Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

VI. Levi Curtis, our subject's father, was born May 26, 1772, and died February 21, 1854. On January 28, 1795, he married Elizabeth Uf- ford (or Uffoot), who died May 13, 1853. They had ten children: Stephen, born November 19, 1795; Elbert, June 27, 1797; Phcebe, April 8, 1799; Willis, October 28, 1801; Sarah, January 26, 1804 (she married Isaac Wells, father of Charles C. Wells); Levi, our subject; Betsy, born May 26, 1808; one that died in infancy un- named; Charles B., born August 17, 181 1; and Cornelia, born May 15, 181 5. \TI. Levi Curtis, our subject, was born April II, 1806, and became one-of the prominent citizens of Stratford in his day. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and he was frequently chosen by his fellow townsmen to offices of responsibility and trust. Like all of his ancestors from pioneer times, he followed farming as an occupation, and he died June 7, 1874, at the old Curtis homestead, in the north- ern part of the town. On September 26, 1836, he married Miss Jerusha Lewis, daughter of Eli W. Lewis, and granddaughter of Eli Lewis, both well-known residents of Stratford. She survived him eleven years, her death occurring October 14, 1885. Their two daughters. Misses Celia and Cornelia Curtis, now reside at the old Jud- son homestead, on Academy Hill, where the ma- ternal great-grandmother, Sarah Judson, was born. HEZEKIAH BANKS, a venerable ami highly esteemed resident of Fairfield township, has been for many years prominently identified with the best interests of that locality, and at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years (April 8, 1899) he keeps fully in sympathy with the progressive movements of the time. He derives his vigor of mind and body from a hardy, long-lived pioneer race, of whom a writer has said, "Longevity, honesty, industry and frugality are prominent in this line of settlers." Two districts in Fairfield township are named in their honor, the Banks North and the Banks South districts. As the family is a noted one in this section, the follow- ing review of the earlier generations will furnish an appropriate introduction to his own history. I. John Banks, a lawyer, and Englishman by birth, was the first of the name to locate in this county, and purchased land in Fairfield township in 1649. He had previously spent some years in Wethersfield, Conn., where he was town clerk in 1643, and on removing to Fairfield he at once took a leading part in the affairs of the colony, serving from 165 1 to 1666 as repre- sentative in the General Assembly. Later he settled at Rye, N. Y., and from 1670 to 1673 he represented that town in the Colony Assembly. While residing in Wethersfield he married a daughter of Charles Taintor. II. Benjamin Banks, a son of the pioneer, was born August 7, 1703, and died May 19, 1805, having attained the age of one hundred and two years. He had three sens — Benjamin, Jonathan and Hezekiah. III. Hezekiah Banks, our subject's grand- father, was a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of si.xty-four years, in Easton township, this county, and his remains were interred there. His wife, Sarah Couch, was a native of Greens COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 31 Farms, and of their eight children nearly all lived and died in this county. Hezekiah, our subject's father, is mentioned below; Sturgis was a resident of Easton township; Jessup, a sur- veyor and justice of the peace, died in Bridge- port, February 2, 1863, aged seventy-two years; Walter, a resident of Easton, died March 19, 1887, in his ninety-fourth year; Mary married Sherwood Seeley, and died January 4, 1879, in Easton, aged ninety-six and one-half years; Sarah (Mrs. Joseph Hill) died in Sullivan county, N. Y.,' September 8, 1868, in her ninety-third year; Patta (Mrs. John Staples) died in April, 1858, at the age of seventy-eight; and Arity (Mrs. Will- iam Nichols) died in early womanhood. IV. Hezekiah Banks, the father of our sub- ject, was born Dec. 12, 1777, in what is now Easton township, and became a successful farmer in that locality, acquiring a handsome compe- tence. He was a powerful man, of robust phy- sique, while he possessed an excellent mind, and was generally respected for his sterling qualities of character. While he was not an office seeker he was a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and in religious faith he was a Congrega- tionalist, belonging to the old Church in Easton township. He had a firm will, and as a disci- plinarian was strict and determined. He died October 6, 1872, in his ninety-fifth year, at the old homestead, where he had resided throughout his married life, which extended over a period of nearly sixty-six years. His wife, Ruhamah Betts, to whom he was married December 30, 1806, was born September 4, 1785, near Green- field, Conn., the daughter of Moses and Mary (Gregory) Betts (Moses Betts died February 19, 1818, aged sixty-three years, and ^^ary, his wife, died March 4, 1861, aged ninety-seven years and eight months), and her death occurred February 12, 1875, when she was in her ninetieth year, her remains being interred beside those of her husband in Easton cemetery. This worthy cou- ple had six children: (i) William, born April 24, 1808, became a farmer in Fairfield township, where he died September 26, 1882, leaving two children — Moses E., of Stratfield, and Eliza M. , widow of Minot Tuttle, of Bridgeport. (2) Mary S., born November 9, 1809, married Ezra Peet, and died December 29, 1889, leaving two chil- dren— ^ Frank B., in Bridgeport, and Sarah E., now Mrs. Henry S. Knapp, of Fairfield. (3) Hezekiah, our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (4) Eliza G., born October 15, 181 5, died April 2, 1896, unmarried. (5) Moses B., born April 2, 18 19, resides in Greenfield, and has two children — Sarah and Lizzie. (6) Sarah A., born January 26, 1822, died July 4, 1834, and is remembered as a remarkably bright and clever child. V. Hezekiah Banks, our subject, was born April 8, 18 1 2, in what is now Easton township, then Weston, and was reared as a farmer boj', being taught to work as soon as his strength per- mitted him to assist on the farm. His schooling was limited to a few months in each winter, and although eighty years have passed since he sat in the old log school building as a pupil he vividly recalls the incidents of his school life, and the rude furnishings of the room with its slab seats and open fireplace, at which the scholars were allowed to warm themselves during the school hours on asking permission from the teacher. Among his early instructors were Moses Burr, Hezekiah Bulkley and Burr Wake- man. When sixteen years old he left home to serve an apprenticeship with his uncle, William Nichols, a shoemaker at Greenfield. He in- tended to remain five years, his wages being $15 per year and his shoes; but a short time before the expiration of his term, his health failed and he gave up the work for a while. He was a careful workman, capable of making the finest goods then known to the trade, and the first pair of boots that he ever wore were made by himself. On resuming his work he was employed as a journeyman at $10 per month, first at Southport and later at Norwalk. When twenty-one years old he decided to go into business for himself, and, as he had saved about $75, he went to New York City to secure his stock, making the trip from South- port in a sloop market boat, cominanded by Capf. Seth Bulkley. He purchased leather, lasts and other necessaries, and opened a shop at Greenfield Hill in the residence of his uncle, Moses Betts, his first customer being Dr. Blake- man. As time passed and his trade increased his uncle built a small shop for him, where he conducted a profitable business for several years. He then formed a partnership with Aaron Jennings and engaged in business at Southport, the work of the shop being in his charge while Mr. Jennings gave his attention to the meat busi- ness. As Mr. Banks found his health failing again, he retired from the firm after one year, but on his recovery he began filling special orders tor fine shoes and boots from Westport, doing the work at home. In 1837 he bought eighteen acres of land in Fairfield township from Ephraim Middlebrooks, and to this he has added from time to time until he now owns a fine homestead, having resided there for more than sixty years. He built a shop on the farm and there followed his trade for a time, but as his agricultural interests 82 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. increased he devoted his time to them entirely. He has met with good success financially, as he now possesses a comfortable competence as the reward of his industry, and he has the satisfac- tion of knowing that it has been gained by strictly honest methods. At seventy-five he was still working, keeping pace with the young men in a day's work, but of late years he has permitted himself to rest, leaving the active labor to others. Throughout his life he has taken keen interest in politics, although he was never an office seeker, and since he attained his majority he has not missed a Presidential election, having voted for every Whig or [Republican President since Andrew Jackson. He is one of the "pillars" of the Greenfield Congregational Church, with which he united in 1842, on the Sabbath previous to the ordination of Rev. Thomas B. Sturgis. Dur- ing all these years he has given liberally to the support of the society and its work, and he has helped to build two churches, an academy and a parsonage.