William. L. Moses, of Meriden, is filling the office of assessor and in connection with his activity along public lines he is well known in business circles as a mason, builder and contractor and also as the proprietor of the Holt Hill Farm. He was born in Meriden, July 11, 1864, a son of Levi and Martha (Foster) Moses. His ancestors in the paternal line settled in Windsor, Connecticut, about 1620, having come from England a short time before. They have a well defined record, covering service in the French and Indian wars and in the Revolutionary war. The Foster family from which William L. Moses is descended in the maternal line emigrated from England about 1702.

     During his youthful days William L. Moses attended the grammar schools and began selling and carrying papers, handling the Herald and Recorder when a little lad of but nine years. He also worked at farm labor for one year and afterward entered the employ of the Meriden Britannia Company, now the International Silver Company, where he was employed at hand burnishing for two years. He afterward became connected with his father, who was a railroad contractor, and with him worked on the West Shore Railway in New York, spending a year at that task. He then returned to Meriden and entered the employ of the H. Wales Lines Company, with which he was associated for eleven years. While in that employ he learned the mason business and eventually he embarked in contracting on his own account as the junior partner in the firm of Bottsford & Company. This was at Wallingford, Connecticut, where he remained for seven years. On the expiration of that period he was appointed superintendent of sewers at Meriden and occupied the position for four years. He then again began mason contracting, first as a member of the firm of Moses & Arnold and since the dissolution of that firm he has continued business alone. Various important contracts have been awarded him. He has executed these for the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company, the Meriden Electric Light Company and other important corporations, including the Charles Parker Company. He had the contract for the building of the Bradley Park homes and for various business blocks and many attractive residences. His contracting business has now reached very prosperous and profitable conditions. He employs thirty men, with a pay roll of four hundred dollars per week. In 1904 he added to his other interests a prosperous dairy business and for a quarter of a century he has been the owner of the famous Holt Hill Farm, upon which he has placed all modern equipments and improvements. Another demand upon his time and attention is his work as assessor, to which office he was appointed in 1908 and which he has since continued to fill.

     On the 17th of March, 1891, Mr. Moses was united in marriage to Miss Terese Zulke, of Meriden, their wedding being celebrated, however, at West Haven. They have become parents of three children: Bertha, who is now the wife of Earle Franklin Porter, of West Haven; Jessie M.; and Kenneth L. The children have been educated in the schools of Meriden and Jessie has also pursued a normal school course.

     In his political views Mr. Moses has always been an earnest republican and in addition to filling the office of assessor he has served as councilman from the fourth ward, as deputy register of voters and as inspector and superintendent of sewers. His religious faith is that of the Universalist church. He is a man of broad views and of progressive ideas and interests. In the business world his course has been marked by a steady advance that indicates the wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities.