also a member of the Piricklayers' I'nion. In poli-
tics he has always identified himself with Repub-
lican principles, and he has been an active and influ-
ential worker in the ranks of the party organiza-
tion. For eleven years lie has been the sewer in-
spector of New Haven, and in 1901 he received
from Mayor John P. Studlev the appointment of
superintendent of sewers. He is highly respected,
successful in business, and, one of the prominent,
self-made men of New Haven.
GEORGE P.RONSON MURPOCK, whose
stanrling in Meridcn as a man of afifairs and as an
honnrable citizen is unquestioned, was born in the
town of Watcrbury, New Haven county, Feb. 25,
184^1. and is connected by lioth maternal and pa-
ternal ancestry with old Connecticut families.
(^ The Murijocks are of Scottish descent. The
first of the family in .Xmcrica was Peter Murdock,
a native of Limerick, Ireland. He was a son of
John Murdock. a wool comber by occupation,
whose parents were natives of Scotland, but set-
tled in Limerick on account of religious persecu-
tion at home. John Murdock was a stanch sup-
I)orter of William of Orange, losing nearly all
his property because of this lovalty. He married
Marv Munson. who became the mother of four
children, Peter Murdock, our subject's emigrant an-
cestor being of the number.
I'eter .Murdock was eleven years old when he
was sent from his native place, because of his
iather's losses and the troublous times, to seek a
home with his uncle, Peter Murdock, who re-
sided in the North of England. There he re-
mained until seventeen years old, when he came
to the New World, landing at Philadelphia with
Only a crown in his pocket. Finding employment
witn a Quaker family, he worked on the farm for
a time, and finally, having saved a few shillings,
he invested in cutlery and notions, which he ped-
dled. Coming Nortli, he settled in Long Island,
and married .\lary E. Fithin, at Southampton. He
bought a small store at East HamjJton, tlie care of
which fell to his wife, while he devoted himself
to the coast trade with a small vessel. Making
some money, he bought 2,200 acres of land in
Little Egg Harbor, N. J., and 840 acres in what is
j now Weslbrook, Conn., to which latter point he
moved his store. There he died Nov. 6, 1753, in
I the seventy-fourth year of his age, and there he
I was buried. His wife died Oct. 29, 1755, in her
sixty-ninth year. Becoming estaljlislieil on Long
I Island, Peter Alurdock sent for his three sisters,
Abigail, Elizabeth and Dorcas. The first of these
\ had died in the meantime, but the other two came.
The last named married John Conklin ; those of the
name mentioned in this article were of the same
lineage as L'niled States Senator Roscoe Conkling.
Elizabeth married a Mr. Sing, a goldsmith of Phila-
delphia.
John Murdock, only child of Peter, was born in
1706 on Long Island, and accompanied his father
to Saybrook, where he became engaged in farming,
and was an extensive land owner. He was a dea-
con in the Congregational Church from 1764 to
1778: was a major in the Colonial militia; judge
of the common pleas court of the countv of
New London; and represented his town, then Say-
brook, in the Legislature. He died in Saybrook,
and was buried in the local cemetery. John Mur-
dock was twice married. Phcebe Sill, his first
W'ife. was born in Lyme. Conn., and died ten
nwnths after marriage. I-'ranccs Conklin, his sec-
ond wife, was a native of East Hampton, Long
Island, and became the mother of thirteen children:
Peter, who graduated from Yale College, and died
the same year; Marv, who married Nathaiiiel
Hunting, jr.; JolTnT' Phcebe. who married Rev.
J^JTm l5evotion ; William; Abigail, Mrs. Lee, who
had nine children ; Enoch ; Jonathan, a graduate of
Yale and a clergyman in after life; Anna, Mrs.
Lay; Miriam, ^lrs. Morgan: .Abraham; Frances,
who married Lewis Jones and had a large family ;
and James, a graduate of Yale College.
William Murdock, son of Major John, was born
.\ug. 31, 1740, and w-as a farmer in Westbrook.
He married ierusha Lav, of Lyme, who bore him
\'
i
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
733
thirteen children: John; William; Phcbe, who
was twice married, tirst ti) a Mr. llambleton, sec-
ond to a Mr. Richardson; Peter, grandfather of
our subject; Elisha (twin of Peter), wiio was
drowned; Polly, Mrs. Zacliariah Hurd ; Miriam,
Mrs. ]sa Hurd"; Anna, Mrs. Daniel Anderson;
J-'rances, Mrs. lienjaniin Smith; Enoch; Jonathan;
James: and Abigail, Mrs. Samuel W'liitney. The
motiier of these died in 179O, aged fifty-five years,
and the father subsequently married Thankful W ar-
ner, widow of David Warner, of Millington; she
flicd in 1816. There were no children by this
union. William .Munlock, the fnther, died in 1821
or 1822.
Peter Murdock, son of William, was born in
Westbrook in 1768, died March 20, 1852, and was
buried in Westbrook cemetery. lie was a cabin
boy on three privateers during the Revolution, and
in later life a farmer and land owner, becoming One
of the substantial citizens of his day. He married
Mrs. IJathsheba (Dodge) Bush, widow of John
Piusli, in East Lyme, and to this union were born :
Polly U., who married a Mr. DeWolfe, of Clinton,
Conn. ; Charles and l^elia, twins, the latter of
whom married Edwin Dowd, and was the mother
of Zina Dowd, of Meriden ; Emeline, who married
Horace Xettleton ; Zina Kelsey ; and Mathew
Griswold. Mrs. ^lurdock was the mother of three
children by her first marriage: Fenner, a promi-
nent manufacturer of Meriden; John; and Ama-
ziah. Mrs. Murdock died in Westbrook in 1852.
ZiN.\ KiiLSiiv MuuDQCK, the father of George
B., was born in \\'estbrook, March 2, 181 1, and
his education was obtained in the district schools of
his native town. In early boyhood he had delicate
health. Endowed with a restless disposition, he
left home at the age of fourteen years to make his
way in the world, walking from Westbrook to
Meriden, where his brother, Fenner Bush, was en-
gaged in the business of manufacturing ivory
combs. For several years he worked in this fac-
tory, and then, became engaged in a mercantile
business in partnership with Curtis L. North, Mr.
North managing the local business, while Mr. Mur-
dock carried on trading along the Ohio and ^lis-
sissippi rivers. This arrangement did not prove
satisfactory and Mr. Murdock retired, leaving Air.
North in possession. 1 le bought the farm where
his son George Bronson now resides, in Murdock
avenue, then known as the Curtis farm, and here
spent his last days, dying Jan. 30, 1874. He was
at the time among the large land owners in the
town. A broad-minded man, he was a lover of
fair play and liberty, and left a fine reputation.
His courage and regard for free speech were fully
demonstrated during the so-called riots of 1837
in Meriden. In the fall of 1837 Rev. Mr. Ludlow
came to Mefiden to lecture on Anti-slavery, and
as Meriden was a pro-slavery town it was proposed
to shut him out. Mr. Murdock and several other
advocates of free speech insisted on hearing him,
and in consequence a mob gathered which inflicted
serious mjuries on the brave defenders of free
speech. A Whig in early life, Mr. Murdock had
no sympathy with slavery and no patience with
those wlio brought on the Civil war. in his last
years he supported the Democratic party. He never
sought political honors. In his early life he was a
Congregationalist in religious connection ; after his
marriage he and his wife united with the Episcopal
Church, and in that communion he died. He mar-
ried Harriet M. Bronson, who was born in Water-
bury, daughter of Judge Bennet and Anna (Smith)
Bronson. To this union were born three children :
Mary E., Oct. 8, 1843; George Bronson, Feb. 25,
1846; and Charles Z., May i, 1850. Mrs. Mur-
dock died on the farm in 1895, and was buried in
Aleriden cemetery.
George Bronson Murdock attended the district
schools, and the Russell Military Academy, at New
Haven. He grew to manhood on the farm, where
he has always remained, engaged in general agri-
culture, and he is one of the better known fanners
of his section, highly respected for his indusVrious
habits, kindly disposition and intelligence.
Mr. Murdock was married, in April, 1896, in
Meriden, to Harriet Elizabeth Graves, a native of
New Haven, a lady of charming disposition, a
vocal artist of much ability, and known as a model'
wife and mother. They have three children. George
I'eter. Harriet Josephine and Iknnet Bronson. Mr.
Murdock is a Democrat, and has served on the
school committee of the town. As one of the or-
ganizers of Alediden Grange he takes nuch interest
in its work, and held the office of master for the
first three years. Mrs. Murdock is also a member
of this society.
JOHN N. POPP, late of Seymour, Conn., where
his death occurred Oct. 2, 1897, was for nearly a
third of a century one of the town's business men
and commanded the esteem and respect of his fellow
citizens and townsmen.
Mr. Popp was born in 1S41 or 1842. in Bavaria,
Germany, a son of Conrad and Katherina Popp, and
in about 1865 came to America, and not long there-
after to Seymour, Conn., which jjlace he ever after-
ward made his home. He was a merchant tailor
by trade, and for a short time was employed at
journey work. Pie then went into business for
himself at Seymour, and continued therein up to
the time of his death, meeting with deserved suc-
cess. Of a kind disposition and generous nature,
he was popular in the communitv and made a good
citizen. Socially he was identified with a number
of different orders or fraternities, amcng which
were the Alasonic fraternity and the Indei)endent
Order of Odd Fellows. He was also a member of
the A. O. U. \\., and of the New England Benefit
Association, and of the German Society of Her-
manns-Sohne. On Mr. Popp's death marked respect
was shown his memory, the business houses of Sey-
734
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
moiir closed during the funeral. Many beautiful
floral tokens of esteem and respect came on that
occasion from the various orders to which the de-
ceased had Ix-lonscd. and from personal friends.
The funeral was largely attended, attesting- the af-
fection, este^rm and respect of the community at
large in the deceased as a friend, neighbor and citi-
zen. The pall-bearers were Charles .Monwhiler,
Henry Schneider, Antone Noe, Leonard Wyont,
Wolfgang Schaeffer and Lx)uis Miller.
Mr. Popp in his religious faith was a German
Lutheran, but, there being no church of that de-
nomination at Seymour, he attended there, with his
wife, the Congregational Church. In his political
views Mr. I'opp had been a Democrat up to the
campaign of 1896, but voted in that year for Will-
iam McKinley for President.
In 1867 Sir. Popp was married to Miss Sarah
E. Wirth, Iwrn in Seymour, Conn., the only daugh-
ter of Peter and Ma'ry A. (Andrews) Wirth, the
fonner a native of r>avaria. Germany, bom in about
1825. and the latter a native of Olneyville, R. I.,
lx)ni m about 1828, a daughter of Denison and Lu-
cinda Andrews. Peter Wirth came to America
in a sailing vessel when quite a young man and
located in the town of Seymour, Conn., many years
ago. and here lived the rest of his days. He was
an industrious and law-abiding citizen, and he and
his wife were respected and esteemed citizens. Mr.
Wirth for years was connected as an employe with
the manufacturing concern of Raymond French.
His death occurred Nov. 16, 1871, and that of his
wife April 6. 1886, w-hen they were aged, respect-
ively, forty-six and fifty-eight years.
THOMAS H. M.\GUIRE, supervisor of the
South Division of the Connecticut School for Pioys,
is not only a competent official of that institution,
but is also well known in musical circles as leader
of the Meriden Military Band. He has been a
worthy resident of Meriden from early manhood.
Mr. Maguire was born Xov. 30, 1863, in Bos-
ton, Mass., one of the three chiklren of Thomas
and Catherine (Keys) Maguire, the former of
whom died in Milwaukee, Wis., the latter in New
Haven, Conn. Thomas H. attended the Boston
public schools until he was ten years old, when he
removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and there attended
school until about eighteen years of age. His
school days over, he returned East, locating at Mer-
iden, and obtained employment at the Connecticut
School for Boys, commencing in the engine room,
where he had cliargc of the boilers. He faithfully
perfonned his diuies, and in time was promoted to
the position of night watchman, where he exhibited
the same fidelity to every trust. Pie rose by degrees
until he reached lii<; present position, that of super-
visor of tlv ' )ivision, the duties of which he
has dischar., general satisfaction to all con-
cerned.
Concerning Mr. Maguire's musical career we
quote from the Dominant, a musical journal, of
April, 1898:
At the ape of fifteen lie became deeply interested in
band music, and chose the baritone as his favorite instru-
ment. Studying under the direction of' first-class teach-
ers, he has nearly all the better class of solos for baritone,
and is recognized as one of the best baritone players in his
vicinity. Mr. Maguire has attained his present oosition
by dint of hard work and constant study. He is the owner
of a splendcd library of nuisic for band, orchestra, voice
and piano, embracing some of the best European publica-
tions, and was for some years a regular subscriber to J. R.
Lafleur Sons' Challcnsc Journal for Band, and Wrieht &
Rounds Liverpool Br,tss Band AViw. He has scored for
Kiilitary band such overtures as "William Tell." "Semira-
mide," "Oberon," and 'Tannhauser." and the labor and
care of scoring such works for band can only be appre-
ciated by those who arc familiar with the compositions.
Recognizing the fact that in order to teach intelligently
one must be familiar with the compass of all ordinary in-
struments, he has studied instrumentation in a most prac-
tical manner, viz. : Getting full scores of compositions di-
rect from the composers.
At tb" last quarterly ineeting of the Board of Directors
of the Connecticut School for Boys, the matter of having
a band was taken up. and as a result Mr. Maguire was ap-
pointed bandmaster. The course of instruction imparted
the thirty boys who compose the school band may prove
interestin • >■-' readers of The Dominant. The boys are
divided into three classes, according to ability, and at their
daily meetings, which occupy several hours, rehearse the
scales in every form from key of C to Gb. and from C to
key of A for bases, making key of F sharp for Eb instru-
ments. The blowing of sustained tones being the founda-
tion of all instrumental practice, a great deal of attention
is given to that much neglected course of instruction : and
it is surprising the beautiful tone that can be produced by
a well balanced band. If the time be taken up in this man-
ner, the benefit will soon be noticed.
Mr, Maguire has studied voice culture, and the knowl-
edge gained from that study is of great benefit in band
work. He has adopted a new idea for so far as I am aware
it has not been tried before. Every teacher knows how
hard it is to teach players to read readilv. He has taken
Greenwood's two-part exercises for singing classes, and
arranged the most important of them in difTerent keys for
full band. Scale practice is usually looked upon as dry
stud- but with the above exercises, you combine time with
tune. The l)and is divided into sections: those on the right
playing the simple scale in time: those on the left playing
the counterpoint, four quarters to the measure ; then re-
versing the parts, and so on till the value of all notes are
mastered. .\ny one who adopts that method with new ma-
terial will be amply repaid for his labor. After but three
months' nractice the boys nlay such pieces as "Sweet Brier
Overture," "Philo Senate March," ".\merican Belle March"
etc. etc.
The school has a fine room which has been placed at
the disposal of' the band, and the boys have made it ad-
ditioi>;illy attractive by adorning the walls with pictures of
inusical organizations and portraits of all the well-known
band leaders. Among whom, here as elsewhere the only
Sousa seems to be the favorite. Leader Maguire is very
much attached to his art, and we have every reason to be-
lieve has a bright future before him.
^^'e may add that the ^leriden Military Band,
which now has thirty-six members, has under
Mr. Maguire's direction filled some very im-
portant engagements, chief of whidi might be
mentioned the trips of ten davs with Mcrriam
Post, G. A. R., to the battlefields of Gettys-
burg and to Washington. D. C. Mr. Ma-
guire has studied under Bandmaster John Lyon;
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIC
ECORD.
735
harmony and composition with Prof. F. T. South-
wick, of Meriden; voice culture with J. Jerome
Haves, of New Haven, and with George M. Greene,
of New York. He has sung at various times in
several of the local churches. He makes a practice
of spending his annual vacation where the best of
band music is performed, and in numerous other
wavs displays his enthusiastic devotion to his pro-
fession. His musical library, mentioned in the
foregoing, embraces also many valuable works on
musical literature, including some of the principal
works of the masters.
Mr. Maguire was married in New York City,
by Rev. Dr. Curtsell, to Miss Catherine Mulvaney,
and they have two children, Mary Elizabeth and
Francis Lawrence, both pupils at St. Rose's School
;\Irs. Maguire is a woman of refinement and strong
character. She fills the position of supervisor of
the dining rooni in the Connecticut School for
Boys. Mr. and Mrs. Maguire arc members of St.
Joseph's Church, Meriden. Socially he unites with
Silver City Lodge, A. O. U. W. ; the Modern
\\'oodmen of America : the Amaranth Club ; the
Catholic Club; and the Meriden Turner Society.
JOHN HARWOOD PEARCE. A leading citi-
zen of New Haven, who for many years has been
prominently identified with the rubber industries
of the country, is John H. Pearce, of this city, now
the efficient superintendent of L. Candee & Co.
Richard Pearce, his grandfather, was born,
reared and married in England, and was a miller by
occupation. In his later years he moved to Center-
ville, Canada, where he died at a good old age, re-
spected by the community.
Richard M. Pearce, son of Richard antl father
of John H., of this biography, was born in Harn-
stable, England. Feb. i. 1828. and was married to
Mary A. Harwood, in his native land. He was a
leather shoemaker by trade in the old country. In
1850 he brought his family to Montreal, Canada,
and there became the superintendent of the Cana-
thirty years. He then removed to Boston, IMass.,
and entered the employ of the Boston Rubber Shoe
Co., later becoming interested in the Lycoming
Rubber Co., at Williamsport, Pa. His death took
place in New Haven, while on a Visit to his son,
April 15, 1886, his widow surviving until April i,
1889, when she passed away in New Haven.
His pohtical sympathies were with the Re-
publican party, and both he and wife were devoted
to the Episcopal Church. The children born to
Richard M. Pearce and wife were: Richard M.,
who is with the Hood Rubber Co., of Boston ; Eliza-
beth A., who died at the age of twenty; and John
Harwood, of this sketch.
John H. Pearce was bom in Montreal, Canada,
^lay 16. 1855, and spent his boyhood days in that
city, remaining there until he was twenty-three,
His education was acquired in ihe pulilic ancl normal
schools, u[X3n the completion of which he entered
into the rubber business, under his father, with the
Canadian Rubber Co., remaining about eight years,
and thoroughly mastering every detail. He then
accepted a position with the Boston Rubber Shoe
Co., at Maiden, ilass., continuing there for the
succeeding two years, when he was appointed as-
sistant superintendent, with his father, at Will-
iamsport, Pa., and remained with the Lycoming
Rubber Co., of that city, for four years. On May
20, 1884, he accepted the responsible position of
foreman with L. Candee & Co., of New Haven, and
efficiently and acceptably performed the duties of
that position until 1892, when he became assistant
sui)erintendont, so continuing until Nov. i, 1901,
when he was made suijerintendent.
Although Mr. Pearce has been immersed in busi-
ness ever since his location in New Haven, he has
taken an active part in the civic life of the com-
munity, his services being recognized by his elec-
tion as councilman in 1895, and as ^Iderman from
the Fifth ward in 1897, his friends regarding these
elections as personal tributes, as ^he ward is de-
cidedly Democratic, and Mr. Pearce is an ardent
and active Republican. ^Liyor John P. Studley
has recently recognized his merits by appointing
him fire commissioner, showing a high degree of
confidence.
On May 16, 1883, Mr. Pearce was married to
Miss Estella A. Nichols, of Williamsport, a daugh-
ter of Jared P. Nichols, of old Connecticut stock,
and five children have been born of this union :
John Harwood, Jr. ; Walter Nichols : Frederick
Richard : and Bessie and Charles J., both deceased.
Fraternally Mr. Pearce is connected with Hiram
Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past
master; with Franklin Chapter, No. 2; Harmony
Council, No. 8; Pyramid Temple, }ilystic Shrine,
of Bridgeport; New Haven Commandery, No. 2,
Knigihts Tciuplar ; and has taken all the higher de-
grees, including the thirty-second. As a member
of St. Paul's Episcopal Church he is highly esteemed
and in business and social circles is favorably re-
garded. Aside from all his other duties, Mr. Pearce
has interested himself in perfecting a number of
useful inventions in the rubber business, and owns
the patents on a number of them.
JOHN V. RATTELSDORFER. One of the
prominent citizens of New Haven who has done
nuich in the way of city legislation for its improve-
ment, and who also is a successful man of business,
is John V. Rattelsdorfcr, who was born in New
Haven April 21, 1858.
His father, John V. Rattelsdorfcr, Sr.. was born
in Bavaria, Germany, and came to New York in
1848, and one year later to New Haven, serving in
the Civil war as sergeant of Company C, 6th Conn.
V. I., and he died from wounds and disease con-
tracted at that time. By trade he was a weaver,
and manufacturer of silk vests and similar goods.
736
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
while his father was a gentleman of leisure. In
\icnna he married Thekla Drexler, who was t)orn
in the province of Moravia. Austria, and who died
in 1879. After coming to New Haven John V.
Rattelsdorfer, Sr.. went to work as a weaver in
some of the numerous shops, and for a short time
was employed by the New Haven Clock Co., and
then engaged in business for himself, oijcning up
a reiresiiiuent hall, and soon liecoming a force in
politics, and was the very first Cicrman Republican
in New Haven. In his political ambitions he was
encouraged by his able wife, who was a woman of
great force of character, and together they had much
inlUience with the German element. Twelve chil-
dren were born to lluse most worthy people, but
the others I)efore the birth of our subject.
John \'. Rattelsdorfer, our subject, spent his
boyhood days in what was then the Fifth city ward,
but is now the Si.xth, and attended the W'ooster
grammar school, and later gradiiated from the Rus-
sell Commercial Collegiate Institute. After finish-
ing his education he becatne a clerk in a meat busi-
ness, but when he was alxmt eighteen his careful
and devotcil mother sent him to X'ienna for a visit
of six months as a finish to his education. Upon
his return he engaged in the meat business, on the
comer of State and Clark streets, for a short time,
later opening on State street, where he remained
until other interests claimed his attention. The six
following years were spent by Mr. Rattelsdorfer
in clerking, and then he went to Fairhaven and 1
started into business on the corner of Poplar and
Grand streets, where he remained one year, later
clerking for his old finn for some six months. He
then opened up a business in his own ward, on the
corner of Green and Wallace streets, where he was
located for eight years, later purchasing his present ;
location on the corner of Green and Chestnut streets.
Here lie has built up a fine brick block, and has
conducted a large business in the meat and grocery
line ever since April 5, 1892.
In 1893 Mr. Rattelsdorfer entered politics, and