History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Dec. 24, 184.5, Mr. Hotclikiss united in marriage with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Richard Hine, a native of Seymour, Conn., and their family consists of six children, three sons and three daughters, — viz., Edward M., who resides in Newark, N. J., and i.s treasurer of the Tomlinson Spring and Axh> Com- pany ; Marie Louise, wife of .Tohn E. Parker, super- intendent of a branch of the Meriden Britannia Com- pany, located at Hamilton, Ontario; Nellie A., wife of F. A. Nicker.son, superintendent of tlio Dickinson Hard Rubber Company, Springfield, Ma.ss. ; Emma A. ; Charles L., who is also cmphiyed in the Dickin- son Hard Rubber Company; and William L. Politically, Mr. Hotchkiss is a Reiiubliean, and has been since the organization of tliat i)ariy. He was previously a Whig. He is an Episcopalian and a member of the vestry of Christ Church, in this city. Mr. Hotchkiss has never been an active politician, but has given his whole attention and energy to his busine.ss. He has a remarkalile cajiacity for large business transactions, and is possessed of social and marked cliaracteristics that make him esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact. JAfOn KTEFER. Jacob Kiefer was born in Bavaria, Ccniiany, in 1S29. His mother died when hi' was liut one year of age, and three years later (18:i;i) he came witli his father to this country. He received a comiiKui-school education at Public Scliool No. 7 in New York (.'ity, and in 18;!',l entered the service of Benjamin Mooney & Co., wholesale hardware merchants in l^iiie Street, as an apprentice. He remained with this firm about four years, when he commenced the manufacture of guitars in his father's cabinet-shoji, under the direction of Signor Bini. The superiority of the workmanshiij and tone of the in- struments made by young Kiefer soon attracted the attention of the musical public, and at the American Institute Fair, held in New York in 184(!, liis guitars receivi'd the tirst jiremium, and his coiii])etitors were among the l>est makers in the L'niteil States. His lather having consented to give him his "time," he came to Bridgeport and began work as a journeyman cabinet-maker. Conceiving the idea of manufactur- ing furniture by the aid of machinery, in ISJO he commenced business on his own acconnt in a small building, and with the use of steam-power manufac- tured furniture for his old cm|doyers. In 18')2, iu ] connection with several business men of Bridgei>ort, j he organized the Furniture Jlanufacturing Company, and for several years he acted as superintendent and built up the largest furniture liusiness in the Eastern ! States, employing four hundred hands. Since 18()S I he has been the sole proprietor of this immense estab- lishment, and the goods manufactured by him are known throughout the country as the standard of excellence. Mr. Kiefer is a jiulilic-spirited and enterprising citizen, Republican in jiolitics, and was reared in the Dutch Reformed Cluireh. SAJItEI, CLAYTOX KINGMAX. Samuel Kingman was the son of .lohn and Hannah Kingman, and was born in Hingham, Nov. 21), 1802, and settled in South Redding, Mass. (now Wakefield), in 1824, comniencing business as a tailor, which occu- pation he followed for thirty years. In 1827 he was married to Sarah Ring Pope, daughter of Jesse and Annie (Hay) Pope. Their children now living are Abner .Vugustus, William W., Lucy Ellen, Charles K., Orlando P., Annie K., .\rthur H., and Samuel Clayton, the subject of this notice. Samuel King- man was highly esteemed in the community in which he liveiL He served the nation, commonwealth, and town in variiais oflices of trust and usefulness. He served as postmaster twenty-one years, as rejiresenta- tive in (leneral Court, as captain of the " Washington Rifie Grays," as selectman and assessor, and was jus- tice of the |)eace for eleven year.s. His death occurred Nov. 23, 1880. His wife still survives him. 166 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONiNEGTICUT. Samuel Clayton Kingman, the second son of Samuel Kingman, was born in South Redding, Mass. (now Wakefield), in 1830, graduated iu the high school, and was the valedictorian of his class. The following year lie spent at sea for the benefit of his health, after which he served his time as a machinist in the cele- brated Lawrence JIachine-Shop, with such appren- tices as Amos Whitney, Joseph Marble, F. Higgins, and J. A. Taylor, after which he spent one year in the service of Col. Anderson, at the Tredegar Works at Richmond, Va. Upon his return he entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, at Watertown, Conn., organized about that time, and still remains in their employ. He has in- vented a number of machines for the Company which have resulted in a great saving of labor. Mr. Kingman was married in 18o,'? to Miss Emily Eustis Brooks, at Haverhill, Miiss., a descendant of Governor Eustis. He has ever been a benefactor to the poor and sorrowing, and his gifts, with those of his companions, have been many. The bell of the Park Street Church, to which they belonged, memorizes the death of a soldier, friend, and brother, Albion D. Brooks, killed at Cold Harbor, .June 3, 18G4. The clock and communion-table presented by them attest their interest in the welfare of their church. Mr. Kingman resides at Washington Park, in a de- lightful residence, surrounded by his family, which cousists of his wife and live daughters. He has occu- pied many positions of public trust, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the citizens of the city in wliich he resides. THOMAS TILESTON WATERMAX. In presenting a sketili of one whose activity in life was so remarkable, and whose career of usefulness extended over so large a field, a detailed narrative would be impracticable in a work of this character ; but it is proposed to give the salient points in the life of one who was .so long identified witli tlie moral and religious interests of the territory treated iu this work — the late Rev. Thomas Tilcston Waterman. He was born iu Windham, Conn., .Sept. 24, 1801, and four years later removed with his parents to ancient Stralfiehl, now the city of Bridgeport. He was prepared for college by his father. Rev. Elijah Waterman, and at Hartford, and was graduated at Yale in the class of 1822. He entered Yale with the purpose of becoming a lawyer, and was le<l to change his mind from a remark made by an irre- ligious companion. He .studied theology with his father, and was ordained as pastor of the Richmond Street Congregational Church, Providence, R. I., Dee. 13, 1820, Dr. Lyman Ileeehor, then of Boston, preaching the ordination sermon. In 1837 he became pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church of Philadel- phia. Thii pastorate continued until 1843, when h" returned to Providence, and was installed over the Fourth Congregatiomil Church, which soon after came to be called the Free Evangelical Church. After leav- ing this church he held pastorates in the Second Presbyterian Cliurch at Galena, 111. ; in the Congre- gational churches at Winona, Minn ; Dannielsonvillc, Conn.; Spencer, Miuss; and Mouroe, Conn. During Mr. Waterman's pastorate in the various churches mentioned above he preached the doctrines of grace, as taught in the Bible and expressed in con- fession of faith, with great freedom, earnestness, and power, and left a litsting impression \x\wa the minds of his hearers. His oratory wiis at times peculiarly eflective, and partook somewhat of the manner of an advocate earnest in presenting and pleading for a just cause. At such times his definitions, illustrations, and incidents were so used that he kept the attention with unflagging interest. In 1S.'>(5 he had been preaching in a scries of meetings at Beloit, and on the la.st Sunday evening had for his subject the immateriality of the soul. He had prepared the sermon for two dis- courses, but was compelled to deliver it as one. Soon after. Professor Fisk, in his rhetoric class, instanced to the theological students the delivery of that sermon as wortiiy their careful study, as it was such an un- usual thing that a logical sermon of two hours in delivery would find a large and mixed audience re- gretting that it was ended. Professor H. S. Osborn, LL.D., of Oxford College. Ohio, in speaking of Mr. Waterman, says, "The first acquaintance wc made of the Rev. T. T. Waterman, was as pastor of the Arch Street Presbyteriiin Churdi of Philadelphia. No man ever won the regard ami warm-hearted confidence of the young men in that part of Philadelphia as he did; and at no period in the history of that church had the congregation shown so large an attendance of the young at its Sabbath and other public services. Mr. Waterman possessed an everlasting spring of enthusiasm, and it constantly overflowed. No one ever caught him unprepared to I welcome a friend, sympathize with a stranger, or coun- sel, in the kindest way, an erring one ; and his reproofs, wiien presented in the most earnest way of which he was capable, were always given so its to leave the im- pression of loving sincerity. During the writer's stay in Virginia, Mr. Waterumn made a visit to that State, and at his invitation made a t<iur among the planta- tions. The influence of that visit was most remark- able. The contrasts of society and conditions of life were peculiarly great. The master and slave— the wealthy, educated, and aristocratic, and the poor, ig- norant, and prejudiced, in splendid nuinsi.m or h»g cabin— were alike won to him. Persons who were haughtily opposed to all approach on the subject of religious saggestion or instruction were even de- lighted with his conversatiiin upon the subject Walking in some elegantly-arranged garden, willi a jiarty of gay young people, he could with the most ilnirming adri)it!iess and apparent fitness draw a mo- y^ ^^v^ BRIDGErORT. 167 mentary attcutitm to sdiiic striking: I'ratuiv of (Icsi^rii, or iiu'tliotl of arrangenu'iit, in siime plant, or flower, or slirub, and, with perfect [loetry in liis jmrpose, make a winning alhi.-ion to the infinite heart of love above all things."