Biographies of Prominent Families
Town of Brookfield
Fairfield County Connecticut

Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley

Try our genealogy search engine

Biographies of Prominent Families in the Town of Brookfield, Connecticut, extracted from, The History of Fairfield County Connecticut of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by D. Hamilton Hurd, 1881.

Williams, Dr. Amos L.

Dr. Amos L. Williams is of Welsh descent, his ancestors coming to America and settling in New England at an early day.

His father, William Williams, was a native of Lebanon, New London Co., Conn., who followed farming, and took to wife Miss Lydia Loomis of Lebanon. Salmon L., William C, Lydia, Harriet, Gilbert, and Amos L. were the names of their children.

Amos L. Williams was born Jan. 11, 1811. His father died when he was but seven years of age. He remained with his mother until he was sixteen, when he took up his residence with his brother. Dr. William C. Williams, at that time a practicing physician in Roxbury, Conn. He remained two years, teaching the district school in the winter, and reading medicine in his hours from school and during the remainder of those two years. In the winter of 1831-32 he attended a course of medical lectures in New Haven, and in March, 1832, was licensed to practice. Locating in Greene Co., N. Y., he practiced there a few months when he removed to Brookfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., where he has lived and followed his profession since March 1, 1833. Eight years afterwards, in 1840, he attended a course of lectures and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

Oct. 16, 1833, he married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Gregory) Holley, of Brookfield. The children born to them have been Ellen F., Julia G., William H. H., and Florence H.

It may be truthfully said of Dr. Williams that he is a self-made man. Commencing the practice of his profession under adverse circumstances, he has, by careful study and close attention to his professional duties, won for himself the position of trust and honor which he now occupies.

Wildman, Ezra W.

Ezra W. Wildman, son of Edward and Anna A. (Bennett) Wildman, Avas born Dec. 2, 1818, in New Fairfield, where his parents were temporarily residing, having lived in Brookfield prior to and returning there soon after Ezra's birth.

Edward Wildman pursued the calling of farming. He was married to Anna A., daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Lacy) Bennett, of Brookfield, by whom he had seven children. Ezra, the eldest son, lived with his father, attending the district school and assisting in the farm-work, until reaching the age of nineteen, when he began the business of manufacturing curriers' knives with Mr. Tomlinson in Brookfield. At the age of twenty-one he entered into partnership with Mr. Tomlinson and his uncle, Mr. John F. Bennett, and did business under the firm-name of D. Tomlinson & Co. This connection lasted until the "big freshet" in 1853, which carried away the firm's dam, when, Mr. Tomlinson retiring, the firm became Bennett & Wildman; the dam was rebuilt and business resumed. In 1867, Mr. AVildman sold his interest in the establishment, and devoted his time to farming.

In February, 1841, Mr. Wildman married Miss Harriet, daughter of Hiram Barlow, of Bridgewater, Conn. Their children were Emily M., Sarah E., Laura A., Henrietta E. His first wife dying in 1850, the following year he married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Albert and Hannah (Rusco) Stevens, of New Canaan, by whom he has had the following- named children: Harriet N., Henry S., Josephine, Ida C, and William E. The family of Stevens are of English origin. Albert Stevens was a public educator, devoting a long life to the arduous calling, teaching in Patterson, Yista, and elsewhere.

In politics, Mr. Wildman is Republican. He is an attendant at the Reformed church, Brookfield, of which Mrs. Wildman and several of the children are members.