USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 19
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Charles Danenhauer attended school in Bavaria and as a boy learned the cabinet maker's trade. In 1880 he came to the United States, landing in New York on the 20th of July. He was employed in a chair factory there for two years but at the end of that time came to New Haven, where he found work in a piano factory. When he arrived in the United States he had hardly enough money to pay his expenses for a week and was further handicapped by the fact that he could speak no English. In order to live he worked for a time at common labor for one dollar a day but at length secured employment in his own line, and from that time his advancement has been continnous. In 1884 he removed from New Haven to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, but after remaining in that city for a year returned to New Haven. For many years he has engaged in contracting and has erected many important buiklings not only in West Haven but in neighboring eities as well. He is also interested in the West Haven Hardware Company, the West Haven Publishing Company and in the All Rail Coal Company, in which he is a director.
Mr. Dauenhauer was married in 1883 to Miss Katherine Danth, of Orange, Connecticut, a daughter of Fred Danth, who engaged in business in the metropolis for some time and later turned his attention to farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Dauenhauer have been born three children: William L., a resident of West Hartford, who is associated with his father in the contracting business and who is married and has a daughter, Gertrude; Carl F., also with his father in
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business, who is married and has a son, Charles Otto: and Otto C., who is managing the West Haven Hardware Company.
Mr. Dauenhauer is a republican but places citizenship above partisanship. For some time he served on the board of burgesses and he has always been keenly interested in public affairs. He is a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now vice president, and has been instrumental in carrying to successful completion many of the well advised projects of that body. In 1917 lie was appointed building inspector for the town of Orange, in which capacity he is now serving. He can always be counted upon to help in every way possible in bringing abont the advancement of his community, and among his other public services may be mentioned his activity in developing land in various parts of the city even if at a personal loss. He belongs to the German order of the Harugari and erected the building of that society. He has never cared for club life, preferring to spend his leisure time at home, and he finds his greatest pleasure in the society of his family. For more than twenty- five years he has been a total abstainer from both alcohol and tobacco and to his temperate habits he attributes much of his good health. He belongs to the German Methodist church and its work has profited largely from his cooperation. He is president of the board of trus- tees and for fifteen years has been Sunday school superintendent. It is through such men as he that the eivie advancement of the community has come, and he is justly held in high esteem by all who know him.
HERMAN HESS.
It might well be said that the success of Herman Hess should be measured by his friends rather than by his wealth, although in business affairs he has made for himself a creditable position and now occupies an enviable place in financial eireles in Meriden, being the presi- dent of the Meriden National Bank. He has become even more widely known, however, as a public official and one over whose record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has long filled the office of city clerk and his record has throughout the entire period been most creditable. Meriden is proud to number him among her native sons. lle was here born April 4, 1861, his parents being Frederick and Johanna (Yobke) Hess. llis father was one of the first citizens of German birth to settle in this part of Connecticut and for eighteen years he was employed in connection with the mechanical department of the Meriden Britannia Company, working as a burnisher until his death. His life, honorable and upright at all times, gained for him the respect and goodwill of those with whom he came in contact. At the time of the Civil war he proved his loyalty to his adopted eoun- try by joining the Union army and participating in many hotly contested battles in the south. hle was afterward an honored member of Meriden Post, G. A. R., and both he and his wife were consistent followers of the German Lutheran church, in which they held membership. The death of Frederick Hess occurred in the year 1898.
Herman Hess attended the public schools of Meriden only until he reached the age of eleven years, when he felt it necessary to provide for his own support and secured the position of cash boy in the store of W. H. Babb. That he was faithful, capable and loyal is indicated in the fact that he remained in that store for five years, winning various pro- motions in the meantime and displaying the elemental strength of his character through devoting his evening hours to study at home in order that he might better qualify for greater responsibilities in life. In the course of years he has become a most well in- formed man, adding to his knowledge through reading, study and experience. In 1877 he secured a clerical position with the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad. serving in the freight offices of the company both in Meriden and in New Haven, while for one year he was connected with the ticket department. In 1882 he was made bookkeeper for the Meriden Malleable Iron Company and for five years was associated with that con- cern, winning a well merited reputation as a skillful and accurate accountant. In later years he has figured prominently in financial circles. He became a director of the Meriden Savings Bank and was elected to the directorate of the Meriden National Bank, of which he afterward became the vice president and is now the president and as such is directing
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the affairs of the institution. He has acquired intimate and accurate knowledge of the banking business and is actuated in all that he does by a most progressive spirit.
Mr. Hess is perhaps even more widely known because of his public service, which began in 1883, when he was elected to fill a vacancy in the office of city auditor. In 1886 he was chosen town elerk and registrar of vital statistics, and at the following city election in the same year he was called by popular ballot to the office of city clerk and has been reelected each subsequent year to date. Such is his personal popularity and the con- fidence reposed in him that he was nominated by both parties in 1892, although it was well known that he received his first nomination from the democratic party. He ha- ever labored untiringly for the interests of the city and in office carefully systematized the duties devolving upon him, his work being most thoroughly done. In fact, his efforts have come to be regarded as invaluable and a contemporary biographer spoke of him as one who "has naturally become one of the leading citizens of the town and no resident enjoys perhaps a larger personal popularity."
On the 28th of May, 1883, Mr. Hess was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia De Crosby Pomeroy, a daughter of Norman W. and Ruth Ann (Norwood) Pomeroy. They have become parents of two children, but the younger, Ruth Imogene, died in 1887, the surviving son being Raymond Pomeroy.
Mr. and Mrs. Hess attend St. Paul's Universalist church. He is prominently known as a Mason, his membership being in Meriden Center Lodge, No. 97, F. & A. M .; Key- stone Chapter, No. 27, R. A. M .; Hamilton Council, No. 22, R. & S. M .; Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and is a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of the New Haven and Bridgeport bodies of the Seottish Rite. He is a past commander of St. Elmo Com- mandery and he belongs to Meriden Center Lodge, No. 68, I. O. O. F., and to Myrtle Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He is also connected with the Elks, with the American Order of Foresters, with the Meriden Turn Verein, with the Home Club and the Colonial Club. In faet, his interests are broad and varied and at all times his influence is on the side of progress and improvement. There is perhaps no citizen of Meriden who has for a longer period filled publie office and the record of none has been more fearless in conduct, honor- able in purpose and stainless in reputation.
HON. ALFRED DAGGETT ROSE.
Hon. Alfred Daggett Rose is identified with agricultural interests in New Haven county and in large measure has left the impress of his individuality upon the legislative records of the state. He was reelected to the state legislature in 1916, so that he is now a mem- ber of the house, in which he is doing important committee work as well as active work in connection with much constructive legislation on the floor of the house. Mr. Rose has spent his entire life on the farm in North Branford on which he still makes his home and he was born in the house that he yet occupies on the 19th of November, 1855, his parents being Stephen J. and Rebeeea (Buel) Rose. The father was a son of Alfred Rose, who in turn was a son of Nathan Rose, a Revolutionary war soldier. The father of Nathan Rose was Jonathan Rose and each in turn, through the successive generations, was born upon the farm now occupied by the Hon. Alfred D. Rose. The father of Jonathan Rose was born in England and was one of the original settlers of New Haven county. Stephen J. Rose devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming on the old homestead, where both he and his wife passed away.
Alfred D. Rose acquired a district school education and since that time has concen- trated his attention and energies upon the further development and improvement of his farm, his labors bringing about marked transformation in its appearance. He has a large dairy business, which he successfully earries on in addition to the cultivation of his fields. His place is equipped with substantial buildings, including large silos and all of the acces- sories and convenienees of a model farm of the twentieth century. He raises grain, stock, fruit and vegetables, and every branch of his business is carefully and systematically con- ducted, bringing him a substantial measure of success. He is now razing the old dwelling which
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his grandfather built on the farm more than a century ago and is erecting in its place a fine modern residence.
Mr. Rose was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Chipman at Fairhaven, Connecticut. She was born. reared and educated at Fairhaven and is a graduate of the Hillhouse high school. She taught school at North Haven and at Bethany and is a lady of broad and liberal education and culture. Her father was Joseph Chipman, a native of Fairhaven, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Pierpont, was born at Mount Carmel. To Mr. and Mrs. Rose have been born two children: Olive E., who is the wife of Bert L. Barker, of Branford, and has one child, Harokl; and Stephen Joseph, who is largely relieving his father of the care and cultivation of the old home farm.
In his political views Mr. Rose is a stalwart republican, long recognized as one of the leaders of the party in New Haven county. He is serving as chairman of the republican town committee of the town of North Branford, a position which he has occupied for the past eighteen years. He has filled the office of tax collector and in 1908 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, serving during the sessions of 1909 and 1910. He was a member of the finance committee, in which connection he did important work for the commonwealth. In 1916 he was elected again to the state legislature for a term ex- tending to 1918. He is now serving on the excise committee. In 1917 he was largely instrumental in securing the passage of a bill to reimburse the farmers of the state whose lands were damaged by having ditches dug upon them in order to fight and exterminate mosquitoes. For more than a quarter of a century he has been a prominent figure in re- publican politics in North Branford and bis opinions carry weight among party leaders. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, of which his wife is a member, taking an active part in its work. Fraternally he is connected with Corinthian Lodge, No. 103, F. & A. M., and he belongs to the New England Order of Protection and to Totocket Grange. A big, broad-minded man, he is alive to all the topies of the day and keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought not only regarding political matters but upon all questions that affect the general welfare.
HARRY WEBSTER HITCHCOCK.
llarry W. Hitchcock is a wholesale coal dealer of New Haven who was born in Balti- more, Maryland, February 11. 1872. While born in the south, he is a representative of one of the old Connecticut families which was founded in America by Robert Hitchcock, who came to the new world at an early period in its development. Henry W. Hitchcock, father of our subject, was a native of Fairhaven, Connecticut, and was engaged in the oyster and fruit packing business. About 1867 he located in Baltimore, Maryland, where he spent the greater part of his life, but his death occurred in New Haven in 1911, when he was sixty-seven years of age. Ilis wife bore the maiden name of Katherine Candee and was a native of Oxford, Connecticut, her father being Enos Candee, while her mother was Elizabeth (Perkins) Candee, both being representative old Connectieut families. The ancestral line is traced back to Job Candee. who was born in West Haven, Connecticut, in 1759 and died in Oxford, December 2, 1845. He was married in Southbury, Connecticut, October 3, 1784. lle had eight brothers: Caleb, who was born in 1743 and died at the age of eighty-six years; David, who was born in 1747 and passed away at the age of ninety-four; Gideon, who was born in 1749 and died at the age of seventy; Timothy, who was born in 1751, removed to Pompey and died at the age of eighty-three; Samuel, born about 1754, who died at the age of eighty-seven: Justus, born February 17, 1756, who died when eighty-five years of age: Nehemiah, born March 14, 1758, who reached the age of seventy-six years, and Daniel, born February 19, 1762, who was sixty nine years of age when called to his final rest. It is said that all nine sons fought in the Revolutionary war. There was one other child of the family who died in early life. Job Candee was only seventeen years of age when in July, 1776, he enlisted as a musician under Colonel Jabez Thompson. The next year he joined the ranks as a private and served under different enlistments until the close of the war. He enlisted February 9. 1779, in Captain Phineas Bradley's company
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Sorry, Woditchurch
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of Matrosses Artillery. This company was raised for the defense of New Haven and was stationed partly in the town and partly at East Haven and West Haven at the time of Tryon's invasion. On the 3d of April, 1780, Job Candee enlisted in Canfield's Militia Regiment at West Point. He is mentioned in the Connecticut Men of the Revolution as a pensioner in 1840, when eighty years of age. That he continued his military service is indicated in the fact that he was a lieutenant in 1792 and a captain in 1802. He was also prominent in other ways, serving as a member of the Connecticut legislature. He was married in Southbury, Connecticut, October 3, 1784, and his children were: Laura, who was baptized December 24, 1788, and who became the wife of Daniel Tucker; Horace, who was baptized December 24, 1788, and married Caroline Judson; Esther, who was baptized August 16, 1789, and became the wife of Charles Tomlinson; Enos, who was born April 9, 1793, and married Elizabeth Perkins; Leverett, who was born in June, 1795, and married Jane Tomlinson and was the founder of the L. Candee Rubber Company, of New Haven; Roxa, who was baptized May 9, 1802, and married Charles Booth; Sarah, who was born June 15, 1807, and married Ebenezer Fairchild. The Candee family is of French origin and the first of whom we have record was Caleb Candee, the father of Captain Job Candee. The latter was the father of Enos Candee, who in turn was the father of Mrs. Henry W. Hitchcock. By her marriage Mrs. Hitchcock had two children; Harry W., whose name introduces this review; and Bessie, the wife of Charles H. Kinney, of Waterbury.
In the public schools Harry W. Hitchcock pursued his education, attending school in New Haven and also becoming a student in the Baltimore City College, from which he was graduated in 1888. His first position after leaving college was that of bookkeeper in the employ of Samuel R. Boyd & Company of Baltimore, who were wholesale lumber merchants of that city. After a short time, however, he returned to New Haven and secured a position with Williams, Wells & Company, wholesale coal dealers, continuing with that firm for about twenty years. He was next sales agent with C. H. Sprague & Son of Boston, with headquarters at No. 938 Chapel street in New Haven, where he continued for about six years. He was next with the New England Coal & Coke Company of Boston, with headquarters in the Chamber of Commerce building, and in January, 1914, he established business on his own account as a wholesale coal dealer in New Haven. Here he has since remained and has built up a business of large and gratifying proportions, having an extensive trade which brings to him a gratifying annual income. He confines his attention to the wholesale business and the methods which he employs are those which bring the most desired results.
On the 2d of March, 1897, Mr. Ilitchcock was married in Dwight Place church of New Haven by the Rev. Dr. J. E. Twitchell, to Miss Elizabeth Klock, a native of New Haven and a graduate of the Hillhouse high school. Her parents were Irving Berkman and Juliette (Mosher) Klock, both deceased. They were representatives of old New England families prominent in the history of this section. Mr. Klock was for many years actively engaged in the drug business. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock have been born three children: Wooster K., who was born in New Haven, August 4, 1899; Elizabeth Alden, born in New Haven, June 1, 1902; and Harry Brainard, born September 17, 1910.
In his political views Mr. Hitchcock is a republican. He has served on the board of finance and on the building lines commission for the past five years. He is also a member of the commission on the revision of the building code and he is alderman of the tenth ward, having been reelected at the last election. Ile has always taken an active part in political and civil matters and stands for progress and improvement long all those lines which lead to public benefit. He was appointed on the building lines commission by Mayor Rice and was reappointed by Mayor Campner, his present term expiring on the 1st of February. 1922. Fraternally Mr. Hitchcock is connected with Trumbull Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M. He belongs also to the Union League Club, to the Young Men's Republican Club, to the Congregational Club, to the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Federation-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct. His military experience has covered service with the Governor's Foot Guard. His religious faith is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Dwight Place Congregational church and was superintendent of its Sunday school for a long period. He is also a member of the societies committee of that church and he has done everything in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished
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in lite, for he started out in the business world as an office boy, working at a salary of three dollars per week, and his success is due to his own efforts. He is indeed a self-made man and deserves all the praise which that term implies.
NATHAN HARRISON.
No history of North Branford would be complete without reference to Nathan Har- rison, who spent his entire life within its borders, living always in the same house. He was born June 27. 1836, and his life record covered the intervening period to the 23d of No- vember. 1911, when he was called to his final rest. His parents were Albert and Annie llall (Foote) Harrison. The father was born in North Branford, where he followed farm- ing throughout his entire life, passing away at the age of forty-six years. He was a son of Nathan Harrison, also a native of North Branford. The mother was born in North- ford and passed away in North Branford. In their family were six children, only one of whom is now living, Charles A. Harrison, who is an attorney at law with offices in Walling- ford, but who lives in North Branford.
Nathan Harrison acquired his education in the district schools of North Branford and in the academy at Newtown, New York. Starting out in the business world he became connected with the native timber and lumber business. operating a sawmill as well as engaging in the sale of lumber. Hle made a specialty of cutting timber in the woods and making ties and poles for railroads, supplying all the ties and poles for the trolley lines in East Haven and in part for New Haven when the road was built. He also had the contract for furnishing supplies to the Shore Line Electric Railroad. He dealt extensively in native timber and lumber, building up a big busines in this connection. At the same time he continued the management of his large farm in the northern part of North Bran- ford. He had an extensive tract of land and continued its cultivation according to the most progressive methods. As a business man he was active and prominent, allowing no obstaele or difficulty to bar his path if it could be overcome by persistent, earnest effort, and thus he remained an active factor in the material development of his county until death ended his labors.
Mr. Harrison was an honored veteran of the Civil war. In response to the country's call for troops he enlisted as a member of Company B. Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volun- teer Infantry, in 1862, many Branford and North Branford men joining that company. He participated in the engagements at Fredericksburg, at Gettysburg and in other important battles of the war and became deaf from the heavy eannonading at Gettysburg, so that his hearing was greatly impaired throughout his remaining days,
Just before going to the front Mr. Harrison was married in New Haven on the 24th of September, 1862, to Miss Anna Louise Strickland, who was born at the corner of High and Chapel streets in New Haven, in which city she was reared, her parents being Royal Nelson and Mary Louise (Hayden) Strickland. the former a native of Salem, C'onnectient, and the latter of Essex, Connecticut. The father was a confectioner and fruit merchant and eondueted a store at the corner of Church and Chapel streets in New Haven for many years. Both he and his wife, however, are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were born six children, of whom one has passed away. Lewis Irving married Ida Gaylord, of Mer- iden, Connectieut, and they have two children, Nathan Louis and Floyd Gaylord. Albert Engene, a farmer of North Branford, married Emma Isabel Rose and to them were born nine children, of whom the second, Emma Louise. died in infaney. The others are Earle Vincent, Emma Louise, second of the name; Nathan Albert, Jennie Benton, Marion Rose, Frederick Eugene, Isabel Alberta and Clifford Ellsworth. Louis Strickland, a farmer of North Guilford. married Leola Josephine Rossiter, of North Guilford, and their children are Ruth Leola and Emily Louise. Royal Nelson, who cultivates the old home farm and is also engaged in the native lumber business, married Anna Augusta Rose and they have three children, Herbert Rose, Nelson Irving and Leland Wilford. Frederick, the next of the family, died in infancy. John Rose, a lumberman and mill owner of North Branford, married Anna Jackson Harrison, of North Branford, and they have five children, John Ellsworth. Donald Linsley, Anna Elizabeth, William Reginald and Elsie C.
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Mr. Harrison gave his political allegiance to the republican party and he was an active member of the Congregational church of North Branford, in which Mr- Harrison has been a Sunday school teacher for thirty years. Mr. Harrison also belonged to Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., of New Haven, and to Corinthian Lodge. F. & A. M, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft and at all times gurling his activities by the highest principles. He was a very progressive citizen and pubhe spirited man and did much for the improvement and welfare of the community in which he lived. He labored most earnestly to have the telephone company put in hines in the rural district of North Bran- ford and did much to kindle an interest in this project and keep it alive. He was also greatly interested in the project of building the Shore Line Electric Railroad through North Branford and offered to donate a mile of ties, poles, ete, if the he would be built. He also offered polo equipment to the telephone company in order to get them to establish a telephone line in North Branford_ At all times he stood for pubhe progress and improve ment and cooperated heartily in every movement which he believed would benicht the community in any way. He would never accept public office on account of hus defective hearing, but there are few men who have done auch valuable public service in the com munity as did Mr. Harrison. His worth was widely a know ledged and all who knew him entertained for bim the warmest regard. The Harrison farm home, which he occupied and on which has widow still lives, is one of the best equipped farms in New Haven county, for the house and barns are supplied with spring water piped through the building- there is a private gas plant upon the place and all of the comforts of noty hie have there been secured. Mr. Harrison followed the most progressive methods and the same spirit of progress Is manifest in Mrs. Harrison's management of her property interest-
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