USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 9 > Part 42
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ley, Massachusetts, where Joseph Bald- win was a freeman in 1666, and where he died, November 2, 1684. Their eldest child, Joseph Baldwin, born about 1640, was baptized June 23, 1644, in Milford, received from his father a deed of one- half of the homestead, and was made executor of the latter's will. He died first, however, November 21, 1681. He mar- ried Sarah Coley, who was baptized in 1648, daughter of Benjamin Coley, of Milford. Their second son, James Bald- win, born 1664-68, was a weaver, received deed of land in Milford, August 5, 1692, was admitted to the church in 1699, and was a proprietor of Durham on the for- mation of that town, May 1, 1708, taking up his residence there about that time. After 1724 he removed to Saybrook, where his will was made in 1748, and proved in 1756. His wife, Elizabeth, was admitted to the church in Milford, July 18, 1703. Their second son, Moses Baldwin, twin of Aaron, born May 15, 1705, removed from Milford to Saybrook, where he died as early as 1756, in which year his widow received his entire estate. He married Abigail, daughter of Deacon Robert Royce, of the Parish of Meriden, in Wall- ingford, Connecticut, and granddaughter of Samuel and Hannah (Church) Royce, of that town. Moses (2) Baldwin, second son of Moses (1) and Abigail (Royce) Baldwin, was born July 6, 1731, in Say- brook, and was a resident of that town in 1760, in which year he was a soldier in Captain Redfield's company. He subse- quently removed to Wallingford. His wife's baptismal name was Elizabeth and their eldest child, James Baldwin, born January 29, 1760, in Saybrook, resided in that part of Wallingford, which is now Cheshire, where he died March 31, 1839. He married, in 1785, Bettina Goodwell, who was born about 1764, and died in 1798. Their eldest son, Moses (3) Bald-
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win, was born June 10, 1788, in the Par- ish of Meriden and continued to live there, where he died, May 5, 1860, long after its erection as a separate town, and in early life followed the example of many other Meriden men by traveling with Yankee notions through the South. Later, he engaged in farming, his estate being located about one and one-half miles northeast of Black Pond.
Frederick Baldwin, eldest child of Moses (3) Baldwin, was born August 13, 1818, in Meriden, and early in life settled in Middletown. For several years he was associated with his brother, Henry, in the manufacture of locks at Zoar, and after- wards continued many years in farming · on East Long Hill, until his death in 1877. He married in Middletown, August 15, 1839, Alma Eliza Crowell, of Middletown, born in that town, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth (Miller) Crowell.
Lewis Baldwin, second of the three sons of Frederick Baldwin, was born April 15, 1845, in Middletown, and has continued throughout his life in agricul- ture, residing on a farm about three miles from Middletown. He married, Febru- ary 13, 1870, Jane B. Roberts, and their children were: I. Linus, a contractor, who married Bertha Johnson, and has five children. 2. Robert, a farmer, who mar- ried Ruby Lord, and has one child. 3. Dayton Ashton, of further mention. 4. William H., who married Alice Lee and has three children. 5. Phoebe, wife of H. O. Daniels, of Middletown, and the mother of three children. 7. Eliza, mar- ried Clifton Kelsey, and is the mother of four children. 8. Jennie, wife of George Wilcox, who conducts the Connecticut Business College at Hartford. They live in Manchester, Connecticut, and are the parents of three children.
Dayton Ashton Baldwin, who is more particularly the subject of this sketch,
was born in Middletown, on the family homestead, July 1, 1887. The country schools of his native section afforded him his elementary education, and this was supplemented with a course in the Con- necticut Business College of Middletown. He then learned the trade of machinist with the Hubbard Motor Company, man- ufacturers of stationary and marine en- gines, spending two years in their employ and acquiring much valuable technical knowledge. His next position was in a similar capacity with the Eisen Heuth Motor Vehicle Company, manufacturers of the Compound motor car, and he was subsequently employed with the Pope Manufacturing Company, of Hartford. He removed to Worcester, Massachu- setts, to enter the employ of the Pilot Garage, as foreman, and later was man- ager of this business. During these years Mr. Baldwin had been assimilating many ideas of a mechanical nature, par- ticularly in the automobile line, and soon found himself in a position to engage in this business on his own account, which is the real objective of every progressive business man. Having been a general mechanician for so many years, he was well fitted to become a specialist. Soon after 1911, Mr. Baldwin purchased the repair shop known as the Franklin Square Garage, of Worcester, which he removed to Commercial street, in that city, and there established his own busi- ness. He had a partner, Ernest Wheeler, who later purchased Mr. Baldwin's inter- est, as the latter desired to return to Mid- dletown. There he gleaned further knowl- edge in the position of foreman of the assembly department of the Frisbie Mo- tor Company, subsequently holding a position with the Caulkins Motor Com- pany of that city. The repair department of the latter firm was developing rapidly, and Mr. Baldwin foresaw its possibilities.
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He purchased this department and re- CARLSON, Gustaf Birger, moved its location to Washington street, in Middletown, where he was located for Attorney. five years. In 1915 he bought the build- ing now occupied by the Franklin Elec- tric Company, to whom he sold it two years later. In 1917 he removed his busi- ness to the present quarters on Church street, where he has 20,000 feet of floor space, with accommodation for about forty cars. While repairing is the main feature of the business, Mr. Baldwin con- ducts the agency for the Dodge, Nash and Marmon cars, also the Brockway trucks and Moline Farm Tractors. His repair shop is remarkably well equipped and the many ideas of the owner are well carried out. Mr. Baldwin also conducts the Bald- win Supply Store, where automobile ac- cessories are sold.
Mr. Baldwin is actively associated with the great Masonic order, being a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons, of Middle- town, of which he is now senior warden ; past high priest of Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; and eminent commander of Cyrene Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He is also a mem- ber and past chancellor of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias; and of Mat- tabessett Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of Middletown. With his family, he at- tends the North Congregational Church of Middletown. A willing worker in the interests of the Democratic party, he has never sought any political preferment. Among the progressive and well-known businessmen of Middletown he holds a desirable place.
Mr. Baldwin married, September 7, 1909, Clelie, daughter of Benjamin F. and Jennie (Stevens) Turner, and they are the parents of two sons and two daugh- ters: Barbara, Norman, Phyllis and Mer- ritt Baldwin.
For several years Mr. Carlson has been identified with the practice of law in Mid- dletown, where he has established a repu- tation for sound judginent, reliability and ability as a trial lawyer. He was born July 10, 1870, at Hammar, in Örebro Län, Sweden, son of Frederick Otto and Jo- hanna Louise (Erickson) Carlson. In May, 1872, before the subject of this sketch had completed his second year, Frederick Otto Carlson removed with his family to America, landing at New York, and proceeding within a short time to Connecticut. In 1873 he settled at Hig- ganum, in the town of Haddam, where he has since continued in active business until very recently. In early life he was a sailor, but after arriving at Higganum, he conducted a grocery store there for several years. Later, he engaged in farm- ing and also did considerable business as a contractor in the moving and construc- tion of buildings. On arriving in Con- necticut, he found no Lutheran church, with which body he had been formerly identified in his vicinity, so he cast in his lot with the Congregational church of Higganum, in which his family was reared. Through natural selection of principles, he identified himself in poli- tics with the Republican party, and has held various town offices.
Among the children of Frederick Otto Carlson, Gustaf Birger is the eldest. The second, Beda Louise, is the widow of J. Edward Brainerd, residing in Higganum. Charles Bernard, the third, is proprietor of the Granite Rock Springs Bottling Works, which was established by his father and of which he has been for many years the manager. Edward Brahe re- sides in Higganum, and Annie Elizabeth,
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the youngest, is the wife of Herbert L. Johnson, of that town.
Gustaf Birger Carlson grew up in Hig- ganum. His primary education was re- ceived in the public schools of that village and he was later a student at Middletown High School and at Mount Hermon School, at Mt. Hermon, Massachusetts, from which latter institution he gradu- ated in 1891. He immediately entered the academic course at Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, thereafter pursuing the study of law in the office of Judge Arthur B. Calef, of Middletown. In July, 1898, Mr. Carlson was admitted to the Middlesex county bar, and since that time has been actively engaged in practice at Middletown with a steadily growing practice. In 1900 he was appointed refereé in bankruptcy for Middlesex county and has continued since in that position. For several years he was corporation counsel of the city of Middletown. He is allied with many of the social and commercial interests of the town, and has always taken an active in- terest in public affairs. He is a member of Granite Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of Haddam; of Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias, of Middletown; and of Middletown Lodge, No. 779, Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, of that city ; and of other fraternal organiza- tions. In the two last named lodges he has passed through all of the principal chairs. Mr. Carlson holds membership in the South Congregational Church of Mid- dletown. In political affiliation he has always sustained Republican principles and practices and exercised considerable influence in the councils of his party.
He was married, November 25, 1903, to Mazie O'Conor, of Baltimore, a native of that city, daughter of Charles and Ida J. (Harkum) O'Conor. Mr. and Mrs. Carl-
son are the parents of the following chil- dren: Elizabeth Ida, Jane Hester, and Robert Henry.
SOLTYSEK, Max,
Priest.
The little country of Poland has given to the world some of its greatest men. By that we do not mean great in the sense in which this adjective is most commonly used. We mean great in service, and great in love for their brothers. In the light of a great purpose, they unselfishly labor for the greatest good to the greatest number. We find many representatives of this race laboring and ministering to their brethren, tireless in their energy, and firm in their beliefs.
In the city of Middletown, Connecticut, St. Mary's Roman Catholic Polish Church was dedicated September 4, 1911, by Bishop Nilan, then Bishop of the Hart- ford Diocese. The first pastor of this church was Rev. Francis Wegrzyunow- ski, who began his pastorate, November 30, 1903, and continued until April 25, the following year. His successor was Rev. Father Musiel, who remained until July 9, 1917.
On November 2, 1917, Rev. Max Solty- sek was ordained pastor there, and in the three years since passed, he has succeeded in endearing himself to the hearts of his parishioners by his wonderful eloquence in the pulpit, and his devotion. Father Soltysek was born April 21, 1877, in Po- land, at Tarnowskic Gory, son of Robert and Mary Soltysek.
He was educated at the College Cracow, and June 29, 1901, was ordained a priest by Cardinal Puzyna. In Poland it is a national custom to teach religion in the public schools. Each separate religion is taught, and for some time subsequent to his ordination, Father Soltysek was en-
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gaged in teaching the truths of the Catho- lic religion to the youth of his native home. Soon thereafter he joined a mis- sion band, which in 1904 came to Amer- ica. Father Soltysek remained with these missionaries for thirteen years, sometimes as an instructor, and was often called upon to take a parish temporarily, during the illness or absence of the regular clergyman. Into all of these offices he put the best that was in him, never shirked the slightest duty ; and it is those who do the little things well, who make the greatest success of the larger things. He was over two years an assistant at New Haven, and was eight years rector at Rockville, Connecticut. His present parish is the third regular assignment he has had, and the manner in which he con- ducts its affairs and discharges the duties incumbent on his charge there, are sufficient warrant of his ability. He has the best years of his life before him, and it is safe to say, that ere he has reached his allotted years, he will have had charge of larger fields which will bring with them added responsibilities. With the growth which follows knowledge, Father Solty- sek will enter upon these duties with in- creased efficiency.
KIEFT, William John, Public Official.
Having been repeatedly elected to office, Mr. Kieft long served the town, the city, and the school district in which he re- sided, and his continued courtesy and con- sideration of citizens promised further service in the same capacity. There is a well sustained tradition that he was de- scended from William Kieft, an early Dutch governor of the colony of New Amsterdam, New York. On his return to Holland, the ship on which Governor Kieft sailed was wrecked on the treacher-
ous coast of Devonshire, England, and he was lost. A son was saved, and settled there, and from him is descended the fam- ily which has continued to reside in that section. Of these, William Kieft was a farmer living near Barnstable, in Devon- shire. Every generation has furnished a William in this family.
George Kieft, son of William Kieft, was born and lived in the same locality as his father, and was a farmer skilled in fruit- grafting and various branches of agricul- tural art. He married Hester Bennett, of a family which produced many large men, and their descendants partake of this char- acteristic.
Charles Kieft, son of George and Hes- ter (Bennett) Kieft, was born February 5, 1851, in Devonshire, where he lived until he was fourteen years old. He then went to Swansea, Wales, where he served an apprenticeship as gardener and florist, continuing in that capacity until 1892, when, at the age of forty-one years, he came to America and settled at Mid- dletown, Connecticut. For nearly thirty years he continued to reside in that city, serving many citizens of the vicinity in landscape gardening and in the cultiva- tion of flowers on his own account, and establishing a reputation for reliability and skill. In 1921 he purchased a home on the Hartford road, in Cromwell, in which he is engaged in beautifying and improving. He is a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity, in Middle- town, and in political faith is a Republi- can. He married, December 25, 1872, in Wales, Ann Morgan, a native of Glamor- ganshire, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Beven) Morgan, members of the oldest and most honored Welsh families. Their children, William J., Sidney and Mary, re- side nearby, Sidney in Middlefield, and the others in Middletown, the daughter being the wife of Frederick Ratcliffe.
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William J. Kieft, eldest child of Charles and Ann (Morgan) Kieft, was born September 29, 1873, in Swansea, and passed through the higher grades of the National schools there. He was early connected with a firm of ship-brokers there, but soon decided to try his fortune over the sea and came to Middletown in 1888, at the age of fifteen years. For a short time he was employed in the shops owned by the W. H. Chapman Company, and, in November, 1889, he apprenticed himself to Ernest King & Sons, publishers of the "Penny Press," now called the "Middletown Press," to learn the trade of printer. For nearly eight years he con- tinued with this establishment, later being employed as a job printer by E. F. Bige- low & Company, of Portland. Returning to the "Press," he continued as a composi- tor for a quarter of a century. Later for one year he was city editor of the "Mid- dletown Sun."
In 1908 Mr. Kieft was elected a mem- ber of the Common Council of the city and served for four years in that capacity, to January, 1912. During this time he served on the committees on police, fire, and abatement, and was also a member of the Citizens' Committee on Wesleyan Taft Day. In 1913 he was elected to fill the office of tax collector of the city and of the school district, and was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the town col- lector, to which place he was elected in October, 1913. In the election of Janu- ary, 1922, he was the only candidate on the Republican ticket to be elected, re- ceiving a majority of 141 votes, while the Democratic candidate for mayor received a majority of 394, a very handsome tribute to the popularity and efficiency of Mr. Kieft. During the World War he was a member of the Connecticut Home Guard, serving as sergeant-major of the Sixth Regiment. His genial nature, unfailing
urbanity and prompt performance of duty justly earned this expression of popular good will. Mr. Kieft was a member of the Methodist church, which he served as president of the Men's Brotherhood of that organization. He was a member of the Middletown Yacht Club, and also af- filiated with all the chief bodies of the Masonic fraternity, including St. John's Lodge, No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons ; Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons ; Columbian Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters; Cyrene Command- ery, No. 8, Knights Templar; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford ; and Con- necticut Consistory, a thirty-second de- gree Mason. He was a past grand of Central Lodge, No. 12, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Middletown. He also affiliated with Middletown Lodge, No. 771, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and with Apollo Lodge, No. 33, Knights of Pythias. He served as secre- tary and president of the Middlesex Poultry Association.
Mr. Kieft married, September 30, 1896, Eva Agnes Young, born in South Farms, Middletown, Connecticut, daughter of Jeremiah B. and Josephine (Tryon) Young, of that place, and granddaughter of Robert I. and Laura Ann (Johnson) Young. Mrs. Kieft is an active member of the Methodist church. She affiliates with Lady Washington Chapter, No. 45, Order of the Eastern Star ; is a prominent past noble grand of Priscilla Rebekah Degree Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and an active member of Apollo Temple, No. 14, Pythian Sisters. Mr. and Mrs. Kieft were the parents of a son, Cecil William, born August 12, 1898, in Portland. He graduated from the Mid- dletown Grammar School and Middle- town High School, and later attended Norwich Military Academy at Northfield,
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Vermont, entering the United States ser- vice during the late World War as a civil engineer. He is now employed as civil engineer by Louis F. Quirk, civil and con- sulting engineer, who succeeded his for- mer employer, Ralph M. Wilcox, civil engineer, of Middletown, now of Red- lands, California (q. v.).
William J. Kieft died August 10, 1922, very suddenly from heart trouble, while on a short vacation from his duties as tax collector, at Avon-by-the-Sea, near As- bury Park, New Jersey, in his forty- ninth year. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, at Middletown, Connecticut.
STARR, Ambrose Markham, Manufacturer.
By inheritance, Mr. Starr acquired in- terest in the Starr Brothers Bell Com- pany of East Hampton, Connecticut, which is now conducting an extensive business. Mr. Starr is descended from one of the pioneer families of Middlesex county, which was established in Middle- town by Comfort Starr, a grandson of Dr. Comfort Starr, founder of the family in America.
Vine Starr, probably a grandson of Dr. Comfort Starr, though not recorded in Middletown, Connecticut, was the first of the family in East Hampton, where he died in 1789, and his wife, Mary, in 1799, at the age of eighty-three years. He was the father of Vine Starr, born in 1785, probably in Chatham, and died Novem- ber 13, 1815. He was an active citizen, esteemed by his contemporaries, and took a lively interest in military matters. His commission as a cornet of the Sixth Com- pany in the Seventh Regiment of Cavalry, dated May 9, 1811, signed by Governor Roger Griswold, and countersigned by Thomas Day, Secretary of State, is still preserved by his descendants. He mar-
ried, June 24, 1813, Nancy Barton, daugh- ter of William and Clarissa (Betts) Bar- ton, of East Hampton. (See Hill, N. N.). They had only one child, Vine Barton Starr, of whom further.
Vine Barton Starr was born October 15, 1815, in Chatham, now East Hampton, where he grew to maturity and began active life as a bell-maker in the employ of Hiram Barton. Later, in partnership with Jason Barton, he went to Danville, Kentucky, and subsequently engaged in business in Louisville, same State. Be- cause of the outbreak of the Civil War, he returned to Connecticut, where he spent his last twenty years on a farm in East Haddam. An Abolitionist from con- viction, and a Whig since that party espoused his views on the slavery ques- tion, he naturally supported the Republi- can party from its organization. A man of broad and enlightened public spirit, he was deeply interested in the conduct of local affairs, but ever refused to accept a commission for any office ; he died June 22, 1888. He was a member of the Eccle- siastical Society of the South Congrega- tional Church of East Hampton and a generous contributor towards its work. He married Amanda Markham, born in 1818, died December 18, 1896, daughter of John and Ruby (Bolles) Markham. The Markham family is traced back to A. D., 1142, when the seat of the family was at Chatham, England (see Markham, E. A.).
John M. Starr, second son of Vine B. and Amanda (Markham) Starr, was born September 22, 1846, in Chatham, died March 16, 1921, and was employed in the bell factories of East Hampton before he reached the age of eighteen years. He was one of the organizers of the Starr Brothers Bell Company in 1882, which purchased the plant of Vesey & White, which firm began business in 1842. In
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1896 the Starr Brothers organized the Starr Net and Twine Company, which grew from a modest beginning and now furnishes employment to a large number of people. Of this latter concern, John M. Starr was the treasurer. The success of the Starr Brothers Bell Company was largely due to the sound judgment and careful management of John M. Starr. He was a staunch Republican ; a member of the Congregational church of East Hampton; and of Anchor Lodge, No. 112, Free and Accepted Masons, of that town. He married, in 1870, Anna Au- gusta Markham, born April 27, 1844, eld- est child of Ambrose N. and Ruth (Skin- ner) Markham, of East Hampton. Am- brose N. Markham was the son of John and Annie (Niles) Markham, of Chat- ham. John Markham was a Revolution- ary soldier in 1776. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Starr were the parents of an only son, Ambrose M., mentioned below.
Ambrose M. Starr, born June 18, 1872, in East Hampton, was educated in local schools and a business college in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned his way at this institution, and after leaving it was employed at Willimantic and New Haven in machine shops, where he per- fected himself in the practical application of mechanics in manufacturing. In 1891 he began work in the East Hampton shops, managed by his father, and in 1896 engaged in the manufacture of fish nets, selling out his interests in 1904. In 1901 he erected a brick building, which now serves as an office of the Starr Brothers Bell Company, and in the last twenty-five years the shops have been largely rebuilt in substantial form, doubling the space previously occupied. Besides bells, the establishment manufactures various metal specialties, and its product finds market all over the world. In 1921 Ambrose M. Starr succeeded his father as treasurer of
of the company and since that time has been actively engaged in its management.
Mr. Starr is a member of the Congre- gational church of East Hampton; of Anchor Lodge, No. 112, Free and Accepted Masons, of that town, and of Washington Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons in Middletown. He is a director of the Mid- dletown Trust Company and of the East Hampton Water Company. A Republi- can in principle, he has served as a dele- gate in conventions of his party, but has never sought nor accepted any office.
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