USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 36
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(I) Ozias Goodwin, from whom Moseley W. Mix is de- scended, was born in 1596 and died in 1683. It is not known just when he came to New England, but he was a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1639. He was one of those who agreed to remove to Hatfield, although he did not go himself. He mar- ried Mary Woodward, daughter of Robert Woodward, of Brain- tree, Massachusetts.
(II) William Goodwin, son of Ozias and Mary (Woodward) Goodwin, was born about 1629, and died October 15, 1689. He was made freeman, May 21, 1657, and in 1662 served as chim- ney viewer.
(III) Nathaniel Goodwin, son of William Goodwin, was a shoemaker by trade. He was a deacon of the first church of Hartford in March, 1734. He held this office until his death, in November, 1747. He married Mehetable Porter, born Septem- ber 15, 1673, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Stanley) Por- ter, and she died February 6, 1726.
(IV) Isaac Goodwin, son of Nathaniel and Mehetable (Por- ter) Goodwin, was baptized November 10, 1695, and died August 15, 1766. He was grand juror in 1741, and selectman in 1742. He married (first) Hannah Morgan, born November 24, 1703, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Morgan.
(V) Anna Goodwin, daughter of Isaac and Hannah (Mor- gan) Goodwin, was baptized May 16, 1725, and died September 9, 1817. She married, in 1754, Ebenezer Mix.
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(VIII) Elisha Mix, only son of General Elisha and Amelia (Edmonds) Mix, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, Janu- ary 14, 1850, and now lives in Stamford, Connecticut, and St. Petersburg, Florida. He received his education in the public schools of Allegan, Michigan, after which he learned the trade of a machinist under his father. On May 3, 1873, he came to Connecticut, and entered the employ of the Eagle Lock Com- pany as a toolmaker, and one year later was promoted to super- intendent of the mail lock department, which position he held until the Bridgeport Lock Company was formed in November, 1874. He remained with the latter company until it was con- solidated with the Eagle Lock Company in 1877, when he re- turned to Terryville and was employed as a toolmaker with the old company until 1880. He then went with his father to Penn- sylvania and engaged in the lumber business, but subsequently became identified with the Arthurs Coal & Lumber Company, with which he remained until November, 1883, when he took a position with the Corbin Lock Company of New Britain, with which he was connected until October, 1891, when he came to Stamford and entered the employ of the Yale & Towne Manu- facturing Company. In 1897 he formed a partnership with Charles A. Erickson under the name of the C. A. Erickson Manu- facturing Company for the manufacture of small hardware and located in Bridgeport, Mr. Erickson being the active partner, while Mr. Mix was the silent partner. After a short time the name was changed to the Excelsior Hardware Company and in the spring of 1898, Mr. Erickson became dissatisfied with the progress of the business and turned over the management to Mr. Mix. In February, 1899, the plant was moved to Stamford and in 1910, it was incorporated under the name of the Excelsior Hardware Company, of which he is still president. He is a re- publican in his political views and is a member of the Congrega- tional church, of which he has served as deacon. His wife, Frances A. (Williams) Mix, was born in Terryville, Connecticut, March 4, 1851, and died in Stamford, July 16, 1916. She was a daughter of Cornelius and Caroline (Hooker) Williams, of Terryville. Her father, who was a clockmaker by trade, was a republican in politics and a Congregationalist in his religious faith. His wife was born in Rockyhill, Connecticut, and died at
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Terryville. She was a descendant of Thomas Hooker. On March 12, 1919, Elisha Mix married Mrs. Mary M. Forbes, of Plainwell, Michigan.
Moseley W. Mix received his education in the public schools of New Britain and Stamford and in April, 1893, entered the employ of the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, with which he remained until October, 1898, when he joined his father in the Excelsior Hardware Company. When the business was incorporated he was made vice president which office he now holds. He is practically the head of the business and in its man- agement has shown executive ability of a high order.
On May 7, 1902, in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Mix was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Layle, a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Griffen) Layle, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mix are the parents of a son, Earl L., who was born Febru- ary 23, 1903, and was graduated from the Stamford high school and also attended the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York. He married Miss Muriel Coleman, of Mechanics- ville, New York, June 13, 1925.
Mr. Mix has always supported the republican party and has shown an active interest in public affairs. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, F. & A. M .; Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M .; Washington Council, No. 6, R. & S. M .; Stamford Com- mandery, No. 12, K. T .; and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and is a past grand of Puritan Lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F. He is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce, and he and his wife are earnest members of the Congregational church. Be- cause of his probity, his upright character and his excellent per- sonal qualities he commands the uniform confidence and respect of all who know him.
REV. O. S. BEAUMISTER '
The work of spiritual uplift in Glenville has been materially furthered by the tireless efforts of the Rev. O. S. Beaumister, pastor of St. Paul's Roman Catholic church, and an earnest fol- lower of the faith he preaches. A native of Bridgeport, Connecti- cut, he was born January 13, 1884, and is a son of L. and
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Stephanie (Deiser) Beaumister. His early education was ac- quired in parochial and public schools of Bridgeport and in 1904 he was graduated from St. Thomas College in Hartford. Going abroad, he matriculated in the University of Tarnow, situated in Galicia, an Austrian province, and there pursued his studies for four years, becoming proficient in Polish and other languages.
On completing his course Father Beaumister returned to the United States and during 1908 attended St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. On July 31, 1909, in St. Joseph's cathedral in Hartford, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Beaven, D. D., of Springfield; and his first assignment was to St. Joseph's church in Willimantic, Connecti- cut. From there he was sent to St. Francis church in New Mil- ford and next to St. Andrew's church in Colchester, Connecticut. Later he returned to Willimantic as assistant rector of St. Joseph's church and remained there until the fall of 1924, when he was appointed pastor of St. Paul's Roman Catholic church in Glenville, a suburb of Greenwich. Father Beaumister has clearly demonstrated his efficiency in governing church affairs, and the parish has prospered under his able guidance. His whole heart is given to the work, and his powers and talents have been a tan- gible force for good in the community. Through his wise counsel and unselfish nature Father Beaumister has endeared himself to his parishioners, and his breadth of mind and Christian spirit have won for him the esteem and friendship of Glenville's citi- zens, irrespective of their religious affiliations.
The history of the parish dates from 1860, when a small frame church was erected in the borough of Greenwich, and the Cath- olics from the Glenville district attended services there. In Oc- tober, 1889, the Rev. Thomas Smith celebrated mass in Glenville in what was known as Broderick's hall. On January 20, 1900, a parish was established at East Port Chester, to which Glenville then became a mission and over which places the Rev. Thomas Finn was assigned as resident pastor. He recognized the urgent need of a church in Glenville, and in December, 1901, the land for its site was purchased from the American Felt Company. The corner-stone was laid June 1, 1902, and on October 19, 1902, the upper church was solemnly dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Michael Tierney, bishop of Hartford. The building itself is of Gothic
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design with clerestory and is forty-three by sixty-eight feet in dimensions. It has a seating capacity of about three hundred and seventy-five people. The windows are of opalescent glass with appropriate emblems and have been donated by different parishioners. There are three altars, also of Gothic design, and a spacious sanctuary, unusually large for the size of the building.
For several years both the East Port Chester and the Glen- ville churches were administered to by the Rev. Thomas Finn. As time passed his duties became more exacting and the Rev. J. J. Burke was appointed as his assistant. From 1902 until 1910 the church remained a mission to East Port Chester, and finally, in response to the urgent request of Father Finn, the Glenville mis- sion was taken from the East Port Chester parish and created a separate parish with the Rev. John J. Burke as the first resident pastor in Glenville. Through the courtesy of the officials of the American Felt Company of Glenville a large tract of land along- side the church was donated to the parish and thereon was erected a modern rectory. After fourteen years of conscientious labor and fine achievements for the material and spiritual good of the parish, Father Burke was assigned to a new field of labor in Thomaston, Connecticut.
His successor, the Rev. O. S. Beaumister, took charge of the parish September 18, 1924. Since his coming the work of improv- ing the church and properties has continued and although greatly diminished in numbers as compared to former days, the parish is still flourishing and in excellent condition. One of the first tasks assumed by the new pastor was the diminishing of the debt, which has been decreased several thousand dollars in the past three years. The land between the rectory and church has been de- veloped into an attractive "court-yard." To the rear of the rec- tory and church another large tract of land, donated by the American Felt Company in January, 1927, is now in process of development. The interior of the church building has been com- pletely renovated within the past year, and in the opinion of all who have seen it this is one of the most beautiful of the smaller churches in the diocese.
A new electrically propelled Estey organ has been installed, and St. Paul's choir, organized by the pastor, has gained consid- erable repute in this locality. The funds for the renovation of
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the church were raised during the year, and the splendid co- operation between pastor and people has enabled them to meet the obligations involved by this undertaking. While territorially one of the largest parishes in the diocese in numbers, St. Paul's is considered among the smaller parishes. And while comparatively the membership of the parish has dwindled considerably, the spirit and enthusiasm of the people have proven themselves be- yond all question by the generous response to the calls made upon them and the harmony and unity of feeling and activity that exists in every department of the parish work and in its various activities. After twenty-six years of "ups and downs," but ever advancing and progressing under the care and leadership of its zealous and devoted priests, St. Paul's parish may look back on a history full of achievements, honor and distinction. The story of the mustard seed has been reenacted many times in this field of religious endeavor, and it is not too much to say that the church has contributed a powerful share in this section of the town of Greenwich toward the fulfillment of its divine commission in bringing men and women nearer to God, and thus by making of them good and steadfast Christians has assured the community and the state of the finest type of citizens.
WALDO FAIRFIELD DESMOND, M. D.
After thorough college training and the preliminary experi- ence which comes through serving as an interne, Dr. Waldo Fair- field Desmond opened an office in Newtown, where he has since engaged in active medical practice. He was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, July 24, 1898, and is a son of Ralph O. Desmond, a native of Danbury, Connecticut, whose parents were Ralph and Mary (Fairfield) Desmond, the latter a direct descendant of John Fairfield, one of the soldiers of the Revolutionary war.
Dr. Desmond was in his infancy at the time of the removal of his parents from the old Bay state to New Haven, Connecticut, where he acquired a public school education, being graduated from the Roger Sherman grammar school in 1912 and from the New Haven high school with the class of 1916. He afterward attended the Valparaiso University of Indiana in 1916 and 1917
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and in the fall of the latter year enrolled as a student in the University of Michigan, where he continued until 1921, with summer courses at Harvard University. He was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1921, with the Bachelor of Arts degree, after which he matriculated in the School of Medicine of Yale University and gained his M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1925. He put his theoretical training to the practical test in service as an interne in the Louisville (Ky.) City Hospital, after which he went to Camp Norwich at Huntington, Massachu- setts, for special work, there remaining for ten weeks. On the 10th of December, 1926, he came to Newtown, where he opened an office and has since continued in practice, his patronage steadily growing.
During the World war period Dr. Desmond attended the offic- ers' training camp at Camp Grant, Illinois. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M., of New- town. He belongs to Alpha Kappa Kappa fraternity at Yale and to the alumni medical association of Yale University, and he has membership in the Fairfield County, Connecticut State and and American Medical Associations, thus keeping in touch with the advanced thought and purposes of the profession. He is thor- oughly familiar with modern methods and his professional service is showing excellent results.
FRANCIS ELIJAH BEACH
Liberally endowed with the qualities of enterprise and deter- mination, Francis Elijah Beach belongs to that class of men who constitute the strength of a progressive and prosperous commu- nity. Trained on a farm by an able and industrious father, he brought to the mercantile business all of the attributes that go to make the foundation of success, and he built so carefully and well that by the time he reached middle life he not alone found himself one of the leading merchants but so interested in the development of Bridgeport and vicinity that he was classed by many as a private banker and capitalist.
Perhaps the crowning event in his business career was his work in connection with the development of a centrally located
FRANCIS E. BEACH
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piece of real estate, which had been an eyesore for a number of years because of the motley array of structures that occupied it. Without hesitation, once a plan was settled upon, he razed the half dozen or more old buildings and at a cost of one million, six hundred thousand dollars brought into existence the tallest build- ing in the city-one hundred and fifty feet high, containing twenty-three stores and a two hundred room hotel of fifteen floors. Building through the center of the property he relieved the city's congested shopping center by the opening of an arcade street which added four hundred and seventy-two front feet of store frontage to the business district. To manage the opera- tion of this large property Mr. Beach brought into existence the Beach Hotel Corporation, of which he became president. For management of the hotel proper he secured the services of Bow- man Management, Inc., and made the hostelry a part of a large chain operated under the direction of John McEntee Bowman, one of the outstanding hotel men of the country.
A native of Trumbull, Connecticut, Francis E. Beach was born November 14, 1869, and represents the eighth generation in this country, a descendant of John Beach, who came to Strat- ford, Connecticut, in 1639. The town of Trumbull was set off from the Stratford settlement, and Deacon Ephraim Beach built a home there. Ephraim, one of five brothers, was the grand- father of Francis Elijah. Samuel Baldwin Beach, father of Francis E., was also a native of Trumbull. In his maternal line Francis traces his lineage to Cantain Robert Seeley, who laid out the town of Westersfield, Connecticut, and was one of the found- ers of New Haven colony, of which he was marshal in 1639, 1640 and 1641. He was a power in the development of the colony and passed away in October, 1667. His descendant, Augusta Jo- sephine Seeley, who married Samuel Baldwin Beach, was a daugh- ter of Ezra Banks and Eunice (Sherwood) Seeley. Samuel B. Beach died July 23, 1901, and his wife passed away January 9, 1913. Their son, Samuel Wells Beach, passed away November 21, 1926, and their daughter, Mary Augusta, died April 7, 1914.
Francis E. Beach, surviving son, married Miss Anna Ger- trude Bassett, and their son, Francis Seeley Beach, was born May 2, 1928. Bridgeport's future merchant and capitalist was reared on the Trumbull hills overlooking the city that was to be the scene of his many years of business life. From the windows
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of the Chestnut Hill district school he could look away to the south and see the chimneys and spires of the community where as a man he was to rear the tallest structure. Leaving the coun- try school he was sent to Coleman Business College at Newark, New Jersey, graduating in 1888. He next became a bookkeeper for the Silver Plate Cutlery Company at Shelton, Connecticut, and later a salesman for The Lee Brothers Furniture Company at Bridgeport, Connecticut. But the desire to do business on his own account soon found him associated with his cousin, John T. Sterling, in the crockery business. In 1892 they incorporated the Sterling Brothers Company, of which Mr. Beach was elected treasurer. The business was located at 962 Main street. In 1899 Mr. Beach acquired the business and conducted it under his own name. As the times changed and brought new conditions he developed the crockery store into a general merchandise store and became an importer in many lines. In one line, that of toys, he is said to have excelled every other dealer in New Eng- land for all the year round business. In fireworks and season- able holiday goods he captured the trade in large volume and held it for many years. While his retail business developed it did not interfere with the financial and brokerage business which Mr. Beach was called upon to perform, so numerous were the calls upon him for his judgment and financial aid in the develop- ment and expansion of the city's real estate projects. In 1929 Mr. Beach's various lines of trade became so large that he sepa- rated it into two divisions, one at 1279 Main street to be the headquarters in distribution of radio instruments and supplies, of which he was distributor for a number of the largest manu- facturers in the country; and the other for toys and sporting goods at 17 Post-Office Arcade. Mr. Beach is a member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce.
JAMES O. MCCUE
Concentrating his attention upon mechanical pursuits, James O. McCue has made his opportunities count for the utmost, and his life record is a story of continuous progress that has placed him with the men who control the operations of the Stamford
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Rolling Mills, one of the city's chief industries. He was born August 3, 1889, in Edinburgh, Scotland, of which city his father, James McCue, was also a native. The grandfather, Frank McCue, was a native of Scotland and became a well known paper manufacturer of Edinburgh, in which he retained his home until his demise. His wife, Kate (Gordon) McCue, was a native of Ireland and also died in Edinburgh. James McCue successfully conducted the business founded by his father and always resided in Edinburgh, where his widow, Mrs. Helen (Orr) McCue, is still living. Her parents, William and Euphemia (Messer) McCue, were lifelong residents of Edinburgh, and the father con- tributed toward the city's upbuilding through his skill as a car- penter.
James O. McCue attended the public schools of his native city and received his higher education in the Heriot Watt College of Edinburgh, graduating with the class of 1908. He chose the career of a mechanical engineer and was employed in the West End Engine Works of Edinburgh for five years. In 1913 he sev- ered home ties and sought the opportunities of the United States. His first position was that of foreman in the plant of the General Electric Company at Schenectady, New York, and from there he went to Detroit, Michigan, as foreman for the Maxwell Motor Company. He was next connected with the superintendent's office of the Ford Motor Company of Detroit and remained with that corporation until April, 1925, when he became general man- ager of the Stamford Rolling Mills. On the 1st of January, 1928, he was elected to the office of vice president and still continues as general manager. He closely supervises every detail of the work and maintains a high standard of efficiency in the conduct of the industry, which is rapidly expanding under his expert manage- ment. The plant is located in Springdale and its output includes copper, brass, bronze and nickel-silver strip, which is sold all over the United States.
Mr. McCue was married November 16, 1912, in Detroit, Mich- igan, to Miss Ruth B. Silliman, who was born in Three Rivers, that state. She was graduated from the high school at Three Rivers and also completed a course in the Ferris Institute, spe- cializing in shorthand. Her father, Adolphus Silliman, was also a native of Three Rivers and devoted his attention to accounting
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and auditing. The latter part of his life was spent in Seattle, Washington, but his wife, Rosalind (Velda) Silliman, passed away in Three Rivers, her native town. Mr. Silliman was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church and gave his political sup- port to the democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. McCue have a son, James O., Jr., who was born December 26, 1918, in Detroit and is a public school pupil.
During the World war Mr. McCue promoted the sale of Lib- erty bonds, and both he and his wife were active in the Red Cross drives. She is one of the Daughters of the American Revolution and adheres to the Methodist Episcopal faith, in which she was reared. Mr. McCue is a member of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, the local Yacht Club, the High Ridge Country Club and the New York Athletic Club. In politics he is nonpartisan, voting for the candidate whom he considers best qualified for office, and he lends the weight of his support to all worthy public projects. He resides on Van Rensselaer avenue in Stamford and is highly esteemed by his business associates and those whom he has met in social connections. A young man of marked ability and strength of character, Mr. McCue has made his own way in the world and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished.
4/9/99
HAROLD LEWIS NASH, M. E.
One of South Norwalk's best known citizens is Harold Lewis Nash, secretary of the Nash Engineering Company, one of Fair- field county's leading business concerns. He is not only emin- ently successful in his business affairs, but is equally efficient in civic matters, being particularly interested in boy welfare work, in which he has taken a conspicuous part. Mr. Nash was born in South Norwalk in 1892 and is a son of Lewis Hallock and Anna (Archer) Nash. Extended mention of the father, who died in November, 1923, may be found on another page of this work.
Harold L. Nash received his early education in the public schools of South Norwalk and from 1902 to 1912 resided in Brooklyn, New York. During this period he continued his edu- cation, attending the Polytechnic Preparatory School of Brook- lyn, and in 1910 entered Stevens Institute of Technology, in which
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he remained until 1914, when he graduated with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. He returned to Norwalk and became asso- ciated with his father in the Nash Engineering Company. He served as a draftsman and pattern maker, eventually becoming chief draftsman and then designing engineer. In 1921 he was made secretary of the Nash Engineering Company, which posi- tion he still fills. He is devoting his attention closely to the inter- ests of the business, for which his practical technical training well qualifies him, and is one of the important factors in the pres- ent successful operation of the enterprise.
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