A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II, Part 23

Author: Hill, Everett Gleason, 1867- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 23

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A> the development of electricity for lighting and power purposes became more pop- ular. the inevitable result of such development became apparent in the duplication of plants, excess overhead charges and lack of efficiency. Mr. Young was among the first to see that a certain amount of consolidation was necessary in the interests of both consumers and owners. From this point, Mr. Young became more the manager of men, than of physical instrumentality, and one of his most notable works was the creation of the Connecticut Rail- way & Lighting Company, which absorbed so many of the railway and lighting properties in Connecticut, and welded them into a unit capable of proper and economical operation. Gradually Mr. Young's activities carried him beyond the borders of Connecticut, and he organ- ized. reorganized and consolidated companies in many eities and towns in New York and New Jersey, and later in Ohio, always building up and leaving the industry in a more effi- cient condition than he found it.

Among others, he was interested in the Albany Southern Railroad Company, King's County Electric Light & Power Company, Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brook- lyn. Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction Company, Northern Westchester Lighting Company, Corning Power & Light Company, Dayton Power & Light Company, and companies in Pough- keepsie and Plattsburg. New York, Palmer, Massachusetts, and Newark. Elizabeth, Paterson, Dover, Somerville, Morristown and Boonton. New Jersey.

The result of Mr. Young's activities made a New York office a necessity and resulted in his leaving Waterbury and spending his winters in or about New York, and his summers at Pine Orchard. In 1898 he succeeded Mr. Samuel Insull as president of the National Elec- tric Light Association. Ilis wide knowledge of public utilities caused the larger operators to feel the necessity of his services, and he appeared on the boards of the American Gas & Electric Company. the Electric Bond & Share Company, and the American Power & Light Company.

Mr. Young's activities were not confined solely to the electrical industry. He was a director of the National Carbon Company, a cement company. two real estate companies, and was interested in many other ventures.

Atter moving to New York. Mr. Young took into his office Milton J. Warner, one of bis sons-in-law, and later formed the partnership of Young & Warner, which managed the various Young properties.

Upon leaving Waterbury, Mr. Young spent his summers with his family at Pine Orchard and considered that locality his home. At the time of his first purchase, Pine Orchard was practically undeveloped. His restless energy and capacity for making friends and improv- ing itnations was largely responsible for the creation of what is now one of Connecticut's most highly developed summer colonies. The Chapel, which is the center of the religious life of the community, as well as the Country Club, which is the center of its social and athletic life, are largely the results of Mr. Young's activity and generosity. He is responsible for the act of legislature which gave Pine Orchard a unique frame of government, and the ro- sult ot his choice of a home is that where there were once a few scattered houses, there is now a closely knit community supplied with water, gas, electric and trolley facilities. to say nothing of well laid out streets, bordered by closely clipped hedges, which give it the appear- ance of an English village. Mr. Young keenly appreciated the beauties of nature and was never happier than when walking about his beautiful estate, which combined in so rare a degree the charm of shore, woods and hills.

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On May 7, 1874, Mr. Young married Miss Ellen A. Shepardson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Shepardson, of Waterbury. Mr. and Mrs. Young became the parents of four daughters, Mrs. Milton J. Warner, Mrs. John H. Goss, Mrs. George M. Smith, and Mrs. Her- bert D. Gallaudet.

Mr. Young died very suddenly, in New York, on December 3, 1911, and is buried in Waterbury.

To sum up the life of such a man in a few words is impossible. His vision of the future and his driving energy brought to this community the results of inventions and improve- ments many years before they might have been normally expected. A man of rare charm, he was a stanch friend, never an enemy, a loving husband and an indulgent father, and a man whose passing left a void in both family and community.

PHILIP POND.

Philip Pond is an attorney of New Haven who is also well known in fraternal and club circles, and the interests and activities of his life have placed him in a prominent position here. He was born on the 8th of August, 1866, in New Haven, a son of Jonathan W. and Charlotte L. (White) Pond. The father, a native of Plymouth, Connecticut, is descended from an old New England family of English lineage, the ancestral line being traced back to Samuel Pond. Jonathan Pond filled various positions of public honor and trust in New Haven county for about forty years. lle was the first chief of police of New Haven and in polities he took an active part as a supporter of democratie principles. He also engaged in the insurance business for many years and became widely known in that connection. His religious faith was that of the Episcopal church and he served as a vestryman of St. Thomas church for forty years or more, being the senior vestryman at the time of his death which occurred in May, 1908, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife is a native of Tolland county, Connecticut, and is a direct descendant of Elder John White, one of the first settlers of New England and of English descent. Mrs. Pond still survives at the age of eighty-six years. In the family were two sons, the elder being Walter who is also an attorney of New Haven.

At the usual age Philip Pond became a public school pupil and continued his course through consecutive grades to the high school. He afterward attended Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1888 with the B. A. degree and in 1890 he won the B. L. degree upon completing the law course at Yale. For twenty years he was secretary of his class in the Yale academie department. After his graduation he entered upon the practice of law in which he has since continued, and his ability has brought him prominently before the public as counsel for the defense or prosecution in various notable cases. He is a close and discriminating student and his careful preparation has been one of the strong elements in his growing success.

Mr. Pond has been married twice. On the 1st of June, 1893, at Bolton, Connecticut. he wedded Harriet Hunt Sumner, a cousin of former Lieutenant Governor George G. Sumner and a representative of one of the old Connectieut families. Her parents were the late Sherman and Jane V. (Keeney) Sumner, the latter now living at Bolton at the age of eighty-seven years. Mrs. Pond passed away July 14, 1894. after a brief but happy married life of thirteen months and thirteen days. On the 15th of September, 1897, in New York city, Mr. Pond married Miss Elizabeth Bishop Giles, a native of New Jersey and a rep- resentative of the Bishop family which was established in New England at an early period in the colonization of the new world. Her paternal ancestors were of an old New Jersey family.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Pond are identified with many important organizations. In the strict line of his profession he has connection with the Connecticut Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and he also belongs to the legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi. He is a past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has also been grand repre- sentative from Connecticut of the sovereign grand lodge for several years. He holds membership in the Graduates Chib, in the Young Men's Republican Club, the Automobile Club, of which he was formerly president. the Sons of the American Revolution and the

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Chamber of Commerce and various scientifie and literary organizations. He is likewise a member of St. Thomas Episcopal church. In politics he was originally a Cleveland demo- erat but became a republican during the Bryan campaign. He has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his time and attention to the practice of law, in which con- nection he has made for himself an enviable position. Mrs. Pond is also prominent in elub eireles and in public activity. She holds membership in Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. the New Haven Woman's Club. in the Red Cross, in the Civic Federation, is on the New Haven City Mission Board and is active in charity work. In a word their interests are broad and varied and on the whole are of that helpful nature which reaches out in an effort to promote the public welfare and uphold civic standards and also work for the betterment of the individual.

JOHN RAPHAEL REMBERT.

Through an active and successful business career John Raphael Rembert was closely associated with the commercial interests of New Haven, where he was also widely known as a valued citizen and a man of honor and worth. He was born in Wallingford, New Haven county, Connecticut, July 30, 1853, a son of Stephen and Sarah Laura (Hiddleston) Rembert. He came of a family of French lineage, the founder of the family in America having been a Hngenot who settled in South Carolina, where his descendents have lived for many generations.

Stephen Rembert, father of John Raphael Rembert, was born in Georgetown county, South Carolina, in October, 1831, and was there reared and educated. He was a splendid type of the southern gentleman. displaying the southern geniality and hospitality and at all times carefully guarding his honor and his good name. Through the summer seasons he resided in Wallingford, which had been the birthplace of his wife, and the winter months were spent in their southern home. After the Civil war he continued to reside in the south, there remaining until called to his final rest. He was greatly devoted to his family and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He had married Sarah Laura Hid- dleston, who was born in Wallingford, Connectieut, April 9, 1831, and, who passed away in Georgetown, South Carolina, in 1903. She was a daughter of John and Sybil (Mansfield) Hiddleston, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter a native of Connecticut, her father having been John Mansfield. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rembert were born six children: John Raphael; Henry H., who resides in his southern home in South Carolina; Robert H., who died at the age of ten years; Herbert, who in 1881 was murdered by a negro in bis employ; Florine S. and Mary, both of whom died in womanhood.

John Raphael Rembert spent his boyhood in Wallingford, his native city, and supple- mented his early education, acquired in its public schools, by further study in the schools of New Haven. After putting aside his textbooks he entered the employ of a Mr. Gould of New Haven, who was a well known stationery dealer and who used wagons in traveling through different towns, selling stationery to the trade. On attaining his majority John R. Rembert took up a seafaring life, to which he devoted a period of three years, shipping on steamers engaged in the South American trade. This brought him wide experience among the people of the southern continent. Returning to Connecticut, he located in New Haven, where he embarked in business on his own account, opening a stationery store which he continued to conduct throughout the remainder of his aetive life, covering a period of more than forty years. He carried on the business alone for a number of years and in 1898 he admitted John B. Tower to a partnership, after which the business was ear -: * + on under the firm style of John R. Rembert & Company but is now ca" Rembert Company. This became one of the best known firms in the ei business of large and gratifying proportions was built up. For a number of years , located

on State street and later a removal was made to the Chamber of Con ce b' 5 ... Nr. Rembert remained in active business until within a year and a half of his dea . met with an accident, falling from a street ear on Whitney avenue. This so undermined his health that he passed away September 18, 1913, his remains being interred in the Mem-

do huk Reweberk

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orial cemetery in Wallingford. He is survived by his widow, who is still a resident of New Haven.

It was on the 30th of July, 1884, that be wedded Charlotte Rosette Johnson, who was born in Waterbury, a daughter of Riley and Louisa M. (Bronson) Johnson. Mrs. Rembert is descended from several of the oldest and best known families of Connecticut. She still occupies the attractive residence on Everit street, which was completed by Mr. Rembert in 1907. He was most devoted to his home and found his greatest happiness at his own fire- side. He was also a great lover of nature and the surroundings of his home bespeak his artistic taste and temperament. He was also much devoted to art and literature and found great joy in those things which are of cultural value.

As a young man Mr. Rembert was keenly interested in politics but less in his later years though he took a deep interest in the progress and welfare of city, state and nation. He resided in the tenth ward for many years and while there living his party nominated him for the position of alderman, but the tenth was a strong republican ward and in consequence he was defeated. He attended St. John's Episcopal church and bis patriotic devotion to and love of his country caused him to give intelligent cooperation to the work of the Sons of the American Revolution, holding membership with the Connecticut Society of that organization. He likewise had membership in Hiram Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., and he was a member of the Union League Club of New Haven. A gentleman of the highest type, devoted to friends and family, in his death New Haven lost a most loyal American citizen whose recognition of public obligations led to the faithful performance of every duty that devolved upon him.

FREDERICK M. WARD.

The spirit of modern business enterprise. of thorough mastery of each detail of business and marked initiative characterize the efforts of Frederick M. Ward, president of The Frederick M. Ward Company, conducting a real estate and mortgage loan business in New Haven, along which lines of activity he has advanced to prominence in business and financial circles. He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, April 24. 1856, a son of Alexander and Louise B. (North) Ward. The father was a native of Kensington, Connectient, while the mother was born in New Britain. They spent their entire lives in this state. He died in 1912 at the notable old age of ninety-five years, while his wife passed away in New Haven in 1909 at the age of eighty-three years. They had a family of two children. the younger being Mrs. Wells Campbell of this city.

Frederick M. Ward attended the schools of New Britain and of New Haven, and in his youthful days began work on a farm at Manchester, Connecticut, devoting eight years to general agricultural pursuits. On the expiration of that period he returned to New Haven, where he took up office work, and eventually he accepted a clerkship in a real estate office, thus directing his efforts for the first time in the line of business in which he is now so successfully engaged. He became interested in real estate activities and in 1900 deter- mined to engage in that line of business on his own account. He had carefully studied the situation and the methods in vogue and had evolved several very progressive ideas as to methods of procedure. These he at once put into practice and their value was proven in the immediate success which attended his efforts. In 1911 he incorporated his interests under the name of The Frederick M. Ward Company, of which he became the head, with Herbert B. Townsend as secretary and his nephew, Frederie W. Campbell as treasurer. The firm conduets a large real estate, mortgage and loan business, and the volume of their business and their progressive methods place them in the foremost ranks of those in this field. They are most careful in placing investments, and have placed over two million dollars in loans in New Haven without the loss of a single dollar of interest or principal. They exercise the utmost care in making appraisals and always investigate the character and business ability of a borrower. Their methods bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and they never hesitate to explain their methods in detail. The Frederick M. Ward Company occupies a most attractive office building and upon close application, sound, discriminating judgment and incorruptible integrity their business has been built up.

On the 14th of December, 1912, Mr. Ward was united in marriage to Mrs. Minnie (Seelye) Vol. II-9

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Post, a daughter of Seth T. Seelye, who was a well known citizen of New Haven. Her father belonged to a highly respected and influential family and held important offices of trust, serving as city clerk for a number of years.

Mr. Ward is a member of Wooster Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, and he also holds membership in the Masonic Club. He has worked his way steadily upward to his present position of prominence and leadership in business circles, wisely utilizing his time and talents, and the splendid record that he has made should serve to encourage and inspire others, indicating what may be accomplished through laudable ambition coupled with persistency of purpose.

GEORGE W. HUBBARD.

George W. Hubbard is one of New Haven's energetic and progressive young business men and is rapidly pushing to the front among the leaders in this buy world. He is vice president of the W. F. Gilbert Coal Company and is regarded as one of the most aggressive business men of the city. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on the 24th of October, 1884, and is a son of George W. and Susan (Simmons) Hubbard, the former also a native of Providence and the latter of Massachusetts. For many years the father was engaged in the real estate business in Providence, where he died in 1893, but the mother is still living and continues to reside in that city. In the family were three children, the daughters being Mrs. Carl B. Howland and Mrs. C. A. Minor, of New Haven.

George W. Hubbard, the youngest member of the family and the only son, spent his boyhood and youth in Providence, where he attended the public schools, and completed his education at Trinity College, from which he was graduated in 1908 after having pursued an academic course. In 1907 he began work for the W. F. Gilbert Coal Company in a minor position and gradually worked his way upward until he is now vice president of the company and one of its stockholders. This is one of the most extensive coal companies in the state and is under the able management of other such progressive and enterprising business men as Mr. Hubbard.

On the 3d of June, 1908, he was united in marriage to Miss Grace D. Lawton, of Providence, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Lawton, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard hold membership in St. John's church and he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of both the Scottish and York Rites. He belongs to the Quinni- piac Country Club and is independent in politics. He is one of New Haven's most public- spirited citizens and takes an active interest in all enterprises calculated to promote the interests of the city.

CLARENCE LINDEN CLARK.

Clarence Linden Clark, vice president of the Benedict & Pardee Company of New Haven, his native city, was born July 15, 1866, the third in order of birth in a family of four children whose parents were Henry W. and Jane (Williamson) Clark, who were natives of Milford and of Cromwell, Connecticut, respectively. For many years the father was a well known building contractor and was identified with many important building projects of New Haven, where he still makes his home although now retired from business life at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. His wife passed away in 1903, when in the sixty- fourth year of her age.

After leaving high school Clarence L. Clark started to earn a livelihood as an employe of the Benedict & Pardee Company, securing the position of office boy in 1883. He worked hard, studied every phase of the business which came within his province and rose gradually through his own efforts, winning advancement from one position to another until he is today the vice president of the company and one of its largest stockholders. His singleness of purpose, his concentration upon a given line, his indefatigable energy and his loyalty have been the salient factors in his business progress. His cooperation has been sought along

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other lines and from time to time he has made wise investment in other business interests. He is now the president and one of the directors of the West Side Coal & Supply Company of Mount Vernon. New York, and was the founder of the Valley Improvement Association. of which he has been president from the beginning.

On the 24th of January, 1893, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Mary Hoyt Lee. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Clark hold membership in the Con- gregational church of West Haven and Mr. Clark was superintendent of the Sunday school for twelve years. He is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the commandery and consistory degrees. He is also connected with the Royal Arcanum and his appreciation of the social amenities of life is indicated in his membership in the Quinnipiac and New Haven Country Clubs. He is president of the library board of West Haven and in a word he is interested in all those forces which work for material, intellectual, social, civic and moral progress. He is never content to choose the second best, but holds to high ideals in all that he undertakes and eagerly embraces every opportunity to raise man to those levels.

BURTON MANSFIELD.

As an honored member for almost forty years of New Haven's fraternity of lawyers, as a leader in every good work of law or civies or religion, as a state official whose com- manding ability makes him independent of the limitations of party, as a churchman high in the councils of his denomination in city, state and nation, Burton Mansfield has an enviable place in the respect and love of the New Haven community. He was born in Hamden, Connecticut, on the 4th of April, 1856. His father, Jesse Merrick Mansfield, a direct descendant of one of the first settlers of New Haven, was born in Hamden, July 11. 1801. The elder Mansfield's mother was a niece of President Stiles of Yale, and he was married in 1850 to Catharine Betsey Warner of Hamden. They established their home in New Haven in 1861, five years after Burton Mansfield was born. There they passed away, the father in March, 1878, and the mother in September, 1889.

Burton Mansfield received his early education in the public schools of New Haven, and prepared for college at the Rectory school in Hamden and the Hopkins grammar school of New Haven. He entered Sheffield Scientific School in 1872, and was graduated with the class of 1875. Then taking the law course, he received his degree of LL. B. from Yale in 1878. Admitted to the bar the same year, he opened an office in the old Law Chambers at 179 Church street, New Haven, where he remained for thirty-four years, removing in 1912 to 42 Church street. His natural force and ability, and his thoroughness of training. gave him almost from the start a commanding position in his profession. He is known as a master in the handling of intricate and difficult cases, and has had a wide experience in practice of the higher class. But with all his natural ability he attributes his success above all things to hard work. maintaining that "there is no excellence without labor." He depends on facts well presented, on the justice of his canse, not on eloquence or clever argument or the confusion of adverse witnesses, for the winning of his cause. A great measure of his practice, however, is outside the courts, and there are few lawyers of New Haven who bear a greater weight of important trusts imposed by clients who seek man- agement and counsel, not litigation. As counselor in the fine old sense, Mr. Mansfield represents the ideal of his honored profession.

So exacting a private practice would be expected to leave a man little time for public office, but public office of an important character has sought Mr. Mansfield. It was in recognition of his thoroughness and broad ability that Governor Luzon B. Morris in 1893 appointed him insurance commissioner of Connecticut. He filled that position so well that in 1911 Governor Simcon E. Baldwin, who had exceptional opportunity for knowing of the value of his work, called him to the position again. Mr. Mansfield is a democrat. and Governor Marcus H. Holcomb, who had the position to fill in 1915, is a republican. The leaders of the governor's party naturally, in conformity with Connecticut custom. expected the disposal of the important position of insurance commissioner. Governor Hol-

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A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II, Part 23

Author: Hill, Everett Gleason, 1867- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1918 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 986

Author: Hill, Everett Gleason, 1867- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 986