USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County, Vol. II > Part 99
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It was the condition of her own health that led Mrs. Moore to study into the subject of producing a practical health brace and corset for women. For three years she was con- nected with Madame Du Pree and served a thorough apprenticeship, becoming an expert corsetiere. In 1909 sbe began the manufacture of the Clara Moore corset and health brace, starting in the business in a small way, but the value of her production became recognized throughout the country and today her name is a familiar one among all who utilize the high grade corset. Sbe manufactures one of the best and most comfortably fitting corsets upon the market. The company was incorporated in 1909 for three thousand dollars and the capital was raised on the 8th of May, 1914, to fifty thousand dollars, and reorganized on February 15, 1917, with Thomas F. Reilly, a well known attorney of New Haven, as presi- dent; Philip H. Reilly as vice president; and Mrs. Moore as treasurer. Mrs. Moore has secured five separate and distinct patents on her inventions in connection with the manu- facture of corsets and has several patents pending. She is a lady of marked business capa- bility, possessing in notable measure initiative and executive power. She closely studies every feature of her business and every question relating thereto, and hard thinking always results in easier ways and the sure attainment of results. Her business now covers a wide territory, the output of the factory being distributed over all sections of the country, and is steadily growing.
ALLEN BENNETT LINCOLN.
Allen Bennett Lincoln, of New Haven, who is district manager of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was born at Willimantic, Connecticut, August 2, 1858, a son of Allen and Sallinda (Bennett) Lincoln, both of whom are deceased. The father was born at North Windham, Connecticut, and was a son of Captain Dan Lincoln, a prominent citizen of Windham county, who for years was a captain of the state militia. He was born in Windham county and was one of the descendants of Samuel Lincoln, who came from England and founded the family in the new world. Jolın Lincoln, the great-great-grandfather of Allen B. Lincoln, also a resident of North Windham, was a Revolutionary war soldier. To another branch of the family belonged Albert Lincoln, a West Point graduate, who also served his country with honor and dis- tinction in the Indian wars of the west and died as the result of fever contracted at St. Louis, Missouri.
Allen Lincoln became a successful wholesale and retail grocer and flour merchant, making for himself a most creditable position in business circles. He was active in promot- ing the growth of Willimantic in the years following the Civil war. He also served for seventeen years as town clerk of Windham, where he resided until his death, which occurred February 2, 1882, when he had reached the age of sixty-four years. His wife was a daughter of Deacon Origen Bennett, of Chaplin, Connecticut, who was a direct descendent of Nathaniel Bennett, one of the original settlers of Stonington, Connecticut. Deacon Bennett
aller. Liveola
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was a highly honored and respected citizen of Chaplin and a Baptist deacon, who came of the old Puritan stock of New England. Mrs. Sallinda Lincoln passed away December 26, 1900, at Willimantic, when in the eighty-third year of her age. She was the mother of four children, a son and three daughters. The first of the family was Martha Sallinda, who was married May 17, 1866, at the old New Haven House, to John M. Alpaugh, who for many years was a leading dry goods merchant of Willimantic and a warden of the borough of Willimantic. In 1887 they removed to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was successfully engaged in the wholesale wall paper and curtain business until his death in 1916. His wife had preceded him to the great beyond, dying in November, 1914, when sixty-seven years of age. Another daughter, Janette, became the wife of Frank F. Webb, of Willimantic, a leading business man and banker, who there passed away in 1913, while his widow still resides in that city. Her twin sister, Mrs. Lila H. Brown, was formerly a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, but now also lives in Willimantic.
Allen B. Lincoln was educated in the district and high schools of Willimantic and at Williston Seminary, Easthampton. Massachusetts, from which he was graduated with the class of 1877. He next entered Yale College and won the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation in 1881. He then entered the newspaper field in connection with the Providence Evening Press and later with the Providence Journal, but on account of ill health he was obliged to return to Willimantic and in August, 1885, became temporary chief clerk with the state board of education under Secretary Charles D. Hine. In the state campaign of 1886 Mr. Lincoln established and published "The Connecticut Home," a newspaper at Willimantic representing the state and national prohibition party. He entered into that work with characteristic energy and enthusiasm. Later he removed the offices to Hartford and in 1890 he merged the paper with the Worcester Times, changing the name to "The New England Home," which became the recognized organ of the national prohibition party in the eastern states, having a wide circulation. Mr. Lincoln continued as editor of the paper and was also for several years state chairman of the prohibition party of Connecticut. In 1894 he sold this paper to the Chicago Lever and immediately thereafter turned his attention to the life insurance business.
It was in 1896 that Mr. Lincoln became connected with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which association has been maintained to the present. He became district manager for eastern Connecticut, with headquarters at Willimantic, and in May, 1909, because of his signal success in that work, was appointed manager of the New Haven district agency. While now actively engaged in the insurance business, he has also continued his good work with the prohibition party and has made contribution of his talent, his finances and his moral and Christian support to the work. He has also promoted the cause through his writings, doing much toward developing public sentiment for national prohibition. He advocates the use of the words "alcoholic drink traffic" as expressing exactly the institution which is a publie menace everywhere and which has no proper standing under the American constitutional guarantee of "the general welfare."
On the 18th of December, 1883, Mr. Lincoln was married at Willimantic to Miss Caroline Laura Buck, a daughter of the late Hon. Edwin A. Buck, state treasurer and state bank commissioner. Mrs. Edwin A. Buck was born Delia Ashley, a daughter of George Lincoln, of Ashford, a representative of an old and prominent family of that place that has been found in America for seven generations. Mr. and Mrs. Allen B. Lincoln have become the parents of four daughters: Marion Buck, who was graduated from Smith College in 1910 and is now teacher of English in the High School of Commerce at Spring- field, Massachusetts; Elsie Bennett, who has recently finished her course in the School of Practical Arts of Columbia University and who was graduated from Wheaton College in 1913; Barbara Grace, a senior in Smith College; and Julia Armour, who is at Connecticut College in New London, class of 1921.
In religious faith Allen B. Lincoln is a Congregationalist. He holds membership in the Graduates' Club of New Haven and with the Sons of the American Revolution. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, working especially for better sanitation and the improvement of the city's health. For the past two years he has been chairman of New Haven's "clean-up week" committee and his energetic work in this connection has won the special commendation of the New York board of fire underwriters as helping to develop one of the most efficient plans of municipal safety and health improvement. He is
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likewise a member of the state executive committee of the Civil Service Reform Association of Connecticut. He takes a very active interest in civic matters and has done everything in his power to further the task of making ideal American citizens out of the alien races coming to these shores. He has worked particularly among the Italians through the Knights of King Arthur Clubs for Boys. He is the author of "The New Citizen's Pledge," a patriotic document which has found wide acceptance among civic workers as a means of teaching the immigrant his duties toward his adopted country and in faet the pledge is recognized as a clear, coneise expression of the practical every-day meaning of American citizenship. In a word, he has himself been a close student of civic principles and problems and has in every way sought to place before the aliens the highest standards and to assist them in adopting such standards. He does not believe in treating them as aliens, people foreign to the interests and life of America, but finds in them the same aspirations for civil liberty and social betterment that characterize the native stock, and maintains that a sane inter- pretation of American principles is the best common ground for the development of a united progressive people in the United States.
SAMUEL ESKIN.
Samuel Eskin is conducting a growing and profitable real estate business in New Haven. The story of his youth and early manhood, however, is a tale of hard knocks and trying experiences, but he possessed courage, persisteney of purpose and determination, and the obstaeles in his path seemed but to call forth renewed effort on his part, enabling him in time to reach the creditable place which he occupies as a representative business man of this city. He was born in Riga, Russia, July 1, 1879, a son of Solomon B. and Rachel (Wolf) Eskin. The father was a well known and prominent wholesale baker of Riga for twenty-five years prior to coming to America in 1884. Settling in New York city, he there opened a bakery and continued in that business to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890. His widow afterward removed to New Haven and here resided until called to her final rest in 1902. The family numbered a son, Samuel Eskin. and two daughters, Mrs. G. Alexander and Mrs. M. Silverstein, all of New Haven.
Samuel Eskin was a lad of but five summers at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world and he attended the schools of New York between the ages of six and thirteen years, when he started out to earn his living as a clerk. In 1897 he became an employe of the Connectieut Street Railway Company, with which he continued for five years. a fact which indicates clearly his ability, fidelity and rigid honesty. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and at length decided to engage in the delicatessen business, but the new venture proved unprofitable and after six months he found himself without funds. Ile then secured a position with the I. Newman & Sons Corset Company as an ironer and remained with that firm for six years. on the expiration of which period he resigned to engage in the real estate business in 1909. From that date forward his career has been one of continuous success and he is today one of the prominent figures in real estate circles in New Haven.
On the 8th of September, 1901, Mr. Eskin was married to Miss Rose Opper, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Opper, of this city. Their three children are: Lillian Gertrude, who was born in 1902 and is now attending high school, where she won the first prize for an essay on Decoration Day in 1916; Goldie, who was born in 1911 and is now attending the Welch school; and Zelma B .. horn in April, 1916.
Mr. Eskin belongs to the United Jewish Congregations Committee, is secretary of Yale Lodge, I. O. B. A., and a member of the Hebrew Charity and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He also belongs to Horeb Lodge, No. 25, 1. O. B. B., the Woodmen of the World. the New Haven Benefit Association, the Independent Connectient Lodge, New Haven, O. B. A .. the Old Time Social Club, of which he is president, and the Young Men's Hebrew Association. He is likewise a member of the New Haven Automobile Club and is connected with the Hebrew Institute and with B'nai Jacob Temple on George street. In politics he has always been a stanch republican and has membership with the Young Men's Republican Club. In 1911 he was elected constable for New Haven and at three successive terms since then has
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been reelected. a fact indicative of the faithfulness with which he has discharged his duties. During the Spanish-American war in 1898 he enlisted in Company B, Second Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, and served three years after which he was honorably discharged. He is at present corporal and clerk of Company B. Second Regiment, Connecticut Home Guard. Mr. Eskin has worked his way upward in the business world and, undeterred by obstacles and difficulties which would have utterly discouraged many a man of less resolute spirit, he has so utilized his chances and directed his efforts that he is now in control of an extensive real estate business.
CHARLES OPPE.
Charles Oppe is one of the partners in the G & O Manufacturing Company of New Haven, a corporation engaged in the manufacture of engine cooling radiators. He was born in New York city, August 24. 1885, a son of Frederick William and Louise Oppe. His father was the first to introduce a number of important European processes of wall paper manufacture into this country. The son began his education in the grammar schools of New York city and passed through consecutive grades to the high school, while later he attended Cooper Union in the metropolis. He entered upon his business career in connection with the installation of electric elevators and electrical machinery and on the 30th of April, 1906, he came to New Haven to join the Mayo Radiator Company, manufacturers of engine cooling radiators. He remained with that concern until August, 1915, when in cooperation with Frederick Gargiulo, he organized the G & O Manufacturing Company, a corporation to engage in the manufacture of engine cooling radiators for motor trucks, automobiles, airplanes, tractors, etc. His previous experience has well qualified him for this under- taking. He has intimate knowledge of engineering work along many lines and is now putting to the practical test the knowledge which he had previously gained. The company is producing a product which has found favor with the public and its sales are annually increasing. In addition to having a substantial interest in the G & O Manufacturing Company Mr. Oppe has some real estate holdings in Detroit, Michigan.
On the 15th of September, 1909, in New York city, Mr. Oppe was united in marriage to Miss Anna Julia Thoellden, a daughter of A. E. H. J. Thoellden and Anna (Zeisset) Thoell- den. The children of this marriage are Edith and Howard Charles. In his political views Mr. Oppe has always maintained independence of party ties. He belongs to the Quinnipiac Canoe Club and to the Society of Automotive Engineers, a national organization. He is much interested in everything that has to do with the science that underlies his work, with the practical phases of the business and with its development in every particular and he is making steady progress along well defined lines of effort, his success being the direct reward of earnest. persistent and intelligently directed labor.
JOHN JOSEPH LAVERTY.
Jolin Joseph Laverty, an automobile dealer of New Haven conducting business at No. 1094 Chapel street, was born on the 23d of September, 1869, at the corner of Chapel and Gill streets, his parents being Daniel and Isabel (Craig) Laverty, the former a native of Cole- raine, in the north of Ireland, while the latter was born in Philadelphia of an old family of that city, of Irish and Scotch lineage. The father came to America when a lad of fourteen years, making his way to Philadelphia, where he learned and followed the molder's trade. Removing to New England, he was for years associated with the Bigelow Boiler Works, and in 1873 he went with his family to North Haven, where he was connected with the brick manufacturing plant of T. L. Stiles & Company. He continued his residence in North Haven until his life's labors were ended in death in 1892, when he was sixty-four years of age. He was a Civil war veteran, having served for three years as a private of the Sixteenth Con- neetient Infantry. He was taken prisoner and had spent nine months in Libby and in Andersonville when exchanged. He always maintained pleasant relations with his old army
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comrades through his membership in Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R. His religious faith was that of the Congregational church and his life exemplified many sterling traits of character- loyalty to country, enterprise in business and fidelity to family and friends. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom three are living, John Joseph, Birdie and William.
John J. Laverty obtained his education in the public schools of North Haven and started out to earn his livelihood when a lad of but ten summers. Although really too young to assume life's responsibilities and duties he made good, early displaying that industry which won him promotion from time to time. His first employment was driving a pair of mules for the Stiles Brick Manufacturing Company of New Haven for a wage of ten dollars per month. Afterward he found a position in the assembling department of the Winchester Arms Company and continued in the services of that famous corporation for thirty years, the last decade as foreman of the cornering and polishing department, in which capacity he had three hundred workmen under his charge. Ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account, he became, in 1910, connected with the automobile trade, establishing a sales room at No. 39 Henry street, where he handled the Marion ear. After a year he removed to No. 53 Broadway and his next place was at No. 400 Crown street. There he had the agency for the Moon, Interstate and Hupmobile. The rapid increase in his business necessitated a further removal in February, 1917, when he opened his present sales rooms at No. 1094 Chapel street, where he handles the Hupmobile only, being the exclusive agent therefor in New Haven and the larger part of the county. His business has shown again a marked increase in the past year. his sales being equal to those of any other make of ear sold in the city.
In 1899 Mr. Laverty was married in North Haven to Miss Lulu Spencer and they have one son, Spencer D., who was born in June, 1900. Mr. Laverty exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and while residing in North Haven has taken a very active part in political affairs, standing at all times for those activities which promote the eivie welfare. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Masonie fraternity, to the American Mechanics, and to the Racebrook Country Club. He is a member of the Trinity Episcopal church. In this record of member- ships are indicated the rules which govern his conduet, for he is loyal to the teachings and purposes of church and of lodge. His story should have a stimulating effeet upon all those who are forced to start out on life's journey empty handed. Entering the business world at the age of ten years, his success is the result of earnest and honorable effort intelligently directed, and his worth as a man and citizen, as well as a factor in commercial circles, is widely acknowledged.
MAX LIPSHER.
One of the representative citizens and retail merchants of New Haven who from a small beginning has developed a business that far exceeds his expectations is Max Lipsher, a lead- ing tailor of New Haven. He came to this eity a poor boy, unknown, from a foreign land and started out in life practically empty handed, yet possessing an abundance of industry and determination with not a little experience. He had learned the value of forming the acquaintance of influential men and therefore soon found new friends in this city who gave him a start by recommending him for a position. He began work in a merchant tailoring establishment with which he remained for eleven years, saving his earnings in order to establish himself in business. He then established business on his own account and is now enjoying a most enviable reputation for honesty and fair dealing as well as his unusually good work.
Mr. Lipsher was born in Russia, March 28, 1881, a son of Henry and Fanny Lipsher, who spent their entire lives in that country, where the father was a well known tailor. Max Lipsher was the eldest of three children and in early youth he attended the public schools of Russia, after which he learned tailoring under his father's direction. In 1901 he came to America, landing at New York, where he seeured a position among his countrymen, but after a few months he came to New Haven, where he formed the acquaintance of some prominent
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men and obtained employment in one of the city's leading tailoring establishments, there remaining until 1911. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and at lengthi decided to engage in business as a partner of Joseph A. Shure. They opened a high class tailoring establishment and were not long in securing a liberal patronage from New Haven's best citizens and from the student and faculty bodies of Yale. The excellence of their work and the reliability of their methods commend them to public patronage, and their business has constantly grown until now they have one of the best merchant tailoring establishments of the city at No. 1077 Chapel street, with Mr. Lipsher as the president of the company and Mr. Shure as the vice president and secretary.
On the 18th of January, 1908, Mr. Lipsher was married to Miss Blanche Greenbaum of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Greenbaum, of a well known and old family of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Lipsher have had two children, Leanor, who was born in New Haven in 1909 and is now attending school, and Myra, who was born in 1914. Mr. Lipsher has membership with the Automobile Club of New Haven and is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, taking an active interest in the efforts of that organization to promote the upbuilding of the city and advance all public interests.
JAMES W. SWEET, M. D.
In taking up the medical profession Dr. James W. Sweet has followed in the footsteps of his ancestors. He comes of a family that has furnished many notable representatives to the profession and today" there are various ones of the name who are devoting their time and energies to the practice of medicine and surgery with good success. Dr. Sweet of this review was born in New Haven on March 3, 1881. He is descended from one of three brothers, all of whom were surgeons in England and came to the new world to practice their profes- sion. The eldest of these, Dr. James Sweet, had in his possession a sign inscribed, "Dr. Sweet, Bone Setter," and this sign was handed down through successive generations, ulti- mately becoming the property of Dr. James W. Sweet, the father of him whose name in- troduces this review. Dr. Benoni Sweet, the great-grandfather of Dr. James W. Sweet, now practicing in New Haven, devoted his life to the same profession in Guilford, Connecticut, and became the father of three sons, Benoni, Gideon and James W., who also became sur- geons, Gideon practicing in Middletown, Connecticut, where he passed away, while James W. settled in Milford. Connecticut. The latter was born in Guilford, June 15, 1828, and practiced in Milford until his death, which occurred in April, 1877. He married Emmeline Walkley, who was born May 7, 1830, in Guilford, and who was called to the home beyond, June 17, 1853. She was a daughter of Walter Walkley, who was killed while serving in the Indian war about 1830. He came of English ancestry.
Dr. James W. Sweet, son of Dr. James and Emmeline (Walkley) Sweet, was provided with excellent educational advantages, attending public and private schools in Milford, and later he turned to the profession in which his ancestors had won success and prominence. He took up the study of surgery under the instruction of his father and upon the latter's death in 1877 took over the large practice of Dr. Benoni Sweet. His life from that time forward was a very busy and useful one. His fame as a surgeon, especially in bone setting and in the eare of dislocations, won him distinction and patients came to him from all parts of the United States.
On the 18th of May, 1878, Dr. James W. Sweet, father of our subject, was united in marriage to Miss Emmeline S. Barber, of Elkhart, Indiana, a daughter of James M. Barber, and to them were born three children: James W., of this review; Grover C .; and Minnie E., the last of whom died at the age of six years. Dr. Sweet gave his political endorsement to the democratic party and was a prominent Mason, attaining the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and he was identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Order of Red Men, the Patriotic Sons of America, the Sons of Tem- perance and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He was a devoted member of the Episcopal church and in that faith passed away in 1907, his last days being spent in New Haven.
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