Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

secretary of that society. He is a communicant
Church.
of the Protestant Episcopal
m Howard Nichols Wakeman married,
October 28, 1891, Grace Melville Hall,
daughter of Henry Hall and Catherine
(Silliman) Hall. Their children are: i.
Tallmadge Nichols Wakeman, born July
23, 1892. 2. Katherine DeForest Wedelstaedt,
born May 12, 1895. 3. Clara Lacey
Wakeman, born February 9, 1899.
MYLCHREEST, Joseph Warren,
Director of Public Works.
A native of Middletown, Mr. Myl-
chreest has attained a prominent position
among the citizens of the city, and is
actively useful in the direction of its ma-
terial interests, while contributing his
share to its moral and social development.
His forebears were among the leading
people of the Isle of Man, one being
among the first seven Manx settlers. The
present detailed knowledge of the family
begins with John Mylchreest, who was
the father of William Mylchreest, a con-
tractor who built many of the engine
houses at the mines of Manxland. He
died at the age of sixty years, and his
wife, Catherine (Davidson), also a native
of Man, reached the age of seventy-five
years. They were the parents of fourteen
children, the second of whom was Wil-
liam Mylchreest, born August 8, 1842, at
Kirk German. Up to the age of fourteen
years he attended an excellent school in
the neighborhood, and early began receiv-
ing instruction from his father in the
mason's art. When twenty-two years old
he went to Liverpool, whence he soon
moved to Halifax, Yorkshire, England,
where he continued at his trade and re-
ceived instruction in draughting and geometry
at a night school. Returning to
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
171
his native place, he continued there until
1869, when he set sail with his bride for
the United States. The voyage was made
on the steamer "Australasia" of the
Cunard line, and they arrived at Boston,
Massachusetts, after a passage lasting
eight days and six hours, on April 9, 1869.
Seven days later found them in Middletown,
Connecticut, where Mr. Mylchreest
continued a most industrious and success-
ful career until advancing age compelled
him to retire, and died January 13, 1922.
After working six days in the Middlesex
quarry of Portland, he found employment
as a bricklayer, in which he continued
for some time in Middletown and
Hartford. In 1869 he formed a partnership
with Hugh McConochie and James
Moore, to engage in building operations,
under the style of McConochie, Moore &
Mylchreest, and the association was con-
tinued some nine years. At the end of
that period Mr. Moore withdrew, and the
business was continued a similar period
by McConochie & Mylchreest. Follow-
ing this Mr. Mylchreest was sole pro-
prietor of the business, being ultimately
succeeded by his sons, by whom it is still
carried on. Many of the most substantial
buildings in Middletown are monuments
to his skill, among which may be mentioned
the Young Men's Christian Asso-
ciation building, several structures of
Wesleyan University, numerous resi-
dences, two wings of the State Hospital
and the German Lutheran Church. Included
in his operations were thirteen
buildings of his own, which he sold or
rented. Thirty years after his arrival in
Middletown, he erected his substantial
residence on Brainerd Avenue and in the
same year he put up the fire engine house
on Main Street, one of the best buildings
of its kind in New England. Several of
the fraternity houses adjacent to the col-