Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

HON. SAMUEL BALDWIN BEACH, a wealthy and influential resident of the town of Trumbull, has been identified with the agri- cultural interests of his locality for many years, while various investments in enterprises in Bridge- port have brought him into prominence among business men of that thriving city. Mr. Beach was born October 4, 1823, in the Daniels Farms District, of Trumbull township, where his family have been prominent for many years. Ephraim Beach, his grandfather, was a farmer in that locality, and he and his wife, Mary (Edwards), were much esteemed by the early residents. Ephraim W. Beach, our subject's father, was born in Trumbull township and spent his early years at Daniels Farms, but in 1833 he removed to Chestnut Hill District,of Trumbull, where he made his permanent home, his death occurring there at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a man of ability and influence, and held nu- merous township offices, including that of super- visor, and at one time he represented his tosvn in the State Legislature. He was also active in re- ligious work as a member of the Congregational Church in Trumbull, in which he served as dea- con for many years. His wife, Dorothy (Curtis), who also li\ed to the age of eighty-eight years, was a daughter of Agur Curtis, of Stratford, Conn. They had the following children: Williaui Agur, a resident of Georgia; Miner\a (Mrs. Sterling); Reuben, deceased; Samuel Baldwin, our subject; and Mary, wife of S. G. Beardslej'. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Chestnut Hill District, and has contin- ued to reside there at the old homestead. He has always been prominent in public affairs in his lo- cality, having served as representative in the Leg- islature from the town of Trumbull. For one of his age he is remarkably well preserved, the fleet- ing years having touched him but lightly. In 1865 he was married in Easton, this county, to Miss Augusta J. Seeley, and three children have blessed the union: Samuel W., Frances E., and Mary A. The family are prominent socially, and are connected with the Congregational Church at Trumbull, Mr. Beach having been for many years an active worker therein. JiUDGE NICHOLS C. DOWNS, of Stam- j ford, now occupying the Bench of the City Court, has been a conspicuous figure and character of the Stamford Bar, and of the city as a citizen, from the time of his admittance to the Fairfield County Bar, in 1884. A native of Fairfield county. Judge Downs was born in the town of Newtown, December 12, 1 86 1. Monroe D. Downs, his father, was born in Southbury, New Haven Co., Conn. He married Miss Charlotte Nichols Curtis, a daugh- ter of Nichols Curtis, of Newtown, Connecticut. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Newtown, and at the Newtown Academy. On the completion of his literary education he be- gan the study of law under the direction of Julius B. Curtis, of Stamford, and was admitted to the Bar in Fairfield county. May 15, 1884. From 1S87 to 1893, he was deputy judge of the borough court of Stamford, and since 1893, the date of Stamford's incorporation as a city, he has been judge of the city court. From 1SS7 to 1 89 1 he was borough attorne}' for Stamford, 48 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and from .1893 to 189S he was corporation coun- sel for the city. Judge Downs has est;iblished a reputation as a careful and painstakint;' lawyer, conscientious and zealous in the business he un- dertakes. He is a lawyer of marked al>ility, and as a judge his decisions have been eminently sat- isfactory. He is a member of the board of governors of the Suburban Club; and is also vice-president of the Stamford Board of Trade. In 1S94 his name was prominently mentioned as a popular candidate for the position of Judge of the Superior Court. On September 5, 1885, Judge Downs was married to Miss Jessie Mac- Donald, of Brooklyn, New York. MON. BENJAMIN PENFIELD MEAD, State comptroller of Connecticut, is a man so widely and favorably known throughout the State that he needs no introduction here. His genial personality and official capabilities have won for him the highest esteem of his fellow- citizens, who have shown their appreciation of his worth by placing him in numerous public positions of trust. Mr. Mead is a native of Connecticut, born September 21, 1849, in Bridgeport. His father, Benjamin Close Mead, was born in Greenwich, this State, and there spent his boyhood days, at the age of twelve commencing a sea-faring life, which he followed for many jears. When nine- teen years old he became a vessel master, and he ran a packet between Bridgeport and New York in the days before there were steamers, the last boat which he commanded being the schooner •'William P. Boggs. " Benjamin C. Mead was married at Greenwich to Mary Elizabeth Rich, who survives him, living at Greenwich, where he passed away. Their children, eight in num- ber, are as follows: Louisa Woodruff, wife of Charles T. McKenny, of South Norwalk, Conn. ; Mary Elizabeth, wife of James W. Burtis, of New Canaan; Clemence Sophia, living in Green- wich; Benjamin Penfield; Isadore Frances, wife of Fred W. Emerson, of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Rob- ert William, of Greenwich; Josephine Frances, wife of Walter R. Parks, of Brooklyn; and James R., residing in Greenwich. The father was an old-time Whig in political sentiment. Benjamin P. Mead passed his early life in Greenwich, where he received his education, at- tending hrst the public shools, and later the Greenwich Academy, from which institution he graduated with honors. At the age of eighteen he went to New York City, where for three years he was engaged as bookkeeper in a storage ware- house and flour store, and then came to New Canaan, Conn., where he embarked in the gen- eral mercantile and hardware business as a mein- ber of the firm of J. W. Burtis & Co. (afterward Burtis & Mead). Here he has since made his home, and the firm continued to carry on the above mentioned business untU January 20, 1895, when, after many years of success, they retired. Mr. Mead's position among the promi- nent citizens of the town, however, was not only a commercial one. He soon established himself in the confidence of his fellow-townsmen, who honored him with election to almost every office in their gift, and so satisfactory did he prove as a public servant that, although he has been a candidate for office more than twenty terms, he has never been defeated. In 1880 he became town clerk, and the year following was made selectman, continuing in that office seven con- secutive years. In 1S85 he was sent as the rep- resentative of this district to the State Legisla- ture, and again in 1887, during the latter year serving as chairman of the committee on Fish- eries, in which incumbency he made an e.xcellent record, bringing about considerable legislation on that subject. In 1885 he was a member of the School Fund committee in the House, and also served on the Claims committee. In 1889 Mr. Mead was appointed State Auditor by Gov. Mor- gan G. Bulkeley, to fill an unexpired term, his service in that office ending in 1891. He took his seat in the State Senate as a representative from the Twelfth district in 1889, in 1889-90 acting as chairman of the cotnmittee on Cities and Boroughs and other important committees, and was re-elected in 1891. Here, as ever, his integrity and sterling uprightness of character was made manifest, especially during the "dead- lock " session of 1891, when he made many new friends and sustained his honorable reputation among the old ones by his straightforward con- duct. In 1894 he was elected to the office, the duties of which he has since discharged in so able a manner — that of State comptroller. His good judgment, and faithfulness to the interests of the public, have been particularly noticeable, and were rewarded in 1896 by a re-election with the largest plurality received by any candidate on the State ticket. Mr. Mead devotes himself to his public duties with zeal, bringing to his present office all the business tact and acumen acquired in years of successful commercial life, and oidy gives such time to his private interests as is nec- essary for the management of his property. Our subject was married, in New Canaan, to Miss Florence Heath, a daughter of Benjamin N. and Julia A. (Hoyt) Heath, and four children have blessed this union, viz.: Benjamin Heath, i COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 49 Harold Hoyt, Stanley Penfield, and Florence Louisa. Mr. Mead is a member of the Congre- gational Church; fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. J\ BEL S. HAWLEY (deceased) was born _k July 4, 1812, in Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., where he grew to manhood, and at an early age acquired a knowledge of car- pentering and the hatter's trade. For some time he engaged in business there as a carpenter and builder, and in 1857 he removed to Dan- bury and continued in the same line of work. In 1862 he commenced in the undertaking business, which he followed during his remaining years. His intelligence and his high character, combined with unfailing public spirit, made him a promi- nent member of the community, and he served for some time as judge of probate. His sympa- thies were always on the side of progress, and he gave special attention to educational affairs, serving on the school committee many years. Like all of his family he was deeply interested in religious work, and was an active .^iupporter of the Episcopal Church, in which he held the office of senior warden. He took a keen inter- est in political questions, although he was never an office-seeker, and he was always a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. His death, which occurred December 22, 1 891, caused sincere mourning throughout the community, his benevolence and kindly spirit having won the affection and esteem of all classes.