USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 39
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In 1876 Mr. Moriarty was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Collins, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Collins, of Waterbury, and they now have eight children: Mary F .. Lucy and Elizabeth, all deceased; Joseph C., who is superintendent of the business of John Moriarty, Incorporated: William Collins and John Collins, who are attorneys of
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Waterbury; Cecelia, the wife of J. Harry Moran; and Irene, who is a teacher in the Water- bury high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Moriarty are communicants of St. Margaret's Catholic church and fra- ternally Mr. Moriarty is connected with the Elks. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party. The greater part of his life has been passed in Waterbury, where he took up his abode when a youth of fifteen years, and whatever success he has achieved or enjoyed is attributable entirely to his own efforts.
WILLIAM COLLINS MORIARTY.
William Collins Moriarty, actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law since 1915, was born in Waterbury, February 26, 1884, a son of John Moriarty, a well known citizen of Waterbury, who is mentioned on another page of this volume. Following his graduation from the Waterbury high school with the class of 1904, William C. Moriarty studied law in the Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated in 1913. In the meantime he had learned the trade of a machinist and toolmaker while working in the plants of the Waterbury Machine Company and the Manville Machine Company. He devoted six years of his life to the trade, being thus engaged from 1904 until 1910, when he began preparation for the bar, as previously indicated. After his graduation he spent a year and a half at his trade and was then admitted to practice at the Connecticut bar June 22, 1915. He at once opened an office and has since followed his profession, at the same time attending to his duties as secretary of the firm of John Moriarty, Inc.
On the 6th of April, 1911, Mr. Moriarty was married to Miss Mabel Foulkes, of Wash- ington, D. C. He belongs to the Immaculate Conception Catholic church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has the qualities which distinguish the Irish race, the ready versatility, the eloquence and the strength in argument, and all these are constituent forces in his growing success at the bar.
JOHN COLLINS MORIARTY.
John Collins Moriarty, a well known attorney at law, with offices at No. 127 East Main street, Waterbury, was born in that city on the 12th day of February, 1888, and is the youngest son of John Moriarty, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was graduated from the Waterbury high school in 1909 and during his junior year was manager of the football team. Later he attended the Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., where he received the degree of B. A. in 1913, and during his senior year at that institution was treasurer of the Georgetown University Athletic association. In the fall of 1913 he entered the Yale Law School and was graduated as LL. B. in June, 1916. He then entered upon the practice of law in Waterbury, where he has since successfully followed his chosen profession. While at Yale he was a member of Waite Chapter, Phi Delta Phi, an intercollegiate legal fraternity. In religious faith he is a Catholic and belongs to St. Margaret's church and he is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
R. R. HARDER.
Among the well known clothing merchants of Waterbury is R. R. Harder, who is at the head of a business which is conducted under the name of the R. R. Harder Company and has been a feature in the commercial life of this city for fourteen years. Mr. Harder was born in Massachusetts in 1853. a son of William and Marietta Harder, the former a wheelwright by trade.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof. R. R. Harder obtained a public school education but his oportunities were limited, for at the age of nine years he went to New York and obtained a position in the retail dry goods house of A. T. Stewart, then the leading commercial establishment of that city. There he worked for two years, after which he engaged in clerking in various places. In 1887 he came to Waterbury and entered
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the employ of the Jones-Morgan Company, with which he also spent two years. On the expiration of that period he became connected with the Upson-Singleton Company and that his record was one of faithfulness, capability and trustworthiness is indicated by the fact that he remained with that house for about fourteen years or until 1903, when laudable ambition prompted him to engage in business on his own account. Mr. Harder opened a store at 105 Bank street in a building one hundred and twenty-five feet deep, and fifty feet frontage on Bank street, with about eighty feet frontage on South Main . street. He handles a full line of men's clothing and furnishings, including the goods of Hart, Schaffner & Marx, the Style Plus brand and the Fashion Park clothes. He employs about eight people and has a well equipped establishment, while the business methods of the house are thoroughly reliable. He is indeed a self-made man, having been dependent upon his own resources from a very early age aud working his way upward by continued effort and persistency of purpose prompted by laudable ambition.
CHARLES D. DOTY.
Charles D. Doty became a licensed pharmacist on the 5th of October, 1909, and since 1910 has been proprietor of a drug store at 227 South Main street in Torrington. He was born in Sharon, Connecticut, August 3, 1870, a son of Morgan and Jennie (Morrison) Doty, both of whom have now passed away. The father was a florist by occupation and thus provided for the support of his family, which numbered six sons and a daughter. Charles D. Doty now has four brothers living, but he is the only one in Torrington, although the others are residents of Connecticut. The surviving members of the family are George H., William, James H., Elijah E. and Charles D., while Franklin and Etta have passed away.
Charles D. Doty spent his youth at Lime Rock, Connecticut, and for thirteen years served as an iron molder of that place and in 1896 came to Torrington, where for two years he was employed in the drug store of T. M. Burns. He afterward spent thirteen years as an employe of E. F. Nolan, a well known druggist, and was then licensed as a pharmacist upon passing the examination before the state board on the 5th of October, 1909. Ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he had carefully saved his earnings and when he felt that his capital was sufficient he opened a drug store at No. 227 South Main street, where he has carried on business since August, 1910, making his home near by, at No. 237 South Main street. He carries a large stock of drugs and the tasteful appointment of his store, together with his reliable business methods has secured to him a gratifying patronage.
In 1910 Charles D. Doty was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who had borne the maiden name of Ellen J. Patterson. Two years later he wedded Helen Gertrude Deming. He has one son and one daughter, Randolph Earl and Elsie Mae. The latter is employed as a stenographer. The son is a druggist and is connected with his father in business. He was enrolled for military duty but was exempted.
Mr. and Mrs. Doty hold membership in Trinity Episcopal church and he gives his political support to the republican party. He served for two years as burgess, being elected on the citizens' independent ticket, and he exercised his official prerogatives in support of many progressive public measures. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Foresters and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
GEORGE W. PETERSON.
George W. Peterson, editor and manager of the Torrington Register, was born November 6, 1877, at Mount Union, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, one of seven sons and three daughters of Samuel W. aud Elizabeth (Buckley) Peterson, whose forefathers settled in south central Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary war. The first of the family line in America was William Peterson, who came from Denmark in the early part of the seven- teenth century aud settled in New Jersey. In 1883 the family moved to a farm in Wayne township, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, and there resided until 1900.
George W. Peterson attended the publie schools and at an early age took a college preparatory course at West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. He entered Dickinson College of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1901 but left to
GEORGE W. PETERSON
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become instrument man for MeKelvey & Hine, contracting engineers of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, returning to Carlisle in the spring of 1902 and graduating with that class, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During vacations, while taking his preparatory and college courses, he was employed on various newspapers in Pittsburg and upon completion of his college course he became editor of railroad news on the Pittsburg Dispatch. Later he became a special writer for the Pittsburg Times. Night work not agreeing with his health, he gave up newspaper work in Pittsburg in the summer of 1903 and took a position as vice principal of the Torrington high school, where he taught science one year and then beeame principal of the public schools of Litchfield, Connecticut. IFe became editor of the Torrington Register July 5, 1905, and has served in that capacity continuously ever since. For the greater part of this period he has served also as manager and is one of the owners and a director of the company. His practice in newspaper work is to concentrate all energies on giving the news.
He was married June 20, 1905, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to Miss Almeda J. Fickel, daughter of Dr. James G. Fickel, a physician of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Peterson is a graduate of the Carlisle high school and of the nurse's training school of Howard Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was engaged in private nursing in Philadelphia for a short time before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have one son, James Walden, born May 6, 1906, at 19 Church street, Torrington. The family residence is at 43 Calhoun street.
Mr. Peterson is a member of the Litchfield County University Club, the Torrington Club, Seneca Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M., and Cyrus Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M., of Torrington. Both he and his wife are Presbyterians but now affiliate with Trinity Episcopal church in Torrington.
THE THOMASTON SAVINGS BANK.
The Thomaston Savings Bank was established in 1874, its first officers being: Miles Morse, president : George A. Stoughton, secretary and treasurer; and I. B. Woodward, vice president. The business was started in an upstairs office. The bank has always been con- tinued as a savings bank. Mr. Morse was succeeded in the presidency by I. B. Woodward, who in turn was succeeded by J. H. Wood. He was followed by H. F. Bradford and later Judge F. W. Etheridge became president, so continuing until his death, when E. C. Stoughton was elected to the presidency. George A. Stoughton as treasurer and secretary was succeeded by George HI. Stoughton and he in turn by Henry E. Stoughton, who was called to that office in 1895 and still occupies the position. The first depositor was D. K. Merriam, a successful farmer. The bank is one of the most prosperous of the country savings banks of Connecticut and is second in the state among the banks of a million or more in its surplus and profits.
HON. WILLARD A. RORABACK.
Hon. Willard A. Roraback, judge of probate for the Torrington-Goshen district of Litchfield county, whose residence in the borough of Torrington covers a period of a third of a century, was born in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, March 12, 1860, a son of James and Martha Elizabeth (Bartholomew) Roraback. The father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, was born in Columbia county, New York, and was of German descent, while the mother was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and was of English lineage. James Roraback was a son of Christian Roraback. In the maternal line Willard A. Roraback comes of Revolutionary war ancestry. His mother was a daughter of Abigail Savage, a representa- tive of one of the old and well known colonial families. Mr. and Mrs. James Roraback had eight children, seven sons and a daughter, of whom Willard A. was the fifth. Five of the sons and the daughter are still living, namely: Cassius H. and James Lee, both of California : Charles E., of London, England: George L. of Sheffield, Massachusetts: and Grace E., also living in Sheffield.
Willard A. Roraback was but a year old when his parents removed to Sheffield, Massa- chusetts, where he was reared on a farm, there remaining to the age of seventeen years, when he went to North Canaan, Connectient, where he attended school for a year. He afterward entered the law office of his cousin, Hon. Alberto T. Roraback. who is now on the Connectient supreme bench and with whom he studied law for several years. He was
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then admitted to the bar at Litchfield in June. 1883, and the following year came to Tor- rington, where he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession. He has since been identified with law practice or judicial service and he deserves high praise for his work as probate judge. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican, as have the different members of the Roraback family. In 1887 he was elected town clerk, serving in that position for one term and in the early '90s he was again called to the office, to which he was later several times reelected, occupying the position for nine years in all. He also filled the office of borough clerk for seven years and has been a justice of the peace since 1884, or for a third of a century. In 1895 he was called upon to represent his town in the state legislature and for two terms he served as judge of the borough court. He is now serving his tenth consecutive term of two years each as judge of probate of the Torrington- Goshen district, and when his present term expires he will have been probate judge for twenty years. He has made a most splendid record in this connection. Since he entered upon the duties of the office there has never been any taint of crookedness or breath of suspicion as to his conduct of its affairs, and no estates have been stolen since he became probate judge. He was one of the incorporators of the Torrington Savings Bank and also of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
On the 28th of December, 1892, Mr. Roraback was married to Miss Emma Elizabeth Pierson. of Hartford, Connecticut. She is a descendant of the oldest colonial families of New England and comes of pure English-American ancestry. She is descended from Edward Ball. who settled in New Haven in 1665. Later members of the family settled in Newark, New Jersey, and the family was related to the Washington family. She is also descended from Rev. Abraham Pierson, of Newark, whose son was the first president of Yale University. Mr. and Mrs. Roraback have two sons: James Willard, who was born June 10, 1896, and is now a senior in Yale; and Charles, who was born July 20, 1901. graduated from the Torrington high school before he reached the sixteenth anniversary of his birth, and entered the freshman class of Yale in 1917. Mr. Roraback is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and he belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His membership relations also extend to the Torrington Club and to the Greenwoods Country Clb. He has a very wide acquaintance and the encomiums cast upon him as a public official have been well deserved.
JAMES M. CARROLL.
James M. Carroll, an investor and man of affairs. is widely and prominently known in Torrington. The story of his life is the story of New England thrift and business sagacity combined with individnal energy and enterprise. He early took up the task of providing for his own support and not one in a thousand who have enjoyed his modest advantages have turned them to such excellent account. The wisdom, energy and success with which he pushed his way along is a study for American youth. He was born in Halifax. Nova Scotia. February 17, 1864, a son of Peter and Mary (MeLeod) Carroll, who were natives of Ireland and of Scotland respectively. They became acquainted, how- ever, in Halifax and were married there. They never lived in the United States, both passing away in Halifax. James M. Carrol and his sister Ellen, now the wife of William P. Flynn, of Boston, are the only ones of the family in the United States, but they have one brother and one sister in Nova Scotia-John and Christina, the latter the wife of Enos Thorpe.
At an early age James M. Carroll learned the art of cooking and when a mere lad spent some time as cook aboard steamers and sailing vessels on the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In 1879 he went to New York and soon afterward to Norfolk, Connecticut. In 1881 he came to Torrington, where he remained until 1885. He then left here but again came to Torrington in 1888 and through the intervening period, covering nearly three decades. has made this city his home. He is a farsighted. energetic and enterprising business man and has amassed a competence through wise and prudent investments in copper mining and in other stocks. He is today a stockholder of the United States Steel Corporation, of the American Sugar Refining Company, the American Smelting Company, the United States Smelting Company and is a vice president and one of the direetors of the John Henry Company and treasurer and manager of the Torrington Bottling Com- pany. The extent and importance of his interests have brought him out of humble sur-
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roundings into important business connections, all acquired through his industry and business discernment.
On the 3d of July. 1888, Mr. Carroll was united in marriage to Miss Annie R. Grady, who was born in Torrington, a daughter of Henry and Maria (Murphy) Grady, who were natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll have become parents of a daughter, Virginia, who is now a senior in the Torrington high school. They are members of St. Francis Roman Catholic church and Mr. Carroll is an Elk, having served as exalted ruler in his lodge. In politics he maintains an independent course, His life record indicates the fact that the sources of our power lie within ourselves. He is a man of well balanced capacities and has long occupied a central place on the stage of action, his labors finding culmination in the development of valuable properties and business enterprises, and in the promotion of his interests he has reached the goal of prosperity.
DENNIS M. HOGAN.
Dennis M. Hogan, a well known citizen of Torrington, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 21, 1865, a son of Michael J. and Mary A. (Gleeson) Hogan. The father was a stone and brick mason by trade and never came to the United States. The mother was a sister of the late Patrick Gleeson, of Torrington, and she came to Torrington from Ireland in 1888, after the death of her husband, spending her last days in this city, where she passed away in 1900, at the age of fifty-six years. Dennis M. Hogan is the eldest of six living children, five sons and one daughter. He has two brothers, James and Patrick, who are residents of Torrington, while another brother, Daniel JJ. Hogan, known as Brother Donation, is in a Chicago monastery, being a member of the Catholic Order of Christian Brothers. Still another brother is Michael II. Hogan, of Cleveland, Ohio. The only daughter of the family is now a Sister of Mercy, known as Sister M. Calanctius.
On the 24th of May, 1894, Dennis M. Hogan was united in marriage to Miss Anna Maria McLoughlin, a native of Massachusetts but of Irish parentage. They have become the parents of six living children: Henry M., Mary Anna, William J., James M., Jolm J. and Margaret.
Mr. Hogan is a member of St. Francis Roman Catholic church and fraternally he is con- nected with the Elks. He is a very prominent representative of the order and is a past exalted ruler of Torrington Lodge. No. 372. His business interests are extensive and important and represent judicious investment. He is now a director of the Torrington Trust Company, also a director of the John Henry Company, is proprietor of a liquor establishment and is the owner of much valuable Torrington real estate. He is also a director of the Torrington Ice Company. His business affairs are wisely and carefully managed and success has crowned his efforts. He occupies a prominent position in public regard and is equally prominent in social connections. Ifis home, which was formerly owned by the Lyman W. Coe estate, is situated opposite Coe Memorial Park, at No. 52 Litchfield street. This park may well be termed Torrington's beauty spot. On one side Is the Torrington public library and on the other the Elks Home, with the Hogan residence facing the park. Thus amid most attractive surroundings Mr. Hogan is now situated and his prominent financial position is the result of individual effort and ability, just as his prominent social position is a recognition of his many sterling traits of character.
CHARLES L. RAYMOND.
Charles L. Raymond is today one of the oldest merchants in years of continuous con- nection with commercial interests in Waterbury, having since 1896 been manager of the store of the W. L. Douglas Shoe Company. He was born in Waterbury, June 19, 1873, and is a son of Lewis and Mary L. (Lambert) Raymond. The father was a native of Vista, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in New York city. About 1864 he removed to Waterbury and entered the employ of J. F. Roscoe & Company, eventually becoming a member of the firm, which was engaged in the shoe business. Changes in partnership occurred from time to time. leading to the adoption of the firm style of Ray- mond & Whitney, while later business was carried on under the name of Lewis Raymond until 1893. In that year Mr. Raymond retired and enjoyed well carned rest throughont his remaining days. his death occurring in 1909. He was at the time the oldest shoe
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merchant of Waterbury, having been connected with the trade longer than any other shoe merchant of the city. He had for six years survived his wife, who passed away in 1903.
Reared under the parental roof, Charles L. Raymond acquired a public school education and from the age of fourteen years has been connected with the shoe trade, at which time he became assistant to his father. This was in 1887 and his experience as a shoe merchant now covers thirty years. He took charge of the store of the W. L. Douglas Shoe Company at Waterbury in 1896, when the business was established, a store being opened on South Main street, where they continued for two years. A removal was then made to 83 Bank street and this was the last store destroyed in the wide conflagration of 1902. While a new building was being erected on that site Mr. Raymond carried on business on South Main and on Center streets but returned to the old location in February, 1903, oceupying a building twenty-two by ninety feet. He handles Douglas shoes exclusively, all made in the factories of the company, and carries a complete line of men's, women's and children's shoes. He employes fourteen people, including six regular elerks, and he never carries any stock over one season. His establishment ranks with the best of the one hundred and three stores operated by the company and it has been continuously under the management of Mr. Raymond.
In 1908 Mr. Raymond was united in marriage to Miss Edith E. Cray, of Brattleboro, Vermont, and they have two children, Paul and Margaret. The parents are members of the Second Congregational church and are widely and favorably known in Waterbury, where Mr. Raymond has spent his entire life. He has social qualities which render him popular and the high regard which is entertained for him has come to him in recognition of his sterling worth.
THOMAS H. CREIGHTON.
Thomas H. Creighton is one of the active business men of Waterbury, being manager of the Woolworth five and ten cent stores. This business was inaugurated in Waterbury in 1900, the original location being in the Chase building. Afterward a removal was made to East Main street, where the business occupies one floor and basement of a store one hundred and ten by sixty-three feet. Employment is given to forty clerks and as active manager of the business Mr. Creighton displays marked ability and enterprise. He was born in Canada in 1861 and acquired a public school education there, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. He was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the work of the fields. In 1886 he became associated with the Woolworth interests when the business included only five stores. Mr. Creighton was first at Poughkeepsie, New York, and afterward went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was manager of the store. He eame to Waterbury as manager in 1906 and has sinee been active in this connection. Mr. Woolworth, founder of the business, married a sister of Mr. Creighton. The latter has been with the Woolworth company almost since its inception and has contributed in no small measure to the steady growth and development of the undertaking, which has dis- played initiative spirit and original methods, the development of the business placing the founder among America's millionaires.
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