History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 111

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 111

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They had only two children of their own, and both are now deceased,-Amanda, born in 1844, died March,

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1879, leaving one little girl, Josie May Martin, to the care and affection of her grandparents ; Hannah, born in 1854, and died in 1860.

During the last thirty years of his life Mr. St. John has often been chosen to act as executor, ad- ministrator, assignee, or trustee of estates and guar- dian of minor children. Perhaps no man in the town has ever been intrusted with the care and cus- tody of other people's money to such an extent and such large amounts, and up to this day he has never failed at the proper time to account for every dollar of the millions thus confided to him.

Another feature of his business life in which he has great reason to congratulate himself is the fact that, while acting so prominently in a fiduciary capacity, and especially during the late war and just after, when so many had money to invest, and there were so many schemes to answer this great demand, some of which were worthy, and an innumerable number of unworthy ones, as was natural, his advice was often sought by men and women as to what or where they should in- vest their money. And he has the proud satisfaction of knowing that no person, and no estate of which he had charge of the investments, but that have already or can now realize one hundred cents on the dollar. And it was not because he was not thoroughly tempted, as thousands of other men were, constantly besieged and implored to take the agency of this, that, or the other thing, with large and tempting com- missions offered as the price of his advice and influ- ence. Happy man ! A million dollars would be poor pay for the blotting of such a record and memory as that.

On the temperance question Mr. St. John has been a "radical" from early boyhood, having signed the pledge when only fourteen years old; that was the "old pledge," which covered alcoholic beverages only. A year or two later, alone and by himself, without per- suasion or influence of any sort, never having heard a discussion or lecture on the subject, but simply read- ing an article in a newspaper that accidentally came into his hands, he resolved to abstain from everything that could intoxicate, and from that time until 1876, a period of over forty years, no intoxicating liquors passed his lips, and then only as he took other poisons, from the hands and by the advice of a trusty friend and physician. Forty-three years ago this summer he and and six other young men-all under or about twenty years of age-organized the New Canaan Young Men's Total Abstinence Society, and circu- lated the first pledge of that kind in the town, which has borne good fruit. And, what is a remarkable fact, six of those men are still living, one only having fallen from grace, who died several years ago.

During the winter of 1840-41 he was induced to attend and listen to a lecture on slavery. He went to the meeting with a strong prejudice against aboli- tion and abolition lecturers; but what he heard made a profound impression upon his mind, as it was well

calculated to do, the argument being principally moral and biblical. When leaving the house an intimate friend said to him, "What do you think of that?" meaning the lecture. The answer was, "I hardly know what to think, but it seems to be God's truth." "Well," said the friend, "what are you going to do about it ?" "I don't know ; try to do right. If I be- come convinced that slavery is contrary to right and justice and cannot be reconciled with the 'Golden Rule,' then I shall be an abolitionist. I must be !" And yet hoping, almost praying, that he might see his way clear to "do right" and yet not be obliged to be- come an abolitionist. It soon became known that he was on the anxious seat, and his friends became as anxious to save him from what they thought would be utter ruin and 'disgrace ; those that were real friends labored in season and out of season, kindly, calmly, and prayerfully ; pretended friends sneered and proph- esied and even threatened, and this only added fuel to the fire, for his was a nature that might be won, but could not be bullied or bribed. It is impossible in these days to comprehend or hardly believe the strife and struggles that the abolitionists of forty years ago had to endure and surmount. It produced alienation of long-time friends, broke up the affections and har- mony of churches and families. His experience was only that of thousands of others. Friends tried to persuade, dear relations, with blood-connected ties, begged and prayed that he would listen to reason and save himself and them from disgrace. Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth interfered with advice and remonstrance. And finally the culmination came one evening, when calling upon the one minister who of all others had his love, confidence, and veneration. When, with a kind and loving seriousness and prayer- ful earnestness befitting the attempt to "snatch a brand from the burning," his reverend friend (and he knew and felt it was a real friend) pictured and set before him, as only a master hand can do, the grand and glowing prospects that were opening before him as a young man, in business relations, in society, and in the church, everything almost that an intelligent, ambitious young man might be supposed to aspire to, was apparently almost ready to fall into his hands, the interview ended. Mr. St. John had expected to attend an anti-slavery meeting that evening and had stopped on his way. He was staggered for a while; he saw and felt the deep and sincere earnestness of his friend ; knew he was a good, esteemed, and earnest minister of the Gospel, and that he ought to know a great deal better about such a question of morals than himself; knew and admitted that many and most of the consequences so dreaded by his friends would come upon him, and yet he did not half know the consequences that would follow him as an open and avowed abolitionist, and well he did not, for he thought he had all he could bear. He passed out of his friend's door into the darkness of night with a heart full almost of agony and eyes raining tears

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down his face. As he went slowly down the street he reasoned with himself. Worldly case and ambition tempted him to give up and yield to the entreaties and try to believe that the slave was better off as he was than he would be to be a " free nigger." But a good spirit said, "How about the 'Golden Rule?' can a slaveholder be doing what, and as he would that, others should do unto him? and John Wesley says, 'Ameriean slavery is the sum of all villanies,' and I believe it ! I will be an abolitionist and accept the consequences. Thank God for this decision ! I know I am right." And from that moment there was never anything that could amount to a temptation to turn back. All that was prophesied came upon him, and more; but all the trials and difficulties were or- dained for good, as is promised to them that are faith- ful to God and humanity and a good eonseience, and now this chapter of his experienee in life is regarded aud cherished as the brightest, and erowded with pleasant memories.

Of course, as may be inferred, from the time of his conversion he voted as he prayed and talked and wrote. He aeted with the poor, despised "Liberty party" fanatics until the organization of the "Free Soil" party, then with them until the organization of the Republican party, whose grand and glorious mis- sion was to first stop the spread, then strangle, and finally, with flashing sabre and glittering bayonets and thundering cannon, in the hands of a million "Boys in Blue," stamp out for aye and cvermore the American system and "sum of all villanies." With this party he stood from the first, and stands to-day with " malice towards none and charity towards all."

In 1836 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he still worships. Creed and pro- fessions he regards much less than the every-day walk and conversation, and, while reverencing the Bible, he has no fears that it will be saerilegious to have the old onc revised and corrected, fully believing that we have as good and learned men as they had two hundred years or more ago, that are capable of revising it in the interests of truth, righteousness, and revelation. He has no anxiety either about what scienee has al- ready developed, or will develop, in reference to the truth of what is esteemed Bible teachings, for wherein truth is really found God will be found also, and He can be trusted to take care of His own.

From his earliest reeolleetions he has been fond of reading, and in his sixteenth year subscribed for Mr. Greeley's New Yorker, a weekly literary paper, which, he insists, he has never seen exeelled. He continued that until its publication was suspended. He has been a constant reader of the Tribune from its start, has taken the daily regularly for twenty-eight years, and considers himself under obligations to Horace Greeley for more and better sound common-sense in- struction in morality, social as well as political, than all other persons or sources combined. In addition to the popular magazines and other monthly issues, he

averages, besides the Daily Tribune, at least one weekly every day, Sunday included, and has one of the largest, if not the largest private library of miscellaneous books in the town.

His farm, which, when he came into possession, had been withont a proper head for seventeen years, and had become ahnost a waste, has been cleared up, drained and fenced, buildings renovated and added to, until it has become one of the best farms in the viciu- ity, and is now an unpretending but comfortable and delightful country home.

Ile was re-elected to the Legislature in 1880.

CALEB S. BENEDICT.

The Benedicts are of English descent, and came to this country at a very early day, settling in Norwalk, Conn.

The great-grandfather of Caleb S. Benedict, also named Caleb, was one of the earliest settlers of New Canaan. He died in 1761, at the age of fifty-two. An arm-chair used by him is in the possession of the family. James Benedict, one of his sons, died at the age of ninety-five. He was the founder of the shoe business in New Canaan. His youngest son, Caleb, was the first to begin the manufacture of peg shoes in that place, having bought the right to do so from parties in New York. His was a town-right, which permitted him to manufacture in New Canaan only. He from a small beginning manufactured quite extensively at last, probably to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars per annum. He was married at about the age of twenty to Miss Ellis, daughter of Hezekiah St. John, of New Canaan. There were fifteen children, of whom Caleb S. was the eldest son. He was born in New Canaan, Oct. 28, 1803, and was reared to the trade of his fathers, working in his father's establishment until his mar- riage, Nov. 9, 1826, to Miss Hannah E., eldest dangh- ter of Deaeon William and Polly (Mills) Crissey, of New Cauaan, when he engaged in business on his own account. The children of the last-recorded mar- riage have been eleven in number, of whom eight are living,-namely : Harriet E., now Mrs. H. D. Lock- wood, of Stamford; Mary J., now Mrs. William E. Husted ; Joseph I. ; Junius C. S., Jr. ; Polly M., now Mrs. George Kellogg, of Ocean Grove; Theodore W. ; and Henry G. The three deceased are Harriet E., William C., killed in battle of Murfreesboro', and Ed- ward S.

Three years since, Mr. and Mrs. Benedict celebrated their golden wedding, at which there were present ninety-nine guests, the major part of whom were their descendants.

The life of Mr. Benedict has been one of active business ; considerable of his time has been given to the interests of the public, having at various times held almost all of the town offices. In 1866 he was

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elected to the Legislature, representing his town agaiu in that body in 1872.

The manufacture of the establishment with which Mr. Benedict is connected does not exceed thirty thousand dollars per annum. Associated in business with him are several of his sons.

EBENEZER J. RICHARDS.

The Richards are of Welsh extraction, and trace their descent in this country from Samuel Richards, who was one of the original settlers in Norwalk, and who was great-grandfather to the subject of our sketch.

James Richards settled in New Canaan some years before the Revolution. One of his children, Jesse, youngest but one of a large family, was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Jesse and Lydia Hickok, of New Canaan. His children were six by his first wife; his second marriage was to Clarissa, daughter of Judge Ebenezer Lockwood, of Westchester, N. Y.

Ebenezer J. Richards was the only child of this second marriage, and was born April 3, 1816, in New Canaan. His opportunities for acquiring an educa- tion were such as are afforded by the common school, with one term at a higher institution of learning in New York City.

Possessing talents which would have enabled him to reach success in professional life, he has clung to the calling of his father, that of farmiug, from choice, believing that to be a business requiring quite as high order of talent to prosccute successfully as the learned professions. Mr. Richards enjoys the reputation of a successful farmer.

Ebenezer J. Richards was married somewhat late in life to Miss Julia M., youngest daughter of Han- ford and Mabcl (Fitch) Carter, of New Canaan.

Mr. Carter was a man of more than ordinary taleut and force of character, and represented his town a number of times in the Legislature, and was for many years onc of its selectmen.

E. J. Richards has filled many town offices, and in 1863 represented his town in the Legislature of his Statc.

WILLIAM EDGAR RAYMOND.

William Edgar Raymoud, third son of Samuel Ray- mond, was born in the city of New York in 1821. His grandfather, William Raymond, moved into the parish of Canaan about the year 1785, from Norwalk, settling on a small tract of land in the eastern part of the township, where he built a house in which he lived and died. He was a desccudant of one of three brothers who immigrated to this country from France in the early settlement of the colony of Connecticut. Two of the brothers, according to tradition, settled in New London, the third in Norwalk. William Ray- mond was a soldier iu the French-Canadian war, and

his discharge and reccipt are ou file in the comptrol- ler's office at Hartford. He came into the parish of Canaan a cripple, from wounds received in battle, and was comparatively a poor man, but he rcared quite a large family of children,-sons and daughters,-all of whom, with the exception of the youngest son, Samuel, went to other States and settled, and their numerous descendants have made honored names for themselves and families.

Samuel Raymond early saw his situation,-that his father's few acres of rough land would not give him a living,-and prevailed on his father to allow him to do something for himself. On the rocky farm of one Matthias St. John, young Samuel began the real battle of life, remaining with him until he was bound out to learn the trade of shoemaker. Mr. St. John after- wards married his oldest sister. At the age of twenty Samuel purchased his time and went to Walton, Del- aware Co., N. Y. Here he remained one year, and returned to his native town and commenced the man- ufacture of shoes, in which he was moderately suc- cessful.

In 1808 he was married to Polly, daughter of Jacob Selleck, a well-to-do farmer of New Canaan. Jacob Selleck became the purchaser of "the Shaker Farm" when that society sold out and removed to Lebanon, N. Y. It is now owned by the sons of the late Capt. Stephen Hoyt. The children of Samuel were Char- lotte, Charles, Thomas, and William E.

Samuel Raymond was a man prominent not only in his native town, but also in his county aud Statc. He was well versed in the laws of the State, some of which he drafted, while many were passed during his membership in the Legislature. He represented New Canaan in the Legislature thirteen years, with oue year in the Senate, and his influence was second to none. An extensive reader, retaining all he read, he could cope in debate with the ablest members of his day. A strong partisan, but not an extremist, he was thoroughly honest, and no party measure ever received his encouragement or support if in his view there was anything wrong in it. Party caucuses never succceded in whipping him into the traccs, and for his adherence to what he conceived to be the right, which was con- trary to the views of his party in a matter relating to the banks of the State, he was at one time "read out."

For many years previous to 1842 he had been en- gaged in the mercantile business. That year he was elected sheriff, and sold his business to his three sons. This business was in a short time bought by the two youngest sons, who remained together several years, and was finally bought by William E., who continued it down to 1857, when he sold out and went to Iowa, where he had a large interest in government lauds. He went West with the intention of engaging in banking, but, not liking the way they did business in that new State, in the autumn of the same year he returued to Connecticut.

In 1859 he was elected to the Legislature, and the

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same year he engaged in manufacturing, following it to 1875, when he retired. In 1873 he was elected State treasurer, faithfully and satisfactorily perform- ing the duties of that office for four successive years. The present four and a half per cent. bonded indebt- edness of the State was recommended in his last report to the General Assembly, and by its adoption many thousands of dollars have been saved to the tax- payers.

William E. Raymond has filled various offices of trust and responsibility. At present he is an active trustee of the New Canaan Railroad; is a bank director and an honorary member of the American Board.

Sanınel Raymond died in 1865, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-two, and is still well remembered.

RUSSELL L. HALL.

Russell L. Hall was born Ang. 18, 1832, in Warren, Litchfield Co., Conn., and is of Welsh descent. His early life was spent in laying the foundation of the cdu- cation which has enabled him to become the successful business man he is to-day. His education was both common school and academic. At the age of sixteen he began the trade of cabinet-maker, in Goshen, Litchfield Co. As an apprentice he worked for George S. Brewster for nearly five years, receiving as com- pensation twenty-five dollars first, with five dollars advance each year, receiving for the last year forty- five dollars.

In 1853 he came to New Caanan, the place of his present abode, and in the following spring embarked in business on his own account. His success has been nniform, and he stands to-day one of the prominent men of his adopted town.

Elnathan Hall, his great-grandfather, was a large landholder in the western part of Fairfield County at an early day, and just before the Revolution pur- chased a large tract of land in Vermont, which he divided among his children, some of whom went there to live. His youngest son, Elnathan L., moved to Fairfield County, where he learned the trades of tanner and shoemaker, which business, in connection with farming, he followed through life. His wife's name was Huldah Stone, of Danbury, and their children eight in number, all of whom are living, the youngest about sixty, the eldest nearly eighty.

Norman S. Hall, father of Russell, was a native of Litchfield County. His business was that of tanner, principally. His wife was Mary A., eldest danghter of Russell and - Hnrd Stone, of Kent. Their children were Russell L., Harriet E., Ezra S., Amelia Sophia (deceased), Mary J., Charles W., Laura I., and Lncy M. (deceased).

Russell L. Hall was married Dec. 24, 1857, to Miss Betsy A., eldest danghter of Reuben and Sarah (Sco- field) Jones, of New Canaan. Their children are Julia M. and Lewis C.

Mr. Hall has filled with satisfaction to his constitu- ents various offices of trust in his town. He has been treasurer of New Canaan Savings Bank for some time, and in 1878 he was elected president of First National Bank of New Canaan, having previously filled the office of vice-president of the institution for several years.

CAPT. STEPHEN HOYT.

Capt. Stephen Hoyt was born in New Canaan, April 7, 1800. He was the only son of Stephen and Polly (Carter) Hoyt, and had four sisters. Of these, Polly married Bradley Keeler; Hannah, Alfred Seeley ; and Sally Carter, Benjamin Hoyt; while Julia, the youngest but one, died unmarried at the age of nine- teen. An only son, Stephen enjoyed all that parental and sisterly love could provide, while he, on his part, contributed, to the extent of his ability, to their con- fort and happiness. His parents, in comfortable cir- cninstances, planned to give him a collegiate educa- tion, bnt "Man proposes, God disposes." Yonng Stephen's eyesight failing him in part, he was obliged to abandon study and seek other pursuits.

When twenty years of age he taught the winter term of what is known as the White Oak District School. The spring following he entered mercantile life, taking his father's interest in the store kept by Hnsted & Hoyt. The business was carried on in the corner-store now owned by S. C. Weed,-the only store at that time in the village of New Canaan. At the end of about five years Mr. Husted sold his in- terest to Edwin Nash, who remained in the firm nutil his death, in 1845. In 1837, Benjamin Hoyt became a partner, and business was conducted under the firm- name of S. & B. Hoyt. In 1840, Stephen sold his interest to Andrews Weed, that he might give his entire attention to the cultivation of his farm bonght three years before.

At twenty-three he was married to Sally, daughter of Caleb Benedict, commencing housekeeping in a new building built by his father opposite the old home.

In 1824 he was elected captain in a company of militia, serving three years, during the time marching his company to Norwalk to do honor to Gen. Lafay- ette, then making the tour of the States.

As a merchant he was obliging and popular, and quite successful, but on account of his large and growing family, which he felt could be better trained in the country, he abandoned mercantile for farm life. This he did against the opposition of his father's family, who idolized him and wished him to remain near then.

In politics he was a Whig, and represented his party in 1836 and 1840 in the State Legislature. As selectman he served several terms, and for many years was treasurer of the town deposit fund. He was an earnest advocate and defender of human liberty, and joined the Free Soil party in 1848 and the Re-

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publiean party in 1856. He was, during the Rebel- lion, a thorough Union man, giving of time, money, and voice, aiding his town to raise its quota, and in assisting the families of those who had gone to the front. After the war he withdrew from active politics and devoted himself to the improvement of his farm.

He was a man of high moral character, and entered heartily into any project having for its objeet the ele- vation of mankind or the improvement of his town. He took a resolute stand in 1840 in connection with the, in his town, unpopular Washingtonian reformn movement. Signing the pledge, he banished from lis table and fields cider, as well as all other intoxi- cants. In this new and unpopular sphere he showed the same resolute determination characteristic with him in all his undertakings. He spent much of his time and money in attending and sustaining State, eounty, and town temperanee organizations, and for years was rarely absent from their weekly meetings held in the town.

He was one of the fourteen charter members who organized Friendship Division, No. 10, Sons of Tem- peranee, in New Canaan, in 1845,-an organization which has existed upwards of thirty-five years, with a membership at the present writing of nearly two hundred. At his death he was one of the few charter members who remained true to the great principles of this reform.

Capt. Hoyt took great interest in the New Canaau Railroad, giving much time and money towards its construction. He was stockholder and director of the First National Bank, and for several years its president, and for many years director and loaning committee of the savings bank. He interested him- self in forming the Union Cemetery Company, of which he was chosen president. To this work he de- voted much time and labor, and advanced the money necessary to make the survey, lay out the drives and walks, and for other work necessary to bring the cor- poration into a self-sustaining association.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 111

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