The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-09
OBITUARY NOTES,
John Alden Damn.


 He was stricken with apoplexy last Thursday, just after arising, and fell
 to the floor Dr. B. H. Cheney and a
 trained nurse were called and were in | almost constant attendance to the end.
 The mind of the patient, which had
 been so keen for many years, was al- most perfectly clear until about fifteen minutes before death
 The funeral will be conducted from the family residence, 5S8 Ferry street, tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 8 o'clock. Rev. F. c. Tullar, of the East Pearl Street M. E. church, of which the deceased had been member for many years, will off1ciate. The interment will be in the Memorial cemetery, Fair Ha- ven.
 John Alden Damn was born in New Hartford, N. Y, February 19, 1880. He was the son of John and Mary Damn, who were among the earliest pioneers in that section of the state. In his early childhood his family removed to Hillsborough, N. r., and for several years lived in log cabin constructed by the father. Growing up a sturdy and energetic boy young John attended the old district school of those days and later the Sauquoit academy at Sauquoit, N. Y. Finishing his education here, he taught school for time and then en- tered upon the business life that later developed into a strenuous but success full struggle.
 He started out by learning the wood- en pattern makers trade, serving an apprenticeship in Willowvale, N. Y. In later years he often spoke of his trip to this place, which he made, in part, by canal boat. After some years, he hav- ing served his time at his trade he worked in Fayetteville, N, Y, and later went to Knoxville Pa. From Knoxville he came to New Haven, where he was destined to spend the rest of his life. In 1857 he went to work in Fair Haven in the building on East Pearl street now known as the Keg factory, A year later the Damn brothers formed partnership. It included John A., Jesse, William and Jonathan Damn. Some time after the brothers went with c. & D. Cook, which years later became the Henry Hooker Carriage company, one of the leading factories of this kind in the country. Soon after this the late Edwin Bowditch built for the Damn Brothers the building at the corner of Wall and State streets, now occupied by the New Haven Rattan company. After a somewhat disappointing strug- gle they were about to give up, when MT. Bowditch, who had the utmost con- fidence in them, told them they were sure to succeed sooner or later and gave them substantial encouragement. At this time there were in the company four brothers-John, Jesse, Isaac and William. Mr. Bowditchs confidence seemed the turning point, and all set to work with an energy born of a new and strong hope. It was at this time that John Damn invented the first fold ing camp chair in the world. At once there was great demand for 1t from the federal government. whose army was in the field against the south. It was here that the inventive genius of John caused the rift in the clouds that let in the sunshine of hard, honestly earned prosperity The business grew to larger proportions and Damn Broth- CTS merged with several other manu- lecturers of chairs, etc., under the name of the New Haven Folding Chair com pany In 1868 John bought the land on Franklin street where once stood the first house of worship of the Davenport church. In 1869 he built a shop on this site and started in business for himself. He was joined soon after by William Damn, and in 1870 the Damn Brothers & Go. was incorporated. John Damn was elected president and remained In that office until his death. The concern, conducted on conservative lines, grew slowly but surely in prosperity, and is now, and has been for years, sound institution. In 1896 John, who had been constantly inventing various things in the carriage woodwork line | md in machinery applied to its turning | put, invented probably the best wooden | bicycle rim ever put upon the market. | One day he modestly took this rim on lis arm and went to the Pope company n Hartford to show it to them. In less han an hour or so after his arrival he an order for SOOO0 and all that Damn Brothers could make over that lumber At the Chicago Worlds fair e was awarded diploma and medal or an exhibit of wood turning, etc.
 In speaking of John Damn as a man
 simple phrase expresses the whole ruth-he was a good man. In business e did not pursue honesty because it 7as good policy. Honesty in him was ne great part of his nature. He knew ot how to be otherwise. It was ugged honesty that nothing could love. He was plain-spoken, sometimes ven to a fault, but never Intentionally [ } sting. He was 8 man of larger heart nd charity than many knew. His null tude of kindnesses were always mod stly extended, and some of them his wn family would not know of until