Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Palmer Brothers as an apprentice to the
trade of machinist and tool-maker. He
was there for three years and two months,
and then started his present business with
his father. In 1918 the business was in-
porated under the name of the Square
Deal Foundry Corporation, of which his
father is president and treasurer, and Herbert
J., Jr., vice-president, secretary and
manager.
Herbert J. Oarr, Jr., married Sarah J.
Colgrove, daughter of Joseph Lafayette
and Sarah (Jessup) Colgrove, and granddaughter
of Livingston Colgrove. The
Jessup genealogy will be found in con-
nection with the sketch of Mrs. Oarr's
cousin, Howard D. Jessup, on another
page of this work. Mrs. Oarr is a regu-
lar attendant of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
BYINGTON, C. Irving,
Building Contractor.
Although it has not been absolutely es-
tablished, it is very credible that the
Byington family of Fairfield county, Connecticut,
is descended from John Boynton,
baptized at Newbury, Massachusetts,
April 19, 1676. The family is traced in
England to the time of the Conquest,
1066. In a sequestered rural neighbor-
hood, bordering on the town of Bridling-
ton, and not far from the shore of the
North sea, in the eastern part of York-
shire, England, stands the ancient village
of Boynton, which derives importance
from its having given name to the family
of Boynton, and their principal seat for
centuries. The manor house was from a
very early period the residence of the
Boyntons. The family sent forth branches
into the neighboring villages at a very
early period, East Heslerton and Wintringham
being the abode for several
generations of that branch whose de-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
154
scendants, William and John, came to
New England in 1637, and settled at Rowley,
Massachusetts.
John Byington, the great-grandfather
of C. Irving Byington, was born in West-
chester county, New York, about 1770,
and is supposed to be a son of Solomon
or Jonathan Boynton of Branford. He
married for his second wife, Mary (Polly)
Abbott, and she died in 1831-32.
Harry Byington, son of John and Mary
(Polly) (Abbott) Byington, was born in
1810, died March 24, 1856. He was a
farmer, and married Betsey E. Weeks, of
Wilton.
Aaron Byington, son of Harry and Bet-
sey E. (Weeks) Byington, was born at
Bald Hill, town of Wilton, May 4, 1839,
and died February 10, 1906. He was
brought up on a farm, and also learned the
trade of shoemaker, following this latter
occupation most of his life. In the early
sixties he removed to Vista, New York,
and was there but a short time when he
enlisted in Company H., 17th Regiment,
Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Mr. By-
ington was unfortunate in contracting a
disease which incapacitated him, and he
was discharged after about three years of
service. After the war he returned to Vista
for a short time, but soon removed to Nor-
walk, Connecticut. It became necessary
for him to lead an outdoor life, so he went
to work in Leonard's coal yard and later
was at Meeker's yard for a while. An
opportunity came about this time to enter
the butcher business on his own account,
which he did, and was very successful
in this undertaking. His last position in
the active business world was with the
grocery business of Selleck Brothers. Mr.
Byington was a member of Buckingham
Post, Grand Army of the Republic; St.
John's Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted
Masons ; and Our Brothers Lodge, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows.