MARSH, FRANCIS WANZER, banker, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was born near New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, December 18th, 1846. He is descended from William Marsh of Boston, a commissary in the Indian War in 1636 who was wounded in the Narragansett fight. This William was a brother of James Marsh of Kent, England, a captain in the royal army who was beheaded by Charles I. at Hedgehill, which tragedy was the cause of William leaving college and coming to America. On his mother's side Mr. Marsh is descended from Daniel and Mary Brownson Hine of Waterbury, founders of the Hine family in America. His parents were Laura Hine and John Buckley Marsh, a farmer, whose most pronounced characteristics were love of home and family, strict integrity, and hard, strenuous industry. The home life of this family was ideal in its simplicity, in its Christian atmosphere, and in the devotion of each member to the others. There were nine other children beside Mr. Marsh and, as the family means were most moderate, he had plenty of hard work to do in his boyhood and his education was confined to that of country schools. He helped on the farm at home and attended school until he was seventeen, when he went to work in a country store. In 1866, when he was twenty years old, Mr. Marsh took a position in a dry goods store in Bridgeport, remaining there one year, and going from that position into the insurance business and savings bank, where he remained until 1886. Commencing as office boy he was promoted from time to time until he became treasurer of the bank.

In 1886 a partnership was formed. Marsh, Merwin & Leramon, combining private banking with insurance and real estate. The business grew steadily along all three lines until about 1901 when the firm organized two companies, the Bridgeport Trust Company, with a charter from the State of Connecticut, which has now a capital of $200,000 with a fine surplus, and the Bridgeport Land and Title Company, also with a State charter, which has now a capital of $100,000. The building up of these companies has been Mr. Marsh's life work, and as president of the trust company he has a position of well merited prominence in the banking world. The forces which he has brought to bear in the attainment of his success have been a constant determination to labor honorably for a position in life, and pride in doing well everything he had to do.

Outside of his business life, and by no means secondary to it, Mr. Marsh's greatest interest has been in his church life. He is a Presbyterian in his religious affiliations, and his activity in the work of that church has taken much of his time. He has been an elder of the First Presbyterian Church, Sunday school superintendent, director and treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association, and a member of both local and state committees on Christian Endeavor work. His church work, business interests, and home life have so fully occupied Mr. Marsh that he has never held or wished public office, though he is a consistent and loyal Republican.

On May 17th, 1871, Mr. Marsh married Emma Clifford Wilson, who is a daughter of the late Isaac Wilson, a highly respected citizen of early Bridgeport and at one time a member of the city council; he was descended from the old Wilson family of Leeds, England, upon whose land the city was built. Mrs. Marsh's mother was Miss Elizabeth Shepard, a direct descendant in the eighth generation from William Bradford, Colonial Governor of Plymouth, Massachusetts. A daughter of his son. Major William Bradford, married Samuel Shepard of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mrs. Marsh is an active member in various literary, social, and musical clubs; a director in the Y. W. C. A., the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A., and a daughter of the Mary Silliman Chapter D. A. R. and former recording secretary. She is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, a teacher in the Sunday school, and a leader in philanthropic church work. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, Egbert Shepard, Violet Shepard, Clifford Wanzer and Mabel Rhoades. Their home is at 852 Park Avenue, Bridgeport.

Mr. Marsh's success as a man and as a banker is plainly accounted for in the precepts he gives to others and which have undoubtedly guided his career. He advocates first of all “high ideals of purity, honesty, and industry," and says, "Abide your time while hard at work; think more of how you are doing than what you are getting. Help the other fellow. Make him work hard to get ahead of you, but if he does, tell him you are glad."  Men of Mark Index

McNEIL, ARCHIBALD, proprietor of the wholesale bituminous coal business, styled Archibald McNeil & Sons, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was born in that city July 2nd, 1843. His ancestry is traceable to many substantial Colonial settlers; men active in the wars and seafaring life of the country they adopted. The first known ancestor in this country was Archibald McNeil who is mentioned in the town records of Branford, Connecticut, early in 1735. He married a daughter of Rev. Samuel Russell, one of the founders of Yale College. This first Archibald McNeil was the owner and supercargo of the "Peggie and Mollie," a brigantine engaged in the West India trade. He was one of the founders of Free Masonry in Connecticut, and a charter member of Hiram Lodge No. 1 of New Haven, Connecticut. Captain Archibald McNeil, his son, was born in Branford in 1736, and was prominently identified with the military affairs of his time. He was captain in the French and Indian wars, and was a friend of Benedict Arnold before he identified himself with the English cause. His son, William McNeil, graduated from Yale in 1777, and became a gunner on the "Marquis De Lafayette," a boat engaged in the lucrative occupation of privateering which was then sanctioned by the government. He made several important captures and became captain of a vessel employed in West India trade. While on a voyage to Martinique he was captured by the French and taken prisoner to France. He made his escape through Masonry, and lived to return to America.

Abram Archibald McNeil, Mr. McNeil's father, was also a seafaring man and a lighthouse keeper. He founded the system of lighthouses at Bridgeport, and established the light at the mouth of the Bridgeport harbor in 1844. He married Mary Hults, a woman whose influence was particularly strong upon her son's intellectual life. Mr. McNeil was brought up in a village, and educated at various private schools, and at the Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven.

In 1863 Mr. McNeil formed a partnership with his brother, Charles H., in the fruit and general produce business. For two years previous to this he had been clerk in his brother's store. In 1876 they moved to New York and conducted a butter and cheese store there. Later they carried on export and import trade with Cuba, dealing in coal and other products. In 1888 Mr. McNeil came back to Bridgeport and established the extensive bituminous coal business in which he has continued ever since. He represents six large coal producing companies, and supplies many railroads, factories, and dealers.

In 1881 Mr. McNeil was married to Jean McKenzie Clan Ranald. They have three sons. Mr. McNeil is a member of several clubs, including the Algonquin Club of which he was the first president, the Bridgeport Yacht Club of which he has been commodore, the Seaside Club, and the Bridgeport Club. His favorite recreations are automobiling and yachting. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held many local offices. He was elected State senator in 1903, and served two years. He was again made State senator from his district, in 1906, by a plurality of 128.

Mr. McNeil's advice to young men is as admirable as it is concise, for he says to them—"Lead an honest life.''  Men of Mark Index

MERWIN, ORANGE, president of the Bridgeport Land and Title Company and vice-president of the Bridgeport Trust Company, was born in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut, on August 21st, 1854. He is descended from good Colonial stock. Miles Merwin came to America from Wales in 1645 and settled in Milford. John Peet, the first of his maternal ancestors to emigrate to America, reached Connecticut in 1635. His father, Horace, and his grandfather. Orange, were public spirited citizens. The former was a representative in the State House of Representatives for several terms and the latter was a member of Congress from Connecticut from 1821 to 1825.

Young Merwin's early life was spent on a farm where, under the direction of his parents, he developed those habits of industry and attention to detail that today characterize his business and social life. His school training was received in the public schools in New Milford and at the Golden Hill Institute in Bridgeport. At the age of sixteen he began to earn his own livelihood as a shipping clerk in Dabney Carr's Shirt Factory in Bridgeport. Later he became clerk in the People's Savings Bank, a position which he held for thirteen years, after which he became a member of the old banking firm of Marsh, Merwin & Lemmon. Since 1897 he has been president of the Bridgeport Land and Title Company and vice-president of the Bridgeport Trust Company since its organization, in 1901. He has been fire commissioner of the city for five years and is treasurer of the local Y, M. C. A. and of the Boys' Club. In politics he has always been a Republican; in the Masonic Order he has reached the thirty-second degree; he is a member of the Congregational Church. He was president of the Bridgeport Republican Club for three years and is a member also of the Contemporary, of the Seaside, and of the Rooftree and Seaside Outing clubs, and also of the Sons of Colonial Wars. Driving, fishing, and hunting are his favorite sports.

In 1877 Mr. Merwin was married to Mary Clifford Beach. They have one child, Horace Beach Merwin.  Men of Mark Index

PHELAN, JOHN JOSEPH, lawyer, city official in Bridgeport, State legislator, was born in Wexford, County of Wexford, Ireland, June 24th, 1851. His father, Michael Phelan, was a marble and granite dealer, a man of high intellectuality and integrity, who married Catharine, daughter of Patrick and Catharine White of Wexford.

As a child John J. Phelan was fond of home, books, and music and in 1865 he was graduated at the Christian Brothers School in Wexford, Ireland. As his parents were poor, he went to work with his father at the age of fourteen, having just lost his mother by death, and when sixteen his father died, leaving him the oldest of six children. He determined to try for success in the United States and he arrived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in April, 1870, and obtained work in the marble and granite works of Eugene Silliman. The next year he worked in Brooklyn, New York, then in Middletown, Connecticut, returning to Bridgeport, where in 1874 he became a partner with M. G. Keane in the same line of business and the partnership continued until May, 1878. In 1875 he determined to study law at the University of the City of New York and arranged with his partner to work one-half of each day. While going to and from New York he studied on the train and late every night, and he was graduated with the degree of LL.B. in 1878. His great ambition on becoming a lawyer was not only to win approval in his profession, but to obtain such worthy prominence in social and political life as would by example allay race and religious prejudice and tend to prove the loyalty and integrity of Roman Catholics as American citizens. He read besides the law, history, biography, and many books of ancient and modern authors to better fit him for his life work.

He began the practice of law in Bridgeport in 1878, was a member of the board of aldermen in the city of Bridgeport 1880-84, town attorney for the town of Bridgeport 1884-85, city attorney for Bridgeport 1889-90, secretary of state of Connecticut 1893-94, having been elected in 1890, but kept out of office through the contest of the election of the head of the ticket, Gov. Luzon B. Morris, and he was reelected in 1892. He was chairman of the Connecticut delegation to the Catholic Congress held at Chicago, Illinois, during the period of the Columbian Exposition in 1893. He was a member of the board of trade of Bridgeport. His legislative service to Connecticut was as a representative in 1885 and 1886. He was the choice of the Democratic minority for speaker of the House in 1886 and was a member of the judiciary committee during his legislative service. He was president of the Irish Land League of Bridgeport in 1881-82, chief officer of Park City Council, Knights of Columbus, in 1885, and Supreme Knight of the national organization. Knights of Columbus, from 1886 to 1897. His political faith he finds exemplified in the platform of the Democratic party and his religious faith in the Roman Catholic Church. His recreation he finds in travel, the theater, music, and reading. He was married December 25th, 1879, to Annie E., daughter of David and Mary Fitzgerald of Stratford.

His work in professional and political life and in behalf of his race and creed brings him prominently before the public as an eloquent and forceful speaker and in a retrospect of the latter he says: "I am satisfied in having fairly though crudely attempted to blaze the path of tolerance and confidence for Catholics in this state and elsewhere, but regret that means beyond my control have prevented the fulfillment of my desires, thus leaving to others of my faith and race the duty of rounding out our virtues to the better understanding and appreciation of state and nation." To young men he says: "Be honorable, courageous, and just, endeavor to be virtuous, industrious, and persevering, be humble, charitable, truthful, and patriotic, observe the Golden Rule."  Men of Mark Index

REED, STEPHEN EBENEZER, bank official and manufacturer, was born in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, December 12th, 1845. His father, John Bowden Reed, was a carriage manufacturer, burgess of the town of Stamford and treasurer of the school board. He was a strong churchman and prominent in the councils of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church. He married Almira Ann, daughter of Benjamin and Laura Terpening Many of Newburgh, New York. Stephen Ebenezer Reed is of the seventh generation from John Reed, who was born in Cornwall, England, was a soldier in the army under Cromwell, and upon the restoration to the throne of Charles II., in 1660, he emigrated to New England and settled in Norwalk, Connecticut Colony, which was known as the New Haven Colony after 1664.

Stephen Ebenezer Reed was brought up in the village of Stamford, where he attended the public school and when fifteen years of age engaged as a clerk in the Stamford Bank, afterward the Stamford National Bank, taking the position at the request of Francis R. Leeds, at the time cashier of the bank. He served the bank as clerk and teller from July, 1860, to January, 1865, when he resigned to accept a clerkship in the office of the Stamford Manufacturing Company, where he remained from January, 1865, to January, 1887, as clerk, and since that date as a director and secretary of the corporation. He was a charter member of the Stamford Savings Bank and served as a member of its board of directors since 1880.

On October 17th, 1871, Mr. Reed was married to Jennie, daughter of Frederick J. and Mary A. Calhoun and the three children born of this marriage are Frank Calhoun, who died in infancy; the second son, Herbert Calhoun Reed, was graduated at Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University, in the class of 1895, with honors in chemistry, and he became the chemist of the Stamford Manufacturing Company. He is recognized as one of the leading tanning chemists of the United States, and was elected president of the American Leather Chemists' Association in November, 1905. He was a member of the Board of Councilmen during the years 1903 and 1904 and ran for mayor of the city of Stamford in November, 1904, on the Republican ticket, but was defeated by Homer S. Cummings, the Democratic candidate. The third son, Clarence Marsh Reed, was graduated at Yale University, A.B., 1897, with the highest honors, and while at Yale he belonged to the university baseball nine. He studied law in the New York University Law School and was graduated with honors, LL.B., in 1899, after which he held a position with the law firm of Alexander & Greene, New York City, up to the time of his death. He died at his home in Stamford, May 24th, 1902, in the twenty-sixth year of his age.

From his eighteenth year (1863) Mr. S. E. Reed has been a member of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, a vestryman since 1868, junior warden since 1891, and senior warden since 1901. His political affiliation was with the Democratic party up to 1896, when he Joined the Republican party on the issue of gold as a standard of value. His early manhood days found him an earnest worker in the gymnasium and to this physical culture he credits his vigorous physique.  Men of Mark Index

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