USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
BENJAMIN BENNETT PHILLIPS.
Benjamin Bennett Phillips is the president and owner of the business conducted under the name of the Torrington Coal & Oil Company and has been identified with the business interests of this city since 1905. He was born at Northport, Long Island. Septem- ber 19, 1867, the only son of Charles H. Phillips, who was born in Brooklyn. New York, in 1838. For three years before the war the father was on a whaling vessel and visited practically all the waters of the globe. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south he joined the Twenty-fifth New York Volunteer Infantry and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in recognition of gallantry displayed at the battle of Antietam. He was severely wounded in the same battle, being shot in the right leg. He carried the bullet for many years after the war ended. In fact it was not extracted until 1877. His wound necessitated his remaining in a hospital for some months, after which he reentered the service in the commissary department, being unfit for further field duty. While thus serving he was captured and was confined in Andersonville prison for eleven months, during which time he made three attempts to escape but each time was captured and returned to prison. When he finally got out of prison the war was practically over. He lost his left eye also as the result of vaccination for smallpox while in Andersonville prison. In his youth he had become a locomotive engineer and was thus employed on the Long Island Railroad both before and after the war. Following his military service he resided mostly in Brooklyn, New York, and there engaged in business as a skilled decorator and sign painter. He died December 24, 1913, in the Soldiers' Home at Bath, New York. Three of his younger brothers were also soldiers of the Union army, these being Benjamin B., Stephen A. and George W. The last named is still living. The first named, Benjamin B., of whom Mr. Phillips of Torrington is a namesake, died of scurvy in Andersonville prison. The mother of Benjamin B. Phillips of this review was Almira Valentine. She was born in New York city in 1846 and died February 6, 1893. She became the wife of Charles H. Phillips soon after the elose of the war and by that marriage there were one son and three daughters, two of whom died in childhood. The youngest child is Sarah E., the wife of George B. Smith, of Staten Island.
Benjamin B. Phillips acquired his education in the schools of Brooklyn, New York, but when still quite young went to work in a type foundry in New York city. He was thus employed for ten years, after which, in 1890, he went to Milton, New York, where he oeeupied a responsible position with the firm of Henry H. Bell's Sons, manufacturers of glove cloth, eiderdown and knit goods. He remained with that firm for sixteen years and for nine years was a traveling salesman on the road. The Bells were from Belfast, Ireland, and the firm after some time turned its attention to the manufacture of what was known as the Belfast mesh underwear. The plant was later removed to Poughkeepsie, New York, at which time the firm style of the Belfast Mesh Underwear Company was assumed. Well known business men of Torrington became large stockholders in this concern and the underwear branch was finally removed to Torrington in 1905. Mr. Phillips came with the plant and has since remained a resident of this city, but the business was discon- tinued in 1906. Since then he has given his attention to the coal and oil business and since 1911 has been the president of the Torrington Coal & Oil Company, of which he is now sole owner. This is one of the well established industries of Torrington and upon its organization in 1911 it was capitalized for twenty thousand dollars. Its sales of kerosene and gasoline alone now amount to about forty-five thousand gallons per month. This indicates something of the continuous growth of the business and Mr. Phillips is therefore at the present time at the head of a most important commercial concern.
On the 31st of December. 1891, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Murray, of Milton, New York. She is descended from Scotch ancestors who were Masons in Scotland in a long direct line and much devoted to the order. She now has in her
BENJAMIN B. PHILLIPS
571
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
possession a Masonic certificate of membership that belonged to her great-grandfather Morrison, which bears the official signature of Robert Burns, the Scotch bard, and is a most highly prized keepsake. Mrs. Phillips is a daughter of Michael Morrison and Harriet Amanda (Rhodes) Murray, the former of Scotch and the latter of French descent, while Mr. Phillips comes of Welsh and Irish lineage. They own and occupy at attractive home in Torrington at No. 345 Prospect street. They have one son, Benjamin Bidwell, who was born October 27, 1892, and is now associated with his father in the coal and oil business. He was married February 10, 1917, to Miss Flossie Marion Brusie, of Hartford, Connecticut.
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Phillips are members of the Calvary Baptist church and in community affairs they take a deep and helpful interest. Mr. Phillips is now serving as the second vice president of the Torrington Chamber of Commerce. He also belongs to the Torrington Club, the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Veterans. He is a repre- sentative business man who through individual effort, intelligently directed. has steadily worked his way upward and whose position in commercial circles is an enviable one.
CHARLES HUGH LEONARD.
Modern business enterprise finds expression in the business career of Charles Hngh Leonard, of the Leonard Grain Company of Winsted. He was born in West Dover, Vermont, July 14, 1874, a son of Daniel Green and Annette M. (Adams) Leonard. The family has long been represented on American soil. The ancestral home was in Monmouthshire, in the southwestern part of England, where Solomon Leonard was born about 1610. He seems first to have gone to Leyden, Holland, and thence emigrated to New England, where foi a time he was in the service of the Plymouth Colony Company. He afterward removed to Duxbury, where he was living at the incorporation of the town in 1637. He received a land grant there in 1638 and became a freeman in 1643. He afterward became one of the earliest settlers and proprietors of Bridgewater, where his remaining days were spent. He was a weaver by trade and he spelled his name Lenner and sometimes Lennerson. Isaac Leonard, son of Solomon and Mary Leonard, was born about 1650, probably in Bridgewater, and was one of a company of troops, eight hundred and forty in number, who participated in the Narragansett Fight in King Philip's war, December 19, 1675. To these men, about sixty years later, seven townships of land were granted by the state of Massachusetts. Fourteen of the soldiers were from Bridgewater but only two were living at the time the land was allotted, and Isaac Leonard's share fell to his son Isaac. Isaac Leonard (I) was the owner of land in Bridgewater, according to records, and seems to have owned land in Mendon and in Worcester. His wife, Deliverance, was one of the original members of the Second Church in Bridgewater.
Isaac Leonard (II), their eldest son, was born in Bridgewater before 1680 and on the 16th of April, 1701, wedded Mary Randall, widow of Samuel Randall and daughter of Guido Bailey. Records indicate they were residents of Taunton in 1713, this being situated in that section afterward known as Easton, and in March, 1726, he and his wife conveyed their homestead to Eliphalet Leonard. On the 23d of July, 1727, Isaae Leonard (II), then of Mendon, purchased one hundred and thirty-two acres of land at Pomfret, Connecticut. Ile and his wife were among the original members of the Second Church, which was organized in 1734. He was in Boston, October 17, 1733, and drew the share of land belonging to his father as one of the soldiers in the Narragansett Fight. Records show that he sold his property on the 9th of February, 1735-36, to Isaac Parks, after which all trace of him and his family was lost.
David Leonard, son of Isaac Leonard (II), was born in Taunton about 1710. Ile was the father or uncle of David Leonard (II), who was born about 1740 and in 1790 was living in Guilford, Vermont. His family included Dr. Daniel Leonard, who became a resident of Dover, Vermont, where he engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery and also was a Freewill Baptist preacher. He was likewise a prominent citizen in connection with public affairs and served as selectman and in other offices. He married Sally Mann. a daughter of the Rev. James Mann, a Baptist clergyman. Her birth occurred September 4, 1798, and she passed away in Dover. Vermont, February 11, 1862.
Daniel Green. son of Dr. Daniel and Sally Leonard. was born in West Dover, Vermont, in September, 1833, and died in Wilmington, that state. August 13, 1892. He acquired a common school education and following the discovery of gold in California went to the Pacific coast by way of the Isthmus route, remaining in the mining district for about
572
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
a year. On returning to New England he engaged in farming in Vermont and also had a maple orchard of twenty-five hundred trees, from which he annually produced six hundred gallons of syrup. He was likewise a pioneer in the manufacture of cider apple jelly and established plants for that purpose at Wilmington, Jacksonville and Newfane, Vermont. He likewise engaged in the dairy business and operated his farm of two hundred acres. A year prior to' his death he removed from Dover to Wilmington, where he passed away. He had been a deacon of the Congregational church of West Dover and was a man of wide influence in his community. He married Annette M. Adams, who was born in Marlboro, Vermont, in 1837, a daughter of Captain Ira Adams. Their children were as follows: Florence, who died in childhood; Claud G., who married Eleanor Rice and is an insurance broker living in Springfield, Vermont; Florrie, the deceased wife of W. E. Corse, a machinist of Springfield, Vermont, by whom she had a daughter, Grace; Mabel Grace, who lived in Winchenden, Massachusetts; and Charles Ilugh, of this review. Claud G. and Eleanor (Rice) Leonard have two children, Stuart and Eulalie.
Charles Hugh Leonard was born in West Dover, Vermont, July 14, 1874, and acquired a public school education, after which he attended the Leland Gray Seminary at Townsend, Vermont. At the age of seventeen he secured a clerkship in a general store in Wilmington, Vermont, where he was employed for three years and then pursued a course in the Albany (N. Y.) Business College. He afterward devoted a brief period to the insurance business and on attaining his majority he began learning the jeweler's trade as an employe of Bogle Brothers of Boston and accompanied the firm upon its removal to White River Junction, Vermont, where he remained for five years. The firm was engaged in the conduct of a wholesale business and for three years he was upon the road as one of its traveling repre- sentatives. In 1900 he entered the employ of the wholesale jewelry house of C. G. Alford & Company of New York, for which he traveled for five years, making his home at Brattleboro, Vermont, during three years of that period. He became a resident of Winsted, Connecticut, in 1905, at which time he purchased the jewelry store of F. B. Catlin. Later he became identified with the grain trade as manager for M. D. Leonard & Company, which position he occupied for five years. In 1916 George S. and Oscar E. Belden, of North Hatfield, Massachusetts, purchased the business and Mr. Leonard remained as manager. The name was then changed to the Leonard Grain Company. This is a large concern, having a mill and several retail stores Mr. Leonard has full charge of the business, the Belden brothers giving their attention to other interests. There are two retail stores, one at No. 70 Main street and another on Clifton street in Winsted, while the mill is located on North Main street. This business was established by F. Woodruff & Sons forty years ago and has had a continuous existence. It was in 1910 that Mr. Leonard sold his jewelry store to W. D. Churchill and since that time his entire attention has been given to the grain trade, in which connection he has made steady progress, being today most active in the conduct of important interests along this line.
On the 5th of November, 1899, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage to Miss Ella Annette Adams, who was born at West Halifax, Vermont, in 1874, her parents being Luther and Susan Emeline (Winchester) Adams. They have one ehild, Madeline, born at White River Junction, Vermont, December 5, 1900. Mr. Leonard belongs to the United Brothers Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., of White River Junction, Vermont, and in church work takes an active and helpful interest. He has served as a deacon in the First Congre- gational church and was formerly a director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Winsted. He is interested in all that pertains to the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community and his standards of life are high, while he utilizes every opportunity to lift himself to their level.
WILLIAM CLEMENT KENNEDY, M. D.
Dr. William Clement Kennedy, actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Torrington, was born in Waterbury, August 16, 1882. a son of the late William F. Kennedy, also a native of Waterbury, who was foreman in a large brass factory for many years. At the time of the Civil war, however, his duty to his country was his paramount interest and business considerations were put aside that he might defend the Stars and Stripes. He died in the year 1894, while his widow, who bore the maiden name of Esther A. McDonald, is still living in Waterbury.
Dr. Kennedy was reared in Waterbury and was graduated from the Washington grammar school of that city at the age of fourteen years. Later he spent two years as a
573
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
student in the Crosby high school, after which he started out in the business world as elerk in the clothing store of John B. Mullings of Waterbury. During the three years thus passed he attended the night school in order to improve his education and for two years he was employed by the New England Engineering Company of Waterbury. In 1903, with the money he had saved from his wages, he entered Holy Cross College of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he studied for three years. He then completed his academic studies at Fordham College New York city. His professional training was received in Georgetown University of Washington, D. C., where he won his M. D. degree in 1911. During his senior year there he did duty as an interne in the United States Goverment Hospital at the corner of Nineteenth and D streets, southeast, in Washington, and thus added to his theoretical training broad and practical experience.
Dr. Kennedy entered upon the general practice of his profession in Newtown, Connectient, September 1, 1912, and removed to Torrington on the Ist of July, 1915. In the intervening period he has built up a fine practice in both medicine and surgery, and he has a splendidly equipped suite of rooms at No. 38 Water street, in the Little block. His ability is widely recognized, not only by the public but also by his professional colleagues. He was from June, 1911, until August, 1912, an interne in St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury and then entered upon practice at Newtown on the 1st of September of the latter year. He is now an assistant on the medical stall of the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital of Torrington. De is a member of the Connecticut State and the American Medical Associations.
On the 25th of June, 1913, Dr. Kennedy was married to Miss Katherine Seery. of Winsted, where her birth occurred April 18, 1888, her parents being Joseph and Mary (Conway) Secry. Her father died February 27, 1913, but the mother is still living in Winsted. Dr. and Mrs. Kennedy have a son, William C., who was born May 2, 1914. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Dr. Kennedy holds member ship with the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Torring- ton Club. He is actuated by laudable purpose and high ideals in his profession and although one of its younger representatives he has made for himself a most ereditable position among the physicians and surgeons of Torrington.
HARRY J. WYLIE.
Various corporate interests have profited by the cooperation and enterprising spirit, of Harry J. Wylie, whose interests have always been of a character that have contributed to the public welfare as well as to individual success. He is now the president of the Torrington Trust Company, is the treasurer of the Nicola Valley Pine Lumber Company and is the treasurer and general manager of the Hotchkiss Brothers Company, of Torrington. The last named owns and controls one of the largest mercantile and manufacturing concerns of the Naugatuck valley, and in fact of New England, and thus important interests are under the direction of Harry J. Wylie, whom the consensus of public opinion places in the foremost ranks of the business men of Connecticut. He was born in Torrington, June 24, 1880, of Scotch parentage. being a son of Henry and Janet (McTaggart) Wylie, who were born, reared and married in Scotland but came to the United States some years before the birth of their son Harry. They remained for a considerable period in Torrington, the father being foreman of the lathe department of the Hendey Machine Company for many years. In fact he was one of the oldest and most trusted employes of that company when he retired from business life, and i- now on its pension list. He and his wife are still living in Torrington and are numbered among its valued and respected citizens.
When Harry J. Wylie was a year old his parents returned to Scotland and there remained for eleven years of his boyhood. His earliest recollections are of the land of hill- and heather and his primary school training was received in that country. In 1894, however, the family returned to Torrington, where they still remain. and in that year, when a youth of fourteen. Harry J. Wylie entered the employ of Hotchkiss Brothers & Company as an office box. He has been identified with the business for twenty-three years. is now one of the stockholders and for several years was the secretary and general manager. At a special directors' meeting in September, 1917. Mr. Wylie wa - elected treasurer and is now filling that office and that of general manager. Prior to this time he had served as assistant freasmer. He is yet a young man to have such large responsibilities, but his powers are fully adequate to his duties. important and extensive a- they are. He i- resourceful, forcein!, energetic and sagacious.
On the 15th of June. 1904. Mr. Wylie wa- united in manjage to Mi -- Nellie G are
574
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
Hopkins, of Torringford, a suburb of Torrington, where she was born June 18, 1882. They have three children, Sidney H., Henry W., and Martha McLean, aged respectively twelve, ten and one year. The parents are members of the Center Congregational church and Mr. Wylie is serving on its society committee. He is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine and also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is likewise identified with the Torrington Club and the Torrington Chamber of Commerce.
WILLIAM TYSOE.
William Tysoe, pension attorney, also engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Waterbury, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, February 10, 1842, a son of Isaac Tysoe, who was born and reared in England and was there married to Maria White. After coming to America he engaged in business as a shoe merehant. William Tysoe was the seventh and the first of their children born in the United States. The parents with their six elder children erossed the Atlantie in a sailing vessel, being about six months in completing the voyage. The start was made in 1841 and they reached Jersey City early in 1842. Four other children were added to the family in the United States but only two of the entire number are now living, William and Mrs. Mary Jane Hirst, of Oakland, California.
The former left Jersey City when eight years of age and went to Newburgh, New York, with his father and stepmother, his own mother having died when he was a lad of seven. He became a wage earner at that time, being employed in a bakery in Newburgh at the munificent salary of fifteen dollars per year! For his second year's service he received twenty-five dollars and later was paid three dollars per week and board. He was so industrious and efficient that at the age of eleven he was acting as foreman of the bake shop and had two men working under him. At fourteen he was made manager and at sixteen years of age he removed to Cold Spring, New York, where he spent a year as manager of a bakery. He then returned to the bakery in Newburgh where he had learned the trade and was there when the Civil war broke out. Putting aside all personal and business considerations, he joined the Union army and served to the end of the war. He was for three months a member of the Nineteenth New York Volunteer Infantry and for three years in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York Regiment. He fought in the battles of Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, siege of Petersburg, Wilderness, Bloody Angle, ete., and was at Appomattox at the time of Lee's surrender. He was later mustered out at Newburgh, New York, where General Washington's army had been mustered out during the Revolutionary war.
For some years after his return to civil life Mr. Tysoe worked at the baker's trade in various cities of New York and Connecticut, coming to Waterbury in 1877. After a year he turned his attention to mnechanieal lines, being connected with various manu- facturing concerns of Waterbury. He spent thirteen years with the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company in their brass goods factories, working at the bench during the first seven years, after which he was made foreman and continued in that position for six years. In 1910 he embarked in the real estate and insurance business and also established a pension agency. In the various departments he has won a good clientage and is now conducting a profitable business.
Mr. Tysoe has been married twice. He first wedded Mrs. Alma Johnson nee Hamlin on the 9th of June, 1876. She passed away March 30, 1913, and on the 19th of September, 1914. he married Mrs. Virginia C. (Hart) Todd.
In politics Mr. Tysoe has continuously supported the republican party since winning the right of franchise and has ever been one of its most stalwart champions. He is a member of the Baptist church, is a Master Mason and a Knight of Pythias. At the present time he is a eolonel and assistant quartermaster general of the Connecticut Brigade of the Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias and in that organization has passed all of the chairs. He is likewise a past commander of Palmer Post, No. 33, G. A. R., of Winsted, and at the present writing, in 1917, is quartermaster of Wadhams Post, No. 49, of Water- bury, and is the senior post commander here. He is likewise a past senior vice com- mander of the Connecticut department of the Grand Army of the Republic and he has every right to proudly wear the little bronze button which proclaims him as one of the veterans of the Civil war, in which he rendered active duty to his country in thirty-two battles and eighteen skirmishes. again and again proving his valor and his loyalty. His career con-
WILLIAM TYSOE
577
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
tains much that is commendable and worthy of admiration. Thrown upon his own resources at the age of eight years, he has since depended entirely upon his labors for whatever he has achieved or enjoyed. Obstacles and difficulties developed strength of character and industry enabled him to gain a substantial place in the business world. He is still active at the age of seventy-five years and Waterbury numbers him among her most respected citizens.
HARRY R. WALSH.
Harry R. Walsh has figured in the commercial circles of Waterbury since 1916, when he came to this city to open Hadleys in association with Eugene Brown. The two are managers of this establishment, which is one of a chain of stores owned by the Hadley Furniture & Carpet Company, the stores located at various points in the middle west and in New England, at Worcester and Springfield, Massachusetts, and at Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury, Connecticut. Mr. Walsh is well qualified for his position owing to previous training and experience in connection with the furniture trade.
He was born in Philadelphia in October, 1876, and acquired a publie school education, after which he entered upon his business career in connection with the establishment of Philip J. Walsh, a dealer in furniture and carpets in Philadelphia. He was thus employed for five years and in 1894 he became wrapping clerk with the George Kelly Furniture Company. Rapid advancement brought him to the position of manager of the furniture department in 1913. IIe was also made manager of Mr. Kelly's interests at Pine Beach, New Jersey, including real estate and a hotel. He managed the hotel for three summers but resigned his position with the Kelly interests in 1916 and eame to Waterbury at the opening of Hadleys. Iu this undertaking he is associated with Eugene Brown, the two being managers of the Waterbury house, Mr. Walsh acting as buyer and Mr. Brown as floor manager. The Waterbury branch of the business was incorporated in June, 1916, and the store opened on the 22d of November in the uew Democrat building, where they occupy five floors. They carry an extensive line of furniture, including the latest and most attractive goods put out by the manufacturers-everything from kitchen cabinets, stoves and refrigerators in the basement to the finest lines of furniture, for parlor, bedroom, library and living room on the five floors above. Automobile trucks are used for delivery and about twenty-five people are employed. There is a warehouse containing forty thousand square feet and the company buys in large amounts, thus enabling them to sell advan- tageously and yet at reasonable figures. The whole chain of stores cooperates, so that if one establishment does not have the article required, another ean furnish it. Mr. Walsh is now concentrating his efforts most effectively upon the development of the business, which has enjoyed a rapid growth. He is financially interested, being the secretary of the Hadley Furniture & Carpet Company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.