USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 26
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He was a farmer, and an adherent of the Democratic party, serving as alderman of Camden. He married Melinda Wood, daughter of Sarah and Richard Wood, and of the children born to them the follow- ing reached maturity: Ellen, married Samuel Surrat, of Gainesville, Texas, and is now deceased; Queenie, became the wife of Hart Hawley, of Camden ; Velia, married Mack Hollingsworth, also of Camden ; Martin Lindsey, mentioned be- low ; Della, married James Davis, of Darl- ing, Mississippi; Effie, became the wife of Shirley Cuff, of Camden; Thurman, of Camden; Thomas McClellan, also of Camden; and Lydia. Mr. Vick died De- cember 15, 1916, his wife having passed away about a year before. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
Martin Lindsey Vick, son of Edward Crayton and Melinda (Wood) Vick, was born November 12, 1880, in Camden, Ben- tor. county, Tennessee, and educated in local public schools. When his school days were over he went to Nashville, where he became clerk in a dry goods store, retaining the position about three years. At the end of that time he went to New York City, and for about two years served as clerk in a wholesale dry goods establishment.
In 1904 Mr. Vick came to Stamford, and for about two years engaged in the same line of business. He then estab- lished himself in a grocery business, which he carried on successfully for five years. Having become interested in real estate and insurance, he organized, in 1910, the Vick Realty Company, which is now con- ducting a flourishing business. They have successfully developed a small tract on Shippen avenue, known as the Webb- Vick development, and they are now en- gaged in developing a track at Belltown,
known as Belltown Half-Acre Farms. Mr. Vick's judgment and foresight in matters relating to property values have never been better illustrated than during the recent period. Before the close of the World War he urged upon prospec- tive purchasers of land and homes the ad- visability of doing so at once, and in an article published August 29, 1918, pre- dicted exactly the conditions that have since existed, with demand so far in ex- cess of supply that an era of soaring prices would inevitably follow. Many of his clientele and others acted upon his ad- vice and profited by its wise accuracy. To a close study of values, and all influ- ences affecting them, the success of his company may be rightly attributed.
Mr. Vick married Bessie Irving Copi- nus, daughter of George H. and Minnie (Graye) Copinus, of Stamford, Connec- ticut, and they are the parents of two children: Graye, and Ralph. Mr. and Mrs. Vick are members of the Presby- terian church.
Entirely by his own unaided efforts, Martin Lindsey Vick has built up a busi- ness and a reputation which prove him to be a man of great energy, well-directed aggressiveness, and unblemished integ- rity, and thus a worthy representative of an old and honored family.
BISHOP, Romer J. and Lester C., Real Estate, Insurance Agents.
Among the best known representatives of Stamford, the two men whose names appear at the head of this sketch require no introduction to their fellow-citizens. Various theories have been advanced in explanation of the old name of Bishop, one of them being that it came to be ap- plied to those holding lands belonging to diocesan rulers.
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(I) Seth Bishop, the first of the line herein followed of whom we have definite information, was one of a large family, and lived most of his life in Poundridge, New York, where he engaged in farming. He married Betsey Delavan, daughter of Abram Delavan. The Bishop family has been resident in New England since the early part of the seventeenth century, the different branches having been planted there by several brothers.
(II) John Delavan Bishop, son of Seth and Betsey (Delavan) Bishop, was born in Poundridge, New York, and reared on the home farm. While yet a young man he opened a general store in his native town. This was in 1859, and from that time forth he was successful, as he was almost certain to be in consequence of the liberality with which nature had en- dowed him with the qualities of energy, discernment and thrift. His outstanding characteristic was unblemished honesty. His spoken word was as good as his bond, and his decisions were well nigh irre- vocable. There was never any difficulty in understanding clearly where he stood. Mr. Bishop married Betsey Elizabeth Waterbury, daughter of Merlin Water- bury, of Poundridge. Mr. and Mrs. Bish- op were members of the Presbyterian church in Poundridge, in which Mr. Bishop was an elder, but on becoming residents of Stamford, Connecticut, they identified themselves with the Congrega- tional church there. The death of Mr. Bishop occurred on May 2, 1888. He was a man of warm heart and quick sym- pathies, respected and beloved by all who knew him.
(III) Romer John Bishop, only child of John Delavan and Betsey Elizabeth (Waterbury) Bishop, was born Decem- ber 3, 1853, in Poundridge, Westchester county, New York, and received his edu- cation in local public schools. From boy-
hood he was employed in his father's store, where he remained until 1877, when he formed a partnership with his uncle, Cyrus Waterbury, under the firm name of Waterbury & Bishop. They purchased the bankrupt hardware business of A. J. and G. T. Holly, which was situated in Stamford, and conducted it about a year. Mr. Bishop's father then discontinued his business in Poundridge, purchased Mr. Waterbury's interest in the hardware bus- iness, and formed a partnership with his son, Romer John, under the firm name of J. D. Bishop & Son. The business was carried on until the firm was dissolved by the death of the senior partner. Mean- while Mr. Bishop had associated himself with Frederick C. Taylor in the real es- tate and insurance business, opening an office which was in charge of Mr. Taylor, who in 1890 was elected judge of pro- bate. Thereupon Mr. Bishop sold his hardware business in order that he might be free to give his entire attention to the real estate and insurance business which had already developed into a substantial enterprise. Mr. Bishop has ever since been engaged in that line of endeavor and has built and sold a large number of resi- dences in Stamford. He has rendered valuable public service by opening and developing two subdivisions, Hill street and Clark's Hill avenue.
Mr. Bishop married, September 22, 1875, Ella Frances Clark, daughter of David H. and Frances H. (Holly) Clark, and their only child, Lester Clark, is men- tioned below.
(IV) Lester Clark Bishop, son of Romer John and Ella Frances (Clark) Bishop, was born July 9, 1876, in Pound- ridge, New York. He received his edu- cation in public schools and at King's private school, Stamford. On leaving school he became a clerk in the Stamford Trust Company, remaining there about
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seven years. The next position accepted by Mr. Bishop was that of teller in the Stamford National Bank, and this he re- tained nine years, resigning in 1907. Im- mediately thereafter he associated him- self with G. E. F. Rockwell, under the firm name of Bishop & Rockwell, and en- tered the real estate and insurance field. Success attended them from the outset and the connection was maintained until April 1, 1918, since which time Mr. Bish- op has continued the business alone. He is a director of the Stamford Theatre Company. In the sphere of politics, Mr. Bishop now upholds the principles of the Republican party ; he was formerly a Democrat and was elected on that ticket to the office of city treasurer, which he filled in a manner highly satisfactory to all good citizens. He belongs to the Sub- urban Club, and he and his wife are mem- bers of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church.
Mr. Bishop married, October 18, 1898, Eunice Quimby, daughter of Algernon S. and Cecelia E. (McGregor) Quimby, of Stamford, and they are the parents of one daughter, Eunice N. Bishop.
Lester Clark Bishop has always been a successful business man and an active citizen, thus rendering himself valuable to his community and maintaining the fam- ily tradition of public service.
GRAY, Charles E., Manufacturer.
For many years the name of Gray has been identified with the business inter- ests of New Canaan, Connecticut. Two brothers of this name were the first to en- gage in the bottling business in their sec- tion. From their modest start the busi- ness has grown to large proportions, and is now under the management of the son
of one of the founders, and who receives extended mention below.
Arthur J. Gray, father of Charles E. Gray, and the founder in part of the busi- ness, was born in New Canaan, on the very place where his son now resides. Arthur J. Gray died there August 14, 1915. He attended the public schools as a boy and supplemented these courses with night study. As a young man he learned the nursery business with Cap- tain Stephen Hoyt, and later went to New Jersey, where he was foreman in a nur- sery for several years. From there he went to Los Angeles, California, where he went into the nursery business on his own account. That was about 1880, and two years later he returned East and in company with his brother, Marshall E. Gray, engaged in the bottling business under the firm name of Gray Brothers. As previously stated they were pioneers in the manufacture of carbonated bever- ages in their section. Their start was a modest one and has rapidly developed until their products are sold in all the sur- rounding towns. About 1885 Arthur J. Gray bought his partner's interest and, retaining the same firm name, con- tinued in the business alone until his death. He was a trustee of St. Aloysius Church of New Canaan.
Mr. Gray married Catherine Cecelia Kerland, daughter of Thomas Kerland, of Brooklyn, New York, and granddaughter of Thomas Kerland, a native of Ireland. The latter was a well known landscape gardener and planted the trees that now border Central Park on the Fifth avenue side. His son, Thomas Kerland, was the oldest ferry boat captain in New York City at the time of his death. He was the first to pilot a ferry boat across New- town Creek, New York, and at the time of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge,
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President Grant was his guest in the pilot house. He was very prominent in connection with the ferry boat and fer- ries in his day. Mr. and Mrs. Gray were the parents of three children. One of these, Alice, died at the age of four years ; another, William, died unmarried, aged twenty-four years; and Charles E., of further mention, was the youngest child and the only surviving one.
Charles E. Gray was born in New Can- aan, Connecticut, September 11, 1897. He attended the schools there and the Stam- ford High School. His formal education was completed by a course at the Merrill Business College, and immediately after- ward he became associated with his father in the bottling business. After the death of the latter he assumed control and is now actively engaged in its management. Mr. Gray is among the leading citizens of New Canaan and interested in all public affairs. He is a member of St. Augustine Council, Knights of Columbus. Mr. Gray married Jane Downey, daughter of John Downey, of Stamford, and they attend St. Aloysius Church, aiding in its support and in the carrying on of its good works.
ALLEN, David Knox, Merchant.
Among the leading merchants and bus- iness men of the thriving little town of Greenwich, Connecticut, there is none more worthy of mention than David Knox Allen. Mr. Allen was born there October 13, 1860, and is a scion of a fam- ily whose surname is one of the oldest in the United Kingdom.
The origin of the name of Allen dates back to early English history, be- fore the use of surnames became gen- eral. It is derived from the root word, "Al," meaning mountainous, high and
bright. It was first borne as a personal name by the "Bard of Britain," an uncle of Caractacus. He was descended from a long line of kings. The name came into prominence after the Conquest from the fact that the chief general of William's army at the battle of Hastings in 1066 was Alan, Duke of Brittany. Subsequently he made England his home and became the third richest man in the Kingdom. He acquired extensive lands and ruled over his tenantry more as a father than as a feudal lord.
William Allen, father of David Knox Allen, was born December 18, 1822, in Meenadenney, Donegal, Ireland, and died in Greenwich, Connecticut, December 30, 1899. He was educated in the public schools of his native land, and grew to manhood there. Upon coming to Amer- ica he located in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he became interested in gardening and farming. He went to work for Oliver Mead, and subsequently became manager of the large farm owned by the latter, which comprised what is now known as Field Point and Belle Haven. Mr. Allen was in Mr. Mead's employ for forty years, a truly remarkable record. He was wide- ly known and held the respect of all who knew him. In politics Mr. Allen was a Republican, and he was a consistent mem- ber of the Congregational church. On September 17, 1846, he married in Green- wich, Connecticut, Catherine Funston, born in July, 1827, in Ireland, and died November 28, 1895, in Greenwich. Their children were: I. Jane, born February 14, 1849, died October 20, 1873; wife of Ly- sander E. Watson. 2. Isabella, born De- cember 18, 1850, died May 17, 1907 ; wife of Henry Purcell, and mother of Clarence, Fannie and William Purcell. 3. William Alexander, born November 25, 1852; now engaged in the building trade; married
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Alice Wallace. 4. Margaret Montgom- ery, born November 25, 1854 ; wife of Ly- sander E. Watson. 5. Samuel, born Oc- tober 29, 1856; a blacksmith; married Hattie Hamilton. 6. Martha Armstrong, born September 13. 1858, died in Novem- ber, 1888; wife of William J. Johnston. 7. David Knox, of whom further. 8. Ed- gar Henry, born March 15, 1866; is now engaged in the automobile business ; mar- ried Lillian Scofield. 9. Fannie Louise, born February 26, 1868; married Horace Barton. 10. Kittie, born January 30, 1872 ; married Daniel Anthony.
David Knox Allen was educated in the public schools of Greenwich, and early learned the trade of plumber with Elias S. Peck. For a time he followed this occupation as journeyman, and was sub- sequently in partnership with Washing- ton Marshall, under the firm name of Allen & Marshall. They opened a store and in addition to their plumbing busi- ness carried a line of house furnishing goods. This business was successfully continued for about ten years, at the end of which time Mr. Allen purchased the interests of his partner, Mr. Marshall, and has since continued alone. He is a very enterprising business man, and has added to his already large stock a fine line of paints and hardware. He has met with well deserved success in his business life, and is well and favorably known among his fellow-citizens. He is a director of the Greenwich National Bank, and his fraternal connections are with the Ma- sonic order as a member of Acacia Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Greenwich.
Mr. Allen married Elizabeth Johnston, daughter of Joseph Johnston, of North Greenwich. Mr. and Mrs. Allen attend the Greenwich Congregational Church, and they are active in all its good works.
POLLARD, Herbert O.,
Successful Real Estate Dealer.
The surname of Pollard belongs to the class of names derived from location. It is found at a very early date in England, particularly in Yorkshire. It was an an- cient custom in that country, previous to the time of the general adoption of sur- names, to assume a name either from an occupation, a personal characteristic or the location of the ancestral home. After the thirteenth century, when surnames came into universal use, these names were retained. Many trees in England, bord- ering lands, were "polled;" that is, the top cut off, and they were called "pol- lards." A dweller near such trees would be known as John of the Pollard, which gradually became John Pollard, and it was in this manner that the surname of Pollard originated.
In the annals of Connecticut there have been several representatives of this name, and they are found among the foremost citizens.
The grandfather of Herbert O. Pollard was John Pollard, and he was born in 1818, and died in 1887. He learned the trade of finisher in the textile mills in England, and after locating in Norwalk, Connecticut, followed his trade there for a time in the plant of The Norwalk Mills Company. Mr. Pollard in later years went to Iowa and there purchased a farm at French Creek. He married Sarah Buckley, who was born in 1816, and died in 1903.
David Pollard, son of John and Sarah (Buckley) Pollard, was born in York- shire, England, January 20, 1841, and died November 7, 1917. He was only two years of age when his parents brought him to America. For many years he was employed by The Norwalk Mills Com-
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Herbert Q. Pollard
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
pany, of Norwalk, in whose plant he rose several fraternal organizations and clubs. to be foreman of the finishing department, a position he held for many years, until his retirement from active business life in 1911. Mr. Pollard was a member of the Masonic fraternity : St. John's Lodge, No. 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Washington Commandery, No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; Clinton Chapter, No. 3, of Norwalk, and Pyramid Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport. Mr. Pol- lard married Agnes A. Orcutt, daughter of John D. and Terza (French) Orcutt. Mrs. Pollard was a descendant of one of the early families of Connecticut and her mother, Terza French was descended from Peregrine White, of the "May- flower."
Herbert O. Pollard, son of David and Agnes A. (Orcutt) Pollard, was born in Norwalk, July 19, 1879. He attended the grammar and high schools of that city and subsequently entered the employ of The Norwalk Mills Company to learn the business. His practical experience there was followed by a course at the Philadel- phia Textile School, after which time he returned to the mills with increased knowledge and ability. He rose to the position of assistant superintendent and continued with the company until about 1905. In the latter year he resigned in order to enter business on his own ac- count in the real estate business. He formed a partnership with William H. Raymond, under the firm name of Ray- mond & Pollard, and they conducted a general real estate and insurance busi- ness. This partnership continued until 1914, in which year Mr. Pollard took over the entire interest. Mr. Pollard has won success in his business and he is well known among Norwalk's leading citizens. He takes an active interest in affairs of a public nature and is also affiliated with
In politics, Mr. Pollard is a Republican, and is vice-president and a director of the Winnipauk Republican Club, and for a period of six years has served as a justice of the peace.
Mr. Pollard is a member of Cockenoe Tribe, No. 6, Improved Order of Red Men, and is president of the Red Men's Corporation ; he is a member of the Hay- makers' Club, the Norwalk Club, and the Craftsmen's Club. In Masonic circles, Mr. Pollard is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Washington Chapter, No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; was made a Knight Templar, Clinton Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar, December 31, 1920; and is a member of the Eastern Star; he is also Past Regent of the Royal Ar- canum.
Mr. Pollard married Grace, daughter of David Chittim, of Norwalk, a native of England, as was his wife. They are the parents of three children : Ernest Orcutt, born March 18, 1910; Verna Grace, born April 24, 1912; Marjorie Raymond, born December 22, 1914. With his family Mr. Pollard attends St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Norwalk, and he is an active member of the Men's Club of that church.
Mr. Pollard is naturally gifted with a very fine tenor voice and sings in the choir of Grace Episcopal Church. This talent has also been inherited by other members of his family, from his grand- mother Orcutt, no doubt; the latter was an alto singer and sang in many churches during her life time. Mr. Pollard's mother was an alto singer also, and taught piano. His brother, David Pollard is the organ- ist of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church in Norwalk, and his sister, Laura J. Pol- lard is a member of the choir in Grace Episcopal Church, singing soprano, and is also a teacher of voice.
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RICHARDS, Leonard, Jr.,
Manufacturer, Public Official.
Leonard Richards, Jr., treasurer of Richards & Company, manufacturers of artificial leathers, is among the leading business men and citizens of Stamford, Connecticut. The name of Richards has been intimately connected with the arti- ficial leather business for many years. Leonard Richards, Sr., father of our sub- ject, was the founder and pioneer.
Leonard Richards, Sr., was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was educated at the military academy at Sing Sing. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, where he remained for three or four years. Mr. Richards then entered business on his own account in Bloomfield, New Jersey, in chemical lines. He was one of the originators of the arti- ficial leather industry in this country, and the manufacture of lacquers. Later, he removed his business interests to Spring- field, New Jersey, and thence to Stamford, Connecticut, in 1904. Mr. Richards was a pioneer in this line of manufacture, and his start was a conservative one. In the Stamford plant which he built, there are now an average of six hundred employes, and a large export business is carried on as well as a domestic trade. For many years the firm name was Richards & Company, Mr. Richards acting as presi- dent. In 1917 the Atlas Powder Com- pany purchased his interests and in that year he retired, and is now (1920) a resi- dent of Havre de Grace, Maryland, where he has a fine estate named "Oakington Farm."
Mr. Richards married Caroline, daugh- ter of Amzi Dodd, of Bloomfield. New Jersey, and there were three children by this marriage. Mrs. Richards died in 1909. The children are: Helen, who is the wife of Matthew E. Hanna, of the
U. S. Diplomatic Service ; he was gradu- ated at West Point and resigned from the army with the commission of captain ; Leonard, of further mention ; Peyton, who is in the class of 1922, at Yale College.
Leonard Richards, Jr., the eldest son of Leonard and Caroline (Dodd) Richards, was born September 2, 1886, in Bloom- field. There he grew up and was edu- cated at Montclair Academy, a military school, and at St. Paul's School at Con- cord, New Hampshire. He was graduated from Yale College in 1908, and then en- tered the employ of the dry goods house of Francis Mc Masters & Company, New York, where he spent two years in their office. Thence he went to Stamford, Connecticut, and entered the factory of his father in order to thoroughly learn the practical and technical sides of the arti- ficial leather business. After two years of conscientious work, Mr. Richards re- turned to New York, and in 1909 was ap- pointed treasurer of the company, an of- fice he has held since that time. Mr. Richards is also a director of the Atlas Powder Company.
His residence is in Stamford, Connecti- cut, where he has lived since 1907, and he takes an active interest in the affairs of that city. He is a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Common Coun- cil in Stamford for two years, during which time he served on the Street Light- ing Commission, of which he was chair- man. Mr. Richards is a member of sev- eral clubs among them being: The Sub- urban, the Stamford Yacht, Woodway Country, and WeeBurn Golf, of Stam- ford; the Yale, the New York Yacht, and the Larchmont Yacht clubs, of New York City.
Mr. Richards married Anita, daughter of Herbert C. Warren, of New Haven, and they are the parents of three children : I. Leonard (3), born August 12, 1910. 2.
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Warren, born March 21, 1914. 3. Richard, born May 20, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ards attend and aid in the support of St. John's Episcopal Church of Stamford.
COOLEY, Merrick Henry, Mechanical Engineer.
The Cooley family is an old one in the annals of New England. It was founded in Massachusetts by Benjamin Cooley, who was an early settler in that part of Springfield which is now Longmeadow.
(I) Sumner Cooley, grandfather of Merrick H. Cooley, was born December 31, 1807, in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and died October 19, 1865. He attended the district schools, and was engaged in farm- ing during his active years. In politics Mr. Cooley was a Democrat, and he was a member of the State Militia. He mar- ried, May 25, 1829, Caroline Munger, born in Ludlow, Massachusetts, May 20, 18II, died in Springfield, May II, 1881, daugh- ter of Stillman and Susanna Munger.
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