USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8 > Part 45
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The "History of Harlem" states that Jean Le Roy owned in Harlem the tract of land that was purchased by William Brady. The name of the family was originally used as Brody, later changed to Brady, and the great-great-grandfather (Christian name unknown) of our sub- ject, was a Revolutionary ancestor of this line, and had his estate in Harlem con- fiscated by the Crown. His son, James Brady, was an architect of New York City, and married Grace Jennings. Tho- mas Brady, grandfather of our subject, also married a Jennings.
Le Roy Montgomery, son of William E. and Maria A. (Brady) Montgomery, was born February 16, 1881, in Norwalk,
and received his education in the public schools of his native city. In 1899 he be- came a messenger in the old Central Na- tional Bank, but did not long serve in that humble capacity, his ability attract- ing notice and causing him to be pro- moted rapidly. During the three years that he remained in the bank he held, for the greater part of the time, the position of bookkeeper. When he left it was to become a teller in the Fairfield County Savings Bank. This position he retained until 1914, when the People's Trust Com- pany of South Norwalk was organized, and he became its secretary and treasurer. This dual position he retained until Au- gust, 1920, and by his manner of dis- charging its duties, as well as by his wise counsel and broad outlook upon affairs, did much toward establishing it upon a firm and permanent basis. He is a cor- porator of the Fairfield County Savings Bank, and is the secretary of the Bridge Commission of the town of Norwalk.
In August, 1920, Mr. Montgomery be- came a partner with Isaac Church in the manufacture of expansion bolts and hard- ware specialties. In January, 1921, he purchased Mr. Church's interest, and has since conducted the business as sole owner. This business was founded in Toledo, Ohio, by Isaac Church, in 1879, and in 1907 was moved to Norwalk. The expansion bolts are amply protected by patents and have long been a standard product.
Mr. Montgomery married, June 28, 1911, Marion Montgomery Lee, daughter of Mortimer Montgomery and Julia C. (Adams) Lee, of Norwalk. A biography of Mr. Lee appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are the parents of one child : Mortimer Lee, born May 27, 1917. They are members of Grace Episcopal Church.
From his early youth Mr. Montgom-
Conn-8-21
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ery has been closely identified with Nor- walk interests, finding full scope for his energy and talents, first in the field of finance, and then in industry. His career is a notable example of the beneficial re- sults of concentration of effort, supported by far-sighted judgment.
(The Jennings Line).
(I) This line of Jennings was founded by Joshua Jennings, who was born in England, in 1620, and died in 1675, in Fairfield, Connecticut. He married, in 1647, Mary Williams. Among their chil- dren was Isaac, of whom further.
(II) Isaac Jennings, son of Joshua and Mary (Williams) Jennings, was born in 1673, and died in 1746. He married a daughter of Joseph Beers, of Fairfield, Connecticut, and among their children was Isaac (2), of whom further.
(III) Isaac (2) Jennings, son of Isaac (1) Jennings, was baptized in 1702, and died March 6, 1760. The Christian name of his wife was Phebe. Among their chil- dren was Jacob, of whom further.
(IV) Jacob Jennings, son of Isaac (2) and Phebe Jennings, was baptized De- cember 9, 1739. He married and had a daughter Grace, who married James Brady ; and a son, Isaac.
OSBORN, Gregory T., Member of Old Family.
The Osborn family is a very old one and dates back to the first part of the seventeenth century. The coat-of-arms of this family, granted February 11, 1662, is as follows :
Arms-Argent, a bend, between two lions ram- pant.
Crest-A lion's head erased, argent, ducally crowned, or.
Motto-Quantum in rebus inane. (How much frivolity in human affairs).
(I) The ancestor of the family in America was Captain Richard Osborn. He was born in 1612 in London, and died in 1686 in Westchester, New York. Cap- tain Osborn was in America as early as 1634; he sailed in the ship "Hopewell" with Captain Thomas Wood. Before 1640, Captain Osborn went to New Ha- ven, Connecticut, and in 1653 was living in Fairfield. He served in the Pequot War, and received a grant of eighty acres of land. In 1666 he had an interest in lands in Newton, Long Island, later re- moving to Westchester, New York.
(II) Captain John Osborn, son of Cap- tain Richard Osborn, was born undoubt- edly in New Haven, Connecticut, be- tween 1640 and 1650. He was deputy to the General Court, and a very useful cit- izen. He married, before 1673, Sarah Bennett, daughter of James Bennett.
(III) Sergeant David Osborn, son of 'Captain John and Sarah (Bennett) Os- born, was a member of Dr. Thomas Pell's company in the settlement of Eastchester, New York, in 1666. He married, in 1679, Abigail Pinckney, daughter of Philip Pinckney, of Eastchester.
(IV) William Osborn, son of Sergeant David and Abigail (Pinckney) Osborn, married Elizabeth Turney, and they were the parents of Isaac, of whom further.
(V) Isaac Osborn, son of William and Elizabeth (Turney) Osborn, was born September 6, 1740, died in 1816. He married, September 22, 1763, Martha Higgins, born October 10, 1745, died March 17, 1789.
(VI) Turney Osborn, son of Isaac and Martha (Higgins) Osborn, was born May 19, 1782, and died September 12, 1855. He was a farmer on the old home- stead in Georgetown, Connecticut, origi- nally a part of the town of Fairfield, but now included in the town of Weston, Con-
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necticut. This is the farm which was deeded to the immigrant, Captain Richard Osborn, for his services in the Pequot War. Turney Osborn married, January 9, 1812, Sarah, born August 28, 1783, died June 16, 1859, a descendant of Stephen Pierson.
(VII) Gregory Thomas Osborn, son of Turney and Sarah Osborn, was born February 14, 1820, in Georgetown, Con- necticut, and was educated in the district schools. In early life he was a farmer and later engaged in business as a cattle dealer. He went West and to Canada, buying cattle and then driving them to the home market. It is said he bought the first western steers ever brought to this part of Connecticut. At first a Whig, Mr. Osborn later joined the ranks of the Republican party, and was one of the original John C. Fremont men in this sec- tion. When Horace Greeley was de- feated, Mr. Osborn became a Cleveland Democrat. Mr. Osborn was elected to the Legislature for a term and served in the first session held in the new Capitol. He also served as selectman ; was a mem- ber of the Train Band, and an orderly sergeant. His sword is now in the pos- session of his son. Mr. Osborn married Mary Elizabeth Platt, daughter of David Platt, a descendant of Richard Platt. They were the parents of William Edgar Osborn, of extended mention below.
Richard Platt and his wife Mary landed in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1638. Their son, John Platt, moved to Milford, Connecticut, where he married Hannah Clark, daughter of "Farmer" George Clark, of that town. On June 6, 1660, he came to Norwalk and built his home on the old Fairfield path. He was one of the most noted men in Norwalk history, and was appointed in October, 1665, as commissioner to view grounds with refer- ence to new plantations, and was one of
the party who laid out Danbury, Con- necticut. His son, John (2) Platt, was born in 1664, and married, in May, 1695, Sarah Wood, daughter of Ephraim Wood. Their son, John (3) Platt, married Sarah Hickox, and they were the parents of Samuel Platt, who married, March 2, 1757, Ann Raymond, daughter of Jabez Raymond. Justus Platt, their son, was born September 10, 1768, and died March 17, 1849 ; he married (first) Hannah Smith, born March 18, 1773, died January 15, 1830. They were the parents of David Platt, born May 24, 1797; he married, October 7, 1822, Mary Hanford, daughter of Isaac and Albacinda (Chapman) Han- ford. She died February 5, 1892. David Platt was engaged in the edge-tool busi- ness on the Newton turnpike in the town of Weston, Connecticut, and lived the lat- ter part of his life across the river in the town of Wilton. He was one of the char- ter members of Temple Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Westport. He died April 30, 1871, and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth, became the wife of Gregory Thomas Osborn, as above noted.
OSBORN, William Edgar, Business Man, Public Official.
Very often we find the representative of one of the early Colonial families taking an active part in the administration of public affairs, and it seems particularly fitting that this should be so. A worthy scion of the Osborn family, and treasurer of the town of Westport, Connecticut, William Edgar Osborn holds a respected place among his fellow-citizens. He is a son of Gregory T. and Mary E. (Platt) Osborn (q. v.), and was born in George- town, Connecticut, where he received his education.
For a time after completing his school- ing, he worked on the farm with his father
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and then went into the grocery business in Georgetown for two years. After dis- posing of this, he came to Westport, in 1890, and bought the grocery business of Bradley & Wheeler. This engaged his attention until 1917, in which year he disposed of it and retired from mercan- tile business.
For sixteen years, he has been a direc- tor of the Westport Bank and Trust Com- pany, and for a similar length of time has served Westport as town treasurer. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a delegate to many conventions. Sev- eral times he has been the candidate of both parties for town treasurer, and a number of times has been the only one on the Republican ticket. An upright citi- zen, public-spirited, he ranks among the leading men of Westport.
Mr. Osborn married Ida Frances Jel- liff, daughter of James F. Jelliff, of Georgetown, and their only child, William Francis Osborn, receives extended men- tion below.
OSBORN, William Francis, Manufacturer.
It is always profitable to study the rec- ords of such men as William Francis Os- born, representative as he is of one who has raised himself by means of his own efforts. Beginning as an assistant to his father in the work about his store, he persevered and applied himself dili- gently to each task as it came to hand until he now occupies a position as a man-of-affairs and an upright citizen in his community.
Mr. Osborn was born in Georgetown, Connecticut, the only child of William E. and Ida F. (Jelliff) Osborn (q. v.). He was educated in the grammar schools and in the Staples High School, and then be- Rev. F. Windsor and Mary Elizabeth came associated with his father in the
grocery business. He later became iden- tified with the firm of Osborn, Kimber & Kemper, leather manufacturers of West- port, Connecticut. This firm is one of the oldest manufacturers of leather in the United States, the firm being founded by Daniel Kemper in the early part of the nineteenth century. They make a spe- cialty of fine Morocco leather and their product is marketed all over the country. Mr. Osborn was admitted to partnership in the firm.
For a term he served as town auditor, and has in many other ways shown him- self to be a public-spirited citizen and a worthy scion of the family he represents. He is a member of the Westport Club and served as its treasurer.
Mr. Osborn married Carrie Louise Kemper, daughter of C. H. Kemper, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Osborn and his wife attend the Congregational church of Westport, as do their paternal families.
BRATHWAITE, Dr. Frederick G., Surgeon, Participant in World War.
The origin of the name Brathwaite is particularly interesting. It is common knowledge that previous to the thirteenth century there were no surnames. It was the custom to designate a person by ref- erence to his occupation, his place of abode, or some personal mannerism or characteristic. Brathwaite is of the sec- ond class. Literally, it means broad- clearing, and was first assumed by one who lived near such an open space. The spelling is found Braith and Braithe, also Brath, being old English for broad, as waite is for clearing.
A distinguished scion of this family is Dr. Frederick G. Brathwaite, son of the (Woolsey) Brathwaite. The Rev. F.
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Windsor Brathwaite was born in Barba- does, and was educated in the West In- dies. As a young man, he came to Connecticut and attended the Berkley Divinity School, where he was ordained to the ministry. Subsequently he was assigned to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, of Stamford, being the first rec- tor of the church, and he continued his labors there throughout his lifetime. Dur- ing his rectorship the present church and rectory were erected and they are among the most beautiful edifices in the State. Rev. Mr. Brathwaite represented a type of churchmanship which is peculiar to Connecticut ; he was a very high church- man and exalted the authority and jurisdiction of his church. To all his ecclesiastical dignities and ceremonies he attached great importance, and was be- loved by his congregation. A great stu- dent of literature and the arts, Rev. Brathwaite collected a very fine library.
Rev. Mr. Brathwaite married, in 1865, Mary Elizabeth Woolsey, daughter of Commodore Melancthon Lloyd Woolsey. The latter was born June 5, 1780, and died in Utica, New York, May 19, 1838. At the age of twenty years he entered the United States navy and fought under Commodore Decatur in the Tripolitan War. In the War of 1812 he was an ac- tive officer under command of Commo- dore Chauncey. Commodore Woolsey was in command in Oswego when the British were repulsed there. Subse- quently he was transferred to the ocean service and was successively in command of the West Indies Station, Pensacola, Florida, and the Brazilian Squadron. Commodore Woolsey was a descendant of Rev. Benjamin Woolsey, born November 19, 1687, in Jamaica, Long Island. Com- modore Woolsey married, November 3, 1817, Susan C. Treadwell, born December 8, 1796, died March 13, 1863, daughter of
James Treadwell, of New York. Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, born April 16, 1831, married, in 1865, Rev. F. Windsor Brathwaite, as above mentioned.
Frederick G. Brathwaite, son of Rev. F. Windsor and Mary Elizabeth (Woolsey) Brathwaite, was born March 9, 1868, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was educated in St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire, and in 1890 was graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, of New York. Thence Dr. Brath- waite went into the United States navy as assistant surgeon. He remained there for nine years, and then became medical officer for the New York Life Insurance Company. Subsequently he was ap- pointed general manager in the depart- ment of Australia with headquarters in Sidney, New South Wales. Later, Dr. Brathwaite became assistant medical di- rector for Europe, with headquarters in Paris. His next office was as medical director for Europe for the Equitable Life Assurance Society, with headquar- ters in Paris.
Dr. Brathwaite was occupied with these duties at the time of the World War, and was then transferred to the United States as associate medical director for this country. When the United States entered the conflict, Dr. Brathwaite gave valuable service as an ambulance surgeon in the American Hospital in Paris and served in that capacity during the first battle of the Marne. Thence Dr. Brathwaite was sent to Russia, where he spent the winter of 1914-15, and in the spring of the latter year returned to France. He was all over Germany and was arrested at Sasnitz. Since the close of the war, Dr. Brathwaite has been located in New York City, as associate medical director of the Equita- ble Life Assurance Society. He has made some remarkable and unique as well as valuable studies along the line of selec-
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tion in life insurance by means of the system of "numerical notation."
Dr. Brathwaite married Marguerite Force, daughter of Silas Force, of New York City. They are the parents of a son, Melancthon Woolsey, born in 1898. He is now a member of the class of 1922 in the United States Naval Academy, his early education having been.obtained in France. The family attend St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, of Stamford.
SALMON, Frederick Morehouse, Judge of Probate.
The introductory phrases ordinarily used in a work of this character in pre- senting to the public an eminent and honored name would be wholly super- fluous if used in connection with the one inscribed at the head of this article. As a member of the judiciary of Fairfield county, Judge Salmon requires no intro- duction, and as ex-State Senator he is equally independent of any form of pre- sentation. He is simply and most respectfully announced to his friends and neighbors of Westport and to his fellow- citizens of Fairfield county and the State of Connecticut.
The manor of Salmans, in Caterham, Surrey, England, is known to have be- longed, in the reign of Edward the Third, to Roger Saleman. The name, in this orthography, is common in the Hundred Rolls.
Three families of the name of Salmon came in 1640 to the American colonies, one settling in Massachusetts, another in New Jersey, and the third in Southold, Long Island. The race appears to have been originally Scottish, but during the Highland wars some of its members mi- grated to Southwold, England, and from the name of that place it seems not im- probable that the designation of Southold, Long Island, may have been derived.
(I) Daniel C. Salmon, grandfather of Frederick Morehouse Salmon, was born in the town of Trumbull, Fairfield county, Connecticut, educated in the district school, and followed the carpenter's trade in conjunction with the business of under- taking. He married Mary Catherine Bradley, some account of whose family is appended to this biography, and they became the parents of two sons : Morris, and David A., mentioned below. Daniel C. Salmon, who was a very successful man and a good citizen, died October 14, 1851.
(II) David A. Salmon, son of Daniel C. and Mary Catherine (Bradley ) Salmon, was born September 26, 1836, in Weston, Connecticut, and attended the local public schools. As a boy he was employed in the dry goods store of Sullivan Moulton, in Westport, and later, in partnership with his father-in-law, he purchased the busi- ness and carried it on under the name of D. A. Salmon & Company. While never an office seeker, he took an active interest in public affairs and for many years served as chairman of the Republican town committee. He married Frances Augusta Morehouse, born September 3, 1839, daughter of Frederick Morehouse, of Westport. The English origin of the family is indicated by the patronymic which is the designation of several places in England. Thomas Morehouse, the first American ancestor of record, was in Wethersfield in 1640, and was among the first to receive a grant of seven acres in Stamford. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Salmon, the following reached maturity : Catherine, died unmar- ried ; Anna Frances, married William L. Taylor, and is now deceased; Frederick Morehouse, mentioned below; Edith, be- came the wife of Austin Wakeman; and David A., of Washington, District of Columbia. Mr. and Mrs. Salmon were members of the Methodist Episcopal
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church, in which Mr. Salmon at different times held most of the offices. For twenty-five years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, and for a long period served as chairman of the board of trustees. Mr. Salmon died March II, 1894, but the name of D. A. Salmon & Company stood over the door of his store until August 18, 1918, when his son, Frederick Morehouse Salmon, sold the business. To the close of his life David A. Salmon was the active head of the firm. Mrs. Salmon passed away Febru- ary II, 1913.
(III) Frederick Morehouse Salmon, son of David A. and Frances Augusta (Morehouse) Salmon, was born February 27, 1870, in Westport, Connecticut. He received his preliminary education in public schools of his native town, after- ward attending Packard's Business Col- lege, New York City. His business life began as the associate of his father whom he succeeded as owner of the concern. In early manhood Mr. Salmon began to take an active interest in the political life of his community, allying himself with the Republican party. His aptitude for public affairs met with speedy recognition and he was made chairman of the Republican town committee, an office which he has retained to the present time, a period of twenty-seven years. He served as county treasurer for six years. For twenty-two years he has been a member of the Con- necticut State Prison Commission, and for ten years served as its secretary. In 1915 and 1917 he represented his party in the Twenty-fifth Senatorial District in the Senate. at Hartford, serving as chairman of the roads, bridges and rivers commit- tee, and in 1916, during this period, the concrete bridge was erected over the Sau- gatuck river at Westport. During his second term he served as a member of the appropriations committee. His fulfill-
ment of the important duties devolving upon him as a representative of his fel- low-citizens elicited the vigorous support and hearty approval of his constituents. He was alternate delegate to the Chicago Convention that nominated Warren G. Harding for President of the United States. In October, 1919, Mr. Salmon was elected judge of probate, and on April II, 1920, was inducted into office, suc- ceeding Judge D. B. Bradley, who was retired by the statute limiting the age beyond which a judge may not continue in office. Judge Salmon was reëlected November 2, 1920.
In everything pertaining to the welfare and prosperity of his home community Judge Salmon has ever manifested the most helpful interest, and every move- ment which in his judgment is calculated to further the attainment of those ends receives the aid of his influence and means. He is vice-president of the West- port Bank and Trust Company, and a trustee of the Staples High School. To him was entrusted the organization of the Young Men's Christian Association to which E. T. Bedford, of Greens Farms, intends to give $200,000 for the building, $50,000 for furnishing, and $200,000 for an endowment.
During the late World War, Judge Sal- mon was a leader in various patriotic activities, serving as chairman of the last three Liberty Loan campaigns in West- port, and acting in the same capacity in behalf of the great drives conducted for the assistance of different charities.
Judge Salmon married, October 12, 1892, Martha Grace King, daughter of Theodore E. and Abigail W. (Carpenter) King, of Westport, Connecticut. Judge and Mrs. Salmon are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which for twenty-five years Judge Salmon has held the office of treasurer, also serving as
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chairman of the committee appointed to supervise the building of the present edi- fice.
Judge Salmon's career which, in trend and purpose, has been steadily upward, has not yet reached its zenith. He is in the prime of life, and his record of public service justifies the belief that his fellow- citizens will again and perhaps yet again summon him to fill higher places and to work in more extended fields.
(The Bradley Line).
Bradley is one of the oldest English surnames. It is pure Anglo-Saxon, being a compound of brad, broad, wide, and ley, field or pasture. It is used to designate many parishes in various counties of England.
Francis Bradley is thought to have come from England in 1637 with Gover- nor Theophilus Eaton. He could then have been only a lad, and there is reason to believe that he was a son of Francis Bradley, Jr., of Coventry, who was born in 1595, and was son and heir to Francis Bradley, Sr. Theophilus Eaton was born in Coventry, as was the Rev. John Daven- port, co-leader with Eaton of the New Haven colony. It is thought that Eaton and Francis Bradley, Jr., were school- mates, and it was therefore natural that Bradley should confide his son to Eaton's care. In 1657 Francis Bradley resided in Branford, Connecticut, and in 1660 he went to Fairfield. He married Ruth Bar- low, daughter of John Barlow, and his descendants are numerous in many of the Northern States. The first three or four generations remained in Fairfield and its vicinity, particularly in and about Green- field Hill.
Wakeman Bradley, father of Mrs. Mary Catherine (Bradley) Salmon, was born in Fairfield, educated in the common schools, and learned the manufacture of axes and edge-tools. In 1812 he settled
in Weston, where he built an edge-tool factory which he operated during the re- mainder of his life. He married Cather- ine Andrews, of Weston, and they became the parents of a numerous family.
Mary Catherine Bradley, daughter of Wakeman and Catherine (Andrews) Bradley, became the wife of Daniel C. Salmon, as stated above.
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