USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 46
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G. A. LEMMON
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together with his earnest efforts to please his eustomers, have secured to him a liberal and well deserved patronage.
In 1889 Mr. Lemmon was united in marriage to Miss Annie Bradstreet, of Thomaston, a daughter of Thomas D. Bradstreet, who was a very prominent figure in both local and state polities and ranked with the leading business men of Thomaston. To Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon was born a son who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon are members of the Congregational church, in which they take active and helpful interest, doing all in their power to promote moral progress through the varions church activities. In April 1881, Mr. Lemmon became a member of Crescent Hose Company No. 2, with which he was identified for twenty years. In politics he is a very stanch republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party. He has worked earnestly to insure its success and is recognized as one of the local party leaders. He served as postmaster of Thomaston under Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt, occupying that position altogether for thirteen years, during which his duties were discharged with the utmost promptness and fidelity. For twenty years he was a member of the school board and the cause of education has indeed found in him a stalwart champion. His father, too, was a republican in politics and of the Congregational faith and thus the Lemmon family as long taken active part in upholding those interests which they deem of benefit to the individual and to the community at large. Mr. Lemmon has a very wide acquaintance in Thomaston and this section of the Naugatuek valley and enjoys the highest respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.
FRANK J. DAMON.
Frank J. Damon, whose right to rank with the captains of industry in the Naugatuck valley is manifest in his successful management as a cooperant factor in the control of the Union Hardware Company, at whose plant are found from ten to twelve hundred employes, is a native of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred at Cummington on the 17th of February, 1869. He is the only son of Clinton W. and Ellen (Wilcutt) Damon, both of whom were representatives of old and well known Massachusetts families represented in the Revolutionary war. Both parents were born in Massachusetts.
Frank J. Damon was reared and educated in Cummington, pursuing his studies to the age of sixteen years, at which time he was a junior in the high school. He then put aside his textbooks and secured a position in a woodworking factory, where he continued for five years. On the expiration of that period the factory was removed to Northampton, Massachusetts, and he, too, went to that place, continuing there with the factory for five years. Another removal was then made, the plant being taken to Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1895. Mr. Damon had for three years at Northampton occupied the position of foreman of the plant, being ealled to that place of responsibility when but twenty-three years of age. At Manchester the business became a department of the James Baldwin Branch of the United States Bobbin & Shuttle Company. Mr. Damon remained at Man- chester in connection with the business for four years and had complete charge of the wood- working department. In 1899 he came to Torrington and entered the employ of the Union Hardware Company as a traveling salesman. He has since been associated with this important industrial enterprise in one capacity or another. He became a stockholder of the concern in 1914 and was elected to his present position of treasurer in 1916. The Union Hardware Company of Torrington is one of the largest manufacturing plants of the city, employing between ten and twelve hundred operatives in the manufacture of a miscel- laneous line of goods which form an important part of the stoek of every hardware and sporting goods store. Some of the principal products are ice and roller skates, chisels, screwdrivers, pipe wrenches, fishing rods, etc. The company works in iron, steel, brass, copper, nickel and aluminum materials, also in wood and leather. Its plant consists of numerous brick structures which cover about two acres of ground, and the officers of the company are: Thomas W. Bryant, president; Christian G. Hoerle, sceretary; and Frank J. Damon, treasurer. In addition to his other interests Mr. Damon is president of the Litchfield County Realty & Insurance Company and is a director of the Brooks Bank & Trust Company of Torrington.
Mr. Damon holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church and is one of the trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Torrington. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar and that he is appreciative of the social amenities of life is indicated in the fact that he holds membership in the Torrington Club and the Tor- rington Wheel Club. The nature of his interests is further indicated in the fact that
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he is on the board of governors of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and he is also a member of the executive committee of this institution. He is likewise chairman of the member- ship committee of the local Red Cross Chapter. Mr. Damon is a man of well balanced capacities and has long occupied a central place on the stage of action, having made eon- tinuous progress since making his initial step in the field of business. His labors have found cuhnination in the further development and successful control of a most important industry of Torrington, yet he has never allowed personal ambitions or interests to dwarf his public spirit or his activities.
WILLIAM H. PICKETT.
William H Pickett, proprietor of one of the well equipped drug stores of Waterbury, situated at No. 738 North Main street, was born in Rush, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1875, a son of Anson W. and Sarah (Bennett) Pickett. The father devoted his life to the occu- pation of farming in support of his family and is now deceased but his widow survives.
After acquiring a public school education in his native state William H. Pickett came to New England, settling at Waterbury at the age of twenty-one years. Here he became connected with the drug business and through the intervening years has continued in this line although not always in Waterbury. For one year he clerked in the drug store of G. L. Dexter and afterward went to Torrington, where he spent a year. Later he engaged in clerking for three years in Derby, Connecticut, and in 1900 returned to Waterbury, where he opened a drug store at No. 745 North Main strect, there remaining until 1902, when he purchased a store at No. 738 North Main street, where he has since remained. Here he owns a substantial business block, receiving a handsome rental from one store and four tene- ments. His own store has a frontage of twenty feet and a depth of eighty-five feet and is a first-class drug store, in which he carries a fine stock, while the systematic and attractive arrangement of the store as well as the thoroughly reliable business methods of the pro- prietor insure him a liberal patronage. He is energetic and will allow no obstacle or diffi- culty to bar his path if it can be overcome by persistent, earnest and intelligently directed effort.
In 1903 Mr. Pickett was united in marriage to Miss Susan Hunt, of Waterbury, a daughter of Josiah T. Hunt. They hold membership in St. Paul's Episcopal church and Mr. Pickett is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the United American Mechanics. In politics he is independent, nor has he ever been ambitions to hold office, as he desires rather to give his undivided attention to his business affairs and thus win that success which is the ultimate goal of all endeavor. He has made good use of his time, his talents and his opportunities and is thus steadily working his way upward.
ANDREW E. WORKMAN.
Andrew E. Workman is now living retired, but for forty-two years was prominently connected with the Coe Brass Works and for thirty years of that period was foreman of the annealing department of the rolling mill and wire mill. He is a well known citizen of Torrington not only because of his business activities but also as a representative of one of the old and prominent families. He is also a veteran of the Civil war and the salient features of his life record well entitle him to representation in a history of his borough. He was born in Gloucestershire, England, May 27, 1844, and came to the United States with his parents in 1850, when a little lad of but six summers. The family first lived in Wash- ington. Connecticut, where the father, John Workman, an uncle of the present John Work- man, of Torrington, was employed in a responsible position in a woolen mill, for which duties he had been well trained by previous experience along that line in England. In 1851 John Workman brought his family, consisting of his wife, his son, Andrew E., and his two daughters, Martha and Emma, to Wolcottville, now Torrington, where the parents spent their remaining days, the mother passing away at the age of sixty-eight years. while the father reached the advanced age of seventy-nine. After removing to Torrington John Workman, who was a skilled mechanic, was employed in a woolen mill here that is now conducted under the name of the Warrenton Woolen Company, being associated with that enterprise throughout the remainder of his active business career. His wife bore the maiden name of Hester M. Roake and they became the parents of five children, namely:
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Martha, Edward, Andrew E., and Emma, who were born in England; and Sarah, who was born in Torrington. Of these Andrew E. and Emma are the only ones now living, the latter being the wife of George D. Stevens, of Torrington. Edward died in England when a small child.
Andrew E. Workman has lived in Torrington since 1851, being a lad of but seven years at the time the family home was established in this city. He attended the publie schools and as soon as old enough to work put aside his textbooks and started out to provide for his own support. IIe was employed in many ways during his youth. When the Civil war broke out he was just past eighteen years of age. Ile became deeply interested in the questions which were the dominant topics before the country at that time and on the 6th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company C, Nineteenth Counecticut Infantry, with which he served until that regiment was changed to the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery after one year's service at the front. He was with the heavy artillery for nearly three years and during the entire period of the war he was a musician, being a fifer in the Drum Corps, and on the 7th of July, 1865, when hostilities had ceased, he received an honorable dis- charge.
In August of that year Mr. Workman returned to his home in Torrington and entered the employ of the Coe Brass Company. With the exception of a brief period when he was with the Excelsior Needle Company he continued at the Coe Brass Works until August, 1915, when the company retired him on a pension. The full period of his service with that company amounted to forty-two years and during thirty years of that period he occupied the responsible position of foreman of the annealing department of the rolling and wire mills, thus becoming recognized as one of the important factors in the industrial life of Torrington.
Mr. Workman has been married twice. On the 27th of May, 1869, he wedded Helen Taylor, who died about a year and a half later when her young daughter. the only child of that marriage, was but eight days old. This daughter, Vinnie Ream Workman, grew to promising womanhood and married, but died at the age of thirty-two years, also in ehild- birth. In 1875 Mr. Workman married Lottie Taylor Church, a niece of Captain Uri Taylor, a well known eitizen and philanthropist of Torrington. Mrs. Workman passed away about six years ago, leaving no children, so that Mr. Workman is now without wife, child or grandchild. IIe lives in a beautiful and attractive home which he owns at No. 74 Migeon avenue, which he erected in 1895. It was built after an original and unique design and is a large two story frame structure with a massive stone arch as an entrance.
Mr. Workman has always been a lover of music and possesses much natural talent and acquired ability in connection with the art. For many years he played a B flat cornet in the Torrington Cornet Band when Henry E. Hotchkiss was its leader. He is a past com- mander of L. W. Steele Post, No. 34, G. A. R .. and is a Master Mason. He also belongs to the Torrington Club and is a member of Trinity Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a vestryman. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party but his business activities have never allowed him to become a candidate for office. In these associations are found the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduet. His has been an active and useful life, fraught with good deeds and actuated by honorable purposes. He has ever been loyal in citizenship, faithful in business and true in friendships. He is today one of the honored and respected citizens of Torrington and is among the valued members of all the different organizations with which he is connected.
REUBEN E. HOLMES.
Reuben E. Holmes one of the well known druggists of Waterbury, was born in Middle- bury, Connecticut, in 1876, a son of John S. and Amelia M. (Gaylord) Holmes, who were natives of Watertown, Connecticut, and of Bethlehem, Connecticut, respectively. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the Pilgrims, who were the first among the colonial settlers of New England. The father was a toolmaker by trade. becoming very proficient in that line and therefore always able to command good positions. He died in 1910 and is survived by his widow, who is now living in Waterbury.
At the usual age Reuben E. Holmes became a publie school pupil, passing through consecutive grades to the high school of Waterbury. He started in the business world as a factory employe, learning the watchmaker's trade. He was connected with the New England Watch Factory for a few years, but turned his attention to the drug business in 1896, at which time he became a clerk in a store. He thoroughly acquainted himself
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with the business and while thus employed carefully saved his earnings, opening a store of his own in 1905 at No. 219 East Main strect. He bought out a candy store there, leasing the entire building and installing therein a large stock of drugs and druggists' sundries. He employs three clerks and is enjoying a very profitable trade owing to the capable management and wise direction of his interests.
In 1898 Mr. Holmes was married to Miss Cora Black, of Waterbury, a daughter of William H. Black, and they now have a son, Theodore Reuben, nine years of age. In politics Mr. Holmes is a republican and in 1916 he was a candidate for a member of the board of education but was defeated by only five votes in a community which gives a strong demo- cratic majority, the large vote which he polled being an indication of his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith is evidenced by his membership in the Methodist church.
HON. FRANK A. CASE.
Hon. Frank A. Case, who has twice represented his district in the state legislature and has been a prominent figure in democratie circles for a number of years, is perhaps best known in Torrington through his business connection as proprietor of a large furniture and house furnishing goods establishment. He is, moreover, a very prominent Mason and comes of a family of long and devoted connection with this order. He was born at Barkhamsted, Connecticut, September 9, 1847, his parents being Horace and Louisa (Blakeslee) Case, both of whom have passed away. Both were natives of Connecticut and Horace Case was in early life a music teacher, but later turned his attention to farming. He was quite prominent in public affairs, serving as treasurer of his town and also representing his district in the general assembly of Connecticut. He was a very active and devoted member of the Masonic fraternity and all four of his sons became Masons, some of them attaining high rank in the order. The eldest of the sons, Colonel Clayton H. Case, served in the Civil war and after its elose began conducting a jewelry store in Hartford, where he has been known as a prominent jeweler for over fifty years. 'He was a member of Governor Cooke's staff with the rank of colonel. He is also widely known in musical circles and has been a member of the famous Sphinx Temple Cornet Band of Hartford for many years, of which organization he is now the president. This band is composed of fifty members, all Shriners, holding membership in Sphinx Temple, and all talented musicians. Three of the sons of Horace Case have belonged to Sphinx Temple and two of them, Colonel Clayton H. and Frank A., arc still members. The second son of the family, Dwight S. Case, of Hartford, is also a Mason of high rank. He was superintendent of the William L. Gilbert Home for Children at Winsted, Connecticut, for twenty-one years. The third son is Frank A. Case of this review. The fourth son, Hubert B. Case, was proprietor of a general store at Barkhamsted, Connecticut, and was there murdered in September, 1914, by two robbers, one a white man, the other a negro. Both were later captured, tried, convicted and hanged, the hanging taking place in the Wethersfield state prison Mareh 3, 1916. At the time of his death Hubert Case was county commissioner of Litchfield county, on office which he had held for twelve years. He had also served as a member of the state legislature and as a member of the state constitutional convention and was a prominent figure in political circles and in the public life of Connecticut. He was also a high Mason, having become a Knight Templar and a Mystic Shriner, and he had served his town as postmaster, as clerk and as treasurer. His worth as a man and citizen was widely acknowledged and he left the impress of his individuality in an indelible manner upon the records of his city and state.
Frank A. Case was reared at Barkhamsted to the age of fourteen years and then went to New Hartford, Connecticut, where he clerked in a store for a time, while later he resumed his interrupted education by attending the seminary at Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts, for one year. He later pursued a course in the New Haven Business College and thus qualified for life's praetieal and responsible duties. Subsequently he went to New York city, where he engaged in clerking for a year, and afterward managed a store at Pine Meadow, Connecticut, for about three years. In 1873 he returned to Barkhamsted, where he and his brother Dwight became partners in a general store. He afterward pur- chased his brother's interest and while engaged in the conduct of the store he also served as postmaster of his town for eight years. In 1881 he sold the store to his brother Dwight and went to New Hartford, where he purchased the New Hartford House, conducting the
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HON. FRANK A. CASE
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hotel for three years, at the end of which time he sold it at an advance of twenty-five hundred dollars on the purchase price. For one year thereafter he managed a hotel at Tar- iffville, Connecticut, and returned to Pine Meadow, where he bought a half interest in the same store in which he had been a clerk at the time of his marriage. A year later he purchased the other half interest in the business, which he then owned and conducted for twelve years as sole proprietor, carrying on the store under his own name. It had previously been owned by S. Allen & Company and after Mr. Case purchased a half interest in this general store it was conducted under the style of Allen & Case until he became sole pro- prietor and carried on the business under his own name. He sold that store in 1898 and came to Torrington, where he purchased an interest in the large mereantile firm of J. D. Twining & Company, a concern that owned five furniture stores in Torrington, Waterbury, New Hartford, Bristol and Collinsville, Connecticut, respectively. In 1899 Mr. Case pur- chased from his partner, Mr. Twining, the Torrington store, becoming sole owner, and at the same time he relinquished his interest in the other four stores. Since that date the Torrington establishment has been conducted under his name. He carries a large and care- fully selected stock of furniture and general house furnishings, including stoves, carpets, rugs, etc. IIe is also engaged in the undertaking business in association with his son-in-law, Harry E. Gates, under the firm style of Case & Gates. the junior partner attending to the undertaking branch of the business, while both he and Mr. Case are licensed funeral direc- tors and embalmers.
It was during the first period of his residence in Pine Meadow, while employed as a clerk there, that Mr. Case was married in December, 1867, when twenty years of age, to Miss Emma J. Wilcox, who died in 1910, leaving two daughters: Mrs. Hattie E. Gates, of Torrington; and Mrs. Lulu W. Lamphier, of Rockville, Connecticut, the wife of Alfred Lamphier, an undertaker of that place. Mrs. Gates has three children, Catherine H., S. Lonise, and Harry C., while Mrs. Lamphier has six sons: Frank A., who married Gladys Mikolite, of Manchester, Connecticut; George Leland; Harold A .; Clinton S .; Kenneth W .; and John H.
Mr. Case, as already stated, is a prominent Mason, holding membership in Amos Beecher Lodge, No. 121, A. F. & A. M .; Columbia Chapter, No. 31, R. A M .; Lee Council, No. 25, R. & S. M .; Washington Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; Connecticut Soverign Con- sistory, S. P. R. S., of Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., all but the consistory of Hartford. He is also a member of the Masonic Veterans' Association of Connecticut. He is likewise an Elk and a Knight of Pythias and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Royal Arcanum. He belongs to the Torrington Chamber of Commerce, of which he is one of the directors. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratie party and his politieal record includes two terms' service in the state legislature, four years' service as deputy sheriff and eight years as postmaster of Barkhamsted. He was first elected to the state legislature in 1875 and again in 1879 and while a member of the house gave thoughtful and earnest consideration to the vital questions which came up for settlement. In all matters of citizenship he is actuated by a marked devotion to the public good and his patriotic spirit has prompted his coopera- tion with many plans and measures which have looked to the apbuilding of city, com- mimity, commonwealth and nation.
EDWARD C. STOUGHTON.
Edward C. Stoughton, manufacturer. banker and legislator, and thus prominently connected with the business interests and publie activities of Thomaston and the Naugatuck valley, was born in Plymouth, Connecticut, April 18, 1860, a son of George Andrew and Mary A. (Hemingway) Stoughton, the latter a daughter of Allan Hemingway, who was an early druggist of Plymouth. Andrew Stoughton was a son of Oliver Stoughton, and a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Plymouth. George Andrew Stoughton, the father of Edward C. Stoughton, became proprietor of a general store in Thomaston, conducting business for over a quarter of a century as a member of the firm of Burr & Stoughton. He died August 30, 1914, and is still survived by his widow.
/ Edward C. Stoughton acquired a publie school education, which was supplemented by a course in the Yale Business College, from which he was graduated in 1880. His identifica- tion with the Plume & Atwood Company dates from the same year. He made his initial step in the business world in the Thomaston mills of that corporation in the capacity of office boy and has heen continuously with the company since the 5th of April, 1880.
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Thoroughly mastering every task assigned him, he won promotion from time to time and his frequent advancements brought him at length to a position where in 1907 he was given charge of the clerical force. In 1913 he entered the sheet metal sales department and is thus connected with the business, having important interests under his direction. He also figures prominently in financial circles of the city, being the president and one of the directors of the Thomaston Savings Bank, which was established by his father about 1875 and of which Edward C. Stoughton became the president in 1915, upon the death of Judge Etheridge.
In October, 1882, Mr. Stoughton was married to Miss Cornelia C. Trivoya, of Thomaston, a daughter of Ferdinand and Flera A. Trivoya. Her father was one of the early clock makers of Thomaston, where he located in the '50s. Mr. Stoughton has in his possession an old wooden clock which is over one hundred years old and keeps perfect time, having been made during the period of early development of the clock industry in this place. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoughton have been born three children: Louis Edward, who is engaged in the lumber business in Florida; Arthur Hemingway, who was connected with the Provi- dence Telephone Company at Providence, Rhode Island, where he makes his home, and on the 17th of August, 1917, enlisted in Troop M, Rhode Island National Guard; and Kenneth Trivoya, who is in school.
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