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 4
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He made a brilliant mayor and the six years of his administration from 1902 to 1908 witnessed many deeds tending to the welfare of the municipality. He was calm, sound of opinion, cautious yet courageous, always pleasant and easy of access, ever ready to sacrifice his personal interests and time to advance the cause of his city.
He commanded the ardent support and warm friendship not only of his colleagues in the Republican party but some of his closest and most admiring friends are to be found among his political opponents. That he has a strong personal following is proved by the fact that he was three times elected in a city normally Democratic.
Not content with thus honoring him, the voters of the New Haven probate district decided that they wanted this excellent official as the judge of their probate court and in the autumn of 1906 elected him by a substantial majority.
The unique condition then arose of a man acting as judge of the New Haven probate court and mayor of the city of New Haven at the same time, and the fact that he fulfilled both admirably, attests to the truth of the assertion that Judge Studley is a wonderful man.
He was born May 15, 1846, in the town of Sharon, Conn., a descendant of a famous old English family, members of whom were among the early settlers of New England.
In his youth, the parents of Judge Studley removed to Ansonia where he received his early education in the public schools.
When he reached the age of sixteen years, the whole country was aroused over the ter- rible civil strife, and the gallant youth gladly came forward and offered himself to serve his country enlisting from Derby, in Company B, 20th Connecticut V. I.
His record was honorable throughout and he served three years. His service was with the Army of the Potomac under General Hooker, and did valiant work at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg. Culp's Hill, Tracy City, Boyd's Trail, Resaca, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Peach Tree Creek, at the siege of Atlanta and numerous other important engagements.
After mustering out. June 13, 1865, Judge Studley resumed his school studies, for with him the thirst for education was unquenchable. He entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., to prepare for college, and was graduated in 1868.
Yale College attracted him and he entered in the autumn of that year, pursuing his stud- ies for two years. A position in the Navy Department at Washington, D. C., was offered him and he accepted, filling the position for three years.
After resigning this post, he entered Yale Law School from which he was graduated in 1875.
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During his entire college course, Judge Studley won the respect and affection of his col- lege mates, for he was gifted with a sunny disposition, which has never deserted him, and had the power of initiative to a remarkable degree.
This was demonstrated by the plucky manner in which he pursued his education, devoting himself to his duties and wasting but little time on the social life although naturally of the social, congenial disposition.
Admission to the bar in New Haven quickly followed his graduation from the Univer- sity, and he entered the office of the late Honorable George H. Watrous and advanced with creditable facility in his profession.
He was an admirable lawyer, his brain being of the right legal calibre, his judgment being clear and impartial, his utterance polished, suave and convincing. Back of all was the dogged persistence and sincerity of the man, and the blessed power of winning friends which has never failed him.
Soon after he began to practice law, he entered the field of politics, enlisting in the ranks of Republicanism. His first call to serve his fellow-men in a public way came when he was elected to the common council of New Haven in 1878.
After his first year as a member of the body, he was selected as president of the coun- cil, in which position he remained for a year.
Then followed his election to the board of aldermen where he served for a term of two years.
His progress in law and in politics was so certain and attracted so much attention that in 1881, he was elected by the state legislature as Assistant Judge of the New Haven City Court. In this capacity he served for two years and in January, 1883, won a well-merited promotion, being advanced to the Judgeship of this court, his term expiring in March, 1895.
In every position to which he was elected or appointed, Judge Studley has reflected honor on himself and all responsible for his promotion. In 1897 he was elected to the judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas of New Haven County.
As a judge, he is dignified, impartial and ideal. He has been called on to decide cases of grave moment and serious import and his decisions have revealed his breadth of view and the keenness of his mind.
Another office to which he has been appointed is that of assistant city attorney and he has carried into every position of trust, enthusiasm and capability.
Among his social affiliations Judge Studley is specially interested in the Knights of Honor. He is a member of Roger Sherman Lodge No. 323, and has acted as grand vice-dic- tator and has also been grand dictator of the grand lodge of Connecticut.
Judge Studley is married and has two daughters. His home is at 801 Elm Street, where he leads a quiet life, enjoying a perfect relaxation from the weighty cares which crowd into his daily existence.
He has achieved much and his life is rich and complete. Few men have so nearly realized their aims, and converted beautiful dreams into actualities.
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WHITER
66
----
Hon. FRANK B. WEEKS
HON. FRANK B. WEEKS, MIDDLETOWN
A weapon that comes down as still As snowflakes fall upon the sod ; But executes a freeman's will As lightning does the will of God.
Possibly the same writer at some time may have delved further into the definition of a "ballot," may have analyzed its full importance in this free country of ours, while we voters -with nothing higher in our minds than that the candidate whose name we see upon the bal- lot (we have been told), is a worthy seeker of the office-may cross this one or that one as our judgment dictates, we little realize the power that we are wielding. Your vote, to you, may seem a trivial power, but bestowed upon a candidate signifies to that candidate your respect for his judgment and being the one method which a community as a whole has of demonstrating its esteem for a fellow-man, that person, no matter how humble the office he may seek, should at all times and everywhere keep before his mind:
"I am a representative of my people. They have honored me,-I must honor them."
The Hon. Frank B. Weeks of Middletown, Conn., is just such a man. Quiet and unassuming, of sound business judgment, and with a reputation for fair dealing, Mr. Weeks is looked upon throughout the state of Connecticut as a very strong probability in our next gubernatorial campaign. Broad-minded, quick in thought and action, he has made himself known to such an extent that in 1906 he received in the Republican Convention 231 votes for Lieutenant-Governor. He is to-day indorsed by the rank and file of the Republican party of Connecticut.
Mr. Weeks was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1854, and his very early education was received at a private school in that city. In 1867, however, with his parents, Daniel L. and Frances M. (Edwards) Weeks, he moved to Middletown, thereupon entering the Middle- town High School. After graduating from there he entered a college prepar- atory school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and after returning to Middletown in 1874 (during the year the state was spending large sums of money on the Connecticut Hos- pital for the Insane, at Middletown), he was requested by the trustees to accept an appoint- ment as an assistant to the superintendent in the business management of the institution. After six years' service in this capacity he resigned to associate himself with Mr. George A. Coles in the wholesale grain and milling business under the firm name of Coles & Weeks (who succeeded the well known corporation of Union Mills).
During the following fifteen years his straightforward business methods gained for the firm of Coles & Weeks, a large number of customers who look upon Mr. Weeks as a personal friend and who, when the proper moment presents itself, will prove their friendship by the ballot.
In 1895 he retired from the milling business to attend to his personal affairs and other duties. He is now director of the Middletown Savings bank, director of the Middlesex Mutual Assurance Company, and for fifteen years he has been a trustee of the Connecticut
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Hospital for Insane. Mr. Weeks is also first president of the Middletown Board of Trade and has served for two years on the board of common council of Middletown.
Mr. Weeks was appointed by Governor Coffin to represent Connecticut at the Cotton States and International Exposition at Atlanta in 1895, and was one of Connecticut's presi- dential electors in the last electoral college and cast vote for Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
Mr. Weeks is not what might be called an enthusiastic clubman, but prefers home life. He is a member of the University and Colonial Clubs .of Middletown, however, and being largely interested in historical matters is a charter member of the Middlesex County Histori- cal Society.
Mr. Weeks is especially fond of good horses and dogs and wishes for no keener enjoy- ment than holding the reins over a well-bred "stepper." He is a thorough friend of the dumb animals and is interested in all humane movements toward their betterment.
While this volume is intended to outline briefly the events in the past lives of some of Connecticut's most prominent men, it might not be amiss if occasionally we took the liberty to look into the future and, judging by what some of our citizens have accomplished in that past, to predict now and then, what might be attained by some of our citizens in the course of the next few years.
In the case of Mr. Weeks it has already been predicted by those who seem to know, that he will without doubt occupy second position on the Republican ticket in 1908, and tak- ing this prediction as a fact we cannot but probe further into the future and foretell that he will undoubtedly act as our next lieutenant-governor.
Knowing the sterling worth of Mr. Weeks as a business man, and his ability to satisfy the requirements of those whom he will be chosen to represent, it is only fair to predict that his service in office will meet with the highest approval of the people of the state of Connecticut.
June 6, 1908.
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1
General EUGENE S. BOSS
GENERAL EUGENE S. BOSS, WILLIMANTIC
Every community is entitled to feelings of pride when one of its own sons climbs to a high position of great honor. It is usually harder for a young man to set himself up in a profession, or in an important business in his home town than anywhere else. It is the old story of the prophet who was not without honor save in his own country. Everybody knows "Jim" or "Bill," and they lack the prestige that less familiar persons with no greater ability are able to command.
"Vote for Jim for county attorney?" "Shucks, Jim and I used to play hookey, and go to the old swimming hole together! Make Bill manager of the company? Why, he was office boy when I was shipping clerk !"
But let him have sufficient power of personality, a native dignity and a determination to succeed, and he will climb in spite of the familiarity "that breeds contempt." Then when he is fairly ensconced in a high place, the tone changes, "Do you see that man going along there? That's Col. So-and-So. He's president of the railroad, mayor of the town, heaven knows what not; mighty smart chap. Born right around here, too. Oh, we do raise some good ones. Show you the farm where he was raised, if you like. We folks call him 'Jim' mostly. I remember the day he and I," etc.
Now that is the way they feel about General Eugene S. Boss, down in Willimantic. For he has not only risen to positions of distinction in his native town, but he is well known throughout the state.
Eugene Stowell Boss was born on Bridge Street in Willimantic on the 13th day of Jan- uary, 1842. We do not recall whether his birthday fell also on a Friday, but we feel quite convinced that it did, so fortunate has been his career. He attended the public schools of Willimantic, and though it is not recorded that he was an infant phenomenon or a prodigy, his neighbors remember him as a bright, capable lad, of a good-natured, happy disposition, more interested in things of the practical world than in book lore. His formal education did not extend beyond his 16th year, for in the summer of 1858 he entered into relations with the Willimantic Linen Co., that have continued unbroken until the present day, and which have grown more intimate and influential with the passing of the years. This company had been established but a few years at the time of his start with it, so that its life and development into the important concern, which it is to-day, are practically coincident with his service there. With the exception of five years, which he spent in New York, he has resided in Willimantic, so he is "one of them."
His first position was a modest one in the finishing department of the Willimantic Linen Co., but his natural adaptability to this work soon made itself apparent to his superiors, and he rose from grade to grade in the ranks. He has filled positions of large responsibility in all the departments, for he is not one to remain content with learning one job. He intended to know the whole business. Promotion comes as the day follows night to such men, for the more they know about the affairs of a concern the more imperative it becomes not to let them fall into rival hands. Gen. Boss became resident manager of the company some score of years ago, and being about as high as he could get there, began to broaden out a bit side-
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wise by assuming new responsibilities with other concerns. The list reads something like this :
Since 1884, he has been president of the Hall & Bill Printing Co. He was for a num- ber of years president of the Willimantic Electric Light Co., having been also the first presi- dent of the Citizens' Gas Light Co. of Willimantic. He has also figured as president of the Willimantic Fair Association. He is a director of the American Thread Co., a member of the advisory board and manager of the Willimantic mills. Finally he is secretary and treas- urer of the National Thread Co., and the Glasgow Thread Co.
So much for his business interests. It will be seen that his connection with concerns that do an international business, has put him into close contact with many of the leading spirits in the business world. Forty-five years' connection with a single firm has given him a business experience surpassed by few in New England.
Gen. Boss was married on May 17, 1866. His bride was Miss Arabella Alpaugh, daughter of George V. Alpaugh of Little York, N. J. They have had four children, of whom two, Austin Dunham and Helen, are still living in Willimantic. They lost a daughter, Estella A., in childhood. A second son, Harry E., died on the threshold of young manhood.
Gen. Boss is a loyal supporter of the Republican party. He not only supports it, but is one of its leaders, and has been for many years.
He made his debut before the public as a representative to the General Assembly from the town of Windham in 1877. He did it again in 1891. Meanwhile, he had served two years in the Senate, in 1882-3. Before that he had the honor of being one of the presidential elec- tors from Connecticut, and as such, cast a vote for President James A. Garfield. In 1902, he was honored with membership in the Constitutional Convention of 1902.
Gen. Boss is a member of Eastern Star lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M., at Willimantic.
From the above, it is easy to see why the residents of Willimantic take the sort of pro- prietary interest which they do in General Boss. For he is a home product, and they are grateful to him for a life spent in the industrial development of their town, at the same time reflecting upon them the political honors he has obtained for himself.
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لياليالعيد
STORE
EDWARD L. HEARN
EDWARD L. HEARN, NEW HAVEN
Supreme Knight K. of C.
"There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune ; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries."
The rise from a simple position with a commercial house, to the head of an organiza- tion known throughout the length and breadth of our Country is always interesting, although it is quite within the possibilities in this land of wide-open opportunity. Still to have done so, marks a man as being endowed with qualities far above the average, and it is instructive to note what they are, and how he used them. The man who suggests the above reflections at this time is Mr. Edward L. Hearn .. He was born in Boston, Mass., August 2, 1865. He attended the public schools of the Hub, and, thus well-fitted, stepped out into the business world to make a name and place for himself. He entered the wholesale shoe business of Hosmer, Codding & Co. of his native city, and soon became one of their most active sales- men. His clean-cut, energetic, personal appearance won him the immediate confidence of prospective clients, while the certainty of fair treatment and honest goods kept for him his old customers. A genial, open manner, a frank, handsome face made him everywhere welcome as he traveled from place to place in the pursuit of his business, and people found out that he was as pleasant a man to meet in the social hours as he was square and straightforward during business hours. To his experience as traveling salesman, he owes much of his present success, for it gave him the ability to feel at home in whatever surroundings circumstances placed him ; to meet men easily and on a footing of equality ; and best of all, to read at a glance the true worth of a man, to know how far to trust him, which ones to make friends of. We see then that the first steps in the progress upwards are simple; simple to observe, I mean, not so simple to do. They consist in doing one's duty day by day with all one's might ; in living out in the daily task the life within. In the words of Polonius,
"To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man."
Still, there are thousands of young men who work hard and conscientiously all their lives, and who lay down their arms for the long bivouac with the same rank at which they started; viz., high private in the rear ranks. Besides capacity for untiring work, there must exist the intelligence to perceive exceptional opportunities as they pass.
One of these, a slight one at first, presented others in quick succession. Mr. Hearn became interested in the Boston Lodge of Knights of Columbus. It appealed to him in a way that is characteristic of him ; first, because he was a "good fellow," and was bound to ally himself with some social organization, as the steel seeks the magnet; second, because
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it was a practical thing to do, for membership in some good fraternity means facility in doing one's work, and is practically indispensable to a traveling salesman; thirdly, the insurance feature of the order appealed to him as of fundamental importance to a prudent man.
Once in the order, he spent his leisure moments studying carefully and deeply into this matter of insurance. He delved into statistics, into the legal aspects of the question, all the while learning the executive end of it in the actual workings of the local lodge. This stood him in good stead, for he was soon recognized as one of the best posted men in the Chapter, and as occasion offered, he advanced from post to post until he was honored with the Grand Knightship of the Boston Council. During all this time he worked as devotedly for its interests, as he did for his business. This inevitably brought him to the notice of the larger body, and he was one day called to assume responsibilities as head of the State Council. Eight years ago, he was elected Supreme Knight of the Order, standing at last upon the topmost pinnacle within the order. From that day he stepped out into a larger life, for in the performance of his duties, he is brought into close contact with many of the biggest men in the country, and began doing things on a large scale. For each suc- cessive advance has not been in the direction of soft snaps, but of more and more unre- mitting toil.
"The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight; But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night."
A glance at the status of the Order of the Knights of Columbus at the time when Mr. Hearn stepped into the Big Chair, will show that the Supreme Knight has amply shown the wisdom of his choice and maintenance in office.
The organization was founded in the City of New Haven, Conn., something like twenty-five years ago. It grew rapidly in favor in that City, and had a steady normal growth in the State, and by the time of Mr. Hearn's accession, was well and favorably known all over New England. It had a membership of about 33,000 distributed among three hundred councils. To-day it boasts thirteen hundred councils, with a membership of two hundred thousand. In other words, it has quadrupled the number of councils, and more than quadrupled the membership. The order has spread not only beyond the con- fines of New England, but also into foreign countries ; viz.,. Canada and Mexico, and has obtained a footing in our Philippine possessions. It is believed that this growth would not have been possible but for the detailed knowledge of insurance matters possessed by the Supreme Knight.
Mr. Hearn is a scholar and an orator of unusual ability, and he has delivered addresses all over the Continent, at times sharing the platform with men of world-wide note, including the President of the United States. He was a guest of the Presidential party at the opening of the Jamestown Exposition. At the National Convention held in the sum- mer of 1907 at Jamestown, he was elected for his fifth consecutive term of two years.
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Another honor was conferred on him by Congress, when, during the last session, after vot- ing to spend $100,000 for a beautiful and appropriate memorial statue of Christopher Columbus, Mr. Hearn was appointed a member of the Committee of Five, which was to attend to all the details of plan and execution of the statue.
The new national headquarters of the Knights of Columbus, on Chapel Street, New Haven, was erected and dedicated under the personal supervision of Supreme Knight Hearn.
New honors, and, of course, new responsibilities, have come to him during the past year, when he was elected second Vice-President, Director and Member of the Executive Commit- tee of the Casualty Insurance Company of America. He will have the entire charge of the Personal Accident and Health Departments.
This opportunity came as the result of the splendid work he is doing in insurance lines for the Knights. We can prophesy that Mr. Hearn will perform his new duties with his characteristic thoroughness, and that in the performance of them, as in the past, he will make friends all along the way.
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مـ سـ
Senator DENNIS A. BLAKESLEE
.
SENATOR DENNIS A. BLAKESLEE, NEW HAVEN
Bearing the name of a splendid ancestry, Senator Dennis A. Blakeslee has spent his life in adding fame and lustre to the family's record of achievement and as a citizen and man of public affairs, has reached the high places in life.
Since the early days of Connecticut the Blakeslee family has held a proud position among the representative citizens of this state and has taken an important part in the rise of New Haven.
His father, Charles Wells Blakeslee, came to New Haven at the age of ten years and made his home on George Street, when that site of handsome residences was but a cow path and the neighboring land was but a pasture. Here he engaged in farming on the land now occupied by Grace Hospital.
He rose to a position of distinction among the contractors of the city, and one by one associated with himself his several sons, until to-day, after the lapse of many years, the firm of C. W. Blakeslee & Sons is one of the best known and most highly regarded in New Eng- land.
By his two marriages, thirteen children were born to him, and of these Senator Blakeslee is the eldest of the second marriage, his mother having been Mrs. Martha Jane Blair.
Senator Blakeslee was born in New Haven in the year 1856 and has spent practically all of his life in the City of Elms, winning year by year the respect and esteem of his com- panions and associates in boyhood, youth and manhood.
His book education was obtained in the public schools, but the hours outside the school time were also filled to the brim, for young Blakeslee was an active, energetic and valuable aid to his father, and much of the most enduring part of his education was obtained through work and experience of men and affairs.
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