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 72
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In 1873 Mr. Judd married Miss Sarah J. Cook, and they have two children, Florence M. and Edna, both of whom have taken a high-school course in addition to their common-school training. Mrs. Judd was born in Sharon, daughter of Charles and Sylvia ( Bostwick ) Cook, who afterward located upon a farm in Morris, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, who was born in Sharon, died at the age of thirty-three, when Mrs. Judd was but nine years old. They had four chil- dren, two of whom are living: Sarah J., Mrs. Judd; and Wesley Charles, who married Nancy 1. Judd, our subject's youngest sister.
ALEXANDER S. ALAIN. M. D. The descend- ant of a family of French extraction and long identi- fied with Canada, Alexander S. Alain, M. D., physician and surgeon of Meriden, was born in Quebec, Canada, Nov. 22, 1856. In his youth, Joseph Alain, the father of Alexander . S., was bred to the trade of a baker in his native town of Quebec, and in the quaint city followed his useful occupation until his death while yet com- paratively young. In his political views he ad-
hered to the old Liberal party, and in religion was a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church. In Quebec he married Domethilde Bilanger, who was born and died in Quebec. They had three children: (1) Theophile, who is a railroad man in Canada; ( 2) Alexander S. ; and (3), Alvine, the wife of Dr. Rousseau, who is now deceased.
Dr. Alain attended the schools of his native city, and was graduated from the Seminary of Quebec, with a strong desire for professional life. Becom- ing a student of Lavel Medical College, he spent two years in that famous institution, and two years at the Victoria Medical College-now the Lavel Victoria-where he was graduated in the class of 1879. Locating at Batiscan, province of Quebec, he remained for ten years, and in 1889 removed to Meriden. He has since spent one year in Rhode Island.
Dr. Alain was married in 1885 to Rosa Lono- nette, a native of Quebec, and widow of Charles Brunelle, by whom she had one child, Rebecca, the wife of Calixte La Boeuf, a lawyer of Mon- treal.
Dr. Alain was formerly a member of the City Medical Society, and a visiting physician to the Meriden hospital. He is a Republican in political affiliation and for two years represented the First Ward of Meriden in the City Council. He was at one time president of the French Republican Club, of Meriden, and with his wife belongs to the French Catholic Church, where he acted as leader of the choir. Dr. Alain has unusual musical endow- ments, and is a master of the violin. He is a mem- ber of the Saengerbund of Meriden, and is various- ly associated with the professional and social inter- ests in which the town abounds. Dr. Alain up- holds the highest and most advanced tenets of his great profession, for the practical application of which he is fitted both by natural and acquired en- dowments.
WILLIAM MILTON is one of the substan- tial citizens of Waterbury, where his business standing and personal character are of the very highest grade. As a business man his methods were such that those who came to trade by chance, were converted into regular patrons. During the Civil war he wore the Union blue, and made a record as a soldier that attests alike his bravery and his loyalty to his adopted country. He was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1840, a son of George Milton.
The birthplace of the father, George Milton, is uncertain, for it is not known whether he was born in Ireland, or in England, but the family, how- ever, is of English origin. Mr. Milton was a farmer in Ireland, and died on his home place. Ann McGlynn, his wife, a native of Ireland, is now de- ceased. They were the parents of sixteen children. of whom ten grew to maturity, and five came to this | country : James, a mechanic, died in Waterbury ;
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Bridget married the late John Cass, and has her home in Waterbury; Catherine married Edward Brady, and resides in Malden, Mass .; and Win- fred came to this country and lived for a time in Memphis, Tenn., but later went to California, where all trace of her is lost.
William Milton spent his boyhood days on the old Irish farm, and grew up amid its romantic scenery. All the education he obtained was ac- quired before he reached the age of sixteen, when he came to New York, and was an errand boy in that city for some time. The young man tired of the great city, and sought a home in Waterbury, which has given him a pleasant welcome. On his arrival here, he was employed by the Waterbury Watch Co., and for many years he was a workman in their factory. Mr. Milton has also worked in other eastern cities, and has a high standing as a capable and efficient mechanic. In 1886 Mr. Milton engaged in the boot and shoe business on South Main street, Waterbury, where he was quite suc- cessful, but has since given it up. During the Civil war Mr. Milton was for a time attached to a regi- niental band.
Mr. Milton and Miss Nellie McDermott were married in 1873. Mrs. Milton was born in Water- bury, and is a daughter of William McDermott, who was born in Ireland. She died about twenty- five years ago, but her husband, loyal to her memory, has never remarried. As a Republican Mr. Milton has voted for the principles and the party leaders, but he has never sought office. Tem- perance matters have always aroused his enthu- siasm, and he has belonged to such organizations for many years. Mr. Milton has served as com- mander of Wadhams Post, G. A. R., and has been President of the "Holy Name Society" since it was organized. As the oldest trustee of the Immacu- late Conception Parish, of the Roman Catholic Church, his services have been long and efficient.
DAVID CAREY, an honored citizen of Bran- ford, and a molder by trade for many years, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, June 23, 1831, and is a son of John and Hanora (Davis) Carey. His paternal grandparents were Daniel and Cath- erine ( McGraw.) Carey, and the maternal grandpar- ents were William and Ellen (O'Connor) Davis.
John Carey, who, with his family, came to Con- necticut in 1851, located in Naugatuck, where he died, and was buried in Waterbury. The children of this family were: David; Ellen, who is Mrs. David Welsh; Catherine, who is Mrs. William Smith ; Hannah, who is Mrs. Thomas O'Connor ; John; William ; and Michael. John, the fifth child of this family, served nine months in the Civil war.
David Carey came to this country in 1849, and his first work on American soil was as a farm hand in Connecticut. He later learned the trade in the
Malleable Iron Works, where he worked seven years. For one year he worked in the Sargents' shop in New Haven, and in 1865 came back to Bran- ford to assume his present position with the Bran- ford Lock Works.
In 1856 David Carey married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Barnett) Regan, of County Limerick, Ireland, and of the children born of this union, eight are living: Lizzie; Emily, who is the wife of Sidney Hamilton; John; Agnes I., who is Mrs. Thomas P. Carney; Eva, who married Peter Reynolds ; Annie; David W. and Frank J.
Mr. Carey and his family are members of the Catholic Church, in which they are highly respected for modest character and genuine worth. Since 1863 Mr. Carey has been a member of the Molders Union, and was its first president, filling that chair two terms. For six years he was corresponding secretary of the union. In politics he is a Democrat, and for two years was one of the burgesses of Bran- ford.
EDWARD McMANUS, general contractor, Waterbury, is a native of Ireland, and was born in County Roscommon, about 1850. His father, James McManus, was a farmer in Ireland, as was his fa- ther before him, and passed all his life in his native land. He married Bridget Glennon, a native of County Roscommon, and they had five children, of which family Maria married Peter Mclaughlin, of Hartford, Conn .; Edward; Catherine, a widow, lives in Waterbury ; John is somewhere in the West ; and Winifred was unmarried and died in Ireland, The parents are both dead.
Edward McManus left the surroundings of his birth and childhood at the age of twenty years, and sailing from Irish shores, landed in America, and located in Hartford, Conn. For sometime he fol- lowed farming and for seven years engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1878 he came to Water- bury and from a small beginning in the truck busi- ness, gradually increased his capacity until now he is prepared to take any kind of contract work, even to building sewers, railroads, houses, etc. At first he had but two horses; now he has several; and gives employment to from fifty to seventy-five men, at times having as many as one hundred and twenty- five men under him. He has not married, and his sister Catherine keeps house for him.
Mr. McManus is a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Socially he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, and in politics he is a Democrat. He has been a "hustler" all his life, and by hard work, careful management, and judi- cious savings, has accumulated a considerable amount of property.
GEORGE R. BALDWIN is an agriculturist of energy and ability, who throughout his entire butsi- cotton mills of Hamden and Naugatuck, and in . ness career has been prominently identified with the 1857 came to Branford, securing employment in the | upbuilding and development of New Haven county,
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and has materially advanced its interests along vari- ous lines. As a wide-awake, energetic business man, he successfully followed the mason's trade for many years, but for the past twelve years has de- voted his time and attention to farming in the town of Oxford.
Mr. Baldwin was born March 6, 1822, on the farm in Oxford where his brother Frederick now re- sides, and is a son of Stephen and Betsey ( Hubbell) Baldwin. The father was a native of the same town and a son of James Baldwin, a Revolutionary sol- dier, who lived in the town of Seymour. The father died at the age of seventy-six years, the mother at the age of seventy-eight. Our subject was the old- est of their five children, the others being Eliza A., wife of Nathan Proctor, of Woodbury; Lucy, widow of Hobart Churchill, of Waterbury; Sarah M., widow of John Parker, of Oxford; and Fred- erick, who resides on the old homestead.
George R. Baldwin passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. At the age of four- teen years he commenced learning the mason's trade with his father, for whom he worked four 'years, and then went to New Haven, where he fol- 1 lowed his trade several years. At length he formed a partnership with Isaac B. Lake, and engaged in contract work at Seymour until 1888, excavating and laying foundations, etc. During that year he " sold his interest to his partner and has since given his attention to the operation of his farm, which he purchased in 1845, and upon which he has made his home since his marriage.
In 1844 Mr. Baldwin married Miss Emily Sperry, and to them were born four children, Ber- nard S., Allie E., Almira and one who died in in- fancy. All are now deceased. Bernard S. was a private in the Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, dur- ing the Civil war, and died at Bermuda Hundred, Va. In politics Mr. Baldwin is a Democrat, and he has served the town of Oxford as selectman five years ; and first selectman two years. He was elected grand juror several times, but never served. He is one of the old and honored residents of the town, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
JOHN J. GAILEY, M. D., Waterbury, New Haven county, Connecticut.
JOHN HOBART JOHNSON, prominent con- tractor, builder and real-estate dealer of Stony- creek, New Haven county, is a native of Connect- icut, and was born in Wallingford, New Haven county, March 27, 1837.
this county, where he died in 1897, at an advanced age. He married Abby Williams, and of this union were born the following children: Martha, now Mrs. George Fancher ; Emily S., now the wife of J. I. Gruver ; Jolin Hobart ; Susan A., wife of Dr. Augustus Whelus ; and Willoughby. The paternal grandfather, Ira Johnson, and the maternal grand- father, Willoughby Williams, were farmers of Wal- lingford.
John Hobart Johnson was reared in Walling- ford until eight years of age, or till 1845, in which year his parents removed to Branford Point, where his father kept hotel for two years, removing thence to New Haven, where the elder Johnson managed the "Colonnade House" for eight years. From there the family went to New York, thence to Brooklyn, where John Hobart served a four-years' apprentice- ship at the ship carpenter's trade, which he after- ward followed eight years. In 1870 Mr. Johnson removed to Stonycreek, New Haven county, where he has since achieved large results in contracting and building, and dealing in real estate, renting, collecting, etc.
Mr. Johnson has been twice married; first, to Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Mary (Green) Ruland, of Long Island, and of this union there are four children : Julia L. the wife of W. W. Reese ; George F .; Minnie ; and Carrie. For a sec- ond wife Mr. Johnson married Emma Josephine, daughter of Richard and Lucretia ( Moultrop) Rus- sell, of North Branford, and two sons have been born of this marriage, Clayton H. and Frank R. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Epis- copal Church. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a mem- ber of the F. & A. M., Corinthian Lodge, No. 103, Northford ; the I. O. O. F .; and Seaside Lodge No. 84, Stonycreek. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace at Branford.
OLIVER T. NORTON, one of the stirring business men of Waterbury, has contributed his share towards the improvement of the city, and as a real-estate dealer has put on the market some of the choicest additions of recent years. He is an honorable and straightforward business man, whose words do not need a bond to secure credence.
Mr. Norton was born in Plymouth, Conn., March 4, 1844, and is a son of Stephen Norton, born in the same town, and grandson of Rodney Norton, prob- ably born in Plymouth, and a trooper in the war of the Revolution. Like many of his forefathers, Stephen Norton was a farmer by occupation, and while his earlier life was spent near Plymouth, Conn., he latterly settled at Wolcott, Conn., where he had a valuable country home. His wife, Lydia Bradley, was born in Bristol, Conn., and was a daughter of Lucius Bradley, a farmer. Mrs. Norton who died in 1865, was the mother of twelve children. They were named: Amen, Lewis, Andrew, Oliver T., Eunice, Sarah, Mary, Lydia, Turchus, Walter,
John H. Johnson, his father, also born in Wal- lingford, was in early life for several years the owner of vessels which ran between New Haven and New York in the commission business. Later he for fifteen years engaged in the real estate busi- ness in Brooklyn; and then removed to Northford, | Addie and Eliott. Amen served in the Civil war,
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and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. Lewis is a mason in Waterbury, and Andrew is a dairy- man in the same place. Eunice married Irving Davis, of New Haven, and Sarah married Arthur Terrell, a farmer in Wolcott, Conn. Mary and Lydia died young, and Turchus, Walter and Addie are deceased. The latter was the wife of Police- man Williams, of Waterbury. Eliott left the coun- try some years ago, and nothing is known of his whereabouts.
Oliver T. Norton spent his boyhood days on the home farm in Plymouth, and when sixteen years old left home and began an apprenticeship as a mason, in which line of activity he engaged until 1875. During that year he branched out into con- tracting and building, and has since achieved great success in his chosen work. For some years he has been engaged in extensive real-estate deals, and from time to time large properties have passed through his hands. His building enterprises are principally conducted in Waterbury, where his pub- lic spirit and general progressiveness have met with a deserved appreciation.
Mr. Norton and Ellen Warner were married in 1864, Mrs. Norton being a native of Waterbury, and a daughter of Ezra J. Warner. Mr. and Mrs. Norton are the parents of two children, Willis V. and Ernest W. Mr. Norton is a Republican, and himself and sons are stanch advocates of the grand old party. They are attendants upon the services of the Methodist Church, with which sever- al of the family are formally united.
JOHN ST. LAWRENCE, a well-known resi- dent of West Haven, is the proprietor of Hills' Homestead, on Beach street, Savin Rock, one mile from West Haven, and four miles from New Haven. The resort, the oldest in this section, is easily reached by the Winchester Avenue Railroad and the Woodmont Line of electric cars, and under the able and far sighted management of its present proprietor has increased its reputation and patron- age. Mr. St. Lawrence was born June 9, 1857, in Hartford, Conn., and is of French descent in the paternal line. His father, Timothy St. Lawrence, was born in Ireland of French parentage, and much of his boyhood was spent in the Emerald Isle. On coming to America he located in Hart- ford, and for twenty-five years previous to his death was foreman for A. Taylor, a leading lum- ber dealer. His wife Anna Hagan, was also of Irish descent, and they had one son and six daugh- ters, all of whom are living.
The education of Mr. St. Lawrence was ac- quired in the common schools of Hartford and Hannum Commercial College, and at thirteen he became a bell boy in the "Allyn House" in that city, one of the finest hotels in Connecticut. So faithfully did he perform the services required of him that at the age of fifteen he was promoted to the position of clerk, which he held for five and
one-half years, and during this time extended his knowledge by attending business college. At twen- ty-two he went to the "Globe Hotel" in Syracuse, as clerk, and five years later became clerk of the "Osborn House" in Auburn during the winter sca- son, and of the "Cayuga Lake House" in the sum- mer, both houses being under the same owner. While manager of the latter hotel he learned the business of steward, and his next position was that of steward in the "United States Hotel" in Hart- ford, where he remained six years. He then be- came manager of the Hills' Homestead, for the widow of Alfred Hills, and at her death purchased the property. The restaurant already had a national reputation, and for forty years has been the head- ' quarters of the leading business and professional men of New Haven, and the great social clubs of that city. The great Yale dinners are served there, and the famous Fessenden reunion of the Legisla- ture, in 1895, is recalled as one of the largest ban- quets ever given in this section. Natural advan- tages redound to the popularity of this resort, and no more advantageous situation could be desired. It commands one of the finest views of the Sound, and the beautiful grape arbor covering the veranda is a most attractive feature. Mr. St. Lawrence has made many improvements, 'and caters only to the best trade, taking special pride in the serving and quality of the viands. He can dine 250 at one time in the restaurant, while the tents upon the spacious lawn will permit tables for from 200 to 300 guests.
In 1883 Mr. St. Lawrence married his first wife. Miss Mary Bowen, a native of New Haven, who died in 1889 leaving one son, Arthur. His second wife, formerly Miss Katherine Desmond, is a na- tive of Brooklyn. Politically Mr. St. Lawrence is a Democrat, but takes liberal views of local affairs, voting for the best man. His popularity would make him a desirable candidate, but he has so far declined to run for office. He is a charter member of the Hartford Lodge of Elks, and a member of the Knights of Columbus at Hartford.
CHARLES L. P. SMITH, M. D., one of the prominent young members of the medical profes- sion in New Haven, was born in this city, Jan. 22, 1876, a son of George W. and Mary ( Porter ) Smith, the former a son of James Smith, an old resident of Norwalk, Conn. George W. entered Civil war service, at the age of fifteen, and faith- fully served his country through three years. James Smith had been engaged in the wholesale oyster trade, in Norwalk, and after the war his son, George W., removed to New Haven and entered upon the same business. Here he married Mary Porter, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, a daughter of George Porter, who had located in New Haven when Mary was but three years old, and now lives a retired life in this city. To Mr. and Mrs. George Smith were born: Geneva, who married H. C. Backus, an electrical engineer of
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Newark, N. J .; an infant; Dr. Charles L. P .; Reverdy; and Nellie, who died when about seven- teen years old. George Smith was well known in his locality as an unostentatious citizen, of good repute, a Republican in politics, and a consistent member of the Episcopal Church.
Dr. Smith spent his boyhood days in New Haven where he received private instruction after finishing the common-school course. He early dis- played a leaning toward the medical profession, and following this inclination entered the Yale Medical School, from which he graduated with credit in 1898. This thorough equipment was followed by a post-graduate course in New York City, and by embracing the almost boundless opportunities for investigation afforded in that great metropolis.
Locating in New Haven, Dr. Smith has met with gratifying success, and is highly regarded by his numerous patients and fellow practitioners. He is one of the progressive and well read physicians who understandingly adopt all modern discoveries for the amelioration of pain and the cure of dis- ease. In political faith he votes and works with . the Republican party, and retains his connection with the Episcopal Church, in which he was care- fully reared.
JAMES A. KNOX, manager of the paper box and printing department of the Waterbury Mfg. Co., Waterbury, is a native of Massachusetts, and was born in Boston, Aug. 22, 1850. .
Thomas Knox, his grandfather, lived and mar- ried and reared his family of three children in Bos -: ton, of whom Barnabas and Thomas were farmers near Springfield, Mass., while Adam, who was born in Boston, Sept. 15, 1804, became a trained nurse, and for many years acted as such in the Massa- chusetts Hospital. He married Martha Locke, who was born in Rve, N. H., a daughter of Joseph L. and Olive ( Berry) Locke, also natives of Rye, an item of interest in connection with the latter being the fact that he rang the church bell during the Revolutionary war to warn the people of Rye that the British were approaching. Five children were born to Adam Knox and wife, viz .: Mary E., the wife of Charles F. Hall, of Boston ; George H., liv- ing retired in Boston, where he was a fireman for several years ; Charles H., formerly a stock raiser in Maine, and now retired; Joseph L., who served in the Civil war and is now living a retired life; and James A. Adam Knox died in Boston in 1892, hav- ing been predeceased by his wife in 1854. In poli- tics he was a Whig and later a Republican. Him- self and wife were members of the M. E. Church.
James A. Knox attended the public schools of Boston until he was fourteen years old. and at the age of nineteen began to learn the trade of paper box making in his native city, and followed the same there until 1887. In July of the same year he came to Waterbury, where he has ever since engaged with the Waterbury Mfg. Co., and at present has 94
charge of the paper box and printing department.
In April, 1872, Mr. Knox was united in mar- riage with Theresa G. Morey, who was born in Boston, Mass. Five children have been born of this union: Joseph A., Clara I., William M., Charles H. and Mary T. Mr. Knox is prominent as a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order United Workmen, and the United Order of American Mechanics. He has filled all the chairs in these orders, and at the present time is pre- siding president of the past masters' organization, A. O. U. W., of the State of Connecticut. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and in 1893-94 was coun- cilman from the Second ward of Waterbury, and is now a member of the board of public safety, and was recently elected a member of the bureau of assessments.
FRANK M. BROWN, formerly an. enter- prising and successful young business man of Mil- ford, was born Nov. 30, 1863, at Ridgefield, Fair- field Co., Conn., a son of Silas and Jennie ( Mead) Brown.
Silas Brown, who followed shoemaking in Ridgefield throughout his active years, was a na- tive of Putnam county, N. Y., while his wife was born in Ridgefield. This worthy couple had seven children, viz .: Julia, James, Ella, Josephine, Edith, Frank M. (our subject ) and Winfield (deceased).
As a boy Frank M. Brown attended school in Ridgefield, and in 1880, when seventeen years old, he went to Milford to find employment in a shoe factory. After working for several years with. more or less irregularity, he determined to engage in an independent business and in 1894 he opened up a line of sporting goods, cigars and bicycles. The central telephone office, which was located in his store, was also under his direction. Mr. Brown is now located in Bridgeport. On Sept. 13. 1883, he married Miss Lillian Porter, daughter of George H. Porter, a well-known resident of Milford, and they have one child, Miriam, now ( 1901 ) aged nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were popular socially, and the latter is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Brown belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W., and during his residence there was an active worker in the Milford Fire Depart- ment. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, and at one time he served as constable.
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