USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 42
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said to be derived from two Welsh words, meaning great or powerful and chief or prince. Some of the families of Morris trace their descent from Welsh chieftains and some from Brut, the first king of Bri- tain. During the Colonial period of American history the Morris family was founded in the New World, branches be- ing planted, early in the seventeenth cen- tury, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, in the former province by Thomas Morris and in the latter by Edward Morris. In 1682 a branch was planted in Pennsyl- vania by Anthony Morris.
The career of William J. Moore has been eventful and varied, presenting in each of its different phases a record of success with honor.
ROMME, John Hunting, Attorney.
John Hunting Romme, a prominent at- torney and influential citizen of Stamford, Connecticut, with which city he has been closely identified in several departments of activity for many years, is a member of a family that had its origin in Alsace- Lorraine, his ancestors coming to this country several generations ago and set- tling in New York State. Cornelius Romme, his paternal grandfather, was a resident of the town of Roundout, in the valley of the Hudson, where he followed hotel keeping as an occupation, being pro- prietor of the Schryver House. He mar- ried Deborah Swartz, born November 28, 1800, and died October 6, 1875. Cornelius and Deborah (Swartz) Romme were the parents of John Middagh Romme, of whom further.
John Middagh Romme was born at Kingston, New York, February 6, 1834. He spent his childhood and early youth in his native town and later went to New
York City. In that place he resided dur- ing the early fifties, and was employed in a clerical capacity in the cloth house of R. T. Woodward & Company. Later, he engaged in the wholesale hat business on his own account, and also dealt in woolen goods, with offices at Nos. 370 Broadway and 39 White street. About the same time he was a member of the firm of Romme, Dunkle, Johnson & Company, dealers in straw goods, this establishment being also in the same building. This was in 1867, and the following year we find him doing business under the firm name of J. M. Romme & Company, at No. 400 Broadway, while in 1869 he had removed to 408 on the same street. He was a mem- ber of the Seventh Regiment of New York in 1861, and started with his regiment for the seat of war, only to be recalled when the troops were needed to quell the famous draft riots which threatened the safety of the home city. His death oc- curred in New York City, July 20, 1870. John Middagh Romme married Mary Adeline Whaites, a daughter of Edward Percy and Elenora (Hedges) Whaites, and a descendant of an old Yorkshire fam- ily which came from England in the per- son of Archibald Whaites, her paternal grandfather. Archibald Whaites was the son of Edward Percy Whaites, an Episco- pal clergyman of Yorkshire, whose chil- dren were as follows: William, Edward Percy, John Livingston, Archibald, Jr., Maria Hedges, Eliza Gilchrist, and Jane Buchan. John Middagh Romme and his wife were the parents of seven children, three of whom died in infancy, those sur- viving being as follows: Edward P., de- ceased; John Hunting, of whom further ; Mary Addie, who became the wife of George J. Wright; and William Swartz. Mr. and Mrs. Romme and their children
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were all members of the Presbyterian church.
John Hunting Romme was born Au- gust 23, 1863, in New York City, and as a lad attended the public schools of his native place. Upon completing his studies at those institutions, he secured a clerical position in a New York store and was employed there for a few years. During this time he was also engaged in the study of elec- trical engineering, and upon completing this preparation, engaged in the elec- trical business on his own account in both New York City and Stamford, Connec- ticut. In 1883 he finally removed to the latter place. He and his brother, Wil- liam S. Romme, were occupied for a time in perfecting an electrical process for bleaching and disinfecting in collabora- tion with Professor Albert E. Woolf. Mr. Romme remained in association with that scientist for some years, and during this time they installed the disinfecting plants in New York City used for combating the cholera epidemic there, a similar plant at Swinburne Island, New York harbor, and the first disinfecting plant at Brewster, New York, used for purifying the Croton water supply of New York City. They were also engaged in the manufacture of dynamos and other electric machinery, and did a large and paying business.
The keen analytical mind of Mr. Romme had found much interest in the legal aspects of business, which was rapidly extended to the general problems of the law, and he determined to take up the study of the subject with the intention of making it his profession. Accordingly, he entered Stetson University at DeLand, Florida, where he was graduated, taking the degree of LL. B., the institution con- ferring it upon him in 1908. He was ad- mitted to the Florida bar in 1908, then,
coming North, he entered Yale University and received a law degree there also, in 1900, and was successively admitted to the New York and Connecticut bars in 1910. Since that time he has been located at Stamford, Connecticut, and has there engaged in the general practice of his pro- fession, being now one of the acknow- ledged leaders of the local bar. Mr. Romme has taken an active interest in public affairs for a number of years and has always been a staunch Republican in politics, having been the candidate of that party in 1912 for the Legislature of the State. In the election of that year he was defeated for the office, as were practically all of the Republican candidates, owing to the defection from its ranks of the newly- formed Progressive party. Mr. Romme is a member of the Puritan Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Stam- ford, and is a prominent figure in social and fraternal circles there. In his reli- gious belief he is a Baptist, attending the church of that denomination at Stamford, and has taken an active part in church work, holding many offices in connection with the congregation, including that of superintendent of the Sunday school, and has also been a trustee and chairman of the Board of the Ecclesiastical Society.
John Hunting Romme married, April 17, 1900, Clara L. Smith, a daughter of Charles W. and Lucinda (Webb) Smith, old and highly respected residents of Stamford. Mr. and Mrs. Romme are the parents of two children, as follows : Helen, now the wife of Delos Palmer, Jr., an artist of New York City ; Mildred Louise, now the wife of Lieutenant Claude M. De- Vitalis, an aviator, formerly of the Royal Flying Corps, of Great Britain, now avia- tor for Huff, DeLand Company, of Og- densburg, New York.
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Pierre a Montey Mã. 1
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RONTEY, Pierre A.,
Physician, Surgeon.
The younger generation of the medical fraternity of Greenwich is ably repre- sented by Dr. Rontey, who has in the course of a few years built up a satisfac- tory practice and an assured reputation. For many years before coming to Green- wich, Connecticut, he was prominent in musical as well as professional circles, and he is now active in the Masonic affairs and social life of his home city.
(I) Pierre Rontey, grandfather of Pierre A. Rontey, of Greenwich, was born in Tours, France, a city which had been for generations the home of the Rontey family. The name was originally spelled Rondtete, meaning round head, and in the latter part of the fifteenth century was abbreviated to Rontet. In 1821, when Pierre Rontet (as he then spelled the name) was about to marry Adelaide Chevalier, he took out his marriage li- cense, and the clerk, by mistake, spelled the name Rontey and this form has been retained to the present time. Pierre Ron- tey had a brother who settled in Califor- nia and his descendants still spell the name Rontet. The Ronteys were Hugue- nots, and were numbered among those who suffered martyrdom for their belief, the entire family, with the exception of one member, having been killed at the massacre of St. Bartholomew.
(II) Marcelin Rontey, son of Pierre and Adelaide (Chevalier) Rontey, was born September 9, 1848, in Tours, France, and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to the United States. The family settled in Tremont, which is now a part of New York City, and there the boy attended school and grew to man- hood. His father was engaged in the merchant tailoring business, and the lad grew up in the store, succeeding to the
business which he carried on as long as he lived. Mr. Rontey married Emma Frances Smith, born in 1841, daughter of Edmund L. Smith, of Port Chester, New York. The death of Mr. Rontey occurred June 26, 1913, and his widow passed away in December, 1915.
(III) Dr. Pierre A. Rontey, only child of Marcelin and Emma Frances (Smith) Rontey, was born June 27, 1883, in Tre- mont, New York, and received his early education in New York public schools, passing thence to the Morris High School, and then entering the Medical College of the University of Bellevue Hospital, from which he graduated in 1909 with the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. The five years following were spent by Dr. Rontey in Fordham Hospital, New York City, at first as interne and later as a member of the medical clinic, out-patient department. During that time he was an instructor in clinical medicine at Fordham Medical College. He was for a time connected with the Bronx Eye and Ear Infirmary. After practicing in New York City until 1915 he removed to Greenwich, Connecti- cut, where he has successfully established himself mainly as a specialist in the treat- ment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat.
The study of music, combined with an enthusiastic love for the art, has played an important part in the life of Dr. Ron- tey. He early evinced a talent for it, and at nine years old began to study under the guidance of Felix La Mond, of Trinity Chapel, New York. At fourteen he re- ceived his first appointment as church organist. This was followed by others, and for thirteen years he played in churches, being forced, at the end of that time, to retire in consequence of an in- jury to the end of a finger which he received during a surgical operation about five years ago. Among the churches he
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has served as organist may be mentioned the following: St. Edward the Martyr; Grace Church, of West Farms; Mount Morris Baptist Church; Church of the Epiphany, Brooklyn; St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove; and Christ Church, Yonkers. He has always kept up his interest in music, and to a certain extent his work, and it is easy to imagine the pleasure this has afforded him as a relaxation from the incessant strain and the strenuous de- mands of his professional labors. He affiliates with Acacia Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Greenwich, and is a member of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and the Medical Veterans of the World War.
Dr. Rontey married (first) Emeline Boes, daughter of Joseph Boes, and they became the parents of a son, Pierre An- selme, born July 12, 1914. He married (second), in 1916, Harriet Adeline Dein- ton, daughter of George Deinton, and they have one child, Robert Pierre.
If the early years of a physician's ca- reer may be taken as an augury of the future, the time to come holds for Dr. Rontey much professional effort crowned with the distinction which is the result of honorable service.
WATERBURY, Charles Russell, Business Man.
One of the leading residents of Stam- ford, Connecticut, certainly requires no introduction to his fellow-citizens. This is particularly true when, as in the case with Mr. Waterbury, he is a representa- tive of one of the oldest Colonial families of Connecticut.
John Waterbury, the first to settle in Stamford, Connecticut, of this family, was among those who came from Wethers- field, Connecticut. He received a grant of land in 1650, and died eight years later.
His children remained there and founded the numerous families of that name which are still prominent in this section of the country. In an old history of Stamford, by Rev. Mr. Huntington, the author speaks of this family in the most glowing terms, as follows: "There were the Wa- terburys, then known as Senior and Junior, the former being a colonel in the Continental service, who had earned some reputation for good judgment and mili- tary ability in the field, and the latter, soon to earn, by his personal fitness for it, the rank of General of brigade."
Charles Henry Waterbury, a scion of this early family, and grandfather of Charles Russell Waterbury, was a native of Stamford. He learned the trade of cooper and followed this occupation for several years, being in business on his own account. He later gave this work up to engage in farming on the homestead. Mr. Waterbury was a quiet, unassuming man, domestic in his tastes. He married Emily Susan Scofield, who was also a descendant of an old family in Fairfield county.
William Fillmore Scofield Waterbury, only child of Charles H. and Emily S. (Scofield) Waterbury, was born April 9, 1857, and died December 31, 1907. He attended the public schools and taught school for two or three years, then went to New York City, where he entered the employ of Arthur & Dimon, wholesale and retail leather merchants. There Mr. Wa- terbury remained five years, until the death of his father, which necessitated his return to the homestead. He then en- gaged in general farming and market gar- dening and about 1902 started in dairying in a commercial way, establishing a milk route in Stamford, Connecticut, and later took up his residence in the city. He was a member of the New Canaan Grange and served as its secretary for several years.
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Mr. Waterbury married, July 29, 1878, Jennie E. White, daughter of Russell G. and Mary Elizabeth (Ryder) White (see White line). Mr. and Mrs. William F. S. Waterbury were the parents of four chil- dren : 1. Anna Cornelia, married Stanley Potter, and is the mother of Hazel, Marian, Dorothy, George, Stanley, Rus- sell, and Lawrence Potter. 2. Charles Russell, of further mention. 3. Evelyn W. 4. Harry Clinton. The family attend the Congregational church of New Ca- naan, Connecticut, and Mrs. Waterbury is a member of the Stamford Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution ; the Stamford Women's Club; the New Canaan Grange; Order of the Eastern Star; and Daughters of Rebekah.
Charles Russell Waterbury was born July 25, 1883, on the Waterbury home- stead, where he lived until he was three years old. His parents then removed to Stamford, and there he attended the pub- lic schools and the high school, graduating in 1901. After a year he matriculated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Con- necticut, where he remained two years. He then went to work with his father in the dairy business as a producer and re- tail dealer. About 1905 he gave up the producing end of the business and devoted his entire energies to developing the retail milk business. He succeeded his father in this business, which has grown con- stantly under his progressive and aggres- sive management. His routes now cover Stamford, Sound Beach and Shippen Point. Six wagons and three automobiles are necessary to carry the output of about five thousand quarts a day.
About three years ago, Mr. Waterbury started to manufacture ice cream in order to utilize his surplus milk and cream and now manufactures one hundred and fifty gallons of ice cream per day, which is all sold locally, the produce being of such
excellence that demand exceeds the sup- ply. On an average, about fifteen people are employed, and the dairy is equipped with every modern facility for handling milk and cream in the most expeditious and saintary manner. In March, 1919, the business was incorporated under the name of the Maplehurst Dairy Company, and of this firm Mr. Waterbury is president.
Mr. Waterbury is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons ; Rittenhouse Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; Clinton Commandery, Knights Tem- lar, of Norwalk; Pyramid Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Bridgeport; Rippowan Lodge, No. 24. Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is also a member of the follow- ing fraternities: Beta Theta Pi, Chi Kappa Gamma, and the Wesleyan Club of New York.
Mr. Waterbury married (first) Edith Georgia Provost, daughter of George and Mary E. Provost. He married (second) Jean Parker, daughter of Robert and Emma Whittaker, and they were the par- ents of a daughter, Jean, born March 25, 1915. Mr. Waterbury married (third) Emma W. Williamson, daughter of James Williamson, of Carlton Place, Ontario, Canada, and they have a daughter, Ruth, born April 5, 1919, and a son, Russell F. Waterbury. Mr. and Mrs. Waterbury attend St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford and aid in the support of its good works.
(The White Line).
Elder John White, born in 1576, in County Essex, England, came to New England in 1632, and settled at Cam- bridge, Massachusetts. His descendants are to be found in every part of the Amer- ican Union, and have always been useful and respected citizens, many of them, in different generations, achieving distinction in various walks of life. Following is the
Conn-9-20
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escutcheon which they are entitled to display :
Arms-Argent, a chevron, between three popin- jays, vert, beaked, legged and collared of the sec- ond, within a bordure azure charged with eight bezants.
Crest-Between two wings argent, a popinjay's head vert, collared gules, holding in the beak a rose gules, slipped and leaved of the second.
Russell White, of Danbury, Connecti- cut, married Mary Ann Wood. The Whites of Danbury from an early period played an important part in the history of the town.
Russell Gideon White, son of Russell and Mary Ann (Wood) White, was a farmer and contractor, and was born in Danbury, where he grew to manhood. He later established himself in business and built many bridges, roads, etc. He mar- ried Mary Elizabeth Ryder, whose ances- try is given below.
Jennie Estelle White, daughter of Rus- sell Gideon and Mary Elizabeth (Ryder) White, was born October 12, 1861, and became the wife of William F. S. Water- bury, as stated above.
(The Ryder Line).
The original home of this ancient race was in Normandy, France, where lived the baronial family of Foliot, several members of which accompanied William the Con- queror to England. Of these, William Foliot, in 1086, held lands in the See of Canterbury which descended to his son, Henry, who married Lucia, daughter of Jordan Bieset, a Great Baron and founder of St. John's Priory. Clerkenwell. The second son of Henry was Jordan Foliot. who prior to 1165 obtained estates in Yorkshire, from the Barony of Pontefract, and was the first to bear the name of de Rythere (now Ryder) which may have been derived from the local name of the parish or castle of Tythere, or from the
office of King's Rider, a mounted forester. Branches of the family settled very early in Lincolnshire, Devonshire, and else- where, and from them have descended many English families of the present time.
Thomas Ryder, founder of the Ameri- can branch of the family, came from Eng- land in 1634, in the ship "Hercules," and in 1644 settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Lane, daughter of William Lane, of Dorchester.
Samuel Ryder, born December 16, 1791, on reaching manhood, remained with his father on the homestead, and married Roxana Field, daughter of Stephen and Betsey (Brown) Field, of Southeast, New York. Samuel Ryder died November 20, 1820, and his wife passed away in 1881, after a widowhood of sixty-one years.
Cyrus Ryder, son of Samuel and Rox- ana (Field) Ryder, was born March 13, 1817, and owned a number of farms in Eastern Putnam county, New York, which he successfully managed, improved and sold. He married Mary Jane Field, daughter of Nathan and Susan (Knox) Field, of Southeast, New York, and spent his latter years in Danbury, Connecticut, where he died, March 27, 1903.
Mary Elizabeth Ryder, daughter of Cyrus and Mary Jane (Field) Ryder, was born September 7, 1840, and married (first) Russell Gideon White (see White line). The Ryders are numbered among the American families entitled to bear coats-of-arms.
AUSTIN, Arthur Delmont,
Attorney-at-Law.
Beyond and above the ordinary inter- ests of daily life, stand the men whose minds shape and govern the trend of pub- lic thought. This privilege is one not to be held lightly, and fortunate indeed is
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the community in which the leaders are men of sound judgment and dynamic force of character. The legal profession is proud to count among its numbers Arthur Delmont Austin, of Stamford, Connecticut.
Mr. Austin's paternal grandfather was Professor Austin, at one time a member of the faculty of Edinburgh University, Scotland. Professor Austin was a man who thought ahead of his time. Gifted with unusual ability as an instructor, and at the same time endowed to a remark- able degree with the capacity for under- standing and drawing out the higher side of youth, of character in the making, he left a lasting impetus in the right direc- tion in the minds of the young men as they passed out from under his influence. Subsequent to his resignation from the University, Professor Austin came to America.
Alonzo A. Austin, son of Professor Aus- tin, was born in New York City, and grew to manhood there, receiving his education in the schools of that city. The practical side of life appealed to him strongly, and when he came to an age where he looked about for some line of effort to which to devote his future, he became interested in the manufacture of textiles. After con- siderable study along this line, he became associated with a group of manufacturers who were interested in the production of a lustrous fabric less expensive than the silks and satins of the day. The result of their united experiments was satinette, and Mr. Austin went to Sohoe, New Jer- sey, where he manufactured this fabric. The business was carried on under the name of Hartman & Company, the young man holding an active position in the business. He remained in that connec- tion for about twenty years, after which he retired, and established himself and his family on a fine farm in Caldwell,
New Jersey. He still resides there, is a successful farmer, and a prominent man in the community. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge in Passaic, New Jer- sey. He married Mary Elizabeth Riker, daughter of Henry V. Riker, of Green- point, Brooklyn, New York. They were the parents of ten children.
Arthur Delmont Austin, son of Alonzo A. and Mary Elizabeth (Riker) Austin, was born in Passaic, New Jersey, June 18, 1885. When he was four years old his parents removed to Rowayton, Con- necticut, and there he received his early education, including the grammar school course. As a boy he was fond of study, although keenly interested in the athletic and social activities of his class. He was graduated from the Boys' High School in Brooklyn, New York, then entered the Brooklyn Law School. He did not finish his professional course there, however, but completed his law studies by means of the extension course of the La Salle University. Having pursued his studies with characteristic thoroughness and un- remitting attention, the young man now found himself seriously broken in health. To recuperate, he went to Texas, but the restless energy of his nature would not permit him to be idle. He bought a ranch in Galveston county, Texas, and plunged whole-heartedly into an entirely different line of work. He considered the possi- bilities of the location and the climate, and decided on orange trees, putting out a considerable acreage. His restoration to normal health was more rapid than even his friends expected, and he re- mained on the ranch less than a year, returning to his chosen work as soon as he felt warranted in doing so. He went to Houston, Texas, and took a special course on Texas statutes. He was ad- mitted to the bar of that State in May, 1909, and practiced there until April, 1916.
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His partner was the eminent Judge E. H. Vasmar, and the partnership was known under the firm name of Vasmar & Austin. Since his return to Connecticut, Mr. Aus- tin has been engaged in the general prac- tice of law in Stamford. He has won the highest esteem of his colleagues in the profession, and his friends anticipate for him a brilliant future.
In Texas, and more recently in this State, Mr. Austin has been active in the political world. By choice a Republican, he found the great majority of the intel- ligent people of the South arrayed on the Democratic side, so during his stay in that part of the country, he was identified with the Democratic party. He served as criminal district attorney of Houston. Socially Mr. Austin is always eagerly sought. He was president of the Houston Athletic Association ; was president of the Young Men's Democratic Club; and was vice-president of the Beavers Association. In Stamford he takes a leading part in all social activities, and organized the Waterside Social Club. He came to Stamford not long before the last presi- dential campaign and was given charge of the Republican headquarters, which responsibility he held for two years.
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