Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

1907, in New Milford, Connecticut. He
went to work in his home city for a grain
dealer, and for his services received
eighteen dollars a year and a pair of
boots. It is not surprising that stories of
the "Land of Opportunity" appealed to
him. He came to America alone at the
age of sixteen to seek his fortune. Pen-
niless and unfamiliar with the language,
his assets were a wholesome, sturdy char-
acter, rugged physique and determination
to win. Neither were these all. He
was possessed of mental capacity that
reached out for every possibility which
he could turn to account. It was not
with his hands alone that he conquered
circumstances. He arrived in New Orleans,
Louisiana, in December, 1857, and
came to Bridgewater, Connecticut, in
i860. He made a place for himself there,
not only in the world of industry, but as
a man of dignity and influence in the
community. He remained there for thir-
teen years, during that time serving as
selectman, and in many ways contribut-
ing to the progress and prosperity of the
town. In 1873 he became a resident of
New Milford, Connecticut, and entered
the employ of John Peck, a prosperous
farmer whose daughter he married.
Later he bought the Peck farm. He was
one of the first to become interested in
the production of tobacco in that section,
and grew quite an extensive acreage for
some years. He then gave up farming,
and took up his residence in the village
of New Milford, where he engaged in the
business of buying and packing tobacco.
Still later he retired from the packing
business, and became a member of the
firm of Soule & Staub, engaging in the
hardware business for a time, then
passed his interests to his son, Verton
Staub, who sold out to the present owner,
M. H. Mallett. Mr. Staub resumed the
production of tobacco on a more exten-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
23
sive scale than formerly, raising twenty
to twenty-five acres annually. He also
raised general farm crops and developed
a fine herd of dairy cattle.
A man of force and ability, holding
broad views of life, and acknowledging
his responsibility to the public in general,
Mr. Staub was not the man to stand back
and neglect his duty to the social order
in which he had won success. He was an
organizer of the New Milford Power
Company, whose dam across the Housa-
tonic river is one of the most striking
feats of engineering in the State of Con-
necticut, and opened a wonderful field of
industrial development throughout the
western part of the State. The company
was chartered in 1893, and Mr. Staub sold
out his interest in 1901.
In the prime of life, with the dignity of
achievement placing him among the big
men of the town and county, he had time
for political activities. It was with general
satisfaction that the Democratic
party hailed him as a leader. He was
elected to the Legislature in 1876, also
in 1884, 1885 and 1903
; also served in the
State Senate in 1886 and 1888. In 1891
and 1895 he was State comptroller, being
the only Democrat elected on the State
ticket. He was always keenly alive to
the movements of the day, loyal to party
principles, yet never losing sight of the
public good. He possessed a genius for
organization and construction, and his
services were frequently sought in the
committee room. At different times he
served on the committees on insurance,
new counties, county seats, railroads,
manual and roll, banks, and on the congressional
and senatorial committees. He
was active in public life up to a few years
before his death, and is widely remem-
bered among his surviving associates as
a man of powerful initiative and progres-
sive spirit, tempered by an unusually