Gustav Schunack

Source: https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio13beer
Scan label: 915
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COMMEMORATIVE  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 1145 aheth  Winspur,  who  wa;  'wn-.x  in'  Birmingham,  and they  had  five  children:  W'ilham  J.;  Joseph  H., a  sifversmith  in  Wallingford ;  George,  also  a  silver- smith in  Wallingford ;  Samutl,  a  painter  in  New York:  and  Alice,  wife  of  Charles  Chaucer,  of  Meri- den,  Connecticut. \\  illiam  J.  Hodgeits  acquired  ids  education  in his  native  city,  and  early  in  life  applied  himself  to moldmaking.  When  he  had  mastered  this  trade he  turned  to  the  making  of  Britannia  ware,  in which  work  he  was  engaged  until  coming  to  this country,  in  1S66.  He  made  his  way  directly  to \\'allingford,  and  was  given  employment  in  the  fac- tory of  the  Simpson.  Hall  &  Miller  Co.,  with  whom he  remained  twenty-tive  years.  He  verv  soon  rose to  the  position  of  inspector  of  goods.  In  1878  he began  the  making  of  boxes,  which  was  at  first managed  by  his  wife,  but  the  business  grew  to  such an  extent  that  in  1891  Mr.  Hodgetts  gave  up  his position  with  the  Simpson,  Hall  &  Miller  Co.  and has  since  given  his  entire  attention  to  the  box factory.  He  is  a  man  of  genial  disposition,  and has  a  host  of  friends  who  admire  his  manly  char- acter and  exemplary  business  methods.  Temperate in  his  habits,  and  upright  in  his  dealings  with  the world,  he  is  much  respected  in  his  communitv,  and is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valued  citizens  of the  borough. In  1867  ]Mr.  Hodgetts  married,  at  Xewark,  ^^liss Sarah  Hobson,  who  was  born  in  Birmingham,  Eng- land, a  daughter  of  Edwin  Hobson.  one  of  the prominent  men  of  Wallingford.  To  this  union  have come  six  children:  Harold  \\'illiam,  a  die  sinker and  moldmaker ;  Eva  A.,  a  forewoman  in  her  fa- ther's factory ;  Eftie,  a  trained  nurse :  and  Edwin, Xellie  and  Bessie,  who  are  in  school.  Mr,  Hod- getts is  a  Republican,  and  an  active  worker  for  the party.  He  belongs  to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Compass ■  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  ^I.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist Church. CHARLES  E^HL  SCHUXACK,  one  of  the rising  young  manufacturers  of  IMeriden,  was  born in  the  city  of  Spremberg,  Germany,  Xov.  15,  1859, son  of  Gustav  Schunack,  a  native  of  the  same  com- munity, who  was  a  manufacturer  of  woolen  cloth. In  Spremberg  Gustav  Schunack  married  Louisa Lange,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Charles  Emil and  Emmy.  Gustav  Schunack  and  his  family  left the  old  countrv  in  1873,  and  came  to  the  L'nited States.,  locating  at  Webster,  Mass.,  where  he  spent a  year  in  the  woolen  trade.  He  then  came  to r^Ieriden,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent, and  he  died  in  18S9  and  was  buried  in  the  West cemetery,  Meriden.  In  politics  he  was  a  Repub- lican, and  in  religion  liberal  and  broad-minded  in his  views.  His  widow  is  still  living,  and  is  cared for  in  the  home  of  her  son  Charles  E.  She  is  a devout  Christirn  woman,  faithful  and  loving  in  her duties  as  a  Avife  and  motb.cr, Charles  Emil  Schunack  attended  the  schools  of his  native  town.  He  was  thirteen  years  old  when he  left  Spremberg  with  his  parents  to  make  his  home in  America,  and  at  Web.=  ter,  Mass.,  went  into  the mills,  so  that  he  has  had  no  schooling  save  that of  work  and  experience  since  his  arrival  in  this State.  In  1874  he  came  to  ]Meriden,  and  for  some five  years  worked  in  the  bronze  department  of  the Meriden  Malleable  Iron  Works.  For  the  following five  vears  he  was  connected  with  the  bronze  de- partment of  the  factory  of  Hart,  Bliven  &  ^lead,' at  Kensington,  Conn.,  as  a  contractor.  When  this period  had  expired  he  came  back  to  Meriden,  and took  a  place  with  the  Charles  Parker  Co.,  in  the lamp  department  of  its  extensive  factories.  For nineteen  years  he  has  had  charge  of  this  depart- ment. Mr.  Schunack  began  business  for  himself  as  a box  manufacturer  in  1S91,  locating  on  Randolph avenue,  and  beginning  in  the  most  modest  fashion. He  attended  strictly  to  his  trade,  and  it  has  steadily increased,  tlemanding  eidarged  facilities  and  im- proved machinery,  until  he  now  has  a  plant  that  is about  as  complete  as  anv  to  be  found  anywhere  in the  State.  Here  he  makes  a  vast  variety  of  paper boxes,  as  well  as  plush,. chamois  and  leather  cases for  silverware,  and  employment  is  given  to  more than  seventy  people,  the  products  selling  in  remote parts  of  the  country,  as  well  as  at  home.  Our  sub- ject's only  sister.  Miss  Emmy,  has  charge  of  this branch  of  his  business ;  she  is  a  lady  of  much  busi- ness ability,  thoroughly  understanding  the  work, and  very  popular..  Mr.  Schunack  is  a  progressive and  enterprising  citizen,  wide-awake  and  vigorous, energetic  with  his  work,  and  anxious  to  give  per- fect  satisfaction   to   every   customer Mr.  Schunack  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M., being  controlled  in  Meridian  Lodge,  X'o.  J~ ;  to  Pil- grim Harbor  Council,  Roval  Arcanum :  and  to  the Invincibles  of  Meriden.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- lican, and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  citv  council in  ^leriden  for  two  years.  He  and  his  wife  find their  religious  home  at  the  Congregational  Church. Mr.  Schunack  was  married  in  Kensington,  Hart- ford Co.,  Conn.,  to  Miss  Rhoda  Baldwin,  a  lady  of much  refinement,  and  they  have  two  children,  ^lil- dred  and  Elsie.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  ex- cellent people  and  command  the  respect  and  con- fidence of  the  community  to  a  very  marked  degree. MICHAEL  D.  RUSSELL,  comptroller  of  the city  of  Waterbury,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary, Ireland,  in  1865.  and  is  a  sen  of  John  and  Catherine ( Dwyer)  Russell,  the  former  of  whom  is  an  ex- tensive farmer  and  both  of  whom  still  have  their home  in  County  Tipperary.  To  their  marriage  were born  twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living, viz. :  William,  a  doctor  of  medicine :  Helen,  a widow ;  Thomas,  farming  the  old  homestead ; ]\Iichael  D.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  :  Katie,  smgle: John,  a  Catholic  clergyman  in  England;  Mary,  a Sister  of  I^Iercy  in  Dublin ;  Alatthew,  a  physician