USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 37
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On the 26th of November. 1885. was celebrated the marriage of Ervis E. Wright and Miss Ella Frances Reed. who was born November 11. 1858. and is a representative of one of the old New England families, being a descendant of John Reed, who was born in Cornwall, England. in 1633 and became a stanch supporter of Oliver Cromwell. He served in Vol. III-12
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the army from the age of sixteen years until the restoration of Charles II to the throne of England, when many of the followers of Cromwell fled to various parts of the world. John Reed came to America and for a time was a resident of Providence, Rhode Island, where he married a Miss Derby. He became a resident of Rye, Westchester county, New York, in 1684 and after three years there passed established his home in Norwalk, Fairfield county, Connecticut, locating at a place called Reed's Farms on the Five Mile river. There his remaining days were passed and he reached his ninety-eighth year, his death occurring in 1730. He was a man of the highest integrity of thought, action and purpose, was devoted to the moral progress of the community and his home was often used as a place of worship before a church was erected in the community.
John Reed, Jr., the eldest of the five children of John Reed, the progenitor of the family in the new world, was born in Norwalk and there spent his entire life in the occupation of farming. He married a Miss Tuttle and -they became parents of eight children: John, Daniel, Eleazer, Samuel, William, Mary, Experience and Mehitable. Daniel Reed, son of John Reed, Jr., was born in 1697 and on the old paternal estate in Norwalk he erected a stately mansion, which he occupied until his demise in 1775. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Kellogg, and they were the parents of ten children: Daniel; Abraham; Eliakim; James; Benjamin; Ezra; Elijah, who removed to Amenia, New York; Elizabeth; Lydia; and Joanna.
The fourth member of this family was James Reed, whose birth occurred at the old family homestead in Norwalk, March 27, 1736. His life record spanned the intervening years until the 20th of July, 1814, when he passed away in Amenia, Dutchess county, New York. He had long occupied a very prominent position as a leading business man of that placc. conducting manufacturing, milling and farming interests. In 1759 he was one of the Connecticut soldiers who passed through Amenia en route to Canada to aid General Wolfe in the conquest of Quebec, but ere they reached that city news of its capture was received and they were ordered to return. Mr. Reed had been greatly pleased with the valley through which they had passed and he induced his father to purchase some land there, upon which he afterward located and spent his remaining days. He became the owner of a large estate in Dutchess county and his business interests were of the utmost importance. He was connected with iron and steel manufacturing and also conducted a store and mill at that place. He was also a factor in its moral development, being among the first to estab- lish a religious society there. With the outbreak of hostilities with England he became a captain in the Revolutionary war and aided in winning independence for the American nation. On the 17th of April, 1760, he wedded Joanna Castle, who was born in 1734, her father being Daniel Castle. To Captain James and Joanna (Castle) Reed there were born thirteen ehildren: Daniel, born April 15, 1761; Reuben, September 2, 1763; Elijah, Mareh 12, 1766; Jesse, July 16, 1768; Stephen, September 14, 1770; Amos, December 28, 1772; Gilbert, September 25, 1775; Jacob and Joanna, twins, born February 15, 1778; Betsey, April 21, 1780; Robert and Rhoda, twins, born June 27, 1784; and Phila, born April 3, 1787. Reuben Reed, son of Captain James Reed and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Wright, died in Amenia, New York, in 1846. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Hannah Rose, was born in 1766 and passed away in 1839. Their family numbered five children, Leonard, Myron, Jesse, Lester and Daniel. The second of these, Myron Reed, was born July 7, 1797, and departed this life June 2, 1849. On the 3d of January, 1826, he had married Belinda Swift and they were the parents of five children: Maria, who was born August 15, 1827, and became the wife of John Smith; Henry, who was born March 12, 1829, and died in California; James. born March 19, 1831; Isaac, born August 27, 1833; and Frances, who was born May 11, 1840, and became the wife of Dewitt Crosby.
Isaac Reed, the father of Mrs. Wright, was born in Amenia, New York, and wedded Louise Clark, daughter of Richard Clark, of Sharon, Connecticut and granddaughter of Daniel Clark, representative of the Clark family of Milford, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Isaae Reed had two children: Cora Belle, who became the wife of Franklin Phillips, of White Plains, New York, and after his death married Olin Dibble, of Seymour; and Ella Frances, who became the wife of Ervis Elgin Wright.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wright was born one son, Franklin Ervis. whose natal day was November 22, 1886. On the 8th of September, 1913, he married Lena Clark, a daughter of Frederick W. and Adella (Robinson) Clark, of Southampton, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. Franklin F. Wright was born a son, Elbert Clark, whose birth occurred on the 14th of July, 1915, and who died March 11, 1916.
Franklin E. Wright took active charge of the business in 1913, when his father, owing to a railroad accident which had occurred some years previous, felt incapacitated to attend to all the outside affairs of the concern. He is showing great aptitude and ability in the
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management of the business and is more than holding his own in keeping up the splendid reputation made by his father. His future as a business man looks exceedingly bright.
Ervis E. Wright is identified with the Sons of the American Revolution, and his wife belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She also has membership with the Woman's Club of Waterbury. She is well known as a lady of refined and cultured taste and of marked literary attainments, and she also possesses notable artistic skill. Mr. Wright has always given his politieal allegiance to the republican party and he is a stalwart champion of its principles. He stands for all those things that are for the betterment of mankind, is democratic in his tastes and hospitable in his home. To his family he bequeaths an untarnished name and an unsullied business reputation second to none in Waterbury. One who knew him spoke of him as: "A truly self-made man, whose place in Waterbury's history should be a prominent one." Mr. Wright laid out and planned his beautiful home on East Main street and superintended its construction and it is today one of the most attractive features in that locality, being situated on a hill, surrounded by fine trees and a beautiful lawn and commanding a splendid view of the adjacent district. After twenty-five years of continuous labor Mr. Wright decided to take a vacation and made a trip to the west. While traveling through the southern part of Arizona he made several profitable investments and thus combined business and pleasure. His loyalty in matters of citizenship none has ever questioned. He has stood for what he believed to be best in community affairs and for the commonwealth at large and at all times he has given generous aid to plans and measures for the public good. At the same time he has wisely and successfully con- ducted his business affairs and has won for Waterbury, in conjunetion with other prominent manufacturers, its well earned reputation as one of the most important productive centers of the state.
JOHN M. BURRALL.
John M. Burrall, now the seeretary of the American Ring Company, was born in Water- bury in 1873, a son of Charles William Burrall, who was born April 10, 1850, and on the 2d of October, 1872, married Cora R. Pritchard, a daughter of George Pritchard. John M. Bur- rall aequired a publie school education and made his initial step in the business world as a clerk with the American Ring Company in 1895. From that point he has steadily worked his way upward through different branches being promoted through intermediate positions until he became secretary in 1906. In 1911 the duties of general manager were added to those of secretary and he has since continued in the dual position.
In May, 1895, Mr. Burrall was married to Miss Inez Hart, of Newark. New Jersey, and their children are Jolin Milton, Henry Driggs and Stephen Hart. Mr. and Mrs. Burrall hold membership in St. John's Episcopal church. He also has membership in the Waterbury Club and in the Waterbury Country Club. Ile has served as alderman of the third ward, to which he was elected on the republican ticket, and has been a member of the board of public safety. He became a charter member of Company H of the Connecticut National Guard, in which he served as a private and non-commissioned officer. He was first lientenant battalion adjutant of the Second Regiment in 1913 and continued his connection with the organization until 1915, when he resigned.
BUCKINGHAM P. MERRIMAN.
Buckingham P. Merriman, a member of the Waterbury bar since August. 1887, has en- joyed a growing patronage that has connected him with much important litigation tried in the eourts of this district. He is the only surviving child of the late William B. Merriman, a prominent and well known citizen of Waterbury, who died April 17, 1916. He was pre- pared for college at the Pomfret Preparatory School and in 1906 entered Yale, completing a course in the academie department in 1910, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon him. He was graduated from the Yale Law School with the class of 1914 with the LL. B. degree and was an honor man of his class. While in the law school he was asso- ciate editor of the Yale Law Journal for three years. In 1915 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Yale University.
On the 16th of June, 1914, Mr. Merriman was admitted to the bar and for one year he was in the office of Makepeace & Ells. Since 1915 he has been engaged in practice inde-
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pendently and is accorded a good clientage, while the court records bear testimony to his ability in the number of favorable verdicts which he has wou. His activities have been broad and varied and in a word his is a well rounded character. He belongs to the Waterbury Bar Association, is a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, a college fraternity, and also belongs to the Waterbury Club, the Waterbury Country Club, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Yale Club of New York, the Country Club of Farmington and the Mattatuck Historical Society. He is likewise a director of the Waterbury Morris Plan Com- pany and he finds his chief recreation in golf, being a member of the Yale golf team of 1910. He played on the team for four years and has twice won the state golf championship, while four times he has won the championship in golf of the Waterbury Country Club. For two years he was captain of the Connecticut state golf team and for four years a member of the executive committee of the Connecticut State Golf Association. His religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in St. John's Episcopal church and in polities he is a republican. serving as a member of the town committee from the second ward.
GEORGE M. BEACH.
George M. Beach, secretary and superintendent of the National Company, was born at Thomaston, Connecticut, in 1858, his parents being George W. and Sarah Maria (Minor) Beach, who were natives of Litchfield and of Woodbury respectively. The Beach family was early established at Wallingford, Connecticut, being represented on the American continent from early colonial times, while the Minors were among the first families of . Woodbury.
George M. Beach acquired a public school education supplemented by a course in a business college and in 1884 he came to Waterbury, where he was with the Randolphi & Clowes Company. In this connection he had charge of the casting department and in 1899 he turned his attention to the meter manufacturing business in New Jersey. There he resided for about three years but in 1902 returned to Waterbury, where he has since made his home. He was employed by the A. H. Wells Company until 1914, when he came with the National Company as secretary and superintendent of the factory. His experience has been broad, his training thorough along the lines of business in which he is now engaged and he is thus well qualified for the important and responsible duties that devolve upon him in this connection.
Mr. Beach was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Smith. of Thomaston, and to them were born three children: Christina, deceased: Sarah, and Therom. Mrs. Beach passed away in March, 1910, and in May, 1912, Mr. Beach married Mrs. Adella Hopkins; of Watertown.
Politically Mr. Beach is a republican and at all times recognizes the duties and obli- gations as well as the privileges of citizenship. His influence is always on the side of progress and improvement concerning public affairs. His life has been a busy and useful one and his expanding powers. resulting from thorough training, have brought him to a creditable and enviable position in the business circles of Waterbury.
C. SANFORD BULL.
C. Sanford Bull, junior partner in the banking firm of Hohnes & Bull of Waterbury, was born in Terryville, Connecticut, June 27, 1871, a son of Cornelius W. and S. Alice (Sanford) Bull, the former a native of Tallahassee, Florida, and the latter of Terryville, Connecticut. The father was a son of Jabez Benedict Bull, of Milford, Connecticut, who in an early day went to Florida. Cornelius W. Bull was sent north to attend school in New Haven and was graduated from the Medical College of Yale with the class of 1863. After graduation he commenced the study of medicine at Yale Medical College, but in the following spring gave up his studies and joined the United States navy as active assistant paymaster. He continued in this service until August. 1865, when he returned to New Haven and completed his medical course. He graduated in 1867. He had put aside all personal considerations at the time of the Civil war and responded to the country's call for troops, serving in the navy on the Mississippi and Red rivers. While he rendered active duty in defense of the Union, he had two brothers who, reared in the south, espoused the cause of the Confederacy. Dr. Bull began active medical practice in Terryville, where he remained until his death. which occurred in
GEORGE M. BEACH
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1876. His widow still survives and now makes her home with her son, C. Sanford Bull, in Waterbury.
In the public schools of his native city C. Sanford Bull began his education, which was continued in the high school of Hartford and in the academic department of Yale, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893. He entered upon his business career in connection with the New England Watch Company in 1894 and there remained until October, 1905, when he succeeded C. L. Holmes in the banking house of C. L. Holmes & Company, entering into partnership with Walter W. Holmes under the firm style of Holmes & Bull. They conduct a general brokerage business, handling various kinds of investment securities, and have won for themselves a very creditable position in the financial circles of the city.
On the 25th of October, 1906, Mr. Bull was married to Miss Helen Ives Smith, a daughter of J. Richard and Helen (Lane) Smith, of Waterbury. They are members of the First Con- gregational church and are very prominent in social circles. In politics Mr. Bull maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment. Socially he is connected with the Waterbury Club and with the Waterbury Country Club. He has a wide and favor- able acquaintance in this city, where he has resided throughout the entire period of his business career, and by reason of his individual worth and resourcefulness he has steadily worked his way upward.
LEONARD R. CARLEY.
Leonard R. Carley, vice president and general manager of the Patent Button Company, was born in London, England, May 25, 1875, and is a son of Thomas and Harriet Carley. His education was acquired in England and he had reached the age of twenty-two years when in 1897 he determined to establish his home in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic to America, he located in Maryland, where he remained for a year, and for two years he was a resident of Florida. He afterward spent about thirteen years in Detroit, Michigan, where he engaged in the button manufacturing business, and in May, 1913, he came to Waterbury, where he has since been connected with the Patent Button Company, of which he is now the vice president and general manager. Long experience in this line well qualifies him for the duties which he is undertaking. He is thoroughly acquainted with the business and as gen- eral manager and the directing head of the manufactory has placed the business upon a very substantial basis.
Mr. Carley still retains his membership in the Grosse Pointe Country Club of Detroit and the Detroit Athletic Club, and since coming to Waterbury he has joined the Country Club and the Waterbury Club. His progress in business circles has been continuous and is indi- cative of the fact that effort, ability and merit will come to the front anywhere. A modern writer has said: "Success does not depend upon a map but upon a time-table"; in other words, Mr. Carley has made wise use of his time and opportunities, and his indefatigable energy has placed him in his present position.
EUGENE FREDERICK CALLENDER, M. D.
Dr. Eugene Frederick Callender, prepared at Yale for the practice of medicine and surgery, has devoted his entire attention to hospital and private practice since his graduation with the M. D. degree in 1912. He has met with marked success in his chosen calling, for which wide study and natural talent well qualify him.
Dr. Callender was born in Syracuse, New York, November 4, 1889, the only child of William S. and Lucy Ann (Childs) Callender, who now reside iu Waterbury, the father being proprietor of Callender's Bakery on Spring street. They removed to this city during the early boyhood of Dr. Callender, who has here remained from the age of eight years. He was graduated from the Crosby high school with the class of 1908 and was captain of the basket- ball team during his junior and senior years. Following his graduation he entered Yale Medical College, where he pursued the regular four years' course, winning his professional degree upon graduation in 1912. He afterward spent four months in St. Raphael's Hospital of New Haven and fifteen months in the Waterbury Hospital, thus gaining that broad, varied and valuable knowledge and experience which only hospital practice can bring. In February, 1914, he entered upon the private practice of medicine and surgery in Waterbury and has since followed his profession with a high degree of success.
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On the 17th of January, 1911, Dr. Callender was married to Miss Ereena Mulholland, of Waterbury, the daughter of Scotch parents. They now have two children: Anna Louise, born September 26, 1912; and William Steele, born January 4, 1915. Dr. and Mrs. Callender are members of St. John's Episcopal church and the doctor belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows societies. He is a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa, a college fraternity, and of the Waterbury Rotary Club, while along strictly professional lines he has association with the Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut State and American Medical Associations, thus keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought, the latest dis- coveries and the most improved methods of the medical profession.
C. M. DE MOTT.
A large number of the men who are most active in control of the mammoth interests conducted under the name of the Scovill Manufacturing Company have gradually worked their way upward to their present positions. The merit system has indeed been in force in connection with this corporation, as illustrated in the careers of its officials, department heads and superintendents. Connected with the company for thirty-eight years, C. M. De Mott is now assistant secretary. He was a youth of but nineteen when he entered the employ of the company in 1879.
His birth occurred in Pittsford, New York, April 23, 1860, his parents being Charles and Elmina L. (Ketcham) De Mott, the former a soldier of the Civil war who laid down his life on the altar of his country. The sou, thus reared without a father's care, was accorded the advantages of public school instruction and when still in his teens entered upon the task of providing for his own support. In October, 1879, he came to Waterbury and entered the employ of the Scovill Manufacturing Company as a mill hand. He proved industrious, ener- getic and determined-qualities that never fail to win recognition anywhere-and about 1881 he was taken into the office. Gradually he has acquainted himself with all the various phases of the business, its management and control, and with the passing years his duties and responsibilities increased. About 1890 he took charge of the office work and on the 8th of February, 1908, he was elected a director of the company. Three days later he was made assistant secretary and has since continued in that position. The steps in his progression are easily discernible. There are no spectacular phases in his career but a steady persistency ot purpose that has enabled him to master every task required of him, while his record is another proof of the fact that power grows through the exercise of effort. The faithful performance of each day's duties has brought him inspiration and encouragement for the efforts of the succeeding day and thus step by step he has advanced to his present official position.
On the 23d of April, 1885. Mr. De Mott was married to Miss Minnie Lathrop, of Water- bury, and they now have one son. Clayton M., who is a graduate of Yale, having completed a course in the Sheffield Scientific School with the class of 1916. He is now employed in the rolling mill of the Scovill Manufacturing Company and he is a member of St. Anthony's Club.
In political belief C. M. De Mott is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the First Congregational church, finding in its teachings the rules which have ever governed his conduct and, appreciative of the social amenities of life, he has connection with the Waterbury, Waterbury Country and Home Chibs.
JAMES EMILE SMITH.
James Emile Smith, deceased, who for many years was a well known business man of Waterbury and the founder of J. E. Smith & Company, Incorporated, was born at Fordham, New York, August 24, 1864, a son of James and Catharine (Scully) Smith. He attended the schools of his native town and of Middletown, Connecticut, to which place his parents removed when he was still young. He later became a resident of Hartford and there he likewise attended school. He was first employed by the Hartford Silver Plate Company, with which he continued until 1889, after which he came to Waterbury, where he laid the foundation of future usefulness. In 1897 he organized the business now conducted under the name of J. E. Smith & Company, Incorporated, becoming a dealer in lumber and supplies, his plant being located at 65 Benedict street. He admitted his two brothers, W. T. and John W., to a partnership and the business was continued under that
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organization until 1904, when it was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut with a capital stock of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. W. T. Smith being elected presi- dent, John W. Smith vice president and James E. Smith, treasurer, while their sister, Miss K. J. Smith, became secretary. The business was continued with much success, becoming one of the largest industries of its kind in the Naugatuck valley. Mr. Smith continued active business until his death. He was a man well known and greatly respected and he took a deep interest in the city of his adoption, its people and its institutions.
On the 21st of June, 1899, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret L. Dunn, a native of Brooklyn, New York. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Smith has been elected to the office of treasurer of J. E. Smith & Company, Incorporated. The family numbers seven children: Mary A., who was graduated from Notre Dame Convent in Waterbury; James Francis; John Joseph; Steele C .; Margaret E .; Edmund S .; and Harold S.
The family circle was broken by the hand of death when on the 5th of December, 1912, the husband and father was called to the home beyond. He was still in the prime of life and it seemed that he should have been spared for years to come. His remains were interred in the new St. Joseph cemetery of Waterbury. He had led a busy, useful and active life. He was one of the founders of the Merchants Trust Company and became its first president, an office which he filled until his demise. In politics he was a stanchi democrat but never sought or desired political preferment. He belonged to the Catholic church, being identified with the parish of the Immaculate Conception. He also belonged to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Knights of Columbus and to St. Joseph's Temperance Society-associations which indicated the nature of his interests and the rules which governed his conduct, making him a man among men, respected by all with whom he came in contact.
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