Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Henry D. Simonds commenced his education in the public schools of Worcester, Mass., but at the age of thirteen he was compelled to leave school and earn his own way in life. Later he attended a commercial school taught by B. G. Howes, where he mastered the mysteries of "debit and credit," and then became book- keeper for the dry-goods house of J. H. Clarke & Co., remaining in this position about four years, during which time he saved enough to enable him to proceed with his long-interrupted education. Accordingly he entered the Oread Collegiate In- stitute at Worcester, of which institution Harris R. Greene at that time was head master, and Ava Williams preceptress. He completed his college preparatory work at Wilbraham, Mass., where he was graduated in 1872. In 1876 he was graduated from the Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn. During his term at the university, as he was obliged to earn the money with which to pay his way (his purpose was to become a minis- ter in the Methodist Episcopal Church), he sup- plied various pulpits; he also sang in churches and in the glee club. During the vacation months he worked in the Worcester post office. He taught school for five months during the senior year, 1^1, '.■ :'S'''.r<iJ .' ■ -.,iW oil," 176 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. thus providing means with which to remain con- tinuously in college. On leaving his Alma Mater he found all the Conferences East were more than full, and his past experience proving that he had a talent, as well as a liking, for teaching, he abandoned the idea of entering the ministry and determined to make teaching his life work. After his graduation from the Wesleyan University he was first engaged to teach the North East school, at Hartford, Conn, but there was a division among the school authorities, and on the arrival of our subject at that temple of learning he found the candidate of the opposing party already in possession, and he was compelled to submit to the inevitable. In consequence of this he was out of a position for several months, as all the schools were filled; however, he brought suit against the district, and recovered $300 in dam- ages and the entire costs of the suit. In November of that year he went to teach in Windsor, Conn., continuing into the following year, and while there he was the organizer of the High School; the next year he taught in the graded schools of Broad Brook, a delightful manufacturing town a little above Hartford. From 1879 to 1883, inclusive, he was superin- tendent of schools and principal of high school at Milford, Conn., and subsequently for two years was in control of the Fairfield Academy at Fair- field, Conn. Desiring once more to enter public school work, he accepted a position as principal of the Prospect Street Grammar School, Bridge- port, having twenty teachers and from one thou- sand to twelve hundred pupils under him. In this incumbency he remained six years, when he was chosen principal of the high school, and he has just completed a most successful eighth year in this position. In 1893 Mr. Simonds was elected superintendent of the city schools, but declined, preferring to keep his place as principal of the high school. He is one of those instructors whose pupils follow intuitively the course he di- rects, and he has therefore attained success far above the average in his chosen field. In 1884 Mr. Simonds married Miss Fannie A. Tibbals, daughter of George Lemuel and Mary Ann (Hurlbut) Tibbals, of Milford, Conn, (she was assistant teacher in the high school at Mil- - ford during his term as superintendent). To this union three children have been born: Elsie Hurl- but, Helen Walker and Bruce Tibbals. Mr. and Mrs. Simonds are liberal supporters of the First Congregational Church, in which he is a deacon and also a teacher in the Sunday-school. For ten years he has served as recording se jretary of the Y. M. C. A., in which organization he also has charge of the Civic Club as lecturer. In his social relations he is a member of the F. & A. M.-, belonging to Ansantawae Lodge No. 89, of Mil- ford, of which, he is past master; of King Solo- mon's Chapter, Birmingham, Conn. ; and is a Knight Templar, New Haven Commandery, New Haven. Politically Mr. Simonds is an ardent and enthusiastic Republican, though in no way does he desire political preferment. He is a public-spirited man, and he labors through his schoolroom for the uplifting of humanity, en- deavoring to overcome by careful teaching and example the possible weakness inherent in his pupils. His whole life has been devoted to this work, and "in scorn for miserable aims that end with self." C COLONEL SAMUEL DASKAM. This well ^'/ known, long-time resident of Norwalk, Conn. , is a native of that city, having been born there January 31, 1823, a son of Capt. Samuel Daskam, who commanded a packet, about that time plying between Norwalk and New York. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Lucretia Fitch, was agreat-grandniece of Thom- as Fitch, who was governor of Connecticut from 1754 to 1766. Grandfather Daskam fought in the Revolutionary war. Col. Samuel Daskam received a liberal edu- cation, and graduated from Lovell's school at New Haven. At one time he was employed in one of the " Elm City's" big jewelry stores. On October 4, 1847, he married Arrietta M. Rogers, a native of Utica, N. Y. , and daughter of Col. Henry Rogers, a prosperous business man, who removed his family to New Haven in the early 'forties. Some time after their marriage Colonel and Mrs. Daskam removed to New York, and subsequently he purchased a jewelry store in Troy, N. Y. (at that time populated by many former residents of Norwalk), and there met with considerable success. Returning to Fairfield county, Conn., he for many years was a resident of Ridgefield, where he had charge of the Ridge- field station, and for that reason, if for no other, everybody thereabouts is familiar with the Col- onel's tall, straight form, and his genial, court- eous manner. In chronological order we here give a por- tion of our subject's public record: In 1842 he led the National Blues from New Haven to Bos- ton, the Boston Lancers and Boston Tigers re- ceiving them. 1 846 — was one of the five marsh- als appointed to receive James K. Polk, Presi- dent of the United States, and James Buchanan, Secretary of State, on the occasion of the public dinner held at the " Tontin Hotel." 1853 — was Hid r!j,l.,f l'! ./.a .]-n''r I, !■.••• •,■■'' ..i'^'^'^i^k^SwBw^ ^^B m^^^^^^Bt' m ^^^^^^k .^^^^^^^^^^^HHPff'' ■ .i^w ^^G^T^i^iL^^^ ^^^^^c COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 177 appointed United States marshal by Franklin Pierce, President of the United States. In 1S65 he was elected mayor of Norwalk, and again in 1866. In 1888-89-90-91-92-93 and '94 he was a selectman of Norwalk. In 1896 he was one of the managers of the State Society, Sons of the American Revolution. 1897 — was elected dele- gate to the National convention, Sons of the American Revolution, at Morristown, N. J.; and in 1898 was elected a delegate to the National Society's convention. Sons of the American Rev- olution, at Detroit, Mich. In politics it is al- most unnecessary to add that the Colonel is a stanch Democrat, one of the old school. He has one daughter, Jennie May Daskam, married to James Lawrence Stevens, of Norwalk, and one granddaughter, Eunice Daskam Stevens. Ek,R. -EDWARD A. STRATTON, of Danbury, " is a decendant of good New England stock, and has been successful in his profession. H [ON. ROBERT ADAMS CLARK. If the true value of life is to be found in the de- velopment of character, we must count as most fortunate those to whom early limitations have lent their stern aid by bringing their energies into practical and effective use. The subject of this biography, now a prosperous agriculturist of New- town, has made his own ^'ay in life, attaining, with his present enviable position, a name worthy of his sires, beloved and widely known in his native State, a name none mention but to praise. Mr. Clark is a native of Newtown township, having been born in Zoar District April 9, 1832, and he belongs to one of the prominent families of that locality. The first ancestor of whom we have a record is James Clai'ke, who was one of the signers of the Fundamental Arti- cles of Agreement when New Haven was settled in 1639, his wife, one daughter and two sons, John and James, constituting his family at that time. James, Jr. , the earliest settler of the name in Fairfield county, moved to Stratford, where his father made his home prior to his death. All the early ancestors spelled the name Clarke, but in the present generation it is written with and without the final "e." James (2) was married about 1662 to Deborah Peacock, daughter of John Peacock, of Strat- ford, this county, and his remaining years were spent there. His wife died December 14, 1705, at the age of sixty-one years. He died February 29, 1712. James Clarke (3), a son of James and De- borah Clarke, was born in Stratford P'ebruary 12, 1664, and was married May 24, 1698, to Jane Griffin (widow of Thomas), by whom he had a son, Zachariah. Zachariah Clarke was born in Stratford June- 8, 1702, and on November 21, 1727, was mar- ried to Eunice Staples, of Fairfield. He died October 4, 1785.