Leading Business Men of Fairfield County

J. N. Robertson, Carpenter and Builder, 8 Crosby Street. — No persons have striven with greater zeal during the time since his establish- ment to bring to the front that branch of indus- try in which they labor than has Mr. J. N. Rob- ertson, and he has been rewarded, for to-day he occupies a leading position in the building trade of Danbury, and has acquired a fame for the re- liable and substantial manner in which he fulfills his contracts, excelled by none of his contempo- raries. This business was established by its present proprietor, Mr. J. N. Robertson, in 1877, who is a thoroughly experienced and practical builder, and all work undertaken by him is accomplished under his personal supervision. The premises occupied by him are convenient- ly located at 8 Crosby street, and comprise a building 40x70 feet in dimensions, which is equipped with all the improved machinery and steam power necessary for Wood Working of all kinds, such as Moulding, Turning, etc. Mr. Robertson gives employment to twelve skilled workmen, and his business operations consist of the erection of buildings and all kinds of carpenter work. He has erected many of the private residences and business blocks which grace our city, as well as many pretentious edi- fices throughout the adjoining towns. It is a matter of the greatest importance that buildings should be erected with care and of good materials, and those contemplating build- ing of any description will promote their own interests by consulting with Mr. Robertson be- fore entering into contracts with other parties. Mr. Robertson is a native of Canada, and his long residence and business career in this city have gained him the reputation of being one of the leading and most reliable builders of Danbury. F. E. Hartwell & Co., Dealers in Clothing and Gents' Furnishing Goods, 199 Main Street. — Among the prosperous business industries con- ducted in Danbury, the Clothing and Gents' Fur- nishing Goods line of trade occupies a prominent position, and popular among those houses de- voted to this line of business is the one conduct- ed by Mr. F. E. Hartwell. This house was established by Mr. Hartwell (who is the sole proprietor, the company being nominal) in 1877, and during the ten years since its inception he has been very successful in build- ing up an extensive retail trade. The premises occupied cover an area of 20x98 feet in dimensions, and have excellent facilities for displaying the very fine stock of goods car- ried, which consist of a full and complete assort- ment of gentlemen's clothing and furnishing goods of every description, also a large variety of Trunks, Valises, Umbrellas, etc., and in addition to the above-named line of goods, Mr. Hartwell deals extensively in horse clothing, of which he carries a complete stock. The extensive retail trade of this house gives constant employment to five very efficient clerks and the details of the business, which are under the direct supervision of the proprietor, are handled in an able and energetic manner. Mr. Hartwell is a native of Massachusetts, an excellent business manager of long experience, and a highly esteemed citizen of Danbury. D. S. Cosier, Undertaker. Coffins, Caskets and Shrouds, the Best in Market, Kept on Hand. 809 Main Street. — In a work of this kind, which treats of the resources of the city of Danbury, and which is destined to be read by the entire community, it is of course not out of place for us to speak of an establishment where, when our citizens are in bereavement, they will be able to find everything requisite for a funeral. The es- tablishment we have reference to is the one con- ducted by Mr. D. S. Cosier, undertaker, located at No. 309 Main Street. He established his business in 1869, and during the eighteen years since that date has so conducted it that to-day he possesses the esteem and confidence of a large portion of this community as one of the most re- liable parties to consult in times of need. Mr. Cosier deals extensively in coffins, caskets and shrouds, and constantly keeps on hand as fine an assortment as can be found in this city. His fine wareroom and private morgue is located at the above named address, where all orders are re- ceived and promptly executed, funerals attended to on short notice, hearses furnished, and coaches to meet the cars at all hours. Bodies laid out and prepared for burial night or day. Mr. Cosier and his very capable assistants are considerate and thoughtful in their attention to all patrons. Mr. Cosier is a native of New Fairfield, Ct. , but has been a resident of Danbury for many years, where he has gained a highly honorable record. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Joseph T. Bates & Co., Dealers in Western Lumber and Timber. Southern Yellow Pine, Walnut, White Wood, Oak and Spruce Flooring. Yard near N . Y. & N. E. R. R. depot, on Canal Street. — A leading house in the lumber trade of Danbury, and one of the principal concerns in this section is that of Messrs Joseph T. Bates & Co. The extensive business carried by these representative merchants was established in 1873 by the senior partner, the firm as now constituted succeeding him in 1883. The office and large yards of Messrs Bates & Co. are eligibly located with reference to ship- ment and receipt of merchandise, on Canal street, near the Housatonic railroad depot, the premises being admirably arranged for dry storage, etc., and the stock of merchandise is as large and complete as that of any other lumber dealer in Fairfield County. Messrs Bates & Co., have a large city and out town Western Lumber and Timber trade in Southern Yellow Pine, Wal- nut, White wood, Oak and Spruce flooring, be- sides seasoned clapboards, shingles, pickets, fence railing, posts, sheathing and flooring, and supply merchandise of standard excellence at lowest wholesale prices, and the great facilities for trade, honorable business methods and punc- tuality of the firm make their house a most desir- able and popular spurce of supply. Messrs J. T Bates and Wm. A. Burkett are the individual members of the firm. The former is a native of Danbury and the latter was born in Falls Village, Ct. Both are energetic, liberal, pro- gressive business men, and enjoy the fullest confi- dence of their customers and correspondents. In Lepeer, Michigan, the firm have in stock 2,000,000 feet, and 1,000,000 feet on hand here. LEADING BUSINESS MEN OF D ANBURY. 179 Turner House, Commercial rates $2.50 per day. Free Carriage to and from all Trains. W. M. Butler, Manager; J. S. Bliss, Proprietor.-— The Turner House, by far the finest hotel build- ing in Danbury, and one of the most imposing structures of any kind in the town, is one of the eminently popular and well conducted hostel- ries and pleasant summer resorts in New En- gland. It was built about thirty-five years ago by Mr. Turner, a famous showman in his day, and for five years has been conducted by Col. J. S. Bliss as proprietor, and Mr. W. M. Butler as the popular and efficient manager. Extensive additions were made to the building in 1883, at which time every modern improvement was introduced and the capacity of the house was doubled. The building is a handsome, four story brick structure, fronting on the Park, with spacious piazzas extending along three sides of the building, and all the surroundings are de- lightful. The rooms, sixty in number, are mod- els of elegance and comfort in their arrangements and appointments, and there is not in New En- gland a more desirable place as a summer resi- dence, or as an elegant home at all seasons. The menu is unsurpassed, and the service all that could be desired by the most exacting, and an air of refinement and comfort pervades every department. Col. Bliss, the proprietor, is a New York man by birth, and won his military title by faithful service in the war of the Rebellion as an aid on the staff of Gen. Newton, afterwards chief en- gineer of the United States Army. He is a cul- tured, courteous gentleman of fine social and business qualities, and is also one of the proprie- tors of the Wooster House in Danbury. Mr. Butler, the competent and obliging mana- ger, is a New Haven man by birth, and is one of the most popular hotel men in the State. The rates are from $2.50 to $3.00 per day, with special rates to commercial travelers and those remaining for a length of time. C. H. Wilcox, Eureka Feed Mill, 310 Main Street. — It would be an almost impossible task to compute the vast amount of Flour, Feed, Grain and Hay, etc., that are annually sold through the medium of the merchants of Dan- bury. One of the oldest and best known houses in the city devoted to the sale of these and kindred products was founded in I860 by Mr. G. S. Dis- brow. In 1880, Mr. Disbrow, the founder of the concern, and father in-law of the present proprietor, died. Since then Mr. Wilcox has been the sole pro- prietor. The premises utilized for the trans- action of this business are located at 310 Main street, and occupy two floors of the building, each 40x60 feet in dimensions, which are well stocked with Flour, Grain, Feed, etc. All goods are received direct from producers and manufacturers, and as every facility for doing a large business is at command, combining ample cap- ital with energy, enterprise and expe- rience it is not surprising that Mr. Wilcox should enjoy the confidence of a wide circle of patrons, and control a large wholesale and retail business trade in Danbury and the surrounding towns. The extent to which this trade has reached re- quires the employment of six assistants, and the large stock constantly carried will always be found uniform in general good qualities and color, which are unsurpassed in this market. Mr. Wi'cox is a native of Danbury, and in conclusion we may be permitted to say that the reputation enjoyed by him from the inception of his business for reliable goods and low prices has been main- tained to the present day, and those in quest of any of these goods will conserve their own inter- ests by trading at this establishment.