USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume III > Part 40
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Freeman Light attended school in Norwalk and also Stamford High School. He then entered Norwich University, a military college located at Northfield, Vermont, and graduated there with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1910. However, he had by this time determined to follow his father's profession, and en- tered Yale Law School. There, in 1913, he took his degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Admitted to the bar of his state, he began practice with his father in the Norwalk office in 1913, and these offices remained the center of his professional activity throughout his career. The firm became
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known as Light, Light and Paris, in which he was senior partner. Its offices are on Washington Street, Norwalk.
A Republican, Mr. Light was elected to represent his district in the Connecticut State Legislature for the three sessions beginning in 1925, 1927, and 1929. He became judge of the Norwalk City Court in 1934, and served on the bench continuously from that time until his death in 1959.
For four years, Mr. Light was president of the City National Bank, and then became chairman of the board of the newly merged City National Bank and Connecticut National Bank. Like his father before him, he served on the board of directors of the South Norwalk Public Library.
He was a veteran of military service in World War I, was in the United States Army during 1917-1918 with a commission as first lieutenant, and spent fifteen months in France with the American Ex- peditionary Forces. He was a member of the American Legion, and formerly served as finance officer of his post. He joined Alpha Sigma Pi, a local fraternity, while in college, and became a member of his legal fraternity while at Yale. He was a member of the Connecticut State Chamber of Commerce and the Shore and Country Club in Norwalk.
He was a member of the First Congregational Church of South Norwalk, which he served as a trustee.
In New York City on November 23, 1923, Freeman Light mar- ried Ara Goodwin. She was born in that city on April 8, 1893, daugh- ter of Alfred J. and Martha (Gillespie) Goodwin. Her father was a building mover and operator of heavy equipment. Mrs. Light is a graduate of Hunter College in New York City. She was a school teacher until her marriage, and she has since been active in women's organizations in Norwalk. Her avocation is painting.
Mr. and Mrs. Light had two sons: I. William R., who was born on November 1, 1924 in New York City. A graduate of Norwalk High School, he is now employed by the State Highway Department at Norwalk. He is a veteran of service in World War II, having served in the infantry in the European Theater of Operations. Married to the former Miss Ruth Tracy, William R. Light is the father of one child, Duane, born in 1952. 2. Robert M., born in New York City, on May 25, 1929. He graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and served in the army during the Korean War as a private first class in the Pacific Theater. He is de- veloping a business in the purchase and sale of fine prints at Boston, Massachusetts.
Conn. III-32
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Freeman Light passed away on April 7, 1959. His home was South Norwalk, where Mrs. Light continues to reside.
WALTER BENJAMIN LASHAR
One of the influential industrialists of southwestern Connecticut until his recent death, Walter Benjamin Lashar devoted his attention primarily to the manufacture of chains for automobiles. His work was valuabie in the upbuilding of the Weed Tire Chain Grip Com- pany and the Bridgeport Chain Company, and he later organized the American Chain Company, Inc. He was also an official of other or- ganizations.
A native of Bridgeport, he was born on September 3, 1870, son of Benjamin Franklin and Martha A. (Worthen) Lashar. He at- tended the public elementary and high schools of Bridgeport, and took his first position with the Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company which was later absorbed by the Singer Manufacturing Company. He left to join the Bridgeport Chain Company, and his position in its sales department led him to a dominant place in an industry which was destined to grow with the increasing use of auto- mobiles. Shortly after the turn of the century he noticed that his firm was selling a large quantity of a certain type of chain to Harry D. Weed of Syracuse, New York, and on further investigation, Mr. Lashar learned that Mr. Weed had developed and was producing a skid chain for cars. Realizing the significance and future of the product, he joined the Syracuse manufacturer in organizing the Weed Tire Chain Grip Company in 1904. Mr. Weed was in charge of manu- facturing, while Mr. Lashar directed the sales and business manage- ment aspects. This was a part-time position for him, taking most of his evenings while he continued his connection with the Bridgeport Chain Company. Frequently working an eighteen-hour day, he built up the new organization into America's foremost producer of auto- mobile tire chains, and in 1912 formed the American Chain Company, Inc., which acquired the assets of the Weed organization. Although chains under the name of Weed continued to be produced for many years, Mr. Lashar became the president of the organization and re- mained at its head through a period of expansion in the course of which it acquired the chain business of Oneida Community, Ltd., of New York, and Page Steel and Wire Company. He became president of both of these concerns as well, as he did later of the Reading Steel Castings. To incorporate these changes and spark expansion into
Hatte Bergjanin Larkan
amelia L. Lachar
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new fields, the American Chain and Cable Company, Inc., was formed in 1936.
In 1916 Mr. Lashar joined the board of directors of the First Bridgeport National Bank, which subsequently became the First Na- tional Bank and Trust Company and is now the Connecticut National Bank. He was elected vice president in 1917, became board chairman in 1935, and was made president in May 1937, while continuing as chairman of the board. He retained both positions until January, 1943, and continued as chairman until 1950, when he was elected chairman emeritus.
It was in that year that he retired from his industrial activities as well. Mr. Lashar had formerly served as a director of The Con- necticut Company and the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company. He was a director of the New Haven Railroad from 1918 to 1947, and during the last seven years of his tenure, served also on its executive com- mittee. Shortly before the end of World War I, he organized Amer- ican Fabrics, Inc., which took over the assets of a German-controlled company which had been seized by the Alien Property Custodian. He was the first president of American Fabrics.
As a philanthropist Mr. Lashar's activities were commensurate with his place in industrial and financial affairs. During World War I he joined others in organizing a local chapter of the American Red Cross, serving as its first chairman, and continued to give it support thereafter, directing a state membership drive. He was also instru- mental in organizing his city's Community Chest, and served on the original board of trustees of the Klein Memorial Auditorium. A lead- er in the Chamber of Commerce, he headed a program started by that group in 1919 to provide Bridgeport with adequate harbor fa- cilities. For many years he was a director of the Bridgeport Hospital, and served on its executive committee. In 1926 he donated to the hospital a supply of radium for use in treating the patients. He served for some time on the board of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was chairman of its board of trustees. He was also a director of the Bridgeport Boys' Club.
A founder of the Country Club of Fairfield, Mr. Lashar served at one time as its vice president. He was a member of the Pequot Yacht Club of Southport, holding office for a time as commodore, and he belonged to the Brooklawn Country Club and the New York Yacht Club. He and Mrs. Lashar were members of the United Church. They resided on Clinton Avenue in Bridgeport, and later at Hearthstone Hall on Round Hill Road, Fairfield.
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She is the former Amelia Dickey Lewis, daughter of William Rhoades and Mary Louisa (Inslee) Lewis, and granddaughter of Joseph (3) and Mary (Rhoades) Lewis, and of Zebulon Charles and Amelia ( McNamara) Inslee. The Inslees are an arms-bearing family whose American forebear, William Ilsley, was born in England in the early years of Seventeenth Century, and it was his grandson, Jonathan, who first spelled the name Inslee, or Insley. Zebulon C. Inslee was a merchant and tailor in New York and later moved to Ossining on the Hudson. In the Rhoades line, Mrs. Lashar is de- scended from: Lieutenant Joseph (2) Rhoades. The Lewis family is also arms-bearing, and her branch traces its descent from Joseph Lewis, a farmer in Worcester County, Massachusetts. William Rhoa- des Lewis began his business career with the New York wholesale dry goods house of Tefft, Weller and Company, and remained with that organization throughout his career as a salesman. He and his wife, the former Mary Louisa Inslee, became the parents of six chil- dren: 1. Joseph, who was born in Ossining and died in Tarrytown in 1876. 2. Louise, born there on June 20, 1874. 3. Amelia Dickey, born at Tarrytown, New York, on August 2, 1876. She married Mr. Lashar. 4. Mary, born at White Plains, New York, married Eugene G. Carbrey, and is deceased. 5. Jessie Maude, born in that city; de- ceased. 6. Helen Marjorie, born at Mount Vernon, New York, mar- ried Mr. Homer C. Godfrey, and is deceased.
Amelia Dickey Lewis became the wife of Walter Benjamin Lashar in a ceremony in New York City on April 12, 1898. The couple became the parents of the following children: 1. Martha Inslee Lashar, born October 8, 1900. She was married, first, in 1920, to Robert F. Weed, and married, second, in 1936, to George Sherman Windsor. She had two children by her first marriage: i. Jean Lashar Weed, who was born on June 6, 1924. ii. Robert Inslee Weed, born November 2, 1928. In June, 1952, Robert I. Weed married Carolyn Longley. They have three children: James Leslie Weed, born August 18, 1953; Barbara Louise Weed, born May 4, 1955; and Margaret Lewis Weed, born August 2, 1956. 2. Walter Benjamin Lashar, Jr., born July 3, 1905. He married, on October 5, 1926, Sara Orr. Their children: i. Walter Benjamin Lashar, 3rd, born on August 21, 1929. On June 20, 1953 he married Elizabeth Wright, and they have a son, Walter Benjamin Lashar, 4th, born August 29, 1954. ii. Lucy Lee Lashar, born July 25, 1932. On June 25, 1955. she married Willis Hoch, and their chil- dren are: John Raymond Hoch II, born April 14, 1957 and Sara Helen Hoch, born January 19, 1959. iii. Sara Helen Lashar, born
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February 4, 1934; married, on November 26, 1955, William B. Hill, 3rd. They have two daughters, Sara Jill Hill, born October 27, 1956, and Deborah Lashar Hill, born April 8, 1959. 3. William Lewis Lashar, born January 1, 1908. He married, October 18, 1930, Huldah Casey; and they have two children: i. William Lewis Lashar, Jr., born December 18, 1933. ii. Huldah Leach Lashar, born May 27, 1939. 4. John Morrill Lashar, born June 20, 1912. He married, July 1, 1938, June Martin and their children are: i. John Morrill Lashar, Jr., born January 1, 1940. ii. Diana Louise Lashar, born May 23, 1942. iii. Jay Jeffrey Lashar, born April 16, 1946. 5. Amelia Lashar, born April 25, 1918. She became the wife of Wescott Hough- ton, June 21, 1941, and their children are : i. Coert Wescott Houghton, born September 24, 1948. ii. Sandra Amelia Houghton, born Jan- uary 5, 1951.
JOSEPII SAMUEL SUDARSKY
When he was admitted to the practice of law in Connecticut a decade and a half ago, Joseph Samuel Sudarsky joined one of Hart- ford's well-known firms, Sudarsky and Sudarsky, which has had offices in that city for many years. Since that time he has rendered wartime service to his country as an army officer, and he is now a member of the town council of West Hartford.
Born in Hartford on August 30, 1918, he is a son of Charles and Dora (Lublin) Sudarsky. His father came to this country from Russia, and has practiced law in Hartford since the beginning of his career, being senior partner in the law firm which bears the family name. He is the subject of a separate biographical sketch. Attending local public schools, Joseph S. Sudarsky graduated from Northwest School and Weaver High School, then went to Dartmouth College, where he was in the Class of 1940 and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. As a student there, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa national scholastic honor society, and was an honor student on his graduation. To prepare for his career in the law, he enrolled at Yale University Law School. While there he was admitted to mem- bership in Corbey Court. He took his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1942.
Although admitted to the bar in that year, Mr. Sudarsky did not immediately begin practice, but entered the active service of the United States Army, being assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Department and commissioned a captain. He was in the European
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Theater of Operations from 1942 to 1946, was in action, and won a Purple Heart in the course of the Normandy invasion. He also re- ceived two battle stars.
When he returned to civilian life, he began his law practice as a member of the law firm of Sudarsky and Sudarsky, in which his father and his uncle Reuben were the senior partners. This organiza- tion has become prominent in the general practice of law in Hartford, having a considerable real estate, corporation, banking and tax prac- tice. In conducts trials in all courts.
A Republican, Joseph S. Sudarsky was elected to the town council of West Hartford in April, 1957, and has served continuously since that time. He is a member of Connecticut Citizens for Public Schools, Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, and the Tumble Brook Country Club, as well as of various civic and social organizations. As a lawyer he holds membership in the American Bar Association, the State Bar Association of Connecticut, and the Hartford County Bar Association. Active in the alumni groups of his alma mater and his law school, he is a member of the Dartmouth Club of Hartford and the Yale Club of Hartford. He also belongs to the Young Men's Christian As- sociation. His own religious faith is Jewish, and he attends Temple Beth Israel in West Hartford.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Sudarsky make their home at 30 Foxcroft Road in that city. She is the former Edith Gaberman, daughter of Louis Y. and Dora (Schwartz) Gaberman. Her father was formerly United States District Attorney in Hartford. Mrs. Sudarsky is a graduate of the Chaffee School in Windsor and of Connecticut State College for Women in New London. She was given her middle name, Sykes, for a president of that college. She was the first daughter of one of its graduates to graduate there herself. Miss Gaberman became the wife of Joseph S. Sudarsky on November 28, 1945. The couple are the parents of three children: I. Lewis Richard, who was born on March 14, 1948. 2. Betty Lee, born May 23, 1951. 3. Deborah Ann, born September 21, 1956.
CHARLES SUDARSKY
Charles Sudarsky founded Hartford's well-known law firm of Sudarsky and Sudarsky a number of years ago, and is its senior partner at the present time. He practices with his cousin, Reuben, and his son, Joseph Samuel Sudarsky. He has been a realtor as well as a
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lawyer, and a constructive influence in the affairs of his community.
Mr. Sudarsky was born October 5, 1885, at Yanover, which has been at various times in Polish and Russian territory since he was born there. He is a son of Joseph and Leah Sudarsky. The family moved to this country when he was two years old and settled at Hart- ford. Charles Sudarsky attended the old North School, and graduated from the Brown School and Hartford Public High School. He then entered Yale University, and attended Yale Law School in the Class of 19II, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws at that time.
Admitted to the bar of his home state of Connecticut, he began practice in Hartford; and on being joined by his cousin, Reuben Su- darsky, in 1928, formed the present firm. They were joined by Joseph S. Sudarsky in 1942. These two other partners are subjects of accom- panying biographical sketches. Their firm, engaged in a general prac- tice of law, has its offices at 18 Asylum Street. Charles Sudarsky is one of the older attorneys in continuous practice in Hartford. For a number of years he represented as attorney the old First School District, which included all of the downtown portion of the city. He was very active in politics in the early years, and had a very busy real estate practice. His first office was located in the old Pilgard Building on Main Street, whence the firm moved to the present loca- tion in 1929. In addition to a general practice of law, and a very active real estate practice, the firm handles trials in all courts, and deals with corporation, estate and tax matters.
Active in professional groups, Charles Sudarsky holds member- ship in the Hartford County Bar Association and the State Bar As- sociation of Connecticut. He is also a member of the Yale University Alumni Association and Tumble Brook Country Club. He was one of the founders of Emanuel Synagogue in Hartford, in which he retains membership.
On August 29, 1916, in Hartford, Charles Sudarsky married Dora Lublin, daughter of Benjamin and Bessie Lublin. She was a schoolteacher at the Arsenal School and a member of the board of education of the city of Hartford for a number of years. She was instrumental in the founding of the Hartford Trade School. In her high school days she was a member of the Athena Debating Society, and graduated from Hartford Public High School as salutatorian of her class. Dora (Lublin) Sudarsky died in February, 1956. The couple were the parents of four children: I. Miriam, who was born on June 30, 1917. She is the wife of Sydney Rudy. 2. Joseph Samuel, who is the subject of an accompanying biographical sketch. 3. Ruth, who was
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born on May 21, 1920. She married Isidore Wortman. 4. David, born on October 22, 1928. Dr. David Sudarsky is now a prominent eye specialist, on the staff of the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hos- pital in New York City.
REUBEN SUDARSKY
Since he commenced his law practice in Hartford three decades ago, Reuben Sudarsky has been a partner in the firm of Sudarsky and Sudarsky. A native of Russia, he was born on February II, 1903, son of Edel and Lena (Winnick) Sudarsky. The family came to this country in 1905, and Edel Sudarsky made his living as a tailor.
A resident of Hartford from his early years, Reuben Sudarsky attended public schools there and graduated from Arsenal School and from Hartford Public High School. Early in life, he planned on a career in business, and enrolled at the New York University School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, where he graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Commercial Science. By this time he had defi- nitely decided upon a legal career, and entered New York University School of Law. Graduating there with honors in 1927, he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws. While at New York University, he was a member of Tau Epsilon Pi.
Admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1928, Mr. Sudarsky joined his cousin, Charles, a veteran lawyer of Hartford, who had practiced there since 1911. Charles is the subject of an accompanying biograph- ical sketch. Together they formed the firm of Sudarsky and Sudarsky, and in 1929 moved from the Pilgard Building to 18 Asylum Street, where their organization has since had its headquarters. They were joined by Charles' son, Joseph Samuel, in 1942. Theirs is a general practice of law, with emphasis on real estate, corporation, and banking practice. They handle trials in all courts, and have a considerable practice in estate and tax matters.
Reuben Sudarsky is a member of the Hartford County Bar As- sociation, the State Bar Association of Connecticut, and the American Bar Association. His local memberships include Tumble Brook Coun- try Club, and being of Jewish faith, he attends Emanuel Synagogue.
On March 7, 1939, Reuben Sudarsky married Ethel Ordansky, daughter of Louis and Celia (Aronson) Ordansky. The couple are the parents of two children: 1. Ellen G., who was born on August 23, 1940. 2. Stephen F., born July 25, 1943. The family's residence is at 360 Fern Street, West Hartford.
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CARI, MILES DUNHAM
Carl Miles Dunham has to his credit a record of two decades of successful law practice at New Milford. He has also distinguished himself on the bench as judge of the probate court; and he is an official of several corporations and community groups.
Born at Sheffield, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1910, he is a son of Miles H. and Ella M. (Blair) Dunham. His father, who was a merchant in Sheffield, is deceased, as is Mrs. Dunham, who was a native of New Marlboro. Carl M. Dunham received his early education in the public schools of his native region and graduated from North Canaan High School. He took his advanced studies at Columbia College, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts there in 1932, then went to Yale Law School for his professional training, graduating there in 1935 with his degree of Bachelor of Laws.
In January, 1937, Mr. Dunham was admitted to the bar, and has practiced in New Milford since that time. He conducts a general practice, with offices on Main Street. From 1937, he served continu- ously as judge of the probate court of the District of New Milford until January 7, 1959. He is a member of the Litchfield County Bar Association.
Among Mr. Dunham's business interests is his membership on the board of directors of the First National Bank of New Milford. He is the owner and operator of Candlelight Farms Inn at New Mil- ford, and as an aeronautics enthusiast, maintains Candlelight Farms Airport, operated in conjuntion with the Inn. He is vice president and director of the New Milford Ambulance Corporation, president of Wayside Incorporated and served for many years as trustee and sec- retary of the New Milford Public Library.
During the World War II years, Mr. Dunham served his gov- ernment as appeal agent in the Selective Service program. He is a member of the Waterwitch Hose Company No. 2 at New Milford. In politics he is an Independent Republican. His fraternity is Psi Upsilon. Mr. Dunham and his family attend St. John's Episcopal Church. In addition to his interest in flying, he is also fond of riding.
At Great Neck, Long Island, on November 15, 1940, Carl M. Dunham married Jessica Winfield Scott of that city, daughter of James W. and Nellie C. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham have three children : I. Joan Winfield, who was born on August 8, 1941. 2. Carl M., born on August 28, 1943. 3. Roger Scott, born on December 15, 1947.
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ROLAND FAXON MYGATT
The dual business interests which Roland F. Mygatt has pursued over the years have brought him a place among New Milford's In- fluential leaders. For over forty years he has headed the New Milford Insurance Agency, Inc., and he is also president of the First National Bank and a director of that and other corporations. He likewise has a creditabie record of service in the Connecticut State Legislature.
He is a native of New Milford, and was born on December 28, 1882, son of Henry and Nancy (Faxon) Mygatt. His father was a banker in the city for many years, becoming president of the First National Bank, which has thus been under the capable direction of members of the family for two generations. Roland F. Mygatt re- ceived his preparatory education at the Gunnery School, Washington, Connecticut, and the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville. He then entered Yale University, where he was a student for three and a half years but did not remain to graduate.
Leaving his studies in 1907, he entered the insurance field, im- mediately founding his own organization, which has ever since been operated as the New Milford Insurance Agency. Its offices are on Bank Street. In recent years, the founder's son, Andrew Hunt Mygatt, has been associated with him in its management.
Mr. Mygatt has been president of the First National Bank of New Milford, and a member of its board of directors, since 1931. He is also a director of the New Milford Savings Bank and in past years served on the board of the New Milford Water Company. He is also a past director of the New Milford Hospital and the New Milford Historical Society.
A Republican, Roland F. Mygatt was elected to serve the people of his district in the Connecticut State Legislature. He is a member of the lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Free and Accepted Masons, and in Masonry belongs to the higher bodies, including the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Lions Club and the Sons of the American Revolution, and is a communicant of the First Congregational Church of New Milford.
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