Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

part in all public affairs during his lifetime.
Several times he has been honored
with public office and has creditably held
the offices of selectman, constable, justice
of the peace and State representative. He
was the first business manager of the New
Canaan "Messenger;" a director of the
New Canaan Water Works president of
;
the New Canaan Savings Bank president
;
of the New Canaan Library, and its build-
ing was erected during his administration.
He was also chairman of the building
commission having in charge the erection
of the town hall ; and was president of the
New Canaan Historical Society.
Mr. Weed married, April 3, 1867, in
South Norwalk, Martha J. Brush, born
September 7, 1845, daughter of Henry
Chapman and Clarissa (St. John) Brush.
Henry Chapman Brush was born Febru-
ary 16, 1820, and died April 26, 1897, in
Ridgefield. He married Clarissa St. John,
born January 18, 1820, died December
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
and
22, 1888. The grandfather of Henry C.
Brush was Azra Brush, and he was a son
of Eliphalet and Eunice Hall (Lee)
Brush, and grandson of Thomas and Lucy
(Ball) Brush. Mr. and Mrs. Weed were
the parents of two children : William
Francis, of further mention ;
Bertha
G., born April 25, 1875, died July 9, 1880.
(IV) William Francis Weed, son of
Francis Edward and Martha J. (Brush)
Weed, was born in New Canaan, Con-
necticut, January 31, 1873. He was educated
in the public schools. Then he
entered the New York Institute for
Artists and Artisans, where he took a
preparatory art course, training with a
view to specializing as an illustrator.
Subsequently Mr. Weed studied under the
well known artist of Philadelphia, How-
ard Pyle, and also spent some time in
study in the Drexel Institute, and while
there took up the study of photography
as part of his course of training in illus-
457
trating. At this time an attack of pneumonia
so undermined his health that he
was compelled to abandon his studies.
He then entered the studio of a manufac-
turer of stained glass windows as a figure
draughtsman, and later opened a studio
in New Canaan to do illustrating. During
the interim, Mr. Weed had been making
pictures as an amateur photographer, and
soon after opening his New Canaan
studio began to devote all his time to
photography, specializing in home por-
traiture, which had not then achieved its
present popularity. After the death of
his father, Mr. Weed also used his offices
as a branch of the Weed & Duryea Com-
pany, of which he is treasurer. He is also
secretary of the New Canaan Historical
Society, and is a past commander of
Richard E. Holcomb Camp, Sons of
Veterans.
Mr. Weed married Lilian Offen, daughter
of B. T. Offen, of New Canaan, and
they were the parents of three children
Ida Lilian, died aged twelve ; Francis Ed-
ward, 2nd ; and Wilmer Eveline. The
family attend the Congregational church
and aid in its support.
SANFORD, Jonathan Bartlett,
Jndge of Probate.
A long line of intelligent New England
ancestry could not fail to prove a
priceless heritage, yet it carries with it a
heavy responsibility, for the present gen-
eration must ever maintain a high stand-
ard for the benefit of the generations to
come.
(I) Judge Jonathan Bartlett Sanford is
a direct descendant of the immigrant,
Thomas Sanford. The latter was born in
1607-08. in County Essex. England, and
died at Milford, Connecticut, September
or October, 1681. He married, in 1636-
1637, at Dorchester, ?\lassachusetts. Sarah
: