Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

In 1876, the first lodge was established in East Bridgeport under the name of the Harris, No. 99, ond its success has been exceptional since the beginning. In addi- tion to these lodges of the I. O. O. F., two Encampments have been established; the Stratfield, No. 23, in 1869, with a present membership of one hundred, and the Bridgeport, No. 22, established in 1870, numbering at the present time about ninety members. About four hundred of the Bridgeport Odd Fellows belong to the Mutual Aid Association of that Order while several of the lodges give extra aid, in addition to the regular benefits given by the Order to members during sickness. The whole amount which has accrued to Bridgeport members of the I. O. O. F. from benefit funds since 186 7 is in the neighborhood of $18,000; the whole number of members who have joined the organization since that time is estimated to be about twelve hundred. There are besides these organizations in Bridgeport, some fifty other social bodies of which fifteen are temperance societies. Among these latter are the follow- ing: Pequonnock Lodge, No. 30, Good Templars, organized March 22, 1866; Non- pareil Lodge, No. 187, Good Templars; Living Spring Division, No. 22, Sons of Temperance; Bridgeport Division, No. 24, Sons of Temperance; St. Mary T. A. B. Society, organized in May, 1868; Father Matthew Young Men's T. A. B. Society, organized in October, 1868; St. Patrick's T. A. B. Society, organized in October, 1868; Crystal Fount Temple of Honor and Temperance; The Women's Christian Temperance Union. Among the other organizations are a Bible Society, a Medical Association, a 48 BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. Dramatic Society, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, the Firemen's Benevolent Association, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the St. George, Caledonian and Emmett Clubs, and the Ladies' Charitable Society. SEASIDE INSTITUTE, COR. ATLANTIC AND LAFAYETTE AVENUES. This building is being erected by Warner Brothers for the use of their em- ployes, and will be completed about September 1, 1887. It will comprise a Restau- rant, Free Reading-Room, Library, Bath-Rooms, a large Public Hall, and rooms for Evening Classes. It is a very substantial and elegant building, and will cost, when complete, about $60,000. The Young Men's Christian Association was first organized in Bridgeport in 18G8 and achieved valuable results in religious and social work during the next four years, after which it was discontinued for a time. The association was reorganized in June, 1883, and was incorporated in February, 1884. Mr. W. E. Colby, the General- Secretary of the Salem, Mass., Association, was secured for the new Bridgeport As- sociation, and gave valuable assistance in the inauguration of successful Avork. He has continued to serve the Association up to the present time, uniting in his manage- ment of the affairs of the Association an unusual executive ability with that broad acquaintance with men and methods so essential in this department of Christian Avork. The beautiful building now occupied by the Association Avas first made its home in BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. 49 November, 1883. As the Association has been increasing rapidly, it lias gradually outgrown the limits of its present home and is spreading out its work in every direc- tion. Sunday afternoon services are held every week in the Association Hall at four •o'clock. Religious meetings are also held during the week. One of the most effec- tive of its departments is the educational, where instruction is given in vocal music, penmanship, book-keeping and other practical studies. Special attention is given to the subject of physical culture, and arrangements made so that its members can develop their bodily powers to their highest efficiency. Social work is made the recipient of much care and effort, while departments are maintained for employment boarding-houses, and boys. The present officers of the Association are: President, Dr. I. DeVer Warner, vice-presidents, Daniel W". Kissam, Daniel E. Marsh, Marshall E. Morris; treasurer, Francis W. Marsh; recording secretary, Dr. W. II. Donaldson; general secretary, W. E. Colby; auditor, Geo. Munger. The zeal with which this important work is carried on and the valuable results obtained seem in characteris- tic keeping with the city itself. Bridgeport has never lost the interest in the church for which the early fathers were so noted. At the present time there are twenty-two large and active churches in the city, consisting of five Episcopal, five Methodist, four Congregational, four Catholic, two Baptist, one Presbyterian and one German Reformed, besides a large number of smaller Christian organizations and Mission Chapels. Bridgeport may well be called, as is Brooklyn, N. Y., the " city of churches." The whole atmosphere of the city seems to partake of that busy, genial spirit which enlivens its inhabitants, and the stranger can not long remain within its boundaries without feeling not only that he has come to a thoroughly awakened modern city, but also that he is in the midst of a people who have for generations been noted for the high culture and genial courtesy which help to constitute the noblest manhood. 50 BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. CHAPTER VII. BIOGRAPHICAL. As a result of the valuable and scholarly researches of the Rev. Samuel Orcutt,. whose exhaustive History of Bridgeport it has been our privilege to consult, the biography of modern Bridgeport is unusually full and interesting, and we accord- ingly desire to give a few of the more important facts in regard to the life and work of such of our prominent citizens as have not already been mentioned, disclaim- ing all attempts at a complete record, which would be impossible within our space, and referring all desiring fuller and more detailed information in this department to the great historical work of Mr. Samuel Orcutt. The leading facts will be grouped under the individual names of our principal citizens. James Walker Beardslet is a native of Monroe, Connecticut, and a descendant in regular line from William Beardsley one of the early settlers of Stratford. He is deeply interested in antiquarian research, in which field he has accomplished much valuable work in the way of local historical matter. He is a fitting type and repre- sentative of the progressive yet conservative New England farmers, who have done so much for the advancement of the city and State, and his name will be gratefully remembered as long as the city exists and enjoys the beauties and health-giving, privileges of Beardsley Park. Sidney B. Beardsley was born in Monroe, Connecticut, August 20, 1822, being the son of Cyrus H. and Maria (Burr) Beardsley, and a descendent of one of the oldest and best families of the State. After receiving a thorough education at Wilton Academy and Yale College, he studied law with Reuben Booth of Danbury, and was admitted to the bar at Norwalk in 1843. Since 1866 he has resided and practiced at Bridgeport. He was State Senator in 1858, and was elected Judge of the Superior Court in 1874. He ranks among the leading masters of jurisprudence in the State. Alfred Bishop was born in Stamford, Connecticut, December 21, 1798, being the son of William and Susannah Bishop, and a descendant in a direct line from the Rev. John Bishop, the second minister of Stamford. After several years of exper- ience in teaching school at Stamford and at farming in New Jersey, where he made experiments in transporting earth, etc., and educated himself for his great career as a canal and railroad contractor, he entered upon this work, and among the greatest achievements he made after that time were the Morris canal in New Jersey; the bridge over the Raritan at New Brunswick; the Housatonic, Berkshire, Washington & Saratoga, Naugatuck, and New York & New Haven railroads, for all of which he was the chief contractor. He was engaged in immense operations up to almost the last moment of life, and his sudden death, June 11, 1849, was a great loss and bereavement to Bridgeport, where for a number of years previous he had made his. home. BRIDGEPORT, PAST AND PRESENT. 51 Rev. Ethan Ferris Bishop was born in Madison, New Jersey, March 27, 1825. He was a son of Alfred and Mary Ferris Bishop. Like his father, lie early became interested in railroad matters, was president of the Naugatuck Railroad from 1851 to 1855, and held important interests in the New York & New Haven, Washington & Saratoga, Milwaukee & Chicago, Milwaukee & Watertown, Dubuque & Sioux City, and the Bridgeport Steamboat Co. He studied law and was admitted to the bar but never practiced. He was also a deep and earnest student of theology, for which his mind seemed admirably fitted. He died in Bridgeport, December 7, 1883. Hon. William D. Bishop, also a son of Alfred Bishop, was likewise distinguished in the railroad enterprises of the State. He was for several years at a critical time in its history, president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany, and has been one of the most influential directors of the road for many years. He graduated from Yale College in 1849; represented this district in the National Congress from 1859-61, where he took an active part in the important discussions of the time; was a representative of Bridgeport in the State Legislature for 1871, and a State Senator in 1877 and 1878. Dr. Isaac Bronson was born in Middlebury, Connecticut, March 10, 1760. He served as a surgeon to the Continental army throughout the Revolutionary War, and after a journey to Europe and India, settled in Philadelphia in 1792, where for a number of years he practiced his profession with great renown during the dreaded yellow fever epidemics, and laid the fonndation of marked financial success. He came to Greenfield Hill, Connecticut, in 1796, and in 1807 was elected first president of the Bridgeport Bank, which office he held with honor for twenty-one years. He died at the age of 80, May 19, 1839.