USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 73
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HON. WALTER HAYLES.
Hon. Walter Hayles, a member of the Connecticut legislature in 1917 and treasurer of the town of Hamden since 1900, has figured prominently in public affairs and in large meas- ure has left the impress of his individuality upon public thought and action in his con- munity and in the state. In business life he has been connected with industrial and com- mercial interests but is now living retired, enjoying a well earned rest. He was born in Cambridge, England, January 19, 1850, and is a son of Cornwall and Catherine (Litchfield ) Hayles. The father was born in Cambridge, where he engaged in the teaming business, and both he and his wife passed away there.
Walter Hayles spent his boyhood and youth in Cambridge, where he attended the city schools, and afterward worked in the paper mills. He was twenty years of age when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world in 1870, making his way to Rock City Falls, New York, where he resided for a brief period. In the same year he removed to Centerville, Hamden, Connecticut, where he was employed for twenty-eight years by W. I. Ives & Company in the manufacture of augers, bits, etc. He was thus emt- ployed until 1898, when he purchased a general store in Centerville, conducting the business successfully for a decade, or until 1908, when he retired from active life and turned over the business to his son, who is still conducting the store. His career up to 1908 was one of untiring activity, his industry constituting the foundation of his growing success. Since than he has enjoyed a well earned rest, his former activity supplying him with a capital sufficient to meet all of his requirements in obtaining the comforts of life.
On the 26th of October, 1872, Mr. Hayles was united in marriage to Miss Clara Annie Williams, of Centerville, Connecticut, who was born in Cambridge, England, and in young womanhood came to Hamden on a visit. Here she formed the acquaintance of Walter Hayles, who sought her hand in marriage. They have become the parents of three children. The
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eldest, Albert William, who continues the business in which his father formerly engaged, is now conducting the store and is senior partner in the firm of Hayles & Spencer. He mar- ried Edith Kirschner, of Centerville. and they have one child, Berenice. Leslie Cornwall, the second son, is a rural mail carrier. Lulu Clara is the wife of Edward Beecher, who is engaged in the automobile business in Hamden, and they have five children: Raymond, Milton, Viola, Myrtle and Walter.
Mr. Hayles gives his political endorsement to the republican party and in 1900 was elected town treasurer of Hamden, to which position he has been reelected at each biennial period to the present time, so that he is the incumbent in office at this writing, in 1917. His reelections are indicative of the fact that he has been most faithful to his duties, which he has discharged with marked capability and fidelity. He was formerly a member of the school board of Centerville and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. In 1916 he was elected to represent his town in the state legislature and was made a member of the humane committee. He introduced a bill in the legislature providing that each town support its own orphans and other dependents. He also introduced a bill to allow the select - men of the town to appoint the tax assessor, hitherto elected to office, and both of these bills passed the general assembly.
Fraternally Mr. Hayles is connected with Day Spring Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master and he also belongs to Montomese Lodge, 1. O. O. F. For forty-seven years he has been a resident of Hamden and. although born across the water, is thoroughly American in spirit and interests, standing at all times for the welfare and progress of his community, his commonwealth and his country.
FRANK H. MASON.
Frank H. Mason is well known in real estate and insurance cireles, being elaim ad- juster of the Prudential Casualty Company. He is prominent as a citizen of New Haven and is also an officer of the Connecticut Home Guard with the rank of second lieutenant. He was born September 25, 1877, on the old family homestead of James M. Mason, his grandfather. At the same place oceurred the birth of his father, Herbert Mason, who was reared and educated in New Haven and became a prominent factor in business circles, especially in the insurance field. He was made secretary of the Security Insurance Com- pany of New Haven and won recognition as one of the best known insurance men of the state. He died in New Haven and his wife also passed away in this city. They were the parents of four children, two of whom died in infancy, the surviving daughter being Miss Helen Newell Mason, of Long Meadow, Massachusetts.
Frank H. Mason, who was the second in order of birth in that family, attended the Webster and Hopkins grammar schools and afterward pursued a special course in the Yale Law School. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the employ of the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company and later was with the F. C. Bushnell Grocery Company. Still later he followed in his father's business footsteps by entering the insur- ance field, becoming connected with the Security Insurance Company as local agent, and from a humble position he has worked his way steadily upward in insurance circles until he has developed one of the leading agencies in this section of the state. He is also en- gaged in the real estate business and has won a large clientage in that connection. In establishing the business Mr. Mason was first associated with Herbert W. Oviatt and organized what later became the Oviatt-Mason Company, the predecessor of the Frank II. Mason Insurance & Real Estate Company. He is now in control of an extensive business that is bringing to him a substantial financial return.
During the draft Mr. Mason was the deputy registrar of the first ward in New Haven. For a number of years he has been a prominent member of the Connecticut Home Guard.
On the 26th of October, 1907, Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Grace Sims. of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sims. Fraternally Mr. Mason is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in Masonry he has taken the de- grees of lodge and chapter. He belongs to the Race Brook Country Club and the New Haven Yacht Club and is also identified with other social organizations, his pronounced
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qualities making for personal popularity wherever he is known. lle is a representative of one of the old and prominent families of Connecticut and stands high in public regard. What ever he undertakes he accomplishes and his work is characterized by thoroughness, and high ideals and standards, and he makes steady advancement.
JOSEPH G. MERRIAM.
Joseph G. Merriam, proprietor of the Merriam Pattern and Model Works of Meri- den, has developed a business whose constant expansion has made it one of the impor- tant productive industries of that city. He started out in business life at an early age and has constantly worked his way upward.
. Joseph Merriam was born in Meriden, January 18, 1859, a son of Joseph B. and Caroline Amelia (Talmage) Merriam, whose ancestry is traced back to Joseph Merriam, who came from England in 1694. Joseph G. Merriam was a pupil in the public schools of Meriden for a short period, also attended school at Wallingford and Durham, and again entered the Meriden schools, in which he completed his studies. lle went to work at an early age, securing employment in a small lock shop, and later he was employed in a match factory. He afterward learned the pattern making trade in Meriden and at a later period was employed by the Meriden Bronze Company. For eleven years he was with the Bradley-Hubbard Company, previous to which time he had much and varied ex- perience in a number of shops, his training making him an expert pattern maker by reason of his close application and indefatigable energy.
In 1902 Mr. Merriam established his present factory and at the outset employed only his brother. The plant has twenty-one hundred and sixty square feet of floor space. It is supplied with the most modern equipment and plans are now under way for the expansion of the business under the name of the J. G. Merriam Company, Incorporated. It is the purpose to double the capacity of the plant, which for the past few years has been engaged in making patterns and graphophone turntables. The business has long since reached gratifying and profitable proportions and has become an important industry of Meriden.
On the 4th of January, 1903, Mr. Merriam was united in marriage to Miss Hattie C. Ives, who died in 1915, leaving one child, Dorrance Ives, who was born in 1907. In his political views Mr. Merriam is a stalwart republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World and he attends the Methodist church. He is widely known in Meriden, where almost his entire life has been passed, and his substantial qualities as a man and as a citizen are widely acknowledged. There have been no spectacular phases in his career but his record has been marked by a steady pro- gression that has brought him from humble surroundings to a most creditable place among the manufacturers of his native city.
JAMES A. HARTEN, M. D.
Dr. James A. Harten, one of New Haven's representative young physicians who is making rapid headway in the profession, was born September 28, 1884, in the city where he still resides, his parents being Daniel and Katherine (Connor) Harten, both of whom were natives of Ireland. In young manhood and young womanhood, respectively, they came to the new world and settled in New Haven. The father learned and followed the iron molder's trade and continued his residence in New Haven until called to his final rest in June, 1912, when he was fifty-one years of age. For a decade he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1902 at the age of forty-two years. In their family were four children: Alice F., Susan and Gertrude, all of whom are living in New Haven: and James A., of this review.
The son was the second in order of birth. He attended the public schools and the
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Hillhouse high school and then, having made choice of a professional career, he entered the medical department of the University of Maryland at Baltimore and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1910. He afterward spent a year as interne in San Raphael's Hospital of New Haven and on the expiration of that period entered upon the private practice of his profession, having since become one of New Haven's repre- sentative young physicians. He has already made for himself a place in professional eireles that many an older physician might well envy.
Ile belongs to the New Haven, the New Haven County and Connecticut State Med- ical Societies and the American Medical Association and through his identification with these bodies keeps in close touch with the onward trend of professional thought and activ- ity. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he is well informed concerning the questions and issues of the day. He does not seek nor desire office, pre- ferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his practice, which is constantly growing in volume and in importance.
GEORGE KENDRICK HOWE.
George Kendrick Howe, manager of the Meriden branch of the New Haven Dairy Com- pany, brings to his work in this connection thorough experience and expert knowledge and is rapidly developing a business enterprise of importance. He was born in Waterbury, March 11, 1889, a son of George L. and Ellen (Welton) Howe, the former now living re- tired. The latter is a representative of one of the old and prominent Connecticut families, the Weltons having settled near Waterbury about 1700. They figured in connection with the carly Indian wars and also in the American Revolution.
George Kendrick Howe was educated in the public schools, pursuing his studies through the grammar grades, and then started out to earn his own living. Whatever success he has since achieved or enjoyed is attributable entirely to his persistent, earnest effort. He early began to peddle milk and later took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for four and one-half years. He then became connected with the Trott Ice Cream Company of Waterbury, with which he was associated for six years, thoroughly learning the business in principle and detail. He then became associated with the New Haven Dairy Company in 1915, and when a fine new plant was opened in Meriden he was made manager. He has been through all of the departments of the business and has expert knowledge of ice cream manufacture. The Meriden branch was opened in February, 1917, at which time there were three customers and five employes. Within less than a year the business has increased many fold, for there are now seventy-five customers and ten employes. Two trucks are used and the plant is modern in every respect, the ammonia system being employed, while the cold storage equipment is most excellent. Mr. Howe is recognized as a progressive young business man and is winning a very gratifying patronage for the Meriden plant.
On the 9th of January, 1909, Mr. Howe was married to Miss Beatrice Passano, of Waterbury, and they have two children: George Lewis, who was born in 1912; and Leonard Robert, in 1914.
Mr. Howe gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He helongs to the Order of Protection and is a member of the Baptist church-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct.
HENRY E. DUPEE.
Henry E. Dupee has for a number of years been actively and successfully engaged in speenlative building in New Haven and through that avenue has contributed much to the improvement of the city, while at the same time as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well.
A native son of Connecticut, he was born at Stratford, January 22, 1872, a son of George H. and Loretta (Washburn) Dupre. He comes of French ancestry that was early
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established in New England, representatives of the name arriving in the early part of the seventeenth century. In early life George H. Dupee learned the machinist's trade, which he followed successfully both in New Haven and in Waltham, Massachusetts, up to the time when he retired from active life. He was a son of George Il. Dupee, Sr., who was a department superintendent with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company for fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. George H. Dupee are living in New Haven. There were four children of that marriage: Henry E .; Edward T., who is with the Winchester Arms Company of New Haven; Frank C., who is a foreman with the Winchester Arms Company; and Emma, wife of Jesse Whitmore, also of New Haven.
In his boyhood days Henry E. Dupee was a pupil in the public schools of New Haven and later learned the builder's trade with the firm of Johnson & Company. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, with which he con- tinued until 1904, when he embarked in the real estate and building business on his own account. He turned his attention to speculative building, purchasing vacant property and erecting homes thereon, disposing of these for the most part to interested parties. How- ever, he still has large holdings in valuable income-bearing properties and his investments are written in large figures. Today as the result of his industry and thrift he is in very comfortable financial circumstances and his prosperity is the more creditable as it has been acquired entirely through individual effort.
On the 29th of June, 1892, Mr. Dupee was married to Miss Anna S. Fleming, of New Haven. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fleming, of this city. They have become the parents of three children. Raymond II., who was born in New Haven October 1, 1895, was graduated from the grammar schools and Stone Business College and is associated with his father. He married Edith Minson, of New Haven, by whom he has a son, Raymond Henry Eugene. Lanra Anna Dupee, the second of the family, was born in New Haven on April 12, 1899, and is a graduate of the Hillhouse high school and Stone Business College. Evelyn Eugenie was born February 20, 1917, and completes the family.
In politics Mr. Dupee is a stalwart republican and belongs to the Young Men's Re- publican Club. He has served on the board of relief in New Haven and he was appointed by the late Mayor Rice chairman of the independent state committee. He belongs to the Second Regiment of the Governor's Foot Guard, serving under Major John B. Kennedy, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church. He is a pro- gressive man in all that he undertakes, and in all of his relations and in his business career he has made an excellent record as one who has wisely nsed his time, his talents and his opportunities and has thus advanced from a comparatively obscure position to one of eon- siderable prominence. His place in building circles is an enviable one and the financial results which accrued have placed him with the substantial citizens of New Haven.
WILLIAM JOSEPHI BRIDGETT.
Among Wallingford's residents who have been prominent in public affairs of com- munity and of commonwealth is William Joseph Bridgett, who has twice been elected to represent his district in the state legislature and who is now serving as county auditor for a term of two years.
He was born in Morristown, New Jersey, March 12, 1878, a son of Patrick and Anastasia (Bergen) Bridgett, both of whom are natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland. They came to America about 1875 and the father followed the occupation of farming, establish- ing his home in New Haven county in 1881. He has since engaged in general agricultural pursuits, his place being located on North Colony street in Wallingford.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, William J. Bridgett attended the Colony Street school and was employed in a factory in Wallingford until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he opened the restaurant which he still conducts, his busi- ness being located at No. 29 Hall avenue. That he has prospered in this undertaking is indicated by the fact that he has so long continued in a given line of activity. He is also interested in another business enterprise, being secretary and treasurer of the Walling. ford Auto Company.
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In community affairs Mr. Bridgett has taken a most active interest, being a stanch supporter of the democratic party. For six years he was a valued member of the board of relief. In 1913 and again in 1915 he was chosen to represent Wallingford in the state legislature and during the first session was made a member of the excise committee, while in 1915 he was made a member of the committees on the sale of lands and unfinished busi- ness. In the latter year he was appointed county auditor of New Haven county for a two years' term and is now making an excellent record in that position. He has been prompt and efficient in the discharge of his official duties, making an excellent record as an in- cumbent in public office by reason of the fact that he is loyal to the interests entrusted to his care.
Mr. Bridgett holds membership in the Holy Trinity church and he is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to other fraternal organizations, including the Foresters, the Hibernians and the Elks. He was but three years of age when his parents removed from New Jersey to Connecticut and he has since been a resident of Wallingford, where he has a very wide acquaintance, his many friends speaking of him in terms of high regard.
GEORGE GOLDMAN, M. D.
Dr. George Goldman, engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery in New Haven, graduated from Yale Medical School in 1910 and is clinical assistant in medicine at Yale University. He holds membership in the New Haven. New Haven County and Connecticut State Medieal Societies and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Goldman is a member of Horeb Lodge. B'nai B'rith. and takes an active and prom- inent part in Jewish charities.
GEORGE DUTTON WATROUS.
To have merit so compelling. character so fine as, disarming envy and professional jealousy, to win for him almost unanimous recognition as a leader of the New Haven bar is the fortunate fate of George Dutton Watrous. Beyond that it is his lot to have the cordial and sincere respect of his fellow citizens of all vocations. This eminence he has in his threefold position of distinguished jurist, counselor entrusted with the most important causes, and magnetic and inspiring teacher.
Professor Watrous was born in New Haven. September 18, 1858, son of George Henry and Harriet Joy (Dutton) Watrons. He was graduated from Yale with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1879. In 1883 he received from Yale the degree of LL. B., and at once was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Watrous in 1885 formed a partnership with Hon. William K. Townsend, later judge of the United States circuit court of appeals. under the firm name of Townsend & Watrons. Upon appointment of Mr. Townsend as United States district judge, Mr. Watrous formed a partnership with E. G. Buckland. under the name of Watrous & Buckland. When Mr. Buckland entered the service of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, becoming its general counsel, the firm of Watrous & Day was formed. his partner being Harry G. Day, and this connection is still continued.
In 1889 Mr. Watrons was called to the teaching force of the Yale Law School as in- structor in the law of contracts and torts. In 1890 he received the degree of Doctor of Civil Law. In .1892 he was made assistant professor of law. and he held a full professorship from 1895 to 1917, when he retired from teaching, although he still remains a member of the faculty. He is a member of the New Haven County Bar Association, and was its presi- dent from 1909 to 1912. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, and is now its vice president for Connectient. In June. 1917, he was appointed a member of the exemp- tion board for distriet No. 5. for the city of New Haven and became clerk of that board, now serving in that capacity. He is also a member of the American Historical Association,
GEORGE D. WATROUS
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the American Forestry Association, the American Social Science Association and the Amer- ican Academy of Political and Social Science. His social connection is with the University Club of New York as well as several clubs in New Haven.
On June 7, 1888, Mr. Watrous was married to Miss Bertha Agnes Downer, of Whitney- ville, Connecticut, and they have six children.
Such are the modest index points in the record of a most unusual citizen of New Haven. Those who know him well prize their friendship too highly to spoil it by boasting of the parts of a man to whom praise is repugnant. The justice he exalts demands, how- ever, that he be mentioned as a man of the most generous impulses and practice, in the de- votion to publie or private benefits of his talents, his time or his money; as a citizen of the highest ideals; as a friend whose contact is an inspiration. While the influence of a teacher of such character, ideals and practice on the successive classes of young men who have passed from his teaching at Yale to the profession of the law is, in its exalting effect on the calling he adorns, past computation.
DWIGHT M. LEWIS, M. D.
Dr. Dwight M. Lewis, city bacteriologist of New Haven and a physician whose ability is attested by the public and by the profession, was born August 25, 1876, in New Haven, a son of John G. and Jane (Hart) Lewis, the former a native of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, and the latter of New Britain, Connecticut. They removed to New Haven, where the father became a well known educator, filling the position of principal of the Webster school in this city for more than fifty years. Many of the most successful business men of New Haven were his former pupils and all owe much to his inspirational efforts in the ac- quirement of an education. He taught school in New Haven county altogether for fifty- seven years and made valuable contribution to educational progress. He died in New Haven in 1915 at the advanced age of eighty-one years, his wife having preceded him in 1907, passing away at the age of sixty-nine. They were married in New Britain, Connecticut, and became the parents of eight children, five of whom are living. Carl Andrew, a resident of Hampton, Connecticut; Robert Hart, who is living in New York city; Harry Blakeman, a resident of Springfield, Illinois; Dwight M .; and Newton Francis, living in New Haven. Two children of the family died in infancy and one after reaching maturity.
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