USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 13
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Connecticut, he allowed nothing to tempt him away from the home place. Now for years he and his brother George H. have carried on the interests of the farm, constantly improving the place, building up a fine herd, and a very large and extensive business. Mr. Appley is now considered by his townspeople one of the most pro- gressive farmers of this section. Mr. Appley is a member of North Stonington Grange, No. 138, Patrons of Husbandry, and in his relationship to the farming community through this organization is a vital force for the upbuilding of the farming interests of the town. Mrs. Appley died February 10, 1901.
EARL STANLEY BAVIER-Ably filling a posi- tion of responsibility in the community, prominent in the social and fraternal life of the town, Earl Stanley Bavier is representative of the broadly useful citizens whose interests embrace many branches of activity.
Mr. Bavier is a son of Nelson and Sarah (Curtiss) Bavier. Nelson Bavier was born in Newark, New Jer- sey, and there received his education in the public schools. Thereafter, he became interested in the manu- facture of hardware, and has followed this general line up to the present time. For several years he was super- intendent of the New Haven Clock Company at their New Haven plant. He is now located at Chatham, Con- necticut, where he is a manufacturer of various kinds of hardware. His wife was born in Waterbury, Con- necticut, and is a daughter of Captain Lucius Curtiss, a soldier of the Civil War. Mrs. Bavier's mother, Mary (Cleveland) Curtiss, was a sister of ex-President Grover Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Bavier are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter : Nelson, Jr., now city engineer of Hartford, Connecticut, who married Olive Reeves ; Isabelle, who became the wife of Herbert S. Bush, and is a resident of New Haven ; George H., now of Boston, who is assistant to the presi- dent of the Boston & Maine railroad, and an important figure in New England railway circles, and married Maude White; and Earl Stanley, of whom further.
Earl Stanley Bavier was born in New Haven, Con- necticut, on January 28, 1884. He received his early education in the public schools of that city, then com- pleted his studies at the Baypath Institute, of Spring- field, Massachusetts. In 1898 he became associated with his father in the office of his factory, remaining until 1901. In that year he entered the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad, in their New Haven offices, later becoming inspector of stations, which position carried him to all points on the lines in the control of this company. In 1914 he was sent to Mystic, Connecticut, to reorganize the station manage- ment, later becoming agent at this station. He still acts in that capacity, and has become a well-known figure in the life of the town, as well as in his official capacity.
Politically, Mr. Bavier is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, although he has never accepted political preferment of any kind. He is a member of the American-Asiatic Society of New York City.
On October 10, 1908, Mr. Bavier married Isabelle Drysdale, of Westerly, Rhode Island, daughter of Rob- ert and Mary (MacCracken) Drysdale, both natives of
Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Bavier attend the Congrega- tional church of Mystic, and are prominent in all its social and benevolent activities.
JOHN JEFFREY HERBERT, the popular and energetic automobile dealer of Norwich, Connecticut, is a native of New London county, and has been well- known in business circles of this vicinity ever since his education was completed.
Mr. Herbert is a son of Jonas L. and Lillian E. (Jeffrey) Herbert, of Voluntown, Connecticut. Jonas L. Herbert was born in Whiting, Vermont, and was educated in the public schools of the city of Quebec, Canada. In 1885 he came to the United States, and located at Voluntown, in New London county, Connecti- cut. There he bought out the general store, and has continued in this business until the present time, be- coming one of the leading men of the town. His wife was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, and they are the parents of four children.
John Jeffrey Herbert was born in Glasgo, New Lon- don county, Connecticut, on May 24, 1893. He received his early education in the district schools of Voluntown, then entered the Norwich Free Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1912. With this prac- tical preparation for the battle of life he became his father's assistant at the store in Voluntown, where he gained the experience which is now of real benefit to him. He remained with his father until 1919, when he came to Norwich, and bought out the Charles S. Peck- ham Garage. He has been most successful from the first, and is now considered one of the foremost men in the automobile world of New London county. He handles the Maxwell and Chalmers cars, and has a very complete stock of automobile supplies of every descrip- tion. Although a comparatively short time has elapsed since his entering this field, he has become a power therein, and is forging ahead to an enviable position in the trade.
Mr. Herbert is alert to every phase of civic and in- dustrial progress, a Republican by political choice, but caring little for the political game. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, of Norwich, and of the Foresters of America.
On August 24, 1916, Mr. Herbert married Eva L. Dawley, daughter of George B. and Anna (Briggs) Dawley, of Plainfield, Connecticut, and they have one son, John Jeffrey, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM HENRY BUCKLEY-In the busy manufacturing community of Baltic, Connecticut, Wil- liam Henry Buckley holds an important executive posi- tion, being superintendent of the extensive cotton tex- tile plant of the Baltic Mills Company.
Mr. Buckley is a son of William H. and Mary E. (Newton) Buckley, both of whom were born in Eng- land. William H. Buckley was born in Manchester, Eng- land, and was educated there. During the greater part of his life he was an exporter of textile machinery, having entered that line of business in 1876. He died in England, in 1914, at the age of seventy-eight years.
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His first wife, Mary E. (Newton) Buckley, died in England, in 1875, at the age of twenty-seven years. He married (second) Eliza Ogilvie, also born in England. The children of the first marriage numbered three, and are as follows: James N., now a resident of Man- chester, England, and prominent in the insurance busi- ness in that city, who married Nellie Tippets, of Man- chester ; William Henry, of whom further; and Fred- erick Charles, who married Sarah Fielding, of Man- chester, England, both being now deceased.
William Henry Buckley was born in Manchester, England, on September 28, 1868. He received a thor- ough education in the National schools of that country, then served an apprenticeship in the manufacture of textile machinery, covering a period of seven years. This placed him among the experts in his line, and after working several years in the employ of Platt Brothers, of Oldham, England, he entered the installa- tion field, becoming an erection engineer. This was in 1890, and he set up textile machinery in many different parts of the world. In 1900 Mr. Buckley placed ma- chinery for the same plant of which he is now super- intendent, the Baltic Mills Company. Then for two years thereafter he continued along the line of erec- tion engineer. In 1902 he became superintendent of the Coosa Manufacturing Company, of Piedmont, Alabama. Two years later he was induced to accept the position of superintendent for the plant of Thomas Henry & Sons, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then from 1908 until I911 he acted as superintendent for the Cornwall & York Company, of St. John, New Brunswick. With- out exception these plants were cotton mills.
In 1911 Mr. Buckley, with this broad and compre- hensive experience behind him, came to Baltic, Con- necticut, as superintendent for the Baltic Mills Com- pany. He has been most successful in this connection, and has carried the standard of production to the high- est point. For ten years he has held this position, with ever increasing efficiency, and stands among the big men in the textile industry in this county.
Mr. Buckley has few interests outside his business, and is an influential member of the Southern New England Textile Association. Politically, he throws his influence on the side of the Republican party, although he has always declined political honors. He is a regular attendant upon the services of the Baptist church.
On June 8, 1894, Mr. Buckley married Margaret A. Parks, daughter of John and Mary (Wetherell) Parks, of Ireland, and they have one daughter, Mary Ellen, born in Portadown, Ireland. Miss Buckley was gradu- ated from the Connecticut College for Women, of New London, in the class of 1919, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. She is now engaged as an instructor in drawing.
WILLIAM RYAN CROMWELL-Now a gen- eral merchant at Poquonock Bridge, town of Groton, New London county, Connecticut, Mr. Cromwell is showing his versatility of talent, for he has given the preceding years of his life to mechanical occupations. He bought the James Fletcher general store at Poquon- ock Bridge in 1920 and is succeeding in his new field of
activity wonderfully well. William R. Cromwell is a son of Ira R. Cromwell, born in Mystic, Connecticut, who has spent his adult life as a carpenter and builder. He married Lillian B. Brown, who was born in Mystic.
William R. Cromwell was born in Mystic, Connecticut, August 23, 1881, and there was educated in the public schools and Mystic Valley Institute. Later he learned the machinist's trade, then went with his father and learned the carpenter's trade, finally becoming his fore- man. He continued in that line of activity until 1920, when he bought the general store at Poquonock Bridge, which he now conducts. He is a Republican in politics ; a member of Fairview Lodge, No. 101, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Groton; Dolgeville Lodge, No. 796, Free and Accepted Masons; and of the Mystic Baptist Church. During the World War, 1917-18, he served with the State Guard.
Mr. Cromwell married, January 2, 1901, at Old Mystic, Connecticut, Julia E. Maine, of Ledyard, Connecticut, daughter of Leeds and Sarah (Holdredge) Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell are the parents of two children : Lewis Maine, born in Mystic, Connecticut, July 28, 1905; Mae Arline, born in Mystic, July 15, 1912.
CHARLES HENRY SMITH-Success in any chosen line of work is the direct result of perseverance, energy and ability, coupled with a sincere desire to per- form all duties in the best manner possible, and these qualities are manifest in large measure in the person of Charles H. Smith, a resident of Noank, Connecticut, his native town.
Oliver R. Smith, father of Charles H. Smith, was born in the town of Eastford, Connecticut, April 15, 1821, and died in Noank, in 1913. He was reared in his native town, educated in the common schools of that day, and upon attaining a suitable age to earn his own livelihood, turned his attention to the pursuits pertain- ing to the sea, making whaling voyages which covered periods of from two to three years, sailing from the port of Mystic, Connecticut. Although he met with a fair degree of success in this enterprise, he only con- tinued in it up to the year 1850, when twenty-nine years of age, then changing his place of residence to Noank, Connecticut, where he engaged in an entirely different pursuit, that of shoemaking, so continuing for the remainder of his active career. During his long life of ninety-two years he witnessed many changes in the manners and customs of people, in the rapid growth and increase of population in towns and cities, and in various improvements along many lines, all of which added to the comfort and pleasure of humanity. Mr. Smith married Lucy E. Perkins, daughter of Noyes Perkins, who also attained an honorable old age, and who bore him four children: John, died at the age of two years; Charles Henry, of further mention; Wil- liam Chester, a resident of Noank; and Jennie, who became the wife of John N. Porter, of Noank. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Baptist church of Noank, in the work of which they took an active interest.
Charles Henry Smith was born in the Moses Ashbey house, near the Cove, Noank, Connecticut, September
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10, 1851. He obtained a practical education by attend- ance at the public schools of Noank, and his first occu- pation was as clerk in the store conducted by Mr. Fitch, where he remained one year, then entered the employ of W. W. Latham, in whose service he remained for two years. In 1869, deciding to learn the trade of boat building, he served a three years' apprenticeship with Jeremiah Davis, an expert in his line, then began business on his own account in the mold loft at the Palmer yard, where he built all kinds of fishing boats and yachts. In 1875 he erected a shop on land which later became the property of Mr. Palmer, where he suc- cessfully plied his trade until the fall of 1898, when he erected a shop and put in a marine railway on the Potter property at Noank; this pulls out fifty-foot boats. His location is excellent for wintering boats, and in addition to building boats he does a general repair business, yachts and other seafaring craft being brought to him for thorough overhaulings. His workmanship is of the best, the materials used being thoroughly in- spected, and the success he has achieved is well merited. For many years Mr. Smith has taken an active interest in public life, representing the town of Groton in 1891 and in 1895 in the Legislature, serving on the Fish and Game Committee, and again from 1919 to 1921. From 19II to 1921 he has served as a county commissioner. He is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Smith married, November 16, 1872, Mary E. Potter, born August 5, 1845, died June 9, 1905, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Fowler) Potter, of Noank, grand- daughter of Joseph and Mercy (Burrows) Potter, great- granddaughter of Thomas Potter, and great-great- granddaughter of William Potter, who emigrated to this country in 1784.
ALBERT FORT is the son of English parents, although his father, Hartly Fort, was a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, where he grew up to manhood and where he was educated in the public schools. Later he went to Lancaster, England, and became overseer of the spinning department in a cotton mill there, following this calling for the remainder of his life. His wife was Mary (Thompson) Fort, who died in 1877, Mr. Fort dying in 1905. Seven children were born to them, Albert Fort being the youngest.
Born in Lancaster, England, September 4, 1877, Albert Fort acquired his education in the English schools, after which he took up the study of electrical engineering. In 1899 Mr. Fort came to the United States, but after spending a year here he returned to his home in Eng- land, remaining there until June, 1908, when he again came to this country, locating in New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, with his family. Becoming engaged in his profession, Mr. Fort was occupied in various places in electrical engineering and wiring. In 1917 he left Massachusetts, and coming to Stonington, Connecticut, he opened a store for the sale of electrical supplies and entered into general electrical contracting. He has been very successful and is still engaged in that business. Mr. Fort is a member of Asylum Lodge, No. 57, Free and Accepted Masons, of Stonington, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of the same town.
On February 8, 1902, Mr. Fort married Ann Frances Fort, of Colne, England. She is the daughter of John and Margaret (Mitchell) Fort, residents of England. Two children have been born of this marriage: Con- stance M., and Margaret F., both born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Fort are members of the Protestant Episco- pal church of Stonington.
JEAN BAPTISTE LE CLAIRE-Among the residents of French-Canadian birth in Jewett City, Con- necticut, none is more deserving of mention in a work of this character than the late Jean B. Le Claire, who gave to the country of his adoption a loyalty not to be surpassed by any native-born son, a man of enterprise and public spirit, esteemed by all with whom he was brought in contact, whether in business, fra- ternal or social life.
Joseph Le Claire, father of Jean B. Le Claire, was born at La Présentation, Province of Quebec, Canada, a descendant of one of the first French settlers of that section. He was reared and educated in the town of his birth, spent his entire life there with the exception of four years spent with his son at Jewett City, gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, becoming the pos- sessor of large holdings of land, and his death oc- curred there in the year 1896. His wife, Zoe (De Grange) Le Claire, also a native of the Province of Quebec, bore him six children, as follows: Jean Bap- tiste, of whom further ; Napoleon, Adelia, Francis, Her- mides, and Jesse, who died in early life.
Jean B. Le Claire was born at La Présentation, Prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, February 22, 1856. His boy- hood and early youth were spent in attendance at the government schools of his native place and in assist- ing his father with the labor of the home farm. At the age of sixteen, feeling that the time had come to depend upon his own resources for a livelihood, and realizing that the United States offered more oppor- tunities for advancement than his native land, he accordingly came here, locating at Putnam, Connecti- cut, where he secured work in a woolen mill. His next position was as driver of a bakery wagon, in which capacity he served until 1886, during which time he accumulated a small amount of capital, the result of prudence and thrift. He then took up his residence at Jewett City, where he engaged in the baking business and he succeeded so well that at the end of two years he was in a position to erect a house for his own use and a bakery, and twelve years later, in 1900, he built the Le Claire block, where he conducted a branch store, and in 1910 he established a meat market in connection with his baking business, deriving a substantial income from both lines of trade, and these enterprises are con- ducted at the present time (1920) by members of his family. In addition to the property above mentioned, Mr. Le Claire had other parcels of land in different sections of Jewett City, which have increased in value during the passing years. He was interested in all that concerned the welfare of his adopted city, and was chosen by his fellow-citizens to serve in the office of tax collector, the duties of which he performed in an efficient manner for six years, having been elected on
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the Democratic ticket. He was a member and trustec of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Jewett City, and held membership in the Knights of Columbus, of Taftville, Connecticut, the St. Louis Society, and the St. John Baptiste Society at Putnam.
Mr. Le Claire married, April 20, 1883, Vittline Quiry, daughter of Michael and Adelide Quiry, of Putnam, the ceremony being performed by Father Vygen. Chil- dren: Arthur; Albina, who became the wife of Louis Guillotte of Jewett City; Alpherie, Eugene, Endor, Wil- fred, Hector, and Jean Baptiste, Jr. Three children died young.
LOUIS JOSEPH FONTAINE is a familiar figure in the business world of Norwich. He is a descendant of one of the old French families who sought refuge from the horrors of the Revolution by emigrating to Canada.
Henry Fontaine, father of Louis Joseph Fontaine, was born in St. Pie, Province of Quebec. He received his education at the old Convent School in that city. When he was eighteen years of age the United States was in the throes of the Civil War, and the young man left his home and came to this country for the express pur- pose of taking part in that conflict. He served as a private in Company D, 8th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, with honor and distinction. At the close of the war he came to Connecticut and lo- cated at Willimantic, where he was employed in the cotton mills for some years, then removed to Taft- ville, Connecticut, where he has resided for the past forty-two years. He is now retired from active busi- ness, but still hale and hearty. He married Celia Cloutier, also a native of St. Pie, and they were the parents of nine children. They celebrated their golden wedding May 3, 1921.
Louis Joseph Fontaine was born in the town of Baltic, Connecticut, on March 4, 1872, and is the eldest of the family. He received his education in the public schools of the village of Taftville, then at St. Artha- baska College, at Victoriaville, Province of Quebec, where he made a special study of the French language. Then coming to Norwich, he worked for several years as a clerk in the men's furnishing store of Murphy & McGarry, finally rising to buyer. In 1904 Mr. Fon- taine bought a drug store in Baltic, and for ten years conducted it under the name of the Fontaine Pharmacy. In 1914 he sold this store, and returning to Norwich, started in business along the line of real estate and insurance. He was successful from the first, and has come to be considered one of the leading men in the city in the line of insurance, having developed this some- what more extensively than the other branch of the business.
Mr. Fontaine resides in the village of Baltic, and is health officer for the town of Sprague. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and chairman of the Republican Town Committee. He is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 430, of Norwich; a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Norwich; and was postmaster of Baltic, Connecticut, in 1908-12.
Mr. Fontaine married, on June 18, 1901, Rose A.
Reeves, of Baltic ; they have an adopted daughter, Rhea Despathy. The family are members of the Roman Catholic church.
FREDERICK GEORGE THUMM-Gustave and Rosine (Graner) Thumm, who were married in their native Wurttemburg, Germany, there resided until 1885, the father a skilled cabinet maker. The family con- sisted of seven children, all born in Germany. In 1885 Gustave and Rosine Thumm came with their children to the United States, locating in Taftville, New London county, Connecticut, where Gustave Thumm followed his trade until the failure of his health. He then en- tered the employ of a wholesale tobacco house as trav- eling cigar salesman, continuing until his death in Taft- ville, May 6, 1892.
Mrs. Thumm, after being left a widow, removed to Norwich, Connecticut, where in 1900 she bought out a delicatessen store on Franklin street, which her son Gustave had established in 1896. Her son Frederick G. became her assistant, and after conducting the store very successfully for twelve years, Mrs. Thumm sold the business to him and retired. She died in Norwich, February 20, 1916, a woman honored, respected and loved by all who knew her.
Frederick George Thumm, youngest child of Gustave and Rosine (Grauer) Thumm, was born in Wurttem- burg, Germany, April 17, 1881, and in 1885 was brought to Taftville, Connecticut, by his parents. He attended Taftville public schools until fourteen years of age, then became a worker in the Ponemah Cotton Mills, there remaining five years, until 1900. His father died in 1892, and in 1896 the eldest son of Gustave Thumm established a delicatessen store in Norwich, which passed under Mrs. Thumm's management and ownership in 1900.
In the latter year Frederick G. Thumm left Taft- ville and became his mother's store assistant, and in 1912 purchased the business, Mrs. Thumm then retir- ing. The Thumm delicatessen store has always been a successful business enterprise, and is now the larg- est of its kind in New London county. The goods sold are of the grade of delicatessen store goods, and most of them are made by Mr. Thumin or under his direction. He thoroughly understands the business, having had the very best of training under an un- usually capable housewife, his mother, who was moreover an excellent business woman. Mr. Thumm is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in political faith an Independent. He is affiliated with Somerset Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons; Franklin Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Franklin Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters; Columbian Commandery, No. 4, Knights Templar ; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Gardner Lodge, No. 46, Knights of Pythias, and Norwich Lodge, No. 430, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of Norwich Chamber of Commerce, and bears his part in making Norwich an attractive place in which to reside.
On June 15, 1905, Frederick G. Thumm married, in Norwich, Bertha Budzeck, born in Prussia, daughter of John and Mary Budzeck. Mr. and Mrs. Thumm are
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the parents of four children: Emilie Marie, Rudolf Frederick, Gertrude Bertha, Martha Caroline, all resid- ing at the family home, No. 128 Broadway, Norwich. Mr. Thumm's place of business remains at the old stand it has occupied for a quarter of a century (1896-1921), No. 40 Franklin street.
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