Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 97

Author: H. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1899
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1795

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E DWARD F. DAVIS, a successful hat manu- facturer of Danbury, Fairfield Co., Conn., was born December 22, 1858, in Putnam county, N. Y., where his ancestors settled at an early date, and there Travis Davis, our subject's grand- father, was born and always resided. He mar- ried and had seven children.

Oliver Davis, our subject's father, was born and reared at the old home, and learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed success- fully, being considered a fine workman. He was an intelligent man, and paid close attention to the issues of his time, supporting first the Whig and then the Republican parties. He enlisted in the Union army, fought gallantly, and during his service he received a gunshot wound in the jaw. His death occurred in 1891. Oliver Davis mar- ried Elizabeth Roscoe, who survives him. Her family was of Holland descent, and her father was a farmer in Putnam county; her mother, Phoebe Roscoe, attained the advanced age of ninety-six years. Oliver and Elizabeth (Roscoe)

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Davis had three children, viz .: Nora H. died at the age of twenty-two years; Edward F. is the second in order of birth; Anna I. died at the age of six years.

The first ten years of our subject's life were spent in Putnam county. N. Y., where he at- tended the district schools. In 1869 he went to Danbury. When about fifteen years old he be- gan to learn the hatter's trade, and he remained with the Beckerle Hat Company until about 1885, when he formed a partnership under the firm name of E. F. Davis & Company, and en- gaged in the manufacture of hats on his own ac- count, the venture proving a success from the start. The firm now has a large trade.

On January 25, 1880, Mr. Davis for his first wife married Miss Aggie K. Gray, a daughter of Abel and Ellen K. Gray, of Danbury. She died August 4, 1885, leaving one daughter, Meta G., born March 1. 1881. On December 18, 1894, Mr. Davis formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Mrs. Mary E. Dodson, a daughter of James and Helen Gantt, of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Davis attends the Episcopal Church, and has always shown an interest in every progressive movement in his locality. In political faith he is a Republican, but he has never given much time to party work. For five years he served in ·Company G, Fourth Connecticut National Guard. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Honor.

ALFRED H. COLE, member of the firm of E. F. Davis & Co., was born March 16, 1850, in Wiltshire, England, came to the United States in 1854, and settled in Connecticut. He went to school for some years, and subsequenty learned the hatting trade, which he followed for years with Tweedy & White and Rundle & White, in 1891 entering into partnership with E. F. Davis. Mr. Cole married Mary E. Gray, of Wiltshire, England; they have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of St. James Episco- pal Church, in which he has been vestryman for sixteen years and warden for two years; Mrs. Cole is a member of the Women's Guild, St. James Church. Their residence, which Mr. Cole owns, is in Deer Hill avenue. Mr. Cole is a son of Luke and Sophia (Newberry) Cole, the former of whom, also a hatter, is now retired. Their family consisted of eight children (seven of whom are living), viz .: Isabella, Alfred H., Emelia, Andrew G., Matilda (deceased), Albert W., Anna and Fannie.

HOMAS AND MICHAEL FARRELL, the well-known contractors of Bridgeport, are numbered among the self-made men of that city,

and their success in life demonstrates their en- ergy, ability and thrift.

The Farrell family is of Irish origin, and Philip Farrell, the father of our subjects, was born in the county of Westmeath, Ireland. He was married there to Miss Marcella Kilduff, a native of the same county, and for a time he fol- lowed farming, but in 1851 he came to America, locating in Bridgeport, Conn., where he was en- gaged in quarrying, and later carried on a truck- ing business. In politics he was a Democrat, and he and his wife were both members of the Catholic Church, to which their children also belong. The father died in Bridgeport in 1869. Of their nine children, all but one were born in America: Patrick is now a resident of Bridgeport; Susan married William Brown, of the same city; Thomas is mentioned more fully below; James died at the age of thirty-four; Joseph died at the age of thirty-three; Philip resides at Flushing, Long Island; Andrew is a resident of Bridgeport; Katie married Joseph Garry, of Bridgeport; and Michael, the youngest of the family, is mentioned below.

Thomas Farrell was born in Bridgeport, No- vember 8, 1855, and was educated at the old Washington school on Golden Hill. When thir- teen years old he was obliged to begin earning a livelihood, but he was not willing to give up his studies at that point, and for two winters he at- tended a night school. At fifteen years of age he engaged in contracting with his brother Patrick, and later he spent six and a half years in the liquor business at No. 109 Fairfield avenue, Bridgeport, after which he resumed business as a contractor in partnership with his brother Michael, and has since continued in this line successfully. He is one of the leading Democrats of his district, and has taken an active part in municipal affairs. In 1891 he was elected to the city council from the Fourth ward for one year, and in 1893 he was re-elected for a term of two years, his ma- jority each time being larger than was ever given any other candidate in that ward for the position. During his term as councilman the first electric street railway was constructed in Bridgeport. Socially, Mr. Farrell is popular, and he is a charter member of the local branches of the order of Knights of Columbus, and the Foresters of America, of which he served for five years as treasurer. On November 10, 1892, he married Miss Sophia Kautsman, who was born in Bridge- port, the daughter of John Kautsman, a native of Germany. Two children, Josephine and Albert, brighten their home.

Michael Farrell was born in Bridgeport, Sep- tember 28, 1869, and for some years in his boy-

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hood attended the public schools there. At the age of fourteen he entered the employ of the Bridgeport Wire Company, but after one year he engaged in driving team, continuing this busi- ness about three years, since which time he has been in partnership with his brother Thomas. Like his brother he is a stanch Democrat, and on April 5, 1897, he was elected to his present office of alderman from the Sixth District of Bridgeport, his term of service beginning on April 19, of that year. On June 15, 1894, he married Miss Annie Masterson, daughter of Patrick Masterson, of Bridgeport.

J JOHN McNALLY was born in the town of Stamford, February 25, 1856, and is a son Lawrence and Catherine (Fogarty) McNally, both natives of Ireland. They were the parents of children as follows: Mary, deceased; John, our subject; Michael, deceased: Charles Henry, in the saloon business in Stamford, Conn .; and Kate and Maggie, the last named being deceased, having died in childhood.

Our subject was reared to hard work, and with meager school advantages. In the year 1877, without capital and with but two horses, he embarked in the livery business, and has gradually won his way to success. He now owns and conducts one of the most extensive and best equipped stables in Connecticut, his office and place of business being situated in Gay street, Stamford.

Mr. McNally's marriage to Miss Julia James, daughter of Aaron and Hattie (Palmer) James, was celebrated November 25, 1881, and to them was born one son, Clarence P.

W ILLIAM ALLMAN, an enterprising citi- zen of Bridgeport, has found the secret of success in a close attention to business, and his large and constantly increasing trade in gen- eral merchandise demonstrates .the practical sa- gacity with which he has carried out his plans.

Mr. Allman was born September 21, 1856, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of Abraham Allman, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who came to Amer- ica in 1848 and settled in Cincinnati, where he built up an extensive business as a contractor, making a specialty of stonemason's work. This worthy citizen died in 1891. His wife, Philipine (Becker), was also a native of Germany. They had five children: Abraham, deceased; Jacob, a hat salesman, residing in Cincinnati; Charles, deceased; William, our subject; and Theodora, deceased.

Our subject was educated in Cincinnati, and on leaving school learned the iron molder's trade, which he followed for a number of years in the principal cities west of the Alleghanies, in both the North and South, and in 1888 he came to this section, locating in Bridgeport. For some time he followed his trade there, but on August 24, 1894, he engaged in the grocery and liquor business at the corner of Bunnell and Williston streets. The enterprise met with success, and on April 6, 1897, he removed to his present place at No. 412 Stratford avenue, where he conducts a general country store with a growing custom. Politically, Mr. Allman is an indpend- ent, and socially he is identified with various or- ganizations including the I. O. O. F., Penquo- nock Lodge No. 4; the Improved Order Knights of Pythias; and the Iron Molders Union of North America, in which he still pays dues as an hon- orary member. In 1888 he married Miss Emma R. Candisky, a native of New Haven, Conn., and whose father was born in Saxony, Germany.

M ATTHEW HENRY GRIFFIN, one of Danbury's able and successful business men, is a member of the well-known firm of H. McLachlan & Co., hat manufacturers, who have achieved the notable feat of increasing their trade largely during the past few years of panic and business uncertainty.

Like many of the substantial citizens, Mr. Griffin is of Irish blood, his father, Michael J. Griffin, and grandfather, Matthew Griffin, hav- ing been born in the Emerald Isle, the former in about 1834. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Ann Keating, was born in Ireland about 1835, the daughter of Daniel and Ann Keating. Both parents are now living in New Haven, Conn., where the father is engaged in the hatter's trade. Of their twelve children the following named survive: Michael E., Josephine, Maggie, Ellen, Annie and Matthew Henry.

Matthew H. Griffin was born March 31, 1856, at New Milford, Conn., and his education was obtained in the schools of Danbury and Orange, N. J. At the age of thirteen he left school and began to work in a hat factory at Orange, where he remained five years, acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business. In 1875 he returned to Danbury, and after spending some time in the employ of the Tweedy Manufacturing Company he worked as opportunity offered in that city and in Orange, N. J., Brooklyn, N. Y., Norwalk, Conn., and Middletown, N. Y. During this time he held the position of foreman with three

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different firms-T. Brothwell & Co. and Byron Dexter, of Danbury, and Fuller Bros., of Mid- dletown. In January, 1892, he formed a part- nership with Henry Mclachlan and Philip Simon under the firm name of H. Mclachlan & Co., and began the manufacture of hats in the rough. At first they employed about twenty hands, but the business has steadily increased until their regular force now consists of sixty men and two girls.

On April 29, 1885, Mr. Griffin married Miss Emily C. Doyle, daughter of James and Cather- ine (Boden) Doyle, and one daughter, Emma May, has blessed their union. They have a comfortable home on Hull Hill, Danbury. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin take an active part in the social and philanthropical movements in the Roman Catholic Church at Danbury, of which both are members. Mr. Griffin is also identified with the order of Foresters of America. As a citizen he takes keen interest in all public affairs.

TENRY MCLACHLAN. This enterprising young Scotchman is numbered among the leading business men of Danbury, the firm of H. Mclachlan & Co. being prominent in the hat in- dustry, for which that town is noted. They make a specialty of manufacturing soft and stiff fur felt hats in the rough, and since they began operations their output has increased from twenty-four dozen per day to one hundred dozen, their orders coming in steadily despite the gen- eral depression in business. They now employ an average of seventy-five hands, and occupy a main building 125 feet long and three stories high; another, 35 x 42 feet, of three stories; a third, 60 feet long and one story in height, and three smaller buildings.

Mr. Mclachlan was born July 10, 1868, at Glasgow, Scotland, where his ancestors had long resided. His grandfather, John McLachlan, and father, of the same name, were both born there, the latter in 1830. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Annie MacDonell, was born in Scotland in 1836, the daughter of Dr. Daniel and Mary Belle (MacDonald) MacDonell, and died April 14, 1894. The father is still living and is now employed as a bookkeeper in Brook- lyn, N. Y. They had seven children: John J., Daniel L., Henry, Mary, Isabella, George Augustus, and Annie.

In 1881 the entire family came to America, locating in New York City. As our subject was then in his fourteenth year, he had already ac- quired a fair common-school education in his native land, and he at once secured employment

with a physician in New York City. About a year later he came to Danbury and began learn- ing the hatter's trade with William Beckerle & Co., with whom he spent one year, and he then entered the factory of Nichols & Hine, where he remained five years, familiarizing himself with every detail of the business. On leaving this firm he took charge of the forming department in Byron Dexter's factory, and continued thus two years, until he formed his present partnership with Matthew H. Griffin and Philip Simon, and started in business on his own account.

Mr. Mclachlan has a pleasant home at No. II Bates Place, Danbury. He was married June 9, 1893, to Miss Maggie Byron, daughter of John and Mary (Welsh) Byron, of Danbury, and they have two children, Lorena and Henry. Mr. Mc- Lachlan belongs to the fraternal order of the Knights of Honor, and in religious faith he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, taking a generous interest in the work of same. The complicated questions of the day re- ceive intelligent and disinterested study from Mr. McLachlan, who is in the habit of doing his own thinking. Until recently he was a Democrat, but he now gives his influence to the party of "sound money and protection."

CELLECK Y. ST. JOHN, who is a prosperous and well-known contractor in Stamford, Fair- field county, was born September 13, 1857, in the town of Lewisboro, Westchester Co., N. Y., but he has passed the greater part of his life. in Stamford.

Mr. St. John is a son of Edgar St. John, who was also a native of the town of Lewisboro, where he carried on agricultural pursuits during his active life, spending his last seven or eight years in Stamford, where he died. By trade he was a wagonmaker, and he did considerable work in that line during his earlier years. He married Deborah Sarles, daughter of William Sarles, and they became the parents of two children: Sel- leck Y., and Lucy (Mrs. W. T. Finney).

Selleck Y. St. John was brought up in his native place, and received such educational ad- vantages as were offered by the district school and Bolton's Academy. After completing his literary education he came to Stamford, where he learned the carpenter's trade, serving his ap- prenticeship under N. W. Hoyt. He has followed his trade with yearly increasing success, and since 1891 has taken contracts on his own account, doing a good business in and around Stamford. His reputation for good work and honest dealing has been firmly established in the minds of his

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patrons, among whom are numbered some of the best people of the vicinity.

Mr. St. John's marriage to Miss Emma F. Smith, daughter of Andrew J. Smith, took place April 19, 1879, at Lewisboro, N. Y. Two chil- dren have blessed their union: Rena A. and Philip L.

R UFUS CLARK REED, of Danbury, is a member of the enterprising manufacturing firm known as the New Machine Company, and both in business and in private life he is held in high esteem for his sterling qualities of character.

Mr. Reed is a native of the Empire State, and his ancestors for several generations have resided in Putnam county. Henry Clay Reed, his father, was born there, the son of Moses Reed, and is now connected with the Borden milk factory at Brewsters. His wife, Sarah (Mead), now deceased, was a daughter of George and Sarah Mead, and was born in Putnam county. They had only two children, Rufus Clark and Chester Henry.

Rufus C. Reed was born February 15, 1859, at the old home in Putnam county and received his early education in the common schools in the town of Southeast. At the age of sixteen he began to work at the carpenter's trade, but in 1881 he became interested in the manufacture of hatters' machinery. This he continued for fifteen years, but in 1896 he formed a partnership with George A. Blackburn, Amzi L. Barnum and Sterling H. Fanton, under the firm name of The New Machine Company, and engaged in a gen- eral machine-manufacturing business. They now have an extensive trade and employ from eighteen to twenty men, notwithstanding the hard times. Mr. Reed's business interests have prevented him from taking any active part in politics, but his sympathies are with the Republican party.

Our subject has a pleasant home at No. 45 Morris street, Danbury. On February 12, 1884, he married, for his first wife, Miss Ida A. Beers, a daughter of Bradley and Cornelia (Bronson) Beers. She died September 17, 1887, leaving one daughter, Ida A., born August 29, 1887. Mr. Reed afterward married Miss Carrie C. Beers, a sister of his first wife, and by this union he has one son, Leon B.

SHBEL E. BARTRAM. Since the seven- teenth century the Bartram family have been closely identified with the interests of Fair- field county, Conn., and as an honored represent- ative of the family in this generation we here

present a brief review of the life of Ashbel E. Bartram, who was born in the town of New Mil- ford May 23, 1843.

Marcus Bartram, the father of our subject, was a native of the town of Sherman, and a son of Noah Bartram, a farmer of New Milford, where Marcus spent his boyhood days. He married Miss Sarah Peet, a native of Litchfield, Conn., who died when Ashbel was six years old. To this worthy couple were born four children, as follows: Mary Irene, who married Aldoris La- throp, of New Milford; Ashbel E .; Charles M., who was a member of Company I, 14th Conn. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville; and Sarah, deceased in childhood. The father of this family made his home in New Milford until a short time before his death, which oc- curred April 1, 1888. He was held in great es- teem, and his taking away was severely felt among his circle of acquaintances.

Ashbel E. Bartram received his education in the town of Sherman, and when seventeen years of age went to work for Frank Bennett, in the town of New Milford, continuing there until his enlistment, on September 23, 1861, in Company I. 8th Conn. V. I. His first experience in real warfare was with Burnside in North Carolina. His regiment formed a part of the Ninth Army Corps until after the battle of Fredericksburg, when it was transferred to the Seventh Corps at Newport News under General Wool, and later it became a part of the Eighteenth Corps under Gen. B. Smith, in the Department of the James. After the battle of the Wilderness they were sent to recruit the broken Federal lines under Grant, and after Cold Harbor were sent in front of Petersburg, before Richmond. On September 29, 1864, Mr. Bartram was wounded in the at- tack on and capture of Chaffin's Bluff, otherwise known as Fort Harrison; he was taken to the field hospital, removed to Hampton, and finally sent to Philadelphia and from there to Whitehall Hospital, where on December 15, 1864, his leg was amputated, the operation being performed by a Doctor Bartram, whom he met again at the Centennial in Philadelphia. As his wound healed he was sent to New Haven, Conn., to the Knights Hospital at that place, being there at the time of his discharge, August 23, 1865; he served four years.

When mustered out Mr. Bartram returned to his old home at New Milford, where for a year and a half he sought to regain a portion of his wasted strength, and he then came to Bridge- port, entering the employ of the Howe Sewing Machine Company, with whom he remained two years. Next he became connected with the

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Wheeler & Wilson Company, continuing with them until, in 1880, he was appointed agent for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, of Newark, N. J. He has since branched into fire insurance and real estate, handling insurance for the Thuringia Fire Insurance Company, of Ger- many; Holyoke Mutual, of Salem, Mass .; Phoenix, of London; United Firemen's Insur- ance Company, of Philadelphia; Reliance, of Philadelphia; United States Fidelity & Guaran- tee Company; and Providence Mutual; he is also a Notary Public. In addition Mr. Bartram has done a large business in settling estates, as re- ceiver, administrator and trustee, always with the most satisfactory results to his clients.

.In his political faith Mr. Bartram affiliates with the Republican party, and has ever been active in advancing its interests. In 1878-79 he was councilman from the Fifth ward, and in 1879 was alderman, serving as chairman of some of the most important committees; in 1889, 1890 and 1891 he was a member of the board of as- sessors, and served as its president. Socially he is one of the charter members of Corinthian Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; he joined St. Luke's Lodge, Kent, Conn., in 1864, while home on a furlough, is a member of Pequonnock Lodge, I. O. O. F .; the Sea Side Club. the Roof Tree Club, and Elias Howe, Jr., Post No. 3, G. A. R., having joined that organization in 1868.

He is an active member of the Washington Park Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is president of the board of trustees. Mr. Bart- ram is well liked by those who know him, and his fellow-townsmen hold him in high esteem for the honorable business methods he pursues. He is faithful to his friends, and nobly bears his part to aid the advancement of the country on whose altar he has already sacrificed so much.

W TILLIAM A. SMALLHORN, of New Canaan, was born and reared in that place, and is a son of J. A. Smallhorn, who is in the employ of Benedict & Co., shoe manufactur- ers at New Canaan. J. A. Smallhorn was born in Norwalk, Conn., where his father, a native of Ireland, settled after coming to this country. The latter was a shoemaker by trade, and was at one time engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Norwalk.

Our subject spent his boyhood attending the public schools of New Canaan, and acquired a common-school education. For the first eight years after commencing work he was employed by Burtes & Mead as clerk, and in 1890 he was appointed agent for the Adams Express Com-

pany, at New Canaan. He proved a trustworthy and capable employe, faithful in the discharge of his duty, honest and reliable. At this writing he is a member of the firm of Kincella & Smallhorn, merchants. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is held in high esteem in the place where he has always made his home. He also served as clerk of the borough of New Canaan, but he is no office seeker, and prefers to give his attention to private affairs. He was formerly secretary and treasurer of the Free Reading Room and Library at New Canaan, and is very active in the several fraternal societies to which he belongs, being a member in good standing of Wooster Lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F .; Commodore Perry Lodge No. 40, O. U. A. M .; the Heptasophs, and the Sons of Temperance. In religious connection he is a faithful member of the New Canaan Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Smallhorn was married at New Canaan to Miss Jennie E. Tuttle, daughter of A. S. Tuttle, who was formerly a well-known car- penter and builder of New Canaan, and one child has blessed this union, Hazel Agnes.

W C. PEFFERS, proprietor of livery, sales and boarding stables, Danbury, is a native of Fairfield county, having been born August 9, 1864, a son of Charles W. and Ruamah (Couch) Peffers, and a grandson of Alpheus M. Couch, with whom he made his home until entering busi- ness for himself.

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 97

Author: H. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1795

Author: H. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1899
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1795