USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 22
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On the 9th of June, 1897, Mr. Mckenzie was united in marriage to Miss Grace Henderson Birney, a native of Torrington and a daughter of the late Robert Birney. They have one son, Robert Standish, born October 29, 1908. Mr. Mckenzie has membership with the Torrington Club and with the Sons of Veterans and he is widely and favorably known in Torrington, his circle of friends being almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of twelve years, he centainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and has justly won the proud American title of self-made man.
GEORGE ROWBOTTOM.
George Rowbottom, a self-made man whose determination, force of character and ability, developed through active work, has brought him to the head of a prosperous and growing business, is now president and general manager of the Rowbottom Machine Company of Waterbury. He was born in Manchester, England, on the 22d of March, 1867, and after mastering the common branches of learning taught in the public schools, when a little lad of but ten years, he started out to earn his living in the mechanical trades. Mr. Rowbottom has been an American resident since 1886, in which year, at the age of nineteen, he crossed the Atlantic and secured a situation as pattern maker with the Whitin Machine Company in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. He spent two and a half years with that company and advanced to a position in the drafting room, but resigned to accept a better position in a machine shop at Holyoke. He was twenty-two years of age when a year later he came to Waterbury and secured a position as draftsman with the Water- bury. Farrel Foundry & Machine Company. He was advanced to the position of chief of the drafting room, in which capacity he served for four years. He was afterward given charge of the designing and building of automatic machinery and became well known as a designer of special automatie machinery, along which line he is now directing his efforts. He left the Waterbury Farrel Company in 1902 to establish business on his own account, organizing the Rowbottom Machine Company on the 1st of June of that year. He became the president, with W. A. Robbins as vice president and Hugh A. Pendlebury as secretary and treasurer. Although the business was begun in a very humble way, the patronage of the firm has steadily increased and in 1903 the company was able to purchase a small piece of ground and erected thereon a little brick building. Numerous additions have since been made and the company now has nineteen thousand, five hundred square feet of floor space, while their factory site covers three acres. Their plant is supplied with electric power, equipped with individual motors and is thoroughly modern in every particular and now furnishes employment to seventy-five skilled mechanics. Much of the output is of Mr. Rowbottom's invention. He has brought forth automatic machines for use in manufacturing paper. metals, wire and sheet metal. The Rowbottom universal cam milling machine is one deserving of more than passing mention, for it can be used for all kinds of cams where other machines are limited. It was designed to meet the ever increasing demand for a better quality and the more accurate finishing of cams. The construction combines the many improvements which the wide experience of the company in this line of work has developed. It is adaptable to cut all styles of cams in general use, such as face. box, side or barrel cams, and it has accomplished what
Ger Glowbottom
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no other machine has done up to the present time. The output also includes the Rowbottom ball-bearing dise and surface grinders, the Rowbottom ball-bearing double end dise grinders, the double end ball-bearing dise grinders with exhausters, the Yankee power presses and foot presses. Their machines are the expression in the last word of invention along these lines and have reached a point of perfection that is unsurpassed by the products of any other factory of the United States. Their universal cam milling machine has indeed attracted most widespread attention and is today sold throughout the entire country. Emerson has said that an institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man. The business of the Rowbottom Machine Company is the expression of the ability, enterprise and determination of its president, who stands as a high type of the experienced, expert American mechanic.
On the 4th of May, 1892, Mr. Rowbottom was married to Miss Myra S. Robbins, of Waterbury, a daughter of the Rev. Austin W. Robbins. They have but one child, Archer, who attended the Cheshire school and later studied in Boston for a year and became connected with his father in business, but is now serving in the navy with the Coast Defense.
Mr. and Mrs. Rowbottom attend the Second Congregational church and his politieal faith is that of the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and he belongs to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Machine Tool Builders' Association and the National Association of Manufacturers, which indicates the real nature of his interests. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon his busi- ness. Thoughtful and earnest, he is continually studying out improved methods and reaching out along broadening lines.
J. HOWARD ROBERTS.
J. Howard Roberts, judge of the probate court of Thomaston and also editor of the Thomaston Express, the only weekly paper published in Thomaston, was born in Water- town, Connecticut, November 23, 1891, a son of Vernon J. and Josephine (Howard) Roberts. The father was a farmer and miller, devoting his life to those two pursuits in order to provide for the support of his family.
J. Howard Roberts acquired a public school education in Watertown and in Thomas- ton and afterward entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1914. He next became a law student at Yale and completed his preparation for the bar in 1916. He then returned to Thomaston. where he located for practice and since opening his office he has been accorded a liberal clientage. lle is a lawyer of ability who carefully and thoughtfully prepares his cases, is logical in his deductions, clear in his reasoning and forceful in his presentation of a cause. He is now serving as judge of probate, to which position he was elected on the republican ticket. He is also editor and manager of the Thomaston Express, which is the only weekly paper of the town and which was established in 1873.
Mr. Roberts belongs to Alpha Chi Rho and Phi Alpha Delta. two college fraternities. He has attractive social qualities which render him popular among his acquaintances, while his professional ability is rapidly making for him a most creditable position in the ranks of the legal fraternity of his city.
F. N. PERRY.
F. N. Perry, president of the F. N. Perry & Sons Company. proprietor of the Waterbury Steam Carpet Beating Company and the City Steam Laundry & Dye Works, has a model establishment of this character with the most modern equipment. He has conducted business under the present style since 1912. although the business was established by him in 1886. He was born in Waterbury, November 16, 1857, and is a son of George F. and Aurelia M. (Sprague) Perry, the former a native of New Milford, Connecticut, and the latter of Waterbury.
After attending the public schools F. N. Perry spent two years in the employ of the Elton Banking Company and later was for a decade in the employ of the Novelty Manufac- turing Company. He then turned his attention to the carpet cleaning and laundry business, beginning the carpet cleaning business in 1886. This he successfully conducted for a decade and then further broadened his labors by the establishment of a laundry
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and dye works in 1896. Both were started by Mr. Perry and in time he was joined by his sons, the business being incorporated under the present style in 1912. The first location of the business was on Mill street, but it was afterward removed to No. 41 Jefferson street, where a new modern building was erected in 1900, and in 1915 this was rebuilt. The building is sixty by one hundred feet, three stories and basement. It is provided with modern electric equipment with individual motors. A general laundry, cleaning and dying business is conducted and for collection and delivery the company utilizes three wagons and two electrie trucks.
On the 9th of December. 1880, Mr. Perry was united in marriage to Miss Lucy M. Hickox, of Waterbury, a daughter of Sherman Hickox, and they have become the parents of five children: Willfred Sprague; Sarah Adelaide; Luey Hickox. the wife of G. Herbert Bingham, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; Sherman H., who is with his father in the business; and George F., deceased.
The religious faith of the family is indicated in their membership in St. John's Episcopal church and Mr. Perry also has membership with the Odd Fellows. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, which he has long supported, being a stalwart advocate of its principles.
FRANK A. PULVER, M.D.
Dr. Frank A. Pulver has won for himself a creditable position in professional ranks in Torrington. He was born in West Torrington, Connecticut. April 22, 1866, and is a son of Hiram and Jane Eliza (Kimberly) Pulver, both of whom have now passed away. The father, who was born in New York state and was of Holland-Dutch deseent, became a carriage maker by trade and in 1852, attracted by the discovery of gold in California. he went to the Pacific coast. where he remained for two and one-half years. Upon his return to the Atlantic seaboard he took up his abode in West Torrington. He was married twice, his first wife being Jane Hubbard of Salisbury, who passd away soon after their removal to Torrington. One child, Stanley, was born of this marriage and he followed the trade of carriage painter until his death in 1915. Subsequently Hiram Pulver married Jane Eliza Kimberly, a native of Torrington and a daughter of David and Lydia (Brooks) Kimberly, who removed from Guilford, Connecticut, to Torrington. To Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Pulver were born four children. Albert H. is conducting a carriage shop in Tor- rington on Pulver street, which was named in honor of the family. Helen Frances, the only daughter, died at the age of seven years. Hudson Josiah was born in West Torrington in 1859 and at fifteen years of age became a student in Claverack College, near Hudson. New York, where he spent three years. For a year he read medicine in the office of Dr. L. H. Wood, of Torrington, and then entered the New York Homeopathic College of New York city, from which he was gradnated in 1883. He became a well known and prominent physican of Torrington, where he practiced successfully for eighteen years, when he met death in a runaway accident in 1901 as he was returning to his home from Litehfield. He was particularly skilled in the treatment of diseases of children and he was medical examiner for several fraternal and insurance organizations, while for nine years he served as a member of the board of health of Torrington. He was a prominent Knight Templar Mason and Mystic Shriner and was a man of marked intellectual strength whose entire career reflected credit and houor upon the profession which he chose as a life work. His wife, Dr. Grace (Coe) Pulver, is also a graduate physician and engages in active praetice.
Dr. Frank A. Pulver, who was the youngest in his father's family, acquired his education in the schools of Torrington. the State Normal School at New Britain, Connecticut. and Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, which he attended for two years. He afterward pursued a commercial course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, and in early manhood he devoted five years to school teaching. In 1895, through the persuasion of his elder brother, Dr. H. J. Pulver, he entered upon the study of medicine and after spending four years in the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1899. He at once entered upon the active practice of his profession in Torrington, where he has continued with good success, and in addition to the large private practice now accorded him he has active duties as a member of the staff of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital of Torrington. He belongs to the Connecticut State Homeopathic Medical Society and also to the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Dr. Pulver has membership in the Congregational church of West Torrington, also in the Torrington Club and in the Litchfield County University Club. He is fond of
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travel and thus spends his vacations. He has traveled over the United States and Canada and in 1910 visited Europe. He owns the old Pulver homestead in West Torrington, which is situated in the midst of an aere of ground that he delights in beautifying, and he thus spends much of his leisure time with his gardens and shrubbery.
JOSEPH PEPE.
Joseph Pepe, a wholesale dealer in grain, hay and feed, is a representative of that large quota that Italy has contributed to the citizenship of Waterbury-a quota that has furnished many substantial business men to the city. He was born March 17. 1879, a son of Donato Pepe. He obtained a publie school education and in 1892, when a lad of thirteen years, crossed the Atlantic to the United States and for thirty days he was with a brother at New Haven. Later he opened a groeery store in connection with his brother Frank in Waterbury. In 1901 he turned his attention to the wholesale grain, hay, feed and flour business and has won very substantial and gratifying suecess. His trade has gradually increased and he today oceupies a four story building with fifty foot frontage and employs twelve people. He does business in all the near-by towns and is represented on the road by two traveling salesmen. He sells only to the wholesale trade and he has many patrons who have been with him from the beginning.
On the 26th of April, 1901, Mr. Pepe was married to Miss Concetta Vollone, who is also a native of Italy and in girlhood eame to the new world. They have seven children: Donato, Louise, Rachel, Eva, Frank Antonia and Genevieve. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholie church. Mr. Pepe maintains an independent attitude in regard to political affairs. He is interested. however, in the questions and issues of the day and stands for progress and improvement in connection with all that pertaius to the welfare and upbuilding of his adopted city.
AUGUSTUS E. BLAKESLEE.
The history of Thomaston in connection with its business and musical development would be incomplete and unsatisfactory were there failure to make prominent referenee to Augustus E. Blakeslee. Not only has he been active along those lines but is also one of the leading Masons not only of Thomaston but of the state, widely known in this connection. He was born in 1843, in Thomaston, a son of Stephen B. and Sarah (Williams) Blakeslee, the latter a native of Thomaston, while the former was born in Harwinton, Connecticut. The Blakeslee family was established in the new world during the earliest eolonial epoch. The father, Stephen B. Blakeslee, was a hotel proprietor in Thomaston until 1849, when he went to California, attracted by the gold discoveries on the Paeifie eoast, and there he remained until his demise. His wife had previously passed away in 1844. when their son Augustus was but a year old, and the boy was reared by his maternal grandmother. He acquired a public school education and also attended the Episcopal school in Cheshire for a year and a half. lle worked for several years for the Seth Thomas Clock Company and in 1886 he was appointed to the position of postmaster, in which capacity he served until 1890. He was then away from the office for an interval of four years and in 1894 was reappointed. When his second term had expired he was made assistant postmaster and continued in that position from 1898 until 1907. In the latter year he began work with R. T. Andrews & Company, furniture dealers, and in 1912 he purchased the business, which he has since conducted. His store has a frontage of fifty feet and contains ten thousand square feet of floor space. He occupies three floors and has a very attractive line of goods, his being the only furniture store in Thomaston.
In 1867 Mr. Blakeslee was married to Miss Mary J. Hart, who was born in Derby, a daughter of Thomas A. and Mary (Morris) Hart. Their children are: Ruth Anna, who is assistant postmaster at Farmington; and Franees E.
In community affairs Mr. Blakeslee has taken a most active and helpful interest. He has been a valued member of the fire department since its organization in April, 1881. and he was the first foreman of Crescent Hose Company. He has sinee been fire eom- missioner. In Masonic circles he is very widely known. He belongs to Union Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M., of which he became a charter member on its organization in 1864. For four terms he has been master. Ile is also a charter member of Granite Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M.,
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which was organized in 1870. He has served as its high priest and is now the only charter member connected with the organization. He is also the oldest high priest living and is the oldest past master of the lodge. He served as grand high priest of the grand chapter of Connecticut in 1888. He likewise belongs to Waterbury Council, No. 21, R. & S. M., and to Clark Commandery, K. T., of Waterbury. He has taken the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the consistory in Waterbury and he has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Bridgeport, belonging to Pyramid Temple. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held all of the chairs, and he was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian but in politics he maintains an independent course. Prominently known in musical circles, he has been a member of the brass band of Thomaston since his boyhood days, his connection therewith covering more than a half century. He plays alto in the band and is also a member of the Shrine Band. The Thomaston Marine Band was established in 1859 and Mr. Blakeslee has been connected with it since 1861. It was organized as the Plymouth Hollow Band, later became the Thomaston Band, then the Thomaston Military Band and is now known as the Thomaston Marine Band. Mr. Blakeslee's varied activities have made him widely known and he occupies an enviable posi- tion in public regard not only by reason of his well directed business affairs but also by reason of the creditable record which he has made in public office and by his devotion to the general good in many other ways.
FREDERICK FERDINAND FUESSENICH.
The career of Frederick Ferdinand Fuessenich, who by Ins own efforts has risen from a poor immigrant boy to the head of one of the most important industrial enterprises of the entire Naugatuck valley, should serve as an inspiration and an example to all ambitious young men who are handicapped in their efforts to attain success. His record is interwoven with the history of Torrington, not only by reason of his business interests, extensive and important as they are, but also by reason of the activity and helpful interest which he has manifested in community affairs.
He was born in Duren, Prussia, on the 7th of May, 1848, a son of Leonard Fuessenich, who was a veterinary surgeon of Prussia and at one time a soldier in the German army. He married Miss Elizabeth Kolkuchen and in 1852 started with his family for the new world, but while en route his wife died and was buried at sea. With his motherless children Mr. Fuessenich proceeded to Brooklyn, New York, where they remained for about two years, and in 1854 removed to Goshen, Connecticut. Frederick Fuessenich was then a little lad of six summers and he there began his education in the district school. He was nine years of age when the family removed to Wolcottville, now Torrington, where he has since lived. He spent three years here as a public school pupil and then at the age of twelve began to earn his living at farm work near Wolcottville, after which he had the opportunity to attend school only in the winter months. This was not his initial step, however, in the business world, for from the age of ten he was employed to care for a physician's horse and lie had also done much work at home.
After spending two years as a farm hand Mr. Fuessenich secured employment in a woolen mill in Torrington, where he remained for three years, working twelve hours a day at a small wage which was paid quarterly. His next position was that of a drug clerk in the employ of Charles McNeil, whose store also contained a telegraph office, the postoffice and news office. In 1879 Mr. Fuessenich entered the service of the Hendey Machine Company, which had been established as a partnership concern by Henry J. Hendey and Arthur Hendey in 1870 and which was reorganized and incorporated under the present name in 1874. For a year and a half Mr. Fuessenich was employed in the factory. When the business was incorporated in 1874 Mr. Fuessenich was one of the original stockholders and directors and was elected secretary in 1883 and became active in the business. He held that position until the death of Henry J. Hendey in 1906, when he succeeded to the positions of president and treasurer and is now one of the chief executive officials of this large and prosperous manufacturing concern, Mr. Hendey being the mechanic and Mr. Fuessenich the financier of the concern. The com- pany enjoys a world-wide reputation, its products being in demand wherever machinery manufacturing is conducted. The plant is now very extensive, buildings having been added from time to time until it now covers many acres. Both steam and electricity furnish power and nearly a thousand men are employed, including a corps of expert draftsmen and patternmakers. The company manufactures a general line of machine tools, but makes a
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specialty of the Hendey pillar shaper and the Hendey-Norton lathe and milling machine. Mr. Fuessenich was one of the original directors and an organizer of the Torrington National Bank and is now serving as its president. He was also one of the organizers and is still a director in the Torrington Electric Light Company, was one of the organizers and di- rectors originally in the Torrington and Winsted Electric Railway, and an organizer and a director in the Torrington Printing Company.
In 1876 Mr. Fuessenich was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth C. Blake, of Essex, Connecticut. They became the parents of six children, Mabel Blake, Leonard Cleveland, Hervey Blake, Frederick William, Henry Hendey and Elizabeth Celia. Mrs. Fuessenich passed away February 7, 1914, the first of the family to be called by death. She was a woman of splendid qualities and her demise was the occasion of great grief to her many friends as well as to her immediate family.
Mr. Fuessenich has figured very prominently in public affairs and has not a little moulded public thought and action. His efforts for the general good are the result of earnest study and also a thorough understanding of conditions. He is a democrat in national and state affairs and for two terms filled the office of town clerk of Torrington, while from 1899 until 1905 he was a burgess of the borough, serving on the active committees. In November, 1902, he was elected state senator, overcoming a strong normal republican majority, this being the last senate of twenty-four members. Mr. Fuessenich possessed the respect of this body and friendly relations are still maintained by its members, who continue to meet socially each year. He is prominent in Masonie circles, being a member of Seneca Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M., of which he was treasurer for twenty-one years. He is also a member of Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T. He has likewise been a vice president of the Torrington Club and is a member of the Church Club of Connecticut. His religious faith is indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, in which he is serving as junior warden, and does everything in his power to further the interests of that organization, promoting its growth and extending its improvements. He has also been a director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Torrington. While born across the water, he has shown a spirit of loyalty to his adopted country and there is no native born citizen more conscientious and faithful in his efforts to maintain and extend the highest principles of American democracy and freedom.
H. M. TURRELL.
H. M. Turrell, whose name is well known in connection with the automobile business of Waterbury, was born in Plymonth, Connecticut, July 9, 1879, a son of Merritt H. and Lavon (Hunt) Turrell. The mother passed away in 1888, when the son was a lad of but nine years, and when only ten years of age he started out to earn his own living and has since been dependent upon his resources for the success which he has achieved and enjoyed. He was first employed at farm labor and when a youth of sixteen he began work in the Eagle bicycle factory at Torrington, Connecticut. About 1897 he came to Waterbury, where he has now made his home for two decades. Here he was first employed in a bicycle factory and was for a short time connected with E. H. Allen, proprietor of a bicycle repair, and sporting goods store, which business was subsequently purchased by E. H. Towle of New York city, the firm name being changed to The E. H. Towle Company, dealers in automobiles and supplies. Mr. Turrell was with this firm for five years, having charge of the automobile repair department. In 1905 he severed his connection with the concern and started in the automobile business for himself in a building on Cherry street only large enough to accommodate two cars. The following year he sought larger quarters, which he secured at No. 17 Jefferson street, and in 1909 he removed to 39 Jefferson street, occupying a building which was erected especially for his purpose. It is fifty by ninety feet and two stories in height, and he has storage capacity for forty cars. He handles the Nash car and deals in both pleasure ears and trucks. He has a complete repair shop and does an extensive business in that line, employing expert workmen.
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