USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 28
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For many years he was regarded as one of the best business men of the State of Connecticut. He was widely known also as a devout member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, which he had served efficiently in an official capacity. Mr. Harral's quality of patriotism was given a splendid expression during the World War. He became an active member of the Third District Draft Board and gen- erously donated the use of a house on his property on "Golden Hill" for the dura- tion of the war. In spite of his advanced years, he gave more than his share of time and energy in attendance upon the numer- ous meetings and varied and multiform activities that devolved upon the people of the city of Bridgeport. No hour was too early, and none was too late for him when matters of the government were under consideration. The spacious dwell- ing on "Golden Hill," which he turned over to the use of the boys of the army and navy, will always serve as a monu- ment to his memory and to his indefatig- able devotion to his country. There are few men who have so fully realized the
responsibilities that come to one as the steward of wealth as did Mr. Harral. Democracy, in its broadest sense, ever dominated his life, set down in the midst of affluence. He never lost that sense- the common touch-which recognizes the brotherhood of man.
Perhaps no more fitting tribute to the life and service of Mr. Harral could be given than that contained in the resolu- tions adopted by his fellow-directors in the Morris Plan Bank of Bridgeport :
Each day brings to all of us its measure of sadness and gladness, all in accordance with the order of Divine Providence. When one who has been near and dear to us receives the final sum- mons to appear before his Creator, those whom he leaves behind are saddened by the loss. The character of the life that we live leaves upon the community of which we are a part the impress of our lives.
In the death of Mr. Edward W. Harral, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, who truly lived a life that was a striking example of Christian manhood, the bank which he so conscientiously and ably served has met with a severe loss. To his fam- ily we desire to express our most sincere sym- pathy.
The Morris Plan Bank, of Bridgeport, at its directors' meeting, held on November 20, 1923, desires to express its appreciation for the many kindly acts of cooperation, and deems it a duty that it owes to one of its departed members to place itself on record in such a way as to express its appreciation for his many virtues. We desire to forward to the members of his family this ex- pression of sympathy in their great loss in the death of one whom they held so dear.
Resolved, That we, the directors of the Morris Plan Bank of Bridgeport, at this meeting vote to forward to the members of his family a copy of this resolution.
Edward Wright Harral, sixth child of Henry Kollock and Sarah Ann (Peet) Harral, was born in Bridgeport, Decem- ber 12, 1845. His lineage has for his first immigrant ancestor on his paternal side George Harral, born in the city of Heidel- berg, Germany, September 7, 1744, of
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English birth and only a German by acci- dent of birth. It is supposed that he emi- grated from Germany about the year 1765 and landed in Charleston, South Carolina, where he married, in 1778, Barbara Ann Mullin. He served in the Colonial army during the Revolution as a capital soldier in the campaigns in the South, and gave an excellent account of himself. Edward Wright Harral was in the fourth genera- tion from the Americanized founder of the family name. His father, Henry Kol- lock Harral, sixth child of Dr. George and Charlotte (Wright) Harral, was born in Savannah, Georgia, November 26, 1808, died in Augusta, Georgia, May 10, 1854. He was named for Henry Kollock, pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, 1806-19. Henry Kollock Harral went to Newark, New Jersey, where he was associated in the saddlery and harness manufacturing business with William Wright, afterward United States Senator from New Jersey. He later took charge of Mr. Wright's business interests at Charleston. A short time only elapsed when he purchased the Wright interests, placed his brother William in charge of the Charleston branch, while he came to New York City, where he took charge of the New York house, founded the manu- factory of his line of goods in the city of Bridgeport and took into partnership Philo C. Calhoun of that city. He early attained prominence as a business man and a citizen. For seven years he was mayor of Bridgeport. He married in that city, August 14, 1834, Sarah Ann Peet, daughter of William and Jemima (Tom- linson) Peet, descendant of one of the early Stratford families, and who was born March 5, 1806, and died December 17, 1867. The Peets are of English origin, and members of the family took an active part in the early wars, thus giving the
right to the children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry K. Harral to become members of those societies open only to descendants of colonial families. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kollock Harral were the parents of six children : William Wright, Henry Hazel- ton, Helen Maria, Frederick Fanning, George, and Edward Wright Harral.
After completing a course of study in the Bridgeport schools, Edward Wright Harral attended Marlborough Churchill's Military School at Ossining, New York, then regarded as the leading institution of its kind in the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War he made a prac- tical demonstration of his sympathy with the Union cause by enlisting in the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was found to be under the required age, and he was not permitted to go to the seat of war. The industrial world then drew his attention, and he became associated with the firm of Lacey, Meeker & Co., manu- facturers of harness and saddles, remain- ing with them for ten years. He then became general agent for the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company at Bridgeport, and for four years represented that concern, his duties often requiring him to make extensive trips in the South- ern and Western States. Retiring from that position in 1880, he became connected with the then infant industry of the Fair- field Rubber Company. Mr. Harral, as has been stated, was also prominently active in church matters. He was a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, and while a resi- dent of Fairfield, Connecticut, he was jun- ior warden of St. Paul's Protestant Epis- copal Church of that town. He was a vestryman of St. John's Protestant Epis- copal Church of Bridgeport for twenty- five years, and its senior warden from the year 1909 until his death. He was
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mainly of the Democratic persuasion, but his independence of thought and action led him on occasions to go outside his party, as he did when he cast his vote for Mckinley in the Presidential campaign of 1896.
Mr. Harral's diversified interests in- cluded the presidency of the Security Building Company; directorship in the Morris Plan Bank, Bridgeport; director- ship in the Mountain Grove Cemetery Association; membership in the finance board of the Young Women's Christian Association, Bridgeport ; and directorship in the Bridgeport Christian Union.
Mr. Harral married (first) Julia, daugh- ter of Hiram and Polly (Penoyer) Crissy, of New Canaan, Connecticut, June 12, 1867, She was born July 24, 1844, and died June 30, 1872. They were the parents of one son, Crissy DeForest Harral, born De- cember 13, 1868. Mr. Harral married (second) Ellen B., third child of Nathaniel and Huldah R. (Bradley) Wheeler. She was born June 19, 1848. To them was born one daughter, Mary Louise Wheeler, born July 11, 1879; married (first) Pier- pont Rowland; married (second), August 22, 1910, at Bridgeport, Harry L. Strat- ton, of Bronxville, New York; married (third), 1921, A. Shaler Williams, of Ithaca, New York.
Always one of the richest legacies be- queathed by a Christian business man and citizen of the high type as was Mr. Har- ral is a memory hallowed with the good deeds that do follow them. Love of his country intensively cultivated, affection for his native city of Bridgeport, a com- munity of interests with his fellowmen of his community, a close student of the affairs of municipality of which he was extremely zealous for its progress not only materially but also spiritually and morally, Mr. Harral lived on a lofty plane nobis tantum nati" interpreted "We are
of all-round endeavor which had singled him out as a man among men. The city as a place of great industrial activity and as a place of residence is the better for Mr. Harral having sojourned there for so long a period of his life that was full of labors and replete with service unsullied and unselfish in every avenue into which his multifarious activities called him. Dif- ficult as is the task that is presented to a community stricken with so great a loss, its aim should be to produce from among its citizenry a worthy successor of this exemplar of an upright, outstanding mem- ber of society.
WARNER, Clinton Henry, Merchant.
The ancient town of Woodbury, Con- necticut, "mother of towns," numbered among its pioneers several of this name, and their descendants are found in many of the adjoining towns. One of the off- shoots of Woodbury is Roxbury, which existed a long time as a precinct of Wood- bury, and whose earliest independent records have been lost, blocking the dis- covery of numerous ancestral lines.
The origin of the name Warner is very remote. In the southwestern part of Eng- land, near the Welsh boundary, dwelt a race of people engaged in agriculture. To protect themselves from the surrounding savage tribes, they appointed their most athletic and discreet men to go out and warn the people of the approach of the enemy, hence the title "Warner." The name occurs in Domesday Book and in the account of the Manor of Warners, which derived its name from Edmund Warner, who held the estate in 1630. The arms of Warner are : Or, a bend engrailed between six roses gules, with motto, “Non
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not born for ourselves alone." The arms are found carved in the ceiling of the south aisle of the church of Great Wal- tham, England. The Manor of Pakel- sham, containing 418 acres, was granted to John Warner of Warner's Hall in Great Waltham, and was held by his son John until 1473; Henry, son of the latter, was seized of it March 21, 1504; Henry's son, John, Gentleman, held it until his death in 1552. In 1558 Queen Elizabeth granted lands to Sir Edward Warner, Knight, in the Manor of Gettingham, County Kent. Northwood Manor in the same county was held by William Warner. In 1395 John Warner was made sheriff of County Kent, and was succeeded by his son John, who held the position in 1442.
John Warner, first of the line in Amer- ica, was twenty-one years old when he came from England with a party that sailed in the ship "Increase" in 1635. In 1637 he performed service in the Pequot War, and was one of the original propri- etors of Hartford in 1629. He was an original proprietor and settler of Farming- ton, united with the church there in 1657 and was made a freeman in 1664. In 1673 he went to Mattatuck (Waterbury) to in- vestigate its prospects for a place of set- tlement, and was one of its patentees in 1674. He died in 1679, before completing his arrangements to move there. In 1649 he married (second) Ann, daughter of Thomas Norton of Guilford. John Warner, eldest son of John and Ann (Norton) Warner, born about 1645 in Hartford or Farmington, probably the latter, was reared in that town, where he was a freeman in 1669, and on the list of proprietors with his father in 1672. He was a pioneer of Waterbury, and is called "senior" in the records of that town. He had recorded there February 19, 1703, one and one-half acres of land on which
his dwelling stood. In 1703 and 1706 he called himself of Farmington, but in his will, dated Farmington, December 27, 1706, he calls himself "of Waterbury." He died before March, 1707, when in- ventory of his estate was made. Two of his sons, Robert and Ebenezer, settled in Woodbury. The latter was grandfather of Colonel Seth Warner, whose arrival with 500 fresh troops at the battle of Ben- nington defeated the British forces. Rob- ert Warner married Mary Hurlbut, and died April 14, 1743. Their son, 'John Warner, born October 27, 1713, died De- cember 8, 1785, married June 11, 1735, Jemima Hurd. Noble Warner, probably grandson of John and Jemima, lived in Roxbury, with wife Sarah. They were the parents of George Warner, who was born June 1, 1818, their second son, died in March, 1880. He married Abigail Rug- gles, born March 22, 1822, died in 1897, third daughter of Daniel T. and Chloe (Graham) Ruggles of Bridgewater, Con- necticut. She was descended from Abi- jah Ruggles, an early resident of New Milford. His wife was Hannah, born Warner. Their son, Benjamin Abijah Ruggles, born September 9, 1758, died November 30, 1828. He married Betsey Trowbridge, born 1763, third daughter of Daniel and Deborah Trowbridge of Bridgewater. Daniel Trowbridge Rug- gles, eldest child of Benjamin A. and Bet- sey, was born January 2, 1783, lived in Bridgewater and died August 6, 1874. He married, November 19, 1806, Chloe Gorham, born December 27, 1786, died 1876, and they were the parents of Abi- gail Ruggles, wife of George Warner. Their son, Theodore Warner, was a farmer and merchant in Danbury, and now lives retired in that town. He married, June 13, 1869, Martha Evitts, born June 15, 1851, daughter of Augustine and Maria
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(Erwin) Evitts, granddaughter of Caleb and Betsey (Thayer) Evitts. Betsey Thayer was probably a daughter of Wil- liam Thayer, born 1775, died April 1, 1837, his wife Sarah, born 1774, died September 1863. Augustine Evitts was born, 1833, in New Milford, and his wife Maria, about 1830 in the same town. He died 1909, and she died, 1858. Theodore Warner and wife were parents of eleven children, all of whom except one daughter are now living.
Clinton Henry Warner, son of Theo- dore and Martha, was born September 6, 1894, in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and in early youth attended school in Woodbury and Danbury. When fourteen years old he began to maintain himself, rapidly de- veloping a spirit of self reliance and in- dustry which has materially aided in his advancement. For a period of two years he was employed in peddling milk, later he worked in general stores, thus acquir- ing a knowledge of business. For a short time he worked in a machine shop, and it appears that he was not averse to any honest employment. In 1911 he entered the employ of the Alling Rubber Com- pany of Hartford, at the time a branch store was opened in Danbury. After six years in this branch, in 1918, he went to Hartford and worked in the main store of the establishment. There he continued until the summer of 1919, when he was sent to Middletown to open a branch store. Under his management this store proved a success, and he continued in charge until July 1, 1922, when he re- signed to engage in business on his own account. With Ellsworth F. Page of Dur- ham, he formed a partnership under the title of Page & Warner, to deal in automobile parts and accessories. They opened a store near the south end of Main Street in Middletown, and their personal popularity brought to them customers
whose trade has been retained by fair dealing and courteous treatment. Mr. Warner was born for a merchant, and his experience has developed a natural tend- ency.
He is a member of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, has passed all the principal chairs in a lodge of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics ; is a Republican in political principle, with independent mind, and is not bound by partisan dictates. From October, 1913, to May, 1917, he served in the 8th Company, Coast Artillery, as first-class private and first-class gunner, and was company clerk two years. In 1922 he affiliated with Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias.
He married, July 2, 1916, Mildred Grif- fin, who was born July 2, 1896, in Dan- bury, daughter of Cyrus O. and Mary (Butterworth) Griffin, natives, respec- tively, of Danbury and England. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of four chil- dren : Jane Esther, Beatrice Lois, Clinton Henry, Jr., and Frank Griffin.
ADORNO, Salvatore,
Theatre Owner.
A natural ability for accomplishing his aims and an entire devotion to his work are the chief factors in the success at- tained by Salvatore Adorno, owner of one of the leading theatres of Middletown, Connecticut. Several years ago, a stranger in a strange land, Mr. Adorno came to America with the feeling in his heart that he must succeed. In spite of the handi- caps, the new language, different customs, and many other drawbacks, he has man- aged by his indefatigable will to rise above these and take his place as one of the most substantial and honored citizens of Middletown. Mr. Adorno was born June 20, 1879, in Italy, son of Michele and Con-
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Salvatore Adorno
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
cetta (Salonia) Adorno. His father was a clothing and flour merchant ; he died in August, 1917, and is still survived by his wife. The public schools of his native home afforded Mr. Adorno his early edu- cation; at the age of eighteen years he came to America and settled in Middle- town, which city has continued to be his home, and where he has attained his suc- cess. It was imperative that the young lad secure work soon after his arrival and at that time there was not the demand for labor such as now. His first position was in a tin shop, where he received two and one-half dollars a week. Soon after he acquired a little knowledge of the language and fortified by his ambition to better himself, he changed his work and went into the brickyard of the Tuttle Brothers Company, where he received one dollar and thirty-five cents a day. He remained there for seven months, and out of his salary not only supported him- self but sent money home to his parents as well. Mr. Adorno was all the time im- proving himself in every respect and ap- plied for a position with the Russell Man- ufacturing Company. He was success- ful in obtaining the work, and for seven years remained in their employ as a weaver. He has the distinction of being one of the first of his nationality to work there.
By being thrifty and adding to his small competence, Mr. Adorno was able to engage in business for himself as a manufacturer of macaroni, in connection with which he also conducted a small grocery. This might be called the turn- ing point in his career, as it was from this date that his success was rapid. From small beginnings the business grew un- til two thousand pounds of macaroni was the daily output. This part of the busi- ness was disposed of eventually and his
whole attention given to the grocery end. In 1913, this was also given up, and in the same year Mr. Adorno opened a the- atre known as the "Star." In considera- tion of its size, it was successful enough, but it was not large enough to accommo- date very many patrons. Mr. Adorno then purchased the Crescent Theatre, as well as the ground, which is now used as a store and apartments. In 1915 he built and opened the "Grand" on a site of which he has a twenty-year lease. He conducted this theatre himself until 1919, when he leased the theatre for a term of years. In 1919 he bought the Mitchell Block, which embraces three stores and two floors of apartments.
During the World War there were many demonstrations of allegiance to their adopted country by those of foreign birth ; the cause of America and the Allies was their cause, and particularly notable was Mr. Adorno's activities in this direc- tion. He was a member of the War Bureau of Middletown, and donated the use of the theatre for both the Fourth and Fifth Liberty Loan drives, on both of which occasions Middletown went "over the top." He also gave a benefit performance and donated the gross re- ceipts, amounting to eight hundred dol- lars, to the Men's Service Club. He re- ceived several flattering cards commend- ing him for his patriotism, among them a letter from the president of the Hartford Manufacturers' Association. It is to be naturally expected that a man of Mr. Adorno's prominence is active in the social and civic life of Middletown. His political views are those of an independ- ent, but he is always ready to give his support to the best man. Fraternally he is a member of Council No. 3, Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Loyal Order of Moose,
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Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Italian Society, Sons of Italy.
Mr. Adorno married, in 1901, on Thanksgiving Day, Maria Pinto, daugh- ter of Andrea and Cesaria Pinto, all na- tives of Italy. The children are : Michael, Andrew, Joseph, William, Salvatore, Jr., and Concettina. Two daughters died in infancy. The family are attendants of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Mid- dletown, and Mr. Adorno generously aids in the support of its charities.
NILSON, A. H., Manufacturer and Inventor.
From Washington at intervals public documents compiled by departments and bureaus of the government are sent out on manifold subjects supposed to interest the citizen. Many of these documents relate to the development of the country, and are of interest to the student of its growth, and to those concerned in its wel- fare. There is, however, a subject of great general interest that no public docu- ment adequately covers. How great is the measure in which the foreign-born citizen contributes to the expansion and welfare of the United States? Many an immigrant, finding no opportunity in his own land for development, comes to this country with no capital beyond a deter- mination to succeed, and with an impulse to industry, or with a dormant ingenuity which here awakens and is effective, he becomes an essential element in his com- munity, winning note and fortune while assisting in the enriching of the land of his adoption.
Such a man is A. H. Nilson, the story of whose life reads like romance. Mr. Nil- son is a manufacturer, inventor and de- signer of special machinery, and is prom- inently identified with the business and
financial interests of Bridgeport, Connecti- cut. Mr. Nilson started from the bottom of the ladder and worked himself from the condition of a poor boy to his present enviable standing. He was born in Got- tenburg, Sweden, April 2, 1849, the son of Nil and Helena (Stele) Nilson, both na- tives of Sweden. He was educated in the excellent common schools of his native land, and after his schooling he learned the trade of a machinist. That he did not have mechanical opportunity there is ap- parent from the fact that he served as a sailor for six years. Then he was a fire- man and engineer in a saw-mill, a dual position which in wages must have been inadequate. In 1880 he came to the United States, set upon bettering his con- dition. He had no friends here, and was ignorant of the language. Landing in New York, he looked about and finally settled in Bridgeport, even then a manu- facturing town of consequence. Here he found employment with the Bridgeport Organ Company on Water Street, as a cabinet maker at one dollar a day, and later as operator of a wood-turning lathe. After the expiration of two years he was sent as an engineer to the Cornwall and Pat- terson Manufacturing Company's plant in Saugatuck, Connecticut. In 1883 he re- turned to Bridgeport with this company, and here for four years he operated all the automatic machines in the factory. He was then placed in charge of the machine department, which position he held for six years. In 1892 he established the A. H. Nilson & Sons Machine Company, con- ducting a machine shop in the Hamilton Brass Foundry building, Golden Hill and Middle Streets. Soon after the beginning of this venture came the great business depression of 1893, and Mr. Nilson dis- posed of this business to Knapp & Cowles, although he still remained in charge of
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the enterprise. Three years later the Cornwall & Patterson Company pur- chased the Knapp & Cowles Company, and Mr. Nilson again engaged in busi- ness on his own account. Among other things he became interested in the ma- chinery for manufacturing corsets and in- vented several corset machines, and these inventions are still in use throughout the United States. He also organized the Automatic Machine Company, of which he was president for two years. In 1898 the business was divided between the two stockholders, and the Automatic Machine Company moved to new quarters. Then Mr. Nilson established the A. H. Nilson Machine Company in the Knapp & Cowles building, and in 1904 he erected the build- ing at the corner of Railroad and Bost- wick avenues, to which he has since added several other buildings, until the group is an impressive token of his success. Mr. Nilson is the inventor of many machine devices in use all over the country. Among his other interests he is a director and one of the founders of the West Side Bank of Bridgeport. In April, 1917, the Elli- ott-Cornwall Manufacturing Company was purchased, and the General Machine and Manufacturing Company was organ- ized, of which Mr. Nilson is president.
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