USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 28
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On the 15th of January. 1902. Mr. Kellogg was married to Miss Sarah Riee Munson, a Vol. II-10
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daughter of L. I. and Mary B. (Rice) Munson. They became the parents of three children : Stoddard, who died at the age of twelve years and eight months; Frederick Rice; and Thomas Parsons. Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg hold membership in St. John's Episcopal church and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and along more strictly social and recreative lines he is connected with the Waterbury Club and the Waterbury Country Club. Opportunity has ever been to him the call of duty and the call to action and from the outset of his career each step has been a forward one, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. Thus he has reached his present position as one of the foremost merchants of Waterbury, honored and respected by all, not only by reason of the success he has achieved, but also owing to the straightforward and correct business principles which he has ever followed.
WARREN L. HALL.
Merc success has never, throughout the history of the world, save in a few rare instances, been the cause of any man being remembered by his fellows, and never has the mere accumulation of wealth won honor for the individual. The methods employed in the attainment of wealth, however, may awaken admiration and approval, for the world pays its tribute to him who through enterprise, unrelaxing effort and clear sighted judgment makes advancement in the business world without infringing on others. This is the record of Warren L. Hall, who, throughout his entire life, has never deviated from the course which he has believed to be right and has stood through several decades as the leading represen- tative of the progressive business men of Waterbury, where he is conducting a wholesale grocery house, the business having been established in 1888 and incorporated in 1896. Through the intervening years he has so directed and developed his interests that his is one of the foremost commercial establishments of the city. He was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, in 1856, a son of Charles and Amy (Moss) Hall, both of whom were also natives of Cheshire. The former was the son of Amos Hall, who was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, and was descended from one of the old families of the state. Both the grand- father and the father followed the occupation of farming.
Warren L. Hall obtained a public school education and started out in the business world as a clerk for the firm of Miller & Peck, with whom he remained for a year. He afterward spent four years upon the road as a traveling salesman for Henry J. Johnson, of Hartford, but desirous of engaging in business on his own account he utilized every opportunity to make that course possible, and in 1888 he opened a store on Meadow, near Field street in Waterbury. The business prospered from the beginning, being founded upon safe and often tried business methods. He incorporated his interests in November, 1896, under the style of the Warren L. Hall Company, and he remained at his original location until 1909, when he erected a substantial business block on Commercial street. It is of mill construction, four stories in height and eighty by one hundred feet. He has a spur railroad track for seven cars on his premises and his establishment is regarded as the most conveniently equipped mercantile house between New York and Boston. There are two large water plunge elevators with a capacity of three thousand pounds each. All posts in the building are on iron castings so that there is no settling from wood shrinkage. He uses carrier trucks and freight trucks and has a place especially for loading automobile trucks for city delivery, in connection with which he uses two auto trucks and five delivery wagons. A cold storage room is maintained for the preservation of perishable products. In 1916 the company sold two hundred and fifty-six car loads of potatoes. They are importers from all over the world, and they handle a large line of fruit from California. From the 1st of January until the 1st of May they sold two car loads of California oranges a week and also many Florida oranges besides other kinds of fruit from all sections of the globe. The house is represented on the road by four traveling salesmen who cover the territory from Winsted to Derby and east to New Briton. This is the largest business of Waterbury and the company represents over eight hundred different manufacturers, carrying a most attractive line of goods. In fact this is one of the largest and most progressive wholesale enterprises in Connecticut, and gives employment to twenty-two people. The officers of the company are, Warren L. Hall, president and treasurer, and E. W. Hitchcock, secretary.
In 1883 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Esther L. Andrews, of Naugatuck, and they have a son and a daughter, Lamont A., who is connected with the wholesale grocery business, being one of the directors of the company, wedded Marian Sibley, of
Manuel Hall
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Middlefield, Connecticut, and they have two children. Beatrice A. is the wife of H. L. Kilborn, of Waterbury, and they have a daughter.
Mr. Hall is identified with several fraternal organizations including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the Red Men and the Heptasophs. He is also a member of the Waterbury Country Club. He belongs to the Congregational church, in which he is serving as a deacon, and he is interested in all that pertains to public progress and to the material, intellectual, social and moral welfare of his community. In 1903 he served on the staff of Governor Roberts with the rank of major. Ilis political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and from 1893 until 1905 inclusive he was a member of the city council from the second ward. He was then elected alderman and served for six years, being president of the board during that time. In 1895 he was chosen to repre- sent his district in the general assembly and filled the office for a two years' term. In 1899 he was chosen to represent his district in the state senate and in both houses of the legislature he gave earnest consideration to the vital questions which came up for settle- ment. From 1898 until 1902 inclusive he served as a member of the state central committee but at the present time is taking no active part in politics, concentrating his entire attention upon business. In his commercial career he has ever been a persistent, resolute and energetic worker, possessing strong executive powers, keeping his hand steady upon the helm of his business and strictly conscientious in his dealings with debtor and creditor alike. He is alive to the possibilities of every new avenue opened in the natural ramification of trade, he has passed over the pitfalls into which many are frequently led and has focused his energies in directions where fruition is certam.
TIMOTHY M. RYAN, M. D.
Liberal educational advantages qualified Dr. Timothy M. Ryan for the practice of medicine and surgery in which he is now engaged, with office at No. 31 Water street in Torrington. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, September 15, 1873, a son of Matthew and Johanna (Maher) Ryan. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Ireland when his son Timothy was a young lad. The boy was reared in his native county, and as it was the wish of his mother that he study for the priesthood, his education was directed toward that end and in addition to the grammar school curriculum he was given a good academie course in Thurles College of County Tipperary and in Loyola College of Baltimore, Maryland, after he came to this country. It was in 1898 that he crossed the Atlantic in the same vessel that brought his mother, one sister and four brothers, these being Josephine, Michael, Roger, Matthew and Daniel Ryan. One of his brothers and four sisters had come to the United States prior to 1898. These were John, Margaret, Mary, Katherine and Bridget; so that when the mother and six children arrived in 1898 the entire family were on this side of the Atlantic. All had come to the United States to live and all located in Torrington, where they still reside with the exception of John Ryan, who is now a lawyer of New York city. The mother survives at the age of more than three score years and ten.
Dr. Ryan, as previously stated, began his studies with the idea of entering the priest- hood and was graduated from Loyola College, a Jesuit institution, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1899. However, previous to this he had determined to prepare for the practice of medicine rather than for the priesthood and in 1898 entered the Baltimore Medical College, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree on the completion of a four years' course in 1902. For a year thereafter he was resident physician at St. Agnes Hospital of Baltimore and in the fall of 1903 came to Torrington, where he has been engaged in the active practice of medicine and surgery through the intervening period, covering a term of fourteen years. In 1917 he pursued a post graduate course in the New York Post Graduate School. He has always been a close student of his profession, reading, studying and thinking broadly, and he has proven thoroughly adequate to the demands made upon him for professional service. He is conscientious in the performance of all his duties, and is very careful in his diagnosis of his cases, is patient under adverse criticism and his course usually proves that he is in the right. He readily solves intricate professional problems and is now accounted one of the able physicians of his adopted city.
Dr. Ryan is a member of St. Francis Roman Catholic church and also of the Knights of Columbus. He likewise belongs to Torrington Lodge, No. 372, B. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler. His political support has always been given to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and while he has never sought political
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office, he has served as a member of the school board. His connection along strictly pro- fessional lines is with the County, State and American Medical Associations and through their proceedings he keeps in elose touch with the advanced thought and scientific investiga- tion of the profession.
GEORGE W. RUSSELL, M. D.
Dr. George W. Russell, well known as a thoroughly trained surgeon whose work is the expression of the latest discoveries and research in surgical science, was born in Water- bury April 22, 1872, the youngest of five sons who reached maturity. Their parents, James E. and Bridget (Fahey) Russell, were natives of Ireland, the former born in County Clare 'and the latter in the city of Limerick. They became acquainted in America, were married in New York city and came to Waterbury in 1852. The mother passed away in 1879, while the father survived until 1884. Of their nine children six lived to adult age, namely: Mary J .; James E .; Thomas F .; John J .; Christopher C .; and George W. Of these John J., died at the age of twenty-six years. The others are still living in Waterbury.
Dr. Russell attended the public schools of his native city and in 1892 entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1895. He afterward spent a year in the Polyclinic Hospital in New York and in 1896 opened an office in Waterbury, entering upon general practice. However he now specializes in surgery and he has spent two years in post graduate work in Europe, in Berlin and Vienna, where from 1908 until 1910 he came under the instruction of some of the most efficient physicians and surgeons of the old world.
On the 24th of June, 1914. Dr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Eileen O'Meara, of Thomaston, Connecticut, and they have one child, Eileen Elizabeth, born December 18, 1916. The parents are members of St. Margaret's Catholic church and Dr. Russell has membership in the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In polities he is a democrat and for six years served on the board of education. His attention, however, has primarily been given to his professional duties, and his ability in this direc- tion is attested by the liberal practice accorded him.
CHARLES A. CURTISS.
Charles A. Curtiss, who is town clerk of Thomaston, was born in Woodbury, Con- necticut, May 24, 1875, a son of Horace D. and Harriett (Atwater) Curtiss, the former a native of Woodbury and the latter of New Haven, Connecticut. The father was descended from one of the oldest families of Woodbury, established there in the early part of the eighteenth century, while the Atwaters were of an equally old family of New Haven, represented in the Revolutionary war. Horace D. Curtiss was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in Woodbury and remained active in that business almost to the time of his death, which occurred in August, 1906. He was very prominent in community affairs and represented his distriet in the state legislature as a member of the house of representatives and also as a member of the state senate. He was likewise the first selectman of Woodbury and was a very prominent republiean, his opinions carrying much weight in the local councils, of his party and also in directing the state interests. His widow still survives.
Charles A. Curtiss attended the Parker Academy in Woodbury and afterward had the benefit of the broader instruction offered in the Yale Sheffield Scientific School, in which he completed his course with the elass of 1895. Later he entered his father's factory and was associated with him in the manufacture of woolen goods for ten years or until the factory was destroyed by fire in 1905, when the business was discontinued. For a year thereafter Mr. Curtiss was in Winsted, Connecticut, where he was associated with the Winsted Hosiery Company. The following year he spent at home, after the death of his father, and in July, 1907, he came to Thomaston. where he accepted the position of assistant postmaster, acting in that capacity for three years. He then served for four years, or from 1910 until 1914, as postmaster of Thomaston and since his retirement from that position he has been judge of probate and town elerk, filling both offices until 1916, sinee which time he has been town clerk.
On the 21st of June, 1905, Mr. Curtiss was married to Miss Jane M. Bidwell, of
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Thomaston, a daughter of Henry and Martha (Foster) Bidwell, and they have become the parents of three children: Horace D., who died at the age of three years and seven months; and Daniel B. and Martha J., who are at home. Mr. Curtiss is very prominent in Masonie eireles and has a wide acquaintance among his brethren of the fraternity. He belongs to King Solomon Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M., of Woodbury. The carpet on the floor of the lodge room there was designed by his father and made in the father's factory. Upon it are many Masonie emblems. Charles A. Curtiss has twice been master of the lodge at Woodbury. He also belongs to Granite Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., of Thomaston, and has been its treasurer for a number of years. He has taken the degrees of chivalrie Masonry in Waterbury Commandery, K. T., and is a most faithful follower of the teachings of the craft. He belongs to the Congregational church and its principles form a guiding rule of his life. In politics he is an earnest republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served in the state legislature from Woodbury in 1905 and 1906 and while a member of the house did active duty on the finance committee. Questions of state and national concern are of deep interest to him and his aid and influence are always given on the side of reform, progress and improve- ment. He holds to high ideals of citizenship and his work in public office has been of worth to the community and to the commonwealth.
JOSEPH A. NEAGLE.
Among those whose knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, whose adaptability in the presentation of cases and whose logical reasoning have won success is Joseph A. Neagle, who although one of the younger representatives of the Waterbury bar has already attained a position that many an older lawyer might well envy. He was born in Waterbury, October 11, 1890, a son of John S. Neagle, a well known citizen here. After attending the public schools he was graduated in 1904 from the St. Thomas parochial school of Waterbury and from 1906 until 1911 was a student in St. Bonaventure's College of Allegany, New York. During his first four years there he pursued an academic course and during his last year he studied philosophy and theology. It was his intention at that time to prepare for the priesthood. He pursued his second year's work in philosophy and theology at Niagara College and then, ehanging his plans, he decided to study law and in the fall of 1912 entered the Yale Law School, from which he was graduated in 1915. In June of that year he was admitted to the bar and began practice in Waterbury, where he is now devoting his attention to his professional duties, which are growing in volume and in impor- tance.
On the 1st of October, 1914, Mr. Neagle was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Borst, of Waterbury, and they have a daughter, Anna Marie, who was born October 7, 1915. The parents are members of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic church and Mr. Neagle belongs also to the Waterbury and State Bar Associations.
FLOYD ALBERTI WEED, M. D.
A graduate of Union College of Albany, New York, Dr. Floyd Alberti Weed located for practice in Torrington in 1916, and although one of the later additions to the medical profession of this city, is now one of the busy physicians here. This is due to his recog- nized ability, which is based upon thorough and comprehensive study of the principles of medicine, and at all times he keeps abreast with the latest scientific researches, investi- gations and discoveries. He was born in Ashland, New York, February 13, 1888, a son of Seymour and Ida M. (Alberti) Weed, who are living at Catskill-on-the-Hudson, New York, the father having retired from business. Both are natives of the Empire state, and the father is of English, while the mother is of German descent.
Dr. Weed spent his early boyhood in Ashland and at thirteen years of age accompanied his parents to Catskill, New York, where he continued his education, being graduated from the high school of that city with the class of 1906 and being an honor man of his elass. He afterward pursued his academic studies at Union College of Schenectady, New York, and later entered the medical department of that institution at Albany in 1908. spending four years there in the completion of a thorough medical course. He was gradu- ated with honors in 1912 and received his M. D. degree, after which he spent three months
1
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in the New York Lying-In Institute as interne and nine months in a hospital at Worcester, Massachusetts. He was afterward connected with the Hartford (Conn.) Hospital for eighteen months as house officer and still later spent two years as assistant physician in the Hartford Retreat at Hartford. He came to Torrington in June, 1916, well qualified by thorough preliminary training and later hospital experience for the onerous and responsible duties which devolved upon him. He is now engaged in general practice in Torrington. He is serving on the surgical staff of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and he is accorded a large private practice. He belongs to the Litchfield County, the Hartford City, the Connecticut State and the American Medical Associations and he thus keeps abreast with the trend of modern scientific thought and investigation. While at Hartford he was assistant surgeon in the Connecticut Naval Militia.
On the 25th of October, 1916, Dr. Weed was united in marriage to Miss Marguerite Lucile Corey, of Norwich, Connecticut, and they have one son, Chester A., born July 27, 1917. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk. He finds his chief recreation in golf and motoring and turns to these as a means of rest when leisure permits, but his professional interests are making constantly greater and greater demands upon his time and energies as his skill becomes recognized. He has already gained a very creditable position among the practitioners of Torrington and the future seems to hold greater success in store for him.
SAMUEL ROOT.
Samuel Root, of Waterbury, was for many years prominently connected with the manufacture of cutlery, owning a shop on the outskirts of Middlebury, but has disposed of those interests and is now enjoying a period of well earned leisure save for the super- vision which he gives to his real estate. Although he has reached an advance age he is still in full possession of all of his faculties and finds that the later years of his life have their own pleasures and compensations. His many excellent qualities have bound his friends to him by strong ties of respect and regard and he is highly esteemed throughout the city. He has added to the honor of a family name which has been well known and highly respected in Connecticut since the earliest colonial days.
It was in 1637 that Thomas Root, the first of the family to emigrate to the new world, settled in Farmington, Connecticut, and in 1640 his brother, John Root, from whom our sub- ject is descended, removed from England to Farmington, where he passed away in 1684. He married Frances Kilbourne, who died in 1697, and they were the parents of the following children: John, Samuel, Thomas, Mary, Stephen, Susannah, Joseph and Caleb. The last named married Elizabeth Salomon and after her death was united in marriage to a Miss Gillette. He died in 1712, leaving the following children, Mary, Caleb. Thomas, Elizabeth and Samuel. Samuel Root chose as his first wife Elizabeth Prindle and removed with his family to Waterbury, where his death occurred in 1778. He had the following children, Mercy, Samuel, Enos, Joseph, Elijah and Solomon. The line of descent continues through Enos Root, whose birth occurred in Waterbury, March 26, 1753, and who passed the greater part of his life in this city, although for a few years he was a resident of Bristol. He died in August, 1820. and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Roberts, passed away October 24, 1824. To them were born the following children, Moses, Samuel, Levia, Chauncey, Elias and Enos P. The birth of the last named occurred in Waterbury, November 30, 1792, and in 1816 he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Downs, a daughter of John Downs, of Waterbury. Enos P. Root removed to Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. and there engaged in contracting and building for many years, winning a gratifying measure of success in his chosen occupation. He supported the whig party until its dissolution and then became an adherent of the republican party. His death occurred in Springville, Pennsylvania, November 7. 1852. He had seven children, namely: Charlotte, now deceased, who first married Theron Beach and after his death wedded the Rev. Baldwin; Albert A., who followed the trade of a carpenter and joiner in Pennsylvania, where he passed away ; Anson A., who is a retired merchant of Woodbury, Connecticut; Mary M., the deceased wife of Rev. W. P. Gibson, a Congregational minister; Samuel, of this review; Willard E., who was a mechanic and died in young manhood; and Jane, the deceased wife of the Rev. Richard Crittenden, a clergyman of the Congregational church.
Samuel Root was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1833, and received his education in the public schools of Springville, where he resided until he was sixteen years old. He then went to work in a cutlery factory in Waterville, and carefully saved his earnings with the result that in 1853, when he started to California, he had a
Samuel Root
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capital of six hundred dollars. He made the voyage to the coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama and remained in California a year, but, like so many others, instead of gaining a fortune in a very short time, he lost the money that he had and when he returned to Connecticut had only one dollar. However, he seeured work in a cutlery factory in Nauga- tuck and two years later entered the employ of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company at Bridgeport, with which he was connected for three years. The next six months were spent in a woolen factory in Norfolk and at the end of that time his financial eondi- tion was such that he went into business on his own account. For eight years he sold cutlery and plated ware and then purchased a cutlery shop on the outskirts of Middlebury. For twenty-one years he engaged in the manufacture of a general line of eutlery, including pocket ware, and his thorough technical knowledge of the processes of manufacture, togetlier with his experience in selling and his natural keenness of insight and soundness of judg- ment, enabled him to build up a profitable trade. The product of his shop was of a uniformly high quality and custom once gained was seldom lost. At length, feeling that he was entitled to greater leisure and the opportunity to travel, he sold his shop and has since lived retired although he still looks after his real estate interests to a large extent.
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