Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

usiness interests include a directorship
with the Colyars Shoe Stores, Inc., and a
similar office with the Toquet Carburetor
Company. He also is a trustee of the
Staples High School. In politics, Mr.
Harris is a Republican, and takes an active
interest in all public matters. He
has been a member of the Board of Finance
since the latter was organized
about four years ago.
Mr. Harris married Esther Alsop,
daughter of Samuel Alsop, Jr., a resident
of near Philadelphia. His father, Samuel
Alsop, Sr., had a boarding school where
the Hotel Glenwood now stands at the
Delaware Water Gap. Mr. and Mrs.
Harris are the parents of three children
Rachel Griscom, Esther Kite, and Margaret
Alsop. The family are members
of the Society of Friends in New York
City.
RADFORD, Stephen Lockwood,
Jndge of Probate.
To introduce Judge Radford to his fellow-citizens
of Greenwich, or to the members
of the Fairfield county bar and
bench, would be an act of presumption
on the part of the biographer. Having
loyally made his native city the scene
of his professional career, Judge Radford
has identified himself quietly but influ-
entially with the chief interests of his
community.
The name of Radford seems to be of
ancient English origin, being found as
the designation of various villages and
hamlets in the counties of Nottingham,
Oxford and Warwick.
(I) Stephen L. , Radford, grandfather
/)i Stephen Lockwood Radford, was de-
scended from John Radford, of Portland,
Maine, the family having been long rep-
resented in the "beautiful town that is
seated by the sea." Stephen L. Radford
:
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
283
was a sea captain, and in common with
so many of his calling found an ocean
grave. Captain Radford married Harriet
Lockwood, a member of an old English
family, represented in this volume.
The following children were born to Cap-
tain and Mrs. Radford : Mary,
Frances,
Clarissa, and Stephen L., of whom fur-
ther.
(II) Stephen L. (2) Radford, son of
Stephen L. (i) and Harriet (Lockwood)
Radford, was born November 17, 1828, in
Greenwich, Connecticut. He was reared
on a farm to which his parents moved
when he was but five years old, and to
the close of his life he remained upon the
homestead. His education was received
in local public schools. Mr. Radford
married Julia S. Ritch, daughter of Ralph
and Clemence (Mead) Ritch, and granddaughter
of James Ritch and Matthew
Mead. Matthew Mead was a son of Captain
Matthew Mead, a Revolutionary
officer, and a great-grandson of John
Mead, who came from England in 1642.
The Pitches and Meads were both old
families of Greenwich. Mr. and Mrs.
Radford were the parents of four chil-
dren, two of whom reached maturity:
Jesse F., now deceased ; and Stephen
Lockwood, of whom further. Mr. Radford
was a member of Christ Episcopal
Church of Greenwich, while Mrs. Radford
was a member of the Second Con-
gregational Church of that place ; the
former held the office of vestryman and
took an active part in church work. It
is worthy of note that both Mr. and Mrs.
Radford were the children of seafaring
men, Ralph Ritch, who was a native of
Greenwich, having "followed the water"
nearly all his life.
(III) Stephen Lockwood Radford, son
of Stephen L. (2) and Julia S. (Ritch)
Radford, was born May 16, 1877, in
Greenwich, Connecticut. He received