USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v.2 > Part 48
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Indians decided to put him to death but through the efforts of a friendly Indian his life was spared and he later returned to Deerfield.
Henry Roberts, son of George and Elvira (Evans) Roberts, was born in Brooklyn, New York, January 22, 1853. He spent the first twelve years of his life on a farm at South Windsor, Connecticut, attending the public schools of the dis- trict until his admission to high school in Hartford. There he completed his public school education and was graduated with the high school class of 1873. He then entered the classical department of Yale University whence he was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of "77." Although destined for a business career, he felt a course of legal training would be of great benefit and in accordance with that view he completed a course at Yale Law School, receiving the degree of LL B. class of "79." Fresh from university halls he entered business life, beginning his career with the Hartford Woven Wire Mattress Company, of which his honored father was then president. In 1884 he was elected secretary of the corporation. his brother George then being president. having succeeded to that office on the death of his father in 1878. In 1886 Henry Roberts succeeded his brother as president, continuing the capable execu- tive head until 1907. While the Woven Wire Mattress Company has been the chief concern of his business hie. Mr. Roberts has other large and important connections with Hartford corporations He is a director of the Phoenix National Bank, the Hartford Trust Company, the State Savings Bank of Hartford, the Hartford Electric Light Company and the Farmington River Power Company.
Mr. Roberts imbibed Republican prin- ciples with his earliest breath, and was an ardent supporter of the party even
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before becoming a voter. His first ele- vation to public office was in 1899, when he was chosen alderman from the Sixth Ward of Hartford. He served two years in that office, was chairman of the ways and means committee, and there gave practical demonstration of his fitness and ability to serve the public. In Novem- ber, 1898, he was elected assemblyman from the Hartford district, was chairman of the finance committee of 1899, and in committee and on the floor of the House gave further evidence of his powers of leadership, his devotion to the public wel- fare and his ability to administer a public trust. During his legislative career he became well known to the voters of the entire State, winning from them evi- dences of appreciation, as he had won the voters of Hartford. In 1900 he was called "up higher," and as State Senator from the Hartford district added to the favorable impression he had made as assemblyman. He was chairman of the senate appropri- ations committee, and so thoroughly did he prosecute committee work and so strong was his attitude and action on all public questions that recognition as one of the leaders of his party could not be denied him. His term as Senator termi- nated his legislative career and hence- forth his service was executive. In 1902 he was nominated for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, and with Governor Chamberlain carried the campaign to a successful issue. As presiding officer of the Senate he won State wide commendation from press and public. Said a New Haven newspaper at the close of his two-years term: "The cordial esteem of twenty-four leading men of the State is something an un- worthy man never gets. The cordial esteem of all who know him cannot be enjoyed by any man not of high class, morally and intellectually. Lieutenant- Governor Roberts has won a high place
in the regard and affections of the people of Connecticut and in our opinion no Senate was ever presided over more suc- cessfully than the one of 1903 over which the favorite son of Hartford wielded the gavel." Lieutenant-Governor Roberts was the logical candidate for the governorship in 1904, custom and peculiar fitness for that high office awarding him the honor, but only after a contest with three pop- ular and powerful candidates. His own popularity was never better publicly attested than by the final vote of the nom- inating convention, taken September 14, 1904, when the count gave him a vote largely in excess of that of the combined vote of his three rivals. The Democracy responded by the nomination of a strong candidate, A. Heaton Robertson, but Mr. Roberts won handsomely at the Novem- ber polls. He was inaugurated, January 4, 1905, and his first message outlined policies for State government that were most favorably received by the press and people of the State.
Governor Roberts' administration was marked by a wisdom and an intelligence that causes it to stand as a strong argu- ment in favor of the "business man in politics." Party bias disappears from the Connecticut mind in discussing it, all agreeing with the prophet of the Hartford "Courant," Charles Hopkins Clark: "He will be one of the best Governors Con- necticut ever had." He retired from the executive chair at the end of his term, honored alike by political friend or foe, leaving a record of efficiency, fairness to all, dignified yet democratic intercourse with the people and important legislation incorporated into the law of the State. Although awarded the highest State honor his fellow citizens can bestow, Gov- ernor Roberts has the same active inter- est in the public welfare as a private citi- zen and business man as when carrying
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the responsibilities of high office. Public spirit, now as ever distinguishes him, and no question of public policy or city im- provenient but has his deepest interest.
In religious faith he is a Congregation- alist, affiliated with Centennial Church. He is a trustee of the Slater Industrial School at Winton, North Carolina, trus- tee of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation School at Springfield, Massachu- setts, and a friend of education's cause everywhere. He is a member of the Country, Golf and Republican clubs of Hartford and the University Club of New York City. His college fraternities were Psi Upsilon, Sigma Epsilon and Theta Psi. He has met all life's responsibili- ties squarely, has evaded no issues and is in all things manly, self respecting, up- right and unafraid. Judged as business man, citizen, official or neighbor, he is a fine type of the American gentleman and worthy of the ancestry through whose deeds, patriotic and honorable, he bears proud membership in the Society of Colo- nial Wars and the Sons of the Revolu- tion.
Governor Roberts married, October 5, 1881, Carrie E., daughter of Isaac W. Smith, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are the parents of three children: John Taylor, Francis Thatcher, deceased, and Edward Constant.
FENN, Wallace Trumbull,
Business Man, Legislator.
The family of which General Wallace Trumbull Fenn, president of the great Kellogg & Bulkeley Company of Hart- ford, is a member, is an old one in New England, and its members have always played distinguished and creditable parts in the affairs of their respective com- munities. Fenn is an ancient English surname, and is undoubtedly a member of
that great group which are derived from the names of localities and places. It is also spelled Fen in the early records. According to tradition, the Fenn family in America was founded by three brothers, Edward, who settled in New Haven ; Ben- jamin, who settled in Milford; and Theo- philus, who made his home in Litchfield, Connecticut. The town of Plymouth. Connecticut, was established by Legisla ture in 1795, and among the incorporators we find the following names: Samuel Fenn, Samuel Fenn, Jr., Jesse Fenn, Jason Fenn, Jacob Fenn, AAaron Fenn, Eber Fenn. Isaac Fenn, Gershon Fenn, Abijah Fenn and Lyman Fenn.
Of these Jacob Fenn was without doubt the son of Benjamin Fenn, of Milford. already mentioned as one of the three brothers, and the great-grandfather of General Wallace Trumbull Fenn of this sketch. Jacob Fenn's son, Andrew Fenn. was born in Plymouth in the house erected there by Jacob Fenn and we are thus safe in concluding that he was his son. Andrew Fenn was the father of Apollos Fenn, the father of General Wal- lace Trumbull Fenn. Apollos Fenn was also a native of Plymouth, born in April. 1820. Ilis parents moved to the Terry- ville section of that town, and it was there that his childhood and youth were spent, his education being obtained at the local public schools. Upon completing his studies in these institutions, he learned the trade of clockmaker in Forestville. and about the year 1860 removed to Plam- ville, Connecticut, and followed this trade there. He also secured the position of foreman in the sash and blind factory there and worked in this capacity for a time. He came to Hartford about 1863. where he was given the position of jailer at the old jail on Pearl street, which has since been torn down to make room for the new Young Men's Christian Associa-
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tion Building. He continued in that posi- tion in the new jail on Seyms street until he died. He had been prominent in the life of the several communities where he dwelt, and was sent to to the Connecticut State Legislature as the representative of Farmington. He was also a member of the old State Militia, which existed before the Civil War, and was captain of a com- pany therein.
Born December 30, 1848, in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, Wallace Trum- bull Fenn, a son of Apollos and Julia L. (Judd) Fenn, passed the first portion of his childhood in his native place. It was there that he began his education, attend- ing for this purpose the public schools of New Haven. When his father removed to Plainville, about 1860, the lad accom- panied him there and continued his educa- tion in the local schools of that town, and finally graduated from the Plainville High School. In 1865 he came to Hartford, and having completed his studies he secured a position as bookkeeper for the firm of Litchfield & Flower, who were engaged in the grocery business there. The old establishment of Litchfield & Flower was situated on the site now occupied by the Hotel Garde. After three years of work for this concern, young Mr. Fenn with- drew therefrom, and on June 8, 1868, began that long association with the Kel- logg & Bulkeley Company, which con- tinues at the present day, after a lapse of nearly half a century. He entered the employ of this company in a compara- tively humble position, but his energy and indefatigable industry drew the favor- able regard of his employers to him and his work and he soon found himself in line for promotion. The present business was incorporated in the year 1871, under the name of the Kellogg & Bulkeley Com- pany, and in the same year young Mr. Fenn was elected secretary of the con-
cern. Six years later, in 1877, he became secretary and treasurer. In 1900 he be- came its vice-president, and upon the death of General William H. Bulkeley in November, 1902, was elected president and treasurer, offices which he holds to- day. The company is the oldest litho- graphic house in the United States. "The National Lithographer," a reliable New York publication, had this to say of the company in the April, 1915, issue :
The oldest lithographic house founded in 1832 by D. W. Kellogg and now known as the Kellogg & Bulkeley Company. At last it is made certain that the oldest litho house in the United States has been discovered, and the honor rests with the Kellogg & Bulkeley Company of Hartford. In 1832 on Main street, on the site now occupied by Hartford's Municipal Building, D. W. Kellogg started in business with a litho hand press. There are several crayon prints of that date in existence, one of which is in the possession of Simeon Ford, of the old Grand Union Hotel, and another in the possession of the president of the company. In 1850 D. W. Kellogg was succeeded by E. B. and E. C. Kellogg, who carried on the business for some years, and in 1868 William H. Bulkeley, Frank Bulkeley and Charles E. Kellogg formed a partnership as Kellogg & Bulkeley Company. The first officers elected were William H. Bulkeley, President, and Wallace T. Fenn, secretary and treasurer. At the time of the incorporation the company's headquarters, located at (old) No. 245 Main street, nearly opposite Grove street, and very soon after it moved to No. 175 Pearl street in the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company Building, and remained there until 1910, when it went into the new factory at No. 419-425 Franklin avenue, erected by the company for its own use, and in the few years since the business has so increased that it has erected the new additional factory, about doubling the capacity. Since the foundation of the company in 1871, stop cylinder stone presses have taken the place of hand presses, and within a few years Harris Offset Presses and aluminum presses have taken up the work for- merly done on stone presses, and the introduction of offset presses revolutionized the litho business as to the quality and production. The company has six Harris offset presses of large size, and rotary aluminum and Hoe's stone presses, the equipment being unequaled by any company in
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"Wars & Bre . "Y"
'r. mar
Goodwin Goddard
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
this line of business in New England. The office and factory buildings are fireproof and are equipped with automatic sprinklers. All presses and other machines are equipped with individual electric motors for power and no counter shafts or belting appear. All engravings and stones are secure in concrete space, and the plant is recog- nized by fire and liability companies as an A-I risk. General William H. Bulkeley was president of the company from the time of its incorporation until his death, November 7, 1902.
General Fenn was one of the original members of Company K, First Regiment Connecticut National Guard, and has ever since that time been a prominent figure in miltary circles here. He was appointed to the staff of Colonel Barbour as commis- sary-sergeant in 1881, and became pay- master of the regiment in 1885, and the latter office he continued to hold until January 1, 1890, when he was appointed by Governor Bulkeley as paymaster-gen- eral upon his staff. This office he held until January 1, 1894, when he was placed upon the list of retired officers with the rank of brigadier-general. General Fenn has been a life-long Republican, and has held many important positions of trust in Hartford. He was a member of the Board of Common Council in that city for two terms, in 1880 and 1881, and in 1889 he was sent as a representative to the State Legislature, where he played a very prominent part in legislative activ- ity. The first year of his service on that body he was made secretary of the com- mittee on cities and boroughs, and the next year he was chairman of the com- mittee on federal relation and a member of the railroad committee.
General Fenn has been twice married. his first wife to whom he was united Oc- tober 6, 1870, was Justina Hall Preston, a sister of Major E. V. Preston, who is the subject of extended mention elsewhere in this work. She was born in October, 1849, and died April 30, 1881. On Janu-
ary 2, 1882, General Fenn married Emma Lucy Hale, a daughter of Simeon and Sophia Hale, of Wethersfield. By his first marriage two children were born as fol- lows: C. W., born December 18, 1871, who is now secretary of the Kellogg & Bulkeley Company; and Fred P., born July 3, 1876, and is now on the road for that concern in the capacity of traveling salesman. One child has been born of his second marriage, a daughter. Olive H. born March 3, 1883.
STODDARD, Goodwin,
Lawyer.
Among the lawyers of the Connecticut bar who in their day and generation added dignity and honor to their profession. Goodwin Stoddard, of Bridgeport, must ever be remembered. Of ancient New England family and of English ancestry. tracing to Anthony Stoddard, who came from England to Boston about 1639. He was the father of Rev. Solomon Stoddard. an eminent divine, a graduate of Harvard. 1662, first librarian of the college, and from 1672 until 1726 settled over the church at Northampton, Massachusetts, and then had his grandson, Jonathan Ed- wards, elected his colleague. His son. Rev. Anthony (2) Stoddard, was a gradu- ate of Harvard. 1697, and the settled pas- tor over the Woodbury, Connecticut. church for sixty years. Eliakim Stod- dard, of the fourth American generation. son of Rev. Anthony (2) Stoddard, broke the line of professional men which was not resumed in this branch until three generations later. John Stoddard, son of Eliakim Stoddard, was the father of Sam- son Stoddard, whose second wife. Amy (Goodwin) Stoddard, was a "Mayflower" descendant and brought the name "Good- win" into the family as a given name. their second son, born May 8. 1783. being
Conn-2-22
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named Goodwin, and that name has per- sisted in the family. His son, Joseph N. Stoddard, married Sophia Buddington, and their son, Goodwin Stoddard, is of further mention.
The name Stoddard is derived from the office of standard bearer and was origi- nally de la Standard. William Stoddard. a knight, came from Normandy in the train of William the Conqueror, who was his cousin. One of his descendants, Ruk- ard Stoddard, had an estate of four hun- dred acres near Elthan in Kent, about seven miles from London Bridge, an estate that was in the family as early as 1490, presumably earlier, and only passed out of the name with Nicholas Stoddard. who died in 1765, a bachelor. The Stod- dard arms are: Sable three estoiles and bordure gules. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet a demi-horse salient ermine. Motto : Festina lente.
Goodwin Stoddard, of Bridgeport, son of Joseph and Sophia (Buddington) Stod- dard, was born in Bethany, New Haven county, Connecticut, April 2, 1847. His education was completed at the Univer- sity of Albany, where he was graduated in 1867, and where also he pursued his pro- fessional studies. He was admitted to the bar in New York State and Connec- ticut in 1868. He began practice in 1868 and immediately engaged in the trial of causes in Fairfield and adjacent counties, where he became one of the most eminent lawyers of the Connecticut bar. He was connected with many of the important cases, and served an important and influ- ential clientele. Mr. Stoddard died July 26, 1909.
Mr. Stoddard married, October 21, 1875, Julia E. Sanford, born October 20, 1855. daughter of Edwin G. and Emily Adeline Sanford, of Bridgeport. They were the parents of two sons, Sanford and Henry B.
Sanford Stoddard, elder son of Goodwin and Julia E. (Sanford) Stoddard, was born October II, 1877. He attended Park Avenue Institute, Baptist; St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire; Yale, academic course, 1899: Harvard Law School, 1899-1901. He is now practicing his profession in Bridgeport, and in re- ceipt of an extensive clientele. He mar- ried Hannah Gould, daughter of Benoni S. and Annie G. Johnson, of Hudson, New York. Children: Johnson, born Septem- ber 25. 1904; Goodwin, December 23, 1907 : David Gould, October 21, 1912.
Henry B. Stoddard, younger son of Goodwin and Julia E. (Sanford) Stod- dard, was born April 15, 1890. He at- tended St. Paul's School, New Hamp- shire ; Taft's School; Yale College, 1902, and Harvard Law School, 1902-04. He is a member of the Connecticut bar, but not practicing his profession.
BISHOP, Alfred,
Builder of Railroads, Financier.
Bishop is a name to conjure with in railroad circles, where three generations have ranked among the great builders and executives of transportation lines. Alfred Bishop, gloried in his work as a builder, saw many of the enterprises he fathered placed in successful operation, but his greater work, the New York & New Haven Railroad, was opened for traffic after his death. Following him came his son, William D. Bishop, presi- dent of the New York & New Haven from May, 1867, until March 1, 1879, and his sons. William D., Jr., and Henry Al- fred Bishop, whose connection with the Naugatuck, New York, New Haven & Hartford and other railroads of the coun- ty continues until the present day.
Alfred Bishop, son of William Bishop, grandson of Pierson Bishop, and descend-
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Respectfully your
THE NOMIN
TARY
F
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ant of Rev. John Bishop, was born at Stamford, Connecticut, December 21, 1798, died June 12, 1849. When a young man he located in Morris county, New Jersey, and began his wonderful career as a builder of transportation lines, the Morris canal and a bridge over the Rari- tan river at New Brunswick being two of his New Jersey monuments. He located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1836, and at once became interested in the building of a railroad through the Housatonic Valley, plans for which were under way. Mr. Bishop assumed a large share of the financial burden, building the road en- tailed and put the project through to com- pletion. He also built the Berkshire, Washington & Berkshire Railroad, and in 1845, in association with others, procured a charter, became one of the incorporators and began the construction of the then stupendous project, the Naugautuck Rail- road, with which two generations of his descendants were to be so prominently connected. Two years later, in 1847, he assumed the burden of even a greater task, the building of the New York & New Haven road and of his work in that connection the directors of the road said officially in 1839: "The work which owes its execution to him will be a monument to carry down his name with honor to the future." While all these projects were maturing and others were in contempla- tion, Mr. Bishop died at Saratoga, New York, June 12. 1849, just before the open- ing of the New Haven road, and three months prior to the Naugautuck road be- ing opened to Winsted. His work as a builder and financier placed him among the great captains of industry of his day and the enterprises created became fa- mous in transportation annals.
Mr. Bishop married, October 3. 1821, at Greenwich, Connecticut. Mary Ferris, daughter of Ethan Ferris and grand-
daughter of Jeduthan Ferris. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop were the parents of two sons : William D. Bishop Iq. v.) , Ethan Ferris Bishop, executor of his father's estate, director of the Naugautuck Rail- road and its president, 1551-55. and again in 1873 until his death in Bridgeport, Connecticut, December 7. 1883
BISHOP, William Darius,
Prominent in Railroad Circles, Public Official.
Called by the death of his honored father to assume heavy responsibilities when just out of college, William D Bishop nobly proved the strength of his character, and all contracts the father had taken were finished by the son even to railroads in the West. From the year 1846 until his death, he was intimately associated with great railroad curpora- tions, his term as president of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad covering the period 1867-79. During his term of office that road developed from a small to a powerful corporation and his name remained at the head of the board of directors until his death in 1904. To him was due the vast improvements the road made in Bridgeport and he ever took a deep interest in the city in which he made his home.
Did his fame rest solely upon his achievement as a captain of industry it would suffice. His political career was one of honor, and as one of the Demo- crats of the old school he rendered valu- able service in Congress, and in the State Legislature as representative and sen- ator. He was instrumental in placing upon the statute books legislation of a high order, including a general railroad law for the State of Connecticut. He was a man of few words, but when he did speak his words commanded attention
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and carried conviction. His keen sense of humor combined with a charming per- sonality rendered him a general favorite and his friends were many.
William D. Bishop, second son of Alfred and Mary (Ferris) Bishop, was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Septem- ber 14, 1827, died in Bridgeport, Connec- ticut, February 4, 1904. He was a grad- uate of Yale College, class of "49," was prominent in political debate and presi- dent of the Linonia Society, then one of the highest college honors. The death of his father, June 12, 1849, compelled him to plunge at once into business life, and he was fully engaged for some time in completing railroad contracts which his father had left unfinished. He became an early director of the Naugautuck Rail- road ; was its superintendent and in 1855 was elected president, continuing in that position until 1867, the road under his management becoming one of the most notable and best paying in this country. In 1867 he resigned the presidency of the Naugautuck road but retained his inter- est, and in 1885 he was recalled to the same office, and was its valued executive until failing health compelled him to re- sign in October, 1903, his son, William D. Bishop, Jr., succeeding him.
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