Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3, Part 84

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3 > Part 84

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On Jan. 20, 1886, Mr. Warner married Miss Julia Wilkinson, daughter of Henry and Mary Ann (Betts) Wilkinson, of Cobalt, Conn. They have had two children: Arthur, who survives; and George Clayton, who died aged six months. Po- litically Mr. Warner is an independent, with Dem- ocratic tendencies, and he does not aspire to official honors, although his high standing as a man of sound judgment would make him a popular candi- date. He was one of the first members of the A. O. U. W. in West Haven, and is still actively inter- ested in the work of that organization.

WILLIAM JOHN HODGETTS, a well-known paper box manufacturer in Wallingford, has achieved a good name in his line, and from a very modest beginning has built up a fine business, es- pecially in the line of plain and fancy boxes and cases. Mr. Hodgetts cut his first boxes for local patrons with a jackknife and a straight edge. To- day his box factory, on Academy street, in the rear of his very attractive residence, contains all the modern steam-power machinery needed for the economical and quick dispatch of his business, and gives work to fifteen hands. Mr. Hodgetts may well congratulate himself upon this wonderful prog- ress.

Charles Warner was born April 25. 1832, in Hamden, where he was reared, receiving a common- school education. He followed farming there for a time, and later spent five years in farming at Mr. Hodgetts was born June 17, 1846, in Bir- mingham, England, where his father. John Hod- getts, was also born and reared. John Hodgetts became a silversmith, and in 1876, emigrating to the United States, found work at his trade with Chicopee Falls, Mass., and five years at Pelham, Mass. On selling his property at the latter place, '! in 1873. he located in the town of Orange, where he still resides. In 1804 be purchased one hundred acres of the Clark farmi, on Oyster river, for a ) the Simpson, Hall & Miller Co. He married Eliz-

William J. Hadget

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

abeth Winspur, who was born in Birmingham, and they had five children: William J .; Joseph H., a silversmith in Wallingford; George, also a silver- smith in Wallingford: Samuel, a painter in New York : and Alice, wife of Charles Chattcer, of Meri- den, Connecticut.

William J. Hodgetts acquired his education in his native city, and early in life applied himself to moldmaking. When he had mastered this trade he turned to the making of Britannia ware, in ·which work he was engaged until coming to this country, in 1866. He made his way directly to Wallingford, and was given employment in the fac- tory of the Simpson. Hall & Miller Co., with whom he remained twenty-five years. He very soon rose to the position of inspector of goods. In 1878 he began the making of boxes, which was at first managed by his wife, but the business grew to such an extent that in 1891 Mr. Hodgetts gave up his position with the Simpson, Hall & Miller Co. and has since given his entire attention to the box factory. He is a man of genial disposition, and has a host of friends who admire his manly char- acter and exemplary business methods. Temperate in his habits, and upright in his dealings with the world, he is much respected in his community, and is regarded as one of the most valued citizens of the borough.

In 1867 Mr. Hodgetts married, at Newark, Miss Sarah Hobson, who was born in Birmingham, Eng- land, a daughter of Edwin Hobson, one of the prominent men of Wallingford. To this union have come six children: Harold William, a die sinker and moldmaker: Eva A .. a forewoman in her fa- ther's factory ; Effie, a trained nurse : and Edwin, Nellie and Bessie, who are in school. Mr. Hod- getts is a Republican, and an active worker for the party. He belongs to the Blue Lodge. Compass · Lodge. F. & A. M. He is a member of the Baptist Church.

CHARLES EMIL SCHUNACK, one of the rising young manufacturers of Meriden, was born in the city of Spremberg. Germany, Nov. 15. 1859. son of Gustav Schunack, a native of the same com- munity, who was a manufacturer of woolen cloth. In Spremberg Gustav Schunack married Louisa Lange, by whom he had two children. Charles Emil and Emmy. Gustav Schunack and his family left the old country in 1873. and came to the United States, locating at Webster, Mass .. where he spent a year in the woolen trade. He then came to Meriden, where the remainder of his life was spent. and he died in 1889 and was buried in the West cemetery, Meriden. In politics he was a Repub- lican, and in religion liberal and broad-minded in his views. His widow is still living, and is cared for in the liome of her son Charles E. She is a devont Christian woman, faithful and loving in her duties as a wife and mother.

Charles Emil Schunack attended the schools of

his native town. He was thirteen years old when he left Spremberg with his parents to make his home in America, and at Webster, Mass., went into the mills, so that he has had no schooling save that of work and experience since his arrival in this State. In 1874 he came to Meriden, and for some five years worked in the bronze department of the Meriden Malleable Iron Works. For the following five years he was connected with the bronze de- partment of the factory of Hart, Bliven & Mead, at Kensington, Conti., as a contractor. When this period had expired he came back to Meriden, and took a place with the Charles Parker Co., in the lamp department of its extensive factories. For nineteen years he has had charge of this depart- ment.

Mr. Schunack began business for himself as a box manufacturer in 1891, locating on Randolphi avenue, and beginning in the most modest fashion. He attended strictly to his trade, and it has steadily increased, demanding enlarged facilities and im- proved machinery, until he now has a plant that is about as complete as any to be found anywhere in the State. Here he makes a vast variety of paper boxes, as well as plush,. chamois and leather cases for silverware, and employment is given to more than seventy people, the products selling in remote parts of the country, as well as at home. Our sub- ject's only sister, Miss Emmy, has charge of this branch of his business : she is a lady of much busi- ness ability, thoroughly understanding the work, and very popular. Mr. Schunack is a progressive and enterprising citizen, wide-awake and vigorous, energetic with his work, and anxious to give per- fect satisfaction to every customer.

Mr. Schunack belongs to the A. F. & A. M., being controlled in Meridian Lodge, No. 77; to Pil- grim Harbor Council. Roval Areanum : and to the Invincibles of Meriden. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and has served as a member of the city council in Meriden for two years. He and his wife find their religious home at the Congregational Church. Mr. Schunack was married in Kensington, Hart- ford Co .. Conn., to Miss Rhoda Baldwin, a lady of much refinement, and they have two children, Mil- dred and Elsie. Our subject and his wife are ex- cellent people and command the respect and con- fidence of the community to a very marked degree.

MICHAEL D. RUSSELL, comptroller of the city of Waterbury, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1865, and is a son of John and Catherine (Dwyer) Russell, the former of whom is an ex- tensive farmer and both of whom still have their home in County Tipperary. To their marriage were born twelve children, nine of whom are still living. viz .: William, a doctor of medicine: Helen, a widow: Thomas, farming the old homestead ; Michael D., the subject of this sketch : Katie, single : | John, a Catholic clergyman in England: Mary, a Sister of Mercy in Dublin; Matthew, a physician

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and surgeon in Dublin Hospital ; and James, a theo- logical student.

Michael D. Russell is the only one of the above named family to come to America. His boyhood was passed on the home farm, and his preliminary education was acquired at a National school, but this was supplemented by a course of study in a classical school and also at an academy. the original design being to prepare him for a profession; but when he had attained his eighteenth year he was seized with a desire to cross the ocean. and accord- ingly. in the spring of ISS3. he sailed for America, and shortly afterward reached Waterbury, Conn., where for a year and a half he worked in the fac- tories and then engaged in business on Washington street, which he continued with marked success un- til 1899.

In 1889 Mr. Russell was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Hayden. a daughter of Jamies Hay- den, of Waterbury, and this union has been blessed with four children. John. William, James and Eliz- abeth, of whom three are living, James having died when he attained the age of three years. The family are all adhierents of Immaculate Conception Cath- olie Church. In politics Mr. Russell is a Democrat, is very popular with his party and influential in its councils. He has served as alderman from the Fourth ward one full term and part of another (filling out an unexpired term), in all three years. He was elected a delegate to the State convention which nominated Daniel L. Morgan for governor, and took a very active part in. the succeeding can- vass. In October, 1899, he was elected comptroller of the city of Waterbury, and re-elected in October, 1901. In his fraternal relations he has been treas- urer of the Foresters of America since their or- ganization, and he is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Russell is deserving of great credit for the masterly manner in which he has managed his busi- ness affairs, and his great success is due solely to his own shrewdness, and close attention to his af- · fairs. He has invested largely in real estate, and is one of the heaviest tax payers in his ward. and he counts his friends by the hundreds, all of whom have been attracted to him through his many per- sonal merits.

EDWARD A. IVES. an enterprising and suc- cessful agriculturist of North Branford, belongs to an old Colonial family which was founded in America by William Ives. who sailed from England on the "True Love" in 1635. at the age of twenty- eight years. and landed in Boston. Later he came to New Haven with the Davenport Colony in 1637- 38, and joined in the Civil Compact in 1639. He died in New Haven about 1648. and his wife, Hannah, afterward married a Mr. Bassett. By the first union there were four children, namely : John. Joseph. Phoebe and Daniel. Of these, John Ives was baptized Dec. 29, 1044, and moved to Walling-

ford, Coun., about 1670. He married Hannah Mer- riman, and had one son, Joseph, from whom all the Iveses in Wallingford have descended.

The Ives family in Handen, Conn., trace their ancestry back to Jonathan Ives, who was born March 14, 1716, a son of Sammel and Ruth Ives. He was married, Feb. 19, 1737, to Thankful Coop- er, and they had eight children: Jeremiah. Joel, Jonathan, Ruth, Mary, Thankful, Allen and Phoebe. Of these, Jonathan Ives was born March 26, 1751, and made his home in Mt. Carmel, Conn. He mar- ried Sarah Bassett and had several children.

Mark Ives, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Hamden, where he later engaged in general farming throughout life. He married Saritta Dickerman, a native of the same town, who died at the age of eighty years, and he died at the age of eighty-two. Their children were George. a resident of Morris Cove, Conn. ; Sarah, deceased wife of Charles Dickerman: Edgar, father of our subject ; and Albert, who was killed by a team.

Edgar Ives was a native of Hamden, where he passed his boyhood and youth, and after attaining to man's estate he was employed in the shops of this county. He entered the Union service during the Civil war and was killed at Baton Rouge, La., in 1863. In his native town he was married. in 1857. to Miss Ellen Cook, who was born in Cheshire. Conn., and is now living in New Haven. They had two children: Edward A., our subject ; and Franklin D., an employe in a rubber shop at New Haven.

Edward A. Ives was born in Hamden Feb. 18. 1860. and was given the advantages of a district- school education. When still quite young he went to Southington, where during the summer months he worked for neighboring farmers between the ages of eleven and fourteen years, while he attended . school through the winter. Subsequently he was employed in a shoe shop for a short time. At the age of twenty-two he removed to Wallingford, and while there he learned the machinist's trade in the railroad shops at New Haven, which occupation he. continued to follow in that city and Bridgeport, Conn., for about sixteen years. In 1896, owing to ill health, he located upon his father-in-law's farm of eighty acres in North Branford, and has since devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. He also engages in the milk business and keeps for that purpose ten cows, besides young stock. He is progressive and public-spirited, and gives his support to the men and measures of the Repub- lican party. Religiously he is an Episcopalian, and socially is a member of the United Workmen Lodge, No. 31. of New Haven.

In May. 1886, in Wallingford, Mr. Ives mar- ried Miss Carrie Ives, and they have one child, Mabel Saritta, born July 4. 1887. Mrs. Ives' great- grandparents were Ransom and Sarah Ives. the foriner of whom died Sept. 22. 1844. aged sixty- one years, the latter Feb. 15, 1844, aged sixty-two.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Their son, John Ives, the grandfather of our sub- ject's wife, was born April 3. 1804. and died Dec. 20, 1886. He was married, Dec. 13, 1826, to Mari- ette Austin, who was born Oct. 30, 1803, and died June 8, 1883. In their family were two children : Sarah, born Nov. 18, 1827. married Amos Dickin- son, and died July 26, 1876; and Henderson, born Jan. 2, 1831, now makes his home with our sub- ject. He is a painter by trade, but is now living a retired life. On Jan. 6. 1859, he married Miss Cor- nelia Williams, who was born in Wallingford Oct. 18, 1836, and four children were born to them. namely: Carrie, born Aug. 10. 1860, is the wife of our subject ; George, born Feb. 14. 1863, is a butchi- er of Wallingford : Charles, born Feb. 25, 1873, is a resident of New Haven : and Sarah. born Nov. 3. 1875, is the wife of Arthur Mansfield, of Lynn, Massachusetts. .

JAMES D. CARROLL is one of the leading business citizens of New Haven, where, since 1887. he has been connected with the browning depart- ment in the Winchester Arms Co., as contractor, occupying a most responsible position.

Mr. Carroll was born in Monterey. Berkshire Co., Mass., Sept. 4. 1852. a son of Levi N. Carroll, a native of Herkimer county, New York.

Levi N. Carroll acquired his education in Mas- sachusetts, and for some years he was a resident of Beartown, in that State. He married Mary Breck- enridge, who was born in Massachusetts, where she died at the age of thirty-six years. His death oc- curred in Middlefield. Mass., at the age of sixty- six years. Their children were : Frances, who married William Ecker, and died in Missouri; and James Dwight, of this sketch.

James Dwight Carroll spent his early school days at Beartown, Mass., being obliged. to walk a distance of four miles each way. At the age of eleven years he found himself obliged to look after himself, and went to work in Monterey for John D. Bidwell, also having the privilege of going to school. Then he went to live with his uncle, James Breck- enridge, and worked in Jerusalem, Mass .. for two years for $65 and board, going to school during the winters, and then went back to his father and attended the old Stockbridge Academy. Mr. Car- roll's next work was under Lucien Moore, who drove the stage from Tyringham to Lee, but after eight months our subject went to Strickland, Ill .. where his sister lived, and accompanied them soon after to the West in order to look up some govern- ment land. James stopped at Walnut Creek, Iowa. and went to work in a saw and grist mill, where he remained for one year, going then to Kenyon Grove in the sanie State, and carried on a butcher- ing business there for the succeeding year. Mr. Carroll decided then to see something more of the country. and with a team he made his way to the Cherokee Nation, in Indian Territory, going from there, with his team, to Arkansas, where he worked

on the railroad. In the following spring he started East. stopping in Page county, lowa, where he bought a forty-acre farm, which property he still OWNIS.

After his return to South Lee, Mass., he was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Cordonnier, of Chatham, N. Y., who was born in Paris, France. After this event Mr. Carroll went to Ilion, N. Y., where he entered into the employ of E. Remington & Sons Co., and continued with them until March, 1875, when he moved to Frankfort, N. Y., buying there four lots and building houses upon them. Until 1886 he continued with the Remingtons as a contractor. In 1887 Mr. Carroll came to New Ha- ven, Conn., as a contractor in the browning depart- ment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co .. em- ploying from ten to fifteen men. Mr. Carroll has a secret process of browning that requires but four men to do what it formerly needed ten to accom- plish. Every time the weather changes Mr. Carroll changes his chemicals, and thus his work is con- stantly an experiment. Ever since he has been in New Haven Mr. Carroll has resided on Henry street. Fraternally he is connected with a number of orders. While living at Frankfort he became a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. joining Mohawk Lodge, No. 226. He also belongs to Olive Branch Lodge, No. 84. F. & A. M., and Franklin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. One son has blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, James Levi. born Feb. 11. 1888. Mr. Carroll is a thorough busi- ness man and possesses a knowledge of his special line quite different from others who engage in it. His secret process has proved successful and may lead to future improvements.

CAPT. EDGAR J. HARDY, of the steamship "Chester W. Chapin," was born in Fair Haven. New Haven county, Aug. 23, 1864. His father, John A. Hardy, was born on Staten Island, and was a son of John Hardy, also of Staten Island, where the founder of the family located when he came from England to America. The grandfather died in. Jersey City at the age of ninety-eight years. and of the numerous children born him four are still living, all residents of New Jersey with the excep- tion of the father of our subject, who is living re- tired in New Haven. The grandmother died when comparatively a young woman. Both she and hus- band were faithful members of the Episcopal Church.

John A. Hardy, the father of our subject, was reared on Staten Island, and while still a lad be- gan making trips on an oyster sloop, gradually ris- ing until he became captain of a vessel that sailed from New York to the West Indies, in the fruit business. This was his occupation for forty-five years, and he became well known in many ports and was highly regarded in shipping circles. Ilis life is now one of ease, as he lives retired in New Ila- vEn. Mr. Hardy married Georgiana Hayden, who

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was born in Westbrook, Conn., daughter of John Hayden, a boat-builder there. She was one of five children, viz .: Georgiana ; Edgar, deceased ; Nellie, deceased : Myrtie, who married Charles Hill, and died in Clinton ; and Theodore, who died in Florida. Four children were born to the parents of our sub- ject, namely: Addie, who married Jolin Brand, in New Bedford; Aaron, who resides in New York; Edgar J., our subject : and Georgia, who married T. Sherman Foote, of Providence, R. I. The par- ents are members of the Congregational Church.

Edgar J. Hardy spent his early years in Fair Haven and attended the Woolsey school. His nat- ural inclination was toward a life'on the water, and he began his career on a sailing vessel, the "C. T. Vanname," of New Haven. In this position he continued but a short time, being rapidly promoted and soon became mate, and he coasted with his ves- sel to the West Indies. In 1883 he entered the em- ploy of the New Haven Steamboat Co., as watch- man on the boats, and filled all the positions up to captain, to which he was promoted Dec. 1, 1893. His first vessel was the steamer "C. H. Northam," and later he took charge of the steamer "Richard Peck." and subsequently of the steamer "Chester W. Chapin," which is one of the finest boats on Long Island Sound. Capt. Hardy became very popular among travelers, his skill, care and seaman- ship being such as to inspire perfect confidence.

In 1897 Capt. Hardy was married to Miss Anna Pearsall, who was born in New York City, a daugh- ter of Charles Pearsall, a successtul dealer in fruit, and a granddaughter of John Pearsall. who was the first dealer to obtain a load of fruit by sailing ves- sel to New York. Mrs. Hardy's maternal grand- father was the first hatter on Broadway, New York City ; his store was located at the corner of Broad- way and Canal street. One child has been born to Capt. and Mrs. Hardy. Capt. Hardy is a mem- ber of the Union League Club; the Pequot Club and the Kings County ( N. Y.) Club ; the American Brotherhood of Pilots Association ; and Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

WILLIAM EDWIN HUNTER comes of a family of English origin. the first of whom to emi- grate to this country was Ebenezer Hunter, from whom the line of descent runs through Nathaniel, William, Solomon and Jethro D. to the gentleman whose name appears above.

Solomon Hunter, the grandfather of William E., a native of Sharon, Conn., married Anna Fow- ler, and four children were born to them, of whom Jethro. D. was the second; Sarah married L. D. Benson ; Ruby became Mrs. Horace Reynolds; and Mary married John McDonald.

Jethro D. Hunter was born in Sharon, Conn., and passed his life in farming. In 1873 he removed to Amenia Union. Dutchess C ., N. Y., where he died in 1880. Politically he was a Democrat, and in-religion a communicant of the Episcopal Church. -

Ile married Cynthia A., daughter of Lyman Chap- man, a farmer of Sharon, and they became the par- ents of eight children : William E., Sarah A., Charles H., Ida A., Minnie, Horace R., Lorin B. and Ira. Charles, Minnie and Ira are deceased. Sarah married Frederick Morehouse, a liveryman of Sharon. ITorace married Carrie Ramsey, and lives in Naugatuck. Lorin married Grace M. Odell, and lives in Amenia Union, N. Y. Ida is unmar- ried and lives at home.

William E. Hunter was born in Sharon, Conn., July 26, 1853. His boyhood was passed in hard work upon the farm, alternated with attendance at the district school winters, and he also had a private tutor. He accompanied his father to the new home in Dutchess county, and was for a time engaged in farming there, after which he conducted a grocery store in Winsted for a time, but in January, 1886, he returned to Connecticut, and took up his resi- dence in Naugatuck. There he has ever since made agriculture his vocation, and he has met with signal and well-merited success. Possessed of a fine physique, his mental powers are also of no mean order, and have been well trained, he having been a teacher in both Connecticut and New York States. Mr. Hunter owns a farm of 340 acres, and rents 225 additional acres. Both farms show the result of his intelligent, constant supervision. On his rented farm he cultivates hay, grain and other crops. Mr. Hunter always brings to the manage- ment of his affairs keen intelligence, quick percep- tion, sound judgment and tireless industry. Old, dilapidated buildings have been remodeled, and new ones constructed after modern ideas, and Mr. Hunter himself is abundantly qualified to prepare the plans, estimate the cost and supervise the con- struction. It is this happy union of brains and brawn-a combination as valuable as rare-that has made him the man of substance he is to-day. He has made a specialty of dairy farming, and his daily sales of milk at retail average about seven hundred quarts. He owns a large number of horses and cows. His home farm is situated at the sum- mit of what is known as "Hunter's Hill," an emi- nence some five hundred feet above the level of surrounding country. From this point of vantage the view is one of surpassing loveliness. For miles in every direction may be seen highly cultivated, well improved farms, with the charming borough of Naugatuck in the foreground, and the hustling city of Waterbury only five miles distant. The smoke of many factories rises lazily and floats away, while the narrow stream of the river winds in and out, a silver thread among green pastures and board fields of nodding, golden grain.

Mr. Hunter is a member of the Second Advent Church, and socially he is a member of the Grange and of the Order of Heptasophs. He is independ- ent in politics. He has been twice married, having chosen a wife cach time from among the maidens of Dutchess county, N. Y., where he passed the

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Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3, Part 84

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988