USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 31
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On April 30, 1903, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Riedell was united in marriage to Miss Sarah R. Mills, a daughter of Dan and Sarah A. Mills and a sister of John A. Mills, a councilman of Broad River, fourth district. To Mr. and Mrs. Riedell have been born five children, namely: Frederick C., Jr., who is now owner of a gas station, was married August 27, 1928, to Miss Edith Scott of Norwalk; Russell James, who was married August 8, 1928, to Miss Catherine Cela Sanford, of Norwalk; Sylvia Ann, who is sixteen years of age; George Dorney, eleven years old; and Vivian S., aged eight years.
During the World war Mr. Riedell was a member of the draft board of Norwalk. In 1920 he joined the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Norwalk and is now an honorary life member and exalted ruler for 1929-1930. He has taken an active part in the social welfare work of that organization and has been a prominent figure in the annual functions of both the Elks and the Moose for the entertainment of children. He has belonged to the Loyal Order of Moose since 1921 and has received the second de- gree. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World; the Shepherds of Bethlehem, which he joined in 1925, and has been a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles for many years, the Board of Trade since 1926 and the Kiwanis Club since 1924, having never missed a meeting of the last named organization. He has given active assistance to the Kiwanis Club in the opera- tion of the baseball league for school boys and assists in putting over the June Fair for the women's board of the Norwalk Hos- pital. He belongs to the South Norwalk Boat Club and has been secretary of the volunteer fire department. He is an ardent lover of amateur sports, and he organized and is now president of the Norwalk Twilight Baseball League.
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Mr. Riedell has contributed generously of his means to worthy benevolent and charitable causes, notably the Red Cross Society and the Near East relief. He has delivered two addresses in the schools of Norwalk on the subject of accounting, one to the gradu- ating class of the Franklin junior high school and the other before the Civic League of the Center junior high school. He also gives practical assistance to the Young Men's Christian Association, particularly in the department of athletics, and has given valu- able and appreciated assistance to the women's board of the Nor- walk Hospital. He is thorough and painstaking in everything he undertakes and all who have been associated with him in various lines of activity regard him as an uncommonly capable and effi- cient man and one with whom it is a pleasure to work. He is cordial and affable in manner, easily makes friends, and through- out the community in which he lives he commands the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellowmen.
JOHN J. ALLEN
The Danbury Square Box Company, of which John J. Allen is president, is one of Danbury's notable manufacturing con- cerns, many of its products being of a character that has gained for the company considerable prestige among discriminating users of package boxes, while it is also a leader in the making of shipping cases.
Mr. Allen was born in Danbury in 1882, a son of Thomas H .. and Mary (Kennedy) Allen, and was educated in the public schools of this city. In 1905 he started the Danbury Square Box Company and held the offices of secretary, treasurer and manager for many years and on the death of Mr. Kerr, March 26, 1927, he became the president of the company. The concern has a large factory at Elmwood place, equipped with modern, improved ma- chinery, and is engaged in the making of corrugated and fibre shipping cases, as well as of fancy boxes and waste baskets. In the latter lines they have been creators of articles of great beauty, the waste baskets being made in many beautiful designs and odd shapes, with artistic decorations in delicate colors, while their fancy decorative boxes have caught the popular fancy and are greatly in demand.
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In 1905 Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Emily Burnie, and to them have been born five children, as follows: Clemence B., a high school teacher in New Jersey; John J., Jr., who is a student in Georgetown University; Mary Emily, a stu- dent at Georgian Court, Lakewood, New Jersey; Margaret Jane and Grace Elizabeth, who are attending the public schools of Danbury.
Mr. Allen is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club and the Ridgewood Country Club. He has devoted his attention closely to the inter- ests of his company, in the success of which he has been a promi- nent factor, and in the business circles of Danbury he is regarded as a man of good executive ability and discriminating judgment. Socially, he is deservedly popular, being a man of cordial and friendly manner and substantial qualities of character.
J. HAROLD SHORT
Under present business conditions intelligence and energy alone are not sufficient to win success, or even to obtain desired employment. Modern business requires trained intelligence and directed energy. Hence the constant and increasing demand for business college graduates. One of Stamford's leading educa- tional institutions is Short's Secretarial School, of which J. Har- old Short is president, and the specific mission of which is to prepare young men and women for successful business careers.
Mr. Short was born near Milton, Delaware, on the 4th of April, 1894, a son of Joshua and Annie (Walls) Short. His paternal grandfather, Gillie Short, who was a native and lifelong resident of Cokesbury, Delaware, and was a farmer by vocation, served in the Union army during the Civil war; supported the republican party and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joshua Short was born in Georgetown, Delaware, Octo- ber 31, 1852, and died near Milton, that state, June 9, 1913. He followed farming throughout his active life and was a man of prominence and influence in his community. He was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church and was a stanch republican in his political views. He is survived by his widow, who was born
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at Staytonsville, Delaware, December 4, 1862, and is a daughter of James and Mary Walls.
J. Harold Short has two brothers and a sister, namely: Ward H., engaged in farming near Milton, Delaware, who is a republi- can and has represented his county in the legislature of his state; Ralph C., who is secretary and treasurer of Short's Secretarial School; and Ethel G., who is the wife of Norman W. Buell, a farmer, at Greenwood, Delaware, and they have a daughter, Thelma Louise.
J. Harold Short attended the public schools of his native state and entered Goldey College, at Wilmington, Delaware, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1915. He took a special course at Zanerian College, Columbus, Ohio, after which he attended Capital College of Oratory in that city. He was affiliated with a private school in Stamford, Con- necticut, which he conducted until April, 1924, when he bought Lee's Commercial College of this place, which he carried on under that name until February 6, 1926, when it was incorporated under the name of Short's Secretarial School. Mr. Short is presi- dent of the corporation, and his brother, Ralph C., is secretary and treasurer. There are four regular courses-commercial, stenographic, secretarial and accounting, while special courses consisting of subjects listed in the regular courses may be arranged also. Night sessions of the school are held on Monday and Thursday evenings. The various courses are arranged so that the progress of a student is not dependent on that of any other student and the length of time required for graduation de- pends entirely upon the individual. The school also maintains an employment department, which is under the direct supervision of the principal and is freely at the service of all graduates. This school is fully accredited by the United Accredited Association of Private Business Schools.
J. Harold Short is a republican in his political views and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. He is a member of Endeavor Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M., at Milton, Delaware; Lock- wood Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M., at Greenwich; Washington Coun- cil, No. 6, R. & S. M .; Stamford Commandery, No. 12, K. T., of which he is recorder; Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Bridgeport. He also belongs to the High Ridge Country Club; the Lions Club, of which he is president; is treasurer and a direc-
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tor of the Chamber of Commerce; is secretary of the Retail Mer- chants Bureau; is a director of the Greenwich Young Men's Christian Association, and president of the Connecticut Business Educators Association. He is a member of the First Presby- terian church of Greenwich and president of its Men's Club. He is very fond of outdoor sports, golf being his favorite form of recreation. He is devoting himself closely to the interests of his school, in which he is meeting with very gratifying success, and has gained distinctive recognition as one who is in his line con- tributing definitely to the welfare of the community which he serves.
PATRICK DURKIN DENIS E. DURKIN
One of Danbury's old and substantial business concerns is the firm of Patrick Durkin & Sons, Inc., of 12 Mallory street, of which Patrick Durkin is president and Denis E. Durkin treasurer. The latter was born in Danbury in 1886 and is a son of Patrick and Mary C. (Darcey) Durkin. The father was born in Ireland in 1854, a son of Patrick and Mary (Tighe) Durkin, and received his education in the public schools of that country. When eight- een years old he came to the United States and in 1880 settled in Danbury, Connecticut. For a number of years he was employed by various hatters in this city and in 1896 he embarked in busi- ness on his own account in the manufacture of hatters' supplies. He began in a small way at 12 Mallory street, and, the venture proving successful, in the course of time he broadened his scope of operations and engaged in the making of window shades, tents and artistic awnings. He has managed his affairs wisely and has enjoyed uniform prosperity, gaining a high place in busi- ness circles of his city. In 1880 he was married to Miss Mary C. Darcey, who was born on Staten Island, New York, and they are the parents of four children : Denis, James, Lawrence and Maude.
Denis E. Durkin received his educational training in the pub- lic schools of Danbury and then became associated with his father in business, eventually being admitted to an interest in the con- cern, which was incorporated under its present name of Patrick
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Durkin & Sons. As treasurer he has been an important factor in its successful operation. In 1916, in Danbury, he was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Shalvoy, of this city, and they are the parents of seven children, Mary, Denis, Agnes, John, William, Rita and June.
Patrick Durkin belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the Bene- volent Protective Order of Elks, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Concordia Club, while Denis E. Durkin is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Danbury Club, the Ridgewood Country Club and the Rotary Club. Father and son have been loyal and public-spirited in their con- sistent support of everything pertaining to the progress and ad- vancement of their community, giving generously to all worthy causes, and they command to a marked degree the esteem of all who know them.
FREDERICK BRAINARD DALTON
For more than four decades Frederick B. Dalton has been connected with the Danbury News, one of the strongest and most influential newspapers of Connecticut, and for over twenty-five years of this period has served as manager, in which capacity he has gained a wide reputation as a capable and successful news- paper man. Mr. Dalton was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1869, and is a son of Flavius J. and Marietta W. (Flint) Dalton. The former passed away in 1883 and the latter in 1899.
Mr. Dalton attended the public schools of his native city and St. Johnsbury Academy. In 1886 he came to Danbury and went to work on the Danbury News, one of Fairfield county's oldest newspapers, the manager of which at that time was his uncle, George W. Flint, through whose influence Mr. Dalton was induced to come here. With a natural aptitude for journalism, progressive in his ideas and always up-to-date in his methods, he has given the News a high type of service and maintained it in the front rank of the distinctive institutions of Fairfield county, in the progress and welfare of which it has been a constant factor. He is also a director of the Danbury Building & Loan Association.
In 1898 Mr. Dalton was united in marriage to Miss Florence
FREDERICK B. DALTON
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Gertrude Wigham, of Norwalk, Connecticut. He is a member of the Danbury Club, of which he was one of the organizers, and he served as secretary for a number of years. He belongs to the Ridgewood Country Club, has taken a keen personal interest in everything concerning the material, civic or moral advancement of Fairfield county and to a marked degree commands the con- fidence and respect of his fellowmen. He is a Mason, belonging to Union Lodge, F. & A. M .; Wooster Council, R. & S. M .; Eureka Chapter, R. A. M .; Crusader Commandery, K. T .; and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.
The history of journalism in Connecticut contains nothing more romantic than the story of James Montgomery Bailey, the "Danbury News man," who found himself transformed almost literally "over night" by the homely genius of his pen, from an obscure small-town editor into a nationally and internationally known literary figure. His first paper published for Danbury and the neighboring towns appeared on January 1, 1873. It was at that time simply a country newspaper, with no attractive liter- ary features, but the dry humor and wit of the "Danbury News man" brightened its columns and made it a welcome guest in many homes.
Mr. Bailey virtually began his newspaper career as a cor- respondent of one of the Danbury papers while a soldier in the Seventeenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. At the conclusion of the war he returned to Danbury and with one of his army comrades, Timothy Donovan, a practical printer, purchased the Danbury Times and later the Jeffersonian. In March, 1870, the plants were united and a new paper, the Danbury News, established. In 1878 the firm of Bailey & Dono- van dissolved partnership and Mr. Bailey became the sole owner of the paper, which he conducted until his death in 1894. A daily paper, the Danbury Evening News, was established by Mr. Bailey in 1883.
The business was bequeathed by Mr. Bailey to his brother-in- law, George W. Flint, who had been the business manager of the paper for several years, and his half-brother, William L. Smith, with others of his family. Messrs. Flint and Smith acquired the interest of the others in the business after a short time and con- tinued the publication of the paper under the firm name of Flint & Smith until their deaths, since which time the business has been
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conducted by their heirs under the name of the Danbury News Publishing Company. Frederick B. Dalton, the present manager and one of the owners of the News, is a nephew of the late George W. Flint and was associated with him in the management of the business. He has been connected with the News since as a youth he entered the employ of the paper several years before the death of Mr. Bailey.
EDWARD B. DOULENS
Edward B. Doulens, of South Norwalk, deputy sheriff of Fair- field county, has proven a man of absolute integrity, and his long service in his present position stands in evidence of his faithful and satisfactory performance of duty. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1877 and of Swiss and Irish stock, his father, Charles Doulens, having been a native of Berne, Switzerland, while his mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Burch, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland. Charles Doulens was brought to this country at the age of nine years and located in Norwalk, where he was reared and educated. He was in the employ of the Norwalk Lock Company for a number of years. His death occurred January 22, 1902.
Edward B. Doulens received his education in the grammar schools of that city. While still quite young, he went to work as a newsboy on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, which occupation he followed for three years. While engaged in that work he met Charles T. Dimond, of the R. & G. Corset Company, of South Norwalk, who secured for him a position with that company. He remained with that concern for twenty-two years, during which period he received deserved promotions, and in June, 1915, resigned in order to accept an appointment as deputy sheriff of Fairfield county for Norwalk and South Nor- walk, in which position he has served continuously to the present time. During the World war Mr. Doulens had charge of the intelligence department of the Dupont Powder Company, Stam- ford.
Mr. Doulens has been married twice, first, in 1905, to Miss Caroline McMaugh, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and to them were born two sons: Edward Humphrey, the elder, who was graduated
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from the Norwalk high school, took a course in journalism in Columbia University, after which he was a reporter for the Even- ing Sentinel of South Norwalk and is now with Variety, of New York. Roger Burnill is now fourteen years old and is extremely fond of and proficient in athletics. The mother of these children passed away on March 12, 1917, and in November, 1918, Mr. Doulens was married to Julia Russell Stewart, of Stamford, Con- necticut, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Russell.
Mr. Doulens is an active supporter of the republican party and served six years as chairman of the town and city com- mittee and about ten years as registrar of voters. He is a mem- ber of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
He possesses in his makeup the essential qualities of good citi- zenship and during all the years of his residence in South Nor- walk has so ordered his actions as to earn the confidence of the people among whom he has lived, while among his associates and friends he is extremely popular.
EDWARD LAWRENCE
Business activity in New Canaan finds a worthy representa- tive in Edward Lawrence, who is a well known realtor, having gained a large clientele through his progressive methods and en- terprising spirit. New Canaan numbers him among her native sons. He was born November 2, 1896, his parents being Edward B. and Fannie (Davenport) Lawrence. He began his education in the schools of his native borough and afterward attended the King School at Stamford and the Eastman School of Business at Poughkeepsie, New York. Having completed his course of study, he returned to New Canaan in 1915 and became connected with the automobile business in the sale of the Dodge cars. He was thus engaged until 1917, when he joined the United States Naval Reserve at Pelham, continuing with the army until discharged in March, 1919.
Mr. Lawrence then returned to New Canaan and in July, 1920, joined Francis E. Green in the real estate and insurance business, along which line he has since directed his efforts with the result that his unremitting industry, forcefulness and relia-
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bility have won for him a creditable place among the realtors of this section of the county.
On the 14th of June, 1919, at New Canaan, Mr. Lawrence was married to Miss Beatrice Green, a daughter of Francis E. Green, and they now have two children : Edward, born in May, 1924; and Marjorie, in July, 1925.
Mr. Lawrence gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported since attaining his majority, and in 1928 he filled the office of member of the board of burgesses. For three years he has served on the republican town committee and at no time is he neglectful of his duties and obligations of citizenship. Fraternally he is a Mason, having membership in Harmony Lodge, No. 67, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; Washington Chapter, R. A. M., at Norwalk, Connecticut; Clinton Commandery, No. 3, K. T., of Norwalk; and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Bridgeport. Having always made his home at New Canaan, he is well known here and the sterling worth of his character has gained for him the friendship and high regard of those with whom he has been associated.
JAMES E. DURKIN
James E. Durkin, of Danbury, has through his industry, per- sistence and good management built up a large and prosperous business as a manufacturer of and dealer in hatters' supplies and is recognized as one of his community's progressive and reliable citizens. He was born in 1884 in the city in which he now lives and is a son of Patrick and Mary C. (Darcey) Durkin, both of whom were born in Ireland. He received his education in the public schools of Danbury, after which he became associated with his father, who was president and treasurer of Durkin & Sons, at 12 Mallory street, dealers in hatters' supplies, tents and awnings. He was connected with that concern until 1922, when he decided to embark in commercial affairs on his own account, establishing a store at 58 Elm street, in which he carries a large and complete line of hatters' supplies, including burlap, jute goods, cotton goods, brushes and auxiliary lines, and in this enterprise he has met with a very satisfactory measure of success.
Mr. Durkin is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order
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of Elks and throughout the community in which he has spent his life he commands confidence and respect, for he has proven a man of high ideals and worthy motives, while his personal quali- ties are such as have gained for him many warm friends.
JOHN HARRIS
Beginning his struggle for a livelihood at an early age, John Harris has hewn his way through a forest of difficulties and is now a leader of commercial activity in Danbury and one of its foremost hotel men. A native of Mayfield, Pennsylvania, he was born in 1886 and when very young death deprived him of his parents, Dan and Anna (Tierney) Harris. At the age of twelve he was obliged to leave school and started to work for the Erie Coal Company at Mayfield, continuing with the firm for three years. He was determined to secure an education and enrolled as a pupil in a night school, utilizing every opportunity to ad- vance. Afterward he went to New York city, obtaining a posi- tion in Hotel Portland on Forty-seventh street, and later he was employed in the St. Regis, where he remained for about six years. In 1911 he became a clerk in the Knott, a chain hotel, of which he was made manager at the end of six months, and thus served for four years.
In 1915 Mr. Harris came to Danbury as manager of Hotel Green, of which he had charge for two years, and in 1917 made a trip to the west. He spent about nine months on the Pacific coast, visiting Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, and follow- ing his return to the east renewed his activities with the Knott Hotel in New York city, with which he was connected until 1922. Mr. Harris then located in Danbury and in association with A. O. Hayward formed a company which purchased Hotel Green. This corporation is known as the Danbury Hotel Company, of which Mr. Harris is the president. Hotel Green is a class A building which is five stories high and contains eighty guest rooms. In 1927 Mr. Harris purchased the Pershing block, which adjoins the hotel, and has converted all of the floors except the first into beautifully furnished apartments of two, three, four and five rooms, supplied with every modern convenience. This is now a part of Hotel Green, which has made notable progress under the
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expert management of Mr. Harris and is regarded as one of the best hostelries in the state. Many time-worn conventions of hotel life have been set aside in favor of hospitality and comfort, and the guests of Hotel Green actually dwell in the atmosphere of a refined home. No detail of its operation escapes the keen observa- tion of Mr. Harris, who has thoroughly systematized the business and introduced new methods resulting in increased efficiency as well as material financial gain.
In 1920 Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Helen Blank, of New York city, and they now have three children, John, Nancy and Betty. Along social lines Mr. Harris is connected with the Danbury Club, the Ridgewood Country Club and the Algonquin Club of Bridgeport. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masons. He is a member of Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Start- ing with nothing, he has made his own way in the world and the record of his career constitutes an example of industry, deter- mination and stability that others might profitably follow. Mr. Harris is a business man of the highest integrity and ability, rich in experience, kind-hearted and faithful to every relation in life.
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