Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

one daughter, Zelda, and an adopted
daughter. 2. Alice R., married Raymond
Comstock, of Wilton, and is the mother of
two children, Sarah and Marjorie. 3.
Bessie L., married Townsend B. Wick-
wire, of Norwalk, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this work. 4. Samuel
J., a sketch of whom follows. 5.
mond, who tried to enlist in the
Ray-
army,
navy and aviation, but was refused by all
three. He was finally drafted, and though
physically not rugged enough for service,
was sent to Camp Devens. When it was
learned there that he had had store experience,
he was transferred to the Quartermaster's
Department and had not been
there long when it was discovered that
he was an expert automobile driver and
he was assigned to drive the car of Major
Briggs. He was kept at this work until
finally discharged for physical disability
after eighteen months of service, worn
out from overwork without ever getting
out of this country.
Robert W. Keeler is a member of the
Congregational church of Wilton, in
which he has held several offices, and Mrs.
Keeler is a Christian Scientist.
(The Raymond Line).
This surname, derived from an ancient
Christian name, Raimundus, was introduced
into England at the time of the
Conquest, or soon after. It signifies "light
of the world," being derived from rai, a
beam of light, and monde, from mundus,
the world. The family played an illustrious
part in the history of the Old World,
and its record in the New is entirely
worthy of its past.
(I) Richard Raymond came from Essex,
England, and settled in Massachu-
setts. His occupation is given as that of
a mariner. In 1634 he was made a freeman
in Salem, where he and his wife were
members of the First Church. He moved
to Norwalk and then to Saybrook, where
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
382
he died in 1692, aged ninety years. He
married Judith .
(II) John Raymond, son of Richard
and Judith Raymond, was born in Nor-
walk. He married, in 1664, Mary Betts,
daughter of Thomas Betts, of that place.
(III) John (2) Raymond, son of John
(i) and Mary (Betts) Raymond, was
born at Norwalk, where he was a prom-
inent man and served as captain of the
train band ; he also served as surveyor,
and was a large owner of real estate. John
Raymond married, in 1690, Elizabeth St.
John, daughter of Samuel St. John. He
died in 1737.
(IV) Jabez Raymond, son of John (2)
and Elizabeth (St. John) Raymond, was
born in 1705. He married Rebecca .
(V) Josiah Raymond, son of Jabez and
Rebecca Raymond, was born about 1740.
He married, in 1765, in Norwalk, Molly
Merwine, who died in 1809. Josiah Raymon
passed away in 1827.
(VI) Thomas Raymond, son of Josiah
and Molly (Merwine) Raymond, was
born in 1797. He married Eunice Meeker,
of Greenfield.
(VII) William Meeker Raymond, son
of Thomas and Eunice (Meeker) Raymond,
married Sarah E. Thorp.
(VIII) Ruth Zelda Raymond, daugh-
ter of William Meeker and Sarah E.
(Thorp) Raymond, became the wife of
Robert W. Keeler, as above stated.
KEELER, Samuel J.,
Business Man.
As one of the most aggressive repre-
sentatives of that constantly recruited
body, the younger business men of Nor-
walk, Mr. Keeler has already become a
figure of prominence in his own special
sphere of action. He is officially con-
nected with a number of financial organ-
izations and scrupulously fulfills all the