Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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came the secretary <strong>of</strong> the company, a<br />
position he ably filled up to a few years<br />
before his death. To this new field Mr.<br />
Dennis brought those qualities gained in<br />
his business career which tend so much to<br />
the success <strong>of</strong> such an <strong>of</strong>fice, namely a<br />
quick and active mind tempered with con-<br />
servatism. "And here the reward <strong>of</strong> early<br />
discipline, self sacrifice derived from his<br />
early business training with no one to<br />
rely upon but himself, became manifest.<br />
* * * To him there was no difference<br />
between the moral obligations <strong>of</strong> a man<br />
and a corporation, and any seeming suc-<br />
cess <strong>of</strong> either was an 'Apple <strong>of</strong> Sodom' if<br />
not earned by the honest service and<br />
based on the immutable laws <strong>of</strong> God."<br />
His faculty for following all issues to<br />
their successful fulfillment and method-<br />
ical system enabled him at all times to<br />
give a clear and concise logical presenta-<br />
tion <strong>of</strong> the intricacies <strong>of</strong> his department.<br />
His personality and high sense <strong>of</strong> honor<br />
and duty gave him a popular place among<br />
his associates and he was held in high<br />
esteem by his business contemporaries.<br />
In 1842 Mr. Dennis founded the Morgan<br />
Street Mission School, which was one <strong>of</strong><br />
the first organizations <strong>of</strong> its kind in Con-<br />
necticut, the purpose <strong>of</strong> which was to<br />
care for and visit the poorer classes <strong>of</strong> the<br />
city and give aid and help to their chil-<br />
dren. While in Georgia, he founded a<br />
similar institution there, and was super-<br />
intendent and teacher <strong>of</strong> the Hartford<br />
School for over twelve years. From the<br />
founding in 1880 <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong> Humane<br />
Society, until his death, Mr. Dennis<br />
served as its president, and he was also<br />
one <strong>of</strong> its corporators. He had many in-<br />
terests, among them being the following:<br />
Auditor <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong> Bible Society,<br />
vice-president <strong>of</strong> the Young Men's Christian<br />
Association, director <strong>of</strong> the Overman<br />
Wheel Company and <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong><br />
Fire Insurance Company, one <strong>of</strong> the three<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
41<br />
American trustees <strong>of</strong> the Lion Fire In-<br />
surance Company <strong>of</strong> London, trustee <strong>of</strong><br />
the Society for Savings, director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Hartford Trust Company, the Hartford<br />
City Gas Light Company, the Hartford<br />
Electric Light Company, the Farmington<br />
Power Company, vice-president <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Humane Society, and <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Anti-Vivisection Society, chairman<br />
<strong>of</strong> the board <strong>of</strong> managers <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Hartford Retreat for the Insane, a trustee<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong> Industrial School for<br />
Girls, chairman and trustee <strong>of</strong> the prudential<br />
committee <strong>of</strong> the Hartford Theo-<br />
logical Seminary, and trustee <strong>of</strong> the<br />
American Missionary Association. Mr.<br />
Dennis was also connected with many <strong>of</strong><br />
the interests <strong>of</strong> the Travelers Insurance<br />
Company. He was a Republican in poli-<br />
tics, and with his family a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Center Congregational Church <strong>of</strong> Hart-<br />
ford.<br />
Mr. Dennis married, at Hartford, Con-<br />
necticut, June 6, 1854, Clara Strong, a<br />
daughter <strong>of</strong> William and Naomi (Terry)<br />
Strong, <strong>of</strong> East Windsor, <strong>Connecticut</strong>,<br />
and they were the parents <strong>of</strong> the follow-<br />
ing children: William, died in infancy;<br />
Grace, born April 6, 1855, at Albany, New<br />
York, married Ralph W. Cutler, <strong>of</strong> Hart-<br />
ford ; Charlotte, born May 7, i860, became<br />
the wife <strong>of</strong> Thomas Little ; Bertha<br />
Parker, born January 10, 1868, resides at<br />
home; Rodney Strong, born January 12,<br />
1870, married Cecile Meiller, died March<br />
7, 1904.<br />
CUTLER, Ralph William,<br />
Banker, Man <strong>of</strong> Affairs.<br />
Ralph William Cutler needs no introduction<br />
to the readers <strong>of</strong> this work. For<br />
years he was one <strong>of</strong> the leading bankers<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Connecticut</strong>'s financial center, and his<br />
ability had long been recognized in wider<br />
banking circles.