USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 51
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John M. Callahan was born in New London, March 13, 1864. He received his education in the schools there, after which he entered the depart- ment store of Hislop, Porteous & Mitchell as clerk, remaining with that firm until 1887. He then en- tered the store of Strickland & Gaillard, in the same capacity, this being then, as now, a high-class men's tailoring and outfitting shop. Remaining with them during the intervening years, Mr. Calla- han, with Richard W. Johns, in 1917 purchased the business, and upon its incorporation, in the same year, under the name of the C. W. Strickland Company, Mr. Callahan was made president of the concern. Now, in addition to carrying on one of the foremost business houses in men's apparel, they also carry an exclusive line of haberdashery.
Politically, Mr. Callahan reserves the right to
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independent thought and action. He is a member of the New London Chamber of Commerce, and for twenty years has been a member of St. John's Literary Society. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Callahan married, in 1893, Nellie A. Keefe, of New London, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Brown) Keefe. Mr. and Mrs. Callahan have one daughter, Eleanor.
HAROLD HANKINSON HEYER, M.D .- Since the year 1894, Dr. Heyer has been a medical and surgical practitioner in the city of New London, Connecticut, and there has won professional stand- ing and public confidence. He stands equally high as a citizen, and has been particularly useful as a member of the city Board of Education and friend of the public school system. He is a son of Levi Heyer, born in New York City, where all his active life was spent in the provision business. After retiring from business he located in New London, Connecticut, where he died at the age of eighty years. He married Phoebe Ann Helm, who died February 19, 1921, at the venerable age of eighty- seven years.
Harold H. Heyer was born in New York City, April 7, 1864, and was successively graduated from grammar school, high school and from the College of the City of New York, he receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1887, from the Medical Department of the New York University, which later merged with the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He was given an opportunity to gain hospital experience at Bellevue Hospital while practicing privately in New York City, where he continued for a few years, until his health failed, when he located in Peekskill, New York, there prac- ticing for five years amid country surroundings, but not in Peekskill.
In 1894 Dr. Heyer located in New London, where he has since been successfully engaged as a physician and surgeon. He was formerly a member of the staff of the Old Memorial Hos- pital, now a member of the surgical staff of the Home Memorial Hospital of New London. He is a member of the City, County and State Medical societies and of the American Medical Association. He is a member of Brainard Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and of Union Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. In politics he is a Republican, and the present coroner's physician for New London county. In religious faith he is connected with the First Baptist Church of New London.
Dr. Heyer for twelve years was a member of the New London Board of Education, and supervisor of the Harbor School, which at the time of his election was located in an old wooden structure in a bad state of repair. Dr. Hcyer insisted that the district should have a new and adequate school building, and when the majority of the board de- cided upon repairing the old building at a cost of over fifty per cent of its value, he went over their
heads to the Common Council of the city and secured an appropriation of $120,000 for a new modernly equipped brick structure for the Harbor School district. That building was later erected within the appropriation and the Harbor School stands a monument to the public spirit, courage and determination of Dr. Harold H. Heyer.
Dr. Heyer married, at New London, in July, 1897, Margaret Lane, who was born there, daughter of William Lane, an expert cabinet-maker of New London.
Dr. and Mrs. Heyer are the parents of a dangh- ter, Margaret Grace Heyer, now a student in the Connecticut College for Women, New London. The family home and Dr. Heyer's office is at No. 70 Coit street, New London.
GEORGE LESLIE BILDERBECK, president of Bilderbeck & Langdon, Inc., one of the leading firms of architects and engineers of New London county, was born in Hartwick, New York, August 6, 1881, and received his early education in the public and high schools of that place. Entering Cornell University in 1902, he was graduated from that institution in June, 1906, with the degree of Civil Engineer.
With this practical and thorough preparation for his career, Mr. Bilderbeck entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, at their Philadelphia offices, where, under the direction of Elisha Lee, D.E., he was engaged for about seven months on drafting and field work in connection with exten- sions of the system and grade eliminations at vari- ous points.
It was in February of 1908 that Mr. Bliderbeck came to Connecticut, where for nearly two years hc was in the employ of the American Bridge Com- pany, at East Berlin, detailing structural stech work under the direction of Orville Benson. In Decem- ber, 1908, he became connected with the quarter- master's corps of the United States War Depart- ment, and for one year was associated with, and under the direction of, John L. Cozzens, then for four years Mr. Bilderbeck was in full charge of construction work on barrack quarters, roads, wharves and water extension, aggregating a cost of $700,000, and taking him to forts H. G. Wright, Terry, Mansfield and Michie.
In December, 1913, Mr. Bilderbeck entered upon his duties as assistant engineer in the employ of the Rivers, Harbors and Bridges Commission of the State of Connecticut, and for three years and eight months was principally engaged in structural de- signing for the steamship terminal at New London. In August, of 1917, he became engineer of con- struction at the Groton Iron Works, at Groton, in this county, and during his association with this company (about sixteen months) his work com- prised the designing and supervision of buildings, crane-ways, ship-ways, cofferdam, fitting-ont dock, and other important construction work which, in the records of the Connecticut Society of Civil
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Engineers (1919) have become history. In January, 1919, Mr. Bilderbeck formed the present concern, in association with Frederick S. Langdon, and since that time their activities along the allied lines of architecture and engineering have included the de- signing and construction of many of the newer industrial, educational and business buildings in the city and county of New London and elsewhere, and the laying of pipe lines, the making of surveys, maps, etc. Mr. Bilderbeck is a recognized authority in his field and has written various articles for the leading technical journals.
CHARLES CLARK PERKINS - Prominently identified with the history of New London county for many years, Charles Clark Perkins is also a scion of one of the oldest families of that county. He is a lineal descendant of John Perkins, who was first at Groton, Connecticut, and whose ancestry is traced back to the originator of the Perkins name. Previous to the year 1400, surnames were not com- mon.
It soon became a custom to add certain termina- tions to the name of the father, one of these being "kin," which is very similar to our present "Jr." In this manner the names of Wilkins, Tomkins, and similar names originated. Perkins is from Pierre- kin, gradually softened to the form now in use. In the reign of Richard II., Pierre de Morlaix (who was probably a Norman from Morlaix, France) was high steward of the estates of Hugo Despencer. The latter was one of the most wealthy noblemen of England. His son, Henry, was known as Henry Pierrekin, and his son wrote the name Perkins and Perkyns. The great-grandson of the latter was the John Perkins above mentioned. He married Sarah Bailey, and their descendants have been among the most prominent and influential citizens of New London county. One of these, Phincas Perkins, great-grandfather of Charles Clark Perkins, took part in the defense of Fort Griswold, at Groton Heights, during the Revolutionary War.
Servillian Perkins, youngest son of Phineas Per- kins, was born August 8, 1808, and died November 18, 1878. He married, August 9, 1832, Lucy B. Potter, born May 23, 1814, in Noank, Connecticut, and died August 3, 1856. Servillian Perkins was a fisherman and sailor, and his last years were spent in cod fishing at George's Bank. During the "gold fever" Mr. Perkins was among those who went to California.
Albert W. Perkins, son of Servillian and Lucy B. (Potter) Perkins, was born at Noank, October 3, 1835, and died June 2, 1913. From the time he was a boy of ten years he was accustomed to the water and was frequently with his father on many of his trips. He followed the water until he was thirty-four years old, retiring at that time to enter mercantile pursuits in Noank. Mr. Perkins was a very successful business man and was a leading citizen. He was a Republican in politics, and was several times honored with positions of trust and
responsibility. Fraternally, he was a member of Charity and Relief Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; was a charter member, the first, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married, January 22, 1858, Julia Avery Burrows, born De- cember 18, 1841, died April 15, 1908, daughter of Austin and Almira (Hill) Burrows. They were the parents of six children: I. Lucy, who married Charles I. Fitch. 2. Charles Clark, of further men- tion. 3. Almira Hill, who married Otto Monroe. 4. Warren Chesebro, who married Flora Stanton. 5. Albert W., Jr. 6. Abbie H. The family attended the Baptist church of Noank.
Charles Clark Perkins, son of Albert W. and Julia A. (Burrows) Perkins, was born November 5, 1864, in the town of Noank, Connecticut, and was educated in the public schools. During the intervals he was not at school he was accustomed to work about his father's store, and when he was sixteen years old went to Providence, where he accepted a position with a wholesale haberdasher, and there remained for several years. During his first year there he took a business course, which was of great value to him in his mercantile work. His father's health being somewhat impaired, Mr. Perkins returned home and took charge of the latter's interests. In 1885, Mr. Perkins went to New London, where he remained for four years, and there went into the hat and furnishing business on his own account, all the time retaining his interest in his father's business. In April, 1889, Mr. Perkins bought the busi- ness of George Meeker, and because the building was very small, he called it "The Hat Box." In time, as his business grew, this name became synonymous with quality in hats. Later, in more commodious quarters, the name was changed to "The Hat Palace." Mr. Perkins opened a branch in Norwich, Connecticut, which he continued until 1894, then, by consolidation with the firm of Shepard & Harris, the C. C. Perkins Company was formed, and S. E. Tyler was admitted a partner. After five years he withdrew and the firm name was changed to Baumes & Perkins, and this arrangement continued for two years, when Mr. Perkins sold his interests to Mr. Baumes. On March 7, 1903, he pur- chased the clothing house of C. B. Ware, which had been in existence for thirty-five years, and the new company was known as the Perkins Clothing Company, Inc. In this business Mr. Perkins continues to the present time (1921), successful and prosperous through his business acumen, pleasing personality and high standard of business ethics.
Outside of business Mr. Perkins has been very active in public matters and like his father has held many public offices. For four years he was treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association, and his great in- terest in the youth of his city led him to organize the Success Club, which won a prize for being the most progressive club in the United States. In politics he is a Republican, and is at all times ready and willing to aid in all practical movements for the general welfare.
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In fraternal circles of New London, Mr. Perkins is prominent. He is grand master of the Connecticut Lodge of Masons, and following is his Masonic his- tory in detail:
He was raised a Mason in Union Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of New London, November 2, 1905; was junior deacon, 1906; junior warden, 1907; senior warden, 1908; worshipful master, 1909; treas- urer, 1910 to 1913, inclusive. In 1910 and 1911 he was Deputy for the Eighth Masonic District; in the Grand Lodge he was grand junior steward in 1912; grand senior steward in 1913; grand marshal, 1914; grand junior deacon, 1915; grand senior deacon, 1916; grand junior warden, 1917; grand senior warden, 1918; deputy grand master, 1919. Mr. Perkins was exalted in Union Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, April 2, 1906. He was master of the third vail in 1908; scribe in 1909; king, 1910; high priest in 1911. He was received and greeted in Cushing Council, Royal and Select Masters, June 19, 1906; was steward in 1911; captain of the Guard in 1912; deputy illustrious master in 1913; thrice illus- trious master, 1914. In Palestine Commandery, Knights Templar, he was knighted November 24, 1911, and has held several offices in that body. He received his Scottish Rite degrees in the Norwich bodies, as fol- lows: King Solomon Lodge of Perfection, January 27. 1913; Van Rensselaer Council, Princes of Jeru- salem, February 24, 1913: Norwich Chapter of Rose Croix, March 24, 1913: Connecticut Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, May 26, 1913. He has been an officer in King Solomon Lodge of Perfection, and is a former president of the Actual Past Masters' Association of New London county. He was made grand master, February 4, 1920.
In Odd Fellowship Mr. Perkins is a past grand of Mohegan Lodge, and past chief patriarch of Orion Encampment, both of New London. For two years he was district deputy. Mr. Perkins is a member of sev- eral of the local clubs of New London, and through his ancestor, Phineas Perkins, is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution; he is also a member of the New London County Historical Society. In Sep- tember, 1921, he was elected a member of the new City Commission.
Mr. Perkins married, November 27, 1887, Hattie S. Fish, daughter of Samuel W. and Amanda J. (Smith) Fish, of New London. They were the parents of an only child, Alice Tyler Perkins, born March 23, 1891, married, June 4, 1914, Ralph M. Packer, and the mother of Charles Clark Packer, born March 8, 1916. Mrs. Alice Tyler (Perkins) Packer died May 25, 1916.
GEORGE POTTER FENNER-The history of the Fenner family extends far back into the troublous days of religious and political dissention in England when Oliver Cromwell led his praying soldiers to con- quest and supremacy. Captain Arthur Fenner, a lieu- tenant in Cromwell's army, after having fought through to victory and the execution of the king, in 1649, war weary, perhaps, or not willing to go the full length of Oliver Cromwell's increasingly severe policy of arbi-
trary rule and ruthless suppression, came, with his wife, Mehitable (Waterman) Fenner, to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was appointed captain of the king's garrison, and where, as civil engineer, he laid out the boundaries of the plantation. He was made assistant to the governor, by appointment, and was commissioned to "put in order and have printed the statutes of the colony."
Major Thomas Fenner, son of Captain Arthur Fen- ner, married Dinah Borden, and became the father of Thomas Fenner, who married Mary Abbott. Their son, William Fenner, and his wife, Christian (Arnold) Fenner, were the parents of Stephen Fenner, who in turn became the father of Philip Arnold Fenner. Philip Arnold Fenner and his wife, Sally (Potter) Fenner, were the grandparents of George Potter Fenner. Charles Arnold Fenner, father of George Potter Fen- ner, was a native of Poland, New York, and a ship- builder of note in Connecticut. He built for the gov- ernment a number of vessels, among which was the "Galatia," which was later transformed into an iron- clad and was among the first of that class of ves- sels to be placed in service.
George P. Fenner was educated in the old Hopkinton Academy, Ashaway, Rhode Island ; in public and private schools in Mystic, Connecticut ; and at the Providence (Rhode Island) Commercial College. At the age of seventeen years he began his training in the business of manufacturing printing presses, entering the employ of Cottrell & Babcock, of Westerly, Rhode Island, Nathan Babcock of that firm being his uncle. For eight years he worked in the pattern shop and drawing- room, at the end of which time, in 1882, in partnership with a fellow worker, he established a similar business in New London. At the request of his uncle, this company was merged into the Babcock Printing Press Manufacturing Company, New London, and from that time on he devoted his energies to the manufacture and improvement of printing presses. He was originally assistant treasurer and superintendent of the business, but for the fifteen years preceding his death he was president and treasurer. In addition to his executive and administrative ability, Mr. Fenner contributed a large amount of creative ability to the prosperity of the business. He was the author of many valuable inventions, receiving some sixty-seven patents between 1882 and 1915, the most important of which were: The adjustable roller socket, the adjustable diameter plunger head, the spiral slider controller, printed-side-up deliv- ery, a ball and socket joint, telescoping delivery slide rods and detachable carriage connection, ball roll on end of star gear rack, spiral table roll drive, and roller throw-off. Year by year, with unflagging energy, Mr. Fenner, from an humble beginning, developed the Bab- cock Printing Press Manufacturing Company, which is now generally acknowledged to be the makers of the hest flat-bed printing presses in the world, having been awarded medals in all the principal cities of Europe and America.
Aside from his manufacturing interests, Mr. Fenner was for years a director in the National Bank of Com-
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merce, of New London. He was a member of the executive board of the Associated Charities of New London, and of All Souls' Church (Unitarian-Uni- versalist), New London, having for eighteen years served the latter as president of the board of trustees. His dominating personal characteristics were business integrity, and perfectly square and honest dealings with individuals. He was a man of untiring industry, was public-spirited, generous, a lover of home and family, of keen intellect, and withal was possessed of a great capacity for friendship. Fond of good literature from his earliest years, he possessed a retentive memory and the ability to talk entertainingly, was a genial host, and a welcome addition to any company.
Since Mr. Fenner's death, Mrs. Fenner has con- tinued the business with success, having enlarged and considerably increased it. Under her control the com- pany has been able to purchase the land and buildings occupied by it for so long, and now owns its shops. Mrs. Fenner's position in the company is that of treas- urer. She was elected president of the company, but immediately resigned in favor of one of the other officers of the concern, deeming it better business policy to have a man at the head of the business. The com- pany now employs over four hundred hands, many of whom have been in its employ for many years. At a meeting and banquet of the officers and foremen of the company, held in 1918, it was found that their com- bined years of service amounted to over five hundred years. From its humble beginning to the generally recognized position as builders of the best flat-bed printing presses in the world, the company was brought by the untiring industry and inventive genius of Mr. Fenner. For years he worked seven days in the week until he had put the business on a paying and successful basis. It was his life work, and he loved it as few men love their work, giving it the most of his time and energy. It was this very love for this creation of his that induced Mrs. Fenner, after his death, to carry on the business as a merited monument to his achieve- ment.
Mr. Fenner married, July 7, 1887, in Hanover, Con- necticut, Annie Cutler Smith. daughter of Norman and Sarah Adeline (Cutler) Smith, who were married No- vember 15, 1849. Mr. Smith was a merchant and a farmer of Hanover, born in that place, June 8, 1826, and descended from distinguished ancestors through both the paternal and maternal lines. He was a descendant of Myles Standish through his father, and on the mother's side from John Robinson, the Leyden preacher, whose son Isaac emigrated to America, and was the pro- genitor of this branch of the family in America. The line of descent is as follows:
(1) Captain Myles Standish, Duxbury, Massachu- estts; (2) Captain Josiah Standish, Norwich, Connec- ticut; (3) Josiah Standish, Stafford, Connecticut ; (4) Hannah Standish, married Nathan Foster, Stafford, Connecticut ; (5) Lois Foster, born 1732, married, Au- gust 4. 1752, Elihu Palmer, Scotland, Connecticut; (6) Eunice Palmer, born August 25, 1755, married Josiah Smith; (7) Dr. Vine Smith, married Lydia Lillie; (8) Norman Smith.
(1) Rev. John Robinson and Bridget (White) Rob- inson, Leyden, Holland; (2) Isaac Robinson, emigrant ; (3) Peter Robinson, married Experience Manton; (4) Peter Robinson, Jr., born 1697, died 1785, married Ruth Fuller, Mansfield, Connecticut; (5) Experience Robin- son, born January 3, 1768, married Nathan Lillie; (6) Lydia Lillie, married, 1832, Dr. Vine Smith; (8) Nor- man Smith, married Sarah Adeline Cutler.
(1) Rev. John Robinson and Bridget (White) Rob- inson, Leyden, Holland; (2) Isaac Robinson: (3) Peter Robinson ; (4) Elizabeth Robinson, died 1798, married Josiah Smith; (5) Josiah Smith, married, 1776, Eunice Palmer; (6) Dr. Vine Smith, born January 5, 1796; (7) Norman Smith.
Mr. Fenner was survived by his wife and one daugh- ter, Mildred Lucile, wife of Walter L. Douglas. He died in New London, Connecticut, October 21, 1915.
ERNEST OLIVER WINSHIP, M.D .- Any his- tory of the medical profession of this locality would be incomplete without the name of Dr. Ernest Oliver Win- ship, who as a surgeon and an eye and ear specialist has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in New London, Connecticut, since 1910. Dr. Winship is also identified with the religious and social life of the community, being respected and valued as a con- scientious, public-spirited citizen, also as an able and devoted physician.
Ernest Oliver Winship was born at Danby, Vermont, on December 19, 1874, the son of John F. and Matilda (Warner) Winship. John F. Winship was a carpenter throughout his entire lifetime, and died in 1913; he was interred at Danby. The preliminary education of the boy, Ernest O., was obtained in the schools of his native place, after which he attended the Burr and Dutton Seminary at Manchester, Vermont, where he prepared for college, having in the meantime decided to adopt medicine as a profession. In 1897 he matriculated at the University of Vermont, and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine from this institution in 1900, subsequently going to New York City, where
he took a course in surgery at the Post-Graduate Hos- pital. Here he remained for two years and then went to Rockville, Connecticut. where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1908, when he returned to New York City and for the following year and a half devoted himself to special study of the eye and ear, after which he came to New London, Connecticut, establishing himself in practice and winning a high and honorable standing, and with this position has come the material regard that properly accompanies profes- sional success.
In politics, Dr. Winship is a Republican, and has been school physician for many years. Professionally, he is a member of the American Medical Association, the New London County Medical Society and the Con- necticut State Medical Association. He is a member of Brainard Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of New London; Union Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Cushing Council, Royal and Select Masters; Palestine
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Commandery, Knights Templar; and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite bodies. He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious preference he is a Congregationalist and attends the church of this denomination at New London.
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