Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Mr. Braun is a fine-looking man of pleasing address, and is popular almong all classes. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. , also of the Masonic Fraternity, and now holds the rank of eminent commander in Crusader Commandery No. 10, K. T. He has always felt keen inter- est in political affairs, and is an active and inllu- ential worker in the Democratic organii^ation. In 1891 he was chosen to the General Assembly, and in 1892 was re-elected, his faithful service having won the approbation of his constituents. In 1894 he was a candidate for the office of mayor of Danbury, but was defeated. In 1 88 1 Mr. Braun was married in Hartford to Miss Caroline F. Staudinger, a native of New York City. Her father, Charles F. Staudinger, a native of Germany, and a contractor by occu- pation, was then a resident of Hartford, where he was engaged in the manufacture of Catling guns, on contract. CiHARLES W. RAYMOND. The Raymond ' family is one of the oldest in New England, two brothers of the name, having joined the Massachusetts Colony, settled near Lynn, at an early day. Some of the children of these two brothers settled at Hartford, Conn., a few years later, and soon after the founding of Norwalk the records show that representatives of the family had located there. Others went to New York, and H. J. Raymond, who was for many years the editor of the New York Times, was a member of this family. Nathaniel Raymond, who took an active part in the defense of Nor- walk during the Revolutionary war, was of this family. The subject of this sketch, who is now a prominent resident of Darien, is a descendant of the Norwalk branch of the family, his great- grandfather. Gresham Rpymond, and grand- father, of the same name, having been in their time well-known citizens of that town. Charles W. Raymond, Sr. , our subject's father, was a ,r;!0 !C> iU COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 815- farmer in the town of Norwalk, his property be- ing located on Five Mile river, and there he died in 1862. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Susan L. Cook, was born in the town of Huntington, Long Island, N. Y., and died in Darien, Conn., in i860. 'Three children sur- vive, viz.: Charles W., our subject; William H., a resident of Norwalk; and Adeline, wife of T. Spencer, of West Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Raymond, our subject, was born in 1833, at the old home on Five Mile river, in the town of Norwalk, and was educated in the district schools of that locality. On leaving school at the age of si.xteen he wenttosea.and for a number of years he followed the coasting trade from Nortli Carolina to Maine, and intermediate places. About 1865 he engaged extensively in the business of oyster budding, which he followed successfully until 1893, and although he still owns oyster grounds he has not since been actively interested in the business. His release from business cares has made it possible for him to give more atten- tion to local affairs than before, and his fellow- townsmen, desiring to have the benefit of his sound judgment, have chosen him to fill the re- sponsible post of first selectman, his election occurring in October, 1897. He had previously served a term as third selectman, and at other times was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and as member of the oyster commission. Ever since attaining his majority he has taken keen interest in political questions, and his mem- bership in the Republican party dates back to i860, at which time he was an ardent supporter of Lincoln. In 1852 Mr. Raymond married Miss Sarah J. Wilmot, of the town of Darien, and twelve chil- dren have blessed their union. Of this large family seven are now living, as follows: Agnes A., Robert A., James H., Harriet A., Anna E., Charles W., Jr., and Susan L. The family is prominent socially, and Mr. Raymond and his wife are both members of the Episcopal Church at Darien. He also belongs to various fraternal orders including the F. & A. M. CHARLES HEZEKIAH KNAPP, one of the well-to-do agriculturists of the town of Stamford, Fairfield county. Conn., is a native of same, born August 23, 1825, on Richmond Hill, in what was then known as Knapp's Parish, now West avenue. Mr. Knapp is a grandson of Hezekiah Knapp, who followed the trade of car- penter in Stamford, and built the old Presby- terian Church in that town. He married Polly Peck, a native of Sharon, Conn., by whom he had six children, namely: Polly (Mrs. Newman); Hannah (Mrs. Isaac Ward well); Sally (Mrs. Sco- field); Rufus Bethia (Mrs. Charles Gaylor), and Luther. Luther Knapp was born in the year 1796 in Knapp's Parish, and engaged in farming in his native township all his life. On October 25, 1814, he was united in marriage to Hannah Sel- leck, daiighter of Joseph Selleck, of that town, and they became the parents of six children, born as follows: Phebe Selleck, July 19, 181 5; Joseph- Selleck, March 15, 1818; Mary Peck, June 6, 1821; Ann Eliza, May 26, 1823; Charles H., August 23, 1825; Hannah M., June 26, 1827, Of the daughters, Phebe married Samuel Pierson; Ann Eliza became the wife of James Law, and died October 11, 1852; Hannah wedded Grant Judd. The father of this family passed away December 5, 1866. During his boyhood Charles H. Knapp at- tended the public school located at the corner of Greenwich and Stillwater avenues, in Stamford, and acquired a practical common-school educa- tion. He was trained to farming on the home place, and has made agriculture his life work with satisfactory results, for he is one of the suc- cessful and prosperous farmers of this section. In about 1847 he erected the residence which he and his family still occupy, and he has enjoyed a good income from his farm for many years as the result of able management and skill in its culti- vation. Mr. Knapp was first married in Stamford, to Miss Harriet E. Crabb, by whom he had three children: Ida A., Emma F. and Charles E. His second marriage, which also took place in Stam- ford, was to Ann Jeanette Crabb, who died with- out issue, and he subsequently wedded, in Green- wich, Miss Emeline L. Scott, the daughter of Lewis J. and Julia Ann (Denton) Scott. Two children blessed this marriage: Nellie M. and Everett J., who died at the age of six years, seven months, three days. Mr. Knapp was a Whig in early life, and smce the organization of the Republican party has been one of its loyal supporters. Fraternally, he is a Mason, uniting with Union Lodge. CHARLES E. KNAPP, son of Charles H. and Harriet E. (Crabb) Knapp, is one of the substantial, enterprising young merchants of Stamford, where he conducts a thriving meat market. Mr. Knapp was born May 9, 1862, in the town which has always been his home, and here passed his boyhood days attending the public i li •816 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. schools, where he received a good common- school education. When fifteen years of age he commenced clerking in a meat market, and by steady work gained a thorough knowledge of the business, in which he Itps since continued. On June 15, 1880, in partnership with H. S. Pro- vost, he opened a market at No. 67 Main street, and was in business with that gentleman until the following January, after which he carried on the establishment alone. Mr. Knapp's trade has widened yearly, and by faithful attention to the' wants of his customers and sound business meth- ods he has succeeded in placing himself in the ranks of the solid business men of Stamford, though he is still a young man, with, it is hoped, many active years before him. Mr. Knapp was married in Stamford to Miss Anna L. Lewis, a native of New York City, daughter of Laban. Lewis, and they have three children, namely: Lewis H., now (1899) twelve years old; Anna Viola, aged eight, and Mabel 1^., aged four. Our subject is a member of Stamford Council No. 999, Royal Arcanum. WS RTHUR WILLIAM GRISWOLD, M. D., .^^ was born August 12, 1853, at Worcester, Mass., a son of Ralph B. and Catherine E. (But- ler) Griswold. Ralph B. Griswold was born at Enfield, Conn., a son of Horace Griswold, also a native of that place. He received his education in the district schools, but early started out for himself in life. In his earlier years he was a wool buyer, and at the age of thirty years he began the manufacture of woolen goods at Concord, N. H., where he continued until 1855. He then again engaged in wool buying, and for over thirty years he re- mained in the West at this business. On April 22, 1843, he was married at Ashford, Conn., to Catherine E. Butler, who died August 2, 1875. To this worthy couple were born four children: Dr. Hamilton B., of New Milford, Conn. ; Arthur William, mentioned below; Nellie A., deceased wife of E. E. Allen, of Newtown; and Laura, also deceased. Socially Mr. Griswold is a mem- ber of the F. & A. M. Arthur William Griswold passed his early days at Worcester, Mass., and at Newton, Mass., in the public schools of which places he acquired his elementary education. Having a natural love of books, he determined to choose a life-calling that would keep him continually associated with them. He first went to Stafford Springs, Conn., and there completed his course in dentistry. This but opened up to his inquiring mind the broad field of medicine, and he determined to delve deeper into its mysteries. After three years practice of dentistry at Stafford, he began the study of medicine, and took the course of lectures in the medical department of the University of Vermont, later graduating from the Wisconsin Medical College. He began practice at Bridge- ton, Maine, and in 1890 moved to Gaylordsville, Conn., then to Kent, Conn., in 1894; and in 1896 came to Brookheld. On April 18, 1878, Doctor Griswold was married to Rose L. Day, daughter of William and Sarah L. (Cobb) Day, and they are the par- ents of the following children: May H., Ralph A., Seneca E., Harry B., Pearl J. and Leon W. Socially, the Doctor is a member of St. Luke's Lodge F. & A. M., of Kent, Conn., and of the Royal Arcanum, while Mrs. Griswold is an active worker in the Eastern Star. The family are members of the Congregational Church, and are highly respected citizens.