USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 74
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His parents were upright, Christian people and like his brothers he was reared in the paths of rectitude. He attended the Eastport High school for one term and concluded his education at the high school of Pembroke, Me. After teaching in the country schools of Charlotte and Pembroke, he came to Connecticut in 1880. He worked at first for a season on a farm in Ken- sington where his employer after- wards engaged him to teach the "Ledge School" in winter.
He afterwards went west, stopping at Chicago for employment but con- tinued to Stillwater, Minn., where he taught school another winter, the fol- lowing spring going further west to Montana, stopping at North Dakota to take up a government homestead. He returned, however, to Stillwater and again taught school there; and the next spring returned to North Da- kota to complete his legal "home- stead" residence. Finally returning to Meriden, he has ever since resided here with the exception of four years
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when he was bookkeeper at the Mal- leable Iron Works in New Britain.
Since he became associated with his brother in the insurance business, the firm has become extensively engaged in real estate and their business has, from a small beginning, increased to large proportions through their activ- ity, knowledge of property values and conscientious business methods. Mr.
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
I. I. GARDNER.
Gardner is secretary of the Pacific Real Estate Company and, like his brother, is a man of strong personal character and executive ability.
He has been a member of the O. U. A. M. Pilgrims' Harbor council, Royal Arcanum, and is also an Odd Fellow. He is a first trustee of the Main street Baptist church, where
he is, at the present writing, the su- perintendent of the Sunday school. He served for many years as a trus- tee and director of the Y. M. C. A. and was vice president of that insti- tution during the process of recon- struction through which the Meriden association passed.
He was married in 1886 to Inez B. Upson, of Kensington, who died March, 1904, of pneumonia. Eight children were born to them, six of whom are now living. The life work of the Gardner Brothers has been with their large family, both con- sidering it a higher duty and a greater pleasure to devote their time to its interests, to their home and the church than to the many calls of lodge, political or social life.
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CHARLES S. PALMER.
Charles Scranton Palmer, architect of Meriden, is the son of Ralph A. and Sarah A. Palmer, who in 1903 re- moved to Braidentown, Florida, where for twenty-five years they have owned a productive orange grove. Their son, a young man, has achieved well deserved success in his chosen life work, his reputation having been well established when he opened an of- fice in the G. A. R. building, Meriden, in the spring of 1905. He first became associated with a leading architect and builder and acquired his knowl- edge of his profession by a fortunate experience in practical building con- struction. This, coupled with an in- born talent and possession of modern
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ideas and good taste, has enabled him to plan several pleasing and practical buildings and residences constructed recently. His success in planning and also in superintending the con- struction of manufacturing plants in various sections of New England, and now especially the large fire de- partment building of which the city of Torrington is so justly proud, all
CHARLES S. PALMER.
are creditable to his efforts. Mr. Pal- mer makes a deep study of architec- ture and is especially efficient in plan- ning fireproof buildings of which he has made a specialty. He has proven himself an architect of modern and progressive ideas and his success has been due to his ability to plan and superintend the construction of build-
ings in keeping with the age which marks the close of the first cen- tury of Meriden's incorporation as a town. One of his notable achieve- ments is the new $75,000 school build- ing in process of construction on West Main street, his plans being selected in competition with those of older and more celebrated architects. He is a member of the Home Club, Meri- dian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M .; Key- stone Chapter, R. A. M., and St. Elmo Commandery, K. T .; Pyramid Tem- ple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. Mr. Palmer stands high in his profes- sion and has shown an active interest in the advancement of his native town.
He was married October 18, 1905, to Maude Elizabeth Hendey, of Tor- rington.
WM. W. MOSHER.
William Wooster Mosher, a lead- ing and valued citizen of Meriden and who for thirty-nine years, as proprietor, has been engaged in the drug business in the same location on Colony street, was born in Canajo- harie, N. Y., July 4, 1843. He is the son of Benjamin Weaver Mosher, born at Duanesburg, N. Y., April 13, 1816, who on December 31, 1835, mar- ried Anna Maria Wooster. Their children comprised three girls and two boys. He is also descended from Rev. Hugh Mosher, who came to this country from England about 1632 and who until his death continued as a preacher of the gospel in Massachu- setts and Rhode Island.
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W. W. Mosher came to Meriden in 1865 as a clerk in the drug store of I. B. Klock, but two years after became the proprietor of the present store, which he has carried on ever since with that measure of ultimate success which is but the result of an old established business conducted with due regard for the interests of a loyal patronage. Shortly after he engaged in business for himself, Mr. Mosh- er associated his father with him, and who continued thus until his death which occurred April 27, 1896, after having been a partner of his son for twenty-nine years. The late B. W. Mosher was an upright and highly respected business man. His father before him was a clergyman of the Methodist denomination and he became a consistent communicant of that faith. He was one of the original members of Trinity M. E. church, Meriden, and was one of its trustees.
His son, W. W. Mosher, has been honored by election to many offices of honor and trust in Meriden, having served one year as coun- cilman ; four years as alderman ; treasurer of the town for seven years, and city treasurer for two years. He has for many years been a prominent member and one of the vestry- men of St. Andrew's Episcopal church. In 1893 upon the death of George R. Curtis, he was elected treasurer of the Curtis Home of Meriden, which office he still holds, in addi- tion to being, at this writing, one of the agents of the Edwin E. Curtis fund. Mr. Mosher is a member of the Meriden Business Men's As- sociation and Board of Trade, also of the Con- necticut Pharmaceutical Association and Mer- iden Druggists' Association. He is also a member of Meridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Keystone Chapter, R. A. M., of Meriden.
In 1868 he was married to Cynthia A., daughter of James A. Frary and to
B. W. MOSHER.
W. W. MOSHER.
W. R. MOSHER.
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them have been born one son, Wil- liam Reid Mosher, born in Meriden August 20, 1869.
W. R. Mosher was educated in the Meriden public schools and after attending the High school three years, became associated with his father's business and since 1888 has applied himself to the interests of the now large and thriving establish- ment. He is a member of the Con- necticut Pharmaceutical Association, Meriden Board of Trade, and has for some years been treasurer of the Mer- iden Permanent Building and Loan Association. He was married Sep- tember 19, 1894, to Katherine Eu- genia, daughter of the late T. M. Smith, of Meriden.
ARTHUR SHERMAN LANE.
Arthur S. Lane, prominent in the public and social life of Meriden, and treasurer of several corporations, was born in Kent, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, October 27, 1864. He is the eldest son of John Sherman Lane, concerning whom much is stated else- where in this volume. Arthur S. Lane was educated at the private school of J. H. Hurlburt, Lime Rock, Conn., and since entering business life has shown a marked aptitude for the responsibilities he has been called up- on to assume.
In March, 1880, he was appointed agent of the Housatonic railroad at West Stockbridge, Mass., the follow- ing month being transferred to Ca- naan, Conn., a station on the same line
and still later in the same year to Bridgeport. In March, 1881, he en- tered the employ of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., where for a period of ten years he served that company efficient- ly as freight cashier at its Harlem River terminal at New York City. This position he resigned in March, 1891, to enter into partnership with his father who had, a short time before, established the stone crushing and road building business.
The business of John S. Lane & Son has developed into a large and profitable industry and other quarries than the one in Meriden, have been opened and are operated by the following corporations, of which Mr. Lane is the treasurer: John S. Lane & Son, Inc .; Conn. Trap Rock Quarries, Inc .; Lane Quarry Company and The Lane Construction Company, the operations of which are chron- icled in another part of this volume.
He is also one of the directors of the Meriden Savings bank. Since becoming a resident of Meriden, he has taken a prominent part in public affairs. He was elected and served as a member of the board of alder- men from the First ward, in 1896-7, and during his services in the city government, was chairman of the committees on parks and streets. In 1897 he was nominated by the Repub- lican party, of which he is one of the local leaders for mayor of Meriden, but was defeated in the Democratic "landslide" of that year.
He is a member of the First Con- gregational church of Meriden and
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has served as a member of its several official boards. He was the first char- ter member of Alfred H. Hall Coun- cil, Royal Arcanum, and is a member of the Home Club of Meriden.
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. ARTHUR S. LANE.
He was married in New York City May 15, 1884, to Carrie Eva Shove, daughter of Oliver Prince Shove of that city. Children of the marriage are: Gertrude Emma and Grace Louise, twin daughters, born March 13, 1889, and Samuel Virgin, born No- vember 6, 1897.
E. T. SILLS.
Elias Taylor Sills, a leading mer- chant of Meriden, engaged in business as a bookseller and stationer, was born
in Nottingham, England, July 16, 1855. His early education was ob- tained in his native town, but when he was twelve years of age, the family removed to Sheffield; and there he concluded his education by an attend- ance at the People's Business College, from which he graduated at the age of sixteen. After acquiring a thor- ough and practical business expe- rience in mercantile life in England, he came to this country and direct to Meriden in 1880, three years later en- gaging in business, but on a much
ELIAS T. SILLS.
smaller scale, than at the present day.
Previous to securing his present lo- cation in Palace block, he had con- ducted business at two other locations near his present store, however. He
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first started on Colony street, where he established himself thoroughly by his painstaking attention to his trade and his thorough knowledge of the wants of a discriminating public. He later removed to West Main street, above his present location but in December, 190I, purchased the business of the former occupant and removed his stock thereto. His store, which is 97 feet deep and 40 feet in width, con- tains one of the largest and most com- plete stocks of books and stationery in Connecticut; and the basement, filled with toys, resembles, in the hol- iday seasons, a perpetual fair. The success of Mr. Sills as a merchant, while somewhat remarkable, is no less deserved ; for he has always held the well merited confidence of a large and constantly. increasing patronage.
He is a member of the Home Club ; Alfred H. Hall Council, Royal Arca- num ; Meriden Board of Trade ; Mer- iden Business Men's Association, and is one of the directors of the Second Building and Loan Association of Meriden.
He was married June 6, 1895, to Winogene, daughter of Mrs. Laura L. Payne, of East Haddam, and resides in his own home on Wilcox avenue, which he had built in 1895.
WILLIAM M. QUESTED.
William M. Quested, cashier of the Meriden National Bank and one of the board of fire commissioners of Meriden, received his education in the public schools of Meriden and Albany,
N. Y., finishing his studies at the Jen- nings' Seminary for Boys at Aurora, Ill., and began business life as a clerk in the shipping room of the Wilcox Silver Plate Co., but shortly after- wards secured a position as clerk in the Meriden National Bank where he has ever since remained. By careful attention to his duties he received well deserved promotions, and after work-
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. WILLIAM M. QUESTED.
ing up through the positions of book- keeper and teller, was elected cashier of the bank in January, 1905.
While Mr. Quested has for many years been an active resident of Mer- iden, he has never sought nor accepted public office, excepting that which he now holds as one of the fire commis- sioners of Meriden. To fill out the
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unexpired term of Fred M. Hotchkiss, he was first appointed in 1902, but in 1903 he was reappointed for a full term of four years, in which capacity he now serves. Mr. Quested is a thir- ty-second degree member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a member of the following branches of the order in this city and elsewhere: Meriden Center Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter, R. A. M .; Hamilton Council, R. & S. M. ; St Elmo Commandery, K. T .; a member of the Scottish Rite bodies of both New Haven and Bridgeport ; also of Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine. He is prominent in Odd Fellowship, being a past grand of Center Lodge, I. O. O. F .; a past grand of Oasis Encampment. He was formerly a member of the Patriarchs Militant, is now a member of the Meriden Wheel Club, Meriden Rifle Club, Citizens' Rifle Club, Meriden Business Men's Association, and since 1885 has been one of the directors of the Y. M. C. A., of which he has also been treasurer since 1903. He has for a number of years been associated with the Center Congregational church, and during 1893-4-5 served a cerm as one of its deacons, being also prominent in the offices of the Bible school of that church since 1880.
F. L. MURDOCK.
Frederick L. Murdock, a leading practitioner of the dental profession, and whose handsomely furnished of- fices have for some years been located in the Wilcox building, is one of the
better known professional men of Meriden. He is of English birth, but came to America when a boy and re- ceived the greater part of his educa- tion here.
After graduating at the High school, he took a course in arts and, upon receiving the degree of B. A., he returned to England and took a five years' course in dentistry at London, under the famous professor, B. B.
FREDERICK L. MURDOCK.
Wolscott, M. D., L. D. S. He re- ceived his admission to practice, there- fore, in England, but afterwards went to Montreal, Canada, and took a post- graduate course of three years under the instruction of J. W. Bedford, L. D. S., D. D. S., a celebrated specialist in crown and bridge work. From his
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long college course and diligent study, he was well fitted for the practice of his profession, when he located in Syracuse, N. Y., and first began prac- tice. At Syracuse he associated him- self with S. C. Dayan, M. D., D. D. S., a specialist in diseases of the mouth.
It was in 1891 that Dr. Murdock, who was thus especially well fitted by experience and knowledge of his pro- fession in all its branches, came to Meriden and began the practice which he has ever since continued. He has built up a large and lucrative practice, especially with those who comprise the leading families of this vicinity. That he understands his profession in as great a degree as any leading dentist of the state, is acknowledged by his patients and fellow practitioners, among all of whom he is both well known and popular. He is a member of the Connecticut State Dental Asso- ciation, and is also well known in Mer- iden social life, being at this writing, president of the Home Club, of which he was one of the members instru- mental in causing the present hand- some clubhouse to be constructed. Dr. Murdock is an enthusiastic sportsman and is an adept with the rod and gun. He also drives one of the fastest auto- mobiles in the state and is a member of the committee having in charge the automobile parade to be held during Centennial week in Meriden.
LEW ALLEN.
For more than thirty years the name of Lew Allen has been asso-
ciated with newspaper making in Meriden. In age as well as in years of actual newspaper writing he is the oldest man in the profession in the city. Born in New York in 1852, he came to Meriden in 1870 and a few years thereafter began to report for Riggs' Daily Recorder and Gibbons' Weekly Citizen. He has been con- nected with newspapers ever since. He was employed in New Haven, though residing in Meriden, at the time The Meriden Daily Journal was started twenty years ago by Francis Atwater, Frank E. Sands, Thomas L. Reilly and Lew Allen. The Journal Publishing company was formed and of this Mr. Allen is vice-president. He has been the active editor of The Journal from its first publication and to it has devoted all his time and en- ergy, engaging in no other enterprises or undertakings.
F. E. SANDS.
Frank Elbert Sands, one of the most familiar figures in Meriden busi- ness and social life, is a son of Jesse and Mary Melvina (Turner) Sands, and was born July 17, 1863, in New Fairfield, Conn., which town was set- tled by his maternal great-great-grand- father and associates, on a grant from the general assembly. On his moth- er's side he is a direct descendant of John Wakeman, the first treasurer of New Haven colony and is eligible through his progenitors to the Sons of the American Revolution, and of which society he is a member. His
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Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
LEW ALLEN.
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Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
FRANK E. SANDS.
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early days were spent in New Fair- field and Danbury where he attended school until fourteen years of age, when he removed to New Haven. There he prepared for Yale Univers- ity under private tutors and entered in the fall of 1882, graduating with the class of '85 S. with the degree of Ph. B. as civil engineer. While wait- ing for the commencement of work on a railroad line to which he was to become attached, he was for a time engaged in the wholesale produce bus- iness, but, that not being to his taste, he became connected in 1885 with the New Haven Union.
Early in 1886 he became interested in the formation of The Journal Pub- lishing Company in Meriden and moved to this city. He was elected a director and treasurer of the company and has filled those positions ever since, his active duties being entirely devoted to that company in the posi- tions noted as well as business mana- ger of The Meriden Daily Journal.
Mr. Sands is a member of the Home Club and was for a number of years chairman of its executive com- mittee and its president in 1897-8. He is also a director of the Home Club Realty corporation and was an active member of the committee that planned and built the present handsome club house. He was one of its founders and is a member of the board of gov- ernors of the Meriden Golf Club. He also belongs to the Colonial Club, A. H. Hall Council, R. A., the Loyal Ad- dition, the Knights of Maccabees and Silver City Lodge, A. O. U. W., and
is a director of the Meriden Business Men's Association. He is particular- ly well known in newspaper circles outside his own town and is secretary of the Associated Dailies of Connec- ticut. When the Meriden Centennial was planned Mr. Sands was chosen as chairman of the committee on public- ity and souvenirs and it is largely to his efforts that the centennial cele- bration has been so widely and wisely advertised and successfully carried on.
He was married April 26, 1888, to Alice Louise Brasee, daughter of Judge John Schofield Brasee and Anna (Dickinson) Brasee, of Lancaster, Ohio. They have one daughter, Anna Brasee Sands, born in 1889. A son, Trafford Turner Brasee, died in infancy.
CEPHAS B. ROGERS,
Cephas Brainerd Rogers, one of Meriden's most successful business men and the senior of the once well- known firm of C. Rogers & Bros., was born in Saybrook, Conn., December 30, 1836. His parents, Hervey and Elizabeth (Tryon) Rogers, moved to Meriden to engage in the hotel busi- ness when their son, Cephas, was thir- teen years of age.
His education was pursued in the schools of Meriden. Later he took a position as clerk in the office of the Meriden Lumber & Coal Co. He again resumed his studies at the Mer- iden Academy where he finished his schooling ; but he has always added to
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his education by reading, travel and experience until he may be styled a self-educated man.
Previous to the Civil War, Mr. Rogers engaged as a clerk in the New Haven House, which hostelry was the rendezvous of distinguished men of the state and nation in political, mili- tary and educational circles, and he became acquainted with many notable men. Among them was Abraham Lincoln, who came to Meriden es- corted by a committee of which Mr. Rogers was one, and delivered an elo- quent political speech. Mr. Rogers, who was always an ardent and loyal Republican, was so impressed with Mr. Lincoln that he went to Wash- ington when Mr. Lincoln became president and heard his first immor- tal inaugural address. Still later, Mr. Rogers took charge of the Wadawa- nock House, a summer hotel in Ston- ington, Conn., and soon after became manager of the St. Denis Hotel, in New York City. He was very suc- cessful in both enterprises.
In February, 1866, the partnership of C. Rogers & Bros. was organized for the manufacture of silver plated goods. The firm consisted of the three brothers, Cephas B., as presi- dent ; Gilbert and Wilbur F. Rogers. Beginning in a small factory, the bus- iness advanced rapidly until the name of C. Rogers & Bros. on spoons, knives and forks, became known throughout the world for quality and beauty of design. The business of C. Rogers & Bros. was successfully car- ried on for nearly forty years, when
in 1903 it was sold to the Interna- tional Silver Company, the greatest silver-ware corporation in the world, and Cephas Rogers and his two brothers retired to private life.
Mr. Rogers is also a public spirited man and has always been identified with local affairs in Meriden. He was a valued member of the city coun- cil for six years and is now a director of the First National Bank of Meri- den and a trustee of the City Savings Bank. In 1880 he made a trip to Eu- rope, combining business with pleas- ure while visiting their branch house in London. The last honorable po- sition which has been bestowed upon Mr. Rogers is a membership in the National Geographical Society at Washington, D. C. In religion, he is a most devoted Methodist and great- ly interested in the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Meriden, to which he has always been a liberal contributor. He has been a member of the official board since 1866 and at the present time is the president of the board of trustees. In 1888 he was made president of the New York East Lay Electoral conference held in Mid- dletown, Conn. In 1900 he was a lay delegate from the New York East con- ference to the Methodist Quadrennial general conference at Chicago. In 1904 he was again delegate to the Methodist general conference at Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Rogers has also been a trustee of Wesleyan Univers- ity, at Middletown, Conn., for twenty years. He was the first subscriber to the "Additional Endowment Fund"
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of that university, heading the list with twenty-five thousand dollars.
In 1870 he was married to Margaret Clark, daughter of Dr. Peter F. and Anna (Goodwin) Clark, of New York City. Mrs. Rogers is noted for her charming hospitality and is prom- inent in church and social life. She is a member of Susan Carrington Clarke Chapter, D. A. R., is on the board of managers of the Meriden Hospital and also one of the board of managers of the Young Women's Christian Association. Their home is the Rogers homestead, located on North Colony street, and is one of re- finement and taste.
Mr. Rogers has reason to be proud of both his maternal and paternal an- cestry. On the maternal side he is the ninth generation descended from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins of the Mayflower. On the paternal side he is a lineal descendant of John Rog- ers, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of Queen Mary in the year 1555. James Rogers, the first of the family in America, descended from John Rogers, the martyr, who came to this country in 1635, made the voyage in the ship "Increase," from London, and settled in Stratford, Conn., where he married Elizabeth Rowland. In 1637 James Rogers was one of the six men from Saybrook, who, under Captain John Underhill, took part in the Pequot War. He af- terwards removed to New London, Conn., and became prosperous and in- fluential in the church and the colony ; was sent seven times as representa-
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