USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 24
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WILLIAM E. PARKER.
William E. Parker, production superintendent of the American Graphophone Company. was born in Hartford, Connecticut, December 14, 1869, and at the usual age became a public school pupil, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. His initial step in the business world was made as an employe of Colt's Patent Firearms Company and his natural mechanical skill and ingenuity were developed in that connection. Later he went to Washington, D. C., to develop the Monotype machine and built the first model for L. W. Lanson, the inventor. He afterward became connected with the American Ordnance Com- pany, occupying a position in the model room for a year. His connection with the American Graphophone Company dates from January 29, 1897, at which time he became foreman in the experimental room. At that period the output of the plant was but twenty-five machines per day. Later he was given charge of the laboratory and afterward was advanced to the position of general inspector. He next served as mechanical engineer, afterward as chief inspector and as chief of the laboratory and since 1916 has been production superin- tendent. Thus step by step he has gone on in the business until his position is one of large responsibility, contributing to the success of the unified whole that is made up of many complex business interests, calling for highly specialized work in every department.
On the 4th of June, 1891, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Marie K. Myers, of Middle- town, Connecticut, the wedding being celebrated in Hartford. Mr. Parker exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He attends the Episcopal church and he is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He is captain general of the commandery, is a member of the Mystic Shrine and a member of the Patrol. His appreciation for the social amenities of life here finds expres- sion and he is a valued representative of the craft.
ARCHIBALD E. SMITH.
Archibald E. Smith, manager of the retail department of the Lane Candy Company, manifests in the conduet of his business a devotion to high standards of purity and excel- lence that is most commendable, and the public recognizes that the success which he is winning is well deserved. While the greater part of his life has been spent in New England, he is a
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native son of Scotland, his birth having occurred in Glasgow, December 18, 1878, his parents being Daniel and Martha (Elliott) Smith, now residents of Bridgeport. He was but three or four years of age when brought by his parents to America. They landed in New York city and afterward went to Springfield, Massachusetts, whence they later removed to Holyoke, Massachusetts. Subsequently they resided for a time at Florence, Massachusetts and then came to Bridgeport, so that Archibald E. Smith pursued his education in the public schools of this city. His opportunities were somewhat limited, however, for he had to begin work early and from that time forward has been dependent upon his own resources. He was first employed as a cash boy and later as elevator boy, while subsequently he worked in the office of the Frank Miller Lumber Company, and in the cost department of the Bridgeport Brass Company. He became connected with his present line of business in 1909 as manager. He has complete charge of the retail store, which is located at No. 1040 Main street, and of the ice cream department. He takes great pride in the splendid quality of the Lane products and uses nothing but the best materials in the manufacure of both ice cream and candy, making no so-called cheap candy or ice cream. Within the past few years the raw materials used have increased in price on an average of seventy-five per cent, but the selling price has advanced only twenty-five per cent. Mr. Smith closely studies every phase of the business and from time to time puts upon the market something new in the line which he handles, catering to discriminating taste.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Maud Lane, daughter of Charles D. Lane, and they have one son, Kenneth Lane. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Smith belongs also to the Royal Arcanum and the Seaside Club, associations that indicate something of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct.
ANTHONY S. AMBROSE.
By taking one peep on the firmament of mankind it will be revealed that some men shine more brilliantly on the horizon of success than others, and those who have won promi- nence, distinction and success have invariably commanded it as the spoils of a struggling life. The fruits of labor are sweet no matter how bitter the labor may be, and a study of the lives of men who have really made a mark will unfold that hard work is the only trust- worthy road to fortune.
In the year 1882, Anthony S. Ambrose, a youth but fifteen years of age, blue-eyed. big-honed, sturdy and penniless left his home in Slovakia, Hungary, to wrestle as a pioneer among his people with the hardships of a new land. Born of humble parents, Albert and Agnes Ambrose, his father of a Moravian Slovak descent, Anthony, the second son, was given educational advantages and attending school in Hungary till fifteen years of age he proved to be an apt pupil, showing a strong adaptability along literary lines.
Mr. Ambrose when arriving in the United States located himself in Plymouth, Penn- sylvania. where he stayed for two years, working in the mines, stores, foundries and other industries. After conquering the difficulties of language, custom and prejudice, and seeing the need of a means of enlightening his people on the customs and traditions of their newly adopted home, he entered the newspaper field and in 1890 established a newspaper of his own at Plymouth, which was published in the Slovak language. The publication was continued for several years in the work of educating the Slovaks and teaching them to be good Americans. It was later sold, however, but Mr. Ambrose resumed editorship of it, and he was in the newspaper business almost continuously from 1886 until 1910.
Believing that he could be of more value to his countrymen while residing in New York city the editor took his abode there and entered the banking firm of C. B. Richard & Com- pany at No. 61 Broadway, remaining there until 1894, when he became a member of the
ANTHONY S. AMBROSE
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banking firm of Rovnianek & Company of Pittsburgh and New York, Mr. Ambrose acting as manager of the New York office. This firm issued a line of daily, weekly and monthly pub- lications in the Slovak language, and Mr. Ambrose did considerable writing for those papers and periodicals, as well as others, under the pen-name of Llewellyn. While instilling the principles of free-speech, freedom of worship, and defending the Slovak people from Hun- garian molestation while in this country, and bringing before the American public the ideals and the hopes of the Slavonians, his popularity grew; he became one of the most influential men in America with this race of people; they found him to be almost indis- pensable, and honored him by electing him the supreme president of the National Slavonic Society of the United States of America. He was repeatedly reelected and held office for eleven years. He accomplished much while president, and it can be safely said that no man ever did more toward bringing the Slovak in America to a more understanding level than has Anthony S. Ambrose. He looms as one of the leading men of Slovak blood in America today. The call for Ambrose was not done. Under the auspices of the National Slavonic Society a movement of back to the farms was launched. Several thousand acres of land was purchased in Arkansas and Maryland, and colonizing was encouraged. Ambrose was the man picked to do the work, and he did it.
The educating of Slovaks while in America to a marked degree lessened the strength of Austria-Hungary's shackles upon these people, even though across the waters. Austria- Hungary became infuriated. Ambrose's voice and pen made the Slovaks good Americans. The birthland did not like this. She became jealous. Ambrose hit Austria-Hungary and hit her hard. Due to his work on the literary field among his countrymen he was put on the government black list in Hungary, and his experiences with the Hungarian government and its officials are both extensive and interesting. He is an American to the core-an admirer of Roosevelt-and while working for his oppressed people abroad he urges every Slovak residing here to become an American citizen.
During the Russo-Japanese war he did considerable work for the Russian government and contributed through collections and otherwise to the Russian Red Cross. In fact Mr. Ambrose was a great factor in Russian diplomacy, and a post of Russian consulship was offered him which he refused because he did not have faith in the old regime of the Russian government. His manifold activities during the present world's war not only in obtaining recruits for the United States but also his efforts for the freedom of the Slav, and this in connection with controlling two businesses, reveals the astounding vitality of the man. From private sources, we understand that during the present war Mr. Ambrose has done work which, at the present writing, is not permissible in print.
On lecture tours he has encircled the United States several times, and the people of Bridgeport have experienced that this gentleman has the faculty of gripping his audience. In Boston his memorable debate with Count Albert Apponyi resounded throughout the country. His travels through Europe, Mexico, Cuba and Bermuda capacitated him as an interesting lecturer but he is always at home when speaking on the Slavonic question. He is well informed on the history of the Slavonians' past, and foresees the future in a bright light.
Mr. Ambrose is now conspicuous in the manufacturing enterprises of Bridgeport. In 1902 he organized the Ambrose Company of Bridgeport, a wholesale liquor business managed by his brother Frank. He in 1915 made this city his home, where his parents have spent their last years.
And now at fifty this grand "young man" of the world has entered the manufacturing field, and as president of the Connecticut Canvas Manufacturing Company at 157 Stratford avenue he is following up the profession of Omar by making tents. In fact the field is not limited as anything that is made of canvas is produced at that establishment. The working force is now about seventy-five and will within a short time be almost doubled. One busi- ness alone being incapable of commanding all of this active man's attention he established
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the Ambrose Luggage Shop at 288 Fairfield avenue, and besides managing these two estah- lishments he still finds time to help his fellowman. He has high hopes for Bridgeport, and inasmuch that this city is yet to be built, Mr. Ambrose's past will no doubt enable him to assist considerably in bringing about what the people call "a greater Bridgeport." He has figured conspicuously politically but no ulterior motive was behind it. He is a politician to attain ideals and does not use it as a means of livelihood.
In 1891 Mr. Ambrose was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tesiny of Bridgeport, who died in 1903, leaving three children: Arthur H., Clayton G. and Daniel A. In 1904 he wedded Helen Tesiny, a sister of his first wife, and they have one child, Esther B.
Mr. Ambrose belongs to the National Union and has attained high rank in Masonry, being now a Consistory Mason and a Mystic Shriner. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. "Let your light so shine before men" relates the scriptures, and the man who is giving the ripest and the best years of his life to Bridgeport has a past that shines with glory; a past that any man would feel prond to have. Anthony S. Ambrose in his life record thus far shows that industry and enterprise is a sure foundation upon which to build, but his success consists not so much in the material things of life as it does in his unflinching. fearless and relentless battles against tyranny for the liberty of the weaker men and nations. He is gentle yet bold, intellectual yet democratic, and when his people shall be counted amongst the nations of the earth the fight of Ambrose shall not have been fought in vain.
ROBERT L. FORBES.
Robert L. Forbes, doing business in electric signs, scenery and decorating, has in the conduet of his interests won a liberal patronage, while his work not only serves the purpose of advertising but in large measure partakes of the artistic, Mr. Forbes ever studying that phase of the question. He was born in Scotland in 1880, and is related to the distinguished Sir Archibald Forbes. His brother, Archibald, named after Sir Archibald, was killed in the battle of the Somme, July 31, 1916. He had attained fame in Great Britain as an artist and was a director of the Art League of Glasgow and Edinburgh. He was also a famous cricket player.
In Scotland, Robert L. Forbes attended the public schools until he reached the age of fifteen years, after which he studied art at night sessions of the Greenook Art Academy. In 1897 he crossed the Atlantic to New York city and soon afterward became an employe of Rondell of Philadelphia, a brother of the distinguished artist of that name. He remained for seven years in Philadelphia, working and studying, often continuing his study until one or two o'clock in the morning, and while there he did all the decorating for the Hawthorne Manufacturing Company. In 1907 he came to Bridgeport to accept the management of the decorating business of the Hawthorne Manufacturing Company, which position he filled for two years, when the company discontinued its decorating work. He then started in busi- ness on his own account on Dewey street and received the contract to do the decorating for the Barnum & Bailey cirens, which requires five months' work in the winter. In 1913 he removed to his present location and his business developed so rapidly that he was obliged to give up all the actual personal work in order to concentrate his energies upon manage- ment and supervision. Entering the field of electrical sign advertising, he has placed many beautiful and imposing signs over the city, including about one hundred electric signs and four hundred window signs.
In 1908 Mr. Forbes was married in Bridgeport to Miss Pamelia C. Beatty. He belongs to Clan Campbell, also to the Decorators' Union, No. 190, and he is as well a member of the Scottish Historical Society. While he is interested in commercialized art, he has devoted
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considerable time to fine painting and some of his canvases have sold as high as five hun- dred dollars. His oil paintings are usually devoted to landscapes and animals. He is, moreover, well known as a lightning crayon artist, in which connection he is in great demand for concerts and other entertainments as well as on the vaudeville stage. He illustrates his crayons by readings and in a few strokes puts before the audience a visual representation of the words which he is pronouncing.
RALPH M. SPERRY.
Ralph M. Sperry, the vice president and general manager of the Monumental Bronze Company, is a public-spirited citizen who has been closely associated with various activi- ties of moment in the affairs of Bridgeport, and at all times stands for those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He was born in Bridgeport, May 10, 1882, a son of E. N. and Lida A. (Baldwin) Sperry, who were natives of New Haven. The ancestry in the paternal lines can be traced back to Richard Sperry, who settled in New Haven in the seventeenth century. Representatives of the name served with the colonies in the Revolutionary war, and R. M. Sperry is now identified with the Sons of the American Revolution. His father removed to Bridgeport with his family in 1880 and established business under the name of the Monumental Bronze Company, remaining in active con- nection with the undertaking until 1910, when he retired, although he still retains a financial interest in the business and is yet president of the company. His wife has passed away. In addition to becoming an active factor in the industrial circles of the city, E. N. Sperry took active part in political life and served as president of the board of police commis- sioners, also of the board of charities and of the board of trade. In a word he is a most pub- lic-spirited man, and his interest in the general welfare has been manifested in many ways.
His son, Ralph M. Sperry, acquired a public and high school education and then started in the business with his father in 1902. He became connected with the Bridgeport Hard- ware Manufacturing Company, one of his father's business enterprises, and when E. N. Sperry disposed of his half interest in that undertaking, Ralph M. Sperry became connected with the Monumental Bronze Company. Thoroughly acquainting himself with the business he has advanced in his relation thereto and is now vice president and general manager, directing the policy and shaping the activities of this concern. The other officers are: E. N. Sperry, president ; C. A. Baldwin, secretary; W. E. Phillips, treasurer; and F. R. Clancy, factory manager. As previously stated the business was established by E. N. Sperry in 1880, the plant being located on Barnum avenue near Nichols street. A removal was made to the present location in 1899 and the plant here is two hundred and ten by three hundred feet. a one story building with cellar. The company began the manufacture of white bronze statues and monumental work, and during the last five years its product has been white metal castings and bronze and aluminum castings for automobiles, etc. The plant has been rebuilt four times in the past three years in order to meet the growing demand of the trade and another plant has been established in Hartford. Employment is furnished to about one hundred and seventy people, mostly skilled workmen, and the product is sold direct to manufacturers all over New England and the middle west. The company does much government work of all classes and its output includes a large line of copper bronze tablets, doors, etc., which are sold all over the United States. During 1916 the company produced over two million pounds of all kinds of castings. In 1910 the output was about ten thousand pounds, a fact which indicates the rapid increase in their patronage. This department was established to counterbalance a depression, but has grown into a mammoth business and the old line of output has been discontinued until the war shall have elosed.
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In 1915 Mr. Sperry was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Birdseye, a daughter of Isaac W. Birdseye, of Bridgeport. He is well known in various publie connections, being a director of the Connecticut State Automobile Association, also of the Metals Club of New York, the Automobile Club of Bridgeport, of which he was vice president for eight years, the Automobile Club of America, the Norwalk Country Club, the Racebrook Country Club, the Seaside Club, the Brooklawn Country Club of Bridgeport, the National Founders' Associa- tion and the Manufacturers' Association of Bridgeport.
SAMUEL LOWNDS.
Actuated by laudable ambition, Samuel Lownds has advanced steadily in his business career through the wise utilization of his time, his talents and his opportunities until he is now connected with an important manufacturing interest of Bridgeport as the vice president of the Bridgeport Elastic Fabric Company. He was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1854, and acquired a public school education there. His parents were George and Sarah (Hamlin) Lownds, who were also natives of England, and the father was a weaver by trade, as was the grandfather, Samuel Lownds. The family is of Scotch descent and their history presents a long line of weavers, so that in taking up this work Samuel L. Lownds followed in the footsteps of his ancestors. In the year 1888 he became a resident of East Hampton, Massachusetts, where he occupied the position of weaver with the Glendale mills. The year 1890 witnessed his arrival in Bridgeport and he secured work with the Bridge- port Webbing Company, there remaining for a decade. On the expiration of that period he joined Arthur Liggins and Arthur J. Moore in organizing the Bridgeport Elastic Fabric Company and through the intervening period the business has steadily grown and de- veloped. Mr. Lownds was the practical man of the firm and much responsibility devolved upon him. In 1903 they were joined by William Boyd Spencer, whose investment materially increased their capital stock, and he was elected president of the company. Since that time the business has grown very rapidly. Their first factory was built at Brooklawn, Fairfield county, and in November, 1902, a removal was made to 209 Center street, Bridge- port, where their factory, a one story structure with a frontage of two hundred feet, con- tains eight thousand square feet of floor space. They own their property and in 1916 purchased more land in order to make additions to the plant. They manufac- ture all kinds of narrow elastic fabrics, including garters, arm bands and supporters of silk, cotton and mercerized materials, specializing in Lisle and silk cable webs. Their trade- mark is "Spencer's Special," a name which has become synonymous with excellence in manufacture and durability of product. They also manufacture the Befco brand of goods. They employ one hundred people and have fifty-four looms, while the plant is fully equipped with electric power. The Bridgeport Elastic Fabric Company has become a part of the Everlastik Company, which has been incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts, with the principal office at Boston and with sales office in New York. This business is capitalized for four million nine hundred thousand dollars and the company has branch factories at Chelsea, Massachusetts, Bayonne, New Jersey, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Lowell. Massachusetts, Brockton, Massachusetts, and Mansfield, Ohio. The Bridgeport fac- tory has a capacity of fifty thousand yards of elastic per week and the product is sold all over the world to jobbers and retailers. The present officers of the company are: William Boyd Spencer, president and treasurer; Samuel Lownds, vice president and plant man- ager; John T. Cockerell, assistant secretary; and N. H. Downs, assistant plant manager. Mr. Spencer and Mr. Lownds have been associated in their business interests for twenty- four years, the latter being the practical man, with Mr. Spencer as business manager, and their interests have been conducted most successfully. Mr. Lownds advanced the first
SAMUEL LOWNDS
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seven hundred and fifty dollars for looms before the company was incorporated and put the first two thousand dollars into looms. loaning a thousand dollars to his two partners and putting up a thousand dollars of his own. He acknowledges indebtedness to Thomas P. Taylor and T. Hammond for their assistance an encouragement in the early days. .
In 1874, in England, Mr. Lownds was married to Miss Helen Elizabeth Kent, of Armi- tage, Staffordshire, who died August 17, 1888. In 1891 he wedded Julia Ellen Duckers, of England, a niece of Charles Cartwright of Bridgeport and a daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet Duckers of England. Mr. Lownds possesses notable musical talent and for a long period was solo singer at Trinity church. He was married by Louis Norman Booth and this was the first choral wedding held in Bridgeport. His children are: Margaret C., the wife of Chester Joslyn, of Racine, Wisconsin; Veronica, deceased; Helen Elizabeth, the wife of Professor O. J. Todd, of Carleton College at Northfield, Minnesota; Olive Sarah, the wife of T. T. Morton, of New London, Connecticut; Samuel Lealand, assistant plant manager of the Hub Gore factory of the Everlastik Company at Brockton, Massachusetts; Constance Ada, the wife of George S. Sherwood, of Bridgeport; Ethelfleda, the wife of Robert Haley, of Seattle; Florence Hazel and Ivan Landon, at home. The last two are children of the second marriage.
Mr. Lownds is a republican but has had no time nor inclination to seek political office. His attention outside of business has largely been given to musical interests and for fifteen years he served as choir master of St. Luke's Episcopal church and has been solo singer in St. John's church. For the past twenty-four years he has been a member of the Sons of St. George. A man of resolute spirit, Mr. Lownds has never felt doubtful as to the outcome of the business venture into which he entered in forming the Bridgeport Elastic Fabric Company. His previous training and experience qualified him to take hold of the actual management of the plant and as the years have passed on he has so directed the labors and operation of the enterprise that splendid results have accrued and he has made the Bridgeport establishment one of the foremost undertakings of the kind in this section of the country.
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