USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 67
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He turns for recreation to the Algonquin Club and to the Weatogue Country Club. in both of which he holds membership, and he is also a member of the American Association of Mechanical Engineers. He has attained expert skill and high rank in the field of his chosen life work, having long since passed the point of mediocrity, so that he stands today among the successful few.
CHARLES N. HASKELL, M. D.
A love of science, combined with deep sympathy and intuition, are the salient quali- ties which have won for Dr. Charles N. Haskell notable success as an exceptionally gifted physician and surgeon of Bridgeport. He received thorough collegiate training and since his college days he has remained a close student of the literature of his profession, thus keeping in touch with the most advanced and progressive thought.
Dr. Haskell is a native of Vermont, his birth having occurred at Woodstock on the 11th of May, 1862. He comes of English ancestry on the paternal side, traced back in unbroken line for more than one thousand years. A contemporary historian has said of the family: "There have been few geniuses among them, but there have been strong, faithful and honest men and women, from the time when Oseytel, the Saxon bishop, bearded his king in favor of the Witenagemote; from the time when Roget de Haskell, at the battle of Hastings, dashed forward, and, amid a shower of the enemy's arrows, secured and brought to William, the Conqueror, who was exhausted from lack of food, the fruit from an apple tree which stood near the line of Harold the Great. the enemy; from the time Ordegar Haskell trained with Cromwell's Ironsides on the fens of Lincoln- shire; from the time when Surrey Haskell flashed his sword for Prince Charles: from the time when William, Roger and Mark Haskell landed at Salem in 1632; from the time when George Washington. in his personal letter. complimented Prince Haskell for his
DR. CHARLES N. HASKELL
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courage in the Revolution: from that time to this there has been no blot upon their record. no shame or disgrace attached to the name.
"The Doctor is a direct descendant of William Haskell, one of the three brothers who came to this country from England in 1632, and located in Gloucester, Massachusetts. His grandfather, Nahum Haskell, was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, whence, after a sojourn in Dartmouth, he removed to Woodstock. Vermont, where he became the editor of a newspaper.
"Dr. James N. Haskell, our subjeet's father, was born and reared in Woodstock, Ver- mont, and graduated from the medical college in that city. In early manhood he engaged in the practice of dentistry, becoming, in his day, the most noted dentist in the state of Vermont. Later he practiced medicine, and the latter years of his life were passed in St. Louis, Missouri, where he died in 1884. His wife, Loraine (Young) Haskell, who passed away in 1878, was a native of Woodstock. Vermont, and was of Scottish deseent. Her father, Jolin Young, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812, lived to the advanced age of ninety- one years, and, although a man of small stature, was noted for his great physical strength and endurance."
Dr. Charles N. Haskell, an only child, pursued his education in public schools of Ver- mont and also under the direction of private tutors. A retentive memory has ever been one of his strong characteristics and kept him easily in the lead in the classes at school. In fact he seemed to possess an insatiable appetite for knowledge and his parents feared that he was spending too much time in studying and giving not enough to the outdoor life and recreations which serve as upbuiklers of that strength so necessary as a foundation for success in later lite. When but a young lad he studied both shorthand and telegraphy and mastered the latter within a month, being at one time the youngest telegraph operator in the U'nited States. When he was only ten years of age his favorite recreation was a game of checkers played by telegraph with a youthful operator in a distant city. A few years later. after leaving school, he became one of the most skillful operators in the coun- try and in that connection filled many responsible positions in the large offices of this land from Maine to California. In 1884, in a tournament hell in Chicago, he won the prize for the fastest transmission of messages. lle also early displayed a fondness for the stage and was an active and valued member of several amateur dramatie organizations in dif- ferent cities where he resided. In the season of 1879-80 he played with the first "Pina - fore" company that toured New England. All these activities, however, were regarded by him rather as side lines than as permanent occupations. In fact from early boyhood he had resolved to become a physician and with that end in view became a student in the ofliee and under the direction of Dr. F. M. Bennett, a prominent homeopathic practitioner of Springfield. Massachusetts. Far into the night he would pore over his books after working hard all day as chief operator in the Western Union telegraph office there. Nearly two years were spent in that way, at the end of which time he became a student in the New York Homeopathie Medical College. Not long afterward he took up the study of the allopathie or regular school and after three years' preparation was graduated from the University of Vermont in 1890. being awarded second prize for high standing in his elass. In the intervals of his college work he took courses of instruction in hospitals in Boston, in connection with the Harvard Medical School and the different hospitals in New York. He also served for a year as assistant instructor in pathology in the Post Graduate Medi- cal School in New York.
Dr. Haskell entered upon active practice in Bridgeport in 1891 and his ability soon won him a liberal share of the business in his line. After a brief period he was appointed eity physician and attending surgeon of the Emergency Hospital, but after two years he resigned both positions in order to concentrate his entire attention upon his private prac- tiee, which in the meantime had heen constantly growing in volume and importance. lle keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress as a member
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of the Bridgeport, the Fairfield County and the Connecticut State Medical Associations, the American Medical Association and the New York Neurological Society. For twenty- seven years Dr. Haskell has been connected with the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital and in that institution he has served as clinical assistant instructor and lecturer in nearly all the various departments of medicine. This constant and faith- ful application to his calling has served to give the Doctor a remarkably broad and con- ceptive view of the practice of medicine. For a number of years he has confined his energies to what is called internal medicine and which has much to do with the diagnosis of disease and its treatment. He is considered a local authority on diseases of the lungs and several years ago was the moving spirit in the Fairfield County Anti-Tubercu- losis Association. He is a qualified neurologist and alienist and in that capacity does much expert work. He is chief of clinic and lecturer on diseases of the mind and nervous system at the Post Graduate Hospital in New York at the present time and is also attending neurologist to St. Vincent's Hospital at Brigdeport.
In politics Dr. Haskell maintains an independent course, nor has he desire for politi- cal preferment. He is a member of the Seaside Club and the Elks. Almost his entire thought and attention are concentrated upon his professional interests, and the thoroughi- ness which has ever characterized him in all his lines of activity is manifest in his pro- fessional work. His duties are discharged with a sense of conscientious obligation and he feels that every hour is well spent that is given to study whereby bis efficiency is increased. His colleagues and contemporaries speak of him as one whose ability has justly gained for him the enviable position which he occupies as a member of the medical profession of Bridgeport.
CHARLES H. WALL.
Charles H. Wall, superintendent of the Crown Corset Company, has in his business career advanced through the steps of an orderly progression since starting out to earn his living when a lad of but twelve years. He was born on Prince Edward Island in 1875 and in 1880 his parents removed with their family to New York city, where they resided until 1888 and then came to Bridgeport. As stated, Charles H. Wall took up the task of pro- viding for his own support when a little lad of but twelve summers. He entered the employ of the George C. Batcheller Company and in that connection his industry and faithfulness won him promotion from time to time until he became foreman of the cutting department. He was afterward connected with the American Lady Corset Company of Detroit, Michigan. as assistant superintendent, occupying that position for four years. In 1910 he returned to Bridgeport to accept the superintendency of the Crown Corset Com- pany. This business was established in Bridgeport with head offices at No. 170 Fifth avenue in New York. The officers of the company are: Edward W. Russell, president and treasurer; and Ralph E. Miller, vice president and secretary; with Charles H. Wall as superintendent at Bridgeport. The plant includes a three story and basement build- ing sixty by two hundred and twenty-five feet. Its equipment is most complete and up-to-date. The building is of mill construction, is supplied with a sprinkler system, is light, airy, thoroughly sanitary and well ventilated. It is located at No. 345 Railroad avenue. All the buying and selling are done at New York, while the manufacturing is carried on at Bridgeport. Employment is furnished to from four hundred and fifty to five hundred people. ninety per cent being girls, semi-skilled labor. Mr. Wall has this large force under his direct control and has gathered about him a most competent staff of assistants in the various lines of office work and as heads of the departments.
In 1901 Mr. Wall was married to Miss Esther M. Sheehan, of Bridgeport, and they
CHARLES H. WALL
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now have a daughter, Ruth Esther. Fraternally Mr. Wall is connected with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows but he has comparatively little time for outside interests, con- centiating his efforts and attention upon his business responsibilities, which are now of a most important character. Ile early realized the value of industry and determination as factors in business life and by indefatigable effort and perseverance he has worked his way steadily upward.
EDWARD K. NICHOLSON.
Edward K. Nicholson, a member of the Bridgeport bar since January, 1900, and prac- ticing since 1912 as a partner in the firm of Banks & Nicholson, entered upon his professional career well equipped by a thorough university training for the responsible duties which he as- sumed. He was born in Essex, Connecticut, in 1872, a son of the Rev. George W. Nicholson, who in 1894 removed with his family to Bridgeport to accept the pastorate of the First Baptist church, in which connection he continued for seventeen years, doing splendid work toward promoting the moral progress of the city. He still makes his home in Bridgeport. In public affairs he takes a deep and helpful interest, his influence ever being on the side of progress and improvement. He is a native of Maryland, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Elvira Bell, was born in New Jersey.
After acquiring a thorough preliminary education Edward K. Nicholson entered Yale and completed the academie course by graduation with the class of 1896. Four years later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In the meantime he took up the study of law and in January, 1900, was admitted to the bar in Fairfield county. He opened an office in Bridgeport and for six months eontinned alone in practice, at the end of which time he joined Samuel E. Shaw in organizing the firm of Shaw & Nicholson, a rela- tion that was maintained until 1909, after which Mr. Nicholson practiced alone until the present firm of Banks & Nicholson was formed in 1912. In the years of his practice he has been accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage and in the trial of many cases has proven his ability to successfully cope with intricate and involved legal problems. For two years he served as deputy judge of the city court of Bridgeport. In April, 1917, Mr. Nicholson was elected president of the Fairfield County Association for the Mobilization of Resources.
In December, 1900, Mr. Nicholson was married to Miss Mary L. Thomas, of Saratoga Springs, New York, and they have three children, Sylvia T., Edward K. and Miriam E. Mr. Nicholson has no fraternal connections but is a member of the Algonquin and of the Country Clubs.
GEORGE E. KIRSTEN.
George E. Kirsten, president of the Pequonnock Foundry, Inc., displays in his business career that spirit of enterprise which stops not short of the successful accomplishment of its purpose. Ile was born in New Jersey, September, 29, 1879, a son of Emil and Gesine (Heinz) Kirsten. Ile supplemented school training by a course of study in the Stevens Institute of Technology at Hoboken. New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1900 with the degree of mechanical engineer. Thus liberally trained for his chosen line of life work. he after- ward spent two years with the United States Steel Corporation at Cleveland, Ohio, and became assistant to the master mechanic. He was afterward for a few years with the Fire Under- writers as inspector of manufacturing plants and in 1905 came to Bridgeport, where he pur- Vol 11-28
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chased a controlling interest in the Pequonnock Foundry and has since concentrated his energy upon the conduct of the industry. His plant is a splendid one of the kind. The business was organized in 1902 and its original location was in rented property on East Washington avenue, but with the growth of the trade. bringing increased financial facilities, the company built a plant in 1909, to which a removal was made in 1910. This is located at Fifth and Charlotte streets, where they own four acres of land. The main building, a one-story struc- ture, is seventy-five by two hundred and twenty feet, in addition to which there is a large storage building twenty-six by ninety feet. The continued increase in their patronage is indicated in the fact that they now employ about one hundred people, sixty per cent of whom are skilled workmen. They make a general line of the finer grades of machine castings, specializing in those things demanded by the automobile and motor trade. Fifty per cent of their product is sold locally, while the remainder is shipped over New York and the sur- rounding territory. The officers of the company are: George E. Kirsten, president and treas- urer; F. J. Bachmann, vice president ; and J. J. Anderson, secretary. The equipment of the plant is thoroughly modern and up-to-date and the work turned out is of such worth that it has given uniform satisfaction, leading to a steady growth of the business.
In 1908 Mr. Kirsten was married to Miss Gertrude Lexow, of Brooklyn, New York, and their children are Caroline and George E .. Jr. Mr. Kirsten exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He holds membership in various out-of-town clubs, while locally he is well known as a member of the Brooklawn and Univer- sity Clubs.
FRANCIS J. BRENNAN.
The prominent place which the Jackson Stone Company holds in its line is the measure of the efficiency and enterprise of Franeis J. Brennan, its secretary and general manager, who has entire charge of all the work of the company, both estimating and constructing. The concern has been awarded many important contracts in open competition and its work is invariably of the highest quality. Mr. Brennan was born in Bridgeport June 7, 1884, a son of Peter T. and Julia (Sheridan) Brennan, both born in Bridgeport. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Brennan, was born in Ireland but in 1846 became a resident of Bridgeport and the maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ann Sheridan, was a representative of an old Connecticut family.
Francis J. Brennan attended the public schools of Bridgeport in the acquirement of his general education and completed a four years' course in drawing at the Young Men's Christian Association school here. He received a diploma from that institution and has done very able work as a designer. He was first employed by the Bridgeport Boiler Works, where he was bookkeeper and also did draughting, and later became connected with the Jackson Stone Company. From 1903 to 1907 he represented that concern in New York city but since the latter year has been in charge of the work of the company in Bridge- port, holding the offices of secretary and general manager. The treasurer, Jerome A. Jack- son, was formerly a resident of Bridgeport but now lives in New York and Mr. Brennan is the only member of the company making his home in Bridgeport. He has under his direct supervision both the estimating and constructing ends of the business and since he has been in charge the number of employes has grown from six to over sixty and the annual volume of business has more than quadrupled. Most of the contracts executed by the company are secured by bidding in competition with other firms and the fact that the jobs are so frequently awarded to the Jackson Stone Company is proof of their reason- able prices and reputation for high grade work. The company secured by competition the largest stone contract ever given for use in factory work, it calling for sixty-one thousand,
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four hundred lineal feet of window sills and twenty-seven thonsand, six hundred lineal feet of coping on the Remington Arms factory at Bridgeport. All told the material used in carrying out the contract filled one hundred and ten cars. The carving, shaping and polishing were all done in Bridgeport. Such is the efficiency of the Jackson Stone Com- pany that the work was finished at the designated time and, moreover, was completed without any unforeseen difficulties having arisen. The company executes about ninety per cent of the stone work done in Bridgeport and among the other big contracts handled here may be mentioned the City Savings Bank, the Peoples Savings Bank, the Mechanics & Farmers Bank, the American Chain Company's offices, on which the stone work is excep- tionally fine, all being hand chiselled, the Franklin, Whittier, Longfellow, Wayne Street a'nd Garfield schools, the Junior high school, fire houses Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the West End police station, and the county courthouse. They have also done important work elsewhere, including a number of jobs in New York city and considerable work at Yale University. The business has grown so rapidly that their present plant at No. 202 Hlousatonie avenue is badly crowded and it will soon be necessary to provide larger quarters.
Mr. Brennan was married in 1907 to Ruby M. Goodrich, of Meriden, Connecticut, a daughter of Frank Goodrich, a prosperous business man of that city. To this union have been born three children. Ruby Francis, who is named for both her father and mother, is attending school at Bridgeport. Dorothy is named in honor of a daughter of Mr. Jack- son, treasurer of the Jackson Stone Company. Francis Gregory is named for his father and for an annt.
Mr. Brennan is independent in politics and studies carefully the political problems of the day. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Patrick's Roman Cath- olic church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and with the United Commercial Travelers. His business interests require the greater part of his time and attention and through his own efforts he has attained a position of prominence in the industrial eireles of Bridgeport.
MAX HENKELS.
Max Henkels, president and treasurer of Alb. & E. Henkels, Incorporated, is of German birth and a graduate of Berlin University. lle afterward attended Columbia University of New York and thus in a liberal education laid the foundation for his success in the business world. He is a son of Albert Henkels, who was the founder of the firm of Alb. & E. Henkels. of Langerfeld, Germany, there establishing the lace manufacturing business in the early '70s and developing the largest lace factory of Europe. Max Henkels was with his father in business there until the Bridgeport plant was established in 1909. The company also had the largest plant at Pinerolo, Italy, and today Max Henkels is at the head of the three enterprises and divides his time between them, making his home, however, in Bridgeport. The Bridgeport concern was established in August, 1909, and was incorporated on the 25th of May, 1913, as Alb. & E. Henkels, Incorporated. The factory is located at No. 1069 Con- necticut avenue. They started with a small plant containing ten thousand square feet, to which they have added from time to time until the plant now contains one hundred thousand square feet. It is part mill construction and part reinforced concrete. There are four different buildings, very modern in equipment, devoted entirely to the manufacture of laces for interior decorating purposes, also for women's wear and for the trimming of wash fabrics. They make these laces in all grades, from the moderate priced goods to the finest. and the output is millions of yards of lace per week. With the growth of the business they have developed much special automatic machinery. They use electric power with both the indi- vidual and the motor group systems. The company employs about four hundred and fifty
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people, sixty-five per cent of whom are men, skilled laborers, and their product is sold to jobbers all over the United States. In addition to their plant at Bridgeport they have offices and sample rooms at No. 200 Fifth avenue in New York and at No. 76 West Monroe street in Chicago. The officers of the company are: Max Henkels, president and treasurer; H. A. Philips, vice president and assistant treasurer; and Charles Axman, secretary, all of whom are active in the business. In the conduct of this important industry the company is studying not only the best methods of manufacture but also every question bearing npon the trade and upon labor conditions. Their factory has been built with a view to the com- fort of employes and they are further looking to the welfare of those in their service hy the erection of cottages for the workmen, which will be rented at the lowest possible figure. These are from two to five room cottages, all supplied with bathrooms and characterized by the hest sanitary conditions, and the plant was also built with the utmost regard for sani- tation and light. This has become one of the most important productive industries of Bridgeport, contributing largely to the commercial activity of the city. Mr. Henkels' long experience has made him thoroughly familiar with the trade not only in this country but abroad, and in the equipment of the Bridgeport plant he has embodied the most progressive ideas gleaned from both Europe and America.
JOHN H. BISHOP.
The Bishop family of Fairfield county is descended from the Rev. John Bishop, a Puri- tan divine, who was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and was chosen minister of Stam- ford, Connecticut, in 1643, Lieutenant Francis Beers and George Slauson of Stamford being sent on foot to Boston to talk over the matter and make terms with him concern- ing the pastorate. He accepted the call and returned, it is said, with the committee on foot, carrying his Bible under his arm. This Bible at last accounts was preserved by his descendants. He was twice married, his first wife being Joanna Willett, the widow of the Rev. Peter Prudden and a daughter of Captain Thomas Willett. The Rev. Bishop died in 1694.
From him is descended John H. Bishop of this review, a well known contractor and builder of Bridgeport, whose father, John Henry Bishop, was widely known as a substan- tial citizen of Stamford, where his birth occurred. He was a son of John Bishop, also of Stamford. John Henry Bishop, the father, grew to manhood in Stamford, where he made his home during his active life. He was station agent for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company in his native city for a number of years and also conducted the restaurant at the station. Later he conducted a grocery and meat market for several years and after retiring from active business removed to Long Island, settling at Port Jefferson, where he spent his remaining days in retirement from active business and there passed away. He wedded Mary Elizabeth Leek, a native of Long Island, who died in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was the mother of five children, namely: Susanna, who became the wife of William E. Hunt, of Port Jefferson, Long Island; Charles, residing in New York city; Annie, the wife of William K. Mollan, a well known shoe dealer of Bridgeport: John H .; and Catharine, widow of Samuel B. Jayne of Bridgeport.
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