Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 308 8, 1839, is a farmer on Mill Hill; he was twice married, first time December 31, 1861, to Julia A. Bulkley, who died July 30, 1885, and on No- vember 4, 1886, he wedded Fiorina Olivia Bulk- ley; he has one son, Albert B., by his first marriage. J. H. Sherwood, whose name introduces this sketch, was born August 6, 1825, and was reared at the old homestead, becoming familiar with all branches of agricultural work. He first at- tended the district school at Mill Plain, Burr Betts and Abram Sherwood being among his early teachers, and on leaving that school he spent three years as a student in Fairheld Academy, of which Daniel March was then prin- cipal. Until he reached the age of twenty-eight he assisted his father at the home farm, and the latter then gave him seven acres of land, with one very large oak tree upon it. This little tract became the nucleus of the present farm, additions having been made from time to time until Mr. Sherwood now has fifty acres of land under cul- tivation. In 1850 he built his barn, andiniS53, the year of his marriage, he erected his residence. He inherited his father's originality and sound judgment, and his management of his farm has brought to him a good income. He and his family enjoy life, and he has given his children the best educational privileges within his reach, their success in life being a source of greater pleasure to him than any material wealth would supply. On October 13, 1853, he married Miss Salina Beecher, daughter of Beri and Mary (Chatfieldj Beecher, of Bethany, Conn., and a member of one of the leading families of that section. Three children have blessed the union: Nellis H., born November 29, 1859, now a resi- dent of Mill Hill, near his father's place, is one of the most progressive farmers in the State, and is also a noted fruit grower and florist, growing flowers under glass; Anna C, born December 31, 1862, wife of Conrad Buckingham, of South- port; and Herbert B., born August 22, 1870, a merchant of Southport. Politically, Mr. Sherwood was first a Whig, later a Ivepublican. At one time he was active in party work, attending conventions, and for a number of years he held the office of justice of the peace. He always associated with men who were older than himself, as he enjoyed their instructive conversation, and he was thus brought into prominence in various movements while quite young. When but twenty-one years old he was elected secretary of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society, of which P. T. Barnum was president, and during the forty-nine years in which the society held fairs he attended forty-seven. The only time their fair was held in Fairfield township was through his individual efforts, and he was ever ready to devote his time and influence toward strengthening the associa- tion and increasing its usefulness to the people. He was one of the organizers of the "Greens Farms Farmers Club," presiding at its first meet- ing, and as this is one of the most efficient clubs in the State, as well as one of the oldest, he can look upon it with justifiable pride. He has made more than a local reputation by his able work in these lines, and at one time he was chosen on the executive committee of the State Agricultural Society. For many years he has been active also in religious work as a member of Trinity Episcopal Church at Southport, in which he has held office for forty-five years, and is now serving as vestryman. For some time he was a teacher in the Sunday-school, and for ten years was a member of the Church choir. Notwithstanding his advanced age, Mr. Sherwood is vigorous in mind and body, and his kindly, generous and upright nature makes him a favorite among all classes in the community. DAVID ELLIOTT PLUMB, a well-to-do resi- J dent of Nichols, has been identified for many years with the agricultural interests of that locality. He was formerly engaged e.xtensively in lumbering, owning and operating a sawmill, but of late years he has relinquished that busi- ness in order to enjoy in well-earned leisure the fruits of his past efforts. Mr. Plumb resides at the old family home- stead in the same house in which he first saw the light on November 28, 1835, and among the at- tractions of his home is a large and well-selected library. While his educational opportunities were limited to the local schools of his day, he has been a constant reader of the best literature, and his information covers a wide range of topics. On April 26, 1893, he married Ermina Nichols, daughter of Elbert Nichols, of Nichols, Trum- bull. Our subject's ancestors were early settlers in the town of Trumbull, and his grandfather, David Plumb, who was born June 25, 1751, in Milfcjrd. Conn., and died May 31, 181 3, was a prominent agriculturist at Nichols. He was married De- cember 19, 1776, to Mary Beach, who was born March 11, 1758. and died August 10, 1833. They had five children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Hannah, October 9, 1777; Noah, May 3, 1782; Mary, September 8, 1787; David B., our subject's father; and Camilla, August 13, I Sou i\'>H 804 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. David B. Plumb was born March 31, 1796, and became a farmer at the old homestead, where his death occurred November 26, 1878. He was married December 26, 1821, to Miss Esther Wheeler, who was born February 3, 1796, and died January 2, 1893. This worthy couple had seven children: Abbie M., born December 7, 1822, died November 26, 1894; Ezra W. , born February 25, 1825, died November 10, 1897; Orange B. , born October 11, 1827; Mary E. (Mrs. Lockwood), born March 2, 1830, died January 17, 1899; Catherine E., born February 4, 1833, died August 29, 1879; David E. , our subject; and Francis A., born September 18, 1841, died November 16, 1894. CHARLES H. GETMAN was born June i, _' 1840, in Troy, N. Y. , the son of Charles and Chloe (Hutton) Getman, and the grandson of George Getman, of Fulton county, N. Y. He was the eldest of five children — Charles H.; Timothy W., deceased; Edward M., of Water- vliet, N. Y. ; Webster H., of Chicago; and Julia E., deceased. Mr. Getman received his education in the public schools of Troy and the academies of Lenox, Mass., and Warrenville, N. Y. , and as a student he manifested the same persistent appli- cation which characterized his business life. Leaving school at an early age he was clerk for three years in the lumber office of Piatt, Get- man & Harris, of which firm his father was a membe^r, and this proved to be his introduction into the line of business which occupied his attention for the remainder of his life. In 1859 Mr. Getman entered the office of J. W. Free- man & Co., of West Troy, N. Y. It was here that his sound business judgment was de- veloped, and under Mr. Freeman he received the practical training which in after years proved so valuable, during his employment with this firm rising from the position of clerk to that of junior partner. In 1874 he acquired an interest in the wholesale lumber business of Boyd & Co., of Oswego, N. Y., and the business was carried on for three years under the firm name of Getman, Boyd & Co., after which Mr. Getman assumed entire control. In 1888 he purchased the interest of Mr. St. John in the firm of St. John, Hoyt & Co, of Stamford, Conn., and also became connected with the St. John Wood Working Company, at Stam- ford, holding the office of vice-president. Under the firm name of Hoyt, Getman & Judd the business continued until 1893, when upon the death of Mr. Hoyt the style was changed to Getman & Judd. In April, 1S97, Mr. Frank W. Bogardus, who had been connected with the business for fifteen years, was taken into the firm as junior partner, the name being again changed, to Getman, Judd & Co. Becoming conscious of the insidious inroads of a heart affection, and weary from application to business, Mr. Getman left home on the 28th of September, 1897, for a few weeks of recrea- tion among his old friends in Oswego, N. Y. On the morning of October 12, Stamford was stunned with the message that he had been called to the rest that is unbroken, to the sleep that knows no waking. His many virtues at once became the theme of those who called him friend, and the commercial world awoke to a keen sense of its loss. From his ancestors, both paternal and maternal, Mr. Getman had inherited those sterling characteristics which unite in true manhood, and though born to an humble station in life, wilh but limited advant- ages for education, he wrought out for himself all that constituted his splendid after life. Al- ways loyal to friend, colleague and country, he was prompt to respond to each by sympathy or service. He was a director in the Stamford Sav- ings Bank, and in both the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Lumbermen's Mutual Fire Insur- ance Companies. At the time of his death Mr. Getman was a member of the Stamford Suburban Club, the Republican Club of New York City, the Con- necticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Stamford Board of Trade (of which he was president for several years), and a Sir Knight Templar of Apollo Commandery, of Troy, N. Y. Always a stanch Republican, he honorably represented the town of Stamford in the State Legislature of 1892 and 1893, serving on the committee of Cities and Boroughs. As president of the Connecticut Lumber Dealers As- sociation he gave his earnest thought and judg- ment to its advancement, and was always keenly alive to any movement or suggestion favoring its future development. He was not unfamiliar with our Civil war, having been sent as an agent of the War Department in charge of ordnance stores from the Watervliet Arsenal to General Grant at Chattanooga, Tenn. , soon after the battle of Lookout Mountain. While honored by his business associates for his unswerving integrity and uniform suavity of manner, yet it was in his home that the real lus- tre of his worth was seen. In 1871 he married Miss Alice Peake, a resident of Broadalbin, N. Y. , the union ff^rming the nucleus of a home that had long been the aspiration of his pure heart, COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. S05