History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 30

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 30

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About 1914 Mr. Hewes established the first organized form of free legal aid to poor litigants in Connecticut, as a committee of the Charity Organization Society of Hartford, the work being supported by members of the Hartford county bar. In 1915, while a member of the general assembly, he secured the amendment of the law relating to home rule for cities and boroughs by granting permission to them to establish legal aid bureaus of their own. He interested the board of aldermen of Hartford in establishing a legal aid bureau in Hartford in 1916, which is still in existence. This was the first municipal enterprise of its kind in Connecticut, and really in the east. Since 1920 Mr. Hewes has been chairman of a committee of the State Bar Association on legal aid, and the committee was successful in amending the law relating to public defenders by providing for their appointment annually by the judges of the superior court, thus putting the position of public defender on a parity with state's attorney. This was the first state-wide system of public defenders in the country. The committee has also endeavored to secure the enact- ment of a law providing for small claims courts. In the 1927 general assembly special bills were passed establishing courts in Hartford and Stamford. These were the first small claims courts in Connecticut. Mr. Hewes has contributed many articles to the press and magazines on the subject of legal aid to poor litigants. He has also served as chairman of the committee on citizenship of the State Bar Association and is now president of the Hartford County Bar Library Association. In the town of Farmington, where he resides, Mr. Hewes originated the idea of a town forest as a memorial to the men and women in Farmington in the great war. This forest was created and made possible by public subscription and by an appropriation of town money. This is the first time in Connecticut where a town has undertaken to appro- priate money for this purpose. Mr. Hewes is now serving as trustee of the town forest, as a member of the board of education and as vice chairman of the board of finance.

In 1911 Mr. Hewes married Genevieve Chase, daughter of Charles E. Chase, of Hartford, and their children are Thomas Chase, Helen, Charles Ellicott and Patricia. Mr. Hewes holds membership in St. James' Parish Episcopal church, while his wife adheres to the Congregational faith. He is a member of the American Legion, has

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served as governor of the Yale Publishing Association, and is a member of the Scroll and Key Society of Yale and the Beta Chapter of Psi Upsilon. He has membership in the Yale Club of New York, Graduates Club of New Haven, Hartford Club and Farmington Country Club. He is vice president and director of the Connecticut Children's Aid Society, a director of the Charity Organization Society, and was formerly president and a director of the Travelers Aid Society and a director of the Hartford Branch, George Junior Republic. He is a director of the Morris Plan Bank and The Sesamee Company and is vice president and director of the Fenn Manufac- turing Company.

BASIL G. AUSTIN

Among the valued residents that England has furnished to Connecticut in recent years is numbered Basil G. Austin, the vice president of the Austin Organ Company and therefore one of the prominent representatives of industrial and art interests in Hartford in 1852 and entered upon a clerkship in the city post office under Ezra Hamil- and love for music. His father in a primitive way, having had no previous training, had engaged in building organs for local churches in England. It was in the year 1893 that Basil G. Austin came to the United States to join his brother, John T. Austin, who had become the founder and promoter of the Austin Organ Company of Hartford. Prior to this time Basil G. Austin had worked as an organ builder in England, gaining considerable knowledge of the business, and joining his labors to the activities of his brother in this field, they have developed an enterprise which is second to none in the country. They have been the builders of some of the largest and the finest organs found in the United States. These include the organs of the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, of the Medinah Temple in Chicago and of many of the largest and best auditoriums as well as many of the leading churches throughout the length and breadth of the land. Basil G. Austin is now the vice president of the com- pany and as such is giving his attention largely to the executive control of a business that has developed into one of the chief industries of New England and, moreover, their output has set the standard for excellence and tonal beauty in organ con- struction.

On the 19th of October, 1904, Mr. Austin was married to Miss Clara L. Shea, a daughter of Charles W. and Cornelia (Andrews) Shea, of Hartford. They now have three children: Basil Frank, born March 19, 1908; Lucille, born in November, 1912; and Janette Goodwin, born in March, 1916.

Mr. Austin since becoming an American citizen has given his political allegiance to the republican party. That he has membership in the Hartford Club and the Hartford Canoe Club indicates his social nature and also something of the character of his recreation. Business affairs have made heavy demand upon his time and ener- gies, but he has wisely improved his opportunities and now ranks with the prosperous residents of his adopted city.

MICHAEL THOMAS KEENA

Michael Thomas Keena, assistant chief of the Hartford fire department and a native of the city in which he still resides, was born December 22, 1876, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Kenahan) Keena, who were natives of Ireland and in early life became residents of Hartford, where both passed away. The son pursued his education in parochial schools of this city and later secured employment in the Bee Hive, there remaining for four or five years. On leaving that position he en- tered the employ of the Hartford Cycle Company, with which he continued until 1898. In that year he enlisted in Company H of the First Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He had had previous military training, for in 1895 he enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard and his regiment was mustered into the United States army for service in the Spanish-American war. He left Hartford, October 31, 1898, and re- mained with the regiment until mustered out in the following October with the rank of corporal. Returning to Hartford, he was unable to secure employment and then

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BASIL G. AUSTIN

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went to Bridgeport, where he worked for six months. Coming back to Hartford, he was connected with the Electrical Vehicle Company, in whose employ he remained until appointed a regular member of the fire department. In May, 1900, he had been appointed a substitute in the fire department and on the 1st of January, 1901, was appointed a regular member, being assigned to Chemical Company No. 9. In 1908 he was promoted to the captaincy of that company and was so serving when motor equipment was installed, at which time the company became known as Squad A. In November, 1913, Mr. Keena was advanced to the position of second deputy chief and in 1919 was promoted to first deputy, while in October, 1924, he became assist- ant chief. Thus he was rapidly advanced in recognition of his efficient service and is now active in control of a fire-fighting system that ranks with the best in New England.

On the 15th of August, 1910, Mr. Keena was married to Miss Mary Agnes Sleeth, of Hartford, and they have two sons, Joseph William and Thomas Eugene.

Fraternally Mr. Keena is connected with Burdette Camp of the Spanish War Veterans and with the Foresters of America. He also belongs to the Elks Club and to the Veteran Fire Association of Hartford. His entire course has been marked by fidelity to duty and high endorsement is given by all who know aught of his record.

WILLIAM CORNELL SCHEIDE

William Cornell Scheide, conducting a general insurance business in Hartford under the name of Wm. C. Scheide & Company, Inc., was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, a son of Dr. Hamilton and Virginia (Cornell) Scheide, who were residents of St. Louis. He obtained a public and high school education at Green Bay, Wisconsin, and in July, 1886, became connected with the insurance business as a clerk in an agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1897 he was appointed resident secretary at New York of the Royal Exchange Assurance of London, which position he resigned in 1904 to establish his own business. He came to Hartford in 1910 as United States manager for the Balkan National Insurance Company of Sofia, Bulgaria, and like- wise for the Prussian Life Insurance Company of Berlin, Germany. He also repre- sented other European insurance companies until the outbreak of the World war, when those companies ceased to function owing to the conditions incident to a state of war.

On the 12th of October, 1893, Mr. Scheide married Miss Isabelle Cutter, of San Francisco, and their children are: Lester Beach, an architect; Edward C., a naval aviator; and Philip W., an insurance man now living in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Scheide is a republican in politics, while fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order. He is a director of the Phoenix State Bank & Trust Company. He ' has membership. in the Hartford Club, the Dauntless Club and the Bankers Club of New York.

EMOR A. SMITH

As district commercial superintendent of the Southern New England Telephone Company, Emor A. Smith is the head of the telephone interests in Hartford. A native of the neighboring state of Rhode Island, he was born at Providence, August 17, 1864, a son of Jenks Appleby and Harriet James (Medbury) Smith, and was educated in the Providence public schools. After school hours he worked in various ways and in 1881 he took up telephone work with the Providence Telephone Company, thoroughly acquainting himself with the business. His connection with the Southern New England Telephone Company dates from 1883. He was first employed at New Haven, and in the latter part of that year he was transferred to Hartford as oper- ator and repairman, here continuing until 1886, when he was made manager of the company's interests in Norwalk. There he continued until 1888, when he returned to New Haven as chief operator, acting in that capacity until 1891, when he became manager in Meriden. For six years his duty necessitated his residence at that place,

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after which he was promoted to chief operator and wire chief in Hartford, so contin- uing until 1903, when he became exchange manager and in 1910 was made district commercial manager, and later district commercial superintendent, which is his present title and which makes him the head of the telephone company in Hartford. He has studied and is familiar with every phase of the telephone business from line construction to executive management and is actuated by the highest standards of public service, making the telephone system a public utility of the greatest worth to Hartford and its connecting lines.

Mr. Smith was married June 10, 1891, to Miss Anna C. Murray, daughter of James and Catherine (Morgan) Murray, of Norwich, Connecticut.

Politically Mr. Smith is a stanch republican. He was president of the board of aldermen from 1903 until 1907 and acting mayor during the absence of Mayor William F. Henney in Europe. In 1905 he was elected to the house of representa- tives. He holds membership in the Hartford Club, of which he is now the secretary, and he is also a well known member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and an honorary member of the Hartford Rotary Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to St. John's Lodge, No. 6, A. F. & A. M., of Norwalk; the Royal Arch Chapter of Norwalk; and Hamilton Council, R. & S. M., of Meriden. He is a charter member of A. H. Hall Council of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is past regent.

EDWARD GIDDINGS DUNBAR

When a man has rounded out the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, when his life work has been successfully accomplished and the physical powers begin to diminish, there ceases to be felt the deepest regret at his parting, especially if one has the Christian faith that the individual passes on to a higher, broader exist- ence; but when a man who has not yet reached middle life is taken from the scene of earthly activities, especially if he has contributed in notable measure to the welfare and progress of his community, a sense of almost overwhelming sorrow comes to the district in which he lives. Such a feeling engulfed Bristol when it was learned that Edward Giddings Dunbar had been called from this life. Reared and educated here, active in its business circles and standing at all times for those things which he believed to be right and just between his fellowmen and for those movements which made for progress, it seemed that he should have been spared for many years to come. His course had added new luster to the untarnished name of a family that was repre- sented on American soil from an early period in the colonization of the new world.

Edward Butler Dunbar, father of Edward Giddings Dunbar, was born in Bristol, November 1, 1842, and was of Scotch lineage, the family name being derived from the ancient city of Dunbar, Scotland. The first representative of the family in America was Robert Dunbar, who left the land of hills and heather to become a resident of Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1655. The direct ancestor of Edward Butler Dunbar through three succeeding generations was named John Dunbar, the third John having been born in 1724. He had five sons who served with the American army in the Revolutionary war, one of these being Miles Dunbar, the great-grandfather of Edward Butler Dunbar. Butler Dunbar, the grandfather, served as a musician in the War of 1812 under John Buckingham and subsequently settled in Bristol, where he became identified with clock manufacturing. His son, father of Edward Butler Dunbar, was a manufacturer of clock springs and trimmings in Bristol and was instrumental in the erection of the Bristol town hall. He also aided in organizing the fire department, and in 1862 he represented Bristol in the general assembly. He married Julia Warner of Farmington.

Edward Butler Dunbar was educated in the common schools of Bristol and in Williston Seminary of East Hampton, Massachusetts. When seventeen years of age he became assistant manager of the hoop-skirt factory of Dunbar & Barnes, of New York, of which his father was a partner, and after two years the son was made head manager of the business, which was abandoned three years later when the hoop skirt was no longer in fashion. Returning to Bristol, he joined the firm of Dunbar Brothers, manufacturers of clock springs, and was active in developing the business to one of the important productive industries of the county. He also became

EDWARD G. DUNBAR

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vice president of the Bristol Savings Bank. Moreover, he exerted a widely felt influence in public affairs and did much to further improve the fire department which his father organized, serving for many years as chairman of the board of fire com- missioners. He was actively interested in educational affairs and was chairman of the Bristol high school committee, doing everything in his power to further the interests of the school. He always voted with the democratic party, was a member of the town committee for twenty years, and during six years of that period served as its chairman. In 1869 and again in 1881 he served in the general assembly, and in 1884 was elected state senator, to which office he was reelected in 1886, doing valuable work as chairman of many important public and municipal committees aside from his work in the legislature and senate. He took an advanced stand concerning labor problems, and especially child labor, and was an unfaltering supporter of many progressive public measures. He was at one time vice president of the Bristol Board of Trade and of the Free Public Library Board. Fraternally he was connected with Reliance Council No. 753, Royal Arcanum, and he was long a consistent and faithful member of the Congregational church, in which he held office, while for four years he was president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Bristol. He was married December 23, 1875, to Alice Giddings, of Bristol, and they became parents of three children. Edward B. Dunbar passed away May 9, 1907.

His son, Edward Giddings Dunbar, born in Bristol, May 20, 1892, obtained a public and high school education and when his textbooks were put aside started out in the business world by entering the employ of his father, who was then president of Dunbar Brothers, pioneer manufacturers of clock springs. Parental authority was not exercised to give him an easy berth in business. He resolutely set to work at the task of mastering the trade in principle and detail and as the years passed he more and more largely assumed executive management and control, ultimately becoming president of the company, which through three generations has figured as one of the most important business interests of Bristol. From time to time he intro- duced improvements and instituted innovations in the manufacture of the product and in the expansion of the trade relations of the house and his plans, definitely formed, were ever carried forward to successful completion. He, too, was well known in financial circles, being a director of the Bristol National Bank and of the American Trust Company. He owned the land where is now located the Chippanee Country Club, of which he became a charter member, and maintained a beautiful and highly developed farm there. He labored untiringly in behalf of the agricultural interests of the state, accomplishing many valuable results for the farmer, and was for years president of the Farmers Association of Connecticut. The spirit of progress actuated him at every point in his career and his course was one of steady advancement.

On the 3d of September, 1918, in Bristol, Edward Giddings Dunbar was united in marriage to Miss Cora Belle Hurst, a daughter of Francis Hurst, and a happy married life was brought to a close when on the 7th of December, 1925, at Bristol, Edward G. Dunbar passed away at the comparatively early age of thirty-three years. It seemed that he should have been spared for a long time to come, as he had made for himself a prominent position in the business world and was contributing largely to the material development and to the progress of his community along many other desirable lines. Fraternally he was connected with the Elks lodge of Bristol and also belonged to the Knights of Pythias. He was deeply interested in the religious progress of his community and was a very active and earnest worker in the First Congrega- tional church, his entire career measuring up to the highest standards of Christian manhood and citizenship.

THOMAS W. RUSSELL

Thomas W. Russell, a Yale man who started in the business world at a salary of fifteen dollars per month and who has eagerly grasped and utilized the chances for advancement, is now general agent for the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, with offices at 50 Lewis street in Hartford. His entire life has been passed in this city, where he was born September 1, 1880, his parents being Thomas W. and Ellen (Fuller) Russell, the former a native of Colerain, Massachusetts, and the latter of Boston. They were married in Boston in 1876 and removed to Hart-

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ford, where the father had become identified with the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company on its organization in 1865. In fact he was one of its organ- izers, served as its secretary until 1876 and in that year became president of the corporation, so remaining until his death in 1901 and contributing in notable measure to the steady development of the business. He also figured prominently in public affairs and left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the history of city and state. He served as a member of the Hartford common council and for one term represented his district in the state legislature. He had wide acquaintance in social as well as insurance circles and he and his wife, who passed away in 1907, enjoyed the warm friendship of all who knew them.

Thomas W. Russell pursued his preliminary education in the public schools of Hartford and afterward entered Yale, being there graduated in 1901 with the Bach- elor of Arts degree. His initial step in the business world was made as an office boy of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company of Hartford in 1902, with a salary of fifteen dollars per month. In March, 1903, he established an insurance business on his own account, representing the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and through the intervening years he has developed and conducted a lucra- tive business covering Hartford county and the northern part of New Haven county. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with every phase of life insurance and his continued experience and undaunted enterprise have brought him to the front in this connection. He is today one of the board of directors of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, also of the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company, the Mor- ris Plan Bank, the Whitlock Coil Pipe Company and also the Steele & Johnson Manu- facturing Company of Waterbury.

Mr. Russell has also rendered important public service, ever recognizing the duties as well as the privileges and opportunities of citizenship. He served in the common council for three years, covering the period from 1906 until 1908 inclusive, and was alderman during the succeeding two years, acting as president of the alder- manic board. He also rendered important service to the nation as state fuel admin- istrator of Connecticut from August, 1917, until June, 1919, and in 1922 he was elected to the state legislature for a two years' term. Over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, for at all times he has been actuated by the utmost devotion to the general welfare.

On the 16th of January, 1913, Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Doro- thy Mason, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are the parents of three children: Dorothy, born August 13, 1914; Thomas W., Jr., whose natal day was July 19, 1916; and Judith Davol, who was born October 9, 1918. The family reside at No. 85 Bloomfield avenue in Hartford and their social position is an enviable one. Mr. Russell is widely known in club circles, having membership in the Hartford, Hartford University, Hartford Golf, New Britain, Waterbury, Hartford Yacht and New York Yacht Clubs and also in the Yale Club of New York. He is likewise a member of the East Haddam Fish and Game Club, the Dauntless Club and the Fishers Island Club -associations which indicate the nature of his recreation. He likewise belongs to the Phi Beta Kappa and the Elihu Club and his social qualities render him a favorite in these organizations. Those who know him well-and he has a wide acquaintance- speak of him as a man whose course has at all times been commendable and whose sterling worth of character has established him high in the regard of his fellow citizens.

J. HENRY McMANUS

J. Henry McManus, as head of the McManus Company, is conducting a large and profitable insurance business in Hartford, and one of the secrets of his success is indicated in the fact that he has never dissipated his energies over a broad field, for with the exception of a brief period at the outset of his business career he has always concentrated his efforts and attention upon insurance and steady progress has resulted, until he has now reached the goal of success.

Mr. McManus, born in Hartford, June 9, 1877, is a son of John C. and Maria (Corcoran) McManus, of this city, where the father was well known as a prominent contractor. When his pre-school period had passed, the son steadily advanced through

(Photograph by The Johnstone Studio)

J. HENRY McMANUS

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successive grades in Hartford's public schools and completed the course by graduation from the high school with the class of 1894. He was then a youth of seventeen years and toward the business world he turned his attention with the object of providing for his own support, and whatever prosperity has since come to him is the direct reward of his labors. He began work as an office boy with the Hartford Trust Com- pany and remained with that corporation until 1900, winning promotion from time to time until he was acting as bookkeeper when he severed the relation. Turning to insurance in 1900, he was special agent for the state agency, life and accident depart- ment of the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford until 1903, when he established business on his own account, opening a general insurance office. Year by year he has progressed until he ranks today with the leading insurance men of this city. He conducted his agency independently until 1907, when the firm of McManus & Holcombe was organized and continued the business until 1910, when a third partner was admitted under the firm style of McManus, Holcombe & Kennedy. In 1920, with the withdrawal of Mr. Holcombe, the firm name of McManus & Kennedy was assumed and was thus continued until July, 1927, when the present McManus Company took over the business, of which J. Henry McManus has continued as the head for a quarter of a century.

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History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 30

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