Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

J. B. Barnaby & Co., Bridgeport Branch, 438 Main Street. — If there is one business in this country that is in the hands of men of consummate ability who do not hesitate to spend their money like water to advance their interest, it is that of ready-made clothing. The most magnificent stores on the principal thoroughfares are almost monopolized by this branch of trade and so keen is the competition nowadays that the profit on the average suit of clothes is so small that only an enormous trade will pay at all. There are cer- tain houses in the clothing line that are generally acknowledged (publicly by friends and privately by enemies and competitors) to be by long odds the leaders, both as regards the character and the volume of the business they do and foremost among these stands the firm of J. B. Barnaby & Co. As the branch of this mammoth establishment in this city was only opeued during the current year our readers have not as yet probably become familiar with the many advantages gained by purchasing clothing here, but such of them as have friends in Providence, R. I., where the main»Jiou.se is, or in Boston, Mass , where a huge branch has gained the most brilliant success, despite the most severe and carefully organized opposition with which it has had to contend, can easily find out tke esteem in which this enterprise is held by those best acquainted with it. The Bridgeport house is located at No. 438 Main street and is under the able management of Mr. A. O. Norton and has for assistant super- intendent Mr. Chas. W. Hull. The store is 105x35 feet in dimensions and con- tains an enormous stock of fashionably cut cloth- ing, which is offered at bottom prices. "Once a customer always a customer" has been the ex- perience of this house in other cities and we see no reason to doubt that the result will be the same here. Bommos & Biltz, Retail Dealers in Meats of all kinds, a'so Vegetables, Butter, Eggs, etc., etc., Market 33 State Street. — One of the most largely patronized markets in this city is that conducted by Messrs. Bommos & Biltz, at No. 33 State street. It was established ten years ago, and has steadily gained in popular favor until it has attained its present extensive trade. A fine retail business is done in meats of all kinds, but- ter, cheese and eggs, etc. The store occupied is 24x80 feet in dimensions, and in the rear is carried on a shop in which the rendering of lard and the manufacture of sau- sages, etc., is conducted. Employment is afforded to six hands, and all customers are assured prompt and courteous at- tention. The stock carried is very large and a sufficient variety is offered to satisfy all tastes. As some of the goods for sale, such as lard, sau- sages, etc., are manufactured under the personal supervision of the firm, they can confidently warrant their purity and entire freedom from noxious or improper materials, and this fact, no doubt, explains to a great degree the very large business which this house does in these articles. Fresh vegetables of all kinds, in their season, are on hand, and pure creamery butter and fresh country eggs are also dealt in. The firm consists of Messrs. F. C. Bommos, Jr., and C. M. Biltz, both these gentlemen being well known citizens and universally respected. Mr. Charles M. Biltz was born in the year 1852 at Weisbaden, Germany. F. C. Bommos, Jr., was born in Lynchburg, Va. , in the year of 1856 ; elected to the Common Council on the Republi- can ticket in the spring of '87 from the second ward. 84 LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT. I,;;;; UlStlliU , |!!i;illll!l!ll!llll!5?5 1 !! ! f piiiiiiiiiihiiifiippsmjjiiisHiHniisiiisiis!!; The New Howe Manufacturing Co., .lolin P. Kennedy, President; E. Parmly, Secretary and Treasurer. — Under auspices the most favor- able, the New Howe Manufacturing Company have lately begun the manufacture of sewing machines in Bridgeport, as successors to The Howe Machine Co., and the future of the con- cern gives promise of great usefulness. The company was organized and incorporated in November, 1886, and have inaugurated their important work on a scale of large proportions, with abundant resources and every facility for their purposes. The new company are the sole proprietors of valuable patented improvements, which bring the old Howe sewing machines to the highest point of perfection, and as now per- fected these always popular machines are rapidly taking the lead in public favor. The factories of The New Howe Manufacturing Company comprise two immense blocks of brick buildings, four stories in height, formerly occu- pied by The Howe Machine Company, which have been greatly improved in their equipment, and every facility for successful operations is possessed by the new concern. This company also manufactures grey iron castings of light and medium weight. The president of the company is Mr. John P. Kennedy, and Mr. E. Parmly is the efficient secretary and treasurer. They are men of exceptional business ability and energy, and the success of the enterprise seems abundantly assured. James E. Hair, Pharmacist, 42 Railroad Avenue, near Main Street. — The profession of the druggist is one that deserves the most appre- ciative consideration from the residents of the. community in which it is located, as in no other [ line of trade can the knowledge and aid of the proprietor be called upon in time of need to alleviate the ills and suffering of the human ibody; and prominent among these public bene- factors of Bridgeport is the well-known estab- J lishment of James E. Hair, which was first | started in 1881, and although established in busi- I ness but a comparatively short time, Dr. Hair has had eleven years of experience in phar- macy. The premises occupied by him for the trans- action of business are located at 42 Railroad avenue, where is displayed a fine and complete stock of drugs, medicines, etc. The store, which is of medium size, is nicely appointed, and fur- nished with a soda fountain, show cases, etc., and a fine assortment of toilet articles usually dealt in by all druggists. Dr. Hair is a thorough chemist, and the ut- most care and attention is paid to the compound- ing of physicians' prescriptions, and the public are assured that none but the purest of drugs and medicines are used in the preparation of the same. James E. Hair is a native of England, and his success is justly merited. We can assure all customers that they will meet with prompt and gentlemanly attention. In addition to his large trade in drugs and patent medicines, he is the proprietor of several well known preparations, among which Hair's Syrup of Tar, Wild Cherry and Horehound has already enjoyed a large sale. Dr. Hair is an able veterinary surgeon, making canine diseases a specialty, and his thorough knowledge of medicine is of great assistance in his practice. His dog medicines, which are the practical results of over forty years' experience with all kinds of dogs, embrace Distemper pow- LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF BRIDGEPORT.. s:, ders, 500; Alterative powders, 50^; Mange cure, 350 and 750 per bottle; Worm powders, 500; Canker wash, 500; Tonic pills, 500; Keunel soap 250. All diseases of the dog treated. The above medicims, put up in powder form, can be sent to any part of the United States on receipt of price. Consultation by mail a spe- cialty. His custom extends all over the United States, and dogs have been sent long distances lor treatment. The medicines have been used in England since 1829. They can also be obtained through any druggist. John S. Atkinson, Wholesale and Retail Deal er in Harness, Blankets, Trunks, Bags, Sole Leather and Shoe Findings, Boot and Shoe Up- pers, corner of Fairfield Avenue and Middle Street. — Omitting nothing that contributes to a disclosure of the industries and advantages of Bridgeport we make mention in our volume of the advantages offered to the public in the well ordered and well conducted harness shop of Mr. John S. Atkinson that has during the past sixty odd years supplied not only the trade of Bridge- port, but the surrounding country with a com- plete assortment of harness, horse clothing, trunks, bags and every article made or carried in a first class shop, all of which are sold to the trade at producing prices. "^. This business was established in 1824 by Han- ford Lyon, succeeded in turn by Lyon, Harrall & Co., Harrall, Calhoun & Co., Calhoun, Lacey & Co., Lacey, Meeker & Co., Meeker & Shelton, Shelton & Lyon, and came under the present management eight years ago. The premises occupied are located at the cor- ner of Fairfield avenue and Middle street and consist of two floors 24x50 feet in area finely equipped. Employment is given to a large force of skilled hands. The trade is both wholesale and retail and is very extensive. The goods manufactured and kept in stock consist of har- ness, blankets, trunks, bags, sole leather and shoe findings, boot and shoe uppers, etc. No house in this business in Bridgeport possesses finer facili- ties for producing first-class work at reasonable prices than the establishment of Mr. Atkinson, who is a native of this city and a highly esteemi d citizen. In conclusion we may remark that the reputa- tion of the house for liberality and enterprise is not excelled by any contemporary concern, while the superior character of its products makes it one of the most desirable houses in the trade with which to establish pleasant and profitable relations.