Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

In 1847, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Morris, a native of the town of Brookfield, and a daughter of Alfred Morris, a farmer of that town. Alfred Morris was a son of Bethel Morris, a representative of ope of the oldest families in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. George Morgan eight children have come, namely: Charles S., at one time a carpenter in Danbury, who died at the age of forty; G. Randolph, a carpenter and pattern maker in Boston; Caro- lyn, who died in infancy; Alfred M., a carpenter in Danbury; Clarence L. , a merchant on White street. Danbury; Evelyn E., the wife of Charles B. Hatch, a wagon maker of New Fairfield; Georgiana, the wife of James P. Kyle, a hatter; and Susan E., unmarried and at home. Mr. Morgan's entire life has been passed in this community, and the high esti^iation in which he is held by his neighbors and acquaintancL-s, through all the years of daily companionship. speaks well for the sterling integrity and inher- ent nobleness of his character. In all matters of general interest, and in all enterprises for the advancement of the material growth of his town and county, he has identified himself. His lib- erality and generosity are unfailing in all worthy causes. In politics he is a Democrat, but though a worker for his party, he has no political aspi- rations, preferring to continue his simple stead- fast life. HrON. SIMON C. BRADLEY. Few men [ of his years are as well known as this young and enterprising agriculturist of Fairfield town- ship. It would be difficult to analyze the cause of his wide popularity and influence, as his genial, friendly disposition, his progressive ideas, his sound practical judgment, and upright character are all factors in maintaining for him an enviable position in the community. Mr. Bradley was born July 29, 1858, in Banks North District, Fairfield township, the son of Zalmon B. and Sarah E. (Sherwood) Bradley, of whom an account is given elsewhere. His edu- cation was begun in the district schools, and after completing the course offered in the local schools he attended Greenfield Academy, then conducted by Mr. Loveridge, and Easton Acad- emy, acquiring a good practical education. During boyhood he received practical training in farm work under his father's direction, and as a young man he took charge of the homestead for some time. At the time of his marriage, in 1879, he built a new house upon the farm, where he continued to reside until his removal in 1893 to his present farm, formerly known as the William Banks farm. Since taking possession he has made many improvements, and the neat and orderly appearance of the place shows the skill- ful management of the scientific farmer. He is fond of field sports, and for some years has been actively interested in rearing dogs of high breed, many specimens from his kennels having carried off prizes in contests which were open to the world. He now has charge of the " Del Monte Kennels," one of the noted kennels of the United States, recently removed from Mississippi to Greenfield Hill. Since i 894 he has been judge of many important contests, and has awarded more than $13,000 in prizes, some going to Eng- land and Scotland. In November, 1897, he had five appointments as judge in contests in North Carolina, and three in Ohio and Indiana. He is secretary and treasurer of the Eastern Field Trials Club of America, of which Pierre Loril- lard, Jr., is president. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 825 Mr. Bradley was early brought into proini- -nence throu^'h his efforts in behalf of agricultural interests, and for years he has been a leading worker in the P. of H., as a member of Greim- field Grange No. 133. He has held various oflices in the State Grange, serving two years as State deputy, and he has been chairman of the executive committee of Pomona Grange, of Fair- field county. As he has always been a stanch Democrat, he naturally became influential in the party councils, and in 1887-88 he served as a representative in the State Legislature, being only twenty-nine years old when elected, making one of the youngest members of that body. In 1 894 and I 896 he was nominated by his party for the same position, but was defeated. P"or three years he was chairman of the Democratic town committee, resigning in 1896, and since 1S94 he has held the office of first selectman of Fairfield, his efficient and faithful service winning the ap- proval of all classes, irrespective of party. He comes honestly by his ability in public affairs, his ancestors having been prominent in this sec- tion from pioneer times. His father was a se- lectman for many years, and also served as a representative from Fairfield, while in the ma- ternal line his grandfather, William Sherwood, served ably as postmaster at Southport, and judge of probate court in the town of Fairfield. On September 30, 1879, Mr. Bradley married Miss Anna Belle Bulkeley, a native of Kendall- ville, Ind., and daughter of Moses A. and P'liz- abeth Bulkeley. During her childhood her fa- ther met his death while operating his lumber mill at Kendallville. and soon after that event she came to Fairfield county, where she was educated. Two children, Elizabeth B. and Sarah E., have blessed this union, and both are popular in the best social circles of Greenfield Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are members of the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church. S\TEPHEN P. CRONAN, D. D. S., a lead- ^ ing dentist of Bridgeport, is a young and enterprising practitioner whose ability and thor- ough preparation have won for him a well- deserved success. His offices, which are advan- tageously located on Main street, are handsomely furnished, and the apparatus for professional work shows a progressive spirit which from the first commands the confidence of the visitor. Dr. Cronan comes of Irish ancestry, his parents, Michael and Ann (McNally) Cronan, be- ing natives of the Emerald Isle. His father, who served gallantly as a soldier during the Civil war, with the Ninth Conn. V. I., is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Naugatuck. having resided there for half a century. Doctor Cronan was born September i, 1871, at Naugatuck, and his education was secured in that town and in Waterbury. After graduating from the high school at Naugatuck he began his professional studies in the office of Dr. Fred Warnes, of Waterbury, and later he entered the office of Dr. C. E. Gates, of the same city. This practical work was supplemented by a three- years' course in the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, where he was graduated with the class of '95. On May i of the same year he located in Bridegport, and as his skill met with prompt recognition he has already built up a lucrative practice. He is much interested in military mat- ters, as befits the son of a Union veteran, and at present is first lieutenant and adjutant of the ist Battalion, 4th Regiment Connecticut National Guard. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, and he attends the Church of the Sacred Heart at Bridgeport. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Foresters of America. Q,RLANDO S. WILDMAN. In compiling a ^^ volume of this kind it would be a grave error to omit from it a record of the lives of those worthy men who bear names that have been prominent in the history of the county from its earliest period. The name of Wildman is one familiar to every inhabitant of the town of Dan- bury, and, for that matter, throughout the entire State of Connecticut. Orlando S. Wildman was born April 26, 1823, on the farm which has ever since been his home. Thomas Wildman, the grandfather of our sub- ject, married I^ucy Hamilton, of Danbury, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom we have the following record: (1) Silas learned the hatter's trade, and when a young man went to Hartford; (2) Philo is the father of our subject; (3) Starr died young; (4) Lucy mar- ried a Mr. Adams; (5) Curtis, who was a hatter, died young; (6) Zilla married Henry Barnum; and (7) Eppa was a hatter in Danbury, where he died. The parents of this family were farm- ing people, and died in Fairfield county. Philo Wildman grew up on a farm, working in summer and attending school during the winter months. On attaining man's estate he married Miss Hulda Terrell, a native of the town of New Fairfield and a descendant of an old English family, and they immediately afterward settled on the farm where our subject now resides, and there their family of three children were born ■1 -li f!i ;Ti £->n'ia;A I.' <•:■':■ I ^:>'(0'! U' ■iVi:L\j ■ ni.'. I ?o !)«•' • ■'11 •;i:)'.TlJ.' 1 826 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and reared: William T., a resident of Sutter Creek, Cal., has been engaged in the mining business since 1852; Minerva married Cyrus White; and Orlando S. is our subject. The father of this family was summoned to his final rest in 1875, j^st ten years after the death of his noble and devoted wife. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a faithful follower of John Wesley. Orlando S. Wildman has lived almost his en- tire life on his present farm, and in the cultiva- tion of its 125 acres of fertile land has taken great pride. He has been a farmer all his life, though for a brief period he worked at hatting.