USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 86
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JOSEPH KOLETSKY.
Joseph Koletsky, who is frequently spoken of as one of the most brilliant of young lawyers of New Haven and who has become widely known through his contributions to the columns of leading papers, was born Mareh 10, 1890, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Jacob and Fannie (Bernstein) Koletsky, who were natives of Russia and came to the United States about 1887. They took up their abode in New Haven, where the father engaged in the wholesale dry goods business, successfully conducting his interests up to the time of his death, which occurred February 5, 1916, when only forty-nine years of age, his birth having occurred in 1867. He was succeeded in business by his sons, Meyer and Nathan Koletsky, and his son-in-law, George Canter. A daughter of the family, Bessie, now attending high school and Joseph Koletsky of this review, together with Mrs. Canter and
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the two sons previously mentioned, constitute the five children in the family. The mother survives and still makes her home in New Haven.
Joseph Koletsky, second of the family, early displayed special aptitude in his studies, being graduated from the high school of New Haven, one of the leaders of his class. He then spent a year in the freshman class of New York University and after that period matriculated in the Sheffield Scientific School, from which he was graduated in 1912 with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree. He afterward entered the law department of Yale and took his LL. B. degree in 1914, completing the work of three years in two. He has always been of a studious disposition and in order to finish the three years' course within two years gave every possible moment to study, often pouring over his books far into the night. The secretary of the school spoke of him as one of the brightest students and one of the ex- tremely few that had ever been graduated from the Yale Law School in two years' time. In his second year he won the coveted Monson debating prize and carried off several other prizes in debate. During the time spent at university he also gained considerable fame as newspaper writer and was employed in newspaper work with the reportorial staff of the New Haven Register. He was connected with other departments of the Register also and this experience has been of great value and worth to him in his later years.
Immediately after completing his law studies Mr. Koletsky was admitted to practice in all the courts and his success from the start has been almost phenomenal. No dreary novitiate awaited him. He sprang into prominence at once for he won many notable cases, successfully crossing swords in forensie combat with many older and more experienced lawyers. He has had as many as ten cases on the docket at one time. One of these was won after a hard fight in a five days' trial, in which several of the leading lawyers of New Haven were pitted against this young practitioner and was known as the famous embezzle- ment case between the Times-Leader and Philip Kantrovitz. It attracted widespread in- terest and attention and Mr. Koletsky's closing argument was a masterpiece of oratory, terminating the five days' trial and winning five verdicts of not guilty in favor of the de- fendant. He has had many other notable cases, chief among which was the famous Lieberman counterfeiting case, in which Chief Flynn, of the United States Secret Service and his operatives, figured prominently and he bids fair to become one of the famous lawyers of New England.
On the 11th of June, 1912, Mr. Koletsky was married to Miss Lynette Cecil Gottlieb, a daughter of Professor and Mrs. M. D. Gottlieb, the former a well known concert leader. Mrs. Koletsky is a lady of superior culture and musical training and is a concert pianiste of note, having appeared in the leading concert halls of New York and other cities, in extensive pro- grams. Her precosity early attracted the praise of critics and she won considerable fame as a "wunder-kind."
Mr. Koletsky belongs to Horeb Lodge and along professional lines has membership with the New Haven County, the Connectient State and the American Bar Associations. He gives much credit to his wife for his success, maintaining that her efforts to reach the top in musical circles were his inspiration to succeed in the law. However, it goes without saying that he has used his native talents wisely and well. In his college days he not only passed but received excellent grades and whatever he has attempted he successfully achieved, landable ambition leading him to still higher attainments.
SHERIDAN T. WHITAKER.
Sheridan T. Whitaker, one of the well known members of the New Haven bar, now filling the office of city attorney, occupies a position in professional ranks that many an older lawyer might well envy. He has not yet completed his third decade, his birth having occurred in New Haven, January 27, 1888, his parents being Frederick E. and Harriett E. (Raymond) Whitaker, also natives of this state, the former born at Hampton and the latter at Westport. In young manhood the father removed to New Haven and entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company as a machinist. He continued with that corporation for fourteen years and was then elected town clerk, which position he has since continuously filled, his retention in the office being indisputable
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proof of his ability and the confidence and trust reposed in him. It was in this city that he wedded Harriett E. Raymond, who was here reared and educated. They became the parents of four children: Sheridan T., Raymond B., Ceryl E. and Ruth S., all of New Haven.
Sheridan T. Whitaker was a pupil in the Hopkins grammar school and in the New Haven high school and following his graduation from the preparatory school in 1908 he entered Yale for the study of law and completed his preparation for the bar as a member of the class of 1911. He at once entered upon active practice, and while advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon gained a good clientage which has constantly increased both in volume and in importance and he now enjoys a large private practice. On July 1, 1915, he became assistant city attorney, serving until July 1, 1917, when he became city attorney, in which connection he is carefully looking after the legal interests of his municipality. He belongs to both the County and State Bar Associations.
On the 3d of July, 1916, Mr. Whitaker was married to Miss Marjorie J. Lloyd, of New Haven, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George Lloyd, the former now deceased, while the latter is yet living. To this marriage have been born twins, a son and daughter, Sheridan Lloyd and Jane Lloyd.
The parents are members of Trinity church, their connection being with All Saints chapel. Fraternally Mr. Whitaker is connected with the Masons and with American Lodge, No. 52, K. P. His military service covers duty with the Second Company of the Governor's Foot Guard. He has worked his way upward entirely unassisted and has gained a position among the best known lawyers of New Haven. His preparation of cases is always thorough and exhaustive and his ability is manifest in the clearness and force with which he presents bis cause, in the strength of his argument and in the many favorable verdicts which he has won.
LOUIS HENRY LEVY, M. D.
Dr. Louis Henry Levy, a distinguished physician of New Haven who has made valuable contribution to the literature of the profession, specializes in the treatment of diseases of the stomach and intestines and his work in this connection has been notable. He is a native son of New Haven, born April 9, 1883. His father, Marks Levy, came to the United States with his parents when but four years of age, the family settling in New York city, where he was reared and educated and in early manhood engaged in merchandising. In 1880 he removed to New Haven and has since been actively identified with its commercial interests, being one of the well known merchants of this city. He served as a member of the city council of New Haven in the early '90s and has been more or less active in public affairs. He married Dora Wittstein, a native of Warsaw, Poland, who in her childhood was brought to the new world by her parents, who settled in New York city, where she was reared, educated and married. She has become the mother of five children, of whom Louis H. is the eldest, the others being: Hla, the wife of Robert Jacchson, of Brooklyn, New York; Joseph, who is with the firm of Levy Brothers, merchants on Chapel street; Sarah, the wife of Oscar Poholinski, of Worcester, Massachusetts; and Edward, who is also with the firm of Levy Brothers.
In the acquirement of his early education Dr. Levy passed through consecutive grades to the Hillhouse high school, from which he was graduated in 1901. He then entered Yale as a student in the Sheffield Scientific School and won the Ph. B. degree in 1904. Continuing his studies, the Master of Science degree was conferred upon him in 1906, and becoming a student in the medical department, he won his professional degree in 1911. Following his graduation he spent three and one-half years as interne in Mount Sinai Hospital of New York city, after which he entered upon private practice. From the beginning he has special- ized in the treatment of diseases of the stomach and intestines and has won wide recognition for his notable ability in that professional field. He is now instructor in the New Haven Hospital upon the subjects of chemistry, anatomy and bacteriology and for two years he was instructor in chemistry in the New Haven high school. His professional duties, however,
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are increasing in importance as the years go on. He has carried his investigations far and wide and has brought many valuable truths to light constituting important elements in successful practice in recent years. He has made valuable contributions to medical literature as the author of a course on sex hygiene and has written various health articles for the Pictorial Review which were published in 1916. He prepared an article entitled. "The Double Salts of Mercurie Chloride with the Alkali Chlorides and their Solubility," which was pub- lished in the American Chemical Journal of March, 1906. The same magazine of February, 1907, published an article by him on "The Double Ammonium Lead Chlorides" and in May, 1907, an article on "The Molecular Condition of Salts dissolved in a Fused Salt," while in October of that year he prepared an article for the American Chemical Journal on "Re- searches on Thiocyanates and Isothiocyanates: Diphenylcarbomylthiocyanates." He con- tributed an article on "Gastric Symptoms in Tuberculosis," published in the Medical Record of 1915, and one on "Typhlitis or Chronic Appendicitis," published in the New York Medical Journal of March 10, 1917. He is also the author of articles on "The Training of the Gastro- Enterologist"; "The Role played by Fear in Disease of the Stomach and Intestines"; and "Diabetes; The complications and treatment. the Allen plan." This appeared in the New York Medical Journal of December 11, 1915.
Dr. Levy belongs to the Harmonie Club, also to the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and he has membership in Olive Branch Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., and Pulaski Chapter, R. A. M. Along strictly professional lines he has connection with the New Haven, the New Haven County, Connecticut State and American Medical Associations and the American Congress of Internal Medicine.
ARTHUR G. WARNER.
Arthur G. Warner, well known as the president and treasurer of the Connecticut Marble & Tile Company of New Haven, is descended in both the paternal and maternal lines from families connected with the history of New England through four or more gen- erations. Among the most prominent ancestors in the Revolutionary war was Captain John Warner, of whom Arthur G. Warner is a direct descendant, while the Chatfield fam- ily, the maternal line, manifested equal loyalty and valor in the trying period which gave rise to the American republic. His father, Egbert L. Warner, was born at Morris. Connecti- cut, and at Oxford married Harriet C. Chatfield. In the early '70s they removed to New Haven but after a short period took up their abode at Southbury, Connecticut, where the father engaged in farming for a number of years. Later he returned to New Haven, where he engaged in the real estate business but eventually retired from commercial pursuits and lived upon the magnificent G. S. Warner estate of New Haven, here passing away in 1898 at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow survived him for more than a decade, dying in new Haven in February, 1910, at the advanced age of eighty years. Three chil- dren were born of their marriage: Mrs. Mary L. Hosley, living in East Haven; and Arthur G. and Nathan J., both of New Haven.
Following periods of study in Westville and in Southbury, Connecticut, Arthur G. Warner, who was born at Oxford, Connecticut, December 12, 1866, entered the Parker Academy at Woodbury and there completed his education. It was his desire to learn the machinist's trade and he entered enthusiastically upon that task, but the indoor work with the constant breathing of fine particles of iron and steel dust, brought on serious throat trouble and the family physician advised him to abandon that line of activity. He therefore turned his attention to clerical work and in Newtown, Connecticut, found employ- ment with L. B. Booth, with whom he continued for three years, after which he was employed in a similar capacity at Ansonia for one year. In 1889 he became an employe of T. W. Corbett of New Haven, with whom he was closely associated in business from 1889 until 1904 or for a period of fifteen years. At that time the Connecticut Marble & Tile Company was organized and he became its treasurer and manager, so continuing for three years or until 1907, when he was elected president and treasurer. He is the active head of this fast growing institution, the business of which has developed along substantial lines until it is now an important industrial undertaking of the city.
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On the 12th of April, 1887, Mr. Warner was married to Miss Bertha M. Botsford, of Stepney, Connecticut, who died in New Haven in 1908. She was a daughter of Eugene Botsford, of Newtown, and by her marriage became the mother of four children. The eldest, Earl B., born in Ansonia, Connecticut, married Marion Page, of New Haven, and they have two children, Arthur G. and Margaret. George T. B., born in New Haven, is married and resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Russell G. is a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School and is now an instructor in electrical engineering at Yale. He married Miss Vera Chandler, of New Haven. Marion, born in New Haven, is attending the State Normal School at New Britain. For his second wife Arthur G. Warner chose Miss Bertha Cham- bers, of New York city, a daughter of Thomas Chambers. They were married August 24, 1910, and have one child, Bennett Chambers, born in New Haven, July 24, 1915.
Mr. Warner holds membership in Christ church of New Haven, is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Union League Club, the Army and Navy Club of New York and the Chamber of Commerce. Politically he main- tains an independent course and his military experience lias come to him as a member of the Governor's Foot Guard, being at the present time a line officer in that organization. His life has been in harmony with that of an honorable ancestral record of a family con- nected with Connecticut from early colonial days and who at all times have been loyal to the interests of the state and nation and have stood for progress and improvement.
PATRICK FRANCIS O'MEARA.
Patrick Francis O'Meara started out in life at a salary of but four dollars per week. Today he is president of the New Haven Trades Council and business representative of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. He was born in New Haven, June 9, 1876. His grand- parents were Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Meara and his father was the late Dennis Cleary O'Meara, who was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to America in 1866, making his way direct to New Haven, where in the early days he was engaged in teaming. For thirty years, however, he was with the Miner, Read & Tullock Company, wholesale grocers, as a most trusted employe and faithful representative. He died in 1904, in New Haven, at the age of fifty-six years. Ilis political endorsement had been given to the demo- cratic party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His re- ligious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He belonged to the Sacred Heart parish and was a member of the Sacred Heart Holy Name Society. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Donahue, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1868 in company with her parents. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, of whom four are living: Sarah E .; Patrick Francis; Dennis J., who is foreman with the New Ilaven Gas Light Company; and Anna M. One son, John O'Meara, has passed away.
Patrick F. O'Meara was educated in the public schools of New Haven to the age of fourteen years, when his textbooks were put aside and he started out to earn his own living, being first employed by the National Folding Box Company at a salary of but four dollars per week. He remained there for two years and was then apprenticed to Daniel F. Kelly, a pioneer plumber of New Haven, under whose direction he learned the plumbing trade, serving a three years' apprenticeship. He followed that trade as a journeyman until the fall of 1908, when he became business representative of the organization, which office he has since continuously and successfully filled, ever looking after the interests of the men of the organization and doing much to promote and further their welfare. He is also a member of the municipal advisory board and is serving on the board of education of the Trade School. For three years he was a member of the charter revision committee. He is in close touch with public thought and action and has done not a little to further public service and welfare.
On the 8th of October, 1902, in New Haven, Mr. O'Meara was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Gormley, a native of New Haven and a daughter of John and Bridget Gorm- ley, representatives of old families of this city. They had two children: Mary Frances, born April 14, 1913; and one who died in infancy.
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In his political views Mr. O'Meara has always been a stalwart democrat and has been very active in both political and eivie affairs, doing everything in his power to promote the success of his party and also to further the public welfare. He belongs to the Democratic Club and also to the Knights of Columbus Club and he is the president of the St. Francis Holy Name Society. He takes an active and helpful part in religious work, being a de- voted member of the Roman Catholic church. He also has an interesting military chapter in his life record. For five years, from 1896 until 1901, he was a member of Company D of the Second Regiment of the Connecticut National Guard and was second duty sergeant. being honorably discharged on the expiration of his term of service.
ROBERT HENRY NORTON.
Robert Henry Norton is a prosperous and valued citizen of Guilford, where he is en- gaged in merchandising. He was born in Guilford. September 12, 1862, and when he was but six years of age the family residence was destroyed by fire, the family escaping only with their night clothes and a few other articles of clothing. Some years later a kerosene lamp exploded in the tenement above theirs. The house caught fire and a Mrs. Hall was so badly burned that she died the following morning. In his efforts to save her, Julius E. Nor- ton, father of Robert Henry Norton, had his arm very badly burned and was unable to work for about a year, after which he secured a position as shipping clerk and teamster in the plant of I. S. Spencer's Sons. One day, in loading a heavy barrel into a ear, he shipped and was badly injured. Rheumatism then set in and he was obliged to give up work for about two years. He had a wife and three children and his enforced idleness soon involved him deeply in debt. His son, Robert Henry Norton, was then a lad of thirteen years and, recognizing the situation, felt that he must aid in providing for the family of five. The next morning he borrowed his uncle's wheelbarrow, went to the dock, where at that time fish boats came in every morning during the summer, and bought a few fish, which he started out to sell. This he accomplished and had enough money left to buy a few more fish for the following morn- ing. He continued doing this each day, succeeding in getting enough to live on, and later he purchased a two-wheel hand eart, which he pushed around the town during that season. One day, seeing a fine opportunity to buy a load of shad, he borrowed money for this pur- pose from Judge Landon and as soon as the fish was sold indicated his appreciation of the loan by at once repaying the judge. A short time afterward he purchased a blind horse from E. A. Leete and borrowed a wagon from his uncle, but the vehicle would break down almost every day. Later he was able to buy a cheap wagon and from that time on prosperity at- tended his footsteps. He built a small market by the Guilford depot and began business there under the name of J. E. Norton & Son, he and his father entering into partnership rela- tions for the handling of fish and sea food. They contracted to handle most all of the lob- sters, clams and shad that the fishermen had. They sold the lobsters at five cents per pound, buying them mostly of Edward Crittenden and Captain Brooks, and it was not uncommon for them to receive two large one-horse lumber box wagon loads of shad a day, which were pur- chased at fifteen cents each during the season. They would also get on an average of twenty- five bushels of Guilford clams per day. The new undertaking prospered and the trade grew so steadily that when Robert H. Norton was eighteen years of age the firm opened a branch market in Stony Creek, where they conducted an extensive business for nine years, supply- ing all of the hotels. On one occasion John B. Northrop bought sea food to the value of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for a single dinner, which was served to a large crowd of people who came on an excursion from New York to Stony Creek. When Mr. Norton was twenty-four years of age the firm removed their business from the little market at the depot to the brick bloek now known as Norton's block, then owned by D. N. Benton. A year later they bought out the H. C. Chamberlain meat business and about two years later pur- chased the briek block from Mr. Benton. They also bought a piece of land near the saw pit, where they built a house and a large slaughter house, where hundreds of cattle were butchered. Subsequently they sold that property and bought the land at the Point House, known as the Reuben Hill property, where they built a small house to rent. Robert H. Norton then purchased what was known as the Hopkins property on the Green and after occupying
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it for a few years he sold it and bought the Edwin Kelsey place on Whitfield street, where he made extensive repairs and still occupies it as a residence. In 1895 the firm purchased the land near the mill pond, where they started a small ice business, and later they bought out the Guilford Ice Company, thus controlling all the ice trade in Guilford, but were able to place the price of ice decidedly lower than when the two companies were in competition. Their business grew so rapidly that they were obliged to add to their property by putting on an addition to their building. During this time they raised the brick block one story higher and rented it to C. H. Scholey as a printing office. The firm afterward purchased the old sawmill known as Hubbard's sawmill and a house on River street known as the Amos Hotelikiss place, together with forty acres of wood land on the state road and belonging to the same property. At this time the father, J. E. Norton, because of impaired health, wish- ing to be out-of-doors more, retired from the business, the property being satisfactorily divided, R. H. Norton buying the brick block and the ice business. His next move was to sell out the meat and grocery business to Benson & Latham, but after two years he bought back the market, which he conducted under his own name. About that time Mr. Scholey removed his printing office and Mr. Norton there opened a roller skating rink which he conducted for two years. He then converted the ball into a moving picture theater and has so conducted it since that time.
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