USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 32
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1
DR. STUART E. SKIFF
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fessional colleagues and contemporaries as well. In 1907 he took a post-graduate course and at all times he has read and studied along lines leading to the development of his powers.
On the 20th of March, 1907, Dr. Skiff was united in marriage at Augurville, Connecti- cut, to Miss Grace Esther Hartley, a native of New Haven county and a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Collett) Hartley, the latter of Welsh and English descent. The mother is now deceased. To the Doctor and his wife has been born a daughter, Nancy Stuart, on the 18th of May, 1913.
In his political views Dr. Skiff is a republican. He was reared in the Methodist faith and is a member of that church. His influence, therefore, bas always been cast on the side of right, truth and progress and he cooperates heartily in many plans and measures for the publie good. Professionally he is connected with the New Haven County Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Connecti- cut Homeopathic Medical Society. He thus keeps in touch with the trend of modern pro- fessional thought and progress. In fact advancement has been his watchword from the be- ginning and, actuated by landable ambition, he has progressed step by step. His advancement has been assured because of his earnest purpose and his deep desire to qualify to the greatest extent possible to meet the onerous and responsible duties which continually devolve upon the physician.
SERENO C. SPERRY.
Sereno C. Sperry. secretary and treasurer of the Pond Lily Company of New Haven, in which city he was born September 23, 1865. The Sperry family is of Irish extraction and was founded in America by two brothers, Richard and Thomas Sperry, who came to the United States in the carly part of the seventeenth century. The grandparents of Sereno C. Sperry were Clark and Abiah (Baldwin) Sperry, and his father was William Wallace Sperry, now deceased. The last named was a ship builder throughout his active business life, but at the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal con- siderations and responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the Thirteenth Connecticut Infantry, with which he served as sergeant major throughout the entire period of hostilities. He married Rhodella Armstrong, a native of New Haven and a daughter of Sereno and Selina (Clark) Armstrong, both representatives of old families of this state. Mrs. Sperry is still living. By her marriage she had two children, the daughter being Mary E. Sperry.
The son, Sereno C. Sperry, whose name introduces this review, attended the public schools of New Haven and when a youth of between fifteen and sixteen years started out to earn his own livelihood, being first employed as an office boy by Williams, Wells & Company. He continued with that firm for twenty-one years, a fact which stands in un- mistakable evidence of his fidelity, capability and trustworthiness. He next became pur- chasing agent for the United States Finishing Company of New York city, continuing with that house for twelve years. In March, 1912, he first entered into association with the Pond Lily Company as its secretary and treasurer and has since continued in those official capacities. Since 1914 Mr. Sperry has been giving his entire time and attention to the business. The business of the Pond Lily Company is that of dyeing and finishing cotton piece goods. The plant covers an area of between three and four acres and employs on an average of seventy-five people. The output is largely for the automobile trade and the product is shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada and to a considerable extent abroad. Since the organization of the company success has attended the new undertaking and the business is growing along substantial lines, having already reached a gratifying figure.
On the 26th of June, 1890, Mr. Sperry wedded Miss Nettie A. Alling, a daughter of James E. and Addie (Denney) Alling. They have three children, Sereno C., Paul Alling and Armstrong W.
In his political views Mr. Sperry is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a firm believer in its principles but at local elections, where no party issue is involved, he casts an independent ballot. He holds member- Vol. II-12
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ship with the New Haven Home Guard and he belongs also to the Union League Club, the Quinnipiac Club, the New Haven Country Club, the Automobile Chib and the Yacht Club. He is a lover of outdoor life and sports and has always found much pleasure and recreation in hunting and fishing. He possesses several very fine specimens of moose and deer, which he secured in the wilds of New Brunswick and which he had mounted. Outside interests, how- ever, are not allowed to conflict with his business affairs and his time and attention have been so given to his manufacturing interests that substantial success has rewarded his labors, while the Pond Lily Company, through the efforts of its officers, has gained a place among the leading manufacturing concerns of New Haven.
GENESIS FRANK CARELLI. M. D.
Dr. Genesis Frank Carelli, a Yale man, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in New Haven, his native eity, was born August 20, 1889. His father, John Carelli, was a native of Italy and on coming to the new world settled in New Haven, where he engaged in the monument business, being a stone cutter by trade. He died in May, 1897, at the comparatively early age of thirty-three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rose Lombardi, was also born in Italy and came to America with a brother in 1887, at which time she took up her abode in New Haven, where she was married.
Dr. G. Frank Carelli is the eldest of a family of six children. He began his education in the public schools of New Haven, passing through conseentive grades to his graduation from the high school with the elass of 1906. The following year he entered Yale for preparation for the medieal profession and in 1911 was graduated with the M. D. degree, having pursued the regular four years' course. Following his graduation he entered St. Raphael's Hospital of New Haven as interne, there spending a year, gaining the broad practical experience and wide knowledge that only hospital service brings. He then entered upon the private practice of medicine, in which he has since engaged, and his ability is attested by the liberal patronage now accorded him.
On the 21st of September, 1914, Dr. Carelli was united in marriage in New Haven to Miss Rose Russo, a daughter of Paul Russo, a banker of this city, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have one son, John Paul, who was born in New Haven, July 10, 1915.
Dr. Carelli holds membership with the Sons of Italy and with the Christopher Columbus Society and is also connected with the Circolo San Carlino. He belongs to the Yale Alumni and along strictly professional lines is connected with the New Haven, the New Haven County, the Connecticut State and the American Medical Associations. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Michael's Roman Catholic church. * He deserves great eredit for what he has accomplished, for he is a self-educated as well as a self-made man. He was thrown upon his own resources at the death of his father and not only pro- vided for his own support but also aided in the support of the family. His industry and economy made it possible for him to pursue his education, especially his college course, and Yale may be proud to number him among its ahimmi, for his record is one which reflects credit upon his alma mater.
ADOLPH MENDEL.
Adolph Mendel, senior partner in the Mendel & Freedman department store of New Haven, was born in Bruckhausen, Germany, September 1. 1854, a son of Aaron and Estber (Abraham) Mendel, who were also natives of that place. The father was there reared and educated and removed to the city of Bremen, where he became actively engaged in the dry goods business. continuing in that field until his death, which occurred when he was fifty- nine years of age. ITis widow survived him for a considerable period and died at the age of seventy-two. They had a family of four children, all of whom became residents of America.
The eldest of the family is Adolph Mendel. who is indebted to the publie school
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system of Bremen for his educational opportunities. There, too, he received his initial training in business and before he had attained adult age he was engaged in the book and stationery business in Bremen as clerk. What the future held in store for him he was uncertain, but he recognized the fact that indefatigable industry will overcome obstacles and difficulties and that persistency of purpose will ultimately reach the desired goal. Those qualities therefore became active factors in his career. He secured a position in the dry goods establishment of Freedman & Frank and when the firm was succeeded by Milius Frank he remained with the latter and was identified with the enterprise for fifteen years. During that period he had made steady progress until his promotions at length brought him to the position of superintendent. Upon the retirement of Mr. Frank in 1886, Mr. Mendel became associated with his present partner, Isidor Freedman, in organizing tbe Mendel & Freedman department store. The business was established on a small scale, but with the passing years has grown to be one of the most extensive and important commercial interests of New Haven. In order to meet the demands of the trade and provide adequate facilities for their increasing business the firm of Mendel & Freedman have had to add to their store from time to time. Additions have been made at frequent intervals and something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that on the organization of the firm they employed but eight salesmen, while today their employes number three hundred.
On the 14th of June, 1894, Mr. Mendel was united in marriage to Miss Gussie Shenfeld, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Shenfeld, a promi- nent family of that city, her father being a well known clothing merchant of Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Mendel have become the parents of one child, Esther Lisette, who was born in New Haven in 1901. She was graduated from the New Haven grammar school and from the high school and is now attending a private school.
Politically Mr. Mendel maintains an independent course, although he usually votes with the republican party. He does not seek nor desire office, but is interested in all that pertains to good citizenship and especially to the welfare and progress of the city in which he makes his home. He belongs to the Harmonie Club, to the Race Brook Country Club, of which he is a director, and to Horeb Lodge of B'nai B'rith. He also belongs to the chamber of commerce and to the Business Men's Association of New Haven. Those who realize just what it is in this day and age of complexity and competition to be a successful business man accord to Mr. Mendel the highest admiration and respect for what he has accomplished.
W. W. GALE & COMPANY.
W. W. Gale & Company is the outgrowth of a business that was established in 1897 at No. 11 Pitkin street in New Haven for the purpose of conducting an electrical contracting business. It was founded by W. W. Gale, who carried on the business under his own name until the spring of 1902. On the 1st of March of that year a company was formed to enable the firm to expand more rapidly and to meet the greatly increased demands for its services. The company was given the name of W. W. Gale & Company, Incorporated, which it now bears, the incorporators being W. W. Gale, Rollin S. Woodruff, N. W. Kendall, Henry Musch and Edmund Zacher. On the 1st of February, 1903, the company enlarged its establishment by moving to its present quarters at Nos. 64 to 68 Center street in New Haven. In February, 1908, Charles L. Hubbard, of Norwich, Connecticut, and Huntington Lee, of New Haven, purchased a half interest in the business, which left W. W. Gale, Charles L. Hubbard and Huntington Lee in control of the enterprise. On the 8th of September, 1912, Mr. Gale died in an automobile accident in New York state and his heirs sold his interest in the business to Charles L. Hubbard and Huntington Lee in November, 1912. The business is now under the management of the latter, who is conducting the interests with a complete and efficient organization to furnish and install electrical equip- ment and artistic lighting fixtures of every description. Many prominent buildings have been equipped by this company, including the New Haven county courthouse, the New Haven high school, the Second National Bank, the New Haven Savings Bank, the National
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Savings Bank, the Union & New Haven Trust Company, the Security Insurance Company, the New Haven Journal-Courier building, the S. S. Kresge Company's building, the Wueste- fehl garage. the Whitfieldl garage, the Hotel Garde, the Strouse-Adler Company factory, the Acme Wire Company factory, I. Newman & Son's factory, Whitney Blake Company's factory, Kolynos Company's factory, Mayo Radiator Company's factory, St. Rose's Roman Catholic church, the First Methodist Episcopal church, the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, the Epworth Methodist Episcopal church, the Yale electrical laboratory, the Yale mining and metal laboratory, the Yale Art School, the Yale Law School, the Yale Battell chapel, the Graduates Club building, the Elihu Club building, Poli's theatre. the Elks' lodge building and the residences of F. F. Brewster, Thomas Hooker, E. G. Stoddard, Franklin Farrell, Jr., M. H. Marlin, W. H. Ludington, Walter Perry and F. T. Bradley, all of New Haven, Connecticut; the Connecticut School for Feeble Minded at Mansfield; the Connecticut State School for Boys at Meriden; the Norwich Hospital for the Insane at Norwich; the Thames National Bank at Norwich; the Birmingham National Bank at Derby; the Winchester Woolen Mills at Norwich; St. Lawrence Roman Catholic church at West Haven: Poli's theatre at Springfield, Massachusetts; and the Masonic Temples at West- ville and West Haven, Connecticut.
GILBERT TULLOCK.
Gilbert Tullock is a member of the wholesale grocery .firm of Miner. Read & Tullock and in his business life he has been a persistent, resolute and energetic worker, keeping his hand steadily upon the helm of trade and strictly conscientious in his dealings with debtor and creditor alike. He was born on the Shetland islands, Scotland, January 16. 1873. His father, Daniel Tullock, a farmer by occupation, passed away on the Shetland islands in 1884. while the mother, who bore the maiden name of Ann Manson, spent her entire life there, her death occurring in 1905.
Gilbert Tullock was one of a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and all of the sons came to America. One sister has passed away and one is now living in Glasgow, while the third sister is Mrs. Daniel Tullock, of New Haven. The sons are Andrew. Magnus. James, Gilbert and D. Edgar. The last named was a salesman with the Miner. Read & Tullock Company until his death. November 23, 1917. Andrew is a sea captain and Magnus is with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, while James is engaged in the plumbing business in Newark, New Jersey.
Gilbert Tullock acquired a public school education in Scotland and in 1890, when a youth of seventeen, left the land of hills and heather and came to the United States as a sailor. He continued to sail the seas for three years, after which he learned the carpenter's trade with the firm of Smith & McQueen. He spent two years in that connection, after which he entered the wholesale grocery business as a porter in 1895 in the employ of Bryan. Miner & Read. He gradually worked his way upward through the positions of stock clerk and salesman and in 1907 became a member of the firm, which was then doing business under the style of Miner, Read & Garrette. A subsequent change in the partner- ship has led to the adoption of the firm style of Miner, Read & Tullock and thus Mr. Tullock has gained for himself a very substantial and enviable position in the commercial circles of his adopted city. His success is due to close application. He is always at his desk at a very early hour and is seldom absent from his place of business. He studies every feature bearing upon the trade and his indefatigable energy and perseverance are bringing to him gratifying and well merited success.
On the 16th of April, 1901, in New Haven, Mr. Tullock was married to Miss Margaret E. Hood, a daughter of John Hood, of Chester, Connecticut, and they have become the parents of two sons and three daughters: D. Edgar, Christine Forhes, Margaret Elizabeth, Eleanor Carrington and Ralph Miner. The family residence is at 379 Edgewood avenue and Mr. Tullock is certainly fortunate in that the family circle remains unbroken by the hand of death. He is not a club man but belongs to the Union League and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. cooperating in all of its plaus and purposes for the upbuilding of the
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city, the improvement of its business conditions and the development of its civic interests. He spends his leisure hours with his family and is not unmindful of his moral obligations, being a consistent member of the Plymouth Congregational church.
MINER, READ & TULLOCK.
The wholesale grocery house now conducted under the firm style of Miner, Read & Tullock was established in 1842 by E. J. Stout, who engaged in handling raw sugar, molasses, flour and bulk goods on State street. In 1860 he admitted E. P. Yale as a partner, under the firm style of Stout & Yale, and in 1868 the firm name was changed to Stout, Yale & Company, at which time Edward Bryan became financially interested in the business. In 1870 Mr. Stout withdrew, leading to the adoption of the style of Yale & Bryan, and in 1882 this was changed to Yale, Bryan & Company, Ralph J. Miner and Samuel H. Read being admitted to a partnership. In 1892 Mr. Yale withdrew and the firm name of Bryan, Miner & Read was then assumed. The death of Mr. Bryan occurred July 10, 1899, and on the 1st of January, 1900, Mr. Garrette became a partner and the name was changed to Miner, Read & Garrette. In 1907 Gilbert Tullock was given an interest in the business and on the 1st of January, 1910, Mr. Garrette withdrew and the firm name was changed to Miner, Read & Tullock, under which style the business has since been continued. Mr. Miner died February 20, 1916, but the name continues the same. In 1885 the firm of Yale, Bryan & Company removed from Upper State street to the present location at Nos. 91 to 115 State street, where they erected a building four stories in height and sixty by ninety feet. Three years later, owing to the increase in their business, they erected an addition of four stories, forty by ninety feet, and purchased an adjoining building, twenty by ninty feet, from the MeKennan estate. In 1907 they bullt the building that is now occupied by the present office. It is twenty-seven by ninety feet in dimensions, so that there is now a combined store space of three hundred and seventy-five thousand cubic feet in the New Haven warehouses. In connection with this business three branch stores are maintained, one being located at New Britain, another at Meriden and the third in Bridge- port. The New Britain store was established in 1903, the Meriden, in 1905 and the Bridge- port, in 1907. The first has a warehouse storage capacity of one hundred and fifteen thousand cubic feet, the one at Meriden of one hundred and seventy-five thousand cubic feet and the Bridgeport establishment has two hundred and twenty thousand cubic feet of warehouse storage capacity. The business has increased five hundred per cent in the past ten years and theirs is probably the largest wholesale grocery house in New England. The business methods employed by the firm throughout the existence of the house have always been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and along the legitimate lines of trade they have won a patronage that now makes their undertaking one of the foremost commercial interests of New England.
ARTHUR D. CALDWELL.
Arthur D. Caldwell, manager and treasurer of the Caldwell Company, Incorporated, is one of the many excellent citizens whom Canada has given to the United States. He was born on Prince Edward Island and is a son of James and Elizabeth Caldwell. After attending school in Toronto, Canada, he learned telegraphy, to which he devoted two or three years. Later he clerked in a store for four or five years but in 1897 went to Boston. Subsequently he represented the Boston & Maine Railroad at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, for eight years but in 1905 became connected with the National Biscuit Company. He rose to the position of road auditor, in which important capacity he served until 1906, when he came to Meriden as manager. He established the Caldwell Company in 1913, which later was incor- porated with the following officers: F. P. Fenner, president; A. D. Caldwell, treasurer and manager; I. J. Meiklem, vice president; and H. R. Magowan, secretary. Mr. Fenner is also manager of the Miner, Read & Tullock branch house in Meriden and Mr. Meiklem and
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Mr. Magowan are natives of Meriden. When the business was established in 1913 Mr. C'aklwell and a bookkeeper did all the work but there are now four employes, and one truck and a touring car are used in the conduct of the business. The company deal in a complete line of high grade confectionery and crackers, selling at wholesale only, and their goods have found a ready market in Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and all intermediate points.
Mr. Caldwell was married in January. 1906, to Miss Sarah B. Whitehead, of Lynn. Massachusetts, and they have two children: Jennie, nine years old; and Laura, three years of age. Mr. Caldwell stanchly supports the principles and candidates of the republican party but has no ambition to hold office. Fraternally he is connected with Charles W. Moore Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter, R. A. M .; llamilton Council, R. & S. M .; St. Elmo Commandery, K. T .; and Pyramid Shrine. lle is likewise a member of the Colonial Club. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church and he seeks in every way possible to extend its influence. The greater part of his time and attention is naturally given to the upbuilding of his business but he has also found opportunity to aid in carrying forward to successful completion a number of pro- jects for the benefit of his city and is recognized as a public-spirited citizen.
JOHN W. IVES, M. D.
Dr. John W. Ives, physician and surgeon of Milford, was born in Goshen, Connecticut, January 8, 1876, and is descended from one of the old families of the state, founded in America by two brothers who came over in the Mayflower. They first located in what is now Wallingford, Connecticut, and for a considerable period the family has been repre- sented in Goshen, where the Doctor's father, llenry H. Ives, was born. He was a successful farmer and continuously developed and cultivated his land until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He was with the army for four years, was taken prisoner and on one occasion was struck by a bullet. A small Testa- ment which he had in his vest pocket was pierced to the inner covering and thus saved his life. On another occasion a bullet tore his cap from his head and cut his hair close to the scalp but left no serious results. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eunice M. John- son, was a native of Cornwall, Connecticut, and represented an old Connecticut family of English lineage which was represented in the American army during the Revolutionary war. The Johnsons were very prominent and influential people of Cornwall through several gen- erations. Mr. and Mrs. Henry 1]. Ives became the parents of two children, of whom Harri- son H. Ives now occupies the old homestead at Goshen.
Dr. Ives, however, did not care to follow agricultural pursuits and after attending private schools determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and entered Yale University, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1900. His early life and his vaca- tion periods, however, were spent upon the farm and in the free, open life he laid the foun- dation for his later success. Immediately after his graduation he was appointed interne in the General Hospital at Paterson, New Jersey, and later he opened the Soldiers' Home, Turning his attention to general practice, he remained at Cornwall for five years, or until October, 1905, and then removed to Milford, where he continues in active practice. His at- tention is devoted to general practice and he now has extensive professional interests. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern seientific thought and research and his ability is manifest in the excellent results which attend his efforts. He also has other business eonnec- tions, being secretary and treasurer of the Davis Drug Company of New Haven and a director and member of the executive board of the Milford Trust Company.
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