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sup, was born in 1844, in Stamford, and
died in 1910. He was educated in the
public schools and learned the trade of
carpenter, which occupation he followed
but a short time, when he learned the
trade of blacksmith and horseshoer. He
was established in business when but
twenty-two years of age, and until his
death continued successfully. At that
time his shop was located at what was
called Bagnall, in the north part of Stam-
ford. He married Jane B., daughter of
Thomas Merritt, born in Port Chester,
New York. Thomas Merritt came from
Whitestone, Long Island, and was a
blacksmith in Port Chester for many
years. He married Susan Mott of Mount
Vernon, New York, and they were the
parents of Jane B. Merritt, wife of Charles
H. Jessup. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup were the
parents of the following children : Arthur
Grant, of further mention; Josephine,
wife of Granville G. Pierce, mother of
Kathryn Pierce ; Annie, wife of William
Joyce, and mother of Walter, William
and Howard Joyce ; Benjamin, married
Hattie Bottomley and has four children:
Benjamin Harrison, Ralph Robinson,
Ruth Louise, and Robert. For many
years Mr. and Mrs. Jessup were actively
identified with the Congregational church
of Stamford.
(VIII) Arthur Grant Jessup, the eldest
child of Charles H. and Jane B. (Merritt)
Jessup, was born August 19, 1866, in
Stamford, Connecticut. He attended the
public schools of his native town, and
after completing the courses there, went
to Port Chester, New York. There he
learned the trade of blacksmith from his
grandfather, Thomas Merritt, and when
nineteen years of age went into business
for himself. He formed a partnership
with Moses Sargent, under the firm name
of Sargent & Jessup, and for four years
conducted a most successful business.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
84
The energy and ambition of Mr. Jessup
were combined with a sound
business judgment and it was not long
before he purchased the interests of his
partner and carried on the business alone.
He was prosperous and successful from
the beginning and was keenly alert to the
possibilities in other lines of progress.
In 1906 he began to deal in real estate,
at first on a very small scale, gradually
increasing until July 1, 1916, he disposed
of all other interests to devote his entire
time to this business. He has developed
several tracts of land, among them being
what is known as the Stamford Hospital
tract, comprising twenty-five acres. This
was cut into building lots in 1915. In
1917 Mr. Jessup purchased the Dr. I. F.
Wardwell estate, corner of Shippan avenue
and Elm street, comprising fifteen
acres, and these building lots are practi-
cally all sold. A man of the business
acumen and executive ability of Mr. Jessup
is naturally found to be interested in
other undertakings. Mr. Jessup is presi-
dent of The Marsh Bakeries, Inc. ; director
of the H. & H. Foundry Company.
He is a Republican in politics, and has
served three terms as councilman from
the Third Ward.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with Union
Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons
Clinton Commandery, No. 3, Knights
Templar, of Norwalk ; Lafayette Consistory
; Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic
Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; Rippowam
Lodge, No. 24, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows; Wascussee Encamp-
ment, No. 14, of the same order ; is Past
Chancellor Commander of Excelsior
Lodge, No. 49, Knights of Pythias, of
Stamford, in which he has been active
for three decades ; member of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, No.
899, of Stamford ; member of the Suburban
Club, and the Ponus Yacht Club.
;