USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 31
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On the 28th of October, 1890, Mr. Woolson was married to Miss Helen Gertrude Dayton, who was born in Watertown, a daughter of Henry T. and Amelia (Matoon) Dayton. They have one daughter, Edna A., who is now the wife of Irving C. Bean, who is in the factory with her father in Watertown.
In politics Mr. Woolson is a republican and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church, in which he is a very active member and earnest worker. In February, 1911, he purchased the Dickerman residence of Mrs. Warren in Watertown, this being one of the most beautiful homes in the Naugatuck valley. It was built in 1849 and has been remodeled by Mr. Woolson inside and out. It is situated on a hill surrounded by three acres of land and commands a wide view of the surrounding country. Mr. Woolson finds his chief source of recreation in motoring and is the owner of several fine cars. He stands as a high type of American manhood and chivalry, resourceful and enterprising in business, progressive in citizenship and in touch with those interests which have to do with national welfare and progress.
FRANKLIN JAMES LYMAN.
Franklin James Lyman. a successful and progressive merchant . of Winsted, is today proprietor of the oldest dry goods establishment of that city, the business having been founded by Moses and Caleb Camp nearly a century ago. Mr. Lyman was associated with the store as a clerk for a number of years before he became its proprietor and since assuming charge he has further developed the business, which is today one of the foremost com- mercial enterprises not only of Winsted but of this section of the state. Mr. Lyman is a native of New Hartford, Connecticut. He was born on the 7th of April, 1870, and is descended from General David Lyman, of Revolutionary war fame. The ancestral line is traced still further back to Richard Lyman, who was born in England in 1610. His parents were James Daniel and Mary Elizabeth (Stone) Lyman, both now deceased. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born in the town of New Hartford, October, 23, 1823, and was twice married. He first wedded Rhoda Marsh, bv whom he had one son, Henry Marsh Lvman, now a resident of New Britain, Connecticut. For his second wife he chose Mary Elizabeth Stone, whom he wedded in 1859, and on the 5th of May, 1895, he passed away, while his second wife died in 1908. By this marriage there were three children, all of whom survive, namely: Ira Daniel, who is a resident of Simsbury, Connecticut; Edward Stone, who is living in Somers, Connecticut; and Franklin James, of Winsted.
The last named was reared on his father's farm in the town of New Hartford and after
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attending the country schools continued his education in the high school of Collinsville, Connecticut. Later he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years, beginning when he was twenty years of age. Much of his time was spent upon the home farm, however, until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, when in 1899 he became a resident of Winsted and on the 17th of March of that year entered the dry goods store which he now owns in the capacity of clerk. It was then the property of Arthur L. Clark and Mr. Lyman continued to clerk for Mr. Clark for twelve years but during the last eight years of that period practically had the entire management of the business, Mr. Clark being occupied with other large interests. On the 8th of July, 1911, Mr. Lyman pur- chased the complete stock of Mr. Clark and has since conducted the business under his own name. As stated, the Lyman dry goods store is the oldest one in Winsted, having been established nearly a century ago when Winsted was a mere hamlet. It has been in con- tinuous existence for about three-fourths of a century except a brief interruption caused by a fire in the '90s. A progressive policy has always been maintained and the spirit of modern-day enterprise characterizes Mr. Lyman's management of his trade.
On the 30th of April, 1890, Mr. Lyman was married to Miss Sadie E. Mullineaux and they have three living children: Marjorie Rose, who was graduated from the Gilbert school in 1912 and is now a senior in Mount Holyoke College; Donald Franklin, who was graduated from the Gilbert school with the class of 1916 and is now a student in the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge; and Eleanor Doris, twelve years of age.
Mr. Lyman is a member of the Second Congregational church and is an Odd Fellow. In the church he is serving as a trustee. He is also an ardent republican and in all matters of citizenship he stands for progressiveness, progress and improvement.
HARLEY FISH ROBERTS.
Harley Fish Roberts, a Yale man devoting his attention to teaching in the Taft School at Watertown, was born December 8, 1861, in Larue, Ohio, a son of Truman H. and Ruby (Fish) Roberts. The father was a native of St. Albans, Vermont, and the mother, who was born in Central, Ohio, was descended from a Rhode Island family.
Harley F. Roberts was graduated from grammar school in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1876 and from Central high school with the class of 1880. He then entered the Western Reserve College. in which he completed a course with the elass of 1884, subsequent to which time he taught for two years in the Western Reserve Academy at Hudson, Ohio. He then entered Yale, where he spent two years as a student in the graduate school and took the Master of Arts degree. He afterward taught for three years in Norwich, Connecticut, in the Norwich Free Academy, and for five years was tutor in Greek and Latin at Yale. He traveled in Europe from July, 1896, until September, 1897, during which time he studied in the University of Munich, and in the latter year became connected with the Taft School, in which he has since been one of the instructors. The school was incorporated in 1912 and Mr. Roberts has since been vice president and treasurer also. He teaches the two upper classes in Latin.
Mr. Roberts is identified with two college fraternities, the Phi Beta Kappa and the Delta Upsilon, and he is connected with many organizations which have an educational object. He is a member of the executive committee of the League to Enforce Peace. He is likewise a trustee of the Connecticut Junior Republic near Litchfield, the object of which is set forth in the pamphlet of the "Junior Republic" as "to change the delinquent and way- ward boy of today into the self-supporting and law-abiding citizen of tomorrow," with the belief "that this change can best be effected by means other than institutional discipline. The method is to make each boy a citizen of a miniature republic, wherein adults are not the dominating factor. Each citizen of the community has the alternative of abiding by the laws of a juvenile government, modeled after the American democracy. and supporting himself by labor and thrift-or suffering the penalty of the law by means of boy officers and courts. The automatic consequence of his choice of living, under such conditions together with his social life, becomes an experience which is a foretaste of his life as an adult. Its value to society lies in the gaining of better citizens; in prevention-not cure or belated reform: in its contribution to the efficiency of American citizenship. Its appeal is made to every public-spirited person, since the boys who most need the training are generally the ones least able to provide for their own support." In addition to serving as a trustee of the Connecticut Junior Republic, Mr. Roberts is treasurer of the Water- town Aid Junior Republic.
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The nature of his activities and interests is further indicated in the fact that he gives his political support to the republican party, is president of the Watertown Golf Club, president of the Watertown Choral Club, a member of the Yale Club of New York, of the Graduates Club of New Haven, and the Waterbury Country Club.
CHARLES H. BROWN, M. D.
Dr. Charles H. Brown, actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Waterbury, was born at Bridgewater, New York, October 26, 1865, and is the elder of two sons and two daughters born to William H. and Hannah (Penny) Brown, both of whom are still residents of Bridgewater and are well preserved people. They cele- brated their golden wedding in 1914. The father, who has followed farming throughout his active life, was born in the state of New York and is now seventy-five years of age, while his wife, also a native of the Empire state, is two years his junior. The ancestors of the family, however, formerly lived in Connecticut and came of English and Scotch descent, while the Penny family, also of English descent, has been represented in New York for a number of generations. Polly Allen, the great-grandmother of Dr. Brown, belonged to the Ethan Allen family.
Spending, his youthful days in his native city, Dr. Charles H. Brown acquired his preparatory education at West Winfield Academy and in the Cazenovia Seminary, both of New York state. He was graduated from the College of Pharmacy of New York city in 1900 and afterward entered the medical department of the New York University, from 'which he was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1903. He afterward came to Waterbury as assistant to the late Dr. T. L. Axtelle, a well known surgeon, with whom he was connected for a year, and since 1904 he has practiced independently. Through the intervening year_ he has made steady professional progress and is now recognized as one of the city's most promi- nent physicians and surgeons. He has served as general surgeon on the staff of the Water- bury Hospital and is now gynecologist to that institution, acting in that capacity for three years as well as X-ray specialist. His professional knowledge is sound, his discrimination keen and his judgment seldom, if ever, at fault in diagnosis. He belongs to the New Haven County, the Connecticut State and the American Medical Societies and also to the Medical Society of Greater New York.
In 1894 Dr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Emily S. Rich, of Mount Vernon, New York, whose maternal grandmother was a real daughter of the American Revolution and who passed away recently when more than one hundred years of age. She belonged to Waterbury Chapter, D. A. R. Dr. and Mrs. Brown have two children, Charles Alfred and Eleanor, who are now in school.
Dr. Brown belongs to the Waterbury Club and to the Waterbury Country Club and he finds his chief recreation in fishing. Politically he is a republican but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He is constantly overburdened by the demands made upon him for professional aid, having today one of the largest practices in the state. He is deeply interested in his work, however, both from the humanitarian and scientific standpoints, and his contribution to the world's work has been of permanent value.
DARWIN STARKS MOORE.
Darwin Starks Moore, who is proprietor of a large insurance agency, the oldest established in Winsted, was born in Tolland, Massachusetts, February 28, 1864, a son of Bennett E. and Jane F. (Starks) Moore. He is descended from Revolutionary stock along eight different lines and is a direct descendant of Joseph Wadsworth, of Charter Oak fame, and of Governor Talcott. At the age of thirteen he left school in order to assist on the farm and thus help support the family. In 1883 he left the ancestral home and went to Winsted, Connecticut, where he has since remained. For a few years he clerked in various stores and in 1891 embarked in a mercantile business on his own account, opening a men's furnishing goods store, which he conducted for about five years. In the meantime, while still engaged in mercantile lines, he began writing life and accident insurance. In 1897 he turned his attention to the insurance business. In 1898 he purchased the insurance agency of Charles K. Hunt, which was carried on under the name of Darwin S. Moore until
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1906, when the business was incorporated under the name of the Moore Insurance Agency, of which Mr. Moore is the president and treasurer.
Mr. Moore became one of the charter members of the Winsted Club and also of the Greenwoods Country Club, with both of which he is still identified. For twenty-seven years he has been a member of Clifton Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F., and was a charter member of Bidwell Encampment of that fraternity. He is likewise a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was one of the founders of the Winsted Business Men's Asso- ciation, now the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Moore is the president of the Winsted Young Men's Christian Association, of which he has served as a member of the board of directors for many years. He was chairman of its building committee when the present fine Association building was erected and has given his time and money in large measure to the work, recognizing how effective and important a factor it is in shaping the lives of young men and boys in their mental and moral development.
On the 7th of October, 1891, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Celia Louise Webster, a member of the distinguished Webster family of New England. They have one son, Frederick Webster, who was born May 16, 1897, and was graduated from the Gilbert school with the class of 1915. He is also a graduate of the Huntington Business School of Boston and is now an assistant to the manager of the American Surety Company of New York, located at Hartford, Connecticut. Mrs. Moore is librarian of the Winchester · Historical Society, also of Green Woods Chapter, D. A. R., and a past vice regent of the latter.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore hold membership in the Second Congregational church. Mr. Moore was a member of the building committee when the present church edifice was erected; he was also chairman of the societies committee of the church for five years and a member of that committee for sixteen years and for a long period served as Sunday school superintendent. In politics Mr. Moore is a republican, believing firmly in the prin- ciples of the party but never aspiring to political office.
NELSON A. POMEROY, M. D.
Dr. Nelson A. Pomeroy, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Waterbury, with office at No. 76 Center street, was born in Suffield, Connecticut, August 22, 1868, and is the only living son of George L. Pomeroy. He is a lineal descendant of Eltweed Pomeroy, who came to this country on the ship "Mary and John" in 1630 and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts. The paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Pomeroy was one of the first settlers of Suffield and marched to Lexington with the company that struck the first blow for freedom in the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandfather. Asa E. Pomeroy, was born in . Suffield, Connecticut, in 1803, and his life record covered the intervening period to 1871, when he was called to his final rest. He owned ex- tensive landholdings and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. In early man- hood he wedded Harriet Kent, who was born in 1808 and died in 1862.
Their son, George L. Pomeroy, was born in Suffield in 1843 and lived only to the age of thirty-two years, passing away in 1875. He too, devoted much of his attention to general agricultural pursuits and also became a wholesale dealer in leaf tobacco. He wedded Mary L. Nelson, who was born in Suffield in 1846 and who survived him for several years. passing away in 1885. She was a daughter of Horatio K. Nelson, who was born in Suffield in 1808 and passed away in 1893. In community affairs he played a prominent and important part and twice represented his district in the state legislature. He was a lineal descendant of Thomas Nelson, who came to this country from Yorkshire, England, in 1638 with the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers and his company, who settled in Rowley, Massachu- setts. Philip Nelson, the eldest son of Thomas Nelson, was graduated from Harvard College in 1654 and served with the rank of captain in King Philip's war in 1676. His great- grandson, also named Philip, was born in Rowley in March, 1690, and in 1732 became a resident of Suffield, where in 1733 he married Sarah Younglove, a granddaughter of the Rev. John Younglove. Philip Nelson became a physician and was the founder of the Nelson family in Suffield. Horatio K. Nelson wedded Mary Owen, who was born in 1813 and passed away in 1847.
Dr. Nelson A. Pomeroy had a brother Herbert, who died in early childhood. He is the only surviving son of George L. and Mary L. Pomeroy and spent his youthful days in his native city, after which he continued his education by matriculating in the medical department of Columbia University in New York, where he won his professional degree
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upon graduation with the elass of 1893. He afterward spent two years and three months as interne in the Bellevue Hospital and subsequently did other hospital work in New York eity for four years. He also did clinical work and thus constantly broadened his knowl- edge, experienee and effieieney. In 1900 he located for praetiee in Waterbury, where he has sinee remained, and a liberal patronage is now aecorded him. He is the vice president and visiting surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital and is visiting surgeon of the Water- bury Hospital. Through broad reading he keeps in close toueh with the onward mareh of the profession and is familiar with the latest seientifie researches and discoveries.
In 1904 Dr. Pomeroy was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Hill, of Waterbury and a representative of one of the old families of the city. She is the only daughter of Gilman C. Hill, a retired manufacturer of Waterbury.
Dr. Pomeroy is a Mason and he belongs to the Waterbury and to the Home Clubs. His politieal allegianee is given the republican party and while not an office seeker, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He visited Europe in 1911 and greatly enjoys travel. His attention, however, is eoneentrated upon his professional interests and activities and he is a member of the Bellevue Hospital Alumni Society. He also belongs to the Waterbury, the New Haven County and Connecticut State Medieal Societies and the American Medical Association and thus keeps in elose touch with what the profession is doing. He is a man of earnest purpose, conseientious in all of his pro- fessional activities, and holding to the highest standards, he has made his life work of marked worth to his fellow eitizens.
WILLIAM H. BEERS.
William H. Beers, secretary and treasurer of the Waterbury Paper Box Company, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, February 24, 1854, a son of Amos S. and Susan (Olm- stead) Beers. The father eame with his family to Waterbury in 1856 and for many years was a conductor on the Naugatuck Railroad. Later he removed to Winsted and afterward to Bridgeport, where he passed away in 1890, his wife having preceded him in 1860, her death occurring in Waterbury.
William H. Beers was a public school pupil in Waterbury and Winsted and in young manhood engaged in farming for a short period but soon turned his attention to manu- facturing interests and became eonneeted with the Winsted Silk Company, with whiel he remained for ten years, working his way steadily upward through intermediate positions to that of superintendent. Later he was offered and aeeepted the position of superin- tendent in the silk manufactory of M. Heminway & Sons of Watertown, there continuing for fourteen years. On the organization of the Waterbury Paper Box Company in 1901 he became its seeretary and treasurer, with Harry H. Heminway as president. This is today one of the important industries of its kind in Waterbury, having an extensive plant. The business is housed in a three-story building with a frontage of three hundred and sixty feet and employment is given to two hundred and fifty workmen. They manufacture high-grade goods, ineluding beautiful faney boxes, many silk-lined, for use by toilet goods, perfume and silverware manufacturers.
In 1881 Mr. Beers was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Peek, of Winsted, a daughter of Leman O. Peck. They have four children: William H., who is chemist with the Birmingham Water Company of Birmingham, Alabama; Fred H., who is with the Waterbury Paper Box Company; Helen, at home; and Harold A., a graduate of Bueknell University and now on the electrical engineering foree of the Seovill Manufacturing Com- pany. Liberal educational advantages have been given the children. The eldest son is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the second son is a high school graduate, while the youngest is a graduate of Bucknell University.
Mr. Beers has always been interested in education as a foree in good citizenship as well as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties, and he has served as a member of the board of education of Watertown. His politieal endorsement is given to the republican party, while his religious faith is indieated by his membership in the Episcopal church. He has attained high rank in Masonry, having become a Knight Templar in the York Rite, a member of Pyramid Temple of the Mystie Shrine of Bridgeport, and a Consistory Mason in the Seottish Rite. He is a past master of Federal Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Foresters and holds member- ship in the Waterbury Club.
There have been no unusual or spectacular phases in his life record but a persisteney of
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purpose, that has enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and work his way steadily upward, until he is today an important official of one of the leading paper box manufactories of Connecticut.
EDWIN HINE JOHNSON, M. D.
Dr. Edwin Hine Johnson, for twenty-four years engaged in the practice of medicine in Naugatuck, specializing in surgery, was born in Ansonia, Connecticut, November 11, 1868, a son of Albert and Eliza (Tuttle) Johnson. The father was a native of Bethany, Connecticut, while the mother's birth occurred in Prospect, Connecticut. Albert Johnson devoted his attention to contracting and building and thus provided for his family. He was of English descent, representing one of the old families of Connecticut.
A Yale man with some training in the Sheffield Scientific School, Dr. Johnson soon de- termined to make the practice of medicine and surgery his life work and matriculated in the University of Vermont, where he was graduated from the medical department with the class of 1888. After receiving his professional degree he located for practice in Morris- ville, Vermont, where he remained for about five years and then came to Naugatuck in 1893. Here he has since remained and almost from the beginning has enjoyed a liberal patronage. As the years have passed he has kept in touch with modern scientific investi- gation and research, has readily adopted new methods which his judgment has sanctioned as of value in professional service and by increasing ability has won a place in the fore- most ranks of the profession in the Naugatuck valley. In later years he has specialized in surgery and he is serving on the Waterbury Hospital staff. He is a member of the local, the state and the American Medical associations and is most conscientious in the performance of all his professional service.
On the 2d of December, 1891, Dr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Cora I. Collins, of Hillsboro. New Hampshire, her father being David Collins. They now have four children. as follows: Harold E., who is preparing for a professional career in the Yale University School of Medicine; Kenneth, a student in Trinity College at Hartford; Ruth V., who is attending Wellesley College; and Marion, a high school student.
Fraternally Dr. Johnson is connected with the Masons, holding membership in lodge and chapter, and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. His life has been guided by high and honorable principles, mani- fest in all of his relations with his fellowmen, and his position in public regard is an enviable one.
REV. ROBERT VAN KLEECK HARRIS.
Rev. Robert Van Kleeck Harris, rector of St. James Episcopal church of Winsted, is one whose influence and efforts have been of no restricted order, nor has he been denied the full harvest nor the aftermath of his labors. He ranks with the leading representa- tives of the Episcopal clergy in New England and his work has been of farreaching effect and benefit. He was born in New York city, June 23, 1868, and in the paternal line comes of Revolutionary war ancestry. His father, the late Rev. Thomas Robinson Harris, D. D., was also an Episcopal clergyman of note. He was rector of St. Paul's Episco- pal church in New York city for a quarter of a century and later was president of St. Stephen's College in Annandale, New York. for five years. He also spent twenty-five years as secretary of the Episcopal Convention of the New York Diocese. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and at the time of the Civil war responded to the country's call for aid, rendering active service as a member of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts In- fantry. St. Stephen's College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Van Kleeck, is of Holland Dutch descent, is also a representative of Revolutionary war ancestry and is now living in New York city.
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