USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 29
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SANFORD STODDARD.
Sanford Stoddard, a practitioner at the bar of Fairfield county for fifteen years, is now a partner in the firm of Marsh, Stoddard & Day. He was born in Bridgeport in 1877 and liberal educational opportunities were accorded him. He was gradnated from Yale University in 1899 and then in preparation for a professional career entered the Harvard Law School, of which he is an alumnus of 1902. In that year he was admitted to practice in Fairfield county and followed his profession for some time as a member of the firm of Stoddard & Bishop. Changes have since occurred, however, in his partnership relations and he is now a member of the firm of Marsh, Stoddard & Day, recognized as prominent attorneys of the city. His social interests are in a measure indicated in his connection with the Brooklawn and University Clubs.
ABRAHAM LEVY.
Abraham Levy, city sheriff of Bridgeport, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Angust 31, 1861, and represents an old family of German origin. His father, Gottschalk Levy, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, and in 1848 came to the United States. He had previously been married in the fatherland and his eldest son, Nathan Levy, was born in Germany before the emigration to the new world. In this country that son was reared and at the time of the Civil war he espoused the case of the Union and went to the front with the northern army. In the family were nine children, five of whom are living, and with the exception of Abraham all are residents of Philadelphia.
Abraham Levy was reared and educated in his native city and in his youthful days he took up the study of bookkeeping. which he thoroughly mastered. In 1884 he came to Bridgeport and for three years was employed by the Warner Brothers Company as book- keeper and assistant foreman. Later he became an expert baseball maker and gave his attention to that business for many years, assisting in the establishment of many factories for the manufacture of baseballs both in Bridgeport and elsewhere. He possessed great skill in that line of work and his services were therefore in demand by the manufacturers through-
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out the country. Later he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he still engages to some extent, but at the present time his attention is mostly given to his official duties.
Mr. Levy is a republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in politics, standing loyally by the principles in which he helieves. For many years he was the repub- lican leader in this district and in 1912 he was made inspector of the water sprinkling depart- ment of the city, while in November, 1915, he was elected to the office of city sheriff by popular vote. He is now a member of the Sixth District Republican Club and was once its president.
In 1882 Mr. Levy was married to Miss Louisa Kraus and they became the parents of two daughters, Louisa and Ida. The latter became the wife of William Meyer, who is now deceased, and hy her marriage she had one child, Edna. Mr. Levy is leading a busy and useful life. In business circles he worked his way steadily upward and through his connection with public affairs he has contributed much to the substantial development and progress of his community.
ROBERT GOULDING WHITNEY.
Real estate and building operations in and around Bridgeport find a prominent repre- sentative in Robert G. Whitney, member of the Langlands-Whitney Company, Whitney & Owens, Inc., real estate developers, and his personal real estate and insurance business, conducted in his own name, with offices for all three businesses at No. 142 Golden Hill street. Mr. Whitney is a son of Thomas B. Whitney, of Derby, and connected with the John Whitney family, which for years has been identified with Bridgeport's affairs.
Mr. Whitney has spent hut eleven years in Bridgeport, during which time he has become well known through important business connections. For nine years before entering his present lines he was private secretary to the president of Crane Company, Bridgeport branch. At length, however, he entered on the above business wherein he has achieved marked success.
Among the developments with which Mr. Whitney has been connected are Stratfield Hill, comprising several acres of beautiful homes and streets adjoining his elaborate residence on Jackman avenue, Fairfield; the Gilman Manor tracts, Nos. 1 and 2, adjoining the old Gilman Manor house, which has been recently converted into a beautiful hotel; the Bayview development on Fairfield avenue, and one or two minor developments in Fairfield, all of which developments are a huge credit to the young man's efforts to develop something above the average in communities where the lot prices were well within the reach of the repectable man of moderate means.
Mr. Whitney was united in marriage to Miss Mattie M. Wehrle, formerly of Ansonia, Connecticut, and has three daughters: Charlotte, who is attending high school, and Alice and Helen, who are in the grades.
CAPTAIN GEORGE A. CLEVELAND.
George A. Cleveland, captain and master of the steamer Stratford and a resident of the town of Stratford, was born in Horwinton, Connecticut, January 30, 1852, and acquired his education in the public schools of that place and of Goshen, where he spent his early days. He was also a student for a time at Northfield. In 1865 he removed to Stratford and has since been connected with marine interests. He went at once upon the water, hecoming
CAPTAIN GEORGE A. CLEVELAND
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cook on the E. P. Burton and afterward serving in a similar capacity on the Falcon. He afterward made a trip on a schooner to the West Indies and subsequently became sail master on the schooner Union and master of the schooner Josephine, in which boat he purchased an interest. He was also master of the schooners W. McCobb and Brown. Putting aside marine interests for a year, he spent that period as watchman in the employ of H. J. Lewis of Stratford, at the end of which time he received bis license certificate and returned to the sea as master of the Fred Brown. He has since served as master of the Annie and of the Eta May and in 1896 he went to the steamer Stratford, of which he has now been master for twenty-one years, operating in connection with the oyster business. He has completely rebuilt the boat since becoming master. The old length was seventy-seven feet, with a beam of eighteen feet. The boat is today one hundred and seven feet in length, with a beam of twenty-three feet, and draws nine feet of water. He has had many interesting experi- ences during the years of his active life. On one occasion he carried five hundred kegs or twelve thousand five hundred pounds of powder from New York to the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, of Bridgeport. This powder was put in the stateroom for safety. It was a cold day and there was a stove in the stateroom. In this a big fire was started and the stove upset among the kegs of powder. It was only the captain's quick wit that saved his schooner. the Anson B, and all lives, for many kegs were burned almost through the staves but none exploded.
On the 15th of January, 1878, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Mr. Cleveland was united in marriage to Miss Lillie J. Smith, her father being David Smith, an old settler. They have two daughters, namely: Bertha, who on the 14th of November, 1901, gave her hand in marriage to Arthur Parrott, by whom she has one child, Dorothy; and Carrie, who is now the wife of Harry I. Yates. Both daughters reside in Stratford. Captain Cleveland is a member of the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. His tales and reminiscences make him a most interesting and entertaining companion, and there is no phase of navigation in this section of the country with which he is not familiar.
THEODORE E. STEIBER.
Theodore E. Steiber, an attorney and clerk of the city court, was born in Bridgeport, November 20, 1885, his parents being Isaac and Pearl (Beck) Steiber. The father, who devoted his life to merchandising, was born in Austria and came to the United States when twenty years of age, at which time he established his home in Bridgeport. He married Pearl Beck before coming to the new world, both being then about eighteen years of age. His death occurred in Bridgeport in 1907, when he was fifty-seven years of age, but his widow still resides in this city. In the family are two sons and three daughters who are yet living, namely: Mrs. Sadie Meyer, of Montclair, New Jersey; Benjamin B., who is engaged in merchandising in Bridgeport; Theodore E .; Mrs. Annie Speigel, of Brooklyn, New York; and Mrs. Mildred Meyer, also of Brooklyn, her husband being a brother of her sister Sadie's husband.
Theodore E. Steiber was largely educated under the private tutorship of Dr. Fred C. Stanley, who instructed him for four years. He then entered the Yale Law School in 1905 and completed his course in that institution by graduation with the class of 1908. Since then he has practiced law in Bridgeport and in the trial of his cases it is seen that his knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence is comprehensive and exact.
On the 21st of June, 1916, Mr. Steiber was married to Miss Mariadina Cohen, of New York city, a daughter of Maurice S. Cohen, who is president of the Bronx Bar Association of New York city and is a well known lawyer of the metropolis. In 1916 he was the democratic candidate for the office of state treasurer of New York. Both Mrs. Steiber and
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her mother are graduates of a New York college. The latter bore the maiden name of Rosalie Meyer and was a daughter of the late Sidney B. Meyer, who was widely known in New York city, where he conducted business while making his home on Long Island. He was one of the founders of the Montefiore Home and was on the first board of trustees of Mount Sinai Hospital of New York city.
Mr. Steiber is well known as an active worker in republican circles and for two years he served as clerk of the city board of appraisers in Bridgeport. In 1915 he was appointed clerk of the city court, which position he is now filling under Judge Frederic A. Bartlett. He also served for one year as land indexer for the city of Bridgeport. He belongs to the Bridgeport Club, is a member of the Park Avenue Jewish Temple and is a member of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, of which he was the president for two years, while he was the secretary of the general committee which managed the celebration of its fiftieth anniversary on the 11th, 12th and 13th of February, 1917. He is very prominent among the Jewish people of Bridgeport and yet his circle of friends is by no means limited to those of his own faith as he enjoys the companionship and highest regard of many friends.
ALEXANDER MACPHEE.
Alexander Macphee, superintendent of hull construction of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company of Bridgeport, has been connected with the building of undersea craft for nearly twenty years and is now recognized as one of the world authorities upon the construction of submersibles. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, on the 19th of September, 1853, a son of Charles and Margaret Anderson (Kerr) Macphee, who passed their entire lives in that country. The father was a mining engineer by profession.
Alexander Macphee was reared in a suburb of Glasgow and received only a common school education, the prominence which he has since gained in a highly technical field being due to his natural mechanical ability, his long experience in such work and his careful study of tbe difficult problems with which he has been confronted. When little more than a child he entered the office of R. Napier & Sons, shipbuilders on the Clyde, and spent several years in the office of that concern, but as soon as he was old enough was transferred to the hull construction department of that company. He remained in that connection for ten years, during which time he learned the business of hull construction thoroughly according to the methods used by that concern, but, wishing to broaden his knowledge, he subsequently associated himself with several of the largest shipbuilding companies in both Scotland and England. He worked during all this time in hull construction departments and became familiar with the various methods employed by the different builders. In 1889 he came to the United States and secured a position in the hull construction department of the Columbia Iron Works at Baltimore, Maryland. Later he was employed in the order stated by the Maryland Steel Company, in the shipbuilding department, and the Crescent Shipbuilding Company at Elizabeth, New Jersey. While with the last named concern he constructed the hulls of the Holland type submarines, the first successful undersea boats ever built. In 1901 the Johnson Iron Works of New Orleans, Louisiana, were building some beats for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to be used on the Mississippi river and Mr. Macphee was employed by them to superintend the construction of the hulls of those boats, which were the first vessels with iron hulls built in New Orleans.
After the completion of that work he left New Orleans and returned east and in 1901 became associated with Simon Lake, the inventor of the even keel type of submarine, as superintendent of the hull and machine department of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company at Bridgeport, the only shipbuilding concern in the United States devoted exclusively to building submarines. Mr. Macphee constructed the first submarine built at Bridgeport and after this
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boat had proved a success it was sold to the Russian government for use in the Russian navy. It was sent to Russia on the deck of a ship and thence to Vladivostok by way of the Siberian Railroad, being intended for use in the Russo-Japanese war. It arrived too late for service in that conflict but was attached to the Russian navy and is still in commission. It was the first submarine bought by the Russian government. After constructing this boat Mr. Macphee became superintendent of hull construction for the Charles L. Seabury Company, a gas engine and power company located on the Harlem river, in New York city, and remained there from 1903 to December 31, 1908. The following January he returned to Bridgeport as superintendent of hull construction of the Lake Torpedo Boat Company and is still serving in that capacity. During the year 1909 and until October, 1910, he was the company's representative at Newport News, where they were building two submarine boats. Since October, 1910, he has remained at Bridgeport and recently he has constructed the hulls for eight submarines which the company is building for the United State navy. His record of accomplishment in the new and difficult field of submarine construction in itself indicates the high position which he holds among the naval architects of the country.
Mr. Macphee was married at Bayonne, New Jersey, on the 15th of June, 1897, to Miss Catherine Gartley, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey. To this union have been born two daughters, both natives of Elizabeth, namely: Bess Manville, who is secretary of the Booth & Bayliss Commercial College of Bridgeport; and Margaret Kerr.
Mr. Macphee believes in the wisdom of the policies of the republican party, but where no great national issue is at stake votes independently. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, as does his wife, and she is very active in the Ladies' Aid and the Home Missionary Society and in various charitable organizations. He belongs to Govendale Lodge, No. 437, A. F. & A. M., at Govan, Scotland, and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Elizabeth, New Jersey. Along strictly professional lines he is a member of the American Association of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. His life work has been the con- struction of iron hulls for ships and he has thoroughly mastered the science of engineering as it pertains to shipbuilding and especially to the construction of submarines. When the building of undersea craft was still in its experimental stage and many doubted that they could ever be made practicable, he saw clearly the wonderful possibilities in such boats, and as the years have passed his work has been an important element in the perfecting of this type of vessel. It is now generally conceded that he is the most expert hull constructor for submarines in America.
GEORGE KANE.
Among the practitioners at the Bridgeport bar is George Kane, who was born in this city April 27, 1868, and is the younger of the two living sons of Patrick and Catherine (Smith) Kane. His elder brother is Judge Patrick Kane, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
George Kane has always lived in Bridgeport and at the usual age lie became a public school pupil, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1887. He was afterward variously employed as a wage earner until 1895 and during that period he clerked for several years in the first exclusive rubber store in Bridge- port. In 1895 he entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the LL. B. degree, and since June of that year he has practiced continuously in Bridgeport. He has won for himself favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument and he manifests a self-possession and a deliberation which indicate no straining after effect. There is a clearness in his statement and an acuteness and strength in his argument which bespeak a
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mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning is habitual and easy. In his law practice he has been identified with some very important litigation. He was one of the attorneys in the case of the state vs. Napoleon Bisonette, in which he appeared for the defense. His client had been accused of murder and he so con- ducted his case and presented his evidence that the man received a sentence of but three years. Another important ease which he won was a civil action entitled Cerati vs. Dr. Cenicola, in which Mr. Kane again appeared for the defense, the jury being unable to agree upon a verdict, after which the case was dropped.
On the 19th of November, 1901, Mr. Kane was married to Miss Margaret Hamilton, a daughter of Thomas F. Hamilton, now deceased, who for twenty years served as city sheriff of Bridgeport and later was deputy sheriff of Fairfield county. Mr. and Mrs. Kane have two living children, Grace and Catherine, aged respectively fourteen and eight years.
In politics Mr. Kane has always been a stalwart democrat and takes an active interest in local polities in his home district, the seventh, in which he was formerly democratic chairman. He served as justice of the peace for ten years but has never held any other office nor desired preferment of that kind. He helongs to the St. Augustine Roman Catholic church and to the Knights of Columbus and is a member of Park City Council of that order.
EDWARD MOONEY.
Edward Mooney bas figured prominently in the business circles and public interests of Bridgeport, and from April, 1904, until July, 1915, was the efficient chief of the fire depart- ment. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in December, 1850, and was a youth of fourteen years when in 1864 he came to the United States, residing in New York for three years thereafter. He then came to Bridgeport in 1867 and learned the trade of carriage black- smith in the carriage works of Wood Brothers, where he remained until 1874. He then went to the Wheeler & Wilson factory and was connected with the blacksmithing department for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he took charge of the shop of the New Haven Tool Company at New Haven, Connecticut, there remaining for twenty-six months, after which he was with the firm of Cole & Mckenzie of Bridgeport in the black- smithing department. His next position was at the Pacific Iron Works and later he went to Eaton. Cole & Burnham, having charge of their blacksmith shop for ten years. In September, 1916, he completed a garage eighty-four by fifty-five feet for the storage of cars, but it is his intention to increase its capacity immediately and add a repair department. This garage is located at 175 William street and is personally conducted by Mr. Mooney.
His activities in connection with the fire department have made Mr. Mooney perhaps even more widely known. He joined Excelsior Company No. 5, of the volunteer fire depart- ment in 1867. In 1872 this was made a call department and Mr. Mooney was chosen captain of No. 5 in 1878 and so served until 1886. He was appointed fire chief in April, 1904, and continued in that position of responsibility until July, 1915. During that period the depart- ment was changed from horse to motor power and stations No. 8, 9 and 10 were built, together with chemical stations No. 1 and 2. At the time he assumed command of the department there were seven engine houses, while today there are ten and two chemical stations. He studied closely everything bearing upon the improvement of the department and did all in his power to promote its efficiency, giving splendid service to the city during the eleven years of his administration.
In Bridgeport in 1874, Mr. Mooney was married to Miss Delia Fagan, a native of this city and a daughter of John Fagan, an early resident of Bridgeport who lived upon the ground now occupied by the Mooney home. Mr. Fagan was employed by Wood Brothers, having care of the plant. He purchased his residence property in 1842 and there remained
EDWARD MOONEY
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until his death. Upon that place Mrs. Mooney has spent her entire life. Mr. and Mrs. Mooney became the parents of three children: Belle and Margaret, who are teachers in the public schools; and a son, Ambrose, who has passed away. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Mooney belongs also to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he has always been a stalwart democrat and from 1889 until 1892 was alderman at large. He has given much time and thought to public service and his labors have been of far-reaching and beneficial effect.
JAY H. McCLEARY.
Jay H. MeCleary, secretary and treasurer of the Gale Electric Company of Bridgeport, was born in Berlin, Connecticut, March 4, 1885, a son of Henry and Dora (Tryon) MeCleary, the first named a native of Roden, Canada, and the latter of Middletown, Connecticut. The father was a square maker by trade, and for forty-five years was connected with the Peck, Stowe & Wilcox Company. The family removed to Southington, Connecticut, and there J. H. McCleary acquired a public school education, after which he attended the Wesleyan Academy. Later he hecame a mechanical draftsman, thoroughly qualifying for work of that character. He was for some time connected with the Corbin Screw Corporation of New Britain, Connecticut, and later was with the Trumbull Electric Company in charge of their drafting room at Plainville, Connecticut. Subsequently he became draftsman for the Farrel Foundry & Machine Company at Waterbury, Connecticut, and was also designer of special machinery there. He afterward went upon the road as traveling salesman for Edward Miller & Company of Meriden, Connecticut, whom he thus represented for five years, and in 1916 he came to Bridgeport and purchased an interest in the Gale Electric Company, of which he became secretary. In this connection he has charge of the office and of the business end of their interests, and is thus active in formulating the plans and directing the interests of the company, bending his energies to administrative direction and executive control.
In 1905 Mr. MeCleary was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Woodruff Pierson, of South- ington, Connecticut, and they have two daughters, Nathalie and Barbara. Mr. McCleary holds membership in Friendship Lodge, No. 33, A. F. & A. M., and also in Triune Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M. He attends the Methodist church and gives his political support to the republican party, being a stalwart advocate of its principles. He stands for all that is progressive in citizenship as well as in business life, and his influence is ever on the side of advancement and improvement.
ARTHUR T. GRANGER.
One of the largest electrical business interests of Bridgeport is that conducted under the name of the Gale Electric Company, of which Arthur T. Granger is president. Although he has been identified with this organization only since the 1st of January, 1917, he has already won enviable recognition in business circles of the city. However, he had about eleven years' experience in the business previous to becoming connected with the Gale Electric Company. Connecticut claims him as a native son. He was born in Winsted on the 15th of January, 1885, his parents being Lafayette and Hannah C. Granger. The father was engaged in the wholesale and retail farm implement business at Winsted.
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