USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 7 > Part 4
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He has been active in many local or-
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ganizations, and when the war came to the United States, he became a member of Company L of the First Regiment of the State Guard, and at present holds a commission as its second lieutenant. He also became chairman of the Bristol Chapter of the Americal Red Cross, and a founder of and member of the Bristol War Bureau. In addition to these rather burdensome and confining activities, he became by reason of his being president of the Bristol National Bank, the liberty loan chairman of the Bristol District (Bristol, Forestville and Terryville) and has managed all four campaigns, in which Bristol very creditably exceeded its quota in every drive in more than an average way, and with a total of over $5,000,000 in subscriptions.
Mr. Treadway has been deeply inter- ested in the promotion of a project to build an adequate recreation center for young and old of Bristol, and is at this time first vice-president of the Bristol Community Club, which has a fund of nearly $200,000 for the purpose men- tioned. He takes an active interest in associated employers' and manufacturers' affairs, and has been for several years and is now a member of the board of directors and treasurer of the Manufacturers' Asso- ciation of Hartford County. He is also active in the interests of the manufac- turers division of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and its chairman. The Man- ufacturers' Association of Connecticut also makes demands upon him, and in 1915 he fought energetically for an ade- quate and equitable state corporation tax bill, which in that year became a law. He is now a member of the executive com- mittee, the managing body of the State Association. He is a member of Frank- lin Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Pequabuck Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ;
Ionic Council, Royal and Select Masters ; Washington Commandery, No. I, Knights Templar ; Sphinx Temple, Mystic Shrine; Scottish Rite; the Yale Club of New York, the Graduates' Club of New Ha- ven, the Farmington Country Club, the Bristol Club, and the Shuttle Meadow Country Club. He is a loyal and devoted member of the Congregational church, being bred in the faith of that body. He is fond of outdoor life in many forms, and is an enthusiastic devotee of golf, walk- ing, horseback riding and automobiling. Mr. and Mrs. Treadway are fond of travel and have many delightful memories of visits to all parts of this country and neighboring points, i. e., in Canada and Cuba.
Mr. Treadway's family consists of a wife and two sons, named Charles Terry, Jr., and Graham Richards. His mar- riage took place on June 4, 1902, and his wife's maiden name was Isabella Graham Richards.
Few men make their mark in the world as early in life as Charles Terry Tread- way. The secret of his success lies in his guiding principle of life, and is of par- ticular interest to young men coming from one of their own age. Mr. Tread- way says:
In my mind one principle ever stands preëmi- nent as our guide to success as American citi- zens, and more especially in this principle im- portant with a young American. He should stand unswerving in his loyalty to all those things which make for the betterment of social, eccle- siastical or material conditions. He should be at once loyal to employer and employee, to church, home and State, and perhaps more than all, to every truly American ideal.
Mr. Treadway has found great help and benefit from private study and reading of economical treatises, financial and cor- poration histories, and sociological litera-
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ture, which have helped to fit him for leadership in the industrial and banking world, and he has also derived much cul- ture and profit from the study of English literature. All this goes to show that dil- igence, industry and judicious use of time and talent, in accordance with high ideals and firm purpose, may win the prize of success and of place and power at an age when many men are still apprentices in their chosen work.
SIMONTON, Frank Forester, Physician.
The activity of Dr. Frank Forester Simonton in the medical profession dates from 1903, while since 1911 he has been identified with the medical profession in Thompsonville as a general practitioner. During this time Dr. Simonton has be- come the center of a large general prac- tice, and has gained worthy position among his professional brethren of the State, the only interruption to his work having been during his three months' term of enlistment in the United States army as a member of the staff of Base Hospital No. 132, an overseas organiza- tion. Dr. Simonton held the rank of cap- tain in the medical department, and dur- ing his brief term of service fulfilled the many exactions of military life with the ready response that characterized the medical profession's part in the entire war, both in the United States and with the Expeditionary Force.
Dr. Frank Forester Simonton is a son of John Pascal and Harriet Judson (Baker) Simonton, and grandson of Pat- rick Simonton, of Portland, Maine, his line of Irish origin represented in Maine, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina by branches founded by the immigrants from the North of Ireland. Patrick Sim- onton was a native of Portland, Maine,
where he followed his calling of ship car- penter. He married Mary Pascal, of Warren, Maine, and they were the parents of John Pascal, Andrew, Maria, and Fan- nie.
John Pascal Simonton, father of Dr. Simonton, was born in Rockport, Maine, January 9, 1840. He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has devoted his entire life to the preaching of the doctrine of that denomination. He married Harriet Judson Baker, born in East Boothbay, Maine, March 13, 1849, daughter of Jeremiah P. Baker, a ship carpenter of Boothbay, Maine, where the family had resided for several genera- tions.
Frank Forester Simonton was born in Waldoboro, Maine, April 6, 1876, and after preliminary studies he entered the East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport, whence he was graduated in 1895. Subsequently he enrolled in the academic department of Wesleyan Uni- versity, graduating in the class of 1899, after which he pursued professional stud- ies in the Bowdoin Medical School. He was graduated M. D. in 1903, and after completing his interneship of six months he established in general practice in Ells- worth, Maine, after eight years making Thompsonville the scene of his profes- sional labors. Here Dr. Simonton's prac- tice has been general in nature, with some work in minor surgery, and he has served faithfully the community of which he has been a member for eight years. In the recent country wide and almost world wide epidemic of influenza, which taxed the medical profession to the utmost lim- it, Dr. Simonton attended his cases with a constancy and fidelity that had its happy result in the unusual success he had with this disease, even when the patient had advanced into the pneumonia stage.
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Commensurate with his professional standing has been the place he has taken in the civic life of his town, and his circle of friends and acquaintances is a wide one. He is a member of the. County, State, and National Medical associations, and he holds membership in both the Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows orders. Dr. Sim- onton has been a lifelong member of the Republican party, and a strong believer in its principles, and he is, with his fam- ily, a communicant of the Methodist church.
Dr. Simonton married, in Charlestown, Maine, November 8, 1904, Edith Marion Thayer, born August 6, 1879, daughter of Fred Alphonso and Mary (Tibbetts) Thayer, her mother a member of a family old in Charleston, Maine, her father born in Wrentham, Massachusetts. Children of Dr. Frank Forester and Edith Marion (Thayer) Simonton: Mary Harriet, born February 10, 1907; Edith Marion, born February 21, 1908; John Thayer, born August 24, 1916.
WHITTELSEY, William Frost, Insurance Executive.
The story of a life cannot be told in any fragmentary mention of a man and his work; but the heritage of an honored name is a story in itself, a story already told. In the days of the Crusades-down through English History-from the early Colonial days in America-the name of Whittelsey has stood for all that is worthy. William Frost Whittelsey, ma- rine vice-president of the Aetna Fire In- surance Company, of Hartford. Connect- icut, is putting into the administration of the large affairs in his hands the same sound judgment and unimpeachable in- tegrity which have marked the careers of his forebears.
The name of Whittelsey originated with the people who dwelt in Cambridge- shire, England, on the Whittelsea Fens, and belongs to the "Place names." It dates back to the tenth century. In 1187 William Whittelsey was one of those who followed their King "in the vain hope of securing our Saviour's tomb from the Jews." He returned to England in 1190, and fell at the battle of Malta, in 1192. The coat-of-arms of the Whittelsey fam- ily is as follows :
Arms-Azure, a fesse, ermine, between three escallop shells, or. An esquire helmet on shield. Crest-Lion rampant.
Motto-Ammo et fide (Courage and Faith).
(I) John Whittelsey, the immigrant an- cestor of the family in America, was born July 4, 1623, in Cambridgeshire, England, a son of John and Lydia (Terry) Whit- telsey. He was a member of the Lords' Say and Seal Company, which named Say- brook, one of the earliest settlements of Connecticut. He came to America in 1635. In 1662 he was keeper of the ferry at Saybrook, with William Dudley. He bought lands and was representative in the General Assembly, besides holding several other minor offices. He married, June 20, 1664, at Saybrook, Ruth Dudley, born April 20, 1645, in Guildford, Con- necticut, daughter of William and Jane (Lutman) Dudley. Her father was the immigrant of that name who settled in Guilford in 1639.
(II) Stephen Whittelsey, second son of John and Ruth (Dudley) Whittelsey, was born April 3, 1667, at Saybrook, and died in 1760. He was a prominent man, and made himself signally useful in the public life of the community. He was made a freeman, April 5, 1704; was elected dep- uty for Saybrook in 1710, and also in 1725. He was townsman, justice of the
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peace, and aided materially in the building of the ferry, until other work claimed his time. He married, October 14, 1696, Re- becca Waterous, born September 20, 1677, daughter of Abraham and Rebecca (Clarke) Waterous, of Saybrook. She died about 1715.
(III) Ambrose Whittelsey, son of Ste- phen and Rebecca (Waterous) Whittel- sey, was born January 13, 1712. His youth was spent in hard work ; first on the farm, and then in assisting his father at the ferry. Despite this fact he gained a very fair education, and held the title of attorney. He engaged in the practice of law until his death, April 17, 1756. He served as deputy and justice of the peace. He married, March 9, 1732, Elizabeth Mather, born in Saybrook, in 1710, daugh- ter of Rev. Azariah Mather, who was born in 1685. He was a tutor at Yale University, and an accomplished linguist. He married Mattie Taylor. His grand- father, Timothy Mather, died January 14, 1684, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and his father, Rev. Samuel Mather, was one of the founders of Yale University.
(IV) Ambrose (2) Whittelsey, son of Ambrose (1) and Mattie (Taylor) Whit- telsey, was born December 21, 1732, at Saybrook, and died December 24, 1818. He worked at the ferry, and was ap- pointed a deputy for Saybrook for five years, from 1751 to 1756. He was jus- tice of the peace for New London county. He was made a freeman, April 11, 1757. He married, in 1756, Elizabeth Tully, who was born April 23, 1739, and died in 1828.
(V) Ambrose (3) Whittelsey, son of Ambrose (2) and Elizabeth (Tully) Whit- telsey, was born December 20, 1761, at Saybrook, and died August 20, 1827. When he reached his majority he shipped as a sailor, and eventually became master and owner of vessels. He sailed to the
West Indies. For a period of six years he remained at home and during that time was representative to the Legislature three times. Between 1820 and 1824 he made extended voyages, mostly to Spain and Portugal. In his old age he gave up the sea and lived a retired life. He mar- ried, February 20, 1783, Ann Water- house, born at Saybrook in 1758, died there September 12, 1838.
(VI) Friend Whittelsey, son of Am- brose (3) and Ann (Waterhouse) Whit- telsey, was born June 11, 1787, at Say- brook, died at Sandusky, Ohio, August 6, 1872. For some time he lived in Chester, Connecticut, and then removed to San- dusky, where he was engaged in general merchandising. He married (first) De- cember 15, 1814, Sylvia Stannard, born in 1796, and died October 11, 1832. He married (second) February 19, 1834, Mary Hilyard.
(VII) William Friend Whittelsey, son of Friend and Sylvia (Stannard) Whit- telsey, was born November 4, 1822, at East Windsor, Connecticut, and died January 25, 1907, in Hartford. He grew up in the clothing business, and made a trip to Sandusky. Ohio, in a canal boat. There he engaged in business, but after some years returned East. He continued in the clothing business, and established himself in a retail store in Hartford. He was very highly respected by all who knew him; an affable, genial man, inter- ested in every phase of the life of the works about him. He was an enthusiastic Mason, a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 4, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons ; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar ; Connecticut Consistory ; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Whittelsey was one of the early members of the Putnam Phalanx, and a member of Charter Oak
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Lodge, No. 2, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married (first) January 16, 1845, at Hartford, Isabella Lathrop, born February 22, 1828, at Hartford, daughter of Samuel B. and Emma (Frost) Lathrop; she died September 2, 1881, at Hartford. He married (second) February 23, 1885, at Warehouse Point, Connecticut, Jennie Elizabeth Randall, born June 5, 1849, at Clinton, Massachusetts, daughter of Jo- siah and Elizabeth (Gleason) Randall, of Clifton, Illinois.
(VIII) William Frost Whittelsey, ma- rine vice-president of the Aetna Insurance Company, was born October 18, 1856, son of William Friend and Isabella (Lathrop) Whittelsey. He received his formal edu- cation in the Hartford grammar and high schools, and supplemented this study with broad and well chosen reading. He spent two years in a real estate office, then en- tered the employ of John B. Powell, in the life insurance business. In 1886 Mr. Whittelsey entered the employ of the Aetna Company, in the local agency. He was transferred to the home office, Feb- ruary 21, 1891, as superintendent of the re-insurance department. He continued thus for several years, then became an examiner of fire risks. Some years later he took hold of the marine end of the busi- ness, at first as clerk, then in 1905 as special agent. In 1908 he became assist- ant secretary ; in 1912 secretary ; and in 1917 was made vice-president. This rapid rise from a subordinate position to one of the most important offices in the gift of the company has been due to the thorough business efficiency of the man and his sterling character. Mr. Whittelsey is a member of Hartford Lodge, No. 88, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons; of the Drug and Chemical Club, of New York; of the Country Club, of Farmington ; Automobile Club of Hartford.
Mr. Whittelsey married, September 12, 1877, at Hartford, Katherine White Free- man, born April 3, 1858, at Lyme, Con- necticut, daughter of Richard and Aman- da (Bostwick) Freeman. Both are Epis- copalians. They have one daughter, Maude L., born February 24, 1887, who married Henry J. Foster, of the Travel- ers' Insurance Company, and who has one daughter, Barbara, born August 4, 1913.
CROFT, Rev. Charles Pitnam, Welfare Worker.
It is our good fortune now and then to meet men in our course through life who, in addition to being public spirited, carry their altruism to the point where they are indifferent to the praise of their fellow- men. They persevere on, content in the sense of duty well accomplished. Such a man is the Rev. Charles Pitnam Croft, of Simsbury, Connecticut.
(I) In early Colonial days there were many settlers in the Pennsylvania valleys who had left their lands and homes across the seas, coming to this country in order to establish their homes again in the free- dom which they desired. One of these was James Croft, who was the great- grandfather of Charles P. Croft. James Croft came from northern Germany in his youth, previous to 1776. He served in the Revolutionary War as a member of the New York Militia from April 10, 1778, to April 10, 1781. Thus did he prove him- self a worthy citizen of his adopted country. He held the commission of cor- poral under Captain Jonathan Hallett and Colonel Philip Cortlandt. Upon the ceas- ing of the war, Mr. Croft took up his for- mer occupation of farming, which he con- tinued until the end of his life.
(II) John Croft, son of James Croft, was a resident of Putnam Valley through-
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out his lifetime. He was a farmer and owned many acres of land. He was the father of Matthias, of whom further.
(III) Matthias Croft, son of John Croft, was born in 1809 in Putnam Valley, Put- nam county, New York. He inherited lands from his father, and the will to do from his grandfather, and with this heri- tage he became one of the most success- ful farmers of the valley. He cultivated many acres and was prosperous. Mr. Croft was keenly interested in civic mat- ters and was a member of the Whig party, later becoming a Republican at the time of the organization of that party. He was a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for over half a century he held an office in the church. He married Maria Chapman, a native of Putnam county, who died in 1883. After her decease Mr. Croft retired from active cares and settled in Peekskill, New York, where he died in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Croft were the parents of the following children : 1. Mary Jane, married Reuben Smith, who is now deceased. 2. Harriet, wife of Theodore Travis. 3. William H. 4. Charles P., of whom further. 5. Han- nah, wife of Robert Strong. 6. Silas C. 7. Francis D.
(IV) Charles Pitnam Croft, son of Matthias and Maria (Chapman) Croft, was born in Putnam county, New York, where his forefathers had long dwelt. He was a student at the Peekskill Mili- tary Academy after completing his pub- lic school course. He next attended the Charlotteville Seminary at Charlotteville, New York, and in 1869 was graduated from the Wesleyan University of Middle- town, Connecticut. In 1869, which was also his year of graduation, Rev. Mr. Croft was called to the Methodist Epis- copal church at Simsbury, Connecticut. This was his first acquaintance with the
village where he has been resident almost continuously since, and where he has been the means of introducing many helpful and beneficial measures to the life of the community. Three years later he became a minister of the Congregational church, being ordained at Avon, Connecticut, and his successive pastorates were at Torring- ton, Watertown, Connecticut, and Terre Haute, Indiana. In the latter place his health, which had been failing, obliged him to discontinue his labors, temporarily at least, and resigning his pastorate Mr. Croft returned to Simsbury. He did not immediately take up any special labors, but rested from the arduous cares of a pastorate in an effort to regain his health. A man of his temperament could not long remain idle, however, and soon he began to receive calls to preach in other pul- pits. Mr. Croft has never since occupied a regular pastorate, but he has been most active in many ways in performing many acts of goodness. A few years ago he es- tablished in Simsbury, a "Community House." This house is equipped with reading rooms, containing books and other literature which interests the young mind : it has rest rooms, where members may sit and entertain themselves and their friends. Music is provided by the guests, and altogether a general feeling of good fellowship pervades, which is the fundamental reason of the "house." It fills a long felt need of some place for the young people to gather and enjoy themselves, and it remained for a man such as Mr. Croft to see and supply this need. Mr. Croft is naturally possessed of fine oratorical ability, and this trait combined with his fine literary taste makes him in much demand as a pulpit speaker. He is a true friend, especially to the young man and young woman, and
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among his fellow-townsmen in Simsbury he is held in high esteem.
Mr. Croft married, in 1872, at Sims- bury, Julia Mather, daughter of William and Emma (Phelps) Mather, a descend- ant of two of the oldest families of Con- necticut.
Rev. Mr. Croft has been an extensive traveler. He has been to Europe two times, and has visited the Holy Land, Egypt, and the Orient. The Nile river country and Asia Minor he has also vis- ited, and has journeyed extensively through South America, Panama and the West Indies. On all of these journey- ings he has made frequent lectures and delivered many addresses.
PRENTICE, George E., Manufacturer, Inventor.
The success achieved by George E. Prentice, president of the G. E. Prentice Manufacturing Company of New Britain, manufacturers of sheet metal and wire goods, was not through accident, but by the constant application of effort. From the very outset of his career, as an ap- prentice in a jewelry establishment, he manifested the energy and good judg- ment which have been important factors throughout his business life.
Mr. Prentice was born in 1870 in Eng- land, and as a boy of thirteen came to the United States, and to New Britain, Con- necticut. Soon afterwards he entered the employ of the Churchill & Lewis Com- pany, the oldest jewelry manufacturing concern in the country, and there served his apprenticeship as jeweler. Upon their moving to New York, Mr. Prentice, de- siring to remain in New Britain, became associated with the Traut & Hine Manu- facturing Company to learn the trade of tool making. He found this work much
more to his liking, and possessed of nat- ural mechanical ability, he made rapid progress. In the short space of two years he was promoted to superintendent of the plant. At that time it was rather a small concern ; Mr. Prentice remained in the em- ploy of the firm until 1912, and enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing the business grow and expand until it increased to half a million dollar company and carried about six hundred and twenty-five em- ployees. In the latter year Mr. Prentice resigned his position and organized the G. E. Prentice Manufacturing Company, and he was elected president of the organ- ization. In the short space of the six years intervening, a million dollar .busi- ness has been built up. It is therefore hardly necessary to go into detail about the business acumen and judgment of Mr. Prentice, to whose efforts and untiring industry much of this success is due. The corporation ranks among the leading bus- iness institutions of New Britain, and its officers are men of high standing in the community. The inventive genius of Mr. Prentice has been ever at work, and dur- ing his years with the Traut & Hine firm he took out a number of patents which he assigned to his employers. He has con- tinued to improve and patent many me- chanical appliances which are used and controlled by his own company.
Mr. Prentice married Edith M. Chal- oner, a native of New Britain, a daughter of W. T. Chaloner. Four daughters : Le- nore, Mildred, Dorothy, and Edith.
BRAY, Henry T., Physician, Health Officer.
During the sixteen years of practice of his profession in New Britain, Connect- icut, Dr. Bray has won for himself a well deserved place of recognition. He came
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to that city in the very beginning of his work, and his high integrity and the con- fidence he has gained have brought him a large clientele. He has faithfully and efficiently served in various public offices, and is one of New Britain's progressive citizens. Dr. Bray was born October 4, 1876, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the son of William J. and Catharine (Tierney) Bray.
William J. Bray is a native of Quebec, Canada, born in 1846. He removed to St. Johnsbury, and there engaged in the business of builder and contractor. In 1889 he came to Hartford and followed this work. Mr. Bray now lives retired from active business in Hartford, and re- cently celebrated his golden wedding an- niversary. He married Catharine Tier- ney, born in Tinwick, Province of Quebec, Canada, and they were the parents of the following children: Anna, married Dr. J. E. McSweeney; Agnes, wife of Frank Lloyd; Clara, wife of William Haaser ; Beatrice, who lives at home; Walter D., practices dentistry in Hartford; Joseph A., also engaged in the practice of den- tistry in Hartford; Henry T., mentioned below.
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