USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > History of Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, Volume III > Part 65
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Samuel A. Chapman, the subject proper of this sketch, was born December 25, 1832, in the town of Ellington, the eldest in a family of nine children. While yet a boy he left home and began his business career in Hartford, Connecticut. . In 1858 he came to Waterbury as a contractor with Rogers & Brothers, with which firm he remained about seven years. At the end of this period he accepted a position with the Holmes, Booth & Haydens Company as superintendent, in which capacity he served that company for eighteen years, becoming after a time one of the directors of the company. In 1883 he organized the Chapman & Armstrong Manufacturing Company, of which he himself was chosen president; he was also president of the Hammond Buckle Company. As a brass manufacturer Mr. Chapman was considered one of the best in the country. For several years he was a member of the board of compensation in Waterbury, and was also at one time police commissioner of the city. On the question of values of property he was considered an expert, and his advice was frequently sought in a public capacity. Mr. Chapman, without being at all demon- strative, was exceedingly public-spirited, and watched with keen interest all public matters, and oft-times, without appearing to do so, exerted considerable influence. He was a coun- cilman for many years, and in every way was a man of prominence, highly respected by all. As an employer of large numbers of men, he was considered to be just and considerate, winning the esteem and confidence of those who were associated with him. Fraternally he was a member of Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Clark Commandery, K. T., of Water- bury. In politics he was a republican. In addition to his other interests he owned an extensive dairy and sheep farm in Madison, Connecticut, on which were to be found all modern improvements, and he was also the proprietor of several seaside cottages.
On May 25, 1858, Mr. Chapman married Miss Mary E. Lancey (also spelled DeLancey), who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, a daughter of William and Betsey (Herrick) Lancey, and to this union was born March 26, 1859, a daughter, Florence Mabel, who is living at home. Mr. Lancey was a native of Weston, Vermont, born March 10, 1801, and died in 1840. He was a son of Zacheus Lancey, who settled in Weston. Mrs. Lancey was born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, a daughter of Silas Herrick, and died September 17, 1865. The first of this DeLancey family in America camc from France and settled in one of the New England states some time in the eighteenth century. Mrs. Chapman, the wife of our subject, was one of a family of six children, as follows: William J., a dentist in Centralia, Illinois, who always writes his name DeLancey; Helen M., unmarried; George, who died in infancy; Sarah J., wife of Leroy S. White, of Waterbury, Connecticut; Mary E. (Mrs. Chapman) ; and John L., who died at the age of two and one-half years.
Mr. Chapman died February 13, 1896, at Waterbury, and a local paper of the time pays him the following well-merited eulogy: "In the death of Samuel A. Chapman, Waterbury loses one of its representative citizens. The news of his death came with startling and shocking suddenness, and to the many who loved him for what he was, it is experienced as a personal affliction. He was a noble and generous man, whose many unostentatious kind- nesses and gracious decds caused him to be held in high regard."
SALMON GIDDINGS HOWD, M. D.
Dr. Salmon Giddings Howd, physician and surgeon. who specializes in the treatment of nervous diseases at Winsted, was born in Barkhamsted, Connecticut, April 21, 1858, a son of Carlton and Harriet (Giddings) Howd, both of whom were natives of this state. The immigrant ancestor was Anthony Howd, who settled in Branford, Connecticut. The name has been variously spelled and appears to be of the same origin as Howard, Haward and Hayward and is found spelled also as Houd and Houde in carly records. Anthony Howd, the progenitor of the family in the new world, died in 1676. It is believed that the next in line was Benjamin Howd, who was born prior to 1673, or was Benoni Howd, who was born September 10, 1676. The latter was married in Branford, October 1, 1705, to Elizabeth
DR. SALMON G. HOWD
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Whitehead, who was born in October, 1677, and was a daughter of John Whitehead. The next ancestor in line of direct descent was Joseph Howd, who was born in Branford in 1710. He was the father of Whitehead Howd, who was born about 1740 in Branford or vicinity and who became a resident of Southington, Connecticut, whence he afterward removed to Barkhamsted, Litchfield county, in 1796, there passing away May 12, 1818. His wife, Dorcas, died February 7, 1835, at the age of ninety-two years. Their son, Salmon Howd, was born in 1768 and died at Barkhamsted, July 23, 1842. He was married twice, his first wife being Rhoda Webster, who died February 4, 1804, at the age of thirty-five years, after which he married Sarah Rexford, who passed away April 11, 1872, at the age of eighty-eight years.
Salmon Howd (II), son of Salmon and Sarah (Rexford) Howd, was born in Barkham; sted in 1808 and died October 21, 1872. He was educated in the public schools, devoted his life to the occupation of farming and also became a colonel in the state militia. He married Marietta Hayden, who died April 10, 1884, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of four children: Carlton, Elwin, Julius and Georgianna. Of these, Carlton Howd became the father of Dr. Salmon Giddings Howd. He was born in Barkhamsted in 1832 and passed away in July, 1906. He married Harriet E. Giddings, who was born in Hartland. Connecticut, April 10, 1828, a daughter of Lorrain and Desdemona (Cowdry) Giddings. The death of Mrs. Carlton Howd occurred May 31, 1913. Mr. Howd was a brickmason by trade and always followed that business. In the family were five children: William W., who was born August 27, 1852, and lives in Louisville, Kentucky; Mary L., who was born December 23, 1855, and passed away January 28, 1857; Salmon G., of this review; Hattie E., who was born March 29, 1860, and was married in 1881 to Edward Gaylord, of Hartland, Connecticut; and Julius, who was born in 1866 and died in 1872.
Dr. Howd was reared on a farm in the town of Barkhamsted, in Litchfield county, and attended a district school until he reached his fifteenth year, when he became a student in the Wesleyan Academy of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He then alternately attended that school and engaged in teaching for four or five years but regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his earnest desire to become a member of the medical profession. With that end in view he entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of New York in 1880 but finished his medical studies at Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1883 with the M. D. degree. He afterward practiced in Hartland, Connecticut, for about a year and a half and on the 21st of January, 1885, opened an office in Winsted, where he has since continued in practice, covering a period of almost a third of a century. He did special work in nervous diseases in the New York Post Graduate School in 1887, 1888 and 1889 and while lie continues in general practice, he specializes in nervous diseases and in December, 1912, he established the Doctor Howd Sani- tarium in Winsted for the treatment of nervous disorders and he has conducted the institu- tion with marked success since that time. It has all modern conveniences, including a per- fect hot water heating system, electric lights and a special circulating hot water system to the baths and lavatories. The institute is for the treatment of nervous and debilitated cases where rest and quiet are essential. Dr. Howd's colleagues and contemporaries speak of him in terms of high regard and his professional standing is indicated in the fact that he was honored with the presidency of the Litchfield County Medical Society. He is a member of the Connecticut State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association and through their proceedings keeps in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress.
On the 20th of December, 1894, Dr. Howd was married to Miss Mabel Bingham, of Newark, New Jersey, and they have become parents of two sons: Hadleigh Hueston, who was born December 31, 1896; and Salmon Giddings, Jr., born January 8, 1903. The former is a senior in Yale College, while the latter is a junior in the Gilbert school of Winsted.
Dr. Howd is a member of the First Congregational church, also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Winsted Club and is eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, for among his ancestors were those who fought for the independence of the nation. He served as local pension examiner for eightcen years. He is independent politically and he was health officer for the town of Winsted for several years, during which time he took the initial step in establishing a milk inspection system that has since been in operation in Winsted. It is conceded to be the best milk inspection system in the state and the milk supply of the city is unsurpassed. No epidemics in Winsted have occurred, since this system was adopted and Dr. Howd deserves great credit for what has been accomplished in this regard. He has full charge of the sanitary inspection of Winsted's water supply and his efforts have been put forth along the line of the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In fact he has instituted methods which would seem to be at
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variance with his own professional interests but in his work has been actuated by the highest humanitarian principles and has done everything in his power to disseminate knowl- edge concerning the laws of health and the best methods of checking the ravages of disease. He holds to the highest standards in his professional work and anything that tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of great interest to him.
TERRENCE FRANCIS CARMODY.
Terrence Francis Carmody, a leading member of the Waterbury bar, practicing as the senior member of the law firm of Carmody, Monagan & Larkin, was born in Watkins, New York, on the 1st of July, 1871, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Lawlor) Carmody, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to the new world in order to enlist in the United States navy at the time of the Civil war, and after nearly four years of active, valiant and loyal service was honorably discharged as a first-class fireman. He then returned to Watkins, New York, where he engaged in business and was married. He resided in that city until 1873, when he removed with his family to Waterbury, Connecticut, where his son, Terrence F., has since resided.
At the time of the removal T. F. Carmody was but two years of age. He attended the public sehools of Waterbury, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1890. In the business world he made his initial step as an office assistant of the American Pin Company, with which he was connected until 1893. In the meantime he had determined to follow a professional career and, making choice of the practice of law as a life work, he then entered the Yale Law School in 1893 and was graduated with the class of June, 1895. He immediately opened an office in Waterbury, where he has since continuously and successfully practiced. No dreary novitiate awaited him. Almost immediately he was accorded a liberal clientage which has steadily increased in volume and importance as the years have gone by. In 1898 he became associated with Hon. Lucien F. Burpee, with whom he afterward formed a partnership under the firm style of Burpee & Carmody. This association was maintained until 1909, when the senior partner became a judge of the superior court. The law firm of Carmody, Monagan & Larkin was then formed and in that connection Mr. Carmody has since engaged in the general practice of law in Waterbury. Great care and thoroughness characterizes his preparation of his cases and his masterly skill in handling the evidence and in presenting his cause, together with the force and logie of his arguments, has been one of the strong elements in his success.
In 1903 Mr. Carmody was united in marriage to Miss Lauretta C. Ryan, of Waterbury, and they have become parents of four children: Edward Thomas, Francis Terrenee, Guerin Benediet and Marie Louise.
Mr. Carmody and his family are of the Catholic faith and he has membership with the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to the Graduate Club of New Haven and the Water- bury Club. He has never been an aspirant for public office nor consented to become a caudi- date for an elective position. In February, 1917, however, he was appointed states attorney for New Haven county, at Waterbury, and is now acting in that capacity. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the Bronson Library Fund for many years and a member of the board of commissioners of public health of Waterbury. It is thus indicated that he readily recognizes his duties and obligations in relation to the public welfare and he stands ready at all times to aid any measure or project that will benefit the community, or will uplift the individual or promote the interests of the commonwealth at large.
JAMES A. GRADY, M. D.
Winning his professional degree in 1903, Dr. James A. Grady entered upon active practice as a physician and surgeon in Waterbury in 1904 and has since made for himself a creditable name and place in professional ranks in the city in which he has passed the greater part of his life. He was born on East Main street, October 27, 1880, a son of John J. and Mary (McGowan) Grady. The former was born in Waterbury in 1854 and was a son of James Grady, who came from Ireland. John Grady was a stone cutter and stone engraver and was actively connected with that line of business until his death in 1913. His wife, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, is still living in Waterbury. Dr. Grady was the second of their eleven children, five sons and six daughters, of whom all of the sons
TERRENCE F. CARMODY
CAPTAIN ALFRED J. WOLFF
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and four of the daughters are yet living, and all are yet residents of Waterbury. These are: Anna, a trained nurse now employed in a professional capacity by the Waterbury public schools; James A .; John D., a traveling salesman; Mary C., engaged in stenographic work; Joseph, a mechanic; Charles, who is engaged in the drug business; Elmer, who is a foreman; Catherine, a student in Trinity College at Washington, D. C .; and Margaret, who is attending the Waterbury high school.
Dr. Grady completed a course in the Waterbury high school when a youth of eighteen years and afterward pursued his academic work in Holy Cross College at Worcester, Massa- chusetts. He then entered Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., as a medical student and on completing the four years' course won his professional degree. For a year thereafter he was in Providence Hospital at Washington, D. C., and in August, 1904, he entered upon the active practice of medicine and surgery in Waterbury, where he has since remained. While he still continues in general practice he specializes in surgery and is a member of the surgical staff of St. Mary's Hospital. He belongs also to the Waterbury, New Haven County and Connecticut State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association, and he is deeply interested in everything that has a bearing upon his profession. In 1907 lie took a post graduate course in the New York Post Graduate School and again was a student there in 1916, specializing on gynecology.
On the 2d of June, 1908, Dr. Grady was married to Miss Elizabeth Genevieve Holohan, of Waterbury, a daughter of the late Patrick Holohan, a well known citizen here. They have two children: Elizabeth Patricia, born March 23, 1909; and Catherine Mary, born January 10, 1912.
Dr. Grady has recently purchased property at No. 290 East Main street, which he is remodeling and converting into an attractive home. He belongs to the Immaculate Conception Catholic church and fraternally is an Elk. In politics he is a democrat and has now served for two years as a member of the Waterbury board of education but otherwise has never sought nor held public office. He is fond of fishing and outdoor sports and turns to these when leisure permits but chiefly concentrates his energies and attention upon his onerous and growing professional duties.
CAPTAIN ALFRED J. WOLFF.
Captain Alfred J. Wolff, whose military experience and efficiency have won him his title, is one of the oldest employes of the Scovill Manufacturing Company in years of con- tinuous service, for in early boyhood he entered that corporation, with which he has been since connected, now occupying the position of foreman in the machine department. He was born in the department of Vosges, France, March 11, 1856. His father, Francis F. Wolff, a native of the same locality, was born in 1817 and in 1861 came to the United States to prepare for the arrival of his family. In 1865 the mother and sons followed, the family settling in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the father was employed as blacksmith on the Naugatuck Railroad. Removing to Waterbury, he remained continuously in the employ of the Farrel Foundry Company until his death in 1870 He wedded Celestine Wolff, a cousin, and they became the parents of three sons, Incian, Adrian and Alfred J. The mother passed away in 1898.
Alfred J. Wolff spent his first decade in his native land and 'began his education in his native town but afterward attended school in Waterbury, following the removal of the family to this city in 1866. He was a student in the old academy of Waterbury and after his textbooks were put aside he entered the employ of the Scovill Manufacturing Company in 1871, when a youth of fifteen years. There he learned the machinist's trade and has continuously been connected with the Scovill Manufacturing Company since. He is recog- nized as a mechanical expert and ranks with the oldest and most valuel employes of the Scovill Company.
On the 4th of November, 1878, Mr. Wolff was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Thompson, of Waterbury, a daughter of Richard Thompson, deceased. Their children are: Alfred F., who is married and is with the Scovill Manufacturing Company; Edward L., who is married and has one child; Joseph R., married, who has two children; Armand T .; Alice C., who is a teacher; Sarah E., who is engaged in teaching music; and Grace M., who is in the service of the gas company. All of the sons are in the employ of the Scovill Manufacturing Company save the youngest.
Mr. Wolff is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church and he has membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Arcanum and the Benevo-
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lent Protective Order of Elks. In polities he is independent. He has an interesting mili- tary record, having joined the state militia as a member of Company G of the Second Regi- ment, Connectieut National Guard. He was advaneed to the rank of second lieutenant in June, 1884, and was made captain of the same company in June, 1886, serving with that command until January, 1899. He is now a lieutenant colonel of the Fifth Regiment of the Connecticut Home Guard and he served as recruiting offieer for that organization in 1917. He has taken an active part in interesting Waterbury's eitizens in upbuilding the Guard and he is always active in the promotion of those organizations and activities which have to do with the uplift of the individual, and especially with the effort to surround the young with an environment that will lead to high character development. He is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association and is mueh interested in the Boy Seout move- ment, taking an active part therein. He served for many years as chairman of the Center sehool distriet, served as president of the board of aldermen in 1914 and 1915, and has been a member of the board of finance and the board of public safety. He was appointed by the president to the local exemption board, Division No. 1. In a word, his aid and influenee are always on the side of progress and improvement and his efforts have been most beneficial and resultant.
PATRICK J. FITZGERALD.
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, founder of the Fitzgerald Manufacturing Company of Torrington, was born in Waterbury, Conncetieut, October 26, 1879, a son of Gerald and Ellen (Ryan) Fitzgerald, who were born and married in Ireland. They came to the United States about forty years ago and located in Waterbury, Conneetient. In 1892 they removed to Torrington, where the mother still resides, but the father passed away in 1900. Their family numbered four sons and three daughters who are yet living, five being residents of Torrington, while two are in Winsted. Three children of the family have passed away.
Patrick J. Fitzgerald acquired a good education and in his youth learned the machinist's trade. In 1906 he established the Fitzgerald Manufacturing Company, which manufactures automobile supplies. This is one of Torrington's newest sueeessful industries. It manu- factures the Clero horn for automobiles, used on both trueks and pleasure ears and sold all over the United States. His brother, Mauriee Fitzgerald, is his partner and they have a factory also at Winsted, Maurice being in charge there, with Patrick Fitzgerald in charge in Torrington,
In 1912 Mr. Fitzgerald was married and he has three children and hopes to have ten. He is a eatholie in religious faith and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while in polities he maintains an inde- pendent eourse.
CHAUNCEY PORTER GOSS.
Channeey Porter Goss long has oeeupied a central place on Waterbury's commercial stage, for through many years he was closely and prominently associated with the ownership and management of the Seovill Manufacturing Company. He became identified with the business in 1862 and in 1864 was ealled to official position as the secretary and from that time forward has continued as one of the officers. He was born in Pittsford, New York, August 5, 1838, a son of Ephraim and Margaret (Porter) Goss. The father was an attorney at law of Pittsford and a man of marked ability in his profession. C. P. Goss has exerted considerable influence over public thought and aetion in his community and stands as a high type of American manhood and chivalry. His educational opportunities were those afforded by the publie sehools, supplemented by a brief attendanee at night sehool, and his initial step in the business world was made in the humble eapaeity of clerk in a country store in Pittsford. He also worked on the eanal and while yet a youth in years he began buying produee, a business in which he won sueeess, although it was necessary to compete with men of long experience and of mature years. Thoroughly reliable, the farmers soon eame to trust him and his business grew to satisfactory proportions, but feeling that better opportunities might be obtained elsewhere, he came to Waterbury in 1862 and entered the employ of the Seovill Manufacturing Company as offiee boy and assistant bookkeeper. He became bookkeeper the same year and when the former bookkeeper died in 1864 was chosen secretary, which position
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he filled until 1869. In 1866 the duties of treasurer were added and in 1900 he was chosen president. He still continues as the president and treasurer of the company, although he is now in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He has made a splendid cxccutive officer. His has never been the command of the tyrant to go, but the call of the leader to come. An excellent judge of men, he has been able to gather around him a corps of most efficient assist- ants. Moreover, it has ever been his custom to study closely every phase of the business and until recent years he has had remarkable knowledge not only of the principal points but of the details connected with this mammoth manufacturing concern and his ability along mechanical lines has been shown by his inventions. As the Scovill Manufacturing Company is the largest of its kind, having enjoyed phenomenal growth, and as the business constitutes a most important chapter in the records of business development in Waterbury, Mr. Goss should be honored with a prominent place among Waterbury's citizens.
In 1864 Mr. Goss was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Amelia Ketchum, of Bushnell Basin, New York, who passed away in the year 1915. In their family were seven children: Edward Otis, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Margaret Porter, who died when three years of age; Caroline Ryan, the wife of Hugh L. Thompson; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of William Kelley Patterson; John Henry; Chauncey Porter; and George Augustus.
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