Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

where she had friends Hving. She has a beau- tiful home in East Port Chester, in addition to which residence there remains in the family a de- sirable business property in the same village. In religious faith Mrs. Wiegand adheres to the ten- ets of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Wiegand was a Lutheran, having in 1848, when fourteen years of age, been confirmed in that Church. Philip H. Wiegand died March 16, 1898, and his funeral, such was the esteem he was held in, was one of the largest and most impressive ever witnessed in this part of the county. From a lengthy and just tribute to his memory as a pub- lic and private citizen, published in a local paper just after his funeral, we glean the following few lines: "The confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens was the best evidence of his worth and standing as a man. Though he at all times exercised a powerful influence for good at his end of the town of Greenwich, yet he never sought office for himself, and we believe never ac- cepted the responsibilities of office except in the one position of committeeman. He served his school associates as treasurer, and when the conditions were such that they could not raise money promptly, ' Phil' Wiegand did not hesitate to sign his name to raise the money. " His two sons, Geo. V. and Henry P., still carry on the business. HENRY FINCH, a prosperous farmer of the town of Wilton, and one of the oldest residents of the place, was born November 4, 1828, and received his education in the common schools of that place and at Westport Academy. During all the earlier years of his life his prin- cipal occupation was farming, while during the Civil war he did an extensive butchering business. He has an elegant place on Chestnut Hill, and deals extensively in stock. He is a member of Our Brothers Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., of the town of Norwalk, is a Democrat in politics, and has held a few of the local minor offices of his town. He married Miss Jane A. Water- bury, daughter of E. S. Waterbury, a prosperous farmer of the town of Wilton. Mr. and Mrs. Finch have had no children. Frank Finch, twin brother of Henry Finch, was educated in the town of Wilton, and West- port Academy. After leaving school he engaged in farming and the butchering business with his brother. Like his brother, he was a member of Our Brothers Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F. , of Norwalk; he is a Democrat in politics, and has held a few of the minor local offices of his town. He married Miss Isabell R. Park, daughter of John Park, of Vermont, and died July 12, 1898. They had no children. Ichabod Finch, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton, was there edu- cated, and ever afterward devoted himself to farming. He married a Miss Smith, by whom he had the following children: Budd, William, John, Daniel, Charlotte and Polly. Budd Finch, father of our subject, was born June 13, 1789, and educated in the town of Wil- ton, and was called out during the war of 18 12. During his early life he began to learn the shoe- maker's trade, but never worked at that trade, preferring the life of a farmer, in this occupation being unusually successful and accumulating con- siderable wealth. Politically, he was a strong Democrat, and was elected to several of the minor local offices of his town. In religion he was a Universalist. He married Miss Lucinda Waterbury, daughter of Thaddeus Waterbury, a prominent farmer of Wilton. The children born to this marriage were as follows: Henry, Frank, and Eliza J., who married George B. Gregory, of Norwalk. Archibald Park, grandfather of the wife of Frank Finch, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, and obtained his early education in that city. At the age of sixteen he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Ryegate, Vt. , where he engaged in farming. He was a resident of the country during the Revolutionary war, but it is not stated whether he served as a soldier during that conflict. Politically he was a strong Demo- crat, was well thought of by his fellow men, and was elected to several of the minor local offices within their gift. He married Miss Margaret Renfrew, by whom he had the following children: John, who married Jane Roben; Margaret, who married Robert Miller; Jane, who married Rob- ert Cochran; Archibald, who married Margaret Roben; Robert, who remained single; Abigail, who married Harrison Bailey; Caroline, who married James Dickey; and Jackson, who died young. John Park, father of the wife of Mr. Finch, was born in Ryegate, Vt., was educated in the common schools of that town, and ever after- ward engaged in farming. During the training days he was a militiaman, and in politics he was a Democrat, holding several of the minor offices of his town. While not a member of any relig- ious society, yet he regularly attended the Pres- byterian Church. He married Miss Jane Roben, daughter of Walter and Polly (Thomas) Roben, the former of whom was a prosperous farmer of Scotland To this marriage there were born the following children: Andrew J., who married Mary 348 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Barnett; Margaret J., born May i, 1836, died young; Isabell R. , born June 2, 1837, married Frank Finch; Walter A., born February 19, 1839, married; John R., born November 26, 1840, died young; ^Iartin V., born July 28, 1842, remains single; Sarah J., born June 15, 1844, married Henry Swan; Polly A., born March 20, 1846, married Jabez B. Nelson; and a son, born Au- gust 20, 1S48, died without being named. Isabell R. Park, who married Frank Finch, was born in the town of Ryegate, Vt., and was educated in the district schools. She is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and is faithful to all society and family duties. WILLIAM M. RITCH has for the past ten years lived retired in his elegant home on Cherry Hill, in East Port Chester. There are a number of well-to-do men of this section of the country whose lives are splendid illustrations of that American term so often used, and misused, in praising the career and accomplishments of men who have been successful in the face of trying and discouraging circumstances — selfmade; and Mr. Ritch is one of the worthiest examples of this class. He has worked his way to ease and affluence through years of industry and steady application to business, for he commenced life a poor boy financially, and earned his first capital by manual labor. Mr. Ritch is a native of Greenwich township, Fairfield county, born June i, 1825, and belongs to one of the old families of the neighborhood. His grandfather, Jameis Ritch, and his father, Ralph Ritch, were farmers, and the latter also carried on a stone quarry. He married Cleinence Mead, daughter of Mathew Mead, and they reared a family of twelve children — six sons and six daughters, of whom, seven — three sons and four daughters — still survive. The parents died in Greenwich at a ripe old age. Mrs. Ritch was a member of the Congregational Church. During the boyhood of our subject the com- mon schools did not afford the advantages offered to all in the present day, but he acquired all his book-learning in those institutions, such as they were. "Uncle Johnnie Gray" was his first teacher. His father wished him to attend Prof. Philander Button's school at Greenwich, but he preferred to begin work, and did so. At the age of seventeen he went to learn the carpenter's trade with John Weed, of Greenwich, with whom he remained three years, receiving $20 the first year, $30 the second and $40 the third, clothing him- self. For two years after he followed his trade in the employ of others, and then for a year and a half on his own account, at the end of that time engaging in the business to which he devoted the remainder of his active life. In partnership with his brother Thomas he bought the schooner " Mariner," which was used in the trade between Greenwich and New York, and they began by transporting stone for other parties for half, finally embarking in the business for themselves. They first hired a quarry, and when able pur- chased one, at Byram, and from a small begin- ning they established and built up an extensive business, requiring three vessels in their trade, the "Mariner," " Adaline " and "Mail." They were obliged to go into debt for the sum of $600 when they made their advent in the vessel busi- ness, but that was the only time they gave their note during the forty years of their commercial life together, for although it was not all smooth sailing, and they met with the usual setbacks and disappointments which fall to the lot of men in any branch of trade, they kept their business clear of incumbrances. On deciding to retire to private life to enjoy the abundant means which had come to them through patient and unceasing toil, the brothers divided their stone quarries and property ami- cably, not even a third party being aware of the division. From the above statements it may be easily seen that Mr. Ritch deserves to be called a self-made man, and he may be justly proud of the results of his labors, which enabled him ten years ago to give up active work to pass his years in comfort and even luxury. He always maintained a high reputation for honorable and straightforward dealing, and unquestionable in- tegrity in any matter, and no citizen in Green- wich commands higher respect or bears a better name.