Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

he became of age, but was so actively in-
terested in other lines of effort that he
could not content himself to follow this
trade to the exclusion of all else. He
went to Bridgeport and began operations
in real estate, then for two years con-
ducted a house furnishing store in that
city. At length he disposed of this busi-
ness and returned to Stamford. For six
years he was foreman in the factories of
the St. John Woodworking Company.
During all this time, however, he was
about town, in all his leisure time, conducting
a real estate business, which
grew in importance year by year, and after
a time he bought a lot at No. 204 Main
street, where he erected a building. For
three years he was engaged in the house
furnishing business, then returned to the
St. John Woodworking Company, remaining
for a period of two years. He
was now salesman and shipping clerk.
In May, 1897, Mr. Bland became interested
in the development of Suburban
avenue, and took up contracting work.
His thorough and practical knowledge of
carpentry placed him at an advantage,
and with his business experience, his un-
limited capacity for work, and his splen-
did executive ability, success was only a
matter of time. He studied conditions,
and with a fine appreciation of the tastes
and fancies of the better class of home
builders erected some very beautiful resi-
dences. This was only the beginning
he has gone on from one success to an-
other, leaving upon the beautiful city the
stamp of the man who makes business an
art and art his business. In 1912 Mr.
Bland built the Stamford First National
Bank building. He also built the Suburban
Club building, the Apartment
building, the Woolworth building, and
many of the important blocks. He is
now living in the thirteenth house he has
built for himself. Mr. Bland has also
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
380
been an adjuster for fifteen years for the
London & Liverpool, the London & Lancaster
Insurance companies, the Royal
Insurance Company of Great Britain, and
the Aetna of Hartford.
Mr. Bland married, in Stamford, Con-
necticut, Carrie F. Whitney, daughter of
George Whitney, of New Canaan, Connecticut,
and their children are: Louise
Pauline; Charles T., of Flemington, New
Jersey, married Caroline ; Ethel,
married Charles E. McLaughlin, and
they are the parents of one son, John T.,
and live in Stamford.
Personally Mr. Bland is a genial, wideawake
man, full of the spirit of progres-
sive citizenship, proud of his work, but
never satisfied with what has been done,
always looking forward to a bigger and
better future. He has met his public ob-
ligations in the spirit of service rather
than of leadership. Mr. Bland is a Republican,
is a member of the Council, and
was assessor of Stamford for nine years.
He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 5,
Free and Accepted Masons, and was for
many years a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a
member of the Suburban Club for twen-
ty-one years, and is a member of St.
John's Episcopal Church.
STEVENSON, William J.,
Physician.
A name which merits the respect and
honor of the citizens of Georgetown, Con-
necticut, is that of Dr. William J. Stev-
enson. For the past twenty years Dr.
Stevenson has practiced his profession in
this little town, and during those years
has not only ministered to the physical
wants of his patients, but through his
devotion to their interests, has won their
confidence, and many times renewed their
hopes. Dr. Stevenson was born in County