USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 32
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
April 16, 1862, Mary Abbie, a daughter of Edmund and Bethiah Williams (Avery) Spicer.
William Edmund Fanning, son of George and Mary Abbie (Spicer) Fan- ning, was born June 27, 1870, at Ledyard, Connecticut. He received the preliminary portion of his education at the local pub- lic school, and after completing his studies there entered the Snell Business College, where he took a commercial course. Upon completing his studies at the latter insti- tution, he secured a position as book- keeper for the Chelsea Fire Works Com- pany at Norwich, Connecticut, and held this post for a period of some four years. He had a strong ambition, however, to be engaged independently in business, and was enabled to realize it in the year 1894, when he resigned his position as book- keeper and established a public laundry in Rockville, Connecticut. Here he was successful to such an extent that he be- came anxious to transfer his efforts to a larger community and with this end in view, about six months later, he sold his Rockville business and came to Hartford, where he started his present establish- ment under the name of the Empire Steam Laundry. His start in this line was a small one, he employing but four men and one team of horses to carry on his work. But this did not remain true for more than a very short period, as his success was most immediate and necessitated a rapid increase in facilities and an en- largement of his quarters. At the present time the laundry employs nearly one hun- dred hands and ten or eleven delivery autos are kept in constant activity. In the year 1912 Mr. Fanning built the pres- ent large quarters of the Empire Steam Laundry, a building measuring one hun- dred and thirty-five by seventy-five feet and two stories in height. In 1916 an addition was erected to this plant meas-
uring eighty by fifty feet. Mr. Fanning is also president and treasurer of the Em- pire Dry Cleaning Company, and sec- retary and treasurer of the Grant Seam- less Net Company, and both concerns are conducting their business in the building of the Empire Steam Laundry, located on Sheldon street.
Besides his business, Mr. Fanning is prominent in many aspects of the com- munity's life and is particularly active in the social and club circles of the city. He has been a member of Putnam Phalanx for about four years, and is affiliated with St. John's Lodge, No. 4, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Washington Comman- dery, Knights Templar, and several other Masonic bodies; with the Royal Arca- num, of which he is grand orator; the Foresters of America: the Automobile Club of Hartford; the Weathersfield Country Club, of Weathersfield ; the City Club of Hartford, and the Hartford Chamber of Commerce. He is now re- garded as one of the most successful and public-spirited citizens of Hartford, and has won a very well deserved success.
Mr. Fanning was united in marriage to Ada M. Moxley, a daughter of Solon Mox- ley, of Norwich, Connecticut, and they are the parents of the following children: Eu- genia Adams, now a senior in the New England Conservatory of Music; Esther Ada, a junior in Smith College, and an accomplished violin player ; George, who has completed his studies in the West Hartford High School.
(The Spicer Line).
Mary Abbie (Spicer) Fanning was born in Ledyard, Connecticut, September 23, 1837. She was a daughter of Edmund Spicer, born January II, 1812, in North Groton, Connecticut, died May 1, 1890, in Ledyard, Connecticut. He was a promi- nent citizen of Ledyard, served as justice
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of the peace and judge of probate, and was a merchant and large landowner. He married, November 16, 1836, Bethiah Wil- liams, a daughter of John Sands and Bethiah (Williams) Avery. She was born May 28, 1817, in Groton, Connecticut, and died March 7, 1886.
He was the son of John Spicer, born August 14, 1770, in North Groton, Con- necticut, and died March 2, 1856, in Led- yard, Connecticut. He married, Septem- ber 7, 1794, in North Groton, Elizabeth, a daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Leeds) Latham. She was born July 23, 1774, in Groton, Connecticut, and died June 10, 1859, in Ledyard. He served as select- man from 1803 to 1806 and was elected to represent the town at the National General Assembly at New Haven in 1806 and at the National Association in Hart- ford, Connecticut, in 1807. He was justice of the peace in 1825, and was instrumental in dividing the town of Groton into a por- tion that later became Ledyard. He lived and died on the homestead, and was dur- ing his lifetime a carpenter, farmer and prosperous man.
He was the son of Edward Spicer, born April 4, 1722, in North Groton, Connecti- ‹ ut, and died before January 18, 1797. He married (second) October 18, 1761, Abi- gail Allyn. She died December, 1798, in North Groton. Edward Spicer was a farmer and landowner near Ledyard Cen- ter, Connecticut.
He was the son of John Spicer, born January 1, 1698, in New London, Connec- ticut, and died August 28, 1753, in North Groton, on the same farm on which he was born. He married (first) October :22, 1720, in Groton, Connecticut, Mary, a daughter of Robert and Martha (Tyler) Geer. She was born May 14, 1701, in Groton.
John Spicer was a son of Edward Spicer, born about 1674 in New London, Connec-
1.icut. He married his cousin, Katherine, a daughter of Hugh and Abigail (Buse- cot) Stone. She was born August 22, :1674.
Hle was a son of Peter Spicer, who is found in New London in 1666. From where he came to New London is not cer- tain, but there is a tradition that he came from Virginia to New England, and was of English parentage. He married Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary Busecot, De- cember 15, 1670.
STAPLES, Frank Trubee,
Banker, Real Estate Operator.
The growth of the city of Bridgeport, which in recent years has been remark- able, is due to the energy, enterprise and superior ability of its inhabitants, who for two centuries comprised representatives of the original New England families. While the phenomenal extension of its manufacturing industries has brought to Bridgeport many citizens of foreign birth or antecedents, there is still at the head the element which has always controlled the progress of the city. The family of Staples was settled in Nottinghamshire, England, and four of the name were mayors in the seventeenth century. Sev- eral parishes in Kent and Somerset coun- ties are called Staples.
Tradition credits the founding of the family in this country to three brothers, one of whom, name unknown, located in Virginia. Peter Staples, the founder of an important New England family, set- tled in that part of Massachusetts which is now Kittery, Maine, where he was granted land in 1671. For a long time his name was called and recorded "Peter Staple." July 4, 1674, he bought land of Thomas Turner, on Long Beach. On March 9, 1679, five acres were measured and laid out to Peter Staple, granted by
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the town, December 13, 1676, to his wife in her widowhood as Elizabeth Edwards, showing her to have been the widow of Stephen Edwards and probably daughter of Robert Beadle. She was living in 1720. John, second son of Peter and Elizabeth (Beadle) Staples, was born in Kittery, Maine, and his will, made November 21, 1744, was proved July 16, 1745. He mar- ried Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary (Renwick) Dixon. Hezekiah Staples, sec- ond son of John and Mary (Dixon) Sta- ples, was born February II, 1702, in Kit- tery, and married, February 22, 1727, Anna, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Furbish) Thompson. Miles Staples, son of Hezekiah and Anna (Thompson) Sta- ples, was born September 22, 1729, in Kit- tery, and died in Stockton, Maine, Febru- ary II, 1810. He married, June II, 1753, Sarah Trefethern, and settled in Stockton, Maine. They had several children and many descendants. Sarah Trefethern was born in 1728, died in Stockton, 1808. Miles Staples, son of Miles and Sarah (Tre- fethern) Staples, was born at what is now Stockton, Maine. He removed to near Swanville, Maine, and there married Jane Nickerson, and later removed to Swan- ville, where he died. Hezekiah Staples. eldest son of Miles and Jane (Nickerson) Staples, was born in Swanville, followed the sea, and was for thirty years captain of a vessel. He married. 1815-16, Eliza- beth, daughter of General William James and Huldah (Stinson) Treat, and grand- daughter of Lieutenant Joshua Treat, armourer at Fort Pownal, and one of the first settlers on the Penobscot river. The grandfathers of both Hezekiah and Eliza- beth Staples were residents of Prospect (now Stockton) and their farms adjoined. She was born September 1, 1792, at Frank- fort, later Prospect, Maine, and was a good specimen of the New England mother of that day. Industrious, high-minded and
sympathetic, a good manager, as shown by her having the responsibility, during her husband's absence at sea, of conduct- ing a large farm and the bringing up of a family of twelve children, and she en- dowed these children with qualities which contributed largely to their success in life.
James Staples, son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Treat) Staples, was born Jan- uary 19, 1824, in Swanville, and spent his youth there, working on his father's farm in summer and attending school in winter, until he was fourteen years old. Desirous of having a college education, he prepared himself and at the age of seventeen was ready to enter, but too close application to his studies had under- mined his health and he was compelled to forego the realizing of this ambition. After this great disappointment he ac- cepted a position as teacher in Hyannis. Massachusetts, and until he was twenty- five years of age taught school in winter and managed his father's farm in summer, and after that time for four years taught continuously in Belfast, Maine. He was preëminently successful, and throughout his life held the profession of the teacher in the highest esteem as one of the noblest and most useful of avocations. In 1854 he removed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he embarked in the lumber busi- ness, entering into copartnership with S. C. Nickerson under the name of Staples & Nickerson. The firm did a prosperous and growing business and the future looked bright and promising, when the terrible crash of 1857 swept over the country, and with thousands of others the firm was forced out of business. In 1859, as the financial clouds gradually swept away, operations in real estate became quickened in and about Bridgeport and Mr. Staples opened a real estate office, the first one in the city. His great energy and ability soon put him on the road to
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success, and he became the leading agent and one of the best and most consulted authorities on real estate in Bridgeport. In his later years, after he had attained a full measure of success, he was wont to say of this trying period of his career : "My friends told me I could not earn enough to season my food. I told them [ was brought up in Maine and never had it very highly seasoned and I would take my chances." In 1863 the business of fire insurance was added, Mr. Staples associ- ating with himself his brother, George A. Staples, under the firm name of J. & G. A. Staples, and this was continued until the retirement of George A. Staples in 1882. In 1874 James Staples with T. R. and Frances H. Cruttenden established a pri- vate banking business under the firm name of Staples & Company. Mr. Cruttenden died in 1882, and Mr. Staples continued alone until 1884. In October of that year Philip L. Holzer and Frank T. Staples were admitted. The business of the firm prospered to such a degree that larger offices were required, and in 1892 a fine banking house, known as the Sta- ples Bank Building, was erected on the corner of State and Court streets. No banking house in Connecticut is con- ducted on safer or more conservative methods, and none enjoys a higher repu- tation in the community. Aside from his own business, Mr. Staples took an active part in promoting the prosperity of his adopted city. As a member of the Bridge- port Board of Trade, he aided in the estab- lishment of various manufacturing enter- prises, and was the president of the Con- solidated Rolling Stock Company ; he was also treasurer of the Board of Trade up to his death and was succeeded by his son. He always felt a deep interest in the public schools and was for many years a member of the Board of Education of Bridgeport. Every cause in the interest
of the moral, religious and social welfare of the community of which he was a mem- ber found in him a zealous and generous friend. In politics he was a Republican and ardently supported the principles of that party, and although he never desired public office, in 1900, at the earnest solic- itation of his friends who wished to do him honor, he consented to represent Bridgeport in the Legislature to which he was elected by a handsome majority. As a member of the house he displayed the same interest and forceful activity on be- half of measures affecting his city that he did in private life, and never feared to ex- press the approval or opposition his judg- ment dictated. He enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest member of the Legis- lature. In religious belief a Universalist, he was a faithful member of that denomi- nation. His faith was immovable in the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and this faith was a living force in his daily life. He was a total abstainer from the use of intoxicat- ing liquors and tobacco, lived simply and unostentatiously and was devoted to his family, yet he loved the society of his fel- lows, and his humor and ability as a story teller made him a delightful companion. He was a member of the Seaside Club.
James Staples died February 28, 1903, and it was truly said, "The world was better because he lived." Mr. Staples was a man of strong character. Honest, fear- less, sagacious, positive, industrious, faith- ful to his engagements, ready to take re- sponsibility, and with a clear intellect he mastered the problems of life and rose to the highest ranks of usefulness and dis- tinction in his community. With him to decide was to act, and once started on a course of action he pursued it with a singleness of purpose, an indefatigable energy and a tireless persistence that as- sured the certain accomplishment of his
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object. And yet, withal, he was a man of genial disposition, kindly nature, a human sympathy and generous responsiveness to the needs of suffering humanity that caused his presence to shed sunshine in every circle, and won for him the respect and affectionate regard of his associates. To Mr. Staples the misfortunes of 1857 proved to be the key to his prosperous life. In them he found, as many a man has before him, a knowledge of his powers, a chart of the shoals and quicksands of business to be avoided, a will hardened and strengthened, as the muscles are by exercise and work, an ambition to over- come that proves to so many their final fall.
James Staples married (first) January 19, 1851, Harriet H., daughter of Hugh Shirley, of Searsport, Maine. She died April 2, 1852, and he married (second) September 21, 1858, Sarah Elizabeth Tru- bee, born 1828, died January, 1910, daugh- ter of Andrew and Sarah (Turney) Tru- bee, who was prominently identified with the work of the Bridgeport Charitable Society for more than thirty years. Mrs. Staples was descended from Andris Tru- bee, who came from Holland about the year 1700 and settled in Boston, where he entered into business as a member of the firm of Trubee & Solomon, which estab- lished a branch house in Fairfield, Con- necticut, of which Mr. Trubee became manager. Since that time, the descend- ants of Andris Trubee have made Connec- ticut their home. Mrs. Staples was also descended from Thomas Staples, who came to Kittery in 1640 with his brother Peter, the ancestor of her husband. Thom- as Staples removed to Fairfield about 1650, and became a prominent man in public affairs. His wife was accused of witch- craft by Roger Ludlow, and a successful suit for defamation of character against the accuser was the means of putting an
end to the delusion, which in some locali- ties was attended by such serious results.
Frank Trubee Staples, son of James Staples, and only son of his second wife, Sarah Elizabeth (Trubee) Staples, was born November 24, 1863, in Bridgeport. He attended the public schools of that city, acquiring a practical education, and being graduated therefrom in 1881. He began a remarkably successful business career in the insurance department of his father's office, and in January, 1882, upon the death of T. R. Cruttenden, was placed in charge of the banking portion of the business, with which he has ever since been connected. In 1884 he was admitted to a partnership in the firm, which became known as James Staples & Company, suc- cessors to the business established by James Staples. He early evinced a great aptitude for business, and applied to his affairs the same energy and industry which had been employed in the conduct of the business since its founding by his father. The story of his life is interwoven with that of Bridgeport, and the impress of his strong individuality is ineffably stamped upon it. He is actively identified with the Republican party, working earn- estly for the success of its candidates and measures, and on June 1, 1897, he was appointed fire commissioner of Bridge- port, in which capacity he served faith- fully and efficiently for two years. Being a man of prominence in the community, he possesses a host of friends among whom he is popular. Recently he has been engaged in developing a section in the town of Fairfield, which will, un- doubtedly, become a part of Bridgeport, and which is now to be known as "Brook- lawn Park." Finely macadamized roads are being laid out and beautiful shade trees planted on the high ground, which is thus being rendered desirable for a high-class residential district. Mr. Sta-
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val O. Prentice.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ples is a member of the Brooklawn, Coun- try, and Algonquin clubs ; one of the origi- nal members of Park City Yacht Club, and filled the office of treasurer for many years; director of the Boy's Club; and president of the Bridgeport Automobile Club and the Connecticut Good Roads Association.
He married, December 16, 1884, Laura Frances, daughter of William Stevens. They have one child, Richard Trubee, who married, October 12, 1910, Agnes Leslie, daughter of John Andrew Orr, the ceremony being performed in St. John's Episcopal Church by the rector, Rev. Wil- liam H. Lewis. Richard T. Staples is a teller in the bank of James Staples & Company.
PRENTICE, Samuel Oscar, Lawyer, Jurist.
The life of Chief Justice Samuel O. Prentice, of the Supreme Court of Errors, State of Connecticut, has been one of con- tinued advancement from his first en- trance to Yale in 1869. He has met every official demand made upon him, and by the strength of his manly attributes, his intellectual attainments, his legal skill, ability and wisdom, has fairly won high judicial honors. That he worthily wears the "ermine" is best attested by the fact that he first assumed it in 1889 and has worthily worn it ever since, and men en- tertain a high opinion of the court over which he presides. Judge Prentice de- scends from one of the strong intellectual families of New England, although he is the first in his direct line to attain emi- nence as a jurist. His father, Chester Smith Prentice, was first selectman, as- semblyman and justice of the peace. His grandfather, Samuel (3) Prentice, was a lieutenant in the State militia and served during the bombardment of Stonington
and at New London during the War of 1812.
His great-grandfather, Joshua Prentice, was selectman and member of the General Court in 1776 and 1778. Deacon Samuel (2) Prentice, father of Joshua Prentice, was town clerk of Stonington for over thirty years, deputy to the General Court four terms, and for twenty years justice of the peace. Samuel (1) Prentice, father of Deacon Samuel (2) Prentice, was deputy to the General Court and select- man several terms. Thomas (2) Prentice, father of Samuel (1) Prentice, married a daughter of Captain Thomas Stanton, a famous Indian interpreter. Captain Thom- as (I) Prentice, father of Thomas (2) Prentice, was the founder of his family in America, and a man of great ability, fre- quently mentioned in early Massachusetts and Connecticut records.
In addition to this record of seven American generations of the family origi- nally from England, Judge Prentice traces through collateral lines to Elder William Brewster, of the "Mayflower"; Colonel George Denison, of Stonington; Captain James Avery, Captain John Gallup, Rich- ard Treat, Rev. James Noyes, and Wil- liam Cheesbro, all men conspicuous for their attainment as early history testifies. To such ancestral values Judge Prentice added an early life spent on the farm, years which developed a physical man of strength and vigor, that has not faltered when intellectual progress called for phy- sical cooperation. With so perfect an equipment he came to college halls and from them went forth to the serious busi- ness of life.
Samuel Oscar Prentice was born at North Stonington, Connecticut, August 8, 1850, son of Chester Smith and Lucy (Crary) Prentice. After a youth spent in the public schools and in work on his father's farm, he prepared for college at
Conn-2-15
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Norwich Free Academy, there continuing a student three years, 1866-69. In 1869 he entered Yale, receiving his Bachelor's de- gree with the class of "73." At Yale he displayed strong intellectual gifts, win- ning three prizes for English composition, a junior rhetorical, the "Lit" prize medal, and place as one of the "Townsend" speakers. He was chairman of the edi- torial board of the "Lit," member of the fraternities, Kappa Sigma Epsilon, Delta Beta Zi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, and of the famous senior society, Skull and Bones.
From the classics he turned to the law, continuing at Yale a student in the Law School whence he was graduated Bache- lor of Laws, class of 1875, winning the Townsend prize for the first commence- ment oration. During this period he also taught special branches in Hopkins Gram- mar School, New Haven. From law school he passed to actual practice, his admission to the bar immediately follow- ing graduation. He began legal practice as law clerk in the office of Chamberlain Hall & White, of Hartford, and in 1876 became junior member of the newly or- ganized law firm, Johnson & Prentice. He continued in successful practice until the summer of 1889, growing in strength as the years progressed. His position at the bar was one of honor and had attracted the attention of men of official and legal prominence. A vacancy occurring on the bench of the Connecticut Superior Court in 1889, Governor Morgan G. Bulkeley, whose executive secretary he had been, appointed Mr. Prentice to fill that va- cancy.
Fourteen years elapsed between his ad- mission to the bar and his elevation to the bench. That he demonstrated a high de- gree of legal ability during that period is proven by his judgeship. That his judicial strength was of the same high quality was proved during his first term of eight years and that his record as a jurist was
eminently satisfactory, his continued rise testifies. In 1901 he was appointed justice of the Supreme Court of Errors, was re- appointed in 1909 and in February, 1913, reached the highest judicial position in the State, chief justice. Before going higher, Judge Prentice was a good tryer of facts, and since his becoming judge has greatly developed as a lawyer. As a jurist he has the reputation of being one of the most agreeable men to try a case before, thoughtful and patient, generally reaching the right conclusion. On the supreme bench he has shown himself a writer of learned logical opinions well ex- pressed and points well chosen. He is a deep student and possesses all the grace- ful attributes of the scholar, the deep knowledge of the law befitting a leading jurist. He is dignified, yet approachable, with a mind alive to every public interest. The foregoing are the high lights in a life of exceptional honor and mark the fruition of the hopes of an ambitious, self- reliant, resourceful man to whom the ac- cumulation of wealth has not been the all important thing. His career has been in- terspersed with honors equally important at the time they were conferred, that illus- trate different periods of that career and are links in the chain of his life.
From October, 1881, to October, 1886, he was chairman of the Hartford city and town Republican committees ; delegate to the State conventions of 1886 and 1888; clerk of the Hartford County Bar Associ- ation for twelve years; attorney for the town and city of Hartford many years ; member of the State bar examining com- mittee from its formation until 1913, when he resigned from the committee of which he had been chairman since 1898; instruc- tor in pleading in Yale Law School in 1896 : professor of pleading in 1901, which position he filled until 1915. when he re- signed.
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