HOADLEY BRAY IVES

Ives is one of the old historic names of New England, and has been represented in Connecticut since the settlement of William Ives, the American ancestor of the family, in the colony as early as 1642. The various descendants of this man have played a part in the making of a great nation, and Hoadley Bray Ives was no unworthy representative of the name.

Hoadley B. Ives was born in North Haven, in 1814, a son of William Ives, Jr., and a grand-son of William Ives, Sr., the latter a farmer of North Haven, where he spent his entire life. William Ives, Jr., was born in North Haven, and followed farming as an occupation. He died when about seventy-five years old. His wife was born in East Haven, and died at the age of sixty-five. She became the mother of five children.

Hoadley B. Ives was reared in North Haven, and was early set to learn the tinner's trade, but he ran away from his employer, and found a position as a clerk in a grocery in New Haven in which connection he remained until he was nineteen. At that age he set up in the grocery business on State street, and after a few years moved to Church street, and there purchased two buildings. He was quite successful, and was so engaged for a number of years. Mr. Ives was one of the originators of the National Savings Bank, and filled a position in it as treasurer as long as he lived, his period of active work as treasurer and director covering some twenty-five years. He was president of the Fair Haven & Westville Street Railroad Company, and saw that enterprise grow in importance until it has become one of the important lines of this part of the state.

In his politics he was a republican, and for three years was an alderman; eight years a member of the common council, and he always took an active part in all the affairs of the city. He was a director of the Yale National Bank and at one time owned nearly half its capital stock, being intimately associated with all its important transactions.

On May 25, 1853, Mr. Ives was married to Mary E. Fisher, a native of the city of New York, and a daughter of Daniel M. and Mary (Watrous) Fisher, prominent in old New York circles. Daniel M. Fisher was well known in business for many years in the metropolis, and died at the age of eighty years. Mary (Watrous) Fisher was born in New York of French Huguenot extraction, and became the mother of four children, one of whom was Mrs. Mary E. Ives. Mrs. Fisher died at the age of forty-one. Both she and her husband attended the Methodist church and Mrs. Ives attended Christ church. The death of Mr. Ives occurred March 19, 1894, his demise causing deep regret to his many friends who greatly appreciated him for his many fine traits of character.

Mrs. Ives began a tour of the world February 6, 1895, and was away from home two and a half years. She spent one month in Ceylon, three months in India, three months in Japan, and made a prolonged stay in Italy, where her health was much improved. In 1895 Mrs. Ives gave ten thousand dollars to build the chancel of Christ church, and in 1899, gave two thousand dollars for the furnishing of the new Maternity Hospital. In August, 1901, she made a donation of ten thousand dollars to the Y. M. C. A. for the library, and the interest on five thousand dollars with which to buy books for the library, this money to be given them at her death. She left in addition to these gifts many others of a most substantial character. She was a woman of high character and generous spirit, and possessed a host of friends in the community who appreciated her good qualities.

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