MEN OF MAKK IN CONNECTICUT Men of Mark in Connecticut IDEALS OF AMERICAN LIFE TOLD IN BIOG- RAPHIES AND AUTOBIOGRAPHIES OF EMINENT LIVING AMERICANS EDITED BY COLONEL N. G. OSBORN M EDITOK "NEW HAVEN JOURNAL AND COURIER" VOLUME II WILLIAM R. GOODSPEED HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 1906 Copyright 1904 by B. F. Johnson [uLIBKARYofOONef-JESSj Two Copies nhcui^j. AFK 14 1908 The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, Hartford, Conn. MEN OF MARK IN CONNECTICUT Col, N. G. Osborn, Editor-in-Chief ADVISORY BOARD HON. WILLIAM S. CASE . Hartfobd JIIBGE OF SI7FKBI0B COUBT HON. GEORGE S. GODAED Hartford STATE lilBBABIAK HON. FREDERICK J. KINGSBURY, LL.D. Waterbukt MEMBER CORPORATION TALE UNIVEESITr CAPTAIN EDWARD W. MARSH . Bridgeport TREASUEEB PEOPLE'S SAVINGS BANK COL. N. G. OSBORN New Haven editor new haten begisteb HON. HENRY ROBERTS Hartford EX-OOyEBNOR. HON. JONATHAN TRUMBULL Norwich T.TBBARTAN FT7BLIC LIBRARY WILLIAM KNEELAND TOWNSEND TOWNSEND, JUDGE WILLIAM KNEELAND, of the United States Circuit Court, comes of a family that long has held a prominent place in the university town of New Haven, where he was born June 12th, 1848. He is the son of James Mulford and Maria Theresa Townsend. He was fond of his books and of the companionship of good friends as well, and youthful characteristics have remained constant. Gradu- ated from Yale in 1871, in a class that gave not a few eminent men to the professions, he continued his studies in the Yale Law School, along the line which nature seemed to have marked out for him. In 1874 he received the degree of LL.B, and immediately was admitted to the bar in New Haven County, and entered upon the practice of his pro- fession. For a time he was associated with Simeon E. Baldwin of New Haven, now Justice in the Supreme Court of Errors, with whom he had studied law during his course. He quickly gained recognition as a practitioner and, as part of his work, was employed by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Eailroad Company as attorney in im- portant litigation. In 1878 he received the degree of Master of Laws from the Yale Law School and two years later that of Doctor of Civil Laws. His interest in public affairs and his civic spirit were manifested in 1880, when he was chosen a member of the New Haven Court of Common Council, and in 1881 and 1882 he was alderman from his ward. He has served his city also as corporation counsel. His con- nection with Yale University as an instructor dates from 1881, when he was appointed to the chair of Pleading, in the Law school. Sub- sequently he was selected for the Edward J. Phelps chair on Contracts. The appointments were of material importance to the school for, aside from his personal popularity with both students and professors, his lucidity and force did much to increase the reputation the school had gained. It was March 28th, 1892, that he was chosen for the responsible 9 10 WILLIAM KNEEIAND TOWNSEND. for the district position of judge of the United States District Court, of his duties of Connecticut. The estimate placed upon the discharge to be in that capacity was evidenced when, in 1902, he was promoted judge in the United States Circuit Court, Second District. Some of in his decisions have had far-reaching effect and have contributed no small measure to the country's law literature. In addition the judge has found opportunity to do considerable " outside writing. A widely known work of his is The Connecticut " Civil Officer," and he is the author of the articles on Patents," " Trademarks," " Copyrights," and " Admiralty," in " Two Centuries Growth of American Law." Also he has contributed frequently to tlie magazines. In politics Judge Townsend is a Eepublican, and in religion a Congregationalist, He is intensely fond of outdoor life and recrea- tion, and is an enthusiastic member of the Boone and Crocket Club of New York and of the Country Club of New Haven. He also be- longs to the Society of Skull and Bones at Yale, the Graduates Club of New Haven, and the Yale Club, the Century Club, and the Uni- versity Club of New York. Judge Townsend married Miss Mary Leavenworth Trowbridge of New Haven on July 1st, 1874. They have had three children, one of whom is now living, George Henry Townsend, 2d, a student in Yale College. Their home is at No. 148 Grove Street, New Haven. JAMES PERRY PLATT PLATT, JAMES PERRY, of Meriden, United States District Judge for the district of Connecticut since March 23d, 1902, comes of a long line of sturdy, able ancestors. Few family names in Connecticut have won as much respect and reverence. Richard Piatt of England arrived in New Haven Colony in 1638 and, foremost in organizing a church society, settled in Milford. His son, Isaac Piatt, was a captain of militia and held nearly all the offices of prominence in the town. One of his descendents removed to Washington, Connecticut, where the Piatt homestead has been main- tained ever since. In the Revolutionary War a father and son did their part in behalf of the struggling colonies. In times of peace the members of the family were hardy, industrious farmers. Judge Piatt is the son of the late Hon, Orville Hitchcock Piatt, United States Senator, who was born in Washington. The father lo- cated as a lawyer in Meriden. His wonderful talents were soon recognized and he was elected successively Secretary of the State, State Senator, member of the House of Representatives, of which he was speaker in 1869, and United States Senator in 1879. This high office he held until his death in 1905. With what efficiency he served his state and the nation, in what esteem he was held in council at home or at the federal capital is a part of Connecticut's proudest history. Senator Piatt's first wife was Annie Bull, of the Perry family of Towando, Bradford County, Pa. She was an earnest worker in the Congregational Church in Meriden and was possessed of those graces which endeared her to her friends and commanded the love and tender respect of her household. The Judge was born in Towando on March 31, 1851. After a course at the celebrated " Gunnery " School at Washington, Connecti- cut—the old family home—he attended the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, where he completed his preparation for college. Entering Yale immediately, he displayed an aptness for learning and had a special predilection for boating, football, baseball, and other 11 12 JAMES PERRY PLATT. manly sports. In later life he has found pleasure and relaxation in tenuis. On graduating from college in the class of 1873, he went to the Yale Law School, following his father's wishes and his own in- clination, and received his degree as bachelor of laws in 1875, Immediately he joined with his father in the practice of his pro- fession in Meriden, the firm title being 0. H. & J. P. Piatt. Three years later he was chosen representative from his town to the General Assembly. After serving in 1878 and 1879 he was appointed City Attorney of Meriden, the duties of which office he discharged with marked ability from 1879 to 1893, when he was chosen by the General Assembly to be Judge of the City and Police Court of that city. It was while serving in this capacity, in the year 1902, that he was ap- pointed United States District Judge. From the beginning of his term, he has won the highest commendation of his associates and of the members of the bar. In politics Judge Piatt is a Kepublican. In religion he is affil- iated with the Protestant Episcopal Church. He is a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 77, F. & A. M., and of St. Elmo Commandery, of Meriden, and at one time was Master of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Home Club of Meriden, the Yale Club of New York, and is a trustee of the Meriden Savings Bank. He married Miss Harriet White Ives of Meriden on December 2, 1885. They have had two children, one of whom, Margery Piatt, born December 30, 1886, is living; the other, a boy named after him- self, died in infancy. The judge's home is at No. 130 Lincoln Street, Meriden. ALBERTO T. RORABACK RORx\BACK, ALBERTO T., of North Canaan, associate judge of the Supreme Court, was born in Sheffield, Mas- sachusetts, August 23d, 1849. His father, John C, was a farmer, industrious and sturdy of character. He migrated from Columbia County, New York, to Suffield, Massachusetts, in 1846. The name of Roraback, as it suggests, is of German origin. Early in 1700, three brothers from the town of Rohrbach in Alsace, Lor- raine, settled in what is now known as Columbia County in the State of New York. During this century the name was spelled Rorabacher, and about 1800, apparently fpr the sake of brevity and convenience, it was changed to Roraback. After obtaining such education as the public schools of his native town could furnish, the boy went to the South Berkshire Institute in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, and thence to the Genesee Seminary in New York State. Endowed with remarkable perspicacity and clearness in reasoning, he had a natural bent toward the bar. When he entered the law office of Judge Donald J. Warner of Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1870, to begin his Blackstone, he entered upon a career which, through his grit, energy, perseverance, and kindly disposition, was to give him high place in his State, Ad- mitted to the bar in 1872, he early won the confidence of a strong clientele and was welcomed into that circle of lawyers who maintain the high standard of the Litchfield County Bar.