USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 85
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The only son, L. Cary Slayton, completed the public and high school courses at Lapeer, Michigan, and afterward became a student in the Agricultural College at Lansing, Michigan.
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Starting upon his business career he first entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad with the intention of learning civil engineering. lle was afterward connected with commercial lines as an employe of a hardware company in Detroit, and from the age of twenty-four years he has been engaged in the life insurance business as a representative of old line companies.
On the 11th of August, 1896, Mr. Slayton was married in Detroit, Michigan, to Miss Katherine A. Whitman, a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a daughter of Martin I. and Aliee (Clark) Whitman, both of whom are now deeeascd. They have four children: Harry Whitman, who was born in Detroit, January 3, 1898; Eric Randolph, born in New llaven, September 1, 1901; Cecelia G., born at West Haven, August 2, 1904; and Janet A., born at West Haven, November 1, 191t.
Mr. and Mrs. Slayton are consistent members of the Plymouth church, and in his political views Mr Slayton is a republican but without desire or ambition for office. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Masons and he belongs to the Quinnipiac Club and to the New Haven Country Club. While the opportunity was given him to secure for himself a good education he has since that time been dependent entirely upon his own resources, and his ability, energy and determination have brought him to the front so that he now occupies an enviable position in insurance eireles of New Haven.
WATSON S. WOODRUFF.
Watson S. Woodruff, a well known business man of Orange, Connecticut, was born in the borough in which he still resides April 8, 1869. He is a son of Stiles Denison Woodruff and is descended from early and prominent settlers of New England, his ancestors ineluding Governor Robert Treat, Governor Pond and Rev. Peter Prudden. In 1640 Matthew and Ilan- nah Woodruff removed from Hartford to Farmington and their son Matthew was born in the latter place six years later. He married Mary Plum and became the father of John, who was born February 1, 1673, and married Mary Platt. Their son Joseph, who was born Feb- ruary 18, 1705, was married in 1729 to Phebe Newton. Among their children was Joseph. whose birth oceurred in April, 1732, and who was captain of the first militia company in Milford. In 1756 he was ordered to secure a quota of men, properly equipped, for the French and Indian war and report with them at Lake George. Nehemiah Woodruff, a son of Joseph Woodruff, was born in 1774 in Milford, but removed to Orange in his youth. He was there married in 1797 to Hannah Jones and they became the parents of ten children, inehiding Jeremiah Woodruff, who was born in Orange, June 26, 1811. He engaged in farming and be- eame quite wealthy according to the standards of his day. lle married Charlotte E. Nettle- ton and to them were born five children, of whom Stiles Denison was the eldest, his birth oceurring in Orange, November 27, 1837. He married Miss Elizabeth M. Clark, also a native of Orange, and they have become the parents of four children, as follows. Frank C is a graduate of Yale College and is in business with his father. He married Julia Alling and had five children, of whom three survive, Alling, Ruth HI. and Harriet B. Watson S., the sub- ject of this review, is the second in order of birth. Robert J., who received the A. B. degree from Yale in 1896 and graduated from the law school in 1899, is a well known lawyer of Nex Haven and has served as tax collector, as prosecuting attorney of the court of common pleas and as a member of the legislature. He is also a prominent Mason and has served as second lieutenant in a cavalry regiment of the Connectient National Guard Mary R., the only daughter, is a graduate of Wellesley College. Stiles Denison Woodruff has taken quite a prominent part in public affairs and in 1880 was a member of the first legislature which met in the new capitol. For twenty years he has been clerk and treasurer of the Orange Congre- gational church and since 1900 has been deacon.
Watson S. Woodruff received his education in the public schools and was graduated from Ilillhouse high school of New Haven in 1889. Since 1892 he has been a member of the firm of S. D. Woodruff & Sons, the other partners being his father and his brother, Frank C. Like his father before him, he has preferred farm life and owns three hundred acres of land in the town of Orange. Many years ago he began to grow seeds on a small seale but has sinee increased the acreage devoted to the production of garden seed and is now one of the
WATSON S. WOODRUFF
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most extensive dealers in that line in the east. He is still the head of the business that is conducted under the name of S. D. Woodruff & Sons and the firm has a large business, sell- ing both at wholesale and retail. They have steadily adhered to high standards and the firm name has become synonymous with high quality in seeds. Their trade has constantly increased and both their wholesale and retail departments do a large business and yield grat . ifying profits. They have not only grown the standard varieties of garden vegetables under the most favorable conditions possible to obtain but have also done considerable experi- menting and have originated and introduced several varieties which have at once gained pop- ularity, ineluding the Country Gentleman sweet corn, Early Food Hook tomatoes and the Ensign Bagley and Admiral Foote potatoes.
Mr. Watson was married January 4, 1893, to Miss Harriet Hotelkiss, of Derby, a daugh- ter of Merritt and Ellen (Smith) Hotchkiss, the former a manufacturer of corset steels. He was also active in public affairs and was one of the leading citizens of Derby. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson have been born five children, Catherine, Stiles D., Julia and Jane, twins, and Watson S., Jr.
Mr. Watson is recognized as a republican leader in his district. He is a member of the republican town committee of his town and he was chosen to represent Orange in the state legislature in 1907. He is a member of the American Seed Trade Association, of which at one time he was the president. He has figured in financial circles as the president of the Orange Bank & Trust Company, which position he has filled since its organization, and he is also a director of the American Bank & Trust Company of Bridgeport. Connecticut. He belongs to the Union League and since 1906 bas been clerk of the Orange Congregational church and has given mueh of his time and attention to the furthering of its work. He is chairman of the exemption board for the draft of the selective army in the town of Orange, district No. 7, comprising the towns of Orange and Milford. He has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community, in which he has spent his entire life, and his genuine worth is indieated by the high esteem in which he is held by all who have come into close contact with him.
HENRY C. TONG.
With high ideals and practieal methods Henry C. Tong has developed in the Conneeti- cut Business University one of the strongest and most efficient business schools of New England, the worth of its work being demonstrated in the responsible positions which its graduates are now filling. Most creditable has been the life work and effort of Mr. Tong. whose laudable ambition and high purposes enabled him to reach the place that he now fills, for he was early left an orphan and thrown upon his own responsibility.
He was born at Croydon, England, December 27, 1877, a son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Potter) Tong, who were also natives of that country, in which they spent their entire lives, the father being there engaged in the briek making business to the time of his demise. The mother died wben Professor Tong was but four years of age. In the family were six children, Walter, Howard, Horace, Anna, Henry C. and Clara, all yet living in England with the exception of Henry C.
In his boyhood days Professor Tong attended the schools of his native eity for a brief period but at the age of nine years accompanied his eousin on the trip across the Atlantic and became a resident of Stratford, Canada. There he had opportunity to attend school for a brief time but in 1893 erossed the border into the United States and for a time worked on a farm at New Haven, Vermont. Ambitious, however, to improve his education he attended school during the winter months and later became a pupil in a college at Middlebury, Vermont, where he remained for four years, being graduated in 1901.
On the expiration of that period Professor Tong eame to New Haven and entered the building construction field in connection with Norcross Brothers, with whom he continued for two years. He afterward spent two years in a elerical capacity with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, and for three years was connected with the Yale Business College. It was in 1908 that he established the Conneetient Business Uni-
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versity, which he opened on a small scale, but the college has grown to large proportions through his able management and is today one of the leading business training schools of New Haven and of the state. Instruction is given in this school throughout the entire year and with evening sessions three nights each week. Professor Tong has ever regarded the object of education as the scientific development and cultivation of the natural powers, and along that line he has worked. Individual instruction is given to pupils and the course is one of great thoroughness and is as comprehensive as the case demands. Professor Tong is most conscientious in his methods of instruction and in making promises to pupils. He puts forth the greatest possible effort in assisting all those who come to him for busi- ness training, and because of the recognized efficiency of the graduates of his school there is constant demand for employes who have been under his care.
On the 24th of December, 1901, Professor Tong was married to Miss Evelyn Curtis of New York, a daughter of Delos and Melissa Curtis, residents of Umadilla, New York. They now have three children: Walter C., who was born August 13, 1905; Beatrice A., born January 4, 1907; and Alfred E., born January 5, 1910. All are now students in the Roger Sherman school.
Professor Tong is a member of the Delta Epsilon fraternity and of the Delta Epsilon Club of New York, and is also connected with the Plymouth Men's Club. There is much that is most commendable and creditable in his life record. Early left an orphan, his boy- hood was largely passed among strangers and he had to call upon his native powers and adaptability in facing every important situation in life. Through most creditable effort he has made for himself a notable position in the business world, and his life record has been of far-reaching effect and influence.
WILLIAM M. FLANNERY.
William M. Flannery, concentrating his energies upon the real estate and insurance business, with offices in the Malley building on Chapel street, is numbered among the native sons of this city who have ever felt that its opportunities and advantages were equal to those to be secured elsewhere and have therefore retained their residence here. He was born on the 16th of March, 1872, and is a son of Michael Flannery, a native of Ireland, who on crossing the Atlantic to America about 1865, when a youth of eighteen years, made his way direct to New Haven. For a number of years he was engaged in the teaming business and afterward became connected with the New Ilaven police department, with which he served for thirty years, when he retired. In politics he was a democrat but was not strongly partisan and had many friends among those in republican ranks. At local elections especially he cast an independent ballot, being always ready to give his aid and support to the right man for the office. Mr. Flannery was a cultured, genial gentleman of high ideals and al- though his educational opportunities were limited he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. He held membership in the Roman Catholic church and passed away in that faith June 28, 1915, when sixty-eight years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Whitlow, was also born on the green isle of Erin and was but nine years of age when she came alone to the United States. She made her way at once to New Haven, where she was reared, educated and married. She died on the 12th of March, 1911, at the age of sixty-four years, and is survived by three of her four children, one daughter, Anna. having died at the age of three years. The others are Katherine, William M. and Timothy. the last named a mechanic of East Haven.
William M. Flannery attended the parochial and public schools and was graduated from the commercial department of the high school of New Haven with the class of 1889. When his textbooks were put aside he began earning his own livelihood, being first employed in a clerical capacity with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, with which he was connected for a quarter of a century, or until December, 1915, filling the office of equipment clerk during the latter years of his connection with the railroad. He resigned his position to enter the real estate and insurance business, in which he has since been engaged, and in this period he has won a gratifying and substantial success.
Mr. Flannery is of the Roman Catholic faith, holding membership in St. Rose's church.
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He also belongs to the Knights of Columbus and to the Holy Name Society. In politics he maintains an independent course. The greater part of his time and attention is concentrated upon his business interests and he has become thoroughly acquainted with the real estate market and with various lines of insurance, so that he is able to wisely care for the in- terests of his clients.
LEWIS L. FIELD.
Lewis L. Field, attorney at law of New Haven, was born in West Haven on the 28th of October, 1892, a son of Edward and Mary Elizabeth (Page) Field, both of whom are natives of Connecticut. The ancestry of the family is traced hack to the Rev. John Davenport, who was one of the founders of New Haven.
Lewis L. Field, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of his native town. continued his education in Booth's preparatory school of New Haven and later matriculated in Georgetown University, from which he was graduated on the comple- tion of a law course in June, 1916. He has had a remarkable degree of success for one so young in practice. IIe is now following his profession as an associate of Sheridan J. Whitaker, city attorney of New Haven. Prior to entering law school he had engaged in newspaper work and was a reporter on the New Haven Register for three years, during which time he did some very creditable reportorial work. He was also connected with the reportorial staff of several Washington papers prior to completing his college course and was editor of the graduation book of his class. He has recently been appointed assistant prosecuting attorney of the town of Orange.
On the 16th of May, 1917, Mr. Field was married to Miss Marion Isabelle Francis, in Christ church, New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred D. Francis, of West Haven. In both the paternal and maternal lines she is descended from ancestors who served in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Field holds membership in the Episcopal church, is a Mason and belongs to the Phoenix Club of West Haven. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he has done considerable work in its interests as a campaign speaker.
CHARLES HENRY PORTER.
In insurance circles of Connecticut the name of Charles Henry Porter figures promi- nently, for he is special representative of the Equitable Life Assurance Company. with offices in New Haven. He was born February 1, 1856, in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and is a son of Charles Henry Porter, Sr. The founder of the American branch of the Porter family was Dr. Daniel Porter, who was one of the physicians of the Connecticut colony. He was doubtless born in England and at an early period in the colonization of the new world crossed the Atlantic. The records show that he was fined three pounds and sixteen shillings in 1644 or 1645 for some trivial offense by the particular court. He was licensed to practice physics and chirurgy by the general court of Connecticut. In 1661 a yearly salary of six pounds was ordered paid him out of the public treasury and his "fee table" was established by law. He was a celebrated hone setter, as the surgeons were then com- monly called. He settled in Farmington, Connecticut, and was on the list of freemen in 1672. In 1668 he was "freed from watching, warding, tryneing (training)" and in the following year a special grant was made him by the general court for his services, of a hundred acres, laid out afterward in the northwest corner of Wallingford. That tract was not in the colony land and in 1728, on petition of his grandson, Daniel Porter, son of Daniel and Hezekiah Porter, of Woodbury, the former a son of Dr. Richard Porter of New Haven, one hundred acres was granted instead of the original tract west of the Housa- tonic river. In 1671 the salary of Dr. Porter was raised to twelve pounds "as an encour- agement for setting bones," and the court advised him to instruct some neat person in his art. Evidently he instructed his son Daniel, and his sons, Richard and Samuel, also became "hone setters."
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Charles Henry Porter, father of him whose name introduces this review, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, July 8, 1832, and was a son of Henry A. and Abigail (Platt) Porter. The mother was born in 1814 and died in 1903, at Bridgeport. In the family were two children, Charles H. and Sarah, the latter becoming the wife of Calvin Hall, of Bridge- port. The son, Charles H., married Isabella Carter and to them were born two children, Charles Henry and Ida F., the birth of the latter occurring on the 9th of June, 1869.
Charles Henry Porter, of this review, attended the public schools and Day's preparatory school of Bridgeport. He then took up the study of music and in the course of time was graduated from the Leipzig Conservatory of Music in Germany. Upon his return to his native country he founded the Conservatory of Music in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was its director for the first sixteen years of its existence. He then accepted the office of manager for the Equitable Life Insurance Company for the Maritime provinces and for Newfoundland. While living in Nova Scotia he was also teacher of the piano and musical theory in the conservatory and was organist in St. Mathew's Protestant church at Halifax. Hle was also conductor of the Orpheus Club for a period of twenty years and thus figured very prominently in the musical cireles of Canada. In July. 1906, he became state manager of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, with offices at No. 129 Church street in New Haven, continuing in that capacity until January, 1917, when he was appointed special representative of the company and thus he occupies a leading position in insurance circles in the state.
On the 12th of May, 1908, Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Cham- berlin, who was born April 24, 1877, a daughter of George R. Chamberlain. Mr. Porter's political endorsement is given to the republican party. and while not an office seeker, he keeps in close touch with the trend of modern political thought and progress. He belongs to the Quinnipiac Club and the Country Club, both of New Haven, also to the Chamber of Commerce, and he was made a Mason in Virgin Lodge, No. 37, F. & A M., at Halifax. Nova Scotia, loyally adhering to the teachings of the craft, which is based upon a recogni- tion of the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby imposed. He is a man of broad and liberal culture with whom association means expansion and elevation and he is now writing his name large upon the business history of his state.
THOMAS E. ELLIOTT.
Thomas E. Elliott, engraver and printer. has built up a business that in its ramifying trade connections covers the state of Connecticut, his success being based upon a thorough knowledge of engraving and expert work in that field. A native of Ireland, Mr. Elliott was born in County Fermanagh, November 25, 1873, and is a son of James M. Elliott, a native of the green isle of Erin, whence he came to the United States in 1890, making his way direct to Waterbury, where he became actively connected with journalism. He had previously followed that profession in Ireland and has continued in the same line in America. Ho married Annie Gamble, now deceased. and they were the parents of eight children, all of whom are yet living.
Thomas E. Elliott, the seventh in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of Ireland and was a youth of seventeen years when he came with his parents to the new world, at which time he started out to seek employment and began earning his living in the employ of the Scovill Manufacturing Company. It was his object to master the art of engraving and he continued there for three years, completing an apprenticeship. He then removed to New Haven, where he immediately began business on his own account, opening his establishment in the Exchange building. His quarters were at first very small and he had no employes, doing all the work himself. From that humble beginning he has developed one of the leading engraving institutions in New Haven. employing on an average fifteen people, while today his patronage comes from all parts of the state and even from adjoining states. The business is conducted under the name of Thomas E. Elliott, Engraver and Printer, and consists of the manufacture of steel and copper engravings. Mr. Elliott thor-
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oughly understands every phase of the business and detail of the work and has ever kept his establishment up to the highest standard in its output.
In 1905 Mr. Elliott was married in New Haven to Miss Almira C. Bennett, a native of this city and a member of an old New Haven family. Their children are three in number, Ella M., Andrew H. and Thomas E. Mr Elliott has been a member of the Governor's Foot Guard for the past five years. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, his fraternal connection is with the Masons and his religious connection with the Methodist church. In these associations are seen the rules which govern his conduct and shape his re- lations with his fellowmen. His ideals are high and he utilizes every effort to make them a practical force in his own life and in the life of the community.
SAMUEL BLENNER.
Samuel Blenner, president and treasurer of the firm of Blenner & Siegle, furriers of New Haven, was born in Roumania on the ?th of March, 1876, a son of Himan and Mary Blenner, who were also natives of that country, in which they spent their entire lives. The father engaged in the fur business until his death, which oceurred when his son Samuel was but two years of age. In the family were twelve children, of whom Samuel Blenner was the youngest. In his youthful days he attended the schools of his native country and afterward learned the fur business, so that he brought practical experience with him when he came to the new world in 1900. In that year he located in New Haven and immediately secured a position in a fur manufacturing house. He worked at his trade for seven years, during which he acquainted himself with the language of the people, their ways and their business methods. He then decided to embark in business on his own account and in 1907 opened a fur store as the senior partner in the firm of Blenner & Siegle, Incorporated. He ha> continuously been president and treasurer of the company, which is conducting business at 140 Orange street. Their trade has grown steadily until it has reached large proportions as the result of good workmanship, able management, straightforward dealing and uniform courtesy to patrons. The proprietors are always obliging and their work shows the latest and most attractive styles in the manufacture of fur garments.
In January, 1900. Mr. Blenner was married to Miss Carrie Siegle, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Siegle. In politics Mr. Blenner maintains an independent course. He is a member of various prominent Jewish societies, among them the Order of B'rith Abraham and also of the Roumanian Society, of which he is treasurer. For seventeen years Mr. Blenner has been a resident of New Haven and has not once felt a desire to return to his native land to reside. He has nothing to regret and thoroughly appreciates the business opportunities which he here found, and admires American institutions, realizing that in- dustry and perseverance will win success in this free land which is not hampered by caste or class of distinctions. He has steadily worked his way upward and for a decade has been numbered among the leading and representative merchants of his adopted city.
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