Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

December 20, 1803, at the present farm, and was reared after the manner of country lads of his time, his educational opportunities being limited to the local schools. He always followed agricultural pursuits, and for some time he made a specialty of raising potatoes, frequently sending a schooner- load of his crop to New York City for sale. He was one of the pioneer dairymen of Greenwich, and in order to supply his customers in the me- tropolis he drove the entire distance, thirty miles, every night, starting at 9 P. M. His city depot was located on Essex street, and two wagons were used to distribute the milk from that point. In those days of limited transportation facilities he often carried passengers to and from the city while making his regular trips. When the Har- lein railroad was completed to the Williams bridge he shipped the milk from that point, and later when the railroad was constructed to White Plains he transferred the business to that station, but the building of the New York and New Haven railroad enabled him to finally ship direct from Greenwich. In addition to his other line of work he occasionally took contracts for teaming, and he hauled all the stone for the Second Congrega- tional church at Greenwich. He was tall and slender, industrious and thrifty in his habits, and made a success in ail his undertakings. Through- out life he was known as a public-spirited man, and as a consistent Christian. As a member of the Congregational Church he was active in re- ligious work, while he also championed the cause of temperance from an early date. Politically he was a Whig and later a Republican, his strong anti-slavery principles being freely expressed dur- ing the agitation on that subject. On February 25. 1833, he was married to Miss Cynthia Hus- ted, who was born November 13, 1812, daughter of Caleb and Mary (Grigg) Husted, of Greenwich, Conn. His death occurred May 14, 1873, his remains being interred in the Congregational cemetery at Greenwich, and his widow has since continued to live at the old homestead. They had five children: (1) Alexander (our subject); (2) Hannah M. resides at the old home; (3) Hen- ry H., who never married, enlisted early in the Civil war in Company I, loth Conn. Vol. Inf., and died of typhoid fever April 20, 1862, at New Bern, N. C. He was the last man to join his company and the first man whose remains were brought home for burial. (4) Peter C. died in childhood. (5) Mary E. , who resides in Green- wich, married and has two sons — Frank and Sanford. Two girls, Grace and Adelle, died young. Our subject was born May 27, 1835, and has always made his home at the old farm. After completing a course in the district schools of the neighborhood, he attended the Greenwich Acad- emy, then conducted by Prof. Button, and on leaving that institution he engaged in agricultu- ral work with his father. As he was especially fond of gardening, he began that work in a sci- entific way in February, 1867, in a small hot- house 10x20 feet in size, constructed under his directions, the building being heated by an old cook stove. His first venture, which consisted in raising early tomatoes, proved most success- ful, as he had many plants to give away after supplying his own gardens, and the demand was so great that he decided to make the most of the new business opening. He built an addition to the hothouse, making it 10x40 feet, and from time to time as his business has increased he has enlarged his establishment until he now has eight houses, covering in all about one acre of ground. The premises are fitted up in an artistic manner, and the horticultural department now occupies much space, there being a fine array of plants for decorative purposes as well as for the supply of cut flowers. The homestead, which is located on Lake avenue, comprises 160 acres of excellent land under Mr. Mead's able and energetic man- agement, and is kept in a high state of cultiva- tion, general crops being raised. As a citizen Mr. Mead is much esteemed for his sterling qualities of character, and, while he is not espe- cially active in local affairs, he is a regular voter, giving his support to the Republican party. He and his family are identified with the Second Congregational Church, in which he has held office as a member of the Church committee. His handsome house was built by his father in i860. On October 22, 1861, he was married in Greenwich to Miss Matilda H. Grigg, who was born September 18, 1839, a daughter of John R. and Orphelia A. (Banks) Grigg, of Greenwich, Conn, and during her early life, which was spent in Greenwich, Mrs. Mead attended the Academy, and a private school taught by Miss Marshall. Six children have brightened the home of this worthy couple, viz.: Lida G., Minnie S., John G., and Jessie F. , all of whom died in childhood, and Henry S., and Tillie A., who are still living. Jf-W J. MEAD, a resident of Greenwich, is /« the owner of one of the best farms in that vicinity, and although he does no manual labor, his able management of the place entitles him to high rank among scientific agriculturists. A man of intelligence and culture, genial and friendly in disposition, he possesses a host of admiring friends in all parts of the United States, much of 184 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. his leisure time having been spent in visiting the many interesting and attractive scenes in which this country abounds. Mr. Mead was born November i8, 1835, on a farm adjoining that which he now owns, and is of the seventh generation of the family to reside in the town. His line of descent from John Mead [other authorities say Wiiham], who was among the first settlers at Sand Beach, is traced through John Mead (son of the pioneer), Ebene- zer, Caleb, Jonah, and Drake Mead (our subject's father). Drake Mead, who was born at the old homestead, married Miss Julia A. Knapp, and our subject was the second son and child of this union. His brother, Cornehus Mead, is a well- known resident of Greenwich, and a more com- plete history of the family is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Mead's education was begun in the schools near his home, with Miss Worcester as his first teacher. When ten years old he entered Green- wich Academy, where he continued his studies for about five years, and he afterward attended Irving Institute, at Tarrytown, N. Y., and an- other school at Yonkers, N. Y. At the age of seventeen he left school and returned to the old farm, where he remained for several years. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Katherine Carroll, a native of New York City, and a daugh- ter of Nicholas Carroll, and they began house- keeping upon the present farm, which was for- merly the property of Elkanah Mead, brother of Jonah Mead, our subject's grandfather, and was purchased by Drake Mead, in 1852, from Stephen W. Mead. It contains about 200 acres of ex- cellent land, and the rapid development of the locality has brought a great increase in value in recent years. Mr. Mead suffered a sunstroke in early manhood, from the effects of which he has never entirely recovered, and owing to this he has not been able to engage in severe physical labor. He takes keen interest in the questions ■of the day, and in National affairs he votes for the candidates and the measures that promise the best results, irrespective of party lines. In 1870 and 1 87 1 he was a member of the State Legislature from his district, and in 1871 to 1875 he acted as selectman of the town of Greenwich, this closing his political career. Socially, tjur subject and hia family are prominent, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Greenwich. Mrs. Katherine Mead died in 1869, and her remains were interred at Greenwich. Our sub- ject subsequently married Miss Sarah Carroll, a sister of his first wife. She is a member and a leading worker in the Episcopal Church at Green- wich. Mr. Mead has a bright and clever fannly of children: Drake C. is a resident of Stamford; Edward W. is employed as auditor and book- keeper for a Mexican railroad, and now resides in that countiy; Julia C. married Walter L. Sackett, of Brooklyn; Miss Elizabeth is at home; William J., Jr., is a civil engineer in New York City; Miss Cornelia F. is at home; Francis D. re- sides in New York; and Miss Catherine C, a successful teacher, resides at home. ON. JOHN CLASON. The public spirit .^Jl so eminently characteristic of the true American is notably manifested in the career of this well-known resident of Stamford. Through- out his life he has been identified with extens- ive agricultural and lumbering interests, yet the cares of business have not prevented him from taking a prominent part in politics and other movements, his abilities fitting him for effective work in any sphere of life. Mr. Clason is descended from good old Colonial stock, and among the soldiers in the Revolutionary army were four members of his family: Nathaniel, Isaac, Samuel, and Stephen Clason. In the early records of Stamford we find the name spelled variously, to-wit: Clason, Cloyson, or Clawson, and at the assignment of land by lot, on December 26, 1699, when 69 lots were drawn by 75 persons, Stephen Clawson drew the first. Stephen Clason, Sr.. the great- grandfather of our subject, was a leading resi- dent of what is now called Bangall District, Stamford township, in his time, and Stephen Clason, Jr., our subject's grandfather, was engaged in agricultural pursuits in that locality during his active life. He served in the cause of freedom under Washington, and took much interest in local affairs, being specially active in religious work as a member of the Baptist Church. His death occurred in 1808. He mar- ried Martha Whelpley, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: Isaac, a resident of Greenwich, who served in the Revolutionary army; Stephen and Solomon, residents of Stamford; Benjamin, our subject's father; Abigail, who married Thomas Jessup, of New Kochelle; and Ard, a sea captain.