USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 8 > Part 28
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CARTER, Galen A., Attorney-at-Law, Councilman.
Among the factors of civic prosperity there is one that has nothing to do with the carrying on of trade or industrial op- erations, yet which is so important that without its presence the material ad- vancement of the community must prove abortive, and which is, as it were, the cor- nerstone of the whole arch of wholesome civic life. This is the spirit of those pro- gressive citizens who hold the interests of their community at heart, while having a share in its affairs and government-the spirit of loyalty to ideals in public and professional as well as private life. Among the citizens of Stamford who have exemplified this spirit in their careers is Galen A. Carter, who holds a prominent position, junior member of the firm of Fessenden & Carter, until the death of Mr. Fessenden in 1908, and then senior mem- ber of a new firm, still doing business under the same firm name, until Novem- ber, 1919, when Mr. Carter and Mr. War- ren F. Cressy formed a new partnership under the firm name of Carter & Cressy, which firms for many years have held a
conspicuous position among the leaders of the bar in Connecticut. Mr. Carter has stood for all that we associate with the highest traditions of the American bar, and consistently adhered in his prac- tice to the best standards of his profes- sion.
Galen A. Carter is a member of a family which has been conspicuous both in old and New England, the surname being a very ancient one. It appears in the early Hundred Rolls and belongs to that great class which is derived from occupations, the original meaning in this case being obvious. In America that branch of the family from which Mr. Carter is de- scended has resided in New York City for several generations, and his grandfather, Dr. Galen Carter, a native of Maine, stud- ied medicine in Vergennes, Vermont, and was a prominent physician in New York many years. He was in active prac- tice in New York up to the time of his death which occurred at his home in the year 1870.
One of his children was the Hon. Galen A. Carter, Sr., father of the Mr. Carter of this sketch, who was born in New York City, June 21, 1832, and passed his child- hood and early youth there. As a lad he attended educational institutions in that city and obtained a splendid education, being eventually graduated from the Med- ical School in connection with Columbia College. After mature consideration, however, he decided to follow a business career instead of the professional one his studies had opened to him, and accord- ingly became connected with the New York Stock Exchange, and was admitted as a partner in the celebrated Wall street concern of Jacob Little & Company. Mr. Carter was for many years a prominent figure on the Stock Exchange until his retirement from business in the sixties. He was also successfully engaged in a
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mercantile business for some time. After the death of his father, Dr. Carter, in 1870, Mr. Carter removed to Stamford, Connecticut, and there took up his resi- dence, remaining there until the close of his life. Although he did not engage in business after removing to Stamford, Mr. Carter was far from spending his time in idleness, turning his energies to excellent account in the service of his adopted community. He took a decidedly active part in public affairs, and held many of- fices in the gift of the city, among them being that of burgess of the borough of Stamford. In 1874 he was the successful candidate of the Democratic party for the office of State Senator from the Fairfield county district, and in that office proved himself a most capable and disinterested public servant. Indeed all his public life was marked by a large degree of that pro- gressive spirit that has made Stamford a city of importance in the commonwealth of Connecticut. Mr. Carter was a man of strong social instincts, and was a member of several organizations of a fraternal and social character. He was affiliated with the Chi Phi fraternity while yet a stu- dent in the Medical School at Columbia University, and in Stamford was one of the most prominent and influential mem- bers of the Suburban Club.
Mr. Carter married, November 9, 1853, Mary C. Davenport, born November 9, 1836, and died August 11, 1891, a daugh- ter of Theodore and Harriet (Chesbor- ough) Davenport, old and highly re- spected residents of Stamford, and a member of a prominent Connecticut fam- ily. Mr. and Mrs. Carter were the parents of the following children: I. Edward B. L., born December 13, 1855; educated at St. John's Episcopal School, Stamford, and then served as a deputy clerk in the office of the State treasurer in Hartford for four years, under James D. Smith, of
Stamford; he then took up the business of accounting, at a time when trained ac- countants were comparatively few, and became an expert in his line; he did a considerable business in auditing and other accounting work for banks and other large corporations ; a Republican in politics, he took a great interest in pub- lic affairs; he was a man of strong re- ligious beliefs, and was for many years a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal. Church, of Stamford, supporting liberally the work of the parish and serving the church in the office of vestryman and war- den; he married Anna S. Sanford, of Stamford, by whom he had two children, one of whom, Edna S. Carter, survives ; his death occurred December 13, 1918. 2. Galen A., with whose career we are here especially concerned. 3. Theodora, who became the wife of Daniel F. Treacy, of the firm of Davenport & Treacy, of Stamford, manufacturers of pianofortes.
Galen A. Carter, son of Galen A., Sr., and Mary C. (Davenport) Carter, was born November 23, 1857, in New York City, and passed the first twelve years of his life in that city. When he was twelve years old, his parents came to Stamford to live and since that time his life has been associated with this flourishing com- munity. For some time he attended St. John's Episcopal School, but later re- turned temporarily 'to New York for a course in Packard's Business College and was graduated from the latter institution with the class of 1875. He was a young man of strong intellectual tastes, and to his temperament a legal career made a strong appeal. Accordingly, on January I, 1876, he entered the law office of Fer- ris & Fessenden as a student and there pursued his chosen subject to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar of Connecticut in Bridgeport, 1880. For seven years he practiced law with the
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firm of Ferris & Fessenden, and then, in 1887, after the death of Mr. Ferris, he formed a legal partnership with his old chief, Samuel Fessenden, and the firm of Fessenden & Carter was formed. In 1895 Homer S. Cummings was admitted into the firm and the name became Fessenden, Carter & Cummings. Five years later, however, Mr. Cummings withdrew and the old name was resumed. The death of Mr. Fessenden in 1908 caused a reorgan- ization of the old concern, and the present partners formed a new firm under the style of Fessenden & Carter, which was retained up to November, 1919. This concern has been for more than a gen- eration one of the leading law firms of Fairfield county, and much of the most important litigation of the region has passed through its office. In addition to his private practice, Mr. Carter has served the community in a number of legal ca- pacities and brought to that service his great powers and professional knowledge. In the year 1883, when the City Court of Stamford was organized, he was ap- pointed assistant prosecuting attorney, and two years later became prosecuting attorney. In the year intervening, 1884, he was also appointed assistant State at- torney, holding the double office until 1913, when he resigned the former, and has since continued in the latter capacity. During this period Mr. Carter has enjoyed . a great and growing reputation, and now occupies a conspicuous place among the leaders of the Connecticut bar. His abil- ity and high sense of professional ethics are acknowledged by all, not only among his colleagues of the bar but by the com- munity-at-large. He is a man of strong character and magnetic personality, whom it is a pleasure to know, keen-eyed and firm-lipped, a man of power and en- ergy, and withal one who appreciates the wholesomeness of the outdoor world and
makes it a large part of his interest in life. He is, like his father, possessed of strong social instincts and feelings, and is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, of Stamford; the Suburban Club, of Stam- ford ; the Stamford Yacht Club; the East Side Rod and Gun Club ; and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He is keenly interested in matters of art, es- pecially in connection with encouraging dramatic art of the highest type, and is a director of the Stamford Theatre.
Galen A. Carter was united in marriage, April 12, 1888, with Anna G. Smith, a daughter of William D. and Esther M. (Smith) Smith of Stamford. To Mr. and Mrs. Carter one child has been born, Ken- neth W. Carter, born January 23, 1889. Kenneth W. Carter was educated at a private schol in Stamford, and upon com- pleting his studies there entered the em- ploy of J. D. Smith & Company, a brokerage firm of New York City; later he became an electrician in the employ of the Fire Department of Stamford ; at the time of the entrance of the United States into the great European conflict, he en- listed in the National army and was sent with the 90th Division, American Expe- ditionary Forces, to France; he was in Germany with the United States forces of occupation, detailed to that country until June, 1919, and has since returned and is now engaged in banking.
Galen A. Carter has been noted espe- cially throughout the State for the care- ful manner in which it is his custom to draw complaints in criminal actions. He is also exceedingly careful in prepar- ing his civil pleadings. None of the minor details, which are so often overlooked, escape his attention in the preparation of a case. In court, his ability to group the points in a case in a telling manner is striking, but he never indulges in flowery
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rhetoric, confining himself strictly to the points at issue and pressing these in such a logical and forceful manner as to carry conviction that his conclusions are cor- rect. One unique characteristic of his policy is that he uniformly refuses to dis- cuss his cases with the newspapers.
Mr. Carter has always been active in political work, but with no thought of pre- ferment for himself, although he was a member of the Common Council of the city of Stamford for two terms. His in- terest is that of a public-spirited citizen who considers it the duty of every man to take an active part in governmental af- fairs within the compass of his abilities. He has ever been a staunch Democrat, and in 1896, when the party became di- vided over the so called "Free Silver" issue, Mr. Carter exerted himself to the utmost to hold it together at least on local issues, leaving its members free to follow their convictions regarding the question of the free coinage of silver. Mr. Carter is esteemed by his fellow-citizens as a man of broad views and sympathies, who has always been ready to aid every improvement that promises to enhance the public welfare.
SMITH, William Deming, Merchant, Useful Citizen.
Among the most useful men in the early colonies were the Smiths, who made all the nails used in the construction of buildings and nearly every implement of every sort employed in the rude life of the pioneers. A century previous, the country people in England had taken surnames, and it fell out that many who were smiths by occupation took the word for a patronymic, and in this manner the name of Smith has been derived. In 1662 there were three brothers bearing this name who came to New England. One of
these settled in New London, one in Windsor, and the third, Simon Smith, set- tled in Haddam, Connecticut. It is from the latter immigrant that most of the Middlesex county families are descended.
Jeremiah G. Smith, grandfather of Mrs. Anna G. (Smith) Carter, was a native of Chatham, Connecticut, and was a cele- brated sea captain of the early days, as many of his ancestors had been. He crossed the ocean several times; in 1851 he came to Stamford, Connecticut, where he died. He married Annah G. Hurd, of Chatham.
William D. Smith, son of Jeremiah G. and Annah G. (Hurd) Smith, was born in Chatham, Connecticut, February 17, 1837. He attended the public schools of Middle Haddam and Stamford. In his youth he felt the inherited desire for a seafaring life, and at the time he was six- teen years of age he had already crossed the ocean. For thirteen years he contin- ued to follow the sea and rose to be cap- tain of a boat in 1865. In the latter year he came to Stamford, Connecticut, and purchased the business of Hoyt & Pond, a coal and wood yard at Waterside. He continued in this business until 1900, in which year he disposed of his business in- terests intending to retire from active cares. But Mr. Smith was not the type of man who could be happy in idleness, and a few years later he was elected president of the Citizens' Savings Bank, of Stamford, an institution of which he had long been a director. In this office his business experience and good judg- ment proved of great value; he also served as a director of the First National Bank, of Stamford, and of the Woodland Cemetery Association.
Mr. Smith was a Democrat in politics, and served for several years as a member of the Board of Burgesses of the borough, and also served several terms as coun-
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cilman in the early days of the city gov- ernment. On one occasion Mr. Smith was nominated without his consent, and al- though he had announced that he would refuse to be a candidate his name was re- tained upon the ticket and he was elected to office. He refused to accept the office, however, being a man of his word. He refused numerous requests to become a candidate of his party for the Legislature and other offices. He preferred to do his share in the role of a private citizen, and was ever willing to aid in any welfare movement for the benefit of the public. "It was said he never made an enemy but all who knew him were his friends. He was kind hearted and generous, always courteous in his business relations." Mr. Smith was remarkably well informed on all the current topics of the day, and in spite of his advanced years at the time of his death he was in possession of all his faculties. Quiet and unostentatious in his manner, he was domestic in his tastes and was happiest when surrounded by his family at his own fireside. His charities were many, and they were given in such a quiet, plain way that few, except those who benefited directly, knew of his good- ness.
Mr. Smith married Esther M. Smith, and they were the parents of two daugh- ters : Susan W., deceased; and Anna G., wife of Hon. Galen A. Carter, of Stam- ford, Connecticut.
BARTRAM, Floyd Bell, Lawyer, Public Official.
The Bartram patronymic is of ancient English origin, and is traced to the reign of King Henry I. It is derived from the baptismal name of Bertram. There was a William Bartram who founded the pri- ory of Brinkburne, in Northumberland county, England. The Bartram family,
of which Floyd B. Bartram is a scion, descends from John Bartram.
(I) John Bartram came from England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Col- ony, thence removing to Stratford, in 1668. He died in Stratford, in 1676. He had a son. John (2), of whom further.
(II) John (2) Bartram, son of John (1) Bartram, was born about 1665, and lived in Stratford. Early in life he removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, and was made a freeman there, March 18, 1690. He mar- ried Sarah Gray, daughter of Jacob Gray, and their son, David, is mentioned below.
(III) David Bartram, son of John (2) and Sarah (Gray) Bartram, was born De- cember 13, 1702. He was the pioneer of the family in Redding, Connecticut, where he lived as early as 1733. He was a farmer and a surveyor, and lived in that part of Redding which was called Lone- town. The Christian name of his wife was Mehitable, and their son, James, is of further mention.
(IV) James Bartram, son of David and Mehitable Bartram, was born April 23, 1738. He lived in Redding, and served in the Revolutionary War. His wife was Hannah Morehouse, and they were the parents of twenty-one children, ten of whom grew to maturity, among them, Aaron, of whom further.
(V) Aaron Bartram, son of James and Hannah (Morehouse) Bartram, was born about 1784, in Redding, where he lived during his lifetime, and followed the oc- cupation of shoemaker. He had a son, Aaron (2), of whom further.
(VI) Aaron (2) Bartram, son of Aaron (1) Bartram, was a shoemaker, as was his father. He was born June 28, 1827, in Redding, and died in 1860. Aaron (2) Bartram is buried at Zion Hill Cemetery, Wilton, Connecticut. On May 28, 1851, he married Delia A. Gregory, daughter of Elijah and Orpha (Godfrey) Gregory, of
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Floyd S. Bartram
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Weston. Mrs. Bartram was born June 16, 1827. They had a son, Elijah, of whom further.
(VII) Elijah Gregory Bartram, son of Aaron (2) and Delia A. (Gregory) Bar- tram, was born in Redding, May 23, 1855. The public schools afforded him his edu- cation, and after the death of his father he came to New Canaan, where he went to work in a saw mill. Mr. Bartram was connected with this industry during the rest of his lifetime, being superintendent for many years. About 1915 he retired from active business, and built his present home in the Tallmadge Hill section. He married Sarah A. Bell, born September 26, 1859, daughter of Harmon and Mary Amelia (Scofield) Bell. Mr. and Mrs. Bartram were the parents of three chil- dren: Clayton Gregory, of Southport; Floyd Bell, of further mention ; and Stan- ley Bronson, of New Canaan. The fam- ily are attendants of the Congregational church.
(VIII) Floyd Bell Bartram, second child of Elijah G. and Sarah A. (Bell) Bartram, was born in Darien, Connecti- cut, September 3, 1882. He attended the Tallmadge Hill School, and the schools of New Canaan, and for two years was a student in Moody's school, at Mount Her- mon, Massachusetts, working to meet the expense of his tuition in this institution. After two years of special work in Col- gate University, where he worked to pay his own way, he studied law in the New York Law School, whence he was gradu- ated with the degree of LL. B., in June, 1908. Admitted to the bar in July, 1909, he was for a year associated with Judge Martin J. Gray, of Stamford, Judge Gray's death ending this relation. Mr. Bartram then formed a partnership with Benja- min H. Mead, under the firm name of Bartram & Mead, and so has continued to
the present time in the general practice of law. Stanley Mead was admitted to the firm in 1917. They have many cor- porations and prominent citizens of Stam- ford and its vicinity among their clients, and the firm has assumed a place among the best known legal firms of the district. Mr. Bartram is a director and the secre- tary of the Title Insurance and Mortgage Company, of Stamford and Greenwich, and a director of numerous other corpor- ations for which his firm is counsel.
He is a Democrat in political faith, and in 1918 and 1920 was the candidate of his party for the office of mayor of Stamford. In the latter year, when a Republican ·landslide carried even Democratic strong- holds, Mr. Bartram ran about twenty-five hundred votes ahead of his ticket. He has always been active in public affairs, and in Stamford is known as the cham- pion of clean, progressive government, respected for his able defence of his con- victions. Since October, 1919, he has been president of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and during his term of office the membership has increased from about one hundred seventy-five to over five hundred members.
Mr. Bartram is a member of the New Canaan Congregational Church. He fra- ternizes with the Masonic order, being a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, Free and Accepted Masons; and with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 899; and is a member of the Subur- ban Club. He is a lover of outdoor sports, especially fishing and golf.
Floyd B. Bartram was married March 17, 1913, to Frieda Hohnstrater, daugh- ter of William and Meta (Schaar) Hohn- strater, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and they are the parents of one son, William,. born August 24, 1914.
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BELL, Clarence Winthrop,
Banker, Man of Affairs.
The Bell family have long been honor- ably represented in the annals of Fair- field county, and particularly in the city of Stamford. In the professions and in the public service, members of this family are found in foremost places. Each gen- eration has succeeded in establishing a record that is an inspiration to the com- ing generations. Since 1641, in which year Francis Bell, the immigrant ances- tor, settled in Stamford, there has been a Bell in a representative position in the public life of the city. Francis Bell was the first representative from Stamford to the General Assembly, and his descend- ant, Thaddeus Bell, held a like honor as first representative to the Legislature from the town of Darien. His grand- father, Thaddeus Bell, was representative from Stamford also. The Bell family is now ably represented by Clarence W. Bell, banker, of Stamford, who was born June 5, 1869, in Darien, son of Thaddeus (3) and Caroline E. (Morehouse) Bell.
(I) Francis Bell, the immigrant, a na- tive of Yorkshire, England, came with Sir Richard Saltonstall, to Massachusetts in 1630. He located in Stamford in 1641, being one of the original twenty-nine pro- prietors. Stamford was purchased from the New Haven Colony, and was first called by the Indian name, Rippowam. Francis Bell received a grant of seven acres, and was prominent in affairs from the outset. He was representative, Oc- tober 27, 1641, the first to serve in the community, and was lieutenant of the Militia Company. In 1644 he was chosen to go to Boston to bring back a minister, in which mission he was successful, and in 1670 was in charge of building the new meeting house. He was selectman from
1666 to 1671, and died January 8, 1679. His wife, Rebecca, died May 17, 1684.
(II) Jonathan Bell, son of Francis and Rebecca Bell, was born in September, 1641, and was the first white child born in Stamford. He served as selectman for fourteen years, and was representative to the General Court for twenty-six years. In 1672 he was commissioned lieutenant of the Militia Company, and captain in 1698. He died March II, 1698-99. He married (first) August 22, 1662, Mercy Crane, daughter of Jasper Crane, and she died October 26, 1671. They were the parents of Jonathan (2), of further men- tion.
(III) Jonathan (2) Bell, son of Jona than (1) and Mercy (Crane) Bell, was born in the year 1663. He was town clerk from 1689 to 1699; lieutenant of the Militia Company in 1692, and representa- tive from 1712-1719. He married (first) March 22, 1693, Grace Ketchell, who died the same year.
(IV) Jonathan (3) Bell, son of Jona- than (2) and Grace (Ketchell) Bell, was born December 15, 1693, and served nine years as selectman. He was ensign and active in church matters. He was one of the number forming the Middlesex Soci- ety, and sang in the choir. He married, January 24, 1716, Eunice Reed, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Olmstead) Reed, of Norwalk, and they were the parents of Thaddeus, of further mention.
(V) Thaddeus Bell, son of Jonathan (3) and Eunice (Reed) Bell, was born March 31, 1728, and was a resident of Ox Ridge. He was a farmer, and served in 1775 on a committee of safety, and in 1777 on a committee to care for the fam- ilies of soldiers who were in service. On December 14, 1753, he married Mary Leeds, daughter of Cary and Martha (Holly) Leeds.
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(VI) Thaddeus (2) Bell, son of Thad- deus (1) and Mary (Leeds) Bell, was born March 18, 1759, and died October 31, 1851. He served in the Revolution- ary War, with the rank of orderly ser- geant, and was taken prisoner at New York. After his exchange he enlisted a second time. He was representative to the Legislature in 1805 and served for sixteen consecutive years. He was one of the committee to set off the eastern part of Stamford, and the rest of the commit- tee wished to name it Bellville, but Mr. Bell declined the honor. "He was on his way back to the capital when he met a friend who had just returned from a visit to the Isthmus of Darien, and this gave him the idea which resulted in the town being named Darien." The follow- ing year Mr. Bell represented Darien in the Legislature. He married, May 4, 1780, Elizabeth How, daughter of James and Sarah (Waring) How, and they were the parents of Holly, of further mention.
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