Born in Middletown, Connecticut, on February 13, 1860, Edward Warriner Hazen was the third son of Dr. Minor Comstock Hazen and his wife, Lemira R. Judson Hazen. A few months after Edward was born, the family went to live in Haddam.

In Haddam, Edward attended the one-room schoolhouse of the district where the family lived. His secondary education was concluded at Wesleyan Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He taught school between the ages of 17 and 25. In 1885, he married Helen Augusta Russell, a Haddam native.

His profession as an advertising executive began in 1897 as an assistant in the advertising department of the Hartford Post. He later joined the Curtis Publishing Company of Philadelphia, where he held the post of advertising director until his retirement in 1915.

Mr. Hazen’s interest in youth found expression through his active involvement in the many activities of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). He became the Chairman of the Connecticut State Executive Committee of the YMCA. Mr. Hazen contributed the site and funds for the initial building program of the Connecticut State YMCA camp at Chester.

Mr. Hazen accepted political service as a citizen’s duty and served locally on several town boards and committees. In 1917, he was elected to the State Legislature as a representative from Haddam and became State Senator in 1919.

Mr. Hazen and his wife Helen were deeply religious persons. The local Congregational Church received their loyal and active support— both financial and personal.