USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 106
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On the 18th of November, 1906, in New York city, Dr. Vissicchio was united in marriage to Miss Marie Anastasio, a native of Italy, who came to America with her parents, Alphonso and Lucy (Di Benedetto) Anastasio, who are yet residents of New York. Dr. Vissicchio and his wife have become parents of three children, two sons and a daughter: Philip, who was born in Derby; Louis, born in New York; and Lucy, a native of New Ilaven.
In politics Dr. Vissicchio maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. Ilis military experience covers a year's service in the Italian army. He now holds membership with the Sons of Italy, with the Christopher Columbus Society and with St. Michael's Roman Catholic church. His aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement, but the greater part of his time and attention is required by his profession. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases, performs his professional duties with the utmost conscientiousness and holds to the highest professional standards in all of his chosen lite work.
BURTON THOMAS JONES.
Burton Thomas Jones is a retired farmer of the town of Hamden but is yet active in public affairs, serving as the first selectman of his town. He was born in Westville, New Haven county, February 7, 1858, a son of Orlando and Sylvia (Thomas) Jones. The father was born in the state of New York, where he learned the machinist's trade, and . afterward removed to Westville, while subsequently he became a resident of Hamden. He was bere employed as a machinist in the W. C. Ives factory at Augerville and his last days were spent in Hamden, while his wife, who was born there, also passed away in Hamden.
Burton Thomas Jones was a lad of five years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Hamden, where he obtained his education in the public schools. He was reared to the occupation of farming, which he continued to follow in Highwood until 1903, when he disposed of his farm to a real estate company that divided it into town lots. He afterward removed to a place further north on Whitney avenue, in the town of Hamden, where he purchased land and continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until 1916. He then again sold his farm for use as town lots hut retained the little tract upon which the buildings are located and still makes his home in what was formerly his farm residence. He then retired from active business life, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he now concentrates his efforts and attention upon official duties. He has ever been a stalwart republican in his political views and upon that ticket he was elected to the office of first selectman in October, 1916, and is the present incumbent in that position. He is making an excellent record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he is discharging his duties.
On the 9th of February, 1882, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Alice Wood- cock at Highwood, Connecticut, who was born in England and when ten years of age was brought to the new world by her parents, William and Margaret Woodcock, who were likewise natives of England. Her father was a tailor by occupation and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world with his family settled in Highwood, where he took up tailor-
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ing, becoming well and favorably known in his community. Both he and his wife died in Highwood. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born two children: Harry Clifton, who is a contractor of Hamden; and Lester Williams, who is engaged in carpentering. The former married Amy Lewis, of New Haven, and the latter wedded Alice Morley, by whom he has one child, Alice Charlotte.
Mr. Jones is a member of Day Spring Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., and has taken the degrees of cryptic and capitular Masonry, being identified with Pulaski Chapter, R. A. M., and Crawford Council, R. & S. M. Both he and his wife hold membership in Alice Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Jones is well known in his section of the county, being for many years actively identified with agricultural pursuits and also conducting an extensive business as a market gardener. While thus engaged he did not seek public office but after his retirement from business his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, called him to the office of first selectman, in which capacity he is rendering valuable service.
HON. JOHN ORRIN SHARES.
Hon. John Orrin Shares is well known in business circles of Hamden as a successful operator in the field of real estate, hut is even more widely known because of the important part which he has played in public affairs of the community. He is now judge of the town court of Hamden. As a member of the legislature of 1897 he was connected with the law makers of Connecticut and it was during this service as a member of the state legislature that he introduced the bill to create the town court of Hamden.
Judge Shares was born in North Haven, Connecticut, October 2, 1867, and is a son of Horace Putnam and Susan Charlotte (Ives) Shares. His father was born in Hamden, Con- necticut, May 8. 1836, a son of Daniel W. and Janette (Bassett) Shares, the former a well known inventor. Horace P. Shares was for many years identified with brick manufacturing in New Haven and did much to promote the industry in his section of the state. In the middle '50s he carried on farming in North Haven and then took up the manufacture of brick in connection with his father-in-law, Alfred Ives. About 1859 he assumed the management of the Warner, Mansfield & Stiles Brick Company of North Haven Center, thus continuing until 1863, in which year he established a business of his own in the Quinnipiac valley. Later he purchased of his former employers one of their yards and operated both until 1887. In the operation of his plant he introduced improved machinery and equally improved processes of manufacture and greatly developed the industry. He was the first to introduce the Phila- delphia repress system and in 1880 he adopted the pallet system for drying briek. His sound judgment and keen sagacity enabled him to readily recognize the value of any new idea put forth in connection with brick manufacture and to adopt it or reject it according to its real worth in connection with the business. He traveled quite extensively in America and in Mexico and showed great interest in the development of Rock Ledge, Florida, where he spent the winter months from 1884. There he built the Rock Ledge Hotel, which was successfully conducted under his management and which became a popular resort with Connecticut's winter residents of Florida. During the summer months Mr. Shares resided at Short Beach. He passed away in Pasadena, California. Jannary 23, 1902. He was married October 9, 1854, to Susan Charlotte Ives, a daughter of the late Alfred Ives, of North Haven and a representative of one of the old and prominent families of this state.
Judge Shares, their son, whose name introduces this review, supplemented his district school education by a course in the New Haven high school and then took up the brick manufacturing business with his father, with whom he was thus associated until he reached the age of twenty-nine years. He then engaged in business on his own account in Cheshire operating a brass rolling mill for ten years, but his plant was destroyed by fire in 1909. He has made his home in Hamden except for about five years spent in New Haven. After the fire he embarked in the real estate business in Hamden. in which he has since been active, negotiating many important realty transfers.
On the 2d of May, 1889, Judge Shares was united in marriage to Miss Codie May Munson, who was born in ITamden and there passed away May 30, 1910. Her parents were Henry W. and Charlotte (Thomas) Munson, natives of New Haven. To the first marriage
HON, JOHN O. SHARES
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of Judge Shares was born on January 16, 1892, a son, Lester Munson, who is now located in Bay City, Michigan. For his second wife Judge Shares chose Miss Nina May Chappell, of New Haven, whom he wedded on the 25th of November, 1913. She was born in New Haven and is a daughter of Joshua M. and Ida (Riggs) Chappell, the former a native of Centerport, Long Island, and now engaged in the oyster business in New Haven. There are two children of the second marriage: Sylvia Chappell, born November 25, 1914; and Janace, born March 16, 1917.
In his political views Judge Shares is a republican, having supported the party since attaining his majority. In 1896 he was elected to the state legislature and served in the session of the following year, during which time he introduced a bill to create the town court of Hamden, of which twenty years later he became presiding judge. He served as clerk of the committee on roads, rivers and bridges while in the state legislature. He was appointed deputy judge of the town court of Hamden by the Connecticut legislature of 1915 and after serving two years was commissioned judge on the 3d of June, 1917, and is now serving in this capacity. He has been one of the active republicans of the town of Hamden since reaching man's estate, yet he is not blindly following party leadership. On the contrary he is an independent thinker, nor binds himself to any course but guides his actions by what he believes to be right. Fraternally he is connected with Day Spring Lodge, F. & A. M., Pulaski Chapter, R. A. M., Crawford Council, R. & S. M., New Haven Commandery, K. T., and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He has also attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He likewise belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen; is a member of the Quinnipiac Club of New Haven; a veteran of Company F, Second Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, better known as the New Haven Grays, and now holds a commission as captain of Company H, Second Regiment, Connecticut Home Guard. He is one of Hamden's most prominent men, is widely known throughout the state, and his political activities have gained him high endorsement, while his pronounced social characteristics have won for him the warm friendship and high regard of all with whom he has been associated.
DAVID HIGGINS.
David Higgins is an active business man and well known public official who is serving as a selectman of Meriden and as a member of the board of apportionment. He concen- trates his business attention largely upon the sale of butter, eggs and milk, upon the conduct of a farm and upon the management of two livery stables which he owns.
His home place is at Meriden and he is numbered among the native sons of Cheshire, Connecticut, where his birth occurred February 18, 1862, his parents being Michael and Esther (Bennett) Higgins. He acquired a public school education and spent the vacation periods in farm work, while after nis textbooks were put aside he continued to assist in the cultivation and further improvement of the home farm until he attained his majority. He afterward spent nine months in work upon the farm of James Sanford at Terryville, Connecticut, and later worked on the State Poor Farm for a year.
On the expiration of that period he returned to his old home in Cheshire to visit and his brother induced him to buy a milk wagon and horse and engage in selling milk in Meriden. This was in 1886. He worked hard to make the business a success and succeeded in it. He took over his brother's milk business and worked up a good patronage. He is now extensively engaged in this line and also in the sale of butter and eggs. He is today the owner of an excellent farm property in addition to his other interests. He keeps from eighty to ninety horses and he has in all twenty employes in his livery barns, in his butter, egg and milk business and on his farm.
On the 8th of August, 1889, Mr. Higgins was united in marriage in Yalesville, Con- nectient, to Miss Emma Grouse and they have become the parents of three children. Esther May, who was educated in the high school and in the New Haven Normal School is engaged in teaching. Ruth Frances is at home. Arthur John was graduated from the high school with the class of 1917 and is attending Dartmouth College. He was very pop-
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ular as a high school pupil, was chairman of the junior prom, was manager of the foot ball team and was otherwise a leader in high school activities.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Higgins are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a democrat, and although he has never been an office seeker, his friends have frequently urged him to become a candidate for positions of public honor and trust and he was elected to office on the democratic ticket when his ward had a normal heavy republican majority. He served as councilman from the third ward for six years and in 1913 was elected a selectman. He was also a member of the board of appor- tionment for ten years and his publie duties have been discharged with marked capability and fidelity.
In fraternal circles he is known as a member of Temple Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M., of Cheshire, and as a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Meriden, serv- ing on its house committee. He is also on the membership rolls of the Amaranth, the Colonial and the Cosmopolitan Clubs. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance through this section of the state, in which he has always resided, and his work along business lines and in public office has constituted a valuable contribution to general progress and improvement.
FRANK DE LUCIA.
Throughout the entire period of his residence in New Haven, covering almost a quarter of a century, Frank De Lucia has made steady progress in the business world, working his way upward step by step until he is now one of the men of affluence in the city. Ile was born December 29, 1872, at San Maria Avieo, in the province of Caserta, Italy, his parents being Anthony and Mary De Lucia. He attended school in his native country and after- ward became a pupil in the night sessions of the Hamilton school in 1894. He started in the business world as bookkeeper in the city of Maddaloni for Director Barducci before eross- ing the Atlantic to the United States. He was also ticket receiver for the railroad to Naples, Pozzuoli and Cuma and was also assistant engineer for the period of six years to the llon. L. Medici of the railroad of Pisciotta Castrocucca, Calabria. At length he deter- mined to try his fortune in the new world and after arriving in America he engaged in teaching school at night and for two years he was employed through the day by the Candee Rubber Company. He afterward spent four years as a clerk in the shipping department of the Sargent Company of New Haven and in 1898 he was appointed notary public. In 1900 he opened an office for the sale of steamship tickets and for the conduct of a banking busmess at 36 Myrtle street. From that time forward his career has been one of steady progress. In 1902 he established a wholesale grocery store at Nos. 555 to 559 Grand avenue and in 1903 he opened a wine and liquor place at No. 170 Hamilton street, while in 1904 he established a branch office in New Britain, Connecticut. In the same year he began business as a funeral director and ombalmer and in 1905 he won a diploma as a sanitary embalmer from the Barnes School of Anatomy and Sanitary Science of Embalming. On the 12th of February, 1907, he received his diploma as an embalmer from the state of New York and on the 5th of July, 1907, was granted a diploma from the state of Connecticut as an embalmer. In 1906 he established a branch office at Bridgeport, there opening a bank and in connection with the banking business condueting a steamship agency and undertaking business. In 1907 he took up the manufacture of Italian cigars. In the previous year he had further extended the scope of his activities by becoming distriet manager of the state of Connectient for the North American Accident Insurance Company of Chicago and the same year he was made special agent for the Great Eastern Casualty & Indemnity Com- pany of New York. It was also in that year that he accepted the ageney of the Security Mutual Life Insurance Company and in 1902 he had been made agent for the Hartford Life Insurance Company. His experience in the insurance field thus covers a long period in which he has gained intimate and accurate knowledge of the business in every depart- ment and has built up a good clientage along that line. In 1908 he commenced general building for which work he was splendidly qualified because of his previous experience as a contractor. In 1916 he was received as an apprentice undertaker of the state of New York
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and on the 11th of August, 1915, he received a diploma from the Eckels Derma-Surgical College of Philadelphia. After conducting his bank at No. 36 Myrtle street for a time he transferred his office to No. 222 Wallaee street and later removed to Nos. 152 to 156 East street. His next location was at Nos. 382 and 384 East street, where he purchased a busi- ness block. He eonduets a private banking business that has reached extensive proportions and in connection therewith he conducts a large real estate agency, buying and selling city property and farm land. He also acts as interpreter and thus is leading a most busy. active and useful life. In 1903 he opened his wholesale and retail wine and liquor place at No. 170 Hamilton street and since the following year he has also conducted a branch establishment at New Britain. These interests also constitute an important source of revenue to him and contribute to his well earned reputation as one of the progressive business men of New Haven.
In 1898. at New Haven, Connecticut, Mr. De Lucia was united in marriage to Miss Raphaella Gambardella, a daughter of Pasquale Gambardella. To them have been born eleven children, as follows: Mary L. L., who is employed as a bookkeeper and stenographer; Lydia M. A., also a stenographer; Anthony E. A .: John E. G .: Oscar E. T .; Joseph E. U .; William H. V .; Gennaro L. U .; Concetta E. L .; Frank V. 1 .; and Erminia Violet Rosina.
Mr. De Lucia is the president of the San Clemente Martire Society, president of the San Leone Magno Society, secretary of Loggia Roma 326, Sons of Italy, president of the Societa Liberta, Minotte Garibaldi, and seeretary of the Camicia Rossa. He is likewise a member of the Republican Club, the Chamber of Commerce. the New Haven Automobile Association. the Undertakers' Association. Circolo Vittorio Emanuele Ill, the San Antonio Society and the San Maria Della Consolazione. Mr. De Lucia has won for himself a most prominent position among the Italian residents of New Haven, where he has now lived for twenty-four years, busily engaged during all this period in the real estate business, in the conduct of the ticket and fire insurance agency, as funeral director, as building contractor and as banker. In every relation of life he has so conducted his affairs as to win the con- fidenee and support of the public and he is today one of the most prominent of the Italian citizens of New llaven.
ISADORE OPPER.
Coming alone from Russia to the new world when a youth of but seventeen years, un- acquainted with the habits, the language and the eustoms of the new people among whom he was to live and make a living, Isadore Opper arrived in New Haven in 1887 with a cash capital of three and a half dollars. Many were the difficulties and obstacles to be overcome, yet he lost neither faith nor heart but resolutely undertook the task to win a competenee, and make for himself an independent and substantial and honored place among these strangers with whom he was going to make his home and of whom he wanted to become one. That he has succeeded is indicated in the fact that he is today one of the most prominent and prosperous furniture dealers of New Haven. Moreover, he belongs to that class of business men who while promoting their individual interests contribute to pub- lie prosperity.
Mr. Opper was born in Russia, July 8, 1870, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Opper. Samuel Opper was an educator and a few years after the arrival of his son Isadore he and his wife also eame to the new world. The father died in New Haven in 1903 and the mother is still living.
Isadore Opper, the eldest in a family of five children, attended school in Russia and con- tinued his education in New Haven by attending night school after working as a druggist's elerk during the day. He had previous experience in the drug business when in his native country and he followed that pursuit in New Haven to some extent, but gave up a posi- tion in a drug store to become collector for a furniture house, being offered a better salary. He filled that place satisfactorily for five years and when twenty-five years of age estab- lished a furniture store on his own account. Originally he carried a small stock, as may be surmised, but he inereased his lines from time to time as he could command greater financial resources and at present he is sole proprietor of one of the largest furniture
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houses in New Haven, carrying an extensive and well selected line of medium and high class furniture and doing everything in his power to satisfy and please his patrons in order to upbuild his business. His methods have ever been thoroughly reliable and from the beginning he has enjoyed a substantial and constantly growing trade.
In 1889 Mr. Opper was united in marriage to Miss Edith Kelman, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Kelman, and they have six children. Lillian, born in 1896, is a graduate of a normal school, was a teacher in the Shelton school and sang in the choir of St. John's Roman Catholic church for some years; she married W. F. Cohen, an attorney of Ansonia, where they reside. William, born in New Haven in 1898, was grad- uated from the local public schools and is now with Company F of the Second Regiment of Connecticut Infantry. Florence, born in 1900, is attending high school. Samuel, 1905, is a graduate of the public schools. Abraham Lincoln, 1907, and Henry, 1909, are also in school.
Mr. Opper is a member of Horeb Lodge, 1. O. B. B., and of various other fraternal and social organizations. He is likewise a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is actively connected with a number of charitable and philanthropie interests, of which he has been a generous supporter. As he has prospered he has given more and more largely for the benefit and assistance of others and he is always ready to extend a helping hand to a fellow traveler on life's journey. He today owns one of New Haven's fine homes and his financial standing which is indeed enviable is in marked contrast to his condition at the time of his arrival. In one thing, however, he was as rich at that time as he is now, namely in the possession of those qualities which have constituted the foundation of his pros- perity, which is attributable to persistent, earnest effort wisely and intelligently directed. He has found in the faithful performance of each day's duties, strength and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day, and this enthusiasm for work has carried him to success.
WILLIAM OLESEN.
While William Olesen started out in business in a small way he is now controlling extensive interests as a manufacturer of automobile truck bodies, his activities having reached sneh proportions that he is now owner of one of the prosperous manufacturing con- cerns of New Haven. He was born in Denmark, April 30, 1870, a son of Ole Olesen, who spent his entire life in Denmark, where he followed the blacksmith's trade, conducting a profitable business. He served in the war between Denmark and Germany, and was wounded and taken prisoner. His religions faith was that of the Lutheran church. and he was a devont Christian. He passed away at the age of seventy-eight years, while his widow, Mrs. Hannah Olesen, is still living on the old homestead at the age of eighty-four years, her place of residence being at Horsens, Denmark.
In a family of nine children William Olesen was the sixth. and after acquiring his education in the public schools of his native city he started out to earn his own living at the age of fourteen years. He removed from Endelava, his native town, to Horsens, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for four years, but he heard and heeded the call of the new world and in 1888, severing home ties. emigrated to America. He left Denmark on the 7th of June of that year and arrived in New York on the 25th of the month. after which he made his way direct to New Haven. He was here employed at his trade until 1900, when he established a smithy of his own at No. 248 Washington street, and there engaged in blacksmithing until 1907, in which year he entered into partnership with Thomas C. Knudsen under the firm name of Olesen & Knudsen. They have since been engaged in the manufacture of automobile truck bodies and are the leading manufacturers in their line in New Haven. They employ on an average of from eight to ten people and their business is entirely local. While they began mann- facturing in a small way their business has shown a marked increase and today has reached very substantial and gratifying proportions.
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