USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 18
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MORTIMER J. HEFFERNAN
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beth, who is principal of the Welton school of Waterbury. The children of the second mar- riage are: Very Rev. J. R. Heffernan, O. P., of St. Vincent's church of New York city; Loretta Agnes, who is the wife of James J. Murphy, of Terryville, Connecticut; and Mary T., who passed away November 4, 1916.
When national questions are up for consideration Mr. Heffernan casts his ballot with the democratic party but at local elections, where no general issue is involved, he votes independently. He has served in . no public offices, preferring that his devotion to the general welfare shall be manifest in other ways. His influence, however, is always on the side of progress and improvement. He belongs to the Catholic church, is a member of the Holy Name Society and a trustee of St. Margaret's School. He is also connected with the Knights of Columbus and with the Foresters. Mr. Heffernan is now in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He has been a resident of New Haven county for more than half a century and while living a somewhat quiet life, devoted almost entirely to business, his sterling worth has gained for him the confidence and goodwill of those with whom he has been associated.
RALPH W. ALLEN.
Ralph W. Allen, of Winsted, is conducting business under the firm name of H. Allen & Son, dealers in coal and wood, at the corner of Willow and Rowley streets. He has been sole proprietor of the business since 1905 and in the intervening years has developed it into one of the profitable undertaking's of this character in Winsted. A native of Maine, he was born November 4, 1882, and was brought to Winsted by his parents, Henry and Elizabeth (McAlpine) Allen, when he was but a year and a half old. His father was also a native of the Pine Tree state and establislied the coal and wood business 110w conducted by the son in 1893. He retired from active connection with the enterprise in 1905 and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest, passing away in 1913. His widow was born in Scotland and yet makes her home in Winsted. Two of her brothers, James and John McAlpine, were formerly proprietors of a clothing store at No. 410 Main street in Winsted for many years.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for Ralph W. Allen in the days of his boyhood and youth. Eleven years after his father had established the coal and wood business he was admitted to a partnership, becoming interested in April, 1904, under the firm style of H. Allen & Son. In the fall of the following year he pur- chased his father's interest in the business and has since been sole proprietor, although the old firm name has been continuously retained.
On the 14th of November, 1906, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Belle M. Arthur, a native of Maryland, by whom he has a daughter, Gladys Elizabeth, whose birth occurred on the 4th of April, 1908.
Mr. Allen gives his political allegiance to the republican party and fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, guiding his life according to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. He has practically always been a resident of Winsted and that his life has been well spent is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have been his companions from his boyhood days.
HOMER G. FILLEY.
Homer G. Filley, for thirty-eight years connected with the business interests of Water- bury, is president and treasurer of the Filley & Crane Company, conducting a furniture and undertaking business, being proprietor of an establishment which has had a continuous existence of sixty-eight years, the building occupied having been erected in 1851. Mr. Filley is a native of New Haven, born in 1860, and is a son of Myron W. and Cleora (Gilbert) Filley. The father, who was a photographer, has passed away, but the mother is living. The Filley family was early established at Litchfield, while the Gilberts are also an old colonial family of Connecticut.
After acquiring a high school education in New Haven, Homer G. Filley came to Waterbury in 1879, when a youth of nineteen years, and started upon his commercial career as an employe in the dry goods house of E. T. Turner & Company. In 1887 he
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became connected with J. M. Burrall & Company and soon purchased an interest in the business, which had been established in 1849 by J. M. Burrall and George Root under the firm style of Burrall & Root. In 1851 Mr. Burrall erected a building at No. 60 Bank street, where the furniture and undertaking business has since been carried on, for a time by the firm of Burrall & Root, by J. M. Burrall & Son and by J. M. Burrall & Com- pany. Mr. Filley more and more largely assumed the responsibility of active manage- ment as the years passed and in 1908 purchased the Burrall interests in the business. He then reorganized the business under the name of the Filley & Crane Company, which was incorporated October 8, 1908, with Mr. Filley as president and treasurer and Stephen T. Crane as secretary. The building is twenty-three by one hundred feet, three stories and basement, and when erected was the last building out on Bank street. The company now occupies an L in addition to the original building and carries a full and complete line of furniture and undertaking supplies. They also occupy another three story building across the alley which was erected in the '80s. This is today one of the oldest of the retail business interests of Connecticut and is the oldest in Waterbury carried on con- tinuously in the same building. They enjoy a liberal patronage, employing fifteen people, and the business methods of the house from the beginning have been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
In 1887 Mr. Filley was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Ford, of Torrington. They are members of All Souls Episcopal church and Mr. Filley also has membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is a substantial citizen whose life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded duc recognition of labor. His interests are thor- oughly identified with those of Waterbury and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
HON. THOMAS DUDLEY BRADSTREET.
With many of the forces which led to the material upbuilding, the political, social and inoral progress of Thomaston, Hon. Thomas Dudley Bradstreet was closely associated and he had made for himself such a prominent place in the life of the community that the news of his death carried with it a sense of personal bereavement into many homes. He was born in Thomaston on the 1st of August, 1841, a son of the Rev. Thomas Jefferson Brad- street, who was born at Topsfield, Massachusetts, April 7, 1807, and was a son of Captain Dudley and Polly (Porter) Bradstreet.
The Rev. Thomas J. Bradstreet was a graduate of Yale College of the class of 1834 and was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational church, after which he engaged in preaching for a period of eight years. On account of throat trouble he then had to resign his charge and he turned his attention to business life, becoming superintendent of the cotton mill of his father-in-law, Seth Thomas. Later he was made commercial agent of the Setli Thomas Company and so continued until his health again failed and he was forced to retire from commercial pursuits. He turned to outdoor life, hoping to be benefited thereby, and followed farming throughout his remaining days, becoming one of the well known agriculturists and leading citizens of Thomaston. In community affairs he took a deep and helpful interest, serving the town as selectman and as a member of the board of educa- tion for thirty-seven years. He was also chosen to represent his district in the state legis- lature, where he gave thoughtful consideration to the many vital questions which came up for settlement. He was also closely connected with the moral progress of the community and for a long period served as Sunday school superintendent. When death called him, he was laid to rest in the Thomaston cemetery, his memory being enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him because of his sterling qualities. He had married Amanda Thomas, a daughter of Seth Thomas, the founder and promoter of the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston. She was a woman of noble Christian character, a devoted wife and mother and a faithful friend, and when called to the home beyond her remains were also interred in the Thomaston cemetery. The four sons of the family were Thomas Dudley, Albert Porter, George Parker and Edward Thomas, the last named a physician residing in Meriden.
Thomas Dudley Bradstreet acquired a public school education in Thomaston and later entered the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, New York. In his early boyhood he worked on his father's farm and at the time of the Civil war, being then about twenty-one years of age, he responded to the country's call for troops and joined the Union army,
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became connected with J. M. Burrall & Company and soon purchased an interest in the business, which had been established in 1849 by J. M. Burrall and George Root under the firm style of Burrall & Root. In 1851 Mr. Burrall erected a building at No. 60 Bank street, where the furniture and undertaking business has since been carried on, for a time by the firmu of Burrall & Root, by J. M. Burrall & Son and by J. M. Burrall & Com- pany. Mr. Filley more and more largely assumed the responsibility of active manage- ment as the years passed and in 1908 purchased the Burrall interests in the business. He then reorganized the business under the name of the Filley & Crane Company, which was incorporated October 8, 1908, with Mr. Filley as president and treasurer and Stephen T. Crane as secretary. The building is twenty-three by one hundred feet, three stories and basement, and when erected was the last building out on Bank street. The company now occupies an L in addition to the original building and carries a full and complete line of furniture and undertaking supplies. They also occupy another three story building across the alley which was erected in the '80s. This is today one of the oldest of the retail business interests of Connecticut and is the oldest in Waterbury carried on con- tinuously in the same building. They enjoy a liberal patronage, employing fifteen people, and the business methods of the house from the beginning have been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
In 1887 Mr. Filley was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Ford, of Torrington. They are members of All Souls Episcopal church and Mr. Filley also has membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is a substantial citizen whose life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor. His interests are thor- oughly identified with those of Waterbury and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
HON. THOMAS DUDLEY BRADSTREET.
With many of the forces which led to the material npbuilding, the political, social and mural progress of Thomaston, Hon. Thomas Dudley Bradstreet was closely associated and he had mad . for himself such a prominent place in the life of the community that the news I mye both carried with it a sense of personal bereavement into many homes. He was winston the lot of August. 1841, a son of the Rev Thomas Jefferson Brad- bon at Topsfield, Massachusetts. April :. 1807, and was a. son of Captain : : \ . Polis . Porter) Bradstreet.
The Les Thomas J. Bradstreet was a oraquate College of the class of 1834 and are ordained to the ministry of the top al 1. ich. after which he engaged in preaching for a period of eight years on arnt 4 throat trouble he then had to resign his charge and he turned hi . attention to fociess Hif . becoming superintendent of the cotton wul of the father of Ins. Seth from Este he was made commercial agent of the Seth Thomas Company and es contweed natil are health again failed and he was forced to retire from con ,a He turned to outdoor life, hoping to be benefited thereby; and followed varrong U'umybont hus reigaining days, becoming one of the well known agricultorist and toany other of Thomaston. In community affairs he took a deep and helpful interest scivils the town as selectman and as a member of the board of educa- tion for thaty seven years. ffe wa also chosen to represent his district in the state legis lature, where he gav. thoughtful consideration to the many vital questions which eame up for settlement. He was also closely connected with the moral progress of the community and for a long period served as Sunday school superintendent. When death called him, he was laid to rest in the Thomaston cemetery, his memory being enshrined in the hearts of inany who knew him because of his sterling qualities. He had married Amanda Thomas, a daughter of Seth Thomas, the founder and promoter of the Seth Thomas Clock Company of Thomaston. She was a woman of noble Christian character, a devoted wife and mother and a faithful friend, and when called to the home beyond her remains were also interred in the Thomaston cemetery. The four sons of the family were Thomas Dudley, Albert Porter, George Parker and Edward Thomas, the last named a physician residing in Meriden.
Thomas Dudley Bradstreet acquired a public school education in Thomaston and later entered the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, New York. In his early boyhood he worked on his father's farm and at the time of the Civil war, being then about twenty-one years of age, he responded to the country's call for troops and joined the Union army,
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enlisting as a member of Company D, Nineteenth Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as sergeant from August, 1862, until March, 1863, when he was honor- ably discharged on account of disability that rendered him unfit for further field service.
Mr. Bradstreet was connected with the Seth Thomas Clock Company, founded by his grandfather, Seth Thomas, from 1873. He learned the different branches of the business and eventually became secretary of the corporation, which office he filled for a number of years and was then elected vice president and general manager in 1896, acting in the dual capacity continuously until 1914 or a short time before his death. During his connection with the business he won the high regard of his employes and the goodwill of the corporation. His diligence, determination, business ability and executive force were elements in the growth of the business and thus he furthered one of the most important productive industries of the valley.
Mr. Bradstreet was married in Waterbury, Connecticut, on the 23d of March, 1864, to Miss Sarah Maria Perry, who is a native of Waterbury and a daughter of Julius and Miranda (Carter) Perry, of Cornwall, Connecticut, the father a representative of the same family as the noted naval commodore and hero, Oliver Hazard Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Brad- street became parents of two children but the younger, a son, Perry Thomas, died at the age of two years. The daughter, Annie D., is now the wife of George A. Lemmon, a well known druggist of Thomaston.
Mr. Bradstreet ever took a deep and helpful interest in public affairs and was widely known throughout Connecticut as a stanch republican who gave stalwart support to the principles of the party and did everything in his power to secure their adoption. In 1886 he was elected to represent Thomaston in the state legislature and while a member of the general assembly served on the committee on cities and boroughs. In 1903 he was elected a member of the state senate, in which he was made chairman of the committee on cities and boroughs, and he also served as chairman on the labor committee and on executive nomi- nations. In 1905 he was reelected to the state senate and was made a member of its committee on railroads. In 1906 he was nominated by his party as its candidate for state comptroller, was elected to the office for a two years' term and was reelected in 1908 and again in 1910, filling the position for a period of six years with the utmost ability, honor and dignity. Mrs. Bradstreet has in her home the desk and chair which was used by her husband during his term of office and which she treasures highly.
Mr. Bradstreet was a member of Thomaston Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and also took the degrees of the council and chapter and became a Knight Templar in the commandery at Waterbury and a thirty-second degree Mason in the consistory of Bridgeport. He also was a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belonged to the Hartford Club, to the Hartford Republican Club, the Thomaston Club, the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, Russell Post, G. A. R., of Thomaston, the Seaside Outing Club of Bridgeport, the New England Society of New York and the Sons of the American Revolution, of which he was one of the board of managers. In 1912, when Dr. George H. Knight, who was a candidate for congress, passed away during the progress of the campaign, Mr. Bradstreet was nominated to fill the vacancy, and although he made a good run failed of election. He was at one time chief of the Thomaston volunteer fire department, thus serving from 1882 until 1897. He filled the office of president of the Thomaston Water Company and he was one of the organizers of the National Bank of Thomaston, of which he served as a director. There were few interests which had to do with public welfare with which he was not connected. During his service as comptroller he was made a member of the commission appointed to draft the public utilities bill. He was also a member of the committee for the erection of a memorial to Senators Hawley and Platt and was a member of the Gettysburg celebration commission. His high position in public regard was the direct outcome of a life purposeful, useful and honorable. To know Thomas D. Bradstreet was to recognize his many good quali- ties. His face bore the impress of a high and honorable character. He had just celebrated his seventy-fourth birthday when on the 15th of August, 1915, he passed away and was laid to rest in Hillside cemetery. As the day with its morning of promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of accomplished and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of Hon. Thomas Dudley Bradstreet.
On the death of Mr. Bradstreet the Seth Thomas Clock Company passed the following resolutions :
Thomas Dudley Bradstreet after many years filled with service to his country, his state and his community, has departed this life. Loved and honored by his fellows in public and private station, he will long be held in affectionate remembrance.
His death removes from the board of directors of the Seth Thomas Clock Company the last connecting link between the present generation and that of his grandfather, the founder
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of the business. For half a century he served this company in various capacities as director, vice president and chairman.
By the organization in general he will be chiefly remembered as the head of the case shop, to which he devoted so many years of his life and which bears the impress of his personality and administration. By his survivors of the board of directors he will be remem- bered as their good friend and wise advisor, sympathizing with them in their labors and in their perplexities, giving counsel with frankness and tact.
Free from all pride of opinion, or the condescension common in men of greater experience and age in dealing with their juniors he gave his advice and his loyal support to his younger associates. Broad minded and without prejudice, lie faced conditions honestly, and present need, not ancient precedent, determined his decisions. The unaffected and simple friendliness with which he viewed every man as his neighbor brought him a well deserved reward of friendship and goodwill. Without conscious effort but merely by virtue of his own genial personality he drew together that cloud of witnesses to his own kindly spirit-his friends. Among them the directors of this company desire to testify to their sincere regard for his high character and valued service and they here record this expression of their affection and mourning for their friend and counselor-Thomas Dudley Bradstreet.
(Signed) Seth E. Thomas Arthur S. Hamlin W. J. Miller Mason T. Adams.
The resolutions from the Thomaston National Bank were as follows:
Whereas the directors of the Thomaston National Bank have lost one of their members by the death of Thomas D. Bradstreet, which occurred August 15th, 1915, now, therefore be it
Resolved, that while we bow with humble submission to the decree of Divine Providence, we desire to record an expression of the deep grief we feel, as we mourn the loss of one who for sixteen years has been associated with us as a director in this bank.
Resolved, that in the performance of his duties in this capacity, Mr. Bradstreet exhibited the sanie faithful devotion to the interests of the bank, which characterized him in regarding the interests intrusted to him in all positions which he occupied, in private or public life.
Resolved, that we commend with special emphasis the sterling traits of character which Mr. Bradstreet exhibited in all of his dealings with his fellow men, and which have won a state-wide commendation at the close of his career.
Resolved, that a loss of a pleasant companionship with our deceased member, which extended over a long period of unbroken years, comes as a personal sorrow to each inember of our board.
Resolved, that these resolutions be spread upon the records of the bank and that a copy be sent to the family of the deceased.
(Signed) James H. Doughty William 'T. Woodruff J. H. Eastwood C. H. Williams Kellogg Plume F. I. Roberts
Directors.
LYMAN P. CASE.
Lyman P. Case, a druggist of Winsted, was born on a farm in the town of Barkhamsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, July 21, 1865, and is the only son of Henry and Jane (Williams) Casc, both of whom were natives of Litchfield county and have now passed away. The father was a machinist by trade.
Lyman P. Case comes of Revolutionary war ancestry. He removed to Winsted with his parents in 1876 and acquired a good grammar school education. He started upon his business career when a youth of sixteen by entering the drug store of D. and W. B. Phelps of Winsted, by whom he was employed for five years. He afterward spent four years in the drug store of Charles A. Raplye of Hartford, and on returning to Winsted he
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became head clerk in the drug store of W. H. Mills in the Opera House block. In 1901 he purchased his present drug store at No. 74 Main street and has since conducted the business with marked success. He purchased his store from the estate of T. Baird & Company and it is one of the oldest drug stores in Winsted and also one of the best. His business methods are thoroughly reliable and progressive and he has a well appointed establish- ment which is now liberally patronized. In addition to his other interests he is one of the incorporators of the Mechanics Savings Bank.
Mr. Case has been married twice and has two sons, James L. and Frederick W., both of whom are married and reside in Boston, Massachusetts. His present wife was in her maidenhood Miss Anna Gaines, of Ghent, New York. She was a trained nurse before her marriage and did excellent work in her professional capacity.
Mr. Case gives his political endorsement to the republican party and for three terms has represented his distriet in the Connecticut general assembly, being first eleeted to that office in 1913, again in 1915 and a third time in 1917. During the last two sessions he was a member of the fish and game committee and was chairman of the shellfish committee. He greatly enjoys fishing and believes in wise game protection laws. Eael season he goes on a fishing trip, spending the periods of vacation in that way. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men and he also holds membership in the Odd Fellows lodge and encampment. He belongs as well to the Winsted Club and to the Litchfield County Automobile Club, of which he is one of the directors. His interest in public affairs is indicated in his eon- neetion with the Chamber of Commerce of Winsted and his active cooperation in all of its well defined plans and projects for the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of its eivie standards. His success is attributable in large measure to the fact that he has always continued in the same line of business in which he made his initial step and this concentration of purpose and elose application have been basic elements on which he has builded his prosperity. He does with all of his might whatever his hand finds to do and his thoroughness and persistency of purpose constitute an example that is well worthy of emulation.
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