Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Camp has engaged in important busi-
ness enterprises. In 1898 he became vicepresident
and treasurer of the Pratt &
Cady Company, and continued in that
position until 191 1, when he was com-
pelled to relinquish his activities, as pre-
viously stated. Before the close of that
year, he had sufficiently recovered to
give some attention to business, and
became treasurer of the Austin Organ
Company, a position which he still fills.
He is also a trustee of the Society for
Savings and of the Young Women's
Christian Association. While in college
he was a member of the Delta Kappa
Epsilon, and a senior society called the
Owl and Wand. He is also associ-
ated with numerous social organizations,
being a member of the Hartford Club,
University Club, Twentieth Century
Club, Congregational Club of Connecticut,
Twilight Club, D K E Club of New
York, the Hartford Golf Club. He is a
member of the Musicians Club of New
York, and is one of the founders of the
National Guild of Organists, in which he
served several years as a member of the
council. He married Susie Virginia
Healy.
WATKINS, Clarence G.,
Business Man, Public Official.
Clarence G. Watkins was born May 30,
1854, in Eastford, Connecticut, a son of
Lyman Bruce and Loraine Betsey (Con-
verse) Watkins, of that town. His father
operated a saw mill for some years, subsequently
moving to Manchester, Connecticut,
as superintendent of the Joslin Sash
and Blind Factory.
Clarence G. Watkins attended the public
schools and the Manchester Academy.
On the death of his father, at the early
age of sixteen, he was obliged to leave
school and entered the employ of the
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
194
Joslin Sash and Blind Company, where
he remained three years. Ambitious to
be getting on and with enterprising ideas,
he decided to engage in business on his
own account, and at the age of twenty
years, in association with his brother, F.
Ernest Watkins, he purchased the under-
taking business of James William Pinney.
This was on October 8, 1874. Soon
after the brothers bought out the furniture
business of William H. Cheney. In 1891
they erected the building which the business
now occupies at the corner of Main
and School streets, South Manchester.
This building was at that time the largest
furniture house in any town in New Eng-
land. Soon after entering the new store
a new department was opened by the pur-
chase of a few pianos. From this small
beginning has grown the great piano bus-
iness so well known throughout the State.
In 1905 the firm purchased the stock and
took over the store formerly occupied by
Woods & McCann, of Hartford. In 1914
they bought out the William Wander &
Sons Company of Hartford, including the
splendid building at No. 241 Asylum
street. At that time William Wander &
Sons were the oldest Steinway dealers in
the United States. The business was
incorporated in 1912 under the name of
Watkins Brothers, Incorporated. The
headquarters are still- in South Manches-
ter, with a flourishing store in Bristol,
beside the splendid music store in Hart-
ford. Personally the Watkins brothers
were very popular. Clarence G. Watkins
was elected to represent the town of Man-
chester in the State Assembly in 1890-
91, and subsequently served his town for
a period of ten years as first selectman.
He was the first president of the Man-
chester Trust Company and held that
office until his death. He was also the
first president of the Chamber of Commerce.
At the time of the San Francisco