Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Mr. Wilson was always somewhat conserva- tive in politics; in early life was a Whig, and later a Republican. He was frequently called upon to represent his fellow townsmen in the various councils, serving as alderman, one term as councilman, and two terms as justice of the peace. Socially, he was a member of the I. O. O. P., having joined at Springfield in 1844, and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts; he became a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., and Hamilton Commandery, No. 5, K. T. , of Bridgeport, and he faithfully dis- charged the duties of every position to which he was called. He was proud of his record, to which he frequently alluded in the following words: " During my varied experiences I have never been sued and never sued anyone, and I don't owe any man a dollar." A man of sterling integrity and uncjuestionable probity, he left an honored memory and a good name, unsullied and e.xemplary. HON. LOUIS KUTSCHER, Sr. This well- known citizen of Bridgeport is now less act- ive in business and political life than formerly, but his long and useful career has won for him a prominent place in the community. His history is that of the typical German-American, display- ing thrift, enterprise and public spirit, and as a citizen he is held in high esteem. The Kutscher family originated in the Prov- ince of Hanover, Germany, the ancestral home being at Clausthal on Harz. Frederich Kutscher, our subject's father, was born and reared there, learning the carriage maker's trade in his youth. He married Louisa Zeuner, a native of the same place, and in 1854 they came to America, locat- ing at Rahway, N. J., where he followed his trade for some years, his death occurring in 1866. His wife died eight years before, passing away in 1858. This worthy couple were members of the German Lutheran Church, and their family was reared in that faith. Of their eleven children the eldest, Frederick (now deceased), was a car- riage maker in New Haven; Lena (deceased) married Ernest Loewe in Germany; Louis is the subject proper of this sketch; Charles is a grocer in New Haven; four died in infancy; Julius is a carriage maker in New Haven; Rachel married a Mr. Wurr, a mechanic in New Haven; and' Louisa married William Beckman, a barber in the same city. Mr. Kutscher, our subject, was born October 14, 1834, at the old home in Germany, where he grew to manhood. He learned the carriage mak- er's trade with his father, and after coming to America with his parents he followed that busi- ness for a number of years. For some time he remained in New Jersey, but in 1857 he removed to New Haven. Later he went to New York City for a time, but he returned to New Haven, and was married in that city, in 1859, to Miss Helen Droege, a native of Hamburg, Germany. For a year and a half affer his marriage he made his home on a farm near New Haven, but in 1 868 he removed to Bridgeport where he has since re- mained. During his residence in Bridgeport he has been engaged in the manufacture of Weiss COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 87 beer, but of late years he has been living in re- tirement, his business being continued by his son William. Mr. Kutscher has always felt a keen interest in politics, and while he was a Republican for some time after his arrival in this country he is now a Democrat. In 1888-89 and 1890-91 he represented his town in the State Legislature, and he has held a number of other positions, be- ing now a member of the board of local chari- ities, while he also served for some time on the board of relief at Bridgeport. He belongs to the German Lutheran Church, and is connected with numerous fraternal organizations, including the L O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Kutscher have had ten children, of whom the following are living: William, who conducts the old brewery; Louisa, wife of Garry Sanger, a policeman at Bridgeport; Bertha, who married Fred Schuessler, formerly of New Haven but now of Bridgeport; Louis, Jr., president of the Hartmann Brewing Company at Bridgeport; Minnie, wife of Charles Beardsley, of Stratford; and Oscar, a tool maker at Bridgeport. C\HARLES H. SEAMAN, a most highly-re- ' spected resident of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., has made his home here for over halt a century, and he and his estimable wife hold an honored place among the old residents of the community with whose interests they have so long been identified. Mr. Seaman is descended from a family of English origin, his first ancestry in this country, Capt. John Seaman, coming from England, and settling in Long Island, in 1660, being a land- owner in Hempstead, L. I. He was twice mar- ried, first to a Miss Strickland and (second) to Martha Moore, and he had a family of six sons, among whom was John, Jr., the great-great-great- grandfather of the gentleman whose name opens * this sketch. His son, Jonathan, was the father of David, the great-grandfather, who was born October 15, 1709. The latter's son, David, was born August 30, 1739, and was married January 27, 1762, to Miss Hannah Hicks, who was born February 18, 1743, and came from a very select Long Island family. David Seaman, son of David and Hannah (Hicks) Seaman, was born February 16, 1774, on Long Island, and on January 16, 1798, mar- ried Miss Abigail Mott, also a native of Long Island, born January 22, 1776. Her father, John Mott, was born April 17, 1748, and on Oc- tober 17, 1 77 1, wedded Martha Summers, wno was born August 4, 1755; he died October 30, 1828, his wife on August 8, 1805. Mr. Mott was a farmer by occupation. To David and Abigail (Mott) Seaman were born seven children, as follows: Martha, February, 14, 1799; Han- nah, November 15, 1801; John M., September 14, 1803; Elizabeth H., October 11, 1806; Lu- cinda, July 12, 1808; David, October 8, 18 14; Charles H., February 21, 1819. Of these, Mar- tha was married, on April 6, 1820, to Zophar Mead; she died May 29, 1869, in New York, and was buried in Woodlawn cemetery. Han- nah became the wife of Col. Thomas Mead, and died November 18, 1880, in Greenwich. John M. was prosperously engaged in the butcher business in New York City for many years, and in his later years was a prominent politician in the metropolis, served as alderman, and was identified with various public institu- tions; he died November 7, 1884. Elizabeth H. was married November 28, 183 1, to Clarkson Crolius, and died July 27, 1854, without issue; her husband was a prominent Whig and Repub- lican in New York City, where they resided, and was apolitical leader in the Sixth ward. Lucinda was married in April, 1853, to John H. Paillon, and died November 16, 1851, in New York; Mr. Paillon was also a prominent member of the Whig and Republican parties in New York City. David was a butcher by occupation, and in his later years engaged in real-estate dealing; he died April 28, 1881. David Seaman, the father of this family, was a striking example of the in- dustrious, self-made man, one who, by prudence and good management, rose from an humble position to one of affluence. He was a butcher by trade, doing business at was known as the Old Fly Market in New York, at the site of the Ful- ton Market of the present day., and when he commenced he used to bring his meat in a row-boat from Long Island, and carry it on his shoulder to the market. His business in- creased steadily, and he became what was in those days considered a rich man, accumulating a large property and establishing his family in an elegant home at the corner of Christy and Stan- ton streets, New York, where he passed his closing years. He departed this life October 7, 1828, and was followed to the grave by his wife on February 18, 1832. Both were laid to rest in a vault in St. Stephen's Churchyard, and after- terward removed to Woodlawn, where the other members of the family have been laid. They worshiped at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, on the corner of Broom and Christy streets. Charles H. Seaman was born February 21, 1 8 19, in New York City, at the family home at the corner of Stanton and Christy streets, and (-■ .' ■:. I '.I.'.'. ; r' '^ ' i '- COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.