USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 60
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On the 24th of May, 1893, Mr. Blake was married to Miss Etta Scheuy, of New Britain, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Scheuy. They now have one son, Walter H., who was born in New Haven in 1895 and is a graduate of the West Haven high school and of the Stebbing Commercial School of New Haven. At the present time he is employed in the executive offices of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
Mr. Blake is a member of the Real Estate Board of New Haven, of the Chamber of Commerce, of the Bigelow Soeial Association and of the Order of United American Mechanics of New Britain. Since coming to New Haven he has been tendered political preferment. He is a stalwart republican but has always declined to become a candidate for otliee, yet he is not neglectful of the duties of citizenship and loyally supports any plan or measure which he believes will prove of benefit to his city of state. He stands high in public regard, for in his lite record he has displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and respect. The most envious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won and so worthily used. He today occupies a fine home in West Haven and is one of the valued residents and business men of the city.
WILLIS K. STETSON.
A high degree of efficiency is displayed by Willis K. Stetson in the exercise of his duties as librarian of the Free Public Library of New Haven. Broad knowledge combined with uniform courtesy and helpfulness constitute the salient features of his popularity in office. His entire training has fitted him for this position, as a period of school teaching pre- ceded his entrance upon his present line of work.
Mr. Stetson was born at Natick, Massachusetts, May 8, 1858. His father, Daniel K. Stetson, a native of Norwell, Massachusetts, belongs to one of the early families of that state, the American branch having been founded in 1634 by an aneestor who came from England and established the town of Norwell. Daniel K. Stetson was for many years a manufacturer of shoe nails and tacks in Massachusetts but in 1887 removed to California, where he passed away. November 26, 1914, at the age of eighty-one years, his birth having occurred in 1833. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary W. Sanborn, was born at Sanbornton, now Tilton, New Hampshire, and she. too. represented an old English family, established in the new world during the early part of the seventeenth century. She passed
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away at the age of nearly seventy years, leaving a family of five children, of whom two are living, Willis K. and Frank F., the latter the president of the Los Angeles Canning Company of Los Angeles, California.
For a year Willis K. Stetson was a pupil in the East Greenwich Academy of Rhode Island, and, following his graduation from the school, he attended Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, where he won the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1881, while in 1884 the Master of Arts degree was conferred upon him. He accepted a position in the high school of Ansonia, Connecticut, and later he became librarian in the Wesleyan University, where he remained until January, 1887. At the same time he filled the position of librarian in the Russell Library in Middletown.
On the 1st of February, 1887, he came to New Haven and organized the Free Public Library of New Haven and has since been at the head of the institution, which has steadily grown and is today a library of which the city has every reason to be proud.
On the 25th of November, 1886, Mr. Stetson was married in Middletown, Connecticut, to Miss Lillian A. Minor, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and a daughter of John A. and Ella M. (Sullivan) Minor. They have become the parents of three children. John M. was graduated from Yale with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900 and from Princeton University with the Ph. D. degree. George A. was graduated from the Sheffield Scientifie School with the degrees of Ph. B., in 1910, and M. E., later. He is now an instructor in Sheffiekl Scientifie School. Mary M., a graduate of Smith College of the class of 1913, is the wife of Frederick G. Allen.
Politically Mr. Stetson follows an independent course, voting according to the dietates of his judgment without regard to party ties. He belongs to the United Congregational church of New Haven and is chairman of its library committee. lle has no other counce- tions, devoting his entire time to his work. He is thoroughly familiar with the contents of the Free Publie Library and, therefore, is of great assistance to its patrons in selecting required volumes. He has maintained the highest standards in his work. and that he has given splendid satisfaction is indicated in the fact that through the thirty years of its existence the New Haven Library has been under his care.
CHARLES GUSTAVUS PHELPS.
Charles Gustavus Phelps, secretary of the Manufacturers' Association of Connecticut, makes his home in Wallingford, his native eity. He is closely identified with New Haven through descent from several of its oldest families. Though his busy life and varied activities have taken him away from Wallingford for many years, during which period he has spent twenty-seven years in Washington, while now his duties require his presence in the state capital, he has never given up his residence nor abated his interest in Walling- ford and in New Haven county.
The Phelps family are direet descendants of William Phelps, who was one of the early American colonists and was one of five signers of the first written constitution. The ancestors came originally from Tewksbury, England, where the ancestral line dates back to the thirteenth century. Timothy Phelps, grandfather of Charles G. Phelps, was a native of Bristol, Connecticut, where he died and is buried. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Austin and was a native of Kensington. Their son, Gustavus Phelps, was born in Bristol and about 1860 eame to Wallingford. He first entered the employ of the Charles Parker Company of Meriden and afterward worked for the Wilcox Silver Plate Company, becoming superintendent of the plant. In 1866 he became associated with Charles Simpson as one of the founders of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Company, with which business he was identified for several years. He passed away in Wallingford in August, 1878, at the age of forty-one. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Hall, was a daughter of Elihu Hall and Martha (Cooke) Hall. Her father was a descendant of John Hall, one of the first settlers of Wallingford, taking up his abode here in 1670. Martha Cooke was a daughter of Isaae Cooke, who was descended from Colonel Isaae Cooke, one of the original settlers of Wallingford and a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
Charles Gustavus Phelps was born in Wallingford, January 24, 1870. He acquired a .
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common school education, pursuing his studies to the age of thirteen years, when he left school to go to work. He entered the employ of the Wilson Sewing Machine Company as office boy at a salary of two dollars and a half per week. After one year he went with the Judd Manufacturing Company in a clerical capacity and remained with that corporation until 1889, when he resigned to accept the position of private secretary to United States Senator Orville H. Platt, with whom he was associated until the death of Senator Platt, covering a period of sixteen years. In addition to acting as secretary to Senator Platt, he was clerk of the United States senate committee on patents, on Cuban relations, and also of the judiciary committee. In 1896, as a representative of Senator Platt, he made a trip to Europe on a congressional investigation. In 1900 he accompanied the special committee appointed by the United States senate on a trip to Cuba to investigate and study the conditions as a basis for the granting of Cuban independence. In 1905 he was clerk of the special committee appointed by the senate to conduct impeachment proceedings against Charles Swayne, a judge of the northern district of Florida.
While in official service Mr. Phelps studied law in the National Law School of Wash- ington but did not take the examination for admission to the bar. After the death of Sen- ator Platt he remained in Washington as the representative of several large industrial in- terests. In 1908 he was associated with Frank H. Hitchcock in conducting the canvass of delegates to the national convention at Chicago, at which convention he held the proxy of the national committeeman from North Dakota and represented that state upon the national committee in the hearings of contests of delegates to the convention. In 1911 he became associated with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company of New Haven as a special con- fidential representative at Washington and remained with that corporation until the fall of 1916, when he resigned to become secretary of the Manufacturers' Association of Connecticut. He has been active in local politics and has represented the town at several congressional conventions. He has also presided over or has been secretary of several of these. For six years he was assistant prosecutor of the borough court. He has been identified with most of the public movements of Wallingford and was the leader in securing the improvement of Center Street cemetery a few years ago and has since been secretary of the cemetery asso- eiation. Before leaving Washington he secured the passage of a bill granting Wallingford a new postoffice worthy of any larger city. Upon the completion of the building he was given a banquet by the citizens and presented with a silver loving cup.
On the 1st of October, 1895, in Wallingford, Mr. Phelps was married to Miss Jane S., daughter of Judge Edward M. and Jane (Peck) Judd. His patriotic spirit prompts his mem- bership with the Sons of the American Revolution. The breadth of his interests is further indicated in the fact that he has membership in the National Geographic Society, the Con- necticut Historical Society, the Quinnipiac Club, the Old Colony Chib of New York, the Wallingford Country Club, the National Tax Association and the Masonic fraternity. In the last named he is identified with Compass Lodge, F. & A. M., Lockwood Chapter, R. A. M., and St. Elmo Commandery, K. T. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church. His has been a most active and useful life and on all questions of vital importance he has kept abreast with the best thinking men of the age. His work has connected him closely with prominent events in history and with activities which have done much to shape the policy of state and nation.
JOHN HENRY SHEEHAN.
It is a fact widely recognized that many of the most brilliant lawyers and orators that the world has known are of Irish birth or lineage. Characteristically quick witted they readily grasp the points of an argument and are ever ready to defend their position with an eloquence that is largely irresistible. As his surname indicates John Henry Sheehan comes of Irish ancestry. His father, Thomas F. Sheehan, was born in County Clare, Ireland, and on crossing the Atlantie in 1876 made his way direct to New Haven, where for the past quarter of a century he has been connected with the fire department. He married Margaret McNamara, a native of Collinsville, Connecticut, and a daughter of John McNamara, repre- senting one of the old families of this state.
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Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Sheehan became parents of three sons and three daughters, the eldest of whom is John Henry Sheehan, born in New Haven, December 15, 1890. He was edueated in the public and Booth's Preparatory schools and later entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1911. He then entered the office of Harriman & Kelsey, attorneys of New Haven, with whom he was associated for two years, on the expiration of which period he began the private practice of law and has since been continuously and successfully active in the field of legal praetice. He is well qualified in all departments of jurisprudence, prepares his cases with great thoroughness, is strong in argument, logieal in debate and both foreeful and resourceful in presenting the various salient points in his case. His preparation for the bar, however, did not constitute his initial step in the business world, for he started out to earn his own living when a youth of thirteen, being first employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company at a salary of seven dollars per week. Later he worked in dry goods houses at various points in the state, was a trolley car conductor for the Connectieut Company of New Haven, and was likewise in the employ of the Adams Express Company in charge of their accounting department, in this way earning the money that enabled him to meet the expenses of his university course. The elemental strength of his character which he thus displayed has come to fulfillment in a notably brilliant eareer at the New Haven bar, where he is recognized as one of the leading young attorneys of the state.
Mr. Sheehan has membership in the Knights of St. Patrick and with the Young Men's Republican Club, the latter organization indicating his political views and attitude. He belongs to the New Haven County and the Connecticut State Bar Associations and gives the major part of his time to his law practice, although he has some financial interests in various local corporations for which he is attorney. Most creditable and inspiring is his life record, proving as it does that it is under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the strongest and best of man is brought out and developed. Deprived of many of the advantages that most boys enjoy he has worked his way steadily upward and his persisteney of purpose and laudable ambition have constituted steps by which he has climbed to success.
JOSEPH S. BLINN.
New Haven has no more wide-awake and progressive buisiness men than those repre- senting the insurance companies and prominent among these is Joseph S. Blinn, general agent for the Aetna Life Insurance Company. handling accident, health, casualty and automobile insurance. A native of Connecticut, he was born in Waterbury, August 14, 1858, and on the paternal side is of French origin, the name being originally de Blin. The founder of the family in America settled at Pompton, New Jersey, and its early representatives in this country were seafaring men. One of the ancestors of our subject sailed the first ship into what is now Port Annapolis, Maryland.
George H. Blinn, the father of Joseph S., was born in New Jersey but in early life removed to Connecticut and for some years was superintendent of the Scovill Company's brass foundry at Waterbury and later superintendent of the Seth Thomas Clock Company. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. He was a member of the First Methodist church of New Haven and took a very active part in church work. being especially interested in the Bethel Home for seamen. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Louisa MI. Eno. was a daugher of Amos F. Eno, a soldier of the Revolutionary war and a first cousin of John Eno of New York. a well known historic character. Mrs. Blinn died in 1892 at the age of fifty-eight years.
Joseph S. Blinn is the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children. His edueation was acquired in the public and high schools of Plymouth, Litchfield county, Connecticut, but at the age of sixteen years he laid aside his textbooks and began his business eareer as an apprentice to the jewler's and watchmaker's trade in the store of ,I. R. Benjamin at Winsted, Connecticut, but he did not like that occupation on account of its close confine- ment. He was next with Amos F. Barnes & Sons, wholesale grocers of New Haven, as bookkeeper and traveling salesman for six years, and subsequently was with Augur &
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Tuttle, a coffee, tea and spice concern, for whom he traveled several years. In 1889 he became a member of the firm of Elliott. Blinn & Company, successors to Amos F. Barnes & Sons, and was engaged in the wholesale grocery business for three years. Since then he has given his entire time and attention to the insurance business, representing the Aetna Life Insurance Company for the past twenty-three years. Mr. Blinn began as a soliciting agent, later received a special agency, which was followed by a district agency, and for eleven years he has now been general agent, his promotion coming to him in recognition of his ability and the confidence and trust reposed in bim by the company which he represents.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1884. occurred the marriage of Mr. Blinn and Miss Ida F. Huhbert, a native of that city and a daughter of Christian and Sarah (Brown) Hubbert, both deceased. Mr. Hubbert was very prominent in Masonic circles and attained all the orders possible in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Blinn have a son, Laurence H., who was born in New Haven, November 30. 1886, and was married November 11, 1916, to Miss Mary K. Foster, a native of New York state.
Mr. Blinn is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and takes a very active and prominent part in religious affairs, being a member of the Grand Avenue Congregational church. He is now serving as president of the Grand Avenue Congregational Men's Club and as vice president of the Congregational Church Club of New Haven. For eight years he was superintendent of the Sunday school and he does all within his power to promote the moral welfare of the community. His upright, honorable life commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact and he has a host of friends in the city where he makes his home.
WALTER M. DAVIS.
Walter M. Davis is the president of the Davis Drug Company, owning one of the leading drug stores of New Haven, and the record of his life is the proof of a fact which a news- paper writer tersely stated as "Success is not dependent on the map but on the time table." In other words Mr. Davis has made splendid use of his time and his opportunities since starting out to earn his living when a lad of fifteen years. He has done thoroughly every- thing that he has undertaken and from the faithful performance of each day's duties has found courage and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day.
Mr. Davis is a native of New Hampshire, his birth having occurred at South Keene, December 11, 1868. His father. Martin L. Davis, was also born in the old Granite state and belonged to one of the early colonial families there. The great-great-grandfather served with the colonists in the Revolutionary war and aided in winning American independence. Martin Davis has dvoted his life to manufacturing interests and is now a resident of New Haven, Connecticut. In early manhood he wedded Lucy Harris, a native of that state and also a representative of an old New Hampshire family of English lineage. She passed away in 1910 at the age of fifty-six years.
Of a family of six children Walter M. Davis was the eldest and to the public school system of his native state he is indebted for the educational opportunities which he en- joyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. At the age of fifteen years he started out to provide for his own support and was first employed in a chair factory. For twenty-five years he was connected with E. L. Washburn & Company. By profession he is an optician, but since March, 1913, he has concentrated his energies upon the drug business. organizing and incorporating the Davis Drug Company. since which time a business of large and satisfactory proportions has been developed. Theirs is one of the extensive stores of New Haven, attractively arranged and appointed, and carrying a large line of drugs and druggists' sundries, while the trade methods of the house are such as win for it continued patronage and growing support.
On the 6th of June, 1896, in New Haven. Mr. Davis was married to Miss Lilian I. Merwin, a native of Woodmont, Connecticut, and a daughter of William H. and Mary E. (Hale) Merwin, the former now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have become parents of two children: Evelyn M .. born in August. 1900; and Marguerite, born in April, 1904.
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The family attend the Dwight Place church, in which the parents hold membership. Mr. Davis is also an exemplary representative of Wooster Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master. He has been very active in Masonry, belongs to the council and the chap- ter and is a member of the Masonic Club. He likewise has membership in the Chamber of Commerce and in the Publicity Club and is a representative of that modern, progressive spirit which has manifested itself in organization and cooperation for the public good. He has many sterling characteristics, both as a man and a citizen. and his position in commercial eireles is commendable.
CHARLES A. DREISBACH.
Charles A. Dreisbach is the president and manager of the New Haven Sand Blast Company and has other important business interests which have established his position as that of one of the leading and representative business men of New Haven. He was born November 9, 1875, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a son of John Dreisbach and a representa .- tive of one of the old and well known families of the Keystone state. The Dreisbachs are of German lineage but left that country during religious persecution there. They were of the Lutheran faith and migrated to Holland, whence in the early part of the seventeenth century representatives of the name came to America, thus establishing the family on the soil of the new world. The family has always been characterized by religious fervor and loyalty in citizenship. On the records appear the names of many distinguished representa- tives of the ministry, together with those who have taken prominent part in public affairs, filling various positions of public honor and trust.
The Rev. Samuel A. Bridges Stopp, historian of the family, says: "For more than a generation before the war of the Revolution the Dreisbach family, planted in eastern Pennsylvania, flourished and were active in every good word and work. With the heritage of sturdy bodies and sterling characters they at once took their places in the new com- munity with grim determination to succeed at whatever cost or hazard. Not as fugitives from the old world but as pioneers bearing with them the best from their ancestral land. they came to the welcoming shores opened for colonization by William Penn, seeking citizenship, ready to meet each new emergency and grasp every fresh opportunity, with the fear of God in their hearts and faith in the best things actuating their lives. It will prove an interesting study to note a few elements of the Dreisbach character as they appeared in the lives of our ancestors in Colonial America. Notice the religious element as foremost and predominant. The shadow of persecution had often lain across their forefathers' way in Europe. The Dreisbachs were preeminently church builders. In the days of political unrest and manifestations of gross injustice on the part of England toward her colonial subjects the Dreisbachs loyally took the oath of allegiance to their adopted country and sought to be the best possible citizens. Casting in their lot with liberty- loving people they brought forth a race of patriots, soldiers, statesmen, nation builders. They served and sacrificed as men of ideals and purest patriotism, stalwart and unafraid. Recall only the distinguished services of that ardent patriot, Jost Dreisbach, colonel of militia, captain in Baron von Otterndorf's corps, friend of the immortal Washington. Think of his brother Simon in the provincial assembly from 1776 to 1780, subscribing as it were, from the Colony of Pennsylvania to the Declaration of Independence, under the influence and guidance of Benjamin Franklin. Jacob, Adam, Henry and Peter Dreisbach were only a few of the other descendants of the old stock who heard the drum beat and followed the flag of freedom to Princeton and Long Island and Valley Forge.
"But equally strong with the religious and the patriotic elements in the Dreisbach make- up was the domestic strain. They were home lovers and home builders. Great tracts of land were cleared and farms cultivated; dwellings and mills as well as churches and forts were built; they were workers trained in the arts of farming and milling, yet ready to deliberate in the halls of legislation or shoulder the musket and lead the ranks forward to the fray. From the labor of the fields or the grinding of the mill or the peace of their fireside they must often rush forth, gun in hand, to protect their families from the attacks of Indians on the warpath or to find shelter for them in the forts stretching from the
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