USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 10 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
family attended the Congregational church of that place.
(III) Merrick Henry Cooley, son of Calvin Sumner and Harriet (Robbins) Cooley, was educated in the public schools of Chicopee and Ludlow, the family hav- ing moved to Ludlow when he was thir- teen years old. At the age of twelve years, he went to work on a farm and followed that occupation for the next fourteen years. He attended a private school winter seasons until he was eighteen years old. When he was twenty-six years old, Mr. Cooley went to work for the Cut- ler Company, grain millers in North Wil- braham, and has been identified with them since that time. It was in 1884 that he went to work for them, and he was in their Wilbraham mill for thirteen years. In 1897, the firm sent Mr. Cooley to West- port, Connecticut, where they had a con- trolling interest in the Atlantic Starch Works. He took charge of this plant and continued in this position until the starch works were closed, April 1, 1918. The principal product was wheat starch and was sold to jobbers, the product being used mostly in print mills, bleacheries and so forth, and they employed about twenty- five men. During the latter years before the plant was shut down, they also catered somewhat to laundries.
(II) Calvin Sumner Cooley, son of Sumner and Caroline (Munger) Cooley, was born July 24, 1831, and died in Feb- ruary, 1879, in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Nearly all his life was spent in Chicopee except for a few of his later years. He was a farmer. He served in Company D, Thirty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts When Mr. Cooley came to Westport, he felt the handicap of insufficient technical training, and he began to fit himself for any demands that might be made upon him by taking a course in mechanical drawing by mail. This was followed by a course in mechanical engineering. This theoretical study, coupled with his ex- tensive practical experience and a natural bent for things mechanical, gave him a splendid equipment for work along mech- anical engineering lines, and it was not long before his special abilities were rec- Volunteer Infantry. He was a teamster, but was enlisted and rated as a "wagoner" and served thirty-five months. Mr. Cooley married Harriet Robbins, a native of that part of Springfield known as "16 Acres." Of their children the following grew to maturity: Lucy V., wife of Charles White, and a resident of Ludlow ; Merrick Henry, of further mention; George E., of Springfield ; Carrie, married V. A. Shaw, of Springfield ; Edward, de- ceased, unmarried ; Amy, married M. Fos- kitt. While residents of Ludlow, the ognized and work began to come to him.
191
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
He was appointed one of the building commission having in charge the erection of the new cement bridge over the Sau- gatuck river on State street. Mr. Cooley had charge of the physical work and he made a study of similar bridges.
Mr. Cooley is an Independent Repub- lican in political matters, and served a term as selectman of the town of West- port; he has served as tax collector of the Fire District since 1904. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 65, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a past master of Newton Lodge, Wilbra- ham, where he was raised; he is also a member of the Past Masters Association of Fairfield County.
Mr. Cooley married Isabelle Alden, daughter of Orsemus and Eliza Ann (Lemon) Alden, of Ludlow, Massachu- setts, a descendant of an early Colonial family. With his wife Mr. Cooley at- tends the Saugatuck Congregational Church, of which he has been treasurer for many years.
AHLSTROM, Carl F., Jr., Lace Manufacturer.
One of the prominent young business men of Norwalk, Carl F. Ahlstrom, Jr., has attained well deserved success. He was born November 6, 1889, in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Carl F. and Cath- erine (White) Ahlstrom.
His father, Carl F. Ahlstrom, Sr., was born in New York City, in 1869, and was educated in the public schools. Soon after that time he became identified with Hoe & Company, the celebrated printing press manufacturers, and was with this company for many years. Subsequently Mr. Ahlstrom was with the manufactur- ers of Whitlock presses in Derby, Connec- ticut, and was president of the Whitlock
Press Company for many years. Mr. Ahlstrom organized a company to take over the Whitlock and Potter Printing Press companies under the firm name of the Premier & Potter Press Company. The manufacturing plant is in Derby, and the business offices in New York City Since the time of its organization, Mr. Ahlstrom has served as its president and is remarkably well fitted for his position on account of his wide experience in the business. He is also vice-president of the American La Dentelle, Incorporated, an office which he has held since the organ- ization of the latter corporation. Mr. Ahlstrom married Catherine White, daughter of John J. White, of New York City. They were the parents of two chil- dren: Carl F., of further mention ; and William J., of New York City.
Carl F. Ahlstrom, Jr., was educated in Dr. Holbrook's school in Ossining, New York, and was graduated from Williams College in 1910 with the degree of B. A. For the five years following, Mr. Ahl- strom was associated with his father in the printing press business, and during these years he traveled on the road as a salesman. In 1914 the American La Den- telle, Incorporated, was organized, and since the following year, 1915, Mr. Ahl- strom has held the office of secretary of this corporation. The product is Cluny laces. Mr. Ahlstrom is a member of the college fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, and while at college was manager of the track team and a member of the golf team, also the class base ball team, and Gargoyle, the senior honorary society.
Mr. Ahlstrom married Marian Dilling- ham, daughter of Isaac Dillingham, of Auburndale, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of two sons : Carl F., 3d, born March 12, 1912; John, born December 26, 1917.
192
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
MURPHY, Daniel Thomas,
Mail Order Merchant.
For many years the seat of the Murphy family was in County Wexford, Ireland. It is one of the oldest families in Irish history, and the surname is one of the most numerous in the country. The name itself is the anglicized form of McMor- ough, and, as above stated, the original seat was in the barony of Ballaghkeene (meaning in Irish, pleasant roadway), in the easterly part of the County of Wex- ford, at Castle Ellis and Ouleartleagh (in Irish, grey orchard). The county of the Murphy family is still called Murroes. The family belonged to the tribe of Hy- Felimy, and Murphy, Murrough, and Morin are anglicized forms of the name of the original ancestor. MacMurcatha, written also O'Murchada and O'Murchu, are original forms of the name. In Irish Murcatha means a sea battle, and Mur- chu, a sea warrior. Dermot McMorough, born in 1090, was King of Leinster many years, and another famous man bearing the name of Art McMurrough, born in 1357. The latter was particularly noted for his chivalry and general good quali- ties. The records show many celebrated men of this family, and in public affairs and professional matters, men bearing the name are found in prominent places.
Daniel Thomas Murphy was born Feb- ruary 24, 1865, in Norwich, Connecticut, and died in Norwalk, February 24, 1917. He was a scion of the distinguished fam- ily whose early history is given in the preceding paragraph. He was a son of Patrick and Mary (Donahue) Murphy, natives of Ireland. They were married before coming to America, and settled in Norwich, where Mr. Murphy was a farmer. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom were born in Nor-
wich, and seven of these children are now living.
Daniel T. Murphy was educated in the public schools of Norwich, and as a young man came to Norwalk, where he entered the employ of the Lockwood Manufac- turing Company, remaining about seven years. Subsequently, he entered the em- ploy of the Davenport & Tracy Company, manufacturers of piano hardware, in Stamford. Mr. Murphy was in charge of their nickel-plating department under contract. In 1898 the Klondike gold fever was raging and Mr. Murphy went there as president of a syndicate of thirty-five . men, incorporated under the name of the Connecticut Alaska Trading and Mining Company. He remained there about a year and in that short space of time lost the savings of a lifetime of thrift and in- dustry. But the indomitable pluck which he had in the face of adverse circum- stance came to his aid, and undaunted, he returned home, retrenched his domes- tic expenses, and began to look for an- other opportunity to retrieve his fortune. His family coöperated with him and gave him their loyal support, thus giving him courage and hope to succeed. An oppor- tunity to enter the mail order business presented itself, and although possessing no knowledge of this business, Mr. Mur- phy was not restrained. Having decided to handle a line of toys and novelties, he began to mail catalogues from a small room in his home. For the first week his returns amounted to seven dollars and a half, and from this beginning the business grew until it was necessary to move his business quarters to the attic of his home. In a short time he outgrew those accom- modations, and selling his horse in order to make room, he removed the business to his barn.
The business had now developed to
Conn-9-13
193
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the point where Mr. Murphy deemed it advisable to do his own printing. Accord- ingly, he installed a printing press in the barn, and his daughter, Miss Julianna, became the press feeder. In two years' time the business had outgrown the barn and it was removed to a building owned by Mr. Murphy at No. 205 Washington street, in South Norwalk, where he began the manufacture of toys. It was a long, hard struggle, but the power to solve his problems was within him and he was equal to every exigency. In 1915 Mr. Murphy started a seed department, and although his death occurred two years later, he lived to see his modest venture grow to be an industry giving employ- ment to fifty people. Since his death his daughter, who in the early days tended to the feeding of the printing press, has capably carried on the business. The whole country is reached through an ex- tensive advertising campaign in many periodicals, and one hundred fifty thou- sand dollars worth of merchandise is handled yearly.
Mr. Murphy was a man who rose to every opportunity for advancement. He looked far ahead, down the vista of achievement, and through his foresight and alert action permitted nothing to bar his progress; he was a successful man, and his success was well deserved. Mr. Murphy was a charter member of Court Mahackemo, No. 33, Foresters of America.
Mr. Murphy married (first) Catherine Shanley, and of their three children, two are now living. I. Julianna, wife of Ed- ward R. Von Castelberg, a native of London, England. 2. Catherine E., wife of James A. Greene. Mrs. Murphy died in 1895, at the age of twenty-eight, and Mr. Murphy married (second) Helen L. Leonard, of Stamford, and by this mar- riage there were two sons: James K., and Leonard E., of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
SHERWOOD, Arthur,
Business Man.
For many years the Sherwood family has held a prominent place in the annals of Fairfield county, Connecticut. The origin of this family in England holds an added interest through its tradition and legendary lore. The Sherwoods origi- nated in the land of Robin Hood; they were owners of a great tract of the fa- mous Sherwood forest, whose name they bear.
(I) Thomas Sherwood, the founder of the family in America, came from Ips- wich, England, in the "Frances" in 1634. He was born in England about 1586, and died in 1655 in Fairfield, Connecticut. After coming to America, Thomas Sher- wood lived for several years in Massachu- setts, and thence removed in 1655 to Fair- field, Connecticut. He married (first) Alice Seabrook, born in 1587, daughter of Robert Seabrook. The Christian name of his second wife was Mary.
(II) Thomas (2) Sherwood, son of Thomas (1) Sherwood, the immigrant, was born in 1624, and died in 1698. He was admitted a freeman in Hartford, Con- necticut, October 13, 1664, and was the first miller at Mill river, Fairfield. He married Ann Turney.
(III) Samuel Sherwood, son of Thomas (2) and Ann (Turney) Sherwood, died in June, 1725. He was the father of Daniel, of whom further.
(IV) Daniel Sherwood, son of Samuel Sherwood, was born in 1708, and died in 1784. During the Revolutionary period, he and his wife, Martha (Hull) Sher- wood, kept a tavern.
(V) Daniel (2) Sherwood, son of Dan- iel (1) and Martha (Hull) Sherwood, was born November 20, 1735, and died in 1819. In 1756 he was graduated from Yale Col- lege. He married Abigail Andrews, born
194
Arthur Sherwood
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
in 1736, died in 1793, daughter of Dea- later, his firm sent him to Pithole, Penn- con John Andrews.
(VI) Daniel (3) Sherwood, son of Dan- iel (2) and Abigail (Andrews) Sherwood, was born June 8, 1761, and died Decem- ber 19, 1828. He was a farmer at Greens Farms, part of which estate is still in possession of the family. He married Catherine Burr.
(VII) Franklin Sherwood, son of Dan- iel (3) and Catherine (Burr) Sherwood, was born September 3, 1810, one of the famous Sherwood triplets, the other two being named Frederick and Francis, all sea captains. For about thirty-five years Franklin Sherwood was a sea captain, re- tiring in late life to the homestead farm. He sailed all over the world, and after his retirement served as road surveyor. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Congregational church. He married Jane Guyer, born at Greens Farms, September 10, 1819, died Novem- ber II, 1882, daughter of Gershom B. Guyer. Franklin Sherwood died Septem- ber 9, 1888. His children were: Arthur, of extended mention ; Ida, deceased ; Jane S., wife of L. P. Wakeman.
(VIII) Arthur Sherwood, son of Frank- lin and Jane (Guyer) Sherwood, was born October 16, 1842. He was educated in the public schools and the old Greens Farms Academy. Then he went to work on the home farm for a number of years, leaving to go to New York City, where he clerked in a grocery store for a year. However, he returned to the farm and remained there until 1862. During this time he built the Sherwood House. After his second trip to New York City he was associated with the shipping house of Charles Dimon, of Wall street. In their interests, Mr. Sherwood went to Staple- ton, Staten Island, and there assumed the superintendency of their patent roofing manufacturing company. A few months
sylvania, where the oil boom was just starting. In just a few days time there were a large number of shacks and several hotels built, and Mr. Sherwood secured these roofing contracts for his company. Mr. Sherwood purchased a sixteenth in- terest in two wells at $1,500 and they both turned out to be "dusters." The strain and work proved too much for his health and he became ill, which made it neces- sary for him to return home, with his finances reduced to a fifty cent "shin plas- ter" in his pocket. After his recovery, Mr. Sherwood took up the cultivation of two acres of oyster ground, the property of his father. The next season he farmed the homestead on shares. His health was practically recovered by this time, and he bought the point on Sherwood's Island from his uncle, Captain Francis Sher- wood, about fourteen acres. In the mean- time he had married and lived in his fa- ther's house, continuing to engage in farming. He built his present house in the winter of 1871-72. Mr. Sherwood raised onions, potatoes, corn and small fruits, also seeds for Peter Henderson and J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, and other big seedmen. Mr. Sherwood became in- terested in horses in 1875, and preparatory to owning some of the famous race horses built a half mile track on his farm. Two years later he bought the famous son of "Rysdicks Hambleton," "Victor Van Bis- mark," and established a stud to improve local stock. Mr. Sherwood exhibited this horse all over Connecticut at fairs and won many ribbons in the three years he had him. Mr. Sherwood raised a colt of this horse and trained him ; he also trained many other colts and drove many races. Another horse owned by Mr. Sherwood was "Farmer Girl." During the time he continued in the horse business, Mr. Sher- wood developed two very fast horses for
195
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
that period. One of these, "Iodine," had a record of 2:2 ; and later showed a speed of 2:16. The other, "Zilthena," marked at 2:21 after Mr. Sherwood disposed of her.
Mr. Sherwood married (first) Harriet J. Kemper, daughter of Charles H. Kemper, and they were the parents of five children: I. Lillian, married J. C. Newkirk, a dentist, of Norwalk. 2. Alice May, married Louis H. Irwin, of Hemp- stead, Long Island; they have two chil- dren, Sherwood and Marion. 3. Arthur Preston, married Elizabeth Runyon, and has one son, Preston Runyon. 4. Harriet Edna, married V. H. Yarnell, of Newark, New Jersey. 5. Flora Belle, married W. H. Blackwell, treasurer of the United States Rubber Company, of New York City. Mr. Sherwood married (second) Mary Kemper, sister of his first wife, and they were the parents of a daughter, Mable, who married Louis E. Hatzfield, of New Rochelle; Mrs. Hatzfield is the mother of two children, Louis Sherwood and Winifred.
MORAN, Frederick J., Merchant.
It is to his own unaided efforts that Frederick J. Moran, one of Norwalk's leading merchants, owes his success. In the best sense of the title, he is a self- made man. He possesses keen business ability and the determination to carry out his ideas. Although among the more re- cent Norwalk residents, he has, in the time he has resided there, won a place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens and busi- ness associates.
Mr. Moran descends from a family long prominent in the annals of Irish history. The eminent historian, O'Hart, tells us that the original form of the name was O'Morain, and this has been anglicized
into Moran, and is also spelled found Morrin. It is of the Milesian families, being traced through the son of Milesius, Ir.
Matthias Raphael Moran, father of Frederick J. Moran, was born in Ontario, Canada, son of one of the immigrants to that place. He died in 1895, in New Lon- don, Connecticut. Mr. Moran lived in Canada until his early twenties, and was brought up on a farm. He removed with his parents to Vineland, New Jersey, where they were engaged for a short time in the business of growing fruit, and then went to New London, Connecticut, where he entered the employ of the New London & Northern Railroad Company, remaining with them for some years. He was as- sistant superintendent there under George W. Bentley. When Mr. Bentley became interested in a railroad in Florida, he in- duced Mr. Moran to accompany him as his assistant. Subsequently, Mr. Moran returned to New London, and was ap- pointed deputy collector of customs by President Grover Cleveland during his second term, and it was this office Mr. Moran was holding when his death oc- curred.
Mr. Moran married Ann Murray, a na- tive of New London, and they were the parents of four children, three of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Frederick J., of further mention; Julian D .; and Matthias R., of New London.
Frederick J. Moran, son of Matthias R. and Ann (Murray) Moran, was born De- cember 6, 1879, in New London, Connec- ticut. He was educated in the New Lon- don public schools, and soon after com- pleting his schooling, entered the office of the Central Vermont Railway Com- pany, where he remained for about four years. He then went to Boston, Massa- chusetts, and for six years was in the em-
196
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
ploy of the United States Pension Office in that city.
About this time an opportunity pre- sented itself for Mr. Moran to enter the wholesale coal and coke business, and five years were spent by him in the office of the Maryland Coal and Coke Company, and also as salesman, thereby enabling him to learn the details of both the inside and outside work. In 1911 Mr. Moran re- turned to New London and joined the F. H. & A. H. Chappell Company as wholesale salesman. The experience which he had gained in Boston was of great value to him in this new position, and it also placed him in a position to accept, or rather to grasp the opportunity which presented itself in 1919. In the lat- ter year the Norwalk Coal and Supply Company was organized to take over that part of the Raymond Brothers business, and Mr. Moran became treasurer of this new corporation. In addition to coal, mason's supplies were also carried. The business has thrived and is rapidly grow- ing. Mr. Moran is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Union Council, of Norwalk, and is also a mem- ber of the South Norwalk Club.
Mr. Moran married Mary E. J. Hanley, daughter of James T. Hanley, of Boston, and they are the parents of a daughter, Ruth, born in May, 1915.
FINCH, John K., Curio Collector.
John K. Finch, a well known business man of Norwalk, Connecticut, is a man whose sound common sense and able man- agement of his affairs have been import- ant factors in his success. The Finch family derive their name from the bird of that name, which was undoubtedly assumed by some early ancestor. It may have been a sign used to display before
a store, or it might have been taken from location of the ancestral home.
George W. Finch, father of John K. Finch, was born in Banksville, New York. He learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed until the latter part of his life, at which time he took up farming. His father was Edward Finch, a shoe- maker, who married Bloomie Ann Davis. George W. Finch married Mary Ann Losee, and their children were: Anthony L., John K., of further mention; Charles D., Frederick O., Elizabeth, Ralph, and Grace. The family attended the Episco- pal church, and aided in its good works.
John K. Finch, son of George W. and Mary Ann (Losee) Finch, was born Feb- ruary 15, 1864, in Banksville, New York. His boyhood was spent on the farm, and he attended the public schools of Middle Patent, New York. When he was twenty- one years of age he came to Norwalk, Connecticut, and entered the employ of the Norwalk Iron Works. For a period of twelve years he remained there as a pattern keeper, and in February, 1910, re- signed to enter business on his own ac- count as an auctioneer and dealer in an- tiques, curios, and second-hand furniture. The collecting of antiques had been a hobby of Mr. Finch's for many years, and he has been singly successful in his undertaking. Combined with his business acumen, Mr. Finch is a man of pleasing personality, and his desire to please his customers and satisfy them has been one of the factors in his success.
Mr. Finch has entered into the public and business life of Norwalk since making his residence there, and he is interested in all that pertains to its welfare. He is a Democrat in politics, and for three years served as a special policeman for South Norwalk.
He is a member of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics, of South
197
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Norwalk, of which he is past councillor ; is a past master of Old Well Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of the Connecticut Past Masters' Associa- tion.
Mr. Finch married Esther M. Elzeah, daughter of Robert J. and Angeline A. Elzeah, former residents of Medo, Blue Earth county, Minnesota. Robert J. El- zeah was born in Utica, New York, May 16, 1846, and died in September, 1916. He was a hatter by occupation, and when a young man followed the advice of Hor- ace Greeley and went West. He was among the pioneers in his township in Minnesota. After his daughter, Esther M., was fourteen, the family returned East and located in Norwalk, where Mr. Elzeah followed his trade of hatter. Mr. and Mrs. Finch were the parents of four children: I. Howard L., born June 26, 1890; married Florence Burr, and has a daughter, Edna May Finch. 2. Grace, born December 1, 1897; married John L. Burr. 3. Robert J., born February 14, 1899, married Edna M. Joseph. 4. Geor- giana M., born October 10, 1904. With his family Mr. Finch is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and freely gives of his time and finances to the carrying on of its good work.
MINOR, Sheldon E., Civil Engineer.
The Minor family in America was founded by Thomas Minor, a native of Somerset, England, and a son of Clement Minor, of that place. Thomas Minor left England in 1646, and in 1683 was among the settlers of Stonington, Connecticut. He was the father of a large family, and his sons settled in various localities, leav- ing numerous descendants who rank among the leading citizens of their com- munities. His son, John Minor, settled
in Woodbury, Connecticut, and he is the ancestor of the Litchfield county family of Minor.
A descendant of this branch, Sheldon E. Minor, was born in Northfield, Con- necticut, September 14, 1860, son of Henry M. Minor, and grandson of Simeon Minor. The Christian name of Simeon occurs very frequently in the Minor fam- ily. The grandfather of Mr. Minor lived in Northfield, where he was a farmer and among the useful men of the town.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.