USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Norwalk > Supplement to : [Norwalk, Conn.], volume one : genealogy (in alphabetical sequence) of ancient non-original home-lot households > Part 2
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Interest will ever attach itself to the story of the first English named party in the Sagamore Ruck- inheage Norwalk deed, Richard Webb1st. It is claimed that he made the survey from Hartford to Norwalk. Here he had fourteen distinct land parcels set off to him by the planters. These parcels were on both sides of the river and down in the "Planting Field," as well as east as far as the Saugatuck. He was one of the seven heaviest noted land owners in 1655. He is Norwalk mentioned in 1659 as "de- ceased," although at the inventory of his estate as registered (1665) in Fairfield it is named that he died ''July last." It is reasonable to believe that he was the father of Richard Webb, Jr., who bought a Stam- ford home in 1651. While, however, the Norwalk evidence upon this point is circumstantial rather than documentary one recorded transaction (see Vol. II., N. T. R.) appears confirming. John Webb of North- ampton, Mass., is considered to have been of blood of Richard1st of Norwalk. This John had a son, Eben- ezer, born January 16, 1673, whose brief history as a Norwalk resident is touching. He came hither some years after Richard1st had passed away and made a purchase (perhaps only a beginning) of Nor- walk property. He had just " come to age" and here found, possibly, family friends. Death intervened and good Zerubbabel Hoyt, ancestor of famed descend- ants, took care of the stranger youth's personal effects and delivered them, in 1703, to his brother Henry Webb and his sisters Anna, Mary and Thank- ful of Northampton. Mr. Hoyt makes a record of "3 or 4 shillings in money" found in the young man's pocket. Ebenezer Webb is tabulated on page 81 of this volume.
1 Married January 11, 1830, J. B. Stone, and died February 13, 1843.
390
0
NORWALK.
Maria, born October 13, 1803, died September 27, 1854;
Sarah Ann1, born October 12, 1804;
Charlotte2, born May 16, 1806;
Pattie Emily, born November 25, 1807, Mrs. Francis Haight ;
William3, born March 11, 1810;
Julia4, born November 27, 1812 ; Charles, born March 12, 1815, died October 17, 1845 ; David5, born November 20, 1816, unmarried ;
Frederick, born June 30, 1818 ; Joshua, born April 30, 1822, died young.
Colonel William Belden was a prominent Wilton man. He resided a short distance north of his father, Samuel Sr., on the road between Wilton and Cannons Stations. His mother was a daughter of David2nd and Susannah (Rogers) Lambert, and a granddaughter of Nehemiah and Elizabeth (Fitch) Rogers (see page 172). His son Frederick, long a resident of Norwalk, came to this town first in the capacity of a clerk. As a young man he was admired and, later, marked for his urbanity. He was engaged in business in New Orleans, but generally spent his summers north. His home pleasantly bordered Norwalk "Green," and was an attractive hearthstone.
AMOS BELDEN LINEAGE.
Amos, born July 13, 1764, son of John3rd and Rebecca (Bartlett) Belden, married Eliz- abeth, born October 12, 1770, daughter of Benjamin1st and Sarah (Scudder) Isaacs (see page 331), had :
Julia, born May 19, 1791, see note page 386; Charles, born March 10, 1793, died February 22, 1858 ; George, born March 12, 1795, died January 14, 1855 ; Sally, born March 11, 1797 ;
Charlotte, born December 31, 1798, died September 26, 1826; Elizabeth, born December 31, 1798; Thomas, born September 28, 1802, died October 12, 1834 ; John, born January 25, 1805 ; Frederick, born June 23, 1807, died June 23, 1857 ; Benjamin Isaacs, born July 13, 1809, died June 12, 1858 ; Augustus Bartlett, born October 31, 1814, died July 9, 1815.
1 Married first, November 28, 1829, G. B. Olm- stead, and second a Brewster. No issue.
2 Married, May 4, 1826, Bradley Sturges. Married, second, Frederick Sturges. Had sev- eral children.
3 Married, October 14, 1834, Esther Bostwick.
4 Married first, September 12, 1836, E. N. Pick- ett, and, second, E. H. Graves. Had one Pickett child, who died in infancy, and two Graves children, viz: Ida, Mrs. Clayton Raymond, and Emma, Mrs. John Kingsley.
5Died March 11, 1859.
391
NORWALK.
Charles, son of Amos and Elizabeth Belden, married Helen, daughter of Dr. William Miles, and had :
Helen E., died young ;
George Mortimer, born November 3, 1826.
George, son of Amos and Elizabeth Belden, married, 1822, Sophia Louisa Miles, and had :
Julia Louise, born July 27, 1828, Mrs. Frederick S. Talmadge ; Laura Frederica, born April 3, 1831, Mrs. Dudley Field :
Helen Elizabeth, born July 22, 1838, died young.
Sally, daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Belden, married, May 20, 1828, Rev. William Mitchell, and had :
John Belden,1 born June 4, 1829.
Rev. William Mitchell died August 1, 1867, and his wife May 27, 1888.
Elizabeth, daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Belden, married, February 27, 1836, Edwin Crosby, and had :
Sarah Elizabeth, born February 24, 1840, Mrs. Staats Mead ;
Helen Belden, born July 20, 1841, Mrs. Edwin M. Butler.
George Mortimer, son of Charles and Helen (Miles) Belden, married, July 14, 1856, Isabella Sutton, daughter of Levi Best. He was a graduate of Columbia College and was admitted to the Bar. When about thirty years of age he returned to his birthplace in Carmel, N. Y., and occupied the homestead until his death, which occurred in 1875. He was the first President of the Putnam County National Bank, and one of the founders of the Carmel Library.
Frederick, son of Amos and Elizabeth Belden, married Maricia Arocha.
John Belden. son of Rev. William and Sally (Belden) Mitchell, married, December 14, 1864, Elinor Augusta Evans, and had :
George Mortimer, born December 15, 1865 ; Alfred E., born July 17, 1867, died in infancy ; Hattie Baldwin, born December 15, 1869, died young.
1JOHN BELDEN MITCHELL.
A telegram was received in this city last evening from San Antonio, announcing the death of a well known citizen of Corpus Christi, John Belden Mitchell, which occurred on Government Hill at the home of May Halter at noon yesterday, Oct. 3rd. Mr. Mitchell had been in ill health for the past year, and last July went to San Antonio, accompanied by his wife, in hopes that a change of climate might prove of benefit to him. Mr. Mitchell was a native Vermont, and at the time of his death was 66 years old. He was a graduate of Yale College, and came to Corpus Christi when quite a young man and en- gaged in mercantile business, which he carried on be- fore the war and after until a few years ago. In 1864 he married Miss Nellie Evans, sister of Mr. George
F. Evans. Mr. Mitchell was an elder in the Presby- terian Church, and one of the leaders in the erection of the church in this city. He was a man of the strictest integrity ; a man of enterprise, and for many years, when he enjoyed good health, took great in- terest in all public matters pertaining to the interest and advancement of the city and section in which he lived, serving at one time as Mayor of this city, and filling other positions of trust and honor. By his death Corpus Christi loses a good man and worthy citizen. Mr. Mitchell leaves, besides his wife, two sons and one daugliter to mourn his death. Many friends join the Callinin extending heartfelt sympathy to the afflicted family. The remains are expected here to-night for interment to-morrow in the family burying ground .- Corpus Christi Callin, Oct. 4, 1895.
392
NORWALK.
John Edgar, born May 20, 1874 ;
Willie, born August 10, 1878, died young ; Rachel Doddridge, born November 26, 1883.
Helen Belden, daughter of Edwin and Elizabeth (Belden) Crosby, married Edwin M. Butler of Croton Falls, N. Y., and had :
Howard Crosby, born March 7, 1870 ;
Stuart.
Amos and Elizabeth Belden are to this day well recalled in Norwalk.1
Frederick, son of Colonel William and Rebeccah (Adams) Belden, married, first, October 7, 1844, Catharine, daughter of Samuel and Maria (Cholwell) Gruman, and had : Edwin, died young ;
Samuel ;
Frederick, died in infancy.
Kathie, died young ;
Maria Louise, died young ;
Fredericka, Mrs. Renssalaer Bissell;
Edwina, Mrs. David Hill ;
Elizabeth, Mrs. Charles Jeffrie, first, and second, Mrs. William K. Maples ;
Florence, died unmarried, 1871 ;
William, died unmarried ; Henrietta, unmarried ;
Frederick Belden married, second, March 7, 1870, Sarah E., daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah (Lyon) Hill, and had :
Webster, born December 7, 1870, died July 6, 1895.
The Frederick Belden residence "on the green " supplanted the more ancient Grum- man home, and was presided over by those to whom refinement and good breeding seemed a second nature. Mrs. Belden was gracefully dignified and of pleasing presence. Her good mother, Mrs. Gruman, who was for many years her daughter's care, was, like her near neighbor, Mrs. Senator Thaddeus Betts, a feeling friend. Those of Miss Susan Betts' school children who yet remain may recall how that good instructress was wont, during the noon recess on the green, to receive warm, appetizing viands, as a mid-day luncheon. She was unforgotten in the school's generous vicinity. As the Belden children approached maturity the bright home invited the young. The second Mrs. Belden has preserved its reputation.
1 Mr. and Mrs. Col. Buckingham Lockwood and family were some of the Norwalk relatives who, although many miles separated their own and the home of their Amos Belden family kin, still kept up their Carmel intimacy. It was made a point when the sleighing was fine, to drive from Norwalk (via Ridgefield and North Salem) to Carmel. It was a day's journey, but oldtime hospitality was sure to
reward the trip's close. Warm greetings, blazing hearth fires, and the attendanee of the Belden colored retinue service welcomed the guests. The home (see page 96) was beautifully situated. Amos Belden had charge of the Phillips estate and became largely in- terested in Dutchess county property. His wife (Elizabeth Isaacs) was social and an agreeable enter- tainer.
393
NORWALK.
THE LINE OF WILLIAM2" AND MARGARET (ARMS) BELDEN.
William2nd, son of Daniel1st and Elizabeth (Foote) Belden, resided in early life in Deerfield, but eventually found his way to the home in Norwalk of his uncles John Belden1st and Samuel1st. The two latter lived in the southern or settlement portion of the town (East Norwalk, 1898), but their cousin chose, about 1720-21, the northern section of the plantation (Wilton Parish) for his habitation. Through his father he was of like Belden blood with all the Norwalk Beldens, but through his mother his line of the family inherits the strong blood of the New England Demings and Footes.1 The children of William2nd and Margaret (Arms) Belden, who were married May 2, 1700, were :
Margaret, born February 10, 1701, Mrs. Nathaniel Slawson ; Daniel2nd, born September 14, 1702, late Norwalk appearance ;2 Elizabeth, born November 10, 1704, Mrs. Daniel Cole ;3 Thankful, born February 9, 1706-7, died August 26, 1717 ; Mary, born June 25, 1709, Mrs. Nathan Betts ; Abigail, born January 4, 1710-1I, Mrs. John Rockwell ; Ruth,4 born January 18, 1712-13, Mrs. John Seymour3rd ; Mirriam, born November 11, 1714, Mrs. Samuel Higgins ; Esther,5 born October 11, 1716, Mrs Daniel Hurlbutt1st; Thankful2nd, born October 5, 1718, Mrs. Alexander Ressiquie, Jr .; Sarah,6 born August 20, 1720, Mrs. Zebulon Crane ; Azor1st. born December 10, 1723.
1 Deming-Foote stock is colonial excellence brand. John Deming, Sr., was a 1662 Connecticut charterer. His sister Elizbeth, born in England in 1595, married at the age of twenty, Nathaniel Foote, Sr., and at the age of about of about fifty the Colonial Governor Thomas Welles. Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Deming) Foote Sr. had Nathaniel Jr., who was the father of Mrs. Daniel Belden (sce page 156), the inother of the first William Belden of Norwalk. Mary Foote, great aunt of Wiliam Belden, was, first, Mrs. John Stoddard of Wethersfield, and, second, Mrs. John Goodrich of the same place, and, third, Mrs. Lieut. Thomas Tracy of Norwich.
2 Married first, February 22, 1727, Esther, daughter of Samuel Smith of Hatfield, Mass. She died October 19, 1757. Married, second, Mary Kim- berly. In 1744 his Norwalk relatives took six horses and removed himself and family from Deerfield to Norwalk, Wilton parish.
3 Ancestress of the present Norwalk residents of Cole name.
4For Belden-Seymour reference sec page 160.
5On November 28, 1737, Rev. William Gaylord married Esther, daughter of William and Margaret Belden to Daniel Hurlbutt, Sr., of Wilton. These
had a son Daniel who married, second, March 20, 1765, Esther, daughter of John Partrick. Daniel and Esther (Partrick) Hurlbutt had John, born October 14, 1778, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Rachel Ogden. John and Elizabeth (Og- den) Hurlbutt had a son John P., who on October 31, 1832, married Polly Esther Gregory. These had a son born December 1, 1843, who is found in the person of Norwalk's well known J. Belden Hurl- butt, Attorney and Counsellor at Law of 1899.
6 Benjamin Crane of Wethersfield married Mary Backus and had Jonathan, born December 1, 1658, who married Deborah Griswold. These had Joseph, born May 17, 1696, who married Mary, born Decem- ber 15, 1695, daughter of Samuel and Edera Couch, These had eight children, the eldest of whom, Zebu- lon, born January 25, 1721, married Sarah, daughter of William2nd and Margaret (Arms) Belden. The children of Zebulon and Sarah (Belden) Crane were: John, born 1742; William, born 1744; Zebulon, born 1746;
Elijah, born 1748;
Sarah, born July 12, 1750, Mrs. Ashael Noble ; Mary, born 1752, died young ; Belden, born 1754, dicd young ; Samuel, born 1757;
394
NORWALK.
LINE OF AZOR BELDEN1st.
AzOR1st, son of William2nd and Margaret (Arms) Belden, was born in Deerfield, Mass., and brought, in infancy, to Norwalk (Wilton parish) where he married1 and had :
Azor2nd (Capt.) born 1749 ;2
A child, born December, 1752, died September following ;
Abigail, born 1754, died unmarried December 6, 1806 ;
Eunice1st, scalded to death September 12, 1760;
Eunice2nd, Mrs. Zalmon Hull ;3.
Mary, Mrs. Justus Gray, married January 14, 1799 ; David1st (Rev.), born July 16, 1764, Yale 1785 ;
Esther, born December 16, 1768, Mrs. Levi Taylor ;4
Azor2nd, son of Azor and Mary Belden1st, married, first, Hannah Couch, born April 22, 1755, daughter of Stephen and Sarah (Couch) Smith, and had :
William (Rev.), born July 16, 1781, Yale 1803;
Charles (M. D.), born 1783, Princeton 1812, unmarried : Anna,5 born 1784 ;
Abigail, born May 26, 1759, Mrs. Paul Welch; Stephen, born 1761 ; Anna, born 1763;
Seth, born 1766.
Mrs. Asahel Noble was the mother of Ranson Noble, whose son Harmon lived so delightfully in Es- sex, northern New York. Mrs. Harmon Noble, a highly estimable lady, was the mother of Mrs. Charles B. Waite son of the late C. C. Waite, of the Brevoorte House, New York eity. She was also the mother of Henry Harmon Noble, now of Albany, N. Y., and a whilom Norwalk sehool youth. This mother of Mrs. Waite and of her brother Henry H. Noble was Laura Ann, daughter of Peter and grand- daughter of Paul Weleh, who married Abigail, a younger daughter of Zebulon and Sarah (Belden) Cranc.
1The maiden name of Mary, wife of Azor Bel- den1st, is not, with eertainty, ascertained. She is thought to have been, possibly, a Fairfield (the town of Weston was formerly a part of Fairfield) Dimon. The matter has been a subjeet of study.
2 Was an officer in the Revolutionary war.
3Zalmon and Eunice2nd (Belden) Hull had daughter Sarah, born June 20, 1783, who married John Austin Croeker, who had Susan Maria Croeker, born February 19, 1811, who married, October 27, 1841, Henry Osborn of Maumee City, Ohio, who was born in Ridgefield May 19, 1814. These had a son, Henry A. Osborn, born September 30, 1869.
4Levi Taylor, born Deeember 15, 1764, belonged to the old Taylor family of Saugatuek (Westport). This family owned, aneiently, sueh a generous por- tion of the west side of the Saugatuek River in what is now Westport village, that the name was loeally known as Taylor Town.
5This only daughter of Capt. Azor Belden mar- ried, first, Stephen, son of Samuel and Anne (Dun- ning) Olmstead. She married, seeond, Noah Olm- stead, brother of the first husband. Sec note page 283. Mrs. Stephen and later, Mrs. Noah, Olmstead died January 12, 1834. Her seeond husband died October 6, 1842.
The child of Stephen and Anna (Belden) Olin- stead was George, born 1806, died October 27, 1858. He married Sarah Ann Belden and had no ehildren.
The children of Noah and Anna (Belden-Olm- stead) Olinstead were:
Sarah Anne, born Nov. 27, 1807, Mrs. Ralph Thateher; Henrietta, see page 284;
Jane, see page 284, Mrs. Thaddeus B. Curtis ; Charles, died young ;
Stephen, born June 30, 1817, see page 284; Maria ;
Frances, born July 6, 1821, see page 285;
Samuel Edwin, born March 25, 1824, sec page 285 ; ! Azor Belden, died 1849.
Thaddeus B. Curtis, who married, November 19, 1846, Jane Olmstead, was born at Stratford July 12, 1808, and died May 5, 1864. His wife died at Stratford February 1, 1871. Their children were: Myra, born September 5, 1847;
The children of Zalmon and Eunice Hull were | Emma, born Feb. 18, 1851, died Sept. 27, 1876; Theop, Harry, Hezekiah, Sarah and Lydia. Louise.
395
NORWALK.
Lewis, born May 14, 1787, Princeton 1811 ;
Joseph, born December 23, 1790, was married ;
Daniel, born November 4, 1793 ;
Benjamin (M. D.), born September 23, 1797, unmarried.
The first Mrs. Azor Belden2nd died March 27, 1801, and her husband married, second Hannah, born September 15, 1766, daughter of Timothy and Esther (Platt) Fitch, and grand- daughter of Gov. Thomas Fitch (see page 209), and had :
George Fitch, born March 21, 1802, see pages 218, 221 ;
Platt, born February 19, 1804.
David1st (Rev.), son of Azor and Mary Belden1st, married, December 21, 1794, Martha, born April 28, 1774, daughter of Seth and Elizabeth (Mallory) Hull, of Redding, and had:
David Hull, born December 21, 1797 ;
Jane, born May 27, 1799, Mrs. Reuben Booth ;
John Arms, born September 24, 1802;
Elizabeth S., born July 31, 1814, Mrs. Edgar S. Tweedy.
William (Rev.)1, son of Azor2nd and Hannah (Smith) Belden, married, February 5, 1807, Abigail Frances, born November 9, 1785, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Cass) Hatch, and had :
Nathaniel Hatch, born January 23, 1809; William, born August 20, 1811 ; Henry, born April 9, 1813 ; Abigail Hatch, born June 19, 1817 ; Mary Cass, born May 30, 1819 ; Lucy Swift, born March 25, 1822.
Lewis, M. D., son of Azor2m and Hannah (Smith) Belden, married, first, Rachel, daughter of Ebenezer and Huldah (Sherwood) Banks, and had :
Maria Louise, born November 8, 1818, unmarried ;
Ebenezer Banks, born August 17, 1820, unmarried ; Eunice Banks, born February 12, 1826.
Lewis Belden, M. D,, married, second, Anna Maria, daughter of Rev. John Freling- huysen and Hannah (Horn) Jackson, and had :
Anna Jackson, born January 31, 1831, who married, November 11, 1856, James Wells
1Rev. William Belden, eldest son of Capt. Azor and Hannah C. (Smith) Belden, was graduated at Yale College in 1803 and, after being ordained to the ministry, settled in Greenfield, Conn., where he filled the pulpit of the village church and also established a boarding school. In this school many eminent men were fitted for college, among them President Wool- sey and John C. Calhoun being probably the most distinguished. He removed to New York and was the originator of the "Public School Society," which afterwards became the "Board of Education." He was the Principal of one of the Public Schools for
nearly forty years, and during that period examined most of the applicants for the position of teacher. The Normal School, which has since become the Nor- mal College, was also a product of his creation. His interest in the development of the school system which New York now enjoys was absorbing, and in order to devote himself to it he declined the Presi- dency of two Colleges. He was a man of great in- tellectual power and most extensive learning. He married Miss Abigail Frances Hatch of Kent, Conn., who bore him three sons and three daughters. His line is an extended one.
396
NORWALK.
Randall, and had John Frelinghuysen Jackson Randall, born November 22, 1858, died July 14, 1865.
Daniel, son of Azor2nd and Hannah (Smith) Belden, married Sarah I., daughter of Frederick Curtis, and had :
Charles Azor, born January 15, 1828 ; Frederick Curtis, born 1831 ; Joseph J., born April 1, 1833 ; Sarah Frances, born September, 1835 ; Louisa A., born October 27, 1840.
George Fitch, son of Azor2nd and Hannah (Fitch) Belden, married, October 28, 1823, Nancy (born March 3, 1802) Hanford of Wilton, and had :
Henry H., born November 9, 1825 ; Charlotte, born August 24, 1827 ; George Fitch.
Platt, son of Azor2nd and Hannah (Fitch) Belden, married, September 4, 1829, Mary. sister of Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D., and had :
Charlotte Elizabeth, born February 12, 1832 ;
Frederick, born 1834; William, born April 1, 1837 ; Horace, born October 4, 1840.
David Hull, son of Rev. David and Martha Belden, married, first, 1824, Cornelia Johnson of Newtown, and had :
Jane, born December 21, 1825, Mrs. Rev. Joshua D. Berry.
David Hull Belden married, second, Susan Johnson of Newtown and had : Cornelia J., born December 29, 1829 ;
Clarissa, born 1830, unmarried ; David, born August 14, 1832 : John, born 1834.
David Hull Belden married, third, November, 1841, Ann, daughter of Samuel and Abby (Raymond) Clark, and had :
Mary Elizabeth, born February, 1845 ;
Frederick ; Howard Raymond ; Reuben Booth, born September 28, 1849.
David Hull Belden married, fourth, Sarah Peck of Canaan, Conn. No children.
John Arms, son of Rev. David and Martha (Hull) Belden, married, November 11, 1825, Betsey Caroline, daughter of Nathan and Molly (Burr) Marvin, and had :
397
NORWALK.
Nathan Marvin1, born August 17, 1826; Samuel Burr, born April 3, 1828 ; John Arms, born June 25, 1830 ; Charles, born June 16, 1833 ;
Frances Adelaide, born November 12, 1835, Mrs. Benjamin F. Bulkley ;
1NATHAN MARVIN BELDEN.
Nathan Marvin Belden, son of John A. and Bet- sey C. Belden, was born in Wilton, Conn., August 17, 1826. He was the grandson paternally of the Rev. David Belden, and maternally of Nathan Marvin, of Wilton. He passed his boyhood in Wilton, and was noted among his companions for his physical activity as well as for his quick wit. After preparing in his native town he entered Trinity College at Hartford in 1844 and graduated in 1848 with high honors, being the Latin Salutatorian and second in his class, the late Bishop Paddock, of Massachusetts, being first. In 1850 he was called to the position of Greek tutorin Trinity College, which position he held for two years, and afterward engaged in teaching in South- port, Conn., and Orange, N. J. In July, 1856, he married Sarah Jane, daughter of Serenius S. Stock- ing, then residing in Orange with her uncle, the Rev. Sabura S. Stocking, with whom he was associated in St. Mark's Hall. In the fall of that year he became the first principal of the Free Academy at Andover, Mass., and in 1857 removed to White Plains, N. Y., where in company with his brother, Samuel B., he opened a select boarding school for boys, which was maintained for four years, with great success. Among the patrons of this school were numbered some of the most prominent families of the country. In 1862, owing to poor health, he temporarily relinquished his work as a teacher, and both he and his brother went back to their native town, where they purchased farms and engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years. To the end of his life Mr. Belden lived upon his farm, even when engaged in other pur- suits.
In 1867, his health being restored, he resumed teaching, and was for two years principal of one of the public schools of Ansonia, Conn. From 1872 to 1874 he was in charge of the classical department in the Military Institute in Weston, Conn., and in 1875 and 1876 conducted the Trinity School in Southport, Conn. Returning to Wilton, he maintained for some years a private school in his own home, giving par- ticular attention to the education of Spanish stu- dents, of whose language he was an accomplished master. His reputation as a linguist extended far be- yond his native town. There was probably no man in the state whose mastery of languages, both an- cient and modern, was more thorough or extensive. His favorite tongues, in which he was most thorough- ly at home, were Greek, Latin, Spanish and French.
Mr. Belden, however, was a man whose rare clever-
ness was not confined to one department of knowl- edge. Hismathematical abilities seemed to be equally signal, and for many years he exercised them in the profession of surveyor and civil engineer. He held the position of County Surveyor, and during the last twenty years of his life his services were in frequent demand. The painstaking accuracy which characterized his work in every other department was noticeable also in this.
In public affairs he took a warm interest, and his conscientiousness, honesty and good judgment were so fully recognized that he was chosen again and again to offices of public trust. For many years he held the office of First Selectman of Wilton, for six years he represented that town in the Legislature and for five years he was County Commissioner. He held many other positions of responsibility, and his integrity, combined with his intelligence and general familiarity with the law, made his services in con- stant demand in the settlement of estates and other trusts of a semi-legal character. In everything he performed his duties with a strict fidelity that ex- tended to the minutest detail.
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