USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > Noted men of Connecticut as they look in life : as published in the columns of The Evening Leader of New Haven : being a collection of portraits and biographical sketches of representative men of Connecticut who have made and are making the history of the states > Part 23
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In America, it is education and environment that count, not parentage or nationality. Mr. Verdi's American home has always been in New Haven, and his arrival dates from such a tender age, that it is almost as though he had been born with a nutmeg in his mouth.
On leaving school, Mr. Verdi was employed by the L. Candee Rubber Co. From a humble position in their factory, he worked his way steadily up through the ranks to the position of foreman, where he was given the over-sight of a large number of men, putting heavy responsibilities on young shoulders.
The true American spirit of independence asserted itself, however, and in May, 1902, he struck out for himself in an entirely new field, that of retailing coal. In this work, he is associated with Mr. Balsamo, at 444 Grand Avenue. The same capacity for application that won him success while serving another, has proved invaluable in his own interests, and his business has grown by leaps and bounds in the six years of its existence ; as a result, to-day Mr. Verdi, albeit still a young man, has taken his place among the solid business men of the city, respected by his business acquaintances for his integrity and push ; admired by his many friends for his genial nature, for he stayed long enough in Italy to absorb some of her sunshine into his heart.
Mr. Verdi satisfies the wants of his social nature by affiliation with the Odd Fellows, the Yale Conclave of the Heptosoph, and the Woodmen of the World. In his leisure hours he finds pleasure in the genus, horse, and can size up a high stepper with the eye of a connois- seur.
In politics Mr. Verdi is a red-hot Republican. He believes that the whole duty of the citizen, busy though he be, is not done when he has voted for his party ticket ; that he should also use his influence in determining the make-up of the ticket, and throw his weight on the side of clean politics and honest government. In 1894, he served his city in a public capac- ity as Labor Commissioner. In 1905, he again came to the front as selectman.
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But it is not so much his business ability, nor his clean example as a politician that interests one most in Mr. Verdi. There is another phase of activity which is far more sig- nificant. That is the interest he takes, and the energy he spends in the up-building of his own race. This is his country, for says Voltaire, "Our country is the spot to which our heart is bound," but he is bound by every human instinct to that part of our complex citizen- ship in whom flows the same blood, whose ideals are his.
It is a notable fact, by the way, that the Italian race, unpractical, mercurial, the very embodiment of the qualities of the so-called "Latin races" should be the first to form a practical organization on any large scale with a view to the amelioration of the condition of its people in this country. Their organization has for its first duty, to prevent the fatal segregation of the immigrants in vast numbers in New York City, where they are doomed to scarcely less pinching poverty than in the homeland, and where they remain a foreign element, scarcely touched by broadening American principles. The leaders of the move- ment are trying to disperse their people evenly. over the country, where they may resume the agricultural life to which they are best adapted, and biding the time when that shall take place, to teach them the language and principles of their adopted country. It is with that part of the work that Mr. Verdi is engaged in New Haven. For the past eleven years he has been a teacher of English in the Hamilton Evening School for Italians. His own fluent, natural use of the language makes him an admirable teacher on the technical side ; his sym- pathy with his compatriots, both through instinct and a knowledge of their tongue make him an ideal one on the personal side. The employment of men of Mr. Verdi's qualifica- tions is, we believe, the right step in this long tedious process of assimilation of the foreign element, that so nearly threatens to assimilate us. It is now generally admitted by educa- tors that the best teacher of a modern language is not he who is bound by natal ties to the language he teaches, but he who is of the same nationality as the pupil. It is better to know the national point of view of the receiving inind, first-hand; to understand its quirks and obliquities, than to have a first-hand knowledge of the language taught. Our best teachers of French to-day are Americans for the above reason, added to the fact that the French Government recognizes its truth, and is keeping its best linguists at home, to teach English to French boys and girls.
Therefore is it not the part of wisdom to utilize those who by birth can come into close sympathy with the pupil, at the same time having a natural grasp on the subject to be taught?
At any rate, true it is that hundreds of Mr. Verdi's fellow-countrymen look grate- fully to him as the one who unlocked for them the door of wider opportunity, while the citizens are indebted to him for a truly patriotic work.
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Hon. HUBERT F. POTTER
HON. HUBERT F. POTTER, NORTH HAVEN
Deputy Dairy Commissioner
In the prime of his life of doing things, but recently passed his golden birthday, Hubert Franklin Potter has just accepted the position of Deputy Dairy Commissioner, the appointment having been made February II, 1908, and the congratulations of friends in their hearty sincerity and numerical strength, show that here is a man who amply deserved that this honor should have been conferred on him, and that Commissioner John B. Noble was a wise judge of men, and knew well how to reward honest efforts when he thus appointed him.
The son of Samuel F. and Martha E. (Pierpont) Potter, he was born in the town of Hamden, December 8, 1857. In the country atmosphere his early boyhood was passed and his primary school days were spent in the district schools of Hamden.
Before he had attained his ninth birthday anniversary, the family moved to North Haven, and Mr. Potter entered a private school there, remaining until ready to enter busi- ness school. He went to Yale Business College, New Haven, and was graduated March 29, 1877.
Living in a rural community he followed the branches of market gardening, and as proprietor of a large and flourishing farm, found his business training of pronounced advantage. Later dairy farming engaged his attention and he entered on that line, meet- ing with unwavering and encouraging success.
His natural qualifications made him the ideal proprietor of a dairy farm and his close attention to minute detail, which is the secret of modern dairy farming, made the products famous in that vicinity, and they found a ready market. His skill was pro- nounced, and dairy men of the state looked toward his farm for points on which to model.
When the Co-Operative Feed Company of North Haven was organized, Mr. Potter was elected its first president, and has continued in that position ever since. In 1902, the state dairymen in the annual convention of their association, selected Mr. Potter as their president, as he had given them valuable executive service as a director for several years previous.
His broad outlook as well as thorough knowledge of the dairy made him an excellent president and he became regarded as one of the expert and generously informed dairy farmers of Connecticut.
To balance his dairy interests, Mr. Potter also took deep interest in matters pertaining to education and schools, improvements of methods of study and discipline, and other details which go to make a perfect system.
So in December, '06, when he was appointed as special agent of the State Board of Education, those who knew Mr. Potter felt that a well directed choice had been made. He continued in the activities of this office until February, 1908, when he resigned, as other duties called him.
It was in this month that he was honored with the post of Deputy Dairy Commissioner.
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In his town, Mr. Potter has been a power in Republican politics. Through the offices of selectman, assessor and registrar of voters, which has been his special public charge for the past two years, he has rendered faithful and continuous public service for many years. But it was through the Board of Education, that Mr. Potter did the work nearest to his heart. For four years he has been the alert and progressive chairman and has kept abreast of the times in all official actions and in guiding the deeds of his associate members.
In a larger way, too, has he been called to serve the interests of his town, for in 1905 he was chosen as Representative in the General Assembly, being elected by a very large plu- rality.
To him fell an assignment on one of the most important committees in the assembly, the committee on railroads, and the volume of business demanded of him in this connection was conscientiously done, and demonstrated his admirable qualities to his colleagues.
Very near and dear to Mr. Potter is the Grange. He is a loyal and enthusiastic Granger and was the first master of the North Haven Grange, also the first master of the New Haven County Grange. His affable manner and pleasant personality made him a favorite, and he has been elected to the offices of steward deputy and a member of the exec- utive committee of the State Grange.
At their meetings and outings, he has always been the leading spirit both in the serious business of the proceedings and in the merry-makings.
His favorite pursuit is the study and care of cattle. In this he has become expert and the big American Guernsey Cattle Club engaged him four years ago to superintend the tests for advanced registry of pure bred cattle. So skilfully did he perform his duties, they have sought him regularly for that purpose ever since.
Commissioner Potter is the senior warden of St. John's Episcopal Church, North Haven. He was married to Miss Catherine A. Brockett of North Haven, December 22, 1881, and they have two sons, Walter F., born Oct. 20, 1883, and Horace B., born May 24, 1896.
Beside the Grange, Mr. Potter is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 103, A. F. and A. M., of Northford, A. O. U. W., and U. B. A. Associations.
His home in North Haven is famed for its hospitality. The hearty welcome, whole- some good cheer and sincere friendliness apparent on every hand, reflect the leading and lasting characteristics of the master.
408
ATTORNEY FRANK KENNA, NEW HAVEN
Martin Luther said: "The human heart is like a millstone in a mill. When you put wheat under it, it turns and grinds, and crushes the wheat to flour. If you put no wheat, it still grinds on ; but then 'tis itself it grinds and wears away."
This is eminently true of the race; truer to-day perhaps than when the brave old Ger- man monk uttered it. There are very few men who can support idleness without mental or moral deterioration. Many of us long earnestly for enough money so that we could bask in the sun and enjoy the "dolce far niente" of our dreams. But Providence is too kind to grant our prayer. Still, we are not all geared alike, and there are some who require an amazing quantity of grist in their mill to remain in good running order.
It is our purpose to give here a brief sketch of one such young man, Attorney Frank Kenna, who has been admitted to the bar only two years, but who has turned out an enor- mous quantity of work in that time, and by his activity and thoroughness, has attracted to himself the favorable attention of the public.
Mr. Frank Kenna comes from good old Irish stock on both sides of the house. His Grandfather Kenna came to this country in 1830 and settled in Little Falls, Herkimer County, N. Y. His circumstances were humble, but the will to work, and the desire to stand well in the eyes of his fellow-men, were not so exhausted in the struggle with life in a strange land but that there was plenty of both of these good qualities left to hand down even to the third generation. His son, Thomas, married Miss Helen Leahy, and they inspired their sons with a sound, honest ambition to succeed. One of these is Dr. Mathew Kenna, who is well and favorably known in New Haven.
Frank Kenna, the subject of our sketch, was born in New Haven, on the 22d day of June, 1874. He was educated in the public schools, and had pursued a two years' course in the High School, when his ambition to be "doing something," together with a manly desire to take upon himself the burden of his own support, drove him into a business career. Mr. Kenna now regrets this curtailment of his formal education, and his message to the young men of our State in whom burns the feverish ambition to wake up this dull world, is "To stick to the schools as long as possible. They are the secret springs of this nation's greatness. If you have an important work to carve out, the world can wait for you. It has jogged on now for some time, and won't mind two or three years more, while as for you, since you are permitted to appear but once upon its stage, you had best be letter perfect."
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He also regrets the boyish enthusiasm for sports of all kinds which blinded his eyes to the true relation, which should exist between exercise and scholarly attainment. Luckily, he came to regard them in their true light, and labored incessantly to restore the proper bal- ance, making of sport but a means, not an end. He played football as end, was captain of the track team and won many medals.
Mr. Kenna is a splended example of "Mens sana in corpore sano," and there is no doubt that the energy stored up in his younger days, is what makes possible the hustling life he now leads. Besides, his schoolmates say that he was of such quick, wide-awake nature
409
that he took in "through the pores" much that his chums labored to assimilate, and was not much handicapped when he left his High School course unfinished to cope with the practi- cal problems of life.
He became connected at once with the advertising department of several prominent trade papers, and represented them in this state for a period of six or seven years. He then was employed for four years in the advertising department of the New Haven Register, meanwhile preparing himself to enter Yale Law School, where he matriculated in 1902. During his course he supported himself by conducting an advertising agency, and was manager of the Yale Law Journal throughout his course. He was an important factor in putting this publication on a better basis than it had previously been. He doubled its cir- culation, as well as increasing the number of its pages. It now ranks with the foremost legal publications in America. He has continued its management since graduation. He was very much interested in debating, and became a member of the Kent Club, of which he was made secretary and afterwards vice-president.
On graduating in 1805, the "Shingle," which is the annual publication of the class, commented on his possession in a large degree of "the well-nigh extinct art of conversa- tion." The class voted him its most energetic member.
Mr. Kenna hung out his shingle, at first, at 157 Church Street, where were congregated a number of lawyers of the old school-Judge York, C. T. Driscoll, Judge Wolf, et als., from whose friendship and experience the young man profited. He also followed a post-graduate course at the Yale Law School in special subjects. In June, 1907, he took up his abode in more pretentious quarters in the Malley Building, overlooking the Green. In his brief career, he has had several important cases. He was the junior attorney for the plaintiff in the well-known Norton divorce case. His preference is for probate cases. An important case in this line was the settlement of the Joseph William Kindrigan estate, worth $60,000, in which Mr. Kenna represented a nephew, John Thomas Kindrigan. Very recently, Judge John W. Banks, of Bridgeport, appointed him receiver of the estate of Dennis Donovan, of Shelton, Conn., an important trust, and he has been trustee for several bankrupt estates.
Mr. Kenna is suited by his business and executive experience for the work of a cor- poration and commercial lawyer, and it is toward that branch of the legal craft that he par- ticularly leans. On the list of corporations successfully organized by him are the R. E. Bad- ger Laundry Company, the Connecticut Cigar Company, the New York and Connecticut News Bureau, the Associated Publishers of American Records, the Buckineers Company and Van Dyke & Company.
Mr. Kenna is a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Club of New York City, the Democratic Club, and the New Haven Business Men's Association. He is also a patron of the Edwin Bancroft Foote Boys' Club.
Mr. Kenna is a consistent Democrat and has done much for his party. He was chosen Alderman-at-Large at the last election, having received the largest number of votes of any candidate but one, and as a member of this body he has been appointed to the fol- lowing committees : Chairman of the Ordinance Committee, Claims, Legislation and Rail-
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roads and Bridges. He has recently been appointed a member of the Park Commission by Mayor James B. Martin.
He is firm in his devotion to his native city, and, believing that intellectual and social growth must rest on a firm foundation of material welfare, thinks it the duty of every can- didate for public office, to adapt the slogan of Former Mayor Fitzgerald of Boston, for a bigger, better, busier Boston into a "newer, neater, nobler New Haven."
4II
SENATOR JOHN F. SHANLEY, NEW HAVEN
Versatile and public-spirited, alert to the needs of the community and ready to bestir himself in their interests, the popularity of Senator John F. Shanley, of New Haven, among men of thought, can be readily explained. In his native city, he has been signally success- ful in all of his ventures; and by the force and power of his personality, has won high honor and distinction.
Senator Shanley was born in New Haven, October 29, 1861,-the son of Bernard and Susan (Morris) Shanley. He entered the public schools and after graduating from the grammar school, took the High School course which he completed with honor.
Business captured his attention, and he began a novitiate in the business world, master- ing all the tiny details so essential to success built on a solid foundation.
After several years of the most absorbing and thorough training, he opened a large dry goods and men's furnishing store, in which business he is still engaged.
Of pleasant address and sincere purpose, he forged ahead rapidly and his place is one of the best known of its kind in the City of Elms.
Of late years he has added a new line of activity to which he has given earnest atten- tion-the agency for several European steamships. Skill, foresight and unremitting and unfailing courtesy, have crowned his labors with success, and few men can boast so many loyal friends, with whom friendship was first founded in a purely business acquaintance.
The likable qualities in the man firmly impress themselves on the newcomer and he is the kind of man who "wears well" and always "rings true."
As a director of the Free Public Library of New Haven, he exhibited a zeal and warmth of interest highly commendable, and of a calibre which greatly pleased the best element of citizens. This was one of his favorite works and he fulfilled every obligation of his post with fidelity and acumen.
Always a Democrat in politics, Mr. Shanley has been much sought as a servant of the public. In 1892 and 1893, he gave excellent service as an alderman; and later as a member of the Board of Finance, he displayed a breadth of view and a whole-souled inter- est in the city's affairs, which was inspiring.
A man of his prominence in the ranks of business men, must needs count for much in such an organization as the New Haven Business Men's Association, and he is very active in that body.
When the Democrats of the Eleventh Senatorial District were seeking a good candi- date, in 1904, to represent the district in the next session of the General Assembly, they were favored in their efforts to gain the right sort of man, by the consent of Mr. Shanley to run. He was elected by a large majority.
So faithfully did he perform his duties, and so energetic and wide awake was he, that two years later, Democrats and Republicans alike clamored for his re-election, and he again served in 1907-08.
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He was a member of the Committee on Excise, which played an important role in that session of the Legislature and of the Committee on Senate Appointments. Again he has been nominated by his enthusiastic admirers in the Eleventh District this year.
Senator Shanley is married, his wife having been Mary A. Clerkin, daughter of Owen and Winnifred Clerkin. Their marriage was celebrated in New Haven, November 24, 1895, and one child, Mary, was born to them, February 7, 1897.
Of a social disposition, he has become affiliated with a number of fraternal bodies, among them being Sterling Lodge A. O. U. W .; Yale Conclave Order of Heptasophs ; Beacon Hill Lodge, Royal Arcanum; Wolfe Tone Club and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He is a prominent Roman Catholic and has always taken an active interest in church affairs.
As an all-round citizen, self-reliant, capable, courageous, in touch with progress in the state commonwealth and the municipality, he is held in high respect, and has endeared him- self to his constituency and a whole army of admiring friends.
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INDEX
A PAGE
PREFACE
3
ABORN, SENATOR ALONZO R., Norwich.
145
ALLEN, GEORGE I., Postmaster, Meriden. 389
ATWATER, SENATOR FRANCIS, Meriden. 269
AUSTIN, JOSEPH E., Building Inspector, New Haven. 345
B
BARNES, SENATOR ANDREW G., New Milford. IOI
BARNUM, SENATOR CHARLES W., Lime Rock. 97
BLAKESLEE, SENATOR DENNIS A., New Haven 55
BLAKESLEE, HON. RALPH N., Waterbury. 277
BOOTH, HORACE, New Britain. 357
Boss, GENERAL EUGENE S., Willimantic. 57
BRADY, SENATOR JOHN M., New Britain. 177
BRIGGS, SENATOR D. LUTHER, Middletown 93
BROOKS, SENATOR ISAAC W., Torrington 105
BROWN, SENATOR WILLIAM R., Bridgeport. 129
BUCKINGHAM, EDWARD T., Bridgeport. 257
BUELL, SENATOR HARLEY P., Colchester 14I
BUTTTERWORTH, SENATOR FRANK S., New Haven 173
C
CADWELL, WILLIAM H., New Britain. 229
CADY, REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED D., Plainville. 377
CAMP, HON. DAVID N., New Britain. 329
CHASE, SENATOR IRVING HALL, Waterbury 16I
CLARK, ALDERMAN FAYETTE C., Bridgeport. 225
CORBIN, HON. GEORGE W., New Britain. 321
COWLES, CHIEF HENRY D., New Haven. 369
D
DONNELLY, SENATOR JOHN M., Bridgeport 133
DONOVAN, SENATOR JEREMIAH, South Norwalk (data unobtainable)
DONOVAN, CAPTAIN JEROME F., New Haven. 401
E
ENGLISH, BENJAMIN RICE, New Haven.
185
F
FARREL, SENATOR ALTON B., Ansonia. 153
FITZGERALD, ATTORNEY DAVID E., New Haven. 265
FOLEY, FRANCIS W., Director Public Works, New Haven 349
414
G
PAGE GATES, SENATOR CHARLES A., Willimantic. .109 GIBBINS, JOHN, New Haven. 237
GRANT, SENATOR RALPH M., South Windsor. 73 GRAVES, EDWARD L., Bridgeport. 221
GREENE, REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE E., Berlin. 365
, GRISWOLD, CAPTAIN EDWARD, Guilford. 189
GRISWOLD, ROGER M., M.D., Berlin. 273
H
HADLEY, ARTHUR T., President Yale University, New Haven 17
HAGERTY, FRANK A., Hartford. 385
HALL, SENATOR GEORGE H., Bristol. 69
HARTMAN, HON. WILLIAM T., New Britain. 309
HEARN, EDWARD L., Supreme Knight K. of C., New Haven. 61
HENNEY, JUDGE WILLIAM F., Hartford. 197
HODGKINSON, SENATOR SAMUEL, Wallingford. 209
HOFFMAN, SENATOR CHARLES A., Danbury 125
HOLCOMB, HON. MARCUS H., Southington 33
HOMAN, SENATOR FRANKLIN L., New Haven 169
HOTCHKISS, COLONEL NORTON R., New Haven. 4I
HURLEY, SENATOR JOHN, Waterbury. 157
IVES, HON. FREDERICK A., Cheshire. I
353
JARVIS, COLONEL CHARLES M., New Britain. J 37
JUDSON, SENATOR STILES, Stratford .. I21
K
KEELER, HON. GEORGE W., Cheshire .. 245
KEENEY, SENATOR MAYRO, Somers. 85
KELLY, DANIEL F., Police Commissioner, New Haven. 361
KENNA, ATTORNEY FRANK, New Haven (sketch only ) 409
KENEALY, HON. MICHAEL, Stamford. 201
L
LAKE, LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR EVERETT J., Hartford. 13
LANYON, HON. JAMES R., Cheshire. 285
LEE, MAYOR HENRY, Bridgeport. 213
LEHR, REPRESENTATIVE FREDERICK L., New Haven. 305
LILLEY, HON. GEORGE L., Waterbury. 21
LUTHER, SENATOR FLAVEL S., President Trinity College, Hartford. 45
LYON, MAJOR WILLIAM H., Meriden 233
M
MAXWELL, Commissioner James R., New Haven. 217
MCGOVERN, SENATOR PATRICK, Hartford.
McNEIL, SENATOR ARCHIBALD, Bridgeport. 137
MIDDLETON, SENATOR HOWARD A., Broad Brook. 18I
415
PAGE
MITCHELL, HON. CHARLES E., New Britain
333
MOLLOY, ALDERMAN THOMAS H., New Haven 381 MULVIHILL, Ex-Mayor Denis, Bridgeport. 397
NAPHEY, JOHN H., Bridgeport. N
241
O'BRION, JOSEPH F., Assistant Building Inspector, New Haven. O 34I
OSBORN, JOHN A., Norwalk. 253
P
PAIGE, SENATOR ALLEN W., Bridgeport. 205
PEARCE, JOHN H., New Haven. 26I
PECK, HON. HENRY H., Waterbury 297
PHELPS, HON. L. M., Wallingford. 289
POTTER, SENATOR HENRY J., Woodstock II3
POTTER, HON. HUBERT F., North Haven 407
R
REID, JOSEPH H., Waterbury. 249
REYNOLDS, EX-MAYOR MARCUS L., Bridgeport. 393
ROCKWELL, REPRESENTATIVE ALBERT F., Bristol. 317
S
SHANLEY, SENATOR JOHN F., New Haven ( sketch only) 412
SHEPHARD, SENATOR ANDREW N., Portland. 89
SPELLACY, SENATOR THOMAS J., Hartford. 77
SPERRY, HON. N. D., New Haven. 27
STATES, HON. JAMES N., New Haven. 293
STODDARD, HON. WILLIAM B., New Haven. 30I STUDLEY, JUDGE JOHN P., New Haven. 49
T
THOMPSON, SENATOR CLARENCE E., New Haven. 165
TRAUT, HON. JUSTUS A., New Britain. 313
TYLER, HON. MORRIS F., New Haven. 193
VERDI, ANTHONY J., New Haven (sketch only) V 403
W
WALLER, SENATOR CHARLES B., New London '149
WALSH, SENATOR JAMES F., Greenwich. II7
WEEKS, HON. FRANK B., Middletown 53 WHITAKER, FREDERICK E., Town Clerk, New Haven. 337 WILKINSON, HON. JOHN, West Haven. 325
WOODRUFF, GOVERNOR ROLLIN S., New Haven. 7 WOODRUFF, REPRESENTATIVE WATSON S., Orange 28I
WRINN, EX-CHIEF JAMES, New Haven. 373
416
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