History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. Elias Buttery, ilied. James L. Dyer, discli. for disability. Genrge F. Olnistead, must. out. Joseph H. Lf)ckwood, must. out. Andrew Scofield, must, out, He/ekiah Wood, must out. Patrick Nniton, must. out. Sylvester Albin, must. out. Ilufus S. Benedict, must. out. Jesse W. Tucker, nmst. out. Enos Kellngg, taptaiu; must, nut, J. Irving Benedict, tirst lieutenant; resigned. James H. Aj'res, second lieutenant ; must. out. Francis M. Bliss, sergeant; resigned. Isaac N, Crissey, wounded; trans, tu Inv. Corps. Warren S. Palmer, ilisoh. for disability. Samuel Couistiick, died. Peter Bennett, disch. for disability. George J. Stevens, must. out. Levi St. Jidiu Weed, nuist. out. Joseph F. Seeley, disch. for disability. Norbert Bossa, must. out. Isaac B. Brown, must, out. Charles A. Weed. died. Mile.s O. Jones, trans, to Vet, Res. Corps, Janu^s L. Hudgos, must. out. David M. Avery, wounded; must. out. Juhn Arker, must. out. AA'illiam L. Brown, disch. for disability. Andrew B. Benedict, must. out. John George Banzhof, nuist. out. Robert Bishop, disch. for disability. Lurin AV, Britto, nivist. uut. John L. Byingtcn, discharged. Lewis B. Benedict, disch. for disability. Frank Britto, discli. for disability. William C. Bell, must. out. David C. Comstock, Jr., discharged. Andrew Crabb, must. out. Stephen Comstock, nuist. out. Lyman W. Crabb, nuist. out. Levi Dixon, dis« h. for disability. William H. DeForre.st, rlisch. for disability. Thomas Driscoll, disch. for disability. Sanuiel E. DeFuirest, must. out. Maximilian DeFislieur, disch. for disabilitjr. Christian Faber, must. out. Sannu'l W. Fox, must. out. John Greeuewald, nuist. out. Augustus Ganning, tlisi h. for disability. Samuel Gray, nuist, out. Orriu Harrison, nuist. out. John S. Hixas, must. out. William Hartung, died. John Kaiser, must. nut. Eliphalet Blead, killed. Alanson F. fllonme, disch. for disability. Orson C. Ogden, disch, for disability. Samuel S. Osborn, disch, for disability. Christophers. Olnistead, died. Henry Peatt, disch. for disability. George H. Pidts, disch, for disability. Ebenezer J. Patttuiden, must. out. George Patterson, died. George E. Purdy, must, out, Seth Remington, must. out. Jcdin W. Raymond, disch. for disability. Arza Raymond, must. out. Cyrus Raymond, njust. out. (". Edward Riiym.ind, disch. for disability. 41 1". HISTOKY OF FAIKPIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. £<t\VHnl Riclmrds, died. l>c Witt C. Kuscue, must. out. Lewis Itaudle, divd. Clmiincey Rnymoud, disch. Tor disiiUUty. Floyd S. Riiscoc, must. out. Ju8tii8 M. Sillinmn, iiuiBt. out. Charles K. ScfU'V, mu8t. out. Jiimes A. Snialthi^rii, must. out. Gcorgo H. Wood, diwi. Francis Weinberg, must. out. Williitni Wils<in, must. out. 3Iartiti Wnssiu":, disdi. for disatijlity. Siiuire A. M'iiterbnry, dii»L-h. for di^iI'iUty. Georgtj K. Wutorbury, tnms. to Vet. Re;*. Corps. Harry WJitcrbury, must. out. Gcoi'gf W. AVcihI, must. out. Cbnrlcs L. ItartiAV, must. out. .Tolm Binbnll, diml. Charles Crnfoot, must, out, William ?>. Fitch, mtLst. out. . Patrick IiinL*, must. out. Charles Vitenheiiuer, must. out. William Wriglit. TWENTY-KIGIITH RKGIMEXT. Joseph C. Cronk, must. out. .Tos4>ph Thomson, must. out. Joseph Adams must. out. Daniel Wakoman, disch. for disability. Nelson R. Copes, must. out. George W. Thomson, must. out. William JefTorson, must. out. Perry Williams, must. out. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. PROFESSOR SAMUEL ST. JOHN. Professor Samuel St. John was born in New Ca- naan, March 29, 181.3, and was in his sixty-third year at the time of his death. He graduated at Yale Col- lege in the class of 1834. In 1838 he accepted an ap- pointnient as jjrofessor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology in the Western Keserve College, at Hudson, Ohio, in which office he remained until 1851. He was principal of the Cleveland Seminary for j'oung ladies from 1852 to 1856, and during this time was professor of dicmistry and medical jurisprudence in the Cleveland Medical College. In 1850 he was ap- pointed professor of chemistry and medical jurispru- dence in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. This position he held until his death. When appointed to the New York college he made his home in his native village, and continued to take an active interest in all enterprises undertaken for the luMiifit of the place. He was one of the first and best friends of the New Canaan Railroad. He became IJrcsidcnt of the company, and to liim is greatly due the success of the enterprise. One of his last con- spicuous public services was the writing of a "His- tory of New Canaan," which he read at the celebra- tion of the Centennial Fourth of July, and which is an enduring memorial M his interest in New Canaan and its people, as well as of his literary skill. Professor St. John married, in 1840, Amelia P. C. Curtis, who died December, 1856, in Cleveland, Ohio. Their children were Walter, died in infancy ; Eliza C. ; Samuel B. ; George, died in infancy. Samuel I?, was liorn in 1845. He graduated at Yale College in 1806, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New Y'ork, in 1870. He was hou.sc surgeon of the Belle- vue Hospital and Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, New York ; surgeon of the New York Dispensary, Northwestern Dispensary, New York, and to the Eye and Ear Intirniary, New York; attended the hospi- tals in Edinburgh, London, Berlin, Vienna, and Paris in 1872 and 1873. He is a member of the New York Ophthalmologieal and American Ophthalmological Societies (whose rules prohibit the announcement in print of any specialty). In 1835, Dr. St. John visited Europe in company with Dr. Parker. He went to Europe a second time, and once more in 1873 he visited the Vienna Exposi- tion in company with his son and daughter. He died Sept. 6, 1876. AVe cannot, here, give anything like a comprehen- sive analysis, or pay adequate tribute to the char- acter of one who, for his profound learning, useful life, labors, an<l noble example of unscUishness and integrity, was an honor not only to New Canaan, but to Connecticut, which has lost many better-known citizens, but none of more solid attainments or more real worth. Very rarely does the loss of a citi- zen occasion such a deep and heartfelt sorrow, such wide-spread and universal sense of bereavement in any connnunity, as did the death of Professor Samuel St. John in the town of New Canaan. It is another proof that real goodness, real nobility of character, will compel recognition in everj' class of society, and when such a one is taken away there is no exception to the general sorrow, and the humble, the proud, the poor, the rich, the vulgar, the refined, the reckless, and the thoughtful, all unite, for a time at least, in one common bond of mutual grief. AVell is it for those on whom the lesson makes a permanent im- pression, who arc able to grasp the full meaning of such a life, and who resolve to make it a model for their own. Dr. St. John was loved in New Canaan as few men are loved in any community. A native of the vil- lage, he ever regarded New Canaan as his home, no matter how far away circumstances led him in the active labors of his life. New Canaan was the scene of his childhood and youthful memories, and in his riper years, when circumstances permitted. New Ca- naan was his chosen and permanent home. He was known and beloved by everybody in the town, young and old alike. He was a warm friend of every pro- ject having for its object the good of the town, and devoted his time, talents, and means to promote its interests. He was a true patriot, loving his country and her institutions with loyal affection, but his scholarly and ]ihilosophical mind, his broad culture NEW CANAAN. W, "rich with tlie spuils of tinii'," :iii(l witli the re-^ults wlio \v:is at that time (nie of tlic Icailinu; uicn-liaiits of of liis own ohservatioii, and orii;inaI ivseareh in tlu> tliis phice and vicinity, and continued in llie iiicrcan- doinain of science and learninir, made liini more than tih' business as a clerk and for himself lor ahout willing to keeii ah)of from active connection witli tlie eighteen years, lie has often been elected liy the management of jiartisan struggles. people of New Canaan to varions <ittiees ol' (rust and In cuuforniity with recomnu'ndal ions of the Presi- responsibility, — town clerk fr>r nine years; lifteeu dent's jtroclamation, that some snitable history be years continuously elected a magistrate, whether the written of eacli town in the United States during the town went Democratic or Kep>il)lican, and was finally Centennial year, supplemente<l by an urgent invita- obliged to refuse to qualify to get rid of it. because of tion of a committee of his townsmen, and upon the its interference with his other duties; was among the positive assuran<-c that he would be interfering witli very first magistrates, if not the rrn/ jirxl, in the State the prerogative of no (jhc, lie consi'iitcd to write the to try a case under the "Elaine Law," so called, " History of New Canaan," whicli he delivered on the passed in l.S."i4; was elected to the ]>egislatiirc in Centennial Fourth of July, as before stated. From 1S78, and served in the session of l.S7'.t, the lirst that this address the historian of this work has largely met in the new State-House, at Hartford. drawn for material for the history of (hat town, for In ISoit the New Canaan Savings Bank was char- which line credit lias elsewhere been >;ive!i. The fered, and upon being orL'ani/.ed he was chosen its I . . . closing words of Professor St. .lohn's liistorical ad- treasurer, in wliieh capacity he served seventeen dress are significant, and we caniiut do better, per- consecutive years, and then was clioseii iti president haps, than to reproduce them \\rw : "We who are for two years, but resigned before the expiration of now assembled here, gathering uj) the influences of , the seeimd year. this occasion, nmst soon be numliered with the con- In ISti.') the First National IJank of New Canaan gregations of other days. The time of our departure was estalilished, and he was chosen its cashier, in