USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 20
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In New Haven, Connecticut, in 1881, Mr. Loewith was united in marriage to Miss Bella Herz and they became the parents of four children: Walter, who is now superin- tendent of the brewery; Linda, the wife of Leonard Asheim, an architect of Bridgeport; Florence, the wife of Harry A. Goldstein, an attorney; and Herbert. who is engaged in the
SIGMUND LOEWITH
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real estate business. The wife and mother passed away in July, 1914, and in November, 1915, Mr. Loewith wedded Miss Lena Marcus, of New Haven.
In his political views Mr. Loewith is a democrat and on various occasions has been called to public office. He served as assessor from 1891 until 1893 and has recently com- pleted twelve years' service on the board of apportionment and taxation. He was a member of the city council from his ward in 1889 and 1890 and he has always been an active factor in local politics, giving stalwart support to the principles in which he believes. In Masonry Mr. Loewith has membership in both the lodge and council and he is also identified with the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He belongs, moreover, to the Turnverein, the Germania Singing Society, the Liederkranz, the Algonquin Club and the Harmony Club-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests. He is well known as an active and enterprising business man and progressive citizen and by well directed effort and merit he has worked his way steadily upward.
FRED K. BRAITLING.
Fred K. Braitling occupies a somewhat unique position in the business world, being at the head of the only house of the country given over exclusively to the manufacture of dolls' shoes. dolls' bodies and other accessories of the doll trade. The business, too, is one of large proportions, and able management on the part of its directing head has made it a profitable concern. Mr. Braitling is a native son of Connecticut, having been born in New Haven, July 28, 1869, his parents being Charles F. and Anna M. (Keilpflug) Braitling, the latter a daughter of Ludwig H. Keilpflug, who was one of the early settlers of Bridgeport and opened the first bindery of the city. Charles F. Braitling was a native of Paris, France, and in his boyhood came with his father and mother to the United States but afterward again spent a few years in France. On returning to the new world he secured the position of superintendent of the Wood Brothers' carriage factory at Bridgeport. Eventually he again returned to his native city and became interested in the toy business, while later he started the third retail toy store in the United States. Moreover, he was the first man in the country to make dolls' shoes in leather, starting this business in 1869. He continued actively in business until 1897, when he retired and was succeeded by his son Fred. The father then enjoyed well earned rest and the fruits of his former toil until May 8, 1912, when he was called to the home beyond.
Fred K. Braitling received his initial training and experience under the direction of his father, whom he succeeded in business in 1897. He is today at the head of an extensive but unique industry-the manufacture of dolls' shoes, doll bodies, doll wigs and other doll accessories at Bridgeport. His factory is a two-story structure of mill construction, fifty- two by one hundred and fifty-two feet, and supplied with a sprinkler system. He also has a storehouse thirty by one hundred and twenty feet. This is the only factory in the world built and equipped for the manufacture of dolls' shoes, and in normal times the factory employs three linndred or more people, the trade having been developed carefully according to modern business methods and processes. Few people realize that, great as the shoe industry is in the United States, there is a considerable trade in dolls' shoes. These are made in all styles, closely following the women's and children's best work of the country. The doll's shoe is made just like any other shoe, except that no tacks are used, as all fastening is done with cement or by sewing. They have, however, regular dolls' lasts over which the uppers are pulled and lasted just like any larger shoe. The knowledge gained by this factory through fifty years' experience has enabled them to put on the market dolls' shoes that are perfect in every detail. The founder of the business, who made a specialty of remodeling dolls and fixing up dolls which had been broken more or less during
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spare times experimented in the making of dolls' shoes and was occasionally called upon to make a pair of shoes for a doll. He finally became convinced that there was a real market for dolls' shoes and, disposing of his retail toy store, he then established bis dolls' shoe manufactory, winning success in the undertaking from the beginning. Today the factory turns out more than thirty styles of dolls' shoes, shoes with heels and without, with fancy buckles and tiny bows, in all shades-pink, brown, blue, grey and black. There are cloth tops with leather vamps and there are sandals. These dolls' shoes retail anywhere from ten cents to a dollar a pair and occasionally some are made that sell at a still higher price. Many retailers throughout the country buy large quantities of these dolls' shoes and use them to advertise their business. The large retailers often send in an order for a thousand pairs of these little shoes and then give them away, using them as an instrument to bring trade to the store. The styles follow the prevailing styles of children's and misses' shoes, and when anything new comes out in the other shoe establishments, it has to also be incorporated in the Bridgeport establishment for dolls. The company carries and manufactures wigs for dolls, many of which are made of human hair, while others are of mohair. They also manufacture muslin doll bodies, full kid and part kid arms, dolls' stockings of various colors and styles, dolls' belts, dolls' auto goggles and kid parlor balls in fancy colors. The business has steadily grown and the undertaking has become one of the important productive industries of Bridgeport.
On the 25th of December, 1894, Mr. Braitling was united in marriage to Miss Ella Murphy of this city and they are well known in social circles. Mr. Braitling is a charter member of the National Toy Men's Association. He stands for all that is highest and hest in manhood and in citizenship and in Bridgeport, where he has long resided, is spoken of in terms of the highest regard.
GEORGE E. CRAWFORD.
George E. Crawford, president and treasurer of the Crawford Laundry Company of Bridgeport, was born in Wales, Massachusetts, July 15, 1868, a son of Ossian and Lavinia (Shepard) Crawford. The ancestry of the family in America is traced back to 1710, when representatives of the name came from Scotland and settled in Connecticut. Some of the family went to Massachusetts, while others became residents of Union, Connecticut. Ossian Crawford was a carpenter and builder, but the son, George E., did not desire to follow that pursuit and after acquiring a public school education he turned his attention to the laundry business, entering the employ of his brother when a youth of seventeen years. He acquainted himself with every phase of the business and at the age of twenty years started the Craw- ford Laundry, opening his establishment in February, 1888, at 216 Middle street. In 1893 he removed to 34 Court street and in 1908 to 435 Fairfield avenue, where he is now located. The business was incorporated in 1908. His present building is a four-story hrick structure, containing thirty-five thousand square feet, and for the past ten years this has been the largest laundry in the state, employing one hundred and twenty-five people. It is equipped with all the latest improved machinery and devices to facilitate the work and make the product of the highest possible grade. It is equipped with individual motors for all machines and the building was the first reinforced concrete structure erected in Bridgeport.
In 1894 Mr. Crawford was united in marriage to Miss Ida Hawes, of this city, a daughter of Jacob Hawes, a tailor. To them have been born four children, namely: William H., who is a student in Brown University; Louise; Arthur J .; and George E., Jr. Fraternally Mr. Crawford is identified with the Masons, having attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He likewise belongs to the Mystic Shrine and is a past potentate. Mr. Crawford is also connected with the Brook-
GEORGE E. CRAWFORD
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lawn, the Bridgeport, the Algonquin and the Seaside Outing Clubs. He was a member of the executive committee of the Laundry Owners National Association for several years and in 1914 was elected its president. He is equally active and prominent in connection with civic affairs. He served as a member of the fire commission from 1908 until 1910 and was president of the board in 1909. He is now president of the Chamber of Commerce and as its chief official is active in directing its policy and promoting projects which are of great value in extending the trade relations of the city and in upholding all those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
JESSE M. HAYES.
Jesse M. Hayes, a fish and produce dealer of Bridgeport, making his home in Fairfield, was born in the former city March 3, 1864, a son of William and Eliza (Coan) Hayes, natives of Brookfield and of Woodbury, Connecticut, respectively, hoth families tracing their ancestry back to the Mayflower Pilgrims. Jesse M. Hayes was reared in his native city and through his hoyhood he was in a state of semi-invalidism. While not confined to his bed, he was unable to attend school. Most of his time was spent out of doors and his education was received through his mother's instruction. As he approached manhood, however, he developed robust health and entered upon an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade. He left his position when drawing a salary of twenty-one dollars per week and began driving a delivery wagon for his brother in order to be out of doors. From that time he and his brother have been practically continuously closely identified in their business life. In 1895 the Hayes Fish Company was incorporated, of which Jesse M. Hayes became the president and has so continued. Throughout the intervening years this company has conducted the largest retail fish business of any firm in Bridgeport. Their sales now reach a large figure annually and the business methods of the house, the enterprise of the partners and their unfaltering industry have been the salient features in their growing prosperity.
On the 30th of May, 1887, Mr. Hayes was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret Mitchell, of Jersey City, New Jersey, by whom he has two children, namely: Clarence M., who is in his father's employ and who married Florence Leger and has one son, Jesse Merritt II, born August 11, 1916; and Helen Louise, the wife of John Buckingham, of Southport, Con- nectient. In Masonic circles Mr. Hayes is well known, having passed up both routes, becoming a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite Mason. He is also a charter member of the Red Men. In politics he is a stalwart republican and gives loyal support to all legitimate plans and measures to further party interests. While conducting business at Bridgeport, he has made his home in Fairfield for the past seventeen years and his residence is one of the historic buildings of this section, being one of six houses which were left standing by the British. It is said to have been built in 1765 and is a most attractive old colonial home.
EMANUEL A. DOAN.
Emanuel A. Doan, manager of the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Bridgeport, was born in Welland county, Ontario, Canada, June 10, 1880, a son of Elias A. and Julia (Jewell) Doan, the former a native of Welland, Canada, and the latter of Fairhaven. He has a brother, Frank Addison Doan, who is a locomotive engineer of Canada. In the public schools he passed through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school at Welland, Canada, after which he secured his first position at the depot of the Michigan Central Railway at Welland. When seventeen years of age he was made track man and
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afterward became fireman on the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Railroad. Subsequently be went to Niagara Falls, New York, where he was engaged on the building of Plant No. 2 at the power house. He next devoted his attention to handling brick for the power company, after which he engaged as lathe man at piece work. At night he was learning the barber's trade and in seven years he owned a three-chair shop. In 1907, however, he disposed of his business along that line and entered the employ of the Prudential Company at a small salary of fifty-five dollars per month. Within a year he was made an assistant and in 1915 was appointed superintendent at Bridgeport, where he has since been in charge of the interests of the Prudential Life Insurance Company. Under his guidance he has largely developed the business and his efforts have brought very gratifying results for the company.
Mr. Doan was married in Canada to Miss Hester Jane Henderson, by whom he has three children, namely: Austin Emanuel, born January 5, 1903: Thelma Jane, whose birth occurred June 11, 1904: and Arthur Leonard, whose natal day was June 13, 1906. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Doan has membership in Frontier Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., and is a loyal follower of Masonic teachings. He has become widely known in Bridgeport through his business relations and in all his various connections lie commands the goodwill and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.
HENRY EDWARD SHANNON.
After broad experience in the newspaper field Henry Edward Shannon turned to the practice of law, and thorough preparation qualified him for the success which he has attained as a member of the Bridgeport bar. He was born December 2, 1867, in the city where he resides and was the youngest son in a family of six sons and two daughters, his parents being Luke and Ann Cecelia (Cox) Shannon, who were natives of Roscommon, Ireland, where they were reared and married. They came to the United States about 1846 and located in Bridgeport, which remained their place of residence during the rest of their lives.
Henry E. Shannon is the only member of the family now living. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Bridgeport and then entered the newspaper field, becoming a reporter in 1888 on the Bridgeport Farmer. After acting in that capacity for three years he spent one year as night editor of the Bridgeport Morning News and from 1892 until 1895 he was court reporter for the Bridgeport Standard. In the latter year he became city editor of the Standard and continued as such for five years. Two years before terminating his connection with that paper he was reading law and this enabled him to successfully pass the first and second year examinations at the law school and enroll as a member of the senior class of the Yale Law School. On the 9th of January, 1900, he was admitted to the bar, since which time he has followed his profession in Bridgeport, being now senior member of the firm of Shannon & Wilder, his partner being Frank L. Wilder, with whom he is connected in the general practice of law. They do not confine their attention to a particular line, but in all branches of practice are proving their capability to cope with and successfully solve intricate legal problems.
On the 23d of April, 1895, Mr. Shannon was married to Miss Ellen Theresa Coughlin, of Bridgeport, who passed away March 17, 1904. On the 1st of June, 1906, he wedded Miss Elizabeth Conghlin, the younger sister of his first wife and a daughter of Hon. Patrick Coughlin, formerly mayor of Bridgeport. Mr. Shannon has three children, one of whom, James Coughlin, was born of the first marriage. He is now twenty years of age and is a junior in Georgetown University in the District of Columbia, having entered upon his course there since graduating from the Bridgeport high school at the age of seventeen years. There are two children of the present marriage, Henry Edward and Cecelia, aged respectively ten
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and eight years. The parents are members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Shannon is connected also with the Knights of Columbus. He has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Order of Eagles and he belongs to the Seaside Club. In politics he is a democrat but has never sought nor desired public office, feeling that he prefers to concentrate his entire attention and energies upon his professional interests and opportunities.
JOSEPH SMITH.
More than six decades have passed since Joseph Smith became a resident of Bridgeport, where for many years he was prominently identified with business interests, being well known in connection with commercial activity here. At length he put aside business cares and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well deserved rest. A native of Maine, Mr. Smith was born in North Haven in 1851 and in 1853 was brought to Bridgeport by his parents, Aaron and Margaret Lane (Calderwood) Smith. The father was also a native of North Haven, while the mother's birth occurred at Vinal Haven, Maine. Following the removal to Bridgeport Aaron Smith engaged in the grocery business at the foot of Brewster street for some time and purchased land there. Later he turned his attention to the furniture trade, his location heing where the Public Market now stands. Some time afterward he left that place and gave his attention to the purchase and sale of real estate and acquired considerable property. In his later years he lived retired and for over thirty years he was a valued and respected resident of Bridgeport. He was born in July, 1816, and was therefore in his seventieth year when on the 16th of April, 1886, he passed away. In the family were five children: Jeremiah C., who was engaged in the grocery business with his brother Joseph but has now departed this life; Viola J., the wife of George Gould, deceased; Orland, who was engaged in the fish and fruit business, conducting a market on Water street, but is now deceased; Fairfield, who was in business with his brother Jeremiah in the store on the dock and now lives in Bridgeport; and Joseph, of this review.
The last named was educated in the schools of Bridgeport and in Bryant & Stratton's Business College. He made his initial step in the business world as a bookkeeper for the Wheeler & Howes Coal Company and later was with the Howes Sewing Machine Company for a short time. He afterward engaged in business with his brother Orland on Water street, selling fish, fruit and vegetables to the wholesale and retail trades. They built up the largest enterprise of the kind in the city at that time and the partnership was continued for a year or two, at the end of which period Joseph Smith purchased the interest of his brother Fairfield and entered into partnership with his brother Jeremiah in general merchandising at the dock in the Black Rock district, selling to crafts and boats. He continued in that line for some time and afterward spent two years with the David Trubee Butter Company, while subsequently he engaged in the butter business on his own account on Water street, where he conducted a wholesale store. He next turned bis attention to the sale of wagons, having his establishment where the postoffice is located on John street. He there bought and sold wagons, building up a business of extensive proportions. At length he sold his place on the postoffice site to Gates & Omans and entered their employ in a place on the corner of Broad and John streets, where he continued for a number of years. He then opened business for himself in a carriage repository on John street, where he built up an extensive business in that line. At length he turned his attention to real estate dealing and not only bought and sold much property but also erected a number of residences and remodeled others, converting them into modern habitable dwellings. His business affairs were always carefully managed. He gave thorough consideration to every point bearing upon his activities and quickly recognized both the accidental and incidental features of a business proposition.
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His judgment was sound, his sagacity keen and his enterprise unfaltering, and in this way he so directed his affairs that success in large measure crowned his efforts.
In Bridgeport, in 1874, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Allen, a daughter of Charles H. Allen, who came to Bridgeport in an early day and ran a packet between this city and New York. He was commander of the packet Emily and of the schooner Ella Jane for a number of years, owning both boats. He was afterward with the Bridgeport Steamboat Company as pilot of the Crystal Wave and he became a prominent representative of navigation interests in this city. He was a native of Westport, Connecticut, and arrived in Bridgeport in the late '60s. He married Amanda J. Fairchild, a native of this city, who is still living at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and who by her marriage became the mother of four children: Charles, living in Bridgeport; Mrs. Smith; Nelson B .; and Mrs. Mary V. Miller, whose home is in Norfolk, Virginia. Throughout his entire life Charles H. Allen was identified with marine interests and became recognized as the most competent pilot on the Sound. He was owner and captain of his own boats, and for a number of years, with his brother, Sereno G., ran a packet line from Westport to New York. He was, more- over, a public-spirited citizen, active in support of measures and movements for the general good, thus displaying the same spirit of loyalty and patriotism which characterized his ancestors who served in the Revolutionary war. His mother was a daughter of Captain Steven Thorpe of Revolutionary war fame, and the Thorpe family had a grant of land at Danbury, Connecticut. By reason of this ancestry the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has become identified with the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is Mrs. Viola Hurlburt, the wife of James E. Hurlburt, of Bridgeport, and they have three children, Joseph Edward, Allen Freeman and Viola Calderwood. Mr. Smith has lived to witness many notable changes in Bridgeport since the year 1853, when he was brought here a little lad of but two summers. In all the intervening period he has borne his part in the work of general development and improvement and has ever stood for those things which have been progressive elements in the city's upbuilding. His worth is widely recognized and all who know him speak of him in terms of high regard.
A. H. TRUMBULL.
A. H. Trumbull, president of the Connecticut Electric Manufacturing Company, possesses the spirit of modern enterprise that stops not short of successful accomplishment. In the conduct of business his plans have always been well defined and promptly executed and the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents has brought him success, so that he is now at the head of one of the large productive industries of Bridgeport. A native son of Con- necticut, his birth occurred at West Hartford, October 12, 1876, his parents being Hugh H. and Mary A. Trumbull, the former a farmer by occupation, with a family of seven sons, all of whom entered into manufacturing business. J. H., Henry H. and Frank S. began mann- facturing in electric lines at Plainville, Connecticut, and developed a large concern there, but Frank S. afterward removed to Bridgeport and took up the machine tool business. George. the youngest of the brothers, is connected with manufacturing interests at Ban- tam, Connecticut. The other three brothers started the business that is now conducted under the name of the Connecticut Electric Manufacturing Company of Bridgeport, but of the three only A. H. is now living.
The parents removed with their family to Plainville, Connecticut, during the boyhood of A. H. Trumbull, who there acquired a public school education, and at the outset of his business career he turned his attention to manufacturing. Common sense has been the foundation of his success. In other words, he has made good use of his time and oppor- tunities, nor has he cultivated any false ideas of rapidly attaining wealth, knowing that persistent, earnest and honorable labor is the basis of all legitimate prosperity. In 1906
I. B. TRUMBULL
A. H. TRUMBULL
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the Connecticut Electric Manufacturing Company was organized by A. H. and I. B. Trum- bull at Bantam, Connecticut, to manufacture electric specialties of a standard line and also many of their own invention. Today the company is engaged in the manufacture of fit- tings, switches, sockets, etc. A removal was made to Bridgeport in December, 1912, at which time they located at Connecticut and Florence avenues, building their own factory, a four story structure one hundred and fifty by three hundred feet. This is of mill con- struction, equipped with a sprinkler system, is well lighted and supplied with the latest improved machinery for facilitating their work. The machinery is driven by electric power, with individual and group motors, and they employ from two hundred and seventy- five to three hundred people, fifty per cent of whom are girls. The product is sold to jobbers all over the world and three traveling salesmen go out from the factory and many from the New York office, which is at 50 Church street. They also maintain an office in Chicago and in San Francisco and their output is sent in large measure into South America, also into Australia and various parts of Europe. Mr. Trumbull began the business with a capital of eight hundred dollars but interested others, so that moneyed men made investment in the undertaking, and the growth of the business is shown by the fact that in 1916 it amounted to one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The business has shown a remarkable growth under the management of A. H. Trumbull and his broth- ers, but I. B. Trumbull was drowned on the Lusitania when making a trip to England in May, 1915, and in April, 1916, the other brother, James Trumbull, passed away, leaving A. H. Trumbull in sole charge of the business, which is increasing at the rate of forty per cent per annum. When the company was organized I. B. Trumbull acted as secretary and treasurer, with James Trumbull as vice president, and A. H. Trumbull has been presi- dent from the beginning. The business was at first capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, of which eight thousand dollars was paid in. Since then the capital stock has been increased to two hundred thousand dollars, all of which has been paid up. The growth of the undertaking is attributable to the close study, the enterprising methods and the per- sisteney of purpose of the president.
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