Evan Louis Stettner, treasurer and manager of Hyman's, Incorporated, owning one of New Haven's leading department stores, has throughout his business career been identified with commercial interests, and his intelligently directed activities have brought him from a humble clerkship to his present position of responsibility. He was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. March 28, 1884, a son of Adolph Stettner, a native of Stettin, Germany, whence he came to America in 1864. He made his way to Richmond, Virginia, where he had an uncle living who was a prominent merchant of that place, and there Mr. Stettner was employed for a short time, this being his initial experience in mercantile circles. During the reconstruction period he was engaged in the coastal trade with Mexico and South America. Covering the period of the early '70s he was connected with mercantile lines, handling dry goods and clothing in Pennsylvania and in Evansville, Indiana. In fact he extended his commercial operations until he was conducting a chain of stores covering a broad territory. In 1885 Mr. Stettner came to New Haven, where he entered the merchant tailoring business, in which he was successfully engaged until 1905,. when he became a member of the present firm operating under the name of Hyman's. Incorporated. He continued active in the business until 1912 and still retains his financial interest therein with the title of president, to which office he was elected on the incorporation. The first president of the company was Charles Miller, who was followed by Maurice Cohon, while Mr. Stettner became the third head of the house, succeeding to the office upon Mr. Cohon's death. In his business career he has displayed those characteristics which, for want of a better term, have been called commercial sense—a recognition of the public needs and demands and the sagacity in foreseeing these demands so that he has been able to supply the trade. He possesses, moreover, marked executive ability, and his interests have been successfully promoted year after year until he now stands among the prosperous merchants and business men of his city. He married Sarah Phillips, a native of Cincinnati. Ohio, and of German descent. She passed away in 1891 at the age of thirty-eight years. She was the mother of five children, the fourth being Evan Louis Stettner of this review.
     Brought to New Haven at an early age Evan Louis Stettner pursued his education in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, but at the age of fifteen years he put aside his textbooks and began to earn his own livelihood, being first employed by Sargent & Company in clerical work. He continued with that firm for eleven years, gradually working his way upward until he reached the position of assistant fore-man of one of the departments. In 1910 he resigned this position to enter the store in which his father was interested and of which he became secretary. Upon the death of Mr. Cohon, when his father assumed the presidency, Evan Louis Stettner became treasurer and manager. The firm employs on an average of twenty-one sales people, and they are the largest ready-to-wear clothiers in the state, handling men's, women's and children's clothing. The store is located at Nos. 18 to 22 Church street, and has a floor space of fifty by one hundred and twenty-five feet. The stock is carefully selected, meeting the various tastes of the public, and the business methods of the house are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
     Mr. Stettner was married in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Miss Jane Hill, a native of New Haven and a daughter of Leo and Jennie (Cooper) Hill, of an old and prominent New Haven family. Mr. Stettner is a prominent figure in the musical circles of the city and has been connected with various churches in that way, including St. Patrick's church and the Church of the Redeemer. His own religious belief is indicated by his membership in Mishkan Israel Temple. He belongs to the Adelphi Literary Society, and in his political views is an independent republican. Attractive social qualities have won for him popularity, and his business enterprise and ambition have carried him into important commercial relations.