USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 29
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On the 2d of December, 1863, Mr. Root was united in marriage to Miss H. Vienna Fenn, a daughter of Harris and Jane E. Fenn. Mrs. Root passed away November 7, 1887, and their only child, Linford F., who was born November 22, 1868, died in Waterbury, October 17, 1907, and is buried in Riverside cemetery. He was a lawyer by profession and was at one time clerk of the district court. On the 8th of January, 1889, Mr. Root, of this review was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Root, widow of Frank Root. By her first marriage she had a son, Clifford Anson, who was born January 19, 1884, and was educated in the military academy at Peekskill, New York. By the second marriage there are the following children: Herbert Samuel, born October 17, 1889, was graduated from Yale with the class of 1912, is now mechanical engineer and assistant superintendent with the Blake & Johnson Company of Waterbury and also assists his father in the management of his real estate holdings. Barbara Stone, born September 19, 1890, was graduated from St. Margaret's School of Waterbury and from Dana Hall at Wellesley, Massachusetts, and was married November 5, 1914, to the Rev. Thomas Sinclair Dickson, of Orange, New Jersey. They have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who was born August 2, 1916. James Harold was graduated from Yale in 1914 and is now a student in the Harvard Medical School. He was married in 1915 to Miss Charlotte Louise Cowles, of Ansonia, a daughter of Charles and Ella Louise (Terry) Cowles. To this union has been born a son, James Harold, Jr., whose birth occurred March 24, 1916.
The wife and mother is a woman of unusual culture and of a gracious personality and has a host of warm friends. Although she is deeply appreciative of the better things of life her interest centers in her home and her family, to which she is most devoted.
Mr. Root has supported the republican party since its organization and has always discharged to the full his duties as a citizen. He has held office, having served for one year as a member of the common eouneil and for a considerable period as a member of the board of compensation. He belongs to Harmony Lodge, No. 42, A. F. & A. M., at Water- bury and is also identified with the Waterbury elub. Hle attends the Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member, and he has at all times striven to conform his conduct to high ethical standards. He and his wife have traveled extensively both in America and abroad, thus gaining that familiarity with life which breeds tolerance and broad-mindedness.
GEORGE W. VAIL.
In the history of business development in Torrington it is imperative that mention be made of George W. Vail. now deceased, who was for many years a well known grain, flour and feed merchant and who throughout his long connection with commercial interests here maintained an unassailable reputation for the integrity of his business methods and his unfaltering enterprise. He was born at Cornwall, Connecticut, July 12, 1837, and was of Revolutionary war descent. His parents were Philander and Urena (Johnson) Vail. When a young man, George W. Vail. came to Torrington and here learned the painter's trade, but at the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's eall for troops, putting aside all business and personal considerations that he might defend the old flag and the canse for which it stood. He joined Company I of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery and served for three years. After the war he gave his attention to the furniture business for several years and later he founded the flour and feed business now owned by D. L.
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Talcott, making for himself a substantial position in the business circles of the city by reason of his honorable methods and creditable purposes.
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On the 20th of October, 1869, Mr. Vail was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Smith, who is the only daughter of James Smith, the father of Charles W. Smith, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Vail became parents of two children, a son and a daughter, who are now married and reside in Torrington. These are: Harry E., born August 29, 1873; and Elizabeth M., born October 21, 1874. The former was married in 1900, to Julia Palmer and they had five children, namely: Derwin Smith, born May 8. 1901, and died August 7, 1904; Doris Lorraine, who was born August 14, 1902; Vera Virginia, born January 15, 1905; Odena Mae, who was born January 28, 1908; and George Edward, born July 9, 1915. Elizabeth M. Vail was married August 17, 1897, to Leon Lionel Moore, who was born August 21, 1868. at Riverton, Connecticut, a son of Charles Delorain and Adelaide (Mack) Moore, both of whom are still residents of Riverton. Leon L. Moore is foreman of a department of the Coe brass factory. By his marriage there have been born two children: Lionel Vail, born January 12, 1903; and Lauriston M .. born May 15, 1904.
The death of George W. Vail occurred January 26, 1911, when he was in the seventy- fourth year of his age. He was a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republie and enjoyed meeting with his old military comrades. He had always been loyal in citizenship, devoted to the welfare of the community in which he lived and manifesting at all times a public-spirited devotion to state and nation. In a word he displayed many excellent traits of character, including honor and honesty in business and fidelity to duty in every relation of life.
AMBROSE H. WELLS.
With the promotion of industrial activity in Waterbury, Ambrose H. Wells was closely associated and built up a business of substantial proportions. At the same time his career was such as ever commanded confidence and respect, for his activities measured up to the highest standards of business ethics and he left behind him a most honorable name. Con- necticut had reason to be proud to number him among her native sons. He was born in Newtown, Fairfield county, Mareh 26, 1837, a son of Emory Wells and a grandson of David Wells. The former, also a native of Newtown, was a shoemaker by trade. In 1841 he left Connecticut to become a resident of Lockport, New York, where he devoted his remaining days to the manufacture of shoes, making for himself a creditable position in business circles, while warm regard was entertained for him by reason of his genuine per- sonal worth. He voted with the democratie party and his religious faith was that of the Episcopal church. He married Miss Maria Gilbert, a daughter of Isaac Gilbert, and they became the parents of three children: Jennette, who married Henry Jackson but has now passed away; Isaac, who resided in Fairfield county, Connecticut, and Ambrose H. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in Newtown and her remains were there interred. She was most devoted to her family and guided her life according to the teachings of the Christian religion.
The district schools of his native town afforded Ambrose H. Wells his educational opportunities, but his chance of attending school was somewhat limited, as he began to provide for his own support when a young lad, securing employment on a farm. He after- ward turned his attention to blacksmithing and in 1862 he became identified with the industrial development of Waterbury. It was in that year that he was made foreman of the tube department in the brass mills of Brown Brothers and his capability, efficiency and thorough loyalty were indicated in the fact that he remained with that company for nine- teen years. Ambitious, however, to carry on business on his own account, he then established a flour and feed store on Harrison avenue, near South Main street, in Waterbury. This undertaking did not prove profitable, however, and after two years he sold out and returned to Brown Brothers as foreman. When another year had passed he once more engaged in business for himself on the Watertown road in Waterbury, and from 1893 until his death he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of seamless tubing, operating a plant which was erected and equipped at a cost of more than twenty-five thousand dollars. He had a considerable force of workmen and his wise direction of his business affairs gained for him a place among the representative manufacturers of bis city.
A most happy home life was that of Ambrose H. Wells, who in Newtown, Connecticut, wedded Miss Eveline Judson, a native of that place and a daughter of Zenas J. Judson.
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, VAF. Wells
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They became the parents of five sons. Samuel was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Marie Fischer and later wedded Mary Schuelka, and their children are: Aletha, Judson, Martha and Gordon. Frank married Amelia J. Schuelka, and they have five children: Lillian, Emily, Gertrude, Florine and Franklin. . Clifford married Frederieka Bond and has two children, Virginia and Susanna. The other members of the family are George, who married Florie Davis and Edward, who married Carrie Engert, and has four children, Edward, Marion, William and Kenneth.
The ancestral record of Mrs. Wells is one of interest for she is descended from William Judson, who with his wife and three sons-Joseph, Jeremiah and Joshua-came from England, their native country, and established their home in New Haven, Connecticut, where the father passed away in 1662. The line comes down through Joseph Judson, who always remained a resident of New Haven and passed away in 1696. His son, James Judson, was born in 1650, became a landowner and farmer and died in 1717. He was the father of David Judson, who was born in 1693, married Phoebe Stiles and passed away in New Haven. His family numbered four children, of whom Abel Judson, the third, was born in 1721. He became a farmer of Stratford, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and was married May 7, 1744, to Sarah Burton, by whom he had four children, the second being Abel Judson, Jr., who was born in Stratford in 1746. He, too, followed the occupation of farming and became the owner of two hundred acres of land on Mile Hill. In religious work he took a most active and helpful part. He married Ann Bennett and their family numbered fifteen children, of whom Zenas J., born March 28, 1793, became a tailor by trade and conducted business in Newtown. He wedded Fanny Torrence and the youngest of their eleven children, Eveline Judson, beeame the wife of Ambrose H. Wells.
The death of Mr. Wells occurred on the 15th of February, 1910, and his remains were interred in the Riverside cemetery. Deep regret was felt at his passing, for he had become prominently identified not only with business interests but with many publie activities. He gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and served on the board of finance in Waterbury, and was a member of the board of public works at the time of his death. He was a worthy exemplar of King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M., of Woodbury, and he and his sons became charter members of the Pequot Club of Waterbury. He was one of the trustees of the Union chapel and his aid and influence were always given on the side of right, truth, reform and progress. His widow still survives and is yet quite aetive. She is surrounded by her five sons and their families, the sons now con- dueting the business established by the father. They, too, have made for themselves a creditable place in the industrial circles of the city, manifesting the same qualities which made the name of Ambrose H. Wells an honored one in Waterbury.
HOMER TOMLINSON PARTREE, M. D.
It was in the year 1915 that Dr. Homer Tomlinson Partree located in Torrington and through the intervening period, brief though it is, he has built up a practice of large and gratifying extent. He was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, December 1, 1865, a son of Robert C. Partree, a farmer by occupation, who in early manhood had married Sarah Jane Tomlinson. Both have now passed away. They were natives of Litchfield county, Connecticut, and were married in the year 1848. They had a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, but only two are now living: Dr. II. T. Partree, of this review; and Mrs. Julia Wyckoff, of Woodbury, Connecticut.
Dr. Homer T. Partree spent his youthful days on his father's farm near Woodbury and after mastering the common branches of learning taught in the public schools he entered Yale College, where he won his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1887. For three years thereafter, or from 1887 until 1890, he was an apprentice in the drug store of his brother, the late Robert C. Partree, of Waterbury, Connecticut. In 1890 he was licensed as a pharmacist by the state and in the fall of that year he entered Yale Medical College, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1892. His first practical professional service eame to him in connection with the emergency hospital on Broome street and the Society of the Lying-in Hospital of New York. He was connected with those institu- tions for a few months and afterward spent two years as interne in Hartford Hospital at Hartford, Connecticut. Later he practiced for a year in South Norwalk, Connecticut, and for eight years was located in the general practice of medicine at Blandford. Massa- chusetts. On the expiration of that period he practiced for ten years in Monmouth county, New Jersey, and while there he also owned and conducted a pharmacy. While at Eatontown,
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Monmouth county, he served as health officer and medical inspector for schools. The year 1915 witnessed his arrival in Torrington. His fellow townsmen soon found that he was competent to cope with complex and intricate professional problems. He is on the medical staff of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and he belongs to the Litchfield County, the Connecticut State and American Medical Associations and also to the American Academy of Medicine.
On the 26th of June, 1895, Dr. Partree was married to Miss Minnie Amanda Havens, a daughter of Frederick Augustus and Jemima (Dunham) Havens, who were natives of New Haven and New York respectively. Dr. and Mrs. Partree have become the parents of three daughters, Eulalia, Pauline and Gladys, all of whom are high school graduates. The second daughter, Pauline, is now a student in the New Britain State Normal.
Dr. Partree and his wife are members of the Center Congregational church of Torring- ton, and while in Monmouth county, New Jersey, as there was no Congregational church in his community, he belonged to the Presbyterian church and served as one of its elders. Fraternally he is a Mason and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He enjoys motor trips with his family when leisure permits, but the growing duties of his profession leave him few idle hours.
CHARLES A. RAIANO.
Charles A. Raiano is a well known business man of Torrington, conducting a real estate, insurance and steamship ticket agency at No. 60 East Main street. He was born in Italy, February 17, 1884, and came to the United States with his father, Joseph Raiano, at the age of thirteen years. His father is now a resident of New Haven. The son resided for a year in New York and later spent a year in New Haven and two years in Waterbury, coming to Torrington in 1901. Here he was first employed in the Excelsior needle factory and later purchased a barber shop, which he owned and conducted for ten years. In the meantime he had established a steamship ticket agency, which he con- ducted in connection with his barber shop until 1912. He then sold the shop and extended the interests of his business to include real estate and insurance. He has gained a good clientage in these connections and does a large amount of business along these lines annually. He is also the Italian interpreter for the superior court of Litehfield county, a position which he has occupied most creditably for about twelve years. Close attention to business, unfaltering enterprise and indefatigable energy have been the salient points in winning him the success he now enjoys.
On the 20th of September, 1915, Mr. Raiano was united in marriage in New Haven, Connecticut, to Miss Julia Ryan and they have one daughter, Adelaide, who was born September 6, 1916. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Raiano is identified with the Sons of Italy. In politics he is a republican and is now serving his third term as justice of the peace. He is also a member of the republican town committee and he does everything in his power to promote republican successes because of a firm belief in the value of party principles.
GEORGE A. BARONIAN.
George A. Baronian, for nine years active in the real estate and insurance business, with offices at No. 95 Bank street, was born in Armenia, October 21, 1880. His father, Toros Baronian, was a blacksmith by trade and died in Armenia, where the mother is still living.
Their son, George A. Baronian, came to the United States in 1900 and spent three years in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was employed in a factory. In 1903 he arrived in Waterbury and for about four years he worked in a machine shop. In 1906, however, he established his present real estate and insurance business at No. 95 Bank street, at first devoting only evenings to his business, while in the daytime he continued his work in a machine shop. Since 1908, however, he has given his entire time and attention to the real estate and insurance business and has gained a very gratifying patronage. His real estate business involves also the buying of unimproved tracts and developing them. He has developed the Fairfield Heights property, making it a most attractive residence district. He also conducts a general insurance agency, handling all kinds of insurence except life.
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On the 28th of May, 1914, Mr. Baronian was married to Miss Grace L. Kurkjian, of New Haven, who was born, however, in Armenia and came to the United States with her parents in 1908. Mr. Baronian is a Royal Arch and Council Mason and he has also taken the various degrees of Odd Fellowship. He likewise has membership with the Elks and with the Knights of Pythias and he belongs to the Second Congregational church. Thoroughly American in spirit and interests, he stands for those things which are most worth while in the development of the community and in the upholding of its eivie standards.
ROSSI C. CABOL.
Among those who are catering to the natural taste for amusement and recreation in Torrington is Rossi C. Cabol, now proprietor of the Strand and Park theatres, and his able management of these theatres is making his business a very profitable and growing one. He is a native of Italy, his birth having occurred in that sunny land May 10, 1887. His parents, Joseph and Palma (Scalise) Cabol, never came to the United States but are still living in the town of Sorbo in St. Basile, Italy, where the father is a retired leather merchant.
Rossi C. Cabol eame to the United States in 1904 when about seventeen years of age, and has now lived in Torrington for thirteen years. For three years he was an operator of a motion picture machine, being one of the pioneers in that field in Torrington. For two and one-half years he filled the position of operator at the Gem theatre on Water street. The first theatre which he ever owned was the Star theatre on Main street, but this he soon closed and for two years thereafter he was operator at the Gem theatre. In 1912 he purchased the Park theatre at No. 118 South Main street and he has now owned and conducted it successfully for five years. In May, 1916, he leased the Strand theatre on East Main street for a period of ten years. This was the old Torrington Opera House and it was Mr. Cabol who renamed it the Strand. He puts forth the highest class pictures, patronizing the best film producing companies of the country, and he has made his theatres extremely popular. His policy has brought him a liberal patronage and it is a notable fact that on an average of once a week, generally on Sunday evening, he donates the proceeds of his theatres either to charity or to some worthy purpose, such as the American Red Cross work. In 1916, when Company M of Torrington was ordered to the Mexican border, Mr. Cabol donated the proceeds of several performances. in all over six hundred dollars, as a fund for the soldiers' families left at home.
In his religious faith Mr. Cabol is a Roman Catholic. He belongs to Ausonia Club, to the Sons of Italy and to the Morningside Game Club, associations which indicate some- thing of the nature of his interests. He is a most publie-spirited man who stands at all times for the welfare and upbuilding of his adopted city. While born across the water, he is truly American in spirit and his work has been of direct benefit to his adopted country in many ways. He greatly appreciates the opportunities which have come to him here and he feels that he owes his utmost allegiance to the land under whose flag he has pro- tection and whose laws are the safeguard of every individual within its borders.
WILLIAM S. CURTIS.
William S. Curtis, of the Curtis Art Company of Waterbury, was born in this city December 20, 1884, a son of Richard S. Curtis, who was the founder of the business and who is mentioned at length in connection with the sketch of JJohn H. Curtis on another page of this work. The educational opportunities accorded William S. Curtis were those afforded by the public schools, in which he passed through consecutive grades to the high school. He entered the art business in 1901 upon the death of his father and has since been a member of the company, which was organized in 1899 as the Curtis Art Company for the conduct of a general art business, including the sale of high grade pictures and all kinds of photographie supplies. They also do all kinds of photographie work except studio work and the company now enjoys a liberal and well deserved patronage, for the owners of the business are thoroughly honest, closely apply themselves to the work and display enterprise and initiative in management.
On the 7th of June, 1906, William S. Curtis was married to Miss Winifred Hubbell. of
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Naugatuck, a daughter of William M. Hubbell, and they have three children, Richard M., William S., and John Robert. Mr. Curtis belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Rotary Club. He has membership in the Bunker Hill Congregational church and in politics maintains an independent course, never allying himself with any party but voting according to the dictates of his judgment in regard to the vital questions of the day.
ANDREW WELTON GOLDSMITH.
Andrew Welton Goldsmith. deceased, was for many years actively interested in publie affairs in Waterbury and was widely known in its business circles as the founder of the contracting and trucking firm which conducted business under the name of A. W. Goldsmith and which eventually became the Goldsmith-Chatfield Company. A native of Litchfield county, Mr. Goldsmith was born at Northfield Hill, in the town of Plymouth, July 16, 1841, and was the eighth in order of birth in a family of twelve children whose parents were John and Rhoda (Smith) Goldsmith. The father was a mason and builder and most of his sons followed in the same line of activity. He resided in the town of Plymouth and was a well known and greatly respected man in that community.
Andrew W. Goldsmith attended school in his native town and worked with his father at the mason's trade until he attained his majority, when he left home and removed to Waterbury. Here he learned the trade of brass rolling as an employe of the firm of Brown Brothers, with whom he remained until 1867, when he went to New York city, where he found employment at his trade with Holmes & Griggs, who had an establishment at Second avenue and Twenty-second street. There he remained until 1870, when he returned to Waterbury and was again employed by Brown Brothers until their business was closed out. He then embarked in business on his own acount as a general contractor and also established a trucking business, continuing in those lines with marked success until the time of his demise. His office was located at No. 672 West Main street. He began business in a small way, but by close application and strict attention to his interests developed an enterprise of extensive proportions. The business was incorporated in Janu- ary, 1912, under the laws of Connecticut, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Goldsmith was then elected president, with his son-in-law, Benjamin Chatfield. as treasurer, and his daughter, Mary G. Chatfield, as the secretary. The business was conducted under that organization until the death of Mr. Goldsmith on the 18th of August, 1916. lle passed away at his home on East Clay street in Waterbury and was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery. Thus was brought to a close a life of great usefulness and activity, one which measured up to high standards and was the expression of many inanly virtues.
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