JAMES W. OGDEN.
James W. Ogden, president of the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1877, a son of Edson G. and Malvina Bell (Wilson) Ogden. The father, who was a brewer, died in 1889 and in that year the mother removed to Bridgeport, where she still makes her home.
James W. Ogden acquired a public school education but when only thirteen years of age started out to earn- his own living, working for two dollars and forty cents per week in the employ of the Bryant Electric Company, with which he remained for three years. He was afterward with the Eagle Lock Company and in that connection learned the machinist's trade. He advanced steadily as his efficiency increased and he became foreman when twenty-two years of age for the Dexter Folder Company at Pearl River, New York. There he remained for eighteen months, after which he returned to Bridgeport and was foreman for the Bridgeport Foundry & Machine Company. Later he became superintendent and next was with Harvey Hubble as assistant superintendent, having charge of the tool room in that connection for two years. On the expiration of that period he became instructor at the State Trade School in Bridgeport, having charge of machinery work, mathematics and drawing for a year and a half.
Mr. Ogden organized the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company in August, 1912, becoming president of the business, with Elmer Ogden as secretary and treasurer. The plant was located at 225 John street and in 1913 a removal was made to the Crawford Laundry building, while in 1916 the business was established at 170 Elm street. Each removal was made in order to secure larger quarters owing to the demand occasioned by the growth of the business. The company makes a specialty of machine work, dies, tools and experimental work. They manufacture the Bridgeport surface grinder, which is sold to tool and machine shops and is manufactured after a patent of their own. This is sold all over the United States. They also manufacture the Bridgeport molding machines and equipment, this product being sold to iron and brass foundries. The company has patent» on all of its products, which are sold all over the United States and abroad, these patents being taken out by James W. Ogden. The company also manufactures a machine for attaching buttons to shoes. This machine will be sold outright, while others which they manufacture are leased. The value of this invention is shown by the fact that the cost of other machines is at the rate of eighty-three cents per thousand buttons, while with the machine of this company the cost is only three cents for putting on a thousand buttons. This machine is sold to wholesale and retail dealers and is put upon the market by the Rapid Machine Company of New York. The Bridgeport Die & Machine Company also does a full line of tool making and special work. They have two shops, each containing about five thousand square feet, and they employ from twenty-five to thirty skilled mechanics and fifty other workmen, making eighty in all.
On the 16th of May, 199, Mr. Ogden was married to Miss Alice Christie, of Bridgeport, a daughter of George E. and Mary E. Christie, who were early residents of this city, the father being employed as one of the mechanics in the Wheeler & Wilson factory. Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have one child, Dorothy Alice, now in high school.
Mr. Ogden has an interesting military record inasmuch as he served in the Spanish-American war with Battery B of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery and is now a member of the Spanish War Veterans. His life has been an active and useful one, bringing to him the well merited reward of earnest, persistent labor.
ELMER S. OGDEN.
Elmer S. Ogden, secretary and treasurer of the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company, was born in Bridgeport, April 15, 1882, a son of William S. and Carrie L. (Snow) Ogden. The father was born at Fairfield Woods, Connecticut, and was a son of Sylvester Ogden. who kept the village store there, being one of the first settlers of that locality. William 8. Ogden was a sea captain who began sailing when but fifteen years of age and for many years lived upon the water. His wife was a daughter of Heman S. Snow, of Meriden, Connecticut.
Elmer S. Ogden acquired a public school education in Bridgeport and afterward began learning the machinist's trade with the Bullard Machine Tool Company, spending four and one-half years in that connection. He was afterward with the American British Company, working as tool maker, and subsequently he was employed at his trade in various places. He also taught for eight months in the machine department of the State Trade School and in August, 1912, in connection with James W. Ogden, he organized the Bridgeport Die & Machine Company, of which he is the secretary and treasurer. They have since developed the business to one of substantial proportions and now have eighty employees, about one-third of whom are skilled workmen, while their plant comprises two shops, each of five thousand square feet. The growth of their business has necessitated various removals in order to secure enlarged quarters. They make a specialty of machine work, dies, tools and experimental work and they manufacture the Bridgeport surface grinder and also the Bridgeport molding machines and equipment, both of which are made after patents owned by the company. Their output is sold all over this country and in foreign lands as well. One of the devices which they have put upon the market is a machine for fastening buttons on shoes and which reduces the cost from eighty-three cents to three cents for fastening a thousand buttons. From the beginning their business has enjoyed a continuous and gratifying growth, resulting from wise management on the part of the owners, who have made efficiency their watchword.
On the 24th of June, 1908, Mr. Ogden was married to Miss Clara L. Haffner, of Bridgeport, a daughter of William and Katherine Haffner. Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have one son, Elmer William, now seven years of age.
Fraternally Mr. Ogden is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also with the American Mechanics and in politics he maintains an independent course, preferring to hold himself free to vote according to the dictates of his judgment. He is not remiss in the duties of citizenship but on the contrary supports measures which he deems of value to the community; yet he has never been an office seeker, always preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which, well directed, arc bringing to him a gratifying measure of prosperity.