History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

U. S. C. T. James Holin, Co. D, 20tli liegt.; must. Dec. 10, 1803; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. J. II. Pell, Co. D, 20th Regt. ; must. Dec. 10, J.S03; m.ist. ..ut Od. 24, 1805. William W.-ssel, Co. F, 1st Art.; must. Dec. 3, 1804; must. ..ut Sept. 25, 1805. Sylvanus N. Beckwilh, Co. A, 2.1 Art.; must. Feh. 24, 1804 ; must, out Aug. 18, 1805. M. Phillii.s, <'o. M, 2d Art.; must. Aug. 10,1801; must, out Aug. 18, 180.5. S. S. Iteynol.ls, must. Aug. 7, 1802; must, out Aug. 31, 1.805, George Sniitli, Co. 1, 15tli Regt ; must. Aug. 18,1802; died Nov. 23, 1802. Joseph .Vlexan.iel-. C... .\. 27th Kegt.; nnist. Feh. 23,1804; must, out tl.:t. 24, 1805. Charles Harrison, Co. A, 20tli Regt. ; must. Dec. 5, 1804 ; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. James Trusty, Co. D, 20tli Regt.; must. Dec. 10, ISC3; must, out June 12, 1805. John Clark, Co. D. 201h Regt.; nuist. Aug. 25, lsC4; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. Charles H. Coh-, nnist. Dec. 10, 1803; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. Hiram T. Beam, must. Dec. 15, 1863; discli. March 5, 1805. T. 51. Thomson, must. Dec. 10, 1803; must, out Oct. 24, 1S05. G. II. Wa.shiiigt..li, 2'.itli Regt. ; must. Dec. 15, 1804. James Miiiel, 20tli Regt.; must. Dec. 10. 1803. B. Koherts, Co. C, 3lltli Regt.; mu.st. Fil.. 12,1801; must, out Nov. 7, 1805. Samuel Moore, Co. D. 20tli Regt,; must. Dec. 10, 1-03; nnist. out Oct. 24, 1805. Henry Johnston, must. Dec. 15, 1.803; trans, to U. S. C. T. Henry Jackson, must. Dec. 10, 18fi3; dis.h. June 10, 1804. Thomas Juckson, must. Dec. 18, 1803; must, out Oct. 24, 1805. C. II. Scudder, must. Dec. 12, 180:1; disch. July 20, 1,804. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. OLIVER HENRY PERRY. Oliver Ifcnry Perry, son of Walter Perry, was l>orn at Jlill River (afterwards the borough of t^outhiiort), in the town of Fairfield, Feb. 21, LSLi. The geneahifry of the Perry family in America, so far as it litis been aseertaiiieil, begins with Kichanl Perry, the immigrant, wlio is frequently mentionetl in the records of the New Haven eolony from KilJII to 1()47 as "Mr. Piehard Pery," often as u freeholder, and at one time "Seerctarie for the Court of New Haven." In 1(1-17 he "had liberty to go a voiadge." These memoranda indieate that he was a man of sub- stance and of note in that eidony, and it is supiiosed that he came to Fairfield and was the ancestor ol' the Perry family there, — viz., Richard, who died 1().5.S; Natlianiel, who died 1()82 ; Joseph, who died 17a!{; Joseph, .Jr., who died J.T.'iS;', Peter, who dieil l.Stl4; and Walter, who wtis the third son of Peter, born at Fairfield, Jan. 8, 1770, and died March 1, 1831. Walter Perry was a merchant and ship-owner at Mill River, and was a thorough and successful man 360 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. daughter of Joseph Sturges, who gave his life for his country, as t-lsewhcre stated in this volume. They had ten children, the youngest of whom was Oliver H., the sul)ject of this notice. Mr. Perry was fitted for college at the Fairfield Academy, under Rev. Chauncey S. Lee, and en- tered Yale in 1830, at the age of fifteen, hut was ohliged to leave college during his Frcsliman year on account of ill-health, and, in consetiuence of the death of his father, did not return. He studied law at the Yale Law School from 18;i8 to 1841, and was admitted to the har at New Haven, Dec. 8, 1841, but never engaged in the active duties of his profession. He was always, however, a public-spir- ited and patriotic citizen, and took a lively inter- est in everything that concerned the welfare of his native village, State, and country. The confidence of his fellow-citizens in his ability, fidelity, and incor- ruptible integrity is .shown by the many instances in which the most important trusts, both public and pri- vate, have been C(mimitted to his keeping. In his native village he served as the active member of the several committees which designed and erected the school-house for the graded iiublic school in ISol-S^, the building for the Southport Savings Bank in 1864- 65, and the new Congregational church in 1875. He was one of the projectors and original trustees of the Oak Lawn Cemetery Association in ISGo; was for many years a director in the Southport I?ank under its original charter, and also after its organization as a National liank, and was warden of the borough of Sduthport from 184G to 1854. He also filled other posts of duty in the town and State, such as quartermaster of the Fourth Brigade of Connecticut Infantry in 18.SG; representative from the town of Fairfield in the (Jeneral Assend)ly of 1847, 1848, 1849, 1853, 1857, 1859, 18(i(), ]8(!4;"and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1859 and 1800. He was an unsuccessful candidate of the Whig party for State Senator in 1852, and of the Republi- can party for Lieutenant-Governor in 1807. He was elected Secretary of State in 1854, and wsis also one of the Connecticut commi.<sioners for the survey and settlement of the State boundary-line between New York and Connecticut in 1859-(!0. In 1854 he pro- cured the charter for the Southport Savings Bank, was one of its original trustees, and since 1805 has been its treasurer. In 1875, Yale College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He wa-s one of the number that organized the Congregational Church of Southjiort in 1843 (which was an ofT-shoot from "ye ancient church" in Fairfield), and in 1878 he was chosen one of its oflice-bcarers. >Ir. Perry was married Sept. 9, 1846, to Harriette E. Hoyt, only daughter of Hon. Eli T. lloyt, of Dan- bury. Their children are (1) John H., born July 2(", 1848 ; graduated at "falc College 1870, at Columbia Law School, New York, 1872; is now of the law-firm of Woodward & Perry, at Norwalk, Conn., and has three times represented the town of Fairfield in the (tcneral Assembly. In 1874 he was nuirried to F. Virginia Bulkley, daughter of (teorge Bulklcy, Esq., of Southport, whose ancestry is given in another place. (2) Henry H., born Dec. 8, 1S49, graduated at Yale Shefliield Scientific School 1809; was a civil engineer for two years, and afterwards engaged in trade. He was married in 1S74 to Florence P. Sanborn, daughter of William Sanborn, of Ashtabula, Ohio. (3) Wintbrop H., born Sept. 20, 18.54; graduated at Yale C(dlege, 1870; was married in 1880 to Louisa Huidekoper, daughter of Prof Frederick Iluidekoper, of Meadville, Pa. (4) Ilattie H., born July 27, 1858. Tliis record of the public life of Mr. Perry would be ineoniplete without a tribute to his moral worth. A firm believer in the Christian religion, a diligent student of the Holy Scriptures, a humble follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, a man of prayer, and exemplarj- in all the relations of private life, he has always sought to promote "whatsoever things are true and honest, and just, and i)ure, and lovely, and of good report." His influence in favor of the cause of education and public improvement and "pure and undcfiled reli- gion" will never tease to be felt in the community in which he resides, and throughout a wide circle of friends and fellow-citizens. REV. THOMAS BENEDICT STUItGES, only son of Joseph Porter Sturges and Laura Bene- dict, of Danbury, Conn., was born in Bridgeport. Conn. His grandfather, Lewis Sturges, was of Eng- lish descent; married and had two sons, — viz., Isaac and Josei)h P. He removed to (Jrecnville, Ohio, where he followed farming until his death. His father was a carpenter and joiner in the earlier part of his life, and later was engaged in the lumber trade. He was a member of the Congregational Church. He died at the residence of his .son, Rev. Thomas B. Sturges, of (.ireenfield Hill, Conn., in 1801, aged seventy-six years. The mother of Rev. T. B. Sturges descended from Thomas Benedict, an Englishman of noble qualities, who settled in Connecticut at a very early day. She died in 1850. Rev. T. B. Sturges jirepared for cullege under the tutorshi)> of Jlr. Hamlin, now Bi^luq) Hamlin, of Ohio, and Dr. Judson, — two noble men long to be re- membered by their pui)ils, many of whom are alive till this day, 1880. In the year 1831 he entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in 18*5, and in\mediately went to .Vndover Theological Sem- iiuiry, where he remaineil one year; thence to New- Haven Theological Seminary, where he remained two years. After spending some little time in regaining his health, he went to Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., wl er ■ ^ Cfl^ 4/^^^i^ ^<2^ve-^^ p^^^^^^l^ FAIRFIELD. 3G1 he was engaged as a pastor of tlio tVmgregatioiial Churcli at that i^laec. Here he mack' many warm friends, and woukl have remained, but the lalce winds ]>roved too mueh i'or him, and lie was eomi>elled to resign his pastorate, niiieli against the wislies of liis people and his own ineliiiations. It was here he formed the aequaintanee of Haiinali W., daughter of Chauncey Baker, whom he married, Aug. Iti, 1841. Of this union five children have been horn, — viz., Edward B., a lawyer in t<eranton. Pa. ; Laura E., at home; William H., a mereliant in f^t. Louis; Frank C, a lawyer in Wilkesbarre, Pa.; and Annie M., at home. Soon after his marriage, in the fall of 1841, he re- turned to his native plaee, Bridgeport, where he re- mained the following winter. During this time he preached for the Congregational Church at Greenfield Hill, Conn. June 10, 184:2, he was installed pastor of that church, and continued in active duty, except a few months spent abroad, until tln' summer of 1807, when failing health compelled him to resign, since which time he has not engaged in any business. In 18(50 he visited the Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey, and other places of interest, and remained six months. In 1872 he took his wife and two daughters and visited.England, France, (Jennany, (Switzerland, Italy, and many other countries, and returned in the fall of 1876. He now resides in Greenfield Hill, Conn. He was a good preacher, and a better pastor. He enjoys the confidence of his brethren in the ministry, and the love and friendship of those who know him.