USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 44
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Subsequently, Mr. Adams purchased a business which did not prove a success, and two years were practically lost. Dur- ing the next two years he held two posi- tions successively ; one with a Boston engineering company, in charge of the New York office; the other with a radia- tor company, as superintendent in New- ark, New Jersey. This company failed and he opened an office at 26 Cortlandt street, New York, as consulting engineer, and dealer in machinery, making a spe- cialty of railroad equipment ; hydraulic, steam, gas, electric, and refrigerating ma- chinery. In 1918 he moved his family to Norwalk, Connecticut; also removed his office from New York to Norwalk, where he is now located and in the same line. Fraternally Mr. Adams is a member of
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Sandolphon Lodge, No. 836, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Brooklyn, and he is an honorary member of the Ameri- can Association of Steam Engineers.
Mr. Adams married Clara Shurter, daughter of James Shurter, of Beacon, New York, and they are the parents of four children, three of whom are now liv- ing. They are: Grace; Sidney, married Dorothy Eden, and has one son, Sidney, Jr .; Helen ; Howard J. With his family Mr. Adams attends the Methodist Epis- copal church of Norwalk, and aids in its support.
FERRIS, John Hanford, Man of Affairs, Legislator.
From the earliest settlement of Fair- field county, the name of Ferris has been an honored one in Connecticut. The race has always been animated by that love of freedom which inspired the New England pioneers. Members of every branch of the family have played prominent parts in the Colonial, Revolutionary and Na- tional periods of our history.
The Ferris family is of Norman origin, the primitive orthography having been Ferier or Ferrerr. It is derived from Ferian, to convey across, and was be- stowed, ere the dawn of the family his- tory, as distinguished from family tradi- tion, on one dwelling near a ferry or on the keeper of the ferry. The founder of the family in England was Henry de Ferier, son of Gualchelme de Ferier, mas- ter of the horse of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, who obtained grants of land in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. Of this Henry de Ferier tradition says that Wil- liam the Conqueror rode up to him on the battle-field, and taking from his own neck a chain of gold threw it over the head of
Henry de Ferier, saying: "You fight too fiercely, I must chain you up." From him are descended the Ferrers of Groby, who bore for their paternal arms : Gules, seven mascles or, a canton ermine. Their Westchester descendants carried: Gules, a fleur-de-lis, a canton ermine, with a crescent. The arms of the father of Henry de Ferier were : Argent, six horse- shoes, pierced sable.
(I) Jeffrey Ferris came to America in 1634, and records prove that he settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and that on May 6, 1635, he was made a freeman of that place. He was one of the first settlers, and his name appears on the list of those who paid for the survey, receiv- ing ten acres of the first assignment of land. Removing from Watertown to Wethersfield, it is shown by record that he sold his lot of forty-five acres to John Deming. In 1641 he came to Stamford with the first colony from Wethersfield, and his house stood on the north side of what is now Broads, west of Franklin street. Later he removed to Greenwich, where he passed the remainder of his life. In 1656 he was one of the eleven Greenwich men who petitioned to be un- der New Haven jurisdiction. He was one of the original purchasers of land which now forms the town of Greenwich. Ac- cording to tradition, the first of his three wives was Ann, daughter of John and Sarah (Jeffrey) Milton, and sister of John Milton, the blind poet. "Stamford Reg- istrations" says: "Wife to Jeffrey, died 3Ist, 5th, 1658." Also, "Susanna, wife, married 1659, died at Grinwich, Decem- ber 23, 1660."
(II) James Ferris, son of Jeffrey and Ann (Milton) Ferris, was born about 1643, and was one of the original pat- entees named in the patent granted to the town of Greenwich by the General
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Assembly in May, 1665. The Christian name of his wife was Mary. The date of his death is November 26, 1726.
(III) Samuel Ferris, son of James and Mary Ferris, was born September 21, 1706. He married Ann Lockwood, born in 1713, daughter of Gershom and Mary Lockwood. The death of Mr. Ferris oc- curred April 25, 1786, and his widow passed away July 2, 1789.
(IV) Stephen Ferris, son of Samuel and Ann (Lockwood) Ferris, was born December 27, 1740. He married Sarah Lockwood, who survived him nearly a quarter of a century, her death occurring November 23, 1848. Mr. Ferris passed away February 24, 1824.
(V) Stephen (2) Ferris, son of Stephen (1) and Sarah (Lockwood) Ferris, was born May 8, 1783. He married Elizabeth Dixon, who was born May 20, 1782, and died December 6, 1871. The death of Stephen Ferris occurred September 25, 1866. Stephen Ferris resided in Darien ; he was a very prosperous farmer, a direc- tor of a bank in South Norwalk, and was a regular attendant of the board of direc- tors meetings. Until the time of his death Mr. Ferris took care of his own banking interests. He was a member in good standing of the Congregational church of Darien.
(VI) William Henry Ferris, son of Stephen (2) and Elizabeth (Dixon) Fer- ris, was born July 4, 1810. He was a sea captain, engaged in the coast trade. He married Susan Hutchins, and they were the parents of seven children. Mr. Ferris ran the blockade during the Civil War several times; he was much esteemed among his fellow-citizens, and was a regular member of the Congregational church.
(VII) John Hanford Ferris, son of William Henry and Susan (Hutchins) Ferris, was born October 22, 1842, at Five
Mile River, now Rowayton, Connecticut, and was a youth when his parents re- moved to Flax Hill road, where the old house still stands. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of four- teen years went to sea with his father After following the sea for four years, Mr. Ferris engaged in the wholesale gro- cery business with his uncle in Norwalk. He then spent six months in the West, and on his return established himself in the coal business. The concern grew to large proportions, and he became one of the leading men connected with the in- dustry. In financial affairs he was also prominent, being one of the organizers of the City National Bank of South Norwalk, and serving as its president until a year prior to his death. About the same time he resigned the vice-presidency of the South Norwalk Savings Bank. For a time he was president of the Norwalk Steam- boat Company, afterward remaining a director. He also held directorships in the Norwalk Lock Company, the Norwalk Gas Company, the Norwalk Iron Works Company, and the Manhattan Rubber Company of New York City. Another of his directorships was in the Norwalk Building and Loan Association.
The political principles of Mr. Ferris were those upheld by the Republicans, and he was a recognized leader of his party. He served a number of terms as a member of the City Board of Councilmen, and was the effectual champion of the municipal lighting plant project which has proved such a boon to his community. For twelve years he held the office of city treasurer. For many improvements and reforms his fellow-citizens were largely indebted to him. In 1887 he represented South Norwalk in the State Assembly, and as a legislator made a record notable for ability and fidelity to duty. His long experience and thorough knowledge of
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matters financial caused him to be made chairman of the house committee on banks. Two years later he was elected to the State Senate to represent the Thir- teenth District. He was president pro- tem of the Senate, and was frequently called upon to act as chief executive of the State during the absence of the gov- ernor and lieutenant-governor.
Socially prominent, Mr. Ferris was en- rolled in the Norwalk, South Norwalk, Pine Lodge, Knob Outing, and Norwalk Yacht clubs. He affiliates with St. John's Lodge, No. 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Norwalk. His religious mem- bership was in the South Norwalk Con- gregational Church, and he served as treasurer of the Sunday school. The erection of the present fine church edifice was effected largely through his influence and aid. He was incorporator, first pres- ident and lifelong director of a general hospital for all the Norwalks, managed by a hospital association.
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Mr. Ferris married, December 31, 1863, Jennie Charlotte May, whose ancestral record is appended to this biography, and they were the parents of the following children: 1. Jesse M., treasurer of the Manhattan Rubber Company ; he married Nellie Rice, and they have four children : Ethel May, Hattie, John Hanford, and Charlotte Ressegieur. 2. Percy Edwin. 3. Charles Irving, a well known dentist of New York City. 4. Eva Lillian, wife of George F. Foote, of South Norwalk, and mother of three sons : Marshall Hanford, graduated from New York Military Acad- emy, now in the class of 1922 of Lehigh University : George Franklin; Charles Irving. The death of Mr. Ferris was mourned as that of an able executant, a public-spirited citizen, and man of irre- proachable character in every relation of life.
(The May Line).
The patronymic of this ancient Eng- lish family was not acquired, as might be supposed, by the adoption of the name of the month beloved of poets, but has two meanings derived from Middle English and Old English speech, the first signify- ing, "man, warrior, kinsman," and the second, "young girl, maid." The family is entitled to display the following es- cutcheon :
Arms-Gules, a fesse between eight billets or.
Crest-Out of a ducal coronet or, a leopard's head couped proper.
Motto-Vigilo.
(I) John May, founder of the American branch of the family, was born in 1590, and was of Mayfield, Sussex, England, a place which, in tradition says, was the original home of the family. John May was master of a vessel called the "James," sailing as early as 1635 between London and New England. About 1640 John May settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and in 1641 was made a freeman of that place. He was a member of the church at Rox- bury of which John Eliot, the "Apostle to the Indians," was pastor. The death of John May's first wife, whose name is unknown, is thus mentioned by Eliot, under the date of June 18, 1651 : "Sister Mayes died a very gracious and savory Christian." John May is supposed to have been a carpenter by reason of the fact that, in his will, he mentions his carpenter's tools. He died April 28, 1670, and his second wife, Sarah, passed away May 4, 1670.
(II) John (2) May, son of John (I) May, was born in England in 1631 or, as some say, in 1628, and in 1660 was made a freeman. He lived, apparently, on his father's land, though probably adding to it. He married Mrs. Sarah Bruce, daugh- ter of Daniel and Joanna Brewer. For
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some months before his death, which oc- curred September 11, 1671, John May en- dured the affliction of blindness, and, like his father, he mentions in his will his car- penter's tools.
(III) John (3) May, son of John (2) and Sarah (Brewer-Bruce) May, was born May 19, 1663. He filled the office of se- lectman, also serving as deacon in the Roxbury church. He married Prudence Bridge, born January II, 1664, daughter of John and Prudence (Robinson) Bridge, of Roxbury. Deacon May died February 24, 17 -. His wife passed away Septem- ber 26, 1723.
(IV) Hezekiah May, son of John (3) and Prudence (Bridge) May, was born December 14, 1696. About 1720 he re- moved to Wethersfield, where he was made deacon in the Congregational church. He married (first) Anna Still- man, born in 1698, daughter of George Stillman, Esq., selectman and representa- tive of Hadley and afterward of Wethers- field. Mrs. May died November 7, 1767, and Deacon May is said to have married (second) a daughter of Deacon Philip Smith, of Hadley. The death of Deacon May occurred September 5, 1783.
(V) Hezekiah (2) May, son of Heze- kiah (1) and Anna (Stillman) May, was born November 13, 1728. He was a farmer of Wethersfield. He married Mary George, who died November 7, 1767, the death of Mr. May occurring December 20, 1797.
(VI) John (4) May, son of Hezekiah (2) and Mary (George) May, was born November 2, 1760. He was a sea captain, later becoming a shipbuilder at Hig- ganum, Connecticut. He married Abigail Boardman. The date of his death is May 8, 1807.
(VII) Hezekiah (3) May, son of John (4) and Abigail (Boardman) May, was
born November 27, 1789. He married Charlotte Sennott, of Catskill, who was born in 1784, and died in 1841. Mr. May survived his wife many years, passing away April 21, 1870.
(VIII) Henry Sennott May, son of Hezekiah (3) and Charlotte (Sennott) May, was born May 21, 1821. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 49th Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, and died soon after, in May, 1864. He married Sarah A. Darrin, born December 21, 1819, daughter of Daniel and Harriet (Mead) Darrin (see Darrin). Their daughter, Jennie Charlotte May, born February 12, 1841, became the wife of John Hanford Ferris, as stated above. Mrs. Ferris is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. through her Darrin ancestry.
(The Darrin Line).
(I) Daniel Darrin was born in 1756, in New Haven county, Connecticut. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and served in Captain Stanley's company, June, 1776, at West Britain, Connecticut. He married, December 2, 1782, Martha Travis.
(II) Daniel (2) Darrin, son of Daniel (1) and Martha (Travis) Darrin, was born December 21, 1794, and died January 9, 1878. He was buried in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. On February 24, 1819, he married Harriet Mead, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Resseguir) Mead, of Ridgefield, Connecticut. She was born May 30, 1794, and died March 17, 1878.
(III) Sarah A. Darrin, daughter of Daniel (2) and Harriet (Mead) Darrin, and granddaughter of Daniel Darrin, Sr., became the wife of Henry Sennott May, as above noted.
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DOWNS, Nichols Curtis, Lawyer, Jurist.
As a leader of the Fairfield county bar, the former judge of the City Court of Stamford, the man whose name stands at the head of this article requires no in- troduction to his fellow-citizens. Emi- nent in his profession, Mr. Downs has for many years borne an active part in the political life of his community, and has for some time held the office of town counsel.
The surname of Downs is one of the class which had its origin in a natural object, that is, from Dune or Dunes, meaning a sandy hill. One of the earliest American ancestors was John Downs, who came from Cornwall, England, and was early settled in New Haven, Connec- ticut, records showing that he was there as early as 1645. He was one of the judges who signed the death warrant of Charles I, and he was a descendant of Robert le Dunes, who was born about I220.
(I) The great-grandfather of Judge Downs was Deacon Eben Downs, who removed from West Haven to Southbury, Connecticut. There he was among the first settlers, and in 1831 removed to South Britain.
(II) Smith Downs, son of Deacon Eben Downs, married, November 27, 1808, Mary Anna Stiles.
(III) Monroe Devine Downs, son of Smith and Mary Anna (Stiles) Downs, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and for a time attended the school in Cheshire. While still a young man, he went to North Dakota and there spent his remaining years. He married Charlotte Nichols Curtis, a sister of Julius B. Curtis, whose biography with genealogy appears else- where in this work.
(IV) Nichols Curtis Downs, son of Monroe Devine and Charlotte Nichols
(Curtis) Downs, was born December 12, 1861, in the town of Newton, and received his education in the public schools of his birthplace and the Newton Academy. Subsequently he studied law under the guidance of his uncle, Julius B. Curtis, of Stamford, a most able preceptor, and on May 15, 1884, was admitted to the Fair- field county bar. Ever since he became a member of the bar, Mr. Downs has de- voted himself assiduously to the practice of his chosen profession, advancing as the years went on to the position of acknowl- edged leadership which he has so long oc- cupied.
Three years after he began practice, Mr. Downs was appointed deputy judge of the Borough Court of Stamford, and in 1893, when the borough was incorporated as a city, he received the appointment of judge of the City Court, an office which he retained until 1907. From 1887 to 1891 he served as borough attorney of Stam- ford and from 1893 to 1898 was corpora- tion counsel of the city. He has served several terms as town counsel, and was again appointed, which position he still retains. As trial counsel, Mr. Downs stands in the front rank, having bestowed special care and thought on this branch of his work. Always public-spirited, he was for five years a member of the Na- tional Guard. In politics he has always been a Republican, and for many years was chairman of the local Republican committee.
Mr. Downs married, August 19, 1911, Florence M. Houghton, daughter of Je- rome Monrow and Susan A. (Cole) Houghton, of Galion, Ohio.
Finding in the sphere of the profession of his choice a wide and congenial field for the exercise of his talents and ener- gies, Mr. Downs has there concentrated his activities with results of a nature most satisfactory both to himself and to his community.
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COLYAR, Granville Buckingham, Merchant.
The name of Colyar is derived from the class of names known as "Occupational Surnames." Originally it was given to one who was a "collier," that is one who burned and sold charcoal. As often hap- pens with many of the early surnames, it is found in several different spellings, among them being the form here used and Colyer.
Granville B. Colyar, a leading merchant of Fairfield county, Connecticut, was born in Westport, Connecticut, October 25, 1895, son of Edward Bartlett and Georgi- anna (Lattin) Colyar.
Edward B. Colyar, his father, was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Febru- ary 15, 1859, and as a boy began to go to sea. He followed this occupation until about twelve years ago, when he retired from active employment. Mr. Colyar has been a resident of Westport for about thirty years. He married Georgianna Lattin, daughter of George Lattin, of that town, and their children were : Edna, wife of Victor Sunderland, of Saugatuck; and Granville B., of further mention. Mr. and Mrs. Colyar are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Granville B. Colyar was educated in the Staples High School of Westport, and then entered Cornell University to study engineering. He was forced to give up this idea because of ill health, and after his recovery entered the employ of the Dolge Manufacturing Company, of West- port, with whom he remained fifteen months. He then organized the Colyar's Shoe Stores, Incorporated, of which he has ever since been treasurer. The first store was opened in Westport, and in 1919 another was opened in Norwalk. Mr. Colyar entered into the shoe business with no previous training, but his suc-
cess is assured because of the initiative he possesses. His pleasing personality has won many friends for him, and his attention to the details of his business has also brought their confidence. It can be safely predicted that a fine future is in prospect for him. The fraternal affilia- tions of Mr. Colyar are : Member of Tem- ple Lodge, No. 65, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Westport; Aspetuck Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Shepherds of Bethlehem.
Mr. Colyar married Helen Hall Mc- Intosh, daughter of Charles McIntosh, of Wellesley, Massachusetts. They attend Trinity Episcopal Church, of whose choir Mr. Colyar is a member, possessing a most pleasing voice. He also plays the violin, and was a member of the Cornell orchestra.
CANTY, Thomas H., Business Man, Public Official.
During the comparatively few years of Mr. Canty's residence in South Norwalk, Connecticut, he has built up a business and a reputation which entitle him to a place among the most active and prosper- ous of her citizens. Well known as the head of the firm of T. H. Canty & Com- pany, he is also officially connected wtih other business organizations and has filled with credit more than one local office of trust and responsibility.
Thomas H. Canty, grandfather of Thomas H. Canty, when a young man, came with his wife from Ireland, to the United States, and settled in New Haven, Connecticut. The name Canty is of Scot- tish origin and signifies brisk, cheerful, lively.
Thomas H. Canty, father of our sub- ject, was born in August, 1855, in New Haven, and there grew to manhood. He was variously employed until the age of
Conn-9-21
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twenty-four, when he entered the service of the New York, New Haven and Hart- ford Railroad Company. Beginning in the capacity of a brakeman, he rose, in the course of time, to the position of passen- ger conductor, which he filled for many years, on various routes between New York and Boston. He was a member of the New England Order of Protection.
Mr. Canty married Maria, daughter of Bridget Flynn. The name Flynn, or O'Flynn, is a very ancient one and is de- rived from Flann, signifying red. The Flynns trace their descent from Milesius, King of Spain, through the line of his son Heremon. The escutcheon of the race is as follows :
Arms-Argent, a dexter arm couped between two swords in pale, all proper.
Mr. and Mrs. Canty became the parents of the following children: Catherine, of New Haven, Connecticut ; Thomas H., of further mention; Helen, married Edward Murphy, of New Haven, and has one child, Marie; Charles F., of Bridgeport, Connecticut ; James N., of Hartford, Con- necticut; Stephen, of New Haven; and William J., of New Haven, class of 1923 of the Sheffield Scientific School. Mr. Canty died November 25, 1919.
Thomas H. Canty, son of Thomas H. and Maria (Flynn) Canty, was born July 6, 1884, in New Haven, Connecticut, and received his education in public schools of his native city. On leaving school he obtained a position in a drug store and while employed there pursued the study of pharmacy. In 1904 he was licensed as a pharmacist and for three years worked as a drug clerk, at the end of that time becoming manager of the wholesale drug department of the establishment of C. W. Whittlesey.
After retaining this position for a year, Mr. Canty, in February, 1907, went to
South Norwalk, where he became man- ager of a drug store. On January 1, 1910, he succeeded to the proprietorship of the business and carried it on until May, 1913, when he disposed of it and engaged in the real estate and insurance business on his own account. The insurance end of the concern has developed wonderfully, and he now handles insurance of every inscription. In June, 1919, Mr. Canty pur- chased a controlling interest in the Globe Advertising Agency, an organization which has already won recognition from publishers. He was one of the founders of the People's Trust Company, of South Norwalk, and is a member of its board of directors.
For some years Mr. Canty has been actively associated with local politics. In 1910 he was elected a member of the City Council of South Norwalk, and dur- ing his term of office served as police commissioner and health commissioner. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the governing board of Norwalk Country Club, and his other clubs are the Norwalk Yacht Club, and Country Club of New Canaan.
Mr. Canty married, June 21, 1916, Ethel, daughter of William C. Smith, of Pittsburgh, and they are the parents of two children : Helen, born July 8, 1917; and Thomas H., Jr., born November 27, 1919.
Throughout his career, Thomas H. Canty has proved himself possessed of the typical traits of his Scotch and Irish ancestors-aggressive perseverance, inex- haustible energy, and a will which, if it can find no way to the accomplishment of its purpose, will make one. To the truth of this statement Mr. Canty's whole com- munity can testify.
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Safe S. Hunply. €
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MURPHY, Joseph S.,
Contractor, Builder.
The man who attains an assured posi- tion in the world of business while still comparatively young proves himself to be possessed of more than the ordinary qualities which make for success. There must be first the ambition to succeed, combined with an intelligently directed industry. Joseph S. Murphy, one of the leading contractors and builders of Fair- field county, has, through his own unaided effort, achieved a recognized place among his fellow business men. Mr. Murphy was born July 29, 1883, in Summerville, Prince Edward Island, son of Alex and Mary (Hennessey) Murphy, and grand- son of Andrew Murphy, of Wexford, Ire- land.
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