who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill, and two chil-
dren were born to them: Daniel, who married
Elizabeth Starr : and Joseph.
(IT) Joseph Weld, the first of the name in Guil-
ford, was born in Durham, Conn., in 1727; was
educated and served his apprenticeship in Boston,
Mass., and was a weaver by occupation. Remov-
ing to Guilford, he there carried on an extensive
business, and there died April 28, 1806, at a very
advanced age, his remains being interred in Guil-
ford cemetery. On Oct. 31, 1759, he married Lucy
Eowder. who was born in Guilford Feb. 19, 1735,
a daughter of Ebenezcr and Elizabeth (Starr)
Fowler, and died Sept. 5, 1800. Their children
were as follows: Lucy, born July 29, 1760. died
June 8, 1778; Beulah, born Sept. 6, 1762, died Sept.
12, 1847; Ann, born July 12, 1764, died Oct. 4,
1848, married Nathaniel \N'ilcox ; Joseph, born July
26, 1766. married Sarah Parmelee : Edmund, a
sketch of whom follows: William, born ]\Iav 27,
1 77 1, married Clarissa Gillet, and removed to Paris,
X. \.: Sarah, born April 7, 1773, died Jan. 12,
1857: and Daniel, Iiorn Sept. 23, 1776, died July 30,
1825. married Submit Rossiter.
(Ill) Edmund Weld, grandfather of William
E.. was Ixjrn Dec. 11, 17^18, in Guilford, where he
passed his entire life, dving there Nov. 3. 1838,
highly respected bv all. He had considerable talent
as a singer, and for many years, from the age of
seventeen, led the chior in the church at Guilford.
On Dec. i, 1790, in Guilford, he married Charlotte
Stone, who was born in 1770, a daughter of Benja-
min Stone, and died Jan. 20, 1810. l-'or his second
wife Edmund Weld wedded, June i, 1812, Mercy
Xeltleton, born Dec. 3, 1781, who died July 8, 1864.
Children by first wife: George, sketch of whom
follows; Charlotte, born Jan. 22, 1793, died May
28, 1886, married Robert Fowler; Lucy Ann, born
Nov. 15, 1794, died Aug. 16, 1797; Mary Adcock,
born Sept. 20. 1795; James William, born June
'7' 179^' married Eleanor B. Coates : Rich-
ard, born June 30, 1800, died Aug. 8, 1852,
married Sarah Walker; Henry, born July 9, 1802,
married Elizabeth Ward; Harvey Stone, born July
29, 1804, died March 20. 1885. married Elizabeth
Greenleaf ; Lucy Ann, born Aug. 23, 1806, died in
June, 1852, married John Coats; M.ary, born March
23, 1809, died Oct. 14, 1828. Children by second
wife: John, born Sept. 25, 1813, died June 6, 1887;
PjCtsey, born May 8, 1815, married Charles R.
Wheclen; Edmund, born .\ug. 5, 1817, died Dec.
8, 1881, married Betsey Isabell : Samuel, born Sept.
30, 1818, died in 1850, in California : Lydia Maria,
born Dec. 23, 1819, married Jared Buell ; Alfred
Washington, born March 3, 1823, married Sarah
Morgan; and Daniel, born April 12, 1825, died
Nov. 8, 1859, married Melinda C. Connor.
(IV) George Weld, father of William E., was
born June 8, 1/91, in North Guilford, wdiere he re-
ceived a district school education, and learned the
trade of carpenter and joiner. Later in life he re-
moved with his family to Sag Harbor, L. I., there
continuing his trade several years, then returning
to Guilford, where he passed his later years, dying
in March, 1876; his remains were interred in Guil-
ford western cemetery. He was a member of the
Episcopal Church, and of the choir, being a singer
of no mean reputation. In politics he was a Demo-
crat, though no office seeker. He was a temperate
man, an industrious, loyal citizen, a kind husband
ahd loving parent, and lived an industrious, upright
j life.
! In Guilford, in 1813, George Weld married
Mabel Fowler, who was born in that town May 9,
1791, a daughter of William and Olive (Cran)
Fowler, and died Dec. 21, 1821. For his second
wife he wedded Mabel Loper, born Sept. 5, 1788,
who died Nov. 4. 1869. His children : George Le-
ander, born March 12, 1814: William Edwin, a
sketch of whom follows ; Clarissa Olive, bom
June 3, 1818, died Dec. i. 1886: and Frederick
.\lonzo. born Feb. i. 1820. \\'illiam E. is the only
survivor.
(Y) William Edwin Weld, whose name intro-
duces these lines, received in the vicinity of his place
of birth a common-school education, which was of
necessity somewhat limited, as at the early age of
ten years he had to commence supporting hi;iiself.
I'ntil he was fifteen years old he worked on a farm
for his board and clothes, and then removed w'ith his
8l2
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
father and rest of the family to Sag Harbor, where
he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. Dur-
ing this time he made a whaling voyage to the
South Atlantic and return ; but not caring for a
seafaring life he continued at his trade in Sag Har-
bor till once more making his home in Guilford,
his birthplace. There he commenced business as a
carpenter and joiner, and for over fifty years was
engaged in building and dealing in liunber, becom-
ing one of Guilford's self-made successful men.
For the past few years he has, for the benefit of his
health, been living on and cultivating a small farm.
He still, however, makes his home in Guilford,
where he built and owns a fine residence, equipped
with all modern improvements. A lifelong Demo-
crat, Mr. Weld cast his first vote for Andrew Jack-
son : for several years was selectman of Guilford,
also burgess of the borough; in religious faith he
is a member and vestryman of the Episcopal
Church. Mr. \\'eld is noted far and near for his
honest and honorable dealing in both public and
private life, and is justly classified among Guil-
ford's best citizens.
On Sept. 23, 1838, in the town of Guilford, Will-
iam E. Weld was married to Myrta M. Holcomb,
born Dec. 29, 1820. a daughter of Medad Holcomb,
and children as follows came to them : ( i ) Jane
Clarissa ("Jennie"), born Aug. 21, 1841, married '
Charles W. Shelton, of Windsor, Conn., and later
became the wife of Henry Merriam, who died in
1S97. One child was born to the first marriage,
Lillian Jennie, who married Frederick T. Dudley,
and has two children, Shelton Weld and Mildred
F. ( 2) \\'illiam Edwin, born Aug. 23, 1843, 's su-
perintendent of the Boston Buckboard Carriage Co.,
Kew Haven : he married Imogene Dorman ; thev
have no children. (3) Julia Augusta, born Sept.
19, i860, died Oct. 28, i860.
The Holcomd F.vmilv, of which Mrs. Weld
is a member, is one of the oldest in America.
Thomas Holcomb, the founder of the New Eng-
land branch, came from England with the early set-
tlers, and located first in Dorchester, Mass., later
in \\'indsor, Conn., where he died. Nathaniel Hol-
comb, grandfather of Mrs. Weld, was a native of
Granville, Mass., and there married Jennie .'\dkins ;
they had two children : Medad, sketch of whom
follows ; and Geneva, who married Walter Stevens,
and died in .August, 1862.
Medad Holcomb, father of Mrs. Weld, was
born July 27, 1781, in Granville. Mass., whence
he came to North Guilford, and here on Dec. 31,
1800, he married Betsey Stevens, who was born
in 1777 and died Dec. 0, 1803. For his second wife
he married. Dec. 10, 1804, Betsey Benton, born Oct.
25, 1781, died ^^arch 12, 1815. For his third wife
he married, Aug. 10, 1815, Myrta M. Fowler, born
Tune 26, 1798, who died Aug. 3, 1821. For his
fourth wife he married, Dec. 6, 1821, Nancv Parnel
Dudley, born .•\i)ril 29, 1707. who died .Sept. 26,
1845. His fifth wife was Harriet Leete. Children
born to Medad Holcomb: Betsey, born May 9, 1802,
married Asa Montgomery ; Polly, born Nov. 29,
1803, married Larius Bartholomew; Elledini, bom
Sept. 18, 1805, married Thomas Evans; Frederick,
born Jan. 31, 1807, married Mary Rogers, and died
June II, 1886; Louise, born Oct. 19, 1809, married
Jesse Crane, and died June 3, 1843 ; Henry, born
Oct. 18, 181 1, died Feb. 25, 1842; AppoUas, bom
in July, 1813, died July 22, 1813; Sophia, born Feb.
4, 1817, married William C. Dudley; William Ward,
born Oct. 18, 1818, married Julia A. Whcadon ;
Myrta M., born Dec. 29, 1820, married William
E. Weld ; Lorenzo Dow, born Nov. 5, 1823, died
Feb. 26, 1826; Mary Ann, born April 29, 1826. died
Dec. 22, 1826; Medad, born Sept. 29, 1828, mar-
ried Lavina Sherwood ; Mary jjarker, born Oct.
II, 1831, died Dec. 11, 1831 ; Helen, born Sept. 19,
1834, died March 13, 1836; Helen M., born July
18, 1838, married Samuel H. Cruttenden; and Ce-
celia, born May 12, 1842, married William Cornel!.
There were no children by the fifth marriage.
DANIEL L. CHIPMAN, now living in quiet re-
tirement in Waterbury, was born in that town Nov.
10, 1821. Samuel Chipman, father of our subject,
was born July 16, 1780, in Wallingford, this county,
where his father was engaged as a tailor. The latter
reared a family of four children, viz. : Samuel :
John, who was a farmer and harness-maker in
Cornwall, Conn., and lived to the advanced age of
ninety-one years ; Joseph, who lived in Fairhaven ;
and Elizabeth, Mrs. Grannis.
Samuel Chipman was reared to manhood on a
farm in Wallingford. On Dec. 27, 1802, he mar-
ried Nancy Potter, who was born in Hanulen, New
Haven Co., Conn., September 14. 1784. To this
union came eleven children, in the following order:
Samuel D., born Dec. 29, 1803, became a farmer
and died in Waterbury, April 29, 1881 ; Sherman
B., born June 13, 1806, died Jan. 16, i860; Lyman,
born Nov. 9, 1808, was a hatter in Newtown, and
died June 27, 1874; William, born Aug. 13. 181 1,
was a farmer of Cheshire, where he died ; George
E., born Feb. 9. 1813, was a cabinetmaker, and died
in New York State in February, 1808: Joseph, born
July 6, 1815, was first a tailor, and later became a
farmer, and died in Waterbury. Sept. 25, 1884 :
Timothy T., born April 3, 1818. died in South
America; Ransom, born Nov. 13, 1819. was a tailor
and mechanic in Waterbury, and died Oct. 31, 1884:
Daniel L. (the subject of this sketch) ; Elizabeth
M., born April 2, 1824, married John \\'liitnov, and
died in New Haven June 12, 1892: and Martha A.,
born Feb. e,, 1826, died March 4, 1831.
Daniel L. Chipman grew to maturity on a farm.
In his earlier manhood, however, he for many vears
drove an omnibus through \\'atcrbury, and on re-
tiring from that calling, about twelve years ago,
took up his home about half a mile from his birth-
place, the place comprising about seventy acres just
outside the citv limits of Waterburv.
(A-^^'-t^^
(PUI-t-
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
8'3
On Oct. I, 1876, Daniel L. Cliipnian wedded
Laura A. Jklorehouse, who was born in Washing-
ton, Conn., and who died, after a pleasant com-
panionship of nearly twenty years, June 24, 1895.
On Oct. 12, 1896, Mr. Chipnian chose for his second
wife Sarah V. Worrall, \vho was born in Litchtield,
this State, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Chip-
man) Worrall, the former a native of England,
who became farmer of Litchtield ; the latter was a
native of Cornwall, Conn., and a daughter of John
Chipman, uncle of the subject of this sketch.
Daniel L. Chipman, like his father before him,
has been a life-long Democrat. In religious belief
he was reared a j\lethodist. He is now passing the
remaining years of his life in the companionship
of his estimable wife, surrounded by friends in-
numerable, enjoying the fruits of his early labors,
and at peace with all the world.
OSBORNE. Through all, saving the first dec-
ade and a half, of the century just closed, the name
introducing this sketch has been one of prominence
in mercantile and industrial life in the town of Derby
and of Ansonia, as well as in the social and relig-
ious life of those communities. Here have figured
a number of the immediate descendants of Capt.
Stephen Osborne, among them his son. the late John
White Osborne, and in turn his son. Major Wilbur
F. Osborne, the latter for years the president of the
Osborne & Cheeseman Co., and at this time presi-
dent and assistant treasurer of the Union Fabric
Co., both of Ansonia, as well as being interested in
various enterprises.
Capt. Stephen Osborne, of New Haven, with
his wife and â– family, the wife formerly being
Apama Gorham, a granddaughter of Capt. George
Gorham, came to Derby to live in 1817. Both Capt.
Osborne and Capt. Gorham were patriots and saw
active service in the war of the Revolution. A Capt.
Stephen Osborne is referred to in the records of
Connecticut men in the Revolution as being of
Wallingford, and was commissioned a lieutenant
on July 26, 1777, promoted captain May i, 1778;
while Capt. George Gorham is given as being, in
1779, in the company commanded by Abner Rob-
inson, and in Samuel McClellan"s regiment. Capt.
Gorham was one of the men wdio assisted in stretch-
ing the famous iron chain across the Hudson to ob-
struct the British from going up the river.
Both long before and after the Revolution Derby
was the scene of much shipbuilding which was the
greatest industry of the town. One Thomas
Wheeler, of Stratford, who settled on Birmingliani
Point in 1657, was probably the first engaged there
in such industry. After some six years he was suc-
ceeded by Alexander Bryan, a merchant, and the
latter later by the Hawkenses, and from 1712 to
1720 it was a prominent trading point. Another
busy shipyard was, in early days, at the Cove where
were built vessels called Boston Coasters. Some
distance below figured the Leavenworths, who built
the old bridge in 1798. At what was styled the Red
House were built by Capt. Edmund & Sons, Gideon
and Edmund Leavenworth, many vessels, schooners
and sloops. Gideon Leavenworth was another of
the patriots of the Revolution. He was in command
of a company of infantry in 1777, and was himself
wounded in the battle of White Plains. Packets
were built up the Naugatuck river earlier than 1797,
opposite the "old Parsons place." Soon after that
date Capt. George Gorham built and launched a
schooner from near the present Naugatuck and
Derby stations. Capt. Gorham built many vessels
below the Point of Rocks now known as Hallock's
old ship-yard. Sea-captains and sea-faring men,
[ too, were numerous about Derby, some of whom
j sailed to all points of the world. One George Gor-
ham was a sea captain.
Capt. Stephen Osborne, at his death, left an es-
tate which in those days was considered quite valua-
ble, but the trustee of the estate invested the money
;n the Derby Bank which failed, and the family
were left without means. The son, John White Os-
borne, who was born June 26, 1810, in New
Haven, came with the family to Derby in 1817, and
early learned the shoemaker's trade, receiving for
his services his board and $25 per year. On the
completion of his trade he accepted a position with
George W. Blakeman, then a grocer and dry goods
merchant on the east side of the river. 'He re-
mained with Mr. Blakeman for a number of years
when at the latter's suggestion and with his assist-
ance young Osborne, in 1843, opened a grocery
store, on the west side of the river in Birmingham,
and at a point where now stand the buildings of
the Ousatonic A\'ater Co. (corner Main and Water
streets). In about 1845 he formed a partnership
with George W. Cheeseman and they moved into
the "stone store," built by Daniel Judson in 1836.
These gentlemen transacted a large business, operat-
ing two stores (the other in Waterbury) until 1859.
In 1858 the firm also engaged in the manufacture of
hoop skirts, and in the following }ear removed the
business of this industry to Ansonia, still retaining
for a time the Birmingham store. The formation
of the business firm in the middle forties, of Os-
borne & Cheeseman, was the beginning of a busi-
ness connection, which for so many years was a
great factor in the manufacturing interests of An-
sonia and Shelton.
In 1866 the Osborne & Cheeseman Co. was or-
ganized as a joint stock corporation, w-ith a capital
of $120,000. Before its organization and under the
original firm, in 1861, was built the main factory,
on the site of the burned Ansonia Clock Works.
Subsequently the building was enlarged, and the
line of manufacture largely increased to include
web goods, suspenders and wire woven tape for
skirts. A shop for metallic goods was also run. On
the organization of the company John W. Osborne
was made president; Charles Durand, secretary,
and George W. Cheeseman, treasurer. Mr. Osborne
Si4
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
remained tlie executive head of the company until
his retirement from active business in the early sev-
enties. He had led an active, busy and successful
business life.
In his early life, prior to merchandising, Mr.
Osborne had engaged to some extent in school-
teaching in Derby Xeck, which point later for many
\ears was the home of the family, and where the
son, Major Wilbur F. Osborne, continues his resi-
dence. Mr. Osborne had no taste for public life,
and held but one political office in his life time. He
was once elected a grand juror but refused to
qualify until on a Sunday during divine services
at Church, a man more or less intoxicated took from
his pocket a bottle of whiskey, and began pouring
the contents over the congregation. Mr. Osborne
qualified to prosecute this man. When quite a
young man Mr. Osborne was confirmed in the Epis-
copal Church, but soon thereafter became a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever
afterward remained a consistent and active Chris-
tian. His life was an example to all men — one ever
upright and honest, free from malice and always
full of kindness for ever\-one. His life was a tower
of strength and a blessing to many who, upon turn-
ing from sin, found the new life seemingly hard
and the cross heavy to bear. His disposition was
such that care rested upon him lightly, and from the
time he became a member of the church to the day
of his death he gathered strength and courage from
all vicissitudes. He was one of the leaders of the
church, ever high in its councils. He at one time
led the choir and for many years directed the music,
was almost continually steward and a member of
the official body, and for a long period was super-
intendent of the Sunday-school. He often dis-
coursed to the congregation and his talks were full
of light. All through his long life in the church
he was the comforter and adviser of all — the one
sought and the one turned to in time of need. The
effect of his life in the church was the same on the
outside upon all with wb.om ho came in contact. He
was a man among men. He had his opinions in tem-
poral as well as in spiritual affairs, and when they
differed from the opinions of others it had not the
sting of malice and spite. His opinions were al-
wavs respected. He died with friends innumerable
and without an enemy. Always full of energy and
life he was active to the end, his more than four
score years falling lightly upon hitn. His death oc-
curred March 6, 1895.
Mr. Osborne was married three times, first to
Susan H. Durand, of Derby; second to Mary
Douglas, of New York; and third to ^liss Eliza
Hill." of Reading, Penn. His children, all born of
the first marriage, were Wilbur F. ; Fannie W.,
Ixirn in 1836. married Isaac D. Drew, and died
April II, 1884; Harriet J., Iwrn in 1844, died in
18C10: and Helen \'.. born Jan. 15. 1848. married E.
H. Krehbicl, and died May 10, 1894.
Mrs. Susan H. (Durand) Osborne, the mother
of these children, born in 1816, and died in 1859.
was the daughter of the late Samuel Durand, and a
descendant in the fifth generation from Dr. John
Durand, who was early at Stratford, Conn., marry-
ing there Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Bryan,
and granddaughter of Alexander Bryan. Dr.
Durand settled in Derby about 1685. From this
ancestor Mrs. Susan H. (Durand) Osborne's line of
descent was through Joseph, Noah and Samuel
Durand.
(II) Joseph Durand, son of Dr. John, born
Dec. 20, 1709. married April 25, 1734, Ann Tomlin-
son. She died Feb. 14, 1778, and he passed away
Aug. 6, 1792.
(HI) Noah Durand, son of Joseph, born May
12, 1740, married Abigail, daughter of Caleb Tom-
linson, and lived on Great Neck, and there died
April 12, 1818. His widow died Nov. 2, 1831.
(IV) Samuel Durand. son of Noah, boni July
13, 1783, married (first) Susan Hawkins, (second)
her sister Sally Hawkins, and (third) Nancy Beers,
of Trumbull. Conn., and (fourth) Nancy Brown,
of New Bedford. Mr. Durand was a farmer on
Bare Plains. He died in February, 1852. His chil-
dren were: Charles, Sarah, Susan H. (Mrs. Os-
borne) and Samuel.
M.xjOR Wh.rur F. OsiioRXE, son of John W., is
a native of Derby, and has thus far in life made that
town his home; his business life, however, since the
formation of Ansonia, has been in the latter town.
He has grown up in the business enterprises estab-
lished by his father, and from boyhood taken an
active and prominent part in planning and devel-
oping the business out of which since have come a
number of branches, as well as having engaged in
various other enterprises. A few years subsequent
to his father's retirement from the presidency of
the Osborne & Chccseman Co. he became the exec-
utive head of the concern. In 1882, as an offshoot
of the above named company, there was incorpor-
ated the S. O. & C. Co., which has since been en-
gaged in manufacturing eyelets and eyeleting ma-
chinery, and also metal goods. Some years later,
in 1887, the Union Fabric Company was incorpor-
ated, to cover steel and other wires for use in skirts,
bustles, etc. Of this company. Major Osborne was
made president, a position he still holds. He is also
president of the Schneller Stay Works, of Ansonia,
and treasurer of the Connecticut Clasp Co., of
Bridgeport. The Major was one of the original
incorporators of the S. O. & C. Co., of Ansonia,
and of the DeHiy Silver Co., of Shelton, now a
branch of the International Silver Co. He is one
of the prominent manufacturers of the Naugatuck
Vallev, and is recognized as an enterprising and
public-spirited citizen, both in Ansonia and in
Derbv. He is president of the Derby Neck Free
Library.
Major Osborne served three years and scvcmi
months in the Civil war. having enlisted in .\15ril.
1861, from the Weslcyan University, first, in the
COMAlEMURATirE BIOGRAPHIC AI. RECORD.
815
I luxe monllis service, and later in the first regiment
that was sworn into the United States service for
the entire Civil war. He received promotion to
sergeant, second and first lieutenant, and captain
of artillery : was artillery instructor of the 2d Con-
necticut Artillery: inspect(jr general of defences at
Washington, South of tiie Potomac ; ordnance offi-
cer; acting quarter master, etc.
.\UGUSTUS I. GOODRICH, who is now liv-
ing in W'aterbury, comes of an old and honored
American family of English extraction.
Luther Goodrich, grandfather of our subject,
born July 16, 1776, in East Haddam, Conn., was
a sea captain. He was a member of Columbia
Lodge, Xo. 26, F. & A. M., of East Haddam. He
married Sarah Danforth (who died in 1861), and
by her had a family of four children : Sarah and
Miranda both died at the age of twenty-five years ;
George was the father of our subject ; Hepscy P.
married William Dorrance, li\''ed in Andover, Conn.,
and died at the age of si.xty-two years.
George Cioodrich was born in East Haddam,
Sept. 8, 1805, and died Dec. 29, 1879. He received
his education in Rocky Hill, Conn. He learned the
trade of cabinetmaker in Hartford, from there pro-
ceeding to Bristol, where he worked in a clock-case
factory until 1878, at that time moving to Water-
bury, where he passed the rest of his days. He
married Charlotte L. Ives, who was born in Bris-
tol, a daughter of Ira and Cynthia (Shaler) Ives ;
her father was a Captain in the Revolutionary war.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. (Jeorge
Goodrich, viz.: Miss Almira IM., living in Water-
bury; Augustus I., our subject; and George L. and
Samuel R., mechanics, who reside in Bristol. The
mother died in 1848. The father was a lifelong
\\'hig and Republican, and in religious faith both
ho and his wife were Congregationalists.
Augustus I. Goodrich was born Sept. 16, 1833,
in Bristol, and there attended the common school
and academy. At the age of twenty-three, in the
year 1856, he came to Waterbury, where he has
resided ever since, having been continuously in the
employ of the \\'aterbury Clock Co. until May.
1899. since when he has lived retired. For many
\ears he was superintendent of the works, and dur-
ing his long service of over forty years he proved
himself honest, capable and industrious, leaving with
a record second to none in the company's emplov.
On Jan. 22, i86r, Mr. Goodrich married Helen I.
Corbett, who was born in Rome, X. Y., daughter of
Samuel and Rachel Corbett, the former a repre-