Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

John Fletcher Bennett was the only son of Stephen and Hannah (Lessey) Bennett, and was born in the town of Danbury, Conn., July 8, 1808. Daring his early boyhood he lived there, and later in New Milford, whence he came to Brookfield and engaged as an apprentice at the trade of comb-making, from which, in due time, he graduated — an expert workman. After a few years he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Dobbs, of Danbury, and to this union were born three sons: William, who died in infancy; John F. , now deceased; and Frederick A., the sub- ject of this sketch. About this time the busi- ness of comb-making began to decline rapidly, and Mr. Bennett, foreseeing the collapse, left it and engaged with the proprietor of the Tomlin- son Knife Factory. His mechanical skill and careful business habits won for him the confi- dence of his employers, and he became a mem- ber'of the firm, continuing thus until the early "fifties," when Mr. Tomlinson disposed of his in- terest to Ezra W. Wild man, and the name was changed to Bennett & Wildman. In 1855 they purchased the property known as the Brook- field Lime Kiln. A year later Mr. Bennett dis- posed of his interest in the knife factory to L. P. Wetmore, and gave his entire attention to the management of the lime kiln. In 1867, having disposed of his interest in that enterprise, he pur- chased Mr. Wildman's interest in the knife fac- tory, and personally directed its operation, leas- ing the shear department to Smith Brothers, former employes of the concern. As a business man John Fletcher Bennett was alert, sagacious and eminently successful. Asa neighbor he was kind-hearted, liberal and obliging to all. As a citizen his strict integrity and consistent moral character were unquestioned in the community. In 1871 P"reilerick A. Bennett, the subject proper of this review, in company with L. P. Wetmore, purchased of the Smith Brothers their interest in the shear department, and continued the same successfully under the firm name of Bennett & Wetmore until the death of John F. Bennett, in 1879, when he purchased from the estate his father's interest in the factory. The partnership continued until Mr. Wetmore with- drew, disposing of his share to Mr. Bennett, who then called as a business associate John Bate- man, forming the firm of F. A. Bennett & Co. The business was continued by them until 1889, when Mr. Bennett retired, his health having be- come impaired to such an extent that he was in- capacitated from giving his personal attention to the work. Mr. Bateman, now being the sole representative of the business, proceeded to form an incorporated company, under the style of The Lenox Shear Company, continuing the office and salesroom with Fuller Brothers, Chambers street. New York, with whom Mr. Bennett had been associated for many years. Mr. Bennett's early education had fully equipped him for a business career. He attended the public schools of his town up to the age of thirteen years, when he entered the institute of Rev. E. S. Huntington, of Danbury, and later that of Rev. Frederick Jackson, then located at the "Turner House," spending thus about five years preparatory to the college course then con- templated by his parents. About this date the war clouds began to gather on the national horizon. The continued active preparation of the seceding States for actual con- flict, and then the culminating act of firing on Fort Sumter, aroused the nation like the thunders from a cloudless sky; the war spirit was instantly aroused and became dominant. Our young men offered themselves as willing volunteers to defend the flag of our Union, and the subject of this sketch was among the first to offer his services, and at the age of eighteen years he wrote his name on the soldiers' list. The elder Bennett was no whit less patriotic, but thinking the boy too young for service, took his name from the list, and advised waiting a few months, at least; but the interest was becoming more and more in- tense, and in less than one short year he had joined a military company, and was a member of the 198 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Twenty-third Regiment, in which he served the full term of his enlistment and received an hon- orable discharge. Mr. Bennett's first marriage was with Miss Jennie E. Burr, of Brookfield, to which union was born one son, Stanley B. Bennett, of Bridge- port. His present wife was Miss Elvira L. Blackman, daughter of Dr. J. Blackman, in- ventor of the celebrated Balsam bearing his name, and the manufacturer of several proi)rie- tary medicines which have been before the public for more than half a century. Mr. Bennett has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity for twenty-five years, having joined St. Peter's Lodge No. 21, and Ousatonic Chapter No. 33, in New Milford, in early life; he is also a member of James E. Moore Post, G. A. R., Danbury, Conn. His early patriotic instinct came by inheritance, for both his great-grandfathers enlisted and served in the war of the Revolution. In his re- ligious views Mr. Bennett is a consistent mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican of decided opinions, and ever ready to give a reason for the faith that is in him. For a few years past Mr. Bennett has lived almost a retired life in consequence of his suffer- ings from rheumatism. There are few men bet- ter known in the community, and few who gain and retain through life such unqualified respect and good-will from their fellow-citizens. He is public-spirited and progressive, and in all works for the public welfare he takes a keen interest. WILLIAM GREGORY THOMAS (de- ceased). Among the worthy men whose histories lend interest to this volume none stood higher in public esteem than the subject of this memoir, who passed to the unseen life June i, 1892. Although a native of this county, he spent .many years of his manhood in Albany, N. Y. ; but as old age drew on he returned to the scenes of his early days, and there his life flowed peace- fully on to its close. It is difficult to do justice to one whose unassuming nature led him to re- frain from anything like publicity, for the simple record of his career from a worldly standpoint gives but little indication of the high character and lovable personality of the man. Mr. Thomas was born March 27, 1819, in the town of New Canaan, this county, and was of Welsh ancestry. His grandfather, Gregory Thomas, was born probably in America, and Charles Thomas, the father of our subject, was a native of the town of Wilton, this county. About 1821 Charles Thomas removed with his family to Norwalk, where for many years he was promi- nently identified with the lumber interests. As our subject was only two years old at the time of the removal to Norwalk, his boyhood was mainly spent there and his education was acquired in the local schools. Hii business abilities were noted at an early age, and as a mere boy he found em- ployment in the Fairfield County Savings Bank. When eighteen years old he went to Albany as a clerk for Ebenezer Hill, in the lumber business, and so well did he discharge the duties of the position that in a few years he became a partner, and later, as changes were made in the firm, he became the head of the business. As one of the leading business men of Albany he gained an en- viable reputation among financiers, and for many years he was connected with banking interests of that city. Honesty and integrity were prominent features in his character, his uprightness being no less perceptible in his business dealings than in the ordinary affairs of life. In 1875 he retired from business, and in 1 881 removed to Norwalk, where his remaining years were spent. His wealth enabled him to gratify the impulses of a kindly heart by giving to the relief of suffering as well as to the support of various worthy move- ments in the community, and although he was not a member of any Church, he contributed freely to all denominations. Politically, he was a stead- fast Republican, his allegiance being entirely free from any shadow of self-seeking, as he invariably declined the offers of public positions made to him in both Albany and Norwalk. In 1848 Mr. Thomas married Miss Susan M. Willson, who was born in Glens Falls, Warren Co., N. Y., daughter of John Ward Willson, a native of Washington Co., N. Y. Her grand- father,Guild Willson, was a resident of Massachu- setts, and was descended from an old English family. Mrs. Thomas survives her husband with three children. The eldest, Charles H., is con- nected with the New York Biscuit Company. William G. is the head of the Thomas Pressed Brick Company, with headquarters at St. Louis, Mo. Alice W. is the wife of Major Stephen W. Groesbeck, of the United States Army, now sta- tioned at San Francisco, California. JOHN W. FYFE, M. D., of Saugatuck, one of the leading men of his town, and ranking among the foremost physicians of Fairfield county, is a native of the State of Maine, born February 27, 1839, at Swans Island. The sur- name Fyfe is derived from the Jutland word "Fibh" (pronounced fife, and meaning forest). According to Buchanan's "Ancient Scottish Surnames," it was first used as a surname about COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 199 the year 834 by the younger son of Fife Macduff, kinglet of Fifeshire, he adopting the Christian name of his father as his own surname. The name is now usually spelled Fyfe.