USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 56
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of Isaac Gray. Isaac Gray's grave is said to have been the first one in the old North- field burying ground. Isaac Gray had a son, Nathan, of whom further.
Nathan Gray was born in 1714, and married, in Fairfield, Connecticut, July 24, 1735, Mary Holibert. One of his thir- teen children was Elijah, of whom fur- ther.
Elijah Gray married (first), in Weston, Connecticut, September 10, 1769, Esther Sturges; (second), May 6, 1793, Rhoda (Morehouse) Disbrow, a widow; (third) Lydia Taylor. Elijah Gray died on his eightieth birthday, November 16, 1827.
Walter Thomas Gray, son of Elijah and Esther (Sturges) Gray, was born Decem- ber 15, 1785. He died in Westport, sur- vived by six children. He was a shoe- maker, following that occupation all of his active life.
Henry Gray, son of Walter Thomas Gray, was born in Easton, Connecticut. He learned his father's trade of shoemak- ing, and in that pursuit and farming passed his life. He married Charlotte Brant, and they were the parents of Wal- ter Thomas, of whom further.
Walter Thomas (2) Gray, son of Henry and Charlotte (Brant) Gray, was born in Easton, Connecticut, in 1846, and died in 1895. His early life was spent on the home farm, and in early manhood he was for a few years an itinerant merchant of tinware, a picturesque type of peddler, of which there are few representatives at this time. Modern methods of transporta- tion and distribution have caused their passing, but their wagons, well stocked with household goods of every descrip- tion, were a boom to rural communities and farmers remote from business cen- ters. About 1875, Mr. Gray opened a bottling establishment in South Norwalk, and later purchased a site in East Nor- walk, where he installed his business.
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His product, bottled soda water, found its market in the surrounding territory, and Mr. Gray continued in this line with in- creasing success until his death. Five or six men were employed by him in the manufacture of his beverages, and several wagons distributed his goods throughout the neighboring towns. Mr. Gray was a member of the Knights of Pythias, of South Norwalk, a man widely known and as universally respected.
Walter T. Gray married, in 1879, Mary Arline Bradley, daughter of Eli and So- phia (Smith) Bradley. They were the parents of one child, Walter Henry, who died in infancy. Mrs. Gray was educated in the Western Female Seminary in Ox- ford, Ohio, and upon the death of her husband assumed the direction of his busi- ness. She was totally inexperienced in practical affairs, had never shared the burden of managing the business with her husband, and the intricacies of com- mercial enterprise were entirely unknown to her. Taking over the responsibility of management, she met every emergency that arose with wisdom and foresight, and in a day when women were not so generally active in affairs as now, when they have proved their possibilities in executive positions. She not only re- tained the trade built by her husband, but increased its scope, and conducted the business successfully for about a quarter of a century. Then the high cost of ma- terials caused by the war leaving only a narrow margin of profit, combined with the fact of her advancing years, caused her to close down the plant in 1918. This action at this time was not due to inabil- ity to continue manufacture, but was a decision that proved the same careful judgment and acumen that had guided her throughout the years of her independent administration.
The Bradley family, of which Mrs.
Gray is a member, is of Norman origin, and is given in full in the preceding sketches.
Henry Bradley, grandfather of Mrs. Gray, was known during his life as Cap- tain Harry Bradley, a sea captain, who was lost on one of his voyages. His home was in Greenfield, Connecticut. He mar- ried Roxie Seeley. His son, Eli Bradley, was born in Greenfield, Connecticut, in May, 1819, and died January 4, 1907. He was a member of Temple Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Westport. He married Emily Sophia Smith, daughter of Hezekiah and Eunice (Meeker) Smith, of Saugatuck. They were the parents of the following children: Emma Au- gusta, married Samuel Baker, deceased, of East Norwalk; Mary Arline, married Walter Thomas (2) Gray, aforemen- tioned ; Caroline, deceased, married Frank Curtis, of Norwalk; Charlotte, died un- married; Henry Eli, died in infancy ; Harry Burr.
FISHER, Clinton Reed, Banker, Useful Citizen.
The banking interests of a community constitute one of the elements most vital to its prosperity, and it is of the utmost importance that those interests should be committed to the care of men of unques- tioned ability and unimpeachable integ- rity. As treasurer of the Stamford Trust Company, Mr. Fisher fulfills most com- pletely all the exacting demands involved in the tenure of such an office, to the du- ties of which he brought a ripe and com- prehensive experience.
(I) William Fisher, grandfather of Clinton Reed Fisher, was a native of New York City. He was employed as a mas- ter mechanic by the Harlem Railroad Company. He was the inventor of the form of oil boxes now in use on journals
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of railroad trucks. Mr. Fisher married Ann Lowrey, of New York City.
(II) Daniel M. Fisher, son of William and Ann (Lowrey) Fisher, was born Au- gust 21, 1846, in Saybrook, Connecticut. He attended the public schools of New York City. During the greater part of his life he was engaged in the insurance business. He was a veteran of the 7th Regiment, New York National Guard. Mr. Fisher married Emma L. Reed, daughter of Sands Reed, of Norwalk, Con- necticut, and their only child, Clinton Reed, is mentioned below. The death of Mr. Fisher occurred October 12, 1912.
(III) Clinton Reed Fisher, son of Dan- iel M. and Emma L. (Reed) Fisher, was born July 15, 1870, in Darien, Connecti- cut. He received his education in New York public schools. When the time came for him to enter upon the active work of life he entered the service of Henry Clews & Company, well known bankers of the metropolis, with whom he remained seven years, acquiring a thor- ough insight into the methods of banking and laying up a fund of valuable experi- ence. In 1891 the Stamford Trust Com- pany was organized, and Mr. Fisher en- tered their service in the capacity of bookkeeper. As time went on he filled, successively, every position up to his present one of treasurer, becoming assist- ant treasurer on July 1, 1917, and in July, 1918, being elected treasurer. During the many years which have elapsed since he associated himself with the institution he has, by the excellence of his work and the clearsighted wisdom of his words of coun- sel, contributed in no small measure to the maintenance and extension of its strength and prosperity. The well-nigh unceasing demands of duty have left Mr. Fisher little leisure for social enjoyment, and the only club in which he holds mem- bership is the Suburban Club of Stamford.
Of the obligations of citizenship he has always been mindful, and no institution or cause which he deemed worthy of en- couragement has appealed to him in vain.
Mr. Fisher married, October 24, 1895, Janet Sammis, daughter of Frederick H. and Elizabeth (Hatfield) Sammis, of Ore- gon, Illinois, and they are the parents of one son, Edward C., born August 2, 1896; graduated from the New York Law School in 1917, and in December of the following year was admitted to the bar. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The record of Mr. Fisher is one of quiet, forceful and effective usefulness in a position involving high trusts and great responsibilities. He is a type of man essential to the upbuilding of large cities and of all communities.
HUBBARD, Frederick Augustus, Lawyer, Public Official.
An able member of the Fairfield county bar, Judge Frederick A. Hubbard, is also a representative of one of the earliest fam- ilies of New England. It is an old tra- dition in the Hubbard family that the name was derived from Hubba (Ubba or Ubbo), the Danish sea king, who in the fall of 866 with an immense fleet and twenty thousand warriors landed on the coast of East-Abglia or Kent to avenge the death of his father, Ragnar Logbrog. The latter had made his name a cause for terror on the shores of the Baltic and the British Isles on account of his invasions. After taking possession of Paris, he planned an invasion of England, and his expedition was wrecked on the coast of Northumbria, but Ragnar, with a band of his followers who reached the shore, be- gan their usual career of depredation in spite of the inferiority of their numbers. When the Northumbrians learned of the
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descent of the Norsemen, they flew to the coast and fought the invaders, and made Ragnar a prisoner. He was put to death immediately and is said to have consoled his last moments with the hope that "the cubs of the boar would avenge his fate."
His son, Hubba, above mentioned, spent the winter in fortifying his camp and equipping his followers. In Febru- ary, 867, despite the desperate battle given by the Northumbrians, the forces of Hubba triumphed. They killed Osbert in battle, but took prisoner Aella, his erst- while rival chieftain, but now compatriot in fighting the common foe. Hubba and his followers now gave themselves the pleasure of torturing to death the men who had thrown King Ragnar Lodbrog into a cage of snakes to be devoured. This victory gave Hubba and his brother, Hingua, undisputed possession of all the country south of the Tyne and north of Nottingham. They continued to increase their dominions by victorious invasions of the surrounding countries, and their exploits form one of the most thrilling chapters in early British history. Hubba was finally slain in his camp with twelve hundred of his followers by Odyn. Scat- tered across Britain and Wales have stood seven historic eminences each known as "Hubba's Hill."
It is common knowledge that there was great confusion in spelling names during several centuries following the adoption of family surnames, and that of Hubbard was no exception to the rule, more than fifty different spellings of what is appar- ently the same name being found on record. Even in America, the forms, Hubbard, Hubbert, Hubard, Hubert, Ho- bart and Hobert are common. Several branches of the family in England have borne coats-of-arms.
(I) George Hubbard, the ancestor of
the family, is distinguished from other immigrants of the name, by the reference, "George Hubbard of Guilford." He is believed to have been in Watertown, Mas- sachusetts, in 1633; in October, 1635, he removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in that part which is now called Wethers- field. There he resided for three years, and later settled in Milford, where he was admitted to the church, January 15, 1644. Four years later, September 22, 1648, he purchased land in Guilford, whence he re- moved, and was admitted to the church there, October 6, 1650. He was a sur- veyor. In each community he interested himself in public matters, and was several times honored with public office. In 1639 he served as representative; for eight terms he served as deputy magistrate, and in 1666-67 was a member of the General Assembly. He died in Guilford, in Jan- uary, 1683. George Hubbard married Mary Bishop, daughter of John and Anne Bishop, and she died in Guilford, Sep- tember 14, 1675.
(II) John Hubbard, son of George and Mary (Bishop) Hubbard, was born in England, in 1633, and died in 1705. He was brought to America by his parents, and in 1650 was a resident of Wethers- field, Connecticut. On March 26, 1661, he was admitted a freeman in Wethers- field. A few years before his death John Hubbard removed to Hatfield, Massachu- setts. About 1648 he married Mary Mer- riman, of Concord, Massachusetts.
(III) Jonathan Hubbard, son of John and Mary (Merriman) Hubbard, was born January 3, 1658-59, in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and died in Concord, Massa- chusetts, January 17, 1728. He had re- moved to the latter town in 1680, and there married, January 15, 1681, Hannah Rice, who was born in 1658, and died April 9, 1747, in Concord; she was a
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daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (King) Rice, of Sudbury and Marlboro, Massa- chusetts.
(IV) Thomas Hubbard, son of Jona- than and Hannah (Rice) Hubbard, was born August 27, 1696, in Concord, Massa- chusetts. He married Mary Fletcher, of that town.
(V) Nathan Hubbard, son of Thomas and Mary (Fletcher) Hubbard, was born January 23, 1723, in Concord, Massachu- setts. Subsequently, he lived in Groton, Massachusetts. He married, April 2, 1745, Mary Patterson.
(VI) Thomas (2) Hubbard, son of Nathan and Mary (Patterson) Hubbard, was born December 28, 1745, and died May 25, 1807. His second wife was Lois White, who was born April 30, 1747, and died March 26, 1834, of Lancaster, Massa- chusetts. They were married October I, 1777.
(VII) Luther Hubbard, son of Thomas (2) and Lois (White) Hubbard, was born August 13, 1782, and died March 2, 1857, in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was a stone cutter and maker of tomb stones for surrounding counties. He was known as Major Hubbard, but there is no record of his having performed military service. Luther Hubbard married, December 18, 1806, Hannah Russell, born July 9, 1781, in Westford, Massachusetts, died in Man- chester, New Hampshire, December 12, 1870.
(VIII) Luther Prescott Hubbard, son of Luther and Hannah (Russell) Hub- bard, was born June 30, 1808, in Hollis, New Hampshire, and died in Greenwich, Connecticut, September 18, 1894. The public schools of his native town afforded his early education, and these courses were supplemented by a term in the Pin- kerton Academy in Derry, New Hamp- shire. In 1824 Mr. Hubbard learned the trade of stone cutter, which his father had
long followed. In Quincy, Massachu- setts, Mr. Hubbard worked at his trade and was one of the men employed in shap- ing the stones of the Bunker Hill Monu- ment. In 1827 he came to New York, where he had charge of much important work. Subsequently he accepted a posi- tion as confidential clerk in the office of Ira Morris & Company, granite dealers of New York City.
Mr. Hubbard was always interested in his fellowmen, and it was this desire to be of assistance which led to his later em- ployment as secretary of the American Seamen's Friend Society. He was one of the first to distribute Bibles in New York for the Marine Bible Society in 1833. In 1863 he became financial agent of the former society. Mr. Hubbard removed with his family to Greenwich, Connecti- cut, in 1859, and there was warden of the borough. Mr. Hubbard published a small genealogy bearing on his family history in 1872. He was secretary of the New England Society in the City of New York for forty consecutive years.
Mr. Hubbard married (first) November 28, 1832, Sarah Ogden Johnson, and for his second wife, Mary Cummings Ten- ney, who was born November 19, 1819, in Hollis, daughter of Hon. Ralph E. and Phebe Colburn (Smith) Tenney. Their children were: Frederick A., of further mention ; Mary Tenney, born October 12, 1855; John Theodore, born October 2, 1857, died February 2, 1882; William Norris, born November 2, 1865, a physi- cian in New York City ; Benjamin Farley, deceased.
(IX) Frederick Augustus Hubbard, eldest son of Luther Prescott and Mary Cummings (Tenney) Hubbard, was born November 17, 1851, in Hollis, New Hamp- shire, and was seven years old when brought by his parents to Greenwich, Connecticut. There he attended school
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and the Greenwich Academy. The legal profession had attracted him from youth, and with the purpose of making that his career he began the study of law under the preceptorship of Evarts, Southmayd & Choate, noted New York lawyers and friends of his father. In 1875 Mr. Hub- bard was graduated from the University of the City of New York with the degree of LL. B. and in the same year was ad- mitted to practice there and also in the State of Connecticut. His practice has been in Greenwich and he has made a specialty of probate cases, care of estates, real estate law, and a good deal of convey- ancing.
For many years Judge Hubbard has been one of the foremost citizens of Greenwich. Upright in his dealings, he has commanded the respect of his fellow- citizens. His political affiliations are with the Republican party; although not de- sirous of holding office, Judge Hubbard never shirks a public duty, and any move- ment for the general welfare can count upon his loyal support. He was appointed deputy judge of the Borough Court of Greenwich.
Judge Hubbard has found time outside of his business cares to indulge in his talent for writing. His library at home and collection of curios is typical of his tastes. His writing is entertaining and instructive. He has contributed many articles to newspapers over the pen name, Ezekiel Lemondale. Many who are famil- iar with his articles feel that his literary work should be embodied in a more en- during form. He is a fluent, graceful writer, possesses a keen sense of humor and has a splendid sense of proportion. He will always be remembered for his one published volume "Other Days in Green- wich," which, while disclaiming to be a history, splendidly supplements the work of other historians by relating interesting
facts and anecdotes of people, places and things identified with the past of that town. It is a unique and valuable con- tribution to Connecticut's historical liter- ature. Fraternally, Judge Hubbard is a member of Acacia Lodge, No. 85, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Greenwich, and is a life member of the New England Society of New York.
Judge Hubbard married, August I, 1883, Agnes Helena Waterbury, daugh- ter of George P. and Ellen F. (June) Wa- terbury. They are the parents of three sons : I. Carleton Waterbury, born April 25, 1884; he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, class of 1909, and is a mechanical engi- neer in New York; he married Katharine Chase, and they are the parents of Mal- vern Drexel, Richmond Chase, Dorothy Georgia and Frances Alice. 2. Drexel Tenney, born August 22, 1886; he mar- ried Katherine Bond, and they have one child, Charlotte Bond, born June 3, 1919. 3. George Frederick, born October 19, 1899; he was educated in Repton School, Tarrytown, and was a first lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, and was injured while in service by an airplane crash ; he has fully recovered. The family attend the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich, and aid in its support.
WEED, Edward Franklin, Lover of Natural Science.
For almost three hundred years the sur- name of Weed has been prominently iden- tified with the interests of Fairfield county, Connecticut. Members of this family have been among the useful and upright citizens of their communities, and they have left definite impress upon the industrial and public life of these com- munities.
The Weed family is a very ancient one
Conn-8-26
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in England. The name is derived from as a juror, this service carrying great re- the place which was the residence of the spect and honor in the pioneer communi- ties. He removed from Wethersfield to New Haven, and the colonizing expedition to Stamford was organized and started from there. In 1641 he removed to Stam- ford, and there received a grant of land in 1642. He died in 1676, and his wife sur- vived him until 1689 or 1690. family, Weed-on-the-Street, or Weed-on- Beck, one of the oldest parishes in the hundred of Fawsley county, Northamp- ton, situated four miles from Daventry. The name could be found only in North- amptonshire at the time of Jonas Weed's emigration to this country.
There is a record of Ralph, of Weed- on-Beck, or as the name became simpli- fied, Ralph de Weedon, having settled in Buckinghamshire in 1307. He became knight of the shire, and his arms were:
"Argent, two bars gules, in chief three marlets sable."
The family became scattered through- out Great Britain, and different branches were soon established in various sections of the kingdom. The form of the name changed with the different environment, and we find Wedon, Wead, Weedon, Weede, and Weeden, as well as other names somewhat similar. Only in the County of Northampton did the simple spelling Weed survive. From this fact it is possible to state with more than ordinary certainty the locality where this line of the family originated.
(I) Jonas Weed, the immigrant ances- tor of the family in America, lived near Stamford, Northampton county, England, and with a group of friends became in- terested in the stories of the new colonies across the ocean, and joined Governor Winthrop's fleet, sailing in company with Sir Robert Saltonstall on the good ship, "Arabella." The expedition landed in Boston, May 29, 1630, and old records of Watertown, Massachusetts, show that Jonas Weed was among the settlers there the following year. On May 18, 1631, he was admitted a freeman in Watertown. He removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1635, and during his stay there served
(II) Daniel Weed, son of Jonas Weed, married Ruth -, and was the father of Nathaniel, of whom further.
(III) Nathaniel Weed, son of Daniel and Ruth Weed, born October 22, 1696. The latter married Mary -, and was the father of Nathan, of whom further.
(IV) Nathan Weed, son of Nathaniel Weed, was born January 1, 1725. He married and was the father of Nathan, of whom further.
(V) Nathan (2) Weed, son of Nathan (1) Weed, married, September 2, 1787, Mary Scofield.
(VI) Joseph Weed, son of Nathan (2) and Mary (Scofield) Weed, was born De- cember 20, 1801, and died March 9, 1888. He was a Whig, and later a Republican. He attended the Congregational church of Darien. He married (first) Louise Weed, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Waterbury) Weed, March 7, 1825, and their children were: Joseph Henry, Na- than, Louisa, and Alvah. He married (second) Jane Tweedy, of New York City, and their children were: Samuel Richard of whom further; Arthur, Bea- trice, Mary, Edgar, Edwin, Mary J., Jessie G., and Annie Tweedy.
(VII) Samuel Richard Weed, eldest child of Joseph and Jane (Tweedy) Weed, was born in New York City, Feb- ruary 9, 1837, where he died, Feberuary 4, 1918. He was a writer by occupation, and in later years was in the insurance business. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religious faith a Congrega-
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tionalist. Mr. Weed married, October II, 1859, Nellie S. Jones, daughter of David W. and Mary Cabor (Newell) Jones, the former of Boston, and the latter of Fram- ingham, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Weed were the parents of the following children : I. Walter Harvey, born May 1, 1862. 2. Nathan Herbert, born August I, 1868. 3. Edward Franklin, of whom further.
(VIII) Edward Franklin Weed, son of Samuel Richard and Nellie S. (Jones) Weed, was born January 20, 1870, in St. Louis, Missouri. When he was about six years of age his parents removed to Brooklyn, New York, and Edward F. re- ceived his education in the public schools of that city. Following his courses there, he became a student in the Connecticut Agricultural College in Storrs, Connecti- cut. Mr. Weed then became a special student of Sheffield Scientific School of Yale College in microscopic botany and entomology. Mr. Weed has never lost his interest in his natural science work, and spends much of the leisure time from his business in this work. Mr. Weed's hobby is stamp collecting. For forty years he has been collecting stamps, spe- cializing at different times in the stamps of certain countries. At the present time Mr. Weed is making a specialty of Brit- ish Colony stamps and has a valuable col- lection of them. The social activities of Mr. Weed are many. He is a thirty- second degree Mason; he affiliates with Old Well Lodge, No. 108, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Butler Chapter, No. 38, Royal Arch Masons; Clinton Command- ery, Knights Templar; Lafayette Con- sistory ; and Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. He is secretary of the local Red Cross Association, and a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, of Noroton, of which he is junior warden.
Mr. Weed married (first) Mrs. Louise
(Lane) Colyer, daughter of Adolphus and Eliza Jane (Stearns) Lane. He married (second), July 18, 1912, Isabel M. Weed, daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Dor- lon) Weed, of New York City, and Ma- con, Georgia, the former a son of Joseph and Louise (Weed) Weed.
WEED, Hanford Smith.
Lawyer, Legislator.
In the annals of Fairfield county fre- quent mention is found of the Weed family. This family is not only among the oldest families of that county, but also among the most prominent.
(II) John Weed, eldest son of Jonas Weed (q. v.), purchased land in Stam- ford, Conn., April 20, 1657, and died in 1688. He married, in 1665, Joanna West- cott, daughter of Richard Westcott.
(III) Daniel Weed, son of John and Joanna (Westcott) Weed, was born Feb- ruary II, 1669. He married and was the father of Abraham, of further mention.
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