USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 49
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GEORGE STAPLETON
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then known as Stapleton street, and after selling that property he built on the opposite corner of the same street and for eighteen years resided in that house. He then built his present place at No. 743 Washington avenue. which has remained his home for twenty- eight years. He also owns a large double house adjoining his residence, and valuable property at the corner of East Washington and Main streets which has been in his pos- session for thirty-five years.
Mr. Stapleton was married in Bridgeport on the 20th of February, 1862, to Miss Bridget O'Neil, who passed away on the 13th of May, 1916. To them were born eleven children, of whom ten are deceased, namely, Margaret A., John F., George A., Sarah G., William, Catharine, William E., Mary L., Anna M., Walter and Loretta. The only sur- viving child, Mary Louise, was married on the 7th of October, 1903, to Thomas Devitt, by whom she has two children, Mary Margaret and Dorothy Anna, who are in school. Mr. and Mrs. Devitt were schoolmates from the time they entered the first grade until their graduation from high school and can scarcely remember the time when their inter- ests were not the same. Mr. Devitt is now managing the teaming business owned by his father-in-law, Mr. Stapleton, and has proven himself a man of sound judgment and initiative. He belongs to the St. Augustine Roman Catholic church, is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Elks.
Mr. Stapleton is a communicant of the St. Augustine Roman Catholic church and in his political belief is a stanch democrat. Although he has at all times taken a keen inter- est in public affairs, he has never held office with the exception of serving for one term as a member of the board of education. Although he is eighty-one years of age he still enjoys excellent health, which he attributes in large measure to his temperate habits. Throughout his entire life his power of self-control is manifested in all that he has done and has been an important element in his success. In 1894 he took an extended tour through Europe, remaining for some time in France, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. There are few if any residents of Bridgeport who have been actively identified with its business interests for a longer period than Mr. Stapleton and the extent of his acquaint- ance in the city is almost unequaled. Moreover, all who have been brought in contact with him hold him in the highest esteem and his personal friends are legion.
MAURICE J. GREENSTEIN, M. D.
Dr. Maurice J. Greenstein, an active member of the medical profession in Bridgeport, with office at No. 572 Bostwick avenue, was born in New York city, February 22, 1882, a son of Bernhard and Julia (Goodman) Greenstein. The father was one of the pioneer Hebrew merchants of Bridgeport, to which city he came many years ago, and here he is still living at the age of sixty-seven years. Both he and his wife were born in Austria-Hungary but their marriage was celebrated in New York city, and after many years connection with com- mercial interests in Bridgeport the father is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His wife, however, passed away in 1913. In their family were five children, three sons and two daughters, all residents of Bridgeport, one of the sons being Henry Greenstein, a well known lawyer of this city.
Dr. Greenstein has resided in Bridgeport from the age of four years and acquired his early education in the city schools, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1901. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he completed a course in the Jefferson Medical College in 1905 and afterward spent a year and a half in the Jefferson Medical Hospital of Philadelphia. Since 1906 he has been engaged in active and suc- cessful practice in Bridgeport and for two years he was night surgeon of the Emergency Hospital. He belongs to the Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut State and American
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Medical Associations and constant reading and study are ever promoting his efficiency along professional lines.
On the 17th of January, 1915, Dr. Greenstein was married to Miss Hattie Singer, of New York city, a daughter of Sigmund Singer, a prominent merchant on Broadway. He belongs to the Park Avenue Temple, also to the B'nai B'rith, the Independent Order of B'rith Abraham and the Fraternal Benefit League, and he is physician to four different Hungarian societies. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out to earn his living as a newsboy, and industry and close application have advanced him from the ranks of the newsboy to a prominent place among the capable physicans of his city.
HARRY H. SHERWOOD.
Since coming to Bridgeport in 1898 Harry H. Sherwood has been identified with the hardware trade and is now manager of the retail department for the firm of Lyon & Grum- man. He was born in Greenfield Hill, Fairfield county, Connecticut, on the 4th of September, 1870, and is a son of William J. and Frances (Burr) Sherwood, also natives of Greenfield Hill. where they continued to make their home throughout life. The Sherwood family is one of the oldest in Fairfield county. Our subject's father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, died in 1871, leaving his widow with seven small children to care for, but she managed to keep her family together and reared them on the old Sherwood farm at Greenfield Hill.
During his boyhood Harry H. Sherwood attended the Greenfield Hill Academy and completed his education at Groton Academy in Groton, Massachusetts, after which he returned to the old homestead and assisted in the labors of the farm until 1898. He then came to Bridgeport and secured employment with the firm of Lyon & Grumman, hardware merchants, as a clerk. As he demonstrated his ability he was promoted and is now serving as manager of their retail department.
Mr. Sherwood is an enthusiastic automobilist and finds great pleasure in driving a car. He is a member of the Greenfield Hill Congregational church and is a stanch republican in politics, taking a commendable interest in public affairs.
HON. FREDERIC A. BARTLETT.
Hon. Frederic A. Bartlett, statesman, journalist, lawyer and jurist, now serving as judge of the city court of Bridgeport and as a member of the state senate, was born September 11, 1868, in the city where he yet resides, and pursued his early education in private schools while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, John Francis and Angeline Halsted (Lewis) Bartlett. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he entered Yale to prepare for the bar and was graduated from the law department there with the class of 1888. Before entering upon law practice he became one of the founders of the Morning Union, a Bridgeport newspaper, and was president of the Union Company, also acting as editor of the paper until he sold out. He was connected for a number of years with the city court as clerk and as prosecuting attorney. Soon after he entered practice and in 1915 was appointed judge of the city court of Bridgeport and was reappointed in 1917.
Judge Bartlett has long been a recognized leader in political circles, his opinions carrying weight in the councils of the republican party. In 1907 he served as chairman of the republican town committee. During the two years previous he had been alderman from the first district and in 1907 he was elected president of the common council. In 1909 he was called upon to represent Bridgeport in the state legislature and was an active member of the
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judiciary committee, while his support was stanchly given to many bills which were intro- duced and which he believed would be of genuine public benefit if placed upon the statutes of the state. With his retirement from the lower house he was called to represent the twenty- first district in the state senate and again in the session of 1915, when he was president pro tem of the senate. He was returned in 1917 and was senate member of the committee on the judiciary.
The name of Judge Bartlett is not unknown in connection with military interests and activities. He was commandant of the Third Division of the Naval Battalion of Connecticut for eight years following the Spanish-American war, after which he retired. He was also lieutenant commander and naval aid on the staff of the late Governor Lilley and likewise was naval aid on the staff of Governor Weeks. He served also as a member of the second company of Governor's Foot Guards. Masonry claims him as one of its prominent representa- tives in Bridgeport. He has advanced to high rank in hoth routes, having been eminent com- mander of Hamilton Commandery, No. 5, K. T., while in the consistory he has attained the thirty-second degree. He is a Mystic Shriner and is chief of the Arab Patrol of Pyramid Temple of Bridgeport. He also has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is a member of Franklin Bartlett Camp of the Sons of Veterans. Patriotic devotion to duty has been his watchword, whether in con- nection with military or civic affairs, and he has left the impress of his individuality upon the history of the bar and upon the legislative records of the commonwealth.
CHRISTOPHER RICKARD.
The fact that Christopher Rickard established himself in the trucking business with but one horse and wagon and now has two hundred horse-drawn wagons and motor trucks indicates the rapid growth of the business and the ability and energy of the man back of it. He also has large real estate holdings and ranks among the capitalists of the city. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, July 17, 1856. a son of Edmond and Marcella Rickard. His educational advantages were hut meager and in 1866. when ten years of age, he removed to New York city, where he remained for two years, after which he came to Bridgeport. For three or four days he worked for Wheeler & Wilson here, but being dissatisfied left and next entered the employ of Glover Sanford & Sons, hat manufacturers. Three years later, or about 1871, at which time he was but fifteen years of age, after consultation with Mr. San- ford, who has always been his firm friend, Mr. Rickard bought a horse and wagon, making the purchase on Good Friday. It is a curious fact that all of his investments have been made and all of his large undertakings have been started on Friday and it has so happened purely by accident and not by plan. As the years have passed his constantly growing busi- ness has compelled him to increase his equipment from time to time and he now utilizes from one hundred and sixty-five to one hundred and seventy horses and employs one hundred and twenty-five drivers and stablemen. He also has sixteen motor trucks and two big touring cars. His success has been built upon the sure foundation of fair dealing and of efficient service faithfully rendered. He also owns one hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of real estate and has just cause to be proud of his accomplishment, for he came to this country a poor boy without any special advantages, without friends and without money.
On the 2d of January, 1878, Mr. Rickard was united in marriage to Miss Mary Louise Murphy, who was born in America, of the marriage of John and Rose Murphy, natives of Ireland. She bas at all times aided her husband greatly through her wise counsel and her devotion and he attributes a large share of the credit for his success to her. They have become the parents of nine children, of whom six survive, and all are graduates of the Bridge- port high school. The family record is as follows: Louise is the wife of Edward Bray, of
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Bridgeport. Eddie is deceased. Anna is teaching in the Bridgeport school. Marcella resides at home and is bookkeeper for her father. Marguerite is teaching in the Bridgeport schools. Christopher. Jr .. is living at home and manages a branch office of his father's business. Loretta is attending school. James will enter the University of Pennsylvania in the fall and Mary Frances died in infancy.
Mr. Rickard casts an independent ballot, voting not according to the party affiliations of the candidates but rather according to their qualifications for the offices in question. He is a communicant of St. Peter's Roman Catholic church and has always sought to conform his conduct to high standards of morality. As he says, his home is his club, and he finds the greatest pleasure in the society of his wife and children. In developing his extensive business interests he has not only promoted his individual prosperity but has also aided in the material advancement of his city.
WILLIAM WELCH.
Among those who have figured prominently in connection with the industrial activi- ties of Bridgeport was William Welch, who departed this life March 29, 1916, at the com- paratively early age of fifty-two years. A native of Ireland, he was born in Limerick but was only six weeks old when taken to New Haven, where he acquired his education, displaying particular skill and ability along mathematical lines. He came to Bridgeport from New Haven in 1888 to enter the employ of the American Tube & Stamping Company, with which he continuously remained until his life's labors were ended. He had started when but eighteen years of age along that line of activity as an employe in the New Haven rolling mill. After coming to Bridgeport he steadily worked his way upward and during the last nine years of his connection with the American Tube & Stamping Company was roller and assistant superintendent. He built a mill on coming to this city-a small place in which he rolled the first Japanese horseshoe nails ever rolled in Bridgeport, and he also made the first stair tread made here. He possessed much natural mechanical ingenuity, to which he added clear thought. earnest consideration and sound judgment concerning every phase of the work.
In New Haven, in 1887, Mr. Welch was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (MacDonald) MeKinnon, the widow of John McKinnon. She was then a resident of New Haven but was born on Prince Edward Island. They were the parents of four children: Helen M., deceased; Agnes E .; John W .; and Ethel May. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and they are communicants of St. Peter's church. Mr. Welch erected a residence at Bridgeport and left his family in comfortable financial circumstances. In his political views he was a republican and, though not an office seeker, was a public-spirited man. He found interest and recreation in bowling and billiards and he belonged to the Elks Club and also to the Algonquin Club, the Bridgeport Club and the Miamogue Yacht Chib. For two years prior to his demise he was in ill health and on the 29th of March, 1916, passed away to the deep regret of his many friends and business acquaintances who had come to know and esteem him highly.
WILLIAM E. HOWES.
William 'E. Howes is the secretary and treasurer of the Wheeler & Howes Company of Bridgeport and is thus actively connected with a business which has featured in the commercial circles of Bridgeport for more than a half century. He was born April 14, 1881, and is a son of William T. Howes, one of the founders of the present company. William T. Howes
WILLIAM WELCH
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was born at Sag Harbor, Long Island, in 1844 and was a son of William B. Howes, a sea- faring man of Long Island. The family removed to Black Rock, Connecticut, in the early '50s and in 1866 William T. Howes joined J. M. Wheeler in the coal business, organizing the firm of Wheeler & Howes, which was eventually incorporated under the name of the Wheeler & Howes Company. For some time Mr. Howes served as president thereof, continuing in the office until his demise, which occurred in Bridgeport in 1914. He was a valued member of the Seaside Club and a most active and interested worker in the Young Men's Christian Association, contributing generously to its support and doing all in his power to promote its growth. He was also one of the founders and became one of the directors of the Boys' Club. In early manhood he wedded Ida F. Hinckley, who passed away about 1903. In their family were three children.
The only son, William E. Howes, acquired a public school education and afterward at- tended the Park Avenue Institute. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the business of which his father had been one of the founders and as the years passed thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of activity controlled by the company, and for the past four years he has been its secretary and treasurer, thus having voice in the management and direction of an enterprise which has constantly grown and developed until it is now one of the most prominent factors in this line of trade in the state.
On the 30th of June, 1915, Mr. Howes was married to Miss Fannie E. Pierce, of Roxbury, Connecticut. He has always been a resident of Bridgeport and the fact that many of his warmest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days indicates that his has been a well spent life.
JAMES M. H. BLACK.
Developing powers have made James M. H. Black one of the forceful factors in business circles in Bridgeport, prominently connected with the coal trade as the president of the J. A. Black Coal Company, which was incorporated in 1903. He was born in New York city in 1850, a son of Peter J. and Maria (Lawton) Black, natives of New York and of England respectively. The former was a son of Alexander Black, who was born in Scotland and was a representative of an old Scotch family. Crossing the Atlantic, he became one of the early settlers of Bridgeport, removing to this city after a residence of a year or two in New York. He arrived about 1822 and built up a large shoe business, becoming one of the prominent early merchants of the city. Peter J. Black was born in New York in 1820 and in early life went to sea on whaling voyages. He afterward lived in New York for several years and was employed at the Hicks shipyards, but in 1854 the family returned to Bridgeport. He continued to work, however, for a few years longer in New York, after which he engaged in the retail meat business in Bridgeport for a brief period, but in 1862 he turned his attention to the coal trade as a partner in the Thompson Company. He with- drew from that connection in 1870 to join his son, Joseph A. Black, in the establishment of the business now conducted under the name of the J. A. Black Coal Company. At one time he served as a member of the city council and was deeply interested in the public welfare. He died in the year 1895, at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife survived until 1902, passing away at the age of eighty-three years.
James M. H. Black acquired a public school education in Bridgeport and when his school training had been completed he was employed in factories for a time. Since 1893 he has been connected with the coal company of which he is now the head, and he was elected to the presideney of the company upon its incorporation in 1903. This company had been organized in 1870 by J. A. Black and his father, the yards being established at No. 565 Knowlton street, where the business is still carried on. The company has its own dockage
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and coal and wood are brought by boat. Employment is furnished about twenty people and they utilize three auto trucks and five wagons for delivery. The founder of the business, Joseph A. Black, died in 1902 and the present officers are: James M. H. Black, president ; F. L. Black, vice president ; and E. N. Black, secretary and treasurer.
Fraternally Mr. Black is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He possesses many substantial qualities which have won him the high respect of those with whom he has been associated and his colleagues and contemporaries speak of him in terms of warm regard.
JOHN DAVIS SLADY.
Jolin Davis Slady, at the head of the Connecticut Auto Tire Company, has been engaged in that business longer than any other man in Bridgeport, becoming identified with the auto tire industry in 1904 when the city could boast of only one hundred and sixty cars. He is a native of Fairfield county, born near Bridgeport, August 26, 1884, and is a son of William B. and Marie (Hostav) Slady. William B. Slady, when a young man, settled near Easton, Fairfield county, Connecticut. Although he maintained a country home there his residence was in Bridgeport and here his death occurred.
At the usual age John Davis Slady began his education in the public schools of Fair- field county and later attended the high school of Bridgeport. He received private instruc- tion in mechanical drafting and learned the trade of tool maker and die sinker. In 1904, when the auto tire business was in its infancy, he studied the manufacture and repairing of tires and designed and made vulcanizing machinery for his own use. Although only twenty years of age he began business for himself as the sole owner of the Connecticut Auto Tire Company at No. 241 Connecticut avenue, and his was the first auto tire vulcaniz- ing equipment in Fairfield county. At that time he began to rewrap and retread tires, which had only been done in tire factories before then, but he had perfected and designed his own machinery and was able to turn out excellent work. He purchased a building at 360-370 Fairfield avenue and has installed all modern machinery for tire vulcanizing, repair- ing, etc., and also carries the largest stock of auto tires for sale in Bridgeport. In fact he is doing the most extensive business of the kind in the state. Mr. Slady is also interested in the banking business, being one of the organizers and incorporators of the American Bank & Trust Company, of Bridgeport, of which he is a director.
In politics he is independent but leans toward the republican party. He is a member of several social organizations, including the Bridgeport Club, the Weatogue Club of Strat- ford, the Algonquin Club and the Bridgeport Automobile Club and is also connected with the Connecticut Good Roads Association, in the work of which he has taken a very active and prominent part, being a strong good road booster. He was the pioneer in his business in this state, having the wisdom to see the development of the auto tire industry and from a small beginning has built up a business of extensive proportions, which places him among the well known manufacturers of the city.
ARTHUR DENNISON.
Arthur Dennison, who has built up a good business as a real estate and insurance dealer in Bridgeport, was born in Perryville, Massachusetts, December 7. 1883. and when four years of age he was brought by his parents, William and Sarah Jane (Kelley) Dennison, to Bridgeport. where the family home was established. His education was limited to attend-
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ance at the publie schools, as he went to work when young. For six years he served as an apprentice with Curtis & Curtis, there learning the tool making trade, and for about nine years thereafter worked as a journeyman, being employed in various plants. Subsequently he began dealing in real estate at Fort Trumbull Beach, in Milford, and later took up his residence in Stratford. In 1913 he first opened an office in Bridgeport, being then located in the Warner building. In 1915 he opened his present office at No. 383, State street, Bridgeport, and has since been active in the real estate and insurance fields here. He is personally interested financially in much of the property he handles and also looks after renting a great deal of property belonging to others. He is a representative of a number of reliable insurance companies and his annual business in that connection has reached a ereditahle figure. His wife has an interest in the business and is herself a good real estate and insurance dealer.
On the 6th of July, 1904, Mr. Dennison married Miss Lucy Irene MeCarthy, of Bridgeport, a daughter of Charles and Delia (Dolan) MeCarthy. To this union have been born seven children, of whom two have passed away, George Howard and William, both of whom died in childhood. The surviving children, Evelyn, Arthur, Jr., Mildred, Harold and Marie, twin to William, are all attending the Bridgeport schools.
Mr. Dennison is independent in polities and is keenly interested in the various economic and sociological questions that play so important a part in the complex life of today. He is a member of the Taxpayers' Improvement Club and ean always be depended upon to support plans whieb he believes will work for the best interests of his community. He is sachem in Stratford Lodge, No. 49, I. O. R. M.
FREDERICK B. CURTIS.
Frederick B. Curtis, engaged in the practice of law and also in the real estate business, was born in Bridgeport, June 8, 1875, a son of Lewis Frederick Curtis, whose birth occurred at Stratford, Fairfield county, Connecticut, June 10, 1836, his parents being Isaac and Sarah Lueinda (Beers) Curtis. John Curtis, the founder of the family in the new world, came from England in 1639 and settled in Connecticut. Isaac Curtis engaged in business as a carpenter and builder. His son Lewis had the advantage of a course of instruction in Stratford Academy and at the age of seventeen years he started out in the business world as a drug clerk in Bridgeport. After several years' experience in that line he became proprietor of a large drug store in Bridgeport, which he conducted successfully until ill health eansed his removal, at which time he took up his abode in New Milford, Connectieut. There he organized and became president of the New Milford Board of Trade and he figured prominently in business circles of that place as president of the New Milford Electrie Light Company, the Cable Gas Company and the New Milford Pottery Company and was a trustee of the Mechanics & Farmers Savings Bank of Bridgeport. His interests were thus manifold and varied and his intelligent direction of his activities brought substantial success. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. Lewis F. Curtis was married twiee. In 1858 he wedded Mary E. Hamilton, who died in 1869, and in 1871 he was joined in wedloek to Mary Cornelia Baldwin, by whom he had one son, Frederick Baldwin Curtis. The mother is still living, but the father passed away April 25, 1912.
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