Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Fifth Ward during the terms of office of
Mayors Morford and De Forest. For
several years he was chairman of the old
Barnum School District in the days when
the city of Bridgeport had many school
districts, and before the era of consolida-
tion. He was a member of St. John's
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and
for forty-three years was a member of
Samuel H. Harris Lodge, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He married Clara
M. Moore, daughter of Jonathon and Cla-
rissa Moore, of Brookfield, Massachusetts.
They were the parents of two sons: i.
Frederick W. Havens, of Springfield, Massachusetts.
2. Colonel Elmer H. Havens,
of this review.
Elmer H. Havens was born October 2,
1864, a son of George Oliver and Clara
(Moore) Havens, and was educated in
the grade and high schools of Bridgeport.
For a brief period he was employed in the
grocery establishment of Rogers & Mor-
ford, and in 1887 he organized the firm of
Patchen & Havens, iron, steel and heavy
hardware merchants. Two years later
his firm was consolidated with S. S.
Hunter, and the new organization was
known as Hunter, Patchen & Havens. In
1912 Mr. Patchen retired from the firm,
and the business was carried on under the
style of Hunter & Havens. Upon the
death of Samuel S. Hunter in 1914, his
son, Roland L. Hunter, succeeded to the
partnership, and the firm continues to be
known as Hunter & Havens. In the ear-
lier days of the firm's career the metal
chiefly sold by them was wrought iron,
but the wonder working changes in ma-
chinery, formulas and processes had de-
veloped the products into open-hearth
steel, which to-day forms the major part
of the firm's merchantable line. The firm
has an enviable reputation and is one of
the best known in the iron and steel trade
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in this section of New England. It has a
valuable good-will, which is synonymous
with the large volume of business which
it enjoys.
Mr. Havens since attaining his majority
has always been an ardent supporter of
the Republican party. He continues un-
abated his interest in municipal affairs in
his home city as well as in the political
doings of the State. He entered actively
into the municipal life of the city in 1891,
when he was elected a member of the
Council from the Fifth Ward. In 1893
Mayor Taylor appointed him a member of
the Board of Health, and when Mayor
Mulverhill came into office he appointed
Mr. Havens to succeed himself on the
Board of Health. In 1903 Mr. Havens
was elected a member of the Board of
Education, and he began then a period of
service which has been of untold benefit
to the city in the administration of its
school department. Mr. Havens continued
to be a member of the board until 1921,
and for many years was honored with the
offices of secretary and president by his
fellow members. He voluntarily retired,
in 1921, believing that he had given his
full meed of service in that capacity to the
city, but only two years elapsed when he
was drafted, much against his will, to
stand for election to the same board. He
was elected and at once resumed his former
duties as president, which office he
still retains. During his incumbency
many reforms have been instituted and
improvements established ; among these
are the building of the Central and War-
106
ren Harding high schools, which stand as
monuments to the wise and beneficient
administration of Bridgeport's school de-
partment. Mr. Havens has been a di-
rector of the Bridgeport Public Library
for eight years, and in that capacity has
given to that important center of the