History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

The Bridgejiort Bible Society was organized Nov. 21, 18.59, and is comi)osed of delegates from some twelve different churches, in each of which an annual collection is taken up fi>r the society. Many hundreds of copies of the Scriptures have been distributed by its members and agent.s, and during the past year the city has been thoroughly eanva.ssed and destitute families supplied. The balance of the money raised — alxiut one thou.sand dollars per annum — Inus been turne<l over either to the .Vmerican or ti> the Con- necticut Bible Society, to be uscil in pulilidiing and distributing the Scriptures ilsrwbi-re. Mr. S. M. COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. Middlebrook has been treasurer of the Bridgeport Bible Society since its organization. Deacon George Sterling, Deacon John W. Hinks, and Rev. G. B. Day have successively held the office of president. The Bridgeport Society of Natural Science is an incorp(>rated body, formed for the jnirpose of original research and the discussion of scientific topics. This .society was founded in July, 1877, and has now one hundred and fifty members and a collection em- bracing some fifteen hundred specimens of minerals, insects, old documents, Indian relics, etc. Interesting and valuable papers are read at its meetings upon such topics as the Stone Age, Electricity, JIagnctism, Sound, Water, and the like, illustrated sometimes by diagrams and often by original apparatus, constructed by members. The officers of the society are : Rev. H. N. Powers, D.D., President; George C.Waldo, Secre- tary ; Thaddeus E. Peck, Trea.surer ; Clarence Ster- ling, Curator. Ellas Howe, Jr., Post, No. 3, of the Grand .Vrmy of the Republic, was instituted April 25, 18G7, and is comjiosed of honorably-discharged veterans who served in the war of the Rebellion. The i>rescnt couunander is Lewis G. Logan; adjutant, (ieorge W. Keeler. Comrade William E. Disbrow, of this jiost, was for some time commander of the order for the State of Connecticut. The Bridgeport Society for the Prevention of Cru- elty to Animals was organized in 1880, with many of the best citizens of the place as uKMubers, and has already effected a decided improvement in the treat- ment of the lower animals. .Jacob Kiefer is president of this excellent society, and Edgar S. Niclmls super- intendent. STE.\MBOATS. Steamboat navigation was begun in Long Island Sound about the year ISlo, by Capt. Bunker, in the " F^ulton," who made the trip from New Haven to New York once a week. The time occuiiied was eleven hours, and the fare was six dollars. April H>. 1832, the steamer " Citizen," Capt. John Brooks, com- menced running from Bridgeport to New York, and in July, 1834, the " Nimrod," Capt. John Brooks, .Ir.. and the " Fairfield," Capt. Peek, were put upon t In- same route. The present Bridgeport Steandioat Company is the succes-sorof the Housatonic Tran.sportation Company, and was incorporated in December, 18t>5, under the general joint-stock law, but in May, IStifi, wits granted a s|)ccial charter. The origiiuil capital was two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but the assets of the company now amount to four hundred thousand dollars. The boats owned by the company are three. — viz., the " Bridgeport," 10(52 tons, tiie " Laura," 1098 tons, and the propeller "Vulcan," 2.)0 tons. Large ipiantities of freight are trai\sported, and the company ajipcars to be doing a good busine-s, though the fare to New York is only thirty-five cents, nr tilty cents fur till' round trip. In September, IST'.i, tlu' r.rjDriEPORT. 129 t'a^t sailiiiiT stcaiiicr " IfiKiilalr," nwiicil l>y A. M. ( '. Siuitli. (if Xrw Ynik, was put upon tliis rcmtc as an ojipositiiin liiiat, ami lias rccciveil a ir'>i>il sluirc nf tlir public patronaL'i'. Tilt' presrnt (illu-crs cil' the r>iiili;fp(irt Stuaiiilmat Ci)Ui]iauy an' a> lollows: K. V. liislidji. I'rcsidiait : 8yiluey Bishop, \'icr-ri'rsi(lriit ; \\'illiani 'I'liiiilin, Seorotary; 8. RislKip, K. I", liishop. S. W. Baldwin, Samuel WiliiHit, .1. Uiclianlsdu, 1 )iiTctiii-s. REl'RESENTATIVKS. As ahvaily nieutinueil, thr tuwn of Briiln'i'port was set off from Stratford liy an act of the Connecticut Legislature passed in May, ISi^l. I'^rom l.S2i' to 187.') Bridgeport was entitled to liut a single re]iresentativc in the Assembly. Since the latter date two repre- sentatives have been idiosen oai-li year. Following is a Ii~t of tile gentlemen who have held this ollice ; lS2iEiiu.]i r..ut>.; ls2:),.I..wi.li lia.kiis; ISJI, Williani IV't; lS2,'->,\ViI li.im D Frost; ISiC, X.nvli I'liunli; Is-JT, SmiUi Tweal.v; IS'is, Thomas (_'. Wonliii ; IS'jll, Sijiitli Twti'cl.v ; 1K30, .Samui'l Simons; 1S31, Enoch Footo; ls:i-i Xoiili I'lunili; ls:i:!. Smith Twcfdy ; I.s:s4, Xiiali Plumb; Is;!."), Daniel 0. Whefli-r ; ls:iO, Smilli Tweedy ; ls:i7, William S. I'umeroy ; ls:!S-:i'.), Ileiiiy Ihilton ; lS4il, .rosc-|jli Tlidinp- son; lS41,JamesFitoh; lS4i, .\lii,iali Hawley; lS4:i, Slieiwood Ster- ling; 1S44. .\lexanik-rllamilt..n; ls4.3, Iluight Morris; ls4li, .losepli F. Crosby ; 1S4", Joshua Lord ; 1S4S, Henry T. lluggins ; l.s4n, Silas (/.Booth; is.'.ii, William S. I'onien.y; Is51-:i2, Wyllys Lyon; ls.-,:i. Jo,w].h F. Cr..sby; l.s.-,4, Thoma.s II. Oakley; 18.5.5. 5ila.s V. I!.».tli ; IS.51;, James ('. L..omis ; 1S.5T, I'liilo C. Calhoun ; ls,5s, .\mos S Tieal ; ls.5'.l. .illi.son .V. I'ettiiiKill ; IsCll, James C. Loomis : 1801. George W. Haeon ; ISiiJ, .\mos S. Treat ; lKfi.'i, Russell Tomlinson ; 181,4, Il« iglit 3Iunis; 18ii.5. Samuel Larkin; Isijli, Nathaniel Wheeler ; l.siiT. (4eorge Blallory; 18i;s. Natlianiel Wlieeler; 1 80:1, .\ mos S Treat; ISTO, Xa- Ihaniel Wheeler; 1.S71. William D.lli^holi; 1872, Xatli:iiii..| Wl„.elei ; 187:i, Goodwill Stodilar.1; 1.S74, Uobeit Hubbard; 1S7.5, Cail.is Cui- tiss, David B. Loekwooii ; 18711, liobcrt Hubbard, George \V. liaron ; 1877, Carlos Curtiss, Cieiirge W. B:ieon ; 1878, I*liiiioa.s T. Barniim, Stephen Nichols; 1S7'1, riiiiic-as T. liar \mos S. Tieat; ISSO, Dnight Morris, J.din SeMoii. C'lIArTEU XIV. BRIDGEPORT iContinned). C.\T-\LOGrE (IF IT.VKIX Vdl.UNTKERS, llE.^IllENTS OF BRIDlJEFORT, WHO K.VLrSTED I.X CONNECTI- CUT REGIMENTS l)ntIX(_i Tlli; REHELI^ION. This list is based uiioii the " ( 'atalogue of ( 'oimec- tieut Volunteer ( )rgaiii/.ati(ins'" jmlilished by the State in l.Sl'iit, but contains only the name.s of the original members of the several regiments. FIKST l!E(;niKNT ( iiNNKl TICIT VOLl'NTKKKS. Iticliard Fit/gibbons, ea|itain; e.un. .\iiiil 2:i, IsOl ; diseh. July :ll, ISM. Henry M.H.iyt,fliT.tlieut..nant; com. .\].ril 2:!, Isr.I ; diseh. July 111, 18(11. William A. Lee, second lieutenant ; com. .Vpril 21!, ISGl; diseh. July :il, 18(11. F. M. FairchiM, sergeant ; enl. April -j:!, l.Hiil ; .liscli. July 111, 18(11. Horace T. Hanf.inl, sergeant ; enl. April 31, IKIll; discli. July ill, 18(11. Daniel J. West, sergeant; enl. April 2:i, IHGl; di3.di. July :!1, 18(11. Philo n. Sherman, sergeant ; enl. April 211, 18(51 ; disi-h. July ■i\, 1801. Kobeit 1). Gage, corjx.ral ; enl. Apiil 2:i, 1801; dlsch. July HI. 1801. Arblis E. Payne, corp.aal; enl. Alail 2:1. IsCl; dis.h. July 111, l.sill. Jam.'s 11. llurlburt, .■..rp..r;d; eid, April .Jll, Isill ; rrri-irrg a( llrrll llrirr. Jrrl.v 21, 18111, .b.lrn Wap.rs, c.r |...ral ; .-rrl. April 2.1, Isill ; .11- li, .Irrly 111, Isrll. Willi. rrrr II, Arnlrews. rirrrM.iarr ; ..rrl. April 2:1, Isi.l ; lrrrrrislr,.d substitute, Jlay 7, INlll, Wrllrairr S. War.l, irrri-iriair ; .rrl. April 2:1, Isrll ; ,lis. b. Jrrly lll.lsill. l!.il...rt II, K..|b.y. irrrrs.rirrir; ..lrl,May7, Isrll; distlr, .Iirl\ :il, 1801. Willrarrr 1 1 , Alrdr..«s, .-nl. Juire 15, isrll; rlis.b. Jrrly 111, 1801. Cbarlis A. ll.aidsley, .ml. April 2:1, 1801 ; .Irsch. July :il, I80t. Theod.ire liownialr, ..(rl. April 2:1, 1801 ; ili.-ch. July :il, 1801. Davi.l P. Ii..rirr,.tt, ..nl. April 2:1, l.soi ; .lis. h. .Inly 111, 1801. Phil.) M. }i....rs, ..nl. April 2:1, IMll ; .lis. b. .Iirly :a. Isol. l!i|.|.ar.l Ilr..\\ ir, ...,1, April -2:1, bsOl ; .li^.b, b.r .Usability, .l.rly 7, 1801. Kli N. lial.lwin, enl. April 21!, 1801 ; rlisrh, Jrrly :!1, 1801, William Hesti.k. ..rrl. April 2:1.1X01; diseh. July :ll, 1801. William F. Kmrlis. ..nl, April 211, 1801 ; .lis.li. July 111, 1801. Willi:.ni E, lirrl.lwin. er.l, April 2:1, 1801; .lis.b. .Inly :il, I.SOI. Albert li, Cl.rrk, .rrl. Ajiril 211. 1801 ; .lis. Ir. Jrrly 111. 1801. ■rb.,rrras Cas... ..nl, Aj.lil 211, 18111 ; rlis. h, July 111. ISOl. (■h;rrl..s W, ('..l.-y. ..Jrl, April -2:1, 1801; .Irsilr. f.,r .lisal.ilily, Juire Ij, 18111. William 11 ('....ley, erri, April 2:1, 18111 ; , lis.b .lnl> :a,lsi;l. .b.bn 11, II. iug. ..rrl, A|.ril 2:1, Isol ; dis.l. .lol,v :il. l.sOI, li.rnai.l El... ihar.lt, enl. Apiil 2:1, 1801 ; .lisch. Jrrly :il, 1.801. Uui.l..ir J. F..X, ..nl, April -2:1, 1801 ; ilisclr. July :ll, l.sol. Fr.-.l.ri.k P. G.i.lli.-y. .irl. April 2:1, 1801 ; .lisch, July :il, l.sOl. ( barlesH. Gr-..garr.eirl. Aj.ril 2:i, 1801; ilisclr. July 111, 1.801. ll..(rjarrrirr Gr..eir. ..rrl Ainil 2:). 1801 ; dis.h. July 111, 1801. Frairk H..gue, enl. April 21), 1801 ; .lis.b. July :il, 1801. Err. ins L. Hull. errl. April 2:1,1801; ilis.lr. July :il. 1801. Alonz.. Ilayr.s. ..rrl. April -2:1, 1.801 ; .lis.li. .Inly 111, IsOl. Fre.lerick II..|nr.-. ..nl. A].ril 2:1, 1801; mi.siir;; at b;rlll.. ..f Prrll K.iir, July 21,1801. G g.. II. Hill, .-irl. A|.iil 2:1. 1.801 ; liiriri-b.-.l snbstil.K... Jrrrr.. 1. 1801. Franklin llotchkiss, enl, April 2:i, 1801 ; .lis, b Jnli :ll, lsr;l. Ili.rrrrarr N. Ilasliirgs, ,1,1. A],ril 211, 1801 ; .li-.lr. Jrrly 111. l.siU. ll.niy Jrr.lsou, ..nl, Al.ril 21, Isol ; mi,..sins at batll.. .,f Itnll Itnir, Jnly