USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 25
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J. Warren Mylchreest, director of pub- lic works of the city of Middletown, was born December 21, 1894, in Middletown, where he grew up and went through the public schools, graduating from the high school. He was a student at Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, and Cor- nell University, Ithaca, New York, grad- uating from the latter in 1917, with degree of Architectural Engineer. He enlisted, May 15, 1917, in the 309th Infantry, spent three months in training camp at Madison Barracks, and was made second lieuten- ant. He was at Camp Dix with the 78th Division, at Camps Devens and Augusta, and made numerous trips about the coun- try in government service. He was pro- moted first lieutenant in August, 1918, and was discharged April 21, 1919. Fol- lowing this he was employed as junior en-
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gineer by the Connecticut State Highway Department for six months, and was with the Ellison Construction Company of Hartford one year. For six months he was a construction engineer of the South- ern New England Telephone Company, and left this employment to become direc- tor of public works at Middletown in 1922. He has charge of the streets, water works and other departments of city serv- ice. The elimination of the grade cross- ing on Bridge Street, Middletown, is one of the projects to which he has given much attention, and the final adoption of a plan and commencement of operations is due chiefly to his determination and per- severance, against the objections of some parties in interest. The improvement of the city water service is now engaging his attention, and his fertile brain is con- stantly planning improvements in the public service.
Mr. Mylchreest is affiliated with the Methodist Church, and is a steadfast Re- publican politically. He is identified with the principal Masonic bodies, from St. John's Lodge, No. 2, to Cyrene Com- mandery, No. 8, and including Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford. He is also a member of Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In all rela- tions of life he is energetic and faithful, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his contemporaries.
He married, February 7, 1919, Grace Ellen Burch, who was born September 5, 1894, in Spencer, Massachusetts, daugh- ter of Manly Erastus and Mary (Sweet) Burch, the latter a native of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Mylchreest are the parents of a son, Joseph Warren, Junior.
AVERY, Edward C.,
Business Man.
There is no name in New England history borne with more worthy distinc- tion than that of Avery. Its members have occupied those places of prominence that lend lustre to a family name, and have performed those daily duties of good citizenship that contribute even more surely to the welfare and prosperity of the community. The origin of this name in England has not thus far been fully de- termined, some authorities stating that it was derived from Aviarus, which means a keeper of birds, while others assert that the storehouse in which the forage for the king's horses was deposited was called the avery prior to the conquest. It is quite probable, however, that the Saxon personal name Alberic, which became Latinized into Albericus, was softened during the Norman rule into Aubrey, and finally acquired its present form of spelling.
A branch of this family was founded in New Hampshire by John Avery, born in Groton, Massachusetts, September 17, 1705, who settled in Stratham, New Hampshire, in young manhood. He was of the fourth American generation, de- scended from Christopher Avery, founder of the family in America, through his son, Captain James Avery, and his grandson, Samuel Avery, all of whom held import- ant places in public life. This is probably the line whence sprang Robert Avery, born near Franconia Notch, New Hamp- shire, in 1804. He grew to manhood in New Hampshire and shortly before his marriage moved to Burke, New York. There he engaged in farming on a fifty- acre tract of land, which was a wedding present to his wife from her father. He married Maria Estabrook (see Estabrook
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line). They were the parents of eight children, of whom six attained mature years: Sally, married Amos Hoadley, of Westville, New York, both deceased ; Samuel, deceased; Silas, a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire ; Hiram, de- ceased ; Emily, married James Rogers, both deceased, and resided in Vermont- ville, New York; Joel E., of whom fur- ther ; and Hoel (twins), the latter dying in infancy.
Joel E. Avery, son of Robert and Maria (Estabrook) Avery, was born in Burke, Franklin County, New York, November 15, 1848. As a boy of fourteen years he was employed for a year in a saw mill in the Adirondack woods, and when but seventeen years of age was in charge of a gang of twenty-six men. In 1870 he moved to Granby, Connecticut, and worked for three years on a farm, then moving to Hartland and residing there for twenty-three years engaged in general farming and stock raising. He returned to Granby for three years still as a farmer, and in April, 1899, he located in New Britain, establishing in milk dealing on a small scale. His operations have steadily widened and now, the oldest milk dealer in the city, he has four regular routes. His business is conducted under the name of Joel Avery & Son, and has five em- ployees in addition to Mr. Avery and his son. Mr. Avery continued in the work of delivery in person until about four years ago, and he is still active in collecting the farm supply from local dairymen. Mr. Avery is held in high regard in the busi- ness fraternity of New Britain, and there is no man of affairs in the city in whose word greater dependence is placed. He has never been attracted to public office, but in private life has lost no opportunity to contribute to the progress of the com- mon good. He is the possessor of a medal
made from captured German cannon, which was awarded by the United States Government for efficient participation in the Liberty Loan campaigns. Mr. Avery is probably the only member of the Wes- leyan Methodist denomination now in New Britain.
He married Ella F., daughter of Luther A. and Nancy (Woodruff) Parker. Nancy Woodruff was a daughter of Alanson Woodruff, of Avon. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have a son, Edward C., the only one of their children to reach maturity.
Edward C. Avery, son of Joel E. and Ella F. (Parker) Avery, was born in Hart- land, Connecticut, March 3, 1882. He was educated in public schools and for four years thereafter was in the employ of P. and F. Corbin, of New Britain. The fol- lowing nine months were spent with the Union Manufacturing Company, and he was then for two years on the road in the- atrical work. His voice had attracted the attention of an old singing master of New Britain, who gave him his first instruc- tion, and he later studied under A. Leo- pold, a well known voice culturist of Hartford, developing a second bass voice of unusual quality and strength. While on the road he was a member of a local quartet which appeared in every State of the Union, and at engagements in all of the large cities. Tiring of the irregular life of theatrical and concert work, with the attendant inconveniences and discom- forts of constantly travelling, he left the stage and took a commercial course in Huntsinger's Business College at Hart- ford. Later he became associated with his father in the milk business, and on May 13, 1906, the present partnership was formed. Mr. Avery has relieved his father of many of the arduous responsibilities of their prosperous business and has con- tributed a full share to its upbuilding.
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Eng by E b Winams & Bro NY
The American Historical Society
Salvatore Mazzotta
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
From 1900 to 1908 Mr. Avery was a mem- ber of Council No. 8, Senior Order of United American Mechanics, and with his wife is a member of the Congrega- tional Church.
Edward C. Avery married Mabel Fer- ris, daughter of Oscar and Charlotte (Avery) Ferris, her mother a daughter of Samuel Avery, brother of Joel E. Avery. They were the parents of: Edward, born March 7, 1910; Myrtle Florine, born April 25, 1911; Harold Raymond, born March 2, 1916.
(The Estabrook Line).
Thomas Estabrook, born in Enfield, County Middlesex, England, came to America in 1660 and died January 28, 1720-21. He lived at Swanzey, Massachu- setts, and was a selectman in 1681. He married Sarah Temple, of Concord, Mas- sachusetts, and among their children was Thomas.
Thomas (2) Estabrook, son of Thomas (I) and Sarah (Temple) Estabrook, was born August 6, 1685. He married, De- cember 18, 1707, Mrs. Elizabeth Parker, and among their children was Thomas.
Thomas (3) Estabrook, son of Thomas (2) and Elizabeth (Parker) Estabrook, was born April 2, 1713. He married, about 1743, Prudence, surname unknown, and among their children was Joel.
Joel Estabrook, son of Thomas (3) and Prudence Estabrook, was born in West- ford, Massachusetts, March 3, 1748-49. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married, at Chelmsford, Massachu- setts, February 4, 1778, Abigail Under- wood, of Chelmsford. Issue : Abigail U., born 1779; Sophia, born 1781 ; Polly, born 1782; Susanna, born 1784; Joel, of whom further ; Sarah, born 1790.
Joel (2) Estabrook, son of Joel (1) and Abigail (Underwood) Estabrook, was
born in Westford, Massachusetts, April I, 1778. Among his children was Maria.
Maria Estabrook, daughter of Joel Estabrook, married Robert Avery (see Avery line).
MAZZOTTA, Salvatore, Large Builder.
In the career of this subject is illustra- ted again the principle of American boast, namely that one can make something of himself, physically, mentally and morally, if he have the necessary ambition, de- termination and stamina. With these qualities comes always success in material things.
Salvatore Mazzotta was born February 12, 1879, in Melilli, province of Syracusa, Italy, Island of Sicily, a region swept by the warm Mediterranean breezes. His father Carmelo Mazzotta, was a mason builder all his life in Melilli, where he died in 1903, at the age of seventy years. His wife, Emanuella, born in the same town, was a daughter of Vincenzo and Mariana Nocera. Vincenzo Nocera was a mason all his life and died in Melilli. Emanuella Mazzotta died in 1910, aged seventy-one years. Salvatore Mazzotta was privileged to attend school until nine years of age, when he began to learn the mason's trade under instruction of his father. Very early in life he began to cherish visions of escape from his environment, ever his eyes were turned longingly toward America, the land of opportunity, and he persevered in his ambition to strike out in the world. At the age of eighteen years he began to realize his desire to improve himself by travel. An older brother was then in Bulgaria, and thither Salvatore turned his steps. For a period of two years he worked as a mason in railroad construction near Sofia and then returned
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to his native place. His stay here was but short and, in late January, 1900, he set out for America, landed at New York, and reached his objective at Middletown, Con- necticut, February 18, of that year. Here he encountered by far the most severe cold he had thus far experienced. With no knowledge of the prevailing language of the country, with labor plentiful and little in demand, his case presented dis- couragements, but with the hope and de- termination of youth he awaited the open- ing of the season's activities. About a month after his arrival he found employ- ment with a contracting firm which had need of workers with pick and shovel; he labored under hard taskmasters, who looked only for results, while a dozen waited to fill every vacancy in the force. Though his hands blistered and bled, young Mazzotta gave competent service and earned the approval of his employers. After two months of this employment he found opportunity to work at his trade, which gladly he would have accepted, even at a reduction in pay, though he was advanced fifty cents per day (to two dol- lars), and built unaided the towers sus- taining the gates in the State Hospital water works. From this time forward he found rather steady employment, as every employer found him willing and ambi- tious to give service. In the autumn of the same year he went to Hartford, where he found employment at another advance of fifty cents per day. His prime object in going to Hartford was to secure the benefit of night school, where he might increase his knowledge of the language and fit himself for better opportunities in life. In school he was just as diligent as at work, and made rapid advancement in knowledge of English, working each day and going to Middletown once a week to visit a sister living there. Re-
turning to Middletown, he was several years in the employ of Denis O'Brien, a large mason contractor, with whom he grew in favor, and, after less than two years with him, was placed in charge of jobs. He set the stone work of the Had- dam Library, the chapel of St. John's Church and many other buildings in and about Middletown. In 1909 a long strike of building mechanics in Middletown very much hindered operations, and Mr. Maz- zotta became impressed with the idea of becoming his own master, which long had been a cherished ambition. After some casting about he secured a job at the corner of Union and South streets, where he laid the cellar and first story walls of a building, and he found by the end of the year that it is more profitable to handle one's own business. He built concrete sidewalks, and no job was too small to receive his faithful and efficient attention. His reputation for reliable work grew, and jobs came to him unso- licited. In 1911 he erected a two-story brick block on the south side of Wash- ington Street, for J. W. Stueck. In 1915 a much more pretentious block arose under Mr. Mazzotta's management -"Stueck's Tavern"-on the north side of Washington Street. Many fine blocks have been erected under contract by Mr. Mazzotta, a few of which may be here mentioned, including the Meech & Stod- dard elevator, homes of the Middletown Yacht and Highland Country clubs, Poliner's store on the northerly end of Main Street. In 1921 he began the con- struction of an addition to the group of buildings constituting the Connecticut State Hospital, a fire-proof structure, said to be the finest in New England, and is now (1924) constructing the Nurses' Home, another equally fine building of the same group, each of these contracts
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involving some two hundred thousand dollars. In 1924 he finished his contract for erection of the Middletown Silk Com- pany's new mill-a hundred thousand dol- lar undertaking, also the State Trade School, on Church Street, a handsome and thoroughly modern structure, and the contract for the construction of the new North End School building, on a bid of $131,193. Among his own enterprises may be mentioned the erection of a hand- some three-story brick flat-house on Spring Street, and the recent purchase of the Douglass homestead on Broad Street, which he has remodeled, providing three handsome tenements. In 1921, hav- ing purchased a tract on the west side of Prospect Street, he opened a street run- ning westward from Prospect Street and rejoining that thoroughfare, forming three sides of a rectangle and known as Maz- zotta Place. On this tract he erected the elegant home of Dr. William E. Wrang. In 1922-23 he erected for his own family a beautiful home, which they occupied July 1, 1923. This is one of the finest private residences in the city, overlooking the valley of the Sabetha River and the mountains to the west and southwest. The first story and chimneys are of native stone, which was also used in construct- ing the fireplace in the parlor; the upper story is of stucco, and the whole is finely planned for convenience and beauty, and its furnishings evince a refined taste. Among the paintings are marine views, scenes from American life, some of which were executed in Rome, and superior tapestries from the Old World. Its sun parlor, on the south, is a model of taste and utility, floored with tiles from the old custom house and postoffice building of Middletown, which Mr. Mazzotta demol- ished. Another relic from the same build- ing is the flagstaff, which forms one item
in the tasteful decorations of the home grounds. The stone work in which it is set affords a beautiful basin for flowering plants, and the shrubbery and blooms working into the decorations are a delight to the eye.
Blessed with fine native instincts, self- cultivation has made a gentleman of Mr. Mazzotta, and his naturally genial dispo- sition and unvaried upright dealings have drawn to him many friends, whose esteem he easily retains. His business reputation is unsmirched, and he is in a position to enjoy life's richest blessings. With his family Mr. Mazzotta worships at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Loyal Order of Moose, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Sons of Italy, and Italio-American Club. A sound Re- publican, he was placed in nomination in 1922 for the office of city councilman and, though he polled the largest vote on his ticket, he was defeated with the whole Republican ticket in the landslide of that year. He was again nominated in 1923 and elected by a large majority, only one candidate receiving more votes-by a margin of five. He is a member of the council committee on streets, and of a special committee on city and town plan- ning, being especially fitted for service on the latter by his fine taste and good judg- ment. His public spirit is evidenced by his offering the use of a tract of land near Spring Street to the Social Service League, for use as a public playground.
In 1906 Mr. Mazzotta felt that he had been sufficiently prospered to assume the responsibilities of a family and, in Novem- ber of that year, he revisited the home of his childhood and was there married, February 2, 1907, to Angelina DiStefano, who was born there, March 31, 1887, daughter of Sebastiano and Anna (Mes-
Conn. 11-12
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
sina) DiStefano. Soon after the wed- ding they came to Middletown, and Mrs. Mazzotta at once set about learning the use of the English language. She has proven herself a worthy helpmate in her husband's progress, and their children are being reared as good American citizens; they are: Sabastiano George, born Feb- ruary 22, 19II; and Emanuella Maria, February 4, 1913.
BAILEY, Edgar L., Business Man.
A descendant, in two lines, of the old Bailey family of Haddam, Mr. Bailey in- herited the native business instinct of the Yankee and also the stable character which has distinguished the natives of New England. He was born February 17, 1847, in Higganum, Connecticut, the son of Richard M. and Lucy Maria (Bailey) Bailey, who were not near rel- atives. The descent of the mother has been traced as follows: The name Bailey had its origin in the office of bailiff or steward, an occupation of much honor and dignity in old English times. The name of Henry le Baille is found in writs of parliament. A pioneer of Virginia was William Bailey who was born about 1579, in England, and removed to Virginia in the ship "Prosperous." His son, Thomas Bailey, settled in New London, Connecti- cut, in 1651. He was founder of the Groton family of that name.
John Bailey appears in the records of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1648, when he was a viewer of ladders and chimneys, an important post, since chimneys were built of sticks and mud, and it was necessary to keep ladders and make frequent inspec- tion of chimneys as a precaution against fires. John Bailey was constable, an office involving collection of taxes, in
1656-57. About 1662 he settled in Had- dam, being one of the twenty-eight orig- inal proprietors of the town, and lived in what is now Higganum. His will was dated June 17, 1696, and inventory of his property, made August 29, of the same year, placed its value at £ 186, 10s. and 6d. His wife was, probably, Lydia, daughter of Thomas Smith.
John Bailey, son of John, lived in Had- dam, and married Elizabeth Bate, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Beckwith) Bate of that town. John Bate (name now written Bates) was undoubtedly a son of Joseph Bate of Haddam. The name was common in England several centuries be- fore the departure of the Pilgrims for America. In New England it was some- times spelled "Baitt." It is supposed to have come from Bate or Batte, a contrac- tion of Bartholomew. About the time of the Revolution, it came into common use as Bates. Between 1630 and 1640 five men named Bate settled in Boston or its neighborhood. John Bate of Lydd, Kent, England, died between July 31, and Sep- tember 17, 1522. His second son, Andrew, died there about February 22, 1533. The latter's third son, John Bate, was buried there March I, 1579. He married, Octo- ber 28, 1546, Mildred Ward, who was buried June 2, 1577, nearly two years be- fore her husband. Their eldest son, John Bate, described as a yeoman, died March 2, 1614, at Lydd. He married, June 6, 1580, Mary Martine, and their second son, Joseph Bate, baptized in December, 1582, at Lydd, was the pioneer of the fam- ily in America. In 1635 he came to Dor- chester, Massachusetts, where he was made a freeman in the following year, served as selectman in 1637-38 and 1642, and died in 1655. He married (license issued September 13, 1603) Alice Glover of Saltwood, England, born 1583, died
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August 14, 1657, in Dorchester. Their youngest child, Joseph Bate, baptized December 16, 1624, at Lydd, was living in Dorchester in 1648, was subsequently at "Thirty-mile Island," now Haddam, and at Saybrook from 1669 to 1677. No doubt he was the father of John Bate, who died January 15, 1719, father of Elizabeth, wife of John Bailey.
Ephraim Bailey, second son of John and Elizabeth (Bate) Bailey, was born Janu- ary 1, 1691, and lived in Haddam, where he married, October 3, 1716, Deborah Brainard, born April 3, 1698, eldest daugh- ter and second child of James and De- borah (Dudley) Brainard, granddaughter of Daniel Brainard, born in 1641, prob- ably in Braintree, England, the pioneer of Haddam.
William Bailey, eighth son of Ephraim and Deborah (Brainard) Bailey, married Betsey Horton, and lived in Haddam, where his son, Christopher Bailey, was born in March, 1756, and died April 18, 1840. He married, November 26, 1782, his second cousin, Naomi Bailey, born 1763, died September 29, 1825, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cook) Bailey, granddaughter of Ephraim and Deborah Bailey, above mentioned. Christopher Bailey, youngest child of Christopher and Naomi Bailey, was born December 17, 1797, in Haddam, and married, June 4, 1824, Anne Tryon, of Middletown. She was born about 1800, and died February 17, 1871, aged seventy-one. This, prob- ably, led to his settlement at Middletown. The records show a deed dated Novem- ber 10, 1826, by which he received from Josiah M. Hubbard one and one-half acres of land in Middletown, the consider- ation being $13.50. Presumably he was a mechanic, and required only ground on which to place a residence. Lucy Maria Bailey, daughter of Christopher and Anne (Tryon) Bailey, was born in March, 1825,
in Haddam, became the wife of Richard M. Bailey, and died February 10, 1895, in Middletown.
Richard M. Bailey, husband of Lucy Maria Bailey, born in Haddam, and was a mechanic residing in Middletown. From 1856 to 1860 to he was in Arlington, Vermont, and sought to prepare his son for a worthy place in life.
Edgar L. Bailey was educated at the public schools of Arlington and the private school of Daniel Chase, which prepared so many of the leading citizens of Middle- town for college and for active life. After a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, Edgar L. Bailey began his business career in the employ of the Russell Manufacturing Company of Middletown, with which establishment he continued for a period of fifty-two years. This long association is ample evidence of his integrity, industry and business capacity. For six years he was employed as bookkeeper and then became a traveling salesman, in which capacity he continued forty-six years. Because of his almost continuous absence from home, Mr. Bailey had little opportunity to mingle in the political affairs of the com- munity but he was an earnest Republican in political principle and ever ready to sustain with voice and thought that party. He was an active member of the great Masonic brotherhood, in which he at- tained the rank of Knights Templar, and his burial ceremonies were conducted by the local Commandery of that branch of the order. He died June 12, 1918, and among his benefactions was a legacy for the equipment of an operating room in the Middlesex Hospital. He also left a legacy to St. Luke's Home, one of the greatest institutions for the alleviation of suffering in Middletown, and also to the District Nurses' Association, another medium of great public good. Mr. Bailey's greatest
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