A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 135

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

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John Henry Kempf spent his youthful days in Pomfret, Connecticut, and after- ward became a telegraph operator on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. He has since been in the railway service and now occupies the position of signal man, doing duty in the tower at Putnam.

The family are all communicants of the Catholic church, and John Henry Kempf is identified with the Elks Lodge, No. 574. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he is a stalwart champion of its principles. He is well known in this section, where his entire life has been passed, his attention being given always to railway service, in which he has made steady progress.

HIRAM MUNYAN.

Hiram Munyan, who throughout the middle portion of the nineteenth century was engaged in general farming at East Putnam, is yet remembered by many of the older residents of that locality, although forty-eight years have been added to the cycle of the centuries since he passed away. He was born at Quaddick, in the town of Thomp- son, Connecticut, and pursued a district school education there while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, David and Lavina (Brown) Munyan. His father was a farmer who was born in the town of Thompson, while the mother was a native of Charlton, Massachusetts. For many years they resided upon a farm in the town of Thompson and there both passed away.

The youthful experiences of Hiram Munyan were those of the farm-bred boy of that locality and period, and when his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts and attention upon work on his father's farm. In 1861, however, he left the parental roof and purchased the Miller Bowen place at East Putnam and thereafter engaged in general farming upon that tract of land, devoting his attention to its further development and improvement up to the time of his death.

Hiram Munyan married a Miss Parsons, a daughter of Lyman and Lydia (Eddy) Parsons, who were farming people. Both were natives of this state and both spent their last days in the town of Thompson, Windham county.

The death of Hiram Munyan occurred in 1872 and thus was terminated a well spent life which had been characterized by devotion to duty and faithfulness in every relation. His widow, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, also died on the old homestead at East Putnam but long survived her husband, passing away May 6, 1906.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Munyan were born six children: Alfred J., who is a farmer and resides with his brother, Ira E .; Alvin D., who married Emma Weaver, of Woodstock, Connecticut, and died in 1873; Henry B., who wedded Ida Inman, of Glendale, Rhode Island, and departed this life in 1918; Florence E., who died in

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infancy; Ira E .; and Mary E., who became the wife of Joseph Towne and passed away in 1918.

Ira E. Munyan spent his boyhood and youth upon the homestead farm, obtained a public school education and after reaching man's estate was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Gleason, of Webster, Massachusetts, who passed away in 1900. For his second wife Mr. Munyan chose Cleo Baker, of Woodstock, Connecticut.

Ira E. Munyan and his elder brother, Alfred Jerome, are engaged in farming, having a most attractive and valuable place comprising one hundred and twenty-three acres in Quaddick. Their land is rich and productive and is most carefully cultivated, so that large crops are produced. They also engage in handling graded cattle, having fifteen head. Their buildings are thoroughly modern and their equipment is indica- tive of the progressive spirit which rules them in every relation. They are widely recognized as sound business men and prominent agriculturists and are meeting with very substantial success. Ira E. Munyan is a democrat in his political views and for one year served as selectman. Both he and his brother are members of the Baptist church and are highly esteemed wherever known.

JOHN BEDNORZ.

John Bednorz, who is conducting a meat market at Moosup and also operates a meat wagon in selling to the rural trade, was born in Zempniow, Poland, December 21, 1883, and is a son of Michael and Annie (Strychorz) Bednorz, who were also natives of the same country. The mother has now departed this life. The father has always followed the occupation of farming as a life work and is still living.

John Bednorz was reared and educated in his native land, spending his youthful days upon his father's farm and early becoming familiar with the task of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He afterward learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed for three years in Poland and then came to the United States, landing at New York city, March 8, 1904. He at once went to Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, where he became a weaver in the cotton mills, and later he removed to Blackstone, Massachusetts, where he was again employed as a cotton weaver for eight years.

It was on the 1st of January, 1914, that Mr. Bednorz became a resident of Moosup, Windham county, and here he invested his capital-the money which he had saved . from his earnings-in a small grocery store and meat market. As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings and now has an excellent establishment, carrying an attractive line of staple and fancy groceries, while at the same time he has a splendidly equipped meat market. In addition to the local trade he sells throughout the country, operating a meat wagon in this connection.

On the 16th of November, 1907, Mr. Bednorz was married to Miss Mary Piotros, of Central Falls, Rhode Island, who is a native of Poland but came to the new world in early girlhood. Two children have been born of this marriage: Anthony, whose birth occurred in Blackstone, Massachusetts; and Archibald Clements, who was born at Moosup.

Mr. Bednorz maintains an independent course in relation to political affairs. He belongs to All Hallows Roman Catholic church and he is identified also with the Polish National Alliance. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress until he is now one of the men of affluence in his community. Moreover, he is still a young man and the course which he has thus far pursued indicates that his future career will be well worth watching.

WALTER ANDERSON.

Walter Anderson, assistant secretary and treasurer of the E. H. Jacobs Manufac- turing Company of Danielson, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 12, 1880. He obtained a public school education and after completing a high school course entered the Burdett Business College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. He started out in the business world on his own account as bookkeeper and was thus employed at various places in Boston, while later for eleven years he was assistant secretary and treasurer of the Elliott Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts. During that period he studied commercial law at home for three years, gaining valuable knowledge along that line-knowledge that has proved of great use to him in his later

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business activities. On leaving Cambridge he came to Danielson, Connecticut, in October, 1917, for the E. H. Jacobs Manufacturing Company, with which he has since been associated, being now the assistant secretary and treasurer. He has recently organized a commercial law class among the young men of Danielson and he is at all times very active in promoting any interests or projects that he believes will prove of benefit to the community.

On the 21st of August, 1902, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Annie Ę. Elliott, a daughter of Charles E. and Josephine (Freeman) Elliott, of Danielson, Connecticut. Two children were born of this marriage: Edna B., who is a junior in the Killingly high school; and Annie D., who is a pupil in the public schools.

Politically Mr. Anderson is a republican, and while never an office seeker, he keeps well informed on the vital problems of the day and is ever able to support his position by intelligent argument. He belongs to Thomas Talbert Lodge, No. 12, A. F. & A. M .; Warren Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., of Danielson; and Montgomery Council, R. & S. M., of Danielson. He is likewise connected with the N. E. O. P., No. 297, of Danielson and with the N. O. S. C., No. 395, of Somerville, Massachusetts. He has membership in the Congregational church and for two years was a member of its finance committee. He is actuated by a most progressive spirit in all that he under- takes, and while he possesses a laudable ambition to attain success, he is never neglectful of his obligations to his fellowmen or to his country.

CHARLES HENRY CASE.

Charles Henry Case, a paper manufacturer of Oneco, where he has engaged in busi- ness since 1902, was born in Manchester, Connecticut, May 20, 1870, his parents being Henry F. and Selina (Roe) Case, who were also natives of Manchester. The father supplemented a public school education by study in the Manchester Academy and later secured employment in a paper mill, there learning the business. He possessed natural mechanical skill and ingenuity and by reason of his inventive ability he gave up mill work and took up the study of machinery, to which he devoted three years. He after- ward built a machine shop and his labors resulted in the invention of many improve- ments on various machines. He became one of the promoters of paper manufacturing in New England and many of the original ideas which he instituted are in force in the business life of the community at the present day. He became interested in various paper mills throughout the state and won prominence as a paper manufacturer, maintaining his position of leadership in that field of labor to the time of his death, which occurred July 7, 1918.

Charles Henry Case is the eldest of a family of three children, the others being Winifred and Julia E. While spending his youthful days under the parental roof he attended the public schools of Manchester, Connecticut, and afterward became a stu- dent in the Hannom Business College of Hartford, Connecticut. He then entered the machine shop and learned the machinist's trade under the direction of his father and also acquainted himself with every phase of the business of paper manufacturing. He has maintained his activity along this line to the present time, and removing to Oneco, he built a paper mill in 1902 that he has since owned and operated. Possessing much of his father's mechanical ingenuity, he has made many improvements on the machinery in the plant and has also by reason of well defined business methods greatly increased the output of the mill, which is today one of the important . productive industries of his section of the state, its output being sold throughout the United States, Canada and England.

On the 23d of June, 1907, Mr. Case was married to Miss Amelia Hoffman, a daughter of John and Mary Hoffman. Mr. Case maintains political independence, voting accord- ing to the dictates of his judgment and concentrating his efforts and attention upon his business affairs.

FRANK EZRA GALLUP, SR.

Frank Ezra Gallup, Sr., engineer for the power house at the Dyer dam and a resident of Danielson, was born on Ekonk Hill, in the town of Sterling, Windham county, April 1, 1872, his parents being Ezra and Olive (Knight) Gallup, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Stewart Gallup. Frank E. Gallup, spending his youthful days on Ekonk Hill, there obtained a

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public school education and in young manhood worked on the farm for his father, devoting several years to agricultural pursuits. He afterward removed to Danielson, where he entered the employ of what is now the Shore Line Electric Railroad Com- pany in the capacity of motorman. He spent four years in that connection and after resigning his position as motorman he secured employment at the power house at the Dyer dam, owned by the railroad company. He first worked as fireman there but was afterward promoted to the position of engineer. The Dyer dam is located south of Danielson on the Quinebaug river, in the town of Killingly, and Mr. Gallup is wisely and carefully performing the duties of the position to which he has been promoted, fully meeting the responsibilities and requirements thereof.

On the 25th of December, 1898, Mr. Gallup was married to Miss Hattie Alice Frink, of Sterling, Connecticut, and they have become the parents of three children, Frank Ezra, Jr., Floyd A. and Edith O. The mother was a daughter of Willard and Ella Josephine (Bixby) Frink. Her father, who was born at Sterling, Connecticut, and made farming his life work, passed away in 1892. He was a son of Albert and Mary Ann (Briggs) Frink.

Frank Ezra Gallup, Jr., namesake of his father, was reared and educated at Danielson, where he acquired a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. When his textbooks were put aside and he started out in the business world he became sub-station operator for the Shore Line Electric Rail- road Company of Putnam and continues in that position to the present time. He is a member of the Baptist church and a highly esteemed citizen whose sterling worth of character is recognized by all.

WILLIAM EDGAR WHEATON.

William Edgar Wheaton, a leading and representative business man of Putnam, has through a successful career made steady progress in connection with the building and industrial interests of this city, where his birth occurred August 25, 1884. He is a son of Edgar Mason Wheaton, mentioned at length on another page of this work. His education was acquired in the graded schools and in the Putnam high school, after which he attended the Indiana University for a year and subsequently for a similar period was a student in the Worcester Business College of Worcester, Massa- chusetts. His training was thus thorough and comprehensive and constituted an excel- lent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of success.

When twenty-one years of age William Edgar Wheaton became associated with his father in business. The latter had in 1873 become a resident of Putnam, where he had taken up the work of contracting and building. As the years passed his patronage developed and as a branch of the business he had established a large manufacturing" plant, devoted to the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds and interior finishing. He had been accorded many important building contracts not only in Putnam but in other sections of the state and of New England, including many large government contracts. To this business, which had been developed and established by the father, William E. Wheaton was admitted as a partner on attaining his majority and after a few years was made secretary and treasurer of the company. Following the father's death he and his brother, Walter Alexander Wheaton, have taken over the general management of the mill, which they are now capably and profitably operating and are fully sustaining the well earned reputation that has always been associated with the name of Wheaton in connection with the industrial development and enterprise of Putnam.

On the 25th of May, 1908, in Macon, Georgia, William E. Wheaton was united in marriage to Miss Helen I. Brigham, who was born in Willimantic, Connecticut, a daughter of Walter D. and Carrie (Bell) Brigham, both of whom have now passed away, her father having died in Macon, Georgia, while the mother's death occurred in Springfield, Massachusetts. To Mr. and Mrs. William E. Wheaton have been born six children: Paul B., whose birth occurred in Putnam, August 24, 1909; Roswell J., born July 8, 1912; Harry P., July 11, 1914; Philip D., February 1, 1916; Robert M., January 26, 1917; and Helen E., March 6, 1919.

Mr. Wheaton and his wife are members of the Second Congregational church of Putnam and he is identified with Phi Delta Theta, a college fraternity. He also has membership in Israel Putnam Post, No. 33, I. O. O. F., and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him, as he has always preferred to concentrate his undivided atten- tion upon his business interests. Under the direction of his father he thoroughly

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mastered every phase of the business of the mill and as the years have passed his developing skill and efficiency have brought him to a prominent position in the business circles of the city.

WILLIAM FRANCIS LENNON.

William Francis Lennon is one of the proprietors of a marble and granite business that has featured in the commercial circles of Willimantic since 1877, having been established by his father, John Lennon, who is a native of Ireland but was brought to the United States when but six years of age, landing at New York. The family home was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he was reared and educated, attending the district schools. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, with which he continued from 1863 until 1865. Following his return from the army with a most creditable military record, he settled in Cambridge and there served an appren- ticeship to the stonecutter's trade. Later he worked in various places and eventually became a resident of Willimantic, Connecticut, about 1877. Here he established the business that is now conducted under the name of the W. F. & P. A. Lennon Granite & Marble Works. He began dealing in marble and granite and conducting manufactur- ing along that line, continuing actively in the business until he retired in 1910. He still makes his home in Willimantic and is one of the few remaining Civil war veterans in this city. To him and his wife six children were born: Hugh J., who is a railroad man living at Providence, Rhode Island; Mary M., who is a nurse in St. Elizabeth's Hospital in New York city; John E., a miner now in Prescott, Arizona; William Francis of this review; Patrick A., who is in partnership with his brother, W. F .; and Thomas L., who is engaged in the monument business in San Francisco, California.

Throughout his entire life William Francis Lennon has remained a resident of Willimantic. After completing his education in the public schools he entered upon an apprenticeship to the marble and granite cutting business under the direction of his father, for whom he worked until 1910, when upon his father's retirement he and . his brother, Patrick, took over the business, which they have since conducted. They have a large and gratifying patronage and their excellent work insures them a continuance of the trade.

William F. Lennon was married on the 28th of June, 1910, to Miss Nellie V. Mulvey, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Hussey) Mulvey. The three children born of this marriage are Helen M., William Francis, Jr., and Marian C.

In politics Mr. Lennon is a democrat and he and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. He belongs also to San Jose Council, No. 14, of the Knights of "Columbus. His entire life has been passed in Willimantic, where he is now classed with the representative business men. His success is due in large part to the fact that he has always continued in the line of activity in which he embarked as a young tradesman. His close application and thoroughness have given him marked skill in his chosen field of labor and the work sent out by the Lennon establishment is always of the highest standard.

FRANK POBLOCKI.

Frank Poblocki, since coming to America in 1892, has been variously employed in connection with manufacturing, agricultural and commercial interests and is now proprietor of a grocery store at Wilsonville. He was born in Brodnitz, Germany, now Poland, March 31, 1875, and is a son of Anthony and Veronica (Bemoruske) Poblocki, who were also natives of Brodnitz. The father spent his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity and afterward took up the occupation of farming, which he fol- lowed in the employ of others for a number of years. Later he purchased farm land in the same locality and was engaged in its further cultivation and development until 1870, when he came to the United States. He worked in various places in Wisconsin in connection with railroad building until 1874, when he returned to his native land and was again employed at farm labor. In 1899 he once more came to the new world, settling at Webster, Massachusetts, where he was employed in the Slater mill, and in that city he passed away in 1912. In the place of his nativity he was married in 1867 and his widow now resides in Webster with her daughter Martha. Their family num- bered eight children, of whom four are yet living: Mary, who is a resident of Webster;

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Martha, the wife of Paul Weiyir, a farmer residing at Webster; Frank of this review; and Robert, who married Augusta Weda and is a baker in Webster.

Frank Poblocki remained in his native town of Brodnitz until 1892, when he came to the United States, settling first in Webster, where he worked in the Slater mill for a number of years. He afterward went to Ontario, Canada, where he conducted a farm for a year and then again crossed the border into the United States. He worked in the mills of Webster and various other places until 1912, when he removed to Wilsonville, in the town of Thompson, Connecticut, and secured employment in Keegan's mill, with which he was thus connected for a number of years. Eventually he pur- chased farm property in the town of Thompson and gave his energies to general agri- cultural pursuits for eight years but in 1919 sold his farm property and purchased the store formerly owned by Samuel Adams. He has since been engaged in the grocery trade in Wilsonville and now has a substantial business, his enterprise and progres- sive methods bringing to him a liberal patronage.

On the 28th of June, 1898, Mr. Poblocki was married to Miss Annie Cera, a native of Germany, and they now have a family of three children, Robert, Martha and Joseph, all at home. They are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Poblocki belongs to St. Joseph's Council of the Knights of Columbus at Webster. He was a youth of seventeen when he left his native land to try his fortune in America and he has never had occa- sion to regret the step which he then took, for here he found good business opportunities and in their utilization has made steady progress, being now one of the substantial busi- ness men of his community.

WILLIAM EASTON.

William Easton, agent for the French River Textile Company at Mechanicsville and widely known in manufacturing circles in Windham county, was born in Hunting- don, in the province of Quebec, Canada, April 24, 1878, his parents being James and Elizabeth (Scott) Easton, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father spent the period of his minority in the land of hills and heather, pursued a public school education there and afterward for several years was engaged in farming and in dealing in horses in that country. On coming to the new world, he settled, with his family, at Huntingdon, Canada, where he continued business as a farmer and dealer in horses to the time of his death. He passed away in Huntingdon in 1883 and his widow, who still survives, now makes her home with her son William. Their family numbered three children, of whom William is the eldest. The daughter, Mary, is the wife of Alfred Tompkins, a farmer living at Malone, New York, and James, the youngest, resides at South Walpole, Massachusetts, where he is a railroad station agent.

William Easton spent the period of his youth at the place of his nativity and after coming to the United States secured employment in a woolen mill at Clinton, Massa- chusetts. He afterward worked in mills at various places and made a thorough study of the manufacture of woolen textiles, working up through the designing department and developing marked skill and efficiency in this connection. He afterward became designer for the Fitchburg Worsted Company at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, occupying that position for four years, on the expiration of which period he was made designer in another mill at Fitchburg. When two years had passed he went to Utica, New York, as designer for the Globe Mills, with which he was connected for a number of years, and then returned to Massachusetts to accept the position of designer with the Puritan Mills at Plymouth. His next change in business connections took him to Lawrence, Massachusetts, as superintendent of the designing department for the United States Worsted Company, which position he filled for several years. He then removed to Mechanicsville to become superintendent for the French River Textile Company, which he now represents as agent, succeeding Thomas J. Corcoran, now of Pascoag, Rhode Island, in that position. He has become widely known in woolen manufacturing circles in New England and his ability places him in the front rank among designers and practical millmen of this section of the country.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 135

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960