Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

On September 20, 1865, Doctor Bill was married to Mary J. Worcester, daughter of T. G. Worcester, Esq., of Hollis, N. H., and niece of Dr. Joseph E. Worcester, LL. D., author of "Worcester's dictionary. " She is seventh in di- rect descent from Rev. William Worcester, the first minister settled in Salisbury, Mass., and a D. A. R. through Capt. Noah Worcester, who commanded a company at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mrs. Bill has always been active in char- itable and Church work, and is one of the original members of the English Literary Club, one of the oldest women's clubs in the country. Doctor and Mrs. Bill have now three living children: Mary E., Philip W. and Harold C. The family at- tend the services of the Episcopal Church. In politics Doctor Bill is a Republican, casting his first ballot for Gen. John C. Fremont for Presi- dent. He is a member of Elias Howe, Jr., Post No. 3, G. A. R. ; the Brooklawn Country Club, the Contemporary Club, the Scientific Society, the American Art Society, and the Art Collectors Club. Though one of the busiest professional men in his city, Doctor Bill does not neglect the social side of life, but contributes freely of his time and talents to the occasions which make life worth living, and he can always be depended upon to cordially support every measure that promises to promote the prosperity of Bridgeport or the welfare and happiness of her citizens. M' ENRY S. WELLS, a well-to-do resident JIL of the town of Huntington, is the owner of a fine estateof 250 acres, and although he is now taking a less active part in its management than formerly he is justly regarded as one of the lead- ing agriculturists of the locality. Mr. Wells was born in the town of Hunting- ton, September 25, 1825, and is a representa- tive of an old Colonial family, his ancestors having come from England at an early period. Daniel Wells, his great-grandfather, was at one time a resident of Stratford, but his later years were spent in the town of Huntington. Abner Wells (i), the grandfather of our subject, was born in Huntington, and passed his life there in agricultural pursuits. He married a Miss Wheel- er, daughter of John Thomas Wheeler, of Hunt- ington, and had seven children, all of whom are now deceased. Billy was a clothier by trade, and for several years worked at cloth dressing; he married Pamelia Wooster, and they had four children, all of whom died young; later on he bought a farm and sawmill, and there made his home the rest of his days; by steady, hard labor he made a good living up to his death, which oc- curred when he was eighty-six years of age. Phcebe married Elisha Allis, a resident of this county, who was a mechanic and was noted for his in- ventive genius. Nancy married Sylvester Fitts, a mechanic. Rebecca was the wife of Lem- uel Blackman, a farmer in Vermont. Abner is mentioned below. Mary married Judson Nich- ols, a farmer in this county. David, who died in 1897, aged ninety years, was a farmer in Ohio. Abner Wells (2), our subject's father, was born in Huntington in 1798, and followed farm- ing there throughout his active life. He was an excellent citizen, a Whig in politics, and in re- ligious faith a Congregationalist. He married Miss Philena Shelton, daughter of Zachariah Shelton, a lifelong resident of Huntington. Her death occurred in 1834, and he survived her many years, passing away in 1857. They had a family of five children: (i) Henry S., our sub- ject; (2) Benjamin, a wealthy retired resident of East Hartford, Conn. ; (3) Catherine (deceased), who married William Colton; (4) David, a farm- er, now deceased; (5) John, who settled in Min- nesota and died there some years ago. Henry S. Wells was reared as a farmer bo)', his education being limited to the course offered in the local schools. In early manhood, becom- ing infected with the "gold fever," he spent four years in California, where he saved consid- erable money. After his return to Connecticut he married Miss Laura A. Bennett, daughter of VJQ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Nathan Bennett, a well-known citizen of Hunt- ington, and they have ever since made their home at his present farm. Of their two chil- dren, the elder, Esther, died in infancy; the younger, Franklin H., has now charge of the homestead; he married Rose Belie Beach, of Huntington, and they have a son, born November 1 6, 1898, named William B. Wells. Mr. Wells has always been what is known as a general farmer, but at times he has dealt ex- tensively in livestock. His homestead is attract- ive as well as valuable, and all of the improve- ments upon it have been made by him. As a good citizen he is interested in the movements of his time, and while he voted the Whig ticket in early life, his strong antagonism to slavery led him into the Republican party, with which he still affiliates. WILLIAM B. FISH, who died at New Ca- naan, January 19, 1896, was well-known there as the proprietor of a tine farm, as \nc11 as a breeder of fine horses, and was a jovial, whole- souled man, popular with all who knew him. Mr. Fish was born in 18 19 at Dan vers, Mass., and made his home in the suburbs of Bos- ton up to 1849. The first business enterprise in which he embarked on his own account was the building of the " Merriman Hotel " at Lawrence, Mass., which in 1847 was totally destroyed by fire, this misfortune stripping Mr. Fish of all his possessions except the mare " Boston Girl." In 1849 he caught the "gold fever " and started for California, but he gave up the trip after going as far as New York, and in that city engaged as a member of the firm of Fish & Fowler, in the manufacture of skeleton wagons and sulkies, with a livery business attached. While thus engaged he built the first sulky for ' ' Flora Temple. " He was a warm friend of Hiram Woodruff and Dan Mace, and a patron of the Centreville and Fash- ion tracks. In 1850 Mr. Fish commenced the soda-water business, which he carried on until 1856, the year of his removal to the above men- tioned farm at New Canaan, where he spent the remainder of his days. There he bred horses, among them being some of the fastest trotters and best road horses in the country, and it is needless to say that he was a keen judge of fine horseflesh. He owned the stallions "Rattler" and " Boston Boy." Mr. Fish was well liked by all who knew him as a man of sterling qualities of honesty and integrity, and a friend who was always sure to prove a " friend indeed." He was married December 31, 1864, to Miss Clarissa Curtis, daughter of Alfred and Clarissa (Weed) Curtis, and granddaughter of Peter and Susannah (Crawford) Weed. To this union were born three children, namely. Charles P., Nellie F. and Jennie Irene. Charles P. Fish was born June 19, 1866, at the place where he still resides, in New Ca- naan, and here he has passed his entire life. In 1890 he engaged in the cattle business, which he now conducts on an extensive and ever-increas- ing scale. He has dairy stock, and sells dairy products wholesale to parties in Norwalk, Conn. Mv. Fish takes considerable interest in fraternal societies, being a member of Harmony Lodge No. 167, I". & A. M., and of the Heptasophs. WILLIAM H. ZELLER, editor of the Stamford (Conn.) Telegram, was born in the city of Reading, Penn., May 31, 1855, was admitted to Girard College, February 16, 1864, and graduated therefrom January, 1872. He served a four-years' apprenticeship on the Reading Eagle, becoming attached to the local staff in 1874, and severing relations there in 1878, when he took a half-partnership ' in the Tamaqua (Penn.) Courier, March 15, same year, closing out the same just three years later (188 1); was connected with the Erie Dispatch and the Erie Herald, editor of the Norristown Register, editor of the Harrisburg Independent from Octo- ber, 1881, to January, 1883. He then became legislative reporter of the Harrisburg Patriot, covering the famous Legislature of 1883 for many outside papers; was city editor of the Reading Times from October, 1883, to October, 1885; editor of the Wilkes-Barre Union-Leader from October, 1885, to March, 1886; became part owner of the Hazleton Sentinel, March, 1886, and left there the following September; did special work in Philadelphia, Hatboro and Lans- dale; established the Girard College Record in March, 1887, and edited same until 1893; was editor of the Altoona Times from September, 1887, to June, 1888; same position on the Al- toona Mirror from June, 1888, to July, 1889, doing the great Johnstown flood in June of that year; then taking charge of the Du Bois (Penn.) Express, and in January, 1890, becoming editor of the Williamsport Gazette and Bulletin, in September, 1890, Mr. Zeller accepted an offer to become Pennsylvania State editor of the Phil- adelphia Times, and remained with that paper until March, 1896, when he undertook the man- agement of the Pawtucket (R. I.) Post. Leav- ing there in April, 1897, he had a desk on the Philadelphia Ziv/^tv- staff until March, 1898, when the American-Spanish war offered inducements COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 197 and work was followed from Old Point Com- fort, Newport News, Norfolk, Tampa and Key West until August, 1898, when he accepted the editorial chair of the Stamford Telegram. The first issue of the Stamford Telegram was made August 18, 1897, with Edwin F. Hige- low as manager and editor, and John H. Swart- wout as president of the Stamford Tekgrain Printing and Publishing Company. Democratic in politics and the only Democratic paper in a population of 75,000, it met with success from the start. The Telegram is now published by Edward Duffy, George C. Whitney, Charles B. Allyn, H. Stanley Finch, Charles H. Hobbie, John H. McGill and Enos B. Lockwood acting as a board of directors for thirty stockholders. William H. Zeller is the editor and manager. F FREDERICK AUGUSTUS BENNETT. Prominent in the business and social life of Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., we find the name of Frederick Augustus I3ennett, who was born in that town December 10, 1842, the third and youngest son of John Fletcher and Sarah (Dobbs) Bennett.