Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

7
was lost a member who had graced it
with his skill and with a rare and pleasing
personality and splendid fellowship.
In the sixth generation from his im-
migrant ancestor, Captain John Fones,
who settled in Newport, Rhode Island,
before 1659, ^"d afterwards lived at
Jamestown and Kingston, Rhode Island,
Civilian Fones was of French Hugue-
not stock, his paternal great-grandfather,
Daniel Fones, having been one of those
who became exiles to England during the
reign of Louis XIV and afterwards became
an officer in the British navy. Upon
his retirement from the service of the
Crown he was awarded a grant of fifteen
hundred acres of land in Rhode Island,
where the old town of Wickford now
stands, and on which he located. Daniel
Fones, his son, who was the father of
Christopher, who was the father of Civil-
ian Fones, was born on the ancestral tract.
Christopher, also born on the family
homestead, married Sarah A. Marigold of
South Carolina, who was of English an-
cestry, and for a time, while serving as
architect and builder in connection with
a large contract that he was executing in
Toronto, Canada, lived in that city and
the vicinity, and it was while a temporary
resident there that his son. Civilian Fones
was born, October i, 1836, at Belleville,
Province of Ontario. Civilian was reared
in his father's profession and business,
but, on the family returning to the United
States and taking their residence in
Bridgeport, the son became identified with
the pioneer dental manufacturing estab-
lishment of Dr. D. H. Porter, where he
began to study for the profession of den-
tistry. Subsequently he entered the Baltimore
Dental College, whence he was
graduated ; and for forty-six years he
practiced his profession with signal suc-
cess in Bridgeport, his clientele including
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
97
some of the wealthiest and most influen-
tial families in the city and its suburbs.
He became a member of the first Connecticut
State Dental/ Commission, having
been appointed by Governor Luzon B.
Morris, in 1892-93, and was reappointed
by Governor Coffin for his second term.
Dr. Fones identified himself with the
Republican Party upon its organization,
but it was not until 1884 that he held a
political office. In that year he was
elected to represent his ward as councilman
in the City Government of Bridge-
port. In the following year he was elected
alderman, and he continued to advance in
the favor of the electorate ; for in 1886 he
was elected mayor of the city, having the
unusual honor conferred upon him of the
support of both parties. He overcame the
opposition's majority by about one thou-
sand votes, and in the campaign of the
ensuing year, 1887, his administration re-
ceived a remarkable endorsement in his
reelection by an increased majority, with
the virtually united support from both
parties. Some of the improvements
accomplished during his administrations
were the removal of the railroad tracks
from Water Street, the removal of the old
Miller Building, the erection of the lower
bridge and the locating of several gates
and crossings. Both of his terms as
mayor were marked with harmony, and
there was no political disturbance by
either party, so that his conduct of the
city's business was virtually untrammeled
and he was permitted to carry out his
policies without interference. Dr. Fones
was grand marshal of the great civic and
military parade in 1888 as a part of the
celebration of the bi-centennial of the in-
corporation of the borough of Bridgeport.
He was a member and had served as
president of the Seaside Club and the
Outing Club. He was also a member of