USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 15
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William R. Scott was born in Auchter- arder, Scotland, July 1, 1875. The fourth child of a large family, he found himself face to face with the problem of his own livelihood at an early age. He received the practical grounding in the essentials of education afforded by the public schools of his native town. Completing the fifth grade at the age of twelve years, he went to work on a farm, following this line of work for about three years. In common with so many of the old country youth, he became interested in the tales that reached him of the possibilities in the great new country across the sea, and he decided to come to America. With all the hardy courage and faith of his race, he sailed, reaching the shores of his adopted country, May 30, 1890. He went first to Delaware county, New York,
where he worked on a dairy farm for seven years. He was quick to learn the manners and customs of the country, and his native industry and sound common sense made him a valuable worker. But his ambition was keenly alive, and he was not content always to remain in a sub- ordinate position. Wishing also to see other sections of the country, he availed himself of an opportunity in Greenwich, Connecticut, and took charge of a farm there. In this position he remained until his marriage. He then bought a pair of horses and engaged in teaming. Later for a time he acted as rural mail carrier ; then he went into the retail milk business, handling it on his own account and work- ing up a very successful route. He rented what was called the Northbrook Farm, and produced a large amount of milk, having a fine dairy herd. When the late John H. Flagler bought the farm, he re- tained Mr. Scott as its superintendent. But the urge of independence of action continued to mark out the young man's course in life. He went into the con- tracting business, which he followed for about two years. Some of the work he did was on Mr. Flagler's place and in- cluded the building of his greenhouses and the complete remodeling of the old farm-house into a modern dwelling. His wife's health imperatively demanding a change of residence, Mr. Scott removed to Liberty, New York.
At this time he also made a radical change in the line of business which he followed. Desiring greater personal free- dom than the long hours and arduous tasks of his previous occupations permit- ted, he took up the soliciting of life and accident insurance. He became con- nected with the Travelers' Insurance Company of Hartford, to whose interests he devoted himself exclusively for some time, first in Liberty, and later in Mid-
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dletown, Goshen, New York City, and Poughkeepsie, New York. In the latter city he remained for about three years. He then returned to Greenwich, Connec- ticut, still representing the Travelers' In- surance Company, but also handling the interests of a number of fire insurance companies. He soon became interested also in real estate, and does a considerable volume of business along this line. In the comparatively short time that he has followed this line of business, Mr. Scott has won the cordial respect and good will of the people, as well as of his business associates.
Socially he is always in demand. He is a member of various social organizations ; was made a Mason at Liberty, New York, Mongaup Lodge, No. 816. He is also a member of Pine Lodge, Knights of Pyth- ias, in Greenwich, in which organization he has served on many committees, has also been a trustee for a number of years. Mr. Scott's political choice is the Independent Republican party, and he is a leader in every movement involving a moral issue-always on the side of right and progress. He was the prime mover in obtaining the signatures of the necessary ten per cent. of the voters of the town on a petition to bring the question of No License before the town meeting.
Mr. Scott married (first) Jessie Nixon Low, daughter of Henry and May Low, of Dundee, Scotland. They had three chil- dren, of whom two grew to maturity: John Douglas, who served in the United States navy during the late war, in the Mine Sweeping Fleet, then was trans- ferred from the United States Steamship "Swan" to the United States Steamship "Pittsburg ;" and Elizabeth Lawson. The mother of these children died, and some time later Mr. Scott married (second) Sara Wright, daughter of William Wright, of Philadelphia. From this
union two children have been born : Helen Monteith and William Wallace. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Presby- terian church.
SMITH, Frederick G. C.,
Architect, Officer in National Guard.
The early immigrants to New England were mostly artisans and many of them men of little learning. That they were possessed of strong characters is evi- denced in a thousand ways to the student of history. While the pen was an awk- ward instrument to many of them, they were industrious, and conquered the wil- derness, establishing the foundation of the civilization which we enjoy. Among the most useful men in the colonies were the Smiths, who made all the nails used in the construction of buildings and nearly every implement of every sort em- ployed in the rude life of the pioneers. A century previous, the country people in England had taken surnames and it fell out that many who were smiths by oc- cupation took the word for a patronymic.
Frederick G. C. Smith, a representative of this old family, and a well known arch- itect of Greenwich, Connecticut, was born there, November 12, 1871, son of John Edgar and Sarah F. (Ritch) Smith.
Charles A. Smith, his grandfather, was born in Ridgefield about 1831, and died in 1889. He was a cabinet maker and carpenter by occupation; he married Mary Keeler, and had a son, John Edgar, of whom further.
John Edgar Smith was born in Ridge- field, Connecticut, where he grew to man- hood and learned the trade of carpenter with Charles Northrop. He followed his trade as a journeyman for a few years and then went into business on his own ac- count. He located in Ridgefield as a con- tractor and builder, continuing success-
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fully until about three years before his death. At that time he went to Florida and was engaged in the same line of busi- ness until he died. John E. Smith mar- ried Sarah F. Ritch, a descendant of Henry Ritch, one of the early settlers of Stamford, and a daughter of Justus and Maria (Rodeman) Ritch. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of three children : Frederick G. C., of further mention ; Ar- thur L., of Brooklyn, New York; and Laura R., wife of Gardner Hoyt, of Wil- ton, Connecticut. Mr. Smith was a mem- ber of the Methodist church, and his wife was a regular attendant of the Congrega- tional church.
Frederick G. C. Smith was educated in the public schools of Ridgefield and after completing his course there he learned the trade of carpenter. He had intended to become associated with his father in the building business, but after three years he gave it up to enter the real estate business. For two years Mr. Smith spent his evenings in study at the Cooper Institute in New York, and in 1891 opened an architect's office in Greenwich. He has had enviable success as an archi- tect, having been in business almost thirty years.
Mr. Smith has been very active in mili- tary work for many years. In 1894 he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fourth Connecticut Regiment Infantry, and this company went into the Spanish- American War as Company K, Third In- fantry. Mr. Smith was commissioned second lieutenant, and when peace was declared, he resigned and returned home. He is a member of the Spanish War Vet- erans, and is past commander and past adjutant of the State organization. He organized a company in Greenwich, which was attached to the Fourth Regi- ment as Company L. The Fourth and Third regiments were consolidated and
afterwards assigned to coast artillery work and Mr. Smith was then commis- sioned regimental adjutant, which office he held for three years. During the World War a company was organized known as the Home Guard and after- wards as the State Guard. Mr. Smith was captain of that company, later major, and in 1920 was made lieutenant-colonel. He is among the foremost citizens of Green- wich, and although not a seeker for po- litical office, is willing to aid in any wel- fare movement.
Mr. Smith married Anna Rousseau, daughter of David Rousseau ; she was born in New York City, and her father was a native of Levis, Province of Quebec, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children : Frederick G. C., Jr., born in Greenwich, December 15, 1897; and J. Albert, born December 5, 1904.
SMITH, James,
Business Man.
One of the substantial and leading citi- zens of Stamford, Connecticut, James Smith, was born in Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England, December II, 1868, son of John and Caroline (Freeman) Smith. The Smith family is an old one in Yorkshire, where in accordance with the ancient custom of a family following a given vocation they have been dyers for generations in the textile mills of that place. Both the father and grandfather of Mr. Smith were dyers.
Although Mr. Smith attended the Na- tional School for a time, he is a self-made man and by his own initiative has ac- quired a wide knowledge through reading and observation. He went to work in the textile mills at the early age of eight years, which was the general custom. He chose the trade of dyer and so well did
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he apply himself to the mastering of the principles, as well as the practical art of dyeing, and so sincerely did he devote himself to the interests of his employers, that at the early age of sixteen he was made a foreman in the velvet dyeing de- partment of the mill. Two years later, at the age of eighteen, he came to America, first locating in Chicago, Illinois, and there entered the employ of Cook & Mc- Lean. Six months later he came East to New York City and for nine years worked as foreman in the firm of Swartz & For- ger. In 1892 Mr. Smith removed to Stamford and engaged in business on his own account. He started in a small way, but the same personal qualities and method of work that won him early ad- vancement in the mill where he learned his trade developed his own business, which has steadily and consistently grown, constantly requiring one addition after another. He built his plant on Woodside street, Stamford, and now has one building, 125x14 feet, one story ; an- other, 80x30 feet, two and one-half stories; another, 30x25 feet, one story. Mr. Smith does one of the largest cleans- ing and dyeing businesses between Boston and New York City. He has offices in the downtown district of Stamford, Green- wich, and South Norwalk. In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican. He takes more than a passive interest in civic mat- ters, and has the desire of every good citizen to carry on his share of the public burden. He is not desirous of public office, however, and, outside his home and business, cares for few other interests. He is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Mr. Smith married Frances Annie Atha, daughter of Joseph R. and Sarah Atha, natives of Sowerby Bridge. They are the parents of three children: I. Ethel I.,
the wife of W. Edward Burr, of Stam- ford, and the mother of Ethel and Charles Burr. 2. James Clarence, associated with his father in business; married Virgil L. Brown, and has three children, Hazel, James, and Shirley Smith. 3. Annie May, resides at home.
ST. GEORGE-SMITH, Frederick, Building Contractor.
The town of Drogheda, in the County Louth, Ireland, is widely known because of its progressiveness and its business interests. The Smith family, of which Frederick St. George-Smith is the present scion, has aided greatly in the develop- ment of many of these interests, particu- larly notable being the achievements of St. George Smith, grandfather of Freder- ick St. George-Smith.
(I) John Smith, the first known of the family, was a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land, and resided there.
(II) Jeremiah Smith, son of John Smith, was a soldier, and served in Ire- land. He went to the relief of Derry in 1690, remaining there for some time, sub- sequently settling in County Meath. Late in life Mr. Smith removed to County Louth, and there became a large land owner.
(III) Jeremiah (2) Smith, son of Jere- miah (1) Smith, was a "gentleman" as the term is used over in England and Ireland, and an extensive land owner. He was the father of a large family.
(IV) St. George Smith, youngest child of Jeremiah (2) Smith, is the one from whom the present patronymic of this branch of the family is derived. He was a manufacturer, and through his thrift and foresight became very prosperous. He was the leading financier and business man of Drogheda. A line of steamships from Drogheda to Liverpool was operated
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by Mr. Smith's company, the Drogheda Steamship Company, and he served as chairman of the board of directors. For two terms he served ably as mayor of the town. He was the father of Frederick St. George-Smith, who was the first to use St. George-Smith as a surname, and his line has followed it since.
(V) Frederick St. George-Smith, son of St. George Smith, was a mechanical engineer, and started the Drogheda Chemical Manure Works, manufacturers of fertilizer, which business is still in ex- istence. He assumed the responsibilities of his father in the Drogheda Iron Works Company, manufacturers of everything from plow-shares to locomotives. The first iron hulled vessels that sailed in St. George's channel were built by this com- pany, as was the No. 2 Brewery for the manufacture of Guiness's Stout. Mr. St. St. George-Smith was a first class engi- neer, and was well and favorably known in his community. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, holding the thirty- second degree, and was a prince mason.
Mr. St. George-Smith married Helen Hathaway, born in Delaware county, New York, daughter of Nathaniel Hatha- way. The latter was a well known civil engineer of Delhi, New York, and mar- ried (first) a Miss Pardee, and by this marriage there were two children: D. Pardee Hathaway, and Helen Hathaway, who became the wife of Frederick St. George-Smith. Mr. and Mrs. St. George- Smith were the parents of the following children : Frederick (2), of further men- tion ; Helen Constance, Emily Mary, Ida Mabel, St. George, Walter Pardee, and Florence Emily. The family attended the Episcopal church.
(VI) Frederick (2) St. George-Smith, son of Frederick (1) and Helen (Hatha- way) St. George-Smith, was born May 9, 1863, in Drogheda, Ireland. He was edu-
cated in Cheltenham College, Gloucester- shire, England, and Trinity College, Dub- lin, Ireland. In 1884 he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Engineer- ing, and immediately thereafter went into his father's iron works, where he re- mained for about two years, during which time he had applied himself to the mas- tering of as many details of the business as possible. In 1887 Mr. St. George- Smith came to America and located in Sioux City, Iowa, where he worked as a civil engineer, and his work there in- cluded the mapping out of a large part of the town site. His father was desirous of having him return to Ireland, and as an inducement had purchased the Drog- heda Saw Mills. On returning to Ireland, Mr. St. George-Smith assumed charge of this business, becoming owner of it in due time, and continued its operation for about seventeen years. The business of this concern was the manufacture of lum- ber and interior finish, in fact, everything in the building line.
In 1906 Frederick (2) St. George- Smith came again to America, and strange to say, located this time in the extreme East, Greenwich, Connecticut, and there he engaged in business as a builder and contractor. He specializes on fine residence work, and among the beautiful residences which he has built may be mentioned those of Edward Mul- ford, Edward D. Marble, Mrs. John Lord, Frank Keene, and Samuel F. Pryor. Mr. St. George-Smith has assumed his right- ful place among the leading citizens of Greenwich, and is highly respected among his fellow business men. He takes an active interest in all that is for the better- ment of the community, and is ever ready to give of his time or finances in pro- moting this welfare.
Frederick (2) St. George-Smith mar- ried Clara Louise Hencken, daughter of
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George Hencken, a resident of New York City. Their children are: Frederick (3) and Marguerite Louise. The members of the family attend Christ Episcopal Church.
NOLAN, Jacob Matthew, Physician.
A leading physician and a valued citi- zen of Fairfield county, Connecticut. Dr. Jacob M. Nolan is descended from one of the oldest Irish families. The family of Nolan is of Milesian descent through the line of Heremon, the second son of Mile- sius, King of Spain, who with his seven sons made a conquest of Ireland. Origi- nally the name was O'Nuallain, later O'Nowlan, and finally found in its present form, Nolan. It is derived from the Irish word meaning famous or noble.
Both the father and grandfather of Dr. Nolan were school teachers; the latter, Jacob Nolan, was a teacher in his native land.
Matthew F. Nolan, father of Dr. Nolan, was born in the North of Ireland. When he was young he came to America and finished his education here, following the same profession as his father. He taught first in Shamokin, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and subsequently was superintendent of schools in Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained ten or twelve years. Returning to Shamokin, Mr. Nolan entered a mercan- tile business on his own account, which he continued until about ten years before his death, retiring at that time from active business. He married Mary McAnnery, a native of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Jacob Matthew Nolan was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1871. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. After his graduation from the high school in 1892, he attended the College of Physicians and
Surgeons, of Baltimore, Maryland, gradu- ating in 1894 with the degree of M. D. After his return to his native place, Dr. Nolan served as interne in the Miners' Hospital of Shamokin for six months, and then engaged in practice in Mount Top, Pennsylvania. After a few months he removed to Westport, Connecticut, where he has since resided and engaged in a general practice. He has been successful in his profession and is held in high es- teem by his contemporaries and fellow- citizens. Dr. Nolan is on the staff of St. Vincent's Hospital, Bridgeport, and is a member of the Fairfield County Medi- cal Association, the Connecticut Medical Society, and the American Medical Asso- ciation. Other fraternal connections include membership in Norwalk Lodge, No. 709, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Dr. Nolan's clubs include the Westport Club and Westport Country Club. Dr. Nolan married Catherine A. Burns, daughter of Patrick Burns, of Sha- mokin, Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of four children, three of whom are now living. They are: Joseph, of New Haven, married Helen Fike, and has a son, Joseph, Jr .; Harold, of Detroit ; and Ralph, of Westport.
SWARTZ, Christian,
Manufacturer.
Christian Swartz, treasurer and general manager of the Old Well Cigar Company, of South Norwalk, former mayor of South Norwalk, sheriff of Fairfield county, and one of the leading "men-of-affairs" in his community, is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was born June 15, 1846. His father's family were owners and editors of a newspaper in Germany, and his father did newspaper work there, and, later on, in this country, as he was a skillful translator.
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As he was brought to the United States at the very early age of three years, Christian Swartz grew up an American, on American soil, and was educated in American schools. His school education consisted of attendance at the grammar schools, in Newark, New Jersey, until the age of fourteen, and several winter terms at the district schools in Ohio and Minne- sota, a course at the high school in Hast- ings, Minnesota, and at Eastman's Busi- ness College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he graduated in 1866. In the sum- mer of 1867, he removed to Danbury, Connecticut, to accept a responsible posi- tion with Jeremiah Bernd, a prominent cigar manufacturer, and the following spring opened a small cigar store in South Norwalk, Connecticut, in company with his former employer. Mr. Bernd after- wards sold his interest to Reed Haviland, a cigar jobber, and the business was con- tinued under the firm name of C. Swartz & Company, until 1880, at which time it was incorporated under the name of The Old Well Cigar Company. The growth of the business was continuous, and the United States Revenue Department, in renumbering the factories in the district, recognized it by awarding to the factory the honor of being Factory No. I.
In 1882 the business of South Norwalk had grown to such large proportions that another bank was deemed a necessity. In company with Hon. R. H. Rowan, Hon. John J. Ferris, Hon. Talmadge Baker, and other prominent men, he was one of the organizers of the City National Bank, and has continued as a director of said bank since that time. In the reorganiza- tion of the Norwalk Lock Company, he became one of the directors and has con- tinued as such. Christian Swartz's public services began before he entered business life. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the Union cause in the Civil
War and served until peace was estab- lished, a period of ten months. Since that time his public services have been po- litical rather than military, and to him politics has always meant service to his fellows of the best and highest kind. He has followed the tenets of the Democratic political body and became a Gold Demo- crat. He was city councilman in 1878, mayor of South Norwalk in 1880, and again in 1882, sheriff of Fairfield county from 1884 to 1887, and a member of the State Shell-fish Commission for twelve years. He served as chairman of the city water commission, president of the board of estimates and taxation of the town of Norwalk, and president of the Norwalk Hospital. He has been in many other ways a strong factor in local politics and civic growth and prosperity. A man of deep religious convictions and training, Mr. Swartz is a devoted and regular mem- ber of the South Norwalk Congregational Church. He is a member of the business committee of that church, and a member of the Christian Inquiry Club connected with that body. He has many fraternal and social ties, and is a Mason and a Knight Templar. He was elected grand commander of the Knights Templar of Connecticut, in 1892. He is a member of the South Norwalk Club and the Norwalk Country Club.
On February 4, 1875, Mr. Swartz mar- ried Adora M. Flynn. Two children, Charles C. and Helen M., were born of this union. The family home is at No. 68 West avenue, South Norwalk, Fairfield county, Connecticut.
MCLELLAN, William Lincoln, Manufacturer, Merchant.
The McLellan family of which William L. Mclellan is a worthy scion was founded in America by the paternal
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grandfather of the latter, William Mc- Lellan. He was born in Newton-Stewart, Scotland, and as a young man came to New York City, where he engaged in business for himself as a carpenter and builder. He was one of the many unfor- tunates who died at the time of the great cholera epidemic. Mr. McLellan married a Miss Williams, in New Hampshire, and they were the parents of John Edgerly McLellan, of whom further.
John Edgerly Mclellan was born in New York City, where he grew to man- hood, and there learned the trade of car- penter, which he followed as a journey- man for many years. In later life, he re- moved to Stamford, Connecticut, and there lived retired until his death. Mr. McLellan married Priscilla Rebecca Ful- ton, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Wilbur) Fulton. Robert Fulton was a drummer boy in the War of 1812, and later served on a revenue cutter. Mr. and Mrs. McLellan were the parents of the following children: Rebecca Wilbur; John Eaton, deceased; Priscilla, wife of George Williams, of New York; Theo- dore, deceased; William Lincoln, of fur- ther mention ; and Washington Lafayette, a resident of Jersey City. The family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal church.
William Lincoln McLellan was born in New York City, April 3, 1867. He at- tended the public schools there, and then entered the employ of S. P. Avery, a dealer in fine arts, of New York City. From there he went to work for the Gar- lock Packing Company, where he re- mained for two years, at the end of which time he entered business on his own account. In 1890 Mr. Mclellan became a resident of Stamford, Connecticut, but removed to Norwalk, in 1904. He en- tered into business on his own account, manufacturing packings, in addition to which he manufactures boiler compounds,
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