Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

His home was on East avenue, the present (1901) residence of Miss Sarah Fitch. He died July 18, 1774- His son, Col. Thomas Fitch, was distinguished as a soldier and in the Civil service of the Colonv. TAYLOR SHERMAN, son of Judge Daniel Sher- man, was born in Woodbury, Conn., in 1758. He mar- ried in 1787 Elizabeth Stoddard of Woodbury. He was admitted to the bar and removed to Norwalk, where he 880 spent the remainder of his life in the practice of the law. He was a member of the General Assembly of the State in 1794, 1795 and 1796, and was Judge of Probate for the District of Norwalk from the creation of the District in 1802 until his death. He was Collector of Internal Rev- enue for the Second District of Connecticut, under ap- pointment from President Madison. He was appointed Agent to survey the land in the Western Reserve, con- sisting of a half million acres, granted by the State of Connecticut to the sufferers by the British devastations in the Revolutionary war, and acquired a considerable tract of this land, in Sherman township, Huron County, Ohio. He was a public spirited citizen, taking an active interest in the affairs of the town and community. His home was at the southwest corner of Main and Cross streets in the present city of Norwalk, in the house now standing He died May 15th, 1815. CHARLES ROBERT SHERMAN, a son of Tay- lor and Elizabeth (Stoddard) Sherman, was born in Nor- walk, September 26th, 1788. He studied law in the of- fices of his father and of Judge Asa Chapman, and was admitted to the bar in 1810. On May 8th of the same year he married Mary Hoyt of Norwalk. In 181 1 he re- moved, with his wife and an infant son (Charles Taylor Sherman, afterwards Judge of the U. S. District Court) to Lancaster, Ohio, where he settled in the practice of his profession. In the war of 18 12 he was Major of an Ohio regiment. At the age of 35 he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, which office he held until his death, which occurred June 24, 1829. Among a large family of other children, born after his removal to Ohio, were Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the U. S. Army and Hon. John Sherman, for many years represen- tative and senator in Congress, Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary of State. CLARK BISSELL was born at Lebanon, Conn , September 7, 1782; graduated at Yale College in 1806; studied law and settled in Norwalk. He married Sally Sherwood, daughter of Hon. Samuel Burr Sherwood of Fairfield. He was several years Judge of Probate for the District of Norwalk, succeeding Judge Taylor Sher- man ; member of the Connecticut House of Representa- tives in 1829, 1841 and 1850, of the State Senate from the old 12th District in 1842 and 1843; Governor of the *81 State in 1847, and 1848; and chairman of the Board of Presidential Electors in Connecticut in 184S. He was a Judge of the Superior Court and of the Supreme Court of Errors from 1829 to 1839, when he resigned. In 1847 ne was given the degree of Doctor of Laws by Yale Col- lege, and was in the same year made Kent professor of law in that institution, which position he held until 1855. For several years he was President of the Fairfield County Bank, succeeding Henry Belden. He died Sep- tember 15th, 1875. He built and occupied the house at the corner of East Wall and Park Streets, and his office was a small building at the Southwest corner of the homestead. He was a lawyer of great ability, a wise and safe counsellor, and had a large practice. Of liis child- ren, Rev. Samuel Burr Sherwood Bissell, Edward C. Bis- sell, Mrs. Charles C. Betts and Mrs. Orris S. Ferry survived him ; George A. Bissell, also a lawyer, died shortly before him, and Arthur H. died in childhood. THADDEUS BETTS, a native of Norwalk, son of William Maltby and Lucretia (Gregory) Betts, was born February 4, 1789; graduated at Yale College in 1807; admitted to the bar and always resided in Norwalk, on the easterly side of "The Green." He married Antoinette Cannon of Norwalk. He was a member of the Connecti- cut House of Representatives in 1815 and 1830; of the State Senate in 1828 and 183 1 ; and Lieutenant Governor of the State in 1832 and 1834. He was elected to the United States Senate for the term beginning March 4th, 1839, and died in Washington April 8th, 1840. He was a man of great talent, ranking among the most powerful advocates of the Connecticut bar, and his early death cut short what promised to be a conspicuous and influential career in the public service. He was the father of Fred- erick T. and Charles C. Betts, both now living, and John Maltby Betts, who died unmarried in t868. THOMAS BELDEN BUTLER, son of Frederick and Mary (Belden) Butler, was born at Wethersfield, August 22d, 1806. He was educated as a physician, graduating at the Medical Department of Yale College in 1828. He settled and practiced medicine for several years at Norwalk. He soon determined to adopt the legal profession, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1832, 1833, 1837, 1843 and 1846; of 882 the State Senate in 1838, 1839, 1848, 1852 and 1853, and Representative in Congress from 1849 to 185 1. He was Judge of Probate from 1848 to 1849, and States Attorney for several years. In 1855 he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court ; in 1861 a Judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, and in 1870 Chief Justice of that Court, which office he resigned a few days before his death. He married Mary Phillips Crosby of Norwalk, but had no children. His home was on West Avenue, the house now occupied by the Central Club. He died June 8th, i873- Judge Butler was fond of scientific studies, especially of meterology, on which he published two books, entitled "Philosophy of the Weather," and "The Atmospheric System as God Made It." He had much mechanical skill, and made several ingenious inventions; one a com- plicated machine for crossing the wool in felt cloth, was successfully employed in the manufacture of felt goods. He was an enthusiastic farmer. He nad an acute and discriminating mind, was ambitious of distinction as a Judge and his judicial opinions were carefully and thoroughly prepared. He was especially distinguished among legal writers for his concise and exact definition of legal terms. THOMAS ROBINSON, a member of the Fairfield County Bar, was graduated at Yale College in 182S; set- tled in the practice of law at Fairfield, and married Eliza P. Dimon of that place, a sister of the late Frederick Dimon of Norwalk. He removed to Norwalk in 1847, built and occupied the house on West Avenue, now the homestead of Oliver E. Wilson, and resided there until his death, which occurred in 1853. He was a lawyer of ability and prominence ; was for seven years clerk of the Superior Court ; was representative from Fairfield in the Connecticut legislature in 1843 and 1846, and from Nor- walk in 1852. He left no children. JOSIAH MASON CARTER was born in New Canaan, June 13th, 1813; graduated with distinguished honor at Yale College in 1836, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He began the practice of law in New York, but removed to Norwalk in 1847 an^ formed a partner- ship with Thomas B. Butler, which continued until Mr. Butler was appointed Judge of the Superior Court in 1855. He was a representative from Norwalk in the 283 General Assembly in 1857, *86i and 1862, and in the last year was Speaker of the House. He was the nominee of his party for Lieutenant Governor in 1856, but the ticket was not successful. He was State's Attorney for the County of Fairfield from 1862 until his death, which occurred March 21, 1868. He married Julia Ayres of New Canaan, and built and occupied until his decease the house now the home- stead of Levi C. Han ford. One of his daughters, now deceased, was the mother of Hubert E. Bishop of Nor- walk, and another married Prof. Alexander Johnston, the eminent political writer and historian. Mr. Carter was a thorough, exact and painstaking lawyer, and had an extensive practice. TIMOTHY TAYLOR MERWIN, son of Rev. Samuel Merwin, was graduated at Yale College in 1827, admitted to the bar and practiced for some years in Nor- walk. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1838 and was Clerk of the Superior Court from 1839 to 1842. He removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and retired from practice. He died in 1885. He married Hannah B. White, daughter of Col. E. Moss White of Danbury. GEORGE A. DAVENPORT was bom in Wilton, January 21st, 1808. He studied law at Yale College, was admitted to the bar and practiced in Norwalk. He was for a short time a partner of Judge Butler. He seldom appeared in the Courts, and in his later life never. He was an office lawyer, devoting his time chiefly to con- veyancing, drafting of wills, contracts and the giving of legal advice, and had no superior in the conscientious accuracy of all his work. He was thoroughly grounded in elementary and probate law, and will be longest remembered as Judge of Probate for the District of Nor- walk, which office he filled with conspicuous ability for thirty years. He married Mary Sturges, daughter of Erastus Sturges, Esq., of Wilton. He died January 13th, 1894, leaving six children, of whom three are able and prominent lawyers, viz., Benjamin Davenport of Minne- apolis, Minnesota ; Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport, and Timothy Davenport of New York City. ISAAC MOREHOUSE STURGES, son of Erastus Sturges, Esq., a prominent citizen of Wilton, was born in that town, within the limits of ancient Norwalk, July 284 6, iSoy, and died October 30, 1877. He was admitted to the bar in 1837, practiced in Newtown until 1848, and af- terwards until his death in Bridgeport, but during the last years of his life resided in Wilton. He represented Wil- ton in the General Assembly in 1837 and 1876, and New- town in 1844. He was Judge of Probate in Newtown in 1844, and Judge of the City Court of Bridgeport in i860 and 1861. He was unmarried. He was a man of untir- ing industry, extensive legal learning, and devotion to the interests of his numerous clients.