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 79
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Samuel Hall, son of Samuel, died June 15. 1770, at the age of ninety years. Susan Royce, his first wife, was a daughter of Nathaniel and Esther Royce. The Christian name of his second wife was Bridget. He was the father of the following chil- dren : Theophilus, born April 1, 1707; Samuel, born June 8, 1709; Hannah, born July 15, 1711; Sarah, born Dec. 6, 1713; Mehibath, born April 25, 1716; and Esther, born Nov. 7, 1719.
Samuel, son of Samuel Hall, married Sarah Hall, Dec. 7, 1731, and died Dec. 24, 1771. He was the father of the following children: Samuel, born July 11, 1732, and died in infancy; Hezekialı, born Dec. 27, 1733; Louisa, born June 30, 1736; Sarah, born Dec. 5, 1737; Esther, born Jan. 21, 1740; Love, born April 30, 1742 ; Elizabeth, Jan. 23, 1745 ; Samuel, born Feb. 28, 1750, and Demaris, born Jan. 23, 1754.
Deacon Samuel Hall, son of the above named Samuel Hall, married Elizabeth Parson, May 10, 1774, who died Sept. 27, 1823. He died Feb. 27, 1821, and was the father of the following children : Samuel, born Dec. 7, 1776; Hezekiah, born June II, 1778; George, Aug. 13, 1780; Marilla, born June 28, 1782, married Chauncey Hall; Richard, born Jan. 26, 1785; and Jared, born Aug. 24, 1792, and died April 24, 1861, was the father of Henry Lyman Hall, and the grandfather of Allen L.
WILSON G. ARENTS, a well-known citizen of Woodbridge, New Haven county, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 27, 1856.
Permela Marvin Arents, his father, a native of the same State, was born in Tarrytown in Decem- ber, 1828, was reared in Brooklyn, and became a woolen merchant in New York City, where he died July 5, 1861. On Spruce street he married Miss Anna Rebecca Bolen, daughter of Jolin G. and Catherine (Frazier) Bolen. Her father was an engraver on metal and also a dealer in fishing tackle in New York City. There Mrs. Arents was born, on Green street, in 1834, and died in Brooklyn in 1873. She had five brothers and one sister, name- ly: George a resident of Somerville, N. J. : Mary Agnes, of East Orange, Essex Co., N. J. : Michael, . a retired merchant and farmer, who is now in the
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marine insurance business in Somerville, N. J .; Charles, Frederick and Lewis, all three deceased. The father of our subject had one brother and one sister, both now deceased: Edward, who lived on Adams street, Brooklyn, N. Y., and owned the Gothic Dancing Hall; and Augusta, wife of W. R. Tice, a jeweler of Brooklyn. Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of three chil- dren. Edward Delenoy, the eldest, born in 1854. married, and died in New Haven, Conn., at the age of twenty-eight years; Charles Robert Ander- son, born April 2, 1861, is engaged in the insurance business in New York.
Wilson G. Arents attended the academy at Fer- gusonville, Delaware Co., N. Y., three terms, but being in ill health during childhood he was unable to carry on his studies as intended. When a young man he went to New London, Conn., where he was employed in various works, though the greater part of the time he followed the sawmill business, hav- ing charge of a plant. For thirteen years he worked in a sawmill at Long Cove, town of Ledyard, New London county, and in April, 1891, came to New Haven, but shortly afterward located in Wood- bridge, where he purchased an improved farm of seventy acres. Here he engaged in the milk busi- ness until 1898, and has since carried on poultry raising and general farming, making a specialty of vegetables and fruits. He contemplates embark- ing in the grocery business soon.
In New London county Mr. Arents was mar- ried, Dec. 20, 1880, by Rev. N. Goodrich, to Miss Eva Lois Ingham, who was born Dec. 16, 1861, a daughter of John and Abigail Ingham. She be- longs to one of the early and representative fam- ilies of Long Island, where many of the name and family still reside. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arents, the first four were born in New London county, the others in Woodbridge. Their nantes and dates of birth are as follows: Anna Louella, June 4, 1883 ; Edna Lois, March 28, 1885; Harold Delenoy, June 4, 1888; Bertrand Frazier, Sept. 8, 1890; Eveline Ingham, Oct. 11. 1892; Mary Agnes, who died at the age of three months; and Wilhelmina Bolen, Aug. 16, 1898. The eldest daughter has completed a district-school education and expects to become a bookkeeper. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them. Po- litically Mr. Arents is a Republican, and he gives his support to every measure which he believes will prove of public benefit.
DANIEL D. GREGORY, one of the most ex- pert machinists in the city of Waterbury, was born in the town of Redding. Fairfield Co., Conn., Feb. 6, 1847, and descended from one of the oldest fam -. ilies in the county.
Alfred Gregory, father of Daniel IL, was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield Co. Dec. 21. 1803, and died Sept. 26, 1868. He was a blacksmith by trade
and constantly employed a number of workmen. He married Huldah Barlow, who was born in Red- ding July 26, 1800, and died Aug. 16, 1847. To the marriage of Alfred Gregory and wife were born seven children, namely: Stephen B., who was a mechanic, but is now deceased; Frances, who died ! in Eastport, Maine, the wife of Rev. Leroy S. Stowe; Sarah, married to Henry Bates, a farmer in Ridgefield; Fannie, wife of Joseph Taxter, also a farmer in Ridgefield; Peter, a carriage maker at Bridgeport; Charles, who has traveled extensively and resides in Ridgefield; and Daniel D., the sub- ject. of this biography.
Huldah ( Barlow ) Gregory, the mother of our subject was a daughter of Daniel and Sarah ( Diamond ) Barlow. Daniel Barlow was a black- smith, and a native of Redding. Col. Aaron Bar- i low, the father of Daniel, was a hero of the Amer- ican Revolution. The father of the Colonel, Sam- ue! Barlow, was a son of John Barlow, who set- tled in the town of Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., in 1668; Samuel settled in Redding in 1740, and after the death of his first wife married Esther Hull, a daughter of Nathaniel Hull, who gave to the American navy one of the bravest of men -- Commodore Isaac Hull. Joel Barlow, a brother of Col. Aaron Barlow, was born in Redding, Conn., and achieved a national reputation. He was ap- pointed embassador to France by President Madi- son during the reign of Napoleon, went as far as Moscow, Russia, and was very successful in his diplomacy, but on his road homeward was taken ill, and died Dec. 24, 1812.
Daniel D. Gregory was educated at the district school at Redding, and also at a select school. After leaving school he was apprenticed to the Far- --- rel Foundry at Ansonia, Conn., for three years from 1864; he next went to Birmingham, Conn., worked one year, and then made a trip to Minneapolis, Minn., but soon returned to the East, and for two vears worked in Newburg, N. Y., and eight years : in Jersey City, N. J., whence he came again to Connecticut, worked awhile in Winsted, and in 1877 came to Waterbury, and here for three years was with the Farrel Foundry, three years with the American Ring Co., and for the last seventeen years has been machinist for the Plume & Atwood Company.
On Nov. 20, 1872, Mr. Gregory wedded Miss Martha E. Whitney, who was born in Salisbury, , Conn., and is a daughter of Ruloff Whitney, a na- tive of the vicinity. One child, Bertha W., who is unmarried, graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory. In politics Mr. Gregory is a Republican. He has served as a member of the Board of Public Works for two years; as alderman from the Third ward three terms ; councilman from the same ward three terms; and at present is second selectman. A- an evidence of his estrome popularity, it m'a be mentioned that he was elected councilman for his three terms and alderman one term from a ward
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that was strongly Densocratic. Fraternally Mr. Gregory has been a Mason thirty-one years, having been "made" at Tarrytown, N. Y. He is also an Odd Fellow; and is a charter member of his lodge of the Woodmen of the World ; he is also a member of the New England Order of Protection. In re- ligious matters he is liberal, yet so lives as to merit the warm esteem of all who know him.
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FRED J. WOOD, dealer in coal, wood, hay and grain, Waterbury, is a native of Massachusetts, born in Hinsdale, July 13. 1855.
Richard A. Wood, father of our subject, was born in Halesworth, Suffolk, England, in 1833, a son of Richard Wood, who was a manufacturer of woolen goods in England, passing all his days there, and dying at the age of thirty-nine years. His son, Richard A., at about the age of sixteen years, came to the United States, making his first New World home at Great Barrington, Mass., where he had a cousin living, and here he followed the woolen busi- ness until 1850, in that year removing to Pittsfield. There until 1857 he was foreman in the woolen mills of Barker Bros. Co., and then went West to Illinois, where for three years he followed farm- ing at Galva. In 1860 he returned to Massachusetts. and in Hinsdale took charge of the woolen mills of Frank Hinsdale until 1863, in August of which year he came to Waterbury to take charge as super- intendent. of the Great Brook Mnfg. Co.'s mills, continuing with that firm until his death in August, 1868. In politics he was a Republican, and at one time he served as alderman of the First ward, Waterbury. In 1851 Richard A. Wood wedded Mary E. Johnson, a descendant of a well-known New England Puritan family by the name of Baker, and a daughter of John and Wealthy ( Baker) John- son, the former of whom served at the battle of Waterloo as an officer under Wellington. She died June 21, 1875, a member of the First Baptist Church, as was also her husband. To Richard A. Wood and his wife were born eight children, as follows: (1) Porter is an attorney at law in Waterbury; (2) Fred J., is our subject ; (3) Jessie died at the age of twelve years; (4) William is a coal dealer in Meri- den, Conn .; (5) Mary is the widow of Charles H. Camp, and lives in Waterbury; (6) Frank is con- nected with the Standard Oil Co., with residence in Waterbury; (7) Charles is superintendent of the Pope Tool Works in Hartford; and (8) the young- est died in infancy.
business, in the following spring purchasing his partner's interest, since when he has been conduet- ing the business alone at No. 758 E. Main street. He makes a specialty of coal, wood, hay and grain, and is meeting with well-merited success.
On Dec. 25, 1876, Mr. Wood was united in mar- riage with Belle L. West, who was born in Water- ville, Conn., a daughter of David K. West, also a native of that place, and a family of seven children has come to them: Mabel P., Byron S., Helen A., William, Clara, Frank and Jennie. The family at- tend the services of the Baptist Church. In politics Mr. Wood is a Republican.
EDWARD P. NOONAN, in his life time one of the busiest, most energetic and most progressive business men of Naugatuck, was proprietor of the leading shoe store of that place and received a liberal share of the public patronage. A native of Con- nectieut, he was born in Norwalk, Oct. 16, 1868, and was of Irish descent. His paternal grandfather was a farmer, his maternal grandfather, a cooper, and both were life-long residents of the Emerald Isle. The father, Michael Noonan, was born in Limerick, Ireland, and at the age of seven years came to America, locating first in Westport, Conn., where he worked as a farm hand at Greens Farms. From there he removed to Norwalk, where he was employed as coachman by different people for some years, and where he still continues to reside.
In Norwalk, he married Nellie Clark, a native of Coun- ty Dublin, Ireland, and to them were born eleven children, of whom five died young. The others are Edward P., our subject ; Mary, wife of James Mc- Quilan, of Norwalk; Catherine, wife of Thomas O'Brien, of the same place; and Sarah, Andrew and James H., all at home with their parents.
Edward P. Noonan acquired his education in the public schools of Norwalk, and remained there until sixteen years of age, when he went to South Framingham, Mass., where he worked in a rubber shop for two years. Coming to Naugatuck, in 1887, he entered the employ of the Goodyear India Rubber Co., with whom he remained one year; and then worked for the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Co., at Union City, as assistant foreman and time keeper for three years. In September. 1802, he opened a shoe store on Water street, and on Jan. 1, 1893, bought the stock of shoes owned by J. T. Garri- son, and removed to his present store on Water street, near Maple. He carried a well-selected stock, and enjoyed the finest trade of any firm in his line in the place.
Fred J. Wood, whose name introduces these lines, was a young boy when the family came to Waterbury, and here he received his education, Mr. Noonan was married, Feb. 4, 1890, to Miss Elizabeth Brennan, a daughter of Andrew Brennan, of Naugatuck, and to them were born three chil- dren: Mildred, Clare and Flavian. In his political views, Mr. Noonan was independent, and for many years most acceptably filled the office of assistant town clerk. Ile was a member of St. Francis Catlı- graduating from the high school. In the Farrell Foundry Co.'s works he learned the trade of ma- chinist, after which he went to work for the Scovill Mnfg. Co., remaining in the employ of that firm fourteen years. building and operating automatic button machinery. In the fall of 1888 he formed a copartnership with S. S. Taylor in the coal, etc., ; olic Church, and also of the Foresters of America,
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and was one of the charter members of the Inter- national Foresters, an insurance order. His death occurred Nov. 30, 1901.
L. B. BRADLEY, merchant, Derby, New Ha- ven county, Connecticut.
FRANK H. FAGAN, a prominent young busi- ness man of Derby, Conn., and senior member of the firm of John Fagan's Sons, was born in that place, April 13, 1868, and is a son of John and Ann ( Fini- gan) Fagan, natives of County Longford, Ireland. The father was only about seven years of age when he crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Derby, Conn., where during his youth he worked as a farm hand. For many years he was engaged in the kindling wood business; later in the junk busi- ness; and in 1882 became interested in the coal business, which he carried on alone until 1890, when our subject was taken as a partner, the firm name being John Fagan & Son. This connection lasted until August, 1895, when the father turned the busi- ness over to his sons, Frank H. and John D., while he lives retired, enjoying a well earned rest. Our subject is the fifth in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being Ellen, now the wife of D. S. Houlihan, of Derby; Mary, wife of Au- gustus Whiting, of New York; Elizabeth, wife of William Russell, of Meriden, Conn .; John, who died at the age of six years; Daniel J., who is en- gaged in the liquor business with his father in Derby and John D., partner of our subject.
Frank H. Fagan received a good practical edu- cation in the high school of Derby, which he at- tended until sixteen years of age, and then entered the employ of his father, doing the very hardest kind of work in the coal yard, shoveling the coal into boats, etc. In this way he became thoroughly familiar with the business before he became a mem- ber of the firm. He and his brother, under the firm name of John Fagan's Sons, have built up an ex- tensive trade as dealers in coal and wood, handling about 4,000 tons of coal per year. In 1896 they added trucking to their business, and since 1897 have also engaged in contracting, such as grading, road building, etc. They are now doing a very ex- tensive and profitable business, having by fair and honorable dealing gained the public confidence and a liberal share of the public patronage.
St. Mary's Catholic Church; and fraternally is a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, of New Ha- ven; the Knights of Columbus; and the Catholic Benevolent Legion.
MICHAEL E. KEELEY, of the Waterbury Scrap Iron Co., with yard and office at the foot of Field street, is a native of Waterbury, born Dec. 29, 1862.
Michael Keeley, father of Michael E., was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, April 3, 1839, one of the six children of Peter Keeley, a blacksmith, and his wife, Mary Lahey. The other five children were: Mary ; Mary (2), who is married and lives in Australia; Patrick, who lives in Liverpool, England ;, John, who is also in Liverpool; and Richard, who died in that city. Peter Keeley and his wife never left their native land.
Michael Keeley, father of our subject, was but eight years of age when he landed in New York, where he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, and he followed the trade in that city until 1861, when he came to Waterbury, Conn. Again he went to New York and after working about nine years, returned to Waterbury and worked three years, when he went to Hartford, remaining two years, thence to New Haven for one year, and he finally settled in Waterbury. Here he worked as a journeyman for somne time, and then opened a shop of his own near the present New England depot, where he carried on business ten years. His next enterprise was the purchase of some property at the corner of Chatfield and Meadow streets, where he erected a brick structure, greatly enlarged his trade, and won the reputation of being the best forge blacksmith in Connecticut. In 1885 Michael Keeley began the scrap iron business, and Aug. 1, 1887, he united with him his son, Michael E., and the firm name for two years was M. Keeley & Son. The father then withdrew, and the son continued alone for a short time, when the father resumed the business and now has a plant valued at $35,000 or $40,000. On Sept. 17, 1859, Michael Keeley was joined in mat- rimony with Miss Catherine Egan, a native of Kings county, Ireland, and this union was blessed with six childdren, viz .: Mary, who died at the age of four years; Michael E., whose name opens this article ; Elizabeth, who was married to Eugene Grant, of Waterbury, and died when thirty-three years old; John, a blacksmith in New York ; Peter, a veterinary surgeon and city and town milk In- spector : and Mary (2), who married Thomas Keefe, a resident of Waterbury.
On June 12, 1894, Mr. Fagan married Miss Lillian Sykes, of Bridgeport a daughter of Martin Sykes, an old resident of that place who is of Irish extraction. The two children born of this union both died in infancy. In politics Mr. Fagan is a Michael E. Keeley, the subject proper of this sketch, was graduated from the Waterbury high school with the class of 1880. For the two years following he acted as bookkeeper for his father, and then opened a gymnasium in New Haven, where he had about forty pupils, and gave instruction in all linds of athletics for about six years. He then re- Democrat, but at local elections supports the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices re- gardless of party lines. He is a member of the Board of Trade, and since eighteen years of age has ; been connected with the R. N. Bassett Fire Com- pany, of which he was treasurer for many years. and is now foreman. Religiously he is a member of , turned to Waterbury and embarked in the scrap-
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iron business, in which he has since continued, with the exception of three years which he passed en- gaged in the same line in the West. Some little . a stalwart Democrat, and on his party ticket was time after returning he was joined by his father, and elected alderman of Derby from the Second ward in December, 1898, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his con- stitutents. Religiously he is a member of the Cath- 'olic Church. together they formed the present firm. For this company Michael E. is the purchasing agent, and all profits are divided equally between the two. The volume of business transacted by the firm reaches $100,000 per annum.
On June 28, 1892, Michael E. Keeley was joined in marriage with Miss Sophia Deagan, who was born in Redding, Fairfield Co., Conn., a daughter of John Deagan, who was formerly a school teacher, but is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Keeley no children have been born, but they have adopted a daughter, Jennie M., who is yet in school. In poli- tics Mr. Keeley is a Democrat : fraternally he is a member of New Haven Lodge, No. 25, B. P. O. E. He has mingled with the world sufficiently to be a fine judge of human nature, and in his business transactions is strictly upright and conscientious.
CHARLES F. BRADLEY. dealer in general merchandise, Branford, New Haven county, Con- necticut.
CHARLES E. ROWAN, a leading grocer and representative business man of Derby, Conn., was born in that place, July 4. 1868. a son of William Rowan, who was born in Roden. Canada, in 1831. Grandfather Rowan. who was engaged in the lum- ber business in Canada, was also born in that coun- try of Irish parentage.
In his native land William Rowan grew to man- hood and married Philomen Brisebois, also a native of Canada, and a daughter of Ezra Brisebois, who was born there of French parentage. Shortly after their marriage, the parents of our subject came to Derby, Conn., in 1865, and here they have since made their home. For many years the father was an employe in the Howe Pin factory, but is at present engaged in the grocery business. In his family are six children, namely: Mary Ann, at home ; William, a barber, of Boston, Mass. : Lillian, wife of John J. Gaffney, of Derby ; Sophia, at home : Charles E., our subject : and Charlotte, widow of John D. Whelan, of Derby.
During his boyhood, Charles E. Rowan attended the public schools of Derby, and when his education was completed. he began his business career as a clerk .in the grocery store of A. E. Burke, of Derby, with whom he remained two years. For one year he clerked for C. A. Pratt, a clothier, and was with George H. Crook, a grocer, for three years and a half, after which he clerked in his father's grocery store until he embarked in the same line of business for himself in 1896. He has already built up a large and constantly increasing trade, and is recog- nized as one of the foremost business men of the place.
Mr. Rowan was married, Sept. 3, 1890, to Miss
Anna Bohan, of Derby, a daughter of Thomas Bohan, of Irish descent. In politics our subject is
CHARLES B. EVERITT was born in Port Jervis, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1863, and is a son of Martin Cole Everitt, of German and Dutch extraction. The family was founded in America prior to the Revolu- tion by Dr. Everitt, who came from Germany and settled in Hunterdon Co., N. J. He was the author of a medical work used by the profession in his native land. Isaac Everitt, son of the emigrant, engaged in farming.
John D. Everitt, son of Isaac, was a teacher by profession, but in later life followed merchandising and farming. In politics he was an old line Whig, and he served as justice of the peace, also as asso- ciate judge. He died at the age of seventy-nine. His wife, Roanna Decker, was a daughter of . Daniel Decker, and she died at the age of seventy-six. Of their six children Martin Cole is fourth in order of birth ; the youngest son died in 1851, at the age of twenty-one; Daniel D. resides in Montague, N. J .; and Robert lives in Centerville, N. J.
Martin Cole Everitt, the father of Charles B., was born in Montague, N. J., Feb. 4, 1828, and died in Port Jervis, Dec. 23, 1899. He remained on the home farm until he reached the age of sixteen, when he began clerking in a country store. In connec- tion with a brother-in-law he went into business with a cash capital of three hundred dollars, carry- ing on a little store at Centerville, N. J. In 1851 Mr. Everitt sold out to his partner and went to Port Jervis to take a position as clerk with St. John & Birdsall, and also clerked for Charles St. John for one year, when he became a partner and for ten years he was engaged in business under the firm name of St. John & Everitt. In 1861 Mr. Everitt disposed of his mercantile interests, which had be- come very extensive, and in company with Henry Nooney started a store which they conducted for nearly three years with gratifying success. In 1864 Mr. Everitt took a contract to supply the Erie Rail- road with from five thousand to ten thousand cords of wood a year. He bought wooded land, hired men to cut down the timber, leaving very valuable farm land, and several hundred acres became part of the family patrimony. He carried on this business five years, and made his home at Port Jervis. In 1868 Mr. Everitt entered the drygoods business, and in 1870 a stock company was formed to purchase the First National Bank of Delhi, N. Y., and by a special permit from Congress it was moved to Port Jervis, N. Y., and the name changed to the First National Bank, with a capital stock of $100.000. Mr. Everitt became its First Vice-President. In
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