USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 15
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CHARLES L. DENNIS
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wife he went to Elizabethport, New Jersey, continuing in the same capacity, and there resided until his death in 1884. He was allied with the republican party and adhered to the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Dennis was a daughter of Robert and Clarinda John- son and a lifelong resident of Ashley. Her father was born in the northern part of Ireland and cast in his lot with the early set- tlers of Ashley, becoming a foreman in the mines of that locality, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and gave his political support to the republican party. His wife, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, also passed away in Ashley.
Charles L. Dennis was a pupil in the public schools of his native town until he reached the age of thirteen, when he was sent to the Soldiers Orphans School at Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, and was graduated therefrom in 1889. When a youth of sixteen he returned to Ashley and obtained work with the Jersey Central Railroad, becoming a brakeman. He remained with that line until July, 1898, when he entered the service of the Long Island Railroad Company and assisted in the work of transporting sol- diers for three months during the Spanish-American war. After- ward he returned to Ashley and in December, 1898, came to Bridgeport. For two years he was a brakeman for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company and was then pro- moted to the position of conductor, which he filled for a similar period. His next promotion made him yardmaster and for six- teen years he acted in that capacity, exerting his best efforts in behalf of the road. On severing his connection with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, Mr. Dennis opened an undertaking establishment at No. 558 State street, later moving to No. 542 on the same thoroughfare, and since April 1, 1927, the Dennis Funeral Home has been located at No. 1046 Fairfield avenue. His son, Horace Smith Dennis, is a partner in the business, which is operated under the style of Charles L. Dennis & Son. Their establishment is equipped to render the utmost in service, and a large and rapidly increasing business is indicative of their status as funeral directors.
Charles L. Dennis was married June 16, 1896, in Ashley, Pennsylvania, to Miss Caroline James, who was born in England, but received her education in the public schools of Ashley. Her
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parents, John R. and Hannah (Rutter) James, settled in that town on coming to the United States and there spent the remain- der of their lives. The father was employed in the mines and exercised his right of franchise in support of the candidates of the republican party, while his religious views were in accord with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have two children. Their son, Horace Smith, was born in Ashley and served in the World war, acting as sergeant of his company. He went to France with the Sixth Regiment of En- gineers, attached to the Third Division, and was gassed while at the front. He married Miss Bessie Carlson, of Bridgeport, and they have one child, Charles L. (II), who was born February 15, 1923. The daughter, Ruth, is the wife of Frank D'Arcy, who was also a member of the American Expeditionary Force and is now connected with the Bridgeport Brass Company. Mr. and Mrs. D'Arcy have become the parents of a son, William D., who was born July 27, 1923.
Mr. Dennis belongs to a number of fraternal organizations, in which he has filled offices of trust and responsibility. He is a deputy supervisor of the Loyal Order of Moose and for sixteen years has been dictator of the lodge in Bridgeport. His Masonic affiliations are with Ashlar Lodge, No. 124, F. & A. M., Hamilton Commandery, K. T .; Lafayette Consistory, and Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In the Eastern Star he served as patron and is connected with the White Shrine of Jerusalem. He is a past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also identified with the Independent Order of Tigers, the Junior and Senior Orders of United American Mechanics, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Woodmen of the World, the Sons of St. George, the Daughters of Pocahontas, the Kiwanis Club and the Ameri- can Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Mrs. Dennis is a mem- ber of the ladies auxiliary of the last named organization and is also connected with the White Shrine of Jerusalem and the Daughters of Rebekah. She is affiliated with the Washington Park Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Dennis is a member of its official board. He is president of the Federation of Men's Bible Classes for the city of Bridgeport and devotes much time to religious work, in which he is deeply interested. During the
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World war he promoted the sale of Liberty bonds and also aided the Red Cross Society. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and during the session of 1920-21 he repre- sented Bridgeport in the state legislature. He closely studied all of the measures brought before the house and espoused the moral side of every issue. His life has been crowned with success and fraught with the accomplishment of much good.
HIRAM KEELER SCOTT
The record of the growth and progress of Ridgefield is closely interwoven with the history of the Scott family, of which Hiram Keeler Scott was a distinguished member. A man of diversified talents and thorough dependability, he creditably filled many offices of trust and importance, displaying rare qualities as a public servant, and he was known and honored throughout Fair- field county. He was born April 24, 1822, in the town of Ridge- field, situated in Scotland district, which derived its name from the Scott family and he died November 9, 1909.
His grandfather, James Scott (II), was the owner of about four hundred acres of land in this section of the state and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. His standards of farming were high, and success attended his well directed labors. He had a family of nine children. Nathan, the eldest, was born September 12, 1781, and married Sally Burr, of Redding, Connecticut. Sally was born March 3, 1783, and became the wife of David Pulling. David, born March 20, 1785, married Betsy Burr, of Redding. Hezekiah, born December 25, 1789, first married Delia Foster, of Redding, and his second wife was Laura Odell, of Norwalk. James (III) was the next of the family. Smith was born Novem- ber 1, 1794, and married Sally Burr, a daughter of Benjamin Burr. Timothy Olmsted, born January 12, 1797, married Betsey Seymour and attained the advanced age of ninety-four years. Lucretia, born January 15, 1801, became the wife of Halsted Hoyt, of South Salem, New York, and later of Scotland district, Fairfield county. Daniel Gould, the youngest child, was born April 13, 1803, and married Elizabeth Waterbury, of Stamford, Connecticut. Of these, James, David, Nathan, Hezekiah, Tim-
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othy Olmsted and Lucretia resided in Scotland district and there passed away.
James Scott (III) was born April 2, 1792, and learned the silversmith's trade, which he followed until about 1840, when he turned his attention to the occupation of farming, in which he prospered, owning a productive, well developed tract of about fifty acres. He was a well informed man and a good citizen. His first wife was Sally Keeler, a daughter of Benjamin and Eunice (Olmsted) Keeler of Ridgefield, and they had two chil- dren: Delia, who died at the age of two years; and Hiram Keeler, the subject of this sketch. The mother of these children died June 3, 1855, and Mr. Scott's second union was with Joanna Everett, a daughter of Charles Everett, of Brewster, New York. They were the parents of a son, James Everett, who was born in 1856 and became the owner of a large stock ranch comprising eight hundred acres of land in North Dakota, where he passed away.
Hiram K. Scott attended the common schools of his district until he was sixteen and at the age of nineteen he began teaching, following that profession for three winter terms. He then came to Ridgefield and on October 1, 1846, took charge of the village school, which he taught for three years. He was an earnest stu- dent and through close application and broad reading became well informed on many subjects. In 1849 he was appointed post- master of the village and acted in that capacity for one term of four years. In 1868 he was returned to the office, in which he was retained until 1886, and was reappointed by President Cleveland, serving in all for twenty-eight years. It was in 1850, when he was twenty-eight years of age, that he was elected to the state legislature and was the youngest member, except one, in that body. He was elected on the whig ticket and served for one term. In 1852, after the close of his first term as postmaster, he was made town clerk and in 1854 was elected judge of the probate court. From 1852 to 1861 he was town clerk and in 1872 was again chosen for that position. His reelection as clerk on October 5, 1896, made the thirty-fourth time he had been chosen by the ballots of his fellow townsmen. His activities as probate judge covered a period of thirty-three years and nine months, at the close of which time he was barred from further service by the
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seventy-year-age limitation. Afterward he acted as clerk of that court, discharging his duties with characteristic thoroughness, conscientiousness and efficiency, and the record which he estab- lished in public office has seldom been equaled. He also acted as trial justice for many years, and his decisions were always char- acterized by fairness and good judgment. His records are models of neatness and reveal the businesslike manner of his methodical, systematic life. In 1857 he opened a general store in Ridgefield and remained its proprietor until September 1, 1895, establishing a large trade by honest dealing and prompt, efficient, courteous service.
Mr. Scott was married three times. By his second wife, Lizzie M. Gorham, a daughter of David Gorham, of Westport, Connecti- cut, he had five children: Carrie, who was married in Ridgefield to Charles D. W. Taylor, but later they established their home in Denver, Colorado; Hiram K., Jr., who was born in 1869, and married Lottie A. Ellis, of Ridgefield; George G., born in 1871, who married Faustina Jennings and is serving as probate judge of Ridgefield; Gertrude Adams, who was born in 1872 and became the wife of William H. Farrelly, at that time a resident of New Milford, Connecticut, but later removed to Bristol, Rhode Island; and David Francis, who was born in 1879 and died in 1882. The mother of these children passed away in 1880. Mr. Scott's third union was with Mary J. Studwell, a daughter of John E. Studwell, of Ridgefield.
When a young man Mr. Scott joined the state militia and soon achieved prominence in military affairs. In 1843 he was made colonel of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Connecticut Militia and remained in command until the militia of the state was succeeded by the National Guard. In 1862, during the Civil war, he organized a company of the National Guard in Ridgefield, becoming its captain, and thus served for five years. Turning his attention to transportation affairs, he was a leading spirit in the organization of the Ridgefield & New York Railroad in 1867 and for many years acted as secretary and treasurer of the corpora- tion. Mr. Scott was always found in the vanguard of movements for the upbuilding and advancement of his district, and his fellow citizens had the utmost confidence in his probity and ability to carry forward to a successful termination anything that he undertook.
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Deeply interested in religious affairs, Mr. Scott furthered the progress of his community along moral as well as material lines and for several years was treasurer of St. Stephen's Episcopal church, also serving as clerk of Central district, No. 6. He was a prominent Mason and in 1847 became a member of Pilgrim Lodge, No. 46, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1859 he was chosen grand master of the Grand Lodge of the state and in that year was a delegate to the convention of the Grand Lodge of the United States, held in Baltimore, Maryland, while he also attended the meeting of that body at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1860. In January, 1848, he was made a Free and Accepted Mason and was master of Jerusalem Lodge, No. 49, for fifteen years. He was also a member of Crusader Commandery, K. T., of Dan- bury and a worthy exemplar of the order. His influence for good deepened as he advanced in years and, judged by the standard of usefulness, the career of Hiram Keeler Scott was most successful. Generous alike in thought and deed, he possessed the simplicity and humility which ever mark real merit, and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him.
WILLIAM B. GLOVER
William B. Glover, active in connection with business interests and public affairs in Newtown and his section of Fairfield county, made for himself a creditable position in public regard, enjoying the good will and confidence of those who knew him. He was born in Newtown and passed away in the year 1922. There were no exciting chapters in his life record but his course was marked by that fidelity to duty which makes for good citizenship and for personal worth. He became the superintendent of the Newtown Water Company and he also did a retail business in machinery. His devotion to the general welfare led to his selection for public office and he served both as first and third selectman and as asses- sor, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity.
William B. Glover was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Benedict.
Their son, Walter L. Glover, was born in Newtown, January 29, 1900, and acquired his education in the local schools, com-
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pleting his studies in the high school. When his textbooks were put aside he began concentrating his efforts and attention upon the work of the old homestead farm, which he still conducts, and he is likewise the owner of an electrical and radio business in Newtown. His interests are wisely and carefully managed and substantial results accrue therefrom.
On the 23d of January, 1926, Mr. Glover was married at Ridgefield, Connecticut, to Miss Dorothy E. Haight, a daughter of Ernest V. and May Haight. Mr. Glover served in the United States navy, with which he was associated until November 26, 1919. He has filled the office of member of the board of assessors in Newtown and he is always loyal to the best interests of the community, giving his aid and support to those projects which he deems of vital worth in promoting the general welfare.
WILLIAM BURR SIMON
William Burr Simon is filling the office of postmaster at New Canaan, his native city. He was born August 13, 1873, a son of Robert and Josephine (Schemmel) Simon. The father, who was a veteran of the Civil war and was a merchant tailor by trade, died November 20, 1915. The mother is living in New Canaan at the age of eighty-eight years. The youth of William Burr Simon was largely devoted to the acquirement of a public school educa- tion until he reached the age of thirteen years, when he started out to provide for his own support, working in the Five and Ten Cent Store, where he remained for a year. In 1890 he went to New York city, where he learned the plumber's trade, after which he returned to New Canaan and sought employment at his trade, which he followed in that way until 1898, when he established a plumbing business of his own. This he conducted successfully until April 1, 1913, when he began operating auto cabs, building up the business in New Canaan. In this he successfully con- tinued until April, 1920, when he was called to public office. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his public spirit and his devotion to the general welfare, elected him warden of the borough in 1920 and thus he served until 1924. In the latter year he was appointed postmaster of New Canaan and has since occupied
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the position, in which he is discharging his duties in a most efficient manner, giving prompt and courteous service to those who receive mail at this point. He also filled the office of burgess of the borough from 1907 until 1909 inclusive and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor sus- picion of evil.
On the 7th of February, 1901, in New York city, Mr. Simon was married to Miss Margaret Lochmann, who died September 23, 1928. To them was born a son, William Harry, now a dental surgeon of Litchfield, Connecticut, who married Mary E. Mudd, and has a daughter, Elizabeth Ann.
Mr. Simon has a military record in that he became a member of the New Canaan unit of the Home Guard known as Company H during the World war period. He enlisted for Home Guard service March 23, 1917, being the second one to enlist from the borough. This was characteristic of Mr. Simon, for he has ever been most loyal to the welfare and interests of community, com- monwealth and country. Fraternally he is connected with Worcester Lodge, No. 37, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he also has membership in the Order of American Men and the Connecticut and National Postmasters Associations. Practically his entire life has been passed in New Canaan, where his circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
HON. JOHN HENRY LIGHT
The New York branch of the Light family, to which Judge John Henry Light belongs, is stated in the published genealogy of the family to have come to this district from the state of Maine, and to that locality from its English home. This is the record, in outline, of a distinguished member of the present day, whose standing in the law, in the public service, and in the world of let- ters reflects high credit upon a honorable name.
(I) David Light, grandfather of John Henry Light, was of Carmel, New York, and it was there that his death occurred. Tradition says that he served in the War of 1812 with the rank of captain.
HON. JOHN H. LIGHT
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(II) Belden Light, son of David Light, was born in Carmel, New York, and in middle life removed to New Canaan, Connec- ticut. There, as well as in Carmel, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. While an upholder of republican principles, he was never a political worker. He married Ann Keenan, daughter of Owen Keenan. Their children were as follows: Mary E., who married Charles E. Hall, of South Norwalk; Owen Light, of Bridgeport, now deceased; John Henry, of this review; Fred- erick B., of Stamford; William, of New Canaan, Connecticut; Melinda, of Norwalk; Rodney, a general contractor of New Canaan; and two children who died young. The family were members of the Congregational church. Belden Light died in New Canaan.
(III) John Henry Light, son of Belden and Ann (Keenan) Light, was born March 27, 1855, in Carmel, New York, and was in his 'teens when the family removed to New Canaan. His early education was received in local public schools, and he afterward studied at the Chamberlain Institute of Randolph, New York, graduating in 1880. For several years thereafter he was engaged in teaching, at the same time pursuing the study of law, and in September, 1883, was admitted to the bar. His preceptor during his course of preparation was the Hon. Levi Warner, of Norwalk, former member of congress. From the time of his admission to the bar, Mr. Light has been engaged in the active practice of his profession. He is a member of the firm of Light, Dunbar & Quinlan, of which his son Freeman is also a member. His advancement was rapid, and he reached, at a comparatively early period in his career, the commanding position which he has so long held. For twenty-four years, from 1884 to 1908, he was cor- poration counsel of the old city of South Norwalk, the fact that he retained his office under both parties showing how great was the confidence inspired by his ability and character. From 1896 to 1900 he was prosecuting attorney for the criminal court of Fair- field county, an office for which he was peculiarly fitted by rea- son of his keen insight into the motives and merits of men.
In 1900 Mr. Light was made judge of the criminal court of common pleas, of Fairfield county, and the same qualities which had made him a leader of the bar found a wider sphere of action and attained greater development while he sat upon the bench.
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When he retired in 1905 and his record passed into the history of the county, he was followed by the sincere gratitude, hearty ap- proval, and profound respect of law-abiding citizens of all classes and every shade of political opinion. The principles advocated by the republican party have always been those to which Judge Light has given his undivided allegiance, and even as a young man he came to the front in their support. In 1898, in the state convention of his party, he nominated the Hon. George E. Louns- bury for governor, the speech in which he placed his name before the convention at once ranking him among the foremost orators of Connecticut. He served a term as county treasurer, and occu- pied a seat on the school board, also acting for many years as school visitor.
Higher honors and greater trusts awaited him and were not slow in seeking his acceptance. During the administration of Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, Mr. Light filled the office of attor- ney-general of the state, and in 1899 he was a member of the house of representatives, serving as house chairman of the com- mittee on incorporations and constitutional amendments. In 1901 he was returned to the legislature, and was made speaker of the house. Times without number he has served as a delegate to conventions, and he has been constantly in demand as orator for Memorial Day services and on other patriotic occasions.
In August, 1881, Judge Light married Miss Ida M. Lockwood, a daughter of Henry D. and Harriet (Benedict) Lockwood of Stamford, both deceased. Mrs. Light passed away November 7, 1925, and their older son, Jay Irving, who was born April 23, 1885, died April 3, 1896. The only surviving child born to Judge and Mrs. Light is Freeman, who was born February 6, 1887, and was graduated from Norwich University and Yale Law College. He was admitted to the bar June 17, 1913, and has since been associated with his father in the practice of law, being a member of the firm of Light, Dunbar & Quinlan. He is now serving his third term in the state legislature; is a member of the judiciary committee, and is judge of the city court of Norwalk.
The interest taken by Judge Light in the welfare and progress of his home community has always been actively manifested, his desire to further these ends having induced him to accept many trusts and responsibilities. He is a director of the City National
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Bank of South Norwalk and the South Norwalk Savings Bank. He affiliates with Old Well Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M .; Butler Chapter, No. 38, R. A. M .; Clinton Commandery, No. 3, K. T .; Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and Butler Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is past grand. Judge Light is a member of the Congregational church of South Norwalk, and for several years he served as a member of the business committee.
The jurist, the public-spirited citizen and the orator-all these phases of Judge Light's many-sided nature are strongly marked. But there is yet another side of his nature almost as dominant, and nearly if not quite as well known to the world as any of these. That is the literary side. Rarely, indeed, is there found a man whose intellectual development is so symmetrical as to render him capable of interpreting Blackstone and Kent and ยท also of communing with poets, philosophers and scholars, from Plato to Spencer, and from Homer to Browning, but in these directions Judge Light's tastes run. Convincing, brilliant, fair and logical as a pleader, he is equally so as a lecturer, and the platform knows him nearly as well as the courtroom. His private library comprises six thousand volumes, and for many years he has been a close student of Shakespeare. Among those of his lectures which have attracted the most profound and widespread attention are "The Men of Shakespeare," "The Women of Shake- speare," and "Shakespeare's Religion." His lectures on Owen Meredith and George Eliot are scarcely less remarkable. It might naturally be supposed that, in describing character, Judge Light would excel chiefly in portraying the nature of men, but those who have read or listened to his lectures can testify to his analysis of the feminine nature as equalling if not surpassing his interpretation of the masculine. His lecture on "The Women of Shakespeare" is held by good judges as exceptionally fine. Judge Light has made a number of lecture tours.
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