Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

principles of our Nation. It is with a
sense of sincere, if solemn, gratification
that we record here, in honor of his memory,
the story of the life of Albert Win-
field DeBarthe, whose ancestors came to
us from the shores of France.
The name of DeBarthe is derived from
the place of residence of the original
founder of the family, Barthe. It is thus
that many surnames were given, when
their use became general, as a means of
distinguishing between different men
bearing the same Christian name. According
to tradition, there were two
brothers who came from Bordeau, France:
Joseph and Peter, sons of Peter DeBarthe.
One of these sons, Joseph, settled in
Western Connecticut, and for many years
was a resident of Bristol.
Peter DeBarthe (second) was born in
Pennsylvania. He was educated in the
district schools, and learned the trade of
cigar maker in Philadelphia. He followed
this trade all his life. He came to Suf-
field, Connecticut, a few years before his
son, Albert W., was born and worked
there as a journeyman cigar maker. He
then went to Westfield, Massachusetts,
where he went into business for himself,
manufacturing a fine quality of cigars,
and doing a wholesale and retail business,
which at that time was quite an impor-
tant business in this line for that section.
About 1874 he came to Hartford and
established himself in business there. He
was one of the earliest cigar manufac-
turers of Hartford, having seen the advantage
of building up a manufacturing
establishment near the source of supply.
This was at a time when the tobacco
growers of the Connecticut River Valley
were expanding their operations, and
broadening the fields which now extend
for miles up and down the fertile valley.
Peter DeBarthe was connected by mar-
riage with the family of Robert Fulton,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
148
the inventor of steamboats. Mr. De-
Barthe died shortly before the advent of
the twentieth century. His wife, Phil-
ena, was a daughter of Henry Barnes, of
Philadelphia, who was a native of Scotland.
Peter DeBarthe and his wife had
several children, of whom the following
grew to maturity : Peter, now deceased ;
William, now deceased; Emerson, a resident
of the State of Washington ; Albert
Winfield ; Ada, wife of John B. Knox,
secretary of the Phoenix Fire Insurance
Company of Hartford.
Albert Winfield DeBarthe was born in
West Suffield, Connecticut, April 2, 1861,
and died in Wethersfield, May 7, 1917.
He was educated in the public schools of
Hartford, and learned the trade of cigar
maker with his father. He followed this
trade for about ten years, but having a
desire to follow some business of a dif-
ferent nature he looked about him for an
opening, and started in the laundry business
in Worcester, Massachusetts, under
the name of New Method Laundry. This
active and exceedingly practical work
appealed to him, and as he had a genius
for organization, and a faculty of gaining
and holding the good will of his em-
ployees, he was very successful in meeting
the needs of the public. After about
four years he came to Hartford and
started a laundry under the same name.
Three or four years later he formed a
partnership with George L. Best, and the
business was incorporated as the New
Method Laundry Corporation. Mr. De-
Barthe was president and Mr. Best was
secretary and treasurer. The business is
still in active existence, and is run along
the lines followed by Mr. DeBarthe. The
loss of his cheerful personality is felt by
those who were associated with him. It
is next to the oldest laundry in the city,
and employs sixty-five people, on the
average, and runs two automobiles and