History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 66

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 66

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CATHOLIC CEMETERY.

Edward Cowan, M. Carmody, Joseph McMahon, Michael MeMalou, Thomas Kinney, Patrick Barrett, Patrick Lilley, John McCauley, Thomas Pelley, James Ryan, Frank McCauley, Henry Scollins, J. Ward, - Meyers, John McGuire, Patrick Daniels, N. McGuire.

WOOSTER STREET BURYING-GROUND.

Henry B. Crofut, Henry Hawley, Charles Wilson, David F. Stilson, Charles Dikeman, Lieut. Thomas T. Urmton.

NORTH MAIN STREET.

William Pendley, Grandison D. Foote.

THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

This granite shaft, commemorative of the patriot dead of Danbury, stands on the plot of ground made vaeant by the removal of the First Congregational church, at the intersection of West with Main Street, and was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies June 27, 1880. It is of Westerly granite, and stands, completed, thirty-two feet high. It is a circular column resting upon six pieces consisting of lower base, plinth, mould, die, cap, and column mould. These several parts make a combined height of ten feet. The column is twelve feet high, with a diam- eter of twenty-six inches; the cap surmounting the column is two feet, and upon this rests the figure of a soldier bearing a flag in his right hand, while against his left side rests a cavalry sword. The figure is five feet cight inehes high, and the staff of the flag is two feet higher. On the die on the side facing Main Street is the inscription :

TO OUR BROTHERS, BELOVED, HONORED, REVERED, WHO DIED THAT OUR COUNTRY MIGHT LIVE.

On the West Street face is

THE DEFENDERS OF THE UNION.

The other two sides are blank.

The shaft or column is encircled with a band, on which are engraved the names of prominent battles, as follows: Bull Run, Wilderness, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Appomat- tox, Petersburg, Port Hudson.

The whole, except the figure, is of granite. The figure is of Italian marble and was carved in Italy. The price of the whole was four thousand dollars, but the committee secured it for three thousand five hun- dred dollars, the builders donating five hundred dol- lars towards the cost. In a western town is a monu- ment nearly like it, which cost seven thousand dollars, and engravings of it show it to be not half so hand- some. The people of Danbury are to be congratulated on securing this handsome work of art as a memorial to her noble dead.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN W. BACON.

John W. Bacon, born in Hartford, June 9, 1827 ; graduated at Trinity College in 1846, taking the first appointment in his elass. Soon after his graduation he became principal of an academy in Essex, Conn., which position he resigned to eommenee the study of law in the office of Hon. Isaae Toueey, in Hartford, remaining with him till the spring of 1848, when he adopted the profession of eivil engineering. In this capacity he was employed on the first surveys of the present New York and New England Railroad from Hartford to Willimantie, remaining during the build- ing of that part of the road, taking charge, among other important work, of the present Union Depot and Connecticut River Bridge, at Hartford, and of the heavy rock-cut at Bolton Noteh.

After the completion of this work he spent two years on the surveys and construction of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, and was then recalled to Hart- ford to assume the position of superintendent of the Hartford, Providence and Fishkill Railroad, between Providence and Waterbury, also a part of the present New York and New England road. Five years were spent in this capacity, when he went to Western Vir- ginia to take charge of the operation and develop- ment of extensive coal-mines and salt-works at West Columbia, on the Ohio River. Here he remained about two years, when he returned to Danbury to become in July, 1859, superintendent and chief engi-

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

neer of the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad, con- tinuing in the position until Jan. 1, 1877. In the fall of that year he was appointed by Governor Hubbard one of the board of railroad commissioners, which office he still holds.

During his residence in Danbury, Mr. Baeon has been active in the promotion of desirable public im- provements. The present water-works were origi- nated and engineered by him in 1860, as is testified to by the inscription ou the stone slab at the lower reser- voir. At the completion of the works he became one of the board of water commissioners, continuing as such till 1876, since which time he has been secretary of the board. Until quite recent years the borough was without a public hall, and, to supply this long-felt and growing necessity, Mr. Baeon, in 1860, organized a joint-stock company called the "Danbury Public Hall Company," which purchased the old Congrega- tional church, standing where the soldiers' monument uow stands, and fitted it up with a pleasant and com- modious hall, which well served the public demands until the building of the present opera-house, in 1873.

In 1871 the agricultural society of the town seemed likely to cease to exist, and the organization of the company composing the present Danbury Agricul- tural Society is due to the efforts of John W. Bacon. Under his direction a stock company was formed, of which he is now president, which has so condueted tlie affairs of the society as to lead to most conspicuous prosperity and success. Its annual fairs are attended by crowds so immense as to totally eclipse in point of number the attendanee at all similar exhibitions, not excepting even that of the State Fair. This unprece- dented prosperity, it is believed, is mainly attributa- ble to the inflexible enforcement of the rules ex- cluding the sale of intoxicants, to the exclusion of wheel pools or other gambling devices too often per- mitted at such exhibitions to absorb the money of the unwary, and to the faithful performance of all that is advertised.

Mr. Bacon has been a director of the savings bank of Danbury since 1863, and for many years a member of the Board of Education.

Dec. 20, 1852, he was married to Miss Caroline E., daughter of Dr. Russel B. Botsford, for many years a leading physician in Danbury. Miss Botsford was grauddaughter of Matthew B. Whittlesey, formerly a leading lawyer of the place. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Baeon are Sarah W., Eliza W.,-married May 14, 1879, to G. Mortimer Ruudle, son of Samuel H. Rundle, of the firm of Rundle & White,-and John Russel Bacon.

Mr. Bacon is still in vigorous health and in the full possession of matured faculties trained and disciplined by a most varied experience. In him is exemplified the aphorism, "The shallows murmur while the depths are dumb." Quiet and unassuming, one re- ceives the impression that beneath that quiet exterior there is force, energy, and a resolute determination'

which overcomes all obstacles, and on his countenance is stamped the impress of truthfulness and fidelity. With urbanity of manner is combined great force of character and unyielding determination in the face of difficulties, and a gentleness of manner which shows that great force of will is not inconsistent with kind- ness and consideration for the feelings of others. Long may he be spared to Danbury to the enjoyment of the love and respect he lias so deservedly won!

CHARLES HULL.

Charles Hull, one of Danbury's most successful merchants and business men, traces his descent through a long line of ancestry from George Hull, a settler in Dorchester, Mass., in 1630.

His paternal grandfather, Chapman Hull, was a farmer in Redding ; married Esther Buckley, and had three children,-Morris, Henry C., and George.

The father of the subject of this sketeh, Morris Hull, was a man of more than ordinary ability, and at the time of his death, on the threshold of manhood, had already laid the foundation of a prosperous ca- reer. His advantages for an early education were limited to the common sehools of the vicinity of his boyhood home, but his eager desire for intellectual improvement induced him to devote many of his even- ings and mueli of his intervals of leisure to the ac- quirement of knowledge, and when yet a very young man was found qualified and engaged to teach school in Danbury.

He began his career as a merchant in Redding, re- moving thence to Huntington, where he remained two years, and then removed to Manlius Square, in the central part of the State of New York, and was the pioneer merchant of that place. Near this place he built a warehouse on the Erie Canal, and the place was called Hull's Landing after him, which name it still retains. He saw opeuing before him a bright career as a merchant in the rapidly-growing country, but was permitted to enjoy the prospect but a short time. Going to New York City to replenish his stock of goods, ou his way home he visited his grandmother, iu Redding, at whose house lay his eldest son stricken with fever. Watching at the bedside of his prostrate son he contracted the malady, malignant typhoid, of which he died, at the age of thirty-two, leaving a widow and six small ehildreu dependeut almost en- tirely upon their own exertions for their support. The business and effects of the father and husband in the new country were disposed of, and the following spring the family returned to Redding.

At the age of seven Charles was "put out to work" with a farmer, remaining four years, and as evidence that they were not years of unmixed pleasure or of pampered, nurturing ease, and as indicative of the character of the man whose protégé he was, one inci- dent will suffice: Charles was very fond of the Sunday-

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DANBURY.

school. The one most aeeessible to him was held at the church, three miles away by road, and more than two miles aeross lots through the woods. This school he was desirous of attending, and was permitted to do so on condition that he would earry his shoes in his hand until he came to a certain stone wall elose by the church, when he might put them on, wear them through sehool hours and to the stone wall on his return, taking them off at this point and carrying them in his hand home. Charles aeeepted, performed the conditions, and attended Sunday-school. Four years later, at the age of eleven, he left this home, go- ing to Redding Ridge. Here he found employment with the builder of the Episcopal church (yet stand- ing), placing the stones in the trenches upon which the foundation of that edifiee rests, and to receive as compensation the munifieent sum of twenty-five cents per day. This Charles supposed was inclusive of board, but upon this point he was anything but agree- ably enlightened, while at supper on the day his task was finished, by a conversation between his employer and wife, during which it transpired that he was to be charged for board. By a simple and not unreason- able computation it was estimated that a fine healthy boy would eat twenty-five cents' worth per day, espe- eially as he worked hard, and as his wages amounted to just that amount the aeeount was easily balanecd. But the wife-a mother mayhap-the woman always tenderer than man, thought "the boy ought to have something," and "the boy" was given twenty-five eents. Twenty-five eents for performing all the labor attendant upon the laying of the entire sub-founda- tion of a church, together with what eoarse food he ate while doing the work, was his entire compensation. But we doubt if Napoleon ever received with prouder triumph the erown from conquered potentate than was experienced by Charles when these his first carn- ings were placed in his hand. This was young Hull's first experience, and the lesson taught was not lost, for in his next engagement, in which his services were given for his board, clothes, and sehooling, each item of compensation was fully stipulated in the agree- ment.

At the age of sixteen Charles went to Norwalk to learn the trade of tinsmith, which he spent four years in aequiring. During these years his evenings, in- stead of being devoted to recreation and pleasure, as were the evenings of most of the apprentiees asso- eiated with him, were spent in hard work, attending to customers and in mastering the business, and so proficient did he become that during the last years of his apprenticeship he was given almost entire charge of his employer's business. The concern in which he was employed failed during the great depression of 1836-37, and with but twelve eents in his pocket he turned his steps from New Haven, whither he had gone in pursuit of employment, to Danbury, thirty- six miles distant, which he reached by the way of Red- ding, the home of his grandmother, having walked

the entire distanee, forty-three miles. In Danbury he found work at his trade, as foreman in the shop of Mr. A. Rogers.

In the spring of 1843, with a thorough knowledge of his trade, with little eapital, but with invincible courage and untiring industry and energy, lie began, in a small way, business for himself. For thirty-seven years he has conducted the business of tin-, iron-, and copper-ware manufacturer in Danbury, and kept in connection therewith one of the largest general fur- nishing stores in the State, and in his earcer as a business man presents a useful lesson to the poor, struggling but ambitious boy, starting as he did with nothing but willing hands, a stout heart, and a deter- mination to succeed, and by industry, foresight, and economy aeeumulating a fortune and independent position among men.

While Mr. Hull's business interests have always been large, varied, and engrossing, he has yet found much time to devote to the publie. During the war a portion of the time he was selected as agent to look after the interests of his town; he was a direetor in the Danbury Bank when it was a State institution, and one of the originators of the Pahquioque Bank, of which he has always been a director. He is also director in several of the large manufacturing eorpo- rations of Danbury ; has been seleetman, and for several years past has been town agent.

We relate an incident in Mr. Hull's life which, if it neither "points a moral" nor "adorns a tale," is at least illustrative of the vicissitudes, the ups and downs, of life. While the subject of this memoir was yet a young barefooted boy working among the farm- ers of his native town, he one afternoon strolled into Danbury. He had often heard of the palatial resi- denee and aristocratie family of the late Seth Com- stoek, Esq., and as he sauntered up the main street his attention was attraeted by an imposing array of earriages before the mansion. The occasion was the marriage of Mr. Comstock's son, a broker in New York, and was being eondueted with mueh pomp and ceremony. One of the features was a earpet laid from the door to the carriages for the guests to walk on. Charles had never seen anything of the kind beforc, and it made an impression upon his young mind, and lcd to indulgence in mental speeulations. What those speculations were does not transpire ; visionary enough they seemed to him, no doubt, but how they appear viewed retrospectively we leave to be inferred, affording to the reader these data : To-day Mr. Hull owns the ground whereon that mansion stood, to- gether with the fine block of buildings eovering it, built by himself.

Mr. Hull was married Nov. 18, 1840, to Miss Han- nah E., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ambler, of Danbury. Their children are Harriet E., now Mrs. Alexander McNie, of Winona, Minn., Mary E., now Mrs. Granville W. Hoyt, of Danbury, Frederick A., Thomas A., and Sarah M.

264

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ROGER AVERILL.

Roger Averill was born in Salisbury, in Litchfield Co., Conn., on the 14th day of August, 1809. His father, Nathaniel P. Averill, and his mother, Mary Whittlesey, were natives of Washington, in the same county, and were worthy representatives of the best type of the New England character.

Mr. Averill received his early training on the farm, and was thoroughly impressed with a sense of the valuc of time and of the importance of personal effort to achieve success. Habits of industry were formed in youth, and continued in practice in after- life. Every facility which the best common schools could furnish was placed within his reach for the acquisition of knowledge and mental improvement; and fortunately for him his native town had within its limits two valuable public libraries, to which he had free access. These proved to be of inestimable advantage in supplying him with the means of ac- quiring knowledge from books. They were often consulted and much read, and greatly contributed to the proper unfolding and moulding of his character and shaping his subsequent life.

At the age of eightcen years Mr. Averill com- menced teaching a common school, and at the same time he began the study of the Latin without the aid of an instructor. Self-reliant and ambitious, he made considerable progress in preparatory studies before he fully decided to take a college course, and his friends had no knowledge of his wishes or his intentions in regard to an education. His older brother, Chester Averill, then a graduate of and a professor in Union College, New York, learning that some progress had been made in preparatory studies, favored his contin- uance in them, with a view to a full course, and fur- nished the necessary and appropriate books. Thus encouraged and strengthened, he at once decided to go to college, and applied himself vigorously and wholly to the work of preparation.

In 1828 lic became a member of the, freshman class in Union College, and graduated with honor and dis- tinction in 1832. He remained at college a resident graduate for a few months, and then returned to Sal- isbury and opencd a select school, which proved to be a complete success. The number of applications for admission was greater than could be accommodated. The people of the town took measures to erect imme- diately a suitable permanent academy to meet the public wants. Mr. Averill continued as principal of this school for one year, and when it was in a full tide of prosperity he abandoned school-teaching and commenced the study of law.

He entered the office of the Hon. Samuel Church, then a judge of the Supreme Court, who afterwards became chief justice of the State of Connecticut. He was admitted to the bar of Litchfield County in 1836, and at once opened an office for the practice of law in Salisbury. He had immediately his full share of the law business of that and the neighboring towns in

that part of the county, and had the confidence and support of his fellow-citizens, who conferred upon hiin many official trusts and responsibilities.

He represented the town of Salisbury in the Gen- eral Assembly in 1843. He removed to Danbury in 1849, where he now resides. Since his removal he has held various public and responsible offices. Two years he was judge of the Court of Probate for the district of Danbury, twelve years a trustec of the State Normal School at New Britain, and a member of the State Board of Education for three years. Four years, from 1862 to 1866, he was Lieutenant- Governor of the State of Connecticut. For many years he has been and now is a director in the Dan- bury National Bank and a trustee of the savings bank of Danbury ; also a director and treasurer of the Danbury Mutual Fire Insurance Company from the time of its organization in 1851.

In 1868 he represented the town of Danbury in the Legislature of this State.

Hc has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Maria D. White, of Danbury, who died in Feb- ruary, 1861, leaving four children,-two daughters and two sons, the latter being members of the legal profession in practice in this State. His present wife was Miss Mary A. Perry, of Southport, Conn.

EDWARD SMITH DAVIS.

Edward Smith Davis comes of Welsh ancestry, who settled in Hartford as early as 1640. His grandfather was captured during the Revolution as one of the prominent citizens of Bloomfield and released on parole. . His father, Caleb Smith Davis, was a farmer in Bloomfield, N. J. He served in the war of 1812- 14. The sword worn by him as major is still in the possession of his son. His children were Louisa J., Charles M., Joseph H., Edward S., and Mary W., all of whom are living and all save one have families. It is a remarkable fact, worthy of record, that there has been but one death in this family in fifty-eight years. E. S. Davis remained with his father until his twen- ticth year, receiving academical educational advan- tages. At this age he went to Boston to engage in the manufacture of paper boxes, the business being at this time in its infancy. He took charge of busi- ness already established by his brother-in-law, S. A. Brower, the pioneer paper-box maker in this country, who is still living at an advanced age. The business was in charge of an agent, whom young Davis soon discovered to be conducting it dishonestly, much to Mr. Brower's loss.

In 1852, Mr. Davis came to Danbury, borrowing six dollars to defray the expenses of the journey. He came to engage in his present business of box-making, with Mr. Brower as silent partner. This copartner- ship lasted one and a half years, at the end of which

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Photo. by J. H. Folsom, Danbury

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John J Beard

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DANBURY.

time Mr. Davis bought Mr. Brower's interest, and has since conducted the business alone.

May, 1855, Mr. Davis was married to Jane H., daughter of Braey and Hannah Scofield, of Danbury. Their children were Samuel A., Robert W., and Ed- ward S., Jr. Mrs. Davis died in September, 1874. In November, 1875, Mr. Davis married Hannah, daughter of Elijah Gregory, of Danbury. Their chil- dren are Herbert R. and Anna L.

Mr. Davis has been elected to the office of burgess for two terms, and four times to the position of war- den of the borough. In 1878 he represented his town in the State Legislature, and again the following year. He has been appointed assignee in the failure of sev- eral firms and is trustee and guardian for minor chil- dren, holding considerable sums of money in trust.

In 1861 he was a member of the Wooster Guards, which played a prominent part in the late war. At the call of the President the company was called together by its captain, and a vote was taken as to whether they should offer their services to the gen- eral government. To their honor be it said, every man in the company voted affirmatively. This de- cision was at once telegraphed to the Governor, and theirs is the proud record of having been the first company in Connectient to thus offer their services. They became part of the First Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and did duty around Washington and participated in the first Bull Run battle. Mr. Davis served during the term for which his company en- listed, aud was honorably discharged.

For three years he has been Commander of James E. Moore Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Davis has done something for the improvement of his adopted town. He built the factory now oceu- pied by him, also the Montgomery factory, besides many other buildings. His own elegant residence he ereeted on one of the most-in fact, on the most-com- manding sites in the town, overlooking, as it does, the entire borough of Danbury, besides extensive pros- peets iu every direction.

JOHN F. BEARD.

John F. Beard was born March 6, 1803, in Trum- bull, Fairfield Co., Conn. His grandfather, James Beard, a native of Derby, New Haven Co., Conn., was a lawyer by profession, and for many years a judge of the County Court. He was married to Miss Holbrook, of Derby, and became the father of seven children, among whom was Dr. Daniel Beard, father of the subject of this memoir. He, also, was a native of Derby; was educated to the medical profession, and practiced during his lifetime both as a physician and surgeon. He was appointed military surgeon of the troops stationed at Bridgeport under command of Gen. Foote, and served during the war of 1812-14. He was an enthusiast in his profession, a too close

application to which terminated his career Oct. 26, 1815, when but forty-eight. He was married early in life to Miss Betsey, daughter of Dr. Spencer and Betsey (Frink) Fields, of Oakham, Mass., and their children were: Spencer F., Algernon E., John F., Elizabeth F., Catherine J., Isabella M., William O., and Mary A.

At his father's death John was but eleven years old, and, the family being poor, he was obliged to rely almost wholly upon his own abilities for his sup- port. For the first two and a half years he found a home with an uncle, whom he assisted in the manage- ment of his farm, receiving as pay for his services his board and clothing. From this time until his marriage, at the age of twenty-three, he worked at different kinds of labor, principally farming, laying up but little in the way of money, but adding much in the way of experience to the little stock of knowl- edge which he had managed to acquire during a few years of desultory attendance at the district school. For two years after his marriage he labored as a farm-hand, leaving it to engage in hat-manufacturing, which he followed for about seven years, when he moved on the farm, then known as "Hearthstone Hill," where he has ever since resided. His wife was Miss Lois A., daughter of Hiram Wildman, of Dan- bury, and their children were Edwin W. (deceased), William S. (deceased), Martha M. (now Mrs. Somers, living in Galesburg, Ill.), John P. (resident of Dan- bury), Mary A. (now Mrs. S. C. Holley, Danbury), and James B. (resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa).

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 66

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