USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 40
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In 1909 Mr. Creighton was united in marriage to Miss Anna S. MeGuill, of Spring. field, Massachusetts. By a former marriage he had two sons: R. L., who is now assistant manager of the Manhattan office; and C. A., who is manager of the Woolworth store at Yonkers, New York. Mr. Creighton attends the Episcopal church, which he generously supports. His aid is easily secured in behalf of measures and movements for the public good and all who know him recognize in him sterling worth, marked business enterprise and thorough reliability.
SAMUEL CRAFT SNAGG.
There are various noteworthy and commendable chapters in the life history of Samuel Craft Snagg, veteran of the Civil war and for many years the chief of the fire department and superintendent of the alarm telegraph system of Waterbury. He was born in West- port, Connecticut, November 19, 1846, a son of William and Phoebe (Foote) Snagg, the latter a descendant of Nathaniel Foote, who was born in 1593 and became the founder of the family in the new world, his death occurring at Wethersfield, now Hartford, Connecticut,
SAMUEL C. SNAGG
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in 1644. The father of Mrs. Phoebe (Foote) Snagg was born in Westport, Connecticut, July 27, 1771, and passed away September 17, 1846. The birth of his daughter there occurred July 15, 1806, and her life record compassed the intervening years to November 18, 1873.
It was in the year 1856 that Samuel C. Snagg became a resident of Waterbury, where he pursued a high school education, but on the 5th of March, 1862, when only fifteen years of age, he enlisted at New Haven for service in the Civil war as a member of Company C, First Regiment of Connecticut Heavy Artillery, for a three years' term. At Arlington Heights, Virginia, in March, 1864, he reenlisted to serve until the close of the war. He was a brave and faithful soldier, participating in many hotly contested engagements, includ- ing the battles of Yorktown, Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill. At the close of the war he was mustered out with the Army of the James at Alexandria, Virginia, on the 24th of September, 1865. He then returned to Waterbury with a most creditable military record, having for more than three years been a faithful defender of the Union, although he had not yet attained his majority when the war closed. Resuming the pursuits of peace, he became actively engaged at the machinist's trade and was also prominently connected with the fire department. In 1868 he joined Monitor Hose Company, No. 3, and acceptably filled the position of foreman of the company for three terms. He has also filled the posi- tions of third and second assistant engineer and he was elected chief of the fire depart- ment on the 7th of February, 1882. On the 3d of March, 1883, he was appointed, in addition to his work as chief, to the position of fire alarm telegraph superintendent and so onerous were the duties that devolved upon him in this connection that he was forced to give up his trade as a machinist to devote all of his time to the department. He con- tinued in that position until November, 1914, when he retired with half pay. His record had been marked by the greatest efficiency, leading to notable progress and improvement in the fire department and his record received the high commendation of all who knew aught of his work.
In 1869 Mr. Snagg was married to Miss Margaret E. Devereaux, a daughter of Michael Devereaux, of Waterbury, Connecticut. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M., of Westport, and has belonged to Nosahogan Lodge, I. O. O. F., since November, 1885. His political allegiance is given to the republican party where national issues are involved, but at local elections he casts an independent ballot. He has a wide acquaintance in Waterbury, where his worth is widely acknowledged, and all who know him entertain for him warm regard.
THOMAS J. WALL.
Thomas J. Wall, a lawyer of Torrington, now serving as prosecuting attorney of the borough court, was born February 19, 1879, in Torrington, of the marriage of Judge Edmond and Alice (Lonergan) Wall. The father was born in the county of Tipperary, Ireland, December 10, 1848, and came to the United States in 1867, residing in Morristown, New Jersey, until 1878, when he removed to Torrington. Since 1904 he has continuously served as deputy judge of the Torrington borough. It was in Morristown, New Jersey, that he wedded Miss Lonergan, who was also a native of County Tipperary, their homes being only four miles apart, although they never became acquainted until after coming to the new world. They were married in 1872 and are now valued and respected citizens of Torrington. Their family numbered ten children, of whom Thomas J. Wall was the fourth in order of birth, while five are yet living, namely: Mrs. Mary Doyle, of Waterbury; Edmond, of Torrington; Thomas J., of this review; and William J. and Agnes, also of Torrington.
In the public schools of his native borough Thomas J. Wall pursued his education, attend- ing high school until he reached the age of eighteen. Later he studied shorthand in the Winsted Business College and devoted three or four years thereafter to stenographie work. In those years he was also an enthusiastic football player, playing full-back on the Torring- ton high school team. Later, while employed as a stenographer at Waterbury he was catcher with the baseball team. In 1903 he began the study of law in the office of Walter Holcomb of Torrington, and was a law student at Yale in 1905-06, being admitted to the Litchfield county bar on the 26th of June of the latter year. He has since been in active practice in Torrington and is making steady progress in his profession, proving capable in solving intricate and involved legal problems and in correctly applying thereto the principles of jurisprudence. He is also a large owner of improved and unimproved real estate in the borough and in the town of Torrington, having in all about three hundred acres. He is also a director of the Torrington Trust Company, of which he was one of the incorporators.
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On the 26th of September. 1906, Mr. Wall was married to Miss Helen Caroline Hoffman, of Winsted, Connecticut, and they have become parents of three children, Thomas F., Robert and Alice, the first named born August 11, 1907, the second on the 12th of September, 1909, and the youngest January 14, 1912. The parents are communicants of St. Francis Catholic church and Mr. Wall holds membership with the Knights of Columbus and with the Elks. In politics he is a progressive republican and was the candidate of the progressive party for congress in 1914. He is now the prosecuting attorney for the borough of Torrington, having been appointed to the position by Judge Bernard E. Higgins on the 19th of June, 1917. In 1912 he visited Europe, going to Great Britain and the principal conti- mental countries, and when in Rome he had an audience with Pope Pius X. On the same trip he visited Algiers, Africa, and in 1916 went to Cuba. He greatly enjoys travel, recognizing its educational and cultural, as well as recreative worth, and whenever oppor- tunity offers he takes a trip, having visited various sections of this country in addition to foreign travel.
WILLIAM CARVOSSO SHARPE.
Membership in the Connecticut State Historical Society and in the Connecticut Editorial Association is an indication of the activity and interests of William Carvosso Sharpe of Seymour, widely known as the editor of the Seymour Record. His lines of life have been east in harmony with the record of a distinguished and honorable ancestry. He is one of the descendants of Thomas Sharpe. who belonged to the colony of thirty-eight original settlers to whom the town of Newtown, Connecticut, was granted by the general assembly in 1708 and who was born in England about 1680. Thomas Sharpe, the grandfather of William C. Sharpe, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war in the regiment commanded by Colonel Bradley and was at Horse Neck. Lugrand Sharpe, father of William C. Sharpe, was born in Ridgefield. Connecticut, and in early life learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1843 he removed from Southbury to Seymour, where he conducted his shoe shop and he was also active in advancing not only the material but also the moral welfare of his community. He was a very prominent member of the Methodist church and was one of the leaders in establishing the old Union church at Southford during the '30s. His activity in church work continued during his residence in Seymour and his efforts were of far-reaching effect and importance. He died in Seymour, May 1, 1876. while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Olive M. Booth and was a native of Southbury, Connecticut, died on the 8th of March, 1864.
William C. Sharpe was born in Southbury, Connecticut, October 3, 1839. He supple- mented his public school training by study in Glendenning's Academy at Seymour and afterward entered the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was thus engaged for about ten years and at the time of his re- tirement from that profession he was principal of the graded school at Derby. Turning his attention to the printing business, he has thus been engaged since 1868 and since 1871 has been owner and publisher of the Seymour Record. The New England Editor of Rutland, Vermont, on the 1st of September, 1899, said of Mr. Sharpe and his editorial work: "One of the creditable weeklies in Connecticut, and there are a host of them, is the Seymour Record. It is always prepared with care, the matter arranged intelligently and conven- iently, and gives evidence of mechanical and typographical skill. The tone of the paper editorially is healthy and it enjoys both popularity and reputation for reliability and level headedness, two very important desiderata in any newspaper. The editor and publisher is William C. Sharpe." While Mr. Sharpe has given to the public a paper that has always maintained the highest standards of clean journalism, he has also become well known through his authorship in other connections. He is the author of The History of Seymour, The Annals of the Seymour Methodist Episcopal Church, The Histories of Oxford, Bethany and South Britain and also the gencalogies of the Chatfield. Washburn, Dart and Sharpe families, and of the major part of "Seymour, Past and Present," published in 1902.
On the 8th of October, 1865, Mr. Sharpe was married to Miss Vinie Amanda Lewis, of Monroe, Connecticut, who was born June 18. 1842. Their children are two in number. The elder, Ernest C., born July 23, 1869. is an architect of Willimantic, Connecticut. He is married and has a son, Archibald Randall Sharpe, who is also an architect and who has one son, the great-grandson of William C. Sharpe of this review. The daughter, -Iva E., is with her father in newspaper work.
Mr. Sharpe is a prominent representative of Masonic interests. He has been identified
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with the order since 1863 and has taken the degrees of chapter, council and commandery, being past thrice illustrious master of the council. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows since 1861 and he is a charter member of the Improved Order of Red Men at Seymour and also a charter member of Humphrey Lodge, K. P., of which he is a past chan- cellor. He likewise joined Granite Temple of Honor upon its organization and is one of its past worthy chiefs and is a past grand chief in that order of Connecticut. He belongs to the Congregational church and for the past quarter of a century has been its clerk. In public affairs he has taken keen and active interest. He was for many years a member of the board of education and was its secretary and acting school visitor. He is a director and the treasurer of the Seymour public library. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a stanch defender of the faith. Many believe that old age becomes synonymous with idleness or want of occupation. The career of William C. Sharpe is a striking commentary to the contrary. There is an old age which grows stronger and brighter mentally and morally as the years go on and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. Such is the career of William C. Sharpe. Active at the age of seventy-eight, he is still publishing the Seymour Record, which for forty-six years has been a most important factor in furthering the interests of Seymour and in advancing its upbuilding along many lines. He is a valued member of the Connecticut Editorial Association and a most interested member of the Connecticut Historical Society. His investigations into Connecticut's history have been most broad and there are few men able to speak with greater authority upon those events which figure in connection with the annals of the state.
JAMES NEWELL BANZIGER.
James Newell Banziger is proprietor of the Migeon Avenue Pharmacy and ranks with the leading and representative druggists of Torrington. IIe was born in Middletown, Con- necticut, September 28, 1869, and is of Swiss descent in the paternal line, while of English lineage on the mother's side. His father, Robert Banziger, was a native of Switzerland and came to the United States prior to the Civil war. He served for two years in the Union army as a member of the Second Vermont Regiment of Heavy Artillery, with which he remained until severely wounded at Spottsylvania Courthouse, being shot through the chest. This ended his active service. His widow, who resides in Waterbury, has the bullet which was extracted from his body some time later. Robert Banziger lived for twenty- seven years after thus wounded and passed away in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1891. He had removed from Middletown to Ansonia and thence to Waterbury, where he took up his abode some years after the war. For a long period he conducted a cigar and tobacco store and German delicatessen on South Main street in Waterbury. His wife bore the maiden name of Ardelia Newell and was born in Providence, Rhode Island, of English ancestry. On her mother's side she is of Mayflower descent and the Newell family is a very old one in New England and was well represented in the Revolutionary war by those who patriotically and loyally defended the interests of the colonies. Mrs. Banziger now lives at No. 248 North Main street in Waterbury. In the family were four sons and two daughters: James Newell, of this review; John, Edward, Charles and Emma, all residents of Waterbury ; and Fannie, the wife of Louis Smith, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
James Newell Banziger spent his youth in Waterbury and attended its public schools, while later he became a student in the Waterbury Business College, from which he was graduated, having qualified for active work as a bookkeeper. He later learned the machinist's and molder's trades in plants of the Waterbury Manufacturing Company and of the American Ring Company, both of Waterbury. While thus engaged he also worked in a Waterbury drug store at night from 7:00 until 11:00 P. M. and thus acquainted himself with the drug trade, and was licensed as a pharmacist December 1, 1903. He received practical training in the drug business as an employe in the store of N. A. Upham on North Main street in Waterbury, where he spent four years. In 1904 he came to Torrington and for one year was a clerk in the drug store of John M. Claxton at the corner of Main and Water streets. While he was thus employed Mr. Claxton purchased from T. M. Burns the Migeon Avenne Pharmacy in Torrington and placed Mr. Banziger in charge as manager. On the 20th of November, 1905, the latter purchased the store from Mr. Claxton and has since been its owner, successfully condneting the business from that time to the present.
Mr. Banziger has been married twice. In Waterbury he wedded Alice Fuller, who died there six years later, leaving one daughter, Leila, who is now a graduate of the Torrington
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high school and lives with her father, presiding over his home. For his second wife Mr. Banziger chose Helena Klebes, of Sharon, Connecticut, who passed away May 24, 1917. The daughter Leila was born June 20, 1891, and was formerly a stenographer but is now giving her attention to the management of her father's home.
Mr. Banziger belongs to Trinity Episcopal church and its teachings guide him in all of his life's relations. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also a Council Mason and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He likewise has membership with the Sons of Veterans and is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He belongs to the State Pharmaceutical Association and is intensely interested in everything that bears upon his chosen profession. His has been a well spent life in which activity and enterprise in business have brought substantial success, while his close conformity to high standards has gained for him the friendship and regard of many with whom he has been brought in contact.
HENRY E. HOTCHKISS.
The news of the demise of Henry E. Hotchkiss was received with expressions of deepest regret when on the 10th of June, 1917, he passed away in Torrington, where for many years he had occupied a mnost conspicuous and enviable position in the regard of his fellowmen. Throughout his entire life in matters of citizenship he had displayed the samme spirit of loyalty that lie manifested when he followed the stars and stripes on the battlefields of the south, and in business he had shown an initiative and resourcefulness that led to the development of one of the largest commercial interests of Torrington. He seemed always to discriminate between the essential and unessential, avoiding the latter, so using the former as to produce the most desired results, crowning his efforts with success- ful accomplishment.
Torrington really numbered Mr. Hotchkiss among lier native sons but he was born at Drakeville, four miles from Torrington, February 5, 1842, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hotchkiss. The former was the founder of the business now conducted under the name of Hotchkiss Brothers Company. It was in the year 1841 that he removed from Naugatuck to Torrington and soon afterward built a sawmill at Drakeville, there conducting his business until 1857, when he purchased the old Wilson mill and water privileges at the site of the present Hotchkiss Brothers' plant. The old Wilson mill was the home of what was perhaps the first industrial enterprise of Wolcottville. It was at that mill that prac- tically all the lumber was sawed that was used in the construction of the first houses in Wolcottville. After conducting business alone for some time Charles Hotchkiss admitted his son Edward C. to a partnership under the firm style of Charles Hotchkiss & Son, which was changed in 1867 to Charles Hotchkiss & Sons, when Henry Hotchkiss became a member of the firm. The father remained active in the business until the early '80s and later lived retired, passing the eighty-seventh milestone on life's journey; being at the time of his death the oldest resident of Torrington. At one time he was chosen to represent his town in the state legislature and he was long accorded prominence as the father of indus- trial enterprise in his borough.
With the retirement of the father the sawmill and lumber business was conducted under the style of Hotchkiss Brothers, Henry Hotchkiss having been admitted to a partnership, as previously stated, in 1867. In his boyhood days he had attended the public schools of Torrington and then began assisting his father in the mill. He possessed considerable musical talent, in early manhood organizing and conducting the Wolcottville band. On the 22d of July, 1861, following the outbreak of the Civil war, he and most of the members of this band enlisted in the First Regiment of the Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery. They served with the army of the Potomac in the Peninsular campaign and acted not only as musicians but also as stretcher bearers, earrying the wounded from the battlefields. Mr. Hotchkiss remained in active duty until mustered out July 17, 1862, and upon his return home resumed work with his father, being admitted to a partnership, after which the business was conducted under the firm name of Charles Hotchkiss & Sons and later of Hotchkiss Brothers. When Edward Hotchkiss was admitted to the partnership the present style of Hotchkiss Brothers & Company was assumed. While the business originaly consisted of only carpentry and building interests, it broadened in scope and today the company is most widely known as manufacturers and dealers in lumber. Their plant has been increased from time to time to meet the expansion of the trade and today covers several acres on the north side of the Naugatuck river with large storage facilities else-
HENRY E, HOTCHKISS
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where. The equipment of this plant has been modernized from time to time and in every department is the expression of the spirit of enterprise which has ever been characteristic of the business. With the incorporation in 1901 under the name of the Hotchkiss Brothers Company, Henry E. Hotchkiss was elected president and so continued until his death although he had not been active in the management of the business from June, 1904. He retired because of ill health and in the intervening years until his demise largely spent the winter months at southern climes, North Carolina or other places in the south.
On December 1, 1866, Mr. Hotchkiss was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Brady, by whom he is survived together with four daughters: Hattie E., Mrs. C. B. Vincent, Clara Isabelle and Mrs. Clarence Rowe, all' residents of Torrington. The fifth daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Charles F. Kendall and passed away June 20, 1903, left two children, Dorothy and Henry Kendall, of Chicopee, Massachusetts. Death called Mr. Hotchkiss when he reached the age of seventy-five years. Throughout the entire period he had been & valuable resident of Torrington and had been referred to many times as "one of Torrington's best eitizens." He took an active and helpful interest in all public affairs that sought to advance the welfare and progress of his town and while he never sought public office he was honored in many public ways. For three years he served as a burgess of the borough of Torrington, from 1902 until 1905. He was a member of the Torrington Club from its organization and he belonged to the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut and to the Army and Navy League of the United States, serving on several committees of that organization. In 1915 he took a prominent part in the movement of the league for national preparedness for war. He maintained pleasant relations with his old military comrades through his membership in L. W. Steele Post, No. 34, G. A. R. of Torrington. He continued active in musical circles for many years and was the composer of several most creditable pieces. His best known composition was a march which he called Our Defenders and which was played by the army band for the first time on March 21, 1904. The following year he dedicated a song to Company M. He was not only a leader and well known member of the band for many years but was also an accomplished violinist and cornetist. On the 2nd of December, 1916, he reached the fifty-second anniversary of his connection with Masonry and at the time of his death was the oldest member of Seneca Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M., living in Torrington. Trinity church numbered him among her most consistent members. He was a member of the building committee at the time of the erection of the present honse of worship, was director of the choir for twenty years, and for a long time was a vestryman of his church. His life was ever actuated by the highest and most honorable principles which found manifestation in his business relations as well as in his private life. To know him was to respect and honor him. He wrote his name large on the history of Torrington. and his memory is enshrined with those with whom he was associated.
CHARLES ARTHUR PATTERSON.
Charles Arthur Patterson, who since 1910 has been engineer of the borough of Torring- ton, where he was born December 11, 1887, is the oldest of the four living children of Joseph C. and Eva (Hull) Patterson. The father was born in Granby, Connecticut, and in early manhood came to Torrington, where he took up the brass worker's trade. For a long period he was employed by the American Brass Company but had been retired on a pension some time prior to his demise, which occurred in August, 1916, when he was fifty-seven years of age. His wife was born in Hastings, Wisconsin, and they were married in Torrington. Their surviving children are Charles Arthur, Mildred Hull, Russell Louis and Maud Emeline. the last named being now the wife of Gilbert Patterson, who although of the same surname was not a relative. All of the children yet reside in Connectient, as does the widowed mother.
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