USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 30
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is president of the Greenwich Press and a capable executive. He is also president of several real estate corporations operating in Greenwich and owning large and valuable holdings.
In 1916 Mr. Brush married Miss Electa Harper, a daughter of John A. and Flora (Sherbourne) Harper, of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania. Electa, the only child of this union, was born July 2, 1918, in New York city and is attending the public schools of Greenwich.
Mr. Brush is identified with the Masonic order, the Round Hill Club, the Indian Harbor Yacht Club, the Beach Club, the Greenwich Country Club, and the American, Connecticut and New York State Bar Associations. He is a man of broad views and wide interests, a successful lawyer of the highest reputation, and a public-spirited citizen who embodies American principles with American ideals.
WILLIAM J. GAGNON
Working along original lines, William J. Gagnon has trans- formed his visions into realities and many useful devices are the products of his inventive mind. For a number of years he has been identified with manufacturing circles of Bridgeport as superintendent of the Bead Chain Manufacturing Company, which is developing his inventions.
A product of New England, Mr. Gagnon was born in Fre- mont, New Hampshire, August 26, 1876, and is a son of Peter Joseph and Rosalie (Moran) Gagnon, natives of Canada. The father was superintendent of the Fremont plant of the Spaulding & Frost Manufacturing Company for an extended period and is now living retired in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where the mother passed away.
William J. Gagnon was educated in the public schools of his native town and was there employed in running a stationary engine for three years, working at night. Owing to his fidelity to duty and marked aptitude for mechanical pursuits he advanced rapidly and was able to fill his father's place as superintendent when the latter was injured as the result of an accident. The son continued in that capacity for two years and was next an
WILLIAM J. GAGNON
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electrician for the Spaulding & Frost Manufacturing Company. He managed the lighting systems, having charge of the engines, dynamos, etc., for two years, and then went to Boston for the purpose of broadening his knowledge of electricity. His ability won for him the position of wire man and general repair man for Swan & Company, and at the end of two years he was made fore- man of their factory, thus continuing for four years. Mr. Gag- non then came to Bridgeport as private experimental man for the Bryant Electric Company and while thus engaged in their laboratory, aided in developing the automatic machines for the making of bead chains. In 1914 when the Bead Chain Manu- facturing Company was organized, Mr. Gagnon became its master mechanic and superintendent and has since held those positions and is engaged in developing the various articles manu- factured by the firm, such as plumbing chains, novelties, radio parts, etc. His creative power is highly developed and a number of patents have been issued to him.
On the 14th of January, 1899, Mr. Gagnon was married in Chester, New Hampshire, to Miss Melvina Wallace, a native of Epping, that state, and a daughter of Louis and Sophronia (Nay- lor) Wallace. The father was born in the Pine Tree state and was connected with the Boston & Main Railroad for a number of years, residing at Raymond, New Hampshire, where he passed away. His wife was born in Vermont and now resides in Bridge- port. Mr. and Mrs. Gagnon have become the parents of two children. The son, Bernard E., who was born April 15, 1900, and was graduated from one of the high schools of Bridgeport, is now chief draftsman and machine designer for the Bead Chain Company. He married Miss Mollie Marie Amonson, of Bridge- port, and they have a family of three children: Gilbert William, Edna May and Shirley Alvera. The daughter, Amy Evelyn, born March 21, 1902, also completed her high school studies in Bridgeport. She was graduated from the School of Fine & Applied Arts both in New York city and Paris and is now an interior decorator in New York.
In addition to his residence at No. 134 Mountain Grove street, Mr. Gagnon owns the house next door occupied by his son and a summer home "Noname" in Redding, Fairfield county. He leases one hundred and fifty acres of land near his home for fishing and hunting purposes. In politics he is a republican and lends the
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weight of his support to all public projects of worth. Endowed with the ability to relate cause and effect and the elements essen- tial to important achievement, Mr. Gagnon has assembled the machinery of his dreams and made it serve the largest practical purpose.
FREDERICK COLEY SANFORD
Frederick Coley Sanford, formerly identified with building interests, is now living retired in Newtown. He is a representa- tive of one of the oldest and best known families of this section of the state. His great-grandfather was Oliver Sanford, who was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and was actively identified with the early development of this region. He had a forge and he built the first four-wheeled wagon in Fairfield county. Later in life he turned his attention to iron manufacturing, developing one of the early foundries of the county. He was captured by the British during the battle fought in Danbury, Connecticut, for his life compassed the period of the Revolutionary war. He saw active duty as captain of the Redding company. His son, Levi Sanford, was the father of William Sanford, who in turn was the father of Frederick Coley Sanford, whose name introduces this record.
Frederick C. Sanford was born at Weston, Connecticut, Janu- ary 1, 1857, his parents being William O. and Lydia A. (Wheeler) Sanford, the former a native of Redding, while the latter was a daughter of Silas Wheeler, of Easton, Connecticut. In his youth- ful days F. C. Sanford attended the public schools of Weston, now known as Valley Forge, and he obtained his first job at Bridgeport, where he learned the carpenter's trade, remaining there for three years. On the expiration of that period he came to Newtown, Connecticut, in 1877, where he resided until 1882, when he went to Hawleyville and conducted a coal, grain and lumber business, remaining there until 1889, when he returned to Bridgeport and established the East End Coal Company and con- tinued that business for about two years. He then disposed of it on account of poor health and for about ten years was engaged as a carpenter and builder in Bridgeport. In 1912 he again came to Newtown, where he has since remained and for an extended period he was active as a carpenter and builder.
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On the 13th of October, 1881, in Newtown, Mr. Sanford was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Emily Northrop, who was born in Newtown, August 23, 1862, and is a daughter of Hosea B. and Juliette (Fairchild) Northrop of Revolutionary ancestry and members of old Fairfield county families. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford have become the parents of two daughters: Juliette Fairchild, who was born January 26, 1885, and died January 22, 1901, in Bridgeport; and Eva Lydia, who was born November 24, 1887, and became the wife of Albert Morgan Boyson on the 2d of June, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Boyson have a son, Albert Sanford, born August 3, 1917.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford are members of the Newtown Congre- gational church. He is a republican in politics and during his residence at Hawleyville served as postmaster during President Arthur's administration. Through five or more generations the Sanford family has been associated with Fairfield county and its development, and, like his ancestors, Frederick C. Sanford has always been loyal to the best interests of the community, cooper- ating in all those measures which he has deemed of value in pro- moting public progress and improvement.
WALTER NORMAN MAGUIRE
Walter Norman Maguire, who served in the World war, is numbered among the members of the Stamford bar and has made considerable progress in his profession. At the same time he has given much time and energy to community projects. He was born in New York city, October 15, 1893, a son of Laurence J. and Anna Maria (Norman) Maguire. His father, who was born in New York city, August 15, 1857, engaged in the manufacture of shoes and passed away in Stamford, February 14, 1922. His mother was born in Birmingham, England, and resides in Stamford.
In 1909 Walter N. Maguire completed a course in the Stam- ford high school and afterward matriculated in Yale College, from which he received the A. B. degree in 1913, Two years later he graduated from the Yale Law School and in June, 1915, was admitted to the Connecticut bar. He opened a law office in Stam-
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ford and practiced alone until November 1917, when he enlisted in the United States navy. While connected with the department of the judge advocate general of the navy in Washington, D. C., he took a special course in the naval pay officers training school and in March, 1918, after being commissioned an ensign, was sent to the United States naval base at Brest, France. There he acted as assistant to the aide for supply of Admiral Henry Wil- son, commander-in-chief of the United States naval forces operat- ing in French waters. In January, 1919, he returned to this country, at which time he was holding the rank of lieutenant (J. G.), and was then relieved from active service and placed on the reserve roll. In February, 1919, he became associated with Cummings & Lockwood, prominent attorneys of Stamford, and since January 1, 1923, has been a member of the firm, which has a large clientele. Mr. Maguire is a director of the Southern Con- necticut Mortgage Company and the Butchart-Nicholls Com- pany, both of Stamford.
Mr. Maguire was married June 25, 1921, in Stamford, to Miss Sonia G. Streuli, who was born in Horgen, Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and there received her public school education. Afterward she became a student in the Paris Conservatory of Music, specializing in the violin, and was graduated therefrom. In 1916 she came to America to continue her musical education and became a pupil of Eugene Ysaye, the celebrated Belgian violinist. In 1918 she studied under the renowned Leopold Auer. She is now concert-meister of the Stamford Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Maguire is a daughter of Theophile G. Streuli, also a native of Horgen. Mr. and Mrs. Maguire have three children: Walter Laurence, who was born October 8, 1922; Helen Adele, born August 17, 1924; and Robert Charles, born November 22, 1925.
Mr. Maguire is connected with the Royal Arcanum, Psi Upsilon, a college fraternity, the High Ridge Country Club, and the Hubbard Heights Golf Club. His professional affiliations are with the Fairfield County, Connecticut State and American Bar Associations. He is one of the elders of the First Presbyterian church, with which his wife is also affiliated. Mr. Maguire is vice president of the Stamford Symphony Society and a director of the Young Men's Christian Association. In politics he is a demo- crat. He has served for several years as chairman of the Stam- ford zoning board of adjustment and appeals. He is also one of
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the park commissioners of Stamford and was chairman of the town tax commission appointed by the selectmen pursuant to an act of the legislature in 1927. He has traveled extensively. In 1912 he made a tour of England and continental Europe and since then has visited the West Indies, Northern Africa, Egypt, Palestine and other parts of the world, deriving much benefit from his sojourns in foreign lands.
CHARLES F. MAGUIRE
Charles F. Maguire has spent the greater part of his life in Stamford and is well known through his long connection with legal affairs. He was born in New York city, October 1, 1887, a son of Laurence J. and Anna Maria (Norman) Maguire, of whom more extended mention is made in the preceding sketch. The other son, Walter Norman Maguire, is engaged in the practice of law in Stamford and the daughter, Laura, is the wife of George A. Cook, of Stamford.
Charles F. Maguire obtained his early education in public school No. 19 of Brooklyn, New York, and in 1904 was graduated from the Stamford high school. During 1910 and 1911 he attended the New York Law School and in 1912 was admitted to the Connecticut bar. From 1902 until 1917 he was an instructor in the Stamford public evening school and then entered the serv- ice of his country. He was in training at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and was honorably discharged January 1, 1919, with the rank of ensign. His association with the law firm of Fessenden & Carter covered the period of thirteen years between 1904 and 1917. In 1919 he became secretary to Hon. Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the democratic national committee, and in 1920 he became associated with the firm of Cummings & Lockwood in the practice of law. He still continues as secretary to Mr. Cummings. Owing to his legal knowledge he is well qualified for this responsible position and discharges his duties with marked efficiency.
Mr. Maguire was married September 9, 1919, in Stamford, to Miss Lydia J. Mollet, who was born August 26, 1886, in this city, and is a graduate of the local high school. She also com- pleted a course in the State Normal Training School at New
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Haven and engaged in teaching from 1908 until 1919. Her father, Charles T. Mollet, served in the Home Guard during the World war and has always lived in Stamford. He is a retired carpenter and contractor and for a number of years was building inspector of Stamford. His political support is given to the re- publican party and in religious faith he is a Presbyterian. His wife, Lizzie (Lunny) Mollet, was born in Armonk, Westchester county, New York, and passed away in Stamford. Mr. and Mrs. Maguire have one child, Norman Lunny, who was born April 17, 1921.
The parents are affiliated with the First Presbyterian church and Mr. Maguire is an adherent of the democratic party. Music and travel are his chief sources of recreation and he has visited many points of interest in the United States and other countries, thus broadening his outlook upon life. He has a wide acquaint- ance and possesses those qualities which inspire respect and friendship.
MRS. JOHN C. DOWNS
One of the most prominent names in the social and civic circles of Danbury is that of Mrs. John C. Downs, who for many years has been conspicuous and influential in affairs relating to the welfare of the community and is today regarded as one of its rep- resentative women.
Mrs. Downs was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is a daughter of Franklin P. and Mary (Reed) Randall, the latter of whom was a native of Kentucky. Her father, who was born in Madison county, New York, became one of the pioneers of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he engaged in the practice of law and served as mayor of the city for many years. He was also state senator and filled many other political positions in the city and state. In 1856 he was elected presidential elector and voted for James Buchanan, it being the only instance when a citizen of Fort Wayne voted directly for a president of the United States.
Mrs. Downs was educated in the public schools of her native city, and from young girlhood took a deep interest in the chari- table and benevolent organizations of her community, was active in musical affairs and an earnest worker in the Protestant Epis-
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copal church. In 1892, in Fort Wayne, she became the wife of Dr. John C. Downs, who was born in Danbury, Connecticut. He attended the public and high schools of his home city, graduating with the highest honors, after which he entered the dental school of the University of New York, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Returning to Dan- bury, he opened a dental office on Main street and has since en- joyed a large practice, being regarded as one of the leaders in his profession in this city. He is a son of George and Flora (Crofut) Downs, the former of whom was one of the owners of the old Downs hat factory in Danbury. Both of his parents are deceased. Dr. Downs is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Rotary Club.
Upon her arrival in Danbury Mrs. Downs at once became identified with various phases of its civic life and during subse- quent years has been a prominent factor in promoting its various interests. For the past ten years she has been regent of Mary Wooster Chapter, D. A. R .; was the organizer and is the president of the Afternoon Musical Society; was the organizer and is presi- dent of the Visiting Nurse Association; was one of the founders of the Danbury Chapter of the American Red Cross Society; is a past president of the Connecticut Federation of Music Clubs; is state chairman of music of the Women's Federation of Clubs of Connecticut, and is vice president of the Fairfield County Wom- en's Republican Association. She is also an active member of St. James Protestant Episcopal church. A woman of gracious and tactful manner and deservedly popular, she has done com- mendable work along lines that have in very definite measure benefited her community, and because of her strong character and useful life she commands the sincere regard of all who know her.
JULIAN F. TOMAINO
Among the men who are contributing to the prosperity of the hat industry in Danbury stands Julian F. Tomaino, member of the Gorman & Tomaino Fur Company. He has had much prac- tical experience in this line of work and is achieving a noteworthy success in his present enterprise. He was born in Danbury in 1892 and received his educational training in the public schools.
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He is a son of F. S. and Rose (Falvo) Tomaino, both of whom were born and reared in Italy. On leaving school, in 1910, Mr. Tomaino went to work for the John Beltaire Hat Company, for whom he worked for two years as a hat sizer, and during the following eight years he was employed in various capacities with different hat companies in this city. In 1917 he formed a part- nership with Martin Gorman, under the name of Gorman & Tomaino Fur Company, Inc., and engaged in the fur cutting business, establishing a factory at 16-24 River street, Danbury. He has devoted himself tirelessly to the development of this busi- ness, which has enjoyed a steady and substantial growth, and is now one of the important concerns in its line here.
Mr. Tomaino is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Danbury Club and is a very popular member of the circles in which he moves, while throughout the community he commands uniform respect and esteem.
LEWIS HALLOCK NASH, M. E., E. D.
Lewis Hallock Nash was born in South Norwalk, April 16, 1852, and was a son of Francis H. and Sarah M. (Hallock) Nash and a descendant of Edward Nash, one of the first settlers of Norwalk, who came from Lancaster, England, to Stratford, Con- necticut, in 1650, and to Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1652. From Edward Nash the line descends through his son John and his wife, Mary Combs; their son John and his wife, Abigail Blakely ; their son Abraham and his wife, Rhoda Keeler; their son Jacob and his wife, Freelove; their son Jacob, Jr., and his wife, Anna Rockwell; their son Daniel Kellogg and his wife, Sally Lockwood Raymond; their son Frank Hawley and his wife, Sarah Mather Hallock, to their son, Lewis Hallock Nash.
The last named obtained a public school education and after serving an apprenticeship of four years in the shops of the Nor- walk Iron Works entered Stevens Institute of Technology in 1873, being graduated four years later with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. Soon after his graduation he entered the employ of the National Meter Company of Brooklyn, New York, and began to design improvements in water meters. After a few months he produced the "Crown" meter, the first of a large class of
LEWIS H. NASH
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single piston rotary meters which practically superseded all other forms of water meter. Altogether he received sixty or more patents on water meters, among which the leaders are the "Em- pire," the "Improved Gem" and the "Nash." Mr. Nash took up the study of the gas engine in 1884 and subsequently received more than sixty patents covering the design and operation of gas engines. One of the patents was for a two-cycle engine with piston controlled valves, which at one time was being manufac- tured by more than two thousand firms. Another of his inven- tions was a method of starting gas engines by means of com- pressed air, which feature is still employed by numerous manu- facturers. Mr. Nash became chief engineer of the National Meter Company and continued in its service until 1914, when he re- signed in order to devote his entire attention to the Nash En- gineering Company, which he had organized at South Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1905, and of which he was president from that time until his death. Several of his inventions were developed by this company, notably the rotary liquid piston pump (patented in 1910), which has been sold under the name "Nash Hydro- turbine." The registered name "Hytor" has been adopted by the Nash Engineering Company to describe its exclusive products. In the "Nash Hydroturbine" a rotor revolves freely in an ellip- tical casing filled with a liquid, usually water, the rotor itself being a casting, consisting of a series of chambers or spaces around a cylindrical hub. As the chambers and waters advance, the elliptical casing permits centrifugal force to send the water from the rotor, drawing in air or gas through inlet ports con- nected with the inlet of the pump. As the chambers advance the inlet ports are passed. The water is forced back into the rotor by the casing, gradually compressing the air. When the rotor spaces have reached the outlet ports, the air has been compressed to the terminal pressure and is then discharged completely by the re-entering water. With the rotor chambers full of water, the operation is repeated. Many variations and combinations of this pump have resulted in the development of the business into an internationally known concern, with a capital of five hundred thousand dollars. Altogether, Mr. Nash received over four hun- dred patents. When the World war ended he abandoned work on an airplane engine which he had been developing and which had
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received very favorable comment from the national advisory com- mittee for aeronautics.
Mr. Nash was a member of the American Society of Mechan- ical Engineers, the New York Electrical Society, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the honorary fraternity Tau Beta Pi. Stevens Institute of Technology conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Engineering in 1921. Mr. Nash took an active interest in public affairs and in 1923 was a member of the Connecticut assembly. He was a generous contributor to civic and charitable institutions and was an active member of the South Norwalk Congregational church. He was the author of many articles on religious and political subjects which he distributed generously in the form of pamphlets.
On July 2, 1883, Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Anna Archer, a daughter of Charles Oscar and Anne Hobson Knight Archer, of Brooklyn, New York. To this union were born four children: Marion Hallock, Douglas Elliott, Mildred Archer and Harold Lewis. Mr. Nash died in South Norwalk, November 17, 1923, and is survived by his widow, who now lives in Norwalk.
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FRED C. RIEDELL
Probably no citizen of Norwalk is better known or more gen- erally liked than is Fred C. Riedell, who commands a large busi- ness as an expert accountant and stands in the front rank of his profession. In addition to the exacting demands of his business he has also shown a live and constant interest in matters affecting the civic welfare and through his individual efforts has success- fully carried through a number of enterprises of importance to the well-being particularly of young people.
Mr. Riedell was born in New York city (East side) on the 30th of April, 1882, and received his early education in the public schools, graduating from high school. He then took an examina- tion for a scholarship in a Philadelphia commercial college, in which he passed with a grade of ninety-eight per cent. He took a two-year course in accounting, graduating in 1899, after which he became associated with a relative who was engaged in the
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accounting business in New York. In 1917 he joined the staff of Arthur Young & Company, public accountants of New York, and in 1919 was appointed manager of the company, with whom he remained until December, 1923. Mr. Riedell then came to Norwalk and established himself as an expert accountant and auditor, with offices at 27 Wall street, where he has remained to the present time. He specializes in income tax work and the installation of accounting systems, and the efficient and depend- able service which he has rendered has gained for him an enviable reputation in business and commercial circles.
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