Among the leading nurserymen and florists of New Haven, none has made more progress than Amasa L. Doolittle, who now receives an extensive patronage from many of the best families of Connecticut. He has held to the highest standards in his work and entering upon his present business well qualified by broad experience, he has developed his interests until as a florist and horticulturist he ranks very high.

     Mr. Doolittle was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, December 14, 1873, and is a son of William H. and Ruth A. (Warren) Doolittle, who were natives of Cheshire and of East Haven respectively. In early life the father operated a stage line between the down-town district of New Haven and East Rock. This was before the establishment of the street car lines. After street cars were installed he turned his attention to the nursery business and subsequently conducted a feed and grain business. His death occurred in Cheshire in 1907. His wife was reared, educated and married in East Haven and passed away in Cheshire in 1882. In their family were four sons: William H., George E., Edwin H. and Amasa L.

     The last named was a pupil in Giles private school and in Moody’s school at Mount Hermon, Connecticut, from which he was graduated in 1894. He then went to work for Frank S. Platt, a flower and seed merchant of New Haven, in whose employ he continued from 1894 until 1911, gaining most accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the business during his seventeen years connection therewith. Ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he carefully saved his earnings and in the latter year started out independently as a florist and nurseryman with a down-town store on Court and Orange streets, and a nursery on Sherman avenue. He raises and handles all kinds of flowers, trees, shrubbery and plants and is today numbered with New Haven’s foremost florists and seed merchants, conducting a large and profitable business under the name of the Doolittle Floral Company, which was incorporated in September, 1911, with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Doolittle becoming the president and treasurer, with Henry H. Kelsey as the secretary. He studies closely every phase of the business, the kind and condition of the soils required, the needed temperature and all of the questions relating to the propagation of fine trees and shrubbery and beautiful flowers. His experience has been long and varied and enables him to speak with authority upon tree and plant propagation.

     On the 11th of September, 1906, Mr. Doolittle was married in New Haven to Miss Jessie Terhune, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Terhune, and they now have one child, Esther, who was born in New Haven in 1910 and is a public school pupil.

     Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle are members of the Dwight Place church, and fraternally Mr. Doolittle is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a most progressive young business man who has worked his way upward entirely unassisted, his life record standing in refutation of the too often heard assertion that advancement is today only won through influence or fortunate circumstances. He has placed his reliance upon industry, determination and efficiency in his chosen calling and his present position is an enviable one.