Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

so proficient that he felt justified in opening an office in New York City, where from the first he met with success. In 1865 he built a summer residence at Noroton Heights, and here spent much of his time while continuing his practice in the metropolis, but after 1880 he made his home there all the year round. The society of the place was most congenial to a man of his refined tastes, and he soon identified himself with it, taking an active part in the Masonic Frater- nity as a member of the F. & A. M., and in re- ligious work as a member of the Episcopal Church, in which he held the office of warden. In politics he was a stanch Republican, but he never sought official honors. On February 25, 1853, the Doctor married Miss Eliza Cooke Wardlow, daughter of James and Eliza Cooke Wardlow, lifelong residents of Massachusetts, where Mr. Wardlow was a mer- chant for many years. Mrs. Hawes has two sisters living: Mary, wife of Amos B. Hawes, of Providence, R. I., and Miss Charlotte C. Wardlow, of Noroton Heights. Her fine men- tal gifts have made Mrs. Hawes a valued addi- tion to the best social circles of her neighbor- hood, and she is actively interested in the work of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at Noroton. P)ETER S. SCHUTT is a typical representa- tive of the class of citizens found in this community, men who after years of activity in the business world delight in the peaceful se- clusion of this, the most popular residence town along Long Island Sound, where amid beautiful natural surroundings and congenial social con- ditions they can enjoy to the full the wealth they have amassed. For thirty years Mr. Schutt has been one of the most prominent residents of Riverside, Fairfield county, and he has taken an active and substantial interest in the progress and development of the place, where he is re- garded as a liberal, public-spirited man, and a citizen worthy in every way of the respect and esteem of his fellowmen. Mr. Schutt is a native of New York State, born July 30, 1818, in Roxbury, Delaware coun- ty, where his father, John S. Schutt, was for years a well-known man. The family is of Dutch origin, the first American ancestors being three brothers who came from Amsterdam and settled in Dutchess county, N. Y., in Greene county, N. Y., and Ithaca, N. Y., respectively. John S. Schutt was born in 1790 at Catskill-on- Hudson, and was the son of Solomon Schutt. He married Miss Catherine Overbaugh, of Cats- kill, daughter of Peter Overbaugh, and they be- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 85 •came the parents of eleven children, of whom Peter S. was the fifth in the order of birth; he and four daughters are all who survive of this large family. John S. Schutt was a prominent Whig in his time and place, and served for years as collector in Delaware county, becoming widely acquainted during his long career as a public servant and active politician. He was a large man, six-foot tall, and was well preserved up to the last, being a temperate man in every way except as regards smoking. He was especially well posted in the managment of distilleries, in which he had wide experience, providing his large family with every comfort, and rearing them well. He passed away in 1870, when about eighty years old, and his wife lived to the ad- vanced age of eighty-nine. Both were buried at Bristol, Ulster Co., New York. Peter S. Schutt attended the log school in the vicinity of his boyhood home in Delaware county, in the days when public schools were provided with only the most primitive equipment, and for some years after commencing work he was engaged at farming, when a boy of eighteen receiving ten dollars per month at farm work. When twenty years old he set out from his home, ' with all his extra clothing in a bundle, and walked forty miles to Catskill, N. Y., where his uncle, Peter Schutt, kept' the " Falls House," and also the " Plank House." He worked for his uncle two years, during the summer season taking charge of the hotel for him, and in the spring of 1839 he went to New York City, where he com- menced his business life as clerk in a grocery store at No. 47 Jay street, receiving fifty dollars and board as his first year's wages. Later he was employed at the corner of Twenty-seventh street and Third avenue, and still later in the wholesale provision house of D. B. & W. Moses, in West street, where he remained six years as salesman and bookkeeper. In 1846 he embarked in the provision and produce business on his "own account, in Barclay street, as a member of the firm of Schutt & Potter, from which lie re- tired three years later, and he spent the follow- ing winter in Cuba. Upon his return he engaged in the same line in partnership with John Moses, under the firm name of Schutt & Moses, their place of business being in Fulton street, near Greenwich, and after a year he took another partner, with whom he also continued for a short time. He then abandoned the provision business, engaging in pork packing and general packing at Nos. 444-446 Greenwich Street, which he conducted from 1861 until his retirement into private life in the fall of 1867. Mr. Schutt was an energetic and tireless worker during his commercial career, and he met with unusual success, accumulating a handsome competence, which he fully appeciates and knows how to en- joy. For years he was a member of the Pro- duce Exhange in New York City. Mr. Schutt was married in 1850, in New York, to Miss Jane Cunningham, by whom he had no children. His present wife was Miss Alice Palmer, of Cos Cob, Fairfield Co., Conn., daughter of Denham Palmer. Mr. Schutt tbok up his home in Riverside in 1868, buying his first home here from George Hobby, and later pur- chasing a residence nearer the Post road, which he occupied until 1890, when he acquired the property on which he now lives. The dwelling was the first erected in the section of Riverside where it is located, and was built by Dr. Hud- son. Mr. Schutt was one of the charter mem- bers of the Riverside Yacht Club, was vice-com- modore of the club during the first two years of its existence, and later served as trustee, being one of its most active members until his resigna- tion two years ago. He is still fond of aquatic sport, however, and owns a naphtha launch, from which he derives much pleasure. He is a well-preserved man, mentally and physically, and at the age of eighty looks no older than many men of sixty. Quiet and unostentatious in his habits, he is nevertheless well known and liked, and he has taken a lively interest in the social and public life of the community where he has made his home for so many years. Formerly he was quite active in local politics, and he was once nominated for representative from Green- wich township. He is a Democrat in political faith, and cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren; but in local affairs he looks to the fitness of the candidate rather than to his party connection. While in New York City Mr. Schutt united with the Odd Fellows and Masonic Fraternities. JAMES WILSON (deceased). Among the honored citizens of Bridgeport, who have gone to their rest, was the venerable James Wilson, who after a brief illness passed away at his home. No. 305 Seaview avenue, Bridgeport, June 4, 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-two years and ten months. Mr. Wilson was born July 31, 1815, at En- field, Conn., a son of David and Zeviah (Parsons) Wilson, the former of whom was also a native of Enfield, where he spent his youth and followed the occupation of farming all his days. In this fam- ily were six children besides our subject, namely: Sons — Orvin P., George C, David and Parsons; COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. daughters — Elizabeth and Susan — all now de- ceased. Our subject spent his boyhood days at Enfield, and attended the public schools. He remained on the home farm for a time, but desiring a change learned the harness maker's trade, which he followed for a time, and then returned to the farm. After staying on the home place for a short time, he again started out in the world, and began a varied business career. He first Entered the chair business at Springfield; then went to Hartford, where for several years he was in the harness business; then to Enfield and later to Ware House Point, following the same line, finally locating at Springfield, Mass. At the last named place he was employed in the United .States Armory for a number of years, and then went to Hartford and took a contract for the mak- ing of Sharp's rifles at the time of the Crimean war. In 1857 he came to Bridgeport, and took a contract for making parts of sewing machines in the Wheeler & Wilson factory. He built the foun- dry operated under the firm name of Wilson, Parsons & Co., but finally sold out to Parsons & Landon, and then started the Monumental Bronze Works, in which he continued for some time. He was also one of the projectors and charter members of the Bridgeport Horse I'i. R. Co., remaining a director until the property was acquired by the Traction Company. At the time of Mr. Wilson's coming, Bridgeport was a place of about seven thousand inhabitants, and he wit- nessed its rapid development to a beautiful city of nearly seventy thousand, at all times earnest- ly striving to do his part in aiding every move- ment that would advance home interests. On November 5, 1838, at Ware House Point, Conn., Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Parsons, daughter of William and Sally Parsons, of that place. They became the parents of four children, two only of whom are living at this writing: James E., a mechanical engineer, and Charles H., a metallurgist and founder.