The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-27
THE LATE sERnNo IT. SCRANTON.
A Sketch of His Life and Public Career-A
 PrOminent. Useful and HonOred Man.

NAAtNt which would benefit his native town, always willing to aid in good works and devoted to his family, Sereno H. Scran- ton, of Madison, whose death occurred last Saturday morning at his home, was one In whom neighbors, communi- ty, church associates and kindred placed reliance and dependence such as few men are ever honored with, and such as few men are worthy to possess.
 For some months his health had been failing, and for the past few days he had rapidly grown weaker. Although his illness was accompanied by much suffering, not complaint escaped him, He was ready and anxious to go.
 By the death of MT. Scranton Con- necticut has lost man of the type which was the bone and sinew of the state in former years. Sturdy and self reliant, strong in body and mind he was man of indomitable energy He never engaged in an enterprise without devoting to it the best of his powers, and to this trait is due his uniform sue cess in whatever he undertook. Even when president of a great lailroad cor poration he did not confine his efforts to strictly administrative duty, but made himself the possessor of an intimate knowledge of every branch of the busi- ness. A gentleman who was connected with him while he was president of the Shore Line railroad said:
 MT Scranton didn't know when to stop work. He was ready at all times to do anything to promote the roads welfare. It made no difference if the task was to put heavy trunk on board a train or to negotiate the sale of rail road bonds, MT. Scranton was ready to do it: and everything he did he did with all his might. His energy was one of his greatest characteristics"
 United with this remarkable energy MT. Scranton possessed a shrewdness and influence which made him able to conduct large enterprises and compete with financiers with uniform success. In the face of determined opposition he convinced the legislature that the Shore Line railroad should be permitted to build a bridge across the Connecticut river. Hartford, Middletown and other pIdCtS dlOUS IIG TlNGT SlIdlutu every nerve to defeat this project, but the projector of the enterprise met them single-handed and gained the victory. A gentleman who was in the legislature al that time, and who has had a large i, experience in legislative matters since, has stated that he never heard more convincing and cogent arguments than those made by MT. Scranton in this memorable contest.
 MT. Scranton was born in Madison, March 1st, 1911. He was son of Jona- than Scranton, prominent and widely known resident of Madison. He was a brother of the late D. c. Scranton, at one time mayor of New Haven, and of the late Joseph H. Scranton, one of the founders of Scranton, Pa., and one of the incorporators of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railroad. He was descended directly from John Scranton, who settled in Guilford in 1639
 On September 29th, 1893, he married Susan R. Dowd, who died in 1894, and by her had nine children, five of whom are still hving-Anna R., wife of Will liam w. Hart, of Philadelphia, Pa; Edward S., of Philadelphia, Pa; J. Samuel, of Madison; Charles w., of New Haven, and Catherine L., wife of Seth G. Johnson, of New Haven.
 His early active life was passed in farming, his favorite pursuit. in which he engaged on a large scale, and he also was extensively connected with shipping interests, oftentimes acting as master of one of the vessels belong ing to him.
 He was of that class which have gained for Connecticut worldwide reputation. He titled the soil, but his enterprise did not stop at this; for as merchant he sent his vessels to many ports, and although at the same time daily devoting himself to agriculture the extent of his commercial interests rivalled that of many houses of much pretense. The sound common sense which enabled him to do these things successfully stood him in good stead when, on June 24th, 1865, he was made president of the Shore Line railroad. His only experience In railroad matters had been gained while director of this road, but his inexperience was more than balanced by his sturdy hon. esty and practical skill. So well did he manage the road that he took it safely through all the vicissitudes of early diff faculties and, by obtaining permission to bridge the Connecticut river, put it into firm and prosperous condition. In 1870 when the Shore Line was leased to the Consolidated, MT. Scranton's ac- tive management ceased, although he continued as it's president until 1873. At that time, at the earnest request of the late s. B. Chittenden, whose regard and respect MT. Scranton had won through his association with the Shore Line, MT. Scranton went to New Or leans as general manager of the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas railroad, position to which he brought the same eminent ability which had distin- guished him in other positions of trust. He stayed in New Orleans for some years and was thoroughly successful. It is related that while he was there wealthy tobacco firm which was dissat- isfied with some rates which MT. Scran- ton established, sent a fighting man" to bulldoze the Yankee. The southern CT, with his pistol in his pocket, at- tempted to convince MT. Scranton that the firm should be given better rates, but was surprised, very much sur prised, to find that the Yankee was not in the least afraid of him or his pistol. RTyf 1T +Nw.