Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

1837, to Harriet Webb, and lived at New Canaan; he died October 11, 1843. Rufus, born Decem- ber 18, 1803, married Mary Gaylor on February 28, 1836; he died in Stamford, July 29, 1876. James (i), born June 30, 1805, died February 14, 1807; Sally, born May 22, 1807, became the wife of William H. Adams; she died March i, 1875. Isaac (i), born May 7, 1809, died May II, 1812. Hannah, born November 12, 1810, became the wife of Rev. S. W. Scofield; she is still living, at Stamford. Abigail, born August 20, 1812, died November 11, 1891. Luther, born April 19, 1814, died June 28, 1814. Isaac (2) is the subject proper of this sketch. Betsey, twin sister of Isaac, born December 10, 1815, was married May 7, 1838, to Rev. William C. Hoyt; she is still living in Stamford. Priscilla, born January 15, 1818, died January 28, 1820. A son, born and died January 9, 1820. James (2), born June 13, 1821, died June 24, 1894; he married Sarah C. Rebecca Bishop, on January 22, 1845. Isaac Wardwell passed his boyhood on the homestead in the town of Stamford, where his birth occurred December 10, 181 5. He re- ceived a good common-school education, attend- ing at a house that stood on the site of the pres- ent St. Johns Park, and later studying at the Stamford Academy, which stood on the ground now occupied by the town hall. In 1832, after his school days were over, he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade with Edwin Bishop, and served five years. In 1838 he went to woik for George E. Waring, in the foundry, and in 1846 he became the junior member of the firm which was then comprised of George E. Waring, James B. Scofield, Jonathan Hall and Isaac Wardwell, Mr. Hall's interest being purchased one year later by J. D. Warren. In 1851 the firm changed, becoming J. D. Warren & Co., and it subsequently became a stock company under the name of the Stamford Foundry Company, of which J. D. Warren was made president. Mr. Wardwell had learned his trade thoroughly, and he soon became a skilled worker in wood, and being of a mechanical turn developed into a first- class pattern maker. Possessing business tact and ability, it was not long before he came to the front in the company, and also in outside business affairs. From the start he served as superintendent, and at this time, although prac- tically retired from active duties, he still devotes some time to the business of the plant. Mr. Wardwell was one of the promoters and builders of the improved Stamford canal, and was also in- strumental in the improvement of the harbor. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank 44 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. of Stamford, which is now the oldest national bank in the United States. At the time its charter was granted it was fourth in point of age, but since the other three banks have ceased to exist, the Stamford bank is now the oldest in the country. Mr. Wardwell is remarkablj' active for one of his years, and to this day enjoys greatly a sail on the Sound; he also delights in the sport of Izaak Walton. On April 27, 1S47, ^^r. Wardwell was married to Miss Frederica Louisa Shaw, a daughter of Frederick Shaw, and to their union were born children as follows: Anna Wilkinson, Ida Louisa, L Franklin and Claison Shaw. The entire fam- ily are members of St. John's Episcopal Church, Stamford, Mr. W'ardwell having been an active worker as Sunday-school teacher and member of the choir in fortner }ears. His residence is on Elm Hill, west of the old homestead, having been built in i860 on property adjoining the Westcott farm. I. Franklin Wardwell was born October 10, 1854, and passed his early life attending the schools of Stamford, first the common and later the high school. In the meantime he had com- menced the study of dentistry under Dr. E. T. Payne, from whom he had two years' tuition, and he completed his preparation for his profession at the Philadelphia Dental College, in which he eventually became one of the demonstrators, during his second year being made one of the Faculty. Alter his graduation, in 1876, he be- came connected with the University of Pennsyl- vania, as clinical instructor, continuing with the institution in that capacity to the present day. From 1876 to 1878 he practiced in Stamford with his brother, and in the latter year they es- tablished the office in West Thirty-eighth street, New York City, which they have ever since con- ducted, of late years giving their entire attention to practice in the metropolis. Drs. Wardwell are endowed with unusual ability as mechanics, and have made a steam engine, billiard table, etc., which are practical proofs of their ingenuity in this line. Before the electric motor was used in dentistry, having conceived the idea of the use of compressed air, they developed it, constructed the engine, which was a double-action, upright- cylinder affair, and used same until their re- moval to New York; it was a most desirable piece of mechanism, and could be regulated per- fectly as to speed and power. On June i, 1894, Dr. I. Franklin Wardwell married Miss Helen Embury, and they have one child, Helen Embury, born October 23, 1896, who was christened on the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of her grandfather Wardwell, and the forty-third anniversary of the marriage of her grandfather Embury. Dr. and Mrs. Wardwell reside opposite the present Wardwell homestead in a stone house built nearly sixty years ago, the Doctor "commuting" to New York daily. He takes great interest in photography, yachting, etc., being measurer of the Stamford Yacht Club, and he has built one of the finest boats at Stam- ford. Dr. Claison S. Wardwell was married Sep- tember 8, 1885, to Miss Mary Bradford, and they have three children: Helen, born June 17, 1886; Joseph Bradford, born February 4, 1888; and Margaret, born December 22, 1894. He resides with his family on Elm street, the second house west of his father's residence. LEWIS W. BURRITT (deceased) was one of Stratford's substantial citizens, and worthily represented a family which has long been noted for industry, thrift and public spirit. He was born in Stratford September 2, 1802, and passed his entire life there, his death occurring February I, 1878, and the esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen is a convincing testimony to his high character as a man. His ancestors, William and Elizabeth Burritt, wereamong the first settlers, and Ephraim Burritt, his grandfather, was born in the town of Strat- ford, there making his home throughout his life. He married Miss Ufford, also a native of the town, and had the following children: Stephen, who was employed for many years as a laborer in the harbor at Stratford; Thomas, a farmer in the town of 'Stratford; Ephraim and Abel, who were weavers by trade and also followed farm- ing in Stratford; Phoebe (Mrs. Legrand Wells); Lewis, our subject's father; P. Mary, who mar- ried James Cannon. Lewis Burritt, the father of our subject, was born in Stratford, where he followed the cabinet- maker's trade for many years. He was a Whig in politics, and was active in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church. He married Esther Frost, a native of Stratford and daughter of Stephen Frost, a house carpenter by trade. They had three children: Lewis W., our sub- ject; Alfred, a retired resident of Stratford, and Ephraim, who died in infancy. Alfred Burritt was born June 14, 18 10, in Stratford, and be- came a cabinet maker, following the trade first in New York City and later in Stratford. He has been prominent in politics as a Whig and Republican, and has held various local offices including that of selectman, while in 1853 he was elected on the Temperance ticket as a repre- ill'.k^ J.. ■: ■,>■.■, I'M ! t._. "oi:, I ,.; ■J -rlifj-.v,.i ,,(•,, lii'- '■■ 1 .or.- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 45 sentative from his town to the State Legislature. He married Miss Catherine A. Biirritt. daughter of David Burritt, of Stratford, and has had six children, of whom the youngest died in infancy. Ransom is a farmer and cabinet maker in Strat- ford; Miss Fannie resides at home; Charles is engaged in business in Norwalk as a tinner and plumber; Emma married John Rhoades of Brooklyn; and William died in early manhood. Lewis W. Burritt followed the cabinet-mak- er's trade in Stratford throughout his active years, and by his judicious management accumu- lated a handsome competence. His sound judg- ment and well-known integrity caused him to be frequently chosen to positions of trust, and for many years he served as town treasurer. Poli- tically he was a Republican from the time of the formation of the party, and his advice was val- ued in the councils of the local organization. He and his wife were leading members of the Episcopal Church in Stratford, and for years he held the office of treasurer in that society. On July 20, 1 83 1, he married Miss Mary E. Wil- mot, who was born in New Haven, Conn., Sep- tember 7, 1805, the daughter of Samuel Wilmot, a native of the city and a representative of a well-known family. She died December 20, 1849, and he afterward married Miss Delia De- Forest, daughter of Daniel De Forest, of Strat- ford. He had four children, ail by the hrst marriage: George H., who died in New York City at the age of fifty years, was in business in the metropolis; Lewis W. (deceased) was also in business in New York; Miss Elizabeth ^L is a highly respected resident of Stratford; and Emily L. died in childhood. W LANSON LYON (deceased), who in his life- M^ time was prominent in business circles and in the public affairs of the county, where his an- cestors before him had figured, was born in the town of Redding, August 21, 1805, having de- scended from an ancient historic family.