USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 25
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Following his return home Captain Riley became agent for the Naugatuck Railroad Company at Litchfield and there continued until he was given the position of freight agent at Hartford for the Hartford, Providence & Fishikill Railroad Company, there remaining until he was transferred to Waterbury as agent for the New York & New England Railroad, which position he filled with general satisfaction for some time. He was next appointed supply agent for the Naugatuck Railroad, which position he held until he accepted that of bookkeeper with the Manufacturers National Bank. He occupied that position most acceptably for five years and then on account of ill health resigned, spending his remaining days in retire- ment from business.
On the 21st of October, 1867, Captain Riley was married in East Hartford to Miss Harriet Bissell Allen, who was born in Vernon, Connecticut, October 20, 1839, a daughter of
Mm AG Rileu
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Salmon and Louise (Johnson) Allen. Mrs. Riley was educated in the schools of Vernon and in the State Normal School at New Britain and afterward taught, in the public schools of her native city and in East Hartford, devoting eleven years to the profession. She is one of the oldest living public school teachers in the state. She proved most capable in lier work, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that she had acquired, and her efforts were an effective element in advancing the school interests of both Vernon and East Hartford. She is a lady of liberal education and throughout her entire life has been very active in religious and charitable work. She holds membership in the First Congregational church of Waterbury and has been teacher of the ladies' class in the Sunday school. She is a member of the Woman's Club of Waterbury and she keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. By her marriage she became the mother of two children: William, who was born in December, 1869, and died in the same month; and Florence H., who was born Sep- tember 29, 1875, and passed away the following day.
The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when on the 30th of November, 1897, Captain Riley was called to his final rest, his remains being interred in Riverside cemetery. While a resident of Waterbury he made his home in Hawkins street, where he purchased a pleasant cottage which is still occupied by his widow. He was a stanch repub- lican in politics, giving loyal support to the party which was the defense of the Union at the time of the Civil war and has always been the party of reform and progress. He never sought office, however, but was content to do his duty as a private citizen. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit upon which the order is based. His life was ever honorable and upright, actuated by high principles, and in days of peace he was as true and loyal to his country as he was when during the Civil war he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south.
ROBERT PALMER.
Robert Palmer, clerk of the town of Waterbury, was born at Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, February 24, 1870, and was the second in a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, whose parents were John and Sarah Uranie (Buckley) Palmer. The mother died at Canaan, Connecticut, May 14, 1909, and the father is still living there at the age of seventy-two years. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for four years and six months in active duty in defense of the Union as a member of the Fifth Con- necticut Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Antietamn.
Robert Palmer was but six months old when brought by his parents to Connecticut, the family settling at Sharon, where were spent his youthful days to the age of thirteen years. He then went to Burrville, Connecticut, where he spent one year, attending school when it was in session and doing chores for his board. He was afterward for two years a high school pupil at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where he was graduated at the age of eighteen. It was necessary also that he provide for his support during that period, which he did by peddling milk nights and mornings. He later spent a year and a half on a Dakota ranch and in 1889 returned to Connecticut, being employed on a farm at Cornwall until 1891, when he came to Waterbury. Here he entered the employ of the American Ring Company, with which he continued for eighteen years, holding the position of foreman of the packing and shipping department for the entire time save the first nine months. His long connection is incontrovertible proof of his fidelity and ability. He finally resigned to take charge of his present office on the 1st of January, 1910, having been elected clerk of the town of Waterbury in the previous fall. He was reelected in 1911, 1913, 1915 and 1917, so that he is now serving for the fifth consecutive term and for two terins was the only republican officeholder in Waterbury. This is certainly an indication of his personal popu- larity and of the capable and efficient manner in which he discharges his duties. At the election in 1915 he received a majority of eleven hundred and seventy-two, while Martin Scully, the democratic mayoralty candidate, was elected by a vote of twenty-two hundred, showing Mr. Palmer ran more than thirty-three hundred votes ahead of his party ticket, and in 1917 he was elected by a majority of fourteen hundred and twenty-nine.
In November, 1897, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Catharine Agnes Kilbride, of Waterbury, who died in November, 1914, leaving five children: Raymond L., Francis L., Joseph L., Walter C. and Marie. They lost their youngest child, Robert, when but seven months old.
Mr. Palmer is identified with several fraternal organizations, being an Elk, Knight of Pythias, Eagle, Moose and Forester, also a member of the Woodmen of the World, the
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New England Order of Protection and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He finds his chief diversion in hunting and fishing and belongs to several rod and gun clubs. He has a wide acquaintance in the town of Waterbury and his popularity has been fully demon- strated in his elections.
JOSEPH CARLSON.
Among the successful merchants of Naugatuck is numbered Joseph Carlson, who was born May 12, 1871, in Sweden. His parents, Carl and Anna Johnson, were lifelong residents of that country. He was there educated and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty years old but in 1891 emigrated to America and settled at Naugatuck, where he has since resided. He entered the employ of the Goodyear India Rubber Company and was with them for three years, after which he became one of the organizers of the Coopera- tive Company, dealing in meats and groceries. He continued with that concern until 1900, when he sold his interest therein and opened a store of his own under the name of Carlson's Tea & Butter House. His place of business was first located at No. 162 Church street, but in 1911 he removed to his present location at No. 207 Church street. He also began dealing in furniture, carpets, rugs and stoves, conducting a store at No. 32 Church street. Both of his business enterprises are profitable, and his success has been based upon his policy of carrying only high grade stock and of giving full value for money received.
Mr. Carlson was married May 12, 1897, to Miss Wilhelmina Ingeborg Bergstedt and they have the following children: Fridolf C., Mildred R., Arnold O., Esther C. and Norman C. Mr. Carlson belongs to Shepherds Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M .; Allerton Chapter, No. 39, R. A. M .; Svea Lodge, No. 24, Concordia Sick & Benefit Society; Natatuc Tribe, No. 25, I. O. R. M .; and the Haymakers Association, No. 251/2. In politics he is a republican where national issues are involved but in town elections votes independently, his course being determined by local conditions. He and his family belong to the Swedish Lutheran church and aid in every way possible in promoting the extension of its influence. He is an alert and enterprising business man, a public-spirited citizen and a loyal friend, and he holds an enviable place in the regard of those who have been intimately associated with him.
H. H. BARTLETT.
H. H. Bartlett, chief executive head and one of the founders of the Heminway & Bartlett Silk Company, entered into active association with this business as vice president and was elected to the presidency in March, 1915. He was born in Williamsburg, Massa- chusetts, February 11, 1849, and is a son of Thaddeus and Evaline (Bannister) Bartlett. The father, who was a trader and merchant, died at the age of seventy-six years, while the mother reached the very advanced age of eighty-six.
At the usual age H. H. Bartlett became a public school pupil and had the advantage of high school instruction in Massachusetts. He made his initial step in the business world, however, when but six years of age in the employ of the William Skinner Silk Manufacturing Company at Skinnerville, Massachusetts. He worked through the summer months and attended school in the winter and throughout his entire life he has been identified with manu- facturing. He early displayed the qualities which have been among his most marked char- acteristics-industry and fidelity-and those qualities won him promotion from time to time as he mastered the various tasks assigned him in different positions. Working his way steadily upward, he was ultimately made superintendent in the Skinner factory, where he remained until 1876, when he came to Watertown to accept the superintendency of the plant of M. Heminway & Sons. He continued in that position for twelve years, or until the Heminway & Bartlett Silk Company was organized in 1888. In this undertaking he was associated with Buell Heminway and his son, B. H. Heminway, the father becoming president of the company, with Mr. Bartlett as vice president and the son as secretary. No change in the personnel of the officers occurred until March, 1915, when, upon the death of Mr. Hemin- way, Mr. Bartlett was elected to the presidency and has so continued. In the twenty-nine years of its existence the business has steadily developed. The number of employes has been increased from fifteen to two hundred and fifty and there has been a proportionate im- provement in the methods of manufacture and in the equipment of the factory. Mr. Bartlett has now been connected with the silk business in New England for sixty years and long
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New England Order of Protection and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He finds his chief diversion in 'unting and fishing and belongs to several rod and gun clubs. He has a wide acquaintance in the town of Waterbury and his popularity has been fully demon- strated in his elections.
JOSEPH CARLSON.
Among the successful merchants of Naugatuck is numbered Joseph Carlson, who was born May 12, 1871, in Sweden. His parents, Carl and Anna Johnson, were lifelong residents of that country. He was there educated and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty years old but in 1891 emigrated to America and settled at Naugatuck, where he has sinee resided. He entered the employ of the Goodyear India Rubber Company and was with them for three years, after which he became one of the organizers of the Coopera- tive Company. dealing in meats and groceries. He continued with that concern until 1900, when he sold his interest therein and opened a store of his own under the name of . Carlson's Tea. & Butter House. His place of business was first located at No. 162 Church street. but in 1911 he removed to his present location at No. 207 Church street. He also began dealing in furniture, carpets, rugs and stoves, conducting a store at No. 32 Church street. Both of his business enterprises are profitable, and his success has been based upon his policy of carrying only high grade stock and of giving full value for money received.
Mr. Carlson was married May 12, 1897, to Miss Wilhelmina Ingeborg Bergstedt and they have the following children: Fridolf C., Mildred R., Arnold O., Esther C. and Norman C. Mr. Carlson belongs to Shepherds Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M .; Allerton Chapter, No. 39, R. A. M .; Svea Lodge, No. 24, Concordia Sick & Benefit Society; Natatuc Tribe, No. 23, 1. O. R. M .; and the Haymakers Association, No. 251/2. In politics he is a republican where national issues are involved but in town elections votes independently, his course being determined by local conditions. He and his family belong to the Swedish Lutheran church and aid in every way possible in promoting the extension of its influence. Ho is an alert and enterprising business man a publie spirited citizen and a loyal friend od ho holds an curiable place in the regard of those who have was wir th, judith him.
1 IT BARTLETT.
and me of the founders of the Heminway & Carti h silk Pampers, cat a 1 000 '. Association with this business as vice president nd was elected to the March, 1915. He was born in Williamsburg, Massa- huseth. Febras . 1. 6 and is a son of Thaddeus and Evaline (Bannister) Bartlett. The alher are we . trade and merchant, died at the age of seventy-six years, while the
At the naked age H. H. Bartlett became a public school pupil and had the advantage of high school instruction in Massachusetts. He made his initial step in the business world, however, when but six years of age in the employ of the William Skinner Silk Manufacturing Company at Skinnerville, Massachusetts. He worked through the summer months and attended school in the winter and throughout his entire life he has been identified with manu- facturing. He early displayed the qualities which have been among his most marked char- acteristics-industry and fidelity-and those qualities won him promotion from time to time . he mastered the various tasks assigned him in different positions. Working his way steadily upward, he was ultimately made superintendent in the Skinner factory, wlwra he remained until 1876, when he came to Watertown to accept the superintendency of the plant of M. Heminway & Sons. He continued in that position for twelve years, or until the Heminway & Bartlett Silk Company was organized in 1888. In this undertaking he was associated with Buell Heminway and his son, B. H. Heminway, the father becoming president of the company, with Mr. Bartlett as vice president and the son as secretary. No change in the personnel of the officers occurred until March, 1915, when, upon the death of Mr. Hemin- way. : Bartlett was elected to the presidency and has so continued. In the twenty-nine years of its existence the business has steadily developed. The number of employes has been increased from fifteen to two hundred and fifty and there has been a proportionate im- movement in the methods of manufacture and in the equipment of the factory. Mr. Bartlett has now been connected with the silk business in New England for sixty years and long
H. N.B cuttill~
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experience and close study enable him to speak with authority upon every phase of the trade. In addition to his interests along that line he has served as a director of the Watertown Trust Company.
In 1874 Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia E. Reese, a daughter of Joseph Reese, of Birmingham, England, who invented the first sewing machine made in that country and was also the inventor of the first hook and eye machine. He died about 1862. As a young man he crossed the Atlantic and established his home at Florence, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have become the parents of a daughter, Florence, who is at home.
In Masonry Mr. Bartlett has attained high rank. He is identified with Federal Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M .; with Corinthian Chapter, R. A. M .; Clark Commandery, K. T .; and Lafayette Consistory, S. P. R. S., in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Order of American Mechanics. He belongs to the Diocesan Church Club of Hartford and is a devoted member of the Episcopal church. Along strictly social lines he has connection with the Waterbury Club and in politics he is an independent republican. In the early days he served on the school board and he has been a member of the board of relief. He is interested in all that pertains to public welfare and progress and cooperates in all movements for the general good. He is recognized as a strong man, strong in his ability to plan and perform, strong in his honor and his good name.
ERNEST H. JOHNSTON, M. D.
Dr. Ernest H. Johnston, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Waterbury, was born in Montreal, Canada, June 28, 1878, and is a son of the Rev. Hugh Jolinston, a Methodist Episcopal minister, who was born in New Jersey and now resides in Baltimore, Maryland. He has been pastor of several prominent churches in various American and Canadian cities. For fifteen years he filled the pulpit of the Metropolitan Methodist church, attended by President Mckinley, the period of his pastorate covering the period of President Mckinley's administration.
Dr. Johnston was educated in Washington, where he attended high school, after which he entered the University of Maryland at Baltimore as a medical student and there won his medical degree. He located for practice at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, in 1900 and remained there for seven years. In 1907-8 he did post graduate work in the Johns Hopkins Medical College at Baltimore and in February, 1908, he opened his office in Waterbury, where he soon gained a large general practice. He is constantly overburdened by the demands made upon him for professional services and is most conscientious in the performance of his professional duties.
On the 2d of June, 1908, Dr. Johnston married Miss Fanny Augusta Cooke of Balti- more, and they have one child, Virginia Holland, born November 17. 1911. Dr. Johnston is a member of the Waterbury Country Club, while professionally is connected with the New Haven County, Connecticut State and American Medical Associations. In the seven- teen years of his practice he has made continuous progress and is a well trained and thor- oughly capable physician and surgeon whose ability has brought him to the front ranks of the medical profession in Waterbury.
HENRY BURTON LANE.
Henry Burton Lane, president and treasurer of the Lane Manufacturing Company, entered upon a business already established but has bent his every effort to its development and has made it a thoroughly modern enterprise in its equipment, in its methods and in its purpose. He is a son of Spencer Burton and Adelia Angeline (Hickok) Lane, the latter a daughter of Alanson Robert Hickok and the former a son of Levi and Susan (Hotchkiss) Lane. His father was one of the stockholders of the Lane Manufacturing Company. which was organized in 1850.
Henry B. Lane, spending his youthful days in Waterbury, acquired a public school educa - tion and made his entrance into the business world in connection with the Lanc Manu- facturing Company, which had been organized in 1850 largely through the efforts of his uncle, Merritt Lane, whose associates in the undertaking were C. B. Merriman, Henry Merri- man and H. A. Merrill. The company was incorporated with a capital stock of ten
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thousand dollars, J. M. Scovill becoming the president, J. P. Merriman, secretary, and Mer- ritt Lane, treasurer. In that year they built a factory on Great Brook, which was sold in 1854 and a new factory built at No. 50 North Elm street. Ten years later this was sold but in 1873 was repurchased by the Lane Manufacturing Company and devoted to the manufacture of buttons of all kinds, together with a large variety of fancy metal goods. From 1850 until 1867 Merritt Lane was the active manager of the business and was then succeeded by his younger brother, Spencer B. Lane, who was the treasurer, with E. D. Steele as the president and H. B. Lane of this review as the secretary. Later Spencer B. Lane became the president as well as the treasurer and so continued until his demise in 1907, when he was succeeded by his son, Henry B. Lane, while Charles S. Guernsey became the secretary. The plant is located at No. 50 North Elm street, but has been enlarged by the erection of a two story L, which was built about 1885. The company manufactures mostly buttons, brass goods and novelties. The product is sold largely to manufacturers in the east.
In 1913 Henry B. Lane was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Kinney, of New York, a daughter of Dr. J. B. Kinney. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religions faith is indicated by his membership in the Episcopal church. He belongs to the Waterbury Club and to the Waterbury Country Club and occupies a prominent position in public regard in the city in which his entire life has been passed.
K. CHARLES KAZEMEKAS.
K. Charles Kazemekas, connected with the banking business in Waterbury since 1905, was born in Lithuania on the 6th of September, 1867. He acquired his public school education in his native land and there learned the wire drawing trade. He was a young man of about twenty-one years when on the 20th of June, 1889, he came to Waterbury, where he secured employment with Holmes, Booth & Haydens, there remaining for eighteen months. He was afterward with the Benedict & Burnham Company, doing special work on the wire machines, possessing expert ability in that line, and afterward returned to Holuies, Booth & Haydens, remaining with that firm for three years. In 1905 he turned his attention to banking at No. 785 Bank street, and in 1913 erected a substantial building at No. 797 Bank street, where he conducts a general banking and foreign exchange business and also has a steamship ticket agency. His bank has been liberally supported, receiving a large patronage from people of his own nationality, and enterprise, keen discernment and sound judgment enter into the management of his affairs.
On the 7th of July, 1897, Mr. Kazemekas was married to Miss Anastasia Rubas, who was born in Lithuania and in girlhood came to the United States. They are now the parents of four children, all of whom are living, namely: Edward C., who was born October 3, 1902; Charles M., born November 13, 1903; Algirdas P., November 3, 1907; and Adelfas J., July 2, 1913.
The parents hold membership in the Catholic church and Mr. Kazemekas is identified with various societies and organizations, most of which draw their membership from the Lithuanian people of Waterbury. He is now identified with St. Casimir Society, the Lithuanian Sons Society, the Lithuanian Educational Society, St. John's Society, Grand Duke Algirdas, Grand Luke Keistutis, the Lithuanian Alliance of America and the Lithuanian Agricultural Society. It will thus be seen that his activities are broad and his sympathies wide, for he is allied with many interests which have been instituted for the benefit and assistance of those who have come as strangers to America from Lithuania. He is endeavor- ing to hold before his people high idcals of individual conduct and of citizenship and he is recognized as one of the leading citizens among the eight thousand Lithuanian residents of Waterbury. His own career has been marked by steady progress, bringing him to a prominent position in the financial circles of his adopted city.
JAMES ALFRED HYNES.
James Alfred Hynes, whose effective efforts in business have brought him success as a real estate dealer, has in various other ways left the impress of his individuality for good upon the community life of Waterbury. He is a recognized leader in political circles and is a central figure in many fraternal and social organizations. In all that he does
K. CHARLES KAZEMEKAS
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he looks beyond the exigencies of the moment to the possibilities and opportunities of the future and his standpoint is ever that of a broad-minded, progressive man. He was born in New York city, December 10, 1856, and comes of Irish ancestry, representing a family that was long connected with County Westmeath. His paternal grandparents were James and Ann (Grady) Hynes, who spent their entire lives in Westmeath, where occurred the birth of their son James, who spent his childhood and youth in the place of his nativity but after reaching adult age crossed the Atlantic to try his fortune in the United States. Establishing his home in New York city, he there engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery and for a long period was employed in his professional capacity by the old Knicker- bocker Stage Line Company. He there met and married Miss Mary Srahan, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Patrick and Dinorah (Coughlan) Srahan, who came to the United States during the early girlhood of their daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Hynes became the parents of five children. but James Alfred is the only one now living. The father passed away in New York city, December 4, 1871, having for seven years survived his wife, whose demise occurred in 1864.
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