USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 57
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John Joseph Linskey, eldest son of Martin and Ellen (Hannon) Linskey, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, April 24, 1862, and there resided until he was eighteen years of age. He was educated in the public schools and at Guilford Academy, being an apt pupil and a good student. At the age of eighteen years he began to work as a wage earner, going to Naugatuck, Connecticut, where for two years he was an employe of the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Company. He had then attained his majority and being able to com- mand sufficient capital he opened a grocery store.
He was energetic and capable, public spirited and progressive, and his store soon gained popular favor and support. He prospered and in course of time opened a second store in Naugatuck. For seventeen years he continued in successful business as a grocer and during four years of President Cleveland's second term served as postmaster of the Union City office.
About 1905 he retired to engage in the real estate business at Naugatuck a line of activity in which he has been very successful, being sole owner of the business. From a local business he became interested in the development of land areas in other parts of New England, many important land developments of suburban properties having been carried to a successful issue under his management. On March 20, 1916, he moved his office to Waterbury, where he is well known through his development of the "Fairlawn Manor" tract.
Mr. Linskey is essentially a business man and has not taken active part in public affairs. He won success as a merchant and is an authority on land promotion and suburban values, sound in his judgments, upright and honorable in his methods. He is a democrat in politics, a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church at Union City and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Ile married at Naugatuck, October 23, 1888, Louise Theresa Clancy, born there in 1868, daughter of Thomas Clancy, who was born in Ireland and died in Naugatuck, Con- necticut, at the age of sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Linskey are the parents of a family of ninc, as follows: Ellen A., a graduate of Monroe Business College in Waterbury, now her father's assistant as stenographer and clerk; Thomas F., who married Agnes Wallace and has two daughters, Constance and Rose Marie; Louise, a graduate of the Naugatuck high school, and Marie R., both residing at home; Madeline R., a student at Naugatuck high school; John Josephi (2), attending Salem school; William L., attending Salem school; Margaret, who died in infancy; and Francis, attending Oak Street school, Naugatuck.
GEORGE C. HAM.
George C. Ham, a civil engineer and surveyor of Naugatuck, who has been prominently identified with public interests, while at the same time he has been active in the practice of his profession, was born in Washington Hollow, New York, on the 11th of April, 1867, and is of Dutch and German descent. His great-grandfather was Frederick Ham, his grand- father Conrad Ham and his father, Milton Ham. All were natives of Washington, Hollow, Dutchess county, New York, where they spent their entire lives, devoting their energies to agricultural pursuits. The last named, Milton Ham, married Phoebe Ferriss, a native of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, New York, and to them were born three children: John, a farmer residing in Washington Hollow; Sarah; and George C.
The last named was reared upon the home farm and after attending private schools at Millbrook and Pine Plains, in Dutchess county, he continued his education in Andover, Massachusetts, and at Yale, entering the Sheffield Scientific School, from which he was graduated in 1887 on the completion of the course in civil engineering. For a short time thereafter he was employed in New York and then came to Naugatuck in 1888. Here
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he did surveying for the Naugatuck water works and in 1889 he became construction engineer at the Litchfield water works. At a subsequent period he was connected with T. H. Mckenzie, a civil engineer of Southington, and was employed on various hydraulic and sanitary works. In 1891 he returned to Naugatuck and built the storage reservoir for the Naugatuck Water Company. He took up his permanent abode in Naugatuck in 1893 and beeame a member of the firm of Ham & Tuttle, entering into partnership with Howard B. Tuttle, a mechanical engineer, in the conduct of an extensive business in sur- veying and civil engineering. The partnership existed until 1899 and was then discontinued, since which tinte Mr. Ham has practiced his profession alone. He has done much important public work of a professional character. He has been borough engineer of Naugatuck since 1893 with the exception of two years and he has built all the additions to the water works. From 1902 until 1904 he was inspector of summer resorts for the Connecticut state board of health and from 1904 until 1916 he was sanitary inspector for the state board of health. He also enjoys an extensive private practice and holds high rank in pro- fessional circles.
In 1892 Mr. Ham was united in marriage to Miss Grace Seymour, a daughter of Zera Seymour, of Naugatuck, who was a son of Truman and Ruby (Babbitt) Seymour, the latter a representative of one of the earliest families of Naugatuck. Mr. Seymour was prominently identified with the rubber industry in Naugatuck, doing contract work, and he was also a veteran of the Civil war. During the hostilities between the north and the south he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the call of the Union. To Mr. and Mrs. Ham have been born two children, Conrad S., who was a student in the Yale Sheffield Scientific School and is now connected with the Naval Reserve and Margaret, who died in infancy.
The parents are members of the Congregational church and in politics Mr. Ham inain- tains an independent attitude. He is the president of the local council of the Boy Scouts, which organization was recently formed in Naugatuck. While his professional interests make heavy demands upon his time and attention, he has also found opportunity to lend his aid and cooperation to measures for the public good, ever recognizing the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship.
FREDERICK M. PARSONS.
Frederick M. Parsons, an enterprising merchant of Seymour, was born in Bristol, Connecticut, in 1878, a son of Henry and Josephine (Sparks) Parsons, who in 1880 removed to Seymour. The father was engaged in the jewelry business, conducting the only store of the kind in Seymour. He carried on the business here for many years and passed away in March, 1905, the community thus losing a valued and representative citizen. He had not only been active in business affairs but had also contributed to the political and moral progress of the community. He gave his political support to the republican party and he was a member of the Congregational church. His life was also an exemplification of the high principles of Masonry and in that order he attained the Knight Templar degree. He was well known and loved, his many sterling traits of character gaining for him the warm regard, confidence and goodwill of all with whom he came in contact. His widow still survives and is yet living in Seymour.
Frederick M. Parsons acquired a high school education in Seymour and started upon his business career as an employe of the firm of Peck & O'Meara, manufacturers of hard rubber, with whom he continued for two and one-half years. He afterward spent one year in New York city in the same business, after which he returned to Seymour and was with the H. P. & E. Day Company, hard rubber manufacturers, until 1911. He learned the hard rubber turning trade while thus employed and in February, 1911, he gave up his position with the H. P. & E. Day Company and entered the field of merchandising on his own account. He bought out the firm of Little & Gill, proprietors of a five, ten and twenty-five cent store, then situated on the south side of the Odd Fellows building. Mr. Parsons conducted that business for a year and in 1913 he took possession of the entire ground floor of the building, where he occupies a store thirty-five by seventy-five feet. He has one of the largest establishments of this kind in the Naugatuck valley outside of Waterbury, carrying a very complete and extensive line of five, ten and twenty-five cent goods. He employs three elerks, with extra help for the evening, and his business has reached extensive and gratifying proportions.
On the 18th of October, 1899, Mr. Parsons was united in marriage to Miss Maude
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S. Seccombe, of Ansonia, a daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Seccombe, and they have one child, a son, Stanley, who is seventeen years of age. Mr. Parsons is identified with several fraternities. He belongs to Morning Star Lodge, No. 47, F. & A. M., also to Humphrey Lodge, No. 26, K. P., in which he has held all of the chairs and is now a past district deputy. He likewise represented the organization in the grand lodge for several terms. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Temple of Honor and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit upon which these different organizations are based. His life is actuated by high and honorable principles, for he is a most loyal and devoted member of the Congregational church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in October, 1911, he was elected town clerk, since which time he has been reelected in each biennial period, so that he is still filling that office. He is also the local representative for the Connecticut Light & Power Company of Waterbury, having an office in Seymour and handling the local accounts here. Thus he is leading an active, busy and useful life and may well be classed with the substantial citizens of Seymour.
MICHAEL CRUSE.
Michael Cruse, who for more than forty years was a resident of Waterbury, where he was engaged in the contracting business, was born in the parish of Drum Lummon, Ireland, October 1, 1826. Two of his brothers came to the new world: William Cruse, who settled in San Francisco, California. where he passed away in January, 1892; and Thomas Cruse, who also went to that state but afterward became a resident of Montana and there was widely known as a prominent mine operator, becoming the discoverer of the celebrated Drum Lummon mine. He passed away in Helena, Montana, December 20, 1914.
Michael Cruse spent his youthful days in his native country and in early manhood crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling first in New York city, where he followed the trade of fancy plastering and cornice making. He came to Connecticut in 1863, settling in Waterbury, where he became a pioneer in his trade. He continued active in that line throughout his entire life as a contractor and some of the beautiful ceilings in a large number of the best homes of Waterbury are the product of his skill and handiwork. He was an artist in his line and became an expert in fancy cornice work. He was very successful and with the growth of his business he employed several men. After retiring from his con- tracting and cornice work in 1887 he lived retired throughout his remaining days, enjoying the well earned fruits of his labor. He made his home on Pleasant strect, where he passed away May 29, 1897, at the age of seventy-one years, after which his remains were interred in the new St. Joseph's cemetery in Waterbury.
Mr. Cruse was married in New York city to Miss Ann Thompson, who was a native of the same parish and county as her husband and who passed away at the home on Pleasant street in Waterbury, January 29, 1899. She, too, was laid to rest in St. Joseph's cemetery. She held membership in the Immaculate Conception church and was a true Chris- tian woman, devoted to the standards and interests of the church as well as to her home and family. She was most highly respected and had an extensive circle of warm friends in Waterbury. The children of this marriage are as follows. Mary A., the eldest, is now the widow of William J. Sweeney, who was a native of Naugatuck and for many years was bookkeeper for the Goodyear Rubber Company of Naugatuck. His death occurred in Helena, Montana, in which city Mrs. Sweeney now makes her home. She had a family of three children: Anna, the wife of Edward D. Phelan, a prominent lawyer residing in Helena, Montana ; Thomas C., of the Banking Corporation of Helena, Montana; and Sergeant William C., a soldier of the United States army, now stationed in Iowa. Catharine, the second of the family, became the wife of John S. Fay, who for some years was a coffee and tea merchant in Waterbury and passed away July 13, 1898. his remains being interred in the new St. Joseph's cemetery. To him and his wife were born three children: Mary Cruse, who is now the wife of Attorney Edward G. Bobbin, a well known resident of Waterbury ; Edward John, who died in early life; and Fergus C., who is a tea and coffee merchant on East Main street in Waterbury. He married Gertrude Coughlan, a daughter of James Coughlan, of Waterbury. The third member of the family of Michael Cruse was James J., who is now a successful mining man of Montana. Susie T. engaged for a time in conducting a tea store on East Main street and was then succeeded by her nephew, Fergus C. Fay, who is now a member of the Waterbury City Guard. Both Mrs. Fay and her sister, Miss Susie T. Cruse, now reside on Crescent street in Waterbury. They are members of St.
Michael Gruse
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Margaret's Catholic church on Willow street and are members of the Queen's Daughters and the Hospital Aid Society.
In his political views Mr. Cruse was a stalwart democrat but never a politician. He was a devoted member of the Catholic church, being a communicant of the Immaculate Conception parish. He died as he had lived-a true, honest and honorable citizen. He was well known and highly respected. his great moral worth winning for him the esteem and confidenee of all who knew him. He counted it his greatest happiness to provide for the welfare and comfort of his family, to whom he left not only a substantial competence but also the priceless heritage of an nntarnished name.
FREDERICK F. SCHAFFER.
At the early age of thirty years Frederick F. Schaffer took his initial step in con- nection with the rubber industry and through all the intervening years has been closely associated with this line of activity, making for himself a most creditable position in manufacturing circles of the Naugatuck valley. He is now the president of the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Company of Naugatuck, which position he has occupied continuously since 1885, or for a third of a century. Mr. Schaffer is of German nativity, although he was only about a year old when brought to the new world. He was born in Prussia, June 12, 1853, his parents being William E. and Dorothy Schaffer, whose family numbered three children, the others being Josephine and Ernest, the latter now deceased. The father was a tailor by trade and on coming to America with his little family in 1854 established his home in Milltown, New Jersey, where he continued in business along that line.
Frederick F. Schaffer acquired his education in the schools of Milltown and of New Brunswick, New Jersey, but at the age of thirteen years put aside his textbooks in order to provide for his own support by entering the employ of the New Brunswick Rubber Company, with which he was associated for six years, and during that period he gained comprehensive knowledge of the business and became expert along the different branches of the work in which he engaged. At the expiration of that period he became an employe of the New Jersey Rubber Shoe Company and when their plant was destroyed by fire in 1876 he sought employment elsewhere. Removing to Naugatuck, he was placed in charge of the boot and shoe department of the Goodyear India Rubber Glove Company and so continued until 1885, since which time the operation of all the different departments has been under his immediate direction. He ranks with the most pro- gressive business men of his section of the state. He possesses marked initiative, with splendid powers of organization, and his careful management has resulted in the wise systematization of all the different interests of the business. In 1917 the Naugatuek plants were made a part of the United States Rubber Company. The buildings are modern and up-to-date in equipment and have private tracks, furnishing splendid shipping facilities. A contemporary biographer in speaking of his business record says: "He soon showed that he was endowed with intelligence, capability and fidelity and his promotion in the company's service was merely a question of time. He rose gradually until he now fills the responsible position of president. Over and over again has he demonstrated his innate executive capacity and the three thousand employes subordinate to his command love him no less than they respect and admire him. His course has exhibited the possession of that rare combination of seemingly diverse qualities-forcefulness with sympathy, firm- ness with gentleness." In addition to his connection with the rubber company Mr. Schaffer is a trustee of the Naugatuck Savings Bank.
Mr. Schaffer has also taken an active and prominent part in community affairs, serving as school committeeman for three terms, also as the first selectman and as warden of the borough of Naugatuck. In politics he has ever been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Fraternally he is a member of the Masons and is also an Odd Fellow and he enjoys in the highest measure the regard and goodwill of his associates in those two organizations. Both he and his wife are of the Episcopal faith and Mr. Schaffer has long served as one of the vestrymen of the Naugatuck church.
In December, 1877, occurred the marriage of Mr. Schaffer and Miss Minnie Perkins, a daughter of Wales Perkins, of Naugatuck, and they became the parents of three children: Frederick W .: Winnibel May, born October 20, 1879; and Josephine llazel, born July 13, 1882. The death of Mrs. Schaffer occurred March 7, 1888, and on the 8th of October, 1889, Mr. Schaffer was united in marriage to Miss Melicent A. Nichols, who was born in Roxbury.
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Connecticut, a daughter of Richard and Almira (Wheeler) Nichols. To them was born a daughter, Dorothy Almira, whose natal day was April 10, 1891.
F. W. Schaffer, the son, was born December 18, 1878, in Naugatuck, where he still resides, occupying at the present time the responsible position of superintendent of the rubber plant. He supplemented his public school education by study in the Worcester Academy and in 1899 became connected with the rubber company, being then twenty-one years of age. He started at the bottom to thoroughly acquaint himself with the business and has worked his way upward through the various departments, gaining comprehensive knowledge of rubber manufacturing in all its different phases and thus well qualifying for his present responsible and onerous duties as superintendent.
In 1907 Mr. Sehaffer was united in marriage to Frances R. Murphy, of Naugatuck, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Dodge. They have become the parents of four children, Frances, Frederick, Norman and George. Fraternally Mr. Schaffer is connected with the Elks and also with the Red Men. In politics he maintains an independent course. He has wisely used his opportunities, directing his efforts along a single line, and this concentration of purpose has been one of the strong elements in his progress. The name of Schaffer has long been a most prominent one in connection with the manufacturing interests of Nauga- tuck and father and son have been most active in the control of the leading industry of the borough.
JOHN J. McDONALD, D. D. S.
The dental profession in Waterbury has many active and capable representatives who are thoroughly trained in the seientific phases of the work and display marked mechanical ingenuity in actual practice. Among these Dr. John J. McDonald is numbered. He was born in Waterbury, March 2, 1885, and is a son of the late John J. McDonald, who passed away on the 7th of March, 1915, after having occupied the position of foreman with the Waterbury Watch Company for many years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nellie A. Marsden, passed away in 1898.
Dr. McDonald was their only son but has two sisters. He is numbered among the alumni of the Crosby high school, where he completed his course with the class of 1900, of which elass he was the treasurer. Determining upon the practice of dentistry as a life work, he prepared for his profession in the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1908. He then opened an office in Waterbury and in the intervening period of nine years has built up a large and successful practice. He is a member of the Waterbury, the Connecticut State and the National Dental Societies and has been chosen president of the first named, a fact which indicates his high standing among his colleagues and con- temporaries in the profession.
Dr. McDonald is a Catholic in religious faith. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks. He turns to tennis and golf for recreation, greatly enjoying the games, but his professional duties are making greater and greater demand upon his time.
CHARLES S. NEWCOMB.
Charles S. Newcomb, one of Torrington's best known citizens, now filling the position of first selectman, was born at Norton, Massachusetts, July 20, 1851, his parents being John B. and Abigail (Copeland) Newcomb, both of whom belonged to old Massachusetts families. His father was a son of Richard Newcomb and a grandson of William Newcomb. For several generations the paternal ancestors were born on the same farm near Norton, Massachusetts, on which occurred the birth of Charles S. Newcomb. His mother, Abigail Copeland, was born in Brewer, Maine, but represented an old Massachusetts family. She died on the old Neweomb homestead near Norton, where John B. Newcomb also passed away. In the family were two sons and a daughter who yet survive, the brother of Charles S. Newcomb being Maynard Neweomb, now of Boston. The sister, Abigail, is now Mrs. Carpenter, a widow living at Greenwich, Rhode Island.
Charles S. Newcomb was reared on his father's farm in the old Bay state and at eighteen years of age he put aside his textbooks to start out in the business world, serving a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade. Throughout the period of his early manhood he concentrated his efforts along building lines, working first at Taunton, Massa-
CHARLES S. NEWCOMB
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chusetts, afterward at Falmouth and still later at Mansfield, Massachusetts. He removed from that place to Torrington in 1900 and since then has been largely occupied with the management of the George L. Lilley estate in Torrington, Waterbury and Winsted, Con- necticut. This is probably the largest estate in the city, involving property interests amounting to several hundred thousand dollars. George L. Lilley, ex-governor of Connecticut, who left the estate, was a brother-in-law of Mr. Newcomb.
It was on the 22d of January, 1889, that Mr. Newcomb was married to Miss Caroline Lilley, an elder sister of the late Governor Lilley. A part of the Lilley estate is also in Winsted and another part in Waterbury, and in the properties of the three cities there are now one hundred and eighty-three tenants. All of this property is under the direct super- vision of Mr. Newcomb. He is likewise a director of the Torrington Trust Company.
In his political views Mr. Newcomb is a republican. He served as a burgess of Tor- rington for two years and as a selectman of Mansfield for two years and was elected select- man of the town of Torrington in October, 1916, and October 1, 1917, was reelected to that position. His life is guided by Christian teachings and he attends the Center Congregational church. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk and he belongs to the Torrington Club and to the Greenwoods Country Club. He had much to do with the building of the present fine Elks home in Torrington, serving on the building committee. He is actuated by a spirit of progressiveness in all that he undertakes and he stands as one of the foremost residents of Torrington, respected and honored by all by reason of his genuine worth.
RODERICK SAMUEL WOODRUFF,
Roderick Samuel Woodruff, who for more than a half century was a resident of Water- bury and ranked with its most highly respected citizens, passed away on the 1st of Mareh, 1913. His life record had compassed the intervening period from the 11th of September, 1843, at which time he was born in Woodbury, New Haven county. His parents were William E. and Laura (Steele) Woodruff, also of Woodbury, and his ancestral lines brought him into close connection with some of the oldest and best known families of the state, including the Judd, Prindle, Colton, Woodruff and Steele families. In the maternal line his ancestry was traced back to Samuel Steele, of Hartford, who was the founder of the family in the new world and was the first secertary of the colony of Connecticut.
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