Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Silas B. Sherwood, the father of our subject, was born on Sherwood's Island, January 29, 1805, and followed farming there throughout his active life. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious faith he was a Congregationalist. His death occurred at his home on Sherwood's Island, May 8, 1861, and his wife, Anna Coley (Taylor), daughter of Jessup Taylor, of West- port, died February 4, 1861. Our subject was the youngest in a family of four children, the others being: Silas B., Jr., who died December 8, 1896, was a farmer by occupation, and was a leading Democrat of the town of Westport, serv- ing many years as judge of probate, and repre- senting his town ably in the State Legislature. Jessup T., who was also a farmer, died at the age of thirty-two years. Catherine S. married William Burr, a farmer of Fairfield township, and is still living. Moses Sherwood was bcirn May 16, 1839, at the old homestead on Sherwood's Island, and has always resided in that locality. He is a pro- gressive and enterprising farmer, planting mixed crops, and making a decided success of fruit rais- ing. Like others of his family he takes an influ- ential part in local affairs, and he has many times been elected to office on the Democratic ticket. In 1883 and 1884 he served as a representative in the Legislature, discharging the duties of the position with fidelity. He and his family are identified with the Congregational Church at Westport, Conn. On December 11, 1862, he married Miss Eliza F. Andrews, daughter of Ebenezer T. Andrews, of Easton, this county, and three children have blessed the union: Henry M. died January 20, 1896; M. Wesley assists in the management of the homestead; and Anna T. is at home. WILLIAM HENRY HOLLY, well-known in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Conn., as the bookkeeper of the Stamford Savings Bank, is a descendant of a family that has been identified with Stamford since 1642. Three brothers of the name of Holly came to New England in 1625 in the " Mayflower," this being its second trip. Nathan Holly, great-grandfather of William H. , was born in Stamford, and on October 11, 1763, married Hannah Jager, by whom he had three children, namely: Isaac, Sarah (born May 7, 1766), and Nancy. Isaac Holly was born in Stamford May 26, 1768, and died January 26, 1827. He was first married to Levina Bishop, by whom he had nine children, and by his second wife, Elena Bishop, he had five. George Talbot Holly was born March 6, 1822, in Stamford, where he passed his youth and early manhood. On October 4, 1852, he wedded Sarah J. Kellogg, daughter of Martin Kellogg, and in 1854 they removed to Missouri, where they resided some eighteen years, Mr. Holly engaging in mercantile business. After returning to Stamford he carried on merchandis- ing in partnership with Alex. J. Holly, in 1884 retiring from active life. He passed away May 4, 1897, leaving three children — Charles Freder- ick and George T. , living in New Mexico; and William Henry, whose name introduces this sketch. The youngest child, Isaac, died in in- fancy. During the Civil war Mr. Holly served the Union as a member of the 41st Mo. V. I., of which regiment he was quartermaster. Many years ago he was captain in the local military organization in Stamford. He was a member of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of Stam- ford, and, fraternally, belongs to Union Lodge, F. & A. M. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Ill William Henry Holly, named for his uncle, who established the Stamford Advocate, the first newspaper published in Stamford, was born March 3, 1859, at Savannah, Andrew Co., Mo., and there received his early education. After the family returned to Stamford, he attended high school here, and then commenced clerking in the grocery business, at which he was employed alto- gether for about seventeen years. During this time he was in the employ of Frederick H. Ayres, Ferris & Nolan and Hale & Totter, wholesale dealers in New York City. In 1889 he formed his present connection with the Stamford Savings Bank, and has held the position of bookkeeper there ever since, giving entire satisfaction in this capacity. His stability and trustworthiness have been marked characteristics of his service, and he is greatly respected by all his associates, in either business or private life. Since 1888 Mr. Holly has been a member of the Connecticut National Guard, and he has been prominent in the affairs of his regiment. On July 19, 1892, he was made regimental inspector of rifle practice, with the rank of captain, and on January 9, 1897, he was promoted to the position of brigade inspector of small arms practice, and ordnance officer on the staff of the brigadier-gen- eral, with the rank of major. In fraternal con- nection, he is a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., Stamford; of Stamford Council No. 999, Royal Arcanum; and of Puritan Lodge, No. 43, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the common council of the city of Stamford (1899-1900). In matters of religion, he unites with St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church at Stamford. went to New York City, and for about sixteen years was employed as a shipping clerk by A. T. Demarest & Co. and John C. Ham. In 1882 he returned l-* Bridgeport, and he has since been connected with the Sewing Machine Cabinet Company in a responsible capacity. Politically, he is a Republican, and he has always taken keen interest in the questions of the day. At times he has been chosen to office by his fellow- citizens, and at present he is serving as alderman from the Tenth district of Bridgeport. In 1883 he married Miss Anna T. Harvey, daughter of William H. Harvey, of New York, and they have one son, Harvey C. Mr. Irving and his wife are held in high esteem among the people of Bridgeport, and he is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church. G\EORGE IRVING, secretary of the Sewing ,_]■ Machine Cabinet Company, of Bridgeport, is one of the successful business men of that town, and is also prominent in municipal affairs, being an able and faithful champion of the inter- ests of the people. Born March 28, 1850, in Albany, N. Y. , Mr. Irving is a son of George and Mary (Gulley) Irving, both now deceased. His father, who was a carriage-body maker by trade, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, but was of English ancestry, while the mother was born in Devonshire, I'-ng- land. They were married in this country, and for some time resided in Albany, whence they removed to Bridgeport. They had two children: George, our subject; and a daughter who died in infancy. Our subject was two ye^irs old when his par- ents made their home in Bridgeport, where his education was obtained. On leaving school he CCiHARLES OLMSTEAD, an industrious and _Jl popular agriculturist of the town of Redding, Fairfield county, near Branchville, is a native of the county, born February 5, 1822, and received his education at the common school of the locality. For a trade Mr. Olmstead learned shoemak- ing, but did not follow it long, and when he was twenty-three years old he commenced peddling, a vocation that gave him a good deal of experi- ence in various parts of the country, especially in the South, where he sold goods for some time. Later he became traveler for the Gilbert & Ben- nett Manufacturing Company, of Georgetown, Conn., and with that firm remained some fifteen years, at the end of which time, in company with Sturgess Bennett, he embarked in a general store business at Georgetown, which partnership was dissolved after three years. Mr. Olmstead next took up the timber business, but gave that up after ten years ; and it may here be men- tioned that at one time he carried on a butcher market at Georgetown. Purchasing his present farm near Branchville, he has since carried it on successfully. During the Civil war Mr. Olmstead enlisted, in 1862, in Company E, 23rd Connecticut Regi- ment, and served one year. In religious faith he is a member of the ^I. E. Church, with which he united si.xty years ago, has held all the offices in same, at the present time is trustee and stew- ard, and for many years was superintendent of the Sabbath-school. Politically he is a zealous Republican, originally a Whig, and cast his first vote for Fillmore ; among other offices held by Mr. Olmstead was that of assessor of his town. In 1844 our subject married Miss Elizabeth Fillow, who was born at Redding, in May, 1S25, 112 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. a daughter of Joseph Fillow, a farmer of that towri, and three children were born to them, to wit : Charles O., a brief notice of whom follows ; Laura A., wife of Charles A. Jennings ; and Clarence L., married to Flora IDyckman. Of these, Charles O. was born in the town of Red- ding, studied medicine, graduated from the Col- lege of PhysiciaBS and Surgeons of New York, and became an expert surgeon, with practice at Cross River, N. Y. He was president of the New York Medical Society, and was a promi- nent Freemason. He died in March, 1893 ; his widow is yet living ; no issue. Abram Olmstead, father of our subject, was born in the town of Wilton, and was a lifelong farmer. By his wife, Rachel St. John, he had children: John, married a Miss Lockwood; Charles is our subject; Jane is the wife of Ezra, Bronson; and Julia married Andrew Raymond. Nathan Olmstead, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the town of Wilton, Fairfield county, and was also an agriculturist all his days, owning a large tract of land on Olmstead Hill, in the town of Wilton. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and one of the most highly respected citizens in this part of the State. He married a Miss Middlebrooks, and had five children: Nathan, who never married; Aaron, who wedded a Miss Scribner; Abram, father of our subject; Hannah, who never married; and Polly (Mrs. Keeler). BEV. GEORGE W. NICHOLS, D. D., the well-known clergyman and author, who is