USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 24
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
hours of business were over he gladly turned to his home, for he was a man of domestie tastes, devoted to the welfare of his family.
It was on the 16th of October, 1859, that he was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Fenn, who was born in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, a daughter of Van Rensselaer and Alza E. (Isbell) Fenn. Mrs. Alldis still resides in her attractive home on Prospect street in Torrington. She is a lady of culture and refined tastes and her high character has given her a most enviable position in social circles. A son, Henry J., born in 1863 to Mr. and Mrs. Alldis, died in 1866. They have an adopted son, J. Frank, who now resides in Deland, Florida, where he is engaged in merchandising. He married Catherine Dinsmore Halkett, a daughter of Thomas 11. Halkett, of Torrington, and they have two children, Mary Frances and Cath- erine Dinsmore.
The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 10th of March, 1910, Mr. Alldis was called to the home beyond. Ile passed away at his residence on Prospect street, Torrington, and was laid to rest in Center cemetery. In his passing the community mourned the loss of one of its most valued citizens, his associates the loss of a faithful friend, and his family, a devoted husband and father. In all matters of citizenship he had stood on the side of right and progress. He was largely instrumental in procuring the borough charter and he served as burgess for one term and as warden for several terms. He was also a member of the board of assessors and of the board of relief for several years. He was an alternate to the democratic national convention at Chicago in 1892 and a delegate at large to the democratic convention of 1896. He served as a member of the state legis- lature from Torrington in 1873 and was twice a candidate for state senator. For twenty- four years he was a member of the school board, acting as chairman most of that time, and the cause of education indeed found in him a faithful champion and one whose efforts in behalf of the public schools were far-reaching and beneficial. Ile was administrator and trustee of several estates and appraiser of many others, a fact which indicates how high was the confidence reposed in his business integrity and in his sound judgment. His life measured up to the teachings of the Congregational church, of which he was a consistent attendant, and for two years served on the society committee of the church. Hle belonged to Seneca Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M., of which he was worshipful master in 1873 and 1874. He was also a member of Cyrus Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M., of Buell Council, R. & S. M., and of Clark Commandery, K. T., of Waterbury. He had membership in the Torrington Club and in all these organizations enjoyed the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he was asso- ciated. He spent his last winter in Florida. During his last years he had the leisure and opportunity to carry out the activities and wishes which were of the utmost interest to him. He well deserved the period of rest that crowned his last years, for his life was one of great activity and usefulness. Torrington honored him as a business man and a citizen and his memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him.
JOHN W. FRUIN, M. D.
Dr. John W. Fruin, physician and surgeon of Waterbury and medieal inspector of the public schools, was born March 10, 1883, in the city in which he still resides, the ouly son and now the only living child of James J. and Mary Jane (Slocum) Fruin. The former was boru in County Tipperary, Ireland, and was brought by his paren's, William and Johanna (Magner) Fruin, to the United States, the family home being established in Waterbury when he was but three years of age. They were among the first Irish settlers of the city. For a long period James J. Fruin was a hotel proprietor of Waterbury, where he passed away October 22, 1907. His wife was born in Winsted, Connectieut, in 1857 and died October 2, 1902. She was a sister of the late Monseigneur William J. Slocum, very prominent in Waterbury.
Dr. Fruin was graduated from the Waterbury high school with the class of 1902 and while there attending was a member of the baseball team. He afterward spent two years in the Holy Cross College of Worcester, Massachusetts, and was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1908 from the Long Island Medical College of Brooklyn, New York, in which he spent four years as a student. For a year thereafter he was connected with St. Mary's Hospital at Hoboken, New Jersey, and for four months with St. Mary's Hospital of Water- bury. Since 1909 he has been active in the practice of medicine and surgery in this eity, now having his office at No. 4 Grove street, and for the past five years he has been medical inspector of the public schools. He is also a member of the surgical staff of St. Mary's
224
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
Hospital and he belongs to the Waterbury, New Haven County and Connecticut State Medical Societies and is a fellow of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Fruin was married on the 16th of August, 1911, to Miss Mary Waas, of Waterbury, who passed away January 17, 1916. In politics the Doctor is a democrat and his religious faith is indicated by his connection with St. Margaret's Catholic church. Well known as an Elk, he is a past exalted ruler in the order, being at the head of the Waterbury lodge at the time it dedicated the "Clock on the Green." He wrote the ritual of the ceremony and was chief officer at the dedication. He finds recreation largely in tennis and bowling but ever makes his professional duties his first interest and is most conscientious in the performance of every task that devolves upon him in this connection.
HENRY H. HEITMAN.
Henry H. Heitman, chief engineer of the fire department of Waterbury, was born in Brooklyn, New York, August 14, 1864, and is a son of John Heitman, a marine engineer, who was born in Germany. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Mueller, was also born in Germany, and both have passed away.
Henry H. Heitman, an only child, was left an orphan when a young lad and found a home with relatives in Brooklyn, where he remained through the period of boyhood and youth. He came to Waterbury in 1883 and for several years was employed in various ways. For two or three years he was a driver on one of the old-time horse street cars and later he spent several years in the Benedict & Burnham factory, first occupying the position of fireman and later that of engineer. On the 1st of October. 1892, he joined the Waterbury fire department, with which he has now been connected for a quarter of a century. Through various positions he has worked his way upward and on the 1st of November, 1914, was appointed chief engineer. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and he holds to the highest standards in his service. maintaining the department at first rank.
On the 3d of October, 1899, Mr. Heitman was married to Miss Jennie Hughes, of Water- bury, who has been a lifelong resident of this city. They have become parents of six children : John Herman, Charles Stuart. Henry Mneller, Felix Hughes and twin daughters, Meta Mary and Margaret Louise. Mr. Heitman holds membership with several fraternal organizations. including the Eagles, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is well known and popular in those organizations and he has a wide acquaintance in this city, where he has made an excellent record as a private citizen and as a public official.
FRANCIS RAY WADHAMS.
Francis Ray Wadhams, attorney at law of Torrington. was born in Goshen, Connecticut, January 22, 1880, a son of Francis Morris and Fannie (Palmer) Wadhams, who are still residents of Goshen, where they have spent their entire lives. Francis R. Wadhams was there reared, and in his boyhood attended the same district school in which his parents had been pupils. He afterward continned his grammar and high school studies in New Haven, for at that period his parents passed the winter months in that city in order to give their children better school facilities. He was graduated from the Hill House high school of New Haven when eighteen years of age and later worked for two years in a New Haven brokerage office, which was conducted by Prince & Whitely. At twenty years of age he became a student in Columbia University of New York. where he did special work for a year. He next spent three years in the New York Law School, from which he was graduated in 1905, and in October of that year he was admitted to practice at the New York State bar. All during his student days he was associated with the New York law firm of MeCarty & Baldwin, and after his admission he practiced in New York city for five years or until 1910, when he returned to his home in Goshen, where he still resides, regarding this as his permanent place of residence. although he has his law office and his winter home in Torrington, six miles away. He opened his office in Torrington in 1911 and enjoys a good practice. He is very thorough in the preparation of his cases and his ability is evidenced in the court records, which list many cases that he has won.
At West Hampton Beach, Long Island, on the 19th of October. 1904, Mr. Wadhams was united in marriage to Miss Esther Winifred Brundage, who was born in Lakeville, Minnesota, a daughter of Dr. John Brundage, a native of Litchfield county, Connecticut, who was at
225
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
one time a practicing physician of Goshen. He removed to Minnesota but afterward returned to Connecticut and passed away in Goshen in October, 1913. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Gertrude Higgins, still survives. Mrs. Wadhams is of French and English descent but her ancestors have resided in the United States since the seventeenth century. She was born November 11, 1881, and was prepared for college at the Centenary Collegiate Institute of Hackettstown, New York, while later she attended Goucher College of Baltimore, the Packer Collegiate Institute of Brooklyn and the William Chase Art School of New York city. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Francis Morris, born January 26, 1908; Gertrude Brundage, December 30, 1910; and Marion Ray, March 28, 1916.
Mr. and Mrs. Wadhams belong to the famous Plymouth church of Brooklyn. Mr. Wadhams is a republican in his political views and for the past six years has been treasurer of Goshen. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Elks and along strictly professional lines his membership is with the Connecticut Bar Association. He has used wisely and well the talents with which nature has endowed him and has made for himself a creditable position among lawyers of the Naugatuck valley.
CLAYTON A. TYLER.
The rapid growth and development of Waterbury has furnished a profitable field for the architect whose skill and ability entitles him to public patronage. Since entering upon the practice of that profession Clayton A. Tyler has enjoyed growing success and his skill is mani- fest in some of the most substantial and attractive buildings of the city. Waterbury numbers him as a native son. He was born March 9, 1884, his parents being Elsworth J. and Hattie A. (Andrews) Tyler, natives of Middlebury and of Cheshire, Connecticut, respectively. The former was a son of James A. Tyler, who for fifty years was connected with the Scovill Manufacturing Company. Elsworth J. Tyler was with the same company for thirty years and is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
Clayton A. Tyler was graduated from the Waterbury grammar school with the class of 1900 and then, after attending the high school for a time, secured a position in the office of Leonard Asheim, an architect. He also took a correspondence course in architecture and was employed at different periods by C. Jerome Bailey, Joseph T. Smith and the firm of Freney & Jackson. Eventually he entered into partnership with C. J. Bailey in February, 1913, and in May of that year bought out the business. He later admitted John B. Duhaime to a partnership but the association was discontinued in May, 1917, and Mr. Tyler now practices his profession alone. He has designed many attractive buildings, including the residences of Daniel T. Farrington, of Irving Bean at Watertown and two residences for Herbert 1 .. Beardsley. He has specialized in apartment houses and three- family houses and in his work combines utility, convenience and beauty so as to produce a harmonious whole.
Mr. Tyler holds membership in Trinity Episcopal church and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party but does not seek nor desire office, feeling that his entire attention should be concentrated upon his growing business, knowing that close application and indefatigable energy are indispensable elements of success.
RICHARD L. FISHER.
Richard L. Fisher, general manager of the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company and thus having control over the leading industry of Beacon Falls, employing fifteen hundred men, was born in New York, August 18, 1881, a son of David and Mary (Long) Fisher, of New York. He acquired a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school in Albany, New York, and in 1897 he removed to Naugatuck, Connecticut, with the Goodyear Metallic Shoe Company of Ohio. He came to Beacon Falls when the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company was established here. His previous experience along that line had made his services of value in such an organization, yet he began at the starting point of a career in this connection. He became office boy and stenographer, and soon demonstrating his ability, was advanced, working his way upward to the position of assistant treasurer. In 1916 he became general manager of the company, which is the most important industry of Beacon Falls, employing fifteen hundred people and turning
226
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
out twenty thousand pairs of shoes per day. He is thoroughly conversant with every phase of the trade in principle and detail and his long experience has made him well qualified to control the interests of this vast concern.
On the 11th of July, 1911, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Antoniette Freese of Brooklyn. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and politically is a republican, giving stanch support to the party. He does not seek nor desire office, however, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He makes his home in Waterbury and in all matters of citizenship he maintains a publie-spirited attitude, cooperat- ing in all well defined plans and measures for the upbuilding of the interests of the Naugatuck valley.
HENRY M. WERNER.
Henry M. Werner, who has recently entered the manufacturing field as secretary and manager of the Waterbury Instrument Company, established his present business in February, 1917, and his trade has already enjoyed notable growth. His identification with Waterbury dates from 1897. He was then a young man of twenty-six years, his birth having occurred in Ontario, Canada, in 1871. He is a son of Martin and Emily (Tyrrell) Werner and in the public schools of Canada he acquired his education, leaving the Dominion in 1889 in order to become a resident of Brooklyn, New York. The following year he removed to Riverton, Connecticut, where he accepted the position of foreman with the firm of Stephens & Company. Seven years were there passed and in 1897 he came to Waterbury, after which he was engaged in mechanical work for a year. He then pursued a commercial course in Eastman's Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York, and, returning to Water- bury, was engaged in general office work with the Waterbury Brass Company for eleven years, acting as paymaster during the last two years of that period. He was next given charge of the office of A. C. Campbell, with whom he remained for three years, when in February, 1915, he became the secretary of the Waterbury Jewel Company and was thus aetive in business for two years. He then withdrew from that company and organized the Waterbury Instrument Company for the manufacture of reproducers for talking machines and talking machine supplies. The reproducer is adaptable to any machine or any record and presents various new and improved features different from any others. It has a wonderful tone and excellent qualities that insure a rapid growth of the business and continuous success in that field.
On the 9th of September, 1902, Mr. Werner was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Hawley, of New Hartford, Connecticut, and they have three children: Tyrrell, Doris and Harriet. In polities Mr. Werner is a republican but without ambition for public office, although he feels a citizen's interest in the questions of the day and keeps well informed concerning matters of political importance. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, while his religious faith is evidenced in attending the Second Congregational church. He is a church singer of some note and his musical talent constitutes a feature in the success of his present business, enabling him to judge of tonal qualities and other elements having to do with superior manufacture in his line.
JAMES PORTER.
Honored and respeeted by all, there was no man who oceupied a more enviable position in the public regard of the people of Waterbury than James Porter, who passed away on the 24th of March, 1906, the eighty-eighth anniversary of his birth. A native of Waterbury, he was born on the Porter farm near Mad River, March 24, 1818, and in tracing his ancestral line it is found that he was a representative of one of the oldest families of Connecticut founded here in early colonial days. Dr. Daniel Porter, the first of whom we have reeord, settled at Farmington and in 1654 was licensed to practice by the general eourt, his fees being established by law. He did mueh surgical work, being known at that period as "a bone setter." He not only attended to the needs of the sick in Farmington but was also required to visit those who needed medical attention in Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield and Middle- town. He passed away in Farmington in 1690 and was there laid to rest. To him and his wife, Mrs. Mary Porter, were born the following named: Daniel, whose birth occurred Febru- ary 2, 1652; Mary, who was born February 5, 1654, and became the wife of Eleazer Knowles,
James Porter
& W 8 Porter
231
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
of Woodbury; Nehemiah, who was born October 24, 1656, and married Hannah Lumm, of Woodbury; Richard, who was born March 24, 1658; Anna, born in 1660; John, who was born November 14, 1662, and married Rebecca Woodford; and Samuel, who was born October 24, 1665, and was married in 1702 to Abigail Humphreys, of Simsbury.
The eldest of the family, Dr. Daniel Porter, Jr., removed to Waterbury after attaining man's estate. He also engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery and in land surveying and was a leading and influential resident of Waterbury. His business affairs were wisely managed and at his death he left to his family a very comfortable competence. He married Deborah Holcomb, a daughter of Joshua and Ruth (Sherwood) Holcomb. The death of Dr. Daniel Porter, Jr., occurred January 18, 1726, while his widow survived until May 4, 1765, reaching the remarkable old age of ninety-three years, having come of a family noted for longevity. Many of the Porters, too, reached extreme old age, a number of that generation reaching the eightieth year, while some of them passed into the nineties. The children of Dr. Daniel and Deborah (Holcomb) Porter were: Daniel, who was born March 5, 1699; James, who was born April 20, 1700, and died in 1786; Thomas, who was born April 1, 1702, and passed away in 1797; Deborah, whose birth occurred March 6, 1703, and who became the wife of James Baldwin, while her death occurred in Waterbury in January, 1801; Ebenezer, who was born December 24, 1708, and died in 1803; and Ann, who was born April 28, 1712. She was married twice, becoming the wife of Thomas Judd and after his death marrying James Nicholas. She, too, died at an extreme old age.
Daniel Porter, son of Dr. Daniel and Deborah Porter, was born in Waterbury, where his entire life was passed, and following in the professional footsteps of his father and grand- father, he, too, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery as a life work. Like them, too, he was a man of prominence in his community and his sterling worth gained for him the respect and honor of all who knew him. He had passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey when on the 14th of November, 1772, he was called to his final rest. It was on the 3d of June, 1728, that he married Hannah Hopkins, a daughter of John and Hannah Hopkins, the father a son of Stephen and Doreas (Bronson) Hopkins and a grandson of John Hopkins. To Daniel and Hannah Porter were born the following named: Preserve, who was born November 23, 1729; Daniel, who was born March 17, 1731, and became a physician and surgeon but died while with the British army at Crown Point in 1759 during the French and Indian war; Hannah, who was born June 16, 1733. and became the wife of Obediah Scoville; Timothy, who was born June 19, 1735; Susanna, who was born July 7, 1737, and became the wife of Daniel Killum and after his death married John Cossett; and Anna, who was born December 6, 1738, and became the wife of David Bronson. The mother passed away December 31, 1739, and Daniel Porter afterward married again, having two children by his second wife, Mrs. Joanna Porter. These children were: Elizabeth, who in 1764 became the wife of Ard Warner; and Jemima, who was married in 1762 to Timothy Scoville.
Like his father, Timothy Porter remained a lifelong resident of Waterbury and, giving his attention to the profession which had engaged the efforts and energies of his father, his grandfather and his great-grandfather, he, too, did splendid work along professional lines and gave his country the benefit of his services as a surgeon of the Revolutionary war. He was a recognized champion of the cause of higher education and was a man of marked ability with whom association meant expansion and elevation. He wedded Margaret Skinner. a daughter of Gideon Skinner, of Bolton, Connecticut. She was born in 1739 and passed away in 1813. The children of this marriage were seven in number: Daniel, born September 23, 1768; Sylvia C., born February 24, 1771; Joseph, born September 3, 1772; Olive, born July 26, 1775, the wife of Moses Hall; Anna, who was born April 5, 1777, and became the wife of R. F. Welton; Chauncey, who was born April 24, 1779; Timothy Hopkins, born November 28, 1785. The last named was a representative from his district in the national halls of legislation about 1828.
The trend of professional activity in the next generation seems to have changed some- what, for Daniel Porter, who was the grandfather of James Porter, whose name introduces this review, became a surveyor and also a lawyer, practicing in the justice courts of his town. He was also a large landowner of Waterbury, where he spent his entire life. Ile always took an active part in politics and held many offices of trust and responsibility, including that of selectman. On the 9th of June, 1789, he wedded Anna Clark and they became parents of six children: Horace, born September 30, 1790; Timothy, January 30, 1792; Elias, May 14, 1795: Alma Anna, who was born April 18, 1800, and became the wife of William Orton; Daniel, who was born May 20, 1805, and was the fourth Daniel Porter to become a physician; Joseph. born July 11, 1807. In the Clark line the ancestry can also be traced back through many generations to Samnel and Hannah (Tuttle) Clark, who were married in 1672, the latter being a daughter of John and Catherine (Lane) Tuttle, who were married in 1653, and a Vol. II-9
232
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
granddaughter of William Tuttle. Samuel Clark (II), the son of Samuel and Hannah (Tuttle) Clark, was married in 1694 to Mary Brown, a daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah (Vincent) Brown. Israel Clark, a son of Samuel and Mary (Brown) Clark, was married in 1743 to Mehitable Ingham and they were the parents of Ingham Clark, who was married in 1767 to Sarah Beach. It was this couple who were parents of Mrs. Anna (Clark) Porter, who became the wife of Daniel Porter and the mother of Elias Porter.
Elias Porter gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits, owning and cultivating land at Mill Plain, and he always made his home in Waterbury, spending his last days with his son James. He passed away in 1871 and was laid to rest in Pine Grove cemetery. It was on the 22d of January, 1817, that he had married Alma Tyler, who was born December 17, 1791, her parents being Lyman and Esther (Hoadley) Tyler, of Prospect, Connecticut, who were married in 1791. Mrs. Elias Porter passed away in 1866, five years before the death of her husband. They were people of sterling worth, enjoying the warmest regard of all who knew them. In politics Elias Porter was first a federalist, later a whig and when the repub- lican party came into existence he joined its ranks. The Tyler line can be traced back to John and Abigail (Hall) Tyler, who were married in 1694 and who were the great-grand- parents of Lyman Tyler. His grandparents were Isaac and Susanna (Miles) Tyler, whose son, Abraham Tyler, was the father of Lyman Tyler, the latter in turn being the father of Mrs. Elias Porter.
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.