USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 23
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On the 12th of April, 1909, Mr. Kellogg was married to Miss Nellie Clark and they have had two children: Stanley T., who died in infancy; and Clark Terrill, a year old. Mr. Kellogg belongs to Hampden Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Springfield, Massachusetts. His wife has membership in the Congregational church. He is also identified with the Seaside Club, the Pequonnock Yacht Club, the Seaside Gun Club, the Connectient Trap Shooters' Association
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and the Federation of American Motorcyclists. He enjoys almost every form of outdoor sports and he has those qualities which make for popularity among those who stand for clean, straight sport.
DAVID FOWLER WOOLSEY.
There is much historic interest that centers around the name of David Fowler Woolsey and his family. He was born in Newburgh, New York, March 3, 1808, and in New York city learned the carpenter's trade. In 1850 he removed with his family from Jordan, New York, to Bridgeport and became connected with the carriage making business of J. Mott & Company on State street, remaining with that firm as long as they continued as active agents in the field. They built carriages and coaches and always had a new carriage for the governor of the state upon his inauguration. Mr. Woolsey had charge of the finishing department, so that his work was of a most important and responsible character. He was the inventor of a coach handle for the door which would open from both the inside and outside and upon this secured a patent. After the firm of J. Mott & Company discontinued business Mr. Woolsey lived retired until his death.
In New York, on the 24th of December, 1828, David F. Woolsey was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Burr, a daughter of Nathaniel and Sally Burr. The former was a son of Isaac and Abigail (Beardsley) Burr and Isaac Burr was a son of Captain Nathaniel and Mary (Turney) Burr, of Fairfield, in whose family were four children. Captain Burr was a watchmaker and jeweler and had a shop on Main street in Fairfield. When the British burned the town in 1779 Mrs. Burr in a panic threw the old family Bible, the silverware and an iron pot into the well and some time afterward all were recovered. The British after setting fire to the house left the place and the family rushed back, putting out the fire by using pans of milk. They just saved their home, which is now one of the attractive old historic spots of Connecticut. It was at the home of Captain Nathaniel Burr that the birth of Aaron Burr occurred, his mother being on a visit there at the time. The ancestral line is traced back to a much more remote period, the founder of the family in America being Jehu Burre, who was born in England about 1600 and died in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1670. His son, Nathaniel Burr, was probably born at Springfield about 1640 and he was made a freeman in Fairfield in 1664. He served as constable in 1669 and was a representative to the colonial legislature in 1692, 1693, 1694 and 1695. He married Sarah Ward and their son, Nathaniel Burr, became a lawyer of prominence in the colony. In 1696 he was deputy for Fairfield. He wedded Susannah Lockwood, of Fairfield, a daughter of Lieutenant Joseph Loekwood, and among their children was Captain Nathaniel Burr, who wedded Mary Turney, and to them were born four children. Thus the line of descent comes on down through their son Isaac to Nathaniel Burr, who was the father of Mrs. Woolsey. He mar- ried Sally Burr and they had a family of six children, Grissell A., John, Henry, Sarah A., Rufus and Theodore. Of these Sarah A. was born April 2, 1811. and on the 24th of Decem- ber, 1828, gave her hand in marriage to David F. Woolsey, of Bridgeport. To them were born eight children, of whom six lived to adult age. Mary L. became the wife of John H. Proud and has passed away, but her daughter, Miss Mary W. Proud, is living in Bridgeport. Sarah J. became the wife of Richard S. De Lamater, of Hartford, a well known photographer, but is now deceased. They were the parents of Captain Richard W. De Lamater, of Hart- ford. Electa married Charles H. Curtis, of Bridgeport, but is now deceased. Susan A. became the wife of Noble G. Olds, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was a manufacturer of wheels, it being the largest factory of its kind in the country. They were married in Bridgeport, October 15, 1873, and Mr. Olds passed away in April, 1876, since which time Mrs. Olds has made her home in Bridgeport. John H., the next of the family, died in 1896.
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He was in the naval service in the Civil war. Augusta W. became the wife of James Eadie, December 24, 1868. He was born in Thompsonville and was connected with the Underwood Typewriter Company at Hartford, but is now a resident of Bridgeport. The death of Mrs. Woolsey occurred June 14, 1886, when in her seventy-sixth year. Mr. Woolsey long survived and was ninety-four years and four months old when on the 30th of June, 1902, he was called to his final rest. They were members of the Baptist church .. They had long been widely and prominently known in Bridgeport, Mrs. Woolsey representing one of the old New England families, their record being inseparably interwoven with the families of Fairfield.
W. S. MILLS.
W. S. Mills, now treasurer of the W. S. Mills Company, was one of the first to spe- cialize in the manufacture of underwear for infants and children and has carried on busi- ness along this line since 1889. No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to the cause of success we must finally reach the conclusion that indefatigable industry and close application are the foundation of all legitimate prosperity, a fact which finds further verification in the life record of Mr. Mills.
A native of Maine, Mr. Mills was born at North Yarmouth, July 26, 1862, a son of Dwight P. and Sarah A. (Skillings) Mills, the former a native of Norfolk, Connecticut, and the latter of North Yarmouth, Maine. The father was a manufacturer of underwear and developed the Dunham Hosiery Company, a business now conducted under the name of the Dunham Mills, Incorporated. Of this he was manager from 1876 until 1914, when he retired from active business life at the age of eighty-one years. Now, at the age of eighty-four, he is enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. Our sub- ject is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and on the paternal side traces his ancestry back to one of Parson Hooker's flock who founded the settlement at Wind- sor, Connecticut.
W. S. Mills acquired a publie school education and later attended the Russell Military School at New Haven, Connecticut. He received his early business training under the direction of his father, with whom he remained until 1888, learning much concerning the manufacture of knitted goods. He afterward traveled as mechanical expert for the Wil- limantic Linen Company for a year, at the end of which time he organized his present business in 1889 for the manufacture of underwear. His first factory was at Railway avenue and Warren street in Bridgeport, where he rented property. From the begin- ning the business steadily grew and developed, and in 1893 he built a factory at No. 80 Parallel street, a four story structure forty by two hundred feet. It is of mill construc- tion and is equipped with a sprinkler system. The electric power is generated in a plant of their own, and the building is equipped with the latest improved machinery for turn- ing out the product. They employ about one hundred people, seventy-five per cent being female operators. They manufacture infants' and children's knit underwear, this mill being one of the first to specialize in this line. They were also pioneers in making infants' goods on the circular knitting frames. Five traveling salesmen represent the house on the road in the sale of the product to retailers throughont the United States and Canada, and the factory has a capacity of over two hundred and fifty dozen per day. They manufacture all grades of goods from the medium priced to the best silk garments, and their trade- mark, Little Princess, is a recognized standard of quality. The reputation of the house for good goods, reasonable prices and honorable dealing is indicated in the fact that they are now selling to the second generation of buyers. For a time the business was conducted under the firm style of Mills & Company, but in 1906 was incorporated as the W. S. Mills
W. S. MILLS
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Company, and the officers are: D. P. Mills, president; Samuel Lauterback, vice president; T. I. Ferguson, secretary; and W. S. Mills, treasurer. The business has enjoyed a substan- tial and steady growth from the beginning, and it stands as the visible evidence of the well spent life of its promoter.
In 1893 Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Clara March of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, and they now have two children, John D., a student at Yale; and Eleanor, who is attending high school. Fraternally Mr. Mills is a chapter Mason, and politically he is a republican. In strictly social connections he has membership with the Algonquin Club. In his life record conservatism and progressiveness have been evenly balanced, the one preventing unwarranted risk or failure, the other producing results that have made him one of the foremost manufacturers in his line in Connecticut.
JAMES GREGORY BURROUGHS.
James Gregory Burroughs, dealer in motorcycles in Bridgeport, is one of the young men of the city whose enterprise. determination and industry have carried them far beyond the point of mediocrity, and, leaving the ranks of the many, he is now standing among the more successful few. He is a representative of one of the old colonial families of Connecticut. His great-grandfather was the builder of most of the old colonial homes of Fairfield. His father, Stephen Jennings Burroughs, and his mother, Mrs. Annie Bur- roughs, are still living at Long Hill, where the family has been represented for many generations.
James Gregory Burroughs was born at Long Hill, Connecticut, September 2, 1889, and pursued his education in the Shelton school of Bridgeport and in the high school but did not graduate. In his youthful days he worked on a farm for a time and afterward spent three years in mercantile lines. Later he entered the employ of Stanley T. Kellogg, a dealer in Excelsior motorcycles, whose business he finally purchased, conducting it in 1912 and 1913. On the expiration of that period he turned the business back to Mr. Kellogg and accepted the agency for the Harley-Davidson motorcycles for Fairfield county and opened business at the present location at No. 806 State street. Here he now enjoys a good trade in motoreyeles. He was formerly well known in sporting circles, having taken part in races, but he sustained a serious injury in racing for the Bismell trophy on Long Island in 1913 and has not raced since.
In 1912 Mr. Burroughs was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dunn and they have two children : Marian Elizabeth, born in 1914; and Marjorie Bonnell, born in 1916. Mr. Bur- roughs belongs to the Federation of American Motoreyelists and is also a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church of Long Hill. He is now completing a fine country home at Long Hill, which is one of the visible evidences of his life of well directed energy and business enterprise.
WILLIAM LILL ZEPP.
The personnel of the Bridgeport bar is such as may well be a matter of pride to the city. The representatives of the profession here are on the whole men of high character and of pronounced ability. Among those who have won a creditable name and place in connection with the practice of law in Fairfield county is William Lill Zepp, who, embracing every opportunity, qualified for active practice and was admitted in 1908. He was born in this city May 18, 1872, a son of Jacob and Katherine (Lill) Zepp, both of whom have passed Vol. II-10
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away. They were natives of Germany but became acquainted and were married in Bridge- port. The father, who died in 1894, was an old-time grocer and provision merchant of this city, embarking in that business prior to the Civil war. It was on the 19th of July, 1862, that he wedded Katherine Lill and on the 26th of April, 1894, he departed this life, while his wife survived until December, 1914. Although of German birth she was of French descent. In their family were thirteen children, eight of whom reached years of maturity, while seven are yet living, all residents of Bridgeport. These are Mrs. Nellie Knablin, Mrs. Cora Barnum, Katherine, William Lill, Mrs. Antonia Stiner, Mrs. Frances Wright and Carl.
William L. Zepp has spent his entire life in his native city and after attending the public schools he completed a business course by night study. He afterward worked in a carriage factory in the day time and from 1902 until 1904 he was clerk of the probate court of Bridgeport. While occupying that position he was devoting every possible moment to the study of law and after attending the Yale Law School for two years he completed his preparation for the bar in the law department of Mercer University at Macon, Georgia. There he was graduated in 1908, after which he was admitted to the bar in Macon and two years later passed the required examination that made him a member of the Connecti- cut bar. Since that time he has given his attention to general practice in Bridgeport and his ability is attested by his growing clientage, which has connected him with considerable important litigation heard in the courts of the district.
Mr. Zepp has also found time to actively participate in public affairs. He is a democrat in his political views and he served for three years in the capacity of health commissioner as a member of the board, having been appointed by the mayor. He is now serving for the third term on that board and during the infantile paralysis epidemic .of 1916 he took a most active part in the campaign to prevent the spread of the disease. The present splen- didly equipped health department of Bridgeport is the outgrowth of this campaign and Mr. Zepp was an enthusiastic and untiring worker in bringing about this result. He is an Odd Fellow and a past chief patriarch of Stratfield Encampment. His religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Congregational church. He is fond of outdoor sports and country life and he also enjoys travel. In 1900 he visited Europe and the home of his ancestors and traveled extensively through Germany, England, Ireland, France, Holland and Austria and attended the Paris Exposition. He greatly appreciates the opportunities of travel, knowing there is no better educator, and from experiences of this character he has learned many interesting lessons.
WALTER F. FOLEY.
On the roster of Bridgeport's lawyers appears the name of Walter F. Foley, who has here practiced since 1912, at which time he was twenty-two years of age. He was born in Middletown, Connecticut, September 15, 1890, a son of Daniel J. and Ellen M. (Boyle) Foley. The father, who was born at South Manchester, Connecticut, January 12, 1840, was a son of Charles Foley, who came from Ireland. Daniel J. Foley was a machinist by trade and for a considerable period lived in Hartford, Connecticut, serving for twelve years as a member of the city council there. He died in 1909 and his widow now makes her home at Stratford, near Bridgeport. She, too, is of Irish lineage, her father being James Boyle, who came from Ireland.
In 1899 Walter F. Foley accompanied his parents on their removal from Middletown to Bridgeport and here he attended St. Mary's School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. He afterward became a student in the University Preparatory School, in which he completed his course in 1908, and then spent a year in the Yale Law School. In 1911 he finished his law studies at the University of Chattanooga in Chattanooga,
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Tennessee, and was admitted to practice at the bar of that state in August, 1911, while on the 16th of January, 1912, he was admitted to the Connecticut bar. He has since followed his profession in Bridgeport, giving his attention to the general practice of law, and he is a member of both the local and state bar associations.
On the 4th of June, 1913, Mr. Foley was married to Miss Helen E. Sharon, of Bridge- port, who was born here April 12, 1894, a daughter of Peter A. and Mary E. (Early) Sharon, who were natives of this state. Mrs. Foley is of Irish and French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Foley hold membership in St. Charles' Roman Catholic church and he is a Knight of Colum- bus. His political support is given to the republican party and for two years he served as justice of the peace but otherwise has not held public office, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his professional activities.
WHEELER FAMILY.
The Wheeler family of Stratford, represented now by one of its descendants, Miss Augusta Wheeler, is one of the best known and most prominent of the families of this section of the state. Moses Wheeler, the founder of the family, died in Stratford in 1690, at the ripe old age of one hundred years, and was buried in the old Congregational church cemetery, for which a fund has recently been raised that will keep the cemetery in good condition for many years to come. Moses Wheeler, son of Moses Wheeler (1), made his home in Stratford and married Sarah Nichols. They were the parents of Ephraim Wheeler, who also resided in Stratford and who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His son, Samuel Wheeler, was born in Stratford in 1757, and he, too, espoused the cause of the colonies in the struggle for independence, giving valuable aid to the American soldiers. He afterward built what was known as the Wheeler mill. He was widely known and was a strong and active factor in the community where he made his home. He was twice married, his first wife being Sarah Moorehouse, while in 1781 he wedded Hannah Hally. His death occurred in June, 1815.
Captain Samuel Wheeler, a son of Samuel Wheeler, was born at Stratford, September 10, 1777, and followed a seafaring life, becoming owner of the vessel China. He, too, was widely and favorably known in the community where he made his home. He wedded Annie Curtis, a daughter of Abijah and Phebe (Clarke) Curtis, a granddaughter of Daniel Curtis and a great-granddaughter of Daniel Curtis, Sr. They, too, were of one of the oldest families of Stratford. Captain Samuel Wheeler died in Stratford, February 28, 1858, and was buried in Union cemetery. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Episcopal church. She passed away in 1831 and her remains were also interred in Union cemetery.
Their son, Captain Isaac Wheeler, was born in Stratford, May 2, 1800, and was liberally educated for his day. He, too, took up a seafaring life and was the owner of several sels, including the Parthena, the Commodore Jones, the E. P. Burton and the Falcon. He followed the coastwise trade and was noted for his fearlessness and bravery. He was a man of iron nerve and strong will power and was ready at any time to risk his life for a friend. It is said that while he was on a sailing trip to Boston he took with him on his vessel a young son of a friend who was swept overboard during a storm. Captain Wheeler immediately jumped into the raging sea and brought the boy back to the vessel safe. Widely known, he was also very popular and he continued a valued resident of Stratford up to the time of his demise, which occurred at his Broad street home in August, 1867. He held membership in Christ Episcopal church and guided his life by its teachings. In politics he was a stanch democrat. In every relation he displayed those qualities which command confidence, goodwill and high regard. He was married in Stratford to Catharine
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Lewis, a native of that place and a daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Philo and Charity (Curtis) Lewis, the former a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a lieutenant colonel of the War of 1812. Mrs. Wheeler died September 10, 1882, and was laid to rest by the side of her husband. She had been most true in all the relations of wifehood and mother- hood and she was also a consistent member of the Episcopal church. In their family were six children: Everett Lewis, deceased; Maria T., who became the wife of Daniel Hatch and both have passed away; Mary Howe, who became the wife of Alexander Pratt, deceased; Moses H., who died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, leaving one son, Robert Brown Wheeler, of Boston, and three daughters, Elizabeth Nash, Harriett, who married Edward O. Goss, of Waterbury, Connecticut, and Catherine Middlebrook; Augusta; and Caroline Olivia, who has passed away.
Miss Augusta Wheeler, the only living member of the family of Captain Isaac Wheeler, was born in Stratford and attended the public schools and an academy and also Miss Ward's school of Bridgeport. She was for a number of years in Bridgeport and assisted in the care of the Hatch estate. She gave much care and attention to her mother in her declining years and has since devoted her time largely to charitable and other good works. She is a most consistent member of the Episcopal church and takes a very active and helpful part in its work. She is also an ardent supporter of the cause of woman suffrage and was among the founders of the Woman's Suffrage Association in Stratford, of which she has been treasurer. She is a leader in all good works and is opposed to all sham and hypocrisy. She belongs to the Red Cross Society and is eligible to membership in the Society of Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Society of the War of 1812. She is a mem- ber of the Andrew Ward Association and for many years has been interested in the Bridge- port Protestant Orphans' Association. She makes her home on Broad street in Stratford, having for a companion Miss Alma C. Curtis, a native of Stratford and a daughter of Charles D. and Elizabeth A. (Porter) Curtis, the former a well known contractor and builder of Stratford in his day, erecting a large number of dwellings of the city. He and his wife and their daughter Christina died in Stratford and Miss Alma is now Miss Wheeler's constant companion.
EDGAR BEERS.
Edgar Beers, a progressive business man of Bridgeport, handling sash, doors, blinds and trimmings and doing a general line of contract work of that character, has heen a lifelong resident of Connecticut. He was born in New Canaan, April 10, 1848, and comes of English ancestry, probably being descended from John Beers, a native of England, who arrived in the new world in early colonial days. His father, Richard Beers, remained for some years a resident of New Canaan but in 1855 removed with his family to New Haven. He was a shoemaker by trade and thus provided for the support of his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Ann Scofield, and their nine children.
Edgar Beers was a little lad of but seven summers at the time of the removal to New Ilaven, where he acquired a public school education. When a youth of seventeen he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in 1865 in the Seventeenth United States Infantry, with which he served for three years, being in the south during the reconstruction period, most of that time in Texas. In 1868 he returned to New Haven and on the 29th of June, 1869, came to Bridgeport. Here he began work at box making in the employ of the W. F. Swords Lumber Company, with which he remained for more than a quarter of a century. He left that employ, however, in 1895, after which he was connected with the Tomlinson Lumber Company until 1905. He then established business on his own account along similar
EDGAR BEERS
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lines, handling sash, doors, blinds and house trimmings. He also does a general line of contract work and has enjoyed a growing patronage since starting out independently.
On the 9th of November, 1871, Mr. Beers was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Disbrow, of Bridgeport, who was born at Easton. Connecticut, and passed away January 15, 1876. On the 13th of June, 1877, Mr. Beers was married to Miss Carrie Nichols, of Nichols, Connecticut, who departed this life on the 22d of June, 1903. She was a sister of Bradley Nichols. His present wife bore the maiden name of Miss Carrie Hartman and was born in Bordentown, New Jersey. This marriage was celebrated June 19, 1907. Mr. Beers has two children by his second wife, Frank D. and Louis E., both of whom are in business with their father. Mr. Beers holds membership in the Episcopal church and his political opinions accord with the platform of the republican party. He has never sought nor desired public office but has given undivided attention to his business interests and his intelligently directed efforts have brought him the measure of success which is now his.
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