Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 2: Biographical - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 10

Jacob Kiefer, who has almost reached the eighty-eighth milestone on life's journey, still remains as one of the honored citizens of Bridgeport, where so many years of his life have been passed. He came to the city in 1846, and his name figures prominently in connection with its business affairs, its military interests and various events of public importance. Moreover, he is a self-made man and from the age of eleven years has been dependent upon his own resources. He was born in a small town near Strassburg, Germany, September 6, 1829. His father, Jacob Kiefer, was a native of Bruchrauhlbach, Germany, and learned the cabinetmaking trade, while later he became the master builder of his town. He was married in the fatherland and there his wife passed away in 1830, leaving two children, but Jacob is now the only survivor of the family. In 1832 the father took passage on a sailing vessel for America, accompanied by his son Jacob, and after two months spent upon the water they reached Maryland. For a time they remained with Mr. Kiefer's brother at Frederick, that state, and it was there that the father married again, his second union being with Elizabeth Stein. In 1834 he removed with his family to New York city, where he conducted a prosperous cabinetmaking business until 1849, when he fell a victim to the cholera epidemic which in that year swept over the country.

Jacob Kiefer of this review was a little lad of but five years at the time the family home was established in New York city, where he pursued his education in the public schools until he reached the age of eleven. It seemed necessary that he should provide for his own support and he began earning a living in the employ of Benjamin Mooney & Company, wholesale hardware merchants at No. 82 Pine street, in New York city, with whom he remained for four years. He possessed natural mechanical skill and ingenuity, which he exercised in the manufacture of guitars in his father's shop, under the direction of Signor Bini, the leading maker of guitars in this country at that time. The superiority of workmanship and the tone of his instruments attracted the attention of the musical public and at the American Institute Fair held in Castle Garden in 1856 he received the first premium over some of the best known musical instrument manufacturers of the United States.

It was in 1846 that Mr. Kiefer came to Bridgeport at the request of Fenelon Hubbell, for whom he worked as a journeyman cabinetmaker. While thus engaged he thought out plans for the manufacture of furniture by machinery and in 1850 began business on his own account in a small building and with steam power manufactured furniture for his former employers. He had to make his own machinery, for up to that time none had been built for furniture manufacturing. The possibilities of the business opened up before him and in 1852 he was instrumental in organizing what became The Furniture Manufacturing Company, of which he remained general manager for several years. The enterprise proved a growing one from the beginning and the patronage of the house steadily increased, so that as prosperity attended his efforts he was able to purchase the interest of the others in the business and developed the largest furniture manufactory of the eastern states, employing four hundred men and thus conducting one of the largest productive industries of New England. He was president and treasurer of the company for a period of twenty -eight years, or until 1894, when the plant was sold to the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railway Company for the site of its present station. The products of his factory established a standard of excellence and were shipped to all parts of the country. Since retiring from that field Mr. Kiefer has practically had no business connections, yet has done some very fine cabinetwork for the Western Electric Company and others.

Mr. Kiefer has ever regarded business as but one phase of existence. He has ever been a public-spirited American citizen, cooperating heartily in well devised plans and measures for furthering public interests along many lines. In 1847 he became a member of the old Volunteer Fire Department of Bridgeport and so continued for about fifteen years, or until a paid fire department was established. Whenever it has been possible to further the general welfare he has been found as an active co-worker. He was one of the first subscribers to the fund for laying out Seaside Park and was one of the first park commissioners. For several years he served as a member of the common council of Bridgeport and in April, 1886, was elected president of the board of aldermen, exercising his official prerogatives in support of many progressive public measures. His military record is one of which he has every reason to be proud. In 1847 he joined the Eagle Guards, a well-equipped militia company, and for eighteen years he remained in the state military service with artillery and infantry companies. He was elected corporal and afterward first lieutenant of his company, which later became the Washington Light Guards, at which time he was elected captain, holding his commission under Governor Thomas M. Seymour and thus continuing until William E. Buckingham was elected. In 1863 he was instrumental in organizing a battery of artillery at Bridgeport, which was called the Connecticut Flying Artillery and was a battery of six pieces. There were two companies, known as Company A and Company B, and of the former John T. Sterling was chosen captain. Mr. Kiefer became orderly sergeant and after acting in that capacity for a year was elected captain of Battery A, the members of which were all merchants and prominent men of Bridgeport. During the draft riots of 1863 the company was constantly under arms and Captain Kiefer as its commander was continually in danger. He held a commission under Governor Seymour and also under Governor Buckingham. Under the governor's order the command was called upon for active service and for three weeks he slept in the armory, ready at any moment for active duty.

Mr. Kiefer has been married twice. In 1850 he wedded Effie Jane Decker, a daughter of Gabriel Decker, of Newark, New Jersey, and they became the parents of two daughters and a son: Emma Louise, who married W. Henry Wilson, of Bridgeport, and died in 1910; Hattie J., the wife of William L. Burnham; and Frank W., now deceased. For his second wife Mr. Kiefer chose Mrs. Mary J. Cooper, whom he wedded on the 21st of November, 1897. Bridgeport had a population of but Ave thousand inhabitants when Mr. Kiefer took up his abode here and he has since been an interested witness of public progress and has borne his full share in the work of general development. He has always given his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a charter member of the Seaside Club and in 1862 he was made a Mason, since which time he has advanced through the degrees of chapter, council and commandery and has become a member of Pyramid Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His entire life has been cast in harmony with the teachings of the organization, being based upon beneficent principles. Bridgeport owes much to him. He was the first man to bring to the city people in any considerable numbers. He brought forty men and their families from New York to assist him in the conduct of his business and thus gave a decided impetus to the growth and development of Bridgeport. From that time to the present his labors have been an effective force in advancing Bridgeport's interests, his life record constituting an important chapter in its annals.