The Sterling genealogy

WILLIAM STERLING OF HAVERHILL, MASS. 541
Wheeler and Daniel's brother Woolsey. Daniel soon became a
partner and upon the decease of Mr. Wheeler in May, 1841, the
firm became D. H. Sterling & Company. The place of business
was on Water street at the foot of Wall street, and was at the
time the leading grocery house of the town. In 1849 his brother
retired from the firm and Mr. Sterling engaged in the flour
trade.
In 1845 and 1846 he built his house, living meanwhile in the
Sterling Hotel on Main street. This home stood upon the trian-
gular piece of ground, given him by his father and inherited by
Daniel, Sr., from Capt. Abijah, his father. The plot was bounded
by what is now Franklin street, Washington avenue, and Main
street. This house was for a long time one of the show places
of Bridgeport, surrounded by ample grounds, gardens, and groves
of trees, reached by wide drives from the street. Many distin-
guished men were entertained here, among them Bayard Taylor,
Wendell Phillips, and Edward Everett, and it was for many years
the social center of the growing city. The house was razed in
the winter of 1901—2 to make room for a business block.
Daniel H. Sterling was elected a director of the Connecticut
Bank, Sept. 7, 1854, and continued as such until June 5, 1875,
when he was elected president of that institution, which position
he held until his decease. He was also a corporator of the City
Savings Bank and one of its vice-presidents. He was vice-president
of the board of education and chairman of the finance committee
and was a valued member of the First Congregational church,
acting as committeeman and treasurer for a number of years.
In the years 1848 to 1851 and 1853, 1858, 1870, and 1871 he was
a member of the common council and in 1855 and 1859 of the
board of aldermen. He was elected mayor of Bridgeport in 1860
and re-elected in 1861 and 1862, and during his occupancy of
the office was a thorough Union man, sustaining the efforts of
the " War Governor " William A. Buckingham, with whom he
was closely identified.
Mayor Sterling went to Washington several times in the
interests of the Union's cause, once to confer with Gideon Wells,
twice to meet Abraham Lincoln, twice he went to the front before
Gettysburg. From his private fortune he gave $26,000 toward