USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II > Part 129
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Dr. Bullard is a native of Willimantic, Connecticut, born January 18, 1878, and is a
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daughter of William E. and Emily A. (Bailey) Bullard. The father was born in Hart- ford, Connecticut, and in young manhood removed to Willimantic, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years, being identified with the house of Allpaugh & Hooper for an extended period, while later he established business on his own account. His wife was born in Windham and spent her girlhood days in South Coventry and in Chaplin.
Dr. Bullard acquired her education in the public schools of Willimantic and was graduated from the grammar schools with the class of 1892 and from the Windham high school with the class of 1896. Desiring to become a member of the medical profession, she spent one year as a student in the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania at Phila- delphia and afterward entered Cornell University as a student in the academic depart- ment and won the Bachelor of Arts degree. She was elected to membership in the Society of the Sigma Xi at the time of her graduation from Cornell. She then contin- ued her medical course in the Cornell University Medical College and received her pro- fessional degree in 1904. In the fall of that year she removed to Putnam, opened an office and has since engaged in practice. She is serving on the staff of the Day-Kimball Hospital and is anaesthetist for the institution.
She has membership in the Windham County Medical Society, by which she was honored with the presidency in 1916-17; the Connecticut State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. She belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution and is active in the work of the National Red Cross Society.
JOHN ARTHUR LEAHY.
John Arthur Leahy, postmaster of Plainfield, where he was born on the 7th of September, 1879, is a son of Thomas Leahy, who was a native of Ireland. The mother's maiden name was Shea and she too was a native of Ireland. The father attended the public schools of the Emerald isle and later came with the family to the United States, their home being established in Plainfield. Here Thomas Leahy began work in a stove foundry as a stove mounter and was thus employed until his death, which occurred in 1911. Throughout the period of his residence in the new world he made his home at Plainfield and there he and his wife reared their family of six children: Mary, Annie, Francis, John Arthur, Henry, and Thomas Edward.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for John Arthur Leahy in his boyhood and youth. He attended the public schools of Plainfield and afterward became a student in the Norwich Business College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. He later returned to Plainfield and entered the employ of the Adams Express Company, which he served as agent for ten years. After the expiration of that period he was appointed to the position of postmaster by Presi- dent Wilson and has occupied the position to the present time. He discharges the duties of the office promptly, systematically and capably and has given general satis- faction.
In religious faith Mr. Leahy is a Catholic and he also has membership in All Hal- lows Council, No. 270, K. C. His entire life has been passed in this section of the state, where he is widely known and where his circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
EARL JOSEPH BURLINGAME.
Earl Joseph Burlingame is one of the prominent representatives of agricultural interests in Windham county, being the general manager of the farm of Frank A. Sales, comprising nine hundred acres of land. Mr. Burlingame has spent his entire life in New England, his birth having occurred at Cumberland, Rhode Island, October 6, 1861, his parents being Joseph J. and Ruth A. (Whipple) Burlingame, who were also natives of Cumberland. There the father spent his boyhood and youth and obtained his educa- tion. In young manhood he learned and followed the carpenter's trade and afterward became associated with his cousin, Henry Burley, in the contracting and building business, which he followed until he retired from active life. He passed away May 28, 1907, and is still survived by his widow.
Their only child, Earl Joseph Burlingame, spent his youthful days at Cumberland and mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools there. He after- ward attended the high school at Plainville, Massachusetts, and when his textbooks were put aside he took up the jewelry business, which he followed for five years in con-
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nection with the firm of Bacon & Company of Plainville. Subsequently he engaged in farming on the home place for several years and afterward toured the west for six months. He then returned to the farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits on his own account until 1888. He next had charge of the town farm for nine years and subsequently he was appointed chief of police at Cumberland, a position which he ac- ceptably filled for six years. In 1915 he went to Thompson and took charge of the farm of Frank A. Sales of the French River Textile Company, of Mechanicsville, Con- necticut. He has since remained upon this place, which is an extensive property em- bracing nine hundred acres and constituting one of the best farms in Windham county. He has full charge of and is conducting agricultural pursuits along the most progres- sive and scientific lines, his labors being productive of excellent results.
Mr. Burlingame was married to Miss Mary E. Parker, daughter of Merritt and Frances Parker, of Douglass, Massachusetts, and they have three children: Blanche, now the wife of William S. Wright, a traveling auditor for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad; Ruth, the wife of William Nichols, paymaster for J. & P. Coats, Incorporated, thread manufacturers of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and Carl R.
In politics Mr. Burlingame maintains an independent course. For one year he was town counselor of Cumberland and has held other local offices. He belongs to the Elks lodge of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, also to the Knights of Pythias at Paw- tucket, to the American Mechanics of Cumberland and to the Red Men at Cumberland. He is a forceful and resourceful agriculturist and representative citizen whose worth is widely acknowledged.
JOSEPH ESKOWITZ.
Joseph Eskowitz, engaged in the tailoring business in Danielson, was born in Poland, Russia, in 1873 and there obtained a limited education by attending a private school. His father was a tailor who conducted business in his native town and, after putting aside his textbooks, Joseph Eskowitz learned the tailoring trade in his estab- lishment, beginning when about fifteen years of age. He worked at the trade for about five years and when in his twentieth year bcame a member of the Russian army, with which he served for a year. After receiving his discharge he made arrangements to come to the United States, attracted by the opportunities offered in the new world. He first settled in New York, where he worked at his trade in some of the leading tailoring establishments of the city for a few years and finally opened a tailoring busi- ness on his own account on Norfolk street there. Success attended the venture and he continued in the business in the metropolis until June, 1917, when the condition of his health made it advisable for him to remove to a more quiet locality and, accompanied by his daughter Frances, he came to Danielson, Connecticut. Here he has since con- ducted a good business as a ladies' tailor, his present store being located in the bank building on Center street.
Mr. Eskowitz' wife and their other children remained at their home in New York. He had been married in Poland to Miss Belle Ray Kucharski, a native of that coun- try. Their children are: Blumie, born in New York in 1900; Claire, May 8, 1902; Fran- ces, August 16, 1904; and Charles, who is a twin brother of Frances. This daughter remains with her father and is now a pupil in the Danielson high school. Mr. Esko- witz has had no occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in the conduct of his busi- ness has met with increasing success.
THOMAS JAMES CORCORAN, JR.
The prominent position which Thomas James Corcoran, Jr., occupies in con- nection with the manufacturing interests of his section of the state is indicated in the fact that he has control of the largest textile enterprise of Windham county, being agent for the French River Textile Company, which has its plant in Mechanics- ville. Thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the business, he has developed the interests under his control to large proportions, not alone by reason of the fact . that he has studied the trade and understands the demands and wishes of the public, but also because he has studied mill conditions and knows just what the operatives have a right to expect in the way of comfort and sanitary conditions in the mills. In a word, he is a broad-minded man who can look at all questions, including those
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of labor, from more than one standpoint and is actuated at all times by a strong sense of justice and right.
Mr. Corcoran is a native of Massachusetts. His birth occurred at North Oxford on the 13th of October, 1886, his parents being Thomas J. and Liza (McCarthy) Corcoran. The father was born in Rockville, Connecticut, where he has been prom- inently identified with textile interests throughout his entire life, and for many years he has been with the Hockanum Association Mills at Rockville. In 1909, associated with his brother, Edmond Corcoran, he organized the Rockville Woolen Company and under that name they have since been actively and successfully identi- fied with manufacturing interests.
Thomas J. Corcoran, Jr., was reared in Rockville and after attending the public schools there continued his education in the English high school at Providence, Rhode Island. His textbooks were put aside, however, before he reached the point of graduation in order that he might enter the woolen mills of the American Woolen Company at Providence. At a later period he was employed in the mills of the Rockville Worsted Company at Rockville, and in 1912 he came to the French River Textile Company as superintendent. The following year he was appointed agent of the company and has since occupied this responsible position. He is recognized as one of the strong executives of the business. When he took charge the mill had one hundred and seventy looms and his success in developing the business is ex- pressed by the increase of loom power. There are today two hundred and eighty-six looms and the company employs six hundred operatives, two hundred names having been added to the pay roll since he took charge. Mr. Corcoran has also accom- plished much in other directions. He has introduced more modern equipment and by reason of the manner in which he has systematized the business he has also in- creased the production of the mills. In addition to having full charge of the man- agement of the largest textile mill in Windham county, he likewise has charge of the large electric power house at Mechanicsville which generates the electric current for lighting the city of Putnam, the mill selling the electric power to the Putnam Power & Light Company. Another feature of Mr. Corcoran's business career deserv- ing of strong emphasis is the wonderful success which he has had in handling the em- ployes of the mill. Under his direction there has never been any labor trouble. The entire population of Mechanicsville are the employes of the French River Textile Com- pany and their families. Mr. Corcoran has made it a point to look after the general welfare of the community, the people all living in houses owned by the mill. He be- lieves in maintaining the most sanitary conditions and in advancing in every possible way the comfort of employes, not only in their work but in their homes, and has early come to a realization of the fact which the world is fast learning, that cooperation is the path that leads to desired results; that human kind has much in common and that the principle of "getting together," promoting a mutual understanding, will obviate many of the differences that seemingly exist and solve many of the problems which have hitherto confronted manufacturers in the management of their interests.
On the 13th of April, 1913, Mr. Corcoran was united in marriage to Miss Laura Broder, of Rockville, where she was born, her parents being Thomas and Mary (Nolan) Broder, who were also natives of Rockville, where her father was a textile mill man. He is now deceased and the mother resides in Hartford, Connecticut.
Politically Mr. Corcoran is a republican. He has never had time to hold public office, although much interested in the public questions of the day and in civic affairs relating to the welfare and upbuilding of Putnam, where he makes his home. His is a notable career of executive advancement and progress, and today, at the age of thirty years, he is the agent for the largest textile mill in Windham county and is recognized as one of the prominent factors in manufacturing circles through- out the state.
WILLIAM A. SARETZKI, D. O., D. C.
Dr. William A. Saretzki, of Putnam, is a graduate of both osteopathic and chiropractic colleges and is successfully engaged in practice, having won a most liberal patronage since taking up his abode in Putnam in 1916. He was born in Sey- mour, Connecticut, October 26, 1894, and is a son of Charles and Minnie (Amen) Saretzki. His father was born in German Poland and in his boyhood came to America with his parents, the family home being established in Seymour, Connecticut, where Charles Saretzki is now engaged in the manufacture of tools, bits and augers. His wife was born in Berlin, Germany, and was a little maiden of fifteen summers when
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brought by her parents to the new world. She, too, became a resident of Seymour, where they were married and have since made their home.
Dr. Saretzki pursued his early education in the schools of Seymour, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. He then determined upon a profes- sional career and with that end in view entered the Elgin College of Osteopathy at Elgin, Illinois, where he pursued a thorough course and won the D. O. degree upon graduation with the class of 1914. In order to fit himself still further for the success- ful treatment of diseases, he took a course in the Universal Chiropractic College at Davenport, Iowa, and won the D. C. degree in 1916. In September of that year he opened his office in Putnam, where he has established a well earned reputation by reason of the remarkable cures which he has effected. His patients are now numerous and his business has reached very gratifying proportions. He has made a close and discriminating study of diet, realizing how great a basic principle this is in the maintenance and in the restoration of health. His office is equipped with all the latest apparatus for electrical treatment and it is said that he has more business than any two physicians in the city.
On the 16th of May, 1918, Dr. Saretzki was married to Miss Winifred Elizabeth Casey at Danielson, Connecticut, a daughter of John and Mary (Duffy) Casey, of Brooklyn, Connecticut. Dr. Saretzki is an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to Upsilon Chi Beta and Delta Sigma Chi, two college fraternities, to the Putnam Country Club and to the Putnam Chamber of Com- merce. He is also identified with the Shepherds of Bethlehem Masonic Lodge. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and at the same time readily recognizes and meets his obligations in citizenship and is in hearty sympathy with the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce to advance civic standards and promote public progress in Putnam. On the 24th of May, 1918, Dr. Saretzki entered the medical department of the United States Army and was attached to the neuro-psychiatric service, practicing along the line of mental and nervous diseases at Camp Upton, Long Island. He was discharged January 15, 1919, and returned to Putnam, where he is again practicing with success.
JOSEPH HAWLEY ELLIOTT.
Joseph Hawley Elliott occupies the old historic Osgood homestead situated on the state road in Abington. Here he has lived since 1910, his attention being given to the improvement and development of his farm and to extensive operations in lum- ber. He was born June 21, 1877, on the old Elliott homestead at Elliott Station, Pomfret, Connecticut, and is a son of Thomas O. Elliott, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He spent his youthful days at the place of his nativity and acquired his educa- tion in the district schools there. He was thoroughly trained to the work of the fields and became the active assistant of his father in the operation of the home farm, soon gaining accurate knowledge of the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He also early took up the lumber business, with which he has been more or less closely associated throughout his entire life and is now a prominent lumberman of his section of the state, owning upward of twenty-five hundred acres of timber land in Windham county where he is the largest individual owner of timber land. When he was twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account and also deal- ing in lumber and has followed both lines of business to the present time. He pur- chases wood lots and tracts of land having timber upon them and cuts the timber off, after which he sells the land. He has built up a large business of this char- acter and is one of the prominent lumber and timber operators of Windham county. In 1910 he purchased the Osgood home and farm, which is one of the old historic places in Abington, and through the intervening decade has resided thereon.
On the 17th of August, 1905, at Elliott Station, Mr. Elliott was married to Miss Georgine Catherine MacIntosh. She was born in Nova Scotia, a daughter of James and Jane ( McKay) MacIntosh, who are also natives of Nova Scotia and became resi- dents of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, while now they make their home in Pomfret, where Mr. MacIntosh is living retired from active business. To Mr. and Mrs. Elliott have been born four children, all natives of the town of Pomfret: Thomas Osgood, who was born on the old Elliott homestead at Elliott Station, January 19, 1908; James MacIntosh, born in Abington, September 29, 1909; John Hawley, born in Abing- ton, April 27, 1912: and Priscilla Jean, born April 3, 1914.
Politically Mr. Elliott is a republican and is a recognized leader in the ranks of the party in his section of the state, his opinions carrying weight in its local councils. He is and has been for five years a member of the school board and was at one time
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tax assessor of the town of Pomfret, while in 1902 and 1903 he represented the town in the state legislature, carefully considering the vital problems which came before the general assembly and lending the weight of his aid and influence to every meas- ure which he deemed valuable to the state and as strongly opposing those which he considered inimical to the best interests of the commonwealth. Mr. Elliott and his family are members of the Abington Congregational church and he has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the past three years. He is a member of and a past master of Wolf Den Grange and is an exemplary representative of Putnam Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Woodstock. He is also a member of Putnam Camp, Sons of Veterans; the Windham County Farmers Association; the Connecticut Sheep Breeders Associa- tion; and the Connecticut Pomological Society. His entire life has been characterized by sterling traits manifest in his business career, in his private life and in his pub- lic service and thus he is entitled to mention with the representative residents of Windham county.
STEPHEN DOUGLAS HORTON.
Many friends mourned the loss of Stephen Douglas Horton when he was called to his final rest, for as proprietor of the Attawaugan Hotel of Danielson he had gained a wide acquaintance and his genial manner and the sterling worth of his character had won for him the warm regard of all who knew him. He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1861, a son of Osmond Day and Martha (Ward) Horton, the former a native of New Hampshire, while the mother's birth occurred in England. In young manhood the father engaged in making investments of various kinds, his father being a large property owner. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Osmond D. Horton were five children: Stephen D .; Harry, now residing in Providence, Rhode Island; Lillian, the wife of John Kholberg, of Barrington, Rhode Island, by whom she has two children; Florence, now of New Hampshire and the wife of Hunter Kingsbury, by whom she has three children; and Whitney Day, who is married and resides in Keene, New Hampshire.
Stephen D. Horton obtained a district school education in New Hampshire, to which state his parents removed during his early boyhood. After his textbooks were put aside he worked for a time around home, assisting his father, but a few years later accepted a position as traveling salesman and remained upon the road for several years. His desire to engage in business on his own account, however, led him to resign his posi- tion as a traveling salesman and he took the management of a cafe in Providence, Rhode Island, in order to gain the required knowledge and experience that would justify him in carrying out his ambition. He remained in that connection for about nine years and in 1908 he entered into partnership with Samuel Mitchell of Boston in establishing a hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, where they continued for two years. In 1910 Mr. Horton saw an opportunity to increase his business by removing to Daniel- son, and utilizing the advantage thus offered, he entered into partnership with Cady Hutchins in the conduct of what was then called the Sprague Hotel on Main street. . The following year he purchased the interest of his partner, and as he was always interested in Indian names and customs, he renamed his establishment the Attawaugan and it has since been so known. Mr. Horton soon won the goodwill, high regard and friendship of all who made his acquaintance. His natural qualifications were those of the successful hotel man. He was always genial as well as businesslike and he took great interest in promoting the comfort and pleasure of his guests. Soon after locating in Danielson he erected a summer cottage on a lake in the town of Killingly, and there he entertained many guests in an attractive summer home. He was very successful in all of his business ventures and the deepest regret was felt on the part of all who knew him when he passed away April 27, 1916.
Mr. Horton left a family consisting of his widow and several children. In Keene, New Hampshire, he had wedded Catherine Crotty, who was born in South Boylston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Patrick and Joanna (Murphy) Crotty. Their children are: Marion Catherine, who was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, March 5, 1892, and is the wife of John Alton Brett, of Boston, Massachusetts, whose father was a well known sea captain; Ellen Florence, who was born at Wood River Junction, Rhode Island, November 27, 1893, and is at home with her mother; John Stephen, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, March 16, 1897, and is now representing the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Illinois; James Harold, who was born at Otter River, Massa- chusetts, November 17, 1898, and is now with the Goodyear Manufacturing Company at Goodyear, Connecticut; and Anna, who was born in New York city, June 3, 1911.
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Mr. Horton always voted with the republican party and was a stalwart advocate of its principles but never an office seeker. He belonged to the Loyal Order of Moose at Danielson, to the Woodmen of the World and also to the Bohemian Club. In his later life he was a convert to the Catholic faith, becoming a communicant of St. James church of Danielson. Actuated by a laudable ambition, he attained success in business and by reason of a social nature and genial disposition he shed around him much of the sunshine of life.
EDWIN MARTIN GRANT.
Edwin Martin Grant, who carries on general farming in the town of Ashford, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, on the 21st of May, 1858, and is a son of Elisha D. and Cordelia (Martin) Grant, who are natives of Windham county. The father was reared and educated in Mansfield and in young manhood he began working as a farm hand through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he taught school. For twenty years he devoted the winter months to teaching in the district schools and proved himself an able educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He was through most of the period identified with the Natchaug school at Chaplin, Connecticut. This was at a period when the teacher was "boarded around" among the people of the neighborhood, each family taking its turn in thus caring for the teacher. Later Mr. Grant removed to Ashford Center, where he pur- chased a tract of land and then abandoned the profession of teaching to devote his entire time to general farming and dairying. To these interests he gave his time throughout the remainder of his life up to the last year, when he went to live with his son, William D., in Willimantic. Both he 'and his wife passed away in that town. They had but two children, the younger being William D., who first married Hattie Clapp and after her death was married a second time. He is engaged in the grain business in Willimantic.
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