USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 22
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Mr. Byington married Mary E. Ruscoe, daughter of James Ruscoe, of Vista, New York, and they attended the Methodist Episcopal church ; both sang in the choir, Mrs. Byington, contralto. and Mr. By- ington, tenor. Their children were: C. Irving, of further mention ; and Elizabeth.
C. Irving Byington, son of Aaron and Mary E. (Ruscoe) Byington, was born in Vista, New York, April 17, 1865, and received his education in the public schools of Norwalk. He learned the trade of hatter, which he followed for twenty years, then resigned, in 1903, to accept a position as messenger between New York City and Norwalk. A profitable business was developed, and Mr. Byington contin- ued thus engaged until 1917. It was about this time that they began to build the sewers in Norwalk, and he was offered an inspector's position, which he accepted, and before the work was finished the con- tractor asked Mr. Byington to take over the uncompleted portion of the contract and complete the sewers and the building of the catch-basins. This was the begin- ning of Mr. Byington's contracting work, which he has since continued and in which he has been very successful. On an average his contracts keep twenty men busy, and through his business-like quali- ties and attention to the details he has won an esteemed place among his fellow- citizens.
Mr. Byington is a Republican in poli- tics, and for four years has been a regis- trar of voters. He is a member of the City and Town Republican committees. His fraternal affiliations are with the fol- lowing: Our Brothers Lodge, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, Kabaosa Encampment ; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he has been ex- alted ruler two different times, and is a member of the Past Exalted Rulers Asso- ciation of Connecticut. He is an ex-fire
chief of the Norwalk Volunteer Fire Department, and is a member of the Veterans' Association, and the Fire Chiefs' Club of Connecticut. Mr. By- ington is a trustee of the Norwalk Club, of which he was vice-president in 1920, and president in 1921, and he has been a member of the board of directors for seven or eight years. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Norwalk.
Mr. Byington married Emma Dann, of Norwalk, and they were the parents of six children : 1. Edna L. 2. Carleton M., who married Pearl Grumman, and has a son, Charles Norman. 3. Floyd Thomas, who was in the United States army for five years before this country went into the World War. He was top sergeant at the time, and was sent across as first lieu- tenant in the 325th Labor Battalion. Lieutenant Byington was overseas for nearly two years. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, with membership in the blue lodge and consistory in Washington, D. C. 4. Russell Irving, who served in the 17th Field Artillery, and went through seven of the big battles. He suffered two severe gas burns, and for several months was stationed at Fort Ehrenbreitstein. 5. Merton Morehouse, married Marion Case, and has two children : Beatrice Lou- ise, and Benjamin Irving. 6. Donald Aaron. Mr. and Mrs. Byington attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years Mr. Byington has sung in church quartets, glee clubs, etc. It is very natural that he should inherit musi- cal talent from his parents, who were both singers. Mr. Byington has a tenor voice.
HOOKER, Henry,
Sales Manager.
In every biographical record there are many pages which lead the reader far back into the past and link the activities
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of the present day with those formative influences --- those progressive impulses- of which our civilization is the product. New England will never lose interest in the name of Hooker, and the city of Stam- ford, Connecticut, is one of a group of New England cities where the name still holds prominence. Henry Hooker, sales manager of the Remington Oil Engine Company, is a direct descendant of the founder of this family in America.
(I) Rev. Thomas Hooker, son of John Hooker, of Devonshire, England, was one of .the earliest settlers of Connecticut, one of the founders of Hartford, and pas- tor of the First Church. He was born July 7, 1586, at Marfield, Leicester, Eng- land, and was remarkable throughout his career as a leader among men. He en- joyed superior educational advantages for his time, becoming a fellow of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and acquitted him- self with such ability and fidelity as to secure universal respect and admiration. While filling this office the young man became deeply interested in religious mat- ters and frequently preached at Cam- bridge, also, for a considerable period, in London and vicinity. In 1626 he became a lecturer and assistant to the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, at Chelmsford. Here his hear- ers often included noblemen and individ- uals of high standing in English society. It was his custom once a year to visit his native county, and he was once asked to preach in the great church at Leicester. The invitation greatly incensed one of the chief burgesses of the town, but he was unable to prevent it, and during the prog- ress of the service kept fiddlers playing in the church yard. Such was the power of the young preacher that he held command of his audience, and before he ceased speaking even the last fiddler stood in the door listening to his words, and it is recorded that a fiddler's conversion fol- lowed.
In 1630 a Spiritual Court, which held its sessions at Chelmsford, silenced Mr. Hooker for nonconformity. Although he was in accord with the doctrines of the English church, he felt conscientious scruples against certain forms of wor- ship, which he refused to practice, and on this ground he was forbidden to minister to the people. He continued, however, to live near Chelmsford, and was employed in teaching school at Little Braddow, John Eliot, afterwards the famous "In- dian Apostle," living with his family as an usher. A petition signed by forty-seven ministers of the Established Church was sent to the Spiritual Court asking to have Mr. Hooker reëstablished, but it was dis- regarded. After a short residence in re- tirement at the home of his friend, the Earl of Warwick, Mr. Hooker determined to seek a home in Holland. Having set a watch, his persecutors learned his movements, and followed him to the shore, but found the ship had sailed. Mr. Hooker remained in Holland for three years, and was first employed as an as- sistant to Mr. Paget, at Amsterdam, then, removing to Delft, was associated with Rev. Mr. Forbes, a Scotch minister. Two years later he accepted a call to Rot- terdam to assist Rev. Dr. William Ames. The latter is said to have remarked that he never met a man equal to Mr. Hooker as a preacher or a learned disputant.
Having decided to cast his fortunes with the struggling immigrants of New England, Mr. Hooker first visited his native land, but found his enemies still active, and was obliged to live in conceal- ment during his stay. About the middle of July, 1633, he left England in the ship "Griffin," but previous to the departure of the vessel he remained concealed on board to escape his enemies. On Septem- ber 4, 1633, he arrived in Boston. He was warmly welcomed by kindred spirits there, and on October II, following, was
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chosen pastor of the church at Cambridge. After two and one half years of very suc- cessful labor there, he joined the company which settled at Hartford, Con- necticut, in 1636. From that time on he was identified with nearly all the im- portant public movements of the colony. He was one of the moderators of the first New England Synod, held at Cambridge, to pass on the case of the celebrated Anne Hutchinson. He published many books and sermons during the last ten years of his life. He died in Hartford, July 7, 1647. He married, according to tradi- tion, a sister of John Pyn, an intimate friend.
(II) Rev. Samuel Hooker, youngest child of Rev. Thomas Hooker, was born in 1633. He early made his father's life work his own choice, and was educated at Harvard College, being graduated in 1663. He succeeded Rev. Roger Newton, his brother-in-law, and was second pastor of the church at Farmington, Connecticut, where he was ordained in July, 1661. He served on a committee of four, in 1662, to treat with the New Haven Colony with reference to the proposed union with Con- necticut under one Colonial government. All of the descendants of Rev. Thomas Hooker, bearing the same surname, are also his descendants. He was a fellow of Harvard, and on account of his earnest- ness and piety was called the "fervent Hooker." He made a habit of committing his sermons to memory, and was a power- ful and effective preacher. He died in Farmington, November 6, 1697. He mar- ried, September 22, 1658, Mary Willett, born May 4, 1643, in Plymouth, daugh- ter of Captain Thomas and Mary (Brown) Willett, of that part of Swanzey, Massachusetts, which was afterwards Seekonk, Rhode Island. After his death, she married (second) August 10, 1703,
Rev. Thomas Buckingham, of Saybrook, Connecticut.
(III) John Hooker, fourth son of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Willett) Hooker, was born February 20, 1665, in Farmington, where he remained throughout his life- time. He was an eminent and useful citi- zen, and a man loved and honored by his household and among his neighbors and friends. From 1699 to 1723 he repre- sented Farmington in the General Court, serving three sessions as clerk of the House, and six as speaker. For the suc- ceeding eleven years he was assistant of the Province, and during eight years of that time judge of the Superior Court. He died February 1, 1747. He married, November 24, 1687, Abigail Stanley, born July 25, 1669, died February 21, 1743, daughter of Captain John and Anna (Scott) Stanley.
(IV) John (2) Hooker, second son of John (1) and Abigail (Stanley) Hooker, was born March 6, 1696, in Farmington. He was an active business man of that town, where he served long as justice of the peace, throwing his influence on the side of right and progress in every ques- tion involving the public good. He died at Kensington, Connecticut, August 3, 1766. He married, July 4, 1728, Mercy (Mary) Hart, born September 29, 1703, in Kensington, where she died, in 1782. She was a daughter of Deacon Thomas and Mary (Thompson) Hart.
(V) Elijah Hooker, son of John (2) and Mercy (Mary) (Hart) Hooker, was born April 12, 1746, and died September 27, 1823. He married, August 26, 1767, Susanna (Judd) Seymour, widow of Sam- uel Seymour, born October 21, 1748, died December 20, 1832.
(VI) Saxa Hooker, son of Elijah and Susanna (Judd-Seymour) Hooker, was born in Kensington, February 10, 1774, and died February 19, 1857, spending the
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greater part of his life in the immediate vicinity. He married, on January 23, 1799, Clarissa Stocking, of Berlin, Con- necticut.
(VII) Henry Hooker, grandfather of Henry (2) Hooker, of Stamford, and son of Saxa and Clarissa (Stocking) Hooker, was the founder of the carriage business in New Haven, which was established in 1830, under the firm name of Henry Hooker & Company. There was no city in the Union which had then attained the reputation enjoyed by New Haven for the excellence of carriage building and the manufacture of other vehicles. These ranged from the light buggy to the state- liest coach. For many years this was New Haven's most important industry. Mr. Hooker was the head of the firm dur- ing his lifetime, and made his home in
New Haven, spending the s summer months at the old homestead in Kensing- ton. He was considered one of the lead- ing business men of the city ; the factory was one of the largest of its kind, and was well and favorably known. He mar- ried, September 16, 1840, Charlotte Lum, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Lum) Lum, of Oxford, Connecticut, born May 21, 1821.
(VIII) Norman Albert Hooker, son of Henry and Charlotte (Lum) Hooker, was born in New Haven, August 17, 1847. He was educated at the Mount Pleasant Mil- itary Academy, at Sing Sing, New York. After completing his course he returned to New Haven and there became associ- ated with his father in business. As time passed he became more and more a mov- ing force in the business, and when his father died he was elected secretary of the company, and subsequently vice-presi- dent. After becoming thoroughly famil- iar with the business, he went to New Orleans to take care of the company's branch house in that city ; this was pre-
vious to the Civil War. After peace was declared, the Southern trade decreased so sharply that it was no longer profitable, and Mr. Hooker returned North, where he continued his interest in the business until shortly before his death. After his retirement he lived at the old homestead in Kensington, which had always re- mained in the family. Mr. Hooker was for many years a director of the Traut & Hine Manufacturing Company, of New Britain. He married, in 1869, Anna New- ton, born January 28, 1853, daughter of Erastus and Caroline (Zeiley) Newton. Mr. Newton was a prominent lawyer of Lockport, New York.
(IX) Henry (2) Hooker, of Stamford, Connecticut, son of Norman Albert and Anna (Newton) Hooker, was born in New Haven, October 2, 1871. He re- ceived his early education in that city, then followed a course at Mount Pleasant Military Academy. Returning to New Haven, he entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. This equip- ment, together with his native business ability, he took into the carriage business, where he was associated with his father until about eight years ago.
By this time the automobile had so defi- nitely superseded the horse and carriage that the old line of business held no in- terest for a man of Mr. Hooker's type. Plunging into one of the vital interests of the day, Mr. Hooker became associated with the Remington Oil Engine Com- pany, of Stamford. This firm was organ- ized in 1895, and manufactures an internal combustion engine, using kerosene and the lower grade oils for fuel. It is one of the few engines which are successfully combating the constantly increasing dif- ficulties of power production through the use of coal and gasoline. The Remington
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engines are built largely for marine power and for use in the industries. They not only have an extensive sale in this coun- try, but are shipped all over the world. Mr. Hooker has always been connected with the selling end of the business, where he has been unusually successful, for he is essentially a man of action, with a keen sense of values, and a broad grasp of con- ditions.
In his recreations Mr. Hooker is an out- door man, delighting in active sports and the freedom of wide spaces. He enjoys nothing better than long jaunts with rod and gun. He cares little for the formali- ties of social life, but is widely interested in every public movement of the day, and is closely identified with his University fraternity, Theta Delta Chi.
Mr. Hooker married Jean Chalmers, daughter of William Chalmers, of Nor- walk, Connecticut. Her parents were born in Scotland. There is one daughter, Nancy, born January 19, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker are members of the Epis- copal church at Riverside, and actively in- terested in all the uplift work of the church.
Mr. Hooker is such a man as the com- munity needs, and while he is far from being a politician, he is fearless in his at- titude on public questions, and puts all the force of his personality into his public duties when need arises. For some time he served on the staff of Governor Cham- berlain.
RYLE, John Joseph, Physician, Public Official.
From the very earliest time man has en- deavored to preserve his genealogy, and as one writer has aptly said, "A man is a quotation from his ancestors," it be- comes more necessary to know who they were. De Courcey tells us that all Irish
surnames with the prefix "O" and "Mc" signify descent from the Milesians, and we find many names which originally car- ried this prefix are now written without it. Among these is Ryle, which was O'Reilly, and in the Gaelic was spelled O'Ragheallaigh, O'Radheollaigh, signify- ing learned or skillful. There were many men prominent in the early history of Ireland who bore this name, among them being : Count Alexander O'Reilly, a Span- ish general, born in 1722; Edward O'Reilly, the author and compiler of the Irish-English dictionary; and Hugh O'Reilly, who was master in chancery and clerk of the council under James II. In 1693 this Hugh O'Reilly published "Ire- land's Case Briefly Stated." According to O'Donavan, Colonel John O'Reilly was the first to drop the prefix, "O."
John J. Ryle, scion of this name, was born in Darien, Connecticut, January 21, 1872, son of John and Elizabeth (Flah- erty) Ryle. John Ryle, his father, was born in Ballyduff, County Kerry, Ireland, and died in March, 1914, aged seventy- six years. While yet in his teens, he went from there to Australia, and was in the gold mines a year or two and thence went to California. In California Mr. Ryle engaged in the hotel business, and after the Civil War, came East, settling in Stamford, Connecticut, where his broth- ers had already settled. There he en- gaged in farming, removing to Sound Beach, where he had a farm which was divided into three parcels of land. At that time the desirability of Sound Beach as a residence location was not heard of, and Mr. Ryle disposed of his property there in order to acquire a farm in the Roxbury district of Stamford, where he lived until his death. His father, John Ryle, came with his wife in their late years to Stamford, and their declining years were made comfortable. The elder
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John Ryle lived to be one hundred and three years old. The son, John, married Elizabeth Flaherty, daugher of Martin Flaherty. She was a native of the same part of Ireland, and had been raised on a farm adjoining that of her husband. She came to America and settled in California, where they met and were married at Vallejo. Mrs. Ryle also was a descendant of the Milesians. Her name was origi- nally O'Falithbhearthaigh; O'Flathery ; O'Flahertie, signifying Wealthy Lord. Mr. and Mrs. Ryle were the parents of four children : John J., of further men- tion ; Martin, deceased; Michael, a resi- dent of Norwalk; Mary, wife of Thomas Horan, of Stamford.
John J. Ryle, eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Flaherty) Ryle, was but an infant when his parents removed to Sound Beach. He attended the public schools there and in Stamford. Subsequently he entered St. Charles' College, Ellicott City, near Baltimore, and thence went to Villa- nova College, near Philadelphia. He graduated from the latter institution in 1893 with a B. S. degree, and after a year of post-graduate work, received a B. A. degree. He then attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, and from there went to the University of Buffalo, graduating in 1897 with the degree of M. D. Before engag- ing in practice, he returned to the Balti- more City Hospital for a short period. Dr. Ryle located in New Haven in the first years of his practice, removing in 1901 to Stamford, where he has since been engaged, and during these years has suc- ceeded in building up a clientele that many an older physician might envy. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens and frequently steps out of his medical world to take an active part in affairs. He is an Independent Demo-
crat, and has served as councilman of the Second Ward, and is now (1920) serving his third term as a member of the Board of Finance. Dr. Ryle's practice is a gen- eral one, and he is also a member of the Stamford Hospital staff.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, of which he is past grand knight; member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Fraternal Or- der of Eagles, of which he is also attend- ing physician; Improved Order of Red Men ; Foresters of America ; and a mem- ber of City, County and State Medical associations. His clubs are the Stamford Yacht and the Suburban of Stamford.
Dr. Ryle married Anna Graham, daugh- ter of Thomas Graham of Stamford, originally of New York City, and they are the parents of two daughters: Anna, and Marie Ryle.
COLE, Ralph Raymond,
Manufacturer.
In the grasp of the industrial life of a city we find many of the ablest and most representative men. They are, invariably, men who have quarried their own way to the top by their own merits. The story of the life of Ralph Raymond Cole, pres- ident of the Cole-Roscoe Manufacturing Company, of South Norwalk, places him among those men above referred to. He is a man of sound principle and singleness of purpose, and is an admirable example of what ambition and determination may do.
Ralph R. Cole was born in New York City, September 22, 1879, son of John Hanan Cole. His boyhood was spent in New Canaan, Connecticut, and there he attended the public schools. There was an industry in that town which manu-
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factured wire cloth, and Mr. Cole entered the employ of this company soon after completing his studies. He went into this work with the dominant thought in his mind that he was going to master the business to the smallest details. There was a similar business in Southport, and Mr. Cole also worked in the factory there for a time. He is a man of quick per- ception and of sound judgment, and it was not long before his ability com- mended him to his superiors and his progress was rapid.
About 1914, Mr. Cole went into busi- ness on his own account, and at the same time the corporation of which he is now president, the Cole-Roscoe Manufactur- ing Company, was organized. From the outset they have been remarkably suc- cessful, and a large amount of credit is due to the efficient administration of Mr. Cole. The product manufactured is a fine mesh wire cloth, and this is sold direct to manufacturers of goods into which wire cloth enters. A large export trade has been developed, and previous to the World War the line manufactured by Mr. Cole was imported from Germany. An average of thirty people are employed.
The demands of his business have been so confining that Mr. Cole has not had much opportunity to enter actively into the social and civic life of South Norwalk. However, he has the interest of his com- munity at heart, as does every good cit- izen, and is willing to be of assistance insofar as he is able. In politics he is a Republican, and his allegiance is given to that party. He is a member of Poquon- ock Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Mr. Cole married Barbara Dietzko, and they are the parents of a son, Ralph Ste- phen, born September 4, 1904, and of a daughter, Rosalie Louise, born January, 1906.
Conn-9-11
PALMER, Millard Kossuith,
Oyster Planter.
As one of the substantial retired busi- ness men of his community, Mr. Palmer stands in need of no introduction to his friends and neighbors of Sound Beach, nor to his fellow-citizens of southern Con- necticut. Mr. Palmer is the owner of a large amount of real estate, and can al- ways be counted on to do his part in any movement having for its object the fur- therance of the welfare and prosperity of his home town.
The name Palmer signifies a "palm- bearing pilgrim" (from Palestine), and this meaning, which obviously dates from the period of the Crusades, furnishes in- dubitable proof of its ancient origin.
(I) William Palmer, the first of the family in Fairfield county, Connecticut, settled in Greenwich township, finding employment on a boat running between Mianus and New York, and also to points on the Hudson river. His wife, whom he married in New York, was of Mianus, where they lived with the exception of a short time spent in Newburgh, New York.
(II) William (2) Palmer, son of Wil- liam (1) Palmer, was born in Greenwich township, Connecticut. He was a cooper and shoemaker. Politically he was a Democrat. He married Elizabeth Ferris, born in Greenwich township, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Marshall) Ferris. William Palmer, at the time of his death, was beyond eighty years of age, and his wife survived until she had passed her ninety-second birthday.
(III) Isaac B. Palmer, son of William (2) and Elizabeth (Ferris) Palmer, was born July 15, 1820, in Greenwich town- ship, Connecticut, where he engaged in the oyster business. In 1861, that being the first year of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-eighth Regiment,
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Connecticut Volunteers, for a term of nine months, and served thirteen, reën- listing in the Sixth Connecticut Regiment. While in the latter command he was taken prisoner and spent ten and a half months in captivity. At the time of his capture he weighed from one hundred and forty-five to one hundred and fifty pounds, but when released his weight had been so reduced by privation as not to exceed ninety pounds. On his return home he again engaged in the oyster bus- iness. In politics he was first a Democrat, but later became a Republican. He mar- ried Armenia Jones, born in 1829, in Poundridge, daughter of Ebenezer and Maria (Dixon) Jones. Mr. Palmer died in December, 1888.
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