USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
habits and attention to the laws of health he lived beyond the three score years and ten allotted by the Psalmist, dying of old age. One who knew him well said :
The life just closed was singularly complete in all its aspects. In his simple faith and humble walk with God, in his domestic happiness and prosperity, his great age and numerous descend- ants, we see a striking resemblance to the life of the Patriarchs, as they are depicted in the Old Testament. *
* * His immediate descendants (at the time of his death) are fifteen children, sixty-seven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchil- dren, one hundred and two in all. His piety was of the Biblical type-a simple earnest faith, al- ways held in meekness and sometimes with fear and much trembling.
Mrs. Delia (Conger) Kelsey was a woman noted for her good, clear, com- mon sense, correct judgment, and great decision of character. She was a woman of indomitable resolution, of tireless en- ergy and industry. She became a member of the Rockaway church, and was a strong Christian.
HURLBUTT, Lewis Raymond,
Manufacturer.
As a member of the long-established and widely known firm of Lounsbury, Mathewson & Company, formerly Louns- bury Brothers & Company, Mr. Hurlbutt has long occupied a leading position in the business world of South Norwalk. He is also allied with the financial interests of his city and is a figure of prominence in her fraternal and social circles.
(IV) Thomas (4) Hurlbutt, son of Thomas (3) Hurlbut (q. v.), was bap- tized in December, 1684, in Woodbury, Connecticut. He is supposed to have lived in Wilton, Connecticut, where he owned land. He was chosen, with others, by Wilton parish, in 1735, "to lay out a highway to the Ridge." The name of his wife is unknown.
176
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(V) Daniel Hurlbutt, son of Thomas (4) Hurlbutt was born, probably, as early as 1710, in Woodbury, Connecticut, and his death occurred in Wilton. He mar- ried ยท Belden.
(VI) Daniel (2) Hurlbutt, son of Dan- iel (1) and (Belden) Hurlbutt, was born in 1740, in Wilton, where he fol- lowed the trade of a weaver. During the Revolutionary War he was captain of a militia company. His name, in Wilton records, is generally written Holybert. He married (first) Naomi Stuart, who died in July, 1764. He married (second) March 20, 1765, Esther Patrick, daughter of John Patrick. Captain Hurlbutt died in Wilton, February 14, 1827, and his widow passed away July 2, 1839, at the venerable age of ninety-two years.
(VII) John Hurlbutt, son of Daniel (2) and Esther (Patrick) Hurlbutt, was born October 14, 1778. He was a farmer in Wilton. He married, in 1809, in Weston, Connecticut, Elizabeth Ogden, born in that place, July 18, 1785, daughter of Joseph and Rachel Ogden, who resided there.
(VIII) William Bradley Hurlbutt, son of John and Elizabeth (Ogden) Hurlbutt, was born April 3, 1815, in Wilton, where he was reared on a farm. After receiving a common school education, he was em- ployed in the old Gilbert & Bennett wire cloth factory. Some years later he aban- doned that work in order to engage in the cultivation of a farm which had been his home from the time of his marriage. He married, October 4, 1838, Paulina Hurlburt, born February 25, 1821, in Wil- ton, daughter of John Hurlburt, and granddaughter of David Hurlburt, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and undoubtedly a member of another branch of the Hurl- butt family.
(IX) Lewis Raymond Hurlbutt, son of William Bradley and Paulina (Hurlburt)
Hurlbutt, was born August 23, 1851, in Wilton, Connecticut, and received his ed- ucation in schools of his birthplace. For a number of years he filled the position of clerk in a store in Georgetown, and then entered the office of the firm of Louns- bury Brothers & Company. This widely known commercial house was founded more than half a century ago by George E. and Phineas C. Lounsbury, two broth- ers of distinguished ancestry, both of whom filled with honor the high office of governor of the State of Connecticut. Biographies of the brothers appear else- where in this work. The business of the firm was the manufacture of shoes, the factory being first situated in New Haven and later removed to South Norwalk, when the style was changed to Louns- bury, Mathewson & Company. Thence- forth the business developed more rap- idly in consequence of enlarged facilities and finer equipment. For the superiority of its product and the integrity which characterized all its dealings the firm be- came as the years went on, increasingly noted. It has always manufactured women's shoes only, and the product is sold direct to the retailer. The territory covered by the company's salesmen em- braces the entire United States, and the number of employees amounts to three hundred and ten. For several years Mr. Hurlbutt, in addition to partnership in the firm, has held the position of manager, and to his skillful methods, clear fore- thought, and wisely directed aggressive- ness are to be attributed, in no small measure, the substantial success and con- stantly increasing scope of the business.
While never found lacking in public spirit, Mr. Hurlbutt has always refrained from active participation in politics, pre- ferring to exercise in a very quiet way the privileges of citizenship, and to perform in the same unobtrusive manner the duty
Conn-8-12
177
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
he owes to his community. He is a di- rector of the City National Bank, of South Norwalk, and the South Norwalk Sav- ings Bank. He affiliates with Ark Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Wilton, and with Cannon Grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry, also of that town. His only club is the South Norwalk Coun- try. In the Methodist Episcopal church of Wilton he holds the office of trustee.
The long record of Mr. Hurlbutt, both as a business man and a citizen, is one of honorable effort, faithful service, and un- blemished integrity. He has been in the best sense of the word a truly successful man.
FERRIS, Theodore Isaac, Business Man.
From the earliest settlement of Fairfield county, Connecticut, the name of Ferris has been an honored one in that State. The ancestors of this family belonged to the liberty loving class that played an important part in the early settlement of New England. The name of Ferris bears an enviable reputation for enterprise and public spirit. Through every branch of this family are found men prominent in the settlement, government, and military history of their country.
The Ferris family is of Norman origin, the name being originally spelled Ferier or Ferrerr. It is derived from Ferian, to convey across, and was early given to one dwelling near a ferry or to the keeper of the ferry. The first of the family in Eng- land was Henry de Ferier, son of Gual- chelme de Ferier, master of the horse of William the Conqueror, the Duke of Nor- mandy, who obtained grants of land in the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. It is said of this Henry that William the Conqueror rode up to him on the battle field, took from
his own neck a gold chain, and throwing it over Henry de Ferier's head said : "You fight too fiercely, I must chain you up." From him are descended the Ferrers, of Groby, who bore for their paternal arms the following :
Arms-Gules, seven mascles or, a canton ermine.
Their Westchester descendants carried :
Arms-Gules, a fleur-de-lis or, a canton ermine with a crescent.
The arms of the father of Henry de Fer- ier were:
Arms-Argent, six horseshoes, pierced sable.
(I) Jeffrey Ferris, born in Leicester- shire, England, about 1610, came to Amer- ica in 1634, and is by record first located in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was made freeman, May 6, 1635. He came with the first settlers, and is on the list of those who paid for the survey, and received ten acres of the first assignment of land. From Watertown he removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he is recorded as selling his lot of forty-five acres to John Deming. He came with the first Stamford colony from Wethersfield in 1641, and lived on the north side of what is now Broad street, west of Frank- lin street. Later he moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he died May 31, 1666. In 1656 he was one of the eleven Green- wich men who petitioned to be under New Haven jurisdiction. He was one of the original purchasers of land which now forms the town of Greenwich. He was married three times. According to tra- dition, his first wife was Ann, the sister of John Milton, the blind poet, and daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Jeffrey) Milton. "Stamford Registrations" says : "Wife to Jeffrey, died 31st, 5th, 1658." Also, "Su- sanna, wife (who was the widow of Robert Lockwood), married, 1659, died at 'Grinwich,' December 23, 1660."
178
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
(II) James Ferris, son of Jeffrey Fer- ris, was born about 1643. He married Mary - -. He is named in the patent granted to the town of Greenwich by the General Assembly, in May, 1665. He died November 6, 1726.
(III) James (2) Ferris, son of James (1) and Mary Ferris, was born December 18, 1699, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and died August 17, 1739. The Christian name of his wife was Mary, and they were the parents of James (3), mentioned below.
(IV) James (3) Ferris, son of James (2) and Mary Ferris, was born about 1732, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and died May 27, 1810. He was called "old Whig," and was captain of a company in the Rev- olution. He paid this company and fed them out of his own pocket. Captain Ferris was taken prisoner by the British and wore a double-breasted coat having skirt behind with many buttons, every one of which was a gold guinea covered with cloth. When he wanted anything he secretly cut off a button, and the source of his money was a constant cause of wonderment to the British. The sword which he carried is now in the possession of his descendant, Theodore I. Ferris, of this review. He married, and was the father of Asa, mentioned below.
(V) Asa Ferris, son of James (3) Fer- ris, was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, 1769, and died in Stamford, Connecticut, May 27, 1839, aged seventy years and eleven days. He followed agriculture and was a well respected citizen of Greenwich until 1815, when he moved to Stamford, and purchased a farm in the Simsbury district. He married, March 21, 1799, Polly Hoyt, born May 26, 1773, died May 2, 1840, aged sixty-six years, eleven months and seven days, daughter of Silas and Sarah (Lockwood) Hoyt (see Hoyt V).
(VI) Silas Hoyt Ferris, son of Asa and Polly (Hoyt) Ferris, was born January 15, 1800, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and died February 25, 1880, in Stamford. The local schools of Greenwich afforded his educa- tion, and he followed agriculture through- out his lifetime. He married Charlotte Elizabeth Barnum, born July 7, 1808, in Stamford, died there August 20, 1893, daughter of David and Betsey (Hoyt) Barnum. David Barnum died April 1, 1838, aged forty-nine years, seven months. Mrs. Betsey (Hoyt) Barnum was a granddaughter of Isaac and Mary (Skeld- ing) Hoyt, and daughter of their son, Isaac (2) Hoyt, who was born August 14, 1767, and died June 9, 1826. He married, May 23, 1788, Elizabeth Hait, born Sep- tember 8, 1765, died December 23, 1835, daughter of Silvanus and Elizabeth Hait. Isaac (2) Hoyt was a grandson of Abra- ham Hait, mentioned in the previous Hoyt line, and a descendant of Simon Hait, the emigrant, as shown in that line. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris were the parents of the following children : David Barnum, born January 2, 1839, died October 4, 1903 ; Sarah Elizabeth, born July 12, 1841, died June 23, 1897 ; Silas Hoyt, born Oc- tober 10, 1844, died July 18, 1897; Theo- dore Isaac, mentioned below.
(VII) Theodore Isaac Ferris, youngest child of Silas Hoyt and Charlotte Eliza- beth (Barnum) Ferris, was born May 24, 1847, in Stamford, Connecticut. He at- tended the district school in the Simsbury district of Stamford and the Stamford High School. These courses were sup- plemented by a few terms at the Glenden- ning Academy, conducted by Professor George B. Glendenning, and a noted school at that time. The paternal home- stead has continued to be the home of Mr. Ferris throughout these many years, and he engaged in farming on an exten- sive scale. As the surrounding country
179
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
grew, and houses were built more closely together, Mr. Ferris became interested in real estate. With his brother, Silas H. Ferris, he laid out Woodside Park, build- ing attractive driveways and approaches. A half mile race track was also built and this site has been the scene of many pleas- ant hours ; pleasant for the nature lover as well as the devotee of racing. The business of real estate in one form or an- other has occupied the greater part of Mr. Ferris's time, and he now has large and important real estate holdings. His resi- dence with its spacious grounds has a location unexcelled in Stamford, where Ferrises have lived from early Colonial days. Although Mr. Ferris has never taken an active part in municipal affairs, he has that interest which is at the heart of every good citizen. He bears the name of his family worthily and well, and ranks deservedly high in both business and fi- nancial circles.
(The Hoyt Line).
(I) Mrs. Polly (Hoyt) Ferris was a di- rect descendant of Simon Hait, who is believed to have come in the "Abigail" or the "George." He was in Charlestown, Massachusetts, among the first settlers, and was a first settler of Dorchester, that State, in 1630. Thence he removed to Scituate, Massachusetts, and from there to Windsor, Connecticut. His son, Ben- iamin, is mentioned below.
(II) Benjamin Hait, son of Simon Hait, was born February 2, 1644, and died January 26, 1735. He served as fence viewer and surveyor, and was a member of the Board of Selectmen in Windsor. He married (first) January 5, 1670, Han- nah Weed, born about 1645, died Novem- ber 9. 1677, daughter of Jonas Weed.
(III) Benjamin (2) Hait, son of Ben- pamin (1) and Hannah (Weed) Hait, was born December 9, 1671, and died in 1747.
He lived in Stamford, and was selectman four years. He married, June 10, 1697, Elizabeth Jagger, and they were members of the South Congregational Church.
(IV) Abraham Hait, son of Benjamin (2) and Elizabeth (Jagger) Hait, was born June 16, 1704, and died March 16. 1788. He was called sergeant as early as 1754, and in 1763 served as selectman. He married (first) November 27, 1727, Han- nah Bates, and they were members of the church in Stamford. He married (second) June 3, 1748, Hannah Blachley. The old house that he and his family inhabited is still (1920) standing on the east side of Bedford street, opposite Oak street, owned by Theodore Isaac Ferris, a descendant. Children of Abraham Hait are: 1. Han- nah, born December 25, 1730, married a St. John. 2. Abraham, born October 13, 1732, died August 20, 1745. 3. Isaac, born September 14, 1734, died 1778; married (first) August 5, 1761, Mary Skelding, (second) May 22, 1768, Sarah Hait ; he was the grandfather of the mother of The- odore I. Ferris, as previously mentioned. 4. Ezra, born April 23, 1737. 5. Silas, born March 2, 1739, died January 9, 1825. 6. Sarah, born February 3, 1741, married John Holmes. 7. Thaddeus, born Janu- ary 26, 1743, married Hannah Holmes ; he fought in General Washington's forces in the Revolutionary War. 8. Rachel, born August 7, 1745, died September 9, 1745. 9. Mary, born August 22, 1750, died November 17, 1754. 10. Bates, born July 7, 1754, died September 4, 1776; when the English began the military op- erations in August, 1776, which resulted in their capture of New York City, the Ninth Regiment of Connecticut, in which was Captain Webb's company, of Stam- ford, marched to New York and was quartered on Broadway near Trinity Church. Bates was sergeant of this com- pany and Silas and Thaddeus were pri-
180
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
vates. At the battle of Long Island, near Jamaica, August 27, 1776, Bates was wounded and died September 4, 1776. On one occasion, one of the sons of Abraham Hait, was taken prisoner in the old home, having been tracked to that refuge by blood from his wounds in the snow. This old home is one of the few houses in the locality dating to pre-Revolutionary times.
(V) Silas Hoyt, son of Abraham and Hannah (Bates) Hait, was born March 2, 1739, died January 9, 1825. He mar- ried, November 14, 1765, Sarah Lock- wood, and they were the parents of Polly Hoyt, who became the wife of Asa Ferris (see Ferris V).
FERRIS, Clarence Clark, Attorney, Public Official.
A sound lawyer, and with skill and ability to meet the demands of the day, Clarence C. Ferris is also a direct de- scendant of one of the early Colonial fam- ilies of Connecticut. The Ferris family is of Norman origin, the name being origi- nally spelled Feriers or Ferrers.
(III) Samuel Ferris, son of James and Mary Ferris (q. v.), was born September 21, 1706, and died April 25, 1786. He married Ann Lockwood, daughter of Ger- shom and Mary Lockwood, born in 1713, died July 2, 1789.
(IV) Stephen Ferris, son of Samuel and Ann (Lockwood) Ferris, was born December 27, 1740, and died February 12, 1824. He married Sarah H. Lockwood, who died November 23, 1848.
(V) Samuel (2) Ferris, son of Stephen and Sarah H. (Lockwood) Ferris, was born January 25, 1787, and died June I, 1842. He was captain of militia in the War of 1812, and took his company to the beach at Old Greenwich, now called Sound Beach, when invasion by the Brit-
ish was feared. On January 7, 1811, he married Esther Ferris, born October 12, 1792, died March II, 1881, daughter of Nathaniel Ferris.
(VI) Samuel Holmes Ferris, son of Sam- uel (2) and Esther (Ferris) Ferris, was born December 12, 1827, and died Decem- ber 25, 1888. He was a farmer throughout his lifetime and a very public-spirited citi- zen. In association with the late Amasa A. Marks, Mr. Ferris was a leading spirit in securing the appropriation of money to build a new school house at Sound Beach, about 1877. Mr. Ferris married, Decem- ber 19, 1861, Mary Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark, of Haddam; she was born April 16, 1838, and died October 15, 1886. Their children were: Harry Burr, and Clarence Clark, of whom further.
(VII) Clarence Clark Ferris, son of Samuel Holmes and Mary (Clark) Ferris, was born February 15, 1864, and prepared for college at the Claverack Academy, and Hudson River Institute, Claverack, Co- lumbia county, New York, under the well known Dr. Alonzo Flack, an educator of great individuality, and Professor Wil- liam McAfee, Yale College, class of 1864. In 1887 Mr. Ferris graduated from Yale College with the degree of B. A., and in 1892 from Columbia University with the degree of LL. B. After graduation in 1887, Mr. Ferris was principal of the pub- lic schools of Colchester, Connecticut, holding a similar position in Manchester, Connecticut, the following year. In 1891 he was admitted to the bar in New York and has always practiced alone. Mr. Ferris specializes in condemnation pro- ceedings and has made a signal success in his chosen field.
Always keenly interested in public mat- ters, although not coming from an office- holding family, he has taken part in civic affairs in his adopted town, Scarsdale, Westchester county, New York. In poli-
181
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
tics he is a Democrat, and in 1916 was a candidate for the New York Senate from Westchester county, running an average of two thousand votes ahead of the rest of the ticket. He is a member of the National Democratic Club of New York City, and maintains his residence in Scars- dale, Westchester county. With his brother, Professor Harry Burr Ferris, of New Haven, Mr. Ferris owns fifty-six acres of the original farm granted to their ancestor and which is now under lease to the Sound Beach Golf and Country Club.
While at Columbia University, Mr. Ferris became a member of the Delta Up- silon fraternity, and is also a member of Delta Phi, the legal fraternity having chapters in most law schools.
Mr. Ferris married Bertha Vincent Odell, daughter of Edward Valentine Odell, the latter born in Hyde Park, Dutchess county, but Mrs. Ferris was born in New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris are the parents of the following children : Richard Odell, born September 14, 1914; and Jeffrey, born June 20, 1916. Mr. Ferris and his family attend the Pres- byterian church of Scarsdale.
(The Lockwood Line).
Robert Lockwood came to New Eng- land about 1630, and settled in Water- town, Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman March 9, 1636-37. As early as 1641 he was recorded a settler in Fair- field, Connecticut, and died in 1658. For a time he lived at Norwalk, Connecticut. His wife was Susannah, and they were the parents of Lieutenant Gershom Lock- wood, of whom further.
Lieutenant Gershom Lockwood was born September 6, 1643, at Watertown, and died March 12, 1718-19, at Greenwich. He was nine years of age when he re- moved to Greenwich with his father and became one of the twenty-seven propri-
etors. By occupation he was a carpenter, and also held many positions of trust in the town. Lieutenant Lockwood married Lady Ann Millington, daughter of Lord Millington, of England. She came to New England in search of her lover, a British army officer. Failing to find him, she taught school and afterwards married Gershom Lockwood. In 1660 her parents sent her a large oak chest, ingeniously carved and strongly built. Tradition says it contained a half-bushel of guineas, many fine silk dresses and other valu- ables. This chest is now in the possession of Clarence Clark Ferris, of Greenwich. A photograph of the chest may be seen in "History of the Lockwood Family," also in "Colonial Furniture," by Luke Vincent Lockwood. The only part of the story open to question is the amount of guineas the chest contained. The grand- mother of Mr. Ferris was sure the rest of the story was true.
Gershom (2) Lockwood, the eldest son of Lieutenant Gershom and Ann Lock- wood, was born in Greenwich, and was made a freeman February 7, 1693. He married Mary, and their daughter, Ann Lockwood, became the wife of Samuel Ferris, as above noted.
SKIDDY, William Wheelright,
Manufacturer, Philanthropist.
In recent years the struggle for busi- ness supremacy has narrowed the horizon of too many men. Here and there men stand out from among the multitude, frankly opening their hearts and minds to the broad, general interests which lift so- ciety from the level of the sordid and place it on a higher plane.
William W. Skiddy believes that the surest way to advance the welfare of the individual is to aid the individual to un- derstand and accept the mental, moral and
182
The Ameri in historical society
1g huE t W ome & Are NY
W.W Skiedy
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
spiritual standards of the community. In his own way, he is constantly acting upon this theory.
The family name became Skiddy through William W. Skiddy's father, whose name was properly William Tay- lor, adopting for his surname "Skiddy" as hereinafter stated.
The founding of this family in this country dates back to three brothers in Scotland, Zachariah, John and Wil- liam. Zachariah Taylor, the original ancestor of Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States, came to this country and went to Culpepper, Vir- ginia. John Taylor went to Albany, New York. William Taylor resided in New York City. William Taylor married a Miss Van Pelt, known as one of the Knickerbockers, descendants of the Hol- landers. Miss Van Pelt was the daughter of Teunisse Van Pelt, who immigrated from Leige in 1663, with his father. They had three daughters and one son, Richard, who graduated from Yale, and one daugh- ter married Judge Kent, of New York. William Taylor took the oath of alle- giance in 1687, his name appearing on various records. In 1674 he received a grant of land on Staten Island, consisting of ninety-eight acres.
Benjamin Taylor, a son of William Taylor, was in the Colonial-English army in 1753 or 1754, and was in the cam- paign against the French and Indians at Fort Duquesne. He was captured and taken to Quebec as a prisoner, later sent to France with other prisoners and con- fined in prison in Havre de Gras, and re- turned to America about 1762. Benjamin Taylor was buried in the Methodist Cem- etery in Johnville, Fishkill, New York, the tombstone giving his death as of Sep- tember 12, 1831, at the age of ninety-four years. About 1763 he married, at Ver- planck's Point, Jemima Foster, daughter
of Ebenezer and Desire (Cushman) Fos- ter. Benjamin Taylor's sons were James, of further mention; Augustus; and Jus- tus, of further mention.
James Taylor was born in Peekskill, New York, and as a young man entered the Continental army and was with Gen- eral Washington at Valley Forge. He later married Salome Partridge, and went to Westford, Vermont. They had four- teen children, but two died in infancy. The others were : Lucius, Benjamin, Isa- bella, James and Foster, born in Mas- sachusetts ; Salome, Amos, Amelita, and Alpha born in Peekskill ; Augustus, Eliza- beth Lent and William Skiddy, born in Westford, Vermont. His youngest son, William Skiddy Taylor, married a Miss Depew, of Peekskill, and later went West, where he died.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.