History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Mr. Nichols was married March 4, 1829, to Emelinc, daughter of Aaron Beardsley, of Trumbull. They have had two children, — viz., Jane E., who died in childhood, and Stephen M., who was born July 10, 18;iS, and died July 29, 1870. He was in the late war about one year; served as first lieutenant of Co. D, Twenty-third Regiment Connecticut Volunteers; was in the crockery trade in Bridgeport before and after the war. He married Julia G. Hall, of Trumbull, who survives him, and is living with her children, Lizzie H. and Wilbur E., in Bridgeport. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the North Congrega- tional Church. He is in his seventy-seventh year, genial, hale, and hearty, and is a good specimen of a well-preserved, temperate man. REV. HEXRY JONES. Henry Jones, the son of M.-y. Daniel Jones and Rhoda Mather, was born in Hartford, Conn., Oct. 15, 1801, where he spent his early years. He was fitted for college at the grannnar school in that city, in com- pany with his eminent .surviving college classmates, President Theodore D. Woolsey and Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D., between whom and the subject of this sketch there was life-long friendship and appreciation. His father, who was a man of a noble type, died when the son was but three months old. That he was tlius dejirived of tlie i>crsonal influence of such a father wa.s ever and keenly regretted by him. His mother wsis the daughter of Charles Mather, M.D., a descendant of the distinguished Richard Mather, of early coloni.tl times. Though cru-shcd and made despondent by her early widowhood, she lived to a good old age. Mr. Jones entered Yale College at the age of six- teen years, and was graduated in the class of 1820. He pursued his theologic^ studies at Andover Semi- nary, and was graduated by that institution in 1824. He was married to Eliza S. Webster, daughter of the liite Noah Webster, LL.D., Sept. 5, 1825; was or- dained to the gospel ministry, and settled as jiastor of the Second Society in Berlin, Conn, (now the First Congregational Society of New Britain), Oct. 12, 1825. This position he filled \*ith acceptance to his people, gaining the respect and confidence of neigh- boring pastors also, and his ministry was fruitful. Many were added to the church during his pastorate. Po.s.sessing a highly sensitive nature, cultured, con- scientious, and exacting, the responsibilities resting upon him its a Christian pastor and teacher, however successfully discharged according to the judgment of others, so oppressed him with a painful sense of his own inadequacy and unworthiness, as to seriously im- pair his health. This led to an early relinquishment of his ministry at Berlin, and to his entrance upon the work for which he was eminently fitted, and which proved to lie tlie work of his lifetime. He was dismissed from his pastorate Dec. 19, 1827, and the following year opened a select school for young ladies at Greenfield, Mass., which was success- fully continued for a ])eriod of nearly ten years. In 1838 he removed to Bridgeport, and erected the cottage he ever afterwards occupied, on the western slope of Golden Hill. Here he opened the classical school for young men and boys, so well and favorably known in its day as the " Cottage School," in December of that year. Both this and his first school attracted and enjoyed patronage of the highest order from all parts of tlie country. The large list of alumni embraces names distin- guished in literature, the professions, in politics, and in business. Jlr. Jones was respected and beloved by his pupils, and rarely failed, even in the most unprom- ising cases, to find and develop redeeming qualities. After thirty years of successful and almost unin- terrupted labor as an instructor, he gradually with- drew, to enjoy in a green old age the competence which he had acquired. Soon after his removal to Bridgeport, Mr. Jones and family united with the First Congregational Church, of which he remained a valued and usel'ul member until his deutli, Nov. 9, 1878. While the responsibilities of his school were upon him, his devotion to his professional duties left little time for Christian work in other ranges. When measurably relieved, in 1858, he was elected to and accepted tl\e office of deacon of the First Church, and fulfilleil its duties most accejitably until his voluntary retirement, in March, lS7;i. Oltencr than any other brother, he represented the uhurch in the stated and special meetings of the Council of Consociation. The church was fortunate in so fit a representative, and he was welcomed as a genial and valuable mendier. A constant attendant uixin public worship on the Sabbath, in heat and in cold, in sun.shine and in storm, and upon the other suited meetings of the I>li(]li>. by Wilac.ii. Brijgeport. /O/yv^-y ^-U~n.c/i. i'lioto. i/y \\ lis'-n, lirnlgo|")rt. ^a-;;^y^^^^Cy^ BRIDGEPORT. 161 churcli, lie was ever tlie :i]iiin'<-iutivc licarcr and the feitlitiil, yet unobtrusive friend and ally of liis ))astiir. His presenee in the soeial ineetiniis was always nuieh enjoyed, and his usually brief but beautiful remarks and ]irayers were prized l)y and lielpful to both olil and younj;:. His generous nature responded quiekly to the va- rious calls of charity and Christian benevolence, at home and abroad, and his gifts were only limited by his means. Of Puritan ancestry, orthodox in senti- ment, and of sterling integrity, he was yet lil>eral and genial, eminently soeial, and a great lover of the beautiful in nature and art. These traits, together with his perfect transjiareiiey of character, secured the confidence and love of a large circle of friends. Meetly helped by his lovely wife, both young in sjjirit, even in their old age, his house was a model Christian home, and the many friends, ministerial and others, who have enjoyed its liospitalities, ever carricil away pleasant remembrances, and refer to such visits as among the happiest of their lives. Such a home could but leave a <leeii and abiding impression upon the jinpils of the school, and most happily supple- mented its (■therwise sujierior advantages. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Jones occurred in September, 1875, and was a most interesting and memorable occasion. The large attendance, numer- ous and elegant gifts from old jiupils and friends, from for and near, attested the interest felt in the happiness and welfare of the venerable pair. The names of the children of Jlr. and ]Mrs. .Tones are as follows: Frances Julia, born July ]•">, l,s2(i, married to Rev. Thomas K. Beecher; ICiiiily Ells- worth, born Nov. 8, 1827, married to Daniel .[. I >ay ; Eliza Webster, born Feb. 10, ISS;',, died in infancy; Henry Webster, M.D., born Jlareh 10, 18:i.'), of Chi- cago, 111. Emily Ellsworth Day, deceased July I'M, IXCO, leaving one son, Robert Webster l>ay, — the only grandchild. Mr. .loMes was much interested in genealogical re- searches. He searched out and compiled the geneal- ogies of the several branches of his own family, with gri'at fullness and particularity. His library was rich in this department, and his readingand study enabled him to afibrd valuable aid to others, which he cheer- fully rendered. He was a lifc-nu'mber of the New England Historical Genealogical Society of 15oston, and a valued contributor to its jmblications. Mr. Jones' positive religious convictions dateil very early in life. He professed his faith in Christ at the age of twelve J'ears, and united with the old Centre Clinrch in Hartford, then under the past<jral care of Rev. Nathan Strong, D.D., for whose memory lu' ever cherished a reverent regard. Though naturally self-distrnstfnl, he ])ossessed and maintained a strong reliaiu'c upon the truths of the inspired word, increasing eacli year of his life. His pers(jnal trust in the promises of God through Christ was unfailing, ripening most beautifully in his closing years, and rendering liis end, though attended with extreme physical suffering, peaceful and hapjiy. The sting of death was taken away. Though life to him here was pleasant, and this world and its relations beautiful and attractive, yet he felt that his work was done, and to dejjart and be with Christ was far better. Mr. Jones was connected with the Ministerial Asso- ciation of Fairfield East, where, as also in freiiuent Consociational councils, his presence and co-operation Were highly valued, and are beautifully attested by the Ibllowing minute, extracted from the records of that Ixidy : "Fjiirfii'M Ea.st Assntiittiuii in iuiinial mfetiug, raik StrcH-t churfli, Biitls'-'port, May '11, ls7s. " H7if.Te'(s, Tlif Rt'v. Hetiiy .Ii>iic«, (if TlniIp:eport, fur many years a nienilier uf this Association, rcj-tt-il IVoni liis lalmr.s Nov. '.I, ls7.s, in Iiis SfV^Mity-fif^htii year, " /.V.<'j/( <■(/, Tliat tlio Asiioriation liolus in al>i<iitig reint'nilirain-t' tlio fliarai ter of tliis departed Itrotlier and liis services to liis generation. " IIi> unaffected \w\y. Ids Clnistian kindliness, his scholarly sjiirit and varied attainments, liis tidelity to his matured convictions, ami his dili- gence ill the duties of his vocatiou, won for liini the cordial esteem and the simere fiiendsliiii of all liis lirctlireii. Tlie.v make this minute in devout and atlectionate commemoration of him as an exemplar/ Ohlistiaii, a lirtither beloved, and a true man." FREDERICK WELLS PARROTT. Frederick Wells Parrott, one of our oldest business men, was born in Bridgeport, July 25, 1807. His great-gran<lfather, Capt. Jedediah F. Wells, and grandfather, Jede<liah Wells, were also residents of this tciwM, the former being the original owner of the entire lower portion of this city (including Sea-Side Park), and the latter a soldier of the war of 1812.