USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 100
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A MODERN HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN
Ilis life had been one of great benefit to his fellowmen, not only because of his professional skill, but because of his benevolence, his philanthropy and his broad humanitarianism.
Dr. James W. Sweet, son of James and Emmeline S. (Barber) Sweet. attended the public schools of New Haven and later entered his father's office, where he was specially trained in the setting of broken bones and dislocated joints, also in the making of X-ray pictures of such. This is indicative of the fact that the family had continued in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. The methods employed today by Dr. Sweet, of this review, bear little resemblance to those in vogue in his great-grandfather's time or when the three American progenitors of the family came to the new workl. From the age of fifteen years he was under the watchful eye and careful instruction of his father, who taught him every phase of the delicate work of bone adjustment and the work of over- coming dislocations. So proficient has he become in this line that his services are in constant demand by other physicians of New Haven who desire his work in the adjustment of dis- located joints and bones and also his work with the X-ray machine. There is no phase of the work in its modern scientific connections with which he is not familiar.
Dr. Sweet was married on the 27th of June, 1906, to Miss Susan L. Gallagher, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Gallagher. He is well known in Masonic eireles as a Knight Templar and he is also identified with the Mystic Shrine. Ile likewise has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. These, however, are side in- terests in his life, for he subordinates everything to his professional activities, recognizing fully the obligations and responsibilities devolving upon him in this connection.
ESIDOR DERECKTOR.
Esidor Derecktor, a leading citizen of Meriden who is devoting his time to operations in real estate and to the live stock business, was born in Russia. April 1, 1865. The father, Nathan Derecktor, died in that country in 1872, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Tillie Sholnike, passed away there in 1886.
Esidor Dereektor attended school in his native land and worked for others there until he was twenty-one years old. Following his mother's death he came to the United States in 1886 and spent about a month in New York city, during which time he earned his living by peddling. He then went to Bridgeport, where he was similarly employed for a time, after which he established his headquarters in Ansonia and continued peddling on a large scale, covering a considerable territory. During this period he often came to Meriden and was favorably impressed with the place. At length he turned his attention to other pursuits securing employment in a clock factory in Waterbury, and in 1888 he went to work for the Parker Clock Company of Meriden. In 1893 he established a grocery store, which he con- ducted for a few years and then became a dealer in live stock and in dairying products. His business has shown a rapid growth. He sometimes feeds as many as twelve hundred head of cattle in a year and as lie is an excellent judge of stock and studies the market carefully his operations in that line yield him a handsome profit. He is also active in the real estate field and in that connection, too, has prospered beyond his expectations. He is the largest holder of business frontage on Main street and also owns a large number of resi- dence properties. The Derecktor block, completed in 1917 and advantageously located on Main street, is one of the largest and best built in the city and is an important addition to the downtown section.
On the 7th of July, 1891, Mr. Derecktor was married to Miss Esther Mag of Meriden. They have three children as follows: Tillie, who received a high school and normal educa- tion, is now married to S. Schwartz, an attorney of Newark, New Jersey; Nathan E., who is twenty- four years old, entered the Yale Law School after graduating from the Meriden bigh school and completed his academic course with the class of 1916. He held one of the first numbers drawn in the draft drawing in July, 1917, and will in all probability be sent to France. Samuel, who is twenty-one years old, is a graduate of the Meriden high school and will graduate from an academic course in Yale in 1918.
Mr. Derecktor is a stanch republican and supports its candidates at the polls. He belongs to the B'nai Abraham synagogue and is a generous contributor to all the Jewish charities.
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He holds membership in the Silver City Lodge and the New England Order of Protection. He has a wide acquaintance among the leading business men of Meriden and is recognized as an important factor in the development of the material interests of the city. His success is evidence of his unusual business ability and his untiring energy, for he has made every cent that he has. He is not only respected for his ability but is also honored for his unusual integrity.
MOSES CHARLES MYERS.
Moses Charles Myers, proprietor of the Myers Floral Shop of New Haven, conducting business at 936 Chapel street, started out independently in this line in 1913, although he had from the time of attaining his majority been employed in that branch of work He therefore brought practical experience to the conduct of his business, which has been steadily developing and has now reached substantial proportions.
Mr. Myers is one of New Haven's native sons, his birth having here occurred, November 6, 1881. His father, Michael Myers, a native of Germany, came to America at the age of eighteen years and made his way direct to New Haven, where he was successfully engaged in the retail shoe business for fifty-four years. At the time of the Civil war he engaged in harness making for the United States government. He married Matilda Adler, who was born in New Haven, a daughter of Sigmund Adler, of German parentage. Both Mr. and Mrs. Michael Myers have passed away, the former having died in 1907, at the age of seventy- two years, while his widow survived until 1910 and was sixty-six years of age at the time of her demise.
Moses C. Myers, the youngest in a family of five children, after attending the public and high schools of New Haven pursued a course in the scientific department of Yale University. On attaining his majority he started out to earn his own livelihood and entered upon an apprenticeship to the florist business. For eleven years he was connected with John N. Champion, during which period he thoroughly acquainted himself with everything related to floriculture. He was ambitions to engage in business on his own account and in August, 1913, established the Myers Floral Shop on a small scale and has since built up a satis- factory and increasing business and today has seven people in his employ. He handles all kinds of beautiful plants and cut flowers and his success is due entirely to his own care- fully directed labors.
Mr. Myers holds to the religious faith of his fathers, being a member of Mishkan Israel Temple. He belongs to the Harmonie Club and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has led an active and useful life and the sterling qualities which he has displayed have gained for him the confidence and kindly regard of all.
JACOB HERSHMAN.
Coming to America at the age of nineteen years, Jacob Hershman accepted a position at a salary of four dollars per week. From that humble start he has steadily worked his way upward and is now controlling extensive and profitable interests as the secretary of the Connecticut Wrecking Company, of which he was the organizer. He was born in Minsk, Rus- sia, December 25, 1885, a son of Yohel and Miriam (Alderman) Hershman, who are also natives of Russia. The father engaged in the manufacturing of turpentine and later took up the occupation of farming. He brought his family to America in 1905 and settled in New Haven, where he still resides, being now retired from active business. In the family were seven children: Hyman, who is still in Russia ; Bertha, also in Russia; Mrs. Samuel Silver- man. a resident of New Haven, Connecticut; and Mrs. Esther Godfrid, Harry, Isadore and Jacob. all of whom make their home in New Haven.
Of this family Jacob Hershman was the fifth in order of birth. He attended school in Russia during the period of his youth and when nineteen years of age came alone to the new world, making his way at once to New Haven. He secured employment at a salary of four
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dollars per week and at the end of a year was earning eighteen dollars per week, such being the industry and reliability which he displayed. He carefully saved his earnings and at the end of that time started in business on his own account. Three years later, or in 1908, he organized the Connecticut Wrecking Company, which soon afterward had one hundred thou- sand running feet of lumber on hand. From the initial point, however, the business has steadily grown and developed until at this date one million feet of lumber is carried in stock. besides all kinds of building materials. Moreover, Mr. Hershman has established a similar plant in Philadelphia, which has proven an unqualified success. The Connecticut Wrecking Company was incorporated in 1912, with M. A. Alderman as president, Jacob Hershman as secretary, Samuel Winnick as vice president and Charles Merberg as treasurer and director.
On the 14th of September, 1906, Mr. Hershman was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Winnick, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Winnick of this city, and they have become parents of five children: Dorothy, who was born in New Haven in 1907 and is now attending school; Lester, whose hirth occurred in New Haven in 1909 and who is also attending school; Edna, who was born in 1911 and is also in school; Elsie, whose natal year was 1913; and Emanuel, who was born in New Haven in 1915.
In politics Mr. Hershman maintains an independent course, voting according to the exigencies of the case and the dictates of his judgment. He is a member of the Independent Order of B'nai Abraham and also of the Wimmer Association of New Haven. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought-opportunities which induced him to leave his native land and seek a country where advancement was more quickly secured, unhampered by caste or class. Step by step he has worked his way upward and is now at the head of profitable business undertakings which are indicative of his ability, enterprise and keen discrimination.
WILLIAM A. COLEMAN.
Since 1907 William A. Coleman has been identified with the business interests of New Haven and is now proprietor of the City Hall Pharmacy, which in point of equipment is the finest in the state of Connecticut. In connection with his drug business he is also extensively engaged in photographic developing and printing, his patronage coming from a wide territory.
Mr. Coleman was born in Devizes, Ontario, Canada, December 2, 1876, and is a son of William Coleman, a native of Ireland, who removed to Canada with his parents in child- hood. After reaching man's estate the father married Miss Isabella Robb, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and they now make their home in Birr, Ontario, where he is success- tully engaged in agricultural pursuits and also in bee culture.
William A. Coleman, of this review, is the second in order of birth in a family of seven ehildren and his boyhood and youth were passed in Canada. He pursued his studies in the high school of London, Ontario, and later entered the Toronto College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1899. Immediately after leaving that institution he entered upon the practice of his profession in the employ of others and on coming to New Haven. Connecticut, in 1907, became manager of the City Hall Pharmacy, which he purchased in 1914. The business was then incorporated and its present officers are H. B. Ives, president; W. A. Coleman, vice president and treasurer; and William J. Shanley, secretary. The last named first entered the service of Mr. Coleman as a clerk but now owns an interest in the business, and has charge of the drug department. In 1907 Mr. Coleman put in a line of photographie supplies, kodaks, cameras, etc., and has since added a developing and printing plant. which from a very small beginning has grown until it is now the largest in the state, there being twelve persons employed in this department alone, while in the drug department there are four regular clerks. Our subject's younger brother. Huber Kenneth Coleman, now has sole charge of the developing and being an expert in this line has through his ability aided materially in building up the business. The Coleman system of developing and printing in one day has become widely known and their photographic business now extends all over the state.
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On the 2d of November, 1912, William A. Coleman married Miss Bertha M. Reynolds, of New Haven, whose parents were George and Maria Reynolds, and to this union has been born a daughter, Genevieve. There were two children by a former marriage, namely: Dorothy Isabel. living. and James Moore Coleman, who died in infancy.
Mr. Coleman was reared a Presbyterian and was at one time a member of the Gover- nor's Foot Guard. Politically be affiliates with the republican party. He hears the proud American title of a self-made man, for he started out on his career empty-handed and all that he now possesses has come to him through his industry, good management and excellent business ability.
CESARE MEZZANETTI.
Cesare Mezzanetti, a well known contractor of Meriden, whose rise in the business world has been dute to his own well directed labors, was born in Italy, June 24. 1886, a son of Paul and Annie Mezzanetti, who removed to France during the infancy of their son Cesare. There he attended school but when quite young began to provide for his own support. He at first worked in a furniture factory but subsequently began learning the mason's trade, which he followed in France for five years.
In 1907 Mr. Mezzanetti came to Meriden, Connecticut, having determined to take ad- vantage of the unusually good opportunities which he had heard existed in the United States. For a short time he worked for others but in 1908 entered into the contracting business on his own account beginning on a small scale. As the years have passed his business has expanded and the number of his employes has also increased until there are now fifty men working for him. He has had the contracts for the erection of several large churches and halls and more than one hundred hospitals besides a number of small jobs. He has made it a rule to scrupulously fulfill all contracts and now has an enviable reputation for doing high class work. Upon this sound basis of rendering the best possible service he has built up his business interests. His residence is an unusually attractive one and is provided with the usual modern conveniences.
Mr. Mezzanetti was married in France in 1906 to Miss Adele Andreoni, by whom he has two children, Edith and Mariana. Mr. Mezzanetti votes independently, considering the qualifications of a candidate of greater importanee than his political allegiance. He belongs to the Franco-American and Italian-American Clubs and is deservedly popular in those or- ganizations. He conforms his life to high moral standards and holds membership in the French-Italian church. During the ten years that he has been a resident of Meriden he has demonstrated his ability and his public spirit and is deservedly held in high esteem.
JOSEPH VINCENT ESPOSITO, M. D.
Dr. Joseph Vincent Esposito is an active physician and surgeon of New Haven, who while continuing in general practice specializes to a large extent in obstetrics. His thor- ough preparatory training and his hospital experience well qualified him for the onerous and important duties that now devolve upon him. New Haven claims him as a native son, for his birth here occurred May 6, 1889, his parents being Catello and Rosina (Costanzo) Es- posito, both of whom were natives of Italy. The father was born at Castellamare, in the province of Naples, and came to America in 1878, making his way direct to New Haven, where he followed various lines of business. During the last thirty-six years of his life he was connected with the firm of Sargent & Company as a helt maker, and he passed away in 1914, in New Haven, at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, also a native of the prov- ince of Naples, Italy, came to the United States as an orphan, in 1880, with an elder brother, Lewis Costanzo. who also settled in New Haven. It was in Angust of that year that she was married to Catello Esposito, and their marriage was one of the first celebrated among the Italian people of New Haven. She is still living at the age of fifty-two years.
Dr. Esposito was the third in a family of five children. He was educated in the schools of New Haven, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and in 1907 he entered Yale, where he spent six months. On account of finances he had to abandon his studies and
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the following year he became a student in Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1912 with the M. D. degree. He then had the benefit of broad hospital training and experience. He was an interne in the St. Louis (Mo.) City Hospital, where he spent one year. He then went to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was an interne and resident physician in the Atlantic City Hospital for a year. On the expiration of that period he came to New Haven and entered upon private practice, in which he still continues. While he is engaged in general practice, he specializes to a large extent in surgical obstetrics and is thoroughly qualified and competent in that particular. He has directed his studies and reading largely along that line and has attained a degree of efficiency which makes his work in that field notably successful.
On the 8th of January, 1914, Dr. Esposito was married to Miss Violet Morse Bunnell, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and of English descent, her parents being Arthur M. and Cherry (Morse) Bunnell, both of whom are still residents of Ottawa. The Doctor and his wife have one son, Othello, born October 11, 1914. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Esposito was a graduate nurse in the Atlantic City Hospital, where she filled the position of head surgical nurse. Dr. Esposito belongs to the New Haven, the New Haven County, the Con- necticut State and the American Medical Associations and is assistant surgeon of the New Haven Dispensary. He keeps in close touch with the onward trend of professional thought, investigation and experience, thus continually broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency.
In politics Dr. Esposito is a republican but has never been an office seeker. He is an honorary member of the Republican Italian Club. He also belongs to the Dante Alighieri Society, the San Carlino Club and to the Sons of Italy, while his religious faith is evidenced in his membership in St. Michael's Roman Catholic church. He holds to high professional ideals, is conscientious in the performance of all of his professional work and by reason of his laudable ambition and untiring industry has made steady advance, occupying an enviable place among the physicians and surgeons of New Haven.
ELDRIDGE J. WALLACE.
A modern home in the midst of beautiful grounds, constituting the nucleus of a splen- didly developed farm at Wallingford, is the property of Eldridge J. Wallace, who was born at Prospect, New Haven county, December 8, 1854, and comes of the same ancestry as Robert Wallace, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work mention is made of the early history of the family. His father, John Wallace, was also born in Prospect and was a brother of Robert Wallace, who founded the R. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing Company of Wallingford. John Wallace engaged in match manufacturing and also devoted considerable time to agricultural pursuits. He wedded Nancy A. Tuttle, a daughter of George and Sally (Adkins) Tuttle. She was born in Wallingford but spent the greater part of ber life in Prospect. She passed away in Wallingford in September, 1897, having long survived her husband, who died in 1855, when but thirty-five years of age. Mrs. Wallace was the mother of five children: Frances, the wife of George O. Payne; Josephine, the wife of Horace Nettleton; Edward, who died in young manhood; Edgar, a farmer of Prospect; and Eldridge J., of this review.
In the district schools Eldridge J. Wallace pursued his education and through the period of his boyhood worked upon the home farm and also in a factory. When twenty-two years of age he entered the employ of the R. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing Company and there remained for thirty-three years, employed in various capacities, being assistant superinten- dent of the German silver department for a considerable period. In 1902 lie purchased a farm of forty-five acres about two and one-half miles west of Wallingford and in 1909 he resigned his position and took up his abode upon his farm, where he has since resided, devoting his efforts and his energies to the growing of asparagus and peaches. The 1917 crop of asparagus was between seven and eight tons. He has about twelve hundred peach trees upon his place and also an apple orchard of two hundred and seventy-five trees. He has closely studied the best methods of propagating asparagus and also of raising fruit, and his scientific care of his orchards leads to the gathering of large crops annually.
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ELDRIDGE J. WALLACE
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In Prospect, Connecticut, on the 15th of April, 1877, Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Fannie Ives, a daughter of Willis and Delia Ives, of North Haven. Theirs is an attractive and beautiful residence in the midst of fine grounds and its hospitality is one of its pleasing features. In politics Mr. Wallace is a stanch republican but not an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely and carefully directed and have brought him splendid returns.
PHILIP C. GUMPRECHT.
Philip C. Gumprecht, well known in insurance circles, was born in Meriden, January 19, 1883, and has now muade for himself a creditable position in the business circles of the city. His parents were Charles and Wilhelmina (Weise) Gumprecht, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to the new world in 1879, settling in Meriden.
Philip C. Gumprecht pursued his education in the public schools and spent three years as a high school pupil. He afterward studied drafting in the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and his first position was that of a draftsman at Middle- town, Connecticut. Later he was with the Meriden Cutlery Company at South Meriden until 1909, when he established his present insurance agency in Meriden, although at that time he represented but three companies the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, the Equitable Accident Insurance Company and the Western Fire Insurance Company. Now, in addition to the above, he represents the Commonwealth Insurance Company, the Detroit Fire and Marine Insurance Company, the American Central Fire Insurance Company, the Maryland Casualty Company and the Eastern Casualty Company. He is also district man- ager and sole agent for central Connecticut for the Eastern Casualty Company.
On the 14th of September, 1916, Mr. Gumprecht was united in marriage to Miss Helen Duttge, of New York city, a daughter of Theodore and Caroline (Christ) Duttge, both of whom were natives of Germany.
Mr. Gumprecht attends the Lutheran church. In politics he maintains an independent course. voting according to the dictates of his judgment. For fourteen years he has been a supernumerary of the police department, being an extra policeman. subject to eall in emergencies.
WILLIAM L. MOSES.
William L. Moses, of Meriden, is filling the office of assessor and in connection with his activity along public lines he is well known in business circles as a mason, builder and contractor and also as the proprietor of the Holt Hill Farm. He was born in Meriden, July 11, 1864, a son of Levi and Martha (Foster) Moses. His ancestors in the paternal line settled in Windsor, Connecticut, about 1620, having come from England a short time before. They have a well defined record, covering service in the French and Indian wars and in the Revolutionary war. The Foster family from which William L. Moses is descended in the maternal line emigrated from England about 1702.
During his youthful days William L. Moses attended the grammar schools and began selling and carrying papers, handling the Herald and Recorder when a little lad of but nine years. He also worked at farm labor for one year and afterward entered the employ of the Meriden Britannia Company, now the International Silver Company, where he was employed at hand burnishing for two years. He afterward became connected with his father, who was a railroad contractor, and with him worked on the West Shore Railway in New York, spending a year at that task. He then returned to Meriden and entered the employ of the H. Wales Lines Company, with which he was associated for eleven years. While in that employ he learned the mason business and eventually he embarked in con- tracting on his own account as the junior partner in the firm of Bottsford & Company. This was at Wallingford, Connecticut, where he remained for seven years. On the expira- tion of that period he was appointed superintendent of sewers at Meriden and occupied the
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