Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3, Part 88

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3 > Part 88

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GEORGE W. LIVINGSTON, a brass caster in Ansonia, was born in Canada, Sept. 2, 1843, a son of Samuel Livingston, also a native-born Canadian, who was a farmer and spent his entire life in Ontario, where he cleared a farm of 200 acres, and died at the age of sixty years. Anna Gale, wife of Samuel, was born in Philadelphia. but early made her home in Canada, and she died at the age of eighty-nine. Both she and her hus- band were faithful adherents and members of the Baptist Church.

George Livingston spent his early life in Can- ada, where he grew to manhood on the paternal acres, and acquired his education in the public · schools. When he was twenty years old he left home, and engaged in farming in Illinois. but after a year he returned to his native country where he was at work for three years. He spent five months in Pennsylvania, and then came to Connecticut, locating in Ansonia in 1866, where he took a place with Wallace & Sons as a helper for a brass caster. When he learned the trade, he became a brass caster himself, working for eighteen years in the same factory in which he began. He was connected with Osborne, Cheeseman & Co., and later entered the employe of the Birmingham Brass Co. With the latter house he has been engaged fourteen years, and he is the oldest caster in the factory, and among the oldest in the neighborhood.

On Ang. 26, 1868, Mr. Livingston was married to Martha Woodin, who was born in Waterbury, a daughter of Aner F. Woodin, who was born in Pines Bridge, Beacon Falls, a son of John Woodin. also a native of Pines Bridge, where he spent his

life. Aner F. Woodin was a carpenter, and worked at that trade many years in Waterbury. The latter part of his life was spent in Michigan, where he died at the age of seventy-five. His second wife, Delight Bronson, daughter of Polly ( Hotchkiss ) Bronson, was the mother of Mrs. Livingston, and to that marriage three children were born: Ella T., who married Theodore Manville; Martha : and Charles Woodin, in Texas. Mrs. Delight ( Bron- son ) Woodin was born at Prospect, and died at the age of forty-three years, and with her husband be- longed to the Methodist Church.

Mr. Livingston is a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Naugatuck Lodge, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Church, where they are active and in- terested workers in every department of the church and the Sunday-school. He is a trustee of the church, and with his wife teaches in the Sunday- school. Both are prominent people, much esteemed for their good character, kindly spirit, and un- swerving integrity.

WILLIAM J. STANLEY is an expert ma- chinist, and holds an honorable position in Water- bury. The Scovill Manufacturing Co., that has an eye for men of mechanical genius, early dis- cerned the kind of a man he was and gave him work, pushing him forward, until he now occupies a. responsible place in their factory. Mr. Stanley was born in Bergen, Hudson Co., N. J., Sept. 2. 1858, and is a son of James A. Stanley, whose biography and family history appears in connection with the sketch of his son, F. E. Stanley, a sketch of whom may be found elsewhere.

William J. Stanley came to Hopeville, near Waterbury, when a child, and lived there until he was five years old, when his parents moved into the city, and here has been his home to the present time. His education has been largely acquired at odd moments, but it is surprisingly good, and covers a much broader field than one would imag- ine, considering the very limited schooling he has liad. He is a wide reader, and a close student of the world about him. At the age of ten years he became the second messenger boy for the West- ern Union Telegraph Co., and at an early age he entered the factory of the Carrington Manufactur- ing Co., and has made rapid progress in indus- trial matters. Mr. Stanley was with the Matthews & Stanley Co. from 1873 to 1875, and since that time has been associated with the Scovill Manu- facturing Co., where he has achieved a large suc- cess as a tool maker. For fifteen years he has been the foreman of a department, and has a thorough mastery of every one of its details.

At the early age of ten Mr. Stanley manifested a decided musical gift. In 1876 he became a student of Prof. Baier, and studied with him for several years, and in 1877 became the organist at the Old Baptist Church, where he officiated until

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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1881. From 1881 to 1883 he played the organ in the Thomaston Congregational Church; from 1883 to 1886, in the Waterbury Baptist Church ; from 1886 to 1888. the Congregational Church in Watertown; from 1888 10 1899. the First Baptist Church of Waterbury.

On April 28, 1887, Mr. Stanley was united in marriage with Miss Flora Brown, who was born in Ashland, Mass., a daughter of Benjamin G. and Ella ( Hudson ) Brown, natives of Ashland and Framingham, Mass .. respectively. Mr. Brown is living, but his wife died Oct. 31, 1894. The Hud- son family are of Scotch extraction. while the Browns came from England. To Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have been born two children: ( 1) Louise and (2) Ada. In politics Mr. Stanley is a Repub- lican. Socially he has been a member of Nosa- hogan Lodge, No. 21, I. O. O. F., for more than twenty years, and is also affiliated with Waterbury Lodge, No. 95. A. O. U. W. He is a Mason of prominent standing, and belongs to Harmony Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., Eureka Chapter, and Clark Commandery, No. 7, K. T. Mr. Stanley and his family are all Baptists, and he has taken an active and efficient part in the musical affairs of that church.

EMMETT A. CARLEY, a well-known citizen of Cheshire, who is successfully engaged in the express. business between Cheshire and New Haven, was born in New Milford. Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 28, 1846, a son of Eli A. and Laura ( Hub- bell) Carley, and grandson of James and Betsy (Dawson) Carley. The grandfather was also a native of Litchfield county, was a farmer by oc- cupation, and was a great hunter and trapper. He died in Naugatuck, Conn., his wife in Danbury, this State. To them were born three sons, John, Eli A. and Hugh.

Eli A. Carley, father of our subject, was born in Litchfield county April 9, 1809, and was reared and educated in the town of Kent, that county. He was a builder and millwright by trade, and continued to follow the latter occupation through- out life. In 1855 he came to Oxford, New Haven county, where he died Jan. 18, 1867. His wife died in Shelton. Fairfield Co .. Conn., in 1890. In their family were nine children: James F., who died young ; James F. (2) ; Lucy Ann. widow of Julius W. Munson, of Wallingford, Conn .; Ellen Sophia, Mrs. Curtis H. Dodge, of the same place ; Horatio H., who died in Wolcott in 1880; Eli Al- fred, superintendent of the Housatonic Water Co. at Shelton : John, a resident of Waterbury; Em- mett A., our subject : and Charles W., who died in Oxford at the age of nine years.

The boyhood and youth of Emmett A. Carley were passed in Oxford, where he attended school and where he continued : , make his home until thirty years of age. In early life he drove a stage in Connecticut and later in Pennsylvania, having

charge of a line running from Mauch Chunk, but he was obliged to leave that State during the troubles with the "Molly Maguires." For a time he was engaged in the livery business in Bristol and New Haven, and in 1895 he located on a farm in Cheshire, and engaged in the milk business and in dealing in horses and cattle. He had a large milk route in Waterbury.

'In 1878, in Bristol, Mr. Carley married Miss Frances Lane, a native of Wolcott, New Haven county, and a daughter of Asahel and Harriet ( Mansfield ) Lane, both of whom are deceased. To this union have been born four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Mabel F., Julius M., and Russell Henry. Politically Mr. Carley is a stanch Prohibitionist, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cheshire. He served as constable of Oxford at one time, but has never been an office seeker, though as a citizen he is always ready to discharge any duty that de- volves upon him.

JOHN F. McGRAIL, well known to those familiar with the operating force of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., at New Haven, as a man of high character, unswerving integrity, and unwearied industry, was born at Mt. Carmel, Conn., May 22, 1860, son of John McGrail, who was born in County Limerick, Ireland, Dec. 4, 1831. Ste- phen McGrail, the grandfather of John F., was a farmer in Ireland, came to the United States, and died seven days after first setting foot on the Amer- ican shore.

John McGrail came to this country in 1844. landing in Boston, Mass. In 1856 he married Eliza Rourke, an Irish compatriot. Two of the five children born to them are living: John F .; and Annie M., who married James R. Mercer, of New Haven. The father was engaged for twenty- one years in Mt. Carmel as an axle maker.

John F. McGrail spent his boyhood and youth at Mt. Carmel, where he attended school, and very early began the labor of his own support, going into a bolt shop while still a lad of only eight years. In New Haven he attended public school three years, and then secured a situation in the factory of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., where his industrious habits, intelligent nature and trust- worthiness brought him forward step by step ; he now holds a responsible and profitable connection with the Company as a contractor in the bullet room.

Mr. McGrail was married Oct. 22, 180, to Elizabeth A. Shannon, of New Haven, a daughter of James Shannon, a native of Ireland. To this union were born a family of six children: Gert- rude : Estella ; Sylvester and Vincent, twins ; Ray- mond : and Clement. Mr. McGrail has always been a Democrat, and has a very vivid comprehension of the political issues of the hour. Socially hie be- longs to the N. E. O. P., and in religion is a micm- .

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ber of St. Mary's Parish, Catholic Church. His summer home at Farview Beach is a very pleasant spot, and while not as costly as some, it is in good taste, and presents an inviting appearance.

DENNIS H. TIERNEY, one of the most prominent business men of Waterbury, at present engaged in the real-estate. insurance and bond and surety business, is a native of Ireland, born at Abbeyleix, Queen's County, in the year 1846.

John Tierney, father of our subject, was also a native of Queen's County, born at Portarlington, a son of Matthew Tierney, who carried on the sale of timber and lumber at that place. John Tierney married Margaret McDonald, and six children were born to them, all of whom are now deceased except our subject. One died in Ireland. Michael died of fever in Mississippi, while serving in the United States regular army. Margaret passed away at the age of seven years. In 1848 the par- ents, with five children, emigrated to the United States on a sailing vessel. the voyage-which, owing to storms (the masts and rigging being twice carried away), lasted fourteen weeks-being made via Quebec. Fever having broken out among the passengers, the ill-fated ship was quar- antined at or near Quebec, and a large shed, pro- vided with roof only, the sides and ends being open, was utilized as a temporary hospital. Here the father died shortly after landing, leaving a widow and five children, two of whom also died at or near Quebec. Mrs. Tierney journeyed to Waterbury, Conn., where she had two brothers and one sister living, but as their means were not sufficiently amiple to afford much aid to their widowed sister and her three children, she was confronted with the vital necessity of providing some immediate means of support. So she bravely set her face to the task, and, laundry work being the most avail- able .at the time, for six long years, day and night, the. brave woman industriously labored, washing and ironing. At about the end of that time she se- cured a position in the Hotchkiss & Merriman web shop (now known as the American Mills), inspect- ing and pressing webs. She died in Waterbury in 1888.

Dennis H. Tierney, the subject of this memoir. was about eighteen months old when the family came to Waterbury, and here he received his ele- . mentary education, partly in the district schools and partly, by the advice of his mother, at night school. At the age of nine years he was employed in the buckle factory, and afterward in many of the fac- tories of Waterbury, becoming somewhat skilled in the manipulating of metals. When about eight- een years old he began work in the thimble depart- ment of the Scovill Manufacturing Co., remaining three years : and while there, under the guidance of B. S. Curtiss. of Woodbury. Conn .. he learned the craft of toolmaking, also the machine business. in a limited way. After three years' service in Water-

bury, having decided that New York offered a more extended field for advancement, he took his tool chest and traveling bag into the big city, with high hopes of learning something new, yet not without grave fears and misgivings lest he should be un- able to cope with the greater mechanics of the city, which fears and misgivings were overcome only after many sleepless nights. During the years 1867-68 he took a course of instruction in the Cooper Union for Advancement of Science and Art, particularly in the mechanical drawing depart- ment. He divided his time between this and the common evening school of New York City. At the Cooper Union he graduated with the class of 1868, and took a first-class certificate for superior ability. Afterward he had experience in various machine shops, and in perfecting machinery for Ketchum Brothers. McDougal & Co., New York, for the making of silver thimbles from a solid disk of silver. He invented a bevel and tapering gauge. a necktie fastener, and a lathe chuck by the use of which work may be adjusted to the one-thousandth part of an inch in the lathe.

After a residence of three years in New York Mr. Tierney worked for a short time in Danbury, Conn., in a sewing-machine factory; then went to Forestville. Hartford county, where he made dies in the Bristol Brass & Clock Co., in the burner de- partment : and after ten years there he invented what is known as "Tierney's Diamond Dust Hard- ening Powder." for hardening steel, and which af- terwards proved a great success. He also invented a toy that gained considerable popularity.

Returning to Waterbury, Mr. Tierney in the year 1881 opened the Naugatuck Valley Patent Agency, shortly afterward adding the real-estate, general insurance, and bond and surety business. His first office, a room about 4x9 feet, made from . a small hallway, was at No. 59 Bank street : he was then on East Main street, and later moved to No. 167 Bank street, where he is now located. In addi- tion to his regular business interests he was presi- dent of the Globe Publishing Co .. Waterbury ( who publish the Evening Globe), and a stockholder in the Commercial Record, published in New Haven. In 1893 he was chairman of the Central school dis- trict financial committee. .

Mr. Tierney has been three times married, first time, Jan. 28. 1873. to Julia A. Smith, who was born in County Westmeath, Ireland, whence she came to Waterbury in childhood. She died in 1875. the mother of one child, Henry S .. who was in Cuba, as chief engineer of the government steam launch "Percy." In 1885 our. subject married Annie Fisher, of Danbury, who was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, whence she came to this country in childhood. She died June 20, 1887, without issue. In 1889 Mr. Tierney married Margaret E. Cassidy, who was born in Greenwood, N. Y., and seven children came to this union: John D .. Mathew D., May M., Mark, Madeline C., Ger-

Hoetierney

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aldine J., and Luke ( deceased). The family are identified with the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception, and Mr. Tierney is very prominent in Catholic circles, as well as in all matters of public interest, irrespective of creed or politics.

Socially Mr. Tierney is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and was grand knight of Carrollton Council. Ile was president of the Sec- ond Division, A. O. H., and was chairman of the Reception committee, which had in charge the care and feeding of thousands of Hibernians who came from all parts of Connecticut, as well as other States, to the centennial celebration on May 23, 1898. He is president of an association organized for the purpose of erecting a monument to the memory of James Reynolds, the Irish patriot. and he was treasurer of the committee in raising funds to send the remains of Stephen J. Meany ( another Irish patriot ) to Ireland. He also belongs to the American-Irish Historical Society. In 1880 he was president of the Young Men's Catholic Institute, of Naugatuck, Conn., and he was one of the fore- most to advocate the use of its books to the public without regard to color, creed, or nationality, and the Institute so voted. In 1882 he organized a Father Matthew Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, in Bristol, Conn., and was its first presi- dent, and he has adhered to the principles of total abstinence from that time to the present. Our subject was one of the active workers, treasurer as well as a member. of the "Manila Testimonial Com- mittee," representing the people of Waterbury in showing their appreciation of her loyal citizens by presenting a highly embellished sword to a lieuten- ant, and a gold watch and chain to a common sea- man, both of whom were with Commodore Dewey and took part in that memorable engagement in Manila, May 1, 1898; through the same committee the town presented a solid silver medal to each and every one of the Waterbury people who served their country in the Spanish-American war. Mr. Tier- ney has been active to aid the Boers in South Af- rica. He was chairman of a mass meeting com- posed of all classes of citizens, held at Waterbury March 6. 1900, which adopted resolutions of sym- pathy with the Boers in their struggles for liberty. These resolutions were sent to many prominent men, including the President of the United States. Our subject is intensely patriotic, and is loyal to his native land. Like all true Irishmen, he is a lover of liberty. In politics Mr. Tierney is a Demo- crat, and as a man of refinement. and sterling qualities of character he is most highly esteemed.

JAMES CLIFFORD DOOLITTLE, an en- ergetic and progressive farmer and lumber manu- facturer of West Woods. Hamden, New Haven county, was born there, on the Doolittle homestead, Feb. 22, 1874. and is a worthy representative of one of the honored old families of the county. Ilis great-grandfather, Daniel Doolittle, was born in

the town of Wallingford, but when a young man came to Hamden and purchased a farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in gen- cral farming and stock raising. He married Miss Druce Chatterton, who also died in Hamden, and both were laid to rest in the Mt. Carmel cemetery. They were consistent members of the Congrega- tional Church and most estimable people. In their family were six children: Lura, who died unmar- ried; Julia, wife of William Ellis; Percy ; Arilla ; Heman and Morris.

Heman Doolittle, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Hamden, March 19. 1799, and was educated in the district schools of the town. He spent his entire life in Hamden, where he owned and operated a large tract of land, was stic- cessfully engaged in general farming, and also dealt in wood quite extensively. He died upon his farm, July 26, 1875, and was buried in Mt. Carmel cemetery. On Nov. 11, 1824, he married Julia Allen, who was born in Wallingford, Dec. 24, 1802, a daughter of Ernest Allen, and died July 26. 1854. She was an earnest member of the Baptist Church. In their family were eight children: Emily. born Sept. 2, 1826, died Dec. 30, 1885: Amanda, born May 18, 1828, was married, Sept. 8. 1852. to Anson Doolittle ; Oswin, the father of cur subject, was next in order of birth : Julia A., born Oct. 9, 1832, was married, Sept. 9, 1860, to Lewis Joyce, of Hamden; Samuel D., born March 12, 1835, was married, Nov. 28. 1861, to Cornelia A. Sanford ; Caroline, born April 20, 1836, died Sept. 19, 1836; Ellen M., born March 30, 1840, died Oct. 1. 1843 ; and Sarah J., born Oct. 5, 1844, married Jerome C. Munson.

Oswin Doolittle, father of our subject, was born in West Woods, Hamden, July 30, 1830, was reared upon a farmi, and educated in the district schools. Throughout life he followed agricultural pursuits, and owned and operated a fine farm of seventy-five acres, upon which he made many useful and sub- stantial improvements. He also owned a sawmill and was engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He: was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but never a politician in the sense of office seeking. On May 10, 1865, he married Sarah Josephine Root, widow of Capt. Henry Gerrish, and to them were born five children, namely: Howard, a resi- dent of Torrington, Conn .; Sherwood, of New York State; Warren ; Christina, wife of Edward Haynes ; and James C., our subject. The father died in 1893, the mother in 1886, honored and re- spected by all who knew them, and were laid to rest in the Mt. Carmel cemetery.

James C. Doolittle obtained his education in the district schools of Hamden, and a business college of New Haven. During his youth he aided his father in the labors of the farm and mill. and re- sided upon the old homestead until 1896, when he purchased the farm of 100 acres, in Hamden, upon which he now resides. In connection with farm-

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ing, he is also engaged in the ilairy business and carries on the mill once owned by his father. He is one of the most enterprising and progressive ycung men of the town, is industrious and ener- getie, and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In September, 1899, he was married, in Handen, to Miss Mabel Gilman, of Glover, Vt., a daughter of Marshall Gilman. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party, and religiously is an active and prominent member of the Congregational Church, in which he serves as a teacher in the Sunday school.

THOMAS F. MCGRATH, proprietor of the cigar manufactory at No. 119 South Main street, Waterbury, was born in County Limerick. Ireland, May 1, 1856, son of Thomas and Margaret ( Pow- ell) McGrath, of whom mention in full is made elsewhere.

Thomas F. McGrath was about five years of age when brought by his parents to Waterbury, and there he attended school until eleven years old, when he went to work in the old woolen mill, well known at that day. After laboring there for a short time he started out on a tour of the country, sight-seeing and working in various towns and cities, and was gone about fifteen years, during which period he was employed chiefly in silk fac- tories.

On his return to Waterbury, in 1882, Mr. Mc- Grath sold cigars for T. J. Jackson for a while, and then handled beer and cigars together. In 1890 he began the manufacture of cigars on his own ac- count, and this has been his business ever since. He employs ten or fifteen men, and his sales are made largely in the neighboring towns, as well as at home. He makes private brands a specialty, and his product is principally of the higher grade, cigars that retail at ten cents apiece.

In 1889 Mr. McGrath married Miss Margaret E. Lynch, who was born in Wallingford. Conn., daughter of John Lynch, a native of Wallingford. Two children have blessed this union, Florence and Irene, who are being reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which the parents are mem- bers.' Mr. McGrath is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; of the Catholic Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Waterbury ; and also of the Union club. In politics he is independ- ent, and casts his franchise for the candidate he deenis best fitted for office. He is an industrious and sagacious business man, and is respected wherever known.

JAMES G. CURTISS, the well-known livery- man of Ansonia, is a representative of a prominent family of the town of Woodbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., where he was born Sept. 13, 1863. His an- cestors located at Woodbury at an early day, and his grandfather. David II. Curtiss, was a native of the locality and spent his entire life there, his home-

stead being located on the main road between Woodbury and Southbury. This worthy citizen died at a good old age. the father of two children.

James G. Curtiss, Sr., our subject's father, was born and reared at the old homestead in Wood- bury, where he still resides at the age of sixty-sev- en, having followed farming all his life. He is re- spected by all who know him for his intelligence, culture and sound judgment, and has taken an ac- tive part in political affairs, being one of the leading Republicans of the town. His fellow citizens have frequently chosen him to office, and he has served two terms as selectman and two as representative in the Legislature. For many years he has been an active worker in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Woodbury, in which he has held numerous offices, including those of superintendent of the Sunday school and teacher of a Bible class. In the ab- sence of the rector he has read the service in the Church for months at a time. His estimable wife, Mary J. Styles, who died in 1894, was born in Southbury, and was one of three sisters of whom Nellie and Alice still reside at their old family homestead. To James G. Curtiss, Sr., and his wife seven children were born, of whom four are living, namely: Henry S., Annie M. (Mrs. Som- ers, of Woodbury), James G., Jr., and Flora P. (Mrs. L. N. Carrington, of Woodbury). Nellie, now deceased, married H. E. Barnes, of Water- town.

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Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families, V. I, Pt 3, Part 88

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 988

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 988