USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 79
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ing large and small gun work, armor plate and other ordnance materials; the ammunition manufactured at the plant was taken to the company's own proving ground at Reading, Pennsylvania, and there tested.
Mr. Bunnell resigned from the government service in 1907 and entered into partner- ship with George R. Coan, his brother-in-law, in the insurance business, Mr. Coan having succeeded to the business of the firm of Charles R. Coan & Son, of which his father was the senior partner. This is today one of the oldest and most thoroughly reliable insur- ance agencies in New Haven. At the time the partnership was formed the company was acting as managers for the Security Insurance Company in its New Haven department, with offices at 37 Center street. In September, 1910, they severed connection with the Security as local managers to represent them as local agents and representing several other companies they opened up an office at 17 Center street and advertised "doing business on the Ground Floor." Since then their patronage has steadily increased until, having outgrown their quarters, they removed in May, 1913, to their present location at Nos. 25-27 Center street, where they have a large clerical force engaged in carrying on their extensive business, and are now numbered among the most prominent of the general insurance agencies of the state, having a business of extensive and gratifying proportions.
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On the 21st of October, 1899, Mr. Bunnell was married to Miss Ellen W. Holland, of Waterbury, Connecticut, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Holland, now residents of Los Angeles, California. They have one child, Warren Beach, who was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on September 1, 1903, and is now attending school in New Haven.
Mr. Bunnell holds membership with the Knights of Pythias. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Malta, and Snow Melters, of South Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania, and at New Haven he is a member of the Patriotie Sons of America. Sons of Vet- erans. and the Second Company, Governor's Foot Gnard, one of the oldest military organ- izations in the United States.
WILLIAM ALLEN PENFIELD.
William Allen Penfield. a contractor for the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Com- pany and the president of the Penfield Manufacturing Company, possesses marked inventive skill and ingenuity that has resulted in the winning of more than thirty patents upon his inventions. He comes of a family that is distinctively American in its lineal and collateral branches through many generations.
He was born March 30, 1852, in New Britain, Connecticut, his parents being Lemuel and Caroline (Allen) Penfield. An early member of the New Haven colony was Nathaniel Penfield, who settled at Wallingford, where he passed away in January, 1776. To him and his wife, Hannah, was born a son to whom they gave the name of Nathaniel and who became a farmer of what is now Meriden. On the 9th of June, 1755, he wedded Lydia Barnes and following his death, which occurred in Meriden, May 18, 1777, his widow be- came the wife of Jeremiah H. Osgood, her death occurring January 31, 1811, when she was seventy-six years of age. Phineas Penfield, son of Nathaniel and Lydia Penfield, was born June 6, 1756, and enlisted at Farmington, Connecticut, as a private soldier for serv- ice in the Continental army, with which he was connected for twelve months and twenty- three days. On the 9th of April, 1778, he married Lucy Osgood, whose parents were Jeremiah H. and Lucy (Churchill) Osgood. He died in Hartford county, Connecticut, March 28, 1834, when seventy-seven years of age.
Phineas Penfield, son of Phineas Penfield, Sr., was born October 18, 1785, and his life record compassed almost sixty years, his death occurring August 3, 1845. On the 25th of November, 1812, he married Ruth Judd Hart, who was born May 3, 1793, her father being Linus Hart, of Farmington. This couple became the parents of Lemnel Penfield, the father of William Allen Penfield.
Lemuel Penfield was born in New Britain and had reached the age of fifty-six years when death called him in 1876. In his youthful days he secured a position with the Stanley Rule & Level Company, with which he continued for several years. He was the first police- man appointed under the city government of New Britain and remained a member of the
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police foree until his demise. He first wedded Caroline Allen and they became the parents of four children, the eldest of whom died in infancy, the others being Henry B., William A. and Caroline. The sister married Spencer Page and became a resident of New Britain. For his second wife Lemuel Penfield chose Miss Hattie Terrell. He was a devoted member of the Congregational church and was an earnest advocate of republican principles from the organization of the party.
William Allen Penfield, whose name introduces this record, was a public school pupil in New Britain, Connectieut, his native city, and there passed through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school. He was a lad of fourteen when he became an employe of the Stanley Rule & Level Company in the rule department and there remained for twelve years. He afterward came to Meriden, where he accepted a position with the Meriden Britannia Company in the German silver department and remained in that capacity for three years. He then returned to New Britain, where he was employed in a lock shop for a year, but at the end of that time he accepted a position in the brass department of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company as a contractor. He has since con- tinned with this concern, covering a period of thirty-four years. In 1915 he organized the Penfield Manufacturing Company, of which he is the president. This company is engaged in the manufacture of the Penfield spot light with combination bracket. No expense has been spared in the production of this light, no solder or other material liable to weaken or decrease the length of its durability being used. Experienced mechanies and electricians have given their best thought and ingenuity to the construction of the light, with the result that lamps have been produced and are ready for the market which possess the best features of any yet shown. The radiance of the light and the shape of the parabola ren- ders possible the throwing of the rays a distance of nine hundred feet. A special feature of these lamps is their new struck steel combination bracket, which is so arranged that by turning the thumb screw one may lift the lamp out of the bracket and by means of extra length of cord use it as a trouble light. The plant of the Penfield Manufacturing Company has twenty-four hundred square feet of floor space and there are eight employes. Possessing marked mechanical skill and ingenuity, Mr. Penfield has brought forth more than thirty inventions which are now patented, all of these patents taken out under contraet work with the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company. Among the pat- ents is one for a drop tube for lamp wick, a bicycle bell, a reflector for bicycle lamps, an indicator for lamp fount, a bieyele lamp, a flame extinguisher for lamp, two patents of piano lamp extension of which over eighteen thousand were sold in one year, a wiek raiser, a lamp burner, a wick stop, a bicycle frame, a hobble for horses and two shock absorbers. Mr. Penfield also perfeeted the famous Standard oil stove, of which over two and a half million have been sold.
On the 16th of October, 1874, oceurred the marriage of Mr. Penfield and Miss Sarah Briggs, who was born in New Brunswick, Canada, her parents being Eben and Mehitable (Taylor) Briggs. The marriage, however, was celebrated in New Britain and to them were born four children: Harry Briggs, who died in early life; Mattie May, who became the wife of Lorenzo T. Fuller; William Lemuel; and Charles Larkin, who died in 1917. The surviving son, William L., married Flora Smith and has two children, Esther and Gertrude. He is now with the Winchester Arms Company of New Haven and is an eree- tor and lathe setter.
Mr. Penfield is a man of genuine worth, fearless in the expression of his honest eon- victions, active in support of all measures which he believes to be right. He gave his politieal allegiance to the democratie party for many years but in 1901 beeame convinced that issues advocated by the republican party were of more importance and joined its ranks. In 1896 he was elected on the democratic ticket as alderman from the third ward of Meriden and was chairman of the claims committee. In 1899 he was appointed a mem- ber of the board of public works and continued to aet in that position for sixteen years, making a most ereditable record, as is indicated by his long continuance in the position. He was also fire commissioner for one year. He is well known in fraternal eireles, hold- ing membership in Myrtle Lodge, No. 6. K. P .; in Meriden Lodge, No. 35, B. P. O. E .: in Montowese Tribe, I. O. R. M .; and in Silver City Lodge, O. U. A. M.
His pronounced qualities are such as have won for him high regard wherever he is known and most of all where he is best known. He holds friendship inviolable, is loyal
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and patriotic in citizenship and true to every obligation that devolves upon him, while as a business man his inventive genius has contributed much toward the upbuilding of this section of the state and its conversion into a great manufacturing center.
FRANK E. SANDS.
Frank E. Sands, president and treasurer of the Journal Publishing Company of Meriden and publisher of the Meriden Daily Journal, was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut, July 17, 1863, a son of Jesse and Mary Melvina (Turner) Sands. He is a representative of prominent old colonial families. His great-great-grandfather in the maternal line was one of the first settlers of New Fairfield, Connecticut, the little colony receiving a land grant from the general assembly. He is also a direct descendant of John Wakeman, the first treasurer of New Haven colony. His early days were spent in New Fairfield and in Danbury, where he attended school until fourteen years of age. He then became a resident of New Haven and after a preparatory course entered Yale in the fall of 1882. He graduated with the class of 1885 as a Bachelor of Philosophy.
Not long afterward Mr. Sands became connected with the wholesale produce business but did not find that vocation an agreeable one and in 1885 he entered the field of journal- ism as a reporter on the New Haven Union. In 1886 he became interested in the formation of the Journal Publishing Company of Meriden and removed to that city. He was elected one of the directors and the treasurer of the company, in which position he has since con- tinued. He is also business manager of the Meriden Daily Journal.
On the 26th of April, 1888, Mr. Sands was married to Miss Alice Louise Brasee, a daughter of Judge John Schofield and Anna (Dickinson) Brasee, of Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sands have one daughter, Anna Brasee Sands, born December 10, 1889. A son Trafford Turner, died in infancy.
Mr. Sands is well known in fraternal circles, being a thirty-second degree Mason and be- longing to a number of other orders. He was one of the founders of the Highland Country Club and is a member of the board of governors. He belongs to the Home Club and for a number of years was chairman of its executive committee, while in 1897-8 he served as its president. He was an active member of the committee that planned and built the present handsome clubhouse. He served three terms as president of the Meriden's Business Men's Association, since changed to the Meriden Chamber of Commerce. When the Connecticut Home Guard was formed, after the outbreak of the war, he was commissioned a major in command of the Meriden Transport Battalion. He is chairman of the military department of the Meriden War Bureau of the State Council of Defense and otherwise actice in war matters.
ALFRED SAMUEL BENNETT.
Alfred Samuel Bennett, who is living retired /in Cheshire after many years devoted to the conduct of a meat business, was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England, May 25, 1858, and is a representative of an old and prominent family of the county, many of the name having held high positions there both in church and state. Moreover, the family has been granted a coat of arms and erest.
The father of our subject, George Bennett, Jr., was also born in Camborne, a son of George Bennett, Sr., who passed his entire life in England. He was a landowner and a minister of the gospel. George Bennett, Jr., was educated in Cornwall and engaged in farming until 1882, when he removed to Cheshire, Connectient. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Emma Edmonds, was also born in Cornwall, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Lanyon) Edmonds. She passed away in the faith of the Wesleyan Methodist church, in England, leaving six children: George, who is the local preacher of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Glenbrook, Connecticut, and has a son, George, who is of the seventh generation bearing that name, all eldest sons; Richard E., an Episcopal minister
FRANK E. SANDS
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of Cincinnati, Ohio; William L. and Wesley, both ministers of Sussex, England: Alfred S .; and James, a meat dealer and a local preacher of South Meriden, Connecticut.
Alfred S. Bennett received his education in the public and private schools of Cornwall and remained upon the home farm until he attained his majority. On the 25th of May, 1879, on his twenty-first birthday, he sailed for America, accompanied by his brother, James. Their ship docked at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and thence they removed to Chatham. Ontario, where they remained for a year. They then took up their home on a small farm in Cheshire, Connecticut, but two years later established a butcher business. They con- ducted a meat market and dealt in cattle in partnership in Cheshire Center until 1887, when the business connection was dissolved. JJames removing to South Meriden. while Alfred ran the old business. For many years he successfully conducted the butcher shop and also dealt in fertilizers and likewise engaged in farming to some extent. llis energy and good management enabled him to look after his diverse interests and in addition to the lines of activity already mentioned he was for many years, beginning in 1893, engaged in avetioneering. By hard work and thrift he gradually added to his capital and has now acquired a competence which enabled him to retire in 1909.
On the 9th of March, 1885, Mr. Bennett was married in St. Mabyn. Cornwall, England, while on a visit to that country, to Miss Annie Cleave, a native of St. Kew, that county, and a daughter of Nicholas Thomas Cleave, of Lanow Barton. St. Kew. To this union have been born three children: Emma Jane, who studied instrumental music at Hacketts- town, New Jersey, also graduated from the Yale School of Mr. Knight, and is now teach- ing music and resides at home; Evelyn Mary, a graduate of the Waterbury high school; and Milville C., who attended the Wesleyan University and is now a corporal at Camp Devens.
Mr. Bennett is a stanch advocate of republican principles and for fifteen years was selectman, lris continuance in that office being the best proof of his capability and faith- fulness to trust. From 1903 to 1905 he represented his town in the legislature and in that larger field manifested the same excellent qualities that made him such a valuable town officer. He is a charter member of L. A. Thomas Lodge, No. 9. 1. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand and on whose building committee he served when the new lodge home was erected. and he likewise belongs to Temple Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M., of Cheshire. Both he and his wife belong to the Grange and he has been one of the most active members of that organization and for three years served as master. He is a con- sistent and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, for more than twenty- five years has been superintendent of its Sunday school, and has served as class leader and as chairman of the board of trustees. AH movements for the advancement of the canse of righteousness and justice receive his hearty cooperation and his life's efforts have been felt in many lines of activity as an influence for good.
HENRY WEIDEMANN.
Henry Weidemann is the president of the Weidemann Brewery Company of West Haven and is one of Connecticut's representative citizens. He was born in Hessen, Germany. April 19, 1850, a son of Johann and Elizabeth (Hassenpflug) Weidemann, both of whom were born in Hessen, Germany, where they spent their entire lives, the father being en- gaged in the wholesale grocery business. They had a family of five children, but Henry Weidemann of this review is the only surviving member.
In his youthful days Henry Weidemann attended school in Germany, enjoying liberal educational opportunities. After his textbooks were put aside he became an apprentice to the brewer's trade, paying for the opportunity of learning the business, which he thoroughly mastered in every department. On attaining his majority he decided to leave Germany and enjoy the broader opportunities of the new workl. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic and landed in New York city. He did not remain idle long but at once se- cured a position with the Elias Brewing Company of New York, while later he was with the Washington Brewery of Washington. D. C. He continued with those two companies altogether for twelve years and rose to the position of foreman with the Washington Vol. II-29
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Brewing Company. While thus employed he carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to embark in business on his own account. He then came to West Haven and bought out a small brewery, which he has since developed into the large manufacturing plant which he now owns. Originally it had a capacity of but a few harrels a day and at the present writing its capacity is seventy thousand barrels per annum. The most sanitary conditions prevail in the brewery and the most scientific methods are employed in the manufacture of the product.
On the 6th of May, 1884, Mr. Weidemann was united in marriage in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, to Miss Mary Schmaelzle, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Schmaelzle, of a well known family of Holyoke, Massachusetts.
In polities Mr. Weidemann follows an independent course, voting to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and also with Herat Lodge of the Sons of Hermann. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the oppor- tunities which he sought and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward, winning a very substantial measure of success in the conduct of his business interests.
REV. PAUL ANDREW KIRSCH.
Rev. Paul Andrew Kirsch, pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran church at Mer- iden, was born in Webster, New York, February 11. 1889, a son of John A. W. and Martha (Leddin) Kirsch. The father was also a clergyman, devoting his life to that holy calling. The mother passed away in 1894.
Paul A. Kirsch attended the public schools of Canajoharie, New York, and the parochial schools at Buffalo, New York, the latter conducted under the direction of St. John's Lutheran church. He remained in these schools until he reached the age of thirteen years and then became a student in the Northwestern College at Water- town, Wisconsin. At the time he entered this college he had not yet made a selection of the vocation to which he wished to devote his life. He pursued a two years' preparatory course and devoted four years to the collegiate course, heing graduated in 1908 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He afterward went to Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he became a student in the Mount Airy Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated with the B. D. degree in 1911.
His first active church work after preparing for the ministry was as assistant to his father in Buffalo, New York. He was ordained on the 25th of June, 1911, and filled his father's pulpit while the latter took a vacation abroad. He then accepted a call to St. Marks church at Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn, New York, where he remained from March, 1912, until February, 1913. He then came to Meriden to attend a celebration of the twenty- fifth anniversary of his sponsor, Rev. C. R. Tappert, who unexpectedly resigned shortly after, and the congregation, having heard Rev. Kirsch, extended to him the call, which he accepted in February, 1913.
When he arrived the church had a membership of five hundred and today its member- ship numbers seven hundred and fifty. The church property is valued at nearly forty thousand dollars and Rev. Kirsch was instrumental in discharging the last of the church indebtedness in 1914. The church was totally destroyed by fire on the 30th of December, 1917. The church building as it stood was built about twenty-eight years ago. There were two floors, the lower being used as elass rooms, as reception rooms, as Sunday school rooms and for the church library. while the upper floor contained an auditorium, seating about seven hundred. There were eleven very fine and beautiful memorial windows, five of which had been installed through the efforts of Rev. Kirsch. These last windows were made by F. E. Freund, of Hoboken, New Jersey, formerly with the Tiffany Company of New York city. Rev. Kirsch also had installed a beautiful hand carved altar and through his efforts the church was redecorated and new electric light fixtures were put in. The church library had four hundred volumes. Through the work of Rev. Kirsch the income of the church has increased from twenty-seven to forty-five hundred dollars annually. When the church building was erected in 1889 there were but forty members. The char-
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ities of the church have been increased over five hundred per cent and under the guidance of Rev. Kirsch the work of the church in all of its various departments has been greatly augmented and a new church as well as parish buildings will soon be erected. He holds services in both the English and German languages.
On the 25th of September, 1912, Rev. Kirsch was united in marriage to Miss Clara Marie Haller, of Buffalo, New York, and they have one son. Paul John, born February 11, 1914. Rev. Kirsch is not only a student of biblical literature but of the questions and issues of the day, and his aid and influence are on the side of progress. lle is an earnest and convincing speaker, a clear and logical reasoner and moreover is a man of ready sympathy who, while recognizing the frailties of human nature, make- strong ap- peal to man's better qualities and has been largely instrumental in their development.
FREDERICK M. CLARK.
Among the many concerns located in eastern Connecticut doing a nation wide business is the Everett B. Clark Seed Company of Milford, and as its secretary and treasurer. Fred- erick M. Clark occupies an important position in trade circles.
He was born in Orange, November 24, 1863, a son of Everett B. and Charlotte (Wood- ruff) Clark, an account of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work. After completing a public school course he became associated with his father in business and has ever since been an active factor in the management of the affairs of the Everett B. Clark Seed Com- pany. This concern was the first to engage in the commercial raising of seed corn and has maintained the prestige thus gained. Many of the widely popular varieties of seed of various kinds were first grown and put on the market by the firm and its trade covers the entire country. There are branch houses, growing stations and warehouses at various points in the country and particular attention is given to the growing of sweet corn, peas and beans. Much of the growth of the business has been due to the effort- of Frederick M. Clark, who is secretary and treasurer and is in charge of the eastern business of the company. He has greatly increased the ammal volume of business in his territory and is continually seeking opportunities for further expansion. He is also a director of the Mil- ford Trust Company.
Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Anna Platt. a representative of one of the old and most highly respected families of Milford. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and of a number of social and civic clubs and takes a keen interest in their work. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born four children, namely: Mer- ritt, Donald Newton. Josephine King and Newton Platt.
Mr. Clark gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never had the time nor inclination to hold office. He is president of the No-License League of Mil- ford and has made the influence of that body strongly felt in the community. His re- ligious faith is indicated by the fact that he belongs to the Plymouth Congregational church of Milford and he is now chairman of its ecclesiastical committee. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans but is not connected with clubs or secret societies. His efforts have been largely concentrated upon the condnet of his business affairs and in following this course he has indirectly contributed to the advancement of the commercial interest- of his town.
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