USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 4 > Part 36
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profitable enterprises as conducted by Mr. Andretta, who is a man of excellent judgment, executive ability, progressive ideas and sound business principles, who has attained a place of prominence in banking and business circles, merited by his many sterling characteristics. Mr. Andretta is a director of the Riverside Trust Company, the Land Mortgage and Title Company, the Connalta Farms Company, and holds membership in Hartford Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Foresters of America, Young Italian American As- sociation, Victor Emmanuel Third So- ciety, Italian Club of Hartford, Italian American Club of New York City, City Club, Automobile Club of Hartford, and the Republican Club.
Mr. Andretta married, November 28, 1897, Felicia M. Pallotti, daughter of Nichola Pallotti, of Hartford, Connecti- cut, who died in November, 1914, and an account of whom will be found in the sketch of his son, Francis A. Pallotti, in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Andretta are the parents of four children: Salvadore, born in September, 1898, member of class of 1920 of Dartmouth College ; Nicholas, born in March, 1900; Henry, born in No- vember, 1902 ; and Maria Angela, born in May, 1907.
BRADLEY, Mark Spaulding, M. D., Specialist.
In an age of specialists in every profes- sion, the doctrine. "survival of the fittest," takes on a new significance. While it broadens the field of human endeavor greatly, in another sense it narrows it by bringing into competition a few men in each branch of the profession, as well as in the mechanical arts. While one may regret the passing of the "old family doc- tor" who treated every ailment or injury
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of the body; was the repository of all family woes, joys and secrets; presided at the birth, danced at the wedding, and mourned at the bier, then passed to his reward, loved and mourned by all-the new order is in the interests of better health and more intelligent living. Cause and effect are better understood to the specialist in diseases, and the years spent in preparation to combat diseases of a certain part of the body also teach how to prevent them.
Dr. Mark Spaulding Bradley was born at East Jaffrey, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, January 16, 1868, son of Dr. Oscar Holmes and Julia A. (Spaulding) Bradley, the former named having been a physician and eminent surgeon of Southern New Hampshire, also a bank president and influential business man, and the latter named a descendant of Edward Spaulding, of Braintree, Massa- chusetts. who came to this country from England in 1630. Another ancestor of Dr. Bradley was Nathaniel Holmes, who came to this country from Ireland, locat- ing in Londonderry, New Hampshire, a worthy representative of the Scotch-Irish race, whom President Wilson recently alluded to as "taking leave to belong the minute they landed." and whom another person alluded to as "a race that never produced a traitor." His son, Jonathan Holmes, great-grandfather of Dr. Brad- ley, was an officer of the Revolutionary army, serving under General Stark at Bennington, Vermont, and suffering with George Washington's army at the memo- rable battle at Valley Forge.
Dr. Bradley spent the days of his youth in his native town, obtained his prepara- tory education in its schools, and his first severance of home ties was when he en- tered Dartmouth College, where he re- mained one year. then entered Sheffield Scientific School. Yale University, where he pursued a course in biology. This
would indicate that his earlier ambition was for a different career than he has pursued, but the taste he inherited from his honored father for the medical profes- sion finally prevailed, and he matriculated at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, Columbia University, receiving his degree of M. D. with the class of 1892. He then served as interne at the New York City Hospital, and later he went abroad to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Halle and Berlin, and there pursued post-gradu- ate courses in medical schools and hos- pitals.
Thus thoroughly equipped for the prac- tice of his chosen profession, and possess- ing all the enthusiasm of youth, Dr. Brad- ley located in South Manchester, and there continued in general practice for ten years, and the following year he spent abroad in advanced special study, having decided to specialize in diseases of the skin, ear, nose and throat. That he has risen to high position as a specialist does not argue that he would not have done so as a general practitioner. for he was highly successful, but it does prove that concentration of study and effort brings a knowledge and skill that enables the spe- cialist to become a sure "rock of refuge" to the afflicted and a great blessing to a community in a much shorter time than had he scattered his effort over the entire range of human ills. Upon his return to the United States he located in Hartford, Connecticut, and there practiced as a spe- cialist, in due course of time attaining an extensive and representative patronage, and he ranks as one of the leading special- ists of his adopted city. Hardly yet in the prime of life, he has accomplished con- siderable, and arguing from the past into the future, the conclusion is not forced that greater honors await him.
From 1904 until 1907 Dr. Bradley served as medical director of the Hartford Life Insurance Company; is the present as-
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sistant laryngologist and rhinologist to Hartford Hospital, and for nine years was assistant medical director of the Connec- ticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. His business interests are also important, he serving for many years up to 1905 as a director of the Hartford, Manchester & Rockville Tramway Company ; is secre- tary and a director of the Manchester Light and Power Company; director of the Williams Brothers Manufacturing Company, of Glastonbury; the Glazier Manufacturing Company, of Glastonbury ; and formerly a director of the Vernon Woolen Company, of Vernon, the busi- ness being disposed of in 1908.
Dr. Bradley is a member of the City, County, and State Medical societies; the American Medical Association; Manches- ter Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Pythagoras Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wadsworth Council, Royal and Select Masters; Washington Command- ery, Knights Templar; Hartford Yale Alumni Association; Theta Delta Chi Fraternity ; the Hartford Club ; the Hart- ford Automobile Club, and the Yale Club of New York City. Dr. Bradley is a Bap- tist in religious faith, and a Republican in politics. He derives considerable pleasure and relaxation from time spent out-of- doors, especially with the rod and reel, the wary trout often luring him to the lakes and streams of his favorite haunts.
Dr. Bradley married, July 5, 1904, Jessie E. Goodnow, born November 10, 1879, daughter of Walter L. and Mary Adelaide (Upton) Goodnow. They are the parents of five children: Priscilla, George Good- now, Anne, Catherine and Lois.
HOLT, Fred P., Financier.
Fred P. Holt, president of the City Bank and Trust Company of Hartford,
Connecticut, is a descendant of one of New England's oldest families, and who by his own achievement in the financial world has maintained the reputation of a family that has contributed its full share to the material and moral welfare of the State.
Fred P. Holt, son of Lucius Hancock and Sarah (Gwinnell) Holt, was born No- vember 8, 1860. He is in the eighth gen- eration from Nicholas Holt, the American ancestor, who was born in England in about the year 1602, and sailed from the port of Southampton in April, 1635, in the ship "James," of London, arriving in Bos- ton in the following June. He was one of the first settlers of Newberry, Massa- chusetts, and in 1644 became one of the founders of Andover, Massachusetts, where he died in 1665. His wife's Chris- tian name was Elizabeth.
Their son, Nicholas Holt, was born in Andover in 1647, and was married there in 1679 to Mary Russell; he died in An- dover in 1715. Their son, Abiel Holt, was born in 1698, and was married to Hannah, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Geary) Abbott. In 1718 they removed to Windham, Connecticut, where they were early members of the church, and where he died in 1772. Their son, James Holt, was born in Windham, in 1746, and in 1769 married Esther Orven, removing afterwards to Willington. He died in 1818. Their son, Joseph Holt, was born in Willington, in 1770. In 1794 he mar- ried Betsy Parker, who died in 1814. at the age of thirty-nine years. He died in 1816. Their son, Alva Holt, was born in Willington, August 14, 1801, and died March 30, 1876. On February 5, 1823, he married Betsy, daughter of Levi and Sally (Fowler) Kelsey, who was born March 19, 1794, and died June 2, 1869. In early lite he engaged in farming, but later re- moved to Hartford, where he established
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a trucking business. He was an earnest temperance worker and lecturer.
Their son, Lucius Hancock Holt, father of Fred P. Holt, was born in Willington, October 1, 1827, died February 4, 1911, having been in poor health for five years. He attended the public schools of the town until he was fifteen years of age, when he was obliged to become the main support of the family. He sold news- papers until he was eighteen years old, when he abandoned this pursuit and learned the jeweler's trade, in Hartford. He worked at this until he was thirty years of age, possessed the energy, initi- ative, and the will and courage to venture into new fields, and became an expert judge of diamonds. Determining that he was worth more to himself than to any- one else, he started in the grain business on his own account, and with success from the beginning. He finally located in Chicago, the great grain centre, and might have remained there but for the calami- tous fire that visited that city. He re- turned to Hartford, and was for forty years treasurer of the Billings & Spencer Company. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Wash- ington Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Connecticut Consistory, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite. In all circles he was highly esteemed, and won many friends by his sterling character and attractive personality. He was a lifelong staunch Democrat, serving Hartford as council- man and alderman. In one contest against Henry Roberts in the sixth ward he won the verdict by one vote. On September 9, 1849. he married Sarah Gwinnell, born January 10. 1829. Of their children two attained maturity : Evelina C., born May 26, 1855, married Charles E. Billings ; and Fred P.
Fred P. Holt was educated in the public schools of Hartford and the high school
there. In the year 1878 he removed to McPherson, Kansas, where until 1893 he engaged in the abstract and insurance business-that is, real estate and convey- ancing. He then returned to Hartford, where he took charge of the safe deposit and trust departments of the Hartford Trust Company. He continued thus en- gaged until 1902, when he resigned the position, and in the following year went into the real estate business, in which he successfully remained until the year 1911. He was then appointed Building and Loan Commissioner, and in the same year received the appointment of Bank Commissioner. These responsible posts he resigned in the year 1915 in order to become president of the City Bank and Trust Company, in which position he is now engaged.
Mr. Holt is also president of the Insur- ance and Title Guarantee Company ; and director of the Billings and Spencer Com- pany, the C. E. Billings Manufacturing Company, and the Northern Engineering Company. He is a member of the Hart- ford Club, the City Club, and of the Bankers' Club of New York. His in- terest in Free Masonry has always been very strong; while in Kansas he was past master of Windham Lodge, No. 299, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; and was subsequently admitted to St. John's Lodge, No. 4, of Hartford. He is a Royal Arch Mason; belongs to Washington Commandery, Knights Templar; and is a member of Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Holt married Regina Miller, daugh- ter of Dr. William Miller. of Hartford. who was graduated at Yale in 1853. He has one son, Lieutenant-Colonel Lucius Hudson Holt. Professor of English and History at the United States Military Academy, West Point.
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HOGAN, Matthew,
Master Plumber, Inventor.
The standard established in past gener- ations by the merchants and manufac- turers of the city of Hartford, Connecti- cut, was an exceptionally high one in their methods of doing business, and we are forced to admit that their successors have not fallen away from the example that they set when we examine the record of such a man as Matthew Hogan, the pro- prietor of the oldest plumbing business in Hartford, senior member of the Hogan Manufacturing Company, who possesses a reputation not surpassed by that of any business man in the entire region.
Matthew Hogan was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1839, a son of William and Margaret (Sullivan) Hogan, and came to the United States of America in 1853. He took passage on the sailing vessel "Harmony," which took seven and a half weeks to make the voy- age, a fact which gives us some idea of the magnitude of the undertaking in crossing the ocean at that time. His par- ents, whom he accompanied to this coun- try, settled in Hartford, and for three years after reaching that place he at- tended the schools there. In the year 1856, however, he gave up his studies and was apprenticed to Thomas Birch, a well known plumber in Hartford at that time, and with him learned the details of that trade. Mr. Birch's shop was the first established in Hartford, or, for that mat- ter, anywhere between New York City and Boston, a fact that illustrates how comparatively young is the plumbing business in the country.
Mr. Hogan remained with Mr. Birch a number of years, and so great was his apti- tude in his tasks that even before he had completed his term of apprenticeship, his employer made him a journeyman, and
while he was still a mere youth chose him to be foreman of the shop, where he had charge over twenty-one other journeymen and an equal number of apprentices. It was about 1866 that Mr. Birch admitted him into partnership, where he remained for about three and one-half years. At the end of that period, however, he with- drew altogether from the old Birch con- cern, and established a plumbing busi- ness of his own, with a shop at No. 760 Main street, Hartford. For twenty years and more he conducted a growing and successful business at this place, and when he finally withdrew from its active management was succeeded there by his brother, Malachi Hogan. The death of the latter in June, 1909, left the manage- ment open again, and since that time it has rested with Malachi J. Hogan, a son of Matthew Hogan, its founder. The con- cern is to-day enjoying the highest degree of prosperity, and is the oldest business of its kind in the State of Connecticut, and one of the oldest anywhere that has been continuously conducted at the same ad- dress.
But Mr. Hogan did much more for the plumbing trade than the mere establish- ment of a successful business. He was a man with very intense fondness for mechanics and a remarkable genius for invention, qualities which began to show themselves even in early youth. His in- ventions in the various departments of plumbing are remarkably numerous, and there are probably very few inventors who have been granted a greater number of patents. At the present time these number between sixty and seventy, and cover a most diverse group of contriv- ances. Among them should be mentioned a number of types of steam boilers, fire hydrants, ball cocks, flushing valves, as well as the present universally used pneu- matic process of preserving ale and beer.
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He organized a number of concerns for the manufacture of his different patents, one of which was the Hartford Century Plumbing Company, which made a spe- cialty of several of his devices; and an- other was the Hogan Manufacturing Company, which, founded in November, 1882, with Henry F. Peck as president, Mr. Hogan as vice-president, John M. Peck as treasurer, Charles H. Downs, sec- retary, has enjoyed a very successful ca- reer, and is at present one of the most prosperous concerns of its kind in the city. Of recent years, Mr. Hogan, with his sons-William J., John F., Matthew M., Thomas N., and Malachi J .- have had complete control of this company, the ownership of which has passed into their hands. Its great success in recent years has unquestionably been due to the capa- ble management which the Hogans have exercised. Mr. Hogan was the first to design an earthen toilet bowl in the United States, and it was under his super- vision that the same was made by Thom- as Maddock at Trenton, New Jersey, an event which marked the beginning of cen- tury earthenware manufacture in Amer- ica. Mr. Maddock was later the founder of the present Thomas Maddock's Sons' Company. Mr. Hogan is still active, and is to be seen every day straightening work at the factory in Hartford, where liis various devices are manufactured. He is one of the oldest plumbers in the coun- try, and is very well known, not only in the business world of his own city but throughout plumbing circles in the United States.
Mr. Hogan has always taken an intelli- gent and active part in the general life of Hartford. In politics he is a conserva- tive Democrat, and while he has rather avoided than sought political preferment, has served in several offices of responsi- bility and trust. He was elected alder-
man from his ward and served in that office for many years, and in 1904 was elected State Senator and did efficient service for the community during the term which followed. He is active in so- cial life in the city. where he is a con- spicuous figure, and is a member of the Journeymen's Association and for some years president of the local body. He has always held a conspicuous place in the ranks of this society, and it is a special tribute to him that he was elected presi- dent, after he became a master. As an expression of the regard in which they held him, the association has on two dif- ferent occasions made him handsome pres- ents-the first, a complete set of table sil- ver; and the second, a handsome gold badge, of both of which Mr. Hogan is very proud. One of his chief pleasures has been found in horses, of which he was an excellent judge, besides being able to handle them himself in a most practical manner. It was not many years ago that he proved his ability as a horseman by driving his own entry in a race and win- ning the same. He owns a handsome summer home at Westbrook. Connecti- cut, which is situated on the Sound, and is often recorded as one of the handsome places in the State. He has named it "The Harmony," after the ship which carried him to America in his early days.
Mr. Hogan was married, in November, 1865. to Miss Ann Hanley, of Hartford, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Hanley. prominent residents of the city. Mrs. Hogan died in San Francisco, May, 1912. To Mr. and Mrs. Hogan ten children were born, as follows: Mary E .: William J. : John F., who is treasurer of the Hogan Manufacturing Company and was for twelve years a member of the Governor's Foot Guard, a well known Hartford mili- tary association ; Annie A., deceased ; Margaret B. : Matthew M., vice-president
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of the Hogan Manufacturing Company, police commissioner of Hartford, and trustee of Hartford Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Thomas N., married Bertha M. Goodale, of Center- ville, Ohio; Malachi J., secretary of the Hogan Manufacturing Company, and now conducts the old retail business on his own account; Agnes M., a teacher in the Hartford High School; and Catherine L. All Mr. Hogan's sons received their edu- cation in the public schools of Hartford, both the common and the high school, and upon completing their studies were taken into their father's business, which they learned in all its details.
Mr. Hogan is one of those characters so well known in the community that his fellows do him the high compliment of nicknaming him. He is distinctly what is called "a man's man," his tastes and occu- pations and views of life being of the kind that make a strong appeal to men as we meet them in the world of every day. His personality is a very definite one, and he is one of the best known and most pictur- esque figures in the whole region. He is one of the most democratic of men, his vision piercing through the thousand ex- ternal disguises, and reaching the essen- tial man in every person that he meets- a process, be it remarked, that is a sure cure for cynicism, and doubtless ac- counts for the healthy optimism of Mr. Hogan. Although we are not apt to real- ize it fully, a nickname is one of the greatest tributes that can be paid to a man by the community he lives in. We give nicknames only to those who we feel are very close and intimate with us, and then only if we love them or hate them very greatly, either of which emotion is a much greater tribute than mere cold admiration, though the former is much the greater of the two if the community be essentially virtuous. As to the absurd
modern notion that such intimacy as finds expression in nicknames is undignified, it may be said that it springs from a com- plete misapprehension as to the nature of dignity. Dignity does not consist, as so many imagine, in a mere adherence to the formal mode and an avoidance of con- spicuousness; it is, on the other hand, simply an attribute of unconscious virtue, and a child, the most gamesome of all creatures, is also the most dignified, and, it is to be remarked, the one we are most of all prone to nickname. Therefore, in calling him "Mate," and "Hogan, the patent man," the community pays Mr. Hogan its most kindly compliment, since there is no room for doubt that it was in love that it so dubbed him, and those whom it has made into governors, legisla- tors and judges and thrust into the cold halls of officialdom, may look with envy upon him whom it has taken into its heart and, with this homely phrase, called its friend.
WOLFF, Arthur J., M. D., Eminent Physician.
An analysis of the life record of Dr. Arthur J. Wolff, gynecologist, also city bacteriologist of Hartford, one of the rep- resentative citizens of that city, shows that keen discrimination, unflagging in- dustry and a thorough knowledge of his chosen profession constitute the principal elements in the success which has crown- ed his efforts. He is a native of London, England, born June 7, 1855, son of Dr. Arthur S. and Sarah (Ansell) Wolff.
Dr. Arthur S. Wolff was born in Lyons, France, in 1819, and died in Brownsville, Texas, in October, 1904. He was a man of splendid classical education and un- usually broad and thorough training in medicine and surgery for his day. He re- ceived his classical education at the fa-
Conn-4-17
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tous University of Lauvain, which has gone down in the ruthless devastation of the present European war. After his graduation from that institution, he pur- sued a course in medicine at the Univer- sity of Leyden, in Holland, a city made famous as the residence of the Pilgrim Fathers prior to their coming to America. After completing the course there, he pur- sued post-graduate studies at the Acade- my of Medicine in Paris, France. After completing his studies there he devoted a period of time to extensive travel in Europe, after which he became an interne in one of the Paris hospitals. From there he went into the French army as a sur- geon, serving in the Algiers campaign. In recognition of his work he was made a member of the Legion of Honor, the cross he received being now in the pos- session of his son, Dr. Arthur J. Wolff. He also went with the French army into the Crimea. He then located in London, England, where he was married, and also practiced his profession until 1858, in tvhich year he emigrated to the United States. He located in New York City and practiced there until the outbreak of the Civil War. He served as surgeon of the Guard Lafayette, Fifty-fifth New York Regiment (French Zouaves), and went out under General LaGall, and was later with General De Trobriand. He was mustered out at Plattsburgh, New York, where he settled and practiced sur- gery until 1875. He was unusually suc- cessful, and built up a large and lucrative practice. He was highly regarded by members of his profession, and he en- joyed the unlimited confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens. While at Plattsburgh he was closely allied with Smith M. Weed, the famous political leader, and performed considerable polit- ical work, although never a seeker for political office. He was for several years,
however, medical officer of the State prisons of New York. In 1875 Dr. Wolff removed to Brazos Santiago, Texas, where he served as health officer of the city, and practiced his profession until his decease. He was a member of the Ma- sonic lodge in Plattsburgh, from which he demitted to the lodge in Brownsville, Texas, in which he filled the office of worshipful master for a term. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
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