Almon J. Deane, who since February, 1910, has filled the position of town clerk of the town of Hamden, making an excellent record through the prompt and faithful discharge of his duties, is recognized as one of the republican leaders of his section of New Haven county. He was born in Lyme, New London county, Connecticut, June 7, 1857, a son of Daniel N. and Maria (Eccleston) Deane. The father was born in Lyme and there followed the occupation of farming until the time of the Civil war, when, in response to the country’s call for troops, his patriotism was aroused and he put aside all personal consideration in order to serve his country, enlisting in the Twenty-sixth Volunteer Infantry. He afterward returned to Lyme and engaged in the fishing business and while on one of his fishing trips was drowned. His wife was born in Stonington, Connecticut, and passed away in Lyme.

     Almon J. Deane pursued his education in the schools of Lyme until he reached the age of thirteen years, when he went to Massachusetts. Later, however, he returned to Lyme, where he learned telegraphy, and was then appointed station agent at Cobalt, Connecticut, for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, where he remained for about a year, or from 1880 until 1881. He was station agent at Mount Carmel from 1883 until 1908, covering a period of a quarter of a century, during which he made a most excellent record for efficiency in the discharge of his duties, for loyalty to the company which he represented and for unfailing courtesy and helpfulness toward the patrons of the road. At the end of that long period of service he resigned and became bookkeeper with the Walter W. Woodruff Manufacturing Company of Mount Carmel, serving in that connection until February 1, 1910, when he was appointed town clerk of the town of Hamden to fill an unexpired term. In the fall of that year he was elected to the position for a year’s term and at the regular election in 1911 was again chosen to the position and was reelected in 1913 and in 1915, and is serving at this writing. He has made a most popular and efficient officer, his frequent reelections indicating most clearly his fidelity to duty and the worth of his work in that position.

     In 1881 Mr. Deane was united in marriage to Miss Mary Dodge at New London, Connecticut. She died in Hamden in 1884 and on the 8th of May, 1889, he wedded Miss Hattie Swain, of Hamden, who was born in North Haven, a daughter of William and Julia (Sanford) Swain, the former a native of North Haven, while the latter was born in Hamden. To this marriage have been born two children: Inez, the wife of Frederick de Ligori, a merchant of Cheshire, Connecticut; and William Hudson, who is now in the Second Regiment of the Connecticut National Guard in the United States service.

     Mr. Deane belongs to Day Spring Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are connected with Alice Chapter, No. 76, of the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics he has long been a stalwart republican and one of the active workers of the party. He formerly served as justice of the peace in Hamden and was postmaster of Mount Carmel Center during a part of the time when he was station agent at that place. Fidelity to duty has ever been one of his marked characteristics and it is a well known fact that no trust reposed in Almon J. Deane is ever betrayed.