USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 26
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On the 1st of October, 1879, in his native city, Mr. Morris married Miss Fannie C. Peck, a daughter of John Beers and Charlotte (Colt) Peck. They have three children: Curtis Peck, who married Mabel Denton and has one son, Denton Morris; Mabel, who is the wife of Howell Wright, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has three children, Edwin K., Francis and Morris; and Levi Phillips, who is married and has one son, Arthur.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Congregational church, with which Mr. Morris has had membership relations for more than fifty years and has been treasurer of the church for
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forty-five years. He is also a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M., of which he has been secretary for ten years, and of Hiram Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M., and Worcester Council, R. & S. M. His son, Levi Phillips Morris, served in the World war, being for two years in France, and during that period Levi C. Morris was manager for every drive for the Red Cross, the Near East Relief and other active agencies to improve World war conditions. He was very successful in this work and in times of peace as well he has stood loyally for the best interests and welfare of the com- munity.
PHILIP WARREN PRIOR, D. D. S.
Dr. Philip Warren Prior has for more than three decades successfully followed his profession in Stamford, rendering to its citizens that service which only the skilled, experienced dental surgeon is capable of giving. He was born in North Stamford, July 5, 1872, a son of Dr. Israel and Mary F. (Brown) Prior, and in both the paternal and maternal lines is descended from men of courage and valor who fought for American independence as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, Israel Prior, Sr., was born on Staten island in 1805 and died at Stam- ford in 1864. He was the owner of several boats which trans- ported produce from New York city to Stamford and one sloop was named for Jenny Lind, the great singer, who was known as the "Swedish nightingale." In religious faith he was a Baptist and his political support was given to the whig party. His wife, Eleanor (Lake) Prior, was born on Staten island in 1806 and died in Stamford in 1888. Their son, Dr. Israel Prior, was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, December 7, 1842, and completed his education in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1864. He was a physician of high standing and practiced for many years in North Stamford, where he passed away March 8, 1900. His religious views were in accord with the teachings of the Congregational church and in politics he was a republican. His wife was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, September 18, 1840, and died in Stamford in Decem- ber, 1922. Her father, Philip H. Brown, was born in Westbury,
DR. PHILIP W. PRIOR
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England, in 1820 and died in Stamford in 1892. During the Mexican war he served as a captain in the Ridgefield Militia and afterward engaged in contracting, building up a large business. He was a republican in his political convictions and conformed his life to the teachings of the Congregational church. His wife, who was a Miss Rockwell, was a native of Ridgefield and there passed away in 1847.
Dr. Philip W. Prior received his public school education in Stamford grammar and high schools and was graduated from the New York College of Dentistry, now the University of New York, in 1892, but being under twenty-one years of age could not receive his degree until 1893. For two years he was a student in a homeopathic medical college and then began his career as a dental surgeon in Stamford, locating at the corner of Atlantic avenue and Park row. He was associated with Dr. Philip H. Brown, Jr., until 1915, when he removed his office to his residence -16 Fourth street. He built his present home in 1893.
Dr. Prior was married June 25, 1895, in Littleton, New Hampshire, to Miss Susan E. Russell, who was graduated from the high school of that place. Her father, George Russell, was born in Orford, New Hampshire, and in early life drove a stage- coach through Crawford Notch in the White Mountains to Port- land, Maine. He was purser on a steamboat operating on Lake Memphremagog at one time and later he conducted a hotel. He was also a prosperous farmer and passed away in Stamford. His wife, Julia (Elkins) Russell, was also a native of New Hamp- shire and her demise occurred in Littleton, that state.
In 1889 Dr. Prior received an appointment to West Point Military Academy as alternate, and in 1892 joined the Connecti- cut National Guard and fourteen years later was placed on the retired list. In 1898 he volunteered for service in the Spanish- American war, becoming captain of Company K, and in 1899 was promoted to the rank of major. He resigned in 1899 but was recalled for service in 1904 and participated in the army maneuv- ers at Manassas, Virginia. Along strictly professional lines he has membership connection with the Connecticut State Dental Association. He is an ex-president of the Stamford Historical Society, with which Mrs. Prior is also connected, and she is like- wise a member of a number of women's clubs. The Doctor is non- partisan in politics, voting for the candidate whom he considers 1
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best qualified for office, and his religious views are in harmony with the tenets of the Congregational church. Dr Prior's hobby is archaeology and his deep interest in this subject has led to his extensive travels in this country and in foreign lands. He is a cultured gentleman of broad and liberal views and an able and progressive exponent of his profession.
EDWARD BRUSH HOIT
For nearly half a century the name of Hoit has been prominent in commercial circles of Stamford, for during that time Edward B. Hoit has been actively engaged in the meat business here. He is progressive and up-to-date and his establishment is now one of the largest and most important of its kind in this section of the county.
Mr. Hoit was born in the old Hoit homestead at Longridge, Stamford, Connecticut, on the 20th of August, 1847, a son of John Lee Count and Rebecca Ann (Brush) Hoit. He is a direct descendant of Simon Hoit, a native of England, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1628 or 1629, and shortly afterward went to Charlestown, of which he was one of the first settlers. In 1633 he moved to Dorchester, and in 1635 went to Scituate, where, on April 19th of that year, he and his wife joined the church. There he built a house, in which he lived until about 1639, when he removed to Windsor, Connecticut. He moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, before 1649, and sometime between that year and 1657 he settled in Stamford, where his death occurred September 1, 1657. Among his descendants was Edward B. Hoit's grandfather, Deacon Calvin Hoit, who was born in Castle- ton, Vermont, October 15, 1785. He became a farmer and estab- lished his home in Stamford, Connecticut, where his death occurred. He was married to Miss Mary Ann Ferris, who died June 15, 1851. They were the parents of John Lee Count Hoit, who was born in Stamford, April 24, 1816, and died April 24, 1907. During his active years he was a prominent farmer and cattle dealer. He resided at the homestead at Longridge and during the last forty years of his life lived in the new residence which he built near the house in which he was born. He, sup- ported the republican party and was an active member of the
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Stanwich Congregational church for seventy years. He was actively interested in public affairs but never sought office. His wife was born in Indiana in 1822, and died in Stamford, April 6, 1866. She was a daughter of Edward Brush, of Greenwich, Connecticut.
Edward B. Hoit attended the public schools of Stamford and an academy at Greenwich, after which he remained at home until 1879, when he came to Stamford and, forming a partnership with his brother, Norman L. Hoit, and his brother-in-law, William H. Bowen, engaged in the meat business. About six months later he bought the interests of his partners and continued the business alone with marked success. In 1890 he built the store at 486 Main street in which the business has been conducted to the pre- sent time. In 1907 the business was incorporated as the E. B. Hoit Company, of which he has been president continuously since, while A. B. Chichester is vice president and W. W. Brush is sec- retary. The store is known as the Grand Central Market and has grown steadily in popularity owing to the sound business methods which have been exercised in its management until now it draws trade from all the surrounding towns. In connection with the market is a large, modern refrigerating plant, while all of the other equipment and appointments are up-to-date. In recent years the company has also handled a fine line of groceries, which has added materially to the service which it has been able to render to its patrons. In 1892 Mr. Hoit became interested in Stamford real estate as a member of the firm of Ayers Brothers & Hoit, which for a number of years developed large tracts of land in Stamford and Greenwich, selling lots and building a num- ber of houses, which were sold. Mr. Hoit still has extensive real estate holdings in Stamford and in Florida.
On December 24, 1874, near Greenwich, Mr. Hoit was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide V. Bowen, who was born at that place, March 14, 1854, and is a daughter of William and Sabina (Bonnell) Bowen. Her father was born in Wales in 1820 and died in Stamford in October, 1880. He followed farming during his active years, was a republican in his political preference and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was born in Greenwich in 1825 and died in October, 1914, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rich Bullwinkle, at Central Valley, New York. Mrs. Hoit was educated in the public schools of Stamford
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and for many years took an active interest in local affairs, hav- ing been one of the organizers of the Woman's Club and a mem- ber of the Schubert Club. She is a member of the Ladies Guild and the Missionary Society of the Congregational church, to which she has belonged for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Hoit have two adopted children, namely: Mrs. Florence A. Anderson, of New York city, who has a daughter, Helen, now attending high school in New York; and E. Kenneth Hoit, of Stamford, who is an elec- trician by trade and was for ten years in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He married Miss Lil- lian Dickens, of Stamford.
Mr. Hoit has always supported the republican party, served as a member of the board of assessors two years and has held other town offices. He has long been a member of the Congregational church, of which he is deacon emeritus and served for a number of years as a member of the church committee. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and has always shown a deep interest in the welfare and progress of his city and county. He is a man of solid and substantial qualities, has proven dependable in every relation of life, and to a notable degree commands the respect and confidence of the people among whom he has lived and labored for so many years.
ARTHUR I. CRANDALL
Arthur I. Crandall, who proved his courage and devotion to his country by service in the World war, is now numbered among the enterprising realtors of Stamford and has also figured promi- nently in other lines of activity, possessing all of the qualities essential to success in the business world. He was born in Nanuet, Rockland county, New York, July 9, 1888, a son of Charles Henry and Catherine (Ferguson) Crandall, and is a scion of one of the oldest families in this country, being a direct descendant of the Rev. John Crandall, a Baptist minister, who came to Rhode Island with Roger Williams soon after the Mayflower landed at Plymouth.
Henry Sargent Crandall, the grandfather of Arthur I. Cran- dall, was a native of Greenwich, New York, and there engaged in merchandising as a young man. During the gold rush of 1849
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he started for California, going by train to Chicago and making the balance of the journey by horseback and ox team. Fortune favored him and after his return to the east he entered the cus- tom house of New York city, with which he was identified for a number of years, remaining in that city until his demise. He had served in the Civil war and was an officer in the Union army. While a resident of Greenwich he represented the municipality in various capacities, manifesting a deep interest in civic affairs. He gave his political support to the republican party and was a Baptist in religious faith. His wife, Mary (Carmichael) Cran- dall, was born in Troy, New York, and passed away in Brooklyn.
Their son, Charles Henry Crandall, was born June 30, 1864, in Greenwich and became deeply interested in the subject of lit- erature. He became a journalist and for a number of years was a society reporter for the New York Tribune. Mr. Crandall's talent as a writer won him distinction in the field of literature and among his best known published books of poems are: "Way- side Music," "The Chords of Life" and "Songs from Sky Meadows." He also produced a book of war poems, dedicated to Stamford's soldiers, and a volume entitle "Representative Son- nets by American Authors." He was an adherent of the republi- can party and a member of the Baptist church. His wife was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1862 and became a society re- porter for the New York World. She was also endowed with literary gifts and achieved prominence as a writer of short stories. Her life was terminated in 1892, when she was a young woman of thirty, and her husband passed away in Stamford, March 10, 1923, when he was fifty-eight years of age. Robert Ferguson Crandall, one of their sons, was an officer in the United States army and an instructor at the first Plattsburg training camp. He went to France with the Third Division and was decorated for distinguished service in a foray over the Marne river into German territory with a few picked men. With their assistance he succeeded in capturing several of the enemy and took from one of the Germans a document containing much val- uable information in regard to the movements of their troops. While endeavoring to carry a wounded comrade to a place of safety he was killed July 17, 1917, at the battle of the Marne, during the height of the German bombardment, and the body of this American hero was laid to rest in Stamford. Another son,
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Roland D. Crandall, was also a member of the American Expedi- tionary Force. He served at Cambrai with the Eleventh En- gineers and was attached to the map visibility bureau at Chau- mont, France, as a member of the General Headquarters Staff.
Arthur I. Crandall received a public school education and assisted his father, who was extensively engaged in farming and fruit raising in the vicinity of Stamford, until twenty-five years of age, and in 1913 started out in life for himself. He was the first to operate a bus line in Westchester county, New York, and did a heavy hauling and contracting business, also conducting an automobile sales agency at Bedford Hills, New York, with his three partners. They had eighteen male employes and during the World war seventeen of the eighteen men connected with the business volunteered for service, a notable record unequaled by any other commercial organization in the country. Mr. Crandall enlisted at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in March, 1918, and six weeks later sailed for France as a member of Company A of the Three Hundred and Twenty-eighth Battalion, First Brigade, Tank Corps. He rose to the rank of sergeant tank commander and was honorably discharged March 10, 1919, at Camp Meade, Maryland.
Returning to New York, Mr. Crandall reentered the automo- bile business at Bedford Hills and remained there until 1921, when he became the distributor of Dodge Brothers motor cars in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien and Norwalk, Con- necticut. Later he sold the business to the Stratton-Bliss Com- pany of New York city, which had acquired the territory from Dodge Brothers, and was made general manager of these branches. He acted in that capacity until 1924, when he was selected for the post of wholesale manager for the Oakland and Pontiac automobiles with offices at Fifty-seventh street and Broadway in New York city. This company discontinued serv- ice in November, 1926, and Mr. Crandall next assumed the duties of Metropolitan sales manager for the Oakland-Pontiac division of the General Motors Corporation. In January, 1928, he opened a real estate office in Stamford at 204 Atlantic street and is now specializing in high class residential and country property, oper- ating under his own name, and under his wise management the business is rapidly expanding.
In October, 1922, Mr. Crandall was married at Bedford Hills,
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New York, to Miss Alexandra Marie Rosberg. She is a daugh- ter of Magnus Rosberg, a retired merchant of Bedford Hills and sister of Mrs. Joseph L. Melvin. Mr. and Mrs. Crandall are affili- ated with the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a strong republican and when but twenty-one stumped the state of Connecticut for Theodore Roosevelt. He is a director of the Stam- ford Hills Association and a member of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the High Ridge Country Club and Union Lodge, No. 5, of the Masonic order. Mr. Cran- dall is a devotee of golf and also enjoys hunting, fishing and out- door life. Industrious, efficient and trustworthy, he has steadily advanced toward the goal of success, and his record reflects credit upon an honored family name.
3/18/19 JOHN J. FARRELL
Studiousness, combined with the habit of thoroughness, has brought John J. Farrell to the fore in legal circles of Norwalk, and he is also a prominent member of the New York bar, with offices at 165 Broadway, New York city, and 38 Wall street, Nor- walk, Connecticut. He was born in 1891 and is a native of Stamford, Connecticut. His father, Thomas J. Farrell, passed away in 1922, but his mother, Mrs. Nora (Hanlon) Farrell, resides in Norwalk.
John J. Farrell attended the parochial school of Norwalk and received his higher education in New York city, graduating from Fordham University in 1914 with the degree of LL. B. He was admitted to the bar of New York and also qualified for practice in Connecticut. Mr. Farrell began his professional career in New York city, where he is still engaged in practice. He special- izes in real estate law and commercial matters and is secretary of the Norwalk Credit Association. To his chosen line of work he gives his undivided attention and his legal acumen and care- ful preparation of his cases have brought him a liberal clientele. He was one of the corporators of the Fairfield County Savings Bank.
On November 25, 1924, Mr. Farrell was married in Norwalk, to Miss Alice M. Kane, a daughter of Richard J. and Mary (Coglan) Kane, and they now have two children, Alice M., born
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October 4, 1925; and John J., Jr., born August 7, 1927. The family residence is at 156 East avenue, Norwalk.
Mr. and Mrs. Farrell are communicants of the Roman Catho- lic church, and along fraternal lines Mr. Farrell is connected with the Knights of Columbus, fourth degree, and the Woodmen of the World. He is treasurer of the Norwalk Bar Association and also belongs to the Lions Club of Norwalk and the Norwalk Club. Thoroughly cognizant of the responsibilities of his profession, he aids in maintaining its high standards, and is esteemed by his fellow practitioners and the general public as well.
FRANK AVERILL QUINTARD, D. D. S.
Well equipped for the work of his profession, Dr. Frank Averill Quintard has made substantial progress therein and occupies an enviable position in dental circles of Stamford. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, March 22, 1900, and is a son of Harry C. and Ada M. (Averill) Quintard. His grand- father, Henry F. Quintard, was born in Sound Beach, Connecti- cut, and followed the occupation of farming in that district for several years, removing to Stamford after his retirement. He was a member of the Congregational church and an adherent of the republican party. His wife, Mary Jane (Campbell) Quin- tard, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and both passed away in Stamford. Their son, Harry C. Quintard, was born in Sound Beach, Connecticut, and following his graduation from Yale Uni- versity in 1893 taught in a boys' private school in Bridgeport for several years. Thereafter he was associated with the Arm- strong Cork Company in Camden, New Jersey, and later in New York city. He came to Stamford following the death of his first wife and later married Frances Isabel Scofield, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Scofield of Stamford. Due to ill health he was compelled to give up his work in New York, opening a mail order magazine subscription agency business here. His death occurred in Stamford in 1928. His political support was given to the republican party and he was a zealous member of the First Congregational church. He was formerly one of its deacons, served as president of the Men's Club and was also a member of
C
BACHRACH
DR. FRANK A. QUINTARD
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the committee that directed the building of the present church edifice facing Bedford Park. His first wife, the mother of Dr. Quintard, was born in South Britain, Connecticut, and died in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She was a daughter of Samuel P. Averill, who followed agricultural pursuits in Connecticut, his native state. In religious faith he was a Congregationalist and his political views were in accord with the tenets of the repub- lican party. His demise occurred in South Britain, and his wife, Julia (Mitchell) Averill, died while on a visit to Stamford. It is on this side of the family that Dr. Quintard represents the tenth generation in direct descent from Matthew Mitchell, one of the original settlers and founders of Stamford in the year 1641.
Dr. Frank A. Quintard was graduated from the high school in Stamford, Connecticut, and for two years was in the employ of Richards & Company, which at that time was making gun cotton for the government. While attending Brown University he was enrolled in the Students Army Training Corps and sent to an officers training camp at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. There he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Dental Reserve Corps and after the termination of the war he matriculated in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, which awarded him the degree of D. D. S. in 1923. In the same year he came to Stamford, locating at No. 1 Bank street, and in 1925 removed to the Bedford Park apartments, where he has since remained. His office contains the latest and best dental appliances and a large practice is evidence of the high quality of his work.
Dr. Quintard was married June 21, 1924, in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah E. Adams, who was born in Coates- ville, that state, May 8, 1897, and received her public school edu- cation in the latter place, afterward entering Bucknell Univer- sity, of which she is a graduate. Prior to her marriage she was dietician in a hospital at Camden, New Jersey, and also taught for three years in the high school at Media, Pennsylvania. Her father, John Quincy Adams, was born in Pennsylvania and is con- nected with the Bethlehem Steel Company. He is a prominent Mason, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and casts his ballot for the candidates of the republican party. He resides in Bethlehem, and his wife, Elizabeth (Rose) Adams, is also a native of the Keystone state. Dr. and Mrs. Quintard
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have a daughter, Sarah, who was born August 27, 1925 .ยท A son, Frank Averill, Jr., was born April 2, 1929, and died on the 5th of the same month.
The parents are affiliated with the First Congregational church and Mrs. Quintard is connected with a number of its societies and also with the Woman's Club of Stamford. The Doctor is president of the Men's Club of the church and also be- longs to the Lions Club of Stamford and Theta Chi, a national college fraternity. He is a member of the Western Fairfield County and Connecticut State Dental Societies and the American Dental Association. During his hours of recreation he indulges in boating, swimming and fishing and thus obtains renewed vigor for his daily tasks. Dr. Quintard's interest centers in his work and his industry and ability insure his continued progress in the vocation of his choice. He is a young man of high principles, and a winning personality has drawn to him a large and ever widening circle of loyal friends.
CHARLES DEWITT ROGERS
One of the most important enterprises of Norwalk is the busi- ness of the firm of Rogers & Stevens, dealers in men's and boys' clothing and furnishings, who own and conduct two stores, one at 29 Wall street, Norwalk, and the other at 14 South Main street, South Norwalk. They enjoy an excellent reputation for cour- teous and prompt service and square dealing and command a large and constantly increasing business.
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