Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

David Wells Plumb, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1809. He was a man of intelligence and patriotism, interested in all of the mercantile life of Ansonia, Birmingham and Shelton. He was physically strong in all of his powers, and was of great will force. He never used a stimu- lant in his life, nor did he ever use tobacco in any form. He became president of the Star Pin Company, of the Silver Plate Cutlery Company, also of the Housatonic and Shelton Water Com- panies, and at his death he was president of the Library Association. The Plumb Library build- ing was erected after his death, in accordance with his often expressed wishes. It is one of the finest library buildings in the State, and is a worthy memorial of its projector. Mr. Plumb appreciated to the fullest extent the value of knowledge to the young, and of libraries as tend- ing most powerfully to extend the knowledge needed by all good citizens, and he was himself well informed as to the politics, history and geo- graphy of his country. He was an original and deep thinker and, while not a professor of relig- ion, yet had correct and liberal views on relig- ious subjects. In the truest sense of the phrase, he was a self-made man, was of exact method in his habits, and his entire life was regulated with the greatest care. His death occurred June 29, 1893, when he was in his eighty-fifth year. Upon his death the directors of the Birmingham National Bank adopted the following resolutions: " Mr. David W. Plumb, for twenty-two years vice-president and director of this bank, died at his residence in Shelton, on the evening of t-he 29th of June last, at the age of eighty-four years and nine months. Upon us, his associates and fellow directors, falls the duty of placing upon record our appreciation of his work and worth. i "His was a long and busy life, the earlier \ years of which were years of trial and struggle. ' His courage, his patience and perseverance, and. above all, his indomitable will and intelligent de- termination, overcame all obstacles, and won for him a success most richly deserved. With ample resources, so worthily gained, having established himself in his new home on the heights, and, looking out from its commanding position, as he surveys the scene of his future activity, this thoughtful man doubtless outlines the plan of his life. His purpose is revealed in the important part taken by him in carrying to destined com- pletion that great public work known as the Housatonic Water Company; in fostering and en- couraging new enterprises; in adding another name to the long list of towns made strong and prosperous by the thrift and energy of New Eng- land manufacturers; in contributing to the en- dowment of a hospital in the place where he was born; and in the gift which made possible and actual a public park in the place where he died. "As in adversity he had shown himself equal to all its exigencies, so his spotless integ- rity, sound judgment, independence in thought and action, coolness in time of financial or other excitement, and faithfulness to duty, revealed him equally well equipped for the difficulties, may it not be said, greater difficulties, which prosperity brings. As adversity could not de- press, so prosperity could not elate him. Mr. Plumb was a man of character, strong character, simple in his tastes and ways, of pure life, hap- piest at his home. His fondness for reading, and a most retentive memory, made his knowledge extensive, accurate and responsive to call. His opinions were his own, and when formed were not easily changed. ' ' Summoned many times by a confiding con- stituency to the legislative councils of the State, his fidelity was as conspicuous as his knowledge of the needs and aids, which wise legislation should supply, was varied and accurate. With him public office was indeed a public trust. In his death this bank has lost an intelligent, effi- cient and faithful officer, one who, believing that the acceptance of office involved the obligation of fulfilling strictly all its duties, was uniformly present at its meetings, and by his watchful care and wise counsel rendered invaluable services to this institution. "The members of this board keenly feel the loss of a courteous and most intelligent member, association with whom has given them the high- est appreciation of his character and worth. To the family of Mr. Plumb they tender their sin- cere condolence, and direct the secretary to transmit to them this expression of their own loss and their sympathy with them in their bereave- ment." [July, 1893.] 74 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. »\ BIJAH M. JONES was born in the town _\, of Wilton, Conn., July 5, 1818, and re- ceived his earlier education in the common schools of the neighborhood of his home. He afterward entered Prof. Hawley Olmsteail's school, where he was graduated at the age of seventeen years, securing a good education for his time. On laying aside his books he com- menced his life work, that of farming. In 1848 he bought the old Stewart farm, at that time owned by Moses Stewart (professor of theology at Andover (Mass.) Theological Seminary), the grandfather of Elizabeth (Stewart) Phelps. Mr. Jones has been extensively engaged in fruit grow- ing, in the culture of asparagus, and in dairying. During the training days (a custom in vogue a little' before and after the year 1838) he was cap- tain of a militia company. In politics he was first a Whig, in 1856 becoming a Republican, and has recorded his vote for every Republican President candidate since. While he has taken little active interest in politics, yet he has held some of the local offices of trust, such as assessor etc. , and he has been a delegate to many conven- tions. In religious matters he is a member of the Congregational Church, and has been an officer in same for many years. On June 17, 1841, Mr. Jones was married to Elizabeth Law, daughter of David and Mary (Aldis) Law, the former of whom was a manu- facturer of shoes at New Canaan, Conn., and at New Orleans, La. She was born March 29, 1817, and was educated at Miss Seely's Semi- nary,.New Haven, Conn.; she died February 22, 1893, after a married life of nearly fifty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born seven children, as follows: (1) John A., who died March 18, 1870, at the age of twenty-seven. (2) Eliz- abeth L., born June 17, 1844, a brief sketch of whom follows. (3) Mary A., born May 12, 1847, died December 4, 1869. (4) Isabella A., born September 4, 1850, educated at Wilton Academy by Professor Olmstead, and married William H. Benjamin, of Wilton; they have no children; William Benjamin was born in New York, and educated in Wilton, Conn., they are now with our subject. (5) David L., born Feb- ruary 18, 1853, in the town of Wilton, Conn., was educated in the common schools and at Professor Olmstead's academy, Wilton, and hers always followed farming; politically he is a Re- publican, in religious faith he is a member of the Congregational Church; he married Mary C. Seymour, and they have two children — Christie L. , and Helen. Mrs. David L. Jones is a daugh- ter of a railroad commissioner, William O. Sey- mour, of Ridgefield, Conn., and was educated at Mt. Holyoke Seminary, Massachusetts. (6) Nellie B., born March 24, 1859, died unmarried October 15, 1882. (7) William A., born May 7, 1863, is a good farmer, and is still at home; he is a member of the Congregational Church. Elizabeth L. Jones, daughter of the subject of this sketch, was born at New Canaan, Conn., and educated at Professor Olmstead's school at Wilton. She married Joseph C. Ayers, a shoe manufacturer of New Canaan, and had two chil- dren: Emma E., who died at the age of seven- teen years; and Jennie M., who married Elbert Adams, of Great Bend, Indiana. The mother of these children died April 3, 1S71, at the age of twenty-seven years, and the father then married Miss Xarepia Barnet, by whom he had one child. Joseph Ayers died in May, 1897. Lieut. John Jones, great-grandfather of our subject, was a descendant of General Jones of Oliver Cromwell's army, and who married Crom- well's sister. He (John Jones) was born in the town of New Haven early in the last century, a son of William Jones, who left England soon after the restoration of Charles II, probably 1860-61. This William Jones (Gov.) married a daughter of Governor Eaton, lieutenant-gover- nor of New Haven, afterward devoting most of his life to farming. When yet a young man he removed to Ridgefield, where he married. Jacob Jones, son of John Jones, and the grandfather of our subject, was born at Ridge- field, and was there educated, ever afterward de- voting himself to farming. He married Miss Ruth Morgan, a daughter of Caleb and (Banks) ^Iorgan, the former of Ridgefield, the latter of Redding, and by her had the following children: James, Stephen, Russell (who mar- ried Eliza Jelliff), John (our subject's father), and Abigal (married to Samuel St. John). John Jo'nes was born in the town of Ridge- field, Conn., September 11, 1792. After com- pleting his education in the common-schools of the time he devoted the rest of his life to farm- ing, e.xcept during the war of 181 2, in which he took an active part; afterward, during the train- ing days, he was a captain of artillery. He was three times married, first time February 19, 181 5, to Miss Anna Middlebrook, who was born November 21, 1788, in the town of Wilton, a daughter of Summers and Susanna (Beal) Middle- brook, the latter of whom was a sister of the wife of Dr. Isaac Lewis, who for a long time was pastor in Wilton and Greenwich. Michael and Abia {/ur Summers) Middlebrook, parents of Summers Middlebrook, removed from Fairfield to Wilton. To the marriage of John and Anna (Middlebrook) Jones came children as follows: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 75 Samuel, born July 3, 1816, died May ii, 1826; Abijah M., the subject proper of this sketch, born July 5, 1818; Charles, born July 19, 1820; William, born December 12, 1822, married Ann Knapp; and Elizabeth, born March 6, 1825.