Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

7f^ MOS HICIvS MEAD, a prominent young Jt^lL business man of Greenwich, belongs to a family that has long been noted for the qualities that constitute good citizenship, and he worthily represents the name. Steady and reliable, he is a man who commands the confidence of others, and he is best liked where he is best known. Mr. Mead was born February i, 1869, at In- dian Field, in the town of Greenwich, the young- est child of the late Isaac Howe Mead and his wife, Mary E. Mead. On the paternal side our subject is of the eighth generation in descent from John Mead [other authorities say William], the pioneer, the line being traced through John, son of the pioneer, Ebenezer (i), Ebenezer (2), De- liverance, Ephraim, and Isaac Howe Mead, while through his mother he belongs to the sev- enth generation from the pioneer, the line of descent running through John, son of the pio- neer, Benjamin, Sylvanus, Whitman, and Zophar Mead, our subject's maternal grandfather. The education of our subject was begun in the Cos Cob district schools, and later he at- tended the academy at Greenwich, then under the direction of Professor Root. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty, assisting his father in the work of the place; but a strong liking for machinery led him to study engineering and seek employment where he could make practical application of his knowledge. For some time he was engaged on the steamer "Standard," of the Standard Oil Company's line, a vessel which was then plying between Bayonne, N. J., and Boston, Mass. He then entered the employ of the Greenwich Electric Company, and as the work proved congenial he went to Lynn, Mass., to take a course in elec- trical science, becoming so proficient that he was given a responsible position in the expert depart- ment of the General Electric Company of that city. In July, 1893, he returned to Greenwich, and engaged as a member of the firm of Banks, Bush & Mead, dealers in coal, lumber and build- ing materials. After a year and a half he re- tired from the firm, but he has since had charge of the lumber department of the business. On June 23, 1897, Mr. Mead married Miss J. Belle Barnes, of Brooklyn, N. Y. He and his wife are prominent socially, and are identified with the Congregational Church at Greenwich, to which his family has given generous support since pioneer times. He takes much interest in political questions, being a firm believer in the principles and policy of the Republican party, and he is active in local affairs of a non-political nature. At present he is a member of the Vol- unteer Fire Company. (J. Belle Barnes, of Brooklyn, N. Y., is a descendant of Jared Mead, brother to Deliverance). JrOSEPH E. RUSSELL, Sr., than whom there is no better known citizen of his years in Greenwich, is one of those men of whom history will speak in later years as a leading citi- zen of his day, and one who has always had the best interests of the town at heart. It is doubt- ful if another man is living in Greenwich who has spent so many years in office, or one whose success in the accumulation of worldly goods, could be so little the result of the emoluments of office. He has ever been an honest, conscien- tious, painstaking official, and one to whom, in a lifetime devoted to official duties, there has not in any manner attached the slightest suspicion of corruption or dishonesty. If ever criticized for his conservatism, subsequent events and condi- tions have proved the wisdom of his position and his foresightedness. Now in his eightieth year. Judge Russell is unusually well preserved and in the full possession of every faculty. Our subject was born November 6, 1818, in South Salem, Westchester Co., N. Y., the son of James and Clarinda (Moe) Russell. James Russell was the son of John, who came from Eng- land in 1770, and married Elizabeth (Cross) Russell. 344 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Judge Russell was married in 1841 to Miss Sophia A. Mead, wlio was born ni Greenwich, on l-'utnam avenue, January 21, 1823, a daugh- ter of Bush and Sarah (Wilson) Mead. To our subject and his wife have been born three chil- dren, as follows: Charlotte, who died at the age of eight }ears; Joseph E., Jr., an attorney who practices at New York and resides at Greenwich; Victor H., one of the best-known men of Green- wich and a leader in athletics; he is at present chief of the Volunteer Fire Department. Judge Russell cast his first vote for President, lor Van Buren. In early life he was a Democrat, and in i860 he was a Douglas man. In 1864 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since been a stanch Republican. He was an active member of the local military company known as the Put- nam Guards, and a company of the Ninth Regi- ment, Connecticut State Militia. At the organ- ization of the Putnam Guards he was elected lieutenant, later becoming captain. Among the offices to which he has been elected may be men- tioned those of assessor, first selectman, rep- resentative, and he was elected to the Legislature in 1857 on the Democratic ticket. In the capacity of justice of the peace he has presided at many trials, and his rulings were seldom re- versed. His judicial decisions were held in high respect by the best lawyers who practiced before him He is familiarly known as "Judge" Ivus- sell, the title being one of endearment and re- spect on account of his long, faithful and able services. He continued to hold the office of jus- tice of the peace as long as he was eligible, or until he attained the age of seventy years. No man in Greenwich is more deeply ven- erated, and his career in life has been an inspira- tion to the youthful and ambitious. The com- fortable competence he has accumulated has not been his greatest success, even though he started in life as a poor boy and has won his present financial position through his own unaided efforts. His character is above reproach; he typifies the better, more ennobling phase of American man- hood, crowned in the evening of life with the approval and commendations of his fellowinen. E^\LIJAH M. BEERS, custodian of the Wor- // cester Cemetery at Danbury, is one of the well-known citizens of that town, and his popu- larity is shown by his election to various local offices. His faithful service in these and other positions of trust has amply justified the confi- dence of the people, and in public esteem no man stands higher. Mr. lieers belongs to an old Colonial family, and his grandfather, David Beers, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. This worthy pioneer was a farmer in the town of Weston, where he w^as born. He married Hannah Porter, of this county, and had the following children; Eph- raim, who was a farmer in tlie town of Danbury; Benjamin, a millwright by trade; Elijah, our sub- ject's father; Lois, who died unmarried; Ruth, who married I^evi Whaley, a carpenter; and Eunice, who married (first) Anson Terrell, and (second) Isaac Scudder. Elijah Beers, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Weston (now called Easton), where he grew to manhood upon a farm. He married Esther Treadwell, daughter of Benjamin Treadwell, a farmer in Easton, who served in Washington's army, in the Revolutionary war. After his marriage, Elijah Beers located upon a farm in Easton, but afterward removed to New Fairfield, where he followed agriculture and lum- bering. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious faith he and his wife were both Meth- odists. His death occurred in 1871, his wife sur- viving him but six weeks. They had eleven chil- dren, some of whom were born in Easton, the others in New Fairfield: Leander (deceased) was a car-man in Danbury. Marinda (deceased) mar- ried Sumner Stowe, of Redding. Ruhama (de- ceased) married E. M. Couch, a hatter of New Fairfield, who, for his second wife, married her sister Hannah; she is still living. Benjamin (de- ceased) was a farmer in Easton. Hannah has just been mentioned. Bradley is now a farmer in New Fairfield. Ira is the agent for the Bridge port Bronze Company. Esther married Orlando Wildman, a farmer in the town of Danbury. Elijah, our subject, is mentioned more fully be- low. Mary (deceased) was the wife of George W. Barnum, a shoemaker. George (deceased) was a farmer by occupation. The subject of this biography was born Feb- ruary 17, 1831, in the town of New Fairfield, where his early life was spent on a farm. In 1850 he married Jerusha A. Sturges, a native of the same locality. The family is of English origin, and her grandfather, David Sturges, was a resident of the town of Danbury, where her father, John Sturges. was born. Mr. lieers and his wife made their home at the old farm until 1868 when he removed to Danbury. Since 1S86 he has held his present position as superintend- ent of the Worcester Cemetery. He has always taken an active part in local affairs as well as in the Democratic organization of his town. In New Fairfield he held nearly all of the town offices, including those of selectman and assessor, while in Danbury he has served on the board of hiv.: ,:.r:,r, " i,u> lail l;a; !ii..;.; )iiv. .^H-iuuifKl •'''■■ I -■-■f -/..I .'•"/ r',Uij|--;,J .:(. li;-'';,''. ; s. ■-■ virii .. S'A/'^ ^ /^-c^^ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 345 -aldermen as a representative of the Second ward. He and his wife are active supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Danbury, and take a keen interest in all progressive move- ments. Their family consists of five children; Essie, widow of George Osborne, of Brookfield; Alphonso, a resident of Danbury, who married Miss Goldwich, of Norwalk; Eliza, wife of Oscar Sturgis, of Ridgefield; Emerson, who married Miss Carrie Boughton, and resides in Danbury; and Elina, who married William H. Weyant, of Orange county. New York.