Richard Speaight Todd8, (Rufus L.7, Uel6, Oliver5, Abraham4, Jonah3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born June 2, 1838, in New York City, died April 26, 1913, married Dec. 13, 1866, Mary, daughter of Reynold Selden and Sarah Jane (Smith) Marvin, who was born Dec. 3, 1846, died June 6, 1915. He was a merchant and lived at 477 Greene Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
When about 16 years of age, Mr. Todd engaged in business in the firm of his uncle, Northrup, Taylor & Company, which firm later was changed to Hazen, Todd & Company, dry-goods merchants, their store being on Broadway. He continued in this line of business all of his active business life, the only interruption being during his service in the civil war. He had the misfortune to have had a very disastrous fire which destroyed the building and contents. Fortunately, however, the loss was fully covered by insurance. A peculiar coincidence is related concerning this fire. It is told that an insurance inspector had gone very thoroughly over the premises the very day of the fire and just before leaving he said, “Mr. Todd if everybody kept their premises as carefully as you, the insurance companies would never have to worry about fires.” This remark was made only a few minutes before the fire was discovered. Just how the fire started was never learned. After the fire, the firm of Hazen, Todd & Company continued in business some years longer and then dissolved the partnership. Later he managed the wholesale dry-goods business in New York of several Boston firms.
For a number of years he was vestry-man of St. Thomas Church, Fifth Ave., New York City, of which he and Mrs. Todd were members for several years.
Before the Civil War he was a member of Co. A., 7th Regiment, New York Militia, which was one of the first to be called to defend Washington, after Fort Sumpter was fired on. He served in this regiment seven years and was then honorably discharged. During his war service, he became very ill and was sent home incapacitated.
He was a quiet, unostentatious man, devoted to his family and his business and never belonged to organizations of any kind, not even the G. A. R.
Children:
2238. Mary Adaline, b. Oct. 31, 1876, m. May 10, 1900, George William Schoeneck, who was b. Oct. 6, 1871, in Brooklyn, N. Y., she is now (1920) associated with her sister conducting a private dormitory for Smith College students at 22 Belmont Ave., Northampton, Mass.
*2239. Edith Marvin, b. March 13, 1883.