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 4 > Part 74
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To Silas C. and Angeline ( Jones) Hubbell came four children, namely : Edward S., born Dec. 12, 1854, a meat buyer of Woodbridge; Charles J., born Sept. 2, 1861, who died in infancy; Estella Angeline, born Aug. 3, 1863 ; and George R., born Dec. 4, 1868, a progressive farmer of Woodbridge.
Soon after their marriage the parents of our subject came to Westville, Conn., and the father successfully engaged in the practice of medicine there and in the surrounding towns for forty years. Both in professional and private life he was widely and favorably known, and is certainly deserving of honorable mention in the history of his adopted county. He died in Woodbridge May 24, 1805. and his wife passed away Sept. 7, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew them.
WILLIAM H. WRIGHT, merchant, Water- bury, where for over thirty years he has been a resi- dent, is a native of England, born April 3, 1857, near Manchester.
Edward Wright, father of William H., of the same nativity, born in 1832, was a woolen manu- facturer in England, and also followed the same line of business in Waterbury, Conn. In his native land he married a Miss Hall, who died there when our subject was an infant ; he died in Waterbury. Seven children were born to this union, a brief record of whom is as follows: James E. is a mechanic in Waterbury ; John W. is foreman with the American Pin Co., Waterville, Conn .; Sarah A., unmarried, lives in Waterbury; William H. is our subject; twins died in infancy ; and Lewis N. is engineer on the Naugatuck branch of the N. Y., N. H. & H. Railroad.
William H. Wright received his education in the schools of his native land, and when ten years old, in 1867, he with his father and brothers and sisters came to America. For one year the family lived in Glenham, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and from there removing to Waterbury, where our subject attended private school for a time. His first busi- ness experience was in the Holmes, Booth & Hay- dens Mig. Co's works, where for three or four years he was employed in the plating department, and afterward for some three years was shipping clerk for the same firm. He then, in 1879, entered the employ of the Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., and was with that firm twelve years, or until 1891, in which year he bought out the American Tea Co. From that time until 1899 he was associated with John E. Weible, but buying out his partner's interest, he has since been conducting the business alone.
In October, 1884, Mr. Wright married Jennie E. Wright (no blood relation), who was born in Waterbury, and five children have blessed their union : Walter W., Frank E., Lewis N., Edith H. and Howard W., all living. Mr. Wright is a Re- publican in politics, and has served his adopted city in various offices of trust; was alderman of the third ward 1896-97, and being re-elected served in 1898-99. He was a member of the town committee about ten years, and for some twenty years has been connected with the Phoenix Fire Department of Waterbury, being one of its most enthusiastic members. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Ma- sons, and he also belongs to the Red Men and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
BERNARD F. KIVLAN, a well-known citizen of Branford, was born in East Haven, Conn., in August, 1865, and is a son of Bernard and Ann (McGinness ) Kivlan, natives of County Leitrim, Ireland, and who came to the United States prior to 1860. The parents located at East Haven, where the father engaged in contract grading, excavating and teaming to the time of his death, in 1892. The children of this family were: Kate, who married
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Michael Burns; Mary, the wife of Dennis Freeman ; John; Lizzie, who married Henry Donnelly; Ber- nard F .; Maggie, the wife of Edward Priest; and Jennie.
Bernard F. Kivlan was reared in East Haven, where he secured his education principally in the night schools At the age of nineteen he went on the road as a traveling dealer in bakers' goods. teas, coffees, butter and groceries, and followed this busi- ness in East Haven until 1889. That year he came to Branford and continued in the same business. In 1891 he went into the liquor business, in which he is still engaged.
Mr. Kivlan has been twice married, his first wife being Margaret, a daughter of John and Mary ( Williams) Sullivan, of Branford, by whom he had one son, John, who is now dead. His second wife, Mary, a daughter of William and Mary ( Woods) Hartley, is the mother of four children: Anna J .; Bernard B. F .; Marian T .; and William H. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Kivlan is a Democrat in politics. He is con- nected with the United States and the Connecticut Bottlers' Associations.
JEREMIAH H. DUNN is a leading con- tractor and prominent business man of Naugatuck, where on all sides may be seen evidences of his handiwork. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the quality of his work is a convincing test of his own personal worth, and the same admirable trait is shown in his conscientious discharge of the duties of different positions of trust and responsibility to which he has been chosen in business and political life.
Mr. Dunn was born in Queens County, Ireland, March 15, 1857, and is a son of Thomas Dunn, who is still living in that country at the advanced age of ninety-four years. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Cornelius Dunn, a carpenter by trade. The father has been a farmer and also a public contractor, building bridges, etc. He erected the house on the farm which has been his home for almost eighty years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Phalan, was also born in Queens County, and died about twenty years ago. To them were born four children: Cornelius, who was sergeant of the police in Ireland, and died in 1895; Maria; Jeremiah H .; and Grace. The daughters are both unmarried.
In his native land Jeremiah H. Dunn grew to manhood, working during the day and attending school in the evening. Under his father, who was then a contractor, he learned the mason's trade. It was in 1879 that he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed in Boston. Before coming to Naugatuck he spent some time in Lowell, Mass., Clinton and in Southbury, Conn., where he spent two years, being foreman of the gang which built the large mill there. Subsequently he was foreman for Chat- field & Chatfield, large contractors of Waterbury,
Conn., and remained with them for four years. In 1887 he came to Naugatuck with a gang of men, and as a contractor has since engaged in business on his own account. He built the large factory for the Goodyear India Rubber Co., and then took charge of the Parish House, which he built and which is a fine piece of workmanship. As a con- tractor and builder he has since erected perhaps one hundred houses a year, built walls for ceme- teries and constructed' bridges, etc. He also does concrete work, and in 1898 built four miles of side- walk in Naugatuck, besides three miles of sewers. He owns twenty-five acres of land in the city, which he has platted, and to which he has given the name of Fairview. As a business man he is prompt and notably reliable, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own well-directed and ener- getic efforts.
In November, 1890, Mr. Dunn married Miss Margaret McVoy, a native of Naugatuck and a daughter of Thomas McVoy, and to them have been born five children : Thomas, Jeremiah, Arthur, Philip and Margaret. Politically Mr. Dunn is a stanch Democrat, and has been called upon to serve as a member of the board of burgesses and as as- sessor of his town. He is president of the Salem Spring Lake Ice Co., and a director in the Board of Trade. Religiously he is a member of St. Fran- cis Catholic Church, and socially is connected with the Hibernians, the Foresters of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Water- bury Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F. As a citizen and business man he stands high in public esteem, and wherever known is highly respected.
N. JAY WELTON, a well-to-do agriculturist of Oxford, New Haven county, is a typical self- made man, and in the following record of his career there is much to arouse respect and esteem. He has placed his reliance upon industry and perse- verance rather than on "luck," and by making the most of circumstances, however discouraging, has made his way to a substantial success. his fine farm being a tangible evidence of prosperity.
Mr. Welton was born in East Haven, Jan. I, 1841, and remained there until his father's death, which occurred when he was but seven years old. He then lived with an uncle for two years, and the following year worked for his board and clothes on the farm of another uncle in Bristol, Conn. From there he went to Wolcott, where he worked for his board and attended the public schools for a time. Subsequently he was employed as a farm hand in Plymouth, Conn., and from there went to Waterbury, where he worked for the City Manu- facturing Company three years, and later for the American Flask & Cap Company.
Mr. Welton next went to Meriden. Conn., and while there he entered his country's service during the war of the Rebellion, enlisting as a private, Aug. 7, 1862, in Company F, 20th Conn. V. I., for three
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years or during the war. His first engagement was the battle of Fredericksburg. He then took part in the siege of Suffolk, and later was sent to Newbern, N. C., where the regiment did provost guard duty for some time. As a part of the Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac, he took part in the battle of Wise's Fork, and was at Kinston, N. C., at the time of Lee's surrender.
After being discharged at New Haven, Mr. Wel- ton located in Derby, this county, where he worked in the mills for one year, and then went to Seymour, where he was employed in the Douglas auger fac- tory for seventen years. He was subsequently con- nected with the New Haven Copper Co., located at Seymour, for seven years, and at the end of that time came to Oxford, where he has since made his home, and where he owns a well-improved farm. He carries on general farming, but makes a speci- alty of dairying and the raising of small fruits. In this undertaking he has niet with well-merited suc- cess, and he ranks to-day among the leading agri- culturists of the community.
On Aug. 7, 1862, Mr. Welton married Miss Laura Beers, and to them were born four children : Annie; David J .; and two who died in infancy. In political sentiment our subject is a Republican, and in his social relations is an Odd Fellow. He served as grand juror five years, and was assistant postmaster of Oxford for a time. He has the best interests of his town and county at heart, and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.
ADAM J. DAUCH, late of the firm of Dauch & Farr, meat dealers at No. 600 South Main street, Waterbury, Conn., but who is now living at Smith's farm, Oakville, Litchfield Co., Conn., was born in Ellenville, N. Y., July 13, 1861.
Adam Dauch, father of Adam J., was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 17, 1823, came to Amer- ica when a young man, and found employment as a cigar maker in Newark, N. J .: later he removed to Ellenville, Ulster Co., N. Y., and there met and married Miss Mary Disler, who was also a native of Bavaria. This union was crowned with eight children, as follows: Nicholas, now a prosperous farmer in Sullivan county, N. Y. ; Frank, a distiller of witch-hazel in Ulster county: Sophia, who first married John Teller, and after his death Har- rison Ammell, who is also deceased, and she is now living in Waterbury, Conn .; Adam J., the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Ellsworth Van Buren, of Ulster county, N. Y .; Elizabeth, mar- ried to John P. Geisler, a butcher in Waterbury, Conn .; Johanna, married to Adam Williams, a farmer in Ulster county, N. Y. : and John, who has been a farmer and hutcher, and now lives in Water- bury. The father of these children was called from earth Oct. 5. 180, and the mother in August, 1898. both in the faith of the Lutheran Church.
The boyhood days of Adam J. Dauch were
passed in the town of Wawarsing, Ulster Co., N. Y., where his school attendance was at the little old district school house. He afterward helped to improve the home farm, and while thus engaged niet and married Miss Anna Wanzer, who was born in Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y., a daughter of Alfred Wanzer, a native-born American and a farmer. Shortly after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dauch came to Waterbury, in May, 1889, and Mr. Dauch went to work for the Hall & Upson Ice Co. for a short time, and then for another short period worked for his brother-in-law, John P. Geisler, in the meat business. In 1889 Mr. Dauch opened a meat market on his own account, conducted it about six months, and then formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, under the firm name of Geisler & Dauch, which firm was maintained for about three years, when Mr. Dauch again embarked alone, and so continued until the winter of 1899, when he united with Charles Farr, under the firm style of Dauch & Farr, at No. 600 South Main street, where they found a lucrative trade, both the partners being polite and accommodating salesman, and both thor- oughly familiar with all the details of the business.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Adam J. Dauch have been born five children in the follow- ing order : Elizabeth, Frederick, Winnifred, Eve- line and Rowland, and these are being reared with the utmost care, and promise to be, in due course of time, ornaments to society as well as useful citi- zens. Politically Mr. Dauch has always been a Democrat, but has never sought public office. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Union Club, and so- cially his standing is all that could be desired.
RICHARD B. LEWIS, a well-known and highly respected business man of Waterbury, is a native of England, and was born in the city of Manchester, April 3, 1850.
Evan Lewis, father of our subject, was born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales, and in De- cember, 1850, came to America, locating in Nauga- tuck, Conn., where, in one of the mills, he followed his trade of spinner. He finally removed to Water- bury, and there died in 1888. He married Margaret Evans, a native of the same locality in Wales, and seven children were born to them, to-wit: Evan is deceased ; Annie married Ira Webster, and they live in Binghamton, N. Y .; Margaret married D. L. Dickinson, and they live in Waterbury; David is deceased; Richard B. : Susan married A. H. Koon, and they live in Waterbury ; and Charles, Jr., is de- ceased. The mother of this family is still living in Waterbury.
Richard B. Lewis was seven years old when the family came to Waterbury, and here at the district schools he received his education. At an early age he entered the works of Brown Brothers and learned the trade of burnisher, and then worked for Holmes, Booth & Haydens for two years. Subse- quently he engaged in the grocery and bottling root
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beer business, after which he was in the employ of the Waterbury Button Co. for about twenty-five years. Since this long and honorable association he has resumed his former bottling and grocery busi- ness, and has repeated the success characteristic of all his business undertakings.
On Jan. 6, 1875, Mr. Lewis married Jane Carmody, who was born in Waterbury, in 1855, a daughter of Michael and Ann ( Day) Carmody, the latter of whom was a native of Ireland, whence she emigrated to her present home in Water- bury, Conn. about 1850. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis : Charles J. and George R. The parents attend the services of the Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Lewis is a Republican, and he is socially a member of the A. O. U. W., K. of P. and Sons of St. George, in which latter order he has been treasurer of the Grand Lodge four years, and treasurer of the local lodge twelve years.
HARRY ALFRED ELCOCK, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Branford, was born in Enfield, Hartford Co., Conn., June 2, 1870, and is a son of Alfred and Mary ( Kerr) Elcock, natives respectively of England and Scotland.
Albert Elcock, the paternal grandfather of Dr. Harry A., came to the United States about 1846, and located at Bennington, Vt., where he was sup- erintendent of the Powder Works. From there he moved to Pottsville, Penn., and in the early fifties located at Hazardville, Conn., where he filled the position of superintendent of the Hazard Powder Works for about twenty years, when he retired from active business life and made his home in Hartford, where he died in February, 1899, at the ripe old age of eighty-three. His wife was formerly Mary Silver. .
Alfred Elcock, the father of the Branford physician, who was the only child of his parents, was brought to this country when about three years old, and practically his entire life has been spent in this state. While still very young he found di- version and interest in the Hazard Powder factory. of which his father was manager, and in time ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the business, eventually having charge of the charcoal depart- ment for nearly twenty years. At the present time he is a contractor for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, at New Haven, where he has re- sided since 1887. His wife, formerly Mary Kerr, was a daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Stewart) Kerr, natives of Scotland, Presbyterians, and prom- inent and respected people in Enfield. Two chil- dren were born to Alfred and Mary Elcock: Harry A. and Mary S.
Harry Alfred Elcock was educated in the Hart- ford city schools, and in the high school at Wor- cester, Mass In 1886 he entered Yale College, tak- ing the Academic Course, and two years later en- tered the Medical Department of that famous in- stitution, from which he was graduated in 1891.
For a year and a half he achieved commendable results as house surgeon of the State Hospital at New Haven, and then studied six months in the Manhattan Eve and Ear Infirmary in New York City. 1894 and 1895 were spent in the University of Berlin, Germany, and in Guy's Hospital Rotunda, Dublin, and upon returning home in 1895 he opened his office in New Haven and spent the winter in practice. The following spring he removed to Boston, where he was employed by the United States Government as a pathologist after he had practiced a year and a half in that city.
In February, 1899, Dr. Elcock came to Bran- ford, to pursue the practice of his profession, and here his success has been immediate and marked. His polished and courtly ways, his well stored mind, his vast fund of professional information, and his manifest ability as a practitioner, have brought him a host of patrons and friends.
Dr. Elcock was married Nov. 22, 1899, to Margaret, a daughter of Patrick and Rosanna (Plunkett) McKiernan, of Norwich, Conn., and a niece of Ex-Senator J. D. Plunkett.
Mathew Elcock, the great-grandfather of Dr. Elcock, was in the English army at Waterloo, where he was wounded, and where he was given the Victoria Cross for bravery. He died in En- field, Conn.
Dr. Elcock is a member of the Catholic Church, and is enrolled in the K. of C., the C. B. L., the A. O. U. W., and the I. O. H. In politics he is in- dependent, taking thought for the good of the com- munity, and seeking the best men for the various official positions.
TERENCE F. COUGHLAN, of Waterbury, is one of those Irish-Americans, who, by their own intrinsic worth and industry, have won a firm place in the estimation of their fellow townsmen. Mr. Coughlan was born in Kings County, Ireland, March 4, 1849, where his father, Terence F. Coughlan, Sr., engaged in farming. The latter died when our subject was nine months old, and the mother, Mary Condon, also a native of Kings County, was left with four children-James T., Patrick, John and Terence F. Of these, JamesT. owns a market and drug store on Baldwin St., Waterbury ; Patrick is a painter, and resides in Waterbury; and John died about 1852. The mother died in Waterbury.
Terence F. Coughlan was but one year old when his widowed mother located in Hartford, Conn., and in 1852 came to Waterbury where young Terence passed his boyhood days. After finishing his schooling, he found work in different factories, his first wages being twenty-five cents per day. For a short time he worked in Hartford, and then re- turned to Waterbury, where for some time he was employed in a spoon factory. He next began to learn the butcher's trade, being employed in the market owned by his brother, James T. About 1885, Mr. Coughlan engaged in the meat business
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on Baldwin street, where he remained for seven years, meeting with much success. From there he moved to No. 65 Washington street, where he has since remained. His market is one of the most popular in Waterbury, his upright business methods and his courteous treatment of his customers win- ning for him a steadily increasing patronage.
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In 1873 Mr. Coughlan was united in marriage with Mary Ann Lynch, who was born in Water- bury, a daughter of Michael Lynch, who has since passed away. Five children were born of this union : Edward, Terence, Jr., Mary, Peter and James, the last named being deceased. In 1890 Mr. Coughlan wedded Mary Cahil, and of the five chil- dren born of this marriage, three are living : Frances (deceased ), Raymond, Frederick, Catherine, and one that died unnamed. Politically Mr. Coughlan has always been a Republican, and in 1888 ef- ficiently represented the Fourth ward in the council. Socially he belongs to the Foresters of America, and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. In re- ligious faith the family are Roman Catholics, and are affiliated with St. Francis Parish.
THOMAS FRANCIS LYONS, a noted manu- facturer of mineral waters and bottler of wines and ales for family use, whose place of business is on Pratt street, Meriden, was born in Sheffield, Eng- land, July 19, 1859, and comes of a family long located in County Tipperary, Ireland.
John Lyons, father of Thomas F., was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, where his father was a farmer, and died while he was but a child. The orphan lad could have but little education as he was compelled to support himself at a very early age. For a time he was a teamnster in his native village, and while still a boy went to Sheffield, where he worked in the iron works. Through industry and economy he managed to save some money, and when he was ready to settle down he returned to his native place and married Ann Ryan. She was born in Kings County, Ireland, and was a daughter of Daniel and Mary Burke Ryan. The father died in his native home, and the mother came to Amer- ica with her children, making her home in Meriden, where she died and was buried. Many of the mem- bers of her family are still living, and are among the oldest Irish settlers in the city.
John Lyons, with his bride, went back to Shef- field, where their home was made for many years. There he worked in the iron trade, and there four of their children were born. Mr. Lyons finally came to see the advisability of a removal to the United States where the needs of his growing family could be better served. In 1860 they embarked at Liverpool for New York, and as they had brothers-in-law already established in Meriden, this city naturally became their destination. Here Mr. Lyons passed the remainder of his days engaged in general work, supporting his family, and becoming pos- sessed of a comfortable competence. He died in ,
1881, and was buried in St. Patrick's cemetery. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religion a mem- ber of the Catholic Church. An honest and hard- working man, his character was beyond reproach, and he possessed the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. Mrs. Lyons, his widow, is still living in Meriden, and is much devoted to her chil- dren. A member of the Catholic Church, she is known as a good Christian woman. Mr. and Mrs. John Lyons were the parents of a family of eight children, of whom the first four were born in Eng- land, and the last four in Meriden: Mary married William Watts, of Meriden; John died in Meriden ; Margaret is the wife of Dennis Horrigan, of New Britain; Thomas Francis; Agnes is now the wife of Michael O'Leary, of Middletown; James, now employed with his brother Thomas, married Nellie McNulty; Daniel, also working with his brother, Thomas F., married Laura Baribanck; Nellie is the wife of Joseph Lannon, of Meriden,
Thomas Francis Lyons was only one year old when his parents arrived in Meriden, and here his childhood and youth were passed in attendance upon the public school, and later in St. Rose's parish school. At the tender age of twelve years he took upon himself the burdens of life, and began working in the woolen mill, receiving $13 a month. After several months he went to the Malleable Iron Co., and was later employed as an office boy in the office of the Meriden Silver Plate Co., and here he re- mained until he was eighteen years old. At that time he entered the factory of the Foster, Merriam Co., to learn the trade of a brass molder, and from there he went to the Miller shops, where he worked in the molding department for three years. About this time Mr. Lyons had grown weary of the factory life, and entered the employ of Maurice O'Brien, spending several months in his butcher shop. This business, however, did not please him, and he re- turned to factory life, and for seven years worked in the brass foundry of Bradley & Hubbard, and two years in factory of the Meriden Bronze Com- pany. After that he was foreman in the brass foundry of J. O. Smith & Co., at Westfield, for a year, when the firm failed. Mr. Lyons came back to Meriden, and spent a year with the Bronze Company, another year with the Malleable Iron Co., and four years as foreman of the factory of C. Rogers & Brothers. In July, 1890, Mr. Lyons be- gan to do business for himself, buying a half in- terest in his present establishment, continuing his work for a time at the Malleable Iron Co. In July, 1891, Flinn & Lyons, for such was then the title of the firm, removed to Pratt street, and in 1895, Mr. Flinn retired, leaving Mr. Lyons as the sole owner of the business. It has greatly prospered under his management, and now uses three teams and gives employment to seven men.
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