A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 52

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

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FREDERICK EDWARD CUNNEEN.

There is perhaps no one better qualified to speak concerning methods of manu- facturing cotton goods than Frederick Edward Cunneen, whose entire life's experience has been along that line and who is today a prominent mill man, now president and general manager of the River Weaving Company of Danielson, in which connection an extensive business has been developed.

Mr. Cunneen is a native of Massachusetts. He was born at Fall River on the 2d of December, 1875, and is a son of James E. and Mary E. (Organ) Cunneen, who were also natives of Fall River. The father was also a well known mill man, connected with cotton goods manufacturing, and built the Seaconnett Mills at Fall River and also the Laurel Lake Mills at the same place. He developed interests of great importance and extent and was one of the best known and most successful mill men in connection with the cotton textile industry in New England. In the conduct of his interests he dis- played most progressive methods and his initiative found constant expression in im-

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proved conditions in the mills and in improved methods of manufacture. He was also prominent in community affairs, serving as alderman of Fall River, where he refused the nomination for mayor. He was one of the governor's representatives on the board of managers of the Bradford Durfee Textile School at Fall River, Massachusetts, and liis broad business experience enabled him to speak with authority upon everything relating to the trade. His wife, who was born in New York city, passed away at Fall River, as did Mr. Cunneen.

Spending his youthful days in his native city, Frederick E. Cunneen mastered the branches of learning taught in the graded and high schools and when his textbooks were put aside made his initial step in the business world by becoming an employe in the Seaconnett Cotton Mills, where he continued for sixteen years, thoroughly ac- quainting himself with every phase of the business in that establishment, of which his father was the agent. Parental authority was not exercised to gain him advancement. On the contrary he won his promotions step by step by reason of fidelity and develop- ing efficiency and at length became superintendent of the mills. Later he resigned to enter into connection with the New England Cotton Yarn Company at Taunton, Massa- chusetts, where he continued for two years, and in 1914 he was appointed agent of the mills of the Danielson Cotton Company of Danielson, Connecticut, in which capacity he continued for a year and a half. He then resigned and organized the River Weaving Company of Danielson, of which he is president and general manager. This company took up the business of making cotton worsted cloth for men's wear and also shoe cloth. At the present time the business is largely that of making cloth for shelter tents for the government, the mill being run in day and night shifts. The plant is a fine modern mill situated in the center of Danielson, equipped with electric power and operating forty-eight automatic looms. Mr. Cunneen is president of the company, with his wife as vice president, and Elbert L. Darbie as secretary. Under his wise direction the business has rapidly developed and the energy and enterprise of the owner finds expression in the splendid establishment which he has built up.

On the 30th of June, 1906, Mr. Cunneen was united in marriage to Miss Annie N. Campbell, of Fall River, Massachusetts, who was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a daughter of John and Flora (Brown) Campbell. They have become parents of three children, Ruth Constance, Gordon Campbell and Edward Frederick, all born in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Politically Mr. Cunneen is a republican. He was elected warden of the borough of Danielson in April, 1917, and is still acting in that capacity. That his interest does not center in material things to the exclusion of activity along the lines of moral progress is indicated in the fact that he is serving on the board of trustees of St. Alban's Episcopal church. He belongs also to Moriah Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M .; to Warren Chapter, R. A. M .; Montgomery Council, R. & S. M .; Columbia Commandery, K. T .; Sphinx Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; and to the Scottish Rite consistory, and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. His military service covers connection with the Massachusetts Naval Reserves. He was on the United States Ship Prairie in the Spanish-American war, active in Cuban and Porto Rican waters during that period of hostilities with Spain. He is now serving as chairman of the town of Killingly on the Council of National Defense. His has been a most progressive career, not only in connection with his business life but through his identification with other interests that have to do with the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he resides, while his initiative in business classes him with the captains of industry. He has the ability to coordinate seemingly diverse interests into a complex and harmonious whole and he has developed one of the most important milling inter- ests of Danielson, contributing much to the material prosperity of the city.

FITZ HENRY PAINE.

Fitz Henry Paine is a representative resident of the town of Pomfret, where he follows the occupation of farming, and in community affairs, too, he has taken the deepest interest, supporting many well defined plans and measures for the general good and at one time representing his district in the state legislature.

He was born in Ashford, Windham county, July 24, 1874, and is a son of Sherman Elisha and Jane (Reed) Paine. The father was born in Woodstock, being a representa- tive of one of the oldest families of that locality. There he pursued his education and took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in Woodstock to the time of his marriage. Later he removed to Ashford, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in 1896. In addition to tilling the soil he engaged to some extent in school teaching and served for many

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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

years on the school board, the cause of education finding him a stalwart champion. His first wife was born in Union, Connecticut, and died in Ashford forty years ago. In 1879 he married Sarah Clapp, of Ashford, who survives him.

Fitz Henry Paine pursued his education in the schools of Ashford to the age of twelve years and from that time until he reached the age of seventeen was a pupil in the schools of Pomfret. He then returned to Ashford, where he concentrated his atten- tion upon farm work on the old homestead, but after a short time he went to Hart- ford, Connecticut, where he engaged in selling butter and eggs. He afterward removed to Newport, Rhode Island, where he continued in the same business for three years and on the expiration of that period he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where for four years he occupied a position of clerk and for seven years that of manager in a grocery store. In 1908 he returned to Pomfret, settling near Abington, and in the interven- ing period, covering a decade, he has concentrated his efforts and attention upon general farming and stock raising. He has excellent buildings upon his land and everything about the place indicates his careful supervision, his progressive methods and his enter- prising spirit.

On the 24th of June, 1903, Mr. Paine was married to Miss Sarah Alice Potter, of Pomfret, who was born in Ashford, there acquired her education and engaged in teaching school for a number of years. She is a daughter of Albert E. and Mary Eliza- beth (Sumner) Potter. Her father was born in Woodstock and devoted forty-eight years of his life to teaching in the schools of Pomfret, Woodstock and Ashford, becom- ing one of the most noted educators of this section of the state. He is now retired and makes his home in Abington with Mr. and Mrs. Paine. He is widely known among the old settlers and has long been regarded as one of the foremost educators, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. For a period of twelve years he lived in Ashford and taught school in Pomfret, driving twelve miles each way every day. He did this at a time when he received less than thirty dollars per month. He contributed much to the development of the school sys- tem of his section of the state and there are many who sat under his teaching and yet feel the inspiration 'of his instruction. He always made it his purpose to call forth the best in the individual and regarded education simply as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties and not an end in itself. His wife was born in Pom- fret and there passed away in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Paine have two children: Dorothy Putnam, born in Boston; and Virginia Morse, born in Pomfret.

In politics Mr. Paine is a republican. In 1912 he served as tax collector of the town of Pomfret and has been reelected each year since that time, so that he is still the incumbent in the position. He has served as grand juror and in 1916 he was elected to the state legislature and was made a member of the finance committee. He is now an inspector for the dairy and food department of the state of Connecticut. Mr. Paine attends the Congregational church and his life is actuated by high principles that make of him an honorable man, a good citizen and a faithful friend.

COLONEL WILLIAM H. PAINE.

William Herman Paine, brother of Fitz Henry Paine, was born in Ashford, May 9, 1870, and attended the district school in the ax factory district until fifteen years of age when he moved with the family to Pomfret to the farm on which was located the famous Putnam Wolf Den. He attended the Putnam high school one winter, taught school in Eastford the next winter and worked on a neighboring farm in Pomfret for two years. Seeing an advertisement for the competitive examination for the appoint- ment of a cadet to West Point from his congressional district he decided to try with little hopes of success as there were several contestants who had been receiving special training for the examination. His appearance, at the place of examination in his rough clothes caused considerable amusement among the would-be cadets but when the result of the test was announced it was found that he headed the list and he received the appointment.

With practically no training outside of that which he had received in the little district school he completed the difficult course at West Point, graduating in 1894 and standing high in his class. He was commissioned second lieutenant in the United States Cavalry and successively was stationed in several western states. He took part in the Porto Rican campaign in the Spanish war and for some time afterward was with his regiment in Cuba. He has been stationed at most of the cavalry posts in the United States, has done duty on the Mexican border four or five years ago and had two terms of service in the Philippines where he was located when this country entered the World war. He has been steadily promoted until he received his present rank of

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colonel in the fall of 1917 and was ordered to Camp Custer, Michigan, where he is now preparing troops for service in France. In the summer of 1914, while stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont, he commanded a detachment of troops which were ordered to the New England training camp at Hampton, these being the first United States Cavalry troops ever in Windham county.

In 1897 Colonel Paine was married to Belle Vail of Millbrook, New York.

JAY MCGREGOR SHEPARD.

Jay McGregor Shepard, engaged in the undertaking business in Willimantic, was born at Wauregan, Connecticut, May 5, 1876, and is a son of George W. and Mary Emma (Dix) Shepard, the latter deceased. His youthful days were largely devoted to the acquirement of a public school education and for one year he studied in the Moody school at Mount Hermon, Massachusetts. He early began to provide for his own support and was first employed in the Wauregan Mills, where he worked for four years. He then removed to Willimantic in 1899 and entered the employ of the Ameri- can Thread Company in Mill No. 4, spending a year there. On the expiration of that period he became connected with the Grand Union Tea Company, which he repre- sented as a clerk for five years, and on the expiration of that period he managed a butter and egg store for S. K. Ames. It was on the 1st of January, 1906, that he em- barked in his present business by purchasing a half interest in the oldest undertaking and embalming establishment in the city, established in 1870 and formerly the prop- erty of O. A. Sessions. In July, 1906, he entered the Massachusetts College of Embalm- ing and graduated from the same in August, 1906, receiving his state license in New Haven in September, 1906. He conducted business in a partnership connection under the firm style of Elmore & Shepard until 1912, when he bought out his partner and has since continued alone. He has a complete modern plant, including auto equip- ment, and has two employes. He owns the building which he occupies and as the years have passed he has made for himself a substantial position in business circles, owing to his resolute purpose, his indefatigable energy and his unfaltering spirit of enterprise.

Mr. Shepard was married on the 1st of October, 1901, to Miss Eva E. Keigwin and they have one child, Madelyn. Mr. Shepard is well known as a representative of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Eastern Star Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M .; Trinity Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M .; Olive Branch Council, No. 10, R. & S. M .; St. John's Commandery, No. 11, K. T .; and Sphinx Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a loyal member of the Congregational church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for one term he served as alderman of Willimantic but other- wise has never sought nor held office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and atten- tion upon his business affairs.

His father is a veteran of the Civil war and has an excellent army record by reason of his valiant service on many a hotly contested battlefield. He served as captain of Company H of the Twenty-first Connecticut Volunteers and is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Shepard of this review belongs to the Cham- ber of Commerce and is interested in all of its well defined plans and projects to upbuild the city and extend its business relations. He is connected with the Con- necticut Funeral Directors' Association and believes in maintaining the highest stand- ards in his profession.

MAHLON H. GEISSLER.

Mahlon H. Geissler, engaged in the practice of law in Putnam as a member of the firm of Torrey & Geissler, was born in Canton, Massachusetts, August 31, 1885, a son of John T. and Mary E. (Pennock) Geissler. The father was born in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, and devoted his life to various lines of activity. He was a cabinet maker by trade and eventually became owner of a furniture store and was also editor of a newspaper. In the latter part of his life he was an invalid and died when his son, Mahlon H., was but eleven years of age. His wife was born in Sharon, Con- necticut. Since the death of her first husband she has become the wife of E. Everett Rhodes, of Thompson, Connecticut. The family numbered four children of the first marriage: Stella A., the wife of Floyd Bowen, a resident farmer of Thompson, Con- necticut; Lewis S., a clerk in a store at Boston, Massachusetts; Violet, who is the wife of Elbert E. Joslin, a resident farmer of Thompson, Connecticut; and Mahlon H.

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The last named was a pupil in the public schools of his native city to the age of thirteen years and then went to Thompson, Connecticut, where he continued his studies, being graduated from the Putnam high school with the class of 1902. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work and with that end in view entered the law office of Charles L. Torrey, of Putnam, Connecticut, in the capacity of stenographer and while thus working made every effort to acquire a knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence. He there continued until January, 1906, and through- out the entire period was engaged in the study of law. In 1906 after being admitted to the Windham county bar he secured an appointment as clerk in the navy depart- ment at Washington, D. C., and while thus serving took an advanced course in the law school of the George Washington University, from which he was graduated in 1907 with the degree of LL. B. He then resigned his clerkship in the navy department and returned to Putnam, where he entered into partnership with his former preceptor, thus organizing the firm of Torrey & Geissler, which has maintained a leading posi- tion at the Windham county bar since that date. Mr. Geissler has ever prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care, is a clear reasoner, strong in argument and logical in his deductions.

In politics Mr. Geissler is an earnest republican and has frequently been called to serve in public office. He was clerk of the city court of Putnam for five years, from 1910 until 1915, and in the latter year was made judge of the city court, serving upon the bench in Putnam for a year. He has also been clerk of the Putnam town school committee, has been justice of the peace and in 1917 was appointed judge of the city court by the legislature of Connecticut and entered upon the duties of his position in January, 1918, for a two years' term. Judge Geissler has ever been inter- ested in the general welfare and has supported many carefully defined plans and measures for the advancement of public good. He is now serving on the Putnam public library board. He was also one of the organizers of the Putnam Building & Loan Association and has been its secretary from the beginning. Fraternally he is connected with Quinebaug Lodge, No. 106, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past mas- ter; with Putnam Chapter, No. 41, R. A. M .; Montgomery Council, No. 2, R. & S. M., of Danielson; and Columbia Commandery, No. 4, K. T., of Norwich, Connecticut. He likewise has membership with the Odd Fellows lodge and Rebekahs and with the Order of the Eastern Star. and he is an ex-secretary of Thompson Grange. Along more strictly professional lines his connection is with the Windham County Bar Associa- tion and the Connecticut State Bar Association.

Judge Geissler was admitted to the bar by the superior court of Connecticut at Putnam on his twenty-first birthday and through the intervening years has remained a prominent representative of the profession, holding to its highest standards and careful at all times to conform his practice to the ethics of the profession.

SIMEON DANIELSON.

Simeon Danielson, who in the later years of his life lived retired in the city of Danielson, where he passed away on the 9th of April, 1917, had previously been con- nected with agricultural interests and was a representative citizen, who in every relation of life manifested a spirit of progress and advancement. He was born in Killingly, Connecticut, November 15, 1840, a son of Adam Begg and Melancy Wil- liams (Robinson) Danielson. From the earliest settlement of this section of the state the Danielson family has here been known and the city stands as a monument to one of the name, who was among its founders. The ancestral records furnish the information that Sergeant James Danielson, born about 1648, was married March 11, 1685, to Abigail Rose, who died about five years later. He was married on the 22d of June, 1700, to Mary Ackers. Sergeant Danielson was among the first to settle at Block Island, Rhode Island, where he purchased a number of tracts of land. At the May session of the general assembly of 1696 he was admitted a freeman of the colony of Rhode Island and in 1700 was elected town sergeant of New Shoreham. He served on the town council in 1704-5 and in August of the latter year was chosen a deputy to the general assembly. It is believed that Sergeant Danielson was of Scottish descent. In his youth and early manhood he participated in the Indian wars and at a time of the distribution of land in eastern Connecticut he received as his share a part of the town of Voluntown by grant from the general court. In 1706, when in his fifty-eighth year, he bought a tract of eight hundred acres on the Quinebaug river with a mansion house and barn, in what was afterward the town of Pomfret. In 1707 he purchased from Major Fitch the neck of land between the Quinebaug and Assawauga rivers, containing about two thousand acres. He is believed to have been the first

SIMEON DANIELSON

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settler south of what is now Alexander's lake and is said to have "built a garrison house at the southern extremity of his purchase and was soon known as one of the most prominent men in the new settlement," which was soon afterward called Killingly. He maintained a residence on each of his tracts of land, and a portion of the property which he held in Killingly is still in possession of his descendants. He died January 22, 1728, in his eightieth year. He "laid out a burial ground between the rivers for the use of the inhabitants and was the first to be interred in it." The headstone at his grave bore the inscription: "In memory of the well beloved Mr. James Danielson, who after he had served God and his generation faithfully many years in his life, sweetly fell asleep in the cradle of death." By his second marriage he had two sons, Samuel and William. The former was moderator of Killingly in 1760 and selectman in 1785, while the latter was constable, collector of taxes; lieutenant in 1760; first major of Colonel Williams' Eleventh Regiment in 1774; took one hundred and forty- six men from Killingly to Cambridge in 1775; became colonel in 1776; and after the Revolution, general of militia, while in 1778 he was a member of the state conven- tion called to ratify the national constitution.

Samuel Danielson, the elder of the two brothers, inherited the homestead and much of the landed property of his father. He was born in 1701, was graduated from Yale College and was married March 26, 1725, to Sarah Douglas, of Plainfield, Con- necticut. The same year both united with the Killingly church. Their children were: Mary, baptized May 8, 1726; James, who was born in 1727 and died October 3, 1754; William, born August 11, 1729; Sarah, born February 22, 1731; Susanna, born Oc- tober 1, 1732; Elizabeth, March 25, 1734; Priscilla, February 12, 1737; Sybil, February 8, 1738-9; Samuel, March 27, 1740; and Sarah, March 19, 1745.

Of this family Captain Samuel Danielson was born in Killingly, March 27, 1740, and on the 6th of May, 1770, wedded Hannah Whitman, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 10, 1751. She died October 3, 1787, and Captain Danielson passed away June 13, 1817. Their children were Elizabeth, Samuel, Martha and Susanna. At the Lexington alarm Captain Samuel Danielson had marched to the relief of Boston under General Israel Putnam.

Samuel Danielson (III), son of Captain Samuel Danielson, became a successful and prominent farmer and was recognized as a man of high moral courage, always loyal to his professions as a member of the Westfield Congregational church. In politics he was a whig. He married Sarah Begg, who was born June 13, 1773, and his death occurred July 22, 1845, while his wife died September 9, 1852. Their children were four in number: Adam Begg; Jacob W., who married Maria Prince and was prominent in the affairs of Killingly, where he passed away; Jane, who died July 14, 1876, at the age of seventy-four; and Samuel Sanford, who married Esther Williams and for many years lived upon the old home farm in Killingly.

Adam Begg Danielson, the eldest of the children of Samuel and Sarah (Begg) Danielson, was born in Killingly, November 15, 1796, was reared on his father's farm and when a youth in his teens went to live with his maternal grandmother. He there remained until his grandmother's death, when he bought out the interests of the other heirs in the property and carried on farming on his own account until his demise, April 14, 1872, having prospered through his careful and capable manage- ment of his business affairs. He voted with the whig party until its dissolution and then became a republican. For many years he was a deacon in the Westfield Con- gregational church and his leisure was largely devoted to the study of the Scriptures. He married Melancy Williams Robinson, of Rayham, Massachusetts, daughter of Seth and Sarah Robinson. She passed away December 19, 1869, at the age of seventy-one. The seven children of that marriage were: Mary, who died October 20, 1853; Samuel, who was born March 31, 1831, and died September 22, 1836; Sarah, who was born June 28, 1833, and died September 12, 1836; Albert, born October 17, 1835; Samuel D., born February 20, 1838; Simeon, whose name introduces this review; and Frances W., who died July 1, 1853, at the age of nine years.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 52

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