USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Derby > The history of the old town of Derby, Connecticut, 1642-1880. With biographies and genealogies > Part 54
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BIOGRAPHIES.
tine feuds, and himself laboring day and night in furnishing comforts and necessities for the sick and the wounded soldiers in the field. In June, 1864, by all odds the largest and most successful fair ever held in the town was held on Birmingham green under an immense tent, and which resulted in raising over $4,000 in aid of the Sanitary Commission, which enter- prise was largely indebted for its success to the unflagging efforts of Doct. Beardsley and the several members of his family who took part in the enterprise. This much is simple justice to say, although a large number of other noble workers took part in the labors of the occasion.
In political life the Doctor was well fitted to do noble work. Although never a member of the noble army of Connecticut legislators yet many a time the honor was within his easy reach had he chosen to avail himself of his opportunity. His always extensive professional practice forbade his acceptance of the position. In the town, however, he has been a public official in some important capacity nearly all the time of his residence here. For twenty-five years continuously he was town treasurer ; eight years he has been warden of Birming- ham, and registrar of vital statistics the same length of time, besides many other minor offices much of the time. The Doc- tor, though now verging well towards three score and ten, is vigorous and full of energy ; ever ready at all times to respond to the calls of the sick, whether with prospect of remuneration or not, it seems to make little difference with him. Little indeed has he gathered of the gold that perisheth, but of the wealth that cometh from the living of an earnest, friendly, humane life, he is the richest man in all the town. It is here clearly put on record that these words will be abundantly veri- fied when his record shall be closed.
He married Mary, only daughter of Samuel Bassett, Esq., of Humphreysville, April 30, 1837. J. W. S.
GEORGE LUCIUS BEARDSLEY, M. D.,
Was born in Milford, Conn., May 12, 1848, where he attended the High School some time. He prepared for college at the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, entered Yale in 1866, and was graduated in 1870. He was graduated at the Bellevue
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
Hospital Medical College, New York, in 1873, and received his degree of M. D. He came to Birmingham in 1874; has been a member of the Board of Education, and is at present assistant surgeon of the 2nd regiment Connecticut National Guards. He married, M. Louise, daughter of Amos H. Alling, Esq., December 24, 1874.
REV. BENJAMIN BEACH,
Son of Benjamin Beach sen. of North Haven, was born April 15, 1737, and resided at North Haven some years in a house his father built in the year Benjamin jun. was born; his two brothers residing one on each side of him, and in the three families were at one time seventeen sons. His brother, Elias Beach, was a farmer and a licensed preacher, but not ordained.
Benjamin Beach preached in what is now Seymour, Prospect and Milton. Tradition in the family says, he having agreed to settle in Seymour waited all winter for snow on which to re- move his family, but the snow failed to come that winter and he removed in March, 1789, without snow. In November of this same year Isaac Johnson deeded to Mr. Beach " one acre of land lying a little east of the meeting-house," which was a pres- ent to Mr. Beach in consideration of his " settling in the gospel ministry in the Congregational or Independent church " in the place. On this land Mr. Beach built a house in which he re- sided, and which is still standing. In 1791 he bought of Isaac Johnson one acre and a half adjoining, and "lying east and south of the first." In 1799 he purchased of Amos Hine seven- teen acres for $333 at a place called Success Hill, and on Feb- ruary 26, 1810, being then of Cornwall, he sold to John Swift eighteen acres of land at Success Hill for $686.06.
The meeting-house was built for his use and was standing when he received the first deed. He preached in Prospect several years, closing his labors there in 1797, and probably served the two churches at the same time. He is said to have removed to Cornwall about 1805, which gives him eighteen years of ministerial labor in Seymour.
He married Mercy Blatchley, who died in 1812 on her sev- enty-fifth birthday, and he died in Cornwall July 12, 1816, aged seventy-nine years.
ـمد
Orespectfully yours S. s. Bush
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Two sermons of Mr. Beach are preserved, and are in the style of the age in which he labored, and compare favorably with hundreds of others by different ministers of that day. One of these sermons illustrates the old method of giving instruc- tion from a text, in a very clear manner. Many have laughed at the great number of divisions the older preachers men- tioned in their sermons, but those divisions frequently marked not a division of the subject treated, but simply the thought illustrative of the topic spoken of ; as in this sermon there are only three heads, or general propositions, and the advice given ; but during the discussion of the topics there are in all eighty items numbered with figures. Hence there is secured in such a production a great amount of concise and definite statement, and when the sermon was delivered, all knew precisely what the minister believed, which is not always the case at the pres- ent time. The old people who delighted in such preaching are frequently supposed to have been dull scholars and poor think- ers, but it is quite certain they did know what they believed, and why they believed it.
SHARON YALE BEACH,
Son of Giles and Mary (Dayton) Beach, was born May 21, 1809, in that part of North Haven, Conn., now called Montowese, near Pine River Bridge. Giles Beach was the second son of the Rev. Benjamin Beach, the first pastor of Chusetown.
Mary Dayton, the wife of Giles Beach, was the daughter of Jonathan Dayton and Mary Yale of North Haven. Jonathan Dayton had several children, one of whom married Joel Thorp, who removed with his family from North Haven by means of an ox team to New Connecticut (Ohio) and was one of the pi- oneers in that section of the country ; his nearest neighbor being twelve miles distant This Jonathan Dayton was a cap- tain in the Revolution and had four of his sons under him in the army, which gave to his command the name of the Dayton company. He was also a justice of the peace and a prominent man in his community.
Sharon Y. Beach had only the advantages of a common school education, although one of his teachers, Benjamin Eastman, grandson of Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, himself a liberally edu-
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
cated man, thinking young Beach ought to have better oppor- tunites, offered to furnish them at a higher school; but the spirit of independence declined the friendly offer while the kindness of the teacher was always gratefully remembered
His early life was one of temperance, industry and frugality ; laboring on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he passed through a long siege of illness from which he recov- ered very slowly. After this, he at first engaged as a peddler, carrying his small stock of goods in a basket and hand trunk, and then accepted a place as a clerk in a dry-goods and grocery store where he continued until his employer sold his interests to another firm. After a few months he was employed by John H. De Forest in the cotton factory, then in operation at Humphreysville, for the small sum of $16 per month for the first year, and $ 18 per month for the second, with the promise of an increase of wages or a more advantageous position at the expiration of that time. From this amount of wages he paid his board, clothed himself and saved a small sum for capital on a future day.
At the expiration of his engagement the business of the fac- tory was so depressed as not to warrant his continuance therein, and Mr. De Forest gave him a letter of commendation in which he said : "I recommend him to any one in want of his services as one competent and faithful, and whose character is entirely above reproach." The terms of this confidence exceeded the expectations of Mr. Beach, but they gave him an inward cour- age which has never been effaced from his mind; which fact illustrates that a little expression of confidence is often of more value than money. After six months' employment else- where he was again employed by Mr. De Forest in the cotton factory, at advanced wages, where he continued nine or ten years.
In the year 1843, he in company with George L. Hodge and Samuel Roselle engaged in the manufacture of printing and colored paper, in which relation he continued two years, when a new company was formed, consisting of Ezekiel Gilbert, Samuel Roselle and himself, for the term of five years. This company purchased the old mill standing on what was still known at that day as Rimmon Falls, and continued the paper
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BIOGRAPHIES.
making business. At the expiration of that term Mr. Beach bought the interests of the other partners and removed the pa- per mill to its present location, about three-quarters of a mile east of Seymour on Bladen's brook, where he has continued to the present time with a good degree of success.
Mr. Beach has occupied several positions of trust and honor in the town, and manifested considerable public spirit in the more substantial enterprises and progressive improvements of the community and town. He was elected to the office of jus- tice of the peace while Seymour belonged to Derby, and after its separate organization he was the justice before whom most of the cases were tried for several years. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he was the first to offer a bounty to those who would enlist in the army for the defense of the Union, and paid to those who enlisted in the twentieth regiment, ten dollars each, to the amount of $270, and contin- ued in an active part in sustaining the town in all its efforts through that struggle. He has been selectman, a member of the board of relief, a member and chairman of the board of education a number of years.
He has been a member of a Baptist church about fifty years ; has had charge of the Congregational Sunday-school in Sey- mour at several different terms, and when the Baptist Bible school was started at Ansonia he was elected its superintend- ent, which position he held about six years. He was one of the building committee of the Ansonia Baptist church ; was elected its first deacon, and has been a prominent member and an active supporter of that church since its organization, there being no Baptist church in Seymour.
In business and principles of morality, he has made life a success, and has no reason to reflect severely upon it as it re- cedes into the forgetfulness of the past.
Mr. Beach married first Adaline, daughter of Asa and Eunice (Johnson) Sperry, of Orange, Conn., and they had eight chil- dren, five of whom are still living. The eldest, George W. Beach, is the superintendent of the Naugatuck railroad. (Which see.) Andrew Y. Beach is agent at Springfield (Mass.) of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad. Sharon D. Beach has charge of his father's paper mill. Theodore B. Beach is the agent of
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
the Naugatuck railroad at Seymour. Emeline E. Beach, the only daughter, resides with her father.
ALFRED BLACKMAN
Was born in Newtown, Conn., December 28, 1807. His father, the late Samuel C. Blackman, was a graduate of Yale College, class 1793, and was judge of probate for the district of New- town from its organization until disqualified by the state con- stitution, which was about fifteen years, and died at the advanced age of ninety-one.
Alfred studied the classics and was fitted for college by his father, and graduated at Yale in 1828. He read law in his father's office, reciting regularly for two years to the late Gov. Henry Dutton, and was admitted to the bar of Fairfield county in 1831. The writer of this remembers well listening in that same year, with great pleasure, to an eloquent oration delivered by him at Monroe, on the occasion of the celebration of the Fourth of July.
In the spring of 1832 he removed to Humphreysville, then a flourishing part of Derby, and commenced the practice of his profession. At this time Horace M. Shepard, also from New- town, was practicing law in that village, where he had been settled two or three years, but removed in a few weeks, and soon after died.
Mr. Blackman married on the 3d of June, 1832, Abby Beers, of his native town, and had two sons born at Humphreysville, both of whom graduated at Yale, the eldest, Samuel C., in the class of 1854, and Charles S., in the class of 1857. Three gen- erations of this family were present as graduates at a meeting of the alumni of this college at one of its commencements.
Mr. Blackman remained at Humphreysville ten years, en- couraged by an increased and flattering practice, until he was elected to the state Senate from the fifth district. At the end of the session of the Legislature he removed to Waterbury to take charge of the probate office of that district, and in conse- quence of the sickness and lamented death of Judge Robinson S. Merriman he was called to take charge of the probate court of New Haven, thus dividing his time between the two dis- tricts. This led him to remove his law office to New Haven,
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BIOGRAPHIES.
where he has since resided. In 1855 he was elected as one of the representatives from New Haven, his colleague being ex- Gov. James E. English. While a member of the Legislature he was elected mayor of New Haven and served in that office one year, declining a re-nomination, and refusing ever since to be a candidate for election to any political office. He was elected for one year by the Legislature judge of the county court, and on hearing of his appointment immediately sent his written declination of the same to the Hon. Origin S. Seymour, speaker of the House, who assumed the responsibility of not presenting it to that body, and he was persuaded to fill the office one year, although he preferred the office of an advocate to any position or other employment. But he did consent, un- der the appointment of the late Andrew T. Judson, judge of the United States district court, to accept the office of clerk of that court and of the circuit court of the United States, which appointment was continued by the late Judge Charles A. In- gersoll and William D. Shipman, and he held these offices from 1852 to 1867, when Judge Loren P. Waldo was appointed his successor, and the office and records were then removed to Hartford.
Since his retirement from the active practice of his profession in 1872, in consequence of impaired health, he has been occu- pied most of the time in his private library, in miscellaneous reading, and receiving the social calls of his friends and taking a daily drive in seasonable weather. His brethren of the New Haven county bar have caused his portrait to be painted, of life size in oil, and suspended in the superior court room, attached to which, in a frame, is a copy of the correspondence which ex- plains itself. As it is of appropriate character it is given a place in these pages, and is as follows :
" NEW HAVEN, November 9, 1878. Hon. Alfred Blackman :
Dear Sir-Desiring to express in some suitable manner our personal regard for you, and in recognition of the distinguished position you have held at the bar of this state, and also your services in securing the erection of our new court house, we have placed your portrait in the superior court room. We trust our election in this respect will be agreeable to you and gratifying to your numerous friends.
68
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
Very sincerely your friends and brethren at the bar,
John S. Beach,
George H. Watrous,
C. R. Ingersoll,
D. R. Wright.
H. B. Harrison,
Charles Ives,
T. E. Doolittle,
Francis Wayland,
J. W. Webster,
Arthur D. Osborne,
Luzon B. Morris,
Louis H. Bristol,
Simeon E. Baldwin,
Samuel L. Bronson.
NEW HAVEN, January, 1879.
To Messrs. John S. Beach, Charles R. Ingersoll. Arthur D. Osborne. and others, members of the New Haven county bar :
Gentlemen-Your esteemed favor informing me of your action in pro- curing my portrait to be painted and placed in the superior court room was recently received, and impressed my heart with warm and abiding gratitude. You may be assured that such an unmerited act of kind- ness is agreeable to me and commands my cordial approbation.
To be associated with the portraits of the learned and acute Bald- win, the eloquent and amiable Ingersoll, and the noble hearted and generous Foster, in the arena of their forensic exploits, and in the building which you are so kind as to,say I contributed some service in securing its erection, is gratifying to my ardent professional ambition. We belong my friends. to a somewhat belligerent profession ; and if, after nearly a half century of intimate association and conflict with my brethren, I have so far succeeded as to be entitled to this ante mortem token of your esteem and the generous words you so kindly ex- press, you will believe me when I say that I am now and ever shall be. with sincere gratitude, -
Your affectionate friend and brother, ALFRED BLACKMAN."
Fixed in his principles, Judge Blackman seldom entered the arena of politics, oftener rejecting than accepting the tender of political honors, choosing rather to confine himself to the duties of his profession. Affable and gentlemanly in his manners, blessed with a classical education, shrewd and clear-sighted in his capacities, a ready and pleasing speaker, he has won for himself a reputation that enrolls his name among the first mem- bers of the New Haven bar .- Since writing the above Mr. Blackman has died, having passed away April 28, 1880.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
FREDERICK P. BLODGETT, M. D.,
Was born at Broad Brook, Conn., January 6, 1847. His early school days were passed at the public schools, and Ellington Academy from which he graduated, and entering Yale Medical College in 1868, was graduated at that institution in 1871, receiving the degree M. D. He has practiced his profession in Ansonia since 1871, with the exception of three years. Although a young man, Dr. Blodgett has gained a large and remunerative practice, of which many an older physician might well feel proud. The only public office held during his resi- dence in Ansonia is that of registrar of vital statistics which position he held two years.
REV. JOHN BOWERS
Was a native of England, the son of George Bowers who was in Scituate, Mass., in 1637, in Plymouth in 1639, removed to Cambridge where his wife was buried March 25, 1644. John was graduated at Harvard College in 16491, and was a school- master in Plymouth, perhaps (says Savage) the earliest in the business. He came to New Haven in the spring of 1653 to teach, which he did some years. We hear of him next in Guil- ford, where in 1660, he purchased an estate and supplied the pulpit for three or four years until Mr. Joseph Elliot was settled in 1664.
On the removal of Abraham Pierson with other planters from Branford in 1667, Mr. Pierson engaged Mr. Bowers to supply his place until the end of the year. After this as Rev. T. P. Gillett of Branford informs, "Mr. Bowers received an invi- tation to settle with the people although no church was organ- ized. He remained until February, 1672, and then gave the town liberty to provide a minister for themselves, which they accepted." In November, 1673, he was preaching regularly in Derby and the people made provision to build him a house, in which he afterwards resided. In the spring of 1671, Derby granted him twelve acres of land and he had probably preached here some at that time, and was here during most of the year 1673. For his salary during 1674 he agreed to take what the
1 American Quarterly Register viii. 335.
-
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
people were willing to give, and after that for some years he received fifty pounds a year.
In 1684 he was very sick and made a will which was recorded by the town clerk. He probably died on the 14th of June, 1687, and yet it is unaccountable how it should occur that the town clerk should have recorded the death of a minister without writing Mr. to his name as in this case. I do not remember to have seen a minister's name written before the Revolution with- out the "Mr." attached.
He married at New Haven, Bridget daughter of Anthony2 Thompson of New Haven, who survived him until May 19, 1720.
REV. JOHN BRAINARD
Was born in Hartford, Conn., June 4, 1830, was fitted for col- lege at the Hartford Grammar school and Cheshire Academy ; was graduated at Trinity College in 1851, pursued his theologi- cal course at the Berkley Divinity school, and was ordained dea- con by Bishop Brownell December 18, 1853.
He was assistant minister at Grace Church at Baltimore for two years and ordained priest by Bishop Whittingham May 28, 1856. He was called to the rectorship of St James's Church of Birmingham in 1856, where he remained until November, 1863, when he resigned to accept the rectorship of St. Peter's Church at Auburn, N. Y.
Mr. Brainard was a very acceptable, exemplary and efficient pastor and his resignation was much regretted by the parish. In 1870 he received the degree of S. T. D., from Trinity College, Hartford, and is at present rector of St Peter's Church, Auburn.
THOMAS BURLOCK
Was born in New York, October 1, 1804; was educated in Connecticut, and for two years was a close student in Yale Col- lege. After his marriage to Caroline, the acomplished daughter of Clarke Elliott, he was largely and successfully engaged some years in New York city as a grain distiller and sugar refiner. Retiring from this business he removed to Huntington in 1840. Having no profession, and being of an active and sanguine temperament, he took a lively interest in the political issues of
2See chapter II of this history, and the family genealogy.
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BIOGRAPHIES.
that day, and revolutionized the politics of Huntington and was elected in 1847 as a whig representative from that old demo- cratic town. On his removal to Derby he became variously interested in manufacturing pursuits, but this did not lessen his devotion to whig principles, and he represented Derby with great credit in the Legislature in 1848-9.
Mr. Burlock was a man of talent, and of gentlemanly manners, and was one of the finest and most elegant off-hand speakers of the town. He died, much lamented, very suddenly of heart disease, October 3, 1865.
ABIEL CANFIELD,
A soldier of the Revolution, was born April 6, 1753, and enlisted in the company of Capt. Nathan Pierson as piper, May 8, 1777, and marched to New Haven the same day, where he remained with the forces for the protection of the city and harbor during the term of his service. His residence was in Chusetown where he had a shop and manufactured brass and pewter buttons, buckles, sleighbells, metal, and tags. He employed an English engineer to cut the dies used in making the figures on the but- tons, for military and other purposes. He afterwards purchased of Bradford Steele the house east of the Episcopal Church and built a shop near it. He died December 6, 1812, aged fifty-nine years3.
BEN. ADAM CASTON, M. D.,
Was graduated at Castleton, Vermont, Medical College ; Located in Humphreysville in 1829, and remained until 1833. He is still practicing in Clinton, Conn.
GEORGE W. CHEESEMAN
Was born in New York in 1823, removed to Stratford, Conn., in 1833, and to Birmingham in 1842, and was employed by E. N. Shelton as book-keeper about five years. He then entered the general mercantile business with his brother-in-law, John W. Osborn, and they continued in Birmingham until 1858, when they commenced the manufacture of hoop-skirts, and in 1859 removed their manufactory to Ansonia, where they have found success in their enterprises. Mr. Cheeseman's father,
8History of Seymour.
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HISTORY OF DERBY.
George Weeks Cheeseman, died when this son was only six years old, but a noble-hearted and Christian mother molded the mind and habits of her son, who has been an honor to her good name.
Mr. Cheeseman is a representative man and highly influen- tial in the social and business circles in which he moves. His circumspect daily work, being identified with many benevolent and Christian efforts, has commanded the respect and confi- dence of the community.
He married Sarah Durand of Derby, a most estimable woman, whose life has always abounded in Christian works.
JOHN COE,
A good representative of the Coe family, was born in Bethany, and for many years was a successful manufacturer and dealer in leather at Beacon Falls. In his later years he made Birming- ham his residence, and was esteemed among the useful and most exemplary citizens. He was a consistent Methodist, walking after the example of his first ancestor and namesake in Derby ; one of his peculiar traits being to watch and care for, in a quiet way, the poor of the community. He died greatly respected, December 15, 1876, aged sixty-one years.
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