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 4 > Part 63
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in Albany, N. Y. They bought a tract of land, where their cattle grazed and where they butchered them. Mr. Nuhn was actively occupied in business and deeply interested in the growth and welfare of his adopted city. Although he purchased and oper- ated a brewery, which later was so successfully and extensively carried on by Hellmann & Kip, he did so only to get liis money back, as it was very dis- tasteful to him. In later years he was also en- gaged in manufacturing fertilizers, and was quite successful in his undertakings. Of a very quiet and unassuming nature, he passed through life en- joying his family circle, rather than outside attrac- tions, but he held the esteem and respect of his many acquaintances and friends. In politics he was a Democrat, and represented his ward in the Com- mon Council many years.
On Nov. 9, 1875, Mr. Nuhn was married to Emma P., daughter of Leonard and Catherine Meyer, and at his death, March 27, 1898, there sur- vived the widow, two daughters and two sons, the children being Ida M., Theodore F., Frederick L. and Ella K.
Mrs. Emma P. (Meyer) Nuhn was born in Bridgeport, Conn., daughter of Leonard Meyer, who was born in Doernbach, Germany, but who when a young man came to America, and located at Bridgeport, later removing to Waterbury, where for a year he was engaged in the hotel business. He died July 16, 1869. His wife, who was also born in Germany, came to New York when about sixteen years of age, where she married in 1854. Her father came to visit New York, and died after being there a short time. Her mother died June 4, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer had a family of three children, namely: Emma P. (Mrs. Nuhn) ; Lewis M., who was in business with Mr. Nuhn in Waterbury, also held the office of tax collector, and died Aug. 4, 1892; Theodore V., who resides in Waterbury, Conn., engaged in the insurance business.
WILLIAM ROBERT STEELE was born April 7, 1845, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, a son of Jasper Steele, who was born in England about 1825, and died in his native land Dec. 25, 1895. A very successful grocer and baker in the town of Stroud, Jasper Steele accumulated a very handsome property, which enabled him to retire from business in 1885. Much respected in the com- munity in which he lived, he was always interested in the public welfare, and was especially devoted to the Church, being widely known as a zealous and devoted Congregationalist. In 1844 he was married to Miss Sophia Smith, who was born in 1823, a daugliter of William Smith, an extensive property owner, and a baker by trade; she is still living in England. To them were born the following children : William Robert : Reuben, a contracting mason, who died when fifty years old in England ; Mary, living in England with her mother ; John, for many years a mason, but now living retired in England ;
Julia and Emma, both married and living in Eng- land; George, a contracting mason at Greenwich, working in partnership with a Mr. Rich ; and Myra, who married and lives in England. Richard Steele, father of Jasper, died during the latter's infancy ; he and his wife, Mary Clutterbook, had four chil- dren.
William Robert Steele was born in England, and received a somewhat scanty schooling before he was nine years old in the public schools of his native town. At that early age he began work in the home bakery, and at the age of eleven went into a flour mill, where he spent the succeeding nine years. When he was twenty he began a grocery business for himself, which proved quite remunerative, but in 1868 he sold out and for a year engaged in stock dealing, and then removed to the United States. Locating in Connecticut, he secured work as a blacksmith with one of the contractors who was en- gaged in building the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. In 1870 he bought a small farm, town of Walling- ford, and for twenty years was engaged in its cultivation. In 1890 he removed to Walling- ford, and went into business as a dealer in fruits and vegetables, but soon took on groceries and meats. For ten years he did a very profitable busi- ness, which he sold to Bendoin Brothers May 28, 1900. In 1805 he erected his present very comfort- able and commodious home on Quinnipiac street, and engaged in caring for his extensive real-estate interests.
Mr. Steele is a Republican, and has never been a seeker after official honors. He attends the Con- gregational Church, and is a member of Compass Lodge, No. 9, F. & A. M. He is past chancellor commander of Ivy Lodge, No. 43, K. P., and is now master of the exchequer. One of the charter members of Ivy Division, No. 16, U. R. K. of P., he was its treasurer during its entire existence.
On Oct. 15, 1865, William Robert Steele was married to Miss Kezia Seymour, of England, a daughter of Richard Seymour. To their union were born : Ada, who died at the age of five years ; Adelia, who died when two and a half years old ; Ida, who married Richard Clark, and has two chil- dren, Alice and Richard; Eva and Harry are at home.
ROBERT W. LAMPMAN was born July 23, 1862, in Nicolaus, Cal. William Lampman, his father, was born about the year 1831 in Connecti- cut, in (it is thought) New Haven county, and was one of a family of five children, namely: Robert was a printer in New York, later a printer and bookbinder in San Francisco, Cal .: William was the father of our subject; Norton died in New York; Eloise married George E. Van De Bogart, a painter, who died in New York State; and Lor- inda. The father of these was a farmer.
William Lampman learned the trade of black- smith in Connecticut, and followed same until 1859,
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in which year he went to California, settling on a farm, where he passed the rest of his days. Prior to going to the "Eldorado State" he married Sarah M. Clapper, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y., a daughter of Stephen Clapper, whose father was a Hessian soldier in the Revolutionary war, and afterward settled on a farm in Columbia county. One child only was born to this union, Robert W. The parents both died in California, the father in 1868, the mother in 1875.
Robert W. Lampman received his earlier edu- cation in California, and passed his boyhood on a farm at Nicolaus up to the age of thirteen years, at which time, his mother having died, he came to New York State to live with his grandparents, and until he was seventeen years old attended school at Valatie, Columbia county. For one year afterward he worked on a farm; then commenced learning the trade of weaver in Valatie, at which he continued until rising to the position of "boss" weaver, the highest grade attainable in that line. Shortly after his marriage he went to Stuyvesant Falls, N. Y., whence after a year he came to Waterbury, Conn., and (1887), commenced working for the Scovill Mfg. Co., learning the making of rivets. After three years with that firm he went into the employ of the Waterbury Mig. Co., with whom he re- mained several years, becoming foreman of the rivet department. Mrs. Lampman recently removed to Bridgeport, this State.
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On Dec. 13, 1882, Mr. Lampman married Anna M. (Wolfe) Barnes, an adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, and who was born in Stuyvesant Landing, Columbia Co., N. Y. Four children have been born to this union: Clarence W., Eva M., Hazel E. and Charles ( who died when one year old ). Mr. and Mrs. Lampman are members of the Bap- tist Church. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1895 represented the First ward in the common council of Waterbury ; in the following year he was nominated for alderman, but declined. Socially he is a member of the United Order of American Me- chanics; the United Order of Good Fellows; also of the Order of the Silver Star, which latter he has done much toward elevating to its present high standing.
HENRY FREDERICK RUDOLPH is one of the leading young business men of Meriden, being senior member of the firm of H. F. Rudolph & Co., dealers in staple and fancy groceries and German delicacies, at No. 48 East Main street, that city.
Mr. Rudolph was born in the city of New York Jan. 7, 1868, and is of German descent, his father. George Frederick Rudolph, being a native of the town of Brutenbach, in Saxony. George F. Ru- dolph was well educated in his native land, and early displayed wonderful talent for music, becoming, under instruction, a master of various instruments. For a number of years he was connected with the military band of his locality, and his skill was fre-
quently called into public service. He married Katherine Herbst, and four children were born to them before their emigration to America, in 1867. They landed at New York, where the father soon found employment. Later he went to Williams- burg, Long Island, where he remained until 1872, in a sugar refinery. The flourishing manufactories of Connecticut absorb a great many of the substan- tial workmen of German nationality, and about the year last mentioned Mr. Rudolph decided to locate with his family in Meriden and there accept em- ployment in the lantern department of the factory of the Edward Miller Co. He soon became con- nected with the orchestral band of Meriden. Un- fortunately Mr. Rudolph did not enjoy robust health, and he was finally obliged to resign his vari- ous positions and remain at home. He was an in- valid for a period of twelve years prior to his death, which took place in 1893, at his home; he was laid to rest in the beautiful Walnut Grove cemetery. Mr. Rudolph was mourned not only by his family but also in the Center Congregational Church, of which he was a consistent member. In politics he chose to be an independent voter. Socially he was prominent in the fraternal orders, including the German Mutual Aid Society and Teutonia Lodge, No. 95, I. O. O. F. Mr. Rudolph was an honest, upright man, and was well known and respected. Acknowledged a master in music, he did much in Meriden to encourage a true love of the art, and contributed largely to musical organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph had a family of ten children, namely: Lena, who married William A. Ives, of Meriden; George, who is engaged in the postal service at that place; Mary, who married Edward Kantack, of Wallingford, formerly of Meriden; one who died unnamed in infancy; H. Frederick; J. Gustave, a member of the firm of Rudolph & Co .; William, also a member of that firm; Katie; Ed- ward, deceased; and George. The beloved mother is still living in Meriden, where she is much es- teemed in the Congregational Church, and most affectionately regarded by the excellent family for whom she has made many personal sacrifices in the past.
Henry Frederick Rudolph was but four years of age when Meriden became his home. He was al- lowed to attend school as long as possible, but on account of his father's failing health and the de- mands of a large family, many of them younger than himself, he early decided to do his part toward helping. When but thirteen years old his bright face and willing manner found favor with the man- ager of the big factory of Foster, Merriam & Co., and lie was engaged as an all-around helper, con- tinuing with that firm five years, receiving promo- tions, and at last working in the cabinet hardware department. From this factory he went as a clerk to the Union Pacific tea store, in Meriden, and after remaining one year returned to Foster, Merriam & Co. for the succeeding year. He then
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accepted a position as clerk in the grocery store of D. W. Balzer, on Pratt street, where he worked faithfully until 1892, at which time he bought out the establishment of his employer. His financial assistant was his brother George. who remained a silent partner, our subject successfully conducting a most prosperous business until 1898, when he admitted his two younger brothers as full partners. Since that time the firm style has been H. F. Ru- dolph & Co., the management continuing as before, and following out the lines of business integrity formed by the elder brother. In 1900 the location was changed to No. 48 East Main street, where is conducted a large and constantly increasing busi- ness, which bids fair to still farther enlarge, patron- age constantly coming from more distant points. The members of the firm all show personal atten- tion to their patrons, and this fact, combined with strict honesty and fair dealing, secures them a preference over those who appear to desire only to sell, without care whether the buyers are politely treated or not.
H. Frederick Rudolph was married in Meriden, Sept. 6, 1895, to Miss Maria A. Freier, a native of Germany, daughter of August Freier, a well-known resident of Meriden. Two children have been born to this union, Walter Frederick and Lillian Freier. Mr. Rudolph is connected with Teutonia Lodge, No. 95, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled the prin- cipal chairs ; belongs to the Daughters of Rebekah ; is a member of Court Schiller, No. 117, Foresters of America, in which he has filled the chair of chief ranger; is a member of the German Mutual Aid Society, Eintracht Lodge, No. 19, Deutschen Ordens der Harugari; the Meriden Saengerbund : and the Meriden Butchers and Grocers Protective Association. In the latter body he has served as recording secretary and is now corresponding sec- retary, and is sergeant-at-arms of the State asso- ciation of that organization. He has taken an act- ive part in the work of the Daughters of Rebekah, having served a's drill master, and his wife is an
On Dec. 31, 1891, Dr. Russell married Mary Shortell, of Ansonia, a daughter of Columbus Shortell, of that city, and four children have blessed influential member of that lodge. Politically Mr. their union: Lenore, Leslie, Robert G., Jr., and Columbus. In politics Dr. Russell is independent, and in religious faith he and the family attend the services of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rudolph affiliates with the great party of inde- pendent thinkers, voting for the men he deems best suited for office. For some years he has been con- nected with Immanuel German Lutheran Church. He enjoys the respect and esteem of all the good people of Meriden.
ROBERT G. RUSSELL, D. D. S., Ansonia, is a native of Connecticut, born June 9, 1864, in Silvermine, town of Wilton, Fairfield county.
John Russell, his father, was a Scotchman by birth, born at Denny, Stirlingshire. Robert Geddes, maternal grandfather of our subject. was a paper maker in Scotland as well as in several localities in this country, including Winnepauk, Fairfield Co., Conn., and died in Norwalk, March 12, 1876. By his wife Ellen (Campbell) he had a family of seven :
children, viz .: William, who was a machinist in Bridgeport ; Christina C., mother of Robert G. Rus- sell; Andrew, who was a foreman in the Winne- pauk paper mills, Fairfield county; Thomas, who was a mechanic in Norwalk; Alexander, who died in Scotland when young; Ellen, married to John Mclaughlin, of Norwalk; and Agnes, who did not come to America.
John Russell, father of Robert G., came to the United States when a young man, and followed the business of paper making. He married Chris- tina C. Geddes, of Norwalk, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and by her had nine children as follows : Margaret died at the age of four years; James is a mechanic in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Robert G. is our subject; John is a mechanic in South Norwalk; Margaret (2) died at the age of three years ; Ellen married Ira Meeker, of South Norwalk; Jane died when four years old; Jane (2) married Daniel Weed, of Norwalk; and William. The father of these died Jan. 28, 1879, the mother on Jan. 6, 1892.
Robert G. Russell at the age of four years was taken to Canada by his parents, who for a time made their home in Dundas, Province of Ontario, removing thence to Valleyfield, Province of Que- bec, at which latter place our subject received his earlier education. In 1874 the family came to Nor- walk, and there young Robert attended the Union school, after which, for about four years, he worked in a shoe factory in that city. We next find him in the employ of Lounsbury, Mathewson & Co. in the shoe business, during which time he commenced the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. Horace Longe- necker, Norwalk. After one year there he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and finished the study in the office of Drs. J. H. Longenecker & Sons. On Feb. 7, 1890, he came to Ansonia, Conn., and com- menced the practice of his profession, in which he has met with eminent success.
ARTHUR JAMES HALL, head of the firm of A. J. Hall & Co., is one of Meriden's rising young manufacturers. He was born Nov. 4, 1865, on a farm in Meriden, and is a descendant of one of the county, whose ancestry is traced to John Hall, 1.nown in Connecticut prior to 1669.
prominently and favorably known in his profession, ' oldest and best-known families in New Haven
( II) Samuel Hall, son of John, was one of the first settlers of Wallingford, and one of the signers of the Plantation Covenant in 1672. He married Hannah Walker, May 16, 1668, and died March 5, 17-5; she survived until Dec. 20, 1728. They were the parents of eight children.
(III) Samuel Hall, second son of Samuel (1),
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born Dec. 10, 1680, married Sue, daughter of Na- thaniel and Esther Royce, and after her death espoused Bridget ( surname not known). He died June 16, 1770, in his ninetieth year, and was the father of six children.
(IV) Theophilus Hall, eldest child of Samuel Hall (2), was born April 1, 1707, and graduated from Yale College at the age of twenty years. He was ordained Oct. 29, 1729, and was thirty-eight years a minister of the gospel, being the first set- tled pastor of the Congregational Church in Meri- den. He died March 28, 1769, aged sixty-two years. He married Hannah Avery, May 21, 1734, and they were the parents of nine children.
(V) Theophilus Hall (2), twin brother of Lucy and son of Theophilus Hall ( I), was born Aug. 26, 1741. On March 10, 1768, he married Elizabeth Couch, who died March 11, 1824, at the age of sev- enty-four years. He died May 17, 1804. His chil- dren were: Mehitabel, born March 21, 1769, died Sept. 30, 1776; Clarissa, April 3, 1771 ; Theophilus, April 20, 1773, died April 26, 1815; Mehitabel (2), Aug. 4, 1777; Avery, May 25, 1779; Hannah and Elizabeth, twins, Jan. 30, 1782; John Willard; and Russell, 1791.
(VI) John Willard Hall was born April 26, 1786, and married Polly Todd, of Marcellus, N. Y. He was a farmer in the town of Meriden, where he spent his life and where he died April 27, 1865. His children were: Beri, born Feb. 20, 1813, died April 6, 1832; William, born Sept. 2, 1816, died 1877, married Polly A. Bristol; Mary Ann, born Sept. 18, 1818, died in April, 1894; Clarissa, born Jan. 8, 1820, died 1865; Avery, born March 14, 1822, married Sarah Dunbar, of Ohio, and died in 1898; James, born Oct. 7, 1824; Erastus, born Aug. 7, 1827, died in 1847; and Lydia, born April 24, 1830, died in 1836.
(VII) James Hall was born on the family homestead, south of the present city of Meriden, and grew to manhood there, making farming his life occupation. He owns and operates a farm on Hall's avenue, and is still hale at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. He is well known and very highly respected. While not a politician, he is a firm adherent of the principles of the Republican party. He married Harriet Williams Way, of Meriden, who has been to him a faithful helpmeet, a devoted wife and mother. Their children : Charles Edward, born June 6, 1847, is a farmer, residing in Southington: William Franklin, born Sept. 19, 1849, married Ellen Andrews, of Walling- ford, and is a farmer in that town ; Elizabeth Celes- tia, born June 1, 1857, married (first) Eugene Lawrence and (second ) William Hineline, and lives in Forestville; George Lee, born April 16, 1853, married Anna A. Knapp, and is a farmer in South- ington : Harriet Layette, horn Feb. 20. 1836, is the wife of Henry Sherman. of Middletown: Adeline Fidelia, born July 1, 1859, married ( first ) Melville Brooks, of Meriden, and (second) Hugh McGahie,
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of Wallingford; Julius Way, born Oct. 4, 1862, died in 1864; and Arthur Jamies, born Nov. 4, 1865, is the subject of this notice.
Arthur J. Hall grew up on the homestead farm, and attended the schools of his district. Having a taste for art, he took up its study under D. F. Wentworth, an artist, of Meriden, and continued one and one-half years. At the age of eighteen he accepted a position in the factory of C. F. Monroe, in Meriden, as an opal glass decorator, and here spent eight years. Wishing to extend his education, he resigned his position and spent one year in at- tendance at Yale Business College. Returning to Meriden, he was engaged in art work by P. J. Handel. After serving this employer some time as a designer, he acted as traveling salesman, this con- nection altogether covering a period of seven years. In 1899 he engaged in business on a small scale, on his own account, and after six months elapsed he was persuaded to become a partner of James D. Bergen, who operated a cut glass business. They established a factory on Mill street and are now on North George street, doing business under the style of A. J. Hall & Co., decorators of opal glass ware and dealers in lamp goods. For the past three years they have conducted a very successful busi- ness, under the immediate supervision of Mr. Hall. Seventeen hands are now employed, and branch offices are maintained in New York, Boston and San Francisco for the sale of the product. Besides being a skillful artist, Mr. Hall has shown the quali- ties of a first-class business man, as the growth and success of his venture have demonstrated.
In 1897 Mr. Hall was married in Hartford, Conn., to Miss Sarah Priscilla, daughter of Robert and Sarah ( Moody) Price. Mrs. Hall is a native of Hartford, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Marion Marshall and Har- riet Price. While maintaining an interest in and intelligent observation of the current of events, Mr. Hall is not in any sense a politician, although he supports the principles of the Republican party. He is an active communicant of St. Andrews Epis- copal Church of Meriden. With progressive ideas, he aims to keep up with modern progress, and is a valuable citizen of the "Silver City."
FRANCIS W. FOLEY, a prominent Demo- cratic politician, registrar of voters since 1900, and engaged in business in New Haven since 1884, was born on Chapel street, Fair Haven, Conn., March 28, 1853. The grandparents, who were agricultur- ists in Ireland, never came to America, but Patrick and Ellen C. ( Cummings) Foley, his parents, na- tives of County Sligo, Ireland, came to the United States, and the father was a trusted and valued employe of Foot & Hemmingway, lime dealers, of New Haven, during the remainder of his life. His death occurred in this city in 1857, at the age of fifty-two, his widow surviving him until 1861. The children born to these worthy parents were Thomas,
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Daniel, Michael, Ellen, Bartholomew, Patrick and Francis W. Mr. Foley was always an adherent of the Democratic party, and reared his children con- scientiously and in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church.
Francis W. Foley, the youngest of the family, became an orphan at the age of nine years, and was thus face to face with the serious and responsible side of life. From the age of eleven to sixteen he worked on a farm for his clothes and board and the privilege of going to school through the winter months. Later he learned the carpenter trade, and worked at it in the neighborhood of his old home until 1877, and during that year made up his mind to see something of the lands beyond the sea. Ac- companied by his kit of tools he made a trip to Glasgow, and from there to Manchester, England, going thence through Ireland. All the time enjoy- ing himself, and much more than paying his way by the excellence of his work, he found employment among others with the G. F. Alling Lumber Co., the Lewis & Beecher, and the Porter Stair Co., and. remained in Europe for two years. After a year in New York City he returned to New Haven, and was employed by David H. Clark until his appoint- ment, in 1882, as assistant registrar of voters. This position was creditably maintained for fourteen years, and in 1900 he was appointed registrar.
In 1884 Mr. Foley opened up his retail wine and liquor business, and conducts in connection there- with a fine cafe on Grand avenue. In 1888 he built the handsome block at 284 Grand avenue, and he also owns considerable other city property. Mr. Foley has taken much interest in the building up and improvement of the city, and is highly regarded by the business community.
In 1882 Mr. Foley married Lizzie R. Egan, of New Haven, a daughter of Thomas Egan, of Kings County, Ireland. Two children have been born of this union, Rita, who is deceased, and Francis, Jr. Reared in the Catholic Church, Mr. Foley has never departed from the teachings of his youth. Genial, pleasant and accommodating, he is not only popular among the business men of the town, but is appre- ciated by all classes as a painstaking and conscien- tious public servant.
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