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 79
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One of the leading lawyers of the New Haven county bar, and a strong factor in contemporary Meriden life, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Fay was born in the town of Marlboro, Mass., August 29, 1838, and passed the early years of his life upon the home farm. His education was ob- tained in the common school and at the high school of his native town where he graduated.
Mr. Fay's parents, George W. and Amanda Ward Fay, were descended from New Englanders whose ances- tors were English people. The first American immigrant on the paternal side was born in England about 1648.
When he was twenty-one years of age Geo. Fay left Marlboro and came to Meriden where he has resided ever since. The future lawyer first en- tered a position where he combined the duties of clerk in the office of the
Adams Express Company with that of operator in the Western Union Tel- egraph service. These positions were resigned two years later when the young man followed the bent of his inclination and entered the Law De- partment of Yale University, from which he graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1862. He entered the office of the late Hon. O. H. Platt, where he read law as an assistant, remaining a year ; and in May, 1863, he was ad- mitted to the Connecticut bar as an attorney at law, which profession he has followed ever since.
Mr. Fay was elected by the Repub- licans to the State Senate from the Sixth Senatorial District in 1871 and served as chairman of the Committee on Corporations and also as chairman of the Committee on Elections which determined whether Hon. James E. English, of New Haven, or Hon. Mar- shall Jewell should be state governor. The contest had been an exciting one and Mr. English was elected; but an investigation was set on foot which resulted in the award of the office to Mr. Jewell.
The heights that influential men reach were not attained by sudden flight, the poet tells us, and the prom- inence which attaches to Lawyer Fay's name is due to patient perse- verance in a work where will and feel- ing both pull together, thereby concen- trating the attention and strengthen- ing mental effort. Mr. Fay's emi- nence as a lawyer received gratifying acknowledgement when the appoint- irent as counsel for the N. Y., N. H.
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Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
lungs A. Fay
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& H. railroad was made, which posi- tion he holds up to present writing. He is also counsel for many large cor- porations including the International Silver Co., First National Bank, Mer- iden Trust & Safe Deposit Co. and several other corporations, and having amassed a comfortable competency now gives but a portion of his time to the practice of his profession.
About 1896 Mr. Fay formed a part- nership with Judge W. L. Bennett, a resident of New Haven, and ever since the firm has maintained offices in Mer- iden and New Haven. In 1905 Mr. Bennett was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas by Governor Roberts. Mr. Fay, who is the oldest member of the bar in Meriden, is a capable advocate of the public weal ; he is careful of his constituents' inter- ests and it may be truthfully said that his fearlessness has guided him safely through legal storms where a less in- trepid lawyer would have compro- mised for policy's or expediency's sake.
Although Mr. Fay is a member of Meridian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Meriden, he is connected with no oth- er organizations.
In 1865 Mr. Fay was married to Miss Jennie M. Curtis, daughter of Alfred P. Curtis, a lady of gentle manners and lovable character
JOHN QUINCY THAYER.
A man of high standing in the le- gal profession is John Quincy Thayer, chosen judge of the Probate court of
Meriden in 1893, and who has held that judiciary office to the present writing. He is a son of Augustine and Electa (Fairchild) Thayer, and although he has resided in Meriden for a third of a century, he was born in New Milford, Conn., March 24, 1843. His father was a man of prominence there and a well-to-do carpenter and builder possessed of a judicial mind which was inherited to the fullest extent by his son.
On the maternal side Judge Thayer is descended through one of the old- est families in Fairfield county, and Thomas Fairchild, the first. of his an- cestors to come to America from England, settled in Stratford where he became one of the leading men at the time of the first settlement of that town, and who died December 14, 1670. His son, Thomas, was the first white man born in Stratford, and Jo- siah, son of Thomas, born in Strat- ford in 1644, was a landowner. Ed- ward Fairchild, son of Josiah, was born in Stratford, but in 1720 removed to Newtown, where the Fairchild family have ever since been prominent in the affairs of that town. James Fairchild, son of Edward, was a landowner and farmer in Newtown, and his eldest son, Silas Fairchild, was born in Newtown in 1748, and died in that town in 1821. Before his death he became a captain and was commissioned by Governor Trumbull. His son, Joseph Fairchild, born Au- gust 12, 1770, died June 23, 1855, and by his second wife, Amarillas Dibble of Danbury, their daughter, Electa,
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O
John 2 Thay's
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the mother of Judge Thayer, was born.
John Quincy Thayer received his preparatory education in the old Housatonic Institute, but his proposed college course was postponed on the breaking out of the Civil war; for he enlisted in Company I, 8th Conn. Vols. Infantry, September 21, 1861, remaining with his regiment until af- ter the close of the war, and receiving an honorable discharge after four years and three months' service, dur- ing which he earned an enviable rec- ord and participated in a large num- ber of important engagements.
After the close of the war he re- sumed the study of his chosen pro- fession and became a student in the law office of William Knapp, at New Milford, under whose tutelage he was admitted to the Litchfield county bar in 1869. . He first began practice of law in Meriden in the office of the late Hon. O. H. Platt, but three years later became the law partner of Hon. Ratcliffe Hicks, of whom much is said elsewhere in this volume, under the firm name of Hicks & Thayer, a part- nership which continued several years. For many years Judge Thayer has held public office. After serving sev- eral terms as city attorney, he became associate justice and clerk of the Mu- nicipal court of Meriden, which of- fices he held for thirteen years, until he was chosen to preside over the Pro- bate court, in 1893, where he has since performed the complicated duties of the office, with a fairness of decision to all, that has won him the
gratitude of the community, during his long and efficient encumbency of that office.
Judge Thayer is a member of the Home Club, Colonial Club, Royal Ar- canum and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has served as judge ad- vocate of the Department of Connec- ticut in the last named organization. He was married January 19, 1873, to Annie S., daughter of S. K. Dever- eux, collector of customs at Castine, Maine, and has had one child, Zerline Devereux, who was born in Meriden May 29, 1880, and died December 9, 1884.
WILBUR FISK DAVIS.
Judge Wilbur Fisk Davis, who was born July 25, 1848, in Plymouth, Con- necticut, comes of an illustrious an- cestry, the Davis family having been very well known not only in Meri- den, but all over New England. His first American ancestor, Dolor Davis, was one of the original settlers of Barnstable, Mass., in 1634.
His father was Dr. Timothy Fisher Davis. His mother was Miss Moriva Hatch, of Springfield, Mass., and she still survives her husband, making her home with her children in Meriden. Judge Davis is a brother of Dr. Charles H. S. Davis, a leading physi- cian and ex-mayor of the city.
Judge Davis received his education in the public schools and the academy at Meriden, and then, having chosen the law as his profession, began to
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BIOGRAPHIES.
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
Wilbur 7. Davis
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study in the office of Judge Smith. In 1869 he entered the Yale Law School, where he remained for one year. At this time occurred the death of Judge Dutton, head of the Yale Law School, and Mr. Davis, not wish- ing to remain in New Haven without his tutelage, entered the Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1870. In September of that same year he was admitted to the New Haven Coun- ty Bar, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Meriden. His success was assured from the first ; and he has long been conceded to be one of Meriden's most successful law- yers. His ability soon brought him an official position, that of clerk of the Meriden City Court, which posi- tion he held for several years. In 1887 he was appointed corporation counsel and very successfully upheld the civil rights of the city until 1890. He was then elected judge of probate for the district of Meriden and ably filled that office until 1895. He was again appointed corporation counsel in 1897, which office he held for a fur- ther term of two years.
Judge Davis has· acted as adviser to many prominent business men and corporations, and his excellent judg- ment, sound practical sense, and wide experience have enabled him to be of great service in that capacity. He also has been counsel in many impor- tant cases, his connection with which has gained for him throughout the state a high reputation as a lawyer. He has ever had the best interest of town and city at heart, and his pres-
ence in town meeting is usually made manifest by earnest approval or equal- ly hearty condemnation of the mat- ters brought before that body. Judge Davis is fearless in advocating what he believes to be right, and he does not allow the mere fact that a meas- ure is popular to weigh against his own judgment.
Besides being a successful lawyer Judge Davis has an enviable position in the life of the city. In December, 1905, he was tendered the Republican nomination for corporation counsel by a vote of 19 to I, it being the first time in the history of the city a nomination of this character had been given to a political opponent. While the matter was still pending in the common coun- cil Judge Davis declined the nomina- tion, giving his reasons in a letter which occasioned much favorable com- ment at the time. He is promi- nent socially, having been president of the Home Club, the leading social organization of the city, and is active in Masonic circles, being a past com- mander of St. Elmo Commandery, No. 9, K. T., of Meriden. In politics Judge Davis is a Democrat, and his party has on many occasions sought his counsel, which, like his advice in bus- iness matters, has been characterized by a certain hard-headed common sense that has made it valuable.
Judge Davis was married May 29, 1874, to Miss Adelaide Louise Ste- vens, daughter of Joshua and Jane (Morris) Stevens, of Chicopee Falls, Mass. Of five children born to them only two are now living, Wilbur F.
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Jr., a graduate of the Meriden High school where he won a "Hicks' Prize" writing upon a "Century of Life in Meriden," now a student at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and Rob- ert S., a youth in the public schools.
Judge Davis has a beautiful home on East Main street, and he and Mrs. Davis have proved themselves pos- sessed of genuine hospitality.
FRANK S. FAY.
Frank S. Fay, judge of the Meriden Police and City courts, one of the best known members of the legal fraternity in Meriden, was born at Marlboro, Mass., on September 26, 1848. His services on the bench have ever been in the direction of justice and impartiality and at the same time he has been ready to help the unfor- tunates whose cases have come before him.
He received his education in the high school of his native town. After being graduated from that institu- tion he came to Meriden to study law in the office of his brother, Hon. George A. Fay.
He was admitted to the bar in Sep- tember, 1871. In his profession Mr. Fay has met with deserved success. As a citizen he is held in respect by all. The interests of the city and town have always been very dear to him and by his word and example he has done much for both.
He has held positions of honor and responsibility and has in every in-
stance proved himself worthy of the trust imposed upon him. From 1882 to 1893 he served as prosecuting agent for New Haven county. Later as city attorney he made a record as a vigilant and conscientious public ser- vant. In 1891 he was town site com- missioner in the Territory of Okla- homa, deciding land titles for the city of Oklahoma.
When Judge James P. Platt be- came United States district judge, Mr. Fay succeeded him as judge of the City and Police courts of Meri- den, receiving his appointment from Governor McLean in March, 1902. Judge Fay has taken an interest in his duties that has made his services of great value to the community. He has never forgotten that the prison- . ers who face him are men and women and oftentimes has felt it incumbent upon him to give them a few words of advice and admonition.
Judge Fay was chosen one of the members of the committee having in charge the erection of a new building to take the place of the Meriden Town Hall, which was burned in Feb- ruary, 1903. He has devoted much time and thought to the arduous work of the committee and has in this matter worked for what he con- ceived to be the best interests of his fellow townsmen.
Judge Fay is an enthusiastic fisher- man and yearly pays a visit to the trout streams of Vermont or other states.
Judge Fay was married on Septem- ber 28, 1881, at Stuyvesant, N. Y., to
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Frank& Fay
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Elizabeth B., daughter of Allen J. and Martha (Cutter) Ham. His home is a most pleasant one and the friends who have been privileged to enter it have ever met with a cordial- ity that was both earnest and sincere.
WILLIAM CARL MUELLER.
Wlliam Carl Mueller, a well known member of the New Haven County
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. WILLIAM C. MUELLER.
Bar, who has been favored by both election and appointment to several positions of honor and trust, was born in Germany, April 27, 1864. When quite young his family removed to this country, and settled in Meriden in 1874. After receiving a good educa- tion, he pursued legal studies at the
Yale Law School, from which he graduated in the class of 1886, and was admitted to the bar at New Ha- ven, June 30 the same year and ever since has been engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in Meriden. He was admitted to practice in the dis- trict and circuit court of the United States in March, 1903.
He held the office of city tax col- lector for four years, from 1888-1893 inclusive and was collector of town taxes for six years, during which time he collected over $1,000,000. He has also served as city attorney for the city and police court of Meriden, which duties he first assumed July I, 1893. He served as superintendent of the water works for four years from February, 1898. As well as being one of the professional men of the town of high standing, he is prominently identified with several German so- cieties ; is a member of the Home Club and the various branches of the Masonic fraternity. He is now de- voting his entire time to the practice of law, in which he has been suc- cessful.
He was married in June, 1895, to Agnes, daughter of August Yost, a prominent citizen of Meriden, and they have one child, Carl Howard Mueller.
HENRY T. KING.
One of the Board of Park Commis- sioners of Meriden, a well known member of the New Haven county bar, and a citizen of the more progres-
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sive type, is Henry T. King. He was born in Meriden, being the son of P. J. and E. M. King, and received his early education in the public schools of Meriden, and by spending six years afterwards at the electrotyping trade, accumulated sufficient money to pay his own way through Yale Law school.
HENRY T. KING.
He began the study of law, how- ever, under the late Judge George W. Smith, but after the death of that well known attorney, entered the office of Judge Wilbur F. Davis, where he con- tinued to receive valuable coaching during his attendance at the law school. He was graduated with the class of 1892, and among his high hon- ors received there was the O. S. Sey-
mour prize of $60.00, for the greatest improvement in scholarship.
Admitted to the bar in 1892, he be- gan the practice of his profession in his native city. Mr. King has become successful in his chosen profession, due to his own commendable effort in fitting himself for his life work.
Some years ago he served as one of the reportorial staff of the Meriden Republican ; was clerk of the Probate court for the district of Meriden for six years, and prepared the index of the probate records ; was for two years clerk of the City and Police court ; has served the first ward as alderman, when he became chairman of the Com- mittees on By-laws, Printing and Po- lice, and was a member and secretary of the first board of public works. During his service in the city govern- ment, he took a firm stand against the establishment of the various commis- sions, and was chairman of the coun- cil committee that appeared before the legislature in opposition to that meas- ure. He later drafted the amendment to the city charter, whereby the legis- lature empowered the city of Meriden to add Hubbard Park to its territory, and presented the act passed by the city government which gave Hubbard Park its name. He was honored by appointment to the Board of Park Commissioners in February, 1906, for a term of four years, the choice of Mayor Thomas L. Reilly meeting with the hearty approval of the public in general.
Attorney King served five years in the state militia as a member of Com-
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pany I, C. N. G., and later was elected second lieutenant, but on ac- count of pressure of business, declined the honor.
He was one of the founders and the secretary of the Connecticut Federa- tion of Cyclists; one of the incorpo- rators of the Meriden Wheel club ; the author of a most comprehensive book- let containing the bicycle laws of Con- necticut, with full explanatory notes ; all of which have made him one of the best known wheelmen of the state. Mr. King is a member of the Home Club, and well known in social circles. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, being affiliated with Meridian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M., and all the higher branches of the order in Meriden, New Haven and Bridgeport. He is also a member of Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine.
For many years he was actively connected with the State Agricultural Society. He is a member of St. Paul's Universalist church, of which society he has been clerk, assistant superinten- dent of the Sunday school, and was the first secretary of the Connecticut Y. P. C. U. During the elaborate prepa- rations made by the committee of cit- izens for the centennial celebration of the town, Mr. King rendered invalua- ble service as secretary of the Commit- tee on Publicity and the success of the historic celebration is due in no small measure to his zealous work for that committee.
He was married November 28, 1894, to Josephine, daughter of the late Jo- seph Morse.
GEORGE L. KING.
George L. King, prosecuting agent for New Haven county at Meriden, and a well known attorney and coun- selor-at-law, is a native of this town, being the son of P. J. and E. M. King. After receiving an early education in the public schools of Meriden, he spent a number of years in the business of
Photo by Akers & Pigeon.
GEORGE L. KING.
wood engraving, of which he became a thorough master, and during that time he made numerous illustrations for leading magazines published in New York and Boston. He afterwards en- gaged in business in Meriden as a member of the firm of Foster & King. By his skill as an engraver, the prac- tice of strict economy and persever-
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ance, he accumulated sufficient money to study for his profession and pay his own way through Yale Law School.
While at that institution he won the unstinted praise of his instructors by his success in his studies, which he carried on after having vanquished more obstacles than would have dis- couraged the young man of ordinary ambition. He was graduated at the law school with the class of 1895, and being admitted to the bar the same year, began the practice of his profes- sion in his native city, where he has since continued.
In 1898 he was appointed to his present office, prosecuting agent for New Haven county at Meriden, and his fearless conduct of that office has met with success and general approval by the people of the county.
Mr. King is a Mason, being a mem- ber of Meridian Lodge, 77, A. F. & A. M., and is also a member of Meriden Lodge, 35, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a well known figure in social circles, being a mem- ber of both the Home and Colonial Clubs, and an ex-president of the Mer- iden Cycle Club. He is a member of St. Paul's Universalist church. Un- like his brother, Attorney H. T. King, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and who is a Democrat, he is actively connected with Republican politics and a prominent worker in the ranks of that party. He is clerk of the Probate court for the District of Meriden, and has also served as assistant clerk of the City and Police court of Meriden, and
enjoys the reputation of having dis- patched the duties of the offices to which he has been honored with ef- ficiency and without the display of either fear or favor.
He was married in May, 1896, to Ada F., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Wright, of Norwood, Mass.
P. T. O'BRIEN.
Patrick T. O'Brien, attorney at law, of Meriden, was born at New Britain, November 16, 1868. He is of Irish descent and one of nine sons of John M. and Mary (Corbett) O'Brien, who came to this country from Ireland and settled in New Britain in 1855 where the family has ever since resided. Their son received a good education. He first attended the public schools of his native town. In 1885 he entered St. Charles College, Ellicott City, Md., where he took three years of his acad- emic course. He completed his class- ical studies at Holy Cross college, Worcester, Mass., from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. Af- ter teaching school one year at Taney- town, Md., he accepted a professor- ship in Greek, Latin and English at Epiphany college, Baltimore, where he was one of the faculty for two years. At the end of that time he began to study for the legal profession and af- ter taking a two years' course at the New York Law school, New York City, received the degree of LL. B. That he might be still better prepared
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for practice he entered the law office of Judge William F. Henney, who in 1905 was mayor of Hartford, where he read law for one year. Mr. O'Brien was admitted to the bar in June, 1898, at which time he came to Meriden, opened an office and has practiced here since. He is faithful to his clients, fair to his opponents, honest to the court.
Photo by Akers & Pigeon. PATRICK T. O'BRIEN.
Outside the court room he has a cheerful disposition which makes him a favorite with his brother practition- ers. He is a member of the Elks, Catholic Benevolent Legion, T. A. B. society, Amaranth Club and Division 2, Ancient Order of Hibernians. He has taken part in the Centennial cel-
ebration of the Town of Meriden, hav- ing served as a member of the Com- mittee on Licenses and Privileges. He is unmarried.
A. B. AUBREY.
Alfred Bailey Aubrey, attorney at law, is one of the younger men of the town who has won a measure of suc- cess and owes the same to his own ef- forts. He was born in Meriden April 20, 1878, and has always lived here. He attended the local public schools, took a four years' course at the High school in three years and graduated with honors with the class of 1897. During his attendance at the public schools he won a gold watch at the grammar and a Hicks prize at the High school, all of which reflected much credit upon him ; as he lost much time from his studies on account of ill- ness. During his attendance at the High school he was editor of the High School Pennant and, during his last year, of the class Annual.
He began the study of law in the office of Henry Dryhurst, but shortly after entered the Law school of Yale University, from which he was grad- uated in June, 1901. The same month he passed the bar examinations and, being admitted to practice, opened a law office in the Hall & Lewis build- ing. As a practitioner, he has been successful almost from the start and now has a large and rapidly increas- ing business.
He has been much honored by elec- tion to public office. In 1901 he was
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chosen a member of the Common Council from the fourth ward, serv- ing two years; was, in 1902, elected registrar of voters and now serves his. fourth term in that capacity ; has been chairman of the Republican City com- mittee since 1902 ; is assistant clerk of the Meriden City and Police Courts, and is one of the trial justices of the town.
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