Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

usiness. Mr. Hoyt tried to enlist for
service in the Civil War, but because he
did not have any upper teeth to bite the
cartridges, he was rejected. In politics he
was a Republican, and served as registrar
of voters, was chairman of the school
board, and also served as assessor, and
was much more of a worker than an office
seeker.
Mr. Hoyt married, October 31, 1855,
Elizabeth Shaw, born August 18, 1835,
in Marlboro, New York, daughter of Rev.
Jacob and Jane Ann (Shoemaker) Shaw.
Rev. Jacob Shaw was a graduate of Wes-
leyan University of Middletown, and his
wife, Jane Anne (Shoemaker) Shaw, was
born in Clinton, Connecticut, December
5, 181 1, and died in New Canaan, August
7, 1890. She married Rev. Jacob Shaw,
October 30, 1828. He was born in Wash-
ington, New York, July 4, 1806, and died
April 22, 1861, in Redding, Connecticut;
his parents were Jacob and Elizabeth
(Boyce) Shaw. The children of Mr. and
Mrs. Hoyt were: 1. Martha Louise, born
November 10, 1856, resides in the old
homestead. 2. Annie Shaw, born Septem-
ber 14, i860, married, September 14, 1882,
W. S. Raymond, of New Canaan. 3. Elizabeth
Reed, born July 16, 1862, married,
June 2, 1884, William H. Barrett, of New
Canaan. 4. Catherine Carter, born January
12, 1867, married, July 22, 1891,
William A. Wheeler, of New Canaan. 5.
Phoebe Jane, born August 13, 1872, mar-
ried, September 1, 1901, James Hoyt Silliman,
of New Canaan. 6. Stephen Benja-
min, of further mention.
(VIII) Stephen Benjamin (2) Hoyt,
youngest child of Stephen Benjamin (1)
and Elizabeth (Shaw) Hoyt, was born in
New Canaan, Connecticut, September 23,
1877. He received his college prepara-
tion there. During the meanwhile he
supported himself by teaching school, and
was graduated from Wesleyan Univer-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
336
sity in 1901 with a Ph. D. degree. He was
especially interested in the study of ge-
ology, and now finds the knowledge thus
gained of immense value in his present
profession. In order to intelligently
handle rocks in landscape gardening, to
make it look natural, it is necessary to
know the anatomy of the rocks just as a
physician must know human anatomy in
order to treat human bodies intelligently.
In placing rocks artificially in a landscape,
if they are to be natural, they must be set
like natural outcroppings in harmonious
surroundings. Much more interest is be-
ing taken in landscape gardening, and this
art is being developed on constantly
broadening lines. After his graduation
from college, Mr. Hoyt went to Port
Huron, Michigan, and entered the office
of his cousin, Henry Benjamin Hoyt, who
was treasurer of the Port Huron Engine
and Thresher Company, and there he remained
for three years. Thence, he went
to New York City and went to work in
the studios, remaining in all six years.
Subsequently he went to Chicago, where
he was with the Tobey Furniture Com-
pany, representing a New York firm. In a
year's time he was back in New York
City, and worked for a time for the Sterl-
ing Bronze Company, manufacturers of
lighting fixtures, and F. A. Munsey's
Mohican Company.
In 1909, Mr. Hoyt purchased his pres-
ent business in New Canaan, and also
bought the greenhouses of B. S. Woundy
these he moved on to the old homestead
property. Mr. Hoyt has many feet of
glass and raises all kinds of flowers, ferns
and shrubs. He re-purchased a portion of
the old Hoyt homestead, in the rear, and
put it under cultivation as an herbacious
nursery. He has a large clientele among
the owners of fine estates in New Canaan
and adjoining towns. He is a Repub-
lican in politics, and for nine years has
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