Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Rev. Whitcome has been twice married. His first wife, who in her maidenhood was Miss Louisa A. Thrasher, a native of Crown Point, N. Y. , died November 6, 1S73, at North Haven, leaving two children tothe bereaved father's care, namely: Susan L. ; and Francis Banks, who is now rector of St. Paul's Parish, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. (he married Mary E. Lewis, of Annandale, N. Y., and has one child — Louise Jane). On May 4, 1876, our subject was wedded to his second wife, Caroline E. Bishop, a daughter of Harley Bish- op and his wife Mary Ann (Moody) Bishop. Socially, Rev. Whitcome is a member of Corin- thian Lodge No. 103, of North Ford, Conn., F. & A. M., and of Housatonic Royal Arch Chapter of Masons, New Milford, Conn. In the twenty years of his rectorate at St. Paul's he has grown in the hearts of the people, not only of his own parish, but in those of all denominations, untir- ing in his labors, cheering the sorrowful, raising up those who fall, and in all ways practicing and preaching from that divine word " Charit)'. " €LARKE FAMILY. James Clarke (1) was an _ early settler at New Haven, Conn. James Clarke (2), the first of the family to locate in Fairfield county, was married about 1662 to De- borah Peacock, of Stratford, and made his home in that town. James Clarke (3), a son of James (2) and his wife Deborah, was born in Stratfcinl February 12, 1664, and was married May 24, 1698, to Jane Griffin. Zachariah Clarke (i), a son of James (3) and Jane (Griffin) Clarke, was born in Stratford, June 8, 1702, and was married November 21, 1727, to Eunice Staples, of Fair- field, this county. Zachariah Clarke (2) was also a native of Stratford, born in May, 1739, but a large portion of his life w.is spent in Zoar District, town of New- town, where he followed agricultural pursuits. Physically, he was strong and active, and, as he was an excellent manager, he acquired a hand- some property, consisting mainly of real estate in Newtown township. Like all of his family, he was public-spirited, and he took a prominent part in local affairs. On February 4, 1761, he married Mary Bacon, who was born in Middle- town, Conn., July 13, 1737, and died in Zoar, November 29, iSoo. His death occurred August 12, I S3 1, when he was in his ninety -third year. In his will, which bears the date of Jan- uary 30, 1825, he makes a generous bequest to a slave named Asa, and also mentions the following children: James; Zachariah, of whom an ac- count is given below; Andrew; Daniel; Mahit- abel, wife of Philo Sherman; Hannah, wife of Elias Beardsley; Esther, who did not marry; Pamelia, wife of David Beardsley, who resided in Tioga county, N. Y. ; and Polly, wife of Isaac Beardsley. Each of the sons received a farm, and with the e.xception of Daniel, who settled in Southbury, Conn., they all remained in New- town and engaged in agriculture. Hon. Zachariah Clarke was born in 1771, and died in 1846. In early manhood he made his home upon a farm in the western part of New- town township, but in 1828 he purchased the Grilfin farm, an estate of 100 acres, near New- town village, and his remaining days were spent there. He was a thrifty man, successful in his enterprises, and was always interested in any- thing that seemed to promise benefit to the com- munity. He was an active member of the Epis- copal Church, and was also a leader in political movements in the locality, serving for some time as a justice of the peace, and representing the town in the General Assembly in 182 1. Dur- ing the greater portion of his life he was a Jack- sonian Democrat, but in the famous "log-cabin campaign" h& supported the Whig party. His wife, Hannah (Toucey), who died in 1844, was a sister of Hon. Oliver Toucey, and an aunt of Hon. Isaac Toucey, formerly Governor of Con- necticut, United States Senator, and a member of two Presidential cabinets. They had a family of eight children, as follows: (i) Sally, born Marcli 2, 1795, married Daniel Connelly, and diedin 1865. (2) Oliver, born October 19, 1797, was clerking in New York at the time of his death, on April 22, 1816, and was buried there in the Twenty - second street cemetery. (3) Maria, born March 15, 1801, married (first) ,1 1... .1 158 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Harry Hawley, of Ridgefield, this county, and (second) Rufus Skidmore; she died May 17, 1874. (4) Walter, and (5) Charles, sketches of whom follow. (6) Emma, born November 11, 1806, married William Hill, of Redding, this county, a son of John R. Hill; she died Febru- ary 6, 1886. (7) William, and (8) Philo, sketches of whom follow. Walter Clarke was born September 16, 1802, in Newtown, where his life was spent. In addition to the management of his large farm he was engaged for about forty years in surveyini;, and at one time he held the office of county sur- veyor. As a citizen, he was greatly respected, his firmness and decision of character being balanced by excellent judgment and high moral principle. Fond of reading, he acquired a wide knowledge of the best literature, while in mathe- matical lines his ability was considered remark- able, difficult problems having been referred to him at times by college professors. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian, and fOr many years he served as warden of Trinity Church, New- town. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Democrat, and in 1855 he represented New- town in the State Legislature. He married Miss Dima Ann Beers, daughter of Eli Beers, a mem- ber of one of the oldest families of Newtown. Mr. Clarke died November i, 1876, and his wife fol- lowed him to the grave September 2, 1881. They had three children, all of whom lived to adult age: Eli B., a merchant in Bridgeport, died September 10, 1855, at the age of twenty- six; he was a young man of many sterling quali- ties. Edwin is mentioned farther on. Emma J. was married, May 24, 1865, to the late George B. Peck, of Newtown, who was engaged in busi- ness in Brooklyn, N. Y., as a manufacturer of gas fixtures; he died August 10, 1875, leaving four children — Samuel Clarke, born April 24, 1866, died June 13, 1896; Walter Toucey, born May II, 1 871; Elizabeth Fayerweather, born October 12, 1872; and Susan Emma, born May 28, 1874. Although George B. Peck and his son, Samuel C, died when scarcely past thirty, their lives had already given promise of more than ordinary usefulness, as both were men of upright character, and possessed remarkable business ability and acumen. Charles Clarke, who died December 20, 1854, aged fifty years, was born April 2, 1804, was reared on his father's farm, and in his early manhood was engaged in school teaching. After his marriage he settled on a farm in the vicinity of tlfe old Sherman homestead, in South Centre District, Newtown, which was ever afterward his home. In 1847 and 1848 he was a selectman of the town. He married Betsey Ann, daughter (jf Wheeler Fairchild, and had children as follows: Robert T., Emily. (Rev. Dr.) Sylvester, Eliza- beth, Charles Walter and William Henry, all now deceased except Sylvester, who is residing in Bridgeport, Conn. The mother of these died July 24, 1857, aged forty-eight years. William Clarke, born March 14, 1814, in Newtown, married Elizabeth Lewis, of Mon- roe. His death occurred in 1869, in New York City. In 1840 Mr. Clarke was a merchant of Sandy Hook. He was a partner of David H. Johnson, but after the firm failed, in the crash of 1837, he came on the west side of the stream and did business. Later he went to Fawn River, Ind., where he did a general milling business, at the same time conducting a store at Sturgis, Mich. He was very successful there, and finally returning to New York, honorably sought out and settled all old claims against him in full, having paid only fifty cents on the dollar when he failed while in partnership with Mr. Johnson. He died at New York, and was the first person buried from New Trinity church, Newtown. Philo Clarke was for many years a leading resident of Newtown, and his death, on March 3, 1897, produced a deep and lasting sense of loss in the community which had so long regarded him as a trusted counselor and friend. His men- tal acumen and upright, manly character com- manded universal respect and confidence, while even the casual acquaintance felt the influence of his unfailing courtesy and gentleness, the fruit of his genuine kindliness of heart. Born July 13, 1818, in Flat Swamp District, Newtown, Mr. Clarke attended the public schools of Newtown for a time, also a private school conducted by a son of Rev. Dr. Burhans, improving these op- portunities so well that when sixteen he was qualified to teach. For eleven years he taught successfully in his native town during the winter seasons, his summers being devoted to farm work at the homestead. After his father's death he gave up teaching, and gave his entire atten- tion to agriculture, in which his well-directed industry gained him substantial rewards. For about half a century he resided upon his farm near Newtown, one of the most pleasant home- steads of the vicinity. On account of his sound judgment and integrity he was chosen fre- quently as trustee and administrator of estates, and in 1884 he was elected president of the Newtown Savings Bank, to succeed Simeon B. Peck. He was often urged to take political office, but he showed no inclination for public life, although he was a firm supporter of Repub- lican principles, and voted that ticket from the organization of the party, in 1856. In i860 he was made the candidate of the party for State y^:e^26^ -4~ie^J>l<y '-^!^ f ■ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 159 Senator, and in 1862, when again mentioned for the place, he declined in favor of John B. Peck, thinking, with characteristic humility, that the latter would be the more popular, and would stand a better chance of overcoming the over- whelming Democratic majority in the town. In all local movements of a non-political nature Mr. Clarke was a generous and efficient helper, and he was especially active in religious work as a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of New- town, in which he held the office of vestryman for many years.