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 81
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GEORGE A. GIBSON, foreman of the press department, Waterbury Mfg. Co., and treasurer of Waterbury, is a native of that city, born Dec. 23, 1868.
Cornelius Gibson, his father, was born in Lon- don, England, in 1822, a son of John Gibson, a merchant in that metropolis, where he passed all his days. Cornelius came to America when a young man, locating first in Hartford, Conn., where for many years he followed the trade of machinist, mov- ing from there to Wethersfield. In Hartford he married Catherine Fanning, who was born in Queen's County, Ireland, a daughter of John Fan- ning, who did not come to America. Seven chil- dren were born to this union, viz .: Charlotte mar- ried Dennis J. Gaynor, and they live in Bridge- port; Mary is a school teacher; Caroline is the widow of David Hayes, formerly a merchant in Waterbury; Sarah married Eugene O. Martin, of Waterbury, now a retired merchant; Ellen married Jolın H. Frain, of Waterbury; Cornelius, unmar- ried, is a mechanic in Waterbury; George A. is the subject of this sketch. The parents of this family died, the father in 1884, aged sixty-two years, the mother in February, 1894.
George 'A. Gibson attended the local schools of his native place until he was sixteen years old, at which time he went to work in the Waterbury Mfg. Co.'s works, where he has ever since continued, be- ing now foreman of the press department.
On Oct. 22, 1895, Mr. Gibson married Bridget Coogan, who was born in Pottsville, Penn., a daugh- ter of Patrick Coogan, a native of Ireland. She was organist in St. Patrick's Catholic Church some ten years, also leading soprano in the choir. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson are members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury. In politics he has always been an uncomprising Democrat ; in 1897 he was elected city treasurer, serving 1898-99, and was re-elected to the office in October of 1899. Socially he is a member of the Foresters of Amer- ica, and for four years was treasurer of that society. He is highly popular in the community in which he lives, and he bears a good record as a loyal and substantial citizen.
PETER J. CARNEY, the genial and popular host of the "Griswold House," and proprietor of the cafe in connection therewith, at Branford, is a native of the city which is profiting by his successful career, and was born Aug. 16, 1867. His parents, James and Margaret (Cusick) Carney, are natives respectively of County Tipperary and County Cavan, Ireland.
James Carney emigrated to this country about 1846, and established himself for a time in Middle- town, Conn., two years later removing to Branford, where his death occurred in 1899. The family fortunes are more fully narrated under the heading of Thomas P. Carney, whose sketch appears on an- j other page.
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Peter J. Carney was reared in Branford, and completed the high school course at the age of six- teen years. His initiation into self support was as an employe in the store room of the Branford Lock Works, where, at a later period, he worked as a lock fitter and brass trimmer. Long before the average youth has formulated political tendencies he had allied himself with the Democratic party, and in 1889, when only twenty-two years of age, he was made chairman of the Democratic town committee. In June, 1891, he was appointed deputy sheriff, a position which he held four years. Be- ginning with June, 1805, he was for two years a clerk in the office of the Branford Lock Works, and in 1897 engaged in the meat business, as a member of the firm of Bailey & Carney. At the end of a year this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Carney re- tiring from the firm to take up his present occupa- tion as host to the traveling public.
Nov. 16, 1892, Mr. Carney married Catherine. daughter of Joseph and Bridget ( Curtin ) Albinger, of Branford, and of this union there are three chil- dren, James J., Vera and Francis. Mr. Carney is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and is fra- ternally associated with the Knights of Columbus, the New England Order of Protection, and the Catholic Benevolent Association. He is a practical business man of unquestioned integrity, and is gifted with the requisite tact, good fellowship and op- timism for the successful conduct of his present calling.
GEORGE BARNES (deceased), for many years associated with the industrial world of Water- bury, was a man of more than usual strength of character, and in his youth enjoyed educational privileges of a high order. Born and reared in Litchfield, he had his training in the local schools. and when he went to Northfield, at the age of twen- ty-two, was well prepared to take up the work of public school teaching. This was his calling for a number of years, as it was also the work of his wife. They were married June:4, 1849, and became the parents of two children: Edwin D., who died at the age of four years; and Eva B., who lived only one year.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes lived at Northfield four years after their marriage, and then resided for short periods at several places. In 1859 they came to Waterbury, where they made their home until the death of Mr. Barnes, April 14, 1894. After com- ing to that city Mr. Barnes worked for the Scovill Manufacturing Co. several years, and then entered the store of E. T. Turner, his brother-in-law, the eminent dry-goods merchant, with whom he con- tinued for twenty-eight years. Mr. Barnes was a Republican, and, while never an aspirant for po- litical honors, was serving the city as alderman at the time of his death. A member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, he was highly re-
garded by the members of that fraternity. As a genial and courteous gentleman, and a true-hearted and generous man, he had many friends.
JOHN F. GALLAGHER, one of the most pro- gressive and enterprising citizens of Waterbury, now living on the Wolcott road, was born in the city of Hartford, Conn., Nov. 25, 1856, and is a son of John Gallagher, late of Waterbury. He was still quite young on the removal of the family from Hart- ford to Waterbury, and in the public schools of the latter place he acquired his early education. He be- gan his business career as a clerk in a store at Wat- erbury, where he continued until 1877, and then em- barked in the butcher business on a small scale. He has increased his business to meet the growing de- mands of his trade, and is now at the head of a large and prosperous concern. He is also a large land owner, and is extensively engaged in dairy farming and stock dealing.
Mr. Gallagher married Miss Anna Ferguson, of Waterbury, and to them was born a son, Frank, who was educated in the high schools of that town, and is now at home. The family have a fine home on the Wolcott road in Waterbury. Mr. Gallagher has traveled much in the South, and although his school privileges were meager he has through his own effort become a well informed man. He is progressive in his ideas, is a good judge of human nature. and possesses excellent business and execu- tive ability, which characteristics have been im- portant factors in his success, for he started out in life for himself with no capital, and the prosperity that has come to him is due to his own well-directed efforts. He takes a deep interest in agricultural . matters, and both he and his wife are active and prominent members of Mad River Grange. In politics he is independent, voting for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. He is a good citizen, honest and honorable in his dealings, and is well liked and highly respected.
WILLIAM N. LAD, for the past quarter ,of a century or so proprietor of one of the leading retail grocery stores in Waterbury, is a native of Con- necticut. born in South Windham, Dec. 24. 1852.
William Lad. grandfather of William N., was probably born in Franklin, Conn., where he was for vears in the grocery business, as was his father be- fore him. He died in the town of Windham in 1858. He married a Miss Peck, and of this union there were six children. as follows: William was a sailor : Fredus is the father of William L. : Alfred went to California in 1849, and died in Denver, Col .: Merrell died in Chicago, Ill., where he was in the insurance business: James was a dentist in Providence. R. I., and died there : Elizabeth married Waldo Bingham now a retired farmer of Windham. Windham Co., Connecticut.
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Fredus Lad, father of our subject, was born in : Trade. During the Civil war he organized a regi- Franklin, Windham Co., Conn., where he was reared | ment for the Union service. He is now living re- tired at Sachem's Head, Conn., but his wife, for- merly Catherine Daniels, of Hartford, died July 2, 1880. She was the mother of five children, of whom Emily, Clifford and James died in infancy. Of the surviving children, Leonard D. is engaged in the wholesale and retail grain business in Hart- ford, Conn. He married Jennie Judd, of that city, and they have two children, Leonard D. and Cath- erine.
and educated. After leaving school he worked in a hotel and grocery store, and thus gained prelim- inary experience in the business to which he devoted his mature energies. Later, in the grocery store of Eli Bros., in Norwich, he received the slight re- muneration of twelve and one-half cents per day. He and his brother, Merrell, furnished ties for the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill R. R., and for years he was in the employ of that company. In 1856 he came to Waterbury, where his death eventually occurred. He married Eliza M. Frink, who was born in South Windham, Conn., a member of an old family in that part of the State. For her second husband she wedded a Mr. Bingham, whose father served in the war of 1812. Mrs. Lad, who died in September, 1883, became the mother, through her first marriage, of the following chil- dren: Agnes, who died in 1856, at the age of ten years ; Gertrude, who also is deceased ; William N .; and Elizabeth, who died in 1874. The family in religious faith were Episcopalians; in politics the father was a Democrat.
William N. Lad was four years old when his parents came to Waterbury, and after attending the local schools, entered Watertown Academy when twelve years of age. His first business experience was acquired as a clerk in his father's grocery store, this training being supplemented by work for two years in a boot and shoe store in Waterbury. He then entered upon an independent grocery business, and, with the exception of twenty months in Water- town, he has been in the retail grocery business in Waterbury continuously for about twenty-five years. Nineteen of these years his store was on South Main street, two on Grand street, and the remainder of the time on Center street, where his present business is located.
In July, 1877, Mr. Lad was united in marriage with Harriet Lowe, who was born in Waterbury, a daughter of James Lowe, who was of Irish extrac- tion. Three children have been born of this union : William F., Gertrude H. and Clifford. The family attend the services of the Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Lad has always been a Democrat, and fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Men.
LOUIS A. FISK, who ranks among the promi- nent and successful young attorneys of Branford, comes of a family for generations connected with the professional and general stability of Connecti- cut.
Louis A. Fisk was born in Hartford, Conn., Nov. 14, 1873, and received his literary education in the Chicago public schools and under Prof. F. A. Honey, of New Haven, Conn. After three years of professional research in Chicago he graduated in 1897, and returning to New Haven, he entered upon what has proved a lucrative and growing prac- tice. In May, 1901, Mr. Fisk received substantial evidence of his popularity in his election on the Democratic ticket to the office of Warden of Bran- ford. In 1899 Mr. Fisk opened the Branford Driv- ing Park.
The marriage of Mr. Fisk and Ellen Lynch, of New Haven, occurred Dec. 28, 1898, and two chil- dren have been born of this union, Leonard D., born Nov. 8, 1899, died in October, 1900, and Marian Catherine, born Nov. 16, 1900.
GEORGE H. ENNIS, attorney at law, Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut.
MICHAEL E. JOHNSON, a leading liquor dealer and a prominent and influential citizen of Derby, Conn., was born in Scranton, Penn., Sept. 20, 1861, and is of Irish descent. His paternal grandfather, William Johnson, was a farmer of Ireland, where he spent his entire life. The father, William Johnson, Jr., father of Michael E., was born in County Mayo, and when sixteen years of age came to the New World and located in Scran- ton, Penn. At the age of twenty-four he began contracting and building, and followed that pursuit until the opening of the Civil war, in 1861, when he entered the Union army, and remained in the serv- ice until the cessation of hostilities in 1865. Re- turning home, he resumed his former occupation, and also conducted a lime kiln until his death in 1876, which resulted from a fall from a building. He married Jane Rhuan, also a native of County Mayo, Ireland, who died in 1888. Of the five chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, John died young ; William when last heard front was in the West on a ranch: Mary and Honora are both de- ceased ; and Michael E. completes the family.
His father, Eugene D. Fisk, was long famous in the State as an attorney, and distinguished himself Reared to manhood in Scranton, Penn., our sub- ject obtained his education in its public schools. In February, 1881, he came to Derby, Conn., where he has siree made his home. He worked in the office of Schull Brothers, coal dealers, for two both on the Bench and at the Bar. He was also prominent in political affairs, and was at one time chairman of the State Democratic Convention. For a number of years he was in business in Ch :- cago, where he was a member of the Board of j years, and during the following three years clerked
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
for Phillip . McEnerney, a :,n cer. . In 1889 he com- menced business on the east side for himself as a liquor dealer, and is now doing a large and profit- able wholesale and retail liquor business.
Mr. Johnson was married, in 1800, to Miss Mary E. Dockry, of Derby, a daughter of John Dockry, who was of Irish extraction and was one of the first aldermen of Derby. By this union were born five children, namely : Jennie M., John, Eliza- beth, Emma and Margaret.
As a Democrat Mr. Johnson has always taken an active part in local politics, and has been a mem- ber of the old town comn.ittee and was chairman of the city committee of Derby, in. 1896. He is now serving as alderman from the Third ward, and is proving a most popular and capable official. Soci- ally he is connected with the Foresters of America. He is a very active and prominent member of the Liquor Dealers' Association, and represented this State in the national convention of the Retail Liquor Dealers' Protective Association, at Cleveland, Ohio. He has also served as president of the City Liquor Dealers' Association for five consecutive years.
THOMAS J. COYLE, in the employ of the Waterbury Clock Co., Waterbury, is a native of Connecticut, born in Bridgeport Jan. 8, 1849.
John Coyle, father of Thomas J., was born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1816, and when but a lad his father, a farmer of that county, was taken from him by death. In 1836 he came to the United States, and for a time worked in Providence, R. I., removing in 1842 to Bridgeport, where for many years he ran a stationary engine, and where he is now retired, at the patriarchal age of eighty-four. In New York he married Catherine Reilly, born in County Longford, Ireland, a daughter of Patrick Reilly, who died in Bridgeport. Mrs. Jolin Coyle, who died in July of 1899, was the mother of eight children, as follows: Ann died in infancy : Ellen married John Foley, of Bridgeport, and died in 1871, at the age of twenty-seven years; Mary mar- ried Michael Frawley, of Bridgeport, and died in 1892; Thomas J. is next in the order of birth; John D .. ( Rev.) is pastor of St. Patrick's Church, New Haven; Catherine and Francis are deceased ; Rev. William H. attended St. Francis Xavier Col- lege, New York, and is a member of the Society of Jesus.
Thomas J. Coyle received his education in Bridgeport, where he learned the trade of ma- chinist, and followed the same until 1881. That year he removed to New York, and was similarly engaged for seven years, and in 1889 came to Water- bury and entered the employ of the Waterbury Clock Co., with whom he has since been connected. He married Julia A. O'Neil, who was born in Goshen, Conn., a daughter of John and Emily ( Hayden ) O'Neil, the former a native of Tipperary, Ireland, the latter of Litchfield, Conn. Seven chil- dren were born of this union, five of whom are de-
ceased, those living being William C. and Charles O'Neil. The entire family are members of St. Thomas Parish Catholic Church, Waterbury. So- cially Mr. Coyle is affiliated with the A. O. U. W .; in politics he is a Democrat, and at present is sert - ing on the board of assessors, having been elected thereto in 1898, and taking office in 1899. He is one of the solid men of the city, respected by all who know him.
NIELS RASMUSSEN, one of the most pro- gressive and successful agriculturists of Town Plot, Waterbury, was born on the Island of Laaland, Denmark, April 21, 1868, and is a son of Jens P. and Jensine (Jorgens) Rasmussen, of whom more extended mention is made in the sketch of Hans Rasmussen on another page of this volume.
Mr. Rasmussen was educated in the schools of his native land and was thirteen years of age when he accompanied the family on their emigration to America, locating in the town of Waterbury, New Haven Co., Conn. He found employment with the American Ring Co. at fifty cents per day, and re- mained with them one year, after which he worked six months for the firm of Chapman & Armstrong. During the following two years he was employed on the farm of his brother, Hans Rasmussen, and brother-in-law, R. P. Peterson, in Town Plot, and later spent three years in Iowa, Minnesota and other Northwestern States, where he thoroughly learned the art of butter making. On his return to Water- bury he obtained the position of foreman on Mrs. Hilman's farm for four years, and then purchased the stock and farming implements and rented the farın, which he has since successfully operated. It is one of the finest farms on the Town Plot, con- sisting of 165 acres under a high state of cultiva- tion, and with all modern appliances for labor sav- ing. Mr. Rasmussen keeps thirty-five cows and eight horses, and is carrying on dairy farming with marked success. He is an enterprising, energetic and reliable young man, to which laudable char- acteristics may be attributed his success in life. Fraternally he is a member of the Mad River Grange, and politically is identified with the Re- publican party.
THOMAS C. LANE, well and favorably known in Waterbury, is a native of Maine, born in Portland July 4, 1858, a son of Marcus D. Lane, and a grandson of Capt. John Lane, who was a lumberman and extensive real-estate owner in Hollis, Maine. The family is of Scotch-Irish de- scent.
Marcus D. Lane was born in 1823, in Hollis, Maine, where he attended school, subsequently taking a course at Dartmouth College, graduating with the class of '49. He then studied law, and for some time practiced at Standish and Portland. Maine, in which latter city he was at one time judge of the police court. He held two commissions un-
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der President Lincoln, was State senator three years, and was also judge of the supreme court for a year , his death occurring at the expira- tion of this service, in 1872. An aggressive Repub- lican, he was a power in politics, and fraternally was a Freemason of high degree, and a master of the lodge. In religious faith he was a member of St. Stephen's Church in Portland, of which he was a vestryman. He married Elizabeth T. H. Chad- bourne, a native of Maine, and of this union there have been born two children: Dr. George Lane, who is practicing medicine in New York City; and Thomas C.
Thomas C. Lane passed his boyhood in Standish and Portland, Maine, attending a seminary in the former and a grammar school in the latter town. In 1872, on the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Brunswick, Maine, where he gradu- ated from the high school with the class of '76; then entered Dartmouth College, class of '82, for the Freshman year, afterward entering Bowdoin College, same class, and leaving at the end of the Junior year. Mr. Lane then went to Boston, where he was in the employ of B. J. Dennison about two years, and then traveled considerably through the West. For four years he was in a wholesale jewelry establishment in Kansas City, then, after a year spent in the South, he returned to Portland, Maine, and for some time continued in the jewelry business in that city. We next find him in New York City, again representing a jewelry house "on the road" until coming to Waterbury, Aug. 8, 1891.
July 17, 1890, Mr. Lane married Jennie C. White, a daughter of Leroy S. White, of Water- bury, and three children have been born to them: Elizabeth C., Edith D. and Helen. Socially our subject is a member of the following organizations : Continental Lodge, F. & A. M., and Eureka Chap- ter, No. 22; Continental Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Com- stock Lodge, No. 13, K. of P .; Tunxis Tribe, Order of Red Men ; Ancient Order United Workmen, No. 52, and others.
Mr. Lane has been identified with the politics of Waterbury ever since taking up his residence in the city. In 1892-93 he was chairman of the Second Ward committee; was secretary of the Town com- mittee two years; in 1897 was elected assessor of Waterbury, and was elected clerk of the board, which incumbency he still most acceptably fills. He has made many improvements in the municipal offices, established regular office hours and definite systems of procedure, and it is but fair to say that the city of Waterbury is indebted for much of its municipal prestige to his substantial efforts in its behalf.
AXEL R. ENGQUIST, a successful plumber of Branford, and who, in addition, has built up a paying hardware business, was born in Gutlin'sig. Sweden, Jan. 26, 1862, and is a son of Otto Witham and Christina W. Engquist.
Mr. Engquist received the practical early train- ing and education afforded the average Swedish youth, and at the early age of thirteen was appren- ticed to the plumber's trade for five years, having completed which he became a journeyman plumber. For two years also he was employed in Guthen- berg, and in 1881 came to America in search of a larger and more remunerative field of effort. For some years he led somewhat of a roving career in Connecticut, his first year being spent at North Gross Vanordale, and his second at Putnam. Four and a half years he was at Norwich in the employ of the Richmond Stove Company, and for short periods was in Providence, R. I., New York City and New Haven.
Mr. Engquist located in Branford in 1889, and during the first year of his residence in this city he was in the employ of W. F. Corcoran, and in 1890 set up in business for himself. His thorough knowl- edge of his craft, his honest work and his fair and candid treatment of his patrons, together with his kindly and courteous disposition, have won him inany friends and gratifying financial returns.
Jan. 30, 1885, Mr. Engquist married Hilda F., the daughter of Michael and Fredrica (Weiland) Youngburg, of Guthenberg, Sweden. Six children have been born of this union : Otis William; Ar- thur : Laura : Roy; Irene; and Rosevelt.
Mr. Engquist is a member of Widows' Sons' Lodge, No. 66, F. & A. M., Woodlawn Lodge, No. 39, K. of P., and the New England Order of Pro- tection. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Republican.
FRANK L. MARTIN, prominent in the real- estate business of Waterbury, is a native of that city, born Dec. 25, 1861, and is of Irish descent.
Thomas L. Martin, father of Frank L., was born in Ireland, whence when eighteen years of age he came to the United States, settling in Water- bury, where he followed the business of contractor. He was associated with some of the most ambitious earlier building projects, of the town, and to his skill of construction was due the first reservoir of the city. He married Catherine McCarr, also a na- tive of Ireland, and a family of five children were born to them: Thomas, James, Eugene, Frank L., and Mary. Of these, Thomas is a physician in Bridgeport, Conn .; James and Eugene are in the real-estate business in Waterbury; and Mary died at the age of three years. The parents of this fam- ily of children died in Waterbury, the father in March, 1886, and the mother in September, 1888.
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