History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 183

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 183

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TIMOTHY REYNOLDS.

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STAMFORD.

integrity,-his word as good as his bond, neither needing legal process to enforce their obligation. His deathi was sudden, but who that knew him doubts that it was safe? that in his ease sudden death was sudden glory ?"

His death oeeurred Nov. 6, 1874. Mrs. Selleck, with her sister, still resides at the old home, main- taining the same Christian hospitality that was ever dispensed there, and waiting, patiently, the summons to join her husband in the "land beyond the river."

TIMOTIIY REYNOLDS.

Timothy, son of Abel and Anna (Mead) Reynolds, was born Mareh 23, 1802, in Roxbury, town of Stam- ford, Conn. He was of English aneestry and Puritan stock. His grandfather, Timothy, was eaptured by the Indians during the Indian wars previons to the Revolution. He was an officer before the Revolution, and held a colonial commission in that war, which has been preserved with great care by his deseend- auts.

Abel Reynolds was born in Greenwich, and after marriage settled at Roxbury, where he lived many years as a farmer, dying mueh respected about 1850.

Timothy Reynolds was reared on the farm with his parents, and, with the other yonth of that day, at- tended common sehools winters and "worked on the farm" summers until he was about eighteen years old. Then he went to learn the earpenter's trade with an uncle, George Reynolds, in Stanwich, and remained with him until after he was twenty-one. Commen- cing business for himself, he worked at his trade until his love of home life and failing health eaused him to eease that business and become a farmer. He mar- ried, Nov. 10, 1827, Prudence, daughter of Solomon and Susannah Smith. She was born in Stamford, April 6, 1804. Her family was one of the old-time families in this town, emigrating originally from Eng- land to Long Island, and from thence to Stamford.

Mr. Reynolds was a farmer, frank and outspoken, without anything savoring of fraud or deceit in his nature; never seeking official position, but often ealled upon to settle estates, which he did to the sat- isfaction of those interested. Quiet, loving home and its associations, he was a true friend, and honored and respected by all. He died Ang. 23, 1863.

He was an Old-Line Whig, and became a Republi- ean on the organization of that party.

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds were for years members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and always liberal supporters of the same. Since Mr. Reynolds' death Mrs. Reynolds has, among many gifts, contributed the sites of the Roxbury Methodist Episcopal elmirch and its parsonage.

For thirty-six years this worthy couple walked together life's patlıway, doing each duty well as it presented itself, and lending a helping hand to all good enterprises. Since her husband's decease Mrs.

Reynolds has resided at the old home, continuing the same life of well doing, and, with all the vivacity and cheerfulness of youth, patiently waiting the suminons to follow her beloved husband to "the land beyond the river." Of them both it can be truly said, "They have done their work well."

NATHANIEL E. ADAMS.

The ancestry of Nathaniel E. Adams were not only men of repute in New England, but the line goes back and develops itself in many a page of history in "Mer- rie England." The full genealogy of the Adams family is now in course of preparation, and we will not traee the lincage farther than to Jolin, grand- father of Nathaniel, who was a worthy citizen of Greenwich, Conn. His son John married Mary Hobby, and Nathaniel E., his son, was born in Green- wieh, July 7, 1807.

Nathaniel passed his childhood on the old home- stead with his parents, and was apprentieed at an carly age to a earpenter in Stanford, to learn, as in those days expressed, the art and mystery of earpenter- ing. He was an apt student, learned his trade thor- oughly, and began business for himself before he was twenty-one, but, by engaging with a drunken part- ner, not only lost his hard-earned capital, but became indebted four hundred dollars to various persons. That was a larger amount than many times that sum would be now, for he was compelled to go to New York, where he obtained work from Locke & Cole- man, on Scudder's Museum, but was forced to borrow money to provide for the necessities of his family, and it was two years before the last of the indebtedness was paid. He remained in New York ten years, then, returning to Stamford, he became a eoal- and lumber- dealer, and commenced to deal in real estate by pur- chasing a lot of land and laying it ont, in 1850, into lots, surveying new streets, and building and selling houses, so that where was a wild waste of almost valueless land is now a beautiful portion of the vil- lage of Stamford. Mr. Adams is emphatically a self- made man, and has invariably been the advocate of law, order, and improvement. He is of winning manners, of great and pleasing conversational powers, and possesses a remarkable faculty of applying poeti- eal quotations to any subjeet under conversation. His memory is wonderful and his reading extensive. He has a large fund of Immor, and is of a most cheerful temperament. In 1864, carrying letters of introduction to President Lincoln from ex-Gov. Minor, ex-Con- gressman Smith, and others, he went to Washington, had a long and pleasant interview with Mr. Lincoln, and finally leased a cotton plantation of sixteen hun- dred and fifty acres in Louisiana from the United States Government, and commenced raising cotton. His peculiar frankness and honesty won him at onee the friendship of all, even the most bitter rebels, and his plantation was protected by the Confederate

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

troops. The experiment promised to be a success, finaneially and otherwise, but throughi a defaulting partner and the ravages made on the growing crop by caterpillars lie lost ten thousand dollars. After this disastrous termination of his venture, Mr. Adams returned to Stamford, and has ever since resided there, having, notwithstanding his loss, a very hand- some competency. He is a member of the First Con- gregational Church of Stamford, and has been for more than forty years a deaeon. With a strong love for children, he has been an ardent Sabbath-school worker, both as teacher and superintendent.

Mr. Adams cast his first vote, as a Democrat, for Simeon H. Minor for member of Legislature, and by it gave him his majority of one. Afterwards Mr. Adams became a Whig, then a Republican. He was for many years, and until disqualified by age, a magistrate, and by his decisions and actions in that capacity drew warm encomiums from the best citi- zens.

Mr. Adams married Sarah Ann Dixon, of an old Stamford family, Marelı 23, 1829. She was born in New York, May 23, 1806. Their children were Charles W., James E. (deceased), Julia H. (who is the widow of Brevet Lieut .- Col. Alfred M. Powell, U.S.A.), James E. (deceased), John, Franklin.

JOHN CLASON.

In the early records of Stamford appears the name of Clason, Cloyson, Clawson,-all different spellings of the same name. At the assignment of land by lot, Dec. 26, 1699, there were sixty-nine lots drawn by seventy-five persons. Of these Stephen Clawson drew the first.

Among the soldiers of the Revolution were Na- thaniel, Isaac, Samuel, and Stephen Clason.

From that day to the present has the Clason family been domiciled in Stamford, and now the liis- torian records with pleasure the leading ineidents in the life of one who may justly be called a representa- tive man of the family.

John Clason, son of Benjamin and Nancy (Ayres) Clason, was born Sept. 8, 1825. The educational ad- vantages of a farmer's son, in those days, were mostly comprised in the three months' winter term of school in the country school-house. Such, John received while he remained at home. He commenced the active duties of life, however, for himself at the age of fifteen, and, as he could afford it, supplemented, from time to time, his early education by instruc- tions under John Lyell, A.M., a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, with a view to civil engineering as a profession, for whiel he thor- oughly prepared himself in the mathematical branches. In 1851 he entered the store of Alanson Studwell, at Stamford, as a clerk, and stayed one year. For about two years subsequently he was a teaeher in the pub- lic schools.

About 1844, Mr. Clason purchased a farm, engaged in farming and dealing in native timber, and enjoying the reputation of being the most successful farmer (finaneially and otherwise) Stamford had ever pro- duced, until about 1862, when he sold his farm, eon- tinuing, however, farming operations on a small place of twenty acres, which he has brought to a high stand- ing in productiveness.

Mr. Clason has held all of the local offices con- nected with schools in the town, and was member of the Board of Education for four years, resigning his position when elected judge of Probate. He was elected member of Legislature from Stamford in 1851, and was the youngest member of that body. In 1854 he again represented his town in the Legislature, and from 1871 to 1875, five years, held the same position, a length of continued service, in that capacity, un- precedented in Stamford sinee the adoption of the Constitution in 1818. In 1855 he was elected as- sessor, and held that office twenty-five years. He was elected judge of Probate in 1876, and re-elected in 1878, and has rendered entire satisfaction in the performance of his judicial duties. He has held, also, various other town offices, such as justiee, etc. He was for several years a director of Stamford Sav- ings Bank, resigning that offiee, in aeeordance with the law of the statute, to become a director of Stam- ford National Bank. In politics Judge Clason was originally a Whig, afterwards a Republican. He is a generous supporter of all churches, societies, and en- terprises that tend to elevate, improve, or educate mankind. In the Legislature, Mr. Clason was, em- phatically, a working member, clear-headed and practical, and in committee work a patient and care- ful investigator, opposed to all "jobbery," and with judgment rarely at fault. Strictly honorable and up- right, the repeated number of times his fellow-towns- men have called him to office evidence their appre- ciation of these qualities. He has never married.

WILLIAM W. SCOFIELD.

William Wallace Scofield was born in Stamford, Conn., March 2, 1825. His father was Amzi and his mother Polly (Davenport) Scofield.

The Seofield family is an old Stamford family. In the town records, under date of Dec. 7, 1641, mention is made of an award of a home-lot and wood-land to " Dan Scoffeld." From this hardy pioneer have pro- ceeded many branches of this family, until at this writing the name is borne by more people in Stam- ford than any other.

The paternal great-grandfather of W. W. Scofield was Peter Scofield, and his grandfather was Warren. This grandfather married a daughter of Capt. Reuben Scofield, who was a captain of the town guards in the Revolution. Both Reuben and Peter were deacons in the Congregational Church, and both served in the French and Indian war under Gens. Abercrombie

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gr. Mr Scofield

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

partner. This changed the firm to Scofield, Cook & Co. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Cook sold his in- terest to his partners, and they continued the business as Lounsbury & Scofield for one year, Mr. Cook during that time representing Stamford in the State Legislature.

In the fall of 1866, Mr. Cook erected the manufac- tory used by the firm Cook & Lounsbury. This firm was formed in 1867, the members being Mr. Cook and Charles H. Lounsbury. From that time to the present Mr. Cook has not only been identified with the business, but given it his close personal attention. Under the shrewd management, diligence, and active efforts of the two partners, the demand for their goods has rapidly increased, and their manufactory is to-day occupying a place among the prominent manufacturing interests of Stamford.

Mr. Cook has, besides being representative, been assessor, and often pressed to accept positions of public trust, but with these exceptions, he has stead- ily refused them, preferring to attend to his own business rather than that of others.

Mr. Cook was one of the three men in Stamford who had the moral courage to vote for Martin Van Buren as Free Soil candidate for President, and to the same convictions that actuated him then he has steadfastly adhered. He never could see how one workingman should try to "lord it" over another, whatever the color of his skin. With these sentiments he has nat- urally affiliated with Republicanism since it was a political power, and was by that party elected repre- sentative. In 1872 he followed his old leader, Hor- ace Greeley, and voted for liim for President, return- ing to his old bearings after the death of Mr. Greeley.

Mr. Cook was one of the incorporators of the Citi- zens' Savings Bank of Stamford, and has been one of its directors since that time. He is also a director in the First National Bank of New Canaan, Conn.

He is a member and a most liberal supporter of the Universalist Church, and has been clerk of the one at Long Ridge ever since he was twenty-one years old.

Sept. 29, 1851, he married Mary L., daughter of George and Louisa. (Scofield) Lounsbury. Their children are Nettie L., who married Benjamin M., son of Rev. F. H. Ayres, of Long Ridge, and Mary W., aged now eight years.

CAPTAIN DAVID WATERBURY.

One of the oldest as well as most honorable of Stamford families is the Waterbury family. Probably none has exercised more influence on its history. John Waterbury came to Stamford soon after the sct- tlement, had land recorded to him in 1650, and died in 1658. From him sprang the numerous families now resident here. The lineage is traced in Hunting- ton's "History of Stamford," and we will only state that David Waterbury, Jr., grandfather of the one

of whom we write, did excellent service in the French and Indian wars, attaining the rank of major. He was representing the town in the Assembly at the com- mencement of the Revolution, and did good service for the colonial cause. (Rev. Mr. Huntington heads his list of the military men of that time thus : "There were the Waterburys, then known as senior and ju- nior, the former long a colonel in the Continental ser- vice, who had earned some reputation for good judg- inent and military ability in the field, and the latter, soon to earn, by his personal fitness for it, the rank of a general of brigade.") He was born in Stam- ford, Feb. 12, 1722. Probably no other eitizen of Stamford reached so high a position or did so muchı service for the United Colonies as he. He was in the confidence and enjoyed the friendship and high es- teem of the leaders of the Revolution, and great com- plaint was made of his conduct to Tories. He seems to have given them no mercy. He was promoted from a colouelcy, with which he entered the war, . to brigadier-general in June, 1776 ; was captured by the English, but soon exchanged. He was a gallant soldier, an able officer, and a brave man. After re- turning to Stamford he was selectman and represen- tative. He died June 29, 1801, leaving one son, Capt. William Waterbury, fourth, who was born Oct. 10, 1765, aud died Jan. 10, 1842. He was long in public business, and showed the family trait of re- sistance to oppression in his persistent refusal to pay the annual tax for the Congregational society, ex- pending money as freely to establish freedom from the church as he had freely given his services to es- tablish freedom from British tyranny. He married Mrs. Sally Jessup, daughter of Philip Lockwood, of Greenwich, and his eldest son, David, was born in Stamford, April 17, 1819. This was the present Capt. David Waterbury. He remained with his parents, and had such common-school advantages as the place and times afforded, until he was about fifteen, when he shipped as a sailor, at twelve dollars per month, on a market-boat trading weekly between Stamford and New York. He passed through the various grades of first hand, etc., rising steadily, until, before his twentieth birthday, he was captain of the "Rival," a sloop of about fifty tons. Capt. Waterbury contin- ued in that business until 1852, when, in company with Edmund Lockwood and Lewis Waterbury, he purchased the steamer "William W. Frazier." The company ran her as a daily passenger- and freight- boat betweeu Stamford and New York, Capt. Lock- wood commanding her, Capt. Waterbury being super- intendent, agent, etc., with office at Stamford. In 1859 the " Frazier" was superseded by the " Ella," which the same company built. The "Ella" was run on this route until 1862, when they sold her to the United States Government, and Capt. Lockwood retired from business. The two remaining of the firm, with Oliver Scofield, built the "Stamford," and in 1863 placed her on the same route as the

David Waterbury

RICHMOND FOX.

Mrowlings 5

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STAMFORD.

" Ella." The next year they sold the "Stamford," and then a stock company built the ship " Ann," of about five hundred tons, and in 1865 placed lier on the same route. She continued running here until May, 1870, when she was burned at the wharf at Stamford, together with the storehouse and other property of the company, the entire loss being about seventy thousand dollars, only one-half covered by insurance.

Capt. Waterbury then commenced dealing in coal and wood, and has continued in that till the present. After a lapse of three years he became interested in the steamboat business again, and is still connected therewith.

Capt. Waterbury married, Jan. 23, 1842, Sarah M., daughter of John Selleck, of Stamford. Their sur- viving children are Wm. T., now captain of steamer " Meta," running between Stamford and New York ; John S., an engineer residing in Stamford ; Mary E., who married Edwin S. Webb, of Brooklyn; Sarah M .; Charles F., engaged with his father in the coal business ; and Lottie A. Mrs. Waterbury died Sept. 26, 1867. April 29, 1875, Capt. Waterbury married Mrs. Josephine E. Colby, sister of the first Mrs. Waterbury. Her parents, John and Charlotte (Mead) Selleck, were life-long residents of Stamford. Mr. Selleck was born on the old Selleck homestead, and lived within half a mile of there all his life.

The life of Captain Waterbury presents a good ex- ample of what a poor boy, aided by honesty, integ- rity, and hard work, may accomplish for himself; and he stands to-day. with the confidence and regard of his fellow-townsmen, a successful business man, his word as good as his bond, and neither ever repudi- ated.

Democratie in polities, he has preferred holding fast to the good old ways rather than going into bril- liant but rash speculations. He has never taken an active part in politics, always voting quietly, as he thought best, and for the best man, irrespective of party, in local matters. Broad and liberal in his re- ligious views, he for years has been a member of the Universalist Churel.

RICHMOND FOX.

Richmond Fox was born at Newfield, town of Stam- ford, Conn. He was the son of Richard and Clara (Scofield) Fox. His childhood and youth were passed in Stamford, acquiring a common-school education and learning the carpenter's trade. Soon after his twenty-first birthday Mr. Fox went to the Southern States to take charge of a manufacturing establish- ment, and for five years was absent from Stamford. Returning after that length of time, he worked at carpentering in Stamford for two years, going then to Fairfield, and, after a short space of time, to Bridge- port, where he remained long enough-six months- to become acquainted with Miss Mary E. Blakeman,

whom he married Dec. 24, 1843. She was born in Woodbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., Nov. 2, 1821, and was daughter of David and Sarah ( Hammond) Blake- man. From the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fox were residents of Stamford, moving, in the spring of 1844, to the place on Strawberry Hill where at the present writing Mrs. Fox is resident.

After a few years' business as contractor and builder, Mr. Fox engaged in the manufacture and sale of lum- ber with Mr. John St. John, under the firm-name of Fox & St. John. This proved a successful finan- cial enterprise, and the partnership continued until the death of Mr. Fox, which occurred Nov. 15, 1857.

Mr. Fox was of genial disposition, positive, bluut, and straightforward in business, social and large- hearted in all the relations of life, liberal in relieving suffering, of winning personal magnetism and strong home love. He was an attendant of the Methodist Epi- - copal Church (of which Mrs. Fox has been a faithful and consistent member since 1833), and a liberal con- tributor to its support. In person large and handsome, a stranger would at once be attracted to him, and an acquaintance would soon ripen into a finer friendship as the result of the candor and integrity of his out- spoken nature.

In polities Mr. Fox was an unyielding supporter of the principles enunciated by Thomas Jefferson, and he, with Andrew Jackson, believed that in Demnoe- racy alone rested the glorious mission of preserving the integrity of our Union, and giving "the greatest good to the greatest number" of all our citizens.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Fox are Mary (Mrz. Charles C. Chadwick), now living at Detroit, Mich. ; Franklin, George, Emma (deceased), Charles, and Sarah Frances (Mrs. Nathan Murdough).

WILLIAM II. TROWBRIDGE, M.D.

William H. Trowbridge was born in Danbury, Conn., Feb. 2, 1822. His parents both came of good old English stock, his father, James H. Trowbridge, dating back through six generations direct to Thomas, whose three sons, Thomas, James, and William, came to America in 1634, and his mother, Mary (Banks) Trowbridge, reaching through the Hoyt family back to England also.

When William H. was two years old his parents moved to Stamford, where his father engaged in the manufacture of lrats, which he followed until the death of his wife, when he returned to that portion of Danbury now called Bethel. William received his early education in district and private schools, and even in childhood developed a fondness for medicine, but kept his preference secret, feeling that his parents were not in such a financial condition as to properly help him in pursuit of his studies. When about seventeen he desired to engage as teacher in a district school, but, yielding to his parents' wishes, he entered as apprentice to a tailor in Bethel, then Danbury,

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and served faithfully until he was twenty-two years old, preferring always, however, the cutting of clothes to sewing them up. During these years his books were not forgotten, but through his labors and the attraction of youthful society, with its rides and parties, the idea of surgery was ever before him, and while here an accident brought this proclivity into prominence. An old man, in an attempt at self- destruction, cut his throat, and, in a village like Bethel, everybody knew of it and thronged to see, among the number was William, then eightcen years old. The physician was, on his arrival, en- gaged in dressing the gaping wound in the old man's throat, with the aid of such help as could be obtained from the inexperienced and faint-hearted crowd. William was at once drawn, instinctively, to patient and physician. Seeing his interest, the doctor said, "Young man, you are not pale; take hold of this and help me, and let these chicken- hearts go away." The youth did such good service, holding the lips of the wound, handling dressings, etc., so well, that the physician, Dr. Hanford Bennett, said, "Boy, you'll be a surgeon some day, and no one can lielp it."

Finishing (prematurely) his trade, William went to Stamford, married Miss Sylvia Peck, and soon moved to Orange Co., N. Y., and after two years spent in that State returned to Stamford and engaged as teacher in the district school, where his early school-days were spent. He succeeded, gained repu- tation, and soon taught higher grades of school, all of the time studying medicine diligently from 5 A.M. till school-time, summer and winter, and laboring with all his might in the school-room to provide for his family and attend medical lectures. Teaching and studying alternately, he attended onc course at Yale, two courses at New York College of Physicians aud Surgeons, and graduated at Yale Medical Col- lege. After spending one year in the office with Dr. George Lewis, in New York, he opened an office in Stamford, where, excepting his army life, he has enjoyed a thriving practice. In the late war of the Rebellion, Dr. Trowbridge was first engaged as sur- geon of the Twenty-third Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. To this work he was impelled by a sense of duty, and left a lucrative and fast increasing practice solely to do good. His regiment proceeded to New Orleans with Gen. Banks, and on arriving there Dr. Trowbridge sought the medical director of that department, and told him lie came there for work, and if he was necded anywhere he would be on hand. As a result, during his stay in the department there was not a battle fouglit in which he was not called upon to give service. After the battle of La Fouche Crossing he was called, without assistance, to attend to more than two hundred wounded Confeder- ate prisoners. Their injurics ranged from flesh wounds to broken skulls and shattered limbs. He commenced his work at four o'clock Sunday after-

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 183

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