Various corporate interests profit by the enterprise and business ability of Ridgley Larkin, who, however, is perhaps best known as the president and treasurer of The David H. Clark Company, Inc., which is conducting the largest contracting and building business in New Haven county. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, having worked his way steadily upward from a humble beginning, and step by step he has reached the position which he now occupies as one of the most enterprising and successful business men of New Haven.
     Mr. Larkin was born October 23, 1869, in Columbia, Missouri, a son of the late John E. Larkin, a native of Connecticut and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Kentucky. He traced his ancestry from General Tryon, one of the Revolutionary war governors of New York of English descent, who settled in the Empire state prior to the declaration of war and afterward became a resident of Kentucky. John E. Larkin was an architect and builder of Missouri and during the Civil war he entered the army with the Confederate troops under General Morgan and served throughout the entire period of hos-tilities. He was wounded in battle and during one of the engagements was taken prisoner, after which he was confined in a prison near Chicago until exchanged. He then reentered the service, in which he remained until the close of the war. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he was a very prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, naming his son, the subject of this review, in honor of Mr. Ridgley, who was one of the first organizers of the Odd Fellows west of the Mississippi. The death of John E. Larkin occurred in Worcester, Massachusetts. November 20, 1914, when he was eighty years of age, his last days being spent in the home of his daughter. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Elizabeth Redd, was born in Palmyra, Missouri, and was a representative of one of the pioneer families of that state. Her father was the late Hon. John Redd, a prominent jurist and member of the state legislature. The death of Mrs. Larkin occurred in New Haven in 1904. In the family were three children, of whom two are living, the sister of our subject being Mary Elizabeth, the wife of W. E. Guertin, a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts.
     Ridgley Larkin attended the schools of Columbia and of Palmyra, Missouri, and started out to earn his own living on attaining his majority. It was in 1892 that he came to New Haven, where he was first employed by David H. Clark in the capacity of a journeyman carpenter, having previously learned the trade under the direction of his father. He con-tinued to work as a journeyman for Mr. Clark for but a short time, as his ability was recognized and he was given charge of the mill. He next took up estimating and the general superintendence of the business and when the company was incorporated in 1904 he became one of the stockholders His first official position was that of secretary, in which capacity he continued until 1910, when he was elected treasurer, and on the 30th of May, 1917, after purchasing the interest of Mr. Clark, who retired from the business, Mr. Larkin became the president and treasurer of the Clark Company, which had been organized in 1876 and which in point of operation is the largest general contracting company in the county and one of the largest in the state. The firm employs from one hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty workmen and in addition to conducting a general contracting and building business they also operate a mill, where they manufacture all their principal finishing materials and cabinet work. The reputation of the company is well deserved, for it is built upon thorough reliability, unfaltering enterprise and progressiveness. There is no feature of the building business with which Mr. Larkin is not thoroughly familiar from practical experience, and thus he is able to wisely and intelligently direct the efforts of the large number of workmen who are employed by the corporation. His efforts have not been confined alone to this line, however, for his forcefulness and resourcefulness are recognized and have been sought in other directions. He is now a director of the Peoples Bank & Trust Company of New Haven and is serving on its executive committee. He is also a director of the New Haven Building & Loan Association and he is president of the Larkin-Carey Realty Company, a New Haven corporation. He is also a member of the advisory board of Boardman's Apprentice Shops, which is a part of the New Haven school system, and his connection therewith indicates the high respect entertained for his business judgment and thorough understanding of every feature connected with his trade.
     It was on the 19th of May, 1904, that Mr. Larkin was married in Willimantic, Connecticut, to Miss Ann Haseltine Payne, a native of Utica, New York, and a daughter of Willoughby and Lucy Payne, the former now deceased, while the latter is yet living.
     Mr. Larkin has for the past nine years served as captain and as quartermaster of the Second Company, Governor's Foot Guard. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at New Haven; also to the Union League, in which he is serving on the board of governors; to the Racebrook Country Club; the New Haven Yacht Club; and to the Chamber of Commerce, while his religious belief is that of the Christian church. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable purposes and worthy motives and his entire course commends him to the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he has come in contact. Moreover, his example should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished by determined effort. It is through persistent energy and indefatigable industry that he has reached the place which he now fills in the business circles of New Haven, standing in the front ranks of its successful and enterpris-ing men.