USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 28
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On November 7, 1925, in Stamford, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Louise Frelinghuysen Smith, who was born in Somerville, New Jersey, January 25, 1904, and is a daughter of Charles J. and Laura (Chambers) Smith. Her father, who is deceased, was a wholesale dealer in lumber and coal in Somerville and was held in high esteem in that locality. Her mother now
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resides in Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Kelly was graduated from the Low-Heywood School in Stamford, and is a member of the Stamford Woman's Club and the Junior League. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are the parents of a son, William Gaines, born March 15, 1928.
In his 'political affiliation Mr. Kelly is a strong democrat and has shown a live interest in local public affairs, having served as chairman of the committee on assessments and taxation of the city of Stamford and in October, 1928, was elected to the board of finance of the town of Darien. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5, F. & A. M., at Stamford; the Phi Delta Phi law fra- ternity, the Chamber of Commerce, the Woodway Country Club, the Ox Ridge Hunt Club, the Yale Club of New York city, the Bar Association of the City of New York and the Stamford Bar Association. He and his wife are members of St. John's Protes- tant Episcopal church and he was formerly president of the Men's Club of that church. He is also president of the Democratic Club of Darien. He is a lover of outdoor life, golf and horseback riding being his favorite forms of recreation, and he is extremely popular in social circles. Because of his earnest life, straightfor- ward manner and sterling character, he commands the unquali- fied confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
ABRAHAM WOFSEY
Abraham Wofsey, who for a number of years has been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of law in Stamford, has a well merited reptuation as a learned, capable and resourceful attorney and stands high in the ranks of the legal fraternity in this city. He was born in Dvinsk, Russia, on the 10th of September, 1889, and is a son of Isaac J. and Rebecca M. (Weyler) Wofsey. His father was born in Russia in 1862 and brought his famliy to the United States in 1906, being engaged in the jewelry and watch- making business in Stamford until his death, which occurred July 15, 1915. His wife was born in Russia, September 12, 1861, and still resides in Stamford. Isaac J. Wofsey was a man of upright character, square in all of his business dealings and com- manded the genuine respect of all who knew him.
ABRAHAM WOFSEY
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Abraham Wofsey attended the public schools of Russia and after coming to this country entered the law school of New York University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws with honors in 1914. He was admitted to the bar of Connecticut, January 17, 1915, and soon afterward entered upon the practice of his profession in Stamford. He was alone in the practice until April 1, 1923, when he formed a part- nership with Samuel Gordon under the firm name of Wofsey & Gordon, and they now have offices at 25 Bank street. This is regarded as a strong and effective combination and the firm commands a large clientele. Mr. Wofsey served as assistant prosecuting attorney from 1918 to 1920; later as prosecuting attorney for the city court of Stamford, and is now judge of the city court. He is a member of the Stamford Bar Association, the Fairfield County Bar Association, the Connecticut State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
On August 1, 1915, in New York City, Mr. Wofsey was united in marriage to Miss Emma Bluming, who was born in Libau, Russia, September 12, 1889. Her father, Joseph Bluming, was a native of Russia and brought his family to this country in 1904, becoming the owner of a farm at Kerhonkson, New York, to which he devoted his attention until his death, which occurred in New York city in April, 1926, when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a republican in his political views and was a member of the Jewish congregation. Mrs. Wofsey, who was edu- cated in the public schools of Russia, is a member of the congre- gation of the Temple of Bethel at Stamford and of the National Council of Jewish Women. Mr. and Mrs. Wofsey became the parents of four children, namely: Isaac J., who was born De- cember 23, 1916, and was graduated with honors from the Rogers public school in January, 1928, at the age of eleven years; Sybil M., born August 4, 1922; Richard, who was born October 6, 1924, and died in January, 1925; and Robert, born August 6, 1926.
Mr. Wofsey is a stanch republican in his political views and takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs. During the World war he took an active part in the various Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives, doing effective work as a four-minute speaker. He is a member of Roosevelt Lodge, No. 130, F. & A. M .; Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M .; Washington Council, No. 6, R. & S. M .; Stamford Lodge, No. 899, B. P. O. E .; and the Independent Order
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of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Court of Honor and the Stamford Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and stands ready to cooperate in all movements for the advancement of the community along all legitimate lines. He is a member of the Temple of Bethel Jewish congregation, of which he is president; a member of the board of directors of the Stamford Hebrew Institute, Inc .; and is active in other Jewish organizations. He is a man of high ideals, to which he is true, is loyal to the spirit and institutions of his adopted country, and all who know him hold him in high regard for his genuine worth as a man, lawyer and citizen.
REV. RICHMOND HERBERT GESNER, S. T. D.
Under the guidance of the Rev. Richmond Herbert Gesner, Trinity church of Newtown has enjoyed a steady and satisfactory growth. His earnest labors, his zeal and his devotion to the cause which he serves have won for Rev. Dr. Gesner the love and sup- port of the people of his parish. He was born in Kingston, New York, a son of the Rev. A. H. Gesner, a prominent clergyman of the New York diocese, who at that time was rector of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Kingston. The son pursued his education in Holbrook's Military Academy at Ossining, New York, and in St. Stephen's College at Annandale, being graduated from the latter with high honors in 1883. He had determined to follow in the footsteps of his father and devote his life to the ministry and to this end he entered the General Seminary of New York, in which he completed his theological training in 1886, his alma mater conferring upon him the Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1887.
His initial experience in the work of the church came to him under the Rev. Dr. Haughton, rector of St. John's church, Yonkers, in 1886. He acted as curate there until Dr. Haughton was called to Bryn Mawr, when the Rev. Dr. Gesner became his successor as minister in charge at Yonkers. In 1887, upon the nomination of Bishop Potter, he was appointed rector of St. James church, Hyde Park, New York, where he continued his labors for four years, his efforts being of far-reaching effect and
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importance. He then devoted a year to mission work in Tower, Minnesota, at the earnest request of Bishop Gilbert.
In 1890 Dr. Gesner was married in St. Peter's church, Albany, to Miss Ida Virginia Brett, and four daughters were born to them, namely: Gertrude, Marguerite, Virginia and Katharine. Mrs. Gesner died at Oswego, New York, November 11, 1919.
In 1891 Dr. Gesner was appointed rector of Zion church at Morris, New York, becoming the successor of two famous divines, Bishop Tuttle having been rector of that church for nearly forty years, while his predecessor, the Rev. Amos B. Beach, had served the parish from 1838 until 1850. In 1894 Dr. Gesner was called to Christ church of West Haven, Connecticut, the second oldest church in the Connecticut diocese. He labored there for four years and then went to Trinity church at Lime Rock, Connecticut, where he continued until 1906, when he became rector of Christ church at Oswego, New York. On the 11th of September, 1924, he entered upon his duties as rector of Trinity church of New- town and St. John's church of Sandy Hook. The parishes have grown steadily and many young people have become identified with the two churches, which together have about three hundred communicants. He has not only won the love of his people but the respect and confidence of the entire community and his labors have been far-reaching and resultant. He is again and again called upon to officiate at marriages and at funerals of people other than his parishioners. He has done valuable work in the church organizations, serving for seven years as a member of the standing committee of the diocese of central New York, the most important committee of the diocese. For two years he acted as its secretary and upon the resignation of Dr. Coley as presi- dent of the committee he was elected president, thus serving at the time of his election to the Newtown churches in 1924. During the illness of Bishop Fiske he was acting as ecclesiastical author- ity in his administration of the diocese and he was president of the convention in 1924 which elected Rev. Dr. Coley, a son of Con- necticut, as suffragan bishop. In 1908 Dr. and Mrs. Gesner were appointed delegates from central New York to represent the diocese at the Pan Anglican congress in London. In 1912 Syra- cuse University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology. Dr. Gesner is a man of scholarly attainments and of open mind, ready at all times to embrace the truth which
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comes to him in enlightenment upon any subject. He is a clear and forceful speaker, of kindly spirit and of broad sympathy, and his labors in the church are proving of far-reaching effect.
OSCAR FREDERICK SCHULTZE
A contemporary writer said: "The reader of biography can see much between the lines, for very few of the men who have attained success tell how they accomplished it. As one author has said: 'Success may be compared to a valuable commodity in the market; it costs something to get either.' In the history of Oscar Frederick Schultze, one of the enterprising business men of Nor- walk, it is seen that his success has been the result of constant effort and diligent purpose." He is now the owner of fifteen stores, comprising a chain, located in Bridgeport, Westport, Nor- walk, South Norwalk, East Norwalk, Ridgefield, Darien, Stam- ford, Coscob and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Mr. Schultze was born in New York city, February 8, 1885, his parents being Oscar Douglas and Mary (Baker) Schultze. His grandfather, George Schultze, was born and reared near Stettin, Germany, and came to America about 1858, settling in West Cromwell, near Westfield, Connecticut. He was born in 1803, and was a baker by trade, but worked most of the time after coming to this country in the shops of the J. O. Smith Man- ufacturing Company at Westfield. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife, Mrs. Wilhelmina Schultze, also a native of Stettin, passed away in 1864. They were Lutherans in religious faith and attended worship in the Congregational church at Westfield.
Oscar Douglas Schultze, youngest of a family of ten children born to George and Wilhelmina Schultze, was born January 4, 1859, in the town of Cromwell, and grew up in the Westfield sec- tion, attending the country school during winter terms until he was thirteen years of age. He was accustomed to labor during the summer at an earlier period. His first efforts were on farms, but later he became a butcher and followed this occupation for many years. For a period of seventeen years he was engaged in the meat business in Middletown, until he was compelled by broken health to retire in April, 1919. Mr. Schultze is a member
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of the South Congregational church, and has always endeavored to fulfill the duties of a good citizen. Politically he has affiliated with the democratic party, and has served two years as a member of the city council and a like period on the board of aldermen. On the 3d of May, 1882, Mr. Schultze married Mary Becker, a native of Cromwell, Connecticut, and a daughter of Philip and Caroline Becker, both of whom came from Germany. Of the fifteen chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Schultze, six are now living. The second and the eldest son receive extended mention below.
Oscar F. Schultze was eight years old when his parents re- turned to Westfield, Connecticut, and there he attended the pub- lic schools and later a private school in Meriden. He then entered the employ of S. E. Bailey & Son, of Middletown, and learned the meat business. In 1914, Mr. Schultze began business on his own account by establishing a market at No. 39 Main street in Norwalk and another at the corner of Washington and Railroad avenues in South Norwalk. Subsequently he added a market in Stamford, but sold this after a year. About 1916 he established a market in Bridgeport, in partnership with a Mr. Keane. This was incorporated under the name of the Keane & Schultze Com- pany, of which Mr. Schultze was president until selling out in 1918. In March, 1920, he formed a partnership with Charles Preusser, who had been in his employ for several years, and under the firm name of Schultze & Preusser started another market in Bridgeport. As above stated, Mr. Schultze is now the owner of a chain of fifteen stores located in Bridgeport, Westport, Norwalk, South Norwalk, East Norwalk, Ridgefield, Darien, Stamford, Coscob and Greenwich, this state.
Aside from his market interests, which would seem fully to occupy the time and energy of an average man, Mr. Schultze has become deeply interested in breeding poultry and hares. He is president of the Southern New England Breeders & Fanciers Association, is state secretary for Connecticut of the National Federation of Flemish Giant Breeders, and is president of the Norwalk Poultry Association. Mr. Schultze makes a specialty of breeding Cornish Games, Black Cochin Bantam, Flemish Giants and Belgian Hares. His exhibits are viewed all over the east and he has hundreds of ribbons and cups. He also acts as judge of rabbits in national shows. Mr. Schultze is the owner of a twenty-acre farm in the town of Norwalk and raises registered
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Berkshire hogs. He likewise figures in financial circles as one of the corporators of the Norwalk Savings Society and a director of the Central Fairfield Trust Company of Norwalk, Connecticut.
In 1914 Mr. Schultze was united in marriage to Hazel Water- bury, daughter of Charles Waterbury, of Springdale, town of Stamford. The Waterbury family is one of the oldest in the annals of Fairfield county, and Mrs. Schultze is a direct descend- ant of the immigrant, John Waterbury.
Mr. Schultze is a worthy exemplar of the teachings and pur- poses of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to St. John's Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M .; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., of Bridgeport; Jerusalem Council, No. 16, also of Bridgeport; Ham- ilton Commandery, K. T .; Lafayette Consistory, S. P. R. S .; Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Bridgeport; Ophir Chap- ter, No. 52, O. E. S .; Arab Patrol, of which he is president; and Monker Grotto, of which he is past president. He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Norwalk, with the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Improved Order of Red Men at Norwalk. He is a member of the Westport Country Club; the Shelter Harbor Country Club of Westerly, Rhode Island; and owns a half interest in a hunt club at Roberta, Georgia, comprising five hundred and fifty acres .. His business success has contributed to the welfare of the community as well as to himself and is as much the result of his high character as of the ability, sound judgment and wise management which have distinguished his career from the be- ginning.
3/1/21 JOHN W. WHITEHEAD
One of the most active and prominent figures in the rubber industry in the eastern states is John W. Whitehead, president of the Norwalk Tire & Rubber Company, of Norwalk, Connecticut. He is a man of wide and varied experience in many parts of the world, possesses marked business ability and stands high in the estimation of his associates. The Norwalk Tire & Rubber Com- pany was organized by W. B. Miller, who, about 1897, had organ- ized the Diamond Rubber Company, of New York, of which he was president and which, in a period of about fifteen years, he
ABRAHAM D. SLAVITT
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his liking. To that end he entered the law school of New York University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1922. He was admitted to the bar of Fair- field county on January 13, 1923, and in July of that year opened offices at 46 South Main street, Norwalk, where he has remained to the present time. He has devoted his attention closely to his profession, in the practice of which he has made steady progress and now commands an extensive clientele.
On October 10, 1925, Mr. Slavitt was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Abrahamson, of Norwalk, Connecticut, a daughter of Robert and Fanny (Berg) Abrahamson. Her father, who was a merchant of Norwalk, is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Salvitt have been born two children, Donald Edwin and Robert A.
Mr. Slavitt is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose, and professionally maintains affiliation with the Norwalk Bar Association, the Fairfield County Bar Association, the Commer- cial Law League of America and the American Bar Association. As a citizen he is alert and conscientious, giving his support to those things which are calculated to promote the public welfare. He is absolutely loyal to the interests of his clients, has proven well versed in the law and keen and resourceful in its application. He has a well earned reputation as a dependable attorney, a public-spirited citizen and a worthy friend and neighbor.
ALDEN SOLMANS
In the history of banking in Fairfield county there is scarcely a parallel to the career of Alden Solmans, president of the South Norwalk Savings Bank, of which institution he has been the executive head for forty-two years and a director for sixty-one years. During this time, embracing the most momentous period in the history of the world, he has continued actively identified with the business interests of his community, and even now, at the advanced age of ninety-three years, he is to be found in his banking office every day and retains his physical and mental vigor to a remarkable degree.
Mr. Solmans was born in Milltown, New York, July 24, 1836,
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and began his identification with the South Norwalk Savings Bank, which was organized in 1860, in 1867, when he became a member of the board of directors. In 1886 he was chosen presi- dent of the institution and on July 9, 1928, was reelected to that office for his forty-second consecutive term. Under his wise and judicious direction, this well known bank has made steady and substantial progress, having long been regarded as one of the solid and influential financial institutions of Fairfield county.
Mr. Solmans has also been actively identified with other busi- ness interests, in which he has been successful, and he has sus- tained a place in the front rank of the capable, sagacious and dependable business men of South Norwalk. A man of unques- tioned integrity of character, clear headed judgment in practical matters, progressive and broad-minded, his opinions are held in high esteem by his business associates, while throughout the com- munity which has been honored by his citizenship he has always commanded uniform confidence and respect, so that now, in the golden sunset years of his life, he is able to look back with a sense of satisfaction and with the knowledge that he has done his full part in all the affairs of life.
CHARLES F. BERG
Charles F. Berg, treasurer of F. Berg & Company, hatters, of Norwalk, is of the third generation of his family to be identi- fied with this well known concern, which was founded by his grandfather, Frederick Berg, seventy years ago and is one of the oldest hat companies in Norwalk.
Charles F. Berg was born in Orange, New Jersey, in 1891, a son of Charles and Lucy May (Miller) Berg, of Orange. His father is now president of F. Berg & Company and has been con- nected with the hat business for more than forty-five years at Orange, New Jersey, where the factory is located. Charles F. Berg attended the public schools of his native city, after which he entered Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1912. On the completion of his education, he went abroad, where he spent a number of months, and on his return to Orange in 1913, he became associated with his father in the hat business and is now treasurer of the Berg company.
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In 1927 Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Smith, of Greenwich, Connecticut, and they have one son, Charles F., Jr. Mr. Berg is a member of the Union League Club of New York city, the Zeta Psi college fraternity, the Yale Club, the Whippany River Club of Morristown, New Jersey, and the Fair- field County Hunt Club. He is a lover of outdoor life, polo being his favorite sport. A man of straightforward and unaffected manner, he is at the same time cordial and friendly in his social relations, and is very popular among his acquaintances. He has shown himself an able and efficient business man and a loyal and public-spirited citizen, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
JOSEPH A. EWART
Well qualified for his chosen life work by keen intelligence and comprehensive training, Joseph A. Ewart has steadily progressed in the educational field and meets every requirement of the office of superintendent of schools of Stamford, in which capacity he has served for two years. He was born in Lawrence, Massa- chusetts, December 3, 1871, a son of John and Sarah (Bailey) Ewart. His grandparents, Archibald and Margaret Ewart, were natives of Scotland and left that country in their youth. They lived for a time in England and then came to the United States. Archibald Ewart, who was a master mechanic, passed away in East Boston, Massachusetts. His son, John Ewart, was born in Manchester, England, and for many years was connected with the Boston & Maine Railroad Company in the capacity of heating and plumbing superintendent. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry and served for four years, winning the commission of second lieu- tenant. He gave his political support to the republican party and was a trustee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, being an earnest and sincere Christian. He passed away at Arlington, Massachusetts, in 1915, when seventy-five years of age. His wife was born in Andover, Massachusetts, and her de- mise occurred at Arlington in 1922, when she was seventy-three years of age. She was a daughter of John and Sarah J. (Wells) Bailey, lifelong residents of the Bay state. Her father was
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master of maintenance of ways for the Boston & Maine Railroad Company and one of its efficient and trusted officials. He was a member of the Universalist church and an adherent of the repub- lican party.
Joseph A. Ewart was graduated from the Lawrence high school in 1888, working for a year thereafter, and then entered the College of Liberal Arts of Boston University, from which he won the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1893. In 1921 he received the degree of Master of Education from Harvard University. In 1893 he had entered upon the active work of his profession as principal of the Essex grammar school in Lawrence and filled the position for two years. He taught for three years in a gram- mar school at Braintree, Massachusetts, and for a similar period was principal of the high school of that place. From 1901 to 1913 he had charge of two grammar schools at Salem, Massachu- setts, and in January of the latter year became principal of the Forster grammar school at Somerville, Massachusetts. He organ- ized the Forster junior high school, the first institution of the kind in the east, and in September, 1916, the junior high school system for the entire city of Somerville was organized. Mr. Ewart was made head master of the junior high school and intrusted with the task of developing the system for the entire city. His work in that connection attracted widespread notice and elicited much favorable comment. In 1918 he was appointed assistant super- intendent of schools of Somerville and thus served for two years. On November 1, 1920, he went to Milton, Massachusetts, as super- intendent of schools, there remaining until August, 1926, and since that time has had supervision of the public schools of Stam- ford, which he has brought up to a high standard of efficiency. At Boston and Harvard Universities he was a special instructor on junior high school work and throughout the east is recognized as an authority on that subject. He has instituted and conducted junior high school courses for the Massachusetts board of educa- tion and also prepared the correspondence course for the Massa- chusetts Department of University Extension. His advice in regard to the reorganization of school systems has been sought and followed by school committees throughout New England. As an expert he has been frequently consulted on the subject of school building programs. For about fifteen years he has been identified with the work of planning school buildings in various
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