Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

There James W. Hyatt grew to manhood,
and learned the trade of shoemaker. He
returned again to the North and located
in Westport, Connecticut, where he followed
his trade for the remainder of his
life. At the outbreak of the Civil War
Mr. Hyatt enlisted but was rejected on
account of a physical disability. While
in the South he became a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
married Abigail Couch, daughter of Joseph
and Abigail Couch, of Norwalk.
(Ill) Joseph Gilbert Hyatt, only child
of James Wiseman and Abigail (Couch)
Hyatt, was born in Westport, Connecti-
cut, September 19, 1852. He was edu-
cated in the public schools and the pri-
vate school of Rev. M. Williams, of academic
grade. For twenty years Mr.
Hyatt was engaged in teaching school,
and meanwhile began the study of law
under the preceptorship of Judge Frank
W. Perry. In 1882 Mr. Hyatt was admitted
to the bar. The previous year he had
been elected tax collector, and soon after
that was appointed justice of the peace,
which office he has held most of the time
since. During the administration of
President Harrison, Mr. Hyatt was ap-
pointed postmaster, which office he held
for nearly five years. In 1896 he was
honored by election to the State Legislature
and served on the railroad commission.
That was during the period when
an effort was being made to charter a
trolley line through from Southport to
Westport, and they were exciting times,
much strenuous opposition having to be
overcome. In 1897 Mr. Hyatt was elected
town clerk and held that office for sixteen
years. Again in 1904 he was elected to
the Legislature and served on the insur-
ance committee. Mr. Hyatt is engaged in
the general practice of law, and also does
some real estate and insurance business
during the World War he was chairman
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
69
of the local examining board. Fraternally
Mr. Hyatt is a member of Our Brothers
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
of which he is past grand ; is a member
of the board of directors of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows Home, and
is past chief patriarch of Kabasa Encamp-
ment, of the same order; he is also a
member of the Knights of Pythias, of
Westport, of which he is past chancellor
of Temple Lodge,
member commander ;
No 65, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
; Washington Chapter, Royal Arch
Masons ; Clinton Commandery, Knights
Templar ; Lafayette Consistory, Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, of Bridgeport
Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and West-
port Historical Society.
Mr. Hyatt married, April 14, 1874,
Mary A. Comstock, daughter of Charles
E. and Rhoda (Fillow) Comstock, and
granddaughter of William and Sarah
Comstock, of Wilton, Connecticut. The
Comstock family is an old and honored
one in Fairfield county history.
Few men have achieved the distinction
in both professional and private life which
Mr. Hyatt enjoys ; he is among the eminently
public-spirited citizens of West-
port, interested in all that pertains to the
welfare of the community.
FULTON, Newton Alfred,
Business Educator.
The great variation in surnames is par-
ticularly noticeable in the name of Fulton
as it is spelled today and as it was in its
original form. The first form of the name,
which dates back to the earliest period in
surnames, about the thirteenth century,
was Fugel-Tone. In its next form it is
found as Fultone, and eventually this final
"e" was dropped and the name became
Fulton, the spelling which is in general
;