History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 109

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1390

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III > Part 109

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Mr. Watkins was married January 21, 1880, in Manchester, Connecticut, to Miss Catherine Louise Lyman, a descendant of William Brewster, who came to America on the Mayflower and was one of the founders of Plymouth colony in New England. Two children were born of this union, namely: Hazel Loraine, who died in 1923; and Mar- jorie, who is the wife of Edmond A. Lucy of Greenwich, Connecticut.

In 1901 Mr. Watkins took his seat in the state legislature and throughout his tenure of office exhibited a zealous and watchful regard of public rights. During the period when the encroachments of the railroad seemed to be a real menace he made a notable and fearless stand for the interests of the people. Owing in a great measure to his attitude at that time he was selected as county commissioner and his six years in the office were characterized by a clean, straightforward, incorruptible administra- tion which has been held up as a model ever since.

Mr. Watkins served in the Connecticut National Guard for six years, becoming recognized as one of its best marksmen, and during the greater part of that time he was a member of the rifle team of the First Regiment. Later he took up trap shooting and in 1920 scored almost one hundred per cent in five matches. In that

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year he won the championship for Connecticut, breaking two hundred and ninety-three targets out of three hundred. He belongs to the Senior Golf Association of Connecti- cut and has always been interested in clean sport, being a member of the first Man- chester baseball team and also of the first shooting club. Mr. Watkins has converted his opportunities into tangible assets and as a business man he has been conspicuous among his associates not only for his enterprise and ability, but also for his fairness and probity. At all points in his career he has been animated by a strong sense of duty and honor, thus winning and retaining the respect, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.

HON. ANGELO M. PAONESSA

Among the self-made men of New Britain who have depended upon industry, dili- gence and perseverance for the attainment of success is numbered Angelo M. Paonessa, president and treasurer of the City Service Station, in which connection he is handling the Chrysler sales at this point. Born in Calabria, Italy, on the 24th of February, 1878, he is a son of Thomas and Mary Paonessa. In 1888 he arrived in New York city and was a pupil of the schools there at the age of ten. He then secured employ- ment in connection with the construction of Brewster's dam at Carmel, New York, and also on the big Croton dam, working as a water boy at a wage of twenty-five cents per day. Afterward he was employed at a navy yard on the construction of the naval magazine, spending two years and a half in that position. In 1902 he arrived in New Britain and became a contracting mason, for in his previous experiences he had gained broad and valuable knowledge of construction work. He continued as a contractor until 1916, when he turned his attention to the motor car business by estab- lishing the City Service Corporation for the purpose of handling automobiles in New Britain. He is now president and treasurer of this company and has developed a large business which ranks him with the leading automobile dealers of his section. He is also quite extensively interested in realty and is now developing a tract known as "Lakeside" at East Hampton, Connecticut. The development of his business powers and capacity is furthermore indicated in his connection with the People's Savings Bank as a director. He was also one of the incorporators of the New Britain Savings Bank, which he represents on the directorate, and of the New Britain General Hos- pital. He is a director of the Hotel Burritt and his cooperation is justly accounted a valuable asset to any organization with which he becomes identified. In matters of business his judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault and he possesses the ability to coordi- nate seemingly diverse interests into a harmonious and productive whole.

Mr. Paonessa was married at Croton on Hudson, New York, on the 17th of May, 1902, to Miss Myrtle H. Holley, who was born at Tomkins Cove, New York, and is a daughter of Ferdinand and Mary (Lent) Holley, while through the paternal line she traces her ancestry back to Sir Isaac Holley of the Mayflower. Mr. and Mrs. Paonessa are parents of six children: Constance, Clarice, Ellis, Norman, Jack and Daniel.

While Mr. Paonessa has achieved notable success in business, he has gained equal prominence as one of the political leaders of the state, being a foremost representative of the democratic party in Connecticut for state chairman. In 1911 he was elected a councilman, was chosen alderman in 1916 and by popular suffrage was called to the mayoralty of New Britain in 1922 and reelected in 1924. After completing his second term as mayor, he retired to private life and for the first time in fifteen years was not a member of the city government. In the spring of 1928 he was persuaded by the democratic party to again be their candidate for the office of mayor. He consented to do so and on the 10th of April was elected mayor of the city of New Britain for the third time. This was a remarkable achievement and a demonstration of the respect and confidence the people have for him, realizing that New Britain is known as a republican city. During his administrations he made every effort to make New Britain a better place to live in by the development of parks and recreation grounds for the children. It was also through his efforts that the fire department was placed on the two platoon system. In 1913 he was his party's nominee for representative to the state legislature and in 1922 became the democratic nominee for secretary of state.

His qualities of leadership have proven a potent force in political as well as busi- ness circles. His initiative and his determination enable him to overcome obstacles

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HON. ANGELO M. PAONESSA

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and bring his plans to a successful culmination in the business world, and gradually he has advanced until his service as water boy on the Brewster dam seems a thing of the long ago, and yet it is a comparatively brief time since he worked in that humble connection. Today, however, New Britain numbers him among her men of affluence, contributing to the successful control of many of the important business interests here.

JOHN ANSON MARKHAM

Following in the footsteps of his father, the distinguished Judge Daniel A. Mark- ham, John Anson Markham has won creditable position at the Hartford bar, where he is now practicing as a partner in the firm of Cannon & Markham. He was born in this city November 15, 1894, one of the five children of Judge Daniel A. and Grace (Goodrich) Markham, extended mention of whom is made in connection with the sketch of his brother, Daniel G. Markham, on another page of this work. At the usual age he became a public school pupil and in the course of years a high school student, while his preparatory course was pursued in the Holderness School at Plymouth, New Hampshire, from which he was graduated with the class of 1914, and his classical course in the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, where he received his A. B. degree in 1917. In preparation for a professional career he entered the Yale Law School and won his LL. B. degree in 1921, being admitted to the bar the same year. He then began practice in his native city in association with his father and Alexander Arnot, under the firm style of Markham, Arnot & Markham. This associa- tion was maintained for five years and in 1926 he joined James E. Cannon as a mem- ber of the firm of Cannon & Markham. Their business is of an important character and of gratifying proportions, and during the seven years in which he has continued in legal practice here Mr. Markham has made steady progress that argues well for the future.

On the 15th of June, 1918, John Anson Markham was married to Miss Alice King Bragaw, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (King) Bragaw, of Hartford. Their children are: Adelaide, born March 14, 1919; and Betsy, born December 12, 1921.

There is a military chapter in the life record of Mr. Markham, for when a young man of twenty-three years he enlisted on the 14th of May, 1917, in the United States army, and was commissioned November 27, 1917, as a first lieutenant of infantry. He was stationed at various places in this country, but was not sent overseas, and received his discharge as first lieutenant December 12, 1918. He has membership in the American Legion and in matters of citizenship shows the same spirit of loyalty and patriotism that prompted him to offer his services to the government in the critical period when the nation was participating in the World war. His political views are in accord with the principles of the democratic party and upon its ticket he was elected alderman of the ninth ward, serving from 1922 until 1924 and stanchly endorsing those measures and projects which he deemed of essential worth to the municipality. His friends are many and a large number of them are found among his fellow members of the Phi Nu Theta, of the University Club and the New London Country Club.

UFA E. GUTHRIE

As a member of the bar and as a public official Ufa E. Guthrie has rendered important and valuable service to Hartford. He has practiced here continuously since his admission to the bar in 1921 and is now a member of the well known firm of Schutz, Cramer & Guthrie. He was born in Sylvarena, Mississippi, March 28, 1893, his parents being William D. and Ann Q. (Addy) Guthrie, who were farming people of that place, and while spending his youthful days under the parental roof the son attended the public and high schools of Sylvarena. His more advanced education was acquired in the University of Mississippi, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919, and with broad literary education to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge he entered

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the Yale College Law School and won his LL. B. degree in 1921, being admitted to the bar in June of the same year.

Mr. Guthrie did not return to the south but chose Hartford as the scene of his professional labors and became associated with Walter S. Schutz, then a prominent attorney of Hartford but now deceased. In May, 1922, he became the junior partner in the firm of Schutz, Cramer, Howard & Guthrie, which name was changed to Schutz, Cramer & Guthrie on the 1st of December, 1922, when A. E. Howard, Jr., withdrew from the partnership. Mr. Schutz passed away January 4, 1924, since which time the partnership has been maintained by Charles W. Cramer and Ufa E. Guthrie, although the old firm name is still used. Mr. Guthrie rapidly won recognition as an able lawyer, possessing wide knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, and his clients have found that he can capably and successfully handle cases of much more than ordinary importance. Along strictly professional lines he has membership with the Hartford County and American Bar Associations.

Socially Mr. Guthrie maintains connection with the University Club and the Fern- leigh Club. He is also a Phi Delta Phi and fraternally is a Mason, loyally adhering to the teachings of the craft. Politically he has been a democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has rendered efficient service as vice president and member of the zoning committee of Hartford and also of the city planning com- mission of Hartford. His connection with these two departments has given him oppor- tunity to demonstrate his high ideals of public service, for he is using his official prerogatives to add to Hartford's beauty and improvement along the most advanced lines of city planning, his labors being attended with results that show not only a recognition of present needs but also of future opportunities.

STEWART WOODS REID

Stewart Woods Reid, dealer in investment securities, has been a large factor in the upbuilding of the extensive business of F. E. Kingston & Company, of which organization he is a senior partner.

He was born in Toronto, Canada, September 14, 1885, the son of William and Priscilla (Woods) Reid. His father was a merchant in that city.

After ten years spent in the insurance business in Toronto he transferred to Boston, New York, and finally to Hartford in 1906, where he became a permanent resident.

In 1908 he gave up the insurance business to enter Yale Medical School, from which he graduated in 1913. The following three years were spent as interne and resident surgeon in several New York hospitals and in 1916 Dr. Reid located for practice in Hartford where he was a member of the profession until 1924, when he withdrew to become an active senior partner in the firm of F. E. Kingston & Com- pany, whose head office was moved at this time to Hartford. The growth of the company since coming to Hartford has been most unusual. They have now nine offices in Connecticut's important cities and their investment security business has assumed mammoth proportions. Their growth has been based on sound judgment and service to their customers. Aside from his connection with this firm he is a director of the Mutual Bank and Trust Company of Hartford, president and director of the Groton and Stonington Traction Company, and a director in several large corporations.

On September 4, 1909, Dr. Reid married Ruby May Gelston, of Walpole, Massa- chusetts, who died December 7, 1920, and seven years later, on the 21st of June, 1927, he married Doris Francilla Haen of Boston. A daughter, Dorcilla Ann, was born to them on July 23, 1928.

In 1921 the degree of Bachelor of Science was conferred on him by Trinity College.

Dr. Reid is well known through his active public life and his membership con- nections with the Hartford Club, University Club of Hartford, Yale Club of New York, Wampanoag Country Club, the Farmington Country Club, the Rotary Club of Hartford and the Hartford Medical Society. His fraternities are Delta Phi and Alpha Kappa Kappa. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the

(Photograph by The Johnstone Studio)

STEWART W. REID

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Mystic Shrine and his political views make him a stanch advocate of the republican party. He is now a republican representative on the board of education of Hartford.

Of high moral character and conservative nature, the activities of his life are well balanced and in citizenship he stands out strongly for, and is generous in sup- port of those measures which make for progress and improvement along social, material, intellectual and civic lines.

Doctor Reid is a splendid representative of that class of American men to whom unaided a healthy ambition has given a broad progressive viewpoint, and developed the ability to make the most of opportunity on the high road to a sound material success.

RAYMOND THEODORE OLSON

Raymond Theodore Olson, cashier of the Plantsville National Bank, was born in Orange, Connecticut, May 11, 1895, and is a son of Charles S. and Anna C. Olson. He is indebted to the public school system of Orange for the early educational opportuni- ties which he enjoyed and later he continued his studies in New Haven. While a student in the New Haven Business College he entered the Connecticut National Guard for service on the Mexican border in 1916. At the time when the United States entered the European war he was attached to the Thirtieth Infantry of United States Regulars and at the present writing he is a drum major of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Band.

Following his connection with the army during the world war period he was made chief clerk in the Birmingham National Bank at Derby, Connecticut, where he con- tinued until January, 1925, when he became cashier of the Plantsville National Bank and so continues. His previous experience had well qualified him for the duties and responsibilities that now devolve upon him. He is always a courteous and obliging official, ready to extend every possible aid to the patrons of the bank that does not interfere with the stability of the institution, and at the same time he most carefully safeguards the interests of depositors.

At Shelton, Connecticut, on the 10th of August, 1924, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Alice H. Hubbell and they have one child, Jean. They enjoy the warm friendship of many in Plantsville and their circle of friends is constantly broadening as the num- ber of their acquaintances increases. Politically Mr. Olson is an earnest republican and he filled the office of auditor of Derby when a resident there. He is now a mem- ber of the Shelton Board of Trade and he is interested in all that has to do with the progress and welfare of county and state. A young man, he has made steady advance- ment in business and in financial circles has gained for himself a creditable name and position, enjoying the warm regard and esteem of the banking fraternity of Hart- ford county.

NELSON J. GOODWIN, D. D. S.

In no field has there been more rapid or marked advance than in dentistry, and the representatives of that profession must possess ability of a threefold character. They must have mechanical skill and ingenuity combined with comprehensive scientific knowledge and with that business ability which makes for success in any field of labor. Lacking in none of these requirements, Dr. Nelson J. Goodwin has long main- tained a position of distinction among the practicing dentists of Hartford, where he has remained for forty-five years. He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, August 1, 1849, and is a son of Virgil C. and Fannie (Potter) Goodwin, the former a native of New Britain and the latter of Unionville, Connecticut, where Virgil C. Goodwin served as the first postmaster. It was there that Dr. Goodwin acquired a public and high school education, after which he entered upon the study of dentistry in the office and under the direction of Dr. R. C. Dunham, of New Britain. He won his D. D. S. degree upon successfully passing the required examination before the state board of New York in 1892. It was in 1870, however, that he began to practice in Unionville, where

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he remained for several years, but forty-five years ago he came to Hartford, where he has followed his profession continuously since, and each year has marked an advance in his skill and efficiency, together with a constant growth in his patronage. There are many who have been his patrons through a most extended period and the firm of Goodwin & Goodwin, for his son, Nelson J., Jr., is now in partnership with him, is accorded the foremost position among the representatives of the dental fraternity in Hartford.

In 1882 Dr. Goodwin, Sr., was united in marriage to Miss Florence A. Burnell, of Hartford, and they became parents of two children: Nelson J., Jr., previously men- tioned, who is married and has one child, Helen; and Florence, now the wife of Lawrence Godfrey, of Hartford, and the mother of two children, Nancy Lou and John.

The life record of Dr. Goodwin constitutes a most important chapter in the history of professional interests in the capital city. He was the founder of the Hartford Dental Society, in which he still holds membership, and he is also identified with the Connecticut State Dental Society and the American Dental Association. Throughout the years he has kept abreast with the trend of the times in dental research and dis- covery and has ever readily adopted improved methods, his practice ever being the last word in dental science. His keen insight has enabled him to readily recognize the value and true worth of a discovery, and long since public opinion has accorded him a position of leadership. There are few men whose lives are crowned with the honor and respect that are uniformly accorded Dr. Goodwin, for with him success in life has been reached through sterling qualities of mind and a heart true to every manly prin- ciple, and today he is the honored dean of the dental fraternity in Hartford.

HON. ELIJAH ROGERS

The life record of Elijah Rogers is inseparably interwoven with the history of Southington and of Hartford county because of his activity as an agriculturist, as a financier and as a representative from his town to the two bodies of the state legislature. In all these lines of endeavor he has shown a marked spirit of progress that has resulted most beneficially for this section of the state. In his own career he has advanced steadily and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. He was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, February 22, 1861, his parents being James and Mary (Horsford) Rogers, who came from England in 1857 and settled in this state. Their son Elijah has devoted his entire life to farm- ing and fruit growing, although other interests have also claimed his time and attention. For a brief period just prior to his marriage he worked in a factory in New Jersey. In 1888 he purchased the farm formerly owned by Horatio Dunham at the west end of the Shuttle Meadow reservoir in the Flanders district of South- ington. He was then a young man of twenty-seven years and soon afterward he was united in marriage to Sarah F. Merriman, a daughter of Josiah H. and Anna E. Merriman. They became the parents of two children: Ruth L., now Mrs. Barnes of Yalesville, who was born May 16, 1892; and Harold M., who was born March 7, 1894, and married Caroline E. Noble.

Settling upon his farm, Mr. Rogers started out in a humble way, engaging in the tilling of the soil and gathering therefrom such crops as rewarded his labors, but as time passed on he began raising registered Jersey and Holstein cattle and found this a profitable undertaking, at the same time doing much to improve the grade of stock raised in this section, having every reason to be proud of his success in the breeding of pure bred cattle. He also turned his attention to horticultural pursuits and planted large orchards of both peaches and apples, being one of the pioneer peach growers of Connecticut. Eventually his fruit interests overshadowed his dairy interests, which were abandoned in 1921, and since then he has specialized in fruit raising, in which he is now assisted by his son Harold, who was graduated from the Massachusetts Argicultural College in 1915 and has since been the active aid of his father in the development and care of their splendid orchards, which constitute one of the most attractive plantings in this part of Hartford county.

Mr. Rogers is a most valuable and earnest member of various agricultural societies, particularly in the Connecticut Pomological Society, which he has served as president. There are few who have done so much to stimulate an interest in fruit

(Photograph by The Murray Studio)

ELIJAH ROGERS

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raising in Connecticut and few whose labors have equaled his in extent and in suc- cessful achievement. He has studied the question of caring for the fruit in the most scientific manner and his labors are the result of broad practical experience and applied scientific knowledge. He is a loyal advocate and supporter of the International Rotary and National Exchange clubs. His religious faith is that of the Congrega- tional church and he has not only been a generous contributor thereto but has also served as deacon of the Southington church. With various fraternal and social organizations he has membership connection and in community affairs he has mani- fested a helpful attitude, at no time neglecting the duties nor the obligations of citizenship. In 1907 he was chosen to represent his town in the general assembly and he was elected to the state senate in 1919 and again in 1927, serving as chairman of the committee on agriculture in both sessions. He became a director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and in June, 1924, became one of the first three to be given honorary recognition as an agricultural leader of the state by the Connecticut Agricultural College. During the World war he served with the State Council of Defense and with the Manufacturers Association of Connecticut, with which he is still more or less directly affiliated. Today the Elijah Rogers Farm is one of the notable places in Connecticut, equipped with the latest improved ma- chinery and devices to carry on the farm work and care for his orchards. His example has been a stimulating one to his fellowmen and Connecticut owes much to his efforts. Success in considerable measure has attended him and he now occupies a commodious, spacious and attractive country home in the midst of beautiful sur- roundings, being able to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

THOMAS H. WELDON, M. D.

Dr. Thomas H. Weldon, consulting physician of the Memorial Hospital of South Manchester, where he is the second oldest member of the medical fraternity in years of continuous practice, was here born on the 19th of March, 1861. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Campbell) Weldon, were natives of Ireland, whence they came to Manchester, Connecticut, about 1849. The father was a weaver who also farmed for a number of years. He continued his residence in South Manchester until called to his final rest in 1916, passing away in the faith of St. Bridget's Catholic church, of which he was a member. He always voted with the democratic party. His wife passed away in 1908 and of their family of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, two sons and one daughter are yet living, these being Thomas H., Robert J. and Mrs. Kathryn Donaghue.

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History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 109

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859 Publication date: 1928 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Burpee, Charles W. (Charles Winslow), b. 1859
Publication date: 1928
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1390