History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

It will be seen that it was by no mere luck or chance that he is to-day at the head of such a stu- pendous enterprise as the Derby Mills; it is owing to early formed habits of economy, persevering dili- gence, and unfaltering application to whatsoever he had undertaken. Never idle himself, he has no sym- pathy whatever with the drones of society. We meet with no more apt disciple of the school that teaches " whatsoever thy hand findcth to do, do it with thy might." Mr. Wilkinson devotes himself to his business rather than to political affiiirs, and, although frequently urged to do so, he has never allowed his name to be used for oflice by cither party. For his second wife Mr. Wilkinson married Hannah Maria Briggs, by whom he has three children, — .John A., Frederick Charles, and Albert Theodore. HON. UOYAL M. BASSETT. This gentleman wiis born in the town of Derby, Nov. 22, 1S28. His education was obtained at the common district schools, except one year that was spent at the Academy of Stiles and French, at New Haven, and two annual terms at the Haddem Academy. His father, Sheldon Bassett, was one of the leading men of Derby, and a pioneer in the business cntcr- ])rises of Bimiinglmni, which have brought to the towns of Derby and Huntington their present pros- perity. He was long engaged as a merchant, then as a manufacturer. He held many official positions with credit, but alter the purchase of the Colburns' iron- foundry, in IS'iO, he devoted all his time to this busi- (A.(^d-£ ./(r? (yg-a^-a /^, /• V '€i^f?mrJ'' ^"CP ^->'->T. <^>r c/ .O'^r^i-/^'^^ ^-ty'-^^^t HUNTINGTON. 423 ncss enterprise' until his death, which (iceurred June 20, lS(i4, in tlic sixtieth yoiir of liis age. Oil the decease of his father, Royal M., with his lirother Theodore, managed tlie iri>n-loun<lry with great success, giving steady employment to ahuut one hun(h'c(l and twenty-five hands for sixteen years, making it a valuable an<l most desirahle estal)lish- ment to Birmingham. Under its present management it is among the first solid manufacturing concerns in the Naugatuck Val- ley. Royal yi. liassett has been engaged in various manufacturing enter])rises, railroads, ami ri'al estate operations during more than a (piarter of a century. Is now director in three railroad cnmpanies, and president (if a Northern railroad. His adaptation to this kind of business is remarkabU', and he has man- aged with such skill and judgment as to gain the confldence and good will of all with wliom he iias been associated. President of the iron-foundry sixteen years, warden of the liorough of ISirmingham for two years, an active, efficient, and influential committeeman of the Birmingham public schools for twelve years, besides filling with honor many other local ]i(isitions. These united have placed him am.ong the relialde and public-spirited men of his native town. The Ousatonie water entcrjiri.se, which is the out- growth of iShelton, and makes an enterprising and flourishing spot in Fairfield County, was encouraged and fiistered by !Mr. Bassett. He was one of its active company workers, also one of the original incorpo- .rators of the company, and is now one of its directors. He was also one of the incorjiorators of the Derby Gas Company, located in fshelton, and being now a stockholder and principal director, idcntiiyiiig him largely with the interests of this infant village, for these reasons he very properly deserves the place accorded him in this history. In all his business transactions he has proved him- self a thoroughly upright man, and lias been remark- ably successful ill his large and diversified pursuits. Mr. Bassett's motlier was Harriet Hull, a niece of Gen. William Hull, of Detroit notoriety. In I808, Koyal M. was married to Mrs. Fram-es .f. Stratton, of Bridgeport, by whom he has had three children, two sons and one daughter. Mr. Bassett has never mingled much in politics, though he has always been a warm Democrat, an<l has represented the Fifth Seiiatcjrial District in the Legislature witli crcclit to himself and honor to his party. t^ocial, affiiblc, of great gentlemanly bearing, liberal, and ever willing and ready to forward any needed work for the public good, he stands among the popu- lar and influential citizens of his native place and the adjoining town of Huntington. EDMTND LEAVEN WOUTII.s Edmund Leavenworth was born in Huntington, Conn., Dec. 14, ITGtj, and was closely identified with the affairs of the town for nearly three-i|Uarters of a century. His early life was spent in ;ictive work on his father's farm and in shipbuilding. Having a constitution naturally robust, this early training de- veloped a fine physique and great muscular strcn.gth, ami he became very fond of athletic sports, jumping, wrestling, huntiiig, and horse-racing. He was fond of deer-hunting on horseback, and made freipient visits to Long Island to enjoy this sjiort. He wa.s the owner of many fine horses at difterent times, and races on the road lying along the river-bank near his resi- dence were of frequent occurrence. At these races many of the best horses of the surrounding country were eomiietitors. With Mr. Leavenworth, however, these sports were but the spicing of a very activi' and busy life. His place was noted for tlu' amount n{ husiness done there. ,\t all hours of the day men and teams could have been seen busily engaged, some scoring and hewing and others hauling timber for the bnilding of bridges, wdiarves, and shi])s. In these pursuits a large number of horses and oxen were employeil, and, trne to his taste, Mr. Leaven- worth took |iartieular pride in the best animals that Could be obtained. His judgment of such stock was remarkably good. Indeed, his judgment of work- manshi]! in scoring and fitting was such that journey- men, as reconimendation to themselves, would refer to the fact that they had hewed timbers for Edmund Leavenworth. He built several sloops at his ship- yard, the last two of which were fitted out fir the West India trade, but, being captured by French pri- vateers in the war of 1S12, involved him in financial ruin. His claims for indemnity were covered by the " French Spoliation Bill," but these claims were never paid by the United States government. (icnial, warm-hcarte(l, lienevolent, strongly attached to his friends, he possessed great personal popularity. His iidltiencc in town affairs was such that he could command a majority fi)r any measure he wished to carry. He was elected selectman fijr thirteen succes- sive years, and the poor of the town were never better cared fin' than during this time. In his political pref- erences he was Democratic, having never voted any other ticket in his life. He cast a vote at every Presi- dential election from Washington's to Buchanan's, and in later life referred to this fact with great pride. At (juc time he left New London in a sloop on the morning of clcetion-day ami arrived at the voting- place (Stratford) fifteen minutes ln'fore the polls were closed. Mr. Leavenworth was truly an original i-haracter, having attended school but three days. Familiarly called " Uncle Ed" l)y those who knew him late in life, he is still quoted as the author of pithy and quaint * This immo is sunu-liiiios tiix-lU"! witlmiit Un 424 HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. remarks, expressions, and anecdotes. His manners and language were uiii)()li.slied, but the roughness was outward rather tlian within, for there was a kindness and sympathy within him wliich but few possess. In his maturer years he inclined more to the ways of religion, and, his choice being the Episcopal Church, he united with them, and was a nicniber of that com- munion when he died. Fairfield County doubtless contained many more highly cultured than Edmund Leavenworth, but it had very few who were more whole-souled and generous and ready to help the suf- fering in time of need. Although but twelve years of age in 1777, when his father, Ca])t. Ednuind, was ordered to Fairfield with his comi)any, he volunteered to go, and served as a waiter to his father in that cam])aign, joining the company as a private April 2, 1777. When his father with his company was again ordered out, in 1779, Ednuind again enlisted as a private, and served during the camjiaign. He died in Derby, Jan. 20, 18/57, aged ninety-one, and with his two wives, only son, and eldest daughter lies buried at White Hills. He was married to Mary Judson, Jan. 5, 1786, and to Amy Tondinson, Oct. 26, 1823. His children wore : Hepsey, born Nov. 17, 17S0, died Jan. IS, 1865; P.dly, born Aug. 27, 1789, died May ;n, 1.S71 ; Delilah, born Jan. 1, 1791, died February, 1876 ; Maria, born March l.'{, 1794, still living, 1880 ; Laura, born Sept. 29, 1796, died Jan. 27, 1865; Edmund, born Dec. 8, 1801, drowned in Ousatonic River, June 13, 1823. CEXEALOGY. Edmund I^eavenworth was the son of Capt. Edmund Leavenworth, the son of Dr. Thomas Leavenworth, son of Dr. Thomas Leavenworth. The last-named is the progenitor of all the Leavenworth families in the United States. IIEXRT GLOVER. Henrj- ( Mover, youngest son of Simeon Glover, of Newtown, Conn., wa.< born Nov. 19, 1816. In early life he .served an api)renticeship to the blacksmith trade, after whidi he studied for the min- istry. On account of the weakness of his voice, which broke down under the effort to preach, Mr. Glover abandoned the idea of preaching and turned his at- tention to the school-room, following that profession for a number of years, teaching in Rridgeport and Westport. His health failing him in the school-room, he entereil the .stove business in Rridgeport about the year 1850. This he followed for seven years, remov- ing to Brookfield to engage in farming in 1856. There he lived for four years, when, having an oppor- tunity to sell to advantage, he did so and returned to Bridgeport, where he entered a foundry. Preferring farm life, however, for which he had a decided taste, he only remained in the foundry a year, when he pur- chased a farm in the town of Huntington, where he