USA > Connecticut > Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume IV > Part 21
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(VIII) Walter, eldest son and third child
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of Lucius E. and Julia A. ( Taylor) Bucking- ham, was born in Dover, Dutchess county, New York, October 25, 1841. When he was three years of age his fatlier removed to Sing Sing and engaged in the stove business for a number of years, and young Walter was a pupil at the public school. He then became a student at the Gunnery School, which was a celebrated one in its day, and at which Cap- tain "Bob" Beedes and a son of Judge Van Cott, late postmaster of New York City, were also educated. The family then removed to Woodbury, Connecticut, where Walter was employed in the dry goods business, after which he went to Chicago, where he was en- gaged in the wholesale commission business for two years. Ill health compelled his return to the east and he accepted a position as clerk in French's Hotel, in New York City, which was for many years a famous hotel. At the expiration of three years he went to South Norwalk, Connecticut, where he was engaged in the grocery business for a time. then re- moved to Metuchen, New Jersey, where he held the position of superintendent of rail- road construction, and built the railroads throughout that section of the country. His next field of activity was in a similar capac- ity at Mount Vernon, New York, and during this time he built the first macadam road in New York City. Returning to Woodbury, Connecticut. at the end of one year, he estab- lished himself in the insurance business, fol- lowing this for three years. Coming to Bridgeport in 1881, he accepted the position of bookkeeper with the John H. Way Manu- facturing Company, holding this until the de- struction of the factory by fire. For a period of eight and a half years he served as deputy collector of customs for the city of Bridge- port, and after that was engaged at various times as an expert accountant. While resid- ing in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1869. he was elected as the first city clerk and served two terms in that office. In politics he was a staunch supporter of Democratic principles. He was made a Mason in King Solomon Lodge. No. 1, Woodbury, Connecticut, the old- est in the state, and was its secretary for a number of years until he removed from the ' town, when he affiliated with St. John's Lodge in Bridgeport. Mr. Buckingham mar- ried. November 8. 1865, IIelen E. daughter of Robert I. Tolle -. a sash and blind maker of Plymouth, Connecticut. Their children: I. Ida E., married T. W. Joyce, of Bridgeport. and has two children : Louis B. and Helen L. 2. Edward T., see forward.
(IX) Edward T .. only son of Walter and Helen E. (Tolles) Buckingham, was born in
Metuchen, New Jersey, May 12, 1874. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Bridgeport, where he became a student at the Grand street public school and later at the Bridgeport high school, from which he was graduated in 1891. Ile then entered Yale University, selecting the academic course, was graduated in 1895, then commenced the study of law in the Law School of Yale University, from which he was graduated two years later, and in 1898 commenced the practice of the legal profession in Bridgeport. In 1901 he was elected city clerk, and again in 1903, and in the latter year with a majority of twenty- five hundred and thirty-five votes, the largest vote ever polled for the office of city clerk. He was re-elected in 1905 and 1907, serving in that office until 1909. He was then nomi- nated and elected mayor of Bridgeport, his majority for this office being three thousand and forty-three, the largest ever polled in the city. Mayor Buckingham has numerous af- filiations with organizations of various kinds, among them being: Past master of St. John's Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons; past sachem of Wowopon Trite, No 40, Im- proved Order of Red Men, in which he bad been elected to the office of great senior saga- more of the state of Connecticut. and May, 1910, great senior sachem of Connecticut, di- rectly from the floor. that being the first time that such an honor had been accorded to any member. He is a member of Samuel H. Har- ris Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows: of the Bridgeport Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks: of Waldemar Council, Order of United American Mechan- ics, also the Foresters of America and Knights of Pythias ; member of the University Club, Yale Club of New York, the Arion and Ger- mania societies and the Young Men's Christian Association.
Mayor Buckingham is one of the youngest mayors in the country in a city of over one" hundred thousand and the second youngest ever elected in the history of the city, and yet he is rapidly forging to the front with the most prominent men of Connecticut. Perhaps no man who has ever been mayor of Bridge- port has gained more friends ander the try- ing conditions of this office. It is an office which carries with it heavy responsibilities, the assuming of which must necessarily mean much criticism and, while Mayor Buckingham has not escaped this, in most cases it has been the result of avarice and greed or from a selfish rather than a just criticism of his ad- ministration of affairs. Socially he has few enemies, and a vast army of friends which is daily increasing as his many duties bring him
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in contact with men of prominence, and his career has as yet only commenced.
Mayor Buckingham married, June 3. 1993, Bessie R. Budau (see Budau 1!). and they have had children: Russell B., born June 2, 1904, and Edward T. Jr .. September 2, 1906.
(The Budau Line).
(I) John Diedericks Budau was born in Lü- beck, Germany, October 14, 1817. died in Bridgeport, at the corner of Main street and Wheeler avenue, November 20, 1888. At the age of sixteen years he came to America and for a time followed a seafaring life. He then went to New Orleans and worked on the rail- road, receiving the magnificent sum of fifty cents per day. Later he came north and en- gaged in the grocery business for a time. then organized the dry goods house at the corner of Fairfield avenue and Main street. which business is at the present time owned by Rad- ford B. Smith. Mr. Budau conducted this successfully for some time and then sold his stock of goods to the firm of Beacon & Smith, which later changed to Peet & Smith, and fi- nally passed into the hands of Radford B. Smith. Subsequently Mr. Budau engaged in the settling of estates and general real estate business, in which he was eminently success- ful, and at his death left a large estate. The affairs of the city always engaged his active interest and for a number of years he served as street commissioner. During this time some of the principal streets and avenues of the city were laid out. among them being North and Park avenues. In the Ma- sonic fraternity he held high rank, was a charter member of St. John's Lodge, had passed through all the bodies including the commandery. and was buried with Masonic honors. He married. 1845. Lonise Jane French, one of nine children. and who is now (1910) living at the advanced age of ninety years. Of the seven children of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Budau, but one. Mrs. Alvin D. Moul- ton, is now living. Mrs. Budau is the daugh- ter of Wheeler French, born in 1752, died in 1852. who was a carpenter in Bridgeport. in which city he spent his entire life. He mar- ried Sarah Webb, born in 1704. died in 1862. daughter of Zenas Webb. Wheeler French's father. Gamaliel French, served during the revolutionary war and his name is inscribed on the tablets of the gateway erected by the Mary Silliman Chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution, at the old Stratfield burying ground near the corner of North and Brooklawn avenues. Bridgeport.
(H) John (2). son of John (1) Die- .leric !: s and Louise Jane ( French) Budau.
was born in Bridgeport, February , 24, 1851. died in that city. December 31, 1904. He was reared and educated in Bridgeport, was a musician, and for a number of years played in the Wheeler & Wilson band. He then engaged in the express business for a time, but later gave all his attention to insur- ance and his real estate interests until he re- tired. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which three generations of his family were also members, and had taken the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite bodies. He married Annie Rus- sell. born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, whose father was a soldier during the civil war. John D. and Annie ( Russell ) Budau had two children : John H. D. Budau (q. v. ), and Bessie R., wife of Mayor Buckingham (see Buckingham IX ).
(III ) Daniel Bucking- BUCKINGHAM ham, son of Rev. Thom- as Buckingham (q. v.). was born October 3. 1673. He was for many years justice of the peace, and held other im- portant offices in the town. He was also a prominent member of the church. He was a large landholder in Lebanon, Connecticut. He died March 25. 1725. He married Sarah Lee, of Lyme, May 24, 10)3. Ilis widow married Lynde. Children: Sarah, born September 21, 1695: Daniel. April 9. 1698, mentioned below; Hester, April 16, 1701 : Stephen. August 4, 1703: Ann. October II. 1705: Temperance, 1708.
(IV) Daniel (2). son of Daniel ( I ) Buck- ingham, was born April 9. 1698. He married. March 4, 1726, Lydia Lord. Children: Ann, horn September 11. 1728: Daniel, June -. 1730, died May 4. 1731 ; Daniel. December 28, 1731 : Adonijah, October 11. 1733 : John. Sep- tember 2, 1735: Lydia, April 27, 1738: Sam- uel. May 4 or 14. 1740. mentioned below : Giles, February 2, 1742: Andrew. March 31, 1744: Peggy, baptized June 15. 1746, died July 13, 1746.
(V) Samuel, son of Daniel ( 2) Bucking- ham, was born May 4 or 14, 1740. died Janu- ary 30. 1815. He married Lydia Watrous. who died June 12. 1833. Children: Samuel. born January or July 11. 1770, mentioned be- low: Lydia. January 21. 1,72; Mehetebel. June 22. 1774: Eticy. November 6, 1,75: Giles, February 8, 1777.
(VD) Deacon Samuel (2), son of Samuel (1) Buckingham, was born at Saybrook. Con- necticut, January or July 11. 1770. and lived there until after his marriage and the birth of his eldest chiki. In 1803 he removed to Lebanon, and in 1815 represented that town
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in the legislature. He was for many years deacon in the church, He was an enterpris- ing and thrifty farmer and acquired a hand- some property for those times. He was inter- ested in the cultivation of fruit, and raised it in abundance and of the choicest varieties. He also supplied the markets of Hartford with all farm products. When a young man, and before he had left Saybrook he and sev- eral others had built the first two fishing piers at the mouth of the Connecticut to take shad, and he retained his interest in these fish- eries, which became very valuable. His build- ings were always kept in the best of repairs and his residence was a striking feature of the landscape, and a good example of a New Eng- land home. He took an active interest in edu- cation and was liberal in assisting to maintain the town schools. The church also of which he was a deacon always found in him one of its best friends. In all it- affairs he took a leading part, and had a peculiar regard for ministers, so much so that his house was fa- miliarly known as "The Ministers' Tavern". When the temperance reform commenced. he was one of the first to adopt its principles and to carry them out. He was a man of careful and exact business habits. rare good judg- ment and reverence for all good things. He married, March 8. 1708. Joanna, daughter of Nathaniel and Dinah ( Newton) Matson, of Colchester, who were married January 15, 1761. Her father, Nathaniel Matson, was born in 1725, son of Nathaniel Matson, of Lyme, a farmer and merchant there, who died February 3, 1776, aged ninety-two. He was the son of Nathaniel Matson. the first of the name to come to this country, who settled in Boston. Her ekdlest sister was the mother of Judge Henry M. Waite, chief justice of the supreme court of the state. She was a supe- rior woman, of great executive ability and good judgment. Children: Abigail, born March 26, 1801: William Alfred. May 28, 1804, mentioned below : Lucy Ann, October 25, 1806: Samuel Matson. July 12, 1800, died November 20, 18to: Samuel Giles, November 18, 1812: Israel Matson. August 5. 1816.
(VII) Hon. William Alfred Buckingham, son of Deacon Samvel (2) Buckingham, was born May 28. 1804. in Lebanon, Connecticut. He was educated in the public and private schools of his native town, and at Bacon Academy, Colchester. Until twenty years of age he was engaged in farming. He then entered a dry goods store in Norwich as a clerk, and remained there two years. Aiter spending a short time in a wholesale store in New York, he returned to Norwich in 1826. and established himself in the dry goods busi-
ness there. In 1830 he began the manufacture of ingrain carpeting, and in 1848 was one of the principal men who organized the Hayward Rubber Company for the manufacture of In- dia rubber goods. He was the treasurer of this company from its organization. In 1849- 50-56-57 he was elected mayor of the city of Norwich, and in 1856 was presidential elector. He held no other public office until 1858, when he was elected governor, and re- elected seven times, after which he declined further service. He was one of the four loyal governors who held office through the civil war. At the beginning of the war the president called for one regiment of troops from Connecticut and the governor organized three by voluntary enlistments, which he uni- formed, armed and furnished with baggage train and camp equipage complete for the field. They were the first troops sent from any state that were in all respects equipped for active service. This action was assumed as an imperative public necessity, and taken upon the personal responsibility of the govern- or. On the first Wednesday of May, the general assembly was convened, which at once rati- fied the action of the governor, anthorized him to raise ten thousand troops for the de- fense of the national government, and placed money under his control to be used for this purpose at his discretion. A subsequent leg- islature removed the restriction which limited the number of men, and gave him authority and means to meet any acquisition which might be made by the president. Under this authority and with the co-operation of his fel- low citizens, he raised fifty-four thousand eight hundred and eighty-two men, which was six thousand and eighty-nine more than the number assigned to the state by the general government. In 1868 he was elected to the scnate of the United States to serve six years from March 4, 1869.
He took an active part in the cause of edu- cation, was a liberal benefactor of Yale Col- lege, and with one exception contributed more money than any other person to endow the Norwich Free Academy, of which he was the president of the board of trustees. He was also president of the Connecticut State Tem- perance Union. a member of the Broadway Congregational Church in Norwich, a corpor- ate member of the American Board of Foreign Missions, and in 1865 moderator of the Na- tional Council of Congregational Churches in Boston.
He married, September 27, 1830. Eliza. daughter of Dr. Dwight Ripley, of Norwich, a famous merchant of that city in the early part of the nineteenth century. She died
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(No) Buckingham
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April 19, 1868. Children : William, born Oc- tober. 1836, died December, 1838; Eliza Coit, mentioned below.
(VIII) Eliza Coit. daughter of Hon. Wil- liam Alfred Buckingham, was born Decem- ber 8. 1838. She married General William A. Aiken. The latter was one of Governor Buck- ingham's statt during the civil war, and was the first to reach the seat of government with dispatches from the north, when Washington was beset with enemies, and the approaches to the capital were obstructed. He delivered these dispatches in person to President Lin- coln. Children: Eliza Buckingham, born May 21. 1862: William Buckingham, Janu- ary 24. 1864: Mary Appleton. April 5. 1866; Jane McGregor, August 4. 1867 : Alfred Law- rence. July 6, 1870: Jolin, November 3, 1871.
(IV) Nathaniel Buck- BUCKINGHAM ingham, son of Samuel (2) Buckingham. (q. v.), was born in 1702, died in 1780. He was elected deacon of the church in 1765. He married. May 30, 1728, Sarah Smith. Chil- dren: Nathaniel, born March 8, 1729: Joseph, July 1, 1730: Sarah, February 29, 1734: Abi- jah, June 22. 1735: Sibbell. September 13, 1737 ; Oliver, May 27. 1739: Ephraim. Decem- ber 6, 1743 : Abel. mentioned below.
(\') Abel, son of Nathaniel Buckingham, was born May 22. 1745. died July 27. 1827. He settled near Northville, in the northerly part of New Milford, Connecticut. He mar- ried ( first ) Hannah Botsford, who died Sep- tember 22. 1801. and he married (second ) Sarah Barnum. Children of first wife: Na- thaniel. born March 3. 1775, mentioned below : Abel. July 18. 1776: Joseph, May 5, 1778: Samuel. July 4, 1780: Ephraim, August 15. 1782: Gilbert, July 25. 1788.
(VI) Nathaniel (2), son of Abel Bucking- ham, was born at New Milford, March 3. 1775. He married. March 24. 1801, Tamer Hunt, born May, 1778. died December 19. 1839. Children. born at Northville, New Milford: Harvey, October 30, 1800: Sarah Ann, October 2, 1810: Harry, April 10, 1813: Hiram Wheeler, June 7. 1815. mentioned be- low : Heman. December 24. 1818.
(VII) Hiram Wheeler, son of Nathaniel (2) Buckingham. was born at Northville, New Milford. June ;. 1815. died April 12, 1872. He attended the public schools. He operated a custom mill and saw mill, carded wool and printed calicoes, etc. In later years he fol- lowed farming. In politics he was a Repub- lican: in religion a Congregationalist. He married. June 10. 1846. Susan Baldwin, born at Northville, March 17, 1828, died in 1906.
daughter of Samuel and Mabel Baldwin. Children: Andrew D., born February 7, 1849, died August 29. 1851 ; Andrew S., De- cember 10, 1852: Charles Lester, August 31, 1855, mining engineer. Denver, Colorado, married Edith Jones, of Bridgeport, and had Mabel. Harold and Marion: Edgar B .. Jan- uary 4. 1859, farmer at Northville, married , children : Grace, Ruth, Florence, Cora, Homer, Ethel: Herman Chester, men- tioned below.
(VIII) Herman Chester, son of Hirani Wheeler Buckingham, was born at North- ville. New Milford, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, March 15. 1864. He was educated in the district schools of his native town. At the age of seventeen he left home and began to learn the trade of machinist in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad at Aurora, Illinois. In 1883 he returned to New Milford and worked as a tool maker there for two years. He was also employed for a time by his brother's firm, Marsh & Buckingham, in wood-working. Ile was then for more than six years with the Eastern Lounge Company of New Milford as foreman and superintendent. In 1905 he became the junior partner of the firm of Taylor & Buch- ingham, in partnership with Henry H. Tay- lor. The firm takes all kinds of contract work, cement work as well as carpentering. and takes rank among the leading builders of the city. Mr. Buckingham also manufactures what is known as the "Easy Truck," which he invented. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Commercial Club and of St. Peter's Lodge, No. 21, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of New Milford. In religion lie is a Congregationalist. He married, in July, 1886, Jennie, daughter of John W. and Jane ( Turrill) Addis, of New Milford. They have one daughter. Maud. born at New Mil- ford, December 5. 1887.
(II) Captain John
BUCKINGHAM Buckingham. son ni David Buckingham (q. v. ). was born in Watertown, October 17. 1786. He was educated in the district schools, and followed farming for an occupation. He raised a company of men in Watertown and was commissioned captain in the war of IS12. While in the service he was stationed at New London and New Haven. At the close of the war he was commissioned colonel of the state militia, but soon resigned. In 1825 he re- moved to Waterbury and for more than twen- ty-five years was in partnership with his brothers-in-law. J. M. L. and W. H. Scovili. under the firm name of Scovills & Bucking-
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ham, manufacturers of brass butts and other brass goods at Oakville. When the firm was incorporated in 1850 as the Scovill Manufac- turing Company, he retained his interests as a stockholder. He retired, on account of the infirmities of age, a few years before his death. Ile represented both Watertown and Waterbury in the general assembly and was a state senator from the sixteenth district. He was not only a capable business man, but of broad and general intellectual gifts. Ile read extensively and appreciated the classic Eng- lish authors. He was called upon to fill many private as well as public trusts. He was a lifelong member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a member of the Masonic Lodge to which he was much attached. He was held in the highest esteem by his townsmen for his sterling integrity and inany attractive per- sonal qualities. He died May 3, 1867. He married. September 10. 1800. Betsey, daugh- ter of James Scovill (see Scovill V). She was "a lady of most amiable disposition and manners, and well qualified to adorn the large homestead over which she was destined to become the mistress, her husband having in- herited the ancestral farm of his Grandmother Merrill in Watertown". Children: Scovill Merrill, born August 10, ISII, mentioned be- low ; Mary, May 17, 1815. married Abraham Ives.
(VIII) Scovill Merrill, son of Captain John Buckingham, was born at Watertown, August 10. 1811. He was educated in the common schools and began life as clerk in the employ of J. M. L. & W. H. Scovill, his uncles. When he came of age he continued with the firm and became superintendent of the button factory. In 1839 or 1840 a co-partnership was formed under the name of Scovill & Com- pany with a capital of $20.000 and he became one of the firm. He continued in this busi- ness until the incorporation of the Scovill Manufacturing Company in 1850 with a capi- tal of $250,000, including the original firm, and the button company in which Captain John Buckingham was also interested. After the death of his uncles, he becanie president of the corporation. In 1868 he retired from the active management of the concern and was succeeded as president by Samuel W. Hall. He was thoroughly progressive, very friendly to new enterprises and ready to aid them with money and advice. In this way he materially aided in upbuilding Waterbury as an industrial center. He was director and president of a number of manufacturing com- panies between 1848 and 1860. He was a director of the Waterbury National Bank and president of the Plymouth Granite Company.
He took great interest in building dwelling houses and the block known as the Bucking- ham Block was the first of the kind in Wa- terbury. He was a substantial stockholder in the Naugatuck railroad and the Hartford & Fishkill, now part of the New Haven sys- tem. He was one of the prime movers and always a stockholder of the Wheeler & Wil- son Sewing Machine Company.
For nearly fifty years he held the office of warden of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, succeeding his uncle, William H. Sco- vill, and was seldom absent from church ser- vices. He was a liberal contributor and ener- getie worker in all the affairs of the parish. He owned a fine farm a few miles west of the town and after he retired from business he spent much time on this place, often working hard with his men, and greatly enjoying the life outdoors. He gave generously to the building fund of Trinity College. Hartford, and to various other educational and chari- table purposes.
He inherited his father's fondness for good horses and outdoor sports and was an excel- lent shot. The weather vane of the Congre- gational church. which stood where the Wel- ton drinking fountain is now, had a hole through the star end, made by a bullet trom his gun, fired from the steps of the Scovill store near the southeast corner of H. W. Sco- vill's house. Years and business care sobered his spirit and he became the grave, sedate. scrupulously neat and refined person familiar to the elder ones of the present generation. "He could never endure dirt or disorder. All his appointments. his place, the factories in his charge, the roads leading to them, must be in good condition. He liked to have a share in keeping them so himself, and one of the most familiar sights to his neighbors dur- ing a period of fifty years was Mr. Breking- ham broom in hand pointing out things which needed attention". He died at Waterbury, April 27, 1889.
He married. May 18, 1835, Charlotte, daughter of Aaron Benedict. She died Janu- ary 9. 1887. Their whole married life of over fifty years was spent in their house on West Main street, built at the time of their mar- riage. Child. John A., mentioned helow.
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