G. I. Mix & Co., where he worked in the polish-
ing department. For a second time he became at-
tached to the auger factory, and there remained
until 1863, when he bought a farm in the town
of Meriden, consisting of a tract of thirty acres.
On this place he made many substantial and per-
manent improvements, and there for over thirty
3'ears was engaged in farming and dairying, with
the most satisfactory results. His herd of cows
increased until it became one of the most extensive
in the town. He died on his farm Oct. 18, 1900,
and was buried at Walnut Grove cemetery, Meri-
den.
'Mr. Haas was one of the organizers of the
Lutheran Church in Meriden. and was always an
active worker in its behalf. In politics he was a
Democrat, with independent proclivities. He be-
longed to Teutonia Lodge, No. 95, I. O. O. F.,
and the German Mutual Aid Society. Well known
as an honest, industrious man, he was highly es-
teemed in the community in which he lived.
Mr. Haas was married in Yalesville, May 14,
1854, to Margaret Bader, a German compatriot,
who came to this country on the same ship which
brought him over. Mrs. Haas was born May 7,
1829, a daughter of George and Katherine (Brown)
Bader, and died Jan. 17, 1896, and was buried in
Walnut Grove cemetery. She was a member of
the Lutheran Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Haas
were born three children, namely: Henrv W. ;
Albert Frederick, who died .Aug. 16, 1879, ^t the
age of twenty-two years, from the effects of a fall
from a load of hay; and Katie ?>., who is at home.
Hexry W. H.\.\s was born ^larch 14, 1855, in
Tracy, where he attended the district school.
When he became a young man he engaged in farm-
ing and dairying, with his father, and has now
charge of the homestead. He is a skilled and pro-
L^ressive farmer, and is rapidly winning a place
among the most successful dairymen of this part
of the State.
Henry W. Haas married Mary C. Duis, who
was born in 1880, in New Orleans, daughter of
Herman C. Duis, a police officer of Meriden. They
have a family of three children : Mabel M., Ida
Katie and George H. Mr. Haas belongs to the
Masonic fraternity, and is enrolled in Center
Lodge, No. 87. He is also affiliated with Teutonia
Lodge, No. 95, I. O. O. F., and belongs to the
German Mutual Aid Society. In political matters
CO
â–º=1!
W
a
CO
CO
EC
O
C5
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD:
"49
he takes an indeijcndent staml, tliough preferring
to act with the Democratic party. In the com-
munity he stands well, and is highly regarded by
all who know him.
.\Li;i':K'r CHAX1)L1:R QJE, one of the most
popular and successful of West Haven's younger 1
business men, whose home has been in that town
since 1878, was born June 21, 1864, in Bethany,
now Beacon Falls, Conn. His course in the common
schools was sup])Iementcd by two years' attendance
at the high school in West Haven, and at the age
of sixteen he was given a clerkship in a banking
house, remaining there four years ; after that period
he entered the employ of L. Candec & Co., of New
Haven, manufacturers of rubber boots and shoes,
with which concern he is still identified. His busi-
ness career affords a noteworthy illustration of the
success which attends capability and fidelity. Be-
ginning in a clerical capacity, he has steadily mount-
ed the ladder of oflficial promotion. For several
years he acted as purchasing agent, for five years 1
filled the dual position of secretary and assistant
treasurer, and is at the present time treasurer of the
company. He is also director in and secretary of
the Shoe Hardware Co., of Waterbury, Connecticut.
On Oct. 19, 1887, Mr. Coe married Miss Mary
Frederika Ward, and six children have been born to
them, as follows: Frederick Julius, Marie Eliza-
beth, Katherine, Albert Douglas, Esther Louise and
Charles Anson. Mrs. Coe's family is one of the
oldest and most esteemed in West Haven. She is the
granddaughter of Jacob Ward, and the daughter of
Capt. Frederick S. Ward, a sea captain sailing to
the West Indies, who died in New Haven, at the
age of fifty years, and was buried in West Haven,
the town of his birth. Mrs. Coe's mother was Mary
E. Stevens, whose family settled in West Haven
about 1700. Mrs. Coe is one of a family of seven
children, five of whom are yet living, viz. : Fred-
erick S., Jr., of New Haven; Elliott., of Chicago;
Harry K.. of West Haven : Josephine, the widow of
Charles 1'. \\hitney, of that town; and Mrs. Coe.
In private life Albert C. Coe is a genial and com-
panionable man, fond of company, and faithful to
every obligation. He built his present residence —
one of the finest in the village — in 1893, and there
he and his wife dispense a generous and refined
hospitality. Both are communicants in Christ Epis-
copal Church, and Mr. Coe is senior warden in the
same, to which office he was elected in 1897. Fra-
ternally he is a high Mason, and Past Master of
Annawon Lodge. Xo. 115. West Haven, Conn., be-
sides being a member of the Chaml>er of Commerce
and the Union League Club, of New Haven, and of
the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the Ameri-
can Revolution.
The Coe family is descended from Robert Coe,
a native of -Suft'olkshire. England, born there in
1506, married .\nna (or Hannah) , born
in 1591,
John, Robert and Benjamin, born about 1626, 1627
and 1629 — came in the ship "Frances," in 1634. Mr.
Coe was of Boston and Watertown, Mass., and of
Wethersfield and Stamford, Conn., and of Hemp-
stead, L. I., removing with his family to the latter
place in 1644. He died in 1659.
(II) Robert Coe (2), son of Robert, born in
England about 1627, married Susanna , and
settled in Stratford, Coini., in 1654, where he died
in 1659.
(ill) John Coe, only son of Robert (2), born
May 10, 1658, in Stratford, married Dec. 20, 1682,
Mary, daughter of Joseph Hawley, of Stratford.
Mr. Coe died April 19, 1741.
(I\") Ebenezer Coe, son of John, born Aug. 18,
1704, married June I, 1727, ^lary Blackman, and
died in Stratford in 1766.
(V) John Coe (2), son of Ebenezer, born Sept.
18, 1729, located when a young man in Derby,
Conn. He married, Sept. 8, 1755, Hannah, daugh-
ter of John Chatfield. Mr. Coe resided in the old
village of Derby, and died in 1783.
(\T) John Coe (3), son of John (2), born
March 27, 1764, married Aug. 17, 1785, Ruth, born
March 31, 1765, daughter of Isaac Johnson.
(VII) John Allen Coe, son of John (3), born
Sept. 8, 1792, married, May 10, 1812, Grace, daugh-
ter of Joseph and Esther Smith. Mr. Coe died
Sept. 23, 1849, and his wife passed away Jan.
21, 1869.
(VIII) John Coe (4), son of John Allen, born
in Bethany Aug. 18, 1815, and spent his early school
days there, later running the tannery. He sold the
tannery and removed to Derby, and after a time
returned to Bethany (now Beacon Falls), where he
built a new tannery. About ten years prior to his
death he came to New Haven and engaged in the
leather business imder the firm name of Ensign &
Coe. He sold out to Mr. Ensign, and then removed
to Derby, and was appointed treasurer of the Housa-
tonic Water Company. At the time of his death
he was overseeing the building of a reservoir. On
Sept. 3, 1837, he married Mary Hoadley, of Nauga-
tuck, Conn., and their children were: (i) Julius
Curtis, born Aug. 6, 1838. (2) Frances Augusta,
born July 28, 1840, married, Sept. 26, i860. Rev.
Bennett Tyler Abbott. (3) John Allen, born Nov.
18, 1844. (4) Charles Hoadley, born Nov. 19,
1849, died in June, 1900. (5) George .-Mbert, born
Aug. 5, 1854, died Oct. 13, 1835. (6) Benjamin
Lee, born Jan. 27, i860, ^[r. John Coe was a good
representative of the Coe family. In his later years
he made Birmingham his residence, and was es-
teemed among the useful and most exemplary citi-
zens. He was a consistent Methodist, walking after
the example of his first ancestor and namesake in
Derby ; one of his peculiar traits l.>eing to watch and
care for, in a quiet way. tlie poor of the community.
He died greatly respected, Dec. 15, 1876.
(IX) Julius Curtis Coe. son of John (4), born
in Bethany Aug. 6, 1838, married, Oct. 8, i860.
7SO
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Elizabeth Dougal Wakelee, and their children are:
Alljcrt Chandler, born June 21, 1864; and Rollin
Wakelee, born Jan. uj, 18(7, connected with Coe &
lirown, of New Haven. Julius Curtis Coe was
educated in Birmingham and Jiethany. Six genera-
tions of the family have engaged in the leather busi-
ness, and he was no exception. He learned the
business with his father in Bethany, and later he and
his brother, John Allen Coe, carried on the business.
Julius C. Coe became the first town clerk, and treas-
urer of Beacon Falls, July, 1871, and so continued
until his removal to West Haven in 1878; he repre-
sented the town in the Legislature in 1877. In 1878
he engaged in business with Harris l£ames, and later
the style became H. Eanies & Co.; in 1884 the firm
name became Coe & Brown. Mr. Coe's church con-
nections, since his removal to West Haven, have
been with the M. E. Church of that place. Socially
he is a member of Harmony Lodge, L O. O. F., and
Savin Rock Lcxlge, Royal Arcanum. He has been a
Kepul)lican all his life.
FRANK F. CHANDLER, who is to be men-
tioned in any summary of the successful and pro-
gressive citizens of New Haven, was born in that
city, Nov. 2. 1858, a son of Frank Chandler, who
was born in Germany.
I'rank ¥. Chandler attended the New Haven
public schools, and for about a year was employed
as a clerk in the store of Lum & Rodick. This was
followed by about a year in a tailoring store, and
then he learned the tool making trade under the in-
struction of his uncle, Frank P. Pfleghar, with whom
he remained eight years. At the expiration of that
time he went to Cleveland, Ohio, with Henry C.
Flartz, builder of machinery and light tools. F"or
one year he continued in the employ of that gentle-
man, when he entered the employ of the White
Sewing Machine Co., remaining a year. In 1883
he returned to New Haven, and took a position in
the model room of the Winchester Repeating Arms
Co. Here he remained until 1890, when he became
contractor with the company, a position he has held
to the present time. On Oct. 3, 1883, Mr. Chandler
was married to Lena M. Arnold, wlio was born in
New Haven, a daughter of Joseph Arnold, a na-
tive of Gennany. A family of five children was
born of this union : Alma, Ferdinand, Arthur and
Edward, who are now living. One son, h'rank, the
first born, died at the age of four and a half years.
Mr. Chandler is independent in politics, in religion
belongs to St. Boniface Church, where his family
also attend service.
J- rank Chandler, the father, as noted above, was
born at Landstal. Bavaria, Nov. 25, 1828, a son of
Michael Chandler, who was in the German Postal
service, an
Chandler grew up in the Old Country, where he
learned the shoemaker's trade. In March, 1854,
he came to this country, and making his appearance
in New Haven the foliowing July, this has been his
home to the present time. Here he has followed
the trade of shoemaker all his life, and when he
was fifty years of age gave up active business. Mr.
Chandler was married .Aug. 6, 1854, to Elizabeth
Clemens, a German compatriot, who died Oct. 14,
1859. To this union were born three children:
Elisa. who ilied in 1859 • ^lary, who married Chris-
tian Richard, of New Haven ; and Frank F. For
his second wife Mr. Chandler married Mary E.
Rutz, who was born in the same place in Germany,
and they have had five children : Theckla, wife of
R. L. Kraus, of Marshfield, Wis. ; John J., who is
married and lives in New Haven ; George W., who
is deceased ; Catherine, deceased ; Louise L., wife of
Paul L. Baer, of New Haven.
^Ir. Chandler is a Democrat, and has served on
the board of relief fourteen years. He is a member
of the St. Boniface Church.
FREDERICK DOl'GLAS SLOANE, a well-
known citizen of Meriden, where he is engaged in
business as a cigar and tobacco dealer, was born in
Rahway, N. J., August 18, 1851, son of the late
Andrew Sloane, and a brother of James R. Sloane,
of Meriden.
F'rederick D. Sloane was educated in the city
schools of Thonipsonville, Conn., to which point he
was taken by his parents when an infant, and at
the age of eleven years worked on a farm of Eli
Pease, of Enfield, Conn., receiving for his labor his
board, clothes and the privilege of attending school
during the winter months. After four years with
Mr. Pease he removed to Broad Brook, where he
worked as a farm hand for one year, aiid was th.-n
associated as a weaver with the Hartford CarpM
Co., at Thonipsonville, in the ingrain department.-
He was with this company for about a year, and
then went to Springfield, to learn the tinner's trade
with Simpson Clark, but on account of illness he
soon had to give up and return home. Later he
secured a position as a clerk with S. Parsons, of
Thonipsonville, and spent a short time with him,
after which he became clerk in_ the general hou.se-
furnishing store of Niles Pease, of Thonipsonville,
where he was head clerk for ten years. This posi-
tion he resigned to become a partner with his broth-
ers in the grocery business, continuing with them
until the business was suspended, in June, 1882.
After tliis experience Mr. Sloane came to Meriden,
to take a position as clerk with the New York. New
Haven & Hartford Railway Co., which he filled for
two years, and was then appointed cashier of the
freight department. For fifteen years he held that
position, resigning in 1900 to accept a position with
the freight department of the H. Wales Lines Co.,
which he very creditably filled two years. In Janu-
ary, 1902, he purchased his present business, on
West Main street, and resigned his ])osition to give
personal attention to the new venture. His wide
acquaintance and well-known business ability prom-
ise to secure and hold a remunerative trade.
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
751
Mr. Sloanc was married in December, 1871, to
Abbie M. Lacey, a daughter of Henry J. and Cath-
erine (Jolinson) Lacey, both of whom were natives
of Leicestershire, England. Mrs. Sloane's father,
who was a stockinet weaver, died in Thompsonville ;
lie was a member of the Episcopal Church, and in
politics was a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Sloane
have had one child, Lena, who married Richard
lleckel. a conductor on the Electric Railway, and
had one child, Mildred Abbie, now an exceedingly
bright and winsome girl; ^^Ir. Meckel died in July,
1900, and his remains rest in Walnut Grove ceme-
tery. '
'.Mr. Sloanc is a member of the Knights of
Honor, of Meriden, and in politics is a Republican,
but no office seeker. In his dail}- walk and conversa-
tion he lives close to the Golden Rule, and is a good
man, well liked and very popular in the community.
.\H'(S. .\RTMUR :\L BROOKS, a pleasing con-
tralto vocalist of Meriden, whose maiden name was
Jennie Emma Hill, is a member of a family whose
ancestral history extends back to 1674, the first of
the name in this country having come to the Colonics
about that date.
This founder of the Hill family was named John,
and was born in North Hampshire, England, and
upon his arrival in the New World took up his
residence in Guilford, Conn. Here he spent a long
and useful life, engaged in agricultural pursuits,
dying in i68y. liis second wife was Catherine
Chalkcr, a daughter of Alexander Chalker, born
Sept. 8, 1652, and married Sept. i^,. if'73- Eour
chUdren were born to this union : John, Jairies,
Sr.rah and Elizabeth, the last named marrying James
'lip])ing.
(II) John Hill (J), the son of John ( 1), mar-
ried Thankful Stowc, who was Ijorn in May, 1648,
and died Nov. 18, 171 1. He died .May 8. 1690, and
both are interred at Guilford. They left seven chil-
dren.
(HI) John Hill (3), .son of John (2), was bom
July 12. 1672. and, like his father, spent his days
in Guilford, where he died Feb. 10. 1740, having
married Hannah Highland, who was born Jan. 29,
1670, and died .May 19, 1752. Eight children were
born of this marriage.
(IV) Thomas Hill, the second son of Jtjhn (3),
was born Sept. 27, 1708, and was engaged in farm-
ing and fishing in Guilford, where he was a well-
known and prominent citizen. His death occurred
I""eb. 23, 1792, and his remains were interred in the
old cemetery in Guilford. He married. May 23,
1734, Hannah I'.rinsen. of Bridgehampton. who died
May 6, 1791. To this union four children were
born.
(V) Thomas Hill, the only son and the youngest
of the family, was born March 20, 1743. and fol-
lowed the same occupations as his father, becoming
a soldier in the Continental army, and faithfully
])erforming his duties as a citizen until his death,
April 4, 1820. On Oct. 13, 1767, he married Eliza-
beth Fairchild, who died Feb. 20, 1812, and was
buried in Guilford. The children of this marriage
were: Thomas, born Nov. 16, 1770, died Dec. 10,
1827; William, born April 29, 1773, died Sept. 13,
1832: Anson, born April 13, 1775, married Polly
-Arnold; Mary, born l"eb. 4, 1781, married .\le.xan-
der McOuilla.
(\ I) Thomas Hill, son of Thomas {2), was
born in Guilford Nov. 16, 1770, and was a farmer
and fisherman, spending his life in his native town.
He died Dec. 10, 1827. On Nov. 10, 1794, he mar-
ried Roxanna Benton, who was born Sept. 10, 1776,
and the children born to this marriage were: Will-
iam, born in April, 1796, married Laura Blakeslce,
and died in January, 1878; George, born in May,
1798, married Rebecca Norton, and died in Novem-
ber, 1877; Thomas, born Nov. 16, 1800; Clarinda,
born ilay i, 1803, married William Drugin ; Ralph,
born Aug. 25. 1805, died Aug. 6, 1881, married
I Deney Ives; Reuben, born Feb. 23, 1808, died in
April, 1887; Almira, born in October, 1810, mar-
ried Alfred Allen ; and Edward, born in August,
1813, married Laura Ann Hull.
(\TI) Thomas, son of Thomas (3), was the
great-grandfather of Mrs. Brooks, and was born in
Guilford Nov. 16, 1800. He spent his life there,
and died in 1879, '^'^ remains resting in the old
Crtiilford cemetery. He married Mary Morse, who
died in Guilford, leaving a son, William.
(VIH) William, son of Thomas (4), in his
boyhood attended school in his native place, but at
the age of fifteen went to Wallingford, where he
learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade with Capt.
Butler Ives, and followed that calling several
years. He engaged in the manufacture of wood
combs, brushes, spools and tof)th-brushes, in the
North Farms district, for a considerable period.
^Ir. Hill bought a farm of sixty acres, which he
operated, with his sons, and they also carried on a
business of wood-turning, under the firm name of
William Hill & Sons, remaiiling in North Farms
until the grandfather's death. Jan. 26, 1878. Tak-
ing a more prominent part in the affairs of his town
than did the others of his family. Mr. Hill repre-
sented Wallingford in the Legislature, and filled the
office of Major on the General Training days. A
lifelong Democrat and a leading member of the
Baptist Church, he was widely known and much
respected. William Hill was married to Susan Hull,
of Wallingford. and four children were born to
them: Byron, who is engaged in farming in W'all-
ingford ; William, deceased ; I-'ranklin, who is con-
ducting a sawmill and manufacturing vinegar in
Wallin^gford (he married Hannah \. Fenn. a native
of North Farms) ; and Oliver, an ice-dealer
in Wallingford. who marne
' a daughter of Joel Wheeler, and to this
marriage one child was born, Carrie D. Mrs.
Hill died June i, 1876, and was buried in Walling-
ford.
75:
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
(W) l-"ranklin Hill, the son of William, is a
prominent business man of \\ allingford, and his
estiniable wife was a daughter of Abner and Mary
E. (,Tuttle^ Fenn. (See Fenn history in another
portion of this volume.;
Jennie E. (.H'l'J J^ruoks is the only living child
of her parents, and is a lady of culture and high at-
tainments, who has devoted herself to the periection
of her magnificent vocal powers. During lier child-
hood Mrs. Brooks attended school in \\ allingford,
and at an early age began the training of her voice,
siud\ ing under Mr. Charles IJonncy, of New Haven,
and later with -Mrs. liattie Clapper Morris, of New
York. After having sung for some time, Mrs.
Brooks was, at the early age of si.Kteen years, en-
gaged bv the First Congregational Church of Meri-
den, and' after a few years by the New Britain South
Congregational Church, but is now a member of the
First Congregational Churdi Quartet of Meriden.
Mrs. Brooks is a vocalist of note, and one of the
leading musical artists of Meriden and the surround-
ing district. On May 7, 1889, she was married to
Mr. Arthur M. Brooks, of Meriden, a well-known
and popular gentleman, who is one of the trusted
salesmen of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing
Co. To this marriage four children have been born :
Agnes Louise, Arthur Hill, Marsden Todd and
Howard Thomas. Socially she is a member of the
Susan Carrington Clark Chapter, D. A. R., a«d
though engaged as she is in her professional duties,
she is a most devoted mother and wife, and her
charming family bears testimony to her faithfulness
in caring for the little ones entrusted to her guid-
ance, and in making for them and her husband an
ideal home.
WILLIAM D. BENNETT. There are few citi-
zens of Meriden occupying positions of more respon-
sibility than that filled by William D. Bennett, the
efficient engineer for the Connecticut School for
Boys, and who is also the overseer of the water,
gas and steam apparatus in that great institution.
Mr. Bennett was born at F'eltham, Suffolk, Eng-
land, Aug. (J, 1848, son of George Bennett. The
death of his mother, when he was but an infant,
left him without her fostering care, but the father
did his best for him. He went to school and re-
mained on the farm with his father until he was
thirteen years old, at which time he secured a posi-
tion on a threshing engine, as water boy. This
suited the lad very well, as he had a natural inclina-
tion toward mechanics, and by 1867 there was little
knowledge about the running of an engine that he
lia«l not ac(|uired. He had a half-brother located
at Sherbrouke, Quebec, and as soon as he could ac-
complish it our subject sailed for Canada, with the
intention â– ' ' l' his way in the line of engineer-
ing. ,\t ke he secured a position on the
(jrand Triiiik Kailroad as a switchman, ninl later
wn= prinii.tfil tn thr- pn<;ition of fireman, spending
t' iitinuallv learnintr more
and more about engines. Then he came to Appo-
naug, R. I., where he worked as helper in an engine
repair shop, operated by Jordan, Marsh & Co., of
Boston. He was subsequently appointed to take
charge of the engine in their printing department,
remaining with that responsible firm for a period
of nine years. The two succeeding years he spent
as night engineer in the Rhode Island Reform
School. It was in 1884 t'l^l^ -^i''- iiennett was ten-
dered his present position and urged to accept it,
and here he has continued for the past eighteen
years, devoted to the faithful performance of his
duty, trusted by his employers, and fully compre-
hending the great responsibility resting upon him.
The equipment of the tstablishnieiU is large, and has
been much improved under Mr. Bennett's adminis-
tration. As a careful and accurate engineer, he can-
not be surpassed, and he has many friends in the in-
stitution and also in the city.
Mr. Bennett was married, in Meriden, Conn., in
1891, to .Margaret A. Canole, who was born in Ire-
land. She passed aw'ay June 18, 1901, and was
buried in the Sacred Heart cemetery, in Meriden,
she having been a consistent member of St. Rose's
Roman Catholic Church. In political sentiment Mr.
Bennett is independent. His religious connection is
with the Episcopal Church.
JOHN ELAM WARNER, one of the leading
farmers and dairymen of Highwood, New Haven
county, comes from one of the oldest and most
numerously represented families in Hamden. The
Warners have for generations borne an honoretl
name, and our subject has shown himself to be the
type of citizen capable of worthily sustaining it on
the same lofty plane.
Mr. Warner was born in Hamden July 16,
1842, on the farm wdiere John Keepe now lives.
His father, Horace Warner, and his grandfather.
Elam Warner, were both natives of Hamden.
Horace Warner was a prosperous farmer, a high-
ly respected citizen, and well known in his town.