USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 5
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On the 13th of October, 1906, Judge Lockwood was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Bell, daughter of Harry and Olive E. (Barber) Bell, of Stamford. Harry Bell, who was born in Stam- ford, Connecticut, March 18, 1851, passed away here on the 11th of March, 1921. He had been active in the field of finance as president of the First National Bank of Stamford and was suc- cessfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He gave his political support to the republican party and was an active worker in its local ranks. His wife, born in Brooklyn, New York, June 7, 1852, survives him and makes her home in Stamford, Connecticut. Judge and Mrs. Lockwood are the par- ents of two sons and a daughter. Charles Davenport Lockwood, Jr., the eldest of the family, was born December 22, 1907, and is associated with The Lockwood & Palmer Company of Stamford, which was founded by his grandfather, the late Henry Lock- wood. Charles D. Lockwood, Jr., married Miss Elizabeth R. Lewis of Stamford on June 27, 1928. The other two children of Judge Lockwood are: Walter Bell, born February 14, 1911; and Barbara Elizabeth, whose natal day was July 3, 1918.
Politically Judge Lockwood is an active democrat. In 1913 he was representative from Stamford in the lower house of the general assembly and five years later, in 1918, was a candidate for lieutenant governor. He was an able and efficient legislator and served on the committee on incorporations. He was one of the four delegates-at-large sent from Connecticut to the demo- cratic national convention in St. Louis in 1916, and to the con- vention in San Francisco in 1920. Moreover, he served as chair- man of the local exemption board of the city of Stamford and as a member of the state protection committee under the State Coun- cil of Defense. He was one of the Four-Minute speakers during the World war and for several years was judge advocate of the Second Company of the Governor's Foot Guard of New Haven.
Judge Lockwood is a writer of ability, his excellent literary style being shown in his contributions to the Vicennial Record. His name is on the membership rolls of the University and Yale Clubs of New York, the Woodway Country Club, the Tokeneke Club of Darien, of which he is a director, the Stamford Yacht Club, the Suburban Club of Stamford, the Ox Ridge Hunt Club, Moreys in New Haven, of which he is a life member, the Sea View Golf Club of New Jersey and the Nictau Fish and Game Club of
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New Brunswick, Canada. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Presbyterian church of Stamford, while his wife and two sons belong to St. John's Episcopal church. A beautiful memorial window, known as the Davenport window, has been placed in the First Congregational church by Judge Charles D. Lockwood and other members of the Davenport family in memory of Rev. John Davenport, third pastor of the church, and in memory of the Davenport family.
THE FERGUSON LIBRARY
By a unanimous vote at the first meeting of the incorporators, The Ferguson Library was named for John Day Ferguson, who was for many years the leading member of the board of school visitors and who was widely known and honored for his devotion to education.
However, previous to the establishment of the present founda- tion, the library idea had taken root in the community. Dr. Wil- liam Tatlock, rector of St. John's parish, established in the parish house a circulating library, which in October, 1875, was moved to the second floor of the Seely block, on Main street. The name was changed from the Church Reading Room to Social Reading Room. It was expected that the library would be self-sustaining from membership receipts but private contributions were neces- sary. In April, 1878, in the hope that in a more favorable location the library would prosper, the rooms of the Union Club on the corner of Atlantic and Main streets were rented and hand- somely furnished. But neither the new home nor the moderate membership fee of four dollars and a quarter a year attracted a sufficient number to place the library on a self-supporting basis, and in March, 1879, H. R. Towne, who had been a chief con- tributor, withdrew his support and the rooms were closed.
That many were interested in a library for Stamford became apparent when it was learned that John Day Ferguson had left a bequest of ten thousand dollars to aid in the establishment of a public library on the condition that his fellow townsfolk con- tribute twenty-five thousand dollars prior to February 15, 1880. At the request of executors under the will of John Day Ferguson,
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Messrs. Calvin C. Child, Alden P. Beals, Oliver Hoyt, J. Smith Dodge, James B. Williams and Thomas G. Ritch consented to act with Walton Ferguson in carrying out that provision of the will referring to a public library. The required sum having been raised within the limit of time specified by the terms of the will, the incorporation of the library was approved March 12, 1880, and a charter was granted by the legislature.
The question of location proved a difficult one to solve. In July, 1880, the trustees rented the lower floor of Dr. Payne's building on Atlantic street, now occupied by Kellogg's toy store, and the rooms were suitably furnished. Andrew W. Paradise was appointed librarian and on January 5, 1882, the library opened its doors. During the fourteen years of his service the library became a firmly established institution in the life of Stam- ford. It continued to receive many desirable gifts. Mrs. William S. Campbell donated bound volumes of the Advocate for the years 1861-67, thus insuring the library a complete history of Stamford during the Civil war. Mrs. Richardson left a bequest of about twenty-two thousand dollars to the library, with an added clause in her will to the effect that when all the bequests were carried out or lapsed, the residue was to go to The Ferguson Library to establish The Richardson Alcove. On the death of Mrs. Gage her property on Main street came to the library. This was sold for seven thousand dollars. The library also received a gift of ten thousand dollars from John Classon.
In 1889 the Geib property south of the Advocate building on Atlantic street was purchased for eighteen thousand, five hun- dred dollars. Additions and repairs were made and in December, 1889, the library was opened in its new quarters, where it was housed as conveniently and luxuriously as any similar institution in the state. At that time the library consisted of about six thou- sand volumes and circulated between thirteen and fourteen thou- sand books a year. A new feature was the issuing of free cards to the clergy and to the teachers, who were allowed two and three books on a card, while paid subscribers were allowed but one book at a time. The average number of subscribers during the first ten years was three hundred.
Owing to failing health, Mr. Paradise resigned October 23, 1895, and Miss Elizabeth Van Hoevenberg, the next librarian,
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served from May 1, 1896, until the fall of 1907, a period of eleven years, during which the activities of the library constantly increased.
Following the announcement of a gift of one thousand dollars in 1899 by John W. Hendrie, the directors voted to reduce the annual subscription to one dollar a year. Whereupon Mr. Hendrie offered another thousand on condition that eight thousand dollars more be raised and the library be made free. After careful con- sideration the directors decided that it would be impossible to do this on so small an additional endowment. It was also felt that the cramped quarters would not be adequate if the public were freely admitted. For some time the demand for free cir- culation of books had been growing, but it was not until February, 1909, that this system became effective. Owing to the untiring efforts of the treasurer, Schuyler Merritt, and other members of the board of library directors, an agreement was entered into with the city whereby the library was made free and the city appropriated five thousand dollars a year for running expenses.
This movement proved so popular that the directors of the library felt justified in taking a further step and agreed with the city that Stamford should buy a lot and assume in the future the entire expenses of the library, while the directors of the library should use their endowment funds for the construction of a suit- able modern building. Accordingly a bill was passed by the legis- lature authorizing such action on the part of the city, and provid- ing that the city should share in the management of the library by the appointment of five trustees to form with the existing board a single administrative body.
The cornerstone of the building now occupied was laid Octo- ber 27, 1910. The principal addresses were made by Dr. J. Smith Dodge on the part of the trustees and by Mayor Edward Tupper on behalf of the city. The Advocate of September 4, 1911, com- mented as follows on the opening of the library on the preceding day: "It is probable that no library building of its size in the country is more attractive, better lighted, or has superior appoint- ments," a statement which still holds true today.
As was anticipated, the activities of the library developed rapidly under these auspicious conditions. For the first time there was a special room for the children. A story hour on Fri-
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day afternoons was instituted and has been an unqualified suc- cess. So far beyond all expectations did the work with the chil- dren grow that it is now carried on not only through the library but also through the schools and far exceeds the work done in many cities larger than Stamford. The library cooperated with the Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company in placing a trained librarian in the factory library. In a short time the question of the value of the work had been so emphatically answered in the affirmative that the factory assumed the entire charge of the work. A like result was obtained when the directors of The Fer- guson Library cooperated with the superintendent of schools and placed a trained librarian in the high school library, which has now become an integral part of the high school system. During the World war the library solicited and sent to the receiving sta- tions for the army and navy departments several thousand books and magazines for the men overseas, on the seas and in camp. In response to requests from the food administration, pamphlets and leaflets on food conservation, home gardens, canning and dry- ing of fruits and vegetables were widely distributed. The Fer- guson Library now has small collections in a half dozen languages and has all the best books published to help foreigners learn the language, history and laws of the country. The periodicals in the reading room have kept pace with the best of the new publications.
Nearly forty years after the original bequest by John Day Ferguson the library received a similar sum in the legacy of his sister, Sarah M. Ferguson, and in 1921 the library received five thousand dollars from the will of another sister, Elizabeth Fer- guson. From the will of Lillian Stokes Gillespie, the library acquired possession of many standard sets, handsomely bound and tooled.
Thus it was that the seed of library service, sown in the early days when Stamford was a small town, grew at first slowly until through the bequests and gifts of public-spirited citizens it gained sufficient strength to become partly free and partly subscription ; and finally, having been made entirely free and the full responsi- bility of its support having been accepted by the city, it has kept pace with the ever developing community of which it is a part.
The officers of the library are: Schuyler Merritt, president;
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Frederick C. Taylor, vice president; John E. Keeler, secretary; and Walter D. Daskam, treasurer. The board of trustees is com- posed of Homer S. Cummings, Walter D. Daskam, Miss Helen G. Ferguson, Dr. Dean Foster, Dr. F. H. Getman, Raymond E. Hackett, Judge John E. Keeler, Frederick S. Taylor and Schuyler Merritt.
GAZA HENRY MIKA
A brilliant scholar, Gaza Henry Mika has amply justified the promise of his student days and is now regarded as one of Bridgeport's leading attorneys, while he also has to his credit a fine military record. A native of Czecho-Slovakia, he was born November 4, 1891, a son of Vaclav and Anna Mika, also natives of that country, in which the father always resided. He was the overseer of a large estate and is survived by the mother.
In 1902, when a boy of eleven, Gaza H. Mika crossed the Atlantic in company with his older brother, who had previously made the voyage to America, becoming a student at Oberlin Col- lege and a graduate of Oberlin Seminary. Gaza H. Mika acquired his first knowledge of the English language in the public schools of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and was next a pupil in the high school at Berwick, that state. In 1911 he won a scholarship in the Normal School at California, Pennsylvania, and then matricu- lated in Yale University, which conferred upon him the A. B. degree in 1915. He worked his way through the Yale Law School and was graduated with the class of 1917. On June 19, 1917, he was admitted to the bar of New Haven county and then spent about a year promoting the Czecho-Slovakian revolutionary movement which resulted in the dissolution of Austria-Hungary and the establishment of a republic. On October 5, 1918, he was appointed a captain in the United States army, being attached to the general staff and serving in France.
Captain Mika rendered valuable service to the government in that connection, never faltering in the performance of duty, and was honorably discharged April 19, 1919. In November, 1921, he opened an office in Bridgeport and has established a large and lucrative practice in the intervening period. He is thoroughly
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familiar with the fundamental principles of the law and his argu- ments are lucid, cogent and always to the point.
Captain Mika was married November 17, 1923, to Miss Bertha O. Bushko, of Olyphant, Pennsylvania, and they now have two children: Christine, who was born December 25, 1924; and Gaza H. Jr., born July 26, 1926. They reside at No. 1729 Noble avenue and Captain Mika's office is at No. 1188 Main street. He belongs to the American Legion, the local lodge of Elks, Alpha Sigma Phi, a college fraternity, and the Fairfield County and Connecticut State Bar Associations. Much of his leisure time is spent in the open and golf affords him needed relaxation and diversion. He is a leader of the Czecho-Slovak colony of Bridge- port and a young man of patriotic spirit and high character. His education was self-acquired and the qualities to which he owes his success have won for him a secure place in public esteem.
3 SANFORD STODDARD
Citizenship to Sanford Stoddard is no mere idle term. It means loyalty in public service and the utilization of every oppor- tunity to promote the general good. A native of Bridgeport, he was born October 11, 1877, and is a son of Goodwin and Julia Elizabeth (Sanford) Stoddard, who were also natives of Bridge- port, where the father successfully engaged in the practice of law for many years.
Sanford Stoddard enjoyed the educational opportunities afforded in private schools of Bridgeport and in St. Paul's School at Concord, New Hampshire, after which he entered Yale Uni- versity and was graduated in 1899 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He afterward spent two years as a student in the Har- vard Law School and was admitted to the bar on the 7th of Janu- ary, 1903, after which he began the practice of his profession in Bridgeport in the firm of Stoddard, Bishop & Haviland, now the firm of Marsh, Stoddard & Day. He belongs to the Connecticut Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the International Law Association and is an associate member of the Bar Associa- tion of the City of New York. He is chairman of the grievance committee of the Fairfield county bar. He is a director of the
SANFORD STODDARD
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Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Company of Torrington, Con- necticut, the Wheeler Company, of which he is secretary, the Stratfield Hotel Company, of which he is secretary, a director and the president of the University Club Company, and assistant sec- retary of the Atlantic Coast Line Company of Connecticut.
On the 30th of June, 1903, Mr. Stoddard was married to Miss Hannah Gould Johnson, of Hudson, New York, and they have three sons: Johnson, born September 25, 1904; Goodwin, De- cember 23, 1907; and David Gould, October 21, 1912.
Mr. Stoddard has always been interested in outdoor sports and while at college was captain of the Yale hockey team and has always been interested in hockey and in skating. He is now a member of the graduate committee on hockey at Yale and was state champion in squash for a time. He likewise finds recrea- tion in golf and his social nature is expressed in his membership connection with the University Club of Bridgeport, the Brook- lawn Country Club, the Contemporary Club, the Country Club of Fairfield, the Pequot Yacht Club and the Yale Club of New York. Personal interests and business activities, however, have never been allowed to monopolize his time and attention to the exclusion of public duties and responsibilities, and in 1927 he accepted the presidency of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, to which he was reelected in 1928. He is likewise a member of the park board of Bridgeport, was a former member of the police board, is a director of the Connecticut Reformatory and was formerly president of the Connecticut branch of the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association. He was chairman of Draft Board No. 3 in the war service and presided over the weekly meetings of the six Bridgeport draft boards and had charge of registration in September, 1918.
EDWARD EVERETT ROWELL, M. D.
A notable example of a well spent life is afforded by the career of Dr. Edward E. Rowell, who is one of Stamford's beloved physicians and dean of its medical fraternity. From boyhood he has been a tireless worker and, although seventy-five years of age, he is still active in his profession, of which he is a distinguished
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representative. Among his forbears were men and women whose deeds of valor are recorded on the pages of New England's early history, and in person, talents and achievements he is a worthy scion of his race.
The Doctor was born in West Concord, Vermont, October 28, 1853, a son of Frederick and Rosalind (Banfill) Rowell, and is of English lineage. Thomas Rowell, the American progenitor of the family, was one of the incorporators of Salisbury, Massachusetts, and in 1639, when the town was laid out, a tract of land was allotted to him. Dr. Rowell is a lineal descendant of Hannah Dus- tin, who was captured by Indians in 1697 but escaped shortly afterward by killing ten of her captors. Her story is familiar to every reader of the record of the Indian wars and the early settle- ment of New England. To her was accorded the distinction of being the only woman in this country honored by monuments erected by the people in memory of her heroism. One cenotaph stands at Haverhill, Massachusetts, and the other is located in Penacook, New Hampshire .. Samuel Rowell, the grandfather of Dr. Edward E. Rowell, was a successful farmer and trapper and one of the noted bear hunters of northern Vermont. By his wife, Bettie Rowell, he had a son, Frederick, who was born in Kirby, Vermont, June 11, 1823, and also followed agricultural pursuits. In early life he was a whig and later became a republican. He attained the age of seventy-six years, passing away December 9, 1899, in Whitefield, New Hampshire. His wife was born in Dal- ton, New Hampshire, December 15, 1827, and passed away in New York city, May 19, 1903, at the age of seventy-five years, being at that time a resident of Whitefield. Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, deceased, a sister of Frederick Rowell mentioned above, presented to the American people Carpenter's famous painting of Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation and this notable canvas now hangs in the capitol at Washington, D. C. For this act of generosity and in recognition and appreciation of her services in fitting out a hospital ship and sending it to New Orleans during an epidemic of yellow fever, she was granted the freedom of the floor of the United States senate, a privilege, so far as is known, held by no other person except a member of that body.
Dr. Rowell attended the public schools of Littleton, New Hamp-
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shire, until he reached the age of fifteen and for two years there- after was a clerk in a store in New York city. Going to Chicago, he was similarly employed for two years and after the disastrous fire of 1871 he journeyed westward to Colorado. For two years he filled the position of clerk in a Denver store and while engaged in that line of work in the east and west he was a pupil in night schools, thus furthering his education. In Lancaster, Massa- chusetts, he studied medicine under his brother, Dr. Charles E. Rowell, during the summer and in winter attended the New York Homeopathic College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1877. He then opened an office in Stamford, where his brother, Dr. Charles E. Rowell, located a year later, and in February, 1880, they formed a partnership which existed for about two years. Dr. Edward E. Rowell has continuously followed his profession in this city for a period of fifty-one years and in point of service is its oldest physician. In the early days his work was most arduous but he never failed to respond to the call of duty and willingly donated his services to those who were unable to pay. In the exer- cise of his beneficent calling he heeds neither nationality nor dis- tinctions of class and is welcomed wherever he goes, not only as a mitigator of bodily ills, but also as a true friend and counselor. A fine type of the old-time family physician, Dr. Rowell is genial, sympathetic, efficient and well poised and inspires hope, trust and confidence in his patients. He enjoys a large and remunerative practice. He is the only living director of the old Gas & Electric Company of Stamford.
Dr. Rowell has been twice married. His first marriage was with Miss Ellen Willard, by whom he had one son, Dr. Edward E. Rowell, Jr., who was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia and has practiced successfully in Green- wich, Connecticut, for several years. He was married in Stam- ford to Miss Ruth Thompson and they have a son, Henry Thomp- son, who was graduated from Yale University with the class of 1928. Dr. Edward E. Rowell, Sr., was married June 9, 1892, in Stamford, to Miss Adeline Merritt Skelding, who was graduated from Miss Low's School of Stamford and has always resided here. Her father, William F. Skelding, was a native of New York city and a son of Henry Knapp and Delia (Lockwood) Skelding, who passed away in Stamford. William F. Skelding became one of the leading business men of Stamford and remained in the city
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until his death in September, 1885. He was a member of St. John's Episcopal church and an adherent of the republican party. His wife, Amelia (Merritt) Skelding, was born in New York city and passed away in Stamford, April 12, 1914. To Dr. Edward E. and Adeline Merritt (Skelding) Rowell have been born three children. Dr. Rodney Wallace Rowell was graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical and Surgical College and is also a successful physician in Stamford. During the World war he served as a first lieutenant in the medical corps of the United States army and spent twelve months overseas. He married Miss Helen E. Newman, of Norwalk, Connecticut, and they reside in Norwalk. Dorothy Skelding, the second in order of birth, died in infancy. Doris, the youngest child, was graduated from the Foxcroft School at Middleburg, Virginia, and lives with her par- ents, who reside at No. 19 West North street. The Doctor's office is at No. 290 Atlantic street.
The family adhere to the Episcopalian faith and are affiliated with St. John's church in Stamford. Dr. Rowell is allied with the republican party and during the early days served at various periods as a councilman of Stamford, to which office he was seven times elected, manifesting his public spirit by effective efforts for the general welfare. Formerly he was identified with the Stam- ford Yacht Club and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was one of the charter members of the Patriarchs Militant and belongs to the Oxridge Riding Club of Noroton, with which Mrs. Rowell is also connected. She is likewise a member of the Wood- way Country Club, the Stamford Yacht Club, the Woman's Club, the Schubert Club and the Symphony Society of Stamford.
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