USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 52
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Their son, Charles H. McCarthy, was born in Waterbury, August 13, 1882, and is one of a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet residents of Waterbury. He was the seventh in order of birth and he has spent his entire life in the city of his nativity. He was graduated from St. Mary's parochial school and continued his education in the Crosby high school, where he completed his course by graduation in 1900. He afterward spent a year in Mount St. Mary's College at Emmitsburg, Maryland, and then took up the study of dentistry in the University of Pennsylvania, completing a course in the dental department there in 1908. In October, 1909, he opened his present office at No. 108 Bank street and here through the intervening period of eight years he has built up a. fine practice. His office is splendidly equipped with everything necessary for the most approved and scientifie care of the teeth and he has developed marked efficiency in the use of the delicate instruments which are necessary in the practice of his profession.
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He studies advaneed ideas relative to the practice and is quick to adopt any new thought or method which he believes will be of real value in his work.
Dr. McCarthy belongs to the Waterbury, the Connecticut State and the National Dental Societies. He is a member of St. Margaret's Roman Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, but while not remiss in the duties of citizenship, he has never sought nor desired political preferment.
WILLIAM G. IIARD.
William G. Hard, who is engaged in general merchandising in Naugatuck, is a repre- sentative through paternal and maternal lines of several of the oldest and most prominent families of New England. He was born in Watertown, Connecticut, August 31. 1858, and is a son of Andrew and Mary Ann (Russell) Hard, who were also natives of Connecticut. The aneestry is traced baek to James Hard, who settled in Derby, Connecticut, in 1685. He was the father of James Hard IT, who was born in 1695, and the line comes down through Abner Hard, born in 1719, John, born in 1746, Andrew, born in 1769, Grandison, born in 1797, and Andrew, born in 1828 to William G. Hard of this review. The first James Hard had a family of three children: James; Ruth who was born February 10, 1705; and Joseph, who was born September 1, 1707. He married and had seven children. The first of the family, James Hard IT, was born January 7, 1695, and had six children, the eldest of whom was Abner, who was born in 1719. He married and had thirteen children, including John Hard, who was born in 1746. His son Andrew was born in 1769 and the son of the latter, Grandison Hard, born in 1797, became the grandfather of W. G. Hard of this review. He was a native of Watertown, as were his son Andrew and his grandson, William G. Through his mother's line William G. Hard is a descendant of Samuel Hotchkiss, who came from Essex, England, and is supposed to have been a brother of John Hotchkiss, who established his home at Guilford, Connecticut. Samuel Hotelkiss was in New Haven as early as 1641 and in August, 1642, he married Elizabeth Cleverly, who died December 28, 1663. In his family were six children, the fourth of whom was Joshua Hotchkiss, who was born September 16, 1651. He was married two or more times, the name of his last wife being Mary Hotehkiss. She died November 15, 1787. Joshua Hotchkiss lived in New Haven, Connecticut, and reached the notable age of eighty-eight years. He had a family of twelve children, the second being Stephen Hotchkiss, who was born August 12, 1681, and who married Elizabeth Sperry, a daughter of John Sperry, of New Haven. on the 12th of of December, 1704. He purchased land in Wallingford, then a parish of Cheshire, in 1706 and took np his abode thereon the following year. He was a deacon of the Cheshire church for thirty one years and passed away in that faith March 5, 1755, at the age of seventy-four years. His family numbered thirteen children, of whom Gideon Hotchkiss was the seventh. He was born December 5, 1716, and on the 18th of January, 1737, married Anna Brockett. After her death he wedded Mabel Stiles, a daughter of Isaac Stiles, of Southbury. His home was a farm in the southern part of Waterbury, now Naugatuck, where he took up his abode in 1736. IIe became one of the leading citizens of his locality and was chosen the first deacon of the Congregational church at what is now Naugatuck, being selected to that position at the time of the organization of the church. He was also one of the founders of the Congregational church at Columbia, now Prospect. He served in the French and Indian wars and again rendered military aid to his country in the Revolutionary war. He enlisted first in 1756, becoming a lieutenant under Captain Eldad Lewis, and marched to Fort William, while later he was at Lake George in 1757. The story goes that he was working on his farm in Prospect when he heard firing in New Haven harbor at the time of the Revolutionary war and that he took his hired man on horseback with him and started for the seat of action. On reaching there a cannon ball decapitated his hired man but the captain kept on and joined the army, rendering active aid in the cause of liberty. He died September 3, 1807, at the age of ninety-one years, and at his death left one hundred and five grandchildren, one hundred and fifty-eight great-grandchildren and four of the fifth generation. He was the father of nineteen children.
Amos Hotchkiss, the sixth son of Gideon Hotchkiss, married Abigal Scott, of Watertown, and they had several children, including Sabria, a daughter, who was born July 19, 1773, and who became the wife of Stephen D. Russell, by whom she had nine children. After
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the death of her first husband she became the wife of a Mr. Chipman and following his demise she was married December 22, 1833, to Denos Hungerford and lived in Waterville.
Chester Russell, the sixth son of Stephen and Sabria Russell and the grandfather of William G. Hard of this review, married Nancy A. Guernsey on the 16th of September, 1830, and died December 5, 1841, when but thirty-one years of age. To him and his wife, Naney Russell, there was born a daughter, Mary Ann, who on the 28th of October, 1855, beeame the wife of Andrew C. Hard. To this marriage were born seven children: Charles G., who was born September 19, 1856, and died January 18, 1889; William G .; Myron R., who was born February 11, 1861; Lottie B., born September 14, 1867; Andrew M., born March 7, 1869; Russell H., born December 15, 1870; and John M., who was born April 15, 1874.
The second of the family, William G. Hard, acquired a public sehool education and began work in a store when but eleven years of age, attending school through the daytime and working night and morning. He thus made his own way from a very early age and is a self-made man, deserving all of the praise which that term implies. He engaged in clerking until 1886 and in the meantime came to Naugatuck, where he arrived on the 1st of January, 1881. He thereafter continued clerking in a general store for five years, when he started a variety store at No. 270 Water street, and in 1907 he opened another variety store at No. 156 Church street, which is being conducted by his son. He has an excellent establishment, carrying a full line of general merchandise, and his business methods have seeured for him a liberal patronage, for he is at all times progressive, straightforward and reliable and puts forth the most earnest efforts to please his patrons.
In 1880 Mr. Hard was united in marriage to Miss Eudora Holt, of Waterbury, a daughter of Mrs. Anna M. Holt. Their children are: Frank, who conducts the Church street store in Naugatuck; Irma, the wife of A. W. Steeber, of Naugatuck; and Mildred, the wife of Howard Needham.
The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Hard is very prominent in fraternal circles. He is a past master workman of Salem Lodge, No. 36, A. O. U. W .; a past archon of Naugatuck Conclave, No. 537, 1. O. H .; past consul of Naugatuck Camp, No. 9942, M. W. A .; past warden of Rubber City Lodge, No. 242, N. E. O. P .; a member of Centennial Lodge, No. 100, I. O. O. F .; of Naugatnek Tribe, No. 25, I. O. R. M .; of Gough Commandery, No. 303, U. O. G. C .; a member of Naugatuck Tent, No. 29. K. O. T. M .: of Myrtle Camp No. 4222, R. N. A .; of the Haymakers' Association; of Court Naugatuck, I. O. F .; of Columbian Rebekah Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F .; and of the Workmen's Benefit Association of Boston, Massachusetts. In 1907 he was president of the Naugatuck Board of Trade. He was chairman of the soliciting committee which sold the stock that led to the ercetion of the new Odd Fellows' building in Naugatnek. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is now filling the position of superintendent of the board of charities in Naugatuck. He has been quite active in local affairs, is a trustee of the Naugatuck Savings Bank and is identified with many plans and projects which are looking to the upbuilding and development of the city.
JOHN R. CLAYTON.
John R. Clayton, a merchant whose residence in Waterbury covers more than a third of a century, is now actively engaged in the jewelry trade, coming to this position through successive stages of activity in connection with watch manufacturing. He was born in England in 1855 and acquired his early education there. After his textbooks were put aside he learned the watchmaking trade and spent one year in Germany, where he studied watehmaking. He crossed the Atlantic to the United States in October, 1875, and for two and one-half years remained a resident of New York city. He returned to England but after a year spent in that country again came to America and for a short time continued in New York. He afterward removed to New Haven, Connecticut, where he became connected with the Yale Clock Company, which he represented for several years.
In 1883 Mr. Clayton arrived in Waterbury, where he has since made his home. He secured a position as watchmaker with the firm of II. & D. Wells, with whom he continued for four years. His employers then sold out to Hastings & Chatfield, who in turn were sneceeded by H. G. Chatfield. Eventually the business was reorganized under the name of the Chatfield Jewelry Company and it was from them that Jolin R. Clayton purchased the business in 1895 and has now conducted his store for twenty-two years, ranking with the representative and reliable merchants of the city. lle has enjoyed a liberal patronage
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throughout the intervening years and he carries an attractive line of domestic and foreign jewelry and watches. He not only owns the building which he occupies with his store but has also several other business blocks of the city and his judicious investment in real estate is bringing to him satisfactory returns.
In December, 1882, Mr. Clayton was united in marriage to Miss Anna Cooper, of New Haven, a daughter of Martin Cooper, and they have six children: Walter C., residing in New York; Emma G., Ada F. and Olive A., all at home; Helen E., the wife of C. T. Hindley, of New York city; and Mercia E., at home.
Mr. Clayton exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democratic party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and is a loyal adherent of the craft. He also belongs to Trinity Episcopal church and his genuine worth is manifest in his hearty support of all measures for the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of his community.
HENRY O. WOOD.
Henry O. Wood, whose qualities of leadership brought him to a most prominent position in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and placed him at the head of important business interests of Waterbury was for twenty years a leading citizen there, his sterling worth. his honesty of purpose and his upright character being widely recognized. He was a native of Litchfield county, Connecticut, born in the town of Thomaston, November 21, 1852, his parents being John H. and Mary (Ostrom) Wood. He came of English ancestry, the founder of the family in New England being James Wood, who with his brother came from England and settled in Connecticut, establishing his home first at East Windsor. James Wood married Susan Elmer and they became the parents of six children. A nephew of James Wood was John Warren Bouter, who wrote the history of Connecticut in 1836.
Henry Wood, a son of James Wood, was born in East Windsor,, Connecticut, and was there reared to manhood. He wedded Julia Ford, a daughter of Hial and Lucina (Preston) Ford. With his wife and family he removed to Litchfield county, settling in Plymouth, where he spent his remaining days, there passing away at the age of sixty years.
John H. Wood, a son of Henry Wood and the father of Henry O. Wood, was born in Plymouth, Connecticut, June 30, 1828. He there attended school and at the age of twelve years started out to earn his living by working on a farm, being thus employed for three years. He afterward learned the trade of making movements for watches and clocks, serving a regular three years' apprenticeship. For a year thereafter he worked as a journeyman and in 1848 he entered the employ of the Seth Thomas Clock Company as a mechanic, while later he became a contractor and afterward was promoted to the posi- tion of foreman. Still later he was appointed superintendent of the movement factory, a position of responsibility which he held for thirty years, when he resigned in 1892. When the Thomaston Knife Company was formed he was chosen its president and held that position until his demise. He was also one of the incorporators of the Thomaston Savings Bank and served as president of that institution. He passed away August 31, 1912, and was laid to rest in Hillside cemetery. He had taken an active part not only in the business activities of the community but in public affairs there. He was a stanch republican and represented the town of Thomaston in the state legislature in 1887. While a member of the house he served on several important committees. He was also a member of the grand jury and he was appointed by Governor Lounsbury as commissioner of banking in Connecticut. He likewise served on the school committee and while a member of the state legislature was a member of the committee on banks. He closely studied banking questions and problems and his opinions were largely accepted as authority upon questions of finance. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a trustee and at the time of the erection of its new house of worship he served on the building committee. In 1849 he wedded Mary Ostrom, a daughter of Henry Ostrom and a cousin of the late United States Senator Platt, of Connecticut. Mrs. Wood passed away July 6, 1917, and was laid beside her husband in Hillside cemetery in Thomaston. She, too, was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church and guided her life according to its teachings. By her marriage she became the mother of two children, Henry Ostrom and Eliza, the latter the wife of O. B. Sawyer, who was a soldier of the Civil war, serving at the front as a member of Company A, Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry.
HENRY O. WOOD
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She died November 16, 1874, while Mr. Sawyer passed away February 17, 1872. They left one son, the Rev. Frederick H. Sawyer, of Woodbury, Connecticut.
Henry O. Wood was educated in the schools of Thomaston and at an early age beeame assistant to his father at the Seth Thomas Clock factory. There he continued until 1892, when he came to Waterbury and accepted a position as manager of the shipping department with the Waterbury Brass Company, continuing to fill that position of trust and responsibility for a period of seventeen years. Ill health forced him to resign his position in March, 1909. He then went to the Maine woods in search of health and was greatly restored by his sojourn there. In October of the same year he was nominated for the office of comptroller of Waterbury, an honor which came to him unsolicited. He was elected to that position on the same ticket with IIon. William Hotchkiss, who became mayor at that time. Mr. Wood took office in January, 1910, and filled the position with much credit and ability, his course being one that gained for him the high commendation of the general publie, but his health again became greatly impaired and he was taken to Grace Hospital at New Haven, where he underwent an operation. This, too, proved beneficial for a time, but later his old intestinal malady returned and he passed away on the 18th of April, 1913, his remains being interred in Hillside cemetery in Thomaston.
On the 15th of April, 1896, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Lena Burns, of Water- bury, a lady of refined and cultured tastes, devoted to her husband and her home. She is still a resident of Waterbury, living on Prospect street, and in the city she has won many warm friends. The death of Mr. Wood was a great blow to her and to the entire eity. He had an extensive acquaintance in Waterbury and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him. He stood as a high type of citizen, a man of sturdy honesty and of upright character. His sterling worth was recognized by all and his loyalty to any eause which he espoused was one of his marked characteristics. He took a deep interest in Waterbury and its welfare, cooperated in many movements for the general good and at all times sought to uphold the highest ideals of citizenship. He served as a member of the board of education in Waterbury in 1908 and 1909 and was deeply interested in the schools and their projects. In politics he was a stanch republican, always supporting the principles of that party, as he believed that its platform contained the best elements of good government. He was likewise a well known figure in fraternal circles and held membership in Continental Lodge, No. 76, F. & A. M., also took the degrees of the Scottish Rite in Lafayette Consistory, S. P. R. S., of Bridgeport, and was a member of Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M S. He likewise belonged to Franklin Lodge, I O. O. F., and to Columbia Encampment at Thomaston. He was also past grand patriareh of that order and for many years held the office of high priest Ile also had membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and was on its governing board. His religious faith was evidenced in his membership in the First Methodist church and his belief found expression in his daily life, in all of his relations with his fellowmen, in his business activities and in his public service. The Hon. William B. Hotchkiss, who was mayor of Waterbury at the time of Mr. Wood's death, paid a well merited tribute to him, published in the Waterbury American of April, 1913. The mayor said:
"I feel very keenly the loss of Comptroller Henry O. Wood. He was one of the quiet, unassuming kind, a man of real worth and honesty, always considerate of others and a perfeet gentleman to the core. I was intimately associated with him for two years when I had the honor of being mayor and not once was he ever anything but a true friend and a real helper. He was absolutely one of the finest men I ever knew and the soul of honor in every particular. My heart goes out to the wife in this her great hour of bereavement."
The grand patriarch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Connecticut wrote Mrs. Wood as follows:
"Please accept my sincere sympathy in this time of your bereavement, but we must look upon such events as the inevitable, and hope in the truth of the Scripture. 'That to die is to gain,' that our sojourn here is but the initiatory to a better and brighter beyond. The Odd Fellows of this jurisdiction have lost a valuable member. one whose wise counsels have been valuable in conducting its affairs to its present prosperity. He was a true friend and brother, and his presence will be greatly missed in the future conclaves of our beloved order. The city of Waterbury has lost a spirited citizen and the commonwealth of Connecticut one of her most respected sons. and you who have been his devoted companion for so many years, in prosperity and adversity, cannot but realize the void that has been made in home surroundings and in your future life. The Jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment of Connecticut extend to you and your family their condolence in this your hour of trial, and hope you and yours may be comforted Vol. 1-18
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by the rays of light so beautifully presented in Holy Writ. I am sorry that I shall not be able to be present at the funeral, as I myself have been suffering from what my physician diagnosed as liable to run into pneumonia. The Grand Encampment will be represented by all officers who may be able to make connections in time for the funeral. In order for me to be in your city in time for the services I should be compelled to leave - New London tonight, and my present condition will hardly allow me to do so. He has gone from us, but his memory will ever have a sacred spot in our hearts, and although his light has gone out, his nobility of character and the influences he exerted for the good of his fellowmen will live on forever."
In these tributes are found an indication of the high regard entertained for Mr. Wood as a man, as a citizen and as a fraternal brother. In every relation of life those who came in contact with him held him in the highest esteem and by reason of his upright character he has left behind him a beautiful memory.
FRANK T. CLARK.
Frank T. Clark, an active representative of the insurance business in Waterbury, was born in Terryville, Connecticut, August 24, 1873, and is a son of Amzi P. and Nancy (Beach) Clark, both of whom were natives of this state, the former born in Southington and the latter in Northfield. They were married in 1857 and are now living Terryville, the former at the age of eighty-four and the latter at eighty-two years of age.
Frank T. Clark was educated in the high school of Terryville, from which he was graduated at the early age of fifteen years. He afterward took up tool making and pattern making and subsequently entered upon the study of medicine, spending a year as a student in the Yale Medical College in 1895. However, abandoning the plan to enter upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he removed to Waterbury in 1896 and for a year and a half was bookkeeper in a grocery store. He afterward spent eleven years as bookkeeper in the Citizens National Bank and was upon the road as a traveling salesman for eighteen months. In 1911 he took up the insurance business and through the intervening period of six years has made steady advance in that connection. He conducts a general insurance business, representing many of the most substantial companies in the various lines of insurance, and his patronage is now large and gratifying. His business is growing rapidly and his success is well merited by reason of his close application and his unfaltering enterprise.
On the 5th of November, 1912, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Anne Courtney Punderford, of New Haven, a sister of J. K. Punderford, vice president and general manager of the Connecticut Company. Mr. Clark finds his chief recreation in a game of billiards and displays scientific skill in handling the cue. He is a member of the Country Club and he also belongs to the Masonie fraternity, loyally adhering to its teachings and exemplifying in his life its purposes.
WILLIAM J. FREEMAN.
William J. Freeman, a progressive business man of Naugatuck, now the oldest in the meat business of the borough, has in his career overcome many obstacles and difficulties that would have utterly disheartened and discouraged many a man of less resolute purpose and of less determined courage. He was born in Naugatuck, March 9, 1855, a son of Pierce and Julia (Conran) Freeman, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to Naugatuck in the late '40s and spent his remaining days here, passing away about 1860. He was employed on the building of the railroad from Bridgeport to Winsted. His wife was a daughter of Thomas Conran, who became a resident of Naugatuck in the '40s, and it was in Naugatuck that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce Freeman was celebrated.
Wiliam J. Freeman had but limited opportunity to attend school, for he began to work in the mills when only eight and a half years of age, being employed at a wage of fifty cents per day. He there continued until the mill was destroyed by fire. He was afterward in the employ of a farmer at Middlebury for three years and later he worked on the New England Railroad. All this is indicative of the fact that he was willing to accept any employment that would yield him an honest living, but there is also strong
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