his bride of a few months, and, embarking in the
sailing vessel "Atmosphere," at Liverpwol, came to
America. From New York he came to Nauga-
tuck, where he obtained employment in a cutlery
factory, and spent six years at knife making. The
ambition to better his condition inspired him to
leave this factory tor one in the same line at Goshen,
Litchfield Co., Conn., where he remained two
years, and he then returned to Naugatuck, remain-
ing until 1873. In that year he assumed a position
in the knife making department of the Miller Bros.
Cutlery Co., at Meriden, but after a few years re-
moved to Scuthington, Conn., and spent ten years in
the same business. In 1887 he determined to risk
the savings of years in a business of his own, and
accordingly started in the furniture business. Not
meeting with anticipated success, he removed after
three years to Meriden, where his natural ability
came to the rescue, and in the midst of advantageous
surroundings built up a good business in a store on
Center street. His bright and genial manners won
friends and customers from the start, and honor-
able business methods gained substantial footing
in the commercial world, so that, in a comparatively
short time, patrons came not only from Meriden,
but from Wallingford and other neighboring towns.
Three years passed, and then, as if to teach by ad-
versity the blessings of prosperity, his store was
burned. Nothing daunted, Mr. Woolley built his
present fine three-story building, 100x140 feet, in
ground dimensions, costing over $10,000, where he
has a complete house furnishing establishment, and
in connection therewith a large warehouse. Twelve
hands are employed and kept constantly busy, and a
liberal patronage has rewarded increasing toil.
Having so keen a sense of honesty himself, Mr.
Woolley insists that his clerks be absolutely truthful
in the representations of stock, and he himself is
always the same courteous gentleman, profoundly
considerate of all with whom he has to deal. With
an education gained in the school of experience and
by his own reading and observation, he is broad-
minded and well-posted on general topics, a fine
conversationalist and very popular socially.
Mr. Woolley was wedded in England, Feb. 28,
1864, to Ellen Winter, a native of Sheffield, and
daughter of Edward Winter. Their living children
are: William E., a clerk in his father's store, mar-
ried Lizzie Folkson; Louisa is the wife of Robert
Brandt, of Bridgeport; Thomas, employed by his
father, married Cora Bailis; Henrietta is a book-
keeper in her father's establishment ; Joseph is «lso
employed by his father; George is a student in the
Business College at Hartford. Mrs. Woolley is a re-
fined and cultured woman, a devoted wife and
mother, to whose sympathy and help her husband
owes much of his success in life. In religious
connection the family is identified with the Meth-
odist Church. Politically Mr. Woolley is a Repub-
lican, but can by no means be called an office seeker.
Socially he belongs to Pacific Lodc:e, No. 87, I. O.
O. F., the Montowese Tribe of Red Men, and the
Foresters of America. He is also identified with
Centre Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
F. B. BRILL. One of the most substantial re-
tail drug enterprises in New Haven has been con-
ducted since 1883 by F. B. Brill, born in that city
Jan. 13, 1857, of rugged Teutonic ancestry. His
father, John Brill, was a native of Saxony, Ger-
many, and after coming to New Haven, about 1856,
engaged as a carriage draughtsman until retiring in
1886, his death occurring in 1891. His wife, fomi-
erly Ida Amelia Tischendorf, a native of Saxony,
and whose ancestors were jewelers by trade, died in
1896, leaving six children: Annie, who married
Edward Lohse, of New Haven ; Otto, a carriage
maker in New Haven; George, formerly a drug-
gist, now a mechanic, of this city ; William, a drug-
gist; Theresa; and Frederick B., our subject, who
is the eldest child of the family.
The education of Mr. Brill, at the Eaton school,
New Haven, was interrupted, at the age of fourteen,
by his entering the employ of A. S. Blackmail,
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
i473
druggfist, with whom he remained for five years.
This training, though practical and thorough, was
supplemented by a course in the New York College
of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1876.
Inmiediately thereafter he entered a drug store in
Brooklyn, where for eight years he applied and
added to his already extensive knowledge of drugs.
Arriving here, in 1883, a thorough, practiced and
competent pharmacist, he made a bid for the confi-
dence of the people and their extended and liberal
patronage, and the wisdom of his selection has been
repeatedly demonstrated in the meantime. Having
purchased the store and business of Charles R. Con-
verse, on Grand avenue, and also opened a branch
store at No. 1320 State street, he, in 1894, re-
moved to 258 Oak street, on the corner of Asylum,
and in Aug. 1901, located at 245 Dixwell avenue.
On March 15, 1885, Mr. Brill married Catherine
Bloss, born in Ilessen, Germany a daughter of
George Bloss, who is a resident of New Haven.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Airs. Brill,
Alfred B. and Clara T. In politics Mr. Brill is a
Democrat, and in 1899 ^^ elected alderman of the
Second ward, a singular mark of honor, as he is the
only Democrat elected from the ward in the past
sixteen years.
Mr. Brill is interested in civic affairs and is one
of the directors of the New Haven Free Library.
Fraternally he is a member of Hiram Lodge, No.
I, A. F. & A. M. ; Humboldt Lodge, No. 91, and the
Encampment, I. O. O. F. ; Hamonasset Tribe of Red
Men ; and the New England Order of Protection.
With his wife he is a consistent member of the Ger-
man Lutheran Church, and contributes generously
toward its charities and support.
ABRAHAM SANFORD (deceased). Among
the men whose activity, prudence and business acu-
men left a lasting impress upon the financial and
commercial life of New Haven, Abraham Sanford
must occupy a leading position. A native of this
city, he was a son of Elihu Sanford, a native of
Bethany, Connecticut.
Abraham Sanford grew to manhood in New
Haven, attending the schools of his native city, and
also the Lancasterian school. When a young man
he engaged in the lumber trade, and from it
branched into the shipping business, success attend-
ing all of his enterprises. As increasing infirmities
pressed upon him he retired from active life, and
dted Sept. 26, 1879, deeply mourped by his large
circle of acquaintances and friends. In 1847 he
married Mary Baker, who was born in Ridgefield,
Conn., a daughter of Amos Baker, of Ridgefield,
the latter of whom was a son of Dr. Amos Baker,
the well-known and highly esteemed physician of
that locality. Dr. Baker was a son of John Baker,
a lieutenant in the Revolution, while Dr. Baker
acted as assistant surgeon in the same memorable
conflict.
Amos Baker, the father of Mrs. Sanford, mar-
93
ried Mary Gilbert, who was born in New Haven, a
daughter of Isaac Gilbert, also of New Haven.
Seven children were born of this union : Benjamin ;
William; Grace; Isaac G., now retired, and living
at St. Louis, Mo.; Mary (Mrs. Sanford); Sarah,
died in infancy; and George A., president of iht
Continental Bank of St. Louis, Mo. Amos Baker
was a Whig in politics, and a Methodist in religious
belief. By occupation a merchant, he conducted
stores in Ridgefield and New Haven, in which latter
town himself and wife completed their long and
useful lives.
Abraham Sanford spent his entire life in New
Haven, and was prominently identified with the
leading enterprises of his day. A public-spirited
man, he believed in advocating all measures tending
towards the betterment of existing conditions, and
generously gave his time and money for the further-
ance of the same. No children were born of his
second union, and the two born of a former union
are now deceased. Frederick Sanford Atwater, the
son of Mr. Sanford's daughter, Mrs. Atwater, oc-
cupied a warm place in the hearts of Mr. Sanford
and his wife, and the young man was a special
favorite of Mrs. Sanford, who lavished upon him
the wealth of her maternal love. This esti-
mable young man died in the spring of 1901, of
typhoid fever, and his death was a sad shock to his
loving relatives. He was unmarried and was a
member of the Colonial Historical society.
In politics, Mr. Sanford was a Republican, and
he and his family attended the Center Church in
New Haven. Mrs. Sanford is a lady of intelligence
and culture, and in her pleasant home is surrounded
by the comforts her beloved husband furnished her.
She is doubly bereaved, yet her optimistic nature
looks forward rather than at the past, and she has
many friends to enjoy the benefit of her kindlv and
helpful personality.
JOSEPH KEGELMEYER, Fire Commission-
er, of New Haven, and connected with the Win-
chester Repeating Arms Co., of international fame,
is a native son and well-known resident of this city.
The family ancestry is German, the father, Joseph,
and the mother, Eva (Bregth) Kegclmeyer, being
natives of Germany, and the former born in Bavaria.
Mr. Kegelmeyer came to New Haven, in 1845,
where he met and married his wife, and a family of
five children were born to them : Carrie, who mar-
ried Henry Snyder; Frances, who married George
L. Hyde; Charles, a resident of New Haven; and
Joseph.
The elder Kegelmeyer was well educated in his
own country, and after locatmg in New Haven, be-
came a member of the police force. During the
Civil war he was first a recruiting officer, and later
he enlisted in the service. He became ser-
geant of Company G, 15th Conn. V. I., and was
killed at the battle of Kinston, North Carolina. May
4, 1865. He was survived by his wife until 1876.
1474
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Joseph Kegelmeyer was born Feb. 5, 1857, and
spent his early boyhood in this city. When he was
but nine years old the death of his father threw
him on his own resources, and he therefore left
school and went to Wilkesbarre, Penn., and for
two years engaged as a coal miner. With the ex-
ception of this temporary absence, he has spent his
entire life in this city. Mr. Kegelmeyer fol-
lowed his mining experience by learning the trade
of cigar maker, but in 1875 became connected with
the Winchester Repealing Arms Co., and this
amicable and satisfactory connection has continued
ever since, his present line of work being in tin-
cartridge department.
On Nov. 16, 1881, Mr. Kegelmeyer married Hat-
tie Gladwin, of Clinton, Conn., daughter of William
Gladwin, member of an old and representative fam-
ily. Socially Mr. Kegelmeyer is connected with
Trumbull Lodge, No. 22, F. & A. :\I. ; Franklin
Chapter, No. 2 ; Harmony Council, No. 8 ; New
Haven Conmiandery, No. 2; E. G. Storer Lodge
of Perfection ; Scottish Rite, Rose Croix ; Lafayette
Consistory; and Pyramid Temple of the Mystic
Shrine, Bridgeport ; 32d degree ; Knights of Pythias ;
American Mechanics ; and Ancient Order of United
Workmen. In all of these organizations he is prom-
inent and active.
As a stanch Republican Mr. Kegelmeyer has
filled many offices of trust and responsibility, and
gained an especial advantage in 1897, when he was
elected to the Board of Public Works in the Demo-
cratic strong-hold of New Haven. The same yeai
he was appointed Fire Commissioner, by Mayor
Farnsworth, and has efficiently served in this im-
portant capacity ever 'since. Although Mr. Kegel-
meyer is not formally connected with any religious
body, his inclinations lead him to the teachings of
the Universalist Church, to which his parents be-
longed. Thoroughly alive to the needs of a great
city, he has, with characteristic courage and honesty
of purpose, dealt with public interests as became an
honored citizen of sterling worth and great good
sense.
W. S. R. W.VKE. senior member of the Boston
Furniture Co., proprietors of the Boston Furniture
Store, and the leading house furnishers in Water-
bury, was born in Smithtown, Long Island, June
I, 1861.
Richard Wake, his grandfather, came from Eng-
land to Long Island, where he was for many years
a local preacher. He was the father of five chil-
dren : Sarah, William (father of our subject),
Richard, Charles and George. Sarah (deceased)
married Henry Beare, a gardener in Hempstead,
L. I. Richard is now a Methodist minister in Salt
Lake City, Utah. Charles is a banker and a prom-
inent man in Nebraska ; he 15 a Republican. George
died when a young man.
William Wake, the father of W. S. R., was bom
in England in 1820, and is still living. He fol-
lowed in the footsteps of his father, and is a retired
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His
wife, Maria (Squires), was born in Goodground,
Long Island, daughter of Nicholas Squires, and
died about 1890, the mother of two children : Emma
and W. S. R. Emma married Ira E. Manvel, and
has her home in Massachusetts. The Squires
came into the section after the Indians retired
and for five generations have lived in the same part
of Long Island.
W. S. R. Wake spent his boyhood in various
places, as his father was a traveling minister and
subject to orders. He attended high school in Hart-
ford, and in 1879 graduated from the Glastonbury
Academy. After leaving school he was a clerk in
the grocery store of II. J. Case & Co., and later
had a similar position in Watcrbury. Mr. Manvel,
his brother-in-law, joined him in the establishment
of a general store at Lenoxdale, Mass., and the
business was conducted successfully for about a year
and a half, when they was burned out. Mr. Wake
then came back to Waterbury and resumed his place
as clerk in the grocery, which he had given up to
go to Lenoxdale. On July 28, 1883, he associated
himself with Hunt & York, who were conducting
a furniture and undertaking business, and spent a
year and a half in their employ. He clerked for
Smith & Twitchell, at Meriden, about the same
length of time, and then was in the furniture busi-
ness for himself a year at Westfield, Mass. Again
returning to Waterbury, he formed a partnership
with C. W. Elkins, and for six years they conducted
an extensive business in furniture and house furn-
ishings. When this firm dissolved the Boston
Furniture Co. was formed by W. S. R. Wake and
W. W. Wallace, who have rapidly built up an ex-
tensive trade, and in a comparatively brief time have
come straight to the front.
Mr. Wake and Miss Lfla M. Benton were mar-
ried Feb. 2, 1887. Mrs. Wake was born in Lee,
Mass., daughter of Charles C. Benton, of that place.
The Benton family has long been known in ^lassa-
chnsetts, and comes of old English stock. Mr.
and Mrs. Wake have two children, Meta and Edna.
Mr. Wake is a Republican, and belongs to the
Grange. He is a member of the First Congrega-
tional Church, and his wife is a Methodist.
JEROME B. FULLER, chief engineer of the
Naugatuck Fire Department, and one of the leading
citizens of that place, is a native of Connecticut,
born in Scantic, Hartford county, Aug. 27, 1839,
and is a son of Jehial Fuller, who was one of a large
family of children, all farmers and residents of this
State. The father of our subject, however, worked
as a laborer and also engaged in the trucking busi-
ness. He died in April, 185 1, at the age of fifty-five
years. By his wife, Elizabeth, also a native of Con-
necticut, he became the father of nine children,
namely: Jane, who married a Mr. Nye, of Spring-
field, Mass., and both are now deceased ; James, a
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1475
retired machinist of Springfield, who died in 1897 ;
Henry, who died in infancy; Jennettc, wife of Will-
iam Hutchinson, of New Haven ; Jerusha, wife of
Samuel Pease, who is now living retired in Spring-
field ; Cornelia, who died unmarried in 1876; Mary,
wife of Eraslus Hillman, of North Carolina; Jerome
B., our subject; and Rose, wife of Andrew Hyde,
a violin manufacturer of Northampton, Massachu-
setts.
The early life of Jerome B. Fuller was passed
in Rockville, Conn., where he continued to make his
home until 1856, when he went to Springfield, Mass.,
to learn the machinist's trade. He subsequently
returned to Rockville, where he worked at his
trade until coming to Naugatuck Qct. 5, 1869. Here
he entered the employ of the Dunham Hosiery Com-
pany (then known as the Thomas Lewis Company),
and is still a machinist with that concern.
On Sept. 23, 1859, Mr. Fuller was united in
marriage with Miss Augusta Bidwell, who was born
in Lee, Mass., and is a daughter of Henry and
Sarah (Scovel) Bidwell, the former also a native
of Lee, Mass., the latter of Connecticut, and both
of English descent. Her grandfathers were Eleazer
Bidwell and Julius Scovel. Two children were
born to our subject and his wife, namely: Maud,
who died at the age of five months ; and Asa L.,
at home.
Mr. Fuller is president of the Naugatuck Elec-
tric Time Co.; is chief of the Naugatuck Fire De-
partment, which office he has filled uninterruptedly
since 1893 ; and is also superintendent of the fire
alarm system and fire marshal. He became a mem-
ber and was appointed first assistant engineer on the
organization of the department in 1890, and has al-
ways taken a most active and prominent part in its
aft'airs. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican
party and its principles, and is a member of Fayette
Lodge, F. & A. M., of Rockville, and AUcrton Chap-
ter, R. A. M., of Naugatuck. Religiously he was
reared in the Congregational Church, to which his
ancestors belonged. His wife is quite an active and
prominent temperance worker ; has been district
superintendent of the Juvenile Temperance Society
through this valley ; and vice-president of the Good
Templars Society of the State. She is also a mem-
ber of the Golden Cross, and is a most estimable
lady.
FRANK H. WOODRUFF, a well-known resi-
dent of Milford, was born July 15 1S49 in the
town of Orange, New Haven county, where his
family has been prominent for several generations.
One of our subject's ancestors came over in the
".Mayflower."
Nehemiah Woodruft', grandfather of Frank IL,
was born in Orange, and passed his life there en-
gaged in farming. He married Hannah Jones,
and they liad five children, of whom Jeremiah, our
subject's father, was the youngest. John was a
carpenter and builder in New Haven, where he
died. Diantha married Aaron Fenn, a physician,
who was born in Milford and practiced in Rox-
bury. Conn. Harriet married Samuel Smith, a
farmer and contractor in Orange. Marj' married
Arnold Hine, a farmer in Orange.
Jeremiah Woodruff was born in Orange, and
remained there, becoming known as the most suc-
cessful farmer in the town, perhaps in the State.
Politically he was a Republican, and in religious
faith he and his estimable wife were Congrega-
tionalists. He married Miss Charlotte Nettleton,
daughter of David Nettleton, a farmer in Orange,
and they had five children, as follows : Styles D.,
a seed grower and dealer of Orange ; George E.,
retired, of Bayonne, N. J. ; Charlotte E., wife of
Everett B. Clark, of Orange; Mary E., deceased;
and Frank H., our subject. The mother died in
1888, and the father did not long survive her,
dying in December, 1890.
Frank H. Woodruff spent his youth at the old
homestead, and until reaching the age of sixteen
he attended the local district school. Later he at-
tended the high school at Orange Center, and after
a year of further study at Sufiield, Conn., he re-
turned to his father's farm, of which he took charge
in early manhood. He makes a specialty of mar-
ket gardening and raising garden seeds. His farm
in Milford contains 130 acres, and he owns much
more in the town of Orange, having inherited a
part of the family estate there. On Sept. 15, 1870,
Afr. Woodruff married Miss Susan G. Furman, of
Milford, daughter of Henry Furman, who removed
to that town from Cayuga County, N. Y.. and en-
gaged in contracting, building sewers, bridges and
similar works. Mrs. Susan G. WoodruiT died June
16, 1882, and on Aug. 15, 1883, our subject mar-
ried Miss Ella J. Piatt, of Milford, a daughter of
David B. Piatt" of tlie same town. By his first
marriage he had two children: Carrie L.. born
Nov. 5, 1872, wife of Charles W. Lindley, of West
Haven, Conn.; and William H., Ixirn Oct. 24.
1875, who assists his father in the management of
the farm. By the second marriage he has also
two children: Florence E., born June 21, 1884:
and Harold F., bom July 15, 1885. Mr. Woodruff
is a stanch Republican, and although he has fre-
quently declined to acce[)t nomination for local of-
fice he is now serving as representative in the State
Legislature. l'"raternally he belongs to the Royal
.\rcanum, and is one of the leading members of
the Plvmouth Congregational Church of Milford,
in which he has held the office of deacon for over
twenty years ; he is also chairman of the society's
conmiittee of the church.
JAMES P. DAVIDSON, the foreman of the
b'acksmith department of the Farrell Foundry in
,-\nsonia, was born in Scotland July 3, 1836, where
his ancestors for many generations had lived and
died.
James Davidson, his grandfather, was born in
1476
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Paisley, near Glasgow. He was a harncssmakcr
by trade, and followed that avocation all his life; i
his wife, who lived to the very old, was also a
native of Scotland, and they had a family of twelve
children.
John Davidson, the father of James P., was
reared a liarnessmaker, and followed that trade
until his coming to America in 1862. Ills first lo-
cation was made in Pittsburg, and from there he
moved to Hamilton, Ohio. In 1873 he came to
Ansonia, where he led a retired life until his death
in 1881, when he was seventy-two years old. Jane
Pollock, his wife, was born near Glasgow, in 1818,
and had a family of thirteen children. Four of
this family are now living: James P.; Archibald,
of Hamilton, Ohio; Margaret, who married George
Sloss, and lives in Ansonia ; and Eliabcth, who is
the wife of George Malkam, of Ansonia. The !
mother died in 1878 at the age of sixty years, 'llie
parents were both members of the Presbyterian i
Church.
James P. Davidson established himself in An- '
sonia in i860. He had been educated in the thor-
ough and solid manner customary in Scotland,
and had learned the blacksmith trade, beginnini.; I
when he was fifteen years old, and when he had
mastered it, following the trade some years at New-
castle, England. On his arrival in the United
States Mr. Davidson came directly to Connecticut,
where he secured a position with the Farrell Com-
pany at Waterbury, and in October of that year
(i860) came to Ansonia, to take a similar position
in the foundry of the same firm in this city. Since
that time Mr. Davidson has remained continuously
in their employ, and is noted as the oldest man in
the works in point of service. Mr. Davidson has
seen the foundry increased many times in extent,
and when he came he found a house three blocks
away from it. Now he lives eight, and the inter-
vening space is closely filled. He is the oldest fore-
man in the works, and one of the most trusted
workmen in the factory. There are comparatively
very few living in Ansonia who were here in i860.
Mr. Davidson was married in Newcastle, Eng-
land, in 1857, to Miss Margaret Douglass, a na-
tive of Scotland. To this union were born six chil-
tlren, five of whom are now living. Of these,
Robert, a machinist in Farrell foundry, is married
and has two children, Clara and Robert; Jane, who
married Frank Cabaolie, a machinist, and has five
children, Kitty, Jane, Margaret, James and Frank ;
John, a machinist in the Farrell foundry, married
Mary Cunningham, and has two children, James
and Terry ; and Archibald, also a machinist, mar-
ried Maria Sheren and has five children, Archibald,
James, Blanche, Mary and Margaret.
Mr. Davidson is a Republican in politics, and
has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1862.
He belongs to the benefit association connected
with the foundry. He is in good circumstances;
some vears since he built his own house, and two
adjoining, and now owns three fine residences.
He and his family are connected with the Meth-
odist Church.
CHARLES REED, assistant superintendent of
factory "B"' of the Goodyear India Rubber Glove
Co., at Naugatuck, New Haven Co., Conn., is one
of the most energetic and progressive business men
of that place. He has worked his way upward
from a humble position, and his life demonstrates
what may be accomplished by tireless industry, en-