Connecticut western news., 1899-01-12
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

gently elected senator rom bne lotb District, was born in Goshen in 1S43, is 55 years of age. His father, David F. Smith. moved from Goshen to Sharon in 1859. His educa- tionsl opportunities were only those of the common schools of his native town, looked after by his father, who was an excellent teacher of the old style, while always regretting the lack of @ thorough business education 1n youth he has been able to supplement this by touch and contact with men ot affairs in conducting prosperous busl- ness. His early years were spent on his fathers farm Ill summer, and teach ing in winter His first Legislative ex- perience was as representative from the town of Sharon at the age of 20.
 In 1871 Mir Smith left his fathers farm to accept position in an extensive lum bering operation in Saratoga county, offered him by Hon. Theo. 5. Gold O. Cornwall, returning from there he en- tered the service of Pratt X Foster who for more than 30 years conducted large mercantile business at West Corn wall and remained with them until thelr failure, whereupon he was appointed one of the trustees for settlement of their estate. Immediately after closing up their affairs he organized and be- came the head of the firm of Smith k Sons which has done profitable busl- ness in general merchandise at West Cornwall and West Goshen, for the last 20 years. He is democrat in politics but not radical and has many ardent friends in the other party, has held nearly all the local offices in the gift of his town. Mrs Smith was Mrs Mary l.. Gregory, only child of Ichabod 5. Everett of Ellsworth, Ct., to whom he was married in 1879.
 NORTH CANAAN-HoRAoE B. HoLT w IS born In the town of North Canaan in 1850. He attended the common schools until IS years old, and since 1869 has followed the trade of carpen- ter. He has served the townspeople in different capacities and always with great efficiency, having been justice of ths peace, notary public, school com mitteeman, and Master of Housatonic Lodge, No. 61, F. X A. M. Mr Holt's family consists of wife and three sons Mrs Holt was Miss Crocker In poli- tics Mir Holt has always been demo- crat.
 CANAAN-JoHN H. BELDEN was born in Canaan in 1855. His early life was spent on the farm. He received com mon school education, supplemented by three years at the Rocky Dell Institute under the tutorship of the late John H. Hurlburt. In the spring of 1875, be entered the general store of George w. Hall, and learned the business from the bottom round, continuing in Mir Halls employ until 1890, when he formed a co-partnership with James H. Kennard and embarked in the clothing and gents furnishing goods business at Falls Vil- lage in his native town. The next year he became sole proprietor and has con- ducted the business very successfully ever since. He is the only son of Dea- con Henry Belden, who still resides on the old homestead. Some few years ago Mir Belden married Miss Clark of Salisbury. He is very popular among his town people, as is evidenced by the large majority by which he was elected. In politics he is republican, This IS the first public office he has ever held.
 SALISBURY - WILLIAM BEARDsLEE RUDD, son of the Rev George Robert Rudd and Frances Beardslee, his wife, was born at Fredonia, N. Y., August IF, 1888. In 1858 he moved to Lyons, N. r., with his parents. Then he received a common school education at the Lyons Union School. In 1854 he began his business life with his elder brother, D. P. Rudd, of the firm of Rudd X Carle ton, publishers of New York city. Mir Rudd was an officer in the 98th New York Volunteers in 1861-1862, and in November 1864, was commissioned ad- jutant of the 107th Regiment, New York National Guard.
 In 1866 he moved to Lakeyille, having married Tn the preceding year Maria Coffing Holley. His connection with the Holley Mfg Go. began at that time and still continues.
 Mir Rudd has always been a member of the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin coin. He was a member of the Connec- ticut State Central Committee for fif- teen years, district delegate to the Cincinnatti Convention in 1876, and al- ternate delegate to the Chicago ConYen- ton in 1888. Some twelve years ago he was the republican candidate for senator from the 18th district. He was defeated by MT Staub of New Milford. In 1S81-2 he served as Aide-de Camp on Governor Bigelow's staff, and in 1889 he was appointed Quartermaster-Gen by Governor Bulkeley, and held the office two terms by reason of dis agreement in deciding upon Governor Bulkeley's successor.
 Mir Rudd has been a Mason since 1864. He IS Past Commander of o. H. Knight Post. G. A. R.. member of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, of the Hartford Club, and of the Connec- ticut Society of the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution.
 WILLIAM CoNKLN was born in Sails bury and has always lived there. He
 was brought up on farm. He has been in the butchery and meat business for 25 years. He has been assessor for two years past and was postmaster un- der the Harrison administration.
 NORFOLK HENRY H. BRIDGMAN passed his youth and was educated in Northampto Mass. At the age of Fl he went to New York, entering the school-book publishing business in
 which he continued till about three years ago when he retired and removed to Norfolk, Conn.,, where he has since resided. He is 56 years old and is a re- publican.
 MELVIN E. SNOW was born at Prospect Ferry, Maine, in 1865. and removed from there to Connecticut with his par ents in 1869. He received a common school education, learned the stone ma sons trade, and at present is engaged in the mason building business with his father, O. M. Snow, under the firm name of O. M. Snow & Go.
 HUNTSVILLE.