History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 80

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 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Curtiss was married April 19, 1876, to Miss Sarah J. Toy, by whom he had two children, Joseph T. and Grace G. The son was born December 16, 1878, and attended the Dobbs Ferry School in New York state. His education was continued in Andover, Massachusetts, after which he spent a year in Europe. He chose a mercantile career and became one of the leading business men of Tariffville, Con- necticut, where he resided during the remainder of his life. On December 19, 1899, he married Miss Abigail G. Eno, a daughter of Chauncey H. Eno, of Simsbury, and he passed away on March 19, 1912, when he was thirty-four years of age and

886

HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

in the full flush of his powers. Charles E. Curtiss married Miss Anna Isabel Hamil- ton, of County Derry, Ireland. On April 10, 1889, Mr. Curtiss established his home at The Elms, one of the show places of Simsbury. In 1920 he sold the property and removed to the Culeven residence, so named for a friend of his wife. He is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and supports the candidates of the democratic party when national issues are at stake but at local elections casts an independent ballot. During 1909-10 he was a member of the state legislature and received the largest majority ever accorded a candidate from this district. A Royal Arch Mason, he has attained the seventh degree and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias. Early in his career Mr. Curtiss realized that there is no royal road to success, which is won only through concentrated effort, guided and directed by intelligence and good judgment, and he also adopted as the guide-posts of his life those principles which never fail to inspire admiration and respect and which constitute the basis of all honorable and desirable prosperity.

VINCENT FRANCIS MENDILLO, M. D.

Since 1925 Dr. Vincent Francis Mendillo has been engaged in the general prac- tice of medicine in New Britain and in December, 1927 was made assistant attending surgeon in the New Britain General Hospital. He was born in New Haven, Connec- ticut, May 29, 1900, and is a son of Rocco and Mary Mendillo. The father died in 1909 and the mother is still living at the age of sixty-three years.

Having completed the public school course, Dr. Mendillo entered upon the mas- tery of the academic work at Yale as a member of the class of 1921 and in prepara- tion for his professional career attended the Yale Medical School, which accorded him an honor diploma in 1924. In the same year he served as interne in the New Britain General Hospital, remaining therewith until July, 1925, when he opened an office for the private practice of medicine. In October, 1926, he was appointed assistant attend- ing physician in the New Britain General Hospital and in December, 1927, was made assistant attending surgeon, so that throughout his professional career he has been more or less closely associated with the work of this institution. He has taught anatomy and obstetrics at the nurses school of the New Britain General Hospital and he belongs to the city, county and state medical associations and is a fellow of the American Medical Association.

On the 17th of August, 1927, at New Britain, Connecticut, Dr. Mendillo was united in marriage to Miss Eby B. Neri, daughter of Regolo and Desolina Neri.

Dr. Mendillo belongs to the New Britain Yale Club and to the Yale Alumni Asso- ciation and has already won many friends during the period of his residence here, while at the same time he has gained for himself a creditable position in professional circles.

ROBERT C. LEES HAMILTON

It is hardly possible to realize what would have been Hartford's business condi- tion were insurance interests withdrawn from the city, which by reason of the extent and importance of her business of this character has become recognized as the insurance center of America. Robert C. Lees Hamilton is well known as the comp- troller of the Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company and is classed with those substantial residents that Scotland has furnished to the new world. His native town was Bothwell, Scotland, and his natal day June 4, 1867. His parents, William and Jean (Lees) Hamilton, were also natives of the land of hills and heather, where the father engaged in business as a civil engineer, but both he and his wife have passed away.

Liberally educated, Robert C. L. Hamilton was a student in Herriot-Watt College in Edinburgh and after his course was completed he turned to the financial field by becoming an employe in a branch bank of the British Linen Company Bank and followed that line of business for about four years. Believing that he might have superior advantages in the new world, he came to America in 1900, going first to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed as a public accountant. It was there that

(Photograph by The Johnstone Studio)

ROBERT C. L. HAMILTON

i ١

889

HARTFORD COUNTY,. CONNECTICUT

he joined the Ocean Accident Insurance Company in 1903, continuing with that cor- poration until 1911, when he joined the Royal Indemnity Insurance Company, with which he remained until 1913. For a short time thereafter he was with the General Accident & Insurance Company as treasurer and took up his abode in New York. On the 1st of May, 1914, he joined the Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company as comptroller and has since filled this position, now covering a period of more than fourteen years, his service being a contributing factor to the continuous development and successful conduct of the business. He is also vice president of the Hartford Building & Loan Association and is highly esteemed in the business circles of the city.

Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Elizabeth Beveridge, who passed away April 24, 1922. They were parents of four children. William, who attended the Yonkers school and the New York University, is now assistant vice president of the Great American Indemnity Company of New York, in charge of the underwriting of work- men's compensation and liability insurance. Agnes Young is the second of the family. Jean Lees is the wife of Stanley T. Green, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth is the wife of Paul L. Putnam, of Storrs, Connecticut. Mr. Hamilton makes his home at 80 Woodrow street in West Hartford. His Masonic associations have brought him a wide acquaintance and his fellow members of Hartford Lodge, No. 88, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, of Pythagoras Chapter, R. A. M., and Wolcott Council No. 1, R. & S. M., esteem him highly because of his close con- formity to the ethical teachings of the craft. There is a military chapter in his life record, for he served through ten years in the territorial army of Scotland, five years in the artillery and five years in the infantry, becoming color sergeant. He has found amusement and recreation in many manly outdoor sports, having been well known as a golfer, a swimmer, boxer and a tennis, football and cricket player. One of his characteristics is his concentration upon the thing at hand, whether it be sport or business, and his enthusiasm, directed by sound judgment, has brought about valuable results.

HARRY C. BROWN

Harry C. Brown, who since 1924 has engaged in the retail coal business in New Britain, his native city, has found, as all others do, that "there is no royal road to wealth" but has also found, as many others fail to do, that industry and perseverance will win success. Mr. Brown was born in 1871, his parents being John and Maria (Bergin) Brown. The father was employed by the Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company and was a resident of New Britain from 1850 until his demise. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and was serving as a member of the city council when he passed away in 1890. To him and his wife were born four sons and three daughters of whom two sons and a daughter are yet living.

Harry C. Brown, having attended the public schools until he completed his course by graduation from the high school in 1890, entered the employ of the New York & New England Railroad as a billing clerk, acting in that capacity for two years. He was afterward in a clerical position in the United States post office department but resigned in 1912, at which time he was filling the office of superintendent of mails, having won various promotions through intermediate positions. Later he was asso- ciated with the Traut & Hine Manufacturing Company of New Britain as purchasing agent and so continued until 1924, when he became a director of the company and on the 15th of November of that year, in association with Sam Schneider, he bought out the business of the Universal Coal & Wood Company, the successors of the Sov- ereign Trading Company. Since that time he has been engaged in the retail coal business as secretary, treasurer and a director of the company, with Sam Schneider as president. Their yards are located at 477 West Main street and are among the largest of the coal and wood yards of this part of the county. Their reliability and progressiveness in business have secured to them a gratifying patronage, for their trade is now one of extensive proportions.

In 1917 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Elizabeth Stack, of Conway, Massa- chusetts. They are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church and Mrs. Brown is active in church and social affairs. She belongs to the Daughters of Isabella and

890

HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

also to the Sunshine Society, while Mr. Brown is well known as the president of the Lions Club and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He votes with the republican party and withholds his support from no project which he deems of vital worth to the community. He has acted as chairman of the civil service commission which was established some years ago and at one time was a member of the city fuel commis- sion. His public spirit has been manifest in many tangible ways, while his sterling personal worth constitutes one of the elements in his make-up that has brought him warm friendships and kindly regard.

B. C. PORTER SONS

B. C. Porter Sons is the name under which is conducted one of the progressive business enterprises of New Britain. In the fall of 1839, almost nine decades ago, Abijah Flagg, an expert cabinetmaker of Berlin, Connecticut, came to New Britain with his son and opened a small furniture store. After the death of the elder Flagg the business was carried on by the son under his own name, W. H. Flagg, until he sold out to Joseph G. Thompson in 1857, and Mr. Thompson in turn disposed of the business to Bryan C. Porter in 1869. The latter was the grandfather of Maxwell S. Porter, now the manager of the business. Bryan C. Porter was also an expert cabinetmaker who had been employed by the Seth Thomas Clock Company, making

cases at Thomaston, Connecticut. After he had had some experience in Kansas among the free soil immigrants to that state he brought his family to New Britain and began to build up the business which he had acquired. His delightful personality, his generous nature, his honesty and his progressive spirit won him a host of loyal friends and owing to his pronounced business ability he was able to serve the growing community well. The original Flagg store soon became too small, so that in 1885 Mr. Porter built a fine brick block on Main street, consisting of five floors and equipped with two elevators. With the passing years the business has expanded and the store has been enlarged to meet the demands of the trade. Mr. Porter soon won a liberal patronage by his efforts to please his customers and his thoroughly reliable method and continued at the head of the business until his death in 1891. His two sons, Frank J. and Eugene J., then formed the present partnership under the name of B. C. Porter Sons, and the third generation of the family is now repre- sented in the management of the business by Maxwell S. Porter, who is active in control at the present time. From its small beginning to the present time, covering a period of eighty-nine years, the business carried on under the style of B. C. Porter Sons has steadily grown until the establishment is well known throughout the state as "Connecticut's best furniture store."

The steady development and growth of the business is indicated in the fact that in 1928 additions were opened which doubled the previous floor area. This new building is equipped with modern automatic electric elevators and has a total area of sixty-nine thousand square feet of floor space. There is also a complete automatic sprinkler system, with an outside water curtain, and a new heating plant with oil burners. The decorations are in colonial style in the woodwork and trim and are of beautiful simplicity. All windows on every sales floor are draped with natural color mohair casement cloth. The old idea of displaying furniture and rugs in imita- tion room setting has been abandoned and the new method adopted of showing fur- niture and rugs in the "wide open spaces," which allows a purchaser to view articles from all angles and of judging their appearance in relation to other furnishings. Everything for the home is here to be found from the linoleum for kitchen floors and all kitchen utensils to the finest that can be produced in furnishings and rugs for the living apartments of the best homes.

Frank J. Porter, who became one of his father's successors in business, was born in Thomaston, Connecticut, July 11, 1861, his parents being Bryan C. and Ann Mariah (White) Porter. As previously indicated, he became an active factor in the conduct of the business which had been carried on by his father and as the years passed he also extended his efforts into other fields, becoming a director of the New Britain Trust Company and a director of the Union Manufacturing Company. In his political views he has always been an earnest republican and has taken an active part in

BACHRACH

FRANK J. PORTER

893

HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

civic affairs of New Britain, supporting all projects having to do with the city's upbuilding and substantial development. He was president of the Business Men's Association, is a member of the Masonic lodge, the New Britain Club, the Shuttle Meadow Club, the Farmington Country Club and Rotary Club of New Britain and he has always found great delight and interest in travel, in which he has indulged extensively. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and its teach- ings have guided him in all the relations of life. He married Sarah Hale Brown, who was born in New Britain, and their son, Eliot Hale Porter, who was born in 1888, died in 1916.

Another son, Maxwell S. Porter, born in New Britain in 1895, attended the public schools, continued his education in Phillips Exeter Academy and in Yale Uni- versity, where he was graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School in the class of 1918. During the World war period he was with the civil service in connection with the ordnance department, working for Billings & Spencer in the employ of the government. Since 1918 he has been connected with his father in business, and thor- oughly acquainting himself with every phase of the trade, he has been made manager of B. C. Porter Sons. Thus for three generations the family has carried on the business, which is today the oldest in New Britain and which through all the passing years has steadily grown and developed, maintaining an unsullied name by reason of methods which have neither sought nor required disguise. He is also a director of the New Britain Trust Company and is thus actively associated with the financial interests of the city.

In 1920 Mr. Porter was married to Miss Rachel Estelle Parker, of New Britain, and they have two children: Eliot Hale (II), who was born in New Britain in 1923; and Maxine S., in 1926. The father is a member of the First Congregational church and the mother of the South Congregational church. She attended the Connecticut College and she is active in church and social circles, belonging also to the Daughters of the American Revolution and to the New Britain Woman's Club. Mr. Porter is identified with the Masonic lodge, the New Britain Club, the Yale Club of New York city, the Shuttle Meadow Club and the Rotary Club. During his college days he became a member of the Phi Gamma Delta, a Yale fraternity, of the Yale Glee Club and the freshman tennis team. His social qualities and his genial manner make for popularity wherever he is known and he has an extensive circle of friends who esteem him highly.

EDWARD MARVIN DAY

Edward Marvin Day, for more than thirty years recognized as a distinguished member of the Hartford bar and regarded as one of the foremost corporation lawyers of the capital city, is now practicing as senior partner of the firm of Day, Berry & Reynolds. He has not only interpreted but has also aided in framing the laws of the commonwealth, and his legal knowledge has been of benefit and value to various busi- ness interests of the state, which he represents as a member of their directorates. Born in Colchester, Connecticut, on the 20th of August, 1872, Edward Marvin Day is a son of Erastus S. and Catherine (Omsted) Day, who were also natives of that place. For many years the father was prominent politically and exerted a widely felt influence over public affairs.

The son, having graduated from Bacon Academy at Colchester, graduated from the Yale University in 1894 and the Yale Law School as a member of the class of 1896. The same year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon active practice in Hartford. He practiced alone from 1897 until 1919 and in the latter year the firm of Day & Berry was established, while the admission of a third partner led to the adoption of the firm style of Day, Berry & Reynolds-a connection that has since been maintained. Throughout his entire professional career Mr. Day has enjoyed a most liberal share of the legal business of Hartford and among his clients are now numbered a gratifying percentage of the big corporations. He has likewise been connected with many important cases that have come for trial before the courts and has won many notable verdicts favorable to the interests which he has represented. He possesses comprehensive knowledge of corporation law with its many intricacies and in this field his analytical power and the readiness with which he assembles facts

894

HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

are of great worth to him. His name is on the membership roll of the American Bar Association.

Aside from his intense activity in the field of his profession, Mr. Day has become well known in other lines of business, being a director of the Phoenix Insurance Com- pany, the Aetna Life Insurance Company, the Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, the Automobile Insurance Company, the Hartford Courant Company, the J. B. Wil- liams Company, the J. R. Montgomery Company, the New Britain Machine Company and the Hartford-Connecticut Trust Company.

Mr. Day made a splendid record in the legislature, to which body he was chosen from Colchester in 1897, and he served as executive secretary for Governor George E. Lounsbury in 1899 and 1900 and for Governor Henry Roberts during the years 1905 and 1906. He has never withheld his interest nor active assistance from movements or projects having to do with the public welfare and served as counsel for the water board commission during its litigation resulting in the case being carried before the United States supreme court. He is treasurer of Hartford county and his devotion to the general welfare is pronounced.

WILLIAM H. ALLEN

Building operations in New Britain find a substantial representative in William H. Allen, well known as a contractor here. He was born March 23, 1882, in the city which is still his home, and is a son of John W. and Hattie E. (Fisher) Allen, the former born in Vernon, Connecticut, and the latter in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The father became a building contractor and continued in that field of business throughout his entire life. He was quite active in both local and state politics as a supporter of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles as factors in good government. He served as city alderman and he also represented his district in the state legislature. Fraternally he was connected with the Elks and with the Knights of Pythias and he attended the First Congregational church. He passed away in August, 1923. His family numbered a son and three daughters, of whom one is now deceased.

William H. Allen is indebted to the public school system of New Britain for the early educational opportunities which he enjoyed. After leaving high school he attended the Morse Business College of Hartford in 1900 and thus further qualified for life's practical responsibilities and duties. On the 10th of August of that year he became actively associated with his father in the contracting business in New Britain, acquainted himself with the trade and in 1901 was admitted to a partner- ship under the firm style of John W. Allen & Son, an association that was maintained until 1918. They were awarded many important contracts and were closely associ- ated with building operations in this city. In 1919 the business was incorporated as the William H. Allen Company, with offices at 12 Glen street, and through the inter- vening period to the present Mr. Allen has continued in the business at the same location. At the present writing he is engaged in the construction of the Masonic Temple. He is one of the oldest if not the oldest firm in this line in New Britain and a liberal patronage is accorded the company because of excellent workmanship and responsibility in fully meeting the requirements of every contract. Among the splendid structures which stand as monuments to the enterprise, skill and efficiency of Mr. Allen and his representatives are the Elks Home, the Young Men's Christian Association building, the New Britain Machine Company plant and a number of the largest factories and some of the largest apartments in the city. He continues as president, secretary and general manager of the company, with George Y. Cheney as vice president and C. A. Bence as treasurer. His high standing in business circles is indicated in the fact that he is now president of the Independent Builders and Contractors Association of New Britain.

Mr. Allen has been most pleasantly situated in his home life since his marriage on the 8th of December, 1916, to Miss Rena Mary Kilbourne and the household is brightened by the presence of two interesting little children, Marna and Marion, aged respectively nine and seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Allen attend the South Con- gregational church, of which she is a member. They reside in Maple Hill and their home is the center of many attractive and pleasing social activities. Politically

(Photograph by The Murray Studio)

WILLIAM H. ALLEN

معصـ

897

HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT

Mr. Allen is an earnest republican and served on the town plan commission having in charge new developments. Fraternally he is an Elk and the nature of his interests is further shown in the fact that he is a director of the mercantile bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Lions Club, the Shuttle Meadow Club, the New Britain Club, the Middletown Yacht Club and the New Britain Driving Club. A social, genial nature has gained for him warm friendships and kindly regard, while an enterprising and progressive spirit has brought him to the front in the building circles of his native city.

EARLE MALCOLM TABER

Earle Malcolm Taber, vice president and general manager of Russell P. Taber, Inc., owners of a Reo agency which not only embraces Hartford but other cities, was born in Billings, New York, March 23, 1892, and is a son of Charles W. and Sarah Ophelia (Peet) Taber. His public school education was supplemented by study in the Newtown Academy and in the Newtown high school, from which he was graduated in 1909. He initiated his business career as an employe of F. W. Woolworth & Com- pany at Danbury, Connecticut, and gradually working his way upward, was filling the position of assistant manager at the time he left their employ in 1911. In the same year he came to Hartford and joined his brother, Russell P. Taber, in the auto- mobile business. Again he started out in a humble position in order that he might thoroughly acquaint himself with every phase of the business and gradually he has advanced until he is now vice president and general manager of Russell P. Taber, Inc., which has one of the largest Reo agencies in New England, their annual sales reaching an extensive figure.

On the 17th of June, 1917, Mr. Taber enlisted in the Yale contingent of the United States Army Ambulance Corps and was called to service on the 5th of July, going to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he remained until March 18, 1918, when he went over- seas on the Steamship Olympic, landing at Brest, France, being among the first two hundred thousand to enter upon active duty in Europe. His work from that time until July was in doing air raid duty in Paris, for he was mustered into the French army soon after his arrival in France and from July, 1918, did front line ambulance work in some of the most severe of the major engagements on the entire western front from the Swiss border to Belgium. From November 15, 1918, until May 1, 1919, he saw service with the Fourth French Army of Occupation in the lower Rhine valley and was mustered out of the French army at Versailles about the 5th of May.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1928. Volume III, Part 80

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