has actively exerted himself in the advocacy of its principles. He served as registrar of voters in the old city of Norwalk, and was one of the most energetic in working for the consolidation of the twin cities, an event which took place in 1913. He affili- ates with St. John's Lodge, No. 6. Free and Accepted Masons, of Norwalk, and


belongs to the Craftsmen's, Norwalk, and Connecticut Field clubs, and is an active member of the New England Insurance Exchange. He was reared in the Metho- dist Episcopal church.


Mr. Raymond married Elizabeth Chit- tim, daughter of David and Sarah (I.ee) Chittim, of Norwalk. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chittim are natives of England. Mrs. Raymond is a member of St. Paul's Prot- estant Episcopal Church.


NOXON, George Henry, Physician, Public Official.


Among the citizens of Darien, Connec- ticut, there are very few who occupy so high a place in the esteem and affection of their fellowmen as does Dr. George Henry Noxon, for twenty years past the health officer of the town, whose long and successful career has gained him a wide reputation both for his great technical knowledge and ability and for the high standard of professional ethics he has consistently maintained.


Dr. Noxon was born in Union City, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1862, a member of an old New York State family. His ancestors on both sides of the house par- ticipated in the Revolutionary War. On the paternal side he is descended from Pascho Noxon, his Huguenot great- grandfather, born March 6, 1769, died January 18, 1828, who was a soldier in that historic struggle, and a resident of the region about Troy, New York, his home being situated at what was known as Noxon's Four Corners. He enlisted from Dutchess county, New York. Other generations of the family lived at the prosperous town of Watervliet, and the name became intimately associated with that region of the State.


On the maternal side Dr. Noxon is de-


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scended from the Massachusetts family of Nortons, his great-grandfather, Dr. Oliver Norton, having been born at Edgartown, Massachusetts, August 10, 1763, and died at Amity (Belmont), New York, July 19, 1838. He enlisted in the Continental army at Hebron, Connecticut, and served in the Revolutionary War. His son, Michael Norton, was the father of Dr. George H. Noxon's mother, who came from Connec- ticut to New York State, settling at the town of Amity (Belmont).


David W. Noxon, father of Dr. Noxon, was a native of Watervliet, New York, where his birth occurred. He was a man of extremely restless and energetic na- ture, and in his youth moved to various places, making his home in each place for a time, engaging in several different lines of business. He married Mary E. Nor- ton, of Amity (Belmont), New York, a daughter of Michael Norton, aforemen- tioned.


The childhood of George H. Noxon was passed at Union City and Pleasant- ville, Pennsylvania, and Binghamton, New York, and it was at the latter place that he gained the greater part of his elemen- tary education. Having determined upon a professional career, he matriculated at the Baltimore Medical College, now the Maryland University, at Baltimore, and there pursued the study of his chosen subject until 1893, in which year he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He supplemented his theoret- ical studies by serving as interne in the Maryland General Hospital, and then went to Brooklyn, New York, where he established himself in the practice of his profession. He did not remain in that city long, however, but removed to Dar- ien, Connecticut, in 1894, and has re- mained there ever since. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Noxon is also


associated with a number of important medical institutions in the region, and is a member of the staff of the Stamford Hospital, of Stamford, Connecticut, and of the staff of the Soldiers' Home, at Noroton.


Dr. Noxon has always been keenly in- terested in the general affairs of the com- munity in which he has elected to live, and especially in connection with the mat- ter of public health. He was elected health officer of Darien in 1900 and since that time has discharged the responsible duties of that office to the entire satis- faction of his fellow-citizens, and has ren- dered them an invaluable service. He is a member of the Stamford Medical So- ciety ; a member and ex-president of the Fairfield County Medical Society; a member and vice-president of the Con- necticut Medical Society ; a member of the Medical Society of the Greater City of New York ; and a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association. He is also affil- iated with Union Lodge, No. 5. Free and Accepted Masons, of Stamford, and a member of the Stamford Historical So- ciety. In his religious belief Dr. Noxon is an Episcopalian, and is a member of St. Luke's Church at Darien.


Dr. Noxon was united in marriage with Annis Brady, a daughter of Commodore William N. and Cornelia (Waterbury) Brady, old and highly respected residents of Darien, Connecticut. William N. Brady was a commander in the United States navy. Dr. and Mrs. Noxon are the parents of one child, Annis Noxon, born September 15, 1898.


FERRIS, Albert,


Farmer, Stockman.


Long prominent as a farmer and stock- raiser and well known as a representative


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of an old Connecticut family, the memory of Mr. Ferris is kept green not only among his friends and neighbors of Sound Beach, Connecticut, but also far beyond the confines of his own com- munity.


The Ferris family, which is of ancient Norman origin, was transplanted to Eng- land at the time of the Conquest, its founder receiving from William, Duke of Normandy, grants of land in Stafford- shire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. Tradition says that this ancestor was Master of the Horse to the Conqueror. The family derive from Walchelin, a Norman, whose son Henry assumed the name of Ferriers, a small town in Gas- tinors, France, so called from the iron mines with which that country abounded. The various forms of the patronymic Ferris, Ferrers, Ferrars, Ferier, and simi- lar spellings, probably have some relation to the ancient iron trade of Normandy, and the horseshoes which appear on the Ferris shield could doubtless be traced to some episode in feudal history. The es- cutcheon of the family is as follows :


Arms-Azure, on a chevron or, three horseshoes of the first, between three cinquefoils argent.


Crest-Out of a ducal coronet a hand proper be- tween two wings.


Motto-Multum in florius artae.


Jeffrey Ferris, founder of the Con- necticut branch of the family, settled first at Watertown, Massachusetts, and was subsequently made a freeman in Boston. He was one of the first settlers of Weth- ersfield, Connecticut, whence he removed to Greenwich, going from that place to Stamford, where he died in 1660.


(I) Shubel Ferris, a descendant of Jef- frey Ferris, owned a flour mill and later became a farmer. He married Sybil Pal- mer, and after her death resided in the home of his son Daniel, where he passed away at the age of eighty-six.


(II) Daniel Ferris, son of Shubel and Sybil (Palmer) Ferris, was born in 1793, in Greenwich township, Connecticut, and served throughout the War of 1912. After his marriage he settled in Greenwich township, taking up his abode in a little house which cost five hundred dollars. Later he hired a farm, and still later moved to Pelham, New York, where again he rented a farm. He also lived for a time in New Rochelle, New York. In 1834 he returned to Fairfield county, Connecticut, and bought the old Knapp farm at Sound Beach, an estate of about fourteen acres, which he made his home during the remainder of his life, and which was afterward owned by his son. With farming he combined the business of a contractor, contracting on the New York & New Haven railroad, and taking several other large contracts when the road was built. He constructed one bridge at New Brunswick, New Jersey, and another across the Raritan river. He also worked at Stamford and Mianus, and executed other important contracts. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Repub- lican. Mr. Ferris married Maria Mar- shall, born in 1796, in Greenwich town- ship, daughter of Captain Andrew and Mary (Hobbs) Marshall. Captain Mar- shall ran a produce boat between Mianus and New York. Daniel Ferris died Sep- tember 15, 1881, and his wife passed away in September, 1882.


(III) Paris Alonzo Ferris, son of Dan- iel and Maria (Marshall) Ferris, was born May 29, 1829, in Westchester county, New York, and attended local schools and also a boarding school presided over by Professor Richards. He was reared on the home farm and acted as assistant in the blacksmith shop kept by his father for repair work on contracts. As a young man he owned a schooner, the "John Ran- some," and during the Civil War carried


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Bohus. C. Haberman.


ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY


iron and other freight between New York City, Albany and points in New England. Most of his life was passed on the home- stead, where he bred livestock, driving the animals in earlier times to New York, but later transporting them by rail. He married Matilda Palmer, born in October, 1828, in Stamford township, Connecticut, daughter of Walter and Polly (Scofield) Palmer. On August 26, 1905, Mr. Ferris met his death in a burning building which he had entered in an endeavor to save his horse, thus giving his life in an attempt to save that of the noble animal which had faithfully served him.


(IV) Albert Ferris, son of Paris Alonzo and Matilda (Palmer) Ferris, was born May 30, 1850, in Sound Beach, Con- necticut, and received his education in the public schools of his native town and in those of Stamford. He grew up on his father's farm, devoting much of his at- tention to the breeding of horses and to breaking them for road driving. He also engaged in the breeding of cattle.


Always a good citizen, Mr. Ferris never took any active part in local politics, the demands of his farm, combined with his responsibilities as a stock-raiser, absorb- ing the greater portion of his time and attention. No one, however, was readier to do his utmost toward the furtherance of any project having for its end the im- provement of community conditions. He attended 'and supported the Congrega- tional church.


Mr. Ferris married, June 17, 1869, Jo- sephine Flood, whose family record is appended to this biography, and they be- came the parents of one daughter, Matilda Ferris.


The death of Mr. Ferris, which occurred November 24, 1914, was deeply and sin- cerely mourned as that of a man whose place in the community could with diffi- culty be filled and whose departure sad-


dened the hearts of a large circle of warm and true friends. The record of Albert Ferris should be preserved, for it depicts a man of quiet force and sterling integrity whose example might with profit be emu- lated by younger men in the different walks of life.


(The Flood Line).


(I) John Flood, grandfather of Mrs. Josephine (Flood) Ferris, was of West- chester county, New York, and was the son of a sea captain who was lost on one of his voyages.


(II) Samuel Flood, son of John Flood, was born in White Plains, New York, and was a builder of stone walls and stone fences, many of the best of these in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, remain- ing as monuments to his skill. His work may also be seen in New York State. Mr. Flood married Catherine Finch, daugh- ter of Jonathan and Jane (Davis) Finch, of Northcastle, New York. Mrs. Jane (Davis) Finch was a sister of Thaddeus Davis, the famous ink manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Flood were the parents of ten children, of whom the following reached maturity : Josephine, mentioned below ; Hortense, married Charles S. Seeley, and is now deceased ; Louise, became the wife of Thomas Jackman, of Sharon, Pennsyl- vania, and is also deceased ; Samuel, de- ceased; Llewelyn, of Port Chester, New York; and Alden, of Sound Beach, Con- necticut.


(III) Josephine Flood, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Finch) Flood, be- came the wife of Albert Ferris, as stated above.


WAKEMAN, Charles Clifford, Business Man.


Charles Clifford Wakeman, one of the progressive business men of Westport,


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Connecticut, bears the name of a splendid ancestry. While it is common knowledge that the majority of surnames were origi- nally derived from occupation, location of home, or some personal characteristic, the origin of Wakeman has an added interest because of its great antiquity. It was a title originally given to the chief magis- trate of Rippon, in Yorkshire, England, and literally signified wide-awake man. This title descended from father to son, and in this manner the surname origi- nated. The family has long been settled in New England; the founder, John Wakeman, is listed among the freemen in New Haven, Connecticut, as early as June 4, 1639.


(I) John Wakeman was born about 1598-99 in Bewdley, Worcestershire, Eng- land, and died in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1661. He was a son of Francis and Anna (Goode) Wakeman, of Bewdley. On January 28, 1628-29, John Wakeman married, in Bewdley, Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of William and Helen (Vic- karis) Hopkins, baptized October 7, 1610, in Ribbesford Church, England, died at New Haven, in 1658.


(II) Rev. Samuel Wakeman, son of John and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Wakeman, was baptized June 7, 1635, and died March 8, 1692, in Fairfield, Connecticut. He was ordained, September 30, 1665, second pas- tor of the church in Fairfield. His early education was obtained in Harvard Col- lege. Rev. Mr. Wakeman married, August 28, 1656, Hannah Goodyear, daughter of Governor Stephen Goodyear, of New Haven, and she died in 1721.


(III) Captain Joseph Wakeman, son of Rev. Samuel and Hannah (Goodyear) Wakeman, was born in 1670, and died December 5, 1726. He was particularly prominent in affairs, and was considered a good business man. Sufficient warrant of this fact is found in his will showing




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