Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

essential factors in business success, and
they are also noted for their high type of
citizenship, being willing to sacrifice their
lives, if necessary, to uphold the honor
and integrity of their adopted land.
James W. Newlands, father of James
Andrew Newlands, was born in Edinburgh,
Scotland, in 1848. After acquiring
a practical education in the schools of his
native city, he learned the trade of pat-
tern-maker, which line of work he followed
in Edinburgh until the year 1881,
when the family emigrated to the United
States, locating in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
In that city James W. Newlands
secured employment in the United States
Steel Company as a pattern-maker, and
shortly afterward his skill and ability led
to his promotion to the position of chief
pattern-maker. After about fifteen years'
service with that company, he left to
accept a similar position with the Carnegie
Steel Company at Duquesne, Penn-
sylvania, with whom he remained until
1908, in which year he retired from active
mechanical pursuits, taking up his residence
at Burgettstown, Pennsylvania,
where he is residing at the present time
(1917). He married Helen Frances Mar,
daughter of Peter Mar, of Jedburgh,
which has been the seat of the Mar family
for a number of generations. They were
the parents of five children, four of whom
attained years of maturity, as follows:
John, of Burgettstown ; James Andrew, of
whom further ; George, of Pittsburgh
Harold, of Burgettstown. The members
of the family attend the Presbyterian
church.
James Andrew Newlands attended the
public schools of McKeesport, Pennsyl-
vania, and prepared for college at Port
Byron Academy, Port Byron, Illinois. He
then entered Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin,
from which he was graduated
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
83
1903. He then took post-graduate work
in the University of Chicago, studying
medical bacteriology, and in 1904 and
1905 completed sanitary engineering
courses at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. During a portion of the year
1903 he worked in the Smith Sanitary
Laboratory at Beloit under the preceptorship
of Professor E. G. Smith. After completing
his formal technical training, he
entered the employ of The Souther Engi-
neering Company as water analyst. Later
he accepted a position with the State
Board of Health to install their labora-
tory. For two years, from 1905 to 1907,
he served as State Bacteriologist, and
from 1907 to 1913 served as chemist of
the board. He then purchased an inter-
est in The Henry Souther Engineering
Company, was secretary of the company
until July 1, 1916, when he was elected to
the office of president. This company and
the Newlands Sanitary Laboratory perform
all kinds of chemical, physical and
bacteriological analyses for city and State
departments, public institutes and large
manufacturing industries. Their business
comes from all over the United States
and even from British, French, Belgian
and Russian companies. The company
employs the services of more than thirty
skilled men, and it ranks high in the busi-
ness industries of the community. Mr.
Newlands also serves as chemist of the
water department of the city of Hartford.
Mr. Newlands was appointed a member
of the new State Department of Health
by Governor Holcombe in June, 1917, and
is also a member of the Committee on
Sanitation and Medicine of the State
Council of Defense. Mr. Newlands has
written many articles for technical journals
on "Water Purification," "Sewage
Disposal," "Chlorine Treatment of Water
and Sewage," "Disposal of Factory
Wastes," "Oyster Pollution," "Typhoid