Prominent among the most resourceful and progressive merchants of New Haven stands Henry M. Shartenberg, who is now president of the Shartenberg & Robinson Company, controlling important commercial interests not only in New Haven but elsewhere in the state. It is true that he entered upon a business already established, but in assuming management of the large department store of New Haven his capabilities were put to the test and he measured fully up to the demands made.

Born in Phenix, Rhode Island, October 26, 1877, Mr. Shartenberg is a son of Jacob and Ernestina (Abrahams) Shartenberg, both of whom were natives of Germany. The former was born in Cassel, November 4, 1853, and was but two years of age at the time of his father's demise, while his mother's death left him an orphan at the age of six years. He was then placed in an orphan asylum in his native country and when a youth of fourteen years he was apprenticed to a watchmaker for a three years' term. He had no liking nor aptitude for that trade and at the end of two years he ran away from his employer and managed to get passage on an American bound vessel, landing at Castle Garden, New York, a poor immigrant boy without money or friends at the age of sixteen years. He faced the necessity of gaining immediate employment and accepted any work that would yield him an honest living. He was employed at various occupations for a time but finally obtained a position in a fur factory, where he remained until he saw an advertisement for a young man to learn the dry goods business in Providence. He believed this to be his opportunity and, answering the advertisement, he became an employe of Leopold Dimond and thus was begun not only a long and most pleasant commercial connection but a friendship that endured for many years and was further promoted by the fact that the two gentlemen married sisters.

Mr. Shartenberg thoroughly mastered the principles of purchasing under the direction of Mr. Dimond and subsequently resolved to enter business on his own account. With a capital of one hundred and fifty-eight dollars he opened a little dry goods store in Phenix, Rhode Island, and four years later, or in 1881, established a small store in Pawtucket, thus taking the step which led to the goal of substantial success. In 1887 the firm of Shartenberg & Robinson was formed and more commodious quarters were secured. They extended the scope of their activities in 1906 by incorporating and establishing a large department store in New Haven, which under the guidance of Henry M. Sharten-berg has become one of the finest and most extensive in New England. Jacob Shartenberg was an active factor in furthering commercial interests that redounded .to the benefit of his colleagues and contemporaries as well as of himself. He was for many years a member of the executive committee of the Dry Goods Alliance and he was the originator and first president of the Pawtucket Retail Merchants Association, the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. He belonged to the Pawtucket Business Men's Association and served on its executive committee, and for several years prior to his death he was a member of the park commission of that city. He was vice president of Temple Bethel of Providence, Rhode Island, and a director of the Providence Jewish Orphanage. He belonged to District Grand Lodge. No. 7, of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith and to Haggai Lodge, No. 132, I. O. B. B., and the Free Sons of Israel. He was a most generous contributor to charitable and benevolent work and his sudden death, which occurred when he was in the sixty-second year of his age, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret wherever he was known.

Of him Colonel Harry Cutler of Providence said: '"The sudden demise of Mr. Shartenberg is a shock, not only to the Jewish community, but to both the communities in the cities of Pawtucket. Providence, and New Haven, and to the many friends who have learned to know and love him. Coming here as an immigrant boy, carving his own career, he attained a position of American citizenship of which any man could justly be proud. Modest, unostentatious, of sterling character, his word always his bond, a man of keen sympathy and great good nature, he impressed his personality through those qualifications on everyone with whom he came in contact. As husband and father he was an example to other? His civic pride in the city of Pawtucket was such as to inspire a keen delight in his duties as park commissioner. His early childhood as an orphan made him a close friends of  the orphans. His innate love for his religion caused him to devote much of his labors to his congregation and the welfare of the Jewish community. As a great respecter of education, he not only encouraged his own children, one of whom is a graduate of Yale College and the other of Harvard College, but also caused him to become a benefactor of institutions of learning both of Providence and elsewhere, and his keen appreciation of Brown University and the Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, was manifested on many occasions. His activities were many and important, and the community will feel the shock and loss by his demise keenly."

Reared in Rhode Island, Henry M. Shartenberg attended the schools of Pawtucket and later entered the academic department of Harvard University, from which he was graduated in 1900. A year later he completed a course in the law department and his knowledge of the principles of law has been of immense benefit to him in the conduct of his business interests. Following his graduation he traveled extensively in Europe as representative of the Attleboro Manufacturing Company of New York and upon his return to the new world became his father's associate in business at Pawtucket, receiving thorough training along mercantile lines. In 1906 a branch house was established in New Haven, of which Henry M. Shartenberg was given the management and since that time he has been at its head, carefully directing its growth and development until it is now one of the finest and largest department stores of New England. Since his father's death he has become the president of the Shartenberg & Robinson Company and thus controls commercial activities of mammoth proportions.

On the 17th of January, 1906. Mr. Shartenberg was married to Miss Hedwig Weise Lederer, of Providence, Rhode Island, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Lederer. They now have three children: Frances, who was born in Pawtucket in 1906; Ruth, born in New Haven in 1910; and Henry M., born in New Haven in 1914.

Mr. Shartenberg is a Mason, belonging to lodge, chapter and council, and he also belongs to the Racebrook Country Club, the Union League and other social organizations. He has many substantial qualities which rank him high as a business man and citizen, and anyone meeting him face to face would know at once that he is an individual embodying all the elements of what in this country we term a square man—one in whom to have confidence—a dependable man in any relation and any emergency.