USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 36
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June 24, 1914, to William A. Jones. Mary Lindley, born in Bridgeport, March 12, 1877, was married October 15, 1902, to Herbert J. Wilcox, of Hebron, Connecticut, and has one child, John Davenport Wilcox, born in Waterbury, April 7, 1910.
Rev. Davenport has extended his activity into many fields which touch the general interests of society, which work for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the commonwealth. He was school visitor in Bridgeport in 1878 and in 1874 lie was grand worthy patriarch of the Connecticut Sons of Temperance. He has been identified with many public benevolent, reformatory and patriotic enterprises. In politics he has voted with the republican party on national questions since casting his first ballot for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1864. He was a strong abolitionist and has ever stood on the side of reform and progress. In casting local ballots he has supported the best man as far as he has been able to judge. Since 1896 he has been a member of the Founders and Patriots of America and he has been chaplain and governor of the Connecticut Society and deputy governor general, in which position he was connected with Admiral Dewey. He belongs also to the National Flag Association and to the Connecticut Historical Society and is a member of the American Hygiene Association and the Civil Service Reform Association of Connecticut. He is likewise connected with the Mattatuck Historical Society and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. He belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Association of Congregational Churches and Ministers. In 1900 he published "The Fulfilment;" in 1914 "Something Beyond and other Poems;" in 1917 an autobiographical volume entitled "Ex- periences and Observations by the Way;" and at various times many commemorative and anniversary poems and addresses, among them a Life of Rev. Moses Stuart. The life work of Rev. John G. Davenport, far-reaching and resultant, touching the general inter- ests of society along the lines of economic, political and sociological reform, as well as in the more strict path of church activity, has reflected further credit and honor upon a name that through almost three centuries has been an untarnished one on the pages of Connecticut's history.
WALTER GRIFFITH.
Walter Griffith, manager of Poli's Theater of Waterbury, has in its development shown marked business ability, making this a very profitable house. A native of North Carolina, he was born in 1882, a son of Dr. J. W. and Jennie Griffith. He acquired a public school education but at the age of sixteen years ran away from home and spent three years with the Harris Nickel Plate Circus, becoming boss lithographer in that connection. He after- ward went to New York, where he was employed by Gus Hill as assistant to the general agent, Mr. Allan, and later he went upon the road with a play entitled, "McFadden's Row of Flats," in which connection he traveled throughout the entire United States, having charge of the publicity end of the business as general agent. On severing that connection he went south in 1903 and organized a chain of fourteen theaters, being the first man south of the Mason and Dixon line to establish the "split-week" program, and in this undertaking he met with substantial success for two years.
In 1905 Mr. Griffith established what was known as the Griffith Shows, a big "vaude- ville under tent," which he conducted for one season, making large profits. He sold out in 1906 and spent six months at home, after which he acted as agent for the Williams Comedy Company, and when the leading man left the company at Rome, Georgia, Mr. Griffith took his place in the company and became owner and manager of the show.
In 1907 Mr. Griffith married his soubrette, Miss Ethel Ruby, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and featured her as leading lady for two seasons, closing out the show in Corinth, Mississippi, after a successful run. He and his wife then went to Memphis Tennessee, where Mr. Griffith organized a stock company, playing twenty weeks at the Palace Theater in Memphis, where he also put on vaudeville and pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith afterward joined the Wonderland Boat Show (Cooley & Thoms) on the Mississippi river and were thus engaged for a year and a half, playing within ninety-three miles of St. Paul and forty-five miles below New Orleans, making trips up and down on the rivers that flow into the Mississippi. The company numbered fifty-five people. Later Mr. and Mrs. Griffith werc connected with a vaudeville circuit for some time and subsequently they located at Bridge- port, where he entered into the automobile business. While there he met Mr. Renton, the Poli manager, to whom he sold a car and who became interested in Mr. Griffith, making him assistant manager of Poli's Theater at Springfield, Massachusetts. He was rapidly promoted and was given charge of the Sunday shows on the entire circuit. Since being
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placed in charge at Waterbury he has won very substantial success for the theater, which was not a paying institution at the time he assumed control. It was opened December 15, 1897, at No. 141 East Main street and has a seating capacity of sixteen hundred. The stage is one of the largest in Connecticut and the house was one of the first to put in the best pictures. The theater was opened as the home of legitimate drama but during the past six years vaudeville and stock companies have occupied the boards in the summer. The Poli circuit numbers twenty-four theaters, with three offices in New York, and Mr. Alonzo is the exclusive booking agent of New York. Mr. Griffith is considered the most versatile manager on all the Poli circuit. He has played in every kind of a show, the legitimate, vaudeville and stock companies, taking part in tragedy and comedy.
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have three children: Wesley, who has attended private schools and is going upon the stage in 1917 at the age of nine years but will continue his education in the winters: Walter, three years of age; and Jack, who is in his first year Mr. Griffith belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Rotary Club of Water- bury and the Friars Club of Springfield. He is well known in theatrical circles from the Mississippi to the Atlantic and has done splendid work as manager of various organizations which he has rendered popular and profitable.
WILLIAM SPENCER MURRAY.
William Spencer Murray was born in Annapolis, Maryland, at the United States Naval Academy, August 4, 1873, a son of the late James D. Murray, pay director, United States navy, who was a native of Annapolis and a descendant of one of the old families of Maryland of Scotch descent, the ancestral line being traced back to William Murray, who came to the new world in the early part of the seventeenth century and settled at Chestertown, on the eastern shore of Maryland. Representatives of the family participated in the Revolutionary war and James. D. Murray was a soldier of the Civil war, prominently connected with the navy. He died December 11, 1906. at the age of seventy-six years, his birth having occurred in 1830. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth M. Spencer, was a native of Maryland, born on the eastern shore, and was a descendant of an old English family. She belonged to the Carmichel family of Maryland. Her death occurred April 11, 1906, at the age of sixty-six years.
William S. Murray, who was the youngest of a family of five children, began his education in the schools of his native state. He attended St. John's College at Annapolis and afterward attended Lehigh University of Pennsylvania, in which he completed the elec- trical engineering course with the class of 1895. He then accepted a position in the shops of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, where he served as an apprentice for two years and from that position was graduated to the testing department, whence he passed on to the construction department and was later placed in charge of engineering and construction for the New England district of his company. Later he was chosen among many for the work on the first high tension transmission plants in the east, the economie feature of which sug- gested to Mr. Murray at that time the application of the high voltage overhead system to railroad electrification, which several years later he had the pleasure of installing on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. This system has now been adopted as standard on all the Swiss government railroads and is also standard with the Pennsylvania system. Mr. Murray was directly connected with the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Com- pany as their electrical enigneer for eight years and on the 1st of January, 1917, accepted the office of assistant to the president of the Housatonic Power Company and was later elected to its presidency.ª
Prior to Mr. Murray's association with the Housatonie Power Company. in 1913, he resigned his position as electrical engineer with the New Haven road to form the firm of MeHenry & Murray, engineers, of New Haven, Connecticut, Mr. MeHenry resigning his office as engineering vice president of the New Haven road at the same time. This firm took over all the electrical engineering and construction of the New Haven road and finished the electrification between New York and New Haven in 1914. This firm also actively took up the matter of the development of the Housatonic river for the purpose of supplying the New Haven road with the additional electric power necessary to operating all trains electrieally on its New York division. Mr. Murray's and Mr. McHenry's interest in this proposed Housa- tonie river development has led to their association with the Connecticut Light & Power Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, of which Mr. Murray is now chief engineer. in charge of engineering construction and power production, and in which company Mr. MeHenry is a
JIS. Murray ٠
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director. The Connecticut Light & Power Company is now developing the powers in which Mr. Murray and Mr. McHenry have been interested and at Stevenson, Connecticut, on the Housatonic river, there is being constructed a hydro-electric plant capable of developing thirty-six thousand horse power of electrical energy.
It might be asked why, after twelve years of development work in the electric traction field, Mr. Murray was willing to divorce himself from this, the most interesting branch of all the electrical engineering arts. However, the answer is simple. The effort to establish and standardize the most economie system of trunk line electrie train propulsion was com- pleted when the New Haven single phase system was accepted and installed on the Penn- sylvania Railroad for this country and by the Swiss government for the roads abroad. It has been apparent also, since the war began, that the electrification of trunk line roads will be held in abeyance for the present. In the interim he has become greatly interested, both professionally and financially, in the development of a power system by means of which the great industrial centers of Connecticut may be supplied with reliable and economical electrical energy. The recent abnormal growth in power demand in these districts must be met by the construction of steam-electric and hydro-electric plants with their complement of intercon- necting transmission systems; all of which will furnish Mr. Murray with plenty to think about and do while his headquarters are at Waterbury.
On the 23d of December, 1905, at Catskill, New York, Mr. Murray was married to Miss Ella Day Rush, a daughter of Richard and Ella (Day) Rush and a descendant of Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and surgeon of the Continental army under General Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have become the parents of three sons: Richard Rush. John Manadier and William Spencer, all born in New Haven.
Mr. Murray is a member of the New York Engineers Club, the Graduates Club of New Haven, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, the New Haven Country Club, the Quinnipiac Club and other organizations. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. His high professional standing is indicated in the fact that he was honored with the vice presidency of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, of which he is a fellow. Outside of his achievements in construction and development work, he has written and contributed many scientific articles to publications of the day, preparing papers presented before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia. He prepared "The log of the New Haven electrification," the American and European discussions of which are in the transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. He has written on "Conditions affecting the success of main line electrification," also "Electrification analyzed and its practical application to trunk line roads, inclusive of freight and passenger operation." Mr. Murray is a man of very modest demeanor and quiet tastes. His career has been char- acterized by great thoroughness in everything that he has undertaken, setting the science of his profession and the accomplishment of the purposes which he has sought far in advance of material gains. Throughout his entire career, from the initial point of his apprenticeship to the mastery of his profession, he has made sacrifices in order that he might take up various other branches of electrical engineering. To this end he has accepted inferior positions and remuneration to those that he was already holding in order that he might acquaint himself with other branches of the work, having but the one idea in mind-that of complete knowledge and efficiency in all departments. The results that he has attained show that in this course he chose wisely and well, and though through the periods in which he has been a student of different branches of the work, he has been called upon to make sacrifices, he has accomplished as a whole results that place him in the highest rank of the profession because of the extent and breadth of his knowledge and the ability to apply it.
REV. JEREMIAH J. CURTIN.
Rev. Jeremiah J. Curtin was the only pastor that St. Francis Xavier's Roman Catholic church of Waterbury ever had up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1917. He was very popular among his parishioners and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He had lived and labored among his people for twenty-two years and had lent his aid and assistance to many measures and movements for the public good outside of the strict path of church work. He was born in New Britain, Connecticut, April 1, 1856. His father, John Curtin, was a native of County Limerick, Ireland, and a mechanic who became shop foreman. He crossed the ocean to the United States in 1849, settling at New Britain, Connecticut, where he spent the remain- der of his life. While there residing he became acquainted with Miss Ellen Murphy, a native of County Cork. Ireland. who had come to the new world in 1849. They were married in 1855
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and for almost forty years traveled life's journey together, being separated by the death of Mrs. Curtin on the 14th of December, 1894, while Mr. Curtin passed away August 21, 1904.
Jeremiah J. Curtin was the eldest of a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom four sons and the daughters are yet living. He was the only one who entered the priesthood. He was graduated from Holy Cross College at Worcester, Massachu- setts, in 1877 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He was a brilliant student there and mastered the curriculum of seven years in six. He was manager of the first baseball team that ever represented Holy Cross and was always interested in the success of the college in athletics. He was ordained to the priesthood after completing a course of study in the Grand Seminary at Montreal in 1880. He was then assistant priest at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic church in Rockville, Connecticut, there remaining until the 2d of February, 1892. He was next assigned to the pastorate of St. Francis Xavier's church in New Milford, where he con- tinned until December 3, 1895, and on the latter date he came to St. Francis Xavier's church in Waterbury. He was its first priest, the church having been created by a division of St. Patrick's parish. The present handsome church edifice and rectory, which constitute one of the finest church properties in Waterbury, were begun in 1903. The rectory was completed in 1904, while the church was dedicated in March, 1907. These properties are valued at about one hundred and forty thousand dollars.
Father Curtin was the only pastor who presided over St. Francis Xavier's up to the time of his demise and he did good work in the upbuilding of the parish. In 1907 he went abroad to visit the home of his ancestors and traveled not only over Ireland and England but also over continental Europe. For twenty-two years his efforts and attention, however, were largely concentrated upon the upbuilding of his church. Under his care the parish grew in numbers until he had a congregation of more than three thousand people, the work of the church being under the care of three parish priests. He passed away after a short illness and everywhere expressions of deep regret at his passing and of high respect for Rev. Curtin as a man and citizen were heard.
It was said of him, "Whatever any of his people suffered, he suffered also. They loved him most devotedly and were always ready to come to his support in time of necd." Mayor Scully of Waterbury, who was one of his parishioners, said: "The death of Father Curtin was a great shock to us all. None of us was prepared for it and as a consequence we can scarcely realize that it is true. We all held Father Curtin in the highest esteem and not without good reason. The good work performed by him in Waterbury cannot be overesti- mated. It will serve as a lasting monument to his labors and will be more fully appreciated now that he has been called to his reward, than ever before. Father Curtin was a force for good in the whole community but particularly in the parish of which he was the first pastor and where he labored with untiring zeal for the past twenty-one years." One who labored with him in the field for the upbuilding of the Catholic church, the Rev. Luke Fitzsimons, of the Immaculate Conception, said: "Waterbury suffers a great loss in his death, a man of superior mental ability and genial and friendly disposition, a man who took interest in the church and state, and a capable man in any crisis that arose. He was very popular among his brother priests and he served a term on the school board and was regarded throughout the diocese as a man of scholarly achievements. He was up against deplorable conditions and he opposed them with all his might and main, and won in the end. His death at this early stage is to be regretted. The people of the city regarded him as a public benefactor and a man with the highest ideals in life, and courage to stand by his convictions even though they were not always popular. The priests of the city loved him as a brother and consulted him as a friend and adviser."
ERVIS ELGIN WRIGHT.
Ervis Elgin Wright was for thirty-seven years numbered among the substantial business inen of Waterbury; having throughout the entire period engaged in the manufacture and sale of paint. He was born in the town of West Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut, January 19, 1851, and traces his ancestry in the paternal line back to Abel Wright, who was olle of the early settlers of Springfield, Massachusetts, where he had large land holdings. Henry Wright, father of Ervis E. Wright, was also born in Hartland and spent his last days in Waterbury, as did his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel E. French. She, too, was descended from an old Massachusetts family of English lineage. Her grandfather, William French, was born in Taunton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, June 20, 1768, and
ERVIS E. WRIGHT
"IDYLWOOD," THE HOME OF ERVIS E. WRIGHT
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there spent the period of his boyhood and youth but on the 18th of July, 1788, when twenty years of age, removed to Raynham, Massachusetts. He was married by Josiah Dean, Esq., to Mary (or Rachel) Hewitt, who was born March 27, 1769. They became residents of . Hartland, Connecticut, in 1790, at which time William French purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land from Samuel Beach and began the development of a farm which continued to be his home throughout his remaining days. His labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place, to which he added many modern improvements, and there he carried on general farming and stock raising, his well defined plans and purposes bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity. In politics he was a democrat of the Jeffersonian school and was ever a loyal and progressive citizen. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, which found in him an earnest supporter and helpful worker. He passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elijah Cannon, when he had reached an advanced age, and his remains were interred in Pleasant Valley cemetery.
His family numbered twelve children, of whom the sixth in order of birth was Rufus French, who was born on the homestead farm in West Hartland, March 20, 1799. He attended the district schools during his youthful days but was largely a self-educated man. He assisted in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm throughout the period of his minority and afterward turned his attention to manufacturing interests, engaging in the manufacture of spinning wheels, one of which is now a cherished possession in the home of E. E. Wright of this review. After devoting some years to spinning wheel manu- facture Mr. French resumed the occupation of farming on his own account, purchasing one hundred acres of land near the old family homestead. The tract was then wild and unde- veloped but he at once began its cultivation and improvement and in course of time wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. He then gave his attention to general farming and stock raising throughout his remaining days and his well defined purposes and his unremitting energy brought to him a very substantial measure of success. In 1861 he became a resident of Akron, Ohio, and for fifteen years engaged in agricultural pursuits in that state, after which he returned to New England and spent his last days in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wright, in Waterbury, passing away in 1885. He long voted with the democratic party but in 1856, when the republican party was organized, he joined its ranks and remained one of its stalwart advocates until his demise. He was equally loyal in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as class leader and also as leader of the choir. He was most helpfully interested in everything that pertained to the moral progress of his community and his aid and influence were always on the side of right, progress and improvement.
On the 29th of February, 1820, Rufus French was joined in wedlock to Miss Clarissa Tiffney, who was born February 11, 1799. They had a family of five children, the second of whom was Rachel E. French, who was born December 1, 1823, and who on the 18th of April, 1841, became the wife of Henry Wright. He was twelve years her senior, his birth having occurred August 14. 1511. To provide for his family he engaged in the lumber business and in farming for more than a half century. To him and his wife were born five children : Lozien F .. born November 6, 1842: Elsen E., born March 26. 1848; Ervis Elgin; Embert E., born November 16. 1853: and Eva E .. who was born January 26. 1856, and is the widow of J. I. Byam.
Xiter spending the first sixteen years of his life in his native town Ervis E. Wright became a resident of Waterbury in 1868 and for thirteen years thereafter he occupied the position of bookkeeper with Lewis Beardsley. He was ambitious. however, to engage in business on his own account and bent his energies always toward that end. At length his capital. saved from his earnings, was sufficient to enable him to take up the business of paint manufacturing, which he has -ince continued, covering now a period of thirty-seven years. He has become widely known as the manufacturer of the Ideal Roof Paint and to the superintendence of this business he ha- devoted his entire attention. He utilizes the most improved processes in paint manufacture, while in placing his goods upon the market he displays a keen sense of alesmanship and a ready recognition of the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He carried on his business for twenty-five years without a break and without a single day's vacation and during that period he made the business what it is today. He lived up to the principle of doing the right thing in every trade relation. He did not ask credit at any time and he never borrowed a dollar from anyone. His prices were reasonable and his business integrity unassailable.
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