USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III > Part 113
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Mr. Bulkeley has always given his political allegiance to the republican party nor has he felt that public service has had no claim upon his time and activities. In 1891 he became a member of the common council of Hartford from the fourth ward and in 1890 he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Morgan G. Bulkeley with the rank of colonel, and for eleven years was a member of the first company, Governor's Foot Guard, as staff officer and adjutant of the command. In the World war period he was an active member and supporter of the Connecticut State Guard. The high purposes of Masonry have found expression in his life, his mem- bership being in St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hartford. In his college days he became a member of Epsilon Chapter of the Delta Psi fraternity and he has served as a Fellow of Trinity College. A membership in the Hartford Golf Club, Fisher's Island Club, the Hartford Canoe, and the Hartford Yacht Club indicates much con- cerning the nature of his recreation. He is also a member and has twice served as president of the Hartford Club. Mr. Bulkeley, too, is a member of the University Club of Hartford.
WALTER IRVING KING
The entire business career of Walter Irving King has been connected with life insurance, first with the actuarial end and then the executive end.
A native of Connecticut, he was born in Thompsonville, July 9, 1881, a son of Henry W. and Myra E. (Willis) King. He received his primary education in the public schools of Enfield, Connecticut. After graduation from the high school, he entered Yale College, where the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon him in 1904. The same year he became associated with the Travelers Insurance Company, occupying a position in the actuarial department for eight years. In 1912 he became identified with the Columbian National Life Insurance Company of Boston in the capacity of actuary and so remained until 1918. In 1918 he accepted a position with the Connecti- cut General Life Insurance Company, to organize its group department, where he was made first superintendent and then secretary of the department. In February, 1927, he was elected secretary of the company, and in November, 1927, he was elected a vice president.
On the 15th of October, 1910, Mr. King was married to Miss Edith Maxon Potter, a daughter of Thomas and Henrietta (Lewis) Potter, of Norwich, Connecticut.
Mr. King is a member of the Hartford Golf Club, the University Club, the Fern- leigh Lawn Bowling Club and the Yale Club of New York, as well as being a Fellow of the Actuarial Society of America, the American Institute of Actuaries, and the Casualty Actuarial Society.
CHARLES HULL CLARK
When Charles Hull Clark was a nonagenarian he was known throughout South- ington and his section of the county as "Charley" to the friends of a lifetime and as "Uncle Charley" to the younger generation. Nothing could indicate more clearly the firm hold which he had upon the affection and regard of his fellow citizens. He stood as one of the foremost business men and manufacturers of this part of the state, but it was not his success that endeared him to those who knew him-it was the kindly spirit that was ever manifest throughout all the relations of his life, making him the friend of young and old, rich and poor. He was born in the town of Southington, October 23, 1832, a son of Theodosius Clark, who occupied the old family homestead that had been acquired in the early part of the nineteenth century, the residence thereon being built in 1810. The district was still largely undeveloped then and Theodosius Clark was the owner of a tract of wooded land under West Peak, Meriden,
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on which he cut ties which he sold to the New Haven & Hartford Railroad, delivering six of these ties in exchange for a dollar. It was upon the old homestead that Charles H. Clark was reared and his youthful experiences were those of the boy who first performs the chores and later, as years and strength permit, works in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops are harvested in the autumn. He turned from agricultural life to the field of productive industry following the estab- lishment of a bolt manufacturing business by his elder brother, William J. Clark, for whom he worked for ten cents per hour, and he was but twenty-two years of age when with some money that he had saved and with five hundred dollars which he bor- rowed he purchased an interest in his brother's business, as did another brother, Henry H. Clark, the firm then becoming William J. Clark & Company, with Charles H. as superintendent. From that time forward until his death he was closely associated with the business that was constantly enlarged and developed until it became the most important establishment of the kind in Southington and one of the foremost enter- prises of this character in the United States. New methods were introduced, inven- tion added to the effectiveness of the plant, improved machinery was secured and the business of the firm was constantly broadened in scope and volume. When seventeen years had passed-years that marked the continuous development of the business- William J. Clark, its founder, withdrew, selling his interest to his brothers, who then reorganized the business under the style of Clark Brothers & Company, admitting to partnership William H. Cummings and Robert W. Bemiss, who had been in the employ of the firm for a number of years. In the early history of the company Charles H. Clark traveled extensively through many states soliciting orders, and many of the patrons whom he secured at that time have since given their business to the firm. In 1884 it became apparent that another advance must be made in the line of bolt forging machinery and experimental work was begun which after two years resulted in practicable solid die cold forging of carriage bolts at one operation and later led to the open die method which permitted this use on bolts of longer lengths. With the passing of time the business continued to grow and develop until November 3, 1893, when the entire works, including the office, warehouse and other buildings, were destroyed by fire. Their losses were heavy, as they carried comparatively little insur- ance, but they had many orders booked ahead and they felt that they must meet the requirements of their business. This was done, the plant being immediately rebuilt and equipped, and again was soon in working order. There was no change in ownership or control until March, 1903, when Clark Brothers & Company incorporated their business under the name of the Clark Brothers Bolt Company, admitting Charles C. Persiani and Edwin S. Todd as stockholders. Throughout the years the company has been most practical in its management and something of its policy is shown in the fact that not only have various customers remained with the business for more than a half century but employes have continued with the firm for between twenty-five and sixty years. Upon the death of Henry H. Clark, head of the firm, Charles H. Clark became president and so continued until his demise.
It is interesting to note that Charles H. Clark was connected with transportation activities in the early days when he traveled up and down the canal on one of the old- time boats drawn by horses upon the tow path, it being a day's journey to New Haven, twenty miles distant. Again the progressive spirit that ever characterized the Clark brothers was shown in the active work of Charles H. Clark in promoting electric roads through this section. He did everything in his power to further the project of the Meriden, Southington & Lake Compounce tramway, giving the land on which to locate the power house and car barns and even sacrificing his loved maple shade trees to the site of the road. This was the beginning of an electric line which has since been extended into various sections. Mr. Clark also determined that there should be a con- nection to Waterbury and overcame almost insurmountable difficulties in advancing the project.
On the 21st of August, 1862, Charles H. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Dickerman, a native of Southington, and they lived to observe their golden wedding in 1912, on which occasion Mrs. Clark wore her bridal gown of fifty years before. She lived until after their fifty-sixth wedding anniversary. Having no children of their own, they reared two nieces and a nephew, and the little daughter of the nephew was in Mr. Clark's later years one of the sources of his keenest pleasure and joy. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Clark responded to the country's call for troops to aid in defense of the Union and for many years thereafter was an
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honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, proudly wearing the little bronze button that indicated his loyal support of the stars and stripes. He took an active interest in public affairs and was ever an earnest advocate of the republican party, on whose ticket he was elected to the general assembly on several occasions, receiving the support of many democrats as well as those of his own political faith. He filled various local offices and was most loyal to every cause and trust that was reposed in him. For years he was a director and president of the Southington National Bank and he came to rank with the men of affluence in Southington, but he always regarded this prosperity merely as a means to an end. He was constantly extending a helping hand to those who needed assistance and it was said of him by a lifelong acquaintance that he never did an unkind act. When he had passed beyond the ninetieth milestone on life's journey he still continued as president of the Clark Brothers Bolt Company, although largely leaving the active management to others, yet he walked to and from the factory twice each day. He was temperate in all things-in speech, in word, in deed-and his was a nature full of the milk of human kindness. He loved his fellow- men and expressed it in consideration for the rights and privileges of others, in help- fulness, in encouragement and in good cheer, and thus it is that since his demise, in 1925 at the age of ninety-three, his memory remains as a blessed benediction to all who knew him.
CHARLES F. OLIN
Energetic, self-reliant and capable, Charles F. Olin has made his own way in the world, first achieving success in the field of journalism, and is now in charge of the publicity department of the New Departure Manufacturing Company of Bristol, Connecticut.
A son of Charles Lemuel and Louisa (Kingsley) Olin, he was born September 1, 1870, in Hartford, Connecticut, and when a child lived for a time in Saybrook, this state. At the age of twelve he went to Essex, Connecticut, and continued his studies in Hill's Academy, which he left two years later, beginning his independent career when a youth of fourteen.
Mr. Olin was the Essex correspondent for the Hartford Courant, the Middletown Press and the Deep River New Era, enjoying the distinction of being the youngest newspaper writer in the state. The opportunity offered to learn the printer's trade and he went to Willimantic, Connecticut, where, under the preceptorship of Alan B. Lincoln, publisher of the Connecticut Home, he became a printer and used his spare time in doing editorial work for the publication. His father came to Willimantic and organized the Willimantic Wall Paper Company, and for a time the son, Charles F., was employed by him. Through his interest in the Willimantic Boys' Club he was selected by the state committee of that organization to superintend the activities of the club in Stamford. For three years he ably discharged the duties of this position and was the youngest superintendent in the national field. From Stamford he went to New York city as assistant secretary in charge of boys' work at the Twenty-third Street branch of the Y. M. C. A., then the largest organization of its kind in the country. While acting in that capacity he continued his studies under the tutorship of several members of the faculty of Columbia University. He found time to pursue his favorite avocation and wrote under special assignment for the New York Sun and the New York Recorder. Overwork resulted in a nervous breakdown and tem-
porary blindness. Mr. Olin returned to Willimantic and after recovery entered the employ of the Willimantic Herald, one of the daily newspapers of the city. The busi- ness was owned at that time by F. H. Alford of Middletown and for several months Mr. Olin was its manager, also filling the position of editor. Having no party preju- dices, he expressed his views on local affairs with clearness and force, standing firmly against local abuses, and his vigorous editorials were distasteful to some of the politi- cians. Opportunity offered for newspaper work in a larger field and he joined the city staff of the Hartford Post and remained with that paper for five years. He next became editor of the New Britain Record and then editor and manager of The Bristol Press, in which position he continued until 1904, when he resigned to become advertis- ing manager of the New Departure Manufacturing Company.
When in New Britain he became active in civic affairs and at the outbreak of
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(Photograph by The Johnstone Studio)
CHARLES F. OLIN
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the Spanish-American war was appointed by the mayor to be chairman of the Soldiers Comfort Committee, which was charged with caring for the interests of sick and disabled New Britain soldiers, particularly those who had returned home from camps in the south and were stricken with typhoid. So prevalent did this illness become that Mr. Olin and his committee felt the need of a local city hospital. The John B. Smith residence on Walnut Hill, which had been bequeathed to the city for that purpose but had not yet been opened, was utilized, equipped and placed in charge of the committee. This was the beginning of the present New Britain General Hospital, which was immediately opened following its discontinuance as a hospital for the soldiers.
In Bristol Mr. Olin continued his interest in civic affairs, was active in the Bristol Business Men's Association, of which he was an officer, and was secretary of the republican town committee for several years. He became interested in the Old Home Week Movement, then so prevalent throughout New England, and through the Bristol Press aroused interest in a celebration for Bristol that was notably successful. At this time he was elected the Connecticut member of the executive committee of the New England Old Home Week Association.
In his earlier days Mr. Olin was interested in sports, both as a writer and as a promoter. He organized the New Britain Industrial Baseball League, made up of factory teams, that attracted the largest average attendance in the history of the national sport in that city even down to the present time. He also became interested in roller polo, was active in the management of the New Britain State Championship Team and finally became secretary of the National Roller Polo Association. In Bristol he organized the Fraternal Basketball League, made up of teams from the leading fraternal organizations, and for several seasons this league enjoyed unprecedented success. He was the originator of schools for the study and demonstration of parlia- mentary law in connection with church men's clubs, the first of which was connected with the Prospect Methodist church of Bristol, such schools being subsequently insti- tuted in New Britain, Meriden, Hartford, Wallingford, New Haven and Waterbury, the clubs sitting as either the house or senate of the Connecticut general assembly.
Mr. Olin is a member of the staff of lecturers of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World and has spoken in many cities on advertising subjects. He is a member of the Advertising Club of the City of New York, a former director of the Hartford Advertising Club, a. member of the National Association of Industrial Advertisers and of the Technical Publicity Association of New York city. As a speaker, Mr. Olin has often been called upon to address Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations on topics of civic betterment.
In a profession which has become recognized as one of the dynamic forces in American prosperity, Mr. Olin occupies a position of considerable distinction and has worthily earned the coveted title of "self-made" man, while his personal attributes are such as to inspire strong and enduring regard.
On September 11, 1896, Mr. Olin was married in East Hartford, Connecticut, to Miss Annie A. Burnham, a daughter of John Henry and Minnie (Forbes) Burnham. To this union were born five children. Charles, the second son, died at the age of four years. The others are Phillip Stuart, Florence Burnham, Lester DeWitt and Raymond Forbes.
COLONEL D. GORDON HUNTER.
Colonel D. Gordon Hunter, manager of the home office agency of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, August 16, 1892, and is a son of David and Benia (Hart) Hunter, the former a native of Edin- burgh, Scotland, and the latter of Liverpool, England. They came to America about 1888 and settled in Arlington, New Jersey, where they still make their home, the father having formerly been chief accountant of the Spool Cotton Company of New York city, but now retired.
Colonel Hunter was educated in the schools of New Jersey and in the University of Edinburgh, which he attended for a year. He then took up architectural work in New York city and later engaged in the sale of stone work to the trade. It was in 1915 that he turned his attention to insurance by becoming a sales representative of the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford. He was the first officer
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from Connecticut who was ordered away after the declaration of war in 1917. It was on the 12th of April that he was ordered to report to Plattsburg, New York, on the 5th of May as a second lieutenant of infantry. Prior to this time he had been com- missioned a second lieutenant of infantry of the Officers Reserve Corps by President Wilson, his commission bearing date November 5, 1916. He was retained as an instruc- tor at Plattsburg until December, 1917, and in August of that year was commissioned captain. In December he was ordered to the Seventy-sixth Division Officers Training School at Camp Devens, there continuing until June, 1918, when he was transferred to the Central Officers Training School as a major of infantry, commanding a battalion. His actual duty during the war was in training several thousand infantry officers for combat troops. In May, 1921, he was appointed major of the One Hundred and Sixty- ninth Infantry and was advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel in January, 1922, becoming colonel of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Infantry on June 8, 1923. His activity in this field has made him widely known in military circles.
When his duties in connection with the World war were ended he rejoined the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company in April, 1919, as director of sales training and on the 1st of January, 1923, he organized the home office agency, which under his direction has become the largest agency of the Phoenix Mutual.
On the 30th of November, 1917, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura Russell, of Hartford, and they are the parents of two children: David Gordon, Jr., and Russell. The family resides in West Hartford. Mr. Hunter finds his recreation in horseback riding and in golf and has membership in the Hartford Golf Club, the City Club, the Rotary Club, the Automobile Club, the American Legion and the Masonic fraternity. The salient traits in his character measure up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship and all who know him entertain for him the highest respect and regard.
GEORGE E. PATTISON
Among those men who have risen to prominence through capability and close application and are now well known figures in connection with financial activity in Hartford county is numbered George E. Pattison, the treasurer of the Simsbury Bank & Trust Company of Simsbury. His entire life has here been passed. He was born January 28, 1874, and while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Joseph Pattison and Delia (Sceery) Pattison, he attended the public schools and the McLean Seminary, so that his educational training well qualified him for the duties and responsibilities of business life. He first secured employment in the Wilcox general store at Simsbury in January, 1892, and there made steady progress, remain- ing with the house until May, 1918, or for a period of twenty-six years. In the mean- time his brother, Senator Alexander T. Pattison, had become owner of the business and at the time of its incorporation George E. Pattison was made vice president, with the Senator as president of the company. In 1916 the work of organizing the Simsbury Bank & Trust Company was begun, at which time George E. Pattison was appointed treasurer of the new organization. In May, 1918, he severed his actual connection with the general store in order to concentrate his efforts and attention upon the develop- ment of. the interests of the Simsbury Bank & Trust Company. A general banking business is carried on and success has attended the enterprise from the beginning, owing to the progressive methods instituted and the safe, conservative policy which was introduced in order to thoroughly protect the interests of depositors. In the de- cade which has passed since the bank first opened its doors to the public its affairs have been most wisely directed and the success of the institution is attributable in no small measure to the efforts of George E. Pattison. He has also represented the Hart- ford Fire Insurance Company for a number of years. In June, 1927, with Woods Chandler and Charles W. Hall, he organized Chandler, Pattison & Hall, Incorporated, Insurance, of which Mr. Pattison is vice president, treasurer and a director.
It was on the 20th of September, 1904, that Mr. Pattison, in Simsbury, was united in marriage to Miss Eva B. Case, a daughter of Wheeler and Anne (Brockett) Case. They now have three children: Joseph M., born July 15, 1905; Amy C., January 10, 1911; and George M., January 26, 1913.
In his political views Mr. Pattison has ever been a stalwart republican and has responded to the call for his service in public office, having filled the positions of judge
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of probate, town clerk and town treasurer, discharging his duties at all times with notable promptness and fidelity. His record in connection with military affairs is equally creditable. He served during the Spanish-American war as a member of Company K of the Connecticut Volunteers and was discharged on the 31st of October, 1898. During the World war he stood with that great force of Americans that loyally supported the government and was chairman of the food committee by appointment of Governor Holcomb and also was a first lieutenant in the Connecticut Home Guard. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Congregational church, in the work of which he takes active and helpful part, having served continuously since January, 1905, as superintendent of its Sunday school. He is likewise a member of the Independent Order of Foresters in Simsbury, in which he has passed all of the chairs. He stands at all times for those measures and movements which result in advancement along social, intellectual, civic and moral lines and at the same time he has wisely and carefully directed his labors in commercial and financial circles, having long been known as a leading merchant and banker of Simsbury, while the most envious could not grudge him his success, so worthily has it been won and so wisely used.
COLONEL MICHAEL A. CONNOR
Colonel Michael A. Connor, a building contractor of Hartford, was born in this city November 16, 1887, and is a son of Michael A. and Margaret (Martin) Connor, who were natives of Athlone, Ireland, whence they came to America in 1862 or 1863, settling in Hartford, where the father became a gardener for William Russell Cone. In the material line James Martin was a member of a Connecticut regiment in the Civil war and was afterward a city office holder, while John Martin likewise served in the Civil war.
Colonel Connor was graduated from a Hartford high school, St. Joseph's parochial school and from Trinity College, with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1909. He then engaged in the structural steel business with the Berlin Construction Company of Hartford until the World war and after that conflict he turned his attention to construction business under the name of the Michael A. Connor Company. In the meantime, however, he enlisted in the Hospital Corps under command of Major John B. McCook in 1907 and in 1911 reenlisted as regimental quartermaster sergeant. He was made a second lieutenant in 1913 and was on the Mexican border in 1916 with the supply company of the First Connecticut Infantry, being promoted to the captaincy of that company in December, 1916. He entered the World war service on the 26th of March, 1917, was made supply officer of the One Hundred and Second Infantry, Twenty-sixth Division, in August of that year and sailed for overseas duty in Sep- tember, serving continuously with the One Hundred and Second Infantry until Novem- ber 15, 1918. On the 11th of that month he was promoted to the rank of major and was transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Infantry of the Thirty-second Division in Coblenz, Germany. He returned to the One Hundred and Second Infantry in March, 1919, as commander of the First Battalion and with that battalion reached American shores and was mustered out of service in April, 1919. He commanded his regiment in the Hartford parade on its return home and he was appointed assistant adjutant general on the staff of Governor Lake with the rank of colonel. He was with the One Hundred and Second Infantry as supply officer, regimental adjutant and intelligence officer in the service at Chemin des Dames, in the Toul sector, in the engagement at Chateau Thierry, in the St. Mihiel drive and the battle of Verdun and was with the army of occupation for three months in the vicinity of Coblenz with the Thirty-second Division, so that he saw all phases of modern military warfare.
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