Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

DeWitt C. Bkadi.ey is a native of the town of Weston, Conn., born December 26, 1846, and received his early education in the district schools of his native town, later attending both the academy at Easton and Adams Academy in Greens Farms, from which he was graduated. After leaving school he entered his father's edge- tool factory and learned the business thoroughly. At the age of twenty-two he enlisted in the reg- ular army, joining Troop D, U. S. Cavalry, sta- tioned at Fort Lapway, Idaho, and served two years and three months. On his discharge and return home he resumed his trade, and since 1886 has been prominently identified with his brother, Gershom W. , in the manufacture of axes and edge-tools at Westport. In 1877, on Christmas Day, DeWitt C. Brad- ley was married to Miss Emma J. Sh-erwood, who was born February 13, 1855, a daughter of William C. and Esther A. (Merwin) Sherwood, respectable farming people of the town of West- port. No children have been born to this union. In politics Mr. Bradley is a strong Republican, and in 1887-89-91-93, he was elected a member of the State Legislature. Socially, he is affiliated with the F. & A. M., Temple Lodge No. 65, Westport; of Washington Chapter, R. A. M., Norwalk; of Clinton Commandery No. 3, and of Pyramid Temple, Bridgeport. Gershom W. Bradley was born in the town of Weston, Fairfield Co., Conn., October 2, 1858, and his earlier education was secured at the district schools. Later, he attended Easton Academy, from which institute he was graduated, and he then learned the manufacture of edge- tools, which business he has followed in West- port, along with his brother DeWitt C. , since 1886. On June 24, 1885, Gershom W. Bradley was married to Miss Emma Becker, who was born April 22, 1859, a daughter of Moses and Emeline (Goodsell) Becker, of Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., and two children graced their union: Edith M., born December 7, 1886, and Gershom W., born June 22, 1889, died August 29, 1890. Mr. Bradley in his political preferments is an ar- dent Republican, and for the past few years has efficiently filled the position of town treasurer; he is a director of the Willow Brook Cemetery As- sociation, at Westport. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars; in religious faith he is identified with the Methodist SziMi/:>0^.K COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 217 •Church at Westport, in which he is serving as trustee. Wakeman Bradley, the grandfather of our subjects, was born in the town of Fairfield, Fair- field Co., Conn., was educated at the common schools of his day, and learned the business of axe and edge-tool manufacturing. In 1812 he settled in Weston, where he built an edge-toul factory, and engaged in that line of trade the rest of his days. He married Miss Catherine An- drews, of Weston, and children as follows were born to them: Abigail married Peter Williams; Gershom W. will be mentioned farther on; Mor- ris married Mary Fanton; Abram W. married Mary Eliza Merwin ; Angeline and Eveline (twinsj, the former of whom married Thomas Couch, the latter wedding Harry Fanton; Mary Catherine is the wife of Daniel C. Salmon; Amelia is the wife of Burr Sturgis; Eliza married Charles Sherwood; and Susan is the wife of Hanford Lyon. Grand- father Bradley died in 1S62. Gershom W. Bradley, father of our subjects, was also a native of the town of Fairfield, Fair- field Co., Conn., born in 1804, and after secur- ing a liberal education in that town went to Wes- ton; he learned the edge-tool manufacturing in- dustry, at which he continued up to the time of his death, March 23, 1886. In 1832, he built a large factory at Weston. In 1827 he married Lydia, daughter of Miles Merwin, of Weston, and their children were: Miles married Emily H. Ogden; George died at the age of twenty-one; and UeWitt C, the elder of our subjects. The mother of these died in 185 i, and for his second wife Gershom W. Bradley wedded Miss Mary J. Goodsell, daughter of Silas Goodsell, of West- port. To this union were born children as fol- lows: Twins, who died in infancy; Gershom W. , the younger of our subjects; Warren, who married Emma Becker; Eliza J., wife of Lewis A. Burr; and Catherine, wife of Charles Candee. The father of our subjects died March 23, 1886. The Bradley Brothers stand high in the com- munity in which they live, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances. S\ILAS E. MEAD, a well-jcnown citizen and ^^) agriculturist of the town of Greenwich, where his life, almost without exception, has been passed, is a representative of one of the old fam- ilies of Connecticut, his ancestors coming to Greenwich nearly two and a half centuries ago. Mr. Mead is of the ninth generation from John [other authorities say William] Mead, the pro- genitor of the family in America, the line of de- scent being: John (1), John (2), Ebenezer (1), Ebenezer (2), Silas (i), Silas (2), Silas H., Silas D., and Silas E. John Mead was one of two brothers who emi- grated from England about 1642 [other authori- ties say 1635], the family being an ancient and honorable one; one of their ancestors had been the friend and physician of the talented Queen Elizabeth. One of the two brothers settled in Virginia, where the family still exists. The other, John Mead, with his two sons, John and Joseph, after remaining a short time in Massachusetts, moved to Hempstead, L. I., where they remained until October, 1660, when the sons, at least, settled in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., where many of their descendants still reside. [John, the father, either did not come to Green- wich, or, if so, he took no active part in public life.] The two sons bought land of Richard Crab and others, which was deeded to John Mead, son of the pioneer. He married a Miss Hannah Pot- ter, of Stamford, Conn., and on his death in 1699, left, as appears by his will, eight sons and three daughters. Of these, Ebenezer, the fourth son, was born in 1663, married Sarah Knapp, of Stamford, and of their children, Ebenezer (2) was born October 25, 1692, and died May 3, 1775; he married Hannah Brown, of Rye, N. Y., on December 12, 17 17, and of their children Silas (i), the second son, was born May 22, 1720, and died in 1817; his wife, Mary, was born in 1724, and died in 1787, and among their children was a son, Silas (2). Silas Mead (i) settled at North Greenwich, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was a member of the Second Con- gregational Church at Greenwich. He built his barns of trees standing near by, without having to draw any from a distance. Silas Mead (2) was born in 1748, and died in 181 3. His wife was Sarah Mead, a daughter of Deliverance Mead, and their children were: Sa- rah, Silas H., and Francis, who died in youth. The father lived on the old home farm, and was a substantial citizen of North Greenwich, Conn. He was killed by being thrown from a wagon near his home; his wife died in 1812. Silas H. Mead was born December 12, 1796, at North Greenwich, Conn. He was a large farmer and leading man in the community. In politics he was an uncompromising Abolitionist, one of thirteen voting that way, and by voice and vote did all he could to educate the people of his community to the idea of human liberty. He united with the Second Congregational Church at Greenwich in 1826, and immediately took a deep interest in religious matters. The Congregational church at North Greenwich was built in 1827, and its erection was largely due to ^C'.C ,.H i:.:>i^. ,'M c- ■ '•■i r.uni.l', ;;;iT.. .■ ;■ '.ill <o-.>: ; ''-■ '1 /-"'^'^ ^i,'i< 11 ;-ii n,' . il_, f'l '',. Ijo;- r' ■ ■ ■■■ .I'l.J ' ^-:''' VI'. I'! j1' ^:! T.'if.J, I-)'.-. '..^•M(.; i !. ..,ij ni.i;j '( I •; I ■; ' 1 218 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the interest and efforts of Mr. Mead. He was one of the active men in the formation of the Church, and was chosen deacon the day the Church was organized. He held his office and performed all the duties of it until his death. He died after a few days' illness, December 14, 1878, aged eighty-two, having been in office fifty-one years lacking eleven days. He was a man of wisdom, perseverance, and success in promoting the interests of the Church, and was a model for men of that office in prayerfulness, self-sacrifice and diligence. The land, twelve acres, on which the church building and parson- age stand, was his gift, and the position of the Church early taken against slavery and intem- perance was largely due to him. He always took a deep interest in missionary matters, and was very liberal toward all religious enterprises. He was one of Greenwich's best and most re- spected citizens and, dying, left the record of a good man. Silas H. Mead married Harriet Mead, daughter of Jehial Mead, and they had the following children: Sarah M. (who married Selah Savage, a farmer of North Greenwich, and had two children: William L. and Koxa M.), and Silas D. Mrs. Mead passed away July I, 1870.