Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

Henry N. Ayers, Dealer in Boots and Shoes, 381 Main Street, Bridgeport. — A well known house, whose reputation for keeping a full and desirable line of first-class Boots and Shoes is that of Henry N. Ayres. This is one of the hand- somest stores in the city, with plenty of sun- shine, and a general air of neatness and order that speaks well for the systematic management of its affairs. With ample capacity to transact their increasing business, the house is able to meet the most exacting demands of its patrons, and take advantage of all the new styles on their first appearance upon the market. While confined to the retail trade exclusively, the transactions in aggregate assume a wholesale magnitude, both in stock and sales; a large corps of assistants are required, and the general character of the stock is all that can be desired, embracing the goods of the most celebrated manufacturers, and ex- pressly adapted for the trade; and the slimmest or the fullest foot can be accommodated to per- fection in all styles of goods. In view of the facts enumerated, it is not sur- prising that the house to which we refer has achieved such marked prominence in the busi- ness. Mr. Ayers is to-day a representative deal- er in his vocation, not only in view of his long experience and systematic management, but he is also equally conspicuous for enterprise and liberality in all his dealings. As a result the very best class of customers have become perma- nent patrons. Merwin House, Fairfield, Lyman Merwin, Prop. — One of the most charming of summer resorts in Connecticut is the Merwin House. The house is situated in the charming and his- torical town of Fairfield, celebrated for its mag- nificent drives, beautiful residences, shaded streets, good churches and the best boating and bathing facilities on the coast. A finer beach cannot be found. An excellent livery is another feature not to be despised in the country. Its contiguity to New York City, reached by either the New Haven and Hartford railroad, or by Norwalk or Bridgeport steam- boats, renders this famous resort of especial value to business men and their families, while the salubrity of its climate and absolute freedom from malaria or any contagious diseases ensures conditions of health of the greatest value. The Merwin House is one of the best as well as the oldest house in town, and is under the able and efficient management of Mr. Lyman Mer- win, who is a genial and clever gentleman. The building occupied for hotel purposes is a large wooden structure of three stories, finely located at the junction of two of the principal streets in town. It is kept in thorough repair both inside and out, and presents a beautiful and homelike appearance. It has sixty-five rooms all finely furnished and neatly kept, and no pains are spared to add to the pleasure and comfort of the guests. The house is a favorite one among pleasure seekers as well as business men, and our readers who visit Fairfield can rest assured of being well cared for, and at as low rates as first class accommodations can be had. Bountiful fare is provided, the cuisine being first class in all its appointments. Polite and at- tentive service is rendered to all, and everything possible is done to make it as homelike as possi- ble to guests. Mr. Merwin, the proprietor, has long been con- nected with the enterprise, and is a gentleman of long and thorough experience in the business. Carriages meet all the trains at the depot, con- vey guests to and from the house, and trunks are delivered free of charge. Terms are reasonable | and can be had on application. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NORWALK. Like many other New England cities, Norwalk owes its existence to the wise forethought and action of a few able men. Before any of the various settlements in the present State of Connecticut had become firmly established, while the foundation stones were being laid in Hartford and New Haven, Roger Ludlow, an English settler, about whom very little is now known, in 1640 made negotiations for the pur- chase from the Indians of territory, including part of the City of Norwalk. A few years later these purchases were followed up by another of Captain Daniel Patrick's, of whom the name is about all that has survived in history. These two pieces of land included Norwalk, and also the towns of New Canaan and Wilton. The name of Norwalk is derived from its situation, for, according to the original bargain of 1640, "the northern bounds of the lands purchased were to extend from the sea one day's ' north ioalki into the country." In 1649, Nathan Ely and Richard Olmstead were given permission by the General Court to settle here, and the town came to be definitely known as Norwalk. At this time there were about twenty families in the settlement. Four years later it was vested with town privileges by the Court. The town now began to steadily increase, many of the best settlers in other parts of the State being attracted hither by its beautiful and advantageous situation. In the formation of the Colonial Constitution, at the union of Connecticut and New Haven in 1665, and also in the government of the Colony from that time on, many of Norwalk's citizens took an important part. In the war with King Philip, the in- habitants were, for the first time, called upon to bear arms for the Colony, on which occasion a large pi*oportion of the fifty able-bodied men in the place volunteered and did excellent service. Norwalk sustained its duty with honor in all the colonial wars with the Indians and French up to the time of the Revolution. The office of Governor of the Colony was held by a citizen of Norwalk, Thomas Fitch, from 1754 to 1766. Governor Fitch also rendered valuable service to the Colony as Lieutenant-Governor, from 1750 to 1754, as Chief Judge for four years, and as a member of the committee appointed by the legislature to revise the laws of the Colony. He died in 1774, and there are few names in the early history of Connecticut which represent more important services or redound more to the honor of the State than that of Governor Fitch, of Norwalk. The Revolutionary War made a heavy draft upon the men and resources of Nor- walk, which it was not slow to respond to generously. On the 11th of July, 1779, the town was taken and burnt during an invasion of the British. Tryon, the nominal British Governor of Connecticut, and General Garth made a sudden descent upon 132 KORWALK, PAST AND PRESENT. Norwalk, after having laid Fairfield in ashes. The attack was not so sudden or un- expected' however, but that most of the inhabitants had had time to flee during the night. Tryon, on landing, marched to Grumman Hill, where he made his head- quarters. About fifty minute-men, under Captain Stephen Betts, offered brave but unavailing resistance to the overpowering forces of the British. These suffered con- siderable loss at the hands of the Continentals, for according to Tryon's report, he lost twenty men killed, ninety-six wounded, and thirty-two missing. The usual heartless brutality attended this destructive visit of the enemy. All but six houses were burnt to the ground, these exceptions being granted to the houses of Tories. Not even the two churches were spared. In all, one hundred and ninety buildings and five vessels were consumed. The loss of property was estimated by a committee appointed for that purpose by the legislature to have been $116,238.66. Alarmed by the gathering numbers of the patriots, the British had to make a hurried retreat about noon, taking all the Tories along with them. Out of the ashes of self-sacrifice soon arose a larger and more beautiful town. Hardly a decade had passed since the Revolution, under the beneficent government of the Union, before a considerable manufacturing interest had been established in Norwalk, which has continued to grow ever since. Soon after their introduction on the Sound, a steamboat line was inaugurated connecting Norwalk with New York, thus adding a decided impetus to her prosperity. Several large hat factories and one of the finest carpet manufactories in the fetate had already developed into large proportions by 1834. In 1840, the population had increased to 3, S63. A decade later it was 4,651. As is the case in the history of most communities, the records of this period ot peaceful progress are very meagre, and the current of events during the years preceding the civil war can only be determined by occasional important occurrences. That, simultaneously with the growth of its material prosperity, the uplifting of thought and judgment concerning the great questions of the times was going on here steadily, cannot be doubted. The progress of the slavery question aroused increasing interest as it continued to grow upon the country, until, when the dav of trial came, the citizens of Norwalk were found ready. Old and middle-aged residents can vividly picture in memory, the tremendous excitement during the days subsequent to the fall of Fort Sumter. In no State was the war-spirit more enthusiastic, the war meetings more frequent and general, the war preparations more devoted than in sturdy old Connecticut, and none of its cities surpassed Norvvalk in this respect. Volunteers were numerous and prompt. In the Third Conn. Vol. Regt, sent out early in 1861, and among the first to arrive at Washington, went Capt. Douglass Fowler, Co. A, with one hundred brave men from Norwalk. A fund was at once generously raised by the citizens, by which each volunteer was paid ten dollars bounty on enlistment and five dollars extra pay each month of service. . . . O S Ferry of Norwalk, was appointed colonel of the Fifth Connecticut which went out in the fall of 1861. Leaving a large law practice for the sake of the coun- try Col Ferry led his troops to the field, and rendered such gallant services during the war that by shear merit alone, he won a brigadier-generalship Company E Capl "W Wyant, of the same regiment, the Fifth, was composed mostly of Norwalk NORWALK, PAST AND PRESENT. 133