USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 45
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C. W. AND E. A. SAY.
C. W. and E. A. Say are members of the firm of Say Brothers, retail merchants in the hay and feed, grocery and meat lines in Waterbury. E. A. Say was born at South Farms, now Middletown, Connecticut, April 16, 1865, a son of Edward and Sarah (Weeks) Say, the former a native of Somersetshire, England. and the latter of Bath, New York. The paternal grandfather was John Edward Say of England. who brought his family to the United States. His father had come to Connecticut much carlier and had estab- lished the town of Saybrook in connection with a Mr. Brook, whose name they united in order to give a name to the new town. The Say family has contributed many interesting chapters to the history of Connecticut, for its representatives have taken a most active and helpful part in advancing public welfare since colonial days and in promoting the con- tinued growth and progress of the commonwealth. John Edward Say, coming to the United States, settled in New York. where he conducted a sales stable and engaged exten - sively in shipping horses abroad. In later years he removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where he made his home with his son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. William Say, there passing away. Edward Say also dealt in horses. He removed to Middletown, Con- necticut, and afterward went to Albany, New York, where he was associated with Architect Fuller in the construction of the state capitol building, remaining in Albany until 1881. In 1865 he had gone to the south, where he purchased six beautiful white mules that he used to haul the cornerstones of the capitol at Albany. These mules were later sold in Washington, D. C., to a wealthy southerner. Edward Say returned to Middletown, Con-
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necticut, in 1881 and there passed away in September, 1914, having for several months survived his wife, who died on the 24th of December, 1913. In the family were seven children, one of whom has passed away. One brother and one sister still reside on the old homestead at Middletown. The youngest brother of the family is a manufacturer of gasoline motors on the Connecticut river, while C. W. and E. A. Say are engaged in business in Waterbury. They acquired a public school education and started out in busi- ness life along the same lines in which they are now engaged, E. A. Say being a clerk in a groeery store in Middletown. They earefully saved their earnings, being desirous of engaging in business on their own account, and on coming to Waterbury in 1894 they beeame pro- prietors of a store, buying out C. A. Bailey, who was conducting a grocery and meat business. Their establishment is located at No. 800 North Main street. They carry a large line of meats and groceries, selling to the retail trade, and also conduct a grain business.
C. W. Say was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Horner, who passed away in 1886, leaving two daughters, Edith W. and Theresa Louise, both of whom are graduates of Wesleyan. The elder is first chemist with Fairehilds & Shelton, of New York. The younger daughter is the wife of Professor Ernst Amey, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Say was married again, his second union being with Miss Mary Mckinley.
In 1890 E. A. Say was married to Miss Sarah Platt, of Terryville, Connecticut, a daughter of John Platt, and they have one son, Edward Albert, who was born in 1900 and is a graduate of the Waterbury high school. Mr. Say exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Trinity Episcopal church and his record is in harmony with that of his aneestors in devotion to the publie welfare and to high ideals of manhood and citizenship.
JOHN DRAHER.
The development of Waterbury as a great manufacturing center is not attributable to the efforts of a single individual, or even of a group of men, but to the contribution of the labors of many-men whose well defined plans have been carried forward to successful completion along various lines. In this number John Draher finds a place, being now treasurer of the American Fastener Company. He was born in Waterbury on the 19th of January, 1857, and is a son of John and Sophia (Dehn) Drahier, the former a native of France and the latter of Prussia. The father was born in 1816 and was a son of John Draher, who brought his family to the United States in 1832, settling first in New York. It was there that John Draher wedded Sophia Dehn, who had come to the United States with her sister. In 1854 they removed to Waterbury and Mr. Drahier became superintendent of the mechanical department of the business of Holmes, Booth & Haydens, so continuing until his death, which occurred twelve years later, or in 1866. His widow still survives and has now reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. They had a family of four children; Emma, the deceased wife of Valentine Bull; Sophia, who became the wife of William Schmitz and resides in Elgin, Illinois; John and Mary, twins, the latter now the wife of Frederick Illy, of Waterbury.
Reared in his native city, John Draher pursued his education through successive grades in the public schools and completed his course in the high school. He afterward learned the machinist's trade, entering the employ of Thomas Kirk. He gained intimate and com- prehensive knowledge of the business, and following the death of Mr. Kirk, in 1883, Mr. Draher purchased the shop in 1884. It was a small machine shop at No. 70 North Elm street, doing special machine work. Mr. Draher constantly broadened the business in its scope and in its facilities. He developed special automatic machinery for making the Aretic shoe buekle and produced all kinds of buckle machinery for the R. N. Basset Company. Mr. Draher's father was an expert designer and assisted in making some of the first bolt machines. Along the same line the son has continued and the output of the factory included machines for the manufacture of the O. K. paper fastener, which have a capacity of one hundred and forty per minute. He has long been acknowledged one of Waterbury's experts in meehanieal work. He is president of the General Manufacturing Company, with plant and offices at 66 North Elm street. They manufacture rivets, studs and machine screws, special upset and threaded products, steel burnishing balls for tumbling and Lipscomb disk serew boot-calks. In December, 1915, he aided in organizing the American Fastener Company and is now treasurer of the concern. while Charles Josephson is president and
John Dealer
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Max Kiesslang, secretary. The company oeeupies a three story building forty by one hundred feet in dimensions and make a specialty of manufacturing dress fasteners. About twenty men are employed and the business is growing rapidly and steadily.
On the 25th of October, 1888, Mr. Draher was married to Miss Bridget Keenan, of Waterbury, a daughter of Thomas Keenan. She passed away January 21, 1909, and on the 19th of October, 1915, Mr. Draher was married to Mrs. Florence Geddes, of Waterbury. His children are two in number, but the younger, John, died in infaney. The daughter, Laura, is now the wife of Carl Neidmann, of Waterbury, and has two sons, John and Carl.
In polities Mr. Draher is an independent republican. In young manhood he served for one term as eouneilman from the third ward but has never been active as an office seeker, preferring always to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs. He is identified with various clubs and social organizations, being a member of the Elks, the Gun Club, the Turnverein, the Concordia Society and the Mattatuck and Recreation Rod and Gun Clubs. When leisure permits he enjoys hunting and fishing trips, but his attention is chiefly eon- centrated upon his growing business interests, which are the expression of a life of well directed energy and keen sagaeity.
FREDERICK P. LATIMER.
Frederick P. Latimer is proprietor of the Excelsior Laundry of Torrington, his native city. He was born October 14, 1870, a son of James and Margaret Latimer. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Torrington in 1915, and the mother is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Harriet Seymour. Both parents were natives of Ireland and were there reared and married. To them were born twin sons, Frederick P. and William J., the latter being part owner of the American Laundry Company of Waterbury. The two brothers are so mueh alike in personal appearance that they are often mistaken for each other. They are the oldest in a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living: William J .; Frederick P .; Mrs. Jennie Morehouse, of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Mrs. Mary Pond, who is a resident of Montreal, Canada; Mrs. Harriet Seymour, living in Torrington, Connecticut ; Mrs. Belle Quinn, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Emma Alling, who makes her home in Ansonia, Connecticut; Albert, who follows farming in Litehfield county, Connectieut; and George, residing in Ansonia, Conneetieut.
During the early childhood of Frederiek P. Latimer his parents removed with their family from Torrington to Goshen, Connecticut, and there he was reared upon a farm. Between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one years he worked on a farm in the town of Winchester and on attaining his majority he returned to Torrington and seeured employ- ment in the laundry which he now owns. That was in the year 1891 and the laundry was the property of Proetor Swallow, who had established the business and ealled it the Excelsior Laundry. Mr. Latimer remained in the employ of Mr. Swallow for only a brief period, for at the end of six months he and a companion, George Neth, went to California, where he remained from September, 1892, until May, 1893. being employed in a vineyard. At the latter date he returned to Torrington and visited the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago while en route. On again reaching his native eity he onee more entered the employ of Mr. Swallow and on the 1st of January. 1894, he and his twin brother, William J., purchased the laundry, which then oeeupied a building owned by the Torrington Electric Light Company. The new firm, under the name of Latimer Brothers, condneted the Excelsior Laundry in the same building for a few years and then erected the splendid plant at No. 152 Franklin street. They first put up a two story brick building, thirty by sixty feet, but since then two large additions have been built, one thirty by sixty feet, one story in height, being ereeted in 1916. About 1900 Frederiek P. Latimer purchased his brother's interest in the business and has since been sole proprietor. The Excelsior Laundry has been twice destroyed by fire sinee it came into possession of the Latimer Brothers. The first fire occurred many years ago, when the laundry was the property of the two brothers, and the last fire oeeurred in January, 1915. In both eases the building itself escaped serious damage and the losses were covered partially by insurance. The fire in January, 1915, however, completely gutted the plant, destroying all of the equipment and machinery. Since then Mr. Latimer has installed new and modern machinery and the plant is today thoroughly up-to-date in every respect. No better plant ean be found in any of the larger eities.
Mr. Latimer was married at the age of twenty-six years to Miss Hannah Neth and they have beeome parents of three children, Walter, Marjorie, and Howard. The two
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eldest are graduates of the Torrington high school and Howard is a member of the class of 1918. Every member of the Latimer family assists with the work of the Excelsior Laundry. They are a family of workers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Latimer, when there is a shortage of help, do not hesitate to perform serviee in any department of the laundry and their three children, when not in school, do the same.
Mr. Latimer and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a republican but has never been a candidate for office. He does not seek the rewards of office in recognition of his party fealty, preferring ever to concentrate his attentiou upon his business affairs. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization which he has made of his time and opportunities. He has been a persistent, earnest worker and his industry has enabled him to surmount all the diffi- culties which bar the path to success.
CHARLES B. TOMKINSON.
Charles B. Tomkinson, deputy city elerk of Waterbury, is a native of Birmingham, England. He was born on the 22d of February, 1880, and is of English lineage. He came to the United States with his parents in 1886, the family home being established in Union City, Connecticut, not far from Waterbury. There he remained until 1905, when at the age of twenty-five years he eame to Waterbury. He was appointed to the office of deputy city clerk in 1916 and is now filling that position. He is a recognized supporter of the repub- lican party and does everything in his power to promote its growth and insure its success.
In 1906 Mr. Tomkinson was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Dreyer, who was born at Port Jefferson. Long Island, and they have two sons: Kenneth D., born March 6. 1908; and Donald B., born May 24, 1910. Mr. Tomkinson is identified with the Odd Fellows, the Moose, the Eagles. the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Concordia Singing Society, and he is popular in those organizations. He is a man in whom public and private virtues are admirably balanced and as a public official he has displayed thorough reliability, while his enterprising and systematic methods of conducting the affairs of his office have elicited warm commendation from many.
EDWIN E. BEARDSLEE.
Edwin E. Beardslee, secretary and treasurer of the Boston Furniture Company, one of the more recently organized commercial enterprises of Waterbury, has in this connection been active in the development of a business which has grown marvelously within the last two or three years. He was born in Oakville, Connecticut, October 11, 1879, and is a son of George L. and Emily C. (Capewell) Beardslee, who were natives of Bridgewater and of Woodbury, Connecticut, respectively. The mother is still living, but the father passed away in April, 1913.
Edwin E. Beardslee acquired such educational advantages as were afforded by the graded and high schools of Watertown, also attending Monroe's Business College. Throughout his entire commereial career he has been identified with the furniture trade. He entered the office of the Boston Furniture Company on the 1st of March, 1897, and was made secretary and treasurer when the company was incorporated on the 1st of April, 1913, W. S. R. Wake becoming the president. The business is located at the corner of South Main, Scovill and Brook streets. The business was established about May 1, 1888, by Mr. Wake, under the name of the Boston Furniture Company, the original location being at No. 211 South Main street. In 1872 a removal was made to 111 South Main street, where the business was conducted until 1902, when the company secured the present location. They have a building eighty feet on Brook street and one hundred feet on Scovill street, four stories in height with basement. They also have a large warehouse with one hundred and fifteen feet on Scovill street and two stories in height. In 1917, however, this will be raised to four stories and will be the largest in New England. The company conducts a retail furniture business which has grown rapidly, necessitating the employment of from thirty-five to forty people. They are most careful in the conduct of the business. holding to the highest standards in the personnel of the house, in the line of goods carried and in the treatment accorded patrons. The company today carries a very extensive stock, the big buildings being filled from base-
EDWIN E. BEARDSLEE
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ment to attie with medium and high prieed furniture of attractive designs and of domestic and foreign manufacture.
. On the 4th of December, 1906, Mr. Beardslee was married to Miss Madeline Hartmann, of Waterbury. He is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he votes with the republican party, feeling that its platform contains the best elements of good government. Ile has publie confidence as a business man and the goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact, his entire career being characterized by honesty of purpose and commendable ambition.
EDWARD P. QUINN.
Edward P. Quinn. superintendent of the Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Company, having charge of the foundry department, was born at Ore Hill, in the town of Salisbury, Litehfield county, Connecticut. September 2, 1987, his parents being Patrick and Ellen (Craven) Quinn. The father was born in County Waterford, Ireland, while the mother was a native of Ore Hill, Connectient. Patrick Quinn came alone to the United States about 1877. He had been reared and edueated in his native country and in his late youth he crossed the Atlantie to the new world. After a year spent in New York city he took up his abode at Ore Hill, Connecticut, where he acted as foreman in hon mines of that vicinity for many years. He was married in Salisbury, Connectieut, to Miss Ellen Craven and they reared a family of five sons, of whom Edward is the fourth in order of birth. All are still living, the others being William F., James P., John J. and Thomas M. AHI are yet residents of Torrington, the family having removed from Ore Hill to Torrington in 1899. After spending some time in the ore mines the father entered the employ of the Coe Brass Company but his health failed and in February, 1907, he passed away. His widow still survives and yet makes her home in Torrington.
Edward P. Quinn was a youth of eleven years when he came to Torrington and in the publie schools of this city he continued his education, but put aside his textbooks at the age of fourteen years in order to start out in the business world. He then learned the eigar maker's trade and at eighteen years of age was the owner of a small cigar factory and conducted a retail cigar store in connection therewith. In 1909, however, he disposed of that business and entered the employ of the Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Company as shipping clerk and has been with that company continuously since, covering a period of eight years. He has had several promotions during this period and was finally made pur- chasing agent, while in the fall of 1915 he was promoted to his present position, that of superintendent of the foundry department. This concern employs about nine hundred workmen, one-half of whom are under the direct supervision of Mr. Quinn. The company has one of the oldest and largest manufacturing plants in Torrington. It engages in the manufacture of upholsterers' hardware and brass novelties and at the present time the factory department is also engaged in making bullets for the allies. The foundry department, however, is the big part of the business. Its remarkable growth of late years is due to the efficiency of its present officers, who have shown marked wisdom in surrounding themselves with an able corps of superintendents and assistants. The value of Mr. Quinn's service is acknowledged by the officers of the company and all who know aught of the busi- ness. He is thoroughly efficient, painstaking, systematie, accurate and reliable and his laudable ambition and enterprise have brought him to a most ereditable position in the industrial eireles of the city.
On the 8th of May, 1908, Mr. Quinn was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth M. Stoeckert, of Torrington, a lady of German descent, her father being Herman Stoeekert, of Torrington. Both he and his wife were born in Germany and the latter is now deceased, but Mr. Stoeckert still resides in Torrington. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn have become parents of four children : Arthur, born in Angust, 1909: Edward P. Jr .. born in November, 1912; Elizabeth M., in February, 1914: and John. in November. 1916.
Mir. Quinn holdls membership in St. Francis Roman Catholic church and is identified with several fraternal organizations, belonging to the Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men and the National Foundrymen's Association. He is also connected with the St. Francis Temperance Association and Benevolent Society. In polities Mr. Quinn is a democrat and is now serving for the fifth consecutive term as registrar of voters for the borough and town of Torrington. In 1914 he was appointed deputy United States marshal for the state of Connecticut by United States Marshal Chester C. Middlebrooks, but the acceptance of the office would have necessitated his resignation of his present position with the Turner
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& Seymour Manufacturing Company and he declined. He is also a member of the Xavier Athletic Association of New York city. Mr. Quinn has been one of the most noted amateur track men in New England. He won the one hundred yard sprint championship of Connecticut in 1907 and again in 1908. He has taken part in track meets throughout New England and during those which occurred in 1907 and 1908 he never finished below third man. He has also won distinction in connection with many other athletic contests. He made a broad jump record of twenty-one feet and he is the possessor of dozens of medals and silver cups, the tokens of his athletic prowess. His athletie history would make a con- siderable sketch of itself. He played first base on the Torrington baseball team, a well known semi-professional club, for several seasons. He is deeply interested in all clean manly athletics and outdoor sports and through his activity in this direction maintains an even balance with his intense business enterprise, recognizing the fact that it is as essential to play well as to work well if one would maintain a normal development. He has made an excellent record in a business way and the position of responsibility which he is now occupying is indicative of his capability and powers.
GEORGE J. GAILEY.
America, the land of opportunity, is constantly drawing to its shores men of all nationalities who seek to benefit by the business conditions of the new world. Among this number is George J. Gailey, who since 1907 has been actively connected with the jewelry trade in Waterbury, conducting a mercantile enterprise of that character at No. 33 Grand street. He was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor, in 1876, and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth to the age of nineteen, acquiring his education in the schools of his native country. Thinking to have better business advantages on this side the Atlantic, he bade adieu to home and friends in 1895 and sailed for the United States, landing at New York, where he remained until 1900. He then came to Waterbury and throughout the intervening period has been connected with the jewelry business in this city. He secured a clerkship in that line, and thus learning the trade, worked for sometime in the Water- bury Clock shop. In 1905 he opened a private school for instruction in watch and clock making and in 1907 he established his present store at No. 33 Grand street. Here he has remained through the intervening period and now has a good establishment, carrying an attractive line of goods and enjoying a liberal and growing patronage.
On the 16th of October, 1910, Mr. Gailey was married to Miss Mary Yiampanis, of Boston, and they now have one son, Socrates. Mr. Gailey belongs to the Greek Orthodox church and he has membership with the Masonic fraternity, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He has become a naturalized American citizen and in politics maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He has always felt that he made a very wise step when he decided to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and, stimulated by laudable ambition, he has worked his way steadily upward, advancing step by step until he is now at the head of a substantial and growing jewelry business in his adopted city.
G. A. LEMMON.
G. A. Lemmon is the second oldest merchant of Thomaston, having begun business there on his own account in 1882, and since 1883 he has occupied his present location on Main street. He was born in Washington, Connecticut, April 23, 1859, a son of Wooster and Sarah (Allan) Lemmon, both of Washington, Connecticut. They were representatives of old families there and the father was a prominent farmer of that locality.
In the publie schools G. A. Lemmon acquired his education, supplemented by two terms' study at Suffield and two terms in college. He made his initial step in the business world as a clerk in the Walker store at Woodbury, where he remained for two and one-half years. Since 1881 Mr. Lemmon has been a resident of Thomaston. For a short time he engaged in clerking in the Williams drug store and in 1882 established a drug store of his own. He has since continued in the business, covering a period of thirty-five years, and is today the second oldest merchant of Thomaston. In 1883 he removed to Main street and has since occupied that location. He has a well appointed store, carrying a large line of drugs and druggists' sundries, and his reasonable prices and the integrity of his business methods,
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