USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > History of Bridgeport and vicinity > Part 73
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Mr. Primrose is a member of the New England Order of Protection, of the Knights of the Maccabees, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Sons of St. George. He also has
WILLIAM E. PRIMROSE
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membership in the Bridgeport Club and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He takes a very active and influential part in public affairs and has been a member of the board of aldermen for five terms, now acting as its president. He is one of the enter- prising men of the day, thoughtful, earnest, determined and progressive, and he never stops short of the successful fulfillment of his purpose and the equally successful execution of his plans.
NATHANIEL W. BISHOP.
An active figure in support of progressive eivie affairs and a most enterprising business man, Nathaniel W. Bishop has done much to shape and direct the modern development of Bridgeport. He is today recognized as one of the prominent contractors of Connecticut, being president of the B. D. Pierce, Jr., Company and also president of the Iron Ledge Quarry Company. He was born in Bridgeport. July 16, 1865, a son of William D. and Julia Ann (Tomlinson) Bishop and a descendant of Rev. John Bishop, a Puritan divine, who was pastor of the church at Stamford in 1643. The ancestral line comes down to Alfred Bishop, who was born December 21, 1798. After teaching school for a time in his native town of Stamford he took up the occupation of farming in New Jersey, which was an initial step toward the building of canals and railroads, which became his great life work. It is said that while farming he accurately estimated with pickaxe, shovel and wheelbarrow the cost of removing earth to varying distances. At length he took up the line indicated and in 1836 removed from New Jersey to Bridgeport in order to enter upon the work of rail- road building. His first contract was for the construction of the Housatonic Railroad, now known as the Berkshire division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford. The project was first agitated in 1835 and developed from a movement to build a canal from Saugatuck to New Milford. A charter was obtained for the building of the road and it was this project which constituted the initial step in Bridgeport's upbuilding, for it led to the con- version of the borough into a city. In May, 1836, a city charter was secured and with the building of the road Mr. Bishop's name became closely associated with the early progress and industrial growth of Bridgeport. He was also the builder of the Morris canal in New .Jersey, the bridge at Raritan, New Brunswick. and the old Housatonic. Berkshire, Wash- ington and Saratoga, Naugatuck. New York and New Haven Railroads. His projects steadily increased in extent and in importance and while planning enterprises he became suddenly ill and passed away June 11, 1849. The Housatonic Railroad was planned and work begun before Mr. Bishop removed to Bridgeport, where he carried forward the project to successful completion, and to him is due the credit for the complete system of railroad communication which Bridgeport has. He died just prior to the completion of the Naugatuck road, of which his son, William D. Bishop, became president and his grandson, W. D. Bishop. Jr., a director.
William D. Bishop was born September 14, 1827, in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and was graduated from Yale in 1849. He seemed to have inherited his father's talent for the development and management of railroads. He became president of the Naugatuck road in 1855 and served until 1867, when he became president of the New York & New Haven Rail- road and so continued until March 1. 1879, when he was compelled to resign because of ill health. The road was built by his father in connection with Sidney G. Miller, the project being begun in 1846, while the work was completed in August, 1848. In 1885 Mr. Bishop was recalled to the presidency of the Nangatuck road and served until 1903, during which time the road achieved its greatest prosperity. He retired in the latter year because of poor health and was sneceeded by his son. William D. Bishop, Jr .. as president. William D. Bishop served as a trustee of the Bridgeport Protestant Orphan Asybun and was
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a generous contributor to charity and philanthropic work, but his giving was always of a most unostentatious character.
Nathaniel W. Bishop attended the schools of this city and then pursued an academic course in Yale, being graduated from the law department with the class of 1889. He entered upon the practice of his profession in connection with Charles Sherwood, with whom he was associated for two years. He then became a partner in the law firm of Chamberlin, Bishop & Hull, which had an existence covering three or four years, and later he practiced in partnership with Judge Stoddard, of New Haven, for a year. On the expiration of that period he became the secretary and manager of the American Ordnance Company and occu- pied those positions for a year. In 1898, following the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. he joined the United States Navy, with which he served for a year, becoming a lieutenant of the junior grade of the Third Division of the Naval Battalion of Bridgeport. His next business position was that of secretary of the Bridgeport Steamboat Company, of which he remained an officer until the company sold out to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway Company, at which time he became an active factor in the management and con- trol of the B. D. Pierce, Jr., Company as vice president and in 1911 succeeded Mr. Pierce in the presidency, also becoming president of the Iron Ledge Quarry Company, an auxiliary of the other corporation. The company does all kinds of large contract work and has erected many important public buildings and has done much work in the construction of dams and railroads, being well equipped to handle great engineering projects and in fact all kinds of contract work. Moreover, Mr. Bishop is financially interested in several other lead- ing business enterprises, being now a director of the Connecticut National Bank, the Bridge- port Housing Company and the Morris Plan Company.
On the 31st of October, 1889, in Bridgeport, Mr. Bishop was married to Miss Alice L. Warner. a daughter of Dr. J. De Ver Warner, of the Warner Brothers Company. They have three children, Warner, Alfred and Nathaniel. In club circles Mr. Bishop is well known and he has been again and again called upon for executive work in connection therewith, so that he is now past president of the University, of the Brooklawn and of the Contemporary Clubs. For seven or eight years he served on the board of education of Bridgeport and is a most public-spirited citizen, cooperating in all the well defined plans and measures to advance the upbuilding and promote the substantial progress of his city and supporting all those measures which are put forth to improve sanitary and housing conditions and render public utilities of every class more adequate. Nor is he forgetful of the opportunities for beautify- ing the city. In a word, his aid and influence are given in support of every measure that is of real public benefit.
JULIU'S ALBERT REICHERT.
Julius Albert Reichert, who is junior partner of the New England Ice Cream Company, has gained the success which he now enjoys through his own well directed enterprise and is recognized as an able and reliable business man. He was born in Germany on the 21st of April, 1867, and received a good education there, attending the lower schools and a Latin school as well. Later he worked as a blacksmith and horseshoer there for two and a half years and at the end of that time emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York city in 1883, when about sixteen years of age. He at once came to Bridgeport, Connecticut. where he worked for a year, after which he was employed in New York city for a similar period.
Mr. Reichert then returned to Bridgeport and for one year was in the employ of Jacob Huber and for four years was with the C. D. Lane Ice Cream Company, during which time he learned the business thoroughly. During the last year that he was with that company
JULIUS A. REICHERT
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he also conducted a store on State street hetween Clinton and Colorado streets and for several years devoted his entire attention to its management. About 1897 he sold the store but for a year or so before that time had been in the employ of Clifford H. Booth, the owner of the New England Peanut Taffy Company. In 1890 he was given charge of that plant and remained superintendent thereof until 1899, when he again went to work for the Huber ice cream company. About 1900, however, he was taken into partnership by Clifford H. Booth, his former employer and the proprietor of the New England Ice Cream Company. As Mr. Booth is a nonresident, the management of the factory, which is located at No. 124 Colorado avenue, devolves upon Mr. Reichert, who is exceptionally well qualified for that position because of his long practical connection with the manufacture of ice cream. The plant has been at the present location for seventeen years and during that time its output has been increased many fold. In 1900 there were but three employes, while now there are twenty-one, and three automobiles and two teams are required to make the deliveries in the city, although in 1900 a single one-horse wagon sufficed for that purpose. Constant vigilance is exercised to maintain the purity of the product, only the best materials are used and as a result of this insistance upon high standards the trade has shown a steady growth from year to year.
Mr. Reichert married Miss Angusta Freyler, a daughter of Ernest and Lena (Huber) Freyler. To Mr. and Mrs. Reichert has been born a son, Ernest William, who is twenty- four years of age. He was educated in the public and high schools of Bridgeport and for eight years has been associated with his father in the ice cream business, which he under- . stands thoroughly.
Mr. Reichert, Sr., is a stanch supporter of the democratic party. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Sons of Herman and he is also identified with the Bridgeport Schwaben Sick and Benefit Association. His membership in the German Reformed church indicates the interest which he feels in the moral welfare of his community, and in all relations of life he has so ordered his conduct that he has won the unqualified respect of all who have been associated with him.
HON. NATHANIEL WHEELER.
With many public activities which had to do with the material, intellectual. municipal and moral development of Bridgeport and the state, Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler was closely connected. so that his life record is inseparably interwoven with its history. To marked adtuinistrative power and executive ability he added notable mechanical ingennity and initia- tive, which resulted in inventions of various useful devices. Moreover, he had the prescience to recognize much of what the future had in store for the sewing machine industry and he hecame connected with it at the beginning. In fact. he contributed perhaps more than any other individual to the development of the business and thus added to America's reputation for the invention and manufacture of useful devices which have largely revolutionized the world's work.
Mr. Wheeler was born in Watertown, Connecticut. September 7, 1820, a son of David and Sarah (De Forest) Wheeler and a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Moses Wheeler, a native of Kent, England, who came to the new world about 1638 and received an allotment of land in New Haven in 1645. He settled in Stratford. Connecticut. in 1648 and from him are descended the members of the family of which Nathaniel Wheeler was a rep- resentative. His father, David Wheeler, was a carriage manufacturer, and before attaining hi- majority Nathaniel Wheeler learned the trade with his father, displaying considerable skill and inventive genius in that connection. On reaching adult age he took over the car- riage making business, which he conducted independently for five years. his efforts being
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attended with success. While he continued in manufacturing lines, he turned his attention to the making of a varied line of minor metal articles and substituted machinery for hand labor, thus greatly reducing the cost of production. He early displayed the practical ability and ingenuity which marked his later career, and each step which he made in business was a forward one, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. In 1848 he became a partner of Messrs. Warren and Woodruff of the same town, and a new factory was built, after which the entire management of the business was placed in the hands of Mr. Wheeler. Success attended his efforts, and the firm, operating under the name of Warren, Wheeler & Woodruff, prospered as the years went by. The new firm erected a building for the enlarged business, of which Mr. Wheeler took entire charge. In a short time he recognized the fact that the plant could be still further utilized and it was while seeking something new to man- ufacture that he became interested in the machine with which his whole business life was identified.
Elias Howe had patented a machine in 1846. Crude and imperfect as it was, it was undoubtedly the first important step toward a practical sewing machine, although other inventors in this country and Europe had tried. The American inventor, however, whose work in this field first reached satisfactory results was Allen B. Wilson, a native of Cortland, New York. It was in 1847 that, while working as a journeyman cabinetmaker in Adnan, Michigan, he conceived the idea of a sewing machine, with no knowledge of what others had thought or done in that direction. While employed at his trade in Pittsfield in 1848 he completed the drawing of his projected machine and in the following spring produced a com- pleted model. Although not a machinist and unable to procure suitable tools, he made every . part of the machine, whether of wood or metal, with his own hands. Its essential parts were a curved, eye-pointed needle. a two-pointed shuttle making a stitel at each forward and back movement, and a two-motion feed, which consisted of a serrated bar horizontally reciprocated, and, being constantly in contact with the cloth, moved the material forward at the proper time by the forward inclination of the teeth, and receded while the material was held in position by the needle before the latter was withdrawn therefrom. Authorities agree that this was the first machine ever constructed that included a device that to any extent met the requirements of a feed which would enable the operator to control at will the direction of the stitching and thus sew continuous seams either straight or curved of any length, or to turn corners at any angle. In May, 1849, Mr. Wilson built a second machine of the same plan but of better construction at North Adams, Massachusetts, and on the 12th of November, 1850, secured a United States patent thereon. He was not yet satisfied and brought out a third machine, which supplanted the shuttle by a rotating hook and reciprocating bobbin, while the two-motion feed gave way to a segmental screw feed. A patent for this was issued August 12, 1851, but the inventor, desiring greater perfection, devised a machine with rotary hook and stationary bobbin. for which he obtained a patent June 15. 1852. This also contained another most important improvement which Mr. Wilson described but did not claim in his application for a patent, but for which he obtainedl a patent December 19, 1854. This was the celebrated four-motion feed, which in some form or other has been adopted on almost all sewing machines.
Possessing much mechanical skill and ingenuity, Mr. Wheeler at once recognized the value of Mr. Wilson's inventions and entered into an agreement with E. Lee & Company, of New York, then controlling the patent. to build five hundred machines at Watertown. This done. he arranged with Mr. Wilson to superintend the manufacture of the machines. Not long afterward new arrangements were entered into and with the termination of the relations with the New York firm a partnership was formed between Messrs. Warren, Wheeler, Woodruff and Wilson under the style of Wheeler, Wilson & Company. for the development of Mr. Wilson's inventions and for the manufacture and sale of >ewing machines embodying his devices. The Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine was soon put upon the market and not only was introduced for family use but also for light manufactur-
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ing. Mr. Wilson made improvements from time to time, assisted by Mr. Wheeler. who organized the business and visualized the ideas of Mr. Wilson in definite form, leading to the development of a machine unequaled on the market. His labors in manufacture and in promoting sales brought immediate and substantial results and the business continually grew and developed. It was not long before the machines were in successful operation in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other large cities. In October. 1853, the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company was organized under the laws of Connecticut, with Mr. Wheeler as general manager. The capital of the company was one hundred and sixty thousand dollars, the patents being valued at one hundred thousand dollars and the machinery and stock at sixty thousand dollars. During the crucial period in the enterprise Mr. Wheeler acted as general manager and executive head of the company for a year or two and in 1855 he was elected to the presidency of the company and so continued until his demise. Mr. Wilson retired from active participation in the business about 1854. but received a regular salary and also considerable sums on the renewal of his patents until his death April 29, 1888. It has been declared by high authority that his rotary hook and stationary bobbin constitute an invention as absolutely original, ingenious and effective as any to be found in the whole range of mechanics and one which has never failed to excite the unqualified admiration of experts.
In 1856 there was effected a removal of the business from Watertown to Bridgeport and Mr. Wheeler became a resident of the latter city. He concentrated his energies upon the further development and improvement of the sewing machine and gained world-wide fame in this connection. His labors were an element in replacing the first crudities of sewing machine manufacture by improved parts that made practical a perfect machine. A con- temporary writer has said: "As an inventor he was versatile, creating in some instances himself and in other instances jointly patents for inventions in wood filling compounds. power transmitters and machinery for polishing needle eyes. He also invented refrigerators. produced a system of ventilating railway cars and also heating and ventilating buildings. He also brought forth a multitude of devices resulting in the present high standard of methods in the construction of a sewing machine." His labors led to the development of one of the largest industrial concerns of the northeast. One of Mr. Wheeler's first steps taken after the removal to Bridgeport was to enlarge the output. With increased factory space he secured added machinery at an expenditure of a few thousand dollars, which to many of the stockholders seemed like reckless extravagance. The output at that time had reached twenty-five machines a day, which it was believed would easily supply the world's demand, and even Mr. Wheeler expected success but little greater. However, the business not only steadily but rapidly inereased and in 1859 the capital stock was advanced to four hundred thousand dollars and in 1867, through speciai act of the state legislature. was increased to one million dollars. In 1875 a disastrous fire destroyed part of the plant, but it was at once rebuilt and from time to time further additions have been made until the factory today covers fifteen acres. In recognition of Mr. Wheeler's services in this department of industry he was decorated at the World's Exposition in Vienna in 1873 with the Imperial Order of Francis Joseph and at the Exposition Universelle, held in Paris in 1889, he received the eross of the Legion of Honor of France. Many other impor- tant business enterprises aside from the great industry developed by the Wheeler & Wilson Company profited by the active cooperation or financial support of Mr. Wheeler. In fact, his labors were a direct and continuous stimulus to the business activity and growth of the city. He was one of the incorporators and a trustee of the People's Savings Bank. a director of the Bridgeport City Bank. of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, the Bridgeport Horse Railway Company, the Fairfield Rubber Company. the Willimantic Linen Company and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. He was also an active member of the Bridgeport Board of Trade and in fact his activities were ever of a character that contributed to publie progress as well a- to individual success.
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In 1842 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Bradley, of Watertown, who died in 1875, leaving four children: Martha, deceased; Samuel H., who after his father's death became president of the Wheeler & Wilson Mannfacturing Company; Ellen B., the wife of Edward Harral, of Fairfield; and Anna B., deceased. For his second wife he chose Mary E. Crissy, of New Canaan. They had four sous, of whom two are living, Archer Crissy and William Bishop. The eldest. Henry De Forest, and the youngest Arthur Penoyer, are both deceased.
Of the home of Mr. Wheeler it has been said: "The quaint and magnificent structure which he built and lived in for many years, there passing away, bears mute and striking testimony to his altruistic temperament." Those qualities which make up what we term character were in Mr. Wheeler of such a nature as made him not only a leader but one of the most honored of men. In the midst of multitudinous duties and responsibilities connected with his business he ever found time to cooperate in affairs of public importance and was indeed a most public-spirited citizen. actively and helpfully interested in the welfare of his city and state. He served as a member of the Bridgeport board of education from its organization until a short time prior to his death. He was a member of the building committee of both the Bridgeport high school and of the Fairfield county court- house. He was likewise one of the most active members of the building commission which had charge of the erection of the present beautiful state capitol at Hartford. He was one of the chief promoters of Seaside Park and one of the most generous donors to that enter- prise. He was also one of the founders and the first president of the Seaside Club. He was the largest contributor to St. John's church fund and was instrumental in making Mountain Grove cemetery the beautiful burying ground that it is today. While he had no ambition in the way of office holding, he felt that he owed a duty of service to his eity and a number of years was a member of the Bridgeport common council and he also represented his district in the Connecticut house of representatives from 1866 until 1872 inclusive, while in 1873 and 1874 he served as state senator. Otherwise he repeatedly declined higher political honors. He was a loyal supporter of the democratic party and was never afraid to voice his honest convictions. He had a personality which seemed to fairly radiate energy. He was resourceful and combined high executive and administrative powers with great inventive ability. It has been said that one's character can best be judged by the treatment of employes and in this relation Mr. Wheeler was largely ideal. He not only evinced a spirit of fairness and justice but was continuously displaying a deep interest in the welfare of those in his employ. He was ever a friend of the poor and needy and was most charitable. His deeds of kindness were unostentatiously performed, for he followed the mandate not to let the left hand know what the right hand doeth. He developed in the breadth of his spirit and his view of life, just as his own business interests expanded, and just as his industrial interests grew to mammoth proportions, so did his own nature grow into the likeness of broad and perfect manhood.
ELWIN R. HYDE.
A profitable manufactory does not depend solely upon the excellence of the product but must look as well to the careful organization of the business and the thorough systemization of all departments. Watchful of all details pointing to success. Elwin R. Hyde has carefully organized and developed his interests until the Bridgeport Safety Emery Wheel Company, of which he is the head, is now enjoying a very satisfactory and growing patronage.
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