Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Ketcham, of Orange county, New York.
She died in 1772.
(V) Benjamin Case, son of John and
Elizabeth or Hannah (Ketcham) Case,
was born November 11, 1766, and died
August 9, 1823. He was a resident of
Newburgh, Orange county, New York,
and spent his life sailing sloops in the
river trade, which at that time was a very
important means of commerce between
New York City and points above. He
married, November 23, 1808, Ann Dashwood
Ludlow, daughter of Robert and
Sarah (Wetherell) Ludlow. She was
born March 27, 1789, in Newburgh, and
died March 2, 1828.
(VI) Robert Ludlow Case, son of
Benjamin and Ann Dashwood (Ludlow)
Case, was born in Newburgh, New York,
November 17, 1809, and died February
25, 1880. He began life as a clerk in New
York City, leaving home at the age of
thirteen years. After spending some years
in a store handling butter, eggs and
cheese, letting no opportunity escape him
for acquiring a thorough knowledge of
every detail of the business, he went into
that line of business for himself. He was
a man of original ideas, which he was
constantly working out in his business,
and this placed him in an enviable posi-
tion among his competitors. His trade
was largely with the South, where the
greatest consumers of cheese were the
colored people. As they bought mostly
with their eyes, and liked an appearance
of size, he conceived the idea of making
cheeses thin and flat, which gave any cer-
tain weight of cheese the effect of being
larger than when cut from a cheese of
the old-fashioned shape. Thus was origi-
nated the shape which has become a
universal standard among manufacturers
of American cheese. Besides this far
reaching wholesale business, Mr. Case
did a considerable amount of exporting
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in dried apples and prunes, sending these
to France, where they were used in the
manufacture of champagne. He followed
this business for many years, but later in
life became interested in life insurance.
He was one of the organizers and was
made president of the Security Life Insurance
Company. That was in the days
when competition was ruthless, before
the insurance business was brought under
State regulation. It was not many years
before the larger companies forced the
Security Life out of business. From that
time until his death Mr. Case lived retired.
He married, April 8, 1837, in New
York City, Mary Ann Gibson, daughter
of James Renwick and Katherine (Van
Kurin) Gibson, of New York City. They
were the parents of seven children, of
whom five grew to maturity : Anna Augusta,
Mary Josephine, Robert Ludlow,
of whom further ; Elizabeth Powell, and
Frances Ramsdell. Mr. Case was a mem-
ber of the Episcopal church, and his wife
was a Presbyterian. Both being broadminded,
and conceding due measure of
respect to every denomination, they decided
on a compromise and united with
the Dutch Reformed church.
(VII) Robert Ludlow (2) Case, son of
Robert Ludlow (1) and Mary Ann (Gibson)
Case, also the venerable Stamford
fruit grower, who is making such a pro-
gressive record in his line, was born in
New York City, October 27, 1844. He
received his education in the private
schools of Newburgh and Portchester,
New York, and in Public School No. 35,
New York City, under Principal Hunter.
At that time No. 35 was considered one
of the first schools in New York in its
educational standards and efficiency. He
then learned the trade of pattern-making.
The development of the mechanical arts
in this country had at that time reached
a high point in volume and importance