USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 32
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ROBERT A. ROSE, D. D. S.
Dr. Robert A. Rose, who has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in Stamford during the past seventeen years, has util- ized every opportunity to perfect himself in his chosen vocation and fully meets the requirements of the profession. A native son of Stamford, Connecticut, he was here born on the 10th of Decem- ber, 1886, his parents being Charles Edward and Elizabeth (FitzRoy) Rose, natives of Greenwich, this state. William Rose, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Rose, was born in Pennsylvania and for a number of years operated a farm known as "Palmers Hill" in the vicinity of Stamford, Connecticut, whereon he died. His political support was given to the republican party. His wife, a native of England, passed away in Stamford, this state. Mrs. Elizabeth (FitzRoy) Rose was a daughter of the late Henry FitzRoy, a landscape gardener of Greenwich, Connecticut, who also voted the republican ticket and was a consistent member of the Episcopal church. Charles Edward Rose, the father of Dr.
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R. A. Rose, has been associated with the Yale & Towne Manu- facturing Company of Stamford for a number of years. In politics he is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. John's Episcopal church. He and his wife are well known and highly esteemed residents of Stamford.
Robert A. Rose acquired his preliminary education in the Williams street grammar school and continued his studies in the Stamford high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. In preparation for the profession of dentistry, which he had chosen as a life work, he then entered the College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York city, which conferred upon him the degree of D. D. S. at his graduation with the class of 1911. He at once returned for practice to his native city, maintaining an office on Atlantic street until 1925, when he removed to 17 office. The entrance to his office is on the Main street side, over- looking the beautiful grounds of St. John's Episcopal church-an ideal location. Dr. Rose has built up a large practice with the passing years and is now classed with Stamford's leading dentists. He possesses much mechanical skill and ingenuity and his office is equipped with the most modern dental appliances. His name is on the membership rolls of the Stamford Dental Society, the Western Fairfield Dental Society, the Connecticut State Dental Society and the American Dental Association, and the First Dis- trict Dental Society in New York city.
On the 6th of November, 1912, in Glenbrook, Connecticut, Dr. Rose was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Mae Rew, who was there born November 11, 1891, her parents being James R. and Julia E. (Denton) Rew. Her father, a native of England, was a cabinetmaker by trade and died in Glenbrook, this state, in the faith of the Episcopal church. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. The mother of Mrs. Rose was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, and still resides in Glenbrook, this state. Mrs. Rose received her education in the grade and high schools of Glenbrook. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, namely: Robert Charles, who was born June 10, 1914, and is soloist in St. John's Episcopal church, singing boy soprano; Howard James, born June 6, 1917, who is also a mem- ber of St. John's Episcopal church choir ; and Joanne, whose natal day was March 3, 1923.
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Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Dr. Rose has supported the men and measures of the republican party, be- lieving that its principles contain the best elements of good gov- ernment. A worthy exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity, he belongs to Union Lodge, No. 5, F. & A. M., of Stamford, and to Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M. He is also affiliated with Stamford Lodge, No. 899, of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and with Puritan Lodge, No. 14, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He likewise be- longs to the Greek letter fraternity Psi Omega. Both he and his wife are active and helpful members of St. John's Episcopal church of Stamford, and the Doctor has also joined the Suburban Club of Stamford and the Hubbard Heights Golf Club, finding much pleasure as well as necessary relaxation in a game on the links. Dr. and Mrs. Rose have always resided in Fairfield county and enjoy an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders.
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GEORGE ALFRED SHERWOOD
Early in life George Alfred Sherwood recognized the fact that there is no royal road to success, which is the outcome of tireless industry and unfaltering purpose, and along these lines he has labored for advancement. Profiting by his business experience, which has covered a broad scope, he is successfully administering the affairs of the Packard Bridgeport Motors, Inc., and has been an influential factor in local automobile circles for eighteen years. He was born in Southport, Connecticut, January 31, 1883, a son of Frederick D. and Ella Louisa (Woods) Sherwood, natives of Massachusetts. His grandfather, Joseph Wakeman Sherwood, was born in Southport and became a sea captain. During the Civil war he was engaged in transport work for the Federal gov- ernment and continued as a master mariner throughout his life. He married a Miss Sarah Ann Shaw, who was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and both passed away in Southport.
Their son, Frederick D. Sherwood, was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, January 26, 1850, and began his career as a sailor at the age of thirteen. At that time he started to work on the northern transport commanded by his father and eventually rose
GEORGE A. SHERWOOD
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to the position of captain in the coastwise trade. He was con- nected with the coastwise trade for many years but maintained his home in Southport and died in March, 1922. Like his father, he was a republican, and his life was governed by the teachings of the Congregational church. His wife was born in Ware, Massachusetts, January 27, 1849, and passed away January 27, 1914, in Southport. Her parents, David and Louisa (Brecken- ridge) Woods, were also natives of Massachusetts and both died in Southport. The father taught school as a young man and later followed the vocation of a stationary engineer. The Brecken- ridges were originally from Scotland but owing to religious perse- cution members of the family left that country in 1634 and came to America. Some settled near Brookfield, Massachusetts, and others later migrated to Kentucky.
George Alfred Sherwood attended the public schools of South- port and at the age of thirteen started to work with his father who, at that time, was in the oyster and fish business. His nights during this period he devoted to performing various kinds of jobs and newspaper selling, and the evenings of one winter he worked in a printing office for a local paper. For two summers he was an instructor on a yacht teaching young people the art of naviga- tion; and then turned his attention to painting and decorating, to which he devoted a similar period. During that time he was associated with an uncle and next secured a position in the Jen- nings meat market, which he left at the end of fifteen months. For several years he assisted his father in the local boat yard and in 1900 he entered the employ of a wholesale and retail grocery in Southport. He was thus engaged for about nine years and in 1910 he made his first independent venture, locating in Bridge- port, where he established the distributership for the state for the Kline Kar. Mr. Sherwood discontinued that line on the ex- piration of fourteen months and from November, 1911, until 1922 he was a Packard distributor and a partner in the Blue Ribbon Garage. In January, 1922, he took over the agency and estab- lished the Packard Bridgeport Motors, Inc., of which he has since been the president and treasurer. In the 7th of April, 1928, the business was moved to a new building located at No. 1020 Fair- field avenue, which affords thirty-five thousand square feet of floor space. It is well adapted to the needs of the firm, which has one of the finest display rooms in the city. Mr. Sherwood
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knows the merits of the Packard car and utilizes the most effec- tive methods of salesmanship. His business has been carefully planned and is rapidly expanding under his expert management.
In October, 1917, Mr. Sherwood married Miss Ruth Colburn Holman, who was born September 26, 1885, and is a graduate of Smith College of Northampton, Massachusetts. She is a daugh- ter of the Rev. William Henry and Clara (Erskine) Holman, the former a direct descendant of Governor Bradford. Rev. Holman was born in Newton, Massachusetts, January 19, 1852, and was graduated from Harvard University and the Union Theological Seminary. For thirty-eight years he was pastor of the Con- gregational church at Southport, Connecticut, where he still re- sides, and is now retired. His wife was born in Milford, Massa- chusetts, May 31, 1856, and passed away in Southport. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have two sons: John Holman, who was born De- cember 7, 1919; and Robert Breckenridge, born January 15, 1922.
Mr. Sherwood's only hobby is yacht racing. He is a charter member of the Pequot Yacht Club. Mrs. Sherwood was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity while a college student and is active in the work of the United Congregational church, of which Mr. Sherwood is a deacon. He is identified with the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce and the Bridgeport Young Men's Chris- tian Association. He gives his political allegiance to the repub- lican party and heartily endorses all movements of reform, prog- ress and improvement but has never aspired to public office. By nature he is genial, frank and unassuming, and an upright life of quiet devotion to duty has won for him a secure place in the esteem of his fellowmen.
JOHN P. HOLST
Prominent in the younger circle of Bridgeport's capable and successful business men stands John P. Holst, vice president and general manager of the Highway Transfer Company, one of the leading motor transportation concerns of Fairfield county. Mr. Holst was born in Brooklyn, New York, on the 12th of August, 1897, a son of John and Dora (Langfeldt) Holst, both of whom are natives of Germany and are now residing in Bridgeport, Con- necticut. His paternal grandfather, Peter Holst, was a lifelong
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resident of Germany. The father is numbered among the enter- prising and up-to-date business men of Bridgeport, being presi- dent of the Highway Transfer Corporation. He is a republican in his political views and he and his wife are earnest members of the Lutheran church.
John P. Holst received his education in the public schools of Bridgeport and then became an apprentice in the shops of the A. H. Nilson Manufacturing Company, for which concern he worked four years. Afterward he was employed in several tool shops in Bridgeport and during this time also took a number of courses in tool designing in the mechanical engineering school of New York University. During the World war he offered his services to the government and was assigned to Watervliet Arsenal, at Watervliet, New York, where, under Alfred Bodine, he was placed in charge of the divisions of gauge and tool inspection and civilian employ. At the close of the war he entered the engineering de- partment of the Harvey Hubbell Manufacturing Company, in which he remained for two years, and then for a short time was in the tool division of the General Electric Company. He then became associated with his father in conducting the business of the Highway Transfer Company, becoming vice president and general manager, in which dual capacity he is still serving. This corporation operates fifteen motor trucks and is engaged princi- pally in the hauling of merchandise freight between Hartford, Connecticut, and New York city, and its volume of business has shown a steady and substantial growth.
On July 15, 1924, in Bridgeport, Mr. Holst was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Agnes Preece, who was born December 27, 1899, and is a daughter of Richard and Mary (Walker) Preece, of Ansonia, Connecticut, where her father is engaged in a successful business as funeral director. Mrs. Holst, who is a graduate of the Ansonia high school, is a Lutheran in her religi- ous affiliation and is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Holst are the parents of a daughter, Dorothy Louise, born December 29, 1927.
In his political views Mr. Holst is an ardent republican and is an earnest member of the Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Motor Truck Association and has served on several of its legislative committees. He is a lover of outdoor life, being partial to fishing and the game of football, while his favorite indoor
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diversion is the building of radio sets, in which he is an expert. He is a gentleman of cordial and unaffected manner, is well known in social circles, and he and his wife are deservedly popular throughout the range of their acquaintance. Mr. Holst has shown marked executive ability as manager of the transfer company, and his record has earned for him the respect and confidence of all who have had dealings with him.
ASHER PAPISH
Asher Papish, of Danbury, stands as an exemplar of the effective exercise of persistent industry, clear headed judgment and sound principles in practical business affairs, and the splendid success which is crowning his efforts has been well merited. Mr. Papish was born in Russia on the 13th of May, 1876, and is a son of Samuel and Flora (Reznick) Papish, also natives of that country. He received his education in the grammar and high schools of his native land, also studying in a private school for a time. In 1895, when nineteen years of age, he came to the United States, landing in New York, where he secured employment as a clerk in a furniture store, which line of work he followed for two months. He then turned his attention to the tailoring busi- ness, being employed for a couple of years in the making of men's vests. Going to Keypoint, New Jersey, he engaged in the metal and iron business, later following the same business in New Lon- don, Connecticut.
Eventually Mr. Papish came to Danbury, where he conducted a successful iron business under the name of A. Papish for several years. In 1905 he located in Brookfield, Connecticut, and started a hatters' fur business, in which he was making very satisfactory headway when he received a setback in the destruction of his fac- tory by fire. Nothing daunted, he came to Danbury and bought his present factory building on East Franklin street, where he is now carrying on a very prosperous business in the making of hatters' fur. Mr. Papish wisely continued the iron and metal . business until the fur business was on a paying basis, when he discontinued it and is now devoting his entire time and atten- tion to his Danbury factory.
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In 1909 Mr. Papish was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Reznick, who also was born in Russia, and they are the parents of a son, Leo Isadore, who is seventeen years of age and is a grad- uate of the Danbury high school. Mr. Papish is a man of excel- lent personal qualities, and all who know him hold him in high esteem.
ROBERT R. MACDONALD
Among Stamford's well known and successful insurance men stands Robert R. MacDonald, who has an office in this city and business connections in New York city, and who is meeting with very satisfactory success. He was born in South Norwalk, Con- necticut, on the 9th of June, 1897, and is the son of Robert A. and Caroline (Selleck) MacDonald. His paternal great-grandfather, Alexander MacDonald, came from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, to Prince Edward Island, Canada, about 1838. His eldest son, Peter MacDonald, married Anne Maria Kyley, whose father built the first sailing vessel on Prince Edward Island. He moved to Bath, Maine, where he became a ship builder and lived for sixty years. His death occurred at Wiscasset, Maine, in 1927. He was a repub- lican in his political views and a Baptist in his religious faith.
Robert A. MacDonald, eldest son of Peter MacDonald, was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and was for a long period engaged in the drug business in South Norwalk, Connecticut, but is now retired from active affairs and is living in Gardiner, Maine. He supports the republican party and is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His wife was born in West Norwalk, Connecticut, and is now living in Darien, this state.
Robert R. MacDonald attended the Darien public schools and was graduated from the Stamford high school in 1914. On June 20, 1917, he enlisted for service in the World war, and went into training at Niantic, Connecticut. He was assigned to the One Hundred and Second Ambulance Corps, Twenty-sixth Division, and served overseas twenty months. He returned to this country, April 9, 1919, and on the 29th of that month was honorably dis- charged. He then became associated with the insurance broker- erage house of Betts & Betts, at 52 Vanderbilt avenue, New York city, with which he has remained connected to the present time,
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and is also a member of the firm of Betts & MacDonald, in Stam- ford.
On June 13, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. MacDonald was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Taft, who was born in Brooklyn, July 12, 1903, and is a daughter of George Chapin and Ethel Elizabeth (Smith) Taft. Her paternal grandparents were Caleb C. and Maria L. (Harris) Taft. Caleb Taft was a native and lifelong resident of West Bloomfield, New York, a farmer by vocation, a supporter of the republican party and a member of the Congregational church. His wife was born in South Salem, New York, and died in Brooklyn. George Chapin Taft was born in West Bloomfield, New York, and is now residing in Brooklyn, that state, where he is assistant resident manager of the Employers Liability Assurance Corporation of London, Eng- land. His wife was born and has always lived in Brooklyn. Mr. Taft is a republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. Mrs. MacDonald is de- scended from Revolutionary ancestry on the maternal side of her family, as is also Mr. MacDonald. Mrs. MacDonald attended the Packer Collegiate Institute of Brooklyn and was graduated from Vassar College in 1925 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She takes a keen interest in the social and civic affairs of her com- munity. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald are the parents of a daugh- ter, Barbara, born September 26, 1926, and of a son, George Taft MacDonald, born February 13, 1929.
Mr. MacDonald is a republican in his political faith, and is a member of the Stamford Yacht Club, the High Ridge Country Club, the Stamford Board of Insurance Underwriters and the National Association of Insurance Agents.
MRS. ALICE (WRIGHT) RUSS
Because of her war work and her close connection with many lines of activity of great benefit to her fellowmen, Mrs. Alice (Wright) Russ is an outstanding figure in Fairfield county, mak- ing her home at Huntington Center. She is a native of Spring- field, Massachusetts, and a daughter of William E. and Mary Jane (Smith) Russ. She completed the public school course and after leaving high school prepared for Vassar College, but it was
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about that time that she became acquainted with John B. Russ and her life plans were changed inasmuch as she became his wife on the 10th of April, 1911.
Mrs. Russ has long been very prominent in connection with public affairs. During the World war period she served as in- spector in the gas defense plant on Long Island and later was appointed personnel officer with supervision over eight hundred and sixty-five girls who were doing war work. She is closely associated with the American Legion, has served as vice presi- dent of the post and was the organizer of the auxiliary. Through- out her entire life she has supported those forces and movements which tend to uplift the individual and make for the upbuilding of character. It was natural therefore that she became identified with the Girl Scout movement and is now commissioner of their camp of Derby and Shelton. She has membership in the Women's Relief Corps, in the Farmill River Grange and in the Congrega- tional church and for ten years she served on the executive board of the Daughters of the American Revolution, acting for four years as state chairman. In every organization with which she becomes identified she is found as an effective and earnest worker, giving much time and thought to the matter of developing each particular organization and making its purpose of practical benefit.
Mrs. Russ has done a notable amount of public service as an office holder. For four years she has been on the board of edu- cation of Shelton and for four years served as alderman, during which period she closely studied municipal problems and aided in bringing about needed reforms and progress. Her political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and she has served as vice chairman, secretary and treasurer of the town committee. She has also been a member of the executive board of the Republican Women's Club of Fairfield county and was chosen to the presidency of the Huntington Republican Club. Her polit- ical work is the result of a firm belief in the principles of the party with which she is thoroughly familiar, keeping in touch with all the vital questions and issues of the day. She became a charter member of the National Republican Club of New York, has been a member of the committee on national affairs and national com- mittee woman of the republican party. In the fall of 1928 she
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was elected a member of the state legislature and in this position her supporters have no doubt that she will measure up to the high- est standards of legislative service.
Mrs. Russ has the distinction of being the first woman chosen to serve as a director of the Shelton Chamber of Commerce. For more than sixteen years she has been an active member of the Girls Club of Derby and Shelton and for fourteen years has served on the executive board of the District Nurse Association. Through a period of twelve years she has been chairman of the Shelton welfare committee and a member of that committee for another five-year period. It is her custom to spend many hours in visiting the sick in Griffin Hospital and on many occasions she has quietly and unostentatiously furnished the means whereby a patient might receive specialist care in other hospitals. She acts as president of the Ladies Aid and is a trustee of the Griffin Hospital and she had charge of purchasing the furnishings for the Russ Memorial Home for Nurses. She has likewise worked effectively and earnestly for the Laurel Heights Sanatorium and Allingtown Hospital and she has had charge of the Friend Russ Fund. Her greatest pleasure comes in ministering to the welfare and happiness of others. She is constantly extending a helping hand where aid is needed and speaking a word of encouragement, and she sheds around her much of the sunshine of life.
FREDERICK L. MILLS
Commercial activity in Bridgeport has been stimulated by the well directed efforts of Frederick L. Mills, a well known automo- bile dealer with a background of twenty-five years of practical experience in the business. He was born in Westport, Connecti- cut, July 19, 1876, a son of Arthur and Mary (Boyle) Mills. The father was a native of the same place and always lived in that part of the state, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was a Congregationalist in religious faith and passed away in 1888. The mother was born in England and resides at Greens Farms, in Fairfield county.
In the acquirement of an education Frederick L. Mills attended the public schools of Greens Farms and there became
FREDERICK L. MILLS
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associated with Edward J. Taylor in the cultivation and sale of flowers, thus continuing for five years. Afterward he followed the occupation of farming and also engaged in general contract- ing for some time. In 1903 he embarked in the automobile busi- ness in Bridgeport, becoming one of the early dealers here, and prospered from the beginning owing to his close application and good management. His patronage increased from year to year, and in 1922 he organized The F. L. Mills Company, Inc., of which he has since been president and treasurer. They are the local dis- tributors of the Studebaker and Pierce-Arrow cars and have attractive display rooms at No. 2316 Fairfield avenue. Their annual sales amount to a large figure and they also operate an up-to-date service station. Mr. Mills is thoroughly informed regarding the latest developments in the automobile industry and knows the merits of the cars he sells. He is a sagacious, far- sighted business man and one of the leading automobile dealers of the city. His experience and ability have also been of benefit to the Bridgeport Coach Lace Company, of which he is vice presi- dent, and to The Nash Sales Company, Inc., the Fish Motor Com- pany, and the Morris Plan Bank, of which he is a director.
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