Eli Sturdevant, son of John Sanford
Sturdevant, and a resident of Bridgewater, Connecticut, was "one of Bridgewater's
best citizens." Pictured here, is his home
in Bridgewater across the street from Center Cemetery. He served the town in many capacities during his life, and according to his death notice, " ...could have had any one that he would accept." Some of the services he provided the town were:
- Constable and Collector when the town was first incorporated in 1856.
- Secretary and Superintendent of the Bridgewater Cemetery Association
- Secretary of Board of School Visitors and acting School Visitor
- Senior Warden of St.Mark's Episcopal church
At the time of his death in 1904, Eli was residing at the home of his daughter in Little Rock, Arkansas. The August 5th issue of the New Milford Gazette reported that "The friends of Eli Sturdevant have received news of his illness with typhoid fever at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas."
Sarah Betts Wheeler, a granddaughter of Eli's Uncle, Andrew Sturdevant, upon a visit by Eli to her home in Woodstock, Illinois is quoted as "thinking him quite the most cultivated and gallant gentleman she had ever met." Apparently he made the same impression on an "aristocratic lady from New York City" by the name of Isabella Moore Tappen, whom he married in 1861. Isabella b. 2/12/1838 was the daughter of George Jr. and Angeline Augusta Tappen. The Tappens, George and George Jr., were locksmiths and had a factory in the Bowery of New York in the 1850s.
Isabella died May 20, 1894. No death
notice was published that we can find, only an item in the May 25 edition of the New
Milford Gazette, in the Bridgewater News section that read, "Mrs. Eli Sturdevant is
dangerously sick and not expected to live very long." The Gazette, at that time, was
a weekly edition and most likely the type had already been set because she had already
passed away by the time the paper was distributed.
Eli and Isabella had seven children.
George Eli Sturdevant born 2/2/1862
Angeline Augusta Sturdevant born 9/1/1864
John Sanford Sturdevant born 11/1/1866
Franklyn Ward Sturdevant born 7/6/1868
Isabella Tappen Sturdevant born 1/13/1870
Helen Estella Sturdevant born 12/12/1873
Arthur Hatch Sturdevant born 1/20/1878