USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 113
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EDWARD J. MARONEY.
Edward J. Maroney, who is now engaged in doing special work on the New Haven Reg- ister, was born April 2, 1873, a son of Luke J. and Catherine (Fox) Maroney. The father served as a soldier in the Civil war, while his son, William A. Maroney, was a soldier of the Spanish-American war.
Edward J. Maroney pursued his education in the common schools of Providence and of New Haven. He started out in life as eash boy in a department store and was afterward employed as newsboy on the New Haven Register. He was later steam engineer and was also marine and stationary engineer. He has always been more or less actively connected with newspaper interests and is today doing special work on the New Haven Register. At the same time he has been called upon for publie service and from 1899 until 1901 was master mechanic in the department of public works. In 1902 he was made sealer of weights and measures. and has occupied this position up to the present time, giving excellent satis- faction by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharges his duties.
On the 12th of February, 1912. in New Haven, Mr. Maroney was united in marriage to Miss Nellie V. Shields, a daughter of Isaac W. and Julia (Carroll) Shields, her father being a member of the New Haven police department for twenty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Maroney have become parents of two daughters, Mildred Shields and Doris Helen.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Maroney belongs to the Knights of St. Patrick Club, of which he has been on the board of governors for nine years. He also has membership with the Young Men's Republican Club and has served on its board of governors for three years. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has membership in the National Association of Stationary Engineers and has been elected to all positions within the gift of the engineers of the state of Connectient. He was also elected as national deputy of the Engineers of the United States in 1910.
THOMAS HOOKER, JR.
Thomas Hooker, Jr., is a well known representative of the New Haven bar, practicing as a member of the firm of Bristol & White. He was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut, .July 26, 1882, his parents being Thomas and Sarah (Bowles) Hooker, the former the president of the First National Bank of New Haven. On the ancestral record appear many distinguished names. He is a descendant of Thomas Hooker. founder of the Connectieut colony; of Jon-
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athan Edwards: of Timothy Dwight, the first president of Yale; and of Samuel Bowles, the founder and editor of the Springfield Republican.
Thomas Hooker, Jr., is both a Yale and a Harvard man. He was graduated from the former university with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1903 and from the Harvard University Law School in 1906 with the LL. B. degree. He at once entered upon the practice of law. In 1912 he became a member of the firm of White, Daggett & Hooker and in 1913 this firm merged with Bristol, Stoddard & Fisher under the present firm style of Bristol & White, who occupy a very prominent position in the ranks of the legal fraternity in New Haven.
On the 14th of September, 1915, at Rye Beach, New Hampshire, Mr. Hooker was united in marriage to Miss Emily M. Morgan, a daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. George Brinley Mor- gan, of New Haven, who have now passed away. Her father was rector of Christ church of New Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker have become the parents of one son, Thomas Ilooker Ill.
In polities Mr. Hooker is a republican and has been a member of the board of finance of the city of New Haven since the 1st of February, 1914. He belongs to the Delta Kappa Ep- silon and he also has membership in Elihu Club of Yale University, in the Graduates Club, in the New Haven Lawn Club, in the New Haven Country Club, the Yale Club of New York, the Society of Colonial Wars and is a member of Center church of New Haven. serving from 1911 until 1916 as treasurer of the parish. On the 7th of April, 1917, he became a member of the Home Guard and thus displayed the same spirit of patriotism and of loyalty which has ever been characteristic of his ancestors and has placed distinguished names on the pages of American history. Outside of his profession he is perhaps most active in connection with charitable and benevolent work. He is the president of the Organized Charities Association of New Haven and is a director of various charitable institutions. He is likewise a director of the Young Men's Christian Association and, in a word. his aid and influence are ever given to those measures and movements which are seeking the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community.
ALBERT BEACH PLANT.
Albert Beach Plant is one of the scientific fruit raisers of New Haven county, located at Branford, where he was born October 4, 1872, and where he owns a valuable tract of land which he is successfully devoting to horticultural pursuits. The family name is as old as the town of Branford and has long figured in connection with Connecticut's history.
His parents were Albert Edwin and Betsy Woodward (Upson) Plant. The former was born in Branford. on the old Plant homestead on the West Main street road, and devoted his life to the occupation of farming until 1862. when he responded to the country's call for troops and put aside all business and personal considerations. He joined the boys in blue of Company B. Fifteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. and served for three years in defense of the Union. He then returned to Branford and was actively engaged in farming until about 1910, when he retired, and passed his last days on the old home place, where his death occurred December 21. 1914. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Betsy W. Upson, was a native of East Haven, Connecticut, and died in Branford in 1910. The family is related to Henry B. Plant, the founder of the Plant system of railroads, who was a native of Bran- ford.
Albert Beach Plant acquired his education in the schools of Branford and took up the occupation of farming as a life work. He now owns the old homestead property, situated near his father's place and formerly the summer residence of Henry B. Plant. For many years he has made a specialty of fruit growing and the raising of berries and a part of his farm has been especially adapted for that purpose. To this business he has given not. only much time and attention but also has studied along scientific lines in order to gain expert knowledge concerning fruit growing. He has won a wide reputation in this con- neetion and is regarded as one of the most successful fruit growers of his section of New Haven county. In order to put the business of growing fruit and vegetables on a business basis. the brothers. Albert B. and Ray Upson Plant, incorporated an operating company under the name of the A. E. Plant Sons' Company, Incorporated, of which Albert B. Plant is treasurer and Ray U. Plant, secretary. The corporation does not own any farm land but
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operates the farms owned by Albert B. and Ray U. Plant and also leases adjoining land. They are engaged in growing fruit and vegetables for the New York. New Haven and Boston markets and raise farm products of the highest quality. Their strawberries are in great demand. being sought for by the best trade, and are sold to Huyler's and other firms of like character. They have also won fame for their tomatoes.
On the 12th of May, 1904, Albert B. Plant was united in marriage at New Haven to Miss Luella Grace Russell, who was born in Seymour, Connecticut, and there began her edu- cation, which she continued in New Haven. She is a daughter of Frank and Lillian (North- rop! Russell, renowned Connecticut families of old origin, members of which have been prominent in the history of the state and nation. To Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Plant has been born one child, Albert Morton, a native of Branford.
In his political views Mr. Plant is a republican but has never sought nor desired office. He belongs to the First Congregational church and he has membership in Widows Son Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, having occupied the chair in 1910. He like- wise has membership with Mason Rogers Camp of the Sons of Veterans of Branford, of which he is a past commander, and he belongs to the Connecticut Pomological Society, thus keeping in touch with the advanced methods and expert knowledge of the leading fruit growers of the country. His business affairs have been carefully and wisely conducted and at the same time he has ever recognized his duties and obligations of citizenship and has ecoperated in all movements which he has believed would prove of benefit to the community at large.
JOHN E. DUNN.
John E. Dunn, of New Haven. state manager for the Union Central Life Insurance Com. jany, has expert knowledge concerning all features of life insurance and the careful system- ization of the business under his direction has been one of the strong elements of the success which has been brought to the company through his efforts.
Born in Manchester, Connecticut. on the 13th of February, 1866, he is a son of the late Michael Dunn. a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1848 and settled in Manchester. where he successfully followed agricultural pursuits, there remaining until his death at the age of seventy-six years. He married Ellen Brennan, also a native of the Emerald isle, whence she came with her parents to the new world in 1849 and also became a resident of Man- chester, where she gave her hand in marriage to Michael Dunn. She survived her husband for some time and passed away at the age of eighty-three. Their family numbered nine children, of whom John E, was the fourth and but only two are now living, the brother being Michael Dunn, a resident of Hartford, where he is connected with the Travelers Life Insurance Company.
In the acquirement of his education John E. Dunn attended school in Manchester, Con- nectient, and in St. Charles and Ellicott City, Maryland, before entering Niagara University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. He later attended the College of Mont .- real, where he completed his studies in 1888, and after his graduation he returned to Con- nectieut, locating in Hartford, where he entered the field of journalism in connection with the Record. He continued in newspaper work for two years, after which he became office man with the Aetna Life Insurance Company, with which he remained for three years. On the expiration of that period he took over the management of the firm of Donovan & Dunn for the Equitable Life Insurance Company, with offices at New Haven and Hartford. and continued with the company until 1903, when he became connected with the Union Life In- surance Company in a similar capacity. He has since been continuously and successfully engaged in business as state manager for the Union Central Life Insurance Company and there is no phase of the life insurance business with which he is not familiar. His plans have been most carefully formulated in the management of his business affairs and the sound- ness of his judgment is manifest in the splendid results which have attended his labors
On the 22d of June, 1892, Mr. Dann was married in Manchester. Connectieut, to Miss Elizabeth E. Welch, a native of South Windsor and a daughter of John and Catherine (Brennan) Welch, the former born in Ireland and the latter in South Windsor. Mr. and Mtrs
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Dunn are parents of five children: Francis J., Helen Dorothy, Joseph V., Justin S. and John E.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Dunn is connected with the Knights of Columlms. He is also a member of the Union League Club. In politics he is independent but is ever interested in community affairs and holds membership with the Chamber of Commerce, being in hearty sympathy with its purposes to advance the welfare of the city, extend its trade relations and uphold its eivie interests.
RICHARD TAYLOR KELSEY.
Richard Taylor Kelsey is now living retired at Guilford, in New Haven county, but for many years was actively connected with agricultural pursuits. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war and has always been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battlefields. He was born in Guilford, October 2, 1841. a son of Alva and Almira (Higgins) Kelsey. The father was a native of Killingworth, Middlesex county, Connectient. where he spent his boyhood days in the home of an unele, his parents having died when he was yet a young child. In early manhood he went to Haddam, Connecticut, and subsequently became a resident of Guilford. where he followed the occupation of farming until his life's labors were ended in death. He was married in Haddam, where his wife was born, and her demise also occurred in Guilford.
Richard T. Kelsey acquired his education in the district schools of Guilford and was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the erops. For forty-eight years he continued to cultivate the farm upon which he now resides, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements which converted the place into one of the productive and valuable farms of this section.
On the 18th of October. 1869. Mr. Kelsey was united in marriage to Miss Antoinette Baldwin, the wedding being celebrated at her home, where they now reside. Mrs. Kelsey was born at Carmel, in Putnam county. New York, and was a little maiden of twelve years when brought by her parents to Guilford, since which time she has occupied the same resi- dence. She is a daughter of Arvah and Harriet (Carpenter) Baldwin. Her father was born in Putnam county, New York, and was a member of the old Baklwin family of that section of the country. He followed the occupation of farming in Putnam county until 1851, when he removed with his family to Guilford and purchased the old Colonel Fowler farm, which he continued to improve and cultivate until 1869. His wife was born in the Scrub Oak Plains district of Yorktown, Westchester county, New York, and spent her last days in Guilford. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey were born four children. Gustave Baldwin, a carpenter of Walling- ford. Connecticut. married Lina Whiteman, of Branford, and has two children, George Richard and Emma Baldwin. Ernest Russell took his medical degree in Baltimore, Maryland, and is now a physician and surgeon of Winsted, Connectient. He married Elizabeth Phillip-, of New Hampshire. He served with the Naval Reserves during the Spanish-American war. Agnes Fayette is the wife of Dr. H. Walter Muirless, of Guilford, Connectient. Richard Percy, a farmer of Shore Beach, Connecticut, wedded Marion Killam Murphy, of Branford.
Mr. Kelsey proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is now identified with Parmelee Post at Guilford. He enlisted on the 10th of August, 1862, at Branford, as a member of Company B, Twenty- seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and did active duty through the remainder of the Civil war, participating in various hotly contested engagements, including the battle of Chancellorsville, where he was captured on the field. He endured all the hardships and pri- vations of the war but never faltered in the performance of his duty nor in his loyalty to the canse. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, which was the defense of the Union at the time of the Civil war. He has served as a member of the board of tax assessors but has not been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His religions faith is that of the Baptist church. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey is one of the oldest farm houses in this section, having been built in the eighteenth century. When La Fayette visited Connecticut in 1824. returning to this country fifty years after he had
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aided in winning independence. he was entertained at the home of Colonel Fowler, then the owner of the Kelsey place. Upon the table as a decoration was a small boxwood tree and after the dinner this tree was planted in the front yard of the home and it is still full of life. It is certainly one of the most interesting landmarks of this section of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are hospitable people whose good cheer is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Kelsey was long identified with the agricultural development of hi- section but is now living retired. enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits.
WILLIAM A. BERNARD.
William A. Bernard ranks as one of America's leading toolmakers. designers and in- ventors. llis name, appearing on many valuable mechanical tools and devices, is known not only throughout this country but in Europe as well and he is now actively engaged in the extensive manufacture of over one hundred of his own inventions and he has patents pending on various other inventions. He has been spoken of as standing to the tool mak- ing world in the relative position that Edison occupies to the electrical world. His official designation is that of vice president of the William Schollhorn Manufacturing Company. Mr. Bernard was born at Lynchburg. Virginia. April 2. 1848, a son of William and Ann Bernard. who were also natives of the Old Dominion and spent their entire lives in that state, where the father was well known as a prominent tobacco manufacturer. To him and his wife were born eight children.
William A. Bernard. the fifth of the family, attended public school in Virginia and early displayed an aptitude for mechanics and notable skill as a machinist. He completed an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade and took up tool making, which he followed in various places in West Virginia, in Baltimore, Maryland, and in New York city, going eventually to New Jlaven in 1890. Here he purchased a controlling interest in the William Schollhorn Company and began its development along lines that have made it the institution that it is today. The continuous growth of the business has from time to time necessitated the el tion of new buildings until this is today one of the largest and most representative me . farturing enterprises of the city. employing two hundred skilled workmen. The devis, - ment of the business has been made possible through Mr. Bernard's genius as an inventor, combined with his executive force. He never undertakes any task or the solution of any problem that he does not bring to a successful issue and the public records at Washington show many inventions to his credit. He is continually studying along lines of improvement for the devices already on the market or along entirely new lines. He has perfected many tools, the value of which is attested by their world-wide nse.
Mr. Bernard holds membership in the Episcopal church. In politics he is independent, nor does he seek or desire public office, preferring to concentrate his undivided attention and activity upon his chosen life work. He is among those who have aided in pushing forward the wheels of progress and his ability has received world-wide recognition.
JOHN THOMAS SLINEY.
John Thomas Sliney is one of the forceful business men of Branford, prominently known in connection with contract work. His ability. fair dealing and his enterprise have been the salient features in winning for him the liberal patronage that is now accorded him.
His parents, David and Elizabeth (Dixon) Sliney, were natives of Ireland and crossed the Atlantic to the new world abont 1850. establishing their home in Branford. where the father turned his attention to the occupation of farming. After a time he entered the employ of the Malleable Iron Company, and eventually again resumed agricultural pursuits, with which he was connected until his death on the 11th of November. 1897. when he was seventy-one years of age. During the period of the Civil war he served as a member of the Union army. enlisting in Company G. Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ely. With his command he went to the front and while participating in the hotly contested engagement at Gettysburg was taken prisoner. He was then sent to the
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south and for a time was incarcerated in southern prisons but at length was honorably discharged from the hospital at New Haven, whither he had had to go because of his im- paired health, caused by the hardships of southern prison life.
His son, John Thomas Sliney, was reared in Branford and acquired a publie school education there. He was seventeen years of age when he became connected with the milk trade. to which he devoted the next eleven years of his life. He embarked in his present business in 1892 and has been identified therewith for a quarter of a century. After a year he entered into partnership with M. P. Rice, an association that continued for two years. and since then he has conducted his business independently. He is today one of the prominent contractors on stone work, track work, teaming and trucking in Branford. where he also has extensive livery stables. He always lives up to the terms of his contracts in spirit and in letter and his integrity and reliability in business matters. combined with his excellent workmanship, have secured to him the liberal patronage which he now enjoys.
On the 25th of January, 1893, Mr. Shiney was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Agnes Buckley, a daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Murphy) Buckley. Mrs. Sliney passed away, April 13, 1906, leaving six children: Mary. Elizabeth, John, Lawrence, Leo and Ed- ward. The family are communicants of the Catholic church in Branford and Mr. Sliney gives his political support to the democratic party. For two terms he filled the office of first selectman of his town and served in all for five terms as a member of the board of select- men; for two years was a member of the board of education, and during 1902 and 1903, served as a member of the state legislature. He has, however, not been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and efforts upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed. bringing to him a substantial measure of success.
LOUIS M. ULLMAN.
Prominent among the men who are controlling the more important productive industries of New Haven is Louis M. Ullman, of the firm of Strouse. Adler & Company, corset manu- facturers. He was born August 3, 1865. in the city which is still his home, and is the third in order of birth in the family of Morris and Mina (Fleischner) Uliman, the former a native of Berlin, Germany, and the latter of Marienbad, Austria. At the usual age he became a public school pupil, but when still quite young started out in the business world to earn his own living, being first connected with the millinery trade in New Haven. After six years devoted to that line he entered the corset manufacturing house of Strouse, Adler & Company, manufacturers of the C/B corsets. He began with that company in 1883 in a minor capacity but steadily rose from one position to another as he displayed the ability to undertake duties of greater and greater responsibility. At length the business was purchased by Louis M. and Isaac M. Ullman, brothers, and George Mayer and under their guidance it has grown to extensive proportions. They engage in the manufacture of corsets for the trade and have over sixteen hundred workers. This factory is one of the best organized and one of the most modern in its equipment among the corset manufacturers of the country. The work has been thoroughly systematized, so that there is no useless waste of time. labor or material, and the enterprise and reliability of the house are two of the most important features in the attainment of its success.
Mr. Ullman, however, is not merely a prosperous merchant and manufacturer but is also a most publie-spirited citizen and one who has filled many important positions of public honor and trust. For thirteen years he was one of the police commissioners of New Haven, has also been a member of the city council and in various other offices has displayed his de- votion to the general good by the prompt, faithful and progressive performance of his duties. He has contributed to public progress through his connection with a number of business enterprises in the state which have been financed by him and which have profited by his keen sagacity.
On the 22d of October, 1896. Mr. Ullman was united in marriage to Miss Sophie Oster- weis. of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Osterweis. the former well known as the organizer of the wholesale cigar manufacturing business of Lewis Osterweis & Sons. He long oeenpied a prominent position among the well known and respected citizens of New Haven, where he passed away in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Ullman became the parents of two
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