A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 29

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

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

story brick structure at the corner of Main and Church streets, in the center of Willi- mantic. His store had a frontage of seventy feet on Main street and ninety feet on Church street. The equipment of the building was most perfect for the conduct of the business carried on and throughout life Mr. Murray kept abreast with the spirit of the times concerning progress in mercantile circles. During the widespread financial panic of 1892 and 1893 he loaned thousands of dollars for the benefit of his fellow townsmen in Willimantic, and during those dark days he purchased every dry goods store of the town which was for sale and paid cash for it. One by one he acquired these establish- ments, thus extending the field and scope of his own activities until his commercial interests o'ertopped those of any other in his section of the state and he became the Marshall Field of the trade in Windham county.

Mr. Murray, however, did not confine his efforts and attention to this single line, extensive and important as were his interests in that connection. He became a moving factor in the successful conduct of many important business enterprises and corporations. For five years he was the president of the Windham Silk Company, of which he con- tinued as a director, and he was a director and bondholder of the Quidnick-Windham Manufacturing Company. He was a director of the Vanderman Manufacturing Company from its inception in 1897, or for a period of more than twenty years, and lie was a stockholder in a large box company, a stockholder in the Rossié Velvet Company, a stock- holder in the Willimantic Industrial Association, a stockholder in the Willimantic De- velopment Company, a director of the Windham National Bank from 1902 and a director of the Willimantic Saving Institution, of which he was president for a number of years, during which time he built up the business from deposits of three hundred thousand dollars to seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was a director of the Rockville- Willimantic Lighting Company. Whatever he undertook seemed to prosper. In other words, he was a man of sound business judgment and of unfaltering enterprise and never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose.

In December, 1884, Mr. Murray was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Brown, of Willimantic, a daughter of Robert Brown. She passed away in 1889 and in November, 1897, Mr. Murray was again married, his second union being with Miss Jane Porteous, of Norwich, Connecticut, who, however, was born in Scotland. Her brother, John Porteous, is a member of the extensive mercantile firm of Porteous & Mitchell, of Nor- wich. Mrs. Murray belongs to the Congregational church.

Mr. Murray had membership in Obwebetuck Lodge, No. 16, I. O. O. F., which he joined on its organization, and he also became one of the original members of the Board of Trade, of which for many years he served as a director. Upon his emigration to America, Mr. Murray took out his naturalization papers and he cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine in 1884, after which he was a stalwart supporter of the repub- lican party, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him and he never aspired to fill a political position. After coming to the new world he has twice visited his native land, crossing the Atlantic in 1890 and again in 1900. In the latter year he visited the Paris Exposition and other places of interest in Europe. Mr. Murray said that March was always his lucky month. He was born in March, started in business in that month, erected the Murray building in March, and in fact all epochal events in his history occurred in that month. Impaired health in 1914 caused him practically to retire from active business and as time passed he continued to withdraw from connec- tion with the commercial and industrial interests of his city save for his financial investment in its leading corporations. During his last years he spent the winter seasons in Florida, occupying a fine home on St. John's river. His position at that time, when he had large resources at his command, was in marked contrast to the position in which he was found when a lad of twelve years, working at two shillings per week. His life record indicates the possibilities for successful achievement through individual effort guided by sound judgment. He always followed constructive methods and his path was never strewn with the wreck of other men's failures.

CLAYTON F. WRIGHT.

Clayton F. Wright, identified with farming interests in Killingly, was born at Foster, Rhode Island, on the 11th of November, 1849, a son of Albin and Lucinda (Mat- teson) Wright. He was eleven years of age when the family home was established in the town of Brooklyn, Connecticut, and he acquired his education through attendance at the schools of that locality. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early be- coming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and his practical experience enabled him to successfully carry on business along the same lines when he started out on his own account. For five years he engaged in

Vol. 11-14

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

farming in Pomfret and afterward removed to the town of Sterling, in Windham county, where he resided for a year. He purchased a fine tract of land near the village of North Sterling, took up his abode thereon and occupied the place for thirty-five years, or until 1907, when he sold that property and removed to Killingly. He then made investment in an excellent farm of twenty-seven acres on the main road, near the village of Elm- ville, and upon this property has since carried on truck farming and dairying. He is extensively engaged in the production of vegetables and other market products, for which he finds a ready sale in the surrounding cities. His methods are thoroughly modern, being based upon a scientific knowledge of the business and also upon long experience, and in his dairy business he is also meeting with well merited success. He has splendid equipment for the care of milk and for the marketing of his other products and his has ever been a life of thrift and industry, bringing him merited success. As he was nearing the evening of life he did not care to have the management of so large a farm as his North Sterling property and he therefore sold it to invest in the smaller place which he now owns.

On the 1st of January, 1871, Mr. Wright was united in marriage at Coventry, Rhode Island, to Miss Median Crossman, who was born at Foster, Rhode Island, a daughter of Noah B. and Celie B. (Bennett) Crossman, who were also natives of Foster. The father was a farmer by occupation and carried on general agricultural pursuits in Sterling for thirty years, his death there occurring. His wife died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Wright, in Killingly.

Mr. Wright has voted for many years with the democratic party, yet does not con- sider himself strictly bound by party ties and hesitates not to cast an independent ballot if his judgment dictates this to be a wiser course. He has served as constable and selectman and was a member of the board of selectmen of the town of Sterling for nineteen and a half years. This was not continuous, however, and he resigned from the board when he removed from Sterling to Killingly. He also served as tax assessor of Sterling. In 1900 he was elected to the state legislature as a candidate of the demo- cratic party, and such was his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him that he won success at the polls notwithstanding the district is normally republican. Mr. Wright is at present a member of the general assembly from the town of Killingly, having been chosen at a special election held April 13, 1917, to succeed William P. Kelley, who died March 14, 1917. He belongs to Highland Grange, No. 113, at Killingly, of which he is a past master. His has been an active life and his unfaltering industry, well directed economy and energy have brought him the success which he now enjoys.

JEAN B. PAULHUS.

Jean B. Paulhus, armorer of Willimantic, his duties being those of custodian of the state armory, was born in St. Bonaventure, Canada, on the 20th of April, 1875, a son of Honore and Emelie (Ricard) Paulhus. The family home was established at Baltic, Connecticut, in 1877 and a removal was made to Willimantic in 1880. Jean B. Paulhus attended parochial schools, thus acquiring his education, and he started out in the business world as an employe in a linen mill, where he remained for a year. He then returned to school, spending three months in further study, after which he reentered business life as a clerk in a shore store, where he continued for nineteen years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until he was enabled to engage in business on his own account. For five and a half years he conducted a moving picture house known as the Bijou theatre and on the expiration of that period he was appointed armorer by the adjutant general of the state, being called to his present position on the 1st of May, 1916.

Mr. Paulhus has long been well known in military circles. He first enlisted in the state militia in May, 1897, and served in that capacity for four years. He joined the company as a private and was made corporal, sergeant and second lieutenant suc- cessively and ultimately was advanced to the rank of captain. He was honorably discharged when acting as commander of his company. During the period of the Spanish-American war he offered his services to the government and together with his company trained for active duty.

The armory of which he is the custodian is one of the finest in the state. It has a ground space of three hundred and one by one hundred and sixty feet and its equipment is thoroughly modern. The drill room is seventy-five by one hundred and fifty feet and there is an indoor target room twenty by one hundred and ten feet. There is a bowling alley one hundred feet in length and a mess room thirty-one by twenty- seven feet. The armory also contains a billiard room and smoking rooms, locker rooms, check rooms, a captain's office, lieutenants' offices, the top sergeants' rooms and ladies'

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

rooms. There are also quarters for the Spanish war veterans and the necessary kitchen and refrigeration rooms. The equipment includes shower baths, work rooms and equipment rooms, tool room and furnace room. In fact this is one of the modern armories of the state and Mr. Paulhus may well be proud of this institution of which he has charge. .

On the 24th of June, 1901, Mr. Paulhus was united in marriage to Miss Rose E. Reeves, of Taftville, Connecticut, by whom he has one son, Albert L., whose birth occurred on the 3d of April, 1902.

Mr. Paulhus is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church and belongs to St. Jean Baptiste, of which society he is the secretary. He is also a member of L'Union St. Jean le Baptiste and is captain of the degree team. In politics he is an independent voter.

JARVIS TURNER HALL.

Jarvis Turner Hall, identified with farming interests in West Woodstock, was born in Ashford, Windham county, on the 12th of May, 1851, a son of Jesse Turner and Lois (Chapman) Hall. The father was a representative of one of the old Wind- ham county families and was prominent as a teacher and a debater in the community in which he lived, his home being in the town of Union, Tolland county.

Jarvis T. Hall spent the greater part of his boyhood and youth in the town of Union, where he remained until he reached the age of twenty-one years, and during that period he acquired his education by attendance at the common and select schools. After attaining his majority he spent two years in the employ of Captain Chauncey Paul, and in the spring of 1875 he went to West Woodstock, where he became an employe of J. H. Stetson, a contractor and builder. His excellent work in that connection and his unquestioned fidelity led Mr. Stetson to admit him to a partnership in the business and that relation was maintained until 1891, when the senior partner in the firm passed away. Mr. Hall then continued business alone in Woodstock and was recog- nized as one of the prominent contractors and builders of the locality, many of the fine homes of his section of the county being erected by him. He bore an excellent reputation for the thoroughness of his workmanship and for his fidelity to the terms of a contract, and in his building operations he not only studied comfort and con- venience, but also gave due consideration to utility and beauty. At length he pur- chased the old Stetson farm near the village of West Woodstock and for many years has resided upon this place. He is gradually retiring from building operations and concentrating his efforts more and more largely upon his agricultural interests with a view to ultimately putting aside business cares. Nature seems to have intended that in the evening of life man shall enjoy a period of rest. In youth he is enthusiastic and energetic and as he approaches mature years these qualities are guided by judg- ment that has come through experience. If one wisely and carefully directs his labors and husbands his resources prosperity will ultimately result, giving the individual a chance in later years to rest from former activity and this Mr. Hall is doing to a considerable extent.

On the 8th of September, 1875, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss M. Edna Stetson, a daughter of J. H. Stetson. She passed away February 28, 1891, leaving an only child, Ethel, who was born April 13, 1888, and who six years after the mother's death passed away on the 4th of February, 1897. For his second wife Mr. Hall chose Mrs. Marietta (Gould) Wallace, the marriage being celebrated at Saranac Lake, New York, on the 18th of October, 1916. Mrs. Hall was born in Brookline, New Hampshire, and in childhood removed to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where she became the wife of Edwin Wallace, a lumberman and millman of Union, Tolland county, Connecticut, where they made their home for fourteen years. In 1891 they removed to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where Mr. Wallace continued in the lumber business until his death, which there occurred in 1914. They had one daughter, Hattie Lillian, who died in 1893 at the age of fifteen years. Mrs. Hall is a daughter of Benjamin and Marthana (Kimball) Gould. Her father was born in Canaan, New Hampshire, while her mother's birth also occurred in that state. Mr. Gould was a shoe manufacturer in early life and later engaged in business as a shoe merchant in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was a man of fine education and served as superintendent of schools in various places in New Hampshire, his life being thus devoted to professional, industrial and commercial pursuits. He passed away at the home of his daughter in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in 1900, having become almost a centenarian, for his birth occurred in 1802. His wife's death also occurred in Sturbridge.

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Mr. Hall gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a prominent supporter thereof, his opinions carrying weight in its local ranks. He served on the board of tax assessors in 1892, 1893 and 1894, and in 1899 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, where he was made a member of the committee on temperance. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Work- men and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Second Congrega- tional church, in which he is serving as treasurer of the church society. He is one of the highly respected citizens of West Woodstock, he and his wife occupying a very enviable position in social circles.

CHARLES BRAGG.

Charles Bragg, treasurer and general manager of The Central Worsted Company of Central Village was born April 6, 1858, at Ware, Massachusetts, of Scotch and English parentage. The father, Thomas Bragg, born at Manchester, England, came to America when nine years old, with his parents, who first settled at Stockbridge, Massachusetts. With the exception of a few years his active life was identified with the woolen business. Katherine Bragg, née Russell, the mother, was born at Long Ridge, Linlithgow parish, Scotland, on the 10th of May, 1821. In 1836 her father, Alexander Russell, brought his family of nine children to Massachusetts, later migrating to northern Pennsylvania, where as a pioneer he founded the Russell settlement which still exists under that name.

With the removal of his family from time to time, Charles Bragg pursued his educa- tion in the public schools of Ware, Massachusetts, and Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Winnipauk, Connecticut. When twelve years of age he began work in the woolen mills of Norwalk, Connecticut, his father having charge of the dressing room. He was em- ployed in that department, where he remained until he reached the age of eighteen years. In the mill where he worked the old Thomas loom was used but was becoming out of date. The Crompton & Knowles loom was the modern loom at that time for cloth weav- ing and in order to gain a knowledge of this more modern loom Mr. Bragg in 1878 went to Plainville, now Alton, Rhode Island, and secured employment in the weaving depart- ment of the Aldrich & Milner Mills, there remaining until May 1, 1880, when the firm of Aldrich & Milner sold the mill and removed to Moosup, Connecticut, where they pur- chased property and erected another woolen mill plant, which is now the Moosup Mill of the American Woolen Company. Mr. Bragg removed to Moosup with his employers and started up the machinery, assisting in the installation of the looms and other equipment. He was made boss weaver and later became designer, assistant superintendent and eventually superintendent. In 1894 David L. Aldrich, of the Aldrich & Milner Company, died and the business was then reorganized under the name of the Milner Company, consisting of Edward and John Milner and Charles Bragg. The new company took over the Aldrich & Milner Mills and business, and Mr. Bragg continued as superintendent until May 22, 1899, when they sold the mill to the American Woolen Company. At that time Edward Milner became agent for the new company and Mr. Bragg remained as superintendent. Mr. Milner resigned as agent in January, 1900, and was succeeded by Mr. Bragg, who resigned the position in April, 1900, and went to Stafford Springs, Con- necticut, to become superintendent of the mills of the Warren Woolen Company of that place. In 1901 he became associated with Edward Milner, John Milner, Jr., and John S. Murdock, of Providence, Rhode Island, in organizing the Plainfield Woolen Company, which purchased the old Fenner mill property at Central Village, Connecticut, including one hundred acres of land, the old cotton mill, water right, tenements, etc. This was once a flourishing cotton mill but at the time of the company's purchase the mill had not been operated for some time. Central Village was then a dead town, no manufacturing being carried on at all. They tore down the old mill, built a new woolen mill in its place and began the manufacture of woolen cloth, Mr. Bragg being general manager as well as treasurer of the company. Scon this industry converted Central Village into a busy manufacturing place. In 1906 they sold the mill to Joseph E. Fletcher and Arthur M. Cox. Mr. Bragg had an interest in the new ownership and continued as superintendent for about a year, when he disposed of his interest in the mill and resigned his position. In 1907 he organized the Central Worsted Company with a capital of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars and became treasurer and general manager. Land was purchased in Central Village and they built one of the most modern woolen mills to be found in New England. They operate forty-two looms and employ one hundred and twenty-five hands in the manufacture of high grade worsted cloth for men's wear, mak- ing the finished cloth from the yarn, having their own dyeing and finishing departments. It is worthy of mention that practically all of the stock of the company is owned by people of this vicinity, due to the efforts of Mr. Bragg, who readily recognized the value

Charles Bragg

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of such a plan. The Central Worsted Company has membership in the Manufacturers Association of Hartford and the Manufacturers Association of Eastern Connecticut at Putnam. In addition to his manufacturing interests Mr. Bragg is a trustee of the Brooklyn Savings Bank at Danielson and was one of the organizers and is a director of the Plainfield National Bank, which was the first national bank organized at Plainfield.

On the 4th of October, 1882, at Moosup, Connecticut, Mr. Bragg was married to Miss Estelle Eliza Whitehead, who was born at Saundersville, Massachusetts, June 17, 1864, and they have one son, Earl Russell, who was born in Moosup, November 29, 1890.

In politics Mr. Bragg is a republican and is chairman of the central committee of Plainfield township. He has served on the town school board but has never been an aspirant for public office. He belongs to the Adelphia Club of Central Village; to Moosup Lodge, No. 113, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; to Warren Chapter, R. A. M., at Danielson; to Columbia Commandery, K. T., of Norwich, Connecticut; and to Pales- tine Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Providence, Rhode Island. He is a man who by hard work and intelligent application of his knowledge of the woolen cloth manufacturing industry worked his way upward from an obscure position in boyhood to the active man- agement and control of one of the large manufacturing establishments of high grade woolens in the country. He has not only been the builder of an industry but also the builder of mills, and Central Village is indebted to him for its prosperous industrial condition and its substantial growth and improvement.

During the World war, Mr. Bragg was actively engaged in war work, serving as local chairman for the State Council of Defense, and the Home Service branch of the Red Cross. He was active in the work of raising money for the various Liberty Loans and chairman of the committee for Relief in the Near East .. The name of Bragg has always figured prominently in connection with mill interests of New England, and, actuated by a laud- able ambition and a progressive spirit, Charles Bragg has made steady advancement in this connection.

CARL R. ALFORD.

Carl R. Alford is manager of the business conducted under the firm style of G. H. Alford & Son and is thus actively connected with the hardware trade in Willimantic. He was born August 13, 1878, in the city in which he yet resides. His father, Giles H. Alford, came to Willimantic from Otis, Massachusetts, in 1866 and established a hard- ware store in 1870 under his own name. He conducted the business successfully and independently until 1898, when he admitted his son to a partnership under the firm style of G. H. Alford & Son. The father remained active in the business to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1908, the death of the mother occurring in 1912. In his passing Willimantic lost one of her valued and representative citizens-one who had made for himself a creditable place in commercial circles and whose life at all times measured up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.

Carl R. Alford acquired a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and he made his initial step in business in the establishment and under the direction of his father, who admitted him to a partnership, thus forming the firm of G. H. Alford & Son. The enterprise and energy of the young man, combined with the experience and mature judgment of the elder partner, made this a very strong firm and they built up a substantial business, which since the death of the father has been carried on by Carl R. Alford.

On the 26th of November, 1912, Carl R. Alford was united in marriage in Willi- mantic to Miss Gladys Lathrop. They are members of the Congregational church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias. In his political views he is a democrat and for one term of two years served as a member of the city council. His entire life has been passed in Willimantic and his record is as an open book which all may read. That his career has been honorable and upright is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.

JONATHAN SPRAGUE BARD.

J. Sprague Bard, who was called to his final rest on the 21st of February, 1917, is remembered by those who knew him as a representative business man, a valued citizen and a faithful friend. He developed business interests of importance, which he con- ducted originally in Connecticut and afterward in New York city. His later years were passed in Brooklyn amid pleasant surroundings and he always maintained and

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 29

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