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emained at home during the summer
months. After his marriage he located in
Westport, where he came into possession
of a farm inherited by his mother, and
lived there until his death. Mr. Raymond
was a Republican, and several times was
honored with public offices. He was a
member of the first temperance organiza-
tion, and was always active in the work.
The seed planted by those early apostles
of temperance was of slow growth, but it
has recently come to full fruitage. The
first building to be raised on Mr. Raymond's
farm, a barn, was raised without
the aid of New England rum, and was the
first so raised in that section. The neighbors
said that it could not be done. Those
who came to the "raising" came to scoff
and jeer, fully expecting to have the laugh
on the "temperance crank." He had three
brothers and five cousins, all able young
men, and a few loyal neighbors, who from
personal regard and respect for him, and
not from any devotion to his temperance
principles, helped at the raising. A large
crowd had gathered. The first square
went up with effort, the crowd groaning
in mockery as it was raised. After the
second square had been put into place,
the crowd began to melt away, and but a
few remained to join in the work. About
twenty years before his death, Mr. Raymond
engaged in the insurance business
and met with success ; he was the repre-
sentative of several companies and built
up a large business. Originally an Episcopalian,
Mr. Raymond joined the Metho-
dist Episcopal church after his marriage,
and was a class leader for fifty years. For
just half that time he was a trustee, and
was a life member of the Missionary So-
ciety.
Mr. Raymond married, April 4, 1828,
Abigail Crofut, daughter of Captain
Ebenezer Crofut, who was born May 10,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
293
1777, and died November 9, 1828. He
married (first), September 3, 1795, Sarah
Gregory; she died March 27, 1872. The
father of Captain Crofut was Joseph Cro-
fut, born in 1751, died December 15, 1831.
He married, May 15, 1776, Esther St.
John, born June 15, 1758, died September
11, 1838, daughter of Daniel and Mary St.
John. Ebenezer Crofut, grandfather of
Captain Crofut, was married, November
1, 1749, to Sarah St. John, daughter of
Jacob and Experience (Reed) St. John,
and great-granddaughter of Matthias St.
John. She died in 1777. The father of
Ebenezer Crofut and the great-grand-
father of Captain Crofut was Joseph Cro-
fut. He married Lydia Campbell, born
March 11, 1706, daughter of Ebenezer
and Mary (Henery) Campbell. The children
of Josiah and Abigail (Crofut) Raymond
were: 1. Phoebe Marvin, married
Charles H. Jones, of Westport ; both are
now deceased. 2. Sarah G., died June 11,
1880; she was a school teacher and hers
was the first death in the family. 3.
Mary B., married Sylvester R. Keeler, of
Norwalk, and they reside in Westport. 4.
Emeline, died unmarried. 5. Franklin
Merwin, of further mention.
(VIII) Franklin Merwin Raymond, son
of Josiah (2) and Abigail (Crofut) Raymond,
was born in Westport, Connecti-
cut, March 17, 1846. He was educated in
the district schools of Westport, and for
three winters walked to Norwalk to attend
the Center School. For three years or
more after completing school, he remained
on the home farm. Then after his marriage
he went to Mamaroneck, New York,
and for a year was associated with his
father-in-law in mercantile business. The
following year, Mr. Raymond went to
Tarrytown, New York, and was there a
little more than a year, still in association
with Mr. Wilkins. While there he at-