A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 114

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II > Part 114

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ent of the Merrill Machinery Company at Hartford. Margaret Theresa and Howard Trowbridge are both at home.

Politically Mr. White is a democrat. He served as tax collector of Pomfret in 1879 and 1880 and in the latter year was elected a selectman, was re-elected in 1881 and resigned in 1882, his business taking him to Brooklyn. He again became tax collector in 1885 and 1886 and served as tax assessor and as a member of the board of relief for many years. In October, 1895, he was elected selectman and was re-elected every year for eighteen consecutive years. He was then off the board for three years and in 1916 he was chosen as the first selectman and served until October, 1917. For an extended period he has been a member of the town committee of the democratic party and has ever been deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community, his cooperation being ever counted upon to further plans for the general good. Mr. White became a charter member of Wolf Den Grange and was elected its first treasurer, in which capacity he served for three years. He and his wife were two of the first four members of that Grange to join the National Grange, which they did at Concord, New Hampshire, twenty-eight years ago. In addition to having membership in the local or- ganization and the national organization they are also representatives of the State Grange. Their religious faith is that of the Congregational church and its teachings actuate them at all times, for they endeavor to closely follow its precepts and its purposes.

ERNEST P. CHESBRO.

Along business as well as public lines Ernest Pashur Chesbro is favorably known in Willimantic, where he is engaged in the manufacturing business and at present also serves as selectman of his town, the honor being conferred upon him in recognition of his public-spirited citizenship and his business and administrative ability. He was born in Mystic, Connecticut, July 29, 1858, a son of Reuben M. and Laura A. (Pierce) Chesbro, both deceased.

Ernest P. Chesbro began his education in a private school in South Windham, Con- necticut, and subsequently attended district school until he was sixteen years old, at which time he discontinued his studies in order to take up the duties of business life. For the three subsequent years he was employed in a carriage factory, thoroughly ac- quainting himself with the details of the trade, and then clerked in the store of the American Thread Company. His ability increased with his experience, and that his em- ployers appreciated his worth is evident from the fact that he continued with this firm for seven years. At the end of that time he became connected with the New England Railway, now a part of the New York, New Haven & Hartford, and he remained with that road until he began a business for himself. All these positions he held either in Willimantic or Windham, which towns were one at that time.

Upon discontinuing his connection with the railroad Mr. Chesbro bought the in- surance business of H. A. Loomer and immediately threw his whole force into making the agency successful and into enlarging its trade. He concentrated not alone upon one line of insurance but took up various kinds and his success is proven from the fact that in the course of years he was able to buy up a number of other agencies, adding them to those he already carried. In addition he started a bicycle and carriage shop and also handled coal, doing a retail and wholesale business. In this he formed a partnership with George S. Elliott and so continued for about seven years, after which he sold out to his partner and, following the trend of modern times, established the first automobile business in Willimantic. It is a historical fact that he sold the first automobile-a Stanley steamer-in this city. Success accompanied him in this line and he so con- tinued for about eight years, since which period he has given his attention to the real estate field, insurance, manufacturing interests and also political and public questions, for these are not the least of his considerations. Personal prosperity has never been his only aim and the community welfare has been benefited by him along many lines and he has shunned no effort in order to further the growth and development of his city. Along commercial lines he is probably best known in connection with the firm of Chesbro Brothers, manufacturing druggists and also manufacturers of sundries.

On May 19, 1881, Mr. Chesbro married Miss Carrie O. Sweetland, the ceremony being solemnized in Willimantic. Of their three children two are living: Laura, a high school graduate; and Ernest P., Jr., now attending school. Reuben Charles died at the promising age of twenty-one years and his untimely demise caused deep grief to the family and sincere sorrow among his many friends, all of whom appreciated him for his open-heartedness, his manly qualities and his steadfastness in friendship.

Ernest P. Chesbro is a republican and has always upheld the principles and platform Vol. 11-47

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of this party although it must be said of him that he takes in consideration the personal qualifications of the candidate as regards his suitability for office and that he carefully weighs all questions that come up for decision irrespective of party issue. In local public life he has taken a very prominent part and has not only served as burgess of the borough but also was councilman from the fourth ward. Higher honors came to him when his fellow citizens elected him state representative, in which capacity he ably served from 1913 to 1915, taking part in important law making and exerting his influence not only on various committees but also from the floor of the house and never losing sight of the interests of his own constituents. At present Mr. Chesbro is serving his second term as first selectman of Willimantic. He guides public affairs with a sure hand and with an eye toward economy, yet is progressive enough to commend and promote those measures which make for the improvement of the city even if they should involve a larger expenditure if this expenditure is warranted by the value of the improvement. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he does everything in his power to spread its influence and is active in the church and its affiliated societies. As a mem- ber of the chamber of commerce he is prominent and always stands in favor of those measures which are intended to increase the trade balance in favor of his city. As a public leader, as a manufacturer, as a business man of affairs and as an American gentle-

. man he is honored and respected for what he has accomplished.

VALENTINE LAWRENCE MURPHY.

Valentine Lawrence Murphy, who since 1913 has been engaged in the general building and contracting business at Willimantic, the firm, however, having been in existence since 1911, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, February 26, 1876, and is a son of John and Anora ( McCormick) Murphy. The father, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was there reared and educated and afterward became associated with his father, Anthony Murphy, who was a building contractor of Dublin. He remained a resident of the Emerald isle until 1871, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, taking up his abode in Norwich, Connecticut, where he followed the carpenter's trade. He was accompanied on the voyage by his wife and six children and he continued a resident of Norwich to the time of his death, which occurred in 1897. His wife, who was also born in Dublin, passed away in Norwich on the 26th of October, 1892. They had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom were born in Ireland and two died in that country ere the emigration of the family to the new world. Five of the number were born in Norwich and of the family nine are yet living.

Valentine L. Murphy, who was the eleventh in order of birth in this family, spent his youthful days in his native city and is indebted to the public school system of Nor- wich for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. In early life he learned the trade of carpen- tering with his father and subsequently formed a partnership with his brother James under the firm style of Murphy Brothers. He thus engaged in the contracting business in Norwich from 1898 until 1907, when the business relations between the brothers were discontinued. They had specialized in the erection of churches and were the builders of All Hallows church at Moosup, Connecticut, the Swedish Lutheran church and the Greek Orthodox church of New Britain, Connecticut, and St. Mary's church at Branford, Connecticut.

In 1911 Mr. Murphy entered into partnership relations with Thomas W. Doyle, thus organizing the Doyle & Murphy Company, which has since been in existence as general building contractors. They conducted business at Norwich for two years and in 1913 removed to Willimantic, where they have since remained, successfully conducting a general building contracting business. It was the Doyle & Murphy Company that built the Exchange buildings for the South New England Telephone Company at Willi- mantic, Putnam and New Britain. They were also builders of the State Trade School at Putnam, the Natchaug school at Willimantic, the school at Rockyhill and a group of seven buildings for the State School for Feeble Minded at Mansfield Depot. They also built many other important structures which indicate the advanced character of their work and their superior ability in their chosen line.

On the 17th of June, 1903, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss Mary A. Delaney, of Norwich, Connecticut, who was there born and is a daughter of Michael and Ellen (Regan) Delaney, also natives of Norwich. To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have been born two children: Eileen, whose birth occurred in Norwich, October 31, 1907; and Valentine L., who was born in Willimantic, September 26, 1916.

The religious faith of the family is evidenced in the fact that they are communi- cants of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church. Politically Mr. Murphy is a democrat

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and fraternally he is connected with Willimantic Lodge No. 1311, B. P. O. E., and the Loyal Order of Moose. He has been quite active in politics and was chairman of the democratic town committee of the town of Windham and a member of the state cen- tral committee from the twenty-ninth senatorial district. He was equally active and loyal in war work and served as chairman of the War Savings committee for the town of Windham. He is keenly interested in everything that has to do with the progress and welfare of his city and county. At the same time he is largely concentrating his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. The thoroughness with which he mas- tered the carpenter's trade and the efficiency which he has developed as the years have gone by have brought him to a place among the leading contractors and builders not only of Willimantic but of the state, evidences of his skill and his handiwork being seen in fine structures in various places in Connecticut.

LEBBEUS ENSWORTH SMITH. -

Lebbeus Ensworth Smith, of Putnam, actively identified with mercantile interests of his city as a furniture dealer and undertaker, has become widely known through his progressive methods and his enterprise and determination have brought him to the front in business circles. Connecticut numbers him among her native sons. He was born in Canterbury, Windham county, on the 17th of October, 1849, and is a representa- tive in the fifth generation of the descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth (Burnap) Smith, who were married April 25, 1716, or 1717, and had a family of four children, the youngest being John Smith, who was born February 28, 1725-26. He was married on the 16th of January, 1754, to Miss Mary Jewett, of Norwich, and they were the parents of eight children, including Roger Smith, who spent his entire life in Canterbury and was a man of considerable prominence there. He engaged in farming and also followed coopering and was the owner of a grist mill in the Baldwin district. He married Alice Bingham and they reared a family of nine children, of whom the fourth in order of birth was Marshall Smith, who was born in Scotland, Connecticut, August 13, 1898, and spent his last days in Canterbury, where he passed away February 28, 1880. On the 21st of November, 1836, he married Clarissa Ensworth, who was born August 14, 1808, at Jamestown, on Conanicut island, Rhode Island, her parents being Lebbeus and Thankful (Congdon) Ensworth. She died at Canterbury, Connecticut, December 12, 1887, having for about seven years survived her husband.

Their son, Lebbeus E. Smith, is indebted to the district schools of his native town for the early educational opportunities which he enjoyed and later he spent two years as a pupil in the high school at Northampton, Massachusetts, and afterward studied in Burnham's Business College at Springfield, Massachusetts, completing his course there when a youth of seventeen years. His early experiences were those of the farm bred boy and he continued upon the home farm from the time when he completed his college course until 1876, by which time he had reached the age of twenty-seven years. He was not only active in the further development and improvement of the homestead farm but was also prominent in community affairs and left the impress of his individuality upon important events of that period. In 1876 he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature and became the youngest member of the general assembly. Never- theless he did important committee work and was connected with much valuable constructive work carried on by that legislature. This was not his initial experience in office, however, for he had served in various local positions. From 1873 until 1875 inclusive he was collector of his town and for several years he acted as constable. In August, 1876, however, he turned his attention to commercial interests by becoming the successor of Mr. James of the firm of Parker & James, furniture dealers and under- takers at Rockville, Tolland county. With the change in the partnership the firm style of Parker & Smith was assumed and Mr. Smith remained active in the manage- ment of the business for four years, at the end of which time he sold out. He then returned to Canterbury and after his father's death he remained at the old home for a time, settling up the estate. In August, 1881, he became a factor in commercial circles in Putnam, establishing a furniture business, which he has since successfully conducted, covering a period of thirty-seven years. He carries a large line of furniture, carpets, stoves and wall paper, and his progressive business methods and earnest desire to please his patrons have been salient features in his growing success. He is one of the most prominent furniture dealers of eastern Connecticut and the methods which he has employed in the upbuilding of his trade are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He also carries on an undertaking business and has a large patronage in that connection.

On the 17th of December, 1878, in Rockville, Connecticut, Mr. Smith was united

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in marriage to Miss Sarah M. James, a daughter of Elisha Benjamin Reynolds and Mary Ann (Thomas) James of Rockville, who died January 30, 1917. They had two children: Clara Thomas, wife of Frederic H. Case of Worcester, Massachusetts, born in Canterbury, February 26, 1881, who after graduating from the Putnam high school attended and graduated from Rogers Hall, Lowell, Massachusetts; and Herbert James, now associated with his father in business, born in Putnam, December 9, 1883, who after graduating from the Putnam high school and Holbrook's Military Academy of Ossining, New York, entered the civil engineering course of Princeton University, se- curing from that institution the degree of C. E. in 1906.

Mr. Smith attends the Congregational church, to the support of which he is a generous contributor. He is much interested in the church work and belongs to the Congregational Ecclesiastical Society. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and he is widely known not only in fraternal circles but in other connections. He has never allowed business to so monopolize his time as to preclude his possibility of co- operating in public affairs and not only has he filled the offices previously mentioned but has served in many other positions of public honor and trust. In 1888 and again in 1891 he was a member of the Putnam town board of relief and the following year served as grand juror, while from 1892 until 1895 he acted as town assessor. In the latter year Putnam became a city and at the first city election Mr. Smith was chosen mayor, an honor of which he has every reason to be proud, for he received a majority of twenty-three votes as the candidate of the democratic party, and it is a well known fact that Putnam was republican by an average majority of two hundred. He served as the chief executive of the city for two years and his was a progressive administra- tion characterized by various needed reforms and improvements. In 1899 he was elected alderman at large. He was appointed by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin one of the board of county commissioners for Windham county in 1915. Upon the organiza- tion of the board Mr. Smith was appointed chairman and served as such throughout his term of office. He became one of the first trustees of the Day Kimball Hospital and has long served as chairman of its finance committee. Mr. Smith has for many years been connected with the affairs of the First National Bank of Putnam, where his business acumen and sterling judgment as a director have done much to maintain the enviable reputation which that institution enjoys throughout the state. Upon the reorganization of the Putnam Savings Bank Mr. Smith was elected vice president and served as such until the death of the president, Chester E. Child, in May, 1917, since which time he has been president of the institution. In 1916, when the Putnam Build- ing & Loan Association was organized, Mr. Smith was elected president of the Associa- tion and has served as such from that date. He is interested in everything that has to do with the general welfare and his labors have been effective and resultant, bring- ing about progress and improvement.

WILLIAM VANDERMAN.

No history of Willimantic and its industrial development would be complete with- out mention of William Vanderman, whose sudden death on September 11, 1914, de- prived the city of one of its substantial and valued residents. He was born in Hart- ford, Connecticut, July 10, 1852, a son of Charles A. and Mary (Krager) Vander- man. Reared at the place of his nativity, he was a young man of twenty-seven years when he came to Willimantic, where he continued to make his home throughout his remaining days. Arriving here in 1879, he established a plumbing shop in the basement of the Holmes building, and, prospering in his undertakings, he afterward sought larger quarters by removing to the Turner building on Church street. In May, 1892, the Vanderman Plumbing & Heating Company was incorporated through the efforts of Mr. Vanderman. who became the treasurer and general manager of the com- pany and so continued to the time of his demise. The firm engaged in plumbing, steam and gas fitting, in heating and ventilating, and Mr. Vanderman in the early days of the concern superintended the installation of all plumbing, gas fitting, heating and ventilating systems for which the firm received contracts. They did work of . this character in several of the largest buildings of Willimantic, including the State Normal School and the Murray building, and they also had important contracts in Hartford and other cities. In the early '90s the company purchased a building at No. 152 Valley street in order to obtain larger quarters and in 1899 purchased a foundry on Mans- field avenue from the estate of William Gorry, Mr. Vanderman recognizing the oppor- tunity for the extension and development of the business. From the beginning the new undertaking proved profitable and after some years a large addition was made to the plant by the erection of a concrete building ninety by fifty feet. Mr. Vanderman

WILLIAM VANDERMAN

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associated his sons with him in business, training them to become expert mechanics in plumbing and steam fitting. Several years before his death he opened an estab- lishment in Hartford and admitted his three sons to a partnership. In 1908 he turned over the Hartford business to his sons and in Willimantic gave up the work of plumbing and steam fitting, after which he devoted his time entirely to the operation of the Valley street shop in the manufacture of articles of his own invention, among which were iron boxes for mechanics, a device for the bending of pipe, and bench vises. The foundry was also operated, the work being on contracts for the manufacture of parts for mill machinery. Mr. Vanderman possessed notable mechanical skill and in- genuity and made for himself a very prominent position in the industrial circles of the city.

Mr. Vanderman was married twice. He first wedded Ellen Porter, of Hartford, and they became the parents of six children: Lillian, now the wife of Eugene M. Johnson, who is engaged in the dyeing business in Boston; Edward L., who wedded Mary Gor- man and is now deceased; William F., who married Margaret Lehan and is connected with the business at Hartford which was established by his father; Charles A., who wedded Mary Mulvey and is also a partner in the Hartford business; George A., who married Mary Clancy and is production manager at the Vanderman foundry at Willi- mantic; and Grace A., the wife of Jerry Sullivan, a shoe merchant of Willimantic. Hav- ing lost his first wife, Mr. Vanderman was married July 13, 1886, to Miss Anna Raf- ferty, a daughter of James and Mary (Reilly) Rafferty, of Putnam, Connecticut. The three children of this marriage are: Paul I., who is in the oil fields of Louisiana; and Edna L. and Mary I., at home.

Mr. Vanderman was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic church, of which his family are also communicants. He became one of the charter members of San Jose Council, No. 14, of the Knights of Columbus, and he was much interested in the activities of the Board of Trade and of the Business Men's Association of Willimantic, of both of which he was a member. His charitable spirit was shown in his connection with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph's parish and throughout the thirty-five years of his residence in Willimantic he was held in the highest respect by all who knew him. His position upon any question of vital interest to the city was never an equivocal one. He stood loyally for what he believed to be for the best interests of the munici- pality, and his counsel was often sought in regard to government affairs. In 1895-6 he served as a member of the city council from the second ward, having been elected on the democratic ticket. Progressiveness characterized him in all that he undertook and was particularly manifest in his business career, which brought him from a humble position to a place of leadership in connection with the industrial interests of Willimantic.

LEWIS DELAY CROWELL.

Lewis Delay Crowell, engaged in business as a dealer in antiques at Brooklyn, Windham county, was born at Hamilton, Oneida county, New York, September 19, 1847, and is a son of Daniel and Pauline (Coats) Crowell. The father was also a native of Oneida county, while the mother was born at Brookfield, Madison county, New York. Daniel Crowell was educated in his home town and there learned the carpenter's trade. For a time he engaged in the sash and blind business with Frank Blanchard and after- ward followed carpentering on his own account, devoting about twenty-two years to that business. In his fifties he purchased a farm of fourteen acres at Sherburne, Chenango county, New York, and devoted his remaining days to agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in September, 1897. He was long a stalwart supporter of the republican party, was a member of the Masonic fraternity and also had member- ship in the Baptist church. In these associations were indicated the rules which gov- erned his conduct and shaped his relations with his fellowmen. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Crowell were three children: Lewis D .; Victoria, who was born in Chenango county, New York, and became the wife of Judge Bassett, a native of the Empire state, both having now passed away; Lamott, who was born in Chenango county and married Cornelia Hall, also a native of New York.

Lewis D. Crowell obtained his education in the schools of his home town and also attended a commercial college at Utica, New York. He afterward began the study of medicine but later decided not to engage in practice. When about nineteen years of age he began learning the trade of a wood turner and wood carver with Bethuel Hatch, of Sherburne, New York, and there remained for about four years. He afterward re- moved to Norwich, New York, and secured a position in the turning shop of Sternberg & Hall, with whom he continued for five or six years. Later he established his home

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 114

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960