USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 68
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.John H. Bishop, whose name introduces this review, was born at Stamford, January S. 1855, and was but five years of age when the family removed to Long Island, where he acquired a public school education. On attaining his majority he removed to Bridgeport and took up the work of contracting and building, being associated for a time with the firm of Gould Brothers, early builders of this city. When they retired he started in busi- ness for himself and has thus been engaged for twenty-three years, during which period a liberal patronage has been accorded him and he has been awarded the contracts for
JOHN H. BISHOP
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the erection of a number of the prominent buildings of the city as well as many of a less pretentious character. His work is always thorough and he lives up to the terms of a contraet in every particular, so that his name has become a synonym for reliability in his chosen field.
Mr. Bishop was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Grant Burgess, who was born in Nova Scotia but was married in Bridgeport. They have a daughter, Carrie Elizabeth, now the wife of David Chester Johnson, a salesman of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop attend the Methodist church and he is widely known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Nutmeg Encamp- ment. the Rebekahs, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Elks. In club circles he is known as a representative of the Seaside Club. His residence in Bridgeport covers forty- one years and throughout the entire period he has been an active factor in its building operations.
WILLIAM THORN HAVILAND.
William Thorn Haviland, attorney at law practicing at the Bridgeport bar, was born in Ridgefield. Connecticut, March 29, 1856, a son of Isaac and Mary A. (Thorp) Haviland. His name is enrolled with the Yale alumni in 1880, in which year he completed his more specifically literary course. In 1882 he was graduated from the Yale Law School, having determined upon the practice of the legal profession a- a life work. On the 28th of June of that year he was admitted to the bar in New Haven, and coming to Bridgeport became associated in practice with Goodwin Stoddard and William D. Bishop, Jr. That association was maintained until May 11. 1891, when he was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas of Fairfield county and assistant clerk of the superior court. He occupied the latter position until 1908, when he was promoted to clerk of the superior court in June, 1908, succeeding William R. Shelton, who had resigned. Mr. Haviland has since occupied that position and has made an enviable record for efficiency and fidelity in an office with which he has been continuously connected for more than a quarter of a century.
In June, 1902, Mr. Haviland was married to Mrs. Pauline (Swords) Stevenson, a native of South Norwalk, and they now have two children, Paul and Louise. Mr. Haviland is con- nected with no fraternities but is a member of the University Club and is appreciative of the social amenities of life, holding friendship inviolable.
(. F. HOLCOMB
C. F. Holcomb, secretary and treasurer of the Canfield Rubber Company, is thus identified with a business which is known throughout the world, its products having gone into every civilized country. It was one of the pioneers in the rubber industry in this state and has continued from the first in a position of leadership in it- methods of manufacture and in its relation to the trade.
Mr. Holcomb, a native of Barkhamsted. Connecticut, acquired a high school education and afterward turned his attention to the hardware manufacturing business. Later he was connected for a time with banking interests and in 1890 he became associated with the Canfield Rubber Company, so that his identification with the business covers more than a quarter of a century. This company wa- organized at Middletown. Connectiont. in 1882 and was incorporated under a special charter from the state by direct act of the legislature. About 1886 a removal was made to Bridgeport. the plant being established at the corner of
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Railroad and Myrtle avenues, whence they removed to the corner of Railroad avenue and Garden street in 1910. Their plant today covers an entire block and includes five buildings. One of these, recently erected, is a two-story structure of mill construction. The plant is supplied with a sprinkler system, thus minimizing the opportunity of loss by fire, and the machinery is operated by steam power. They employ one hundred and fifty people, semi- skilled labor, in the manufacture of rubber fabrics, mechanical rubber goods, dress shields, etc., and their product is sold to jobbers and retailers all over the world, the company being represented upon the road by eight traveling salesmen. The officers are: F. N. Ben- ham, president; Cyrus Morfey, vice president; and C. F. Holcomb, secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Holcomb is married and has one son, Robert. He belongs to the Seaside and Brook- lawn Clubs and is a Mason. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance in Bridge- port, entertain for him warm regard, placing bim with those men whose substantial wortb in business and in citizenship entitles them to the respect and confidence of all.
FRANK S. SAUM.
Frank S. Saum, a well known citizen of Fairfield Center, where for over a quarter of a century he has made his home, is a native of Jamesburg, New Jersey, born May 25, 1875, and is a son of Leopold and Mary Saum. The father died when the son was quite young and he was reared under the watchful care of a devoted mother. After leaving school he became an apprentice to the barber's trade in his native city and followed that pursuit for a short period in New York city as a journeyman.
While still in his teens Mr. Saum came to Connecticut and located in the village of Fairfield in 1894. Here he opened a barber shop and for the past twenty-three years has conducted business, winning success by close application. He was a poor boy at the time of his arrival in Fairfield but through thrift and industry saved money which he invested in real estate, and in 1900 he erected on the Post road a fine building containing five stores with dwellings above. He has also built several small houses on Sanford avenue, together with a fine building on Unquona road. He likewise has other property in various sections of the city.
Mr. Saum married Miss Annie L. Drew, of Fairfield, a daughter of John and Mary Eliza Drew, and they have one child. Doris A. Mr. Saum is independent in politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men and he belongs to the Red Men's Band and to the fire depart- ment. He is likewise a member of Company M of the Home Guard. He is a man of intelli- gence, with a quiet disposition, and is now well known and greatly respected in Fairfield.
WILLIAM E. ALLEN.
Indefatigable industry finds tangible expression in the mammoth enterprise of which William E. Allen is general superintendent. In this connection he has charge of the interests of the Crane Company at Bridgeport. directing the efforts of an army of employes. He was born in Sterling, Illinois, October 26, 1870, and in that city acquired a public school education. He then entered the employ of the Crane Company, which has its head offices in Chicago, and he has been identified with the corporation since 1890, acting as super- intendent of the Bridgeport plant for the past eleven years.
Mr. Allen is a member of the Brooklawn and Algonquin Clubs and is not unappreciative of the social amenities of life. He is also interested in public affairs and was appointed a member of the commission for the erection of the Stratford avenue bridge hy Mayor
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Wilson. He feels, however, that his first interest and duty are always to the gigantic business interests which are under his control. The Crane Company of Bridgeport was organized in its present form in 1914, succeeding to the business of the Crane Valve Company, organized in 1904. The latter was in turn successor to the Eaton, Cole & Burnham Company, which was organized many years ago. They manufacture iron and brass valves of all kinds, east iron flange and screw fittings. Their main office in Bridgeport is at No. 510 Main street and they have two factories in this city, one of which is on South avenue and is one of the largest industrial concerns of Bridgeport. This factory was built in 1907. The buildings are of brick and steel construction and are thoroughly equipped throughout with the sprinkler system. The plant covers sixty-four acres of ground. They own an electric power plant and the group and individual motor systems are used. The names of three thousand employes are found on the pay roll and nearly all of these are male help. Their product is sold all over the United States, mostly to jobbers, and the company has about fifty branch wholesale houses, with their general offices in Chicago. A. F. Bennett acts as general manager at Bridgeport, with William E. Allen as factory superintendent. He quali- tied for this important position by long years of experience in connection with various departments of the business, and in the faithful performance of each day's duties has found courage and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day.
JACOB B. KLEIN.
Jacob B. Klein. successfully practicing at the Bridgeport bar, was born February 28, 1862, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Bernhard and Mary (Lowenthal) Klein. Their son Jacob was a pupil in the public schools and afterward attended the Gothic Seminary on Lafayette street in Bridgeport. His preliminary law reading was done in the office and under direction of Judge Robert E. DeForest, after which he entered Yale University and was graduated on the completion of the law course with the class of 1884. He then returned to the office of his former preceptor, by whom he was taken into a partnership. He bad been admitted to the bar on the 7th of March, 1883, and the firm of DeForest & Klein was formed in 1888 and continues in existence to the present time, their attention being devoted to the general practice of law.
In 1893 Mr. Klein was called to the office of city prosecuting attorney and served through three successive years. He was also a member of the Bridgeport city government from 1885 to 1887 inclusive. In April, 1893, he was made counsel to the board of county commissioners and occupied that position until 1896. His ability in the practice of law is pronounced. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and skill, is logical in his argu- ments, clear in his reasoning and correct in his deductions. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument, with a self-possession and a delibera - tion that indicate no straining after effect. On the contrary there is precision and clear- ness in his statement which speak a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning is habitual and easy. In addition to his professional interest- he is known in financial circles as a director of the First Bridgeport National Bank.
In Cleveland, Ohio, in 1896, Mr. Klein was united in marriage to Miss Ray Rosenfeld. a native of that city. They are active members of the Park Avenue Temple. of which Mr. Klein has been made a life member of the board of trustees. He is also chairman of the Sunday school board and was a member of the building committee during the erection of the temple. Ilis interest in uplift work is marked and has been manifest in many tangible and helpful ways. Believing in the careful training of the young he is now serving on the executive committee of the Boy Scouts. He has been a member of Abraham Lodge,
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I. O. B. B., of this city since 1887 and its representative to the Grand Lodge since 1891. The unprecedented honor was accorded him in his election to the office of president of District Grand Lodge, No. 1. for three consecutive terms. In 1905 he was elected first viee president of the executive committee of the order and held this position for five years. At the fiftieth anniversary of Abraham Lodge in February, 1917, he was recalled to the office of president, which he had held twenty-five years previous. He has been closely identified with the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders for several years and has served as director and trustee of the public library board for the past nine years. He likewise belongs to the Seaside Club and the Outing Club and has membership with the Connecticut State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He enjoys the confidence, goodwill and respect of his colleagues and contemporaries and by individual merit and ability has worked his way steadily upward in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon personal effort.
JAMES W. OGDEN.
James W. Ogden, president of the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1877, a son of Edson G. and Malvina Bell (Wilson) Ogden. The father, who was a brewer, died in 1889 and in that year the mother removed to Bridgeport, where she still makes her home.
James W. Ogden acquired a public school education but when only thirteen years of age started out to earn his own living, working for two dollars and forty cents per week in the employ of the Bryant Electric Company, with which he remained for three years. He was afterward with the Eagle Lock Company and in that connection learned the machinist's trade. He advanced steadily as his efficiency increased and he became fore- man when twenty-two years of age for the Dexter Folder Company at Pearl River. New York. There he remained for eighteen months, after which he returned to Bridgeport and was foreman for the Bridgeport Foundry & Machine Company. Later he became superintendent and next was with Harvey Hubble as assistant superintendent, having charge of the tool room in that connection for two years. On the expiration of that period he became instructor at the State Trade School in Bridgeport, having charge of machinery work. mathematics and drawing for a year and a half.
Mr. Ogden organized the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company in August, 1912, becom- ing president of the business, with Elmer Ogden as secretary and treasurer. The plant was located at 225 John street and in 1913 a removal was made to the Crawford Laundry building, while in 1916 the business was established at 170 Elm street. Each removal was made in order to secure larger quarters owing to the demand occasioned by the growth of the business. The company makes a specialty of machine work, dies, tools and experimental work. They manufacture the Bridgeport surface grinder, which is sold to tool and machine shops and is manufactured after a patent of their own. This is sold all over the United States. They also manufacture the Bridgeport molding machines and equipment, this product being sold to iron and brass foundries. The company has patents on all of its products, which are sold all over the United States and abroad, these patents being taken out by James W. Ogden. The company also manufactures a machine for attaching buttons to shoes. This machine will be sold outright, while others which they manufacture are leased. The value of this invention is shown by the fact that the cost of other machines is at the rate of eighty-three cents per thousand buttons, while with the machine of this company the cost is only three cents for putting on a thousand buttons. This machine is sold to wholesale and retail dealers and is put upon the market by the Rapid Machine Company of New York. The Bridgeport Die & Machine Company also-
JAMES W. OGDEN
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does a full line of tool making and special work. They have two shops, cach containing about five thousand square feet, and they employ from twenty-five to thirty skilled mechanics and fifty other workmen, making eighty in ail.
On the 16th of May, 1899, Mr. Ogden was married to Miss Alice Christie, of Bridge- port, a daughter of George E. and Mary E. Christie, who were early residents of this city, the father being employed as one of the mechanics in the Wheeler & Wilson factory. Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have one child, Dorothy Alice, now in high school.
Mr. Ogden has an interesting military record inasmuch as he served in the Spanish- American war with Battery B of the First Connecticut lleavy Artillery and is now a member of the Spanish War Veterans. His life has been an active and useful one, bring- ing to him the well merited reward of earnest, persistent labor.
T. IRVING FERGUSON.
T. Irving Ferguson is the secretary of the W. S. Mills Company, underwear manufac- turers of Bridgeport, with which enterprise he has been associated since 1902. He was born in Canaan, Connecticut, March 10, 1854. a son of William J. and Lura A. (Rood) Ferguson, the former a farmer by occupation. At the usual age T. Irving Ferguson became a public school pupil and after mastering the branches of learning thus taught he continued his education in an academy at Rochester, New York. He started out in the business world in connection with railroad work in Massachusetts and was thus employed for a decade, becoming station agent at Great Barrington.
In 1891 Mr. Ferguson removed to Bridgeport, where he entered into connection with the furniture trade as a member of the firm of Ferguson & Ferguson, his partner being his cousin. After engaging in that business successfully for a few years he was obliged to retire on account of his health and for several years remained out of trade connections. In 1902 he started to work for the W. S. Mills Company of Bridgeport, and his capability led to his promotion from time to time until he was elected secretary of the company upon its incorporation in 1906. This company, with its one hundred employes, is engaged in the manufacture of underwear for infants and children, and the product is sold to retailers in various sections of this country and Canada. Theirs is a well equipped plant and the output is of such excellent quality that a continuation of the trade is assured.
In 1880 Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Emma S. Abbott of Ashley Falls, Massa- chusetts. He belongs to the Episcopal church and in political belief is a democrat. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Masons, having attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He also has membership with the Red Men and is a member of the Baldhead Club of America and of the Algonquin Club. Years of activity, intelligently directed, have won for him steady advance in the business world and his position is a creditable one.
HARRY W. WALKER.
Harry W. Walker. the aggressive and alert treasurer and manager of the Naugatuck Valley Ice Company, with offices at 421 Housatonic avenue, Bridgeport, was born in Chicago. Illinois, on the 23d of July, 1867, while his parents were temporarily residing in that city. His father, Webster W. Walker, was a son of David Walker, and the mother, who in her maidenhood was Katherine Hubbell, was a daughter of Elisha Hubbell. Her great-great-grand- father, Richard Hubbell, was a noted carly settler of Trumbull. and the Walker family has
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also been identified with New England since colonial days. Both families, as the names indicate, are of English descent. The parents of our subject are both deceased, but he has a sister, Maude Louise, who is a resident of Bridgeport.
Harry W. Walker was brought to Bridgeport in 1868 by his parents and received his education in the local graded and high schools. For a number of years after leaving school he worked with his father in the latter's paint, wall paper and decorating business, but in 1900 became connected with the Naugatuck Valley Ice Company, employing during the seasou about three hundred men and using from twenty-five to thirty teams and trucks the year around. It was incorporated in 1874 with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. The capitali- zation has been increased from time to time-in 1882 to forty thousand dollars; in 1900 to one hundred thousand dollars, and 1904 to one hundred and ten thousand dollars. Elliott A. Upson was the principal founder of the Naugatuck Valley Ice Company at its inception and remained the directing head as well as filling the offices of secretary and treasurer until his death in 1900.
Mr. Walker was married in September. 1894, to Miss Edith Alice Upson, a daughter of Elliott A. Upson, and they have a son, Webster W., who was educated in the Bridgeport schools and in the Choate school in Warrington, Connecticut, and is now manager of the Citizens Ice & Coal Company.
Mr. Walker is a republican in politics but has confined his activities in public affairs to the exercise of his right of franchise. He attends the United Congregational church, and fraternally is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. In chib circles he is well known as a member of the Brooklawn Country and Seaside Clubs.
CARL F. SIEMON.
A complex business is that owned and controlled by the Siemon Hard Rubber Corpo- ration, of which Carl F. Siemon is the president and treasurer. But though many lines of labor enter into the evolution of the finished product the business is so organized and systematized that it is a unified and harmonions whole. Founded by Mr. Siemon it has been developed along the most progressive lines and substantial results have accrued.
Mr. Siemon was born in Indiana, March 28. 1870, and is a son of Carl F. and Mary E. (Shmman) Siemon. In the acquirement of his education he attended the Concordia Col- lege of Indiana, and afterward entered into the retail hardware business, with which he was connected for a few years. He afterward became interested in the hard rubber manufacturing business in New Jersey, and subsequently went to Springfield, Massachu- setts as manager of the Dickinson Hard Rubber Company, occupying that position of responsibility for five years. He arrived in Bridgeport in 1903, and on the 24th of January of that year effected the organization of the Siemon Hard Rubber Corporation, of which he has continuously been president and treasurer, with Walter C. Bryan as the secretary. The plant is located at State and Dewey streets and they manufacture electrical insu- lators which are marketed to dealers, factories and jobbers. The building has fifty thou- sand square feet of floor space of mill construction and is equipped with a sprinkler sys- tem throughout. Modern machinery is used and modern processes of manufacture are employed and two hundred skilled operatives contribute to the manufacture of the prod- uct. In addition to his interest as the head of the company. Mr. Siemon is a director of the E. L. Gowdy Company. of Brockton. Massachusetts.
In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Siemon and Miss Katherine Lewis, of Fort Wayne. Indiana. and their children are: Carl M., a Yale student pursuing the Sheffield scientific course; and Katherine A., at home.
Mr. Siemon gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but has never
CARL F. SIEMON
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been an office seeker. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having taken the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite, and the Thirty-Second degree in the Scottish Rite. while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he bas crossed the sands of the desert. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Algonquin Club, the University Club, the Brooklawn Club and the Weatogue Country Club. Genial, approach- able, demoeratie in spirit and at all times recognizing the good qualities in others, these traits have made him popular, and in Bridgeport he has a circle of friends eoextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
LYNDSAY VAN RENSSELAER.
Lyndsay Van Rensselaer is the state representative of the Manufacturers' Liability In- surance Company of New Jersey and as such has seeured as clients for the company many of the most prominent manufacturing concerns of Bridgeport, Connectieut. This company meets a need of modern-day conditions and in its scope has studied not only the protection of the manufacturer against exorbitant claims for aceident but has also studied the question of humanitarian and scientific care for the injured and has been truly a means in many instances of bringing employers and employes much nearer together in common interests.
Mr. Van Rensselaer is a native of Staten Island, New York. He was born July 22, 1870, and, as the name indicates, is of Holland Dutch ancestry, being a representative of the distinguished family of the name in New York. His father, Dr. John Jeremiah Van Rens- selaer, was born in Albany, New York, and served as a surgeon in the Union army during the Civil war. He afterward practiced medieine and surgery on Staten Island until 1901, when he retired from active business and took up his abode on his farm at Swartswood, New Jersey, where he remained until his demise in 1911. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Florence Rutherford Taylor, was a daughter of Colonel Charles Rutherford Taylor of Balti- more. Maryland, a well known banker there. Mrs. Van Rensselaer passed away April 1. 1913. There were two children in the family, Lyndsay and Florence. the latter still residing on Staten Island.
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