USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 16
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H. Livingston Morehouse, secretary of the Bridgeport Trust Company, and has one son, Bradley Morehouse. 5. Emmy Lou Havens, educated at the Emma Wil- lard School and Vassar College.
WALDO, George Curtis, Editor.
When a half century ago, April 1, 1867, George C. Waldo came to Bridgeport as local reporter and city editor of the "Standard," he began an association with that paper and with Connecticut journal- ism which has never been broken. His previous efforts in law and business had not proved to his liking, his tastes and talents from youth having been literary and his efforts in other directions did not prove satisfactory. His mother, a writer and poetess, encouraged the literary tastes of her son and under her direction he absorbed the best in English literature, his reading of the poets being very ex- tensive. When he finally embarked upon the sea of journalism he had found his proper element, his search had terminated, and as editor-in-chief he remained an act- ive contributor to the newspaper on which he began his career. During this half cen- tury he took a part in every movement for the upbuilding of Bridgeport, either personally or with his pen, and in church, scientific society, historical society, and club he advanced the particular object for which each was organized. While he made the political fortunes of others and ardently supported the principles of the Republican Party, he asked nothing im- portant for himself and kept compara- tively free from the entanglements of po- litical office.
He traced his ancestry through seven generations to Cornelius Waldo, born about 1624, in England, it is supposed,
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died in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 3, 1700-01. Cornelius Waldo claimed descent from John, brother of Peter Wal- do, founder of the Waldenses in France, 1170. Cornelius Waldo is first of record at Salem, Massachusetts, July 6, 1647. The line of descent from Cornelius Waldo, the founder, is through his son, John Waldo, a soldier of King Philip's War, a deputy to the General Court from Dun- stable, Massachusetts, in 1689; later a settler in Windham, Connecticut. He married Rebecca Adams, daughter of Captain Samuel and Rebecca (Graves) Adams, who survived him. The line con- tinues through Edward Waldo, third son of John Waldo, a teacher, farmer, lieu- tenant of militia and Assemblyman of Windham, and his first wife, Thankful (Dimmock) Waldo; their son, Shubael Waldo, and his wife, Mary (Allen) Waldo; their son, Daniel Waldo, of Chester- field, New Hampshire, a soldier of the Revolution, and his wife, Hannah (Carl- ton) Waldo; their son Shubael (2) Waldo, of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and his first wife, Rebekah (Crosby) Waldo; their son, Josiah Crosby Waldo, and his first wife, Elmira Ruth (Ballou) Waldo, they the parents of George Curtis Waldo, of Bridgeport.
Josiah Crosby Waldo was born Decem- ber 5, 1803, at Chesterfield, New Hamp- shire, died August 28, 1890, at New Lon- don, Connecticut. He studied under the Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston, became a minister of the Universalist Church and gave his life to the propagation of that faith. His work was widespread in his early years, covering the large cities and towns of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and part of Virginia and Tennessee. He was a pastor of the First Universalist Church of Lynn, Massachusetts, 1835 to 1839, and pastor of the First Universalist Society in
West Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1841-47, and from 1849 to 1854 labored in Troy, New York, and afterward for several years in New London. He published over one hundred controversial sermons, took part in many public debates, organized several church societies and is credited with first generally introducing ahe Uni- versalist faith in the West. He estab- lished and for many years published a weekly paper in Cincinnati, Ohio, "The Sentinel and Star in the West," which subsequently, through successive consoli- dations became the "Cincinnati Times- Star," and until his death was active in the work of his church. He married (first), October 26, 1831, at Boston, El- mina Ruth Ballou, daughter of the Rev. Hosea and Ruth (Washburn) Ballou ; she was a cousin of Eliza Ballou, mother of President James A. Garfield. Mrs. Waldo, born April 3, 1810, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, died at New London, Con- necticut, June 29, 1856; she was a woman of fine intellectuality, a writer of verse, the periodicals of her day welcoming her poems. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Crosby Waldo were the parents of Ella Fiducia Oliver, who died at the age of thirteen years ; George Curtis, of further mention ; Clemintina Grace; Frances Rebecca, and Maturin Ballou Waldo.
George Curtis Waldo, the subject of this sketch, son of the Rev. Josiah Crosby Waldo and his first wife, Elmina Ruth (Ballou) Waldo, was born in Lynn, Mas- sachusetts, March 20, 1837. He com- pleted public school courses at West Cambridge, Massachusetts, prepared for college at Troy Academy, then entered Tuft's College, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1860. Later he was awarded Master of Arts in course and in 1900 his alma mater conferred upon him the honorary degree of Litt. D. After
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graduation from Tuft's he began the study of law in the offices of A. C. Lippit, of New London, but his study was inter- rupted by his enlistment in Company E, 2d Regiment Connecticut Volunteer In- fantry, Colonel A. H. Terry, under whom he served as corporal during the cam- paign of 1861. He was ready, but im- paired health prevented his reenlistment and he retired from the service at the ex- piration of his term, three months.
After his return from the army he re- sumed the study of law, then for a time also read medicine in New London, then engaged in business for several years, finally in 1867 locating in Bridgeport, there finding his true sphere. He began his journalistic career as local reporter and city editor of the Bridgeport "Stand- ard," two years later became associate editor under the Hon. John D. Candee, and upon Mr. Candee's death in 1888, suc- ceeded him as editor-in-chief and presi- dent of the Standard Association, the owning corporation. The "Standard" be- came one of the important dailies of New England. As president of the corporation he conserved the material interests of the paper and as editor maintained a policy that caused his paper to be widely quoted in journals throughout the country. In politics the paper and its editor agreed (which is not always the case) and both were loyal supporters of the Republican party. For twenty-six years Dr. Waldo was a member of the Connecticut Board of Shell Fish Commissioners and for twenty of those years president of the board; he was also for twelve years one of the trustees of the Insane Hospital at Norwich, Connecticut.
In civic affairs he pursued the same dig- nified course and served his city as a mem- ber of the Board of Education. That serv- ice continued for five years and when the
first high school building was erected on Congress Street he was one of the com- mittee in charge, representing town and school board. He was for fourteen years a director in the Bridgeport Public Li- brary. He was one of the founders of the Bridgeport Scientific Society, was for five years its secretary, and at the time the Historical Society merged with the Scien- tific Society he was vice-president of the former. He was the first president of the old Electric Club; ex-president of the Seaside and Press clubs ; for several years was an official of the Republican Club ; was a director of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and since 1876 a vestry- man of Christ Episcopal Church, serving five years as junior warden. He retained his membership and interest in that fast disappearing body of gallant men, the Grand Army of the Republic, and was a member of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut. His fraternities were Phi Beta Kappa and Zeta Psi, and he held membership in many other organizations, fraternal, literary and professional.
Dr. Waldo married, in 1874, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Annie Frye, daughter of Major Frederick and Matilda (Brooks) Frye, formerly residents of Bridgeport, and a great-granddaughter of Colonel James Frye, of Andover, Massachusetts, who commanded a regiment at Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo were the par- ents of four children : Selden C., deceased ; Rosalie Hillman, married Roland H. Mal- lory ; Maturin Ballou; and George Cur- tis (2).
To the last of his long life Mr. Waldo retained his youthful vitality of thought and mind. With memory unfailing and spirits unimpaired, he kept up to the last his daily habit of writing for the news- papers and his column was looked for- ward to by hundreds of Bridgeporters
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whose letters of inquiry and approval testified their interest.
His final years of life were passed at the home of his son, George Waldo, Jr., in Black Rock, Bridgeport, where he died on April 2, 1921. Civic and professional bodies paid him honor as he was laid at rest in the family burial plot in Mountain Grove Cemetery, Bridgeport.
Mr. Waldo's name and his professional tradition are carried on by his son, George C. Waldo, Jr., who succeeded his father as editor of the "Bridgeport Standard," and later editor-in-chief of the "Bridgeport Post and Telegram," which position he now holds.
McNEIL, Archibald, Coal Dealer.
The McNeils of Bridgeport have in the honored head, Archibald (3) McNeil, an octogenarian descendant of the Scottish clan of that name, who has been a lead- ing man of the city in business and poli- tics and among the foremost men in the councils of the State for more than three decades. Essentially a self-made man, Mr. McNeil has risen virtually by his own merits to the important place that he oc- cupies in the commercial, social and mu- nicipal life of Bridgeport and in the com- monwealth. Robust of mind and body, aggressive in the better meaning of that term, progressive in his worthy ambition to excel in business, possessing strong convictions of the advantages accruing to dealer and buyer in the application of the rule of strict honesty, a clear thinker, a wise legislator when a member of the local board of government and of the Gen- eral Assembly, Mr. McNeil, though far advanced in years, is an outstanding and important figure, to whom his three sons and his fellow citizens may point with
pride as a worthy example of that which is best in the body politic.
Mr. McNeil comes of ancient Scottish ancestry. It is the theory, held by some members of the now widely ramifying family, that the McNeils of this country can trace their lineage to the pure-blood MacNeills of Barra and the MacNeills of Gigha, generally admitted to have a com- mon origin. Archibald (3) McNeil is in the fifth generation from Archibald (1) McNeil, founder of the Connecticut line and a highly successful trader with the West Indies, who became a prominent citizen and a public official of New Haven.
It is interesting to observe in this con- nection that in the mother country the old stock-Americanized to McNeil-still is vigorous in its descendants, who occupy high social standing, and have figured conspicuously in the upbuilding of the nation politically, commercially and spir- itually. The virility of the family has been, and still remains, remarkable for strength of character, patriotism and lon- gevity. The late General Sir John Car- stairs McNeill was of the house of Mc- Neill of Colonsay. It is to be supposed that the family, on account of its branches and the diversity of service, has a number of coats-of-arms. Burke, in his "General Armory," gives the arms of McNeil (Fear Fergus, Scotland) as:
Arms-Quarterly, first and fourth, azure, a lion rampant argent; second, argent, a sinister hand couped fesseways in chief and in base, wavy azure a salmon naiant of the first; third, or, a galley, her oars in action gules, on a chief of the last three mullets of the first.
Crest-An armed man, from the shoulder issu- ing, holding a dagger point upwards, all proper. Motto-Vincere vel mori. (To conquer or die.)
Honor is the warriors meed, Or spar'd to live, or doom'd to die;
Whether 'tis his lot to bleed, Or join the shout of victory ;
Alike the laurel to the truly brave
That binds the brow or consecrates the grave.
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(I) Archibald McNeil, founder of the Connecticut line, was of Branford, where in 1735 he purchased lands. Subsequently he was a prominent citizen of New Haven, was assessor in 1740 and surveyor of highways in 1746, and was conspicuous in real estate transactions. A circumstance of particular interest is his participation as one of the "brothers" in founding the first lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Connecticut (now known as Hiram Lodge No. 1) at a meeting "held at Jehiel Tuttle's in New Haven on the festival of St. John the Evangelist, 1750." This was only seventeen years after the institution of Free Masonry in the American Colo- nies (which occurred at Boston, July 3, 1733). Archibald McNeil was success- fully engaged in the trade with the West Indies, in partnership with Samuel Cook (who was named as executor of his will), and was owner and supercargo of the ship "Peggy and Molly." He died in the Is- land of Jamaica in the latter part of 1752, and his will was probated in July, 1753, by his widow, who was placed under bond of three thousand pounds sterling, in- dicative of a very considerable estate for those times. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Samuel and Abigail (Whiting) Russell, and widow of Benjamin Fenn; and it was at the house of her father that the founders of Yale College held their first meeting, he having been a member of that distinguished company. She was born in 1708. Children: Archibald (2), born September 20, 1736; Charles, bap- tized January 18, 1739; Charles, baptized November 1, 1741 ; John, born August 2, 1745, baptized August 4, 1745, removed to Armenia precinct, Dutchess County, New York; Samuel, baptized October 9, 1749, of Litchfield, Connecticut.
(II) Archibald McNeil, eldest child of Archibald (1) and Mary (Russell) Mc-
Neil, was born in Branford, Connecticut, September 20, 1736, and baptized October IO following. He lived in New Haven and Milford, and was a large property owner ; died before July 3, 1782, when the executor of his estate was appointed. On July 3, 1776, he enlisted in the Continental forces. He married, May 2, 1758, at New Haven, Sarah Clark. Child: William.
(III) William McNeil, son of Archi- bald and Sarah (Clark) McNeil, born in New Haven, May 13, 1759. He was a graduate of Yale College, class of 1777, and in the old Yale catalog is described as a sea captain. During the Revolution (January 30, 1782, to August 13, 1783) he served as a gunner on the American pri- vateer "Marquis de Lafayette," under Captain Elisha Hinman. In the brief war of the United States with France he was again on the same vessel, which was cap- tured by the enemy, and with others he was for some time confined in a French prison. On account of this event he was one of those who figured in the celebrated French spoliation claims. He was en- gaged in business in Derby, Connecticut. His death occurred in or before 1808. He married, in New Haven, Huldah Augur. Children (the order of their birth not be- ing exactly known) : Abraham Archibald, born July 21, 1802; William; Maria, mar- ried, September 12, 1824, Russell Bradley, of New Haven; John, had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married John E. Wylie, of New Haven; Henry ; Nancy, married R. Dickinson.
(IV) Abraham A. McNeil, son of Wil- liam and Huldah (Augur) McNeil, was born in Derby, July 21, 1802. In early life he was supercargo of vessels in the West Indies trade, sailing out of New Haven. Removing after 1825 to Bridge- port, he became a prominent citizen of that community. For some time he was
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associated in the shoe manufacturing business with Samuel Hodges, his wife's uncle. He was the founder of the system of lighthouses in Bridgeport Harbor, and for many years before his death was the keeper of the lighthouse at the entrance of the harbor. Mr. McNeil died in Bridge- port May II, 1873. He married in Bridge- port, November 25, 1827, Mary Ann, daughter of Captain William Hulse, who, in 1813, was lost at sea with all the crew of the brig "William," sailing out of Bridgeport. She was born November II, 18II, died in July, 1892. Children : I. Charles Hubbell, born December 14, 1828; was engaged in business pursuits, being for many years associated with his brother Archibald; twice married, but had no is- sue ; his widow married (second) Captain Alvin P. Hunt. 2. John, born October 9, 1830 ; many years harbor master of Bridge- port, and a highly public-spirited citizen, especially active in all movements for the improvement of the harbor ; married, 1865, Anna, daughter of James and Anna Maria (Barnes) Scofield of New York, and is survived by one daughter, who is the widow of Rev. Louis N. Booth of Bridge- port. 3. Samuel William, born March 16, 1832, deceased. 4. Eliza Maria, born Jan- uary 9, 1834, died March 6, 1835. 5. Josiah Hoyt, born February 9, 1835, died August 24, 1836. 6. and 7. (twins) born August 31, 1837, Augustus, died August 18, 1838, and Sidney Adolphus, deceased, who was a citizen of Bridgeport and keeper of the lighthouse, and is survived by his widow. 8. Mary Hoyt, born Octo- ber 20, 1839, died November 25, 1840. 9. Mary Hoyt, December 12, 1840, de- ceased. 10. Archibald (3), of whom fur- ther. II. Maria Longworth, born Decem- ber 25, 1845, deceased ; married Lester J. Bradley ; no surviving children. 12. Sarah, born August 28, 1848, died in 1853.
(V) Archibald (3) McNeil, in the fifth generation from his American forebear, Archibald (1) McNeil, was the tenth child of Abraham Archibald and Mary Ann (Hulse) McNeil, and was born at Bridge- port, July 2, 1843. Having received his preliminary education at Sellick's School, Bridgeport, he attended the famous Thomas School at New Haven and the Hopkins Grammar School of that city, being graduated from the last-named school in the class of 1860. He next entered the ship-chandlery store of his brother, Charles H. McNeil, which then was situated opposite the old railroad sta- tion and steamboat landing at Bridgeport. In 1863 he entered into partnership with his brother, the firm name being McNeil Brothers, wholesale dealers in fruit and produce. In 1876 the brothers, having looked afield for the enlargement of their business relations and activities, removed to New York City and located at 84 Broad Street, under the style of Archibald Mc- Neil & Company, wholesale dealers in but- ter and cheese. A wider domain of trade lured them to a much broader field of operations, and in 1879 they engaged in the export and import business with Cuba, making the principal commodities of their trade bituminous coal and produce. Dis- continuing the establishment in New York City in 1888, Mr. McNeil returned to Bridgeport, and in that city he estab- lished a coal business, which since has grown to large proportions. Later he in- corporated the business under the style of Archibald McNeil & Sons Company, Incorporated, the other members of the concern being Mr. McNeil's three sons, Archibald (4), Kenneth W. and Roderick C. Through years of honest effort, pains- taking devotion to business, active par- ticipation in the civic and social life of the city, Mr. McNeil attained a high place
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in the confidence and esteem of the busi- ness public and the political body. He became a conspicuous citizen, and with- out the element of self-seeking playing an obtrusive part in his life, he rose to a place of prominence in the community. He be- came closely identified with the best movements politically, and he allied him- self with the Democratic party. He was never forthputting of himself for public office, but he has on several occasions been impressed into service as a candidate of his party, and has ever in public office, as in his business affairs, conducted him- self with dignity and great efficiency. He became extremely popular with the elec- torate in his constituencies, and this popu- larity obtains until the present day. His first public office came in 1872, when he was elected to represent the old Second Ward in the Common Council of Bridge- port. In 1896, when William Jennings Bryan made the first of his numerous at- tempts to win the Presidency, Mr. McNeil was a candidate for the Connecticut Gen- eral Assembly. He was defeated, but had the gratification of having run four hun- dred votes ahead of his ticket. In 1897 he was offered the Democratic mayoralty nomination, but he refused to make the run. In 1902 he was elected to the Con- necticut State Senate by a large majority, and he was reelected in 1906, "defeating the Republican State leader in a district probably the wealthiest, most conserva- tive and most consistently Republican in the State." He was nominated by his party associates for president pro tempore of the State Senate, and by this act was chosen the Democratic leader of that body. The following encomium was given of his record of service in the State Senate.
It is worthy of note that there have been many times when Senator McNeil, abandoning the posi-
tion assumed by some of his best friends, has fought almost alone for some measure which he believed to be right, or against some measure he thought to be wrong. And his whole legislative record has been a steady and determined refusal to advocate or countenance any measure, which, in his opinion, would not be entirely for the best interests of the State or its institutions.
Mr. McNeil was one of the organizers of the Eclectic Club, thus becoming a charter member, and has served as its president. He is a member of the Seaside Club and the Algonquin Club, and served the latter body as its first president, hav- ing occupied that office for two years. For four years, 1874-1877, he was commodore of the old Bridgeport Yacht Club, and he became a governor of the Bridgeport Yacht Club and served as its commodore in 1899-1900. He is a member of General Silliman Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. McNeil married, October 2, 1881, at New York City, Jean Mckenzie, daugh- ter of George J. Clan Ranald of New York City. Their children: 1. Archibald (4), born in New York, June 1, 1883. 2. Ken- neth Wylie, born in Bridgeport, Septem- ber 14, 1885. 3. Roderick Clan Ranald, born in Bridgeport, March 20, 1888.
HUBBELL, Harvey,
Manufacturer.
Harvey Hubbell, president and treas- urer of Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, enjoys the distinction of being the foun- der and head of one of the leading in- dustries of that important manufacturing center of Connecticut, the city of Bridge- port. The products of his concern, par- ticularly his electrical specialties, are in general use throughout this country and in many foreign parts of the world. Vir- tually all the appliances or devices manu- factured at his plant are the creation of
Conn. 11-8
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Mr. Hubbell's inventive genius, which has made possible the inception, growth and influence of his establishment. High standards of quality of materials and workmanship and conscientious super- vision of the manufacturing details and marketing of the products are the ele- ments which have entered into and en- compassed the success that has attended the progress of this business. One of the most highly prized of the numerous testi- monials that have been bestowed upon Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, is the fol- lowing, from the government of the United States, for the concern's very prac- tical and highly patriotic aid in war work which helped win the World War :
The War Department of the United States of America, in this award, recognizes the distin- guished service, loyalty and efficiency in the per- formance of war work by which Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, aided materially in obtaining victory for the arms of the United States of America in the war between the Imperial German Government and the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Government.
It has been a matter of tradition in the Hubbell family for centuries that its pro- genitor was a Dane; though whether he was a Hubba or a warrior Harald Hub- bald, who came to England with Canute, the Danish King, who reigned over Eng- land (995-1033 A. D.), is not recorded- at least in England. The "Domesday Book" of William the Conqueror, made in 1086, records the name of Hugo Hubald as holding land at Ipsley, Warwickshire, England, before the Norman invasion (1066 A. D.) of Osbern, son of Richard, and this same land was in the possession of his descendants at Ipsley in the direct male line, passing to the eldest son of each succeeding generation until Novem- ber 10, 1730, when the direct male line became extinct. This Hugo Hubald (or
Hubbald) was the founder of the Hubball family in England and of the Hubbell family in America.
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