Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

his day in opening up the State of Connecticut
and contiguous territory to modern
transportation methods. He made one
of the greatest careers of his generation
as railroad, bridge, and canal builder. He
was the builder of the New York & New
Haven Railroad (now the New York,
New Haven & Hartford), the Housatonic
Valley Railroad, the old Berkshire, Washington
& Saratoga Railroad, and the Naugatuck
Railroad (now a subsidiary of the
New Haven system).
On the paternal side, the founder of the
Bishop family name in America was Rev.
John Bishop. He was a Puritan minister
at Stamford in 1643, accepting the call by
journeying on foot, Bible under arm, from
Boston to Stamford. His Bible is said to
be carefully preserved by descendants.
He married (first) Rebecca. He married
(second) Joanna Royce, widow of Rev.
Peter Prudden and of Captain Thomas
Willet. Stephen Bishop, eldest child of
Rev. John and Rebecca Bishop, was born
in Stamford about 1660. He married
Mercy. John (2) Bishop, eldest child of
Stephen and Mercy Bishop, was born in
Stamford about 1680. He married Mary
Talmadge. (I) Pierson Bishop, who was
a descendant of Rev. John Bishop, was
living in Stamford in 1790. He married
Hannah Finch. (II) William Bishop, son
of Pierson and Hannah (Finch) Bishop,
was born June 23, 1769, at Stamford, died
February 24, 18/14. He married Susanna,
daughter of John and Sarah (Nichols)
Scoiield. (Ill ) Alfred F., son of William
and Susanna (Scofield) Bishop, was born
in Stamford December 21, 1798, died June
12, 1849. He removed to New Jersey
when he was a young man and there he
entered upon his remarkable career as a
railroad contractor. He built the Morris
Canal and also constructed the bridge
over the Raritan River at New Bruns-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
54
wick, New Jersey. Having come to
Bridgeport in 1836, he took upon himself
the financial burden and executed the
plans for building the Housatonic Val-
ley Railroad. His next successful enter-
prise was the construction of the Berk-
shire, Washington & Saratoga Railroad.
In 1845, he, having gathered together a
number of highly influential men of Con-
necticut as fellow-incorporators, attempt-
ed the construction of the Naugatuck Rail-
road. The first president of this railroad
was the celebrated Timothy Dwight.
In 1849 Mr. Bishop began the construc-
tion of the New York & New Haven Rail-
road. While these two great pieces of
railroad building were nearing completion
Mr. Bishop died at Saratoga, New York.
The New Haven Railroad's directors said
of him in 1849 • "The work which owes its
execution to him will be a monument to
carry down his name with honor to the
future." Mr. Bishop married, October 11,
1821, at Greenwich, Connecticut, Mary,
daughter of Ethan Ferris. Their children :
I. Ethan Ferris, of this review. 2. Wil-
liam D., who became one of the greatest
executives that the New Haven system
has ever had. 3. Henry Bishop, born at
Madison August 26, 1839, died January
Maggie Mallory, whose
17, 1895 ; married
father had been Secretary of War in the
Confederate government.
(IV) Ethan Ferris Bishop received his
preliminary education in the schools of
his native Madison, New Jersey, and in
1838, when he was thirteen years of age,
he removed to Bridgeport, where he con-
tinued his schooling. He matriculated at
Yale College in 1845, but an accident in his
youth having impaired his eyesight, he
was obliged to relinquish his studies. He
became a clerk in his father's office and
also pursued his studies in theology, and
became rector of the Church of the Na-