Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

De.ar Brethren — I have a few words to tell you that I have postponed saying for some time because my heart an- tagonized my lips: it is this; The 28th day of April will com- plete my ministry of tifty-six years in your service, when I shall resign the sweet and pleasant work entrusted to me by your honored fathers. You have my grateful acknowledg- ment of your unvarying kindness. And your sainted parents and kinsfolk, how I admired and loved them they never knew, but they shall know some future day, if God permits. I have only to atld that you, their children and representa- tives, will always have my pot)r prayers for your prosperity. God bless you. On March 2, 1895, at a parish meeting, Mr. Yarrington's resignation was accepted, and the following resolutions were passed: RfKolved, That the members of Christ Church, Green- wich, whilst viewing with sorrow the severance of such long and close ties as have existed between their reverend rector, the Rev. B. M. Yarrington, and their predecessors and them- selves, yet recognize his right at his advanced age to retire- ment and a restful period from the labors which now devolve upon him, and tfierefore do hereby accept his resignation, taking effect April 'J8, prox. llisohed, That the wardens and vestry are hereby au- thorized to offer the free use and occupancy of the rectory to Mr, Yarrington during his natural life, and in case the war- dens and vestry shall hereafter deem the said rectory needed for any future minister in charge, they be authorized to hire and sujjply for the free use of Mr. Yarrington of some other suitable residence in the parish, the expense thereof to be borne by this Church, and ample notice to be given to Mr. Yarrington of such contem[)lated change. On Sunday, July 7, 1895, the Rev. M. George Thompson became rector of Christ Church, and Rev. Mr. Yarrington rector emeritus. Mr. Yarrington was the oldest rector in the State, and had the record of being the longest in active service in any one parish of any minister COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 83 in the United States. The silver-headed cane given to the rector who has been longest in service in this diocese was held by Mr. Yarring- ton for a number of years, and he valued it very highly for the honor connected with it. On October 2, 1834, Mr. Yarrington Kiarried Miss Margaret King Dominick, who was bora May 10, 181 5, the daughter of Jacob F. and Isabella (Needham) Dominick, of New York City, where her family has long been prominent. The only child of this union, Benjamin M., Jr., died in infancy, and during their sixty-three years of wedded life Mr. and Mrs. Yarrington made a practice of having some of their nephews and nieces constantly with them. In 1872 they spent four months in Europe, accompanied by a niece, and during that time they visited the principal cities of the Continent. The house in which they resided for more than half a century, a white cottage next door to the church, was built for them in 1844. On October 2, 1884, they celebrated their golden wedding, a recep- tion being given at their home, and a large number of friends and acquaintances met to show their esteem and offer congratulations. Time treated them kindly, vigor of mind and body remaining in spite of advancing years. In his youth, Mr. Yarrington was an ardent ad- mirer of good horses, and throughout his life he took pleasure in driving a spirited team. He was of a retiring disposition, never seeking pub- licity, and at various times he purposely evaded opportunities for gaining public notice. His keen interest in educational progress was shown by his long service as a trustee of Cheshire Academy, and he also held a similar office in connection with the Theological Seminary in New York for many years. While he never took a share in political work, his sympathies were with the Democratic party, and he was also keenly alive to the important and various fliovements of the day. S\HADRACH M. BRUSH, a venerable gentle- ,_J man of Stanwich, Fairfield county, now over four-score years of age, which in main have been passed among the people of Fairfield county, where he has been one of the leading citizens and active business men, was born December 11, 18 1 8, in the house in which he now resides in Stanwich. Benjamin Brush, his grandfather, was an agriculturist of the town of Greenwich. He mar- ried Semantha Reynolds, and of their children, Edward, the eldest, was born in the town of Greenwfth. He became a civil engineer by pro- fession, and soon after the war of 1812 moved to Franklin county, Ind., where he was among the pioneers, driving through from Connecticut to that then far-away point. There he was em- ployed in the construction of the Whitewater canal. He was a man of intelligence and ca- pacity, and became prominent in the early pub- lic affairs of Indiana. He served as a member of the first Legislature of that State, and was known as Captain Brush. Physically he was almost perfect, being powerfully built. He married Ann Ingersoll, who was a native of Stanwich, a daugh- ter of Nathaniel Ingersoll. The children born to the marriage of Captain Brush and his wife were: Elma C, who married Job L. Husted, and died in 1896 at Greenwich; Joseph E. (deceased), who for twenty years was postmaster of Greenwich (he married Mary Wright); Shadrach M., our subject, is again referred to farther on; Rebecca A. married L. C. Hoyt, and died at Long Ridge, Fairfield county; Mary A. married Hobby Husted, and died at Greenwich; and Semantha, a teacher, died unmarried. The father of these children died August 10, 1825, at Ft. Wayne, Ind., from typhoid fever contracted while at work on the construction of the canal previously referred to. Ft. Wayne being some distance from the place of residence of his family, they never knew where his remains were interred. After his death Will- iam Rundle, who had married Fannie Brush, a sister of the deceased, went out to Indiana and drove from there to Connecticut, bringing the family back to their old home, where the chil- dren were reared and where the mother died. Shadrach M. Brush, after the death of his fa- ther and the return of the family to Fairfield county, lived with his grandfather until seventeen years of age, attended school through the winters and worked on the farm the rest of the year. For two winters he attended the Greenwich Academy. At the age of nineteen he entered as a clerk the store of Joseph Brush, an uncle, at Cos Cob. He remained there several years, then went to Stan- wich, where he taught school one winter. He next joined his brother Joseph E. in business at Mianus, with whom he remained several years. Later he was engaged in the lumber and coal business. After the partnership with his brother was dissolved he took as a partner Joseph Home. Later, on selling out, Mr. Brush went to the farm on which he now resides, intending to there re- main, but after farming some three years he again turned his attention to business, engaging in same at Mianus. He built up a good trade and estab- lished a flourishing business at that point. In after years he gave up several branches of the business, and latterly carried a stock of coal and 84 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. lumber only. He built a dock, etc., there. He finally disposed of these interests and moved to Greenwich, where he established a lumber and coal business, and for years conducted it success- fully. His partners at Greenwich were Henry Webb and George Waterbury. For about forty years Mr, Brush resided in Greenwich. Since retiring from active business some years ago, his family have lived at the old IngersoU homestead, which stands on property purchased by his an- cestors from the Indians. He has been a suc- cessful business man, and a self-made one; is a man of good judgment, and has been a very useful citizen in the several communities in which he has lived, and has enjoyed the esteem of his fellow- citizens. In politics Mr. Brush was first a Whig, then became a Republican. He has been active and influential in party affairs, and has held various positions of trust and honor. Three times he was a candidate for the State Legislature, and once elected. He has ever been a temperate man, never uses tobacco, nor do his sons. On June 6, 1848, he married Miss Emeline M. IngersoU, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hobby) IngersoU, born September 4, 1820. To this union were born children as follows: William P., a civil engineer, who died in New York City at the age of forty years; Semantha Reynolds is at home; S. Augustus is a resident of Greenwich; Henry L. also lives in Greenwich; and Emily IngersoU is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Brush cele- brated their fiftieth anniversary June 6, 1898. Both are members of the Congregational Church at Stanwich. He has been largely indentified with Church work; for ten years was an elder of the Presbyerian Church, the edifice for which so- ciety he helped to erect, and he is now a deacon in the Congregational Church at Stanwich. • W RNOLD C. HAWES. D. D. S., who passed ^^ to the unseen life April 7, 1895, was a prominent resident of Noroton Heights, and far many years was a leader in the various pro- gressive movements of his locality. His life was prolonged beyond the ordinary limits, as he had entered upon his ninth decade when death called him, but to the last he showed the same kindly interest in all that concerned the welfare of the community in which he had made his home. Dr. Arnold Hawes was born November 5, 181 3, in Massachusetts, a son of Samuel and Polly (Moore) Hawes, both of whom were na- tives of that State and spent their lives there. After acquiring an academic education he pre- pared for his profession, and in time he became