USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
Mr. Chatfield was married twice. On the 4th of February, 1869, he wedded Miss Alice J. Smith, who died July 9, 1911, leaving three children: Frank S., who grew to manhood, was married and is deceased; Benjamin, now of Waterbury; and Gerard, of New York city. Mr. Chatfield's second wife was formerly Miss Florence Warner, who died eight months before his death.
In his religious faith Mr. Chatfield was an Episcopalian and fraternally was a prominent Mason, having attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second
al. Chatfull.
343
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
degree in the Scottish Rite. He was likewise connected with the Mystic Shrine. He also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Politically he was a republican. Aside from filling the office of building inspector he served for one term as superintendent of streets and sewers. He made an excellent record in public office and his life training and experience well qualified him for the duties which devolved upon him in the capacity of building inspector and which he so acceptably discharged. Death called him October 27, 1917. He had made an excellent record as a progressive and reliable business man and citizen aud as a public official, and his worth to the community was widely acknowledged.
OLAND H. GAGE.
Oland H. Gage, secretary of the Novelty Manufacturing Company, was born in Addison, Vermont, May 22, 1869, a son of Oland R. and Anna Grace (Wheeler) Gage, the former a farmer by occupation. At the usual age he entered the public schools and afterward continued his education in an academy at New Haven, Vermont, while later he was a student in Eastman's Business College. He entered business life in a clerical capacity with the firm of Russell & Irwin of New Britain and since 1902 has made his home in Waterbury. Re- moving to this city in that year, he became connected with the Waterbury Button Company and entered the employ of the Novelty Manufacturing Company in 1906. Working his way upward in that connection, he was elected secretary of the company in 1912 and has since remained one of its officers. This company, employing two hundred and fifty work- men, is engaged in the manufacture of a line of metal goods that includes more than a thousand articles, among which are bathroom fittings and accessories, table cutlery, trim- mings, lawn sprays, cabinet hardware and curtain fasteners. They are the largest manu- facturers of pipe ferrules in the United States and their products are sold all over this country and to a large extent abroad.
In 1901 Mr. Gage was married to Miss Inez D. Fisk of Middlebury, Vermont, and they now have a daughter. Lorraine Caroline. Mr. and Mrs. Gage are members of the Trinity Episcopal church and he is also connected with the Masonic fraternity-associations which indicate the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. He votes with the republican party and he holds membership in the Waterbury Club. In a word, his is a well rounded character in which the activities and interests of life receive due attention, and while he is winning success in business, he does not allow it to so monopolize his time as to exclude his cooperation in movements for the general good.
AUGUSTIN AVERILL CRANE, M. D.
Dr. Augustin Averill Crane, a well known surgeon of Waterbury, has gained prominence in his native eity notwithstanding the generally accepted fact that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country. He was here born January 9, 1864, and is a son of the late Dr. Robert Crane, who was a graduate physician and in 1853 came to Waterbury, where he resided until 1867. During that period of fourteen years he was closely connected with Waterbury's manufacturing interests, which had just become of an important and prominent character. In 1867 he removed with his family to New Haven and retired from active business.
Dr. Crane was at that time a little lad of but three summers. He was educated in the public schools of New Haven and at Yale, winning his academie degree in 1885, when he was made Bachelor of Arts. He continued as a medical student at Yale and his professional degree was conferred upon him in 1887. For a year and a half he served as house surgeon in the New Haven Hospital and in the fall of 1888 he went to the Hawaiian islands, where he acted for three years as government physician during the reign of King Kalakaua, the last king of the islands. Returning to this country, he served as interne in the New York German Hospital and in 1892 he came to Waterbury, where he has since practiced surgery, being one of the best known and most prominent surgeons of Connecticut. He is now visiting surgeon of the Waterbury Hospital, is consulting surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital and is medical examiner for the city coroner. He served for three years as captain of the Medical Corps in the State Militia, and is now captain in the United States Medical Reserve Corps. He has taken numerous post graduate courses in New York, Boston, Rochester (Minnesota), and Berlin (Germany), and during the summer of 1916 he spent three months in various'hos-
344
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
pitals in France, assisting in the care of the sick and wounded, and while rendering valuable aid also gained much valuable experience. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Crane has been married twice. In 1888 he wedded Cordelia I. Corbett, of New Haven, who passed away in 1902, leaving three children, one of whom, Robert, died in 1903 at the age of eleven years. The other two are: Eunice Leola, who was born in the Hawaiian islands while Dr. Crane was stationed there; and George Averill. The daughter was graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1911 and afterward from the Chicago School of Civics & Philanthropy and served as special investigator of the children's bureau, De- partment of Labor, at Washington, D. C., being engaged in making sociological surveys. She is now Mrs. A. B. Root, of Belmont, Massachusetts. The son, George Averill Crane, was educated in the Yale Scientific School and was later employed by the Scovill Manu- facturing Company until he left to take government service in the aviation field. In 1904 Dr. Crane was again married, his second union being with Bessie L. Barlow, a daughter of ex-Mayor Thomas D. Barlow, of Waterbury.
Dr. Crane holds membership with the Sons of the American Revolution, being a direct descendant on the maternal side of Perry Averill, a Revolutionary war soldier. He is interested in all those forces which work for the betterment of the individual and of the community, and for four years he did effective service on the Waterbury Board of Education, serving for the last two years as its chairman. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and is a member of the Waterbury Country Club. He finds his chief recreation in travel and five times has visited Europe. He speaks German fluently and French passably. He has also traveled all over the United States and when leisure permits he puts his professional cares aside to visit some point of beauty or historic spot in this or other lands.
JOIIN J. HORAN.
John J. Horan, conducting a real estate and fire insurance business in Waterbury, is numbered among those citizens whose success is the expression of individual effort, of elose application, of persistency and energy. At the usual age he started out to provide for his own support. He was born in Manchester, England, June 19, 1870. His father, John Horan, was a native of Queens county, Ireland, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Harper, was born in Manchester, England, and came of English parentage. In 1886 John Horan brought his family to the United States, establishing his home in Waterbury, where he passed away about 1891, while his widow died in 1897. In the family were two sons and daughters: Mrs. Mary Atkins, now living in Saugerties, New York; John J .; and Samuel, residing in Waterbury.
John J. Horan obtained his education in the schools of Manchester, England, and when a youth of sixteen years accompanied his parents to the new world. Upon reaching Water- bury he secured a position in the buffing room of the Waterbury Manufacturing Company and afterward he spent several years in the employ of the New England Watch Company, but resigned his position there in the fall of 1893 to become a life insurance solicitor. He was tlms employed for fifteen years and during the latter part of that period was assistant superintendeut for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, being located at Ottawa, Canada, from 1898 to 1903. In 1912 he embarked in the real estate business, with fire insur- ance as a branch of his interests, and he now represents a number of the more important fire insurance companies. In 1916 he opened his present offices in the Odd Fellows building and he has won a liberal and gratifying patronage in both real estate and insurance. His operations have now become extensive in the former field and during the past three years he has built more than forty houses in Waterbury valued at between five and ten thousand dollars and he is now engaged in the erection of fifteen other residences of a similar character, all of which are in the vicinity of Hamilton Park, in the eastern section of Waterbury. He has developed Inglewood avenue from a barren, unimproved street to one of the most attractive thoroughfares in the city. He recently purchased the Byam farm in East Waterbury, com- prising fifty-six acres, and calls the tract IIome Gardens. This he intends to develop. Every lot is to contain a half acre, the idea being to give every family who locates thereon an opportunity to raise their own vegetables. His labors have indeed been an element in the upbuilding and improvement of the city.
On the 29th of June. 1898, Mr. Horan was married to Miss Bessie A. Barrett, of Water- bury, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and they have become the parents of three
347
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
children: George B. and Patricia, who are high school pupils; and Isabel, who is attending grammar school.
The parents are members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church and Mr. Horan is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was a member of the board of education during 1916 and 1917. He has done notable work in his real estate operations and is among the real promoters and builders of the city. changing unsightly vacancies into attractive residence districts and at all times upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
JOHN LINUS SCOTT.
John Linus Scott, assistant treasurer of the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Company of Waterbury since February 14, 1911, started out with this concern as an office boy. Seventeen years' service brought him to the position of assistant secretary and he has since been in positions of executive control, his life record being an illustration of the fact that success is not a matter of genius or of fortunate circumstances, as held by some, but is rather the outcome of clear judgment, indefatigable energy and experience.
Mr. Scott was born in Watertown, Connecticut, July 5, 1868, and is a son of Henry E. and Ellen (Skinner) Scott. His education was acquired in the district schools of Water- town and when a youth of nineteen years he secured a clerical position in the Fourth National Bank of Waterbury, where he was employed from October 1, 1887, until December 1. 1890. On the latter date he became connected with the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Company as office boy. He early recognized the fact that industry and loyalty constitute the rounds of the ladder on which one may climb to success. The cultivation of those qualities led to increasing responsibilities being accorded him with promotions from time to time and on the 11th of February, 1908, he was called to the position of assistant secretary. On the 11th of February, 1911, he became assistant treasurer and on the 10th of February, 1914, he was made one of the directors of the company, thus advancing to a place of executive control in connection with a business that figures as one of the most important industries of New England. Manufacturers of brass aud brass goods, their trade connections reach out to every part of the country, sales offices being maintained in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, with general offices in Waterbury.
On the 8th of June, 1893, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Julie Esther Cooke, a daughter of Samuel A. and Esther (Upson) Cooke. Their son Kenneth, born May 4, 1900, is a studeut in the upper middle class of the Taft School.
In his political faith Mr. Scott is a republican and in religious belief an Episcopalian, being now junior warden in Christ's church at Watertown. In Masonic circles he is widely known, holding membership in Federal Lodge, No. 17, F. & A. M., of Watertown; Granite Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., of Thomaston; Waterbury Council, R. & S. M., of Waterbury; Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T., of Waterbury; Doric Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R., Valley, of Waterbury; Ionic Council, Princes of Jerusalem, A. A. S. R., of Waterbury; Corin- thian Chapter, Rose Croix, A. A. S. R., of Waterbury; and Lafayette Consistory, No. 32, A. A. S. R., of Bridgeport. He is thoroughly in sympathy with the purposes and spirit of the craft and the interests and activities of his life are so varied and of such a nature as to make his a most well balanced character.
EUGENE VAN WHY, B. S.
Eugene Van Why, superintendent of the William L. Gilbert Home of Winsted, has devoted his life to educational work and in his present field is actuated by a spirit of broad humanitarianism that prompts him to put forth the most earnest and effective service for the physical, intellectual and moral development of the children under his direction. He was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1878, the only child of John C. and Rosa (Derick) Van Why. The father is of Holland Dutch descent and is a lumberman who is still active in business in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, where he has long made his home.
Eugene Van Why was less than four years of age when his mother passed away. He was reared in East Stroudsburg, where he pursued his carly education in the public schools and later became a student in the East Stroudsburg State Normal School, from which he
348
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
was graduated in 1902. He then taught school for three years, spending one year at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, while for two years thereafter he was vice principal of the high school at East Stroudsburg. In 1905 he entered Bucknell College at Lewisburg, Pennsyl- vania, and was a student there for four years, being graduated in 1909 with the Bachelor of Science degree. His career as a teacher includes one year's service as principal of the schools of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1908, during a vacation period in his college course, he made a trip to Europe with the family of George B. Markle, a millionaire coal operator of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, acting as tutor to the latter's son. He thus spent several months in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. During the two years following his graduation from college in 1909 he was principal of the Vernon Street school in Northampton, Massachusetts, and from 1911 until 1914 he was principal of the Fourth school of Winsted. In the latter year he became superintendent of the William L. Gilbert Home for Children in Winsted, which institution was founded in 1886 by the late William L. Gilbert.
On the 25th of December, 1911, Mr. Van Why was married to Miss Ethel Barteau, a lady of French Huguenot descent, and they have become the parents of two sons: John Barteau, who was born July 7, 1915; and Eugene Gordon, whose birth occurred August 18, 1917.
In politics Mr. Van Why maintains an independent course. He is a Master Mason and hc belongs to the Order of Independent Americans. He also has membership in the Winsted Club and is an active and helpful member of the Second Congregational church, in which he is serving as chairman of its Societies Committee. He belongs to the Phi Kappa Psi Greek letter fraternity. He has ever been actuated by high ideals in his chosen life work. and his pronounced ability has brought him prominently to the front in educational circles. Imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge he has acquired, he has thus proven a most able educator and his initiative spirit has instituted many improved methods of instruction.
ALFRED JOHN SHIPLEY.
Alfred John Shipley, son of Joseph and Sarah (James) Shipley, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, January 1, 1840, and acquired a common school education in his native town. In the spring of 1850 his parents removed to Newark, New Jersey, where for a time he attended the Newark Institute. He soon began working with his father, learning the trade of a machinist and tool maker, and in the summer of 1857 he was sent to Albany, New York, to set up machinery which his father had built for the firm of Nathaniel Wright & Company for making harness trimmings, ete. In the fall of that year he returned to Newark and with the dull times of 1857 and 1858 he again came to Waterbury and entered the employ of Henry A. Mathews at Hopewell, now South Waterbury, where he was employed in making dies and tools for silver harness trimmings. On the 9th of June, 1862, he was engaged by the late Scovill M. Buckingham, then general manager of the Scovill Manufacturing Company, to enter the employ of that company and worked on the first tools for lamp burners made by them. On the 23d of February, 1864, he was transferred to the button department of the same company, being engaged in tool making and serving also as master mechanie for nearly forty years. During this time he took out eleven or more United States patents for buttons and button machinery and upon improvements on tools and machinery which brought about a marked transformation from the erude mode of manufacturing to the more modern and expeditious way in the working of metals.
On the 20th of August, 1862, Mr. Shipley was united in marriage to Miss Ann Jane Robinson, a daughter of Edward Robinson, of Waterbury. After a short wedding trip they returned to Waterbury, living on Cherry street until 1867, when they purchased the William Paine property on High and Orange streets. there residing until the opening of the new street through their land, when they built their home at what is now No. 39 Coe street and here they have since resided. About the year 1899 Mr. Shipley began to feel the need of being relieved of the responsibility of his work in the factory and after consulting with the management of the company, with their consent turned over his position to his nephew, Fred E. Stanley, and retired from active work in the factory. Mr. Shipley re- members with a great deal of pleasure the confidence and trust reposed in him by the management of the company while in its employ and the goodwill and privileges extended since his retirement.
Alfred J. Shipley
Ann J. Shipley
353
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY -
Mr. Shipley has been a member of the First Baptist church of Waterbury since 1868. He was made a deacon of the church in 1871 and since 1884 has been a trustee of the Baptist state convention of Connecticut. He was also vice president of the Waterbury Young Men's Christian Association in 1883, was a member of the Waterbury Scientific Society in 1895, and for several years has been a trustee of the Suffield School of Suf- field, Connecticut. In politics Mr. Shipley is a republican and represented the first ward of Waterbury on the board of aldermen from 1880 until 1883. He was a member of the board of finance in the latter year and also a member of the board of education in 1895. He is widely known in Masonic circles, having been connected with the order since 1864 and he has been elected to office in its various bodies. His membership is with Harmony Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., of Waterbury, of which he is the oldest past master; Eureka Chapter, No, 22, R. A. M., of which he is the oldest high priest; Waterbury Council, No. 21, R. & S. M .; Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T., of Waterbury, of which he is a past emi- nent commander; Doric Lodge of Perfection; Ionic Council of the Princes of Jerusalem; Corinthian Chapter of the Rose Croix, of which he is past most wise and perfect master and of which he was a charter member, as he was also of Doric Lodge and Ionic Council. All of these organizations are of Waterbury. He is likewise a member of Lafayette Con- sistory, S. P. R. S., of Bridgeport, and Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., also of Bridge- port. He likewise belongs to Naomi Chapter, No. 23, O. E. S., of Waterbury, of which he is a past patron, and he is a past royal patron of Evergreen Court, No. 2, of the Order of the Amaranth. He was the first president of the Masonic Club of Waterbury in 1895. He is most loyal to the ties of friendship and greatly enjoys the companionship of those whom he has known for many years and who entertain for him the warmest regard. The period of leisure which he is now enoying is the merited reward of a long, honorable, upright and active life that has contributed to the advancement of his city along in- dustrial, civic and moral lines.
. ANN JANE SHIPLEY.
Ann Jane Shipley, daughter of Edward and Marie (Baxter) Robinson, of Waterbury, Connecticut, was born on Cherry street in Waterbury, March 22, 1839, and spent her entire life in her native city. She was educated in its public schools and on the 20th of August, 1862, was married to Alfred J. Shipley in the Methodist church by the late Rev. George Woodruff. After living for several years on Cherry street they purchased a home and lived at the corner of High and Coe streets, where they were residing at the time of Mrs. Shipley's death, which occurred December 10, 1912. She was buried in Riverside ceme- tery two days later. The fifty years of her married life with her husband were years of sweet companionship. She was to him a true helpmate and he has felt her loss most keenly.
Mrs. Shipley was active in all benevolent and charitable work, was considerate of the needs of the poor, many of whom have greatly missed her kindly helpfulness, her encouraging words and her timely visits. Mrs. Shipley was a member of the First Baptist church of Waterbury, which she joined in 1866, becoming interested in all of its benevolent and missionary activities. She was a generous contributor to several of the schools of the denomination for the education of young women and boys, such as the Spelman School of Atlanta, Georgia, the Suffield School at Suffield, Connecticut, and the Baptist Insti- tute for Christian Workers at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was also actively interested in the work of the American Sunday School Union among the mountaineers of the south as well as in its work in the north. Mrs. Shipley was an active member of the Waterbury Woman's Club and the King's Daughters of Waterbury. She was likewise a charter mem- ber of Naomi Chapter, No. 23, of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which she was a past matron, and she belonged to Evergreen Court, No. 2, of the Order of the Amaranth Rite of Adoption, of which she was a charter member and a past royal matron.
JOSEPH SHIPLEY.
Joseph Shipley, the father of Alfred J. and Ralph J. Shipley, of Waterbury, was born in Birmingham, England, May 7, 1814, a son of Ralph Shipley, who was born in the same city, November 15, 1788. In 1830 he came to this country and established his home in Paterson, New Jersey, where he engaged in the manufacture of small tools and mna- Vol. III-13
354
WATERBURY AND THE NAUGATUCK VALLEY
chinery, living in Paterson until his death, which occurred March 22, 1835. His first wife was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Rollinson, also a native of Birmingham, and they had one son, Joseph. Mr. Shipley's second wife was Hannah Saunders and they became the parents of eight children, Sarah, Mary, Hannah, Amos, Priscilla, Martha, Naomi and Ruth. The son Amos engaged in the silver plating business in Newark, New Jersey, and died in that city. The daughters married, resided in Newark, New Jersey, and all died there.
Joseph Shipley, whose name introduces this record, received his education in England and came to America with his father, under whom he learned his trade. In 1835, follow- ing the death of his father, he removed to Waterbury, Connecticut, and in connection with Abram Ives and others became engaged in inventing and building automatic machinery for making hooks and eyes, pins and other small brass articles. In 1850 Mr. Shipley removed to Newark, New Jersey, where he organized the firm of Joseph Shipley & Company, making tools and small machinery. In 1857, however, he returned to Waterbury and from that time until his death, which occurred on the 12th of August, 1866, remained a resident of this city.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.