Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

walk; Frank A., of South Norwalk; John
H., of whom further; and Frederick, of
Detroit, Michigan.
John H. Wehrle was born in Darien,
Connecticut, May i, 1886, and as a youth
attended the South Norwalk public
schools. When he was ten years of age
he began study on the piano, and when
twelve years of age appeared in public
in orchestras and at dances. His first
position was as an automobile driver,
work he took up in his fifteenth year, and
since that time his business connections
have been in automobile lines. Until
1912 he continued his piano playing in
public, for a time being pianist at Hoyt's
Theatre. In 1912 Mr. Wehrle became
local agent for the Buick car and has
since that time represented the Buick in-
terests in a territory that includes Greens
Farms, Redding, and west to Darien, with
a population of about fifty-two thousand.
His work in this field has resulted in a
gratifying popularity of his car, for which
he has gained a large number of enthu-
siastic friends. Mr. Wehrle drove the
third automobile owned in Norwalk and
has been active in the campaign that has
placed such a host of machines in his
neighborhood.
Mr. Wehrle is a member of Old Well
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of
which he is organist ; Butler Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons ; and Washington
Council, Royal and Select Masters. He
is also a member of the Monker Grotto,
and his clubs are the Craftsmen's, South
Norwalk, and Norwalk Country. His
other fraternal relations are the Fraternal
Order of Eagles, and he is identified with
the Musicians' Protective Union, No. 52.
Mr. Wehrle married Olive G. James,
daughter of William James, of Rowayton.
Mr. and Mrs. Wehrle are members of
Christ Episcopal Church.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
119
HARTWRIGHT, Frank Sydney,
Florist.
The first requisite to success is a con-
centration of purpose. When this quality
is combined with ambition, a man's future
is assured. Frank Sydney Hartwright,
one of the most successful florists of Fairfield
county, started from the humblest
beginning, but there was always uppermost
in his mind the thought that eventu-
ally he would become a florist, a success-
ful one, and because he possessed the
above named qualities he was able to
overcome the many obstacles which con-
fronted him. His childhood was spent
among plants, as he was accustomed to
assist his father in the market gardening
business, and for years he was building
and adding to his store of knowledge.
Mr. Hartwright was born on the place he
now occupies at Sound Beach, Connecti-
cut, February 18, 1892, son of Esau Hart-
wright, and grandson of James Hart-
wright.
James Hartwright was born in Eng-
land, where he learned the trade of tailor,
and he followed this occupation for many
years. In later life he became a game-
keeper. The Christian name of his wife
was Jane, and they were the parents of
Esau, of further mention.
Esau Hartwright was born June 8,
1848, in Longdon Heath, near Upson,
Worcestershire, England. As a boy he
attended the public schools, and after
reaching the age of fourteen years learned
the trade of bricklaying. There was not
sufficient work in this trade to keep him
busy, and Mr. Hartwright took up his
father's occupation, that of gamekeeper.
In 1878 he came to America, locating at
Sound Beach, Connecticut, in the town
of Greenwich, and with his brother engaged
in market gardening for two years.
After that time he continued alone until