USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1639-1928 > Part 33
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Mr. Mills was married December 14, 1899, in Southport, Con- necticut, to Miss Sarah Augusta Baker, who was born June 16, 1879, in that town. She was graduated from the Bridgeport high school and engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. Her parents, Ebenezer and Julia Augusta (Gorman) Baker, who resided on a farm in the vicinity of Southport, have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have two children: Frederick B., who was born December 12, 1908, and after his graduation from the Law- renceville high school entered Yale University, being a member of the class of 1930; and Anne Gorham, who was born in 1909 and is a student at the Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.
Mr. Mills is a Congregationalist, and his wife is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church of Southport. In politics he is a strong republican, but has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. He is a Mason, belonging to Corinthian Lodge, No. 104, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, the Algonquin Club, the Pequot Yacht Club, and the Brooklawn and Greenfield Hill Country Clubs. Many of his leisure hours. are devoted to golf, and healthful exercise keeps him physically and mentally fit. Honorable and straightforward,
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Mr. Mills has won the respect and confidence of all with whom he has had business dealings and his success is well deserved. The Mills residence is in Sailor's Lane, Fairfield.
MARTIN GORMAN
One of Danbury's most highly respected citizens and prosper- ous business men is Martin Gorman, member of Gorman & Tomaino Fur Company, Inc. He is a native of this city, where he has spent practically all of his life, and has been connected with the hat-making business for nearly fifty years.
Mr. Gorman was born on the 1st of January, 1864, and is a son of John and Ellen (Gallagher) Gorman, both of whom were born in Ireland. The father is deceased, and the mother, who is now well advanced in years, is making her home with her son, who is giving her every care and attention.
Martin Gorman received his education in the public schools of Danbury and then began working at the hat industry, in some phase or another of which he has been employed continuously since 1880 in the various factories of Danbury. In 1917 Mr. Gorman formed a partnership with Julian F. Tomaino, and en- gaged in the fur cutting business, under the name of Gorman & Tomaino Fur Company, Inc., with their factory at 16-24 River street, Danbury. He thoroughly understands every detail of the business, has devoted his attention tirelessly to the operation of the plant and has met with very satisfactory success.
In June, 1928, Mr. Gorman was united in marriage to Mary Graham, who was also born in Danbury and is a daughter of Bernard and Jane Graham, of that city, now deceased.
In his political views Mr. Gorman is a democrat and has been selected by his party as its standard bearer on several occasions. He was elected a representative to the state legislature in 1903, 1911, 1915 and 1917, in which body he gave a good account of himself, serving on a number of important committees and sup- porting every measure calculated to promote the public interests. In February, 1928, Mr. Gorman was appointed a member of the board of estimate and apportionment of the city of Dan- bury. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, and served as president of
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the Hatmakers' Association from 1905 to 1908. A man of quiet and unaffected manner, he is, nevertheless, a man of positive character and substantial qualities and because of his splendid business record and kindly manner, he commands the sincere respect of his fellowmen.
3/23/49 HON. JOSEPH RADBURN TAYLOR
High on the list of Fairfield county's able and successful law- yers stands the name of Joseph R. Taylor, who has been engaged in the practice of law in South Norwalk for thirty-eight years, during which period he has commanded recognition as a capable, resourceful and dependable attorney. He was born in Annandale, Dutchess county, New York, on the 4th of January, 1869, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Radburn) Taylor. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, where he was reared and edu- cated. In his early twenties he came to the United States, living for awhile in New Jersey and Maine, and finally locating in Annandale, New York, where he resided for a number of years. In 1871 he moved to Norwalk, Connecticut, and entered the em- ploy of the Lounsbury & Bissell Company, of whose plant he later became superintendent, holding that position until he retired from active affairs, about five years prior to his death, which occurred in 1911. He was a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., and Our Brothers Lodge, I. O. O. F. His wife was born in Cheltenham, England, where her family had long been established. She came to this country in her girlhood and located in Syracuse, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born five children, namely: Annie J., deceased; Emily A., deceased, who was the wife of Zachariah Keasler, of Mount Kisco, New York; Walter T., of Norwalk; Joseph R., of this review; and one who died in infancy.
Joseph R. Taylor received his early education in the public schools of Norwalk and took up the study of law in the office of Hon. John H. Light, of South Norwalk. He was admitted to the bar on May 23, 1890, and for about five years was associated with Judge Light. Subsequently he became a partner of his former preceptor, under the firm name of Light & Taylor, a relation
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which was continued for several years. The partnership was then dissolved, after which time Mr. Taylor practiced alone for sometime but is now senior partner of the firm of Taylor & Love- joy, having his offices in the South Norwalk Trust building. He has commanded a large practice, specializing in corporation law, and has appeared as counsel in many noted cases in the courts of this county, while as an office counselor he is regarded as sound and safe.
Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Georgiana Hutch- inson, daughter of Andrew Hutchinson, of Norwalk. Her father was born near Belfast, Ireland, and in young manhood came to the United States. For many years he was superintendent of the Norwalk Mills Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born two sons: Kenneth H., born September 25, 1897; and Gerald Radburn, born February 9, 1904. Kenneth H. Taylor spent two and a half years in Cornell University, laying aside his textbooks to enlist in the United States Signal Corps for service in the World war. He was stationed at Fort Wood, New York, and in October, 1917, was transferred to the Medical Corps and sent to Camp Eustis, at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, preparatory for over- seas duty. They were held there seven weeks, during which time the armistice was signed, and he was then transferred back to Fort Wood, where he was honorably discharged in July, 1919.
He was married on October 19, 1923, to Miss Alice Streeton and is now with the E. H. Hotchkiss Company of Norwalk. Ger- ald Radburn Taylor was graduated from St. John's Military School at Manlius, New York, in 1921, and is now connected with the Norwalk Agency Real Estate & Insurance Corporation. He was married September 25, 1926, to Miss Helen S. Maclaren, and they have a daughter Jeanne, who was born January 14, 1929.
In his political views, Mr. Taylor is a stanch republican and has always shown a keen interest in public affairs. He served for fifteen years as clerk of the old city of South Norwalk, was for nearly ten years first prosecutor in the town court, and was appointed judge of the city court, which office he held for a similar period. In November, 1927, he was appointed corporation coun- sel for the city of Norwalk and is now acting in that capacity. He is a member of Old Well Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M .; Butler Chapter,
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No. 38, R. A. M .; South Norwalk Lodge, B. P. O. E .; the South Norwalk Club, the Roxbury Club and other local organizations. He is a director and vice president of the South Norwalk Trust Company, the Norwalk Building, Loan & Investment Company and the Norwalk Country Club Company. During the World war he was a member of the local advisory board and the various Liberty Loan committees and spoke several nights a week during the loan drives. He and his family are attendants of the Norwalk Congregational church, to which he gives liberal support, as he does also to all other worthy causes. Personally Mr. Taylor is a man of cordial and unaffected manner, a genial companion and a faithful friend. His citizenship is of the most substantial type, and he has been a consistent supporter of those things which are calculated to contribute to the progress and welfare of his com- munity. His career has been marked by a candor and conscien- tiousness which has favorably impressed all who have come in contact with him, and in every respect he has proven well worthy of public confidence and respect.
ROBERT LIVINGSTON JOHNSON
Robert Livingston Johnson, a veteran of the World war, has achieved success in the field of advertising and figures prom- inently in business circles of New York city but resides in Stam- ford. He was born March 25, 1894, in New York city, and his father, Frank Russell Johnson, was a native of Albany, New York. The grandfather, Robert L. Johnson (I), was born in Schenectady, that state, and with two associates organized the Adams Express Company. Endowed with exceptional business ability and sagacity, he won the full measure of success and was numbered among the leading capitalists of Albany, in which city he passed away. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and supported the candidates of the republican party. Frank R. Johnson was a prosperous manufacturer and always remained in the Empire state, serving for a time on the governor's staff. In politics he was a republican, and his life was guided by the teachings of the Presbyterian church. He passed away in New York city in 1900, and his widow, Mrs. Grace H. (Bell) Johnson, is now living in Norwich, Connecticut. She was born April 16,
a
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1870, and is fifty-nine years of age. Her parents were Charles and Angeline (Redman) Bell, the former a lifelong resident of New York city and an inventor of note. Mr. Bell was a Quaker and led an exemplary life.
Robert L. Johnson (II) completed a course in the Taft school at Watertown, Connecticut, and next matriculated in Yale Uni- versity, becoming a member of the class of 1918. In May, 1917, he left that institution to enter the service of his country and was trained at Plattsburg, New York, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. In August, 1917, he sailed for France and after his graduation from the military training school at Sau- mur was transferred to the Seventh Regiment, attached to the First Division, with which he served until June, 1918, when he returned to the United States. While filling the post of an in- structor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. Mr. Johnson was stationed at Fort Sill until the termination of the war, when he was honorably discharged, and then returned to his native city, becoming associated with an advertising agency. In December, 1922, he was made advertis- ing manager of the Times magazine of New York city and is now vice president of the company which owns and publishes that magazine. His broad knowledge of advertising methods is sup- plemented by executive ability and mature judgment, and his work in behalf of the company has been manifestly resultant.
Mr. Johnson was married August 20, 1917, in New York city to Miss Anna T. Rathbone, who was born August 14, 1897, and attended the Miss Chapin School in that city, completing her edu- cation in Farmington, Connecticut. She is a daughter of Albert and Emma Rathbone, natives of Albany, New York. Her grand- father, Joel Rathbone, was a lifelong resident of that city and one of its well known capitalists. His widow, Mrs. Angelica Rath- bone, was also born in Albany and still resides there. Albert Rathbone is engaged in the practice of law and has long been regarded as one of the foremost members of the bar of New York city. During the World war he served as assistant secretary of the United States treasury and was an unofficial representative of the government on the reparations commission. He is an adher- ent of the democratic party and a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two sons; Robert L. (III),
-
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who was born June 15, 1919; and Albert Rathbone, born Novem- ber 17, 1924.
The parents are affiliated with the First Congregational church, and Mrs. Johnson is connected with the board of man- agers of the Children's Home of Stamford. She is a member of the Junior League and also of the Woman's Club. Mr. John- son is identified with the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, the Woodway Country Club of Stamford, and the Magazine, Adver- tising, Midtown and Yale Clubs of New York city. He is one of the directors of the Yale Placement Bureau Corporation and also of the Twenty-third street branch of the Young Men's Christian Association. A considerable portion of his time and energy has been devoted to the association, and in 1926 he was elected vice president of its board of managers, of which he became president in 1927. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and as a member of the city board of finance he rendered valuable service to Stamford. He is a devotee of golf and also enjoys ten- nis. That Mr. Johnson is a young man of broad and liberal views and wide contacts is shown by the nature of his interests, and the depth and strength of his character, combined with his ability, enterprise and public spirit, have gained for him a high place in the esteem of all who know him.
ANGUS H. MACKENZIE
Angus H. Mackenzie, who spent his earlier years in Massa- chusetts and New York, has long figured prominently in mercan- tile affairs as one of the proprietors of the Bridgeport Public Market, which he conducts in association with his brother, Rod- erick J. Mackenzie. On the 9th of December, 1897, they estab- lished the business on Bank street, where it is still located, start- ing with twenty-five employes, and they now have in the neigh- borhood of two hundred. They are retailers and jobbers and make deliveries with motors as well as horse-driven vehicles. About 1905 they opened a branch on East Main street, where they employ about twenty persons. Their original building has been rebuilt and has a frontage of one hundred and thirty feet on State street and of one hundred and twelve feet on Bank
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street. They occupy the entire structure, which is equipped with refrigerators, carriers and every modern appliance requisite to their needs. An alley has been made through the building in order to keep the wagons off the street while loading for delivery. This is a covered alley, extending from street to street, and was constructed at considerable expense. The market is immaculate, and the produce sold by the firm is the best obtainable. The busi- ness is managed with system and efficiency and reflects the high standards of the men who control it. For thirty-one years the Bridgeport Public Market has been in continuous operation, be- coming an important factor in the economic life of the city, and the steady growth of the business is proof of the quality of ser- vice rendered to patrons and the prestige enjoyed by the firm.
Mackenzie Brothers are enterprising, farsighted business men of the highest integrity and are progressive citizens who have . always displayed a deep and helpful interest in matters touching the welfare and advancement of their community. Angus H. Mackenzie, president of the firm, has the mental alertness, re- sourcefulness and mature judgment of the true executive and manifests in his character the admirable traits of his Scotch ancestors.
COLONEL HENRY JAMES SEELEY
Colonel Henry James Seeley, now living retired at Bridge- port, has had a notable measure of success as a photographer, is also widely known in the circles of the Grand Army of the Re- public and likewise is one of the best known citizens of Bridge- port. Colonel Seeley was born in Jericho, Vermont, February 22, 1849, a son of Samuel Hamilton and Catherine Elizabeth (Nash) Seeley, natives respectively of Keeseville, New York, and Jericho, Vermont. Colonel Seeley's ancestors came from England in 1628, and members of his family have taken part in all the wars of this country. A grandfather was wounded in the head by an arrow during the famous Pequot battle in the Fairfield swamp. Samuel H. Seeley, a machinist by trade, re- moved in early manhood to Winooski Falls, Vermont, where he was for a number of years in charge of the machinery of woolen
GAR
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mills. Subsequently he removed to Wisconsin and was employed as a machinist in that state until his death in 1855. Later his widow returned to Vermont and just previous to the Civil war removed to Lafayette, Indiana. At the close of that struggle she located in Carbondale, Illinois, and subsequently became a resid- ent of Centralia, Missouri, where she spent the remainder of her life.
Henry J. Seeley was very young when the family moved to Wisconsin and was only about six years old when he was taken by his mother back to Vermont, where he received his early edu- cation. In 1864, although at that time only fifteen years of age, he enlisted from Lafayette, Indiana, in the Tenth Indiana Light Artillery, for service in the Civil war. Even previous to this time he had attempted to join the army but was refused on ac- count of his youth. The battery which he joined was a part of the army of the Cumberland and he served under Generals Sher- man and Thomas. Not long after his enlistment he was trans- ferred to the gunboat Stone River, which was doing patrol duty on the Tennessee river, but later he was with his battery at Fort Johnson, Huntsville, Alabama. After the close of the Rebellion the battery returned to Indiana and Mr. Seeley was mustered out in July, 1865. He then went to Carbondale, Illinois, where he taught school until the fall of 1867, when he came east to go back into the class-room himself and to prepare for more effi- cient work as a teacher. He entered the Essex Classical Insti- tute at Essex, Vermont, and then taught school at Rome, New York, for a year. Mr. Seeley next became connected with the state hospital at Worcester, Massachusetts, in order to earn funds to enable him to continue his school training, and while there he acquired a knowledge of the baking business. Subse- quently he entered the North Bridgewater (Mass.) Normal School for a special course, desiring to fit himself as well as pos- sible for his work. Having an inclination, however, to the bak- ing trade, he made his way to New Haven early in 1870 and for a short period was employed in a baking establishment and then in the same capacity for one year in the state hospital at Mid- dletown, Connecticut. In 1871 he came to Bridgeport and sought a position with the Lawrence photographic studio, where he found the work so congenial and discharged his duties so satis-
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factorily that within a few months he felt that he was ready to enter the business on his own account. On the 1st of May, 1872, he opened an art portrait studio, at 922 Main street, in a build- ing which he subsequently purchased and in which he conducted a portrait studio for fifty-five years. The Seeley Studio Com- pany established an almost international reputation for its prod- ucts. The prestige Mr. Seeley gained in his chosen line was the result of a thorough understanding of its technical points, a real- ization of the importance of artistic considerations in such work and the following of businesslike methods. As the years passed his resources increased and he became financially independent.
Colonel Seeley has been twice married. His first wife, who in her maidenhood was Lucy Button of East Haddam, Connecti- cut, passed away leaving one son, Wilbur N., who resides in Bridgeport. His second wife, who bore the maiden name of Ella D. Carr and was a native of New York city, died in 1917. By this marriage there were born two children : Mabel Ella, who is the wife of Frederick A. Marsh of Easton, Connecticut; and Henry Arthur, a graduate of Cornell University, who is engaged in the structural steel business in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mr. Seeley endorses the policies of the republican party but at local elections votes for the men best qualified to fill the offices in question without regard to their political affiliations. He is one of the most widely known men in the country in Grand Army circles, as for half a century he has been active in that order. He holds membership in Elias Howe, Jr., Post, No. 3, of Bridge- port, of which he has served as commander, and he has a number of times been called to office in the state and national organiza- tions of the order. In 1912 he was assistant adjutant general of the Department of Connecticut, which office he held for two years, for one year was assistant quartermaster general, and in 1913 was honored by election as adjutant general of the na- tional body at a reunion held in Los Angeles, California. He was one of the most active officers that ever served and made the unusual record of visiting on official business all of the states of the Union except two during his term of office. He was depart- ment commander of the Department of Connecticut in 1917 and is now chairman of the council of administration of the Depart- ment of Connecticut. When Colonel Seeley was department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic in Connecticut
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he and the department acquired national fame during the two hundredth anniversary Yale pageant which took place on Octo- ber 21, 1916, in the Yale Bowl. The pageant directors had re- quested him to aid in reproducing the ceremonies of Civil war days, when the body of Major Theodore Winthrop, first Yale soldier to be killed in action in this war, was returned to the Union forces by the Confederates. His body at the close of the battle of Big Bethel was inside the Confederate lines and Gen- eral Butler, the Union commander, had requested its return. To reproduce these ceremonies required the recruiting and drilling of two hundred and fifty Civil war veterans from the various posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in the state. Colonel Seeley, assisted by the then junior vice commander of the de- partment, Dr. Benjamin H. Cheney of New Haven, worked un- tiringly in drilling the veterans for this unique event, and the ceremonies were notably well performed in the presence of a large and deeply impressed audience, with all the military for- malities in vogue during the war of the rebellion. Colonel Seeley and the department received letters of warm commendation from Anson Phelps Stokes, then secretary of Yale, and Francis H. Markoe, master of the pageant. The event created much gen- eral interest throughout the country. In 1919 Colonel Seeley was appointed commandant at Fitch's Home for Soldiers at Noro- ton Heights and fulfilled his duties in the interests of soldiers and state for eight years, resigning this post on October 1, 1927. In his years of service to the home he established conditions at the celebrated institution which made it second to none among the forty-two veterans' homes in the United States.
He is also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to Corinthian Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A. M .; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M .; Jerusalem Coun- cil, No. 16, R. & S. M .; Hamilton Commandery, No. 5, K. T .; Lafayette Consistory, S. P. R. S .; and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. In the Senior Order of United American Mechanics he is likewise well known, having held state and national offices in the order as well as having filled all the chairs in Waldemere Council, No. 6, of Bridgeport, of which he was the only surviving charter member at the time of its dissolution. He now affiliates with Uncas Council of that order. He has been a member of
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Arcanum Lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., for fifty-four years and is vice chief veteran of the Odd Fellows Veteran Association. He also holds membership in the Sons of the American Revolution in both state and local chapters and is secretary and treasurer of the 49 Club. His has been indeed a successful life, as he has gained material prosperity, has served with honor in important positions of trust and has won the sincere respect and the warm regard of those who have been intimately associated with him.
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