Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

The premises of the firm consist of a store 24x50 feet in dimensions, which affords ample accommodation for the storage of stock. Mr. Hitchcock transacts a large wholesale and retail trade throughout this section of the State and has established a well earned reputation for keeping a first-class line of goods at moderate prices. His specialties are butter, cheese and eggs. These goods he receives direct from dairy- men and are therefore absolutely pure and un- adulterated. Shipments are received almost daily and the trade may at all times find the freshest and choicest goods of this character at this establishment. Four assistants are employed and all orders aie promptly and carefully filled. Mr. Hitchcock is a native of Connecticut and may be considered as identified with the interests of this city in the broadest sense. 74 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. Standard Cab Co., Central Office 433 Main Street, comer Fairfield avenue, F. H. Vann & Co., Proprietors.— One of the most popular modes of conveyance in this city is that afforded by the Standard Cab Company, whose central office is located in Charles E. Shelton's drug store, at No. 433 Main street, corner Fairfield avenue, and a branch office at C. A. Dorman's livery stable, 403 Broad (head of Bank.) This en- terprising company which is the original pioneer line is always prepared to furnish cabs at short notice and their rates are most reasonable, being but $1.00 per hour or may be hired by the trip. Orders by mail, telephone or telegraph promptly attended to and only the most reliable men are employed as drivers, they being selected with great care as to sobriety, honesty, careful driv- ing, and courtesy toward passengers. This enter- prising company have every facility for their busi- ness, occupying a fine stable, admirably arranged and neatly kept, a large force of competent men are employed and every convenience is at hand for the care of horses and cabs. They are also prr pared to furnish coaches for weddings, receptions and funerals at popular prices and at short notice. Mr. F. H. Vann, the superintendent, is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Elks. He is also general agent for the Horse Owners Mutual Benefit and Indemnity society. Every owner of a horse should protect their horses against accident and death from any cause by insuring in this popular company. For weddings, receptions, calling, etc. , they have some elegant new Victoria Hansoms, which for elegance and ease cannot be excelled. These are furnished at the same rates as the cabs. The proprietors of this establishment are Messrs. F. H. Vann & Co., gentlemen of enterprise and business ability, well able to manage an im- portant business such as this is. No better regu- lated or more complete cab service can be found in any city than that of the Standard Cab Co. of Bridgeport, and it is one of which the citizens may well be proud. Banking House of T. L. Watson & Co., 355 Main Street. — A banking house which has been prominently identified with Bridgeport's com- mercial prosperity during the past twenty years is that conducted by T. L. Watson & Co. at No. 355 Main street. It was established by Messrs. Hatch & Watson in 18C7, and was carried on by these gentlemen until the death of Mr. Hatch, which occurred about ten years ago, since when the business has been continued under the present style. This house is a great favorite with investors by reason of its reliability and promptness in filling orders, and thus enjoys a large and increasing patronage. Stocks, Grain, Provisions and Pretroleum aie bought and sold for cash, or on margins to suit customers, and on account of its long establish- ment and extensive acquaintance among promi- nent operators, etc., it possesses exceptional ad- vantages in attendiug to the instructions of cus tomers as regards these articles. Private tele- graphic communication is had with the exchangt s of New York and Chicago and the other princi- pal exchanges of the country, so that early and reliable information as to the state of the market in these centers is assured and orders readily and securely placed. T. L. Watson & Co. receive deposits subject to check at sight and allow inter- est on daily balances at rate of three per cent., and in this department of their business they have about a thousand depositors. They make collections of drafts, notes, divi- dends and coupons throughout the United States and Canada and issue drafts on the principal cities of England, France, Germany, etc. They deal in government bonds and investment securi- ties, also seven per cent. Western Farm Loans of undoubted security. Colonel Watson is one of our best known and most public spirited citizens and enjoys to the highest degree the confidence and esteem of the business community. The evidence of his popu- larity and ability is shown by the many appoint- ments to positions of responsibility and trust he is now filling. He is the senior member of the flourishing banking house of Watson & Gilson, New York; second vice president of the Consolidated Stock and Petroleum Exchange of New York; presi- dent of two Gas Light companies: Colonel of the Fourth Regiment Connecticut National Guard ; President of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society, etc. The house of T. L. Watson & Co. is carefully organized in all its departments and has ample facilities and abundant capital for the transaction of conservative banking in all its branches. B. Shoninger & Co., New Haven, Conn., Manufacturers of the Celebrated Shoninger Up- right Piauos and Organs. General State Agents for the Weber, Emerson and Wheelock Pianos. Bianch Warerooms removed to 42 Fairfield Ave- nue, H. M. Copp, Manager. — Great improvements LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. 75 have been made of late years in the construction of musical instruments, and the utmost resources of art, of skill and of science are brought to bear upon their manufacture. In Bridgeport, noted ■for its culture and refinement, are several estab- lishments devoted to the sale of pianos and or- gans, and in this connection we desire to call the attention of our readers to the Bridgeport agency of B. Shoninger & Co., New Haven. This agency, whose manager is Mr. H. M. Copp, is located at No. 42 Fairfield avenue. Here can be seen one of the best selected stocks of the celebrated Shoninger upright pianos and organs; the Shoninger Co. being also the gen- eral State agents for the Weber, Emerson and Wheelock pianos. This branch was founded some six years ago and Mr. Copp has since conducted it in an emi- nently successful manner to both himself and his customers and his prices are the very lowest to be obtained for first-class instruments. Mr. Copp is a native of Connecticut, possesses a practical experience of sixteen years with this company as manager of different warerooms, and by his energy, enterprise and liberal dealing, bas secured a large trade and established a repu- tation second to no other dealer in the city. The Bridgeport Bottling Company, Manu- facturers of Lemon Soda, Sarsaparilla, and Bel- fast Ginger Ale, Mineral Waters in Syphons, Lager, Ale and Porter Bottled Expressly for Family Use, 509 and 511 Water Street. Atlantic Hotel Building, Rohrback & Boyle Proprietors. — Lager beer seem? to have been from the earliest antiquity, the beverage that assimilated closest to the hygienic necessities of man, but the time when beer was first manufactured is wrapped in the dim chronology of the past. The enterprise which we are desirous of call- ing the attention of the citizens of Bridgeport to is that of the Bridgeport Bottling Company, which was established in 1880, and is located at 509 and 511 Water street, in the Atlantic Hotel Building, and covers an area of 30x40 feet. The proprietors of the above-named company arc Messrs. Rohrback & Boyle, who are manufac- turers of lemon soda, sarsaparilla and Belfast gin- ger ale, mineral water in syphons, also lager beer, ale, and porter bottled expressly for family use. The productions of this house are distinguished for purity, brilliancy of color and richness of flavor; qualities the result of intelligence, care, experience; the use of the best modern ap- paratus, and superior standards of both quality and quantity of ingredients used. The large wholesale and retail trade of this house requires the employment of four assistants in winter and six in summer. This house is connected with the telephone, and all orders received are promptly attended to. Our readers interested will realize from the above remarks the facilities of this house, and dealers will do well to give the productions of this house a trial. Mr. Boyle was born in Bridgeport, is 88 years of age, and has always lived here. He was in the news business for eighteen years; is a mem- ber of the Knights of Honor and United Order of Friends. Mr. Rohrback was born in Germanjr. He served his adopted countiy during the late war, having been a member of the First Regiment, Company B. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic; member of the Odd Fellows; Bridgeport Sharp-shooteis, and the Germania Singing Society. Their place of business is at Nos. 507, 509, oil Water street. They possess ample facilities for doing business, and both are well known and highly esteemed citizens. L. F. Curtis, Druggist, Main, corner of Elm Street. — This is one of the oldest and most prom- inent houses in Bridgeport devoted to the drug and medicine line of trade, and one whose pros- perous career furnishes a fitting example ot the many advantages this city possesses, as a point in which to establish enterprises of any character. This business was established in 1861 by its pres- ent proprietor, Mr. L. F. Curtis, who during the twenty-six years since that date has been so suc- cessful in extending his steadily increasing trade, which is both wholesale and retail, that he is to- day the proprietor of three other stores in this city in connection with the one above-named.