History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 105

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He died in Derby, Jan. 20, 1857, aged nincty-one, and with his two wives, only son, and eldest daughter lies buricd at White Hills. He was married to Mary Judson, Jan. 5, 1786, and to Amy Tomlinson, Oct. 26, 1823. His children were : Hcpsey, born Nov. 17, 1786, died Jan. 18, 1865; Polly, born Aug. 27, 1789, died May 31, 1871 ; Delilah, born Jan. 1, 1791, died February, 1876; Maria, born March 13, 1794, still living, 1880; Laura, born Sept. 29, 1796, dicd Jan. 27, 1865; Edmund, born Dec. 8, 1801, drowned in Ousatonic River, June 13, 1823.

GENEALOGY.

Edmund Leavenworth was the son of Capt. Edmund Leavenworth, the son of Dr. Thomas Leavenworthi, son of Dr. Thomas Leavenworth. The last-named is the progenitor of all the Leavenworth families in the United States.

HENRY GLOVER.

Henry Glover, youngest son of Simeon Glover, of Newtown, Conn., was born Nov. 19, 1816.

In carly life he served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, after which he studied for the min- istry. On account of the weakness of his voiee, whieli broke down under the effort to preach, Mr. Glover abandoned the idea of preaeling and turned his at- tention to the school-room, following that profession for a number of years, teaching in Bridgeport and Westport. His health failing him in the school-room, he entered the stove business in Bridgeport about the year 1850. This he followed for seven years, remov- ing to Brookfield to engage in farming in 1856. There he lived for four years, when, having an oppor- tunity to sell to advantage, he did so and returned to Bridgeport, where he entered a foundry. Preferring farm life, however, for which he had a decided taste, he only remained in the foundry a year, when he pur- chased a farm in the town of Huntington, where he

lived for six years. Again meeting with a good offer, he sold this farm and bought one near the village of Huntington Centre, where he died Oct. 1, 1879, fall- ing dead from his chair from heart disease. His mother also died suddenly from the same cause.

In Huntington Mr. Glover engaged in the dairying and gardening business, making a success of it and gradually improving and beautifying his quiet coun- try homc.

In religious belief Mr. Glover was a Universalist, having joined that denomination when quite a young man. Forbidden to preach on aeeount of the weak- ness of his voice, he always took an active interest in church matters, and was an official of his church or- ganization at Bridgeport for many years. He was a man of sterling integrity, living strictly up to his Christian principles. In manners genial, by nature kind-hearted, he gained both the respeet and the es- teem of his neighbors and aequaintanees, and was called upon several times to fill offiecs of public trust.

In polities, Mr. Glover was a Republican from the first organization of that party, and was alive to all the questions of the day.

Mr. Glover was married March 20, 1838, to Henri- etta Smith, daughter of Henry A. Smith, a son of Fitch Smith, of Derby, Conn. The union was blessed by two children,-Henry Fordyce, born Dee. 2, 1842, and Theophilus Nichols, born Aug. 9, 1847.

Henry Fordyce Glover succeeds his father in the management of the farm and dairy, and is a man strong in nerve and body.

Theophilus Niehols Glover is a minister of the Uni- versalist faith, and fills the pulpit of that church at Dowagiac, Miehigan.

Simeon, father of Henry Glover, was married three times. His third wife, Mary Gregory, bore him four children,-Ivcs, Melora, Naney, and Henry. Simeon was the son of Henry. Henry had three sons,- Simeon, Elias, and Solomon. Henry was the son of Henry, who was the son of John Glover, who came to Newtown from Stratford.

REV. THOMAS PUNDERSON.#

The name and the pleasant face of one long since glorified will awaken many tender and endearing recollections in the minds of surviving friends in his former parishes, in the ministry, and in the church at large. "His reeord is on high." To those who knew him best, in the favored intimaey of home, no earthily record nor speaking likeness is needed to keep him ever elearly in sight. To those less favored in the intimaey of acquaintance, no better memorial can be offered than the following biographieal sketch, prepared for the New York Observer by the late Rev. Dr. Hewit, of Bridgeport, a neighboring pastor and a beloved friend.

* By the Rev. Rollin S. Stone.

425

HUNTINGTON.

" The late Rev. Thomas Punderson was born in New Haven, Conn., Dec. 28, 1783 ; a descendant of John Punderson, one of the original seven pillars of the First Church, then under the ministry of John Davenport; was gradnated at Yale College, Septem- ber, 1804; was licensed to preach the gospel in 1806; spent a part of the summer of 1807 on a mission to the northwest portion of the State of New York; was ordained to the work of the ministry in the Second Congregational Church and Society in Pitts- field, Mass., Oct. 26, 1809; was married to Miss Betsey Day, of Catskill, N. Y., May 4, 1813; was dismissed, in consequence of the reunion of the Second with the First Church, Feb. 26, 1817; was installed pastor of the church and society in Huntington, Conn., Nov. 18, 1818 ; was dismissed Jan 1, 1844, and died Aug. 1, 1848.

"Being a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, he attended the annual meeting in September last at Buffalo, and while on his way home he was taken ill of a bowel complaint, from the effects of which he did not re- cover. On Thursday morning last, July 27th, a stric- ture of the large intestines took place, followed by acnte pain, and terminating fatally on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 1, in the sixty-fifth year of his age and the thirty-ninth of his ministry, leaving a widow and four children (a son and three danghters, one of whom is married) to mourn their irreparable loss.

"He was aware of the severe and dangerons nature of his last illness, and when it was evident that his recovery was hopeless, he manifested the same calm and even temper which he exhibited through life. With the tenderness of a husband and a father, and with the faith, hope, and sublime tranquillity of a saint, he blessed his wife and children, one by one, in the name of the Lord; and when his failing voice had sunk to a scarcely audible whisper, he exclaimed, 'Grace, 'tis a charming sound ! Glory to God in the highest !' and expired.

. " The character of Mr. Punderson is more easily apprehended than it can be described. He was a transparent man,-' an Israelite indeed.' His piety, his integrity, his benignity, his humility, his disinter- estedness, his cheerfulness, his consistency,-indeed, all his qualities, as a man, a Christian, and a minister of the gospel,-were evident as the light. He walked with God. In his own house he was a pattern for our imitation in all that is amiable in domestic life, and his dwelling was the home of purity, comfort, and thankfulness. In the house of God he was a good minister. He was sound in the faith once delivered to the saints, and he preached the distinguishing doc- trines of grace with an unction which the love of the truth only can impart. He was not ambitious, neither was he covetons or envious. Patiently, mcekly, ear- nestly, constantly, he songht the present peace and future salvation of all the souls committed to his care. He loved his work, and he loved his people. 28

No one hath aught to lay to his charge; nor is there any one known who insinnated even that he was not an example to believers in every good word and work. Few ministers of the gospel, if, indeed, any there are, who may with more confidence than he exclaim, 'I am pure of the blood of all men.'

" His funeral was attended on Thursday, the 3d inst., by a large concourse of the inhabitants of the town, of all denominations, and from the towns ad- joining, and by his neighboring brethren. The deep solemnity of the people through all the services, from the dwelling-house to the church and from the church to the grave, gave impressive witness to the universal conviction that he was a inan of God, and that he had gone to receive from the lips of the Lord, whom he had served in his life and glorified in his death, the plandit, 'Well donc, thon good and faithful ser- vant ! enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'"

To the foregoing obituary sketch by Dr. Hewit, a member of Mr. Panderson's family adds the reminis- cence that in his missionary tonr in the State of New York in the summer of 1807, spoken of above, "he was accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Bennet Tyler," afterwards president of East Windsor Seminary, Conn., and that "he preached in Rochester when that place contained bnt one frame house, and the only building capable of accommodating a congregation was a barn, which was used on that occasion in lieu of a church."

The present writer recalls a temperance meeting which he had been invited to address in Mr. Punder- son's parish full fifty years ago, when a mere sopho- more himself, and how, at the close of his youthful and perhaps nseless effort, the beloved pastor came to his support with a rousing and most effective home- made and impromptu speech. He drew a striking comparison between the ravages of strong drink and those of beasts of prey let loose in a community and destroying many a precious life, while yet the people did not seem to be at all alarmed and did not bestir themselves to check the dreadful slaughter.

Near the close of his quarter-century pastorate in Huntington, when so many churches were wearying of their old pastors and longing after smart young men, he one day preached a mildly satirical sermon from the complaint of the Israelites in the wilderness, "Our soul loatheth this light bread" (Num. xxi. 5). If they did not see the quails falling round the camp that day, they were served with a dish of "strong meat" well flavored and prepared.

His long, quiet, uneventful life was yet full of telling points,-full of gentle humor and silent force,-not tame, dull, monotonous, at all; "not slothful in bnsi- ness : fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Years after liis decease, and at the grave of his noble wife, a venerable deacon said, in answer to the inquiry low the church had prospered since he left it, "We made a great mistake when we let Mr. Punderson go."

He belonged to a generation not at all inferior to

426

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

the present, but very unlike,-a generation of min- isters not adapted to the wants of our more bustling and aggressive age, but in their day and generation faithful and beloved, and whose praise was in all the churches of the land.

Having lost by death one daughter and an only son, and having survived her husband nearly twenty- eight years, Mrs. Punderson died in New Haven, April 30, 1876, and was buried in Huntington, by the side of her husband and among the friends of her youth. Two married daughters still survive her, -- Mrs. Emily P. Ritchie, of Brooklyn, and Mrs. Frances P. Gilbert, of New Haven.

JOHN I. HOWE,

the eldest son of William Howe and Mary Ireland, was born in the town of Ridgefield, Conn., July 20, 1793, and died in Birmingham, Conn., Sept. 10, 1876.

He remained at home, working on his father's farm in the summer and attending the district school in the winter, until the age of nineteen, when he com- menced the study of medicine with Dr. Perry, a physician of that town. He was graduated at the medical university of New York about the year 1814. He commenced the practice of his profession in the city of New York, and for several years was one of the resident physicians of the New York almshouse.

On the 15th of May, 1820, he was married to Cor- nelia A., daughter of George Ireland, of New York. He continued in the city until the year 1829, when he was compelled, by a severe illness, which seriously impaired his constitution, to abandon his profession and his residence, and removed to North Salem, N. Y. It was a most bitter disappointment to be obliged to resign a profession to which he was admirably adapted, and in which he had secured a very honorable posi- tion.

For two or three years before leaving New York he became engaged in experiments on India-rubber, with a view to its application for the purposes to which it has since been so successfully applied, and in 1828 he obtained a patent for rubber compounds. In his own words, "So far as I know, I was the first person who attempted to utilize rubber by combining other sub- stances with it, but I did not happen to stumble upon the right substance."

While engaged as a physician at the New York almshouse he had seen English pins made by the old manual process, and had heard of a machine hav- ing been invented for that purpose. During the winter of 1830-31 he employed himself in a series of experiments with a view to constructing a pin- machine, which resulted in a rude model. Acquiring in these efforts gradually the skill and experience in mechanical drawing upon which so much depends in perfecting the details of complicated mechanism, in the winter of 1831-32 he succeeded in building a machine at the establishment of Robert Hoe & Co.,

in New York, that was successful as a working model and would make pins, though in an imperfect way. This machine was patented in 1832, and in the same year it was exhibited at the fair of the American In- stitute, and attracted considerable attention. The Institute awarded him a silver medal " for a machine for making pins at one operation." In the winter of 1832, Dr. Howe began to construct a second machine, which was completed in the spring of 1833. For the purpose of securing patents in Europe he sailed for England in May, 1833, and reached London after a passage of thirty days, then considered short. Patents were secured in France, England, Scotland, and Ire- land during the year, and in January, 1834, Dr. Howe left London for Manchester, where he was en- gaged in building machines according to the princi- ples of his invention until the spring of 1835, when he returned to New York.

In December of that year the "Howe Manufactur- ing Company," named after its founder, was organ- ized for the purpose of manufacturing pins by means of Dr. Howe's machines, and he was appointed general agent of the company, and in that capacity had the management of its manufacturing department until 1863. The company, in 1836-37, built five machines for making what are called " spun-heads," which ma- chines were all altered into solid-headers, and were run successfully for a short time, when they were superseded by a new "rotary" machine, invented by Dr. Howe. The first rotary was completed in 1838, but the patent was not taken out until 1840. In 1842 the American Institute of New York awarded Dr. Howe a gold medal for the "best solid-headed pins," which were inade on this machine.

Previous to this-to wit, in April, 1838-the com- pany had removed their manufactory from New York to Birmingham, Conn., for its advantages in water- power. This removal compelled Dr. Howe to locate in Birmingham, where he continued to reside until his decease.

In 1842, Dr. Howe invented an important improve- ment in the operation of sticking pins in paper, which consisted in the construction and operation of" crimp- ing-bars." Dr. Howe's skill and devotion to the business compelled success. The early years of the business were years of struggle and toil. Skilled labor, appropriate tools, and perfect machinery were not at command as in these days. The language of the historian of Derby is well deserved: "Dr. Howe, with a persevering courage, contending against prejudice, inexperience, and poverty, knew no defeat, and must be placed at the head as the first practical and suc- cessful pin-manufacturer by means of automatic ma- chinery, however worthy may be his numerous prede- cessors and competitors, especially Slocum, Fowler, Atwood, and others;" as also that of Dr. J. L. Bishop in his " History of American Manufactures :" Dr. Howe was "the inventor of the first practical automatic pin-making machine," "and has contrib-

CHARLES HUBBELL,

the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Huntington, Fairfield Co., Conn., Jan. 5, 1817. Christopher Hubbell, his father, was a farmer of but moderate means, and gave to Charles little besides an ordinary education. Being a man of more than ordinary industry, who stood not back at small difficulties, he gradually accumulated a comfortable property, and gave to his children good educations. In the matter of education and schools he was ever interested, and the meeting of the district school board never found him an absentee. In disposition Mr. Hubbell was quiet and domestic, always finding some- thing to do on the farm. In politics an earnest Democrat, as were all his people, he gave the principles of that party. staunch support, but never entered into poli- tics as a debater or office- seeker. As a neighbor and a citizen he was a good man, ready at all times to face his duty and perform it to the very best of his ability.

On Sept. 10, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte A. Shelton, born Jan. 9, 1828. Charlotte A. was the daughter of Wm. Shelton, son of Jeremiah, the son of Daniel, who was the son of Thaddeus, son of Daniel Shelton. Daniel Shelton came from Deptford, Yorkshire, England, and settled at Long Hill, Huntington, about 1690.

Mrs. Hubbell's mother was Lucy Johnson,

CHAŞ HUBBELL.

daughter of Ebenezer Johnson, a tailor and farmer of Huntington.

Christopher Hubbell, father of Charles, was married twice. His first wife was Ann Wells, to whom he was married Dec. 23, 1802, and who died . May 18, 1814. By her he had three children,-John, born Oct. 27, 1803; Betsy Ann, born Nov.4, 1805; Maryette, born Dec. 6, 1807. John became a sea captain, and died in the West Indies,-it is sup- posed, of yellow fever. Betsy Ann married Mr. Blakeman, and died Nov. 22, 1835. Maryette mar- ried Mr. Webb Downs, of Monroe.

Sept. 14, 1815, Chris- topher Hubbell was mar- ried to his second wife, Melissa Tucker, who bore him three children, -Charles, born Jan. 5, 1817; Wells, born June 17, 1818; Jane Melissa, March 2, 1826.

Mr. Hubbell found in Charlotte Shelton a faith- ful helpmate, to whose industry he owed much, and to whose affectionate influence his children owe much. He died Aug. 31, 1878. His chil- dren are: Amanda M., born Nov. 1, 1850, married to Geo. P. Bidwell, Oct. 28, 1874; -Theresa J., born Oct. 11, 1854; Warren C., born March 22, 1860. Warren succeeds to the management of the farm. The only male repre- sentative of his branch of the family, he prom- ises to worthily follow his father's example of temperance and industry, and is justly held in esteem by the community.

F. G. PERRY.

M. B. PERRY.

FREDERICK G. AND MILES B. PERRY.

But a little more than one decade ago " the lowing herd roumed slowly o'er the lea" where now is heard the buzz and whir of machinery, the rattle of the busy loom, the heavy thud of the massive trip-hammer. The site of the present thriving and busy village of Shelton was " seeded down to grass, its soil undisturbed save by the farmer's plowshare."

Samuel Leavenworth Perry, son of Abner Perry and grandfather of F. G. and M. B. Perry, was born Feb. 18, 1762. Growing to manhood's estate he married Anna Davidson and located among the rugged hills of Huntington, opposite Birmingham, where the town of Shelton is now located. Undismayed by the rugged- ness of its aspect, he built the house now occupied by his grandsons on one of the most commanding building sites in the vicinity, and commenced the laborious task of felling timber and removing the stone. Dying Jan. 13, 1828, at the age of sixty-six, his son Garry continued the improvement of the estate, and by his energy and industry was enabled to make his family comfortable and prosperous. Garry Perry was born Sept. 13, 1792, and was married to Sallie Birdseye, of Stratford, Nov. 24, 1824. His wife lived not quite a year, dying Oct. 9, 1825. Mr. Perry remained a widower until Oct. 11, 1837, when he was married to Fanny Bennett, daughter of Isaac Bennett and Mary Johnson, of Easton. By this marriage he had two children, Frederick Garry, born Sept. 29, 1838, and Miles Bennett, born Oct. 6, 1840.

Mr. Perry was a man of delicate strength, industrious habits, and considerable force of character ; a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, taking an active part in church and school matters of his day. He died at the age of fifty, Sept. 8, 1842.

The early education of Frederick and Miles Perry was received at the schools in Birmingham, Frederick finishing his education at Franklin, N. Y., and Miles at the academy at Easton, Conn. They engaged in farming until 1873, when they entered the coal and wood business in Shelton, in which they are at present engaged.

Dealing with all alike, they have increased their business from the sale of one thousand tons of coal the first year to six thousand tons for 1879. The fact that these gentlemen live together, keeping no accounts with each other, but hold their property in common, fittingly illustrates their feelings towards cach other.

Frederick Perry was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Beach, Dec. 21, 1870. Miss Beach is a daughter of David M. and Emily Buckingham Beach, of Trum- bull. David M. Beach is son of Eli B. Beach, and he a son of Daniel Beach, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Frederick G. Perry has had two children, Jessie Bennett, born April 25, 1872, dying Aug. 22, 1872; and Emily Blakeman, born July 19, 1874. F. G. Perry served the town as representative during the session of 1878-79; also as selectman and town agent.

M. B. Perry has never taken part in public politics. Indeed, it can be said of both that they are disposed rather to quietly look after their own affairs than those of their neighbors or the general public. In politics both gentlemen are Republicans.

The children of Samuel L. Perry were Anna Maria, Charlotte, and Garry. Dr. John Tomlinson married Anna Maria, by whom he had one child, Samuel Perry ; and upon her death married Charlotte, by whom he bad two children, John B. and Anna Maria.

427

MONROE.

uted efficiently to the establishment of an important branch of Aincrican manufactures."

His life was essentially a home-life. To know him as he was it was essential to cuter that circle. He was a devourer of books, mostly scientific; but there were few subjects that eseaped his thoughtful investi- gation. A perseverance that would not turn aside from its object, that would not be baffled or thwarted, that eome what would his purpose must be accomplished, was his most characteristic trait. Diffidence baulked his publie utterance, but those who have read his wonderfully elear and readily understood deseriptions of complicated machinery know how thoroughly he was master of this accomplishment.

While a resident of Birmingham, Dr. Howe held many offiees of trust, and interested himself in all new business undertakings. Especially was he inter- ested in that great enterprise which resulted in the damming of the Ousatonie River, and contributed by his moral and material aid largely to its suceess.

In the war for the preservation of the Union he was responsive to every eall, and contributed fifteen hundred dollars to the families of soldiers who were at the front.

During the latter years of his life he alternated be- tween his books and his fruits; in the cultivation of the latter, and in the propagation of new species, he found genuine pleasure, leaving as a legacy more than fifty new kinds of pears. He died in his garden, under the branches of a favorite peaeh-tree, his basket partly filled with speeimens of fruits intended for ex- hibition at the International Exposition at Philadel- phia. Thus peacefully and alone he passed away, in the place where he had spent so many happy hours. It was on a beautiful Sunday morning in September. Life rounded and full was ripe for the gathering along with his fruits.

It is good to contemplate such a life, warm in its friendships, faithful in its relations, elcar in its eon- vietions, unbending in its integrity, winning the es- teem of the wise and the approbation of the good.

Dr. Howe's descendants at the time of his death were two grandsons and two granddaughters, the children of his only daughter, Mrs. William E. Downes.

CHAPTER XLI. MONROE.

Geographical-Topegraphical-Streams-Surface-Soil-Reminiscences of Monroe, by Rev. T. T. Waterman-Early Settlers-Their Locations -Incidents-Public and Select Schools-Initial Events-St. Peter's Church-Mineral Deposit-Civil History-Organization ef Town- First Tewn-Meeting-Officers Elected-Representatives to the General Assembly from 1824 to 1881.

THIS town lies in the eastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Newtown and the Housatonie River; on the east by the Housa-

tonic and the town of Huntington; on the south by Huntington and Trumbull; and on the west by Easton and Newtown. The surface of the town is generally uneven, and in some portions exceedingly rough. The soil is good and well adapted to grazing.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572