USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 40
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In 1902 Mr. Peabody was united in marriage to Miss Lilly Howard, of Newport, Rhode Island, and their children are: Richard, fourteen years of age: Howard, eight years of age; and Phyllis Spencer. Mr. Peabody is identified with no clubs or lodges. In his leisure hours his interest centers in his home. Through the day his attention is concentrated upon his business, which is rapidly developing under his able management and careful control.
GEORGE W. SMITH.
George W. Smith, secretary of the Reo Garage, Incorporated, and active in the manage- ment of that undertaking, which is now proving one of the prosperous business enterprises of the city, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, April 17, 1881, a son of Charles A. and Annie (Wardley) Smith, who in 1890 removed to Bridgeport, the father becoming manager for the White & Wells Company. He remained active in business for many years but is now living retired at Stratford, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
George W. Smith was a lad of but nine summers when the family came to Bridgeport and his education, previously begun in the public schools of the state, was here continued until he had completed the high school course. He afterward became a student in the Union
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Business College and was thus trained for the practical and responsible duties of a business career. He has always concentrated his efforts and attention along industrial lines and he started out in the business world as an employe of the Wheel & Wood Bending Company. Later he was in the employ of M. H. Rogers as buyer of iron and steel and afterward became connected with the Bridgeport Chain Company, which he represented as cashier for eight years. He next was with the Ford Garage for two months, at the end of which time he joined H. J. Platt in organizing the Reo Garage, Incorporated, of which he has since been the secretary and treasurer. Their business has enjoyed a very rapid and substantial growth. They handle the Reo and Stearns-Knight cars, also sell all kinds of auto parts and have recently opened a large garage containing thirty-two thousand square feet of floor space.
On the 8th of March, 1916, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Julia F. Blake and they have one child, Wardley B. Mr. Smith is connected with no lodges or clubs, preferring to concentrate his efforts and undivided attention upon his business affairs, which, carefully directed, are bringing to him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
GEORGE WALLER HAWLEY, M. D.
Dr. George Waller Hawley, who since 1908 has been engaged in active and successful practice in orthopedic surgery in Bridgeport, his native city, was born July 24, 1874, and is the eldest son of Alexander Hawley, who for many years was an officer in the Bridgeport Savings Bank, filling the position of treasurer at the time of his death, which occurred in 1909. He was born in this city in 1843 and at the age of sixteen years made his initial step in the banking business in a clerical capacity. That was in 1859, and from that date until his death a half century later he was continuously identified with the banking business of Bridgeport. His desk in the Bridgeport Savings Bank at the time of his death stood over the identical spot of ground which was the site of the bank in which he had begun as clerk fifty years before. He was at his demise the pioneer banker of Bridgeport and had long been honored as a most prominent financier of the city. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan H. Waller, was born in New Preston, Connecticut, in 1845 and departed this life in 1898. Her father, George B. Waller, was long a prominent citizen of Bridgeport, where at one time he was president of two banks. Dr. Hawley is the eldest of a family of four sons, his brothers being: Alexander W., of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Samuel M. and Bronson, both of whom are residents of Bridgeport, the former having suc- ceeded his father as treasurer of the Bridgeport Savings Bank.
In his youthful days Dr. Hawley attended the Bridgeport public schools and later became a student in St. Paul's School at Concord, New Hampshire, where he remained for two years. He entered Yale in 1893 and there won his Bachelor of Philosophy degree in 1896. With broad literary learning to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge, he entered the Cornell University Medical College in New York city and there received his M. D. degree in 1899. He gained further comprehensive knowledge through two years' service as interne in the Bellevue Hospital of New York city, benefiting by the broad experience which only hospital practice can bring. Later he spent a year in Europe, continuing his medical studies in Vienna, where he came under the instruction and observed the methods of some of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of the old world. This was in 1902. Upon returning to the United States he went to the Pacific coast and for six years practiced in Seattle, Washington, but since 1908 has been engaged in active and successful practice in Bridgeport. He is now serving on the surgical staff of the Bridgeport Hospital and also of St. Vincent's Hospital and he is surgeon on the staff of the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled of New York city. His work has attracted the attention and received the endorsement of many of his colleagues and contemporaries in professional circles
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and he has become recognized as an authority upon the subject of orthopedie surgery, in which he specializes. He is the inventor of an orthopedic table that is in general use throughout the world and is the inventor of much other valuable apparatus used in con- nection with orthopedic work. He spent three months in the summer of 1916 in a military hospital in France, attending the wounded from the front. When in Paris he met the surgeon in chief of the Hospital Buffon from Buenos Aires, Argentine, South America-Dr. Pedro Chutro, who upon being introduced to Dr. Hawley said: "I have heard of you, Dr. Hawley, and use your orthopedic table at the University of Buenos Aires." Dr. Hawley was invited to go to Paris and take with him his orthopedic inventions, which he did, and by courtesy of the French government the apparatus was all passed in as baggage. His stay abroad was of mutual benefit to the wounded French and to Dr. Hawley, who through his experience there added much to bis knowledge and skill. In May, 1917, he was recommended by the National Council of Defense for service in England with the United States Medical Army Reserve Corps Commission, the commission sailing for England on May 15, 1917.
On the 15th of September, 1902, Dr. Hawley was married to Miss Anne Payne Murray, of Chicago, and they have two children: Murray, born April 18, 1914; and Nancy, February 2, 1916. Dr. and Mrs. Hawley hold membership in the United Congregational church of Bridgeport and he belongs also to the University and Brooklawn Clubs. In politics he is a progressive republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He is identified professionally with the Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut State and American Medical Associations, the American Orthopedic Association, and the New York Academy of Medicine. His efforts along professional lines have constituted a valuable and direct contribution to the world's work. Concentrating his attention along a given line, his experiments, his research and his investigation have resulted in bringing forth many inventions which have resulted in orthopedic corrections and both his inventions and his methods are now widely used and followed throughout the world.
RALPH W. BARNES.
Ralph W. Barnes, Bridgeport manager for the Detroit Cadillac Motor Company, is a Pennsylvanian by birth. His natal day was March 8, 1874, and his birthplace is Gibson, Susquehanna county. In the public schools he acquired his education, after which he took up the task of learning carriage building. Subsequently he was engaged in the bicycle business and later he turned his attention to the automobile business in Buffalo, New York, in 1897, there engaging in the building of steam driven automobiles in connection with his brother-in-law under the name of the Conrad Motor Carriage Company. In that connection he marketed many cars, shipping several hundred to England. At length, however, the company failed for lack of capital, for they were pioneers in that undertaking. Ralph W. Barnes then became connected with the Auto Car Equipment Company, occupying the responsible position of superintendent for three years. He afterward went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he had charge of one of the largest garages of the city, having charge of Cadillac agency. His next step made him superintendent with the Auto Car Equipment Company and in January, 1906, he came to Bridgeport, becoming associated with the Miller Garage in the building of commercial cars. In this connection he developed some good models. Following the death of Mr. Miller, Mr. Barnes conducted the garage for a few years, selling Maxwell and Chalmers cars, and in 1909 he took over the Chalmers branch of the business with the Carl H. Page Company. This was afterward purchased by the factory but Mr. Barnes continued as manager.
On the 1st of August, 1916, he took the Cadillac agency and is now conducting business at No. 532 Fairfield avenue, with a salesroom thirty-five by fifty feet. His salesroom is
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mahogany trimmed with tile floor, and he has a service station thirty-five by eighty-five feet with cement floor. The building, which was erected at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, was finished in 1917. The service station includes a repair department for owners of Cadillac cars and six skilled mechanics are employed, with Charles M. Campbell, an expert workman, in charge of the service department, he having for many years done work with Cadillac ears. Successive stages of business development have brought Mr. Barnes to the place which he occupies in connection with the automobile trade. He is well equipped for his present responsibilities and duties and is building up a business of very gratifying proportions.
Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Clara Cannon, of Buffalo, New York, a daughter of R. J. Cannon of the Grand Trunk Railway and a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have two children, Eleanor and Janet. Mr. Barnes belongs to the Masonic fraternity and also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while in club circles he is well known as a representative of the Algonquin Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is a self-made man and one whose efforts have been effective forces in the attain- ment of success, for he has ever displayed untiring energy intelligently directed.
CHARLES W. ELLISON.
Charles W. Ellison, conducting a profitable business in tires and automobile acces- sories at Bridgeport, was born in England, September 26, 1863, a son of William and Eliza- beth (Bannister) Ellison, who came to the United States with their family in the spring of 1869, when Charles W. Ellison was about five years old. The family home was estab- lished in Brooklyn, New York, where they remained for about three years and then went to Hartford, Connecticut, where the father engaged in merchandising, but both he and his wife are now deceased.
Charles W. Ellison supplemented a public school education by a course in a business college and when a youth of nine and a half years he made his initial_step in the business world in connection with the rubber trade, entering the employ of John W. Gray, who founded the Hartford Rubber Works, now a part of the United States Tire Company. That he was capable, faithful and efficient is indicated by the fact that he remained with Mr. Gray for ten years, during which time he gained valuable experience and a compre- hensive knowledge of the business. In 1884 he entered the shop of Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, serving a three years' apprenticeship as a machinist. In 1888 he removed to Bridgeport, where he became manager of the first and only rubber store in the city, known as the Goodyear Rubber Store, and one year later purchased the business. Soon afterward William B. Middlebrook was admitted as a partner, under the firm name of Ellison & Middlebrook, the business being located at 465 Main street In addition to the rubber business, bicycles were carried, the business in this line being one of the largest in the city. About 1898 the business was disposed of to the Alling Rubber Company, and Mr. Ellison then became a traveling salesman for the Acme Manufacturing Company of Reading, Pennsylvania, in the sale of bicycles. He became superintendent of manufactur- ing for the American Graphophone Company, but he did not enter the service of that company in that position, however, for his original position was one of minor importance. Gradually he worked his way upward and had been with the company for fifteen years when in 1913 he opened the Ellison Tire and Repair Company business. He now handles tires of all makes, also Ford parts, and does vulcanizing of all kinds. The business is located at No. 371 Fairfield avenue. He has built up a large and gratifying trade and gives his attention closely to his business, often working from seven o'clock in the morn- ing until midnight.
In 1889 Mr. Ellison was united in marriage to Miss Ella May Elmer, of Hartford, a
CHARLES W. ELLISON
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daughter of Hiram W. and Cynthia Elmer, the former manager of a freiglit depot at Hartford and a representative of an old pioneer family of the state.
Mr. Ellison belongs to the Masonie lodge and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of Owls, and he attends the Episcopal Church. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has ever been loyal to any cause that he has espoused and faithful to any project that he has under- taken and step by step he has advanced in the business world.
FRANK J. QUINN.
With the splendid system of organization that exists in connection with the automobile trade of the country it is natural that the leading houses should have branch establishments in Bridgeport, the center of great commercial and industrial activity. It is in this connec- tion that Frank J. Quinn has become well known as the Bridgeport manager of the Fisk Rubber Company of New York. He was born in the metropolis in January, 1887, and in the acquirement of his education mastered the branches of learning there taught in the graded and high schools. He has been identified with the rubber tire business since 1906, entering that field in New York, where he remained for seven and a half years, during which time he thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of the trade, the market and the quality of goods carried. He afterward became connected with the Fisk Company in New York and in 1915 came to Bridgeport, where his business is now located at No. 284 Fairfield avenue. He is manager of the Bridgeport factory branch and service station, which is twenty-five by one hundred feet, and he maintains a vulcanizing department and employs four experts. They handle pneumatic tires and maintain a high standard of products, for which the Fisk name has become a synonym. The business has already grown to gratifying proportions and is bringing to Mr. Quinn a very desirable and notable measure of success.
Fraternally Mr. Quinn is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he is also a member of the Irish-American Athletic Club of New York.
THOMAS F. MARTIN, M. D.
Dr. Thomas F. Martin has since 1877 engaged in the practice of medicine in Bridgeport and is today one of the oldest physicians of the city in years of continuous connection with professional interests here. He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, February 29, 1852. His father Thomas Martin, was a contractor and builder and became a man of large means. He was born in Ireland and when a youth of eighteen crossed the Atlantic, spending the remainder of his life in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he ranked with the most prominent, influential and substantial citizens. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret McCann, was also born in Ireland and both have now passed away.
Dr. Martin was reared in Waterbury, Connecticut, and acquired his early education in the public schools there. He next entered the Holy Cross College of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he remained for a year and a half and subsequently spent a year as a student in Seton Hall College at South Orange, New Jersey, and a year and a half in Manhattan College of New York city, where he finished his academic studies and won his Bachelor of Arts degree. He afterward matriculated in the medical department of the New York Uni- versity and won his professional degree upon graduation in 1874. For a year thereafter he Vol. II-17
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served as interne in the Bellevne Hospital of New York city and for two years engaged in active practice in the metropolis but in 1877 removed to Bridgeport, where he has now followed his profession for forty years, being today one of the oldest physicians of the city.
Dr. Martin was married in 1882 to Miss Anna Paddock, of Bridgeport, who died February 1, 1892, leaving two daughters and a son: Edith, the wife of Frederick W. Wren; Albert V .; and Marguerite, the wife of John A. Hurley, Jr. The daughters both reside in Bridgeport. The only son is now serving in the United States army and at this writing is stationed at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, Dr. Martin being a communicant of St. Augustine's church. He was also one of the organizers of the Bridgeport Council of the Knights of Columbus and he became one of the organizers and charter members of the Seaside Club. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and for eight years he served on the board of education and for two years on the board of health. He keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress as a member of the Fairfield County and Connecticut State Medical Societies.
REV. JAMES B. NIHILL.
Rev. James B. Nihill, pastor of St. Augustine's church of Bridgeport, was born at New Britain, Connecticut, April 6, 1856, a son of Martin and Honora (Byron) Nihill. The father, a native of Ireland, there learned the carpenter's trade and on coming to America settled in New Britain, Connecticut, in 1840, continuing his residence there until his death, which occurred when he had reached the very venerable age of ninety-four years. His wife was eighty-seven years of age at the time of her demise. They had a family of seven children, of whom two are living, the elder being Edward Nihill, who at the age of seventy years is residing in New Britain, where he was born.
Rev. James B. Nihill obtained his early education in St. Mary's parish school at New Britain, also attended the publie grammar school for a year and was graduated from the high school of his native city in 1874. He afterward worked at the carpenter's trade with his father in order to get enough money' to enter college. He first became a student in Holy Cross College at Worcester in February, 1876, and by working whenever opportunity offered through his college days he was able to meet the expenses of his course and was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1878. He next became a student in the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Fabre on the 23d of December, 1882. His first assignment was to St. Mary's church at Birmingham, now Derby, Connecticut, in 1883, at which time the church was just being built. In 1885 he became assistant of St. Peter's church in Danbury, Connecticut, and on the 21st of May. 1889, he removed to Bridgeport to organize St. Patrick's parish. Title had been previously procured to vacant property on Lindley street as a site for the church, situated between North Wash- ington and North avenues, where Ives court is now located, but this was later disposed of as heing unsuitable for church purposes because of its location. The parish consisted of about six hundred souls and had small chance for growth for about fifteen years owing to the inaccessibility of the district previous to the trolley extension. Rev. Nihill held services in the Grand Street school from the 21st of May, 1889, until December, 1890. Later he secured a part of the Eli Thompson estate on North avenue, between Parallel and Thompson streets, and on that site erected St. Patrick's church, beginning the work early in 1890, the cornerstone being laid in August and the basement finished in December of that year. The church, which is a very beautiful edifice of steel construction with the basement of granite and the superstructure of marble, was finally completed in 1911.
Father Nihill continued as pastor there until August 1, 1914, when he became pastor
REV. JAMES B. NIHILL
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of St. Augustine's church on Washington avenue, succeeding the late Father McElroy. St. Patrick's church is on North avenue, a block from Main street, and Father Nihill became much interested in the project of widening Main street, which at that time was a very narrow thoroughfare, extending from Bullshead north. Although the project was a strenuous one he eventually succeeded in making the undertaking a success. It was also through his efforts that St. Vincent's Hospital, a Catholic institution, was located in Bridgeport although other cities were trying hard to secure it. This hospital has a capacity of between four and five hundred beds and is the best constructed hospital in New England. It is so thoroughly fireproof that they have no fire insurance upon it and it is supplied with every modern equipment.
Since taking charge of St. Augustine's church Father Nihill has purchased additional property on Calhoun street and has erected a new school building containing twenty rooms and a hall and thoroughly modern in every particular. He has also been mstrumental in erecting several new buildings for St. Agnes' Convent and in installing a central heating plant, which supplies heat to the school, church, convent and parish house.
In politics Father Nihill maintains an independent course. He was appointed by Governor Woodruff a member of the board to consider the advisability of establishing tuberculosis institutions. The test of their report was accepted by the legislature and four such institutions were established in the state. To Father Nihill's efforts more than any other individual can be credited the enactment of the law that is now on the statutes relating to the care of dependent children. About twenty-five years ago his attention was called to the predicament of an unfortunate mother who had been forced to place her two children in public charge. Their care, according to the then existing law, was placed in the hands of the county commissioners and their custom was to place them temporarily in the reputable homes, but the parents were in all cases denied any further communication with their children. One child was thus placed and the mother later was in position to care for her child but, it being still under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners, she was, according to custom, denied the privilege of seeing her child or having any voice in its spiritual training. Appealing to Father Nihill, he realized the inhumanty of the law and began a fight almost single-handed to repeal the law and replace it with the one now extant whereby dependent children's spiritual training is now done under the creed desired by the parent, or that of the parent, and they become wards of the probate court instead of the county commissioners. Father Nihill was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus council at Danbury, later transferring his membership to Bridgeport, and he puts forth every possible effort to advance the interests of the Catholic people and of the church, his work being productive of most substantial results, which find tangible evidence in the properties belonging to the parishes of which he has had charge.
ROY AUSTIN YOUNGS.
Roy Austin Youngs, who is associated with his brother, George S. Youngs, in the conduct of a successful brass and copper-working business in Bridgeport, was born in this city on the 23d of June, 1889, a son of Charles A. and Annie (Barr) Youngs. A sketch of his brother, George S. Youngs, appears elsewhere in this work.
Roy A. Youngs never attended the public schools, receiving his entire education in the Park Avenue Institute, and on beginning his independent career entered the employ of the J. W. Beach Company, with which he remained for twelve years. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with his brother and has since been actively connected with the management of the business, which is conducted under the name of George S. Youngs. The plant is located at No. 250 North avenue and one hundred men are employed, there being
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