USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 19
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Mention has been made of Mr. How- ard's fondness for mountain climbing, and in "Lippincott's Magazine" for Septem- ber, 1879, may be found an account of one of his adventures in the Alps, his ascent of the Matterhorn in 1877, when he reached an altitude of fourteen thou- sand eight hundred feet. In that same year he climbed two other of the princi- pal Alpine peaks, the Breithorn near Zer- malt (13,700 feet), and Mont Blanc (15,- 800 feet). He has several times ascended the peaks of the White and Adirondack mountains, and in 1889 climbed Mount Sneffles, the sharpest of Colorado moun- tain peaks. He also visited the cliff dwell- ing in the Mancos Canyon, his being the second party of white men to explore the principal ruin, Cliff Palace, discovered the previous winter by their guide. In 1896 he again climbed Mount Sneffles. He also ascended Uncompaghre Peak (14,400 feet).
From his father he inherited his tastes for astronomy and the theory and con- struction of telescopes. Charles F. How- ard, after using a small telescope for years, became so aroused by the appearance of Donati's Comet in 1858 that he purchased a four and one-fourth Fitz telescope. This telescope served his son until 1880, when he replaced it in his private observa- tory by one of the most perfect telescopes in existence, an Alvan Clark, having an object glass nine and one-half inches in
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clear aperture. Mr. Howard carried his interest so far that evenings and holidays for five years, 1880-85, he spent in con- structing a three and one-half inch tele- scope object glass, doing all the work him- self. He finally learned the art, overcame the many difficulties in his way and brought this object glass to such perfec- tion that when rigidly tested no error could be found in it. Only an expert can realize the extreme difficulty of working an object glass to such a high degree of perfection. In 1886 he began and in 1889 finished a four and one-half inch object glass of entirely different form. That glass was tested by Mr. Alvan G. Clark who pronounced it, but not in Mr. How- ard's hearing: "The best object glass I ever tested, that we did not make our- selves." His next ambitious work was a seven-inch object glass on which he failed, but that was simply a setback, not a dis- couragement. In 1903 he completed an- other seven-inch object glass which was a success, only a few telescope makers in the world being able to produce an object glass so perfect. With it on May 12, 1903, he saw distinctly and steadily three canals on Mars, Ulysses, Gorgon and Brontes. On February 5, 1904, the Companion of Sirius was steadily and distinctly seen at a distance of only six and a half seconds from Sirius. These observations of diffi- cult objects prove the extreme accuracy of the object glass, that concentrates all the light that enters it from a star within a small circle at the focus but three ten- thousandths of an inch in diameter. In 1905, having waited two years for the de- sired quality of glass to be produced by the manufacturers, Mr. Howard obtained from Jena, Germany, two discs of glass for a twelve-inch objective. He had made all the necessary calculations to deter- mine its form, but the labor of construct- ing it proved too great for an amateur
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and he had Alvan Clark & Sons complete it.
Mr. Howard in 1900 accompanied Presi- dent Luther of Trinity College to Win- ton, North Carolina, to observe the total eclipse of the sun, May 28. Using a two- inch telescope magnifying eighteen di- ameters and having a field of view of two and one-half degrees, he had one of the most remarkable views of the sun's corona on record. Several of the objects seen by him with perfect ease and steadiness standing out from the sun's limb were not seen at previous eclipses. ยท In "Popu- lar Astronomy," December, 1900, a full description of his observations was pub- lished, also an illustrated pamphlet was sent to many astronomers, hoping that some of them going to Sumatra in Janu- ary, 1901, to observe the sun's eclipse, would use a similar instrument.
In 1905 he observed a total eclipse of the sun at Burgos, Spain, in company with Professor Charles S. Hastings of Yale University, both using similar telescopes of about three inches in diameter with magnifying power of twenty and field view of two and one-quarter degrees. Comparing notes as they stood at their telescopes, the instant the eclipse was over, it was found that both had seen the corona exactly alike. They distinctly saw it to be a filamentous structure completely surrounding the sun as far out as the three radii. To this extent the observations taken by Mr. Howard in 1900 were con- firmed, but the other objects seen clearly then were absent. "Popular Astronomy" for December, 1905, published an account of these last observations.
In "Popular Science Monthly," Decem- ber, 1885, is an article by Mr. Howard on the "Refracting Telescope ;" in the "As- tronomical Journal," February 14, 1891, is an article on the "Orbit of the Companion of Sirius," and in "Astronomy and As-
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trophysics," June, 1894, his article on "A Graphical Method of Determining the Apparent Orbits of Binary Stars." So the hobby he has ridden so industriously is not a hobby at all, but the scientific pursuit of a gentleman who likes to work with his own tools. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical En- gineers, American Society for Advance- ment of Science, National Geographical Society of Washington, and the Hartford Golf Club.
MALONEY, Cornelius, Journalist.
Journalism has ever called into the circle of her followers the brightest minds and the most gifted sons of the nation. The naturally keen intellect is sharpened by its contact with others as brilliant, and gains thereby an added strength and power. The most careful analysis, closest reasoning and logical thought processes are brought into play, and the journalist of ability, by reason of his strong in- tellectuality, rises above the ranks of the many to become a leader in thought and action, his influence extending throughout the world. The late Cornelius Maloney, of Waterbury, Connecticut, was a man of this stamp.
Mr. Maloney was born May 18, 1853, at New Britain, Connecticut, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Loughery) Maloney, of that place. At a very early age Cornelius Maloney showed an aptitude for the pro- fession which afterward was to be his life work. The opportunities for adequate schooling were practically none at that time, and Cornelius Maloney was able to avail himself of very few of those that did exist. He attended a private school for a short time, and then went to the public schools for another brief period. but when only ten years of age he left his studies and was apprenticed to the firm of
Oviatt & Guernsey to learn the printing trade. Mr. Maloney thus made his en- trance upon the career that was to lead him to the top of the journalistic profes- sion in his State and to a place of such prominence that he was universally re- garded as one of the most influential citi- zens of Connecticut. He received a most ample training in a school of printing now rather antiquated, in which he learned to do by hand many of the operations now performed by machinery, but which gave him a very thorough mastery of his new trade. He remained for a time in this employment and then secured a position on the "New Britain Record," and here received his preliminary training in news- paper work proper. He was of an ex- tremely enterprising nature, and it soon became an ambition with him to engage in a newspaper venture on his own ac- count. It was a venture to make most men pause, but Cornelius Maloney was a man of great courage and self confidence, and the year 1878 saw the establishment of the "New Britain Times," the first paper published by a native of the State. The "Times" was successful, and Mr. Maloney continued its publication for some years. In 1881, however, he removed to Water- bury, Connecticut, and there opened an office on South Main street, where he and his brother, under the firm name of C. and M. T. Maloney, ran a general printing business with much success for some years. A little later the "Valley Demo- crat" appeared. For the six years follow- ing this first attempt in Waterbury, Mr. Maloney and his younger brother, Michael Maloney, had many difficulties to over- come, and they had little rest from labor, for truly the effort to break into a region in which they were almost totally un- known was no light one. Little by little, however, the real merit of their publica- tion won its way into the regard of the
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people, and on December 5, 1887, the "Waterbury Evening Democrat" made its first appearance. The new sheet was a daily from the outset and was instantly successful. It grew rapidly, but the younger Mr. Maloney died before its greatest success had been attained and Cornelius Maloney carried on the project alone. As has already been stated, the "Waterbury Evening Democrat" became before the death of its founder one of the strongest and most influential papers in that region of the country, a paper con- taining the best elements of popularity, a champion of the people and the rights of the people.
So effective was the campaign waged by the "Democrat" and Mr. Maloney, its gifted editor, for the cause of democracy and the Democratic party, that he was generally regarded as one of its leaders in Connecticut, and many offers of impor- tant nominations were tendered him. All these, however, were consistently refused by Mr. Maloney with the exception of one for the General Assembly. It is an elo- quent tribute to the position held by Mr. Maloney in the popular affection, that it was due to the flocking of the popular votes to the Democratic ticket on which he was running that won him the elec- tion. Mr. Maloney was a conspicuous figure in the social and fraternal world of Waterbury, and belonged to many im- portant organizations, holding a promi- nent place in all. He was the first grand knight of Sheridan Council, Knights of Columbus; a member of St. Joseph's Temperance Association, and was also an officer in the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Irish National Land League. In the matter of religion Mr. Maloney was of the Catholic faith, his forbears having held this from the beginning. Even as it descended from them to him, it was his pride and satisfaction to hand it on to his own children. He was the possessor of
a very good voice, and sang at various times in the choirs of the churches of the Immaculate Conception, the Sacred Heart and St. Patrick. Mr. Maloney was not only well known but most highly honored in the community, as much for his virtu- ous and manly private life as for the en- ergy and courage with which he spoke his principles and pressed his policies in his paper.
Mr. Maloney married, at Litchfield, Connecticut, November 17, 1886, Mary Quigley, daughter of Felix and Mary (Herbert) Quigley, of that town, where she was born. To Mr. and Mrs. Maloney six children were born, as follows: Ed- ward Vincent, mentioned below; Angela A .; Margaret M .; Catherine A .; Joseph, died in infancy ; and Cornelius Francis.
The death of Mr. Maloney occurred January 5, 1914, as the result of an ac- cident, and was deeply deplored. The State and community had benefited through his presence and mourned greatly the loss of so great but unassuming a character. His career had been one of marked success and his public spirit and his efforts in behalf of the upbuilding of many worthy enterprises were widely recognized.
Edward Vincent Maloney, eldest son of Cornelius and Mary (Quigley) Maloney. was born October 23, 1888, in Waterbury. Though his father had never enjoyed many educational advantages in his own youth, he was a man who had won a great education by his own efforts and who thoroughly appreciated the advantages of schooling. The son was, therefore, sent to the local schools for the rudimentary portion of his education, and after gradu- ating from high school in 1907, attended Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massa- setts, from which in turn he graduated with the class of 1911. He had early exhibited his father's talent as a writer, and upon concluding his studies was taken by his
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father on the staff of the "Democrat" as associate editor, in which position he re- lieved him of some of the burdens he had borne single handed for years. On the death of his father he became editor-in- chief and general manager of the paper, a large enterprise for his years (twenty- six) and experience. However, undaunted the young man undertook the great task without a fear and has made good since the start. The circulation and general prestige of the "Democrat" continued to increase under his management, and he erected a large five-story building on the corner of Grand and Canal streets for the accommodation of the paper which had long since outgrown its present quarters. This building, which completed, is one of the finest newspaper offices in Connec- ticut, was ready for occupancy Janu- ary 1, 1917. Mr. Maloney is a Catholic in religion, a Democrat in politics, and takes an active part in the general life of the community. He is conspicuous, like his father before him, in fraternal circles, and deeply interested in politics, although 11ot actively engaged in the same other than for the general good of the commu- nity and standing of the paper. The younger Mr. Maloney sees a great future for the "Democrat" in Waterbury and. like his father, is undaunted by any trials and tribulations which accompany the building up of such an enterprise as the "Democrat" is fast moulding itself into.
On the paper three other members of the family are actively engaged. Angela A., assistant editor and special writer ; Catherine A., bookkeeper and secretary in the business department; and Cornelius Francis, a member of the reportorial staff. Like father, like sons and daughters, the inheritance for the newspaper profession with all its trials, but none the less fas- cinating for all of that, has been handed down and will continue to remain in the family.
GRIGGS, Robert Foote,
Man of Affairs.
The business world, just as the world of public affairs, has its prominent figures which represent epochs or tendencies in the history of its development, which are looked up to by the rank and file as its leaders and honored as its champions. The Griggs family of Connecticut has given more than one such figure to the business development of the State, such a figure as that of Henry Charles Griggs of a generation past, and Robert Foote Griggs of the present time, upon whom has fallen the mantle of his able father.
The Griggs family, of which Mr. Griggs is the present representative, is one of the oldest in New England and was founded in this country by one Thomas Griggs, who was born in England, either in the latter part of the sixteenth or the early part of the seventeenth century, sailed to the American Colonies and settled at Rox- bury, Massachusetts, as early as 1639. He brought with him his wife and their two children, John and Joseph. He seems to have been a man of considerable promi- nence in the colony and owned a tract of land at Muddy River which was then the name of what is now Brookline. He lived but a few years after his arrival in this country, his death occurring June 23, 1646. His second son, Joseph, was the ancestor of that branch of the Griggs fam- ily which we are considering, and from this Joseph the line runs through Ichabod (I), Ichabod (2), Joshua, Roswell, Charles and Henry Charles, who was the father of Robert Foote, who is thus of the ninth generation from the emigrant ancestor. Many of these, his forebears, were promi- nent men in their various communities, and through their marriage the Griggs family is connected with many of the most distinguished names in New England his- tory.
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Charles Griggs, the grandfather of the Mr. Griggs of this sketch, was a son of Ros- well and Sarah (Dunham) Griggs, and was born April 14, 1799, at Totland, Con- necticut. As a young man he made his home in the village of South Windsor, Connecticut, and in 1845 removed to Waterbury. He was married, in 1830, to Frances Catherine Drake, and Henry Charles Griggs was the third of the five children born to them.
Henry Charles Griggs was one of the prominent figures of the Connecticut fi- nancial and industrial world during the middle portion of the nineteenth century. His birth occurred at Windsor, Connec- ticut, December 18, 1843, and he went with his father to Waterbury at the age of eleven years. He attended school in both of these places and completed his study when only fourteen years of age. He then became a clerk in the employ of the Waterbury Hook & Eye Company. He rapidly advanced in rank and in 1816 was offered the management of the Waterbury Button Company, which he accepted. In this capacity he made so great a reputation as a business man that he attracted the attention of the large concerns in that region and might have associated himself with a number of them had he so desired. It was always his nature, however, to be entirely independ- ent, and in 1864 he formed the partner- ship with John T. Smith for the manu- facture of brass goods. Some time later Mr. Griggs became associated with the firm of Israel Holmes & Son, and the two concerns united their forces and there- after their business was conducted under the style of Holmes, Griggs & Smith. This new firm became the owner of a large brass mill in New York and con- tinued that and the brass business already worked up by Griggs & Smith at Hope- ville, Connecticut. This association did not
last, however, for a great length of time and the firm was dissolved in 1869, two companies being then formed, the Holmes & Griggs Manufacturing Company of New York and the Smith & Griggs Manu- facturing Company of Waterbury. The latter company, which was incorporated June 5, 1869, had a capital stock of forty thousand dollars, held by John E. Smith, Henry Charles Griggs, Elizur D. Griggs and Charles E. L. Smith. John E. Smith was the president of the concern and Mr. Griggs its secretary and treasurer. After a number of years and very prosperous business, the latter resigned in 1875 and some time afterwards established a button factory on Division street, Waterbury. It was not only in the industrial world, how- ever in which Mr. Griggs was prominent in the Waterbury region. He invested very extensively in real estate in that city as he realized that with its rapid develop- ment there could be no better investment than in property there. He was also as- sociated with a number of important fi- nancial institutions and was president of the Dime Savings Bank and a director of the Waterbury National Bank of that city. He also was prominent in the politi- cal affairs of the place and was connected with a number of important charitable institutions. He was married on October 9, 1862, to Mary Bassett Foote and they were the parents of eight children as fol- lows: I. Henry Foote, born November 17. 1863, died in early infancy. 2. Charles Jared, born November 28, 1864, died May 24. 1905; a graduate of Yale University in both the academic and law depart- ments ; married, June 25, 1895, Elizabeth H. Bowers. 3. Wilfred Elizur, born May 2, 1866; a graduate of the Sheffield Scien- tific School of Yale University, and of Columbia University in its architectural course ; married, at Paris, France, Flora Victoria Hartley. 4. Robert Foote, of
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whom further. 5. Mary Rebecca, born May 16, 1870, died January 12, 1878. 6. David Cullen, a sketch of whom follows in this work. 7-8. Grace and Catherine, twins, born August 1, 1873; both died in early infancy.
Born February 22, 1868, in Waterbury, Connecticut, Robert Foote Griggs made that city his home during his entire life. He was educated in private and public schools of the city and later went to the Williston Seminary at East Hampton, Massachusetts. He finally entered Yale University but did not complete his course in that institution, leaving after his sopho- more year to accept an excellent position offered him in the Fourth National Bank of Waterbury. Two years later he ac- :epted a position as bookkeeper for the Waterbury Malleable Iron Company and the following year, in 1893, became secre- tary and director of the Mathews Woolen Company and Willard Manufacturing Company. In 1903 Mr. Griggs established his present business in investments, secur- ities and brokerage which has become one of the most important factors in this de- partment of the business world in that region. Besides this important enterprise, Mr. Griggs is connected with a very large number of important concerns in and about Waterbury, both financial and in- dustrial. Among these should be men- ioned the Waterbury Savings Bank, of which he is the vice-president and a direc- tor, and the Colonial Trust Company, of which he is also a director and a member of the executive committee. He is a di- rector of the American Mills Company, of the Waterbury Buckle Company, of the Smith & Griggs Company, the Water- bury Gas Light Company and many others. Nor does Waterbury and its vicinity bound Mr. Griggs' industrial ac- tivities. He is also a director of Mitchel Vance & Company. of New York City,
and of Clark Brothers Bolt Company, of Milldale, Connecticut.
It would seem that one interested in so many various enterprises in the business world would scarcely find time to devote his attention to any other considerations, yet such is not the case with Mr. Griggs, who has never failed since his early youth to interest himself in the general life of the community. In politics he is a Re- publican and although he has never al- lowed his name to be used as a party candidate, he is nevertheless considered a factor in public affairs there. In re- ligion he is affiliated with the Episcopal church and is a member of St. John's Parish in Waterbury. He is also the secretary and a member of the board of trustees of St. Margaret School in Water- bury and a member of the board of direc- tors of the Waterbury Visiting Nurses Association. He is also a conspicuous figure in the social and club life of the city as well as being affiliated with a num- ber of prominent New York City clubs. He was the president of the Waterbury Club for two years and a member of the Union League Club and Yale Club of New York City. Among other associ- ations with which Mr. Griggs is con- nected should be mentioned the Masonic order, the Society of Colonial Wars and the American Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Griggs has been twice married, the first time on April 11, 1893, to Charlotte Hamilton Branch, of Savannah, Georgia. One child was born of this union, who died at the age of nineteen months. Mrs. Griggs died in May, 1897. On February 4, 1902, Mr. Griggs was married to Caro- line Haring White, a daughter of George L. White, of Waterbury. To Mr. and Mrs. Griggs two children have been born : Caroline White, December 1, 1906, and Robert Foote, Jr .. June 27, 1908.
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Mr. Griggs is a splendid specimen of the strong and simple character, so typ- ical of New England, the union of the idealist and the practical man of affairs, so valuable in any community where he appears. This combination of character- istics is admirably exemplified in his busi- ness life. He is known to be entirely practical in the conduct of the great in- terests that are intrusted to his care, and never to contemplate anything which was incompatible with the pecuniary success of the operations, yet merely to win for himself and associates large dividends, was by no means his object, but rather to make the great establishments a type of a model American industry. His char- ities and philanthropies are large and varied. more so, indeed, than even his connection with public benevolence would suggest. Toward the community as a whole he is ever moved to some generous and public spirited deed. and that in spite of an instinctive shrinking from appear- ing publicly. He is indeed devoted to the society of his friends, and finds his chief pleasure in the intimate intercourse of the household and home. He possesses all the domestic virtues and is an unusually devoted husband and father.
GRIGGS, David Cullen,
Manufacturer, Public Official.
David Cullen Griggs is a descendant in the ninth generation of the pioneer ances- tor. He was born at Waterbury, Con- necticut. June 30. 1871. son of Henry Charles and Mary Bassett (Foote) Griggs. his father having been one of the most prominent citizens of Waterbury during his life, and active in practically every important movement in the city. The education of David C. Griggs was begun in the private school of Miss Kath- arine A. Pritchard at Waterbury, con-
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